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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:48 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:48 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/11386-0.txt b/11386-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..218396d --- /dev/null +++ b/11386-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1566 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11386 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XII, NO. 347.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1828. [PRICE 2d. + + + +EUROPEAN CITIES.--NAPLES. + + +[Illustration: European Cities.--Naples.] + + +In our last volume we commenced the design of illustrating the +principal _Cities of Europe_, by a series of picturesque views--one of +which is represented in the above engraving. Our miscellaneous duties +in identifying the pages of the MIRROR with subjects of contemporary +interest, and anxiety to bring them on our little _tapis_--(qy. +Twopence?)--will best account for the interval which has elapsed since +the commencement of our design--with a View of London; but were all +travellers as tardy, the Grand Tour of Europe would occupy many years, +and leave fashion-mongers but little more than rouge, wrinkles, and +_bon-bons_ to delight their friends at home. + +The proximity of Naples to Rome may, perhaps, impair the interest of +the former city, especially as it presents nothing in architecture, +sculpture, or painting that can vie with the Imperial Mistress. +Nevertheless, Naples is one of the most beautiful and most delightful +cities on the habitable globe. Nothing can possibly be imagined more +unique than its _coup-d'oeil_, on whatever side the city is viewed. + +Naples is situated towards the south and east on the declivity of a +long range of hills, and encircling a gulf of 16 miles in breadth, +and as many in length, which forms a basin, called Crater by the +Neapolitans. The city appears to crown this superb basin. One part +rises towards the west in the form of an amphitheatre, on the hills +of Pausilippo, St. Ermo, and Antiguano; the other extends towards the +east, over a more level territory, in which villas follow each other +in rapid succession, from the Magdalen Bridge to Portici, where the +king's palace is situated, and beyond that to Mount Vesuvius. The +Neapolitans have a saying, _Vedi Napoli e po mari_, intimating that +when Naples has been seen, every thing has been seen; and its +congregated charms of situation, climate, and fertility almost warrant +this patriotic ebullition. + +"On the northern side, Naples is surrounded by hills, which (says +_Vasi_, in his '_Picture_,') form a kind of crown round the _Terra di +Lavoro_, the Land of Labour." This consists of a district, in the +language of ancient Rome, + + + ------Lecos laeros, et amoena vireta + Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas-- + + +and fertilized by a river, called Sebeto, which descends from the hills +on the side of Nola, and falls into the sea after having passed under +Magdalen Bridge, towards the eastern part of Naples. + +The ancient history of Naples is involved in much obscurity. According +to some, says _Vasi_, Falerna, one of the Argonauts, founded it about +1,300 years before the Christian era; according to others, Parthenope, +one of the Syrens, celebrated by Homer in his "Odyssey," being +shipwrecked on this coast, landed here, and built a town, to which she +gave her name; others attribute its foundation to Hercules, some to +Eneas, and others to Ulysses. These are mere freaks of fiction and +fable; and it is more probable that Naples was founded by some Greek +colonies; this may be inferred from its own name, _Neapolis_, and from +the name of another town contiguous to it, _Paleopolis._ Strabo speaks +of these Greek colonies, whence the city derives its origin. + +The city of Naples was formerly surrounded by very high walls, about 22 +miles in circumference; but on its enlargement, neither walls nor gates +were erected. It may be, however, defended by three strong castles. + +Naples is divided into twelve quarters, or departments, and contains +about 450,000 inhabitants. It is consequently the most populous city +in Europe, except London and Paris. The streets are neither broad nor +regular, and are paved with broad slabs of hard stone, resembling the +lava of Vesuvius. The houses are, for the most part, uniformly built, +being about five or six stories high, with balconies and flat roofs, +in the form of terraces, which are used as a promenade. The churches, +palaces, and public buildings are magnificent; but they suffer in +comparison with the other architectural wealth of Italy. Vasi states +there are about 300 churches; and among the other public buildings he +mentions 37 conservatories, established for the benefit of poor +children, and old people, both men and women. + +The environs of Naples possess many attractions for the classic tourist, +as well as for the strange flies of fashion. Among these is Virgil's +Tomb, which is, indeed, holy ground. The temples, aqueducts, and arches +of olden time are likewise stupendous records of the sumptuousness of +the ancient people of this interesting district; and, apart from these +attractions, the contemplative philosopher may read in the volcanic +remains, and other phenomena on its shores, many inspiring lessons in +the broad volume of Nature; as well as amid the neighbouring relics of +Art, where + + + Man marks the earth with ruin. + + + * * * * * + + +LEICESTER ABBEY.--DEATH OF CARDINAL WOLSEY. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Few periods of English history are more pregnant with events, or more +interesting to the antiquary, and general reader, than that which +comprised the fortunes of Wolsey. The eventful life of the Cardinal, +checkered as it was by the vicissitudes of fortune, his sudden +elevation, and finally his more sudden fall and death, display an +appalling picture of "the instability of human affairs." This prelate +and statesman, who even aspired to the Papal throne itself, "was an +honest poore man's sonne in the towne of Ipswiche,"[1] who having +received a good education, and being endowed with great capacity, soon +rose to fill the highest offices of the church and state; in 1515 he +was created Lord High Chancellor, and in three years afterwards was +appointed legate _à latere_ by the Pope, having previously received +a Cardinal's cap. + +Leicester Abbey was rendered famous as being the last residence of the +unhappy Wolsey; "within its walls," says Gilpin, "was once exhibited a +scene more humiliating to human ambition, and more instructive to human +grandeur than almost any which history hath produced. Here the fallen +pride of Wolsey retreated from the insults of the world, all his visions +of ambition were now gone; his pomp and pageantry and crowded levees! On +this spot he told the listening monks, the sole attendants of his dying +hour, as they stood around his pallet, that he was come to lay his bones +among them, and gave a pathetic testimony to the truth and joys of +religion, which preaches beyond a thousand lectures."[2] + +On his road to London, whither he had been summoned, from his castle of +_Cawood_, by Henry, to take his trial for high treason, he was seized +with a disorder, which so much increased as to oblige his resting at +Leicester, where he was met at the Abbey gate by the Abbot and his whole +convent. The first ejaculation of Wolsey, on meeting these holy persons, +plainly shows that he was fully aware of his approaching end: "Father +Abbot," said he, "I am come hither to lay my bones among you;"[3] and it +was with great difficulty that they could get him up the stairs, which +it was fated he was never again to descend alive. A short time previous +to his death, he thus addressed the Constable of the Tower, who was +appointed to convey him to the metropolis:--"Well, well, Master +Kingstone, I see the matter how it is framed; but if I had serued God as +diligentlie as I haue done the king, he would not haue giuen me ouer in +my gray haires;[4] but this is the iust reward that I must receiue for +the diligent paines and study yt I haue had to doe him seruice, not +regarding my seruice to God, but onely to satisfie his pleasure; I praie +you haue me most humblie commended vnto his royal maiestie, and beseech +him in my behalfe to call to his princelie remembrance, all matters +proceeding between him and mee, from the beginning of the worlde, and +the progress of the same, and most especialle in his weightie matter, +and then shall his grace's conscience know whether I haue oflended him +or no."[5] + +Thus sunk into the grave a man, who was a victim to tyranny, but +to a tyranny which he had himself formed; that he was a person far +enlightened beyond the period in which he lived no one can presume +to doubt. He tended greatly to promote the arts and learning of his +country. His personal character displayed as great a variety of opposite +qualities, as the fortunes to which he had been exposed; his magnanimity +was oftentimes clouded by the greatest meanness, and with an urbanity of +manners, he combined an intolerable degree of pride and arrogance; he +was frank and generous, but his overwhelming ambition greatly tended to +obscure these nobler qualities of his mind, and as he rose, he became +haughty and overbearing. His character has been obscured by the envy and +partiality of his contemporaries, who have generally endeavoured to load +his memory with reproaches. "This Cardinall," says Holinshed, "was +of great stomach, for he compted himselfe equall with princes, and by +craftie suggestion got into his hands innumerable treasure; he forced +little on simonie, and was not pittiful, and stood affectionate in his +owne opinion; in open presence he would lie and saie vntruth, and was +double both in speech and meaning; he would promise much and performe +little; he was vicious of his bodie, and gaue the clergy euill example; +he hated sore the Citie of London and feared it. It was told him that +he should die in the waie toward London, wherefore he feared lest the +commons of the citie would arise in riotous maner and so slaie him, yet +for all that he died in the waie toward London, carrieng more with him +out of the worlde than he brought into it, namellie, a winding sheete, +besides other necessaries thought meet for a dead man, as a Christian +comelinesse required."[6] + +The remains of the Cardinal were interred in the Abbey Church at +Leicester, after having been viewed by the Mayor and Corporation, +(for the prevention of false rumours,) and were attended to the grave +by the Abbot and all the brethren. This last ceremony was performed by +torchlight, the canons singing dirges, and offering orisons, at between +four and five o'clock of the morning, on St. Andrew's Day, November the +30th, 1530. + +Leicester Abbey was founded (according to Leland) [7] in the year 1143, +in the reign of King Stephen, by Robert Bossue, Earl of Leicester, for +black canons of the order of St. Augustine, and was dedicated to the +Virgin Mary. It is situated in a pleasant meadow, to the north of the +town, watered by the river Soar, whence it acquired the name of _St. +Mary de Pratis_, or _de la Pré_. This monastery was richly endowed +with lands in thirty-six of the neighbouring parishes, besides various +possessions in other counties, and enjoyed considerable privileges and +immunities. Bossue, with the consent of Lady Amicia, his wife, became +a canon regular in his own foundation, in expiation of his rebellious +conduct towards his sovereign, and particularly for the injuries which +he had thereby brought upon the "goodly towne of Leycestre." At the +dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. the revenues of this house +were valued according to _Speed_ at £1062. 0s. 4d., _Dugdale_ says £951. +14s. 5d.; and its site was granted in the 4th of Edward VI. to William, +Marquess of Northampton.[8] + + [1] Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, p. 1. edit. 1641. Most of his + biographers affirm that he was the son of a butcher. + + [2] "Northern Tour." The same author observes, that "the death of + Wolsey would make a fine moral picture, if the hand of any master + could give the pallid features of the dying statesman, that + chagrin, that remorse, those pangs of anguish, which, in the last + bitter moments of his life, possessed him. The point might be + taken when the monks are administering the comforts of religion, + which the despairing prelate cannot feel. The subject requires a + gloomy apartment, which a ray through a Gothic window might just + enlighten, throwing its force chiefly on the principal figure, + and dying away on the rest. The appendages of the piece need only + be few and simple; little more than the crozier and red hat to + mark the cardinal and tell the story." + + [3] Stow's "Annals," p. 557, edit. 1615. + + [4] Shakspeare introduces this memorable saying of the cardinal into + his play of "Henry the Eighth:"-- + + --"O Cromwell, Cromwell, + Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal + I serv'd my king, he would not in mine age + Have left me naked to mine enemies." + + [5] Stow's "Annals." + + [6] Holinshed's "Chronicle," vol. iii. p. 765, edit. 1808. + + [7] "Collectanea," vol i. p. 70. + + [8] Tanner. + + +S.I.B. + + * * * * * + + +ANCIENT OATHS. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +It will be recollected, that in a former volume I gave you the form of +the oath taken by the appellee in the ancient manner of trial by battle. +The appellee, when appealed of felony, pleads _not guilty_ and throws +down his glove, and declares he will defend the same by his body; the +appellant takes up the glove, and replies that he is ready to make good +the appeal body for body; and thereupon the appellee, taking the book in +his right hand, makes oath as before mentioned. To which the appellant +replies, holding the Bible and his antagonist's hand in the same manner +as the other, "Hear this, O man, whom I hold by the hand, who callest +thyself _Thomas_ by the name of baptism, that thou art perjured; and +therefore perjured, because that thou feloniously didst murder my +father, _William_ by name. So help me God and the Saints, and this I +will prove against thee by my body, as this court shall award." And then +the combat proceeds. + +There is a striking resemblance between this process and that of the +court of _Arcopagus,_ at Athens, for murder, where the prisoner and +prosecutor were both sworn in the most solemn manner--the prosecutor, +that he was related to the deceased, (for none but near relations were +permitted to prosecute in that court,) and that the prisoner was the +cause of his death; the prisoner, that he was innocent of the charge +against him. + +In time I hope to be able to furnish you with other specimens of our +curious ancient oaths. + +W.H.H. + + * * * * * + + +SONNET. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Whose heart is not delighted at the sound + Of rural song, of Nature's melody, + When hills and dales with harmony rebound, + While Echo spreads the pleasing strains around, + Awak'ning pure and heartfelt sympathy! + Perchance on some rude rock the minstrel stands, + While his pleased hearers wait entranced around; + Behold him touch the chords with fearless hands, + Creating heav'nly joys from earthly sound. + How many voices in the chorus rise, + And artless notes renew the failing strains; + The honest boor his vocal talent tries, + Approving love beams from his "fair one's eyes," + While age, in silent joy, forgets its pains. + +J.J. + + * * * * * + + +THE DEATH OF SALADIN.[9] + + [9] For the particulars of which, see Knolle's "history of the Turks." + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + The angel of death hath too surely prest + His fatal sign on the warrior's breast-- + Quench'd is the light of the eagle-eye, + And the nervous limbs rest languidly-- + The eloquent tongue is silent and still, + The deep clear voice again may not chill + The hearers' hearts with its own deep thrill. + + Ah, who can gaze on death, nor inward feel + A creeping horror through the bosom steal, + Like one who stands upon a precipice, + And sees below a mangled sacrifice, + Feeling that he himself must ere long fall, + With none to save him, none to hear his call, + Or wrest him from the agonizing thrall? + + And yet it is but sleep we look upon! + But in that sleep from which the life is gone + Sinks the proud Saladin, Egyptia's lord. + His faith's firm champion, and his Prophet's sword; + Not e'en the red cross knights withstand his pow'r, + But, sorrowing, mark the Moslem's triumph hour, + And the pale crescent float from Salem's tow'r. + + As the keen arrow, hurl'd with giant-might, + Rends the thin air in its impetuous flight, + But being spent on earth innoxious lies, + E'en its track vanish'd from the yielding skies-- + So lies the soldan, stopp'd his bright career, + His vanquish'd realms their prostrate heads uprear, + And coward kings forget their servile fear. + + Ere yet stern Azrael[10] cut the thread of life, + While Death and Nature wag'd unequal strife, + Spoke the expiring hero:--"Hither stand, + Receive your dying sovereign's last command. + When that the spirit from my frame is riven, + (Oh, gracious Alla! be my sins forgiven, + And bright-eyed Houris waft my soul to heaven,) + Then when you bear me to my last retreat, + Let not the mourners howl along the street-- + Let not my soldiers in the train be seen, + Nor banners float, nor lance or sabre gleam-- + Nor yet, to testify a vain regret, + O'er my remains let costly shrine be set, + Or sculptur'd stone, or gilded minaret; + But let a herald go before my bier, + Bearing on point of lance the robe I wear. + Shouting aloud, 'Behold what now remains + Of the proud conqueror of Syria's plains, + Who bow'd the Persian, made the Christian feel + The deadly sharpness of the Moslem steel; + But of his conquests, riches, honours, might, + Naught sleeps with him in death's unbroken night, + Save this poor robe.'" + + [10] Azrael, in the Mahometan creed, the angel of death. + +D.A.H. + + * * * * * + + +BANQUETTING HOUSE, WHITEHALL. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +This splendid pile which is at present under repair, was erected in the +time of James I. Whitehall being in a most ruinous state, he determined +to rebuild it in a very princely manner, and worthy of the residence +of the monarchs of the British empire. He began with pulling down the +banquetting rooms built by Elizabeth. That which bears the above name at +present was begun in 1619, from a design of Inigo Jones, in his purest +style; and executed by Nicholas Stone, master mason and architect to +the king; it was finished in two years, and cost £17,000. but is only +a small part of a vast plan, left unexecuted by reason of the unhappy +times which succeeded. The ceiling of this noble room cannot be +sufficiently admired; it was painted by Rubens, who had £3,000. for +his work. The subject is the Apotheosis of James I. forming nine +compartments; one of the middle represents our pacific monarch on +his earthly throne, turning with horror from Mars, and other of the +discordant deities, and as if it were, giving himself up to the amiable +goddess he always cultivated, and to her attendants, Commerce, and the +Fine Arts. This fine performance is painted on canvass, and is in high +preservation; but a few years ago it underwent a repair by Cipriani, who +had £2,000. for his trouble. Near the entrance is a bust of the royal +founder. + +Little did James think (says Pennant) that he was erecting a pile from +which his son was to step from the throne to the scaffold. He had been +brought in the morning of his death, from St. James's across the Park, +and from thence to Whitehall, where ascending the great staircase, he +passed through the long gallery to his bed-chamber, the place allotted +to him to pass the little time before he received the fatal blow. It +is one of the lesser rooms marked with the letter A in the old plan of +Whitehall. He was from thence conducted along the galleries and the +banquetting house, through the wall, in which a passage was broken to +his last earthly stage. Mr. Walpole tells us that Inigo Jones, surveyor +of the works done about the king's house, had only 8s. 4d. a day, and +£46. a year for house-rent, and a clerk and other incidental expenses. +The present improvements at Whitehall make one exclaim with the poet, +Pope-- + + + "I see, I see, where two fair cities bend + Their ample brow, _a new Whitehall ascend._" + + +Again, + + + "You too proceed, make falling arts your care, + _Erect new wonders, and the old repair;_ + _Jones_ and Palladio to themselves _restore_, + And be whate'er Vitruvius was before." + + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +THE UNIVERSE. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + + O light celestial, streaming wide + Through morning'd court of fairy blue-- + O tints of beauty, beams of pride, + That break around its varied hue-- + Still to thy wonted pathway true, + Thou shinest on serenely free, + Best born of _Him_, whose mercy grew + In every gift, sweet world, to thee. + + O countless stars, that, lost in light, + Still gem the proud sun's glory bed, + And o'er the saddening brow of night + A softer, holier influence shed-- + How well your radiant march hath sped. + Unfailing vestals of the sky, + As smiling thus ye weed from dread + The soul ye court to muse on high. + + O flowers that breathe of beauty's reign, + In many a tint o'er lawn and lea, + That give the cold heart once again + A dream of happier infancy; + And even on the grave can be + A spell to weed affection's pain-- + Children of Eden, who could see. + Nor own _His_ bounty in your reign? + + O winds, that seem to waft from far + A mystic murmur o'er the soul, + As ye had power to pass the bar + Of nature in your vast control, + Hail to your everlasting roll-- + Obedient still ye wander dim, + And softly breathe, or loudly toll, + Through earth and sky the name of _Him_. + + O world of waters, o'er whose bed + The chainless winds unceasing swell, + That claim'st a kindred over head, + As 'twixt the skies thou seem'st to dwell; + And e'en on earth art but a spell, + Amid their realms to wander free-- + Thy task of pride hath speeded well, + Thou deep, eternal, boundless sea. + + O storms of night and darkness, flung + In blackening chaos o'er the world, + When thunderpeals are dreadly rung, + Mid clouds in sightless fury hurl'd, + Types of a mightier power, impearl'd + With mercy's soft, redeeming ray, + Still at His voice your wings are furl'd, + Ye wake to own and to obey. + + O thou blest whole of light and love, + Thou glorious realm of earth and sky, + That breath'st of blissful hope above, + When all of thine hath wander'd by, + Throughout thy range, nor tear nor sigh + But breathes of bliss, of beauty's reign, + And concord, such as in the sky + The soul is taught to meet again. + + O man, who veil'd in deepest night + This beauty-breathing world of thine, + And taught the serpent's deadly blight + Amid its sweetest flowers to twine, + Thou, thou alone hast dared repine, + And turn'd aside from duty's call, + Thou who hast broken nature's shrine, + And wilder'd hope and darken'd all. + +ANNETTE TURNER. + + * * * * * + + +A half-pint of wine for young men in perfect health is enough, and you +will be able to take your exercise better, and feel better for this +abstinence.--_Dr. Babington._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SKETCH BOOK. + + * * * * * + + +COLLEGE LOVE. + + +We had gone into Devonshire, for the purpose of being more retired, that +we might study more attentively, and with less chance of interruption, +than in a town. We chose, accordingly, for our residence, one of the +most beautiful and retired cottages we ever saw. It was situated very +near the sea; and, oh! what thoughts used to steal over us, of romance +and true love, as we gazed upon that quiet ocean, from the vine-covered +window of our quiet, sweet, secluded home! Day after day, we wandered +among the woods in the neighbourhood, and rejoiced, at each successive +visit, to find out new beauties. This continued for some time; till at +last, on returning one day, we saw an unusual bustle in the room we +occupied. On entering, we found our landlady hurrying out in great +confusion, and, along with her, a beautiful, blushing girl, so perfectly +ladylike in her appearance, that we wondered by what means our venerable +hostess could have become acquainted with so interesting a visiter. She +soon explained the mystery; this lady, who seemed more bewitching every +moment that we gazed on her, was the daughter of a 'squire in whose +family our worthy landlady had been nurse. She had come, without knowing +that any lodger was in the house, and was to stay a week. Oh! that week! +the happiest of our life. We soon became intimate; our books lay fast +locked up at the bottom of our trunk: we walked together, saw the sun +set together in the calm ocean, and then walked happily and contentedly +home in the twilight; and long before the week was at an end, we had +vowed eternal vows, and sworn everlasting constancy. We had not, to +be sure, discovered any great powers of mind in our enslaver; but how +interesting is even ignorance, when it comes from such a beautiful +and smiling mouth! We had already formed happy plans of moulding her +unformed opinions, and directing and sharing all her studies. The little +slips which were observable in her grammar, we attributed to want of +care; and the accent, which was very powerful, was rendered musical to +our ear, at the same time as dear to our heart, by the whiteness of the +little arm that lay so quietly and lovingly within our own. And then, +her taste in poetry was not the most delicate or refined; but she was so +enthusiastically fond of it, that we imagined a little training would +lead her to prefer many of Mr. Moore's ballads, to the pathos of Giles +Scroggins; and that in time, the "Shining River" might occupy a superior +place, in her estimation, to a song from which she repeated, with tears +in her eyes--, + + + "But like the star what lighted + Pale billion to its fated doom, + Our nuptial song is blighted, + And its rose quench'd in its bloom." + + +And then, she seemed so fond of flowers, and knew so much about their +treatment, that we fancied how lovely she must look while engaged in that +fascinating study; and often, in our dreaming moods, did we mutter about + + + "Fair Proserpine + Within the vale of Enna gathering flowers, + Herself the fairest flower."-- + + +But why should we repeat what every one can imagine so well for himself? +At last, the hour of parting came; and, week after week, her stay at the +cottage had been prolonged, till our departure took place before hers. +And on that day she looked, as all men's sweethearts do at leaving them, +more touchingly beautiful than ever we had seen her before; and after we +had torn ourself away, we looked back, and there we saw her standing in +the same spot we had left her, a statue of misery and despair,--"like +Niobe all tears." + +Astonishment occupied the minds of all our friends on our return to +college. The change which took place on our feelings and conduct was +indeed amazing; our mornings were devoted to gazing on a lock of +our--she was rather unfortunate in a name--our Grizel's hair, and to +lonely hours of musing in the meadow on all the adventures of our +sojourn in Devonshire. No longer we stood listlessly in the quadrangle, +joining the knots of idlers, of whom we used to be one of the chief; +no longer had even Castles' Havannahs any charms for our lips; and our +whole heart was wrapt up in the expectation of a letter. This we were +not to receive for three long weeks; and by that time she was to have +returned home, consulted her father on the subject of our attachment, +and return us a definitive reply. We wrote in the meantime--such a +letter! We are assured it must have been written on a sheet of asbestos, +or it must infallibly have taken fire. It began, "Lovely and most +beautiful Grizel!" and ended, "Your adorer." At last the letter that was +to conclude all our hopes was put into our hands. We had some men that +morning to breakfast; we received it just as they were beginning the +third pie. How heartily we prayed they would he off and leave us +alone! But no--on they kept swallowing pigeon after pigeon, and seemed +to consider themselves as completely fixtures as the grate or the +chimney-piece. We wished devoutly to see a bone sticking in the throat +of our most intimate friend, and, by way of getting quit of them, had +thoughts of setting fire to the room. At last, however, they departed. +Immediately as the skirt of the last one's coat disappeared, we +carefully locked and bolted our door, and, with hands trembling with +joy, we took out the letter. Not very clean was its appearance, and not +over correct or well-spelt was its address; and, above all, a yellow, +dingy wafer filled up the place of the green wax we had expected, and +the true lover's motto, "Though lost to sight, to memory dear," was +supplied by the impression of a thimble. We opened it. Horror and +amazement! never was such penmanship beheld. The lines were complete +exemplifications of the line of beauty, so far as their waving, and +twisting, and twining was concerned; and the orthography it was past +all human comprehension to understand. + +"My deerest deere, dear sur,"--this was the letter,--"i kim him more nor +a wic agon, butt i cuddunt right yu afore ass i av bin with muther an +asnt seed father till 2 day. he sais as my fortin is 3 hundurd pouns, +he sais as he recomminds me tu take mi hold lover Mister Tomas the +gaurdnar, he sais as yu caunt mary no boddi, accause you must be a +batseller three ears. if thiss be troo i am candied enuff to tell you +ass i caunt wate so long my deerast deer, o yu ave brock mi art! wy did +yu sai al ass yu sad iff yu cud unt mary nor none of the scolards at +hocksfoot Kolidge. father sais as ther iss sum misstake praps yu did unt +no ass mother is not marid 2 father butt is marrid to the catchmun and +father is marad to a veri gud ladi ass gove me a gud edocasion. mi +deerest deere it brakes my art all from yu for tu part, i rot them lines +this marnin. mister tomas sais as i gov im mi prumass befor i cum to ave +the apiness of see yu. butt i dant thinc i giv mor promass to him. nor +2 manni uthers. mi deerest deer and troo luv cuppid! i feer our nutshell +song is blitid and its ros kwencht in its blum. them was plesent ours +when the carnashuns and tullups was all in blo, wasunt them mi deer luv. +mister tomas sais ass he can mari me in a munth and father sais i hot tu +take im. iff so be as yu caun't du it beefor i thinc i shal take im ass +father sais there is sum mistake, mi deerest deere mi art is brock butt +i thinc i shall take im iff so bee as I dant ear frum yu. gud nite my +troo luv i shal kip your lockat for a kipsic an yu ma kiss my luck off +air for the sack of your brockan arted + +"GRIZEL." + +It is astonishing how the perusal of this cured us of our affection. +At the first line we recollected that she had a tendency to squint, +and long before we came to the conclusion, we remembered that her +ancles were rather thick, and her feet by no means of diminutive size. +Thus ended our love adventures at the University. Our heroine we have +never heard of since, and we have resisted the most tempting offers +from the loveliest of her sex; and in spite of sighing heiresses and +compassionate old maids, we are still a bachelor; and a bachelor, +in defiance of all their machinations, we are firmly determined to +remain.--_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + + + +MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + + * * * * * + + +CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN THE NETHERLANDS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Many singular customs are observed in the Netherlands at Christmas, and +as they materially differ from those known in England, a brief notice of +_one_ of them may probably prove acceptable to the readers of the +MIRROR. + +In almost every Dutch town, and in every considerable village, the +following custom prevails:--At a little after two o'clock in the morning +of Christmas-day, a number of young men assemble in the market-place, +and sing some verses suited to the occasion. One of the young men bears +an _artificial star,_ which is fixed to a pole, and elevated above the +heads of the people; it is very large, and is rendered beautifully +transparent when a light is placed in the inside. This artificial +luminary is intended to represent the star of the east, which directed +the wise men to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. At a little +distance, the appearance is exceedingly brilliant, for there is no other +light among the populace to diminish its lustre, and the whole scene +is singularly picturesque. The resplendent light issuing from the star +strikes powerfully upon the countenances of the principal actors, while +those more remote receive only a faint and subdued gleam. The silvery +effulgence of the moon, the sombre and deserted look of the buildings +around, and the general stillness that pervades every object, save the +scene of action, might inspire the mind of a Rembrandt, or introduce +to the mere casual beholder feelings at once new and poetical. + +After parading through the town, the youths repair in a body to the +residence of some opulent inhabitant, where their arrival is welcomed +with shouts and clapping of hands, and where they are entertained with +a plentiful repast. + +G.W.N. + + * * * * * + + +THE JEWS. + + +Their present actual numbers may, perhaps, not exceed six +millions--numbers, however, probably greater than those over which +Solomon reigned; and of these six millions there may be resident in the +contiguous countries of Moravia, Ancient Poland, the Crimea, Moldavia, +and Wallachia, above three millions. Except within the countries which +formed Poland before its partitions, their population contained in any +one European kingdom, cannot, therefore, be great. Yet so essentially +are they one people, we might almost say one family; and so disposable +is their wealth, as mainly vested in money transactions, that they must +be considered as an aggregate, and not in their individual portions. + +The Jews in France are perhaps from thirty to forty thousand; they +abound chiefly at Metz, along the Rhine, and at Marseilles and Bordeaux. +In Bonaparte's time they were imagined to amount to at least twice that +number.--They are relieved from civil restraints and disabilities in +France, and in the Netherlands also. The Jews in Holland, of both German +and Portuguese origin, are numerous; the latter are said to have taken +refuge there when the United Provinces asserted their independence of +Spain; they have a splendid synagogue at Amsterdam. Infidelity is +supposed to have made more progress amongst them than amongst the German +Jews in Holland. The Italian Jews are chiefly at Leghorn and Genoa; and +there are four thousand of them at Rome. In speaking of the religion of +the Jews, it is not necessary to particularize those who assumed the +mask of Christianity under terror of the Inquisition, although much has +been said of their wealth and numbers, and of the high offices they have +filled in Spain, and especially in Portugal. But it is curious to see, +in a very distant quarter, a like simulation produced amongst them +by like causes. There are at Salonica thirty synagogues, and about +twenty-five thousand professed Jews; and a body of Israelites have been +lately discovered there, who, really adhering to the faith of their +fathers, have externally embraced Mahomedanism. + +The Barbary Jews are a very fine people; but the handsomest Jews are +said to be those of Mesopotamia. That province may also boast of an Arab +chief who bears the name of the Patriarch Job, is rich in sheep, and +camels, and oxen, and asses, abounds in hospitality, and believes that +he descends from him; he is also famed for his justice. The Jews at +Constantinople, forty thousand in number, and in the parts of European +Turkey on and near the Mediterranean, speak Spanish, and appear to +descend from Israelites driven from Spain by persecution. The Bible +Society are now printing at Corfu the New Testament, in Jewish-Spanish, +for their benefit. + +In truth, little appears to be known of the state of the Jews during +some hundreds of years after the destruction of Jerusalem. The first +body of learned Jews which drew attention after that disastrous event +was that settled in Spain; and from it all Jewish learning descends. +As in accomplishment of the prophecy, the Jew is found over the whole +surface of the globe; he has been long established in China, which +abhors the foreigner; and in Abyssinia, which it is almost as difficult +to reach as to quit. The early Judaism of that country, and in later +days the history of the powerful colony of Jews established in its +heart, which at one time actually reigned over the kingdom, are matters +so curious, that we regret that we can do no more than advert to them; +we must say the same as to the evidence existing of Jewish rites having +extended themselves very far southward along the eastern coast of +Africa; the numerous Jews of Barbary; and the black and white Jews, who +have been established for ages, more or less remote, on the Malabar +coast. It may be here observed, that all the Israelites hitherto +discovered appear to be descendants of those who held the kingdom of +Judah. + +The Jews in Great Britain and Ireland are not supposed to be more than +from ten to twelve thousand, very many of whom are foreigners, and +migratory.--_Quarterly Rev._ + + * * * * * + + +EGYPTIAN RATIONS. + + +The rations of the Egyptian soldiers were, according to Herodotus, five +pounds of baked bread, two pounds of beef, and half a pint of wine +daily. + + * * * * * + +In the barbarous ages it was usual for persons who could not write, to +make the sign of the cross in confirmation of a written paper. Several +charters still remain in which kings and persons of great eminence +affix "signum crucis pro ignoratione literarum," the sign of the cross, +because of their ignorance of letters. From this is derived the phrase +of signing instead of subscribing a paper. + + * * * * * + + +COLUMN IN BLENHEIM PARK + + +[Illustration: Column in Blenheim Park.] + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +You have lately directed the attention of the readers of the MIRROR to +the park of Blenheim, in Oxfordshire, one of the most beautiful England +can boast of, and likewise, according to Camden, the first park that +was made in this country. I can bear witness to the correctness of +your delineation and description of Rosamond's Well, which you gave +in a recent number; but there is no trace whatever of the bower or +labyrinth, the site of which is only pointed out by tradition. The +park of Blenheim, besides the interest which attaches to it from the +circumstance of its having been the residence of the early kings of +England, and the scene of "Rosamond's" life, has in more modern times +acquired additional interest from having been bestowed by the country +upon the Duke of Marlborough, in testimony of the gratitude of the +nation for the brilliant services he had rendered his country, +particularly at the battle of Blenheim. + +It was a reward at once worthy of the English nation and of the +illustrious hero on whom it was bestowed; and as it is at least +pleasing, and perhaps useful, to recall to the mind the epochs of +England's greatness amongst nations, I have sent a sketch of one of the +most prominent objects in the park of Blenheim, which our forefathers +deemed (in the language of the inscription) would "stand as long as the +British name and language last, illustrious monuments of Marlborough's +glory and of Britain's gratitude." This is an elegant column, 130 feet +in height, and surmounted by a statue of the warrior in an antique +habit. On three sides of the building there are nearly complete copies +of the several Acts of Parliament by which the park and manor of +Woodstock were granted to the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs; and on +the fourth side is a very long inscription, said to have been penned by +Lord Bolingbroke, which concludes thus:-- + + + These are the actions of the Duke of Marlborough, + Performed in the compass of a few years, + Sufficient to adorn the annals of ages. + The admiration of other nations + Will be conveyed to the latest posterity, + In the histories even of the enemies of Britain. + The sense which the British nation had + Of his transcendant merit + Was expressed + In the most solemn, most effectual, most durable manner. + The Acts of Parliament inscribed on the pillar + Shall stand as long as the British name and language last, + Illustrious monuments + Of Marlborough's glory and + Of Britain's gratitude. + +G.W. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_ + + * * * * * + + +MEMOIRS OF VIDOCQ. + +_The French Thief-taker_ + + +This is as full-charged a portrait of human depravity as the gloomiest +misanthrope could wish for. But it has much wider claims on public +attention than the gratification of the misanthropic few who mope in +corners or stalk up and down leafless and almost solitary walks during +this hanging and drowning season. Nevertheless, all men are more or less +misanthropes, or they affect to be so; for only skim off the bile of a +true critic, or the minds of the hundred thousand who read newspapers, +and look first for the bankrupts and deaths. Sugar and wormwood and +wormwood and sugar are the standing dishes, but as we read the other +day, "there is a certain hankering for the gloomy side of nature, whence +the trials and convictions of vice become so much more attractive than +the brightest successes of virtue." People with _macadamized minds_, +and their histories (scarce as the originals are) are mere nonentities, +and food for the trunk-maker; whereas a book of hair-breadth escapes, +thrilling with horror and romantic narrative will tempt people to sit up +reading in their beds, till like Rousseau, they are reminded of morning +by the stone-chatters at their window. To the last class belong the +_Memoirs of Vidocq_, an analysis of which would be "utterly impossible, +so powerful are the descriptions, and so continuous the thread of +their history." The original work was published a short time since in +Paris, and republished here; but, we believe the present is the first +translation that has appeared in England. The newspapers have, from time +to time, translated a few extracts, when their Old Bailey news was at a +stand, so that the name of Vidocq must be somewhat familiar to many of +our readers.[11] + + [11] The present portion is only the first volume. The Memoirs are + to be completed in four volumes, to form part of the series of + _Autobiographical Memoirs_, published by Messrs. Hunt and Clarke, + and decidedly one of the most attractive works that that has + lately issued from the press. As we intend to notice this + collection at some future time, we can only, for the present, + spare room for this direction of the reader's attention--for + the design deserves well of the public; and if the success be + proportioned fro its merits, it will be great indeed. + +Eugene Francois Vidocq is a native of Arras, where his father was +a baker; and from early associations he fell into courses of excess +which led to the necessity of his flying from the parental roof. After +various, rapid, and unexampled events in the romance of real life, in +which he was everything by turns and nothing long, he was liberated from +prison, and became the principal and most active agent of police. He was +made Chief of the Police de Surete under Messrs. Delavau and Franchet, +and continued in that capacity from the year 1810 till 1827, during +which period he extirpated the most formidable of those ruffians and +villains to whom the excesses of the revolution and subsequent events +had given full scope for the perpetration of the most daring robberies +and inquitous excesses. Removed from employment, in which he had +accumulated a handsome independence, he could not determine on leading a +life of ease, for which his career of perpetual vigilance and adventure +had unfitted him, and he built a paper manufactory at St. Mandeé, about +two leagues from Paris, where he employs from forty to fifty persons, +principally, it is asserted, liberated convicts, who having passed +through the term of their sentence, are cast upon society without home, +shelter, or character, and would be compelled to resort to dishonest +practices did not this asylum offer them its protection and afford them +opportunity of earning an honest living by industrious labour. One +additional point of interest in the present volume is, that the author +is still living. + +[We cannot follow Vidocq through his career of crime, neither would +it be altogether profitable to our readers; but the _links_ may be +recapitulated in a few words. He must have been born a thief, and +perhaps stole the spoon with which he was fed; but the _penchant_ +runs in the family, for Vidocq and his brother rob the same till of +a fencing-room, but his brother is first detected, and sent off "in a +hurry," to a baker at Lille. Of course Vidocq soon gets partners in sin, +and on the same day that he has been detected by the _living_ evidence +of two fowls which he had stolen, he sweeps from the dinner table ten +forks and as many spoons, pawns them for 150 francs, spends the money +in a few hours, and is imprisoned four days. He is then released; +one of his pals gives a false alarm to Vidocq's mother, and during her +temporary absence, Vidocq enters his home with a false key, steals +2,000 francs from a strong chest, with which he escapes to Ostend, +(intending to embark for America,) where he is decoyed by a _soi-disant_ +ship-broker, and loses all his ill-gotten wealth. He then resolves to +betroth the sea, though not after the Venetian fashion, by giving her +a dowry; the "sound of a trumpet" disturbs his attention, as it would +of any other hero. But this proves to be the note of Paillasse, a +merry-andrew. The "director," as the opera bills would say, was +Cotte-Comus, belonging to a troop of rope-dancers. + +He next joins a player of Punch, to whose wife he enacts Romeo with +better grace, and during one of the representations, the married people +break each others heads, and Vidocq runs off during the affray. He then +becomes assistant to a quack doctor, and the favoured swain of an +actress; gets into the Bourbon regiment, where he is nicknamed Reckless, +and kills two men, and fights fifteen duels in six months. His other +exploits are as a corporal of grenadiers, of course, a deserter, and +a prisoner of the revolution. He then marries, but does not reform. +Of course a wife is but a temporary incumbrance to a man of Vidocq's +dexterity. In chapter iii, we find him at Brussels, where he joins a set +of nefarious gamblers at the _Cafes_, and has a most romantic adventure +with a woman named Rosine. But we can follow him no further, except to +add that his other comrades in Vol. I, are gipsies, smugglers, players, +galley-slaves, drovers, Dutch sailors, and highwaymen. + +We must, therefore, confine ourselves to a few detached extracts from +the most interesting portion of the volume. At Lille, Vidocq meets with +a _chere amie_, Francine; he suspects her fidelity, thrashes his rival, +gets imprisoned, and is betrayed as an accomplice in a forgery. His +"reflections" during his imprisonment in St. Peter's Tower, bring on +a severe illness.] + +I was scarcely convalescent, when, unable to support the state of +incertitude in which I found my affairs, I resolved on escaping, and +to escape by the door, although that may appear a difficult step. Some +particular observations made me choose this method in preference to any +other. The wicket-keeper at St. Peter's Tower was a galley-slave from +the Bagne (place of confinement) at Brest, sentenced for life. In +a word, I relied on passing by him under the disguise of a superior +officer, charged with visiting St. Peter's Tower, which was used as +a military prison, twice a week. + +Francine, whom I saw daily, got me the requisite clothing, which she +brought me in her muff. I immediately tried them on, and they suited me +exactly. Some of the prisoners who saw me thus attired assured me that +it was impossible to detect me. I was the same height as the officer +whose character I was about to assume, and I made myself appear +twenty-five years of age. At the end of a few days, he made his usual +round, and whilst one of my friends occupied his attention, under +pretext of examining his food, I disguised myself hastily, and presented +myself at the door, which the gaolkeeper, taking off his cap, opened, +and I went out into the street. I ran to a friend of Francine's, as +agreed on in case I should succeed, and she soon joined me there. + +I was there perfectly safe, if I could resolve on keeping concealed; but +how could I submit to a slavery almost as severe as that of St. Peter's +Tower. As for three months I had been enclosed within four walls, I was +now desirous to exercise the activity so long repressed. I announced my +intention of going out; and, as with me an inflexible determination was +always the auxiliary of the most capricious fancy, I did go. My first +excursion was safely performed, but the next morning, as I was crossing +the Rue Ecremoise, a sergeant named Louis, who had seen me during my +imprisonment, met me, and asked if I was free. He was a severe practical +man, and by a motion of his hand could summon twenty persons. I said +that I would follow him; and begging him to allow me to bid adieu to my +mistress, who was in a house of Rue de l'Hôpital, he consented, and we +really met Francine, who was much surprised to see me in such company; +and when I told her that having reflected, that my escape might injure +me in the estimation of my judges, I had decided on returning to St. +Peter's Tower, to wait the result of the process. + +Francine did not at first comprehend why I had expended three hundred +francs, to return at the end of four months to prison. A sign put her +on her guard, and I found an opportunity of desiring her to put some +cinders in my pocket whilst Louis and I took a glass of rum, and then +set out for the prison. Having reached a deserted street, I blinded my +guide with a handful of cinders, and regained my asylum with all speed. + +Louis having made his declaration, the gendarmes and police-officers +were on the full cry after me; and there was one Jacquard amongst them +who undertook to secure me if I were in the city. I was not unacquainted +with these particulars, and instead of being more circumspect in my +behaviour, I affected a ridiculous bravado. It might have been said +that I ought to have had a portion of the premium promised for my +apprehension. I was certainly hotly pursued, as may be judged from +the following incident:-- + +Jacquard learnt one day that I was going to dine in Rue Notre-Dame. He +immediately went with four assistants, whom he left on the ground-floor, +and ascended the staircase to the room where I was about to sit down to +table with two females. A recruiting sergeant, who was to have made the +fourth, had not yet arrived. I recognised Jacquard, who never having +seen me, had not the same advantage, and besides my disguise would have +bid defiance to any description of my person. Without being at all +uneasy, I approached, and with a most natural tone I begged him to pass +into a closet, the glass door of which looked on the banquetroom. "It +is Vidocq whom you are looking for," said I; "if you will wait for ten +minutes you will see him. There is his cover, he cannot be long. When he +enters, I will make you a sign; but if you are alone, I doubt if you can +seize him, as he is armed, and resolved to defend himself."--"I have my +gendarmes on the staircase," answered he, "and if he escapes--"--"Take +care how you place them then," said I with affected haste. "If Vidocq +should see them he would mistrust some plot, and then farewell to the +bird."--"But where shall I place them?"--"Oh, why in this closet--mind, +no noise, that would spoil all; and I have more desire than yourself +that he should not suspect anything." My commissary was now shut up in +four walls with his agents. The door, which was very strong, closed +with a double lock. Then, certain of time for escape, I cried to my +prisoners, "You are looking for Vidocq--well, it is he who has caged +you; farewell." And away I went like a dart, leaving the party shouting +for help, and making desperate efforts to escape from the unlucky +closet. + +Two escapes of the same sort I effected, but at last I was arrested and +carried back to St. Peter's Tower, where, for greater security, I was +placed in a dungeon with a man named Calendrin, who was also thus +punished for two attempts at escape. Calendrin, who had known me during +my first confinement in the prison, imparted to me a fresh plan of +escape, which he had devised by means of a hole worked in the wall of +the dungeon of the galley-slaves, with whom we could communicate. The +third night of my detention all was managed for our escape, and eight +of the prisoners who first went out were so fortunate as to avoid being +detected by the sentinel, who was only a short distance off. + +Seven of us still remained, and we drew straws, as is usual in such +circumstances, to determine which of the seven should first pass. I drew +the short straw, and undressed myself that I might get with greater ease +through the hole, which was very narrow, but to the great disappointment +of all, I stuck fast without the possibility of advancing or receding. +In vain did my companions endeavour to pull me out by force, I was +caught as if in a trap, and the pain of my situation was so extreme, +that not expecting further help from within, I called to the sentry to +render me assistance. He approached with the precaution of a man who +fears a surprise, and presenting his bayonet to my breast, forbade me +to make the slightest movement. At his summons the guard came out, the +porters ran with torches, and I was dragged from my hole, not without +leaving behind me a portion of my skin and flesh. Torn and wounded as +I was, they immediately transferred me to the prison of Petit Hotel, +when I was put into a dungeon, fettered hand and foot. + +Ten days afterwards I was placed amongst the prisoners, through my +intreaties and promises not to attempt again to escape. + +[Here he meets with a fellow named Bruxellois, _the Daring_, of whom +the following anecdote is related:--] + +At the moment of entering a farm with six of his comrades, he thrust his +left hand through an opening in the shutter to lift the latch, but when +he was drawing it back, he found that his wrist had been caught in a +slip knot. Awakened by the noise, the inhabitants of the farm had laid +this snare, although too weak to go out against a band of robbers which +report had magnified as to numbers. But the attempt being thus defeated, +day was fast approaching, and Bruxellois saw his dismayed comrades +looking at each other with doubt, when the idea occurred to him that to +avoid discovery they would knock out his brains. With his right hand he +drew out his clasp knife with a sharp point, which he always had about +him, and cutting off his wrist at the joint, fled with his comrades +without being stopped by the excessive pain of his horrid wound. +This remarkable deed, which has been attributed to a thousand +different spots, really occurred in the vicinity of Lille, and is well +authenticated in the northern districts, where many persons yet remember +to have seen the hero of this tale, who was thence called Manchot, +(or one-armed,) executed. + +[Vidocq at length escapes, quits Lille, and flies to Ostend, where he +joins a crew of smugglers.] + +It was with real repugnance that I went to the house of a man named +Peters, to whom I was directed, as one deeply engaged in the pursuit, +and able to introduce me to it. A sea-gull nailed on his door with +extended wings, like the owls and weasels that we see on barns, guided +me. I found the worthy in a sort of cellar, which by the ropes, sails, +oars, hammocks, and barrels which filled it, might have been taken +for a naval depot. From the midst of a thick atmosphere of smoke which +surrounded him, he viewed me at first with a contempt which had not +a good appearance, and my conjectures were soon realized, for I had +scarcely offered my services than he fell upon me with a shower of +blows. I could certainly have resisted him effectually, but astonishment +had in a measure deprived me of the power of defence; and I saw besides, +in the court-yard, half-a-dozen sailors and an enormous Newfoundland +dog, which would have been powerful odds. Turned into the street, I +endeavoured to account for this singular reception, when it occurred to +me that Peters had mistaken me for a spy, and treated me accordingly. + +This idea determined me on returning to a dealer in hollands, who +had told me of him, and he, laughing at the results of my visit, +gave me a pass-word that would procure me free access to Peters.--[He +succeeds.]--I slept at Peters's house with a dozen or fifteen smugglers, +Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Portuguese, and Russian; there were no +Englishmen, and only two Frenchmen. The day after my installation, as +we were all getting into our hammocks, or flock beds, Peters entered +suddenly into our chamber, which was only a cellar contiguous to his +own, and so filled with barrels and kegs, that we could scarcely find +room to sling our hammocks. Peters had put off his usual attire, which +was that of ship-caulker, or sail-maker, and had on a hairy cap, and a +long red shirt, closed at the breast with a silver pin, fire-arms in his +belt, and a pair of thick large, fisherman's boots, which reach the top +of the thigh, or may be folded down beneath the knee. + +"A-hoy! a-hoy!" cried he, at the door, striking the ground with the butt +end of his carbine! "down with the hammocks, down with the hammocks! We +will sleep some other day. The Squirrel has made signals for a landing +this evening, and we must see what she has in her, muslin or tobacco. +Come, come, turn out, my sea-boys." + +In a twinkling every body was ready. They opened an arm-chest, and every +man took out a carbine or blunderbuss, a brace of pistols, and a cutlass +or boarding pike, and we set out, after having drunk so many glasses of +brandy and arrack that the bottles were empty. At this time there were +not more than twenty of us, but we were joined or met, at one place or +another, by so many individuals, that on reaching the sea side we were +forty-seven in number, exclusive of two females and some countrymen from +the adjacent villages, who brought hired horses, which they concealed in +a hollow behind some rocks. + +It was night, and the wind was shifting, whilst the sea dashed with so +much force, that I did not understand how any vessels could approach +without being cast on shore. What confirmed this idea was, that by the +starlight I saw a small boat rowing backwards and forwards, as if it +feared to land. They told me afterwards that this was only a manoeuvre +to ascertain if all was ready for the unloading, and no danger to be +apprehended. Peters now lighted a reflecting lantern, which one of the +men had brought, and immediately extinguished it; the Squirrel raised +a lantern at her mizen, which only shone for a moment, and then +disappeared like a glow-worm on a summer's night. We then saw it +approach, and anchor about a gun-shot off from the spot where we were. +Our troop then divided into three companies, two of which were placed +five hundred paces in front, to resist the revenue officers if they +should present themselves. The men of these companies were then placed +at intervals along the ground, having at the left arm a packthread which +ran from one to the other: in case of alarm, it was announced by a +slight pull, and each being ordered to answer this signal by firing his +gun, a line of firing was thus kept up, which perplexed the revenue +officers. The third company, of which I was one, remained by the +sea-side, to cover the landing and the transport of the cargo. + +All being thus arranged, the Newfoundland dog already mentioned, and +who was with us, dashed at a word into the midst of the waves, and +swam powerfully in the direction of the Squirrel, and in an instant +afterwards returned with the end of a rope in his mouth. Peters +instantly seized it, and began to draw it towards him, making us signs +to assist him, which I obeyed mechanically. After a few tugs, I saw that +at the end of the cable were a dozen small casks, which floated towards +us. I then perceived that the vessel thus contrived to keep sufficiently +far from the shore, not to run a risk of being stranded. In an instant +the casks, smeared over with something that made them waterproof, were +unfastened and placed on horses, which immediately dashed off for the +interior of the country. A second cargo arrived with the same success; +but as we were landing the third, some reports of fire-arms announced +that our outposts were attacked. "There is the beginning of the ball," +said Peters, calmly; "I must go and see who will dance;" and taking up +his carbine, he joined the outposts, which had by this time joined each +other. The firing became rapid, and we had two men killed, and others +slightly wounded. At the fire of the revenue officers, we soon found +that they exceeded us in number; but alarmed, and fearing an ambuscade, +they dared not to approach, and we effected our retreat without any +attempt on their part to prevent it. From the beginning of the fight +the Squirrel had weighed anchor and stood out to sea, for fear that the +noise of the firing should bring down on her the government cruiser. +I was told that most probably she would unload her cargo in some other +part of the coast, where the owners had numerous agents. + +[Vidocq returns to Lille, where he is taken by two gendarmes, and +concerts the following stratagem for escape:--] + +This escape, however, was not so very easy a matter as may be surmised, +when I say that our dungeons, seven feet square, had walls six feet +thick, strengthened with planking crossed and rivetted with iron; a +window, two feet by one, closed with three iron gratings placed one +after the other, and the door cased with wrought iron. With such +precautions, a jailor might depend on the safe keeping of his charge, +but yet we overcame it all. + +I was in a cell on the second floor with Duhamel. For six francs, a +prisoner, who was also a turnkey, procured us two files, a ripping +chisel, and two turnscrews. We had pewter spoons, and our jailor was +probably ignorant of the use which prisoners could make of them. I knew +the dungeon key; it was the counterpart of all the others on the same +story; and I cut a model of it from a large carrot; then I made a mould +with crumb of bread and potatoes. We wanted fire, and we procured it by +making a lamp with a piece of fat and the rags of a cotton cap. The key +was at last made of pewter, but it was not yet perfect; and it was only +after many trials and various alterations that it fitted at last. Thus +masters of the doors, we were compelled to work a hole in the wall, near +the barns of the town-hall. Sallambier, who was in the dungeons below, +found a way to cut the hole, by working through the planking. + + +THE PRISON OF BICETRE AT PARIS. + + +The prison of Bicêtre is a neat quadrangular building, enclosing many +other structures and many courts, which have each a different name; +there is the grande cour (great court) where the prisoners walk; the +cour de cuisine (or kitchen court;) the cour des chiens (or dog's +court;) the cour de correction (or court of punishment;) and the cour +des fers (or iron court.) In this last is a new building five stories +high; each story contains forty cells, capable of holding four +prisoners. On the platform, which supplies the place of a roof, was +night and day a dog named Dragon, who passed in the prison for the most +watchful and incorruptible of his kind; but some prisoners managed at a +subsequent period to corrupt him through the medium of a roasted leg of +mutton, which he had the culpable weakness to accept. The Amphytrions +escaped whilst Dragon was swallowing the mutton; he was beaten and taken +into the cour des chiens, where, chained up and deprived of the free air +which he breathed on the platform, he was inconsolable for his fault, +and perished piecemeal, a victim of remorse at his weakness in yielding +to a moment of gluttony and error. + +Near the erection I speak of is the old building, nearly arranged in +the same way, and under which were dungeons of safety, in which were +enclosed the troublesome and condemned prisoners. It was in one of these +dungeons that for forty-three years lived the accomplice of Cartouche, +who betrayed him to procure this commutation! To obtain a moment's +sunshine, he frequently counterfeited death so well, that when he had +actually breathed his last sigh, two days passed before they took +off his iron collar. A third part of the building, called La Force, +comprised various rooms, in which the prisoners were placed who arrived +from the provinces, and were destined to the chain. + +At this period, the prison of Bicêtre, which is only strong from the +strict guard kept up there, could contain twelve hundred prisoners; but +they were piled on each other, and the conduct of the jailors in no way +assuaged the inconvenience of the place. + +If any man arrived from the country well clad, who, condemned for a +first offence, was not as yet initiated into the customs and usages of +prisons, in a twinkling he was stripped of his clothes, which were sold +in his presence to the highest bidder. If he had jewels or money, they +were alike confiscated to the profit of the society, and if he were too +long in taking out his ear-rings, they snatched them out without the +sufferer daring to complain. He was previously warned, that if he spoke +of it, they would hang him in the night to the bars of his cell, and +afterwards say that he had committed suicide. If a prisoner, out of +precaution, when going to sleep, placed his clothes under his head, they +waited until he was in his first sleep, and then they tied to his foot a +stone, which they balanced at the side of his bed; at the least motion +the stone fell, and aroused by the noise, the sleeper jumped up, and +before he could discover what had occurred, his packet hoisted by a +cord, went through the iron bars to the floor above. I have seen, in +the depth of winter, these poor devils, having been deprived of their +property in this way, remain in the court in their shirts until some one +threw them some rags to cover their nakedness. As long as they remained +at Bicêtre, by burying themselves, as we may say, in their straw, they +could defy the rigour of the weather; but at the departure of the chain, +when they had no other covering than the frock and trousers made of +packing cloth, they often sunk exhausted and frozen before they reached +the first resting place. + +[As we have said, the present is but a fourth portion of Vidocq's +exploits; and if the remaining three are of equal interest, the work +will be one of the most extraordinary of our times. We scarcely remember +a counterpart, although the Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux are of the same +stamp. The fate of the latter work was curious enough. The manuscript +was sent by the author from New South Wales, whither he had been +transported. It was printed in two small volumes, and published by an +eminent west-end bookseller, who, for some unexplained motive withdrew +the edition, which is, we believe, now in the printer's warehouse. The +Editor of the "Autobiography" has, however, reprinted Vaux's memoirs in +his series; their style is very superior to that of Vidocq's, (which is +a translation) and as scores of worse books are printed annually, we +rejoice at their rescue from oblivion.] + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ANECDOTE GALLERY. + + * * * * * + + +WHITFIELD. + + +Remarkable instances are related of the manner in which Whitfield +impressed his hearers. A man at Exeter stood with stones in his +pocket, and one in his hand, ready to throw at him; but he dropped +it before the sermon was far advanced, and going up to him after +the preaching was over, he said, "Sir, I came to hear you with an +intention to break your head; but God, through your ministry, has +given me a broken heart." A ship-builder was once asked what he +thought of him. "Think!" he replied, "I tell you, sir, every Sunday +that I go to my parish church, I can build a ship from stem to stern +under the sermon; but, were it to save my soul, under Mr. Whitfield I +could not lay a single plank." Hume pronounced him the most ingenious +preacher he had ever heard; and said, it was worth while to go twenty +miles to hear him. But, perhaps, the greatest proof of his persuasive +powers was, when he drew from Franklin's pocket the money which that +clear, cool reasoner had determined not to give; it was for the +orphan-house at Savannah. "I did not," says the American philosopher, +"disapprove of the design; but as Georgia was then destitute of +materials and workmen, and it was proposed to send them from +Philadelphia at a great expense, I thought it would have been better +to have built the house at Philadelphia, and brought the children to +it. This I advised; but he was resolute in his first project, rejected +my counsel, and I therefore refused to contribute. I happened, soon +after, to attend one of his sermons, in the course of which I +perceived he intended to finish with a collection, and I silently +resolved he should get nothing from me. I had in my pocket a handful +of copper money, three or four silver dollars, and five pistoles in +gold. As he proceeded I began to soften, and concluded to give the +copper; another stroke of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and +determined me to give the silver; and he finished so admirably, that +I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. + +"At this sermon," continues Franklin, "there was also one of our club, +who, being of my sentiments respecting the building in Georgia, and +suspecting a collection might be intended, had, by precaution, emptied +his pockets before he came from home; towards the conclusion of the +discourse, however, he felt a strong inclination to give, and applied to +a neighbour who stood near him, to lend him some money for the purpose. +The request was fortunately made to perhaps the only man in the company +who had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer was, +'At any other time, friend Hopkinson, I would lend to thee freely; but +not now, for thee seems to me to be out of thy right senses.'" + +One of his flights of oratory, not in the best taste, is related on +Hume's authority. "After a solemn pause, Mr. Whitfield thus addresses +his audience:--'The attendant angel is just about to leave the +threshold, and ascend to heaven; and shall he ascend and not bear with +him the news of one sinner, among all the multitude, reclaimed from the +error of his ways!' To give the greater effect to this exclamation, he +stamped with his foot, lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, and cried +aloud, 'Stop, Gabriel! stop, Gabriel! stop, ere you enter the sacred +portals, and yet carry with you the news of one sinner converted to +God!'" Hume said this address was accompanied with such animated, yet +natural action, that it surpassed any thing he ever saw or heard in any +other preacher.--_Southey_. + + * * * * * + + +SIR RICHARD JEBB. + + +Was very rough and harsh in manner. He said to a patient, to whom +he had been very rude, "_Sir, it is my way_."--"Then," replied the +patient, pointing to the door, "I beg you will make _that your way_." +Sir Richard was not very nice in his mode of expression, and would +frequently astonish a patient with a volley of oaths. Nothing used to +make him swear more than the eternal question, "What may I eat? Pray, +Sir Richard, may I eat a muffin?"--"Yes, Madam, the _best thing_ you +can take."--"O dear! I am glad of that. But, Sir Richard, you told +me the other day that it was the _worst_ thing I could eat!"--"What +would be proper for me to eat to-day?" says another lady.--"Boiled +turnips."--"Boiled turnips! you forget, Sir Richard, I told you I +could not bear boiled turnips."--"Then, Madam, you must have +a--vitiated appetite." + +Sir Richard, being called to see a patient who fancied himself very +ill, told him ingenuously what he thought, and declined prescribing, +thinking it unnecessary. "Now you are here," said the patient, "I +shall be obliged to you, Sir Richard, if you will tell me how I must +live, what I may eat, and what not."--"My directions as to that +point," replied Sir Richard, "will be few and simple. You must not eat +the poker, shovel, or tongs, for they are hard of digestion; nor the +bellows, because they are windy; but any thing else you please!" + +He was first cousin to Dr. John Jebb, who had been a dissenting +minister, well known for his political opinions and writings. His +Majesty George III. used sometimes to talk to Sir Richard concerning +his cousin; and once, more particularly, spoke of his restless, +reforming spirit in the church, in the university, physic, &c. "And +please your Majesty," replied Sir Richard, "if my cousin were in +heaven he would be a reformer!"--_Wadd's Memoirs._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." +SHAKESPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +GOOD BYE. + + + When from the friend we dearly love + Fate tells us we must part, + By speech we can but feebly prove + The anguish of the heart. + + And no soft words, howe'er sincere, + Can half so much imply, + As that suppress'd, though trembling tear, + Which drowns the word--Good bye. + +_Warwick._ W.S. + + * * * * * + + +A keen shopkeeper, having in his service a couple of shopmen, who +in point of intellect, were the very reverse of their master, a wag +who frequented the shop, for some time puzzled the neighbourhood by +designating it a "_music-shop_," although the proprietor dealt as +much in _music_ as in _millstones_. However, being pressed for an +explanation, he said that the _scale_ was conducted by a _sharp_, a +_flat_ and a _natural_; and if these did not constitute "music," he +did not know what did. + +ISSACCAR. + + * * * * * + + +IMMORTALITY. + + +Napoleon being in the gallery of the Louvre one day, attended by Baron +Denon, turned round suddenly from a fine picture, which he had viewed +for some time in silence, and said to him, "That is a noble picture, +Denon."--"Immortal," was Denon's reply. "How long," inquired Napoleon, +"will this picture last?" Denon answered, that, "with care and in a +proper situation, it might last, perhaps, five hundred years."--"And +how long," said Napoleon, "will a statue last?"--"Perhaps," replied +Denon, "five thousand years."--"And this," returned Napoleon, sharply, +"this you call immortality!" + + * * * * * + + +LINES TO A LADY, ON HER REFUSING HER CARD. + + + Let heroes, anxious for their future fame, + Obtain of Fortune what they want--a name; + The _future_ theirs, the present hour be mine-- + The only name I ask of fate--is thine; + Yet happier still had fate decreed to me + The favour'd lot, to give my name to thee. + +T.B. + + * * * * * + + +A dull barrister, once obtained the nickname _Necessity_--because +_Necessity has no law_. + + * * * * * + + +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 XI; in boards, price £2. l9s. 6d half bound, £3. +l7s. + + * * * * * + +LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS. + + +CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, +near Somerset House. + +The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. Embellished with nearly 150 +Engravings. Price 6s. 6d. boards. + +The TALES of the GENII. Price 2s. + +The MICROCOSM By the Right Hon. G. CANNING. &c. Price 2s. + +PLUTARCH'S LIVES, with Fifty Portraits, 2 vols. price l3s. boards. + +COWPER'S POEMS with 12 Engravings, price 3s. 6d. boards. + +COOK'S VOYAGES, 2 vols. price 8s. boards. + +The CABINET of CURIOSITIES: or, WONDERS of the WORLD DISPLAYED Price 5s. +boards. + +BEAUTIES of SCOTT. 2 vols. price 7s. boards. + +The ARCANA of SCIENCE for 1828. Price 4s. 6d. + +Any of the above Works can be purchased in Parts. + +GOLDSMITH'S ESSAYS. Price 8d. + +DR. FRANKLIN'S ESSAYS. Price 1s. 2d. + +BACON'S ESSAYS, Price 8d. + +SALMAGUNDI, Price 1s. 8d. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction., by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11386 *** diff --git a/11386-h/11386-h.htm b/11386-h/11386-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9583ae --- /dev/null +++ b/11386-h/11386-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2078 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> + +<title>The Mirror of Literature, Issue 347.</title> + + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + blockquote {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + + .note, .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + + span.pagenum {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + + .figure {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto;} + .figure img {border: none;} + .figure p + --> + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11386 ***</div> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page417" name="page417"></a>[pg 417]</span> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" summary="Banner"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>VOL. XII, NO. 347.]</b></td> + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1828.</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + + + +<h3> +EUROPEAN CITIES.—NAPLES. +</h3> + + +<div class="figure" style="width: 100%;"> +<a href="images/347-1.png"><img width="100%" src="images/347-1.png" +alt="European Cities.--Naples." /></a> +</div> + + + +<p> +In our last volume we commenced the design of illustrating the +principal <i>Cities of Europe</i>, by a series of picturesque views—one of +which is represented in the above engraving. Our miscellaneous duties +in identifying the pages of the MIRROR with subjects of contemporary +interest, and anxiety to bring them on our little <i>tapis</i>—(qy. +Twopence?)—will best account for the interval which has elapsed since +the commencement of our design—with a View of London; but were all +travellers as tardy, the Grand Tour of Europe would occupy many years, +and leave fashion-mongers but little more than rouge, wrinkles, and +<i>bon-bons</i> to delight their friends at home. +</p> + +<p> +The proximity of Naples to Rome may, perhaps, impair the interest of +the former city, especially as it presents nothing in architecture, +sculpture, or painting that can vie with the Imperial Mistress. +Nevertheless, Naples is one of the most beautiful and most delightful +cities on the habitable globe. Nothing can possibly be imagined more +unique than its <i>coup-d'oeil</i>, on whatever side the city is viewed. +</p> + +<p> +Naples is situated towards the south and east on the declivity of a +long range of hills, and encircling a gulf of 16 miles in breadth, +and as many in length, which forms a basin, called Crater by the +Neapolitans. The city appears to crown this superb basin. One part +rises towards the west in the form of an amphitheatre, on the hills +of Pausilippo, St. Ermo, and Antiguano; the other extends towards the +east, over a more level territory, in which villas follow each other +in rapid succession, from the Magdalen Bridge to Portici, where the +king's palace is situated, and beyond that to Mount Vesuvius. The +Neapolitans have a saying, <i>Vedi Napoli e po mari</i>, intimating that +when Naples has been seen, every thing has been seen; and its +congregated charms of situation, climate, and fertility almost warrant +this patriotic ebullition. +</p> + +<p> +"On the northern side, Naples is surrounded by hills, which (says +<i>Vasi</i>, in his '<i>Picture</i>,') form a kind of crown round the <i>Terra di +Lavoro</i>, the Land of Labour." This consists of a district, in the +language of ancient Rome, +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> ———Lecos laeros, et amoena vireta</p> + <p> Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas—</p> +</div></div> + + + +<p> +and fertilized by a river, called Sebeto, which descends from the hills +on the side +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page418" name="page418"></a>[pg 418]</span> +of Nola, and falls into the sea after having passed under +Magdalen Bridge, towards the eastern part of Naples. +</p> + +<p> +The ancient history of Naples is involved in much obscurity. According +to some, says <i>Vasi</i>, Falerna, one of the Argonauts, founded it about +1,300 years before the Christian era; according to others, Parthenope, +one of the Syrens, celebrated by Homer in his "Odyssey," being +shipwrecked on this coast, landed here, and built a town, to which she +gave her name; others attribute its foundation to Hercules, some to +Eneas, and others to Ulysses. These are mere freaks of fiction and +fable; and it is more probable that Naples was founded by some Greek +colonies; this may be inferred from its own name, <i>Neapolis</i>, and from +the name of another town contiguous to it, <i>Paleopolis.</i> Strabo speaks +of these Greek colonies, whence the city derives its origin. +</p> + +<p> +The city of Naples was formerly surrounded by very high walls, about 22 +miles in circumference; but on its enlargement, neither walls nor gates +were erected. It may be, however, defended by three strong castles. +</p> + +<p> +Naples is divided into twelve quarters, or departments, and contains +about 450,000 inhabitants. It is consequently the most populous city +in Europe, except London and Paris. The streets are neither broad nor +regular, and are paved with broad slabs of hard stone, resembling the +lava of Vesuvius. The houses are, for the most part, uniformly built, +being about five or six stories high, with balconies and flat roofs, +in the form of terraces, which are used as a promenade. The churches, +palaces, and public buildings are magnificent; but they suffer in +comparison with the other architectural wealth of Italy. Vasi states +there are about 300 churches; and among the other public buildings he +mentions 37 conservatories, established for the benefit of poor +children, and old people, both men and women. +</p> + +<p> +The environs of Naples possess many attractions for the classic tourist, +as well as for the strange flies of fashion. Among these is Virgil's +Tomb, which is, indeed, holy ground. The temples, aqueducts, and arches +of olden time are likewise stupendous records of the sumptuousness of +the ancient people of this interesting district; and, apart from these +attractions, the contemplative philosopher may read in the volcanic +remains, and other phenomena on its shores, many inspiring lessons in +the broad volume of Nature; as well as amid the neighbouring relics of +Art, where +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Man marks the earth with ruin.</p> +</div></div> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2> +LEICESTER ABBEY.—DEATH OF CARDINAL WOLSEY. +</h2> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + +<p> +Few periods of English history are more pregnant with events, or more +interesting to the antiquary, and general reader, than that which +comprised the fortunes of Wolsey. The eventful life of the Cardinal, +checkered as it was by the vicissitudes of fortune, his sudden +elevation, and finally his more sudden fall and death, display an +appalling picture of "the instability of human affairs." This prelate +and statesman, who even aspired to the Papal throne itself, "was an +honest poore man's sonne in the towne of Ipswiche,"<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> who having +received a good education, and being endowed with great capacity, soon +rose to fill the highest offices of the church and state; in 1515 he +was created Lord High Chancellor, and in three years afterwards was +appointed legate <i>à latere</i> by the Pope, having previously received +a Cardinal's cap. +</p> + +<p> +Leicester Abbey was rendered famous as being the last residence of the +unhappy Wolsey; "within its walls," says Gilpin, "was once exhibited a +scene more humiliating to human ambition, and more instructive to human +grandeur than almost any which history hath produced. Here the fallen +pride of Wolsey retreated from the insults of the world, all his visions +of ambition were now gone; his pomp and pageantry and crowded levees! On +this spot he told the listening monks, the sole attendants of his dying +hour, as they stood around his pallet, that he was come to lay his bones +among them, and gave a pathetic testimony to the truth and joys of +religion, which preaches beyond a thousand lectures."<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +On his road to London, whither he had been summoned, from his castle of +<i>Cawood</i>, by Henry, to take his trial for high treason, he was seized +with a disorder, which so much increased as to oblige his resting at +Leicester, where he was met at the Abbey gate by the Abbot and his whole +convent. The first ejaculation +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page419" name="page419"></a>[pg 419]</span> +of Wolsey, on meeting these holy persons, +plainly shows that he was fully aware of his approaching end: "Father +Abbot," said he, "I am come hither to lay my bones among you;"<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> and it +was with great difficulty that they could get him up the stairs, which +it was fated he was never again to descend alive. A short time previous +to his death, he thus addressed the Constable of the Tower, who was +appointed to convey him to the metropolis:—"Well, well, Master +Kingstone, I see the matter how it is framed; but if I had serued God as +diligentlie as I haue done the king, he would not haue giuen me ouer in +my gray haires;<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> but this is the iust reward that I must receiue for +the diligent paines and study yt I haue had to doe him seruice, not +regarding my seruice to God, but onely to satisfie his pleasure; I praie +you haue me most humblie commended vnto his royal maiestie, and beseech +him in my behalfe to call to his princelie remembrance, all matters +proceeding between him and mee, from the beginning of the worlde, and +the progress of the same, and most especialle in his weightie matter, +and then shall his grace's conscience know whether I haue oflended him +or no."<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +Thus sunk into the grave a man, who was a victim to tyranny, but +to a tyranny which he had himself formed; that he was a person far +enlightened beyond the period in which he lived no one can presume +to doubt. He tended greatly to promote the arts and learning of his +country. His personal character displayed as great a variety of opposite +qualities, as the fortunes to which he had been exposed; his magnanimity +was oftentimes clouded by the greatest meanness, and with an urbanity of +manners, he combined an intolerable degree of pride and arrogance; he +was frank and generous, but his overwhelming ambition greatly tended to +obscure these nobler qualities of his mind, and as he rose, he became +haughty and overbearing. His character has been obscured by the envy and +partiality of his contemporaries, who have generally endeavoured to load +his memory with reproaches. "This Cardinall," says Holinshed, "was +of great stomach, for he compted himselfe equall with princes, and by +craftie suggestion got into his hands innumerable treasure; he forced +little on simonie, and was not pittiful, and stood affectionate in his +owne opinion; in open presence he would lie and saie vntruth, and was +double both in speech and meaning; he would promise much and performe +little; he was vicious of his bodie, and gaue the clergy euill example; +he hated sore the Citie of London and feared it. It was told him that +he should die in the waie toward London, wherefore he feared lest the +commons of the citie would arise in riotous maner and so slaie him, yet +for all that he died in the waie toward London, carrieng more with him +out of the worlde than he brought into it, namellie, a winding sheete, +besides other necessaries thought meet for a dead man, as a Christian +comelinesse required."<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +The remains of the Cardinal were interred in the Abbey Church at +Leicester, after having been viewed by the Mayor and Corporation, +(for the prevention of false rumours,) and were attended to the grave +by the Abbot and all the brethren. This last ceremony was performed by +torchlight, the canons singing dirges, and offering orisons, at between +four and five o'clock of the morning, on St. Andrew's Day, November the +30th, 1530. +</p> + +<p> +Leicester Abbey was founded (according to Leland) <a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> in the year 1143, +in the reign of King Stephen, by Robert Bossue, Earl of Leicester, for +black canons of the order of St. Augustine, and was dedicated to the +Virgin Mary. It is situated in a pleasant meadow, to the north of the +town, watered by the river Soar, whence it acquired the name of <i>St. +Mary de Pratis</i>, or <i>de la Pré</i>. This monastery was richly endowed +with lands in thirty-six of the neighbouring parishes, besides various +possessions in other counties, and enjoyed considerable privileges and +immunities. Bossue, with the consent of Lady Amicia, his wife, became +a canon regular in his own foundation, in expiation of his rebellious +conduct towards his sovereign, and particularly for the injuries which +he had thereby brought upon the "goodly towne of Leycestre." At the +dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. the revenues of this house +were valued according to <i>Speed</i> at £1062. 0s. 4d., <i>Dugdale</i> says £951. +14s. 5d.; and its site was granted in the 4th of Edward VI. to William, +Marquess of Northampton.<a id="footnotetag8" name="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> +</p> + + +<p> + S.I.B. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page420" name="page420"></a>[pg 420]</span> +</p> + + +<h3> + ANCIENT OATHS. +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>To the Editor of the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + +<p> +It will be recollected, that in a former volume I gave you the form of +the oath taken by the appellee in the ancient manner of trial by battle. +The appellee, when appealed of felony, pleads <i>not guilty</i> and throws +down his glove, and declares he will defend the same by his body; the +appellant takes up the glove, and replies that he is ready to make good +the appeal body for body; and thereupon the appellee, taking the book in +his right hand, makes oath as before mentioned. To which the appellant +replies, holding the Bible and his antagonist's hand in the same manner +as the other, "Hear this, O man, whom I hold by the hand, who callest +thyself <i>Thomas</i> by the name of baptism, that thou art perjured; and +therefore perjured, because that thou feloniously didst murder my +father, <i>William</i> by name. So help me God and the Saints, and this I +will prove against thee by my body, as this court shall award." And then +the combat proceeds. +</p> + +<p> +There is a striking resemblance between this process and that of the +court of <i>Arcopagus,</i> at Athens, for murder, where the prisoner and +prosecutor were both sworn in the most solemn manner—the prosecutor, +that he was related to the deceased, (for none but near relations were +permitted to prosecute in that court,) and that the prisoner was the +cause of his death; the prisoner, that he was innocent of the charge +against him. +</p> + +<p> +In time I hope to be able to furnish you with other specimens of our +curious ancient oaths. +</p> + +<p> +W.H.H. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + SONNET. +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Whose heart is not delighted at the sound</p> +<p class="i2"> Of rural song, of Nature's melody,</p> + <p> When hills and dales with harmony rebound,</p> + <p> While Echo spreads the pleasing strains around,</p> +<p class="i2"> Awak'ning pure and heartfelt sympathy!</p> + <p> Perchance on some rude rock the minstrel stands,</p> +<p class="i2"> While his pleased hearers wait entranced around;</p> + <p> Behold him touch the chords with fearless hands,</p> +<p class="i2"> Creating heav'nly joys from earthly sound.</p> + <p> How many voices in the chorus rise,</p> +<p class="i2"> And artless notes renew the failing strains;</p> + <p> The honest boor his vocal talent tries,</p> + <p> Approving love beams from his "fair one's eyes,"</p> +<p class="i2"> While age, in silent joy, forgets its pains.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +J.J. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> +THE DEATH OF SALADIN.<a id="footnotetag9" name="footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror.</i>) +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> The angel of death hath too surely prest</p> + <p> His fatal sign on the warrior's breast—</p> + <p> Quench'd is the light of the eagle-eye,</p> + <p> And the nervous limbs rest languidly—</p> + <p> The eloquent tongue is silent and still,</p> + <p> The deep clear voice again may not chill</p> + <p> The hearers' hearts with its own deep thrill.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> Ah, who can gaze on death, nor inward feel</p> + <p> A creeping horror through the bosom steal,</p> + <p> Like one who stands upon a precipice,</p> + <p> And sees below a mangled sacrifice,</p> + <p> Feeling that he himself must ere long fall,</p> + <p> With none to save him, none to hear his call,</p> + <p> Or wrest him from the agonizing thrall?</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> And yet it is but sleep we look upon!</p> + <p> But in that sleep from which the life is gone</p> + <p> Sinks the proud Saladin, Egyptia's lord.</p> + <p> His faith's firm champion, and his Prophet's sword;</p> + <p> Not e'en the red cross knights withstand his pow'r,</p> + <p> But, sorrowing, mark the Moslem's triumph hour,</p> + <p> And the pale crescent float from Salem's tow'r.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> As the keen arrow, hurl'd with giant-might,</p> + <p> Rends the thin air in its impetuous flight,</p> + <p> But being spent on earth innoxious lies,</p> + <p> E'en its track vanish'd from the yielding skies—</p> + <p> So lies the soldan, stopp'd his bright career,</p> + <p> His vanquish'd realms their prostrate heads uprear,</p> + <p> And coward kings forget their servile fear.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> Ere yet stern Azrael<a id="footnotetag10" name="footnotetag10"></a><a href="#footnote10"><sup>10</sup></a> cut the thread of life,</p> + <p> While Death and Nature wag'd unequal strife,</p> + <p> Spoke the expiring hero:—"Hither stand,</p> + <p> Receive your dying sovereign's last command.</p> + <p> When that the spirit from my frame is riven,</p> + <p> (Oh, gracious Alla! be my sins forgiven,</p> + <p> And bright-eyed Houris waft my soul to heaven,)</p> + <p> Then when you bear me to my last retreat,</p> + <p> Let not the mourners howl along the street—</p> + <p> Let not my soldiers in the train be seen,</p> + <p> Nor banners float, nor lance or sabre gleam—</p> + <p> Nor yet, to testify a vain regret,</p> + <p> O'er my remains let costly shrine be set,</p> + <p> Or sculptur'd stone, or gilded minaret;</p> + <p> But let a herald go before my bier,</p> + <p> Bearing on point of lance the robe I wear.</p> + <p> Shouting aloud, 'Behold what now remains</p> + <p> Of the proud conqueror of Syria's plains,</p> + <p> Who bow'd the Persian, made the Christian feel</p> + <p> The deadly sharpness of the Moslem steel;</p> + <p> But of his conquests, riches, honours, might,</p> + <p> Naught sleeps with him in death's unbroken night,</p> + <p> Save this poor robe.'"</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +D.A.H. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + BANQUETTING HOUSE, WHITEHALL. +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror.</i>) +</p> + + +<p> +This splendid pile which is at present under repair, was erected in the +time of James I. Whitehall being in a most ruinous state, he determined +to rebuild it in a very princely manner, and worthy of the residence +of the monarchs of the British empire. He began with pulling +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page421" name="page421"></a>[pg 421]</span> +down the +banquetting rooms built by Elizabeth. That which bears the above name at +present was begun in 1619, from a design of Inigo Jones, in his purest +style; and executed by Nicholas Stone, master mason and architect to +the king; it was finished in two years, and cost £17,000. but is only +a small part of a vast plan, left unexecuted by reason of the unhappy +times which succeeded. The ceiling of this noble room cannot be +sufficiently admired; it was painted by Rubens, who had £3,000. for +his work. The subject is the Apotheosis of James I. forming nine +compartments; one of the middle represents our pacific monarch on +his earthly throne, turning with horror from Mars, and other of the +discordant deities, and as if it were, giving himself up to the amiable +goddess he always cultivated, and to her attendants, Commerce, and the +Fine Arts. This fine performance is painted on canvass, and is in high +preservation; but a few years ago it underwent a repair by Cipriani, who +had £2,000. for his trouble. Near the entrance is a bust of the royal +founder. +</p> + +<p> +Little did James think (says Pennant) that he was erecting a pile from +which his son was to step from the throne to the scaffold. He had been +brought in the morning of his death, from St. James's across the Park, +and from thence to Whitehall, where ascending the great staircase, he +passed through the long gallery to his bed-chamber, the place allotted +to him to pass the little time before he received the fatal blow. It +is one of the lesser rooms marked with the letter A in the old plan of +Whitehall. He was from thence conducted along the galleries and the +banquetting house, through the wall, in which a passage was broken to +his last earthly stage. Mr. Walpole tells us that Inigo Jones, surveyor +of the works done about the king's house, had only 8s. 4d. a day, and +£46. a year for house-rent, and a clerk and other incidental expenses. +The present improvements at Whitehall make one exclaim with the poet, +Pope— +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "I see, I see, where two fair cities bend</p> + <p> Their ample brow, <i>a new Whitehall ascend.</i>"</p> +</div></div> + + + +<p> +Again, +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "You too proceed, make falling arts your care,</p> + <p> <i>Erect new wonders, and the old repair;</i></p> + <p> <i>Jones</i> and Palladio to themselves <i>restore</i>,</p> + <p> And be whate'er Vitruvius was before."</p> +</div></div> + + + +<h3> + P.T.W. +</h3> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + THE UNIVERSE. +</h3> + +<p> +<i>(For the Mirror.)</i> +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> O light celestial, streaming wide</p> +<p class="i2"> Through morning'd court of fairy blue—</p> + <p> O tints of beauty, beams of pride,</p> +<p class="i2"> That break around its varied hue—</p> + <p> Still to thy wonted pathway true,</p> +<p class="i2"> Thou shinest on serenely free,</p> + <p> Best born of <i>Him</i>, whose mercy grew</p> +<p class="i2"> In every gift, sweet world, to thee.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O countless stars, that, lost in light,</p> +<p class="i2"> Still gem the proud sun's glory bed,</p> + <p> And o'er the saddening brow of night</p> +<p class="i2"> A softer, holier influence shed—</p> + <p> How well your radiant march hath sped.</p> +<p class="i2"> Unfailing vestals of the sky,</p> + <p> As smiling thus ye weed from dread</p> +<p class="i2"> The soul ye court to muse on high.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O flowers that breathe of beauty's reign,</p> +<p class="i2"> In many a tint o'er lawn and lea,</p> + <p> That give the cold heart once again</p> +<p class="i2"> A dream of happier infancy;</p> + <p> And even on the grave can be</p> +<p class="i2"> A spell to weed affection's pain—</p> + <p> Children of Eden, who could see.</p> +<p class="i2"> Nor own <i>His</i> bounty in your reign?</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O winds, that seem to waft from far</p> +<p class="i2"> A mystic murmur o'er the soul,</p> + <p> As ye had power to pass the bar</p> +<p class="i2"> Of nature in your vast control,</p> + <p> Hail to your everlasting roll—</p> +<p class="i2"> Obedient still ye wander dim,</p> + <p> And softly breathe, or loudly toll,</p> +<p class="i2"> Through earth and sky the name of <i>Him</i>.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O world of waters, o'er whose bed</p> +<p class="i2"> The chainless winds unceasing swell,</p> + <p> That claim'st a kindred over head,</p> +<p class="i2"> As 'twixt the skies thou seem'st to dwell;</p> + <p> And e'en on earth art but a spell,</p> +<p class="i2"> Amid their realms to wander free—</p> + <p> Thy task of pride hath speeded well,</p> +<p class="i2"> Thou deep, eternal, boundless sea.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O storms of night and darkness, flung</p> +<p class="i2"> In blackening chaos o'er the world,</p> + <p> When thunderpeals are dreadly rung,</p> +<p class="i2"> Mid clouds in sightless fury hurl'd,</p> + <p> Types of a mightier power, impearl'd</p> +<p class="i2"> With mercy's soft, redeeming ray,</p> + <p> Still at His voice your wings are furl'd,</p> +<p class="i2"> Ye wake to own and to obey.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O thou blest whole of light and love,</p> +<p class="i2"> Thou glorious realm of earth and sky,</p> + <p> That breath'st of blissful hope above,</p> +<p class="i2"> When all of thine hath wander'd by,</p> + <p> Throughout thy range, nor tear nor sigh</p> +<p class="i2"> But breathes of bliss, of beauty's reign,</p> + <p> And concord, such as in the sky</p> +<p class="i2"> The soul is taught to meet again.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O man, who veil'd in deepest night</p> +<p class="i2"> This beauty-breathing world of thine,</p> + <p> And taught the serpent's deadly blight</p> +<p class="i2"> Amid its sweetest flowers to twine,</p> + <p> Thou, thou alone hast dared repine,</p> +<p class="i2"> And turn'd aside from duty's call,</p> + <p> Thou who hast broken nature's shrine,</p> +<p class="i2"> And wilder'd hope and darken'd all.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +ANNETTE TURNER. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p> +A half-pint of wine for young men in perfect health is enough, and you +will be able to take your exercise better, and feel better for this +abstinence.—<i>Dr. Babington.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page422" name="page422"></a>[pg 422]</span> +</p> + + + + +<h2> + THE SKETCH BOOK. +</h2> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + COLLEGE LOVE. +</h3> + + +<p> +We had gone into Devonshire, for the purpose of being more retired, that +we might study more attentively, and with less chance of interruption, +than in a town. We chose, accordingly, for our residence, one of the +most beautiful and retired cottages we ever saw. It was situated very +near the sea; and, oh! what thoughts used to steal over us, of romance +and true love, as we gazed upon that quiet ocean, from the vine-covered +window of our quiet, sweet, secluded home! Day after day, we wandered +among the woods in the neighbourhood, and rejoiced, at each successive +visit, to find out new beauties. This continued for some time; till at +last, on returning one day, we saw an unusual bustle in the room we +occupied. On entering, we found our landlady hurrying out in great +confusion, and, along with her, a beautiful, blushing girl, so perfectly +ladylike in her appearance, that we wondered by what means our venerable +hostess could have become acquainted with so interesting a visiter. She +soon explained the mystery; this lady, who seemed more bewitching every +moment that we gazed on her, was the daughter of a 'squire in whose +family our worthy landlady had been nurse. She had come, without knowing +that any lodger was in the house, and was to stay a week. Oh! that week! +the happiest of our life. We soon became intimate; our books lay fast +locked up at the bottom of our trunk: we walked together, saw the sun +set together in the calm ocean, and then walked happily and contentedly +home in the twilight; and long before the week was at an end, we had +vowed eternal vows, and sworn everlasting constancy. We had not, to +be sure, discovered any great powers of mind in our enslaver; but how +interesting is even ignorance, when it comes from such a beautiful +and smiling mouth! We had already formed happy plans of moulding her +unformed opinions, and directing and sharing all her studies. The little +slips which were observable in her grammar, we attributed to want of +care; and the accent, which was very powerful, was rendered musical to +our ear, at the same time as dear to our heart, by the whiteness of the +little arm that lay so quietly and lovingly within our own. And then, +her taste in poetry was not the most delicate or refined; but she was so +enthusiastically fond of it, that we imagined a little training would +lead her to prefer many of Mr. Moore's ballads, to the pathos of Giles +Scroggins; and that in time, the "Shining River" might occupy a superior +place, in her estimation, to a song from which she repeated, with tears +in her eyes—, +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "But like the star what lighted</p> + <p> Pale billion to its fated doom,</p> + <p> Our nuptial song is blighted,</p> + <p> And its rose quench'd in its bloom."</p> +</div></div> + + + +<p> +And then, she seemed so fond of flowers, and knew so much about their +treatment, that we fancied how lovely she must look while engaged in that +fascinating study; and often, in our dreaming moods, did we mutter about +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i6"> "Fair Proserpine</p> + <p> Within the vale of Enna gathering flowers,</p> + <p> Herself the fairest flower."—</p> +</div></div> + + + +<p> +But why should we repeat what every one can imagine so well for himself? +At last, the hour of parting came; and, week after week, her stay at the +cottage had been prolonged, till our departure took place before hers. +And on that day she looked, as all men's sweethearts do at leaving them, +more touchingly beautiful than ever we had seen her before; and after we +had torn ourself away, we looked back, and there we saw her standing in +the same spot we had left her, a statue of misery and despair,—"like +Niobe all tears." +</p> + +<p> +Astonishment occupied the minds of all our friends on our return to +college. The change which took place on our feelings and conduct was +indeed amazing; our mornings were devoted to gazing on a lock of +our—she was rather unfortunate in a name—our Grizel's hair, and to +lonely hours of musing in the meadow on all the adventures of our +sojourn in Devonshire. No longer we stood listlessly in the quadrangle, +joining the knots of idlers, of whom we used to be one of the chief; +no longer had even Castles' Havannahs any charms for our lips; and our +whole heart was wrapt up in the expectation of a letter. This we were +not to receive for three long weeks; and by that time she was to have +returned home, consulted her father on the subject of our attachment, +and return us a definitive reply. We wrote in the meantime—such a +letter! We are assured it must have been written on a sheet of asbestos, +or it must infallibly have taken fire. It began, "Lovely and most +beautiful Grizel!" and ended, "Your adorer." At last the letter that was +to conclude all our hopes was put into our hands. We had some men that +morning to breakfast; we received it just as they were beginning the +third pie. How heartily we prayed they would he off and leave us +alone! But no—on they kept swallowing pigeon +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page423" name="page423"></a>[pg 423]</span> +after pigeon, and seemed +to consider themselves as completely fixtures as the grate or the +chimney-piece. We wished devoutly to see a bone sticking in the throat +of our most intimate friend, and, by way of getting quit of them, had +thoughts of setting fire to the room. At last, however, they departed. +Immediately as the skirt of the last one's coat disappeared, we +carefully locked and bolted our door, and, with hands trembling with +joy, we took out the letter. Not very clean was its appearance, and not +over correct or well-spelt was its address; and, above all, a yellow, +dingy wafer filled up the place of the green wax we had expected, and +the true lover's motto, "Though lost to sight, to memory dear," was +supplied by the impression of a thimble. We opened it. Horror and +amazement! never was such penmanship beheld. The lines were complete +exemplifications of the line of beauty, so far as their waving, and +twisting, and twining was concerned; and the orthography it was past +all human comprehension to understand. +</p> + +<blockquote> +"My deerest deere, dear sur,"—this was the letter,—"i kim him more nor +a wic agon, butt i cuddunt right yu afore ass i av bin with muther an +asnt seed father till 2 day. he sais as my fortin is 3 hundurd pouns, +he sais as he recomminds me tu take mi hold lover Mister Tomas the +gaurdnar, he sais as yu caunt mary no boddi, accause you must be a +batseller three ears. if thiss be troo i am candied enuff to tell you +ass i caunt wate so long my deerast deer, o yu ave brock mi art! wy did +yu sai al ass yu sad iff yu cud unt mary nor none of the scolards at +hocksfoot Kolidge. father sais as ther iss sum misstake praps yu did unt +no ass mother is not marid 2 father butt is marrid to the catchmun and +father is marad to a veri gud ladi ass gove me a gud edocasion. mi +deerest deere it brakes my art all from yu for tu part, i rot them lines +this marnin. mister tomas sais as i gov im mi prumass befor i cum to ave +the apiness of see yu. butt i dant thinc i giv mor promass to him. nor +2 manni uthers. mi deerest deer and troo luv cuppid! i feer our nutshell +song is blitid and its ros kwencht in its blum. them was plesent ours +when the carnashuns and tullups was all in blo, wasunt them mi deer luv. +mister tomas sais ass he can mari me in a munth and father sais i hot tu +take im. iff so be as yu caun't du it beefor i thinc i shal take im ass +father sais there is sum mistake, mi deerest deere mi art is brock butt +i thinc i shall take im iff so bee as I dant ear frum yu. gud nite my +troo luv i shal kip your lockat for a kipsic an yu ma kiss my luck off +air for the sack of your brockan arted +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> +"GRIZEL." +</blockquote> + +<p> +It is astonishing how the perusal of this cured us of our affection. +At the first line we recollected that she had a tendency to squint, +and long before we came to the conclusion, we remembered that her +ancles were rather thick, and her feet by no means of diminutive size. +Thus ended our love adventures at the University. Our heroine we have +never heard of since, and we have resisted the most tempting offers +from the loveliest of her sex; and in spite of sighing heiresses and +compassionate old maids, we are still a bachelor; and a bachelor, +in defiance of all their machinations, we are firmly determined to +remain.—<i>Blackwood's Magazine.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + +<h2> + MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. +</h2> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN THE NETHERLANDS. +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + +<p> +Many singular customs are observed in the Netherlands at Christmas, and +as they materially differ from those known in England, a brief notice of +<i>one</i> of them may probably prove acceptable to the readers of the +MIRROR. +</p> + +<p> +In almost every Dutch town, and in every considerable village, the +following custom prevails:—At a little after two o'clock in the morning +of Christmas-day, a number of young men assemble in the market-place, +and sing some verses suited to the occasion. One of the young men bears +an <i>artificial star,</i> which is fixed to a pole, and elevated above the +heads of the people; it is very large, and is rendered beautifully +transparent when a light is placed in the inside. This artificial +luminary is intended to represent the star of the east, which directed +the wise men to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. At a little +distance, the appearance is exceedingly brilliant, for there is no other +light among the populace to diminish its lustre, and the whole scene +is singularly picturesque. The resplendent light issuing from the star +strikes powerfully upon the countenances of the principal actors, while +those more remote receive only a faint and subdued gleam. The silvery +effulgence of the moon, the sombre and deserted look of the buildings +around, and the general stillness that pervades every object, save the +scene of action, might inspire the mind of a Rembrandt, or introduce +to the mere casual beholder feelings at once new and poetical. +</p> + +<p> +After parading through the town, the youths repair in a body to the +residence +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page424" name="page424"></a>[pg 424]</span> +of some opulent inhabitant, where their arrival is welcomed +with shouts and clapping of hands, and where they are entertained with +a plentiful repast. +</p> + +<p> +G.W.N. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + THE JEWS. +</h3> + + +<p> +Their present actual numbers may, perhaps, not exceed six +millions—numbers, however, probably greater than those over which +Solomon reigned; and of these six millions there may be resident in the +contiguous countries of Moravia, Ancient Poland, the Crimea, Moldavia, +and Wallachia, above three millions. Except within the countries which +formed Poland before its partitions, their population contained in any +one European kingdom, cannot, therefore, be great. Yet so essentially +are they one people, we might almost say one family; and so disposable +is their wealth, as mainly vested in money transactions, that they must +be considered as an aggregate, and not in their individual portions. +</p> + +<p> +The Jews in France are perhaps from thirty to forty thousand; they +abound chiefly at Metz, along the Rhine, and at Marseilles and Bordeaux. +In Bonaparte's time they were imagined to amount to at least twice that +number.—They are relieved from civil restraints and disabilities in +France, and in the Netherlands also. The Jews in Holland, of both German +and Portuguese origin, are numerous; the latter are said to have taken +refuge there when the United Provinces asserted their independence of +Spain; they have a splendid synagogue at Amsterdam. Infidelity is +supposed to have made more progress amongst them than amongst the German +Jews in Holland. The Italian Jews are chiefly at Leghorn and Genoa; and +there are four thousand of them at Rome. In speaking of the religion of +the Jews, it is not necessary to particularize those who assumed the +mask of Christianity under terror of the Inquisition, although much has +been said of their wealth and numbers, and of the high offices they have +filled in Spain, and especially in Portugal. But it is curious to see, +in a very distant quarter, a like simulation produced amongst them +by like causes. There are at Salonica thirty synagogues, and about +twenty-five thousand professed Jews; and a body of Israelites have been +lately discovered there, who, really adhering to the faith of their +fathers, have externally embraced Mahomedanism. +</p> + +<p> +The Barbary Jews are a very fine people; but the handsomest Jews are +said to be those of Mesopotamia. That province may also boast of an Arab +chief who bears the name of the Patriarch Job, is rich in sheep, and +camels, and oxen, and asses, abounds in hospitality, and believes that +he descends from him; he is also famed for his justice. The Jews at +Constantinople, forty thousand in number, and in the parts of European +Turkey on and near the Mediterranean, speak Spanish, and appear to +descend from Israelites driven from Spain by persecution. The Bible +Society are now printing at Corfu the New Testament, in Jewish-Spanish, +for their benefit. +</p> + +<p> +In truth, little appears to be known of the state of the Jews during +some hundreds of years after the destruction of Jerusalem. The first +body of learned Jews which drew attention after that disastrous event +was that settled in Spain; and from it all Jewish learning descends. +As in accomplishment of the prophecy, the Jew is found over the whole +surface of the globe; he has been long established in China, which +abhors the foreigner; and in Abyssinia, which it is almost as difficult +to reach as to quit. The early Judaism of that country, and in later +days the history of the powerful colony of Jews established in its +heart, which at one time actually reigned over the kingdom, are matters +so curious, that we regret that we can do no more than advert to them; +we must say the same as to the evidence existing of Jewish rites having +extended themselves very far southward along the eastern coast of +Africa; the numerous Jews of Barbary; and the black and white Jews, who +have been established for ages, more or less remote, on the Malabar +coast. It may be here observed, that all the Israelites hitherto +discovered appear to be descendants of those who held the kingdom of +Judah. +</p> + +<p> +The Jews in Great Britain and Ireland are not supposed to be more than +from ten to twelve thousand, very many of whom are foreigners, and +migratory.—<i>Quarterly Rev.</i> +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + EGYPTIAN RATIONS. +</h3> + + +<p> +The rations of the Egyptian soldiers were, according to Herodotus, five +pounds of baked bread, two pounds of beef, and half a pint of wine +daily. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +In the barbarous ages it was usual for persons who could not write, to +make the sign of the cross in confirmation of a written paper. Several +charters still remain in which kings and persons of great eminence +affix "signum crucis pro ignoratione literarum," the sign of the cross, +because of their ignorance of letters. From this is derived the phrase +of signing instead of subscribing a paper. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page425" name="page425"></a>[pg 425]</span> +</p> + + + +<h3> + COLUMN IN BLENHEIM PARK +</h3> + + +<div class="figure" style="width: 50%; float: left;"> +<a href="images/347-2.png"><img width="100%" src="images/347-2.png" +alt="Column in Blenheim Park." /></a> +</div> + + +<p> +(<i>To the Editor of the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + +<p> +You have lately directed the attention of the readers of the MIRROR to +the park of Blenheim, in Oxfordshire, one of the most beautiful England +can boast of, and likewise, according to Camden, the first park that +was made in this country. I can bear witness to the correctness of +your delineation and description of Rosamond's Well, which you gave +in a recent number; but there is no trace whatever of the bower or +labyrinth, the site of which is only pointed out by tradition. The +park of Blenheim, besides the interest which attaches to it from the +circumstance of its having been the residence of the early kings of +England, and the scene of "Rosamond's" life, has in more modern times +acquired additional interest from having been bestowed by the country +upon the Duke of Marlborough, in testimony of the gratitude of the +nation for the brilliant services he had rendered his country, +particularly at the battle of Blenheim. +</p> + +<p> +It was a reward at once worthy of the English nation and of the +illustrious hero on whom it was bestowed; and as it is at least +pleasing, and perhaps useful, to recall to the mind the epochs of +England's greatness amongst nations, I have sent a sketch of one of the +most prominent objects in the park of Blenheim, which our forefathers +deemed (in the language of the inscription) would "stand as long as the +British name and language last, illustrious monuments of Marlborough's +glory and of Britain's gratitude." This is an elegant column, 130 feet +in height, and surmounted by a statue of the warrior in an antique +habit. On three sides of the building there are nearly complete copies +of the several Acts of Parliament by which the park and manor of +Woodstock were granted to the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs; and on +the fourth side is a very long inscription, said to have been penned by +Lord Bolingbroke, which concludes thus:— +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> These are the actions of the Duke of Marlborough,</p> + <p> Performed in the compass of a few years,</p> + <p> Sufficient to adorn the annals of ages.</p> + <p> The admiration of other nations</p> + <p> Will be conveyed to the latest posterity,</p> + <p> In the histories even of the enemies of Britain.</p> + <p> The sense which the British nation had</p> + <p> Of his transcendant merit</p> + <p> Was expressed</p> + <p> In the most solemn, most effectual, most durable manner.</p> + <p> The Acts of Parliament inscribed on the pillar</p> + <p> Shall stand as long as the British name and language last,</p> + <p> Illustrious monuments</p> + <p> Of Marlborough's glory and</p> + <p> Of Britain's gratitude.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +G.W. +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + +<h2> + THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF <i>NEW WORKS</i> +</h2> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + MEMOIRS OF VIDOCQ. +</h3> + +<center> +<i>The French Thief-taker</i> +</center> + + +<p> +This is as full-charged a portrait of human depravity as the gloomiest +misanthrope could wish for. But it has much wider claims on public +attention than the gratification of the misanthropic few who mope in +corners or stalk up and down leafless and almost solitary walks during +this hanging and drowning season. Nevertheless, all men are more or less +misanthropes, or they affect to be so; for only skim off the bile of a +true critic, or the minds of the hundred thousand who read newspapers, +and look first for the bankrupts and deaths. Sugar and wormwood and +wormwood and sugar are the standing dishes, but as we read the other +day, "there is a certain hankering for the gloomy side of nature, whence +the trials and convictions of vice become so much more attractive than +the brightest successes +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page426" name="page426"></a>[pg 426]</span> +of virtue." People with <i>macadamized minds</i>, +and their histories (scarce as the originals are) are mere nonentities, +and food for the trunk-maker; whereas a book of hair-breadth escapes, +thrilling with horror and romantic narrative will tempt people to sit up +reading in their beds, till like Rousseau, they are reminded of morning +by the stone-chatters at their window. To the last class belong the +<i>Memoirs of Vidocq</i>, an analysis of which would be "utterly impossible, +so powerful are the descriptions, and so continuous the thread of +their history." The original work was published a short time since in +Paris, and republished here; but, we believe the present is the first +translation that has appeared in England. The newspapers have, from time +to time, translated a few extracts, when their Old Bailey news was at a +stand, so that the name of Vidocq must be somewhat familiar to many of +our readers.<a id="footnotetag11" name="footnotetag11"></a><a href="#footnote11"><sup>11</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +Eugene Francois Vidocq is a native of Arras, where his father was +a baker; and from early associations he fell into courses of excess +which led to the necessity of his flying from the parental roof. After +various, rapid, and unexampled events in the romance of real life, in +which he was everything by turns and nothing long, he was liberated from +prison, and became the principal and most active agent of police. He was +made Chief of the Police de Surete under Messrs. Delavau and Franchet, +and continued in that capacity from the year 1810 till 1827, during +which period he extirpated the most formidable of those ruffians and +villains to whom the excesses of the revolution and subsequent events +had given full scope for the perpetration of the most daring robberies +and inquitous excesses. Removed from employment, in which he had +accumulated a handsome independence, he could not determine on leading a +life of ease, for which his career of perpetual vigilance and adventure +had unfitted him, and he built a paper manufactory at St. Mandeé, about +two leagues from Paris, where he employs from forty to fifty persons, +principally, it is asserted, liberated convicts, who having passed +through the term of their sentence, are cast upon society without home, +shelter, or character, and would be compelled to resort to dishonest +practices did not this asylum offer them its protection and afford them +opportunity of earning an honest living by industrious labour. One +additional point of interest in the present volume is, that the author +is still living. +</p> + +<p> +[We cannot follow Vidocq through his career of crime, neither would +it be altogether profitable to our readers; but the <i>links</i> may be +recapitulated in a few words. He must have been born a thief, and +perhaps stole the spoon with which he was fed; but the <i>penchant</i> +runs in the family, for Vidocq and his brother rob the same till of +a fencing-room, but his brother is first detected, and sent off "in a +hurry," to a baker at Lille. Of course Vidocq soon gets partners in sin, +and on the same day that he has been detected by the <i>living</i> evidence +of two fowls which he had stolen, he sweeps from the dinner table ten +forks and as many spoons, pawns them for 150 francs, spends the money +in a few hours, and is imprisoned four days. He is then released; +one of his pals gives a false alarm to Vidocq's mother, and during her +temporary absence, Vidocq enters his home with a false key, steals +2,000 francs from a strong chest, with which he escapes to Ostend, +(intending to embark for America,) where he is decoyed by a <i>soi-disant</i> +ship-broker, and loses all his ill-gotten wealth. He then resolves to +betroth the sea, though not after the Venetian fashion, by giving her +a dowry; the "sound of a trumpet" disturbs his attention, as it would +of any other hero. But this proves to be the note of Paillasse, a +merry-andrew. The "director," as the opera bills would say, was +Cotte-Comus, belonging to a troop of rope-dancers. +</p> + +<p> +He next joins a player of Punch, to whose wife he enacts Romeo with +better grace, and during one of the representations, the married people +break each others heads, and Vidocq runs off during the affray. He then +becomes assistant to a quack doctor, and the favoured swain of an +actress; gets into the Bourbon regiment, where he is nicknamed Reckless, +and kills two men, and fights fifteen duels in six months. His other +exploits are as a corporal of grenadiers, of course, a deserter, and +a prisoner of the revolution. He then marries, but does not reform. +Of course a wife is but a temporary incumbrance to a man of Vidocq's +dexterity. In chapter iii, we find him at Brussels, where he joins a set +of nefarious gamblers at the <i>Cafes</i>, and has a most romantic adventure +with a woman named Rosine. But we can follow him no further, except to +add that his other comrades in Vol. I, are gipsies, smugglers, players, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page427" name="page427"></a>[pg 427]</span> +galley-slaves, drovers, Dutch sailors, and highwaymen. +</p> + +<p> +We must, therefore, confine ourselves to a few detached extracts from +the most interesting portion of the volume. At Lille, Vidocq meets with +a <i>chere amie</i>, Francine; he suspects her fidelity, thrashes his rival, +gets imprisoned, and is betrayed as an accomplice in a forgery. His +"reflections" during his imprisonment in St. Peter's Tower, bring on +a severe illness.] +</p> + +<p> +I was scarcely convalescent, when, unable to support the state of +incertitude in which I found my affairs, I resolved on escaping, and +to escape by the door, although that may appear a difficult step. Some +particular observations made me choose this method in preference to any +other. The wicket-keeper at St. Peter's Tower was a galley-slave from +the Bagne (place of confinement) at Brest, sentenced for life. In +a word, I relied on passing by him under the disguise of a superior +officer, charged with visiting St. Peter's Tower, which was used as +a military prison, twice a week. +</p> + +<p> +Francine, whom I saw daily, got me the requisite clothing, which she +brought me in her muff. I immediately tried them on, and they suited me +exactly. Some of the prisoners who saw me thus attired assured me that +it was impossible to detect me. I was the same height as the officer +whose character I was about to assume, and I made myself appear +twenty-five years of age. At the end of a few days, he made his usual +round, and whilst one of my friends occupied his attention, under +pretext of examining his food, I disguised myself hastily, and presented +myself at the door, which the gaolkeeper, taking off his cap, opened, +and I went out into the street. I ran to a friend of Francine's, as +agreed on in case I should succeed, and she soon joined me there. +</p> + +<p> +I was there perfectly safe, if I could resolve on keeping concealed; but +how could I submit to a slavery almost as severe as that of St. Peter's +Tower. As for three months I had been enclosed within four walls, I was +now desirous to exercise the activity so long repressed. I announced my +intention of going out; and, as with me an inflexible determination was +always the auxiliary of the most capricious fancy, I did go. My first +excursion was safely performed, but the next morning, as I was crossing +the Rue Ecremoise, a sergeant named Louis, who had seen me during my +imprisonment, met me, and asked if I was free. He was a severe practical +man, and by a motion of his hand could summon twenty persons. I said +that I would follow him; and begging him to allow me to bid adieu to my +mistress, who was in a house of Rue de l'Hôpital, he consented, and we +really met Francine, who was much surprised to see me in such company; +and when I told her that having reflected, that my escape might injure +me in the estimation of my judges, I had decided on returning to St. +Peter's Tower, to wait the result of the process. +</p> + +<p> +Francine did not at first comprehend why I had expended three hundred +francs, to return at the end of four months to prison. A sign put her +on her guard, and I found an opportunity of desiring her to put some +cinders in my pocket whilst Louis and I took a glass of rum, and then +set out for the prison. Having reached a deserted street, I blinded my +guide with a handful of cinders, and regained my asylum with all speed. +</p> + +<p> +Louis having made his declaration, the gendarmes and police-officers +were on the full cry after me; and there was one Jacquard amongst them +who undertook to secure me if I were in the city. I was not unacquainted +with these particulars, and instead of being more circumspect in my +behaviour, I affected a ridiculous bravado. It might have been said +that I ought to have had a portion of the premium promised for my +apprehension. I was certainly hotly pursued, as may be judged from +the following incident:— +</p> + +<p> +Jacquard learnt one day that I was going to dine in Rue Notre-Dame. He +immediately went with four assistants, whom he left on the ground-floor, +and ascended the staircase to the room where I was about to sit down to +table with two females. A recruiting sergeant, who was to have made the +fourth, had not yet arrived. I recognised Jacquard, who never having +seen me, had not the same advantage, and besides my disguise would have +bid defiance to any description of my person. Without being at all +uneasy, I approached, and with a most natural tone I begged him to pass +into a closet, the glass door of which looked on the banquetroom. "It +is Vidocq whom you are looking for," said I; "if you will wait for ten +minutes you will see him. There is his cover, he cannot be long. When he +enters, I will make you a sign; but if you are alone, I doubt if you can +seize him, as he is armed, and resolved to defend himself."—"I have my +gendarmes on the staircase," answered he, "and if he escapes—"—"Take +care how you place them then," said I with affected haste. "If Vidocq +should see them he would mistrust some plot, and then farewell to the +bird."—"But where shall I place them?"—"Oh, why in this closet—mind, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page428" name="page428"></a>[pg 428]</span> +no noise, that would spoil all; and I have more desire than yourself +that he should not suspect anything." My commissary was now shut up in +four walls with his agents. The door, which was very strong, closed +with a double lock. Then, certain of time for escape, I cried to my +prisoners, "You are looking for Vidocq—well, it is he who has caged +you; farewell." And away I went like a dart, leaving the party shouting +for help, and making desperate efforts to escape from the unlucky +closet. +</p> + +<p> +Two escapes of the same sort I effected, but at last I was arrested and +carried back to St. Peter's Tower, where, for greater security, I was +placed in a dungeon with a man named Calendrin, who was also thus +punished for two attempts at escape. Calendrin, who had known me during +my first confinement in the prison, imparted to me a fresh plan of +escape, which he had devised by means of a hole worked in the wall of +the dungeon of the galley-slaves, with whom we could communicate. The +third night of my detention all was managed for our escape, and eight +of the prisoners who first went out were so fortunate as to avoid being +detected by the sentinel, who was only a short distance off. +</p> + +<p> +Seven of us still remained, and we drew straws, as is usual in such +circumstances, to determine which of the seven should first pass. I drew +the short straw, and undressed myself that I might get with greater ease +through the hole, which was very narrow, but to the great disappointment +of all, I stuck fast without the possibility of advancing or receding. +In vain did my companions endeavour to pull me out by force, I was +caught as if in a trap, and the pain of my situation was so extreme, +that not expecting further help from within, I called to the sentry to +render me assistance. He approached with the precaution of a man who +fears a surprise, and presenting his bayonet to my breast, forbade me +to make the slightest movement. At his summons the guard came out, the +porters ran with torches, and I was dragged from my hole, not without +leaving behind me a portion of my skin and flesh. Torn and wounded as +I was, they immediately transferred me to the prison of Petit Hotel, +when I was put into a dungeon, fettered hand and foot. +</p> + +<p> +Ten days afterwards I was placed amongst the prisoners, through my +intreaties and promises not to attempt again to escape. +</p> + +<p> +[Here he meets with a fellow named Bruxellois, <i>the Daring</i>, of whom +the following anecdote is related:—] +</p> + +<p> +At the moment of entering a farm with six of his comrades, he thrust his +left hand through an opening in the shutter to lift the latch, but when +he was drawing it back, he found that his wrist had been caught in a +slip knot. Awakened by the noise, the inhabitants of the farm had laid +this snare, although too weak to go out against a band of robbers which +report had magnified as to numbers. But the attempt being thus defeated, +day was fast approaching, and Bruxellois saw his dismayed comrades +looking at each other with doubt, when the idea occurred to him that to +avoid discovery they would knock out his brains. With his right hand he +drew out his clasp knife with a sharp point, which he always had about +him, and cutting off his wrist at the joint, fled with his comrades +without being stopped by the excessive pain of his horrid wound. +This remarkable deed, which has been attributed to a thousand +different spots, really occurred in the vicinity of Lille, and is well +authenticated in the northern districts, where many persons yet remember +to have seen the hero of this tale, who was thence called Manchot, +(or one-armed,) executed. +</p> + +<p> +[Vidocq at length escapes, quits Lille, and flies to Ostend, where he +joins a crew of smugglers.] +</p> + +<p> +It was with real repugnance that I went to the house of a man named +Peters, to whom I was directed, as one deeply engaged in the pursuit, +and able to introduce me to it. A sea-gull nailed on his door with +extended wings, like the owls and weasels that we see on barns, guided +me. I found the worthy in a sort of cellar, which by the ropes, sails, +oars, hammocks, and barrels which filled it, might have been taken +for a naval depot. From the midst of a thick atmosphere of smoke which +surrounded him, he viewed me at first with a contempt which had not +a good appearance, and my conjectures were soon realized, for I had +scarcely offered my services than he fell upon me with a shower of +blows. I could certainly have resisted him effectually, but astonishment +had in a measure deprived me of the power of defence; and I saw besides, +in the court-yard, half-a-dozen sailors and an enormous Newfoundland +dog, which would have been powerful odds. Turned into the street, I +endeavoured to account for this singular reception, when it occurred to +me that Peters had mistaken me for a spy, and treated me accordingly. +</p> + +<p> +This idea determined me on returning to a dealer in hollands, who +had told me of him, and he, laughing at the results of my visit, +gave me a pass-word that would procure me free access to Peters.—[He +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page429" name="page429"></a>[pg 429]</span> +succeeds.]—I slept at Peters's house with a dozen or fifteen smugglers, +Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Portuguese, and Russian; there were no +Englishmen, and only two Frenchmen. The day after my installation, as +we were all getting into our hammocks, or flock beds, Peters entered +suddenly into our chamber, which was only a cellar contiguous to his +own, and so filled with barrels and kegs, that we could scarcely find +room to sling our hammocks. Peters had put off his usual attire, which +was that of ship-caulker, or sail-maker, and had on a hairy cap, and a +long red shirt, closed at the breast with a silver pin, fire-arms in his +belt, and a pair of thick large, fisherman's boots, which reach the top +of the thigh, or may be folded down beneath the knee. +</p> + +<p> +"A-hoy! a-hoy!" cried he, at the door, striking the ground with the butt +end of his carbine! "down with the hammocks, down with the hammocks! We +will sleep some other day. The Squirrel has made signals for a landing +this evening, and we must see what she has in her, muslin or tobacco. +Come, come, turn out, my sea-boys." +</p> + +<p> +In a twinkling every body was ready. They opened an arm-chest, and every +man took out a carbine or blunderbuss, a brace of pistols, and a cutlass +or boarding pike, and we set out, after having drunk so many glasses of +brandy and arrack that the bottles were empty. At this time there were +not more than twenty of us, but we were joined or met, at one place or +another, by so many individuals, that on reaching the sea side we were +forty-seven in number, exclusive of two females and some countrymen from +the adjacent villages, who brought hired horses, which they concealed in +a hollow behind some rocks. +</p> + +<p> +It was night, and the wind was shifting, whilst the sea dashed with so +much force, that I did not understand how any vessels could approach +without being cast on shore. What confirmed this idea was, that by the +starlight I saw a small boat rowing backwards and forwards, as if it +feared to land. They told me afterwards that this was only a manoeuvre +to ascertain if all was ready for the unloading, and no danger to be +apprehended. Peters now lighted a reflecting lantern, which one of the +men had brought, and immediately extinguished it; the Squirrel raised +a lantern at her mizen, which only shone for a moment, and then +disappeared like a glow-worm on a summer's night. We then saw it +approach, and anchor about a gun-shot off from the spot where we were. +Our troop then divided into three companies, two of which were placed +five hundred paces in front, to resist the revenue officers if they +should present themselves. The men of these companies were then placed +at intervals along the ground, having at the left arm a packthread which +ran from one to the other: in case of alarm, it was announced by a +slight pull, and each being ordered to answer this signal by firing his +gun, a line of firing was thus kept up, which perplexed the revenue +officers. The third company, of which I was one, remained by the +sea-side, to cover the landing and the transport of the cargo. +</p> + +<p> +All being thus arranged, the Newfoundland dog already mentioned, and +who was with us, dashed at a word into the midst of the waves, and +swam powerfully in the direction of the Squirrel, and in an instant +afterwards returned with the end of a rope in his mouth. Peters +instantly seized it, and began to draw it towards him, making us signs +to assist him, which I obeyed mechanically. After a few tugs, I saw that +at the end of the cable were a dozen small casks, which floated towards +us. I then perceived that the vessel thus contrived to keep sufficiently +far from the shore, not to run a risk of being stranded. In an instant +the casks, smeared over with something that made them waterproof, were +unfastened and placed on horses, which immediately dashed off for the +interior of the country. A second cargo arrived with the same success; +but as we were landing the third, some reports of fire-arms announced +that our outposts were attacked. "There is the beginning of the ball," +said Peters, calmly; "I must go and see who will dance;" and taking up +his carbine, he joined the outposts, which had by this time joined each +other. The firing became rapid, and we had two men killed, and others +slightly wounded. At the fire of the revenue officers, we soon found +that they exceeded us in number; but alarmed, and fearing an ambuscade, +they dared not to approach, and we effected our retreat without any +attempt on their part to prevent it. From the beginning of the fight +the Squirrel had weighed anchor and stood out to sea, for fear that the +noise of the firing should bring down on her the government cruiser. +I was told that most probably she would unload her cargo in some other +part of the coast, where the owners had numerous agents. +</p> + +<p> +[Vidocq returns to Lille, where he is taken by two gendarmes, and +concerts the following stratagem for escape:—] +</p> + +<p> +This escape, however, was not so very easy a matter as may be surmised, +when I say that our dungeons, seven feet square, had walls six feet +thick, strengthened +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page430" name="page430"></a>[pg 430]</span> +with planking crossed and rivetted with iron; a +window, two feet by one, closed with three iron gratings placed one +after the other, and the door cased with wrought iron. With such +precautions, a jailor might depend on the safe keeping of his charge, +but yet we overcame it all. +</p> + +<p> +I was in a cell on the second floor with Duhamel. For six francs, a +prisoner, who was also a turnkey, procured us two files, a ripping +chisel, and two turnscrews. We had pewter spoons, and our jailor was +probably ignorant of the use which prisoners could make of them. I knew +the dungeon key; it was the counterpart of all the others on the same +story; and I cut a model of it from a large carrot; then I made a mould +with crumb of bread and potatoes. We wanted fire, and we procured it by +making a lamp with a piece of fat and the rags of a cotton cap. The key +was at last made of pewter, but it was not yet perfect; and it was only +after many trials and various alterations that it fitted at last. Thus +masters of the doors, we were compelled to work a hole in the wall, near +the barns of the town-hall. Sallambier, who was in the dungeons below, +found a way to cut the hole, by working through the planking. +</p> + + +<center> + THE PRISON OF BICETRE AT PARIS. +</center> + + +<p> +The prison of Bicêtre is a neat quadrangular building, enclosing many +other structures and many courts, which have each a different name; +there is the grande cour (great court) where the prisoners walk; the +cour de cuisine (or kitchen court;) the cour des chiens (or dog's +court;) the cour de correction (or court of punishment;) and the cour +des fers (or iron court.) In this last is a new building five stories +high; each story contains forty cells, capable of holding four +prisoners. On the platform, which supplies the place of a roof, was +night and day a dog named Dragon, who passed in the prison for the most +watchful and incorruptible of his kind; but some prisoners managed at a +subsequent period to corrupt him through the medium of a roasted leg of +mutton, which he had the culpable weakness to accept. The Amphytrions +escaped whilst Dragon was swallowing the mutton; he was beaten and taken +into the cour des chiens, where, chained up and deprived of the free air +which he breathed on the platform, he was inconsolable for his fault, +and perished piecemeal, a victim of remorse at his weakness in yielding +to a moment of gluttony and error. +</p> + +<p> +Near the erection I speak of is the old building, nearly arranged in +the same way, and under which were dungeons of safety, in which were +enclosed the troublesome and condemned prisoners. It was in one of these +dungeons that for forty-three years lived the accomplice of Cartouche, +who betrayed him to procure this commutation! To obtain a moment's +sunshine, he frequently counterfeited death so well, that when he had +actually breathed his last sigh, two days passed before they took +off his iron collar. A third part of the building, called La Force, +comprised various rooms, in which the prisoners were placed who arrived +from the provinces, and were destined to the chain. +</p> + +<p> +At this period, the prison of Bicêtre, which is only strong from the +strict guard kept up there, could contain twelve hundred prisoners; but +they were piled on each other, and the conduct of the jailors in no way +assuaged the inconvenience of the place. +</p> + +<p> +If any man arrived from the country well clad, who, condemned for a +first offence, was not as yet initiated into the customs and usages of +prisons, in a twinkling he was stripped of his clothes, which were sold +in his presence to the highest bidder. If he had jewels or money, they +were alike confiscated to the profit of the society, and if he were too +long in taking out his ear-rings, they snatched them out without the +sufferer daring to complain. He was previously warned, that if he spoke +of it, they would hang him in the night to the bars of his cell, and +afterwards say that he had committed suicide. If a prisoner, out of +precaution, when going to sleep, placed his clothes under his head, they +waited until he was in his first sleep, and then they tied to his foot a +stone, which they balanced at the side of his bed; at the least motion +the stone fell, and aroused by the noise, the sleeper jumped up, and +before he could discover what had occurred, his packet hoisted by a +cord, went through the iron bars to the floor above. I have seen, in +the depth of winter, these poor devils, having been deprived of their +property in this way, remain in the court in their shirts until some one +threw them some rags to cover their nakedness. As long as they remained +at Bicêtre, by burying themselves, as we may say, in their straw, they +could defy the rigour of the weather; but at the departure of the chain, +when they had no other covering than the frock and trousers made of +packing cloth, they often sunk exhausted and frozen before they reached +the first resting place. +</p> + +<p> +[As we have said, the present is but a fourth portion of Vidocq's +exploits; and if the remaining three are of equal interest, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page431" name="page431"></a>[pg 431]</span> +the work +will be one of the most extraordinary of our times. We scarcely remember +a counterpart, although the Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux are of the same +stamp. The fate of the latter work was curious enough. The manuscript +was sent by the author from New South Wales, whither he had been +transported. It was printed in two small volumes, and published by an +eminent west-end bookseller, who, for some unexplained motive withdrew +the edition, which is, we believe, now in the printer's warehouse. The +Editor of the "Autobiography" has, however, reprinted Vaux's memoirs in +his series; their style is very superior to that of Vidocq's, (which is +a translation) and as scores of worse books are printed annually, we +rejoice at their rescue from oblivion.] +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + +<h2> + THE ANECDOTE GALLERY. +</h2> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + WHITFIELD. +</h3> + + +<p> +Remarkable instances are related of the manner in which Whitfield +impressed his hearers. A man at Exeter stood with stones in his +pocket, and one in his hand, ready to throw at him; but he dropped +it before the sermon was far advanced, and going up to him after +the preaching was over, he said, "Sir, I came to hear you with an +intention to break your head; but God, through your ministry, has +given me a broken heart." A ship-builder was once asked what he +thought of him. "Think!" he replied, "I tell you, sir, every Sunday +that I go to my parish church, I can build a ship from stem to stern +under the sermon; but, were it to save my soul, under Mr. Whitfield I +could not lay a single plank." Hume pronounced him the most ingenious +preacher he had ever heard; and said, it was worth while to go twenty +miles to hear him. But, perhaps, the greatest proof of his persuasive +powers was, when he drew from Franklin's pocket the money which that +clear, cool reasoner had determined not to give; it was for the +orphan-house at Savannah. "I did not," says the American philosopher, +"disapprove of the design; but as Georgia was then destitute of +materials and workmen, and it was proposed to send them from +Philadelphia at a great expense, I thought it would have been better +to have built the house at Philadelphia, and brought the children to +it. This I advised; but he was resolute in his first project, rejected +my counsel, and I therefore refused to contribute. I happened, soon +after, to attend one of his sermons, in the course of which I +perceived he intended to finish with a collection, and I silently +resolved he should get nothing from me. I had in my pocket a handful +of copper money, three or four silver dollars, and five pistoles in +gold. As he proceeded I began to soften, and concluded to give the +copper; another stroke of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and +determined me to give the silver; and he finished so admirably, that +I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. +</p> + +<p> +"At this sermon," continues Franklin, "there was also one of our club, +who, being of my sentiments respecting the building in Georgia, and +suspecting a collection might be intended, had, by precaution, emptied +his pockets before he came from home; towards the conclusion of the +discourse, however, he felt a strong inclination to give, and applied to +a neighbour who stood near him, to lend him some money for the purpose. +The request was fortunately made to perhaps the only man in the company +who had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer was, +'At any other time, friend Hopkinson, I would lend to thee freely; but +not now, for thee seems to me to be out of thy right senses.'" +</p> + +<p> +One of his flights of oratory, not in the best taste, is related on +Hume's authority. "After a solemn pause, Mr. Whitfield thus addresses +his audience:—'The attendant angel is just about to leave the +threshold, and ascend to heaven; and shall he ascend and not bear with +him the news of one sinner, among all the multitude, reclaimed from the +error of his ways!' To give the greater effect to this exclamation, he +stamped with his foot, lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, and cried +aloud, 'Stop, Gabriel! stop, Gabriel! stop, ere you enter the sacred +portals, and yet carry with you the news of one sinner converted to +God!'" Hume said this address was accompanied with such animated, yet +natural action, that it surpassed any thing he ever saw or heard in any +other preacher.—<i>Southey</i>. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + SIR RICHARD JEBB. +</h3> + + +<p> +Was very rough and harsh in manner. He said to a patient, to whom +he had been very rude, "<i>Sir, it is my way</i>."—"Then," replied the +patient, pointing to the door, "I beg you will make <i>that your way</i>." +Sir Richard was not very nice in his mode of expression, and would +frequently astonish a patient with a volley of oaths. Nothing used to +make him swear more than the eternal question, "What may I eat? Pray, +Sir Richard, may I eat a muffin?"—"Yes, Madam, the <i>best thing</i> you +can take."—"O dear! I am glad of that. But, Sir Richard, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page432" name="page432"></a>[pg 432]</span> +you told me +the other day that it was the <i>worst</i> thing I could eat!"—"What +would be proper for me to eat to-day?" says another lady.—"Boiled +turnips."—"Boiled turnips! you forget, Sir Richard, I told you I +could not bear boiled turnips."—"Then, Madam, you must have +a—vitiated appetite." +</p> + +<p> +Sir Richard, being called to see a patient who fancied himself very +ill, told him ingenuously what he thought, and declined prescribing, +thinking it unnecessary. "Now you are here," said the patient, "I +shall be obliged to you, Sir Richard, if you will tell me how I must +live, what I may eat, and what not."—"My directions as to that +point," replied Sir Richard, "will be few and simple. You must not eat +the poker, shovel, or tongs, for they are hard of digestion; nor the +bellows, because they are windy; but any thing else you please!" +</p> + +<p> +He was first cousin to Dr. John Jebb, who had been a dissenting +minister, well known for his political opinions and writings. His +Majesty George III. used sometimes to talk to Sir Richard concerning +his cousin; and once, more particularly, spoke of his restless, +reforming spirit in the church, in the university, physic, &c. "And +please your Majesty," replied Sir Richard, "if my cousin were in +heaven he would be a reformer!"—<i>Wadd's Memoirs.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + +<h2> + THE GATHERER. +</h2> + + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles."</p> +<p>SHAKESPEARE.</p> +</div></div> + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + GOOD BYE. +</h3> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> When from the friend we dearly love</p> +<p class="i2"> Fate tells us we must part,</p> + <p> By speech we can but feebly prove</p> +<p class="i2"> The anguish of the heart.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> And no soft words, howe'er sincere,</p> +<p class="i2"> Can half so much imply,</p> + <p> As that suppress'd, though trembling tear,</p> +<p class="i2"> Which drowns the word—Good bye.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +<i>Warwick.</i> W.S. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p> +A keen shopkeeper, having in his service a couple of shopmen, who +in point of intellect, were the very reverse of their master, a wag +who frequented the shop, for some time puzzled the neighbourhood by +designating it a "<i>music-shop</i>," although the proprietor dealt as +much in <i>music</i> as in <i>millstones</i>. However, being pressed for an +explanation, he said that the <i>scale</i> was conducted by a <i>sharp</i>, a +<i>flat</i> and a <i>natural</i>; and if these did not constitute "music," he +did not know what did. +</p> + +<p> +ISSACCAR. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + IMMORTALITY. +</h3> + + +<p> +Napoleon being in the gallery of the Louvre one day, attended by Baron +Denon, turned round suddenly from a fine picture, which he had viewed +for some time in silence, and said to him, "That is a noble picture, +Denon."—"Immortal," was Denon's reply. "How long," inquired Napoleon, +"will this picture last?" Denon answered, that, "with care and in a +proper situation, it might last, perhaps, five hundred years."—"And +how long," said Napoleon, "will a statue last?"—"Perhaps," replied +Denon, "five thousand years."—"And this," returned Napoleon, sharply, +"this you call immortality!" +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + LINES TO A LADY, ON HER REFUSING HER CARD. +</h3> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Let heroes, anxious for their future fame,</p> + <p> Obtain of Fortune what they want—a name;</p> + <p> The <i>future</i> theirs, the present hour be mine—</p> + <p> The only name I ask of fate—is thine;</p> + <p> Yet happier still had fate decreed to me</p> + <p> The favour'd lot, to give my name to thee.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +T.B. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p> +A dull barrister, once obtained the nickname <i>Necessity</i>—because +<i>Necessity has no law</i>. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p> +PURCHASERS of the MIRROR, who may wish to complete their sets are +informed that every volume is complete in itself and may be purchased +separately. The whole of the numbers are now in print, and can be +procured by giving an order to any Bookseller or Newsvender. +</p> + +<p> +Complete sets Vol I. to XI; in boards, price £2. l9s. 6d half bound, £3. +l7s. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<center> +LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS. +</center> + + +<center> +CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, +near Somerset House. +</center> + +<p> +The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. Embellished with nearly 150 +Engravings. Price 6s. 6d. boards. +</p> + +<p> +The TALES of the GENII. Price 2s. +</p> + +<p> +The MICROCOSM By the Right Hon. G. CANNING. &c. Price 2s. +</p> + +<p> +PLUTARCH'S LIVES, with Fifty Portraits, 2 vols. price l3s. boards. +</p> + +<p> +COWPER'S POEMS with 12 Engravings, price 3s. 6d. boards. +</p> + +<p> +COOK'S VOYAGES, 2 vols. price 8s. boards. +</p> + +<p> +The CABINET of CURIOSITIES: or, WONDERS of the WORLD DISPLAYED Price 5s. +boards. +</p> + +<p> +BEAUTIES of SCOTT. 2 vols. price 7s. boards. +</p> + +<p> +The ARCANA of SCIENCE for 1828. Price 4s. 6d. +</p> + +<p> +Any of the above Works can be purchased in Parts. +</p> + +<p> +GOLDSMITH'S ESSAYS. Price 8d. +</p> + +<p> +DR. FRANKLIN'S ESSAYS. Price 1s. 2d. +</p> + +<p> +BACON'S ESSAYS, Price 8d. +</p> + +<p> +SALMAGUNDI, Price 1s. 8d. +</p> + + +<hr class="full" /> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a> +<b>Footnote 1</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> +<p>Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, p. 1. edit. 1641. Most of his +biographers affirm that he was the son of a butcher.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a> +<b>Footnote 2</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a> +<p>"Northern Tour." The same author observes, that "the death of + Wolsey would make a fine moral picture, if the hand of any master + could give the pallid features of the dying statesman, that + chagrin, that remorse, those pangs of anguish, which, in the last + bitter moments of his life, possessed him. The point might be + taken when the monks are administering the comforts of religion, + which the despairing prelate cannot feel. The subject requires a + gloomy apartment, which a ray through a Gothic window might just + enlighten, throwing its force chiefly on the principal figure, + and dying away on the rest. The appendages of the piece need only + be few and simple; little more than the crozier and red hat to + mark the cardinal and tell the story."</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a> +<b>Footnote 3</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a> +<p>Stow's "Annals," p. 557, edit. 1615.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a> +<b>Footnote 4</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a> +<p>Shakspeare introduces this memorable saying of the cardinal into +his play of "Henry the Eighth:"—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p> —"O Cromwell, Cromwell,</p> +<p> Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal</p> +<p> I serv'd my king, he would not in mine age</p> +<p> Have left me naked to mine enemies."</p> +</div></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a> +<b>Footnote 5</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a> +<p>Stow's "Annals."</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a> +<b>Footnote 6</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a> +<p>Holinshed's "Chronicle," vol. iii. p. 765, edit. 1808.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a> +<b>Footnote 7</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a> +<p>"Collectanea," vol i. p. 70.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote8" name="footnote8"></a> +<b>Footnote 8</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag8">(return)</a> +<p>Tanner.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote9" name="footnote9"></a> +<b>Footnote 9</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag9">(return)</a> +<p>For the particulars of which, see Knolle's "history of the Turks."</p> +</blockquote> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote10" name="footnote10"></a> +<b>Footnote 10</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag10">(return)</a> +<p>Azrael, in the Mahometan creed, the angel of death.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote11" name="footnote11"></a> +<b>Footnote 11</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag11">(return)</a> +<p> +The present portion is only the first volume. The Memoirs are + to be completed in four volumes, to form part of the series of + <i>Autobiographical Memoirs</i>, published by Messrs. Hunt and Clarke, + and decidedly one of the most attractive works that that has + lately issued from the press. As we intend to notice this + collection at some future time, we can only, for the present, + spare room for this direction of the reader's attention—for + the design deserves well of the public; and if the success be + proportioned fro its merits, it will be great indeed. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p> +<i>Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD 143, Strand. (near Somerset House,) +London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; and by all +Newsmen and Booksellers.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11386 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/11386-h/images/347-1.png b/11386-h/images/347-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d90865 --- /dev/null +++ b/11386-h/images/347-1.png diff --git a/11386-h/images/347-2.png b/11386-h/images/347-2.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2d64a08 --- /dev/null +++ b/11386-h/images/347-2.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8d40e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #11386 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11386) diff --git a/old/11386-8.txt b/old/11386-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..362bf46 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11386-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1990 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction., by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. + Volume XII, No. 347, Saturday, December 20, 1828. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 1, 2004 [EBook #11386] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 347 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, David Gil, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XII, NO. 347.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1828. [PRICE 2d. + + + +EUROPEAN CITIES.--NAPLES. + + +[Illustration: European Cities.--Naples.] + + +In our last volume we commenced the design of illustrating the +principal _Cities of Europe_, by a series of picturesque views--one of +which is represented in the above engraving. Our miscellaneous duties +in identifying the pages of the MIRROR with subjects of contemporary +interest, and anxiety to bring them on our little _tapis_--(qy. +Twopence?)--will best account for the interval which has elapsed since +the commencement of our design--with a View of London; but were all +travellers as tardy, the Grand Tour of Europe would occupy many years, +and leave fashion-mongers but little more than rouge, wrinkles, and +_bon-bons_ to delight their friends at home. + +The proximity of Naples to Rome may, perhaps, impair the interest of +the former city, especially as it presents nothing in architecture, +sculpture, or painting that can vie with the Imperial Mistress. +Nevertheless, Naples is one of the most beautiful and most delightful +cities on the habitable globe. Nothing can possibly be imagined more +unique than its _coup-d'oeil_, on whatever side the city is viewed. + +Naples is situated towards the south and east on the declivity of a +long range of hills, and encircling a gulf of 16 miles in breadth, +and as many in length, which forms a basin, called Crater by the +Neapolitans. The city appears to crown this superb basin. One part +rises towards the west in the form of an amphitheatre, on the hills +of Pausilippo, St. Ermo, and Antiguano; the other extends towards the +east, over a more level territory, in which villas follow each other +in rapid succession, from the Magdalen Bridge to Portici, where the +king's palace is situated, and beyond that to Mount Vesuvius. The +Neapolitans have a saying, _Vedi Napoli e po mari_, intimating that +when Naples has been seen, every thing has been seen; and its +congregated charms of situation, climate, and fertility almost warrant +this patriotic ebullition. + +"On the northern side, Naples is surrounded by hills, which (says +_Vasi_, in his '_Picture_,') form a kind of crown round the _Terra di +Lavoro_, the Land of Labour." This consists of a district, in the +language of ancient Rome, + + + ------Lecos laeros, et amoena vireta + Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas-- + + +and fertilized by a river, called Sebeto, which descends from the hills +on the side of Nola, and falls into the sea after having passed under +Magdalen Bridge, towards the eastern part of Naples. + +The ancient history of Naples is involved in much obscurity. According +to some, says _Vasi_, Falerna, one of the Argonauts, founded it about +1,300 years before the Christian era; according to others, Parthenope, +one of the Syrens, celebrated by Homer in his "Odyssey," being +shipwrecked on this coast, landed here, and built a town, to which she +gave her name; others attribute its foundation to Hercules, some to +Eneas, and others to Ulysses. These are mere freaks of fiction and +fable; and it is more probable that Naples was founded by some Greek +colonies; this may be inferred from its own name, _Neapolis_, and from +the name of another town contiguous to it, _Paleopolis._ Strabo speaks +of these Greek colonies, whence the city derives its origin. + +The city of Naples was formerly surrounded by very high walls, about 22 +miles in circumference; but on its enlargement, neither walls nor gates +were erected. It may be, however, defended by three strong castles. + +Naples is divided into twelve quarters, or departments, and contains +about 450,000 inhabitants. It is consequently the most populous city +in Europe, except London and Paris. The streets are neither broad nor +regular, and are paved with broad slabs of hard stone, resembling the +lava of Vesuvius. The houses are, for the most part, uniformly built, +being about five or six stories high, with balconies and flat roofs, +in the form of terraces, which are used as a promenade. The churches, +palaces, and public buildings are magnificent; but they suffer in +comparison with the other architectural wealth of Italy. Vasi states +there are about 300 churches; and among the other public buildings he +mentions 37 conservatories, established for the benefit of poor +children, and old people, both men and women. + +The environs of Naples possess many attractions for the classic tourist, +as well as for the strange flies of fashion. Among these is Virgil's +Tomb, which is, indeed, holy ground. The temples, aqueducts, and arches +of olden time are likewise stupendous records of the sumptuousness of +the ancient people of this interesting district; and, apart from these +attractions, the contemplative philosopher may read in the volcanic +remains, and other phenomena on its shores, many inspiring lessons in +the broad volume of Nature; as well as amid the neighbouring relics of +Art, where + + + Man marks the earth with ruin. + + + * * * * * + + +LEICESTER ABBEY.--DEATH OF CARDINAL WOLSEY. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Few periods of English history are more pregnant with events, or more +interesting to the antiquary, and general reader, than that which +comprised the fortunes of Wolsey. The eventful life of the Cardinal, +checkered as it was by the vicissitudes of fortune, his sudden +elevation, and finally his more sudden fall and death, display an +appalling picture of "the instability of human affairs." This prelate +and statesman, who even aspired to the Papal throne itself, "was an +honest poore man's sonne in the towne of Ipswiche,"[1] who having +received a good education, and being endowed with great capacity, soon +rose to fill the highest offices of the church and state; in 1515 he +was created Lord High Chancellor, and in three years afterwards was +appointed legate _à latere_ by the Pope, having previously received +a Cardinal's cap. + +Leicester Abbey was rendered famous as being the last residence of the +unhappy Wolsey; "within its walls," says Gilpin, "was once exhibited a +scene more humiliating to human ambition, and more instructive to human +grandeur than almost any which history hath produced. Here the fallen +pride of Wolsey retreated from the insults of the world, all his visions +of ambition were now gone; his pomp and pageantry and crowded levees! On +this spot he told the listening monks, the sole attendants of his dying +hour, as they stood around his pallet, that he was come to lay his bones +among them, and gave a pathetic testimony to the truth and joys of +religion, which preaches beyond a thousand lectures."[2] + +On his road to London, whither he had been summoned, from his castle of +_Cawood_, by Henry, to take his trial for high treason, he was seized +with a disorder, which so much increased as to oblige his resting at +Leicester, where he was met at the Abbey gate by the Abbot and his whole +convent. The first ejaculation of Wolsey, on meeting these holy persons, +plainly shows that he was fully aware of his approaching end: "Father +Abbot," said he, "I am come hither to lay my bones among you;"[3] and it +was with great difficulty that they could get him up the stairs, which +it was fated he was never again to descend alive. A short time previous +to his death, he thus addressed the Constable of the Tower, who was +appointed to convey him to the metropolis:--"Well, well, Master +Kingstone, I see the matter how it is framed; but if I had serued God as +diligentlie as I haue done the king, he would not haue giuen me ouer in +my gray haires;[4] but this is the iust reward that I must receiue for +the diligent paines and study yt I haue had to doe him seruice, not +regarding my seruice to God, but onely to satisfie his pleasure; I praie +you haue me most humblie commended vnto his royal maiestie, and beseech +him in my behalfe to call to his princelie remembrance, all matters +proceeding between him and mee, from the beginning of the worlde, and +the progress of the same, and most especialle in his weightie matter, +and then shall his grace's conscience know whether I haue oflended him +or no."[5] + +Thus sunk into the grave a man, who was a victim to tyranny, but +to a tyranny which he had himself formed; that he was a person far +enlightened beyond the period in which he lived no one can presume +to doubt. He tended greatly to promote the arts and learning of his +country. His personal character displayed as great a variety of opposite +qualities, as the fortunes to which he had been exposed; his magnanimity +was oftentimes clouded by the greatest meanness, and with an urbanity of +manners, he combined an intolerable degree of pride and arrogance; he +was frank and generous, but his overwhelming ambition greatly tended to +obscure these nobler qualities of his mind, and as he rose, he became +haughty and overbearing. His character has been obscured by the envy and +partiality of his contemporaries, who have generally endeavoured to load +his memory with reproaches. "This Cardinall," says Holinshed, "was +of great stomach, for he compted himselfe equall with princes, and by +craftie suggestion got into his hands innumerable treasure; he forced +little on simonie, and was not pittiful, and stood affectionate in his +owne opinion; in open presence he would lie and saie vntruth, and was +double both in speech and meaning; he would promise much and performe +little; he was vicious of his bodie, and gaue the clergy euill example; +he hated sore the Citie of London and feared it. It was told him that +he should die in the waie toward London, wherefore he feared lest the +commons of the citie would arise in riotous maner and so slaie him, yet +for all that he died in the waie toward London, carrieng more with him +out of the worlde than he brought into it, namellie, a winding sheete, +besides other necessaries thought meet for a dead man, as a Christian +comelinesse required."[6] + +The remains of the Cardinal were interred in the Abbey Church at +Leicester, after having been viewed by the Mayor and Corporation, +(for the prevention of false rumours,) and were attended to the grave +by the Abbot and all the brethren. This last ceremony was performed by +torchlight, the canons singing dirges, and offering orisons, at between +four and five o'clock of the morning, on St. Andrew's Day, November the +30th, 1530. + +Leicester Abbey was founded (according to Leland) [7] in the year 1143, +in the reign of King Stephen, by Robert Bossue, Earl of Leicester, for +black canons of the order of St. Augustine, and was dedicated to the +Virgin Mary. It is situated in a pleasant meadow, to the north of the +town, watered by the river Soar, whence it acquired the name of _St. +Mary de Pratis_, or _de la Pré_. This monastery was richly endowed +with lands in thirty-six of the neighbouring parishes, besides various +possessions in other counties, and enjoyed considerable privileges and +immunities. Bossue, with the consent of Lady Amicia, his wife, became +a canon regular in his own foundation, in expiation of his rebellious +conduct towards his sovereign, and particularly for the injuries which +he had thereby brought upon the "goodly towne of Leycestre." At the +dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. the revenues of this house +were valued according to _Speed_ at £1062. 0s. 4d., _Dugdale_ says £951. +14s. 5d.; and its site was granted in the 4th of Edward VI. to William, +Marquess of Northampton.[8] + + [1] Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, p. 1. edit. 1641. Most of his + biographers affirm that he was the son of a butcher. + + [2] "Northern Tour." The same author observes, that "the death of + Wolsey would make a fine moral picture, if the hand of any master + could give the pallid features of the dying statesman, that + chagrin, that remorse, those pangs of anguish, which, in the last + bitter moments of his life, possessed him. The point might be + taken when the monks are administering the comforts of religion, + which the despairing prelate cannot feel. The subject requires a + gloomy apartment, which a ray through a Gothic window might just + enlighten, throwing its force chiefly on the principal figure, + and dying away on the rest. The appendages of the piece need only + be few and simple; little more than the crozier and red hat to + mark the cardinal and tell the story." + + [3] Stow's "Annals," p. 557, edit. 1615. + + [4] Shakspeare introduces this memorable saying of the cardinal into + his play of "Henry the Eighth:"-- + + --"O Cromwell, Cromwell, + Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal + I serv'd my king, he would not in mine age + Have left me naked to mine enemies." + + [5] Stow's "Annals." + + [6] Holinshed's "Chronicle," vol. iii. p. 765, edit. 1808. + + [7] "Collectanea," vol i. p. 70. + + [8] Tanner. + + +S.I.B. + + * * * * * + + +ANCIENT OATHS. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +It will be recollected, that in a former volume I gave you the form of +the oath taken by the appellee in the ancient manner of trial by battle. +The appellee, when appealed of felony, pleads _not guilty_ and throws +down his glove, and declares he will defend the same by his body; the +appellant takes up the glove, and replies that he is ready to make good +the appeal body for body; and thereupon the appellee, taking the book in +his right hand, makes oath as before mentioned. To which the appellant +replies, holding the Bible and his antagonist's hand in the same manner +as the other, "Hear this, O man, whom I hold by the hand, who callest +thyself _Thomas_ by the name of baptism, that thou art perjured; and +therefore perjured, because that thou feloniously didst murder my +father, _William_ by name. So help me God and the Saints, and this I +will prove against thee by my body, as this court shall award." And then +the combat proceeds. + +There is a striking resemblance between this process and that of the +court of _Arcopagus,_ at Athens, for murder, where the prisoner and +prosecutor were both sworn in the most solemn manner--the prosecutor, +that he was related to the deceased, (for none but near relations were +permitted to prosecute in that court,) and that the prisoner was the +cause of his death; the prisoner, that he was innocent of the charge +against him. + +In time I hope to be able to furnish you with other specimens of our +curious ancient oaths. + +W.H.H. + + * * * * * + + +SONNET. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Whose heart is not delighted at the sound + Of rural song, of Nature's melody, + When hills and dales with harmony rebound, + While Echo spreads the pleasing strains around, + Awak'ning pure and heartfelt sympathy! + Perchance on some rude rock the minstrel stands, + While his pleased hearers wait entranced around; + Behold him touch the chords with fearless hands, + Creating heav'nly joys from earthly sound. + How many voices in the chorus rise, + And artless notes renew the failing strains; + The honest boor his vocal talent tries, + Approving love beams from his "fair one's eyes," + While age, in silent joy, forgets its pains. + +J.J. + + * * * * * + + +THE DEATH OF SALADIN.[9] + + [9] For the particulars of which, see Knolle's "history of the Turks." + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + The angel of death hath too surely prest + His fatal sign on the warrior's breast-- + Quench'd is the light of the eagle-eye, + And the nervous limbs rest languidly-- + The eloquent tongue is silent and still, + The deep clear voice again may not chill + The hearers' hearts with its own deep thrill. + + Ah, who can gaze on death, nor inward feel + A creeping horror through the bosom steal, + Like one who stands upon a precipice, + And sees below a mangled sacrifice, + Feeling that he himself must ere long fall, + With none to save him, none to hear his call, + Or wrest him from the agonizing thrall? + + And yet it is but sleep we look upon! + But in that sleep from which the life is gone + Sinks the proud Saladin, Egyptia's lord. + His faith's firm champion, and his Prophet's sword; + Not e'en the red cross knights withstand his pow'r, + But, sorrowing, mark the Moslem's triumph hour, + And the pale crescent float from Salem's tow'r. + + As the keen arrow, hurl'd with giant-might, + Rends the thin air in its impetuous flight, + But being spent on earth innoxious lies, + E'en its track vanish'd from the yielding skies-- + So lies the soldan, stopp'd his bright career, + His vanquish'd realms their prostrate heads uprear, + And coward kings forget their servile fear. + + Ere yet stern Azrael[10] cut the thread of life, + While Death and Nature wag'd unequal strife, + Spoke the expiring hero:--"Hither stand, + Receive your dying sovereign's last command. + When that the spirit from my frame is riven, + (Oh, gracious Alla! be my sins forgiven, + And bright-eyed Houris waft my soul to heaven,) + Then when you bear me to my last retreat, + Let not the mourners howl along the street-- + Let not my soldiers in the train be seen, + Nor banners float, nor lance or sabre gleam-- + Nor yet, to testify a vain regret, + O'er my remains let costly shrine be set, + Or sculptur'd stone, or gilded minaret; + But let a herald go before my bier, + Bearing on point of lance the robe I wear. + Shouting aloud, 'Behold what now remains + Of the proud conqueror of Syria's plains, + Who bow'd the Persian, made the Christian feel + The deadly sharpness of the Moslem steel; + But of his conquests, riches, honours, might, + Naught sleeps with him in death's unbroken night, + Save this poor robe.'" + + [10] Azrael, in the Mahometan creed, the angel of death. + +D.A.H. + + * * * * * + + +BANQUETTING HOUSE, WHITEHALL. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +This splendid pile which is at present under repair, was erected in the +time of James I. Whitehall being in a most ruinous state, he determined +to rebuild it in a very princely manner, and worthy of the residence +of the monarchs of the British empire. He began with pulling down the +banquetting rooms built by Elizabeth. That which bears the above name at +present was begun in 1619, from a design of Inigo Jones, in his purest +style; and executed by Nicholas Stone, master mason and architect to +the king; it was finished in two years, and cost £17,000. but is only +a small part of a vast plan, left unexecuted by reason of the unhappy +times which succeeded. The ceiling of this noble room cannot be +sufficiently admired; it was painted by Rubens, who had £3,000. for +his work. The subject is the Apotheosis of James I. forming nine +compartments; one of the middle represents our pacific monarch on +his earthly throne, turning with horror from Mars, and other of the +discordant deities, and as if it were, giving himself up to the amiable +goddess he always cultivated, and to her attendants, Commerce, and the +Fine Arts. This fine performance is painted on canvass, and is in high +preservation; but a few years ago it underwent a repair by Cipriani, who +had £2,000. for his trouble. Near the entrance is a bust of the royal +founder. + +Little did James think (says Pennant) that he was erecting a pile from +which his son was to step from the throne to the scaffold. He had been +brought in the morning of his death, from St. James's across the Park, +and from thence to Whitehall, where ascending the great staircase, he +passed through the long gallery to his bed-chamber, the place allotted +to him to pass the little time before he received the fatal blow. It +is one of the lesser rooms marked with the letter A in the old plan of +Whitehall. He was from thence conducted along the galleries and the +banquetting house, through the wall, in which a passage was broken to +his last earthly stage. Mr. Walpole tells us that Inigo Jones, surveyor +of the works done about the king's house, had only 8s. 4d. a day, and +£46. a year for house-rent, and a clerk and other incidental expenses. +The present improvements at Whitehall make one exclaim with the poet, +Pope-- + + + "I see, I see, where two fair cities bend + Their ample brow, _a new Whitehall ascend._" + + +Again, + + + "You too proceed, make falling arts your care, + _Erect new wonders, and the old repair;_ + _Jones_ and Palladio to themselves _restore_, + And be whate'er Vitruvius was before." + + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +THE UNIVERSE. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + + O light celestial, streaming wide + Through morning'd court of fairy blue-- + O tints of beauty, beams of pride, + That break around its varied hue-- + Still to thy wonted pathway true, + Thou shinest on serenely free, + Best born of _Him_, whose mercy grew + In every gift, sweet world, to thee. + + O countless stars, that, lost in light, + Still gem the proud sun's glory bed, + And o'er the saddening brow of night + A softer, holier influence shed-- + How well your radiant march hath sped. + Unfailing vestals of the sky, + As smiling thus ye weed from dread + The soul ye court to muse on high. + + O flowers that breathe of beauty's reign, + In many a tint o'er lawn and lea, + That give the cold heart once again + A dream of happier infancy; + And even on the grave can be + A spell to weed affection's pain-- + Children of Eden, who could see. + Nor own _His_ bounty in your reign? + + O winds, that seem to waft from far + A mystic murmur o'er the soul, + As ye had power to pass the bar + Of nature in your vast control, + Hail to your everlasting roll-- + Obedient still ye wander dim, + And softly breathe, or loudly toll, + Through earth and sky the name of _Him_. + + O world of waters, o'er whose bed + The chainless winds unceasing swell, + That claim'st a kindred over head, + As 'twixt the skies thou seem'st to dwell; + And e'en on earth art but a spell, + Amid their realms to wander free-- + Thy task of pride hath speeded well, + Thou deep, eternal, boundless sea. + + O storms of night and darkness, flung + In blackening chaos o'er the world, + When thunderpeals are dreadly rung, + Mid clouds in sightless fury hurl'd, + Types of a mightier power, impearl'd + With mercy's soft, redeeming ray, + Still at His voice your wings are furl'd, + Ye wake to own and to obey. + + O thou blest whole of light and love, + Thou glorious realm of earth and sky, + That breath'st of blissful hope above, + When all of thine hath wander'd by, + Throughout thy range, nor tear nor sigh + But breathes of bliss, of beauty's reign, + And concord, such as in the sky + The soul is taught to meet again. + + O man, who veil'd in deepest night + This beauty-breathing world of thine, + And taught the serpent's deadly blight + Amid its sweetest flowers to twine, + Thou, thou alone hast dared repine, + And turn'd aside from duty's call, + Thou who hast broken nature's shrine, + And wilder'd hope and darken'd all. + +ANNETTE TURNER. + + * * * * * + + +A half-pint of wine for young men in perfect health is enough, and you +will be able to take your exercise better, and feel better for this +abstinence.--_Dr. Babington._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SKETCH BOOK. + + * * * * * + + +COLLEGE LOVE. + + +We had gone into Devonshire, for the purpose of being more retired, that +we might study more attentively, and with less chance of interruption, +than in a town. We chose, accordingly, for our residence, one of the +most beautiful and retired cottages we ever saw. It was situated very +near the sea; and, oh! what thoughts used to steal over us, of romance +and true love, as we gazed upon that quiet ocean, from the vine-covered +window of our quiet, sweet, secluded home! Day after day, we wandered +among the woods in the neighbourhood, and rejoiced, at each successive +visit, to find out new beauties. This continued for some time; till at +last, on returning one day, we saw an unusual bustle in the room we +occupied. On entering, we found our landlady hurrying out in great +confusion, and, along with her, a beautiful, blushing girl, so perfectly +ladylike in her appearance, that we wondered by what means our venerable +hostess could have become acquainted with so interesting a visiter. She +soon explained the mystery; this lady, who seemed more bewitching every +moment that we gazed on her, was the daughter of a 'squire in whose +family our worthy landlady had been nurse. She had come, without knowing +that any lodger was in the house, and was to stay a week. Oh! that week! +the happiest of our life. We soon became intimate; our books lay fast +locked up at the bottom of our trunk: we walked together, saw the sun +set together in the calm ocean, and then walked happily and contentedly +home in the twilight; and long before the week was at an end, we had +vowed eternal vows, and sworn everlasting constancy. We had not, to +be sure, discovered any great powers of mind in our enslaver; but how +interesting is even ignorance, when it comes from such a beautiful +and smiling mouth! We had already formed happy plans of moulding her +unformed opinions, and directing and sharing all her studies. The little +slips which were observable in her grammar, we attributed to want of +care; and the accent, which was very powerful, was rendered musical to +our ear, at the same time as dear to our heart, by the whiteness of the +little arm that lay so quietly and lovingly within our own. And then, +her taste in poetry was not the most delicate or refined; but she was so +enthusiastically fond of it, that we imagined a little training would +lead her to prefer many of Mr. Moore's ballads, to the pathos of Giles +Scroggins; and that in time, the "Shining River" might occupy a superior +place, in her estimation, to a song from which she repeated, with tears +in her eyes--, + + + "But like the star what lighted + Pale billion to its fated doom, + Our nuptial song is blighted, + And its rose quench'd in its bloom." + + +And then, she seemed so fond of flowers, and knew so much about their +treatment, that we fancied how lovely she must look while engaged in that +fascinating study; and often, in our dreaming moods, did we mutter about + + + "Fair Proserpine + Within the vale of Enna gathering flowers, + Herself the fairest flower."-- + + +But why should we repeat what every one can imagine so well for himself? +At last, the hour of parting came; and, week after week, her stay at the +cottage had been prolonged, till our departure took place before hers. +And on that day she looked, as all men's sweethearts do at leaving them, +more touchingly beautiful than ever we had seen her before; and after we +had torn ourself away, we looked back, and there we saw her standing in +the same spot we had left her, a statue of misery and despair,--"like +Niobe all tears." + +Astonishment occupied the minds of all our friends on our return to +college. The change which took place on our feelings and conduct was +indeed amazing; our mornings were devoted to gazing on a lock of +our--she was rather unfortunate in a name--our Grizel's hair, and to +lonely hours of musing in the meadow on all the adventures of our +sojourn in Devonshire. No longer we stood listlessly in the quadrangle, +joining the knots of idlers, of whom we used to be one of the chief; +no longer had even Castles' Havannahs any charms for our lips; and our +whole heart was wrapt up in the expectation of a letter. This we were +not to receive for three long weeks; and by that time she was to have +returned home, consulted her father on the subject of our attachment, +and return us a definitive reply. We wrote in the meantime--such a +letter! We are assured it must have been written on a sheet of asbestos, +or it must infallibly have taken fire. It began, "Lovely and most +beautiful Grizel!" and ended, "Your adorer." At last the letter that was +to conclude all our hopes was put into our hands. We had some men that +morning to breakfast; we received it just as they were beginning the +third pie. How heartily we prayed they would he off and leave us +alone! But no--on they kept swallowing pigeon after pigeon, and seemed +to consider themselves as completely fixtures as the grate or the +chimney-piece. We wished devoutly to see a bone sticking in the throat +of our most intimate friend, and, by way of getting quit of them, had +thoughts of setting fire to the room. At last, however, they departed. +Immediately as the skirt of the last one's coat disappeared, we +carefully locked and bolted our door, and, with hands trembling with +joy, we took out the letter. Not very clean was its appearance, and not +over correct or well-spelt was its address; and, above all, a yellow, +dingy wafer filled up the place of the green wax we had expected, and +the true lover's motto, "Though lost to sight, to memory dear," was +supplied by the impression of a thimble. We opened it. Horror and +amazement! never was such penmanship beheld. The lines were complete +exemplifications of the line of beauty, so far as their waving, and +twisting, and twining was concerned; and the orthography it was past +all human comprehension to understand. + +"My deerest deere, dear sur,"--this was the letter,--"i kim him more nor +a wic agon, butt i cuddunt right yu afore ass i av bin with muther an +asnt seed father till 2 day. he sais as my fortin is 3 hundurd pouns, +he sais as he recomminds me tu take mi hold lover Mister Tomas the +gaurdnar, he sais as yu caunt mary no boddi, accause you must be a +batseller three ears. if thiss be troo i am candied enuff to tell you +ass i caunt wate so long my deerast deer, o yu ave brock mi art! wy did +yu sai al ass yu sad iff yu cud unt mary nor none of the scolards at +hocksfoot Kolidge. father sais as ther iss sum misstake praps yu did unt +no ass mother is not marid 2 father butt is marrid to the catchmun and +father is marad to a veri gud ladi ass gove me a gud edocasion. mi +deerest deere it brakes my art all from yu for tu part, i rot them lines +this marnin. mister tomas sais as i gov im mi prumass befor i cum to ave +the apiness of see yu. butt i dant thinc i giv mor promass to him. nor +2 manni uthers. mi deerest deer and troo luv cuppid! i feer our nutshell +song is blitid and its ros kwencht in its blum. them was plesent ours +when the carnashuns and tullups was all in blo, wasunt them mi deer luv. +mister tomas sais ass he can mari me in a munth and father sais i hot tu +take im. iff so be as yu caun't du it beefor i thinc i shal take im ass +father sais there is sum mistake, mi deerest deere mi art is brock butt +i thinc i shall take im iff so bee as I dant ear frum yu. gud nite my +troo luv i shal kip your lockat for a kipsic an yu ma kiss my luck off +air for the sack of your brockan arted + +"GRIZEL." + +It is astonishing how the perusal of this cured us of our affection. +At the first line we recollected that she had a tendency to squint, +and long before we came to the conclusion, we remembered that her +ancles were rather thick, and her feet by no means of diminutive size. +Thus ended our love adventures at the University. Our heroine we have +never heard of since, and we have resisted the most tempting offers +from the loveliest of her sex; and in spite of sighing heiresses and +compassionate old maids, we are still a bachelor; and a bachelor, +in defiance of all their machinations, we are firmly determined to +remain.--_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + + + +MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + + * * * * * + + +CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN THE NETHERLANDS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Many singular customs are observed in the Netherlands at Christmas, and +as they materially differ from those known in England, a brief notice of +_one_ of them may probably prove acceptable to the readers of the +MIRROR. + +In almost every Dutch town, and in every considerable village, the +following custom prevails:--At a little after two o'clock in the morning +of Christmas-day, a number of young men assemble in the market-place, +and sing some verses suited to the occasion. One of the young men bears +an _artificial star,_ which is fixed to a pole, and elevated above the +heads of the people; it is very large, and is rendered beautifully +transparent when a light is placed in the inside. This artificial +luminary is intended to represent the star of the east, which directed +the wise men to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. At a little +distance, the appearance is exceedingly brilliant, for there is no other +light among the populace to diminish its lustre, and the whole scene +is singularly picturesque. The resplendent light issuing from the star +strikes powerfully upon the countenances of the principal actors, while +those more remote receive only a faint and subdued gleam. The silvery +effulgence of the moon, the sombre and deserted look of the buildings +around, and the general stillness that pervades every object, save the +scene of action, might inspire the mind of a Rembrandt, or introduce +to the mere casual beholder feelings at once new and poetical. + +After parading through the town, the youths repair in a body to the +residence of some opulent inhabitant, where their arrival is welcomed +with shouts and clapping of hands, and where they are entertained with +a plentiful repast. + +G.W.N. + + * * * * * + + +THE JEWS. + + +Their present actual numbers may, perhaps, not exceed six +millions--numbers, however, probably greater than those over which +Solomon reigned; and of these six millions there may be resident in the +contiguous countries of Moravia, Ancient Poland, the Crimea, Moldavia, +and Wallachia, above three millions. Except within the countries which +formed Poland before its partitions, their population contained in any +one European kingdom, cannot, therefore, be great. Yet so essentially +are they one people, we might almost say one family; and so disposable +is their wealth, as mainly vested in money transactions, that they must +be considered as an aggregate, and not in their individual portions. + +The Jews in France are perhaps from thirty to forty thousand; they +abound chiefly at Metz, along the Rhine, and at Marseilles and Bordeaux. +In Bonaparte's time they were imagined to amount to at least twice that +number.--They are relieved from civil restraints and disabilities in +France, and in the Netherlands also. The Jews in Holland, of both German +and Portuguese origin, are numerous; the latter are said to have taken +refuge there when the United Provinces asserted their independence of +Spain; they have a splendid synagogue at Amsterdam. Infidelity is +supposed to have made more progress amongst them than amongst the German +Jews in Holland. The Italian Jews are chiefly at Leghorn and Genoa; and +there are four thousand of them at Rome. In speaking of the religion of +the Jews, it is not necessary to particularize those who assumed the +mask of Christianity under terror of the Inquisition, although much has +been said of their wealth and numbers, and of the high offices they have +filled in Spain, and especially in Portugal. But it is curious to see, +in a very distant quarter, a like simulation produced amongst them +by like causes. There are at Salonica thirty synagogues, and about +twenty-five thousand professed Jews; and a body of Israelites have been +lately discovered there, who, really adhering to the faith of their +fathers, have externally embraced Mahomedanism. + +The Barbary Jews are a very fine people; but the handsomest Jews are +said to be those of Mesopotamia. That province may also boast of an Arab +chief who bears the name of the Patriarch Job, is rich in sheep, and +camels, and oxen, and asses, abounds in hospitality, and believes that +he descends from him; he is also famed for his justice. The Jews at +Constantinople, forty thousand in number, and in the parts of European +Turkey on and near the Mediterranean, speak Spanish, and appear to +descend from Israelites driven from Spain by persecution. The Bible +Society are now printing at Corfu the New Testament, in Jewish-Spanish, +for their benefit. + +In truth, little appears to be known of the state of the Jews during +some hundreds of years after the destruction of Jerusalem. The first +body of learned Jews which drew attention after that disastrous event +was that settled in Spain; and from it all Jewish learning descends. +As in accomplishment of the prophecy, the Jew is found over the whole +surface of the globe; he has been long established in China, which +abhors the foreigner; and in Abyssinia, which it is almost as difficult +to reach as to quit. The early Judaism of that country, and in later +days the history of the powerful colony of Jews established in its +heart, which at one time actually reigned over the kingdom, are matters +so curious, that we regret that we can do no more than advert to them; +we must say the same as to the evidence existing of Jewish rites having +extended themselves very far southward along the eastern coast of +Africa; the numerous Jews of Barbary; and the black and white Jews, who +have been established for ages, more or less remote, on the Malabar +coast. It may be here observed, that all the Israelites hitherto +discovered appear to be descendants of those who held the kingdom of +Judah. + +The Jews in Great Britain and Ireland are not supposed to be more than +from ten to twelve thousand, very many of whom are foreigners, and +migratory.--_Quarterly Rev._ + + * * * * * + + +EGYPTIAN RATIONS. + + +The rations of the Egyptian soldiers were, according to Herodotus, five +pounds of baked bread, two pounds of beef, and half a pint of wine +daily. + + * * * * * + +In the barbarous ages it was usual for persons who could not write, to +make the sign of the cross in confirmation of a written paper. Several +charters still remain in which kings and persons of great eminence +affix "signum crucis pro ignoratione literarum," the sign of the cross, +because of their ignorance of letters. From this is derived the phrase +of signing instead of subscribing a paper. + + * * * * * + + +COLUMN IN BLENHEIM PARK + + +[Illustration: Column in Blenheim Park.] + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +You have lately directed the attention of the readers of the MIRROR to +the park of Blenheim, in Oxfordshire, one of the most beautiful England +can boast of, and likewise, according to Camden, the first park that +was made in this country. I can bear witness to the correctness of +your delineation and description of Rosamond's Well, which you gave +in a recent number; but there is no trace whatever of the bower or +labyrinth, the site of which is only pointed out by tradition. The +park of Blenheim, besides the interest which attaches to it from the +circumstance of its having been the residence of the early kings of +England, and the scene of "Rosamond's" life, has in more modern times +acquired additional interest from having been bestowed by the country +upon the Duke of Marlborough, in testimony of the gratitude of the +nation for the brilliant services he had rendered his country, +particularly at the battle of Blenheim. + +It was a reward at once worthy of the English nation and of the +illustrious hero on whom it was bestowed; and as it is at least +pleasing, and perhaps useful, to recall to the mind the epochs of +England's greatness amongst nations, I have sent a sketch of one of the +most prominent objects in the park of Blenheim, which our forefathers +deemed (in the language of the inscription) would "stand as long as the +British name and language last, illustrious monuments of Marlborough's +glory and of Britain's gratitude." This is an elegant column, 130 feet +in height, and surmounted by a statue of the warrior in an antique +habit. On three sides of the building there are nearly complete copies +of the several Acts of Parliament by which the park and manor of +Woodstock were granted to the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs; and on +the fourth side is a very long inscription, said to have been penned by +Lord Bolingbroke, which concludes thus:-- + + + These are the actions of the Duke of Marlborough, + Performed in the compass of a few years, + Sufficient to adorn the annals of ages. + The admiration of other nations + Will be conveyed to the latest posterity, + In the histories even of the enemies of Britain. + The sense which the British nation had + Of his transcendant merit + Was expressed + In the most solemn, most effectual, most durable manner. + The Acts of Parliament inscribed on the pillar + Shall stand as long as the British name and language last, + Illustrious monuments + Of Marlborough's glory and + Of Britain's gratitude. + +G.W. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_ + + * * * * * + + +MEMOIRS OF VIDOCQ. + +_The French Thief-taker_ + + +This is as full-charged a portrait of human depravity as the gloomiest +misanthrope could wish for. But it has much wider claims on public +attention than the gratification of the misanthropic few who mope in +corners or stalk up and down leafless and almost solitary walks during +this hanging and drowning season. Nevertheless, all men are more or less +misanthropes, or they affect to be so; for only skim off the bile of a +true critic, or the minds of the hundred thousand who read newspapers, +and look first for the bankrupts and deaths. Sugar and wormwood and +wormwood and sugar are the standing dishes, but as we read the other +day, "there is a certain hankering for the gloomy side of nature, whence +the trials and convictions of vice become so much more attractive than +the brightest successes of virtue." People with _macadamized minds_, +and their histories (scarce as the originals are) are mere nonentities, +and food for the trunk-maker; whereas a book of hair-breadth escapes, +thrilling with horror and romantic narrative will tempt people to sit up +reading in their beds, till like Rousseau, they are reminded of morning +by the stone-chatters at their window. To the last class belong the +_Memoirs of Vidocq_, an analysis of which would be "utterly impossible, +so powerful are the descriptions, and so continuous the thread of +their history." The original work was published a short time since in +Paris, and republished here; but, we believe the present is the first +translation that has appeared in England. The newspapers have, from time +to time, translated a few extracts, when their Old Bailey news was at a +stand, so that the name of Vidocq must be somewhat familiar to many of +our readers.[11] + + [11] The present portion is only the first volume. The Memoirs are + to be completed in four volumes, to form part of the series of + _Autobiographical Memoirs_, published by Messrs. Hunt and Clarke, + and decidedly one of the most attractive works that that has + lately issued from the press. As we intend to notice this + collection at some future time, we can only, for the present, + spare room for this direction of the reader's attention--for + the design deserves well of the public; and if the success be + proportioned fro its merits, it will be great indeed. + +Eugene Francois Vidocq is a native of Arras, where his father was +a baker; and from early associations he fell into courses of excess +which led to the necessity of his flying from the parental roof. After +various, rapid, and unexampled events in the romance of real life, in +which he was everything by turns and nothing long, he was liberated from +prison, and became the principal and most active agent of police. He was +made Chief of the Police de Surete under Messrs. Delavau and Franchet, +and continued in that capacity from the year 1810 till 1827, during +which period he extirpated the most formidable of those ruffians and +villains to whom the excesses of the revolution and subsequent events +had given full scope for the perpetration of the most daring robberies +and inquitous excesses. Removed from employment, in which he had +accumulated a handsome independence, he could not determine on leading a +life of ease, for which his career of perpetual vigilance and adventure +had unfitted him, and he built a paper manufactory at St. Mandeé, about +two leagues from Paris, where he employs from forty to fifty persons, +principally, it is asserted, liberated convicts, who having passed +through the term of their sentence, are cast upon society without home, +shelter, or character, and would be compelled to resort to dishonest +practices did not this asylum offer them its protection and afford them +opportunity of earning an honest living by industrious labour. One +additional point of interest in the present volume is, that the author +is still living. + +[We cannot follow Vidocq through his career of crime, neither would +it be altogether profitable to our readers; but the _links_ may be +recapitulated in a few words. He must have been born a thief, and +perhaps stole the spoon with which he was fed; but the _penchant_ +runs in the family, for Vidocq and his brother rob the same till of +a fencing-room, but his brother is first detected, and sent off "in a +hurry," to a baker at Lille. Of course Vidocq soon gets partners in sin, +and on the same day that he has been detected by the _living_ evidence +of two fowls which he had stolen, he sweeps from the dinner table ten +forks and as many spoons, pawns them for 150 francs, spends the money +in a few hours, and is imprisoned four days. He is then released; +one of his pals gives a false alarm to Vidocq's mother, and during her +temporary absence, Vidocq enters his home with a false key, steals +2,000 francs from a strong chest, with which he escapes to Ostend, +(intending to embark for America,) where he is decoyed by a _soi-disant_ +ship-broker, and loses all his ill-gotten wealth. He then resolves to +betroth the sea, though not after the Venetian fashion, by giving her +a dowry; the "sound of a trumpet" disturbs his attention, as it would +of any other hero. But this proves to be the note of Paillasse, a +merry-andrew. The "director," as the opera bills would say, was +Cotte-Comus, belonging to a troop of rope-dancers. + +He next joins a player of Punch, to whose wife he enacts Romeo with +better grace, and during one of the representations, the married people +break each others heads, and Vidocq runs off during the affray. He then +becomes assistant to a quack doctor, and the favoured swain of an +actress; gets into the Bourbon regiment, where he is nicknamed Reckless, +and kills two men, and fights fifteen duels in six months. His other +exploits are as a corporal of grenadiers, of course, a deserter, and +a prisoner of the revolution. He then marries, but does not reform. +Of course a wife is but a temporary incumbrance to a man of Vidocq's +dexterity. In chapter iii, we find him at Brussels, where he joins a set +of nefarious gamblers at the _Cafes_, and has a most romantic adventure +with a woman named Rosine. But we can follow him no further, except to +add that his other comrades in Vol. I, are gipsies, smugglers, players, +galley-slaves, drovers, Dutch sailors, and highwaymen. + +We must, therefore, confine ourselves to a few detached extracts from +the most interesting portion of the volume. At Lille, Vidocq meets with +a _chere amie_, Francine; he suspects her fidelity, thrashes his rival, +gets imprisoned, and is betrayed as an accomplice in a forgery. His +"reflections" during his imprisonment in St. Peter's Tower, bring on +a severe illness.] + +I was scarcely convalescent, when, unable to support the state of +incertitude in which I found my affairs, I resolved on escaping, and +to escape by the door, although that may appear a difficult step. Some +particular observations made me choose this method in preference to any +other. The wicket-keeper at St. Peter's Tower was a galley-slave from +the Bagne (place of confinement) at Brest, sentenced for life. In +a word, I relied on passing by him under the disguise of a superior +officer, charged with visiting St. Peter's Tower, which was used as +a military prison, twice a week. + +Francine, whom I saw daily, got me the requisite clothing, which she +brought me in her muff. I immediately tried them on, and they suited me +exactly. Some of the prisoners who saw me thus attired assured me that +it was impossible to detect me. I was the same height as the officer +whose character I was about to assume, and I made myself appear +twenty-five years of age. At the end of a few days, he made his usual +round, and whilst one of my friends occupied his attention, under +pretext of examining his food, I disguised myself hastily, and presented +myself at the door, which the gaolkeeper, taking off his cap, opened, +and I went out into the street. I ran to a friend of Francine's, as +agreed on in case I should succeed, and she soon joined me there. + +I was there perfectly safe, if I could resolve on keeping concealed; but +how could I submit to a slavery almost as severe as that of St. Peter's +Tower. As for three months I had been enclosed within four walls, I was +now desirous to exercise the activity so long repressed. I announced my +intention of going out; and, as with me an inflexible determination was +always the auxiliary of the most capricious fancy, I did go. My first +excursion was safely performed, but the next morning, as I was crossing +the Rue Ecremoise, a sergeant named Louis, who had seen me during my +imprisonment, met me, and asked if I was free. He was a severe practical +man, and by a motion of his hand could summon twenty persons. I said +that I would follow him; and begging him to allow me to bid adieu to my +mistress, who was in a house of Rue de l'Hôpital, he consented, and we +really met Francine, who was much surprised to see me in such company; +and when I told her that having reflected, that my escape might injure +me in the estimation of my judges, I had decided on returning to St. +Peter's Tower, to wait the result of the process. + +Francine did not at first comprehend why I had expended three hundred +francs, to return at the end of four months to prison. A sign put her +on her guard, and I found an opportunity of desiring her to put some +cinders in my pocket whilst Louis and I took a glass of rum, and then +set out for the prison. Having reached a deserted street, I blinded my +guide with a handful of cinders, and regained my asylum with all speed. + +Louis having made his declaration, the gendarmes and police-officers +were on the full cry after me; and there was one Jacquard amongst them +who undertook to secure me if I were in the city. I was not unacquainted +with these particulars, and instead of being more circumspect in my +behaviour, I affected a ridiculous bravado. It might have been said +that I ought to have had a portion of the premium promised for my +apprehension. I was certainly hotly pursued, as may be judged from +the following incident:-- + +Jacquard learnt one day that I was going to dine in Rue Notre-Dame. He +immediately went with four assistants, whom he left on the ground-floor, +and ascended the staircase to the room where I was about to sit down to +table with two females. A recruiting sergeant, who was to have made the +fourth, had not yet arrived. I recognised Jacquard, who never having +seen me, had not the same advantage, and besides my disguise would have +bid defiance to any description of my person. Without being at all +uneasy, I approached, and with a most natural tone I begged him to pass +into a closet, the glass door of which looked on the banquetroom. "It +is Vidocq whom you are looking for," said I; "if you will wait for ten +minutes you will see him. There is his cover, he cannot be long. When he +enters, I will make you a sign; but if you are alone, I doubt if you can +seize him, as he is armed, and resolved to defend himself."--"I have my +gendarmes on the staircase," answered he, "and if he escapes--"--"Take +care how you place them then," said I with affected haste. "If Vidocq +should see them he would mistrust some plot, and then farewell to the +bird."--"But where shall I place them?"--"Oh, why in this closet--mind, +no noise, that would spoil all; and I have more desire than yourself +that he should not suspect anything." My commissary was now shut up in +four walls with his agents. The door, which was very strong, closed +with a double lock. Then, certain of time for escape, I cried to my +prisoners, "You are looking for Vidocq--well, it is he who has caged +you; farewell." And away I went like a dart, leaving the party shouting +for help, and making desperate efforts to escape from the unlucky +closet. + +Two escapes of the same sort I effected, but at last I was arrested and +carried back to St. Peter's Tower, where, for greater security, I was +placed in a dungeon with a man named Calendrin, who was also thus +punished for two attempts at escape. Calendrin, who had known me during +my first confinement in the prison, imparted to me a fresh plan of +escape, which he had devised by means of a hole worked in the wall of +the dungeon of the galley-slaves, with whom we could communicate. The +third night of my detention all was managed for our escape, and eight +of the prisoners who first went out were so fortunate as to avoid being +detected by the sentinel, who was only a short distance off. + +Seven of us still remained, and we drew straws, as is usual in such +circumstances, to determine which of the seven should first pass. I drew +the short straw, and undressed myself that I might get with greater ease +through the hole, which was very narrow, but to the great disappointment +of all, I stuck fast without the possibility of advancing or receding. +In vain did my companions endeavour to pull me out by force, I was +caught as if in a trap, and the pain of my situation was so extreme, +that not expecting further help from within, I called to the sentry to +render me assistance. He approached with the precaution of a man who +fears a surprise, and presenting his bayonet to my breast, forbade me +to make the slightest movement. At his summons the guard came out, the +porters ran with torches, and I was dragged from my hole, not without +leaving behind me a portion of my skin and flesh. Torn and wounded as +I was, they immediately transferred me to the prison of Petit Hotel, +when I was put into a dungeon, fettered hand and foot. + +Ten days afterwards I was placed amongst the prisoners, through my +intreaties and promises not to attempt again to escape. + +[Here he meets with a fellow named Bruxellois, _the Daring_, of whom +the following anecdote is related:--] + +At the moment of entering a farm with six of his comrades, he thrust his +left hand through an opening in the shutter to lift the latch, but when +he was drawing it back, he found that his wrist had been caught in a +slip knot. Awakened by the noise, the inhabitants of the farm had laid +this snare, although too weak to go out against a band of robbers which +report had magnified as to numbers. But the attempt being thus defeated, +day was fast approaching, and Bruxellois saw his dismayed comrades +looking at each other with doubt, when the idea occurred to him that to +avoid discovery they would knock out his brains. With his right hand he +drew out his clasp knife with a sharp point, which he always had about +him, and cutting off his wrist at the joint, fled with his comrades +without being stopped by the excessive pain of his horrid wound. +This remarkable deed, which has been attributed to a thousand +different spots, really occurred in the vicinity of Lille, and is well +authenticated in the northern districts, where many persons yet remember +to have seen the hero of this tale, who was thence called Manchot, +(or one-armed,) executed. + +[Vidocq at length escapes, quits Lille, and flies to Ostend, where he +joins a crew of smugglers.] + +It was with real repugnance that I went to the house of a man named +Peters, to whom I was directed, as one deeply engaged in the pursuit, +and able to introduce me to it. A sea-gull nailed on his door with +extended wings, like the owls and weasels that we see on barns, guided +me. I found the worthy in a sort of cellar, which by the ropes, sails, +oars, hammocks, and barrels which filled it, might have been taken +for a naval depot. From the midst of a thick atmosphere of smoke which +surrounded him, he viewed me at first with a contempt which had not +a good appearance, and my conjectures were soon realized, for I had +scarcely offered my services than he fell upon me with a shower of +blows. I could certainly have resisted him effectually, but astonishment +had in a measure deprived me of the power of defence; and I saw besides, +in the court-yard, half-a-dozen sailors and an enormous Newfoundland +dog, which would have been powerful odds. Turned into the street, I +endeavoured to account for this singular reception, when it occurred to +me that Peters had mistaken me for a spy, and treated me accordingly. + +This idea determined me on returning to a dealer in hollands, who +had told me of him, and he, laughing at the results of my visit, +gave me a pass-word that would procure me free access to Peters.--[He +succeeds.]--I slept at Peters's house with a dozen or fifteen smugglers, +Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Portuguese, and Russian; there were no +Englishmen, and only two Frenchmen. The day after my installation, as +we were all getting into our hammocks, or flock beds, Peters entered +suddenly into our chamber, which was only a cellar contiguous to his +own, and so filled with barrels and kegs, that we could scarcely find +room to sling our hammocks. Peters had put off his usual attire, which +was that of ship-caulker, or sail-maker, and had on a hairy cap, and a +long red shirt, closed at the breast with a silver pin, fire-arms in his +belt, and a pair of thick large, fisherman's boots, which reach the top +of the thigh, or may be folded down beneath the knee. + +"A-hoy! a-hoy!" cried he, at the door, striking the ground with the butt +end of his carbine! "down with the hammocks, down with the hammocks! We +will sleep some other day. The Squirrel has made signals for a landing +this evening, and we must see what she has in her, muslin or tobacco. +Come, come, turn out, my sea-boys." + +In a twinkling every body was ready. They opened an arm-chest, and every +man took out a carbine or blunderbuss, a brace of pistols, and a cutlass +or boarding pike, and we set out, after having drunk so many glasses of +brandy and arrack that the bottles were empty. At this time there were +not more than twenty of us, but we were joined or met, at one place or +another, by so many individuals, that on reaching the sea side we were +forty-seven in number, exclusive of two females and some countrymen from +the adjacent villages, who brought hired horses, which they concealed in +a hollow behind some rocks. + +It was night, and the wind was shifting, whilst the sea dashed with so +much force, that I did not understand how any vessels could approach +without being cast on shore. What confirmed this idea was, that by the +starlight I saw a small boat rowing backwards and forwards, as if it +feared to land. They told me afterwards that this was only a manoeuvre +to ascertain if all was ready for the unloading, and no danger to be +apprehended. Peters now lighted a reflecting lantern, which one of the +men had brought, and immediately extinguished it; the Squirrel raised +a lantern at her mizen, which only shone for a moment, and then +disappeared like a glow-worm on a summer's night. We then saw it +approach, and anchor about a gun-shot off from the spot where we were. +Our troop then divided into three companies, two of which were placed +five hundred paces in front, to resist the revenue officers if they +should present themselves. The men of these companies were then placed +at intervals along the ground, having at the left arm a packthread which +ran from one to the other: in case of alarm, it was announced by a +slight pull, and each being ordered to answer this signal by firing his +gun, a line of firing was thus kept up, which perplexed the revenue +officers. The third company, of which I was one, remained by the +sea-side, to cover the landing and the transport of the cargo. + +All being thus arranged, the Newfoundland dog already mentioned, and +who was with us, dashed at a word into the midst of the waves, and +swam powerfully in the direction of the Squirrel, and in an instant +afterwards returned with the end of a rope in his mouth. Peters +instantly seized it, and began to draw it towards him, making us signs +to assist him, which I obeyed mechanically. After a few tugs, I saw that +at the end of the cable were a dozen small casks, which floated towards +us. I then perceived that the vessel thus contrived to keep sufficiently +far from the shore, not to run a risk of being stranded. In an instant +the casks, smeared over with something that made them waterproof, were +unfastened and placed on horses, which immediately dashed off for the +interior of the country. A second cargo arrived with the same success; +but as we were landing the third, some reports of fire-arms announced +that our outposts were attacked. "There is the beginning of the ball," +said Peters, calmly; "I must go and see who will dance;" and taking up +his carbine, he joined the outposts, which had by this time joined each +other. The firing became rapid, and we had two men killed, and others +slightly wounded. At the fire of the revenue officers, we soon found +that they exceeded us in number; but alarmed, and fearing an ambuscade, +they dared not to approach, and we effected our retreat without any +attempt on their part to prevent it. From the beginning of the fight +the Squirrel had weighed anchor and stood out to sea, for fear that the +noise of the firing should bring down on her the government cruiser. +I was told that most probably she would unload her cargo in some other +part of the coast, where the owners had numerous agents. + +[Vidocq returns to Lille, where he is taken by two gendarmes, and +concerts the following stratagem for escape:--] + +This escape, however, was not so very easy a matter as may be surmised, +when I say that our dungeons, seven feet square, had walls six feet +thick, strengthened with planking crossed and rivetted with iron; a +window, two feet by one, closed with three iron gratings placed one +after the other, and the door cased with wrought iron. With such +precautions, a jailor might depend on the safe keeping of his charge, +but yet we overcame it all. + +I was in a cell on the second floor with Duhamel. For six francs, a +prisoner, who was also a turnkey, procured us two files, a ripping +chisel, and two turnscrews. We had pewter spoons, and our jailor was +probably ignorant of the use which prisoners could make of them. I knew +the dungeon key; it was the counterpart of all the others on the same +story; and I cut a model of it from a large carrot; then I made a mould +with crumb of bread and potatoes. We wanted fire, and we procured it by +making a lamp with a piece of fat and the rags of a cotton cap. The key +was at last made of pewter, but it was not yet perfect; and it was only +after many trials and various alterations that it fitted at last. Thus +masters of the doors, we were compelled to work a hole in the wall, near +the barns of the town-hall. Sallambier, who was in the dungeons below, +found a way to cut the hole, by working through the planking. + + +THE PRISON OF BICETRE AT PARIS. + + +The prison of Bicêtre is a neat quadrangular building, enclosing many +other structures and many courts, which have each a different name; +there is the grande cour (great court) where the prisoners walk; the +cour de cuisine (or kitchen court;) the cour des chiens (or dog's +court;) the cour de correction (or court of punishment;) and the cour +des fers (or iron court.) In this last is a new building five stories +high; each story contains forty cells, capable of holding four +prisoners. On the platform, which supplies the place of a roof, was +night and day a dog named Dragon, who passed in the prison for the most +watchful and incorruptible of his kind; but some prisoners managed at a +subsequent period to corrupt him through the medium of a roasted leg of +mutton, which he had the culpable weakness to accept. The Amphytrions +escaped whilst Dragon was swallowing the mutton; he was beaten and taken +into the cour des chiens, where, chained up and deprived of the free air +which he breathed on the platform, he was inconsolable for his fault, +and perished piecemeal, a victim of remorse at his weakness in yielding +to a moment of gluttony and error. + +Near the erection I speak of is the old building, nearly arranged in +the same way, and under which were dungeons of safety, in which were +enclosed the troublesome and condemned prisoners. It was in one of these +dungeons that for forty-three years lived the accomplice of Cartouche, +who betrayed him to procure this commutation! To obtain a moment's +sunshine, he frequently counterfeited death so well, that when he had +actually breathed his last sigh, two days passed before they took +off his iron collar. A third part of the building, called La Force, +comprised various rooms, in which the prisoners were placed who arrived +from the provinces, and were destined to the chain. + +At this period, the prison of Bicêtre, which is only strong from the +strict guard kept up there, could contain twelve hundred prisoners; but +they were piled on each other, and the conduct of the jailors in no way +assuaged the inconvenience of the place. + +If any man arrived from the country well clad, who, condemned for a +first offence, was not as yet initiated into the customs and usages of +prisons, in a twinkling he was stripped of his clothes, which were sold +in his presence to the highest bidder. If he had jewels or money, they +were alike confiscated to the profit of the society, and if he were too +long in taking out his ear-rings, they snatched them out without the +sufferer daring to complain. He was previously warned, that if he spoke +of it, they would hang him in the night to the bars of his cell, and +afterwards say that he had committed suicide. If a prisoner, out of +precaution, when going to sleep, placed his clothes under his head, they +waited until he was in his first sleep, and then they tied to his foot a +stone, which they balanced at the side of his bed; at the least motion +the stone fell, and aroused by the noise, the sleeper jumped up, and +before he could discover what had occurred, his packet hoisted by a +cord, went through the iron bars to the floor above. I have seen, in +the depth of winter, these poor devils, having been deprived of their +property in this way, remain in the court in their shirts until some one +threw them some rags to cover their nakedness. As long as they remained +at Bicêtre, by burying themselves, as we may say, in their straw, they +could defy the rigour of the weather; but at the departure of the chain, +when they had no other covering than the frock and trousers made of +packing cloth, they often sunk exhausted and frozen before they reached +the first resting place. + +[As we have said, the present is but a fourth portion of Vidocq's +exploits; and if the remaining three are of equal interest, the work +will be one of the most extraordinary of our times. We scarcely remember +a counterpart, although the Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux are of the same +stamp. The fate of the latter work was curious enough. The manuscript +was sent by the author from New South Wales, whither he had been +transported. It was printed in two small volumes, and published by an +eminent west-end bookseller, who, for some unexplained motive withdrew +the edition, which is, we believe, now in the printer's warehouse. The +Editor of the "Autobiography" has, however, reprinted Vaux's memoirs in +his series; their style is very superior to that of Vidocq's, (which is +a translation) and as scores of worse books are printed annually, we +rejoice at their rescue from oblivion.] + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ANECDOTE GALLERY. + + * * * * * + + +WHITFIELD. + + +Remarkable instances are related of the manner in which Whitfield +impressed his hearers. A man at Exeter stood with stones in his +pocket, and one in his hand, ready to throw at him; but he dropped +it before the sermon was far advanced, and going up to him after +the preaching was over, he said, "Sir, I came to hear you with an +intention to break your head; but God, through your ministry, has +given me a broken heart." A ship-builder was once asked what he +thought of him. "Think!" he replied, "I tell you, sir, every Sunday +that I go to my parish church, I can build a ship from stem to stern +under the sermon; but, were it to save my soul, under Mr. Whitfield I +could not lay a single plank." Hume pronounced him the most ingenious +preacher he had ever heard; and said, it was worth while to go twenty +miles to hear him. But, perhaps, the greatest proof of his persuasive +powers was, when he drew from Franklin's pocket the money which that +clear, cool reasoner had determined not to give; it was for the +orphan-house at Savannah. "I did not," says the American philosopher, +"disapprove of the design; but as Georgia was then destitute of +materials and workmen, and it was proposed to send them from +Philadelphia at a great expense, I thought it would have been better +to have built the house at Philadelphia, and brought the children to +it. This I advised; but he was resolute in his first project, rejected +my counsel, and I therefore refused to contribute. I happened, soon +after, to attend one of his sermons, in the course of which I +perceived he intended to finish with a collection, and I silently +resolved he should get nothing from me. I had in my pocket a handful +of copper money, three or four silver dollars, and five pistoles in +gold. As he proceeded I began to soften, and concluded to give the +copper; another stroke of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and +determined me to give the silver; and he finished so admirably, that +I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. + +"At this sermon," continues Franklin, "there was also one of our club, +who, being of my sentiments respecting the building in Georgia, and +suspecting a collection might be intended, had, by precaution, emptied +his pockets before he came from home; towards the conclusion of the +discourse, however, he felt a strong inclination to give, and applied to +a neighbour who stood near him, to lend him some money for the purpose. +The request was fortunately made to perhaps the only man in the company +who had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer was, +'At any other time, friend Hopkinson, I would lend to thee freely; but +not now, for thee seems to me to be out of thy right senses.'" + +One of his flights of oratory, not in the best taste, is related on +Hume's authority. "After a solemn pause, Mr. Whitfield thus addresses +his audience:--'The attendant angel is just about to leave the +threshold, and ascend to heaven; and shall he ascend and not bear with +him the news of one sinner, among all the multitude, reclaimed from the +error of his ways!' To give the greater effect to this exclamation, he +stamped with his foot, lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, and cried +aloud, 'Stop, Gabriel! stop, Gabriel! stop, ere you enter the sacred +portals, and yet carry with you the news of one sinner converted to +God!'" Hume said this address was accompanied with such animated, yet +natural action, that it surpassed any thing he ever saw or heard in any +other preacher.--_Southey_. + + * * * * * + + +SIR RICHARD JEBB. + + +Was very rough and harsh in manner. He said to a patient, to whom +he had been very rude, "_Sir, it is my way_."--"Then," replied the +patient, pointing to the door, "I beg you will make _that your way_." +Sir Richard was not very nice in his mode of expression, and would +frequently astonish a patient with a volley of oaths. Nothing used to +make him swear more than the eternal question, "What may I eat? Pray, +Sir Richard, may I eat a muffin?"--"Yes, Madam, the _best thing_ you +can take."--"O dear! I am glad of that. But, Sir Richard, you told +me the other day that it was the _worst_ thing I could eat!"--"What +would be proper for me to eat to-day?" says another lady.--"Boiled +turnips."--"Boiled turnips! you forget, Sir Richard, I told you I +could not bear boiled turnips."--"Then, Madam, you must have +a--vitiated appetite." + +Sir Richard, being called to see a patient who fancied himself very +ill, told him ingenuously what he thought, and declined prescribing, +thinking it unnecessary. "Now you are here," said the patient, "I +shall be obliged to you, Sir Richard, if you will tell me how I must +live, what I may eat, and what not."--"My directions as to that +point," replied Sir Richard, "will be few and simple. You must not eat +the poker, shovel, or tongs, for they are hard of digestion; nor the +bellows, because they are windy; but any thing else you please!" + +He was first cousin to Dr. John Jebb, who had been a dissenting +minister, well known for his political opinions and writings. His +Majesty George III. used sometimes to talk to Sir Richard concerning +his cousin; and once, more particularly, spoke of his restless, +reforming spirit in the church, in the university, physic, &c. "And +please your Majesty," replied Sir Richard, "if my cousin were in +heaven he would be a reformer!"--_Wadd's Memoirs._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." +SHAKESPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +GOOD BYE. + + + When from the friend we dearly love + Fate tells us we must part, + By speech we can but feebly prove + The anguish of the heart. + + And no soft words, howe'er sincere, + Can half so much imply, + As that suppress'd, though trembling tear, + Which drowns the word--Good bye. + +_Warwick._ W.S. + + * * * * * + + +A keen shopkeeper, having in his service a couple of shopmen, who +in point of intellect, were the very reverse of their master, a wag +who frequented the shop, for some time puzzled the neighbourhood by +designating it a "_music-shop_," although the proprietor dealt as +much in _music_ as in _millstones_. However, being pressed for an +explanation, he said that the _scale_ was conducted by a _sharp_, a +_flat_ and a _natural_; and if these did not constitute "music," he +did not know what did. + +ISSACCAR. + + * * * * * + + +IMMORTALITY. + + +Napoleon being in the gallery of the Louvre one day, attended by Baron +Denon, turned round suddenly from a fine picture, which he had viewed +for some time in silence, and said to him, "That is a noble picture, +Denon."--"Immortal," was Denon's reply. "How long," inquired Napoleon, +"will this picture last?" Denon answered, that, "with care and in a +proper situation, it might last, perhaps, five hundred years."--"And +how long," said Napoleon, "will a statue last?"--"Perhaps," replied +Denon, "five thousand years."--"And this," returned Napoleon, sharply, +"this you call immortality!" + + * * * * * + + +LINES TO A LADY, ON HER REFUSING HER CARD. + + + Let heroes, anxious for their future fame, + Obtain of Fortune what they want--a name; + The _future_ theirs, the present hour be mine-- + The only name I ask of fate--is thine; + Yet happier still had fate decreed to me + The favour'd lot, to give my name to thee. + +T.B. + + * * * * * + + +A dull barrister, once obtained the nickname _Necessity_--because +_Necessity has no law_. + + * * * * * + + +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. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. + Volume XII, No. 347, Saturday, December 20, 1828. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 1, 2004 [EBook #11386] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 347 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, David Gil, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page417" name="page417"></a>[pg 417]</span> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" summary="Banner"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>VOL. XII, NO. 347.]</b></td> + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1828.</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + + + +<h3> +EUROPEAN CITIES.—NAPLES. +</h3> + + +<div class="figure" style="width: 100%;"> +<a href="images/347-1.png"><img width="100%" src="images/347-1.png" +alt="European Cities.--Naples." /></a> +</div> + + + +<p> +In our last volume we commenced the design of illustrating the +principal <i>Cities of Europe</i>, by a series of picturesque views—one of +which is represented in the above engraving. Our miscellaneous duties +in identifying the pages of the MIRROR with subjects of contemporary +interest, and anxiety to bring them on our little <i>tapis</i>—(qy. +Twopence?)—will best account for the interval which has elapsed since +the commencement of our design—with a View of London; but were all +travellers as tardy, the Grand Tour of Europe would occupy many years, +and leave fashion-mongers but little more than rouge, wrinkles, and +<i>bon-bons</i> to delight their friends at home. +</p> + +<p> +The proximity of Naples to Rome may, perhaps, impair the interest of +the former city, especially as it presents nothing in architecture, +sculpture, or painting that can vie with the Imperial Mistress. +Nevertheless, Naples is one of the most beautiful and most delightful +cities on the habitable globe. Nothing can possibly be imagined more +unique than its <i>coup-d'oeil</i>, on whatever side the city is viewed. +</p> + +<p> +Naples is situated towards the south and east on the declivity of a +long range of hills, and encircling a gulf of 16 miles in breadth, +and as many in length, which forms a basin, called Crater by the +Neapolitans. The city appears to crown this superb basin. One part +rises towards the west in the form of an amphitheatre, on the hills +of Pausilippo, St. Ermo, and Antiguano; the other extends towards the +east, over a more level territory, in which villas follow each other +in rapid succession, from the Magdalen Bridge to Portici, where the +king's palace is situated, and beyond that to Mount Vesuvius. The +Neapolitans have a saying, <i>Vedi Napoli e po mari</i>, intimating that +when Naples has been seen, every thing has been seen; and its +congregated charms of situation, climate, and fertility almost warrant +this patriotic ebullition. +</p> + +<p> +"On the northern side, Naples is surrounded by hills, which (says +<i>Vasi</i>, in his '<i>Picture</i>,') form a kind of crown round the <i>Terra di +Lavoro</i>, the Land of Labour." This consists of a district, in the +language of ancient Rome, +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> ———Lecos laeros, et amoena vireta</p> + <p> Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas—</p> +</div></div> + + + +<p> +and fertilized by a river, called Sebeto, which descends from the hills +on the side +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page418" name="page418"></a>[pg 418]</span> +of Nola, and falls into the sea after having passed under +Magdalen Bridge, towards the eastern part of Naples. +</p> + +<p> +The ancient history of Naples is involved in much obscurity. According +to some, says <i>Vasi</i>, Falerna, one of the Argonauts, founded it about +1,300 years before the Christian era; according to others, Parthenope, +one of the Syrens, celebrated by Homer in his "Odyssey," being +shipwrecked on this coast, landed here, and built a town, to which she +gave her name; others attribute its foundation to Hercules, some to +Eneas, and others to Ulysses. These are mere freaks of fiction and +fable; and it is more probable that Naples was founded by some Greek +colonies; this may be inferred from its own name, <i>Neapolis</i>, and from +the name of another town contiguous to it, <i>Paleopolis.</i> Strabo speaks +of these Greek colonies, whence the city derives its origin. +</p> + +<p> +The city of Naples was formerly surrounded by very high walls, about 22 +miles in circumference; but on its enlargement, neither walls nor gates +were erected. It may be, however, defended by three strong castles. +</p> + +<p> +Naples is divided into twelve quarters, or departments, and contains +about 450,000 inhabitants. It is consequently the most populous city +in Europe, except London and Paris. The streets are neither broad nor +regular, and are paved with broad slabs of hard stone, resembling the +lava of Vesuvius. The houses are, for the most part, uniformly built, +being about five or six stories high, with balconies and flat roofs, +in the form of terraces, which are used as a promenade. The churches, +palaces, and public buildings are magnificent; but they suffer in +comparison with the other architectural wealth of Italy. Vasi states +there are about 300 churches; and among the other public buildings he +mentions 37 conservatories, established for the benefit of poor +children, and old people, both men and women. +</p> + +<p> +The environs of Naples possess many attractions for the classic tourist, +as well as for the strange flies of fashion. Among these is Virgil's +Tomb, which is, indeed, holy ground. The temples, aqueducts, and arches +of olden time are likewise stupendous records of the sumptuousness of +the ancient people of this interesting district; and, apart from these +attractions, the contemplative philosopher may read in the volcanic +remains, and other phenomena on its shores, many inspiring lessons in +the broad volume of Nature; as well as amid the neighbouring relics of +Art, where +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Man marks the earth with ruin.</p> +</div></div> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2> +LEICESTER ABBEY.—DEATH OF CARDINAL WOLSEY. +</h2> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + +<p> +Few periods of English history are more pregnant with events, or more +interesting to the antiquary, and general reader, than that which +comprised the fortunes of Wolsey. The eventful life of the Cardinal, +checkered as it was by the vicissitudes of fortune, his sudden +elevation, and finally his more sudden fall and death, display an +appalling picture of "the instability of human affairs." This prelate +and statesman, who even aspired to the Papal throne itself, "was an +honest poore man's sonne in the towne of Ipswiche,"<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> who having +received a good education, and being endowed with great capacity, soon +rose to fill the highest offices of the church and state; in 1515 he +was created Lord High Chancellor, and in three years afterwards was +appointed legate <i>à latere</i> by the Pope, having previously received +a Cardinal's cap. +</p> + +<p> +Leicester Abbey was rendered famous as being the last residence of the +unhappy Wolsey; "within its walls," says Gilpin, "was once exhibited a +scene more humiliating to human ambition, and more instructive to human +grandeur than almost any which history hath produced. Here the fallen +pride of Wolsey retreated from the insults of the world, all his visions +of ambition were now gone; his pomp and pageantry and crowded levees! On +this spot he told the listening monks, the sole attendants of his dying +hour, as they stood around his pallet, that he was come to lay his bones +among them, and gave a pathetic testimony to the truth and joys of +religion, which preaches beyond a thousand lectures."<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +On his road to London, whither he had been summoned, from his castle of +<i>Cawood</i>, by Henry, to take his trial for high treason, he was seized +with a disorder, which so much increased as to oblige his resting at +Leicester, where he was met at the Abbey gate by the Abbot and his whole +convent. The first ejaculation +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page419" name="page419"></a>[pg 419]</span> +of Wolsey, on meeting these holy persons, +plainly shows that he was fully aware of his approaching end: "Father +Abbot," said he, "I am come hither to lay my bones among you;"<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> and it +was with great difficulty that they could get him up the stairs, which +it was fated he was never again to descend alive. A short time previous +to his death, he thus addressed the Constable of the Tower, who was +appointed to convey him to the metropolis:—"Well, well, Master +Kingstone, I see the matter how it is framed; but if I had serued God as +diligentlie as I haue done the king, he would not haue giuen me ouer in +my gray haires;<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> but this is the iust reward that I must receiue for +the diligent paines and study yt I haue had to doe him seruice, not +regarding my seruice to God, but onely to satisfie his pleasure; I praie +you haue me most humblie commended vnto his royal maiestie, and beseech +him in my behalfe to call to his princelie remembrance, all matters +proceeding between him and mee, from the beginning of the worlde, and +the progress of the same, and most especialle in his weightie matter, +and then shall his grace's conscience know whether I haue oflended him +or no."<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +Thus sunk into the grave a man, who was a victim to tyranny, but +to a tyranny which he had himself formed; that he was a person far +enlightened beyond the period in which he lived no one can presume +to doubt. He tended greatly to promote the arts and learning of his +country. His personal character displayed as great a variety of opposite +qualities, as the fortunes to which he had been exposed; his magnanimity +was oftentimes clouded by the greatest meanness, and with an urbanity of +manners, he combined an intolerable degree of pride and arrogance; he +was frank and generous, but his overwhelming ambition greatly tended to +obscure these nobler qualities of his mind, and as he rose, he became +haughty and overbearing. His character has been obscured by the envy and +partiality of his contemporaries, who have generally endeavoured to load +his memory with reproaches. "This Cardinall," says Holinshed, "was +of great stomach, for he compted himselfe equall with princes, and by +craftie suggestion got into his hands innumerable treasure; he forced +little on simonie, and was not pittiful, and stood affectionate in his +owne opinion; in open presence he would lie and saie vntruth, and was +double both in speech and meaning; he would promise much and performe +little; he was vicious of his bodie, and gaue the clergy euill example; +he hated sore the Citie of London and feared it. It was told him that +he should die in the waie toward London, wherefore he feared lest the +commons of the citie would arise in riotous maner and so slaie him, yet +for all that he died in the waie toward London, carrieng more with him +out of the worlde than he brought into it, namellie, a winding sheete, +besides other necessaries thought meet for a dead man, as a Christian +comelinesse required."<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +The remains of the Cardinal were interred in the Abbey Church at +Leicester, after having been viewed by the Mayor and Corporation, +(for the prevention of false rumours,) and were attended to the grave +by the Abbot and all the brethren. This last ceremony was performed by +torchlight, the canons singing dirges, and offering orisons, at between +four and five o'clock of the morning, on St. Andrew's Day, November the +30th, 1530. +</p> + +<p> +Leicester Abbey was founded (according to Leland) <a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> in the year 1143, +in the reign of King Stephen, by Robert Bossue, Earl of Leicester, for +black canons of the order of St. Augustine, and was dedicated to the +Virgin Mary. It is situated in a pleasant meadow, to the north of the +town, watered by the river Soar, whence it acquired the name of <i>St. +Mary de Pratis</i>, or <i>de la Pré</i>. This monastery was richly endowed +with lands in thirty-six of the neighbouring parishes, besides various +possessions in other counties, and enjoyed considerable privileges and +immunities. Bossue, with the consent of Lady Amicia, his wife, became +a canon regular in his own foundation, in expiation of his rebellious +conduct towards his sovereign, and particularly for the injuries which +he had thereby brought upon the "goodly towne of Leycestre." At the +dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. the revenues of this house +were valued according to <i>Speed</i> at £1062. 0s. 4d., <i>Dugdale</i> says £951. +14s. 5d.; and its site was granted in the 4th of Edward VI. to William, +Marquess of Northampton.<a id="footnotetag8" name="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> +</p> + + +<p> + S.I.B. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page420" name="page420"></a>[pg 420]</span> +</p> + + +<h3> + ANCIENT OATHS. +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>To the Editor of the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + +<p> +It will be recollected, that in a former volume I gave you the form of +the oath taken by the appellee in the ancient manner of trial by battle. +The appellee, when appealed of felony, pleads <i>not guilty</i> and throws +down his glove, and declares he will defend the same by his body; the +appellant takes up the glove, and replies that he is ready to make good +the appeal body for body; and thereupon the appellee, taking the book in +his right hand, makes oath as before mentioned. To which the appellant +replies, holding the Bible and his antagonist's hand in the same manner +as the other, "Hear this, O man, whom I hold by the hand, who callest +thyself <i>Thomas</i> by the name of baptism, that thou art perjured; and +therefore perjured, because that thou feloniously didst murder my +father, <i>William</i> by name. So help me God and the Saints, and this I +will prove against thee by my body, as this court shall award." And then +the combat proceeds. +</p> + +<p> +There is a striking resemblance between this process and that of the +court of <i>Arcopagus,</i> at Athens, for murder, where the prisoner and +prosecutor were both sworn in the most solemn manner—the prosecutor, +that he was related to the deceased, (for none but near relations were +permitted to prosecute in that court,) and that the prisoner was the +cause of his death; the prisoner, that he was innocent of the charge +against him. +</p> + +<p> +In time I hope to be able to furnish you with other specimens of our +curious ancient oaths. +</p> + +<p> +W.H.H. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + SONNET. +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Whose heart is not delighted at the sound</p> +<p class="i2"> Of rural song, of Nature's melody,</p> + <p> When hills and dales with harmony rebound,</p> + <p> While Echo spreads the pleasing strains around,</p> +<p class="i2"> Awak'ning pure and heartfelt sympathy!</p> + <p> Perchance on some rude rock the minstrel stands,</p> +<p class="i2"> While his pleased hearers wait entranced around;</p> + <p> Behold him touch the chords with fearless hands,</p> +<p class="i2"> Creating heav'nly joys from earthly sound.</p> + <p> How many voices in the chorus rise,</p> +<p class="i2"> And artless notes renew the failing strains;</p> + <p> The honest boor his vocal talent tries,</p> + <p> Approving love beams from his "fair one's eyes,"</p> +<p class="i2"> While age, in silent joy, forgets its pains.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +J.J. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> +THE DEATH OF SALADIN.<a id="footnotetag9" name="footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror.</i>) +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> The angel of death hath too surely prest</p> + <p> His fatal sign on the warrior's breast—</p> + <p> Quench'd is the light of the eagle-eye,</p> + <p> And the nervous limbs rest languidly—</p> + <p> The eloquent tongue is silent and still,</p> + <p> The deep clear voice again may not chill</p> + <p> The hearers' hearts with its own deep thrill.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> Ah, who can gaze on death, nor inward feel</p> + <p> A creeping horror through the bosom steal,</p> + <p> Like one who stands upon a precipice,</p> + <p> And sees below a mangled sacrifice,</p> + <p> Feeling that he himself must ere long fall,</p> + <p> With none to save him, none to hear his call,</p> + <p> Or wrest him from the agonizing thrall?</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> And yet it is but sleep we look upon!</p> + <p> But in that sleep from which the life is gone</p> + <p> Sinks the proud Saladin, Egyptia's lord.</p> + <p> His faith's firm champion, and his Prophet's sword;</p> + <p> Not e'en the red cross knights withstand his pow'r,</p> + <p> But, sorrowing, mark the Moslem's triumph hour,</p> + <p> And the pale crescent float from Salem's tow'r.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> As the keen arrow, hurl'd with giant-might,</p> + <p> Rends the thin air in its impetuous flight,</p> + <p> But being spent on earth innoxious lies,</p> + <p> E'en its track vanish'd from the yielding skies—</p> + <p> So lies the soldan, stopp'd his bright career,</p> + <p> His vanquish'd realms their prostrate heads uprear,</p> + <p> And coward kings forget their servile fear.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> Ere yet stern Azrael<a id="footnotetag10" name="footnotetag10"></a><a href="#footnote10"><sup>10</sup></a> cut the thread of life,</p> + <p> While Death and Nature wag'd unequal strife,</p> + <p> Spoke the expiring hero:—"Hither stand,</p> + <p> Receive your dying sovereign's last command.</p> + <p> When that the spirit from my frame is riven,</p> + <p> (Oh, gracious Alla! be my sins forgiven,</p> + <p> And bright-eyed Houris waft my soul to heaven,)</p> + <p> Then when you bear me to my last retreat,</p> + <p> Let not the mourners howl along the street—</p> + <p> Let not my soldiers in the train be seen,</p> + <p> Nor banners float, nor lance or sabre gleam—</p> + <p> Nor yet, to testify a vain regret,</p> + <p> O'er my remains let costly shrine be set,</p> + <p> Or sculptur'd stone, or gilded minaret;</p> + <p> But let a herald go before my bier,</p> + <p> Bearing on point of lance the robe I wear.</p> + <p> Shouting aloud, 'Behold what now remains</p> + <p> Of the proud conqueror of Syria's plains,</p> + <p> Who bow'd the Persian, made the Christian feel</p> + <p> The deadly sharpness of the Moslem steel;</p> + <p> But of his conquests, riches, honours, might,</p> + <p> Naught sleeps with him in death's unbroken night,</p> + <p> Save this poor robe.'"</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +D.A.H. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + BANQUETTING HOUSE, WHITEHALL. +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror.</i>) +</p> + + +<p> +This splendid pile which is at present under repair, was erected in the +time of James I. Whitehall being in a most ruinous state, he determined +to rebuild it in a very princely manner, and worthy of the residence +of the monarchs of the British empire. He began with pulling +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page421" name="page421"></a>[pg 421]</span> +down the +banquetting rooms built by Elizabeth. That which bears the above name at +present was begun in 1619, from a design of Inigo Jones, in his purest +style; and executed by Nicholas Stone, master mason and architect to +the king; it was finished in two years, and cost £17,000. but is only +a small part of a vast plan, left unexecuted by reason of the unhappy +times which succeeded. The ceiling of this noble room cannot be +sufficiently admired; it was painted by Rubens, who had £3,000. for +his work. The subject is the Apotheosis of James I. forming nine +compartments; one of the middle represents our pacific monarch on +his earthly throne, turning with horror from Mars, and other of the +discordant deities, and as if it were, giving himself up to the amiable +goddess he always cultivated, and to her attendants, Commerce, and the +Fine Arts. This fine performance is painted on canvass, and is in high +preservation; but a few years ago it underwent a repair by Cipriani, who +had £2,000. for his trouble. Near the entrance is a bust of the royal +founder. +</p> + +<p> +Little did James think (says Pennant) that he was erecting a pile from +which his son was to step from the throne to the scaffold. He had been +brought in the morning of his death, from St. James's across the Park, +and from thence to Whitehall, where ascending the great staircase, he +passed through the long gallery to his bed-chamber, the place allotted +to him to pass the little time before he received the fatal blow. It +is one of the lesser rooms marked with the letter A in the old plan of +Whitehall. He was from thence conducted along the galleries and the +banquetting house, through the wall, in which a passage was broken to +his last earthly stage. Mr. Walpole tells us that Inigo Jones, surveyor +of the works done about the king's house, had only 8s. 4d. a day, and +£46. a year for house-rent, and a clerk and other incidental expenses. +The present improvements at Whitehall make one exclaim with the poet, +Pope— +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "I see, I see, where two fair cities bend</p> + <p> Their ample brow, <i>a new Whitehall ascend.</i>"</p> +</div></div> + + + +<p> +Again, +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "You too proceed, make falling arts your care,</p> + <p> <i>Erect new wonders, and the old repair;</i></p> + <p> <i>Jones</i> and Palladio to themselves <i>restore</i>,</p> + <p> And be whate'er Vitruvius was before."</p> +</div></div> + + + +<h3> + P.T.W. +</h3> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + THE UNIVERSE. +</h3> + +<p> +<i>(For the Mirror.)</i> +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> O light celestial, streaming wide</p> +<p class="i2"> Through morning'd court of fairy blue—</p> + <p> O tints of beauty, beams of pride,</p> +<p class="i2"> That break around its varied hue—</p> + <p> Still to thy wonted pathway true,</p> +<p class="i2"> Thou shinest on serenely free,</p> + <p> Best born of <i>Him</i>, whose mercy grew</p> +<p class="i2"> In every gift, sweet world, to thee.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O countless stars, that, lost in light,</p> +<p class="i2"> Still gem the proud sun's glory bed,</p> + <p> And o'er the saddening brow of night</p> +<p class="i2"> A softer, holier influence shed—</p> + <p> How well your radiant march hath sped.</p> +<p class="i2"> Unfailing vestals of the sky,</p> + <p> As smiling thus ye weed from dread</p> +<p class="i2"> The soul ye court to muse on high.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O flowers that breathe of beauty's reign,</p> +<p class="i2"> In many a tint o'er lawn and lea,</p> + <p> That give the cold heart once again</p> +<p class="i2"> A dream of happier infancy;</p> + <p> And even on the grave can be</p> +<p class="i2"> A spell to weed affection's pain—</p> + <p> Children of Eden, who could see.</p> +<p class="i2"> Nor own <i>His</i> bounty in your reign?</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O winds, that seem to waft from far</p> +<p class="i2"> A mystic murmur o'er the soul,</p> + <p> As ye had power to pass the bar</p> +<p class="i2"> Of nature in your vast control,</p> + <p> Hail to your everlasting roll—</p> +<p class="i2"> Obedient still ye wander dim,</p> + <p> And softly breathe, or loudly toll,</p> +<p class="i2"> Through earth and sky the name of <i>Him</i>.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O world of waters, o'er whose bed</p> +<p class="i2"> The chainless winds unceasing swell,</p> + <p> That claim'st a kindred over head,</p> +<p class="i2"> As 'twixt the skies thou seem'st to dwell;</p> + <p> And e'en on earth art but a spell,</p> +<p class="i2"> Amid their realms to wander free—</p> + <p> Thy task of pride hath speeded well,</p> +<p class="i2"> Thou deep, eternal, boundless sea.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O storms of night and darkness, flung</p> +<p class="i2"> In blackening chaos o'er the world,</p> + <p> When thunderpeals are dreadly rung,</p> +<p class="i2"> Mid clouds in sightless fury hurl'd,</p> + <p> Types of a mightier power, impearl'd</p> +<p class="i2"> With mercy's soft, redeeming ray,</p> + <p> Still at His voice your wings are furl'd,</p> +<p class="i2"> Ye wake to own and to obey.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O thou blest whole of light and love,</p> +<p class="i2"> Thou glorious realm of earth and sky,</p> + <p> That breath'st of blissful hope above,</p> +<p class="i2"> When all of thine hath wander'd by,</p> + <p> Throughout thy range, nor tear nor sigh</p> +<p class="i2"> But breathes of bliss, of beauty's reign,</p> + <p> And concord, such as in the sky</p> +<p class="i2"> The soul is taught to meet again.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O man, who veil'd in deepest night</p> +<p class="i2"> This beauty-breathing world of thine,</p> + <p> And taught the serpent's deadly blight</p> +<p class="i2"> Amid its sweetest flowers to twine,</p> + <p> Thou, thou alone hast dared repine,</p> +<p class="i2"> And turn'd aside from duty's call,</p> + <p> Thou who hast broken nature's shrine,</p> +<p class="i2"> And wilder'd hope and darken'd all.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +ANNETTE TURNER. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p> +A half-pint of wine for young men in perfect health is enough, and you +will be able to take your exercise better, and feel better for this +abstinence.—<i>Dr. Babington.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page422" name="page422"></a>[pg 422]</span> +</p> + + + + +<h2> + THE SKETCH BOOK. +</h2> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + COLLEGE LOVE. +</h3> + + +<p> +We had gone into Devonshire, for the purpose of being more retired, that +we might study more attentively, and with less chance of interruption, +than in a town. We chose, accordingly, for our residence, one of the +most beautiful and retired cottages we ever saw. It was situated very +near the sea; and, oh! what thoughts used to steal over us, of romance +and true love, as we gazed upon that quiet ocean, from the vine-covered +window of our quiet, sweet, secluded home! Day after day, we wandered +among the woods in the neighbourhood, and rejoiced, at each successive +visit, to find out new beauties. This continued for some time; till at +last, on returning one day, we saw an unusual bustle in the room we +occupied. On entering, we found our landlady hurrying out in great +confusion, and, along with her, a beautiful, blushing girl, so perfectly +ladylike in her appearance, that we wondered by what means our venerable +hostess could have become acquainted with so interesting a visiter. She +soon explained the mystery; this lady, who seemed more bewitching every +moment that we gazed on her, was the daughter of a 'squire in whose +family our worthy landlady had been nurse. She had come, without knowing +that any lodger was in the house, and was to stay a week. Oh! that week! +the happiest of our life. We soon became intimate; our books lay fast +locked up at the bottom of our trunk: we walked together, saw the sun +set together in the calm ocean, and then walked happily and contentedly +home in the twilight; and long before the week was at an end, we had +vowed eternal vows, and sworn everlasting constancy. We had not, to +be sure, discovered any great powers of mind in our enslaver; but how +interesting is even ignorance, when it comes from such a beautiful +and smiling mouth! We had already formed happy plans of moulding her +unformed opinions, and directing and sharing all her studies. The little +slips which were observable in her grammar, we attributed to want of +care; and the accent, which was very powerful, was rendered musical to +our ear, at the same time as dear to our heart, by the whiteness of the +little arm that lay so quietly and lovingly within our own. And then, +her taste in poetry was not the most delicate or refined; but she was so +enthusiastically fond of it, that we imagined a little training would +lead her to prefer many of Mr. Moore's ballads, to the pathos of Giles +Scroggins; and that in time, the "Shining River" might occupy a superior +place, in her estimation, to a song from which she repeated, with tears +in her eyes—, +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "But like the star what lighted</p> + <p> Pale billion to its fated doom,</p> + <p> Our nuptial song is blighted,</p> + <p> And its rose quench'd in its bloom."</p> +</div></div> + + + +<p> +And then, she seemed so fond of flowers, and knew so much about their +treatment, that we fancied how lovely she must look while engaged in that +fascinating study; and often, in our dreaming moods, did we mutter about +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i6"> "Fair Proserpine</p> + <p> Within the vale of Enna gathering flowers,</p> + <p> Herself the fairest flower."—</p> +</div></div> + + + +<p> +But why should we repeat what every one can imagine so well for himself? +At last, the hour of parting came; and, week after week, her stay at the +cottage had been prolonged, till our departure took place before hers. +And on that day she looked, as all men's sweethearts do at leaving them, +more touchingly beautiful than ever we had seen her before; and after we +had torn ourself away, we looked back, and there we saw her standing in +the same spot we had left her, a statue of misery and despair,—"like +Niobe all tears." +</p> + +<p> +Astonishment occupied the minds of all our friends on our return to +college. The change which took place on our feelings and conduct was +indeed amazing; our mornings were devoted to gazing on a lock of +our—she was rather unfortunate in a name—our Grizel's hair, and to +lonely hours of musing in the meadow on all the adventures of our +sojourn in Devonshire. No longer we stood listlessly in the quadrangle, +joining the knots of idlers, of whom we used to be one of the chief; +no longer had even Castles' Havannahs any charms for our lips; and our +whole heart was wrapt up in the expectation of a letter. This we were +not to receive for three long weeks; and by that time she was to have +returned home, consulted her father on the subject of our attachment, +and return us a definitive reply. We wrote in the meantime—such a +letter! We are assured it must have been written on a sheet of asbestos, +or it must infallibly have taken fire. It began, "Lovely and most +beautiful Grizel!" and ended, "Your adorer." At last the letter that was +to conclude all our hopes was put into our hands. We had some men that +morning to breakfast; we received it just as they were beginning the +third pie. How heartily we prayed they would he off and leave us +alone! But no—on they kept swallowing pigeon +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page423" name="page423"></a>[pg 423]</span> +after pigeon, and seemed +to consider themselves as completely fixtures as the grate or the +chimney-piece. We wished devoutly to see a bone sticking in the throat +of our most intimate friend, and, by way of getting quit of them, had +thoughts of setting fire to the room. At last, however, they departed. +Immediately as the skirt of the last one's coat disappeared, we +carefully locked and bolted our door, and, with hands trembling with +joy, we took out the letter. Not very clean was its appearance, and not +over correct or well-spelt was its address; and, above all, a yellow, +dingy wafer filled up the place of the green wax we had expected, and +the true lover's motto, "Though lost to sight, to memory dear," was +supplied by the impression of a thimble. We opened it. Horror and +amazement! never was such penmanship beheld. The lines were complete +exemplifications of the line of beauty, so far as their waving, and +twisting, and twining was concerned; and the orthography it was past +all human comprehension to understand. +</p> + +<blockquote> +"My deerest deere, dear sur,"—this was the letter,—"i kim him more nor +a wic agon, butt i cuddunt right yu afore ass i av bin with muther an +asnt seed father till 2 day. he sais as my fortin is 3 hundurd pouns, +he sais as he recomminds me tu take mi hold lover Mister Tomas the +gaurdnar, he sais as yu caunt mary no boddi, accause you must be a +batseller three ears. if thiss be troo i am candied enuff to tell you +ass i caunt wate so long my deerast deer, o yu ave brock mi art! wy did +yu sai al ass yu sad iff yu cud unt mary nor none of the scolards at +hocksfoot Kolidge. father sais as ther iss sum misstake praps yu did unt +no ass mother is not marid 2 father butt is marrid to the catchmun and +father is marad to a veri gud ladi ass gove me a gud edocasion. mi +deerest deere it brakes my art all from yu for tu part, i rot them lines +this marnin. mister tomas sais as i gov im mi prumass befor i cum to ave +the apiness of see yu. butt i dant thinc i giv mor promass to him. nor +2 manni uthers. mi deerest deer and troo luv cuppid! i feer our nutshell +song is blitid and its ros kwencht in its blum. them was plesent ours +when the carnashuns and tullups was all in blo, wasunt them mi deer luv. +mister tomas sais ass he can mari me in a munth and father sais i hot tu +take im. iff so be as yu caun't du it beefor i thinc i shal take im ass +father sais there is sum mistake, mi deerest deere mi art is brock butt +i thinc i shall take im iff so bee as I dant ear frum yu. gud nite my +troo luv i shal kip your lockat for a kipsic an yu ma kiss my luck off +air for the sack of your brockan arted +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> +"GRIZEL." +</blockquote> + +<p> +It is astonishing how the perusal of this cured us of our affection. +At the first line we recollected that she had a tendency to squint, +and long before we came to the conclusion, we remembered that her +ancles were rather thick, and her feet by no means of diminutive size. +Thus ended our love adventures at the University. Our heroine we have +never heard of since, and we have resisted the most tempting offers +from the loveliest of her sex; and in spite of sighing heiresses and +compassionate old maids, we are still a bachelor; and a bachelor, +in defiance of all their machinations, we are firmly determined to +remain.—<i>Blackwood's Magazine.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + +<h2> + MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. +</h2> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN THE NETHERLANDS. +</h3> + +<p> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + +<p> +Many singular customs are observed in the Netherlands at Christmas, and +as they materially differ from those known in England, a brief notice of +<i>one</i> of them may probably prove acceptable to the readers of the +MIRROR. +</p> + +<p> +In almost every Dutch town, and in every considerable village, the +following custom prevails:—At a little after two o'clock in the morning +of Christmas-day, a number of young men assemble in the market-place, +and sing some verses suited to the occasion. One of the young men bears +an <i>artificial star,</i> which is fixed to a pole, and elevated above the +heads of the people; it is very large, and is rendered beautifully +transparent when a light is placed in the inside. This artificial +luminary is intended to represent the star of the east, which directed +the wise men to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. At a little +distance, the appearance is exceedingly brilliant, for there is no other +light among the populace to diminish its lustre, and the whole scene +is singularly picturesque. The resplendent light issuing from the star +strikes powerfully upon the countenances of the principal actors, while +those more remote receive only a faint and subdued gleam. The silvery +effulgence of the moon, the sombre and deserted look of the buildings +around, and the general stillness that pervades every object, save the +scene of action, might inspire the mind of a Rembrandt, or introduce +to the mere casual beholder feelings at once new and poetical. +</p> + +<p> +After parading through the town, the youths repair in a body to the +residence +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page424" name="page424"></a>[pg 424]</span> +of some opulent inhabitant, where their arrival is welcomed +with shouts and clapping of hands, and where they are entertained with +a plentiful repast. +</p> + +<p> +G.W.N. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + THE JEWS. +</h3> + + +<p> +Their present actual numbers may, perhaps, not exceed six +millions—numbers, however, probably greater than those over which +Solomon reigned; and of these six millions there may be resident in the +contiguous countries of Moravia, Ancient Poland, the Crimea, Moldavia, +and Wallachia, above three millions. Except within the countries which +formed Poland before its partitions, their population contained in any +one European kingdom, cannot, therefore, be great. Yet so essentially +are they one people, we might almost say one family; and so disposable +is their wealth, as mainly vested in money transactions, that they must +be considered as an aggregate, and not in their individual portions. +</p> + +<p> +The Jews in France are perhaps from thirty to forty thousand; they +abound chiefly at Metz, along the Rhine, and at Marseilles and Bordeaux. +In Bonaparte's time they were imagined to amount to at least twice that +number.—They are relieved from civil restraints and disabilities in +France, and in the Netherlands also. The Jews in Holland, of both German +and Portuguese origin, are numerous; the latter are said to have taken +refuge there when the United Provinces asserted their independence of +Spain; they have a splendid synagogue at Amsterdam. Infidelity is +supposed to have made more progress amongst them than amongst the German +Jews in Holland. The Italian Jews are chiefly at Leghorn and Genoa; and +there are four thousand of them at Rome. In speaking of the religion of +the Jews, it is not necessary to particularize those who assumed the +mask of Christianity under terror of the Inquisition, although much has +been said of their wealth and numbers, and of the high offices they have +filled in Spain, and especially in Portugal. But it is curious to see, +in a very distant quarter, a like simulation produced amongst them +by like causes. There are at Salonica thirty synagogues, and about +twenty-five thousand professed Jews; and a body of Israelites have been +lately discovered there, who, really adhering to the faith of their +fathers, have externally embraced Mahomedanism. +</p> + +<p> +The Barbary Jews are a very fine people; but the handsomest Jews are +said to be those of Mesopotamia. That province may also boast of an Arab +chief who bears the name of the Patriarch Job, is rich in sheep, and +camels, and oxen, and asses, abounds in hospitality, and believes that +he descends from him; he is also famed for his justice. The Jews at +Constantinople, forty thousand in number, and in the parts of European +Turkey on and near the Mediterranean, speak Spanish, and appear to +descend from Israelites driven from Spain by persecution. The Bible +Society are now printing at Corfu the New Testament, in Jewish-Spanish, +for their benefit. +</p> + +<p> +In truth, little appears to be known of the state of the Jews during +some hundreds of years after the destruction of Jerusalem. The first +body of learned Jews which drew attention after that disastrous event +was that settled in Spain; and from it all Jewish learning descends. +As in accomplishment of the prophecy, the Jew is found over the whole +surface of the globe; he has been long established in China, which +abhors the foreigner; and in Abyssinia, which it is almost as difficult +to reach as to quit. The early Judaism of that country, and in later +days the history of the powerful colony of Jews established in its +heart, which at one time actually reigned over the kingdom, are matters +so curious, that we regret that we can do no more than advert to them; +we must say the same as to the evidence existing of Jewish rites having +extended themselves very far southward along the eastern coast of +Africa; the numerous Jews of Barbary; and the black and white Jews, who +have been established for ages, more or less remote, on the Malabar +coast. It may be here observed, that all the Israelites hitherto +discovered appear to be descendants of those who held the kingdom of +Judah. +</p> + +<p> +The Jews in Great Britain and Ireland are not supposed to be more than +from ten to twelve thousand, very many of whom are foreigners, and +migratory.—<i>Quarterly Rev.</i> +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + EGYPTIAN RATIONS. +</h3> + + +<p> +The rations of the Egyptian soldiers were, according to Herodotus, five +pounds of baked bread, two pounds of beef, and half a pint of wine +daily. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +In the barbarous ages it was usual for persons who could not write, to +make the sign of the cross in confirmation of a written paper. Several +charters still remain in which kings and persons of great eminence +affix "signum crucis pro ignoratione literarum," the sign of the cross, +because of their ignorance of letters. From this is derived the phrase +of signing instead of subscribing a paper. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page425" name="page425"></a>[pg 425]</span> +</p> + + + +<h3> + COLUMN IN BLENHEIM PARK +</h3> + + +<div class="figure" style="width: 50%; float: left;"> +<a href="images/347-2.png"><img width="100%" src="images/347-2.png" +alt="Column in Blenheim Park." /></a> +</div> + + +<p> +(<i>To the Editor of the Mirror</i>.) +</p> + + +<p> +You have lately directed the attention of the readers of the MIRROR to +the park of Blenheim, in Oxfordshire, one of the most beautiful England +can boast of, and likewise, according to Camden, the first park that +was made in this country. I can bear witness to the correctness of +your delineation and description of Rosamond's Well, which you gave +in a recent number; but there is no trace whatever of the bower or +labyrinth, the site of which is only pointed out by tradition. The +park of Blenheim, besides the interest which attaches to it from the +circumstance of its having been the residence of the early kings of +England, and the scene of "Rosamond's" life, has in more modern times +acquired additional interest from having been bestowed by the country +upon the Duke of Marlborough, in testimony of the gratitude of the +nation for the brilliant services he had rendered his country, +particularly at the battle of Blenheim. +</p> + +<p> +It was a reward at once worthy of the English nation and of the +illustrious hero on whom it was bestowed; and as it is at least +pleasing, and perhaps useful, to recall to the mind the epochs of +England's greatness amongst nations, I have sent a sketch of one of the +most prominent objects in the park of Blenheim, which our forefathers +deemed (in the language of the inscription) would "stand as long as the +British name and language last, illustrious monuments of Marlborough's +glory and of Britain's gratitude." This is an elegant column, 130 feet +in height, and surmounted by a statue of the warrior in an antique +habit. On three sides of the building there are nearly complete copies +of the several Acts of Parliament by which the park and manor of +Woodstock were granted to the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs; and on +the fourth side is a very long inscription, said to have been penned by +Lord Bolingbroke, which concludes thus:— +</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> These are the actions of the Duke of Marlborough,</p> + <p> Performed in the compass of a few years,</p> + <p> Sufficient to adorn the annals of ages.</p> + <p> The admiration of other nations</p> + <p> Will be conveyed to the latest posterity,</p> + <p> In the histories even of the enemies of Britain.</p> + <p> The sense which the British nation had</p> + <p> Of his transcendant merit</p> + <p> Was expressed</p> + <p> In the most solemn, most effectual, most durable manner.</p> + <p> The Acts of Parliament inscribed on the pillar</p> + <p> Shall stand as long as the British name and language last,</p> + <p> Illustrious monuments</p> + <p> Of Marlborough's glory and</p> + <p> Of Britain's gratitude.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +G.W. +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + +<h2> + THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF <i>NEW WORKS</i> +</h2> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + MEMOIRS OF VIDOCQ. +</h3> + +<center> +<i>The French Thief-taker</i> +</center> + + +<p> +This is as full-charged a portrait of human depravity as the gloomiest +misanthrope could wish for. But it has much wider claims on public +attention than the gratification of the misanthropic few who mope in +corners or stalk up and down leafless and almost solitary walks during +this hanging and drowning season. Nevertheless, all men are more or less +misanthropes, or they affect to be so; for only skim off the bile of a +true critic, or the minds of the hundred thousand who read newspapers, +and look first for the bankrupts and deaths. Sugar and wormwood and +wormwood and sugar are the standing dishes, but as we read the other +day, "there is a certain hankering for the gloomy side of nature, whence +the trials and convictions of vice become so much more attractive than +the brightest successes +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page426" name="page426"></a>[pg 426]</span> +of virtue." People with <i>macadamized minds</i>, +and their histories (scarce as the originals are) are mere nonentities, +and food for the trunk-maker; whereas a book of hair-breadth escapes, +thrilling with horror and romantic narrative will tempt people to sit up +reading in their beds, till like Rousseau, they are reminded of morning +by the stone-chatters at their window. To the last class belong the +<i>Memoirs of Vidocq</i>, an analysis of which would be "utterly impossible, +so powerful are the descriptions, and so continuous the thread of +their history." The original work was published a short time since in +Paris, and republished here; but, we believe the present is the first +translation that has appeared in England. The newspapers have, from time +to time, translated a few extracts, when their Old Bailey news was at a +stand, so that the name of Vidocq must be somewhat familiar to many of +our readers.<a id="footnotetag11" name="footnotetag11"></a><a href="#footnote11"><sup>11</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +Eugene Francois Vidocq is a native of Arras, where his father was +a baker; and from early associations he fell into courses of excess +which led to the necessity of his flying from the parental roof. After +various, rapid, and unexampled events in the romance of real life, in +which he was everything by turns and nothing long, he was liberated from +prison, and became the principal and most active agent of police. He was +made Chief of the Police de Surete under Messrs. Delavau and Franchet, +and continued in that capacity from the year 1810 till 1827, during +which period he extirpated the most formidable of those ruffians and +villains to whom the excesses of the revolution and subsequent events +had given full scope for the perpetration of the most daring robberies +and inquitous excesses. Removed from employment, in which he had +accumulated a handsome independence, he could not determine on leading a +life of ease, for which his career of perpetual vigilance and adventure +had unfitted him, and he built a paper manufactory at St. Mandeé, about +two leagues from Paris, where he employs from forty to fifty persons, +principally, it is asserted, liberated convicts, who having passed +through the term of their sentence, are cast upon society without home, +shelter, or character, and would be compelled to resort to dishonest +practices did not this asylum offer them its protection and afford them +opportunity of earning an honest living by industrious labour. One +additional point of interest in the present volume is, that the author +is still living. +</p> + +<p> +[We cannot follow Vidocq through his career of crime, neither would +it be altogether profitable to our readers; but the <i>links</i> may be +recapitulated in a few words. He must have been born a thief, and +perhaps stole the spoon with which he was fed; but the <i>penchant</i> +runs in the family, for Vidocq and his brother rob the same till of +a fencing-room, but his brother is first detected, and sent off "in a +hurry," to a baker at Lille. Of course Vidocq soon gets partners in sin, +and on the same day that he has been detected by the <i>living</i> evidence +of two fowls which he had stolen, he sweeps from the dinner table ten +forks and as many spoons, pawns them for 150 francs, spends the money +in a few hours, and is imprisoned four days. He is then released; +one of his pals gives a false alarm to Vidocq's mother, and during her +temporary absence, Vidocq enters his home with a false key, steals +2,000 francs from a strong chest, with which he escapes to Ostend, +(intending to embark for America,) where he is decoyed by a <i>soi-disant</i> +ship-broker, and loses all his ill-gotten wealth. He then resolves to +betroth the sea, though not after the Venetian fashion, by giving her +a dowry; the "sound of a trumpet" disturbs his attention, as it would +of any other hero. But this proves to be the note of Paillasse, a +merry-andrew. The "director," as the opera bills would say, was +Cotte-Comus, belonging to a troop of rope-dancers. +</p> + +<p> +He next joins a player of Punch, to whose wife he enacts Romeo with +better grace, and during one of the representations, the married people +break each others heads, and Vidocq runs off during the affray. He then +becomes assistant to a quack doctor, and the favoured swain of an +actress; gets into the Bourbon regiment, where he is nicknamed Reckless, +and kills two men, and fights fifteen duels in six months. His other +exploits are as a corporal of grenadiers, of course, a deserter, and +a prisoner of the revolution. He then marries, but does not reform. +Of course a wife is but a temporary incumbrance to a man of Vidocq's +dexterity. In chapter iii, we find him at Brussels, where he joins a set +of nefarious gamblers at the <i>Cafes</i>, and has a most romantic adventure +with a woman named Rosine. But we can follow him no further, except to +add that his other comrades in Vol. I, are gipsies, smugglers, players, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page427" name="page427"></a>[pg 427]</span> +galley-slaves, drovers, Dutch sailors, and highwaymen. +</p> + +<p> +We must, therefore, confine ourselves to a few detached extracts from +the most interesting portion of the volume. At Lille, Vidocq meets with +a <i>chere amie</i>, Francine; he suspects her fidelity, thrashes his rival, +gets imprisoned, and is betrayed as an accomplice in a forgery. His +"reflections" during his imprisonment in St. Peter's Tower, bring on +a severe illness.] +</p> + +<p> +I was scarcely convalescent, when, unable to support the state of +incertitude in which I found my affairs, I resolved on escaping, and +to escape by the door, although that may appear a difficult step. Some +particular observations made me choose this method in preference to any +other. The wicket-keeper at St. Peter's Tower was a galley-slave from +the Bagne (place of confinement) at Brest, sentenced for life. In +a word, I relied on passing by him under the disguise of a superior +officer, charged with visiting St. Peter's Tower, which was used as +a military prison, twice a week. +</p> + +<p> +Francine, whom I saw daily, got me the requisite clothing, which she +brought me in her muff. I immediately tried them on, and they suited me +exactly. Some of the prisoners who saw me thus attired assured me that +it was impossible to detect me. I was the same height as the officer +whose character I was about to assume, and I made myself appear +twenty-five years of age. At the end of a few days, he made his usual +round, and whilst one of my friends occupied his attention, under +pretext of examining his food, I disguised myself hastily, and presented +myself at the door, which the gaolkeeper, taking off his cap, opened, +and I went out into the street. I ran to a friend of Francine's, as +agreed on in case I should succeed, and she soon joined me there. +</p> + +<p> +I was there perfectly safe, if I could resolve on keeping concealed; but +how could I submit to a slavery almost as severe as that of St. Peter's +Tower. As for three months I had been enclosed within four walls, I was +now desirous to exercise the activity so long repressed. I announced my +intention of going out; and, as with me an inflexible determination was +always the auxiliary of the most capricious fancy, I did go. My first +excursion was safely performed, but the next morning, as I was crossing +the Rue Ecremoise, a sergeant named Louis, who had seen me during my +imprisonment, met me, and asked if I was free. He was a severe practical +man, and by a motion of his hand could summon twenty persons. I said +that I would follow him; and begging him to allow me to bid adieu to my +mistress, who was in a house of Rue de l'Hôpital, he consented, and we +really met Francine, who was much surprised to see me in such company; +and when I told her that having reflected, that my escape might injure +me in the estimation of my judges, I had decided on returning to St. +Peter's Tower, to wait the result of the process. +</p> + +<p> +Francine did not at first comprehend why I had expended three hundred +francs, to return at the end of four months to prison. A sign put her +on her guard, and I found an opportunity of desiring her to put some +cinders in my pocket whilst Louis and I took a glass of rum, and then +set out for the prison. Having reached a deserted street, I blinded my +guide with a handful of cinders, and regained my asylum with all speed. +</p> + +<p> +Louis having made his declaration, the gendarmes and police-officers +were on the full cry after me; and there was one Jacquard amongst them +who undertook to secure me if I were in the city. I was not unacquainted +with these particulars, and instead of being more circumspect in my +behaviour, I affected a ridiculous bravado. It might have been said +that I ought to have had a portion of the premium promised for my +apprehension. I was certainly hotly pursued, as may be judged from +the following incident:— +</p> + +<p> +Jacquard learnt one day that I was going to dine in Rue Notre-Dame. He +immediately went with four assistants, whom he left on the ground-floor, +and ascended the staircase to the room where I was about to sit down to +table with two females. A recruiting sergeant, who was to have made the +fourth, had not yet arrived. I recognised Jacquard, who never having +seen me, had not the same advantage, and besides my disguise would have +bid defiance to any description of my person. Without being at all +uneasy, I approached, and with a most natural tone I begged him to pass +into a closet, the glass door of which looked on the banquetroom. "It +is Vidocq whom you are looking for," said I; "if you will wait for ten +minutes you will see him. There is his cover, he cannot be long. When he +enters, I will make you a sign; but if you are alone, I doubt if you can +seize him, as he is armed, and resolved to defend himself."—"I have my +gendarmes on the staircase," answered he, "and if he escapes—"—"Take +care how you place them then," said I with affected haste. "If Vidocq +should see them he would mistrust some plot, and then farewell to the +bird."—"But where shall I place them?"—"Oh, why in this closet—mind, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page428" name="page428"></a>[pg 428]</span> +no noise, that would spoil all; and I have more desire than yourself +that he should not suspect anything." My commissary was now shut up in +four walls with his agents. The door, which was very strong, closed +with a double lock. Then, certain of time for escape, I cried to my +prisoners, "You are looking for Vidocq—well, it is he who has caged +you; farewell." And away I went like a dart, leaving the party shouting +for help, and making desperate efforts to escape from the unlucky +closet. +</p> + +<p> +Two escapes of the same sort I effected, but at last I was arrested and +carried back to St. Peter's Tower, where, for greater security, I was +placed in a dungeon with a man named Calendrin, who was also thus +punished for two attempts at escape. Calendrin, who had known me during +my first confinement in the prison, imparted to me a fresh plan of +escape, which he had devised by means of a hole worked in the wall of +the dungeon of the galley-slaves, with whom we could communicate. The +third night of my detention all was managed for our escape, and eight +of the prisoners who first went out were so fortunate as to avoid being +detected by the sentinel, who was only a short distance off. +</p> + +<p> +Seven of us still remained, and we drew straws, as is usual in such +circumstances, to determine which of the seven should first pass. I drew +the short straw, and undressed myself that I might get with greater ease +through the hole, which was very narrow, but to the great disappointment +of all, I stuck fast without the possibility of advancing or receding. +In vain did my companions endeavour to pull me out by force, I was +caught as if in a trap, and the pain of my situation was so extreme, +that not expecting further help from within, I called to the sentry to +render me assistance. He approached with the precaution of a man who +fears a surprise, and presenting his bayonet to my breast, forbade me +to make the slightest movement. At his summons the guard came out, the +porters ran with torches, and I was dragged from my hole, not without +leaving behind me a portion of my skin and flesh. Torn and wounded as +I was, they immediately transferred me to the prison of Petit Hotel, +when I was put into a dungeon, fettered hand and foot. +</p> + +<p> +Ten days afterwards I was placed amongst the prisoners, through my +intreaties and promises not to attempt again to escape. +</p> + +<p> +[Here he meets with a fellow named Bruxellois, <i>the Daring</i>, of whom +the following anecdote is related:—] +</p> + +<p> +At the moment of entering a farm with six of his comrades, he thrust his +left hand through an opening in the shutter to lift the latch, but when +he was drawing it back, he found that his wrist had been caught in a +slip knot. Awakened by the noise, the inhabitants of the farm had laid +this snare, although too weak to go out against a band of robbers which +report had magnified as to numbers. But the attempt being thus defeated, +day was fast approaching, and Bruxellois saw his dismayed comrades +looking at each other with doubt, when the idea occurred to him that to +avoid discovery they would knock out his brains. With his right hand he +drew out his clasp knife with a sharp point, which he always had about +him, and cutting off his wrist at the joint, fled with his comrades +without being stopped by the excessive pain of his horrid wound. +This remarkable deed, which has been attributed to a thousand +different spots, really occurred in the vicinity of Lille, and is well +authenticated in the northern districts, where many persons yet remember +to have seen the hero of this tale, who was thence called Manchot, +(or one-armed,) executed. +</p> + +<p> +[Vidocq at length escapes, quits Lille, and flies to Ostend, where he +joins a crew of smugglers.] +</p> + +<p> +It was with real repugnance that I went to the house of a man named +Peters, to whom I was directed, as one deeply engaged in the pursuit, +and able to introduce me to it. A sea-gull nailed on his door with +extended wings, like the owls and weasels that we see on barns, guided +me. I found the worthy in a sort of cellar, which by the ropes, sails, +oars, hammocks, and barrels which filled it, might have been taken +for a naval depot. From the midst of a thick atmosphere of smoke which +surrounded him, he viewed me at first with a contempt which had not +a good appearance, and my conjectures were soon realized, for I had +scarcely offered my services than he fell upon me with a shower of +blows. I could certainly have resisted him effectually, but astonishment +had in a measure deprived me of the power of defence; and I saw besides, +in the court-yard, half-a-dozen sailors and an enormous Newfoundland +dog, which would have been powerful odds. Turned into the street, I +endeavoured to account for this singular reception, when it occurred to +me that Peters had mistaken me for a spy, and treated me accordingly. +</p> + +<p> +This idea determined me on returning to a dealer in hollands, who +had told me of him, and he, laughing at the results of my visit, +gave me a pass-word that would procure me free access to Peters.—[He +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page429" name="page429"></a>[pg 429]</span> +succeeds.]—I slept at Peters's house with a dozen or fifteen smugglers, +Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Portuguese, and Russian; there were no +Englishmen, and only two Frenchmen. The day after my installation, as +we were all getting into our hammocks, or flock beds, Peters entered +suddenly into our chamber, which was only a cellar contiguous to his +own, and so filled with barrels and kegs, that we could scarcely find +room to sling our hammocks. Peters had put off his usual attire, which +was that of ship-caulker, or sail-maker, and had on a hairy cap, and a +long red shirt, closed at the breast with a silver pin, fire-arms in his +belt, and a pair of thick large, fisherman's boots, which reach the top +of the thigh, or may be folded down beneath the knee. +</p> + +<p> +"A-hoy! a-hoy!" cried he, at the door, striking the ground with the butt +end of his carbine! "down with the hammocks, down with the hammocks! We +will sleep some other day. The Squirrel has made signals for a landing +this evening, and we must see what she has in her, muslin or tobacco. +Come, come, turn out, my sea-boys." +</p> + +<p> +In a twinkling every body was ready. They opened an arm-chest, and every +man took out a carbine or blunderbuss, a brace of pistols, and a cutlass +or boarding pike, and we set out, after having drunk so many glasses of +brandy and arrack that the bottles were empty. At this time there were +not more than twenty of us, but we were joined or met, at one place or +another, by so many individuals, that on reaching the sea side we were +forty-seven in number, exclusive of two females and some countrymen from +the adjacent villages, who brought hired horses, which they concealed in +a hollow behind some rocks. +</p> + +<p> +It was night, and the wind was shifting, whilst the sea dashed with so +much force, that I did not understand how any vessels could approach +without being cast on shore. What confirmed this idea was, that by the +starlight I saw a small boat rowing backwards and forwards, as if it +feared to land. They told me afterwards that this was only a manoeuvre +to ascertain if all was ready for the unloading, and no danger to be +apprehended. Peters now lighted a reflecting lantern, which one of the +men had brought, and immediately extinguished it; the Squirrel raised +a lantern at her mizen, which only shone for a moment, and then +disappeared like a glow-worm on a summer's night. We then saw it +approach, and anchor about a gun-shot off from the spot where we were. +Our troop then divided into three companies, two of which were placed +five hundred paces in front, to resist the revenue officers if they +should present themselves. The men of these companies were then placed +at intervals along the ground, having at the left arm a packthread which +ran from one to the other: in case of alarm, it was announced by a +slight pull, and each being ordered to answer this signal by firing his +gun, a line of firing was thus kept up, which perplexed the revenue +officers. The third company, of which I was one, remained by the +sea-side, to cover the landing and the transport of the cargo. +</p> + +<p> +All being thus arranged, the Newfoundland dog already mentioned, and +who was with us, dashed at a word into the midst of the waves, and +swam powerfully in the direction of the Squirrel, and in an instant +afterwards returned with the end of a rope in his mouth. Peters +instantly seized it, and began to draw it towards him, making us signs +to assist him, which I obeyed mechanically. After a few tugs, I saw that +at the end of the cable were a dozen small casks, which floated towards +us. I then perceived that the vessel thus contrived to keep sufficiently +far from the shore, not to run a risk of being stranded. In an instant +the casks, smeared over with something that made them waterproof, were +unfastened and placed on horses, which immediately dashed off for the +interior of the country. A second cargo arrived with the same success; +but as we were landing the third, some reports of fire-arms announced +that our outposts were attacked. "There is the beginning of the ball," +said Peters, calmly; "I must go and see who will dance;" and taking up +his carbine, he joined the outposts, which had by this time joined each +other. The firing became rapid, and we had two men killed, and others +slightly wounded. At the fire of the revenue officers, we soon found +that they exceeded us in number; but alarmed, and fearing an ambuscade, +they dared not to approach, and we effected our retreat without any +attempt on their part to prevent it. From the beginning of the fight +the Squirrel had weighed anchor and stood out to sea, for fear that the +noise of the firing should bring down on her the government cruiser. +I was told that most probably she would unload her cargo in some other +part of the coast, where the owners had numerous agents. +</p> + +<p> +[Vidocq returns to Lille, where he is taken by two gendarmes, and +concerts the following stratagem for escape:—] +</p> + +<p> +This escape, however, was not so very easy a matter as may be surmised, +when I say that our dungeons, seven feet square, had walls six feet +thick, strengthened +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page430" name="page430"></a>[pg 430]</span> +with planking crossed and rivetted with iron; a +window, two feet by one, closed with three iron gratings placed one +after the other, and the door cased with wrought iron. With such +precautions, a jailor might depend on the safe keeping of his charge, +but yet we overcame it all. +</p> + +<p> +I was in a cell on the second floor with Duhamel. For six francs, a +prisoner, who was also a turnkey, procured us two files, a ripping +chisel, and two turnscrews. We had pewter spoons, and our jailor was +probably ignorant of the use which prisoners could make of them. I knew +the dungeon key; it was the counterpart of all the others on the same +story; and I cut a model of it from a large carrot; then I made a mould +with crumb of bread and potatoes. We wanted fire, and we procured it by +making a lamp with a piece of fat and the rags of a cotton cap. The key +was at last made of pewter, but it was not yet perfect; and it was only +after many trials and various alterations that it fitted at last. Thus +masters of the doors, we were compelled to work a hole in the wall, near +the barns of the town-hall. Sallambier, who was in the dungeons below, +found a way to cut the hole, by working through the planking. +</p> + + +<center> + THE PRISON OF BICETRE AT PARIS. +</center> + + +<p> +The prison of Bicêtre is a neat quadrangular building, enclosing many +other structures and many courts, which have each a different name; +there is the grande cour (great court) where the prisoners walk; the +cour de cuisine (or kitchen court;) the cour des chiens (or dog's +court;) the cour de correction (or court of punishment;) and the cour +des fers (or iron court.) In this last is a new building five stories +high; each story contains forty cells, capable of holding four +prisoners. On the platform, which supplies the place of a roof, was +night and day a dog named Dragon, who passed in the prison for the most +watchful and incorruptible of his kind; but some prisoners managed at a +subsequent period to corrupt him through the medium of a roasted leg of +mutton, which he had the culpable weakness to accept. The Amphytrions +escaped whilst Dragon was swallowing the mutton; he was beaten and taken +into the cour des chiens, where, chained up and deprived of the free air +which he breathed on the platform, he was inconsolable for his fault, +and perished piecemeal, a victim of remorse at his weakness in yielding +to a moment of gluttony and error. +</p> + +<p> +Near the erection I speak of is the old building, nearly arranged in +the same way, and under which were dungeons of safety, in which were +enclosed the troublesome and condemned prisoners. It was in one of these +dungeons that for forty-three years lived the accomplice of Cartouche, +who betrayed him to procure this commutation! To obtain a moment's +sunshine, he frequently counterfeited death so well, that when he had +actually breathed his last sigh, two days passed before they took +off his iron collar. A third part of the building, called La Force, +comprised various rooms, in which the prisoners were placed who arrived +from the provinces, and were destined to the chain. +</p> + +<p> +At this period, the prison of Bicêtre, which is only strong from the +strict guard kept up there, could contain twelve hundred prisoners; but +they were piled on each other, and the conduct of the jailors in no way +assuaged the inconvenience of the place. +</p> + +<p> +If any man arrived from the country well clad, who, condemned for a +first offence, was not as yet initiated into the customs and usages of +prisons, in a twinkling he was stripped of his clothes, which were sold +in his presence to the highest bidder. If he had jewels or money, they +were alike confiscated to the profit of the society, and if he were too +long in taking out his ear-rings, they snatched them out without the +sufferer daring to complain. He was previously warned, that if he spoke +of it, they would hang him in the night to the bars of his cell, and +afterwards say that he had committed suicide. If a prisoner, out of +precaution, when going to sleep, placed his clothes under his head, they +waited until he was in his first sleep, and then they tied to his foot a +stone, which they balanced at the side of his bed; at the least motion +the stone fell, and aroused by the noise, the sleeper jumped up, and +before he could discover what had occurred, his packet hoisted by a +cord, went through the iron bars to the floor above. I have seen, in +the depth of winter, these poor devils, having been deprived of their +property in this way, remain in the court in their shirts until some one +threw them some rags to cover their nakedness. As long as they remained +at Bicêtre, by burying themselves, as we may say, in their straw, they +could defy the rigour of the weather; but at the departure of the chain, +when they had no other covering than the frock and trousers made of +packing cloth, they often sunk exhausted and frozen before they reached +the first resting place. +</p> + +<p> +[As we have said, the present is but a fourth portion of Vidocq's +exploits; and if the remaining three are of equal interest, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page431" name="page431"></a>[pg 431]</span> +the work +will be one of the most extraordinary of our times. We scarcely remember +a counterpart, although the Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux are of the same +stamp. The fate of the latter work was curious enough. The manuscript +was sent by the author from New South Wales, whither he had been +transported. It was printed in two small volumes, and published by an +eminent west-end bookseller, who, for some unexplained motive withdrew +the edition, which is, we believe, now in the printer's warehouse. The +Editor of the "Autobiography" has, however, reprinted Vaux's memoirs in +his series; their style is very superior to that of Vidocq's, (which is +a translation) and as scores of worse books are printed annually, we +rejoice at their rescue from oblivion.] +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + +<h2> + THE ANECDOTE GALLERY. +</h2> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + WHITFIELD. +</h3> + + +<p> +Remarkable instances are related of the manner in which Whitfield +impressed his hearers. A man at Exeter stood with stones in his +pocket, and one in his hand, ready to throw at him; but he dropped +it before the sermon was far advanced, and going up to him after +the preaching was over, he said, "Sir, I came to hear you with an +intention to break your head; but God, through your ministry, has +given me a broken heart." A ship-builder was once asked what he +thought of him. "Think!" he replied, "I tell you, sir, every Sunday +that I go to my parish church, I can build a ship from stem to stern +under the sermon; but, were it to save my soul, under Mr. Whitfield I +could not lay a single plank." Hume pronounced him the most ingenious +preacher he had ever heard; and said, it was worth while to go twenty +miles to hear him. But, perhaps, the greatest proof of his persuasive +powers was, when he drew from Franklin's pocket the money which that +clear, cool reasoner had determined not to give; it was for the +orphan-house at Savannah. "I did not," says the American philosopher, +"disapprove of the design; but as Georgia was then destitute of +materials and workmen, and it was proposed to send them from +Philadelphia at a great expense, I thought it would have been better +to have built the house at Philadelphia, and brought the children to +it. This I advised; but he was resolute in his first project, rejected +my counsel, and I therefore refused to contribute. I happened, soon +after, to attend one of his sermons, in the course of which I +perceived he intended to finish with a collection, and I silently +resolved he should get nothing from me. I had in my pocket a handful +of copper money, three or four silver dollars, and five pistoles in +gold. As he proceeded I began to soften, and concluded to give the +copper; another stroke of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and +determined me to give the silver; and he finished so admirably, that +I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. +</p> + +<p> +"At this sermon," continues Franklin, "there was also one of our club, +who, being of my sentiments respecting the building in Georgia, and +suspecting a collection might be intended, had, by precaution, emptied +his pockets before he came from home; towards the conclusion of the +discourse, however, he felt a strong inclination to give, and applied to +a neighbour who stood near him, to lend him some money for the purpose. +The request was fortunately made to perhaps the only man in the company +who had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer was, +'At any other time, friend Hopkinson, I would lend to thee freely; but +not now, for thee seems to me to be out of thy right senses.'" +</p> + +<p> +One of his flights of oratory, not in the best taste, is related on +Hume's authority. "After a solemn pause, Mr. Whitfield thus addresses +his audience:—'The attendant angel is just about to leave the +threshold, and ascend to heaven; and shall he ascend and not bear with +him the news of one sinner, among all the multitude, reclaimed from the +error of his ways!' To give the greater effect to this exclamation, he +stamped with his foot, lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, and cried +aloud, 'Stop, Gabriel! stop, Gabriel! stop, ere you enter the sacred +portals, and yet carry with you the news of one sinner converted to +God!'" Hume said this address was accompanied with such animated, yet +natural action, that it surpassed any thing he ever saw or heard in any +other preacher.—<i>Southey</i>. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + SIR RICHARD JEBB. +</h3> + + +<p> +Was very rough and harsh in manner. He said to a patient, to whom +he had been very rude, "<i>Sir, it is my way</i>."—"Then," replied the +patient, pointing to the door, "I beg you will make <i>that your way</i>." +Sir Richard was not very nice in his mode of expression, and would +frequently astonish a patient with a volley of oaths. Nothing used to +make him swear more than the eternal question, "What may I eat? Pray, +Sir Richard, may I eat a muffin?"—"Yes, Madam, the <i>best thing</i> you +can take."—"O dear! I am glad of that. But, Sir Richard, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page432" name="page432"></a>[pg 432]</span> +you told me +the other day that it was the <i>worst</i> thing I could eat!"—"What +would be proper for me to eat to-day?" says another lady.—"Boiled +turnips."—"Boiled turnips! you forget, Sir Richard, I told you I +could not bear boiled turnips."—"Then, Madam, you must have +a—vitiated appetite." +</p> + +<p> +Sir Richard, being called to see a patient who fancied himself very +ill, told him ingenuously what he thought, and declined prescribing, +thinking it unnecessary. "Now you are here," said the patient, "I +shall be obliged to you, Sir Richard, if you will tell me how I must +live, what I may eat, and what not."—"My directions as to that +point," replied Sir Richard, "will be few and simple. You must not eat +the poker, shovel, or tongs, for they are hard of digestion; nor the +bellows, because they are windy; but any thing else you please!" +</p> + +<p> +He was first cousin to Dr. John Jebb, who had been a dissenting +minister, well known for his political opinions and writings. His +Majesty George III. used sometimes to talk to Sir Richard concerning +his cousin; and once, more particularly, spoke of his restless, +reforming spirit in the church, in the university, physic, &c. "And +please your Majesty," replied Sir Richard, "if my cousin were in +heaven he would be a reformer!"—<i>Wadd's Memoirs.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + +<h2> + THE GATHERER. +</h2> + + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles."</p> +<p>SHAKESPEARE.</p> +</div></div> + + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + GOOD BYE. +</h3> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> When from the friend we dearly love</p> +<p class="i2"> Fate tells us we must part,</p> + <p> By speech we can but feebly prove</p> +<p class="i2"> The anguish of the heart.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> And no soft words, howe'er sincere,</p> +<p class="i2"> Can half so much imply,</p> + <p> As that suppress'd, though trembling tear,</p> +<p class="i2"> Which drowns the word—Good bye.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +<i>Warwick.</i> W.S. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p> +A keen shopkeeper, having in his service a couple of shopmen, who +in point of intellect, were the very reverse of their master, a wag +who frequented the shop, for some time puzzled the neighbourhood by +designating it a "<i>music-shop</i>," although the proprietor dealt as +much in <i>music</i> as in <i>millstones</i>. However, being pressed for an +explanation, he said that the <i>scale</i> was conducted by a <i>sharp</i>, a +<i>flat</i> and a <i>natural</i>; and if these did not constitute "music," he +did not know what did. +</p> + +<p> +ISSACCAR. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + IMMORTALITY. +</h3> + + +<p> +Napoleon being in the gallery of the Louvre one day, attended by Baron +Denon, turned round suddenly from a fine picture, which he had viewed +for some time in silence, and said to him, "That is a noble picture, +Denon."—"Immortal," was Denon's reply. "How long," inquired Napoleon, +"will this picture last?" Denon answered, that, "with care and in a +proper situation, it might last, perhaps, five hundred years."—"And +how long," said Napoleon, "will a statue last?"—"Perhaps," replied +Denon, "five thousand years."—"And this," returned Napoleon, sharply, +"this you call immortality!" +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3> + LINES TO A LADY, ON HER REFUSING HER CARD. +</h3> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Let heroes, anxious for their future fame,</p> + <p> Obtain of Fortune what they want—a name;</p> + <p> The <i>future</i> theirs, the present hour be mine—</p> + <p> The only name I ask of fate—is thine;</p> + <p> Yet happier still had fate decreed to me</p> + <p> The favour'd lot, to give my name to thee.</p> +</div></div> + + +<p> +T.B. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p> +A dull barrister, once obtained the nickname <i>Necessity</i>—because +<i>Necessity has no law</i>. +</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p> +PURCHASERS of the MIRROR, who may wish to complete their sets are +informed that every volume is complete in itself and may be purchased +separately. The whole of the numbers are now in print, and can be +procured by giving an order to any Bookseller or Newsvender. +</p> + +<p> +Complete sets Vol I. to XI; in boards, price £2. l9s. 6d half bound, £3. +l7s. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<center> +LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS. +</center> + + +<center> +CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, +near Somerset House. +</center> + +<p> +The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. Embellished with nearly 150 +Engravings. Price 6s. 6d. boards. +</p> + +<p> +The TALES of the GENII. Price 2s. +</p> + +<p> +The MICROCOSM By the Right Hon. G. CANNING. &c. Price 2s. +</p> + +<p> +PLUTARCH'S LIVES, with Fifty Portraits, 2 vols. price l3s. boards. +</p> + +<p> +COWPER'S POEMS with 12 Engravings, price 3s. 6d. boards. +</p> + +<p> +COOK'S VOYAGES, 2 vols. price 8s. boards. +</p> + +<p> +The CABINET of CURIOSITIES: or, WONDERS of the WORLD DISPLAYED Price 5s. +boards. +</p> + +<p> +BEAUTIES of SCOTT. 2 vols. price 7s. boards. +</p> + +<p> +The ARCANA of SCIENCE for 1828. Price 4s. 6d. +</p> + +<p> +Any of the above Works can be purchased in Parts. +</p> + +<p> +GOLDSMITH'S ESSAYS. Price 8d. +</p> + +<p> +DR. FRANKLIN'S ESSAYS. Price 1s. 2d. +</p> + +<p> +BACON'S ESSAYS, Price 8d. +</p> + +<p> +SALMAGUNDI, Price 1s. 8d. +</p> + + +<hr class="full" /> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a> +<b>Footnote 1</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> +<p>Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, p. 1. edit. 1641. Most of his +biographers affirm that he was the son of a butcher.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a> +<b>Footnote 2</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a> +<p>"Northern Tour." The same author observes, that "the death of + Wolsey would make a fine moral picture, if the hand of any master + could give the pallid features of the dying statesman, that + chagrin, that remorse, those pangs of anguish, which, in the last + bitter moments of his life, possessed him. The point might be + taken when the monks are administering the comforts of religion, + which the despairing prelate cannot feel. The subject requires a + gloomy apartment, which a ray through a Gothic window might just + enlighten, throwing its force chiefly on the principal figure, + and dying away on the rest. The appendages of the piece need only + be few and simple; little more than the crozier and red hat to + mark the cardinal and tell the story."</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a> +<b>Footnote 3</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a> +<p>Stow's "Annals," p. 557, edit. 1615.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a> +<b>Footnote 4</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a> +<p>Shakspeare introduces this memorable saying of the cardinal into +his play of "Henry the Eighth:"—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p> —"O Cromwell, Cromwell,</p> +<p> Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal</p> +<p> I serv'd my king, he would not in mine age</p> +<p> Have left me naked to mine enemies."</p> +</div></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a> +<b>Footnote 5</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a> +<p>Stow's "Annals."</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a> +<b>Footnote 6</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a> +<p>Holinshed's "Chronicle," vol. iii. p. 765, edit. 1808.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a> +<b>Footnote 7</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a> +<p>"Collectanea," vol i. p. 70.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote8" name="footnote8"></a> +<b>Footnote 8</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag8">(return)</a> +<p>Tanner.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote9" name="footnote9"></a> +<b>Footnote 9</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag9">(return)</a> +<p>For the particulars of which, see Knolle's "history of the Turks."</p> +</blockquote> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote10" name="footnote10"></a> +<b>Footnote 10</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag10">(return)</a> +<p>Azrael, in the Mahometan creed, the angel of death.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote11" name="footnote11"></a> +<b>Footnote 11</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag11">(return)</a> +<p> +The present portion is only the first volume. The Memoirs are + to be completed in four volumes, to form part of the series of + <i>Autobiographical Memoirs</i>, published by Messrs. Hunt and Clarke, + and decidedly one of the most attractive works that that has + lately issued from the press. As we intend to notice this + collection at some future time, we can only, for the present, + spare room for this direction of the reader's attention—for + the design deserves well of the public; and if the success be + proportioned fro its merits, it will be great indeed. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p> +<i>Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD 143, Strand. (near Somerset House,) +London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; and by all +Newsmen and Booksellers.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction., by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 347 *** + +***** This file should be named 11386-h.htm or 11386-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/3/8/11386/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, David Gil, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. + Volume XII, No. 347, Saturday, December 20, 1828. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 1, 2004 [EBook #11386] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 347 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, David Gil, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XII, NO. 347.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1828. [PRICE 2d. + + + +EUROPEAN CITIES.--NAPLES. + + +[Illustration: European Cities.--Naples.] + + +In our last volume we commenced the design of illustrating the +principal _Cities of Europe_, by a series of picturesque views--one of +which is represented in the above engraving. Our miscellaneous duties +in identifying the pages of the MIRROR with subjects of contemporary +interest, and anxiety to bring them on our little _tapis_--(qy. +Twopence?)--will best account for the interval which has elapsed since +the commencement of our design--with a View of London; but were all +travellers as tardy, the Grand Tour of Europe would occupy many years, +and leave fashion-mongers but little more than rouge, wrinkles, and +_bon-bons_ to delight their friends at home. + +The proximity of Naples to Rome may, perhaps, impair the interest of +the former city, especially as it presents nothing in architecture, +sculpture, or painting that can vie with the Imperial Mistress. +Nevertheless, Naples is one of the most beautiful and most delightful +cities on the habitable globe. Nothing can possibly be imagined more +unique than its _coup-d'oeil_, on whatever side the city is viewed. + +Naples is situated towards the south and east on the declivity of a +long range of hills, and encircling a gulf of 16 miles in breadth, +and as many in length, which forms a basin, called Crater by the +Neapolitans. The city appears to crown this superb basin. One part +rises towards the west in the form of an amphitheatre, on the hills +of Pausilippo, St. Ermo, and Antiguano; the other extends towards the +east, over a more level territory, in which villas follow each other +in rapid succession, from the Magdalen Bridge to Portici, where the +king's palace is situated, and beyond that to Mount Vesuvius. The +Neapolitans have a saying, _Vedi Napoli e po mari_, intimating that +when Naples has been seen, every thing has been seen; and its +congregated charms of situation, climate, and fertility almost warrant +this patriotic ebullition. + +"On the northern side, Naples is surrounded by hills, which (says +_Vasi_, in his '_Picture_,') form a kind of crown round the _Terra di +Lavoro_, the Land of Labour." This consists of a district, in the +language of ancient Rome, + + + ------Lecos laeros, et amoena vireta + Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas-- + + +and fertilized by a river, called Sebeto, which descends from the hills +on the side of Nola, and falls into the sea after having passed under +Magdalen Bridge, towards the eastern part of Naples. + +The ancient history of Naples is involved in much obscurity. According +to some, says _Vasi_, Falerna, one of the Argonauts, founded it about +1,300 years before the Christian era; according to others, Parthenope, +one of the Syrens, celebrated by Homer in his "Odyssey," being +shipwrecked on this coast, landed here, and built a town, to which she +gave her name; others attribute its foundation to Hercules, some to +Eneas, and others to Ulysses. These are mere freaks of fiction and +fable; and it is more probable that Naples was founded by some Greek +colonies; this may be inferred from its own name, _Neapolis_, and from +the name of another town contiguous to it, _Paleopolis._ Strabo speaks +of these Greek colonies, whence the city derives its origin. + +The city of Naples was formerly surrounded by very high walls, about 22 +miles in circumference; but on its enlargement, neither walls nor gates +were erected. It may be, however, defended by three strong castles. + +Naples is divided into twelve quarters, or departments, and contains +about 450,000 inhabitants. It is consequently the most populous city +in Europe, except London and Paris. The streets are neither broad nor +regular, and are paved with broad slabs of hard stone, resembling the +lava of Vesuvius. The houses are, for the most part, uniformly built, +being about five or six stories high, with balconies and flat roofs, +in the form of terraces, which are used as a promenade. The churches, +palaces, and public buildings are magnificent; but they suffer in +comparison with the other architectural wealth of Italy. Vasi states +there are about 300 churches; and among the other public buildings he +mentions 37 conservatories, established for the benefit of poor +children, and old people, both men and women. + +The environs of Naples possess many attractions for the classic tourist, +as well as for the strange flies of fashion. Among these is Virgil's +Tomb, which is, indeed, holy ground. The temples, aqueducts, and arches +of olden time are likewise stupendous records of the sumptuousness of +the ancient people of this interesting district; and, apart from these +attractions, the contemplative philosopher may read in the volcanic +remains, and other phenomena on its shores, many inspiring lessons in +the broad volume of Nature; as well as amid the neighbouring relics of +Art, where + + + Man marks the earth with ruin. + + + * * * * * + + +LEICESTER ABBEY.--DEATH OF CARDINAL WOLSEY. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Few periods of English history are more pregnant with events, or more +interesting to the antiquary, and general reader, than that which +comprised the fortunes of Wolsey. The eventful life of the Cardinal, +checkered as it was by the vicissitudes of fortune, his sudden +elevation, and finally his more sudden fall and death, display an +appalling picture of "the instability of human affairs." This prelate +and statesman, who even aspired to the Papal throne itself, "was an +honest poore man's sonne in the towne of Ipswiche,"[1] who having +received a good education, and being endowed with great capacity, soon +rose to fill the highest offices of the church and state; in 1515 he +was created Lord High Chancellor, and in three years afterwards was +appointed legate _a latere_ by the Pope, having previously received +a Cardinal's cap. + +Leicester Abbey was rendered famous as being the last residence of the +unhappy Wolsey; "within its walls," says Gilpin, "was once exhibited a +scene more humiliating to human ambition, and more instructive to human +grandeur than almost any which history hath produced. Here the fallen +pride of Wolsey retreated from the insults of the world, all his visions +of ambition were now gone; his pomp and pageantry and crowded levees! On +this spot he told the listening monks, the sole attendants of his dying +hour, as they stood around his pallet, that he was come to lay his bones +among them, and gave a pathetic testimony to the truth and joys of +religion, which preaches beyond a thousand lectures."[2] + +On his road to London, whither he had been summoned, from his castle of +_Cawood_, by Henry, to take his trial for high treason, he was seized +with a disorder, which so much increased as to oblige his resting at +Leicester, where he was met at the Abbey gate by the Abbot and his whole +convent. The first ejaculation of Wolsey, on meeting these holy persons, +plainly shows that he was fully aware of his approaching end: "Father +Abbot," said he, "I am come hither to lay my bones among you;"[3] and it +was with great difficulty that they could get him up the stairs, which +it was fated he was never again to descend alive. A short time previous +to his death, he thus addressed the Constable of the Tower, who was +appointed to convey him to the metropolis:--"Well, well, Master +Kingstone, I see the matter how it is framed; but if I had serued God as +diligentlie as I haue done the king, he would not haue giuen me ouer in +my gray haires;[4] but this is the iust reward that I must receiue for +the diligent paines and study yt I haue had to doe him seruice, not +regarding my seruice to God, but onely to satisfie his pleasure; I praie +you haue me most humblie commended vnto his royal maiestie, and beseech +him in my behalfe to call to his princelie remembrance, all matters +proceeding between him and mee, from the beginning of the worlde, and +the progress of the same, and most especialle in his weightie matter, +and then shall his grace's conscience know whether I haue oflended him +or no."[5] + +Thus sunk into the grave a man, who was a victim to tyranny, but +to a tyranny which he had himself formed; that he was a person far +enlightened beyond the period in which he lived no one can presume +to doubt. He tended greatly to promote the arts and learning of his +country. His personal character displayed as great a variety of opposite +qualities, as the fortunes to which he had been exposed; his magnanimity +was oftentimes clouded by the greatest meanness, and with an urbanity of +manners, he combined an intolerable degree of pride and arrogance; he +was frank and generous, but his overwhelming ambition greatly tended to +obscure these nobler qualities of his mind, and as he rose, he became +haughty and overbearing. His character has been obscured by the envy and +partiality of his contemporaries, who have generally endeavoured to load +his memory with reproaches. "This Cardinall," says Holinshed, "was +of great stomach, for he compted himselfe equall with princes, and by +craftie suggestion got into his hands innumerable treasure; he forced +little on simonie, and was not pittiful, and stood affectionate in his +owne opinion; in open presence he would lie and saie vntruth, and was +double both in speech and meaning; he would promise much and performe +little; he was vicious of his bodie, and gaue the clergy euill example; +he hated sore the Citie of London and feared it. It was told him that +he should die in the waie toward London, wherefore he feared lest the +commons of the citie would arise in riotous maner and so slaie him, yet +for all that he died in the waie toward London, carrieng more with him +out of the worlde than he brought into it, namellie, a winding sheete, +besides other necessaries thought meet for a dead man, as a Christian +comelinesse required."[6] + +The remains of the Cardinal were interred in the Abbey Church at +Leicester, after having been viewed by the Mayor and Corporation, +(for the prevention of false rumours,) and were attended to the grave +by the Abbot and all the brethren. This last ceremony was performed by +torchlight, the canons singing dirges, and offering orisons, at between +four and five o'clock of the morning, on St. Andrew's Day, November the +30th, 1530. + +Leicester Abbey was founded (according to Leland) [7] in the year 1143, +in the reign of King Stephen, by Robert Bossue, Earl of Leicester, for +black canons of the order of St. Augustine, and was dedicated to the +Virgin Mary. It is situated in a pleasant meadow, to the north of the +town, watered by the river Soar, whence it acquired the name of _St. +Mary de Pratis_, or _de la Pre_. This monastery was richly endowed +with lands in thirty-six of the neighbouring parishes, besides various +possessions in other counties, and enjoyed considerable privileges and +immunities. Bossue, with the consent of Lady Amicia, his wife, became +a canon regular in his own foundation, in expiation of his rebellious +conduct towards his sovereign, and particularly for the injuries which +he had thereby brought upon the "goodly towne of Leycestre." At the +dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. the revenues of this house +were valued according to _Speed_ at L1062. 0s. 4d., _Dugdale_ says L951. +14s. 5d.; and its site was granted in the 4th of Edward VI. to William, +Marquess of Northampton.[8] + + [1] Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, p. 1. edit. 1641. Most of his + biographers affirm that he was the son of a butcher. + + [2] "Northern Tour." The same author observes, that "the death of + Wolsey would make a fine moral picture, if the hand of any master + could give the pallid features of the dying statesman, that + chagrin, that remorse, those pangs of anguish, which, in the last + bitter moments of his life, possessed him. The point might be + taken when the monks are administering the comforts of religion, + which the despairing prelate cannot feel. The subject requires a + gloomy apartment, which a ray through a Gothic window might just + enlighten, throwing its force chiefly on the principal figure, + and dying away on the rest. The appendages of the piece need only + be few and simple; little more than the crozier and red hat to + mark the cardinal and tell the story." + + [3] Stow's "Annals," p. 557, edit. 1615. + + [4] Shakspeare introduces this memorable saying of the cardinal into + his play of "Henry the Eighth:"-- + + --"O Cromwell, Cromwell, + Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal + I serv'd my king, he would not in mine age + Have left me naked to mine enemies." + + [5] Stow's "Annals." + + [6] Holinshed's "Chronicle," vol. iii. p. 765, edit. 1808. + + [7] "Collectanea," vol i. p. 70. + + [8] Tanner. + + +S.I.B. + + * * * * * + + +ANCIENT OATHS. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +It will be recollected, that in a former volume I gave you the form of +the oath taken by the appellee in the ancient manner of trial by battle. +The appellee, when appealed of felony, pleads _not guilty_ and throws +down his glove, and declares he will defend the same by his body; the +appellant takes up the glove, and replies that he is ready to make good +the appeal body for body; and thereupon the appellee, taking the book in +his right hand, makes oath as before mentioned. To which the appellant +replies, holding the Bible and his antagonist's hand in the same manner +as the other, "Hear this, O man, whom I hold by the hand, who callest +thyself _Thomas_ by the name of baptism, that thou art perjured; and +therefore perjured, because that thou feloniously didst murder my +father, _William_ by name. So help me God and the Saints, and this I +will prove against thee by my body, as this court shall award." And then +the combat proceeds. + +There is a striking resemblance between this process and that of the +court of _Arcopagus,_ at Athens, for murder, where the prisoner and +prosecutor were both sworn in the most solemn manner--the prosecutor, +that he was related to the deceased, (for none but near relations were +permitted to prosecute in that court,) and that the prisoner was the +cause of his death; the prisoner, that he was innocent of the charge +against him. + +In time I hope to be able to furnish you with other specimens of our +curious ancient oaths. + +W.H.H. + + * * * * * + + +SONNET. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Whose heart is not delighted at the sound + Of rural song, of Nature's melody, + When hills and dales with harmony rebound, + While Echo spreads the pleasing strains around, + Awak'ning pure and heartfelt sympathy! + Perchance on some rude rock the minstrel stands, + While his pleased hearers wait entranced around; + Behold him touch the chords with fearless hands, + Creating heav'nly joys from earthly sound. + How many voices in the chorus rise, + And artless notes renew the failing strains; + The honest boor his vocal talent tries, + Approving love beams from his "fair one's eyes," + While age, in silent joy, forgets its pains. + +J.J. + + * * * * * + + +THE DEATH OF SALADIN.[9] + + [9] For the particulars of which, see Knolle's "history of the Turks." + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + The angel of death hath too surely prest + His fatal sign on the warrior's breast-- + Quench'd is the light of the eagle-eye, + And the nervous limbs rest languidly-- + The eloquent tongue is silent and still, + The deep clear voice again may not chill + The hearers' hearts with its own deep thrill. + + Ah, who can gaze on death, nor inward feel + A creeping horror through the bosom steal, + Like one who stands upon a precipice, + And sees below a mangled sacrifice, + Feeling that he himself must ere long fall, + With none to save him, none to hear his call, + Or wrest him from the agonizing thrall? + + And yet it is but sleep we look upon! + But in that sleep from which the life is gone + Sinks the proud Saladin, Egyptia's lord. + His faith's firm champion, and his Prophet's sword; + Not e'en the red cross knights withstand his pow'r, + But, sorrowing, mark the Moslem's triumph hour, + And the pale crescent float from Salem's tow'r. + + As the keen arrow, hurl'd with giant-might, + Rends the thin air in its impetuous flight, + But being spent on earth innoxious lies, + E'en its track vanish'd from the yielding skies-- + So lies the soldan, stopp'd his bright career, + His vanquish'd realms their prostrate heads uprear, + And coward kings forget their servile fear. + + Ere yet stern Azrael[10] cut the thread of life, + While Death and Nature wag'd unequal strife, + Spoke the expiring hero:--"Hither stand, + Receive your dying sovereign's last command. + When that the spirit from my frame is riven, + (Oh, gracious Alla! be my sins forgiven, + And bright-eyed Houris waft my soul to heaven,) + Then when you bear me to my last retreat, + Let not the mourners howl along the street-- + Let not my soldiers in the train be seen, + Nor banners float, nor lance or sabre gleam-- + Nor yet, to testify a vain regret, + O'er my remains let costly shrine be set, + Or sculptur'd stone, or gilded minaret; + But let a herald go before my bier, + Bearing on point of lance the robe I wear. + Shouting aloud, 'Behold what now remains + Of the proud conqueror of Syria's plains, + Who bow'd the Persian, made the Christian feel + The deadly sharpness of the Moslem steel; + But of his conquests, riches, honours, might, + Naught sleeps with him in death's unbroken night, + Save this poor robe.'" + + [10] Azrael, in the Mahometan creed, the angel of death. + +D.A.H. + + * * * * * + + +BANQUETTING HOUSE, WHITEHALL. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +This splendid pile which is at present under repair, was erected in the +time of James I. Whitehall being in a most ruinous state, he determined +to rebuild it in a very princely manner, and worthy of the residence +of the monarchs of the British empire. He began with pulling down the +banquetting rooms built by Elizabeth. That which bears the above name at +present was begun in 1619, from a design of Inigo Jones, in his purest +style; and executed by Nicholas Stone, master mason and architect to +the king; it was finished in two years, and cost L17,000. but is only +a small part of a vast plan, left unexecuted by reason of the unhappy +times which succeeded. The ceiling of this noble room cannot be +sufficiently admired; it was painted by Rubens, who had L3,000. for +his work. The subject is the Apotheosis of James I. forming nine +compartments; one of the middle represents our pacific monarch on +his earthly throne, turning with horror from Mars, and other of the +discordant deities, and as if it were, giving himself up to the amiable +goddess he always cultivated, and to her attendants, Commerce, and the +Fine Arts. This fine performance is painted on canvass, and is in high +preservation; but a few years ago it underwent a repair by Cipriani, who +had L2,000. for his trouble. Near the entrance is a bust of the royal +founder. + +Little did James think (says Pennant) that he was erecting a pile from +which his son was to step from the throne to the scaffold. He had been +brought in the morning of his death, from St. James's across the Park, +and from thence to Whitehall, where ascending the great staircase, he +passed through the long gallery to his bed-chamber, the place allotted +to him to pass the little time before he received the fatal blow. It +is one of the lesser rooms marked with the letter A in the old plan of +Whitehall. He was from thence conducted along the galleries and the +banquetting house, through the wall, in which a passage was broken to +his last earthly stage. Mr. Walpole tells us that Inigo Jones, surveyor +of the works done about the king's house, had only 8s. 4d. a day, and +L46. a year for house-rent, and a clerk and other incidental expenses. +The present improvements at Whitehall make one exclaim with the poet, +Pope-- + + + "I see, I see, where two fair cities bend + Their ample brow, _a new Whitehall ascend._" + + +Again, + + + "You too proceed, make falling arts your care, + _Erect new wonders, and the old repair;_ + _Jones_ and Palladio to themselves _restore_, + And be whate'er Vitruvius was before." + + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +THE UNIVERSE. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + + O light celestial, streaming wide + Through morning'd court of fairy blue-- + O tints of beauty, beams of pride, + That break around its varied hue-- + Still to thy wonted pathway true, + Thou shinest on serenely free, + Best born of _Him_, whose mercy grew + In every gift, sweet world, to thee. + + O countless stars, that, lost in light, + Still gem the proud sun's glory bed, + And o'er the saddening brow of night + A softer, holier influence shed-- + How well your radiant march hath sped. + Unfailing vestals of the sky, + As smiling thus ye weed from dread + The soul ye court to muse on high. + + O flowers that breathe of beauty's reign, + In many a tint o'er lawn and lea, + That give the cold heart once again + A dream of happier infancy; + And even on the grave can be + A spell to weed affection's pain-- + Children of Eden, who could see. + Nor own _His_ bounty in your reign? + + O winds, that seem to waft from far + A mystic murmur o'er the soul, + As ye had power to pass the bar + Of nature in your vast control, + Hail to your everlasting roll-- + Obedient still ye wander dim, + And softly breathe, or loudly toll, + Through earth and sky the name of _Him_. + + O world of waters, o'er whose bed + The chainless winds unceasing swell, + That claim'st a kindred over head, + As 'twixt the skies thou seem'st to dwell; + And e'en on earth art but a spell, + Amid their realms to wander free-- + Thy task of pride hath speeded well, + Thou deep, eternal, boundless sea. + + O storms of night and darkness, flung + In blackening chaos o'er the world, + When thunderpeals are dreadly rung, + Mid clouds in sightless fury hurl'd, + Types of a mightier power, impearl'd + With mercy's soft, redeeming ray, + Still at His voice your wings are furl'd, + Ye wake to own and to obey. + + O thou blest whole of light and love, + Thou glorious realm of earth and sky, + That breath'st of blissful hope above, + When all of thine hath wander'd by, + Throughout thy range, nor tear nor sigh + But breathes of bliss, of beauty's reign, + And concord, such as in the sky + The soul is taught to meet again. + + O man, who veil'd in deepest night + This beauty-breathing world of thine, + And taught the serpent's deadly blight + Amid its sweetest flowers to twine, + Thou, thou alone hast dared repine, + And turn'd aside from duty's call, + Thou who hast broken nature's shrine, + And wilder'd hope and darken'd all. + +ANNETTE TURNER. + + * * * * * + + +A half-pint of wine for young men in perfect health is enough, and you +will be able to take your exercise better, and feel better for this +abstinence.--_Dr. Babington._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SKETCH BOOK. + + * * * * * + + +COLLEGE LOVE. + + +We had gone into Devonshire, for the purpose of being more retired, that +we might study more attentively, and with less chance of interruption, +than in a town. We chose, accordingly, for our residence, one of the +most beautiful and retired cottages we ever saw. It was situated very +near the sea; and, oh! what thoughts used to steal over us, of romance +and true love, as we gazed upon that quiet ocean, from the vine-covered +window of our quiet, sweet, secluded home! Day after day, we wandered +among the woods in the neighbourhood, and rejoiced, at each successive +visit, to find out new beauties. This continued for some time; till at +last, on returning one day, we saw an unusual bustle in the room we +occupied. On entering, we found our landlady hurrying out in great +confusion, and, along with her, a beautiful, blushing girl, so perfectly +ladylike in her appearance, that we wondered by what means our venerable +hostess could have become acquainted with so interesting a visiter. She +soon explained the mystery; this lady, who seemed more bewitching every +moment that we gazed on her, was the daughter of a 'squire in whose +family our worthy landlady had been nurse. She had come, without knowing +that any lodger was in the house, and was to stay a week. Oh! that week! +the happiest of our life. We soon became intimate; our books lay fast +locked up at the bottom of our trunk: we walked together, saw the sun +set together in the calm ocean, and then walked happily and contentedly +home in the twilight; and long before the week was at an end, we had +vowed eternal vows, and sworn everlasting constancy. We had not, to +be sure, discovered any great powers of mind in our enslaver; but how +interesting is even ignorance, when it comes from such a beautiful +and smiling mouth! We had already formed happy plans of moulding her +unformed opinions, and directing and sharing all her studies. The little +slips which were observable in her grammar, we attributed to want of +care; and the accent, which was very powerful, was rendered musical to +our ear, at the same time as dear to our heart, by the whiteness of the +little arm that lay so quietly and lovingly within our own. And then, +her taste in poetry was not the most delicate or refined; but she was so +enthusiastically fond of it, that we imagined a little training would +lead her to prefer many of Mr. Moore's ballads, to the pathos of Giles +Scroggins; and that in time, the "Shining River" might occupy a superior +place, in her estimation, to a song from which she repeated, with tears +in her eyes--, + + + "But like the star what lighted + Pale billion to its fated doom, + Our nuptial song is blighted, + And its rose quench'd in its bloom." + + +And then, she seemed so fond of flowers, and knew so much about their +treatment, that we fancied how lovely she must look while engaged in that +fascinating study; and often, in our dreaming moods, did we mutter about + + + "Fair Proserpine + Within the vale of Enna gathering flowers, + Herself the fairest flower."-- + + +But why should we repeat what every one can imagine so well for himself? +At last, the hour of parting came; and, week after week, her stay at the +cottage had been prolonged, till our departure took place before hers. +And on that day she looked, as all men's sweethearts do at leaving them, +more touchingly beautiful than ever we had seen her before; and after we +had torn ourself away, we looked back, and there we saw her standing in +the same spot we had left her, a statue of misery and despair,--"like +Niobe all tears." + +Astonishment occupied the minds of all our friends on our return to +college. The change which took place on our feelings and conduct was +indeed amazing; our mornings were devoted to gazing on a lock of +our--she was rather unfortunate in a name--our Grizel's hair, and to +lonely hours of musing in the meadow on all the adventures of our +sojourn in Devonshire. No longer we stood listlessly in the quadrangle, +joining the knots of idlers, of whom we used to be one of the chief; +no longer had even Castles' Havannahs any charms for our lips; and our +whole heart was wrapt up in the expectation of a letter. This we were +not to receive for three long weeks; and by that time she was to have +returned home, consulted her father on the subject of our attachment, +and return us a definitive reply. We wrote in the meantime--such a +letter! We are assured it must have been written on a sheet of asbestos, +or it must infallibly have taken fire. It began, "Lovely and most +beautiful Grizel!" and ended, "Your adorer." At last the letter that was +to conclude all our hopes was put into our hands. We had some men that +morning to breakfast; we received it just as they were beginning the +third pie. How heartily we prayed they would he off and leave us +alone! But no--on they kept swallowing pigeon after pigeon, and seemed +to consider themselves as completely fixtures as the grate or the +chimney-piece. We wished devoutly to see a bone sticking in the throat +of our most intimate friend, and, by way of getting quit of them, had +thoughts of setting fire to the room. At last, however, they departed. +Immediately as the skirt of the last one's coat disappeared, we +carefully locked and bolted our door, and, with hands trembling with +joy, we took out the letter. Not very clean was its appearance, and not +over correct or well-spelt was its address; and, above all, a yellow, +dingy wafer filled up the place of the green wax we had expected, and +the true lover's motto, "Though lost to sight, to memory dear," was +supplied by the impression of a thimble. We opened it. Horror and +amazement! never was such penmanship beheld. The lines were complete +exemplifications of the line of beauty, so far as their waving, and +twisting, and twining was concerned; and the orthography it was past +all human comprehension to understand. + +"My deerest deere, dear sur,"--this was the letter,--"i kim him more nor +a wic agon, butt i cuddunt right yu afore ass i av bin with muther an +asnt seed father till 2 day. he sais as my fortin is 3 hundurd pouns, +he sais as he recomminds me tu take mi hold lover Mister Tomas the +gaurdnar, he sais as yu caunt mary no boddi, accause you must be a +batseller three ears. if thiss be troo i am candied enuff to tell you +ass i caunt wate so long my deerast deer, o yu ave brock mi art! wy did +yu sai al ass yu sad iff yu cud unt mary nor none of the scolards at +hocksfoot Kolidge. father sais as ther iss sum misstake praps yu did unt +no ass mother is not marid 2 father butt is marrid to the catchmun and +father is marad to a veri gud ladi ass gove me a gud edocasion. mi +deerest deere it brakes my art all from yu for tu part, i rot them lines +this marnin. mister tomas sais as i gov im mi prumass befor i cum to ave +the apiness of see yu. butt i dant thinc i giv mor promass to him. nor +2 manni uthers. mi deerest deer and troo luv cuppid! i feer our nutshell +song is blitid and its ros kwencht in its blum. them was plesent ours +when the carnashuns and tullups was all in blo, wasunt them mi deer luv. +mister tomas sais ass he can mari me in a munth and father sais i hot tu +take im. iff so be as yu caun't du it beefor i thinc i shal take im ass +father sais there is sum mistake, mi deerest deere mi art is brock butt +i thinc i shall take im iff so bee as I dant ear frum yu. gud nite my +troo luv i shal kip your lockat for a kipsic an yu ma kiss my luck off +air for the sack of your brockan arted + +"GRIZEL." + +It is astonishing how the perusal of this cured us of our affection. +At the first line we recollected that she had a tendency to squint, +and long before we came to the conclusion, we remembered that her +ancles were rather thick, and her feet by no means of diminutive size. +Thus ended our love adventures at the University. Our heroine we have +never heard of since, and we have resisted the most tempting offers +from the loveliest of her sex; and in spite of sighing heiresses and +compassionate old maids, we are still a bachelor; and a bachelor, +in defiance of all their machinations, we are firmly determined to +remain.--_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + + + +MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + + * * * * * + + +CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN THE NETHERLANDS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Many singular customs are observed in the Netherlands at Christmas, and +as they materially differ from those known in England, a brief notice of +_one_ of them may probably prove acceptable to the readers of the +MIRROR. + +In almost every Dutch town, and in every considerable village, the +following custom prevails:--At a little after two o'clock in the morning +of Christmas-day, a number of young men assemble in the market-place, +and sing some verses suited to the occasion. One of the young men bears +an _artificial star,_ which is fixed to a pole, and elevated above the +heads of the people; it is very large, and is rendered beautifully +transparent when a light is placed in the inside. This artificial +luminary is intended to represent the star of the east, which directed +the wise men to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. At a little +distance, the appearance is exceedingly brilliant, for there is no other +light among the populace to diminish its lustre, and the whole scene +is singularly picturesque. The resplendent light issuing from the star +strikes powerfully upon the countenances of the principal actors, while +those more remote receive only a faint and subdued gleam. The silvery +effulgence of the moon, the sombre and deserted look of the buildings +around, and the general stillness that pervades every object, save the +scene of action, might inspire the mind of a Rembrandt, or introduce +to the mere casual beholder feelings at once new and poetical. + +After parading through the town, the youths repair in a body to the +residence of some opulent inhabitant, where their arrival is welcomed +with shouts and clapping of hands, and where they are entertained with +a plentiful repast. + +G.W.N. + + * * * * * + + +THE JEWS. + + +Their present actual numbers may, perhaps, not exceed six +millions--numbers, however, probably greater than those over which +Solomon reigned; and of these six millions there may be resident in the +contiguous countries of Moravia, Ancient Poland, the Crimea, Moldavia, +and Wallachia, above three millions. Except within the countries which +formed Poland before its partitions, their population contained in any +one European kingdom, cannot, therefore, be great. Yet so essentially +are they one people, we might almost say one family; and so disposable +is their wealth, as mainly vested in money transactions, that they must +be considered as an aggregate, and not in their individual portions. + +The Jews in France are perhaps from thirty to forty thousand; they +abound chiefly at Metz, along the Rhine, and at Marseilles and Bordeaux. +In Bonaparte's time they were imagined to amount to at least twice that +number.--They are relieved from civil restraints and disabilities in +France, and in the Netherlands also. The Jews in Holland, of both German +and Portuguese origin, are numerous; the latter are said to have taken +refuge there when the United Provinces asserted their independence of +Spain; they have a splendid synagogue at Amsterdam. Infidelity is +supposed to have made more progress amongst them than amongst the German +Jews in Holland. The Italian Jews are chiefly at Leghorn and Genoa; and +there are four thousand of them at Rome. In speaking of the religion of +the Jews, it is not necessary to particularize those who assumed the +mask of Christianity under terror of the Inquisition, although much has +been said of their wealth and numbers, and of the high offices they have +filled in Spain, and especially in Portugal. But it is curious to see, +in a very distant quarter, a like simulation produced amongst them +by like causes. There are at Salonica thirty synagogues, and about +twenty-five thousand professed Jews; and a body of Israelites have been +lately discovered there, who, really adhering to the faith of their +fathers, have externally embraced Mahomedanism. + +The Barbary Jews are a very fine people; but the handsomest Jews are +said to be those of Mesopotamia. That province may also boast of an Arab +chief who bears the name of the Patriarch Job, is rich in sheep, and +camels, and oxen, and asses, abounds in hospitality, and believes that +he descends from him; he is also famed for his justice. The Jews at +Constantinople, forty thousand in number, and in the parts of European +Turkey on and near the Mediterranean, speak Spanish, and appear to +descend from Israelites driven from Spain by persecution. The Bible +Society are now printing at Corfu the New Testament, in Jewish-Spanish, +for their benefit. + +In truth, little appears to be known of the state of the Jews during +some hundreds of years after the destruction of Jerusalem. The first +body of learned Jews which drew attention after that disastrous event +was that settled in Spain; and from it all Jewish learning descends. +As in accomplishment of the prophecy, the Jew is found over the whole +surface of the globe; he has been long established in China, which +abhors the foreigner; and in Abyssinia, which it is almost as difficult +to reach as to quit. The early Judaism of that country, and in later +days the history of the powerful colony of Jews established in its +heart, which at one time actually reigned over the kingdom, are matters +so curious, that we regret that we can do no more than advert to them; +we must say the same as to the evidence existing of Jewish rites having +extended themselves very far southward along the eastern coast of +Africa; the numerous Jews of Barbary; and the black and white Jews, who +have been established for ages, more or less remote, on the Malabar +coast. It may be here observed, that all the Israelites hitherto +discovered appear to be descendants of those who held the kingdom of +Judah. + +The Jews in Great Britain and Ireland are not supposed to be more than +from ten to twelve thousand, very many of whom are foreigners, and +migratory.--_Quarterly Rev._ + + * * * * * + + +EGYPTIAN RATIONS. + + +The rations of the Egyptian soldiers were, according to Herodotus, five +pounds of baked bread, two pounds of beef, and half a pint of wine +daily. + + * * * * * + +In the barbarous ages it was usual for persons who could not write, to +make the sign of the cross in confirmation of a written paper. Several +charters still remain in which kings and persons of great eminence +affix "signum crucis pro ignoratione literarum," the sign of the cross, +because of their ignorance of letters. From this is derived the phrase +of signing instead of subscribing a paper. + + * * * * * + + +COLUMN IN BLENHEIM PARK + + +[Illustration: Column in Blenheim Park.] + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +You have lately directed the attention of the readers of the MIRROR to +the park of Blenheim, in Oxfordshire, one of the most beautiful England +can boast of, and likewise, according to Camden, the first park that +was made in this country. I can bear witness to the correctness of +your delineation and description of Rosamond's Well, which you gave +in a recent number; but there is no trace whatever of the bower or +labyrinth, the site of which is only pointed out by tradition. The +park of Blenheim, besides the interest which attaches to it from the +circumstance of its having been the residence of the early kings of +England, and the scene of "Rosamond's" life, has in more modern times +acquired additional interest from having been bestowed by the country +upon the Duke of Marlborough, in testimony of the gratitude of the +nation for the brilliant services he had rendered his country, +particularly at the battle of Blenheim. + +It was a reward at once worthy of the English nation and of the +illustrious hero on whom it was bestowed; and as it is at least +pleasing, and perhaps useful, to recall to the mind the epochs of +England's greatness amongst nations, I have sent a sketch of one of the +most prominent objects in the park of Blenheim, which our forefathers +deemed (in the language of the inscription) would "stand as long as the +British name and language last, illustrious monuments of Marlborough's +glory and of Britain's gratitude." This is an elegant column, 130 feet +in height, and surmounted by a statue of the warrior in an antique +habit. On three sides of the building there are nearly complete copies +of the several Acts of Parliament by which the park and manor of +Woodstock were granted to the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs; and on +the fourth side is a very long inscription, said to have been penned by +Lord Bolingbroke, which concludes thus:-- + + + These are the actions of the Duke of Marlborough, + Performed in the compass of a few years, + Sufficient to adorn the annals of ages. + The admiration of other nations + Will be conveyed to the latest posterity, + In the histories even of the enemies of Britain. + The sense which the British nation had + Of his transcendant merit + Was expressed + In the most solemn, most effectual, most durable manner. + The Acts of Parliament inscribed on the pillar + Shall stand as long as the British name and language last, + Illustrious monuments + Of Marlborough's glory and + Of Britain's gratitude. + +G.W. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_ + + * * * * * + + +MEMOIRS OF VIDOCQ. + +_The French Thief-taker_ + + +This is as full-charged a portrait of human depravity as the gloomiest +misanthrope could wish for. But it has much wider claims on public +attention than the gratification of the misanthropic few who mope in +corners or stalk up and down leafless and almost solitary walks during +this hanging and drowning season. Nevertheless, all men are more or less +misanthropes, or they affect to be so; for only skim off the bile of a +true critic, or the minds of the hundred thousand who read newspapers, +and look first for the bankrupts and deaths. Sugar and wormwood and +wormwood and sugar are the standing dishes, but as we read the other +day, "there is a certain hankering for the gloomy side of nature, whence +the trials and convictions of vice become so much more attractive than +the brightest successes of virtue." People with _macadamized minds_, +and their histories (scarce as the originals are) are mere nonentities, +and food for the trunk-maker; whereas a book of hair-breadth escapes, +thrilling with horror and romantic narrative will tempt people to sit up +reading in their beds, till like Rousseau, they are reminded of morning +by the stone-chatters at their window. To the last class belong the +_Memoirs of Vidocq_, an analysis of which would be "utterly impossible, +so powerful are the descriptions, and so continuous the thread of +their history." The original work was published a short time since in +Paris, and republished here; but, we believe the present is the first +translation that has appeared in England. The newspapers have, from time +to time, translated a few extracts, when their Old Bailey news was at a +stand, so that the name of Vidocq must be somewhat familiar to many of +our readers.[11] + + [11] The present portion is only the first volume. The Memoirs are + to be completed in four volumes, to form part of the series of + _Autobiographical Memoirs_, published by Messrs. Hunt and Clarke, + and decidedly one of the most attractive works that that has + lately issued from the press. As we intend to notice this + collection at some future time, we can only, for the present, + spare room for this direction of the reader's attention--for + the design deserves well of the public; and if the success be + proportioned fro its merits, it will be great indeed. + +Eugene Francois Vidocq is a native of Arras, where his father was +a baker; and from early associations he fell into courses of excess +which led to the necessity of his flying from the parental roof. After +various, rapid, and unexampled events in the romance of real life, in +which he was everything by turns and nothing long, he was liberated from +prison, and became the principal and most active agent of police. He was +made Chief of the Police de Surete under Messrs. Delavau and Franchet, +and continued in that capacity from the year 1810 till 1827, during +which period he extirpated the most formidable of those ruffians and +villains to whom the excesses of the revolution and subsequent events +had given full scope for the perpetration of the most daring robberies +and inquitous excesses. Removed from employment, in which he had +accumulated a handsome independence, he could not determine on leading a +life of ease, for which his career of perpetual vigilance and adventure +had unfitted him, and he built a paper manufactory at St. Mandee, about +two leagues from Paris, where he employs from forty to fifty persons, +principally, it is asserted, liberated convicts, who having passed +through the term of their sentence, are cast upon society without home, +shelter, or character, and would be compelled to resort to dishonest +practices did not this asylum offer them its protection and afford them +opportunity of earning an honest living by industrious labour. One +additional point of interest in the present volume is, that the author +is still living. + +[We cannot follow Vidocq through his career of crime, neither would +it be altogether profitable to our readers; but the _links_ may be +recapitulated in a few words. He must have been born a thief, and +perhaps stole the spoon with which he was fed; but the _penchant_ +runs in the family, for Vidocq and his brother rob the same till of +a fencing-room, but his brother is first detected, and sent off "in a +hurry," to a baker at Lille. Of course Vidocq soon gets partners in sin, +and on the same day that he has been detected by the _living_ evidence +of two fowls which he had stolen, he sweeps from the dinner table ten +forks and as many spoons, pawns them for 150 francs, spends the money +in a few hours, and is imprisoned four days. He is then released; +one of his pals gives a false alarm to Vidocq's mother, and during her +temporary absence, Vidocq enters his home with a false key, steals +2,000 francs from a strong chest, with which he escapes to Ostend, +(intending to embark for America,) where he is decoyed by a _soi-disant_ +ship-broker, and loses all his ill-gotten wealth. He then resolves to +betroth the sea, though not after the Venetian fashion, by giving her +a dowry; the "sound of a trumpet" disturbs his attention, as it would +of any other hero. But this proves to be the note of Paillasse, a +merry-andrew. The "director," as the opera bills would say, was +Cotte-Comus, belonging to a troop of rope-dancers. + +He next joins a player of Punch, to whose wife he enacts Romeo with +better grace, and during one of the representations, the married people +break each others heads, and Vidocq runs off during the affray. He then +becomes assistant to a quack doctor, and the favoured swain of an +actress; gets into the Bourbon regiment, where he is nicknamed Reckless, +and kills two men, and fights fifteen duels in six months. His other +exploits are as a corporal of grenadiers, of course, a deserter, and +a prisoner of the revolution. He then marries, but does not reform. +Of course a wife is but a temporary incumbrance to a man of Vidocq's +dexterity. In chapter iii, we find him at Brussels, where he joins a set +of nefarious gamblers at the _Cafes_, and has a most romantic adventure +with a woman named Rosine. But we can follow him no further, except to +add that his other comrades in Vol. I, are gipsies, smugglers, players, +galley-slaves, drovers, Dutch sailors, and highwaymen. + +We must, therefore, confine ourselves to a few detached extracts from +the most interesting portion of the volume. At Lille, Vidocq meets with +a _chere amie_, Francine; he suspects her fidelity, thrashes his rival, +gets imprisoned, and is betrayed as an accomplice in a forgery. His +"reflections" during his imprisonment in St. Peter's Tower, bring on +a severe illness.] + +I was scarcely convalescent, when, unable to support the state of +incertitude in which I found my affairs, I resolved on escaping, and +to escape by the door, although that may appear a difficult step. Some +particular observations made me choose this method in preference to any +other. The wicket-keeper at St. Peter's Tower was a galley-slave from +the Bagne (place of confinement) at Brest, sentenced for life. In +a word, I relied on passing by him under the disguise of a superior +officer, charged with visiting St. Peter's Tower, which was used as +a military prison, twice a week. + +Francine, whom I saw daily, got me the requisite clothing, which she +brought me in her muff. I immediately tried them on, and they suited me +exactly. Some of the prisoners who saw me thus attired assured me that +it was impossible to detect me. I was the same height as the officer +whose character I was about to assume, and I made myself appear +twenty-five years of age. At the end of a few days, he made his usual +round, and whilst one of my friends occupied his attention, under +pretext of examining his food, I disguised myself hastily, and presented +myself at the door, which the gaolkeeper, taking off his cap, opened, +and I went out into the street. I ran to a friend of Francine's, as +agreed on in case I should succeed, and she soon joined me there. + +I was there perfectly safe, if I could resolve on keeping concealed; but +how could I submit to a slavery almost as severe as that of St. Peter's +Tower. As for three months I had been enclosed within four walls, I was +now desirous to exercise the activity so long repressed. I announced my +intention of going out; and, as with me an inflexible determination was +always the auxiliary of the most capricious fancy, I did go. My first +excursion was safely performed, but the next morning, as I was crossing +the Rue Ecremoise, a sergeant named Louis, who had seen me during my +imprisonment, met me, and asked if I was free. He was a severe practical +man, and by a motion of his hand could summon twenty persons. I said +that I would follow him; and begging him to allow me to bid adieu to my +mistress, who was in a house of Rue de l'Hopital, he consented, and we +really met Francine, who was much surprised to see me in such company; +and when I told her that having reflected, that my escape might injure +me in the estimation of my judges, I had decided on returning to St. +Peter's Tower, to wait the result of the process. + +Francine did not at first comprehend why I had expended three hundred +francs, to return at the end of four months to prison. A sign put her +on her guard, and I found an opportunity of desiring her to put some +cinders in my pocket whilst Louis and I took a glass of rum, and then +set out for the prison. Having reached a deserted street, I blinded my +guide with a handful of cinders, and regained my asylum with all speed. + +Louis having made his declaration, the gendarmes and police-officers +were on the full cry after me; and there was one Jacquard amongst them +who undertook to secure me if I were in the city. I was not unacquainted +with these particulars, and instead of being more circumspect in my +behaviour, I affected a ridiculous bravado. It might have been said +that I ought to have had a portion of the premium promised for my +apprehension. I was certainly hotly pursued, as may be judged from +the following incident:-- + +Jacquard learnt one day that I was going to dine in Rue Notre-Dame. He +immediately went with four assistants, whom he left on the ground-floor, +and ascended the staircase to the room where I was about to sit down to +table with two females. A recruiting sergeant, who was to have made the +fourth, had not yet arrived. I recognised Jacquard, who never having +seen me, had not the same advantage, and besides my disguise would have +bid defiance to any description of my person. Without being at all +uneasy, I approached, and with a most natural tone I begged him to pass +into a closet, the glass door of which looked on the banquetroom. "It +is Vidocq whom you are looking for," said I; "if you will wait for ten +minutes you will see him. There is his cover, he cannot be long. When he +enters, I will make you a sign; but if you are alone, I doubt if you can +seize him, as he is armed, and resolved to defend himself."--"I have my +gendarmes on the staircase," answered he, "and if he escapes--"--"Take +care how you place them then," said I with affected haste. "If Vidocq +should see them he would mistrust some plot, and then farewell to the +bird."--"But where shall I place them?"--"Oh, why in this closet--mind, +no noise, that would spoil all; and I have more desire than yourself +that he should not suspect anything." My commissary was now shut up in +four walls with his agents. The door, which was very strong, closed +with a double lock. Then, certain of time for escape, I cried to my +prisoners, "You are looking for Vidocq--well, it is he who has caged +you; farewell." And away I went like a dart, leaving the party shouting +for help, and making desperate efforts to escape from the unlucky +closet. + +Two escapes of the same sort I effected, but at last I was arrested and +carried back to St. Peter's Tower, where, for greater security, I was +placed in a dungeon with a man named Calendrin, who was also thus +punished for two attempts at escape. Calendrin, who had known me during +my first confinement in the prison, imparted to me a fresh plan of +escape, which he had devised by means of a hole worked in the wall of +the dungeon of the galley-slaves, with whom we could communicate. The +third night of my detention all was managed for our escape, and eight +of the prisoners who first went out were so fortunate as to avoid being +detected by the sentinel, who was only a short distance off. + +Seven of us still remained, and we drew straws, as is usual in such +circumstances, to determine which of the seven should first pass. I drew +the short straw, and undressed myself that I might get with greater ease +through the hole, which was very narrow, but to the great disappointment +of all, I stuck fast without the possibility of advancing or receding. +In vain did my companions endeavour to pull me out by force, I was +caught as if in a trap, and the pain of my situation was so extreme, +that not expecting further help from within, I called to the sentry to +render me assistance. He approached with the precaution of a man who +fears a surprise, and presenting his bayonet to my breast, forbade me +to make the slightest movement. At his summons the guard came out, the +porters ran with torches, and I was dragged from my hole, not without +leaving behind me a portion of my skin and flesh. Torn and wounded as +I was, they immediately transferred me to the prison of Petit Hotel, +when I was put into a dungeon, fettered hand and foot. + +Ten days afterwards I was placed amongst the prisoners, through my +intreaties and promises not to attempt again to escape. + +[Here he meets with a fellow named Bruxellois, _the Daring_, of whom +the following anecdote is related:--] + +At the moment of entering a farm with six of his comrades, he thrust his +left hand through an opening in the shutter to lift the latch, but when +he was drawing it back, he found that his wrist had been caught in a +slip knot. Awakened by the noise, the inhabitants of the farm had laid +this snare, although too weak to go out against a band of robbers which +report had magnified as to numbers. But the attempt being thus defeated, +day was fast approaching, and Bruxellois saw his dismayed comrades +looking at each other with doubt, when the idea occurred to him that to +avoid discovery they would knock out his brains. With his right hand he +drew out his clasp knife with a sharp point, which he always had about +him, and cutting off his wrist at the joint, fled with his comrades +without being stopped by the excessive pain of his horrid wound. +This remarkable deed, which has been attributed to a thousand +different spots, really occurred in the vicinity of Lille, and is well +authenticated in the northern districts, where many persons yet remember +to have seen the hero of this tale, who was thence called Manchot, +(or one-armed,) executed. + +[Vidocq at length escapes, quits Lille, and flies to Ostend, where he +joins a crew of smugglers.] + +It was with real repugnance that I went to the house of a man named +Peters, to whom I was directed, as one deeply engaged in the pursuit, +and able to introduce me to it. A sea-gull nailed on his door with +extended wings, like the owls and weasels that we see on barns, guided +me. I found the worthy in a sort of cellar, which by the ropes, sails, +oars, hammocks, and barrels which filled it, might have been taken +for a naval depot. From the midst of a thick atmosphere of smoke which +surrounded him, he viewed me at first with a contempt which had not +a good appearance, and my conjectures were soon realized, for I had +scarcely offered my services than he fell upon me with a shower of +blows. I could certainly have resisted him effectually, but astonishment +had in a measure deprived me of the power of defence; and I saw besides, +in the court-yard, half-a-dozen sailors and an enormous Newfoundland +dog, which would have been powerful odds. Turned into the street, I +endeavoured to account for this singular reception, when it occurred to +me that Peters had mistaken me for a spy, and treated me accordingly. + +This idea determined me on returning to a dealer in hollands, who +had told me of him, and he, laughing at the results of my visit, +gave me a pass-word that would procure me free access to Peters.--[He +succeeds.]--I slept at Peters's house with a dozen or fifteen smugglers, +Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Portuguese, and Russian; there were no +Englishmen, and only two Frenchmen. The day after my installation, as +we were all getting into our hammocks, or flock beds, Peters entered +suddenly into our chamber, which was only a cellar contiguous to his +own, and so filled with barrels and kegs, that we could scarcely find +room to sling our hammocks. Peters had put off his usual attire, which +was that of ship-caulker, or sail-maker, and had on a hairy cap, and a +long red shirt, closed at the breast with a silver pin, fire-arms in his +belt, and a pair of thick large, fisherman's boots, which reach the top +of the thigh, or may be folded down beneath the knee. + +"A-hoy! a-hoy!" cried he, at the door, striking the ground with the butt +end of his carbine! "down with the hammocks, down with the hammocks! We +will sleep some other day. The Squirrel has made signals for a landing +this evening, and we must see what she has in her, muslin or tobacco. +Come, come, turn out, my sea-boys." + +In a twinkling every body was ready. They opened an arm-chest, and every +man took out a carbine or blunderbuss, a brace of pistols, and a cutlass +or boarding pike, and we set out, after having drunk so many glasses of +brandy and arrack that the bottles were empty. At this time there were +not more than twenty of us, but we were joined or met, at one place or +another, by so many individuals, that on reaching the sea side we were +forty-seven in number, exclusive of two females and some countrymen from +the adjacent villages, who brought hired horses, which they concealed in +a hollow behind some rocks. + +It was night, and the wind was shifting, whilst the sea dashed with so +much force, that I did not understand how any vessels could approach +without being cast on shore. What confirmed this idea was, that by the +starlight I saw a small boat rowing backwards and forwards, as if it +feared to land. They told me afterwards that this was only a manoeuvre +to ascertain if all was ready for the unloading, and no danger to be +apprehended. Peters now lighted a reflecting lantern, which one of the +men had brought, and immediately extinguished it; the Squirrel raised +a lantern at her mizen, which only shone for a moment, and then +disappeared like a glow-worm on a summer's night. We then saw it +approach, and anchor about a gun-shot off from the spot where we were. +Our troop then divided into three companies, two of which were placed +five hundred paces in front, to resist the revenue officers if they +should present themselves. The men of these companies were then placed +at intervals along the ground, having at the left arm a packthread which +ran from one to the other: in case of alarm, it was announced by a +slight pull, and each being ordered to answer this signal by firing his +gun, a line of firing was thus kept up, which perplexed the revenue +officers. The third company, of which I was one, remained by the +sea-side, to cover the landing and the transport of the cargo. + +All being thus arranged, the Newfoundland dog already mentioned, and +who was with us, dashed at a word into the midst of the waves, and +swam powerfully in the direction of the Squirrel, and in an instant +afterwards returned with the end of a rope in his mouth. Peters +instantly seized it, and began to draw it towards him, making us signs +to assist him, which I obeyed mechanically. After a few tugs, I saw that +at the end of the cable were a dozen small casks, which floated towards +us. I then perceived that the vessel thus contrived to keep sufficiently +far from the shore, not to run a risk of being stranded. In an instant +the casks, smeared over with something that made them waterproof, were +unfastened and placed on horses, which immediately dashed off for the +interior of the country. A second cargo arrived with the same success; +but as we were landing the third, some reports of fire-arms announced +that our outposts were attacked. "There is the beginning of the ball," +said Peters, calmly; "I must go and see who will dance;" and taking up +his carbine, he joined the outposts, which had by this time joined each +other. The firing became rapid, and we had two men killed, and others +slightly wounded. At the fire of the revenue officers, we soon found +that they exceeded us in number; but alarmed, and fearing an ambuscade, +they dared not to approach, and we effected our retreat without any +attempt on their part to prevent it. From the beginning of the fight +the Squirrel had weighed anchor and stood out to sea, for fear that the +noise of the firing should bring down on her the government cruiser. +I was told that most probably she would unload her cargo in some other +part of the coast, where the owners had numerous agents. + +[Vidocq returns to Lille, where he is taken by two gendarmes, and +concerts the following stratagem for escape:--] + +This escape, however, was not so very easy a matter as may be surmised, +when I say that our dungeons, seven feet square, had walls six feet +thick, strengthened with planking crossed and rivetted with iron; a +window, two feet by one, closed with three iron gratings placed one +after the other, and the door cased with wrought iron. With such +precautions, a jailor might depend on the safe keeping of his charge, +but yet we overcame it all. + +I was in a cell on the second floor with Duhamel. For six francs, a +prisoner, who was also a turnkey, procured us two files, a ripping +chisel, and two turnscrews. We had pewter spoons, and our jailor was +probably ignorant of the use which prisoners could make of them. I knew +the dungeon key; it was the counterpart of all the others on the same +story; and I cut a model of it from a large carrot; then I made a mould +with crumb of bread and potatoes. We wanted fire, and we procured it by +making a lamp with a piece of fat and the rags of a cotton cap. The key +was at last made of pewter, but it was not yet perfect; and it was only +after many trials and various alterations that it fitted at last. Thus +masters of the doors, we were compelled to work a hole in the wall, near +the barns of the town-hall. Sallambier, who was in the dungeons below, +found a way to cut the hole, by working through the planking. + + +THE PRISON OF BICETRE AT PARIS. + + +The prison of Bicetre is a neat quadrangular building, enclosing many +other structures and many courts, which have each a different name; +there is the grande cour (great court) where the prisoners walk; the +cour de cuisine (or kitchen court;) the cour des chiens (or dog's +court;) the cour de correction (or court of punishment;) and the cour +des fers (or iron court.) In this last is a new building five stories +high; each story contains forty cells, capable of holding four +prisoners. On the platform, which supplies the place of a roof, was +night and day a dog named Dragon, who passed in the prison for the most +watchful and incorruptible of his kind; but some prisoners managed at a +subsequent period to corrupt him through the medium of a roasted leg of +mutton, which he had the culpable weakness to accept. The Amphytrions +escaped whilst Dragon was swallowing the mutton; he was beaten and taken +into the cour des chiens, where, chained up and deprived of the free air +which he breathed on the platform, he was inconsolable for his fault, +and perished piecemeal, a victim of remorse at his weakness in yielding +to a moment of gluttony and error. + +Near the erection I speak of is the old building, nearly arranged in +the same way, and under which were dungeons of safety, in which were +enclosed the troublesome and condemned prisoners. It was in one of these +dungeons that for forty-three years lived the accomplice of Cartouche, +who betrayed him to procure this commutation! To obtain a moment's +sunshine, he frequently counterfeited death so well, that when he had +actually breathed his last sigh, two days passed before they took +off his iron collar. A third part of the building, called La Force, +comprised various rooms, in which the prisoners were placed who arrived +from the provinces, and were destined to the chain. + +At this period, the prison of Bicetre, which is only strong from the +strict guard kept up there, could contain twelve hundred prisoners; but +they were piled on each other, and the conduct of the jailors in no way +assuaged the inconvenience of the place. + +If any man arrived from the country well clad, who, condemned for a +first offence, was not as yet initiated into the customs and usages of +prisons, in a twinkling he was stripped of his clothes, which were sold +in his presence to the highest bidder. If he had jewels or money, they +were alike confiscated to the profit of the society, and if he were too +long in taking out his ear-rings, they snatched them out without the +sufferer daring to complain. He was previously warned, that if he spoke +of it, they would hang him in the night to the bars of his cell, and +afterwards say that he had committed suicide. If a prisoner, out of +precaution, when going to sleep, placed his clothes under his head, they +waited until he was in his first sleep, and then they tied to his foot a +stone, which they balanced at the side of his bed; at the least motion +the stone fell, and aroused by the noise, the sleeper jumped up, and +before he could discover what had occurred, his packet hoisted by a +cord, went through the iron bars to the floor above. I have seen, in +the depth of winter, these poor devils, having been deprived of their +property in this way, remain in the court in their shirts until some one +threw them some rags to cover their nakedness. As long as they remained +at Bicetre, by burying themselves, as we may say, in their straw, they +could defy the rigour of the weather; but at the departure of the chain, +when they had no other covering than the frock and trousers made of +packing cloth, they often sunk exhausted and frozen before they reached +the first resting place. + +[As we have said, the present is but a fourth portion of Vidocq's +exploits; and if the remaining three are of equal interest, the work +will be one of the most extraordinary of our times. We scarcely remember +a counterpart, although the Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux are of the same +stamp. The fate of the latter work was curious enough. The manuscript +was sent by the author from New South Wales, whither he had been +transported. It was printed in two small volumes, and published by an +eminent west-end bookseller, who, for some unexplained motive withdrew +the edition, which is, we believe, now in the printer's warehouse. The +Editor of the "Autobiography" has, however, reprinted Vaux's memoirs in +his series; their style is very superior to that of Vidocq's, (which is +a translation) and as scores of worse books are printed annually, we +rejoice at their rescue from oblivion.] + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ANECDOTE GALLERY. + + * * * * * + + +WHITFIELD. + + +Remarkable instances are related of the manner in which Whitfield +impressed his hearers. A man at Exeter stood with stones in his +pocket, and one in his hand, ready to throw at him; but he dropped +it before the sermon was far advanced, and going up to him after +the preaching was over, he said, "Sir, I came to hear you with an +intention to break your head; but God, through your ministry, has +given me a broken heart." A ship-builder was once asked what he +thought of him. "Think!" he replied, "I tell you, sir, every Sunday +that I go to my parish church, I can build a ship from stem to stern +under the sermon; but, were it to save my soul, under Mr. Whitfield I +could not lay a single plank." Hume pronounced him the most ingenious +preacher he had ever heard; and said, it was worth while to go twenty +miles to hear him. But, perhaps, the greatest proof of his persuasive +powers was, when he drew from Franklin's pocket the money which that +clear, cool reasoner had determined not to give; it was for the +orphan-house at Savannah. "I did not," says the American philosopher, +"disapprove of the design; but as Georgia was then destitute of +materials and workmen, and it was proposed to send them from +Philadelphia at a great expense, I thought it would have been better +to have built the house at Philadelphia, and brought the children to +it. This I advised; but he was resolute in his first project, rejected +my counsel, and I therefore refused to contribute. I happened, soon +after, to attend one of his sermons, in the course of which I +perceived he intended to finish with a collection, and I silently +resolved he should get nothing from me. I had in my pocket a handful +of copper money, three or four silver dollars, and five pistoles in +gold. As he proceeded I began to soften, and concluded to give the +copper; another stroke of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and +determined me to give the silver; and he finished so admirably, that +I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. + +"At this sermon," continues Franklin, "there was also one of our club, +who, being of my sentiments respecting the building in Georgia, and +suspecting a collection might be intended, had, by precaution, emptied +his pockets before he came from home; towards the conclusion of the +discourse, however, he felt a strong inclination to give, and applied to +a neighbour who stood near him, to lend him some money for the purpose. +The request was fortunately made to perhaps the only man in the company +who had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer was, +'At any other time, friend Hopkinson, I would lend to thee freely; but +not now, for thee seems to me to be out of thy right senses.'" + +One of his flights of oratory, not in the best taste, is related on +Hume's authority. "After a solemn pause, Mr. Whitfield thus addresses +his audience:--'The attendant angel is just about to leave the +threshold, and ascend to heaven; and shall he ascend and not bear with +him the news of one sinner, among all the multitude, reclaimed from the +error of his ways!' To give the greater effect to this exclamation, he +stamped with his foot, lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, and cried +aloud, 'Stop, Gabriel! stop, Gabriel! stop, ere you enter the sacred +portals, and yet carry with you the news of one sinner converted to +God!'" Hume said this address was accompanied with such animated, yet +natural action, that it surpassed any thing he ever saw or heard in any +other preacher.--_Southey_. + + * * * * * + + +SIR RICHARD JEBB. + + +Was very rough and harsh in manner. He said to a patient, to whom +he had been very rude, "_Sir, it is my way_."--"Then," replied the +patient, pointing to the door, "I beg you will make _that your way_." +Sir Richard was not very nice in his mode of expression, and would +frequently astonish a patient with a volley of oaths. Nothing used to +make him swear more than the eternal question, "What may I eat? Pray, +Sir Richard, may I eat a muffin?"--"Yes, Madam, the _best thing_ you +can take."--"O dear! I am glad of that. But, Sir Richard, you told +me the other day that it was the _worst_ thing I could eat!"--"What +would be proper for me to eat to-day?" says another lady.--"Boiled +turnips."--"Boiled turnips! you forget, Sir Richard, I told you I +could not bear boiled turnips."--"Then, Madam, you must have +a--vitiated appetite." + +Sir Richard, being called to see a patient who fancied himself very +ill, told him ingenuously what he thought, and declined prescribing, +thinking it unnecessary. "Now you are here," said the patient, "I +shall be obliged to you, Sir Richard, if you will tell me how I must +live, what I may eat, and what not."--"My directions as to that +point," replied Sir Richard, "will be few and simple. You must not eat +the poker, shovel, or tongs, for they are hard of digestion; nor the +bellows, because they are windy; but any thing else you please!" + +He was first cousin to Dr. John Jebb, who had been a dissenting +minister, well known for his political opinions and writings. His +Majesty George III. used sometimes to talk to Sir Richard concerning +his cousin; and once, more particularly, spoke of his restless, +reforming spirit in the church, in the university, physic, &c. "And +please your Majesty," replied Sir Richard, "if my cousin were in +heaven he would be a reformer!"--_Wadd's Memoirs._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." +SHAKESPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +GOOD BYE. + + + When from the friend we dearly love + Fate tells us we must part, + By speech we can but feebly prove + The anguish of the heart. + + And no soft words, howe'er sincere, + Can half so much imply, + As that suppress'd, though trembling tear, + Which drowns the word--Good bye. + +_Warwick._ W.S. + + * * * * * + + +A keen shopkeeper, having in his service a couple of shopmen, who +in point of intellect, were the very reverse of their master, a wag +who frequented the shop, for some time puzzled the neighbourhood by +designating it a "_music-shop_," although the proprietor dealt as +much in _music_ as in _millstones_. However, being pressed for an +explanation, he said that the _scale_ was conducted by a _sharp_, a +_flat_ and a _natural_; and if these did not constitute "music," he +did not know what did. + +ISSACCAR. + + * * * * * + + +IMMORTALITY. + + +Napoleon being in the gallery of the Louvre one day, attended by Baron +Denon, turned round suddenly from a fine picture, which he had viewed +for some time in silence, and said to him, "That is a noble picture, +Denon."--"Immortal," was Denon's reply. "How long," inquired Napoleon, +"will this picture last?" Denon answered, that, "with care and in a +proper situation, it might last, perhaps, five hundred years."--"And +how long," said Napoleon, "will a statue last?"--"Perhaps," replied +Denon, "five thousand years."--"And this," returned Napoleon, sharply, +"this you call immortality!" + + * * * * * + + +LINES TO A LADY, ON HER REFUSING HER CARD. + + + Let heroes, anxious for their future fame, + Obtain of Fortune what they want--a name; + The _future_ theirs, the present hour be mine-- + The only name I ask of fate--is thine; + Yet happier still had fate decreed to me + The favour'd lot, to give my name to thee. + +T.B. + + * * * * * + + +A dull barrister, once obtained the nickname _Necessity_--because +_Necessity has no law_. + + * * * * * + + +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. 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