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diff --git a/11412-0.txt b/11412-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b97da57 --- /dev/null +++ b/11412-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1621 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11412 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 11412-h.htm or 11412-h.zip: + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/4/1/11412/11412-h/11412-h.htm) + or + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/4/1/11412/11412-h.zip) + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 10, NO. 286.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1827. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + +[Illustration: Caxton's House in the Almonry, Westminster.] + + +To expatiate on the advantages of printing, at this time of day, would +be "wasteful and ridiculous excess." We content ourselves with the +comparison of Dryden's + + + "Long trails of light descending down." + + +In a retrospective glance at our previous volumes (for can the +phrenologists tell us of a head capacious enough to contain their +exhaustless variety?) our readers will perceive that, from time to +time, sundry "accounts" of the origin and progress of printing have +been inserted in the MIRROR;[1] and though we are not vain enough to +consider our sheet as the "refined gold, the lily, the violet, the +ice, or the rainbow," of the poet's perfection, yet in specimens of +the general _economy of the art_, the long-extended patronage of the +public gives us an early place. + +With an outline of the life of CAXTON our readers must be already +familiar; but we wish them to consider the above accurate +representation of the FIRST ENGLISH PRINTER'S RESIDENCE as antecedent +to a _Memoir of Caxton_, in which it will be our aim to concentrate, +in addition to biographical details, many important facts from the +testimony of antiquarians; for scarcely a volume of the _Archaeologia_ +has appeared without some valuable communication on Caxton and his +times. + +In the meantime we proceed with the _locale_ of Caxton's house, +situate on the south-west of Westminster Abbey, where was formerly the +eleemosynary, or almonry, where the alms of the abbots were +distributed. Howell in his _Londinopolis_, describes this as "the spot +where the abbot of Westminster permitted Caxton to set up his press in +the _Almonry_, or Ambry," the former of which names is still retained. +This is confirmed by Newcourt, in his _Repertorium_, who says, "St. +Anne's, an old chapel, over against which the Lady Margaret, mother to +king Henry VII., erected an alms-house for poor women, which is now +turned into lodgings for singing-men of the college. The place wherein +this chapel and alms-house stood was called the Eleemosinary, or +Almonry, now corruptly called the Ambry, (Aumbry,) for that the alms +of the abbey were there distributed to the poor; in which the abbot of +Westminster erected the first press for book-printing that was in +England, about the year of Christ 1471, and where WILLIAM CAXTON, +citizen and mercer of London, who first brought it into England, +practised it." Here he printed _The Game and Play of the Chesse_, said +to be the first book that issued from the press in this country. + +Hence, according to Mr. M'Creery, the intelligent author of "The +Press," a poem, "the title of _chapel_ to the internal regulations of +a printing-office originated in Caxton's exercising the profession in +one of the chapels in Westminster Abbey, and may be considered as an +additional proof, from the antiquity of the custom, of his being the +first English printer."[2] + +Every lover of science, on approaching this spot, will feel himself on +holy ground, however the idle and incurious of our metropolis may +neglect the scite, or be ignorant of its identity. We are there led +into an eternity of reflection and association of ideas; but lest +human pride should be too fondly feasted in the retrospect, the +hallowed towers of the abbey, seen in the distance, serve to remind us +of the imperial maxim, that "art is long, and life but short." + +[Footnote 1: See MIRROR, vol 3, p 194--vol 5. p 311.] + +[Footnote 2: We requote this passage from Mr. M'Creery, as it has +already appeared in vol. 5; and in vol. 3, a correspondent denies that +the first English book was printed at Westminster; but we are disposed +to think that an impartial examination of the testimonies on each side +of the controversy will decide in favour of Caxton.] + + * * * * * + + +TEA.--ITS INTRODUCTION INTO ENGLAND. + + +(A correspondent, who signs _M.M.M._ informs us that the article sent +to us by _P.T.W_. and inserted in No. 280 of the MIRROR, was copied +verbatim from the _Imperial Magazine_, a work which we seldom see, and +consequently we had no opportunity of ascertaining the origin of our +correspondent's paper. It seemed to us a good _cyclopaedian_ article +on the subject, and we accordingly admitted it. We now subjoin +_M.M.M.'s_ communication.) + +In addition to what has been said in the article upon tea, (by +_P.T.W._) allow me to remark (and which I do not recollect ever to +have seen noticed in any work upon the subject) that the seed is +contained in _two_ vessels, the outer one varying in shape, +triangular, long, and round, according to the number which it contains +of what may be termed inner vessels. The outer vessel of a triangular +shape, measures, from the base to the apex about three quarters of an +inch, and is of a dark brown colour, approaching to black, and thick, +strong, and rough in texture; within this is another vessel, +containing the kernel; this inner vessel is of a light brown colour, +thin, and brittle, in shape, seldom perfectly round, but mostly flat +on one side: there are three of them in a triangular seed vessel, two +in a long one, and one in that which is round. The kernel is of a +brown colour, and in taste very bitter. In no other species of teas +than Bohea, is the large kind of seed found, which is probably owing +to that species being gathered last or in autumn. There is a _small_ +seed found mixed with the Congou kind of teas, about the size of a +pea, which is in every respect similar to the large, except in size. +This seed was evidently not permitted to ripen, but the calyx of the +flower connected with the peduncle is quite perfect. The Twankey +species are of the same appearance, all of which I have had ample +opportunity of inspecting. + +As an appendage to this note, we are induced to quote the following +pleasant page from _Time's Telescope_ for 1828; and we take this +opportunity of reminding our readers that our customary Supplementary +sheet, containing the spirit of this and other popular Annual Works +will be published with our next Number. + +From a single sheet found in Sir Hans Sloane's library, in the British +Museum, and printed by Mr. Ellis in his Original Letters, _Second +Series_, it appears that tea was known in England in the year 1657, +though not then in general use. The author of this paper says, "That +the vertues and excellencies of this leaf and drink are many and +great, is evident and manifest by the high esteem and use of it +(especially of late years) among the physicians and knowing men in +France, Italy, Holland, and other parts of Christendom; _and in_ +ENGLAND it hath been sold in the leaf for _six pounds_, and sometimes +for TEN _pounds_ the pound weight, and in respect of its former +scarceness and dearness, it hath been only used as a regalia in high +treatments and entertainments, and presents made thereof to princes +and grandees, till the year 1657." + +Secretary Pepys, in his Diary, vol. i. p. 76, without saying where he +had his drink, makes the following entry:--"Sept. 25th, 1660. I did +send for a cup of tea (a China drink) of which I never had drunk +before, and went away." + +In a letter from Mr. Henry Savill to his uncle, Secretary Coventry, +dated from Paris, Aug. 12, 1678, and printed by Mr. Ellis, the writer, +after acknowledging the hospitalities of his uncle's house, quaintly +observes, "These, I hope, are the charms that have prevailed with me +to remember (that is to trouble) you oftener than I am apt to do other +of my friends, whose buttery-hatch is not so open, _and who call for_ +TEA instead of pipes and bottles after dinner; _a base unworthy Indian +practice_, and which I must ever admire your most Christian family for +not admitting. The truth is, all nations have grown so wicked as to +have some of these filthy customs." In 1678, the year in which the +above letter is dated, the East India Company began the importation of +tea as a branch of trade; the quantity received at that time amounting +to 4,713 lbs. The importation gradually enlarged, and the government, +in consequence, augmented the duties upon tea. By the year 1700, the +importation of tea had arrived at the quantity of 20,000 lbs. In 1721, +it exceeded a million of pounds. In 1816, it had arrived at 86,234,380 +lbs. Something more than thirty millions of pounds is probably the +present average of importation: some allowance must be made for tea +damaged and spoiled upon the passage.--See more on this subject, well +worthy of perusal, in Mr. Ellis's Letters, _Second Series_, vol. iv. +pp. 57, et seq. + + * * * * * + + +DANGER. + + +FROM L'ADONE OF MARINO. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + + Like some lone Pilgrim in the dusky night, + Seeking, through unknown paths, his doubtful way, + While thick nocturnal vapours veil his sight + From yawning chasms, that 'neath his footsteps lay; + Sudden before him gleams the forked light! + Dispels the gloom, yet fills him with dismay. + His trembling steps he then retraces back, + And seeks again the well-known beaten track. + +E.S.J. + + * * * * * + + +CATS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +The first couple of these animals which were carried to Cuyaba sold +for a pound of gold. There was a plague of rats in the settlement, and +they were purchased as a speculation, which proved an excellent one. +Their first kittens produced thirty _oilavas_ each; the new generation +were worth twenty; and the price gradually fell as the inhabitants +were stocked with these beautiful and useful creatures. Montengro +presented to the elder Almagro the first cat which was brought to +South America, and was rewarded for it with six hundred _pesos_. + + * * * * * + + +THE DEATH OF KING JOHN. + +_Extracted from an old black-letter volume, entitled "The Abridgment +of the Acts and Monuments of Martyrs, from the earliest period of +Christian suffering to the time of Queen Elizabeth, our gracious lady, +now reigning," printed in her reign_. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +In the yeere 1216, king John was poisoned, as most writers testify, at +Swinsted Abbey, by a monk of that abbey, of the order of Cistersians, +or S. Bernard's brethren, called Simon of Swinsted. The monk did first +consult with his abbot, shewing him what he minded to do, alleging for +himself the prophecy of Caiphas, 11th of John, saying, it is better +that one man die, than the whole people perish. I am well content, +saith he, to lose my life, and so become a martyr, that I may utterly +destroy this tyrant. With that the abbot did weep for gladness, and +much commended his fervent zeal. The monk then being absolved of his +abbot for doing this fact, went secretly into the garden, on the back +side, and finding there a most venomous toad, did so prick him and +press him with his penknife, that hee made him vomite all the poison +that was within him; this done, he conveyed it into a cup of wine, and +with a flattering and smiling countenance he sayeth to the king, "If +it shall please your princely majesty, here is such a cup of wine as +you never drank better in your lifetime. I trust this wassall shall +make all England glad," and with that he drank a great draught +thereof, and the king pledged him; the monk then went out of the house +to the back, and then died, his bowels gushing out of his belly, and +had continually from henceforth three monks to sing mass for him, +confirmed by their general charter. The king, within a short space +after, feeling great grief in his body, asked for Simon, the monk; +answer was made he was dead. "Then God have mercy on me," said the +king; so went he to Newark-upon-Trent, and there died, and was buried +in the cathedral church at Worster, in 1216, the 19th day of October, +after having been much fered with the clergy 18 years, 6 months, and a +day. + +MALVINA. + + * * * * * + + +LILLIARD EDGE. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Near the border between the parishes of Maxton and Ancrum is a bridge, +called Lilliard Edge, formerly Anerum moor, where a battle was fought +between the Scots and English soon after the death of king James V., +who died in the year 1542. When the Earl of Arran was regent of +Scotland, Sir Ralph Rivers and Sir Bryan Laiton came to Jedburgh with +an army of 5,000 English to seize Merse and Teviotdale in the name of +Henry VIII., then king of England, who died not long after, in the +year 1547. The regent and the Earl of Angus came with a small body of +men to oppose them. The Earl of Angus was greatly exasperated against +the English, because some time before they had defaced the tombs of +his ancestors at Melrose, and had done much hurt to the abbey there. +The regent and the Earl of Angus, without waiting the arrival of a +greater force, which was expected, met the English at Lilliard Edge, +where the Scots obtained a great victory, considering the inequality +of their number. A young woman of the name of Lilliard fought along +with the Scots with great courage; she fell in the battle, and a +tombstone was erected upon her grave on the field where it was fought. +Some remains of this tombstone are still to be seen. It is said to +have contained the following inscription:-- + + + "Fair maiden Lilliard lies under this stane; + Little was her stature, but great was her fame. + On the English lads she laid many thumps, + And when her legs were off she fought on her stumps." + +T.S.W. + + * * * * * + + +BOOKS AND BOOKWORMS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Books were anciently made of plates of copper and lead, the bark of +trees, bricks, Stones, and wood. Josephus speaks of two columns, the +one of stone, the other of brick, on which the children of Seth wrote +their inventions and astronomical discoveries. Porphyry mentions some +pillars, preserved in Crete, on which the ceremonies observed by the +Corybantes in their sacrifices were recorded. The leaves of the +palm-tree were used, and the finest and thinnest part of the bark of +such trees as the lime, the ash, the maple, and the elm; from hence +comes the word _liber_, which signifies the inner bark of the trees; +and as these barks are rolled up, in order to be removed with greater +ease, these rolls were called _volumen_, a volume, a name afterwards +given to the like rolls of paper or parchment. By degrees wax, then +leather, were introduced, especially the skins of goats and sheep, of +which at length parchment was prepared; also linen, then silk, horn, +and lastly paper. The rolls or volumes of the ancients were composed +of several sheets, fastened to each other, rolled upon a stick, and +were sometimes fifty feet in length, and about a yard and a half wide. +At first the letters were only divided into lines, then into separate +words, which, by degrees, were noted with accents, and distributed by +points, and stops into periods, paragraphs, chapters, and other +divisions. In some countries, as among the orientals, the lines began +from the right, and ran to the left; in others, as in northern and +western nations, from the left to the right; others, as the Grecians, +followed both directions alternately, going in the one and returning +in the other. + +In the Chinese books, the lines run from top to bottom. Again, the +page in some is entire and uniform; in others, divided into columns; +in others, distinguished into text and notes, either marginal or at +the bottom; usually it is furnished with signatures and catch-words, +also with a register to discover whether the book be complete. The +Mahometans place the name of God at the beginning of all their books. +The word _book_ is derived from the Saxon _boc_, which comes from the +northern _buech_, of _buechans_, a beech, or _service-tree_, on the +bark of which our ancestors used to write. A very large estate was +given for one on Cosmography by king Alfred. About the year 1400, they +were sold from 10_l_. to 30_l_. a piece. The first printed one was +the Vulgate edition of the Bible, 1462; the second was _Cicero de +Officiis_, 1466. Leo I. ordered 200,000 to be burnt at Constantinople. +In the suppressed monasteries of France, in 1790, there were found +4,104,412 volumes; nearly one-half were on theology. The end of the +book, now denoted by _finis_, was anciently marked with a <, called +_coronis_, and the whole frequently washed with an oil drawn from +cedar, or citron chips strewed between the leaves, to preserve it from +rotting. + +Thus far books; now for the _bookworms_. Anthony Magliabecchi, the +notorious bookworm, was born at Florence in 1633; his passion for +reading induced him to employ every moment of his time in improving +his mind. By means of an astonishing memory and incessant application, +he became more conversant with literary history than any man of his +time, and was appointed librarian to the grand duke of Tuscany. He has +been called a living library. He was a man of a most forbidding and +savage aspect, and exceedingly negligent of his person. He refused to +be waited upon, and rarely took off his clothes to go to bed. His +dinner was commonly three hard eggs, with a draught of water. He had a +small window in his door, through which he could see all those who +approached him; and if he did not wish for their company, he would not +admit them. He spent some hours in each day at the palace library; but +is said never in his life to have gone farther from Florence than to +Pratz, whither he once accompanied Cardinal Norris to see a +manuscript. He died at the age of 81, in the year 1714. In the present +age we have _bookworms_, who wander from one bookstall to another, and +there devour their daily store of knowledge. Others will linger at the +tempting window filled with the "_twopenny_," and read all the open +pages; then pass on to another of the same description, and thus enjoy +literature by the way of _Cheapside_. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +MIDNIGHT--A TOUCH AT THE EPIC. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + "The iron tongue of midnight hath toll'd twelve." +SHAKSPEARE. + + + Amid the pauses of the midnight storm, + When all without is cold, within all warm! + Amid the pauses of the midnight blast, + When ev'ry bolt and ev'ry sleeper's fast! + In that dire hour, when graves give up their dead, + And men for once agree in their pursuit--a bed! + When heroes, statesmen, senators, and kings, + Lords, and et ceteras of meaner things, + Forget the road to fortune--or to jail, + And Morpheus all their equal guardian hail! + When each forgets each 'vantage or mishap. + And all are equal in one common nap! + At that dread hour... + Caetera desiderantur. + + +_Carshalton_ W. P----n. + + * * * * * + + +ON OATHS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Since lately we have had a great deal of prevarication in our courts +of justice about receiving the oaths of deists, &c., I have thought it +meet to furnish the MIRROR with an account of the first usage of the +words, "So help me God." The word oath is a corruption of the Saxon +_eoth_. An oath is called corporal, because the person making an +affidavit lays his hand upon a part of the scriptures. + +At the conclusion of the oath the above words are used, which may +perhaps have originated in the very ancient manner of trial by battle +in this country, when the appellee, laying his right hand on the book, +takes the appellant by the right hand with his left, and maketh oath +as follows:--"Hear this, thou who callest thyself _John_ by the name +of baptism, whom I hold by thy hand, that falsely upon me thou hast +lied; and for this thou liest, that I who call myself _Thomas_ by the +name of baptism, did not feloniously murder thy father, _W._ by name, +_so help me God_." (Here he kisses the book, and concludes,)--"And +this I will defend against thee by my body, as this court shall +award." And the appellant is thus sworn also. + +Here, it may be observed also, the true foundation of the word _lie_, +being esteemed still so great an affront above all others, as whenever +it is pronounced to cause "an immediate affray and bloodshed." + +I have seen people sworn in poetry; and certain it is, that in many +countries in Europe the making of oaths differs. I have some curious +specimens of ancient oaths, some in Latin prose, others in poetry. + +Lord Chief Justice Coke was so strict with regard to the receiving of +oaths, that when at Cambridge Summer Assizes, upon a trial of felony, +he said, "in case of trespass, although it be only to the value of +_twopence_, no evidence shall be given to the jury _but upon oath_, +much less where _the life of a man is in question_." An action may be +brought on the case upon a man calling another a _perjured_ man, +because it shall be intended to be contrary to his oath in a judicial +proceeding. + +W.H.H. + + * * * * * + + +ORIGINAL LETTER + +_From the Younger Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, upon his death bed, to +the Rev. Dr. W.----_. + + +Dear Doctor,--I always looked upon you as a man of true virtue, and +know you to be a person of sound understanding; for however I may have +acted in opposition to the principles of religion, or the dictates of +reason, I can honestly assure you I had always the highest veneration +for both. The world and I may now shake hands, for I dare affirm that +we are heartily weary of one another. Oh, doctor, what a prodigal have +I been of that most valuable of all possessions, time. I have +squandered it away with a profusion unparalleled; and now that the +enjoyment of a few days would be worth a hecatomb of worlds, I cannot +flatter myself with a prospect of half a dozen hours. How despicable, +my dear friend, is that man who never prays to his God but in the time +of distress. In what manner can he supplicate that omnipotent Being in +his affliction with reverence, whom in the tide of his prosperity he +never remembered with dread! Don't brand me with infidelity, my dear +doctor, when I tell you I am almost ashamed to offer up my petitions +at the throne of grace, or of imploring that divine mercy in the next +world, which I have so scandalously abused in this! Shall ingratitude +to man be looked upon as the blackest of crimes, and not ingratitude +to God? Shall an insult offered to the king be looked upon in the most +offensive light, and yet no notice be taken when the King of kings is +treated with indignity and disrespect. The companions of my former +libertinism would scarcely believe their eyes, my dear doctor, was you +to show them this epistle. They would laugh at me as a dreaming +enthusiast, or pity me as a timorous wretch who was shocked at the +appearance of futurity. But whoever laughs at me for being right, or +pities me for being sensible of my errors, is more entitled to my +compassion than my resentment. A future life may very well strike +terror into any man who has not acted well in this life; and he must +have an uncommon share of courage indeed who does not shrink at the +presence of his God. You see, my dear doctor, the apprehension of +death will soon bring the most profligate to a proper use of their +understanding. To what a situation am I now reduced? Is this odious +little hut a suitable lodging for a prince? or is this anxiety of my +mind becoming the characteristic of a Christian? From my rank and +fortune I might have expected affluence to wait on my life, from my +religion and understanding, peace to smile upon my end; instead of +which I am afflicted with poverty, and haunted with remorse, despised +by my country, and I fear forsaken by my God! There is nothing so +dangerous, my dear doctor, as extraordinary abilities. I cannot be +accused of vanity now, by being sensible I was once possessed of +uncommon qualifications, more especially as I sincerely regret that I +was ever blest with any at all. My rank in life made these +accomplishments still more conspicuous; and, fascinated with the +general applause which they procured, I never considered about the +proper means by which they should be displayed; hence, to purchase a +smile from a blockhead I despised, have I frequently treated the +virtuous with disrespect, and sported with the Holy Name of heaven to +obtain a laugh from a parcel of fools, who were entitled to nothing +but my contempt. Your men of wit, my dear doctor, generally look upon +themselves as discharged from the duties of religion, and confine the +doctrines of the Gospel to people of meaner understandings; it is a +sort of derogation, in their opinion, to comply with the rules of +Christianity, and reckon that man possessed of a narrow genius who +studies to be good. What a pity that the Holy Writings are not made +the criterion of true judgment! or that any one should pass for a fine +gentleman in this world, but he that seems solicitous about his +happiness in the next. My dear doctor, I am forsaken by all my +acquaintance, utterly neglected by the friends of my bosom and the +dependants of my bounty. But no matter; I am not now fit to converse +with the first, and have no ability to serve the latter. Let me not be +cast off wholly, however, by the good. Favour me with a visit, dear +doctor, as soon as possible. Writing to you gives me some ease, +especially upon a subject I could talk of for ever. I am of opinion +this is the last visit I shall ever solicit from you. My distemper is +powerful. Come and pray for the departing spirit of the unhappy +BUCKINGHAM. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Sketch Book. + +No. LI. + + * * * * * + + +THE PHANTOM HAND. + + + I see a hand you cannot see, + Which beckons me away! + + +In a lonely part of the bleak and rocky coast of Scotland, there dwelt +a being, who was designated by the few who knew and feared him, the +Warlock Fisher. He was, in truth, a singular and a fearful old man. +For years he had followed his dangerous occupation alone; adventuring +forth in weather which appalled the stoutest of the stout hearts that +occasionally exchanged a word with him, in passing to and fro in their +mutual employment. Of his name, birth, or descent, nothing was known; +but the fecundity of conjecture had supplied an unfailing stock of +_materiel_ on these points. Some said he was the devil incarnate; +others said he was a Dutchman, or some other "far-away foreigner," who +had fled to these comparative solitudes for shelter, from the +retribution due to some grievous crime; and all agreed, that he was +neither a Scot nor a true man. In outward form, however, he was still +"a model of a man," tall, and well-made; though in years, his natural +strength was far from being abated. His matted black hair, hanging in +elf-locks about his ears and shoulders, together with the perpetual +sullenness which seemed native in the expression of features neither +regular nor pleasing, gave him an appearance unendurably disgusting. +He lived alone, in a hovel of his own construction, partially scooped +out of a rock--was never known to have suffered a visitor within its +walls--to have spoken a kind word, or done a kind action. Once, +indeed, he performed an act which, in a less ominous being, would have +been lauded as the extreme of heroism. In a dreadfully stormy morning, +a fishing-boat was seen in great distress, making for the shore--there +were a father and two sons in it. The danger became imminent, as they +neared the rocky promontory of the fisher--and the boat upset. Women +and boys were screaming and gesticulating from the beach, in all the +wild and useless energy of despair, but assistance was nowhere to be +seen. The father and one of the lads disappeared for ever; but the +younger boy clung, with extraordinary resolution, to the inverted +vessel. By accident, the Warlock Fisher came to the door of his hovel, +saw the drowning lad, and plunged instantaneously into the sea. For +some minutes he was invisible amid the angry turmoil; but he swam like +an inhabitant of that fearful element, and bore the boy in safety to +the beach. From fatigue or fear, or the effects of both united, the +poor lad died shortly afterwards; and his grateful relatives +industriously insisted, that he had been blighted in the grasp of his +unhallowed rescuer! + +Towards the end of autumn, the weather frequently becomes so broken +and stormy in these parts, as to render the sustenance derived from +fishing extremely precarious. Against this, however, the Warlock +Fisher was provided; for, caring little for weather, and apparently +less for life, he went out in all seasons, and was known to be absent +for days, during the most violent storms, when every hope of seeing +him again was lost. Still nothing harmed him: he came drifting back +again, the same wayward, unfearing, unhallowed animal. To account for +this, it was understood that he was in connexion with smugglers; that +his days of absence were spent in their service--in reconnoitring for +their safety, and assisting their predations. Whatever of truth there +might be in this, it was well known that the Warlock Fisher never +wanted ardent spirits; and so free was he in their use and of tobacco, +that he has been heard, in a long and dreary winter's evening, +carolling songs in a strange tongue, with all the fervour of an +inspired bacchanal. It has been said, too, at such times he held +strange talk with some who never answered, deprecated sights which no +one else could see, and exhibited the fury of an outrageous maniac. + +It was towards the close of an autumn day, that a tall young man was +seen surveying the barren rocks, and apparently deserted shores, near +the dwelling of the fisher. He wore the inquiring aspect of a +stranger, and yet his step indicated a previous acquaintance with the +scene. The sun was flinging his boldest radiance on the rolling ocean, +as the youth ascended the rugged path which led to the Warlock +Fisher's hut. He surveyed the door for a moment, as if to be certain +of the spot; and then, with one stroke of his foot, dashed the door +inwards. It was damp and tenantless. The stranger set down his bundle, +kindled a fire, and remained in quiet possession. In a few hours the +fisher returned. He started involuntarily at the sight of the +intruder, who sprang to his feet, ready for any alternative. + +"What seek you in my hut?" said the Fisher. + +"A shelter for the night--the hawks are out." + +"Who directed you to me?" + +"Old acquaintance!" + +"Never saw you with my eyes--shiver me! But never mind, you look like +the breed--a ready hand and a light heel, ha! All's right--tap your +keg!" + +No sooner said than done. The keg was broached, and a good brown basin +of double hollands was brimming at the lips of the Warlock Fisher. The +stranger did himself a similar service, and they grew friendly. The +fisher could not avoid placing his hand before his eyes once or twice, +as if wishful to avoid the keen gaze of the stranger, who still plied +the fire with fuel and his host with hollands. Reserve was at length +annihilated, and the fisher jocularly said-- + +"Well, and so we're old acquaintance, ha?" + +"Ay," said the young man, with another searching glance. "I was in +doubt at first, but _now_ I'm certain." + +"And what's to be done?" said the Fisher. + +"An hour after midnight you must put me on board -----'s boat, she'll +be abroad. They'll run a light to the masthead, for which you'll +steer. You're a good hand at the helm in a dark night and a rough +sea," was the reply. + +"How, if I will not?" + +"Then--_your life or mine!"_ + +They sprang to their feet simultaneously, and an immediate encounter +seemed inevitable. + +"Psha!" said the Fisher, sinking on his seat, "what madness this is! +I was a thought warm with the liquor, and the recollections of past +times were rising on my memory. Think nothing of it. I heard those +words once before," and he ground his teeth in rage--"Yes, once--but +in a shriller voice than your's! Sometimes, too, the bastard rises to +my view; and then I smite him so--bah! give us another basin-full!" He +stuck short at vacancy, snatched the beverage from the stranger, and +drank it off. "An hour after midnight, said ye?" + +"Ay--you'll see no bastards then!" + +"Worse--may be--worse!" muttered the Fisher, sinking into abstraction, +and glaring wildly on the flickering embers before him. + +"Why, how's this?" said the stranger. "Are your senses playing bo-peep +with the ghost of some pigeon-livered coast captain, eh? Come, take +another pull at the keg, to clear your head-lights, and tell us a bit +of your ditty." + +The Fisher took another draught, and proceeded-- + +"About five-and-twenty years ago, a stranger came to this hut--may the +curse of God annihilate him!--" + +"Amen to that," said the young man. + +"He brought with him a boy and a girl, a purse of gold, and ---- the +arch fiend's tongue, to tempt me! Well, it was to take these children +out to sea--upset the boat--and lose them!"-- + +"And you did so!" interrupted the stranger. + +"I tried--but listen. On a fine evening, I took them out: the sun sunk +rapidly, and I knew by the freshening of the breeze, there would be a +storm. I was not mistaken. It came on even faster than I wished. The +children were alarmed--the boy, in particular, grew suspicious; he +insisted that I had an object in going out so far at sun-set. This +irritated me,--and I rose to smite him, when the fair girl interposed +her fragile form between us. She screamed for mercy, and clung to my +arm with the desperation of despair. _I could not shake her off_! The +boy had the spirit of a man; he seized a piece of spar, and struck me +on the temples. 'How, you villain!' said he, 'your life or mine!' At +that moment the boat upset, and we were all adrift. The boy I never +saw again--a tremendous sea broke between us--but the wretched girl +clung to me like hate! Damnation!--her dying scream is ringing in my +ears like madness! I struck her on the forehead, and she sank--all but +her hand, one little, white hand would not sink! I threw myself on my +back, and struck at it with both my feet--and then I thought it sunk +for ever. I made the shore with difficulty, for I was stunned and +senseless, and the ocean heaved as if it would have washed away the +mortal world--and the lightnings blazed as if all hell had come to +light the scene of warfare! I have never since been on the sea at +midnight, but that hand has followed or preceded me; I have never +----." Here he sank down from his seat, and rolled himself in agony +upon the floor. + +"Poor wretch!" muttered the stranger, "what hinders now my long-sought +vengeance? Even with my foot--but thou shalt share my murdered +sister's grave!" + +"A shot is fired--look out for the light!" said the young man. + +The Fisher went to the door; but suddenly started back, clasping his +hands before his face. + +"Fire and brimstone! there it is again!" he cried. + +"What?" said his companion, looking cooly round him. + +"That infernal hand! Lightnings blast it!--but that's impossible," he +added, in a fearful under-tone, which sounded as if some of the eternal +rocks around him were adding a response to his imprecations--"_that's_ +impossible! It is a part of them--it has been so for years--darkness +could not shroud it--distance could not separate it from my burning +eye-balls!--awake, it was there--asleep, it flickered and blazed before +me!--it has been my rock a-head through life, and it will herald me to +hell!" So saying, he pressed his sinewy hands upon his face, and buried +his head between his knees, till the rock beneath him seemed to shake +with his uncontrollable agony. + +"Again it beckons me!" said he, starting up--"ten thousand fires are +blazing in my heart--in my brain!--where, _where_ can I be worse? +Fiend, I defy thee!" + +"I see nothing," said his companion, with unalterable composure. + +"You see nothing!" thundered the Fisher, with mingling sarcasm and +fury--"look _there_." He snatched his hand, and pointing steadily into +the gloom, again murmured, "Look there! look there!" + +At that moment the lightning blazed around with appalling brilliancy; +and the stranger saw a small white hand, pointing tremulously upwards. + +"I saw it there," said he, "but it is not _hers_! Infatuated, +abandoned villain." he continued, with irrepressible energy, "it is +not my sister's hand--no! it is the incarnate fiend's who tempted you, +and who now waves you to perdition--begone together!" + +He aimed a dreadful blow at the astonished Fisher, who instinctively +avoided the stroke. Mutually wound up to the highest pitch of anger, +they grappled each the other's throat, set their feet, and strained +for the throw, which was inevitably to bury both in the wild waves +beneath. A faint shriek was heard, and a gibbering, as of many voices, +came fluttering around them. + +"Chatter on!" said the Fisher, "he joins you now!" + +"Together--it will be together!" said the stranger, as with a last +desperate effort he bent his adversary backward from the betling +cliff. The voice of the Fisher sounded hoarsely in execration, as they +dashed into the sea together; but what he said was drowned in the +hoarser murmur of the uplashing surge! The body of the stranger was +found on the next morning, flung far up on the rocky shore--but that +of the murderer was gone for ever! + +The superstitious peasantry of the neighbourhood still consider the +spot as haunted; and at midnight, when the waves dash fitfully against +the perilous crags, and the bleak winds sweep with long and angry moan +around them, they still hear the gibbering voices of the fiends, and +the mortal execrations of the Warlock Fisher!--but, after that fearful +night, no man ever saw THE PHANTOM HAND!--_Literary Magnet_. + + * * * * * + + + + +ARCANA OF SCIENCE. + +_Elephants_. + + +All the elephants which were exported from Point de Galle were caught +in ancient, as well as in modern times, in that tract of country which +extends from Matura to Tangcolle, in the south of Ceylon, and which, +from its being famous for its elephants in his days, is described by +Ptolemy in the map he made of Ceylon sixteen hundred years ago as the +_elephantum pascua_. The trade in elephants from Ceylon, which used to +be lucrative, is now completely annihilated, in consequence of all the +petty Rajahs, Foligars, and other chiefs in the southern peninsula of +India, who used formerly to purchase Ceylon elephants as a part of +their state, having lost their sovereignties, and being therefore no +longer required to keep up any state of this description. A gentleman +who has a plantation at Candy, it is understood, recently introduced +the use of elephants, in ploughing, with great advantage.--_Trans. +Asiatic Society_. + + * * * * * + + +_The Fennecous Cerdo_. + +[Illustration: Fennecous Cerdo.] + + +This beautiful and extraordinary animal, or at least one of its genus, +was first made known to European naturalists by Bruce, who received it +from his dragoman, whilst consul general at Algiers. It is frequently +met with in the date territories of Africa, where the animals are +hunted for their skins, which are afterwards sold at Mecca, and then +exported to India. Bruce kept his animal alive for several months, and +took a drawing of it in water colours, of the natural size, a copy of +which, on transparent paper, was clandestinely made by his servant. +Mr. Brander, into whose hands the _Fennecus_ fell after Bruce left +Algiers, gave an account of it in "Some Swedish Transactions," but +refused to let the figure be published, the drawing having been +unfairly obtained.[3] Bruce asserts that this animal is described in +many Arabian books, under the name of _El Fennec_, which appellation +he conceives to be derived from the Greek word for a palm or +date-tree. + +The favourite food of Bruce's Fennec was dates or any sweet fruit; but +it was also very fond of eggs; when hungry it would eat bread, +especially with honey or sugar. His attention was immediately +attracted if a bird flew near him, and he would watch it with an +eagerness that could hardly be diverted from its object; but he was +dreadfully afraid of a cat. Bruce never heard that he had any voice. +During the day he was inclined to sleep, but became restless and +exceedingly unquiet as night came on. The above Fennec was about ten +inches long, the tail five inches and a quarter, near an inch of it on +the tip, black. The colour of the body was dirty white, bordering on +cream colour; the hair on the belly rather whiter, softer and longer +than on the rest of the body. His look was sly and wily; he built his +nest on trees, and did not burrow in the earth. + +Naturalists, especially those of France, were long induced to suspect +the truth of Bruce's description of this animal; but a specimen from +the interior of Nubia, and preserved in the museum at Frankfort, has +recently been engraved; and thus the matter nearly settled by the +animal belonging to the genus _Canis_, and the sub genus _Vulpes_; the +number of teeth and form, being precisely the same as the fox, which +it also resembles in its feet, number of toes, and form of tail. + +For the above engraving we are indebted to the Appendix to the +important and interesting Travels of Messrs. Denham and Clapperton. It +is therein described as generally of a white colour, inclining to +straw yellow; above, from the occiput to the insertion of the tail it +is light rufous brown, delicately pencilled with fine black lines, +from thinly scattered hairs tipped with black; the exterior of the +thighs is lighter rufous brown; the chin, throat, belly, and interior +of the thighs and legs are white, or cream colour. The nose is +pointed, and black at the extremity; above, it is covered with very +short, whitish hair inclining to rufous, with a small irregular rufous +spot on each side beneath the eyes; the whiskers are black, rather +short and scanty; the back of the head is pale rufous brown. The ears +are very large, erect, and pointed, and covered externally with short, +pale, rufous brown hair; internally, they are thickly fringed on the +margin with long grayish white hairs, especially in front; the rest of +the ears, internally, is bare; externally, they are folded or plaited +at the base. The tail is very full, cylindrical, of a rufous brown +colour, and pencilled with fine black lines like the back. The fur is +very soft and fine; that on the back, from the back to the insertion +of the tail, as well as that on the upper part of the shoulder before, +and nearly the whole of the hinder thigh, is formed of tri-coloured +hairs, the base of which is of a dark lead colour, the middle white, +and the extremity light rufous brown. + +[Footnote 3: We did not know that such unpleasantries as Chancery +injunctions were part of African law; perhaps sand may not be removed +from the desert "without leave of the trustees," like scrapings from +our roads.] + + +_Fossil Turtle_. + +A beautiful and perfect fossil of the sea turtle has recently been +discovered in an extensive stratum of limestone, four fathoms water, +called the Stone Ridge, about four miles off Harwich harbour. It is +incrusted in a mass of ferruginous limestone, and weighs 180 lbs. + + +_Apples_. + +A gentleman of Staffordshire recommends the preservation of apples for +winter store, packed in banks or hods of earth like potatoes.-- +_Communication to the Horticultural Society_. + + +_Uses of Seals_. + +The benefits which the inhabitants of frigid regions derive from seals, +are far too numerous and diversified to be particularized, as they +supply them with almost all the conveniences of life. We, on the +contrary, so persecute this animal, as to destroy hundreds of thousands +annually, for the sake of the pure and transparent oil with which the +seal abounds; 2ndly, for its tanned skin, which is appropriated to +various purposes by different modes of preparation; and thirdly, we +pursue it for its close and dense attire. In the common seal, the hair +of the adult is of one uniform kind, so thickly arranged and imbued +with oil, as to effectually resist the action of water; while, on the +contrary, in the antarctic seals the hair is of two kinds: the longest, +like that of the northern seals; the other, a delicate, soft fur, +growing between the roots of the former, close to the surface of the +skin, and not seen externally; and this beautiful fur constitutes an +article of very increasing importance in commerce; but not only does the +clothing of the seal vary materially in colour, fineness, and commercial +situation, in the different species, but not less so in the age of the +animal. The young of most kinds are usually of a very light colour, or +entirely white, and are altogether destitute of true hair, having this +substituted by a long and particularly soft fur.--_Quarterly Journal_. + + +_Method of cutting Glass_. + +If a tube, or goblet, or other round glass body is to be cut, a line +is to be marked with a gun flint having a sharp angle, an agate, a +diamond, or a file, exactly on the place where it is to be cut. A long +thread covered with sulphur is then to be passed two or three times +round the circular line, and to be inflamed and burnt; when the glass +is well heated some drops of cold water are to be thrown on it, when +the piece will separate in an exact manner, as if cut with scissors. +It is by this means that glasses are cut circularly into thin bands, +which may either be separated from, or repose upon each other, at +pleasure, in the manner of a spring---_From the French_. + + +_Preservation of Skins_. + +A tanner at Tyman, in Hungary, uses with great advantage the +pyroligueous acid, in preserving skins from putrefaction, and in +recovering them when attacked. They are deprived of none of their +useful qualities if covered by means of a brush with the acid, which +they absorb very readily.--_Quarterly Journal_. + + +_Organic Remains in Sussex_. + +A short time since, the entire skeleton of a stag, of very large size, +was dug up by some labourers, in excavating the bed of the river Ouse, +near Lewes, in Sussex. The remains were found imbedded in a layer of +sand, beneath the alluvial blue clay, forming the surface of the +valley. The horns were in the highest state of preservation, and had +seven points, like the American deer. The greater part of the skeleton +was destroyed by the carelessness of the workmen; but a portion, +including the horns, has been preserved in the collection of Mr. +Mantell, near Lewes. + + +_Stupendous Lizard_. + +Mr. Bullock, in his Travels, (just published) relates that he saw near +New Orleans, "what are believed to be the remains of a stupendous +crocodile, and which are likely to prove so, intimating the former +existence of a lizard at least 150 feet long; for I measured the right +side of the under jaw, which I found to be 21 feet along the curve; +and 4 feet 6 inches wide: the others consisted of numerous vertebrae, +ribs, femoral bones, and toes, all corresponding in size to the jaw; +there were also some teeth: these, however, were not of proportionate +magnitude. These remains were discovered, a short time since, in the +swamp, near Fort Philip; and the other parts of the mighty skeleton, +are, it is said, in the same part of the swamp." + + +_Digby's Philosophy_. + +Sir Kenelm Digby was a mere quack; but he was the son of an earl, and +related to many noble families. His book on the supposed sympathetic +powder, which cured wounds at any distance from the sufferer, is the +standard of his abilities. This powder was Roman vitriol pounded. From +this wild work, we, however learn, that the English routine of +agriculture in his time was--1st. year, barley; 2nd. wheat; 3rd. +beans; 4th. fallow.--_Pinkerton_. + + +_Critics_. + +Thought, comprising its enumerated constituents and detailed process, +is the most perfect and exalted elaboration of the human mind, and +when protracted is a painful exertion; indeed, the greater portion of +our species reluctantly submit to the toil and lassitude of +reflection; but from laziness, or incapacity, and perhaps in some +instances from diffidence, they suffer themselves to be directed by +the opinions of others. Hence has arisen the swarm of critics and +reviewers, those clouds that obscure the fair light that would beam on +the mind of man, by his individual reflection, and through his +existence degrade him, by a submission to assumed authority;--a +voluntary blindness, that excludes him from the observation of nature, +and through indolence and credulity render his noblest faculties +feeble, assenting, and lethargic; and delude him to barter the +inheritance of his intellect for a mess of pottage.--_Dr. +Haslam.--Lancet_. + + * * * * * + + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + * * * * * + + +MUNCHAUSEN RIDE THROUGH EDINBURGH. + + +We were sitting rather negligently on an infernal animal, which, up to +that day, had seemed quiet as a lamb--kissing our hand to Mrs. +Davison, then Miss Duncan, and in the blaze of her fame, when a +Highland regiment, no doubt the forty-second, that had been trudging +down the Mound, so silently that we never heard them, all at once, and +without the slightest warning, burst out, with all their bag-pipes, +into one pibroch! The mare--to do her justice--had been bred in +England, and ridden, as a charger, by an adjutant to an English +regiment. She was even fond of music--and delighted to prance behind +the band--unterrified by cymbals or great drum. She never moved in a +roar of artillery at reviews--and, had the Castle of Edinburgh--Lord +bless it--been self-involved, at that moment, in a storm of thunder +and lightning, round its entire circle of cannon, that mare would not +so much as have pricked up her ears, whisked her tail, or lifted +a hoof. But the pibroch was more than horse-flesh and blood could +endure--and off we two went like a whirlwind. Where we went--that is +to say, what were the names of the few first streets along which +we were borne, is a question which, as a man of veracity, we must +positively decline answering. For some short space of time, lines of +houses reeled by without a single face at the windows--and these, +we have since conjectured, might be North and South Hanover street, +and Queen-street. By and by we surely were in something like a +square--could it be Charlotte-square?--and round and round it we +flew--three, four, five, or six times, as horsemen do at the +Caledonian amphitheatre--for the animal had got blind with terror, and +kept viciously reasoning in a circle. What a show of faces at all the +windows then! A shriek still accompanied us as we clattered, and +thundered, and lightened along; and, unless our ears lied, there were +occasional fits of stifled laughter, and once or twice a guffaw; for +there was now a ringing of lost stirrups--and much holding of the +mane. One complete round was executed by us, first on the shoulder +beyond the pommel; secondly, on the neck; thirdly, between the ears; +fourthly, between the forelegs, in a place called the counter, with +our arms round the jugular veins of the flying phenomenon, and our +toes in the air. That was, indeed, the crisis of our fever, but we +made a wonderful recovery back into the saddle--righting like a boat +capsized in a sudden squall at sea--and once more, with accelerated +speed, away past the pillared front of St. George's church! + +The castle and all its rocks, in peristrephic panorama, then floated +cloud-like by--and we saw the whole mile-length of Prince's-street +stretched before us, studded with innumerable coaches, chaises, +chariots, carts, wagons, drays, gigs, shandrydans, and wheel-barrows, +through among which we dashed, as if they had been as much +gingerbread--while men on horseback were seen flinging themselves off, +and drivers dismounting in all directions, making their escape up +flights of steps and common stairs--mothers or nurses with broods of +young children flying hither and thither in distraction, or standing +on the very crown of the causeway, wringing their hands in despair. +The wheel-barrows were easily disposed of--nor was there much greater +difficulty with the gigs and shandrydans. But the hackney-coaches +stood confoundedly in the way--and a wagon, drawn by four horses, and +heaped up to the very sky with beer-barrels, like the Tower of Babel +or Babylon, did indeed give us pause--but ere we had leisure to +ruminate on the shortness of human life, we broke through between the +leaders and the wheels with a crash of leathern breeching, dismounted +collars, riven harness, and tumbling of enormous horses that was +perilous to hear; when, as Sin and Satan would have it--would you +believe it?--there, twenty kilts deep at the least, was the same +accursed Highland regiment, the forty-second, with fixed bayonets, and +all its pipers in the van, the pibroch yelling, squeaking, squealing, +grunting, growling, roaring, as if it had only that very instant +broken out--so, suddenly to the right--about went the bag-pipe-haunted +mare, and away up the Mound, past the pictures of Irish Giants--Female +Dwarfs--Albinos--an Elephant endorsed with towers--Tigers and Lions of +all sorts--and a large wooden building, like a pyramid, in which there +was the thundering of cannon--for the battle, we rather think, of +Camperdown was going on--the Bank of Scotland seemed to sink into +the NorLoch--one gleam through the window of the eyes of the +Director-General--and to be sure how we did make the street-stalls of +the Lawn-market spin! The man in St. Giles's steeple was playing his +one o'clock tune on the bells, heedless in that elevation of our +career--in less than no time John Knox, preaching from a house +half-way down the Canongate, gave us the go-by--and down through one +long wide sprawl of men, women, and children we wheeled past the +Gothic front, and round the south angle of Holyrood, and across the +King's-park, where wan and withered sporting debtors held up their +hands and cried, Hurra--hurra--hurra--without stop or stay, up the +rocky way that leads to St. Anthony's Well and Chapel--and now it was +manifest that we were bound for the summit of Arthur's Seat. We hope +that we were sufficiently thankful that a direction was not taken +towards Salisbury Crags, where we should have been dashed into many +million pieces. Free now from even the slightest suburban impediment, +obstacle, or interruption, we began to eye our gradually rising +situation in life--and looking over our shoulder, the sight of city +and sea was indeed magnificent. There in the distance rose North +Berwick Law--but though we have plenty of time now for description, we +had scant time then for beholding perhaps the noblest scenery in +Scotland. Up with us--up with us into the clouds--and just as St. +Giles's bells ceased to jingle, and both girths broke, we crowned the +summit, and sat on horseback like king Arthur himself, eight hundred +feet above the level of the sea! + +_Blackwood's Magazine_. + + * * * * * + + + + +Select Biography + + * * * * * + + +No. LVIII. + + * * * * * + +LELAND. + + +John Leland, the father of the English antiquaries, was born in +London, about the end of the reign of Henry VII. He was a pupil to +William Lily, the celebrated grammarian--the first head master of St. +Paul's school; and by the kindness and liberality of a Mr. Myles, he +was sent to Christ's college. Cambridge. From this university he +removed to All Souls, Oxford, where he paid particular attention to +the Greek language. He afterwards went to Paris, where he cultivated +the acquaintance of the principal scholars of the age, and could +probably number among his correspondents the illustrious names of +Buddoeus, Erasmus, the Stephani, Faber, and Turnebus; in this city he +perfected himself in the knowledge of the Latin and Greek tongues, +to which he afterwards added that of several modern languages. On +his return to England he took orders, and was appointed one of the +chaplains to Henry VIII., who gave him the rectory of Popelay, in the +marshes of Calais, appointed him his library keeper, and conferred +on him the title of Royal Antiquary, which no other person in this +kingdom, before, or after possessed. In this character his majesty +in 1533 granted him a commission, empowering him to search after +England's antiquities, and peruse the libraries of all cathedrals, +abbeys, priories, colleges, &c., as also all the places wherein +records, writings, and whatever else was lodged that related to +antiquity. "Before Leland's time," says Hearne, in his preface to the +_Itinerary_, "all the literary monuments of antiquity were totally +disregarded; and the students of Germany apprised of this culpable +indifference, were suffered to enter our libraries unmolested, and to +cut out of the books deposited there whatever passages they thought +proper, which they afterwards published as relics of the ancient +literature of their own country." + +In this research Leland was occupied above six years in travelling +through England, and in visiting all the remains of ancient buildings +and monuments of every kind. On its completion, he hastened to the +metropolis, to lay at the feet of his sovereign the result of his +labours, which he presented to Henry, under the title of a "New Year's +Gift,"[4] in which he says, "I have so traviled yn your dominions +booth by the se costes and the midle partes, sparing nother labor nor +costes, by the space of these vi. yeres paste, that there is almoste +nother cape, nor bay, haven, creke or peers, river or confluence of +rivers, breches, watchies, lakes, meres, fenny waters, montagnes, +valleis, mores, hethes, forestes, chases wooddes, cities, burges, +castelles, principale manor placis, monasteries, and colleges, but I +have seene them; and notid yn so doing a hole worlde of thinges very +memorable." + +At the dissolution of the monasteries, Leland made application to +Secretary Cromwell, to entreat his assistance in getting the MSS. they +contained sent to the king's library. In 1542 Henry presented him with +the valuable rectory of Hasely, in Oxfordshire; the year following he +preferred him to a canonry of King's college, now Christchurch, +Oxford, and about the same time collated him to a prebend in the +church of Sarum. As his duties in the church did not require much +active service, he retired with his collections to his house in +London, where he sat about digesting them, and preparing the +publication he had promised to the world; but either his intense +application, or some other cause, brought upon him a total derangement +of mind, and after lingering two years in this state, he died on the +18th of April, 1552. + +The writings of Leland are numerous; in his lifetime he published +several Latin and Greek poems, and some tracts on antiquarian +subjects. His valuable and voluminous MSS., after passing through many +hands, came into the Bodleian library, furnishing very valuable +materials to Stow, Lambard, Camden, Burton, Dugdale, and many other +antiquaries and historians. Polydore Virgil, who had stolen from them +pretty freely, had the insolence to abuse Leland's memory--calling him +"a vain glorious man." From these collections Hall published, in 1709, +"Commentarii de Scriptoribus Brittanicis." "The Itinerary of John +Leland, Antiquary," was published by the celebrated Hearne, at Oxford, +in nine volumes, 8vo., 1710, of which a second edition was printed in +1745, with considerable improvements and additions. The same editor +published "Joannis Lelandi Antiquarii de Rebus Brittanicis +Collectanea." in six volumes, Oxon. 1716, 8vo. + +BIOS. + +[Footnote 4: This was published by Bale in 1549, 8vo.] + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_. + + * * * * * + + +CORAL ISLANDS. + +[In a recent Number of the MIRROR we quoted from Mr. Montgomery's +_Pelican Island_ a beautiful description of the formation of coral +reefs or rocks; and we are now induced to resume our extracts from +this soul stirring poem, with the following description of the process +by which these reefs or rocks become beautiful and picturesque +islands. Mr. Montgomery's poetical talent is altogether of the highest +order, or, to use a familiar phrase, his _Pelican Island_ is "a gem of +the first water." How exquisite is the following picture of creation!] + + + Here was the infancy of life, the age + Of gold in that green isle, itself new-born, + And all upon it in the prime of being, + Love, hope, and promise, 'twas in miniature + A world unsoil'd by sin; a Paradise + Where Death had not yet enter'd; Bliss had newly + Alighted, and shut close his rainbow wings, + To rest at ease, nor dread intruding ill. + Plants of superior growth now sprang apace, + With moon-like blossoms crown'd, or starry glories; + Light flexible shrubs among the greenwood play'd + Fantastic freaks,--they crept, they climb'd, they budded, + And hung their flowers and berries in the sun; + As the breeze taught, they danced, they sung, they twined + Their sprays in bowers, or spread the ground with net-work. + Through the slow lapse of undivided time, + Silently rising from their buried germs, + Trees lifted to the skies their stately heads, + Tufted with verdure, like depending plumage, + O'er stems unknotted, waving to the wind: + Of these in graceful form, and simple beauty, + The fruitful cocoa and the fragrant palm + Excell'd the wilding daughters of the wood, + That stretch'd unwieldy their enormous arms, + Clad with luxuriant foliage, from the trunk, + Like the old eagle, feather'd to the heel; + While every fibre, from the lowest root + To the last leaf upon the topmost twig, + Was held by common sympathy, diffusing + Through all the complex frame unconscious life. + Such was the locust with its hydra boughs, + A hundred heads on one stupendous trunk; + And such the mangrove, which, at full-moon flood, + Appear'd itself a wood upon the waters, + But when the tide left bare its upright roots, + A wood on piles suspended in the air; + Such too the Indian fig, that built itself + Into a sylvan temple, arch'd aloof + With airy aisles and living colonnades, + Where nations might have worshipp'd God in peace. + From year to year their fruits ungather'd fell; + Not lost, but quickening where they lay, they struck + Root downward, and brake forth on every hand, + Till the strong saplings, rank and file, stood up, + A mighty army, which o'erran the isle, + And changed the wilderness into a forest. + All this appear'd accomplish'd in the space + Between the morning and the evening star: + So, in his third day's work, Jehovah spake, + And Earth, an infant, naked as she came + Out of the womb of chaos, straight put on + Her beautiful attire, and deck'd her robe + Of verdure with ten thousand glorious flowers, + Exhaling incense; crown'd her mountain-heads + With cedars, train'd her vines around their girdles, + And pour'd spontaneous harvests at their feet. + Nor were those woods without inhabitants + Besides the ephemera of earth and air; + --Where glid the sunbeams through the latticed boughs, + And fell like dew-drops on the spangled ground, + To light the diamond-beetle on his way; + --Where cheerful openings let the sky look down + Into the very heart of solitude, + On little garden-pots of social flowers, + That crowded from the shades to peep at daylight; + --Or where unpermeable foliage made + Midnight at noon, and chill, damp horror reign'd + O'er dead, fall'n leaves and slimy funguses; + --Reptiles were quicken'd into various birth. + Loathsome, unsightly, swoln to obscene bulk, + Lurk'd the dark toad beneath the infected turf; + The slow-worm crawl'd, the light cameleon climb'd, + And changed his colour as his pace he changed; + The nimble lizard ran from bough to bough, + Glancing through light, in shadow disappearing; + The scorpion, many-eyed, with sting of fire, + Bred there,--the legion-fiend of creeping things; + Terribly beautiful, the serpent lay, + Wreath'd like a coronet of gold and jewels, + Fit for a tyrant's brow; anon he flew + Straight as an arrow shot from his own rings, + And struck his victim, shrieking ere it went + Down his strain'd throat, that open sepulchre. + Amphibious monsters haunted the lagoon; + The hippopotamus, amidst the flood, + Flexile and active as the smallest swimmer; + But on the bank, ill balanced and infirm, + He grazed the herbage, with huge, head declined, + Or lean'd to rest against some ancient tree. + The crocodile, the dragon of the waters, + In iron panoply, fell as the plague, + And merciless as famine, cranch'd his prey, + While, from his jaws, with dreadful fangs all serried, + The life-blood dyed the waves with deadly streams. + The seal and the sea-lion, from the gulf + Came forth, and couching with their little ones. + Slept on the shelving rocks that girt the shores, + Securing prompt retreat from sudden danger; + The pregnant turtle, stealing out at eve, + With anxious eye, and trembling heart, explored + The loneliest coves, and in the loose warm sand + Deposited her eggs, which the sun hatch'd: + Hence the young brood, that never knew a parent, + Unburrow'd and by instinct sought the sea; + Nature herself, with her own gentle hand, + Dropping them one by one into the flood, + And laughing to behold their antic joy, + When launch'd in their maternal element. + The vision of that brooding world went on; + Millions of beings yet more admirable + Than all that went before them now appear'd; + Flocking from every point of heaven, and filling + Eye, ear, and mind, with objects, sounds, emotions + Akin to livelier sympathy and love + Than reptiles, fishes, insects, could inspire; + --Birds, the free tenants of land, air, and ocean, + Their forms all symmetry, their motions grace; + In plumage delicate and beautiful, + Thick without burthen, close as fishes' scales, + Or loose as full-blown poppies to the breeze; + With wings that might have had a soul within them, + They bore their owners by such sweet enchantment; + --Birds, small and great, of endless shapes and colours, + Here flew and perch'd, there swam and dived at pleasure; + Watchful and agile, uttering voices wild + And harsh, yet in accordance with the waves + Upon the beech, the winds in caverns moaning, + Or winds and waves abroad upon the water. + Some sought their food among the finny shoals, + Swift darting from the clouds, emerging soon + With slender captives glittering in their beaks; + These in recesses of steep crags constructed + Their eyries inaccessible, and train'd + Their hardy broods to forage in all weathers; + Others, more gorgeously apparell'd, dwelt + Among the woods, on Nature's dainties feeding, + Herbs, seeds, and roots; or, ever on the wing, + Pursuing insects through the boundless air: + In hollow trees or thickets these conceal'd + Their exquisitely woven nests; where lay + Their callow offspring, quiet as the down + On their own breasts, till from her search the dam + With laden bill return'd, and shared the meal + Among the clamorous suppliants, all agape; + Then, cowering o'er them with expanded wings, + She felt how sweet it is to be a mother. + Of these, a few, with melody untaught, + Turn'd all the air to music within hearing, + Themselves unseen; while bolder quiristers + On loftier branches strain'd their clarion-pipes, + And made the forest echo to their screams + Discordant,--yet there was no discord there, + But temper'd harmony: all tones combining, + In the rich confluence often thousand tongues, + To tell of joy and to inspire it. Who + Could hear such concert, and not join in chorus? + Not I;--sometimes entranced, I seem'd to float + Upon a buoyant sea of sounds: again + With curious ear I tried to disentangle + The maze of voices, and with eye as nice + To single out each minstrel, and pursue + His little song through all its labyrinth, + Till my soul enter'd into him, and felt + Every vibration of his thrilling throat, + Pulse of his heart, and flutter of his pinions. + Often, as one among the multitude, + I sang from very fulness of delight; + Now like a winged fisher of the sea, + Now a recluse among the woods,--enjoying + The bliss of all at once, or each in turn. + + * * * * * + + +RAPIDS OF NIAGARA. + + +The Rapids begin about half a mile above the cataract; and although +the breadth of the river might at first make them appear of little +importance, a nearer inspection will convince the stranger of their +actual size, and the terrific danger of the passage. The inhabitants +of the neighbourhood regard it as certain death to get once involved +in them; and that, not merely because all escape from the cataract +would be hopeless, but because the violent force of the water among +the rocks in the channel, would instantly dash the bones of a man in +pieces. Instances are on record of persons being carried down by the +stream; indeed there was an instance of two men carried over in March +last; but no one is known to have ever survived. Indeed, it is very +rare that the bodies are found; as the depth of the gulf below the +cataract, and the tumultuous agitation of the eddies, whirlpools, and +counter currents, render it difficult for any thing once sunk to rise +again; while the general course of the water is so rapid, that it is +soon hurried far down the stream. The large logs which are brought +down in great numbers during the spring, bear sufficient testimony to +these remarks. Wild ducks, geese, &c. are frequently precipitated over +the cataract, and generally re-appear either dead, or with their legs +or wings broken. Some say that water-fowl avoid the place when able to +escape, but that the ice on the shores of the river above often +prevents them from obtaining food, and that they are carried down from +mere inability to fly; while others assert that, they are sometimes +seen voluntarily riding among the rapids, and, after descending +half-way down the cataract, taking wing, and returning to repeat their +dangerous amusement.--_American Work_. + + * * * * * + + +BRIDAL, CANZONET. + + + Sir Knight, heed not the clarion's call, + From hill, or from valley, or turretted hall; + Cease, holy Friar, cease for awhile + The anthem that swells through the fretted aisle; + Forester bold, to the bugle's sound + Listen no longer, though gaily wound, + But haste to the bridal, haste away, + Where love's rebeck is tuned to a sweeter lay. + + Sir Knight, Sir Knight, no longer twine + The laurel-leaf o'er that bold brow of thine; + Friar, to-day from thy temples tear + The ivy garland that sages wear; + To-day, bold Forester, cast aside + Thy oak-leaf crown, the woodland's pride, + And bind round your brows the myrtle gay, + While the rebeck resounds love's sweetest lays. + + Sir Knight, urge not now the gallant steed + O'er the plains that to honour and glory lead; + Friar, forget thy order's vow, + And pace not the gloomy cloisters now. + Chase no longer with bow and with spear, + Forester bold, the dappled deer, + But tread me a measure as light and gay + As ever kept lime to the rebeck's lay. + +_Neele's Romance of History_. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER + +"I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's stuff."--_Walton_. + + * * * * * + + +TRAVELLING. + + +Sterne pitied the man who could travel from Dan to Beersheba, and say +all "was barren:" however delighted travellers or tourists may be on +their journey, it is surprising how few details are preserved in their +memory. This occasioned Dr. Johnson to remark, in his "Tour to the +Hebrides," how much the lapse even "of a few hours takes from the +certainty of knowledge, and the distinctness of imagery;" and that +"those who trust to memory what cannot be safely trusted but to the +eye, must tell by guess, what a few hours before they had known with +certainty." We were never more convinced of the importance of these +observations than after our first visit to the dock-yard, at +Portsmouth. In collating some little memoranda made on the spot, we +referred to our party, (_seven_ in number) on our return to the inn, +for the _extent_ of the dock-yard: not one of them could give a +correct answer, though all had just heard it detailed and explained +with accuracy. Dr. Kitchener may well recommend tourists to walk about +with note-books in their hands! and such inadvertence as the preceding +almost warrants the oddity of his suggestion. + + * * * * * + + +MOTTOES FOR DECANTER LABELS. + + +Arridet PORTus? subeat non causa doloris. + +SumebatiS HERI? non dolor est hodie. + +Hic liquor est molLIS BONus, aptus ad omnia laeta. + +Oppida ne CALCA VALLAta ad praelia, quoerens, Sisonitum capias ecce tibi +est Volupe. + +Dum lucet CLARE Te magis iste trahat. + +_Literary Gazette_. + + * * * * * + + +MALARIA. + + +Dr. Gregory, father of the late celebrated professor in Edinburgh, +when a student in a part of Germany where _malaria_ prevailed, from +being a philosopher and living low, _drinking only water_, was seized +with intermittent fever, when his jolly companions, who ate and drank +freely, escaped. If brandy or other stimulants are taken previous to +exposure to malaria, intermittent fever is generally prevented. Such +are the opinions of the doctor, and if Dr. Macculloch be right, we +suggest the establishment of a brandy vault at each angle of the +parks, that every passenger may prepare himself. + + * * * * * + + +LORD HOWE + + +When the late Lord Howe was a captain, a lieutenant, not remarkable +for courage or presence of mind in dangers (common fame had brought +some imputation upon his character) ran to the great cabin and +informed his commander that the ship was on fire near the gun-room. +Soon after this he returned exclaiming, "You need not be afraid as the +fire is extinguished." "_Afraid!_" replied Captain H. a little +nettled, "how does a man _feel_, Sir, when he is afraid? I need not +ask how he _looks_." + + * * * * * + + +BACKGAMMON BOARDS. + + +We frequently find backgammon boards with backs lettered as if they +were two folio volumes. The origin of it was thus; Eudes, bishop of +Sully, forbade his clergy to play at chess. As they were resolved not +to obey the commandment, and yet dared not have a chess-board seen in +their houses or cloisters, they had them bound and lettered as books, +and played at night, before they went to bed, instead of reading the +New Testament or the Lives of the Saints; and the monks called the +draft or chess-board their _wooden gospels_. They had also drinking +vessels bound to resemble the breviary, and were found drinking, when +it was supposed they were at prayer.--_Literary Gazette_. + + * * * * * + + +LOVE OF THE COUNTRY. + + +Country people will tell you that they like the country, and detest +the town, although their enjoyments are of a kind which may be +obtained in far greater perfection in the latter than in the former. +The only person I ever knew who was honest in this respect, was a +gentleman, the possessor of a beautiful seat, in a beautiful country, +when he avowed his opinion, that there was "no garden like +Covent-garden, and no flower like a cauliflower." + +C.L. + + * * * * * + + +The _Morning Chronicle_, Nov. 20, in noticing the funeral of the late +Mr. Sale, says, "At a little after three o'clock, the body of the +lamented gentleman entered the church." + + * * * * * + + +LIMBIRD'S EDITION OF THE BRITISH NOVELIST, Publishing in Monthly +Parts, price 6d. each.--Each Novel will be complete in itself, and may +be purchased separately. + +_The following Novels are already Published:_ + + s. d. + +Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield 0 10 +The Mysteries of Udolpho 3 6 +Mackenzie's Man of Feeling 0 6 +Rasselas 0 8 +Paul and Virginia 0 6 +The Old English Baron 0 8 +The Castle of Otranto 0 8 +The Romance of the Forest 1 8 +Almoran and Hamet 0 6 +Elizabeth, or the Exiles of Siberia 0 6 +Nature and Art 0 8 +The Italian 2 0 +A Simple Story 1 4 +The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne 0 6 +Sicilian Romance 1 0 +The Man of the World 1 0 +Zelaco, by Dr. Moore 2 0 +Joseph Andrews 1 6 +Humphry Clinker 1 8 +Edward, by Dr. Moore 2 6 + + * * * * * + +_Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, London, and Sold by all +Booksellers and Newsmen_. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11412 *** |