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diff --git a/11408-0.txt b/11408-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..848a6b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/11408-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1701 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11408 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION + +VOL. 12, No. 346.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1828. [PRICE 2d. + + + +OLD COVENT GARDEN. + + +[Illustration: Old Covent Garden. ] + +The notoriety of Covent Garden is of too multifarious a description to +render the above illustration uninteresting to either of our readers. It +is copied from one of Hollar's prints, and represents the Garden about +the time of Charles II., before its area had been polluted with filth +and vegetable odours. + +The spot was originally the garden belonging to the abbot of +Westminster, which extended to St. Martin's church, was called the +_Convent Garden_, and may be distinctly traced in Ralph Agar's View of +London, bearing date about 1570. It was granted, after the dissolution, +by Edward VI. first to the protector Somerset, on whose attainder, in +1582, it passed into the Bedford family. About the year 1634, Francis, +Earl of Bedford, began to clear away the old buildings, and to form the +present handsome square. Its execution was confided to Inigo Jones, but +unfortunately, only the north, and part of the east side, was completed; +for, had the piazza been continued on the other this would have been one +of the noblest quadrangles in the metropolis. Previously to the erection +of the present mass of huts and sheds, the area was neatly gravelled, +had a handsome dial in the centre, and was railed in on all sides, at +the distance of sixty feet from the buildings. The south side was +bounded by the garden wall of Bedford-House, the town house of the noble +family of that name; and along this wall only were the market booths. +But the mansion has long given way to Little Bedford-street. + +The most striking object in the engraving is, however, the original +church of St. Paul, as built by Inigo Jones, connected with which is the +following anecdote:--When the Earl of Bedford sent for Jones, in 1640, +he told him he wanted a chapel for the parishioners of Covent Garden; +but added, he would not go to any considerable expense. "In short," said +he, "I would not have it much better than a barn."--"Well, then," +replied Jones, "you shall have the handsomest barn in England." The +ceiling was very beautifully painted by Edward Pierce, sen. a pupil of +Vandyke. In 1795, the church was accidentally destroyed by fire, but it +was rebuilt by Mr. Hardwick, in imitation of the original design. + +In a note at page 236 of vol. x. of the MIRROR, we adverted to the +disgraceful state of Covent Garden Market, which of late years has been +little better than a public nuisance. The broom of reform at length +promises to cleanse this _Augean_ area; and a new market is in the +course of erection. The design, it will be recollected, was in this +year's Exhibition at Somerset House, and in an early Number we may +probably give a view of the Elevation. + +The celebrity of Covent Garden as a depot for vegetable produce is of +considerable antiquity; and it is but reasonable that such an +improvement should be made, consistent with the increased and increasing +wants of this overgrown metropolis, and the augmented supplies which are +poured in from all quarters. When this improvement is completed, it may +lead to the finishing of the quadrangle. The parish (in extent, not in +feeling) is, perhaps, one of the most compact in London; but when its +proximity to the theatres is considered, little surprise can reasonably +be felt at the immorality of the district. It may not be so easy a +matter to mend the public morals as to build new markets; but the links +of popular improvement are too closely connected to make the case +hopeless. + +It would be amusing to compare this emporium of fruits and vegetables in +ancient and modern times. At the first enclosure of Covent Garden, in +1635, the supply must have been very scanty. Upon the authority of Hume, +we learn that when Catherine, queen of Henry VIII., was in want of any +salads, carrots, or other edible roots, &c. she was obliged to send a +special messenger to Holland for them. But the mention of water-cresses, +kales, gooseberries, currants, &c., by old writers, appears to +invalidate the pursy historian. The garden must, nevertheless, have +presented a very different appearance to that of our day. Only let the +_gourmand_ take a walk through the avenues of the present Covent +Garden--from the imperial pine, to the emerald leaves sprinkled with +powdered diamonds--_vulgo_, savoys. Then the luscious list of autumnal +fruits, and the peppers, or capsicums, and tomatas, to tickle the +appetite of the veriest epicure of east or western London--not to +mention the exotic fragrance of oranges, which come in just opportunely +to fill up the chasm in the supply of British fruits. + + * * * * * + + +ANCIENT ROMAN FESTIVALS + +DECEMBER. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +The feasts of _Opalia_ were celebrated in honour of the goddess _Ops_; +they were held on the 9th of December. Saturn and Ops were husband and +wife, and to them we owe the introduction of corn and fruits; for which +reason the feast was not held till the harvest and fruit time were over. +The vows offered to this goddess were made sitting on the ground, to +show that she was Earth, the mother of all things. + +The _Saturnalia_ were festivals in honour of Saturn, celebrated the 16th +or 17th, or, according to others, the 18th of December. They were +instituted long before the foundation of Rome, in commemoration of the +freedom and equality which prevailed on earth in the golden reign of +Saturn. Some, however, suppose that the Saturnalia were first observed +at Rome in the reign of Tullus Hostilius, after a victory obtained over +the Sabines; while others support, that Janus first instituted them in +gratitude to Saturn, from whom he had learnt agriculture; others suppose +that they were first celebrated in the year of Rome 257, after a victory +obtained over the Latins by the dictator, Posthumius. The Saturnalia +were originally celebrated only for one day, but afterwards the +solemnity continued for three, four, five, and at last for seven days. +The celebration was remarkable for the license which universally +prevailed. The slaves were permitted to ridicule their masters, and to +speak with freedom upon any subject. It was usual for friends to make +presents one to another; all animosity ceased; no criminals were +executed; schools were shut; war was never declared, but all was mirth, +riot, and debauchery. In the sacrifices the priests made their offerings +with their heads uncovered,--a custom which was never observed at other +festivals. + +The _Divalia_ was a feast held on the 2lst of December, in honour of the +goddess _Angerona_, whence it is also called Angeronalia. On the day of +this festival the pontifices performed sacrifices in the temple of +Voluptia, or the goddess of joy and pleasure, who, some say, was the +same with _Angerona_, and supposed to drive away all the sorrow and +chagrin of life. + +The feast of _Laurentinalia_ was held on the 23rd of December, but was +ordered to be observed twice a year by Augustus; by some supposed to be +in honour of the _Lares_, a kind of domestic genii, or divinities, +worshipped in houses, and esteemed the guardians and protectors of +families, supposed to reside in chimney-corners. Others have attributed +this feast in honour of Acca Laurentia, the nurse of Romulus and Remus, +and wife of Faustulus. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +CELTIC ETYMOLOGIES. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +_Hibernia_.--Ireland is called by the Latin writers, _Hibernia, +Ivernia--Ierne_[1]--and _Verna_--names differing but little in sound, +and all, merely Latinizations of the Irish words _Ibh Eirin_--that is, +the Land of Erié--for _Ibh_, in Irish, signifies a land, or country, and +_Eirin_ is the genitive case of _Eire_, the name of Ireland in the Irish +tongue--from _Ibh Eirin_ the Romans formed Hibernia, &c. the termination +only being Latin--and from _Eire_, by adding _land_, the Saxons formed +_Eireland_ or _Ireland_. This Eire was a very ancient queen who gave her +name to the country, as in modern times _Virginia_ was called after +Queen Elizabeth, _Maryland_ after the queen of Charles I., &c. + + [1] Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis _Ierne_. CLAUDIAN. + +_Tory_.--A robber, an outlaw, literally, _one hunted_--a name originally +given to the outlawed Irish chiefs of Ulster, in the reign of James I., +who after the seizure of their lands, had a price set upon their heads, +and were _hunted_ by the soldiery like wild beasts; hence the name of +_Tories_, meaning the _hunted_ people, for _Toriacht_ in Irish signifies +a pursuit or hunting, and _Torihe_, hunted. In the reign of Charles II. +it began to be used to designate a party in the state favourable to +absolute monarchy; many of these "Tories" having followed the fortunes +of that prince in exile, returned with him, and being his most devoted +partisans when reseated on his throne. + +_Admiral_.--This word, which appears to have sadly puzzled the +etymologists, having been derived from the Phoenician, the Coptic, and +half a dozen languages besides, is pure Celtic, but little altered too, +in its transit from one language to another. _Ard_, high or chief, +_Muir_, the sea, and _Fear_, (in composition pronounced _ar_) a man, so +that _Ardmurar_, or _Admiral_, signifies literally the _Chief Seaman_. +There is nothing of torture in this derivation, as may be seen by +referring to any Irish dictionary, and it is a curious fact, that the +Irish seamen in the navy very generally call the Admiral "_the +Ardmurar_." In Irish it is frequently written in two words, thus--_Ard +muirfhear_. + +_Beltin day_.--The first of May is so called in many places in the North +of England. It was a custom in the days of Druidism to light large fires +on the tops of hills on the evening of the first of May, in honour of +_Bel_ or the Sun, and hence that day is still called in Irish, _La +Bheltine_, or the day of Bel's fire, from _La_, a day, _Bel_, the god +Bel, and _teine_, fire. The same ceremony was practised in Britain, +being a Druidical rite, and the name (_Beltin day_) remains, although +the custom from which it originated, has in England, at least, been long +forgotten. + +Guthrie, in his "Geographical Grammar," tells us, that the English +language is a compound of the Saxon, the French, and the _Celtic_. As +far as this latter is concerned, the assertion appears to me to have +been made without due consideration; I do not believe that there are +twenty words of _genuine Celtic_ in the English language; there are, it +is true, a very few Irish words, which have become as it were, English +denizens, and of these I have sent you a specimen above; but I do not +believe it possible to increase their number to twenty, even in broad +Scotch, in which dialect of the Saxon (from the neighbourhood of the +Highlanders who use the Irish language) some Celtic words might be +expected, but very few occur;[2] there is, however, one very curious +exception to this rule, and for which, I confess, I am unable to +account, (though perhaps your correspondent, _Rupert C._ in No. 342, +might,) it is this--that in Grose's _Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, or +Cant Language_, if the words which are evidently figurative be thrown +out, nearly the whole of what remain are pure Irish. + + [2] As _Oe_ a grandson--Irish _O_ or _Ux byre_, a + cowhouse--Irish boyach (boi-theach.) + +H.S. + + * * * * * + + +TURKISH CANNON. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +The Turks use the largest cannon of any people in Europe. In our ships, +and I believe in our batteries, we seldom use a heavier gun than a +32-pounder. No man-of-war carries a gun of a larger calibre; but the +Turks make use of 800-pounders. Mahommed II. is stated to have used at +the siege of Constantinople, in 1453, cannon of an immense calibre, and +stone shot. When Sir J. Duckworth passed the Dardanelles to attack +Constantinople, in 1807, his fleet was dreadfully shattered by the +immense shot thrown from the batteries. The Royal George (of 110 guns) +was nearly sunk by only one shot, which carried away her cut-water, and +another cut the main-mast of the Windsor Castle nearly in two; a shot +knocked two ports of the Thunderer into one; the Repulse (74) had her +wheel shot away and twenty-four men killed and wounded by a single shot, +nor was the ship saved but by the most wonderful exertions. The heaviest +shot which struck our ships was of granite, and weighed 800 pounds, and +was two feet two inches in diameter. One of these huge shots, to the +astonishment of our tars, stove in the whole larboard bow of the Active; +and having thus crushed this immense mass of timber, the shot rolled +ponderously aft, and brought up abreast the main hatchway, the crew +standing aghast at the singular spectacle. One of these guns was cast in +brass in the reign of Amurath; it was composed of two parts, joined by a +screw at the chamber, its breach resting against massy stone work; the +difficulty of charging it would not allow of its being fired more than +once; but, as a Pacha said, "that single discharge would destroy almost +the whole fleet of an enemy." The Baron de Trott, to the great terror of +the Turks, resolved to fire this gun. The shot weighed 1,100 pounds, and +he loaded it with 330 pounds of powder: he says, "I felt a shock like an +earthquake, at the distance of eight hundred fathoms. I saw the ball +divide into three pieces, and these fragments of a rock crossed the +Strait, and rebounded on the mountain." + +W.G.C. + + * * * * * + + +AN ORIGINAL SCOTCH SONG FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF ST. ANDREW'S DAY. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +Air.--"_The kail brose o' awld Scotland_." + + Ye vintners a' your ingles[3] mak clear, + An brew us some punch our hearts a' to cheer, + On November the thritie let's meet ilkie year + To drink to the memory o' Andrew, + To Andrew the auld Scottish saint. + + Peace was his word in the ha' or the fiel'[4] + An his creed it was whalsome to those that were leal + To mak' the road straight O' he was the cheel, + Sae here's to the memory o' Andrew, + To Andrew the auld Scottish saint. + + In days o' langsyne as auld chronicles tell, + When clans wi' their dirks gaid to it pell mell, + O he was sad' that a' fewds cou'd expel, + Sae here's to the memory o' Andrew, + To Andrew the auld Scottish saint. + + For since at the Spey when M'Duff led the van, + He vow'd that the charrians[5] he'd slay every one, + But by Andrew's doctren he slew na a man, + Sae here's to the memory o' Andrew, + To Andrew the auld Scottish saint, + + When he to the Culdees the truth did explain + They a' rubb'd their beard, an' looket right fain + An' vow'd that his council they'd ever retain, + Sae here's to the memory o' Andrew, + To Andrew the auld Scottish saint. + + Altho' at fam'd Patres[6] he closed his e'e, + Yet Regulus, the monk, brought him far oure the sea, + In St. Andrew's he sleeps, an' there let him be. + Sae here's to the memory o' Andrew, + To Andrew the auld Scottish saint. + +C. + + [3] Fires. + [4] Field. + [5] See Buchanan's History of Scotland, book p. 186. + [6] See Cook's Geography, book ii. p. 302. + + * * * * * + + +ORIGIN OF THE WORD BANKRUPT. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +This word is formed from the ancient Latin _bancus_ a _bench_, or +_table_, and _ruptus, broken_. Bank originally signified a bench, which +the first bankers had in the public places, in markets, fairs, &c. on +which they told their money, wrote their bills of exchange, &.c. Hence, +when a banker failed, they broke his bank, to advertise the public that +the person to whom the bank belonged was no longer in a condition to +continue his business. As this practice was very frequent in Italy, it +is said the term bankrupt is derived from the Italian _banco_ rotto, +broken bench. Cowel (in his 4th Institute 227) rather chooses to deduce +the word from the French _banque, table_, and _route, vestigium, trace_, +by metaphor from the sign left in the ground, of a table once fastened +to it and now gone. On this principle he traces the origin of bankrupts +from the ancient Roman _mensarii_ or _argentarii_, who had their +_tabernae_ or _mensae_ in certain public places; and who, when they +fled, or made off with the money that had been entrusted to them, left +only the sign or shadow of their former station behind them. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +ORIGIN OF THE WORD _BROKER_, &c. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +The origin of this word is contested; some derive it from the French +_broyer, "to grind_;" others from _brocader, to cavil or riggle_; others +deduce broker from a trader _broken_, and that from the Saxon _broc_, +"misfortune," which is often the true reason of a man's breaking. In +which view, a broker is a broken trader, by misfortune; and it is said +that none but such were formerly admitted to that employment. The Jews, +Armenians, and Banians are the chief brokers throughout most parts of +the Levant and the Indies. In Persia, all affairs are transacted by a +sort of brokers, whom they call "_delal_" i.e. "_great talkers_." Their +form of contract in buying and selling is remarkable, being done in the +profoundest silence, only by touching each other's fingers:--The buyer, +loosening his _pamerin_, or girdle, spreads it on his knee; and both he +and the seller, having their hands underneath, by the intercourse of the +fingers, mark the price of pounds, shillings, &c., demanded, offered, +and at length agreed on. When the seller takes the buyer's whole hand, +it denotes a thousand, and as many times as he squeezes it, as many +thousand pagods or roupees, according to the species in question +demanded; when he only takes the five fingers, it denotes five hundred; +and when only one, one hundred; taking only half a finger, to the second +joint, denotes fifty; the small end of the finger, to the first joint, +stands for ten. This _legerdemain_, or _squeezing system_, would not do +for the _latitude_ of London. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + +SELECT BIOGRAPHY + + + * * * * * + + +DR. GALL. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +The loss which the scientific world has lately sustained by the death of +Dr. Gall, will be longer and more deeply felt than any which it has +experienced for some years. This celebrated philosopher and physician +was born in the year 1758, of respectable parents, at a small village in +the duchy of Baden, where he received the early part of his education. +He afterwards went to Brucksal, and then to Strasburgh, in which city he +commenced his medical studies, and became a pupil of the celebrated +Professor Hermann. From Strasburgh he removed to Vienna, where he +commenced practice, having taken the degree of M.D. In this capital, +however, he was not permitted to develope his new system of the +functions of the brain; and from his lectures being interdicted, and the +illiberal opposition which he here met with, as well as in other parts +of Austria, he determined to visit the north of Germany. Here he was +well received in all the cities through which he passed, as well as in +Prussia, Sweden, and Denmark, and explained the doctrines he had founded +on his observations from _nature_ before several sovereigns, who +honoured him with such marks of approbation and respect as were due to +his talents. In the course of his travels he likewise visited England, +and at length, in 1807, settled in Paris, where his reputation had +already preceded him, and which, from its central situation, he +considered as the fittest place for disseminating his system. In this +city, in 1810, he published his elaborate work on the brain, the +expenses of which were guaranteed by one of his greatest friends and +patrons, Prince Metternich, at that time Austrian minister at the court +of France. + +It was natural to expect that the system of Dr. Gall, which differed so +widely from the long confirmed habits of thinking, and having to contend +with so many prejudices, should encounter a large host of adversaries; +for if _phrenology_ be true, all other systems of the philosophy of the +human mind must consequently be false. The brain, which, from the +earliest periods, has generally been considered as the seat of our +mental functions, Dr. Gall regards as a congeries of organs, each organ +having a separate function of its own. This system, first promulgated by +him, is now rapidly advancing in the estimation of the world; and its +doctrines, which a few years since were thought too extravagant and +absurd for investigation, are now discussed in a more liberal and candid +manner. The _test_ for the science of phrenology, and a test by which +its validity alone can be tried, consists in an induction of facts and +observations; and by this mode it is that the disciples of Gall and +Spurzheim challenge their antagonists. + +After a life of the most indefatigable industry and active benevolence, +Dr. Gall breathed his last at his country house at Montrouge, a short +distance from Paris, on August the 22nd, 1828, at the age of seventy- +one. The examination of his body took place forty hours after death, in +the presence of the following members of the faculty:--Messrs. Fouquier, +J. Cloquet, Dauncey, Fossati, Cassimir-Broussais, Robouane, Sarlandière, +Fabre-Palaprat, Londe, Costello, Gaubert, Vimont, Jobert, and Marotti. +The exterior appearance of the body presented a considerable falling +away, particularly in the face. The skull was sawed off with the +greatest precaution; the substance of the brain was consistent, and this +organ was firm and perfectly regular. + +The funeral of Dr. Gall, which was conducted with as much privacy as +possible, took place at Paris on the 27th of August. He was interred in +the burial-ground of Père la Chaise, between the tombs of Molière and La +Fontaine, being attended to the grave by several members of the faculty. +Three _eloges_, or _oraisons funèbres_, were delivered at the place of +interment by Professor Broussais, Dr. Fossati, and Dr. Londe. + +Broussais informs us, that Dr. Gall possessed most of the social +virtues, particularly beneficence and good-nature--qualities, he +observes, precious in all ranks of society, and which ought to make +amends for many defects; but for Gall, they had only to palliate a +certain roughness of character, which might wound the susceptibility of +delicate persons, although the sick and unfortunate never had to +complain; and, indeed, the doctor ought, in strict justice, to have more +merit in our ideas, from never having once lost sight, in his writings, +of either decency or moderation, particularly when it is remembered how +severely he was attacked in propagating his favourite doctrine. + +T.B. + + * * * * * + + +FROM CATULLUS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + My Lydia says, "believe me I speak true, + I ne'er will marry any one but you; + If Jove himself should mention love to me, + Not even Jove would be preferred to thee." + She says--but all that women tell + Their doting lovers--I, alas! too well + Know, should be written on the waves or wind, + So little do their words express their mind. + +T.C. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NOVELIST + + + * * * * * + + +GERMAN TRADITIONS. + + + I have a song of war for knight, + Lay of love for lady bright, + Faery tale to lull the heir, + Goblin grim the maids to scare! + + SIR WALTER SCOTT. + +Germany! land of mystery and of mind! birth-place of Schiller and +Goëthe, with what emotions does not every lover of romance sit down to +peruse thy own peculiar, dreamy traditions! Thy very name conjures up +visions of demons, and imps, and elfs, and all the creations of faery +land, with their varied legends of _diablerie_, almost incredible in +number and singular in detail--and romance, in his gloomy mood, seems +here to have reared his strong hold. + +At a time when a taste for the beauties of German literature is becoming +general throughout this country, we conceive that a few specimens of her +traditions may not be unacceptable to the reader. Few subjects are more +interesting than the popular legends of a country, which are the source +from whence many of our later novelists draw several of their writings: +they offer a field for reflection to the contemplative observer of man; +and those of Germany, although some are disfigured with a little too +much absurdity in their details, are confessedly a mine of wealth to the +lover of research in such matters. Here Schiller first drew the sources +of his inspiration; here Goëthe first electrified mankind with his +writings--works which will render both immortal; it is, indeed, a mine +which has been and will bear much working. + +We have chosen the following tradition, both on account of the merit it +possesses, and its being the unquestionable origin of Washington +Irving's inimitable _Rip Von Winkle_. Indeed, the similarity of the +story is strikingly obvious. We believe there are several legends on +this subject, which, with the present, probably all refer to the Emperor +Frederic Barbarossa, whose adventures form the source of many a story +among the Germans. The original tale is nearly as follows:--It seems the +emperor was once compelled to conceal himself, with a party of his +followers, amongst the Kyffhaüsen mountains; there he still lives, but +is under the influence of magic. He sits with his adherents on a seat +before a stone table, leaning his head upon his hands, seeming to +slumber; but apparently his sleep is very restless, and his head nods, +and seems as if he were going to awake, and his red beard has grown +through the table down to his feet. He takes pretty long naps, not more +than a hundred years in length at a stretch: when his slumber is +interrupted, he is fabled to be very fond of music; and it is said that +there was a party of musicians, who once gave him a regular serenade in +his subterranean retreat, doubtless expecting some wonderful token of +his generosity in return; but they received nothing for their pains but +a number of green boughs, which so disgusted them, that they all threw +them away on their return to earth, save one, who, however, had no +suspicion of its worth, for on showing it to his wife, to his great +astonishment, each leaf became a golden coin. + +An author before us observes, that this tale of the emperor's slumbers +cannot, perhaps, be deemed original, and is probably a popular version +of the Seven Sleepers, "not a little disfigured by the peculiar +superstition of the country." The same writer remarks, with justice, +that it is surprising how few are the sources, and how scanty the parent +stock, from whence all the varieties of European legend are derived. +Indeed, the foundation of a great part of these legendary stories seems +to have been the heathen mythology of the different countries, and the +various tales of superstition being handed down from one generation to +another, have gradually assumed the shape they now bear; from whence may +be traced most of our popular superstitions. + +THE LEGEND OF THE GOATHERD. + + When I behold a football to and fro, + Urged by a throng of players equally, + Methinks I see, resembled in that show, + This round earth poised in the vacant sky. + + * * * * * + + And all we learn whereas the game is o'er, + That life is but a dream, and nothing more. + + AMADIS JANRYN. + + "Know'st thou me not?"---------------- + "Oh, yes, (I cried,) thou art indeed the same." + + GOETHE. + +At the peaceful village of Sittendorf dwelt Peter Klaus, the goatherd. +He daily tended his flocks to pasture in the Kyffhäusen mountains, and +never failed, as evening approached, to muster them in a little mead, +surrounded by a stone wall, preparatory to driving them home; for some +time, however, he had observed, that one of the finest of his herd +regularly disappeared soon after coming to this nook, and did not join +her companions till late. One night, watching her attentively, he +remarked that she slipped through a hole or opening in the wall, on +which he cautiously crept after the animal, and found she was in a cave, +busily engaged in gleaning the grains of corn that fell down singly from +the roof. Peter did not look long before the shower of corn that now +saluted him made him shake his ears, and inflamed his curiosity the more +to discover the cause of so singular an occurrence in that out-of-the- +way place. However, at last he heard the neigh and stamping of horses, +apparently proceed from above; and it was doubtless from their mangers +that the oats had fallen. + +While standing, still wrapped in amazement at the singularity of the +adventure, Peter's surprise was not diminished on observing a boy, who, +without saying a word, silently beckoned him to follow. Peter +mechanically obeyed the gestures of the lad, and ascended some steps, +which led over a walled court into a hollow place, completely surrounded +on all sides by lofty rocks, and crowned by the rich foliage of shrubs, +through which an imperfect twilight displayed a smooth, well-trimmed +lawn, that formed the ground he stood upon. Here were twelve knights, +who, without so much as uttering a syllable, were very gravely playing +at nine-pins; and as silently was Peter inducted into the office of +assistant, namely, in setting up these nine-pins. Peter's courage was +none of the strongest during all this time, and his knees smote each +other most devoutly as he commenced his duties; while he occasionally +ventured to steal a glance at the venerable knights, whose long beards +and antique slashed doublets filled him with profound awe. + +His fears, however, began to be on the wane, as he became more +accustomed to his new employment. Indeed, he went so far as to gaze on +one of the noble knights straight in the face--nay, even at last +ventured to sip out of a bowl of wine that stood near him, which +diffused a most delicious odour around. He found this sip so +invigorating, that he soon took a somewhat longer pull; and in a short +time Peter had quite forgotten that such things as Sittendorf, Wife, or +Goats had ever existed; and on finding himself the least weary, he had +only to apply to the never-failing goblet. At last he fell fast asleep. + +On waking, Peter found he was in the same little enclosure where he was +wont to count his flocks. He shook himself well, and rubbed his eyes; +but neither dog nor goats were to be seen; and he was astonished in no +slight degree to observe that he was nearly surrounded with high grass, +and trees, and shrubs, which he never before remarked, growing about +that spot. Lost in perplexity, he followed his way to all the different +haunts he had frequented with his herds, but no traces of them were to +be discovered; at last he hastily bent his steps to Sittendorf, which +lay beneath. + +The persons whom he met on his way to the village were all strangers to +him; they were differently dressed, and did not precisely speak the +language of his acquaintance; and on inquiring after his goats, all +stared and touched their chins. At last he mechanically did the same, +but what was his surprise when he found his beard lengthened at least a +foot; on which he began to conclude that he and those around him were +all under the influence of magic or enchantment. Yet the mountain he had +descended was certainly the Kyffhäusen--the cottages, too, with their +gardens and enclosures, were all quite familiar to him--and he heard +some boys reply to the passing questions of a traveller, that it was +Sittendorf. + +His doubt and perplexity now increased every moment, and he quickened +his steps towards his own dwelling; he hardly knew it, it was so much +decayed; and before the door lay a strange goatherd's boy, with a dog +apparently at the last extreme of age, that snarled when he spoke to +him. He entered the house through an opening, which had formerly been +closed by a door. All was waste and void within; he staggered out as if +he had lost his senses, calling on his wife and children by their names; +but no one heard--none answered. Before long, a crowd of women and +children had collected around the strange old man, with the long hoary +beard, and all inquired what it was he was seeking after. This was +almost too much; to be thus questioned before his own door was more than +strange, and he felt ashamed to ask after his wife and children, or even +of himself; but to get rid of his querists he mentioned the first name +that occurred to him, "Kurt Steffen?" The people looked around in +silence, till at length an old woman said, "He has been in the +churchyard these twelve years past, and you'll not go thither to-day."-- +"Velten Meier?"--"Heaven rest his soul!" replied an ancient dame, +leaning on a crutch. "Heaven rest his soul! he has lain in the house he +will never leave these fifteen years!" + +The goatherd shuddered to recognise in the last speaker his next +neighbour, who seemed all at once to have grown old; but he had lost all +desire to inquire further. Suddenly a smart young woman pressed through +the surrounding gapers, with an infant in her arms, and leading a girl +about fourteen years old--all three the exact image of his wife. With +greater surprise than ever he inquired her name. "Maria!"--"And your +father's name?"--"Peter Klaus! Heaven rest his soul! It is now twenty +years since his goats returned without him, and we sought for him in +vain day and night in the Kyffhäusen mountains--I was then hardly seven +years old." + +Our goatherd could no longer contain himself. "I am Peter Klaus!" he +roared, "I am Peter Klaus, and no one else!" and he caught the child +from his daughter's arms. Every one, for an instant, stood as if +petrified, till at length one voice, and another, and then another, +exclaimed, "Yes, this is, indeed, Peter Klaus! welcome, neighbour! +welcome, after twenty years!" + +VYVYAN. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY + + + * * * * * + + +ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. + + +Since our last visit, many of the tenants have begun to _hybernate_, and +tasteful erections have been made for their winter quarters in all parts +of the gardens. Several others are in progress, and a semi-circular +aviary for British birds is already built. The _season_ is far advanced, +and there have been but few _arrivals_ of late. The _emus'_ grounds have +been enclosed with elegant iron-work, and several removals or _changes_ +have taken place. Some of the animals are much affected by the cold +weather. Thus, the monkeys have left their houses on poles, and retired +to enclosed cages, where they nestle in groups of threes and fours, and +amuse themselves by teazing the least of their company; for here, as +elsewhere, the weakest goes to the wall. Three fine wolves, previously +shut up in a small den, now enjoy a large cage, where they appear much +invigorated by the bracing season. Here and there a little animal lies +curled up in the corner of his cage, in a state of torpidity. Among the +birds, the macaws were holding an in-door council in their robes of +state; whilst one fine fellow, in blue coat and yellow waistcoat, +perched himself outside the aviary, and by his cries, proved that fine +colours were not weather-proof. The snowy plumage of the storks was +"tempered to the wind;" but they reminded us of their original +abode--the wilderness. The eagles and vultures in the circular aviary +sat on their perches, looking melancholy and disconsolate, but well +protected from cold. The kangaroos have removed into their new house, +and their park has been relaid, although they still look unsettled. A +very pretty beaver-house has been built of mimic rocks. + +Among the _introductions_, or new faces, we noticed a pair of fine +mastiffs from Cuba, and two Thibet watch-dogs. One of the latter stood +shivering in the cold, with bleared eyes, and crying "like a lubberly +postmaster's boy." The three bears exhibited as much good-breeding as +the visiters encouraged,--climbing to the top of the pole when there was +any thing to climb after, and an Admiralty expedition could do no more. + +_Poisoning of Vegetables_. + +Several very curious experiments on the poisoning of vegetables, have +recently been made by M. Marcet, of Geneva.--His experiments on arsenic, +which is well known to every one as a deadly poison to animals, were +thus conducted. A vessel containing two or three bean plants, each of +five or six leaves, was watered with two ounces of water, containing +twelve grains of oxide of arsenic in solution. At the end of from +twenty-four to thirty-six hours, the plants had faded, the leaves +drooped, and had even begun to turn yellow; the roots remained fresh, +and appeared to be living. Attempts to restore the plants after twelve +or eighteen hours, by abundant watering, failed to recover them. The +leaves and stem of the dead plant gave, upon chemical examination, +traces of arsenic. A branch of a rose-tree, including a flower, was +gathered just as the rose began to blow; the stem was put into a vessel, +containing a solution of six grains of oxide of arsenic in an ounce of +water. The flower and leaves soon showed symptoms of disease, and on the +fifth day the whole branch was withered and dead, though only one-fifth +of a grain of arsenic had been absorbed. Similar stems, placed in pure +water, had, after five days, the roses fully expanded, and the leaves +fresh and green. + +On June 1st, a slit of one inch and a half in length was made in the +stem of a lilac tree, the branch being about an inch in diameter. The +slit extended to the pith. Fifteen or twenty grains of moistened arsenic +were introduced, the cut was closed, and the stem retained in its +original position by osier ties. On the 8th, the leaves began to roll up +at the extremity; on the 28th, the branches were dry, and, in the second +week of July, the whole of the stem was dry, and the tree itself dead. +In about fifteen days after the first, a tree, which joined the former a +little above the earth, shared the same fate, in consequence of its +connexion with that into which the poison had been introduced. Other +trees similarly cut, but without having been poisoned, suffered no kind +of injury. + +M. Marcet's experiments upon vegetable poisons are no less interesting, +and still more wonderful, as indicating a degree of irritability in +plants somewhat similar to that which depends on the nervous system in +animals. After having ascertained that the bean plants could exist in a +healthy state for five or six days, if immersed in the same quantity of +spring water, he tried them with five or six grains of opium dissolved +in an ounce of water, the consequence of which was, that in the evening +the leaves had dropped, and, by the middle of next day, they were dead +beyond recovery. Other vegetable poisons of the narcotic class produced +a similar effect. Hemlock was equally fatal, and six grains of dry +powdered foxglove, in an ounce of water, began to operate, by wrinkling +some of the leaves of the bean in a few moments, which it completely +killed in twenty-four hours. Oxalic acid or salt of sorrel, though found +in common and wood sorrel, and a great many plants, proved a very fatal +poison to others. The absorption of one-tenth of a grain, killed a rose +branch and flower in forty--eight hours.-- + +_Quar. Jour. of Agriculture._ + + * * * * * + + + +NOTES OF A READER + + + * * * * * + + +KNOWING PEOPLE. + + +How happily do these few lines characterize a certain set of people who +pick up news from "good authority," and settle the fate of the nation +over strong potations of brandy and water, or Calvert's porter, +forgetting that "people who drink beer, think beer." Suppose a question +of great public interest afloat:--"Reports are abroad, precisely of the +proper pitch of absurdity, for the greedy swallowing of the great +grey-goggle-eyed public, who may be seen standing with her mouth wide +open like a crocodile, with her hands in her breeches-pockets, at the +crosses of cities on market-days, gluttonously devouring whatever rumour +flings into her maw--nor in the least aware that she is all the time +eating wind. People of smallish abilities begin to look wiser and wiser +every day--their nods seem more significant--in the shaking of their +heads there is more of Burleigh--and in short sentences--that sound like +apophthegms--they are apt to impose themselves on their credulous selves +as so many Solomons." + + * * * * * + + +NEW CHURCHES. + + +Among the numerous sermons lately preached in pursuance of the King's +letter for the enlargement and building of churches and chapels, we +notice one by the vicar of Dorking, in Surrey, from which we extract the +following:--"In many places of this country it is lamentable to behold +the ruinous state of churches. If a man's dwelling-house be decayed, he +will never cease till it be restored; if his barn, where he bestows all +his fruits and his goods, be out of repair, what diligence doth he use +to make it perfect? If the stable for his horse, or the sty for his +swine, be not able to exclude the severity of weather, when the rains +fall, and the winds blow, how careful is he to incur the necessary cost? +Shall we then be so mindful of our common houses, deputed to such low +occupations, and be forgetful toward that house of God, in which are +expounded the words of our eternal salvation--in which are administered +the sacraments and mysteries of our redemption?"--The persuasiveness of +this argument is admirable, and its amiable tone and temper are +infinitely more suitable than the florid appeal. + +We also learn that Parliament has already voted a million and a half of +money to the sole use of building churches, and that in the diocese in +which Dorking is situated, thirty-two cases have been aided by the sum +of 6,230_l_. + +But the _church of Dorking_ is in a dilapidated state, and is capable of +containing only one-fifth of the inhabitants. It was "probably erected +about the commencement of the twelfth century; and the crumbling walls +may almost be said to totter under the massive roof." This calls forth +the following pious exhortation: "Our lot is cast in a pleasant place. +Let us manifest our thankfulness to the Giver of every good gift by a +structure dedicated to his service, corresponding with the magnificence +of private mansions, and the natural beauties of local scenery." We can +only wonder that, in a neighbourhood abounding with men of rank and +opulence, such an appeal is necessary. + + * * * * * + + +SHORT-HAND. + + +"Sound is the gauge of short-hand, and connexion the master-key for +deciphering." Such is one of the axioms in Mr. Harding's eighth edition +of his very valuable little "System of Short-Hand,"--to which, by way of +pleasant illustration, he appends, the "Dirge on Miss LN G," copied by +us from the "New Monthly Magazine;" but we give Mr. H. credit for the +present application. We could write a whole number of the MIRROR on the +advantages of short-hand to the community; but as that would not be a +practical illustration, we desist. Only think of the "Times" newspaper +being scores of miles from town before half London has risen; and the +Duke of Bedford, reading the previous night's debates at his breakfast +table at Woburn Abbey. What would all Mr. Applegath's machinery do +towards producing the newspaper without the aid of short-hand, which +makes its expedition second only to thought. Half an hour's delay of +"the paper" makes us fret and fume and condemn the fair provider of our +breakfast--for over-roasted coffee and stale eggs--all because the paper +is not "come;" but when would it come without short-hand? why at +dinner-time, and that would make short work of a day--for thousands +cannot set to work till they have consulted it as a mainspring of +action. People who aim at the short cuts to knowledge should study +stenography, and for this purpose they will do well to provide +themselves with Mr. Harding's System, which will be as good as "a cubit +to a man's height." + + * * * * * + + +LOVE'S MASTERY. + + + She was his own, his all:--the crowd may prove + A transient feeling, and misname it love:-- + His was a higher impulse; 'twas a part + Of the warm blood that circled through his heart, + A fervid energy, a spell that bound + Thoughts, wishes, feelings, in one hallow'd round. + + _The Winter's Wreath._ + + * * * * * + + +CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. + + +The second edition of a pamphlet, entitled the Voice of Humanity, has +just reached us. It contains details of the disgusting cruelties of the +metropolis--as bear and badger baiting, dog-fighting, slaughtering- +horses, &c.--and reference to the _abattoirs_, or improved +slaughter-houses for cattle, which was illustrated in our 296th Number. +In the appendix are many interesting particulars of Smithfield Market +and similar nuisances. The pamphlet is dedicated to that enlightened +friend of humanity, Sir James Mackintosh, and it appears worthy of his +patronage. + + * * * * * + + +WOMANKIND. + + +The womankind never looks sae bonnie as in wunter, accepp indeed it may +be in spring. You auld bachelors ken naething o' womankind--and hoo +should ye, when they treat you wi' but ae feelin', that o' derision? Oh, +sirs! but the dear creters do look weel in muffs--whether they haud +them, wi' their invisible hauns clasped thegither in their beauty within +the cozy silk linin', close prest to their innicent waists, just aneath +the glad beatins o' their first love-touched hearts. Or haud them +hingin' frae their extended richt arms, leavin' a' the feegur visible, +that seems taller and slimmer as the removed muff reveals the clasps o' +the pelisse a' the way doon frae neck till feet! Then is there, in a' +the beautifu' and silent unfauldin's o' natur amang plants and flowers, +ony thing sae beautifu' as the white, smooth, saft chafts o' a bit +smilin' maiden o' saxteen, aughteen, or twunty, blossomin' out, like +some bonnie bud or snaw-white satin frae a coverin' o' rough +leaves,--blossomin' out, sirs, frae the edge o' the fur-tippet, that +haply a lover's happy haun had delicately hung ower her gracefu' +shoothers--oh, the dear, delightfu' little Laplander!--_Noctes-- +Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +CAPTAIN ROCK. + + +There are few of our readers who need to be informed that Captain Rock's +Letters to the King are certainly not written by Mr. Moore, to whom, +while the publication was suspended, they were so positively +ascribed.--_Q. Rev._ + + * * * * * + + +THE LIBRARY AT HOLKHAM. + + +The manuscripts of Lord Coke are in the possession of his descendant, +Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, his representative through the female issue of +Lord Leicester, the male heir of the chief justice. At this gentleman's +princely mansion of Holkham, is one of the finest collections, or, +indeed, libraries of manuscripts anywhere preserved; certainly the +finest in any private individual's possession. It partly consists of the +chief justice's papers; the rest, and the bulk of it, was collected by +that accomplished nobleman who built the mansion, the last male heir of +the great lawyer. He had spent many years abroad, where his taste was +improved and his general education perfected. He collected a vast number +of the most valuable manuscripts. Of these the exquisitely illuminated +missals, and other writings of a similar description, which would from +their perfect beauty and great rarity bear the highest price in the +market, are certainly by far the least precious in the eyes of literary +men. Many of the finest _codices_ of the Greek, Latin, and old Italian +classics are to be found in this superb collection. Among others are no +less than thirteen of Livy, a favourite author of Lord Leicester, whom +he had made some progress in editing, when he learnt that +Drakenborchius, the well known German critic, had proceeded further in +the same task, and generously handed over to him the treasures of his +library. The excellent edition of that commentator makes constant +reference to the Holkham manuscripts, under the name of _MSS. +Lovelliana_, from the title of Lovell; Lord Leicester not having then +been promoted to the earldom. Mr. Coke, with a becoming respect for the +valuable collection of his ancestors, was desirous to have the +manuscripts unfolded, bound, and arranged, both with a view to their +preservation and to the facility of consulting them. They had lain for +half a century neglected, and in part verging towards decay, when he +engaged his valued friend, William Roscoe, to undertake the labour so +congenial to his taste and habits, of securing these treasures from the +ravages of time. From the great number of the manuscripts, the state in +which many of them were, and the distance of Mr. Roscoe's residence, +this was necessarily a work of time. After above ten years employed on +it, the task is now finished. Each work is beautifully and classically +bound; and to each Mr. Roscoe has prefixed, in his own fair hand +writing, a short account of the particular manuscript, with the +bibliographical learning appertaining to it.--_Library of Useful +Knowledge_. + + * * * * * + + +PHRENOLOGY. + + +Mr. Crook, of the Phrenological Society, has just published a +"Compendium of Phrenology," which cannot fail to be acceptable to the +ingenious inquirers after that very ingenious science. It is a lucid +little arrangement of principles, and will materially assist them; but, +for our part, we confess we would sooner take the public opinion of the +contents of our cranium than that of a whole society of phrenologists; +and if our head be as full as our sheet, we shall be content. But, +joking apart, the little synopsis before us cannot be too highly +recommended; and by way of hint to some friends who send us witty +articles for "the Gatherer," we take the following:-- + +"Wit. _Primitive Power._ Perception of the disjunction or incongruity of +ideas; the analytical faculty. _Uses_: Separation of compound or general +ideas into those that are elementary or more simple; knowledge of +characteristic differences and discrepance. _Abuses_: A disposition to +jest or ridicule; irony, sarcasm, and satire, without respect to truth, +or the circumstances of person, place, or time. _Organ_, on the other +side of Causality. + +"It is not the definition of Wit, but the function of a particular +portion of the brain at which I aim. Dr. Spurzheim, in some of his +works, calls the faculty connected with this organ, 'the feeling of the +ludicrous;' in his later ones, 'Gayness,' and 'Mirthfulness.' But each +of these is properly an effect, not a primitive power. The ludicrous +owes its origin to the contrariety between the parts or means, as +perceived by this faculty, and the general whole, or purpose, perceived +by Comparison, or the necessary connexion perceived by Causality; and +Gaiety, Mirth, and Laughter, arise from the mutual influence and +reaction of the feelings. Some kinds of contrariety or incongruity +excite one class of feelings, other kinds altogether different feelings; +and consequently, according to the faculty or combination of faculties +affected, the kinds of mirth and laughter are varied from the Sardonic +grin of Destructiveness to the lover's smile. This view of the origin of +laughter enables us to give a satisfactory answer to the hitherto +perplexing question, 'Why is man the only laughing animal?'" + + * * * * * + + +EPIGRAM + +_From the Greek Anthology, (Author unknown.)_ + +BY THE REV. W. SHEPHERD. + + + If at the bottom of the cask, + Be left of wine a little flask, + It soon grows acid:--so when man, + Living through Life's most lengthened span. + His joys all drain'd or turn'd to tears, + Sinks to the lees of fourscore years, + And sees approach Death's darksome hour-- + No wonder if he's somewhat sour! + + _The Winter's Wreath_. + + * * * * * + + +PORTRAIT PAINTING. + + +The good portrait painter always flatters; for it is his business, not, +indeed, to alter and amend features, complexion, or mien, but to select +and fix (which it demands genius and sense to do) the best appearance +which these ever do wear. Happy the creature of sense and passion who +has always with him that self which he could take pleasure in +contemplating! Happy--to pass graver considerations--the fair one whose +countenance continues as youthful as her attire! When Queen Elizabeth's +wrinkles waxed deep and many, it is reported that an unfortunate master +of the mint incurred disgrace by a too faithful shilling; the die was +broken, and only one mutilated impression is now in existence. Her maids +of honour took the hint, and were thenceforth careful that no fragment +of looking-glass should remain in any room of the palace. In fact, the +lion-hearted lady had not heart to look herself in the face for the last +twenty years of her life; but we nowhere learn that she quarrelled with +Holbein's portraitures of her youth, or those of her stately prime of +viraginity by De Heere and Zucchero. + +He who has "neither done things worthy to be written, nor written things +worthy to be read," takes the trouble of transmitting his portrait to +posterity to very little purpose. If the picture be a bad one, it will +soon find its way to the garret; if good, as a work of art, it will +perpetuate the fame, probably the name, indeed, of the artist alone. +These are the _obscurorum virorum imagines_ which, as Walpole said, "are +christened commonly in galleries, like children at the Foundling +Hospital, _by chance_"--Q. Rev. + + * * * * * + + +LOSING A SHOE AND A DINNER. + + +As Ozias Linley, Sheridan's brother-in-law, was one morning setting out +on horseback for his curacy, a few miles from Norwich, his horse threw +off one of his shoes. A lady, who observed the accident, thought it +might impede Mr. Linley's journey, and seeing that he himself was +unconscious of it, politely reminded him that one of his horse's shoes +had just come off. "Thank you, madam," replied Linley; "will you then +have the goodness to put it on for me?" + +Linley one day received a card to dine with the late archbishop of +Canterbury, who was then bishop of Norwich. Careless into what hole or +corner he threw his invitations, he soon lost sight of the card, and +forgot it altogether. A year revolved, when, on wiping the dust from +some papers he had stuck on the glass over the chimney, the bishop's +invitation for a certain day in the month (he did not think of the year +one instant,) stared him full in the face, and taking it for granted +that it was a recent one, he dressed himself on the appointed day, and +proceeded to the palace. But his diocesan was not in London, a +circumstance of which, though a matter of some notoriety to the clergy +of the diocese, he was quite unconscious; and he returned dinnerless +home. + + * * * * * + + +SENTIMENT AND APPETITE. + + +We remember an amiable enthusiast, a worshiper of nature after the +manner of Rousseau, who, being melted into feelings of universal +philanthropy by the softness and serenity of a spring morning, resolved, +that for that day, at least, no injured animal should pollute his board; +and having recorded his vow, walked six miles to gain a hamlet, famous +for fish dinners, where, without an idea of breaking his sentimental +engagement, he regaled himself on a small matter of crimped cod and +oyster sauce--Q. Rev. + + * * * * * + + +FORTIFICATION. + + +The walls of Tenchira, in Africa, form one of the most perfect remaining +specimens of ancient fortification. They are a mile and a half in +circuit, defended by 26 quadrangular towers, and admitting no entrance +but by two opposite gates. + + * * * * * + + +MEDIOCRITY, in poetry, is intolerable to gods and to booksellers, and to +all intermediate beings. + + * * * * * + + +SONNET TO THE CAMELLA JAPONICA. + +BY W. ROSCOE, ESQ. + + + Say, what impels me, pure and spotless flower, + To view thee with a secret sympathy? + --Is there some living spirit shrined in thee? + That, as thou bloom'st within my humble bower, + Endows thee with some strange, mysterious + power, + Waking high thoughts?--As there perchance + might be + Some angel-form of truth and purity, + Whose hallowed presence shared my lonely hour? + --Yes, lovely flower, 'tis not thy virgin glow, + Thy petals whiter than descending snow, + Nor all the charms thy velvet folds display; + 'Tis the soft image of some beaming mind, + By grace adorn'd, by elegance refin'd, + That o'er my heart thus holds its silent sway. + + _The Winter's Wreath._ + + * * * * * + + +PIGS. + + +One day when Giotto, the painter, was taking his Sunday walk, in his +best attire, with a party of friends, at Florence, and was in the midst +of a long story, some pigs passed suddenly by, and one of them, running +between the painter's legs, threw him down. When he got on his legs +again, instead of swearing a terrible oath at the pig on the Lord's day, +as a graver man might have done, he observed, laughing, "People say +these beasts are stupid, but they seem to me to have some sense of +justice, for I have earned several thousands of crowns with their +bristles, but I never gave one of them even a ladleful of soup in my +life."--_Lanzi._ + + * * * * * + + +TURKISH FIREMEN. + + +The firemen of Constantinople are accused of sometimes discharging oil +from their engines instead of water. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + + * * * * * + + +FLIES. + + +Cruelty to animals is a subject which has deservedly attracted +parliamentary investigation. It is not beneath the dignity of a +Christian legislator to prevent the unnecessary sufferings of the +meanest of created things; and a law which is dictated by humanity can +surely be no disgrace to the statute-book. Who that has witnessed the +barbarous and unmanly sports of the cock-pit and the stake--the +fiendlike ingenuity displayed by the lord of the creation in teaching +his dependents to torture, mangle, and destroy each other for his own +amusement--the cruelties of the greedy and savage task-master towards +the dumb labourer whose strength has decayed in his service--or the +sufferings of the helpless brute that drags with pain and difficulty its +maimed carcass to Smithfield--what reasonable being that has witnessed +all or any of this, will venture to affirm that interference is +officious and uncalled for? Yet it is certain that Mr. Martin acted +properly and wisely in excluding flies from the operation of his +act--well knowing, as he must have done, that the feeling of the +majority was decidedly averse from affording parliamentary countenance +and immunity to those descendants of the victims of Domitian's just +indignation; although it is understood that such a provision would have +been cordially supported by the advocates for universal toleration. The +simple question for consideration would be, whether the conduct and +principles of the insect species have undergone such a material change +as to entitle them to new and extraordinary enactments in their favour? +Have they entirely divested themselves of their licentious and predatory +habits, and learnt now for the first time to distinguish between right +and wrong? Do they understand what it is to commit sacrilege? To intrude +into the sanctum sanctorum of the meat-safe? To rifle and defile the +half roseate, half lily-white charms of a virgin ham? To touch with +unhallowed proboscis the immaculate lip of beauty, the unprotected scalp +of old age, the savoury glories of the kitchen? To invade with the most +reckless indifference, and the most wanton malice, the siesta of the +alderman or the philosopher? To this we answer in the eloquent and +emphatic language of the late Mr. Canning--_No_! Unamiable and +unconciliating monsters! The wildest and most ferocious inhabitants of +the desert may be reclaimed from their savage nature, and taught to +become the peaceful denizens of a menagerie--but ye are altogether +untractable and untameable. Gratitude and sense of shame, the better +parts of instinct, have never yet interposed their sacred influence to +prevent the commission of one treacherous or unbecoming action of yours. +The holy rites of hospitality are by you abused and set at naught; and +the very roof which shelters you is desecrated with the marks of your +irreverential contempt for all things human and divine. Would that--(and +the wish is expressed more in sorrow than in anger)--would that your +entire species were condensed into one enormous bluebottle, that we +might crush you all at a single swoop! + +Many, calling themselves philanthropists and Christians, have omitted to +squash a fly when they had an opportunity of so doing; nay, some of +these people have even been known to go the length of writing verses on +the occasion, in which they applaud themselves for their own humane +disposition, and congratulate the object of their mistaken mercy on its +narrow escape from impending fate. There is nothing more wanting than to +propose the establishment of a Royal Humane Society for the +resuscitation of flies apparently drowned or suffocated. Can it possibly +be imagined by the man who has succeeded after infinite pains in +rescuing a greedy and intrusive insect from a gin-and-watery grave in +his own vile potations, that he has thereby consulted the happiness of +his fellow creatures, or promoted the cause of decency, cleanliness, +good order, and domestic comfort? Let him watch the career of the +mischievous little demon which he has thus been the means of restoring +to the world, when he might have arrested its progress for ever. Observe +the stout and respectable gentleman, loved, honoured, and esteemed in +all the various relations of father, husband, friend, citizen, and +Christian, who is on cushioned sofa composing himself for his wonted +nap, after a dinner in substance and quantity of the most satisfactory +description, and not untempered by a modicum of old port. His amiable +partner, with that refined delicacy and sense of decorum peculiar to the +female sex, has already withdrawn with her infant progeny, leaving her +good man, as she fondly imagines, to enjoy the sweets of uninterrupted +repose. At one moment we behold him slumbering softly as an infant--"so +tranquil, helpless, stirless, and unmoved;" in the next, we remark with +surprise sundry violent twitches and contortions of the limbs, as though +the sleeper were under the operation of galvanism, or suffering from the +pangs of a guilty conscience. Of what hidden crime does the memory thus +agitate him--breaking in upon that rest which should steep the senses in +forgetfulness of the world and its cares? On a sudden he starts from his +couch with an appearance of frenzy!--his nostrils dilated, his eyes +gleaming with immoderate excitation--an incipient curse quivering on his +lips, and every vein swelling--every muscle tense with fearful and +passionate energy of purpose. Is he possessed with a devil, or does he +meditate suicide, that his manner is so wild and hurried? With impetuous +velocity he rushes to the window, and beneath his vehement but futile +strokes, aimed at a scarcely visible, and certainly impalpable object, +the fragile glass flies into fragments, the source of future colds and +curtain lectures without number. The immediate author of so much +mischief, it is true, is the diminutive vampire which is now making its +escape with cold-blooded indifference through a very considerable +fracture in one of the panes; but surely the person who saved from +destruction, and may thus be considered to have given existence to the +cause of all this loss of temper and of property, cannot conscientiously +affirm that _his_ withers are unwrung! Mercy and forbearance are very +great virtues when exercised with proper discretion; but man owes a +paramount duty to society, with which none of the weaknesses, however +amiable, of his nature should be allowed to interfere. It is no mercy to +pardon and let loose upon the community one who, having already been +convicted of manifold delinquencies, only waits a convenient season for +adding to the catalogue of his crimes; and what is larceny, or felony, +or even treason, compared with the perpetration of the outrages above +attempted to be described?--We pause for a reply. + +Summer is a most delectable--a most glorious season. We, who are fond of +basking as a lizard, and whose inward spirit dances and exults like a +very mote in the sun-beam, always hail its approach with rapture; but +our anticipations of bright and serene days--of blue, cloudless, and +transparent skies--of shadows the deeper from intensity of surrounding +light--of yellow corn-fields, listless rambles, and lassitude rejoicing +in green and sunny banks--are allayed by this one consideration, that + + Waked by the summer ray, the reptile young + Come winged abroad. From every chink + And secret corner, where they slept away + The wintry storms; by myriads forth at once, + Swarming they pour. + +Go where you will, it is not possible to escape these "winged reptiles." +They abound exceedingly in all sunny spots; nor in the shady lane do +they not haunt every bush, and lie perdu under every leaf, thence +sallying forth on the luckless wight who presumes to molest their +"solitary reign;" they hang with deliberate importunity over the path of +the sauntering pedestrian, and fly with the flying horseman, like the +black cares (that is to say, blue devils) described by the Roman lyrist. +Within doors they infest, harpy-like, the dinner-table-- + + Diripiuntque dapes, contactuque omnia foedant + Immundo-- + +and hover in impending clouds over the sugar basin at tea; in the pantry +it is buz; in the dairy it is buz; in the kitchen it is buz; one loud, +long-continued, and monotonous buz! Having little other occupation than +that of propagating their species, the natural consequence, as we may +learn from Mr. Malthus, is that their numbers increase in a frightfully +progressive ratio from year to year; and it has at length become +absolutely necessary that some decisive measures should be adopted to +counteract the growing evil. + +Upon the whole, he would not, perhaps, be considered to speak rashly or +unadvisedly, who should affirm, that no earthly creature, of the same +insignificant character and pretensions, is the agent of nearly so much +mischief as the fly.--What a blessed order of things would immediately +ensue, if every one of them was to be entirely swept away from the face +of the earth! This most wished-for event, we fear, it will never be our +lot to witness; but it may be permitted to a sincere patriot, in his +benevolent and enthusiastic zeal for the well-being of his country, to +indulge in aspirations that are tinged with a shade of extravagance. +With respect, however, to the above mentioned vermin, the idea of their +total annihilation may not be altogether chimerical. We know that the +extirpation of wolves from England was accomplished by the commutation +of an annual tribute for a certain number of their heads; and it is well +worth the consideration of the legislature, whether, by adopting a +somewhat similar principle, they may not rid the British dominions of an +equally great and crying nuisance. The noble Duke, now at the head of +his Majesty's Government, has it in his power to add another ray to his +illustrious name, to secure the approbation and gratitude of all classes +of the community, and to render his ministry for ever memorable, by the +accomplishment of so desirable an object. In the mean time, let the +Society of Arts offer their next large gold medal to the person who +shall invent the most ingenious and destructive fly-trap. A certain +quantity of quassia might be distributed gratis at Apothecaries' Hall, +as vaccinatory matter is at the Cow-pox Hospital, with very considerable +effect; and an act of parliament should be passed without delay, +declaring the wilful destruction of a spider to be felony.--_Blackwood's +Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +THE CORONATION OF INEZ DE CASTRO.[7] + +BY MRS. HEMANS. + + + "Tableau, aú l'Amour fait alliance avec la + Tombe; union redoubtable de la mort et de la + vie." MADAME DE STAEL. + + There was music on the midnight; + From a royal fane it roll'd, + And a mighty bell, each pause between, + Sternly and slowly toll'd. + Strange was their mingling in the sky, + It hush'd the listener's breath; + For the music spoke of triumph high, + The lonely bell, of death. + + There was hurrying through the midnight:-- + A sound of many feet; + But they fell with a muffled fearfulness, + Along the shadowy street; + And softer, fainter, grew their tread, + As it near'd the Minster-gate, + Whence broad and solemn light was shed + From a scene of royal state. + + Full glow'd the strong red radiance + In the centre of the nave, + Where the folds of a purple canopy + Sweep down in many a wave; + Loading the marble pavement old + With a weight of gorgeous gloom; + For something lay 'midst their fretted gold, + Like a shadow of the tomb. + + And within that rich pavilion + High on a glittering throne, + A woman's form sat silently, + Midst the glare of light alone. + Her Jewell'd robes fell strangely still-- + The drapery on her breast + Seem'd with no pulse beneath to thrill, + So stone-like was its rest. + + But a peal of lordly music + Shook e'en the dust below, + When the burning gold of the diadem + Was set on her pallid brow! + Then died away that haughty sound, + And from th' encircling band, + Stept Prince and Chief, 'midst the hush profound, + With homage to her hand. + + Why pass'd a faint cold shuddering + Over each martial frame, + As one by one, to touch that hand, + Noble and leader came? + Was not the settled aspect fair? + Did not a queenly grace, + Under the parted ebon hair. + Sit on the pale still face? + + Death, Death! canst _thou_ be lovely + Unto the eye of Life? + Is not each pulse of the quick high breast + With thy cold mien at strife? + --It was a strange and fearful sight, + The crown upon that head, + The glorious robes and the blaze of light, + All gather'd round the Dead! + + And beside her stood in silence + One with a brow as pale, + And white lips rigidly compress'd, + Lest the strong heart should fail; + King Pedro with a jealous eye + Watching the homage done + By the land's flower and chivalry + To her, his martyr'd one. + + But on the face he look'd not + Which once his star had been: + To every form his glance was turn'd, + Save of the breathless queen; + Though something, won from the grare's embrace, + Of her beauty still was there, + Its hues were all of that shadowy place, + 'Twas not for _him_ to bear. + + Alas! the crown, the sceptre, + The treasures of the earth, + And the priceless love that pour'd those gifts, + Alike of wasted worth! + The rites are closed--bear back the Dead + Unto the chamber deep, + Lay down again the royal head, + Dust with the dust to sleep. + + There is music on the midnight-- + A requiem sad and slow. + As the mourners through the sounding aisle + In dark procession go, + And the ring of state, and the starry crown, + And all the rich array, + Are borne to the house of silence down, + With her, that queen of clay. + + And tearlessly and firmly, + King Pedro led the train-- + But his face was wrapt in his folding robe, + When they lower'd the dust again. + --'Tis hush'd at last, the tomb above, + Hymns die, and steps depart: + Who call'd thee strong as Death, O Love? + _Mightier_ thou wert and art! + + _New Monthly Magazine._ + + [7] Don Pedro of Portugal, after his accession to the kingdom, + had the body of the murdered Inez taken from the grave, solemnly + enthroned and crowned. + + * * * * * + + +ART THOU THE MAID? + + + Art thou the maid from whose blue eye + Mine drank such deep delight? + Was thine that voice of melody + Which charm'd the silent night? + + I fain would think thou art not she + Who hung upon mine arm, + When love was yet a mystery, + A sweet, resistless charm. + + It seemed to me as though the spell + On both alike were cast; + I prayed but in thy sight to dwell, + For thee, to breathe my last. + + Mine inmost secret soul was thine, + Thou wert enthroned therein, + Like sculptured saint in holy shrine, + All free from guile and sin. + + And, heaven forgive! I did adore + With more than pilgrim's zeal; + And then thy smile----But oh! no more! + No more may I reveal. + + Enough--we're parted----Both must own + The accursed power of gold. + I wander through the world _alone_; + _Thou_ hast been bought and sold. + + _Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + +It would be a very pleasant thing, if literary productions could be +submitted to something like chemical analysis,--if we could separate the +merit of a book, as we can the magnesia of Epsom salts, by a simple +practical application of the doctrine of affinities. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER + + + A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. + + SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +A GOOD FELLOW. + + +The secretary of a literary society being requested to draw up "_a +definition of a good fellow_," applied to the members of the club, +individually, for such hints as they could furnish, when, he received +the following:-- + +Mr. _Golightly_.--A good fellow is one who rides blood horses, drives +four-in-hand, speaks when he's spoken to, sings when he's asked, always +turns his back on a dun, and never on a friend. + +Mr. _Le Blanc_.--A good fellow is one who studies deep, reads +trigonometry, and burns love songs; has a most cordial aversion for +dancing and D'Egville, and would rather encounter a cannon than a fancy +ball. + +Hon. _G. Montgomery_.--A good fellow is one who abhors moralists and +mathematics, and adores the classics and Caroline Mowbray. + +Sir _T. Wentworth_.--A good fellow is one who attends the Fox-dinners, +who goes to the Indies to purchase independence, and would rather +encounter a buffalo than a boroughmonger. + +Mr. _M. Sterling_.--A good fellow is a good neighbour, a good citizen, a +good relation; in short, a good man. + +Mr. _M. Farlane_.--A good fellow is a bonnie braw John Hielandman. + +Mr. _O'Connor_.--A good fellow is one who talks loud and swears louder; +cares little about learning, and less about his neckcloth; loves +whiskey, patronizes bargemen, and wears nails in his shoes. + +Mr. _Musgrave_.--A good fellow is prime--flash--and bang-up. + +Mr. _Burton_.--A good fellow is one who knows "what's what," keeps +accounts, and studies Cocker. + +Mr. _Rowley_.--A good fellow likes turtle and cold punch, drinks Port +when he can't get Champagne, and dines on mutton with Sir Robert, when +he can't get venison at my lord's. + +Mr. _Lozell_.--A good fellow is something compounded of the preceding. + +Mr. _Oakley_.--A good fellow is something perfectly different from the +preceding,--or Mr. Oakley is an ass. + + * * * * * + + +MERCHANT TAILORS' SCHOOL. + + + At Merchant Tailors' School, what time + Old Bishop held the rod, + The boys rehearsed the old man's rhyme + Whilst he would smile and nod. + + Apart I view'd a little child + Who join'd not in the game: + His face was what mammas call mild + And fathers dull and tame. + + Pitying the boy, I thus address'd + The pedagogue of verse-- + "Why doth he not, Sir, like the rest, + Your epigrams rehearse?" + + "Sir!" answered thus the aged man, + "He's not in Nature's debt; + His ears so tight are seal'd, he can- + Not learn his alphabet." + + "Why not?" I cried:--whereat to me + He spoke in minor clef-- + "He cannot learn his A, B, C, + Because he's D, E, F." + + _New Monthly Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +ROYAL LEARNING. + + +The king of Persia made many inquiries of Sir Harford Jones respecting +America, saying, "What sort of a place is it? How do you get at it? Is +it underground, or how?" + + * * * * * + + +COMPLIMENT MAL-APROPOS. + + +Napoleon was once present at the performance of one of Pasiello's +operas, in which was introduced an air by Cimarosa. Pasiello was in the +box with the emperor, and received many compliments during the evening. +At length, when the air by Cimarosa was played, the emperor turned +round, and taking Pasiello by the hand, exclaimed, "By my faith, my +friend, the man who has composed that air, may proclaim himself the +greatest composer in Europe." "It is Cimarosa's," feebly articulated +Pasiello. "I am sorry for it; but I cannot recall what I have said." + + * * * * * + +A gentleman taking an apartment, said to the landlady, "I assure you, +madam, I never left a lodging but my landlady shed tears." She answered, +"I hope it was not, Sir, because you went away without paying." + + * * * * * + +LOMBIRD'S EDITION OF THE _Following Novels are already Published:_ + + _s_ _d_ +Mackenzie's Man of Feeling . . . . . . 0 6 +Paul and Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . 0 6 +The Castle of Otranto. . . . . . . . . 0 6 +Almoran and Hamet. . . . . . . . . . . 0 6 +Elizabeth, or the Exiles of Siberia. . 0 6 +The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne . . 0 6 +Rasselas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 8 +The Old English Baron. . . . . . . . . 0 8 +Nature and Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 8 +Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield . . . . 0 10 +Sicilian Romance . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 +The Man of the World . . . . . . . . . 1 0 +A Simple Story . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 +Joseph Andrews . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 +Humphry Clinker. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 +The Romance of the Forest. . . . . . . 1 8 +The Italian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 +Zeluce, by Dr. Moore . . . . . . . . . 2 6 +Edward, by Dr. Moore . . . . . . . . . 2 0 +Roderick Random. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 +The Mysteries of Udo'pho . . . . . . . 3 6 + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11408 *** |