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diff --git a/11541-0.txt b/11541-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25e63f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/11541-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1564 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11541 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XX, NO. 567.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1832. [PRICE 2d. + + * * * * * + + + + +Public Buildings of Manchester + + +[Illustration: TOWN HALL. INFIRMARY. ROYAL INSTITUTION.] + + +PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF MANCHESTER. + + +The annexed Engravings are important illustrations of the statement in +a recent _Edinburgh Review:_[1]--that Lancashire from being amongst the +most backward parts of England, has _worked_ its way into the front +rank. They are, however, not only characteristic of the public spirit +which animates the whole county; but they are monuments of commercial +wealth, active benevolence, and intellectual superiority, of which the +Manchesterians have ample cause to be proud. It will be seen from their +details, that the structures have been built within the last half +century, at an expense of more than one hundred thousand pounds; while +their association with the fame and fortunes of men illustrious in +science[2] will render the subjoined Engravings of no common interest. +The details which follow have been abridged from Lewis's Topographical +Dictionary, 4to. 1831. + + [1] Ed. Rev. No. 109--article "Life and Writings of Dr. Currie." For + quotations from this paper, see "Improvement of Lancashire," and + "London and the Provinces compared";--in _The Mirror_, vol. xix. + + [2] DR. FERRIAR was physician to the Infirmary and Lunatic Asylum; + and the Royal Institution has been the area of the philosophical + labours of DALTON and HENRY. + + +THE TOWN-HALL + +Is a noble and elegant edifice, erected under the superintendance and +from a design of Mr. Francis Goodwin, of London, in the Grecian style, +after the temple of Erectheus at Athens, with a beautiful tower and dome +in the centre, resembling the tower of Andronicus, called "The Temple of +the Winds." The principal entrance is by a magnificent colonnade, with +a rich entablature, in front of which are sculptured representations of +the town of Manchester, and emblems of trade and commerce. In the wings +are niches for statues of Solon and Alfred; in the medallions of the +attic are busts in alto relievo of Pythagoras, Lycurgus, Hale, and +Locke. The building contains various apartments for conducting the +public business of the town: on the principal floor is a splendid room, +132 feet long, 43 ft. 8 in. wide, and 51-1/2 feet in height to the +centre of the principal dome. The room is divided into three parts by +two ranges of eight elegant Ionic pillars, so disposed that each may +form a separate apartment; the central part being lighted by a superb +dome, supported on 16 dwarf columns of scagliola marble, corresponding +with the exterior design of the tower. The style of the whole room is +that of chaste and classic beauty: the light is tastefully introduced +into the extreme sections of the great room by concealed skylights, +and through stained glass in the panels of the ceiling and the dome, +decorated to correspond with those that are not pierced for that +purpose. Three staircases lead to this splendid room, with the interior +of which the principal staircase is made to harmonize. The +foundation-stone of the building was laid August 19, 1822, by James +Brierley, Esq. Boroughreeve; and its expense is stated at 40,000_l_. + + +THE INFIRMARY + +Was established in 1752, by Joseph Bancroft, Esq., in conjunction +with Charles White, Esq., M.D.; and in 1755, a building for the purpose +was erected by subscription. It has been liberally supported, and +since it was first opened for the reception of patients, has afforded +medical relief to more than half a million of the labouring class. +The buildings, which have been progressively enlarged, and to which +other establishments have been attached, contain 180 beds for the +accommodation of in-patients, with apartments for the officers and +attendants, and a surgery, library of medical books, committee-rooms, +and other offices; also a complete set of baths for the use of the +patients. The grounds are tastefully laid out in gravel-walks, lawns, +and parterres, and form a public promenade, to which a fine pool in +front of the buildings adds considerable beauty. A complete set of hot, +cold, vapour, and medicated baths has been fitted up here, with every +accommodation for the public use, the profits arising from which are +appropriated to the support of the institution. A Lunatic Asylum and +Hospital was founded in 1765, and the building was opened for the +reception of patients in the following year. The Dispensary was +established in 1792, and an edifice for its use erected by subscription +adjoining the Infirmary. In 1830, his Majesty, on the solicitation +of the chairman and committee, graciously became the patron of this +institution, which is now styled "The Manchester Royal Infirmary, +Dispensary, Lunatic Hospital, and Asylum." The buildings for these +several uses being previously contiguous, an uniformity of design has +been given to them by facing the front and the north side with stone. +The plan comprehends a principal and a side front, of which the +elevation is strikingly elegant and imposing. (_See the Engraving._) +The principal front has in the centre a lofty and boldly projecting +portico of four fluted Ionic columns, 38 feet high, supporting a +pediment, of which the frieze and cornice are carried round the +building, the angles of which are ornamented with antae of appropriate +character: the side-front is of similar design, differing only in the +slighter projection of the portico, which has but two columns in the +centre, with engaged antae at the angles. The whole building is three +stories high above the basement, and the lower story is channelled in +horizontal lines. + + +THE ROYAL INSTITUTION + +Embracing a variety of objects connected with the pursuits of literature +and science, and the cultivation of the fine arts, originated with a few +public-spirited individuals, in the year 1823, and was soon honoured +with the public, and finally, with royal, patronage, The building, which +has been erected from a design by Mr. Barry, of London, and is of a +durable and richly-coloured stone, from the vicinity of Colne, forms a +splendid addition to the architectural ornaments of the town. It is in +the Grecian style. The principal elevation, (_seen in the Engraving_) +towards Mosley-street, has a noble portico of six lofty columns of the +Ionic order, supporting a rich entablature and pediment in the centre, +on each side of which are columns and pilasters connecting it with the +wings. Above the doors and windows are panels for bas-reliefs symbolical +of the design of the Institution: the attic story of the hall has been +recently, or is to be, surmounted by a finely-sculptured figure of +Minerva. The area round the building is enclosed with a handsome iron +palisade on a lofty plinth of masonry, with pedestals at the angles +of the steps leading to the portico and side entrances. The centre +comprises the Hall and the Theatre; one of the wings is appropriated as +an Academy of the Fine Arts, with exhibition rooms, and the other as a +Museum of Natural History. The Hall which is wholly lighted from the +attic story, is 40 feet square, and 60 feet high; it contains a grand +staircase of stone, consisting of central and lateral nights, with +pedestals for sculptures, leading to a gallery on three sides of the +hall, supported on Doric pillars; and to the theatre, which is of a +semicircular form. On the gallery are entrances on each side leading +through corridors flanked with columns, into the exhibition-rooms in +each wing of the building; the ceiling of the Hall is richly-paneled in +deeply-recessed compartments, and beneath the attic windows is a rich +frieze for bas-reliefs. The Theatre will hold 600 persons, has a gallery +supported on columns of bronze, and the walls are decorated with engaged +columns, and with isolated columns in the angles: the ceiling is richly +paneled, and the theatre is lighted by a lantern, which, by machinery, +may be darkened instantaneously, at the will of the lecturer. There are +three exhibition rooms in each wing, which may be thrown into one. There +are also various rooms for the use of officers and others connected with +the Institution, to which access is obtained from the hall and other +parts of the building. The whole cost of this elegant pile is stated at +about 50,000_l_. The Institution is under the direction of a President, +twelve vice-presidents, and a committee, chosen from a body of nearly +700 hereditary and life governors, of whom the former are contributors +of forty, and the latter of twenty-five guineas each. + +These Views are from well-executed engravings, by Fothergill, of +Manchester, which we recommend to the notice of tourists, for memoranda +of their visit, as well as of the due rank of Manchester among the +provincial towns of the United Kingdom. + +Among the other public buildings of Manchester, are the Exchange, a +handsome Grecian structure; the Hall of the Literary and Philosophical +Society, universally known by its excellent published memoirs; the +Portico, and other public libraries; theatres, hospitals, churches, +bridges, &c. + + * * * * * + + +PRAYER.--A FRAGMENT. + + + Prayer is an arrow wing'd with love, + And urg'd by mercy on + Which by "the arm of Faith" is driv'n + _Up_ through the starry vault of heav'n, + And scales "the Eternal's throne." + On seraph's wings the spirit flies, + Ev'n in that arrow's flight, + Soars through its _vista_ in the skies + And gains the realms of light. + +N.C. + + * * * * * + + +BREVITIES. + + +Poverty will often lead to great intellectual pursuits; but the +resources of fortune will frequently suppress the most cogent ideas. + +Never subdue a feeling arising from principle; for the mockery of +conscience will contend against the hostile powers of a nation. + +Never wantonly offend any man however feeble his situation: you know not +how soon his personal interest may be acceptable. + +In choosing a wife, a good disposition will be found the most staple +commodity. Most other virtues will flourish in so luxuriant a soil. + +It should be the study of every individual to become rather a _useful_ +than a _rich_ member of society. + +Weak opponents are universally great calumniators. + +To adduce an opinion without some argumentative reason to support it, +shows great precipitancy of idea. It is like raising a sumptuous pile +for the mere gratification of witnessing its destruction. + +It is not the _enormity_, but the _certainty_, of punishment that deters +mankind from evil. Hope will always gain the ascendancy. + +Precept and example are great opposites. The one is generally too +extravagantly lavished: the other abridges more personal comfort than +most people like to sacrifice. + +Few individuals are patriotic enough to participate in the correction of +a public abuse, until the corruption produces personal inconvenience. + +Flattery will ever, more or less, accompany the first overtures to +friendship. It may not be deemed impolitic if it be found to recede as +the intimacy matures. + +W.H. + + * * * * * + + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + + +ROBIN HOOD. + + + Lithe and lysten, gentylmen, + That be of frebore blode, + I shall you tell of a good yeman, + His name was Robyn Hode. + +_Old Ballad_. + + +Centuries have passed away, yet are the merry men of the cross-bow not +forgotten. The oft-told tale of blended theft and charity has run the +round of ages, delighting the homely circle; historians and poets have +found in them a theme suited to their energies, and sung the song of +their exploits to everlasting remembrance. It may be said that few +subjects of yore can boast so bewitching an interest as the present: for +even now, after the lapse of six or seven hundred years, the names of +Robin Hood and Little John are + + + Familiar in our mouths as household words. + + +Drayton writes + + + In this our spacious isle I think there is not one, + But he, of Robin Hood hath heard, and Little John; + And to the end of time the tales shall ne'er be done, + Of Scarlock, George a Green, and Much, the miller's son, + Of Tuck, the merry friar, which many a sermon made + In praise of Robin Hood, his outlaws and their trade. + + +Robin Hood, from the best accounts, was born at Locksley, in the county +of Nottingham, in the reign of King Henry II., and about the year of +Christ 1160. His extraction was noble, and his true name was Robert +Fitzoothes, which vulgar pronunciation corrupted into Robin Hood. He was +frequently styled, and commonly reputed to have been Earl of Huntington, +descending from Ralph Fitzoothes, a Norman, who came over to England +with William Rufus; marrying Maud, daughter of Gilbert de Gaunt, Earl +of Kyme and Lindsey, to which title in the latter part of his life, he +appears to have had some pretension. In his youth, he is reported to +have been of a wild and extravagant disposition, insomuch that his +inheritance being consumed or forfeited by his excesses, and his person +outlawed for debt, either from necessity or choice, he sought an asylum +in the woods and forests. Or, as some writers state, one of his first +exploits was the going into a forest, when, bearing with him a bow +of exceeding strength, he fell into company with certain rangers or +woodmen, who quarrelled with him for making show to use such a bow as no +man was able to shoot with. Robin replied, that he had two better than +that at Locksley, only he bore that with him now as a byrding bowe. +At length the contention grew so hot that a wager was laid about the +killing of a deer at a great distance, for performance of which Robin +offered to lay his head to a sum of money, the advantage of which rash +speech the others presently took; the mark being found out, one of them, +to make Robin's heart faint, and hand unsteady, when he was about +to shoot, urged him with the loss of head if he missed the mark, +notwithstanding which, Robin killed the deer, and gave every man his +money again, except him who upbraided him with loss of head if he lost +the wager; he now said they would drink together, when they began to +quarrel and fight with him, but Robin getting a little distance off, +with shooting, despatched them, then fled away and retired to the woods; +the chief of which seems to be Barnsdale, in Yorkshire, Sherwood, in +Nottinghamshire, and Plompton Park, in Cumberland. Here he either found, +or was afterwards joined by, a number of persons in similar +circumstances, + + + Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth + Thrust from the company of lawful men; + + +who appear to have considered him as their leader. Of these, his +principal favourites, or those in whose courage and fidelity he most +confided, were Little John, (whose surname is said to have been Nailor;) +William Scadlock, (Scathelock or Scarlet;) George a Green, pinder, (or +pound-keeper;) of Wakefield; Much, a miller's son; and a certain monk or +friar, named Tuck. He is likewise said to have been accompanied in his +retreat by a female, of whom he was enamoured, and whose real or adopted +name was Marian. His company, in process of time consisted of a hundred +archers, "men," says Major, "most skilful in battle, whom four times +that number of the boldest fellows durst not attack." His manner of +recruiting was somewhat singular; for, in the words of an old writer, +"wheresoever he heard of any that were of unusual strength and +hardiness, he would disgyse himselfe, and rather than fayle, go lyke a +begger to become acquaynted with them, and after he had tryed them with +fyghting, never give them over tyl he had used means to drawe them to +lyve after his fashion; numerous instances of which are recorded in the +common and popular songs, where indeed he seldom fails to receive a +sound thrashing. After such manner he procured the pynner of Wakefyld, +friar Tuck, and Scadlock. One day meeting him, Scadlock, as he walked +solitary, and like to a man forlorn, because a maid to whom he was +affianced was taken from him by her friends, and given to another that +was old and wealthy; Robin hearing when the marriage day would be, came +to the church as a beggar, having his own company not far off; and who +at the sound of his horn rushed in, took the bride from him that was to +marry her, and caused the priest to wed her and Scadlock together." In +shooting with the long bow, the company excelled all the men in the +land; their archery indeed was unparalleled, as both Robin Hood and +Little John, _it is said_, have frequently shot an arrow a measured +mile, or 1,760 yards. + +Charlton informs us, that in one of Robin's peregrinations, he, attended +by his trusty mate, John, went to dine at Whitby Abbey, with the abbot, +Richard, who having heard them often famed for their great dexterity +in shooting with the long bow, begged them after dinner to show him a +specimen. They went up top of the abbey, and each of them shot an arrow +that fell not far from Whitby-laths. The abbot placed a pillar on the +spot where each arrow fell, and named one Robin Hood's field, the other +John's field. Their distance from Whitby is more than a measured mile. + +In these forests, and with his company, Robin for many years reigned +like an independent sovereign. At perpetual war with the King of England +and all his subjects, (with the exception of the poor and needy, the +desolate and oppressed, and those who stood in need of his protection,) +he defied the power of law and government; an outlaw in those times +having no protection, owed no allegiance, his hand was against every +man, and every man's hand against him; + + + The world was not his friend, nor the world's law. + + +The deer with which the royal forests then abounded, afforded Robin and +his companions an ample supply of food throughout the year. Their mode +of life and domestic economy are more easily guessed at than described. +Nevertheless, the poet has endeavoured to give us an outline in the +following: + + + The merry pranks he play'd would ask an age to tell, + And the adventures strange that Robin Hood befel; + When Mansfield many a time for Robin hath been laid, + How he hath cousen'd them, that him would have betray'd: + An hundred valiant men had this brave Robin Hood, + Still ready at his call, that bowmen were right good, + And of these archers brave, there was not any one + But he could kill a deer, his swiftest speed upon, + Which they did boil and roast, in many a mighty wood, + Sharp hunger, the fine sauce to their more kingly food. + Then taking them to rest, his merry men and he + Slept many a summer's night under the greenwood tree. + What oftentimes he took, he shar'd amongst the poor, + From wealthy Abbot's chests, and churl's abundant store, + He from the husband's bed no married woman wan, + But to his mistress dear, his loved Marian, + Was ever constant known, which wheresoe'er she came + Was sovereign of the woods, chief lady of the game; + Her clothes tuck'd to the knee, and dainty braided hair, + With bow and quiver arm'd, she wander'd here and there + Amongst the forests wild, Diana never knew + Such pleasures, nor such harts as Mariana slew. + + +Robin took away the goods of rich men only, never killing any person +unless he was attacked: nor would he suffer a woman to be maltreated. +Fordun, in the fourteenth century, calls him "that most celebrated +robber;" and Major says, "I disapprove of the rapine of the man, but he +was the most humane, and prince of all robbers." + +Robin Hood seems to have held bishops, abbots, priests, and monks, +indeed all the clergy, in decided aversion; and this hostility was +strongly impressed upon his men: + + + Thyse Byshoppes and thyse Archbyshoppes, + Ye shall them bete and bynde. + + +The abbot of St. Mary's, York, from possessing so much wealth, appears +to have met with Robin's especial animosity: his yearly revenues +amounted to £2,850. 1_s._ 5_d_. Robin was, however, a man of exemplary +piety, according to the notions of that age, and retained a domestic +chaplain, (friar Tuck,) no doubt, for the diurnal celebration of the +divine mysteries. This we learn from an anecdote preserved by Fordun, +"One day, as he heard mass, he was espied by a certain sheriff and +officers belonging to the king, who had frequently before molested him. +His people perceiving what was going forward, advised him to fly with +all speed, but out of reverence of the Sacrament in which he was then +engaged, he refused to do so. Most of his men fled, fearing death, but +Robin confiding in him whom he worshipped, with the few that remained, +set upon his enemies, and soon vanquished them, enriching himself with +the spoils and ransom." Robin held masses in greater veneration ever +after, stating, that Providence deserved still more from him, having +delivered him thus miraculously. At length, the infirmities of age +increasing, and having a great sickness upon him, Robin was desirous to +lose a little blood, and for that purpose he applied to the prioress of +Kirkleys Nunnery, in Yorkshire; who, though a relation, treacherously +suffered him to bleed to death, in, it is said, his 87th year. According +to Grafton's Chronicle, it is said that after his death, the prioress +caused him to be buried under a great stone "by the hywayes syde, and +upon his grave the sayde prioress did lay a very fayre stone, wherein +the names of Robert Hood, William of Goldesborough, and others were +graven. And the cause why she buryed him there was for that the common +passengers and travailers, knowyng and seeyng him there buryed, might +more safely and without feare take their jorneys that way, which they +durst not do in the life of the sayed outlawes; and at eyther ende of +the sayde tombe was erected a crosse of stone." + +Amongst the papers of the learned Dr. Gale, late Dean of York, was found +this epitaph of Robin Hood, written in old English: + + + Hear underneath this laitl stean, + Laiz Robert, Earl of Huntingtun, + Near arcir ther az hie sa goud + An pipl kauld im Robin Heud, + Sick utlawz az hi an iz men + Wil England nivr si agen. + + Obiit 24--kal dekembris, 1247. + + +There is an odd story related of this tombstone: that a certain knight +taking it into his head to have it removed and placed as a hearth-stone +in his great hall, it was laid over night, but the next morning it was +surprisingly removed on one side; it was again laid a second and third +time, and as often turned aside. The knight thinking he had done wrong +by removing it, ordered it should be drawn back again, which was +performed by a pair of oxen and four horses, when twice the number could +scarce remove it before. + +(_To be concluded in our next._) + + * * * * * + + + + +ANECDOTE GALLERY. + + * * * * * + + +HENRY BROUGHAM. + + +In the year ----, as Wull, or William Hall, then overseer of the farm +of Sunderland, in Selkirkshire, Scotland, the labours of the day being +over, was leaning against the dyke of the farm-yard, a young gentleman +of genteel appearance came up to him, wished him good evening, and +observed that the country here looked beautiful. The two getting into +conversation, Hall, who was a talkative lad, after a few observations, +asked him "where he was ga'in?" He said he intended going to Jedburgh; +"and what business hae ye at Jeddart?" says Wull. "Oh," says the +gentleman, "I am going to attend the circuit court; but my feet have +failed me on the road." And observing a pony in the farm-yard, he said, +"That's a bit nice pony of yours;--is it to sell?--would you like to +part with it?" "A wad' na' care," Wull says; "but ma brother Geordy, +he's the farmer; and he's at Selkirk the day. But if we could get a guid +price for't, a daresay we might part wi't." "What do you ask for it?" +says the stranger. "Ma brother," quoth Wull. "says it's a thing we hae +nae use for, and if we could get ought of a wiselike price for't, it +would be as well to let it gang." There were only two words to the +bargain; the gentleman and Wull agreed. Says the gentleman, "By the way, +I cannot pay you to-night; but if you have any hesitation about me, my +name is Henry Brougham, and I refer you to the Earl of Buchan, or Mr. +George Currie, of Greenhead, who will satisfy you." It will be observed +that the places of residence of this nobleman, and Henry's brother +advocate, Mr. Currie, were in the neighbourhood. On this reference, +without making any inquiry, honest, Wull immediately gave the gentleman +the pony, with the necessary trappings. Wull being a man of orderly +habits, went early to bed; and next morning, when the business of the +farm called him and Geordy together, says Wull to Geordy, "Ye was unco +late in coming hame last night; aw salt the powny." "And wha did you +sell it to?" "Oh, to a young gentleman." "And what did you get for't?" +Wull having mentioned the price--"My faith," says Geordy, "ye hae selt +it weel." "But," says Wull, "a did na' get the siller." "You d--d idiot, +ye did na' gie away the powny without getting the siller for't; wha was +he?" "Oh, he ca'd himsel' Henry Brougham, and he said if a had ony +jealousin' about him, that the Earl of Buchan, or George Currie, +advocate, Greenhead, would say he was guid enough for the money. On, he +was an honest-looking lad; a could hae trusted ony thing in his hand." +Geordy's temper became quite ungovernable at Wull's simplicity. After +the whole southern circuit was finished, there was no word of payment, +and Wull's life became quite miserable at Geordy's incessant grumbling +and taunting; the latter ever and anon repeating, "What a d--d idiot +Wull was to gie the beest without the money till a man he kend naething +about;" and the other as pertinaciously insisting, "that he (the +gentleman) was an honest-looking man, there was nae fear o' him." In the +course of six weeks an order came for the payment of the steed. "L--d," +says Wull, "did na I tell ye he was an honest man, a kend by the look o' +him." From that moment Wull stood eminently high in Geordy's eyes; and +while the one chuckled at his penetration of character, the other was no +less humbled at having called his superior judgment in question. William +Hall is still alive, and there is not a prouder man in Britain's Isle +than he is when he relates the little incident in his life, of which the +present Lord Chancellor of Great Britain forms the +hero.--_Schoolmaster._ + + * * * * * + + +O'BRIEN, THE IRISH GIANT. + + +This extraordinary giant, whose height was nearly nine feet, was born at +Kinsale, in the kingdom of Ireland. His real name was Patrick Cotter; he +was of obscure parentage, and originally laboured as a brick-layer; but +his uncommon size rendered him a mark for the avarice of a showman, who, +for the payment of £50. per annum, obtained the liberty of exhibiting +him for three years in England. Not contented with his bargain, the +chapman attempted to _underlet_ to another speculator, the liberty of +showing him, and poor Cotter resisting this nefarious transaction, was +saddled with a fictitious debt, and thrown into a spunging house in +Bristol. In this situation he was, happily for him, visited in prison by +a gentleman of the city, who, in compassion to his distress, and having +reason to think that he was unjustly detained, very generously became +his bail, and ultimately so far investigated the affair, that he not +only obtained him his liberty, but freed him from all kind of obligation +to serve his task-master any longer. He was at this time eighteen years +old. He subsequently retained, to his last breath, a most lively sense +of the obligation conferred upon him when a stranger, and in need; which +he manifested also by very _honourable mention_ in his will. It happened +to be September when he was liberated, and, by the further assistance of +his benefactor, he was enabled to set up for himself in the fair then +held in St. James's. Success crowned his undertaking, and in three days, +instead of being in penury, he saw himself possessed of thirty pounds, +English money. Let those who know the peasantry of Ireland, judge of his +riches! He now commenced a regular exhibition of his person, which he +continued until the last two years of his life, when, having realized a +sufficient fortune to keep a carriage and live in good style, he +declined what was always exceedingly irksome to his feelings. He was +unoffending and amiable in his manners, to his friends and acquaintance, +of whom he had latterly a large circle; and he was neither averse to a +cheerful glass nor pleasant company. He had naturally good sense, and +his mind was not uncultivated. Mr. Cotter had at one time in his +possession, a regular journal of his life, written from day to day, for +amusement, but which a whim of the moment induced him to commit to the +flames, though he afterwards much regretted the circumstance. He died in +his 46th year, September 8, 1806, at the Hotwells, Bristol. In his last +moments he was attended by Mr. Plowden, and departed without the +smallest apparent pain or agony. He was buried in the Romish chapel, +Trenchard-street, at the early hour of six, to prevent as much as +possible, a crowd; notwithstanding which, the street was so thronged, +that the assistance of the constables, was necessary to keep the door of +the chapel, and resist the importunity of the public to behold the +interment. It is supposed 2,000 persons at least were present. The +ceremony of High Mass was performed at ten o'clock. The coffin, of lead, +measured 9 feet 2 inches in the clear, and the wooden case 4 inches +more. It was 3 feet across the shoulders. No hearse could be procured +sufficiently long to contain it; on which account, that end of the +coffin which could not be shut in, was covered with black cloth. +Fourteen men bore him from the hearse to the grave, into which he was +let down with pulleys. To prevent any attempt to disturb his remains, of +which Cotter had, when living, the greatest horror, the grave was made +12 feet in a solid rock. + +FROM A CORRESPONDENT. + + * * * * * + + + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + + * * * * * + + +STEAM CARRIAGES ON COMMON ROADS. + + +[One of the most accredited works upon this vital topic is _An +Historical and Practical Treatise upon Elemental Locomotion;_ by Mr. +Alexander Gordon, Civil Engineer. It shows the commercial, political, +and moral advantages; the means by which an elemental power is obtained; +the rise, progress, and description of steam-carriages; the roads upon +which they may be made to travel; and the ways and means for their +general introduction. This arrangement of the subject is exceedingly +well executed by Mr. Gordon, who has added a series of efficient +illustrations--from a diagram simplifying the high-pressure modification +of the steam-engine as applied to steam-carriages, to the last completed +Steam Drag and Carriage attached; while the most material points of Mr. +Gordon's views are fortified by a condensation of the evidence before +the select committee of the House of Commons. All this and much more is +accomplished within two hundred octavo pages, which a less economical +and therefore less praiseworthy editor would have expanded into a costly +quarto. Mr. Gordon's work has thus been planned and executed in the +right spirit: he maintains national benefits which must arise from the +adoption of steam carriages, and he seeks to place his views in the +hands of all who are immediately interested in the subject by means as +efficient as economical. We quote a few extracts, (the most interesting +to the general reader,) from the first chapter, which aims at a cursory +estimate of a few of the leading commercial, political, and moral +advantages which will accrue to the community by the substitution of +inanimate or steam power for animate or horse power, for locomotive +purposes; leaving its spirit of fairness to the just appreciation of +the reader.] + + +_Economy of Conveyance_. + +In a great commercial country like ours, extending its ramifications to +every branch of natural and artificial produce, it is almost superfluous +to remark that a vast capital is sunk annually in the mere transport of +marketable commodities: and which is not only a loss to the seller as +being an unproductive outlay, but entails a heavy increase of expense +to the buyer also upon every article of daily consumption. Any means, +therefore, that will accelerate the conveyance, and at the same time +reduce materially the expense of carriage, bears upon its surface a +great public gain. + +Expeditious locomotion, to the commercial world more particularly, in +every mercantile transaction, is equivalent to capital: and such is the +vast importance of economy of time here, that no extra expense is +considered as too great to accomplish the utmost speed. We have this +practically illustrated in the preference which society gives to a +complicated machinery put into motion at an enormous expense, to +travelling by the winds of heaven which cost nothing. + +To the merchant time gained is equal to money: for time occupied in +travelling is just so much profitable employment lost. Time occupied +in the transport of goods is equivalent to so much interest of capital +spent: for a thousand pounds invested in merchandise is unproductive so +many days as the transport is tedious. That part of the capital of an +individual which is employed in the carrying of his goods to and from +market, is so much abstracted from his means of producing more of the +article in which he exerts his ingenuity and labour, whether it be in +agriculture or manufacture. + +Easy communication lessens the time occupied in the transport; and a +saving of time lessens the distance, or our notion of distance. This +effects a saving of money: and a saving of money permits of a greater +employment of capital. The man who can only afford to keep one traveller +soliciting orders for his goods, will thus be enabled to keep two; +because the expense of travelling will be reduced a half. Or it may be, +he will find it more advantageous to employ the saving in the production +of a more delicate and desirable article in the way of his trade. The +increased traffic from place to place will give likewise an impulse to +business, which, in the present stagnant times, is most desirable. The +manufacturer in Scotland will find the London market more easily arrived +at: and the merchant in the metropolis will be able to get his orders +more rapidly given and executed. A conveyance which, in good management, +would be a weekly one, is, in bad management, a monthly one: and the +carrier is obliged to quadruple his charge for the transport. To meet +this charge the merchant has to add to the cost of the article, and so +on throughout the various gradations of mercantile transition, until the +consumer pays the necessarily increased price. Hence, whatever reduces +the price of transportation, reduces the price of the commodity +transported. Whatever reduces the traveller's time, reduces his claim +for compensation, and (competition being always at work) he is content +with a smaller profit upon his merchandise. If a scarcity of any article +occurs at one point of the kingdom, the monopolist there cannot continue +his increased price for any duration of time. Commerce may, in this +respect, be resembled to water, for, if not obstructed, it will always +circulate till it finds its level. An opening or channel being +furnished, an equalised supply will make its way wherever required. + +Thus we see that the strength, wealth, and happiness of a nation, depend +very much upon facility of communication. The ill-defended spot in the +empire is alive to the reality, that subsidies having bad roads or a +tedious navigation to pass may arrive too late to present an effectual +resistance to a plundering enemy. The hard-working emigrant of a remote +settlement, distant from a market, feels the difficulty and loss he +sustains in bringing produce to the spot where merchants and dealers +meet for the purposes of exchange. A spot uncommunicated with may be +visited by the honors of famine, and no channel exist for conveying +thither the food required. A grievous pestilence may sweep off an +isolated people before the aid of the physician can arrive to arrest +its progress. + +Such facts are obvious to even the most indifferent observers of human +society. Yet, nevertheless, there have been, and are, short-sighted +individuals, in every gradation of it, with minds and views so warped +and distorted by an ignorant selfishness, that they have opposed +every improvement which tended to make the least change in their +long-established habits. Such persons were they, who, during the last +century, promoted petitions from counties in the neighbourhood of +London, praying Parliament not to extend the turnpike-roads into remoter +parts of the country, lest these remote districts, by means of a less +expensive labour, should be able to sell their agricultural products +in the London markets at a cheaper rate than themselves!--and such in +our own day are the attempts made to put down steam conveyance. How +short-sighted we are! Did we consult our own advantage we should see +that those facilities of communication, against which we oppose +ourselves, are the growing sinews of a greater fabric of wealth and +prosperity. + +Such are the numerous and important advantages, in a commercial point of +view, which will result to society from the substitution of elementary +for physical power. But even these, great though they be, are of +trifling consideration when compared with the immense benefits which +will result from the substitution when brought into operation as an +economic principle. + + +_Substitution of Steam for Horse Power_. + +[Mr. Gordon then refers to the conclusion of political economists "that +the grand source of all our evils is _redundancy_ of population; or in +other words, an increase of animated life _beyond_ the nourishment +adequate to support it."] + +The substitution of inanimate for animate power, if not the panacea which +is to cure all the evils of our condition, is at least one that comes +recommended as a matter of fact--easy of operation, and effectual in its +result. If want of food, or, in other words, redundancy of population +be the bane of the country, it does not propose to meet that evil by a +visionary project, tending in its operation to unhinge society--tedious in +its process, and ending at length in bitter disappointment--but it meets +the evil directly, substantially, and effectually, by the substitution of +food. + +And how are all these immense advantages to be effected?--By the +substitution of inanimate for animate power. At present, the animate +power employed in the commercial transportations of this great kingdom is +estimated to amount to two millions of horses: each horse consumes as much +food as is necessary for the support of eight men. Hence the conversion of +its consumption to purposes of human existence would, if carried to this +practical extent, amount to a quantity of food equal to support sixteen +millions of people. + +Where the product is so enormous--so vastly beyond our immediate +necessities--it is not requisite to go into any minutiae of detail. To +calculate all the gains we will leave to the political economist, as also +to bring the matter out in its fair proportions; but to establish the +matter clearly within the bounds of a safe, an easy, and practical issue, +we have merely to state, that a conversion of food from a physical to a +moral purpose, adequate to the supply of one-fourth part of the above +aggregate estimate, that is to say, to four millions, is amply sufficient +to relieve us at the present moment from that pressure of pauperism which +sits like an incubus upon the energies of the nation, and which will +precipitate us, if not timely avoided, into speedy and irretrievable ruin. + +Now the suppression of the stage-horses upon our principal thoroughfares, +and of the dray-horses in the great commercial towns, may be calculated +to economize a saving of food equivalent to the supply of the above number +of human beings. + +It is, perhaps, not superfluous to remark, that the amount of food, +equal to the supply of the said four millions, is not the produce of an +extended agriculture and proportionate outlay, but is just _that part_ +of the annual produce of the country, subtracted from the whole, which +is at present required for the mere purpose of _transportation_--i.e. to +feed the animals used for draught,--and is consequently a dead loss as +unproductive capital. + +In addition to the evil arising from such a consumption of unproductive +food, is also to be considered the very great loss consequent upon the +heavy capital sunk in _horse_ purchase. Were this viewed, as properly it +ought, as money withheld from other purposes of trade, and which might +be more advantageously invested, our capitalists and men of science +would not oppose the substitution of inanimate for animate power in the +way they have done. Neither, did the landed interest maturely weigh the +varied benefits it will produce in agriculture, would they view it in +the light of an invasion upon their respective interests. They do not +give a _quid_ without receiving a _quo_ every way as valuable. The +reduction of farm consumption--the bugbear of the project--will be +met and compensated by a steady and proportionate demand from other +quarters. Whilst in the United Kingdom, the 8,100,000 acres of land now +required to feed the horses, together with the capital sunk in their +purchase, will, when both applied to other and general purposes, amply +compensate for the exchange. + +In order more readily to show one effect, let the horses be considered +only 1,000; a smaller number may not make the argument so difficult. Let +us reduce _this_ number, and the farmer may then turn his oat-ground +into wheat-ground; and instead of so much land being employed to furnish +food for a thousand horses, the same land, when turned into tillage fit +to sow wheat upon, will produce sufficient bread-corn to feed two +thousand poor families. + +Again, if instead of 20,000 horses, we keep 30,000 fat oxen, butchers' +meat will be always cheap to the operative classes, whilst the quantity +of tallow will of course make candles cheap: and so many hides lower the +price of leather, and of shoes and all other articles made of leather. +Or the same quantity of land may then keep thirty thousand cows, the +milk of which will make both butter and cheese cheaper to the poor, +as well as the labouring manufacturer; all which articles are very +considerable, and of material moment in the prices of our manufacturers, +as they, in a great measure, work their trade to rise and fall in price, +according to the cheapness of their materials and the necessaries of +life. The same may be said in favour of more sheep and woollen cloths. + +(_To be concluded in our next_.) + + * * * * * + + +THE EXPECTED COMET. + + +The comet of Biela is approaching the earth's orbit with increasing +velocity, and towards the end of the following month it will partially +intersect the course which the earth traverses in its journey round the +sun. Happily, the comet will be in advance of the earth, so that unless +our globe augments its pace, or the anticipated visitant retards its +journey, there will be no risk of any dangerous proximity, much less of +a hostile collision. During this return, at least, it will always be +more than two hundred times the moon's distance from us; and were it, +at any future time, to approach very much nearer than the orbit of our +satellite, its influence would be too inconsiderable to affect any of +the elements of the earth's path. + +This comet is about 40,000 miles in diameter, and of that class termed +nebulous, having no tail, and probably no solid nucleus. The point where +the comet's centre crosses the plane of the ecliptic is within and very +near the curve which the earth describes,--so very near, that the +outskirts of the nebulous matter of the comet might possibly, at some +future visit, envelope our planet, and would thus enclose the earth, it +is not unlikely, at its ensuing return, if it were about a month later +than the time calculated, of its intersecting the plane of the earth's +motion. + +The presence of the moon during the past week has interfered with +telescopic observations, or probably the comet might have been detected +as a small round nebulosity, moving midway between the northern horn of +Taurus and the bright star Capelle, towards Gemini. There are nebulae +near its course for which it must not be mistaken. + +J.T. BARKER. + +_Deptford_. + +_Literary Gazette._ + + * * * * * + + + + +NEW BOOKS. + + * * * * * + + +THE NEW GIL BLAS + + +[This is, in its way, a clever book with a very un-clever title. We +expected better tact in its author, Mr. Inglis, than the adoption of the +title of one of the most successful and least imitable fictions of +modern times. The very title-page provokes a comparison between the Gil +Blas of Le Sage, and a string of romantic adventures, by Mr. Inglis; we +need not add, much to the disadvantage of the latter. It reminds us of +an attempt to cover the sun with a wet blanket. At the same time, the +merit of Mr. Inglis's Gil Blas must not be lowly rated. It abounds with +lively incident, pleasant bits and scenes of travel, and world-knowledge +very agreeably communicated, while its episodal narratives are of the +most wonder-fraught character. It has all the glitter and gaiety of +Spanish life and manners. The author discourses eloquently of "the +charming Andaluz," and other _intriguantes_--absolute Dons of fathers +and monsters of husbands--mingling "bloody-minded assassins," and +hideous wretches, with the sweet emotions of dark eyes, jetty ringlets, +and heaving bosoms. Limbs are lopped off, eyes put out, heads slivered, +and blood spilled like water; and there are scenes in dark towers and +visions of clanking chains in terrific abundance. One of the latter +description we have abridged and adapted to our pages. The hero is +convicted of murder, upon such evidence as this:--"We found the poor +dead man dead at his feet, and the sword in his hand, covered with +blood,--the murdered man lies in the ante-room run through and through." +A pretty scene of justice ensues, the fact being that the murdered man +was a noted robber who had attacked the hero, and became worsted in the +affray. The sentence is solitary imprisonment for life:] + +The unfortunate persons whose crimes have subjected them to the dreadful +punishment of solitary imprisonment for life, in any of the southern +parts of Spain, are most generally sent to Tarifa.[3] Along both sides +of the port, there is a mole nearly half a mile in length; at the +extremity of which on either side, and at the entrance of the harbour, +stands a huge and ancient Moorish tower, about a hundred and sixty feet +in height above the sea. In this tower, which contains six chambers, +one above another, prisoners for life are confined; and thither I was +accordingly conveyed. It is the policy of the Spanish laws, to render +the punishment of criminals subservient to public utility; and this is +in some degree effected even by solitary confinement. The prisoners +confined in these towers are employed in turns, night by night, in +trimming the lamps--which are a beacon to the vessels at sea. From each +chamber, there is a separate ascent to the summit of the tower; so that +the prisoners never see each other, and each in his turn is obliged to +remain from night until day-break upon the summit,--part of his +punishment for the destruction of human life, being thus made +subservient to its preservation. + + + [3] A town in the straits of Gibraltar, the most southern point of + the continent of Europe. + + +From these towers there are no visible means of escape: in the chambers, +the windows are merely circular holes in walls at least six feet in +thickness; and the outside walls being entirely smooth, there are no means +of descent from the summit unless by a fearful leap of a hundred and sixty +feet into the sea; for on the side towards the town, a wall of twenty +feet high shuts out the prospect of land; serving at the same time as a +hindrance to any communication, and as an aggravation of punishment, by +shutting out from the eye of the prisoner, the cheerful lights of human +habitations, or perhaps even, it might be, the dim view of human forms. It +only requires to be added to this description, that a ponderous iron chain +stretches from one tower to the other, across the mouth of the port, +depending from fastenings situated about two feet below the summit of each, +but forming a curve by its own weight; and in the centre, reaching to +within twenty or thirty feet of the surface of the water, from which point, +other chains are attached, reaching horizontally to the towers on either +side. It is needless to say, that during the day this great chain is +lowered into the water when vessels desire to enter; but at night, it is +again raised; and there being rumours of war at this period, no ships were +admitted during the night,--the chain being a security against an enemy +entering, and cutting out vessels under favour of the darkness. + +[By aid of a telescope, he recognises on the opposite tower a fair +prisoner, "the lovely Isabel," who had been confined there upwards of a +year for conspiring to murder her first husband. The hero by aid of the +chain, swings to Isabel's tower, where they concert an escape.] + +As Isabel pressed closer to me, I felt, that, although far from agreeable +to sojourn in such a place, even with Isabel, this would yet be greatly +preferable to solitude. But to such a project, many serious difficulties +presented themselves: I represented to Isabel, that if I did not reach the +opposite tower that night, it would be discovered, when the food put into +my cell remained untasted, that I was gone; and as the conclusion would +necessarily be, that I had leaped into the sea, no more food would be put +into my cell, and consequently, when I did return, I should die of hunger. +"But," said Isabel, "why return ever? Providence seems to delight in +throwing us together,--and if, as unhappily seems too true, the doom of +both of us be to live and die in these towers, why should we not----" + +"Live and die together, you would say;" and, in truth, there was reason +in this proposal of Isabel. "Why, indeed, should we not?" said I; but in +yielding so readily to this suggestion, I looked farther than Isabel did. +Isabel had doubtless many charms,--and here, I should at least have nothing +to fear from rivals; but that which weighed with me fully as much as the +prospect of a honey-moon, was this,--that a man who is supposed to be dead, +has greater facilities of escape,--and so, without at that time saying any +thing upon this subject to Isabel, I acquiesced in the proposal of changing +my quarters, and being her guest for the present. + +"There cannot be a doubt," said Isabel, "that the Pope has long ago been +applied to by my husband to dissolve our marriage." + +"And that his holiness has granted the petition, too," said I. "And +although ours be a new case, as it probably never happened before that the +idea of marrying was entertained by persons in solitary imprisonment,--yet +as there is here neither church nor priest, Heaven will, without doubt, +accept our vows, and bless us:" and thus did I become all but the husband +of Isabel. + +Several days elapsed before it was again the turn of Isabel to watch on +the summit; meantime the food that was intended for one, was made to +suffice for two; we conversed in whispers, lest my embryo plan of escape +should be frustrated by a premature discovery of my dwelling place; +and even if I had looked to no ulterior advantages, from my change of +quarters, the society of Isabel would have been a sufficient reward for +the peril of my journey. But I had now concocted in my mind, a plan +of escape, which I hastened to put in execution, after having first +communicated it to Isabel, whose co-operation was necessary to ensure +its success. + +It may have been already gathered, that the characteristic of the +punishment of solitary confinement in the towers of Tarifa, consisted in +the rigidness with which it was enforced: once admitted there, and no +human eye ever more rested upon the living form of the prisoner. The food +necessary for the preservation of life, and therefore, for the continuance +of punishment, was placed, and removed, by unseen hands; nor was the sound +of a human voice ever heard within these stone chambers. But to this, one +exception was provided: although it was the policy of the law, to punish +the living culprit thus severely, the church did not resign her claims to +the care of his soul; once accordingly, in every month, a holy tread was +heard along the secret passages, and an iron screen being thrown hack, the +confessor, a Franciscan friar, took his seat at a thick grating; behind +which nothing could be seen, though the confession of the prisoner might +pass to the ear of the holy man, and his counsel in return reach the ear, +or it might be, the heart, of the solitary criminal. The door by which the +prisoner first entered was never unbarred, until the hour when his coffin +was carried in and out. + +The day now approached, when the visit of the confessor might be +expected, and I laid my plans accordingly, and executed them in the +following manner: + +"Isabel," said I, as the slow tread announced the approach of the +confessor, "you must feign to be dead; spread the pallet opposite to the +grating, and lay yourself upon it." + +I found some difficulty in prevailing upon Isabel to mock the king of +terrors; but, at length, I succeeded in persuading her,--by representing +that it was easier to counterfeit death than to meet it; and that to do +the one afforded the only chance of avoiding the other; and scarcely was +Isabel extended upon the floor, when the screen was heard to open upon +its harsh hinges, and the confessor to say, "erring daughter, approach." + +"Father," said I, in a low sepulchral tone, at the same time advancing +noiselessly towards the grating. + +"Holy St. Francis," said the confessor, in a voice of terror, and making +at the same time a retrograde movement from the grating, "'tis a man!" + +"Father," said I, in the same unearthly tone, "fear nothing, it is no +man that addresses thee; well thou knowest that no fleshly form can +gain entrance here; it is not a man, but a spirit, with whom thou art +communing." As I spoke thus, I could hear the Friar rapidly commending +himself to the protection of the Holy Mother of God, and of all the +Saints; and I continued, "She whom thou camest to confess, is now beyond +the reach of thy counsel: her soul has gone to its heavy account, and +her body lieth there;" said I, gliding aside, and knowing well, that +although nothing could be seen from the cell through the grating, yet +all within was visible from the other side. "I am the ghost of the +murdered José Andrades;" (the husband of Isabel) and at the same time +that I made this announcement, I threw back a part of the hood that +covered my face, and the dim light from the circular hole falling upon +the upper part of the countenance, showed a visage which fasting and +confinement had already made more like the face of a dead than of +a living man, and which I had taken care to besmear with blood. + +A new exclamation of horror, and still more rapid prayers, followed this +revelation. + +"Here," continued I, again drawing the hood over my face, and +approaching the grate--from which I could hear the Friar retreating; +"here will I remain, in dread communion with the body of my murderer, +until it be taken hence; delay not to let this be done, else I will +speak with thee nearer anon." + +The Friar being already as near to the ghost of a murdered man as he +probably desired to be, and willing to prevent the execution of this +threat of a nearer colloquy, swung the screen forward, which closed with +a tremendous clank, and the rapid footsteps of the terrified confessor +speedily died away. + +"Ah, Dios!" said Isabel, "I had scarcely courage to go through my part: +when you spoke of my soul having gone to its account, I was on the point +of rising, to convince myself that I was yet living." + +"Surely," returned I, "you may find courage to personate a dead woman, +when I have no hesitation in personating the ghost of a murdered man; +the stratagem succeeds; you will have but once more to play your part; +and I am much mistaken if we be not both outside of this tower before +another day shall pass over our heads;" and animated by this hope, +Isabel promised to obey my directions. + +Now, it will easily be believed, that the confessor, upon leaving +the tower, would immediately communicate to the civil and spiritual +authorities, the particulars of the extraordinary interview that had +taken place; and that although doubts might at first be entertained of +the sanity of the narrator, yet, that his positive asseverations would +at length so far weigh with the alcalde, and the bishop of Ronda, who +then chanced to be making his yearly visitation to Tarifa, as to induce +them to judge with their own eyes, of the truth of what had been told to +them. I was prepared for this; and when in less than three hours, the +iron screen was heard to fall back, Isabel was again stretched upon the +ground, while I stood motionless by her side. Who were the persons that +peered through the grate, I am unable to tell, but whoever they might +be, they were quickly satisfied with their scrutiny; for when I glided +towards the grate, at the same time allowing the hood to fall partially +back, the screen was suddenly closed, and quick retiring footsteps +announced the further success of the stratagem. + +However extraordinary the thing might seem, and however hard of belief, +no doubt could any longer rest upon the minds of those whom first duty, +and then incredulity, had led to the tower, that something supernatural +inhabited the chamber where lay the dead Isabel. Her, they had seen +extended on the floor; and they had seen another being, which could not be +a mortal, because well they were convinced no mortal could gain entrance +there. That it was the ghost of him who had been murdered by the inmate +of the cell, no one could doubt: and the sooner therefore the body of the +wretched prisoner could be carried out, the sooner would this spirit cease +to haunt the tower of Tarifa. It was in this manner therefore, that the +affair was argued by the confessor, the bishop, and the alcalde, among +whom the following colloquy took place: + +"I suppose, gentlemen," said the confessor, "you are now sufficiently +convinced that I have told you no tale." + +"Sufficiently convinced," said the alcalde; yet breathless with fear. + +"There is no doubt of it," said the bishop; panting from the rapidity of +his descent from the tower. + +"Why," rejoined the confessor, "I was as near to it as I am to you!" +shuffling up close to the alcalde's nose. + +"Ah, Dios!" said the alcalde, drawing involuntarily back. + +"'Tis certainly," said the bishop, "a stain upon the sanctity of this +catholic town, that a thing of this kind should have taken place; the +quieter the affair is kept, the better: no doubt, senor alcalde, a coffin +can he prepared to-night, to carry away the body; those who carry it, must +know nothing of what we have seen; and you, as chief magistrate, will +superintend the removal." + +"Truly," said the alcalde, "'tis a duty I would rather avoid: I am a poor +sinful man, ill fitted to grapple with the powers of darkness; whereas holy +men, like my lord bishop and the good friar, can have nothing to fear." + +"I fear nothing," said the confessor. + +"Oh, we fear nothing," said the bishop; "and it does seem to me, that +the reverend father cannot well be excused taking a part in this duty, +as he is in some sort under an engagement to the evil spirit (crossing +himself) to see it executed." + +"But," rejoined the friar, "would it not he felt by us all to be a great +security, were we in this emergency to make use of the relics which are +deposited in the church of San Salvador,--and which no one, save the +bishop, is worthy to handle?" + +"'Tis an excellent suggestion," said the alcalde. + +Now the bishop, desirous no doubt of paying a compliment to the alcalde +and the friar by intrusting these sacred relics to their care, in place +of taking upon himself the honourable office of being their bearer, +said:--"The relics are indeed efficacious in cases of this nature; and +while handling them, the greatest sinner upon earth has nothing to fear +from an interview with any spirit. I possess the power of delegating to +whom I will, the high honour of bearing these relics,--and into your hands, +gentlemen, I will jointly commit them; and while you are engaged in the +performance of your duty, I will invoke for you the protection of our +tutelary saint." + +Such, I say, was the colloquy that took place between the bishop, the +alcalde, and the friar,--and when this proposal was made by the bishop, +there can be no question that the fears of the alcalde were greatly +allayed; and that the qualms even of the friar were in some degree +quieted--so great was the confidence placed in the virtues of the relics. + +Meanwhile, the hours passed away, and night came. I entertained little +doubt, that this very night the coffin would be sent for Isabel; trusting +to the efficacy of the threat held out to the confessor; and I prepared +accordingly. "You will have nothing to do, Isabel," said I, "but to follow +close at my heels." In thus providing for the escape of Isabel, I confess +it was chiefly a regard for my own safety that prompted me to this. A +sojourn of between one and two weeks in the tower, upon half the miserable +pittance of a prisoner, had greatly cooled the fever of my love; and I +foresaw that a companion would, in no small degree, interfere with my +projects of independence, and might even perhaps lessen the chances of +my ultimate escape,--but then, if Isabel were left behind, or could be +prevailed upon to allow herself to be put into her coffin, it was too much +to expect of her, that she would permit it to be consigned to the earth +without giving some audible demonstration of being alive; and if one part +of the trick were detected, threats or punishment would soon discover all +the other parts of it; and my recapture would no doubt be the consequence. +Besides--for why should I conceal the virtuous movements of my mind--I felt +a repugnance in leaving Isabel to perpetual imprisonment, or to the chance +of being buried alive; but feeling at the same time, that if successful in +delivering her from confinement, I should in that case have sufficiently +acquitted myself of obligations, and satisfied my scruples, I resolved that +upon the first favourable opportunity I would dispose of Isabel, and +recover my independence. + +And now, the crisis was at hand. Slow, heavy steps, as of persons +carrying a burden, were heard approaching: other, and more hesitating +steps, mingled with these. At length they reached the massive iron door, +and the burden was put down. The thickness of the door was too great, to +permit the words spoken without to be heard within; but for some time +the monotonous sound of a voice continued--doubtless, a prayer of length +and efficacy by the Franciscan. The voice ceased; the chains and bolts +were one by one withdrawn; the door slowly swung back, and a glare of +flambeaux flashed into the cell. Isabel lay on the pallet, while I stood +motionless in the middle of the floor--my face turned towards the door, +and my hood partly thrown back. No sooner did the light reveal my +figure, than the coffin-bearers, uttering an affrighted scream, made but +one step from the top to the bottom of the staircase: for a moment the +alcalde and the friar, who partly expected what they saw, and who partly +trusted to the protection of the relics which they held in their hands, +stood their ground; crossing themselves with great rapidity, and +muttering prayers the while: but upon the first movement I made towards +them, they followed the coffin-bearers with so much precipitancy, that +in their eagerness which should be the first, both rolled down the +stairs, and the flambeaux falling from their trembling hands, were +extinguished. + +"Now is the time," said I in a whisper; and I quickly descended the +staircase, followed by Isabel. By the light of a smothered flambeau, +I could perceive that the alcalde and the friar lay senseless, whether +from fear or from wounds, I could not tell. The friar's habit had +somehow slipped off his shoulders; and thinking it might be useful as a +disguise, I picked it up, and stumbling also upon one of the boxes of +relics, I hid it in my bosom: there was no obstacle to our escape--the +doors all stood open; and in a few moments we found ourselves outside of +the tower, while the retreating steps of the coffin-bearers were heard +dying away in the distance. We lost not a moment's time, but immediately +proceeded quickly along the mole, which we had all to ourselves; the +terrified coffin-bearers had no doubt spread the alarm, for as we +approached every post was in its turn abandoned; the alarmed sentinels +throwing down their weapons, and flying before us; and I took care not +to neglect the opportunity of arming myself against need, with a good +sabre. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE NATURALIST. + + * * * * * + + +THE ORNITHORHYNCUS PARADOXUS. + + +The following interesting fact in natural history was communicated by +Dr. Weatherhead, to the committee of science of the Zoological Society, +at their last meeting. + +For the last five-and-twenty years naturalists in Europe have +been striving to obtain the carcass of the impregnated female +_Ornithorhynchus paradoxus_, for the purpose of ascertaining its mode +of gestation, but without success; for it is by dissection alone that +the hitherto doubtful and disputed point concerning the anomalous +and paradoxical manner of bring forth and rearing its young can be +satisfactorily demonstrated. This long-sought-for desideratum is at +length attained. Through the kindness of his friend, Lieut. the +honourable Lauderdale Maule, of the 39th regiment, Dr. Weatherhead has +had the bodies of several _ornithorynchi_ transmitted to him from New +Holland, in one of which the ova preserved; establishing, along with +other curious circumstances ascertained, the extraordinary fact, that +this animal, which combines the bird and quadruped together in its +outward form, lays eggs and hatches them like the one, and rears and +suckles them like the other.--_Proc. Zool. Soc._ + + * * * * * + + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + + * * * * * + + +JUNOT AND NAPOLEON. + + +This soldier of fortune being one day, during the siege of Toulon, at his +post at the battery of St. Culottes, an officer of artillery, who had +recently come from Paris to direct the operations of the siege, asked from +the officer who commanded the post for a young non-commissioned officer who +had at once intelligence and boldness. The officer immediately called for +Junot; the officer surveyed him with that eye which already began to take +the measure of human capacity. + +"You will change your dress," said the commander, "and you will go there +to bear this order." He showed him with his hand a spot at a distance on +the same side. The young sergeant blushed up to the eyes; his eyes +kindled with fire. "I am not a spy," said he, "to execute their orders; +seek another to bear them." "Do you refuse to obey?" said the superior +officer; "do you know to what punishment you expose yourself in so +doing?" "I am ready to obey," said Junot, "but I will go in my uniform, +or not at all." The commander smiled, and looked at him attentively. +"But if you do, they will kill you." "What does that signify?" said +Junot; "you know me little to imagine I would be pained at such an +occurrence, and, as for me, it is all one--come, I go as I am; is it not +so?" And he set off singing. + +After he was gone, the superior officer asked, "What is the name of that +young man?" "Junot," replied the other. The commanding officer then +wrote his name in his pocket-book. "He will make his way," he replied. +This judgment was already of decisive importance to Junot, for the +reader must readily have divined that the officer of artillery was +Napoleon. + +A few days after, being on his rounds at the same battery, Bonaparte +asked for some one who could write well. Junot stepped out of the ranks +and presented himself. Bonaparte recognised him as the sergeant who had +already fixed his attention. He expressed his satisfaction at seeing +him, and desired him to place himself so as to write under his +dictation. Hardly was the letter done, when a bomb, projected from the +English batteries, fell at the distance of ten yards, and, exploding, +covered all present with gravel and dust. "Well," said Junot, laughing, +"we shall at least not require sand to dry the ink." + +Bonaparte fixed his eyes on the young sergeant; he was calm, and had +not even quivered at the explosion. That event decided his fortune. +He remained attached to the commander of artillery, and returned no +more to his corps. At a subsequent time, when the town surrendered, and +Bonaparte was appointed General, Junot asked no other recompense for his +brave conduct during the siege, but to be named his aide-de-camp. He and +Muiron were the first who served him in that capacity.--_Memoirs of the +Duchess of Abrantes._ + + * * * * * + + +EFFECT OF DISEASE ON MEMORY. + + +Failure of memory takes place in a variety of ways. It is sometimes +general, and extends to every subject; but it is frequently far more +manifest on some subjects than on others. Salmuth mentions a case in +which the affected person had forgotten to pronounce words, but could +nevertheless write them. Mr. J. Hunter was suddenly attacked with a +singular affection of this kind in December 1789, when on a visit at the +house of a friend in town. "He did not know in what part of the house he +was, not even the name of the street when told it, nor where his own house +was: he had not a conception of any thing existing beyond the room he was +in, and yet was perfectly conscious of the loss of memory. He was sensible +of impressions of all kinds from the senses, and therefore looked out of +the window, although rather dark, to see if he could be made sensible of +the situation of the house. The loss of memory gradually went off, and in +less than half an hour his memory was perfectly recovered." This might +possibly be connected with a gouty habit to which Mr. Hunter was subject, +though not at this time labouring under a paroxysm. The late Bishop of +Landaff, Dr. Watson, gives a singular case of partial amnesia in his +father, the result of an apoplectic attack. "I have heard him ask twenty +times a-day," says Dr. Watson, "What is the name of the lad that is at +college?" (my elder brother); and yet he was able to repeat, without a +blunder, hundreds of lines out of classic authors. And hence, there is +no reason for discrediting the story of a German statesman, a Mr. Von B. +related in the seventh volume of the _Psycological Magazine_, who +having called at a gentleman's house, the servants of which did not know +him, was under the necessity of giving in his name; but unfortunately at +that moment he had forgotten it, and excited no small laughter by turning +round to a friend who accompanied him, and saying with great earnestness, +"Pray tell me who I am, for I cannot recollect." + +From severe suffering of the head in many fevers a great inroad is +frequently made upon the memory, and it is long before the convalescent +can rightly put together all the ideas of his past life. Such was one of +the effects of the plague at Athens, as we learn from Thucydides; "and +many, on recovery, still experienced such any extraordinary oblivion of +all things that they knew neither themselves nor their friends." A few +years ago a man with a brain-fever was taken into St. Thomas's Hospital, +who as he grew better spoke to his attendants, but in a language they +did not understand. A Welsh milk-woman going by accident into the ward, +heard him, answered him and conversed with him. It was then found that +the patient was by birth a Welshman, but had left his native land in +his youth, forgotten his native dialect, and used English for the last +thirty years. Yet, in consequence of this fever he had now forgotten the +English tongue, and suddenly recovered the Welsh. + +Boerhaave, however, gives a still more extraordinary instance of +oblivion in the case of a Spanish tragic author who had composed many +excellent pieces, but so completely lost his memory in consequence of +an acute fever, that he forgot not only the languages he had formerly +learnt, but even the alphabet; and was hence under the necessity of +beginning to read again. His own poems and compositions were shown +to him, but he could not he persuaded that they were his production. +Afterwards, however, he began once more to compose verses; which had so +striking a resemblance to his former writings that he at length became +convinced of his being the author of them.--_From the Doctor._ + + * * * * * + + +READING COINS IN THE DARK. + +(_From Sir David Brewster's Letters on Natural Magic_.) + + +Among the numerous experiments with which science astonishes and +sometimes even strikes terror into the ignorant, there is none more +calculated to produce this effect than that of displaying to the eye +in absolute darkness the legend or inscription upon a coin. To do this, +take a silver coin, (I have always used an old one,) and after polishing +the surface as much as possible, make the parts of it which are raised +rough by the action of an acid, the parts not raised, or those which +are to be rendered darkest, retaining their polish. If the coin thus +prepared is placed upon a mass of red hot iron, and removed into a dark +room, the inscription upon it will become less luminous than the rest, +so that it may be distinctly read by the spectator. The mass of red hot +iron should be concealed from the observer's eye, both for the purpose +of rendering the eye fitter for observing the effect, and of removing +all doubt that the inscription is really read in the dark, that is, +without receiving any light, direct or reflected, from any other body. +If, in place of polishing the depressed parts, and roughening its raised +parts, we make the raised parts polished, and roughen the depressed +parts, the inscription will now be less luminous than the depressed +parts, and we shall still be able to read it, from its being as it were +written in black letters on a white ground. The first time I made this +experiment, without being aware of what would be the result, I used a +French shilling of Louis XV. and I was not a little surprised to observe +upon its surface in black letters the inscription BENEDICTUM SIT NOMEN +DEI. + +The most surprising form of this experiment is when we use a coin from +which the inscription has been either wholly obliterated, or obliterated +in such a degree as to be illegible. When such a coin is laid upon the +red hot iron, the letters and figures become oxidated, and the film of +oxide radiating more powerfully than the rest of the coin will be more +luminous than the rest of the coin, and the illegible inscription may +be now distinctly read to the great surprise of the observer, who had +examined the blank surface of the coin previous to its being placed upon +the hot iron. + +In order to explain the cause of these remarkable effects, we must +notice a method which has been long known, though never explained, of +deciphering the inscriptions on worn out coins. This is done by merely +placing the coin upon a hot iron: an oxidation takes place over the +whole surface of the coin, the film of oxide changing its tint with the +intensity or continuance of the heat. The parts, however, where the +letters of the inscription had existed, oxidate at a different rate from +the surrounding parts, so that these letters exhibit their shape, and +become legible in consequence of the film of oxide which covers them +having a different thickness, and therefore reflecting a different tint +from that of the adjacent parts. The tints thus developed sometimes pass +through many orders of brilliant colours, particularly _pink_ and +_green_, and settle in a bronze, and sometimes a black tint, resting +upon the inscription alone. In some cases the tint left on the trace of +the letters is so very faint that it can just be seen, and may be +entirely removed by a slight rub of the finger. + +When the experiment is often repeated with the same coin, and the +oxidations successively removed after each experiment, the film of oxide +continues to diminish, and at last ceases to make its appearance. It +recovers the property however, in the course of time. When the coin is put +upon the hot iron, and consequently when the oxidation is the greatest, a +considerable smoke arises from the coin, and this diminishes like the film +of oxide by frequent repetition. A coin which had ceased to emit this +smoke, smoked slightly after having been exposed twelve hours to the air. +I have found from numerous trials that it is always the raised parts of +the coin, and in modern coins the elevated ledge round the inscription, +that becomes first oxidated. In an English shilling of 1816 this ledge +exhibited a brilliant yellow tint before it appeared on any other part +of the coin. + +If we use an uniform and homogeneous disc of silver that has never been +hammered or compressed, its surface will oxidate equally, provided all +its parts are equally heated. In the process of converting this disc +into a coin, the _sunk_ parts have obviously been _most compressed_ +by the prominent parts of the die, and the _elevated_ parts _least +compressed_, the metal being in the latter left as it were in its +natural state. The raised letters and figures on a coin have therefore +less density than the other parts, and these parts oxiditate sooner or +at a lower temperature. When the letters of the legend are worn off by +friction, the parts immediately below them have also less density than +the surrounding metal, and the site as it were of the letters therefore +receive from heat a degree of oxidation, and a colour different from +that of the surrounding surface. Hence we obtain an explanation of the +revival of the invisible letters by oxidation. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER. + + * * * * * + +_Locomotive Engines_ have been established on the rail-roads near +Philadelphia. The distance of 16-1/2 miles was performed by one of them +going in an hour and thirteen minutes, returning (laden both ways) in an +hour and eight minutes. The last mile was done in three minutes. + +_Blacking._--Shoes, among the classical ancients, were cleaned by a +sponge; in the middle ages, by washing. Oil, soap, and grease were the +substitutes for blacking, which was at first made with soot, but shone +with a gloss. + +_Cool Tankard._--The custom of the Lord Mayor drinking a "cool +tankard" with the governor of Newgate, on his Lordship's way to proclaim +Bartholomew Fair, is better known to our readers than the precise contents +of the said tankard. In olden times the "cool tankard" was, or nearly +coincided with, the wine mixed with _Burrage_, (so the translators +call the herb) of Plutarch, and the _Herbosum Vinum_ of Du Cange. In +all probability, the "cool tankard" of our times implies a well-appointed +_dejeuné à la fourchette_. + +_Hanging_--though as a punishment for thieves, ascribed to the reign of +Henry I., occurs in a charter of Edgar. In hanging for public spectacle, +an iron hoop with a strong chain was put round the body; but the chain +was longer than the halter, so that when the latter was cut, the hoop +slipped to the armpits, and left them suspended. When criminals escaped, +an image of them was often hung up for several days; whence our hanging +in effigy. + +_Elections._--Bribery, treating, canvassing, processions of voters at +the heels of the candidate, dancing attendance after the great, forming +factions, and other electioneering arts, occur in the classic ages. +Among us, the candidates were not always present at the day of election, +and under-sheriffs observe, that they mean to return according to the +number of votes, _provided the sheriff does not direct otherwise_. Lord +Chancellor Jefferies went to Arundel on purpose to overawe the electors. +The seats were as much sought formerly as now. The members received +wages as low as Elizabeth's reign. + +_Lucretius._--A summary of that part of the system of Lucretius, in +which he describes man emerging from barbarity, acquiring the use of +language, and the knowledge of various useful and polite arts, is +comprised in a few lines of a satire of Horace, lib. i. sat. iii. v. 97. +It has been ingeniously paraphrased by Dr. Beattie: + + + "When men out of the earth of old, + A dumb and beastly vermin crawled, + For acorns first and holes of shelter, + They tooth and nail and helter-skelter, + Fought fist to fist; then with a club, + Each learned his brother brute to drub; + Till more experienced grown, these cattle + Forged fit accoutrements for battle. + At last (Lucretius says, and Creech) + They set their wits to work on speech; + And that their thoughts might all have marks + To make them known, these learned clerks + Left off the trade of cracking crowns, + And manufactured verbs and nouns." + +H.H. + + +Every trade has its technicalities. The other day we overheard a +lamplighter complain of a cunning fellow workman who tried to get all +the _straightforward_ work himself, and to leave the _turnings_ to +others. + +_A Physician's Advice to his Student._ + + "Dum aeger ait--Ah! ah! + Tu dicito--Du! du!" + +A free translation is requested. + +H.H. + + * * * * * + +_Printed and published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) +London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; G.G. BENNIS, +55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers_. + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction., by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11541 *** |