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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/11406-0.txt b/11406-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..535714f --- /dev/null +++ b/11406-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1613 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11406 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 11406-h.htm or 11406-h.zip: + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/4/0/11406/11406-h/11406-h.htm) + or + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/4/0/11406/11406-h.zip) + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 12, NO. 340.] SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Vicenza. + + +[Illustration: Vicenza.] + + +SPIRIT OF THE "ANNUALS," FOR 1829. + + +For some days past our table has been glittering with these caskets +of song and tale in their gay attire of silken sheen and burnished +gold--till their splendour has fairly put out the light of our +_sinumbra_, and the drabs, blues, and yellows of sober, business-like +quartos and octavos. Seven out of nine of these elegant little books are +in "watered" silk bindings; and an ingenious lady-friend has favoured us +with the calculation that the silk used in covering the presumed number +sold (70,000) would extend five miles, or from Hyde Park Corner to +Turnham Green. + +Brilliant as may be their exteriors, their contents are, as Miss Jane +Porter says of her heroines, "transcendently beautiful." But of these +we shall present our readers with some exquisite specimens. Our only +trouble in this task is the _embarras du richesses_ with which we are +surrounded; otherwise it is to us an exhaustless source of delight, +especially when we consider the "gentle feelings and affections" which +this annual distribution will cherish, and the innumerable intertwinings +of hands and hearts which this shower of _bon-bons_ will produce; and +such warm friends are we to this social scheme, that our presentation +copies are already in the fair hands whither we had destined them. + +We begin with the parent-stock, + + +The Forget-Me-Not. + + +_Edited by Frederic Shoberl_, Esq. + +The present volume, in its graphic and literary attractions is decidedly +superior to that of last year, an improvement which makes us credit what +the Ettrick Shepherd says of the proprietor--"There's no a mair just, +nay, generous man in his dealings wi' his authors, in a' the tredd, than +Mr. Ackermann." + +This beautiful Annual contains the original of our ENGRAVING, from a +plate by A. Freebairn, after an admirable picture by S. Prout, of which +the following story is illustrative:-- + + +THE MAGICIAN OF VICENZA. + + +In the year 1796, on one of the finest evenings of an Italian autumn, +when the whole population of the handsome city of Vicenza were pouring +into the streets to enjoy the fresh air, that comes so deliciously along +the currents of its three rivers; when the Campo Marzo was crowded with +the opulent citizens and Venetian nobles; and the whole ascent, from the +gates to the Madonna who sits enthroned on the summit of Monte Berrico, +was a line of the gayest pilgrims that ever wandered up the vine-covered +side of an Alpine hill; the ears of all were caught by the sound of +successive explosions from a boat running down the bright waters of the +Bachiglione. Vicenza was at peace, under the wing of the lion of St. +Mark, but the French were lying round the ramparts of Mantua. They had +not yet moved on Venice; yet her troops were known to be without arms, +experience, or a general, and the sound of a cracker would have startled +her whole dominions. + +The boat itself was of a singular make; and the rapidity with which this +little chaloupe, glittering with gilding and hung with streamers, made +its way along the sparkling stream, struck the observers as something +extraordinary. It flew by every thing on the river, yet no one was +visible on board. It had no sail up, no steersman, no rower; yet it +plunged and rushed along with the swiftness of a bird. The Vicentine +populace are behind none of their brethren in superstition, and at the +sight of the flying chaloupe, the groups came running from the Campo +Marzo. The Monte Berrico was speedily left without a pilgrim, and the +banks of the Bachiglione were, for the first time since the creation, +honoured with the presence of the Venetian authorities, and even of the +sublime podesta [the governor, a Venetian noble.] himself. + +But it was fortunate for them that the flying phenomenon had reached the +open space formed by the conflux of the three rivers, before the crowd +became excessive; for, just as it had darted out from the narrow +channel, lined on both sides with the whole thirty thousand old, +middle-aged, and young, men, maids, and matrons of the city, a thick +smoke was seen rising from its poop, its frame quivered, and, with a +tremendous explosion, the chaloupe rose into the air in ten thousand +fragments of fire. + +The multitude were seized with consternation; and the whole fell on +their knees, from the sublime podesta himself, to the humblest +saffron-gatherer. Never was there such a mixture of devotion. Never was +there such a concert of exclamations, sighs, callings on the saints, and +rattling of beads. The whole concourse lay for some minutes with their +very noses rubbing to the ground, until they were all roused at once by +a loud burst of laughter. Thirty thousand pair of eyes were lifted up at +the instant, and all fixed in astonishment on a human figure, seen +calmly sitting on the water, in the very track of the explosion, and +still half hidden in the heavy mass of smoke that curled in a huge globe +over the remnants. The laugh had proceeded from him, and the nearer he +approached the multitude, the louder he laughed. At length, stopping in +front of the spot where the sublime podesta, a little ashamed of his +prostration, was getting the dust shaken out of his gold-embroidered +robe of office, and bathing his burning visage in orange-flower water, +the stranger began a sort of complimentary song to the famous city of +Vicenza. + +The stranger found a willing audience; for his first stanza was in +honour of the "most magnificent city of Vicenza;" its "twenty palaces by +the matchless Palladio;" much more "its sixty churches;" and much more +than all "its breed of Dominicans, unrivalled throughout the earth for +the fervour of their piety and the capacity of their stomachs." The last +touch made the grand-prior of the cathedral wince a little, but it was +welcomed with a roar from the multitude. The song proceeded; but if the +prior had frowned at the first stanza, the podesta was doubly angry at +the second, which sneered at Venetian pomposity in incomparable style. +But the prior and podesta were equally outvoted, for the roar of the +multitude was twice as loud as before. Then came other touches on the +_cavalieri serventi_, the ladies, the nuns, and the husbands, till every +class had its share: but the satire was so witty, that, keen as it was, +the shouts of the people silenced all disapprobation. He finished by a +brilliant stanza, in which he said, that "having been sent by Neptune +from the depths of the ocean to visit the earth, he had chosen for his +landing-place its most renowned spot, the birthplace of the gayest men +and the handsomest women--the exquisite Vicenza." With these words he +ascended from the shore, and was received with thunders of applause. + +His figure was tall and elegant. He wore a loose, scarlet cloak thrown +over his fine limbs, Greek sandals, and a cap like that of the Italian +princes of three centuries before, a kind of low circle of green and +vermilion striped silk, clasped by a large rose of topaz. The men +universally said, that there was an atrocious expression in his +countenance; but the women, the true judges after all, said, without +exception, that this was envy in the men, and that the stranger was the +most "delightful looking _Diavolo_" they had ever set eyes on. + +The stranger, on his landing, desired to be led to the principal hotel; +but he had not gone a dozen steps from the water-side, when he exclaimed +that he had lost his purse. Such an imputation was never heard before in +an Italian city; at least so swore the multitude; and the stranger was +on the point of falling several fathoms deep in his popularity. But he +answered the murmur by a laugh; and stopping in front of a beggar, who +lay at the corner of an hospital roaring out for alms, demanded the +instant loan of fifty sequins. The beggar lifted up his hands and eyes +in speechless wonder, and then shook out his rags, which, whatever else +they might show, certainly showed no sequins, "The sequins, or death!" +was the demand, in a tremendous voice. The beggar fell on the ground +convulsed, and from his withered hand, which every one had seen empty +the moment before, out flew fifty sequins, bright as if they had come +that moment from St. Mark's mint. The stranger took them from the +ground, and, with a smile, flung them up in a golden shower through the +crowd. The shouts were immense, and the mob insisted on carrying him to +the door of his hotel. + +But the Venetian vigilance was by this time a little awakened, and a +patrol of the troops was ordered to bring this singular stranger before +the sublime podesta. The crowd instantly dropped him at the sight of the +bayonets, and knowing the value of life in the most delicious climate of +the world, took to their heels. The guard took possession of their +prisoner, and were leading him rather roughly to the governor's house, +when he requested them to stop for a moment beside a convent gate, that +he might get a cup of wine. But the Dominicans would not give the +satirist of their illustrious order a cup of water. + +"If you will not give me refreshment," exclaimed he, in an angry tone, +"give me wherewithal to buy it. I demand a hundred sequins." + +The prior himself was at the window above his head; and the only answer +was a sneer, which was loyally echoed through every cloister. + +"Let me have your bayonet for a moment," said the stranger to one of his +guard. He received it; and striking away a projecting stone in the wall, +out rushed the hundred sequins. The prior clasped his hands in agony, +that so much money should have been so near, and yet have escaped his +pious purposes, The soldiers took off their caps for the discoverer, and +bowed them still lower when he threw every sequin of it into the shakos +of those polite warriors. The officer, to whom he had given a double +share, showed his gratitude by a whisper, offering to assist his escape +for as much more. But the stranger declined the civility, and walked +boldly into the presence-chamber of the sublime podesta. + +The Signer Dominico Castello-Grande Tremamondo was a little Venetian +noble, descended in a right line from Aeneas, with a palazzo on the +Canale Regio of Venice, which he let for a coffee-house; and living in +the pomp and pride of a _magnifico_ on something more than the wages of +an English groom. The intelligence of this extraordinary stranger's +discoveries had flown like a spark through a magazine, and the +_illustrissimo_ longed to be a partaker in the secret. He interrogated +the prisoner with official fierceness, but could obtain no other reply +than the general declaration, that he was a traveller come to see the +captivations of Italy. In the course of the inquiry the podesta dropped +a significant hint about money. + +"As to money," was the reply, "I seldom carry any about me; it is so +likely to tempt _rascals_ to dip deeper in roguery. I have it whenever I +choose to call for it." + +"I should like to see the experiment made, merely for its curiosity," +said the governor. + +"You shall be obeyed," was the answer; "but I never ask for more than a +sum for present expenses. Here, you fellow!" said he, turning to one of +the half-naked soldiery, "lend me five hundred sequins!" + +The whole guard burst into laughter. The sum would have been a severe +demand on the military chest of the army. The handsome stranger advanced +to him, and, seizing his musket, said, loftily, "Fellow, if you won't +give the money, this must." He struck the butt-end of the musket thrice +upon the floor. At the third blow a burst of gold poured out, and +sequins ran in every direction. The soldiery and the officers of the +court were in utter astonishment. All wondered, many began to cross +themselves, and several of the most celebrated swearers in the regiment +dropped upon their knees. But their devotions were not long, for the +sublime podesta ordered the hall to be cleared, and himself, the +stranger, and the sequins, left alone. + +For three days nothing more was heard of any of the three, and the +Vicenzese scarcely ate, drank, or slept, through anxiety to know what +was become of the man in the scarlet cloak, and cap striped green and +vermilion. Jealousy, politics, and piety, at length put their heads +together, and, by the evening of the third day, the _cavalieri_ had +agreed that he was some rambling actor, or Alpine thief, the statesmen, +that he was a spy; and the Dominicans that he was Satan in person. The +women, partly through the contradiction natural to the lovely sex, and +partly through the novelty of not having the world in their own way, +were silent; a phenomenon which the Italian philosophers still consider +the true wonder of the whole affair. + +On the evening of the third day a new Venetian governor, with a stately +_cortege_, was seen entering at the Water Gate, full gallop, from +Venice: he drove straight to the podesta's house, and, after an +audience, was provided with apartments in the town-house, one of the +finest in Italy, and looking out upon the _Piazza Grande_, in which are +the two famous columns, one then surmounted by the winged lion of St. +Mark, as the other still is by a statue of the founder of our faith. + +The night was furiously stormy, and the torrents of rain and perpetual +roaring of the thunder drove the people out of the streets. But between +the tempest and curiosity not an eye was closed that night in the city. +Towards morning the tempest lulled, and in the intervals of the wind, +strange sounds were heard, like the rushing of horses and rattling of +carriages. At length the sounds grew so loud that curiosity could be +restrained no longer, and the crowd gathered towards the entrance of the +_Piazza_. The night was dark beyond description, and the first knowledge +of the hazard that they were incurring was communicated to the shivering +mob by the kicks of several platoons of French soldiery, who let them +pass within their lines, but prohibited escape. The square was filled +with cavalry, escorting wagons loaded with the archives, plate, and +pictures, of the government. The old podesta was seen entering a +carriage, into which his very handsome daughter, the betrothed of the +proudest of the proud Venetian senators, was handed by the stranger. The +procession then moved, and last, and most surprising of all, the +stranger, mounting a charger, put himself at the head of the cavalry, +and, making a profound adieu to the new governor, who stood shivering at +the window in care of a file of grenadiers, dashed forward on the road +to Milan. + +Day rose, and the multitude rushed out to see what was become of the +city. Every thing was as it had been, but the column of the lion: its +famous emblem of the Venetian republic was gone, wings and all. They +exclaimed that the world had come to an end. But the wheel of fortune is +round, let politicians say what they will. In twelve months from that +day the old podesta was again sitting in the government-house--yet a +podesta no more, but a French prefect; the Signora Maria, his lovely +daughter, was sitting beside him, with an infant, the image of her own +beauty, and beside her the stranger, no longer the man of magic in the +scarlet cloak and green and vermilion striped cap with a topaz clasp, +but a French general of division, in blue and silver, her husband, as +handsome as ever, and, if not altogether a professed _Diavolo_, quite as +successful in finding money whenever he wanted it. His first _entree_ +into Vicenza had been a little theatrical, for such is the genius of his +country. The blowing-up of his little steam-boat, which had nearly +furnished his drama with a tragic catastrophe, added to its effect; and +his discovery of the sequins was managed by three of his countrymen. As +an inquirer into the nakedness of the land, he might have been shot as a +spy. As half-charlatan and half-madman, he was sure of national +sympathy. During the three days of his stay the old podesta had found +himself accessible to reason, the podesta's daughter to the tender +passion, and the treasures of the state to the locomotive skill of the +French detachment, that waited in the mountains the result of their +officer's diplomacy. The lion of St. Mark, having nothing else to do, +probably disdained to remain, and in the same night took wing from the +column, to which he has never returned. + +As we love to "march in good order," we begin with the plates, the most +striking of which is the Frontispiece, _Marcus Curtius_, by Le Keux, +from a design by Martin, which we are at a loss to describe. It requires +a microscopic eye to fully appreciate all its beauties--yet the +thousands of figures and the architectural background, are so clear and +intelligible as to make our optic nerve sympathize with the labour of +the artist. The next is a _View on the Ganges_, by Finden, after +Daniell; _Constancy_, by Portbury, after Stephanoff, in which the female +figure is loveliness personified; _Eddystone during a Storm_; the +_Proposal_, a beautiful family group; the _Cottage Kitchen_, by Romney, +after Witherington; and the _Blind Piper_, from a painting by Clennell, +who, from too great anxiety in the pursuit of his profession, was some +years since deprived of reason, which he has never recovered. + +In the _poetical_ department we notice the Retreat, some beautiful lines +by J. Montgomery; Ellen Strathallan, a pathetic legend, by Mrs. +Pickersgill; St. Mary of the Lows, by the Ettrick Shepherd; Xerxes, a +beautiful composition, by C. Swain, Esq.; the Banks of the Ganges, a +descriptive poem, by Capt. McNaghten; Lydford Bridge, a fearful +incident, by the author of Dartmoor; Alice, a tale of merrie England, by +W.H. Harrison; and two pleasing pieces by the talented editor. Our +extract is + + +LANGSYNE. + +BY DELTA. + + +Langsyne!--how doth the word come back + With magic meaning to the heart, +As Memory roams the sunny track, + From which Hope's dreams were loath to part! +No joy like by-past joy appears; + For what is gone we peak and pine. +Were life spun out a thousand years, + It could not match Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--the days of childhood warm, + When, tottering by a mother's knee, +Each sight and sound had power to charm, + And hope was high, and thought was free. +Langsyne!--the merry schoolboy days-- + How sweetly then life's sun did shine! +Oh! for the glorious pranks and plays, + The raptures of Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--yes, In the sound, I hear + The rustling of the summer grove, +And view those angel features near, + Which first awoke the heart to love. +How sweet it is, in pensive mood, + At windless midnight to recline, +And fill the mental solitude + With spectres from Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--ah, where are they who shared + With us its pleasures bright and blithe? +Kindly with some hath fortune fared; + And some have bowed beneath the scythe +Of death; while others, scattered far, + O'er foreign lands at fate repine, +Oft wandering forth, 'neath twilight's star, + To muse on dear Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--the heart can never be + Again so full of guileless truth-- +Langsyne! the eyes no more shall see, + Ah, no! the rainbow hopes of youth. +Langsyne! with thee resides a spell + To raise the spirit, and refine +Farewell!--there can be no farewell + To thee, loved, lost Langsyne! + + +Of the _prose_ articles, we have already given some specimens--The Hour +Too Many, a fortnight since; and Vicenza, just quoted. The next we +notice is Recollections of Pere la Chaise, for the graphic accuracy of +which we can answer; Eliza Carthago, an African anecdote, by Mrs. +Bowditch; Terence O'Flaherty, a humorous story, by the Modern +Pythagorean of Blackwood; two interesting stories of Modern Greece; a +highly-wrought Persian Tale, by the late Henry Neele; Miss Mitford's +charming Cricketing Sketch; the Maid of the Beryl, by Mrs. Hofland; a +Chapter of Eastern Apologues, by the Ettrick Shepherd; the Goldsmith of +Westcheap, a story of the olden time--rather too long; and a +characteristic Naval Sketch. + +As we have already drawn somewhat freely on the present volume, we may +adduce that as the best proof of the high opinion we entertain of its +merits. The editor has only two or three pieces; but the excellent taste +and judgment displayed in the editorship of the "Forget-me-not" entitle +it to a foremost place among the "Annuals for 1829." + + * * * * * + + + + +The Literary Souvenir, + +_Edited by Alaric A. Watts, Esq_. + + +If the present were the first volume of the Literary Souvenir, the name +of the editor would be a passport to popularity; but as this is the +fifth year of its publication, any recommendation of ours would be +supererogatory. + +But the Souvenir for 1829, realizes that delightful union of painting, +engraving, and literature, (at whose beneficial influence we have +glanced in our accompanying number) even more fully than its +predecessors. Ten out of the twelve embellishments are from celebrated +pictures, and the whole are by first-rate engravers. Of their cost we +spoke cursorily in a recent number; so that we shall only particularize +a few of the most striking. + +The engravings are of larger size than heretofore, and, for the most +part, more brilliant in design and execution than any previous year. +We can only notice _the Sisters_, (frontispiece) full of graceful and +pleasing effect, by J.H. Robinson, after Stephanoff; _Cleopatra, on the +Cydnus_, a splendid aquatic pageant, by E. Goodall, after Danby; the +_Proposal_, consisting of two of the most striking figures in Leslie's +exquisite painting of May Day in Queen Elizabeth's time; a _Portrait of +Sir Walter Scott_, from Leslie's painting, and considered the best +likeness; this is from the burin of an American artist of high promise. +We must not, however, forget _Ehrenbreitstein, on the Rhine_, by John +Pye, from a drawing by J.M.W. Turner, which is one of the most +delightful prints in the whole series. + +In the _poetry_ are Cleopatra, well according with the splendid scene it +is intended to illustrate--and I think of Thee, a tender lament--both by +Mr. T.K. Hervey; Mrs. Hemans has contributed four exquisite pieces: +Night, the Ship at Sea, and the Mariner's Grave, by Mr. John Malcolm, +only make us regret that we have not room for either in our columns; +Mary Queen of Scots, by H.G. Bell, Esq., is one of the most interesting +historical ballads we have lately met with; the Epistle from Abbotsford, +is a piece of pleasantry, which would have formed an excellent pendent +to Sir Walter's Study, in our last; Zadig and Astarte, by Delta, are in +the writer's most plaintive strain; the recollections of our happiest +years, are harmoniously told in "Boyhood;" a ballad entitled "The +Captive of Alhama," dated from Woburn Abbey, and signed R----, is a +soul-stirring production, attributed to Lord John Russel; and the Pixies +of Devon has the masterly impress of the author of Dartmoor. And last in +our enumeration, though first in our liking, are the following by the +editor:--Invocation to the Echo of a Sea Shell; King Pedro's Revenge, +with a well written historiette; the Youngling of the Flock, full of +tenderness and parental affection; and some Stanzas, for our admiration +of which we have not an epithet at hand, so we give the original. + + + +ON BURNING A PACKET OF LETTERS. + +_By A.A. Watts, Esq._ + + +Relics of love, and life's enchanted spring, + Of hopes born, rainbow-like, of smiles and tears:-- +With trembling hand do I unloose the string, + Twined round the records of my youthful years. + +Yet why preserve memorials of a dream, + Too bitter-sweet to breathe of aught but pain! +Why court fond memory for a fitful gleam + Of faded bliss, that cannot bloom again! + +The thoughts and feelings these sad relics bring + Back on my heart, I would not now recall:-- +Since gentler ties around its pulses cling, + Shall spells less hallowed hold them still in thrall! + +Can withered hopes that never came to flower + Match with affections long and dearly tried +Love, that has lived through many a stormy hour, + Through good and ill,--and time and change defied! + +Perish each record that might wake a thought + That would be treason to a faith like this!-- +Why should the spectres of past joys be brought + To fling their shadows o'er my present bliss! + +Yet,--ere we part for ever,--let me pay + A last, fond tribute to the sainted dead: +Mourn o'er these wrecks of passion's earlier day, + With tears as wild as once I used to shed. + +What gentle words are flashing on my eye! + What tender truths in every line I trace! +Confessions--penned with many a deep drawn sigh.-- + Hopes--like the dove--with but one resting place! + +How many a feeling, long--too long--represt, + Like autumn flowers, here opened out at last! +How many a vision of the lonely breast + Its cherish'd radiance on these leaves hath cast? + +And ye, pale violets, whose sweet breath hath driven + Back on my soul the dreams I fain would quell; +To whose faint perfume such wild power is given, + To call up visions--only loved too well;-- + +Ye too must perish!--Wherefore now divide + Tributes of love--first offerings of the heart;-- +Gifts--that so long have slumbered side by side; + Tokens of feeling--never meant to part! + +A long farewell:--sweet flowers, sad scrolls, adieu! + Yes, ye shall be companions to the last:-- +So perish all that would revive anew + The fruitless memories of the faded past! + +But, lo! the flames are curling swiftly round + Each fairer vestige of my youthful years; +Page after page that searching blaze hath found, + Even whilst I strive to trace them through my tears. + +The Hindoo widow, in affection strong, + Dies by her lord, and keeps her faith unbroken; +Thus perish all which to those wrecks belong, + The living memory--with the lifeless token! + + +Barry Cornwall has contributed several minor pieces, though we fear his +poetical reputation will not be increased by either of them. + +Some of the minor pieces are gems in their way, and one of the most +beautiful will be found appended to our current Number. + +To the _prose_:--The first in the volume is "the Sisters," a pathetic +tale of about thirty pages, which a little of the fashionable +affectation of some literary coxcombs might fine-draw over a brace of +small octavos. As it stands, the story is gracefully, yet energetically +told, and is entitled to the place it occupies. The author of Pelham +(_vide_ the newspapers) has a pleasant conceit in the shape of a +whole-length of fashion, which, being the best and shortest in its line +that we have met with, will serve to enliven our extracts:-- + + +TOO HANDSOME FOR ANY THING! + + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was one of those models of perfection of which +a human father and mother can produce but a single example,--Mr. +Ferdinand Fitzroy was therefore an only son. He was such an amazing +favourite with both his parents that they resolved to ruin him; +accordingly, he was exceedingly spoiled, never annoyed by the sight of +a book, and had as much plum-cake as he could eat. Happy would it have +been for Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy could he always have eaten plum-cake, and +remained a child. "Never," says the Greek Tragedian, "reckon a mortal +happy till you have witnessed his end." A most beautiful creature was +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy! Such eyes--such hair--such teeth--such a +figure--such manners, too,--and such an irresistible way of tying his +neckcloth! When he was about sixteen, a crabbed old uncle represented to +his parents the propriety of teaching Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy to read and +write. Though not without some difficulty, he convinced them,--for he +was exceedingly rich, and riches in an uncle are wonderful arguments +respecting the nurture of a nephew whose parents have nothing to leave +him. So our hero was sent to school. He was naturally (I am not joking +now) a very sharp, clever boy; and he came on surprisingly in his +learning. The schoolmaster's wife liked handsome children.--"What a +genius will Master Ferdinand Fitzroy be, if you take pains with him!" +said she, to her husband. + +"Pooh, my dear, it is of no use to take pains with _him_." + +"And why, love?" + +"Because he is a great deal too handsome ever to be a scholar." + +"And that's true enough, my dear!" said the schoolmaster's wife. + +So, because he was too handsome to be a scholar, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy +remained the lag of the fourth form! + +They took our hero from school.--"What profession shall he follow?" said +his mother. + +"My first cousin is the Lord Chancellor," said his father, "let him go +to the bar." + +The Lord Chancellor dined there that day: Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was +introduced to him; his lordship was a little, rough-faced, +beetle-browed, hard-featured man, who thought beauty and idleness the +same thing--and a parchment skin the legitimate complexion for a lawyer. + +"Send him to the bar!" said he, "no, no, that will never do!--Send him +into the army; he is much too handsome to become a lawyer." + +"And that's true enough, my lord!" said the mother. So they bought Mr. +Ferdinand Fitzroy a cornetcy in the ---- regiment of dragoons. + +Things are not learned by inspiration. Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy had never +ridden at school, except when he was hoisted; he was, therefore, a very +indifferent horseman; they sent him to the riding-school, and everybody +laughed at him. + +"He is a d--d ass!" said Cornet Horsephiz, who was very ugly; "a horrid +puppy!" said Lieutenant St. Squintem, who was still uglier; "if he does +not ride better he will disgrace the regiment," said Captain Rivalhate, +who was very good-looking; "if he does not ride better, we will cut +him!" said Colonel Everdrill, who was a wonderful martinet; "I say, Mr. +Bumpemwell (to the riding-master,) make that youngster ride less like a +miller's sack." + +"Pooh, sir, _he_ will never ride better." + +"And why the d---l will he not?" + +"Bless you, colonel, he is a great deal too handsome for a cavalry +officer!" + +"True!" said Cornet Horsephiz. + +"Very true," said Lieutenant St. Squintem. + +"We must cut him!" said the Colonel. + +And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly cut. + +Out hero was a youth of susceptibility--he quitted the ---- regiment, +and challenged the colonel. The colonel was killed! + +"What a terrible blackguard is Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" said the +colonel's relations. + +"Very true!" said the world. + +The parents were in despair!--They were not rich; but our hero was an +only son, and they sponged hard upon the crabbed old uncle! "he is very +clever," said they both, "and may do yet." + +So they borrowed some thousands from the uncle, and bought his beautiful +nephew a seat in parliament. + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was ambitious, and desirous of retrieving his +character. He fagged like a dragon--conned pamphlets and reviews--got +Ricardo by heart--and made notes on the English constitution. + +He rose to speak. + +"What a handsome fellow!" whispered one member. + +"Ah, a coxcomb!" said another. + +"Never do for a speaker!" said a third, very audibly. + +And the gentlemen on the opposite benches sneered and _heard!_--Impudence +is only indigenous in Milesia, and an orator is not made in a day. +Discouraged by his reception, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy grew a little +embarrassed. + +"Told you so!" said one of his neighbours. + +"Fairly broke down!" said another. + +"Too fond of his hair to have any thing in his head," said a third, who +was considered a wit. + +"Hear, hear!" cried the gentlemen on the opposite benches, + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy sat down--he had not shone; but, in justice, he +had not failed. Many a first-rate speaker had began worse; and many a +country member had been declared a phoenix of promise upon half his +merit. + +Not so, thought the heroes of corn-laws. + +"Your Adonises never make orators!" said a crack speaker with a wry +nose. + +"Nor men of business either," added the chairman of a committee, with a +face like a kangaroo's. + +"Poor devil!" said the civilest of the set. "He's a deuced deal too +handsome for a speaker! By Jove, he is going to speak again--this will +never do; we must cough him down!" + +And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly coughed down. + +Our hero was now seven or eight and twenty, handsomer than ever, and the +adoration of the young ladies at Almack's. + +"We have nothing to leave you," said the parents, who had long spent +their fortune, and now lived on the credit of having once enjoyed +it.--"You are the handsomest man in London; you must marry an heiress." + +"I will," said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + +Miss Helen Convolvulus was a charming young lady, with a hare-lip and +six thousand a-year. To Miss Helen Convolvulus then our hero paid his +addresses. + +Heavens! what an uproar her relations made about the matter. "Easy to +see his intentions," said one: "a handsome fortune-hunter, who wants to +make the best of his person!"--"handsome is that handsome does," says +another; "he was turned out of the army, and murdered his +colonel;"--"never marry a beauty," said a third;--"he can admire none +but himself;"--"will have so many mistresses," said a fourth;--"make you +perpetually jealous," said a fifth;--"spend your fortune," said a +sixth;--"and break your heart," said a seventh. + +Miss Helen Convolvulus was prudent and wary. She saw a great deal of +justice in what was said; and was sufficiently contented with liberty +and six thousand a-year, not to be highly impatient for a husband; but +our heroine had no aversion to a lover; especially to so handsome a +lover as Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. Accordingly she neither accepted nor +discarded him; but kept him on hope, and suffered him to get into debt +with his tailor, and his coach-maker. On the strength of becoming Mr. +Fitzroy Convolvulus. Time went on, and excuses and delays were easily +found; however, our hero was sanguine, and so were his parents. A +breakfast at Chiswick, and a putrid fever carried off the latter, within +one week of each other; but not till they had blessed Mr. Ferdinand +Fitzroy, and rejoiced that they had left him so well provided for. + +Now, then, our hero depended solely upon the crabbed old uncle and Miss +Helen Convolvulus; the former, though a baronet and a satirist was a +banker and a man of business:--he looked very distastefully at the +Hyperian curls and white teeth of Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + +"If I make you my heir," said he--"I expect you will continue the bank." + +"Certainly, sir!" said the nephew. + +"Humph!" grunted the uncle, "a pretty fellow for a banker!" + +Debtors grew pressing to Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, and Mr. Ferdinand +Fitzroy grew pressing to Miss Helen Convolvulus. "It is a dangerous +thing," said she, timidly, "to marry a man so admired,--will you always +be faithful?" + +"By heaven!" cried the lover. + +"Heigho!" sighed Miss Helen Convolvulus, and Lord Rufus Pumilion +entering, the conversation was changed. + +But the day of the marriage was fixed; and Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy bought +a new curricle. By Apollo, how handsome he looked in it! A month before +the wedding day the uncle died. Miss Helen Convolvulus was quite tender +in her condolences--"Cheer up, my Ferdinand," said she, "for your sake, +I have discarded Lord Rufus Pumilion!" "Adorable condescension!" cried +our hero;--"but Lord Rufus Pumilion is only four feet two, and has hair +like a peony." + +"All men are not so handsome as Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" was the reply. + +Away goes our hero, to be present at the opening of his uncle's will. + +"I leave," said the testator (who I have before said was a bit of a +satirist,) "my share of the bank, and the whole or my fortune, legacies +excepted, to"--(here Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy wiped his beautiful eyes with +a cambric handkerchief, exquisitely _brode_) "my natural son, John +Spriggs, an industrious, pains-taking youth, who will do credit to the +bank. I did once intend to have made my nephew Ferdinand my heir; but so +curling a head can have no talent for accounts. I want my successor to +be a man of business, not beauty; and Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy is a great +deal too handsome for a banker; his good looks will, no doubt, win him +any heiress in town. Meanwhile, I leave him, to buy a dressing-case, a +thousand pounds." + +"A thousand devils!" said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, banging out of the +room. He flew to his mistress. She was not at home. "Lies," says the +Italian proverb, "have short legs;" but truths, if they are unpleasant, +have terrible long ones! The next day Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy received a +most obliging note of dismissal. + +"I wish you every happiness," said Miss Helen Convolvulus, in +conclusion--"but my friends are right; you are much too handsome for a +husband!" + +And the week after, Miss Helen Convolvulus became Lady Rufus Pumilion. + +"Alas! sir," said the bailiff, as a day or two after the dissolution of +parliament, he was jogging along with Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, in a +hackney coach bound to the King's Bench,--"Alas! sir, what a pity it is +to take so handsome a gentleman to prison!" + +The MS. found in a Madhouse, by the same author, is perhaps too horrific +for this terror-loving age; but it is by no means less clever on that +account; _toute en huile_ would not do. Among the other tales are the +Rock of the Candle, Irish, by the author of Holland-Tide,--nearly forty +pages; and the Queen of May and Bridget Plantagenet,--of the olden +time--which would be spoiled by abridgment for our present purpose. The +same reason prevents our giving more than our commendation of Miss +Mitford's General and his Lady, who, we think are new company for our +fair authoress. + +In the Vision of Purgatory, by Dr. Maginn, (Irish, of course,) the +serious and ludicrous are mixed up with an abundance of skill and +humour; this piece should be read after the Madhouse sketch. + +The Souvenir is opportunely dedicated to Mr. Peel; and whether as a work +of art, or elegant literature, it is decidedly worthy of such +distinguished notice. If the argument of the fine arts contributing to +virtue hold good, then the patronage of a minister will be patriotically +bestowed on such works as the Literary Souvenir. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Amulet. + +_Edited by S. C. Hall, Esq._ + + +It would be difficult and somewhat egotistical for us to describe the +pleasure we felt on our receiving this interesting volume for notice in +our pages. The amiable spirit which breathes throughout its pages, and +the good taste which uniformly dictates its editorship have secured the +_Amulet_ an extensive, and we are disposed to think, a more permanent, +popularity than is attached to other works of similar form.[1] + +[Footnote 1] In a few words, the _Amulet_ reached us in an early stage of +convalescence, when we began to feel that "no medicine is better for the +weakness of the body than that which soothes and tranquillizes the +soul." We are not suiting the action to the word; on the contrary, we +would desire to wear such truths as the _Amulet_ enjoins--in our "heart +of hearts," as well in returning health and vigour as in the above +moments. + +The present volume contains Fourteen Plates, among which are _Murillo's +Spanish Flower Girl; Etty's Guardian Angels_, by Finden; a copy of Sir +Thomas Lawrence's portrait of _Lady Georgiana Fane_, from Colnaghi's +print; Eastlake's _Italian Mother;_ one of Collins's last pictures, _The +Fisherman Leaving Home; The Temple of Victory_, from Gandy,--all which +are first-rate works of art. + +There are eighty contributions, as the bookmakers say, "in prose and +verse," with a predominance of the former. The first of the _prose_ is a +Strange Story of every day, by William Kennedy--well told, but too long +for extract. The Mountain Daisy, a village sketch, by the Editor's lady, +is gracefully written; and with the Fisherman, by the Editor, is a fair +characteristic of the amiable spirit to which we have already alluded; +and in the same tone of good feeling is the Rose of Fennock Dale, a true +story by the fair authoress of the Mountain Daisy; and the Wandering +Minstrels, by the Rev. F.A. Cox, L.L.D. Miss Mitford has contributed one +of her inimitable sketches, Little Moses; but the most staple articles +in the volume are The Battle of Bunaania, one of the Georgian Islands, +by Mr. Ellis, the missionary; Notices of the Canadian Indians, by Dr. +Walsh; a Journey over the Brocken, by Mr. Coleridge; and a Fragment, by +Miss Jane Porter. Our prose selection is from the last of these +articles; but we intend transferring a portion of Dr. Walsh's "Notices" +to our next "Manners and Customs." + + * * * * * + + +THE SOUTH SEA CHIEF. + +_By Miss Jane Porter_. + + +While in the north of Europe, I met with a rather extraordinary person, +whose account of himself might afford a subject for a pretty romance; a +sort of new Paul and Virginia; but with what different catastrophe, it +is not fair to presage. He described himself as a Frenchman, a native of +Bourdeaux; where, at an early age, he was put on board a merchant ship, +to learn the profession of a seaman. About that time war broke out +between Great Britain, and the lately proclaimed Republic of France; +and the vessel he was in, being attacked, and taken by an English +man-of-war, he was carried a prisoner into England. When there, his +naturally enterprising character would not submit itself to a state of +captivity; and, soon making his wishes understood, he entered on board a +British sloop, bound to New Holland. While gazing with rapt astonishment +on the seeming new heavens which canopied that, to him, also, new +portion of the globe; while the stars of the Cross were exciting his +youthful wonder; and he could no where find the constellations of the +Great, or Little Bear in the midnight firmament, the sky was suddenly +overcast with a cloud, like the pall of nature, and a fearful tempest +burst from it. The scene was dreadful on that wide waste of waters; and +the vessel being driven at last into the rocky labyrinths of the Society +Isles, was finally wrecked on one not many leagues from the celebrated +Otaheite. Laonce, the young Frenchman, and one seaman of the sloop, an +honest north Briton, were the only persons who escaped; for when morning +broke, they found themselves, restored from insensibility, lying on the +shore, and not a trace of the ship, or of those who had navigated her, +was to be discerned. The inhabitants of the island, apparently wild +savages by their almost naked state, instead of seizing them as a prey, +took them to their huts, fed, and cherished them. Hope for awhile +flattered them that some other vessel, bound for New Holland, might also +be driven upon those islands, though not with the same hard fate, and +that by her means they might be released, and conveyed back to Europe. +But days, and weeks, and months, wearing away without any such arrival, +they began to regard the expectation less, and to turn their minds to +take a more intimate interest in objects around them. Time, indeed, +accustomed them to what might be called barbarous, in the manners of the +people; by degrees, even themselves laid aside their European habits; +they exchanged their clothing for the half-exposed fashion of the native +chiefs; and, adopting their pursuits and pleasures, became hunters, and +bold fishers in the light canoe. Finally, they learnt to speak the +language, as if they had been born in the island; and, at length, sealed +their insular destiny by marrying native women. Laonce was hardly +eighteen when he was first cast ashore amongst them; but having a +handsome person, and those engaging manners, from a naturally amiable +disposition added to a gentleman's breeding, which never fail agreeably +impressing even the rudest minds, the eye of female tenderness soon +found him out; and the maiden, being the daughter of the king, and +beautiful withal, had only to hint her wishes to her royal sire; and the +king naming them to their distinguished object, she immediately became +his happy bride. Laonce, becoming thus royally allied, and in the line +of the throne, instantly received publicly the investiture of the +highest order of Otaheitan nobility, namely, a species of tattooing +appropriated to chiefs alone. The limbs of the body thus distinguished, +are traversed all over with a damasked sort of pattern, while the +particular royal insignia is marked on the left side of the forehead, +and below the eye, like a thick mass of dark tattooing. + +But the young Frenchman, and his north Briton companion, had reserved to +themselves means of increasing their consequence, still more than by +their mere personal merits, with their new fellow-countrymen. A few days +after the wreck, the subsiding elements had cast up certain articles of +the ship, which they managed to turn to good account: the most valuable +of them were fire-arms and some gunpowder, and a few other implements, +both of defence, and use in household, or ship's repairs. The fire-arms +seemed to endow the new young chief, just engrafted into the reigning +stock, with a kind of preternatural authority; and, by the aid of his +old messmate, and new bosom-coadjutor, he exerted all his influence over +their awed minds, to prevent their recurrence to the frightful practice +he had seen on his first landing, of devouring the prisoners they took +in war. His marriage had invested him with the power of a natively born +son of the king; and, having made himself master of their language, his +persuasions were so conclusive with the leading warriors, that, in the +course of a very little time, it was rare to hear that so dreadful a +species of vengeance was ever tasted, even in stealth. However, so +addicted were some few of the fiercer sort, to this ancient triumph of +their ancestors, that he found it necessary to add commands to +persuasions, and then threats to commands; and having expressed in the +strongest terms his abhorrence of so cowardly and brutal a practice, he +told them, that the first man he saw attempt to touch the flesh of a +prisoner to devour it, he would instantly put the offender to death. + +Shortly after this warning, a fray took place between the natives of his +father-in-law's dominions, and their enemies from a hostile island. A +number of captives were taken; and all under his command held his former +orders in such reverence, that none, excepting two (and they had before +shown refractory dispositions,) presumed to disobey his edict of mercy. +But these men, in derision of his lenity, particularly to the female +sex, selected a woman prisoner to be their victim; and slaying her, as +they would have done a beast, they commenced their horrible repast upon +her body. Laonce descried the scene at a distance just as they had +prepared their hideous banquet, and, going resolutely towards them, +levelled his musket at the cannibals. One of the wretches was killed +with the horrid morsel in his mouth, and a second shot, brought down his +voracious accomplice in the act. This bold example so awed all within +ken of the fact, that from that hour, until the day he quitted the +island, a period of fourteen years, no captive ever met with the +interdicted fate. Though the old sovereign continued in life, he +consigned the power to his new son, and Laonce became virtually king of +the place. Indeed, so reconciled was he and his friend the north Briton +(who also married) to the spot which had first sheltered them, and then +adopted them even as its legitimate offspring, that although many ships +of different nations touched there, no inducements could prevail on them +to quit their sea-girt home of simple nature, for all the blandishments +which civilized life could produce. Yet Laonce took a hospitable delight +in showing every act of friendship in his power to the captains of the +vessels; refitting them with food and fresh water; and rendering them +much essential service, in pointing out how to manage with safety the +difficult navigation round the several islands. + +The animation with which he recited these circumstances, after he was +far from the spot where they took place, strongly portrayed the fearless +independence of his former life. He spoke with the decision of one whose +commands had been unappealable, and all the barbarian chief lightened in +his eyes. But when he recalled his home there, his family happiness, his +countenance fell, his eyes clouded, and he spoke in half-stifled words. +He described his palace-hut; his arms, his hunting spear, his canoe; his +return to his hut, with the fruits of the chase; the graceful, delicate +person of his wife; her clinging fondness on his entrance; his +tenderness for her, and for his children--for she bore to him a son and +a daughter; and, while he spoke, he burst into tears, and sobbed like a +child. "I was then beloved," said he, "Honoured!--master of all around +me; Now, I am nothing:--no home--no wife--no friend! I am an outcast +here!--when there! Oh, Berea! wilt thou have forgotten me?" His tears, +and wild agonies, prevented him proceeding; and my eyes could not remain +dry, when seeing such genuine grief, such real suffering. + +But the cause of his being separated from his South-Sea home, and his +beloved Berea and her babes, remains to be told. It appears, that about +three years before the period I met him, a Russian ship, sent on a +voyage of discoveries, touched at the island where Laonce had become +naturalized. The captain was received with royal hospitality by the +king; and the _Prince Laonce_ became the glad interpreter between the +Europeans and his august father-in-law--for the captain spoke French. +And, besides procuring the crew all they wanted for common comforts, the +young chief loaded the commander and his officers with useful presents. +One night it blew a violent gale, and the Russian captain, deeming it +impossible to keep his anchorage in a bay so full of unseen dangers, +made signals to the land, in hopes of exciting some native, experienced +in the navigation, to come off, and direct him how to steer. Every +moment increased his jeopardy; the storm augmented; and, at each growing +blast, he expected to be torn from his cables, and dashed to atoms +against the rocks. No one moved from the shore. Again the signals were +repeated: Laonce had risen from his bed on hearing the first. Who was +there amongst all in that island, excepting his British comrade, who +would have known how to move _a ship_ through those boiling waves? The +light canoe, and a vessel of heavy burthen, were different objects! His +comrade was then watching by the side of an almost dying wife, who had +just made him the father of his first-born son. Could Laonce summon him +from that spot of his heart's tenderest duties, to attend to the roaring +guns of distress from a stranger vessel? Impossible! He rose, and looked +out on the night. He listened to the second signal, he wrung his hands, +and, sighing, was returning to his couch again. His wife had then risen +also. She clasped her arms round him, and a big tear stood in both her +eyes, "You tell me," said she, "that your people do not make those +thunders to heaven, and to earth, till they are drowning. You know you +can save them all. Go, Lao,"--and she smiled; "go; and the foreign +chief, after you have saved him, will give you something for me--either +a looking-glass, or a silk handkerchief. Go, Lao." + +He wound his arms round the gentle pleader; and, almost ashamed that the +father and the husband in his heart, should make him calculate between +his own life and that of the gallant crew, he told her, that the tempest +raged too tremendously for him to dare stemming it. But she laughingly +repulsed his caresses, accusing his fondness for her as the inducement +of his assumed apprehensions; and being too long accustomed to the +rashness of her own people, in braving every weather, to believe any +plea of positive danger, she still persisted; saying she must have a +silk handkerchief that night from yon ship, or she should think he loved +his sound sleep better than he did his fond Berea. + +The enthusiastic love which still warmed the faithful husband's breast, +and a third signal of distress from the struggling vessel, mastered his +better judgment, and, seizing his canoe, he dashed into the foaming +waves and boldly stemmed their fury to the object of his mission. The +overjoyed crew, as they heard his voice hailing them through the storm, +cast out a rope, by which they hoisted him into their cracking ship. The +most rapturous acknowledgments from the captain, greeted him as soon as +he jumped on the deck; and the eager seamen called him their deliverer. +He was happy! he said, he was happy in the achievement of what he had +done; he had obeyed the wish of his beloved Berea, and he had survived +the lashing surge. He was happy, in the confidence that he should rescue +the gallant vessel he came to take under his control. But that hour of +happiness was his last. He took the helm in his hands; he gave the +requisite directions to the seamen, for the management of the ship; and +he soon steered her out of the dangers of the bay, till she rode in +safety on the main ocean. He then asked for a boat to carry him on +shore, for his canoe had been crushed by an accident. But the wind still +blowing hurricanes, they would not venture the loss of one of their +boats: and during the hot contentions between him, and the ungrateful +chief of the vessel he had preserved, they were driven out far to sea; +whence his swimming arm, had he plunged into the boisterous deep, could +have been of no use to him. Indignation, despair, overwhelmed him. None +appeared to understand the nature of his feelings; all pretending to +wonder that a European born, should not be grateful to any occasion that +would carry him away from a savage country like that. In vain Laonce +remonstrated; in vain he talked of his wife and children; the captain +and his sailors laughed, promised him better of both sorts among his +kindred whites; and when he cursed their hardened hearts and cruel +treachery, they laughed again, and left him to his misery. At last, when +the protracted hurricane subsided, and the vessel's log-book proved that +she had been driven several degrees leeward of the Society Isles, +abandoned to a sullen despair, he ceased to accuse or to reproach; he +ceased even to speak on any subject, but cast himself into his lonely +berth during the day, that he might not be irritated to continued +unavailing madness, by the sight of the ingrates who had betrayed him. +To his straining eyes, nothing but the silvery line of the starlit sea +was on that distant horizon; but his heart's vision pierced farther, +and he beheld the sleepers in that home;--no, not the sleepers! His +disconsolate, his despairing wife, tearing her bright locks, and beating +the tender bosom he must no longer clasp to his own. His children--"Oh! +my babes!" cried he, and the cry of a father's heart for once pierced +the obdurate bosom of the captain, who, in that moment, had happened +to come upon the deck to examine the night. To ease his Otaheitan +benefactor, he declared he had thus carried him off, to share in the +honour of his expected discoveries. The unhappy chief, in then answering +him, begged, that if he had, indeed, any spark of honesty towards him, +he would prove it, by obeying his wish in one thing at least; and that +was, to set him on shore on the first European settlement they should +fall in with. "Do this," said he, "and I may yet believe you have +honour. For honour is a man's own act; a discovery is fortune's; and for +its advantages, did I stay, I should not have to thank you. But I want +none such. Set me on shore, and there I will follow my own destiny." + +To this poor request, the iron-souled commander of the vessel, at last +consented; and in the course of some weeks after, Laonce was landed on +the coast of Kamschatka. His secret intent was to lie in wait for the +possibility of some ship touching at the port where he was set ashore, +that might be bound to the track of his beloved islands; but not +uttering a word of this, to the reprobate wretch who had torn him +thence, he simply bade him "farewell! and to use his next pilot better;" +so saying, they parted for ever. But weeks and months passed away, and +no vessel bound for the South Seas, showed itself in that distant +latitude; and its gloomy fogs, and chilling atmosphere, its pale sky, +where the sun never shone for more than three or four hours in the day, +seemed to wither up his life with his waning hopes! In no way did it +resemble the land he had left; the warm, and the genial heavens of the +home he was yet bent to find again;--and he left Kamschatka for some +more propitious port; but, like _Sinbad the Sailor_, he wandered in +vain. A cruel spell seemed set on him, or on the spirit of adventure; +for in no place could he hear of a vessel going the way of his prayers. +At last he arrived, by a most tedious and circuitous journey at Moscow, +with a design to lay his case before the young and ardent Alexander, the +then Emperor of Russia; with the hope that his benevolence, and a sense +of what he had done for the vessel which had betrayed him, would incline +his majesty to make some effort to return him to his island, and his +family. + +That this hope was not vain, the character of the good Alexander, since +proved by a life of undeviating promptness to all acts of humanity, may +be a sufficient voucher. But whether the homeward-bound chief, found, on +his setting his foot again upon the ground whence he had been so cruelly +rifled; and whence, indeed, the innocent confidence, the playful +bravery of his fond wife, had urged him; whether he found his +cherishly-remembered home, yet standing as he left it; and her, still +the tender and the true to his never-wandered heart; and whether his +children sprang to his knee, to share the parental caress; and the +people around, raised the _haloo_ of joy to the returned _son of their +king!_--whether these fondly-expected greetings hailed his arrival, +cannot be absolutely told; for the vessel that took him out, was to make +the circuit of the globe, ere it returned; hence, from that, and other +circumstances, the facts have never reached the narrator of this little +history, of what was really the meeting between Laonce and his Berea; of +the young chief, and the natives he had devotedly served! But can the +faithful hearts of wedded love, doubt the one; or manly attachment +suspect the other? For the honour of human nature, we will believe that +all was right; and, in the faith of a humble Christian, we will believe, +that "he who shewed mercy, found mercy!"; That he is now restored to his +island-home, and to his happy, grateful family! + + * * * * * + +Among the _poetical_ contributions are The Angels' Call, and Woman and +Fame, by Mrs. Hemans; Carthage, and Stanzas, by T.K. Hervey; the Chapel +on the Cliff, by W. Kennedy; all entitled to high praise. A Christian's +Day, by Miss A.M. Porter, is a sweet devotional composition. The extract +from one of Mr. Atherstone's unpublished books of the Fall of Nineveh, +maintains the high opinion already formed of the published part. Mr. C. +Swain has two beautiful pieces. We have only room to name those _gems_ +of the poetry, viz. Wearie's Well, and another beautiful ballad, by W. +Motherwell; and some exquisite lines by the Rev. G. Croly; and to quote +the following:-- + + +CHANGE. + +BY L.E.L. + + +The wind is sweeping o'er the hill; + It hath a mournful sound, +As if it felt the difference + Its weary wing hath found. +A little while that wandering wind + Swept over leaf and flower; +For there was green for every tree, + And bloom for every hour. + +It wandered through the pleasant wood, + And caught the dove's lone song; +And by the garden-beds, and bore + The rose's breath along. +But hoarse and sullenly it sweeps; + No rose is opening now-- +No music, for the wood-dove's nest + Is vacant on the bough. + +Oh, human heart and wandering wind, + Go look upon the past; +The likeness is the same with each-- + Their summer did not last. +Each mourns above the things it loved-- + One o'er a flower and leaf; +The other over hopes and joys, + Whose beauty was as brief. + + +We congratulate the editor and the public on the past success of the +_Amulet_, especially as it proves that a pious feeling co-exists with a +taste for refined amusement, and that advantageously. There is nothing +austere in any page of the _Amulet_, nor anything so frivolous and light +as to be objectionable; but it steers in the medium, and consequently +must be acceptable to every well-regulated mind. Indeed, many of the +pieces in the present volume may be read and re-read with increased +advantage; whilst two only are unequal to the names attached to them. + + * * * * * + + +THE GEM. + +_Edited by Thomas Hood, Esq._ + + +The present is the first year of the _Gem_, which, as a work of art or +literature, fully comes within the import of its title. It is likewise +the first appearance of Mr. Hood as the editor of an "annual," who, with +becoming diffidence, appears to rely on the "literary giants" of his +muster-roll, rather than on his individual talent. Notwithstanding such +an editorship must have resembled the perplexity of Sinbad in the Valley +of Diamonds, Mr. Hood's volume is almost unexceptionably good, whatever +he may have rejected; and one of the best, if not _the best_, article in +the whole work, has been contributed by the editor himself. Associated +as Mr. Hood's name is with "whim and oddity," we, however, looked for +more quips, quirks, and quiddities than he has given us, which we should +have hailed as specially suited to the approaching festive season, and +from their contrast with the contents of similar works, as more likely +to attract by their novelty and humour. + +The embellishments of the _Gem_, fifteen in number, have been selected +by A. Cooper, Esq. R.A. _The Death of Keeldar_ is a beautiful +composition by Mr. Cooper, and is worthy of association with Sir Walter +Scott's pathetic ballad. _The Widow_, by S. Davenport, from a picture by +R. Leslie, R.A. is one of the most touching prints we have yet seen, and +every one is capable of estimating its beauties, since its expression +will be sure to fasten on the affections of the beholder. _May Talbot_, +by J.C. Edwards, from a painting by A. Cooper, is admirable in design +and execution. Of the _Temptation on the Mount_, engraved by W.R. Smith, +after Martin, we have spoken in our accompanying Number; but as often as +we look at the plate, we discover new beauties. It is a just idea of +"all the kingdoms of the earth;" the distant effect is excellent, and +the "exceeding high mountain" is ably represented. The faces in the +_Painter's Study_ are decidedly superior to the rest of the print. The +_Fisherman's Daughter_, from a painting by Bone, is pleasing; and +_Venice, with the Embarkation of the Doge_, is a stirring scene of +pageantry and triumph. + +Among the _poetry_ is the Painter's Song, a pleasing composition, by +Barry Cornwall, who has also The Victim, a dramatic sketch of twenty +pages. Stanzas by Horace Smith, Esq. are a pleasant satire upon the +little vanities of great people. We give the _Dream of Eugene Aram_ in +full, although it consists of nearly two pages of small type.:-- + + * * * * * + + +THE DREAM OF EUGENE ARAM. + +BY T. HOOD, ESQ. + + +[The late Admiral Burney went to school at an establishment where the +unhappy Eugene Aram was usher subsequent to his crime. The admiral +stated, that Aram was generally liked by the boys; and that he used to +discourse to them about _murder_ in somewhat of the spirit which is +attributed to him in this poem.] + + +'Twas in the prime of summer time, + An evening calm and cool, +And four-and-twenty happy boys + Came bounding out of school: +There were some that ran and some that leapt, + Like troutlets in a pool. + +Away they sped with gamesome minds, + And souls untouch'd by sin: +To a level mead they came, and there + They drave the wickets in: +Pleasantly shone the setting sun + Over the town of Lynn. + +Like sportive deer they coursed about, + And shouted as they ran,-- +Turning to mirth all things of earth, + As only boyhood can; +But the Usher sat remote from all-- + A melancholy man! + +His hat was off, his vest apart, + To catch heaven's blessed breeze-- +For a burning thought was in his brow, + And his bosom ill at ease: +So he lean'd his head on his hands, and read + The book between his knees! + +Leaf after leaf he turn'd it o'er, + Nor ever glanc'd aside-- +For the peace of his soul he read that book + In the golden eventide: +Much study had made him very lean, + And pale, and leaden-eyed. + +At last, he shut the ponderous tome; + With a fast and fervent grasp +He strain'd the dusky covers close, + And fixed the brazen hasp; +"O God, could I so close my mind, + And clasp it with a clasp!" + +Then leaping on his feet upright, + Some moody turns he took,-- +Now up the mead, then down the mead, + And past a shady nook,-- +And, lo! he saw a little boy + That pored upon a book! + +"My gentle lad, what is't you read-- + Romance or fairy fable? +Or is it some historic page, + Of kings and crowns unstable?" +The young boy gave an upward glance,-- + "It is _The Death of Abel_." + +The Usher took six hasty strides, + As smit with sudden pain,-- +Six hasty strides beyond the place, + Then slowly back again; +And down he sat beside the lad, + And talk'd with him of Cain; + +And, long since then, of bloody men, + Whose deeds tradition saves; +Of lonely folk cut off unseen, + And hid in sudden graves; +Of horrid stabs, in groves forlorn, + And murders done in caves. + +And how the sprites of injured men + Shriek upward from the sod,-- +Ay, how the ghostly hand will point + To show the burial clod; +And unknown facts of guilty acts + Are seen in dreams from God! + +He told how murderers walk the earth + Beneath the curse of Cain,-- +With crimson clouds before their eyes, + And flames about their brain: +For blood has left upon their souls + Its everlasting stain! + +"And well," quoth he, "I know, for truth, + Their pangs must be extreme,-- +Wo, wo, unutterable wo,-- + Who spill life's sacred stream! +For why? Methought, last night, I wrought + A murder in a dream! + +"One that had never done me wrong-- + A feeble man, and old: +I led him to a lonely field, + The moon shone clear and cold: +Now here, said I, this man shall die, + And I will have his gold! + +"Two sudden blows with a ragged stick, + And one with a heavy stone, +One hurried gash with a hasty knife-- + And then the deed was done: +There was nothing lying at my foot, + But lifeless flesh and bone! + +"Nothing but lifeless flesh and bone, + That could not do me ill; +And yet I fear'd him all the more, + For lying there so still: +There was a manhood in his look, + That murder could not kill! + +"And, lo! the universal air + Seem'd lit with ghastly flame,-- +Ten thousand thousand dreadful eyes + Were looking down in blame: +I took the dead man by the hand, + And call'd upon his name! + +"Oh, God, it made me quake to see + Such sense within the slain! +But when I touch'd the lifeless clay, + The blood gush'd out amain! +For every clot, a burning spot, + Was scorching in my brain! + +"My head was like an ardent coal, + My heart as solid ice; +My wretched, wretched soul I knew + Was at the Devil's price: +A dozen times I groaned--the dead + Had never groan'd but twice! + +"And now from forth the frowning sky, + From the heaven's topmost height, +I heard a voice--the awful voice + Of the blood-avenging sprite:-- +'Thou guilty man! take up thy dead, + And hide it from my sight!' + +"I took the dreary body up, + And cast it in a stream,-- +A sluggish water, black as ink. + The depth was so extreme +My gentle boy, remember this + Is nothing but a dream! + +"Down went the corse with a hollow plunge, + And vanish'd in the pool-- +Anon I cleansed my bloody hands + And wash'd my forehead cool, +And sat among the urchins young + That evening in the school! + +"Oh, heaven, to think of their white souls, + And mine so black and grim! +I could not share in childish prayer. + Nor join in evening hymn: +Like a devil of the pit I seem'd, + 'Mid holy cherubim! + +"And peace went with them one and all, + And each calm pillow spread-- +But Guilt was my grim chamberlain + That lighted me to bed, +And drew my midnight curtains round, + With fingers bloody red! + +"All night I lay in agony, + In anguish dark and deep-- +My fever'd eyes I dared not close, + But stared aghast at Sleep; +For Sin had render'd unto her + The keys of hell to keep! + +"All night I lay in agony, + From weary chime to chime, +With one besetting horrid hint, + That rack'd me all the time,-- +A mighty yearning, like the first + Fierce impulse unto crime! + +"One stern, tyrannic thought, that made + All other thoughts its slave; +Stronger and stronger every pulse + Did that temptation crave,-- +Still urging me to go and see + The dead man in his grave! + +"Heavily I rose up,--as soon + As light was in the sky.-- +And sought the black, accursed pool + With a wild, misgiving eye; +And I saw the dead in the river bed, + For the faithless stream was dry! + +"Merrily rose the lark, and shook + The dewdrop from its wing; +But I never mark'd its morning flight, + I never heard it sing; +For I was stooping once again + Under the horrid thing. + +"With breathless speed, like a soul in chase, + I took him up and ran,-- +There was no time to dig a grave + Before the day began: +In a lonesome wood, with heaps of leaves, + I hid the murdered man. + +"And all that day I read in school, + But my thought was other where: +As soon as the mid-day task was done, + In secret I was there; +And a mighty wind had swept the leaves, + And still the corse was bare! + +"Then down I cast me on my face, + And first began to weep, +For I knew my secret then was one + That earth refused to keep; +Or land or sea, though he should be + Ten thousand fathoms deep! + +"So wills the fierce avenging sprite, + Till blood for blood atones! +Ay, though he's buried in a cave, + And trodden down with stones, +And years have rotted off his flesh-- + The world shall see his bones! + +"Oh God, that horrid, horrid dream + Besets me now awake! +Again--again, with a dizzy brain, + The human life I take; +And my red right hand grows raging hot, + Like Cranmer's at the stake. + +"And still no peace for the restless clay + Will wave or mould allow; +The horrid thing pursues my soul,-- + It stands before me now!" +The fearful boy looked up, and saw + Huge drops upon his brow! + +That very night, while gentle sleep + The urchin eyelids kiss'd, +Two stern-fac'd men set out from Lynn, + Through the cold and heavy mist; +And Eugene Aram walked between, + With gyves upon his wrist. + + +Mr. Planché's versification of the homely proverb--Poverty parts good +company--will create many good-natured smiles, and run counter with Mr. +Kenney's To-morrow. Some of the minor pieces are very pleasing, +especially two by Hartley Coleridge, Esq. + +We confess we do not admire the taste which dictated Mr. C. Lamb's +Widow; it is in every respect unworthy of the plate, and the feelings +created by the two are very discordant. We love a joke, but to call a +widow's sables a perpetual "black joke," disgusts rather than pleases +us. The Funeral of General Crawford, by the author of The Subaltern is +an affecting incident; and Nina St. Morin, by the author of May You Like +It, is of the same character. Catching a Tartar, by Mansie Wauch, and +the Station, an Irish Story, are full of humour; and May Day, by the +editor, abounds with oddities. Thus, "the golden age is not to be +regilt; pastoral is gone out, and Pan extinct--pans will not last for +ever;" "horticultural hose, _pruned_ so often at top to _graft_ at +bottom, that from long stockings they had dwindled into short socks;" +"the contrast of a large marquee in canvass with the long lawn;" "Pan's +sister, Patty, the wags called _Patty Pan_," &c. One of the finest +stories in the _Gem_ is the Rival Dreamers, by Mr. Banim; and curious +enough, this is the third Annual in which we have met with the same +legend. The present version is, however, the best narrative, which such +of our readers as know the O'Hara Family will readily believe. We could +abridge it for our present space; but it would be injustice to the +author to pare down his beautiful descriptions; and we will endeavour to +give place to the tale in a future Number. The Last Embarkation of the +Doge of Venice is interesting; almost every incident connected with that +huge pleasure-house is attractive, but one of the present, the Marriage +of the Sea, is well told. The Shearmen's Miracle Play smacks pleasantly +of "the good old times" of merry England. Miss Mitford has contributed +two of her inimitable sketches--Harry Lewington and his Dog, and Tom +Hopkins--the latter an excellent portrait of "the loudest, if not the +greatest man" in the little town of Cranley. We must give the village +lion, in little:-- + + * * * * * + + +TOM HOPKINS. + + +At the time of which I speak, Tom Hopkins was of an age somewhat +equivocal; public fame called him fifty, whilst he himself stuck +obstinately at thirty-five; of a stout active figure, rather manly than +gentlemanly, and a bold, jovial visage, in excellent keeping with his +person, distinguished by round, bright, stupid black eyes, an aquiline +nose, a knowing smile, and a general comely vulgarity of aspect. His +voice was hoarse and deep, his manner bluff and blunt, and his +conversation loud and boisterous. With all these natural impediments to +good company, the lowness of his origin, recent in their memories, and +the flagrant fact of his residence in a country town, staring them in +the face, Mr. Tom Hopkins made his way into almost every family of +consideration in the neighbourhood. Sportsmanship, sheer sportsmanship, +the qualification that, more than any other, commands the respect of +your great English landholder, surmounted every obstacle. + +With the ladies, he made his way by different qualities; in the first +place he was a character, an oddity, and the audacity of his vulgarity +was tolerated, where a man only half as boisterous would have been +scouted; then he was gallant in his way, affected, perhaps felt, a great +devotion to the sex, and they were half amused, half pleased, with the +rough flattery which seemed, and probably was, so sincere. + +His house was an ugly brick dwelling of his own erection, situate in the +principal street of Cranley, and adorned with a green door and a brass +knocker, giving entrance into a stone passage, which, there being no +other way to the stable, served both for himself, and that very dear +part of himself, his horses, whose dwelling was certainly by far more +commodious than their master's. His accommodations were simple enough. +The dining-parlour, which might pass for his only sitting-room,--for the +little dark den which he called his drawing-room was not entered three +times a year; the dining-room was a small square room, coloured +pea-green with a gold moulding, adorned with a series of four prints on +shooting, and four on hunting, together with two or three portraits of +eminent racers, riders, hunters, and grooms. Guns and fishing-rods were +suspended over the mantelpiece; powder-horns, shot-belts, and game-bags +scattered about; a choice collection of flies for angling lay in one +corner, whips and bridles in another, and a pile of books and +papers,--Colonel Thornton's Tour, Daniel's Rural Sports, and a heap of +Racing Calendars, occupied a third; Ponto and Carlo lay basking on the +hearth-rug, and a famous little cocking spaniel, Flora by name, a +conscious favourite, was generally stretched in state on an arm-chair. + +Here, except when the owner was absent on a sporting expedition, which, +between fishing, shooting, hunting, and racing, did, it must be +confessed, happen pretty often; here his friends were sure to find a +hearty welcome, a good beef-steak,--his old housekeeper was famous for +cookery!--and as much excellent Port and super-excellent Madeira--Tom, +like most of his school, eschewed claret and other thin potations--as +their host could prevail on them to swallow. Many a good fellow hath +heard the chimes at midnight in this little room. + + * * * * * + +In the present sheet we are only able to include Notices of _four_ of +the _nine_ Annuals, exclusive of the _Juvenile Presents_, which we +reserve for a "select party." Our notice of the _Winter's Wreath_ is in +type, but must stand over for the present, as well as those of the +_Keepsake, Anniversary, Bijou_, and _Friendship's Offering_, which will +freight another Supplementary Sheet, to follow very shortly. We prefer +this method to passing over the merits of these works with mere +commendatory generalities. It does not require a microscopic or a +critical eye to distinguish their beauties; but we hope the means we +have adopted for the present gratification of our readers will be such +as to induce them to look for the appearance of our SECOND SUPPLEMENT, +as well as to prove ourselves worthy of the _encore_. Like some comic +singers, we will endeavour to keep up the entertainment by "variations." + + * * * * * + +_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_. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11406 *** diff --git a/11406-h/11406-h.htm b/11406-h/11406-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c92fa17 --- /dev/null +++ b/11406-h/11406-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2726 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 12, Issue 340, Supplementary Number (1828), by Various</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + 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;} + + .figure {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto;} + .figure img {border: none;} + .figure p + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + --> + /*]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11406 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, Vol. 12, Issue 340, Supplementary Number (1828), by Various</h1> +<br /> +<br /> +<center><b>E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Michael Hermen, David Garcia,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</b></center> +<br /> +<br /> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page305" name="page305"></a>[pg + 305]</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. 340.]</b> + </td> + <td align="center"> + <b>SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER.</b> + </td> + <td align="right"> + <b>[PRICE 2d.</b> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2> + Vicenza. + </h2> + <div class="figure" style="width: 100%;"> + <a href="images/340-1.png"><img width="100%" + src="images/340-1.png" alt="Vicenza." /></a> + </div> + <h3> + SPIRIT OF THE "ANNUALS," FOR 1829. + </h3> + <p> + For some days past our table has been glittering with these + caskets of song and tale in their gay attire of silken sheen + and burnished gold—till their splendour has fairly put + out the light of our <i>sinumbra</i>, and the drabs, blues, + and yellows of sober, business-like quartos and octavos. + Seven out of nine of these elegant little books are in + "watered" silk bindings; and an ingenious lady-friend has + favoured us with the calculation that the silk used in + covering the presumed number sold (70,000) would extend five + miles, or from Hyde Park Corner to Turnham Green. + </p> + <p> + Brilliant as may be their exteriors, their contents are, as + Miss Jane Porter says of her heroines, "transcendently + beautiful." But of these we shall present our readers with + some exquisite specimens. Our only trouble in this task is + the <i>embarras du richesses</i> with which we are + surrounded; otherwise it is to us an exhaustless source of + delight, especially when we consider the "gentle feelings and + affections" which this annual distribution will cherish, and + the innumerable intertwinings of hands and hearts which this + shower of <i>bon-bons</i> will produce; and such warm friends + are we to this social scheme, that our presentation + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page306" name="page306"></a>[pg + 306]</span> copies are already in the fair hands whither we + had destined them. + </p> + <p> + We begin with the parent-stock, + </p> + <h3> + The Forget-Me-Not. + </h3> + <center> + <i>Edited by Frederic Shoberl</i>, Esq. + </center> + <p> + The present volume, in its graphic and literary attractions + is decidedly superior to that of last year, an improvement + which makes us credit what the Ettrick Shepherd says of the + proprietor—"There's no a mair just, nay, generous man + in his dealings wi' his authors, in a' the tredd, than Mr. + Ackermann." + </p> + <p> + This beautiful Annual contains the original of our ENGRAVING, + from a plate by A. Freebairn, after an admirable picture by + S. Prout, of which the following story is + illustrative:— + </p> + <h3> + THE MAGICIAN OF VICENZA. + </h3> + <p> + In the year 1796, on one of the finest evenings of an Italian + autumn, when the whole population of the handsome city of + Vicenza were pouring into the streets to enjoy the fresh air, + that comes so deliciously along the currents of its three + rivers; when the Campo Marzo was crowded with the opulent + citizens and Venetian nobles; and the whole ascent, from the + gates to the Madonna who sits enthroned on the summit of + Monte Berrico, was a line of the gayest pilgrims that ever + wandered up the vine-covered side of an Alpine hill; the ears + of all were caught by the sound of successive explosions from + a boat running down the bright waters of the Bachiglione. + Vicenza was at peace, under the wing of the lion of St. Mark, + but the French were lying round the ramparts of Mantua. They + had not yet moved on Venice; yet her troops were known to be + without arms, experience, or a general, and the sound of a + cracker would have startled her whole dominions. + </p> + <p> + The boat itself was of a singular make; and the rapidity with + which this little chaloupe, glittering with gilding and hung + with streamers, made its way along the sparkling stream, + struck the observers as something extraordinary. It flew by + every thing on the river, yet no one was visible on board. It + had no sail up, no steersman, no rower; yet it plunged and + rushed along with the swiftness of a bird. The Vicentine + populace are behind none of their brethren in superstition, + and at the sight of the flying chaloupe, the groups came + running from the Campo Marzo. The Monte Berrico was speedily + left without a pilgrim, and the banks of the Bachiglione + were, for the first time since the creation, honoured with + the presence of the Venetian authorities, and even of the + sublime podesta [the governor, a Venetian noble.] himself. + </p> + <p> + But it was fortunate for them that the flying phenomenon had + reached the open space formed by the conflux of the three + rivers, before the crowd became excessive; for, just as it + had darted out from the narrow channel, lined on both sides + with the whole thirty thousand old, middle-aged, and young, + men, maids, and matrons of the city, a thick smoke was seen + rising from its poop, its frame quivered, and, with a + tremendous explosion, the chaloupe rose into the air in ten + thousand fragments of fire. + </p> + <p> + The multitude were seized with consternation; and the whole + fell on their knees, from the sublime podesta himself, to the + humblest saffron-gatherer. Never was there such a mixture of + devotion. Never was there such a concert of exclamations, + sighs, callings on the saints, and rattling of beads. The + whole concourse lay for some minutes with their very noses + rubbing to the ground, until they were all roused at once by + a loud burst of laughter. Thirty thousand pair of eyes were + lifted up at the instant, and all fixed in astonishment on a + human figure, seen calmly sitting on the water, in the very + track of the explosion, and still half hidden in the heavy + mass of smoke that curled in a huge globe over the remnants. + The laugh had proceeded from him, and the nearer he + approached the multitude, the louder he laughed. At length, + stopping in front of the spot where the sublime podesta, a + little ashamed of his prostration, was getting the dust + shaken out of his gold-embroidered robe of office, and + bathing his burning visage in orange-flower water, the + stranger began a sort of complimentary song to the famous + city of Vicenza. + </p> + <p> + The stranger found a willing audience; for his first stanza + was in honour of the "most magnificent city of Vicenza;" its + "twenty palaces by the matchless Palladio;" much more "its + sixty churches;" and much more than all "its breed of + Dominicans, unrivalled throughout the earth for the fervour + of their piety and the capacity of their stomachs." The last + touch made the grand-prior of the cathedral wince a little, + but it was welcomed with a roar from the multitude. The song + proceeded; but if the prior had frowned at the first stanza, + the podesta was doubly angry at the second, which sneered at + Venetian pomposity in incomparable style. But the prior and + podesta were equally outvoted, for the roar of the multitude + was twice as loud as before. Then came other touches on the + <i>cavalieri serventi</i>, the ladies, the + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page307" name="page307"></a>[pg + 307]</span> nuns, and the husbands, till every class had its + share: but the satire was so witty, that, keen as it was, the + shouts of the people silenced all disapprobation. He finished + by a brilliant stanza, in which he said, that "having been + sent by Neptune from the depths of the ocean to visit the + earth, he had chosen for his landing-place its most renowned + spot, the birthplace of the gayest men and the handsomest + women—the exquisite Vicenza." With these words he + ascended from the shore, and was received with thunders of + applause. + </p> + <p> + His figure was tall and elegant. He wore a loose, scarlet + cloak thrown over his fine limbs, Greek sandals, and a cap + like that of the Italian princes of three centuries before, a + kind of low circle of green and vermilion striped silk, + clasped by a large rose of topaz. The men universally said, + that there was an atrocious expression in his countenance; + but the women, the true judges after all, said, without + exception, that this was envy in the men, and that the + stranger was the most "delightful looking <i>Diavolo</i>" + they had ever set eyes on. + </p> + <p> + The stranger, on his landing, desired to be led to the + principal hotel; but he had not gone a dozen steps from the + water-side, when he exclaimed that he had lost his purse. + Such an imputation was never heard before in an Italian city; + at least so swore the multitude; and the stranger was on the + point of falling several fathoms deep in his popularity. But + he answered the murmur by a laugh; and stopping in front of a + beggar, who lay at the corner of an hospital roaring out for + alms, demanded the instant loan of fifty sequins. The beggar + lifted up his hands and eyes in speechless wonder, and then + shook out his rags, which, whatever else they might show, + certainly showed no sequins, "The sequins, or death!" was the + demand, in a tremendous voice. The beggar fell on the ground + convulsed, and from his withered hand, which every one had + seen empty the moment before, out flew fifty sequins, bright + as if they had come that moment from St. Mark's mint. The + stranger took them from the ground, and, with a smile, flung + them up in a golden shower through the crowd. The shouts were + immense, and the mob insisted on carrying him to the door of + his hotel. + </p> + <p> + But the Venetian vigilance was by this time a little + awakened, and a patrol of the troops was ordered to bring + this singular stranger before the sublime podesta. The crowd + instantly dropped him at the sight of the bayonets, and + knowing the value of life in the most delicious climate of + the world, took to their heels. The guard took possession of + their prisoner, and were leading him rather roughly to the + governor's house, when he requested them to stop for a moment + beside a convent gate, that he might get a cup of wine. But + the Dominicans would not give the satirist of their + illustrious order a cup of water. + </p> + <p> + "If you will not give me refreshment," exclaimed he, in an + angry tone, "give me wherewithal to buy it. I demand a + hundred sequins." + </p> + <p> + The prior himself was at the window above his head; and the + only answer was a sneer, which was loyally echoed through + every cloister. + </p> + <p> + "Let me have your bayonet for a moment," said the stranger to + one of his guard. He received it; and striking away a + projecting stone in the wall, out rushed the hundred sequins. + The prior clasped his hands in agony, that so much money + should have been so near, and yet have escaped his pious + purposes, The soldiers took off their caps for the + discoverer, and bowed them still lower when he threw every + sequin of it into the shakos of those polite warriors. The + officer, to whom he had given a double share, showed his + gratitude by a whisper, offering to assist his escape for as + much more. But the stranger declined the civility, and walked + boldly into the presence-chamber of the sublime podesta. + </p> + <p> + The Signer Dominico Castello-Grande Tremamondo was a little + Venetian noble, descended in a right line from Aeneas, with a + palazzo on the Canale Regio of Venice, which he let for a + coffee-house; and living in the pomp and pride of a + <i>magnifico</i> on something more than the wages of an + English groom. The intelligence of this extraordinary + stranger's discoveries had flown like a spark through a + magazine, and the <i>illustrissimo</i> longed to be a + partaker in the secret. He interrogated the prisoner with + official fierceness, but could obtain no other reply than the + general declaration, that he was a traveller come to see the + captivations of Italy. In the course of the inquiry the + podesta dropped a significant hint about money. + </p> + <p> + "As to money," was the reply, "I seldom carry any about me; + it is so likely to tempt <i>rascals</i> to dip deeper in + roguery. I have it whenever I choose to call for it." + </p> + <p> + "I should like to see the experiment made, merely for its + curiosity," said the governor. + </p> + <p> + "You shall be obeyed," was the answer; "but I never ask for + more than a sum for present expenses. Here, you + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page308" name="page308"></a>[pg + 308]</span> fellow!" said he, turning to one of the + half-naked soldiery, "lend me five hundred sequins!" + </p> + <p> + The whole guard burst into laughter. The sum would have been + a severe demand on the military chest of the army. The + handsome stranger advanced to him, and, seizing his musket, + said, loftily, "Fellow, if you won't give the money, this + must." He struck the butt-end of the musket thrice upon the + floor. At the third blow a burst of gold poured out, and + sequins ran in every direction. The soldiery and the officers + of the court were in utter astonishment. All wondered, many + began to cross themselves, and several of the most celebrated + swearers in the regiment dropped upon their knees. But their + devotions were not long, for the sublime podesta ordered the + hall to be cleared, and himself, the stranger, and the + sequins, left alone. + </p> + <p> + For three days nothing more was heard of any of the three, + and the Vicenzese scarcely ate, drank, or slept, through + anxiety to know what was become of the man in the scarlet + cloak, and cap striped green and vermilion. Jealousy, + politics, and piety, at length put their heads together, and, + by the evening of the third day, the <i>cavalieri</i> had + agreed that he was some rambling actor, or Alpine thief, the + statesmen, that he was a spy; and the Dominicans that he was + Satan in person. The women, partly through the contradiction + natural to the lovely sex, and partly through the novelty of + not having the world in their own way, were silent; a + phenomenon which the Italian philosophers still consider the + true wonder of the whole affair. + </p> + <p> + On the evening of the third day a new Venetian governor, with + a stately <i>cortege</i>, was seen entering at the Water + Gate, full gallop, from Venice: he drove straight to the + podesta's house, and, after an audience, was provided with + apartments in the town-house, one of the finest in Italy, and + looking out upon the <i>Piazza Grande</i>, in which are the + two famous columns, one then surmounted by the winged lion of + St. Mark, as the other still is by a statue of the founder of + our faith. + </p> + <p> + The night was furiously stormy, and the torrents of rain and + perpetual roaring of the thunder drove the people out of the + streets. But between the tempest and curiosity not an eye was + closed that night in the city. Towards morning the tempest + lulled, and in the intervals of the wind, strange sounds were + heard, like the rushing of horses and rattling of carriages. + At length the sounds grew so loud that curiosity could be + restrained no longer, and the crowd gathered towards the + entrance of the <i>Piazza</i>. The night was dark beyond + description, and the first knowledge of the hazard that they + were incurring was communicated to the shivering mob by the + kicks of several platoons of French soldiery, who let them + pass within their lines, but prohibited escape. The square + was filled with cavalry, escorting wagons loaded with the + archives, plate, and pictures, of the government. The old + podesta was seen entering a carriage, into which his very + handsome daughter, the betrothed of the proudest of the proud + Venetian senators, was handed by the stranger. The procession + then moved, and last, and most surprising of all, the + stranger, mounting a charger, put himself at the head of the + cavalry, and, making a profound adieu to the new governor, + who stood shivering at the window in care of a file of + grenadiers, dashed forward on the road to Milan. + </p> + <p> + Day rose, and the multitude rushed out to see what was become + of the city. Every thing was as it had been, but the column + of the lion: its famous emblem of the Venetian republic was + gone, wings and all. They exclaimed that the world had come + to an end. But the wheel of fortune is round, let politicians + say what they will. In twelve months from that day the old + podesta was again sitting in the government-house—yet a + podesta no more, but a French prefect; the Signora Maria, his + lovely daughter, was sitting beside him, with an infant, the + image of her own beauty, and beside her the stranger, no + longer the man of magic in the scarlet cloak and green and + vermilion striped cap with a topaz clasp, but a French + general of division, in blue and silver, her husband, as + handsome as ever, and, if not altogether a professed + <i>Diavolo</i>, quite as successful in finding money whenever + he wanted it. His first <i>entree</i> into Vicenza had been a + little theatrical, for such is the genius of his country. The + blowing-up of his little steam-boat, which had nearly + furnished his drama with a tragic catastrophe, added to its + effect; and his discovery of the sequins was managed by three + of his countrymen. As an inquirer into the nakedness of the + land, he might have been shot as a spy. As half-charlatan and + half-madman, he was sure of national sympathy. During the + three days of his stay the old podesta had found himself + accessible to reason, the podesta's daughter to the tender + passion, and the treasures of the state to the locomotive + skill of the French detachment, that waited in the mountains + the result of their officer's + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page309" name="page309"></a>[pg + 309]</span> diplomacy. The lion of St. Mark, having nothing + else to do, probably disdained to remain, and in the same + night took wing from the column, to which he has never + returned. + </p> + <p> + As we love to "march in good order," we begin with the + plates, the most striking of which is the Frontispiece, + <i>Marcus Curtius</i>, by Le Keux, from a design by Martin, + which we are at a loss to describe. It requires a microscopic + eye to fully appreciate all its beauties—yet the + thousands of figures and the architectural background, are so + clear and intelligible as to make our optic nerve sympathize + with the labour of the artist. The next is a <i>View on the + Ganges</i>, by Finden, after Daniell; <i>Constancy</i>, by + Portbury, after Stephanoff, in which the female figure is + loveliness personified; <i>Eddystone during a Storm</i>; the + <i>Proposal</i>, a beautiful family group; the <i>Cottage + Kitchen</i>, by Romney, after Witherington; and the <i>Blind + Piper</i>, from a painting by Clennell, who, from too great + anxiety in the pursuit of his profession, was some years + since deprived of reason, which he has never recovered. + </p> + <p> + In the <i>poetical</i> department we notice the Retreat, some + beautiful lines by J. Montgomery; Ellen Strathallan, a + pathetic legend, by Mrs. Pickersgill; St. Mary of the Lows, + by the Ettrick Shepherd; Xerxes, a beautiful composition, by + C. Swain, Esq.; the Banks of the Ganges, a descriptive poem, + by Capt. McNaghten; Lydford Bridge, a fearful incident, by + the author of Dartmoor; Alice, a tale of merrie England, by + W.H. Harrison; and two pleasing pieces by the talented + editor. Our extract is + </p> + <h3> + LANGSYNE. + </h3> + <h4> + BY DELTA. + </h4> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—how doth the word come back + </p> + <p> + With magic meaning to the heart, + </p> + <p> + As Memory roams the sunny track, + </p> + <p> + From which Hope's dreams were loath to part! + </p> + <p> + No joy like by-past joy appears; + </p> + <p> + For what is gone we peak and pine. + </p> + <p> + Were life spun out a thousand years, + </p> + <p> + It could not match Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—the days of childhood warm, + </p> + <p> + When, tottering by a mother's knee, + </p> + <p> + Each sight and sound had power to charm, + </p> + <p> + And hope was high, and thought was free. + </p> + <p> + Langsyne!—the merry schoolboy days— + </p> + <p> + How sweetly then life's sun did shine! + </p> + <p> + Oh! for the glorious pranks and plays, + </p> + <p> + The raptures of Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—yes, In the sound, I hear + </p> + <p> + The rustling of the summer grove, + </p> + <p> + And view those angel features near, + </p> + <p> + Which first awoke the heart to love. + </p> + <p> + How sweet it is, in pensive mood, + </p> + <p> + At windless midnight to recline, + </p> + <p> + And fill the mental solitude + </p> + <p> + With spectres from Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—ah, where are they who shared + </p> + <p> + With us its pleasures bright and blithe? + </p> + <p> + Kindly with some hath fortune fared; + </p> + <p> + And some have bowed beneath the scythe + </p> + <p> + Of death; while others, scattered far, + </p> + <p> + O'er foreign lands at fate repine, + </p> + <p> + Oft wandering forth, 'neath twilight's star, + </p> + <p> + To muse on dear Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—the heart can never be + </p> + <p> + Again so full of guileless truth— + </p> + <p> + Langsyne! the eyes no more shall see, + </p> + <p> + Ah, no! the rainbow hopes of youth. + </p> + <p> + Langsyne! with thee resides a spell + </p> + <p> + To raise the spirit, and refine + </p> + <p> + Farewell!—there can be no farewell + </p> + <p> + To thee, loved, lost Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + Of the <i>prose</i> articles, we have already given some + specimens—The Hour Too Many, a fortnight since; and + Vicenza, just quoted. The next we notice is Recollections of + Pere la Chaise, for the graphic accuracy of which we can + answer; Eliza Carthago, an African anecdote, by Mrs. + Bowditch; Terence O'Flaherty, a humorous story, by the Modern + Pythagorean of Blackwood; two interesting stories of Modern + Greece; a highly-wrought Persian Tale, by the late Henry + Neele; Miss Mitford's charming Cricketing Sketch; the Maid of + the Beryl, by Mrs. Hofland; a Chapter of Eastern Apologues, + by the Ettrick Shepherd; the Goldsmith of Westcheap, a story + of the olden time—rather too long; and a characteristic + Naval Sketch. + </p> + <p> + As we have already drawn somewhat freely on the present + volume, we may adduce that as the best proof of the high + opinion we entertain of its merits. The editor has only two + or three pieces; but the excellent taste and judgment + displayed in the editorship of the "Forget-me-not" entitle it + to a foremost place among the "Annuals for 1829." + </p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2> + The Literary Souvenir, + </h2> + <center> + <i>Edited by Alaric A. Watts, Esq</i>. + </center> + <p> + If the present were the first volume of the Literary + Souvenir, the name of the editor would be a passport to + popularity; but as this is the fifth year of its publication, + any recommendation of ours would be supererogatory. + </p> + <p> + But the Souvenir for 1829, realizes that delightful union of + painting, engraving, and literature, (at whose beneficial + influence we have glanced in our accompanying number) even + more fully than its predecessors. Ten out of the twelve + embellishments are from celebrated pictures, and the whole + are by first-rate engravers. Of their cost we spoke cursorily + in a recent number; so that we shall only particularize a few + of the most striking. + </p> + <p> + The engravings are of larger size than heretofore, and, for + the most part, more brilliant in design and execution than + any previous year. We can only notice <i>the Sisters</i>, + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page310" name="page310"></a>[pg + 310]</span> (frontispiece) full of graceful and pleasing + effect, by J.H. Robinson, after Stephanoff; <i>Cleopatra, on + the Cydnus</i>, a splendid aquatic pageant, by E. Goodall, + after Danby; the <i>Proposal</i>, consisting of two of the + most striking figures in Leslie's exquisite painting of May + Day in Queen Elizabeth's time; a <i>Portrait of Sir Walter + Scott</i>, from Leslie's painting, and considered the best + likeness; this is from the burin of an American artist of + high promise. We must not, however, forget + <i>Ehrenbreitstein, on the Rhine</i>, by John Pye, from a + drawing by J.M.W. Turner, which is one of the most delightful + prints in the whole series. + </p> + <p> + In the <i>poetry</i> are Cleopatra, well according with the + splendid scene it is intended to illustrate—and I think + of Thee, a tender lament—both by Mr. T.K. Hervey; Mrs. + Hemans has contributed four exquisite pieces: Night, the Ship + at Sea, and the Mariner's Grave, by Mr. John Malcolm, only + make us regret that we have not room for either in our + columns; Mary Queen of Scots, by H.G. Bell, Esq., is one of + the most interesting historical ballads we have lately met + with; the Epistle from Abbotsford, is a piece of pleasantry, + which would have formed an excellent pendent to Sir Walter's + Study, in our last; Zadig and Astarte, by Delta, are in the + writer's most plaintive strain; the recollections of our + happiest years, are harmoniously told in "Boyhood;" a ballad + entitled "The Captive of Alhama," dated from Woburn Abbey, + and signed R——, is a soul-stirring production, + attributed to Lord John Russel; and the Pixies of Devon has + the masterly impress of the author of Dartmoor. And last in + our enumeration, though first in our liking, are the + following by the editor:—Invocation to the Echo of a + Sea Shell; King Pedro's Revenge, with a well written + historiette; the Youngling of the Flock, full of tenderness + and parental affection; and some Stanzas, for our admiration + of which we have not an epithet at hand, so we give the + original. + </p> + <h3> + ON BURNING A PACKET OF LETTERS. + </h3> + <center> + <i>By A.A. Watts, Esq.</i> + </center> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Relics of love, and life's enchanted spring, + </p> + <p> + Of hopes born, rainbow-like, of smiles and tears:— + </p> + <p> + With trembling hand do I unloose the string, + </p> + <p> + Twined round the records of my youthful years. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Yet why preserve memorials of a dream, + </p> + <p> + Too bitter-sweet to breathe of aught but pain! + </p> + <p> + Why court fond memory for a fitful gleam + </p> + <p> + Of faded bliss, that cannot bloom again! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + The thoughts and feelings these sad relics bring + </p> + <p> + Back on my heart, I would not now recall:— + </p> + <p> + Since gentler ties around its pulses cling, + </p> + <p> + Shall spells less hallowed hold them still in thrall! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Can withered hopes that never came to flower + </p> + <p> + Match with affections long and dearly tried + </p> + <p> + Love, that has lived through many a stormy hour, + </p> + <p> + Through good and ill,—and time and change defied! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Perish each record that might wake a thought + </p> + <p> + That would be treason to a faith like this!— + </p> + <p> + Why should the spectres of past joys be brought + </p> + <p> + To fling their shadows o'er my present bliss! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Yet,—ere we part for ever,—let me pay + </p> + <p> + A last, fond tribute to the sainted dead: + </p> + <p> + Mourn o'er these wrecks of passion's earlier day, + </p> + <p> + With tears as wild as once I used to shed. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + What gentle words are flashing on my eye! + </p> + <p> + What tender truths in every line I trace! + </p> + <p> + Confessions—penned with many a deep drawn + sigh.— + </p> + <p> + Hopes—like the dove—with but one resting + place! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + How many a feeling, long—too long—represt, + </p> + <p> + Like autumn flowers, here opened out at last! + </p> + <p> + How many a vision of the lonely breast + </p> + <p> + Its cherish'd radiance on these leaves hath cast? + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + And ye, pale violets, whose sweet breath hath driven + </p> + <p> + Back on my soul the dreams I fain would quell; + </p> + <p> + To whose faint perfume such wild power is given, + </p> + <p> + To call up visions—only loved too well;— + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Ye too must perish!—Wherefore now divide + </p> + <p> + Tributes of love—first offerings of the + heart;— + </p> + <p> + Gifts—that so long have slumbered side by side; + </p> + <p> + Tokens of feeling—never meant to part! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + A long farewell:—sweet flowers, sad scrolls, adieu! + </p> + <p> + Yes, ye shall be companions to the last:— + </p> + <p> + So perish all that would revive anew + </p> + <p> + The fruitless memories of the faded past! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + But, lo! the flames are curling swiftly round + </p> + <p> + Each fairer vestige of my youthful years; + </p> + <p> + Page after page that searching blaze hath found, + </p> + <p> + Even whilst I strive to trace them through my tears. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + The Hindoo widow, in affection strong, + </p> + <p> + Dies by her lord, and keeps her faith unbroken; + </p> + <p> + Thus perish all which to those wrecks belong, + </p> + <p> + The living memory—with the lifeless token! + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + Barry Cornwall has contributed several minor pieces, though + we fear his poetical reputation will not be increased by + either of them. + </p> + <p> + Some of the minor pieces are gems in their way, and one of + the most beautiful will be found appended to our current + Number. + </p> + <p> + To the <i>prose</i>:—The first in the volume is "the + Sisters," a pathetic tale of about thirty pages, which a + little of the fashionable affectation of some literary + coxcombs might fine-draw over a brace of small octavos. As it + stands, the story is gracefully, yet energetically told, and + is entitled to the place it occupies. The author of Pelham + (<i>vide</i> the newspapers) has a pleasant conceit in the + shape of a whole-length of fashion, which, being the best and + shortest in its line that we have met with, will serve to + enliven our extracts:— + </p> + <h3> + TOO HANDSOME FOR ANY THING! + </h3> + <p> + Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was one of those models of perfection + of which a human father and mother can produce + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page311" name="page311"></a>[pg + 311]</span> but a single example,—Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy + was therefore an only son. He was such an amazing favourite + with both his parents that they resolved to ruin him; + accordingly, he was exceedingly spoiled, never annoyed by the + sight of a book, and had as much plum-cake as he could eat. + Happy would it have been for Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy could he + always have eaten plum-cake, and remained a child. "Never," + says the Greek Tragedian, "reckon a mortal happy till you + have witnessed his end." A most beautiful creature was Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy! Such eyes—such hair—such + teeth—such a figure—such manners, too,—and + such an irresistible way of tying his neckcloth! When he was + about sixteen, a crabbed old uncle represented to his parents + the propriety of teaching Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy to read and + write. Though not without some difficulty, he convinced + them,—for he was exceedingly rich, and riches in an + uncle are wonderful arguments respecting the nurture of a + nephew whose parents have nothing to leave him. So our hero + was sent to school. He was naturally (I am not joking now) a + very sharp, clever boy; and he came on surprisingly in his + learning. The schoolmaster's wife liked handsome + children.—"What a genius will Master Ferdinand Fitzroy + be, if you take pains with him!" said she, to her husband. + </p> + <p> + "Pooh, my dear, it is of no use to take pains with + <i>him</i>." + </p> + <p> + "And why, love?" + </p> + <p> + "Because he is a great deal too handsome ever to be a + scholar." + </p> + <p> + "And that's true enough, my dear!" said the schoolmaster's + wife. + </p> + <p> + So, because he was too handsome to be a scholar, Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy remained the lag of the fourth form! + </p> + <p> + They took our hero from school.—"What profession shall + he follow?" said his mother. + </p> + <p> + "My first cousin is the Lord Chancellor," said his father, + "let him go to the bar." + </p> + <p> + The Lord Chancellor dined there that day: Mr. Ferdinand + Fitzroy was introduced to him; his lordship was a little, + rough-faced, beetle-browed, hard-featured man, who thought + beauty and idleness the same thing—and a parchment skin + the legitimate complexion for a lawyer. + </p> + <p> + "Send him to the bar!" said he, "no, no, that will never + do!—Send him into the army; he is much too handsome to + become a lawyer." + </p> + <p> + "And that's true enough, my lord!" said the mother. So they + bought Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy a cornetcy in the —— + regiment of dragoons. + </p> + <p> + Things are not learned by inspiration. Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy + had never ridden at school, except when he was hoisted; he + was, therefore, a very indifferent horseman; they sent him to + the riding-school, and everybody laughed at him. + </p> + <p> + "He is a d—d ass!" said Cornet Horsephiz, who was very + ugly; "a horrid puppy!" said Lieutenant St. Squintem, who was + still uglier; "if he does not ride better he will disgrace + the regiment," said Captain Rivalhate, who was very + good-looking; "if he does not ride better, we will cut him!" + said Colonel Everdrill, who was a wonderful martinet; "I say, + Mr. Bumpemwell (to the riding-master,) make that youngster + ride less like a miller's sack." + </p> + <p> + "Pooh, sir, <i>he</i> will never ride better." + </p> + <p> + "And why the d—-l will he not?" + </p> + <p> + "Bless you, colonel, he is a great deal too handsome for a + cavalry officer!" + </p> + <p> + "True!" said Cornet Horsephiz. + </p> + <p> + "Very true," said Lieutenant St. Squintem. + </p> + <p> + "We must cut him!" said the Colonel. + </p> + <p> + And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly cut. + </p> + <p> + Out hero was a youth of susceptibility—he quitted the + —— regiment, and challenged the colonel. The + colonel was killed! + </p> + <p> + "What a terrible blackguard is Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" said + the colonel's relations. + </p> + <p> + "Very true!" said the world. + </p> + <p> + The parents were in despair!—They were not rich; but + our hero was an only son, and they sponged hard upon the + crabbed old uncle! "he is very clever," said they both, "and + may do yet." + </p> + <p> + So they borrowed some thousands from the uncle, and bought + his beautiful nephew a seat in parliament. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was ambitious, and desirous of + retrieving his character. He fagged like a + dragon—conned pamphlets and reviews—got Ricardo + by heart—and made notes on the English constitution. + </p> + <p> + He rose to speak. + </p> + <p> + "What a handsome fellow!" whispered one member. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, a coxcomb!" said another. + </p> + <p> + "Never do for a speaker!" said a third, very audibly. + </p> + <p> + And the gentlemen on the opposite benches sneered and + <i>heard!</i>—Impudence is only indigenous in Milesia, + and an orator is not made in a day. Discouraged by his + reception, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy grew a little embarrassed. + </p> + <p> + "Told you so!" said one of his neighbours. + </p> + <p> + "Fairly broke down!" said another. + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page312" name="page312"></a>[pg + 312]</span> "Too fond of his hair to have any thing in his + head," said a third, who was considered a wit. + </p> + <p> + "Hear, hear!" cried the gentlemen on the opposite benches, + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy sat down—he had not shone; but, + in justice, he had not failed. Many a first-rate speaker had + began worse; and many a country member had been declared a + phoenix of promise upon half his merit. + </p> + <p> + Not so, thought the heroes of corn-laws. + </p> + <p> + "Your Adonises never make orators!" said a crack speaker with + a wry nose. + </p> + <p> + "Nor men of business either," added the chairman of a + committee, with a face like a kangaroo's. + </p> + <p> + "Poor devil!" said the civilest of the set. "He's a deuced + deal too handsome for a speaker! By Jove, he is going to + speak again—this will never do; we must cough him + down!" + </p> + <p> + And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly coughed down. + </p> + <p> + Our hero was now seven or eight and twenty, handsomer than + ever, and the adoration of the young ladies at Almack's. + </p> + <p> + "We have nothing to leave you," said the parents, who had + long spent their fortune, and now lived on the credit of + having once enjoyed it.—"You are the handsomest man in + London; you must marry an heiress." + </p> + <p> + "I will," said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + </p> + <p> + Miss Helen Convolvulus was a charming young lady, with a + hare-lip and six thousand a-year. To Miss Helen Convolvulus + then our hero paid his addresses. + </p> + <p> + Heavens! what an uproar her relations made about the matter. + "Easy to see his intentions," said one: "a handsome + fortune-hunter, who wants to make the best of his + person!"—"handsome is that handsome does," says + another; "he was turned out of the army, and murdered his + colonel;"—"never marry a beauty," said a + third;—"he can admire none but himself;"—"will + have so many mistresses," said a fourth;—"make you + perpetually jealous," said a fifth;—"spend your + fortune," said a sixth;—"and break your heart," said a + seventh. + </p> + <p> + Miss Helen Convolvulus was prudent and wary. She saw a great + deal of justice in what was said; and was sufficiently + contented with liberty and six thousand a-year, not to be + highly impatient for a husband; but our heroine had no + aversion to a lover; especially to so handsome a lover as Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy. Accordingly she neither accepted nor + discarded him; but kept him on hope, and suffered him to get + into debt with his tailor, and his coach-maker. On the + strength of becoming Mr. Fitzroy Convolvulus. Time went on, + and excuses and delays were easily found; however, our hero + was sanguine, and so were his parents. A breakfast at + Chiswick, and a putrid fever carried off the latter, within + one week of each other; but not till they had blessed Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy, and rejoiced that they had left him so + well provided for. + </p> + <p> + Now, then, our hero depended solely upon the crabbed old + uncle and Miss Helen Convolvulus; the former, though a + baronet and a satirist was a banker and a man of + business:—he looked very distastefully at the Hyperian + curls and white teeth of Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + </p> + <p> + "If I make you my heir," said he—"I expect you will + continue the bank." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, sir!" said the nephew. + </p> + <p> + "Humph!" grunted the uncle, "a pretty fellow for a banker!" + </p> + <p> + Debtors grew pressing to Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, and Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy grew pressing to Miss Helen Convolvulus. + "It is a dangerous thing," said she, timidly, "to marry a man + so admired,—will you always be faithful?" + </p> + <p> + "By heaven!" cried the lover. + </p> + <p> + "Heigho!" sighed Miss Helen Convolvulus, and Lord Rufus + Pumilion entering, the conversation was changed. + </p> + <p> + But the day of the marriage was fixed; and Mr. Ferdinand + Fitzroy bought a new curricle. By Apollo, how handsome he + looked in it! A month before the wedding day the uncle died. + Miss Helen Convolvulus was quite tender in her + condolences—"Cheer up, my Ferdinand," said she, "for + your sake, I have discarded Lord Rufus Pumilion!" "Adorable + condescension!" cried our hero;—"but Lord Rufus + Pumilion is only four feet two, and has hair like a peony." + </p> + <p> + "All men are not so handsome as Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" was + the reply. + </p> + <p> + Away goes our hero, to be present at the opening of his + uncle's will. + </p> + <p> + "I leave," said the testator (who I have before said was a + bit of a satirist,) "my share of the bank, and the whole or + my fortune, legacies excepted, to"—(here Mr. Ferdinand + Fitzroy wiped his beautiful eyes with a cambric handkerchief, + exquisitely <i>brode</i>) "my natural son, John Spriggs, an + industrious, pains-taking youth, who will do credit to the + bank. I did once intend to have made my nephew Ferdinand my + heir; but so curling a head can have no talent for accounts. + I want my successor to be a man of business, not beauty; and + Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy is a great deal too handsome for a + banker; his good looks will, no doubt, win him any heiress in + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page313" name="page313"></a>[pg + 313]</span> town. Meanwhile, I leave him, to buy a + dressing-case, a thousand pounds." + </p> + <p> + "A thousand devils!" said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, banging out + of the room. He flew to his mistress. She was not at home. + "Lies," says the Italian proverb, "have short legs;" but + truths, if they are unpleasant, have terrible long ones! The + next day Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy received a most obliging note + of dismissal. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you every happiness," said Miss Helen Convolvulus, in + conclusion—"but my friends are right; you are much too + handsome for a husband!" + </p> + <p> + And the week after, Miss Helen Convolvulus became Lady Rufus + Pumilion. + </p> + <p> + "Alas! sir," said the bailiff, as a day or two after the + dissolution of parliament, he was jogging along with Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy, in a hackney coach bound to the King's + Bench,—"Alas! sir, what a pity it is to take so + handsome a gentleman to prison!" + </p> + <p> + The MS. found in a Madhouse, by the same author, is perhaps + too horrific for this terror-loving age; but it is by no + means less clever on that account; <i>toute en huile</i> + would not do. Among the other tales are the Rock of the + Candle, Irish, by the author of Holland-Tide,—nearly + forty pages; and the Queen of May and Bridget + Plantagenet,—of the olden time—which would be + spoiled by abridgment for our present purpose. The same + reason prevents our giving more than our commendation of Miss + Mitford's General and his Lady, who, we think are new company + for our fair authoress. + </p> + <p> + In the Vision of Purgatory, by Dr. Maginn, (Irish, of + course,) the serious and ludicrous are mixed up with an + abundance of skill and humour; this piece should be read + after the Madhouse sketch. + </p> + <p> + The Souvenir is opportunely dedicated to Mr. Peel; and + whether as a work of art, or elegant literature, it is + decidedly worthy of such distinguished notice. If the + argument of the fine arts contributing to virtue hold good, + then the patronage of a minister will be patriotically + bestowed on such works as the Literary Souvenir. + </p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2> + The Amulet. + </h2> + <center> + <i>Edited by S.C. Hall, Esq.</i> + </center> + <p> + It would be difficult and somewhat egotistical for us to + describe the pleasure we felt on our receiving this + interesting volume for notice in our pages. The amiable + spirit which breathes throughout its pages, and the good + taste which uniformly dictates its editorship have secured + the <i>Amulet</i> an extensive, and we are disposed to think, + a more permanent, popularity than is attached to other works + of similar form.<a id="footnotetag1" + name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> + </p> + <p> + The present volume contains Fourteen Plates, among which are + <i>Murillo's Spanish Flower Girl; Etty's Guardian Angels</i>, + by Finden; a copy of Sir Thomas Lawrence's portrait of + <i>Lady Georgiana Fane</i>, from Colnaghi's print; Eastlake's + <i>Italian Mother;</i> one of Collins's last pictures, <i>The + Fisherman Leaving Home; The Temple of Victory</i>, from + Gandy,—all which are first-rate works of art. + </p> + <p> + There are eighty contributions, as the bookmakers say, "in + prose and verse," with a predominance of the former. The + first of the <i>prose</i> is a Strange Story of every day, by + William Kennedy—well told, but too long for extract. + The Mountain Daisy, a village sketch, by the Editor's lady, + is gracefully written; and with the Fisherman, by the Editor, + is a fair characteristic of the amiable spirit to which we + have already alluded; and in the same tone of good feeling is + the Rose of Fennock Dale, a true story by the fair authoress + of the Mountain Daisy; and the Wandering Minstrels, by the + Rev. F.A. Cox, L.L.D. Miss Mitford has contributed one of her + inimitable sketches, Little Moses; but the most staple + articles in the volume are The Battle of Bunaania, one of the + Georgian Islands, by Mr. Ellis, the missionary; Notices of + the Canadian Indians, by Dr. Walsh; a Journey over the + Brocken, by Mr. Coleridge; and a Fragment, by Miss Jane + Porter. Our prose selection is from the last of these + articles; but we intend transferring a portion of Dr. Walsh's + "Notices" to our next "Manners and Customs." + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + THE SOUTH SEA CHIEF. + </h3> + <center> + <i>By Miss Jane Porter</i>. + </center> + <p> + While in the north of Europe, I met with a rather + extraordinary person, whose account of himself might afford a + subject for a pretty romance; a sort of new Paul and + Virginia; but with what different catastrophe, it is not fair + to presage. He described himself as a Frenchman, a native of + Bourdeaux; where, at an early age, he was put on board a + merchant ship, to learn the profession of a seaman. About + that time war broke out between Great Britain, and the lately + proclaimed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page314" + name="page314"></a>[pg 314]</span> Republic of France; and + the vessel he was in, being attacked, and taken by an English + man-of-war, he was carried a prisoner into England. When + there, his naturally enterprising character would not submit + itself to a state of captivity; and, soon making his wishes + understood, he entered on board a British sloop, bound to New + Holland. While gazing with rapt astonishment on the seeming + new heavens which canopied that, to him, also, new portion of + the globe; while the stars of the Cross were exciting his + youthful wonder; and he could no where find the + constellations of the Great, or Little Bear in the midnight + firmament, the sky was suddenly overcast with a cloud, like + the pall of nature, and a fearful tempest burst from it. The + scene was dreadful on that wide waste of waters; and the + vessel being driven at last into the rocky labyrinths of the + Society Isles, was finally wrecked on one not many leagues + from the celebrated Otaheite. Laonce, the young Frenchman, + and one seaman of the sloop, an honest north Briton, were the + only persons who escaped; for when morning broke, they found + themselves, restored from insensibility, lying on the shore, + and not a trace of the ship, or of those who had navigated + her, was to be discerned. The inhabitants of the island, + apparently wild savages by their almost naked state, instead + of seizing them as a prey, took them to their huts, fed, and + cherished them. Hope for awhile flattered them that some + other vessel, bound for New Holland, might also be driven + upon those islands, though not with the same hard fate, and + that by her means they might be released, and conveyed back + to Europe. But days, and weeks, and months, wearing away + without any such arrival, they began to regard the + expectation less, and to turn their minds to take a more + intimate interest in objects around them. Time, indeed, + accustomed them to what might be called barbarous, in the + manners of the people; by degrees, even themselves laid aside + their European habits; they exchanged their clothing for the + half-exposed fashion of the native chiefs; and, adopting + their pursuits and pleasures, became hunters, and bold + fishers in the light canoe. Finally, they learnt to speak the + language, as if they had been born in the island; and, at + length, sealed their insular destiny by marrying native + women. Laonce was hardly eighteen when he was first cast + ashore amongst them; but having a handsome person, and those + engaging manners, from a naturally amiable disposition added + to a gentleman's breeding, which never fail agreeably + impressing even the rudest minds, the eye of female + tenderness soon found him out; and the maiden, being the + daughter of the king, and beautiful withal, had only to hint + her wishes to her royal sire; and the king naming them to + their distinguished object, she immediately became his happy + bride. Laonce, becoming thus royally allied, and in the line + of the throne, instantly received publicly the investiture of + the highest order of Otaheitan nobility, namely, a species of + tattooing appropriated to chiefs alone. The limbs of the body + thus distinguished, are traversed all over with a damasked + sort of pattern, while the particular royal insignia is + marked on the left side of the forehead, and below the eye, + like a thick mass of dark tattooing. + </p> + <p> + But the young Frenchman, and his north Briton companion, had + reserved to themselves means of increasing their consequence, + still more than by their mere personal merits, with their new + fellow-countrymen. A few days after the wreck, the subsiding + elements had cast up certain articles of the ship, which they + managed to turn to good account: the most valuable of them + were fire-arms and some gunpowder, and a few other + implements, both of defence, and use in household, or ship's + repairs. The fire-arms seemed to endow the new young chief, + just engrafted into the reigning stock, with a kind of + preternatural authority; and, by the aid of his old messmate, + and new bosom-coadjutor, he exerted all his influence over + their awed minds, to prevent their recurrence to the + frightful practice he had seen on his first landing, of + devouring the prisoners they took in war. His marriage had + invested him with the power of a natively born son of the + king; and, having made himself master of their language, his + persuasions were so conclusive with the leading warriors, + that, in the course of a very little time, it was rare to + hear that so dreadful a species of vengeance was ever tasted, + even in stealth. However, so addicted were some few of the + fiercer sort, to this ancient triumph of their ancestors, + that he found it necessary to add commands to persuasions, + and then threats to commands; and having expressed in the + strongest terms his abhorrence of so cowardly and brutal a + practice, he told them, that the first man he saw attempt to + touch the flesh of a prisoner to devour it, he would + instantly put the offender to death. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after this warning, a fray took place between the + natives of his father-in-law's dominions, and their enemies + from a hostile island. A number of captives were taken; and + all under his command held his former orders in such + reverence, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page315" + name="page315"></a>[pg 315]</span> that none, excepting two + (and they had before shown refractory dispositions,) presumed + to disobey his edict of mercy. But these men, in derision of + his lenity, particularly to the female sex, selected a woman + prisoner to be their victim; and slaying her, as they would + have done a beast, they commenced their horrible repast upon + her body. Laonce descried the scene at a distance just as + they had prepared their hideous banquet, and, going + resolutely towards them, levelled his musket at the + cannibals. One of the wretches was killed with the horrid + morsel in his mouth, and a second shot, brought down his + voracious accomplice in the act. This bold example so awed + all within ken of the fact, that from that hour, until the + day he quitted the island, a period of fourteen years, no + captive ever met with the interdicted fate. Though the old + sovereign continued in life, he consigned the power to his + new son, and Laonce became virtually king of the place. + Indeed, so reconciled was he and his friend the north Briton + (who also married) to the spot which had first sheltered + them, and then adopted them even as its legitimate offspring, + that although many ships of different nations touched there, + no inducements could prevail on them to quit their sea-girt + home of simple nature, for all the blandishments which + civilized life could produce. Yet Laonce took a hospitable + delight in showing every act of friendship in his power to + the captains of the vessels; refitting them with food and + fresh water; and rendering them much essential service, in + pointing out how to manage with safety the difficult + navigation round the several islands. + </p> + <p> + The animation with which he recited these circumstances, + after he was far from the spot where they took place, + strongly portrayed the fearless independence of his former + life. He spoke with the decision of one whose commands had + been unappealable, and all the barbarian chief lightened in + his eyes. But when he recalled his home there, his family + happiness, his countenance fell, his eyes clouded, and he + spoke in half-stifled words. He described his palace-hut; his + arms, his hunting spear, his canoe; his return to his hut, + with the fruits of the chase; the graceful, delicate person + of his wife; her clinging fondness on his entrance; his + tenderness for her, and for his children—for she bore + to him a son and a daughter; and, while he spoke, he burst + into tears, and sobbed like a child. "I was then beloved," + said he, "Honoured!—master of all around me; Now, I am + nothing:—no home—no wife—no friend! I am an + outcast here!—when there! Oh, Berea! wilt thou have + forgotten me?" His tears, and wild agonies, prevented him + proceeding; and my eyes could not remain dry, when seeing + such genuine grief, such real suffering. + </p> + <p> + But the cause of his being separated from his South-Sea home, + and his beloved Berea and her babes, remains to be told. It + appears, that about three years before the period I met him, + a Russian ship, sent on a voyage of discoveries, touched at + the island where Laonce had become naturalized. The captain + was received with royal hospitality by the king; and the + <i>Prince Laonce</i> became the glad interpreter between the + Europeans and his august father-in-law—for the captain + spoke French. And, besides procuring the crew all they wanted + for common comforts, the young chief loaded the commander and + his officers with useful presents. One night it blew a + violent gale, and the Russian captain, deeming it impossible + to keep his anchorage in a bay so full of unseen dangers, + made signals to the land, in hopes of exciting some native, + experienced in the navigation, to come off, and direct him + how to steer. Every moment increased his jeopardy; the storm + augmented; and, at each growing blast, he expected to be torn + from his cables, and dashed to atoms against the rocks. No + one moved from the shore. Again the signals were repeated: + Laonce had risen from his bed on hearing the first. Who was + there amongst all in that island, excepting his British + comrade, who would have known how to move <i>a ship</i> + through those boiling waves? The light canoe, and a vessel of + heavy burthen, were different objects! His comrade was then + watching by the side of an almost dying wife, who had just + made him the father of his first-born son. Could Laonce + summon him from that spot of his heart's tenderest duties, to + attend to the roaring guns of distress from a stranger + vessel? Impossible! He rose, and looked out on the night. He + listened to the second signal, he wrung his hands, and, + sighing, was returning to his couch again. His wife had then + risen also. She clasped her arms round him, and a big tear + stood in both her eyes, "You tell me," said she, "that your + people do not make those thunders to heaven, and to earth, + till they are drowning. You know you can save them all. Go, + Lao,"—and she smiled; "go; and the foreign chief, after + you have saved him, will give you something for + me—either a looking-glass, or a silk handkerchief. Go, + Lao." + </p> + <p> + He wound his arms round the gentle pleader; and, almost + ashamed that the father and the husband in his heart, + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page316" name="page316"></a>[pg + 316]</span> should make him calculate between his own life + and that of the gallant crew, he told her, that the tempest + raged too tremendously for him to dare stemming it. But she + laughingly repulsed his caresses, accusing his fondness for + her as the inducement of his assumed apprehensions; and being + too long accustomed to the rashness of her own people, in + braving every weather, to believe any plea of positive + danger, she still persisted; saying she must have a silk + handkerchief that night from yon ship, or she should think he + loved his sound sleep better than he did his fond Berea. + </p> + <p> + The enthusiastic love which still warmed the faithful + husband's breast, and a third signal of distress from the + struggling vessel, mastered his better judgment, and, seizing + his canoe, he dashed into the foaming waves and boldly + stemmed their fury to the object of his mission. The + overjoyed crew, as they heard his voice hailing them through + the storm, cast out a rope, by which they hoisted him into + their cracking ship. The most rapturous acknowledgments from + the captain, greeted him as soon as he jumped on the deck; + and the eager seamen called him their deliverer. He was + happy! he said, he was happy in the achievement of what he + had done; he had obeyed the wish of his beloved Berea, and he + had survived the lashing surge. He was happy, in the + confidence that he should rescue the gallant vessel he came + to take under his control. But that hour of happiness was his + last. He took the helm in his hands; he gave the requisite + directions to the seamen, for the management of the ship; and + he soon steered her out of the dangers of the bay, till she + rode in safety on the main ocean. He then asked for a boat to + carry him on shore, for his canoe had been crushed by an + accident. But the wind still blowing hurricanes, they would + not venture the loss of one of their boats: and during the + hot contentions between him, and the ungrateful chief of the + vessel he had preserved, they were driven out far to sea; + whence his swimming arm, had he plunged into the boisterous + deep, could have been of no use to him. Indignation, despair, + overwhelmed him. None appeared to understand the nature of + his feelings; all pretending to wonder that a European born, + should not be grateful to any occasion that would carry him + away from a savage country like that. In vain Laonce + remonstrated; in vain he talked of his wife and children; the + captain and his sailors laughed, promised him better of both + sorts among his kindred whites; and when he cursed their + hardened hearts and cruel treachery, they laughed again, and + left him to his misery. At last, when the protracted + hurricane subsided, and the vessel's log-book proved that she + had been driven several degrees leeward of the Society Isles, + abandoned to a sullen despair, he ceased to accuse or to + reproach; he ceased even to speak on any subject, but cast + himself into his lonely berth during the day, that he might + not be irritated to continued unavailing madness, by the + sight of the ingrates who had betrayed him. To his straining + eyes, nothing but the silvery line of the starlit sea was on + that distant horizon; but his heart's vision pierced farther, + and he beheld the sleepers in that home;—no, not the + sleepers! His disconsolate, his despairing wife, tearing her + bright locks, and beating the tender bosom he must no longer + clasp to his own. His children—"Oh! my babes!" cried + he, and the cry of a father's heart for once pierced the + obdurate bosom of the captain, who, in that moment, had + happened to come upon the deck to examine the night. To ease + his Otaheitan benefactor, he declared he had thus carried him + off, to share in the honour of his expected discoveries. The + unhappy chief, in then answering him, begged, that if he had, + indeed, any spark of honesty towards him, he would prove it, + by obeying his wish in one thing at least; and that was, to + set him on shore on the first European settlement they should + fall in with. "Do this," said he, "and I may yet believe you + have honour. For honour is a man's own act; a discovery is + fortune's; and for its advantages, did I stay, I should not + have to thank you. But I want none such. Set me on shore, and + there I will follow my own destiny." + </p> + <p> + To this poor request, the iron-souled commander of the + vessel, at last consented; and in the course of some weeks + after, Laonce was landed on the coast of Kamschatka. His + secret intent was to lie in wait for the possibility of some + ship touching at the port where he was set ashore, that might + be bound to the track of his beloved islands; but not + uttering a word of this, to the reprobate wretch who had torn + him thence, he simply bade him "farewell! and to use his next + pilot better;" so saying, they parted for ever. But weeks and + months passed away, and no vessel bound for the South Seas, + showed itself in that distant latitude; and its gloomy fogs, + and chilling atmosphere, its pale sky, where the sun never + shone for more than three or four hours in the day, seemed to + wither up his life with his waning hopes! In no way did it + resemble the land he had left; + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page317" name="page317"></a>[pg + 317]</span> the warm, and the genial heavens of the home he + was yet bent to find again;—and he left Kamschatka for + some more propitious port; but, like <i>Sinbad the + Sailor</i>, he wandered in vain. A cruel spell seemed set on + him, or on the spirit of adventure; for in no place could he + hear of a vessel going the way of his prayers. At last he + arrived, by a most tedious and circuitous journey at Moscow, + with a design to lay his case before the young and ardent + Alexander, the then Emperor of Russia; with the hope that his + benevolence, and a sense of what he had done for the vessel + which had betrayed him, would incline his majesty to make + some effort to return him to his island, and his family. + </p> + <p> + That this hope was not vain, the character of the good + Alexander, since proved by a life of undeviating promptness + to all acts of humanity, may be a sufficient voucher. But + whether the homeward-bound chief, found, on his setting his + foot again upon the ground whence he had been so cruelly + rifled; and whence, indeed, the innocent confidence, the + playful bravery of his fond wife, had urged him; whether he + found his cherishly-remembered home, yet standing as he left + it; and her, still the tender and the true to his + never-wandered heart; and whether his children sprang to his + knee, to share the parental caress; and the people around, + raised the <i>haloo</i> of joy to the returned <i>son of + their king!</i>—whether these fondly-expected greetings + hailed his arrival, cannot be absolutely told; for the vessel + that took him out, was to make the circuit of the globe, ere + it returned; hence, from that, and other circumstances, the + facts have never reached the narrator of this little history, + of what was really the meeting between Laonce and his Berea; + of the young chief, and the natives he had devotedly served! + But can the faithful hearts of wedded love, doubt the one; or + manly attachment suspect the other? For the honour of human + nature, we will believe that all was right; and, in the faith + of a humble Christian, we will believe, that "he who shewed + mercy, found mercy!"; That he is now restored to his + island-home, and to his happy, grateful family! + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Among the <i>poetical</i> contributions are The Angels' Call, + and Woman and Fame, by Mrs. Hemans; Carthage, and Stanzas, by + T.K. Hervey; the Chapel on the Cliff, by W. Kennedy; all + entitled to high praise. A Christian's Day, by Miss A.M. + Porter, is a sweet devotional composition. The extract from + one of Mr. Atherstone's unpublished books of the Fall of + Nineveh, maintains the high opinion already formed of the + published part. Mr. C. Swain has two beautiful pieces. We + have only room to name those <i>gems</i> of the poetry, viz. + Wearie's Well, and another beautiful ballad, by W. + Motherwell; and some exquisite lines by the Rev. G. Croly; + and to quote the following:— + </p> + <h3> + CHANGE. + </h3> + <h4> + BY L.E.L. + </h4> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + The wind is sweeping o'er the hill; + </p> + <p> + It hath a mournful sound, + </p> + <p> + As if it felt the difference + </p> + <p> + Its weary wing hath found. + </p> + <p> + A little while that wandering wind + </p> + <p> + Swept over leaf and flower; + </p> + <p> + For there was green for every tree, + </p> + <p> + And bloom for every hour. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + It wandered through the pleasant wood, + </p> + <p> + And caught the dove's lone song; + </p> + <p> + And by the garden-beds, and bore + </p> + <p> + The rose's breath along. + </p> + <p> + But hoarse and sullenly it sweeps; + </p> + <p> + No rose is opening now— + </p> + <p> + No music, for the wood-dove's nest + </p> + <p> + Is vacant on the bough. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Oh, human heart and wandering wind, + </p> + <p> + Go look upon the past; + </p> + <p> + The likeness is the same with each— + </p> + <p> + Their summer did not last. + </p> + <p> + Each mourns above the things it loved— + </p> + <p> + One o'er a flower and leaf; + </p> + <p> + The other over hopes and joys, + </p> + <p> + Whose beauty was as brief. + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + We congratulate the editor and the public on the past success + of the <i>Amulet</i>, especially as it proves that a pious + feeling co-exists with a taste for refined amusement, and + that advantageously. There is nothing austere in any page of + the <i>Amulet</i>, nor anything so frivolous and light as to + be objectionable; but it steers in the medium, and + consequently must be acceptable to every well-regulated mind. + Indeed, many of the pieces in the present volume may be read + and re-read with increased advantage; whilst two only are + unequal to the names attached to them. + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + THE GEM. + </h3> + <center> + <i>Edited by Thomas Hood, Esq.</i> + </center> + <p> + The present is the first year of the <i>Gem</i>, which, as a + work of art or literature, fully comes within the import of + its title. It is likewise the first appearance of Mr. Hood as + the editor of an "annual," who, with becoming diffidence, + appears to rely on the "literary giants" of his muster-roll, + rather than on his individual talent. Notwithstanding such an + editorship must have resembled the perplexity of Sinbad in + the Valley of Diamonds, Mr. Hood's volume is almost + unexceptionably good, whatever he may have rejected; and one + of the best, if not <i>the best</i>, article in the whole + work, has been contributed by the editor himself. Associated + as Mr. Hood's <span class="pagenum"><a id="page318" + name="page318"></a>[pg 318]</span> name is with "whim and + oddity," we, however, looked for more quips, quirks, and + quiddities than he has given us, which we should have hailed + as specially suited to the approaching festive season, and + from their contrast with the contents of similar works, as + more likely to attract by their novelty and humour. + </p> + <p> + The embellishments of the <i>Gem</i>, fifteen in number, have + been selected by A. Cooper, Esq. R.A. <i>The Death of + Keeldar</i> is a beautiful composition by Mr. Cooper, and is + worthy of association with Sir Walter Scott's pathetic + ballad. <i>The Widow</i>, by S. Davenport, from a picture by + R. Leslie, R.A. is one of the most touching prints we have + yet seen, and every one is capable of estimating its + beauties, since its expression will be sure to fasten on the + affections of the beholder. <i>May Talbot</i>, by J.C. + Edwards, from a painting by A. Cooper, is admirable in design + and execution. Of the <i>Temptation on the Mount</i>, + engraved by W.R. Smith, after Martin, we have spoken in our + accompanying Number; but as often as we look at the plate, we + discover new beauties. It is a just idea of "all the kingdoms + of the earth;" the distant effect is excellent, and the + "exceeding high mountain" is ably represented. The faces in + the <i>Painter's Study</i> are decidedly superior to the rest + of the print. The <i>Fisherman's Daughter</i>, from a + painting by Bone, is pleasing; and <i>Venice, with the + Embarkation of the Doge</i>, is a stirring scene of pageantry + and triumph. + </p> + <p> + Among the <i>poetry</i> is the Painter's Song, a pleasing + composition, by Barry Cornwall, who has also The Victim, a + dramatic sketch of twenty pages. Stanzas by Horace Smith, + Esq. are a pleasant satire upon the little vanities of great + people. We give the <i>Dream of Eugene Aram</i> in full, + although it consists of nearly two pages of small + type.:— + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + THE DREAM OF EUGENE ARAM. + </h3> + <h4> + BY T. HOOD, ESQ. + </h4> + <p> + [The late Admiral Burney went to school at an establishment + where the unhappy Eugene Aram was usher subsequent to his + crime. The admiral stated, that Aram was generally liked by + the boys; and that he used to discourse to them about + <i>murder</i> in somewhat of the spirit which is attributed + to him in this poem.] + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + 'Twas in the prime of summer time, + </p> + <p> + An evening calm and cool, + </p> + <p> + And four-and-twenty happy boys + </p> + <p> + Came bounding out of school: + </p> + <p> + There were some that ran and some that leapt, + </p> + <p> + Like troutlets in a pool. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Away they sped with gamesome minds, + </p> + <p> + And souls untouch'd by sin: + </p> + <p> + To a level mead they came, and there + </p> + <p> + They drave the wickets in: + </p> + <p> + Pleasantly shone the setting sun + </p> + <p> + Over the town of Lynn. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Like sportive deer they coursed about, + </p> + <p> + And shouted as they ran,— + </p> + <p> + Turning to mirth all things of earth, + </p> + <p> + As only boyhood can; + </p> + <p> + But the Usher sat remote from all— + </p> + <p> + A melancholy man! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + His hat was off, his vest apart, + </p> + <p> + To catch heaven's blessed breeze— + </p> + <p> + For a burning thought was in his brow, + </p> + <p> + And his bosom ill at ease: + </p> + <p> + So he lean'd his head on his hands, and read + </p> + <p> + The book between his knees! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Leaf after leaf he turn'd it o'er, + </p> + <p> + Nor ever glanc'd aside— + </p> + <p> + For the peace of his soul he read that book + </p> + <p> + In the golden eventide: + </p> + <p> + Much study had made him very lean, + </p> + <p> + And pale, and leaden-eyed. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + At last, he shut the ponderous tome; + </p> + <p> + With a fast and fervent grasp + </p> + <p> + He strain'd the dusky covers close, + </p> + <p> + And fixed the brazen hasp; + </p> + <p> + "O God, could I so close my mind, + </p> + <p> + And clasp it with a clasp!" + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Then leaping on his feet upright, + </p> + <p> + Some moody turns he took,— + </p> + <p> + Now up the mead, then down the mead, + </p> + <p> + And past a shady nook,— + </p> + <p> + And, lo! he saw a little boy + </p> + <p> + That pored upon a book! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "My gentle lad, what is't you read— + </p> + <p> + Romance or fairy fable? + </p> + <p> + Or is it some historic page, + </p> + <p> + Of kings and crowns unstable?" + </p> + <p> + The young boy gave an upward glance,— + </p> + <p> + "It is <i>The Death of Abel</i>." + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + The Usher took six hasty strides, + </p> + <p> + As smit with sudden pain,— + </p> + <p> + Six hasty strides beyond the place, + </p> + <p> + Then slowly back again; + </p> + <p> + And down he sat beside the lad, + </p> + <p> + And talk'd with him of Cain; + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + And, long since then, of bloody men, + </p> + <p> + Whose deeds tradition saves; + </p> + <p> + Of lonely folk cut off unseen, + </p> + <p> + And hid in sudden graves; + </p> + <p> + Of horrid stabs, in groves forlorn, + </p> + <p> + And murders done in caves. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + And how the sprites of injured men + </p> + <p> + Shriek upward from the sod,— + </p> + <p> + Ay, how the ghostly hand will point + </p> + <p> + To show the burial clod; + </p> + <p> + And unknown facts of guilty acts + </p> + <p> + Are seen in dreams from God! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + He told how murderers walk the earth + </p> + <p> + Beneath the curse of Cain,— + </p> + <p> + With crimson clouds before their eyes, + </p> + <p> + And flames about their brain: + </p> + <p> + For blood has left upon their souls + </p> + <p> + Its everlasting stain! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And well," quoth he, "I know, for truth, + </p> + <p> + Their pangs must be extreme,— + </p> + <p> + Wo, wo, unutterable wo,— + </p> + <p> + Who spill life's sacred stream! + </p> + <p> + For why? Methought, last night, I wrought + </p> + <p> + A murder in a dream! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "One that had never done me wrong— + </p> + <p> + A feeble man, and old: + </p> + <p> + I led him to a lonely field, + </p> + <p> + The moon shone clear and cold: + </p> + <p> + Now here, said I, this man shall die, + </p> + <p> + And I will have his gold! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Two sudden blows with a ragged stick, + </p> + <p> + And one with a heavy stone, + </p> + <p> + One hurried gash with a hasty knife— + </p> + <p> + And then the deed was done: + </p> + <p> + There was nothing lying at my foot, + </p> + <p> + But lifeless flesh and bone! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Nothing but lifeless flesh and bone, + </p> + <p> + That could not do me ill; + </p> + <p> + And yet I fear'd him all the more, + </p> + <p> + For lying there so still: + </p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page319" + name="page319"></a>[pg 319]</span> + <p> + There was a manhood in his look, + </p> + <p> + That murder could not kill! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And, lo! the universal air + </p> + <p> + Seem'd lit with ghastly flame,— + </p> + <p> + Ten thousand thousand dreadful eyes + </p> + <p> + Were looking down in blame: + </p> + <p> + I took the dead man by the hand, + </p> + <p> + And call'd upon his name! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Oh, God, it made me quake to see + </p> + <p> + Such sense within the slain! + </p> + <p> + But when I touch'd the lifeless clay, + </p> + <p> + The blood gush'd out amain! + </p> + <p> + For every clot, a burning spot, + </p> + <p> + Was scorching in my brain! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "My head was like an ardent coal, + </p> + <p> + My heart as solid ice; + </p> + <p> + My wretched, wretched soul I knew + </p> + <p> + Was at the Devil's price: + </p> + <p> + A dozen times I groaned—the dead + </p> + <p> + Had never groan'd but twice! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And now from forth the frowning sky, + </p> + <p> + From the heaven's topmost height, + </p> + <p> + I heard a voice—the awful voice + </p> + <p> + Of the blood-avenging sprite:— + </p> + <p> + 'Thou guilty man! take up thy dead, + </p> + <p> + And hide it from my sight!' + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "I took the dreary body up, + </p> + <p> + And cast it in a stream,— + </p> + <p> + A sluggish water, black as ink. + </p> + <p> + The depth was so extreme + </p> + <p> + My gentle boy, remember this + </p> + <p> + Is nothing but a dream! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Down went the corse with a hollow plunge, + </p> + <p> + And vanish'd in the pool— + </p> + <p> + Anon I cleansed my bloody hands + </p> + <p> + And wash'd my forehead cool, + </p> + <p> + And sat among the urchins young + </p> + <p> + That evening in the school! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Oh, heaven, to think of their white souls, + </p> + <p> + And mine so black and grim! + </p> + <p> + I could not share in childish prayer. + </p> + <p> + Nor join in evening hymn: + </p> + <p> + Like a devil of the pit I seem'd, + </p> + <p> + 'Mid holy cherubim! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And peace went with them one and all, + </p> + <p> + And each calm pillow spread— + </p> + <p> + But Guilt was my grim chamberlain + </p> + <p> + That lighted me to bed, + </p> + <p> + And drew my midnight curtains round, + </p> + <p> + With fingers bloody red! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "All night I lay in agony, + </p> + <p> + In anguish dark and deep— + </p> + <p> + My fever'd eyes I dared not close, + </p> + <p> + But stared aghast at Sleep; + </p> + <p> + For Sin had render'd unto her + </p> + <p> + The keys of hell to keep! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "All night I lay in agony, + </p> + <p> + From weary chime to chime, + </p> + <p> + With one besetting horrid hint, + </p> + <p> + That rack'd me all the time,— + </p> + <p> + A mighty yearning, like the first + </p> + <p> + Fierce impulse unto crime! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "One stern, tyrannic thought, that made + </p> + <p> + All other thoughts its slave; + </p> + <p> + Stronger and stronger every pulse + </p> + <p> + Did that temptation crave,— + </p> + <p> + Still urging me to go and see + </p> + <p> + The dead man in his grave! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Heavily I rose up,—as soon + </p> + <p> + As light was in the sky.— + </p> + <p> + And sought the black, accursed pool + </p> + <p> + With a wild, misgiving eye; + </p> + <p> + And I saw the dead in the river bed, + </p> + <p> + For the faithless stream was dry! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Merrily rose the lark, and shook + </p> + <p> + The dewdrop from its wing; + </p> + <p> + But I never mark'd its morning flight, + </p> + <p> + I never heard it sing; + </p> + <p> + For I was stooping once again + </p> + <p> + Under the horrid thing. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "With breathless speed, like a soul in chase, + </p> + <p> + I took him up and ran,— + </p> + <p> + There was no time to dig a grave + </p> + <p> + Before the day began: + </p> + <p> + In a lonesome wood, with heaps of leaves, + </p> + <p> + I hid the murdered man. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And all that day I read in school, + </p> + <p> + But my thought was other where: + </p> + <p> + As soon as the mid-day task was done, + </p> + <p> + In secret I was there; + </p> + <p> + And a mighty wind had swept the leaves, + </p> + <p> + And still the corse was bare! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Then down I cast me on my face, + </p> + <p> + And first began to weep, + </p> + <p> + For I knew my secret then was one + </p> + <p> + That earth refused to keep; + </p> + <p> + Or land or sea, though he should be + </p> + <p> + Ten thousand fathoms deep! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "So wills the fierce avenging sprite, + </p> + <p> + Till blood for blood atones! + </p> + <p> + Ay, though he's buried in a cave, + </p> + <p> + And trodden down with stones, + </p> + <p> + And years have rotted off his flesh— + </p> + <p> + The world shall see his bones! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Oh God, that horrid, horrid dream + </p> + <p> + Besets me now awake! + </p> + <p> + Again—again, with a dizzy brain, + </p> + <p> + The human life I take; + </p> + <p> + And my red right hand grows raging hot, + </p> + <p> + Like Cranmer's at the stake. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And still no peace for the restless clay + </p> + <p> + Will wave or mould allow; + </p> + <p> + The horrid thing pursues my soul,— + </p> + <p> + It stands before me now!" + </p> + <p> + The fearful boy looked up, and saw + </p> + <p> + Huge drops upon his brow! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + That very night, while gentle sleep + </p> + <p> + The urchin eyelids kiss'd, + </p> + <p> + Two stern-fac'd men set out from Lynn, + </p> + <p> + Through the cold and heavy mist; + </p> + <p> + And Eugene Aram walked between, + </p> + <p> + With gyves upon his wrist. + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + Mr. Planché's versification of the homely + proverb—Poverty parts good company—will create + many good-natured smiles, and run counter with Mr. Kenney's + To-morrow. Some of the minor pieces are very pleasing, + especially two by Hartley Coleridge, Esq. + </p> + <p> + We confess we do not admire the taste which dictated Mr. C. + Lamb's Widow; it is in every respect unworthy of the plate, + and the feelings created by the two are very discordant. We + love a joke, but to call a widow's sables a perpetual "black + joke," disgusts rather than pleases us. The Funeral of + General Crawford, by the author of The Subaltern is an + affecting incident; and Nina St. Morin, by the author of May + You Like It, is of the same character. Catching a Tartar, by + Mansie Wauch, and the Station, an Irish Story, are full of + humour; and May Day, by the editor, abounds with oddities. + Thus, "the golden age is not to be regilt; pastoral is gone + out, and Pan extinct—pans will not last for ever;" + "horticultural hose, <i>pruned</i> so often at top to + <i>graft</i> at bottom, that from long stockings they had + dwindled into short socks;" "the contrast of a large marquee + in canvass with the long lawn;" "Pan's sister, Patty, the + wags called <i>Patty Pan</i>," &c. + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page320" name="page320"></a>[pg + 320]</span> One of the finest stories in the <i>Gem</i> is + the Rival Dreamers, by Mr. Banim; and curious enough, this is + the third Annual in which we have met with the same legend. + The present version is, however, the best narrative, which + such of our readers as know the O'Hara Family will readily + believe. We could abridge it for our present space; but it + would be injustice to the author to pare down his beautiful + descriptions; and we will endeavour to give place to the tale + in a future Number. The Last Embarkation of the Doge of + Venice is interesting; almost every incident connected with + that huge pleasure-house is attractive, but one of the + present, the Marriage of the Sea, is well told. The + Shearmen's Miracle Play smacks pleasantly of "the good old + times" of merry England. Miss Mitford has contributed two of + her inimitable sketches—Harry Lewington and his Dog, + and Tom Hopkins—the latter an excellent portrait of + "the loudest, if not the greatest man" in the little town of + Cranley. We must give the village lion, in little:— + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + TOM HOPKINS. + </h3> + <p> + At the time of which I speak, Tom Hopkins was of an age + somewhat equivocal; public fame called him fifty, whilst he + himself stuck obstinately at thirty-five; of a stout active + figure, rather manly than gentlemanly, and a bold, jovial + visage, in excellent keeping with his person, distinguished + by round, bright, stupid black eyes, an aquiline nose, a + knowing smile, and a general comely vulgarity of aspect. His + voice was hoarse and deep, his manner bluff and blunt, and + his conversation loud and boisterous. With all these natural + impediments to good company, the lowness of his origin, + recent in their memories, and the flagrant fact of his + residence in a country town, staring them in the face, Mr. + Tom Hopkins made his way into almost every family of + consideration in the neighbourhood. Sportsmanship, sheer + sportsmanship, the qualification that, more than any other, + commands the respect of your great English landholder, + surmounted every obstacle. + </p> + <p> + With the ladies, he made his way by different qualities; in + the first place he was a character, an oddity, and the + audacity of his vulgarity was tolerated, where a man only + half as boisterous would have been scouted; then he was + gallant in his way, affected, perhaps felt, a great devotion + to the sex, and they were half amused, half pleased, with the + rough flattery which seemed, and probably was, so sincere. + </p> + <p> + His house was an ugly brick dwelling of his own erection, + situate in the principal street of Cranley, and adorned with + a green door and a brass knocker, giving entrance into a + stone passage, which, there being no other way to the stable, + served both for himself, and that very dear part of himself, + his horses, whose dwelling was certainly by far more + commodious than their master's. His accommodations were + simple enough. The dining-parlour, which might pass for his + only sitting-room,—for the little dark den which he + called his drawing-room was not entered three times a year; + the dining-room was a small square room, coloured pea-green + with a gold moulding, adorned with a series of four prints on + shooting, and four on hunting, together with two or three + portraits of eminent racers, riders, hunters, and grooms. + Guns and fishing-rods were suspended over the mantelpiece; + powder-horns, shot-belts, and game-bags scattered about; a + choice collection of flies for angling lay in one corner, + whips and bridles in another, and a pile of books and + papers,—Colonel Thornton's Tour, Daniel's Rural Sports, + and a heap of Racing Calendars, occupied a third; Ponto and + Carlo lay basking on the hearth-rug, and a famous little + cocking spaniel, Flora by name, a conscious favourite, was + generally stretched in state on an arm-chair. + </p> + <p> + Here, except when the owner was absent on a sporting + expedition, which, between fishing, shooting, hunting, and + racing, did, it must be confessed, happen pretty often; here + his friends were sure to find a hearty welcome, a good + beef-steak,—his old housekeeper was famous for + cookery!—and as much excellent Port and super-excellent + Madeira—Tom, like most of his school, eschewed claret + and other thin potations—as their host could prevail on + them to swallow. Many a good fellow hath heard the chimes at + midnight in this little room. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + In the present sheet we are only able to include Notices of + <i>four</i> of the <i>nine</i> Annuals, exclusive of the + <i>Juvenile Presents</i>, which we reserve for a "select + party." Our notice of the <i>Winter's Wreath</i> is in type, + but must stand over for the present, as well as those of the + <i>Keepsake, Anniversary, Bijou</i>, and <i>Friendship's + Offering</i>, which will freight another Supplementary Sheet, + to follow very shortly. We prefer this method to passing over + the merits of these works with mere commendatory + generalities. It does not require a microscopic or a critical + eye to distinguish their beauties; but we hope the means we + have adopted for the present gratification of our readers + will be such as to induce them to look for the appearance of + our SECOND SUPPLEMENT, as well as to prove ourselves worthy + of the <i>encore</i>. Like some comic singers, we will + endeavour to keep up the entertainment by "variations." + </p> + <hr class="full" /> + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a> <b>Footnote 1</b>: + <a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> + <p> + In a few words, the <i>Amulet</i> reached us in an early + stage of convalescence, when we began to feel that "no + medicine is better for the weakness of the body than that + which soothes and tranquillizes the soul." We are not + suiting the action to the word; on the contrary, we would + desire to wear such truths as the <i>Amulet</i> + enjoins—in our "heart of hearts," as well in + returning health and vigour as in the above moments. + </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> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11406 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/11406-h/images/340-1.png b/11406-h/images/340-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a44dbb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/11406-h/images/340-1.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..33d2117 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #11406 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11406) diff --git a/old/11406-8.txt b/old/11406-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c75142 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11406-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2043 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, Vol. 12, Issue 340, Supplementary Number (1828), 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, Vol. 12, +Issue 340, Supplementary Number (1828) + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 2, 2004 [eBook #11406] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, +AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 12, ISSUE 340, SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER +(1828)*** + + +E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Michael Hermen, David Garcia, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 11406-h.htm or 11406-h.zip: + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/4/0/11406/11406-h/11406-h.htm) + or + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/4/0/11406/11406-h.zip) + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 12, NO. 340.] SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Vicenza. + + +[Illustration: Vicenza.] + + +SPIRIT OF THE "ANNUALS," FOR 1829. + + +For some days past our table has been glittering with these caskets +of song and tale in their gay attire of silken sheen and burnished +gold--till their splendour has fairly put out the light of our +_sinumbra_, and the drabs, blues, and yellows of sober, business-like +quartos and octavos. Seven out of nine of these elegant little books are +in "watered" silk bindings; and an ingenious lady-friend has favoured us +with the calculation that the silk used in covering the presumed number +sold (70,000) would extend five miles, or from Hyde Park Corner to +Turnham Green. + +Brilliant as may be their exteriors, their contents are, as Miss Jane +Porter says of her heroines, "transcendently beautiful." But of these +we shall present our readers with some exquisite specimens. Our only +trouble in this task is the _embarras du richesses_ with which we are +surrounded; otherwise it is to us an exhaustless source of delight, +especially when we consider the "gentle feelings and affections" which +this annual distribution will cherish, and the innumerable intertwinings +of hands and hearts which this shower of _bon-bons_ will produce; and +such warm friends are we to this social scheme, that our presentation +copies are already in the fair hands whither we had destined them. + +We begin with the parent-stock, + + +The Forget-Me-Not. + + +_Edited by Frederic Shoberl_, Esq. + +The present volume, in its graphic and literary attractions is decidedly +superior to that of last year, an improvement which makes us credit what +the Ettrick Shepherd says of the proprietor--"There's no a mair just, +nay, generous man in his dealings wi' his authors, in a' the tredd, than +Mr. Ackermann." + +This beautiful Annual contains the original of our ENGRAVING, from a +plate by A. Freebairn, after an admirable picture by S. Prout, of which +the following story is illustrative:-- + + +THE MAGICIAN OF VICENZA. + + +In the year 1796, on one of the finest evenings of an Italian autumn, +when the whole population of the handsome city of Vicenza were pouring +into the streets to enjoy the fresh air, that comes so deliciously along +the currents of its three rivers; when the Campo Marzo was crowded with +the opulent citizens and Venetian nobles; and the whole ascent, from the +gates to the Madonna who sits enthroned on the summit of Monte Berrico, +was a line of the gayest pilgrims that ever wandered up the vine-covered +side of an Alpine hill; the ears of all were caught by the sound of +successive explosions from a boat running down the bright waters of the +Bachiglione. Vicenza was at peace, under the wing of the lion of St. +Mark, but the French were lying round the ramparts of Mantua. They had +not yet moved on Venice; yet her troops were known to be without arms, +experience, or a general, and the sound of a cracker would have startled +her whole dominions. + +The boat itself was of a singular make; and the rapidity with which this +little chaloupe, glittering with gilding and hung with streamers, made +its way along the sparkling stream, struck the observers as something +extraordinary. It flew by every thing on the river, yet no one was +visible on board. It had no sail up, no steersman, no rower; yet it +plunged and rushed along with the swiftness of a bird. The Vicentine +populace are behind none of their brethren in superstition, and at the +sight of the flying chaloupe, the groups came running from the Campo +Marzo. The Monte Berrico was speedily left without a pilgrim, and the +banks of the Bachiglione were, for the first time since the creation, +honoured with the presence of the Venetian authorities, and even of the +sublime podesta [the governor, a Venetian noble.] himself. + +But it was fortunate for them that the flying phenomenon had reached the +open space formed by the conflux of the three rivers, before the crowd +became excessive; for, just as it had darted out from the narrow +channel, lined on both sides with the whole thirty thousand old, +middle-aged, and young, men, maids, and matrons of the city, a thick +smoke was seen rising from its poop, its frame quivered, and, with a +tremendous explosion, the chaloupe rose into the air in ten thousand +fragments of fire. + +The multitude were seized with consternation; and the whole fell on +their knees, from the sublime podesta himself, to the humblest +saffron-gatherer. Never was there such a mixture of devotion. Never was +there such a concert of exclamations, sighs, callings on the saints, and +rattling of beads. The whole concourse lay for some minutes with their +very noses rubbing to the ground, until they were all roused at once by +a loud burst of laughter. Thirty thousand pair of eyes were lifted up at +the instant, and all fixed in astonishment on a human figure, seen +calmly sitting on the water, in the very track of the explosion, and +still half hidden in the heavy mass of smoke that curled in a huge globe +over the remnants. The laugh had proceeded from him, and the nearer he +approached the multitude, the louder he laughed. At length, stopping in +front of the spot where the sublime podesta, a little ashamed of his +prostration, was getting the dust shaken out of his gold-embroidered +robe of office, and bathing his burning visage in orange-flower water, +the stranger began a sort of complimentary song to the famous city of +Vicenza. + +The stranger found a willing audience; for his first stanza was in +honour of the "most magnificent city of Vicenza;" its "twenty palaces by +the matchless Palladio;" much more "its sixty churches;" and much more +than all "its breed of Dominicans, unrivalled throughout the earth for +the fervour of their piety and the capacity of their stomachs." The last +touch made the grand-prior of the cathedral wince a little, but it was +welcomed with a roar from the multitude. The song proceeded; but if the +prior had frowned at the first stanza, the podesta was doubly angry at +the second, which sneered at Venetian pomposity in incomparable style. +But the prior and podesta were equally outvoted, for the roar of the +multitude was twice as loud as before. Then came other touches on the +_cavalieri serventi_, the ladies, the nuns, and the husbands, till every +class had its share: but the satire was so witty, that, keen as it was, +the shouts of the people silenced all disapprobation. He finished by a +brilliant stanza, in which he said, that "having been sent by Neptune +from the depths of the ocean to visit the earth, he had chosen for his +landing-place its most renowned spot, the birthplace of the gayest men +and the handsomest women--the exquisite Vicenza." With these words he +ascended from the shore, and was received with thunders of applause. + +His figure was tall and elegant. He wore a loose, scarlet cloak thrown +over his fine limbs, Greek sandals, and a cap like that of the Italian +princes of three centuries before, a kind of low circle of green and +vermilion striped silk, clasped by a large rose of topaz. The men +universally said, that there was an atrocious expression in his +countenance; but the women, the true judges after all, said, without +exception, that this was envy in the men, and that the stranger was the +most "delightful looking _Diavolo_" they had ever set eyes on. + +The stranger, on his landing, desired to be led to the principal hotel; +but he had not gone a dozen steps from the water-side, when he exclaimed +that he had lost his purse. Such an imputation was never heard before in +an Italian city; at least so swore the multitude; and the stranger was +on the point of falling several fathoms deep in his popularity. But he +answered the murmur by a laugh; and stopping in front of a beggar, who +lay at the corner of an hospital roaring out for alms, demanded the +instant loan of fifty sequins. The beggar lifted up his hands and eyes +in speechless wonder, and then shook out his rags, which, whatever else +they might show, certainly showed no sequins, "The sequins, or death!" +was the demand, in a tremendous voice. The beggar fell on the ground +convulsed, and from his withered hand, which every one had seen empty +the moment before, out flew fifty sequins, bright as if they had come +that moment from St. Mark's mint. The stranger took them from the +ground, and, with a smile, flung them up in a golden shower through the +crowd. The shouts were immense, and the mob insisted on carrying him to +the door of his hotel. + +But the Venetian vigilance was by this time a little awakened, and a +patrol of the troops was ordered to bring this singular stranger before +the sublime podesta. The crowd instantly dropped him at the sight of the +bayonets, and knowing the value of life in the most delicious climate of +the world, took to their heels. The guard took possession of their +prisoner, and were leading him rather roughly to the governor's house, +when he requested them to stop for a moment beside a convent gate, that +he might get a cup of wine. But the Dominicans would not give the +satirist of their illustrious order a cup of water. + +"If you will not give me refreshment," exclaimed he, in an angry tone, +"give me wherewithal to buy it. I demand a hundred sequins." + +The prior himself was at the window above his head; and the only answer +was a sneer, which was loyally echoed through every cloister. + +"Let me have your bayonet for a moment," said the stranger to one of his +guard. He received it; and striking away a projecting stone in the wall, +out rushed the hundred sequins. The prior clasped his hands in agony, +that so much money should have been so near, and yet have escaped his +pious purposes, The soldiers took off their caps for the discoverer, and +bowed them still lower when he threw every sequin of it into the shakos +of those polite warriors. The officer, to whom he had given a double +share, showed his gratitude by a whisper, offering to assist his escape +for as much more. But the stranger declined the civility, and walked +boldly into the presence-chamber of the sublime podesta. + +The Signer Dominico Castello-Grande Tremamondo was a little Venetian +noble, descended in a right line from Aeneas, with a palazzo on the +Canale Regio of Venice, which he let for a coffee-house; and living in +the pomp and pride of a _magnifico_ on something more than the wages of +an English groom. The intelligence of this extraordinary stranger's +discoveries had flown like a spark through a magazine, and the +_illustrissimo_ longed to be a partaker in the secret. He interrogated +the prisoner with official fierceness, but could obtain no other reply +than the general declaration, that he was a traveller come to see the +captivations of Italy. In the course of the inquiry the podesta dropped +a significant hint about money. + +"As to money," was the reply, "I seldom carry any about me; it is so +likely to tempt _rascals_ to dip deeper in roguery. I have it whenever I +choose to call for it." + +"I should like to see the experiment made, merely for its curiosity," +said the governor. + +"You shall be obeyed," was the answer; "but I never ask for more than a +sum for present expenses. Here, you fellow!" said he, turning to one of +the half-naked soldiery, "lend me five hundred sequins!" + +The whole guard burst into laughter. The sum would have been a severe +demand on the military chest of the army. The handsome stranger advanced +to him, and, seizing his musket, said, loftily, "Fellow, if you won't +give the money, this must." He struck the butt-end of the musket thrice +upon the floor. At the third blow a burst of gold poured out, and +sequins ran in every direction. The soldiery and the officers of the +court were in utter astonishment. All wondered, many began to cross +themselves, and several of the most celebrated swearers in the regiment +dropped upon their knees. But their devotions were not long, for the +sublime podesta ordered the hall to be cleared, and himself, the +stranger, and the sequins, left alone. + +For three days nothing more was heard of any of the three, and the +Vicenzese scarcely ate, drank, or slept, through anxiety to know what +was become of the man in the scarlet cloak, and cap striped green and +vermilion. Jealousy, politics, and piety, at length put their heads +together, and, by the evening of the third day, the _cavalieri_ had +agreed that he was some rambling actor, or Alpine thief, the statesmen, +that he was a spy; and the Dominicans that he was Satan in person. The +women, partly through the contradiction natural to the lovely sex, and +partly through the novelty of not having the world in their own way, +were silent; a phenomenon which the Italian philosophers still consider +the true wonder of the whole affair. + +On the evening of the third day a new Venetian governor, with a stately +_cortege_, was seen entering at the Water Gate, full gallop, from +Venice: he drove straight to the podesta's house, and, after an +audience, was provided with apartments in the town-house, one of the +finest in Italy, and looking out upon the _Piazza Grande_, in which are +the two famous columns, one then surmounted by the winged lion of St. +Mark, as the other still is by a statue of the founder of our faith. + +The night was furiously stormy, and the torrents of rain and perpetual +roaring of the thunder drove the people out of the streets. But between +the tempest and curiosity not an eye was closed that night in the city. +Towards morning the tempest lulled, and in the intervals of the wind, +strange sounds were heard, like the rushing of horses and rattling of +carriages. At length the sounds grew so loud that curiosity could be +restrained no longer, and the crowd gathered towards the entrance of the +_Piazza_. The night was dark beyond description, and the first knowledge +of the hazard that they were incurring was communicated to the shivering +mob by the kicks of several platoons of French soldiery, who let them +pass within their lines, but prohibited escape. The square was filled +with cavalry, escorting wagons loaded with the archives, plate, and +pictures, of the government. The old podesta was seen entering a +carriage, into which his very handsome daughter, the betrothed of the +proudest of the proud Venetian senators, was handed by the stranger. The +procession then moved, and last, and most surprising of all, the +stranger, mounting a charger, put himself at the head of the cavalry, +and, making a profound adieu to the new governor, who stood shivering at +the window in care of a file of grenadiers, dashed forward on the road +to Milan. + +Day rose, and the multitude rushed out to see what was become of the +city. Every thing was as it had been, but the column of the lion: its +famous emblem of the Venetian republic was gone, wings and all. They +exclaimed that the world had come to an end. But the wheel of fortune is +round, let politicians say what they will. In twelve months from that +day the old podesta was again sitting in the government-house--yet a +podesta no more, but a French prefect; the Signora Maria, his lovely +daughter, was sitting beside him, with an infant, the image of her own +beauty, and beside her the stranger, no longer the man of magic in the +scarlet cloak and green and vermilion striped cap with a topaz clasp, +but a French general of division, in blue and silver, her husband, as +handsome as ever, and, if not altogether a professed _Diavolo_, quite as +successful in finding money whenever he wanted it. His first _entree_ +into Vicenza had been a little theatrical, for such is the genius of his +country. The blowing-up of his little steam-boat, which had nearly +furnished his drama with a tragic catastrophe, added to its effect; and +his discovery of the sequins was managed by three of his countrymen. As +an inquirer into the nakedness of the land, he might have been shot as a +spy. As half-charlatan and half-madman, he was sure of national +sympathy. During the three days of his stay the old podesta had found +himself accessible to reason, the podesta's daughter to the tender +passion, and the treasures of the state to the locomotive skill of the +French detachment, that waited in the mountains the result of their +officer's diplomacy. The lion of St. Mark, having nothing else to do, +probably disdained to remain, and in the same night took wing from the +column, to which he has never returned. + +As we love to "march in good order," we begin with the plates, the most +striking of which is the Frontispiece, _Marcus Curtius_, by Le Keux, +from a design by Martin, which we are at a loss to describe. It requires +a microscopic eye to fully appreciate all its beauties--yet the +thousands of figures and the architectural background, are so clear and +intelligible as to make our optic nerve sympathize with the labour of +the artist. The next is a _View on the Ganges_, by Finden, after +Daniell; _Constancy_, by Portbury, after Stephanoff, in which the female +figure is loveliness personified; _Eddystone during a Storm_; the +_Proposal_, a beautiful family group; the _Cottage Kitchen_, by Romney, +after Witherington; and the _Blind Piper_, from a painting by Clennell, +who, from too great anxiety in the pursuit of his profession, was some +years since deprived of reason, which he has never recovered. + +In the _poetical_ department we notice the Retreat, some beautiful lines +by J. Montgomery; Ellen Strathallan, a pathetic legend, by Mrs. +Pickersgill; St. Mary of the Lows, by the Ettrick Shepherd; Xerxes, a +beautiful composition, by C. Swain, Esq.; the Banks of the Ganges, a +descriptive poem, by Capt. McNaghten; Lydford Bridge, a fearful +incident, by the author of Dartmoor; Alice, a tale of merrie England, by +W.H. Harrison; and two pleasing pieces by the talented editor. Our +extract is + + +LANGSYNE. + +BY DELTA. + + +Langsyne!--how doth the word come back + With magic meaning to the heart, +As Memory roams the sunny track, + From which Hope's dreams were loath to part! +No joy like by-past joy appears; + For what is gone we peak and pine. +Were life spun out a thousand years, + It could not match Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--the days of childhood warm, + When, tottering by a mother's knee, +Each sight and sound had power to charm, + And hope was high, and thought was free. +Langsyne!--the merry schoolboy days-- + How sweetly then life's sun did shine! +Oh! for the glorious pranks and plays, + The raptures of Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--yes, In the sound, I hear + The rustling of the summer grove, +And view those angel features near, + Which first awoke the heart to love. +How sweet it is, in pensive mood, + At windless midnight to recline, +And fill the mental solitude + With spectres from Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--ah, where are they who shared + With us its pleasures bright and blithe? +Kindly with some hath fortune fared; + And some have bowed beneath the scythe +Of death; while others, scattered far, + O'er foreign lands at fate repine, +Oft wandering forth, 'neath twilight's star, + To muse on dear Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--the heart can never be + Again so full of guileless truth-- +Langsyne! the eyes no more shall see, + Ah, no! the rainbow hopes of youth. +Langsyne! with thee resides a spell + To raise the spirit, and refine +Farewell!--there can be no farewell + To thee, loved, lost Langsyne! + + +Of the _prose_ articles, we have already given some specimens--The Hour +Too Many, a fortnight since; and Vicenza, just quoted. The next we +notice is Recollections of Pere la Chaise, for the graphic accuracy of +which we can answer; Eliza Carthago, an African anecdote, by Mrs. +Bowditch; Terence O'Flaherty, a humorous story, by the Modern +Pythagorean of Blackwood; two interesting stories of Modern Greece; a +highly-wrought Persian Tale, by the late Henry Neele; Miss Mitford's +charming Cricketing Sketch; the Maid of the Beryl, by Mrs. Hofland; a +Chapter of Eastern Apologues, by the Ettrick Shepherd; the Goldsmith of +Westcheap, a story of the olden time--rather too long; and a +characteristic Naval Sketch. + +As we have already drawn somewhat freely on the present volume, we may +adduce that as the best proof of the high opinion we entertain of its +merits. The editor has only two or three pieces; but the excellent taste +and judgment displayed in the editorship of the "Forget-me-not" entitle +it to a foremost place among the "Annuals for 1829." + + * * * * * + + + + +The Literary Souvenir, + +_Edited by Alaric A. Watts, Esq_. + + +If the present were the first volume of the Literary Souvenir, the name +of the editor would be a passport to popularity; but as this is the +fifth year of its publication, any recommendation of ours would be +supererogatory. + +But the Souvenir for 1829, realizes that delightful union of painting, +engraving, and literature, (at whose beneficial influence we have +glanced in our accompanying number) even more fully than its +predecessors. Ten out of the twelve embellishments are from celebrated +pictures, and the whole are by first-rate engravers. Of their cost we +spoke cursorily in a recent number; so that we shall only particularize +a few of the most striking. + +The engravings are of larger size than heretofore, and, for the most +part, more brilliant in design and execution than any previous year. +We can only notice _the Sisters_, (frontispiece) full of graceful and +pleasing effect, by J.H. Robinson, after Stephanoff; _Cleopatra, on the +Cydnus_, a splendid aquatic pageant, by E. Goodall, after Danby; the +_Proposal_, consisting of two of the most striking figures in Leslie's +exquisite painting of May Day in Queen Elizabeth's time; a _Portrait of +Sir Walter Scott_, from Leslie's painting, and considered the best +likeness; this is from the burin of an American artist of high promise. +We must not, however, forget _Ehrenbreitstein, on the Rhine_, by John +Pye, from a drawing by J.M.W. Turner, which is one of the most +delightful prints in the whole series. + +In the _poetry_ are Cleopatra, well according with the splendid scene it +is intended to illustrate--and I think of Thee, a tender lament--both by +Mr. T.K. Hervey; Mrs. Hemans has contributed four exquisite pieces: +Night, the Ship at Sea, and the Mariner's Grave, by Mr. John Malcolm, +only make us regret that we have not room for either in our columns; +Mary Queen of Scots, by H.G. Bell, Esq., is one of the most interesting +historical ballads we have lately met with; the Epistle from Abbotsford, +is a piece of pleasantry, which would have formed an excellent pendent +to Sir Walter's Study, in our last; Zadig and Astarte, by Delta, are in +the writer's most plaintive strain; the recollections of our happiest +years, are harmoniously told in "Boyhood;" a ballad entitled "The +Captive of Alhama," dated from Woburn Abbey, and signed R----, is a +soul-stirring production, attributed to Lord John Russel; and the Pixies +of Devon has the masterly impress of the author of Dartmoor. And last in +our enumeration, though first in our liking, are the following by the +editor:--Invocation to the Echo of a Sea Shell; King Pedro's Revenge, +with a well written historiette; the Youngling of the Flock, full of +tenderness and parental affection; and some Stanzas, for our admiration +of which we have not an epithet at hand, so we give the original. + + + +ON BURNING A PACKET OF LETTERS. + +_By A.A. Watts, Esq._ + + +Relics of love, and life's enchanted spring, + Of hopes born, rainbow-like, of smiles and tears:-- +With trembling hand do I unloose the string, + Twined round the records of my youthful years. + +Yet why preserve memorials of a dream, + Too bitter-sweet to breathe of aught but pain! +Why court fond memory for a fitful gleam + Of faded bliss, that cannot bloom again! + +The thoughts and feelings these sad relics bring + Back on my heart, I would not now recall:-- +Since gentler ties around its pulses cling, + Shall spells less hallowed hold them still in thrall! + +Can withered hopes that never came to flower + Match with affections long and dearly tried +Love, that has lived through many a stormy hour, + Through good and ill,--and time and change defied! + +Perish each record that might wake a thought + That would be treason to a faith like this!-- +Why should the spectres of past joys be brought + To fling their shadows o'er my present bliss! + +Yet,--ere we part for ever,--let me pay + A last, fond tribute to the sainted dead: +Mourn o'er these wrecks of passion's earlier day, + With tears as wild as once I used to shed. + +What gentle words are flashing on my eye! + What tender truths in every line I trace! +Confessions--penned with many a deep drawn sigh.-- + Hopes--like the dove--with but one resting place! + +How many a feeling, long--too long--represt, + Like autumn flowers, here opened out at last! +How many a vision of the lonely breast + Its cherish'd radiance on these leaves hath cast? + +And ye, pale violets, whose sweet breath hath driven + Back on my soul the dreams I fain would quell; +To whose faint perfume such wild power is given, + To call up visions--only loved too well;-- + +Ye too must perish!--Wherefore now divide + Tributes of love--first offerings of the heart;-- +Gifts--that so long have slumbered side by side; + Tokens of feeling--never meant to part! + +A long farewell:--sweet flowers, sad scrolls, adieu! + Yes, ye shall be companions to the last:-- +So perish all that would revive anew + The fruitless memories of the faded past! + +But, lo! the flames are curling swiftly round + Each fairer vestige of my youthful years; +Page after page that searching blaze hath found, + Even whilst I strive to trace them through my tears. + +The Hindoo widow, in affection strong, + Dies by her lord, and keeps her faith unbroken; +Thus perish all which to those wrecks belong, + The living memory--with the lifeless token! + + +Barry Cornwall has contributed several minor pieces, though we fear his +poetical reputation will not be increased by either of them. + +Some of the minor pieces are gems in their way, and one of the most +beautiful will be found appended to our current Number. + +To the _prose_:--The first in the volume is "the Sisters," a pathetic +tale of about thirty pages, which a little of the fashionable +affectation of some literary coxcombs might fine-draw over a brace of +small octavos. As it stands, the story is gracefully, yet energetically +told, and is entitled to the place it occupies. The author of Pelham +(_vide_ the newspapers) has a pleasant conceit in the shape of a +whole-length of fashion, which, being the best and shortest in its line +that we have met with, will serve to enliven our extracts:-- + + +TOO HANDSOME FOR ANY THING! + + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was one of those models of perfection of which +a human father and mother can produce but a single example,--Mr. +Ferdinand Fitzroy was therefore an only son. He was such an amazing +favourite with both his parents that they resolved to ruin him; +accordingly, he was exceedingly spoiled, never annoyed by the sight of +a book, and had as much plum-cake as he could eat. Happy would it have +been for Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy could he always have eaten plum-cake, and +remained a child. "Never," says the Greek Tragedian, "reckon a mortal +happy till you have witnessed his end." A most beautiful creature was +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy! Such eyes--such hair--such teeth--such a +figure--such manners, too,--and such an irresistible way of tying his +neckcloth! When he was about sixteen, a crabbed old uncle represented to +his parents the propriety of teaching Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy to read and +write. Though not without some difficulty, he convinced them,--for he +was exceedingly rich, and riches in an uncle are wonderful arguments +respecting the nurture of a nephew whose parents have nothing to leave +him. So our hero was sent to school. He was naturally (I am not joking +now) a very sharp, clever boy; and he came on surprisingly in his +learning. The schoolmaster's wife liked handsome children.--"What a +genius will Master Ferdinand Fitzroy be, if you take pains with him!" +said she, to her husband. + +"Pooh, my dear, it is of no use to take pains with _him_." + +"And why, love?" + +"Because he is a great deal too handsome ever to be a scholar." + +"And that's true enough, my dear!" said the schoolmaster's wife. + +So, because he was too handsome to be a scholar, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy +remained the lag of the fourth form! + +They took our hero from school.--"What profession shall he follow?" said +his mother. + +"My first cousin is the Lord Chancellor," said his father, "let him go +to the bar." + +The Lord Chancellor dined there that day: Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was +introduced to him; his lordship was a little, rough-faced, +beetle-browed, hard-featured man, who thought beauty and idleness the +same thing--and a parchment skin the legitimate complexion for a lawyer. + +"Send him to the bar!" said he, "no, no, that will never do!--Send him +into the army; he is much too handsome to become a lawyer." + +"And that's true enough, my lord!" said the mother. So they bought Mr. +Ferdinand Fitzroy a cornetcy in the ---- regiment of dragoons. + +Things are not learned by inspiration. Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy had never +ridden at school, except when he was hoisted; he was, therefore, a very +indifferent horseman; they sent him to the riding-school, and everybody +laughed at him. + +"He is a d--d ass!" said Cornet Horsephiz, who was very ugly; "a horrid +puppy!" said Lieutenant St. Squintem, who was still uglier; "if he does +not ride better he will disgrace the regiment," said Captain Rivalhate, +who was very good-looking; "if he does not ride better, we will cut +him!" said Colonel Everdrill, who was a wonderful martinet; "I say, Mr. +Bumpemwell (to the riding-master,) make that youngster ride less like a +miller's sack." + +"Pooh, sir, _he_ will never ride better." + +"And why the d---l will he not?" + +"Bless you, colonel, he is a great deal too handsome for a cavalry +officer!" + +"True!" said Cornet Horsephiz. + +"Very true," said Lieutenant St. Squintem. + +"We must cut him!" said the Colonel. + +And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly cut. + +Out hero was a youth of susceptibility--he quitted the ---- regiment, +and challenged the colonel. The colonel was killed! + +"What a terrible blackguard is Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" said the +colonel's relations. + +"Very true!" said the world. + +The parents were in despair!--They were not rich; but our hero was an +only son, and they sponged hard upon the crabbed old uncle! "he is very +clever," said they both, "and may do yet." + +So they borrowed some thousands from the uncle, and bought his beautiful +nephew a seat in parliament. + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was ambitious, and desirous of retrieving his +character. He fagged like a dragon--conned pamphlets and reviews--got +Ricardo by heart--and made notes on the English constitution. + +He rose to speak. + +"What a handsome fellow!" whispered one member. + +"Ah, a coxcomb!" said another. + +"Never do for a speaker!" said a third, very audibly. + +And the gentlemen on the opposite benches sneered and _heard!_--Impudence +is only indigenous in Milesia, and an orator is not made in a day. +Discouraged by his reception, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy grew a little +embarrassed. + +"Told you so!" said one of his neighbours. + +"Fairly broke down!" said another. + +"Too fond of his hair to have any thing in his head," said a third, who +was considered a wit. + +"Hear, hear!" cried the gentlemen on the opposite benches, + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy sat down--he had not shone; but, in justice, he +had not failed. Many a first-rate speaker had began worse; and many a +country member had been declared a phoenix of promise upon half his +merit. + +Not so, thought the heroes of corn-laws. + +"Your Adonises never make orators!" said a crack speaker with a wry +nose. + +"Nor men of business either," added the chairman of a committee, with a +face like a kangaroo's. + +"Poor devil!" said the civilest of the set. "He's a deuced deal too +handsome for a speaker! By Jove, he is going to speak again--this will +never do; we must cough him down!" + +And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly coughed down. + +Our hero was now seven or eight and twenty, handsomer than ever, and the +adoration of the young ladies at Almack's. + +"We have nothing to leave you," said the parents, who had long spent +their fortune, and now lived on the credit of having once enjoyed +it.--"You are the handsomest man in London; you must marry an heiress." + +"I will," said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + +Miss Helen Convolvulus was a charming young lady, with a hare-lip and +six thousand a-year. To Miss Helen Convolvulus then our hero paid his +addresses. + +Heavens! what an uproar her relations made about the matter. "Easy to +see his intentions," said one: "a handsome fortune-hunter, who wants to +make the best of his person!"--"handsome is that handsome does," says +another; "he was turned out of the army, and murdered his +colonel;"--"never marry a beauty," said a third;--"he can admire none +but himself;"--"will have so many mistresses," said a fourth;--"make you +perpetually jealous," said a fifth;--"spend your fortune," said a +sixth;--"and break your heart," said a seventh. + +Miss Helen Convolvulus was prudent and wary. She saw a great deal of +justice in what was said; and was sufficiently contented with liberty +and six thousand a-year, not to be highly impatient for a husband; but +our heroine had no aversion to a lover; especially to so handsome a +lover as Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. Accordingly she neither accepted nor +discarded him; but kept him on hope, and suffered him to get into debt +with his tailor, and his coach-maker. On the strength of becoming Mr. +Fitzroy Convolvulus. Time went on, and excuses and delays were easily +found; however, our hero was sanguine, and so were his parents. A +breakfast at Chiswick, and a putrid fever carried off the latter, within +one week of each other; but not till they had blessed Mr. Ferdinand +Fitzroy, and rejoiced that they had left him so well provided for. + +Now, then, our hero depended solely upon the crabbed old uncle and Miss +Helen Convolvulus; the former, though a baronet and a satirist was a +banker and a man of business:--he looked very distastefully at the +Hyperian curls and white teeth of Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + +"If I make you my heir," said he--"I expect you will continue the bank." + +"Certainly, sir!" said the nephew. + +"Humph!" grunted the uncle, "a pretty fellow for a banker!" + +Debtors grew pressing to Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, and Mr. Ferdinand +Fitzroy grew pressing to Miss Helen Convolvulus. "It is a dangerous +thing," said she, timidly, "to marry a man so admired,--will you always +be faithful?" + +"By heaven!" cried the lover. + +"Heigho!" sighed Miss Helen Convolvulus, and Lord Rufus Pumilion +entering, the conversation was changed. + +But the day of the marriage was fixed; and Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy bought +a new curricle. By Apollo, how handsome he looked in it! A month before +the wedding day the uncle died. Miss Helen Convolvulus was quite tender +in her condolences--"Cheer up, my Ferdinand," said she, "for your sake, +I have discarded Lord Rufus Pumilion!" "Adorable condescension!" cried +our hero;--"but Lord Rufus Pumilion is only four feet two, and has hair +like a peony." + +"All men are not so handsome as Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" was the reply. + +Away goes our hero, to be present at the opening of his uncle's will. + +"I leave," said the testator (who I have before said was a bit of a +satirist,) "my share of the bank, and the whole or my fortune, legacies +excepted, to"--(here Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy wiped his beautiful eyes with +a cambric handkerchief, exquisitely _brode_) "my natural son, John +Spriggs, an industrious, pains-taking youth, who will do credit to the +bank. I did once intend to have made my nephew Ferdinand my heir; but so +curling a head can have no talent for accounts. I want my successor to +be a man of business, not beauty; and Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy is a great +deal too handsome for a banker; his good looks will, no doubt, win him +any heiress in town. Meanwhile, I leave him, to buy a dressing-case, a +thousand pounds." + +"A thousand devils!" said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, banging out of the +room. He flew to his mistress. She was not at home. "Lies," says the +Italian proverb, "have short legs;" but truths, if they are unpleasant, +have terrible long ones! The next day Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy received a +most obliging note of dismissal. + +"I wish you every happiness," said Miss Helen Convolvulus, in +conclusion--"but my friends are right; you are much too handsome for a +husband!" + +And the week after, Miss Helen Convolvulus became Lady Rufus Pumilion. + +"Alas! sir," said the bailiff, as a day or two after the dissolution of +parliament, he was jogging along with Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, in a +hackney coach bound to the King's Bench,--"Alas! sir, what a pity it is +to take so handsome a gentleman to prison!" + +The MS. found in a Madhouse, by the same author, is perhaps too horrific +for this terror-loving age; but it is by no means less clever on that +account; _toute en huile_ would not do. Among the other tales are the +Rock of the Candle, Irish, by the author of Holland-Tide,--nearly forty +pages; and the Queen of May and Bridget Plantagenet,--of the olden +time--which would be spoiled by abridgment for our present purpose. The +same reason prevents our giving more than our commendation of Miss +Mitford's General and his Lady, who, we think are new company for our +fair authoress. + +In the Vision of Purgatory, by Dr. Maginn, (Irish, of course,) the +serious and ludicrous are mixed up with an abundance of skill and +humour; this piece should be read after the Madhouse sketch. + +The Souvenir is opportunely dedicated to Mr. Peel; and whether as a work +of art, or elegant literature, it is decidedly worthy of such +distinguished notice. If the argument of the fine arts contributing to +virtue hold good, then the patronage of a minister will be patriotically +bestowed on such works as the Literary Souvenir. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Amulet. + +_Edited by S. C. Hall, Esq._ + + +It would be difficult and somewhat egotistical for us to describe the +pleasure we felt on our receiving this interesting volume for notice in +our pages. The amiable spirit which breathes throughout its pages, and +the good taste which uniformly dictates its editorship have secured the +_Amulet_ an extensive, and we are disposed to think, a more permanent, +popularity than is attached to other works of similar form.[1] + +[Footnote 1] In a few words, the _Amulet_ reached us in an early stage of +convalescence, when we began to feel that "no medicine is better for the +weakness of the body than that which soothes and tranquillizes the +soul." We are not suiting the action to the word; on the contrary, we +would desire to wear such truths as the _Amulet_ enjoins--in our "heart +of hearts," as well in returning health and vigour as in the above +moments. + +The present volume contains Fourteen Plates, among which are _Murillo's +Spanish Flower Girl; Etty's Guardian Angels_, by Finden; a copy of Sir +Thomas Lawrence's portrait of _Lady Georgiana Fane_, from Colnaghi's +print; Eastlake's _Italian Mother;_ one of Collins's last pictures, _The +Fisherman Leaving Home; The Temple of Victory_, from Gandy,--all which +are first-rate works of art. + +There are eighty contributions, as the bookmakers say, "in prose and +verse," with a predominance of the former. The first of the _prose_ is a +Strange Story of every day, by William Kennedy--well told, but too long +for extract. The Mountain Daisy, a village sketch, by the Editor's lady, +is gracefully written; and with the Fisherman, by the Editor, is a fair +characteristic of the amiable spirit to which we have already alluded; +and in the same tone of good feeling is the Rose of Fennock Dale, a true +story by the fair authoress of the Mountain Daisy; and the Wandering +Minstrels, by the Rev. F.A. Cox, L.L.D. Miss Mitford has contributed one +of her inimitable sketches, Little Moses; but the most staple articles +in the volume are The Battle of Bunaania, one of the Georgian Islands, +by Mr. Ellis, the missionary; Notices of the Canadian Indians, by Dr. +Walsh; a Journey over the Brocken, by Mr. Coleridge; and a Fragment, by +Miss Jane Porter. Our prose selection is from the last of these +articles; but we intend transferring a portion of Dr. Walsh's "Notices" +to our next "Manners and Customs." + + * * * * * + + +THE SOUTH SEA CHIEF. + +_By Miss Jane Porter_. + + +While in the north of Europe, I met with a rather extraordinary person, +whose account of himself might afford a subject for a pretty romance; a +sort of new Paul and Virginia; but with what different catastrophe, it +is not fair to presage. He described himself as a Frenchman, a native of +Bourdeaux; where, at an early age, he was put on board a merchant ship, +to learn the profession of a seaman. About that time war broke out +between Great Britain, and the lately proclaimed Republic of France; +and the vessel he was in, being attacked, and taken by an English +man-of-war, he was carried a prisoner into England. When there, his +naturally enterprising character would not submit itself to a state of +captivity; and, soon making his wishes understood, he entered on board a +British sloop, bound to New Holland. While gazing with rapt astonishment +on the seeming new heavens which canopied that, to him, also, new +portion of the globe; while the stars of the Cross were exciting his +youthful wonder; and he could no where find the constellations of the +Great, or Little Bear in the midnight firmament, the sky was suddenly +overcast with a cloud, like the pall of nature, and a fearful tempest +burst from it. The scene was dreadful on that wide waste of waters; and +the vessel being driven at last into the rocky labyrinths of the Society +Isles, was finally wrecked on one not many leagues from the celebrated +Otaheite. Laonce, the young Frenchman, and one seaman of the sloop, an +honest north Briton, were the only persons who escaped; for when morning +broke, they found themselves, restored from insensibility, lying on the +shore, and not a trace of the ship, or of those who had navigated her, +was to be discerned. The inhabitants of the island, apparently wild +savages by their almost naked state, instead of seizing them as a prey, +took them to their huts, fed, and cherished them. Hope for awhile +flattered them that some other vessel, bound for New Holland, might also +be driven upon those islands, though not with the same hard fate, and +that by her means they might be released, and conveyed back to Europe. +But days, and weeks, and months, wearing away without any such arrival, +they began to regard the expectation less, and to turn their minds to +take a more intimate interest in objects around them. Time, indeed, +accustomed them to what might be called barbarous, in the manners of the +people; by degrees, even themselves laid aside their European habits; +they exchanged their clothing for the half-exposed fashion of the native +chiefs; and, adopting their pursuits and pleasures, became hunters, and +bold fishers in the light canoe. Finally, they learnt to speak the +language, as if they had been born in the island; and, at length, sealed +their insular destiny by marrying native women. Laonce was hardly +eighteen when he was first cast ashore amongst them; but having a +handsome person, and those engaging manners, from a naturally amiable +disposition added to a gentleman's breeding, which never fail agreeably +impressing even the rudest minds, the eye of female tenderness soon +found him out; and the maiden, being the daughter of the king, and +beautiful withal, had only to hint her wishes to her royal sire; and the +king naming them to their distinguished object, she immediately became +his happy bride. Laonce, becoming thus royally allied, and in the line +of the throne, instantly received publicly the investiture of the +highest order of Otaheitan nobility, namely, a species of tattooing +appropriated to chiefs alone. The limbs of the body thus distinguished, +are traversed all over with a damasked sort of pattern, while the +particular royal insignia is marked on the left side of the forehead, +and below the eye, like a thick mass of dark tattooing. + +But the young Frenchman, and his north Briton companion, had reserved to +themselves means of increasing their consequence, still more than by +their mere personal merits, with their new fellow-countrymen. A few days +after the wreck, the subsiding elements had cast up certain articles of +the ship, which they managed to turn to good account: the most valuable +of them were fire-arms and some gunpowder, and a few other implements, +both of defence, and use in household, or ship's repairs. The fire-arms +seemed to endow the new young chief, just engrafted into the reigning +stock, with a kind of preternatural authority; and, by the aid of his +old messmate, and new bosom-coadjutor, he exerted all his influence over +their awed minds, to prevent their recurrence to the frightful practice +he had seen on his first landing, of devouring the prisoners they took +in war. His marriage had invested him with the power of a natively born +son of the king; and, having made himself master of their language, his +persuasions were so conclusive with the leading warriors, that, in the +course of a very little time, it was rare to hear that so dreadful a +species of vengeance was ever tasted, even in stealth. However, so +addicted were some few of the fiercer sort, to this ancient triumph of +their ancestors, that he found it necessary to add commands to +persuasions, and then threats to commands; and having expressed in the +strongest terms his abhorrence of so cowardly and brutal a practice, he +told them, that the first man he saw attempt to touch the flesh of a +prisoner to devour it, he would instantly put the offender to death. + +Shortly after this warning, a fray took place between the natives of his +father-in-law's dominions, and their enemies from a hostile island. A +number of captives were taken; and all under his command held his former +orders in such reverence, that none, excepting two (and they had before +shown refractory dispositions,) presumed to disobey his edict of mercy. +But these men, in derision of his lenity, particularly to the female +sex, selected a woman prisoner to be their victim; and slaying her, as +they would have done a beast, they commenced their horrible repast upon +her body. Laonce descried the scene at a distance just as they had +prepared their hideous banquet, and, going resolutely towards them, +levelled his musket at the cannibals. One of the wretches was killed +with the horrid morsel in his mouth, and a second shot, brought down his +voracious accomplice in the act. This bold example so awed all within +ken of the fact, that from that hour, until the day he quitted the +island, a period of fourteen years, no captive ever met with the +interdicted fate. Though the old sovereign continued in life, he +consigned the power to his new son, and Laonce became virtually king of +the place. Indeed, so reconciled was he and his friend the north Briton +(who also married) to the spot which had first sheltered them, and then +adopted them even as its legitimate offspring, that although many ships +of different nations touched there, no inducements could prevail on them +to quit their sea-girt home of simple nature, for all the blandishments +which civilized life could produce. Yet Laonce took a hospitable delight +in showing every act of friendship in his power to the captains of the +vessels; refitting them with food and fresh water; and rendering them +much essential service, in pointing out how to manage with safety the +difficult navigation round the several islands. + +The animation with which he recited these circumstances, after he was +far from the spot where they took place, strongly portrayed the fearless +independence of his former life. He spoke with the decision of one whose +commands had been unappealable, and all the barbarian chief lightened in +his eyes. But when he recalled his home there, his family happiness, his +countenance fell, his eyes clouded, and he spoke in half-stifled words. +He described his palace-hut; his arms, his hunting spear, his canoe; his +return to his hut, with the fruits of the chase; the graceful, delicate +person of his wife; her clinging fondness on his entrance; his +tenderness for her, and for his children--for she bore to him a son and +a daughter; and, while he spoke, he burst into tears, and sobbed like a +child. "I was then beloved," said he, "Honoured!--master of all around +me; Now, I am nothing:--no home--no wife--no friend! I am an outcast +here!--when there! Oh, Berea! wilt thou have forgotten me?" His tears, +and wild agonies, prevented him proceeding; and my eyes could not remain +dry, when seeing such genuine grief, such real suffering. + +But the cause of his being separated from his South-Sea home, and his +beloved Berea and her babes, remains to be told. It appears, that about +three years before the period I met him, a Russian ship, sent on a +voyage of discoveries, touched at the island where Laonce had become +naturalized. The captain was received with royal hospitality by the +king; and the _Prince Laonce_ became the glad interpreter between the +Europeans and his august father-in-law--for the captain spoke French. +And, besides procuring the crew all they wanted for common comforts, the +young chief loaded the commander and his officers with useful presents. +One night it blew a violent gale, and the Russian captain, deeming it +impossible to keep his anchorage in a bay so full of unseen dangers, +made signals to the land, in hopes of exciting some native, experienced +in the navigation, to come off, and direct him how to steer. Every +moment increased his jeopardy; the storm augmented; and, at each growing +blast, he expected to be torn from his cables, and dashed to atoms +against the rocks. No one moved from the shore. Again the signals were +repeated: Laonce had risen from his bed on hearing the first. Who was +there amongst all in that island, excepting his British comrade, who +would have known how to move _a ship_ through those boiling waves? The +light canoe, and a vessel of heavy burthen, were different objects! His +comrade was then watching by the side of an almost dying wife, who had +just made him the father of his first-born son. Could Laonce summon him +from that spot of his heart's tenderest duties, to attend to the roaring +guns of distress from a stranger vessel? Impossible! He rose, and looked +out on the night. He listened to the second signal, he wrung his hands, +and, sighing, was returning to his couch again. His wife had then risen +also. She clasped her arms round him, and a big tear stood in both her +eyes, "You tell me," said she, "that your people do not make those +thunders to heaven, and to earth, till they are drowning. You know you +can save them all. Go, Lao,"--and she smiled; "go; and the foreign +chief, after you have saved him, will give you something for me--either +a looking-glass, or a silk handkerchief. Go, Lao." + +He wound his arms round the gentle pleader; and, almost ashamed that the +father and the husband in his heart, should make him calculate between +his own life and that of the gallant crew, he told her, that the tempest +raged too tremendously for him to dare stemming it. But she laughingly +repulsed his caresses, accusing his fondness for her as the inducement +of his assumed apprehensions; and being too long accustomed to the +rashness of her own people, in braving every weather, to believe any +plea of positive danger, she still persisted; saying she must have a +silk handkerchief that night from yon ship, or she should think he loved +his sound sleep better than he did his fond Berea. + +The enthusiastic love which still warmed the faithful husband's breast, +and a third signal of distress from the struggling vessel, mastered his +better judgment, and, seizing his canoe, he dashed into the foaming +waves and boldly stemmed their fury to the object of his mission. The +overjoyed crew, as they heard his voice hailing them through the storm, +cast out a rope, by which they hoisted him into their cracking ship. The +most rapturous acknowledgments from the captain, greeted him as soon as +he jumped on the deck; and the eager seamen called him their deliverer. +He was happy! he said, he was happy in the achievement of what he had +done; he had obeyed the wish of his beloved Berea, and he had survived +the lashing surge. He was happy, in the confidence that he should rescue +the gallant vessel he came to take under his control. But that hour of +happiness was his last. He took the helm in his hands; he gave the +requisite directions to the seamen, for the management of the ship; and +he soon steered her out of the dangers of the bay, till she rode in +safety on the main ocean. He then asked for a boat to carry him on +shore, for his canoe had been crushed by an accident. But the wind still +blowing hurricanes, they would not venture the loss of one of their +boats: and during the hot contentions between him, and the ungrateful +chief of the vessel he had preserved, they were driven out far to sea; +whence his swimming arm, had he plunged into the boisterous deep, could +have been of no use to him. Indignation, despair, overwhelmed him. None +appeared to understand the nature of his feelings; all pretending to +wonder that a European born, should not be grateful to any occasion that +would carry him away from a savage country like that. In vain Laonce +remonstrated; in vain he talked of his wife and children; the captain +and his sailors laughed, promised him better of both sorts among his +kindred whites; and when he cursed their hardened hearts and cruel +treachery, they laughed again, and left him to his misery. At last, when +the protracted hurricane subsided, and the vessel's log-book proved that +she had been driven several degrees leeward of the Society Isles, +abandoned to a sullen despair, he ceased to accuse or to reproach; he +ceased even to speak on any subject, but cast himself into his lonely +berth during the day, that he might not be irritated to continued +unavailing madness, by the sight of the ingrates who had betrayed him. +To his straining eyes, nothing but the silvery line of the starlit sea +was on that distant horizon; but his heart's vision pierced farther, +and he beheld the sleepers in that home;--no, not the sleepers! His +disconsolate, his despairing wife, tearing her bright locks, and beating +the tender bosom he must no longer clasp to his own. His children--"Oh! +my babes!" cried he, and the cry of a father's heart for once pierced +the obdurate bosom of the captain, who, in that moment, had happened +to come upon the deck to examine the night. To ease his Otaheitan +benefactor, he declared he had thus carried him off, to share in the +honour of his expected discoveries. The unhappy chief, in then answering +him, begged, that if he had, indeed, any spark of honesty towards him, +he would prove it, by obeying his wish in one thing at least; and that +was, to set him on shore on the first European settlement they should +fall in with. "Do this," said he, "and I may yet believe you have +honour. For honour is a man's own act; a discovery is fortune's; and for +its advantages, did I stay, I should not have to thank you. But I want +none such. Set me on shore, and there I will follow my own destiny." + +To this poor request, the iron-souled commander of the vessel, at last +consented; and in the course of some weeks after, Laonce was landed on +the coast of Kamschatka. His secret intent was to lie in wait for the +possibility of some ship touching at the port where he was set ashore, +that might be bound to the track of his beloved islands; but not +uttering a word of this, to the reprobate wretch who had torn him +thence, he simply bade him "farewell! and to use his next pilot better;" +so saying, they parted for ever. But weeks and months passed away, and +no vessel bound for the South Seas, showed itself in that distant +latitude; and its gloomy fogs, and chilling atmosphere, its pale sky, +where the sun never shone for more than three or four hours in the day, +seemed to wither up his life with his waning hopes! In no way did it +resemble the land he had left; the warm, and the genial heavens of the +home he was yet bent to find again;--and he left Kamschatka for some +more propitious port; but, like _Sinbad the Sailor_, he wandered in +vain. A cruel spell seemed set on him, or on the spirit of adventure; +for in no place could he hear of a vessel going the way of his prayers. +At last he arrived, by a most tedious and circuitous journey at Moscow, +with a design to lay his case before the young and ardent Alexander, the +then Emperor of Russia; with the hope that his benevolence, and a sense +of what he had done for the vessel which had betrayed him, would incline +his majesty to make some effort to return him to his island, and his +family. + +That this hope was not vain, the character of the good Alexander, since +proved by a life of undeviating promptness to all acts of humanity, may +be a sufficient voucher. But whether the homeward-bound chief, found, on +his setting his foot again upon the ground whence he had been so cruelly +rifled; and whence, indeed, the innocent confidence, the playful +bravery of his fond wife, had urged him; whether he found his +cherishly-remembered home, yet standing as he left it; and her, still +the tender and the true to his never-wandered heart; and whether his +children sprang to his knee, to share the parental caress; and the +people around, raised the _haloo_ of joy to the returned _son of their +king!_--whether these fondly-expected greetings hailed his arrival, +cannot be absolutely told; for the vessel that took him out, was to make +the circuit of the globe, ere it returned; hence, from that, and other +circumstances, the facts have never reached the narrator of this little +history, of what was really the meeting between Laonce and his Berea; of +the young chief, and the natives he had devotedly served! But can the +faithful hearts of wedded love, doubt the one; or manly attachment +suspect the other? For the honour of human nature, we will believe that +all was right; and, in the faith of a humble Christian, we will believe, +that "he who shewed mercy, found mercy!"; That he is now restored to his +island-home, and to his happy, grateful family! + + * * * * * + +Among the _poetical_ contributions are The Angels' Call, and Woman and +Fame, by Mrs. Hemans; Carthage, and Stanzas, by T.K. Hervey; the Chapel +on the Cliff, by W. Kennedy; all entitled to high praise. A Christian's +Day, by Miss A.M. Porter, is a sweet devotional composition. The extract +from one of Mr. Atherstone's unpublished books of the Fall of Nineveh, +maintains the high opinion already formed of the published part. Mr. C. +Swain has two beautiful pieces. We have only room to name those _gems_ +of the poetry, viz. Wearie's Well, and another beautiful ballad, by W. +Motherwell; and some exquisite lines by the Rev. G. Croly; and to quote +the following:-- + + +CHANGE. + +BY L.E.L. + + +The wind is sweeping o'er the hill; + It hath a mournful sound, +As if it felt the difference + Its weary wing hath found. +A little while that wandering wind + Swept over leaf and flower; +For there was green for every tree, + And bloom for every hour. + +It wandered through the pleasant wood, + And caught the dove's lone song; +And by the garden-beds, and bore + The rose's breath along. +But hoarse and sullenly it sweeps; + No rose is opening now-- +No music, for the wood-dove's nest + Is vacant on the bough. + +Oh, human heart and wandering wind, + Go look upon the past; +The likeness is the same with each-- + Their summer did not last. +Each mourns above the things it loved-- + One o'er a flower and leaf; +The other over hopes and joys, + Whose beauty was as brief. + + +We congratulate the editor and the public on the past success of the +_Amulet_, especially as it proves that a pious feeling co-exists with a +taste for refined amusement, and that advantageously. There is nothing +austere in any page of the _Amulet_, nor anything so frivolous and light +as to be objectionable; but it steers in the medium, and consequently +must be acceptable to every well-regulated mind. Indeed, many of the +pieces in the present volume may be read and re-read with increased +advantage; whilst two only are unequal to the names attached to them. + + * * * * * + + +THE GEM. + +_Edited by Thomas Hood, Esq._ + + +The present is the first year of the _Gem_, which, as a work of art or +literature, fully comes within the import of its title. It is likewise +the first appearance of Mr. Hood as the editor of an "annual," who, with +becoming diffidence, appears to rely on the "literary giants" of his +muster-roll, rather than on his individual talent. Notwithstanding such +an editorship must have resembled the perplexity of Sinbad in the Valley +of Diamonds, Mr. Hood's volume is almost unexceptionably good, whatever +he may have rejected; and one of the best, if not _the best_, article in +the whole work, has been contributed by the editor himself. Associated +as Mr. Hood's name is with "whim and oddity," we, however, looked for +more quips, quirks, and quiddities than he has given us, which we should +have hailed as specially suited to the approaching festive season, and +from their contrast with the contents of similar works, as more likely +to attract by their novelty and humour. + +The embellishments of the _Gem_, fifteen in number, have been selected +by A. Cooper, Esq. R.A. _The Death of Keeldar_ is a beautiful +composition by Mr. Cooper, and is worthy of association with Sir Walter +Scott's pathetic ballad. _The Widow_, by S. Davenport, from a picture by +R. Leslie, R.A. is one of the most touching prints we have yet seen, and +every one is capable of estimating its beauties, since its expression +will be sure to fasten on the affections of the beholder. _May Talbot_, +by J.C. Edwards, from a painting by A. Cooper, is admirable in design +and execution. Of the _Temptation on the Mount_, engraved by W.R. Smith, +after Martin, we have spoken in our accompanying Number; but as often as +we look at the plate, we discover new beauties. It is a just idea of +"all the kingdoms of the earth;" the distant effect is excellent, and +the "exceeding high mountain" is ably represented. The faces in the +_Painter's Study_ are decidedly superior to the rest of the print. The +_Fisherman's Daughter_, from a painting by Bone, is pleasing; and +_Venice, with the Embarkation of the Doge_, is a stirring scene of +pageantry and triumph. + +Among the _poetry_ is the Painter's Song, a pleasing composition, by +Barry Cornwall, who has also The Victim, a dramatic sketch of twenty +pages. Stanzas by Horace Smith, Esq. are a pleasant satire upon the +little vanities of great people. We give the _Dream of Eugene Aram_ in +full, although it consists of nearly two pages of small type.:-- + + * * * * * + + +THE DREAM OF EUGENE ARAM. + +BY T. HOOD, ESQ. + + +[The late Admiral Burney went to school at an establishment where the +unhappy Eugene Aram was usher subsequent to his crime. The admiral +stated, that Aram was generally liked by the boys; and that he used to +discourse to them about _murder_ in somewhat of the spirit which is +attributed to him in this poem.] + + +'Twas in the prime of summer time, + An evening calm and cool, +And four-and-twenty happy boys + Came bounding out of school: +There were some that ran and some that leapt, + Like troutlets in a pool. + +Away they sped with gamesome minds, + And souls untouch'd by sin: +To a level mead they came, and there + They drave the wickets in: +Pleasantly shone the setting sun + Over the town of Lynn. + +Like sportive deer they coursed about, + And shouted as they ran,-- +Turning to mirth all things of earth, + As only boyhood can; +But the Usher sat remote from all-- + A melancholy man! + +His hat was off, his vest apart, + To catch heaven's blessed breeze-- +For a burning thought was in his brow, + And his bosom ill at ease: +So he lean'd his head on his hands, and read + The book between his knees! + +Leaf after leaf he turn'd it o'er, + Nor ever glanc'd aside-- +For the peace of his soul he read that book + In the golden eventide: +Much study had made him very lean, + And pale, and leaden-eyed. + +At last, he shut the ponderous tome; + With a fast and fervent grasp +He strain'd the dusky covers close, + And fixed the brazen hasp; +"O God, could I so close my mind, + And clasp it with a clasp!" + +Then leaping on his feet upright, + Some moody turns he took,-- +Now up the mead, then down the mead, + And past a shady nook,-- +And, lo! he saw a little boy + That pored upon a book! + +"My gentle lad, what is't you read-- + Romance or fairy fable? +Or is it some historic page, + Of kings and crowns unstable?" +The young boy gave an upward glance,-- + "It is _The Death of Abel_." + +The Usher took six hasty strides, + As smit with sudden pain,-- +Six hasty strides beyond the place, + Then slowly back again; +And down he sat beside the lad, + And talk'd with him of Cain; + +And, long since then, of bloody men, + Whose deeds tradition saves; +Of lonely folk cut off unseen, + And hid in sudden graves; +Of horrid stabs, in groves forlorn, + And murders done in caves. + +And how the sprites of injured men + Shriek upward from the sod,-- +Ay, how the ghostly hand will point + To show the burial clod; +And unknown facts of guilty acts + Are seen in dreams from God! + +He told how murderers walk the earth + Beneath the curse of Cain,-- +With crimson clouds before their eyes, + And flames about their brain: +For blood has left upon their souls + Its everlasting stain! + +"And well," quoth he, "I know, for truth, + Their pangs must be extreme,-- +Wo, wo, unutterable wo,-- + Who spill life's sacred stream! +For why? Methought, last night, I wrought + A murder in a dream! + +"One that had never done me wrong-- + A feeble man, and old: +I led him to a lonely field, + The moon shone clear and cold: +Now here, said I, this man shall die, + And I will have his gold! + +"Two sudden blows with a ragged stick, + And one with a heavy stone, +One hurried gash with a hasty knife-- + And then the deed was done: +There was nothing lying at my foot, + But lifeless flesh and bone! + +"Nothing but lifeless flesh and bone, + That could not do me ill; +And yet I fear'd him all the more, + For lying there so still: +There was a manhood in his look, + That murder could not kill! + +"And, lo! the universal air + Seem'd lit with ghastly flame,-- +Ten thousand thousand dreadful eyes + Were looking down in blame: +I took the dead man by the hand, + And call'd upon his name! + +"Oh, God, it made me quake to see + Such sense within the slain! +But when I touch'd the lifeless clay, + The blood gush'd out amain! +For every clot, a burning spot, + Was scorching in my brain! + +"My head was like an ardent coal, + My heart as solid ice; +My wretched, wretched soul I knew + Was at the Devil's price: +A dozen times I groaned--the dead + Had never groan'd but twice! + +"And now from forth the frowning sky, + From the heaven's topmost height, +I heard a voice--the awful voice + Of the blood-avenging sprite:-- +'Thou guilty man! take up thy dead, + And hide it from my sight!' + +"I took the dreary body up, + And cast it in a stream,-- +A sluggish water, black as ink. + The depth was so extreme +My gentle boy, remember this + Is nothing but a dream! + +"Down went the corse with a hollow plunge, + And vanish'd in the pool-- +Anon I cleansed my bloody hands + And wash'd my forehead cool, +And sat among the urchins young + That evening in the school! + +"Oh, heaven, to think of their white souls, + And mine so black and grim! +I could not share in childish prayer. + Nor join in evening hymn: +Like a devil of the pit I seem'd, + 'Mid holy cherubim! + +"And peace went with them one and all, + And each calm pillow spread-- +But Guilt was my grim chamberlain + That lighted me to bed, +And drew my midnight curtains round, + With fingers bloody red! + +"All night I lay in agony, + In anguish dark and deep-- +My fever'd eyes I dared not close, + But stared aghast at Sleep; +For Sin had render'd unto her + The keys of hell to keep! + +"All night I lay in agony, + From weary chime to chime, +With one besetting horrid hint, + That rack'd me all the time,-- +A mighty yearning, like the first + Fierce impulse unto crime! + +"One stern, tyrannic thought, that made + All other thoughts its slave; +Stronger and stronger every pulse + Did that temptation crave,-- +Still urging me to go and see + The dead man in his grave! + +"Heavily I rose up,--as soon + As light was in the sky.-- +And sought the black, accursed pool + With a wild, misgiving eye; +And I saw the dead in the river bed, + For the faithless stream was dry! + +"Merrily rose the lark, and shook + The dewdrop from its wing; +But I never mark'd its morning flight, + I never heard it sing; +For I was stooping once again + Under the horrid thing. + +"With breathless speed, like a soul in chase, + I took him up and ran,-- +There was no time to dig a grave + Before the day began: +In a lonesome wood, with heaps of leaves, + I hid the murdered man. + +"And all that day I read in school, + But my thought was other where: +As soon as the mid-day task was done, + In secret I was there; +And a mighty wind had swept the leaves, + And still the corse was bare! + +"Then down I cast me on my face, + And first began to weep, +For I knew my secret then was one + That earth refused to keep; +Or land or sea, though he should be + Ten thousand fathoms deep! + +"So wills the fierce avenging sprite, + Till blood for blood atones! +Ay, though he's buried in a cave, + And trodden down with stones, +And years have rotted off his flesh-- + The world shall see his bones! + +"Oh God, that horrid, horrid dream + Besets me now awake! +Again--again, with a dizzy brain, + The human life I take; +And my red right hand grows raging hot, + Like Cranmer's at the stake. + +"And still no peace for the restless clay + Will wave or mould allow; +The horrid thing pursues my soul,-- + It stands before me now!" +The fearful boy looked up, and saw + Huge drops upon his brow! + +That very night, while gentle sleep + The urchin eyelids kiss'd, +Two stern-fac'd men set out from Lynn, + Through the cold and heavy mist; +And Eugene Aram walked between, + With gyves upon his wrist. + + +Mr. Planché's versification of the homely proverb--Poverty parts good +company--will create many good-natured smiles, and run counter with Mr. +Kenney's To-morrow. Some of the minor pieces are very pleasing, +especially two by Hartley Coleridge, Esq. + +We confess we do not admire the taste which dictated Mr. C. Lamb's +Widow; it is in every respect unworthy of the plate, and the feelings +created by the two are very discordant. We love a joke, but to call a +widow's sables a perpetual "black joke," disgusts rather than pleases +us. The Funeral of General Crawford, by the author of The Subaltern is +an affecting incident; and Nina St. Morin, by the author of May You Like +It, is of the same character. Catching a Tartar, by Mansie Wauch, and +the Station, an Irish Story, are full of humour; and May Day, by the +editor, abounds with oddities. Thus, "the golden age is not to be +regilt; pastoral is gone out, and Pan extinct--pans will not last for +ever;" "horticultural hose, _pruned_ so often at top to _graft_ at +bottom, that from long stockings they had dwindled into short socks;" +"the contrast of a large marquee in canvass with the long lawn;" "Pan's +sister, Patty, the wags called _Patty Pan_," &c. One of the finest +stories in the _Gem_ is the Rival Dreamers, by Mr. Banim; and curious +enough, this is the third Annual in which we have met with the same +legend. The present version is, however, the best narrative, which such +of our readers as know the O'Hara Family will readily believe. We could +abridge it for our present space; but it would be injustice to the +author to pare down his beautiful descriptions; and we will endeavour to +give place to the tale in a future Number. The Last Embarkation of the +Doge of Venice is interesting; almost every incident connected with that +huge pleasure-house is attractive, but one of the present, the Marriage +of the Sea, is well told. The Shearmen's Miracle Play smacks pleasantly +of "the good old times" of merry England. Miss Mitford has contributed +two of her inimitable sketches--Harry Lewington and his Dog, and Tom +Hopkins--the latter an excellent portrait of "the loudest, if not the +greatest man" in the little town of Cranley. We must give the village +lion, in little:-- + + * * * * * + + +TOM HOPKINS. + + +At the time of which I speak, Tom Hopkins was of an age somewhat +equivocal; public fame called him fifty, whilst he himself stuck +obstinately at thirty-five; of a stout active figure, rather manly than +gentlemanly, and a bold, jovial visage, in excellent keeping with his +person, distinguished by round, bright, stupid black eyes, an aquiline +nose, a knowing smile, and a general comely vulgarity of aspect. His +voice was hoarse and deep, his manner bluff and blunt, and his +conversation loud and boisterous. With all these natural impediments to +good company, the lowness of his origin, recent in their memories, and +the flagrant fact of his residence in a country town, staring them in +the face, Mr. Tom Hopkins made his way into almost every family of +consideration in the neighbourhood. Sportsmanship, sheer sportsmanship, +the qualification that, more than any other, commands the respect of +your great English landholder, surmounted every obstacle. + +With the ladies, he made his way by different qualities; in the first +place he was a character, an oddity, and the audacity of his vulgarity +was tolerated, where a man only half as boisterous would have been +scouted; then he was gallant in his way, affected, perhaps felt, a great +devotion to the sex, and they were half amused, half pleased, with the +rough flattery which seemed, and probably was, so sincere. + +His house was an ugly brick dwelling of his own erection, situate in the +principal street of Cranley, and adorned with a green door and a brass +knocker, giving entrance into a stone passage, which, there being no +other way to the stable, served both for himself, and that very dear +part of himself, his horses, whose dwelling was certainly by far more +commodious than their master's. His accommodations were simple enough. +The dining-parlour, which might pass for his only sitting-room,--for the +little dark den which he called his drawing-room was not entered three +times a year; the dining-room was a small square room, coloured +pea-green with a gold moulding, adorned with a series of four prints on +shooting, and four on hunting, together with two or three portraits of +eminent racers, riders, hunters, and grooms. Guns and fishing-rods were +suspended over the mantelpiece; powder-horns, shot-belts, and game-bags +scattered about; a choice collection of flies for angling lay in one +corner, whips and bridles in another, and a pile of books and +papers,--Colonel Thornton's Tour, Daniel's Rural Sports, and a heap of +Racing Calendars, occupied a third; Ponto and Carlo lay basking on the +hearth-rug, and a famous little cocking spaniel, Flora by name, a +conscious favourite, was generally stretched in state on an arm-chair. + +Here, except when the owner was absent on a sporting expedition, which, +between fishing, shooting, hunting, and racing, did, it must be +confessed, happen pretty often; here his friends were sure to find a +hearty welcome, a good beef-steak,--his old housekeeper was famous for +cookery!--and as much excellent Port and super-excellent Madeira--Tom, +like most of his school, eschewed claret and other thin potations--as +their host could prevail on them to swallow. Many a good fellow hath +heard the chimes at midnight in this little room. + + * * * * * + +In the present sheet we are only able to include Notices of _four_ of +the _nine_ Annuals, exclusive of the _Juvenile Presents_, which we +reserve for a "select party." Our notice of the _Winter's Wreath_ is in +type, but must stand over for the present, as well as those of the +_Keepsake, Anniversary, Bijou_, and _Friendship's Offering_, which will +freight another Supplementary Sheet, to follow very shortly. We prefer +this method to passing over the merits of these works with mere +commendatory generalities. It does not require a microscopic or a +critical eye to distinguish their beauties; but we hope the means we +have adopted for the present gratification of our readers will be such +as to induce them to look for the appearance of our SECOND SUPPLEMENT, +as well as to prove ourselves worthy of the _encore_. Like some comic +singers, we will endeavour to keep up the entertainment by "variations." + + * * * * * + +_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_. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, +AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 12, ISSUE 340, SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER (1828)*** + + +******* This file should be named 11406-8.txt or 11406-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/4/0/11406 + + +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 <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 12, Issue 340, Supplementary Number (1828)</p> +<p>Author: Various</p> +<p>Release Date: March 2, 2004 [eBook #11406]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: iso-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 12, ISSUE 340, SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER (1828)***</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<center><b>E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Michael Hermen, David Garcia,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</b></center> +<br /> +<br /> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page305" name="page305"></a>[pg + 305]</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. 340.]</b> + </td> + <td align="center"> + <b>SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER.</b> + </td> + <td align="right"> + <b>[PRICE 2d.</b> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2> + Vicenza. + </h2> + <div class="figure" style="width: 100%;"> + <a href="images/340-1.png"><img width="100%" + src="images/340-1.png" alt="Vicenza." /></a> + </div> + <h3> + SPIRIT OF THE "ANNUALS," FOR 1829. + </h3> + <p> + For some days past our table has been glittering with these + caskets of song and tale in their gay attire of silken sheen + and burnished gold—till their splendour has fairly put + out the light of our <i>sinumbra</i>, and the drabs, blues, + and yellows of sober, business-like quartos and octavos. + Seven out of nine of these elegant little books are in + "watered" silk bindings; and an ingenious lady-friend has + favoured us with the calculation that the silk used in + covering the presumed number sold (70,000) would extend five + miles, or from Hyde Park Corner to Turnham Green. + </p> + <p> + Brilliant as may be their exteriors, their contents are, as + Miss Jane Porter says of her heroines, "transcendently + beautiful." But of these we shall present our readers with + some exquisite specimens. Our only trouble in this task is + the <i>embarras du richesses</i> with which we are + surrounded; otherwise it is to us an exhaustless source of + delight, especially when we consider the "gentle feelings and + affections" which this annual distribution will cherish, and + the innumerable intertwinings of hands and hearts which this + shower of <i>bon-bons</i> will produce; and such warm friends + are we to this social scheme, that our presentation + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page306" name="page306"></a>[pg + 306]</span> copies are already in the fair hands whither we + had destined them. + </p> + <p> + We begin with the parent-stock, + </p> + <h3> + The Forget-Me-Not. + </h3> + <center> + <i>Edited by Frederic Shoberl</i>, Esq. + </center> + <p> + The present volume, in its graphic and literary attractions + is decidedly superior to that of last year, an improvement + which makes us credit what the Ettrick Shepherd says of the + proprietor—"There's no a mair just, nay, generous man + in his dealings wi' his authors, in a' the tredd, than Mr. + Ackermann." + </p> + <p> + This beautiful Annual contains the original of our ENGRAVING, + from a plate by A. Freebairn, after an admirable picture by + S. Prout, of which the following story is + illustrative:— + </p> + <h3> + THE MAGICIAN OF VICENZA. + </h3> + <p> + In the year 1796, on one of the finest evenings of an Italian + autumn, when the whole population of the handsome city of + Vicenza were pouring into the streets to enjoy the fresh air, + that comes so deliciously along the currents of its three + rivers; when the Campo Marzo was crowded with the opulent + citizens and Venetian nobles; and the whole ascent, from the + gates to the Madonna who sits enthroned on the summit of + Monte Berrico, was a line of the gayest pilgrims that ever + wandered up the vine-covered side of an Alpine hill; the ears + of all were caught by the sound of successive explosions from + a boat running down the bright waters of the Bachiglione. + Vicenza was at peace, under the wing of the lion of St. Mark, + but the French were lying round the ramparts of Mantua. They + had not yet moved on Venice; yet her troops were known to be + without arms, experience, or a general, and the sound of a + cracker would have startled her whole dominions. + </p> + <p> + The boat itself was of a singular make; and the rapidity with + which this little chaloupe, glittering with gilding and hung + with streamers, made its way along the sparkling stream, + struck the observers as something extraordinary. It flew by + every thing on the river, yet no one was visible on board. It + had no sail up, no steersman, no rower; yet it plunged and + rushed along with the swiftness of a bird. The Vicentine + populace are behind none of their brethren in superstition, + and at the sight of the flying chaloupe, the groups came + running from the Campo Marzo. The Monte Berrico was speedily + left without a pilgrim, and the banks of the Bachiglione + were, for the first time since the creation, honoured with + the presence of the Venetian authorities, and even of the + sublime podesta [the governor, a Venetian noble.] himself. + </p> + <p> + But it was fortunate for them that the flying phenomenon had + reached the open space formed by the conflux of the three + rivers, before the crowd became excessive; for, just as it + had darted out from the narrow channel, lined on both sides + with the whole thirty thousand old, middle-aged, and young, + men, maids, and matrons of the city, a thick smoke was seen + rising from its poop, its frame quivered, and, with a + tremendous explosion, the chaloupe rose into the air in ten + thousand fragments of fire. + </p> + <p> + The multitude were seized with consternation; and the whole + fell on their knees, from the sublime podesta himself, to the + humblest saffron-gatherer. Never was there such a mixture of + devotion. Never was there such a concert of exclamations, + sighs, callings on the saints, and rattling of beads. The + whole concourse lay for some minutes with their very noses + rubbing to the ground, until they were all roused at once by + a loud burst of laughter. Thirty thousand pair of eyes were + lifted up at the instant, and all fixed in astonishment on a + human figure, seen calmly sitting on the water, in the very + track of the explosion, and still half hidden in the heavy + mass of smoke that curled in a huge globe over the remnants. + The laugh had proceeded from him, and the nearer he + approached the multitude, the louder he laughed. At length, + stopping in front of the spot where the sublime podesta, a + little ashamed of his prostration, was getting the dust + shaken out of his gold-embroidered robe of office, and + bathing his burning visage in orange-flower water, the + stranger began a sort of complimentary song to the famous + city of Vicenza. + </p> + <p> + The stranger found a willing audience; for his first stanza + was in honour of the "most magnificent city of Vicenza;" its + "twenty palaces by the matchless Palladio;" much more "its + sixty churches;" and much more than all "its breed of + Dominicans, unrivalled throughout the earth for the fervour + of their piety and the capacity of their stomachs." The last + touch made the grand-prior of the cathedral wince a little, + but it was welcomed with a roar from the multitude. The song + proceeded; but if the prior had frowned at the first stanza, + the podesta was doubly angry at the second, which sneered at + Venetian pomposity in incomparable style. But the prior and + podesta were equally outvoted, for the roar of the multitude + was twice as loud as before. Then came other touches on the + <i>cavalieri serventi</i>, the ladies, the + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page307" name="page307"></a>[pg + 307]</span> nuns, and the husbands, till every class had its + share: but the satire was so witty, that, keen as it was, the + shouts of the people silenced all disapprobation. He finished + by a brilliant stanza, in which he said, that "having been + sent by Neptune from the depths of the ocean to visit the + earth, he had chosen for his landing-place its most renowned + spot, the birthplace of the gayest men and the handsomest + women—the exquisite Vicenza." With these words he + ascended from the shore, and was received with thunders of + applause. + </p> + <p> + His figure was tall and elegant. He wore a loose, scarlet + cloak thrown over his fine limbs, Greek sandals, and a cap + like that of the Italian princes of three centuries before, a + kind of low circle of green and vermilion striped silk, + clasped by a large rose of topaz. The men universally said, + that there was an atrocious expression in his countenance; + but the women, the true judges after all, said, without + exception, that this was envy in the men, and that the + stranger was the most "delightful looking <i>Diavolo</i>" + they had ever set eyes on. + </p> + <p> + The stranger, on his landing, desired to be led to the + principal hotel; but he had not gone a dozen steps from the + water-side, when he exclaimed that he had lost his purse. + Such an imputation was never heard before in an Italian city; + at least so swore the multitude; and the stranger was on the + point of falling several fathoms deep in his popularity. But + he answered the murmur by a laugh; and stopping in front of a + beggar, who lay at the corner of an hospital roaring out for + alms, demanded the instant loan of fifty sequins. The beggar + lifted up his hands and eyes in speechless wonder, and then + shook out his rags, which, whatever else they might show, + certainly showed no sequins, "The sequins, or death!" was the + demand, in a tremendous voice. The beggar fell on the ground + convulsed, and from his withered hand, which every one had + seen empty the moment before, out flew fifty sequins, bright + as if they had come that moment from St. Mark's mint. The + stranger took them from the ground, and, with a smile, flung + them up in a golden shower through the crowd. The shouts were + immense, and the mob insisted on carrying him to the door of + his hotel. + </p> + <p> + But the Venetian vigilance was by this time a little + awakened, and a patrol of the troops was ordered to bring + this singular stranger before the sublime podesta. The crowd + instantly dropped him at the sight of the bayonets, and + knowing the value of life in the most delicious climate of + the world, took to their heels. The guard took possession of + their prisoner, and were leading him rather roughly to the + governor's house, when he requested them to stop for a moment + beside a convent gate, that he might get a cup of wine. But + the Dominicans would not give the satirist of their + illustrious order a cup of water. + </p> + <p> + "If you will not give me refreshment," exclaimed he, in an + angry tone, "give me wherewithal to buy it. I demand a + hundred sequins." + </p> + <p> + The prior himself was at the window above his head; and the + only answer was a sneer, which was loyally echoed through + every cloister. + </p> + <p> + "Let me have your bayonet for a moment," said the stranger to + one of his guard. He received it; and striking away a + projecting stone in the wall, out rushed the hundred sequins. + The prior clasped his hands in agony, that so much money + should have been so near, and yet have escaped his pious + purposes, The soldiers took off their caps for the + discoverer, and bowed them still lower when he threw every + sequin of it into the shakos of those polite warriors. The + officer, to whom he had given a double share, showed his + gratitude by a whisper, offering to assist his escape for as + much more. But the stranger declined the civility, and walked + boldly into the presence-chamber of the sublime podesta. + </p> + <p> + The Signer Dominico Castello-Grande Tremamondo was a little + Venetian noble, descended in a right line from Aeneas, with a + palazzo on the Canale Regio of Venice, which he let for a + coffee-house; and living in the pomp and pride of a + <i>magnifico</i> on something more than the wages of an + English groom. The intelligence of this extraordinary + stranger's discoveries had flown like a spark through a + magazine, and the <i>illustrissimo</i> longed to be a + partaker in the secret. He interrogated the prisoner with + official fierceness, but could obtain no other reply than the + general declaration, that he was a traveller come to see the + captivations of Italy. In the course of the inquiry the + podesta dropped a significant hint about money. + </p> + <p> + "As to money," was the reply, "I seldom carry any about me; + it is so likely to tempt <i>rascals</i> to dip deeper in + roguery. I have it whenever I choose to call for it." + </p> + <p> + "I should like to see the experiment made, merely for its + curiosity," said the governor. + </p> + <p> + "You shall be obeyed," was the answer; "but I never ask for + more than a sum for present expenses. Here, you + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page308" name="page308"></a>[pg + 308]</span> fellow!" said he, turning to one of the + half-naked soldiery, "lend me five hundred sequins!" + </p> + <p> + The whole guard burst into laughter. The sum would have been + a severe demand on the military chest of the army. The + handsome stranger advanced to him, and, seizing his musket, + said, loftily, "Fellow, if you won't give the money, this + must." He struck the butt-end of the musket thrice upon the + floor. At the third blow a burst of gold poured out, and + sequins ran in every direction. The soldiery and the officers + of the court were in utter astonishment. All wondered, many + began to cross themselves, and several of the most celebrated + swearers in the regiment dropped upon their knees. But their + devotions were not long, for the sublime podesta ordered the + hall to be cleared, and himself, the stranger, and the + sequins, left alone. + </p> + <p> + For three days nothing more was heard of any of the three, + and the Vicenzese scarcely ate, drank, or slept, through + anxiety to know what was become of the man in the scarlet + cloak, and cap striped green and vermilion. Jealousy, + politics, and piety, at length put their heads together, and, + by the evening of the third day, the <i>cavalieri</i> had + agreed that he was some rambling actor, or Alpine thief, the + statesmen, that he was a spy; and the Dominicans that he was + Satan in person. The women, partly through the contradiction + natural to the lovely sex, and partly through the novelty of + not having the world in their own way, were silent; a + phenomenon which the Italian philosophers still consider the + true wonder of the whole affair. + </p> + <p> + On the evening of the third day a new Venetian governor, with + a stately <i>cortege</i>, was seen entering at the Water + Gate, full gallop, from Venice: he drove straight to the + podesta's house, and, after an audience, was provided with + apartments in the town-house, one of the finest in Italy, and + looking out upon the <i>Piazza Grande</i>, in which are the + two famous columns, one then surmounted by the winged lion of + St. Mark, as the other still is by a statue of the founder of + our faith. + </p> + <p> + The night was furiously stormy, and the torrents of rain and + perpetual roaring of the thunder drove the people out of the + streets. But between the tempest and curiosity not an eye was + closed that night in the city. Towards morning the tempest + lulled, and in the intervals of the wind, strange sounds were + heard, like the rushing of horses and rattling of carriages. + At length the sounds grew so loud that curiosity could be + restrained no longer, and the crowd gathered towards the + entrance of the <i>Piazza</i>. The night was dark beyond + description, and the first knowledge of the hazard that they + were incurring was communicated to the shivering mob by the + kicks of several platoons of French soldiery, who let them + pass within their lines, but prohibited escape. The square + was filled with cavalry, escorting wagons loaded with the + archives, plate, and pictures, of the government. The old + podesta was seen entering a carriage, into which his very + handsome daughter, the betrothed of the proudest of the proud + Venetian senators, was handed by the stranger. The procession + then moved, and last, and most surprising of all, the + stranger, mounting a charger, put himself at the head of the + cavalry, and, making a profound adieu to the new governor, + who stood shivering at the window in care of a file of + grenadiers, dashed forward on the road to Milan. + </p> + <p> + Day rose, and the multitude rushed out to see what was become + of the city. Every thing was as it had been, but the column + of the lion: its famous emblem of the Venetian republic was + gone, wings and all. They exclaimed that the world had come + to an end. But the wheel of fortune is round, let politicians + say what they will. In twelve months from that day the old + podesta was again sitting in the government-house—yet a + podesta no more, but a French prefect; the Signora Maria, his + lovely daughter, was sitting beside him, with an infant, the + image of her own beauty, and beside her the stranger, no + longer the man of magic in the scarlet cloak and green and + vermilion striped cap with a topaz clasp, but a French + general of division, in blue and silver, her husband, as + handsome as ever, and, if not altogether a professed + <i>Diavolo</i>, quite as successful in finding money whenever + he wanted it. His first <i>entree</i> into Vicenza had been a + little theatrical, for such is the genius of his country. The + blowing-up of his little steam-boat, which had nearly + furnished his drama with a tragic catastrophe, added to its + effect; and his discovery of the sequins was managed by three + of his countrymen. As an inquirer into the nakedness of the + land, he might have been shot as a spy. As half-charlatan and + half-madman, he was sure of national sympathy. During the + three days of his stay the old podesta had found himself + accessible to reason, the podesta's daughter to the tender + passion, and the treasures of the state to the locomotive + skill of the French detachment, that waited in the mountains + the result of their officer's + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page309" name="page309"></a>[pg + 309]</span> diplomacy. The lion of St. Mark, having nothing + else to do, probably disdained to remain, and in the same + night took wing from the column, to which he has never + returned. + </p> + <p> + As we love to "march in good order," we begin with the + plates, the most striking of which is the Frontispiece, + <i>Marcus Curtius</i>, by Le Keux, from a design by Martin, + which we are at a loss to describe. It requires a microscopic + eye to fully appreciate all its beauties—yet the + thousands of figures and the architectural background, are so + clear and intelligible as to make our optic nerve sympathize + with the labour of the artist. The next is a <i>View on the + Ganges</i>, by Finden, after Daniell; <i>Constancy</i>, by + Portbury, after Stephanoff, in which the female figure is + loveliness personified; <i>Eddystone during a Storm</i>; the + <i>Proposal</i>, a beautiful family group; the <i>Cottage + Kitchen</i>, by Romney, after Witherington; and the <i>Blind + Piper</i>, from a painting by Clennell, who, from too great + anxiety in the pursuit of his profession, was some years + since deprived of reason, which he has never recovered. + </p> + <p> + In the <i>poetical</i> department we notice the Retreat, some + beautiful lines by J. Montgomery; Ellen Strathallan, a + pathetic legend, by Mrs. Pickersgill; St. Mary of the Lows, + by the Ettrick Shepherd; Xerxes, a beautiful composition, by + C. Swain, Esq.; the Banks of the Ganges, a descriptive poem, + by Capt. McNaghten; Lydford Bridge, a fearful incident, by + the author of Dartmoor; Alice, a tale of merrie England, by + W.H. Harrison; and two pleasing pieces by the talented + editor. Our extract is + </p> + <h3> + LANGSYNE. + </h3> + <h4> + BY DELTA. + </h4> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—how doth the word come back + </p> + <p> + With magic meaning to the heart, + </p> + <p> + As Memory roams the sunny track, + </p> + <p> + From which Hope's dreams were loath to part! + </p> + <p> + No joy like by-past joy appears; + </p> + <p> + For what is gone we peak and pine. + </p> + <p> + Were life spun out a thousand years, + </p> + <p> + It could not match Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—the days of childhood warm, + </p> + <p> + When, tottering by a mother's knee, + </p> + <p> + Each sight and sound had power to charm, + </p> + <p> + And hope was high, and thought was free. + </p> + <p> + Langsyne!—the merry schoolboy days— + </p> + <p> + How sweetly then life's sun did shine! + </p> + <p> + Oh! for the glorious pranks and plays, + </p> + <p> + The raptures of Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—yes, In the sound, I hear + </p> + <p> + The rustling of the summer grove, + </p> + <p> + And view those angel features near, + </p> + <p> + Which first awoke the heart to love. + </p> + <p> + How sweet it is, in pensive mood, + </p> + <p> + At windless midnight to recline, + </p> + <p> + And fill the mental solitude + </p> + <p> + With spectres from Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—ah, where are they who shared + </p> + <p> + With us its pleasures bright and blithe? + </p> + <p> + Kindly with some hath fortune fared; + </p> + <p> + And some have bowed beneath the scythe + </p> + <p> + Of death; while others, scattered far, + </p> + <p> + O'er foreign lands at fate repine, + </p> + <p> + Oft wandering forth, 'neath twilight's star, + </p> + <p> + To muse on dear Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Langsyne!—the heart can never be + </p> + <p> + Again so full of guileless truth— + </p> + <p> + Langsyne! the eyes no more shall see, + </p> + <p> + Ah, no! the rainbow hopes of youth. + </p> + <p> + Langsyne! with thee resides a spell + </p> + <p> + To raise the spirit, and refine + </p> + <p> + Farewell!—there can be no farewell + </p> + <p> + To thee, loved, lost Langsyne! + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + Of the <i>prose</i> articles, we have already given some + specimens—The Hour Too Many, a fortnight since; and + Vicenza, just quoted. The next we notice is Recollections of + Pere la Chaise, for the graphic accuracy of which we can + answer; Eliza Carthago, an African anecdote, by Mrs. + Bowditch; Terence O'Flaherty, a humorous story, by the Modern + Pythagorean of Blackwood; two interesting stories of Modern + Greece; a highly-wrought Persian Tale, by the late Henry + Neele; Miss Mitford's charming Cricketing Sketch; the Maid of + the Beryl, by Mrs. Hofland; a Chapter of Eastern Apologues, + by the Ettrick Shepherd; the Goldsmith of Westcheap, a story + of the olden time—rather too long; and a characteristic + Naval Sketch. + </p> + <p> + As we have already drawn somewhat freely on the present + volume, we may adduce that as the best proof of the high + opinion we entertain of its merits. The editor has only two + or three pieces; but the excellent taste and judgment + displayed in the editorship of the "Forget-me-not" entitle it + to a foremost place among the "Annuals for 1829." + </p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2> + The Literary Souvenir, + </h2> + <center> + <i>Edited by Alaric A. Watts, Esq</i>. + </center> + <p> + If the present were the first volume of the Literary + Souvenir, the name of the editor would be a passport to + popularity; but as this is the fifth year of its publication, + any recommendation of ours would be supererogatory. + </p> + <p> + But the Souvenir for 1829, realizes that delightful union of + painting, engraving, and literature, (at whose beneficial + influence we have glanced in our accompanying number) even + more fully than its predecessors. Ten out of the twelve + embellishments are from celebrated pictures, and the whole + are by first-rate engravers. Of their cost we spoke cursorily + in a recent number; so that we shall only particularize a few + of the most striking. + </p> + <p> + The engravings are of larger size than heretofore, and, for + the most part, more brilliant in design and execution than + any previous year. We can only notice <i>the Sisters</i>, + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page310" name="page310"></a>[pg + 310]</span> (frontispiece) full of graceful and pleasing + effect, by J.H. Robinson, after Stephanoff; <i>Cleopatra, on + the Cydnus</i>, a splendid aquatic pageant, by E. Goodall, + after Danby; the <i>Proposal</i>, consisting of two of the + most striking figures in Leslie's exquisite painting of May + Day in Queen Elizabeth's time; a <i>Portrait of Sir Walter + Scott</i>, from Leslie's painting, and considered the best + likeness; this is from the burin of an American artist of + high promise. We must not, however, forget + <i>Ehrenbreitstein, on the Rhine</i>, by John Pye, from a + drawing by J.M.W. Turner, which is one of the most delightful + prints in the whole series. + </p> + <p> + In the <i>poetry</i> are Cleopatra, well according with the + splendid scene it is intended to illustrate—and I think + of Thee, a tender lament—both by Mr. T.K. Hervey; Mrs. + Hemans has contributed four exquisite pieces: Night, the Ship + at Sea, and the Mariner's Grave, by Mr. John Malcolm, only + make us regret that we have not room for either in our + columns; Mary Queen of Scots, by H.G. Bell, Esq., is one of + the most interesting historical ballads we have lately met + with; the Epistle from Abbotsford, is a piece of pleasantry, + which would have formed an excellent pendent to Sir Walter's + Study, in our last; Zadig and Astarte, by Delta, are in the + writer's most plaintive strain; the recollections of our + happiest years, are harmoniously told in "Boyhood;" a ballad + entitled "The Captive of Alhama," dated from Woburn Abbey, + and signed R——, is a soul-stirring production, + attributed to Lord John Russel; and the Pixies of Devon has + the masterly impress of the author of Dartmoor. And last in + our enumeration, though first in our liking, are the + following by the editor:—Invocation to the Echo of a + Sea Shell; King Pedro's Revenge, with a well written + historiette; the Youngling of the Flock, full of tenderness + and parental affection; and some Stanzas, for our admiration + of which we have not an epithet at hand, so we give the + original. + </p> + <h3> + ON BURNING A PACKET OF LETTERS. + </h3> + <center> + <i>By A.A. Watts, Esq.</i> + </center> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Relics of love, and life's enchanted spring, + </p> + <p> + Of hopes born, rainbow-like, of smiles and tears:— + </p> + <p> + With trembling hand do I unloose the string, + </p> + <p> + Twined round the records of my youthful years. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Yet why preserve memorials of a dream, + </p> + <p> + Too bitter-sweet to breathe of aught but pain! + </p> + <p> + Why court fond memory for a fitful gleam + </p> + <p> + Of faded bliss, that cannot bloom again! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + The thoughts and feelings these sad relics bring + </p> + <p> + Back on my heart, I would not now recall:— + </p> + <p> + Since gentler ties around its pulses cling, + </p> + <p> + Shall spells less hallowed hold them still in thrall! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Can withered hopes that never came to flower + </p> + <p> + Match with affections long and dearly tried + </p> + <p> + Love, that has lived through many a stormy hour, + </p> + <p> + Through good and ill,—and time and change defied! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Perish each record that might wake a thought + </p> + <p> + That would be treason to a faith like this!— + </p> + <p> + Why should the spectres of past joys be brought + </p> + <p> + To fling their shadows o'er my present bliss! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Yet,—ere we part for ever,—let me pay + </p> + <p> + A last, fond tribute to the sainted dead: + </p> + <p> + Mourn o'er these wrecks of passion's earlier day, + </p> + <p> + With tears as wild as once I used to shed. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + What gentle words are flashing on my eye! + </p> + <p> + What tender truths in every line I trace! + </p> + <p> + Confessions—penned with many a deep drawn + sigh.— + </p> + <p> + Hopes—like the dove—with but one resting + place! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + How many a feeling, long—too long—represt, + </p> + <p> + Like autumn flowers, here opened out at last! + </p> + <p> + How many a vision of the lonely breast + </p> + <p> + Its cherish'd radiance on these leaves hath cast? + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + And ye, pale violets, whose sweet breath hath driven + </p> + <p> + Back on my soul the dreams I fain would quell; + </p> + <p> + To whose faint perfume such wild power is given, + </p> + <p> + To call up visions—only loved too well;— + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Ye too must perish!—Wherefore now divide + </p> + <p> + Tributes of love—first offerings of the + heart;— + </p> + <p> + Gifts—that so long have slumbered side by side; + </p> + <p> + Tokens of feeling—never meant to part! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + A long farewell:—sweet flowers, sad scrolls, adieu! + </p> + <p> + Yes, ye shall be companions to the last:— + </p> + <p> + So perish all that would revive anew + </p> + <p> + The fruitless memories of the faded past! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + But, lo! the flames are curling swiftly round + </p> + <p> + Each fairer vestige of my youthful years; + </p> + <p> + Page after page that searching blaze hath found, + </p> + <p> + Even whilst I strive to trace them through my tears. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + The Hindoo widow, in affection strong, + </p> + <p> + Dies by her lord, and keeps her faith unbroken; + </p> + <p> + Thus perish all which to those wrecks belong, + </p> + <p> + The living memory—with the lifeless token! + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + Barry Cornwall has contributed several minor pieces, though + we fear his poetical reputation will not be increased by + either of them. + </p> + <p> + Some of the minor pieces are gems in their way, and one of + the most beautiful will be found appended to our current + Number. + </p> + <p> + To the <i>prose</i>:—The first in the volume is "the + Sisters," a pathetic tale of about thirty pages, which a + little of the fashionable affectation of some literary + coxcombs might fine-draw over a brace of small octavos. As it + stands, the story is gracefully, yet energetically told, and + is entitled to the place it occupies. The author of Pelham + (<i>vide</i> the newspapers) has a pleasant conceit in the + shape of a whole-length of fashion, which, being the best and + shortest in its line that we have met with, will serve to + enliven our extracts:— + </p> + <h3> + TOO HANDSOME FOR ANY THING! + </h3> + <p> + Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was one of those models of perfection + of which a human father and mother can produce + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page311" name="page311"></a>[pg + 311]</span> but a single example,—Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy + was therefore an only son. He was such an amazing favourite + with both his parents that they resolved to ruin him; + accordingly, he was exceedingly spoiled, never annoyed by the + sight of a book, and had as much plum-cake as he could eat. + Happy would it have been for Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy could he + always have eaten plum-cake, and remained a child. "Never," + says the Greek Tragedian, "reckon a mortal happy till you + have witnessed his end." A most beautiful creature was Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy! Such eyes—such hair—such + teeth—such a figure—such manners, too,—and + such an irresistible way of tying his neckcloth! When he was + about sixteen, a crabbed old uncle represented to his parents + the propriety of teaching Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy to read and + write. Though not without some difficulty, he convinced + them,—for he was exceedingly rich, and riches in an + uncle are wonderful arguments respecting the nurture of a + nephew whose parents have nothing to leave him. So our hero + was sent to school. He was naturally (I am not joking now) a + very sharp, clever boy; and he came on surprisingly in his + learning. The schoolmaster's wife liked handsome + children.—"What a genius will Master Ferdinand Fitzroy + be, if you take pains with him!" said she, to her husband. + </p> + <p> + "Pooh, my dear, it is of no use to take pains with + <i>him</i>." + </p> + <p> + "And why, love?" + </p> + <p> + "Because he is a great deal too handsome ever to be a + scholar." + </p> + <p> + "And that's true enough, my dear!" said the schoolmaster's + wife. + </p> + <p> + So, because he was too handsome to be a scholar, Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy remained the lag of the fourth form! + </p> + <p> + They took our hero from school.—"What profession shall + he follow?" said his mother. + </p> + <p> + "My first cousin is the Lord Chancellor," said his father, + "let him go to the bar." + </p> + <p> + The Lord Chancellor dined there that day: Mr. Ferdinand + Fitzroy was introduced to him; his lordship was a little, + rough-faced, beetle-browed, hard-featured man, who thought + beauty and idleness the same thing—and a parchment skin + the legitimate complexion for a lawyer. + </p> + <p> + "Send him to the bar!" said he, "no, no, that will never + do!—Send him into the army; he is much too handsome to + become a lawyer." + </p> + <p> + "And that's true enough, my lord!" said the mother. So they + bought Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy a cornetcy in the —— + regiment of dragoons. + </p> + <p> + Things are not learned by inspiration. Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy + had never ridden at school, except when he was hoisted; he + was, therefore, a very indifferent horseman; they sent him to + the riding-school, and everybody laughed at him. + </p> + <p> + "He is a d—d ass!" said Cornet Horsephiz, who was very + ugly; "a horrid puppy!" said Lieutenant St. Squintem, who was + still uglier; "if he does not ride better he will disgrace + the regiment," said Captain Rivalhate, who was very + good-looking; "if he does not ride better, we will cut him!" + said Colonel Everdrill, who was a wonderful martinet; "I say, + Mr. Bumpemwell (to the riding-master,) make that youngster + ride less like a miller's sack." + </p> + <p> + "Pooh, sir, <i>he</i> will never ride better." + </p> + <p> + "And why the d—-l will he not?" + </p> + <p> + "Bless you, colonel, he is a great deal too handsome for a + cavalry officer!" + </p> + <p> + "True!" said Cornet Horsephiz. + </p> + <p> + "Very true," said Lieutenant St. Squintem. + </p> + <p> + "We must cut him!" said the Colonel. + </p> + <p> + And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly cut. + </p> + <p> + Out hero was a youth of susceptibility—he quitted the + —— regiment, and challenged the colonel. The + colonel was killed! + </p> + <p> + "What a terrible blackguard is Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" said + the colonel's relations. + </p> + <p> + "Very true!" said the world. + </p> + <p> + The parents were in despair!—They were not rich; but + our hero was an only son, and they sponged hard upon the + crabbed old uncle! "he is very clever," said they both, "and + may do yet." + </p> + <p> + So they borrowed some thousands from the uncle, and bought + his beautiful nephew a seat in parliament. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was ambitious, and desirous of + retrieving his character. He fagged like a + dragon—conned pamphlets and reviews—got Ricardo + by heart—and made notes on the English constitution. + </p> + <p> + He rose to speak. + </p> + <p> + "What a handsome fellow!" whispered one member. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, a coxcomb!" said another. + </p> + <p> + "Never do for a speaker!" said a third, very audibly. + </p> + <p> + And the gentlemen on the opposite benches sneered and + <i>heard!</i>—Impudence is only indigenous in Milesia, + and an orator is not made in a day. Discouraged by his + reception, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy grew a little embarrassed. + </p> + <p> + "Told you so!" said one of his neighbours. + </p> + <p> + "Fairly broke down!" said another. + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page312" name="page312"></a>[pg + 312]</span> "Too fond of his hair to have any thing in his + head," said a third, who was considered a wit. + </p> + <p> + "Hear, hear!" cried the gentlemen on the opposite benches, + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy sat down—he had not shone; but, + in justice, he had not failed. Many a first-rate speaker had + began worse; and many a country member had been declared a + phoenix of promise upon half his merit. + </p> + <p> + Not so, thought the heroes of corn-laws. + </p> + <p> + "Your Adonises never make orators!" said a crack speaker with + a wry nose. + </p> + <p> + "Nor men of business either," added the chairman of a + committee, with a face like a kangaroo's. + </p> + <p> + "Poor devil!" said the civilest of the set. "He's a deuced + deal too handsome for a speaker! By Jove, he is going to + speak again—this will never do; we must cough him + down!" + </p> + <p> + And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly coughed down. + </p> + <p> + Our hero was now seven or eight and twenty, handsomer than + ever, and the adoration of the young ladies at Almack's. + </p> + <p> + "We have nothing to leave you," said the parents, who had + long spent their fortune, and now lived on the credit of + having once enjoyed it.—"You are the handsomest man in + London; you must marry an heiress." + </p> + <p> + "I will," said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + </p> + <p> + Miss Helen Convolvulus was a charming young lady, with a + hare-lip and six thousand a-year. To Miss Helen Convolvulus + then our hero paid his addresses. + </p> + <p> + Heavens! what an uproar her relations made about the matter. + "Easy to see his intentions," said one: "a handsome + fortune-hunter, who wants to make the best of his + person!"—"handsome is that handsome does," says + another; "he was turned out of the army, and murdered his + colonel;"—"never marry a beauty," said a + third;—"he can admire none but himself;"—"will + have so many mistresses," said a fourth;—"make you + perpetually jealous," said a fifth;—"spend your + fortune," said a sixth;—"and break your heart," said a + seventh. + </p> + <p> + Miss Helen Convolvulus was prudent and wary. She saw a great + deal of justice in what was said; and was sufficiently + contented with liberty and six thousand a-year, not to be + highly impatient for a husband; but our heroine had no + aversion to a lover; especially to so handsome a lover as Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy. Accordingly she neither accepted nor + discarded him; but kept him on hope, and suffered him to get + into debt with his tailor, and his coach-maker. On the + strength of becoming Mr. Fitzroy Convolvulus. Time went on, + and excuses and delays were easily found; however, our hero + was sanguine, and so were his parents. A breakfast at + Chiswick, and a putrid fever carried off the latter, within + one week of each other; but not till they had blessed Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy, and rejoiced that they had left him so + well provided for. + </p> + <p> + Now, then, our hero depended solely upon the crabbed old + uncle and Miss Helen Convolvulus; the former, though a + baronet and a satirist was a banker and a man of + business:—he looked very distastefully at the Hyperian + curls and white teeth of Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + </p> + <p> + "If I make you my heir," said he—"I expect you will + continue the bank." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, sir!" said the nephew. + </p> + <p> + "Humph!" grunted the uncle, "a pretty fellow for a banker!" + </p> + <p> + Debtors grew pressing to Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, and Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy grew pressing to Miss Helen Convolvulus. + "It is a dangerous thing," said she, timidly, "to marry a man + so admired,—will you always be faithful?" + </p> + <p> + "By heaven!" cried the lover. + </p> + <p> + "Heigho!" sighed Miss Helen Convolvulus, and Lord Rufus + Pumilion entering, the conversation was changed. + </p> + <p> + But the day of the marriage was fixed; and Mr. Ferdinand + Fitzroy bought a new curricle. By Apollo, how handsome he + looked in it! A month before the wedding day the uncle died. + Miss Helen Convolvulus was quite tender in her + condolences—"Cheer up, my Ferdinand," said she, "for + your sake, I have discarded Lord Rufus Pumilion!" "Adorable + condescension!" cried our hero;—"but Lord Rufus + Pumilion is only four feet two, and has hair like a peony." + </p> + <p> + "All men are not so handsome as Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" was + the reply. + </p> + <p> + Away goes our hero, to be present at the opening of his + uncle's will. + </p> + <p> + "I leave," said the testator (who I have before said was a + bit of a satirist,) "my share of the bank, and the whole or + my fortune, legacies excepted, to"—(here Mr. Ferdinand + Fitzroy wiped his beautiful eyes with a cambric handkerchief, + exquisitely <i>brode</i>) "my natural son, John Spriggs, an + industrious, pains-taking youth, who will do credit to the + bank. I did once intend to have made my nephew Ferdinand my + heir; but so curling a head can have no talent for accounts. + I want my successor to be a man of business, not beauty; and + Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy is a great deal too handsome for a + banker; his good looks will, no doubt, win him any heiress in + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page313" name="page313"></a>[pg + 313]</span> town. Meanwhile, I leave him, to buy a + dressing-case, a thousand pounds." + </p> + <p> + "A thousand devils!" said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, banging out + of the room. He flew to his mistress. She was not at home. + "Lies," says the Italian proverb, "have short legs;" but + truths, if they are unpleasant, have terrible long ones! The + next day Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy received a most obliging note + of dismissal. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you every happiness," said Miss Helen Convolvulus, in + conclusion—"but my friends are right; you are much too + handsome for a husband!" + </p> + <p> + And the week after, Miss Helen Convolvulus became Lady Rufus + Pumilion. + </p> + <p> + "Alas! sir," said the bailiff, as a day or two after the + dissolution of parliament, he was jogging along with Mr. + Ferdinand Fitzroy, in a hackney coach bound to the King's + Bench,—"Alas! sir, what a pity it is to take so + handsome a gentleman to prison!" + </p> + <p> + The MS. found in a Madhouse, by the same author, is perhaps + too horrific for this terror-loving age; but it is by no + means less clever on that account; <i>toute en huile</i> + would not do. Among the other tales are the Rock of the + Candle, Irish, by the author of Holland-Tide,—nearly + forty pages; and the Queen of May and Bridget + Plantagenet,—of the olden time—which would be + spoiled by abridgment for our present purpose. The same + reason prevents our giving more than our commendation of Miss + Mitford's General and his Lady, who, we think are new company + for our fair authoress. + </p> + <p> + In the Vision of Purgatory, by Dr. Maginn, (Irish, of + course,) the serious and ludicrous are mixed up with an + abundance of skill and humour; this piece should be read + after the Madhouse sketch. + </p> + <p> + The Souvenir is opportunely dedicated to Mr. Peel; and + whether as a work of art, or elegant literature, it is + decidedly worthy of such distinguished notice. If the + argument of the fine arts contributing to virtue hold good, + then the patronage of a minister will be patriotically + bestowed on such works as the Literary Souvenir. + </p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2> + The Amulet. + </h2> + <center> + <i>Edited by S.C. Hall, Esq.</i> + </center> + <p> + It would be difficult and somewhat egotistical for us to + describe the pleasure we felt on our receiving this + interesting volume for notice in our pages. The amiable + spirit which breathes throughout its pages, and the good + taste which uniformly dictates its editorship have secured + the <i>Amulet</i> an extensive, and we are disposed to think, + a more permanent, popularity than is attached to other works + of similar form.<a id="footnotetag1" + name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> + </p> + <p> + The present volume contains Fourteen Plates, among which are + <i>Murillo's Spanish Flower Girl; Etty's Guardian Angels</i>, + by Finden; a copy of Sir Thomas Lawrence's portrait of + <i>Lady Georgiana Fane</i>, from Colnaghi's print; Eastlake's + <i>Italian Mother;</i> one of Collins's last pictures, <i>The + Fisherman Leaving Home; The Temple of Victory</i>, from + Gandy,—all which are first-rate works of art. + </p> + <p> + There are eighty contributions, as the bookmakers say, "in + prose and verse," with a predominance of the former. The + first of the <i>prose</i> is a Strange Story of every day, by + William Kennedy—well told, but too long for extract. + The Mountain Daisy, a village sketch, by the Editor's lady, + is gracefully written; and with the Fisherman, by the Editor, + is a fair characteristic of the amiable spirit to which we + have already alluded; and in the same tone of good feeling is + the Rose of Fennock Dale, a true story by the fair authoress + of the Mountain Daisy; and the Wandering Minstrels, by the + Rev. F.A. Cox, L.L.D. Miss Mitford has contributed one of her + inimitable sketches, Little Moses; but the most staple + articles in the volume are The Battle of Bunaania, one of the + Georgian Islands, by Mr. Ellis, the missionary; Notices of + the Canadian Indians, by Dr. Walsh; a Journey over the + Brocken, by Mr. Coleridge; and a Fragment, by Miss Jane + Porter. Our prose selection is from the last of these + articles; but we intend transferring a portion of Dr. Walsh's + "Notices" to our next "Manners and Customs." + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + THE SOUTH SEA CHIEF. + </h3> + <center> + <i>By Miss Jane Porter</i>. + </center> + <p> + While in the north of Europe, I met with a rather + extraordinary person, whose account of himself might afford a + subject for a pretty romance; a sort of new Paul and + Virginia; but with what different catastrophe, it is not fair + to presage. He described himself as a Frenchman, a native of + Bourdeaux; where, at an early age, he was put on board a + merchant ship, to learn the profession of a seaman. About + that time war broke out between Great Britain, and the lately + proclaimed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page314" + name="page314"></a>[pg 314]</span> Republic of France; and + the vessel he was in, being attacked, and taken by an English + man-of-war, he was carried a prisoner into England. When + there, his naturally enterprising character would not submit + itself to a state of captivity; and, soon making his wishes + understood, he entered on board a British sloop, bound to New + Holland. While gazing with rapt astonishment on the seeming + new heavens which canopied that, to him, also, new portion of + the globe; while the stars of the Cross were exciting his + youthful wonder; and he could no where find the + constellations of the Great, or Little Bear in the midnight + firmament, the sky was suddenly overcast with a cloud, like + the pall of nature, and a fearful tempest burst from it. The + scene was dreadful on that wide waste of waters; and the + vessel being driven at last into the rocky labyrinths of the + Society Isles, was finally wrecked on one not many leagues + from the celebrated Otaheite. Laonce, the young Frenchman, + and one seaman of the sloop, an honest north Briton, were the + only persons who escaped; for when morning broke, they found + themselves, restored from insensibility, lying on the shore, + and not a trace of the ship, or of those who had navigated + her, was to be discerned. The inhabitants of the island, + apparently wild savages by their almost naked state, instead + of seizing them as a prey, took them to their huts, fed, and + cherished them. Hope for awhile flattered them that some + other vessel, bound for New Holland, might also be driven + upon those islands, though not with the same hard fate, and + that by her means they might be released, and conveyed back + to Europe. But days, and weeks, and months, wearing away + without any such arrival, they began to regard the + expectation less, and to turn their minds to take a more + intimate interest in objects around them. Time, indeed, + accustomed them to what might be called barbarous, in the + manners of the people; by degrees, even themselves laid aside + their European habits; they exchanged their clothing for the + half-exposed fashion of the native chiefs; and, adopting + their pursuits and pleasures, became hunters, and bold + fishers in the light canoe. Finally, they learnt to speak the + language, as if they had been born in the island; and, at + length, sealed their insular destiny by marrying native + women. Laonce was hardly eighteen when he was first cast + ashore amongst them; but having a handsome person, and those + engaging manners, from a naturally amiable disposition added + to a gentleman's breeding, which never fail agreeably + impressing even the rudest minds, the eye of female + tenderness soon found him out; and the maiden, being the + daughter of the king, and beautiful withal, had only to hint + her wishes to her royal sire; and the king naming them to + their distinguished object, she immediately became his happy + bride. Laonce, becoming thus royally allied, and in the line + of the throne, instantly received publicly the investiture of + the highest order of Otaheitan nobility, namely, a species of + tattooing appropriated to chiefs alone. The limbs of the body + thus distinguished, are traversed all over with a damasked + sort of pattern, while the particular royal insignia is + marked on the left side of the forehead, and below the eye, + like a thick mass of dark tattooing. + </p> + <p> + But the young Frenchman, and his north Briton companion, had + reserved to themselves means of increasing their consequence, + still more than by their mere personal merits, with their new + fellow-countrymen. A few days after the wreck, the subsiding + elements had cast up certain articles of the ship, which they + managed to turn to good account: the most valuable of them + were fire-arms and some gunpowder, and a few other + implements, both of defence, and use in household, or ship's + repairs. The fire-arms seemed to endow the new young chief, + just engrafted into the reigning stock, with a kind of + preternatural authority; and, by the aid of his old messmate, + and new bosom-coadjutor, he exerted all his influence over + their awed minds, to prevent their recurrence to the + frightful practice he had seen on his first landing, of + devouring the prisoners they took in war. His marriage had + invested him with the power of a natively born son of the + king; and, having made himself master of their language, his + persuasions were so conclusive with the leading warriors, + that, in the course of a very little time, it was rare to + hear that so dreadful a species of vengeance was ever tasted, + even in stealth. However, so addicted were some few of the + fiercer sort, to this ancient triumph of their ancestors, + that he found it necessary to add commands to persuasions, + and then threats to commands; and having expressed in the + strongest terms his abhorrence of so cowardly and brutal a + practice, he told them, that the first man he saw attempt to + touch the flesh of a prisoner to devour it, he would + instantly put the offender to death. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after this warning, a fray took place between the + natives of his father-in-law's dominions, and their enemies + from a hostile island. A number of captives were taken; and + all under his command held his former orders in such + reverence, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page315" + name="page315"></a>[pg 315]</span> that none, excepting two + (and they had before shown refractory dispositions,) presumed + to disobey his edict of mercy. But these men, in derision of + his lenity, particularly to the female sex, selected a woman + prisoner to be their victim; and slaying her, as they would + have done a beast, they commenced their horrible repast upon + her body. Laonce descried the scene at a distance just as + they had prepared their hideous banquet, and, going + resolutely towards them, levelled his musket at the + cannibals. One of the wretches was killed with the horrid + morsel in his mouth, and a second shot, brought down his + voracious accomplice in the act. This bold example so awed + all within ken of the fact, that from that hour, until the + day he quitted the island, a period of fourteen years, no + captive ever met with the interdicted fate. Though the old + sovereign continued in life, he consigned the power to his + new son, and Laonce became virtually king of the place. + Indeed, so reconciled was he and his friend the north Briton + (who also married) to the spot which had first sheltered + them, and then adopted them even as its legitimate offspring, + that although many ships of different nations touched there, + no inducements could prevail on them to quit their sea-girt + home of simple nature, for all the blandishments which + civilized life could produce. Yet Laonce took a hospitable + delight in showing every act of friendship in his power to + the captains of the vessels; refitting them with food and + fresh water; and rendering them much essential service, in + pointing out how to manage with safety the difficult + navigation round the several islands. + </p> + <p> + The animation with which he recited these circumstances, + after he was far from the spot where they took place, + strongly portrayed the fearless independence of his former + life. He spoke with the decision of one whose commands had + been unappealable, and all the barbarian chief lightened in + his eyes. But when he recalled his home there, his family + happiness, his countenance fell, his eyes clouded, and he + spoke in half-stifled words. He described his palace-hut; his + arms, his hunting spear, his canoe; his return to his hut, + with the fruits of the chase; the graceful, delicate person + of his wife; her clinging fondness on his entrance; his + tenderness for her, and for his children—for she bore + to him a son and a daughter; and, while he spoke, he burst + into tears, and sobbed like a child. "I was then beloved," + said he, "Honoured!—master of all around me; Now, I am + nothing:—no home—no wife—no friend! I am an + outcast here!—when there! Oh, Berea! wilt thou have + forgotten me?" His tears, and wild agonies, prevented him + proceeding; and my eyes could not remain dry, when seeing + such genuine grief, such real suffering. + </p> + <p> + But the cause of his being separated from his South-Sea home, + and his beloved Berea and her babes, remains to be told. It + appears, that about three years before the period I met him, + a Russian ship, sent on a voyage of discoveries, touched at + the island where Laonce had become naturalized. The captain + was received with royal hospitality by the king; and the + <i>Prince Laonce</i> became the glad interpreter between the + Europeans and his august father-in-law—for the captain + spoke French. And, besides procuring the crew all they wanted + for common comforts, the young chief loaded the commander and + his officers with useful presents. One night it blew a + violent gale, and the Russian captain, deeming it impossible + to keep his anchorage in a bay so full of unseen dangers, + made signals to the land, in hopes of exciting some native, + experienced in the navigation, to come off, and direct him + how to steer. Every moment increased his jeopardy; the storm + augmented; and, at each growing blast, he expected to be torn + from his cables, and dashed to atoms against the rocks. No + one moved from the shore. Again the signals were repeated: + Laonce had risen from his bed on hearing the first. Who was + there amongst all in that island, excepting his British + comrade, who would have known how to move <i>a ship</i> + through those boiling waves? The light canoe, and a vessel of + heavy burthen, were different objects! His comrade was then + watching by the side of an almost dying wife, who had just + made him the father of his first-born son. Could Laonce + summon him from that spot of his heart's tenderest duties, to + attend to the roaring guns of distress from a stranger + vessel? Impossible! He rose, and looked out on the night. He + listened to the second signal, he wrung his hands, and, + sighing, was returning to his couch again. His wife had then + risen also. She clasped her arms round him, and a big tear + stood in both her eyes, "You tell me," said she, "that your + people do not make those thunders to heaven, and to earth, + till they are drowning. You know you can save them all. Go, + Lao,"—and she smiled; "go; and the foreign chief, after + you have saved him, will give you something for + me—either a looking-glass, or a silk handkerchief. Go, + Lao." + </p> + <p> + He wound his arms round the gentle pleader; and, almost + ashamed that the father and the husband in his heart, + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page316" name="page316"></a>[pg + 316]</span> should make him calculate between his own life + and that of the gallant crew, he told her, that the tempest + raged too tremendously for him to dare stemming it. But she + laughingly repulsed his caresses, accusing his fondness for + her as the inducement of his assumed apprehensions; and being + too long accustomed to the rashness of her own people, in + braving every weather, to believe any plea of positive + danger, she still persisted; saying she must have a silk + handkerchief that night from yon ship, or she should think he + loved his sound sleep better than he did his fond Berea. + </p> + <p> + The enthusiastic love which still warmed the faithful + husband's breast, and a third signal of distress from the + struggling vessel, mastered his better judgment, and, seizing + his canoe, he dashed into the foaming waves and boldly + stemmed their fury to the object of his mission. The + overjoyed crew, as they heard his voice hailing them through + the storm, cast out a rope, by which they hoisted him into + their cracking ship. The most rapturous acknowledgments from + the captain, greeted him as soon as he jumped on the deck; + and the eager seamen called him their deliverer. He was + happy! he said, he was happy in the achievement of what he + had done; he had obeyed the wish of his beloved Berea, and he + had survived the lashing surge. He was happy, in the + confidence that he should rescue the gallant vessel he came + to take under his control. But that hour of happiness was his + last. He took the helm in his hands; he gave the requisite + directions to the seamen, for the management of the ship; and + he soon steered her out of the dangers of the bay, till she + rode in safety on the main ocean. He then asked for a boat to + carry him on shore, for his canoe had been crushed by an + accident. But the wind still blowing hurricanes, they would + not venture the loss of one of their boats: and during the + hot contentions between him, and the ungrateful chief of the + vessel he had preserved, they were driven out far to sea; + whence his swimming arm, had he plunged into the boisterous + deep, could have been of no use to him. Indignation, despair, + overwhelmed him. None appeared to understand the nature of + his feelings; all pretending to wonder that a European born, + should not be grateful to any occasion that would carry him + away from a savage country like that. In vain Laonce + remonstrated; in vain he talked of his wife and children; the + captain and his sailors laughed, promised him better of both + sorts among his kindred whites; and when he cursed their + hardened hearts and cruel treachery, they laughed again, and + left him to his misery. At last, when the protracted + hurricane subsided, and the vessel's log-book proved that she + had been driven several degrees leeward of the Society Isles, + abandoned to a sullen despair, he ceased to accuse or to + reproach; he ceased even to speak on any subject, but cast + himself into his lonely berth during the day, that he might + not be irritated to continued unavailing madness, by the + sight of the ingrates who had betrayed him. To his straining + eyes, nothing but the silvery line of the starlit sea was on + that distant horizon; but his heart's vision pierced farther, + and he beheld the sleepers in that home;—no, not the + sleepers! His disconsolate, his despairing wife, tearing her + bright locks, and beating the tender bosom he must no longer + clasp to his own. His children—"Oh! my babes!" cried + he, and the cry of a father's heart for once pierced the + obdurate bosom of the captain, who, in that moment, had + happened to come upon the deck to examine the night. To ease + his Otaheitan benefactor, he declared he had thus carried him + off, to share in the honour of his expected discoveries. The + unhappy chief, in then answering him, begged, that if he had, + indeed, any spark of honesty towards him, he would prove it, + by obeying his wish in one thing at least; and that was, to + set him on shore on the first European settlement they should + fall in with. "Do this," said he, "and I may yet believe you + have honour. For honour is a man's own act; a discovery is + fortune's; and for its advantages, did I stay, I should not + have to thank you. But I want none such. Set me on shore, and + there I will follow my own destiny." + </p> + <p> + To this poor request, the iron-souled commander of the + vessel, at last consented; and in the course of some weeks + after, Laonce was landed on the coast of Kamschatka. His + secret intent was to lie in wait for the possibility of some + ship touching at the port where he was set ashore, that might + be bound to the track of his beloved islands; but not + uttering a word of this, to the reprobate wretch who had torn + him thence, he simply bade him "farewell! and to use his next + pilot better;" so saying, they parted for ever. But weeks and + months passed away, and no vessel bound for the South Seas, + showed itself in that distant latitude; and its gloomy fogs, + and chilling atmosphere, its pale sky, where the sun never + shone for more than three or four hours in the day, seemed to + wither up his life with his waning hopes! In no way did it + resemble the land he had left; + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page317" name="page317"></a>[pg + 317]</span> the warm, and the genial heavens of the home he + was yet bent to find again;—and he left Kamschatka for + some more propitious port; but, like <i>Sinbad the + Sailor</i>, he wandered in vain. A cruel spell seemed set on + him, or on the spirit of adventure; for in no place could he + hear of a vessel going the way of his prayers. At last he + arrived, by a most tedious and circuitous journey at Moscow, + with a design to lay his case before the young and ardent + Alexander, the then Emperor of Russia; with the hope that his + benevolence, and a sense of what he had done for the vessel + which had betrayed him, would incline his majesty to make + some effort to return him to his island, and his family. + </p> + <p> + That this hope was not vain, the character of the good + Alexander, since proved by a life of undeviating promptness + to all acts of humanity, may be a sufficient voucher. But + whether the homeward-bound chief, found, on his setting his + foot again upon the ground whence he had been so cruelly + rifled; and whence, indeed, the innocent confidence, the + playful bravery of his fond wife, had urged him; whether he + found his cherishly-remembered home, yet standing as he left + it; and her, still the tender and the true to his + never-wandered heart; and whether his children sprang to his + knee, to share the parental caress; and the people around, + raised the <i>haloo</i> of joy to the returned <i>son of + their king!</i>—whether these fondly-expected greetings + hailed his arrival, cannot be absolutely told; for the vessel + that took him out, was to make the circuit of the globe, ere + it returned; hence, from that, and other circumstances, the + facts have never reached the narrator of this little history, + of what was really the meeting between Laonce and his Berea; + of the young chief, and the natives he had devotedly served! + But can the faithful hearts of wedded love, doubt the one; or + manly attachment suspect the other? For the honour of human + nature, we will believe that all was right; and, in the faith + of a humble Christian, we will believe, that "he who shewed + mercy, found mercy!"; That he is now restored to his + island-home, and to his happy, grateful family! + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Among the <i>poetical</i> contributions are The Angels' Call, + and Woman and Fame, by Mrs. Hemans; Carthage, and Stanzas, by + T.K. Hervey; the Chapel on the Cliff, by W. Kennedy; all + entitled to high praise. A Christian's Day, by Miss A.M. + Porter, is a sweet devotional composition. The extract from + one of Mr. Atherstone's unpublished books of the Fall of + Nineveh, maintains the high opinion already formed of the + published part. Mr. C. Swain has two beautiful pieces. We + have only room to name those <i>gems</i> of the poetry, viz. + Wearie's Well, and another beautiful ballad, by W. + Motherwell; and some exquisite lines by the Rev. G. Croly; + and to quote the following:— + </p> + <h3> + CHANGE. + </h3> + <h4> + BY L.E.L. + </h4> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + The wind is sweeping o'er the hill; + </p> + <p> + It hath a mournful sound, + </p> + <p> + As if it felt the difference + </p> + <p> + Its weary wing hath found. + </p> + <p> + A little while that wandering wind + </p> + <p> + Swept over leaf and flower; + </p> + <p> + For there was green for every tree, + </p> + <p> + And bloom for every hour. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + It wandered through the pleasant wood, + </p> + <p> + And caught the dove's lone song; + </p> + <p> + And by the garden-beds, and bore + </p> + <p> + The rose's breath along. + </p> + <p> + But hoarse and sullenly it sweeps; + </p> + <p> + No rose is opening now— + </p> + <p> + No music, for the wood-dove's nest + </p> + <p> + Is vacant on the bough. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Oh, human heart and wandering wind, + </p> + <p> + Go look upon the past; + </p> + <p> + The likeness is the same with each— + </p> + <p> + Their summer did not last. + </p> + <p> + Each mourns above the things it loved— + </p> + <p> + One o'er a flower and leaf; + </p> + <p> + The other over hopes and joys, + </p> + <p> + Whose beauty was as brief. + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + We congratulate the editor and the public on the past success + of the <i>Amulet</i>, especially as it proves that a pious + feeling co-exists with a taste for refined amusement, and + that advantageously. There is nothing austere in any page of + the <i>Amulet</i>, nor anything so frivolous and light as to + be objectionable; but it steers in the medium, and + consequently must be acceptable to every well-regulated mind. + Indeed, many of the pieces in the present volume may be read + and re-read with increased advantage; whilst two only are + unequal to the names attached to them. + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + THE GEM. + </h3> + <center> + <i>Edited by Thomas Hood, Esq.</i> + </center> + <p> + The present is the first year of the <i>Gem</i>, which, as a + work of art or literature, fully comes within the import of + its title. It is likewise the first appearance of Mr. Hood as + the editor of an "annual," who, with becoming diffidence, + appears to rely on the "literary giants" of his muster-roll, + rather than on his individual talent. Notwithstanding such an + editorship must have resembled the perplexity of Sinbad in + the Valley of Diamonds, Mr. Hood's volume is almost + unexceptionably good, whatever he may have rejected; and one + of the best, if not <i>the best</i>, article in the whole + work, has been contributed by the editor himself. Associated + as Mr. Hood's <span class="pagenum"><a id="page318" + name="page318"></a>[pg 318]</span> name is with "whim and + oddity," we, however, looked for more quips, quirks, and + quiddities than he has given us, which we should have hailed + as specially suited to the approaching festive season, and + from their contrast with the contents of similar works, as + more likely to attract by their novelty and humour. + </p> + <p> + The embellishments of the <i>Gem</i>, fifteen in number, have + been selected by A. Cooper, Esq. R.A. <i>The Death of + Keeldar</i> is a beautiful composition by Mr. Cooper, and is + worthy of association with Sir Walter Scott's pathetic + ballad. <i>The Widow</i>, by S. Davenport, from a picture by + R. Leslie, R.A. is one of the most touching prints we have + yet seen, and every one is capable of estimating its + beauties, since its expression will be sure to fasten on the + affections of the beholder. <i>May Talbot</i>, by J.C. + Edwards, from a painting by A. Cooper, is admirable in design + and execution. Of the <i>Temptation on the Mount</i>, + engraved by W.R. Smith, after Martin, we have spoken in our + accompanying Number; but as often as we look at the plate, we + discover new beauties. It is a just idea of "all the kingdoms + of the earth;" the distant effect is excellent, and the + "exceeding high mountain" is ably represented. The faces in + the <i>Painter's Study</i> are decidedly superior to the rest + of the print. The <i>Fisherman's Daughter</i>, from a + painting by Bone, is pleasing; and <i>Venice, with the + Embarkation of the Doge</i>, is a stirring scene of pageantry + and triumph. + </p> + <p> + Among the <i>poetry</i> is the Painter's Song, a pleasing + composition, by Barry Cornwall, who has also The Victim, a + dramatic sketch of twenty pages. Stanzas by Horace Smith, + Esq. are a pleasant satire upon the little vanities of great + people. We give the <i>Dream of Eugene Aram</i> in full, + although it consists of nearly two pages of small + type.:— + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + THE DREAM OF EUGENE ARAM. + </h3> + <h4> + BY T. HOOD, ESQ. + </h4> + <p> + [The late Admiral Burney went to school at an establishment + where the unhappy Eugene Aram was usher subsequent to his + crime. The admiral stated, that Aram was generally liked by + the boys; and that he used to discourse to them about + <i>murder</i> in somewhat of the spirit which is attributed + to him in this poem.] + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + 'Twas in the prime of summer time, + </p> + <p> + An evening calm and cool, + </p> + <p> + And four-and-twenty happy boys + </p> + <p> + Came bounding out of school: + </p> + <p> + There were some that ran and some that leapt, + </p> + <p> + Like troutlets in a pool. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Away they sped with gamesome minds, + </p> + <p> + And souls untouch'd by sin: + </p> + <p> + To a level mead they came, and there + </p> + <p> + They drave the wickets in: + </p> + <p> + Pleasantly shone the setting sun + </p> + <p> + Over the town of Lynn. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Like sportive deer they coursed about, + </p> + <p> + And shouted as they ran,— + </p> + <p> + Turning to mirth all things of earth, + </p> + <p> + As only boyhood can; + </p> + <p> + But the Usher sat remote from all— + </p> + <p> + A melancholy man! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + His hat was off, his vest apart, + </p> + <p> + To catch heaven's blessed breeze— + </p> + <p> + For a burning thought was in his brow, + </p> + <p> + And his bosom ill at ease: + </p> + <p> + So he lean'd his head on his hands, and read + </p> + <p> + The book between his knees! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Leaf after leaf he turn'd it o'er, + </p> + <p> + Nor ever glanc'd aside— + </p> + <p> + For the peace of his soul he read that book + </p> + <p> + In the golden eventide: + </p> + <p> + Much study had made him very lean, + </p> + <p> + And pale, and leaden-eyed. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + At last, he shut the ponderous tome; + </p> + <p> + With a fast and fervent grasp + </p> + <p> + He strain'd the dusky covers close, + </p> + <p> + And fixed the brazen hasp; + </p> + <p> + "O God, could I so close my mind, + </p> + <p> + And clasp it with a clasp!" + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Then leaping on his feet upright, + </p> + <p> + Some moody turns he took,— + </p> + <p> + Now up the mead, then down the mead, + </p> + <p> + And past a shady nook,— + </p> + <p> + And, lo! he saw a little boy + </p> + <p> + That pored upon a book! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "My gentle lad, what is't you read— + </p> + <p> + Romance or fairy fable? + </p> + <p> + Or is it some historic page, + </p> + <p> + Of kings and crowns unstable?" + </p> + <p> + The young boy gave an upward glance,— + </p> + <p> + "It is <i>The Death of Abel</i>." + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + The Usher took six hasty strides, + </p> + <p> + As smit with sudden pain,— + </p> + <p> + Six hasty strides beyond the place, + </p> + <p> + Then slowly back again; + </p> + <p> + And down he sat beside the lad, + </p> + <p> + And talk'd with him of Cain; + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + And, long since then, of bloody men, + </p> + <p> + Whose deeds tradition saves; + </p> + <p> + Of lonely folk cut off unseen, + </p> + <p> + And hid in sudden graves; + </p> + <p> + Of horrid stabs, in groves forlorn, + </p> + <p> + And murders done in caves. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + And how the sprites of injured men + </p> + <p> + Shriek upward from the sod,— + </p> + <p> + Ay, how the ghostly hand will point + </p> + <p> + To show the burial clod; + </p> + <p> + And unknown facts of guilty acts + </p> + <p> + Are seen in dreams from God! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + He told how murderers walk the earth + </p> + <p> + Beneath the curse of Cain,— + </p> + <p> + With crimson clouds before their eyes, + </p> + <p> + And flames about their brain: + </p> + <p> + For blood has left upon their souls + </p> + <p> + Its everlasting stain! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And well," quoth he, "I know, for truth, + </p> + <p> + Their pangs must be extreme,— + </p> + <p> + Wo, wo, unutterable wo,— + </p> + <p> + Who spill life's sacred stream! + </p> + <p> + For why? Methought, last night, I wrought + </p> + <p> + A murder in a dream! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "One that had never done me wrong— + </p> + <p> + A feeble man, and old: + </p> + <p> + I led him to a lonely field, + </p> + <p> + The moon shone clear and cold: + </p> + <p> + Now here, said I, this man shall die, + </p> + <p> + And I will have his gold! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Two sudden blows with a ragged stick, + </p> + <p> + And one with a heavy stone, + </p> + <p> + One hurried gash with a hasty knife— + </p> + <p> + And then the deed was done: + </p> + <p> + There was nothing lying at my foot, + </p> + <p> + But lifeless flesh and bone! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Nothing but lifeless flesh and bone, + </p> + <p> + That could not do me ill; + </p> + <p> + And yet I fear'd him all the more, + </p> + <p> + For lying there so still: + </p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page319" + name="page319"></a>[pg 319]</span> + <p> + There was a manhood in his look, + </p> + <p> + That murder could not kill! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And, lo! the universal air + </p> + <p> + Seem'd lit with ghastly flame,— + </p> + <p> + Ten thousand thousand dreadful eyes + </p> + <p> + Were looking down in blame: + </p> + <p> + I took the dead man by the hand, + </p> + <p> + And call'd upon his name! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Oh, God, it made me quake to see + </p> + <p> + Such sense within the slain! + </p> + <p> + But when I touch'd the lifeless clay, + </p> + <p> + The blood gush'd out amain! + </p> + <p> + For every clot, a burning spot, + </p> + <p> + Was scorching in my brain! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "My head was like an ardent coal, + </p> + <p> + My heart as solid ice; + </p> + <p> + My wretched, wretched soul I knew + </p> + <p> + Was at the Devil's price: + </p> + <p> + A dozen times I groaned—the dead + </p> + <p> + Had never groan'd but twice! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And now from forth the frowning sky, + </p> + <p> + From the heaven's topmost height, + </p> + <p> + I heard a voice—the awful voice + </p> + <p> + Of the blood-avenging sprite:— + </p> + <p> + 'Thou guilty man! take up thy dead, + </p> + <p> + And hide it from my sight!' + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "I took the dreary body up, + </p> + <p> + And cast it in a stream,— + </p> + <p> + A sluggish water, black as ink. + </p> + <p> + The depth was so extreme + </p> + <p> + My gentle boy, remember this + </p> + <p> + Is nothing but a dream! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Down went the corse with a hollow plunge, + </p> + <p> + And vanish'd in the pool— + </p> + <p> + Anon I cleansed my bloody hands + </p> + <p> + And wash'd my forehead cool, + </p> + <p> + And sat among the urchins young + </p> + <p> + That evening in the school! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Oh, heaven, to think of their white souls, + </p> + <p> + And mine so black and grim! + </p> + <p> + I could not share in childish prayer. + </p> + <p> + Nor join in evening hymn: + </p> + <p> + Like a devil of the pit I seem'd, + </p> + <p> + 'Mid holy cherubim! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And peace went with them one and all, + </p> + <p> + And each calm pillow spread— + </p> + <p> + But Guilt was my grim chamberlain + </p> + <p> + That lighted me to bed, + </p> + <p> + And drew my midnight curtains round, + </p> + <p> + With fingers bloody red! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "All night I lay in agony, + </p> + <p> + In anguish dark and deep— + </p> + <p> + My fever'd eyes I dared not close, + </p> + <p> + But stared aghast at Sleep; + </p> + <p> + For Sin had render'd unto her + </p> + <p> + The keys of hell to keep! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "All night I lay in agony, + </p> + <p> + From weary chime to chime, + </p> + <p> + With one besetting horrid hint, + </p> + <p> + That rack'd me all the time,— + </p> + <p> + A mighty yearning, like the first + </p> + <p> + Fierce impulse unto crime! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "One stern, tyrannic thought, that made + </p> + <p> + All other thoughts its slave; + </p> + <p> + Stronger and stronger every pulse + </p> + <p> + Did that temptation crave,— + </p> + <p> + Still urging me to go and see + </p> + <p> + The dead man in his grave! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Heavily I rose up,—as soon + </p> + <p> + As light was in the sky.— + </p> + <p> + And sought the black, accursed pool + </p> + <p> + With a wild, misgiving eye; + </p> + <p> + And I saw the dead in the river bed, + </p> + <p> + For the faithless stream was dry! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Merrily rose the lark, and shook + </p> + <p> + The dewdrop from its wing; + </p> + <p> + But I never mark'd its morning flight, + </p> + <p> + I never heard it sing; + </p> + <p> + For I was stooping once again + </p> + <p> + Under the horrid thing. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "With breathless speed, like a soul in chase, + </p> + <p> + I took him up and ran,— + </p> + <p> + There was no time to dig a grave + </p> + <p> + Before the day began: + </p> + <p> + In a lonesome wood, with heaps of leaves, + </p> + <p> + I hid the murdered man. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And all that day I read in school, + </p> + <p> + But my thought was other where: + </p> + <p> + As soon as the mid-day task was done, + </p> + <p> + In secret I was there; + </p> + <p> + And a mighty wind had swept the leaves, + </p> + <p> + And still the corse was bare! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Then down I cast me on my face, + </p> + <p> + And first began to weep, + </p> + <p> + For I knew my secret then was one + </p> + <p> + That earth refused to keep; + </p> + <p> + Or land or sea, though he should be + </p> + <p> + Ten thousand fathoms deep! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "So wills the fierce avenging sprite, + </p> + <p> + Till blood for blood atones! + </p> + <p> + Ay, though he's buried in a cave, + </p> + <p> + And trodden down with stones, + </p> + <p> + And years have rotted off his flesh— + </p> + <p> + The world shall see his bones! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Oh God, that horrid, horrid dream + </p> + <p> + Besets me now awake! + </p> + <p> + Again—again, with a dizzy brain, + </p> + <p> + The human life I take; + </p> + <p> + And my red right hand grows raging hot, + </p> + <p> + Like Cranmer's at the stake. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And still no peace for the restless clay + </p> + <p> + Will wave or mould allow; + </p> + <p> + The horrid thing pursues my soul,— + </p> + <p> + It stands before me now!" + </p> + <p> + The fearful boy looked up, and saw + </p> + <p> + Huge drops upon his brow! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + That very night, while gentle sleep + </p> + <p> + The urchin eyelids kiss'd, + </p> + <p> + Two stern-fac'd men set out from Lynn, + </p> + <p> + Through the cold and heavy mist; + </p> + <p> + And Eugene Aram walked between, + </p> + <p> + With gyves upon his wrist. + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + Mr. Planché's versification of the homely + proverb—Poverty parts good company—will create + many good-natured smiles, and run counter with Mr. Kenney's + To-morrow. Some of the minor pieces are very pleasing, + especially two by Hartley Coleridge, Esq. + </p> + <p> + We confess we do not admire the taste which dictated Mr. C. + Lamb's Widow; it is in every respect unworthy of the plate, + and the feelings created by the two are very discordant. We + love a joke, but to call a widow's sables a perpetual "black + joke," disgusts rather than pleases us. The Funeral of + General Crawford, by the author of The Subaltern is an + affecting incident; and Nina St. Morin, by the author of May + You Like It, is of the same character. Catching a Tartar, by + Mansie Wauch, and the Station, an Irish Story, are full of + humour; and May Day, by the editor, abounds with oddities. + Thus, "the golden age is not to be regilt; pastoral is gone + out, and Pan extinct—pans will not last for ever;" + "horticultural hose, <i>pruned</i> so often at top to + <i>graft</i> at bottom, that from long stockings they had + dwindled into short socks;" "the contrast of a large marquee + in canvass with the long lawn;" "Pan's sister, Patty, the + wags called <i>Patty Pan</i>," &c. + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page320" name="page320"></a>[pg + 320]</span> One of the finest stories in the <i>Gem</i> is + the Rival Dreamers, by Mr. Banim; and curious enough, this is + the third Annual in which we have met with the same legend. + The present version is, however, the best narrative, which + such of our readers as know the O'Hara Family will readily + believe. We could abridge it for our present space; but it + would be injustice to the author to pare down his beautiful + descriptions; and we will endeavour to give place to the tale + in a future Number. The Last Embarkation of the Doge of + Venice is interesting; almost every incident connected with + that huge pleasure-house is attractive, but one of the + present, the Marriage of the Sea, is well told. The + Shearmen's Miracle Play smacks pleasantly of "the good old + times" of merry England. Miss Mitford has contributed two of + her inimitable sketches—Harry Lewington and his Dog, + and Tom Hopkins—the latter an excellent portrait of + "the loudest, if not the greatest man" in the little town of + Cranley. We must give the village lion, in little:— + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + TOM HOPKINS. + </h3> + <p> + At the time of which I speak, Tom Hopkins was of an age + somewhat equivocal; public fame called him fifty, whilst he + himself stuck obstinately at thirty-five; of a stout active + figure, rather manly than gentlemanly, and a bold, jovial + visage, in excellent keeping with his person, distinguished + by round, bright, stupid black eyes, an aquiline nose, a + knowing smile, and a general comely vulgarity of aspect. His + voice was hoarse and deep, his manner bluff and blunt, and + his conversation loud and boisterous. With all these natural + impediments to good company, the lowness of his origin, + recent in their memories, and the flagrant fact of his + residence in a country town, staring them in the face, Mr. + Tom Hopkins made his way into almost every family of + consideration in the neighbourhood. Sportsmanship, sheer + sportsmanship, the qualification that, more than any other, + commands the respect of your great English landholder, + surmounted every obstacle. + </p> + <p> + With the ladies, he made his way by different qualities; in + the first place he was a character, an oddity, and the + audacity of his vulgarity was tolerated, where a man only + half as boisterous would have been scouted; then he was + gallant in his way, affected, perhaps felt, a great devotion + to the sex, and they were half amused, half pleased, with the + rough flattery which seemed, and probably was, so sincere. + </p> + <p> + His house was an ugly brick dwelling of his own erection, + situate in the principal street of Cranley, and adorned with + a green door and a brass knocker, giving entrance into a + stone passage, which, there being no other way to the stable, + served both for himself, and that very dear part of himself, + his horses, whose dwelling was certainly by far more + commodious than their master's. His accommodations were + simple enough. The dining-parlour, which might pass for his + only sitting-room,—for the little dark den which he + called his drawing-room was not entered three times a year; + the dining-room was a small square room, coloured pea-green + with a gold moulding, adorned with a series of four prints on + shooting, and four on hunting, together with two or three + portraits of eminent racers, riders, hunters, and grooms. + Guns and fishing-rods were suspended over the mantelpiece; + powder-horns, shot-belts, and game-bags scattered about; a + choice collection of flies for angling lay in one corner, + whips and bridles in another, and a pile of books and + papers,—Colonel Thornton's Tour, Daniel's Rural Sports, + and a heap of Racing Calendars, occupied a third; Ponto and + Carlo lay basking on the hearth-rug, and a famous little + cocking spaniel, Flora by name, a conscious favourite, was + generally stretched in state on an arm-chair. + </p> + <p> + Here, except when the owner was absent on a sporting + expedition, which, between fishing, shooting, hunting, and + racing, did, it must be confessed, happen pretty often; here + his friends were sure to find a hearty welcome, a good + beef-steak,—his old housekeeper was famous for + cookery!—and as much excellent Port and super-excellent + Madeira—Tom, like most of his school, eschewed claret + and other thin potations—as their host could prevail on + them to swallow. Many a good fellow hath heard the chimes at + midnight in this little room. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + In the present sheet we are only able to include Notices of + <i>four</i> of the <i>nine</i> Annuals, exclusive of the + <i>Juvenile Presents</i>, which we reserve for a "select + party." Our notice of the <i>Winter's Wreath</i> is in type, + but must stand over for the present, as well as those of the + <i>Keepsake, Anniversary, Bijou</i>, and <i>Friendship's + Offering</i>, which will freight another Supplementary Sheet, + to follow very shortly. We prefer this method to passing over + the merits of these works with mere commendatory + generalities. It does not require a microscopic or a critical + eye to distinguish their beauties; but we hope the means we + have adopted for the present gratification of our readers + will be such as to induce them to look for the appearance of + our SECOND SUPPLEMENT, as well as to prove ourselves worthy + of the <i>encore</i>. Like some comic singers, we will + endeavour to keep up the entertainment by "variations." + </p> + <hr class="full" /> + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a> <b>Footnote 1</b>: + <a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> + <p> + In a few words, the <i>Amulet</i> reached us in an early + stage of convalescence, when we began to feel that "no + medicine is better for the weakness of the body than that + which soothes and tranquillizes the soul." We are not + suiting the action to the word; on the contrary, we would + desire to wear such truths as the <i>Amulet</i> + enjoins—in our "heart of hearts," as well in + returning health and vigour as in the above moments. + </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" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 12, ISSUE 340, SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER (1828)***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 11406-h.txt or 11406-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/4/0/11406">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/4/0/11406</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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, Vol. 12, +Issue 340, Supplementary Number (1828) + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 2, 2004 [eBook #11406] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, +AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 12, ISSUE 340, SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER +(1828)*** + + +E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Michael Hermen, David Garcia, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 11406-h.htm or 11406-h.zip: + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/4/0/11406/11406-h/11406-h.htm) + or + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/4/0/11406/11406-h.zip) + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 12, NO. 340.] SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Vicenza. + + +[Illustration: Vicenza.] + + +SPIRIT OF THE "ANNUALS," FOR 1829. + + +For some days past our table has been glittering with these caskets +of song and tale in their gay attire of silken sheen and burnished +gold--till their splendour has fairly put out the light of our +_sinumbra_, and the drabs, blues, and yellows of sober, business-like +quartos and octavos. Seven out of nine of these elegant little books are +in "watered" silk bindings; and an ingenious lady-friend has favoured us +with the calculation that the silk used in covering the presumed number +sold (70,000) would extend five miles, or from Hyde Park Corner to +Turnham Green. + +Brilliant as may be their exteriors, their contents are, as Miss Jane +Porter says of her heroines, "transcendently beautiful." But of these +we shall present our readers with some exquisite specimens. Our only +trouble in this task is the _embarras du richesses_ with which we are +surrounded; otherwise it is to us an exhaustless source of delight, +especially when we consider the "gentle feelings and affections" which +this annual distribution will cherish, and the innumerable intertwinings +of hands and hearts which this shower of _bon-bons_ will produce; and +such warm friends are we to this social scheme, that our presentation +copies are already in the fair hands whither we had destined them. + +We begin with the parent-stock, + + +The Forget-Me-Not. + + +_Edited by Frederic Shoberl_, Esq. + +The present volume, in its graphic and literary attractions is decidedly +superior to that of last year, an improvement which makes us credit what +the Ettrick Shepherd says of the proprietor--"There's no a mair just, +nay, generous man in his dealings wi' his authors, in a' the tredd, than +Mr. Ackermann." + +This beautiful Annual contains the original of our ENGRAVING, from a +plate by A. Freebairn, after an admirable picture by S. Prout, of which +the following story is illustrative:-- + + +THE MAGICIAN OF VICENZA. + + +In the year 1796, on one of the finest evenings of an Italian autumn, +when the whole population of the handsome city of Vicenza were pouring +into the streets to enjoy the fresh air, that comes so deliciously along +the currents of its three rivers; when the Campo Marzo was crowded with +the opulent citizens and Venetian nobles; and the whole ascent, from the +gates to the Madonna who sits enthroned on the summit of Monte Berrico, +was a line of the gayest pilgrims that ever wandered up the vine-covered +side of an Alpine hill; the ears of all were caught by the sound of +successive explosions from a boat running down the bright waters of the +Bachiglione. Vicenza was at peace, under the wing of the lion of St. +Mark, but the French were lying round the ramparts of Mantua. They had +not yet moved on Venice; yet her troops were known to be without arms, +experience, or a general, and the sound of a cracker would have startled +her whole dominions. + +The boat itself was of a singular make; and the rapidity with which this +little chaloupe, glittering with gilding and hung with streamers, made +its way along the sparkling stream, struck the observers as something +extraordinary. It flew by every thing on the river, yet no one was +visible on board. It had no sail up, no steersman, no rower; yet it +plunged and rushed along with the swiftness of a bird. The Vicentine +populace are behind none of their brethren in superstition, and at the +sight of the flying chaloupe, the groups came running from the Campo +Marzo. The Monte Berrico was speedily left without a pilgrim, and the +banks of the Bachiglione were, for the first time since the creation, +honoured with the presence of the Venetian authorities, and even of the +sublime podesta [the governor, a Venetian noble.] himself. + +But it was fortunate for them that the flying phenomenon had reached the +open space formed by the conflux of the three rivers, before the crowd +became excessive; for, just as it had darted out from the narrow +channel, lined on both sides with the whole thirty thousand old, +middle-aged, and young, men, maids, and matrons of the city, a thick +smoke was seen rising from its poop, its frame quivered, and, with a +tremendous explosion, the chaloupe rose into the air in ten thousand +fragments of fire. + +The multitude were seized with consternation; and the whole fell on +their knees, from the sublime podesta himself, to the humblest +saffron-gatherer. Never was there such a mixture of devotion. Never was +there such a concert of exclamations, sighs, callings on the saints, and +rattling of beads. The whole concourse lay for some minutes with their +very noses rubbing to the ground, until they were all roused at once by +a loud burst of laughter. Thirty thousand pair of eyes were lifted up at +the instant, and all fixed in astonishment on a human figure, seen +calmly sitting on the water, in the very track of the explosion, and +still half hidden in the heavy mass of smoke that curled in a huge globe +over the remnants. The laugh had proceeded from him, and the nearer he +approached the multitude, the louder he laughed. At length, stopping in +front of the spot where the sublime podesta, a little ashamed of his +prostration, was getting the dust shaken out of his gold-embroidered +robe of office, and bathing his burning visage in orange-flower water, +the stranger began a sort of complimentary song to the famous city of +Vicenza. + +The stranger found a willing audience; for his first stanza was in +honour of the "most magnificent city of Vicenza;" its "twenty palaces by +the matchless Palladio;" much more "its sixty churches;" and much more +than all "its breed of Dominicans, unrivalled throughout the earth for +the fervour of their piety and the capacity of their stomachs." The last +touch made the grand-prior of the cathedral wince a little, but it was +welcomed with a roar from the multitude. The song proceeded; but if the +prior had frowned at the first stanza, the podesta was doubly angry at +the second, which sneered at Venetian pomposity in incomparable style. +But the prior and podesta were equally outvoted, for the roar of the +multitude was twice as loud as before. Then came other touches on the +_cavalieri serventi_, the ladies, the nuns, and the husbands, till every +class had its share: but the satire was so witty, that, keen as it was, +the shouts of the people silenced all disapprobation. He finished by a +brilliant stanza, in which he said, that "having been sent by Neptune +from the depths of the ocean to visit the earth, he had chosen for his +landing-place its most renowned spot, the birthplace of the gayest men +and the handsomest women--the exquisite Vicenza." With these words he +ascended from the shore, and was received with thunders of applause. + +His figure was tall and elegant. He wore a loose, scarlet cloak thrown +over his fine limbs, Greek sandals, and a cap like that of the Italian +princes of three centuries before, a kind of low circle of green and +vermilion striped silk, clasped by a large rose of topaz. The men +universally said, that there was an atrocious expression in his +countenance; but the women, the true judges after all, said, without +exception, that this was envy in the men, and that the stranger was the +most "delightful looking _Diavolo_" they had ever set eyes on. + +The stranger, on his landing, desired to be led to the principal hotel; +but he had not gone a dozen steps from the water-side, when he exclaimed +that he had lost his purse. Such an imputation was never heard before in +an Italian city; at least so swore the multitude; and the stranger was +on the point of falling several fathoms deep in his popularity. But he +answered the murmur by a laugh; and stopping in front of a beggar, who +lay at the corner of an hospital roaring out for alms, demanded the +instant loan of fifty sequins. The beggar lifted up his hands and eyes +in speechless wonder, and then shook out his rags, which, whatever else +they might show, certainly showed no sequins, "The sequins, or death!" +was the demand, in a tremendous voice. The beggar fell on the ground +convulsed, and from his withered hand, which every one had seen empty +the moment before, out flew fifty sequins, bright as if they had come +that moment from St. Mark's mint. The stranger took them from the +ground, and, with a smile, flung them up in a golden shower through the +crowd. The shouts were immense, and the mob insisted on carrying him to +the door of his hotel. + +But the Venetian vigilance was by this time a little awakened, and a +patrol of the troops was ordered to bring this singular stranger before +the sublime podesta. The crowd instantly dropped him at the sight of the +bayonets, and knowing the value of life in the most delicious climate of +the world, took to their heels. The guard took possession of their +prisoner, and were leading him rather roughly to the governor's house, +when he requested them to stop for a moment beside a convent gate, that +he might get a cup of wine. But the Dominicans would not give the +satirist of their illustrious order a cup of water. + +"If you will not give me refreshment," exclaimed he, in an angry tone, +"give me wherewithal to buy it. I demand a hundred sequins." + +The prior himself was at the window above his head; and the only answer +was a sneer, which was loyally echoed through every cloister. + +"Let me have your bayonet for a moment," said the stranger to one of his +guard. He received it; and striking away a projecting stone in the wall, +out rushed the hundred sequins. The prior clasped his hands in agony, +that so much money should have been so near, and yet have escaped his +pious purposes, The soldiers took off their caps for the discoverer, and +bowed them still lower when he threw every sequin of it into the shakos +of those polite warriors. The officer, to whom he had given a double +share, showed his gratitude by a whisper, offering to assist his escape +for as much more. But the stranger declined the civility, and walked +boldly into the presence-chamber of the sublime podesta. + +The Signer Dominico Castello-Grande Tremamondo was a little Venetian +noble, descended in a right line from Aeneas, with a palazzo on the +Canale Regio of Venice, which he let for a coffee-house; and living in +the pomp and pride of a _magnifico_ on something more than the wages of +an English groom. The intelligence of this extraordinary stranger's +discoveries had flown like a spark through a magazine, and the +_illustrissimo_ longed to be a partaker in the secret. He interrogated +the prisoner with official fierceness, but could obtain no other reply +than the general declaration, that he was a traveller come to see the +captivations of Italy. In the course of the inquiry the podesta dropped +a significant hint about money. + +"As to money," was the reply, "I seldom carry any about me; it is so +likely to tempt _rascals_ to dip deeper in roguery. I have it whenever I +choose to call for it." + +"I should like to see the experiment made, merely for its curiosity," +said the governor. + +"You shall be obeyed," was the answer; "but I never ask for more than a +sum for present expenses. Here, you fellow!" said he, turning to one of +the half-naked soldiery, "lend me five hundred sequins!" + +The whole guard burst into laughter. The sum would have been a severe +demand on the military chest of the army. The handsome stranger advanced +to him, and, seizing his musket, said, loftily, "Fellow, if you won't +give the money, this must." He struck the butt-end of the musket thrice +upon the floor. At the third blow a burst of gold poured out, and +sequins ran in every direction. The soldiery and the officers of the +court were in utter astonishment. All wondered, many began to cross +themselves, and several of the most celebrated swearers in the regiment +dropped upon their knees. But their devotions were not long, for the +sublime podesta ordered the hall to be cleared, and himself, the +stranger, and the sequins, left alone. + +For three days nothing more was heard of any of the three, and the +Vicenzese scarcely ate, drank, or slept, through anxiety to know what +was become of the man in the scarlet cloak, and cap striped green and +vermilion. Jealousy, politics, and piety, at length put their heads +together, and, by the evening of the third day, the _cavalieri_ had +agreed that he was some rambling actor, or Alpine thief, the statesmen, +that he was a spy; and the Dominicans that he was Satan in person. The +women, partly through the contradiction natural to the lovely sex, and +partly through the novelty of not having the world in their own way, +were silent; a phenomenon which the Italian philosophers still consider +the true wonder of the whole affair. + +On the evening of the third day a new Venetian governor, with a stately +_cortege_, was seen entering at the Water Gate, full gallop, from +Venice: he drove straight to the podesta's house, and, after an +audience, was provided with apartments in the town-house, one of the +finest in Italy, and looking out upon the _Piazza Grande_, in which are +the two famous columns, one then surmounted by the winged lion of St. +Mark, as the other still is by a statue of the founder of our faith. + +The night was furiously stormy, and the torrents of rain and perpetual +roaring of the thunder drove the people out of the streets. But between +the tempest and curiosity not an eye was closed that night in the city. +Towards morning the tempest lulled, and in the intervals of the wind, +strange sounds were heard, like the rushing of horses and rattling of +carriages. At length the sounds grew so loud that curiosity could be +restrained no longer, and the crowd gathered towards the entrance of the +_Piazza_. The night was dark beyond description, and the first knowledge +of the hazard that they were incurring was communicated to the shivering +mob by the kicks of several platoons of French soldiery, who let them +pass within their lines, but prohibited escape. The square was filled +with cavalry, escorting wagons loaded with the archives, plate, and +pictures, of the government. The old podesta was seen entering a +carriage, into which his very handsome daughter, the betrothed of the +proudest of the proud Venetian senators, was handed by the stranger. The +procession then moved, and last, and most surprising of all, the +stranger, mounting a charger, put himself at the head of the cavalry, +and, making a profound adieu to the new governor, who stood shivering at +the window in care of a file of grenadiers, dashed forward on the road +to Milan. + +Day rose, and the multitude rushed out to see what was become of the +city. Every thing was as it had been, but the column of the lion: its +famous emblem of the Venetian republic was gone, wings and all. They +exclaimed that the world had come to an end. But the wheel of fortune is +round, let politicians say what they will. In twelve months from that +day the old podesta was again sitting in the government-house--yet a +podesta no more, but a French prefect; the Signora Maria, his lovely +daughter, was sitting beside him, with an infant, the image of her own +beauty, and beside her the stranger, no longer the man of magic in the +scarlet cloak and green and vermilion striped cap with a topaz clasp, +but a French general of division, in blue and silver, her husband, as +handsome as ever, and, if not altogether a professed _Diavolo_, quite as +successful in finding money whenever he wanted it. His first _entree_ +into Vicenza had been a little theatrical, for such is the genius of his +country. The blowing-up of his little steam-boat, which had nearly +furnished his drama with a tragic catastrophe, added to its effect; and +his discovery of the sequins was managed by three of his countrymen. As +an inquirer into the nakedness of the land, he might have been shot as a +spy. As half-charlatan and half-madman, he was sure of national +sympathy. During the three days of his stay the old podesta had found +himself accessible to reason, the podesta's daughter to the tender +passion, and the treasures of the state to the locomotive skill of the +French detachment, that waited in the mountains the result of their +officer's diplomacy. The lion of St. Mark, having nothing else to do, +probably disdained to remain, and in the same night took wing from the +column, to which he has never returned. + +As we love to "march in good order," we begin with the plates, the most +striking of which is the Frontispiece, _Marcus Curtius_, by Le Keux, +from a design by Martin, which we are at a loss to describe. It requires +a microscopic eye to fully appreciate all its beauties--yet the +thousands of figures and the architectural background, are so clear and +intelligible as to make our optic nerve sympathize with the labour of +the artist. The next is a _View on the Ganges_, by Finden, after +Daniell; _Constancy_, by Portbury, after Stephanoff, in which the female +figure is loveliness personified; _Eddystone during a Storm_; the +_Proposal_, a beautiful family group; the _Cottage Kitchen_, by Romney, +after Witherington; and the _Blind Piper_, from a painting by Clennell, +who, from too great anxiety in the pursuit of his profession, was some +years since deprived of reason, which he has never recovered. + +In the _poetical_ department we notice the Retreat, some beautiful lines +by J. Montgomery; Ellen Strathallan, a pathetic legend, by Mrs. +Pickersgill; St. Mary of the Lows, by the Ettrick Shepherd; Xerxes, a +beautiful composition, by C. Swain, Esq.; the Banks of the Ganges, a +descriptive poem, by Capt. McNaghten; Lydford Bridge, a fearful +incident, by the author of Dartmoor; Alice, a tale of merrie England, by +W.H. Harrison; and two pleasing pieces by the talented editor. Our +extract is + + +LANGSYNE. + +BY DELTA. + + +Langsyne!--how doth the word come back + With magic meaning to the heart, +As Memory roams the sunny track, + From which Hope's dreams were loath to part! +No joy like by-past joy appears; + For what is gone we peak and pine. +Were life spun out a thousand years, + It could not match Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--the days of childhood warm, + When, tottering by a mother's knee, +Each sight and sound had power to charm, + And hope was high, and thought was free. +Langsyne!--the merry schoolboy days-- + How sweetly then life's sun did shine! +Oh! for the glorious pranks and plays, + The raptures of Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--yes, In the sound, I hear + The rustling of the summer grove, +And view those angel features near, + Which first awoke the heart to love. +How sweet it is, in pensive mood, + At windless midnight to recline, +And fill the mental solitude + With spectres from Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--ah, where are they who shared + With us its pleasures bright and blithe? +Kindly with some hath fortune fared; + And some have bowed beneath the scythe +Of death; while others, scattered far, + O'er foreign lands at fate repine, +Oft wandering forth, 'neath twilight's star, + To muse on dear Langsyne! + +Langsyne!--the heart can never be + Again so full of guileless truth-- +Langsyne! the eyes no more shall see, + Ah, no! the rainbow hopes of youth. +Langsyne! with thee resides a spell + To raise the spirit, and refine +Farewell!--there can be no farewell + To thee, loved, lost Langsyne! + + +Of the _prose_ articles, we have already given some specimens--The Hour +Too Many, a fortnight since; and Vicenza, just quoted. The next we +notice is Recollections of Pere la Chaise, for the graphic accuracy of +which we can answer; Eliza Carthago, an African anecdote, by Mrs. +Bowditch; Terence O'Flaherty, a humorous story, by the Modern +Pythagorean of Blackwood; two interesting stories of Modern Greece; a +highly-wrought Persian Tale, by the late Henry Neele; Miss Mitford's +charming Cricketing Sketch; the Maid of the Beryl, by Mrs. Hofland; a +Chapter of Eastern Apologues, by the Ettrick Shepherd; the Goldsmith of +Westcheap, a story of the olden time--rather too long; and a +characteristic Naval Sketch. + +As we have already drawn somewhat freely on the present volume, we may +adduce that as the best proof of the high opinion we entertain of its +merits. The editor has only two or three pieces; but the excellent taste +and judgment displayed in the editorship of the "Forget-me-not" entitle +it to a foremost place among the "Annuals for 1829." + + * * * * * + + + + +The Literary Souvenir, + +_Edited by Alaric A. Watts, Esq_. + + +If the present were the first volume of the Literary Souvenir, the name +of the editor would be a passport to popularity; but as this is the +fifth year of its publication, any recommendation of ours would be +supererogatory. + +But the Souvenir for 1829, realizes that delightful union of painting, +engraving, and literature, (at whose beneficial influence we have +glanced in our accompanying number) even more fully than its +predecessors. Ten out of the twelve embellishments are from celebrated +pictures, and the whole are by first-rate engravers. Of their cost we +spoke cursorily in a recent number; so that we shall only particularize +a few of the most striking. + +The engravings are of larger size than heretofore, and, for the most +part, more brilliant in design and execution than any previous year. +We can only notice _the Sisters_, (frontispiece) full of graceful and +pleasing effect, by J.H. Robinson, after Stephanoff; _Cleopatra, on the +Cydnus_, a splendid aquatic pageant, by E. Goodall, after Danby; the +_Proposal_, consisting of two of the most striking figures in Leslie's +exquisite painting of May Day in Queen Elizabeth's time; a _Portrait of +Sir Walter Scott_, from Leslie's painting, and considered the best +likeness; this is from the burin of an American artist of high promise. +We must not, however, forget _Ehrenbreitstein, on the Rhine_, by John +Pye, from a drawing by J.M.W. Turner, which is one of the most +delightful prints in the whole series. + +In the _poetry_ are Cleopatra, well according with the splendid scene it +is intended to illustrate--and I think of Thee, a tender lament--both by +Mr. T.K. Hervey; Mrs. Hemans has contributed four exquisite pieces: +Night, the Ship at Sea, and the Mariner's Grave, by Mr. John Malcolm, +only make us regret that we have not room for either in our columns; +Mary Queen of Scots, by H.G. Bell, Esq., is one of the most interesting +historical ballads we have lately met with; the Epistle from Abbotsford, +is a piece of pleasantry, which would have formed an excellent pendent +to Sir Walter's Study, in our last; Zadig and Astarte, by Delta, are in +the writer's most plaintive strain; the recollections of our happiest +years, are harmoniously told in "Boyhood;" a ballad entitled "The +Captive of Alhama," dated from Woburn Abbey, and signed R----, is a +soul-stirring production, attributed to Lord John Russel; and the Pixies +of Devon has the masterly impress of the author of Dartmoor. And last in +our enumeration, though first in our liking, are the following by the +editor:--Invocation to the Echo of a Sea Shell; King Pedro's Revenge, +with a well written historiette; the Youngling of the Flock, full of +tenderness and parental affection; and some Stanzas, for our admiration +of which we have not an epithet at hand, so we give the original. + + + +ON BURNING A PACKET OF LETTERS. + +_By A.A. Watts, Esq._ + + +Relics of love, and life's enchanted spring, + Of hopes born, rainbow-like, of smiles and tears:-- +With trembling hand do I unloose the string, + Twined round the records of my youthful years. + +Yet why preserve memorials of a dream, + Too bitter-sweet to breathe of aught but pain! +Why court fond memory for a fitful gleam + Of faded bliss, that cannot bloom again! + +The thoughts and feelings these sad relics bring + Back on my heart, I would not now recall:-- +Since gentler ties around its pulses cling, + Shall spells less hallowed hold them still in thrall! + +Can withered hopes that never came to flower + Match with affections long and dearly tried +Love, that has lived through many a stormy hour, + Through good and ill,--and time and change defied! + +Perish each record that might wake a thought + That would be treason to a faith like this!-- +Why should the spectres of past joys be brought + To fling their shadows o'er my present bliss! + +Yet,--ere we part for ever,--let me pay + A last, fond tribute to the sainted dead: +Mourn o'er these wrecks of passion's earlier day, + With tears as wild as once I used to shed. + +What gentle words are flashing on my eye! + What tender truths in every line I trace! +Confessions--penned with many a deep drawn sigh.-- + Hopes--like the dove--with but one resting place! + +How many a feeling, long--too long--represt, + Like autumn flowers, here opened out at last! +How many a vision of the lonely breast + Its cherish'd radiance on these leaves hath cast? + +And ye, pale violets, whose sweet breath hath driven + Back on my soul the dreams I fain would quell; +To whose faint perfume such wild power is given, + To call up visions--only loved too well;-- + +Ye too must perish!--Wherefore now divide + Tributes of love--first offerings of the heart;-- +Gifts--that so long have slumbered side by side; + Tokens of feeling--never meant to part! + +A long farewell:--sweet flowers, sad scrolls, adieu! + Yes, ye shall be companions to the last:-- +So perish all that would revive anew + The fruitless memories of the faded past! + +But, lo! the flames are curling swiftly round + Each fairer vestige of my youthful years; +Page after page that searching blaze hath found, + Even whilst I strive to trace them through my tears. + +The Hindoo widow, in affection strong, + Dies by her lord, and keeps her faith unbroken; +Thus perish all which to those wrecks belong, + The living memory--with the lifeless token! + + +Barry Cornwall has contributed several minor pieces, though we fear his +poetical reputation will not be increased by either of them. + +Some of the minor pieces are gems in their way, and one of the most +beautiful will be found appended to our current Number. + +To the _prose_:--The first in the volume is "the Sisters," a pathetic +tale of about thirty pages, which a little of the fashionable +affectation of some literary coxcombs might fine-draw over a brace of +small octavos. As it stands, the story is gracefully, yet energetically +told, and is entitled to the place it occupies. The author of Pelham +(_vide_ the newspapers) has a pleasant conceit in the shape of a +whole-length of fashion, which, being the best and shortest in its line +that we have met with, will serve to enliven our extracts:-- + + +TOO HANDSOME FOR ANY THING! + + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was one of those models of perfection of which +a human father and mother can produce but a single example,--Mr. +Ferdinand Fitzroy was therefore an only son. He was such an amazing +favourite with both his parents that they resolved to ruin him; +accordingly, he was exceedingly spoiled, never annoyed by the sight of +a book, and had as much plum-cake as he could eat. Happy would it have +been for Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy could he always have eaten plum-cake, and +remained a child. "Never," says the Greek Tragedian, "reckon a mortal +happy till you have witnessed his end." A most beautiful creature was +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy! Such eyes--such hair--such teeth--such a +figure--such manners, too,--and such an irresistible way of tying his +neckcloth! When he was about sixteen, a crabbed old uncle represented to +his parents the propriety of teaching Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy to read and +write. Though not without some difficulty, he convinced them,--for he +was exceedingly rich, and riches in an uncle are wonderful arguments +respecting the nurture of a nephew whose parents have nothing to leave +him. So our hero was sent to school. He was naturally (I am not joking +now) a very sharp, clever boy; and he came on surprisingly in his +learning. The schoolmaster's wife liked handsome children.--"What a +genius will Master Ferdinand Fitzroy be, if you take pains with him!" +said she, to her husband. + +"Pooh, my dear, it is of no use to take pains with _him_." + +"And why, love?" + +"Because he is a great deal too handsome ever to be a scholar." + +"And that's true enough, my dear!" said the schoolmaster's wife. + +So, because he was too handsome to be a scholar, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy +remained the lag of the fourth form! + +They took our hero from school.--"What profession shall he follow?" said +his mother. + +"My first cousin is the Lord Chancellor," said his father, "let him go +to the bar." + +The Lord Chancellor dined there that day: Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was +introduced to him; his lordship was a little, rough-faced, +beetle-browed, hard-featured man, who thought beauty and idleness the +same thing--and a parchment skin the legitimate complexion for a lawyer. + +"Send him to the bar!" said he, "no, no, that will never do!--Send him +into the army; he is much too handsome to become a lawyer." + +"And that's true enough, my lord!" said the mother. So they bought Mr. +Ferdinand Fitzroy a cornetcy in the ---- regiment of dragoons. + +Things are not learned by inspiration. Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy had never +ridden at school, except when he was hoisted; he was, therefore, a very +indifferent horseman; they sent him to the riding-school, and everybody +laughed at him. + +"He is a d--d ass!" said Cornet Horsephiz, who was very ugly; "a horrid +puppy!" said Lieutenant St. Squintem, who was still uglier; "if he does +not ride better he will disgrace the regiment," said Captain Rivalhate, +who was very good-looking; "if he does not ride better, we will cut +him!" said Colonel Everdrill, who was a wonderful martinet; "I say, Mr. +Bumpemwell (to the riding-master,) make that youngster ride less like a +miller's sack." + +"Pooh, sir, _he_ will never ride better." + +"And why the d---l will he not?" + +"Bless you, colonel, he is a great deal too handsome for a cavalry +officer!" + +"True!" said Cornet Horsephiz. + +"Very true," said Lieutenant St. Squintem. + +"We must cut him!" said the Colonel. + +And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly cut. + +Out hero was a youth of susceptibility--he quitted the ---- regiment, +and challenged the colonel. The colonel was killed! + +"What a terrible blackguard is Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" said the +colonel's relations. + +"Very true!" said the world. + +The parents were in despair!--They were not rich; but our hero was an +only son, and they sponged hard upon the crabbed old uncle! "he is very +clever," said they both, "and may do yet." + +So they borrowed some thousands from the uncle, and bought his beautiful +nephew a seat in parliament. + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was ambitious, and desirous of retrieving his +character. He fagged like a dragon--conned pamphlets and reviews--got +Ricardo by heart--and made notes on the English constitution. + +He rose to speak. + +"What a handsome fellow!" whispered one member. + +"Ah, a coxcomb!" said another. + +"Never do for a speaker!" said a third, very audibly. + +And the gentlemen on the opposite benches sneered and _heard!_--Impudence +is only indigenous in Milesia, and an orator is not made in a day. +Discouraged by his reception, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy grew a little +embarrassed. + +"Told you so!" said one of his neighbours. + +"Fairly broke down!" said another. + +"Too fond of his hair to have any thing in his head," said a third, who +was considered a wit. + +"Hear, hear!" cried the gentlemen on the opposite benches, + +Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy sat down--he had not shone; but, in justice, he +had not failed. Many a first-rate speaker had began worse; and many a +country member had been declared a phoenix of promise upon half his +merit. + +Not so, thought the heroes of corn-laws. + +"Your Adonises never make orators!" said a crack speaker with a wry +nose. + +"Nor men of business either," added the chairman of a committee, with a +face like a kangaroo's. + +"Poor devil!" said the civilest of the set. "He's a deuced deal too +handsome for a speaker! By Jove, he is going to speak again--this will +never do; we must cough him down!" + +And Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was accordingly coughed down. + +Our hero was now seven or eight and twenty, handsomer than ever, and the +adoration of the young ladies at Almack's. + +"We have nothing to leave you," said the parents, who had long spent +their fortune, and now lived on the credit of having once enjoyed +it.--"You are the handsomest man in London; you must marry an heiress." + +"I will," said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + +Miss Helen Convolvulus was a charming young lady, with a hare-lip and +six thousand a-year. To Miss Helen Convolvulus then our hero paid his +addresses. + +Heavens! what an uproar her relations made about the matter. "Easy to +see his intentions," said one: "a handsome fortune-hunter, who wants to +make the best of his person!"--"handsome is that handsome does," says +another; "he was turned out of the army, and murdered his +colonel;"--"never marry a beauty," said a third;--"he can admire none +but himself;"--"will have so many mistresses," said a fourth;--"make you +perpetually jealous," said a fifth;--"spend your fortune," said a +sixth;--"and break your heart," said a seventh. + +Miss Helen Convolvulus was prudent and wary. She saw a great deal of +justice in what was said; and was sufficiently contented with liberty +and six thousand a-year, not to be highly impatient for a husband; but +our heroine had no aversion to a lover; especially to so handsome a +lover as Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. Accordingly she neither accepted nor +discarded him; but kept him on hope, and suffered him to get into debt +with his tailor, and his coach-maker. On the strength of becoming Mr. +Fitzroy Convolvulus. Time went on, and excuses and delays were easily +found; however, our hero was sanguine, and so were his parents. A +breakfast at Chiswick, and a putrid fever carried off the latter, within +one week of each other; but not till they had blessed Mr. Ferdinand +Fitzroy, and rejoiced that they had left him so well provided for. + +Now, then, our hero depended solely upon the crabbed old uncle and Miss +Helen Convolvulus; the former, though a baronet and a satirist was a +banker and a man of business:--he looked very distastefully at the +Hyperian curls and white teeth of Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy. + +"If I make you my heir," said he--"I expect you will continue the bank." + +"Certainly, sir!" said the nephew. + +"Humph!" grunted the uncle, "a pretty fellow for a banker!" + +Debtors grew pressing to Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, and Mr. Ferdinand +Fitzroy grew pressing to Miss Helen Convolvulus. "It is a dangerous +thing," said she, timidly, "to marry a man so admired,--will you always +be faithful?" + +"By heaven!" cried the lover. + +"Heigho!" sighed Miss Helen Convolvulus, and Lord Rufus Pumilion +entering, the conversation was changed. + +But the day of the marriage was fixed; and Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy bought +a new curricle. By Apollo, how handsome he looked in it! A month before +the wedding day the uncle died. Miss Helen Convolvulus was quite tender +in her condolences--"Cheer up, my Ferdinand," said she, "for your sake, +I have discarded Lord Rufus Pumilion!" "Adorable condescension!" cried +our hero;--"but Lord Rufus Pumilion is only four feet two, and has hair +like a peony." + +"All men are not so handsome as Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy!" was the reply. + +Away goes our hero, to be present at the opening of his uncle's will. + +"I leave," said the testator (who I have before said was a bit of a +satirist,) "my share of the bank, and the whole or my fortune, legacies +excepted, to"--(here Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy wiped his beautiful eyes with +a cambric handkerchief, exquisitely _brode_) "my natural son, John +Spriggs, an industrious, pains-taking youth, who will do credit to the +bank. I did once intend to have made my nephew Ferdinand my heir; but so +curling a head can have no talent for accounts. I want my successor to +be a man of business, not beauty; and Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy is a great +deal too handsome for a banker; his good looks will, no doubt, win him +any heiress in town. Meanwhile, I leave him, to buy a dressing-case, a +thousand pounds." + +"A thousand devils!" said Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, banging out of the +room. He flew to his mistress. She was not at home. "Lies," says the +Italian proverb, "have short legs;" but truths, if they are unpleasant, +have terrible long ones! The next day Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy received a +most obliging note of dismissal. + +"I wish you every happiness," said Miss Helen Convolvulus, in +conclusion--"but my friends are right; you are much too handsome for a +husband!" + +And the week after, Miss Helen Convolvulus became Lady Rufus Pumilion. + +"Alas! sir," said the bailiff, as a day or two after the dissolution of +parliament, he was jogging along with Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy, in a +hackney coach bound to the King's Bench,--"Alas! sir, what a pity it is +to take so handsome a gentleman to prison!" + +The MS. found in a Madhouse, by the same author, is perhaps too horrific +for this terror-loving age; but it is by no means less clever on that +account; _toute en huile_ would not do. Among the other tales are the +Rock of the Candle, Irish, by the author of Holland-Tide,--nearly forty +pages; and the Queen of May and Bridget Plantagenet,--of the olden +time--which would be spoiled by abridgment for our present purpose. The +same reason prevents our giving more than our commendation of Miss +Mitford's General and his Lady, who, we think are new company for our +fair authoress. + +In the Vision of Purgatory, by Dr. Maginn, (Irish, of course,) the +serious and ludicrous are mixed up with an abundance of skill and +humour; this piece should be read after the Madhouse sketch. + +The Souvenir is opportunely dedicated to Mr. Peel; and whether as a work +of art, or elegant literature, it is decidedly worthy of such +distinguished notice. If the argument of the fine arts contributing to +virtue hold good, then the patronage of a minister will be patriotically +bestowed on such works as the Literary Souvenir. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Amulet. + +_Edited by S. C. Hall, Esq._ + + +It would be difficult and somewhat egotistical for us to describe the +pleasure we felt on our receiving this interesting volume for notice in +our pages. The amiable spirit which breathes throughout its pages, and +the good taste which uniformly dictates its editorship have secured the +_Amulet_ an extensive, and we are disposed to think, a more permanent, +popularity than is attached to other works of similar form.[1] + +[Footnote 1] In a few words, the _Amulet_ reached us in an early stage of +convalescence, when we began to feel that "no medicine is better for the +weakness of the body than that which soothes and tranquillizes the +soul." We are not suiting the action to the word; on the contrary, we +would desire to wear such truths as the _Amulet_ enjoins--in our "heart +of hearts," as well in returning health and vigour as in the above +moments. + +The present volume contains Fourteen Plates, among which are _Murillo's +Spanish Flower Girl; Etty's Guardian Angels_, by Finden; a copy of Sir +Thomas Lawrence's portrait of _Lady Georgiana Fane_, from Colnaghi's +print; Eastlake's _Italian Mother;_ one of Collins's last pictures, _The +Fisherman Leaving Home; The Temple of Victory_, from Gandy,--all which +are first-rate works of art. + +There are eighty contributions, as the bookmakers say, "in prose and +verse," with a predominance of the former. The first of the _prose_ is a +Strange Story of every day, by William Kennedy--well told, but too long +for extract. The Mountain Daisy, a village sketch, by the Editor's lady, +is gracefully written; and with the Fisherman, by the Editor, is a fair +characteristic of the amiable spirit to which we have already alluded; +and in the same tone of good feeling is the Rose of Fennock Dale, a true +story by the fair authoress of the Mountain Daisy; and the Wandering +Minstrels, by the Rev. F.A. Cox, L.L.D. Miss Mitford has contributed one +of her inimitable sketches, Little Moses; but the most staple articles +in the volume are The Battle of Bunaania, one of the Georgian Islands, +by Mr. Ellis, the missionary; Notices of the Canadian Indians, by Dr. +Walsh; a Journey over the Brocken, by Mr. Coleridge; and a Fragment, by +Miss Jane Porter. Our prose selection is from the last of these +articles; but we intend transferring a portion of Dr. Walsh's "Notices" +to our next "Manners and Customs." + + * * * * * + + +THE SOUTH SEA CHIEF. + +_By Miss Jane Porter_. + + +While in the north of Europe, I met with a rather extraordinary person, +whose account of himself might afford a subject for a pretty romance; a +sort of new Paul and Virginia; but with what different catastrophe, it +is not fair to presage. He described himself as a Frenchman, a native of +Bourdeaux; where, at an early age, he was put on board a merchant ship, +to learn the profession of a seaman. About that time war broke out +between Great Britain, and the lately proclaimed Republic of France; +and the vessel he was in, being attacked, and taken by an English +man-of-war, he was carried a prisoner into England. When there, his +naturally enterprising character would not submit itself to a state of +captivity; and, soon making his wishes understood, he entered on board a +British sloop, bound to New Holland. While gazing with rapt astonishment +on the seeming new heavens which canopied that, to him, also, new +portion of the globe; while the stars of the Cross were exciting his +youthful wonder; and he could no where find the constellations of the +Great, or Little Bear in the midnight firmament, the sky was suddenly +overcast with a cloud, like the pall of nature, and a fearful tempest +burst from it. The scene was dreadful on that wide waste of waters; and +the vessel being driven at last into the rocky labyrinths of the Society +Isles, was finally wrecked on one not many leagues from the celebrated +Otaheite. Laonce, the young Frenchman, and one seaman of the sloop, an +honest north Briton, were the only persons who escaped; for when morning +broke, they found themselves, restored from insensibility, lying on the +shore, and not a trace of the ship, or of those who had navigated her, +was to be discerned. The inhabitants of the island, apparently wild +savages by their almost naked state, instead of seizing them as a prey, +took them to their huts, fed, and cherished them. Hope for awhile +flattered them that some other vessel, bound for New Holland, might also +be driven upon those islands, though not with the same hard fate, and +that by her means they might be released, and conveyed back to Europe. +But days, and weeks, and months, wearing away without any such arrival, +they began to regard the expectation less, and to turn their minds to +take a more intimate interest in objects around them. Time, indeed, +accustomed them to what might be called barbarous, in the manners of the +people; by degrees, even themselves laid aside their European habits; +they exchanged their clothing for the half-exposed fashion of the native +chiefs; and, adopting their pursuits and pleasures, became hunters, and +bold fishers in the light canoe. Finally, they learnt to speak the +language, as if they had been born in the island; and, at length, sealed +their insular destiny by marrying native women. Laonce was hardly +eighteen when he was first cast ashore amongst them; but having a +handsome person, and those engaging manners, from a naturally amiable +disposition added to a gentleman's breeding, which never fail agreeably +impressing even the rudest minds, the eye of female tenderness soon +found him out; and the maiden, being the daughter of the king, and +beautiful withal, had only to hint her wishes to her royal sire; and the +king naming them to their distinguished object, she immediately became +his happy bride. Laonce, becoming thus royally allied, and in the line +of the throne, instantly received publicly the investiture of the +highest order of Otaheitan nobility, namely, a species of tattooing +appropriated to chiefs alone. The limbs of the body thus distinguished, +are traversed all over with a damasked sort of pattern, while the +particular royal insignia is marked on the left side of the forehead, +and below the eye, like a thick mass of dark tattooing. + +But the young Frenchman, and his north Briton companion, had reserved to +themselves means of increasing their consequence, still more than by +their mere personal merits, with their new fellow-countrymen. A few days +after the wreck, the subsiding elements had cast up certain articles of +the ship, which they managed to turn to good account: the most valuable +of them were fire-arms and some gunpowder, and a few other implements, +both of defence, and use in household, or ship's repairs. The fire-arms +seemed to endow the new young chief, just engrafted into the reigning +stock, with a kind of preternatural authority; and, by the aid of his +old messmate, and new bosom-coadjutor, he exerted all his influence over +their awed minds, to prevent their recurrence to the frightful practice +he had seen on his first landing, of devouring the prisoners they took +in war. His marriage had invested him with the power of a natively born +son of the king; and, having made himself master of their language, his +persuasions were so conclusive with the leading warriors, that, in the +course of a very little time, it was rare to hear that so dreadful a +species of vengeance was ever tasted, even in stealth. However, so +addicted were some few of the fiercer sort, to this ancient triumph of +their ancestors, that he found it necessary to add commands to +persuasions, and then threats to commands; and having expressed in the +strongest terms his abhorrence of so cowardly and brutal a practice, he +told them, that the first man he saw attempt to touch the flesh of a +prisoner to devour it, he would instantly put the offender to death. + +Shortly after this warning, a fray took place between the natives of his +father-in-law's dominions, and their enemies from a hostile island. A +number of captives were taken; and all under his command held his former +orders in such reverence, that none, excepting two (and they had before +shown refractory dispositions,) presumed to disobey his edict of mercy. +But these men, in derision of his lenity, particularly to the female +sex, selected a woman prisoner to be their victim; and slaying her, as +they would have done a beast, they commenced their horrible repast upon +her body. Laonce descried the scene at a distance just as they had +prepared their hideous banquet, and, going resolutely towards them, +levelled his musket at the cannibals. One of the wretches was killed +with the horrid morsel in his mouth, and a second shot, brought down his +voracious accomplice in the act. This bold example so awed all within +ken of the fact, that from that hour, until the day he quitted the +island, a period of fourteen years, no captive ever met with the +interdicted fate. Though the old sovereign continued in life, he +consigned the power to his new son, and Laonce became virtually king of +the place. Indeed, so reconciled was he and his friend the north Briton +(who also married) to the spot which had first sheltered them, and then +adopted them even as its legitimate offspring, that although many ships +of different nations touched there, no inducements could prevail on them +to quit their sea-girt home of simple nature, for all the blandishments +which civilized life could produce. Yet Laonce took a hospitable delight +in showing every act of friendship in his power to the captains of the +vessels; refitting them with food and fresh water; and rendering them +much essential service, in pointing out how to manage with safety the +difficult navigation round the several islands. + +The animation with which he recited these circumstances, after he was +far from the spot where they took place, strongly portrayed the fearless +independence of his former life. He spoke with the decision of one whose +commands had been unappealable, and all the barbarian chief lightened in +his eyes. But when he recalled his home there, his family happiness, his +countenance fell, his eyes clouded, and he spoke in half-stifled words. +He described his palace-hut; his arms, his hunting spear, his canoe; his +return to his hut, with the fruits of the chase; the graceful, delicate +person of his wife; her clinging fondness on his entrance; his +tenderness for her, and for his children--for she bore to him a son and +a daughter; and, while he spoke, he burst into tears, and sobbed like a +child. "I was then beloved," said he, "Honoured!--master of all around +me; Now, I am nothing:--no home--no wife--no friend! I am an outcast +here!--when there! Oh, Berea! wilt thou have forgotten me?" His tears, +and wild agonies, prevented him proceeding; and my eyes could not remain +dry, when seeing such genuine grief, such real suffering. + +But the cause of his being separated from his South-Sea home, and his +beloved Berea and her babes, remains to be told. It appears, that about +three years before the period I met him, a Russian ship, sent on a +voyage of discoveries, touched at the island where Laonce had become +naturalized. The captain was received with royal hospitality by the +king; and the _Prince Laonce_ became the glad interpreter between the +Europeans and his august father-in-law--for the captain spoke French. +And, besides procuring the crew all they wanted for common comforts, the +young chief loaded the commander and his officers with useful presents. +One night it blew a violent gale, and the Russian captain, deeming it +impossible to keep his anchorage in a bay so full of unseen dangers, +made signals to the land, in hopes of exciting some native, experienced +in the navigation, to come off, and direct him how to steer. Every +moment increased his jeopardy; the storm augmented; and, at each growing +blast, he expected to be torn from his cables, and dashed to atoms +against the rocks. No one moved from the shore. Again the signals were +repeated: Laonce had risen from his bed on hearing the first. Who was +there amongst all in that island, excepting his British comrade, who +would have known how to move _a ship_ through those boiling waves? The +light canoe, and a vessel of heavy burthen, were different objects! His +comrade was then watching by the side of an almost dying wife, who had +just made him the father of his first-born son. Could Laonce summon him +from that spot of his heart's tenderest duties, to attend to the roaring +guns of distress from a stranger vessel? Impossible! He rose, and looked +out on the night. He listened to the second signal, he wrung his hands, +and, sighing, was returning to his couch again. His wife had then risen +also. She clasped her arms round him, and a big tear stood in both her +eyes, "You tell me," said she, "that your people do not make those +thunders to heaven, and to earth, till they are drowning. You know you +can save them all. Go, Lao,"--and she smiled; "go; and the foreign +chief, after you have saved him, will give you something for me--either +a looking-glass, or a silk handkerchief. Go, Lao." + +He wound his arms round the gentle pleader; and, almost ashamed that the +father and the husband in his heart, should make him calculate between +his own life and that of the gallant crew, he told her, that the tempest +raged too tremendously for him to dare stemming it. But she laughingly +repulsed his caresses, accusing his fondness for her as the inducement +of his assumed apprehensions; and being too long accustomed to the +rashness of her own people, in braving every weather, to believe any +plea of positive danger, she still persisted; saying she must have a +silk handkerchief that night from yon ship, or she should think he loved +his sound sleep better than he did his fond Berea. + +The enthusiastic love which still warmed the faithful husband's breast, +and a third signal of distress from the struggling vessel, mastered his +better judgment, and, seizing his canoe, he dashed into the foaming +waves and boldly stemmed their fury to the object of his mission. The +overjoyed crew, as they heard his voice hailing them through the storm, +cast out a rope, by which they hoisted him into their cracking ship. The +most rapturous acknowledgments from the captain, greeted him as soon as +he jumped on the deck; and the eager seamen called him their deliverer. +He was happy! he said, he was happy in the achievement of what he had +done; he had obeyed the wish of his beloved Berea, and he had survived +the lashing surge. He was happy, in the confidence that he should rescue +the gallant vessel he came to take under his control. But that hour of +happiness was his last. He took the helm in his hands; he gave the +requisite directions to the seamen, for the management of the ship; and +he soon steered her out of the dangers of the bay, till she rode in +safety on the main ocean. He then asked for a boat to carry him on +shore, for his canoe had been crushed by an accident. But the wind still +blowing hurricanes, they would not venture the loss of one of their +boats: and during the hot contentions between him, and the ungrateful +chief of the vessel he had preserved, they were driven out far to sea; +whence his swimming arm, had he plunged into the boisterous deep, could +have been of no use to him. Indignation, despair, overwhelmed him. None +appeared to understand the nature of his feelings; all pretending to +wonder that a European born, should not be grateful to any occasion that +would carry him away from a savage country like that. In vain Laonce +remonstrated; in vain he talked of his wife and children; the captain +and his sailors laughed, promised him better of both sorts among his +kindred whites; and when he cursed their hardened hearts and cruel +treachery, they laughed again, and left him to his misery. At last, when +the protracted hurricane subsided, and the vessel's log-book proved that +she had been driven several degrees leeward of the Society Isles, +abandoned to a sullen despair, he ceased to accuse or to reproach; he +ceased even to speak on any subject, but cast himself into his lonely +berth during the day, that he might not be irritated to continued +unavailing madness, by the sight of the ingrates who had betrayed him. +To his straining eyes, nothing but the silvery line of the starlit sea +was on that distant horizon; but his heart's vision pierced farther, +and he beheld the sleepers in that home;--no, not the sleepers! His +disconsolate, his despairing wife, tearing her bright locks, and beating +the tender bosom he must no longer clasp to his own. His children--"Oh! +my babes!" cried he, and the cry of a father's heart for once pierced +the obdurate bosom of the captain, who, in that moment, had happened +to come upon the deck to examine the night. To ease his Otaheitan +benefactor, he declared he had thus carried him off, to share in the +honour of his expected discoveries. The unhappy chief, in then answering +him, begged, that if he had, indeed, any spark of honesty towards him, +he would prove it, by obeying his wish in one thing at least; and that +was, to set him on shore on the first European settlement they should +fall in with. "Do this," said he, "and I may yet believe you have +honour. For honour is a man's own act; a discovery is fortune's; and for +its advantages, did I stay, I should not have to thank you. But I want +none such. Set me on shore, and there I will follow my own destiny." + +To this poor request, the iron-souled commander of the vessel, at last +consented; and in the course of some weeks after, Laonce was landed on +the coast of Kamschatka. His secret intent was to lie in wait for the +possibility of some ship touching at the port where he was set ashore, +that might be bound to the track of his beloved islands; but not +uttering a word of this, to the reprobate wretch who had torn him +thence, he simply bade him "farewell! and to use his next pilot better;" +so saying, they parted for ever. But weeks and months passed away, and +no vessel bound for the South Seas, showed itself in that distant +latitude; and its gloomy fogs, and chilling atmosphere, its pale sky, +where the sun never shone for more than three or four hours in the day, +seemed to wither up his life with his waning hopes! In no way did it +resemble the land he had left; the warm, and the genial heavens of the +home he was yet bent to find again;--and he left Kamschatka for some +more propitious port; but, like _Sinbad the Sailor_, he wandered in +vain. A cruel spell seemed set on him, or on the spirit of adventure; +for in no place could he hear of a vessel going the way of his prayers. +At last he arrived, by a most tedious and circuitous journey at Moscow, +with a design to lay his case before the young and ardent Alexander, the +then Emperor of Russia; with the hope that his benevolence, and a sense +of what he had done for the vessel which had betrayed him, would incline +his majesty to make some effort to return him to his island, and his +family. + +That this hope was not vain, the character of the good Alexander, since +proved by a life of undeviating promptness to all acts of humanity, may +be a sufficient voucher. But whether the homeward-bound chief, found, on +his setting his foot again upon the ground whence he had been so cruelly +rifled; and whence, indeed, the innocent confidence, the playful +bravery of his fond wife, had urged him; whether he found his +cherishly-remembered home, yet standing as he left it; and her, still +the tender and the true to his never-wandered heart; and whether his +children sprang to his knee, to share the parental caress; and the +people around, raised the _haloo_ of joy to the returned _son of their +king!_--whether these fondly-expected greetings hailed his arrival, +cannot be absolutely told; for the vessel that took him out, was to make +the circuit of the globe, ere it returned; hence, from that, and other +circumstances, the facts have never reached the narrator of this little +history, of what was really the meeting between Laonce and his Berea; of +the young chief, and the natives he had devotedly served! But can the +faithful hearts of wedded love, doubt the one; or manly attachment +suspect the other? For the honour of human nature, we will believe that +all was right; and, in the faith of a humble Christian, we will believe, +that "he who shewed mercy, found mercy!"; That he is now restored to his +island-home, and to his happy, grateful family! + + * * * * * + +Among the _poetical_ contributions are The Angels' Call, and Woman and +Fame, by Mrs. Hemans; Carthage, and Stanzas, by T.K. Hervey; the Chapel +on the Cliff, by W. Kennedy; all entitled to high praise. A Christian's +Day, by Miss A.M. Porter, is a sweet devotional composition. The extract +from one of Mr. Atherstone's unpublished books of the Fall of Nineveh, +maintains the high opinion already formed of the published part. Mr. C. +Swain has two beautiful pieces. We have only room to name those _gems_ +of the poetry, viz. Wearie's Well, and another beautiful ballad, by W. +Motherwell; and some exquisite lines by the Rev. G. Croly; and to quote +the following:-- + + +CHANGE. + +BY L.E.L. + + +The wind is sweeping o'er the hill; + It hath a mournful sound, +As if it felt the difference + Its weary wing hath found. +A little while that wandering wind + Swept over leaf and flower; +For there was green for every tree, + And bloom for every hour. + +It wandered through the pleasant wood, + And caught the dove's lone song; +And by the garden-beds, and bore + The rose's breath along. +But hoarse and sullenly it sweeps; + No rose is opening now-- +No music, for the wood-dove's nest + Is vacant on the bough. + +Oh, human heart and wandering wind, + Go look upon the past; +The likeness is the same with each-- + Their summer did not last. +Each mourns above the things it loved-- + One o'er a flower and leaf; +The other over hopes and joys, + Whose beauty was as brief. + + +We congratulate the editor and the public on the past success of the +_Amulet_, especially as it proves that a pious feeling co-exists with a +taste for refined amusement, and that advantageously. There is nothing +austere in any page of the _Amulet_, nor anything so frivolous and light +as to be objectionable; but it steers in the medium, and consequently +must be acceptable to every well-regulated mind. Indeed, many of the +pieces in the present volume may be read and re-read with increased +advantage; whilst two only are unequal to the names attached to them. + + * * * * * + + +THE GEM. + +_Edited by Thomas Hood, Esq._ + + +The present is the first year of the _Gem_, which, as a work of art or +literature, fully comes within the import of its title. It is likewise +the first appearance of Mr. Hood as the editor of an "annual," who, with +becoming diffidence, appears to rely on the "literary giants" of his +muster-roll, rather than on his individual talent. Notwithstanding such +an editorship must have resembled the perplexity of Sinbad in the Valley +of Diamonds, Mr. Hood's volume is almost unexceptionably good, whatever +he may have rejected; and one of the best, if not _the best_, article in +the whole work, has been contributed by the editor himself. Associated +as Mr. Hood's name is with "whim and oddity," we, however, looked for +more quips, quirks, and quiddities than he has given us, which we should +have hailed as specially suited to the approaching festive season, and +from their contrast with the contents of similar works, as more likely +to attract by their novelty and humour. + +The embellishments of the _Gem_, fifteen in number, have been selected +by A. Cooper, Esq. R.A. _The Death of Keeldar_ is a beautiful +composition by Mr. Cooper, and is worthy of association with Sir Walter +Scott's pathetic ballad. _The Widow_, by S. Davenport, from a picture by +R. Leslie, R.A. is one of the most touching prints we have yet seen, and +every one is capable of estimating its beauties, since its expression +will be sure to fasten on the affections of the beholder. _May Talbot_, +by J.C. Edwards, from a painting by A. Cooper, is admirable in design +and execution. Of the _Temptation on the Mount_, engraved by W.R. Smith, +after Martin, we have spoken in our accompanying Number; but as often as +we look at the plate, we discover new beauties. It is a just idea of +"all the kingdoms of the earth;" the distant effect is excellent, and +the "exceeding high mountain" is ably represented. The faces in the +_Painter's Study_ are decidedly superior to the rest of the print. The +_Fisherman's Daughter_, from a painting by Bone, is pleasing; and +_Venice, with the Embarkation of the Doge_, is a stirring scene of +pageantry and triumph. + +Among the _poetry_ is the Painter's Song, a pleasing composition, by +Barry Cornwall, who has also The Victim, a dramatic sketch of twenty +pages. Stanzas by Horace Smith, Esq. are a pleasant satire upon the +little vanities of great people. We give the _Dream of Eugene Aram_ in +full, although it consists of nearly two pages of small type.:-- + + * * * * * + + +THE DREAM OF EUGENE ARAM. + +BY T. HOOD, ESQ. + + +[The late Admiral Burney went to school at an establishment where the +unhappy Eugene Aram was usher subsequent to his crime. The admiral +stated, that Aram was generally liked by the boys; and that he used to +discourse to them about _murder_ in somewhat of the spirit which is +attributed to him in this poem.] + + +'Twas in the prime of summer time, + An evening calm and cool, +And four-and-twenty happy boys + Came bounding out of school: +There were some that ran and some that leapt, + Like troutlets in a pool. + +Away they sped with gamesome minds, + And souls untouch'd by sin: +To a level mead they came, and there + They drave the wickets in: +Pleasantly shone the setting sun + Over the town of Lynn. + +Like sportive deer they coursed about, + And shouted as they ran,-- +Turning to mirth all things of earth, + As only boyhood can; +But the Usher sat remote from all-- + A melancholy man! + +His hat was off, his vest apart, + To catch heaven's blessed breeze-- +For a burning thought was in his brow, + And his bosom ill at ease: +So he lean'd his head on his hands, and read + The book between his knees! + +Leaf after leaf he turn'd it o'er, + Nor ever glanc'd aside-- +For the peace of his soul he read that book + In the golden eventide: +Much study had made him very lean, + And pale, and leaden-eyed. + +At last, he shut the ponderous tome; + With a fast and fervent grasp +He strain'd the dusky covers close, + And fixed the brazen hasp; +"O God, could I so close my mind, + And clasp it with a clasp!" + +Then leaping on his feet upright, + Some moody turns he took,-- +Now up the mead, then down the mead, + And past a shady nook,-- +And, lo! he saw a little boy + That pored upon a book! + +"My gentle lad, what is't you read-- + Romance or fairy fable? +Or is it some historic page, + Of kings and crowns unstable?" +The young boy gave an upward glance,-- + "It is _The Death of Abel_." + +The Usher took six hasty strides, + As smit with sudden pain,-- +Six hasty strides beyond the place, + Then slowly back again; +And down he sat beside the lad, + And talk'd with him of Cain; + +And, long since then, of bloody men, + Whose deeds tradition saves; +Of lonely folk cut off unseen, + And hid in sudden graves; +Of horrid stabs, in groves forlorn, + And murders done in caves. + +And how the sprites of injured men + Shriek upward from the sod,-- +Ay, how the ghostly hand will point + To show the burial clod; +And unknown facts of guilty acts + Are seen in dreams from God! + +He told how murderers walk the earth + Beneath the curse of Cain,-- +With crimson clouds before their eyes, + And flames about their brain: +For blood has left upon their souls + Its everlasting stain! + +"And well," quoth he, "I know, for truth, + Their pangs must be extreme,-- +Wo, wo, unutterable wo,-- + Who spill life's sacred stream! +For why? Methought, last night, I wrought + A murder in a dream! + +"One that had never done me wrong-- + A feeble man, and old: +I led him to a lonely field, + The moon shone clear and cold: +Now here, said I, this man shall die, + And I will have his gold! + +"Two sudden blows with a ragged stick, + And one with a heavy stone, +One hurried gash with a hasty knife-- + And then the deed was done: +There was nothing lying at my foot, + But lifeless flesh and bone! + +"Nothing but lifeless flesh and bone, + That could not do me ill; +And yet I fear'd him all the more, + For lying there so still: +There was a manhood in his look, + That murder could not kill! + +"And, lo! the universal air + Seem'd lit with ghastly flame,-- +Ten thousand thousand dreadful eyes + Were looking down in blame: +I took the dead man by the hand, + And call'd upon his name! + +"Oh, God, it made me quake to see + Such sense within the slain! +But when I touch'd the lifeless clay, + The blood gush'd out amain! +For every clot, a burning spot, + Was scorching in my brain! + +"My head was like an ardent coal, + My heart as solid ice; +My wretched, wretched soul I knew + Was at the Devil's price: +A dozen times I groaned--the dead + Had never groan'd but twice! + +"And now from forth the frowning sky, + From the heaven's topmost height, +I heard a voice--the awful voice + Of the blood-avenging sprite:-- +'Thou guilty man! take up thy dead, + And hide it from my sight!' + +"I took the dreary body up, + And cast it in a stream,-- +A sluggish water, black as ink. + The depth was so extreme +My gentle boy, remember this + Is nothing but a dream! + +"Down went the corse with a hollow plunge, + And vanish'd in the pool-- +Anon I cleansed my bloody hands + And wash'd my forehead cool, +And sat among the urchins young + That evening in the school! + +"Oh, heaven, to think of their white souls, + And mine so black and grim! +I could not share in childish prayer. + Nor join in evening hymn: +Like a devil of the pit I seem'd, + 'Mid holy cherubim! + +"And peace went with them one and all, + And each calm pillow spread-- +But Guilt was my grim chamberlain + That lighted me to bed, +And drew my midnight curtains round, + With fingers bloody red! + +"All night I lay in agony, + In anguish dark and deep-- +My fever'd eyes I dared not close, + But stared aghast at Sleep; +For Sin had render'd unto her + The keys of hell to keep! + +"All night I lay in agony, + From weary chime to chime, +With one besetting horrid hint, + That rack'd me all the time,-- +A mighty yearning, like the first + Fierce impulse unto crime! + +"One stern, tyrannic thought, that made + All other thoughts its slave; +Stronger and stronger every pulse + Did that temptation crave,-- +Still urging me to go and see + The dead man in his grave! + +"Heavily I rose up,--as soon + As light was in the sky.-- +And sought the black, accursed pool + With a wild, misgiving eye; +And I saw the dead in the river bed, + For the faithless stream was dry! + +"Merrily rose the lark, and shook + The dewdrop from its wing; +But I never mark'd its morning flight, + I never heard it sing; +For I was stooping once again + Under the horrid thing. + +"With breathless speed, like a soul in chase, + I took him up and ran,-- +There was no time to dig a grave + Before the day began: +In a lonesome wood, with heaps of leaves, + I hid the murdered man. + +"And all that day I read in school, + But my thought was other where: +As soon as the mid-day task was done, + In secret I was there; +And a mighty wind had swept the leaves, + And still the corse was bare! + +"Then down I cast me on my face, + And first began to weep, +For I knew my secret then was one + That earth refused to keep; +Or land or sea, though he should be + Ten thousand fathoms deep! + +"So wills the fierce avenging sprite, + Till blood for blood atones! +Ay, though he's buried in a cave, + And trodden down with stones, +And years have rotted off his flesh-- + The world shall see his bones! + +"Oh God, that horrid, horrid dream + Besets me now awake! +Again--again, with a dizzy brain, + The human life I take; +And my red right hand grows raging hot, + Like Cranmer's at the stake. + +"And still no peace for the restless clay + Will wave or mould allow; +The horrid thing pursues my soul,-- + It stands before me now!" +The fearful boy looked up, and saw + Huge drops upon his brow! + +That very night, while gentle sleep + The urchin eyelids kiss'd, +Two stern-fac'd men set out from Lynn, + Through the cold and heavy mist; +And Eugene Aram walked between, + With gyves upon his wrist. + + +Mr. Planche's versification of the homely proverb--Poverty parts good +company--will create many good-natured smiles, and run counter with Mr. +Kenney's To-morrow. Some of the minor pieces are very pleasing, +especially two by Hartley Coleridge, Esq. + +We confess we do not admire the taste which dictated Mr. C. Lamb's +Widow; it is in every respect unworthy of the plate, and the feelings +created by the two are very discordant. We love a joke, but to call a +widow's sables a perpetual "black joke," disgusts rather than pleases +us. The Funeral of General Crawford, by the author of The Subaltern is +an affecting incident; and Nina St. Morin, by the author of May You Like +It, is of the same character. Catching a Tartar, by Mansie Wauch, and +the Station, an Irish Story, are full of humour; and May Day, by the +editor, abounds with oddities. Thus, "the golden age is not to be +regilt; pastoral is gone out, and Pan extinct--pans will not last for +ever;" "horticultural hose, _pruned_ so often at top to _graft_ at +bottom, that from long stockings they had dwindled into short socks;" +"the contrast of a large marquee in canvass with the long lawn;" "Pan's +sister, Patty, the wags called _Patty Pan_," &c. One of the finest +stories in the _Gem_ is the Rival Dreamers, by Mr. Banim; and curious +enough, this is the third Annual in which we have met with the same +legend. The present version is, however, the best narrative, which such +of our readers as know the O'Hara Family will readily believe. We could +abridge it for our present space; but it would be injustice to the +author to pare down his beautiful descriptions; and we will endeavour to +give place to the tale in a future Number. The Last Embarkation of the +Doge of Venice is interesting; almost every incident connected with that +huge pleasure-house is attractive, but one of the present, the Marriage +of the Sea, is well told. The Shearmen's Miracle Play smacks pleasantly +of "the good old times" of merry England. Miss Mitford has contributed +two of her inimitable sketches--Harry Lewington and his Dog, and Tom +Hopkins--the latter an excellent portrait of "the loudest, if not the +greatest man" in the little town of Cranley. We must give the village +lion, in little:-- + + * * * * * + + +TOM HOPKINS. + + +At the time of which I speak, Tom Hopkins was of an age somewhat +equivocal; public fame called him fifty, whilst he himself stuck +obstinately at thirty-five; of a stout active figure, rather manly than +gentlemanly, and a bold, jovial visage, in excellent keeping with his +person, distinguished by round, bright, stupid black eyes, an aquiline +nose, a knowing smile, and a general comely vulgarity of aspect. His +voice was hoarse and deep, his manner bluff and blunt, and his +conversation loud and boisterous. With all these natural impediments to +good company, the lowness of his origin, recent in their memories, and +the flagrant fact of his residence in a country town, staring them in +the face, Mr. Tom Hopkins made his way into almost every family of +consideration in the neighbourhood. Sportsmanship, sheer sportsmanship, +the qualification that, more than any other, commands the respect of +your great English landholder, surmounted every obstacle. + +With the ladies, he made his way by different qualities; in the first +place he was a character, an oddity, and the audacity of his vulgarity +was tolerated, where a man only half as boisterous would have been +scouted; then he was gallant in his way, affected, perhaps felt, a great +devotion to the sex, and they were half amused, half pleased, with the +rough flattery which seemed, and probably was, so sincere. + +His house was an ugly brick dwelling of his own erection, situate in the +principal street of Cranley, and adorned with a green door and a brass +knocker, giving entrance into a stone passage, which, there being no +other way to the stable, served both for himself, and that very dear +part of himself, his horses, whose dwelling was certainly by far more +commodious than their master's. His accommodations were simple enough. +The dining-parlour, which might pass for his only sitting-room,--for the +little dark den which he called his drawing-room was not entered three +times a year; the dining-room was a small square room, coloured +pea-green with a gold moulding, adorned with a series of four prints on +shooting, and four on hunting, together with two or three portraits of +eminent racers, riders, hunters, and grooms. Guns and fishing-rods were +suspended over the mantelpiece; powder-horns, shot-belts, and game-bags +scattered about; a choice collection of flies for angling lay in one +corner, whips and bridles in another, and a pile of books and +papers,--Colonel Thornton's Tour, Daniel's Rural Sports, and a heap of +Racing Calendars, occupied a third; Ponto and Carlo lay basking on the +hearth-rug, and a famous little cocking spaniel, Flora by name, a +conscious favourite, was generally stretched in state on an arm-chair. + +Here, except when the owner was absent on a sporting expedition, which, +between fishing, shooting, hunting, and racing, did, it must be +confessed, happen pretty often; here his friends were sure to find a +hearty welcome, a good beef-steak,--his old housekeeper was famous for +cookery!--and as much excellent Port and super-excellent Madeira--Tom, +like most of his school, eschewed claret and other thin potations--as +their host could prevail on them to swallow. Many a good fellow hath +heard the chimes at midnight in this little room. + + * * * * * + +In the present sheet we are only able to include Notices of _four_ of +the _nine_ Annuals, exclusive of the _Juvenile Presents_, which we +reserve for a "select party." Our notice of the _Winter's Wreath_ is in +type, but must stand over for the present, as well as those of the +_Keepsake, Anniversary, Bijou_, and _Friendship's Offering_, which will +freight another Supplementary Sheet, to follow very shortly. We prefer +this method to passing over the merits of these works with mere +commendatory generalities. It does not require a microscopic or a +critical eye to distinguish their beauties; but we hope the means we +have adopted for the present gratification of our readers will be such +as to induce them to look for the appearance of our SECOND SUPPLEMENT, +as well as to prove ourselves worthy of the _encore_. Like some comic +singers, we will endeavour to keep up the entertainment by "variations." + + * * * * * + +_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_. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, +AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 12, ISSUE 340, SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER (1828)*** + + +******* This file should be named 11406.txt or 11406.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/4/0/11406 + + +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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