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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:39:06 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:39:06 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12147-0.txt b/12147-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c4d66e --- /dev/null +++ b/12147-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1574 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12147 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +Vol. 20, No. 565.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1832. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: PERSIAN BATH.] + + * * * * * + +The luxurious indulgence of baths in the East is generally known +to the reader of travels, so as to render acceptable the following +details. They are extracted from Mr. Buckingham's Travels,[1] and bear +all the graphic minuteness of his entertaining pen. + + [1] Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia. H. Colburn, 4to., + 1829. + +The Bath is one of the principal ones of Kermanshah, an important +frontier town of Persia. "It was entered by a porch, extremely clean, +and neatly ornamented by painting and other devices on its ceiling and +walls. This remarkable contrast to the low, dark, and foul passages +which generally lead to Turkish baths, was a presage, upon the very +threshold, of greater comfort and accommodation within. + +"When we reached the undressing-room, this prepossession was still +further strengthened. Here we found a square hall, well lighted +from above, having on three of its sides elevated recesses for the +visiters, and on the fourth, the passage from the outer porch to the +hall, and from this to the inner bath. At the angles of these raised +recesses, and dividing their lower roof, which they supported, from +the higher one of the central square, were, four good marble pillars, +with spirally fluted shafts, and moulded capitals, perfectly uniform +in size and design, and producing the best effect. In the centre of +the square space, which these marked out, and on a lower floor, was a +large marble cistern of cold water; and at each end of this, on wooden +stands, like those used in our arbours and breakfast rooms, were +arranged coloured glass jars, with flowers of various kinds in them, +well watered and perfectly fresh. + +"The walls of this outer hall were ornamented all around by designs of +trees, birds, and beasts, in fanciful forms, executed in white upon a +blue ground. We undressed here, and were led from hence into the inner +bath, where all was still free from everything offensive, either to +the sight or smell. This inner room was originally an oblong space +of about fifty feet by twenty-five, but had been since made into two +square divisions. The first, or outer one, was a plain paved hall, +exactly like the undressing-room, except that it had no side recesses, +but its floor was level, close to the walls. There were here also four +pillars; and in the square space which they enclosed in the centre of +the room, was a cistern of water as in the outer one. It was on the +floor of this that the visiters lay, to be washed by the attendants; +for there were no raised seats for this purpose as in Turkish baths, +and the great octagonal one, with its cold fountain, the sides and +tops of which are ornamented with mosaic work of marble in Turkey, was +here replaced by the cistern described. + +"The second division to which this room led, consisted of three parts; +the central one was a large and deep bath, filled with warm water, +its bottom being level with the lower floor of the building, and the +ascent to it being by three or four steep steps. + +"As few pleasures are entirely perfect, so here, with all its general +apparent superiority to the baths of Turkey, this was inferior to them +in the most essential points. The attendants seemed quite ignorant +of the art of twisting the limbs, moulding the muscles, cracking the +joints, opening the chest, and all that delicious train of operations +in which the Turks are so skilful. The visitors were merely well +though roughly scrubbed, and their impurities then rinsed off in the +large cistern above, from which there was neither a running stream +to carry off the foul water, nor cocks of hot and cold to renew and +temper it at pleasure, as in Turkey. + +"In place of the luxurious moulding of the muscles, the use of the +hair-bag, or glove, for removing the dirt, and the profusion of +perfumed soap, with which the Turks end a course of treatment full +of delight, the Persians are occupied in staining the beard and hair +black, the nails of the toes and fingers of a deep red, and the whole +of the feet and hands of a yellow colour, by different preparations of +henna. This operation is the most unpleasant that can be imagined. The +Persians do not shave the whole of the head, as is usual with most of +the Turks and Arabs, but, taking of all the hair from the forehead, +over the crown, and down the neck, for about a hand's breadth, +they leave on each side two large bushy masses depending over their +shoulders. This, then, with a very long and full beard, in which all +the people here take pride, is plastered with a thick paste, of the +consistence of hog's lard, and not less than two pounds weight +of which is sometimes used on one person. It possesses a strongly +astringent and penetrating quality, and requires great skill in the +use of it, to avoid doing considerable mischief. As the eye-brows are +plastered with it, as well as the rest of the hair, and as it softens +by the heat of the room and of the body, it frequently steals into the +eyes, and produces great pain. + +"When all is finished, and the visiter leaves the inner bath, he is +furnished with two cloths only, one for the waist, and the other to +throw loosely over the head and shoulders: he then goes into the outer +room into a colder air, thus thinly clad, and without slippers or +pattens; no bed is prepared for him, nor is he again attended to by +any one, unless he demands a nargeel to smoke; but, most generally, he +dresses himself in haste, and departs." + + +ORIGIN OF PSALMODY. + + +In D'Israeli's _Curiosities of Literature_, there is an amusing and +instructive account of the _Origin of Psalm-Singing_. It appears +that Psalms in verse were first written by that elegant French poet, +Clement Marot, the favoured court bard of Francis I., who was termed +by his _un-envious_ brother poets, "the poet of princes." They were +published at Paris, and the volume contained fifty Psalms, written in +various measures, and, which, from the beauty of their composition, +(some specimens of which we have seen,) appear to be worthy of the +muse of Marot. This "Holy Song Book," as he entitled it, was "humbly +dedicated to the powerful King of France," and being considered by the +volatile French people as an amusing novelty, it sold faster than +any book of that period. In fact, the printers could not supply +impressions fast enough for the demand; and, as the Psalms were +considered in the light of ballads, they were set by the people to +popular tunes, and were commonly _sung_ as ballads. + +This good reception of Marot's Psalms induced the celebrated Theodore +Beza to continue the collection; and another volume was printed, +of which 20,000 were immediately sold: this was a considerable +circulation, when we consider the few readers that then existed, in +comparison with the number of readers in the present age. These had +the advantage over Marot's of being set to tunes of greater spirit. +Beza, in his preface, says, that "these Psalms are admirably suited +for the violin and other musical instruments;" and our readers will +learn, not without surprise, that through the instrumentality of +the gloomy Calvin, these compositions were set to most beautiful and +simple airs. He wisely took advantage of popular feeling to spread his +religious opinions, through the means of melody, and, in furtherance +of this plan, he engaged the most celebrated composers of his time +to furnish tunes to these Psalms. At first, the scheme was not +discovered: for Catholics sang the Psalms as well as Hugonots; but, +when Calvin appointed these Psalms, with their music, to be sung at +his meetings, there was an end to the solace of the dreary hours +of the poor Catholics. Marot himself was compelled to quit Geneva; +Psalm-singing became an open declaration of Lutheranism; and "woe +to the poor wight" who was caught in the _diabolical_ act of singing +these "pernicious Psalms." + +The history of Psalm-singing in our own island can be comprised in +very few words. When the enthusiasm of the French in favour of their +Psalms was at its height, one Sternhold, undertook to be _our_ +Marot, and wrote a Book of Psalms, which captivated the hearts of +the Puritans, by whom they were practised at their chapels in the +Protectorate of Cromwell, but were more particularly set and sung in +the reign of Elizabeth. Psalms, about this time, were sung at City +and Lord Mayors' feasts, and turtle-eaters delighted to honour +Psalm-singers. Soldiers used them as stimulants to exertion on their +march, and even on parade; and there was scarcely a regiment but could +boast of its Marot. About this time, too, it was customary for the +inhabitants of houses which had windows facing the street, to regale +the passenger with the "holy songs" of Sternhold. + +E.J.H. + + [By way of an appropriate pendent to our Correspondent's + paper, we quote the following excellent passage on Psalmody, + by the Rev. W.S. Gilly, in his _Memoir of Felix Neff_.] + +The effect produced by the words, or by the music, or by the +combination of the two, is such, that the cultivation of psalmody has +ever been earnestly recommended by those who are anxious to excite +true piety. Tradition, history, revelation, and experience, bear +witness to the truth, that there is nothing to which the natural +feelings of man respond more readily. Every nation, whose literary +remains have come down to us, appears to have consecrated the first +efforts of its muse to religion, or rather all the first compositions +in verse seem to have grown out of devotional effusions. We know that +the book of Job, and others, the most ancient of the Old Testament, +contain rhythmical addresses to the Supreme Being. Many of the psalms +were composed centuries before the time of king David, and it is not +extravagant to imagine, that some of them may have been sung even to +Jubal's lyre, and were handed down from patriarch to patriarch by oral +tradition. Nor did the fancy of Milton take too bold a flight when +it pleased itself with the idea that our first parents, taught by +the carols of the birds in the garden of Eden, raised their voices in +tuneful notes of praise to the Creator of all, when they walked forth +in the cool of the day to meet their God before the fall. But this is +certain, that one of our Lord's last acts of social worship on earth +was to sing a hymn with his disciples. Few, therefore, can be slow to +understand, that if Christ and his disciples broke forth in holy song, +immediately after the solemnities of the Last Supper, and just before +the Shepherd was smitten, and the sheep were scattered; and if Paul +and Silas sung praises unto God in their prison-house, congregational +worship may always be the better for such helps. Add to these +examples, the apostolical exhortation to the merry hearted to sing +psalms, and the apostolical descriptions of the choral strains which +resound in the courts of heaven, and we cannot but feel certain, that +the services of the Christian church were cheered from the earliest +times by hymns and psalms. "Those Nazarenes sing hymns to Christ," +said Pliny, in contempt. We thank him for recording the fact. The +words of the Te Deum were composed by a native of Gaul, (for the use +probably of one of the churches on the Rhone, or of the Alps) about +the third century; and at the same period, men, women, youths of both +sexes, and even children joined in the psalmody of the sanctuaries, +in such cordial and harmonious unison, that a father of the church has +well compared the sound to the loud, but not discordant, noise of many +waves beating against the sea shore. + +At the time of the Reformation, sacred music, which had begun to +run wild, was brought back to its first principles. The melodies of +religious worship were rendered more heart-touching, by being set to +words in the vernacular tongues, which every body could understand. +Luther's hymn, "Great God, what do I hear and see," led the way. Henry +VIII. hated the German reformer, and all that he did, but he burned to +rival him in every thing, and he gave a stimulus to the public taste, +by composing words and music for the service of the English church. +In France, soon after the middle of the sixteenth century, when it was +doubtful whether the nation would become Protestant or remain Roman +Catholic, the pathetic tunes and devotional stanzas of the reformers +obtained so great an influence over the minds of men, that the +music of the temples, as the Protestant sanctuaries were called, +to distinguish them from the Roman Catholic churches, became the +fashionable melodies of the day. This taste found its way even to +the court, and to the great alarm of the Romish party, some of the +sweetest and most stirring of the psalms, which had been translated +into French metre by Clement Marot, were set to music by Lewis +Guadimel, and were constantly in the mouths not only of the Protestant +families of the provinces, but of the ornaments of the saloons of +Paris, and of the palace of the Louvre. It is said to have been quite +astonishing how much this pious and simple device found favour for +the Protestant cause, and induced people, who had never read Scripture +before, to search the holy volume out of which those treasures were +drawn, which so charmed their ears and their imagination. It is still +the practice in most of the mountain churches to make sacred music a +part of family devotion, and many of the tunes which Guadimel composed +with such success are still sung to the praise of God. I can bear +witness to the forcible manner in which these strains, rising to +heaven from the lips of parents, children and domestics, quicken +piety, and stir up the best affections of the heart towards God and +man. I have seen and felt the effect produced by them in the humble +dwelling of the village pastor, where none but human voices swelled +the notes; and in the chateau, where the harp and the organ have +mingled their fine sounds with the well modulated tones of an +accomplished family of sons and daughters. My thoughts, at the moment +I am writing this, are at Chateâu Blonay, but most of the voices, +which I heard there, are now silent in death! I am thoroughly +convinced that family worship, and congregational worship lose a great +auxiliary to piety, when there is not the power or the inclination to +join in psalmody. + + * * * * * + + +LINES + + +_Written after reading the Memoir and Poems of Miss Lucretia +Davidson._[2] + + Ev'n till thy latest hour, Lucretia! thou + Didst cherish _that_ which but consum'd thy frame. + 'Twas _then_ it shone the brightest on thy brow, + Like the last flickerings of an earthly flame-- + Yes, thy brain harass'd by deep toil, became + With all its fire, a tenant of the tomb, + And dim is now thine eye, Belov'd of Fame! + Thy cheek is pale--thy lip without perfume-- + And there thou liest--the child of Genius--and its doom. + + Like the proud eagle soaring to the skies, + Intent "the topmost arch" of heaven to scale, + When heeding naught that would oppose its rise, + It breaks with fearless nerve the tempest-gale-- + And spreads its wings like a majestic sail, + Full on the bosom of the raging blast, + Thy spirit soar'd--but ah! too like us frail, + When the same breeze which bore it from the dust + Wing'd home the fatal shaft that tore its bleeding breast. + + Would I could sing thy fame with thine own lyre, + Then should I breathe a more deserving lay, + A lay which every spirit would inspire, + And melt each eye to tears of sympathy; + But others at thy shrine, their tributes pay. + Offspring of Beauty! child of native song! + And I, ev'n I, would venture to essay, + To raise my lauding voice amidst the throng + Of those who weep thy loss--and who shall weep it long!--N.C. + + [2] See Memoir, and specimens of her Poetry, _Mirror_, vol. + xiv. p. 340. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + + * * * * * + +IMPROVED RAW SUGAR. + + + [We find the following information communicated to the + _Literary Gazette_, apparently by the parties connected with + the improvement.] + +Considerable interest has been excited in the market by the +introduction of an improved native raw sugar, which portends very +great advantages to all who are engaged in this so long unprofitable +branch of colonial and commercial intercourse. It is pure raw sugar, +obtained direct from the cane-juice, without any secondary process +of decoloration or solution, and by which all necessity for any +subsequent process of refining is entirely obviated. It is obtained +in perfectly pure, transparent, granular crystals, being entirely free +from any portion of uncrystallisable sugar or colouring matter, and +is prepared by the improved process of effecting the last stages of +concentration in vacuum, and at a temperature insufficient to produce +any changes in its chemical composition; the mode of operation +first proposed by the late Hon. Ed. Charles Howard, and subsequently +introduced, with the most important advantages and complete success, +into the principal sugar-refineries of Great Britain. + +By this improved and scientific process of manufacture, the +application of which to the purpose of preparing raw sugar from the +cane-juice has now first been proposed, the most singular advantages +are secured to the planter, in an increased quantity of sugar, the +product of his operation, and in saving from the immense quantity of +deteriorated material, uncrystallisable sugar and molasses, which +were products of the former mode of operation, from the intense and +long-continued degree of heat employed in the processes. The time +and labour of the operation are also greatly decreased; the apparatus +possesses the power to make double the quantity in the same space of +time as the old method, and this is ready for shipment in four days, +in lieu of three weaks, as heretofore. The sugar likewise readily +commands an advanced price in the market to the planter of ten or +twelve shillings per cwt. + +This improved sugar readily ensures a preference for all purposes of +manufacture, solution, or domestic economy. It is a purer sweet, and +of a richer mellifluous taste than even the best refined; it is not +apt to become ascescent in solution; and, from its superior quality, +it well answers all purposes of the table. In the manufacture of rum +from the molasses, which are separated during the first process of the +operation, there is no danger of deterioration in the production of +empyreuma, and a far purer spirit is obtained than that made from +ordinary molasses. + +This improved process is now in complete and successful operation on +eight estates in Demerara. The general introduction of the process +is considered by the best practical judges to ensure certain means of +revivifying the spoiled fortunes of the planters, and to open a new +era in the prosperity of those portions of the British crown, of which +this forms the principal staple commodity of support. + +[According to Dr. Moseley, the art of refining sugar, and what is +called loaf sugar, is a modern European invention, the discovery of a +Venetian, about the end of the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth +century. Sugar candy is of much earlier date, for in Marin's _Storia +del Commercio de Veneziani_, there is an account of a shipment made at +Venice for England in 1319, of 100,000 lbs. of sugar, and 10,000 +lbs. of sugar candy. Refined, or loaf sugar is mentioned in a roll of +provisions in the reign of Henry VIII. + +The process of refining sugar _in vacuo_ is the most useful +application of "the fact that liquids are driven off, or made to boil +at lower degrees of heat when the atmospheric pressure is lessened or +removed."[3] The first part of the process is to dissolve impure sugar +in water, and after clarifying the solution, to boil off or evaporate +the water again, that the dry crystallized mass may remain. Formerly +this evaporation was performed under the atmospheric pressure, and +a heat of 218° or 220° was required to make the syrup boil; by which +degree of heat, however, a portion of the sugar was discoloured and +spoiled, and the whole produce was deteriorated. The valuable thought +occurred to Mr. Howard, that the water might be dissipated by boiling +the syrup in a vacuum or place from which air was _excluded_, and +therefore at a low temperature. This was done accordingly; and the +saving of sugar and the improvement of quality were such as to make +the patent right, which secured the emoluments of the process to +him and other parties, worth many thousand pounds a-year. The syrup, +during this process, is not more heated than it would be in a vessel +merely exposed to a summer sun. + + [3] Arnott's Elements of Physics. + +Lord Brougham, in his Introduction to the _Library of Useful +Knowledge_, characterizes this as a process, by which more money has +been made in a shorter time, and with less risk and trouble, than was +ever perhaps gained from an invention; and as "the fruit of a long +course of experiments, in the progress of which known philosophical +principles were constantly applied, and one or two new principles +ascertained."[4] + + [4] Objects, Advantages, and Pleasures of Science. In the + first edition, the inventer is erroneously stated to be Edward + Howard. + +The scene of this discovery was, in all probability, the Deepdene, +near Dorking, the retreat of the late Mr. Thomas Hope, the author +of _Anastasius_. Here the Hon. Mr. Howard, brother of the Duke of +Norfolk, resided at the commencement of the last century, and is +stated to have enjoyed that philosophical retirement which may be +described as the happy haven of a truly great mind. He planted a +portion of the grounds, the greater part of the estate being so +admirably disposed by nature as almost to forbid the fashioning of +men's hands. At Mr. Howard's death, the estate descended to the Duke +of Norfolk, who sold the property, in 1791, to the late Sir William +Burrell, whose lady wrote the following lines, which are on a tablet +in the grounds: + + "This votive Tablet is inscribed to the memory of the + Honourable Charles Howard, who built an oratory and laboratory + on this spot: he died at the Deepdene, 1714. + + If worth, if learning, should with fame be crown'd, + If to superior talents, fame be due, + Let _Howard's_ virtues consecrate the ground + Where once the fairest flowers of science grew. + + Within this calm retreat, th' illustrious sage + Was wont his grateful orisons to pay, + Here he perused the legendary page, + Here gave to chemistry the feeling day. + + Cold to ambition, far from courts remov'd, + Though qualified to fill the statesman's part, + He studied nature in the paths he lov'd, + Peace in his thoughts, and virtue in his heart. + + Soft may the breeze sigh through the ivy boughs + That shade this humble record of his worth; + Here may the robin undisturbed repose, + And fragrant flowers adorn the hallow'd earth. + + January 1792." + + +The tablet is of plain wood--black letters painted on a white ground. +It is an unostentatious memorial, which has been respected amidst the +extensive alteration and embellishment of the grounds by the late +Mr. Hope. To our minds, neither of the treasures of art which are +assembled within the splendid saloons of the adjoining mansion, or +sculpture gallery, will outvie the interest of this humble tribute to +the memory of departed genius.] + + * * * * * + + +THE LANDERS VOYAGE AND DISCOVERIES ON THE NIGER. + + +The travellers, in embarking on the Atlantic, had solved the greatest +problem in African, and even in modern geography;--one which had +exercised the ingenuity and conjecture of so many learned inquirers, +and in the efforts to solve which so many brave and distinguished +adventurers had perished. This discovery divested the Niger of that +singular and mysterious character, which had been one chief cause of +the interest that it had excited--when seen rolling its ample flood +_from_ the sea towards vast unknown regions in the interior. The +circuit by which it reaches the Atlantic assimilates its character +to that of ordinary rivers, without any much more remarkable windings +than are found in others of similar length. It displays, however, a +magnitude considerably greater than had been suggested by any former +observation. + +We can now trace very distinctly, the entire line of this great river. +Its source, though not actually visited, seems ascertained by Laing +to exist in the high country of Kissi, about 200 miles in the interior +from Sierra Leone. Thence it rolls through Foota Jallo and Kankan, +where Caillie describes himself to have found it already a rapid and +considerable stream. At Bammakoo, having received the tributary from +Sankari in Manding, which Park mistook for the main river, it begins +its course over the fine plain of Bambarra, where it forms a noble +stream; and in passing Sego, the capital, has been considered +as equalling the Thames at Westminster. Thence it pursues a +north-westerly course, and flowing through the lake Dibbie, reaches +Timbuctoo. Its course from that city to Youri has not yet been +delineated; but the fact that Park navigated down from one place to +the other, fully establishes the continuity. During this reach the +Niger makes a great change of direction from north-east to almost +due south. From Youri to the sea, it was navigated by the present +travellers, and was found following generally a southern direction, +though making in one part a rapid bend to the east, whence it +gradually returns. If we measure two distances, one from the source +to Timbuctoo, and the other from that city to the sea, we shall have +nearly 2,000 miles, which may be considered as the direct course; +and the various windings must raise the whole line of the stream to +upwards of 3,000 miles. For several hundred miles of its lower course, +it forms a broad and magnificent expanse, resembling an inland sea. +The Niger must after all yield very considerably to the Missouri and +Orellana, those stupendous rivers of the new world. But it appears at +least as great as any of those which water the old continents. There +can rank with it only the Nile, and the Yangtse-kiang, or Great +River of China. But the upper course of neither is yet very fully +ascertained; and the Nile can compete only in length of course, not in +the magnitude of its stream, or the fertility of the regions which it +waters. There is one feature in which the Niger may defy competition +from any river, either of the old or new world. This is in the +grandeur of its Delta. Along the whole coast, from the river of +Formosa or Benin to that of Old Calabar, about 300 miles in length, +there open into the Atlantic its successive estuaries, which +navigators have scarcely been able to number. Taking this coast as +the base of the triangle or Delta, and its vertex at Kirree, about 170 +miles inland, where the Formosa branch separates, we have a space of +upwards of 25,000 square miles, equal to the half of England. Had +this Delta, like that of the Nile, been subject only to temporary +inundations, leaving behind a layer of fertilizing slime, it would +have formed the most fruitful region on earth, and might have been +almost the granary of a continent. But, unfortunately, the Niger rolls +down its waters in such excessive abundance, as to convert the whole +into a huge and dreary swamp, covered with dense forests of mangrove, +and other trees of spreading and luxuriant foliage. The equatorial +sun, with its fiercest rays, cannot penetrate these dark recesses; it +only exhales from them pestilential vapours, which render this coast +the theatre of more fatal epidemic diseases than any other, even of +Western Africa. That human industry will one day level these forests, +drain these swamps, and cover this soil with luxuriant harvests, we +may confidently anticipate; but many ages must probably elapse before +man, in Africa, can achieve such a victory over nature. + +The Niger, besides its own ample stream, has a number of tributaries, +equal perhaps in magnitude and importance to those of any other +river on the globe; with the exception of the united streams of the +Mississippi and Missouri. At no great distance above the point where +the Delta commences, the Tshadda, nearly equal in magnitude to itself, +enters it; after watering large and fruitful kingdoms, of which the +names only, and of these but a very few, have reached us. On this +river an extensive commerce and active navigation is said to prevail; +the existence of which is further confirmed by the great importance +attached to Funda, and other cities situated at or near the junction. +It would have been deeply interesting, and have given a new importance +to the river communications of Africa, could we have believed, what +was positively asserted by very credible witnesses, that vessels +by its channel sailed to and from the lake Tchad, and thus held +intercourse with the kingdoms of Loggun and Bornou. It seems certain +that the names Tshadda, Shary, and Tchad, are one and the same. But +the identity of the two first as rivers is what we are precluded from +all possibility of believing, by the circumstance that the Shary of +Loggun and Bornou, which Major Denham saw and sailed upon, was found +by him falling _into_ lake Tchad, while the Tshadda of Lander fell +_into_ the Niger; consequently they are distinct streams, flowing in +opposite directions. It is very probable indeed that their fountains +may be in the same mountain chain, and at no great distance; and even +that some of their branches may approach very near, so that merchants +may, by an easy portage, convey commodities between them. Nay, it +is not quite impossible that they may be united by some connecting +channel, as the Amazons and the Oronooka are; but this seems scarcely +probable. + +At no great distance above the Tshadda, enters the Coodonia, a smaller +river, but which Lander had seen flowing through a very fertile and +highly cultivated country. Considerably higher is the Cubbie, a large +stream from the country and city of that name; and higher still the +Quarrama, which has passed by Zirmie and Sackatoo. Between this point +and Timbuctoo, we have no means of knowing whether any or what rivers +fall into the Niger. The tributary which passes that city is of +no great importance; but at the eastern boundary of Bambarra, Park +describes the influx from the south of two great streams, the Maniana +and Nimma; and it seems very doubtful if Caillie was not mistaken +in supposing the latter to be a mere branch of the Niger. The higher +tributaries, descending from the mountains, swell the stream, without +themselves affording any important navigation.--_Edinburgh Review._ + + * * * * * + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + + * * * * * + +LAURENCEKIRK SNUFF-BOXES. + + [Probably one of the most amusing articles in Mr. Macculloch's + bulky _Dictionary of Commerce_ of 1,150 pages, is the + following account of the manufacture of the celebrated + Laurencekirk snuff-boxes. It is right, however, to explain, + that Mr. Macculloch only mentions these boxes here for the + purpose of giving the following details, not to be met with in + any other publication.] + +These beautiful boxes were first manufactured at the village of +Laurencekirk, in Kincardineshire, about forty years since. The +original inventer was a cripple hardly possessed of the power of +locomotion. In place of curtains, his bed (rather a curious workshop) +was surrounded with benches and receptacles for tools, in the +contrivance and use of which he discovered the utmost ingenuity. The +inventer, instead of taking out a patent, confided his secret to a +joiner in the same village, who in a few years amassed a considerable +property; while the other died, as he had lived, in the greatest +poverty. The great difficulty of the manufacture lies in the formation +of the hinge, which in a genuine box is so delicately made as hardly +to be visible. Peculiar, or, as they are called, secret tools are +required in its formation; and though they must have been improved +by time and experience, the mystery attached to their preparation is +still so studiously kept up, that the workmen employed in one shop are +rigorously debarred from having any communication with those employed +in another. + +About the beginning of this century, an ingenious individual belonging +to the village of Cumnock, in Ayrshire, of the name of Crawford, +having seen one of the Laurencekirk snuff-boxes, succeeded, after +various attempts, by the assistance of a watchmaker of the same +village, who made the tools, in producing a similar box; and by his +success, not only laid the foundation of his own fortune, but greatly +enriched his native parish and province. For awhile, the Laurencekirk +boxes were most in demand; but Mr. Crawford and his neighbours in +Cumnock not only copied the art, but so improved and perfected it, +that in a very few years, for every box made in the north there were, +probably, twenty made in the south. In 1826, the Cumnock trade was +divided amongst eight master manufacturers, who employed considerably +more than 100 persons. The demand at that time equalled the supply, +and it was calculated that the trade yielded from 7,000_l._ to +8,000_l._ annually,--a large product for a manufacture seemingly +so insignificant, and consisting almost exclusively of the wages of +labour. Plane is the wood in common use, and the cost of the wood in +an ordinary sized box does not exceed 1d.; the paints and varnish are +rated at 2d.; and though something is lost by selecting timber of +the finest colour, the whole expense of the raw material falls +considerably short of 1/2 per cent. on the return it yields! + +Snuff-box, like pin making, admits of subdivision of labour; and +in all workshops of any size three classes of persons are +employed--painters, polishers, and joiners. At the period alluded to, +an industrious joiner earned from 30s. to 40s. weekly, a painter from +45s. to 3_l._, and a polisher considerably less than either. When +Mr. Crawford first commenced business he obtained almost any price +he chose to ask; and many instances occurred, in which ordinary sized +snuff-boxes sold at 2_l._ 12s. 6d., and ladies' work-boxes at 25_l_. +But as the trade increased, it became necessary to employ apprentices, +who first became journeymen and then masters; and such have been the +effects of improvement and competition, that articles such as are +specified above, may now be obtained at the respective prices of _six_ +and _twenty-five shillings_. While the joiner's part of the art has +remained pretty stationary, that of the painter has been gradually +improving. By means of the _Pentagraph_, which is much employed, the +largest engravings are reduced to the size most convenient for the +workman, without injuring the prints in the slightest degree; and +hence a snuff-box manufacturer, like a Dunfermline weaver, can work to +order by exhibiting on wood his employer's coat of arms, or in short, +any object he may fancy within the range of the pictorial art. Some of +the painters display considerable talent, and as often as they choose +to put forth their strength, produce box-lids, which are really worthy +of being preserved as pictures. At first, nearly the whole subjects +chosen as ornaments, were taken from Burns's poems; and there can be +no doubt, that the "Cotter's Saturday Night," "Tam O'Shanter," "Willie +brewed a peck o' maut," &c. &c., have penetrated in this form into +every quarter of the habitable globe. Now, however, the artists of +Cumnock take a wider range; the studios of Wilkie, and other artists, +have been laid under contribution; landscapes are as often met with as +figures; and there is scarcely a celebrated scene in the country that +is not pictured forth more or less perfectly on the lid of a Cumnock +snuff-box. A few years ago, the art in question was much affected by +the long-continued depression of the weaving business; so much so, +that many left it for some other employment. And some of those who +emigrated, having made a good deal of money, instead of being cooped +up in a workshop, are now thriving proprietors in Upper Canada. But +after a brief interval the trade rallied; and though prices are low, +it is now more flourishing than ever. In Cumnock the number of hands +has increased considerably, and in Mauchline there is one workshop so +extensive that it may almost be compared to a cotton mill or factory. +In other quarters the trade is extending, such as Helensburgh near +Greenock, Catrine, Maxwelltown, Dumfries, &c. The principal markets +for the snuff-boxes are London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. +At one time large lots of boxes were exported to South America, and +probably are so at present. Cumnock, in a word, in regard to its +staple manufacture, is in that palmy state so well described by a +modern writer:--"the condition most favourable to population is that +of a laborious, frugal people ministering to the demands of opulent +neighbours; because this situation, while it leaves them every +advantage of luxury, exempts them from the evils which accompany its +admission into a country. Of the different kinds of luxury, those are +the most innocent which afford employment to the greatest number of +artists and manufacturers; or those in which the price of the work +bears the greatest proportion to that of the raw material." Some very +wretched imitations of Cumnock boxes have been produced in different +parts of England; but they can deceive no one who ever saw a genuine +box. The hinge, as well as the finishing, is clumsy in the extreme. + + [Mr. Macculloch acknowledges himself indebted for this + curious and instructive article to his esteemed friend "John + M'Diarmid, Esq. Editor of the _Dumfries Courier_, one of the + best provincial papers published in the empire." + + By the way, what a colossal labour must have been the + preparation of the above Dictionary. How it reminds us of + the words of poor, patient Antony Wood: "What toyle hath been + taken, as no man thinketh, so no man believeth, but he that + hath made the trial." Yet it has often occurred to us that + the compiler, or editor, as he is complimentarily called, is + barely treated with proper respect in these days. What is + all knowledge but a continued accumulation and comparison of + facts, by "following the example of time?" Yet, all this is + not _original_; but we ask, in what does the intellectual + originality of the present day consist? does it add a spark to + the minds of men which they cannot find in the labours of past + ages? New books (we mean new _original_ works) are like dull, + pointless flints; the reader cannot scintillate, strike-fire, + or _steal_ from them; they are mere changes of words, often + at the sacrifice of sense to sound. A flashy novel + would, perhaps, secure the writer more celebrity than Mr. + Macculloch's _Dictionary_ will obtain for him, though his + reputation for talent and industry want not the false glory, + the common-place praise--the dullest outpourings--of a very + dull perception. Perhaps the whole series of the Waverley + Novels might have been written while this Dictionary was in + course of compilation. + + We heartily wish that Mr. Macculloch's work may become as + popular as it deserves. It will then enjoy extensive fame. It + would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to acquaint the + reader with its mass of well-arranged materials; its laborious + abstracts, documents, and information upon every point + that bears upon the main subjects, commerce and commercial + navigation, practical, theoretical, and historical. + It deserves to be the library of every counting-house, + manufactory, and workshop in the empire; it is, indeed, a + delightful relief to mere figures, and we should think better + of the man whom we caught dipping into its pages by turns + with his book of accounts: for, with Addison, we have no noble + opinion of a man who is ever poring over his cash-book, and + deriving all his ideas of happiness from its balances.] + + * * * * * + + +COMPARATIVE MORTALITY. + + +A curious official paper has been circulated, ordered by the House of +Commons, showing the comparative mortality in many large towns, &c., +of the kingdom, from 1813 up to the present year. Among the towns +included in this comparative calculation of mortality are, Leeds +(town), Bradford, Holbeck, Beeston, Wigan, Preston, Norwich, +Bolton-le-Moors, London, Bury, (Lancashire), Essex, &c. The result of +the investigation of mortality may be concisely stated as follows:--Of +children born there die, in Leeds, 53 per cent. under 5 years of age, +and 62 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Bradford, 47 per cent. +under 5, and 59 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Beeston, 39 per +cent. under 5, and 52 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Holbeck, 50 +per cent. under 5, and 62 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Norwich, +42 per cent. under 5, and 50 per cent. under 20 years of age; in +Bolton, 49 per cent. under 5, and 61 per cent. under 20 years of age; +in Wigan, 48 per cent. under 5, and 59 per cent. under 20 years of +age; in London, 38 per cent. under 5, and 46 per cent. under 20 years +of age; in Rutland, 29 per cent. under 5, and 37-1/2 per cent. under +20 years of age, &c. It further appears, that in Essex, Rutland, and +the metropolis, persons live to an advanced age in a greater extent +than others.--_Morning Herald._ + + * * * * * + + +LEE, KENT. + + +The rural village of Lee is situate six miles south of London, on the +south side of Blackheath, and on the road to Maidstone. It is a place +of considerable antiquity; and was originally written _Legheart_, and +in old Latin, _Laga_, i.e. a place which lies sheltered. "The manor +was held of Edward the Confessor by Alwin. William the Conqueror gave +it to his half-brother, Odo, bishop of Baieux, and Earl of Kent, of +whom it was held by Walter de Donay." In the time of the Confessor, it +was valued at 3_l._ and in Domesday at 100_s_. Its extent is somewhat +more than 1,000 acres. Hasted enumerates the successive lords, among +whom were Lord Rivers, who was beheaded at Banbury in 1649; and his +son, Anthony, Earl Rivers, who was beheaded at Pomfret, in 1483. The +manor was purchased by Sir Francis Baring, bart., in 1798. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: _Lee Church and Parsonage._] + + * * * * * + +The picturesque vignette includes the church and parsonage. The Church +is in what is called the pointed style, or rather in humble imitation +of antiquity, for it is a recent structure built on the site of the +walls of the old church, but with the addition of side-aisles. Nearly +two centuries before the erection of the present church, the villagers +reported the old building to be in a state too ruinous to admit of +repair: how long did its stability gainsay their judgment, while they +were laid asleep about the walls. The church was an appendage to the +manor till the time of Charles I., who granted away the fee of the +manor, but reserved the patronage of the church to the crown, where it +continues to this time. It was valued l5 Edward I. at 10 marks; in +the king's books it is at 3_l._ 11s. 8d.; and the yearly tenths at 7s. +2_d_. The parsonage has much of the snug character of the glebe-house; +it was rebuilt in 1636, by the rector, the Rev. Abraham Sherman. + +In the church are some monumental _brasses_ and a handsome tomb of +marble and alabaster. One of the former is to the memory of Nicholas +Ansley, or Annesley, Esq. who died in 1593; with the following +inscription:-- + + When the Quene Elizabeth full five years had rain'd, + Then Nicholas Ansley, whos corps lyes here interred, + At fyve and twenty yeres of age was entertayned + Into her servis, where well himself he caried + In eche man's love till fifty and eight yeres ould, + Being Sergant of the Seller, death him contrould. + +Above is an upright figure (on a brass plate,) of the deceased, in +armour, kneeling at a desk. The latter monument is to Brian Annesley, +Esq. (son of Nicholas) gentleman pensioner to Queen Elizabeth. It +consists of an elliptic arch supported by Corinthian columns, and +ornamented with a Mosaic pattern studded with roses. Beneath lie the +effigies of Annesley, in armour, and his wife, in a gown and ruff; +their son, and three daughters. + +In the churchyard, among the tombs, is that of Dr. Halley, who +succeeded Flamstead as Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, where he died +in 1741-2: Halley published a treatise on Comets, when he was nineteen +years old; and first applied the barometer to measure heights. Here +also lie William Pate, whom Swift, in his Letters, calls the learned +woollen-draper: Sir Samuel Fludyer, bart., the courtly lord mayor; +Parsons, the comedian, with this quaint epitaph:-- + + Here Parsons lies, oft on life's busy stage + With nature, reader, hast thou seen him vie; + He science knew, knew manners, knew the age, + Respected knew to live, lamented die. + +Bliss, the Astronomer Royal, who died in 1762, is also buried here; +Charnock, the author of _Biographia Navalis_, a _Life of Nelson_, +&c.; the amiable Lord Dacre, who died in 1794; and Mary, his relict, +1808.[5] + + [5] Lady Dacre visited her dear lord's tomb daily for several + years; at the foot of the grave she was accustomed to kneel, + and utter a fervent prayer. We can just remember seeing this + devout lady on one of these pilgrimages. She usually rode + from her mansion in the neighbourhood to the churchyard, on a + favourite poney, and wore a large, flapping, drab beaver hat, + and a woollen habit, nearly trailing on the ground. At home + she evinced an eccentric affection for her deceased lord: his + chair was placed, as during his lifetime, at the dinner-table; + and its vacancy seemed to feed his lady's melancholy. + +Harris says that Samuel Purchas resided at Lee, and there wrote a +great part of his collection of travels, or "Celebrated Pilgrimages +and Relations of the World." + +Among the grateful recollection of Lee we must not omit the +alms-house, chapel, and school-house founded by C. Boone, Esq. in +1638. + + * * * * * + + + +THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + +THE VICTIMS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY. + + +_BY A MODERN PYTHAGOREAN._ + + +Fortune, it has been truly said, is blind, and the same thing may be +alleged of nature; for while there are some to whom the latter goddess +has denied the commonest gifts, either of person or intellect, she +has bestowed the most splendid upon others, with a prodigality which +astonishes and perplexes the world. A beautiful person, and genius +almost superhuman, fell to the share of Milton; nor can it be doubted, +that in these respects the blind goddess was equally kind to the bard +of Avon, whose presence, even judging from the imperfect, and somewhat +apocryphal likenesses handed down to us, was noble to behold, while +his genius more resembled that of a superior nature than of a +human being. The same remark applies to the beautiful, the divine +Raphael,--nor less to Tasso, and various others, whom we might easily +point out. + +It will perhaps be deemed presumptuous, after naming those illustrious +characters--those "demigods of fame"--to allude to Augustus Merton, +who, although he obtained the distinction of first wrangler at +Brazennose, Oxford, and carried off a multitude of prizes from that +seat of learning, may yet be thought an inadequate testimony of +the fact with which we set out, more especially when placed in +juxtaposition with the Miltons, the Shakespeares, the Raphaels, and +the Tassos of the world. We discuss not this point. We claim for +him no equality with these august names; and yet, with all such +reservations, do we set him forward as no unmeet proof of the +soundness of our assertion. + +Merton was gifted with fine genius, and with a person all but +faultless. In stature he rose to six feet, and was slightly but +elegantly formed; while his whole air bespoke at once the gentleman +and scholar. Those who have seen his fine Spanish countenance, dark +eyes, and rich clustering hair,--the whole communicating dignity, +grace, and interest to his natural melancholy,--will not soon efface +his imposing image from their remembrance. His talents were of a +highly-diversified order. He was a first-rate Grecian and had he +turned his attention exclusively to that language might have contested +the palm with Porson himself; nor do those who are best qualified to +judge hesitate to place him upon an equality with Burney, Young +or Parr. He was also an excellent Latinist, and had a profound +acquaintance with geometry, and the other branches of mathematical +science. For knowledge of the various eastern tongues he was no +unequal match for Lee, of Cambridge; while his acquirements in natural +philosophy, political economy, and metaphysics, were such as +would have fairly entitled him to prelect on these subjects in any +university in Europe. Besides this, he had an exquisite poetical +genius; and, in his very first contest, succeeded in carrying off the +prize of poetry, to the utter discomfiture of many formidable rivals. + +But, with all these high acquirements, he was not a happy man. He had +been baptized in the waters of melancholy; and a circumstance which +occurred in the fifth year of his curriculum had a baleful and, +ultimately, a fatal effect upon him, dethroning reason from its lofty +seat, and plunging not him only, but another estimable individual, +in the deepest distress. This circumstance, painful as it is, we +must relate; and, on perusing it, the reader will see that the noble +aspirations, the keen susceptibilities, of the mind do not always lead +to happiness; for, alas! it was such an excess of susceptibility in +his intellect which disturbed so sadly the current of his ideas, and +made him an inmate of St. Luke's. + +The weather at the period we speak of was truly melancholy. It was +in the gloomy month of November,--that month in which it is said +the suicidal propensities of the English nation are most strongly +in force. The air was either filled with dull, sluggish, unwholesome +fogs, which hung upon it like a nightmare, or soaked in a constant +drizzle of small, annoying, contemptible rain-drops, which, without +possessing the energy and dignity of a shower, were infinitely more +disagreeable, and found their way to the flesh in spite of all the +protective armoury of great-coats, hessian cloaks, or umbrellas. It +seemed as if a wet blanket were drawn between the sun and the earth. +The atmosphere was always foggy, often perfectly wet, but never +thoroughly dry. It wanted vitality; and every person that breathed it +partook of its own damp, hypochondriac, inanimate character. + +It was in the morning of one of those days of fog, gloom, and _ennui_, +that Augustus last sallied out to lounge about the streets of Oxford, +as was his custom, before breakfast. There was a favourite spot in +which he was wont to walk; it was upon the footpath of a very short +street, about the middle of which stood the shop of Jonathan Hookey, +a barber. This street (we forget its name) is not above fifty yards in +length, and opens at each end into a cross street. Now, Merton's walk +extended from one of those cross streets to the other, including, of +course, the whole extent of the short street; he always walked on one +side of this street, viz. on that opposite to the barber's shop. These +particulars may seem trifling, but they are essential to the proper +understanding of the story. + +While making these morning perambulations, he had always an air of +deep thought, his arms were crossed, and he kept his eyes constantly +fixed upon the ground, as if deeply engrossed in profound meditation. +It boots not now to inquire on what subjects his thoughts were mostly +employed, but it was unquestionably on themes of deep import, and +concerned not himself only, but the interests of science, learning, +and humanity at large. The morning in question was peculiarly dull and +foggy; but whether it was this or something else, certain it is, that +he felt himself more than usually overpowered. The air oppressed him +like a leaden shroud, and the energies of his soul seemed for once on +the point of sinking beneath the superincumbent burden. + +Turn we now to Jonathan Hookey, the barber. In person he differed much +from Merton. His height did not exceed five feet, but, he made amends +for it in breadth; for he was a man of a lusty habit, and sported a +paunch which no London alderman or burgomaster of Amsterdam would look +upon with contempt. Bald was his head, and his nose was not merely +large but immense; but it is idle to grow eloquent upon noses. Has +not Sterne exhausted the theme? have not we ourselves more than once +expatiated upon it? Swakenbergius had a nose, so had Ovidius Naso; +but to neither would Jonathan Hookey's strike its colours, and good +crimson ones they were. + +Jonathan, despite his bald head, his diminutive stature, his ample +pot-belly, and ampler nose, was a man of fine feelings. Nature was +outraged when he became a barber. He most assuredly was never destined +by her to shave beards, and manufacture perukes for heads more +brainless, many of them, than his own blocks. He ought to have been a +professor of metaphysics or logic in some famous university, such +as Heidelburg, Gottingen, or Glasgow;--but why lament over cureless +evils? it is sufficient to say he is a barber, and there is an end of +the matter. + +We must now return to Merton. His solitary walks on the opposite side +of the street had not even, from the first, escaped the scrutinizing +eyes of Mr. Hookey. No: he saw in the tall, pale, elegant, dark-haired +student the victim of deep sensibility. From seeing him, he wondered, +from wondering he loved him, from loving he adored him: he knew +at once he was no common man. Having perused Byron's _Manfred_, he +conceived him to be such another as that strange character; or he +might be a second Lara; or, more, he might be, nay he was, a glorious +genius, full of high imaginings. Little do we know what bright +thoughts passed through the mind of the enthusiastic Hookey. He cursed +his profession, which debarred him from the fellowship of such a man: +he cursed his nose, which stood between him and the object of his +adoration. + +Day after day had Mr. Hookey noticed the accomplished, the +highly-gifted Merton; but it was only upon this particular morning +that the recognition was mutual. Merton, on turning his eyes by chance +from the ground, looked to the opposite side of the street, and there +beheld _a nose_. He then turned his eyes to the earth in his usual +meditative mood; but, reflecting that a nose without an owner was +rather a singular phenomenon, he looked a second time, and there, +behind the nose, he saw a man; it was Mr. Hookey himself. + +This was the first time that the melancholy and intellectual student +reciprocated upon Hookey the attention which Hookey had hitherto +bestowed exclusively upon him. No more was the barber's "sweetness +wasted upon the desert air," but fell on one who knew how to +appreciate it to its fullest extent. Merton stood stock-still, and +gazed upon him with mute admiration. He was positively fascinated. The +nose operated upon him like the head of Medusa, and almost turned him +to stone. And Mr. Hookey was fascinated too. Merton also had become +Medusafied, and exercised a petrifactive influence upon the barber. He +was nailed fast to the threshold of his own door, and gazed upon his +fancied personification of Lara and Manfred with an indomitable and +resistless perseverance, which utterly confounded himself; while +Merton, nailed alike fast to the opposite footpath, stood staring at +his antagonist, or rather at his nasal protuberance. This impressive +scene continued for several minutes, when Merton, regaining the power +of locomotion, slowly approached the barber, his arms all the while +crossed, and his eyes intently fixed upon the nose. Nine slow and +awful steps brought him face to face with Hookey. The barber's eyes +were fixed intently upon _his--his_ eyes upon the barber's nose. The +scene was extremely dreadful; and Mr. Hookey, after vainly trying to +keep his ground, retreated into the shop, still facing Merton, who +kept advancing upon him as he receded. Back, step by step, went +Hookey; forward, step by step, came Merton; each all the while eyeing +the other with equal astonishment. The barber continued retreating, +the other following him,--first through the shop, then through the +kitchen, then through the parlour--the three apartments leading into +one another. At last he got to the remotest corner of the parlour, and +could get no farther. Here he paused, and Merton paused also. Still +they gazed on each other,--the barber in the corner overpowered with +amazement, and the student standing before him hardly less surprised. +At last Merton broke silence in the following awful words,--"GRACIOUS +HEAVENS WHAT A NOSE!" So saying, he retreated as slowly as he entered, +leaving Mr. Hookey utterly stupified and bewildered. The sentence went +like iron into the barber's soul; he felt it in all its bitterness. + +It is almost unnecessary to say what an effect this scene had upon the +highly-susceptible temperament of Merton. From that moment peace fled +his mind. He went instantly home; but instead of devoting himself, as +before, to those studies in which he delighted, and in which he was +wont so highly to excel, he immured himself in his chamber, giving way +to gloomy abstraction, and agonizing his spirit with painful and most +distressing fancies. The great power of his imagination caused him, +in a peculiar manner, to suffer from the remembrance of what he had +witnessed; and, accordingly, his waking as well as his sleeping hours +were haunted with visions of noses,--noses of stupendous size, which +arose, like ocean islands, amid the gloomy tabernacle of his brain, +and filled him with utter despair. At last, from bad to worse, he +became the mere shadow of his former self, the wreck of what he +was, and a picture of fallen and shattered genius. To drive away +the hideous phantasmagorias that tortured him, as with the stings of +demons, he had recourse to gin, and soon became a confirmed drunkard: +the next stage was lunacy; and he was confined for fourteen months in +Saint Luke's Hospital for the insane. + +The fate of the barber was equally deplorable. The awful words +pronounced by Merton may be considered his death-knell. They rang ever +after in his ears; and, in a few weeks, his head was turned, his +shop shut up, and himself sent to Bedlam. "_Gracious heavens, what a +nose!_" This dreadful sentence--more dreadful than the hand-writing on +the wall to Belshazzar,--haunted him by day and by night. Reason was +dethroned, and "moody madness, laughing wild," was the result. Such +are the frightful consequences of _extreme susceptibility_, against +which the youth of both sexes ought to be constantly on their guard. + +The worst remains to be told. These unhappy men were liberated from +confinement about the same time, and both returned to Oxford. They +seemed to have recovered their reasoning faculties, but the result +showed that this was very far from being the case; for, happening to +meet on the banks of the Cherwell, they attacked each other with +such fury, that, like Brutus and Aruns, they were both killed on +the spot,--the barber having been _burked_ in the encounter, and the +student having died of a wound which he received in the throat by his +antagonist's razor.--_Fraser's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +THE LAST OF THE FAMILY. + + + I bid thee welcome to my father's halls, + But fled for ever is their wonted mirth, + Death hath been busy in these fated walls, + Casting dark shadows o'er our house and hearth, + The brave--the beauteous from their home have past, + And I remain of that loved band the last. + + Thou wilt not now my gallant brothers greet, + Hiding amidst the glades with hound and horn, + Nor my fair sisters, warbling ditties sweet, + While gathering wild flowers in the dewy morn; + Evening will come, but will not bring again, + The song--the tale--the dance--the festal train. + + I can but bid thee to my lonely room, + Where in fond dreams I pass my blighted youth. + Musing on vanished loveliness and bloom, + Man's dauntless courage, woman's changeless truth, + And scenes of joyous glee, or tranquil rest, + Shared with the early-lost--the bright--the blest. + + Yet chide me not--mine is no impious grief, + Meekly I pray for Heaven's supporting grace. + And soon, I feel, his hand will give relief, + And the last sad survivor of her race + Quit this lone mansion for the home above. + Where dwell her happy family of love! + +_Metropolitan._ + * * * * * + + +CONVERSATIONS WITH LORD BYRON. + + +_BY THE COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON_. + + +It is difficult to judge when Lord Byron is serious or not. He has +a habit of mystifying, that might impose upon many; but that can be +detected by examining his physiognomy; for a sort of mock gravity, now +and then broken by a malicious smile, betrays when he is speaking for +effect, and not giving utterance to his real sentiments. If he +sees that he is detected, he appears angry for a moment, and then +laughingly admits, that it amuses him to _hoax_ people, as he calls +it, and that when each person, at some future day, will give their +different statements of him, they will be so contradictory, that _all_ +will be doubted,--an idea that gratifies him exceedingly! The mobility +of his nature is extraordinary, and makes him inconsistent in his +actions as well as in his conversation. + +Byron spoke to-day in terms of high commendation of Hope's +"Anastasius;" said that he wept bitterly over many pages of it, and +for two reasons, first, that _he_ had not written it, and secondly, +that _Hope_ had; for that it was necessary to like a man excessively +to pardon his writing such a book--a book, as he said, excelling all +recent productions, as much in wit and talent, as in true pathos. He +added, that he would have given his two most approved poems to have +been the author of "Anastasius." + +From "Anastasius" he wandered to the works of Mr. Galt, praised the +"Annals of the Parish" very highly, as also "the Entail," which we had +lent him, and some scenes of which he said had affected him very much. +"The characters in Mr. Galt's novels have an identity," added Byron, +"that reminds me of Wilkie's pictures." + +As a woman, I felt proud of the homage he paid to the genius of Mrs. +Hemans, and as a passionate admirer of her poetry, I felt flattered, +at finding that Lord Byron fully sympathized with my admiration. He +has, or at least expresses a strong dislike to the Lake school of +poets, never mentions them except in ridicule, and he and I nearly +quarrelled to-day because I defended poor Keats. + +On looking out from the balcony this morning, I observed Byron's +countenance change, and an expression of deep sadness steal over it. +After a few minutes silence he pointed out to me a boat anchored to +the right, as the one in which his friend Shelley went down, and he +said the sight of it made him ill.--"You should have known Shelley +(said Byron) to feel how much I must regret him. He was the most +gentle, most amiable, and _least_ worldly-minded person I ever met; +full of delicacy, disinterested beyond all other men, and possessing a +degree of genius, joined to a simplicity, as rare as it is admirable. +He had formed to himself a _beau ideal_ of all that is fine, +high-minded, and noble, and he acted up to this ideal even to the +very letter. He had a most brilliant imagination but a total want of +worldly-wisdom. I have seen nothing like him, and never shall again, +I am certain. I never can forget the night that his poor wife rushed +into my room at Pisa, with a face pale as marble, and terror impressed +on her brow, demanding, with all the tragic impetuosity of grief and +alarm, where was her husband! Vain were all our efforts to calm her; +a desperate sort of courage seemed to give her energy to confront the +horrible truth that awaited her; it was the courage of despair; I have +seen nothing in tragedy on the stage so powerful, or so affecting, +as her appearance, and it often presents itself to my memory. I knew +nothing then of the catastrophe, but the vividness of her terror +communicated itself to me, and I feared the worst, which fears, were +alas! too soon fearfully realized." + +Byron talked to-day of Leigh Hunt, regretted his ever having embarked +in the "Liberal," and said that it had drawn a nest of hornets on him, +but expressed a very good opinion of the talents and principle of Mr. +Hunt, though, as he said, "our tastes are so opposite, that we are +totally unsuited to each other. He admires the Lakers, I abhor them; +in short, we are more formed to be friends at a distance, than near." +I can perceive that he wishes Mr. Hunt and his family away. It appears +to me that Byron is a person who, without reflection, would form +engagements which, when condemned by his friends or advisers, he would +gladly get out of without considering the means, or at least, without +reflecting on the humiliation such a desertion must inflict on the +persons he had associated with him. He gives me the idea of a +man, who, feeling himself in such a dilemma, would become cold and +ungracious to the parties with whom he so stood, before he had mental +courage sufficient to abandon them. I may be wrong, but the whole of +his manner of talking of Mr. Hunt gives me this impression, though he +has not said what might be called an unkind word of him. + +Much as Byron has braved public opinion it is evident he has a great +deference for those who stand high in it, and that he is shy +in attaching himself publicly to persons who have even, however +undeservedly, fallen under its censure. His expressed contempt and +defiance of the world, reminds me of the bravadoes of children, who, +afraid of darkness, make a noise to give themselves courage to support +what they dread. It is very evident that he is partial to aristocratic +friends, he dwells with complacency on the advantages of rank and +station, and has more than once boasted that people of family are +always to be recognised by a _certain air_, and the smallness and +delicacy of their hands. + + * * * * * + + + +NEW BOOKS. + + +THE PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE OF A WOMAN OF FASHION. + + + [This work is, to our thinking, what it professes to be, an + actual correspondence, and from the pen of a lady who, as her + motto states--"writes of countries and their societies as she + finds them, and as they strike her imagination." There is much + good sense in her letters, and less aristocratic affectation + than might be expected. The subjects are of the most + miscellaneous description. Her pen is what the small critics + call eminently graphic: in short, the work is one of the + pleasantest of the season. To be more explicit, it consists of + letters written between June, 1814, and December, 1816; + dated from South Lancing, (near Worthing), Rouen, Paris, and + Brussels; and the writer's _domicile_, Hampton Court. The most + interesting portion of the work is the gossip it contains on + the _state of things_ in the French capital, on the return + of Napoleon, in 1815, and in Brussels, before and after + the battle of Waterloo. Nevertheless, as the whole is + indiscribably discursive, so must be our quotations.] + +_Arundel Castle._--Arundel Castle did not gratify my expectations +although the _coup d'oeil_, taking the structure _en masse_, is +imposing, and it has an advantageous position on the banks of the +river Arun. The Castle has undergone modern alterations in bad taste; +the details are of that description of the ornamental gothic, which +appear to me to throw severe criticism on the abilities of the +architect; and, as a family residence, its interior is neither grand +nor comfortable. From its commanding site and vicinity to the Roman +villa, it was probably a Roman station previous to its becoming a +Saxon residence. The walls and Norman gateway are fine. The massive +keep, ponderous in stability, has the characteristic marks of the +twelfth century, and is a noble ruin. It is called King Alfred's Keep; +and with what hallowed feelings of reverence must a _locale_ ever +be approached which bears the name of that illustrious monarch! The +present occupants are an assemblage of German owls, of varied species; +they look analagous with the venerable ruin. + +The castle contains a few curious portraits of the illustrious race of +Howard, which have an interest also from the distinguished parts that +family have played in English history. There is one of Henry Howard, +Earl of Surrey, so famous for his talents in state affairs, and for +his bravery in the field. He is represented standing under a noble +gateway. The picture is moreover valuable as a work of art.[6] + + [6] Surrey's accomplishments and political talents, and his + bravery in the battle-field, cast additional splendour over + the house of Howard; and his violent death, another stain on + the tyranny of Henry VIII. + +Some richly-wrought chalices[7] and censers, and other symbolic +emblems of the Roman Catholic religion are there, but I imagine little +prized by the present noble possessor; for at the age of twenty-seven, +he became a convert to the Protestant faith. Whether conviction, or +ambition to serve his country as a legislator were his motives, it is +not for man to judge: but he is unlike his ancestor, Philip +Howard, Earl of Arundel, who, braving the power of Queen Elizabeth, +disregarded her favour, and almost merited the title of martyr from +the persecutions she heaped upon him for having abjured the Protestant +worship, although educated in it by his father, the attainted Duke of +Norfolk, in despite of Mary and her Spanish consort, who was likewise +his sponsor. + + [7] Several of these splendid emblems of the Roman Catholic + faith the late duke gave to his worthy kinsman, the present + possessor of C----y Castle; and they decorate his house + in London, amidst some _chef d'oeuvres_ of the old Italian + masters, which his good taste selected in Italy. + +_The late Queen Caroline._--A servant entered in haste to induce me to +go down to the sea-shore, and witness the embarkation of the P----ss +of W----s. I immediately sallied forth, and found her r----l h----ss +seated on the shingles, the _adopted boy_ at her feet; and on her left +sat, with the skirts of his coat spread under his r----l mistress, +to protect her from the stones, our old ally Sir W----m G----l. The +frigate had arrived off Worthing some days previous, commanded by +the handsome Captain K----g; but her r----l h----ss was deterred from +embarking there by a numerous assemblage of John Bulls, their wives, +and babes, who were so rude and impetuous, as to terrify and induce +her to take refuge on a less populous shore. The lively and merry Lady +C---- L----y, and the less pleasing Lady E---- F--s, with two foreign +women, Major S--r, and the odious S----o, composed her suite. Her +r----l h----ss was habited in light green cloth, embroidered in +silver, a Prussian cap of green satin, with a splendid plume of +green feathers: the crown of the cap was conical, giving her an air +something resembling Mother Shipton. Terror and dismay were depicted +on her countenance, with all the varieties of unhappy feelings--not a +smile played over her features--her voice was tremulous, and her +brow contracted into one deep furrow--she was highly rouged, and her +eyebrows pencilled with a broad line of black chalk--never was any +person's appearance less formed to inspire interest! + +Sir W----m forgot his usual indifferent manner on seeing me, and put +on one of his comic expressions. In the impulse of the moment, I was +on the point of addressing him, but fortunately recovered my presence +_d'esprit_, and did not commit such a breach of etiquette, although +there was such a total deficiency of r----l dignity in the group that +I might almost have been excused. In half an hour the cutter put off +from the frigate: Captain K--g came from W---- by land, and apologized +for the delay. Her r----l h----ss replied in a tremulous voice "Never +mind!" A small group of persons kept a respectful distance and a +profound silence. One old man blessed her and wished her a +safe return--when her footman burst into tears. The ocean raged +tempestuous, as if in the spirit of anger, and the boat could not +reach the shore. Her r----l h----ss was obliged to enter a pony cart, +and her coachman drove it with difficulty through the billows. With +some exertion Captain K--g and his lieutenant dragged her unwieldy +form into the barge: the P----ss went first, Lady E. F----s followed, +and then the _tin box_: our knight went last; he came up to me, +squeezed my hand affectionately, whispered a saucy adieu, and jumped +into the boat. Such was the embarkation of the P----ss of W----s, and +so passed away the illustrious consort of the heir apparent of these +realms. + +[WE SHALL RETURN TO THESE AMUSING VOLS.] + + * * * * * + + +EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS AND HINDOO TEMPLES COMPARED. + + +The most common form of the Hindoo pagodas[8] is the pyramidal, +of which one of the most remarkable is that of Chalembaram, on the +Coromandel coast, about thirty-four geographical miles south of +Pondicherry, and seven from the sea. + + [8] The word pagoda is a corruption of _Bhagavati_, "holy + house," one of the several names by which the Hindoo temples + are known. + +The whole temple, with its attached buildings covers an area of +1,332 feet by 936, (according to others 1,230 feet by 960,) and is +surrounded with a brick wall[9] 30 feet high and 7 thick, round which +there is another wall furnished with bastions. The four entrances are +under as many pyramids, which, up to the top of the portal, 30 feet in +height, are formed of free-stone, ornamented with sculptured figures. +Above the portal, the pyramid is built of tiles or bricks, to the +height of 150 feet, with a coat of cement upon it, which is covered +with plates of copper, and ornaments of baked clay. On passing through +the chief portico of the western propylaea, we see on the left an +enormous hall with more than 1,000 pillars, which are above 36 feet +high, and covered over with slabs of stone; this hall might have +served as a gallery for the priests to walk about in, just like +the hypostyle halls of the Egyptian temples. In the midst of these +columns, and surrounded by them, is a temple called that of eternity. +On the right or south side, we see the chief temple, with halls of +several hundred pillars at the east and west end, also supporting a +flat roof of stone. The pagoda itself rests on a basis 360 feet long +and 260 broad, and rises to a surprising height. It is formed of +blocks of stone 40 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 5 thick, which must +have been brought, about 200[10] miles, as there are no stone quarries +in the neighbourhood. The temple has a peristyle round it; and +thirty-six of the pillars, which are placed in six rows, and form +the portico, support a roof of smooth blocks. The columns are 30 feet +high, and resemble the old Ionic pillar. The whole pyramid surpasses +in size St. Paul's church in London, the latter being only 474[11] +feet long and 207 wide. The roof of the pyramid has a copper casing +covered with reliefs referring to mythical subjects; the gilding which +was once on it is still visible. In the middle of the courtyard there +is a great tank, surrounded with a gallery of pillars and also an +enclosure round it of marble, well polished and ornamented with +sculptures and arabesques. In the eastern part there is still another +court surrounded with a wall, on the inside of which is a colonnade +covered with large slabs of stone. Here also there is a pagoda, which +is but little inferior in size to the larger one; but it contains only +large dark chambers covered with sculptures, which have reference +to the worship of certain deities, particularly Vishnu. The interior +ornaments are in harmony with the whole; from the nave of one of +the pyramids there hang, on the tops of four buttresses, festoons of +chains, in length altogether 548 feet, made of stone. Each garland, +consisting of twenty links, is made of one piece of stone 60 +feet long; the links themselves are monstrous rings 32 inches in +circumference, and polished as smooth as glass. One chain is broken, +and hangs down from the pillar. In the neighbourhood of the pagodas +there are usually tanks and basins lined with cement, or buildings +attached for the purpose of lodging pilgrims who come from a distance. +It is, however, often the case that the adjoining buildings, as well +as the external ornaments in general, are in bad taste, and the work +of a later age than the pagoda itself. + + [9] The outer wall is brick cased with stone: the inner is all + of stone. The four sides are turned respectively to the four + cardinal points,--Heeren, India, p. 74. + + [10] Fifty meilen. + + [11] These dimensions are not exact, even making allowance for + Berlin feet. + +The pyramidical entrances of the Indian pagodas are analogous to the +Egyptian propyla, while the large pillared rooms which support a flat +roof of stone, are found frequently in the temples of both countries. +Among the numerous divisions of the excavations of Ellora, there is +an upper story of the _Dasavatara_, or the temple of Vishnu's +incarnations, the roof of which is supported by sixty-four square +based pillars, eight in each row. This chamber is about 100 feet wide, +and somewhat deeper, and as to general design may be compared with the +excavated chambers of Egypt, which are supported by square columns. +The massy materials, the dark chambers, and the walls covered with +highly wrought sculptures; and the tanks near the temples, with their +enclosure of stone, and the steps for the pilgrims, are also equally +characteristic of a pagoda and an Egyptian temple. To this we may +add the high thick wall, of a rectangular form, carried all round the +sacred spot: it is, however, principally the massy structure of +these surrounding walls which forms the point of comparison, as Greek +temples also had a wall enclosing the sacred ground, and the temples +and churches of all countries are as a general rule separated from +unhallowed ground, if not by strong walls at least by some mark which +determines the extent of the sacred precincts. Yet there is a further +resemblance worth noticing between some of these Hindoo pagodas and +the great temple of Phtha at Memphis. The Egyptian temple had four +chief entrances, or propyla, turned to the four cardinal points of the +compass; which is also the case with the pagoda of Chalembaram, +with another at Siringam, and probably others also. The pagoda of +Chalembaram, according to Indian tradition, is one of the oldest in +their country, and this opinion is confirmed by the appearance of the +principal temple contained within the walls; but other parts, such as +the pyramidal entrances, the highly finished sculptures, and the chain +festoons, must be the work of a later date. It seems probable then +that this enormous religious edifice was the growth of many ages, +each adding something to enlarge and perfect the work of former +days.--_Lib. Ent. Knowledge._ + + * * * * * + + I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide; for the man is + efficiently destroyed, though the appetite of the brute may + survive.--_Lord Chesterfield._ + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER + + +_A true Abernethian._--"An old country curate," says Zimmerman, "who +had all his life resided upon a lofty mountain in the Canton of Berne, +was one day presented with a moor-cock. A consultation took place in +what manner it should be disposed of--at last it was agreed to bury it +in the garden!" + + _Epitaph on a notorious Liar_. + + I always _lied_ and _lied_ till death, + But now I _lie_ for want of breath. + +_Castanets_ are small wooden rattles, made in the shape of two bowls +or cups, fitted together, and tied by a string, and then fastened to +the thumbs. The fingers being rapidly struck upon them, a tremulous +sound is produced, which marks exactly the measure of the dance. +Something similar to this was the _crotalon_ of the ancients, who also +made use of small cymbals in their dances and festivals in honour of +Bacchus. It is probable, however, that they had their origin in the +East, and were brought by the Moors into Spain. Here too they received +their name _castennalas_, from being commonly made of the wood of the +chestnut, (_castano_) or from their colour. They are still common in +Spain, and here and there in the South of France. In this country they +are common in stage dances only. + +_Cannon_ were formerly dignified with great names. Twelve cast by +Louis XII. were called after the twelve peers of France. Charles V. +had twelve, which he called the Twelve Apostles. One at Bois-le-Duc +is called the Devil; a sixty-pounder at Dover Castle, is named Queen +Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol; an eighty-pounder at Berlin, is called +the Thunderer; another at Malaga, the Terrible; two sixty-pounders at +Bremen, the Messengers of Bad News. + +_Dripping Rock, in India._--Sansadhara or the dripping rock, is a +singular phenomenon, situated at the head of a dell, through which a +rapid stream runs, between two lines of hills towards the valley of +the Dhoon. It is an overhanging rock, about 50 feet high, through +which water pours from above, in innumerable little streams, like a +perpetual shower of rain! The never-abating action of the water has +worn the rock into many fantastic shapes; and, crusting round the +moss and fibres of the roots of trees, has given to it almost the +appearance of a spar cavern. In several places the water has worn +little reservoirs for itself, which are always full. It is cool, +clear, and pleasant to the taste.--_Captain Skinner_. + +_Catching Wild Ducks, &c. in India._--In the lower parts of Bengal, +wild ducks, widgeon, and teal, are often taken by means of earthen +pots. A number of these pots are floated amongst them in the lakes +where they abound, to the sight of which they soon become reconciled, +and approach them fearlessly. A man then goes into the water up to the +chin, with one of these pots over his head, in the centre of which two +small holes are made for him to see through; and when he gets into the +midst of the birds, he pulls them by the legs under water, fastening +them to a girdle round his waist.--T. GILL. + +_Hampden._--Lord Nugent, in his _Memorials of John Hampden_, relates +the attack of Rupert's troops upon the village of Chinnor. A local +tradition of the affair has been related to me by an old inhabitant. +In the room of a house, until lately occupied as a boarding-school, +two of Rupert's soldiers are said to have evinced great brutality. On +entering the house, they demanded a flitch of bacon, hanging up in the +room; one of them held up a child which he had taken from a cradle, +and crossing a sword over it, threatened its immediate destruction if +their demands were not instantly complied with. There appear to +have been sharp hostilities in the vicinity of Chinnor, and more +particularly on the hills, as military buttons, sword handles, &c. and +other vestiges of war are frequently found there.--W.H. + + _Parody on Scott's Lines "Breathes there the Man," &c._ + + Breathes there a cit, with taste so dead, + Who never to himself hath said, + "This haunch surpasses all the rest;" + Whose mouth hath ne'er within him burn'd, + Whene'er his footsteps he hath turn'd + From home, to Guildhall's civic feast? + If such there breathe, go mark him well-- + For him no portly paunch can swell; + Large though his shop, his trade the same, + Boundless his wealth as wish can claim, + Despite his shop, his trade, his cash, + The wretch who knows not ven'son hash, + Living, shall forfeit civic fame, + And dying, shall descend with shame, + In double death, to Lethe's pools, + Despis'd by epicures and fools. REX. + +_Alchemy and Printing._--Antimony, once celebrated in the laboratories +of the alchemists, who hoped to discover in it the philosopher's +stone, is now employed in the casting of types for printing.--There +is much food for reflection in this curious fact in the history +of science. How has this simple substance originated dreams of +spell-bound ignorance, and realities of godlike intelligence. Nay, +we are almost persuaded that the hopes of the alchemists were not +altogether unfounded--that antimony is indeed what they hoped to +find it--that the invention of printing was the finding of the +philosopher's stone; and that we are at this moment enjoying +ten-fold the advantages which the alchemists anticipated from their +secret.--J.T. + + * * * * * + +_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, No. 565, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12147 *** diff --git a/12147-h/12147-h.htm b/12147-h/12147-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce54776 --- /dev/null +++ b/12147-h/12147-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2064 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> + + <title>The Mirror of Literature, Issue ***.</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + blockquote {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; margin-left: 40%; width: 20%;} + + .note .footnote + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt;} + + .poem + {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + + .figure + {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto;} + .figure img + {border: none;} + .figure p + + .side { float:right; + font-size: 75%; + width: 25%; + padding-left:10px; + border-left: dashed thin; + margin-left: 10px; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-weight: bold; + font-style: italic;} + --> + /*]]>*/ + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12147 ***</div> + + <hr class="full" /> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" + summary="Volume, Number, and Date"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>Vol. 20. No. 565.]</b></td> + + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, + 1832.</b></td> + + <td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page145" + id="page145"></a>[pg 145]</span> + + <div class="figure" + style="width:100%;"> + <a href="images/565-1.png"><img width="100%" + src="images/565-1.png" + alt="" /></a> + + <h3>PERSIAN BATH.</h3> + </div> + + <p>The luxurious indulgence of baths in the East is generally + known to the reader of travels, so as to render acceptable the + following details. They are extracted from Mr. Buckingham's + Travels,<a id="footnotetag1" + name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> + and bear all the graphic minuteness of his entertaining + pen.</p> + + <p>The Bath is one of the principal ones of Kermanshah, an + important frontier town of Persia. "It was entered by a porch, + extremely clean, and neatly ornamented by painting and other + devices on its ceiling and walls. This remarkable contrast to + the low, dark, and foul passages which generally lead to + Turkish baths, was a presage, upon the very threshold, of + greater comfort and accommodation within.</p> + + <p>"When we reached the undressing-room, this prepossession was + still further strengthened. Here we found a square hall, well + lighted from above, having on three of its sides elevated + recesses for the visiters, and on the fourth, the passage from + the outer porch to the hall, and from this to the inner bath. + At the angles of these raised recesses, and dividing their + lower roof, which they supported, from the higher one of the + central square, were, four good marble pillars, with spirally + fluted shafts, and moulded capitals, perfectly uniform in size + and design, and producing the best effect. In the centre of the + square space, which these marked out, and on a lower floor, was + a large marble cistern of cold water; and at each end of this, + on wooden stands, like those used in our arbours and breakfast + rooms, were arranged coloured glass jars, with flowers of + various kinds in them, well watered and perfectly fresh.</p> + + <p>"The walls of this outer hall were ornamented all around by + designs of trees, birds, and beasts, in fanciful forms, + executed in white upon a blue ground. We undressed here, and + were led from hence into the inner bath, where all was still + free from everything offensive, either to the sight or smell. + This inner room was originally an oblong space of about fifty + feet by twenty-five, but had been since made into two square + divisions. The first, or outer one, was a plain paved hall, + exactly like the undressing-room, except that it had no side + recesses, but its floor was level, close to the walls. There + were here also four pillars; and in the square space which they + enclosed in the centre of the room, was a cistern of water as + in the outer one. It was on the floor of this that the visiters + lay, to be washed by the attendants; for there were no raised + seats for this purpose as in Turkish baths, and the great + octagonal one, with its cold fountain, the sides and tops of + which are <span class="pagenum"><a name="page146" + id="page146"></a>[pg 146]</span> ornamented with mosaic work + of marble in Turkey, was here replaced by the cistern + described.</p> + + <p>"The second division to which this room led, consisted of + three parts; the central one was a large and deep bath, filled + with warm water, its bottom being level with the lower floor of + the building, and the ascent to it being by three or four steep + steps.</p> + + <p>"As few pleasures are entirely perfect, so here, with all + its general apparent superiority to the baths of Turkey, this + was inferior to them in the most essential points. The + attendants seemed quite ignorant of the art of twisting the + limbs, moulding the muscles, cracking the joints, opening the + chest, and all that delicious train of operations in which the + Turks are so skilful. The visitors were merely well though + roughly scrubbed, and their impurities then rinsed off in the + large cistern above, from which there was neither a running + stream to carry off the foul water, nor cocks of hot and cold + to renew and temper it at pleasure, as in Turkey.</p> + + <p>"In place of the luxurious moulding of the muscles, the use + of the hair-bag, or glove, for removing the dirt, and the + profusion of perfumed soap, with which the Turks end a course + of treatment full of delight, the Persians are occupied in + staining the beard and hair black, the nails of the toes and + fingers of a deep red, and the whole of the feet and hands of a + yellow colour, by different preparations of henna. This + operation is the most unpleasant that can be imagined. The + Persians do not shave the whole of the head, as is usual with + most of the Turks and Arabs, but, taking of all the hair from + the forehead, over the crown, and down the neck, for about a + hand's breadth, they leave on each side two large bushy masses + depending over their shoulders. This, then, with a very long + and full beard, in which all the people here take pride, is + plastered with a thick paste, of the consistence of hog's lard, + and not less than two pounds weight of which is sometimes used + on one person. It possesses a strongly astringent and + penetrating quality, and requires great skill in the use of it, + to avoid doing considerable mischief. As the eye-brows are + plastered with it, as well as the rest of the hair, and as it + softens by the heat of the room and of the body, it frequently + steals into the eyes, and produces great pain.</p> + + <p>"When all is finished, and the visiter leaves the inner + bath, he is furnished with two cloths only, one for the waist, + and the other to throw loosely over the head and shoulders: he + then goes into the outer room into a colder air, thus thinly + clad, and without slippers or pattens; no bed is prepared for + him, nor is he again attended to by any one, unless he demands + a nargeel to smoke; but, most generally, he dresses himself in + haste, and departs."</p> + <hr /> + + <h3>ORIGIN OF PSALMODY.</h3> + + <p>In D'Israeli's <i>Curiosities of Literature</i>, there is an + amusing and instructive account of the <i>Origin of + Psalm-Singing</i>. It appears that Psalms in verse were first + written by that elegant French poet, Clement Marot, the + favoured court bard of Francis I., who was termed by his + <i>un-envious</i> brother poets, "the poet of princes." They + were published at Paris, and the volume contained fifty Psalms, + written in various measures, and, which, from the beauty of + their composition, (some specimens of which we have seen,) + appear to be worthy of the muse of Marot. This "Holy Song + Book," as he entitled it, was "humbly dedicated to the powerful + King of France," and being considered by the volatile French + people as an amusing novelty, it sold faster than any book of + that period. In fact, the printers could not supply impressions + fast enough for the demand; and, as the Psalms were considered + in the light of ballads, they were set by the people to popular + tunes, and were commonly <i>sung</i> as ballads.</p> + + <p>This good reception of Marot's Psalms induced the celebrated + Theodore Beza to continue the collection; and another volume + was printed, of which 20,000 were immediately sold: this was a + considerable circulation, when we consider the few readers that + then existed, in comparison with the number of readers in the + present age. These had the advantage over Marot's of being set + to tunes of greater spirit. Beza, in his preface, says, that + "these Psalms are admirably suited for the violin and other + musical instruments;" and our readers will learn, not without + surprise, that through the instrumentality of the gloomy + Calvin, these compositions were set to most beautiful and + simple airs. He wisely took advantage of popular feeling to + spread his religious opinions, through the means of melody, + and, in furtherance of this plan, he engaged the most + celebrated composers of his time to furnish tunes to these + Psalms. At first, the scheme was not discovered: for Catholics + sang the Psalms as well as Hugonots; but, when Calvin appointed + these Psalms, with their music, to be sung at his meetings, + there was an end to the solace of the dreary hours of the poor + Catholics. Marot himself was compelled to quit Geneva; + Psalm-singing became an open declaration of Lutheranism; and + "woe to the poor wight" who was caught in the <i>diabolical</i> + act of singing these "pernicious Psalms."</p> + + <p>The history of Psalm-singing in our own island can be + comprised in very few words. When the enthusiasm of the French + in favour of their Psalms was at its height, one Sternhold, + undertook to be <i>our</i> Marot, and wrote a Book of Psalms, + which captivated the hearts of the Puritans, by whom they were + practised at their chapels in the Protectorate + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page147" + id="page147"></a>[pg 147]</span> of Cromwell, but were more + particularly set and sung in the reign of Elizabeth. Psalms, + about this time, were sung at City and Lord Mayors' feasts, + and turtle-eaters delighted to honour Psalm-singers. + Soldiers used them as stimulants to exertion on their march, + and even on parade; and there was scarcely a regiment but + could boast of its Marot. About this time, too, it was + customary for the inhabitants of houses which had windows + facing the street, to regale the passenger with the "holy + songs" of Sternhold.</p> + + <p>E.J.H.</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>[By way of an appropriate pendent to our Correspondent's + paper, we quote the following excellent passage on + Psalmody, by the Rev. W.S. Gilly, in his <i>Memoir of Felix + Neff</i>.]</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>The effect produced by the words, or by the music, or by the + combination of the two, is such, that the cultivation of + psalmody has ever been earnestly recommended by those who are + anxious to excite true piety. Tradition, history, revelation, + and experience, bear witness to the truth, that there is + nothing to which the natural feelings of man respond more + readily. Every nation, whose literary remains have come down to + us, appears to have consecrated the first efforts of its muse + to religion, or rather all the first compositions in verse seem + to have grown out of devotional effusions. We know that the + book of Job, and others, the most ancient of the Old Testament, + contain rhythmical addresses to the Supreme Being. Many of the + psalms were composed centuries before the time of king David, + and it is not extravagant to imagine, that some of them may + have been sung even to Jubal's lyre, and were handed down from + patriarch to patriarch by oral tradition. Nor did the fancy of + Milton take too bold a flight when it pleased itself with the + idea that our first parents, taught by the carols of the birds + in the garden of Eden, raised their voices in tuneful notes of + praise to the Creator of all, when they walked forth in the + cool of the day to meet their God before the fall. But this is + certain, that one of our Lord's last acts of social worship on + earth was to sing a hymn with his disciples. Few, therefore, + can be slow to understand, that if Christ and his disciples + broke forth in holy song, immediately after the solemnities of + the Last Supper, and just before the Shepherd was smitten, and + the sheep were scattered; and if Paul and Silas sung praises + unto God in their prison-house, congregational worship may + always be the better for such helps. Add to these examples, the + apostolical exhortation to the merry hearted to sing psalms, + and the apostolical descriptions of the choral strains which + resound in the courts of heaven, and we cannot but feel + certain, that the services of the Christian church were cheered + from the earliest times by hymns and psalms. "Those Nazarenes + sing hymns to Christ," said Pliny, in contempt. We thank him + for recording the fact. The words of the Te Deum were composed + by a native of Gaul, (for the use probably of one of the + churches on the Rhone, or of the Alps) about the third century; + and at the same period, men, women, youths of both sexes, and + even children joined in the psalmody of the sanctuaries, in + such cordial and harmonious unison, that a father of the church + has well compared the sound to the loud, but not discordant, + noise of many waves beating against the sea shore.</p> + + <p>At the time of the Reformation, sacred music, which had + begun to run wild, was brought back to its first principles. + The melodies of religious worship were rendered more + heart-touching, by being set to words in the vernacular + tongues, which every body could understand. Luther's hymn, + "Great God, what do I hear and see," led the way. Henry VIII. + hated the German reformer, and all that he did, but he burned + to rival him in every thing, and he gave a stimulus to the + public taste, by composing words and music for the service of + the English church. In France, soon after the middle of the + sixteenth century, when it was doubtful whether the nation + would become Protestant or remain Roman Catholic, the pathetic + tunes and devotional stanzas of the reformers obtained so great + an influence over the minds of men, that the music of the + temples, as the Protestant sanctuaries were called, to + distinguish them from the Roman Catholic churches, became the + fashionable melodies of the day. This taste found its way even + to the court, and to the great alarm of the Romish party, some + of the sweetest and most stirring of the psalms, which had been + translated into French metre by Clement Marot, were set to + music by Lewis Guadimel, and were constantly in the mouths not + only of the Protestant families of the provinces, but of the + ornaments of the saloons of Paris, and of the palace of the + Louvre. It is said to have been quite astonishing how much this + pious and simple device found favour for the Protestant cause, + and induced people, who had never read Scripture before, to + search the holy volume out of which those treasures were drawn, + which so charmed their ears and their imagination. It is still + the practice in most of the mountain churches to make sacred + music a part of family devotion, and many of the tunes which + Guadimel composed with such success are still sung to the + praise of God. I can bear witness to the forcible manner in + which these strains, rising to heaven from the lips of parents, + children and domestics, quicken piety, and stir up the best + affections of the heart towards God and man. I have seen and + felt the effect produced by them in + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page148" + id="page148"></a>[pg 148]</span> the humble dwelling of the + village pastor, where none but human voices swelled the + notes; and in the chateau, where the harp and the organ have + mingled their fine sounds with the well modulated tones of + an accomplished family of sons and daughters. My thoughts, + at the moment I am writing this, are at Chateâu + Blonay, but most of the voices, which I heard there, are now + silent in death! I am thoroughly convinced that family + worship, and congregational worship lose a great auxiliary + to piety, when there is not the power or the inclination to + join in psalmody.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3>LINES</h3> + + <p><i>Written after reading the Memoir and Poems of Miss + Lucretia Davidson.</i><a id="footnotetag2" + name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a></p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Ev'n till thy latest hour, Lucretia! thou</p> + + <p>Didst cherish <i>that</i> which but consum'd thy + frame.</p> + + <p>'Twas <i>then</i> it shone the brightest on thy + brow,</p> + + <p>Like the last flickerings of an earthly + flame—</p> + + <p>Yes, thy brain harass'd by deep toil, became</p> + + <p>With all its fire, a tenant of the tomb,</p> + + <p>And dim is now thine eye, Belov'd of Fame!</p> + + <p>Thy cheek is pale—thy lip without + perfume—</p> + + <p>And there thou liest—the child of + Genius—and its doom.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Like the proud eagle soaring to the skies,</p> + + <p>Intent "the topmost arch" of heaven to scale,</p> + + <p>When heeding naught that would oppose its rise,</p> + + <p>It breaks with fearless nerve the + tempest-gale—</p> + + <p>And spreads its wings like a majestic sail,</p> + + <p>Full on the bosom of the raging blast,</p> + + <p>Thy spirit soar'd—but ah! too like us + frail,</p> + + <p>When the same breeze which bore it from the dust</p> + + <p>Wing'd home the fatal shaft that tore its bleeding + breast.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Would I could sing thy fame with thine own lyre,</p> + + <p>Then should I breathe a more deserving lay,</p> + + <p>A lay which every spirit would inspire,</p> + + <p>And melt each eye to tears of sympathy;</p> + + <p>But others at thy shrine, their tributes pay.</p> + + <p>Offspring of Beauty! child of native song!</p> + + <p>And I, ev'n I, would venture to essay,</p> + + <p>To raise my lauding voice amidst the throng</p> + + <p>Of those who weep thy loss—and who shall weep + it long!</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>N.C.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + + <h2>Spirit of Discovery.</h2> + <hr class="short" /> + + <h3>IMPROVED RAW SUGAR.</h3> + + <blockquote> + <p>[We find the following information communicated to the + <i>Literary Gazette</i>, apparently by the parties + connected with the improvement.]</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>Considerable interest has been excited in the market by the + introduction of an improved native raw sugar, which portends + very great advantages to all who are engaged in this so long + unprofitable branch of colonial and commercial intercourse. It + is pure raw sugar, obtained direct from the cane-juice, without + any secondary process of decoloration or solution, and by which + all necessity for any subsequent process of refining is + entirely obviated. It is obtained in perfectly pure, + transparent, granular crystals, being entirely free from any + portion of uncrystallisable sugar or colouring matter, and is + prepared by the improved process of effecting the last stages + of concentration in vacuum, and at a temperature insufficient + to produce any changes in its chemical composition; the mode of + operation first proposed by the late Hon. Ed. Charles Howard, + and subsequently introduced, with the most important advantages + and complete success, into the principal sugar-refineries of + Great Britain.</p> + + <p>By this improved and scientific process of manufacture, the + application of which to the purpose of preparing raw sugar from + the cane-juice has now first been proposed, the most singular + advantages are secured to the planter, in an increased quantity + of sugar, the product of his operation, and in saving from the + immense quantity of deteriorated material, uncrystallisable + sugar and molasses, which were products of the former mode of + operation, from the intense and long-continued degree of heat + employed in the processes. The time and labour of the operation + are also greatly decreased; the apparatus possesses the power + to make double the quantity in the same space of time as the + old method, and this is ready for shipment in four days, in + lieu of three weaks, as heretofore. The sugar likewise readily + commands an advanced price in the market to the planter of ten + or twelve shillings per cwt.</p> + + <p>This improved sugar readily ensures a preference for all + purposes of manufacture, solution, or domestic economy. It is a + purer sweet, and of a richer mellifluous taste than even the + best refined; it is not apt to become ascescent in solution; + and, from its superior quality, it well answers all purposes of + the table. In the manufacture of rum from the molasses, which + are separated during the first process of the operation, there + is no danger of deterioration in the production of empyreuma, + and a far purer spirit is obtained than that made from ordinary + molasses.</p> + + <p>This improved process is now in complete and successful + operation on eight estates in Demerara. The general + introduction of the process is considered by the best practical + judges to ensure certain means of revivifying the spoiled + fortunes of the planters, and to open a new era in the + prosperity of those portions of the British crown, of which + this forms the principal staple commodity of support.</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>[According to Dr. Moseley, the art of refining sugar, + and what is called loaf sugar, is a modern European + invention, the discovery of a Venetian, about the end of + the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth century. Sugar + candy is of much earlier date, for in Marin's <i>Storia del + Commercio de Veneziani</i>, there is an account of a + shipment made at Venice for England in 1319, of 100,000 + lbs. of sugar, and 10,000 lbs. of sugar candy. Refined, or + loaf sugar is mentioned in a roll of provisions in the + reign of Henry + VIII.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page149" + id="page149"></a>[pg 149]</span> + + <p>The process of refining sugar <i>in vacuo</i> is the + most useful application of "the fact that liquids are + driven off, or made to boil at lower degrees of heat when + the atmospheric pressure is lessened or + removed."<a id="footnotetag3" + name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> + The first part of the process is to dissolve impure + sugar in water, and after clarifying the solution, to + boil off or evaporate the water again, that the dry + crystallized mass may remain. Formerly this evaporation + was performed under the atmospheric pressure, and a heat + of 218° or 220° was required to make the syrup + boil; by which degree of heat, however, a portion of the + sugar was discoloured and spoiled, and the whole produce + was deteriorated. The valuable thought occurred to Mr. + Howard, that the water might be dissipated by boiling + the syrup in a vacuum or place from which air was + <i>excluded</i>, and therefore at a low temperature. + This was done accordingly; and the saving of sugar and + the improvement of quality were such as to make the + patent right, which secured the emoluments of the + process to him and other parties, worth many thousand + pounds a-year. The syrup, during this process, is not + more heated than it would be in a vessel merely exposed + to a summer sun.</p> + + <p>Lord Brougham, in his Introduction to the <i>Library of + Useful Knowledge</i>, characterizes this as a process, by + which more money has been made in a shorter time, and with + less risk and trouble, than was ever perhaps gained from an + invention; and as "the fruit of a long course of + experiments, in the progress of which known philosophical + principles were constantly applied, and one or two new + principles ascertained."<a id="footnotetag4" + name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> + + <p>The scene of this discovery was, in all probability, the + Deepdene, near Dorking, the retreat of the late Mr. Thomas + Hope, the author of <i>Anastasius</i>. Here the Hon. Mr. + Howard, brother of the Duke of Norfolk, resided at the + commencement of the last century, and is stated to have + enjoyed that philosophical retirement which may be + described as the happy haven of a truly great mind. He + planted a portion of the grounds, the greater part of the + estate being so admirably disposed by nature as almost to + forbid the fashioning of men's hands. At Mr. Howard's + death, the estate descended to the Duke of Norfolk, who + sold the property, in 1791, to the late Sir William + Burrell, whose lady wrote the following lines, which are on + a tablet in the grounds:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>"This votive Tablet is inscribed to the memory of + the Honourable Charles Howard, who built an oratory and + laboratory on this spot: he died at the Deepdene, + 1714.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>If worth, if learning, should with fame be + crown'd,</p> + + <p class="i2">If to superior talents, fame be + due,</p> + + <p>Let <i>Howard's</i> virtues consecrate the + ground</p> + + <p class="i2">Where once the fairest flowers of + science grew.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Within this calm retreat, th' illustrious + sage</p> + + <p class="i2">Was wont his grateful orisons to + pay,</p> + + <p>Here he perused the legendary page,</p> + + <p class="i2">Here gave to chemistry the + feeling day.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Cold to ambition, far from courts + remov'd,</p> + + <p class="i2">Though qualified to fill the + statesman's part,</p> + + <p>He studied nature in the paths he lov'd,</p> + + <p class="i2">Peace in his thoughts, and virtue + in his heart.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Soft may the breeze sigh through the ivy + boughs</p> + + <p class="i2">That shade this humble record of + his worth;</p> + + <p>Here may the robin undisturbed repose,</p> + + <p class="i2">And fragrant flowers adorn the + hallow'd earth.--January 1792."</p> + </div> + + + </div> + </blockquote><br /> + + <p>The tablet is of plain wood—black letters painted + on a white ground. It is an unostentatious memorial, which + has been respected amidst the extensive alteration and + embellishment of the grounds by the late Mr. Hope. To our + minds, neither of the treasures of art which are assembled + within the splendid saloons of the adjoining mansion, or + sculpture gallery, will outvie the interest of this humble + tribute to the memory of departed genius.]</p> + </blockquote> + <hr /> + + <h3>THE LANDERS VOYAGE AND DISCOVERIES ON THE NIGER.</h3> + + <p>The travellers, in embarking on the Atlantic, had solved the + greatest problem in African, and even in modern + geography;—one which had exercised the ingenuity and + conjecture of so many learned inquirers, and in the efforts to + solve which so many brave and distinguished adventurers had + perished. This discovery divested the Niger of that singular + and mysterious character, which had been one chief cause of the + interest that it had excited—when seen rolling its ample + flood <i>from</i> the sea towards vast unknown regions in the + interior. The circuit by which it reaches the Atlantic + assimilates its character to that of ordinary rivers, without + any much more remarkable windings than are found in others of + similar length. It displays, however, a magnitude considerably + greater than had been suggested by any former observation.</p> + + <p>We can now trace very distinctly, the entire line of this + great river. Its source, though not actually visited, seems + ascertained by Laing to exist in the high country of Kissi, + about 200 miles in the interior from Sierra Leone. Thence it + rolls through Foota Jallo and Kankan, where Caillie describes + himself to have found it already a rapid and considerable + stream. At Bammakoo, having received the tributary from Sankari + in Manding, which Park mistook for the main river, it begins + its course over the fine plain of Bambarra, where it forms a + noble stream; and in passing Sego, the capital, has been + considered as equalling the Thames at Westminster. Thence it + pursues a north-westerly course, and flowing through the lake + Dibbie, reaches Timbuctoo. Its course from that city to Youri + has not yet been delineated; but the fact that Park navigated + down from one place to the other, fully establishes the + continuity. <span class="pagenum"><a name="page150" + id="page150"></a>[pg 150]</span> During this reach the Niger + makes a great change of direction from north-east to almost + due south. From Youri to the sea, it was navigated by the + present travellers, and was found following generally a + southern direction, though making in one part a rapid bend + to the east, whence it gradually returns. If we measure two + distances, one from the source to Timbuctoo, and the other + from that city to the sea, we shall have nearly 2,000 miles, + which may be considered as the direct course; and the + various windings must raise the whole line of the stream to + upwards of 3,000 miles. For several hundred miles of its + lower course, it forms a broad and magnificent expanse, + resembling an inland sea. The Niger must after all yield + very considerably to the Missouri and Orellana, those + stupendous rivers of the new world. But it appears at least + as great as any of those which water the old continents. + There can rank with it only the Nile, and the Yangtse-kiang, + or Great River of China. But the upper course of neither is + yet very fully ascertained; and the Nile can compete only in + length of course, not in the magnitude of its stream, or the + fertility of the regions which it waters. There is one + feature in which the Niger may defy competition from any + river, either of the old or new world. This is in the + grandeur of its Delta. Along the whole coast, from the river + of Formosa or Benin to that of Old Calabar, about 300 miles + in length, there open into the Atlantic its successive + estuaries, which navigators have scarcely been able to + number. Taking this coast as the base of the triangle or + Delta, and its vertex at Kirree, about 170 miles inland, + where the Formosa branch separates, we have a space of + upwards of 25,000 square miles, equal to the half of + England. Had this Delta, like that of the Nile, been subject + only to temporary inundations, leaving behind a layer of + fertilizing slime, it would have formed the most fruitful + region on earth, and might have been almost the granary of a + continent. But, unfortunately, the Niger rolls down its + waters in such excessive abundance, as to convert the whole + into a huge and dreary swamp, covered with dense forests of + mangrove, and other trees of spreading and luxuriant + foliage. The equatorial sun, with its fiercest rays, cannot + penetrate these dark recesses; it only exhales from them + pestilential vapours, which render this coast the theatre of + more fatal epidemic diseases than any other, even of Western + Africa. That human industry will one day level these + forests, drain these swamps, and cover this soil with + luxuriant harvests, we may confidently anticipate; but many + ages must probably elapse before man, in Africa, can achieve + such a victory over nature.</p> + + <p>The Niger, besides its own ample stream, has a number of + tributaries, equal perhaps in magnitude and importance to those + of any other river on the globe; with the exception of the + united streams of the Mississippi and Missouri. At no great + distance above the point where the Delta commences, the + Tshadda, nearly equal in magnitude to itself, enters it; after + watering large and fruitful kingdoms, of which the names only, + and of these but a very few, have reached us. On this river an + extensive commerce and active navigation is said to prevail; + the existence of which is further confirmed by the great + importance attached to Funda, and other cities situated at or + near the junction. It would have been deeply interesting, and + have given a new importance to the river communications of + Africa, could we have believed, what was positively asserted by + very credible witnesses, that vessels by its channel sailed to + and from the lake Tchad, and thus held intercourse with the + kingdoms of Loggun and Bornou. It seems certain that the names + Tshadda, Shary, and Tchad, are one and the same. But the + identity of the two first as rivers is what we are precluded + from all possibility of believing, by the circumstance that the + Shary of Loggun and Bornou, which Major Denham saw and sailed + upon, was found by him falling <i>into</i> lake Tchad, while + the Tshadda of Lander fell <i>into</i> the Niger; consequently + they are distinct streams, flowing in opposite directions. It + is very probable indeed that their fountains may be in the same + mountain chain, and at no great distance; and even that some of + their branches may approach very near, so that merchants may, + by an easy portage, convey commodities between them. Nay, it is + not quite impossible that they may be united by some connecting + channel, as the Amazons and the Oronooka are; but this seems + scarcely probable.</p> + + <p>At no great distance above the Tshadda, enters the Coodonia, + a smaller river, but which Lander had seen flowing through a + very fertile and highly cultivated country. Considerably higher + is the Cubbie, a large stream from the country and city of that + name; and higher still the Quarrama, which has passed by Zirmie + and Sackatoo. Between this point and Timbuctoo, we have no + means of knowing whether any or what rivers fall into the + Niger. The tributary which passes that city is of no great + importance; but at the eastern boundary of Bambarra, Park + describes the influx from the south of two great streams, the + Maniana and Nimma; and it seems very doubtful if Caillie was + not mistaken in supposing the latter to be a mere branch of the + Niger. The higher tributaries, descending from the mountains, + swell the stream, without themselves affording any important + navigation.—<i>Edinburgh Review.</i></p> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page151" + id="page151"></a>[pg 151]</span> + + <h2>Notes of a Reader.</h2> + <hr class="short" /> + + <h3>LAURENCEKIRK SNUFF-BOXES.</h3> + + <blockquote> + <p>[Probably one of the most amusing articles in Mr. + Macculloch's bulky <i>Dictionary of Commerce</i> of 1,150 + pages, is the following account of the manufacture of the + celebrated Laurencekirk snuff-boxes. It is right, however, + to explain, that Mr. Macculloch only mentions these boxes + here for the purpose of giving the following details, not + to be met with in any other publication.]</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>These beautiful boxes were first manufactured at the village + of Laurencekirk, in Kincardineshire, about forty years since. + The original inventer was a cripple hardly possessed of the + power of locomotion. In place of curtains, his bed (rather a + curious workshop) was surrounded with benches and receptacles + for tools, in the contrivance and use of which he discovered + the utmost ingenuity. The inventer, instead of taking out a + patent, confided his secret to a joiner in the same village, + who in a few years amassed a considerable property; while the + other died, as he had lived, in the greatest poverty. The great + difficulty of the manufacture lies in the formation of the + hinge, which in a genuine box is so delicately made as hardly + to be visible. Peculiar, or, as they are called, secret tools + are required in its formation; and though they must have been + improved by time and experience, the mystery attached to their + preparation is still so studiously kept up, that the workmen + employed in one shop are rigorously debarred from having any + communication with those employed in another.</p> + + <p>About the beginning of this century, an ingenious individual + belonging to the village of Cumnock, in Ayrshire, of the name + of Crawford, having seen one of the Laurencekirk snuff-boxes, + succeeded, after various attempts, by the assistance of a + watchmaker of the same village, who made the tools, in + producing a similar box; and by his success, not only laid the + foundation of his own fortune, but greatly enriched his native + parish and province. For awhile, the Laurencekirk boxes were + most in demand; but Mr. Crawford and his neighbours in Cumnock + not only copied the art, but so improved and perfected it, that + in a very few years, for every box made in the north there + were, probably, twenty made in the south. In 1826, the Cumnock + trade was divided amongst eight master manufacturers, who + employed considerably more than 100 persons. The demand at that + time equalled the supply, and it was calculated that the trade + yielded from 7,000<i>l.</i> to 8,000<i>l.</i> annually,—a + large product for a manufacture seemingly so insignificant, and + consisting almost exclusively of the wages of labour. Plane is + the wood in common use, and the cost of the wood in an ordinary + sized box does not exceed 1<i>d.</i>; the paints and varnish + are rated at 2<i>d.</i>; and though something is lost by + selecting timber of the finest colour, the whole expense of the + raw material falls considerably short of 1/2 per cent. on the + return it yields!</p> + + <p>Snuff-box, like pin making, admits of subdivision of labour; + and in all workshops of any size three classes of persons are + employed—painters, polishers, and joiners. At the period + alluded to, an industrious joiner earned from 30<i>s.</i> to + 40<i>s.</i> weekly, a painter from 45<i>s.</i> to 3<i>l.</i>, + and a polisher considerably less than either. When Mr. Crawford + first commenced business he obtained almost any price he chose + to ask; and many instances occurred, in which ordinary sized + snuff-boxes sold at 2<i>l.</i> 12<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>, and + ladies' work-boxes at 25<i>l</i>. But as the trade increased, + it became necessary to employ apprentices, who first became + journeymen and then masters; and such have been the effects of + improvement and competition, that articles such as are + specified above, may now be obtained at the respective prices + of <i>six</i> and <i>twenty-five shillings</i>. While the + joiner's part of the art has remained pretty stationary, that + of the painter has been gradually improving. By means of the + <i>Pentagraph</i>, which is much employed, the largest + engravings are reduced to the size most convenient for the + workman, without injuring the prints in the slightest degree; + and hence a snuff-box manufacturer, like a Dunfermline weaver, + can work to order by exhibiting on wood his employer's coat of + arms, or in short, any object he may fancy within the range of + the pictorial art. Some of the painters display considerable + talent, and as often as they choose to put forth their + strength, produce box-lids, which are really worthy of being + preserved as pictures. At first, nearly the whole subjects + chosen as ornaments, were taken from Burns's poems; and there + can be no doubt, that the "Cotter's Saturday Night," "Tam + O'Shanter," "Willie brewed a peck o' maut," &c. &c., + have penetrated in this form into every quarter of the + habitable globe. Now, however, the artists of Cumnock take a + wider range; the studios of Wilkie, and other artists, have + been laid under contribution; landscapes are as often met with + as figures; and there is scarcely a celebrated scene in the + country that is not pictured forth more or less perfectly on + the lid of a Cumnock snuff-box. A few years ago, the art in + question was much affected by the long-continued depression of + the weaving business; so much so, that many left it for some + other employment. And some of those who emigrated, having made + a good deal of money, instead of being cooped up in a workshop, + are now thriving proprietors in Upper Canada. But after a brief + interval the trade rallied; and though prices are low, it is + now more flourishing than ever. In Cumnock + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page152" + id="page152"></a>[pg 152]</span> the number of hands has + increased considerably, and in Mauchline there is one + workshop so extensive that it may almost be compared to a + cotton mill or factory. In other quarters the trade is + extending, such as Helensburgh near Greenock, Catrine, + Maxwelltown, Dumfries, &c. The principal markets for the + snuff-boxes are London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. + At one time large lots of boxes were exported to South + America, and probably are so at present. Cumnock, in a word, + in regard to its staple manufacture, is in that palmy state + so well described by a modern writer:—"the condition + most favourable to population is that of a laborious, frugal + people ministering to the demands of opulent neighbours; + because this situation, while it leaves them every advantage + of luxury, exempts them from the evils which accompany its + admission into a country. Of the different kinds of luxury, + those are the most innocent which afford employment to the + greatest number of artists and manufacturers; or those in + which the price of the work bears the greatest proportion to + that of the raw material." Some very wretched imitations of + Cumnock boxes have been produced in different parts of + England; but they can deceive no one who ever saw a genuine + box. The hinge, as well as the finishing, is clumsy in the + extreme.</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>[Mr. Macculloch acknowledges himself indebted for this + curious and instructive article to his esteemed friend + "John M'Diarmid, Esq. Editor of the <i>Dumfries + Courier</i>, one of the best provincial papers published in + the empire."</p> + + <p>By the way, what a colossal labour must have been the + preparation of the above Dictionary. How it reminds us of + the words of poor, patient Antony Wood: "What toyle hath + been taken, as no man thinketh, so no man believeth, but he + that hath made the trial." Yet it has often occurred to us + that the compiler, or editor, as he is complimentarily + called, is barely treated with proper respect in these + days. What is all knowledge but a continued accumulation + and comparison of facts, by "following the example of + time?" Yet, all this is not <i>original</i>; but we ask, in + what does the intellectual originality of the present day + consist? does it add a spark to the minds of men which they + cannot find in the labours of past ages? New books (we mean + new <i>original</i> works) are like dull, pointless flints; + the reader cannot scintillate, strike-fire, or <i>steal</i> + from them; they are mere changes of words, often at the + sacrifice of sense to sound. A flashy novel would, perhaps, + secure the writer more celebrity than Mr. Macculloch's + <i>Dictionary</i> will obtain for him, though his + reputation for talent and industry want not the false + glory, the common-place praise—the dullest + outpourings—of a very dull perception. Perhaps the + whole series of the Waverley Novels might have been written + while this Dictionary was in course of compilation.</p> + + <p>We heartily wish that Mr. Macculloch's work may become + as popular as it deserves. It will then enjoy extensive + fame. It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to + acquaint the reader with its mass of well-arranged + materials; its laborious abstracts, documents, and + information upon every point that bears upon the main + subjects, commerce and commercial navigation, practical, + theoretical, and historical. It deserves to be the library + of every counting-house, manufactory, and workshop in the + empire; it is, indeed, a delightful relief to mere figures, + and we should think better of the man whom we caught + dipping into its pages by turns with his book of accounts: + for, with Addison, we have no noble opinion of a man who is + ever poring over his cash-book, and deriving all his ideas + of happiness from its balances.]</p> + </blockquote> + <hr /> + + <h3>COMPARATIVE MORTALITY.</h3> + + <p>A curious official paper has been circulated, ordered by the + House of Commons, showing the comparative mortality in many + large towns, &c., of the kingdom, from 1813 up to the + present year. Among the towns included in this comparative + calculation of mortality are, Leeds (town), Bradford, Holbeck, + Beeston, Wigan, Preston, Norwich, Bolton-le-Moors, London, + Bury, (Lancashire), Essex, &c. The result of the + investigation of mortality may be concisely stated as + follows:—Of children born there die, in Leeds, 53 per + cent. under 5 years of age, and 62 per cent. under 20 years of + age; in Bradford, 47 per cent. under 5, and 59 per cent. under + 20 years of age; in Beeston, 39 per cent. under 5, and 52 per + cent. under 20 years of age; in Holbeck, 50 per cent. under 5, + and 62 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Norwich, 42 per + cent. under 5, and 50 per cent. under 20 years of age; in + Bolton, 49 per cent. under 5, and 61 per cent. under 20 years + of age; in Wigan, 48 per cent. under 5, and 59 per cent. under + 20 years of age; in London, 38 per cent. under 5, and 46 per + cent. under 20 years of age; in Rutland, 29 per cent. under 5, + and 37-1/2 per cent. under 20 years of age, &c. It further + appears, that in Essex, Rutland, and the metropolis, persons + live to an advanced age in a greater extent than + others.—<i>Morning Herald.</i></p> + <hr /> + + <h3>LEE, KENT.</h3> + + <p>The rural village of Lee is situate six miles south of + London, on the south side of Blackheath, and on the road to + Maidstone. It is a place of considerable antiquity; and was + originally written <i>Legheart</i>, and in old Latin, + <i>Laga</i>, i.e. a place which lies sheltered. "The manor was + held of Edward the Confessor by + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page153" + id="page153"></a>[pg 153]</span> Alwin. William the + Conqueror gave it to his half-brother, Odo, bishop of + Baieux, and Earl of Kent, of whom it was held by Walter de + Donay." In the time of the Confessor, it was valued at + 3<i>l.</i> and in Domesday at 100<i>s</i>. Its extent is + somewhat more than 1,000 acres. Hasted enumerates the + successive lords, among whom were Lord Rivers, who was + beheaded at Banbury in 1649; and his son, Anthony, Earl + Rivers, who was beheaded at Pomfret, in 1483. The manor was + purchased by Sir Francis Baring, bart., in 1798.</p> + + <div class="figure" + style="width:100%;"> + <a href="images/565-2.png"><img width="100%" + src="images/565-2.png" + alt="" /></a> + + <h3><i>Lee Church and Parsonage.</i></h3> + </div> + + <p>The picturesque vignette includes the church and parsonage. + The Church is in what is called the pointed style, or rather in + humble imitation of antiquity, for it is a recent structure + built on the site of the walls of the old church, but with the + addition of side-aisles. Nearly two centuries before the + erection of the present church, the villagers reported the old + building to be in a state too ruinous to admit of repair: how + long did its stability gainsay their judgment, while they were + laid asleep about the walls. The church was an appendage to the + manor till the time of Charles I., who granted away the fee of + the manor, but reserved the patronage of the church to the + crown, where it continues to this time. It was valued l5 Edward + I. at 10 marks; in the king's books it is at 3<i>l.</i> + 11<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; and the yearly tenths at 7<i>s.</i> + 2<i>d</i>. The parsonage has much of the snug character of the + glebe-house; it was rebuilt in 1636, by the rector, the Rev. + Abraham Sherman.</p> + + <p>In the church are some monumental <i>brasses</i> and a + handsome tomb of marble and alabaster. One of the former is to + the memory of Nicholas Ansley, or Annesley, Esq. who died in + 1593; with the following inscription:—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>When the Quene Elizabeth full five years had + rain'd,</p> + + <p>Then Nicholas Ansley, whos corps lyes here + interred,</p> + + <p>At fyve and twenty yeres of age was entertayned</p> + + <p>Into her servis, where well himself he caried</p> + + <p>In eche man's love till fifty and eight yeres + ould,</p> + + <p>Being Sergant of the Seller, death him + contrould.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Above is an upright figure (on a brass plate,) of the + deceased, in armour, kneeling at a desk. The latter monument is + to Brian Annesley, Esq. (son of Nicholas) gentleman pensioner + to Queen Elizabeth. It consists of an elliptic arch supported + by Corinthian columns, and ornamented with a Mosaic pattern + studded with roses. Beneath lie the effigies of Annesley, in + armour, and his wife, in a gown and ruff; their son, and three + daughters.</p> + + <p>In the churchyard, among the tombs, is that of Dr. Halley, + who succeeded Flamstead as Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, where + he died in 1741-2: Halley published a treatise on Comets, when + he was nineteen years old; and first applied the barometer to + measure heights. Here also lie William Pate, whom Swift, in his + Letters, calls the learned woollen-draper: Sir Samuel Fludyer, + bart., the courtly lord mayor; Parsons, the comedian, with this + quaint epitaph:—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Here Parsons lies, oft on life's busy stage</p> + + <p class="i2">With nature, reader, hast thou seen him + vie;</p> + + <p>He science knew, knew manners, knew the age,</p> + + <p class="i2">Respected knew to live, lamented die.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Bliss, the Astronomer Royal, who died in 1762, is also + buried here; Charnock, the author of <i>Biographia Navalis</i>, + a <i>Life of Nelson</i>, &c.; the amiable Lord Dacre, who + died in 1794; and Mary, his relict, 1808.<a id="footnotetag5" + name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> + + <p>Harris says that Samuel Purchas resided at Lee, and there + wrote a great part of his collection of travels, or "Celebrated + Pilgrimages and Relations of the World."</p> + + <p>Among the grateful recollection of Lee we must not omit the + alms-house, chapel, and school-house founded by C. Boone, Esq. + in 1638.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page154" + id="page154"></a>[pg 154]</span> + + <h2>The Public Journals.</h2> + + <h3>THE VICTIMS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY.</h3> + + <h4><i>By a Modern Pythagorean.</i></h4> + + <p>Fortune, it has been truly said, is blind, and the same + thing may be alleged of nature; for while there are some to + whom the latter goddess has denied the commonest gifts, either + of person or intellect, she has bestowed the most splendid upon + others, with a prodigality which astonishes and perplexes the + world. A beautiful person, and genius almost superhuman, fell + to the share of Milton; nor can it be doubted, that in these + respects the blind goddess was equally kind to the bard of + Avon, whose presence, even judging from the imperfect, and + somewhat apocryphal likenesses handed down to us, was noble to + behold, while his genius more resembled that of a superior + nature than of a human being. The same remark applies to the + beautiful, the divine Raphael,—nor less to Tasso, and + various others, whom we might easily point out.</p> + + <p>It will perhaps be deemed presumptuous, after naming those + illustrious characters—those "demigods of fame"—to + allude to Augustus Merton, who, although he obtained the + distinction of first wrangler at Brazennose, Oxford, and + carried off a multitude of prizes from that seat of learning, + may yet be thought an inadequate testimony of the fact with + which we set out, more especially when placed in juxtaposition + with the Miltons, the Shakespeares, the Raphaels, and the + Tassos of the world. We discuss not this point. We claim for + him no equality with these august names; and yet, with all such + reservations, do we set him forward as no unmeet proof of the + soundness of our assertion.</p> + + <p>Merton was gifted with fine genius, and with a person all + but faultless. In stature he rose to six feet, and was slightly + but elegantly formed; while his whole air bespoke at once the + gentleman and scholar. Those who have seen his fine Spanish + countenance, dark eyes, and rich clustering hair,—the + whole communicating dignity, grace, and interest to his natural + melancholy,—will not soon efface his imposing image from + their remembrance. His talents were of a highly-diversified + order. He was a first-rate Grecian and had he turned his + attention exclusively to that language might have contested the + palm with Porson himself; nor do those who are best qualified + to judge hesitate to place him upon an equality with Burney, + Young or Parr. He was also an excellent Latinist, and had a + profound acquaintance with geometry, and the other branches of + mathematical science. For knowledge of the various eastern + tongues he was no unequal match for Lee, of Cambridge; while + his acquirements in natural philosophy, political economy, and + metaphysics, were such as would have fairly entitled him to + prelect on these subjects in any university in Europe. Besides + this, he had an exquisite poetical genius; and, in his very + first contest, succeeded in carrying off the prize of poetry, + to the utter discomfiture of many formidable rivals.</p> + + <p>But, with all these high acquirements, he was not a happy + man. He had been baptized in the waters of melancholy; and a + circumstance which occurred in the fifth year of his curriculum + had a baleful and, ultimately, a fatal effect upon him, + dethroning reason from its lofty seat, and plunging not him + only, but another estimable individual, in the deepest + distress. This circumstance, painful as it is, we must relate; + and, on perusing it, the reader will see that the noble + aspirations, the keen susceptibilities, of the mind do not + always lead to happiness; for, alas! it was such an excess of + susceptibility in his intellect which disturbed so sadly the + current of his ideas, and made him an inmate of St. Luke's.</p> + + <p>The weather at the period we speak of was truly melancholy. + It was in the gloomy month of November,—that month in + which it is said the suicidal propensities of the English + nation are most strongly in force. The air was either filled + with dull, sluggish, unwholesome fogs, which hung upon it like + a nightmare, or soaked in a constant drizzle of small, + annoying, contemptible rain-drops, which, without possessing + the energy and dignity of a shower, were infinitely more + disagreeable, and found their way to the flesh in spite of all + the protective armoury of great-coats, hessian cloaks, or + umbrellas. It seemed as if a wet blanket were drawn between the + sun and the earth. The atmosphere was always foggy, often + perfectly wet, but never thoroughly dry. It wanted vitality; + and every person that breathed it partook of its own damp, + hypochondriac, inanimate character.</p> + + <p>It was in the morning of one of those days of fog, gloom, + and <i>ennui</i>, that Augustus last sallied out to lounge + about the streets of Oxford, as was his custom, before + breakfast. There was a favourite spot in which he was wont to + walk; it was upon the footpath of a very short street, about + the middle of which stood the shop of Jonathan Hookey, a + barber. This street (we forget its name) is not above fifty + yards in length, and opens at each end into a cross street. + Now, Merton's walk extended from one of those cross streets to + the other, including, of course, the whole extent of the short + street; he always walked on one side of this street, viz. on + that opposite to the barber's shop. These particulars may seem + trifling, but they are essential to the proper understanding of + the story.</p> + + <p>While making these morning perambulations, he had always an + air of deep thought, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page155" + id="page155"></a>[pg 155]</span> his arms were crossed, and + he kept his eyes constantly fixed upon the ground, as if + deeply engrossed in profound meditation. It boots not now to + inquire on what subjects his thoughts were mostly employed, + but it was unquestionably on themes of deep import, and + concerned not himself only, but the interests of science, + learning, and humanity at large. The morning in question was + peculiarly dull and foggy; but whether it was this or + something else, certain it is, that he felt himself more + than usually overpowered. The air oppressed him like a + leaden shroud, and the energies of his soul seemed for once + on the point of sinking beneath the superincumbent + burden.</p> + + <p>Turn we now to Jonathan Hookey, the barber. In person he + differed much from Merton. His height did not exceed five feet, + but, he made amends for it in breadth; for he was a man of a + lusty habit, and sported a paunch which no London alderman or + burgomaster of Amsterdam would look upon with contempt. Bald + was his head, and his nose was not merely large but immense; + but it is idle to grow eloquent upon noses. Has not Sterne + exhausted the theme? have not we ourselves more than once + expatiated upon it? Swakenbergius had a nose, so had Ovidius + Naso; but to neither would Jonathan Hookey's strike its + colours, and good crimson ones they were.</p> + + <p>Jonathan, despite his bald head, his diminutive stature, his + ample pot-belly, and ampler nose, was a man of fine feelings. + Nature was outraged when he became a barber. He most assuredly + was never destined by her to shave beards, and manufacture + perukes for heads more brainless, many of them, than his own + blocks. He ought to have been a professor of metaphysics or + logic in some famous university, such as Heidelburg, Gottingen, + or Glasgow;—but why lament over cureless evils? it is + sufficient to say he is a barber, and there is an end of the + matter.</p> + + <p>We must now return to Merton. His solitary walks on the + opposite side of the street had not even, from the first, + escaped the scrutinizing eyes of Mr. Hookey. No: he saw in the + tall, pale, elegant, dark-haired student the victim of deep + sensibility. From seeing him, he wondered, from wondering he + loved him, from loving he adored him: he knew at once he was no + common man. Having perused Byron's <i>Manfred</i>, he conceived + him to be such another as that strange character; or he might + be a second Lara; or, more, he might be, nay he was, a glorious + genius, full of high imaginings. Little do we know what bright + thoughts passed through the mind of the enthusiastic Hookey. He + cursed his profession, which debarred him from the fellowship + of such a man: he cursed his nose, which stood between him and + the object of his adoration.</p> + + <p>Day after day had Mr. Hookey noticed the accomplished, the + highly-gifted Merton; but it was only upon this particular + morning that the recognition was mutual. Merton, on turning his + eyes by chance from the ground, looked to the opposite side of + the street, and there beheld <i>a nose</i>. He then turned his + eyes to the earth in his usual meditative mood; but, reflecting + that a nose without an owner was rather a singular phenomenon, + he looked a second time, and there, behind the nose, he saw a + man; it was Mr. Hookey himself.</p> + + <p>This was the first time that the melancholy and intellectual + student reciprocated upon Hookey the attention which Hookey had + hitherto bestowed exclusively upon him. No more was the + barber's "sweetness wasted upon the desert air," but fell on + one who knew how to appreciate it to its fullest extent. Merton + stood stock-still, and gazed upon him with mute admiration. He + was positively fascinated. The nose operated upon him like the + head of Medusa, and almost turned him to stone. And Mr. Hookey + was fascinated too. Merton also had become Medusafied, and + exercised a petrifactive influence upon the barber. He was + nailed fast to the threshold of his own door, and gazed upon + his fancied personification of Lara and Manfred with an + indomitable and resistless perseverance, which utterly + confounded himself; while Merton, nailed alike fast to the + opposite footpath, stood staring at his antagonist, or rather + at his nasal protuberance. This impressive scene continued for + several minutes, when Merton, regaining the power of + locomotion, slowly approached the barber, his arms all the + while crossed, and his eyes intently fixed upon the nose. Nine + slow and awful steps brought him face to face with Hookey. The + barber's eyes were fixed intently upon <i>his—his</i> + eyes upon the barber's nose. The scene was extremely dreadful; + and Mr. Hookey, after vainly trying to keep his ground, + retreated into the shop, still facing Merton, who kept + advancing upon him as he receded. Back, step by step, went + Hookey; forward, step by step, came Merton; each all the while + eyeing the other with equal astonishment. The barber continued + retreating, the other following him,—first through the + shop, then through the kitchen, then through the + parlour—the three apartments leading into one another. At + last he got to the remotest corner of the parlour, and could + get no farther. Here he paused, and Merton paused also. Still + they gazed on each other,—the barber in the corner + overpowered with amazement, and the student standing before him + hardly less surprised. At last Merton broke silence in the + following awful words,—"GRACIOUS HEAVENS WHAT A NOSE!" So + saying, he retreated as slowly as he entered, leaving Mr. + Hookey utterly stupified and bewildered. The sentence went like + iron <span class="pagenum"><a name="page156" + id="page156"></a>[pg 156]</span> into the barber's soul; he + felt it in all its bitterness.</p> + + <p>It is almost unnecessary to say what an effect this scene + had upon the highly-susceptible temperament of Merton. From + that moment peace fled his mind. He went instantly home; but + instead of devoting himself, as before, to those studies in + which he delighted, and in which he was wont so highly to + excel, he immured himself in his chamber, giving way to gloomy + abstraction, and agonizing his spirit with painful and most + distressing fancies. The great power of his imagination caused + him, in a peculiar manner, to suffer from the remembrance of + what he had witnessed; and, accordingly, his waking as well as + his sleeping hours were haunted with visions of + noses,—noses of stupendous size, which arose, like ocean + islands, amid the gloomy tabernacle of his brain, and filled + him with utter despair. At last, from bad to worse, he became + the mere shadow of his former self, the wreck of what he was, + and a picture of fallen and shattered genius. To drive away the + hideous phantasmagorias that tortured him, as with the stings + of demons, he had recourse to gin, and soon became a confirmed + drunkard: the next stage was lunacy; and he was confined for + fourteen months in Saint Luke's Hospital for the insane.</p> + + <p>The fate of the barber was equally deplorable. The awful + words pronounced by Merton may be considered his death-knell. + They rang ever after in his ears; and, in a few weeks, his head + was turned, his shop shut up, and himself sent to Bedlam. + "<i>Gracious heavens, what a nose!</i>" This dreadful + sentence—more dreadful than the hand-writing on the wall + to Belshazzar,—haunted him by day and by night. Reason + was dethroned, and "moody madness, laughing wild," was the + result. Such are the frightful consequences of <i>extreme + susceptibility</i>, against which the youth of both sexes ought + to be constantly on their guard.</p> + + <p>The worst remains to be told. These unhappy men were + liberated from confinement about the same time, and both + returned to Oxford. They seemed to have recovered their + reasoning faculties, but the result showed that this was very + far from being the case; for, happening to meet on the banks of + the Cherwell, they attacked each other with such fury, that, + like Brutus and Aruns, they were both killed on the + spot,—the barber having been <i>burked</i> in the + encounter, and the student having died of a wound which he + received in the throat by his antagonist's + razor.—<i>Fraser's Magazine.</i></p> + <hr /> + + <h3>THE LAST OF THE FAMILY.</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>I bid thee welcome to my father's halls,</p> + + <p class="i2">But fled for ever is their wonted + mirth,</p> + + <p>Death hath been busy in these fated walls,</p> + + <p class="i2">Casting dark shadows o'er our house and + hearth,</p> + + <p>The brave—the beauteous from their home have + past,</p> + + <p>And I remain of that loved band the last.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Thou wilt not now my gallant brothers greet,</p> + + <p class="i2">Hiding amidst the glades with hound and + horn,</p> + + <p>Nor my fair sisters, warbling ditties sweet,</p> + + <p class="i2">While gathering wild flowers in the dewy + morn;</p> + + <p>Evening will come, but will not bring again,</p> + + <p>The song—the tale—the dance—the + festal train.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>I can but bid thee to my lonely room,</p> + + <p class="i2">Where in fond dreams I pass my blighted + youth.</p> + + <p>Musing on vanished loveliness and bloom,</p> + + <p class="i2">Man's dauntless courage, woman's + changeless truth,</p> + + <p>And scenes of joyous glee, or tranquil rest,</p> + + <p>Shared with the early-lost—the + bright—the blest.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Yet chide me not—mine is no impious grief,</p> + + <p class="i2">Meekly I pray for Heaven's supporting + grace.</p> + + <p>And soon, I feel, his hand will give relief,</p> + + <p class="i2">And the last sad survivor of her race</p> + + <p>Quit this lone mansion for the home above.</p> + + <p>Where dwell her happy family of love!</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p><i>Metropolitan.</i></p> + <hr /> + + <h3>CONVERSATIONS WITH LORD BYRON.</h3> + + <h4><i>By the Countess of Blessington</i>.</h4> + + <p>It is difficult to judge when Lord Byron is serious or not. + He has a habit of mystifying, that might impose upon many; but + that can be detected by examining his physiognomy; for a sort + of mock gravity, now and then broken by a malicious smile, + betrays when he is speaking for effect, and not giving + utterance to his real sentiments. If he sees that he is + detected, he appears angry for a moment, and then laughingly + admits, that it amuses him to <i>hoax</i> people, as he calls + it, and that when each person, at some future day, will give + their different statements of him, they will be so + contradictory, that <i>all</i> will be doubted,—an idea + that gratifies him exceedingly! The mobility of his nature is + extraordinary, and makes him inconsistent in his actions as + well as in his conversation.</p> + + <p>Byron spoke to-day in terms of high commendation of Hope's + "Anastasius;" said that he wept bitterly over many pages of it, + and for two reasons, first, that <i>he</i> had not written it, + and secondly, that <i>Hope</i> had; for that it was necessary + to like a man excessively to pardon his writing such a + book—a book, as he said, excelling all recent + productions, as much in wit and talent, as in true pathos. He + added, that he would have given his two most approved poems to + have been the author of "Anastasius."</p> + + <p>From "Anastasius" he wandered to the works of Mr. Galt, + praised the "Annals of the Parish" very highly, as also "the + Entail," which we had lent him, and some scenes of which he + said had affected him very much. "The characters in Mr. Galt's + novels have an identity," added Byron, "that reminds me of + Wilkie's pictures."</p> + + <p>As a woman, I felt proud of the homage he paid to the genius + of Mrs. Hemans, and as a passionate admirer of her poetry, I + felt flattered, at finding that Lord Byron fully sympathized + with my admiration. He has, or at least expresses a strong + dislike to the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page157" + id="page157"></a>[pg 157]</span> Lake school of poets, never + mentions them except in ridicule, and he and I nearly + quarrelled to-day because I defended poor Keats.</p> + + <p>On looking out from the balcony this morning, I observed + Byron's countenance change, and an expression of deep sadness + steal over it. After a few minutes silence he pointed out to me + a boat anchored to the right, as the one in which his friend + Shelley went down, and he said the sight of it made him + ill.—"You should have known Shelley (said Byron) to feel + how much I must regret him. He was the most gentle, most + amiable, and <i>least</i> worldly-minded person I ever met; + full of delicacy, disinterested beyond all other men, and + possessing a degree of genius, joined to a simplicity, as rare + as it is admirable. He had formed to himself a <i>beau + ideal</i> of all that is fine, high-minded, and noble, and he + acted up to this ideal even to the very letter. He had a most + brilliant imagination but a total want of worldly-wisdom. I + have seen nothing like him, and never shall again, I am + certain. I never can forget the night that his poor wife rushed + into my room at Pisa, with a face pale as marble, and terror + impressed on her brow, demanding, with all the tragic + impetuosity of grief and alarm, where was her husband! Vain + were all our efforts to calm her; a desperate sort of courage + seemed to give her energy to confront the horrible truth that + awaited her; it was the courage of despair; I have seen nothing + in tragedy on the stage so powerful, or so affecting, as her + appearance, and it often presents itself to my memory. I knew + nothing then of the catastrophe, but the vividness of her + terror communicated itself to me, and I feared the worst, which + fears, were alas! too soon fearfully realized."</p> + + <p>Byron talked to-day of Leigh Hunt, regretted his ever having + embarked in the "Liberal," and said that it had drawn a nest of + hornets on him, but expressed a very good opinion of the + talents and principle of Mr. Hunt, though, as he said, "our + tastes are so opposite, that we are totally unsuited to each + other. He admires the Lakers, I abhor them; in short, we are + more formed to be friends at a distance, than near." I can + perceive that he wishes Mr. Hunt and his family away. It + appears to me that Byron is a person who, without reflection, + would form engagements which, when condemned by his friends or + advisers, he would gladly get out of without considering the + means, or at least, without reflecting on the humiliation such + a desertion must inflict on the persons he had associated with + him. He gives me the idea of a man, who, feeling himself in + such a dilemma, would become cold and ungracious to the parties + with whom he so stood, before he had mental courage sufficient + to abandon them. I may be wrong, but the whole of his manner of + talking of Mr. Hunt gives me this impression, though he has not + said what might be called an unkind word of him.</p> + + <p>Much as Byron has braved public opinion it is evident he has + a great deference for those who stand high in it, and that he + is shy in attaching himself publicly to persons who have even, + however undeservedly, fallen under its censure. His expressed + contempt and defiance of the world, reminds me of the bravadoes + of children, who, afraid of darkness, make a noise to give + themselves courage to support what they dread. It is very + evident that he is partial to aristocratic friends, he dwells + with complacency on the advantages of rank and station, and has + more than once boasted that people of family are always to be + recognised by a <i>certain air</i>, and the smallness and + delicacy of their hands.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + + <h2>New Books.</h2> + + <h3>THE PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE OF A WOMAN OF FASHION.</h3> + + <blockquote> + <p>[This work is, to our thinking, what it professes to be, + an actual correspondence, and from the pen of a lady who, + as her motto states—"writes of countries and their + societies as she finds them, and as they strike her + imagination." There is much good sense in her letters, and + less aristocratic affectation than might be expected. The + subjects are of the most miscellaneous description. Her pen + is what the small critics call eminently graphic: in short, + the work is one of the pleasantest of the season. To be + more explicit, it consists of letters written between June, + 1814, and December, 1816; dated from South Lancing, (near + Worthing), Rouen, Paris, and Brussels; and the writer's + <i>domicile</i>, Hampton Court. The most interesting + portion of the work is the gossip it contains on the + <i>state of things</i> in the French capital, on the return + of Napoleon, in 1815, and in Brussels, before and after the + battle of Waterloo. Nevertheless, as the whole is + indiscribably discursive, so must be our quotations.]</p> + </blockquote> + + <p><i>Arundel Castle.</i>—Arundel Castle did not gratify + my expectations although the <i>coup d'oeil</i>, taking the + structure <i>en masse</i>, is imposing, and it has an + advantageous position on the banks of the river Arun. The + Castle has undergone modern alterations in bad taste; the + details are of that description of the ornamental gothic, which + appear to me to throw severe criticism on the abilities of the + architect; and, as a family residence, its interior is neither + grand nor comfortable. From its commanding site and vicinity to + the Roman villa, it was probably a Roman station previous to + its becoming a Saxon residence. The walls and Norman gateway + are fine. The massive keep, ponderous in stability, has the + characteristic marks of the twelfth century, and is a noble + ruin. It is <span class="pagenum"><a name="page158" + id="page158"></a>[pg 158]</span> called King Alfred's Keep; + and with what hallowed feelings of reverence must a + <i>locale</i> ever be approached which bears the name of + that illustrious monarch! The present occupants are an + assemblage of German owls, of varied species; they look + analagous with the venerable ruin.</p> + + <p>The castle contains a few curious portraits of the + illustrious race of Howard, which have an interest also from + the distinguished parts that family have played in English + history. There is one of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, so + famous for his talents in state affairs, and for his bravery in + the field. He is represented standing under a noble gateway. + The picture is moreover valuable as a work of + art.<a id="footnotetag6" + name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a></p> + + <p>Some richly-wrought chalices<a id="footnotetag7" + name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> + and censers, and other symbolic emblems of the Roman + Catholic religion are there, but I imagine little prized by + the present noble possessor; for at the age of twenty-seven, + he became a convert to the Protestant faith. Whether + conviction, or ambition to serve his country as a legislator + were his motives, it is not for man to judge: but he is + unlike his ancestor, Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, who, + braving the power of Queen Elizabeth, disregarded her + favour, and almost merited the title of martyr from the + persecutions she heaped upon him for having abjured the + Protestant worship, although educated in it by his father, + the attainted Duke of Norfolk, in despite of Mary and her + Spanish consort, who was likewise his sponsor.</p> + + <p><i>The late Queen Caroline.</i>—A servant entered in + haste to induce me to go down to the sea-shore, and witness the + embarkation of the P——ss of W——s. I + immediately sallied forth, and found her r——l + h——ss seated on the shingles, the <i>adopted + boy</i> at her feet; and on her left sat, with the skirts of + his coat spread under his r——l mistress, to protect + her from the stones, our old ally Sir W——m + G——l. The frigate had arrived off Worthing some + days previous, commanded by the handsome Captain + K——g; but her r——l h——ss + was deterred from embarking there by a numerous assemblage of + John Bulls, their wives, and babes, who were so rude and + impetuous, as to terrify and induce her to take refuge on a + less populous shore. The lively and merry Lady C—— + L——y, and the less pleasing Lady E—— + F—s, with two foreign women, Major S—r, and the + odious S——o, composed her suite. Her + r——l h——ss was habited in light green + cloth, embroidered in silver, a Prussian cap of green satin, + with a splendid plume of green feathers: the crown of the cap + was conical, giving her an air something resembling Mother + Shipton. Terror and dismay were depicted on her countenance, + with all the varieties of unhappy feelings—not a smile + played over her features—her voice was tremulous, and her + brow contracted into one deep furrow—she was highly + rouged, and her eyebrows pencilled with a broad line of black + chalk—never was any person's appearance less formed to + inspire interest!</p> + + <p>Sir W——m forgot his usual indifferent manner on + seeing me, and put on one of his comic expressions. In the + impulse of the moment, I was on the point of addressing him, + but fortunately recovered my presence <i>d'esprit</i>, and did + not commit such a breach of etiquette, although there was such + a total deficiency of r——l dignity in the group + that I might almost have been excused. In half an hour the + cutter put off from the frigate: Captain K—g came from + W—— by land, and apologized for the delay. Her + r——l h——ss replied in a tremulous voice + "Never mind!" A small group of persons kept a respectful + distance and a profound silence. One old man blessed her and + wished her a safe return—when her footman burst into + tears. The ocean raged tempestuous, as if in the spirit of + anger, and the boat could not reach the shore. Her + r——l h——ss was obliged to enter a pony + cart, and her coachman drove it with difficulty through the + billows. With some exertion Captain K—g and his + lieutenant dragged her unwieldy form into the barge: the + P——ss went first, Lady E. F——s + followed, and then the <i>tin box</i>: our knight went last; he + came up to me, squeezed my hand affectionately, whispered a + saucy adieu, and jumped into the boat. Such was the embarkation + of the P——ss of W——s, and so passed + away the illustrious consort of the heir apparent of these + realms.</p> + + <h4>[We shall return to these amusing vols.]</h4> + <hr /> + + <h3>EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS AND HINDOO TEMPLES COMPARED.</h3> + + <p>The most common form of the Hindoo + pagodas<a id="footnotetag8" + name="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> + is the pyramidal, of which one of the most remarkable is + that of Chalembaram, on the Coromandel coast, about + thirty-four geographical miles south of Pondicherry, and + seven from the sea.</p> + + <p>The whole temple, with its attached buildings covers an area + of 1,332 feet by 936, (according to others 1,230 feet by 960,) + and is surrounded with a brick wall<a id="footnotetag9" + name="footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> + 30 feet high <span class="pagenum"><a name="page159" + id="page159"></a>[pg 159]</span> and 7 thick, round which + there is another wall furnished with bastions. The four + entrances are under as many pyramids, which, up to the top + of the portal, 30 feet in height, are formed of free-stone, + ornamented with sculptured figures. Above the portal, the + pyramid is built of tiles or bricks, to the height of 150 + feet, with a coat of cement upon it, which is covered with + plates of copper, and ornaments of baked clay. On passing + through the chief portico of the western propylaea, we see + on the left an enormous hall with more than 1,000 pillars, + which are above 36 feet high, and covered over with slabs of + stone; this hall might have served as a gallery for the + priests to walk about in, just like the hypostyle halls of + the Egyptian temples. In the midst of these columns, and + surrounded by them, is a temple called that of eternity. On + the right or south side, we see the chief temple, with halls + of several hundred pillars at the east and west end, also + supporting a flat roof of stone. The pagoda itself rests on + a basis 360 feet long and 260 broad, and rises to a + surprising height. It is formed of blocks of stone 40 feet + long, 4 feet wide, and 5 thick, which must have been + brought, about 200<a id="footnotetag10" + name="footnotetag10"></a><a href="#footnote10"><sup>10</sup></a> + miles, as there are no stone quarries in the neighbourhood. + The temple has a peristyle round it; and thirty-six of the + pillars, which are placed in six rows, and form the portico, + support a roof of smooth blocks. The columns are 30 feet + high, and resemble the old Ionic pillar. The whole pyramid + surpasses in size St. Paul's church in London, the latter + being only 474<a id="footnotetag11" + name="footnotetag11"></a><a href="#footnote11"><sup>11</sup></a> + feet long and 207 wide. The roof of the pyramid has a copper + casing covered with reliefs referring to mythical subjects; + the gilding which was once on it is still visible. In the + middle of the courtyard there is a great tank, surrounded + with a gallery of pillars and also an enclosure round it of + marble, well polished and ornamented with sculptures and + arabesques. In the eastern part there is still another court + surrounded with a wall, on the inside of which is a + colonnade covered with large slabs of stone. Here also there + is a pagoda, which is but little inferior in size to the + larger one; but it contains only large dark chambers covered + with sculptures, which have reference to the worship of + certain deities, particularly Vishnu. The interior ornaments + are in harmony with the whole; from the nave of one of the + pyramids there hang, on the tops of four buttresses, + festoons of chains, in length altogether 548 feet, made of + stone. Each garland, consisting of twenty links, is made of + one piece of stone 60 feet long; the links themselves are + monstrous rings 32 inches in circumference, and polished as + smooth as glass. One chain is broken, and hangs down from + the pillar. In the neighbourhood of the pagodas there are + usually tanks and basins lined with cement, or buildings + attached for the purpose of lodging pilgrims who come from a + distance. It is, however, often the case that the adjoining + buildings, as well as the external ornaments in general, are + in bad taste, and the work of a later age than the pagoda + itself.</p> + + <p>The pyramidical entrances of the Indian pagodas are + analogous to the Egyptian propyla, while the large pillared + rooms which support a flat roof of stone, are found frequently + in the temples of both countries. Among the numerous divisions + of the excavations of Ellora, there is an upper story of the + <i>Dasavatara</i>, or the temple of Vishnu's incarnations, the + roof of which is supported by sixty-four square based pillars, + eight in each row. This chamber is about 100 feet wide, and + somewhat deeper, and as to general design may be compared with + the excavated chambers of Egypt, which are supported by square + columns. The massy materials, the dark chambers, and the walls + covered with highly wrought sculptures; and the tanks near the + temples, with their enclosure of stone, and the steps for the + pilgrims, are also equally characteristic of a pagoda and an + Egyptian temple. To this we may add the high thick wall, of a + rectangular form, carried all round the sacred spot: it is, + however, principally the massy structure of these surrounding + walls which forms the point of comparison, as Greek temples + also had a wall enclosing the sacred ground, and the temples + and churches of all countries are as a general rule separated + from unhallowed ground, if not by strong walls at least by some + mark which determines the extent of the sacred precincts. Yet + there is a further resemblance worth noticing between some of + these Hindoo pagodas and the great temple of Phtha at Memphis. + The Egyptian temple had four chief entrances, or propyla, + turned to the four cardinal points of the compass; which is + also the case with the pagoda of Chalembaram, with another at + Siringam, and probably others also. The pagoda of Chalembaram, + according to Indian tradition, is one of the oldest in their + country, and this opinion is confirmed by the appearance of the + principal temple contained within the walls; but other parts, + such as the pyramidal entrances, the highly finished + sculptures, and the chain festoons, must be the work of a later + date. It seems probable then that this enormous religious + edifice was the growth of many ages, each adding something to + enlarge and perfect the work of former days.—<i>Lib. Ent. + Knowledge.</i></p> + <hr /> + + <blockquote> + <p>I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide; for the man + is efficiently destroyed, though the appetite of the brute + may survive.—<i>Lord Chesterfield.</i></p> + </blockquote> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page160" + id="page160"></a>[pg 160]</span> + + <h2>The Gatherer</h2> + + <p><i>A true Abernethian.</i>—"An old country curate," + says Zimmerman, "who had all his life resided upon a lofty + mountain in the Canton of Berne, was one day presented with a + moor-cock. A consultation took place in what manner it should + be disposed of—at last it was agreed to bury it in the + garden!"</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i0"><i>Epitaph on a notorious Liar</i>.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>I always <i>lied</i> and <i>lied</i> till death,</p> + + <p>But now I <i>lie</i> for want of breath.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p><i>Castanets</i> are small wooden rattles, made in the shape + of two bowls or cups, fitted together, and tied by a string, + and then fastened to the thumbs. The fingers being rapidly + struck upon them, a tremulous sound is produced, which marks + exactly the measure of the dance. Something similar to this was + the <i>crotalon</i> of the ancients, who also made use of small + cymbals in their dances and festivals in honour of Bacchus. It + is probable, however, that they had their origin in the East, + and were brought by the Moors into Spain. Here too they + received their name <i>castennalas</i>, from being commonly + made of the wood of the chestnut, (<i>castano</i>) or from + their colour. They are still common in Spain, and here and + there in the South of France. In this country they are common + in stage dances only.</p> + + <p><i>Cannon</i> were formerly dignified with great names. + Twelve cast by Louis XII. were called after the twelve peers of + France. Charles V. had twelve, which he called the Twelve + Apostles. One at Bois-le-Duc is called the Devil; a + sixty-pounder at Dover Castle, is named Queen Elizabeth's + Pocket Pistol; an eighty-pounder at Berlin, is called the + Thunderer; another at Malaga, the Terrible; two sixty-pounders + at Bremen, the Messengers of Bad News.</p> + + <p><i>Dripping Rock, in India.</i>—Sansadhara or the + dripping rock, is a singular phenomenon, situated at the head + of a dell, through which a rapid stream runs, between two lines + of hills towards the valley of the Dhoon. It is an overhanging + rock, about 50 feet high, through which water pours from above, + in innumerable little streams, like a perpetual shower of rain! + The never-abating action of the water has worn the rock into + many fantastic shapes; and, crusting round the moss and fibres + of the roots of trees, has given to it almost the appearance of + a spar cavern. In several places the water has worn little + reservoirs for itself, which are always full. It is cool, + clear, and pleasant to the taste.—<i>Captain + Skinner</i>.</p> + + <p><i>Catching Wild Ducks, &c. in India.</i>—In the + lower parts of Bengal, wild ducks, widgeon, and teal, are often + taken by means of earthen pots. A number of these pots are + floated amongst them in the lakes where they abound, to the + sight of which they soon become reconciled, and approach them + fearlessly. A man then goes into the water up to the chin, with + one of these pots over his head, in the centre of which two + small holes are made for him to see through; and when he gets + into the midst of the birds, he pulls them by the legs under + water, fastening them to a girdle round his waist.—T. + GILL.</p> + + <p><i>Hampden.</i>—Lord Nugent, in his <i>Memorials of + John Hampden</i>, relates the attack of Rupert's troops upon + the village of Chinnor. A local tradition of the affair has + been related to me by an old inhabitant. In the room of a + house, until lately occupied as a boarding-school, two of + Rupert's soldiers are said to have evinced great brutality. On + entering the house, they demanded a flitch of bacon, hanging up + in the room; one of them held up a child which he had taken + from a cradle, and crossing a sword over it, threatened its + immediate destruction if their demands were not instantly + complied with. There appear to have been sharp hostilities in + the vicinity of Chinnor, and more particularly on the hills, as + military buttons, sword handles, &c. and other vestiges of + war are frequently found there.—W.H.</p> + + <p><i>Parody on Scott's Lines "Breathes there the Man," + &c.</i></p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Breathes there a cit, with taste so dead,</p> + + <p>Who never to himself hath said,</p> + + <p class="i2">"This haunch surpasses all the rest;"</p> + + <p>Whose mouth hath ne'er within him burn'd,</p> + + <p>Whene'er his footsteps he hath turn'd</p> + + <p class="i2">From home, to Guildhall's civic + feast?</p> + + <p>If such there breathe, go mark him well—</p> + + <p>For him no portly paunch can swell;</p> + + <p>Large though his shop, his trade the same,</p> + + <p>Boundless his wealth as wish can claim,</p> + + <p>Despite his shop, his trade, his cash,</p> + + <p>The wretch who knows not ven'son hash,</p> + + <p>Living, shall forfeit civic fame,</p> + + <p>And dying, shall descend with shame,</p> + + <p>In double death, to Lethe's pools,</p> + + <p>Despis'd by epicures and fools.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>REX.</p> + + <p><i>Alchemy and Printing.</i>—Antimony, once celebrated + in the laboratories of the alchemists, who hoped to discover in + it the philosopher's stone, is now employed in the casting of + types for printing.—There is much food for reflection in + this curious fact in the history of science. How has this + simple substance originated dreams of spell-bound ignorance, + and realities of godlike intelligence. Nay, we are almost + persuaded that the hopes of the alchemists were not altogether + unfounded—that antimony is indeed what they hoped to find + it—that the invention of printing was the finding of the + philosopher's stone; and that we are at this moment enjoying + ten-fold the advantages which the alchemists anticipated from + their secret.—J.T.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote1" + name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> + + <p>Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia. H. Colburn, 4to., + 1829.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote2" + name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a> + + <p>See Memoir, and specimens of her Poetry, <i>Mirror</i>, + vol. xiv. p. 340.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote3" + name="footnote3"></a><b>Footnote 3:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a> + + <p>Arnott's Elements of Physics.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote4" + name="footnote4"></a><b>Footnote 4:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a> + + <p>Objects, Advantages, and Pleasures of Science. In the + first edition, the inventer is erroneously stated to be + Edward Howard.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote5" + name="footnote5"></a><b>Footnote 5:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a> + + <p>Lady Dacre visited her dear lord's tomb daily for + several years; at the foot of the grave she was accustomed + to kneel, and utter a fervent prayer. We can just remember + seeing this devout lady on one of these pilgrimages. She + usually rode from her mansion in the neighbourhood to the + churchyard, on a favourite poney, and wore a large, + flapping, drab beaver hat, and a woollen habit, nearly + trailing on the ground. At home she evinced an eccentric + affection for her deceased lord: his chair was placed, as + during his lifetime, at the dinner-table; and its vacancy + seemed to feed his lady's melancholy.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote6" + name="footnote6"></a><b>Footnote 6:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a> + + <p>Surrey's accomplishments and political talents, and his + bravery in the battle-field, cast additional splendour over + the house of Howard; and his violent death, another stain + on the tyranny of Henry VIII.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote7" + name="footnote7"></a><b>Footnote 7:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a> + + <p>Several of these splendid emblems of the Roman Catholic + faith the late duke gave to his worthy kinsman, the present + possessor of C——y Castle; and they decorate his + house in London, amidst some <i>chef d'oeuvres</i> of the + old Italian masters, which his good taste selected in + Italy.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote8" + name="footnote8"></a><b>Footnote 8:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag8">(return)</a> + + <p>The word pagoda is a corruption of <i>Bhagavati</i>, + "holy house," one of the several names by which the Hindoo + temples are known.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote9" + name="footnote9"></a><b>Footnote 9:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag9">(return)</a> + + <p>The outer wall is brick cased with stone: the inner is + all of stone. The four sides are turned respectively to the + four cardinal points,—Heeren, India, p. 74.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote10" + name="footnote10"></a><b>Footnote 10:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag10">(return)</a> + + <p>Fifty meilen.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote11" + name="footnote11"></a><b>Footnote 11:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag11">(return)</a> + + <p>These dimensions are not exact, even making allowance + for Berlin feet.</p> + </blockquote> + <hr class="full" /> + + <p><i>Printed and published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near + Somerset House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New + Market, Leipsic; G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, + Paris; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers.</i></p> + <hr class="full" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12147 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/12147-h/images/565-1.png b/12147-h/images/565-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5041679 --- /dev/null +++ b/12147-h/images/565-1.png diff --git a/12147-h/images/565-2.png b/12147-h/images/565-2.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3048bf --- /dev/null +++ b/12147-h/images/565-2.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9439bb --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12147 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12147) diff --git a/old/12147-8.txt b/old/12147-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1448bd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12147-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1994 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, No. 565, 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, No. 565 + Vol. 20, No. 565., Saturday, September 8, 1832 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: April 25, 2004 [EBook #12147] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 565 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Bill Walker and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +Vol. 20, No. 565.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1832. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: PERSIAN BATH.] + + * * * * * + +The luxurious indulgence of baths in the East is generally known +to the reader of travels, so as to render acceptable the following +details. They are extracted from Mr. Buckingham's Travels,[1] and bear +all the graphic minuteness of his entertaining pen. + + [1] Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia. H. Colburn, 4to., + 1829. + +The Bath is one of the principal ones of Kermanshah, an important +frontier town of Persia. "It was entered by a porch, extremely clean, +and neatly ornamented by painting and other devices on its ceiling and +walls. This remarkable contrast to the low, dark, and foul passages +which generally lead to Turkish baths, was a presage, upon the very +threshold, of greater comfort and accommodation within. + +"When we reached the undressing-room, this prepossession was still +further strengthened. Here we found a square hall, well lighted +from above, having on three of its sides elevated recesses for the +visiters, and on the fourth, the passage from the outer porch to the +hall, and from this to the inner bath. At the angles of these raised +recesses, and dividing their lower roof, which they supported, from +the higher one of the central square, were, four good marble pillars, +with spirally fluted shafts, and moulded capitals, perfectly uniform +in size and design, and producing the best effect. In the centre of +the square space, which these marked out, and on a lower floor, was a +large marble cistern of cold water; and at each end of this, on wooden +stands, like those used in our arbours and breakfast rooms, were +arranged coloured glass jars, with flowers of various kinds in them, +well watered and perfectly fresh. + +"The walls of this outer hall were ornamented all around by designs of +trees, birds, and beasts, in fanciful forms, executed in white upon a +blue ground. We undressed here, and were led from hence into the inner +bath, where all was still free from everything offensive, either to +the sight or smell. This inner room was originally an oblong space +of about fifty feet by twenty-five, but had been since made into two +square divisions. The first, or outer one, was a plain paved hall, +exactly like the undressing-room, except that it had no side recesses, +but its floor was level, close to the walls. There were here also four +pillars; and in the square space which they enclosed in the centre of +the room, was a cistern of water as in the outer one. It was on the +floor of this that the visiters lay, to be washed by the attendants; +for there were no raised seats for this purpose as in Turkish baths, +and the great octagonal one, with its cold fountain, the sides and +tops of which are ornamented with mosaic work of marble in Turkey, was +here replaced by the cistern described. + +"The second division to which this room led, consisted of three parts; +the central one was a large and deep bath, filled with warm water, +its bottom being level with the lower floor of the building, and the +ascent to it being by three or four steep steps. + +"As few pleasures are entirely perfect, so here, with all its general +apparent superiority to the baths of Turkey, this was inferior to them +in the most essential points. The attendants seemed quite ignorant +of the art of twisting the limbs, moulding the muscles, cracking the +joints, opening the chest, and all that delicious train of operations +in which the Turks are so skilful. The visitors were merely well +though roughly scrubbed, and their impurities then rinsed off in the +large cistern above, from which there was neither a running stream +to carry off the foul water, nor cocks of hot and cold to renew and +temper it at pleasure, as in Turkey. + +"In place of the luxurious moulding of the muscles, the use of the +hair-bag, or glove, for removing the dirt, and the profusion of +perfumed soap, with which the Turks end a course of treatment full +of delight, the Persians are occupied in staining the beard and hair +black, the nails of the toes and fingers of a deep red, and the whole +of the feet and hands of a yellow colour, by different preparations of +henna. This operation is the most unpleasant that can be imagined. The +Persians do not shave the whole of the head, as is usual with most of +the Turks and Arabs, but, taking of all the hair from the forehead, +over the crown, and down the neck, for about a hand's breadth, +they leave on each side two large bushy masses depending over their +shoulders. This, then, with a very long and full beard, in which all +the people here take pride, is plastered with a thick paste, of the +consistence of hog's lard, and not less than two pounds weight +of which is sometimes used on one person. It possesses a strongly +astringent and penetrating quality, and requires great skill in the +use of it, to avoid doing considerable mischief. As the eye-brows are +plastered with it, as well as the rest of the hair, and as it softens +by the heat of the room and of the body, it frequently steals into the +eyes, and produces great pain. + +"When all is finished, and the visiter leaves the inner bath, he is +furnished with two cloths only, one for the waist, and the other to +throw loosely over the head and shoulders: he then goes into the outer +room into a colder air, thus thinly clad, and without slippers or +pattens; no bed is prepared for him, nor is he again attended to by +any one, unless he demands a nargeel to smoke; but, most generally, he +dresses himself in haste, and departs." + + +ORIGIN OF PSALMODY. + + +In D'Israeli's _Curiosities of Literature_, there is an amusing and +instructive account of the _Origin of Psalm-Singing_. It appears +that Psalms in verse were first written by that elegant French poet, +Clement Marot, the favoured court bard of Francis I., who was termed +by his _un-envious_ brother poets, "the poet of princes." They were +published at Paris, and the volume contained fifty Psalms, written in +various measures, and, which, from the beauty of their composition, +(some specimens of which we have seen,) appear to be worthy of the +muse of Marot. This "Holy Song Book," as he entitled it, was "humbly +dedicated to the powerful King of France," and being considered by the +volatile French people as an amusing novelty, it sold faster than +any book of that period. In fact, the printers could not supply +impressions fast enough for the demand; and, as the Psalms were +considered in the light of ballads, they were set by the people to +popular tunes, and were commonly _sung_ as ballads. + +This good reception of Marot's Psalms induced the celebrated Theodore +Beza to continue the collection; and another volume was printed, +of which 20,000 were immediately sold: this was a considerable +circulation, when we consider the few readers that then existed, in +comparison with the number of readers in the present age. These had +the advantage over Marot's of being set to tunes of greater spirit. +Beza, in his preface, says, that "these Psalms are admirably suited +for the violin and other musical instruments;" and our readers will +learn, not without surprise, that through the instrumentality of +the gloomy Calvin, these compositions were set to most beautiful and +simple airs. He wisely took advantage of popular feeling to spread his +religious opinions, through the means of melody, and, in furtherance +of this plan, he engaged the most celebrated composers of his time +to furnish tunes to these Psalms. At first, the scheme was not +discovered: for Catholics sang the Psalms as well as Hugonots; but, +when Calvin appointed these Psalms, with their music, to be sung at +his meetings, there was an end to the solace of the dreary hours +of the poor Catholics. Marot himself was compelled to quit Geneva; +Psalm-singing became an open declaration of Lutheranism; and "woe +to the poor wight" who was caught in the _diabolical_ act of singing +these "pernicious Psalms." + +The history of Psalm-singing in our own island can be comprised in +very few words. When the enthusiasm of the French in favour of their +Psalms was at its height, one Sternhold, undertook to be _our_ +Marot, and wrote a Book of Psalms, which captivated the hearts of +the Puritans, by whom they were practised at their chapels in the +Protectorate of Cromwell, but were more particularly set and sung in +the reign of Elizabeth. Psalms, about this time, were sung at City +and Lord Mayors' feasts, and turtle-eaters delighted to honour +Psalm-singers. Soldiers used them as stimulants to exertion on their +march, and even on parade; and there was scarcely a regiment but could +boast of its Marot. About this time, too, it was customary for the +inhabitants of houses which had windows facing the street, to regale +the passenger with the "holy songs" of Sternhold. + +E.J.H. + + [By way of an appropriate pendent to our Correspondent's + paper, we quote the following excellent passage on Psalmody, + by the Rev. W.S. Gilly, in his _Memoir of Felix Neff_.] + +The effect produced by the words, or by the music, or by the +combination of the two, is such, that the cultivation of psalmody has +ever been earnestly recommended by those who are anxious to excite +true piety. Tradition, history, revelation, and experience, bear +witness to the truth, that there is nothing to which the natural +feelings of man respond more readily. Every nation, whose literary +remains have come down to us, appears to have consecrated the first +efforts of its muse to religion, or rather all the first compositions +in verse seem to have grown out of devotional effusions. We know that +the book of Job, and others, the most ancient of the Old Testament, +contain rhythmical addresses to the Supreme Being. Many of the psalms +were composed centuries before the time of king David, and it is not +extravagant to imagine, that some of them may have been sung even to +Jubal's lyre, and were handed down from patriarch to patriarch by oral +tradition. Nor did the fancy of Milton take too bold a flight when +it pleased itself with the idea that our first parents, taught by +the carols of the birds in the garden of Eden, raised their voices in +tuneful notes of praise to the Creator of all, when they walked forth +in the cool of the day to meet their God before the fall. But this is +certain, that one of our Lord's last acts of social worship on earth +was to sing a hymn with his disciples. Few, therefore, can be slow to +understand, that if Christ and his disciples broke forth in holy song, +immediately after the solemnities of the Last Supper, and just before +the Shepherd was smitten, and the sheep were scattered; and if Paul +and Silas sung praises unto God in their prison-house, congregational +worship may always be the better for such helps. Add to these +examples, the apostolical exhortation to the merry hearted to sing +psalms, and the apostolical descriptions of the choral strains which +resound in the courts of heaven, and we cannot but feel certain, that +the services of the Christian church were cheered from the earliest +times by hymns and psalms. "Those Nazarenes sing hymns to Christ," +said Pliny, in contempt. We thank him for recording the fact. The +words of the Te Deum were composed by a native of Gaul, (for the use +probably of one of the churches on the Rhone, or of the Alps) about +the third century; and at the same period, men, women, youths of both +sexes, and even children joined in the psalmody of the sanctuaries, +in such cordial and harmonious unison, that a father of the church has +well compared the sound to the loud, but not discordant, noise of many +waves beating against the sea shore. + +At the time of the Reformation, sacred music, which had begun to +run wild, was brought back to its first principles. The melodies of +religious worship were rendered more heart-touching, by being set to +words in the vernacular tongues, which every body could understand. +Luther's hymn, "Great God, what do I hear and see," led the way. Henry +VIII. hated the German reformer, and all that he did, but he burned to +rival him in every thing, and he gave a stimulus to the public taste, +by composing words and music for the service of the English church. +In France, soon after the middle of the sixteenth century, when it was +doubtful whether the nation would become Protestant or remain Roman +Catholic, the pathetic tunes and devotional stanzas of the reformers +obtained so great an influence over the minds of men, that the +music of the temples, as the Protestant sanctuaries were called, +to distinguish them from the Roman Catholic churches, became the +fashionable melodies of the day. This taste found its way even to +the court, and to the great alarm of the Romish party, some of the +sweetest and most stirring of the psalms, which had been translated +into French metre by Clement Marot, were set to music by Lewis +Guadimel, and were constantly in the mouths not only of the Protestant +families of the provinces, but of the ornaments of the saloons of +Paris, and of the palace of the Louvre. It is said to have been quite +astonishing how much this pious and simple device found favour for +the Protestant cause, and induced people, who had never read Scripture +before, to search the holy volume out of which those treasures were +drawn, which so charmed their ears and their imagination. It is still +the practice in most of the mountain churches to make sacred music a +part of family devotion, and many of the tunes which Guadimel composed +with such success are still sung to the praise of God. I can bear +witness to the forcible manner in which these strains, rising to +heaven from the lips of parents, children and domestics, quicken +piety, and stir up the best affections of the heart towards God and +man. I have seen and felt the effect produced by them in the humble +dwelling of the village pastor, where none but human voices swelled +the notes; and in the chateau, where the harp and the organ have +mingled their fine sounds with the well modulated tones of an +accomplished family of sons and daughters. My thoughts, at the moment +I am writing this, are at Chateâu Blonay, but most of the voices, +which I heard there, are now silent in death! I am thoroughly +convinced that family worship, and congregational worship lose a great +auxiliary to piety, when there is not the power or the inclination to +join in psalmody. + + * * * * * + + +LINES + + +_Written after reading the Memoir and Poems of Miss Lucretia +Davidson._[2] + + Ev'n till thy latest hour, Lucretia! thou + Didst cherish _that_ which but consum'd thy frame. + 'Twas _then_ it shone the brightest on thy brow, + Like the last flickerings of an earthly flame-- + Yes, thy brain harass'd by deep toil, became + With all its fire, a tenant of the tomb, + And dim is now thine eye, Belov'd of Fame! + Thy cheek is pale--thy lip without perfume-- + And there thou liest--the child of Genius--and its doom. + + Like the proud eagle soaring to the skies, + Intent "the topmost arch" of heaven to scale, + When heeding naught that would oppose its rise, + It breaks with fearless nerve the tempest-gale-- + And spreads its wings like a majestic sail, + Full on the bosom of the raging blast, + Thy spirit soar'd--but ah! too like us frail, + When the same breeze which bore it from the dust + Wing'd home the fatal shaft that tore its bleeding breast. + + Would I could sing thy fame with thine own lyre, + Then should I breathe a more deserving lay, + A lay which every spirit would inspire, + And melt each eye to tears of sympathy; + But others at thy shrine, their tributes pay. + Offspring of Beauty! child of native song! + And I, ev'n I, would venture to essay, + To raise my lauding voice amidst the throng + Of those who weep thy loss--and who shall weep it long!--N.C. + + [2] See Memoir, and specimens of her Poetry, _Mirror_, vol. + xiv. p. 340. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + + * * * * * + +IMPROVED RAW SUGAR. + + + [We find the following information communicated to the + _Literary Gazette_, apparently by the parties connected with + the improvement.] + +Considerable interest has been excited in the market by the +introduction of an improved native raw sugar, which portends very +great advantages to all who are engaged in this so long unprofitable +branch of colonial and commercial intercourse. It is pure raw sugar, +obtained direct from the cane-juice, without any secondary process +of decoloration or solution, and by which all necessity for any +subsequent process of refining is entirely obviated. It is obtained +in perfectly pure, transparent, granular crystals, being entirely free +from any portion of uncrystallisable sugar or colouring matter, and +is prepared by the improved process of effecting the last stages of +concentration in vacuum, and at a temperature insufficient to produce +any changes in its chemical composition; the mode of operation +first proposed by the late Hon. Ed. Charles Howard, and subsequently +introduced, with the most important advantages and complete success, +into the principal sugar-refineries of Great Britain. + +By this improved and scientific process of manufacture, the +application of which to the purpose of preparing raw sugar from the +cane-juice has now first been proposed, the most singular advantages +are secured to the planter, in an increased quantity of sugar, the +product of his operation, and in saving from the immense quantity of +deteriorated material, uncrystallisable sugar and molasses, which +were products of the former mode of operation, from the intense and +long-continued degree of heat employed in the processes. The time +and labour of the operation are also greatly decreased; the apparatus +possesses the power to make double the quantity in the same space of +time as the old method, and this is ready for shipment in four days, +in lieu of three weaks, as heretofore. The sugar likewise readily +commands an advanced price in the market to the planter of ten or +twelve shillings per cwt. + +This improved sugar readily ensures a preference for all purposes of +manufacture, solution, or domestic economy. It is a purer sweet, and +of a richer mellifluous taste than even the best refined; it is not +apt to become ascescent in solution; and, from its superior quality, +it well answers all purposes of the table. In the manufacture of rum +from the molasses, which are separated during the first process of the +operation, there is no danger of deterioration in the production of +empyreuma, and a far purer spirit is obtained than that made from +ordinary molasses. + +This improved process is now in complete and successful operation on +eight estates in Demerara. The general introduction of the process +is considered by the best practical judges to ensure certain means of +revivifying the spoiled fortunes of the planters, and to open a new +era in the prosperity of those portions of the British crown, of which +this forms the principal staple commodity of support. + +[According to Dr. Moseley, the art of refining sugar, and what is +called loaf sugar, is a modern European invention, the discovery of a +Venetian, about the end of the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth +century. Sugar candy is of much earlier date, for in Marin's _Storia +del Commercio de Veneziani_, there is an account of a shipment made at +Venice for England in 1319, of 100,000 lbs. of sugar, and 10,000 +lbs. of sugar candy. Refined, or loaf sugar is mentioned in a roll of +provisions in the reign of Henry VIII. + +The process of refining sugar _in vacuo_ is the most useful +application of "the fact that liquids are driven off, or made to boil +at lower degrees of heat when the atmospheric pressure is lessened or +removed."[3] The first part of the process is to dissolve impure sugar +in water, and after clarifying the solution, to boil off or evaporate +the water again, that the dry crystallized mass may remain. Formerly +this evaporation was performed under the atmospheric pressure, and +a heat of 218° or 220° was required to make the syrup boil; by which +degree of heat, however, a portion of the sugar was discoloured and +spoiled, and the whole produce was deteriorated. The valuable thought +occurred to Mr. Howard, that the water might be dissipated by boiling +the syrup in a vacuum or place from which air was _excluded_, and +therefore at a low temperature. This was done accordingly; and the +saving of sugar and the improvement of quality were such as to make +the patent right, which secured the emoluments of the process to +him and other parties, worth many thousand pounds a-year. The syrup, +during this process, is not more heated than it would be in a vessel +merely exposed to a summer sun. + + [3] Arnott's Elements of Physics. + +Lord Brougham, in his Introduction to the _Library of Useful +Knowledge_, characterizes this as a process, by which more money has +been made in a shorter time, and with less risk and trouble, than was +ever perhaps gained from an invention; and as "the fruit of a long +course of experiments, in the progress of which known philosophical +principles were constantly applied, and one or two new principles +ascertained."[4] + + [4] Objects, Advantages, and Pleasures of Science. In the + first edition, the inventer is erroneously stated to be Edward + Howard. + +The scene of this discovery was, in all probability, the Deepdene, +near Dorking, the retreat of the late Mr. Thomas Hope, the author +of _Anastasius_. Here the Hon. Mr. Howard, brother of the Duke of +Norfolk, resided at the commencement of the last century, and is +stated to have enjoyed that philosophical retirement which may be +described as the happy haven of a truly great mind. He planted a +portion of the grounds, the greater part of the estate being so +admirably disposed by nature as almost to forbid the fashioning of +men's hands. At Mr. Howard's death, the estate descended to the Duke +of Norfolk, who sold the property, in 1791, to the late Sir William +Burrell, whose lady wrote the following lines, which are on a tablet +in the grounds: + + "This votive Tablet is inscribed to the memory of the + Honourable Charles Howard, who built an oratory and laboratory + on this spot: he died at the Deepdene, 1714. + + If worth, if learning, should with fame be crown'd, + If to superior talents, fame be due, + Let _Howard's_ virtues consecrate the ground + Where once the fairest flowers of science grew. + + Within this calm retreat, th' illustrious sage + Was wont his grateful orisons to pay, + Here he perused the legendary page, + Here gave to chemistry the feeling day. + + Cold to ambition, far from courts remov'd, + Though qualified to fill the statesman's part, + He studied nature in the paths he lov'd, + Peace in his thoughts, and virtue in his heart. + + Soft may the breeze sigh through the ivy boughs + That shade this humble record of his worth; + Here may the robin undisturbed repose, + And fragrant flowers adorn the hallow'd earth. + + January 1792." + + +The tablet is of plain wood--black letters painted on a white ground. +It is an unostentatious memorial, which has been respected amidst the +extensive alteration and embellishment of the grounds by the late +Mr. Hope. To our minds, neither of the treasures of art which are +assembled within the splendid saloons of the adjoining mansion, or +sculpture gallery, will outvie the interest of this humble tribute to +the memory of departed genius.] + + * * * * * + + +THE LANDERS VOYAGE AND DISCOVERIES ON THE NIGER. + + +The travellers, in embarking on the Atlantic, had solved the greatest +problem in African, and even in modern geography;--one which had +exercised the ingenuity and conjecture of so many learned inquirers, +and in the efforts to solve which so many brave and distinguished +adventurers had perished. This discovery divested the Niger of that +singular and mysterious character, which had been one chief cause of +the interest that it had excited--when seen rolling its ample flood +_from_ the sea towards vast unknown regions in the interior. The +circuit by which it reaches the Atlantic assimilates its character +to that of ordinary rivers, without any much more remarkable windings +than are found in others of similar length. It displays, however, a +magnitude considerably greater than had been suggested by any former +observation. + +We can now trace very distinctly, the entire line of this great river. +Its source, though not actually visited, seems ascertained by Laing +to exist in the high country of Kissi, about 200 miles in the interior +from Sierra Leone. Thence it rolls through Foota Jallo and Kankan, +where Caillie describes himself to have found it already a rapid and +considerable stream. At Bammakoo, having received the tributary from +Sankari in Manding, which Park mistook for the main river, it begins +its course over the fine plain of Bambarra, where it forms a noble +stream; and in passing Sego, the capital, has been considered +as equalling the Thames at Westminster. Thence it pursues a +north-westerly course, and flowing through the lake Dibbie, reaches +Timbuctoo. Its course from that city to Youri has not yet been +delineated; but the fact that Park navigated down from one place to +the other, fully establishes the continuity. During this reach the +Niger makes a great change of direction from north-east to almost +due south. From Youri to the sea, it was navigated by the present +travellers, and was found following generally a southern direction, +though making in one part a rapid bend to the east, whence it +gradually returns. If we measure two distances, one from the source +to Timbuctoo, and the other from that city to the sea, we shall have +nearly 2,000 miles, which may be considered as the direct course; +and the various windings must raise the whole line of the stream to +upwards of 3,000 miles. For several hundred miles of its lower course, +it forms a broad and magnificent expanse, resembling an inland sea. +The Niger must after all yield very considerably to the Missouri and +Orellana, those stupendous rivers of the new world. But it appears at +least as great as any of those which water the old continents. There +can rank with it only the Nile, and the Yangtse-kiang, or Great +River of China. But the upper course of neither is yet very fully +ascertained; and the Nile can compete only in length of course, not in +the magnitude of its stream, or the fertility of the regions which it +waters. There is one feature in which the Niger may defy competition +from any river, either of the old or new world. This is in the +grandeur of its Delta. Along the whole coast, from the river of +Formosa or Benin to that of Old Calabar, about 300 miles in length, +there open into the Atlantic its successive estuaries, which +navigators have scarcely been able to number. Taking this coast as +the base of the triangle or Delta, and its vertex at Kirree, about 170 +miles inland, where the Formosa branch separates, we have a space of +upwards of 25,000 square miles, equal to the half of England. Had +this Delta, like that of the Nile, been subject only to temporary +inundations, leaving behind a layer of fertilizing slime, it would +have formed the most fruitful region on earth, and might have been +almost the granary of a continent. But, unfortunately, the Niger rolls +down its waters in such excessive abundance, as to convert the whole +into a huge and dreary swamp, covered with dense forests of mangrove, +and other trees of spreading and luxuriant foliage. The equatorial +sun, with its fiercest rays, cannot penetrate these dark recesses; it +only exhales from them pestilential vapours, which render this coast +the theatre of more fatal epidemic diseases than any other, even of +Western Africa. That human industry will one day level these forests, +drain these swamps, and cover this soil with luxuriant harvests, we +may confidently anticipate; but many ages must probably elapse before +man, in Africa, can achieve such a victory over nature. + +The Niger, besides its own ample stream, has a number of tributaries, +equal perhaps in magnitude and importance to those of any other +river on the globe; with the exception of the united streams of the +Mississippi and Missouri. At no great distance above the point where +the Delta commences, the Tshadda, nearly equal in magnitude to itself, +enters it; after watering large and fruitful kingdoms, of which the +names only, and of these but a very few, have reached us. On this +river an extensive commerce and active navigation is said to prevail; +the existence of which is further confirmed by the great importance +attached to Funda, and other cities situated at or near the junction. +It would have been deeply interesting, and have given a new importance +to the river communications of Africa, could we have believed, what +was positively asserted by very credible witnesses, that vessels +by its channel sailed to and from the lake Tchad, and thus held +intercourse with the kingdoms of Loggun and Bornou. It seems certain +that the names Tshadda, Shary, and Tchad, are one and the same. But +the identity of the two first as rivers is what we are precluded from +all possibility of believing, by the circumstance that the Shary of +Loggun and Bornou, which Major Denham saw and sailed upon, was found +by him falling _into_ lake Tchad, while the Tshadda of Lander fell +_into_ the Niger; consequently they are distinct streams, flowing in +opposite directions. It is very probable indeed that their fountains +may be in the same mountain chain, and at no great distance; and even +that some of their branches may approach very near, so that merchants +may, by an easy portage, convey commodities between them. Nay, it +is not quite impossible that they may be united by some connecting +channel, as the Amazons and the Oronooka are; but this seems scarcely +probable. + +At no great distance above the Tshadda, enters the Coodonia, a smaller +river, but which Lander had seen flowing through a very fertile and +highly cultivated country. Considerably higher is the Cubbie, a large +stream from the country and city of that name; and higher still the +Quarrama, which has passed by Zirmie and Sackatoo. Between this point +and Timbuctoo, we have no means of knowing whether any or what rivers +fall into the Niger. The tributary which passes that city is of +no great importance; but at the eastern boundary of Bambarra, Park +describes the influx from the south of two great streams, the Maniana +and Nimma; and it seems very doubtful if Caillie was not mistaken +in supposing the latter to be a mere branch of the Niger. The higher +tributaries, descending from the mountains, swell the stream, without +themselves affording any important navigation.--_Edinburgh Review._ + + * * * * * + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + + * * * * * + +LAURENCEKIRK SNUFF-BOXES. + + [Probably one of the most amusing articles in Mr. Macculloch's + bulky _Dictionary of Commerce_ of 1,150 pages, is the + following account of the manufacture of the celebrated + Laurencekirk snuff-boxes. It is right, however, to explain, + that Mr. Macculloch only mentions these boxes here for the + purpose of giving the following details, not to be met with in + any other publication.] + +These beautiful boxes were first manufactured at the village of +Laurencekirk, in Kincardineshire, about forty years since. The +original inventer was a cripple hardly possessed of the power of +locomotion. In place of curtains, his bed (rather a curious workshop) +was surrounded with benches and receptacles for tools, in the +contrivance and use of which he discovered the utmost ingenuity. The +inventer, instead of taking out a patent, confided his secret to a +joiner in the same village, who in a few years amassed a considerable +property; while the other died, as he had lived, in the greatest +poverty. The great difficulty of the manufacture lies in the formation +of the hinge, which in a genuine box is so delicately made as hardly +to be visible. Peculiar, or, as they are called, secret tools are +required in its formation; and though they must have been improved +by time and experience, the mystery attached to their preparation is +still so studiously kept up, that the workmen employed in one shop are +rigorously debarred from having any communication with those employed +in another. + +About the beginning of this century, an ingenious individual belonging +to the village of Cumnock, in Ayrshire, of the name of Crawford, +having seen one of the Laurencekirk snuff-boxes, succeeded, after +various attempts, by the assistance of a watchmaker of the same +village, who made the tools, in producing a similar box; and by his +success, not only laid the foundation of his own fortune, but greatly +enriched his native parish and province. For awhile, the Laurencekirk +boxes were most in demand; but Mr. Crawford and his neighbours in +Cumnock not only copied the art, but so improved and perfected it, +that in a very few years, for every box made in the north there were, +probably, twenty made in the south. In 1826, the Cumnock trade was +divided amongst eight master manufacturers, who employed considerably +more than 100 persons. The demand at that time equalled the supply, +and it was calculated that the trade yielded from 7,000_l._ to +8,000_l._ annually,--a large product for a manufacture seemingly +so insignificant, and consisting almost exclusively of the wages of +labour. Plane is the wood in common use, and the cost of the wood in +an ordinary sized box does not exceed 1d.; the paints and varnish are +rated at 2d.; and though something is lost by selecting timber of +the finest colour, the whole expense of the raw material falls +considerably short of 1/2 per cent. on the return it yields! + +Snuff-box, like pin making, admits of subdivision of labour; and +in all workshops of any size three classes of persons are +employed--painters, polishers, and joiners. At the period alluded to, +an industrious joiner earned from 30s. to 40s. weekly, a painter from +45s. to 3_l._, and a polisher considerably less than either. When +Mr. Crawford first commenced business he obtained almost any price +he chose to ask; and many instances occurred, in which ordinary sized +snuff-boxes sold at 2_l._ 12s. 6d., and ladies' work-boxes at 25_l_. +But as the trade increased, it became necessary to employ apprentices, +who first became journeymen and then masters; and such have been the +effects of improvement and competition, that articles such as are +specified above, may now be obtained at the respective prices of _six_ +and _twenty-five shillings_. While the joiner's part of the art has +remained pretty stationary, that of the painter has been gradually +improving. By means of the _Pentagraph_, which is much employed, the +largest engravings are reduced to the size most convenient for the +workman, without injuring the prints in the slightest degree; and +hence a snuff-box manufacturer, like a Dunfermline weaver, can work to +order by exhibiting on wood his employer's coat of arms, or in short, +any object he may fancy within the range of the pictorial art. Some of +the painters display considerable talent, and as often as they choose +to put forth their strength, produce box-lids, which are really worthy +of being preserved as pictures. At first, nearly the whole subjects +chosen as ornaments, were taken from Burns's poems; and there can be +no doubt, that the "Cotter's Saturday Night," "Tam O'Shanter," "Willie +brewed a peck o' maut," &c. &c., have penetrated in this form into +every quarter of the habitable globe. Now, however, the artists of +Cumnock take a wider range; the studios of Wilkie, and other artists, +have been laid under contribution; landscapes are as often met with as +figures; and there is scarcely a celebrated scene in the country that +is not pictured forth more or less perfectly on the lid of a Cumnock +snuff-box. A few years ago, the art in question was much affected by +the long-continued depression of the weaving business; so much so, +that many left it for some other employment. And some of those who +emigrated, having made a good deal of money, instead of being cooped +up in a workshop, are now thriving proprietors in Upper Canada. But +after a brief interval the trade rallied; and though prices are low, +it is now more flourishing than ever. In Cumnock the number of hands +has increased considerably, and in Mauchline there is one workshop so +extensive that it may almost be compared to a cotton mill or factory. +In other quarters the trade is extending, such as Helensburgh near +Greenock, Catrine, Maxwelltown, Dumfries, &c. The principal markets +for the snuff-boxes are London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. +At one time large lots of boxes were exported to South America, and +probably are so at present. Cumnock, in a word, in regard to its +staple manufacture, is in that palmy state so well described by a +modern writer:--"the condition most favourable to population is that +of a laborious, frugal people ministering to the demands of opulent +neighbours; because this situation, while it leaves them every +advantage of luxury, exempts them from the evils which accompany its +admission into a country. Of the different kinds of luxury, those are +the most innocent which afford employment to the greatest number of +artists and manufacturers; or those in which the price of the work +bears the greatest proportion to that of the raw material." Some very +wretched imitations of Cumnock boxes have been produced in different +parts of England; but they can deceive no one who ever saw a genuine +box. The hinge, as well as the finishing, is clumsy in the extreme. + + [Mr. Macculloch acknowledges himself indebted for this + curious and instructive article to his esteemed friend "John + M'Diarmid, Esq. Editor of the _Dumfries Courier_, one of the + best provincial papers published in the empire." + + By the way, what a colossal labour must have been the + preparation of the above Dictionary. How it reminds us of + the words of poor, patient Antony Wood: "What toyle hath been + taken, as no man thinketh, so no man believeth, but he that + hath made the trial." Yet it has often occurred to us that + the compiler, or editor, as he is complimentarily called, is + barely treated with proper respect in these days. What is + all knowledge but a continued accumulation and comparison of + facts, by "following the example of time?" Yet, all this is + not _original_; but we ask, in what does the intellectual + originality of the present day consist? does it add a spark to + the minds of men which they cannot find in the labours of past + ages? New books (we mean new _original_ works) are like dull, + pointless flints; the reader cannot scintillate, strike-fire, + or _steal_ from them; they are mere changes of words, often + at the sacrifice of sense to sound. A flashy novel + would, perhaps, secure the writer more celebrity than Mr. + Macculloch's _Dictionary_ will obtain for him, though his + reputation for talent and industry want not the false glory, + the common-place praise--the dullest outpourings--of a very + dull perception. Perhaps the whole series of the Waverley + Novels might have been written while this Dictionary was in + course of compilation. + + We heartily wish that Mr. Macculloch's work may become as + popular as it deserves. It will then enjoy extensive fame. It + would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to acquaint the + reader with its mass of well-arranged materials; its laborious + abstracts, documents, and information upon every point + that bears upon the main subjects, commerce and commercial + navigation, practical, theoretical, and historical. + It deserves to be the library of every counting-house, + manufactory, and workshop in the empire; it is, indeed, a + delightful relief to mere figures, and we should think better + of the man whom we caught dipping into its pages by turns + with his book of accounts: for, with Addison, we have no noble + opinion of a man who is ever poring over his cash-book, and + deriving all his ideas of happiness from its balances.] + + * * * * * + + +COMPARATIVE MORTALITY. + + +A curious official paper has been circulated, ordered by the House of +Commons, showing the comparative mortality in many large towns, &c., +of the kingdom, from 1813 up to the present year. Among the towns +included in this comparative calculation of mortality are, Leeds +(town), Bradford, Holbeck, Beeston, Wigan, Preston, Norwich, +Bolton-le-Moors, London, Bury, (Lancashire), Essex, &c. The result of +the investigation of mortality may be concisely stated as follows:--Of +children born there die, in Leeds, 53 per cent. under 5 years of age, +and 62 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Bradford, 47 per cent. +under 5, and 59 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Beeston, 39 per +cent. under 5, and 52 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Holbeck, 50 +per cent. under 5, and 62 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Norwich, +42 per cent. under 5, and 50 per cent. under 20 years of age; in +Bolton, 49 per cent. under 5, and 61 per cent. under 20 years of age; +in Wigan, 48 per cent. under 5, and 59 per cent. under 20 years of +age; in London, 38 per cent. under 5, and 46 per cent. under 20 years +of age; in Rutland, 29 per cent. under 5, and 37-1/2 per cent. under +20 years of age, &c. It further appears, that in Essex, Rutland, and +the metropolis, persons live to an advanced age in a greater extent +than others.--_Morning Herald._ + + * * * * * + + +LEE, KENT. + + +The rural village of Lee is situate six miles south of London, on the +south side of Blackheath, and on the road to Maidstone. It is a place +of considerable antiquity; and was originally written _Legheart_, and +in old Latin, _Laga_, i.e. a place which lies sheltered. "The manor +was held of Edward the Confessor by Alwin. William the Conqueror gave +it to his half-brother, Odo, bishop of Baieux, and Earl of Kent, of +whom it was held by Walter de Donay." In the time of the Confessor, it +was valued at 3_l._ and in Domesday at 100_s_. Its extent is somewhat +more than 1,000 acres. Hasted enumerates the successive lords, among +whom were Lord Rivers, who was beheaded at Banbury in 1649; and his +son, Anthony, Earl Rivers, who was beheaded at Pomfret, in 1483. The +manor was purchased by Sir Francis Baring, bart., in 1798. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: _Lee Church and Parsonage._] + + * * * * * + +The picturesque vignette includes the church and parsonage. The Church +is in what is called the pointed style, or rather in humble imitation +of antiquity, for it is a recent structure built on the site of the +walls of the old church, but with the addition of side-aisles. Nearly +two centuries before the erection of the present church, the villagers +reported the old building to be in a state too ruinous to admit of +repair: how long did its stability gainsay their judgment, while they +were laid asleep about the walls. The church was an appendage to the +manor till the time of Charles I., who granted away the fee of the +manor, but reserved the patronage of the church to the crown, where it +continues to this time. It was valued l5 Edward I. at 10 marks; in +the king's books it is at 3_l._ 11s. 8d.; and the yearly tenths at 7s. +2_d_. The parsonage has much of the snug character of the glebe-house; +it was rebuilt in 1636, by the rector, the Rev. Abraham Sherman. + +In the church are some monumental _brasses_ and a handsome tomb of +marble and alabaster. One of the former is to the memory of Nicholas +Ansley, or Annesley, Esq. who died in 1593; with the following +inscription:-- + + When the Quene Elizabeth full five years had rain'd, + Then Nicholas Ansley, whos corps lyes here interred, + At fyve and twenty yeres of age was entertayned + Into her servis, where well himself he caried + In eche man's love till fifty and eight yeres ould, + Being Sergant of the Seller, death him contrould. + +Above is an upright figure (on a brass plate,) of the deceased, in +armour, kneeling at a desk. The latter monument is to Brian Annesley, +Esq. (son of Nicholas) gentleman pensioner to Queen Elizabeth. It +consists of an elliptic arch supported by Corinthian columns, and +ornamented with a Mosaic pattern studded with roses. Beneath lie the +effigies of Annesley, in armour, and his wife, in a gown and ruff; +their son, and three daughters. + +In the churchyard, among the tombs, is that of Dr. Halley, who +succeeded Flamstead as Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, where he died +in 1741-2: Halley published a treatise on Comets, when he was nineteen +years old; and first applied the barometer to measure heights. Here +also lie William Pate, whom Swift, in his Letters, calls the learned +woollen-draper: Sir Samuel Fludyer, bart., the courtly lord mayor; +Parsons, the comedian, with this quaint epitaph:-- + + Here Parsons lies, oft on life's busy stage + With nature, reader, hast thou seen him vie; + He science knew, knew manners, knew the age, + Respected knew to live, lamented die. + +Bliss, the Astronomer Royal, who died in 1762, is also buried here; +Charnock, the author of _Biographia Navalis_, a _Life of Nelson_, +&c.; the amiable Lord Dacre, who died in 1794; and Mary, his relict, +1808.[5] + + [5] Lady Dacre visited her dear lord's tomb daily for several + years; at the foot of the grave she was accustomed to kneel, + and utter a fervent prayer. We can just remember seeing this + devout lady on one of these pilgrimages. She usually rode + from her mansion in the neighbourhood to the churchyard, on a + favourite poney, and wore a large, flapping, drab beaver hat, + and a woollen habit, nearly trailing on the ground. At home + she evinced an eccentric affection for her deceased lord: his + chair was placed, as during his lifetime, at the dinner-table; + and its vacancy seemed to feed his lady's melancholy. + +Harris says that Samuel Purchas resided at Lee, and there wrote a +great part of his collection of travels, or "Celebrated Pilgrimages +and Relations of the World." + +Among the grateful recollection of Lee we must not omit the +alms-house, chapel, and school-house founded by C. Boone, Esq. in +1638. + + * * * * * + + + +THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + +THE VICTIMS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY. + + +_BY A MODERN PYTHAGOREAN._ + + +Fortune, it has been truly said, is blind, and the same thing may be +alleged of nature; for while there are some to whom the latter goddess +has denied the commonest gifts, either of person or intellect, she +has bestowed the most splendid upon others, with a prodigality which +astonishes and perplexes the world. A beautiful person, and genius +almost superhuman, fell to the share of Milton; nor can it be doubted, +that in these respects the blind goddess was equally kind to the bard +of Avon, whose presence, even judging from the imperfect, and somewhat +apocryphal likenesses handed down to us, was noble to behold, while +his genius more resembled that of a superior nature than of a +human being. The same remark applies to the beautiful, the divine +Raphael,--nor less to Tasso, and various others, whom we might easily +point out. + +It will perhaps be deemed presumptuous, after naming those illustrious +characters--those "demigods of fame"--to allude to Augustus Merton, +who, although he obtained the distinction of first wrangler at +Brazennose, Oxford, and carried off a multitude of prizes from that +seat of learning, may yet be thought an inadequate testimony of +the fact with which we set out, more especially when placed in +juxtaposition with the Miltons, the Shakespeares, the Raphaels, and +the Tassos of the world. We discuss not this point. We claim for +him no equality with these august names; and yet, with all such +reservations, do we set him forward as no unmeet proof of the +soundness of our assertion. + +Merton was gifted with fine genius, and with a person all but +faultless. In stature he rose to six feet, and was slightly but +elegantly formed; while his whole air bespoke at once the gentleman +and scholar. Those who have seen his fine Spanish countenance, dark +eyes, and rich clustering hair,--the whole communicating dignity, +grace, and interest to his natural melancholy,--will not soon efface +his imposing image from their remembrance. His talents were of a +highly-diversified order. He was a first-rate Grecian and had he +turned his attention exclusively to that language might have contested +the palm with Porson himself; nor do those who are best qualified to +judge hesitate to place him upon an equality with Burney, Young +or Parr. He was also an excellent Latinist, and had a profound +acquaintance with geometry, and the other branches of mathematical +science. For knowledge of the various eastern tongues he was no +unequal match for Lee, of Cambridge; while his acquirements in natural +philosophy, political economy, and metaphysics, were such as +would have fairly entitled him to prelect on these subjects in any +university in Europe. Besides this, he had an exquisite poetical +genius; and, in his very first contest, succeeded in carrying off the +prize of poetry, to the utter discomfiture of many formidable rivals. + +But, with all these high acquirements, he was not a happy man. He had +been baptized in the waters of melancholy; and a circumstance which +occurred in the fifth year of his curriculum had a baleful and, +ultimately, a fatal effect upon him, dethroning reason from its lofty +seat, and plunging not him only, but another estimable individual, +in the deepest distress. This circumstance, painful as it is, we +must relate; and, on perusing it, the reader will see that the noble +aspirations, the keen susceptibilities, of the mind do not always lead +to happiness; for, alas! it was such an excess of susceptibility in +his intellect which disturbed so sadly the current of his ideas, and +made him an inmate of St. Luke's. + +The weather at the period we speak of was truly melancholy. It was +in the gloomy month of November,--that month in which it is said +the suicidal propensities of the English nation are most strongly +in force. The air was either filled with dull, sluggish, unwholesome +fogs, which hung upon it like a nightmare, or soaked in a constant +drizzle of small, annoying, contemptible rain-drops, which, without +possessing the energy and dignity of a shower, were infinitely more +disagreeable, and found their way to the flesh in spite of all the +protective armoury of great-coats, hessian cloaks, or umbrellas. It +seemed as if a wet blanket were drawn between the sun and the earth. +The atmosphere was always foggy, often perfectly wet, but never +thoroughly dry. It wanted vitality; and every person that breathed it +partook of its own damp, hypochondriac, inanimate character. + +It was in the morning of one of those days of fog, gloom, and _ennui_, +that Augustus last sallied out to lounge about the streets of Oxford, +as was his custom, before breakfast. There was a favourite spot in +which he was wont to walk; it was upon the footpath of a very short +street, about the middle of which stood the shop of Jonathan Hookey, +a barber. This street (we forget its name) is not above fifty yards in +length, and opens at each end into a cross street. Now, Merton's walk +extended from one of those cross streets to the other, including, of +course, the whole extent of the short street; he always walked on one +side of this street, viz. on that opposite to the barber's shop. These +particulars may seem trifling, but they are essential to the proper +understanding of the story. + +While making these morning perambulations, he had always an air of +deep thought, his arms were crossed, and he kept his eyes constantly +fixed upon the ground, as if deeply engrossed in profound meditation. +It boots not now to inquire on what subjects his thoughts were mostly +employed, but it was unquestionably on themes of deep import, and +concerned not himself only, but the interests of science, learning, +and humanity at large. The morning in question was peculiarly dull and +foggy; but whether it was this or something else, certain it is, that +he felt himself more than usually overpowered. The air oppressed him +like a leaden shroud, and the energies of his soul seemed for once on +the point of sinking beneath the superincumbent burden. + +Turn we now to Jonathan Hookey, the barber. In person he differed much +from Merton. His height did not exceed five feet, but, he made amends +for it in breadth; for he was a man of a lusty habit, and sported a +paunch which no London alderman or burgomaster of Amsterdam would look +upon with contempt. Bald was his head, and his nose was not merely +large but immense; but it is idle to grow eloquent upon noses. Has +not Sterne exhausted the theme? have not we ourselves more than once +expatiated upon it? Swakenbergius had a nose, so had Ovidius Naso; +but to neither would Jonathan Hookey's strike its colours, and good +crimson ones they were. + +Jonathan, despite his bald head, his diminutive stature, his ample +pot-belly, and ampler nose, was a man of fine feelings. Nature was +outraged when he became a barber. He most assuredly was never destined +by her to shave beards, and manufacture perukes for heads more +brainless, many of them, than his own blocks. He ought to have been a +professor of metaphysics or logic in some famous university, such +as Heidelburg, Gottingen, or Glasgow;--but why lament over cureless +evils? it is sufficient to say he is a barber, and there is an end of +the matter. + +We must now return to Merton. His solitary walks on the opposite side +of the street had not even, from the first, escaped the scrutinizing +eyes of Mr. Hookey. No: he saw in the tall, pale, elegant, dark-haired +student the victim of deep sensibility. From seeing him, he wondered, +from wondering he loved him, from loving he adored him: he knew +at once he was no common man. Having perused Byron's _Manfred_, he +conceived him to be such another as that strange character; or he +might be a second Lara; or, more, he might be, nay he was, a glorious +genius, full of high imaginings. Little do we know what bright +thoughts passed through the mind of the enthusiastic Hookey. He cursed +his profession, which debarred him from the fellowship of such a man: +he cursed his nose, which stood between him and the object of his +adoration. + +Day after day had Mr. Hookey noticed the accomplished, the +highly-gifted Merton; but it was only upon this particular morning +that the recognition was mutual. Merton, on turning his eyes by chance +from the ground, looked to the opposite side of the street, and there +beheld _a nose_. He then turned his eyes to the earth in his usual +meditative mood; but, reflecting that a nose without an owner was +rather a singular phenomenon, he looked a second time, and there, +behind the nose, he saw a man; it was Mr. Hookey himself. + +This was the first time that the melancholy and intellectual student +reciprocated upon Hookey the attention which Hookey had hitherto +bestowed exclusively upon him. No more was the barber's "sweetness +wasted upon the desert air," but fell on one who knew how to +appreciate it to its fullest extent. Merton stood stock-still, and +gazed upon him with mute admiration. He was positively fascinated. The +nose operated upon him like the head of Medusa, and almost turned him +to stone. And Mr. Hookey was fascinated too. Merton also had become +Medusafied, and exercised a petrifactive influence upon the barber. He +was nailed fast to the threshold of his own door, and gazed upon his +fancied personification of Lara and Manfred with an indomitable and +resistless perseverance, which utterly confounded himself; while +Merton, nailed alike fast to the opposite footpath, stood staring at +his antagonist, or rather at his nasal protuberance. This impressive +scene continued for several minutes, when Merton, regaining the power +of locomotion, slowly approached the barber, his arms all the while +crossed, and his eyes intently fixed upon the nose. Nine slow and +awful steps brought him face to face with Hookey. The barber's eyes +were fixed intently upon _his--his_ eyes upon the barber's nose. The +scene was extremely dreadful; and Mr. Hookey, after vainly trying to +keep his ground, retreated into the shop, still facing Merton, who +kept advancing upon him as he receded. Back, step by step, went +Hookey; forward, step by step, came Merton; each all the while eyeing +the other with equal astonishment. The barber continued retreating, +the other following him,--first through the shop, then through the +kitchen, then through the parlour--the three apartments leading into +one another. At last he got to the remotest corner of the parlour, and +could get no farther. Here he paused, and Merton paused also. Still +they gazed on each other,--the barber in the corner overpowered with +amazement, and the student standing before him hardly less surprised. +At last Merton broke silence in the following awful words,--"GRACIOUS +HEAVENS WHAT A NOSE!" So saying, he retreated as slowly as he entered, +leaving Mr. Hookey utterly stupified and bewildered. The sentence went +like iron into the barber's soul; he felt it in all its bitterness. + +It is almost unnecessary to say what an effect this scene had upon the +highly-susceptible temperament of Merton. From that moment peace fled +his mind. He went instantly home; but instead of devoting himself, as +before, to those studies in which he delighted, and in which he was +wont so highly to excel, he immured himself in his chamber, giving way +to gloomy abstraction, and agonizing his spirit with painful and most +distressing fancies. The great power of his imagination caused him, +in a peculiar manner, to suffer from the remembrance of what he had +witnessed; and, accordingly, his waking as well as his sleeping hours +were haunted with visions of noses,--noses of stupendous size, which +arose, like ocean islands, amid the gloomy tabernacle of his brain, +and filled him with utter despair. At last, from bad to worse, he +became the mere shadow of his former self, the wreck of what he +was, and a picture of fallen and shattered genius. To drive away +the hideous phantasmagorias that tortured him, as with the stings of +demons, he had recourse to gin, and soon became a confirmed drunkard: +the next stage was lunacy; and he was confined for fourteen months in +Saint Luke's Hospital for the insane. + +The fate of the barber was equally deplorable. The awful words +pronounced by Merton may be considered his death-knell. They rang ever +after in his ears; and, in a few weeks, his head was turned, his +shop shut up, and himself sent to Bedlam. "_Gracious heavens, what a +nose!_" This dreadful sentence--more dreadful than the hand-writing on +the wall to Belshazzar,--haunted him by day and by night. Reason was +dethroned, and "moody madness, laughing wild," was the result. Such +are the frightful consequences of _extreme susceptibility_, against +which the youth of both sexes ought to be constantly on their guard. + +The worst remains to be told. These unhappy men were liberated from +confinement about the same time, and both returned to Oxford. They +seemed to have recovered their reasoning faculties, but the result +showed that this was very far from being the case; for, happening to +meet on the banks of the Cherwell, they attacked each other with +such fury, that, like Brutus and Aruns, they were both killed on +the spot,--the barber having been _burked_ in the encounter, and the +student having died of a wound which he received in the throat by his +antagonist's razor.--_Fraser's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +THE LAST OF THE FAMILY. + + + I bid thee welcome to my father's halls, + But fled for ever is their wonted mirth, + Death hath been busy in these fated walls, + Casting dark shadows o'er our house and hearth, + The brave--the beauteous from their home have past, + And I remain of that loved band the last. + + Thou wilt not now my gallant brothers greet, + Hiding amidst the glades with hound and horn, + Nor my fair sisters, warbling ditties sweet, + While gathering wild flowers in the dewy morn; + Evening will come, but will not bring again, + The song--the tale--the dance--the festal train. + + I can but bid thee to my lonely room, + Where in fond dreams I pass my blighted youth. + Musing on vanished loveliness and bloom, + Man's dauntless courage, woman's changeless truth, + And scenes of joyous glee, or tranquil rest, + Shared with the early-lost--the bright--the blest. + + Yet chide me not--mine is no impious grief, + Meekly I pray for Heaven's supporting grace. + And soon, I feel, his hand will give relief, + And the last sad survivor of her race + Quit this lone mansion for the home above. + Where dwell her happy family of love! + +_Metropolitan._ + * * * * * + + +CONVERSATIONS WITH LORD BYRON. + + +_BY THE COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON_. + + +It is difficult to judge when Lord Byron is serious or not. He has +a habit of mystifying, that might impose upon many; but that can be +detected by examining his physiognomy; for a sort of mock gravity, now +and then broken by a malicious smile, betrays when he is speaking for +effect, and not giving utterance to his real sentiments. If he +sees that he is detected, he appears angry for a moment, and then +laughingly admits, that it amuses him to _hoax_ people, as he calls +it, and that when each person, at some future day, will give their +different statements of him, they will be so contradictory, that _all_ +will be doubted,--an idea that gratifies him exceedingly! The mobility +of his nature is extraordinary, and makes him inconsistent in his +actions as well as in his conversation. + +Byron spoke to-day in terms of high commendation of Hope's +"Anastasius;" said that he wept bitterly over many pages of it, and +for two reasons, first, that _he_ had not written it, and secondly, +that _Hope_ had; for that it was necessary to like a man excessively +to pardon his writing such a book--a book, as he said, excelling all +recent productions, as much in wit and talent, as in true pathos. He +added, that he would have given his two most approved poems to have +been the author of "Anastasius." + +From "Anastasius" he wandered to the works of Mr. Galt, praised the +"Annals of the Parish" very highly, as also "the Entail," which we had +lent him, and some scenes of which he said had affected him very much. +"The characters in Mr. Galt's novels have an identity," added Byron, +"that reminds me of Wilkie's pictures." + +As a woman, I felt proud of the homage he paid to the genius of Mrs. +Hemans, and as a passionate admirer of her poetry, I felt flattered, +at finding that Lord Byron fully sympathized with my admiration. He +has, or at least expresses a strong dislike to the Lake school of +poets, never mentions them except in ridicule, and he and I nearly +quarrelled to-day because I defended poor Keats. + +On looking out from the balcony this morning, I observed Byron's +countenance change, and an expression of deep sadness steal over it. +After a few minutes silence he pointed out to me a boat anchored to +the right, as the one in which his friend Shelley went down, and he +said the sight of it made him ill.--"You should have known Shelley +(said Byron) to feel how much I must regret him. He was the most +gentle, most amiable, and _least_ worldly-minded person I ever met; +full of delicacy, disinterested beyond all other men, and possessing a +degree of genius, joined to a simplicity, as rare as it is admirable. +He had formed to himself a _beau ideal_ of all that is fine, +high-minded, and noble, and he acted up to this ideal even to the +very letter. He had a most brilliant imagination but a total want of +worldly-wisdom. I have seen nothing like him, and never shall again, +I am certain. I never can forget the night that his poor wife rushed +into my room at Pisa, with a face pale as marble, and terror impressed +on her brow, demanding, with all the tragic impetuosity of grief and +alarm, where was her husband! Vain were all our efforts to calm her; +a desperate sort of courage seemed to give her energy to confront the +horrible truth that awaited her; it was the courage of despair; I have +seen nothing in tragedy on the stage so powerful, or so affecting, +as her appearance, and it often presents itself to my memory. I knew +nothing then of the catastrophe, but the vividness of her terror +communicated itself to me, and I feared the worst, which fears, were +alas! too soon fearfully realized." + +Byron talked to-day of Leigh Hunt, regretted his ever having embarked +in the "Liberal," and said that it had drawn a nest of hornets on him, +but expressed a very good opinion of the talents and principle of Mr. +Hunt, though, as he said, "our tastes are so opposite, that we are +totally unsuited to each other. He admires the Lakers, I abhor them; +in short, we are more formed to be friends at a distance, than near." +I can perceive that he wishes Mr. Hunt and his family away. It appears +to me that Byron is a person who, without reflection, would form +engagements which, when condemned by his friends or advisers, he would +gladly get out of without considering the means, or at least, without +reflecting on the humiliation such a desertion must inflict on the +persons he had associated with him. He gives me the idea of a +man, who, feeling himself in such a dilemma, would become cold and +ungracious to the parties with whom he so stood, before he had mental +courage sufficient to abandon them. I may be wrong, but the whole of +his manner of talking of Mr. Hunt gives me this impression, though he +has not said what might be called an unkind word of him. + +Much as Byron has braved public opinion it is evident he has a great +deference for those who stand high in it, and that he is shy +in attaching himself publicly to persons who have even, however +undeservedly, fallen under its censure. His expressed contempt and +defiance of the world, reminds me of the bravadoes of children, who, +afraid of darkness, make a noise to give themselves courage to support +what they dread. It is very evident that he is partial to aristocratic +friends, he dwells with complacency on the advantages of rank and +station, and has more than once boasted that people of family are +always to be recognised by a _certain air_, and the smallness and +delicacy of their hands. + + * * * * * + + + +NEW BOOKS. + + +THE PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE OF A WOMAN OF FASHION. + + + [This work is, to our thinking, what it professes to be, an + actual correspondence, and from the pen of a lady who, as her + motto states--"writes of countries and their societies as she + finds them, and as they strike her imagination." There is much + good sense in her letters, and less aristocratic affectation + than might be expected. The subjects are of the most + miscellaneous description. Her pen is what the small critics + call eminently graphic: in short, the work is one of the + pleasantest of the season. To be more explicit, it consists of + letters written between June, 1814, and December, 1816; + dated from South Lancing, (near Worthing), Rouen, Paris, and + Brussels; and the writer's _domicile_, Hampton Court. The most + interesting portion of the work is the gossip it contains on + the _state of things_ in the French capital, on the return + of Napoleon, in 1815, and in Brussels, before and after + the battle of Waterloo. Nevertheless, as the whole is + indiscribably discursive, so must be our quotations.] + +_Arundel Castle._--Arundel Castle did not gratify my expectations +although the _coup d'oeil_, taking the structure _en masse_, is +imposing, and it has an advantageous position on the banks of the +river Arun. The Castle has undergone modern alterations in bad taste; +the details are of that description of the ornamental gothic, which +appear to me to throw severe criticism on the abilities of the +architect; and, as a family residence, its interior is neither grand +nor comfortable. From its commanding site and vicinity to the Roman +villa, it was probably a Roman station previous to its becoming a +Saxon residence. The walls and Norman gateway are fine. The massive +keep, ponderous in stability, has the characteristic marks of the +twelfth century, and is a noble ruin. It is called King Alfred's Keep; +and with what hallowed feelings of reverence must a _locale_ ever +be approached which bears the name of that illustrious monarch! The +present occupants are an assemblage of German owls, of varied species; +they look analagous with the venerable ruin. + +The castle contains a few curious portraits of the illustrious race of +Howard, which have an interest also from the distinguished parts that +family have played in English history. There is one of Henry Howard, +Earl of Surrey, so famous for his talents in state affairs, and for +his bravery in the field. He is represented standing under a noble +gateway. The picture is moreover valuable as a work of art.[6] + + [6] Surrey's accomplishments and political talents, and his + bravery in the battle-field, cast additional splendour over + the house of Howard; and his violent death, another stain on + the tyranny of Henry VIII. + +Some richly-wrought chalices[7] and censers, and other symbolic +emblems of the Roman Catholic religion are there, but I imagine little +prized by the present noble possessor; for at the age of twenty-seven, +he became a convert to the Protestant faith. Whether conviction, or +ambition to serve his country as a legislator were his motives, it is +not for man to judge: but he is unlike his ancestor, Philip +Howard, Earl of Arundel, who, braving the power of Queen Elizabeth, +disregarded her favour, and almost merited the title of martyr from +the persecutions she heaped upon him for having abjured the Protestant +worship, although educated in it by his father, the attainted Duke of +Norfolk, in despite of Mary and her Spanish consort, who was likewise +his sponsor. + + [7] Several of these splendid emblems of the Roman Catholic + faith the late duke gave to his worthy kinsman, the present + possessor of C----y Castle; and they decorate his house + in London, amidst some _chef d'oeuvres_ of the old Italian + masters, which his good taste selected in Italy. + +_The late Queen Caroline._--A servant entered in haste to induce me to +go down to the sea-shore, and witness the embarkation of the P----ss +of W----s. I immediately sallied forth, and found her r----l h----ss +seated on the shingles, the _adopted boy_ at her feet; and on her left +sat, with the skirts of his coat spread under his r----l mistress, +to protect her from the stones, our old ally Sir W----m G----l. The +frigate had arrived off Worthing some days previous, commanded by +the handsome Captain K----g; but her r----l h----ss was deterred from +embarking there by a numerous assemblage of John Bulls, their wives, +and babes, who were so rude and impetuous, as to terrify and induce +her to take refuge on a less populous shore. The lively and merry Lady +C---- L----y, and the less pleasing Lady E---- F--s, with two foreign +women, Major S--r, and the odious S----o, composed her suite. Her +r----l h----ss was habited in light green cloth, embroidered in +silver, a Prussian cap of green satin, with a splendid plume of +green feathers: the crown of the cap was conical, giving her an air +something resembling Mother Shipton. Terror and dismay were depicted +on her countenance, with all the varieties of unhappy feelings--not a +smile played over her features--her voice was tremulous, and her +brow contracted into one deep furrow--she was highly rouged, and her +eyebrows pencilled with a broad line of black chalk--never was any +person's appearance less formed to inspire interest! + +Sir W----m forgot his usual indifferent manner on seeing me, and put +on one of his comic expressions. In the impulse of the moment, I was +on the point of addressing him, but fortunately recovered my presence +_d'esprit_, and did not commit such a breach of etiquette, although +there was such a total deficiency of r----l dignity in the group that +I might almost have been excused. In half an hour the cutter put off +from the frigate: Captain K--g came from W---- by land, and apologized +for the delay. Her r----l h----ss replied in a tremulous voice "Never +mind!" A small group of persons kept a respectful distance and a +profound silence. One old man blessed her and wished her a +safe return--when her footman burst into tears. The ocean raged +tempestuous, as if in the spirit of anger, and the boat could not +reach the shore. Her r----l h----ss was obliged to enter a pony cart, +and her coachman drove it with difficulty through the billows. With +some exertion Captain K--g and his lieutenant dragged her unwieldy +form into the barge: the P----ss went first, Lady E. F----s followed, +and then the _tin box_: our knight went last; he came up to me, +squeezed my hand affectionately, whispered a saucy adieu, and jumped +into the boat. Such was the embarkation of the P----ss of W----s, and +so passed away the illustrious consort of the heir apparent of these +realms. + +[WE SHALL RETURN TO THESE AMUSING VOLS.] + + * * * * * + + +EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS AND HINDOO TEMPLES COMPARED. + + +The most common form of the Hindoo pagodas[8] is the pyramidal, +of which one of the most remarkable is that of Chalembaram, on the +Coromandel coast, about thirty-four geographical miles south of +Pondicherry, and seven from the sea. + + [8] The word pagoda is a corruption of _Bhagavati_, "holy + house," one of the several names by which the Hindoo temples + are known. + +The whole temple, with its attached buildings covers an area of +1,332 feet by 936, (according to others 1,230 feet by 960,) and is +surrounded with a brick wall[9] 30 feet high and 7 thick, round which +there is another wall furnished with bastions. The four entrances are +under as many pyramids, which, up to the top of the portal, 30 feet in +height, are formed of free-stone, ornamented with sculptured figures. +Above the portal, the pyramid is built of tiles or bricks, to the +height of 150 feet, with a coat of cement upon it, which is covered +with plates of copper, and ornaments of baked clay. On passing through +the chief portico of the western propylaea, we see on the left an +enormous hall with more than 1,000 pillars, which are above 36 feet +high, and covered over with slabs of stone; this hall might have +served as a gallery for the priests to walk about in, just like +the hypostyle halls of the Egyptian temples. In the midst of these +columns, and surrounded by them, is a temple called that of eternity. +On the right or south side, we see the chief temple, with halls of +several hundred pillars at the east and west end, also supporting a +flat roof of stone. The pagoda itself rests on a basis 360 feet long +and 260 broad, and rises to a surprising height. It is formed of +blocks of stone 40 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 5 thick, which must +have been brought, about 200[10] miles, as there are no stone quarries +in the neighbourhood. The temple has a peristyle round it; and +thirty-six of the pillars, which are placed in six rows, and form +the portico, support a roof of smooth blocks. The columns are 30 feet +high, and resemble the old Ionic pillar. The whole pyramid surpasses +in size St. Paul's church in London, the latter being only 474[11] +feet long and 207 wide. The roof of the pyramid has a copper casing +covered with reliefs referring to mythical subjects; the gilding which +was once on it is still visible. In the middle of the courtyard there +is a great tank, surrounded with a gallery of pillars and also an +enclosure round it of marble, well polished and ornamented with +sculptures and arabesques. In the eastern part there is still another +court surrounded with a wall, on the inside of which is a colonnade +covered with large slabs of stone. Here also there is a pagoda, which +is but little inferior in size to the larger one; but it contains only +large dark chambers covered with sculptures, which have reference +to the worship of certain deities, particularly Vishnu. The interior +ornaments are in harmony with the whole; from the nave of one of +the pyramids there hang, on the tops of four buttresses, festoons of +chains, in length altogether 548 feet, made of stone. Each garland, +consisting of twenty links, is made of one piece of stone 60 +feet long; the links themselves are monstrous rings 32 inches in +circumference, and polished as smooth as glass. One chain is broken, +and hangs down from the pillar. In the neighbourhood of the pagodas +there are usually tanks and basins lined with cement, or buildings +attached for the purpose of lodging pilgrims who come from a distance. +It is, however, often the case that the adjoining buildings, as well +as the external ornaments in general, are in bad taste, and the work +of a later age than the pagoda itself. + + [9] The outer wall is brick cased with stone: the inner is all + of stone. The four sides are turned respectively to the four + cardinal points,--Heeren, India, p. 74. + + [10] Fifty meilen. + + [11] These dimensions are not exact, even making allowance for + Berlin feet. + +The pyramidical entrances of the Indian pagodas are analogous to the +Egyptian propyla, while the large pillared rooms which support a flat +roof of stone, are found frequently in the temples of both countries. +Among the numerous divisions of the excavations of Ellora, there is +an upper story of the _Dasavatara_, or the temple of Vishnu's +incarnations, the roof of which is supported by sixty-four square +based pillars, eight in each row. This chamber is about 100 feet wide, +and somewhat deeper, and as to general design may be compared with the +excavated chambers of Egypt, which are supported by square columns. +The massy materials, the dark chambers, and the walls covered with +highly wrought sculptures; and the tanks near the temples, with their +enclosure of stone, and the steps for the pilgrims, are also equally +characteristic of a pagoda and an Egyptian temple. To this we may +add the high thick wall, of a rectangular form, carried all round the +sacred spot: it is, however, principally the massy structure of +these surrounding walls which forms the point of comparison, as Greek +temples also had a wall enclosing the sacred ground, and the temples +and churches of all countries are as a general rule separated from +unhallowed ground, if not by strong walls at least by some mark which +determines the extent of the sacred precincts. Yet there is a further +resemblance worth noticing between some of these Hindoo pagodas and +the great temple of Phtha at Memphis. The Egyptian temple had four +chief entrances, or propyla, turned to the four cardinal points of the +compass; which is also the case with the pagoda of Chalembaram, +with another at Siringam, and probably others also. The pagoda of +Chalembaram, according to Indian tradition, is one of the oldest in +their country, and this opinion is confirmed by the appearance of the +principal temple contained within the walls; but other parts, such as +the pyramidal entrances, the highly finished sculptures, and the chain +festoons, must be the work of a later date. It seems probable then +that this enormous religious edifice was the growth of many ages, +each adding something to enlarge and perfect the work of former +days.--_Lib. Ent. Knowledge._ + + * * * * * + + I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide; for the man is + efficiently destroyed, though the appetite of the brute may + survive.--_Lord Chesterfield._ + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER + + +_A true Abernethian._--"An old country curate," says Zimmerman, "who +had all his life resided upon a lofty mountain in the Canton of Berne, +was one day presented with a moor-cock. A consultation took place in +what manner it should be disposed of--at last it was agreed to bury it +in the garden!" + + _Epitaph on a notorious Liar_. + + I always _lied_ and _lied_ till death, + But now I _lie_ for want of breath. + +_Castanets_ are small wooden rattles, made in the shape of two bowls +or cups, fitted together, and tied by a string, and then fastened to +the thumbs. The fingers being rapidly struck upon them, a tremulous +sound is produced, which marks exactly the measure of the dance. +Something similar to this was the _crotalon_ of the ancients, who also +made use of small cymbals in their dances and festivals in honour of +Bacchus. It is probable, however, that they had their origin in the +East, and were brought by the Moors into Spain. Here too they received +their name _castennalas_, from being commonly made of the wood of the +chestnut, (_castano_) or from their colour. They are still common in +Spain, and here and there in the South of France. In this country they +are common in stage dances only. + +_Cannon_ were formerly dignified with great names. Twelve cast by +Louis XII. were called after the twelve peers of France. Charles V. +had twelve, which he called the Twelve Apostles. One at Bois-le-Duc +is called the Devil; a sixty-pounder at Dover Castle, is named Queen +Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol; an eighty-pounder at Berlin, is called +the Thunderer; another at Malaga, the Terrible; two sixty-pounders at +Bremen, the Messengers of Bad News. + +_Dripping Rock, in India._--Sansadhara or the dripping rock, is a +singular phenomenon, situated at the head of a dell, through which a +rapid stream runs, between two lines of hills towards the valley of +the Dhoon. It is an overhanging rock, about 50 feet high, through +which water pours from above, in innumerable little streams, like a +perpetual shower of rain! The never-abating action of the water has +worn the rock into many fantastic shapes; and, crusting round the +moss and fibres of the roots of trees, has given to it almost the +appearance of a spar cavern. In several places the water has worn +little reservoirs for itself, which are always full. It is cool, +clear, and pleasant to the taste.--_Captain Skinner_. + +_Catching Wild Ducks, &c. in India._--In the lower parts of Bengal, +wild ducks, widgeon, and teal, are often taken by means of earthen +pots. A number of these pots are floated amongst them in the lakes +where they abound, to the sight of which they soon become reconciled, +and approach them fearlessly. A man then goes into the water up to the +chin, with one of these pots over his head, in the centre of which two +small holes are made for him to see through; and when he gets into the +midst of the birds, he pulls them by the legs under water, fastening +them to a girdle round his waist.--T. GILL. + +_Hampden._--Lord Nugent, in his _Memorials of John Hampden_, relates +the attack of Rupert's troops upon the village of Chinnor. A local +tradition of the affair has been related to me by an old inhabitant. +In the room of a house, until lately occupied as a boarding-school, +two of Rupert's soldiers are said to have evinced great brutality. On +entering the house, they demanded a flitch of bacon, hanging up in the +room; one of them held up a child which he had taken from a cradle, +and crossing a sword over it, threatened its immediate destruction if +their demands were not instantly complied with. There appear to +have been sharp hostilities in the vicinity of Chinnor, and more +particularly on the hills, as military buttons, sword handles, &c. and +other vestiges of war are frequently found there.--W.H. + + _Parody on Scott's Lines "Breathes there the Man," &c._ + + Breathes there a cit, with taste so dead, + Who never to himself hath said, + "This haunch surpasses all the rest;" + Whose mouth hath ne'er within him burn'd, + Whene'er his footsteps he hath turn'd + From home, to Guildhall's civic feast? + If such there breathe, go mark him well-- + For him no portly paunch can swell; + Large though his shop, his trade the same, + Boundless his wealth as wish can claim, + Despite his shop, his trade, his cash, + The wretch who knows not ven'son hash, + Living, shall forfeit civic fame, + And dying, shall descend with shame, + In double death, to Lethe's pools, + Despis'd by epicures and fools. REX. + +_Alchemy and Printing._--Antimony, once celebrated in the laboratories +of the alchemists, who hoped to discover in it the philosopher's +stone, is now employed in the casting of types for printing.--There +is much food for reflection in this curious fact in the history +of science. How has this simple substance originated dreams of +spell-bound ignorance, and realities of godlike intelligence. Nay, +we are almost persuaded that the hopes of the alchemists were not +altogether unfounded--that antimony is indeed what they hoped to +find it--that the invention of printing was the finding of the +philosopher's stone; and that we are at this moment enjoying +ten-fold the advantages which the alchemists anticipated from their +secret.--J.T. + + * * * * * + +_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, No. 565, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 565 *** + +***** This file should be named 12147-8.txt or 12147-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/4/12147/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Bill Walker and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 565 + Vol. 20, No. 565., Saturday, September 8, 1832 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: April 25, 2004 [EBook #12147] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 565 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Bill Walker and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + <hr class="full" /> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" + summary="Volume, Number, and Date"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>Vol. 20. No. 565.]</b></td> + + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, + 1832.</b></td> + + <td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page145" + id="page145"></a>[pg 145]</span> + + <div class="figure" + style="width:100%;"> + <a href="images/565-1.png"><img width="100%" + src="images/565-1.png" + alt="" /></a> + + <h3>PERSIAN BATH.</h3> + </div> + + <p>The luxurious indulgence of baths in the East is generally + known to the reader of travels, so as to render acceptable the + following details. They are extracted from Mr. Buckingham's + Travels,<a id="footnotetag1" + name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> + and bear all the graphic minuteness of his entertaining + pen.</p> + + <p>The Bath is one of the principal ones of Kermanshah, an + important frontier town of Persia. "It was entered by a porch, + extremely clean, and neatly ornamented by painting and other + devices on its ceiling and walls. This remarkable contrast to + the low, dark, and foul passages which generally lead to + Turkish baths, was a presage, upon the very threshold, of + greater comfort and accommodation within.</p> + + <p>"When we reached the undressing-room, this prepossession was + still further strengthened. Here we found a square hall, well + lighted from above, having on three of its sides elevated + recesses for the visiters, and on the fourth, the passage from + the outer porch to the hall, and from this to the inner bath. + At the angles of these raised recesses, and dividing their + lower roof, which they supported, from the higher one of the + central square, were, four good marble pillars, with spirally + fluted shafts, and moulded capitals, perfectly uniform in size + and design, and producing the best effect. In the centre of the + square space, which these marked out, and on a lower floor, was + a large marble cistern of cold water; and at each end of this, + on wooden stands, like those used in our arbours and breakfast + rooms, were arranged coloured glass jars, with flowers of + various kinds in them, well watered and perfectly fresh.</p> + + <p>"The walls of this outer hall were ornamented all around by + designs of trees, birds, and beasts, in fanciful forms, + executed in white upon a blue ground. We undressed here, and + were led from hence into the inner bath, where all was still + free from everything offensive, either to the sight or smell. + This inner room was originally an oblong space of about fifty + feet by twenty-five, but had been since made into two square + divisions. The first, or outer one, was a plain paved hall, + exactly like the undressing-room, except that it had no side + recesses, but its floor was level, close to the walls. There + were here also four pillars; and in the square space which they + enclosed in the centre of the room, was a cistern of water as + in the outer one. It was on the floor of this that the visiters + lay, to be washed by the attendants; for there were no raised + seats for this purpose as in Turkish baths, and the great + octagonal one, with its cold fountain, the sides and tops of + which are <span class="pagenum"><a name="page146" + id="page146"></a>[pg 146]</span> ornamented with mosaic work + of marble in Turkey, was here replaced by the cistern + described.</p> + + <p>"The second division to which this room led, consisted of + three parts; the central one was a large and deep bath, filled + with warm water, its bottom being level with the lower floor of + the building, and the ascent to it being by three or four steep + steps.</p> + + <p>"As few pleasures are entirely perfect, so here, with all + its general apparent superiority to the baths of Turkey, this + was inferior to them in the most essential points. The + attendants seemed quite ignorant of the art of twisting the + limbs, moulding the muscles, cracking the joints, opening the + chest, and all that delicious train of operations in which the + Turks are so skilful. The visitors were merely well though + roughly scrubbed, and their impurities then rinsed off in the + large cistern above, from which there was neither a running + stream to carry off the foul water, nor cocks of hot and cold + to renew and temper it at pleasure, as in Turkey.</p> + + <p>"In place of the luxurious moulding of the muscles, the use + of the hair-bag, or glove, for removing the dirt, and the + profusion of perfumed soap, with which the Turks end a course + of treatment full of delight, the Persians are occupied in + staining the beard and hair black, the nails of the toes and + fingers of a deep red, and the whole of the feet and hands of a + yellow colour, by different preparations of henna. This + operation is the most unpleasant that can be imagined. The + Persians do not shave the whole of the head, as is usual with + most of the Turks and Arabs, but, taking of all the hair from + the forehead, over the crown, and down the neck, for about a + hand's breadth, they leave on each side two large bushy masses + depending over their shoulders. This, then, with a very long + and full beard, in which all the people here take pride, is + plastered with a thick paste, of the consistence of hog's lard, + and not less than two pounds weight of which is sometimes used + on one person. It possesses a strongly astringent and + penetrating quality, and requires great skill in the use of it, + to avoid doing considerable mischief. As the eye-brows are + plastered with it, as well as the rest of the hair, and as it + softens by the heat of the room and of the body, it frequently + steals into the eyes, and produces great pain.</p> + + <p>"When all is finished, and the visiter leaves the inner + bath, he is furnished with two cloths only, one for the waist, + and the other to throw loosely over the head and shoulders: he + then goes into the outer room into a colder air, thus thinly + clad, and without slippers or pattens; no bed is prepared for + him, nor is he again attended to by any one, unless he demands + a nargeel to smoke; but, most generally, he dresses himself in + haste, and departs."</p> + <hr /> + + <h3>ORIGIN OF PSALMODY.</h3> + + <p>In D'Israeli's <i>Curiosities of Literature</i>, there is an + amusing and instructive account of the <i>Origin of + Psalm-Singing</i>. It appears that Psalms in verse were first + written by that elegant French poet, Clement Marot, the + favoured court bard of Francis I., who was termed by his + <i>un-envious</i> brother poets, "the poet of princes." They + were published at Paris, and the volume contained fifty Psalms, + written in various measures, and, which, from the beauty of + their composition, (some specimens of which we have seen,) + appear to be worthy of the muse of Marot. This "Holy Song + Book," as he entitled it, was "humbly dedicated to the powerful + King of France," and being considered by the volatile French + people as an amusing novelty, it sold faster than any book of + that period. In fact, the printers could not supply impressions + fast enough for the demand; and, as the Psalms were considered + in the light of ballads, they were set by the people to popular + tunes, and were commonly <i>sung</i> as ballads.</p> + + <p>This good reception of Marot's Psalms induced the celebrated + Theodore Beza to continue the collection; and another volume + was printed, of which 20,000 were immediately sold: this was a + considerable circulation, when we consider the few readers that + then existed, in comparison with the number of readers in the + present age. These had the advantage over Marot's of being set + to tunes of greater spirit. Beza, in his preface, says, that + "these Psalms are admirably suited for the violin and other + musical instruments;" and our readers will learn, not without + surprise, that through the instrumentality of the gloomy + Calvin, these compositions were set to most beautiful and + simple airs. He wisely took advantage of popular feeling to + spread his religious opinions, through the means of melody, + and, in furtherance of this plan, he engaged the most + celebrated composers of his time to furnish tunes to these + Psalms. At first, the scheme was not discovered: for Catholics + sang the Psalms as well as Hugonots; but, when Calvin appointed + these Psalms, with their music, to be sung at his meetings, + there was an end to the solace of the dreary hours of the poor + Catholics. Marot himself was compelled to quit Geneva; + Psalm-singing became an open declaration of Lutheranism; and + "woe to the poor wight" who was caught in the <i>diabolical</i> + act of singing these "pernicious Psalms."</p> + + <p>The history of Psalm-singing in our own island can be + comprised in very few words. When the enthusiasm of the French + in favour of their Psalms was at its height, one Sternhold, + undertook to be <i>our</i> Marot, and wrote a Book of Psalms, + which captivated the hearts of the Puritans, by whom they were + practised at their chapels in the Protectorate + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page147" + id="page147"></a>[pg 147]</span> of Cromwell, but were more + particularly set and sung in the reign of Elizabeth. Psalms, + about this time, were sung at City and Lord Mayors' feasts, + and turtle-eaters delighted to honour Psalm-singers. + Soldiers used them as stimulants to exertion on their march, + and even on parade; and there was scarcely a regiment but + could boast of its Marot. About this time, too, it was + customary for the inhabitants of houses which had windows + facing the street, to regale the passenger with the "holy + songs" of Sternhold.</p> + + <p>E.J.H.</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>[By way of an appropriate pendent to our Correspondent's + paper, we quote the following excellent passage on + Psalmody, by the Rev. W.S. Gilly, in his <i>Memoir of Felix + Neff</i>.]</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>The effect produced by the words, or by the music, or by the + combination of the two, is such, that the cultivation of + psalmody has ever been earnestly recommended by those who are + anxious to excite true piety. Tradition, history, revelation, + and experience, bear witness to the truth, that there is + nothing to which the natural feelings of man respond more + readily. Every nation, whose literary remains have come down to + us, appears to have consecrated the first efforts of its muse + to religion, or rather all the first compositions in verse seem + to have grown out of devotional effusions. We know that the + book of Job, and others, the most ancient of the Old Testament, + contain rhythmical addresses to the Supreme Being. Many of the + psalms were composed centuries before the time of king David, + and it is not extravagant to imagine, that some of them may + have been sung even to Jubal's lyre, and were handed down from + patriarch to patriarch by oral tradition. Nor did the fancy of + Milton take too bold a flight when it pleased itself with the + idea that our first parents, taught by the carols of the birds + in the garden of Eden, raised their voices in tuneful notes of + praise to the Creator of all, when they walked forth in the + cool of the day to meet their God before the fall. But this is + certain, that one of our Lord's last acts of social worship on + earth was to sing a hymn with his disciples. Few, therefore, + can be slow to understand, that if Christ and his disciples + broke forth in holy song, immediately after the solemnities of + the Last Supper, and just before the Shepherd was smitten, and + the sheep were scattered; and if Paul and Silas sung praises + unto God in their prison-house, congregational worship may + always be the better for such helps. Add to these examples, the + apostolical exhortation to the merry hearted to sing psalms, + and the apostolical descriptions of the choral strains which + resound in the courts of heaven, and we cannot but feel + certain, that the services of the Christian church were cheered + from the earliest times by hymns and psalms. "Those Nazarenes + sing hymns to Christ," said Pliny, in contempt. We thank him + for recording the fact. The words of the Te Deum were composed + by a native of Gaul, (for the use probably of one of the + churches on the Rhone, or of the Alps) about the third century; + and at the same period, men, women, youths of both sexes, and + even children joined in the psalmody of the sanctuaries, in + such cordial and harmonious unison, that a father of the church + has well compared the sound to the loud, but not discordant, + noise of many waves beating against the sea shore.</p> + + <p>At the time of the Reformation, sacred music, which had + begun to run wild, was brought back to its first principles. + The melodies of religious worship were rendered more + heart-touching, by being set to words in the vernacular + tongues, which every body could understand. Luther's hymn, + "Great God, what do I hear and see," led the way. Henry VIII. + hated the German reformer, and all that he did, but he burned + to rival him in every thing, and he gave a stimulus to the + public taste, by composing words and music for the service of + the English church. In France, soon after the middle of the + sixteenth century, when it was doubtful whether the nation + would become Protestant or remain Roman Catholic, the pathetic + tunes and devotional stanzas of the reformers obtained so great + an influence over the minds of men, that the music of the + temples, as the Protestant sanctuaries were called, to + distinguish them from the Roman Catholic churches, became the + fashionable melodies of the day. This taste found its way even + to the court, and to the great alarm of the Romish party, some + of the sweetest and most stirring of the psalms, which had been + translated into French metre by Clement Marot, were set to + music by Lewis Guadimel, and were constantly in the mouths not + only of the Protestant families of the provinces, but of the + ornaments of the saloons of Paris, and of the palace of the + Louvre. It is said to have been quite astonishing how much this + pious and simple device found favour for the Protestant cause, + and induced people, who had never read Scripture before, to + search the holy volume out of which those treasures were drawn, + which so charmed their ears and their imagination. It is still + the practice in most of the mountain churches to make sacred + music a part of family devotion, and many of the tunes which + Guadimel composed with such success are still sung to the + praise of God. I can bear witness to the forcible manner in + which these strains, rising to heaven from the lips of parents, + children and domestics, quicken piety, and stir up the best + affections of the heart towards God and man. I have seen and + felt the effect produced by them in + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page148" + id="page148"></a>[pg 148]</span> the humble dwelling of the + village pastor, where none but human voices swelled the + notes; and in the chateau, where the harp and the organ have + mingled their fine sounds with the well modulated tones of + an accomplished family of sons and daughters. My thoughts, + at the moment I am writing this, are at Chateâu + Blonay, but most of the voices, which I heard there, are now + silent in death! I am thoroughly convinced that family + worship, and congregational worship lose a great auxiliary + to piety, when there is not the power or the inclination to + join in psalmody.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3>LINES</h3> + + <p><i>Written after reading the Memoir and Poems of Miss + Lucretia Davidson.</i><a id="footnotetag2" + name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a></p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Ev'n till thy latest hour, Lucretia! thou</p> + + <p>Didst cherish <i>that</i> which but consum'd thy + frame.</p> + + <p>'Twas <i>then</i> it shone the brightest on thy + brow,</p> + + <p>Like the last flickerings of an earthly + flame—</p> + + <p>Yes, thy brain harass'd by deep toil, became</p> + + <p>With all its fire, a tenant of the tomb,</p> + + <p>And dim is now thine eye, Belov'd of Fame!</p> + + <p>Thy cheek is pale—thy lip without + perfume—</p> + + <p>And there thou liest—the child of + Genius—and its doom.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Like the proud eagle soaring to the skies,</p> + + <p>Intent "the topmost arch" of heaven to scale,</p> + + <p>When heeding naught that would oppose its rise,</p> + + <p>It breaks with fearless nerve the + tempest-gale—</p> + + <p>And spreads its wings like a majestic sail,</p> + + <p>Full on the bosom of the raging blast,</p> + + <p>Thy spirit soar'd—but ah! too like us + frail,</p> + + <p>When the same breeze which bore it from the dust</p> + + <p>Wing'd home the fatal shaft that tore its bleeding + breast.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Would I could sing thy fame with thine own lyre,</p> + + <p>Then should I breathe a more deserving lay,</p> + + <p>A lay which every spirit would inspire,</p> + + <p>And melt each eye to tears of sympathy;</p> + + <p>But others at thy shrine, their tributes pay.</p> + + <p>Offspring of Beauty! child of native song!</p> + + <p>And I, ev'n I, would venture to essay,</p> + + <p>To raise my lauding voice amidst the throng</p> + + <p>Of those who weep thy loss—and who shall weep + it long!</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>N.C.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + + <h2>Spirit of Discovery.</h2> + <hr class="short" /> + + <h3>IMPROVED RAW SUGAR.</h3> + + <blockquote> + <p>[We find the following information communicated to the + <i>Literary Gazette</i>, apparently by the parties + connected with the improvement.]</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>Considerable interest has been excited in the market by the + introduction of an improved native raw sugar, which portends + very great advantages to all who are engaged in this so long + unprofitable branch of colonial and commercial intercourse. It + is pure raw sugar, obtained direct from the cane-juice, without + any secondary process of decoloration or solution, and by which + all necessity for any subsequent process of refining is + entirely obviated. It is obtained in perfectly pure, + transparent, granular crystals, being entirely free from any + portion of uncrystallisable sugar or colouring matter, and is + prepared by the improved process of effecting the last stages + of concentration in vacuum, and at a temperature insufficient + to produce any changes in its chemical composition; the mode of + operation first proposed by the late Hon. Ed. Charles Howard, + and subsequently introduced, with the most important advantages + and complete success, into the principal sugar-refineries of + Great Britain.</p> + + <p>By this improved and scientific process of manufacture, the + application of which to the purpose of preparing raw sugar from + the cane-juice has now first been proposed, the most singular + advantages are secured to the planter, in an increased quantity + of sugar, the product of his operation, and in saving from the + immense quantity of deteriorated material, uncrystallisable + sugar and molasses, which were products of the former mode of + operation, from the intense and long-continued degree of heat + employed in the processes. The time and labour of the operation + are also greatly decreased; the apparatus possesses the power + to make double the quantity in the same space of time as the + old method, and this is ready for shipment in four days, in + lieu of three weaks, as heretofore. The sugar likewise readily + commands an advanced price in the market to the planter of ten + or twelve shillings per cwt.</p> + + <p>This improved sugar readily ensures a preference for all + purposes of manufacture, solution, or domestic economy. It is a + purer sweet, and of a richer mellifluous taste than even the + best refined; it is not apt to become ascescent in solution; + and, from its superior quality, it well answers all purposes of + the table. In the manufacture of rum from the molasses, which + are separated during the first process of the operation, there + is no danger of deterioration in the production of empyreuma, + and a far purer spirit is obtained than that made from ordinary + molasses.</p> + + <p>This improved process is now in complete and successful + operation on eight estates in Demerara. The general + introduction of the process is considered by the best practical + judges to ensure certain means of revivifying the spoiled + fortunes of the planters, and to open a new era in the + prosperity of those portions of the British crown, of which + this forms the principal staple commodity of support.</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>[According to Dr. Moseley, the art of refining sugar, + and what is called loaf sugar, is a modern European + invention, the discovery of a Venetian, about the end of + the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth century. Sugar + candy is of much earlier date, for in Marin's <i>Storia del + Commercio de Veneziani</i>, there is an account of a + shipment made at Venice for England in 1319, of 100,000 + lbs. of sugar, and 10,000 lbs. of sugar candy. Refined, or + loaf sugar is mentioned in a roll of provisions in the + reign of Henry + VIII.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page149" + id="page149"></a>[pg 149]</span> + + <p>The process of refining sugar <i>in vacuo</i> is the + most useful application of "the fact that liquids are + driven off, or made to boil at lower degrees of heat when + the atmospheric pressure is lessened or + removed."<a id="footnotetag3" + name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> + The first part of the process is to dissolve impure + sugar in water, and after clarifying the solution, to + boil off or evaporate the water again, that the dry + crystallized mass may remain. Formerly this evaporation + was performed under the atmospheric pressure, and a heat + of 218° or 220° was required to make the syrup + boil; by which degree of heat, however, a portion of the + sugar was discoloured and spoiled, and the whole produce + was deteriorated. The valuable thought occurred to Mr. + Howard, that the water might be dissipated by boiling + the syrup in a vacuum or place from which air was + <i>excluded</i>, and therefore at a low temperature. + This was done accordingly; and the saving of sugar and + the improvement of quality were such as to make the + patent right, which secured the emoluments of the + process to him and other parties, worth many thousand + pounds a-year. The syrup, during this process, is not + more heated than it would be in a vessel merely exposed + to a summer sun.</p> + + <p>Lord Brougham, in his Introduction to the <i>Library of + Useful Knowledge</i>, characterizes this as a process, by + which more money has been made in a shorter time, and with + less risk and trouble, than was ever perhaps gained from an + invention; and as "the fruit of a long course of + experiments, in the progress of which known philosophical + principles were constantly applied, and one or two new + principles ascertained."<a id="footnotetag4" + name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> + + <p>The scene of this discovery was, in all probability, the + Deepdene, near Dorking, the retreat of the late Mr. Thomas + Hope, the author of <i>Anastasius</i>. Here the Hon. Mr. + Howard, brother of the Duke of Norfolk, resided at the + commencement of the last century, and is stated to have + enjoyed that philosophical retirement which may be + described as the happy haven of a truly great mind. He + planted a portion of the grounds, the greater part of the + estate being so admirably disposed by nature as almost to + forbid the fashioning of men's hands. At Mr. Howard's + death, the estate descended to the Duke of Norfolk, who + sold the property, in 1791, to the late Sir William + Burrell, whose lady wrote the following lines, which are on + a tablet in the grounds:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>"This votive Tablet is inscribed to the memory of + the Honourable Charles Howard, who built an oratory and + laboratory on this spot: he died at the Deepdene, + 1714.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>If worth, if learning, should with fame be + crown'd,</p> + + <p class="i2">If to superior talents, fame be + due,</p> + + <p>Let <i>Howard's</i> virtues consecrate the + ground</p> + + <p class="i2">Where once the fairest flowers of + science grew.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Within this calm retreat, th' illustrious + sage</p> + + <p class="i2">Was wont his grateful orisons to + pay,</p> + + <p>Here he perused the legendary page,</p> + + <p class="i2">Here gave to chemistry the + feeling day.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Cold to ambition, far from courts + remov'd,</p> + + <p class="i2">Though qualified to fill the + statesman's part,</p> + + <p>He studied nature in the paths he lov'd,</p> + + <p class="i2">Peace in his thoughts, and virtue + in his heart.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Soft may the breeze sigh through the ivy + boughs</p> + + <p class="i2">That shade this humble record of + his worth;</p> + + <p>Here may the robin undisturbed repose,</p> + + <p class="i2">And fragrant flowers adorn the + hallow'd earth.--January 1792."</p> + </div> + + + </div> + </blockquote><br /> + + <p>The tablet is of plain wood—black letters painted + on a white ground. It is an unostentatious memorial, which + has been respected amidst the extensive alteration and + embellishment of the grounds by the late Mr. Hope. To our + minds, neither of the treasures of art which are assembled + within the splendid saloons of the adjoining mansion, or + sculpture gallery, will outvie the interest of this humble + tribute to the memory of departed genius.]</p> + </blockquote> + <hr /> + + <h3>THE LANDERS VOYAGE AND DISCOVERIES ON THE NIGER.</h3> + + <p>The travellers, in embarking on the Atlantic, had solved the + greatest problem in African, and even in modern + geography;—one which had exercised the ingenuity and + conjecture of so many learned inquirers, and in the efforts to + solve which so many brave and distinguished adventurers had + perished. This discovery divested the Niger of that singular + and mysterious character, which had been one chief cause of the + interest that it had excited—when seen rolling its ample + flood <i>from</i> the sea towards vast unknown regions in the + interior. The circuit by which it reaches the Atlantic + assimilates its character to that of ordinary rivers, without + any much more remarkable windings than are found in others of + similar length. It displays, however, a magnitude considerably + greater than had been suggested by any former observation.</p> + + <p>We can now trace very distinctly, the entire line of this + great river. Its source, though not actually visited, seems + ascertained by Laing to exist in the high country of Kissi, + about 200 miles in the interior from Sierra Leone. Thence it + rolls through Foota Jallo and Kankan, where Caillie describes + himself to have found it already a rapid and considerable + stream. At Bammakoo, having received the tributary from Sankari + in Manding, which Park mistook for the main river, it begins + its course over the fine plain of Bambarra, where it forms a + noble stream; and in passing Sego, the capital, has been + considered as equalling the Thames at Westminster. Thence it + pursues a north-westerly course, and flowing through the lake + Dibbie, reaches Timbuctoo. Its course from that city to Youri + has not yet been delineated; but the fact that Park navigated + down from one place to the other, fully establishes the + continuity. <span class="pagenum"><a name="page150" + id="page150"></a>[pg 150]</span> During this reach the Niger + makes a great change of direction from north-east to almost + due south. From Youri to the sea, it was navigated by the + present travellers, and was found following generally a + southern direction, though making in one part a rapid bend + to the east, whence it gradually returns. If we measure two + distances, one from the source to Timbuctoo, and the other + from that city to the sea, we shall have nearly 2,000 miles, + which may be considered as the direct course; and the + various windings must raise the whole line of the stream to + upwards of 3,000 miles. For several hundred miles of its + lower course, it forms a broad and magnificent expanse, + resembling an inland sea. The Niger must after all yield + very considerably to the Missouri and Orellana, those + stupendous rivers of the new world. But it appears at least + as great as any of those which water the old continents. + There can rank with it only the Nile, and the Yangtse-kiang, + or Great River of China. But the upper course of neither is + yet very fully ascertained; and the Nile can compete only in + length of course, not in the magnitude of its stream, or the + fertility of the regions which it waters. There is one + feature in which the Niger may defy competition from any + river, either of the old or new world. This is in the + grandeur of its Delta. Along the whole coast, from the river + of Formosa or Benin to that of Old Calabar, about 300 miles + in length, there open into the Atlantic its successive + estuaries, which navigators have scarcely been able to + number. Taking this coast as the base of the triangle or + Delta, and its vertex at Kirree, about 170 miles inland, + where the Formosa branch separates, we have a space of + upwards of 25,000 square miles, equal to the half of + England. Had this Delta, like that of the Nile, been subject + only to temporary inundations, leaving behind a layer of + fertilizing slime, it would have formed the most fruitful + region on earth, and might have been almost the granary of a + continent. But, unfortunately, the Niger rolls down its + waters in such excessive abundance, as to convert the whole + into a huge and dreary swamp, covered with dense forests of + mangrove, and other trees of spreading and luxuriant + foliage. The equatorial sun, with its fiercest rays, cannot + penetrate these dark recesses; it only exhales from them + pestilential vapours, which render this coast the theatre of + more fatal epidemic diseases than any other, even of Western + Africa. That human industry will one day level these + forests, drain these swamps, and cover this soil with + luxuriant harvests, we may confidently anticipate; but many + ages must probably elapse before man, in Africa, can achieve + such a victory over nature.</p> + + <p>The Niger, besides its own ample stream, has a number of + tributaries, equal perhaps in magnitude and importance to those + of any other river on the globe; with the exception of the + united streams of the Mississippi and Missouri. At no great + distance above the point where the Delta commences, the + Tshadda, nearly equal in magnitude to itself, enters it; after + watering large and fruitful kingdoms, of which the names only, + and of these but a very few, have reached us. On this river an + extensive commerce and active navigation is said to prevail; + the existence of which is further confirmed by the great + importance attached to Funda, and other cities situated at or + near the junction. It would have been deeply interesting, and + have given a new importance to the river communications of + Africa, could we have believed, what was positively asserted by + very credible witnesses, that vessels by its channel sailed to + and from the lake Tchad, and thus held intercourse with the + kingdoms of Loggun and Bornou. It seems certain that the names + Tshadda, Shary, and Tchad, are one and the same. But the + identity of the two first as rivers is what we are precluded + from all possibility of believing, by the circumstance that the + Shary of Loggun and Bornou, which Major Denham saw and sailed + upon, was found by him falling <i>into</i> lake Tchad, while + the Tshadda of Lander fell <i>into</i> the Niger; consequently + they are distinct streams, flowing in opposite directions. It + is very probable indeed that their fountains may be in the same + mountain chain, and at no great distance; and even that some of + their branches may approach very near, so that merchants may, + by an easy portage, convey commodities between them. Nay, it is + not quite impossible that they may be united by some connecting + channel, as the Amazons and the Oronooka are; but this seems + scarcely probable.</p> + + <p>At no great distance above the Tshadda, enters the Coodonia, + a smaller river, but which Lander had seen flowing through a + very fertile and highly cultivated country. Considerably higher + is the Cubbie, a large stream from the country and city of that + name; and higher still the Quarrama, which has passed by Zirmie + and Sackatoo. Between this point and Timbuctoo, we have no + means of knowing whether any or what rivers fall into the + Niger. The tributary which passes that city is of no great + importance; but at the eastern boundary of Bambarra, Park + describes the influx from the south of two great streams, the + Maniana and Nimma; and it seems very doubtful if Caillie was + not mistaken in supposing the latter to be a mere branch of the + Niger. The higher tributaries, descending from the mountains, + swell the stream, without themselves affording any important + navigation.—<i>Edinburgh Review.</i></p> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page151" + id="page151"></a>[pg 151]</span> + + <h2>Notes of a Reader.</h2> + <hr class="short" /> + + <h3>LAURENCEKIRK SNUFF-BOXES.</h3> + + <blockquote> + <p>[Probably one of the most amusing articles in Mr. + Macculloch's bulky <i>Dictionary of Commerce</i> of 1,150 + pages, is the following account of the manufacture of the + celebrated Laurencekirk snuff-boxes. It is right, however, + to explain, that Mr. Macculloch only mentions these boxes + here for the purpose of giving the following details, not + to be met with in any other publication.]</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>These beautiful boxes were first manufactured at the village + of Laurencekirk, in Kincardineshire, about forty years since. + The original inventer was a cripple hardly possessed of the + power of locomotion. In place of curtains, his bed (rather a + curious workshop) was surrounded with benches and receptacles + for tools, in the contrivance and use of which he discovered + the utmost ingenuity. The inventer, instead of taking out a + patent, confided his secret to a joiner in the same village, + who in a few years amassed a considerable property; while the + other died, as he had lived, in the greatest poverty. The great + difficulty of the manufacture lies in the formation of the + hinge, which in a genuine box is so delicately made as hardly + to be visible. Peculiar, or, as they are called, secret tools + are required in its formation; and though they must have been + improved by time and experience, the mystery attached to their + preparation is still so studiously kept up, that the workmen + employed in one shop are rigorously debarred from having any + communication with those employed in another.</p> + + <p>About the beginning of this century, an ingenious individual + belonging to the village of Cumnock, in Ayrshire, of the name + of Crawford, having seen one of the Laurencekirk snuff-boxes, + succeeded, after various attempts, by the assistance of a + watchmaker of the same village, who made the tools, in + producing a similar box; and by his success, not only laid the + foundation of his own fortune, but greatly enriched his native + parish and province. For awhile, the Laurencekirk boxes were + most in demand; but Mr. Crawford and his neighbours in Cumnock + not only copied the art, but so improved and perfected it, that + in a very few years, for every box made in the north there + were, probably, twenty made in the south. In 1826, the Cumnock + trade was divided amongst eight master manufacturers, who + employed considerably more than 100 persons. The demand at that + time equalled the supply, and it was calculated that the trade + yielded from 7,000<i>l.</i> to 8,000<i>l.</i> annually,—a + large product for a manufacture seemingly so insignificant, and + consisting almost exclusively of the wages of labour. Plane is + the wood in common use, and the cost of the wood in an ordinary + sized box does not exceed 1<i>d.</i>; the paints and varnish + are rated at 2<i>d.</i>; and though something is lost by + selecting timber of the finest colour, the whole expense of the + raw material falls considerably short of 1/2 per cent. on the + return it yields!</p> + + <p>Snuff-box, like pin making, admits of subdivision of labour; + and in all workshops of any size three classes of persons are + employed—painters, polishers, and joiners. At the period + alluded to, an industrious joiner earned from 30<i>s.</i> to + 40<i>s.</i> weekly, a painter from 45<i>s.</i> to 3<i>l.</i>, + and a polisher considerably less than either. When Mr. Crawford + first commenced business he obtained almost any price he chose + to ask; and many instances occurred, in which ordinary sized + snuff-boxes sold at 2<i>l.</i> 12<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>, and + ladies' work-boxes at 25<i>l</i>. But as the trade increased, + it became necessary to employ apprentices, who first became + journeymen and then masters; and such have been the effects of + improvement and competition, that articles such as are + specified above, may now be obtained at the respective prices + of <i>six</i> and <i>twenty-five shillings</i>. While the + joiner's part of the art has remained pretty stationary, that + of the painter has been gradually improving. By means of the + <i>Pentagraph</i>, which is much employed, the largest + engravings are reduced to the size most convenient for the + workman, without injuring the prints in the slightest degree; + and hence a snuff-box manufacturer, like a Dunfermline weaver, + can work to order by exhibiting on wood his employer's coat of + arms, or in short, any object he may fancy within the range of + the pictorial art. Some of the painters display considerable + talent, and as often as they choose to put forth their + strength, produce box-lids, which are really worthy of being + preserved as pictures. At first, nearly the whole subjects + chosen as ornaments, were taken from Burns's poems; and there + can be no doubt, that the "Cotter's Saturday Night," "Tam + O'Shanter," "Willie brewed a peck o' maut," &c. &c., + have penetrated in this form into every quarter of the + habitable globe. Now, however, the artists of Cumnock take a + wider range; the studios of Wilkie, and other artists, have + been laid under contribution; landscapes are as often met with + as figures; and there is scarcely a celebrated scene in the + country that is not pictured forth more or less perfectly on + the lid of a Cumnock snuff-box. A few years ago, the art in + question was much affected by the long-continued depression of + the weaving business; so much so, that many left it for some + other employment. And some of those who emigrated, having made + a good deal of money, instead of being cooped up in a workshop, + are now thriving proprietors in Upper Canada. But after a brief + interval the trade rallied; and though prices are low, it is + now more flourishing than ever. In Cumnock + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page152" + id="page152"></a>[pg 152]</span> the number of hands has + increased considerably, and in Mauchline there is one + workshop so extensive that it may almost be compared to a + cotton mill or factory. In other quarters the trade is + extending, such as Helensburgh near Greenock, Catrine, + Maxwelltown, Dumfries, &c. The principal markets for the + snuff-boxes are London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. + At one time large lots of boxes were exported to South + America, and probably are so at present. Cumnock, in a word, + in regard to its staple manufacture, is in that palmy state + so well described by a modern writer:—"the condition + most favourable to population is that of a laborious, frugal + people ministering to the demands of opulent neighbours; + because this situation, while it leaves them every advantage + of luxury, exempts them from the evils which accompany its + admission into a country. Of the different kinds of luxury, + those are the most innocent which afford employment to the + greatest number of artists and manufacturers; or those in + which the price of the work bears the greatest proportion to + that of the raw material." Some very wretched imitations of + Cumnock boxes have been produced in different parts of + England; but they can deceive no one who ever saw a genuine + box. The hinge, as well as the finishing, is clumsy in the + extreme.</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>[Mr. Macculloch acknowledges himself indebted for this + curious and instructive article to his esteemed friend + "John M'Diarmid, Esq. Editor of the <i>Dumfries + Courier</i>, one of the best provincial papers published in + the empire."</p> + + <p>By the way, what a colossal labour must have been the + preparation of the above Dictionary. How it reminds us of + the words of poor, patient Antony Wood: "What toyle hath + been taken, as no man thinketh, so no man believeth, but he + that hath made the trial." Yet it has often occurred to us + that the compiler, or editor, as he is complimentarily + called, is barely treated with proper respect in these + days. What is all knowledge but a continued accumulation + and comparison of facts, by "following the example of + time?" Yet, all this is not <i>original</i>; but we ask, in + what does the intellectual originality of the present day + consist? does it add a spark to the minds of men which they + cannot find in the labours of past ages? New books (we mean + new <i>original</i> works) are like dull, pointless flints; + the reader cannot scintillate, strike-fire, or <i>steal</i> + from them; they are mere changes of words, often at the + sacrifice of sense to sound. A flashy novel would, perhaps, + secure the writer more celebrity than Mr. Macculloch's + <i>Dictionary</i> will obtain for him, though his + reputation for talent and industry want not the false + glory, the common-place praise—the dullest + outpourings—of a very dull perception. Perhaps the + whole series of the Waverley Novels might have been written + while this Dictionary was in course of compilation.</p> + + <p>We heartily wish that Mr. Macculloch's work may become + as popular as it deserves. It will then enjoy extensive + fame. It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to + acquaint the reader with its mass of well-arranged + materials; its laborious abstracts, documents, and + information upon every point that bears upon the main + subjects, commerce and commercial navigation, practical, + theoretical, and historical. It deserves to be the library + of every counting-house, manufactory, and workshop in the + empire; it is, indeed, a delightful relief to mere figures, + and we should think better of the man whom we caught + dipping into its pages by turns with his book of accounts: + for, with Addison, we have no noble opinion of a man who is + ever poring over his cash-book, and deriving all his ideas + of happiness from its balances.]</p> + </blockquote> + <hr /> + + <h3>COMPARATIVE MORTALITY.</h3> + + <p>A curious official paper has been circulated, ordered by the + House of Commons, showing the comparative mortality in many + large towns, &c., of the kingdom, from 1813 up to the + present year. Among the towns included in this comparative + calculation of mortality are, Leeds (town), Bradford, Holbeck, + Beeston, Wigan, Preston, Norwich, Bolton-le-Moors, London, + Bury, (Lancashire), Essex, &c. The result of the + investigation of mortality may be concisely stated as + follows:—Of children born there die, in Leeds, 53 per + cent. under 5 years of age, and 62 per cent. under 20 years of + age; in Bradford, 47 per cent. under 5, and 59 per cent. under + 20 years of age; in Beeston, 39 per cent. under 5, and 52 per + cent. under 20 years of age; in Holbeck, 50 per cent. under 5, + and 62 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Norwich, 42 per + cent. under 5, and 50 per cent. under 20 years of age; in + Bolton, 49 per cent. under 5, and 61 per cent. under 20 years + of age; in Wigan, 48 per cent. under 5, and 59 per cent. under + 20 years of age; in London, 38 per cent. under 5, and 46 per + cent. under 20 years of age; in Rutland, 29 per cent. under 5, + and 37-1/2 per cent. under 20 years of age, &c. It further + appears, that in Essex, Rutland, and the metropolis, persons + live to an advanced age in a greater extent than + others.—<i>Morning Herald.</i></p> + <hr /> + + <h3>LEE, KENT.</h3> + + <p>The rural village of Lee is situate six miles south of + London, on the south side of Blackheath, and on the road to + Maidstone. It is a place of considerable antiquity; and was + originally written <i>Legheart</i>, and in old Latin, + <i>Laga</i>, i.e. a place which lies sheltered. "The manor was + held of Edward the Confessor by + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page153" + id="page153"></a>[pg 153]</span> Alwin. William the + Conqueror gave it to his half-brother, Odo, bishop of + Baieux, and Earl of Kent, of whom it was held by Walter de + Donay." In the time of the Confessor, it was valued at + 3<i>l.</i> and in Domesday at 100<i>s</i>. Its extent is + somewhat more than 1,000 acres. Hasted enumerates the + successive lords, among whom were Lord Rivers, who was + beheaded at Banbury in 1649; and his son, Anthony, Earl + Rivers, who was beheaded at Pomfret, in 1483. The manor was + purchased by Sir Francis Baring, bart., in 1798.</p> + + <div class="figure" + style="width:100%;"> + <a href="images/565-2.png"><img width="100%" + src="images/565-2.png" + alt="" /></a> + + <h3><i>Lee Church and Parsonage.</i></h3> + </div> + + <p>The picturesque vignette includes the church and parsonage. + The Church is in what is called the pointed style, or rather in + humble imitation of antiquity, for it is a recent structure + built on the site of the walls of the old church, but with the + addition of side-aisles. Nearly two centuries before the + erection of the present church, the villagers reported the old + building to be in a state too ruinous to admit of repair: how + long did its stability gainsay their judgment, while they were + laid asleep about the walls. The church was an appendage to the + manor till the time of Charles I., who granted away the fee of + the manor, but reserved the patronage of the church to the + crown, where it continues to this time. It was valued l5 Edward + I. at 10 marks; in the king's books it is at 3<i>l.</i> + 11<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; and the yearly tenths at 7<i>s.</i> + 2<i>d</i>. The parsonage has much of the snug character of the + glebe-house; it was rebuilt in 1636, by the rector, the Rev. + Abraham Sherman.</p> + + <p>In the church are some monumental <i>brasses</i> and a + handsome tomb of marble and alabaster. One of the former is to + the memory of Nicholas Ansley, or Annesley, Esq. who died in + 1593; with the following inscription:—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>When the Quene Elizabeth full five years had + rain'd,</p> + + <p>Then Nicholas Ansley, whos corps lyes here + interred,</p> + + <p>At fyve and twenty yeres of age was entertayned</p> + + <p>Into her servis, where well himself he caried</p> + + <p>In eche man's love till fifty and eight yeres + ould,</p> + + <p>Being Sergant of the Seller, death him + contrould.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Above is an upright figure (on a brass plate,) of the + deceased, in armour, kneeling at a desk. The latter monument is + to Brian Annesley, Esq. (son of Nicholas) gentleman pensioner + to Queen Elizabeth. It consists of an elliptic arch supported + by Corinthian columns, and ornamented with a Mosaic pattern + studded with roses. Beneath lie the effigies of Annesley, in + armour, and his wife, in a gown and ruff; their son, and three + daughters.</p> + + <p>In the churchyard, among the tombs, is that of Dr. Halley, + who succeeded Flamstead as Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, where + he died in 1741-2: Halley published a treatise on Comets, when + he was nineteen years old; and first applied the barometer to + measure heights. Here also lie William Pate, whom Swift, in his + Letters, calls the learned woollen-draper: Sir Samuel Fludyer, + bart., the courtly lord mayor; Parsons, the comedian, with this + quaint epitaph:—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Here Parsons lies, oft on life's busy stage</p> + + <p class="i2">With nature, reader, hast thou seen him + vie;</p> + + <p>He science knew, knew manners, knew the age,</p> + + <p class="i2">Respected knew to live, lamented die.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Bliss, the Astronomer Royal, who died in 1762, is also + buried here; Charnock, the author of <i>Biographia Navalis</i>, + a <i>Life of Nelson</i>, &c.; the amiable Lord Dacre, who + died in 1794; and Mary, his relict, 1808.<a id="footnotetag5" + name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> + + <p>Harris says that Samuel Purchas resided at Lee, and there + wrote a great part of his collection of travels, or "Celebrated + Pilgrimages and Relations of the World."</p> + + <p>Among the grateful recollection of Lee we must not omit the + alms-house, chapel, and school-house founded by C. Boone, Esq. + in 1638.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page154" + id="page154"></a>[pg 154]</span> + + <h2>The Public Journals.</h2> + + <h3>THE VICTIMS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY.</h3> + + <h4><i>By a Modern Pythagorean.</i></h4> + + <p>Fortune, it has been truly said, is blind, and the same + thing may be alleged of nature; for while there are some to + whom the latter goddess has denied the commonest gifts, either + of person or intellect, she has bestowed the most splendid upon + others, with a prodigality which astonishes and perplexes the + world. A beautiful person, and genius almost superhuman, fell + to the share of Milton; nor can it be doubted, that in these + respects the blind goddess was equally kind to the bard of + Avon, whose presence, even judging from the imperfect, and + somewhat apocryphal likenesses handed down to us, was noble to + behold, while his genius more resembled that of a superior + nature than of a human being. The same remark applies to the + beautiful, the divine Raphael,—nor less to Tasso, and + various others, whom we might easily point out.</p> + + <p>It will perhaps be deemed presumptuous, after naming those + illustrious characters—those "demigods of fame"—to + allude to Augustus Merton, who, although he obtained the + distinction of first wrangler at Brazennose, Oxford, and + carried off a multitude of prizes from that seat of learning, + may yet be thought an inadequate testimony of the fact with + which we set out, more especially when placed in juxtaposition + with the Miltons, the Shakespeares, the Raphaels, and the + Tassos of the world. We discuss not this point. We claim for + him no equality with these august names; and yet, with all such + reservations, do we set him forward as no unmeet proof of the + soundness of our assertion.</p> + + <p>Merton was gifted with fine genius, and with a person all + but faultless. In stature he rose to six feet, and was slightly + but elegantly formed; while his whole air bespoke at once the + gentleman and scholar. Those who have seen his fine Spanish + countenance, dark eyes, and rich clustering hair,—the + whole communicating dignity, grace, and interest to his natural + melancholy,—will not soon efface his imposing image from + their remembrance. His talents were of a highly-diversified + order. He was a first-rate Grecian and had he turned his + attention exclusively to that language might have contested the + palm with Porson himself; nor do those who are best qualified + to judge hesitate to place him upon an equality with Burney, + Young or Parr. He was also an excellent Latinist, and had a + profound acquaintance with geometry, and the other branches of + mathematical science. For knowledge of the various eastern + tongues he was no unequal match for Lee, of Cambridge; while + his acquirements in natural philosophy, political economy, and + metaphysics, were such as would have fairly entitled him to + prelect on these subjects in any university in Europe. Besides + this, he had an exquisite poetical genius; and, in his very + first contest, succeeded in carrying off the prize of poetry, + to the utter discomfiture of many formidable rivals.</p> + + <p>But, with all these high acquirements, he was not a happy + man. He had been baptized in the waters of melancholy; and a + circumstance which occurred in the fifth year of his curriculum + had a baleful and, ultimately, a fatal effect upon him, + dethroning reason from its lofty seat, and plunging not him + only, but another estimable individual, in the deepest + distress. This circumstance, painful as it is, we must relate; + and, on perusing it, the reader will see that the noble + aspirations, the keen susceptibilities, of the mind do not + always lead to happiness; for, alas! it was such an excess of + susceptibility in his intellect which disturbed so sadly the + current of his ideas, and made him an inmate of St. Luke's.</p> + + <p>The weather at the period we speak of was truly melancholy. + It was in the gloomy month of November,—that month in + which it is said the suicidal propensities of the English + nation are most strongly in force. The air was either filled + with dull, sluggish, unwholesome fogs, which hung upon it like + a nightmare, or soaked in a constant drizzle of small, + annoying, contemptible rain-drops, which, without possessing + the energy and dignity of a shower, were infinitely more + disagreeable, and found their way to the flesh in spite of all + the protective armoury of great-coats, hessian cloaks, or + umbrellas. It seemed as if a wet blanket were drawn between the + sun and the earth. The atmosphere was always foggy, often + perfectly wet, but never thoroughly dry. It wanted vitality; + and every person that breathed it partook of its own damp, + hypochondriac, inanimate character.</p> + + <p>It was in the morning of one of those days of fog, gloom, + and <i>ennui</i>, that Augustus last sallied out to lounge + about the streets of Oxford, as was his custom, before + breakfast. There was a favourite spot in which he was wont to + walk; it was upon the footpath of a very short street, about + the middle of which stood the shop of Jonathan Hookey, a + barber. This street (we forget its name) is not above fifty + yards in length, and opens at each end into a cross street. + Now, Merton's walk extended from one of those cross streets to + the other, including, of course, the whole extent of the short + street; he always walked on one side of this street, viz. on + that opposite to the barber's shop. These particulars may seem + trifling, but they are essential to the proper understanding of + the story.</p> + + <p>While making these morning perambulations, he had always an + air of deep thought, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page155" + id="page155"></a>[pg 155]</span> his arms were crossed, and + he kept his eyes constantly fixed upon the ground, as if + deeply engrossed in profound meditation. It boots not now to + inquire on what subjects his thoughts were mostly employed, + but it was unquestionably on themes of deep import, and + concerned not himself only, but the interests of science, + learning, and humanity at large. The morning in question was + peculiarly dull and foggy; but whether it was this or + something else, certain it is, that he felt himself more + than usually overpowered. The air oppressed him like a + leaden shroud, and the energies of his soul seemed for once + on the point of sinking beneath the superincumbent + burden.</p> + + <p>Turn we now to Jonathan Hookey, the barber. In person he + differed much from Merton. His height did not exceed five feet, + but, he made amends for it in breadth; for he was a man of a + lusty habit, and sported a paunch which no London alderman or + burgomaster of Amsterdam would look upon with contempt. Bald + was his head, and his nose was not merely large but immense; + but it is idle to grow eloquent upon noses. Has not Sterne + exhausted the theme? have not we ourselves more than once + expatiated upon it? Swakenbergius had a nose, so had Ovidius + Naso; but to neither would Jonathan Hookey's strike its + colours, and good crimson ones they were.</p> + + <p>Jonathan, despite his bald head, his diminutive stature, his + ample pot-belly, and ampler nose, was a man of fine feelings. + Nature was outraged when he became a barber. He most assuredly + was never destined by her to shave beards, and manufacture + perukes for heads more brainless, many of them, than his own + blocks. He ought to have been a professor of metaphysics or + logic in some famous university, such as Heidelburg, Gottingen, + or Glasgow;—but why lament over cureless evils? it is + sufficient to say he is a barber, and there is an end of the + matter.</p> + + <p>We must now return to Merton. His solitary walks on the + opposite side of the street had not even, from the first, + escaped the scrutinizing eyes of Mr. Hookey. No: he saw in the + tall, pale, elegant, dark-haired student the victim of deep + sensibility. From seeing him, he wondered, from wondering he + loved him, from loving he adored him: he knew at once he was no + common man. Having perused Byron's <i>Manfred</i>, he conceived + him to be such another as that strange character; or he might + be a second Lara; or, more, he might be, nay he was, a glorious + genius, full of high imaginings. Little do we know what bright + thoughts passed through the mind of the enthusiastic Hookey. He + cursed his profession, which debarred him from the fellowship + of such a man: he cursed his nose, which stood between him and + the object of his adoration.</p> + + <p>Day after day had Mr. Hookey noticed the accomplished, the + highly-gifted Merton; but it was only upon this particular + morning that the recognition was mutual. Merton, on turning his + eyes by chance from the ground, looked to the opposite side of + the street, and there beheld <i>a nose</i>. He then turned his + eyes to the earth in his usual meditative mood; but, reflecting + that a nose without an owner was rather a singular phenomenon, + he looked a second time, and there, behind the nose, he saw a + man; it was Mr. Hookey himself.</p> + + <p>This was the first time that the melancholy and intellectual + student reciprocated upon Hookey the attention which Hookey had + hitherto bestowed exclusively upon him. No more was the + barber's "sweetness wasted upon the desert air," but fell on + one who knew how to appreciate it to its fullest extent. Merton + stood stock-still, and gazed upon him with mute admiration. He + was positively fascinated. The nose operated upon him like the + head of Medusa, and almost turned him to stone. And Mr. Hookey + was fascinated too. Merton also had become Medusafied, and + exercised a petrifactive influence upon the barber. He was + nailed fast to the threshold of his own door, and gazed upon + his fancied personification of Lara and Manfred with an + indomitable and resistless perseverance, which utterly + confounded himself; while Merton, nailed alike fast to the + opposite footpath, stood staring at his antagonist, or rather + at his nasal protuberance. This impressive scene continued for + several minutes, when Merton, regaining the power of + locomotion, slowly approached the barber, his arms all the + while crossed, and his eyes intently fixed upon the nose. Nine + slow and awful steps brought him face to face with Hookey. The + barber's eyes were fixed intently upon <i>his—his</i> + eyes upon the barber's nose. The scene was extremely dreadful; + and Mr. Hookey, after vainly trying to keep his ground, + retreated into the shop, still facing Merton, who kept + advancing upon him as he receded. Back, step by step, went + Hookey; forward, step by step, came Merton; each all the while + eyeing the other with equal astonishment. The barber continued + retreating, the other following him,—first through the + shop, then through the kitchen, then through the + parlour—the three apartments leading into one another. At + last he got to the remotest corner of the parlour, and could + get no farther. Here he paused, and Merton paused also. Still + they gazed on each other,—the barber in the corner + overpowered with amazement, and the student standing before him + hardly less surprised. At last Merton broke silence in the + following awful words,—"GRACIOUS HEAVENS WHAT A NOSE!" So + saying, he retreated as slowly as he entered, leaving Mr. + Hookey utterly stupified and bewildered. The sentence went like + iron <span class="pagenum"><a name="page156" + id="page156"></a>[pg 156]</span> into the barber's soul; he + felt it in all its bitterness.</p> + + <p>It is almost unnecessary to say what an effect this scene + had upon the highly-susceptible temperament of Merton. From + that moment peace fled his mind. He went instantly home; but + instead of devoting himself, as before, to those studies in + which he delighted, and in which he was wont so highly to + excel, he immured himself in his chamber, giving way to gloomy + abstraction, and agonizing his spirit with painful and most + distressing fancies. The great power of his imagination caused + him, in a peculiar manner, to suffer from the remembrance of + what he had witnessed; and, accordingly, his waking as well as + his sleeping hours were haunted with visions of + noses,—noses of stupendous size, which arose, like ocean + islands, amid the gloomy tabernacle of his brain, and filled + him with utter despair. At last, from bad to worse, he became + the mere shadow of his former self, the wreck of what he was, + and a picture of fallen and shattered genius. To drive away the + hideous phantasmagorias that tortured him, as with the stings + of demons, he had recourse to gin, and soon became a confirmed + drunkard: the next stage was lunacy; and he was confined for + fourteen months in Saint Luke's Hospital for the insane.</p> + + <p>The fate of the barber was equally deplorable. The awful + words pronounced by Merton may be considered his death-knell. + They rang ever after in his ears; and, in a few weeks, his head + was turned, his shop shut up, and himself sent to Bedlam. + "<i>Gracious heavens, what a nose!</i>" This dreadful + sentence—more dreadful than the hand-writing on the wall + to Belshazzar,—haunted him by day and by night. Reason + was dethroned, and "moody madness, laughing wild," was the + result. Such are the frightful consequences of <i>extreme + susceptibility</i>, against which the youth of both sexes ought + to be constantly on their guard.</p> + + <p>The worst remains to be told. These unhappy men were + liberated from confinement about the same time, and both + returned to Oxford. They seemed to have recovered their + reasoning faculties, but the result showed that this was very + far from being the case; for, happening to meet on the banks of + the Cherwell, they attacked each other with such fury, that, + like Brutus and Aruns, they were both killed on the + spot,—the barber having been <i>burked</i> in the + encounter, and the student having died of a wound which he + received in the throat by his antagonist's + razor.—<i>Fraser's Magazine.</i></p> + <hr /> + + <h3>THE LAST OF THE FAMILY.</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>I bid thee welcome to my father's halls,</p> + + <p class="i2">But fled for ever is their wonted + mirth,</p> + + <p>Death hath been busy in these fated walls,</p> + + <p class="i2">Casting dark shadows o'er our house and + hearth,</p> + + <p>The brave—the beauteous from their home have + past,</p> + + <p>And I remain of that loved band the last.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Thou wilt not now my gallant brothers greet,</p> + + <p class="i2">Hiding amidst the glades with hound and + horn,</p> + + <p>Nor my fair sisters, warbling ditties sweet,</p> + + <p class="i2">While gathering wild flowers in the dewy + morn;</p> + + <p>Evening will come, but will not bring again,</p> + + <p>The song—the tale—the dance—the + festal train.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>I can but bid thee to my lonely room,</p> + + <p class="i2">Where in fond dreams I pass my blighted + youth.</p> + + <p>Musing on vanished loveliness and bloom,</p> + + <p class="i2">Man's dauntless courage, woman's + changeless truth,</p> + + <p>And scenes of joyous glee, or tranquil rest,</p> + + <p>Shared with the early-lost—the + bright—the blest.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Yet chide me not—mine is no impious grief,</p> + + <p class="i2">Meekly I pray for Heaven's supporting + grace.</p> + + <p>And soon, I feel, his hand will give relief,</p> + + <p class="i2">And the last sad survivor of her race</p> + + <p>Quit this lone mansion for the home above.</p> + + <p>Where dwell her happy family of love!</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p><i>Metropolitan.</i></p> + <hr /> + + <h3>CONVERSATIONS WITH LORD BYRON.</h3> + + <h4><i>By the Countess of Blessington</i>.</h4> + + <p>It is difficult to judge when Lord Byron is serious or not. + He has a habit of mystifying, that might impose upon many; but + that can be detected by examining his physiognomy; for a sort + of mock gravity, now and then broken by a malicious smile, + betrays when he is speaking for effect, and not giving + utterance to his real sentiments. If he sees that he is + detected, he appears angry for a moment, and then laughingly + admits, that it amuses him to <i>hoax</i> people, as he calls + it, and that when each person, at some future day, will give + their different statements of him, they will be so + contradictory, that <i>all</i> will be doubted,—an idea + that gratifies him exceedingly! The mobility of his nature is + extraordinary, and makes him inconsistent in his actions as + well as in his conversation.</p> + + <p>Byron spoke to-day in terms of high commendation of Hope's + "Anastasius;" said that he wept bitterly over many pages of it, + and for two reasons, first, that <i>he</i> had not written it, + and secondly, that <i>Hope</i> had; for that it was necessary + to like a man excessively to pardon his writing such a + book—a book, as he said, excelling all recent + productions, as much in wit and talent, as in true pathos. He + added, that he would have given his two most approved poems to + have been the author of "Anastasius."</p> + + <p>From "Anastasius" he wandered to the works of Mr. Galt, + praised the "Annals of the Parish" very highly, as also "the + Entail," which we had lent him, and some scenes of which he + said had affected him very much. "The characters in Mr. Galt's + novels have an identity," added Byron, "that reminds me of + Wilkie's pictures."</p> + + <p>As a woman, I felt proud of the homage he paid to the genius + of Mrs. Hemans, and as a passionate admirer of her poetry, I + felt flattered, at finding that Lord Byron fully sympathized + with my admiration. He has, or at least expresses a strong + dislike to the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page157" + id="page157"></a>[pg 157]</span> Lake school of poets, never + mentions them except in ridicule, and he and I nearly + quarrelled to-day because I defended poor Keats.</p> + + <p>On looking out from the balcony this morning, I observed + Byron's countenance change, and an expression of deep sadness + steal over it. After a few minutes silence he pointed out to me + a boat anchored to the right, as the one in which his friend + Shelley went down, and he said the sight of it made him + ill.—"You should have known Shelley (said Byron) to feel + how much I must regret him. He was the most gentle, most + amiable, and <i>least</i> worldly-minded person I ever met; + full of delicacy, disinterested beyond all other men, and + possessing a degree of genius, joined to a simplicity, as rare + as it is admirable. He had formed to himself a <i>beau + ideal</i> of all that is fine, high-minded, and noble, and he + acted up to this ideal even to the very letter. He had a most + brilliant imagination but a total want of worldly-wisdom. I + have seen nothing like him, and never shall again, I am + certain. I never can forget the night that his poor wife rushed + into my room at Pisa, with a face pale as marble, and terror + impressed on her brow, demanding, with all the tragic + impetuosity of grief and alarm, where was her husband! Vain + were all our efforts to calm her; a desperate sort of courage + seemed to give her energy to confront the horrible truth that + awaited her; it was the courage of despair; I have seen nothing + in tragedy on the stage so powerful, or so affecting, as her + appearance, and it often presents itself to my memory. I knew + nothing then of the catastrophe, but the vividness of her + terror communicated itself to me, and I feared the worst, which + fears, were alas! too soon fearfully realized."</p> + + <p>Byron talked to-day of Leigh Hunt, regretted his ever having + embarked in the "Liberal," and said that it had drawn a nest of + hornets on him, but expressed a very good opinion of the + talents and principle of Mr. Hunt, though, as he said, "our + tastes are so opposite, that we are totally unsuited to each + other. He admires the Lakers, I abhor them; in short, we are + more formed to be friends at a distance, than near." I can + perceive that he wishes Mr. Hunt and his family away. It + appears to me that Byron is a person who, without reflection, + would form engagements which, when condemned by his friends or + advisers, he would gladly get out of without considering the + means, or at least, without reflecting on the humiliation such + a desertion must inflict on the persons he had associated with + him. He gives me the idea of a man, who, feeling himself in + such a dilemma, would become cold and ungracious to the parties + with whom he so stood, before he had mental courage sufficient + to abandon them. I may be wrong, but the whole of his manner of + talking of Mr. Hunt gives me this impression, though he has not + said what might be called an unkind word of him.</p> + + <p>Much as Byron has braved public opinion it is evident he has + a great deference for those who stand high in it, and that he + is shy in attaching himself publicly to persons who have even, + however undeservedly, fallen under its censure. His expressed + contempt and defiance of the world, reminds me of the bravadoes + of children, who, afraid of darkness, make a noise to give + themselves courage to support what they dread. It is very + evident that he is partial to aristocratic friends, he dwells + with complacency on the advantages of rank and station, and has + more than once boasted that people of family are always to be + recognised by a <i>certain air</i>, and the smallness and + delicacy of their hands.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + + <h2>New Books.</h2> + + <h3>THE PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE OF A WOMAN OF FASHION.</h3> + + <blockquote> + <p>[This work is, to our thinking, what it professes to be, + an actual correspondence, and from the pen of a lady who, + as her motto states—"writes of countries and their + societies as she finds them, and as they strike her + imagination." There is much good sense in her letters, and + less aristocratic affectation than might be expected. The + subjects are of the most miscellaneous description. Her pen + is what the small critics call eminently graphic: in short, + the work is one of the pleasantest of the season. To be + more explicit, it consists of letters written between June, + 1814, and December, 1816; dated from South Lancing, (near + Worthing), Rouen, Paris, and Brussels; and the writer's + <i>domicile</i>, Hampton Court. The most interesting + portion of the work is the gossip it contains on the + <i>state of things</i> in the French capital, on the return + of Napoleon, in 1815, and in Brussels, before and after the + battle of Waterloo. Nevertheless, as the whole is + indiscribably discursive, so must be our quotations.]</p> + </blockquote> + + <p><i>Arundel Castle.</i>—Arundel Castle did not gratify + my expectations although the <i>coup d'oeil</i>, taking the + structure <i>en masse</i>, is imposing, and it has an + advantageous position on the banks of the river Arun. The + Castle has undergone modern alterations in bad taste; the + details are of that description of the ornamental gothic, which + appear to me to throw severe criticism on the abilities of the + architect; and, as a family residence, its interior is neither + grand nor comfortable. From its commanding site and vicinity to + the Roman villa, it was probably a Roman station previous to + its becoming a Saxon residence. The walls and Norman gateway + are fine. The massive keep, ponderous in stability, has the + characteristic marks of the twelfth century, and is a noble + ruin. It is <span class="pagenum"><a name="page158" + id="page158"></a>[pg 158]</span> called King Alfred's Keep; + and with what hallowed feelings of reverence must a + <i>locale</i> ever be approached which bears the name of + that illustrious monarch! The present occupants are an + assemblage of German owls, of varied species; they look + analagous with the venerable ruin.</p> + + <p>The castle contains a few curious portraits of the + illustrious race of Howard, which have an interest also from + the distinguished parts that family have played in English + history. There is one of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, so + famous for his talents in state affairs, and for his bravery in + the field. He is represented standing under a noble gateway. + The picture is moreover valuable as a work of + art.<a id="footnotetag6" + name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a></p> + + <p>Some richly-wrought chalices<a id="footnotetag7" + name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> + and censers, and other symbolic emblems of the Roman + Catholic religion are there, but I imagine little prized by + the present noble possessor; for at the age of twenty-seven, + he became a convert to the Protestant faith. Whether + conviction, or ambition to serve his country as a legislator + were his motives, it is not for man to judge: but he is + unlike his ancestor, Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, who, + braving the power of Queen Elizabeth, disregarded her + favour, and almost merited the title of martyr from the + persecutions she heaped upon him for having abjured the + Protestant worship, although educated in it by his father, + the attainted Duke of Norfolk, in despite of Mary and her + Spanish consort, who was likewise his sponsor.</p> + + <p><i>The late Queen Caroline.</i>—A servant entered in + haste to induce me to go down to the sea-shore, and witness the + embarkation of the P——ss of W——s. I + immediately sallied forth, and found her r——l + h——ss seated on the shingles, the <i>adopted + boy</i> at her feet; and on her left sat, with the skirts of + his coat spread under his r——l mistress, to protect + her from the stones, our old ally Sir W——m + G——l. The frigate had arrived off Worthing some + days previous, commanded by the handsome Captain + K——g; but her r——l h——ss + was deterred from embarking there by a numerous assemblage of + John Bulls, their wives, and babes, who were so rude and + impetuous, as to terrify and induce her to take refuge on a + less populous shore. The lively and merry Lady C—— + L——y, and the less pleasing Lady E—— + F—s, with two foreign women, Major S—r, and the + odious S——o, composed her suite. Her + r——l h——ss was habited in light green + cloth, embroidered in silver, a Prussian cap of green satin, + with a splendid plume of green feathers: the crown of the cap + was conical, giving her an air something resembling Mother + Shipton. Terror and dismay were depicted on her countenance, + with all the varieties of unhappy feelings—not a smile + played over her features—her voice was tremulous, and her + brow contracted into one deep furrow—she was highly + rouged, and her eyebrows pencilled with a broad line of black + chalk—never was any person's appearance less formed to + inspire interest!</p> + + <p>Sir W——m forgot his usual indifferent manner on + seeing me, and put on one of his comic expressions. In the + impulse of the moment, I was on the point of addressing him, + but fortunately recovered my presence <i>d'esprit</i>, and did + not commit such a breach of etiquette, although there was such + a total deficiency of r——l dignity in the group + that I might almost have been excused. In half an hour the + cutter put off from the frigate: Captain K—g came from + W—— by land, and apologized for the delay. Her + r——l h——ss replied in a tremulous voice + "Never mind!" A small group of persons kept a respectful + distance and a profound silence. One old man blessed her and + wished her a safe return—when her footman burst into + tears. The ocean raged tempestuous, as if in the spirit of + anger, and the boat could not reach the shore. Her + r——l h——ss was obliged to enter a pony + cart, and her coachman drove it with difficulty through the + billows. With some exertion Captain K—g and his + lieutenant dragged her unwieldy form into the barge: the + P——ss went first, Lady E. F——s + followed, and then the <i>tin box</i>: our knight went last; he + came up to me, squeezed my hand affectionately, whispered a + saucy adieu, and jumped into the boat. Such was the embarkation + of the P——ss of W——s, and so passed + away the illustrious consort of the heir apparent of these + realms.</p> + + <h4>[We shall return to these amusing vols.]</h4> + <hr /> + + <h3>EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS AND HINDOO TEMPLES COMPARED.</h3> + + <p>The most common form of the Hindoo + pagodas<a id="footnotetag8" + name="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> + is the pyramidal, of which one of the most remarkable is + that of Chalembaram, on the Coromandel coast, about + thirty-four geographical miles south of Pondicherry, and + seven from the sea.</p> + + <p>The whole temple, with its attached buildings covers an area + of 1,332 feet by 936, (according to others 1,230 feet by 960,) + and is surrounded with a brick wall<a id="footnotetag9" + name="footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> + 30 feet high <span class="pagenum"><a name="page159" + id="page159"></a>[pg 159]</span> and 7 thick, round which + there is another wall furnished with bastions. The four + entrances are under as many pyramids, which, up to the top + of the portal, 30 feet in height, are formed of free-stone, + ornamented with sculptured figures. Above the portal, the + pyramid is built of tiles or bricks, to the height of 150 + feet, with a coat of cement upon it, which is covered with + plates of copper, and ornaments of baked clay. On passing + through the chief portico of the western propylaea, we see + on the left an enormous hall with more than 1,000 pillars, + which are above 36 feet high, and covered over with slabs of + stone; this hall might have served as a gallery for the + priests to walk about in, just like the hypostyle halls of + the Egyptian temples. In the midst of these columns, and + surrounded by them, is a temple called that of eternity. On + the right or south side, we see the chief temple, with halls + of several hundred pillars at the east and west end, also + supporting a flat roof of stone. The pagoda itself rests on + a basis 360 feet long and 260 broad, and rises to a + surprising height. It is formed of blocks of stone 40 feet + long, 4 feet wide, and 5 thick, which must have been + brought, about 200<a id="footnotetag10" + name="footnotetag10"></a><a href="#footnote10"><sup>10</sup></a> + miles, as there are no stone quarries in the neighbourhood. + The temple has a peristyle round it; and thirty-six of the + pillars, which are placed in six rows, and form the portico, + support a roof of smooth blocks. The columns are 30 feet + high, and resemble the old Ionic pillar. The whole pyramid + surpasses in size St. Paul's church in London, the latter + being only 474<a id="footnotetag11" + name="footnotetag11"></a><a href="#footnote11"><sup>11</sup></a> + feet long and 207 wide. The roof of the pyramid has a copper + casing covered with reliefs referring to mythical subjects; + the gilding which was once on it is still visible. In the + middle of the courtyard there is a great tank, surrounded + with a gallery of pillars and also an enclosure round it of + marble, well polished and ornamented with sculptures and + arabesques. In the eastern part there is still another court + surrounded with a wall, on the inside of which is a + colonnade covered with large slabs of stone. Here also there + is a pagoda, which is but little inferior in size to the + larger one; but it contains only large dark chambers covered + with sculptures, which have reference to the worship of + certain deities, particularly Vishnu. The interior ornaments + are in harmony with the whole; from the nave of one of the + pyramids there hang, on the tops of four buttresses, + festoons of chains, in length altogether 548 feet, made of + stone. Each garland, consisting of twenty links, is made of + one piece of stone 60 feet long; the links themselves are + monstrous rings 32 inches in circumference, and polished as + smooth as glass. One chain is broken, and hangs down from + the pillar. In the neighbourhood of the pagodas there are + usually tanks and basins lined with cement, or buildings + attached for the purpose of lodging pilgrims who come from a + distance. It is, however, often the case that the adjoining + buildings, as well as the external ornaments in general, are + in bad taste, and the work of a later age than the pagoda + itself.</p> + + <p>The pyramidical entrances of the Indian pagodas are + analogous to the Egyptian propyla, while the large pillared + rooms which support a flat roof of stone, are found frequently + in the temples of both countries. Among the numerous divisions + of the excavations of Ellora, there is an upper story of the + <i>Dasavatara</i>, or the temple of Vishnu's incarnations, the + roof of which is supported by sixty-four square based pillars, + eight in each row. This chamber is about 100 feet wide, and + somewhat deeper, and as to general design may be compared with + the excavated chambers of Egypt, which are supported by square + columns. The massy materials, the dark chambers, and the walls + covered with highly wrought sculptures; and the tanks near the + temples, with their enclosure of stone, and the steps for the + pilgrims, are also equally characteristic of a pagoda and an + Egyptian temple. To this we may add the high thick wall, of a + rectangular form, carried all round the sacred spot: it is, + however, principally the massy structure of these surrounding + walls which forms the point of comparison, as Greek temples + also had a wall enclosing the sacred ground, and the temples + and churches of all countries are as a general rule separated + from unhallowed ground, if not by strong walls at least by some + mark which determines the extent of the sacred precincts. Yet + there is a further resemblance worth noticing between some of + these Hindoo pagodas and the great temple of Phtha at Memphis. + The Egyptian temple had four chief entrances, or propyla, + turned to the four cardinal points of the compass; which is + also the case with the pagoda of Chalembaram, with another at + Siringam, and probably others also. The pagoda of Chalembaram, + according to Indian tradition, is one of the oldest in their + country, and this opinion is confirmed by the appearance of the + principal temple contained within the walls; but other parts, + such as the pyramidal entrances, the highly finished + sculptures, and the chain festoons, must be the work of a later + date. It seems probable then that this enormous religious + edifice was the growth of many ages, each adding something to + enlarge and perfect the work of former days.—<i>Lib. Ent. + Knowledge.</i></p> + <hr /> + + <blockquote> + <p>I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide; for the man + is efficiently destroyed, though the appetite of the brute + may survive.—<i>Lord Chesterfield.</i></p> + </blockquote> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page160" + id="page160"></a>[pg 160]</span> + + <h2>The Gatherer</h2> + + <p><i>A true Abernethian.</i>—"An old country curate," + says Zimmerman, "who had all his life resided upon a lofty + mountain in the Canton of Berne, was one day presented with a + moor-cock. A consultation took place in what manner it should + be disposed of—at last it was agreed to bury it in the + garden!"</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i0"><i>Epitaph on a notorious Liar</i>.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>I always <i>lied</i> and <i>lied</i> till death,</p> + + <p>But now I <i>lie</i> for want of breath.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p><i>Castanets</i> are small wooden rattles, made in the shape + of two bowls or cups, fitted together, and tied by a string, + and then fastened to the thumbs. The fingers being rapidly + struck upon them, a tremulous sound is produced, which marks + exactly the measure of the dance. Something similar to this was + the <i>crotalon</i> of the ancients, who also made use of small + cymbals in their dances and festivals in honour of Bacchus. It + is probable, however, that they had their origin in the East, + and were brought by the Moors into Spain. Here too they + received their name <i>castennalas</i>, from being commonly + made of the wood of the chestnut, (<i>castano</i>) or from + their colour. They are still common in Spain, and here and + there in the South of France. In this country they are common + in stage dances only.</p> + + <p><i>Cannon</i> were formerly dignified with great names. + Twelve cast by Louis XII. were called after the twelve peers of + France. Charles V. had twelve, which he called the Twelve + Apostles. One at Bois-le-Duc is called the Devil; a + sixty-pounder at Dover Castle, is named Queen Elizabeth's + Pocket Pistol; an eighty-pounder at Berlin, is called the + Thunderer; another at Malaga, the Terrible; two sixty-pounders + at Bremen, the Messengers of Bad News.</p> + + <p><i>Dripping Rock, in India.</i>—Sansadhara or the + dripping rock, is a singular phenomenon, situated at the head + of a dell, through which a rapid stream runs, between two lines + of hills towards the valley of the Dhoon. It is an overhanging + rock, about 50 feet high, through which water pours from above, + in innumerable little streams, like a perpetual shower of rain! + The never-abating action of the water has worn the rock into + many fantastic shapes; and, crusting round the moss and fibres + of the roots of trees, has given to it almost the appearance of + a spar cavern. In several places the water has worn little + reservoirs for itself, which are always full. It is cool, + clear, and pleasant to the taste.—<i>Captain + Skinner</i>.</p> + + <p><i>Catching Wild Ducks, &c. in India.</i>—In the + lower parts of Bengal, wild ducks, widgeon, and teal, are often + taken by means of earthen pots. A number of these pots are + floated amongst them in the lakes where they abound, to the + sight of which they soon become reconciled, and approach them + fearlessly. A man then goes into the water up to the chin, with + one of these pots over his head, in the centre of which two + small holes are made for him to see through; and when he gets + into the midst of the birds, he pulls them by the legs under + water, fastening them to a girdle round his waist.—T. + GILL.</p> + + <p><i>Hampden.</i>—Lord Nugent, in his <i>Memorials of + John Hampden</i>, relates the attack of Rupert's troops upon + the village of Chinnor. A local tradition of the affair has + been related to me by an old inhabitant. In the room of a + house, until lately occupied as a boarding-school, two of + Rupert's soldiers are said to have evinced great brutality. On + entering the house, they demanded a flitch of bacon, hanging up + in the room; one of them held up a child which he had taken + from a cradle, and crossing a sword over it, threatened its + immediate destruction if their demands were not instantly + complied with. There appear to have been sharp hostilities in + the vicinity of Chinnor, and more particularly on the hills, as + military buttons, sword handles, &c. and other vestiges of + war are frequently found there.—W.H.</p> + + <p><i>Parody on Scott's Lines "Breathes there the Man," + &c.</i></p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Breathes there a cit, with taste so dead,</p> + + <p>Who never to himself hath said,</p> + + <p class="i2">"This haunch surpasses all the rest;"</p> + + <p>Whose mouth hath ne'er within him burn'd,</p> + + <p>Whene'er his footsteps he hath turn'd</p> + + <p class="i2">From home, to Guildhall's civic + feast?</p> + + <p>If such there breathe, go mark him well—</p> + + <p>For him no portly paunch can swell;</p> + + <p>Large though his shop, his trade the same,</p> + + <p>Boundless his wealth as wish can claim,</p> + + <p>Despite his shop, his trade, his cash,</p> + + <p>The wretch who knows not ven'son hash,</p> + + <p>Living, shall forfeit civic fame,</p> + + <p>And dying, shall descend with shame,</p> + + <p>In double death, to Lethe's pools,</p> + + <p>Despis'd by epicures and fools.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>REX.</p> + + <p><i>Alchemy and Printing.</i>—Antimony, once celebrated + in the laboratories of the alchemists, who hoped to discover in + it the philosopher's stone, is now employed in the casting of + types for printing.—There is much food for reflection in + this curious fact in the history of science. How has this + simple substance originated dreams of spell-bound ignorance, + and realities of godlike intelligence. Nay, we are almost + persuaded that the hopes of the alchemists were not altogether + unfounded—that antimony is indeed what they hoped to find + it—that the invention of printing was the finding of the + philosopher's stone; and that we are at this moment enjoying + ten-fold the advantages which the alchemists anticipated from + their secret.—J.T.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote1" + name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> + + <p>Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia. H. Colburn, 4to., + 1829.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote2" + name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a> + + <p>See Memoir, and specimens of her Poetry, <i>Mirror</i>, + vol. xiv. p. 340.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote3" + name="footnote3"></a><b>Footnote 3:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a> + + <p>Arnott's Elements of Physics.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote4" + name="footnote4"></a><b>Footnote 4:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a> + + <p>Objects, Advantages, and Pleasures of Science. In the + first edition, the inventer is erroneously stated to be + Edward Howard.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote5" + name="footnote5"></a><b>Footnote 5:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a> + + <p>Lady Dacre visited her dear lord's tomb daily for + several years; at the foot of the grave she was accustomed + to kneel, and utter a fervent prayer. We can just remember + seeing this devout lady on one of these pilgrimages. She + usually rode from her mansion in the neighbourhood to the + churchyard, on a favourite poney, and wore a large, + flapping, drab beaver hat, and a woollen habit, nearly + trailing on the ground. At home she evinced an eccentric + affection for her deceased lord: his chair was placed, as + during his lifetime, at the dinner-table; and its vacancy + seemed to feed his lady's melancholy.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote6" + name="footnote6"></a><b>Footnote 6:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a> + + <p>Surrey's accomplishments and political talents, and his + bravery in the battle-field, cast additional splendour over + the house of Howard; and his violent death, another stain + on the tyranny of Henry VIII.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote7" + name="footnote7"></a><b>Footnote 7:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a> + + <p>Several of these splendid emblems of the Roman Catholic + faith the late duke gave to his worthy kinsman, the present + possessor of C——y Castle; and they decorate his + house in London, amidst some <i>chef d'oeuvres</i> of the + old Italian masters, which his good taste selected in + Italy.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote8" + name="footnote8"></a><b>Footnote 8:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag8">(return)</a> + + <p>The word pagoda is a corruption of <i>Bhagavati</i>, + "holy house," one of the several names by which the Hindoo + temples are known.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote9" + name="footnote9"></a><b>Footnote 9:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag9">(return)</a> + + <p>The outer wall is brick cased with stone: the inner is + all of stone. The four sides are turned respectively to the + four cardinal points,—Heeren, India, p. 74.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote10" + name="footnote10"></a><b>Footnote 10:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag10">(return)</a> + + <p>Fifty meilen.</p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote11" + name="footnote11"></a><b>Footnote 11:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag11">(return)</a> + + <p>These dimensions are not exact, even making allowance + for Berlin feet.</p> + </blockquote> + <hr class="full" /> + + <p><i>Printed and published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near + Somerset House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New + Market, Leipsic; G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, + Paris; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers.</i></p> + <hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, No. 565, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 565 *** + +***** This file should be named 12147-h.htm or 12147-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/4/12147/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Bill Walker and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +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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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/12147-h/images/565-1.png b/old/12147-h/images/565-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5041679 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12147-h/images/565-1.png diff --git a/old/12147-h/images/565-2.png b/old/12147-h/images/565-2.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3048bf --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12147-h/images/565-2.png diff --git a/old/12147.txt b/old/12147.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4044e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12147.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1994 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, No. 565, 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, No. 565 + Vol. 20, No. 565., Saturday, September 8, 1832 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: April 25, 2004 [EBook #12147] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 565 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Bill Walker and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +Vol. 20, No. 565.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1832. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: PERSIAN BATH.] + + * * * * * + +The luxurious indulgence of baths in the East is generally known +to the reader of travels, so as to render acceptable the following +details. They are extracted from Mr. Buckingham's Travels,[1] and bear +all the graphic minuteness of his entertaining pen. + + [1] Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia. H. Colburn, 4to., + 1829. + +The Bath is one of the principal ones of Kermanshah, an important +frontier town of Persia. "It was entered by a porch, extremely clean, +and neatly ornamented by painting and other devices on its ceiling and +walls. This remarkable contrast to the low, dark, and foul passages +which generally lead to Turkish baths, was a presage, upon the very +threshold, of greater comfort and accommodation within. + +"When we reached the undressing-room, this prepossession was still +further strengthened. Here we found a square hall, well lighted +from above, having on three of its sides elevated recesses for the +visiters, and on the fourth, the passage from the outer porch to the +hall, and from this to the inner bath. At the angles of these raised +recesses, and dividing their lower roof, which they supported, from +the higher one of the central square, were, four good marble pillars, +with spirally fluted shafts, and moulded capitals, perfectly uniform +in size and design, and producing the best effect. In the centre of +the square space, which these marked out, and on a lower floor, was a +large marble cistern of cold water; and at each end of this, on wooden +stands, like those used in our arbours and breakfast rooms, were +arranged coloured glass jars, with flowers of various kinds in them, +well watered and perfectly fresh. + +"The walls of this outer hall were ornamented all around by designs of +trees, birds, and beasts, in fanciful forms, executed in white upon a +blue ground. We undressed here, and were led from hence into the inner +bath, where all was still free from everything offensive, either to +the sight or smell. This inner room was originally an oblong space +of about fifty feet by twenty-five, but had been since made into two +square divisions. The first, or outer one, was a plain paved hall, +exactly like the undressing-room, except that it had no side recesses, +but its floor was level, close to the walls. There were here also four +pillars; and in the square space which they enclosed in the centre of +the room, was a cistern of water as in the outer one. It was on the +floor of this that the visiters lay, to be washed by the attendants; +for there were no raised seats for this purpose as in Turkish baths, +and the great octagonal one, with its cold fountain, the sides and +tops of which are ornamented with mosaic work of marble in Turkey, was +here replaced by the cistern described. + +"The second division to which this room led, consisted of three parts; +the central one was a large and deep bath, filled with warm water, +its bottom being level with the lower floor of the building, and the +ascent to it being by three or four steep steps. + +"As few pleasures are entirely perfect, so here, with all its general +apparent superiority to the baths of Turkey, this was inferior to them +in the most essential points. The attendants seemed quite ignorant +of the art of twisting the limbs, moulding the muscles, cracking the +joints, opening the chest, and all that delicious train of operations +in which the Turks are so skilful. The visitors were merely well +though roughly scrubbed, and their impurities then rinsed off in the +large cistern above, from which there was neither a running stream +to carry off the foul water, nor cocks of hot and cold to renew and +temper it at pleasure, as in Turkey. + +"In place of the luxurious moulding of the muscles, the use of the +hair-bag, or glove, for removing the dirt, and the profusion of +perfumed soap, with which the Turks end a course of treatment full +of delight, the Persians are occupied in staining the beard and hair +black, the nails of the toes and fingers of a deep red, and the whole +of the feet and hands of a yellow colour, by different preparations of +henna. This operation is the most unpleasant that can be imagined. The +Persians do not shave the whole of the head, as is usual with most of +the Turks and Arabs, but, taking of all the hair from the forehead, +over the crown, and down the neck, for about a hand's breadth, +they leave on each side two large bushy masses depending over their +shoulders. This, then, with a very long and full beard, in which all +the people here take pride, is plastered with a thick paste, of the +consistence of hog's lard, and not less than two pounds weight +of which is sometimes used on one person. It possesses a strongly +astringent and penetrating quality, and requires great skill in the +use of it, to avoid doing considerable mischief. As the eye-brows are +plastered with it, as well as the rest of the hair, and as it softens +by the heat of the room and of the body, it frequently steals into the +eyes, and produces great pain. + +"When all is finished, and the visiter leaves the inner bath, he is +furnished with two cloths only, one for the waist, and the other to +throw loosely over the head and shoulders: he then goes into the outer +room into a colder air, thus thinly clad, and without slippers or +pattens; no bed is prepared for him, nor is he again attended to by +any one, unless he demands a nargeel to smoke; but, most generally, he +dresses himself in haste, and departs." + + +ORIGIN OF PSALMODY. + + +In D'Israeli's _Curiosities of Literature_, there is an amusing and +instructive account of the _Origin of Psalm-Singing_. It appears +that Psalms in verse were first written by that elegant French poet, +Clement Marot, the favoured court bard of Francis I., who was termed +by his _un-envious_ brother poets, "the poet of princes." They were +published at Paris, and the volume contained fifty Psalms, written in +various measures, and, which, from the beauty of their composition, +(some specimens of which we have seen,) appear to be worthy of the +muse of Marot. This "Holy Song Book," as he entitled it, was "humbly +dedicated to the powerful King of France," and being considered by the +volatile French people as an amusing novelty, it sold faster than +any book of that period. In fact, the printers could not supply +impressions fast enough for the demand; and, as the Psalms were +considered in the light of ballads, they were set by the people to +popular tunes, and were commonly _sung_ as ballads. + +This good reception of Marot's Psalms induced the celebrated Theodore +Beza to continue the collection; and another volume was printed, +of which 20,000 were immediately sold: this was a considerable +circulation, when we consider the few readers that then existed, in +comparison with the number of readers in the present age. These had +the advantage over Marot's of being set to tunes of greater spirit. +Beza, in his preface, says, that "these Psalms are admirably suited +for the violin and other musical instruments;" and our readers will +learn, not without surprise, that through the instrumentality of +the gloomy Calvin, these compositions were set to most beautiful and +simple airs. He wisely took advantage of popular feeling to spread his +religious opinions, through the means of melody, and, in furtherance +of this plan, he engaged the most celebrated composers of his time +to furnish tunes to these Psalms. At first, the scheme was not +discovered: for Catholics sang the Psalms as well as Hugonots; but, +when Calvin appointed these Psalms, with their music, to be sung at +his meetings, there was an end to the solace of the dreary hours +of the poor Catholics. Marot himself was compelled to quit Geneva; +Psalm-singing became an open declaration of Lutheranism; and "woe +to the poor wight" who was caught in the _diabolical_ act of singing +these "pernicious Psalms." + +The history of Psalm-singing in our own island can be comprised in +very few words. When the enthusiasm of the French in favour of their +Psalms was at its height, one Sternhold, undertook to be _our_ +Marot, and wrote a Book of Psalms, which captivated the hearts of +the Puritans, by whom they were practised at their chapels in the +Protectorate of Cromwell, but were more particularly set and sung in +the reign of Elizabeth. Psalms, about this time, were sung at City +and Lord Mayors' feasts, and turtle-eaters delighted to honour +Psalm-singers. Soldiers used them as stimulants to exertion on their +march, and even on parade; and there was scarcely a regiment but could +boast of its Marot. About this time, too, it was customary for the +inhabitants of houses which had windows facing the street, to regale +the passenger with the "holy songs" of Sternhold. + +E.J.H. + + [By way of an appropriate pendent to our Correspondent's + paper, we quote the following excellent passage on Psalmody, + by the Rev. W.S. Gilly, in his _Memoir of Felix Neff_.] + +The effect produced by the words, or by the music, or by the +combination of the two, is such, that the cultivation of psalmody has +ever been earnestly recommended by those who are anxious to excite +true piety. Tradition, history, revelation, and experience, bear +witness to the truth, that there is nothing to which the natural +feelings of man respond more readily. Every nation, whose literary +remains have come down to us, appears to have consecrated the first +efforts of its muse to religion, or rather all the first compositions +in verse seem to have grown out of devotional effusions. We know that +the book of Job, and others, the most ancient of the Old Testament, +contain rhythmical addresses to the Supreme Being. Many of the psalms +were composed centuries before the time of king David, and it is not +extravagant to imagine, that some of them may have been sung even to +Jubal's lyre, and were handed down from patriarch to patriarch by oral +tradition. Nor did the fancy of Milton take too bold a flight when +it pleased itself with the idea that our first parents, taught by +the carols of the birds in the garden of Eden, raised their voices in +tuneful notes of praise to the Creator of all, when they walked forth +in the cool of the day to meet their God before the fall. But this is +certain, that one of our Lord's last acts of social worship on earth +was to sing a hymn with his disciples. Few, therefore, can be slow to +understand, that if Christ and his disciples broke forth in holy song, +immediately after the solemnities of the Last Supper, and just before +the Shepherd was smitten, and the sheep were scattered; and if Paul +and Silas sung praises unto God in their prison-house, congregational +worship may always be the better for such helps. Add to these +examples, the apostolical exhortation to the merry hearted to sing +psalms, and the apostolical descriptions of the choral strains which +resound in the courts of heaven, and we cannot but feel certain, that +the services of the Christian church were cheered from the earliest +times by hymns and psalms. "Those Nazarenes sing hymns to Christ," +said Pliny, in contempt. We thank him for recording the fact. The +words of the Te Deum were composed by a native of Gaul, (for the use +probably of one of the churches on the Rhone, or of the Alps) about +the third century; and at the same period, men, women, youths of both +sexes, and even children joined in the psalmody of the sanctuaries, +in such cordial and harmonious unison, that a father of the church has +well compared the sound to the loud, but not discordant, noise of many +waves beating against the sea shore. + +At the time of the Reformation, sacred music, which had begun to +run wild, was brought back to its first principles. The melodies of +religious worship were rendered more heart-touching, by being set to +words in the vernacular tongues, which every body could understand. +Luther's hymn, "Great God, what do I hear and see," led the way. Henry +VIII. hated the German reformer, and all that he did, but he burned to +rival him in every thing, and he gave a stimulus to the public taste, +by composing words and music for the service of the English church. +In France, soon after the middle of the sixteenth century, when it was +doubtful whether the nation would become Protestant or remain Roman +Catholic, the pathetic tunes and devotional stanzas of the reformers +obtained so great an influence over the minds of men, that the +music of the temples, as the Protestant sanctuaries were called, +to distinguish them from the Roman Catholic churches, became the +fashionable melodies of the day. This taste found its way even to +the court, and to the great alarm of the Romish party, some of the +sweetest and most stirring of the psalms, which had been translated +into French metre by Clement Marot, were set to music by Lewis +Guadimel, and were constantly in the mouths not only of the Protestant +families of the provinces, but of the ornaments of the saloons of +Paris, and of the palace of the Louvre. It is said to have been quite +astonishing how much this pious and simple device found favour for +the Protestant cause, and induced people, who had never read Scripture +before, to search the holy volume out of which those treasures were +drawn, which so charmed their ears and their imagination. It is still +the practice in most of the mountain churches to make sacred music a +part of family devotion, and many of the tunes which Guadimel composed +with such success are still sung to the praise of God. I can bear +witness to the forcible manner in which these strains, rising to +heaven from the lips of parents, children and domestics, quicken +piety, and stir up the best affections of the heart towards God and +man. I have seen and felt the effect produced by them in the humble +dwelling of the village pastor, where none but human voices swelled +the notes; and in the chateau, where the harp and the organ have +mingled their fine sounds with the well modulated tones of an +accomplished family of sons and daughters. My thoughts, at the moment +I am writing this, are at Chateau Blonay, but most of the voices, +which I heard there, are now silent in death! I am thoroughly +convinced that family worship, and congregational worship lose a great +auxiliary to piety, when there is not the power or the inclination to +join in psalmody. + + * * * * * + + +LINES + + +_Written after reading the Memoir and Poems of Miss Lucretia +Davidson._[2] + + Ev'n till thy latest hour, Lucretia! thou + Didst cherish _that_ which but consum'd thy frame. + 'Twas _then_ it shone the brightest on thy brow, + Like the last flickerings of an earthly flame-- + Yes, thy brain harass'd by deep toil, became + With all its fire, a tenant of the tomb, + And dim is now thine eye, Belov'd of Fame! + Thy cheek is pale--thy lip without perfume-- + And there thou liest--the child of Genius--and its doom. + + Like the proud eagle soaring to the skies, + Intent "the topmost arch" of heaven to scale, + When heeding naught that would oppose its rise, + It breaks with fearless nerve the tempest-gale-- + And spreads its wings like a majestic sail, + Full on the bosom of the raging blast, + Thy spirit soar'd--but ah! too like us frail, + When the same breeze which bore it from the dust + Wing'd home the fatal shaft that tore its bleeding breast. + + Would I could sing thy fame with thine own lyre, + Then should I breathe a more deserving lay, + A lay which every spirit would inspire, + And melt each eye to tears of sympathy; + But others at thy shrine, their tributes pay. + Offspring of Beauty! child of native song! + And I, ev'n I, would venture to essay, + To raise my lauding voice amidst the throng + Of those who weep thy loss--and who shall weep it long!--N.C. + + [2] See Memoir, and specimens of her Poetry, _Mirror_, vol. + xiv. p. 340. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + + * * * * * + +IMPROVED RAW SUGAR. + + + [We find the following information communicated to the + _Literary Gazette_, apparently by the parties connected with + the improvement.] + +Considerable interest has been excited in the market by the +introduction of an improved native raw sugar, which portends very +great advantages to all who are engaged in this so long unprofitable +branch of colonial and commercial intercourse. It is pure raw sugar, +obtained direct from the cane-juice, without any secondary process +of decoloration or solution, and by which all necessity for any +subsequent process of refining is entirely obviated. It is obtained +in perfectly pure, transparent, granular crystals, being entirely free +from any portion of uncrystallisable sugar or colouring matter, and +is prepared by the improved process of effecting the last stages of +concentration in vacuum, and at a temperature insufficient to produce +any changes in its chemical composition; the mode of operation +first proposed by the late Hon. Ed. Charles Howard, and subsequently +introduced, with the most important advantages and complete success, +into the principal sugar-refineries of Great Britain. + +By this improved and scientific process of manufacture, the +application of which to the purpose of preparing raw sugar from the +cane-juice has now first been proposed, the most singular advantages +are secured to the planter, in an increased quantity of sugar, the +product of his operation, and in saving from the immense quantity of +deteriorated material, uncrystallisable sugar and molasses, which +were products of the former mode of operation, from the intense and +long-continued degree of heat employed in the processes. The time +and labour of the operation are also greatly decreased; the apparatus +possesses the power to make double the quantity in the same space of +time as the old method, and this is ready for shipment in four days, +in lieu of three weaks, as heretofore. The sugar likewise readily +commands an advanced price in the market to the planter of ten or +twelve shillings per cwt. + +This improved sugar readily ensures a preference for all purposes of +manufacture, solution, or domestic economy. It is a purer sweet, and +of a richer mellifluous taste than even the best refined; it is not +apt to become ascescent in solution; and, from its superior quality, +it well answers all purposes of the table. In the manufacture of rum +from the molasses, which are separated during the first process of the +operation, there is no danger of deterioration in the production of +empyreuma, and a far purer spirit is obtained than that made from +ordinary molasses. + +This improved process is now in complete and successful operation on +eight estates in Demerara. The general introduction of the process +is considered by the best practical judges to ensure certain means of +revivifying the spoiled fortunes of the planters, and to open a new +era in the prosperity of those portions of the British crown, of which +this forms the principal staple commodity of support. + +[According to Dr. Moseley, the art of refining sugar, and what is +called loaf sugar, is a modern European invention, the discovery of a +Venetian, about the end of the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth +century. Sugar candy is of much earlier date, for in Marin's _Storia +del Commercio de Veneziani_, there is an account of a shipment made at +Venice for England in 1319, of 100,000 lbs. of sugar, and 10,000 +lbs. of sugar candy. Refined, or loaf sugar is mentioned in a roll of +provisions in the reign of Henry VIII. + +The process of refining sugar _in vacuo_ is the most useful +application of "the fact that liquids are driven off, or made to boil +at lower degrees of heat when the atmospheric pressure is lessened or +removed."[3] The first part of the process is to dissolve impure sugar +in water, and after clarifying the solution, to boil off or evaporate +the water again, that the dry crystallized mass may remain. Formerly +this evaporation was performed under the atmospheric pressure, and +a heat of 218 deg. or 220 deg. was required to make the syrup boil; by which +degree of heat, however, a portion of the sugar was discoloured and +spoiled, and the whole produce was deteriorated. The valuable thought +occurred to Mr. Howard, that the water might be dissipated by boiling +the syrup in a vacuum or place from which air was _excluded_, and +therefore at a low temperature. This was done accordingly; and the +saving of sugar and the improvement of quality were such as to make +the patent right, which secured the emoluments of the process to +him and other parties, worth many thousand pounds a-year. The syrup, +during this process, is not more heated than it would be in a vessel +merely exposed to a summer sun. + + [3] Arnott's Elements of Physics. + +Lord Brougham, in his Introduction to the _Library of Useful +Knowledge_, characterizes this as a process, by which more money has +been made in a shorter time, and with less risk and trouble, than was +ever perhaps gained from an invention; and as "the fruit of a long +course of experiments, in the progress of which known philosophical +principles were constantly applied, and one or two new principles +ascertained."[4] + + [4] Objects, Advantages, and Pleasures of Science. In the + first edition, the inventer is erroneously stated to be Edward + Howard. + +The scene of this discovery was, in all probability, the Deepdene, +near Dorking, the retreat of the late Mr. Thomas Hope, the author +of _Anastasius_. Here the Hon. Mr. Howard, brother of the Duke of +Norfolk, resided at the commencement of the last century, and is +stated to have enjoyed that philosophical retirement which may be +described as the happy haven of a truly great mind. He planted a +portion of the grounds, the greater part of the estate being so +admirably disposed by nature as almost to forbid the fashioning of +men's hands. At Mr. Howard's death, the estate descended to the Duke +of Norfolk, who sold the property, in 1791, to the late Sir William +Burrell, whose lady wrote the following lines, which are on a tablet +in the grounds: + + "This votive Tablet is inscribed to the memory of the + Honourable Charles Howard, who built an oratory and laboratory + on this spot: he died at the Deepdene, 1714. + + If worth, if learning, should with fame be crown'd, + If to superior talents, fame be due, + Let _Howard's_ virtues consecrate the ground + Where once the fairest flowers of science grew. + + Within this calm retreat, th' illustrious sage + Was wont his grateful orisons to pay, + Here he perused the legendary page, + Here gave to chemistry the feeling day. + + Cold to ambition, far from courts remov'd, + Though qualified to fill the statesman's part, + He studied nature in the paths he lov'd, + Peace in his thoughts, and virtue in his heart. + + Soft may the breeze sigh through the ivy boughs + That shade this humble record of his worth; + Here may the robin undisturbed repose, + And fragrant flowers adorn the hallow'd earth. + + January 1792." + + +The tablet is of plain wood--black letters painted on a white ground. +It is an unostentatious memorial, which has been respected amidst the +extensive alteration and embellishment of the grounds by the late +Mr. Hope. To our minds, neither of the treasures of art which are +assembled within the splendid saloons of the adjoining mansion, or +sculpture gallery, will outvie the interest of this humble tribute to +the memory of departed genius.] + + * * * * * + + +THE LANDERS VOYAGE AND DISCOVERIES ON THE NIGER. + + +The travellers, in embarking on the Atlantic, had solved the greatest +problem in African, and even in modern geography;--one which had +exercised the ingenuity and conjecture of so many learned inquirers, +and in the efforts to solve which so many brave and distinguished +adventurers had perished. This discovery divested the Niger of that +singular and mysterious character, which had been one chief cause of +the interest that it had excited--when seen rolling its ample flood +_from_ the sea towards vast unknown regions in the interior. The +circuit by which it reaches the Atlantic assimilates its character +to that of ordinary rivers, without any much more remarkable windings +than are found in others of similar length. It displays, however, a +magnitude considerably greater than had been suggested by any former +observation. + +We can now trace very distinctly, the entire line of this great river. +Its source, though not actually visited, seems ascertained by Laing +to exist in the high country of Kissi, about 200 miles in the interior +from Sierra Leone. Thence it rolls through Foota Jallo and Kankan, +where Caillie describes himself to have found it already a rapid and +considerable stream. At Bammakoo, having received the tributary from +Sankari in Manding, which Park mistook for the main river, it begins +its course over the fine plain of Bambarra, where it forms a noble +stream; and in passing Sego, the capital, has been considered +as equalling the Thames at Westminster. Thence it pursues a +north-westerly course, and flowing through the lake Dibbie, reaches +Timbuctoo. Its course from that city to Youri has not yet been +delineated; but the fact that Park navigated down from one place to +the other, fully establishes the continuity. During this reach the +Niger makes a great change of direction from north-east to almost +due south. From Youri to the sea, it was navigated by the present +travellers, and was found following generally a southern direction, +though making in one part a rapid bend to the east, whence it +gradually returns. If we measure two distances, one from the source +to Timbuctoo, and the other from that city to the sea, we shall have +nearly 2,000 miles, which may be considered as the direct course; +and the various windings must raise the whole line of the stream to +upwards of 3,000 miles. For several hundred miles of its lower course, +it forms a broad and magnificent expanse, resembling an inland sea. +The Niger must after all yield very considerably to the Missouri and +Orellana, those stupendous rivers of the new world. But it appears at +least as great as any of those which water the old continents. There +can rank with it only the Nile, and the Yangtse-kiang, or Great +River of China. But the upper course of neither is yet very fully +ascertained; and the Nile can compete only in length of course, not in +the magnitude of its stream, or the fertility of the regions which it +waters. There is one feature in which the Niger may defy competition +from any river, either of the old or new world. This is in the +grandeur of its Delta. Along the whole coast, from the river of +Formosa or Benin to that of Old Calabar, about 300 miles in length, +there open into the Atlantic its successive estuaries, which +navigators have scarcely been able to number. Taking this coast as +the base of the triangle or Delta, and its vertex at Kirree, about 170 +miles inland, where the Formosa branch separates, we have a space of +upwards of 25,000 square miles, equal to the half of England. Had +this Delta, like that of the Nile, been subject only to temporary +inundations, leaving behind a layer of fertilizing slime, it would +have formed the most fruitful region on earth, and might have been +almost the granary of a continent. But, unfortunately, the Niger rolls +down its waters in such excessive abundance, as to convert the whole +into a huge and dreary swamp, covered with dense forests of mangrove, +and other trees of spreading and luxuriant foliage. The equatorial +sun, with its fiercest rays, cannot penetrate these dark recesses; it +only exhales from them pestilential vapours, which render this coast +the theatre of more fatal epidemic diseases than any other, even of +Western Africa. That human industry will one day level these forests, +drain these swamps, and cover this soil with luxuriant harvests, we +may confidently anticipate; but many ages must probably elapse before +man, in Africa, can achieve such a victory over nature. + +The Niger, besides its own ample stream, has a number of tributaries, +equal perhaps in magnitude and importance to those of any other +river on the globe; with the exception of the united streams of the +Mississippi and Missouri. At no great distance above the point where +the Delta commences, the Tshadda, nearly equal in magnitude to itself, +enters it; after watering large and fruitful kingdoms, of which the +names only, and of these but a very few, have reached us. On this +river an extensive commerce and active navigation is said to prevail; +the existence of which is further confirmed by the great importance +attached to Funda, and other cities situated at or near the junction. +It would have been deeply interesting, and have given a new importance +to the river communications of Africa, could we have believed, what +was positively asserted by very credible witnesses, that vessels +by its channel sailed to and from the lake Tchad, and thus held +intercourse with the kingdoms of Loggun and Bornou. It seems certain +that the names Tshadda, Shary, and Tchad, are one and the same. But +the identity of the two first as rivers is what we are precluded from +all possibility of believing, by the circumstance that the Shary of +Loggun and Bornou, which Major Denham saw and sailed upon, was found +by him falling _into_ lake Tchad, while the Tshadda of Lander fell +_into_ the Niger; consequently they are distinct streams, flowing in +opposite directions. It is very probable indeed that their fountains +may be in the same mountain chain, and at no great distance; and even +that some of their branches may approach very near, so that merchants +may, by an easy portage, convey commodities between them. Nay, it +is not quite impossible that they may be united by some connecting +channel, as the Amazons and the Oronooka are; but this seems scarcely +probable. + +At no great distance above the Tshadda, enters the Coodonia, a smaller +river, but which Lander had seen flowing through a very fertile and +highly cultivated country. Considerably higher is the Cubbie, a large +stream from the country and city of that name; and higher still the +Quarrama, which has passed by Zirmie and Sackatoo. Between this point +and Timbuctoo, we have no means of knowing whether any or what rivers +fall into the Niger. The tributary which passes that city is of +no great importance; but at the eastern boundary of Bambarra, Park +describes the influx from the south of two great streams, the Maniana +and Nimma; and it seems very doubtful if Caillie was not mistaken +in supposing the latter to be a mere branch of the Niger. The higher +tributaries, descending from the mountains, swell the stream, without +themselves affording any important navigation.--_Edinburgh Review._ + + * * * * * + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + + * * * * * + +LAURENCEKIRK SNUFF-BOXES. + + [Probably one of the most amusing articles in Mr. Macculloch's + bulky _Dictionary of Commerce_ of 1,150 pages, is the + following account of the manufacture of the celebrated + Laurencekirk snuff-boxes. It is right, however, to explain, + that Mr. Macculloch only mentions these boxes here for the + purpose of giving the following details, not to be met with in + any other publication.] + +These beautiful boxes were first manufactured at the village of +Laurencekirk, in Kincardineshire, about forty years since. The +original inventer was a cripple hardly possessed of the power of +locomotion. In place of curtains, his bed (rather a curious workshop) +was surrounded with benches and receptacles for tools, in the +contrivance and use of which he discovered the utmost ingenuity. The +inventer, instead of taking out a patent, confided his secret to a +joiner in the same village, who in a few years amassed a considerable +property; while the other died, as he had lived, in the greatest +poverty. The great difficulty of the manufacture lies in the formation +of the hinge, which in a genuine box is so delicately made as hardly +to be visible. Peculiar, or, as they are called, secret tools are +required in its formation; and though they must have been improved +by time and experience, the mystery attached to their preparation is +still so studiously kept up, that the workmen employed in one shop are +rigorously debarred from having any communication with those employed +in another. + +About the beginning of this century, an ingenious individual belonging +to the village of Cumnock, in Ayrshire, of the name of Crawford, +having seen one of the Laurencekirk snuff-boxes, succeeded, after +various attempts, by the assistance of a watchmaker of the same +village, who made the tools, in producing a similar box; and by his +success, not only laid the foundation of his own fortune, but greatly +enriched his native parish and province. For awhile, the Laurencekirk +boxes were most in demand; but Mr. Crawford and his neighbours in +Cumnock not only copied the art, but so improved and perfected it, +that in a very few years, for every box made in the north there were, +probably, twenty made in the south. In 1826, the Cumnock trade was +divided amongst eight master manufacturers, who employed considerably +more than 100 persons. The demand at that time equalled the supply, +and it was calculated that the trade yielded from 7,000_l._ to +8,000_l._ annually,--a large product for a manufacture seemingly +so insignificant, and consisting almost exclusively of the wages of +labour. Plane is the wood in common use, and the cost of the wood in +an ordinary sized box does not exceed 1d.; the paints and varnish are +rated at 2d.; and though something is lost by selecting timber of +the finest colour, the whole expense of the raw material falls +considerably short of 1/2 per cent. on the return it yields! + +Snuff-box, like pin making, admits of subdivision of labour; and +in all workshops of any size three classes of persons are +employed--painters, polishers, and joiners. At the period alluded to, +an industrious joiner earned from 30s. to 40s. weekly, a painter from +45s. to 3_l._, and a polisher considerably less than either. When +Mr. Crawford first commenced business he obtained almost any price +he chose to ask; and many instances occurred, in which ordinary sized +snuff-boxes sold at 2_l._ 12s. 6d., and ladies' work-boxes at 25_l_. +But as the trade increased, it became necessary to employ apprentices, +who first became journeymen and then masters; and such have been the +effects of improvement and competition, that articles such as are +specified above, may now be obtained at the respective prices of _six_ +and _twenty-five shillings_. While the joiner's part of the art has +remained pretty stationary, that of the painter has been gradually +improving. By means of the _Pentagraph_, which is much employed, the +largest engravings are reduced to the size most convenient for the +workman, without injuring the prints in the slightest degree; and +hence a snuff-box manufacturer, like a Dunfermline weaver, can work to +order by exhibiting on wood his employer's coat of arms, or in short, +any object he may fancy within the range of the pictorial art. Some of +the painters display considerable talent, and as often as they choose +to put forth their strength, produce box-lids, which are really worthy +of being preserved as pictures. At first, nearly the whole subjects +chosen as ornaments, were taken from Burns's poems; and there can be +no doubt, that the "Cotter's Saturday Night," "Tam O'Shanter," "Willie +brewed a peck o' maut," &c. &c., have penetrated in this form into +every quarter of the habitable globe. Now, however, the artists of +Cumnock take a wider range; the studios of Wilkie, and other artists, +have been laid under contribution; landscapes are as often met with as +figures; and there is scarcely a celebrated scene in the country that +is not pictured forth more or less perfectly on the lid of a Cumnock +snuff-box. A few years ago, the art in question was much affected by +the long-continued depression of the weaving business; so much so, +that many left it for some other employment. And some of those who +emigrated, having made a good deal of money, instead of being cooped +up in a workshop, are now thriving proprietors in Upper Canada. But +after a brief interval the trade rallied; and though prices are low, +it is now more flourishing than ever. In Cumnock the number of hands +has increased considerably, and in Mauchline there is one workshop so +extensive that it may almost be compared to a cotton mill or factory. +In other quarters the trade is extending, such as Helensburgh near +Greenock, Catrine, Maxwelltown, Dumfries, &c. The principal markets +for the snuff-boxes are London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. +At one time large lots of boxes were exported to South America, and +probably are so at present. Cumnock, in a word, in regard to its +staple manufacture, is in that palmy state so well described by a +modern writer:--"the condition most favourable to population is that +of a laborious, frugal people ministering to the demands of opulent +neighbours; because this situation, while it leaves them every +advantage of luxury, exempts them from the evils which accompany its +admission into a country. Of the different kinds of luxury, those are +the most innocent which afford employment to the greatest number of +artists and manufacturers; or those in which the price of the work +bears the greatest proportion to that of the raw material." Some very +wretched imitations of Cumnock boxes have been produced in different +parts of England; but they can deceive no one who ever saw a genuine +box. The hinge, as well as the finishing, is clumsy in the extreme. + + [Mr. Macculloch acknowledges himself indebted for this + curious and instructive article to his esteemed friend "John + M'Diarmid, Esq. Editor of the _Dumfries Courier_, one of the + best provincial papers published in the empire." + + By the way, what a colossal labour must have been the + preparation of the above Dictionary. How it reminds us of + the words of poor, patient Antony Wood: "What toyle hath been + taken, as no man thinketh, so no man believeth, but he that + hath made the trial." Yet it has often occurred to us that + the compiler, or editor, as he is complimentarily called, is + barely treated with proper respect in these days. What is + all knowledge but a continued accumulation and comparison of + facts, by "following the example of time?" Yet, all this is + not _original_; but we ask, in what does the intellectual + originality of the present day consist? does it add a spark to + the minds of men which they cannot find in the labours of past + ages? New books (we mean new _original_ works) are like dull, + pointless flints; the reader cannot scintillate, strike-fire, + or _steal_ from them; they are mere changes of words, often + at the sacrifice of sense to sound. A flashy novel + would, perhaps, secure the writer more celebrity than Mr. + Macculloch's _Dictionary_ will obtain for him, though his + reputation for talent and industry want not the false glory, + the common-place praise--the dullest outpourings--of a very + dull perception. Perhaps the whole series of the Waverley + Novels might have been written while this Dictionary was in + course of compilation. + + We heartily wish that Mr. Macculloch's work may become as + popular as it deserves. It will then enjoy extensive fame. It + would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to acquaint the + reader with its mass of well-arranged materials; its laborious + abstracts, documents, and information upon every point + that bears upon the main subjects, commerce and commercial + navigation, practical, theoretical, and historical. + It deserves to be the library of every counting-house, + manufactory, and workshop in the empire; it is, indeed, a + delightful relief to mere figures, and we should think better + of the man whom we caught dipping into its pages by turns + with his book of accounts: for, with Addison, we have no noble + opinion of a man who is ever poring over his cash-book, and + deriving all his ideas of happiness from its balances.] + + * * * * * + + +COMPARATIVE MORTALITY. + + +A curious official paper has been circulated, ordered by the House of +Commons, showing the comparative mortality in many large towns, &c., +of the kingdom, from 1813 up to the present year. Among the towns +included in this comparative calculation of mortality are, Leeds +(town), Bradford, Holbeck, Beeston, Wigan, Preston, Norwich, +Bolton-le-Moors, London, Bury, (Lancashire), Essex, &c. The result of +the investigation of mortality may be concisely stated as follows:--Of +children born there die, in Leeds, 53 per cent. under 5 years of age, +and 62 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Bradford, 47 per cent. +under 5, and 59 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Beeston, 39 per +cent. under 5, and 52 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Holbeck, 50 +per cent. under 5, and 62 per cent. under 20 years of age; in Norwich, +42 per cent. under 5, and 50 per cent. under 20 years of age; in +Bolton, 49 per cent. under 5, and 61 per cent. under 20 years of age; +in Wigan, 48 per cent. under 5, and 59 per cent. under 20 years of +age; in London, 38 per cent. under 5, and 46 per cent. under 20 years +of age; in Rutland, 29 per cent. under 5, and 37-1/2 per cent. under +20 years of age, &c. It further appears, that in Essex, Rutland, and +the metropolis, persons live to an advanced age in a greater extent +than others.--_Morning Herald._ + + * * * * * + + +LEE, KENT. + + +The rural village of Lee is situate six miles south of London, on the +south side of Blackheath, and on the road to Maidstone. It is a place +of considerable antiquity; and was originally written _Legheart_, and +in old Latin, _Laga_, i.e. a place which lies sheltered. "The manor +was held of Edward the Confessor by Alwin. William the Conqueror gave +it to his half-brother, Odo, bishop of Baieux, and Earl of Kent, of +whom it was held by Walter de Donay." In the time of the Confessor, it +was valued at 3_l._ and in Domesday at 100_s_. Its extent is somewhat +more than 1,000 acres. Hasted enumerates the successive lords, among +whom were Lord Rivers, who was beheaded at Banbury in 1649; and his +son, Anthony, Earl Rivers, who was beheaded at Pomfret, in 1483. The +manor was purchased by Sir Francis Baring, bart., in 1798. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: _Lee Church and Parsonage._] + + * * * * * + +The picturesque vignette includes the church and parsonage. The Church +is in what is called the pointed style, or rather in humble imitation +of antiquity, for it is a recent structure built on the site of the +walls of the old church, but with the addition of side-aisles. Nearly +two centuries before the erection of the present church, the villagers +reported the old building to be in a state too ruinous to admit of +repair: how long did its stability gainsay their judgment, while they +were laid asleep about the walls. The church was an appendage to the +manor till the time of Charles I., who granted away the fee of the +manor, but reserved the patronage of the church to the crown, where it +continues to this time. It was valued l5 Edward I. at 10 marks; in +the king's books it is at 3_l._ 11s. 8d.; and the yearly tenths at 7s. +2_d_. The parsonage has much of the snug character of the glebe-house; +it was rebuilt in 1636, by the rector, the Rev. Abraham Sherman. + +In the church are some monumental _brasses_ and a handsome tomb of +marble and alabaster. One of the former is to the memory of Nicholas +Ansley, or Annesley, Esq. who died in 1593; with the following +inscription:-- + + When the Quene Elizabeth full five years had rain'd, + Then Nicholas Ansley, whos corps lyes here interred, + At fyve and twenty yeres of age was entertayned + Into her servis, where well himself he caried + In eche man's love till fifty and eight yeres ould, + Being Sergant of the Seller, death him contrould. + +Above is an upright figure (on a brass plate,) of the deceased, in +armour, kneeling at a desk. The latter monument is to Brian Annesley, +Esq. (son of Nicholas) gentleman pensioner to Queen Elizabeth. It +consists of an elliptic arch supported by Corinthian columns, and +ornamented with a Mosaic pattern studded with roses. Beneath lie the +effigies of Annesley, in armour, and his wife, in a gown and ruff; +their son, and three daughters. + +In the churchyard, among the tombs, is that of Dr. Halley, who +succeeded Flamstead as Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, where he died +in 1741-2: Halley published a treatise on Comets, when he was nineteen +years old; and first applied the barometer to measure heights. Here +also lie William Pate, whom Swift, in his Letters, calls the learned +woollen-draper: Sir Samuel Fludyer, bart., the courtly lord mayor; +Parsons, the comedian, with this quaint epitaph:-- + + Here Parsons lies, oft on life's busy stage + With nature, reader, hast thou seen him vie; + He science knew, knew manners, knew the age, + Respected knew to live, lamented die. + +Bliss, the Astronomer Royal, who died in 1762, is also buried here; +Charnock, the author of _Biographia Navalis_, a _Life of Nelson_, +&c.; the amiable Lord Dacre, who died in 1794; and Mary, his relict, +1808.[5] + + [5] Lady Dacre visited her dear lord's tomb daily for several + years; at the foot of the grave she was accustomed to kneel, + and utter a fervent prayer. We can just remember seeing this + devout lady on one of these pilgrimages. She usually rode + from her mansion in the neighbourhood to the churchyard, on a + favourite poney, and wore a large, flapping, drab beaver hat, + and a woollen habit, nearly trailing on the ground. At home + she evinced an eccentric affection for her deceased lord: his + chair was placed, as during his lifetime, at the dinner-table; + and its vacancy seemed to feed his lady's melancholy. + +Harris says that Samuel Purchas resided at Lee, and there wrote a +great part of his collection of travels, or "Celebrated Pilgrimages +and Relations of the World." + +Among the grateful recollection of Lee we must not omit the +alms-house, chapel, and school-house founded by C. Boone, Esq. in +1638. + + * * * * * + + + +THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + +THE VICTIMS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY. + + +_BY A MODERN PYTHAGOREAN._ + + +Fortune, it has been truly said, is blind, and the same thing may be +alleged of nature; for while there are some to whom the latter goddess +has denied the commonest gifts, either of person or intellect, she +has bestowed the most splendid upon others, with a prodigality which +astonishes and perplexes the world. A beautiful person, and genius +almost superhuman, fell to the share of Milton; nor can it be doubted, +that in these respects the blind goddess was equally kind to the bard +of Avon, whose presence, even judging from the imperfect, and somewhat +apocryphal likenesses handed down to us, was noble to behold, while +his genius more resembled that of a superior nature than of a +human being. The same remark applies to the beautiful, the divine +Raphael,--nor less to Tasso, and various others, whom we might easily +point out. + +It will perhaps be deemed presumptuous, after naming those illustrious +characters--those "demigods of fame"--to allude to Augustus Merton, +who, although he obtained the distinction of first wrangler at +Brazennose, Oxford, and carried off a multitude of prizes from that +seat of learning, may yet be thought an inadequate testimony of +the fact with which we set out, more especially when placed in +juxtaposition with the Miltons, the Shakespeares, the Raphaels, and +the Tassos of the world. We discuss not this point. We claim for +him no equality with these august names; and yet, with all such +reservations, do we set him forward as no unmeet proof of the +soundness of our assertion. + +Merton was gifted with fine genius, and with a person all but +faultless. In stature he rose to six feet, and was slightly but +elegantly formed; while his whole air bespoke at once the gentleman +and scholar. Those who have seen his fine Spanish countenance, dark +eyes, and rich clustering hair,--the whole communicating dignity, +grace, and interest to his natural melancholy,--will not soon efface +his imposing image from their remembrance. His talents were of a +highly-diversified order. He was a first-rate Grecian and had he +turned his attention exclusively to that language might have contested +the palm with Porson himself; nor do those who are best qualified to +judge hesitate to place him upon an equality with Burney, Young +or Parr. He was also an excellent Latinist, and had a profound +acquaintance with geometry, and the other branches of mathematical +science. For knowledge of the various eastern tongues he was no +unequal match for Lee, of Cambridge; while his acquirements in natural +philosophy, political economy, and metaphysics, were such as +would have fairly entitled him to prelect on these subjects in any +university in Europe. Besides this, he had an exquisite poetical +genius; and, in his very first contest, succeeded in carrying off the +prize of poetry, to the utter discomfiture of many formidable rivals. + +But, with all these high acquirements, he was not a happy man. He had +been baptized in the waters of melancholy; and a circumstance which +occurred in the fifth year of his curriculum had a baleful and, +ultimately, a fatal effect upon him, dethroning reason from its lofty +seat, and plunging not him only, but another estimable individual, +in the deepest distress. This circumstance, painful as it is, we +must relate; and, on perusing it, the reader will see that the noble +aspirations, the keen susceptibilities, of the mind do not always lead +to happiness; for, alas! it was such an excess of susceptibility in +his intellect which disturbed so sadly the current of his ideas, and +made him an inmate of St. Luke's. + +The weather at the period we speak of was truly melancholy. It was +in the gloomy month of November,--that month in which it is said +the suicidal propensities of the English nation are most strongly +in force. The air was either filled with dull, sluggish, unwholesome +fogs, which hung upon it like a nightmare, or soaked in a constant +drizzle of small, annoying, contemptible rain-drops, which, without +possessing the energy and dignity of a shower, were infinitely more +disagreeable, and found their way to the flesh in spite of all the +protective armoury of great-coats, hessian cloaks, or umbrellas. It +seemed as if a wet blanket were drawn between the sun and the earth. +The atmosphere was always foggy, often perfectly wet, but never +thoroughly dry. It wanted vitality; and every person that breathed it +partook of its own damp, hypochondriac, inanimate character. + +It was in the morning of one of those days of fog, gloom, and _ennui_, +that Augustus last sallied out to lounge about the streets of Oxford, +as was his custom, before breakfast. There was a favourite spot in +which he was wont to walk; it was upon the footpath of a very short +street, about the middle of which stood the shop of Jonathan Hookey, +a barber. This street (we forget its name) is not above fifty yards in +length, and opens at each end into a cross street. Now, Merton's walk +extended from one of those cross streets to the other, including, of +course, the whole extent of the short street; he always walked on one +side of this street, viz. on that opposite to the barber's shop. These +particulars may seem trifling, but they are essential to the proper +understanding of the story. + +While making these morning perambulations, he had always an air of +deep thought, his arms were crossed, and he kept his eyes constantly +fixed upon the ground, as if deeply engrossed in profound meditation. +It boots not now to inquire on what subjects his thoughts were mostly +employed, but it was unquestionably on themes of deep import, and +concerned not himself only, but the interests of science, learning, +and humanity at large. The morning in question was peculiarly dull and +foggy; but whether it was this or something else, certain it is, that +he felt himself more than usually overpowered. The air oppressed him +like a leaden shroud, and the energies of his soul seemed for once on +the point of sinking beneath the superincumbent burden. + +Turn we now to Jonathan Hookey, the barber. In person he differed much +from Merton. His height did not exceed five feet, but, he made amends +for it in breadth; for he was a man of a lusty habit, and sported a +paunch which no London alderman or burgomaster of Amsterdam would look +upon with contempt. Bald was his head, and his nose was not merely +large but immense; but it is idle to grow eloquent upon noses. Has +not Sterne exhausted the theme? have not we ourselves more than once +expatiated upon it? Swakenbergius had a nose, so had Ovidius Naso; +but to neither would Jonathan Hookey's strike its colours, and good +crimson ones they were. + +Jonathan, despite his bald head, his diminutive stature, his ample +pot-belly, and ampler nose, was a man of fine feelings. Nature was +outraged when he became a barber. He most assuredly was never destined +by her to shave beards, and manufacture perukes for heads more +brainless, many of them, than his own blocks. He ought to have been a +professor of metaphysics or logic in some famous university, such +as Heidelburg, Gottingen, or Glasgow;--but why lament over cureless +evils? it is sufficient to say he is a barber, and there is an end of +the matter. + +We must now return to Merton. His solitary walks on the opposite side +of the street had not even, from the first, escaped the scrutinizing +eyes of Mr. Hookey. No: he saw in the tall, pale, elegant, dark-haired +student the victim of deep sensibility. From seeing him, he wondered, +from wondering he loved him, from loving he adored him: he knew +at once he was no common man. Having perused Byron's _Manfred_, he +conceived him to be such another as that strange character; or he +might be a second Lara; or, more, he might be, nay he was, a glorious +genius, full of high imaginings. Little do we know what bright +thoughts passed through the mind of the enthusiastic Hookey. He cursed +his profession, which debarred him from the fellowship of such a man: +he cursed his nose, which stood between him and the object of his +adoration. + +Day after day had Mr. Hookey noticed the accomplished, the +highly-gifted Merton; but it was only upon this particular morning +that the recognition was mutual. Merton, on turning his eyes by chance +from the ground, looked to the opposite side of the street, and there +beheld _a nose_. He then turned his eyes to the earth in his usual +meditative mood; but, reflecting that a nose without an owner was +rather a singular phenomenon, he looked a second time, and there, +behind the nose, he saw a man; it was Mr. Hookey himself. + +This was the first time that the melancholy and intellectual student +reciprocated upon Hookey the attention which Hookey had hitherto +bestowed exclusively upon him. No more was the barber's "sweetness +wasted upon the desert air," but fell on one who knew how to +appreciate it to its fullest extent. Merton stood stock-still, and +gazed upon him with mute admiration. He was positively fascinated. The +nose operated upon him like the head of Medusa, and almost turned him +to stone. And Mr. Hookey was fascinated too. Merton also had become +Medusafied, and exercised a petrifactive influence upon the barber. He +was nailed fast to the threshold of his own door, and gazed upon his +fancied personification of Lara and Manfred with an indomitable and +resistless perseverance, which utterly confounded himself; while +Merton, nailed alike fast to the opposite footpath, stood staring at +his antagonist, or rather at his nasal protuberance. This impressive +scene continued for several minutes, when Merton, regaining the power +of locomotion, slowly approached the barber, his arms all the while +crossed, and his eyes intently fixed upon the nose. Nine slow and +awful steps brought him face to face with Hookey. The barber's eyes +were fixed intently upon _his--his_ eyes upon the barber's nose. The +scene was extremely dreadful; and Mr. Hookey, after vainly trying to +keep his ground, retreated into the shop, still facing Merton, who +kept advancing upon him as he receded. Back, step by step, went +Hookey; forward, step by step, came Merton; each all the while eyeing +the other with equal astonishment. The barber continued retreating, +the other following him,--first through the shop, then through the +kitchen, then through the parlour--the three apartments leading into +one another. At last he got to the remotest corner of the parlour, and +could get no farther. Here he paused, and Merton paused also. Still +they gazed on each other,--the barber in the corner overpowered with +amazement, and the student standing before him hardly less surprised. +At last Merton broke silence in the following awful words,--"GRACIOUS +HEAVENS WHAT A NOSE!" So saying, he retreated as slowly as he entered, +leaving Mr. Hookey utterly stupified and bewildered. The sentence went +like iron into the barber's soul; he felt it in all its bitterness. + +It is almost unnecessary to say what an effect this scene had upon the +highly-susceptible temperament of Merton. From that moment peace fled +his mind. He went instantly home; but instead of devoting himself, as +before, to those studies in which he delighted, and in which he was +wont so highly to excel, he immured himself in his chamber, giving way +to gloomy abstraction, and agonizing his spirit with painful and most +distressing fancies. The great power of his imagination caused him, +in a peculiar manner, to suffer from the remembrance of what he had +witnessed; and, accordingly, his waking as well as his sleeping hours +were haunted with visions of noses,--noses of stupendous size, which +arose, like ocean islands, amid the gloomy tabernacle of his brain, +and filled him with utter despair. At last, from bad to worse, he +became the mere shadow of his former self, the wreck of what he +was, and a picture of fallen and shattered genius. To drive away +the hideous phantasmagorias that tortured him, as with the stings of +demons, he had recourse to gin, and soon became a confirmed drunkard: +the next stage was lunacy; and he was confined for fourteen months in +Saint Luke's Hospital for the insane. + +The fate of the barber was equally deplorable. The awful words +pronounced by Merton may be considered his death-knell. They rang ever +after in his ears; and, in a few weeks, his head was turned, his +shop shut up, and himself sent to Bedlam. "_Gracious heavens, what a +nose!_" This dreadful sentence--more dreadful than the hand-writing on +the wall to Belshazzar,--haunted him by day and by night. Reason was +dethroned, and "moody madness, laughing wild," was the result. Such +are the frightful consequences of _extreme susceptibility_, against +which the youth of both sexes ought to be constantly on their guard. + +The worst remains to be told. These unhappy men were liberated from +confinement about the same time, and both returned to Oxford. They +seemed to have recovered their reasoning faculties, but the result +showed that this was very far from being the case; for, happening to +meet on the banks of the Cherwell, they attacked each other with +such fury, that, like Brutus and Aruns, they were both killed on +the spot,--the barber having been _burked_ in the encounter, and the +student having died of a wound which he received in the throat by his +antagonist's razor.--_Fraser's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +THE LAST OF THE FAMILY. + + + I bid thee welcome to my father's halls, + But fled for ever is their wonted mirth, + Death hath been busy in these fated walls, + Casting dark shadows o'er our house and hearth, + The brave--the beauteous from their home have past, + And I remain of that loved band the last. + + Thou wilt not now my gallant brothers greet, + Hiding amidst the glades with hound and horn, + Nor my fair sisters, warbling ditties sweet, + While gathering wild flowers in the dewy morn; + Evening will come, but will not bring again, + The song--the tale--the dance--the festal train. + + I can but bid thee to my lonely room, + Where in fond dreams I pass my blighted youth. + Musing on vanished loveliness and bloom, + Man's dauntless courage, woman's changeless truth, + And scenes of joyous glee, or tranquil rest, + Shared with the early-lost--the bright--the blest. + + Yet chide me not--mine is no impious grief, + Meekly I pray for Heaven's supporting grace. + And soon, I feel, his hand will give relief, + And the last sad survivor of her race + Quit this lone mansion for the home above. + Where dwell her happy family of love! + +_Metropolitan._ + * * * * * + + +CONVERSATIONS WITH LORD BYRON. + + +_BY THE COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON_. + + +It is difficult to judge when Lord Byron is serious or not. He has +a habit of mystifying, that might impose upon many; but that can be +detected by examining his physiognomy; for a sort of mock gravity, now +and then broken by a malicious smile, betrays when he is speaking for +effect, and not giving utterance to his real sentiments. If he +sees that he is detected, he appears angry for a moment, and then +laughingly admits, that it amuses him to _hoax_ people, as he calls +it, and that when each person, at some future day, will give their +different statements of him, they will be so contradictory, that _all_ +will be doubted,--an idea that gratifies him exceedingly! The mobility +of his nature is extraordinary, and makes him inconsistent in his +actions as well as in his conversation. + +Byron spoke to-day in terms of high commendation of Hope's +"Anastasius;" said that he wept bitterly over many pages of it, and +for two reasons, first, that _he_ had not written it, and secondly, +that _Hope_ had; for that it was necessary to like a man excessively +to pardon his writing such a book--a book, as he said, excelling all +recent productions, as much in wit and talent, as in true pathos. He +added, that he would have given his two most approved poems to have +been the author of "Anastasius." + +From "Anastasius" he wandered to the works of Mr. Galt, praised the +"Annals of the Parish" very highly, as also "the Entail," which we had +lent him, and some scenes of which he said had affected him very much. +"The characters in Mr. Galt's novels have an identity," added Byron, +"that reminds me of Wilkie's pictures." + +As a woman, I felt proud of the homage he paid to the genius of Mrs. +Hemans, and as a passionate admirer of her poetry, I felt flattered, +at finding that Lord Byron fully sympathized with my admiration. He +has, or at least expresses a strong dislike to the Lake school of +poets, never mentions them except in ridicule, and he and I nearly +quarrelled to-day because I defended poor Keats. + +On looking out from the balcony this morning, I observed Byron's +countenance change, and an expression of deep sadness steal over it. +After a few minutes silence he pointed out to me a boat anchored to +the right, as the one in which his friend Shelley went down, and he +said the sight of it made him ill.--"You should have known Shelley +(said Byron) to feel how much I must regret him. He was the most +gentle, most amiable, and _least_ worldly-minded person I ever met; +full of delicacy, disinterested beyond all other men, and possessing a +degree of genius, joined to a simplicity, as rare as it is admirable. +He had formed to himself a _beau ideal_ of all that is fine, +high-minded, and noble, and he acted up to this ideal even to the +very letter. He had a most brilliant imagination but a total want of +worldly-wisdom. I have seen nothing like him, and never shall again, +I am certain. I never can forget the night that his poor wife rushed +into my room at Pisa, with a face pale as marble, and terror impressed +on her brow, demanding, with all the tragic impetuosity of grief and +alarm, where was her husband! Vain were all our efforts to calm her; +a desperate sort of courage seemed to give her energy to confront the +horrible truth that awaited her; it was the courage of despair; I have +seen nothing in tragedy on the stage so powerful, or so affecting, +as her appearance, and it often presents itself to my memory. I knew +nothing then of the catastrophe, but the vividness of her terror +communicated itself to me, and I feared the worst, which fears, were +alas! too soon fearfully realized." + +Byron talked to-day of Leigh Hunt, regretted his ever having embarked +in the "Liberal," and said that it had drawn a nest of hornets on him, +but expressed a very good opinion of the talents and principle of Mr. +Hunt, though, as he said, "our tastes are so opposite, that we are +totally unsuited to each other. He admires the Lakers, I abhor them; +in short, we are more formed to be friends at a distance, than near." +I can perceive that he wishes Mr. Hunt and his family away. It appears +to me that Byron is a person who, without reflection, would form +engagements which, when condemned by his friends or advisers, he would +gladly get out of without considering the means, or at least, without +reflecting on the humiliation such a desertion must inflict on the +persons he had associated with him. He gives me the idea of a +man, who, feeling himself in such a dilemma, would become cold and +ungracious to the parties with whom he so stood, before he had mental +courage sufficient to abandon them. I may be wrong, but the whole of +his manner of talking of Mr. Hunt gives me this impression, though he +has not said what might be called an unkind word of him. + +Much as Byron has braved public opinion it is evident he has a great +deference for those who stand high in it, and that he is shy +in attaching himself publicly to persons who have even, however +undeservedly, fallen under its censure. His expressed contempt and +defiance of the world, reminds me of the bravadoes of children, who, +afraid of darkness, make a noise to give themselves courage to support +what they dread. It is very evident that he is partial to aristocratic +friends, he dwells with complacency on the advantages of rank and +station, and has more than once boasted that people of family are +always to be recognised by a _certain air_, and the smallness and +delicacy of their hands. + + * * * * * + + + +NEW BOOKS. + + +THE PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE OF A WOMAN OF FASHION. + + + [This work is, to our thinking, what it professes to be, an + actual correspondence, and from the pen of a lady who, as her + motto states--"writes of countries and their societies as she + finds them, and as they strike her imagination." There is much + good sense in her letters, and less aristocratic affectation + than might be expected. The subjects are of the most + miscellaneous description. Her pen is what the small critics + call eminently graphic: in short, the work is one of the + pleasantest of the season. To be more explicit, it consists of + letters written between June, 1814, and December, 1816; + dated from South Lancing, (near Worthing), Rouen, Paris, and + Brussels; and the writer's _domicile_, Hampton Court. The most + interesting portion of the work is the gossip it contains on + the _state of things_ in the French capital, on the return + of Napoleon, in 1815, and in Brussels, before and after + the battle of Waterloo. Nevertheless, as the whole is + indiscribably discursive, so must be our quotations.] + +_Arundel Castle._--Arundel Castle did not gratify my expectations +although the _coup d'oeil_, taking the structure _en masse_, is +imposing, and it has an advantageous position on the banks of the +river Arun. The Castle has undergone modern alterations in bad taste; +the details are of that description of the ornamental gothic, which +appear to me to throw severe criticism on the abilities of the +architect; and, as a family residence, its interior is neither grand +nor comfortable. From its commanding site and vicinity to the Roman +villa, it was probably a Roman station previous to its becoming a +Saxon residence. The walls and Norman gateway are fine. The massive +keep, ponderous in stability, has the characteristic marks of the +twelfth century, and is a noble ruin. It is called King Alfred's Keep; +and with what hallowed feelings of reverence must a _locale_ ever +be approached which bears the name of that illustrious monarch! The +present occupants are an assemblage of German owls, of varied species; +they look analagous with the venerable ruin. + +The castle contains a few curious portraits of the illustrious race of +Howard, which have an interest also from the distinguished parts that +family have played in English history. There is one of Henry Howard, +Earl of Surrey, so famous for his talents in state affairs, and for +his bravery in the field. He is represented standing under a noble +gateway. The picture is moreover valuable as a work of art.[6] + + [6] Surrey's accomplishments and political talents, and his + bravery in the battle-field, cast additional splendour over + the house of Howard; and his violent death, another stain on + the tyranny of Henry VIII. + +Some richly-wrought chalices[7] and censers, and other symbolic +emblems of the Roman Catholic religion are there, but I imagine little +prized by the present noble possessor; for at the age of twenty-seven, +he became a convert to the Protestant faith. Whether conviction, or +ambition to serve his country as a legislator were his motives, it is +not for man to judge: but he is unlike his ancestor, Philip +Howard, Earl of Arundel, who, braving the power of Queen Elizabeth, +disregarded her favour, and almost merited the title of martyr from +the persecutions she heaped upon him for having abjured the Protestant +worship, although educated in it by his father, the attainted Duke of +Norfolk, in despite of Mary and her Spanish consort, who was likewise +his sponsor. + + [7] Several of these splendid emblems of the Roman Catholic + faith the late duke gave to his worthy kinsman, the present + possessor of C----y Castle; and they decorate his house + in London, amidst some _chef d'oeuvres_ of the old Italian + masters, which his good taste selected in Italy. + +_The late Queen Caroline._--A servant entered in haste to induce me to +go down to the sea-shore, and witness the embarkation of the P----ss +of W----s. I immediately sallied forth, and found her r----l h----ss +seated on the shingles, the _adopted boy_ at her feet; and on her left +sat, with the skirts of his coat spread under his r----l mistress, +to protect her from the stones, our old ally Sir W----m G----l. The +frigate had arrived off Worthing some days previous, commanded by +the handsome Captain K----g; but her r----l h----ss was deterred from +embarking there by a numerous assemblage of John Bulls, their wives, +and babes, who were so rude and impetuous, as to terrify and induce +her to take refuge on a less populous shore. The lively and merry Lady +C---- L----y, and the less pleasing Lady E---- F--s, with two foreign +women, Major S--r, and the odious S----o, composed her suite. Her +r----l h----ss was habited in light green cloth, embroidered in +silver, a Prussian cap of green satin, with a splendid plume of +green feathers: the crown of the cap was conical, giving her an air +something resembling Mother Shipton. Terror and dismay were depicted +on her countenance, with all the varieties of unhappy feelings--not a +smile played over her features--her voice was tremulous, and her +brow contracted into one deep furrow--she was highly rouged, and her +eyebrows pencilled with a broad line of black chalk--never was any +person's appearance less formed to inspire interest! + +Sir W----m forgot his usual indifferent manner on seeing me, and put +on one of his comic expressions. In the impulse of the moment, I was +on the point of addressing him, but fortunately recovered my presence +_d'esprit_, and did not commit such a breach of etiquette, although +there was such a total deficiency of r----l dignity in the group that +I might almost have been excused. In half an hour the cutter put off +from the frigate: Captain K--g came from W---- by land, and apologized +for the delay. Her r----l h----ss replied in a tremulous voice "Never +mind!" A small group of persons kept a respectful distance and a +profound silence. One old man blessed her and wished her a +safe return--when her footman burst into tears. The ocean raged +tempestuous, as if in the spirit of anger, and the boat could not +reach the shore. Her r----l h----ss was obliged to enter a pony cart, +and her coachman drove it with difficulty through the billows. With +some exertion Captain K--g and his lieutenant dragged her unwieldy +form into the barge: the P----ss went first, Lady E. F----s followed, +and then the _tin box_: our knight went last; he came up to me, +squeezed my hand affectionately, whispered a saucy adieu, and jumped +into the boat. Such was the embarkation of the P----ss of W----s, and +so passed away the illustrious consort of the heir apparent of these +realms. + +[WE SHALL RETURN TO THESE AMUSING VOLS.] + + * * * * * + + +EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS AND HINDOO TEMPLES COMPARED. + + +The most common form of the Hindoo pagodas[8] is the pyramidal, +of which one of the most remarkable is that of Chalembaram, on the +Coromandel coast, about thirty-four geographical miles south of +Pondicherry, and seven from the sea. + + [8] The word pagoda is a corruption of _Bhagavati_, "holy + house," one of the several names by which the Hindoo temples + are known. + +The whole temple, with its attached buildings covers an area of +1,332 feet by 936, (according to others 1,230 feet by 960,) and is +surrounded with a brick wall[9] 30 feet high and 7 thick, round which +there is another wall furnished with bastions. The four entrances are +under as many pyramids, which, up to the top of the portal, 30 feet in +height, are formed of free-stone, ornamented with sculptured figures. +Above the portal, the pyramid is built of tiles or bricks, to the +height of 150 feet, with a coat of cement upon it, which is covered +with plates of copper, and ornaments of baked clay. On passing through +the chief portico of the western propylaea, we see on the left an +enormous hall with more than 1,000 pillars, which are above 36 feet +high, and covered over with slabs of stone; this hall might have +served as a gallery for the priests to walk about in, just like +the hypostyle halls of the Egyptian temples. In the midst of these +columns, and surrounded by them, is a temple called that of eternity. +On the right or south side, we see the chief temple, with halls of +several hundred pillars at the east and west end, also supporting a +flat roof of stone. The pagoda itself rests on a basis 360 feet long +and 260 broad, and rises to a surprising height. It is formed of +blocks of stone 40 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 5 thick, which must +have been brought, about 200[10] miles, as there are no stone quarries +in the neighbourhood. The temple has a peristyle round it; and +thirty-six of the pillars, which are placed in six rows, and form +the portico, support a roof of smooth blocks. The columns are 30 feet +high, and resemble the old Ionic pillar. The whole pyramid surpasses +in size St. Paul's church in London, the latter being only 474[11] +feet long and 207 wide. The roof of the pyramid has a copper casing +covered with reliefs referring to mythical subjects; the gilding which +was once on it is still visible. In the middle of the courtyard there +is a great tank, surrounded with a gallery of pillars and also an +enclosure round it of marble, well polished and ornamented with +sculptures and arabesques. In the eastern part there is still another +court surrounded with a wall, on the inside of which is a colonnade +covered with large slabs of stone. Here also there is a pagoda, which +is but little inferior in size to the larger one; but it contains only +large dark chambers covered with sculptures, which have reference +to the worship of certain deities, particularly Vishnu. The interior +ornaments are in harmony with the whole; from the nave of one of +the pyramids there hang, on the tops of four buttresses, festoons of +chains, in length altogether 548 feet, made of stone. Each garland, +consisting of twenty links, is made of one piece of stone 60 +feet long; the links themselves are monstrous rings 32 inches in +circumference, and polished as smooth as glass. One chain is broken, +and hangs down from the pillar. In the neighbourhood of the pagodas +there are usually tanks and basins lined with cement, or buildings +attached for the purpose of lodging pilgrims who come from a distance. +It is, however, often the case that the adjoining buildings, as well +as the external ornaments in general, are in bad taste, and the work +of a later age than the pagoda itself. + + [9] The outer wall is brick cased with stone: the inner is all + of stone. The four sides are turned respectively to the four + cardinal points,--Heeren, India, p. 74. + + [10] Fifty meilen. + + [11] These dimensions are not exact, even making allowance for + Berlin feet. + +The pyramidical entrances of the Indian pagodas are analogous to the +Egyptian propyla, while the large pillared rooms which support a flat +roof of stone, are found frequently in the temples of both countries. +Among the numerous divisions of the excavations of Ellora, there is +an upper story of the _Dasavatara_, or the temple of Vishnu's +incarnations, the roof of which is supported by sixty-four square +based pillars, eight in each row. This chamber is about 100 feet wide, +and somewhat deeper, and as to general design may be compared with the +excavated chambers of Egypt, which are supported by square columns. +The massy materials, the dark chambers, and the walls covered with +highly wrought sculptures; and the tanks near the temples, with their +enclosure of stone, and the steps for the pilgrims, are also equally +characteristic of a pagoda and an Egyptian temple. To this we may +add the high thick wall, of a rectangular form, carried all round the +sacred spot: it is, however, principally the massy structure of +these surrounding walls which forms the point of comparison, as Greek +temples also had a wall enclosing the sacred ground, and the temples +and churches of all countries are as a general rule separated from +unhallowed ground, if not by strong walls at least by some mark which +determines the extent of the sacred precincts. Yet there is a further +resemblance worth noticing between some of these Hindoo pagodas and +the great temple of Phtha at Memphis. The Egyptian temple had four +chief entrances, or propyla, turned to the four cardinal points of the +compass; which is also the case with the pagoda of Chalembaram, +with another at Siringam, and probably others also. The pagoda of +Chalembaram, according to Indian tradition, is one of the oldest in +their country, and this opinion is confirmed by the appearance of the +principal temple contained within the walls; but other parts, such as +the pyramidal entrances, the highly finished sculptures, and the chain +festoons, must be the work of a later date. It seems probable then +that this enormous religious edifice was the growth of many ages, +each adding something to enlarge and perfect the work of former +days.--_Lib. Ent. Knowledge._ + + * * * * * + + I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide; for the man is + efficiently destroyed, though the appetite of the brute may + survive.--_Lord Chesterfield._ + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER + + +_A true Abernethian._--"An old country curate," says Zimmerman, "who +had all his life resided upon a lofty mountain in the Canton of Berne, +was one day presented with a moor-cock. A consultation took place in +what manner it should be disposed of--at last it was agreed to bury it +in the garden!" + + _Epitaph on a notorious Liar_. + + I always _lied_ and _lied_ till death, + But now I _lie_ for want of breath. + +_Castanets_ are small wooden rattles, made in the shape of two bowls +or cups, fitted together, and tied by a string, and then fastened to +the thumbs. The fingers being rapidly struck upon them, a tremulous +sound is produced, which marks exactly the measure of the dance. +Something similar to this was the _crotalon_ of the ancients, who also +made use of small cymbals in their dances and festivals in honour of +Bacchus. It is probable, however, that they had their origin in the +East, and were brought by the Moors into Spain. Here too they received +their name _castennalas_, from being commonly made of the wood of the +chestnut, (_castano_) or from their colour. They are still common in +Spain, and here and there in the South of France. In this country they +are common in stage dances only. + +_Cannon_ were formerly dignified with great names. Twelve cast by +Louis XII. were called after the twelve peers of France. Charles V. +had twelve, which he called the Twelve Apostles. One at Bois-le-Duc +is called the Devil; a sixty-pounder at Dover Castle, is named Queen +Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol; an eighty-pounder at Berlin, is called +the Thunderer; another at Malaga, the Terrible; two sixty-pounders at +Bremen, the Messengers of Bad News. + +_Dripping Rock, in India._--Sansadhara or the dripping rock, is a +singular phenomenon, situated at the head of a dell, through which a +rapid stream runs, between two lines of hills towards the valley of +the Dhoon. It is an overhanging rock, about 50 feet high, through +which water pours from above, in innumerable little streams, like a +perpetual shower of rain! The never-abating action of the water has +worn the rock into many fantastic shapes; and, crusting round the +moss and fibres of the roots of trees, has given to it almost the +appearance of a spar cavern. In several places the water has worn +little reservoirs for itself, which are always full. It is cool, +clear, and pleasant to the taste.--_Captain Skinner_. + +_Catching Wild Ducks, &c. in India._--In the lower parts of Bengal, +wild ducks, widgeon, and teal, are often taken by means of earthen +pots. A number of these pots are floated amongst them in the lakes +where they abound, to the sight of which they soon become reconciled, +and approach them fearlessly. A man then goes into the water up to the +chin, with one of these pots over his head, in the centre of which two +small holes are made for him to see through; and when he gets into the +midst of the birds, he pulls them by the legs under water, fastening +them to a girdle round his waist.--T. GILL. + +_Hampden._--Lord Nugent, in his _Memorials of John Hampden_, relates +the attack of Rupert's troops upon the village of Chinnor. A local +tradition of the affair has been related to me by an old inhabitant. +In the room of a house, until lately occupied as a boarding-school, +two of Rupert's soldiers are said to have evinced great brutality. On +entering the house, they demanded a flitch of bacon, hanging up in the +room; one of them held up a child which he had taken from a cradle, +and crossing a sword over it, threatened its immediate destruction if +their demands were not instantly complied with. There appear to +have been sharp hostilities in the vicinity of Chinnor, and more +particularly on the hills, as military buttons, sword handles, &c. and +other vestiges of war are frequently found there.--W.H. + + _Parody on Scott's Lines "Breathes there the Man," &c._ + + Breathes there a cit, with taste so dead, + Who never to himself hath said, + "This haunch surpasses all the rest;" + Whose mouth hath ne'er within him burn'd, + Whene'er his footsteps he hath turn'd + From home, to Guildhall's civic feast? + If such there breathe, go mark him well-- + For him no portly paunch can swell; + Large though his shop, his trade the same, + Boundless his wealth as wish can claim, + Despite his shop, his trade, his cash, + The wretch who knows not ven'son hash, + Living, shall forfeit civic fame, + And dying, shall descend with shame, + In double death, to Lethe's pools, + Despis'd by epicures and fools. REX. + +_Alchemy and Printing._--Antimony, once celebrated in the laboratories +of the alchemists, who hoped to discover in it the philosopher's +stone, is now employed in the casting of types for printing.--There +is much food for reflection in this curious fact in the history +of science. How has this simple substance originated dreams of +spell-bound ignorance, and realities of godlike intelligence. Nay, +we are almost persuaded that the hopes of the alchemists were not +altogether unfounded--that antimony is indeed what they hoped to +find it--that the invention of printing was the finding of the +philosopher's stone; and that we are at this moment enjoying +ten-fold the advantages which the alchemists anticipated from their +secret.--J.T. + + * * * * * + +_Printed and published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset +House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; +G.G. 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