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diff --git a/old/11460.txt b/old/11460.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7334f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11460.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1873 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction + Volume 14, No. 406, Saturday, December 26, 1829. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 5, 2004 [EBook #11460] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 406 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Andy Jewell, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XIV, NO. 406.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1829. [PRICE 2d. + + + + +VIRGIL'S TOMB. + + +[Illustration: Virgil's Tomb.] + + +This consecrated relic of genius stands on the hill of Posilipo, in the +environs of Naples. Its recent state is so beautifully described by +Eustace, that we shall not, like gipsys do stolen children, disfigure it +to prevent recognition. + +Proceeding westward along the Chiaia and keeping towards the beach, says +Eustace, we came to the quarter called Mergyllina. To ascend the hill of +Posilipo we turned to the right, and followed a street winding as a +staircase up the steep, and terminating at a garden gate. Having +entered, we pursued a path through a vineyard and descending a little, +came to a small square building, flat-roofed, placed on a sort of +platform on the brow of a precipice on one side, and on the other +sheltered by a super-incumbent rock. An aged ilex, spreading from the +sides of the rock, and bending over the edifice, covers the roof with +its ever verdant foliage. Numberless shrubs spring around, and +interwoven with ivy clothe the walls and hang in festoons over the +precipice. The edifice before us was an ancient tomb--the tomb of +VIRGIL! We entered; a vaulted cell and two modern windows alone +presented themselves to view: the poet's name is the only ornament of +the place. No sarcophagus, no urn, and even no inscription to feed the +devotion of the classical pilgrim. The epitaph which though not genuine +is yet ancient, was inscribed by the order of the Duke of Pescolangiano, +then proprietor of the place, on a marble slab placed in the side of the +rock opposite the entrance of the tomb, where it still remains. Every +body is acquainted with it-- + + + Mantua me genuit, Calabri rapuere, tenet nunc Parthenope, cecini + pascua, rura, duces. + + +But there are authors who venture to assert, that the tomb of which we +are now speaking, is not the sepulchre of Virgil. Of this number are the +classic Addison and the laborious and accurate Cluverius. The authority +of two such eminent persons, without doubt, carries great weight with +it, but that weight is upon this occasion considerably lessened by the +weakness of the arguments on which their opinion is grounded. These +arguments may be found in Cluverius, and Addison merely expresses his +opinion without entering into any discussion. They are drawn from a few +verses of Statius. + +In opposition to these arguments, or rather conjectures founded upon the +vague expressions of a single poet (a poet often censured for his +obscurity), we have the constant and uninterrupted tradition of the +country supported by the authority of a numerous host of learned and +ingenious antiquaries; and upon such grounds we may still continue to +cherish the conviction, that we have visited the tomb of Virgil, and +hailed his sacred shade on the spot where his ashes long reposed. + +The laurel which was once said to have sprung up at its base, and +covered it with its luxuriant branches, now flourishes only in the +verses of youthful bards, or in the descriptions of early travellers; +myrtle, ivy and ilex, all plants equally agreeable to the genius of the +place, and the subjects of the poet, now perform the office of the +long-withered bays, and encircle the tomb with verdure and perfume. + +The sepulchre of Virgil, it may be imagined, must have long remained an +object of interest and veneration, especially as his works had excited +universal admiration even in his life-time, and were very soon after his +death put into the hands of children, and made a part of the rudiments +of early education. Yet Martial declares that it had been neglected in +his time, and that Silius Italicus alone restored its long forgotten +honours. + +The reader will learn with regret that Virgil's tomb, consecrated as it +ought to be to genius and meditation, is sometimes converted into the +retreat of assassins, or the lurking place of Sbirri. Such at least it +was the last time we visited it, when wandering that way about sun-set +we found it filled with armed men. We were surprised on both sides, and +on ours not very agreeably at the unexpected rencounter; so lonely the +place and so threatening the aspects of these strangers. Their manners +however were courteous; and on inquiry we were informed that they were +Sbirri, and then lying in wait for a murderer, who was supposed to +make that spot his nightly asylum. It would be unjust to accuse the +Neapolitans of culpable indifference towards this or any other monument +of antiquity; but it is incumbent on the proprietor or the public, to +secure them against such profanation. On the whole, few places are in +themselves more picturesque, and from the recollection inseparably +interwoven with it, no spot is more interesting than the tomb of Virgil. + + * * * * * + + +LAST CHRISTMAS DAY. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + "Say, if such blandishments did ever greet + Thy charmed soul; hast thou not crav'd to die? + Hast not thine immaterial seem'd but air + Verging to sigh itself from thee, and share + Beatitude? hast thou not watch'd thy breath + In meek, faint hope, that soon 'twould sink in death?" + +_MS. Poem._ + + +Last Christmas Day! my heart leaps with joy at its very memory; it was a +mental _Noel_, a Christmas of the soul, (if I may thus express myself.) +That which I am about to relate of it is strictly true, and I do relate +it because that day is one of the very few in our brief existence which +form a moral epoch in, and influence subsequent, life. Last Christmas +Day, I well remember, my spirit revelled in an Eden blessedness--a bliss +which the unholy world did not, could not, give, and consequently could +not take away. Reader! I will hope, I will believe, that thou hast +experienced feelings and emotions, like those high and holy ones of +which I would endeavour now to preserve a faint transcript. Come then, +let us unite our ideas, let us speak together, but let us yet mention as +present, those beatific thoughts and imaginings which are indeed past. +Let us ever remember and cherish in our heart of hearts those golden +fore-tastes of future eternity, or (according to Platonism) those +rapturous reminiscences of past, which prove beyond logical +demonstration, the existence of some vital principle in man, godlike in +faculties, in essence immaterial, in duration, immortal! It is Christmas +Day, a deep, unearthly calm possesses our minds; all passions are +slumbering, save the beautiful and holy ones of adoring love, mingled +with overwhelming gratitude towards our maker, and philanthropic love, +universal benevolence, to man. It is winter, but one of those delicious +days in which closing our eyes, so that we behold not sad hosts of bare +stems and branches, we may well deem that summer reigns! And a summer +indeed reigns in our bosoms! Now nature seems new and fascinating, as it +did to Adam when he wakened into life. Now, as for the first time, we +discern with unspeakable emotions, that divine affection as well as +unlimited power, which actuates and supports creation. Now we comprehend +that the universe was designed to minister happiness to myriads of +intelligent beings; but that man, by sin, frustrates the gracious +intent, and produces misery. Now the glorious golden sun seems in its +gladdening lustre, like a smile from its creator; a smile beaming +ineffable love, and joy, and peace. Now the sky, the pale, delicate, +sapphire sky, the soft, tender, inviting, enfolding, and immeasurable +sky, appears to image the mercy of its maker. Let us yet gaze upon the +sky, for it also admonishes us of other delightful things; it is +silent--it is awful--it is holy; but its silence is beautiful, and with +wordless eloquence it speaks unto our enraptured bosoms of deep, +eternal, unimaginable repose! it infuses into our breasts undefinable +ideas and sensations; it appears to our enchanted imaginations an emblem +meet of the grand dream of eternity, and our spirits seem on the verge +of quitting earth, in thrilling contemplations on the islands of that +infinite abyss, and their immortal inhabitants! We gaze in hope, +adoration, and rapture on the blue expanse, varied by delicate vapours, +sailing calmly, wondrously through it; and then occur to our memories +spontaneously, the exquisite lines translated from a _morceau_, by +Gluck, (a German poet;) and our hearts respond as each of us sighs: + + + "There's peace and welcome in yon sea + Of endless blue tranquillity. + Those clouds are living things! + I trace their veins of liquid gold, + I see them solemnly unfold + Their soft and fleecy wings! + + These be the angels that convey + Us weary children of a day + Life's tedious nothing o'er, + Where neither passions come, nor woes + To vex the genius of repose + On death's majestic shore!" + + +Then do our delighted eyes wander downward; then doth earth appear a +glorious, though but a temporary palace, the gift of a gracious God to +man! then do we feel an unaccountable assurance that angels visit the +beautiful domain; then that (though viewlessly) they rejoice with, they +sorrow for, (if angels can sorrow) and they minister unto "the heirs of +salvation," as they did in the days of old, and as they will do, to the +end of time. Were we not assured of this blessed fact in the book of +books, reason would assert, that for a thankless, graceless generation +alone, earth should not have been formed so divinely fair; but it is +heavenly, that the immortal servitors of man may even here find records +of the divinity, and themes for undying thanksgiving. Are we indeed +visited, watched, and ministered unto, by beatific essences? Oh, reason +and revelation, both loudly proclaim the fact; those beneficent beings +may be with us then, when we deem ourselves alone; they may be our +society in the solitude of our chambers; they may pass us in the breeze, +and they may wander beside us in our loneliest walks. Such meditations +are calculated to inspire our bosoms with new life; to brighten all +nature around us, and to unite us to the invisible world by ties, of the +existence of which we were never previously sensible; ties, at once so +sweet and so sacred, that we almost crave the blessing of death, in +order more surely to strengthen them! Then doth the beauty of "the vale +of tears" confound us; then doth it infuse into our bosoms such +unalterable fore-tastes; such mysterious and undefinable sensations of +the blessedness of "the isles of joy," that our very souls seem to have +become but one prayer, one fervent, wordless, agonizing prayer, for +divine repose, and unimaginable blessedness; and then doth the mere +suggestion of final reprobation amount to insufferable torture! Oh, that +such heavenly imaginings, such divine intimations of a transcendent +futurity, were more frequently vouchsafed to us, and were less +evanescent. They are glimpses of everlasting day, shining on wanderers +in "the valley of the shadow of death;" they are droppings from the +overflowing and ineffable cup of mercy; they are presciences of +eternity, inestimable, unutterable! and the pen that would describe +indescribable perceptions, droops in shame and sorrow at its own +imbecility. Such perceptions have visited, do visit us, on this most +rapturous of Christmas Days? Is it not a golden day? does it not remove +us for a little space from earth, into the society of the holiest +sentient beings, and to the beauty of a celestial, surpassing, world? +Does it not bestow on our souls their long-lost ethereal wings? and do +not the delighted strangers soar for a little while above the grossest +realms of matter? Alas! even but for a little while; now do they drop, +for now flag and droop those angelic pinions which are too humid and +heavy with that atmosphere, from whence they could not wholly disengage +themselves; the golden harps of heaven murmur in their entranced ears no +longer; the smiles of the Sons of Peace fade from their enchanted sight; +and the clouds of this nether world retain from their enamoured gaze, +the treasures of infinity! + +Perhaps we have enjoyed a very enthusiastic, a very poetical, Christmas +Day! we pretend not to deny it, though steadfastly believing it was +neither an anti-Christian, nor an utterly unprofitable one; nay, we even +venture to hope, that the beatitude of spirit just feebly portrayed was +not unpleasing in His sight, unto whom, for His gift of immortal life, +we upon Christmas Day render our peculiar thanksgivings! + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + +THE FALL OF ZARAGOZA. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Awake, awake, the trumpet hath sung its lay to the sunny sky, + And the glorious shout from Spanish lips gives forth its wild reply. + Awake, awake, how the chargers foam, as to battle they dash on, + Oh, Zaragoza, on this proud day, must thy walls be lost or won! + + His hand--the hand of the youthful chief was on his flashing sword, + And his plume gleam'd white thro' the smoke and flame o'er the lofty + city pour'd-- + And the banners around him darkly swept like the waves of a stormy sea, + But Zaragoza, amid this strife, his heart was firm to thee. + + "Away, away, tread her walls to dust!"--the Gallic warriors cried + "Defend, my bands, your hearth and home," the youthful chief replied. + They caught the sound of this spirit-voice as they stay'd their foes' + career, + And many a thrilling cry was heard, when the bayonet met the spear + + In vain, ye heroes, do you breathe your latest vows to heaven, + In vain is your devoted blood in the cause of Freedom given, + For when the morn awakes again, your city shall not be + The haunt of maids who warbled deep, their sweetest songs for ye! + + But the story of your hallow'd death shall not remain unsung, + Oh, its record shall be glorified by many a minstrel tongue + For Freedom's holy light hath touch'd each ruin'd shrine and wall, + That sadly speak unto the heart of Zaragoza's fall. + +_Deal_. + +REGINALD AUGUSTINE. + + * * * * * + + +THE BANQUETTING HOUSE, WHITEHALL.[1] + + + [1] For a general description of this magnificent edifice, see + MIRROR, No. 247. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Many persons who have visited this chapel may not have noticed or been +aware of the splendid painted ceiling by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, which +was executed by him when ambassador at the court of James I. This +beautiful performance represents the apotheosis of that peaceful +monarch, he being seated on his throne, and turning towards the deities +of peace and commerce, having rejected the gods of war and discord. It +is painted on canvass, and is in excellent preservation; the original +painter had L3,000. for his labour; it has been retouched more than +once, and the last time was by Cipriani, who had L2,000. for his +repairs. + +Ralph, in his _Critical Review of Public Buildings_, observes, "that +this picture is not so generally known as one could wish, but needs only +to be known to be esteemed according to its merits;" and he further +adds, "it is but an ill decoration for a place of religious worship, for +in the first place, its contents are nowise akin to devotion, and in the +next, the workmanship is so very extraordinary that a man must have +abundance of zeal or no taste, that can attend to anything besides." + +It is almost needless to remark, that it was from a passage broken for +the occasion through the wall of this building, that the unfortunate +Charles was conducted by the regicides to his death; this passage still +remains, and now serves as a doorway to an additional building in +Scotland Yard: and nearly facing this doorway stood the ingenious Dial, +engraved and described in No. 400, of the MIRROR. The next important and +public event connected with this building occurred in 1811, when a very +different and far more gratifying spectacle took place, being that of +the ceremony of placing in the chapel, the eagles and other colours +taken by our gallant troops during the war. There were six standards and +the like number of regimental colours, which after having been presented +at the altar were affixed to the places they now occupy. There is a +singular circumstance attached to the history of one of the eagles which +may be well introduced in this place; it may be distinguished from the +others by its having a wreath placed round its neck, the flag itself +being destroyed. It was the usual custom for the eagles to be attached +to the staves on which they are borne by a screw, so that in the event +of any imminent danger, they might be taken off and secured; but +Napoleon on his presenting this standard to his 8th regiment, observed, +it was impossible that it should be taken from so brave a body of men +as they had always proved themselves to be, and desired it might be +rivetted to the staff, which was accordingly done; and probably had it +not been for this order the eagle might have escaped our valiant 87th, +by whom it was taken on the heights of Barossa. + +On Maundy Thursday another gratifying ceremony takes place, _viz_, the +distribution of the Maundy Money to as many poor people as the years +of his majesty's age. This money consists of the smaller silver coins, +being each in value from 1_d_. to 4_d_.; these are enclosed in a small, +white kid bag, which is again enveloped in another of crimson leather. + +A.P.D. + + * * * * * + + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + +TOUCHING FOR THE KING'S EVIL. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +Having read an interesting paper from your ingenious correspondent +_P.T.W._ in your number of the 14th of November, respecting "Touching +for the Cure of the King's Evil," it occurred to me that some farther +information relative to the original of that "hereditary miracle," as +Mr. Collier is pleased to term it, might not be uninteresting to some +of your readers: I therefore send you the following:-- + +Stowe, in his _Annals_, accounts for the origin of touching for the +evil, in the following manner:--"A young woman who was afflicted with +this disorder in a very alarming manner, and to a most disgusting +degree, feeling uneasiness and pain consequent upon it in her sleep, +dreamt that she should be cured by the simple operation of having the +part washed with the king's hand. Application was consequently made +to Edward, by her friends, who very humanely consented to perform +the unpleasant request. A basin of water was brought, with which he +carefully softened the humours, till they broke, and the contents +discharged; the sign of the cross wound up the charm; and the female +retired, with the assurance of his protection during the remainder +of the cure, which was effected within a week." This is somewhat +differently related in _Ailred's History of the Life and Miracles of +Edward the Confessor_, an extract from which may be found in a note +to the first volume of Rapin's _History of England_. + +The following curious advertisement was issued by the order of King +Charles II. for healing the people, on the 18th of May, 1664. + +"Notice. + +"His sacred majesty having declared it to be his royal will and purpose +to continue the healing of his people for the evil during the month of +May, and then give over till Michaelmas next; I am commanded to give +notice thereof, that the people may not come up to the town in the +interim, and lose their labour." + +Thomas Mousewell was tried for high treason in 1684, for having spoken +with contempt of King Charles's pretensions to cure the scrofula. + +In a manuscript account of the Restoration, written by Thomas Gumble, +D.D. Chaplain to General Monck, in the year 1662, is the following +description of the ceremony:--" There was a great chair placed for the +king, in a place somewhat distant from the people. As soon as the king +was sate, one of the clerks of the closet stood at the right side of his +chair, holding on his arm as many gold angels (every one tied in a +ribbon of white silk) as there were sick to be touched, which were in +number, forty-eight. Dr. Brown, the chaplain of the Princess of Aurange, +performed the place of the king's chaplain. The chaplain then read the +sixteenth chapter of St. Mark, from the fourteenth verse to the end; and +then the chirurgeon presented the sick, (having examined them to see +that it was the evil) after three reverences on their knees, before the +king, who, whilst the chaplain said these words in that gospel: 'They +shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall be healed,' layed +his hands on the two cheeks of the sick, saying, 'I touch thee, but +_God_ healeth thee!' The chaplain then began another gospel; and whilst +these words were pronounced out of the first chapter of St. John: 'This +was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,' +his majesty took the pieces of gold, and put them on the necks of the +diseased, the chaplain repeating the words as many times as there were +persons to receive them, concluding with a prayer, 'That Almighty God +would bless the ceremony;' then, after the reverences as before, they +retired. The Earls of Middlesex and St. Albans held the bason, ewer, and +towel, whilst the king washed." + +Shakspeare, in his _Macbeth_, thus describes this royal, but now +exploded gift:-- + + + "Strangely visited people, + All swollen and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye, + The mere despair of surgery, he cures-- + Hanging a golden stamp about their necks, + Put on with holy prayers." + + +In Nicholls's _Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century_, vol. ii. +p. 495, 505, many curious particulars relating to this ceremony are to +be found. + +As the custom has now for some time been discontinued, and the credulity +of those who believed in its efficacy, laughed at, I hope it will not be +long ere that disgusting custom of allowing persons (of whom women in +general form by far the greater number) afflicted with the king's evil, +and different other disorders, to come on the scaffold immediately after +the execution of a criminal, for the purpose of touching the part +affected, with the hand of the _but just dead_ malefactor, will be put a +stop to; it being the very height of absurdity to imagine that it can be +productive of any good effect; but on the contrary, tending to divest +the minds of the surrounding multitude of that awe with which the +ignominious spectacle should impress them. + +[Greek: S.G.] + +In the trifling paper I sent you respecting "Cats," which you deemed +worthy of insertion in No. 398, you have it "by some merchants from the +Island of Cyprus, who came hither for _fur_," it should be _tin_--Fur +being an article of importation. + + * * * * * + + +BOOKSELLERS' MARKS OR SIGNS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Many books, especially those printed in the 17th century, have no other +designation either of printer, bookseller, or even city, but merely +marks or signs. The _anchor_ is the mark of Raphelengius, at Leyden; and +the same with a _dolphin_ twisted round it, of the Mantuii, at Venice +and Rome; the _Arion_ denotes a book printed by Oporrinus, at Basil; the +_caduceus_, or _pegasus_, by the Wechelliuses, at Paris and Frankfort; +the _cranes_, by Cramoisy; the _compass_, by Plantin, at Antwerp; the +_fountain_, by Vascosan, at Paris; the _sphere_ in a balance, by Janson, +or Blaew, at Amsterdam; the _lily_, by the Juntas, at Venice, Florence, +Lyons, and Rome; the _mulberry-tree_, by Morel, at Paris; the +_olive-tree_, by the Stephenses, at Paris and Geneva, and the Elzevirs, +at Amsterdam and Leyden; the _bird between two serpents_, by the +Frobeniuses, at Basil; the _truth_, by the Commelins, at Heidelberg and +Paris; the _Saturn_, by Collinaeus; the _printing press_, by Badius +Ascensius, &c. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE NATURALIST. + + * * * * * + + +DIFFERENT COLOURS OF THE EGGS OF BIRDS. + + +It is a remarkable fact in the economy of nature, that of those birds +whose nests are the most liable to discovery, and whose eggs are most +exposed to observation from the form of the nests, the eggs are of that +colour which is the least different from the surrounding objects; whilst +those birds whose eggs are of a bright and positive colour, hide their +nests in the hollows of trees, or never quit them, excepting in the +night, or sit immediately that they have laid one or two eggs. It is +also to be observed that of those species which build an exposed nest, +and the females of which alone perform the duty of incubation, the +colour of the female is much less bright than that of the male, and more +in harmony with the objects by which she is surrounded during the period +in which she sits upon her eggs. It would seem, therefore, that those +birds which lay a brightly-coloured egg have the instinct to make a +close nest, or to place it in the least exposed situations; while those +which lay a sober-coloured egg are less solicitous to conceal it from +the notice of their enemies. M. Gloger, a German naturalist, has paid +great attention to this curious circumstance, and has very recently +published an elaborate memoir, in a work printed at Berlin, in which he +notices the habits of all the species of birds indigenous to Germany, in +confirmation of the theory. Our limits will not allow us to notice the +particular species which he enumerates; but it may be sufficient to +excite attention to this subject, to mention, that the birds which lay +an egg perfectly white (the most attractive of colours) make their nests +in holes of the earth, and cavities of trees, such as the kingfisher and +the woodpecker, or construct them with a very narrow opening, as the +domestic swallow; that the same coloured egg is found amongst the birds +which scarcely quit their nests in the day, as hawks and owls; and that +such birds as doves, which only lay one or two eggs, and sit immediately +after, have their eggs white. The bright blue or bright green egg +belongs to birds which make their nests in holes, as the starling, or +construct them of green moss, or place them in the midst of grass, but +always well covered. The eggs of many gallinaceous birds, that make +their nests carelessly in the grass, are of a pale and less decided +green, such as those of the partridge and pheasant. Of the +mixed-coloured eggs, those of which white forms the ground belong to +birds that make very close nests. Speckled eggs, with a dark or dirty +ground, belong to the largest number of species. Almost all the song +birds lay such eggs; and building open nests, they almost invariably +line the inside of them with materials of a harmonious colour with the +eggs, so that no evident contrast is presented which would lead to their +destruction.--_Companion to the Almanac._ + + * * * * * + + +EFFECTS OF SEA AIR. + + +Those who frequent the sea-coast are not long in discovering that their +best dyed black hats become of a rusty brown; and similar effects are +produced on some other colours. The brown is, in fact, _rust_. Most, if +not all, the usual black colours have iron for a basis, the black oxide +of which is developed by galls, logwood, or other substances containing +gallic acid. Now the sea-air contains a proportion of the muriates over +which it is wafted; and these coming in contact with any thing dyed +black, part with their hydrochloric (_muriatic_) acid, and form brown +hydrochlorate of iron, or contribute to form the brown or red oxide, +called rust. The gallic acid, indeed, from its superior affinity, has +the strongest hold of the iron; but the incessant action of the sea-air, +loaded with muriates, partially overcomes this, in the same way as any +acid, even of inferior affinity to the gallic, when put upon black +stuff, will turn it brown.--_Ibid._ + + * * * * * + + +THE DUGONG, THE MERMAID OF EARLY WRITERS. + + +Of all the cetacea, that which approaches the nearest in form to man is +undoubtedly the dugong, which, when its head and breast are raised above +the water, and its pectoral fins, resembling hands, are visible, might +easily be taken by superstitious seamen for a semi-human +being.--_Edinburgh Journal._ + + * * * * * + + +SPIDERS. + + +Live and grow without food. Out of fifty spiders produced on the last +day of August, and which were kept entirely without food, three lived to +the 8th of February following, and even visibly increased in bulk. Was +it from the effluvia arising from the dead bodies of their companions +that they lived so long? Other spiders were kept in glass vessels +without food, from the 15th of July till the end of January. During that +time they cast their skins more than once, as if they had been well +fed.--_Redi, Generat. Insect._ + +Spiders are excellent barometers: if the ends of their webs are found +branching out to any length, it is a sure sign of favourable weather: +if, on the contrary, they are found short, and the spider does not +attend to repairing it properly, bad weather may be expected.--_Times._ + + * * * * * + + +SWARMING OF BEES. + + +The ingenious President of the Horticultural Society, Mr. T.A. Knight, +has been led from repeated observation to infer, that, in the swarming +of bees, not a single labourer emigrates without previously inspecting +its proposed future habitation, as well as the temporary stations of +rest where their numbers collect soon after swarming.--_Philosophical +Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +THE CHAMELEON'S ANTIPATHY TO BLACK. + + +Whatever may be the cause, the fact seems to be certain, that the +chameleon has an antipathy to things of a black colour. One, which +Forbes kept, uniformly avoided a black board which was hung up in the +chamber; and, what is most remarkable, when it was forcibly brought +before the black board, it trembled violently, and assumed a black +colour.--_Oriental Mem_. + + * * * * * + + +RULES FOR THE WEATHER. + + +A wet summer is always followed by a frosty winter; but it happens +occasionally that the cold extends no farther. Two remarkable instances +of this occurred in 1807-8 and 1813-14. With these exceptions, every +frosty winter has been followed by a cold summer. + +The true cause of cold, or rather the direct cause, is to be found in +the winter excess of west wind, every winter with excess of west wind +being followed by a cold summer; and if there is no cold before, or +during a first excess, then a second excess of west wind in winter +occasions a still colder summer than the first. It also appears, by +repeated experience, that cold does not extend to more than two years at +a time. + +Again, if the winter excess of east wind be great, in the first +instance, the winters will be mild, and followed by mild summers; while +the summer excess of east wind is itself, in the first instance, always +mild; but uniformly followed by cold winters and cold summers, which +continue, more or less, for one or two years, according to +circumstances.--_Mackenzie, Syst. of the Weather_. + + * * * * * + + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS + + * * * * * + + +PERIODICAL LITERATURE. + + +Periodical Literature--how sweet is the name! 'Tis a type of many of the +most beautiful things and events in nature; or say, rather, that _they_ +are types of _it_--both the flowers and the stars. As to flowers, they +are the prettiest periodicals ever published in folio--the leaves are +wire-wove and hot-pressed by Nature's self; their circulation is wide +over all the land; from castle to cottage they are regularly taken in; +as old age bends over them, his youth is renewed; and you see childhood +poring upon them, prest close to its very bosom. Some of them are +ephemeral, and their contents are exhaled between the rising and the +setting sun. Once a-week others break through their green, pink, or +crimson cover; and how delightful, on the seventh day, smiles in the +sunshine the Sabbath flower--the only Sunday publication perused without +blame by the most religious--even before morning prayer. Each month, +indeed, throughout the whole year, has its own flower-periodical. Some +are annual, some biennial, some triennial, and there are perennials that +seem to live for ever--and yet are still periodical--though our love +will not allow us to know when they die, and phoenix-like re-appear from +their own ashes. So much for flowers--typifying or typified;--leaves +emblematical of pages--buds of binding dew-veils of covers--and the +wafting away of bloom and fragrance like the dissemination of fine +feelings, bright fancies, and winged thoughts! + +The flowers are the periodicals of the earth--the stars are those of +heaven. With what unfailing regularity do the Numbers issue forth! +Hesperus and Lucifer! ye are one concern! The pole-star is studied by +all nations. How beautiful the poetry of the moon! On what subject does +not the sun throw light! No fear of hurting your eyes by reading that +fine, clear, large type on that softened page. Lo! as you turn over, one +blue, another yellow, and another green, all, all alike delightful to +the pupil, and dear to him as the very apple of his eye! Yes, the great +Periodical Press of heaven is unceasingly at work--night and day; and +though even it has been taxed, and its emanations confined, still their +circulation is incalculable; nor have we yet heard that Ministers intend +instituting any prosecution against it. It is yet Free, the only free +Power all over the world. 'Tis indeed like the air we breathe--if we +have it not, we die! + +Look, then, at all our paper Periodicals with pleasure, for sake of the +flowers and the stars. Suppose them all extinct, and life would be like +a flowerless earth, a starless heaven. We should soon forget the seasons +themselves--the days of the week--and the weeks of the month--and the +months of the year--and the years of the century--and the centuries of +all Time--and all Time itself flowing away on into eternity. The +Periodicals of external nature would soon all lose their meaning, were +there no longer any Periodicals of the soul. These are the lights and +shadows of life, merrily dancing or gravely stealing over the dial; +remembrancers of the past--teachers of the present--prophets of the +future hours. Were they all dead, spring would in vain renew her +promise--wearisome would be the long, long, interminable +summer-days--the fruits of autumn would taste fushionless--and the +winter's ingle blink mournfully round the hearth. What are the blessed +Seasons themselves, in nature and in Thomson, but Periodicals of a +larger growth? They are the parents, or publishers, or editors, of all +the others--principal contributors--nay, subscribers too--and may their +pretty family live for ever, still dying, yet ever renewed, and on the +increase every year. We should suspect him of a bad, black heart, who +loved not the Periodical Literature of earth and sky--who would weep not +to see one of its flowers wither--one of its stars fall--one beauty to +die on its humble bed--one glory to drop from its lofty sphere. Let them +bloom and burn on--flowers in which there is no poison, stars in which +there is no disease--whose blossoms are all sweet, and whose rays are +all sanative--both alike steeped in dew, and both, to the fine ear of +nature's worshipper, bathed in music. + +Only look at Maga! One hundred and forty-eight months old! and yet +lovely as maiden between frock and gown--even as sweet sixteen! Not a +wrinkle on cheek or forehead! No crow-foot has touched her eyes-- + + + "Her eye's blue languish, and her golden hair!" + + +Like an antelope in the wilderness--or swan on the river--or eagle in +the sky. Dream that she is dead, and oh! what a world! Yet die she must +some day--so must the moon and stars. Meanwhile there is a blessing in +prayers--and hark! how the nations cry, "Oh! Maga, live for ever!" + +We often pity our poor ancestors. How they contrived to make the ends +meet, surpasses our conjectural powers. What a weary waste must have +seemed expanding before their eyes, between morning and night! Don't +tell us that the human female never longs for other pastime than + + + "To suckle fools and chronicle small beer." + + +True, ladies sighed not then for periodicals--but there, in the depths +of their ignorance, lay their utter wretchedness. What! keep pickling +and preserving during the whole mortal life of an immortal being! Except +when at jelly, everlastingly at jam! The soul sickens at the monotonous +sweetness of such a wersh existence. True that many sat all life-long at +needlework; but is not that a very sew-sew sort of life? Then oh! the +miserable males! We speak of times after the invention, it is true, of +printing--but who read what were called books then? Books! no more like +our periodicals, than dry, rotten, worm-eaten, fungous logs are like +green living leafy trees, laden with dews, bees, and birds, in the +musical sunshine. What could males do then but yawn, sleep, snore, +guzzle, guttle, and drink till they grew dead and got buried? +Fox-hunting won't always do--and often it is not to be had; who can be +happy with his gun through good report and bad report in an a' day's +rain? Small amusement in fishing in muddy water; palls upon the sense +quarrelling with neighbours on points of etiquette and the disputed +property of hedgerow trees; a fever in the family ceases to raise the +pulse of any inmate, except the patient; death itself is no relief to +the dulness; a funeral is little better; the yawn of the grave seems a +sort of unhallowed mockery; the scutcheon hung out on the front of the +old dismal hall, is like a sign on a deserted Spittal; along with sables +is worn a suitable stupidity by all the sad survivors.--And such, before +the era of Periodicals, such was the life in--merry England. Oh! +dear!--oh! dear me! + +We shall not enter into any historical details--for this is not a +Monologue for the Quarterly--but we simply assert, that in the times we +allude to (don't mention dates) there was little or no reading in +England. There was neither the Reading Fly nor the Reading Public. What +could this be owing to, but the non-existence of Periodicals? What +elderly-young lady could be expected to turn from house affairs, for +example, to Spenser's Fairy Queen? It is a long, long, long poem, that +Fairy Queen of Spenser's; nobody, of course, ever dreamt of getting +through it; but though you may have given up all hope of getting through +a poem or a wood, you expect to be able to find your way back again to +the spot where you unluckily got in; not so, however, with the Fairy +Queen. Beautiful it is indeed, most exquisitely and unapproachably +beautiful in many passages, especially about ladies and ladies' love +more than celestial, for Venus loses in comparison her lustre in the +sky; but still people were afraid to get into it then as now; and +"heavenly Una, with her milk-white lamb," lay buried in dust. As +to Shakspeare, we cannot find many traces of him in the domestic +occupations of the English gentry during the times alluded to; nor do we +believe that the character of Hamlet was at all relished in their halls, +though perhaps an occasional squire chuckled at the humours of Sir John +Falstaff. We have Mr. Wordsworth's authority for believing that Paradise +Lost was a dead letter, and John Milton virtually anonymous. We need say +no more. Books like these, huge heavy vols. lay with other lumber in the +garrets and libraries. As yet, Periodical Literature was not; and the +art of printing seems long to have preceded the art of reading. It did +not occur to those generations that books were intended to be read by +people in general, but only by the select few. Whereas now, reading is +not only one of the luxuries, but absolutely one of the necessaries of +life, and we now no more think of going without our book than without +our breakfast; lunch consists now of veal-pies and Venetian +Bracelets--we still dine on Roast-beef, but with it, instead of +Yorkshire pudding, a Scotch novel--Thomas Campbell and Thomas Moore +sweeten tea for us--and in "Course of Time" we sup on a Welsh rabbit +and a Religious Poem. + +We have not time--how can we?--to trace the history of the great +revolution. But a great revolution there has been, from nobody's reading +anything, to every body's reading all things; and perhaps it began with +that good old proser Richardson, the father of Pamela, Clarissa, and +Sir Charles Grandison. He seems to have been a sort of idiot, who had +a strange insight into some parts of human nature, and a tolerable +acquaintance with most parts of speech. He set the public a-reading, and +Fielding and Smollett shoved her on--till the Minerva Press took her in +hand--and then--the Periodicals. But such Periodicals! The Gentleman's +Magazine--God bless it then, now, and for ever!--the Monthly Review, +the Critical and the British Critic! The age had been for some years +literary, and was now fast becoming periodical. Magazines multiplied. +Arose in glory the Edinburgh, and then the Quarterly Review--Maga, +like a new sun, looked out from heaven--from her golden urn a hundred +satellites drew light--and last of all, "the Planetary Five," the +Annuals, hung their lamps on high; other similar luminous bodies emerged +from the clouds, till the whole circumference was bespangled, and +astronomy became the favourite study with all ranks of people, from the +King upon the throne to the meanest of his subjects. Now, will any one +presume to deny, that this has been a great change to the better, and +that there is now something worth living for in the world? Look at our +literature now, and it is all periodical together. A thousand daily, +thrice-a-week, twice-a week, weekly newspapers, a hundred monthlies, +fifty quarterlies, and twenty-five annuals! No mouth looks up now and is +not fed; on the contrary, we are in danger of being crammed; an empty +head is as rare as an empty stomach; the whole day is one meal, one +physical, moral, and intellectual feast; the Public goes to bed with a +Periodical in her hand, and falls asleep with it beneath her pillow. + +What blockhead thinks now of reading Milton, or Pope, or Gray? Paradise +Lost is lost; it has gone to the devil. Pope's Epistles are returned to +the dead-letter office; the age is too loyal for "ruin seize thee, +ruthless king," and the oldest inhabitant has forgotten "the curfew +tolls."--_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SELECTOR, AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS._ + + * * * * * + + +DR. LARDNER'S CYCLOPAEDIA. + + +_History of Scotland. By Sir Walter Scott, Bart._ Vol. I. + +The rapid and sketchy page just quoted from _Blackwood's Magazine_ will +illustrate the high ground which periodical literature is daily +attaining in this country. Of this ascendancy, the volume before us is +indeed a fine specimen, and one of which we have reason to entertain a +national pride. We know it to be a common practice with publishers on +the continent to produce long works volume by volume, so that Dr. +Lardner's plan is by no means novel; but we should also bear in mind +that, compared with our family and cabinet libraries, the majority of +similar foreign works are mere flimsy productions; and the _Encyclopedie +Methodique_, published in monthly volumes, in Paris, both in quantity +and execution, will not reach our literary standards of 1829. As Dr. +Lardner's plan is well known, it need not here be repeated; neither need +we remark upon the high qualifications of Sir Walter Scott, as an +historian of Scotland. An extract shall speak for itself; and perhaps we +cannot do better than select one of the battle-pieces, which has all the +vividness of the finest historical painting: say + +BANNOCKBURN. + +"Robert Bruce summoned the array of his kingdom to rendezvous in the +Tor-wood, about four miles from Stirling, and by degrees prepared the +field of battle which he had selected for the contest. It was a space of +ground then called the New Park--perhaps reserved for the chase, since +Stirling was frequently a royal residence. This ground was partly open, +partly encumbered with trees, in groups or separate. It was occupied by +the Scottish line of battle, extending from south to north, and fronting +to the east. In this position, Bruce's left flank and rear might have +been exposed to a sally from the castle of Stirling; but Mowbray +the governor's faith was beyond suspicion, and the king was not in +apprehension that he would violate the tenour of the treaty, by which +he was bound to remain in passive expectation of his fate. The direct +approach to the Scottish front was protected in a great measure by a +morass called the New-miln Bog. A brook, called Bannockburn, running to +the eastward, between rocky and precipitous banks, effectually covered +the Scottish right wing, which rested upon it, and was totally +inaccessible. Their left flank was apparently bare, but was, in fact, +formidably protected in front by a peculiar kind of field-works. As +the ground in that part of the field was adapted for the manoeuvres of +cavalry Bruce caused many rows of pits, three feet deep, to be dug in +it, so close together, as to suggest the appearance of a honeycomb, with +its ranges of cells. In these pits sharp stakes were strongly pitched, +and the apertures covered with sod so carefully, as that the condition +of the ground might escape observation. Calthrops, or spikes contrived +to lame the horses, were also scattered in different directions. + +"Having led his troops into the field of combat, on the tidings of the +English approach, the 23d of June, 1314, the King of Scotland ordered +his soldiers to arm themselves, and making proclamation that those who +were not prepared to conquer or die with their sovereign were at liberty +to depart, he was answered by a cheerful and general expression of their +determination to take their fate with him. The King proceeded to draw +up the army in the following order: Three oblong columns or masses of +infantry, armed with lances, arranged on the same front, with intervals +betwixt them formed his first line. Of these Edward Bruce had the +guidance of the right wing, James Douglas and Walter, the Steward of +Scotland, of the left, and Thomas Randolph of the central division. +These three commanders had their orders to permit no English troops to +pass their front, in order to gain Stirling. The second line, forming +one column or mass, consisted of the men of the isles, under Bruce's +faithful friend and ally, the insular prince Angus, his own men of +Carrick, and those of Argyle and Cantire. With these the king posted +himself in order to carry support and assistance wherever it might be +required. With himself also he kept in the rear a select body of horse, +the greater part of whom he designed for executing a particular service. +The followers of the camp were dismissed with the baggage, to station +themselves behind an eminence to the rear of the Scottish army, still +called the Gillies' (that is, the servants') hill.... + +"On the morning of St. Barnaby, called the Bright, being the 24th of +June, 1314, Edward advanced in full form to the attack of the Scots, +whom he found in their position of the preceding evening. The Vanguard +of the English, consisting of the archers and bill-men, or lancers, +comprehending almost all the infantry of the army, advanced, under the +command of the Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, who also had a fine +body of men at arms to support their column. All the remainder of the +English troops, consisting of nine battles, or separate divisions, were +so straitened by the narrowness of the ground, that, to the eye of the +Scots, they seemed to form one very large body, gleaming with flashes of +armour, and dark with the number of banners which floated over them. +Edward himself commanded this tremendous array, and, in order to guard +his person, was attended by four hundred chosen men at arms. Immediately +around the King waited Sir Aymer de Valence, that Earl of Pembroke who +defeated Bruce at Methven Wood, but was now to see a very different day; +Sir Giles de Argentine, a Knight of St. John of Jerusalem, who was +accounted, for his deeds in Palestine and elsewhere, one of the best +Knights that lived; and Sir Ingram Umfraville, an Anglicised +Scottishman, also famed for his skill in arms. + +"As the Scottish saw the immense display of their enemies rolling +towards them like a surging ocean, they were called on to join in an +appeal to Heaven against the strength of human foes.--Maurice, the Abbot +of Inchaffray, bare-headed and bare-footed, walked along the Scottish +line, and conferred his benediction on the soldiers, who knelt to +receive it, and to worship the power in whose name it was bestowed. + +"During this time the King of England was questioning Umfraville +about the purpose of his opponents. "Will they," said Edward, "abide +battle?"--"They assuredly will," replied Umfraville; "and to engage them +with advantage, your Highness were best order a seeming retreat, and +draw them out of their strong ground." Edward rejected this counsel, +and observing the Scottish soldiers kneel down, joyfully exclaimed, +"They crave mercy."--"It is from Heaven, not from your Highness," +answered Umfraville: "on that field they will win or die." The King +then commanded the charge to be sounded, and the attack to take place. + +"The Earls of Gloucester and Hereford charged the Scots left wing, under +Edward Bruce, with their men at arms; but some rivalry between these two +great Lords induced them to hurry to the charge with more of emulation +than of discretion, and arriving at the shock disordered and out of +breath, they were unable to force the deep ranks of the spearmen; many +horses were thrown down, and their masters left at the mercy of the +enemy. The other three divisions of the Scottish army attacked the mass +of the English infantry, who resisted courageously. The English archers, +as at the battle of Falkirk, now began to show their formidable skill, +at the expense of the Scottish spearmen; but for this Bruce was +prepared. He commanded Sir Robert Keith, the Marshal of Scotland, with +those four hundred men at arms whom he had kept in reserve for the +purpose, to make a circuit, and charge the English bowmen in the flank. +This was done with a celerity and precision which dispersed the whole +archery, who, having neither stakes nor other barrier to keep off the +horse, nor long weapons to repel them, were cut down at pleasure, and +almost without resistance. + +"The battle continued to rage, but with disadvantage to the English. +The Scottish archers had now an opportunity of galling their infantry +without opposition; and it would appear that King Edward could find no +means of bringing any part of his numerous centre or rear-guard to the +support of those in the front, who were engaged at disadvantage. + +"Bruce, seeing the confusion thicken, now placed himself at the head of +the reserve, and addressing Angus of the Isles in the words, "My hope is +constant in thee," rushed into the engagement followed by all the troops +he had hitherto kept in reserve. The effect of such an effort, reserved +for a favourable moment, failed not to be decisive. Those of the English +who had been staggered were now constrained to retreat; those who were +already in retreat took to actual flight. At this critical moment, the +camp-followers of the Scottish army, seized with curiosity to see how +the day went, or perhaps desirous to have a share of the plunder, +suddenly showed themselves on the ridge of the Gillies'-hill, in the +rear of the Scottish line of battle; and as they displayed cloths and +horse-coverings upon poles for ensigns, they bore in the eyes of the +English the terrors of an army with banners. The belief that they beheld +the rise of an ambuscade, or the arrival of a new army of Scots, gave +the last impulse of terror, and all fled now, even those who had before +resisted. The slaughter was immense; the deep ravine of Bannockburn, to +the south of the field of battle, lying in the direction taken by most +of the fugitives, was almost choked and bridged over with the slain, +the difficulty of the ground retarding the fugitive horsemen till the +lancers were upon them. Others, and in great numbers, rushed into the +river Forth, in the blindness of terror, and perished there. No less +than twenty-seven Barons fell in the field; the Earl of Gloucester was +at the head of the fatal list: young, brave, and high-born, when he saw +the day was lost, he rode headlong on the Scottish spears, and was +slain. Sir Robert Clifford, renowned in the Scottish wars, was also +killed. Two hundred Knights and seven hundred Esquires, of high birth +and blood, graced the list of slaughter with the noblest names of +England; and thirty thousand of the common file filled up the fatal +roll. + +"Edward, among whose weaknesses we cannot number cowardice, was +reluctantly forced from the bloody field by the Earl of Pembroke. The +noble Sir Giles de Argentine considered it as his duty to attend the +King until he saw him in personal safety, then observing that "it was +not his own wont to fly," turned back, rushed again into the battle, +cried his war-cry, galloped boldly against the victorious Scots, and was +slain, according to his wish, with his face to the enemy. Edward must +have been bewildered in the confusion of the field, for instead of +directing his course southerly to Linlithgow, from which he came, he +rode northward to Stirling, and demanded admittance. Philip de Mowbray, +the governor, remonstrated against this rash step, reminding the +unfortunate Prince that he was obliged by his treaty to surrender the +castle next day, as not having been relieved according to the +conditions. + +"Edward was therefore obliged to take the southern road; and he must +have made a considerable circuit to avoid the Scottish army. He was, +however, discovered on his retreat, and pursued by Douglas with sixty +horse, who were all that could be mustered for the service. The King, by +a rapid and continued flight through a country in which his misfortunes +must have changed many friends into enemies, at length gained the castle +of Dunbar, where he was hospitably received by the Earl of March. From +Dunbar Edward escaped almost alone to Berwick in a fishing skiff, having +left behind him the finest army a King of England ever commanded. + +"The quantity of spoil gained by the victors at the battle of +Bannockburn was inestimable, and the ransoms paid by the prisoners +largely added to the mass of treasure. Five near relations to the +Bruce--namely, his wife, her sister Christian, his daughter Marjory, +the Bishop of Glasgow (Wishart), and the young Earl of Mar, the King's +nephew, were exchanged against the Earl of Hereford, High Constable of +England. + +"The Scottish loss was very small: Sir William Vipont and Sir Walter +Ross were the only persons of consideration slain. Sir Edward Bruce is +said to have been so much attached to the last of these knights as to +have expressed his wish that the battle had remained unfought, so Ross +had not died." + +The present volume contains 350 pages, in a very pleasing type, and a +vignette title; and the style in which it is produced is uniformly +worthy of the very responsible quarter whence it emanates. + + * * * * * + + +THE YOUNG LADY'S BOOK. + + +This is indeed a _golden gift_ for any _demoiselle_ of our readers' +acquaintance, for it blends the unusual qualities of elegance and +usefulness of the highest order. It is described in the title as "A +Manual of Elegant Recreations, Exercises and Pursuits," and numbers in +its contents, Moral deportment--the Florist--Mineralogy, Conchology, +Entomology, the Aviary, the Toilet, Embroidery, the Escrutoire, +Painting, Music, Dancing, Archery, Riding, and the Ornamental Artist. +Each of these subjects is treated of in separate chapters, in a neat +style, slightly scientific, and highly amusive; and the whole are +illustrated with upwards of _Six Hundred Engravings_, which are +appropriately chosen and admirably executed. Botany, Conchology, +Entomology, and the Aviary thus admit of scores of little cuts worked in +with the type; the female accomplishments of Embroidery, ornamental card +and basket work, contain many beautiful devices; and the "elegant +recreations" of Dancing, Riding, &c. are equally well illustrated by the +various forms, positions, &c.--Each subject has been treated of by a +master or mistress of the respective art, but the uniformity with which +the editor has marshalled them in his work, almost makes them resemble +the productions of one hand. We need not point out the merit of this +individual contribution; for the lady-pen must be omnipotent indeed +which could write equally well on every branch of female accomplishment. +By way of a seasonable extract we take part of a brief historical sketch +prefixed to the Dancing instructions, and a few of the hints:-- + +"From the death of Elizabeth, until after the restoration of Charles +II., the turbulence of the times, and the peculiar character of the age, +prevented this art, which flourishes only in 'the bowers of peace and +joy,' from making much progress; but in the days of the merry monarch +it began to revive, and advanced more, or less, in all the succeeding +reigns. The celebrated Beau Nash, who was, for a long time, M.C. at +Bath, may be considered the founder of modern ball-room dancing; which, +however, has been divested of much of its cold formality, and improved +in various other respects since the time of that singular person. It is, +nevertheless, a matter of regret, that the graceful and stately Minuet +has been entirely abandoned in favour of the more recently-invented +dances. + +"The French country dances, or Contre-Danses (from the parties being +placed opposite to each other,) since called Quadrilles (from their +having four sides) which approximate nearly to the Cotillon, were +first introduced to France about the middle of Lewis the Fifteenth's +reign. Previously to this period, the dances most in vogue were La +Perigourdine, La Matelotte, La Pavane, Les Forlanes, Minuets, &c. +Quadrilles, when first introduced, were danced by four persons only: +four more were soon added, and thus the complete square was formed; but +the figures were materially different from those of the present period. +The gentlemen advanced with the opposite ladies, menaced each other with +the fore-finger, and retired clapping their hands three times; they then +turned hands of four, turned their own partners, and grand rond of all +concluded the figure. The Vauxhall d'Hiver was, at that time, the most +fashionable place of resort: the pupils of the Royal Academy were +engaged to execute new dances; a full and effective band performed the +most fashionable airs, and new figures were at length introduced and +announced as a source of attraction; but this place was soon pulled +down, and re-built on the ground now occupied by the Theatre du +Vaudeville. The establishment failed, and the proprietor became a +bankrupt. A short time after, it was re-opened by another speculator; +but on such a scale, as merely to attract the working classes of the +community. The band was now composed of a set of miserable scrapers, who +played in unison, and continually in the key of G sharp; amid the sounds +which emanated from their instruments, the jangling of a tambourin, and +the shrill notes of a fife were occasionally heard. Thus did things +continue until the French Revolution; when, about the time the Executive +Directory was formed, the splendid apartments of the Hotel de Richelieu +were opened for the reception of the higher classes, who had then but +few opportunities of meeting to 'trip it on the light fantastic toe.' +Monsieur Hullin, then of the Opera, was selected to form a band of +twenty-four musicians, from among those of the highest talent in the +various theatres: he found no difficulty in this, as they were paid in +paper-money, then of little or no value; whereas, the administrators of +the Richelieu establishment paid in specie. The tunes were composed in +different keys, with full orchestral accompaniments, by Monsieur Hullin; +and the contrast thus produced to the abominable style which had so long +existed, commenced a new era in dancing: the old figures were abolished, +and stage-steps were adopted;--Pas de Zephyrs, Pas de Bourres, Ballotes, +Jetes Battus, &c. were among the most popular. Minuets and Forlanes were +still continued; but Monsieur Vestris displaced the latter by the +Gavotte, which he taught to Monsieur Trenis and Madame de Choiseul, who +first danced it at a fete given by a lady of celebrity, at the Hotel de +Valentinois, Rue St. Lazar, on the 16th of August, 1797; at this fete, +Monsieur Hullin introduced an entirely new set of figures of his own +composition.--These elicited general approbation: they were danced at +all parties, and still retain pre-eminence. The names of Pantalon, +L'Ete, La Poule, La Trenis, &c. which were given to the tunes, have been +applied to the figures. The figure of La Trenis, was introduced by +Monsieur Trenis's desire, it being part of the figure from a Gavotte, +danced in the then favourite ballet of Nina. + +"To the French we are indebted for rather an ingenious, but in the +opinion of many professional dancers, an useless invention, by which it +was proposed, that as the steps in dancing are not very numerous, +although they may be infinitely combined, that characters might be made +use of to express the various steps and figures of a dance, in the same +manner as words and sentences are expressed by letters; or what is more +closely analogous, as the musical characters are employed to represent +to the eye the sounds of an air. The well-known Monsieur Beauchamp, and +a French dancing-master, each laid claim to be the original inventer +of this art; and the consequence was a law suit, in which, however, +judgment was pronounced in favour of the former. The art has been +introduced into this country, but without success. An English +dancing-master has also, we believe, with considerable labour and +ingenuity, devised a plan somewhat similar to that of the French author: +diagrams being proposed to represent the figures, or steps, instead of +characters. + +"There are a variety of dances to which the term National may, with some +propriety, be applied. Among the most celebrated of these are,--the +Italian Tarantula, the German Waltz, and the Spanish Bolero. To dwell on +their peculiarities would, however, as it appears to us, be useless: the +first is rarely exhibited, even on the stage: the second, although it +still retains much of its original character, has, in this country, been +modified into the Waltz Country Dance, and all the objections which it +encountered, on its first introduction, seem to have been gradually +overcome, since it assumed its present popular form; and the graceful +Bolero is restricted to the theatre only, being never introduced to the +English ball-room. + +"The manner of walking well is an object which all young ladies should +be anxious to acquire; but, unfortunately, it is a point too much +neglected. In the drawing-room, the ball-room, or during the promenade, +an elegant deportment, a 'poetry of motion,'--is, and ever will be, +appreciated. The step ought not to exceed the length of the foot; the +leg should be put forward, without stiffness, in about the fourth +position; but without any effort to turn the foot out, as it will tend +to throw the body awry, and give the person an appearance of being a +professional dancer. The head should be kept up and the chest open: the +body will then attain an advantageous position, and that steadiness so +much required in good walking. The arms should fall in their natural +position, and all their movements and oppositions to the feet be easy +and unconstrained. The employment of soldiers to teach young ladies how +to walk, which, we are sorry to say, is a practice adopted by many +parents and heads of seminaries, is much to be deprecated. The stiffness +acquired under regimental tuition, is adverse to all the principles of +grace, and annihilates that buoyant lightness which is so conducive to +ease and elegance in the young." + +Besides the host of cuts incorporated with the text, each art has a +whole page embellishment exquisitely engraved on wood; the designs of +which are the very acme of taste. The head and tail, and letter pieces +of the chapters are in equally good taste; and taken altogether, +the "Young Lady's Book," either as a production of usefulness or +illustratration of art, is the finest production of its day. It has +been erroneously noticed, from its publication at this season, as an +"Annual," but it displays infinitely more pains-taking than either of +those elaborate productions--and is, we should judge, neither the labour +of one or two years. + +We had almost overlooked the imitative Mechlin lace-facings, which would +deceive any Nottingham factor. + + * * * * * + + +THE ZOOLOGICAL KEEPSAKE. + + +The design of this "Annual" is good, we may say, very good; but we are +alike bound to confess that the execution falls short of the idea. It +contains an account of the Gardens and Museum of the Zoological Society, +but this is too much interlarded with digressions. All the introductory +matter might have been omitted with advantage to the author as well as +the public. The descriptions are divided by poetical pieces, which serve +as _reliefs_, one of which we extract:-- + + +THE LOST LAMB; OR, THE CHILD SAVED. + +BY H.C. DEAKIN, ESQ. + +_Author of "Portraits of the Dead."_ + + + Morn rose upon the purple hills, + In all his pomp display'd; + Flash'd forth like stars a hundred rills, + In valley, plain, and glade. + The foaming mist, day's chilly shrine, + Into the clouds upcurl'd, + Forth broke in majesty divine + The Grampians' giant world. + + It was a glorious sight to view + Those mountain forms unfold,-- + The Heavens above intensely blue, + The plains beneath like gold. + Day woke, a thousand songs arose, + Morn's orisons on high, + Earth's universal heart o'erflows + To Him beyond the sky. + + The shepherd roused him from his sleep, + And down the vale be hied, + Like guardian good, to count his sheep, + His _firstling_ by his side. + His firstling! 'twas his only child-- + A boy of three years old, + The father's weary hours beguiled + Whilst watching o'er his fold. + + And many an hour the child and he + Joy'd o'er the vale together; + It was a lovely thing to see + That child among the heather. + The vale is pass'd, the mountains rear + Their rugged cliffs in air, + He must ascend to view more near + His distant fleecy care. + + "My child! the flowers are bright for thee, + The daisy's pearl'd with dew; + Go, share them with the honey-bee, + Till I return for you, + Thy dog and mine with thee shall stay + Whilst I the flock am counting,"-- + He said, and took his tedious way, + The hilly green sward mounting. + + O'er crag and cliff the father toil'd, + Unconscious pass'd the hours: + He for a time forgot the child + He'd left among the flowers. + The boiling clouds come down and veil + Valley, and wood, and plain; + Then fears the father's heart assail, + He will descend again. + + Morn melted into noon, and night + Dark on the shepherd shone, + Terror in vain impels his flight, + His child!--his child is gone! + He calls upon his darling's name, + His dog in vain he calls; + He hears naught but the eagle's scream, + Or roar of waterfalls. + + He rushes home--he is not there-- + With agony and woe; + He hunts him in the cold night air, + O'er hill and vale below. + Morn rose--the faithful dog appears, + He whines for food so mild, + The father hied him through his tears, + And said, "Tray, where's my child?" + + Thrice rose the morn--the father's heart + With grief was almost dead; + But every morn the dog appeared, + And whined and begged for bread. + Yet through the night and through the day, + The dog was never seen-- + "He is not wont to stay away, + Where can the dog have been?" + + On the fourth morn this faithful friend, + As usual whined for meat-- + They mark the way his footsteps tend, + And follow his retreat. + They watch him to a cave beside + The Grampians' craggy base-- + Behold! the shepherd's wandering child + Within the dog's embrace. + + He springs--he weeps away his cares, + He cries aloud with joy-- + He kneels, he sobs to heaven his prayers, + For his redeemed boy. + Then, turning, hugs his favourite hound, + The trusty, true, and bold, + By whom was saved, through whom was found + The _firstling_ of his fold! + + +The Engravings, which are very numerous, are exclusively on wood. A few +of them are views in the Regent's Park Gardens; but in point of +execution, we think the best is a Portrait of the Satyr, or "_Happy_ +Jerry," at Cross's Menagerie. Though by no means one of nature's +favourites, he appears to possess the companionable qualities of +sitting in a chair, smoking a pipe, and drinking spirits and water, and +appearing to understand every look, word, and action of his keeper; +indeed, so thoroughly contented is the creature, that he has obtained +the name of "Happy Jerry." + +To speak _zoologically_, next year we hope the artist and editor will +put their best feet foremost, and improve upon the present volume. The +design is one of the best for a Juvenile Annual--for who does not +recollect the very amusing game of "Birds, Beasts, and Fishes, and +sometimes Insects and Reptiles." What a menagerie of guessing novelties +would have been a _Zoological Keepsake_ in our school days. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER. + + A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. +SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +SPILLING THE SALT. + + +It is a curious fact, though not generally known, that the popular +superstition of overturning the salt at table being unlucky, originated +in a picture of the Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, in which Judas +Iscariot is represented as overturning the salt. + + * * * * * + + +KANGAROOS. + + +"I have been much entertained during my wanderings through the country +adjoining this town, in observing the singular habits and extreme +sagacity of the kangaroos. I have noticed several who carried in their +fore paws a sort of umbrella, or fan, which they held so as to protect +their head and shoulders from the violence of the sun. One day I slipped +a brace of large greyhounds at a female who carried one of these useful +appendages, which she soon dropped and escaped: it was formed of a large +bough, over which some large leaves were spread, and fastened on simply +by the shoots of the bough sticking into the leaf."--_From a letter +dated Hobart's Town, February_, 1829. + + * * * * * + + +THE EARL OF MANSFIELD. + + +"When he was at Westminster School, Lady Kinnoul, in one of the +vacations, invited him to her home, where, observing him with a pen in +his hand, and seemingly thoughtful, she asked him if he was writing his +theme, and what in plain English the theme was? The school-boy's smart +answer rather surprised her Ladyship--'What is that to you?' She +replied--'How can you be so rude? I asked you very civilly a plain +question, and did not expect from a school-boy such a pert answer.' The +reply was, 'Indeed, my Lady, I can only answer once more, 'What is that +to you?' In reality the theme was--_Quid ad te pertinet!"--From +Holliday's Life of the Earl of Mansfield_. + + * * * * * + + +"IN SPITE OF HIS TEETH." + + +King John once demanded of a certain Jew ten thousand marks, on refusal +of which, he ordered one of the Israelite's teeth to be drawn every day +till he should consent. The Jew lost seven, and then paid the required +sum. Hence the phrase--"In spite of his teeth." + + * * * * * + + +SWAN RIVER. + + +A gentleman who had just arrived in town met an Hibernian friend, and +with anxious solicitude asked him "where the best bed was to be got?" +"By my soul," said the Emeralder, with a Kilmainham look, "I'm tould at +the _Swan River_, where there's nothing but _down_." + +W.C.R.R. + + * * * * * + + +SIAMESE YOUTHS. + + +QUERY.--Would not the _law_ be the most profitable profession for the +Siamese Youths? They might plead _pro_ and _con_, and take _fees_ from +_plaintiff_ and _defendant_. If raised to the Bench, they might receive +the salary of _one_ Judge, but act as _two_, thereby saving the nation +some money in these _hard_ times of _cash_ payments, and please all +parties, _one_ summing up for plaintiff and the _other_ for defendant. + +P.T.W. + +N.B. They appear very good natured, although they _huffed_ me _twice_ at +draughts. + + * * * * * + +WITH the present Number is published a SUPPLEMENT, containing a +Steel-plate PORTRAIT of THOMAS CAMPBELL, ESQ. and a copious MEMOIR; with +Title, Preface, and Index to Vol. xiv. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 406 *** + +***** This file should be named 11460.txt or 11460.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/4/6/11460/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Andy Jewell, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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