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diff --git a/12263-h/12263-h.htm b/12263-h/12263-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..025764e --- /dev/null +++ b/12263-h/12263-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,18291 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Blackwood'S Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 53, No. 331. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 50%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + HR.FULL { width: 100%;} + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-left: 2em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; 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: 2em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem .caesura {vertical-align: -200%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12263 ***</div> + +<h1>BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE</h1> +<hr /> + +<h2>NO. CCCXXXI. MAY, 1843. VOL. LIII.</h2> +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<ul> + <li><a href="#bw329s1">DUMAS IN ITALY</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329s2">AMMALÁT BEK. A TRUE TALE OF THE CAUCASUS FROM THE + RUSSIAN OF MARLÍNSKI</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329s3">REYNOLDS'S DISCOURSES. CONCLUSION</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329s4">LEAP-YEAR.—A TALE</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329s5">THE BATTLE OF THE BLOCKS. The PAVING QUESTION</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329s6">POEMS AND BALLADS OF SCHILLER.—No. VIII.</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329s7">NATURAL HISTORY OF SALMON AND SEA-TROUT</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329s8">CALEB STUKELY. PART THE LAST</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329s9">COMMERCIAL POLICY. SPAIN</a></li> + <li><a href="#bw329-footnotes">[FOOTNOTES]</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<!-- page 551 --><a name="bw329s1" id="bw329s1"></a><h2>DUMAS IN ITALY.</h2> + +<blockquote class="note"> +[<i>Souvenirs de Voyage en Italie, par</i> ALEXANDRE DUMAS. 5 vols. duod.] +</blockquote> +<hr /> + +<p>France has lately sent forth her +poets in great force, to travel, and to +write travels. Delamartine, Victor +Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and others, +have been forth in the high-ways and +the high-seas, observing, portraying, +poetizing, romancing. The last-mentioned +of these, M. Dumas, a dramatist +very ingenious in the construction +of plots, and one who tells a story +admirably, has travelled quite in character. +There is a dramatic air thrown +over all his proceedings, things happen +as pat as if they had been rehearsed, +and he blends the novelist +and tourist together after a very bold +and original fashion. It is a new +method of writing travels that he has +hit upon, and we recommend it to the +notice of our countrymen or countrywomen, +who start from home with the +fixed idea, happen what may, of inditing +a book. He does not depend +altogether upon the incidents of the +road, or the raptures of sight-seeing, +or any odd fantasy that buildings or +scenery may be kind enough to suggest: +he provides himself with full +half of his materials before he starts, +in the shape of historical anecdote and +romantic story, which he distributes +as he goes along. A better plan for +an amusing book could not be devised. +Your mere tourist, it must be confessed, +however frivolous he submits +for our entertainment to become, +grows heavy on our hands; that rapid +and incessant change of scene which +is kindly meant to enliven our spirits, +becomes itself wearisome, and we long +for some resting-place, even though it +should be obtained by that most illegitimate +method of closing the volume. +On the other hand, a teller of tales +has always felt the want of some enduring +thread—though, as some one +says in a like emergency, it be only +<i>packthread</i>—on which his tales may +be strung—something to fill up the +pauses, and prevent the utter solution +of continuity between tale and tale—something +that gives the narrator a reasonable +plea for <i>going on again</i>, and +makes the telling another story an indispensable +duty upon his part, and the +listening to it a corresponding obligation +upon ours; and ever since the time +when that young lady of unpronounceable +and unrememberable name told +the One Thousand and One Tales, +telling a fragment every morning to +keep her head upon her shoulders, +there has been devised many a strange +expedient for this purpose. Now, M. +Dumas has contrived, by uniting the +two characters of tourist and novelist, +to make them act as reliefs to each +other. Whilst he shares with other +travellers the daily adventures of the +road—the journey, the sight, and the +dinner—he is not compelled to be +always moving; he can pause when +he pleases, and, like the <i>fableur</i> of +olden times, sitting down in the market-place, +in the public square, at the +corner of some column or statue, he +narrates his history or his romance. +Then, the story told, up starts the +busy and provident tourist; lo! the +<I>voiture</I> is waiting for him at the hotel; +in he leaps, and we with him, and off +we rattle through other scenes, and to +other cities. He has a track <I>in space</I> +to which he is bound; we recognize +the necessity that he should proceed +thereon; but he can diverge at pleasure +through all <I>time</I>, bear us off into +what age he pleases, make us utterly +oblivious of the present, and lap us in +the Elysium of a good story.</p> + +<p>With a book written palpably for +the sole and most amiable purpose of +amusement, and succeeding in this +purpose, how should we deal? How +but receive it with a passive acquiescence +equally amiable, content solely +to be amused, and giving all severer +criticism—to him who to his other +merits may add, if he pleases, that of +being the first critic. Most especially +let us not be carping and questioning as +to the how far, or what precisely, we +are to set down for <I>true</I>. It is all +true—it is all fiction; the artist cannot +choose but see things in an artistical +form; what ought not to be there +drops from his field of vision. We +are not poring through a microscope, +or through a telescope, to discover +new truths; we are looking at the old +landscape through coloured glasses, +blue, or black, or roseate, as the occasion +may require. And here let us +note a favourable contrast between +our dramatic tourist, bold in conception, +free in execution, and those compatriots +of our own, authors and authoresses, +who write travels merely because +they are artists in ink, yet without +any adequate notion of the duties +and privileges of such an artist.</p> + +<p>When a writer has got a name, +the first rational use to make of the +charming possession is to get astride +of it, as a witch upon her broomstick, +and whisk and scamper over half the +kingdoms of the earth. Talk of bills +of exchange!--letters of credit!--we +can put our name to a whole book, +and it will pass—it <I>will</I> pass. The +idea is good—quite worthy of our +commercial genius—and to us its origin, +we believe, is due; but here, as in +so many other cases, the Frenchman +has given the idea its full development. +Keeping steadily in view the +object of his book, which is—first, +amusement—secondly, amusement—thirdly, +amusement; he adapts his +means consistently to his end. Does +he want a dialogue?—he writes one: +a story?—he invents one: a description?—he +takes his hint from +nature, and is grateful—the more +grateful, because he knows that a hint +to the wise is sufficient. It is the +description only which the reader will +be concerned with; what has he to +do with the object? That is the +merely traveller's affair. Now, your +English tourists have always a residue +of scruple about them which balks +their genius. Not satisfied with pleasing, +they aspire to be believed; are +almost angry if their anecdote is not +credited; content themselves with +adding graces, giving a turn, trimming +and decorating—cannot build a structure +boldly from the bare earth. This +necessity of finding a certain straw for +their bricks, which must be picked up +by the roadside, not only impedes the +work of authorship, but must add +greatly to their personal discomfort +throughout the whole of their travels. +They are in perpetual chase of something +for the book. They bag an +incident with as much glee as a sportsman +his first bird in September. They +are out on pleasure, but manifestly +they have their task too; it is not quite +holiday, only half-holiday with them. +The prospect or the picture gives no +pleasure till it has suggested the appropriate +expression of enthusiasm, +which, once safely deposited in the +note-book, the enthusiasm itself can +be quietly indulged in, or permitted +to evaporate. At the dinner-table, +even when champagne is circulating, +if a jest or a story falls flat, they see +with an Aristotelian precision the +cause of its failure, and how an additional +touch, or a more auspicious +moment, would have procured for it a better +fate; they stop to pick it up, +they clean it, they revolve the chapter +and the page to which it shall lend its +lustre. Nay, it is noticeable, that +without much labour from the polisher, +many a dull thing in conversation has +made a good thing in print; the conditions +of success are so different. +Now, from all such toils and perplexities +M. Dumas is evidently free; +free as the wildest Oxonian who flies +abroad in the mere wanton prodigality +of spirits and of purse. His book is +made, or can be made, when he +chooses: fortune favours the bold, +and incidents will always dispose +themselves dramatically to the dramatist.</p> + +<p>Our traveller opens his campaign at +Nice. It may be observed that M. +Dumas cannot be accused, like the +present minister of his country, of any +partiality to the English; if the mortifying +truth must be told, he has no +love of us at all; to which humour, +so long as he delivers himself of it +with any wit or pleasantry, he is +heartily welcome. Our first extract +will be thought, perhaps, to taste of +this humour; but we quote it for the +absurd proof it affords of the manner +in which we English have overflooded +some portions of the Continent:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"As to the inhabitants of Nice, every +traveller is to them an Englishman. +Every foreigner they see, without distinction +of complexion, hair, beard, +dress, age, or sex, has, in their imagination, +arrived from a certain mysterious +city lost in the midst of fogs, +where the inhabitants have heard of +the sun only from tradition, where the +orange and the pine-apple are unknown +except by name, where there is no ripe +fruit but baked apples, and which is +called <I>London</I>.</p> + +<p>"Whilst I was at the York Hotel, a +carriage drawn by post horses drove +up; and, soon after, the master of the +hotel entering into my room, I asked +him who were his new arrivals.</p> + +<p>"'<I>Sono certi Inglesi</I>,' he answered, +'<I>ma non saprei dire se sono Francesi o +Tedeschi</I>. Some English, but I cannot +say whether French or German.'"—Vol. +i. p. 9.</p></div> + +<p>The little town of Monaco is his +next resting-place. This town, which +is now under the government of the +King of Sardinia, was at one time an +independent principality; and M. +Dumas gives a lively sketch of the +vicissitudes which the little state has +undergone, mimicking, as it has, the +movements of great monarchies, and +being capable of boasting even of its +revolution and its republic. During +the reign of Louis XIV. the territory +of Monaco gave the title of prince to a +certain Honore III., who was under +the protection of the <I>Grand Monarque</I>.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"The marriage of this Prince of Monaco," +says our annalist, "was not happy. +One fine morning his spouse, who was +the same beautiful and gay Duchess de +Valentinois so well known in the scandalous +chronicles of that age, found +herself at one step out of the states of +her lord and sovereign. She took refuge +at Paris. Desertion was not all. +The prince soon learned that he was as +unfortunate as a husband can be.</p> + +<p>"At that epoch, calamities of this +description were only laughed at; but +the Prince of Monaco was, as the +duchess used to say, a strange man, and +he took offence. He got information +from time to time of the successive gallants +whom his wife thought fit to honour, +and he hanged them in effigy, one +after the other, in the front court of his +palace. The court was soon full, and +the executions bordered on the high +road; nevertheless, the prince relented +not, but continued always to hang. The +report of these executions reached Versailles; +Louis XIV. was, in his turn, +displeased, and counselled the prince to +be more lenient in his punishments. He +of Monaco answered that, being a sovereign +prince, he had undoubtedly the +right of pit and gallows on his own domain, +and that surely he might hang as +many men of straw as he pleased.</p> + +<p>"The affair bred so much scandal, +that it was thought prudent to send the +duchess back to her husband. He, to +make her punishment the more complete, +had resolved that she should, on +her return, pass before this row of executed +effigies. But the dowager Princess +of Monaco prevailed upon her son to +forego this ingenious revenge, and a +bonfire was made of all the scarecrows. +'It was,' said Madame de Sevigné, 'the +torch of their second nuptials.' ...</p> + +<p>"A successor of this prince, Honore +IV., was reigning tranquilly in his little +dominions when the French Revolution +broke out. The Monacites watched its +successive phases with a peculiar attention, +and when the republic was finally +proclaimed at Paris, they took advantage +of Honore's absence, who was gone +from home, and not known where, armed +themselves with whatever came to hand, +marched to the palace, took it by assault, +and commenced plundering the cellars, +which might contain from twelve to +fifteen thousand bottles of wine. Two +hours after, the eight thousand subjects +of the Prince of Monaco were drunk.</p> + +<p>"Now, at this first trial, they found +liberty was an excellent thing, and they +resolved to constitute themselves forthwith +into a republic. But it seemed +that Monaco was far too extensive a +territory to proclaim itself, after the +example of France, a republic one and +indivisible; so the wise men of the +country, who had already formed themselves +into a national assembly, came to +the conclusion that Monaco should rather +follow the example of America, and give +birth to a federal republic. The fundamental +laws of the new constitution +were then discussed and determined +by Monaco and Mantone, who united +themselves for life and death. There +was a third village called Rocco-Bruno: +it was decided that it should belong half +to the one and half to the other. Rocco-Bruno +murmured: it had aspired to +independence, and a place in the federation; +but Monaco and Mantone smiled +at so arrogant a pretension. Rocco-Bruno +was not the strongest, and was +reduced to silence: from that moment, +however, Rocco-Bruno was marked out +to the two national conventions as a +focus of sedition. The republic was +finally proclaimed under the title of the +Republic of Monaco.</p> + +<p>"The Monacites next looked abroad +upon the world for allies. There were +two nations, equally enlightened with +themselves, to whom they could extend +the hand of fellowship—the American +and the French. Geographical position +decided in favour of the latter. The +republic of Monaco sent three deputies +to the National Convention of France +to proffer and demand alliance. The +National Convention was in a moment +of perfect good-humour: it received the +deputies most politely, and invited them +to call the next morning for the treaty +they desired.</p> + +<p>"The treaty was prepared that very +day. It was not, indeed, a very lengthy +document: it consisted of the two following +articles:—</p> + +<p>"'Art. 1. There shall be peace and +alliance between the French Republic +and the Republic of Monaco.</p> + +<p>"'Art. 2. The French Republic is delighted +with having made the acquaintance +of the Republic of Monaco.'</p> + +<p>"This treaty was placed next morning +in the hands of the ambassadors, who +departed highly gratified. Three months +afterwards the French Republic had +thrown its lion's paw on its dear acquaintance, +the Republic of Monaco."—P. +14.</p></div> + +<p>From Monaco our traveller proceeds +to Geneva; from Geneva, by water, +to Livorno, (<i>Anglicé</i>, Leghorn.) Now +there is little or nothing to be seen at +Livorno. There is, in the place <i>della +Darnesa</i>, a solitary statue of Ferdinand +I., some time cardinal, and +afterwards Grand-Duke of Florence. +M. Dumas bethinks him to tell us the +principal incident in the life of this +Ferdinand; but then this again is +connected with the history of Bianca +Capello, so that he must commence +with her adventures. The name of +Bianca Capello figures just now on +the title-page of one of Messrs Colburn's +and Bentley's <i>last and newest</i>. +Those who have read the novel, and +those who, like ourselves, have seen +only the title, may be equally willing +to hear the story of this high-spirited +dame told in the terse, rapid manner—brief, +but full of detail—of Dumas. +We cannot give the whole of it in the +words of M. Dumas; the extract +would be too long; we must get over +a portion of the ground in the shortest +manner possible.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"It was towards the end of the reign +of Cosmo the Great, about the commencement +of the year 1563, that a +young man named Pietro Bonaventuri, +the issue of a family respectable, though +poor, left Florence to seek his fortune +in Venice. An uncle who bore the +same name as himself, and who had +lived in the latter city for twenty years, +recommended him to the bank of the +Salviati, of which he himself was one of +the managers. The youth was received +in the capacity of clerk.</p> + +<p>"Opposite the bank of the Salviati +lived a rich Venetian nobleman, head of +the house of the Capelli. He had one +son and one daughter, but not by his +wife then living, who, in consequence, +was stepmother to his children. With +the son, our narrative is not concerned; +the daughter, Bianca Capello, was a +charming girl of the age of fifteen or +sixteen, of a pale complexion, on which +the blood, at every emotion, would appear, +and pass like a roseate cloud; her +hair, of that rich flaxen which Raphael +has made so beautiful; her eyes +dark and full of lustre, her figure slight +and flexile, but of that flexibility which +denotes no weakness, but force of character; +prompt, as another Juliet, to +love, and waiting only till some Romeo +should cross her path, to say, like the +maid of Verona—'I will be to thee or to +the tomb!'</p> + +<p>"She saw Pietro Bonaventuri: the +window of his chamber looked out upon +hers; they exchanged glances, signs, +promises of love. Arrived at this point, +the distance from each other was their +sole obstacle: this obstacle Bianca was +the first to overcome.</p> + +<p>"Each night, when all had retired to +rest in the house of the Salviati, when +the nurse who had reared Bianca, had +betaken herself to the next chamber, +and the young girl, standing listening +against the partition, had assured herself +that this last Argus was asleep, she +threw over her shoulders a dark cloak +to be the less visible in the night, descended +on tiptoe, and light as a shadow, +the marble stairs of the paternal palace, +unbarred the gate, and crossed the +street. On the threshold of the opposite +door, her lover was standing to +receive her; and the two together, with +stifled breath and silent caresses, ascended +the stairs that led to the little +chamber of Pietro. Before the break +of day, Bianca retired in the same manner +to her own room, where her nurse +found her in the morning, in a sleep as +profound at least as the sleep of innocence.</p> + +<p>"One night whilst our Juliet was +with her Romeo, a baker's boy, who had +just been to light his oven in the neighbourhood, +saw a gate half open, and +thought he did good service by closing +it. Ten minutes afterwards, Bianca +descended, and saw that it was impossible +to re-enter her father's house.</p> + +<p>"Bianca was one of those energetic +spirits whose resolutions are taken at +once, and for ever. She saw that her +whole future destiny was changed by +this one accident, and she accepted without +hesitation the new life which this +accident had imposed on her. She re-ascended +to her lover, related what had +happened, demanded of him if he was +ready to sacrifice all for her as she was +for him, and proposed to take advantage +of the two hours of the night which +still remained to them, to quit Venice +and conceal themselves from the pursuit +of her parents. Pietro was true—he +adopted immediately the proposal; they +stepped into a gondola, and fled towards +Florence.</p> + +<p>"Arrived at Florence, they took refuge +with the father of Pietro—Bonaventuri +the elder, who with his wife had +a small lodging in the second floor in +the place of St Mark. Strange! it is +with poor parents that the children are +so especially welcome. They received +their son and their new daughter with +open arms. Their servant was dismissed, +both for economy and the better preservation +of their secret. The good +mother charged herself with the care of +the little household. Bianca, whose +white hands had been taught no such +useful duties, set about working the +most charming embroidery. The father, +who earned his living as a copyist +for public offices, gave out that he had +retained a clerk, and took home a +double portion of papers. All were +employed, and the little family contrived +to live.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile, it will be easily imagined +how great a commotion the flight of +Bianca occasioned in the palace of the +noble Capello. During the whole of +the first day they made no pursuit, for +they still, though with much anxiety, +expected her return. The day passed, +however, without any news of the fugitive; +the flight, on the same morning, +of Pietro Bonaventuri was next reported; +a thousand little incidents which +attracted no notice at the time were now +brought back to recollection, and the +result of the whole was the clear conviction +that they had fled together. The +influence of the Capelli was such that +the case was brought immediately before +the Council of Ten; and Pietro +Bonaventuri was placed under the ban +of the Republic. The sentence of this +tribunal was made known to the government +of Florence; and this government +authorized the Capelli, or the officers of +the Venetian Republic, to make all necessary +search, not only in Florence, +but throughout all Tuscany. The +search, however was unavailing. Each +one of the parties felt too great an interest +in keeping their secret, and Bianca +herself never stirred from the apartment.</p> + +<p>"Three months passed in this melancholy +concealment, yet she who had +been habituated from infancy to all +the indulgences of wealth, never once +breathed a word of complaint. Her +only recreation was to look down into +the street through the sloping blind. +Now, amongst those who frequently +passed across the Place of St Mark +was the young grand-duke, who went +every other day to see his father at his +castle of Petraja. Francesco was young, +gallant, and handsome; but it was not +his youth or beauty that preoccupied +the thoughts of Bianca, it was the idea +that this prince, as powerful as he +seemed gracious, might, by one word, +raise the ban from Pietro Bonaventuri, and +restore both him and herself to freedom. +It was this idea which kindled a double +lustre in the eyes of the young Venetian, +as she punctually at the hour of +his passing, ran to the window, and sloped the +jalousie. One day, the prince +happening to look up as he passed, met +the enkindled glance of his fair observer. +Bianca hastily retired."</p></div> + +<p>What immediately follows need not +be told at any length. Francesco was +enamoured: he obtained an interview. +Bianca released and enriched her +lover, but became the mistress of the +young duke. Pietro was quite +content with this arrangement; he had +himself given the first example of +inconstancy. He entered upon a +career of riotous pleasure, which ended +in a violent death.</p> + +<p>Francesco, in obedience to his father, +married a princess of the house +of Austria; but Bianca still retained +her influence. His wife, who had +been much afflicted by this preference +of her rival, died, and the repentant +widower swore never again to see +Bianca. He kept the oath for four +months; but she placed herself as if +by accident in his path, and all her +old power was revived. Francesco, +by the death of his father, became the +reigning Duke of Tuscany, and Bianca +Capello, his wife and duchess. And +now we arrive at that part of the story +in which Ferdinand, the brother of +Francesco, and whose statue at Livorno +led to this history, enters on the +scene.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"About three years after their +nuptials, the young Archduke, the issue of +Francesco's previous marriage, died, +leaving the ducal throne of Tuscany +without direct heir; failing which the +Cardinal Ferdinand would become +Grand-duke at the death of his brother. +Now Bianca had given to Francesco +one son; but, besides that he was born +before their marriage, and therefore +incapable of succeeding, the rumour had +been spread that he was supposititious. +The dukedom, therefore, would descend +to the Cardinal if the Grand-duchess +should have no other child; and Francesco +himself had begun to despair of +this happiness, when Bianca announced +to him a second pregnancy.</p> + +<p>"This time the Cardinal resolved to +watch himself the proceedings of his +dear sister-in-law, lest he should be the +dupe of some new manœuvre. He began, +therefore, to cultivate in an +especial manner the friendship of his +brother, declaring, that the present +condition of the Grand-duchess proved to him +how false had been the rumours spread +touching her former <i>accouchement</i>. +Francesco, happy to find his brother in this +disposition, returned his advances with +the utmost cordiality. The Cardinal +availed himself of this friendly feeling +to come and install himself in the Palace +Pitti.</p> + +<p>"The arrival of the Cardinal was by +no means agreeable to Bianca, who was +not at all deceived as to the true cause +of this fraternal visit. She knew that, +in the Cardinal, she had a spy upon her +at every moment. The spy, however, +could detect nothing that savoured of +imposture. If her condition was feigned, +the comedy was admirably played. +The Cardinal began to think that his +suspicions were unjust. Nevertheless, +if there were craft, the game he +determined should be played out with equal +skill upon his side.</p> + +<p>"The eventful day arrived. The +Cardinal could not remain in the chamber +of Bianca, but he stationed himself +in an antechamber, through which every +one who visited her must necessarily +pass. There he began to say his +breviary, walking solemnly to and fro. +After praying and promenading thus for +about an hour, a message was brought +to him from the invalid, requesting him +to go into another room, as his tread +disturbed her. 'Let her attend to her +affairs, and I to mine,' was the only +answer he gave, and the Cardinal +recommenced his walk and his prayer.</p> + +<p>"Soon after this the confessor of the +Grand-duchess entered—a Capuchin, in +a long robe. The Cardinal went up to +him, and embraced him in his arms, +recommending his sister most affectionately +to his pious care. While embracing +the good monk, the Cardinal felt, or +thought he felt, something strange in +his long sleeve. He groped under the +Capuchin's robe, and drew out—a fine +boy.</p> + +<p>"'My dear brother,' said the +Cardinal, 'I am now more tranquil. I am +sure, at least, that my dear sister-in-law +will not die this time in childbirth.'</p> + +<p>"The monk saw that all that +remained was to avoid, if possible, the +scandal; and he asked the Cardinal +himself what he should do. The +Cardinal told him to enter into the chamber +of the Duchess, whisper to her what had +happened, and, as she acted, so would +he act. Silence should purchase silence; +clamour, clamour.</p> + +<p>"Bianca saw that she must renounce +at present her design to give a successor +to the ducal crown; she submitted to a +miscarriage. The Cardinal, on his side, +kept his word, and the unsuccessful +attempt was never betrayed.</p> + +<p>"A few months passed on; there was +an uninterrupted harmony between the +brothers, and Francesco invited the +Cardinal, who was fond of field-sports, +to pass some time with him at a country +palace, famous for its preserves Of +game.</p> + +<p>"On the very day of his arrival, +Bianca, who knew that the Cardinal +was partial to a certain description of +tart, bethought her to prepare one for +him herself. This flattering attention +on the part of his sister-in-law was +hinted to him by Francesco, who mentioned +it as a new proof of the Duchess's +amiability, but, as he had no great confidence +in his reconciliation with Bianca, +it was an intimation which caused him +not a little disquietude. Fortunately, +the Cardinal possessed an opal, given to +him by Pope Sixtus V., which had the +property of growing dim the moment it +approached any poisonous substance. +He did not fail to make trial of it on the +tart prepared by Bianca. The opal +grew dim and tarnished. The Cardinal +said, with an assumed air of carelessness, +that, on consideration, he would +not eat to-day of the tart. The Duke +pressed him; but not being able to prevail—'Well,' +said he, 'since Ferdinand +will not eat of his favourite dish, it shall +not be said that a Grand-duchess had +turned confectioner for nothing—I will +eat of it.' And he helped himself to a +piece of the tart.</p> + +<p>"Bianca was in the act of bending +forward to prevent him—but suddenly +paused. Her position was horrible. She +must either avow her crime, or suffer +her husband to poison himself. She +cast a quick retrospective glance along +her past life; she saw that she had exhausted +all the pleasures of the world, +and attained to all its glories; her +decision was rapid—as rapid as on +that day when she had fled from Venice +with Pietro. She also cut off a +piece from the tart, and extending her +hand to her husband, she smiled, and, +with her other hand, eat of the poisoned +dish.</p> + +<p>"On the morrow, Francesco and +Bianca were dead. A physician opened +their bodies by order of Ferdinand, and +declared that they had fallen victims to +a malignant fever. Three days after, +the Cardinal threw down his red hat, +and ascended the ducal throne."—P. 63.</p></div> + +<p>But presto! Mr Dumas is traveller +as well as annalist He must +leave the Middle Ages to themselves; +the present moment has its exigences; +he must look to himself and his baggage. +He had great difficulty in doing +this on his landing at the Port of +Livorno; and now, on his departure, +he is beset with <i>vetturini</i>. Let us recur +to some of these miseries of travel, +which may at least claim a wide +sympathy, for most of us are familiar +with them. It is not necessary even +to leave our own island to find how +great an embarrassment too much help +may prove, but we certainly have +nothing in our own experience quite +equal to the lively picture of M. +Dumas:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"I have visited many ports—I have +traversed many towns—I have contended +with the porters of Avignon—with +the <i>facchini</i> of Malta, and with the innkeepers +of Messina, but I never entered +so villanous a place as Livorno.</p> + +<p>"In every other country of the world +there is some possibility of defending +your baggage, of bargaining for its +transport to the hotel; and if no treaty +can be made, there is at least liberty +given to load your own shoulders with +it, and be your own porter. Nothing of +this kind at Livorno. The vessel which +brings you has not yet touched the +shore when it is boarded; <i>commissionnaires</i> +absolutely rain upon you, you know +not whence; they spring upon the jetty, +throw themselves on the nearest vessel, +and glide down upon you from the rigging. +Seeing that your little craft is +in danger of being capsized by their +numbers, you think of self-preservation, +and grasping hold of some green and +slimy steps, you cling there, like Crusoe +to his rock; then, after many efforts, +having lost your hat, and scarified your +knees, and torn your nails, you at length +stand on the pier. So much for yourself. +As to your baggage, it has been +already divided into as many lots as +there are articles; you have a porter +for your portmanteau, a porter for your +dressing-case, a porter for your hat-box, +a porter for your umbrella, a porter +for your cane. If there are two of +you, that makes ten porters; if three, +fifteen; as we were four, we had twenty. +A twenty-first wished to take Milord +(the dog,) but Milord, who permits +no liberties, took him by the calf, and +we had to pinch his tail till he consented +to unlock his teeth. The porter followed +us, crying that the dog had lamed him, +and that he would compel us to make +compensation. The people rose in tumult; +and we arrived at the <i>Pension +Suisse</i> with twenty porters before us, +and a rabble of two hundred behind.</p> + +<p>"It cost us forty francs for our portmanteaus, +umbrellas, and canes, and ten +francs for the bitten leg.<a name="footnotetag1" id="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> In all, fifty +francs for about fifty steps."—P. 59.</p></div> + +<p>This was on his landing at Livorno: +on his departure he gives us an account, +equally graphic, of the <i>vetturini</i>:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"A diligence is a creature that leaves +at a fixed hour, and its passengers run +to it; a vetturino leaves at all hours, +and runs after its passengers. Hardly +have you set your foot out of the boat +that brings you from the steam-vessel +to the shore, than you are assailed, +stifled, dragged, deafened by twenty +drivers, who look on you as their merchandise, +and treat you accordingly, and +would end by carrying you off bodily, if +they could agree among them who should +have the booty. Families have been +separated at the port of Livorno, to find +each other how they could in the streets +of Florence. In vain you jump into a +<i>fiacre</i>, they leap up before, above, behind; +and at the gate of the hotel, there +you are in the midst of the same group +of villains, who are only the more clamorous +for having been kept waiting. +Reduced to extremities, you declare that +you have come to Livorno upon commercial +business, and that you intend +staying eight days at least, and you ask +of the <i>garçon</i>, loud enough for all to +hear, if there is an apartment at liberty +for the next week. At this they will +sometimes abandon the prey, which they +reckon upon seizing at some future time; +they run back with all haste to the port +to catch some other traveller, and you +are free.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, if about an hour after +this you should wish to leave the hotel, +you will find one or two sentinels at the +gate. These are connected with the +hotel, and they have been forewarned +by the <i>garçon</i> that it will not be eight +days before you leave—that, in fact, you +will leave to-morrow. These it is absolutely +necessary that you call in, and +make your treaty with. If you should +have the imprudence to issue forth into +the street, fifty of the brotherhood will +be attracted by their clamours, and the +scene of the port will be renewed. They +will ask ten piastres for a carriage—you +will offer five. They will utter piercing +cries of dissent—you will shut the door +upon them. In three minutes one of +them will climb in at the window, and +engage with you for the five piastres.</p> + +<p>"This treaty concluded, you are +sacred to all the world; in five minutes +the report is spread through all Livorno +that you are <i>engaged</i>. You may then +go where you please; every one salutes +you, wishes you <i>bon voyage</i>; you would +think yourself amongst the most disinterested +people in the world."—P. 94.</p></div> + +<p>The only question that remains to +be decided is that of the drink-money—the +<i>buona-mano</i>, as the Italian calls +it. This is a matter of grave importance, +and should be gravely considered. +On this <i>buona-mano</i> depends +the rapidity of your journey; for the +time may vary at the will of the driver +from six to twelve hours. Hereupon +M. Dumas tells an amusing story +of a Russian prince, which not only +proves how efficient a cause this <i>buona +mano</i> may be in the accomplishment +of the journey, but also illustrates very +forcibly a familiar principle of our +own jurisprudence, and a point to +which the Italian traveller must pay +particular attention. We doubt if the +necessity of a written agreement, in +order to enforce the terms of a contract, +was ever made more painfully +evident than in the following instance:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"The Prince C—— had arrived, +with his mother and a German servant, +at Livorno. Like every other traveller +who arrives at Livorno, he had sought +immediately the most expeditious means +of departure. These, as we have said, +present themselves in sufficient abundance; +the only difficulty is, to know +how to use them.</p> + +<p>"The vetturini had learnt from the +industrious porters that they had to deal +with a prince. Consequently they demanded +twelve piastres instead of ten, +and the prince, instead of offering five, +conceded the twelve piastres, but stipulated +that this should include every +thing, especially the <i>buona-mano</i>, which +the master should settle with the driver. +'Very good,' said the vetturini; the +prince paid his twelve piastres, and the +carriage started off, with him and his +baggage, at full gallop. It was nine +o'clock in the morning: according to his +calculation, the Prince would be at +Florence about three or four in the +afternoon.</p> + +<p>"They had advanced about a quarter +of a league when the horses relaxed their +speed, and began to walk step by step. +As to the driver, he sang upon his seat, +interrupting himself now and then to +gossip with such acquaintances as he +met upon the road; and as it is ill talking +and progressing at the same time, +he soon brought himself to a full stop +when he had occasion for conference.</p> + +<p>"The prince endured this for some +time; at length putting his head out of +the window, he said, in the purest Tuscan, +'<i>Avanti! avanti! tirate via!</i>'</p> + +<p>"'How much do you give for <i>buona-mano</i>?' +answered the driver, turning +round upon his box.</p> + +<p>"'Why do you speak to me of your +<i>buona-mano</i>?' said the prince. 'I have +given your master twelve piastres, on condition +that it should include every thing.'</p> + +<p>"'The <i>buona-mano</i> does not concern +the master,' responded the driver; 'how +much do you give?'</p> + +<p>"'Not a sou—I have paid.'</p> + +<p>"'Then, your excellence, we will +continue our walk.'</p> + +<p>"'Your master has engaged to take +me to Florenco in six hours,' said the +Prince.</p> + +<p>"'Where is the paper that says that—the +written paper, your excellence?'</p> + +<p>"'Paper! what need of a paper for +so simple a matter? I have no paper.'</p> + +<p>"'Then, your excellence, we will +continue our walk.'</p> + +<p>"'Ah, we will see that!' said the +Prince.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, we <i>will</i> see that!' said the +driver.</p> + +<p>"Hereupon the prince spoke to his +German servant, Frantz, who was sitting +beside the coachman, and bade him administer +due correction to this refractory +fellow.</p> + +<p>"Frantz descended from the voiture +without uttering a word, pulled down +the driver from his seat, and pummelled +him with true German gravity. Then +pointing to the road, helped him on his +box, and reseated himself by his side. +The driver proceeded—a little slower +than before. One wearies of all things +in this world, even of beating a coachman. +The prince, reasoning with himself +that, fast or slow, he must at length +arrive at his journey's end, counselled +the princess his mother to compose herself +to sleep; and, burying himself in +one corner of the carriage, gave her the +example.</p> + +<p>"The driver occupied six hours in +going from Livorno to Pontedera; just +four hours more than was necessary. +Arrived at Pontedera, he invited the +Prince to descend, as he was about to +change the carriage.</p> + +<p>"'But,' said the Prince, 'I have given +twelve piastres to your master on condition +that the carriage should not be +changed.'</p> + +<p>"'Where is the paper?'</p> + +<p>"'Fellow, you know I have none.'</p> + +<p>"'In that case, your excellence, we +will change the carriage.'</p> + +<p>"The prince was half-disposed to +break the rascal's bones himself; but, +besides that this would have compromised +his dignity, he saw, from the countenances +of those who stood loitering +round the carriage, that it would be a +very imprudent step. He descended; +they threw his baggage down upon the +pavement, and after about an hour's +delay, brought out a miserable dislocated +carriage and two broken-winded horses.</p> + +<p>"Under any other circumstances the +Prince would have been generous—would +have been lavish; but he had insisted +upon his right, he was resolved not to +be conquered. Into this ill-conditioned +vehicle he therefore doggedly entered, +and as the new driver had been forewarned +that there would be no <i>buona-mano</i>, +the equipage started amidst the +laughter and jeers of the mob.</p> + +<p>"This time the horses were such +wretched animals that it would have been +out of conscience to expect anything +more than a walk from them. It took +six more hours to go from Pontedera to +Empoli.</p> + +<p>"Arrived at Empoli the driver stopped, +and presented himself at the door +of the carriage.</p> + +<p>"'Your excellence sleeps here,' said +he to the prince.</p> + +<p>"'How! are we at Florence?'</p> + +<p>"'No, your excellence, you are at the +charming little town of Empoli.'</p> + +<p>"'I paid twelve piastres to your master +to go to Florence, not to Empoli. I +will sleep at Florence.'</p> + +<p>"'Where is the paper?'</p> + +<p>"'To the devil with your paper!'</p> + +<p>"'Your excellence then has no paper?'</p> + +<p>"'No.'</p> + +<p>"'In that case, your excellence now +will sleep at Empoli!'</p> + +<p>"In a few minutes afterwards the +prince found himself driven under a kind +of archway. It was a coach-house +belonging to an inn. On his expressing +surprise at being driven into this sort of +place, and repeating his determination +to proceed to Florence, the coachman +said, that, at all events, he must change +his horses; and that this was the most +convenient place for so doing. In fact, +he took out his horses, and led them +away.</p> + +<p>"After waiting some time for his +return, the prince called to Frantz, and +bade him open the door of this +coach-house, and bring somebody.</p> + +<p>"Frantz obeyed, but found the door +shut—fastened.</p> + +<p>"On hearing that they were shut in, +the prince started from the carriage, +shook the gates with all his might, called +out lustily, and looked about, but in vain, +for some paving stone with which to +batter them open.</p> + +<p>"Now the prince was a man of admirable +good sense; so, having satisfied +himself that the people in the house +either could not, or would not hear him, +he determined to make the best of his +position. Re-entering the carriage, he +drew up the glasses, looked to his pistols, +stretched out his legs, and wishing +his mother good night, went off to sleep. +Frantz did the same on his post. The +princess was not so fortunate; she was +in perpetual terror of some ambush, and +kept her eyes wide open all the night.</p> + +<p>"So the night passed. At seven +o'clock in the morning the door of the +coach-house opened, and a driver +appeared with a couple of horses.</p> + +<p>"'Are there not some travellers for +Florence here?' he asked with the tone +of perfect politeness, and as if he were +putting the most natural question in the +world.</p> + +<p>"The prince leapt from the carriage +with the intention of strangling the +man—but it was another driver!</p> + +<p>"'Where is the rascal that brought +us here?' he demanded.</p> + +<p>"'What, Peppino? Does your excellence +mean Peppino?'</p> + +<p>"'The driver from Pontedera?'</p> + +<p>"'Ah, well, that was Peppino.'</p> + +<p>"'Then where is Peppino?'</p> + +<p>"'He is on his road home. Yes, your +excellence. You see it was the fête of +the Madonna, and we danced and drank +together—I and Peppino—all the night; +and this morning about an hour ago says +he to me, 'Gaetano, do you take your +horses, and go find two travellers and a +servant who are under a coach-house at +the <i>Croix d'Or</i>; all is paid except the +<i>buona-mano</i>.' And I asked him, your +excellence, how it happened that travellers +were sleeping in a coach-house +instead of in a chamber. 'Oh,' said he, +'they are English—they are afraid of not +having clean sheets, and so they prefer +to sleep in their carriage in the +coach-house.' Now as I know the English are +a nation of originals, I supposed it was +all right, and so I emptied another flask, +and got my horses, and here I am. If +I am too early I will return, and come +by and by.</p> + +<p>"'No, no, in the devil's name,' said +the prince, 'harness your beasts, and do +not lose a moment. There is a piastre +for your <i>buona-mano</i>.'</p> + +<p>"They were soon at Florence.</p> + +<p>"The first care of the prince, after +having breakfasted, for neither he nor +the princess had eaten any thing since +they had left Livorno, was to lay his +complaint before a magistrate.</p> + +<p>"'Where is the paper?' said the +judicial authority.</p> + +<p>"'I have none,' said the prince.</p> + +<p>"'Then I counsel you,' replied the +judge, 'to let the matter drop. Only +the next time give five piastres to the +master, and a piastre and a half to the +driver; you will save five piastres and a +half, and arrive eighteen hours +sooner.'"—P. 97.</p></div> + +<p>M. Dumas, however, arrives at +Florence without any such disagreeable +adventure as sleeping in a coach-house. +He gives a pleasing description +of the Florentine people, amongst +whom the spirit of commerce has died +away, but left behind a considerable +share of the wealth and luxury that +sprang from it. There is little spirit +of enterprise; no rivalry between a +class enriching itself and the class +with whom wealth is hereditary; the +jewels that were purchased under the +reign of the Medici still shine without +competitors on the promenade and at +the opera. It is a people that has +made its fortune, and lives contentedly +on its revenues, and on what it gets +from the stranger. "The first want of +a Florentine," says our author, "is repose; +even pleasure is secondary; it +costs him some little effort to be amused. +Wearied of its frequent political +convulsions, the town of the Medici +aspires only to that unbroken and enchanted +slumber which fell, as the +fairy tale informs us, on the beautiful +lady in the sleepy wood. No one here +seems to labour, except those who are +tolling and ringing the church-bells, +and they indeed appear to have rest +neither day nor night."</p> + +<p>There are but three classes visible +in Florence. The nobility—the foreigner—and +the people. The nobility, +a few princely houses excepted, +spend but little, the people work but +little, and it would be a marvel how +these last lived if it were not for the +foreigner. Every autumn brings them +their harvest in the shape of a swarm +of travellers from England, France, +or Russia, and, we may now add, +America. The winter pays for the +long delicious indolence of the summer. +Then the populace lounges, +with interminable leisure, in their +churches, on their promenades, round +the doors of coffee-houses that are +never closed either day or night; they +follow their religious processions; they +cluster with an easy good-natured curiosity +round every thing that wears +the appearance of a fête; taking whatever +amusement presents itself, without +caring to detain it, and quitting it +without the least distrust that some +other quite as good will occupy its +place. "One evening we were roused," +says our traveller, "by a noise in the +street: two or three musicians of the +opera, on leaving the theatre, had +taken a fancy to go home playing a +waltz. The scattered population of +the streets arranged themselves, and +followed waltzing. The men who +could find no better partners, waltzed +together. Five or six hundred persons +were enjoying this impromptu ball, +which kept its course from the opera +house to the Port del Prato, where +the last musician resided. The last +musician having entered his house, +the waltzers returned arm-in-arm, +still humming the air to which they +had been dancing."</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"It follows," continues M. Dumas, +"from this commercial apathy, that at +Florence you must seek after every +thing you want. It never comes of +itself—never presents itself before you;—everything +there stays at home—rests +in its own place. A foreigner +who should remain only a month in the +capital of Tuscany would carry away a +very false idea of it. At first it seems +impossible to procure the things the +most indispensable, or those you do procure +are bad; it is only after some time +that you learn, and that not from the +inhabitants, but from other foreigners +who have resided there longer than +yourself, where anything is to be got. +At the end of six months you are still +making discoveries of this sort; so that +people generally quit Tuscany at the +time they have learned to live there. It +results from all this that every time +you visit Florence you like it the better; +if you should revisit it three or +four times you would probably end by +making of it a second country, and +passing there the remainder of your +lives."<a name="footnotetag2" id="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a></p></div> + +<p>Shall we visit the churches of Florence +with M. Dumas? No, we are +not in the vein. Shall we go with +him to the theatres—to the opera—to +the Pergola? Yes, but not to discuss +the music or the dancing. Every +body knows that at the great theatres +of Italy the fashionable part of the +audience pay very little attention to +the music, unless it be a new opera, +but make compensation by listening +devoutly to the ballet. The Pergola +is the great resort of fashion. A +box at the Pergola, and a carriage +for the banks of the Arno, are the <i>indispensables</i>, +we are told, at Florence. +Who has these, may eat his macaroni +where he pleases—may dine for +sixpence if he will, or can: it is his +own affair, the world is not concerned +about it—he is still a gentleman, and +ranks with nobles. Who has them +not—though he be derived from the +loins of emperors, and dine every +day off plate of gold, and with a dozen +courses—is still nobody. Therefore +regulate your expenditure accordingly, +all ye who would be somebody. +We go with M. Dumas to +the opera, not, as we have said, for +the music or the dancing, but because, +as is the way with dramatic authors, +he will there introduce us, for the +sake of contrast with an institution +very different from that of an operatic +company—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"Sometimes in the midst of a cavatina +or a <i>pas-de-deux</i>, a bell with a +sharp, shrill, excoriating sound, will be +heard; it is the bell <i>della misericordia</i>. +Listen: if it sound but once, it is for +some ordinary accident; if twice, for +one of a serious nature; if it sounds +three times, it is a case of death. If +you look around, you will see a slight +stir in some of the boxes, and it will +often happen that the person you have +been speaking to, if a Florentine, will +excuse himself for leaving you, will +quietly take his hat and depart. You +inquire what that bell means, and why +it produces so strange an effect. You +are told it is the bell <i>della misericordia</i>, +and that he with whom you were speaking +is a brother of the order.</p> + +<p>"This brotherhood of mercy is one +of the noblest institutions in the world. +It was founded in 1244, on occasion of +the frequent pestilences which at that +period desolated the town, and it has +been perpetuated to the present day, +without any alteration, except in its +details—with none in its purely charitable +spirit. It is composed of seventy-two +brothers, called chiefs of the watch, who +are each in service four months in the +year. Of these seventy-two brothers, +thirty are priests, fourteen gentlemen, +and twenty-eight artists. To these, +who represent the aristocratic classes +and the liberal arts, are added 500 labourers +and workmen, who may be said +to represent the people.</p> + +<p>"The seat of the brotherhood is in +the place <i>del Duomo</i>. Each brother +has there, marked with his own name, a +box enclosing a black robe like that of +the <i>penitents</i>, with openings only for the +eyes and mouth, in order that his good +actions may have the further merit of +being performed in secret. Immediately +that the news of any accident or disaster +is brought to the brother who is upon +guard, the bell sounds its alarm, once, +twice, or thrice, according to the gravity +of the case; and at the sound of the +bell every brother, wherever he may be, +is bound to retire at the instant, and +hasten to the rendezvous. There he +learns what misfortune or what suffering +has claimed his pious offices; he +puts on his black robe and a broad hat, +takes the taper in his hand, and goes +forth where the voice of misery has +called him. If it is some wounded man, +they bear him to the hospital; if the +man is dead, to a chapel: the nobleman +and the day labourer, clothed with the +same robe, support together the same +litter, and the link which unites these +two extremes of society is some sick +pauper, who, knowing neither, is praying +equally for both. And when these brothers +of mercy have quitted the house, +the children whose father they have +carried out, or the wife whose husband +they have borne away, have but to look +around them, and always, on some +worm-eaten piece of furniture, there +will be found a pious alms, deposited by +an unknown hand.</p> + +<p>"The Grand-duke himself is a member +of this fraternity, and I have been +assured that more than once, at the +sound of that melancholy bell, he has +clothed himself in the uniform of charity, +and penetrated unknown, side by +side with a day-labourer, to the bed's +head of some dying wretch, and that +his presence had afterwards been detected +only by the alms he had left behind."—p. 126.</p></div> + +<p>It is not to be supposed that our +dramatist pursues the same direct and +unadventurous route that lies open to +every citizen of Paris and London. +At the end of the first volume we +leave him still at Florence; we open +the second, and we find him and his +companion Jadin, and his companion's +dog Milord, standing at the port of +Naples, looking out for some vessel +to take them to Sicily. So that we +have travels in Italy with Rome left +out. Not that he did not visit Rome, +but that we have no "souvenirs" of +his visit here. As the book is a mere +<i>capriccio</i>, there can be no possible objection +taken to it on this score. Besides, +the island of Sicily, which becomes +the chief scene of his adventures, +is less beaten ground. Nor do +we hear much of Naples, for he quits +Naples almost as soon as he had entered +it. This last fact requires explanation.</p> + +<p>M. Dumas has had the honour to +be an object of terror or of animosity +to crowned heads. When at Genoa, +his Sardinian Majesty manifested this +hostility to M. Dumas—we presume +on account of his too liberal politics—by +dispatching an emissary of the +police to notify to him that he must +immediately depart from Genoa. +Which emissary of his Sardinian +Majesty had no sooner delivered his +royal sentence of deportation, than +he extended his hand for a <i>pour boire</i>. +Either M. Dumas must be a far more +formidable person than we have any +notion of, or majesty can be very nervous, +or very spiteful. And now, +when he is about to enter Naples——but +why do we presume to relate M. +Dumas's personal adventures in any +other language than his own? or language +as near his own as we—who +are, we must confess, imperfect translators—can +hope to give.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"The very evening of our arrival at +Naples, Jadin and I ran to the port to +enquire if by chance any vessel, whether +steam-boat or sailing packet, would +leave on the morrow for Sicily. As it is +not the ordinary custom for travellers +to go to Naples to remain there a few +hours only, let me say a word on the +circumstance that compelled us to this +hasty departure.</p> + +<p>"We had left Paris with the intention +of traversing the whole of Italy, +including Sicily and Calabria; and, putting +this project into scrupulous execution, +we had already visited Nice, Genoa, +Milan, Florence, and Rome, when, +after a sojourn of about three weeks at +this last city, I had the honour to meet, +at the Marquis de P——'s, our own +<i>chargé des affaires</i>, the Count de Ludorf, +the Neapolitan ambassador. As I was +to leave in a few days for Naples, the +Marquis introduced me to his brother in +diplomacy. M. de Ludorf received me +with that cold and vacant smile which +pledges to nothing; nevertheless, after +this introduction, I thought myself bound +to carry to him our passports myself. +M. de Ludorf had the civility to tell me +to deposit the passports at his office, and +to call there for them the day after the +morrow.</p> + +<p>"Two days having elapsed, I accordingly +presented myself at the office: I +found a clerk there, who, with the utmost +politeness, informed me that some +difficulties having arisen on the subject +of my <i>visa</i>, I had better make an application +to the ambassador himself. I was +obliged, therefore, whatever resolution +I had made to the contrary, to present +myself again to M. de Ludorf.</p> + +<p>"I found the ambassador more cold, +more measured than before, but reflecting +that it would probably be the last +time I should have the honour of seeing +him, I resigned myself. He motioned +to me to take a chair. This was some +improvement upon the last visit; the last +visit he left me standing.</p> + +<p>"'Monsieur,' said he, with a certain +air of embarrassment, and drawing out, +one after the other, the folds of his +shirt-front, 'I regret to say that you +cannot go to Naples.'</p> + +<p>"'Why so?' I replied, determined +to impose upon our dialogue whatever +tone I thought fit—'are the roads so +bad?'</p> + +<p>"'No, monsieur; the roads are excellent, +but you have the misfortune to +be on the list of those who cannot enter +the kingdom of Naples.'</p> + +<p>"'However honourable such a distinction +may be, monsieur l'ambassadeur,' +said I, suiting my tone to the words, 'it +will at present be rather inconvenient, +and I trust you will permit me to inquire +into the cause of this prohibition. +If it is nothing but one of those slight +and vexatious interruptions which one +meets with perpetually in Italy, I have +some friends about the world who might +have influence sufficient to remove it.'</p> + +<p>"'The cause is one of a grave nature, +and I doubt if your friends, of +whatever rank they may be, will have +influence to remove it.'</p> + +<p>"'What may it be?'</p> + +<p>"'In the first place, you are the son +of General Matthieu Dumas, who was +minister of war at Naples during the +usurpation of Joseph.'</p> + +<p>"'I am sorry,' I answered, 'to be +obliged to decline any relationship with +that illustrious general. My father was +not General Matthieu, but General +Alexandre Dumas. The same,' I continued, +seeing that he was endeavouring +to recall some reminiscences connected +with the name of Dumas, 'who, after +having been made prisoner at Tarentum, +in contempt of the rights of hospitality, +was poisoned at Brindisi, with Mauscourt +and Dolomieu, in contempt of +the rights of nations. This happened, +monsieur l'ambassadeur, at the same +time that they hanged Carracciolo in +the Gulf of Naples. You see I do all +I can to assist your recollection.'</p> + +<p>"M. de Ludorf bit his lips.</p> + +<p>"'Well, monsieur,' he resumed after +a moment's silence, 'there is a second +reason—your political opinions. You +are marked out as a republican, and +have quitted Paris, it is said, on some +political design.'</p> + +<p>"'To which I answer, monsieur, +by showing you my letters of introduction. +They bear nearly all the seals and +signatures of our ministers. Here is +one from the Admiral Jacob, another +from Marshal Soult, another from M. +de Villemain; they claim for me the aid +of the French ambassador in any case +of this description.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, well,' said M. de Ludorf, +'since you have foreseen the very difficulty +that has occurred, meet it with +those means which are in your power. +For me, I repeat, I cannot sign your +passport. Those of your companions +are quite regular; they can proceed +when they please; but they must proceed +without you.'</p> + +<p>"'Has the Count de Ludorf' said I, +rising, 'any commissions for Naples?'</p> + +<p>"'Why so, monsieur?'</p> + +<p>"'Because I shall have great pleasure +in undertaking them.'</p> + +<p>"'But I repeat, you cannot go to +Naples.'</p> + +<p>"'I shall be there in three days.'</p> + +<p>"I wished M. de Ludorf good morning, +and left him stupefied at my assurance."—Vol. +ii. p. 5.</p></div> + +<p>Our dramatical traveller ran immediately +to a young friend, an artist +then studying at Rome, and prevailed +on him to take out a passport, in his +own name for Naples. Fortified +with this passport, and assuming the +name of his friend, he left Rome that +evening. The following day he reached +Naples. But as he was exposed +every moment to detection, it was necessary +that he should pass over immediately +to Sicily. The steam-boats +at Naples, unlike the steam-boats +every where else, start at no fixed period. +The captain waits for his contingent +of passengers, and till this has +been obtained both he and his vessel +are immovable. M. Dumas and his +companion, therefore, hired a small +sailing vessel, a <i>speronara</i> as it is +called, in which they embarked the +next morning. But before weighing +anchor M. Dumas took from his portfolio +the neatest, purest, whitest, sheet +of paper that it contained, and indited +the following letter to the Count de +Ludorf:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"Monsieur le Comte, + +<p>"I am distressed that your excellency +did not think fit to charge me with your +commissions for Naples. I should have +executed them with a fidelity which +would have convinced you of the grateful +recollection I retain of your kind +offices.</p> + +<p>"Accept, M. le Comte, the assurance +of those lively sentiments which I entertain +towards you, and of which, one day +or other, I hope to give you proof.</p> + +<p>"ALEX. DUMAS."</p> + +<p>"Naples, 23d Aug. 1835."</p></div> + +<p>With the crew of this <i>speronara</i> +we became as familiar as with the +personages of a novel; and, indeed, +about this time the novelist begins to +predominate over the tourist.</p> + +<p>On leaving the bay of Naples our +traveller first makes for the island of +Capri. The greatest curiosity which +he here visits and describes in the +<i>azure grotto</i>. He and his companion +are rowed, each in a small skiff, to a +narrow dark aperture upon the rocky +coast, and which appears the darker +from its contrast with the white surf +that is dashing about it. He is told +to lie down on his back in the boat, to +protect his head from a concussion +against the low roof.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"In a moment after I was borne upon +the surge—the bark glided on with rapidity—I +saw nothing but a dark rock, +which seemed for a second to be weighing +on my chest. Then on a sudden I +found myself in a grotto so marvellous +that I uttered a cry of astonishment, +and started up in my admiration with a +bound which endangered the frail bark +on which I stood.</p> + +<p>"I had before me, around me, above +me, beneath me, a perfect enchantment, +which words cannot describe, and which +the pencil would utterly fail to give any +impression of. Imagine an immense +cavern, all pure azure—as if God had +made a tent there with some residue +of the firmament; a surface of water +so limpid, so transparent, that you +seem to float on air: above you, the +pendant stalactites, huge and fantastical, +reversed pyramids and pinnacles: below +you a sand of gold mingled with marine +vegetation; and around the margin of +cave, where it is bathed by the water, +the coral shooting out its capricious and +glittering branches. That narrow entrance +which, from the sea, showed like +a dark spot, now shone at one end a luminous +point, the solitary star which +gave its subdued light to this fairy palace; +whilst at the opposite extremity a +sort of alcove led on the imagination to +expect new wonders, or perhaps the apparition +of the nymph or goddess of the +place.</p> + +<p>"In all probability the azure grotto +was unknown to the ancients. No poet +speaks of it; and surely with their +marvellous imagination the Greeks could +not have failed to make it the palace of +some marine goddess, and to have +transmitted to us her history. The sea, +perhaps, was higher than it is now, and the +secrets of this cave were known only +to Amphitrite and her court of sirens, +naiads, and tritons.</p> + +<p>"Even now at times the sea rises and +closes the orifice, so that those who have +entered cannot escape. In which case +they must wait till the wind, which had +suddenly shifted to the east or west, +returns to the north or south; and it has +happened that visitors who came to +spend twenty minutes in the azure grotto, +have remained there two, three, and +even four days. To provide against +such an emergency, the boatmen always +bring with them a certain quantity of +biscuit to feed the prisoners, and as the +rock affords fresh water in several places, +there is no fear of thirst. It was not +till we had been in the grotto some time +that our boatmen communicated this +piece of information; we were disposed +to reproach them for this delay, but they +answered with the utmost simplicity, +that if they told this at first to travellers, +half of them would decline coming, +and this would injure the boatmen.</p> + +<p>"I confess that this little piece of information +raised a certain disquietude, +and I found the azure grotto infinitely +less agreeable to the imagination.... +We again laid ourselves down at the +bottom of our respective canoes, and +issued forth with the same precautions, +and the same good fortune, with which +we had entered. But we were some +minutes before we could open our eyes; +the burning sun upon the glittering +ocean absolutely blinded us. We had +not gone many yards, however, before +the eye recovered itself, and all that we +had seen in the azure grotto had the +consistency of a dream."</p></div> + +<p>From Capri our travellers proceed +to Sicily. We have a long story and +a violent storm upon the passage, and +are landed at Messina. Here M. Dumas +enlarges his experience by an acquaintance +with the <i>Sirocco</i>. His +companion, M. Jadin, had been taken +ill, and a physician had been called +in.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"The doctor had ordered that the +patient (who was suffering under a fever) +should be exposed to all the air +possible, that doors and windows should +be opened, and he should be placed in +the current. This was done; but on the +present evening, to my astonishment, +instead of the fresh breeze of the night—which +was wont to blow the fresher +from our neighbourhood to the sea—there +entered at the open window a dry +hot wind like the air from a furnace. I +waited for the morning, but the morning +brought no change in the state of +the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>"My patient had suffered greatly +through the night. I rang the bell for +some lemonade, the only drink the doctor +had recommended; but no one answered +the summons. I rang again, and a +third time: still no one came; at length +seeing that the mountain would not +come to me, I went to the mountain. I +wandered through the corridor, and entered +apartment after apartment, and +found no one to address. It was nine +o'clock in the morning, yet the master +and mistress of the house had not left +their room, and not a domestic was at +his post. It was quite incomprehensible.</p> + +<p>"I descended to the portico; I found +him lying on an old sofa all in tatters, +the principal ornament of his room, and +asked him why the house was thus deserted.</p> + +<p>"'Ah, monsieur!' said he, 'do you not +feel the sirocco?'</p> + +<p>"'Sirocco or not, is this a reason why +no one should come when I call?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, monsieur, when it is sirocco no +one does any thing!'</p> + +<p>"'And your travellers, who is to wait +upon them?'</p> + +<p>"'On those days they wait upon themselves.'</p> + +<p>"I begged pardon of this respectable +official for having disturbed him; he +heaved such a sigh as indicated that it +required a great amount of Christian +charity to grant the pardon I had asked.</p> + +<p>"The hour arrived when the doctor +should have paid his visit, and no doctor +came. I presumed that the sirocco detained +him also; but as the state of +Jadin appeared to me alarming, I resolved +to go and rouse my Esculapius, +and bring him, willing or unwilling, to +the hotel. I took my hat and sallied +forth.</p> + +<p>"Messina had the appearance of a +city of the dead: not an inhabitant was +walking in the streets, not a head was +seen at the windows. The mendicants +themselves (and he who has not seen the +Sicilian mendicant, knows not what +wretchedness is,) lay in the corners of +the streets, stretched out, doubled up, +panting, without strength to stretch out +their hand for charity, or voice to ask +an alms. Pompeii, which I visited three +months afterwards, was not more silent, +more solitary, more inanimate.</p> + +<p>"I reached the doctor's. I rang, I +knocked, no one answered. I pushed +against the door, it opened;—I entered, +and pursued my search for the doctor.</p> + +<p>"I traversed three or four apartments. +There were women lying upon +sofas, and children sprawling on the +floor. Not one even raised a head to +look at me. At last, in one of the +rooms, the door of which was, like the +rest, half-open, I found the man I was +in quest of, stretched upon his bed.</p> + +<p>"I went up to him, I took him by the +hand, and felt his pulse.</p> + +<p>"'Ah,' said he, with a melancholy +voice, and scarcely turning his head towards +me, 'Is that you? What can you +want?'</p> + +<p>"'Want!--I want you to come and +see my friend, who is no better, as it +seems to me.'</p> + +<p>"'Go and see your friend!' cried +the doctor, in a fright—'impossible!'</p> + +<p>"'Why impossible?'</p> + +<p>"He made a desperate effort to move, +and taking his cane in his left hand, +passed his right hand slowly down it, +from the golden head that adorned it +to the other extremity. 'Look you,' +said he, 'my cane sweats.'</p> + +<p>"And, in fact, there fell some globules +of water from it, such an effect has +this terrible wind even on inanimate +things.</p> + +<p>"'Well,' said I, 'and what does that +prove?'</p> + +<p>"'That proves, that at such a time +as this, there are no physicians, all are +patients.<a name="footnotetag3" id="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a>'"—P. 175.</p></div> + +<p>Seeing there was no chance of +bringing the doctor to the hotel, unless +he carried him there by main +force, Mr Dumas contented himself +with relating the symptoms of his +friend. To drink lemonade—much +lemonade—all the lemonade he could +swallow, was the only prescription +that the physician gave. And the +simple remedy seems to have sufficed; +for the patient shortly after recovered.</p> + +<p>Not the least agreeable portion of +these travels, is the pleasant impression +they leave of the traveller himself, +one who has his humours doubtless, +but who is social, buoyant, +brave, generous, and enterprising. A +Frenchman—as a chemist, in his peculiar +language, would say—is a creature +"endowed with a considerable +range of affinity." Our traveller has +this range of affinity; he wins the +heart of all and several—the crew of +his <i>speronara.</i> We will close with +the following extract, both because it +shows the frank and lively feelings of +the Frenchman, and because it introduces +a name dear to all lovers of +melody. The father of Bellini was a +Sicilian, and Dumas was in Sicily.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"It was while standing on this spot, +that I asked my guide if he knew the +father of Bellini. At this question he +turned, and pointing out to me an old +man who was passing in a little carriage +drawn by one horse—'Look you,' said +he, 'there he is, taking his ride into the +country!'</p> + +<p>"I ran to the carriage and stopped +it, knowing that he is never intrusive +who speaks to a father of his son, and +of such a son as Bellini's. At the first +mention of his name, the old man took +me by both hands, and asked me eagerly +if I really knew his son. I drew from +my portfolio a letter of introduction, +which, on my departure from Paris, +Bellini had given me for the Duchess de +Noja, and asked him if he knew the +handwriting. He took the letter in his +hands, and answered only by kissing the +superscription.</p> + +<p>"'Ah,' said he, turning round to me, +'you know not how good he is! We +are not rich. Well, at each success there +comes some remembrance, something to +add to the ease and comfort of an old +man. If you will come home with me, +I will show you how many things I owe +to his goodness. Every success brings +something new. This watch I carry +with me, was from <i>Norma</i>; this little +carriage and horse, from <i>the Puritans</i>. +In every letter that he writes, he says +that he will come; but Paris is far from +Sicily. I do not trust to this promise—I +am afraid that I shall die without +seeing him again. You will see him, +you——'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' I answered, 'and if you have +any commission——'</p> + +<p>"'No—what should I send him?—My +blessing?—Dear boy, I give it him +night and morning. But tell him you +have given me a happy day by speaking +to me of him—tell him that I embraced +you as an old friend—(and he embraced +me)—but you need not say that I was +in tears. Besides,' he added, 'it is with +joy that I weep.—And is it true that +my son has a reputation?'</p> + +<p>"'Indeed a very great reputation.'</p> + +<p>"'How strange!' said the old man, +'who would have thought it, when I +used to scold him, because, instead of +working, he would be eternally beating +time, and teaching his sister all the old +Sicilian airs! Well, these things are +written above. I wish I could see him +before I die.—But your name?' he added, +'I have forgotten all this time to +ask your name.'</p> + +<p>"I told him: it woke no recollection.</p> + +<p>"'Alexandre Dumas, Alexandre Dumas,' +he repeated two or three times, 'I +shall recollect that he who bears that +name has given me good news of my +son. Adieu! Alexandre Dumas—I shall +recollect that name—Adieu!'</p> + +<p>"Poor old man! I am sure he has +not forgotten it; for the news I gave +him of his son was the last he was ever +to receive."—P. 226.</p></div> + +<p>Sicily is one of those <i>romantic</i> +countries, where you may still meet +with adventures in your travels, where +you may be shot at by banditti with +pointed hats and long guns. M. Dumas +passes not without his share of +such adventures. Perhaps, as Sicily +is less trodden ground than Italy, his +"Souvenirs" will be found more interesting +as he proceeds. We have +naturally taken our quotations in the +order in which they presented themselves, +and we have not advanced further +than the second of the five delectably +small volumes in which these +travels are printed. Would our space +permit us to proceed, it is probable +that our extracts would increase, instead +of diminishing, in interest.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<a name="bw329s2" id="bw329s2"></a><h2>AMMALÁT BEK.</h2> + +<h3>A TRUE TALE OF THE CAUCASUS. FROM THE RUSSIAN OF MARLÍNSKI.</h3> + +<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> +<br> + +<p><i>Fragments from the Diary of Ammalát Bek.—Translated from the Tartar</i>.</p> + +<p>... Have I been asleep till +now, or am I now in a dream?... +This, then, is the new world called +<i>thought</i>!... O beautiful world! +thou hast long been to me cloudy +and confused, like the milky way, +which, they say, consists of thousands +of glittering stars! It seems to me +that I am ascending the mountain of +knowledge from the valley of darkness +and ignorance; each step opens +to me views further and more extensive.... +My breast breathes freer, +I gaze in the face of the sun.... +I look below—the clouds murmur under +my feet!... annoying clouds! +You prevent me from seeing the heavens +from the earth; from the heaven +to look upon the earth!</p> + +<p>I wonder how the commonest questions, +<i>whence</i> and <i>how</i>, never before +came into my head? All God's world, +with every thing in it good or evil, +was seen reflected in my soul as in +the sea: I only knew as much of it +as the sea does, or a mirror. In my +memory, it is true, much was preserved: +but to what end did this serve? +Does the hawk understand why the +hood is put on his head? Does the +steed understand why they shoe him? +Did I understand why in one place +mountains are necessary, in another +steppes, here eternal snows, there +oceans of sand? Why storms and +earthquakes were necessary? And +thou, most wondrous being, Man! +it never has entered my head to follow +thee from thy cradle, suspended +on a wandering mule, to that magnificent +city which I have never seen, +and which I am enchanted merely to +have heard of!... I confess that I +am already delighted with the mere +outside of a book, without understanding +the meaning of the mysterious +letters ... but V. not only makes +knowledge attractive, but gives me +the means of acquiring it. With him, +as a young swallow with its mother, I +try my new wings.... The distance +and the height still astonish, but no +longer alarm me. The time will come +when I shall mount upwards to the +heavens!...</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>... But yet, am I happy because +V. and his books teach me to think? +The time was, when a spirited steed, +a costly sabre, a good gun, delighted +me like a child. Now, that I know +the superiority of mind over body, +my former pride in shooting or horsemanship +appears to me ridiculous—nay, +even contemptible. Is it worth +while to devote oneself to a trade, in +which the meanest broad-shouldered +noúker can surpass me?... Is it +worth while to seek honour and happiness, +of which the first wound may +deprive me—the first awkward leap? +They have taken from me this plaything, +but with what have they replaced it?... +With new wants, +with new wishes, which Allah himself +can neither weary nor satisfy. I +thought myself a man of consequence; +but now I am convinced of my own +nothingness. Formerly, to my memory, +my grandfather and great-grandfather +were at the beginning of +the night of the past, with its stories +and dreaming traditions.... The +Caucasus contained my world, and I +peacefully slept in that night. I +thought to be famous in Daghestán—the +height of glory. And what then? +History has peopled my former desert +with nations, shattering each other +for glory; with heroes, terrifying the +nations by valour to which we can +never rise. And where are they? +Half forgotten, they have vanished in +the dust of ages. The description of +the earth shows me that the Tartars +occupy a little corner of the world; +that they are miserable savages in comparison +with the European nations; +and that of the existence, not only of +their brave warriors, but of the whole +nation, nobody thinks, nobody knows, +nobody wishes to know. It is worth +while to be a glow-worm amongst insects. +Was it worth while to expand +my mind, in order to be convinced of +such a bitter truth?</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>What is the use of a knowledge of +the powers of nature to me, when I +cannot change my soul, master my +heart? The sea teaches me to build +dykes—but I cannot restrain my tears!... +I can conduct the lightning +from the roof, but I cannot throw off +my sorrows! Was I not unhappy +enough from my feelings alone, without +calling around me my thoughts, +like greedy vultures? What does the +sick man gain by knowing that his +disease is incurable?... The tortures +of my hopeless love have become +sharper, more piercing, more various, +since my intellect has been enlightened.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>No! I am unjust. Reading shortens +for me the long winter-like night—the +hours of separation. In teaching +me to fix on paper my flying +thoughts, V. has given me a heartfelt +enjoyment. Some day I shall +meet Seltanetta, and I shall show her +these pages; in which her name is +written oftener than that of Allah in +the Korán. "These are the annals +of my heart," I shall say: "Look! +on such a day thus thought about +you—on such a night, I saw you thus +in my dreams! By these little leaves, +as by a string of diamond beads, you +may count my sighs, my tears for +you." O lovely, and beloved being! +you will often smile at my strange +phantasies—long will they supply +matter for our conversations. But, +by your side, enchantress, shall I be +able to remember the past?... No, +no!... Every thing before me, +every thing around me, will then fade +away, except the present bliss—to be +with you! O, how burning, and how +light will my soul be! Liquid sunshine +will flow in my veins—I shall +float in heaven, like the sun! To forget +all by your side is a bliss prouder +than the highest wisdom!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>I have read stories of love, of the +charms of woman—of the perfidy of +man—but no heroine approaches my +Seltanetta in loveliness of soul or body—not +one of the heroes do I resemble—I +envy them the fascination, I admire +the wisdom of lovers in books—but +then, how weak, how cold is their +love! It is a moonbeam playing on +ice! Whence come these European +babblers of Tharsis—these nightingales +of the market-place—these sugared +confections of flowers? I cannot +believe that people can love passionately, +and prate of their love—even +as a hired mourner laments over +the dead. The spendthrift casts his +treasure by handfuls to the wind; the +lover hides it, nurses it, buries it in +his heart like a hoard.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>I am yet young, and I ask "what +is friendship?" I have a friend in +V.—a loving, real, thoughtful friend; +yet I am not <i>his</i> friend. I feel it, I +reproach myself that I do not reciprocate +his regard as I ought, as he +deserves—but is in my power? In +my soul there is no room for any one +but Seltanetta—in my heart there is +no feeling but love.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>No! I cannot read, I cannot understand +what the Colonel explains to +me. I cheated myself when I thought +that the ladder of science could be +climbed by me ... I am weary at the +first steps, I lose my way on the first +difficulty, I entangle the threads, instead +of unravelling them—I pull and +tear them—and I carry off nothing of +the prey but a few fragments. The +<i>hope</i> which the Colonel held out to +me I mistook for my own progress. +But who—what—impedes this progress? +That which makes the happiness +and misery of my life—love. +In every place, in every thing, I hear +and see Seltanetta—and often Seltanetta +alone. To banish her from my +thoughts I should consider sacrilege; +and, even if I wished, I could not perform +the resolution. Can I see without +light? Can I breathe without +air? Seltanetta is my light, my air, +my life, my soul!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>My hand trembles—my heart flutters +in my bosom. If I wrote with +my blood, 'twould scorch the paper. +Seltanetta! your image pursues me +dreaming or awake. The image of +your charms is more dangerous than +the reality. The thought that I may +never possess them, touch them, see +them, perhaps, plunges me into an incessant +melancholy—at once I melt +and burn. I recall each lovely feature, +each attitude of your exquisite person—that +little foot, the seal of love, that +bosom, the gem of bliss! The remembrance +of your voice makes my +soul thrill like the chord of an instrument—ready +to burst from the clearness +of its tone—and your kiss! that +kiss in which I drank your soul! It +showers roses and coals of fire upon +my lonely bed—I burn—my hot lips +are tortured by the thirst for caresses—my +hand longs to clasp your waist—to +touch your knees! Oh, come—Oh, +fly to me—that I may die in delight, +as now I do in weariness!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>Colonel Verkhóffsky, endeavouring +by every possible means to divert Ammalát's +grief, thought of amusing him +with a boar-hunt, the favourite occupation +of the Beks of Daghestán. In +answer to his summons, there assembled +about twenty persons, each attended +by his noúkers, each eager to +try his fortune, or to gallop about the +field and vaunt his courage. Already +had grey December covered the tops +of the surrounding mountains with the +first-fallen snow. Here and there in the +streets of Derbénd lay a crust of ice, +but over it the mud rolled in sluggish +waves along the uneven pavement. +The sea lazily plashed against the +sunken turrets of the walls which descended +to the water, a flock of bustards +and of geese whizzed through +the fog, and flew with a complaining +cry above the ramparts; all was dark +and melancholy—even the dull and +tiresome braying of the asses laden +with faggots for the market, sounded +like a dirge over the fine weather. +The old Tartars sat in the bazárs, +wrapping their shoubes over their +noses. But this is exactly the weather +most favourable to hunters. Hardly +had the moóllahs of the town proclaimed +the hour of prayer, when the +Colonel, attended by several of his +officers, the Beks of the city, and Ammalát, +rode, or rather swam, through +the mud, leaving the town in the direction +of the north, through the principal +gate Keerkhlár Kápi, which is +covered with iron plates. The road +leading to Tárki is rude in appearance, +bordered for a few paces to the +right and left with beds of madder—beyond +them lie vast burying-grounds, +and further still towards the sea, scattered +gardens. But the appearance +of the suburbs is a great deal more +magnificent than those of the Southern +ones. To the left, on the rocks +were seen the Keifárs, or barracks of +the regiment of Koúrin; while on both +sides of the road, fragments of rock +lay in picturesque disorder, rolled +down in heaps by the violence of the +mountain-torrents. A forest of ilex, +covered with hoar-frost, thickened +as it approached Vellikent, and at +each verst the retinue of Verkhóffsky +was swelled by fresh arrivals of +<i>Beglar</i> and <i>Agalar</i><a name="footnotetag4" id="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a>. The hunting +party now turned to the left, and they +speedily heard the cry of the <i>ghayálstchiks</i><a name="footnotetag5" id="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> +assembled from the surrounding +villages. The hunters formed +into an extended chain, some on horseback, +and some running on foot; and +soon the wild-boars also began to show +themselves.</p> + +<p>The umbrageous oak-forests of +Daghestán have served, from time +immemorial, as a covert for innumerable +herds of wild hogs; and although +the Tartars—like the Mussulmans—hold +it a sin not only to eat, but even +to touch the unclean animal, they consider +it a praiseworthy act to destroy +them—at least they practise the art of +shooting on these beasts, as well as +exhibit their courage, because the +chase of the wild-boar is accompanied +by great danger, and requires cunning +and bravery.</p> + +<p>The lengthened chain of hunters +occupied a wide extent of ground; +the most fearless marksmen selecting +the most solitary posts, in order to divide +with no one else the glory of success, +and also because the animals +make for those points where there are +fewer people. Colonel Verkhóffsky, +confident in his gigantic strength and +sure eye, posted himself in the thickest +of the wood, and halted at a small +savannah to which converged the +tracks of numerous wild-boars. Perfectly +alone, leaning against the branch +of a fallen tree, he awaited his game. +Interrupted shots were heard on the +right and left of his station; for a +moment a wild-boar appeared behind +the trees; at length the bursting +crash of falling underwood was heard, +and immediately a boar of uncommon +size darted across the field like a ball +fired from a cannon. The Colonel +took his aim, the bullet whistled, and +the wounded monster suddenly halted, +as if in surprise—but this was but for +an instant—he dashed furiously in the +direction whence came the shot. The +froth smoked from his red-hot tusks, +his eye burned in blood, and he flew +at the enemy with a grunt. But +Verkhóffsky showed no alarm, waiting +for the nearer approach of the brute: +a second time clicked the cock of his +gun—but the powder was damp and +missed fire. What now remained for +the hunter? He had not even a dagger +at his girdle—flight would have +been useless. As if by the anger of +fate, not a single thick tree was near +him—only one dry branch arose from +the oak against which he had leaned; +and Verkhóffsky threw himself on it +as the only means of avoiding destruction. +Hardly had he time to +clamber an arschine and a half<a name="footnotetag6" id="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> from +the ground, when the boar, enraged +to fury, struck the branch with +his tusks—it cracked from the force +of the blow and the weight which +was supported by it.... It was in +vain that Verkhóffsky tried to climb +higher—the bark was covered with ice—his +hands slipped—he was sliding +downwards; but the beast did not +quit the tree—he gnawed it—he attacked +it with his sharp tusks a <i>tchétverin</i> +below the feet of the hunter. +Every instant Verkhóffsky expected +to be sacrificed, and his voice died +away in the lonely space in vain. +No, not in vain! The sound of a +horse's hoofs was heard close at hand, +and Ammalát Bek galloped up at full +speed with uplifted sabre. Perceiving +a new enemy, the wild-boar turned at +him, but a sideway leap of the horse +decided the battle—a blow from Ammalát +hurled him on the earth.</p> + +<p>The rescued Colonel hurried to embrace +his friend, but the latter was +slashing, mangling, in a fit of rage, +the slain beast. "I accept not unmerited +thanks," he answered at length, +turning from the Colonel's embrace. +"This same boar gored before my +eyes a Bek of Tabasóran, my friend, +when he, having missed him, had entangled +his foot in the stirrup. I +burned with anger when I saw my +comrade's blood, and flew in pursuit +of the boar. The closeness of the +wood prevented me from following his +track; I had quite lost him; and God +has brought me hither to slay the accursed +brute, when he was on the +point of sacrificing a yet nobler victim—you, +my benefactor."</p> + +<p>"Now we are quits, dear Ammalát. +Do not talk of past events. This day +our teeth shall avenge us on this tusked +foe. I hope you will not refuse to +taste the forbidden meat, Ammalát?"</p> + +<p>"Not I! nor to wash it down with +champagne, Colonel. Without offence +to Mahomet, I had rather strengthen +my soul with the foam of the +wine, than with the water of the true +believer."</p> + +<p>The hunt now turned to the other +side. From afar were heard cries and +hallooing, and the drums of the Tartars +in the chase. From time to time +shots rang through the air. A horse +was led up to the Colonel: and he, +feasting his sight with the boar, which +was almost cut in two, patted Ammalát +on the shoulder, crying "A brave +blow!"</p> + +<p>"In that blow exploded my revenge," +answered the Bek; "and the +revenge of an Asiatic is heavy."</p> + +<p>"You have seen, you have witnessed," +replied the Colonel, "how +injury is avenged by Russians—that +is, by Christians; let this be not a +reproach, but—a lesson to you."</p> + +<p>And they both galloped off towards +the Line.</p> + +<p>Ammalát was remarkably absent—sometimes +he did not answer at all—at +others, he answered incoherently to +the questions of Verkhóffsky, by whom +he rode, gazing abstractedly around +him. The Colonel, thinking that, like +an eager hunter, he was engrossed by +the sport, left him, and rode forward. +At last, Ammalát perceived him whom +he was so impatiently expecting, his +hemdjék, Saphir Ali, flew to meet him, +covered with mud, and mounted on a +smoking horse. With cries of "Aleikoúm +Selam," they both jumped off +their horses, and were immediately +locked in each other's embrace.</p> + +<p>"And so you have been there—you +have seen her—you have spoken +to her?" cried Ammalát, tearing off +his kaftán, and choking with agitation. +"I see by your face that you +bring good news; here is my new +<i>tchoukhá</i><a name="footnotetag7" id="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> for you for that. Does +she live? Is she well? Does she love +me as before?"</p> + +<p>"Let me recollect myself," answered +Saphir Ali. "Let me take +breath. You have put so many questions, +and I myself are charged with +so many commissions, that they are +crowding together like old women at +the door of the mosque, who have +lost their shoes. First, at your desire, +I have been to Khounzákh. I crept +along so softly, that I did not scare a +single thrush by the road. Sultan +Akhmet Khan is well, and at home. +He asked about you with great anxiety, +shook his head, and enquired if +you did not want a spindle to dry the +silk of Derbénd. The khánsha sends +you tchokh selammóum, (many compliments,) +and as many sweet cakes. +I threw them away, the confounded +things, at the first resting-place. +Soúrkhai-Khan, Noutzal-Khan"——</p> + +<p>"The devil take them all! What +about Seltanetta?"</p> + +<p>"Aha! at last I have touched the +chilblain of your heart. Seltanetta, +my dear Ammalát, is as beautiful as +the starry sky; but in that heaven I +saw no light, until I conversed about +you. Then she almost threw herself +on my neck when we were left alone +together, and I explained the cause of +my arrival. I gave her a camel-load +of compliments from you—told her +that you were almost dead with love—poor +fellow!--and she burst into +tears!"</p> + +<p>"Kind, lovely soul! What did +she tell you to say to me?"</p> + +<p>"Better ask what she did not. She +says that, from the time that you left +her, she has never rejoiced even in her +dreams; that the winter snow has +fallen on her heart, and that nothing +but a meeting with her beloved, like +a vernal sun, can melt it.... But +if I were to continue to the end of her +messages, and you were to wait to the +end of my story, we should both reach +Derbénd with grey beards. Spite of +all this, she almost drove me away, +hurrying me off, lest you should doubt +her love!"</p> + +<p>"Darling of my soul! you know +not—I cannot explain what bliss it is +to be with thee, what torment to be +separated from thee, not to see +thee!"</p> + +<p>"That is exactly the thing, Ammalát; +she grieves that she cannot rejoice +her eyes with a sight of him +whom she never can be weary of +gazing at. 'Is it possible,' she says, +'that he cannot come but for one little +day, for one short hour, one little moment?'"</p> + +<p>"To look on her, and then die, I +would be content!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, when you behold her, you +will wish to live. She is become +quieter than she was of old; but even +yet she is so lively, that when you see +her your blood sparkles within you."</p> + +<p>"Did you tell her why it is not in +my power to do her will, and to accomplish +my own passionate desire?"</p> + +<p>"I related such tales that you would +have thought me the Shah of Persia's +chief poet. Seltanetta shed tears like +a fountain after rain. She does nothing +else but weep."</p> + +<p>"Why, then, reduce her to despair? +'I cannot now' does not mean 'it is +for ever impossible.' You know what +a woman's heart is, Saphir Ali: for +them the end of hope is the end of +love."</p> + +<p>"You sow words on the wind, +djanníon (my soul.) Hope, for lovers, +is a skein of worsted—endless. In +cool blood, you do not even trust your +eyes; but fall in love, and you will +believe in ghosts. I think that Seltanetta +would hope that you could ride +to her from your coffin—not only from +Derbénd."</p> + +<p>"And how is Derbénd better than a +coffin to me? Does not my heart feel +its decay, without power to escape it? +Here is only my corpse: my soul is far +away."</p> + +<p>"It seems that your senses often +take the whim of walking I know not +where, dear Ammalát. Are you not +well at Verkhóffsky's—free and contented? +beloved as a younger brother, +caressed like a bride? Grant that Seltanetta +is lovely: there are not many +Verkhóffskys. Cannot you sacrifice +to friendship a little part of love?"</p> + +<p>"Am not I then doing so, Saphir +Ali? But if you knew how much it +costs me! It is as if I tore my heart +to pieces. Friendship is a lovely +thing, but it cannot fill the place of +love."</p> + +<p>"At least, it can console us for love—it +can relieve it. Have you spoken +about this to the Colonel?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot prevail on myself to do +so. The words die on my lips, when +I would speak of my love. He is so +wise, that I am ashamed to annoy +him with my madness. He is so kind, +that I dare not abuse his patience. +To say the truth, his frankness invites, +encourages mine. Figure to +yourself that he has been in love since +his childhood with a maiden, to whom +he was plighted, and whom he certainly +would have married if his name +had not been by mistake put into a +list of killed during the war with the +Feringhis. His bride shed tears, but +nevertheless was given away in marriage. +He flies back to his country, +and finds his beloved the wife of another. +What, think you, should I +have done in such a case? Plunged +a dagger in the breast of the robber +of my treasure!--carried her away to +the end or the world to possess her +but one hour, but one moment! Nothing +of this kind happened. He +learned that his rival was an excellent +and worthy man. He had the calmness +to contract a friendship with him: +had the patience to be often in the +society of his former love, without +betraying, either by word or deed, his +new friend or his still loved mistress."</p> + +<p>"A rare man, if this be true!" exclaimed +Saphir Ali, with feeling, +throwing away his reins. "A stout +friend indeed!"</p> + +<p>"But what an icy lover! But this +is not all. To relieve both of them +from misrepresentation and scandal, +he came hither on service. Not long +ago—for his happiness or unhappiness—his +friend died. And what then? +Do you think he flew to Russia. No! +his duty kept him away. The Commander-in-chief +informed him that his +presence was indispensable here for a +year more, and he has remained—cherishing +his love with hope. Can +such a man, with all his goodness, +understand such a passion as mine? +And besides, there is such a difference +between us in years, in opinions. He +kills me with his unapproachable dignity; +and all this cools my friendship, +and impedes my sincerity."</p> + +<p>"You are a strange fellow, Ammalát; +you do not love Verkhóffsky for +the very reason that he most merits +frankness and affection!"</p> + +<p>"Who told you that I do not love +him? How can I but love the man +who has educated me—my benefactor? +Can I not love any one but Seltanetta? +I love the whole world—all men!"</p> + +<p>"Not much love, then, will fall to +the share of each!" said Saphir Ali.</p> + +<p>"There would be enough not only +to quench the thirst, but to drown the +whole world!" replied Ammalát, with +a smile.</p> + +<p>"Aha! This comes of seeing beauties +unveiled—and then to see nothing +but the veil and the eyebrows. It +seems that you are like the nightingales +of Ourmis; you must be caged +before you can sing!"</p> + +<p>Conversing in this strain, the two +friends disappeared in the depths of +the forest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<p>FRAGMENT OF A LETTER FROM COLONEL VERKHÓFFSKY TO HIS BETROTHED.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Derbénd, April.</i></p> + +<p>Fly to, me, heart of my heart, +dearest Maria! Rejoice in the sight +of a lovely vernal night in Daghestán. +Beneath me lies Derbénd, slumbering +calmly, like a black streak of lava +flowing from the Caucasus and cooled +in the sea. The gentle breeze bears +to me the fragrant odour of the almond-trees, +the nightingales are calling +to each other from the rock-crevices, +behind the fortress: all breathes +of life and love; and beautiful nature, +full of this feeling, covers herself with +a veil of mists. And how wonderfully +has that vaporous ocean poured +itself over the Caspian! The sea +below gleams wavingly, like steel damasked +with gold on an escutcheon—that +above swells like a silver surge +lighted by the full moon, which rolls +along the sky like a cup of gold, while +the stars glitter around like scattered +drops. In a moment, the reflection of +the moonbeams in the vapours of the +night changes the picture, anticipating +the imagination, now astounding +by its marvels—now striking by its +novelty. Sometimes I seem to behold +the rocks of the wild shore, and +the waves beating against them in +foam. The billows roll onward to the +charge: the rocky ramparts repel the +shock, and the surf flies high above +them; but silently and slowly sink +the waves, and the silver palms arise +from the midst of the inundation, the +breeze stirs their branches, playing +with the long leaves, and they spread +like the sails of a ship gliding over +the airy ocean. Do you see how she +rolls along, how the spray-drops +sparkle on her breast, how the waves +slide along her sides. And where is +she?... and where am I?... +You cannot imagine, dearest Maria, +the sweetly solemn feeling produced +in me by the sound and sight of the +sea. To me, the idea of eternity is +inseparable from it; of immensity—of +our love. That love seems to me, +like it, infinite—eternal. I feel as if +my heart overflowed to embrace the +world, even as the ocean, with its +bright waves of love. It is in me and +around me; it is the only great and +immortal feeling which I possess. Its +spark lights and warms me in the +winter of my sorrows, in the midnight +of my doubts. Then I love so blindly! +I believe so ardently! You smile +at my fantasy, friend and companion +of my soul. You wonder at this dark +language; blame me not. My spirit, +like the denizen of another world, +cannot bear the chill and frosty moonlight—it +shakes off the dust of the +grave; it soars away, and, like the +moonlight, dimly discovers all things +darkly and uncertainly. You know +that it is to you alone that I write +down the pictures which fall on the +magic-glass of my heart, assured that +you will guess, not with cold criticism, +but with the heart, what I would describe. +Besides, next August, your +happy bridegroom will himself explain +all the dark passages in his letters. +I cannot think without ecstasy of the +moment of our meeting. I count the +sand-grains of the hours which separate +us. I count the versts which lie +between us. And so in the middle of +June you will be at the waters of the +Caucasus. And nought but the icy +chain of the Caucasus will be between +two ardent hearts.... How near—yet +how immeasurably far shall we be +from each other! Oh! how many +years of life would I not give to hasten +the hour of our meeting! Long, +long, have our hearts been plighted.... +Why have they been separated +till now?</p> + +<p>My friend Ammalát is not frank or +confiding. I cannot blame him. I +know how difficult it is to break +through habits imbibed with a mother's +milk, and with the air of one's +native land. The barbarian despotism +of Persia, which has so long oppressed +Aderbidján, has instilled the basest +principles into the Tartars of the Caucasus, +and has polluted their sense of +honour by the most despicable subterfuge. +And how could it be otherwise +in a government based upon the +tyranny of the great over the less—where +justice herself can punish only +in secret—where robbery is the privilege +of power? "Do with me what +you like, provided you let me do with +my inferior what I like," is the principle +of Asiatic government—its ambition, +its morality. Hence, every +man, finding himself between two +enemies, is obliged to conceal his +thoughts, as he hides his money. +Hence every man plays the hypocrite +before the powerful; every man endeavours +to force from others a present +by tyranny or accusation. Hence +the Tartar of this country will not +move a step, but with the hope of +gain; will not give you so much as a +cucumber, without expecting a present +in return.</p> + +<p>Insolent to rudeness with every one +who is not in power, he is mean and +slavish before rank or a full purse. +He sows flattery by handfuls; he will +give you his house, his children, his +soul, to get rid of a difficulty, and if +he does any body a service, it is sure +to be from motives of interest.</p> + +<p>In money matters (this is the weakest +side of a Tartar) a ducat is the +touchstone of his fidelity; and it is +difficult to imagine the extent of their +greediness for profit! The Armenian +character is yet a thousand times more +vile than theirs; but the Tartars +hardly yield to them in corruption +and greediness—and this is saying a +good deal. Is it surprising that, beholding +from infancy such examples, +Ammalát—though he has retained the +detestation of meanness natural to +pure blood—should have adopted concealment +as an indispensable arm +against open malevolence and secret +villany? The sacred ties of relationship +do not exist for Asiatics. With +them, the son is the slave of the father—the +brother is a rival. No one trusts +his neighbour, because there is no +faith in any man. Jealousy of their +wives, and dread of espionage, destroy +brotherly love and friendship. +The child brought up by his slave-mother—never +experiencing a father's +caress, and afterwards estranged by +the Arabian alphabet, (education,) +hides his feelings in his own heart +even from his companions; from his +childhood, thinks only for himself; +from the first beard are every door, +every heart shut for him: husbands +look askance at him, women fly from +him as from a wild beast, and the first +and most innocent emotions of his +heart, the first voice of nature, the +first movements of his feelings—all +these have become crimes in the eyes +of Mahometan superstition. He dares +not discover them to a relation, or +confide them to a friend.... He +must even weep in secret.</p> + +<p>All this I say, my sweet Maria, to +excuse Ammalát: he has already +lived a year and a half in my house, +and hitherto has never confessed to +me the object of his love; though he +might well have known, that it was +from no idle curiosity, but from a real +heartfelt interest, that I wished to +know the secret of his heart. At last, +however, he has told me all; and thus +it happened.</p> + +<p>Yesterday I took a ride out of the +town with Ammalát. We rode up +through a defile in the mountain on +the west, and we advanced further +and further, higher and higher, till we +found ourselves unexpectedly close to +the village of Kelík, from which may +be seen the wall that anciently defended +Persia from the incursions of +the wandering tribes inhabiting the +Zakavkáz, (trans-Caucasian country,) +which often devastated that territory. +The annals of Derbénd (Derbéndnámé) +ascribe, but falsely, the construction +of it to a certain Iskender—<i>i.e.</i> +Alexander the Great—who, however, +never was in these regions. +King Noushirván repaired it, and +placed a guard along it. More than +once since that time it has been restored; +and again it fell into ruin, and +became overgrown, as it now is, with +the trees of centuries. A tradition +exists, that this wall formerly extended +from the Caspian to the Black Sea, +cutting through the whole Caucasus, +and having for its extremity the "iron +gate" of Derbénd, and Dariál in its +centre; but this is more than doubtful +as far as regards the general facts, +though certain in the particulars. The +traces of this wall, which are to be +seen far into the mountains, are interrupted +here and there, but only by +fallen stones or rocks and ravines, till +it reaches the military road; but from +thence to the Black Sea, through Mingrelia, +I think there are no traces of +its continuation.</p> + +<p>I examined, with curiosity, this +enormous wall, fortified by numerous +towers at short distance; and I wondered +at the grandeur of the ancients, +exhibited even in their unreasonable +caprices of despotism—that greatness +to which the effeminate rulers of the +East cannot aspire, in our day, even +in imagination. The wonders of Babylon, +the lake of Mœris, the pyramids +of the Pharaohs, the endless wall +of China, and this huge bulwark, built +in sterile places, on the summits of +mountains, through the abyss of ravines—bear +witness to the gigantic +iron will, and the unlimited power, of +the ancient kings. Neither time, nor +earthquake, nor man, transitory man, +nor the footstep of thousands of years, +have entirely destroyed, entirely trodden +down, the remains of immemorial +antiquity. These places awake in me +solemn and sacred thoughts. I wandered +over the traces of Peter the +Great; I pictured him the founder, +the reformer, of a young state—building +it on these ruins of the decaying +monarchies of Asia, from the centre +of which he tore out Russia, and with +a mighty hand rolled her into Europe. +What a fire must have gleamed in his +eagle eye, as he glanced from the +heights of Caucasus! What sublime +thoughts, what holy aspirations, must +have swelled that heroic breast! The +grand destiny of his country was disclosed +before his eyes; in the horizon, +in the mirror of the Caspian, +appeared to him the picture of Russia's +future weal, sown by him, and +watered by his red sweat. It was not +empty conquest that was his aim, but +victory over barbarism—the happiness +of mankind. Derbénd, Báka, Astrabád, +they are the links of the chain +with which he endeavoured to bind +the Caucasus, and rivet the commerce +of India with Russia.</p> + +<p>Demigod of the North! Thou +whom nature created at once to flatter +the pride of man, and to reduce it +to despair by thine unapproachable +greatness! Thy shade rose before +me, bright and colossal, and the cataract +of ages fell foaming at thy feet! +Pensive and silent, I rode on.</p> + +<p>The wall of the Caucasus is faced +on the north side with squared stones, +neatly and firmly fixed together with +lime. Many of the battlements are +still entire; but feeble seeds, falling +into the crevices and joints, have burst +them asunder with the roots of trees +growing from them, and, assisted by +the rains, have thrown the stones to +the earth, and over the ruins triumphantly +creep mallows and pomegranates; +the eagle, unmolested, builds +her nest in the turret once crowded +with warriors, and on the cold hearthstone +lie the fresh bones of the wild-goat, +dragged thither by the jackals. +Sometimes the line of the ruins +entirely disappeared; then fragments +of the stones again rose from among +the grass and underwood. Riding in +this way, a distance of about three +versts, we reached the gate, and passed +through to the south side, under a +vaulted arch, lined with moss and +overgrown with shrubs. We had not +advanced twenty paces, when suddenly, +behind an enormous tower, we +came upon six armed mountaineers, +who seemed, by all appearance, to +belong to those gangs of robbers—the +free Tabasaranetzes. They were +lying in the shade, close to their horses, +which were feeding. I was astounded. +I immediately reflected how foolishly +I had acted in riding so far from +Derbénd without an escort. To gallop +back, among such bushes and rocks, +would have been impossible; to fight +six such desperate fellows, would have +been foolhardiness. Nevertheless, I +seized a holster-pistol; but Ammalát +Bek, seeing how matters stood, +advanced, and cried in a calm slow +voice: "Do not handle your arms, +or we are dead men!"</p> + +<p>The robbers, perceiving us, jumped +up and cocked their guns, one fine, +broad-shouldered, but extremely +savage-looking Lezghín, remaining +stretched on the ground. He lifted +his head coolly, looked at us, and +waved his hand to his companions. +In a moment we found ourselves +surrounded by them, while a path in +front was stopped by the Ataman.</p> + +<p>"Pray, dismount from your horses, +dear guests," said he with a smile, +though one could see that the next +invitation would be a bullet. I +hesitated; but Ammalát Bek jumped +speedily from his horse, and walked +up to the Ataman.</p> + +<p>"Hail!" He said to him: "hail, +sorvi golová! I thought not of seeing +you. I thought the devils had +long ago made a feast of you."</p> + +<p>"Softly, Ammalát Bek!" answered +the other; "I hope yet to feed +the eagles with the bodies of the +Russians and of you Tartars, whose +purse is bigger than your heart."</p> + +<p>"Well, and what luck, Shermadán?" +carelessly enquired Ammalát +Bek.</p> + +<p>"But poor. The Russians are +watchful: and we have seldom been +able to drive the cattle of a regiment, +or to sell two Russian soldiers at a +time in the hills. It is difficult to +transport madder and silk; and of +Persian tissue, very little is now carried +on the arbás. We should have had +to quest like wolves again to-day, but +Allah has had mercy; he has given +into our hands a rich bek and a +Russian colonel!"</p> + +<p>My heart died within me, as I heard +these words.</p> + +<p>"Do not sell a hawk in the sky: +sell him," answered Ammalát, "when +you have him on your glove."</p> + +<p>The robber sat down, laid his hand +on the cock of his gun, and fixed on +us a piercing look. "Hark'e, +Ammalát!" said he; "is it possible that +you think to escape me?—is it possible +that you will dare to defend yourselves?"</p> + +<p>"Be quiet," said Ammalát; "are +we fools, to fight two to six? Gold +is dear to us, but dearer is our life. +We have fallen into your hands, so +there is nothing to be done, unless +you extort an unreasonable price for +our ransom. I have, as you know, +neither father nor mother: and the +Colonel has yet less—neither kinsmen +nor tribe."</p> + +<p>"If you have no father, you have +your father's inheritance. There is +no need then to count your relations +with you: however, I am a man of +conscience. If you have no ducats, I +will take your ransom in sheep. But +about the colonel, don't talk any more +nonsense. I know for him the soldiers +would give the last button on +their uniforms. Why, if for Sh—— +a ransom of ten thousand rubles was +paid, they will give more for this +man. However, we shall see, we shall +see. If you will be quiet.... Why, +I am not a Jew, or a cannibal—Perviáder +(the Almighty) forgive me!"</p> + +<p>"Now that's it, friend: feed us +well, and I swear and promise by my +honour, we will never think of harming +you—nor of escaping."</p> + +<p>"I believe, I believe! I am glad +we have arranged without making any +noise about it. What a fine fellow you +have become, Ammalát! Your horse +is not a horse, your gun is not a gun: +it is a pleasure to look at you; and +this is true. Let me look at your +dagger, my friend. Surely this is the +Koubatchín mark upon the blade."</p> + +<p>"No, the Kizliár mark," replied +Ammalát, quietly unbuckling the +dagger-belt from his waist; "and look +at the blade. Wonderful! it cuts a +nail in two like a candle. On this +side is the maker's name; there—read +it yourself: Alióusta—Kóza—Nishtshekói." +And while he spoke, he +twirled the naked blade before the +eyes of the greedy Lezghín, who +wished to show that he knew how to +read, and was decyphering the +complicated inscription with some +difficulty. But suddenly the dagger +gleamed like lightning.... Ammalát, +seizing the opportunity, struck +Shermadán with all his might on the +head; and so fierce was the blow, that +the dagger was stopped by the teeth +of the lower jaw. The corpse fell +heavily on the grass. Keeping my +eyes upon Ammalát, I followed his +example, and with my pistol shot the +robber who was next me, and had hold +of my horse's bridle. This was to the +others a signal for flight; the rascals +vanished; for the death of their Ataman +dissolved the knot of the leash +which bound them together. Whilst +Ammalát, after the oriental fashion, +was stripping the dead of their arms, +and tying together the reins of the +abandoned horses, I lectured him on +his dissembling and making a false +oath to the robber. He lifted up his +head with astonishment: "You are a +strange man, Colonel!" he replied. +"This rascal has done an infinity of +harm to the Russians, by secretly +setting fire to their stacks of hay, or +seizing and carrying straggling +soldiers and wood-cutters into slavery. +Do you know that he would have +tyrannized over us—or even tortured us, +to make us write more movingly to +our kinsmen, to induce them to pay +a larger ransom?"</p> + +<p>"It may be so, Ammalát, but to +lie or to swear an oath, either in jest +or to escape misfortune, is wrong. +Why could we not have thrown +ourselves directly at the robbers, and have +begun as you finished?"</p> + +<p>"No, Colonel, we could not. If I +had not entered into conversation +with the Ataman, we should have +been riddled with balls at the first +movement. Moreover, I know that +pack right well: they are brave only +in the presence of their Ataman, and +it was with him it was necessary to +begin!"</p> + +<p>I shook my head. The Asiatic +cunning, though it had saved my life, +could not please me. What confidence +can I have in people accustomed +to sport with their honour and their +soul? We were about to mount our +horses, when we heard a groan from +the mountaineer who had been wounded +by me. He came to himself, raised +his head, and piteously besought us +not to leave him to be devoured by the +beasts of the forest. We both +hastened to assist the poor wretch; and +what was Ammalát's astonishment +when he recognized in him one of the +noúkers of Sultan Akhmet Khan of +Avár. To the question how he +happened to be one of a gang of robbers, +he replied: "Shairán tempted me: +the Khan sent me into Kemék, a +neighbouring village, with a letter to +the famous Hakím (Doctor) Ibrahim, +for a certain herb, which they say +removes every ailment, as easily as if +it were brushed away with the hand. +To my sorrow, Shermadán met me in +the way! He teazed me, saying, +'Come with me, and let us rob on the +road. An Armenian is coming from +Kouba with money.' My young heart +could not resist this ... oh, +Allah-il-Allah! He hath taken my soul +from me!"</p> + +<p>"They sent you for physic, you +say," replied Ammalát: "why, who +is sick with you?"</p> + +<p>"Our Khanóum Seltanetta is dying: +here is the writing to the leech +about her illness:" with these words +he gave Ammalát a silver tube, in +which was a small piece of paper rolled +up. Ammalát turned as pale as death; +his hands shook—his eyes sank under +his eyebrows when he had read the +note: with a broken voice he uttered +detached words. "Three nights—and +she sleeps not, eats not—delirious!--her +life is in danger—save her! O +God of righteousness—and I am idling +here—leading a life of holidays—and +my soul's soul is ready to quit the +earth, and leave me a rotten corse! +Oh that all her sufferings could fall on +my head! and that I could lie in her +coffin, if that would restore her to +health. Sweetest and loveliest! thou +art fading, rose of Avár, and destiny +has stretched out her talons over thee. +Colonel," he cried at length, seizing +my hand, "grant my only, my solemn +prayer—let me but once more look on +her!"——</p> + +<p>"On whom, my friend?"</p> + +<p>"On my Seltanetta—on the daughter +of the Khan of Avár—whom I love +more than my life, than my soul! She +is ill, she is dying—perhaps dead by +this time—while I am wasting words—and +I could not receive into my heart +her last word—her last look—could +not wipe away the icy tear of death! +Oh, why do not the ashes of the ruined +sun fall on my head—why will not the +earth bury me in its ruins!"</p> + +<p>He fell on my breast, choking with +grief, in a tearless agony, unable to +pronounce a word.</p> + +<p>This was not a time for accusations +of insincerity, much less to set forth +the reasons which rendered it +unadvisable for him to go among the enemies +of Russia. There are circumstances +before which all reasons must +give way, and I felt that Ammalát +was in such circumstances. On my +own responsibility I resolved to let +him go. "He that obliges from the +heart, and speedily, twice obliges," is +my favourite proverb, and best maxim. +I pressed in my embrace the unhappy +Tartar, and we mingled our tears together.</p> + +<p>"My friend Ammalát," said I, +"hasten where your heart calls you. +God grant that you may carry thither +health and recovery, and bring back +peace of mind! A happy journey!"</p> + +<p>"Farewell, my benefactor," he cried, +deeply touched, "farewell, and +perhaps for ever! I will not return to +life, if Allah takes from me my Seltanetta. +May God keep you!"</p> + +<p>He took the wounded Aváretz to the +Hakím Ibrahim, received the medicinal +herb according to the Khan's prescription, +and in an hour Ammalát +Bek, with four noúkers, rode out of +Derbénd.</p> + +<p>And so the riddle is guessed—he +loves. This is unfortunate, but what +is yet worse, he is beloved in return. +I fancy, my love, that I see your +astonishment. "Can that be a misfortune +to another, which to you is happiness?" +you ask. A grain of patience, +my soul's angel! The Khan, +the father of Seltanetta, is the irreconcilable +foe of Russia, and the more so +because, having been distinguished by +the favour of the Czar, he has turned +a traitor; consequently a marriage is +possible only on condition of Ammalát's +betraying the Russians, or in case +of the Khan's submission and pardon—both +cases being far from probable. +I myself have experienced misery and +hopelessness in love; I have shed many +tears on my lonely pillow; often have +I thirsted for the shade of the grave, +to cool my anguished heart! Can I, +then, help, pitying this youth, the +object of my disinterested regard, and +lamenting his hopeless love? But this +will not build a bridge to good-fortune; +and I therefore think, that if +he had not the ill-luck to be beloved +in return, he would by degrees forget +her.</p> + +<p>"But," you say, (and methinks I +hear your silvery voice, and am +revelling in your angel's smile,) "but +circumstances may change for them, as +they have changed for us. Is it +possible that misfortune alone has the +privilege of being eternal in the world?"</p> + +<p>I do not dispute this, my beloved, +but I confess with a sigh that I am +in doubt. I even fear for them and +for ourselves. Destiny smiles before +us, hope chaunts sweet music—but +destiny is a sea—hope but a sea-syren; +deceitful is the calm of the +one, fatal are the promises of the +other. All appears to aid our union—but +are we yet together? I know +not why, lovely Mary, but a chill +penetrates my breast, amid the warm +fountains of future bliss, and the idea +of our meeting has lost its distinctness. +But all this will pass away, all will +change into happiness, when I press +your hand to my lips, your heart to +mine. The rainbow shines yet brighter +on the dark field of the cloud, and the +happiest moments of life are but the +anticipations of sorrow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Ammalát knocked up two horses, +and left two of his noúkers on the +road, so that at the end of the second +day he was not far from Khounzákh. +At each stride his impatience grew +stronger, and with each stride increased +his fear of not finding his beloved +amongst the living. A fit of trembling +came over him when from the rocks +the tops of the Khan's tower arose +before him. His eyes grew dark. +"Shall I meet there life or death?" +he whispered to himself, and arousing +a desperate courage, he urged his +horse to a gallop.</p> + +<p>He came up with a horseman +completely armed: another horseman +rode out of Khounzákh to meeting, +and hardly did they perceive one another +when they put their horses to +full speed, rode up to each other, leaped +down upon the earth, and suddenly +drawing their swords, threw themselves +with fury upon each other without +uttering a word, as if blows were +the customary salutation of travellers. +Ammalát Bek, whose passage they intercepted +along the narrow path between +the rocks, gazed with astonishment +on the combat of the two adversaries. +It was short. The horseman +who was approaching the town +fell on the stones, bedewing them with +blood from a gash which laid open his +skull; and the victor, coolly wiping his +blade, addressed himself to Ammalát: +"Your coming is opportune: I am +glad that destiny has brought you in +time to witness our combat. God, and +not I, killed the offender; and now +his kinsmen will not say that I killed +my enemy stealthily from behind a +rock, and will not raise upon my head +the feud of blood."</p> + +<p>"Whence arose your quarrel with +him?" asked Ammalát: "why did +you conclude it with such a terrible +revenge?"</p> + +<p>"This Kharám-Záda," answered +the horseman, "could not agree with +me about the division of some stolen +sheep, and in spite he killed them all +so that nobody should have them ... and +he dared to slander my wife. He +had better have insulted my father's +grave, or my mother's good name, +than have touched the reputation of +my wife! I once flew at him with my +dagger, but they parted us: we agreed +to fight at our first encounter, and +Allah has judged between us! The +Bek is doubtless riding to Khounzákh—surely +on a vizit to the Khan?" +added the horseman.</p> + +<p>Ammalát, forcing his horse to leap +over the dead body which lay across +the road, replied in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"You go not at a fit time, Bek—not +at all at a fit time."</p> + +<p>All Ammalát's blood rushed to his +head. "Why, has any misfortune +happened in the Khan's house?" he +enquired, reining in his horse, which +he had just before lashed with the +whip to force him faster to Khounzákh.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly a misfortune, his +daughter Seltanetta was severely ill, +and now"——</p> + +<p>"Is dead?" cried Ammalát, turning +pale.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she is dead—at least dying. +As I rode past the Khan's gate, +there arose a bustling, crying, and +yelling of women in the court, as if +the Russians were storming Khounzákh. +Go and see—do me the favour"——</p> + +<p>But Ammalát heard no more, he +dashed away from the astounded Ouzdén; +the dust rolled like smoke from +the road, which seemed to be set on +fire by the sparks from the horse's +hoofs. Headlong he galloped through +the winding streets, flew up the hill, +bounded from his horse in the midst +of the Khan's court-yard, and raced +breathlessly through the passages to +Seltanetta's apartment, overthrowing +and jostling noúkers and maidens, +and at last, without remarking the +Khan or his wife, pushed himself to +the bed of the sufferer, and fell, almost +senseless, on his knees beside it.</p> + +<p>The sudden and noisy arrival of +Ammalát aroused the sad society present. +Seltanetta, whose existence +death was already overpowering, +seemed as if awakening from the deep +forgetfulness of fever; her cheeks +flushed with a transient colour, like +that on the leaves of autumn before +they fall: in her clouded eye beamed +the last spark of the soul. She lad +been for several hours in a complete +insensibility; she was speechless, +motionless, hopeless. A murmur of +anger from the bystanders, and a loud +exclamation from the stupefied Ammalát, +seemed to recall the departing +spirit of the sick, she started up—her +eyes sparkled.... "Is it thou—is +it thou?" she cried, stretching, forth +her arms to him: "praise be to Allah! +now I am contented, now I am +happy," she added, sinking back on +the pillow. Her lips wreathed into a +smile, her eyelids closed, and again +she sank into her former insensibility.</p> + +<p>The agonized Asiatic paid no attention +to the questions of the Khan, +or the reproaches of the Khánsha: +no person, no object distracted his +attention from Seltanetta—nothing +could arouse him from his deep despair. +They could hardly lead him +by force from the sick chamber; he +clung to the threshold, he wept bitterly, +at one moment praying for the +life of Seltanetta, at another accusing +heaven of her illness! Terrible, yet +moving, was the grief of the fiery +Asiatic.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the appearance of Ammalát +had produced a salutary influence +on the sick girl. What the rude +physicians of the mountains were unable +to accomplish, was effected by +his arrival. The vital energy, which +had been almost extinguished, needed +some agitation to revivify its action; +but for this she must have perished, +not from the disease, which had been +already subdued, but from languor—as +a lamp, not blown out by the wind, +but failing for lack of air. Youth at +length gained the victory; the crisis +was past, and life again arose in the +heart of the sufferer. After a long +and quiet slumber, she awoke unusually +strengthened and refreshed. +"I feel myself as light, mother," she +cried, looking gaily around her, "as +if I were made wholly of air. Ah, +how sweet it is to recover from illness; +it seems as if the walls were +smiling upon me. Yet, I have been +very ill—long ill. I have suffered +much; but, thanks to Allah! I am now +only weak, and that will soon pass +away. I feel health rolling, like drops +of pearl, through my veins. All the +past seems to me a sort of dark vision. +I fancied that I was sinking into a +cold sea, and that I was parched with +thirst: far away, methought, there +hovered two little stars; the darkness +thickened and thickened; I sank +deeper, deeper yet. All at once it +seemed as if some one called me by +my name, and with a mighty hand +dragged me from that icy, shoreless +sea. Ammalát's face glanced before +me, almost like a reality; the little +stars broke into a lightning-flash, +which writhed like a serpent to my +heart: I remember no more!"</p> + +<p>On the following day Ammalát +was allowed to see the convalescent. +Sultan Akhmet Khan, seeing that it +was impossible to obtain a coherent +answer from him while suspense tortured +his heart, that heart which boiled +with passion, yielded to his incessant +entreaties. "Let all rejoice +when I rejoice," he said, as he led his +guest into his daughter's room. This +had been previously announced to +Seltanetta, but her agitation, nevertheless, +was very great, when her +eyes met those of Ammalát—Ammalát, +so deeply loved, so long and fruitlessly +expected. Neither of the lovers +could pronounce a word, but the ardent +language of their looks expressed +a long tale, imprinted in burning letters +on the tablet of their hearts. On +the pale cheek of each other they read +the traces of sorrow, the tears of separation, +the characters of sleeplessness +and grief, of fear and of jealousy. +Entrancing is the blooming loveliness +of an adored mistress; but her paleness, +her languor, that is bewitching, +enchanting, victorious! What heart +of iron would not be melted by that +tearful glance, which, without a reproach, +says so tenderly to you, "I +am happy, but I have suffered by thee +and for thy sake?"</p> + +<p>Tears dropped from Ammalát's +eyes; but remembering at length that +he was not alone, he mastered himself, +and lifted up his head to speak; +but his voice refused to pour itself in +words, and with difficulty he faltered +out, "We have not seen each other +for a long time, Seltanetta!"</p> + +<p>"And we were wellnigh parted +for ever," murmured Seltanetta.</p> + +<p>"For ever!" cried Ammalát, with +a half reproachful voice. "And can +you think, can you believe this? Is +there not, then, another life, in which +sorrow is unknown, and separation +from our kinsmen and the beloved? +If I were to lose the talisman of my +life, with what scorn would I not cast +away the rusty ponderous armour of +existence! Why should I wrestle +with destiny?"</p> + +<p>"Pity, then, that I did not die!" +answered Seltanetta, sportively. "You +describe so temptingly the other side +of the grave, that one would be eager +to leap into it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, no! Live, live long, for +happiness, for—love!" Ammalát +would have added, but he reddened, +and was silent.</p> + +<p>Little by little the roses of health +spread over the cheeks of the maiden, +now happy in the presence of her +lover. All returned into its customary +order. The Khan was never +weary of questioning Ammalát about +the battles, the campaigns, the tactics +of the Russians; the Khánsha +tired him with enquiries about the +dress and customs of their women, +and could not omit to call upon Allah +as often as she heard that they go +without veils. But with Seltanetta +he enjoyed conversations and tales, to +his, as well as her, heart's content. +The merest trifle which had the slightest +connexion with the other, could +not be passed over without a minute +description, without abundant repetitions +and exclamations. Love, like +Midas, transforms every thing it +touches into gold, and, alas! often +perishes, like Midas, for want of finding +some material nourishment.</p> + +<p>But, as the strength of Seltanetta +was gradually re-established, with the +reappearing bloom of health on Ammalát's +brow, there often appeared +the shadow of grief. Sometimes, in +the middle of a lively conversation, +he would suddenly stop, droop his +head, and his bright eyes would be +dimmed with a filling of tears; heavy +sighs would seem to rend his breast; +he would start up, his eyes sparkling +with fury; he would grasp his dagger +with a bitter smile, and then, as if +vanquished by an invisible hand, he +would fall into a deep reverie, from +whence not even the caresses of his +adored Seltanetta could recall him.</p> + +<p>Once, at such a moment, Seltanetta, +leaning enraptured on his shoulder, +whispered, "Asis, (beloved,) you are +sad—you are weary of me!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, slander not him who loves +thee more than heaven!" replied +Ammalát; "but I have felt the hell +of separation; and can I think of it +without agony? Easier, a hundred +times easier, to part from life than +from thee, my dark-eyed love!"</p> + +<p>"You are thinking of it, therefore +you desire it."</p> + +<p>"Do not poison my wounds by +doubting, Seltanetta. Till now you +have known only how to bloom like a +rose—to flutter like a butterfly; till +now your will was your only duty. +But I am a man, a friend; fate has +forged for me an indestructible chain—the +chain of gratitude for kindness—it +drags me to Derbénd."</p> + +<p>"Debt! duty! gratitude!" cried +Seltanetta, mournfully shaking her +head. "How many gold-embroidered +words have you invented to cover, as +with a shawl, your unwillingness to +remain here. What! Did you not +give your heart to love before it was +pledged to friendship? You had no +right to give away what belonged to +another. Oh, forget your Verkhóffsky, +forget your Russian friends and the +beauty of Derbénd. Forget war and +murder-purchased glory. I hate blood +since I saw you covered with it. I +cannot think without shuddering, that +each drop of it costs tears that cannot +be dried, of a sister, a mother, or a +fair bride. What do you need, in +order to live peacefully and quietly +among our mountains! Here none +can come to disturb with arms the +happiness of the heart. The rain +pierces not our roof; our bread is not +of purchased corn; my father has +many horses, he has arms, and much +precious gold; in my soul there is +much love for you. Say, then, my +beloved, you will not go away, you +will remain with us!"</p> + +<p>"No, Seltanetta, I cannot, must +not, remain here. To pass my life +with you alone—for you to end it—this +is my first prayer, my last desire, +but its accomplishment depends on +your father. A sacred tie binds me +to the Russians; and while the Khan +remains unreconciled with them, an +open marriage with you would be +impossible—the obstacle would not be +the Russians, but the Khan"——</p> + +<p>"You know my father," sorrowfully +replied Seltanetta; "for some +time past his hatred of the infidels +has so strengthened itself, that he +hesitates not to sacrifice to it his +daughter and his friend. He is particularly +enraged with the Colonel for +killing his favourite noúker, who was +sent for medicine to the Hakím Ibrahim."</p> + +<p>"I have more than once begun to +speak to Akhmet Khan about my +hopes; but his eternal reply has +been—'Swear to be the enemy of the +Russians, and then I will hear you +out.'"</p> + +<p>"We must then bid adieu to hope."</p> + +<p>"Why to hope, Seltanetta? Why +not say only—farewell, Avár!"</p> + +<p>Seltanetta bent upon him her expressive +eyes. "I don't understand +you," she said.</p> + +<p>"Love me more than any thing in +the world—more than your father and +mother, and your fair land, and then +you will understand me, Seltanetta! +Live without you I cannot, and they +will not let me live with you. If you +love me, let us fly!"</p> + +<p>"Fly! the Khan's daughter fly +like a slave—a criminal! This is +dreadful—this is terrible!"</p> + +<p>"Speak not so. If the sacrifice is +unusual, my love also is unusual. +Command me to give my life a thousand +times, and I will throw it down +like a copper poull.<a name="footnotetag8" id="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> I will cast my +soul into hell for you—not only my +life. You remind me that you are +the daughter of the Khan; remember, +too, that my grandfather wore, that +my uncle wears, the crown of a +Shamkhál! But it is not by this +dignity, but by my heart, that I feel +I am worthy of you; and if there be +shame in being happy despite of the +malice of mankind and the caprice of +fate, that shame will fall on my head +and not on yours."</p> + +<p>"But you forget my father's vengeance."</p> + +<p>"There will come a time when he +himself will forget it. When he sees +that the thing is done, he will cast +aside his inflexibility; his heart is not +stone; and even were it stone, tears +of repentance will wear it away—our +caresses will soften him. Happiness +will cover us with her dove's wings, +and we shall proudly say, 'We ourselves +have caught her!'"</p> + +<p>"My beloved, I have lived not long +upon earth, but something at my +heart tells me that by falsehood we can +never catch her. Let us wait: let us +see what Allah will give! Perhaps, +without this step, our union may be +accomplished."</p> + +<p>"Seltanetta, Allah has given me +this idea: it is his will. Have pity +on me, I beseech you. Let us fly, +unless you wish that our marriage-hour +should strike above my grave! +I have pledged my honour to return +to Derbénd; and I must keep that +pledge, I must keep it soon: but to +depart without the hope of seeing you, +with the dread of hearing that you are +the wife of another—this would be +dreadful, this would be insupportable! +If not from love, then from pity, share +my destiny. Do not rob me of paradise! +Do not drive me to madness! +You know not whither disappointed +passion can carry me. I may forget +hospitality and kindred, tear asunder +all human ties, trample under my feet +all that is holy, mingle my blood with +that of those who are dearest to me, +force villany to shake with terror +when my name is heard, and angels to +weep to see my deeds!--Seltanetta, +save me from the curse of others, +from my own contempt—save me from +myself! My noúkers are fearless—my +horses like the wind; the night is +dark, let us fly to benevolent Russia, +till the storm be over. For the last +time I implore you. Life and death, +my renown and my soul, hang upon +your word. Yes or no?"</p> + +<p>Torn now by her maiden fear, and +her respect for the customs of her +forefathers, now by the passion and +eloquence of her lover, the innocent +Seltanetta wavered, like a light cork, +upon the tempestuous billows of contending +emotions. At length she +arose: with a proud and steady air +she wiped away the tears which, glistened +on her eyelashes, like the amber-gum +on the thorns of the larch-tree, +and said, "Ammalát! tempt me not! +The flame of love will not dazzle, the +smoke of love will not suffocate, my +conscience. I shall ever know what +is good and what is bad; and I well +know how shameful it is, how base, to +desert a father's house, to afflict loving +and beloved parents! I know all this—and +now, measure the price of my +sacrifice. I fly with you—I am yours! +It is not your tongue which has convinced—it +is my own heart which has +vanquished me! Allah has destined +me to see and love you: let, then, our +hearts be united for ever—and indissolubly, +though their bond be a crown +of thorns! Now all is over! Your +destiny is mine!"</p> + +<p>If heaven had clasped Ammalát in +its infinite wings, and pressed him to +the heart of the universe—to the sun—even +then his ecstacy would have +been less strong than at this divine +moment. He poured forth the most +incoherent cries and exclamations of +gratitude. When the first transports +were over, the lovers arranged all the +details of their flight. Seltanetta consented +to lower herself by her bed-coverings +from her chamber, to the +steep bank of the Ouzén. Ammalát +was to ride out in the evening with his +noúkers from Khounzákh, as if on a +hawking party; he was to return to +the Khan's house by circuitous roads +at nightfall, and there receive his fair +fellow-traveller in his arms. Then +they were to take horses in silence, +and then—let enemies keep out of +their road!</p> + +<p>A kiss sealed the treaty; and the +lovers separated with fear and hope in +heart.</p> + +<p>Ammalát Bek, having prepared his +brave noúkers for battle or flight, looked +impatiently at the sun, which seemed +loth to descend from the warm sky +to the chilly glaciers of the Caucasus. +Like a bridegroom he pined for night, +like an importunate guest he followed +with his eyes the luminary of day. +How slowly it moved—it crept to its +setting! An interminable space seemed +to intervene between hope and enjoyment. +Unreasonable youth! What +is your pledge of success? Who will +assure you that your footsteps are not +watched—your words not caught in +their flight? Perhaps with the sun, +which you upbraid, your hope will +set.</p> + +<p>About the fourth hour after noon, +the time of the Mozlem's dinner, the +Sultan Akhmet Khan was unusually +savage and gloomy. His eyes gleamed +suspiciously from under his frowning +brows; he fixed them for a long space, +now on his daughter, now on his +young guest. Sometimes his features +assumed a mocking expression, but it +again vanished in the blush of anger. +His questions were biting, his conversation +was interrupted; and all this +awakened in the soul of Seltanetta +repentance—in the heart of Ammalát +apprehension. On the other hand, +the Khánsha, as if dreading a separation +from her lovely daughter, was so +affectionate and anxious, that this unmerited +tenderness wrung tears from +the gentle-hearted Seltanetta, and her +glance, stealthily thrown at Ammalát, +was to him a piercing reproach.</p> + +<p>Hardly, after dinner, had they concluded +the customary ceremony of +washing the hands, when the Khan +called Ammalát into the spacious +court-yard. There caparisoned horses +awaited them, and a crowd of noúkers +were already in the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Let us ride out to try the mettle +of my new hawks," said the Khan to +Ammalát; "the evening is fine, the +heat is diminishing, and we shall yet +have time, ere twilight, to shoot a few +birds."</p> + +<p>With his hawk on his fist, the +Khan rode silently by the side of Ammalát. +An Avarétz was climbing up +to a steep cliff on the left, by means +of a spiked pole, fixing it into the +crevices, and then, supporting himself +on a prong, he lifted himself higher. +To his waist was attached a cap containing +wheat; a long crossbow hung +upon his shoulders. The Khan stopped, +pointed him out to Ammalát, and +said meaningly, "Look at yonder old +man, Ammalát Bek! He seeks, at +the risk of his life, a foot of ground +on the naked rock, to sow a handful +of wheat. With the sweat of his brow +he cultivates it, and often pays with +his life for the defence of his herd +from men and beasts. Poor is his +native land; but why does he love +this land? Ask him to change it for +your fruitful fields, your rich flocks. +He will say, 'Here I do what I +please; here I bow to no one; these +snows, these peaks of ice, defend my +liberty.' And this freedom the Russians +would take from him: of these +Russians you have become the slave, +Ammalát."</p> + +<p>"Khan, you know that it is not +Russian bravery, but Russian generosity, +that has vanquished me. Their +slave I am not, but their companion."</p> + +<p>"A thousand times the worse, the +more disgraceful for you. The heir +of the Shamkhál pines for a Russian +epaulette, and glories in being the dependent +of a colonel!"</p> + +<p>"Moderate your words, Sultan +Akhmet. To Verkhóffsky I owe more +than life: the tie of friendship unites +us."</p> + +<p>"Can there exist a holy tie between +us and the Giaour? To injure them, +to destroy them, when possible, to +deceive them when this cannot be +done, is the commandment of the Korán, +and the duty of every true believer."</p> + +<p>"Khan! let us cease to play with +the bones of Mahomet, and to menace +others with what we do not believe. +You are not a moólla, I am no fakir. +I have my own notions of the duty of +an honest man."</p> + +<p>"Really, Ammalát Bek? It were +well, however, if you were to have +this oftener in your heart than on +your tongue. For the last time, allow +me to ask you, will you hearken to the +counsels of a friend whom you quitted +for the Giaour? Will you remain +with us for good?"</p> + +<p>"My life I would lay down for the +happiness you so generously offer; +but I have given my promise to return, +and I will keep it."</p> + +<p>"Is this decided?"</p> + +<p>"Irrevocably so."</p> + +<p>"Well then, the sooner the better. +I have learned to know you. <i>Me</i> you +know of old. Insincerity and flattery +between us are in vain. I will not +conceal from you, that I always wished +to see you my son-in-law. I rejoiced +that Seltanetta had pleased you; +your captivity put off my plans for a +time. Your long absence—the rumours +of your conversion—grieved +me. At length you appeared among +us, and found every thing as before; +but you did not bring to us your former +heart. I hoped you would fall +back into your former course; I was +painfully mistaken. It is a pity; but +there is nothing to be done. I do not +wish to have for my son-in-law a servant +of the Russians."</p> + +<p>"Akhmet Khan, I once"——</p> + +<p>"Let me finish. Your agitated +arrival, your ravings at the door of +the sick Seltanetta, betrayed to every +body your attachment, and our mutual +intentions. Through all the mountains, +you have been talked of as the +affianced bridegroom of my daughter: +but now the tie is broken, it is time to +destroy the rumours; for the honour +of my family—for the tranquillity of +my daughter—you must leave us—and +immediately. This is absolutely +necessary and indispensable. Ammalát, +we part friends, but here we +will meet only as kinsmen, not otherwise. +May Allah turn your heart, +and restore you to us as an inseparable +friend. Till then, farewell!"</p> + +<p>With these words the Khan turned +his horse, and rode away at full gallop +to his retinue. If on the stupefied +Ammalát the thunderbolt of heaven +had fallen, he could not have been +more astounded than by this unexpected +explanation. Already had the +dust raised by the horse's hoofs of the +retiring Khan been laid at rest; but he +still stood immovable on the hill now +darkening in the shadow of sunset.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Colonel Verkhóffsky, engaged in +reducing to submission the rebellious +Daghestánetzes, was encamped with +his regiment at the village of Kiáfir-Kaúmik. +The tent of Ammalát Bek +was erected next to his own, and in +it Saphir-Ali, lazily stretched on the +carpet, was drinking the wine of the +Don, notwithstanding the prohibition +of the Prophet. Ammalát Bek, thin, +pale, and pensive, was resting his head +against the tent-pole, smoking a pipe. +Three months had passed since the +time when he was banished from his +paradise; and he was now roving with +a detachment, within sight of the +mountains to which his heart flew, +but whither his foot durst not step. +Grief had worn out his strength; +vexation had poured its vial on his +once serene character. He had +dragged a sacrifice to his attachment +to the Russians, and it seemed +as if he reproached every Russian +with it. Discontent was visible in +every word, in every glance.</p> + +<p>"A fine thing wine!" said Saphir +Ali, carefully wiping the glasses; +"surely Mahomet must have met with +sour dregs in Aravéte, when he forbade +the juice of the grape to true +believers! Why, really these drops +are as sweet as if the angels themselves, +in their joy, had wept their +tears into bottles. Ho! quaff another +glass, Ammalát; your heart will float +on the wine more lightly than a bubble. +Do you know what Hafiz has sung +about it?"</p> + +<p>"And do you know? Pray, do not +annoy me with your prate, Saphir Ali: +not even under the name of Sadi and +Hafiz."</p> + +<p>"Why, what harm is there? If +even this prate is my own, it is not an +earring: it will not remain hanging +in your ear. When you begin your +story about your goddess Seltanetta, +I look at you as at the juggler, who +eats fire, and winds endless ribbons +from his cheeks. Love makes you +talk nonsense, and the Donskoi (wine +of the Don) makes me do the same. +So we are quits. Now, then, to the +health of the Russians!"</p> + +<p>"What has made you like the Russians?"</p> + +<p>"Say rather—why have you ceased +to love them?"</p> + +<p>"Because I have examined them +nearer. Really they are no better +than our Tartars. They are just as +eager for profit, just as ready to blame +others, and not with a view of improving +their fellow-creatures, but to excuse +themselves: and as to their laziness—don't +let us speak of it. They +have ruled here for a long time, and +what good have they done; what firm +laws have they established; what useful +customs have they introduced; what +have they taught us; what have they +created here, or what have they constructed +worthy of notice? Verkhóffsky +has opened my eyes to the faults of my +countrymen, but at the same time to +the defects of the Russians, to whom +it is more unpardonable; because +they know what is right, have grown +up among good examples, and here, +as if they have forgotten their mission, +and their active nature, they sink, little +by little, into the insignificance of +the beasts."</p> + +<p>"I hope you do not include Verkhóffsky +in this number."</p> + +<p>"Not he alone, but some others, +deserve to be placed in a separate circle. +But then, are there many such?"</p> + +<p>"Even the angels in heaven are +numbered, Ammalát Bek: and Verkhóffsky +absolutely is a man for whose +justice and kindness we ought to thank +heaven. Is there a single Tartar who +can speak ill of him? Is there a soldier +who would not give his soul for +him? Abdul-Hamet, more wine! +Now then, to the health of Verkhóffsky!"</p> + +<p>"Spare me! I will not drink to +Mahomet himself."</p> + +<p>"If your heart is not as black as +the eyes of Seltanetta, you will drink, +even were it in the presence of the +red-bearded Yakhoúnts of the Shakhéeds<a name="footnotetag9" id="footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> +of Derbént: even if all the +Imáms and Shieks not only licked their +lips but bit their nails out of spite to +you for such a sacrilege."</p> + +<p>"I will not drink, I tell you."</p> + +<p>"Hark ye, Ammalát: I am ready +to let the devil get drunk on my +blood for your sake, and you won't +drink a glass of wine for mine."</p> + +<p>"That is to say, that I will not +drink because I do not wish—and I +don't wish, because even without wine +my blood boils in me like fermenting +boozá."</p> + +<p>"A bad excuse! It is not the first +time that we have drunk, nor the first +time that our blood boils. Speak +plainly at once: you are angry with +the Colonel."</p> + +<p>"Very angry."</p> + +<p>"May I know for what?"</p> + +<p>"For much. For some time past +he has begun to drop poison into the +honey of his friendship: and at last +these drops have filled and overflowed +the cup. I cannot bear such lukewarm +friends! He is liberal with his +advice, not sparing with his lectures; +that is, in every thing that costs him +neither risk nor trouble."</p> + +<p>"I understand, I understand! I +suppose he would not let you go to +Avár!"</p> + +<p>"If you bore my heart in your bosom +you would understand how I felt +when I received such a refusal. He +lured me on with that hope, and then +all at once repulsed my most earnest +prayer—dashed into dust, like a crystal +kalián, my fondest hopes.... +Akhmet Khan was surely softened, +when he sent word that he wished to +see me; and I cannot fly to him, or +hurry to Seltanetta."</p> + +<p>"Put yourself, brother, in his place, +and then say whether you yourself +would not have acted in the same way."</p> + +<p>"No, not so! I should have said +plainly from the very beginning, +'Ammalát, do not expect any help +from me.' I even now ask him not +for help. I only beg him not to hinder +me. Yet no! He, hiding from me +the sun of all my joy, assures me that +he does this from interest in me—that +this will hereafter bring me fortune. +Is not this a fine anodyne?"</p> + +<p>"No, my friend! If this is really +the case, the sleeping-draught is given +to you as to a person on whom they +wish to perform an operation. You +are thinking only of your love, and +Verkhóffsky has to keep your honour +and his own without spot; and you +are both surrounded by ill-wishers. +Believe me, either thus or otherwise, +it is he alone who can cure you."</p> + +<p>"Who asks him to cure me? This +divine malady of love is my only joy: +and to deprive me of it is to tear out +my heart, because it cannot beat at +the sound of a drum!"——</p> + +<p>At this moment a strange Tartar +entered the tent, looked suspiciously +round, and bending down his head, +laid his slippers before Ammalát—according +to Asiatic custom, this signified +that he requested a private conversation. +Ammalát understood him, +made a sign with his head, and both +went out into the open air. The night +was dark, the fires were going out, +and the chain of sentinels extended +far before them. "Here we are alone," +said Ammalát Bek to the Tartar: +"who art thou, and what dost thou +want?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Samit: I am an inhabitant +of Derbénd, of the sect of +Souni: and now am at present serving +in the detachment of Mussulman +cavalry. My commission is of greater +consequence to you than to me.... +<i>The eagle loves the mountains</i>!"</p> + +<p>Ammalát shuddered, and looked +suspiciously at the messenger. This +was a watchword, the key of which +Sultan Akhmet had previously written +to him. "How can he but love the +mountains?" ... he replied; "In +the mountains there are many lambs +for the eagles, and <i>much silver for +men</i>."</p> + +<p>"<i>And much steel for the valiant</i>," (yigheeds.)</p> + +<p>Ammalát grasped the messenger +by the hand. "How is Sultan Akhmet +Khan?" he enquired hurriedly: +"What news bring you from him—how +long is it since you have seen his +family?"</p> + +<p>"Not to answer, but to question, +am I come.... Will you follow me?"</p> + +<p>"Where? for what?"</p> + +<p>"You know who has sent me. +That is enough. If you trust not +him, trust not me. Therein is your +will and my advantage. Instead of +running my head into a noose to-night, +I can return to-morrow to the +Khan, and tell him that Ammalát +dares not leave the camp."</p> + +<p>The Tartar gained his point: the +touchy Ammalát took fire. "Saphir +Ali!" he cried loudly.</p> + +<p>Saphir Ali started up, and ran out of +the tent.</p> + +<p>"Order horses to be brought for +yourself and me, even if unsaddled; +and at the same time send word to +the Colonel, that I have ridden out to +examine the field behind the line, to +see if some rascal is not stealing in +between the sentries. My gun and +shashka in a twinkling!"</p> + +<p>The horses were led up, the Tartar +leaped on his own, which was tied up +not far off, and all three rode off to +the chain. They gave the word and +the countersign, and they passed by +the videttes to the left, along the +bank of the swift Azen.</p> + +<p>Saphir Ali, who had very unwillingly +left his bottle, grumbled about +the darkness, the underwood, the +ditches, and rode swearing by Ammalát's +side; but seeing that nobody +began the conversation, he resolved +to commence it himself.</p> + +<p>"My ashes fall on the head of this +guide! The devil knows where he is +leading us, and where he will take us. +Perhaps he is going to sell us to the +Lezghíns for a rich ransom. I never +trust these squinting fellows!"</p> + +<p>"I trust but little even to those +who have straight eyes," answered +Ammalát; "but this squinting fellow +is sent from a friend: he will not betray +us!"</p> + +<p>"And the very first moment he +thinks of any thing like it, at his first +movement I will slice him through +like a melon. Ho! friend," cried +Saphir Ali, to the guide; "in the +name of the king of the genii, it +seems you have made a compact with +the thorns to tear the embroidery from +my tschoukhá. Could you not find +a wider road? I am really neither a +pheasant nor a fox."</p> + +<p>The guide stopped. "To say the +truth, I have led a delicate fellow like +you too far!" he answered. "Stay +here and take care of the horses, +whilst Ammalát and I will go where +it is necessary."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible you will go into the +woods with such a cut-throat looking +rascal, without me?" whispered Saphir +Ali to Ammalát.</p> + +<p>"That is, you are afraid to remain +here <i>without me</i>!" replied Ammalát, +dismounting from his horse, and giving +him the reins: "Do not annoy +yourself, my dear fellow. I leave +you in the agreeable society of wolves +and jackals. Hark how they are singing!"</p> + +<p>"Pray to God that I may not have +to deliver your bones from these singers," +said Saphir Ali. They separated. +Samit led Ammalát among the +bushes, over the river, and having +passed about half a verst among stones, +began to descend. At the risk of +their necks they clambered along +the rocks, clinging by the roots of +the sweet-briar, and at length, after +a difficult journey, descended into the +narrow mouth of a small cavern parallel +with the water. It had been excavated +by the washing of the stream, +erewhile rapid, but now dried up. +Long stalactites of lime and crystal +glittered in the light of a fire piled in +the middle. In the back-ground lay +Sultan Akhmet Khan on a boúrka, +and seemed to be waiting patiently +till Ammalát should recover himself +amid the thick smoke which rolled in +masses through the cave. A cocked +gun lay across his knees; the tuft in +his cap fluttered in the wind which +blew from the crevices. He rose politely +as Ammalát hurried to salute +him.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you," he said, +pressing the hands of his guest; "and +I do not hide the feeling which I +ought not to cherish. However, it is +not for an empty interview that I have +put my foot into the trap, and troubled +you: sit down, Ammalát, and let us +speak about an important affair."</p> + +<p>"To me, Sultan Akhmet Khan?"</p> + +<p>"To us both. With your father +I have eaten bread and salt. There +was a time when I counted you likewise +as my friend."</p> + +<p>"But counted!"</p> + +<p>"No! you were my friend, and +would ever have remained so, if the +deceiver, Verkhóffsky, had not stepped +between us."</p> + +<p>"Khan, you know him not."</p> + +<p>"Not only I, but you yourself +shall soon know him. But let us +begin with what regards Seltanetta. +You know she cannot ever remain +unmarried. This would be a disgrace +to my house: and let me tell you candidly, +that she has already been demanded +in marriage."</p> + +<p>Ammalát's heart seemed torn asunder. +For some time he could not +recover himself. At length he tremblingly +asked, "Who is this bold +lover?"</p> + +<p>"The second son of the Shamkhál, +Abdoul Moússelin. Next after you, +he has, from his high blood, the best +right, of all our mountaineers, to Seltanetta's +hand."</p> + +<p>"Next to me—after me!" exclaimed +the passionate Bek, boiling with +anger: "Am I, then, buried? Is +then my memory vanished among my +friends?"</p> + +<p>"Neither the memory, nor friendship +itself is dead in my heart; but be +just, Ammalát; as just as I am frank. +Forget that you are the judge of your +own cause, and decide what we are +to do. You will not abandon the +Russians, and I cannot make peace +with them."</p> + +<p>"Do but wish—do but speak the +word, and all will be forgotten, all +will be forgiven you. This I will +answer for with my head, and with +the honour of Verkhóffsky, who has +more than once promised me his mediation. +For your own good, for the +welfare of Avár, for your daughter's +happiness, for my bliss, I implore +you, yield to peace, and all will be +forgotten—all that once belonged to +you will be restored."</p> + +<p>"How boldly you answer, rash +youth, for another's pardon, for another's +life! Are you sure of your +own life, your own liberty?"</p> + +<p>"Who should desire my poor life? +To whom should be dear the liberty +which I do not prize myself?"</p> + +<p>"To whom? Think you that the +pillow does not move under the Shamkhál's +head, when the thought rises +in his brain, that you, the true heir +of the Shamkhalát of Tarki, are +in favour with the Russian Government?"</p> + +<p>"I never reckoned on its friendship, +nor feared its enmity."</p> + +<p>"Fear it not, but do not despise it. +Do you know that an express, sent +from Tarki to Yermóloff, arrived a +moment too late, to request him to +show no mercy, but to execute you as +a traitor? The Shamkhál was before +ready to betray you with a kiss, if he +could; but now, that you have sent +back his blind daughter to him, he no +longer conceals his hate."</p> + +<p>"Who will dare to touch me, under +Verkhóffsky's protection?"</p> + +<p>"Hark ye, Ammalát; I will tell +you a fable:—A sheep went into a +kitchen to escape the wolves, and rejoiced +in his luck, flattered by the +caresses of the cooks. At the end of +three days he was in the pot. Ammalát, +this is your story. 'Tis time +to open your eyes. The man whom +you considered your first friend has +been the first to betray you. You are +surrounded, entangled by treachery. +My chief motive in meeting you was +my desire to warn you. When Seltanetta +was asked in marriage, I was +given to understand from the Shamkhál, +that through him I could more +readily make my peace with the Russians, +than through the powerless +Ammalát—that you would soon be +removed in some way or other, and +that there was nothing to be feared +from your rivalry. I suspected still +more, and learned more than I suspected. +To-day I stopped the Shamkhál's +noúker, to whom the negotiations +with Verkhóffsky were entrusted, +and extracted from him, by torture, +that the Shamkhál offers a thousand +ducats to get rid of you. Verkhóffsky +hesitates, and wishes only to send you +to Siberia for ever. The affair is not +yet decided; but to-morrow the detachment +retires to their quarters, and +they have resolved to meet at your +house in Bouináki, to bargain about +your blood. They will forge denunciations +and charges—they will poison +you at your own table, and cover you +with chains of iron, promising you +mountains of gold." It was painful +to see Ammalát during this dreadful +speech. Every word, like red-hot +iron, plunged into his heart; all within +him that was noble, grand, or consoling, +took fire at once, and turned into +ashes. Every thing in which he had +so long and so trustingly confided, +fell to pieces, and shrivelled up in the +flame of indignation. Several times +he tried to speak, but the words died +away in a sickly gasp; and at last +the wild beast which Verkhóffsky had +tamed, which Ammalát had lulled to +sleep, burst from his chain: a flood of +curses and menaces poured from the lips +of the furious Bek. "Revenge, revenge!" +he cried, "merciless revenge, +and woe to the hypocrites!"</p> + +<p>"This is the first word worthy of you," +said the Khan, concealing the joy of +success; "long enough have you crept +like a serpent, laying your head under +the feet of the Russians! 'Tis time to +soar like an eagle to the clouds; to +look down from on high upon the +enemy who cannot reach you with +their arrows. Repay treachery with +treachery, death with death!"</p> + +<p>"Then death and ruin be to the +Shamkhál, the robber of my liberty; +and ruin be to Abdoul Moússelin, who +dared to stretch forth his hand to my +treasure!"</p> + +<p>"The Shamkhál? His son—his +family? Are they worthy of your +first exploits? They are all but little +loved by the Tarkovétzes; and if we +attack the Shamkhál, they will give +up his whole family with their own +hands. No, Ammalát, you must aim +your first blow next to you; you must +destroy your chief enemy; you must +kill Verkhóffsky."</p> + +<p>"Verkhóffsky!" exclaimed Ammalát, +stepping back.... "Yes!.... he +is my enemy; but he was my +friend. He saved me from a shameful +death.</p> + +<p>"And has now sold you to a shameful +life!.... A noble friend! And +then you have yourself saved him from +the tusks of the wild-boar—a death +worthy of a swine-eater! The first +debt is paid, the second remains due: +for the destiny which he is so deceitfully +preparing for you"....</p> + +<p>"I feel ... this ought to be ... but +what will good men say? What +will my conscience say?"</p> + +<p>"It is for a man to tremble before +old women's tales, and before a +whimpering child—conscience—when +honour and revenge are at stake? I +see Ammalát, that without me you +will decide nothing; you will not +even decide to marry Seltanetta. Listen +to me. Would you be a son-in-law +worthy of me, the first condition +is Verkhóffsky's death. His head shall +be a marriage-gift for your bride, +whom you love, and who loves you. +Not revenge only, but the plainest +reasoning requires the death of the +Colonel. Without him, all Daghestán +will remain several days without +a chief, and stupefied with horror. In +this interval, we come flying upon the +Russians who are dispersed in their +quarters. I mount with twenty thousand +Avarétzes and Akoushétzes: and +we fall from the mountains like a cloud +of snow upon Tarki. Then Ammalát, +Shamkhál of Daghestán, will embrace +me as his friend, as his father-in-law. +These are my plans, this is +your destiny. Choose which you +please; either an eternal banishment, +or a daring blow, which promises you +power and happiness; but know, that +next time we shall meet either as kinsmen, +or as irreconcilable foes!"</p> + +<p>The Khan disappeared. Long stood +Ammalát, agitated, devoured by new +and terrible feelings. At length Samit +reminded him that it was time to +return to the camp. Ignorant himself +how and where he had found his way +to the shore, he followed his mysterious +guide, found his horse, and without +answering a word to the thousand +questions of Saphir Ali, rode up to his +tent. There, all the tortures of the +soul's hell awaited him. Heavy is the +first night of sorrow, but still more +terrible the first bloody thoughts of +crime.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<a name="bw329s3" id="bw329s3"></a><h2>REYNOLDS'S DISCOURSES. CONCLUSION.</h2> + +<p>We omit any notice of the other +written works of Sir Joshua—his +"Journey to Flanders and Holland," +his Notes to Mason's verse translation +of Du Fresnoy's Latin poem, "Art +of Painting," and his contributions to +the "Idler." The former is chiefly a +notice of pictures, and of value to +those who may visit the galleries +where most of them may be found; +and in some degree his remarks will +attach a value to those dispersed; the +best part of the "Journey," perhaps, +is his critical discrimination of the +style and genius of Rubens. The +marrow of his Notes to Du Fresnoy's +poem, and indeed of his papers +in the "Idler," has been transferred +to his Discourses, which, as +they terminate his literary labours, +contain all that he considered important +in a discussion on taste and art. +The notes to Du Fresnoy may, however, +be consulted by the practical +painter with advantage, as here and +there some technical directions may +be found, which, if of doubtful utility +in practice, will at least demand +thought and reasoning upon this not +unimportant part of the art. To +doubt is to reflect; judgment results, +and from this, as a sure source, genius +creates. There are likewise some +memoranda useful to artists to be read +in Northcote's "Life." The influence +of these Discourses upon art in this +country has been much less than +might have been expected from so +able an exposition of its principles. +They breathe throughout an admiration +of what is great, give a high aim +to the student, and point to the path +he should pursue to attain it: while +it must be acknowledged our artists +as a body have wandered in another +direction. The Discourses speak to +cultivated minds only. They will +scarcely be available to those who +have habituated their minds to lower +views of art, and have, by a fascinating +practice, acquired an inordinate +love for its minor beauties. It is true +their tendency is to teach, to <i>cultivate</i>: +but in art there is too often as much +to unlearn as to learn, and the <i>unlearning</i> +is the more irksome task; +prejudice, self-gratulation, have removed +the humility which is the first +step in the ladder of advancement. +With the public at large, the Discourses +have done more; and rather +by the reflection from that improvement +in the public taste, than from +any direct appeal to artists, our exhibitions +have gained somewhat in refinement. +And if there is, perhaps, +less vigour now, than in the time of +Sir Joshua, Wilson, and Gainsborough, +those fathers of the English School, +we are less seldom disgusted with the +coarseness, both of subject and manner, +that prevailed in some of their +contemporaries and immediate successors. +In no branch of art is this improvement +more shown than in scenes +of familiar life—which meant, indeed +"Low Life." Vulgarity has given +place to a more "elegant familiar." +This has necessarily brought into play +a nicer attention to mechanical excellence, +and indeed to all the minor +beauties of the art. We almost fear +too much has been done this way, because +it has been too exclusively pursued, +and led astray the public taste +to rest satisfied with, and unadvisedly +to require, the less important perfections. +From that great style which +it may be said it was the sole object +of the Discourses to recommend, we +are further off than ever. Even in +portrait, there is far less of the historical, +than Sir Joshua himself introduced +into that department—an adoption +which he has so ably defended by +his arguments. But nothing can be +more unlike the true historical, as defined +in the precepts of art, than the +modern representation of national (in +that sense, historical) events. The +precepts of the President have been +unread or disregarded by the patronized +historical painters of our day. +It would seem to be thought a greater +achievement to identify on canvass the +millinery that is worn, than the characters +of the wearers, silk stockings, +and satins, and faces, are all of the +same common aim of similitude; arrangement, +attitude, and peculiarly +inanimate expression, display of finery, +with the actual robes, as generally +announced in the advertisement, render +such pictures counterparts, or +perhaps inferior counterfeits to Mrs +Jarley's wax-work. And, like the wax-work, +they are paraded from town to +town, to show the people how much +the tailor and mantua-maker have to +do in state affairs; and that the greatest +of empires is governed by very +ordinary-looking personages. Even +the Venetian painters, called by way +of distinction the "Ornamental +School," deemed it necessary to avoid +prettinesses and pettinesses, and by +consummate skill in artistical arrangement +in composition, in chiaro-scuro +and colour, to give a certain greatness +to the representations of their national +events. There is not, whatever +other faults they may have, this +of poverty, in the public pictures of +Venice; they are at least of a magnificent +ambition: they are far removed +from the littleness of a show. +We are utterly gone out of the way +of the first principles of art in our +national historical pictures. Yet was +the great historical the whole subject +of the Discourses—it was to be the +only worthy aim of the student. If +the advice and precepts of Sir Joshua +Reynolds have, then, been so entirely +disregarded, it may be asked what +benefit he has conferred upon the +world by his Discourses. We answer, +great. He has shown what +should be the aim of art, and has +therefore raised it in the estimation +of the cultivated. His works are +part of our standard literature; they +are in the hands of readers, of scholars; +they materially help in the formation +of a taste by which literature +is to be judged and relished. Even +those who never acquire any very +competent knowledge of, or love for +pictures, do acquire a respect for art, +connect it with classical poetry—the +highest poetry, with Homer, with the +Greek drama, with all they have read +of the venerated works of Phidias, +Praxiteles, and Apelles; and having +no too nice discrimination, are credulous +of, or anticipate by remembering +what has been done and valued—the +honour of the profession. We assert +that, by bringing the precepts of art +within the pale of our accepted literature, +Sir Joshua Reynolds has given +to art a better position. Would that +there were no counteracting circumstances +which still keep it from reaching +its proper rank! Some there are, +which materially degrade it, amongst +which is the attempt to force patronage; +the whole system of Art Unions, +and of Schools of Design, the "in formâ +pauperis" petitioning and advertising, +and the rearing innumerable artists, +ill-educated in all but drawing, and +mere degrading still, the binding art, +as it were, apprenticed to manufacture +in such Schools of Design; connecting, +in more than idea, the drawer of +patterns with the painter of pictures. +Hence has arisen, and must necessarily +arise, an inundation of mediocrity, +the aim of the painter being to reach +some low-prize mark, an unnatural +competition, inferior minds brought +into the profession, a sort of painting-made-easy +school, and pictures, like +other articles of manufacture, cheap +and bad. We should say decidedly, +that the best consideration for art, and +the best patronage too, that we would +give to it, would be to establish it in +our universities of Cambridge and +Oxford. In those venerated places to +found professorships, that a more sure +love and more sure taste for it may be +imbedded with every other good and +classical love and taste in the early +minds of the youth of England's pride, +of future patrons; and where painters +themselves may graduate, and associate +with all noble and cultivated minds, +and be as much honoured in their profession +as any in those usually called +"learned." But to return to Sir Joshua. +He conferred upon his profession not +more benefit by his writings and paintings, +than by his manners and conduct. +To say that they were irreproachable +would be to say little—they were such +as to render him an object of love and +respect. He adorned a society at that +time remarkable for men of wit and +wisdom. He knew that refinement +was necessary for his profession, and +he studiously cultivated it—so studiously, +that he brought a portion of his +own into that society from which he +had gathered much. He abhorred +what was low in thought, in manners, +and in art. And thus he tutored his +genius, which was great rather from +the cultivation of his judgment, by +incessantly exercising his good sense +upon the task before him, than from +any innate very vigorous power. He +thought prudence the best guide of +life, and his mind was not of an eccentric +daring, to rush heedlessly beyond +the bounds of discretion. And +this was no small proof of his good +sense; when the prejudice of the age +in which he lived was prone to consider +eccentricity as a mark of genius; and +genius itself, inconsistently with the +very term of a silly admiration, an +<i>inspiration</i>, that necessarily brought +with it carelessness and profligacy. +By his polished manners, his manly +virtues, and his prudential views, +which mainly formed his taste, and +enabled him to disseminate taste, Sir +Joshua rescued art from this degrading +prejudice, which, while it flattered +vanity and excused vice, made the objects +of the flattery contemptible and +inexcusable. If genius be a gift, it +is one that passes through the mind, +and takes its colour; the love of all +that is pure, and good, and great, can +alone invest genius with that habit of +thought which, applied to practice, +makes the perfect painter. Castiglione +considered painting the proper acquirement +of the perfect gentleman—Sir +Joshua Reynolds thought that to be in +mind and manners the "gentlemen," +was as necessary to perfect the painter. +The friend of Johnson and Burke, +and of all persons of that brilliant +age, distinguished by abilities and +worth, was no common man. In +raising himself, he was ever mindful +to raise the art to which he had +devoted himself, in general estimation.</p> + +<p>We have noticed a charge against +the writer of the Discourses, that +he did not pursue that great style +which he so earnestly recommended. +Besides that this is not quite true—for +he unquestionably did adopt so much +of the great manner as his subjects +would, generally speaking, allow—there +was a sufficient reason for the +tone he adopted, that it was one useful +and honourable, and none can deny +that it was suited to his genius. He +was doubtless conscious of his own +peculiar powers, and contemplated the +degree of excellence which he attained. +He felt that he could advance +that department of his profession, and +surely no unpardonable prudential +views led him to the adoption of it. It +was the one, perhaps, best suited to his +abilities; and there is nothing in his +works which might lead us to suspect +that he would have succeeded so well +in any other. The characteristic of +his mind was a nice observation. +It was not in its native strength +creative. We doubt if Sir Joshua +Reynolds ever attempted a perfectly +original creation—if he ever designed +without having some imitation in +view. We mean not to say, that in +the process he did not take slight +advantages of accidents, and, if the +expression may be used, by a second +sort of creation, make his work in the +end perfectly his own. But we should +suppose that his first conceptions for +his pictures, (of course, we speak +principally of those not strictly portraits,) +came to him through his admiration +of some of the great originals, +which he had so deeply studied. +In almost every work by his hand, +there is strongly marked his good +sense—almost a prudent forbearance. +He ever seemed too cautious not to +dare beyond his tried strength, more +especially in designing a subject of +several figures. His true genius as +alone conspicuous in those where +much of the portrait was admissible; +and such was his "Tragic Muse," a +strictly historical picture: was it +equally discernible in his "Nativity" +for the window in New College Chapel? +We think not. There is nothing +in his "Nativity" that has not +been better done by others; yet, as a +whole, it is good; and if the subject +demands a more creative power, and +a higher daring than was habitual to +him, we are yet charmed with the +good sense throughout; and while we +look, are indisposed to criticise. We +have already remarked how much Sir +Joshua was indebted to a picture by +Domenichino for the "Tragic Muse." +Every one knows that he borrowed +the "Nativity" from the "Notte" of +Correggio, and perhaps in detail from +other and inferior masters. His +"Ugolino" was a portrait, or a study, +in the commencement; it owes its +excellence to its retaining this character +in its completion. If we were to point +to failures, in single figures, (historical,) +we should mention his "Puck" +and his "Infant Hercules." The +latter we only know from the print. +Here he certainly had an opportunity +of displaying the great style of Michael +Angelo; it was beyond his +daring; the Hercules is a sturdy +child, and that is all, we see not the +<i>ex pede Herculem</i>. We can imagine +the colouring, especially of the serpents +and back-ground, to have been +impressive. The picture is in the +possession of the Emperor of Russia. +The "Puck" is a somewhat mischievous +boy—too substantially, perhaps +heavily, given for the fanciful +creation. The mushroom on which +he is perched is unfortunate in shape +and colour; it is too near the semblance +of a bullock's heart. His +"Cardinal Beaufort," powerful in +expression, has been, we think, captiously +reprehended for the introduction +of the demon. The mind's eye +has the privilege of poetry to imagine +the presence; the personation is therefore +legitimate to the sister art. The +National Gallery is not fortunate +enough to possess any important picture +of the master in the historical style. +The portraits there are good. +There was, we have been given to +understand, an opportunity of purchasing +for the National Gallery the +portrait of himself, which Sir Joshua +presented to his native town of Plympton +as his substitute, having been +elected mayor of the town—an honour +that was according to the expectation +of the electors thus repaid. The +Municipal Reform brought into office +in the town of Plympton, as elsewhere, +a set of men who neither valued art +nor the fame of their eminent townsman. +Men who would convert the +very mace of office into cash, could +not be expected to keep a portrait; +so it was sold by auction, and for a mere +trifle. It was offered to the +nation; and by those whose business +it was to cater for the nation, pronounced +a copy. The history of its +sale did not accompany the picture; +when that was known, as it is said, +a very large sum was offered, and refused. +It is but justice to the committee +to remind them of the fact, +that Sir Joshua himself, as he tells us, +very minutely examined a picture +which he pronounced to be his own, +and which was nevertheless a copy. +Unquestionably his genius was for +portrait; it suited his strictly observant +character; and he had this great +requisite for a portrait-painter, having +great sense himself, he was able to +make his heads intellectual. His +female portraits are extremely lovely; +he knew well how to represent intellect, +enthusiasm, and feeling. These +qualities he possessed himself. We +have observed, in the commencement +of these remarks upon the Discourses, +that painters do not usually paint +beyond themselves, either power or +feeling—beyond their own grasp and +sentiments; it was the habitual good +sense and refinement of moral feeling +that made Sir Joshua Reynolds so +admirable a portrait-painter. He has +been, and we doubt not justly, celebrated +as a colourist. Unfortunately, +we are not now so capable of judging, +excepting in a few instances, of this his +excellence. Some few years ago, his +pictures, to a considerable amount in +number, were exhibited at the British +Institution. We are forced to confess +that they generally looked too +brown—many of them dingy, many +loaded with colour, that, when put +on, was probably rich and transparent: +we concluded that they had +changed. Though Sir Joshua, as +Northcote in his very amusing Memoirs +of the President assures us, +would not allow those under him to +try experiments, and carefully locked +up his own, that he might more effectually +discourage the attempt—considering +that, in students, it was beginning +at the wrong end—yet was +he himself a great experimentalist. +He frequently used wax and varnish; +the decomposition of the latter (mastic) +would sufficiently account for the +appearance those pictures wore. We +see others that have very much faded; +some that are said to be faded may +rather have been injured by cleaners; +the colouring when put on with +much varnish not bearing the process +of cleaning, may have been removed, +and left only the dead and crude +work. It has been remarked, that +his pictures have more especially suffered +under the hands of restorers. +It must be very difficult for a portrait-painter, +much employed, and called +upon to paint a portrait, where short +time and few sittings are the conditions, +to paint a lasting work. He is +obliged to hasten the drying of the +paint, or to use injurious substances, +which answer the purpose only for a +short present. Sir Joshua, too, was +tempted to use orpiment largely in +some pictures, which has sadly changed. +An instance may be seen in the "Holy +Family" in our National Gallery—the +colour of the flesh of the St John is +ruined from this cause. It is, however, +one of his worst pictures, and +could not have been originally designed +for a "holy family." The +Mater is quite a youthful peasant +girl: we should not regret it if it were +totally gone. Were Sir Joshua living, +and could he see it in its present state, +he would be sure to paint over it, and +possibly convert it into another subject. +We do not doubt, however, that +Sir Joshua deserved the reputation he +obtained as a colourist in his day. We +attribute the brown, the horny asphaltum +look they have, to change. It is +unquestionably exceedingly mortifying +to see, while the specimens of the +Venetian and Flemish colourists are +at this day so pure and fresh, though +painted centuries before our schools, +our comparatively recent productions +so obscured and otherwise injured. Tingry, +excellent authority, the Genevan +chemical professor, laments the practice +of the English painters of mixing varnish +with their colours, which, he says, +shows that they prefer a temporary +brilliancy to lasting beauty; for that it +is impossible, that with this practice, +pictures should either retain their +brilliancy or even be kept from decay. +We do not remember to have seen a +single historical picture of Sir Joshua's +that has not suffered; happily there +are yet many of his portraits fresh, +vigorous, and beautiful in colouring. +It should seem, that he thought it +worth while to speculate upon those +of least value to his reputation.</p> + +<p>Portrait-painting, at the commencement +of Sir Joshua's career, was certainly +in a very low condition. A general +receipt for face-making, with +the greatest facility seemed to have +been current throughout the country. +Attitudes and looks were according to +a pattern; and, accordingly, there was +so great a family resemblance, however +unconnected the sitters, that it +might seem to have been intended to +promote a brotherly and sisterly bond +of union among all the descendants of +Adam. Portrait-painting, which had +in this country been so good, was in +fact, with here and there an exception, +and generally an exception not +duly estimated, in a degraded state: +the art in this respect, as in others, +had become vulgarized. From this +universal family-likeness recipe, Reynolds +came suddenly, and at once successfully, +before the world, with individual +nature, and variety of character, +and portraits that had the merit +of being pictures as well as portraits. +He led to a complete revolution in this +department, so that if he had rivals—and +he certainly had one in Gainsborough—they +were of his own making. +The change is mostly perceptible in +female portraits. They assumed grace +and beauty. Our grandmothers and +great-grandmothers were strangely +vilified in their unpleasing likenesses. +The somewhat loose satin evening-dress, +with the shepherdess's crook, +was absurd enough; and no very great +improvement upon the earlier taste of +complimenting portraits with the personation +of the heathen deities. The +poetical pastoral, however, very soon +descended to the real pastoral; and, +as if to make people what they were +not was considered enough of the historical +of portrait, even this took. +We suspect Gainsborough was the +first to sin in this degradation line, +by no means the better one for being +the furthest from the divinities. He +had painted some rustic figures very +admirably, and made such subjects a +fashion; but why they should ever be +so, we could never understand; or +why royalty should not be represented +as royalty, gentry as gentry; to represent +them otherwise, appears as +absurd as if our Landseer should attempt +a greyhound in the character +of a Newfoundland dog. A picture +of Gainsborough's was exhibited, a +year or two ago, in the British Institution, +Pall-Mall, which we were +astonished to hear was most highly +valued; for it was a weak, washy, +dauby, ill-coloured performance, and +the design as bad as well could be. +It was a scene before a cottage-door, +with the children of George the Third +as peasant children, in village dirt +and mire. The picture had no merit +to recommend it; if we remember +rightly, it had been painted over, or +in some way obscured, and unfortunately +brought to light. Although +Sir Joshua Reynolds generally introduced +a new grace into his portraits, +and mostly so without deviating from +the character as he found it, dispensing +indeed with the old affectation, +we fear he cannot altogether be acquitted +from the charge of deviating +from the true propriety of portrait. +Ladies as Miranda, as Hebe, and even +as Thais, no very moral compliment, +are examples—some there are of the +lower pastoral. Mrs Macklin and her +daughter were represented at a spinning-wheel, +and Miss Potts as a +gleaner. There is one of somewhat +higher pretensions, but equally a deviation +from propriety, in his portraits +of the Honourable Mistresses Townshend, +Beresford, and Gardiner. They +are decorating the statue of Hymen; +the grace of one figure is too theatrical, +the others have but little. The +one kneeling on the ground, and collecting +the flowers, is, in one respect, +disagreeable—the light of the sky, +too much of the same hue and tone as +the face, is but little separated from +it—in fact, only by the dark hair; +while all below the face and bosom is +a too heavy dark mass. Portrait-painters +are very apt to fail whenever +they colour their back-grounds to the +heads of a warm and light sky-colour; +the force of the complexion is very +apt to be lost, and the portrait is sure +to lose its importance. The "General +on Horseback," in our National Gallery, +(Ligonier,) a fine picture, is in +no small degree hurt by the absence +of a little greyer tone in the part of +the sky about the head. By far the +best portraits by Sir Joshua—and, fortunately, +they are the greater part—are +those in real character. His very +genius was for unaffected simplicity; +attitudinizing recipes could never have +been adopted by him with satisfaction +to himself. Some of his slight, more +sketchy portraits, as yet unexperimented +upon by his powerful, frequently +rather too powerful, colouring, +his deep browns and yellows, are +unrivalled. Such is his Kitty Fisher, +not long since exhibited in the British +Gallery, Pall-Mall. There the character +is not overpowered by the +effect.</p> + +<p>Gainsborough was the only painter +of his day that could, with any pretension, +vie with Sir Joshua Reynolds +in portrait. In some respects they +had similar excellences. Both were +alike, by natural taste, averse to affectation, +and both were colourists. As +a colourist, Gainsborough, as his pictures +are now, may be even preferred +to Reynolds. They seem to have +been painted off more at once, and +have therefore a greater freshness; +his flesh tints are truly surprising, +most true to life. He probably painted +with a more simple palette. The +pains and labour which Sir Joshua +bestowed, and which were perhaps +very surprising when his pictures +were fresh from the easel, have lost +much of their virtue. The great difference +between these great cotemporaries +lay in their power of character. +Gainsborough was as true as +could be to nature, where the character +was not of the very highest order. +Plain, downright common sense he +would hit off wonderfully, as in his +portrait of Ralphe Schomberg—a +picture, we are sorry to find, removed +from the National Gallery. The +world's every-day men were for his +pencil. He did not so much excel in +women. The bent of Sir Joshua's +mind was to elevate, to dignify, to intellectualize. +Enthusiasm, sentiment, +purity, and all the varied poetry of +feminine beauty, received their kindred +hues and most exquisite expression +under his hand. Whatever was +dignified in man, or lovely in woman, +was portrayed with its appropriate +grace and strength. Sir Joshua was, +in fact, himself the higher character; +ever endeavouring to improve and +cultivate his own mind, to raise it by +a dignified aim in his art and in his +life, and gathering the beauty of sentiment +to himself from its best source—the +practice of social and every +amiable charity—he was sure to transfer +to the canvass something characteristic +of himself. Gainsborough +was, in his way, a gentle enthusiast, +altogether of an humbler ambition. +Even in his landscapes, he showed +that he saw little in nature but what +the vulgar see; he had little idea that +what is commonly seen are the materials +of a better creation. Gainsborough +was unrivalled in his portraiture +of common truth, Reynolds in +poetical truth. Gainsborough spoke +in character in one of his letters, +wherein he said, that he "was well +read in the volume of nature, and that +was learning sufficient for him." It +is said that he was proud—perhaps +his pride was shown in this remark—but +it was not a pride allied with +greatness. The pride of Reynolds +was quite of another stamp; it did not +disagree with his soundest judgment; +his estimate of himself was more true, +and it showed itself in modesty. That +such men should meet and associate +but little, is not surprising. That +Reynolds withdrew in "cold and +carefully meted out courtesy," is not +surprising, though the expressions +quoted are written to disparage Reynolds. +The man of fixed purpose may +appear cold when he does not assimilate +with the man of caprice, (as was +Gainsborough,) in whose company +there is nothing to call forth a congeniality, +a sympathy; and it is probable +that Gainsborough felt as little +disposed as Sir Joshua, to preserve, or +even to seek, an intimacy. Their +final parting at the deathbed of Gainsborough +was most honourable to them +both; and the merit of seeking it was +entirely Gainsborough's. It is singular +that any facts should be so perverted, +as to justify an insinuation +that Reynolds, whose whole life exhibited +the continued acts of a kind +heart, was a cautious and cold calculator. +Good sense has ever a reserve +of manner, the result of a habit of +thinking—and in one of a high aim, +it is apt to acquire almost a stateliness; +but even such stateliness is not inconsistent +with modesty and with feeling; +it is, in fact, the carriage of the +mind, seen in the manner and the +person. We make these remarks +under a disgust produced by the singularly +illiberal Life of Reynolds +by Allan Cunningham; we think we +should not err in saying, that it is +maliciously written. We were reading +this Life, and made many indignant +remarks as we read, when the +death of the author was announced +in the newspapers. We had determined, +as far as our power might extend, +to rescue the name and fame of +Reynolds from the mischief which so +popular a writer as Allan Cunningham +was likely to inflict. Death has +its sanctity, and we hesitated; indeed, +in regret for the loss of a man of talent, +we felt for a time little disposed +to think of the ill he may have done; +nor was, on mature consideration, the +regret less, that he could not, by our +means, be called to review his own +work—his "Lives of the British +Painters"—in a more candid spirit +than that in which they appear to have +been written. It is to be lamented +that he did not revise it. Its illiberality +and untruth render it very unfit +for a "Family Library," for which it +was composed. Yet it must be confessed, +that such regret was rather +one of momentary feeling, than accompanied +with any thing like conviction, +or even hope, that our endeavour +would have been successful. +There was no one better acquainted +with the life of one of the painters in +his work than ourselves. His Life, +too, was written in a most illiberal +spirit, though purposely in praise of +the artist. But it was as untrue as it +was illiberal. In a paper in <i>Blackwood</i>, +some years ago, we noticed some +of the errors and mistatements. This, +we happen to know, was seen by the +author of the "Lives;" for we were, +in consequence, applied to upon the +subject; and there being an intention +expressed to bring out a new edition, +we were invited to correct what was +wrong. We did not hesitate, and +wrote some two or three letters for +the purpose, and entertained but little +doubt of their having been favourably +received, and that they would be used, +until we were surprised by a communication, +that the author "was +much obliged, but was perfectly satisfied +with his own account." That is, +that he was much <i>obliged</i> for an endeavour +to mislead him by falsehood. +For both accounts could not +be true. There were, then, but small +grounds to hope that Allan Cunningham +would have so revised his +work, as to have done justice to Sir +Joshua Reynolds. Besides, after +all, "respect for the dead" moves +both ways. The question is between +the recently dead and the long since +dead. In the literary world, and in +the world of art, both yet live; and +the author of the Life has this advantage, +that thousands read the "Family +Library," whilst but few, comparatively +speaking, make themselves +acquainted with Sir Joshua Reynolds +and his works. We revere this founder +of our English school, and feel it due +to the art we love, to condemn the +ungenerous and sarcastic spirit of +The Life, by Allan Cunningham. +And if the dead could have any interest +in and guidance of things on earth, +we can imagine no work that would +be more pleasing to them, than the +removal of even the slightest evils +they may have inflicted; thus making +restitution for them. It is very evident +throughout the "Lives," that the +author has a prejudice against, an absolute +dislike to, Sir Joshua Reynolds. +We stay not to account for it. There +are men of some opinions who, whether +from pride, or other feeling, have +an antipathy to courtly manners, and +what is called higher society: jealous +and suspicious lest they should not +owe, and seen to owe, every thing to +themselves, there is a constant and irritable +desire to set aside, with a feigned, +oftener than a real, contempt, the +influence and the homage the world +pays to superiority of rank, station, +and education. They would wish to +have nothing above themselves. How +far such may have been the case with +the writer of the "Lives," we know +not, totally unacquainted as we have +ever been, but by his writings. In +them there appears very strongly +marked this vulgar feeling. He has stepped +out of his way in other lives, such +as those of Wilson and Gainsborough, +to attack Sir Joshua by surmises and +insinuations of meanness, blurring the +fair character of his best acts. The +generous doings of the President were +too notorious not to be admitted, but +generally a sinister or selfish motive +is insinuated. His courtesy was unpleasing, +while extreme coarseness +met with a ready apologist. In the +several Lives of Sir Joshua Reynolds, +there does not appear the slightest +ground upon which to found a charge +of meanness of character: it is inconceivable +how such should have ever +been insinuated, while Northcote's +"Life" of him was in existence, and +Northcote must have known him well. +He was most liberal in expenditure, +as became his station, and the dignity +which he was ambitiously desirous of +conferring upon the art over which +he presided. To artists and others in +their distresses he was most generous: +numerous, indeed, are the recorded +instances; those unrecorded may be +infinitely more numerous, for generosity +was with him a habit. In the +teeth of Mr Cunningham's insinuations +we will extract from Northcote some +passages upon this point. "At that +time, indeed, Johnson was under many +pecuniary obligations, as well as literary +ones, to Sir Joshua, whose generous +kindness would never permit his +friends to <i>ask</i> a pecuniary favour, his +purse and heart being always open." +That his heart as well as his purse was +open, the following anecdote more +than indicates. We are tempted to +give it unaltered, as we find it in the +words of Northcote:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"Sir Joshua, as his usual custom, looked +over the daily morning paper at his +breakfast time; and on one of those perusals, +whilst reading an account of the +Old Bailey sessions, to his great astonishment, +saw that a prisoner had been tried +and condemned to death for a robbery +committed on the person of one of his own +servants, a negro, who had been with him +for some time. He immediately rung the +bell for the servants, in order to make his +enquiries, and was soon convinced of the +truth of the matter related in the newspaper. +This black man had lived in his +service as footman for several years, and +has been portrayed in several pictures, +particularly in one of the Marquis of +Granby, where he holds the horse of that +general. Sir Joshua reprimanded this +black servant for his conduct, and especially +for not having informed him of this +curious adventure; when the man said he +had concealed it only to avoid the blame +he should have incurred had he told it. +He then related the following circumstances +of the business, saying, that Mrs +Anna Williams (the old blind lady +lived at the house of Dr Johnson) had +some time previous dined at Sir Joshua's +with Miss Reynolds; that in the evening +she went home to Bolt Court, Fleet Street, +in a hackney coach, and that he had been +sent to attend her to her house. On his +return he had met with companions who +had detained him till so late an hour, that +when he came to Sir Joshua's house, he +found the doors were shut, and all the servants +gone to rest. In this dilemma he +wandered in the street till he came to a +watch-house, in which he took shelter for +the remainder of the night, among the variety +of miserable companions to be found +in such places; and amidst this assembly +of the wretched, the black man fell sound +asleep, when a poor thief, who had been +taken into custody by the constable of the +night, perceiving, as the man slept, that +he had a watch and money in his pocket, +(which was seen on his thigh,) watched +his opportunity and stole the watch, and +with a penknife cut through the pocket, +and so possessed himself of the money. +When the black awaked from his nap, he +soon discovered what had been done, to his +cost, and immediately gave the alarm, and +a strict search was made through the company; +when the various articles which the +black had lost were found in the possession +of the unfortunate wretch who had +stolen them. He was accordingly secured, +and next morning carried before the justice, +and committed to take his trial at the +Old Bailey, (the black being bound over +to prosecute,) and, as we have seen, was +at his trial cast and condemned to death. +Sir Joshua, much affected by this recital, +immediately sent his principal servant, +Ralph Kirkly, to make all enquiries into +the state of the criminal, and, if necessary, +to relieve his wants in whatever way could +be done. When Kirkly came to the prison he +was soon admitted to the cell of the prisoner, +where he beheld the most wretched spectacle +that imagination can conceive—a +poor forlorn criminal, without a friend on +earth who could relieve or assist him, and +reduced almost to a skeleton by famine +and filth, waiting till the dreadful morning +should arrive when he was to be made an +end of by a violent death. Sir Joshua +now ordered fresh clothing to be sent to +him, and also that the black servant should +carry him every day a sufficient supply of +food from his own table; and at that time +Mr E. Burke being very luckily in office, +he applied to him, and by their joint interest +they got his sentence changed to +transportation; when, after being furnished +with all necessaries, he was sent out of +the kingdom."—P. 119.</p> + +<p>"In this year Sir Joshua raised his +price to fifty guineas for a head size, +which he continued during the remainder +of his life. His rapidly accumulating fortune +was not, however, for his own sole +enjoyment; he still felt the luxury of doing +good, and had many objects of bounty +pointed out to him by his friend Johnson, +who, in one of his letters, in this year, to +Mrs Piozzi, enquires 'will the master give +me any thing for my poor neighbours? I +have had from Sir Joshua and Mr Strahan.'"—P. 264.</p> + +<p>"Sir Joshua, indeed, seems to have +been applied to by his friends on all occasions; +and by none oftener than by Dr +Johnson, particularly for charitable purposes. +Of this there is an instance, in a +note of Johnson's preserved in his Life, too +honourable to him to be here omitted.</p> + +<p>'To Sir Joshua Reynolds.</p> + +<p>'Dear Sir—It was not before yesterday +that I received your splendid benefaction. +To a hand so liberal in distributing, +I hope nobody will envy the power of acquiring.—I +am, dear sir, your obliged +and most humble servant,</p> + +<p>'SAM. JOHNSON.'</p> + +<p>'June 23, 1781.'"—P. 278.</p></div> + +<p>The following anecdote is delightful:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"Whilst at Antwerp, Sir Joshua had taken +particular notice of a young man of +the name of De Gree, who had exhibited +some considerable talents as a painter: +his father was a tailor; and he himself had +been intended for some clerical office, but, +as it is said by a late writer, having formed +a different opinion of his religion than +was intended, from the books put into his +hand by an Abbé who was his patron, it +was discovered that he would not do for a +priest, and the Abbé, therefore, articled +him to Gerrards of Antwerp. Sir Joshua +received him, on his arrival in England, +with much kindness, and even recommended +him most strongly to pursue his profession +in the metropolis; but De Gree +was unwilling to consent to this, as he had +been previously engaged by Mrs Latouche +to proceed to Ireland. Even here Sir +Joshua's friendly attentions did not cease, +for he actually made the poor artist a present +of fifty guineas to fit him for his Hibernian +excursion; the whole of which, +however, the careful son sent over to +Antwerp for the use of his aged parents."—P. 284.</p> + +<p>"It is also recorded, as an instance of +his prizing extraordinary merit, that when +Gainsborough asked him but sixty guineas +for his celebrated Girl and Pigs, yet being +conscious in his own mind that it was worth +more, he liberally paid him down one +hundred guineas for the picture. I also find +it mentioned on record, that a painter of +considerable merit, having unfortunately +made an injudicious matrimonial choice, was +along with that and its consequences as +well as an increasing family, in a few years +reduced so very low, that he could not +venture out without danger of being arrested—a +circumstance which, in a great +measure, put it out of his power to dispose +of his pictures to advantage. Sir Joshua +having accidentally heard of his situation, +immediately hurried to his residence to +enquire into the truth of it, when the unfortunate +man told him all the melancholy +particulars of his lot, adding, that forty +pounds would enable him to compound +with his creditors. After some further +conversation, Sir Joshua took his leave, +telling the distressed man he would do +something for him; and when he was bidding +him adieu at the door, he took him +by the hand, and after squeezing it in a +friendly way hurried off with that kind of +triumph in his heart the exalted of human +kind only know by experience whilst the +astonished artist found that he had left in his +hand a bank-note for one hundred pounds."</p></div> + +<p>Of such traits of benevolence certainly +many other instances may be +recorded, but I shall only mention +two; "the one is the purchasing a picture +of Zoffani, who was without a +patron, and selling it to the Earl of +Carlisle for twenty guineas above the +price given for it; and he sent the +advanced price immediately to Zoffani, +saying 'he thought he had sold the +picture at first below its real value.'"</p> + +<p>The other is—"the clergyman who +succeeded Sir Joshua's father as master +of the grammar-school at Plympton, +at his decease left a widow, who, +after the death of her husband, opened +a boarding school for the education of +young ladies. The governess who +taught in this school had but few +friends in situations to enable them to +do her much service, and her sole dependence +was on her small stipend +from the school: hence she was unable +to make a sufficiently reputable appearance +in apparel at their accustomed +little balls. The daughter of +the schoolmistress, her only child, +and at that time a very young girl, +felt for the poor governess, and the +pitiable insufficiency in the article of +finery; but being unable to help her +from her own resources, devised within +herself a means by which it might be +done otherwise. Having heard of the +great fame of Sir Joshua Reynolds, +his character for generosity, and charity, +and recollecting that he had +formerly belonged to the Plympton +school, she, without mentioning a syllable +to any of her companions, addressed +a letter to Sir Joshua, whom +she had never even seen, in which she +represented to him the forlorn state +of the poor governess's wardrobe, +and begged the gift of a silk gown for +her. Very shortly after, they received +a box containing silks of different patterns, +sufficient for two dresses, to the +infinite astonishment of the simple governess, +who was totally unable to +account for this piece of good fortune, +as the compassionate girl was afraid +to let her know the means she had +taken in order to procure the welcome +present."—P. 307.</p> + +<p>Mr Duyes, the artist, says—"malice +has charged him with avarice, +probably from his not having been +prodigal, like too many of his profession; +his offer to me proves the contrary. +At the time that I made the +drawings of the King at St Paul's after +his illness, Reynolds complimented +me handsomely on seeing them, and +afterwards observed, that the labour +bestowed must have been such, that I +could not be remunerated from selling +them; but if I would publish them +myself, he would lend me the money +necessary, and engage to get me a +handsome subscription among the nobility."—P. 35l.</p> + +<p>We will here mention an anecdote +which we believe has never been published; +we heard it from our excellent +friend, and enthusiastic admirer +of all that taste, good sense, and good +feeling should admire and love, in +art or out of it—now far advanced in +years, and, like Sir Joshua, blind, but +full of enjoyment and conversation +fresh as ever upon art, for he remembers +and hears, beloved by all who +know him, G. Cumberland, Esq., author +of "Outlines," &c. &c. He it was +who recommended Collins, the miniature-painter, +to Sir Joshua. Now +poor Collins was one of the most nervous +of men, morbidly distrustful of +himself and his powers. Our friend +showed us a portrait of Collins, painted +by himself, the very picture of most +sensitive nervousness. Well—Collins +waited upon Sir Joshua, who gave him +a picture to copy for him in miniature. +Collins took it, and trembled, and +looked all diffidence as he examined +Sir Joshua's original. However, he +took it home with him, and after some +time came to Cumberland in great +agitation, expressing a conviction +that he never could copy it, that he +had destroyed three attempts, and +this, said he, is the best I can do, and +I will destroy it. This Cumberland +would not allow, and took possession +of it, and an admirable performance +it is. Soon another was done, and +Collins took it to Sir Joshua, with +many timid expressions and apologies +for his inability, that he feared displeasure +for having undertaken a work +above him. Sir Joshua looked at it, +declared it to be, as it was, a most excellent +copy, and gave him more to +do in the same way—telling him to +go to his scrutoire, open a drawer, +and he would find some guineas, +and to take out twenty to pay himself. +"Twenty guineas!" said Collins, +"I should not have thought +of receiving more than three!" This +kindness and liberality set up poor +Collins with a better stock of self-confidence, +and he made his way to +celebrity in his line, and to fortune.</p> + +<p>Is it in human nature, that the man +of whom such anecdotes are told, and +truly told, could be guilty of a mean +unworthy action? Perhaps the reader +will be curious to see how the +writer of the "British Painters," who, +from the recent date of his publication, +must have known all these incidents, +excepting the last, has converted +some of them, by insinuating +sarcasm, into charges that blurr their +virtue. We should say that he has +omitted, where he could omit—where +he could not, he is compelled to contradict +himself; for it is impossible that +the insinuations, and the facts, and +occasional acknowledgments, should +be together true of one and the same +man. We shall offer some specimens +of this <i>illiberal style</i>:—A neighbour of +Reynolds's first advised him to settle +in London. His success there made +him remember this friendly advice—(the +neighbour's name was Cranch.) +We quote now from Cunningham. +"The timely counsel of his neighbour +Cranch would have long afterwards +been rewarded with the present +of a silver cup, had not accident interfered. +'Death,' says Northcote, +'prevented this act of gratitude. I +have seen the cup at Sir Joshua's +table.' The painter had the honour +of the intention and the use of the +cup—a twofold advantage, of which he +was not insensible."—<i>Lives of British +Painters</i>, Vol. i, p. 220.—"Of lounging +visitors he had great abhorrence, +and, as he reckoned up the fruits of +his labours, 'Those idle people,' said +this disciple of the grand historical +school of Raphael and Angelo—'those +idle people do not consider that my +time is worth five guineas an hour.' +This calculation incidentally informs +us, that it was Reynolds's practice, in +the height of his reputation and success, +to paint a portrait in four hours."—P. 251. +In <i>this</i> Life, he could depreciate +art, (in a manner we are persuaded +he could not feel,) because it +lowered the estimation of the painter +whom he disliked. "One of the biographers +of Reynolds imputes the +reflections contained in the conclusion +of this letter, 'to that envy, which +perhaps even Johnson felt, when comparing +his own annual gains with +those of his more fortunate friend.' +They are rather to be attributed to +the sense and taste of Johnson, who +could not but feel the utter worthlessness +of the far greater part of the +productions with which the walls of +the Exhibition-room were covered. +Artists are very willing to claim for +their profession and its productions +rather more than the world seems disposed +to concede. It is very natural +that this should be so; but it is also +natural, that man of Johnson's taste +should be conscious of the dignity of +his own pursuits, and agree with the +vast majority of mankind in ranking +a Homer, a Virgil, a Milton, or a +Shakspeare, immeasurably above all +the artists that ever painted or carved. +Johnson, in a conversation with Boswell, +defined painting to be an art which +could illustrate, but could not inform."—P. 255. +Does he so speak +of this art in any other Life; and +is not this view false and ill-natured? +Were not Raffaelle, Michael Angelo, +Correggio, Titian, Piombo, epic +poets?</p> + +<p>"Johnson was a frequent and a +welcome guest. Though the sage was +not seldom sarcastic and overbearing, +he was endured and caressed, because +he poured out the riches of his conversation +more lavishly than Reynolds +did his wines." He was compelled, +a sentence or two after, to add, +"It was honourable to that distinguished +artist, that he perceived the +worth of such men, and felt the honour +which their society shed upon +him; but it stopped not here, he often +aided them with his purse, nor <i>insisted</i> +upon repayment."—P. 258. We +have marked "insisted"—it implies repayment +was expected, if not enforced; +and it might have been said, that a +mutual "honour" was conferred. +Speaking of Northcote's and Malone's +account of Sir Joshua's "social +and well-furnished table," he adds, +"these accounts, however, in as far +as regards the splendour of the entertainments, +must be received with some +abatement. The eye of a youthful +pupil was a little blinded by enthusiasm. +That of Malone was rendered +friendly, by many acts of hospitality, +and a handsome legacy; while literary +men and artists, who came to +speak of books and paintings, cared +little for the most part about the delicacy +of the entertainment, provided +it were wholesome." Here he quotes +at length, no very good-natured account +of the dinners given by Courteney.—P. +273. Even his sister, poor +Miss Reynolds, whom Johnson loved +and respected, must have her share of +the writer's sarcasm. "Miss +Reynolds seems to have been as indifferent +about the good order of her +domestics, and the appearance of her +dishes at table, as her brother was +about the distribution of his wine and +venison. Plenty was the splendour, +and freedom was the elegance, which +Malone and Boswell found in the entertainments +of the artist."—P. 275. +If Reynolds was sparing of his wine, +the word "plenty" was most inappropriate. +Even the remark of Dunning, +Lord Ashburton, is perverted from its +evident meaning, and as explained by +Northcote, and the perversion casts a +slur upon Sir Joshua's guests; yet is +it well known who they were. "Well, +Sir Joshua," he said, "and who have +you got to dine with you to-day?—the +last time I dined in your house, +the company was of such a sort, that +by ——, I believe all the rest of the +world enjoyed peace for that +afternoon."—P. 276. This is a gross +idea, and unworthy a gentle mind. +"By an opinion so critically sagacious, +and an apology for portrait-painting, +which appeals so effectually +to the kindly side of human nature, +Johnson repaid a hundred dinners."—P. +276. The liberality to De Gree +is shortly told.—P. 298. "I have +said that the President was frugal in +his communications respecting the +sources from whence he drew his own +practice—he forgets his caution in one +of these notes."—P. 303. We must +couple this with some previous remarks; +it is well known that Sir +Joshua, as Northcote tells us, carefully +locked up his experiments, and +for more reasons than one: first, he +was dissatisfied, as these were but +experiments; secondly, he considered +experimenting would draw away +pupils from the rudiments of the art. +Surely nothing but illiberal dislike +would have perverted the plain meaning +of the act. "The secret of Sir +Joshua's own preparations was +carefully kept—he permitted not even the +most favoured of his pupils to acquire +the knowledge of his colours—he had +all securely locked, and allowed no +one to enter where these treasures +were deposited. What was the use +of all this secrecy? Those who stole +the mystery of his colours, could not +use it, unless they stole his skill and +talent also. A man who, like Reynolds, +chooses to take upon himself +the double office of public and private +instructor of students in painting, +ought not surely to retain a secret in +the art, which he considers of real +value."—P. 287. He was, in fact, +too honest to mislead; and that he +did not think the right discovery made, +the author must have known; for +Northcote says—"when I was a student +at the Royal Academy, I was accidentally +repeating to Sir Joshua +the instructions on colouring I had +heard there given by an eminent painter, +who then attended as visitor. Sir +Joshua replied, that this painter was +undoubtedly a very sensible man, but +by no means a good colourist; adding, +that there was not a man then +on earth who had the least notion of +colouring. 'We all of us,' said he, +'have it equally to seek for and find +out—as, at present, it is totally lost to +the art.'"—"In his economy he was +close and saving; while he poured out +his wines and spread out his tables to +the titled or the learned, he stinted +his domestics to the commonest fare, +and rewarded their faithfulness by +very moderate wages. One of his +servants, who survived till lately, described +him as a master who exacted +obedience in trifles—was prudent in +the matter of pins—a saver of bits of +thread—a man hard and parsimonious, +who never thought he had enough of +labour out of his dependents, and +always suspected that he overpaid them. +To this may be added the public opinion, +which pictured him close, cautious, +and sordid. On the other side, we +have the open testimony of Burke, +Malone, Boswell, and Johnson, who +all represent him as generous, +open-hearted, and humane. The servants +and the friends both spoke, we doubt +not, according to their own experience +of the man. Privations in early +life rendered strict economy +necessary; and in spite of many acts of +kindness, his mind, on the whole, +failed to expand with his fortune. He +continued the same system of saving +when he was master of sixty thousand +pounds, as when he owned but sixpence. +He loved reputation dearly, +and it would have been well for his +fame, if, over and above leaving legacies +to such friends as Burke and +Malone, he had opened his heart to +humbler people. A little would have +gone a long way—a kindly word and +a guinea prudently given."—P. 319. +Opened his heart to humbler people! +was the author of this libel upon a +generous character, ignorant of his +charity to humbler people, which +Johnson certified? Why did he not +narrate the robbery of the black +servant, and his kindness to the +humblest and the most wretched? What +was fifty guineas to poor De Gree? +Who were the humbler people to +whom he denied his bounty? And is +the fair fame, the honest reputation—the +honourable reputation, we +should say—of such a man as Sir +Joshua Reynolds—such as he has +been proved to be—such as not only +such men as Burke and Johnson knew +him, but such as his pupil and inmate +Northcote knew him—to be vilified by +a low-minded biography, the dirty +ingredients of which are raked up from +lying mouths, or, at least, incapable +of judging of such a character—from +the lips of servants, whose idle tales of +masters who discard them, it is the +common usage of the decent, not to +say well-bred world, to pay no attention +to—not to listen to—and whom +none hear but the vulgar-curious, or +the slanderous? But if a servant's +evidence must be taken, the fact of +the exhibition of Sir Joshua's works +for his servant Kirkly should have +been enough—to say nothing here of +his black servant. But the story of +Kirkly is mentioned—and how +mentioned? To rake up a malevolent or +a thoughtless squib of the day, to +make it appear that Sir Joshua shared +in the gains of an exhibition ostensibly +given to his servant. The joke +is noticed by Northcote, and the +exhibition, thus:—"The private exhibition +of 1791, in the Haymarket, has +been already mentioned, and some +notice taken of it by a wicked wit, +who, at the time, wished to insinuate +that Sir Joshua was a partaker in the +profits. But this was not the truth; +neither do I believe there were any +profits to share. However, these lines +from Hudibras were inserted in a +morning paper, together with some +observations on the exhibition of +pictures collected by the knight—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>'A squire he had whose name was Ralph</p> +<p>Who in the adventure went his half,'</p> +</div></div> + +<p>thus gaily making a sacrifice of truth +to a joke." It is very evident that this +was a mere newspaper squib, and +suggested by the "knight and his +squire Ralph;" but Cunningham so +gives it as "the opinion of many," +and with rather more than a suspicion +of its truth. "Sir Joshua made an +exhibition of them in the Haymarket, +for the advantage of his faithful +servant Ralph Kirkly; but our painter's +well-known love of gain excited public +suspicion; he was considered by +many as a partaker in the profits, and +reproached by the application of two +lines from Hudibras."—P. 117. But +this report from a servant is evidently +no servant's report at all, as far as the +words go: they are redolent throughout +of the peculiar satire of the author +of the "Lives," who so loves point +and antithesis, who tells us Sir Joshua +"poured" out his wines, (the +distribution of which he had otherwise +spoken of,) that the <i>stint</i> to the +servants may have its fullest opposition. +And again, as to the humbler, does he +not contradict himself? He prefaces +the fact that Sir Joshua gave a +hundred guineas to Gainsborough, who +asked sixty, for his "Girl and Pigs," +thus—"Reynolds was commonly +humane and tolerant; he could indeed +afford, both in fame and purse, to +commend and aid the timid and +needy."—P. 304. This is qualifying +vilely a generous action, while it +contradicts his assertion of being sparing +of "a kindly word and a guinea." Nor +are the occasional criticisms on +passages in the "Discourses" in a better +spirit, nor are they exempt from a +vulgar taste as to views of art; their +sole object is, apparently, to depreciate +Reynolds; and though a selection of +individual sentences might be picked +out, as in defence, of an entirely +laudatory character, they are contradicted +by others, and especially by the +sarcastic tone of the Life, taken as +a whole. But it is not only in the +Life of Reynolds that this attempt +is made to depreciate him. In his +"Lives" of Wilson and Gainsborough, +he steps out of his way to throw his +abominable sarcasm upon Reynolds. +One of many passages in Wilson's +Life says, "It is reported that +Reynolds relaxed his hostility at last, and, +becoming generous when it was too +late, obtained an order from a nobleman +for two landscapes at a proper price." +So he insinuates an unworthy hypocrisy, +while lauding the bluntness of +Wilson. "Such was the blunt +honesty of his (Wilson's) nature, that, +when drawings were shown him which +he disliked, he disdained, or was +unable to give a courtly answer, and +made many of the students his +enemies. Reynolds had the sagacity to +escape from such difficulties, by looking +at the drawings and saying +'Pretty, pretty,' which vanity invariably +explained into a compliment."—P. 207. +After having thus spoken +shamefully of Sir Joshua Reynolds in +the body of his work, he reiterates all +in a note, confirming all as his not +hasty but deliberate opinion, having +"now again gone over the narrative +very carefully, and found it impossible, +without violating the truth, to +make any alteration of importance as +to its facts;" and though he has +omitted so much which might have +been given to the honour of Reynolds, +he is "unconscious of having omitted +any enquiry likely to lead him aright."—P. 320. +He may have made the +enquiry without using the information—a +practice not inconsistent in +such a biographer. For instance, +when he assumes, that in the portrait +of Beattie, the figures of Scepticism, +Sophistry, and Infidelity, represent +Hume, Voltaire, and Gibbon; +remarking, that they have survived the +"insult of Reynolds." An enquiry +from Northcote ought to have led him +to conclude otherwise, for Northcote, +who had the best means of knowing, +says, "Because one of those figures +was a lean figure, (alluding to the +subordinate ones introduced,) and the +other a fat one, people of lively +imaginations pleased themselves with +finding in them the portraits of +Voltaire and Hume. But Sir Joshua, I +have reason to believe, had no such +thought when he painted those figures." +We have done with this disgusting +Life. We would preserve to art +and the virtue-loving part of mankind +the great <i>integrity</i> of the character of +Sir Joshua Reynolds. Documents and +testimonies are sufficient to establish +as much entire worth as falls to the +lot and adornment of the best; and to +bring this conviction, that, for the +justice, candour, liberality, kindness, +and generosity, which he showed in +his dealings with all, even his +professional rivals, if he had not had the +extraordinary merit of being the greatest +British painter, he deserved, and +will deserve, the respect of mankind; +and to have had his many and great +virtues recorded in a far other manner +than in that among the "Lives of +the British Painters." His pictures +may have faded, and may decay; but +his precepts will still live, and tend to +the establishment and continuance of +art built upon the soundest principles; +and the virtues of the man will ever +give a grace to the profession which +he adorned, and, for the benefit of art, +contribute mainly to his own fame.</p> + +<p>"Nihil enim est opere aut manu +factum, quod aliquando non conficiat +et consumat Vetustas; at vero hæc +tua justitia et lenitas animi florescet +quotidie magis, ita ut quantum operibus +tuis dinturnitas detrahet, tantum +afferet laudibus."</p> + +<p>"He had," says Burke, "from the +beginning of his malady, a distinct +view of his dissolution; and he +contemplated it with that entire composure, +which nothing but the innocence, +integrity, and usefulness of his life, +and an unaffected submission to the +will of Providence, could bestow."</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<a name="bw329s4" id="bw329s4"></a><h2>LEAP-YEAR.—A TALE.</h2> + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> +<br> + +<p>In the summer of 1838, in the pleasant +little county of Huntingdon, and +under the shade of some noble elms +which form the pride of Lipscombe +Park, two young men might have +been seen reclining. The thick, and +towering, and far-spreading branches +under which they lay, effectually +protected them from a July sun, which +threw its scorching brilliancy over +the whole landscape before them. +They seemed to enjoy to the full that +delightful <i>retired openness</i> which an +English park affords, and that easy +effortless communion which only old +companionship can give. They were, +in fact, fellow collegians. The one, +Reginald Darcy by name, was a ward +of Mr Sherwood, the wealthy +proprietor of Lipscombe Park; the other, +his friend, Charles Griffith, was passing +a few days with him in this agreeable +retreat. They had spent the +greater part of the morning strolling +through the park, making short +journeys from one clump of trees to +another, and traversing just so much of +the open sunny space which lay +exposed to all the "bright severity of +noon," as gave fresh value to the shade, +and renewed the luxury of repose.</p> + +<p>"Only observe," said Darcy, breaking +silence, after a long pause, and +without any apparent link of +connexion between their last topic of +conversation and the sage reflection he +was about to launch—"only +observe," and, as he raised himself upon +his elbow, something very like a sigh +escaped from him, "how complete, in +our modern system of life, is the +ascendency of woman over us! Every art +is hers—is devoted to her service. +Poetry, music, painting, sculpture—all +seem to have no theme but +woman. It is her loveliness, her power +over us, that is paraded and chanted +on every side. Poets have been always +mad on the beauty of woman, but +never so mad as now; we must not +only submit to be sense-enthralled, +the very innermost spirit of a man is +to be deliberately resigned to the +tyranny of a smooth brow and a soft +eye. Music, which grows rampant +with passion, speaks in all its tones of +woman: as long as the strain lasts +we are in a frenzy of love, though it +is not very clear with whom, and +happily the delirium ends the moment +the strings of the violin have ceased +to vibrate. What subject has the +painter worth a rush but the beauty +of woman? We gaze for ever on the +charming face which smiles on us +from his canvass; we may gaze with +perfect license—that veil which has +just been lifted to the brow, it will +never be dropt again—but we do not +gaze with perfect impunity; we turn +from the lovely shadow with knees how +prone to bend! And as to the sculptor, +on condition that he hold to the pure +colourless marble, is he not permitted +to reveal the sacred charms of Venus +herself? Every art is hers. Go to +the theatre, and whether it be tragedy, +or comedy, or opera, or dance, +the attraction of woman is the very life +of all that is transacted there. Shut +yourself up at home with the poem or +the novel, and lo! to love, and to be +loved, by one fair creature, is all that +the world has to dignify with the name +of happiness. It is too much. The +heart aches and sickens with an +unclaimed affection, kindled to no +purpose. Every where the eye, the ear, +the imagination, is provoked, bewildered, +haunted by the magic of this +universal syren.</p> + +<p>"And what is worse," continued +our profound philosopher—and here +he rose from his elbow, and supported +himself at arm's length from the +ground, one hand resting on the turf, +the other at liberty, if required, for +oratorical action—"what is worse, +this place which woman occupies in +<i>art</i> is but a fair reflection of that +which she fills in real life. Just +heavens! what a perpetual wonder it is, +this living, breathing beauty! Throw +all your metaphors to the winds—your +poetic raptures—your ideals—your +romance of position and of +circumstance: look at a fair, amiable, +cultivated woman, as you meet her in +the actual, commonplace scenes of +life: she is literally, prosaically +speaking, the last consummate result of +the creative power of nature, and the +gathered refinements of centuries of +human civilization. The world can +show nothing comparable to that light, +graceful figure of the girl just blooming +into perfect womanhood. Imagination +cannot go beyond it. There +is all the marvel, if you think of it, +in that slight figure, as she treads +across the carpet of a modern drawing-room, +that has ever been expressed +in, or given origin to, the nymphs, +goddesses, and angels that the fancy of +man has teemed with. I declare that +a pious heathen would as soon insult +the august statue of Minerva herself, +as would any civilized being treat +that slender form with the least show +of rudeness and indignity. A Chartist, +indeed, or a Leveller, would do it; +but it would pain him—he would be +a martyr to his principles. Verily +we are slaves to the fair miracle!"</p> + +<p>"Well," said his companion, who +had all this time been leisurely pulling +to pieces some wild flowers he had +gathered in the course of the morning's +ramble, "what does it all end +in? What, at last, but the old story—love +and a marriage?"</p> + +<p>"Love often where there is no possibility +of marriage," replied Darcy, +starting up altogether from his recumbent +posture, and pacing to and fro under +the shadow of the tree. "The full +heart, how often does it swell only to +feel the pressure of the iron bond of +poverty! This very sentiment, which +our cultivation refines, fosters, makes +supreme, is encountered by that harsh +and cruel evil which grows also with +the growth of civilization—poverty—civilized +poverty. Oh, 'tis a frightful +thing, this well-born, well-bred poverty! +There is a pauper state, +which, loathsome as it is to look upon, +yet brings with it a callousness to +endure all inflictions, and a recklessness +that can seize with avidity whatever +coarse fragments of pleasure the +day or the hour may afford. But this +poverty applies itself to nerves strung +for the subtlest happiness. No torpor +here; no moments of rash and unscrupulous +gratification—unreflected +on, unrepented of—which being often +repeated make, in the end, a large +sum of human life; but the heart incessantly +demands a genuine and enduring +happiness, and is incessantly +denied. It is a poverty which even +helps to keep alive the susceptibility +it tortures; for the man who has +never loved, or been the object of affection, +whose heart has been fed only +by an untaught imagination, feels a +passion—feels a regret—it may be +far more than commensurate with +that envied reality which life possesses +and withholds from him. No! +there is nothing in the circle of human +existence more fearful to contemplate +than this perpetual divorce—irrevocable, +yet pronounced anew each instant +of our lives—between the soul and its +best affections. And—look you!--this +misery passes along the world under +the mask of easy indifference, and +wears a smiling face, and submits to +be rallied by the wit, and assumes itself +the air of vulgar jocularity. Oh, +this penury that goes well clad, and +is warmly housed, and makes a mock +of its own anguish—I'd rather die on +the wheel, or be starved to death in a +dungeon!</p> + +<p>"My excellent friend!" cried Griffith, +startled from his quiescent posture, +and tranquil occupation, by the +growing excitement of his companion, +"what has possessed you? Is it the +daughter of our worthy host—is it +Emily Sherwood, the nymph who +haunts these woods—who has given +birth to this marvellous train of reflection? +to this rhapsody on the omnipresence +of woman, which I certainly +had never discovered, and on the +misery of a snug bachelor's income, +which to me is still more incomprehensible? +I confess, however, it +would be difficult to find a better specimen +of this fearfully fascinating sex."—</p> + +<p>"Pshaw!" interrupted Darcy, "what +is the heiress of Lipscombe Park to +me?—a girl who might claim alliance +with the wealthiest and noblest of the +land—to me, who have just that rag +of property, enough to keep from open +shame one miserable biped? Can a +man never make a general reflection +upon one of the most general of all +topics, without being met by a personal +allusion? I thought you had +been superior, Griffith, to this dull +and hackneyed retort."</p> + +<p>"Well, well; be not wroth"—</p> + +<p>"But I <i>am</i>. There is something +so odious in this trite and universal +banter. Besides, to have it intimated, +even in jest, that I would take advantage +of my position in this family to +pay my ridiculous addresses to Miss +Sherwood—I do declare, Griffith, I +never will again to you, or any other +man, touch upon this subject, but in +the same strain of unmeaning levity +one is compelled to listen to, and imitate, +in the society of coxcombs."</p> + +<p>"At all events," said Griffith, +"give me leave to say that <i>I</i> admire +Miss Sherwood, and that I shall think +it a crying shame if so beautiful and +intelligent a girl is suffered to fall into +the clutches of this stupid baronet who +is laying siege to her—this pompous, +empty-headed Sir Frederic Beaumantle."</p> + +<p>"Sir Frederic Beaumantle," said +Darcy, with some remains of humour, +"may be all you describe him, but he +is very rich, and, mark me, he will +win the lady. Old Sherwood suspects +him for a fool, but his extensive estates +are unincumbered—he will approve his +suit. His daughter makes him a constant +laughing-stock, she is perpetually +ridiculing his presumption and his vanity; +but she will end by marrying +the rich baronet. It will be in the +usual course of things; society will +expect it; and it is so safe, so prudent, +to do what society expects. Let +wealth wed with wealth. It is quite +right. I would never advise any man +to marry a woman much richer than +himself, so as to be indebted to her +for his position in society. It is useless +to say, or to feel, that her +wealth was not the object of your suit. You +may carry it how you will—what says +the song?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>'<i>She</i> never will forget;</p> +<p>The gold she gave was not thy <i>gain</i>,</p> +<p>But it must be thy <i>debt</i>.'</p> +</div></div> + +<p>"But come, our host is punctual to +his dinner hour, and if we journey +back at the same pace we have travelled +here, we shall not have much +time upon our hands." And accordingly +the two friends set themselves in +motion to return to the house.</p> + +<p>Our readers have, of course, discovered +that, in spite of his disclaimer, +Reginald Darcy <i>was</i> in love with +Emily Sherwood. He was, indeed, +very far gone, and had suffered great +extremities; but his pride had kept +pace with his passion. Left an orphan +at an early age, and placed by +the will of his father under the guardianship +of Mr Sherwood, Darcy had +found in the residence of that gentleman +a home during the holidays when +a schoolboy, and during the vacations +when a collegian. Having lately taken +his degree at Cambridge, with +high honours, which had been strenuously +contended for, and purchased by +severe labour, he was now recruiting +his health, and enjoying a season of +well-earned leisure under his guardian's +roof. As Mr Sherwood was old +and gouty, and confined much to his +room, it fell on him to escort Emily +in her rides or walks. She whom he +had known, and been so often delighted +with, as his little playmate, had grown +into the young and lovely woman. +Briefly, our Darcy was a lost man—gone—head +and heart. But then—she +was the only daughter of Mr +Sherwood, she was a wealthy heiress—he +was comparatively poor. Her +father had been to him the kindest of +guardians: ought he to repay that +kindness by destroying, perhaps, his +proudest schemes? Ought he, a man +of fitting and becoming pride, to put +himself in the equivocal position which +the poor suitor of a wealthy heiress must +inevitably occupy? "He invites me," +he would say to himself, "he presses +me to stay here, week after week, +and month after month, because the +idea that I should seek to carry away +his daughter never enters into his +head. And she—she is so frank, so +gay, so amiable, and almost fond, because +she has never recognized, with +the companion of her childhood, the +possibility of such a thing as marriage. +There is but one part for me—silence, +strict, unbroken silence!"</p> + +<p>Charles Griffith was not far from +the truth, when he said that it would +be difficult to find a better specimen +of her fascinating sex than the daughter +of their host. But it was not her +beauty, remarkable as this was—it +was not her brightest of blue eyes, nor +her fairest of complexions, nor those +rich luxuriant tresses—that formed the +greatest charm in Emily Sherwood. +It was the delightful combination she +displayed of a cheerful vivacious temper +with generous and ardent feelings. +She was as light and playful as one of +the fawns in her own park, but her +heart responded also to every noble +and disinterested sentiment; and the +poet who sought a listener for some +lofty or tender strain, would have +found the spirit that he wanted in the +gay and mirth-loving Emily Sherwood.</p> + +<p>Poor Darcy! he would sit, or walk, +by her side, talking of this or that, no +matter what, always happy in her presence, +passing the most delicious hours, +but not venturing to betray, by word +or look, how very content he was. +For these hours of stolen happiness +he knew how severe a penalty he must +pay: he knew and braved it. And +in our poor judgment he was right. +Let the secret, stealthy, unrequited +lover enjoy to the full the presence, +the smiles, the bland and cheerful society +of her whom his heart is silently +worshipping. Even this shall in future +hours be a sweet remembrance. +By and by, it is true, there will come +a season of poignant affliction. But +better all this than one uniform, perpetual +torpor. He will have felt that +mortal man <i>may</i> breathe the air of +happiness; he will have learned something +of the human heart that lies +within him.</p> + +<p>But all this love—was it seen—was +it returned—by her who had inspired +it? Both, both. He thought, wise +youth! that while he was swallowing +draught after draught of this delicious +poison, no one perceived the deep intoxication +he was revelling in. Just +as wisely some veritable toper, by putting +on a grave and demure countenance, +cheats himself into the belief +that he conceals from every eye that +delectable and irresistible confusion +in which his brain is swimming. His +love was seen. How could it be otherwise? +That instantaneous, that complete +delight which he felt when she +joined him in his rambles, or came to +sit with him in the library, could not +be disguised nor mistaken. He was +a scholar, a reader and lover of books, +but let the book be what it might +which he held in his hand, it was abandoned, +closed, pitched aside, the moment +she entered. There was no +stolen glance at the page left still +open; nor was the place kept marked +by the tenacious finger and thumb. +If her voice were heard on the terrace, +or in the garden—if her laugh—so +light, merry, and musical, reached his +ear—there was no question or debate +whether he should go or stay, but +down the stairs, or through the avenues +of the garden—he sprung—he +ran;—only a little before he came in +sight he would assume something of +the gravity becoming in a senior +wrangler, or try to look as if he came +there by chance. His love was seen, +and not with indifference. But what +could the damsel do? How presume +to know of an attachment until in due +form certified thereof? If a youth +will adhere to an obstinate silence, +what, we repeat, can a damsel do but +leave him to his fate, and listen to +some other, who, if he loves less, at least +knows how to avow his love?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> +<br> + +<p>We left the two friends proceeding +towards the mansion; we enter before +them, and introduce our readers +into the drawing-room. Here, in a +spacious and shaded apartment, made +cool, as well by the massive walls of +the noble edifice as by the open and +protected windows, whose broad balcony +was blooming with the most +beautiful and fragrant of plants, sat +Emily Sherwood. She was not, however, +alone. At the same round table, +which was covered with vases of +flowers, and with books as gay as +flowers, was seated another young +lady, Miss Julia Danvers, a friend +who had arrived in the course of the +morning on a visit to Lipscombe Park. +The young ladies seemed to have been +in deep consultation.</p> + +<p>"I can never thank you sufficiently," +said Miss Danvers, "for your +kindness in this affair."</p> + +<p>"Indeed but you can very soon +thank me much more than sufficiently," +replied her more lively companion, +"for there are few things in the world +I dislike so much as thanks. And yet +there is one cause of thankfulness you +have, and know not of. Here have I +listened to your troubles, as you call +them, for more than two hours, and +never once told you any of my own. +Troubles! you are, in my estimation, +a very happy, enviable girl."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it then so great a +happiness to be obliged to take refuge +from an absurd selfish stepmother, in +order to get by stealth one's own lawful +way?"</p> + +<p>"One's own way is always lawful, +my dear. No tautology. But you +<i>have</i> it—while I"——</p> + +<p>"Well, what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Julia, dear—now do not laugh—I +have a lover that <i>won't speak</i>. I have +another, or one who calls himself such, +who has spoken, or whose wealth, I +fear, has spoken, to some purpose—to +my father."</p> + +<p>"And you would open the mouth +of the dumb, and stop the mouth +of the foolish?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly."</p> + +<p>"Who are they? And first, to proceed +by due climax, who is he whose +mouth is to be closed?"</p> + +<p>"A baronet of these parts, Sir +Frederic Beaumantle. A vain, vain, +vain man. It would be a waste of +good words to spend another epithet +upon him, for he is all vanity. All +his virtues, all his vices, all his actions, +good, bad, and indifferent, are nothing +but vanity. He praises you from vanity, +abuses you from vanity, loves and +hates you from vanity. He is vain of +his person, of his wealth, of his birth, +of his title, vain of all he has, and all +he has not. He sets so great a value +on his innumerable and superlative +good qualities, that he really has not +been able (until he met with your +humble servant) to find any individual +of our sex on whom he could, conscientiously, +bestow so great a treasure +as his own right hand must inevitably +give away. This has been the only +reason—he tells me so himself—why +he has remained so long unmarried; +for he has rounded the arch, and is +going down the bridge. To take his +own account of this delicate matter, he +is fluctuating, with an uneasy motion, +to and fro, between forty and forty-five."</p> + +<p>"Old enough, I doubt not, to be +your father. How can he venture on +such a frolicsome young thing as +you?"</p> + +<p>"I asked him that question myself +one day; and he told me, with a +most complacent smile, that I should +be the perfect compendium of matrimony—he +should have wife and child +in one."</p> + +<p>"The old coxcomb! And yet +there was a sort of providence in +that.—Now, who is he whose mouth +is to be opened?"</p> + +<p>"Oh—he!--can't you guess?"</p> + +<p>"Your cousin Reginald, as you +used to call him—though cousin +I believe he is none—this learned +wrangler?"</p> + +<p>"The same. Trust me, he loves +me to the bottom of his heart; but +because his little cousin is a great +heiress, he thinks it fit to be very +proud, and gives me over—many +thanks to him—to this rich baronet. +But here he comes."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, Darcy and Griffith +entered the room.</p> + +<p>"We have been canvassing," said +Emily, after the usual forms of introduction +had been gone through, "the +merits of our friend, Sir Frederic +Beaumantle. By the way, Reginald, +he dines here to-day, and so will another +gentleman, whom I shall be +happy to introduce to you, Captain +Garland, an esteemed friend of mine +and Miss Danvers'."</p> + +<p>"Sir Frederic seems," said Griffith, +by way merely of taking part +in the conversation, "at all events, a +very good-natured man. I have seen +him but once, and he has already +promised to use all his influence in my +behalf, in whatever profession I may +embark. If medicine, I am to have +half-a-dozen dowagers, always ailing +and never ill, put under my charge +the moment I can add M.D. to my +name; not to speak of certain mysterious +hints of an introduction at +court, and an appointment of physician +extraordinary to Her Majesty. +I suppose I may depend upon Sir +Frederic's promises?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly," said Miss Sherwood, +"you may depend upon Sir +Frederic Beaumantle's promises; they +will never fail; they are inexhaustible."</p> + +<p>"The fool!" said Darcy with impatience, +"I could forgive him any +thing but that ridiculous ostentation +he has of patronizing men, who, but +they have more politeness than himself, +would throw back his promises +with open derision."</p> + +<p>"Reginald," said Miss Sherwood, +"is always forgiving Sir Frederic +every fault but one. But then that +one fault changes every day. Last +time he would pardon him every +thing except the fulsome eulogy he is +in the habit of bestowing upon his +friends, even to their faces. You +must know, Mr Griffith, that Sir +Frederic is a most liberal chapman in +this commodity of praise: he will +give any man a bushel-full of compliments +who will send him back the +measure only half filled. Nay, if +there are but a few cherries clinging +to the wicker-work he is not wholly +dissatisfied."</p> + +<p>"What he gives he knows is trash," +said Darcy; "what he receives he +always flatters himself to be true coin. +But indeed Sir Frederic is somewhat +more just in his dealings than you, +perhaps, imagine. If he bestows excessive +laudation on a friend in one +company, he takes it all back again +in the very next he enters."</p> + +<p>"And still his amiability shines +through all; for he abuses the absent +friend only to gratify the self-love +of those who are present."</p> + +<p>The door opened as Miss Sherwood +gave this <i>coup-de-grace</i> to the character +of the baronet, and Sir Frederic +Beaumantle was announced, +and immediately afterwards, Captain +Garland.</p> + +<p>Miss Sherwood, somewhat to the +surprise of Darcy, who was not aware +that any such intimacy subsisted between +them, received Captain Garland +with all the cordiality of an old +acquaintance. On the other hand she +introduced the baronet to Miss Danvers +with that slightly emphatic manner +which intimates that the parties +may entertain a "high consideration" +for each other.</p> + +<p>"You are too good a herald, Sir +Frederic," she said, "not to know +the Danverses of Dorsetshire."</p> + +<p>"I shall be proud," replied the +baronet, "to make the acquaintance +of Miss Danvers."</p> + +<p>"She has come to my poor castle," +continued Miss Sherwood, "like the +distressed princess in the Faery Queen, +and I must look out for some red-cross +knight to be her champion, +and redress her wrongs."</p> + +<p>"It is not the first time," said the +lady thus introduced, "that I have +heard of the name of Sir Frederic +Beaumantle."</p> + +<p>"I dare say not, I dare say not," +answered the gratified baronet. +"Mine, I may venture to say, is an +historic name. Did you ever peruse, +Miss Danvers, a work entitled 'The +History of the County of Huntingdon?' +You would find in it many +curious particulars relating to the +Beaumantles, and one anecdote especially, +drawn, I may say, from the archives +of our family, which throws +a new light upon the reign and character +of Charles II. It is a very +able performance is this 'History of +the County of Huntingdon;' it is written +by a modest and ingenious person +of my acquaintance, and I felt great +pleasure in lending him my poor assistance +in the compilation of it. My +name is mentioned in the preface. +Perhaps," he added with a significant +smile, "it might have claimed a still +more conspicuous place; but I hold +it more becoming in persons of rank +to be the patrons than the competitors +of men of letters."</p> + +<p>"I should think," said Miss Danvers +very quietly, "it were the more +prudent plan for them to adopt. But +what is this anecdote you allude +to?"</p> + +<p>"An ancestor of mine—But I am +afraid," said the baronet, casting a deprecatory +look at Miss Sherwood, +"that some here have read it, or +heard me repeat it before."</p> + +<p>"Oh, pray proceed," said the +young lady appealed to.</p> + +<p>"An ancestor of mine," resumed +the baronet, "on being presented at +the Court of Charles II., soon after +the Restoration, attracted the attention +of that merry monarch and his +witty courtiers, by the antique fashion +of his cloak. 'Beaumantle! Beaumantle!' +said the king, 'who gave +thee that name?' My ancestor, who +was a grave man, and well brought up, +answered, 'Sire, my godfathers +and my godmothers at my baptism.' +'Well responded!' said the king with +a smile; 'and they gave thee thy +raiment also, as it seems.' These last +words were added in a lower voice, +and did not reach the ear of my ancestor, +but they were reported to him +immediately afterwards, and have been +treasured up in our family ever since. +I thought it my duty to make it known +to the world as an historical fact, +strikingly illustrative of a very important +period in our annals."</p> + +<p>"Why, your name," said Miss +Danvers, "appears to be historical in +more senses than one."</p> + +<p>"I hope soon—but I would not wish +this to go beyond the present company," +said Sir Frederic, and he looked +round the circle with a countenance +of the most imposing solemnity—"I +hope soon that you will hear of it +being elevated to the peerage—that +is, when Sir Robert Peel comes into +power."</p> + +<p>"You know Sir Robert, then?" +said Griffith, with perfect simplicity.</p> + +<p>"Public men," said Sir Frederic, +"are sufficiently introduced by public +report. Besides, Mr Griffith—we +baronets!--we constitute a sort of +brotherhood. I have employed all my +influence in the county, and I may +safely say it is not little, to raise the +character and estimation of Sir Robert, +and I have no doubt that he will +gladly testify his acknowledgment of +my services by this trifling return. +And as it is well known that my +estates"—</p> + +<p>But the baronet was interrupted in +mid career by the announcement of +dinner.</p> + +<p>Miss Sherwood took the arm of +Captain Garland, and directed Sir +Frederic to lead down Miss Danvers.</p> + +<p>"You will excuse my father," she +said, as they descended, "for not +meeting us in the drawing-room. His +gout makes him a lame pedestrian. +We shall find him already seated at +the table."</p> + +<p>At the dinner-table the same +arrangement was preserved. Miss +Sherwood had placed Captain Garland +by her side, and conversed almost +exclusively with him; while the Baronet +was kept in play by the sedulous +flattery of Miss Danvers.</p> + +<p>After a few days, it became evident +to all the household at Lipscombe +Park that a new claimant for the hand +of Miss Sherwood had appeared in +the person of Captain Garland. The +captain did not reside in the house, +but, on the pretence of a very strong +passion for trout-fishing, he had taken +up his quarters in apartments within +a most convenient distance of the +scene of operations. It was not forgotten +that, at the very time he made +his appearance, Miss Danvers also +arrived at the Park, and between these +parties there was suspected to be some +secret understanding. It seemed as +if our military suitor had resolved to +assail the fort from within as well +as from without, and therefore had +brought down with him this fair ally. +Nothing better than such a fair ally. +She could not only chant his praises +when absent, (and there is much in +that,) but she could so manœuvre as +to procure for the captain many a +<i>tête-à-tête</i>, which otherwise would not +fall to his share. Especially, (and +this task she appeared to accomplish +most adroitly,) she could engage to +herself the attentions of his professed +and redoubtable rival, Sir Frederic +Beaumantle. In fifty ways she could +assist in betraying the citadel from +within, whilst he stood storming at +the gates, in open and most magnanimous +warfare. Darcy was not slower +than others to suspect the stratagem, +and he thought he saw symptoms of +its success. His friend Griffith had +now left him; he had no dispassionate +observer to consult, and his own desponding +passion led him to conclude +whatever was most unfavourable to +himself. Certainly there was a confidential +manner between Miss Sherwood +and these close allies, which +seemed to justify the suspicion alluded +to. More than once, when he had +joined Miss Sherwood and the captain, +the unpleasant discovery had been +forced upon him, by the sudden pause +in their conversation, that he was the +<i>one too many</i>.</p> + +<p>But jealousy? Oh, no! What had +<i>he</i> to do with jealousy? For his part, +he was quite delighted with this new +attachment—quite delighted; it would +set at rest for ever the painful controversy +so often agitated in his own +breast. Nevertheless, it must be confessed +that he felt the rivalry of Captain +Garland in a very different manner +from that of Sir Frederic Beaumantle. +The baronet, by virtue of +his wealth alone, would obtain success; +and he felt a sort of bitter satisfaction +in yielding Emily to her opulent suitor. +She might marry, but she could +not love him; she might be thinking +of another, perhaps of her cousin +Reginald, even while she gave her +hand to him at the altar. But if the +gallant captain, whose handsome person, +and frank and gentlemanly manners, +formed his chief recommendation, +were to be the happy man, then +must her affections have been won, +and Emily was lost to him utterly. +And then—with the usual logic of the +passions, and forgetting the part of +silence and disguise that he had played—he +taxed her with levity and unkindness +in so soon preferring the +captain to himself. That Emily should +so soon have linked herself with a +comparative stranger! It was not +what he should have expected. "At +all events," he would thus conclude +his soliloquy, "I am henceforward +free—free from her bondage and from +all internal struggle. Yes! I am +free!" he exclaimed, as he paced his +room triumphantly. The light voice +of Emily was heard calling on him to +accompany her in a walk. He started, +he flew. His freedom, we suppose, +gave him wings, for he was at her side +in a moment.</p> + +<p>Reginald had intended, on the first +opportunity, to rally his cousin upon +her sudden attachment to the captain, +but his tongue absolutely refused the +office. He could not utter a word of +banter on the subject. His heart was +too full.</p> + +<p>On this occasion, as they returned +from their walk through the park, there +happened one of those incidents which +have so often, at least in novels and +story-books, brought about the happiness +of lovers, but which in the present +instance served only to bring into +play the most painful feelings of both +parties.</p> + +<p>A prize-fight had taken place in the +neighbourhood, and one of the numerous +visitors of that truly noble exhibition, +who, in order to do honour to +the day, had deprived Smithfield market +of the light of his countenance, +was returning across the park from +the scene of combat, accompanied by +his bull-dog. The dog, who doubtless +knew that his master was a trespasser, +and considered it the better +policy to assume at once the offensive, +flew at the party whom he saw +approaching. Emily was a little in +advance. Darcy rushed forward to +plant himself between her and this +ferocious assailant. He had no weapon +of defence of any kind, and, to +say truth, he had at that moment no +idea of defending himself, or any distinct +notion whatever of combating +his antagonist. The only reflection +that occurred to his mind was, that if +the animal satiated its fury upon him, +his companion would be safe. A strong +leg and a stout boot might have done +something; Darcy, stooping down, +put the fleshy part of his own arm +fairly into the bulldog's jaws; assured +that, at all events, it could not +bite two persons at the same time, and +that, if its teeth were buried in his +own arm, they could not be engaged +in lacerating Emily Sherwood. It is +the well-known nature of the bull-dog +to fasten where it once bites, and +the brute pinned Darcy to the ground, +until its owner, arriving on the spot, +extricated him from his very painful +position.</p> + +<p>In this encounter, our senior wrangler +probably showed himself very +unskilful and deficient in the combat +with wild beasts, but no conduct +could have displayed a more engrossing +anxiety for the safety of his fair +companion. Most men would have +been willing to reap advantage from +the grateful sentiment which such a +conduct must inspire; Darcy, on the +contrary, seemed to have no other +wish than to disclaim all title to such +a sentiment. He would not endure +that the incident should be spoken of +with the least gravity or seriousness.</p> + +<p>"I pray you," said he, "do not +mention this silly business again. +What I did, every living man who +had found himself by your side would +have done, and most men in a far +more dexterous manner. And, indeed, +if instead of yourself, the merest +stranger—the poorest creature in the +parish, man, woman, or child, had +been in your predicament, I think I +should have done the same."</p> + +<p>"I know you would, Reginald. I +believe," said Emily, "that if the +merest idiot had been threatened with +the danger that threatened me, you +would have interposed, and received +the attack yourself. And it is because +I believe this of you, Reginald"——</p> + +<p>Something apparently impeded her +utterance, for the sentence was left +unfinished.</p> + +<p>"For this wound," resumed Darcy, +after a pause, and observing that +Emily's eye was resting on his arm, +"it is really nothing more than a just +penalty for my own want of address +in this notable combat. You should +have had the captain with you," he +added; "he would have defended +you quite as zealously, and with ten +times the skill."</p> + +<p>Emily made no answer; and they +walked on in silence till they entered +the Hall. Reginald felt that he had +been ungracious; but he knew not +how to retrieve his position. Just before +they parted, Emily resuming, in +some measure, her natural and cheerful +manner, turned to her companion, +and said—"Years ago, when you were +cousin Reginald, and condescended to +be my playfellow, the greatest services +you rendered were to throw me +occasionally out of the swing, or +frighten me till I screamed by putting +my pony into a most unmerciful trot; +but you were always so kind in the +<i>making up</i>, that I liked you the better +afterwards. Now, when you preserve +me, at your own hazard, from a very +serious injury—you do it in so surly a +manner—I wish the dog had bitten +me!" And with this she left him and +tripped up stairs.</p> + +<p>If Darcy could have followed her +into her own room, he would have +seen her throw herself into an armchair, +and burst into a flood of tears.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Miss Danvers, it has been said, +(from whatever motive her conduct +proceeded, whether from any interest +of her own, or merely a desire to serve +the interest of her friend, Captain +Garland,) showed a disposition to engross +the attentions of Sir Frederic +Beaumantle as often as he made his +appearance at Lipscombe Park. Now, +as that lady was undoubtedly of good +family, and possessed of considerable +fortune, the baronet was not a little +flattered by the interest which a person +who had these excellent qualifications +for a judge, manifestly took in +his conversation. In an equal degree +was his dignity offended at the preference +shown by Miss Sherwood for +Captain Garland, a man, as he said, but +of yesterday, and not in any one point +of view to be put in comparison with +himself. He almost resolved to +punish her levity by withdrawing his +suit. The graver manner, and somewhat +more mature age of Miss Danvers +were also qualities which he was +obliged to confess were somewhat in +her favour.</p> + +<p>The result of all this was, that one +fine morning Sir Frederic Beaumantle +might have been seen walking to +and fro in his own park, with a +troubled step, bearing in his hand a +letter—most elaborately penned—carefully +written out—sealed—but not directed. +It was an explicit declaration +of his love, a solemn offer of his hand; +it was only not quite determined to +whom it should be sent. As the letter +contained very little that referred +to the lady, and consisted almost entirely +of an account, not at all disparaging, +of himself and his own good +qualities, it was easy for him to proceed +thus far upon his delicate negotiation, +although the main question—to +whom the letter was to be addressed—was +not yet decided. This letter +had indeed been a <i>labour of love</i>. It +was as little written for Miss Sherwood +as for Miss Danvers. It was +composed for the occasion whenever +that might arise; and for these ten +years past it had been lying in his +desk, receiving from time to time +fresh touches and emendations. The +necessity of making use of this epistle, +which had now attained a state of +painful perfection, we venture to say +had some share in impelling him into +matrimony. To some one it must +be sent, or how could it appear to any +advantage in those "Memoirs of Sir +Frederic Beaumantle," which, some +future day, were to console the world +for his decease, and the prospect of +which (for he saw them already in +beautiful hot-pressed quarto) almost +consoled himself for the necessity of +dying? The <i>intended</i> love-letter!--this +would have an air of ridicule, +while the real declaration of Sir Frederic +Beaumantle, which would not +only adorn the Memoirs above mentioned, +but would ultimately form a +part of the "History of the County of +Huntingdon." We hope ourselves, by +the way, to have the honour of editing +those Memoirs, should we be so +unfortunate as to survive Sir Frederic.</p> + +<p>But we must leave our baronet with +his letter in his hand, gazing profoundly +and anxiously on the blank +left for the superscription, and must +follow the perplexities of Reginald +Darcy.</p> + +<p>That good understanding which +apparently existed between Emily +and Captain Garland seemed rather +to increase than to diminish after the +little adventure we recorded in the +last chapter. It appeared that Miss +Sherwood had taken Darcy at his +word, and resolved not to think any +the more kindly of him for his conduct +on that occasion. The captain was +plainly in the ascendant. It even +appeared, from certain arrangements +that were in stealthy preparation, that +the happiness of the gallant lover +would not long be delayed. Messages +of a very suspicious purport had passed +between the Park and the vicarage. +The clerk of the parish had been seen +several times at Lipscombe. There +was something in the wind, as the +sagacious housekeeper observed; surely +her young <i>missus</i> was not going to +be married on the sly to the captain! +The same thought, however, occurred +to Darcy. Was it to escape the suit +of Sir Frederic Beaumantle, which had +been in some measure countenanced +by her father, that she had recourse +to this stratagem?—hardly worthy of +her, and quite unnecessary, as she +possessed sufficient influence with her +father to obtain his consent to any +proposal she herself was likely to approve. +Had not the state of his own +feelings made him too interested a +party to act as counsellor or mediator, +he would at once have questioned +Emily on the subject. As it was, his +lips were closed. She herself, too, +seemed resolved to make no communication +to him. The captain, a man +of frank and open nature, was far +more disposed to reveal his secret: he +was once on the point of speaking to +Darcy about his "approaching marriage;" +but Emily, laying her finger +on her lip, suddenly imposed silence +on him.</p> + +<p>One morning, as Darcy entered +the breakfast-room, it was evident +that something unusual was about to +take place. The carriage, at this +early hour, was drawn up to the door, +and the two young ladies, both dressed +in bridal white, were stepping into +it. Before it drove off Miss Sherwood +beckoned to Darcy.</p> + +<p>"I have not invited you," she said, +"to the ceremony, because Captain +Garland has wished it to be as private +as possible. But we shall expect your +company at breakfast, for which you +must even have the patience to wait +till we return." Without giving any +opportunity for reply, she drew up +the glass, and the carriage rolled off.</p> + +<p>However Darcy might have hitherto +borne himself up by a gloomy sense +of duty, by pride, and a bitter—oh, +what bitter resignation!--when the +blow came, it utterly prostrated him. +"She is gone!--lost!--Fool that I +have been!--What was this man more +than I?" Stung with such reflections +as these, which were uttered in such +broken sentences, he rapidly retreated +to the library, where he knew he should +be undisturbed. He threw himself +into a chair, and planting his elbows +on the table, pressed his doubled fists, +with convulsive agony, to his brows. +All his fortitude had forsaken him: +he wept outright.</p> + +<p>From this posture he was at length +aroused by a gentle pressure on his +shoulder, and a voice calling him by +his name. He raised his head: it +was Emily Sherwood, enquiring of +him, quite calmly, why he was not at +the breakfast-table. There she stood, +radiant with beauty, and in all her +bridal attire, except that she had +thrown of her bonnet, and her beautiful +hair was allowed to be free and +unconfined. Her hand was still upon +his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"You are married, Emily," he said, +as well as that horrible stifling sensation +in the breast would let him speak; +"you are married, and I must be for +evermore a banished man. I leave +you, Emily, and this roof, for ever. +I pronounce my own sentence of exile, +for I <i>love</i> you, Emily!--and ever +shall—passionately—tenderly—love +you. Surely I may say this now—now +that it is a mere cry of anguish, +and a misery exclusively my own. +Never, never—I feel that this is no +idle raving—shall I love another—never +will this affection leave me—I +shall never have a home—never care +for another—or myself—I am alone—a +wanderer—miserable. Farewell! +I go—I know not exactly where—but +I leave this place."</p> + +<p>He was preparing to quit the +room, when Emily, placing herself +before him, prevented him. "And +why," said she, "if you honoured me +with this affection, why was I not to +know of it till now?"</p> + +<p>"Can the heiress of Lipscombe +Park ask that question?"</p> + +<p>"Ungenerous! unjust!" said Emily. +"Tell me, if one who can himself feel +and act nobly, denies to another the +capability of a like disinterested +conduct—denies it rashly, pertinaciously, +without cause given for such a +judgment—is he not ungenerous and unjust?"</p> + +<p>"To whom have I acted thus? To +whom have I been ungenerous or unjust?"</p> + +<p>"To me, Reginald—to me! I am +wealthy, and for this reason alone you +have denied to me, it seems, the possession +of every worthy sentiment. +She has gold, you have said, let her +gold content her, and you withheld +your love. She will make much boast, +and create a burdensome obligation, +if she bestows her superfluous wealth +upon another: you resolved not to +give her the opportunity, and you +withheld your love. She has gold—she +has no heart—no old affections +that have grown from childhood—no +estimate of character: she has wealth—let +her gratify its vanity and its +caprice; and so you withheld your +love. Yes, she has gold—let her +have more of it—let her wed with +gold—with any gilded fool—she has +no need of love! This is what you +have thought, what your conduct has +implied, and it was ungenerous and +unjust."</p> + +<p>"No, by heaven! I never thought +unworthily of you," exclaimed Darcy.</p> + +<p>"Had you been the wealthy cousin, +Reginald, of wealth so ample, that an +addition to it could scarcely bring an +additional pleasure, would you have +left your old friend Emily to look out +for some opulent alliance?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! no!"</p> + +<p>"Then, why should I?"</p> + +<p>"I may have erred," said Darcy. +"I may have thought too meanly of +myself, or nourished a misplaced +pride, but I never had a disparaging +thought of you. It seemed that I was +right—that I was fulfilling a severe—oh, +how severe a duty! Even now I +know not that I was wrong—I know +only that I am miserable. But," +added he in a calmer voice, "I, at all +events, am the only sufferer. You, at +least, are happy."</p> + +<p>"Not, I think, if marriage is to +make me so. I am not married, Reginald," +she said, amidst a confusion of +smiles and blushes. "Captain Garland +was married this morning to +Miss Julia Danvers, to whom he has +been long engaged, but a silly selfish +stepmother"——</p> + +<p>"Not married!" cried Darcy, interrupting +all further explanation.—"Not +married! Then you are free—then +you are"—— But the old +train of thought rushed back upon his +mind—the old objections were as +strong as ever—Miss Sherwood was +still the daughter of his guardian, and +the heiress of Lipscombe Park. Instead +of completing the sentence, he +paused, and muttered something about +"her father."</p> + +<p>Emily saw the cloud that had come +over him. Dropping playfully, and +most gracefully, upon one knee, she +took his hand, and looking up archly +in his face, said, "You love me, coz—you +have said it. Coz, will you +marry me?—for I love you."</p> + +<p>"Generous, generous girl!" and +he clasped her to his bosom.</p> + +<p>"Let us go in," said Emily, in a +quite altered and tremulous voice, +"let us join them in the other room." +And as she put her arm in his, the +little pressure said distinctly and triumphantly—"He +is mine!--he is mine!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>We must take a parting glance into +old Mr Sherwood's room. He is +seated in his gouty chair; his daughter +stands by his side. Apparently +Emily's reasonings have almost prevailed; +she has almost persuaded the +old gentleman that Darcy is the very +son-in-law whom, above all others, +he ought to desire. For how could +Emily leave her dear father, and how +could he domicile himself with any +other husband she could choose, half +so well as with his own ward, and his +old favourite, Reginald?</p> + +<p>"But Sir Frederic Beaumantle," +the old gentleman replied, "what is +to be said to him? and what a fine +property he has!"</p> + +<p>As he was speaking, the door opened, +and the party from the breakfast +table, consisting of Captain Garland, +and his bride, and Reginald, entered +the room.</p> + +<p>"Oh, as for Sir Frederic Beaumantle," +said she who was formerly +Miss Danvers, and now Mrs Garland, +"I claim him as mine." And forthwith +she displayed the famous declaration +of the baronet—addressed to +herself!</p> + +<p>Their mirth had scarcely subsided, +when the writer of the letter himself +made his appearance. He had called +early, for he had concluded, after +much deliberation, that it was not consistent +with the ardour and impetuosity +of love, to wait till the formal +hour of visiting, in order to receive +the answer of Miss Danvers.</p> + +<p>That answer the lady at once gave +by presenting Captain Garland to him +in the character of her husband. At +the same time, she returned his epistle, +and, explaining that circumstances +had compelled the captain and herself +to marry in a private and secret +manner, apologized for the mistake into +which the concealment of their engagement +had led him.</p> + +<p>"A mistake indeed—a mistake altogether!" +exclaimed the baronet, +catching at a straw as he fell—"a +mistake into which this absurd fashion +of envelopes has led us. The letter +was never intended, madam, to be enclosed +to you. It was designed for the hands"——</p> + +<p>And he turned to Miss Sherwood, +who, on her part, took the arm of Reginald +with a significance of manner +which proved to him that, for the present +at least, his declaration of love +might return into his own desk, there +to receive still further emendations.</p> + +<p>"No wonder, Sir Frederic," said +Mr Sherwood, compassionating the +baronet's situation—"no wonder your +proposal is not wanted. These young +ladies have taken their affairs into +their own hands. It is <i>Leap-Year</i>. +One of them, at least, (looking to his +daughter,) has made good use of its +privilege. The initiative, Sir Frederic, +is taken from us."</p> + +<p>The baronet had nothing left but +to make his politest bow and retire.</p> + +<p>"Reginald, my dear boy," continued +the old gentleman, "give me +your hand. Emily is right. I don't +know how I should part with her. I +will only make this bargain with you, +Reginald—that you marry us both. +You must not turn me out of doors."</p> + +<p>Reginald returned the pressure of +his hand, but he could say nothing. +Mr Sherwood, however, saw his answer +in eyes that were filling involuntarily +with tears.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<a name="bw329s5" id="bw329s5"></a><h2>THE BATTLE OF THE BLOCKS.</h2> + +<h3>THE PAVING QUESTION.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The subject of greatest metropolitan +interest which has occurred for +many years, is the introduction of +wood paving. As the main battle +has been fought in London, and nothing +but a confused report of the +great object in dispute may have penetrated +beyond the sound of Bow +bells, we think it will not be amiss to +put on record, in the imperishable +brass and marble of our pages, an +account of the mighty struggle—of +the doughty champions who couched +the lance and drew the sword in the +opposing ranks—and, finally, to what +side victory seems to incline on this +beautiful 1st of May in the year +1843.</p> + +<p>Come, then, to our aid, oh ye heavenly +Muses! who enabled Homer to +sing in such persuasive words the fates +of Troy and of its wooden horse; for +surely a subject which is so deeply +connected both with wood and horses, +is not beneath your notice; but perhaps, +as poetry is gone out of fashion +at the present time, you will depute +one of your humbler sisters, rejoicing +in the name of Prose, to give us a few +hints in the composition of our great +history. The name of the first pavier, +we fear, is unknown, unless we +could identify him with Triptolemus, +who was a great improver of Rhodes; +but it is the fate of all the greatest +benefactors of their kind to be neglected, +and in time forgotten. The first +regularly defined paths were probably +footways—the first carriages broad-wheeled. +No record remains of what +materials were used for filling up the +ruts; so it is likely, in those simple +times when enclosure acts were unknown, +that the cart was seldom taken +in the same track. As houses were +built, and something in the shape of +streets began to be established, the +access to them must have been more +attended to. A mere smoothing of the +inequalities of the surface over which +the oxen had to be driven, that brought +the grain home on the enormous +<i>plaustra</i> of the husbandman, was the +first idea of a street, whose very name +is derived from <i>stratum</i>, levelled. +As experience advanced, steps would +be taken to prevent the softness of the +road from interrupting the draught. +A narrow rim of stone, just wide +enough to sustain the wheel, would, +in all probability, be the next improvement; +and only when the gentle operations +of the farm were exchanged +for war, and the charger had to be +hurried to the fight, with all the equipments +necessary for an army, great +roads were laid open, and covered +with hard materials to sustain the +wear and tear of men and animals. +Roads were found to be no less necessary +to retain a conquest than to +make it; and the first true proof of +the greatness of Rome was found in +the long lines of military ways, by +which she maintained her hold upon +the provinces. You may depend on +it, that no expense was spared in +keeping the glorious street that led +up her Triumphs to the Capitol in excellent +repair. All the nations of the +<i>Orbis Antiquus</i> ought to have trembled +when they saw the beginning of +the Appian road. It led to Britain +and Persia, to Carthage and the White +Sea. The Britons, however, in ancient +days, seem to have been about the +stupidest and least enterprising of all +the savages hitherto discovered. After +an intercourse of four hundred years +with the most polished people in the +world, they continued so miserably +benighted, that they had not even +acquired masonic knowledge enough +to repair a wall. The rampart raised +by their Roman protectors between +them and the Picts and Scots, became +in some places dilapidated. The unfortunate +natives had no idea how to +mend the breach, and had to send +once more for their auxiliaries. If +such their state in regard to masonry, +we cannot suppose that their skill in +road-making was very great; and yet +we are told that, even on Cæsar's invasion, +the Britons careered about in +war-chariots, which implies both good +roads and some mechanical skill; but +we think it a little too much in historians +to ask us to believe BOTH these +views of the condition of our predecessors +in the tight little island; for it +is quite clear that a people who had +arrived at the art of coach-making, +could not be so very ignorant as not +to know how to build a wall. If it +were not for the letters of Cicero, we +should not believe a syllable about the +war-chariots that carried amazement +into the hearts of the Romans, even +in Kent or Surrey. But we here boldly +declare, that if twenty Ciceros were +to make their affidavits to the fact of +a set of outer barbarians, like Galgacus +and his troops, "sweeping their +fiery lines on rattling wheels" up and +down the Grampians—where, at a +later period, a celebrated shepherd fed +his flocks—we should not believe a +word of their declaration. Tacitus, +in the same manner, we should prosecute +for perjury.</p> + +<p>The Saxons were a superior race, +and when the eightsome-reel of the +heptarchy became the <i>pas-seul</i> of +the kingdom of England, we doubt +not that Watling Street was kept in +passable condition, and that Alfred, +amidst his other noble institutions, +invented a highway rate. The fortresses +and vassal towns of the barons, +after the Conquest, must have covered +the country with tolerable cross-roads; +and even the petty wars of those steel-clad +marauders must have had a good +effect in opening new communications. +For how could Sir Reginald Front-de-Bœuf, +or Sir Hildebrand Bras-de-Fer, +carry off the booty of their discomfited +rival to their own granaries without +loaded tumbrils, and roads fit to pass +over?</p> + +<p>Nor would it have been wise in rich +abbots and fat monks to leave their +monasteries and abbeys inaccessible to +pious pilgrims, who came to admire +thigh-bones of martyred virgins and +skulls of beatified saints, and paid +very handsomely for the exhibition. +Finally, trade began, and paviers +flourished. The first persons of that +illustrious profession appear, from the +sound of the name, to have been +French, unless we take the derivation +of a cockney friend of ours, who maintains +that the origin of the word is not +the French <i>pavé</i>, but the indigenous +English pathway. However that may +be, we are pretty sure that paving was +known as one of the fine arts in the +reign of Queen Elizabeth; for, not to +mention the anecdote of Raleigh and +his cloak—which could only happen +where puddles formed the exception +and not the rule—we read of Essex's +horse stumbling on a paving-stone in +his mad ride to his house in the Strand. +We also prove, from Shakspeare's +line—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"The very stones would rise in mutiny"—</p></div> + +<p>the fact of stones forming the main +body of the streets in his time; for it +is absurd to suppose that he was so +rigid an observer of the unities as to +pay the slightest respect to the state +of paving in the time of Julius Cæsar +at Rome.</p> + +<p>Gradually London took the lead in +improving its ways. It was no longer +necessary for the fair and young to be +carried through the mud upon costly +pillions, on the backs of high-stepping +Flanders mares. Beauty rolled over +the stones in four-wheeled carriages, +and it did not need more than half-a-dozen +running footmen—the stoutest +that could be found—to put their +shoulders occasionally to the wheel, +and help the eight black horses to +drag the ponderous vehicle through +the heavier parts of the road. Science +came to the aid of beauty in these distressing +circumstances. Springs were +invented that yielded to every jolt; +and, with the aid of cushions, rendered +a visit to Highgate not much more +fatiguing than we now find the journey +to Edinburgh. Luxury went on—wealth +flowed in—paviers were +encouraged—coach-makers grew great +men—and London, which our ancestors +had left mud, was now stone. +Year after year the granite quarries +of Aberdeen poured themselves out +on the streets of the great city, and a +million and a half of people drove, and +rode, and bustled, and bargained, and +cheated, and throve, in the midst of a +din that would have silenced the artillery +of Trafalgar, and a mud which, +if turned into bricks, would have built +the tower of Babel. The citizens +were now in possession of the "fumum +et opes strepitumque Romæ;" but +some of the more quietly disposed, +though submitting patiently to the +"fumum," and by no means displeased +with the "opes," thought the "strepitumque" +could be dispensed with, and +plans of all kinds were proposed for +obviating the noise and other inconveniences +of granite blocks. Some +proposed straw, rushes, sawdust; ingenuity +was at a stand-still; and +London appeared to be condemned to +a perpetual atmosphere of smoke and +sound. It is pleasant to look back on +difficulties, when overcome—the best +illustration of which is Columbus's +egg; for, after convincing the sceptic, +there can be no manner of doubt that +he swallowed the yelk and white, +leaving the shell to the pugnacious +disputant. In the same way we look +with a pleasing kind of pity on the +quandaries of those whom we shall +call—with no belief whatever in the +pre-Adamite theory—the pre-Macadamites.</p> + +<p>A man of talent and enterprise, Mr +Macadam, proposed a means of getting +quit of one of the objections to the +granite causeways. By breaking them +up into small pieces, and spreading +them in sufficient quantity, he proved +that a continuous hard surface would +be formed, by which the uneasy jerks +from stone to stone would be avoided, +and the expense, if not diminished, at +all events not materially increased. +When the proposition was fairly +brought before the public, it met the +fate of all innovations. Timid people—the +very persons, by the by, who +had been the loudest in their exclamations +against the ancient causeways—became +alarmed the moment +they saw a chance of getting quit of +them. As we never know the value +of a thing till we have lost it, their +attachment to stone and noise became +more intense in proportion as the certainty +of being deprived of them became +greater. It was proved to the +satisfaction of all rational men, if Mr +Macadam's experiment succeeded, and +a level surface were furnished to the +streets, that, besides noise, many other +disadvantages of the rougher mode of +paving would be avoided. Among +these the most prominent was slipperiness; +and it was impossible to be denied, +that at many seasons of the +year, not only in frost, when every +terrestrial pathway must be unsafe; +but in the dry months of summer, the +smooth surfaces of the blocks of granite, +polished and rounded by so many +wheels, were each like a convex mass +of ice, and caused unnumbered falls to +the less adroit of the equestrian portion +of the king's subjects. One of +the most zealous advocates of the +improvement was the present Sir +Peter Laurie, not then elevated to a +seat among the Equites, but imbued +probably with a foreknowledge of his +knighthood, and therefore anxious for +the safety of his horse. Sir Peter +was determined, in all senses of the +word, to <i>leave no stone unturned</i>; and +a very small mind, when directed to +one object with all its force, has more +effect than a large mind unactuated +by the same zeal—as a needle takes a +sharper point than a sword. Thanks, +therefore, are due, in a great measure, +to the activity and eloquence of the +worthy alderman for the introduction +of Macadam's system of road-making +into the city.</p> + +<p>Many evils were certainly got rid +of by this alteration—the jolting motion +from stone to stone—the slipperiness +and unevenness of the road—and +the chance, in case of an accident, of +contesting the hardness of your skull +with a mass of stone, which seemed as +if it were made on purpose for knocking +out people's brains. For some +time contentment sat smiling over the +city. But, as "man never is, but always +to be, blest," perfect happiness +appeared not to be secured even by +Macadam. Ruts began to be formed—rain +fell, and mud was generated at +a prodigious rate; repairs were needed, +and the road for a while was rough +and almost impassable. Then it was +found out that the change had only +led to a different <i>kind</i> of noise, instead +of destroying it altogether; and +the perpetual grinding of wheels, sawing +their way through the loose stones +at the top, or ploughing through the +wet foundation, was hardly an improvement +on the music arising from +the jolts and jerks along the causeway. +Men's minds got confused in +the immensity of the uproar, and +deafness became epidemic. In winter, +the surface of Macadam formed +a series of little lakes, resembling on +a small scale those of Canada; in +summer, it formed a Sahara of dust, +prodigiously like the great desert. +Acres of the finest alluvial clay +floated past the shops in autumn; in +spring, clouds of the finest sand were +wafted among the goods, and penetrated +to every drawer and wareroom. +And high over all, throughout all the +main highways of commerce—the +Strand—Fleet Street—Oxford Street—Holborn—raged +a storm of sound, +that made conversation a matter of extreme +difficulty without such stentorian +an effort as no ordinary lungs could +make. As the inhabitants of Abdera +went about sighing from morning to +night, "Love! love!" so the persecuted +dwellers in the great thoroughfares +wished incessantly for cleanliness! +smoothness! silence!</p> + +<p>"Abra was present when they +named her name," and, after a few +gropings after truth—a few experiments +that ended in nothing—a voice +was heard in the city, that streets +could be paved with wood. This was +by no means a discovery in itself; for +in many parts of the country ingenious +individuals had laid down wooden +floors upon their farm-yards; and, in +other lands, it was a very common +practice to use no other material for +their public streets. But, in London, +it was new; and all that was wanted, +was science to use the material (at +first sight so little calculated to bear +the wear and tear of an enormous +traffic) in the most eligible manner. +The first who commenced an actual +piece of paving was a Mr Skead—a +perfectly simple and inartificial system, +which it was soon seen was +doomed to be superseded. His blocks +were nothing but pieces of wood of a +hexagon shape—with no cohesion, +and no foundation—so that they trusted +each to its own resources to resist +the pressure of a wheel, or the blow +of a horse's hoof; and, as might have +been foreseen, they became very uneven +after a short use, and had no +recommendation except their cheapness +and their exemption from noise. +The fibre was vertical, and at first no +grooves were introduced; they, of +course, became rounded by wearing +away at the edge, and as slippery as +the ancient granite. The Metropolitan +Company took warning from the +defects of their predecessor, and +adopted the patent of a scientific +French gentleman of the name of +De Lisle. The combination of the +blocks is as elaborate as the structure +of a ship of war, and yet perfectly +easy, being founded on correct mechanical +principles, and attaining the +great objects required—viz. smoothness, +durability, and quiet. The +blocks, which are shaped at such an +angle that they give the most perfect +mutual support, are joined to each +other by oaken dowels, and laid on a +hard concrete foundation, presenting +a level surface, over which the impact +is so equally divided, that the +whole mass resists the pressure on +each particular block; and yet, from +being formed in panels of about a +yard square, they are laid down or +lifted up with far greater ease than +the causeway. Attention was immediately +attracted to this invention, +and all efforts have hitherto been vain +to improve on it. Various projectors +have appeared—some with concrete +foundations, some with the blocks attached +to each other, not by oak +dowels, but by being alternately concave +and convex at the side; but this +system has the incurable defect of +wearing off at the edges, where the +fibre of the wood, of course, is weakest, +and presents a succession of bald-pated +surfaces, extremely slippery, +and incapable of being permanently +grooved. A specimen of this will be +often referred to in the course of this +account, being that which has attained +such an unenviable degree of notoriety +in the Poultry. Other inventors +have shown ingenuity and +perseverance; but the great representative +of wooden paving we take +to be the Metropolitan Company, and +we proceed to a narrative of the attacks +it has sustained, and the struggles +it has gone through.</p> + +<p>So long ago as July 1839, the inventor +explained to a large public +meeting of noblemen and men of +science, presided over by the Duke of +Sussex, the principle of his discovery. +It consisted in a division of the cube, +or, as he called it, the stereotomy of +the cube. After observing, that +"although the cube was the most regular +of all solid bodies, and the most +learned men amongst the Greeks and +other nations had occupied themselves +to ascertain and measure its +proportions, he said it had never +hitherto been regarded as a body, to +be anatomized or explored in its internal +parts. Some years ago, it had +occurred to a French mathematician +that the cube was divisible into six +pyramidical forms; and it therefore +had struck him, the inventor, that the +natural formation of that figure was +by a combination of those forms. +Having detailed to his audience a +number of experiments, and shown +how the results thereby obtained accorded +with mathematical principles, +he proceeded to explain the various +purposes to which diagonal portions +of the cube might be applied. By +cutting the body in half, and then dividing +the half in a diagonal direction, +he obtained a figure—namely, a +quarter of the cube—in which, he observed, +the whole strength or power +of resistance of the entire body resided; +and he showed the application +of these sections of the cube to the +purposes of paving by wood." Such +is the first meagre report of the +broaching of a scientific system of +paving; and, with the patronage of +such men of rank and eminence as +took an interest in the subject, the +progress was sure and rapid.</p> + +<p>In December 1839, about 1100 +square yards were laid down in Whitehall, +and a triumph was never more +complete; for since that period it has +continued as smooth and level as when +first it displaced the Macadam; it has +never required repair, and has been a +small basis of peace and quietness, +amidst a desert of confusion and turmoil. +Since that time, about sixty +thousand yards in various parts of +London, being about three-fourths of +all the pavement hitherto introduced, +attest the public appreciation of the +Metropolitan Company's system. It +may be interesting to those who watch +the progress of great changes, to particularize +the operations (amounting +in the aggregate to forty thousand +yards) that were carried out upon this +system in 1842:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"> +St Giles's, Holborn<br> +Foundling Estate<br> +Hammersmith Bridge<br> +St Andrew's, Holborn<br> +Jermyn Street<br> +Old Bailey<br> +Piccadilly<br> +Newgate Street, eastern end<br> +Southampton Street<br> +Lombard Street<br> +Oxford Street<br> +Regent Street;<br> +</div> + +<p>besides several noblemen's court-yards, +such as the Dukes of Somerset and +Sutherland's, and a great number of +stables, for which it is found peculiarly +adapted.</p> + +<p>The other projectors have specimens +principally in the Strand; that +near the Golden Cross, being by Mr +Skead; that near Coutts's Bank, Mr +Saunders; at St Giles's Church, in +Holborn, Mr Rankin; and in the +city, at Gracechurch Street, Cornhill, +and the Poultry, Mr Cary. The +Poultry is a short space lying between +Cheapside and the Mansion-house, +consisting altogether of only 378 +square yards. It lies in a hollow, as +if on purpose to receive the river of +mud which rolls its majestic course +from the causeway on each side. The +traffic on it, though not fast, is perpetual, +and the system from the first +was faulty. In addition to these +drawbacks, its cleansing was totally +neglected; and on all these accounts, +it offered an excellent point of attack +to any person who determined to signalize +himself by preaching a crusade +against wood. Preachers, thank heaven! +are seldom wanted; and on this +occasion the part of Peter the Hermit +was undertaken by Peter the Knight; +for our old acquaintance, the opponent +of causeways, the sworn enemy to +granite, the favourer of Macadam, +had worn the chain of office; had had +his ears tickled for a whole year by +the magic word, my lord, was as +much of a knight as Sir Amadis de +Gaul, and much more of an alderman; +had been a great dispenser of +justice, and sometimes a dispenser +with law; had made himself a name, +before which that of the Curtises and +Waithmans grew pale; and, above all, +was at that very moment in want of a +grievance. Sir Peter Laurie gave +notice of a motion on the subject of +the Poultry. People began to think +something had gone wrong with the +chickens, or that Sir Robert had laid +a high duty on foreign eggs. The +alarm spread into Norfolk, and affected +the price of turkeys. Bantams fell +in value, and barn-door fowls were a +drug. In the midst of all these fears, +it began to be whispered about, that if +any chickens were concerned in the +motion, it was Cary's chickens; and +that the attack, though nominally on +the hen-roost, was in reality on the +wood. It was now the depth of +winter; snowy showers were succeeded +by biting frosts; the very smoothness +of the surface of the wooden +pavement was against it; for as no +steps were taken to prevent slipperiness, +by cleansing or sanding the +street—or better still, perhaps, by +roughing the horses' shoes, many +tumbles took place on this doomed +little portion of the road; and some of +the city police, having probably, in the +present high state of English morals, +little else to do, were employed to +count the falls. Armed with a list of +these accidents, which grew in exact +proportion to the number of people +who saw them—(for instance, if three +people separately reported, "a grey +horse down in the Poultry," it did +duty for three grey horses)—Sir Peter +opened the business of the day, at a +meeting of the Commissioners of +Sewers for the City of London, on the +14th of February 1843. Mr Alderman +Gibbs was in the chair. Sir +Peter, on this occasion, transcended +his usual efforts; he was inspired with +the genius of his subject, and was as +great a specimen of slip-slop as the +streets themselves. He requested a +petition to be read, signed by a Mr +Gray, and a considerable number of +other jobmasters and livery stable-keepers, +against wood pavement; and, +as it formed the text on which he +spoke, we quote it entire:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"To the Commissioners of Sewers— + +<p>"The humble memorial of your +memorialists, humbly showeth,—That +in consequence of the introduction of +wood pavements into the City of London, +in lieu of granite, a very great +number of accidents have occurred; +and in drawing a comparison between +the two from observations made, it is +found where one accident happened +on the granite pavement, that ten at +least took place upon the wood. Your +memorialists therefore pray, that, in +consequence of the wood pavement +being so extremely dangerous to travel +over, you would be pleased to +take the matter into your serious consideration, +and cause it to be removed; +by doing which you will, in the first +place, be removing a great and dangerous +nuisance; and, secondly, you +will be setting a beneficial and humane +example to other metropolitan +districts."</p></div> + +<p>Mr Gray, in addition to the memorial, +begged fully to corroborate its +statements, and said that he had himself +twice been thrown out by the falling +of his horse on the wood, and had +broken his shafts both times. As he +did not allude to his legs and arms, we +conclude they escaped uninjured; and +the only effect created by his observation, +seemed to be a belief that his +horse was probably addicted to falling, +and preferred the wood to the rough +and hard angles of the granite. Immediately +after the reading of the +stablemen's memorial, a petition was +introduced in favour of wood pavement +from Cornhill, signed by all the +inhabitants of that wealthy and flourishing +district, and, on the principles +of fair play, we transcribe it as a pendant +to the other:—</p> + +<p>"Your petitioners, the undersigned +inhabitants of the ward of Cornhill +and Birchen Lane, beg again to bring +before you their earnest request, that +that part of Cornhill which is still +paved with granite, and also Birchen +Lane, may now be paved with wood.</p> + +<p>"Your petitioners are well aware +that many complaints have been received +of the wood paving in the +Poultry; but they beg to submit to +you that no reports which have been, +or which may be made, of the accidents +which have occurred on that +small spot, should be considered as +in any way illustrative of the merits +of the general question. From its +minuteness, and its slope at both extremities, +it is constantly covered with +slippery mud from the granite at each +end; and that, together with the sudden +transition from one sort of paving +to another, causes the horses continually +to stumble on that spot. Your +petitioners therefore submit that no +place could have been selected for +experiment so ill adapted to show a +fair result. Since your petitioners +laid their former petition before you, +they have ascertained, by careful examination +and enquiry, that in places +where wood paving has been laid +down continuously to a moderate +extent—viz. in Regent Street, Jermyn +Street, Holborn, Oxford Street, the +Strand, Coventry Street, and Lombard +Street—it has fully effected all +that was expected from it; it has freed +the streets from the distracting nuisance +of incessant noise, has diminished +mud, increased the value of property, +and given full satisfaction to the inhabitants. +Your petitioners, therefore, +beg to urge upon you most +strongly a compliance with their request, +which they feel assured would +be a further extension of a great public +good."</p> + +<p>In addition to the petition, Mr +Fernie, who presented it, stated "that +the inhabitants (whom he represented) +had satisfied themselves of the advantages +of wood paving before they +wished its adoption at their own doors. +That enquiries had been made of the +inhabitants of streets in the enjoyment +of wood paving, and they all +approved of it; and said, that nothing +would induce them to return to the +old system of stone; that they were +satisfied the number of accidents had +not been greater on the wood than +they had been on the granite; and +that they were of a much less serious +character and extent."</p> + +<p>Sir Peter on this applied a red silk +handkerchief to his nose; wound +three blasts on that wild horn, as if to +inspire him for the charge; and rushed +into the middle of the fight. His +first blow was aimed at Mr Prosser, +the secretary of the Metropolitan +Company, who had stated that in +Russia, where wooden pavements were +common, a sprinkling of pitch and +strong sand had prevented the possibility +of slipping. Orlando Furioso +was a peaceful Quaker compared to +the infuriate Laurie. "The admission +of Mr Prosser," he said, "proves +that, without pitch and sand, wood +pavements are impassable;" and fearful +was it to see the prodigious vigour +with which the Prosser with two <i>s</i>'s, +was pressed and assaulted by the Proser +with only one. Wonder took possession +of the assemblage, at the catalogue +of woes the impassioned orator +had collected as the results of this +most dangerous and murderous contrivance. +An old woman had been +run over by an omnibus—all owing +to wood; a boy had been killed by a +cab—all owing to wood; and it seemed +never to have occurred to the +speaker, in his anti-silvan fury, that +boy's legs are occasionally broken by +unruly cabs, and poles of omnibuses +run into the backs of unsuspecting +elderly gentlemen on the roads which +continue under the protecting influence +of granite or Macadam. He +had seen horses fall on the wooden +pavements in all directions; he had +seen a troop of dragoons, in the midst +of the frost, dismount and lead their +un-roughed horses across Regent +Street; the Recorder had gone round +by the squares to avoid the wooden +districts; one lady had ordered her +coachman to stick constantly to stone; +and another, when she required to go +to Regent Street, dismissed her carriage +and walked. The thanks he had +received for his defence of granite +were innumberable; an omnibus would +not hold the compliments that had +been paid him for his efforts against +wood; and, as Lord Shaftesbury had +expressed his obligations to him on +the subject, he did not doubt that if +the matter came before the House of +Lords, he would bestow the degree of +attention on it which his lordship bestowed +on all matters of importance. +Working himself us as he drew near +his peroration, he broke out into a +blaze of eloquence which put the Lord +Mayor into some fear on account of +the Thames, of which he is official +conservator. "The thing cannot +last!" he exclaimed; "and if you don't, +in less than two years from this time, +say I am a true prophet, put me on +seven years' allowance." What the +meaning of this latter expression may +be, we cannot divine. It seems to us +no very severe punishment to be forced +to receive the allowance of seven +years instead of one, the only explanation +we can think of is, that it contains +some delicate allusion to the +dietary of gentlemen who are supposed +to be visiting one of the colonies in +New Holland, but in reality employ +themselves in aquatic amusements in +Portsmouth and Plymouth harbour +"for the space of seven long years"—and +are not supposed to fare in so +sumptuous a manner as the aldermen +of the city of London.</p> + +<p>"The poor horses," he proceeded, +"that are continually tumbling down +on the wood pavement, cannot send +their representatives, but I will represent +them here whenever I have the +opportunity"—(a horse laugh, as if +from the orator's constituents, was excited +by this sally.) "But, gentlemen, +besides the danger of this atrocious +system, we ought to pay a little +attention to the expense. I maintain +you have no right to make the inhabitants +of those streets to which there +is no idea of extending the wood paving, +pay for the ease and comfort, as +it is called, of persons residing in the +larger thoroughfares, such as Newgate +Street and Cheapside. But the promoters +say, 'Oh I but we will have +the whole town paved with it'—(hear, +hear.) What would this cost? A +friend of mine has made some calculations +on this point, and he finds that, +to pave the whole town with wood, an +outlay of twenty-four millions of money +must be incurred!"</p> + +<p>It was generally supposed in the +meeting that the friend here alluded +to was either Mr Joseph Hume or the +ingenious gentleman who furnished +Lord Stanley with the statistics of the +wheat-growing districts of Tamboff. +It was afterwards discovered to be a +Mr Cocker Munchausen.</p> + +<p>Twenty-four millions of money! +and all to be laid out on wood! The +thought was so immense that it nearly +choked the worthy orator, and he +could not proceed for some time. +When at last, by a great effort, he recovered +the thread of his discourse, he +became pathetic about the fate of one +of the penny-post boys, (a relation—"we +guess"—of the deceased H. +Walker, Esq. of the Twopenny Post,)—who +had broken his leg on the +wooden pavement. The authorities +had ordered the lads to avoid the wood +in future. For all these reasons, Sir +Peter concluded his speech with a +motion, "That the wood pavement +in the Poultry is dangerous and inconvenient +to the public, and ought to +be taken up and replaced with granite +pavement."</p> + +<div class="blkquot"> +"As in a theatre the eyes of men,<br> +After some well-graced actor leaves the stage,<br> +Are idly bent on him who enters next<br> +Thinking his prattle to be tedious,<br> +Even so, or with more scorn, men's eyes<br> +Were turned on——Mr Deputy Godson!"<br> +</div> + +<p>The benevolent reader may have +observed that the second fiddle is generally +a little louder and more sharp +set than the first. On this occasion +that instrument was played upon by the +worthy deputy, to the amazement of +all the connoisseurs in that species of +music in which he and his leader are +known to excel. From his speech it +was gathered that he represented a +district which has been immortalized +by the genius of the author of Tom +Thumb; and in the present unfortunate +aspect of human affairs, when a +comet is brandishing its tail in the +heavens, and O'Connell seems to have +been deprived of his upon earth—when +poverty, distress, rebellion, and +wooden pavements, are threatening +the very existence of <i>Great</i> Britain, +it is consolotary to reflect that under +the guardianship of Deputy Godson +<i>Little</i> Britain is safe; for he is resolved +to form a cordon of granite round +it, and keep it free from the contamination +of Norway pines or Scottish +fir. "I have been urged by my constituents," +he says, "to ask for wood +pavement in Little Britain; but I am +adverse to it, as I think wood paving +is calculated to produce the greatest +injury to the public.</p> + +<p>"I have seen twenty horses down +on the wood pavement together—(laughter.) +I am here to state what +I have seen. I have seen horses down +on the wood pavement, twenty at a +time—(renewed laughter.) I say, and +with great deference, that we are in +the habit of conferring favours when +we ought to withhold them. I think +gentlemen ought to pause before they +burden the consolidated rate with those +matters, and make the poor inhabitants +of the City pay for the fancies of +the wealthy members of Cornhill and +the Poultry. We ought to deal even-handed +justice, and not introduce into +the City, and that at a great expense, +a pavement that is dirty, stinking, and +everything that is bad."—(laughter.)</p> + +<p>In Pope's Homer's Iliad, it is very +distressing to the philanthropic mind +to reflect on the feelings that must agitate +the bosom of Mr Deputy Thersites +when Ajax passes by. In the +British Parliament it is a melancholy +sight to see the countenance of some +unfortunate orator when Sir Robert +Peel rises to reply, with a smile of awful +import on his lips, and a subdued +cannibal expression of satisfaction in +his eyes. Even so must it have been +a harrowing spectacle to observe the +effects of the answer of Mr R.L. +Jones, who rose for the purpose of +moving the previous question. He +said, "I thought the worthy alderman +who introduced this question would +have attempted to support himself by +bringing some petitions from citizens +against wood paving—(hear.) He +has not done so, and I may observe, +that from not one of the wards where +wood pavement has been laid down +has there been a petition to take any +of the wood pavement up. What the +mover of these resolutions has done, +has been to travel from one end of the +town to the other, to prove to you that +wood paving is bad in principle. Has +that been established?—(Cries of 'no, +no.') I venture to say they have not +established any thing of the kind. All +that has been done is this—it has been +shown that wood pavement, which is +comparatively a recent introduction, +has not yet been brought to perfection—(hear, +hear.) Now, every one +knows that complaints have always +been made against every new principle, +till it has been brought to perfection. +Look, for instance, at the +steam-engine. How vastly different +it now is, with the improvements which +science has effected, from what it was +when it was first introduced to the +notice of the world! Wherever wood +pavement has been laid down, it has +been approved of. All who have enjoyed +the advantage of its extension, +acknowledge the comfort derived +from it. Sir Peter Laurie asserts +that he is continually receiving thanks +for his agitation about wood paving, +and that an omnibus would not hold +the compliments he receives at the +West End. Now, I can only say, +that I find the contrary to be the case; +and every body who meets me exclaims, +'Good God! what can Sir +Peter Laurie be thinking about, to try +and get the wood paving taken up, +and stone paving substituted?' So far +from thanking Sir Peter, every body +is astonished at him. The wood +pavement has not been laid down +nearly three years, and I say here, in +the face of the Commission, that there +have not been ten blocks taken up; +but had granite been put down, I will +venture to say that it would, during +the same period, have been taken up +six or seven times. Your books +will prove it, that the portion of +granite pavement in the Poultry was +taken up six or seven times during a +period of three years. When the wood +paving becomes a little slippery, go to +your granite heaps which belong to +this commission, or to your fine sifted +cinder heaps, and let that be strewed +over the surface; that contains no +earthy particles, and will, when it becomes +imbedded in the wood, form +such a surface that there cannot be +any possibility be any slipperiness—(hear, +hear!) Do we not pursue this +course in frosty weather even with +our own stone paving? There used +to be, before this plan was adopted, +not a day pass but you would in frosty +weather see two, three, four, and +even five or six horses down together +on the stone paving—('Oh! oh!' from +Mr Deputy Godson.) My friend may +cry 'oh! oh!' but I mean to say that +this assertion is not so incongruous as +the statement of my friend, that he +saw twenty horses down at once on +the wood pavement in Newgate Street, +(laughter.) I may exclaim with my +worthy friend the deputy on my left, +who lives in Newgate Street, 'When +the devil did it happen? I never heard +of it.' I stand forward in support of +wood paving as a great public principle, +because I believe it to be most +useful and advantageous to the public; +which is proved by the fact, that the +public at large are in favour of it. If +we had given notice that this court +would be open to hear the opinions of +the citizens of London on the subject +of wood paving, I am convinced that +the number of petitions in its favour +would have been so great, that the +doors would not have been sufficiently +wide to have received them."</p> + +<p>Mr Jones next turned his attention +to the arithmetical statements of Sir +Peter; and a better specimen of what +in the Scotch language is called a +stramash, it has never been our good +fortune to meet with:—</p> + +<p>"We have been told by the worthy +knight who introduced this motion, +that to pave London with wood would +cost twenty-four millions of money. +Now, it so happens that, some time +since, I directed the city surveyor to +obtain for me a return of the number +of square yards of paving-stone there +are throughout all the streets in this +city. I hold that return in my hand; +and I find there are 400,000 yards, +which, at fifteen shillings per yard, +would not make the cost of wood paving +come to twenty-four millions of +money; no, gentlemen, nor to four +millions, nor to three, nor even to one +million—why, the cost, gentlemen, +dwindles down from Sir Peter's twenty-four +millions to £300,000—(hear, +hear, and laughter.)</p> + +<p>"If I go into Fore Street I find every +body admiring the wood pavement. +If I go on Cornhill I find the same—and +all the great bankers in Lombard +Street say, 'What a delightful thing +this wood paving is! Sir Peter Laurie +must be mad to endeavour to deprive +us of it.' I told them not to be +alarmed, for they might depend on it +the good sense of this court would not +allow so great and useful an improvement +in street paving to retrograde in +the manner sought to be effected by +this revolution. I shall content myself +with moving the previous question"—(cheers.)</p> + +<p>It is probable that Mr Jones, in +moving the previous question, contented +himself a mighty deal more than +he did Sir Peter; and the triumph +of the woodites was increased when Mr +Pewtress seconded the amendment:—</p> + +<p>"If there is any time of the year +when the wood pavement is more dangerous +than another, probably the +most dangerous is when the weather +is of the damp, muggy, and foggy character +which has been prevailing; +and when all pavements are remarkably +slippery. The worthy knight +has shown great tact in choosing his +time for bringing this matter before +the public. We have had three or +four weeks weather of the most extraordinary +description I ever remember; +not frosty nor wet, but damp and slippery; +so that the granite has been +found so inconvenient to horses, that +they have not been driven at the common +and usual pace. And I am free +to confess that, under the peculiar +state of the atmosphere to which I +have alluded, the wood pavement is +more affected than the granite pavement. +But in ordinary weather there +is very little difference. I am satisfied +that, if the danger and inconvenience +were as great as the worthy knight +has represented, we should have had +applications against the pavement; +but all the applications we have had +on the subject have been in favour of +the extension of wood pavement."</p> + +<p>The speaker then takes up the +ground, that as wood, as a material for +paving, is only recently introduced, it +is natural that vested interests should +be alarmed, and that great misapprehension +should exist as to its nature +and merits. On this subject he introduces +an admirable illustration:—"In +the early part of my life I remember +attending a lecture—when gas was +first introduced—by Mr Winson. The +lecture was delivered in Pall-Mall, and +the lecturer proposed to demonstrate +that the introduction of gas would be +destructive of life and property. I +attended that lecture, and I never +came away from a public lecture more +fully convinced of any thing than I did +that he had proved his position. He +produced a quantity of gas, and placed +a receiver on the table. He had with +him some live birds, as well as some +live mice and rabbits; and, introducing +some gas into the receiver, he put one +of the animals in it. In a few minutes +life was extinct, and in this way he +deprived about half a dozen of these +animals of their life. 'Now, gentlemen,' +said the lecturer, 'I have +proved to you that gas is destructive +to life; I will now show you that it is +destructive to property.' He had a +little pasteboard house, and said, 'I will +suppose that it is lighted up with gas, +and from the carelessness of the servant +the stopcock of the burner has +been so turned off as to allow an escape +of gas, and that it has escaped +and filled the house.' Having let the +gas into the card house, he introduced +a light and blew it up. 'Now,' said +he, 'I think I have shown you that +it is not only destructive to life and +property; but that, if it is introduced +into the metropolis, it will be blown up +by it.'"</p> + +<p>We have now given a short analysis +of the speeches of the proposers +and seconders on each side in this +great debate; and after hearing Mr +Frodsham on the opposition, and the +Common Sergeant—whose objection, +however, to wood was confined to its unsuitableness +at some seasons for horsemanship—granting +that a strong feeling +in its favour existed among the +owners and inhabitants of houses +where it has been laid down; and on +the other side, Sir Chapman Marshall—a +strenuous woodite—who challenged +Sir Peter Laurie to find fault +with the pavement at Whitehall, +"which he had no hesitation in saying +was the finest piece of paving of +any description in London;" Mr +King, who gave a home thrust to Sir +Peter, which it was impossible to +parry—"We have heard a great deal +about humanity and post-boys; does +the worthy gentleman know, that the +Postmaster has only within the last +few weeks sent a petition here, begging +that you would, with all possible +speed, put wood paving round the +Post-office?" and various other gentlemen +<i>pro</i> and <i>con</i>—a division was +taken, when Sir Peter was beaten by +an immense majority.</p> + +<p>Another meeting, of which no public +notice was given, was held shortly +after to further Sir Peter's object, by +sundry stable-keepers and jobmasters, +under the presidency of the same Mr +Gray, whose horse had acquired the +malicious habit of breaking its knees +on the Poultry. As there was no opposition, +there was no debate; and as +no names of the parties attending were +published, it fell dead-born, although +advertised two or three times in the +newspapers.</p> + +<p>On Tuesday, the 4th of April, Sir +Peter buckled on his armour once +more, and led the embattled cherubim +to war, on the modified question, "That +wood-paving operations be suspended +in the city for a year;" but after a +repetition of the arguments on both +sides, he was again defeated by the +same overwhelming majority as before.</p> + +<p>Such is the state of wood paving as +a party question among the city authorities +at the present date. The +squabbles and struggles among the +various projectors would form an +amusing chapter in the history of +street rows—for it is seen that it is a +noble prize to strive for. If the experiment +succeeds, all London will be +paved with wood, and fortunes will be +secured by the successful candidates +for employment. Every day some +fresh claimant starts up and professes +to have remedied every defect hitherto +discovered in the systems of his predecessors. +Still confidence seems unshaken +in the system which has hitherto +shown the best results; and since +the introduction of the very ingenious +invention of Mr Whitworth of Manchester, +of a cart, which by an adaptation +of wheels and pullies, and brooms +and buckets, performs the work of +thirty-six street-sweepers, the perfection +of the work in Regent Street has +been seen to such advantage, and the +objections of slipperiness so clearly +proved to arise, not from the nature +of wood, but from the want of cleansing, +that even the most timid are beginning +to believe that the opposition +to the further introduction of it is injudicious. +Among these even Sir +Peter promises to enrol himself, if the +public favour continues as strong towards +it for another year as he perceives +it to be at the present time.</p> + +<p>And now, dismissing these efforts at +resisting a change which we may safely +take to be at some period or other +inevitable, let us cast a cursory glance +at some of the results of the general +introduction of wood pavement.</p> + +<p>In the first place, the facility of +cleansing will be greatly increased. A +smooth surface, between which and the +subsoil is interposed a thick concrete—which +grows as hard and impermeable +as iron—will not generate mud +and filth to one-fiftieth of the extent +of either granite roads or Macadam. +It is probable that if there were no +importations of dirt from the wheels +of carriages coming off the stone +streets, little scavengering would be +needed. Certainly not more than +could be supplied by one of Whitworth's +machines. And it is equally +evident that if wood were kept unpolluted +by the liquid mud—into which +the surface of the other causeways is +converted in the driest weather by +water carts—the slipperiness would be +effectually cured.</p> + +<p>In the second place, the saving of +expense in cleansing and repairing +would be prodigious. Let us take as +our text a document submitted to the +Marylebone Vestry in 1840, and acted +on by them in the case of Oxford +Street; and remember that the expenses +of cleansing were calculated at the +cost of the manual labour—a cost, we +believe, reduced two thirds by the invention +of Mr Whitworth. The Report +is dated 1837:—</p> + +<table summary="" class="blkquot"> +<tr><td>"The cost of the last five years having been,</td><td align="right">£16,881</td></tr> +<tr><td>The present expense for 1837, about</td><td align="right">2,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>The required outlay</td><td align="right">4,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>And the cleansing for 1837</td><td align="right">900</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right">————</td></tr> +<tr><td>Gives a total for six years of</td><td align="right">£23,781</td></tr> +</table> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"Or an annual expenditure averaging +£3963; so that the future expenses of +Oxford Street, maintained as a Macadamized +carriage-way, would be about +£4000, or 2s. 4d per yard per annum.</p> + +<p>"In contrast with this extract from +the parochial documents, the results of +which must have been greatly increased +within the last three years, the Metropolitan +Wood-Paving Company, who +have already laid down above 4000 yards +in Oxford Street, between Wells Street +and Charles Street, are understood to +be willing to complete the entire street +in the best manner for 12s. per square +yard, or about £14,000—for which they +propose to take bonds bearing interest +at the rate of four-and-a-half per cent +per annum, whereby the parish will obtain +ample time for ultimate payment; and +further, to keep the whole in repair, inclusive +of the cost of cleansing and +watering, for one year gratuitously, and +for twelve years following at £1900 per +annum, being less than one-half the present +outlay for these purposes."</p></div> + +<p>Whether these were the terms finally +agreed on we do not know; but +we perceive by public tenders that the +streets can be paved in the best possible +manner for 13s. or 12s. 6d. a yard; +and kept in repair for 6d. a yard +additional. This is certainly +much cheaper than Macadam, and we +should think more economical than +causeways. And, besides, it has the +advantage—which one of the speakers +suggested to Sir Peter Laurie—"that +in case of an upset, it is far more satisfactory +to contest the relative hardness +of heads with a block of wood +than a mass of granite."</p> + +<p>We can only add in conclusion, +that advertisements are published by +the Commissioners of Sewers for contracts +to pave with wood Cheapside, +and Bishopsgate Street, and Whitechapel. +Oh, Sir Peter!--how are the +mighty fallen!</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<a name="bw329s6" id="bw329s6"></a><h2>POEMS AND BALLADS OF SCHILLER. NO. VIII.</h2> + +<h3>FIRST PERIOD CONTINUED.</h3> +<br> + +<h3>A FUNERAL FANTASIE.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>1.</p> +<p class="i2">Pale, at its ghastly noon,</p> +<p>Pauses above the death-still wood—the moon;</p> +<p>The night-sprite, sighing, through the dim air stirs;</p> +<p class="i2">The clouds descend in rain;</p> +<p class="i2">Mourning, the wan stars wane,</p> +<p>Flickering like dying lamps in sepulchres!</p> +<p>Haggard as spectres—vision-like and dumb,</p> +<p class="i2">Dark with the pomp of Death, and moving slow,</p> +<p>Towards that sad lair the pale Procession come</p> +<p class="i2">Where the Grave closes on the Night below.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>2.</p> +<p class="i2">With dim, deep sunken eye,</p> +<p>Crutch'd on his staff, who trembles tottering by?</p> +<p>As wrung from out the shatter'd heart, one groan</p> +<p class="i2">Breaks the deep hush alone!</p> +<p>Crush'd by the iron Fate, he seems to gather</p> +<p class="i2">All life's last strength to stagger to the bier,</p> +<p>And hearken——Do those cold lips murmur "Father?"</p> +<p class="i2">The sharp rain, drizzling through that place of fear,</p> +<p>Pierces the bones gnaw'd fleshless by despair,</p> +<p>And the heart's horror stirs the silver hair.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>3.</p> +<p>Fresh bleed the fiery wounds</p> +<p class="i2">Through all that agonizing heart undone—</p> +<p>Still on the voiceless lips "my Father" sounds,</p> +<p class="i2">And still the childless Father murmurs "Son!"</p> +<p>Ice-cold—ice-cold, in that white shroud he lies—</p> +<p class="i2">Thy sweet and golden dreams all vanish'd there—</p> +<p>The sweet and golden name of "Father" dies</p> +<p class="i2">Into thy curse,—ice-cold—ice-cold—he lies</p> +<p class="i4">Dead, what thy life's delight and Eden were!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>4.</p> +<p>Mild, as when, fresh from the arms of Aurora,</p> +<p class="i2">When the air like Elysium is smiling above,</p> +<p>Steep'd in rose-breathing odours, the darling of Flora</p> +<p class="i2">Wantons over the blooms on his winglets of love.—</p> +<p>So gay, o'er the meads, went his footsteps in bliss,</p> +<p class="i2">The silver wave mirror'd the smile of his face;</p> +<p>Delight, like a flame, kindled up at his kiss,</p> +<p class="i2">And the heart of the maid was the prey of his chase.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>5.</p> +<p>Boldly he sprang to the strife of the world,</p> +<p class="i2">As a deer to the mountain-top carelessly springs;</p> +<p>As an eagle whose plumes to the sun are unfurl'd,</p> +<p class="i2">Swept his Hope round the Heaven on its limitless wings.</p> +<p>Proud as a war-horse that chafes at the rein,</p> +<p class="i2">That kingly exults in the storm of the brave;</p> +<p>That throws to the wind the wild stream of its mane,</p> +<p class="i2">Strode he forth by the prince and the slave!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>6.</p> +<p>Life, like a spring-day, serene and divine,</p> +<p class="i2">In the star of the morning went by as a trance;</p> +<p>His murmurs he drown'd in the gold of the wine,</p> +<p class="i2">And his sorrows were borne on the wave of the dance.</p> +<p>Worlds lay conceal'd in the hopes of his youth,</p> +<p class="i2">When once he shall ripen to manhood and fame!</p> +<p>Fond Father exult!--In the germs of his youth</p> +<p class="i2">What harvests are destined for Manhood and Fame!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>7.</p> +<p>Not to be was that Manhood!--The death-bell is knelling</p> +<p class="i2">The hinge of the death-vault creaks harsh on the ears—</p> +<p>How dismal, O Death, is the place of thy dwelling!</p> +<p class="i2">Not to be was that Manhood!--Flow on bitter tears!</p> +<p>Go, beloved, thy path to the sun,</p> +<p class="i2">Rise, world upon world, with the perfect to rest;</p> +<p>Go—quaff the delight which thy spirit has won,</p> +<p class="i2">And escape from our grief in the halls of the blest.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>8.</p> +<p>Again (in that thought what a healing is found!)</p> +<p class="i2">To meet in the Eden to which thou art fled!—</p> +<p>Hark, the coffin sinks down with a dull, sullen sound,</p> +<p class="i2">And the ropes rattle over the sleep of the dead.</p> +<p>And we cling to each other!--O Grave, he is thine!</p> +<p class="i2">The eye tells the woe that is mute to the ears—</p> +<p>And we dare to resent what we grudge to resign,</p> +<p class="i2">Till the heart's sinful murmur is choked in its tears.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2">Pale at its ghastly noon,</p> +<p>Pauses above the death-still wood—the moon!</p> +<p>The night-sprite, sighing, through the dim air stirs;</p> +<p class="i2">The clouds descend in rain;</p> +<p class="i2">Mourning, the wan stars wane,</p> +<p>Flickering like dying lamps in sepulchres.</p> +<p>The dull clods swell into the sullen mound;</p> +<p class="i2">Earth, one look yet upon the prey we gave!</p> +<p>The Grave locks up the treasure it has found;</p> +<p>Higher and higher swells the sullen mound—</p> +<p class="i2">Never gives back the Grave!</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>A GROUP IN TARTARUS.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>Hark, as hoarse murmurs of a gathering sea—</p> +<p class="i2">As brooks that howling through black gorges go,</p> +<p>Groans sullen, hollow, and eternally,</p> +<p class="i2">One wailing Woe!</p> +<p>Sharp Anguish shrinks the shadows there;</p> +<p>And blasphemous Despair</p> +<p>Yells its wild curse from jaws that never close;</p> +<p class="i2">And ghastly eyes for ever</p> +<p class="i2">Stare on the bridge of the relentless River,</p> +<p>Or watch the mournful wave as year on year it flows,</p> +<p class="i2">And ask each other, with parch'd lips that writhe</p> +<p>Into a whisper, "When the end shall be!"</p> +<p class="i2">The <i>end</i>?—Lo, broken in Time's hand the scythe,</p> +<p>And round and round revolves Eternity!</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>ELYSIUM.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>Past the despairing wail—</p> +<p>And the bright banquets of the Elysian Vale</p> +<p class="i2">Melt every care away!</p> +<p>Delight, that breathes and moves for ever,</p> +<p>Glides through sweet fields like some sweet river!</p> +<p class="i2">Elysian life survey!</p> +<p>There, fresh with youth, o'er jocund meads,</p> +<p>His youngest west-winds blithely leads</p> +<p class="i2">The ever-blooming May.</p> +<p>Thorough gold-woven dreams goes the dance of the Hours,</p> +<p>In space without bounds swell the soul and its powers,</p> +<p>And Truth, with no veil, gives her face to the day,</p> +<p>And joy to-day and joy to-morrow,</p> +<p class="i2">But wafts the airy soul aloft;</p> +<p>The very name is lost to Sorrow,</p> +<p class="i2">And Pain is Rapture tuned more exquisitely soft.</p> +<p>Here the Pilgrim reposes the world-weary limb,</p> +<p>And forgets in the shadow, cool-breathing and dim,</p> +<p class="i2">The load he shall bear never more;</p> +<p>Here the Mower, his sickle at rest, by the streams,</p> +<p>Lull'd with harp-strings, reviews, in the calm of his dreams,</p> +<p class="i2">The fields, when the harvest is o'er.</p> +<p>Here, He, whose ears drank in the battle-roar,</p> +<p>Whose banners stream'd upon the startled wind</p> +<p class="i2">A thunder-storm,—before whose thunder tread</p> +<p>The mountains trembled,—in soft sleep reclined,</p> +<p class="i2">By the sweet brook that o'er its pebbly bed</p> +<p>In silver plays, and murmurs to the shore,</p> +<p>Hears the stern clangour of wild spears no more!</p> +<p>Here the true Spouse the lost-beloved regains,</p> +<p>And on the enamell'd couch of summer-plains</p> +<p class="i2">Mingles sweet kisses with the west-wind's breath.</p> +<p>Here, crown'd at last—Love never knows decay,</p> +<p>Living through ages its one BRIDAL DAY,</p> +<p>Safe from the stroke of Death!</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>COUNT EBERHARD, THE GRUMBLER, OF WURTEMBERG.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>Ha, ha I take heed—ha, ha! take heed,<a name="footnotetag10" id="footnotetag10"></a><a href="#footnote10"><sup>10</sup></a></p> +<p class="i2">Ye knaves both South and North!</p> +<p>For many a man both bold in deed</p> +<p>And wise in peace, the land to lead,</p> +<p class="i2">Old Swabia has brought forth.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Proud boasts your Edward and your Charles,</p> +<p class="i2">Your Ludwig, Frederick—are!</p> +<p>Yet Eberhard's worth, ye bragging carles!</p> +<p>Your Ludwig, Frederick, Edward, Charles—</p> +<p class="i2">A thunder-storm in war.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>And Ulrick, too, his noble son,</p> +<p class="i2">Ha, ha! his might ye know;</p> +<p>Old Eberhard's boast, his noble son,</p> +<p>Not he the boy, ye rogues, to run,</p> +<p class="i2">How stout soe'er the foe!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>The Reutling lads with envy saw</p> +<p class="i2">Our glories, day by day;</p> +<p>The Reutling lads shall give the law—</p> +<p>The Reutling lads the sword shall draw—</p> +<p class="i2">O Lord—how hot were they!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Out Ulrick went and beat them not—</p> +<p class="i2">To Eberhard back he came—</p> +<p>A lowering look young Ulrick got—</p> +<p>Poor lad, his eyes with tears were hot—</p> +<p class="i2">He hung his head for shame.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>"Ho—ho"—thought he—"ye rogues beware,</p> +<p class="i2">Nor you nor I forget—</p> +<p>For by my father's beard I swear</p> +<p>Your blood shall wash the blot I bear,</p> +<p class="i2">And Ulrick pay you yet!"</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Soon came the hour! with steeds and men</p> +<p class="i2">The battle-field was gay;</p> +<p>Steel closed in steel at Duffingen—</p> +<p>And joyous was our stripling then,</p> +<p class="i2">And joyous the hurra!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>"The battle lost" our battle-cry;</p> +<p class="i2">The foe once more advances:</p> +<p>As some fierce whirlwind cleaves the sky,</p> +<p>We skirr, through blood and slaughter, by,</p> +<p class="i2">Amidst a night of lances!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>On, lion-like, grim Ulrick sweeps—</p> +<p class="i2">Bright shines his hero-glaive—</p> +<p>Her chase before him Fury keeps,</p> +<p>Far-heard behind him, Anguish weeps,</p> +<p class="i2">And round him—is the Grave!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Woe—woe! it gleams—the sabre-blow—</p> +<p class="i2">Swift-sheering down it sped—</p> +<p>Around, brave hearts the buckler throw—</p> +<p>Alas! our boast in dust is low!</p> +<p class="i2">Count Eberhard's boy is dead!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Grief checks the rushing Victor-van—</p> +<p class="i2">Fierce eyes strange moisture know—</p> +<p>On rides old Eberhard, stern and wan,</p> +<p>"My son is like another man—</p> +<p class="i2">March, children, on the Foe!"</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>And fiery lances whirr'd around,</p> +<p>Revenge, at least, undying—</p> +<p>Above the blood-red clay we bound—</p> +<p>Hurrah! the burghers break their ground,</p> +<p class="i2">Through vale and woodland flying!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Back to the camp, behold us throng,</p> +<p class="i2">Flags stream, and bugles play—</p> +<p>Woman and child with choral song,</p> +<p>And men, with dance and wine, prolong</p> +<p class="i2">The warrior's holyday.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>And our old Count—and what doth he?</p> +<p class="i2">Before him lies his son,</p> +<p>Within his lone tent, lonelily,</p> +<p>The old man sits with eyes that see</p> +<p class="i2">Through one dim tear—his son!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>So heart and soul, a loyal band,</p> +<p class="i2">Count Eberhard's band, we are!</p> +<p>His front the tower that guards the land,</p> +<p>A thunderbolt his red right hand—</p> +<p class="i2">His eye a guiding star!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Then take ye heed—Aha! take heed,</p> +<p class="i2">Ye knaves both South and North!</p> +<p>For many a man, both bold in deed</p> +<p>And wise in peace, the land to lead,</p> +<p class="i2">Old Swabia has brought forth!</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>TO A MORALIST.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>Are the sports of our youth so displeasing?</p> +<p class="i2">Is love but the folly you say?</p> +<p>Benumb'd with the Winter, and freezing,</p> +<p class="i2">You scold at the revels of May.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>For you once a nymph had her charms,</p> +<p class="i2">And oh! when the waltz you were wreathing,</p> +<p>All Olympus embraced in your arms—</p> +<p class="i2">All its nectar in Julia's breathing.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>If Jove at that moment had hurl'd</p> +<p class="i2">The earth in some other rotation,</p> +<p>Along with your Julia whirl'd,</p> +<p class="i2">You had felt not the shock of creation.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Learn this—that Philosophy beats</p> +<p class="i2">Sure time with the pulse—quick or slow</p> +<p>As the blood from the heyday retreats,—</p> +<p class="i2">But it cannot make gods of us—No!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>It is well, icy Reason should thaw</p> +<p class="i2">In the warm blood of Mirth now and then,</p> +<p>The Gods for themselves have a law</p> +<p class="i2">Which they never intended for men.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>The spirit is bound by the ties</p> +<p class="i2">Of its jailer, the Flesh—if I can</p> +<p>Not reach, as an angel, the skies,</p> +<p class="i2">Let me feel, on the earth, as a Man.</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>ROUSSEAU.<a name="footnotetag11" id="footnotetag11"></a><a href="#footnote11"><sup>11</sup></a></h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>Oh, Monument of Shame to this our time,</p> +<p>Dishonouring record to thy Mother Clime!</p> +<p>Hail, Grave of Rousseau! Here thy sorrows cease.</p> +<p>Freedom and Peace from earth and earthly strife!</p> +<p>Vainly, sad seeker, didst thou search through life</p> +<p>To find—(found now)—the Freedom and the Peace.</p> +<p>When will the old wounds scar? In the dark age</p> +<p>Perish'd the wise. Light came; how fares the sage?</p> +<p>There's no abatement of the bigot's rage.</p> +<p>Still as the wise man bled, he bleeds again.</p> +<p>Sophists prepared for Socrates the bowl—</p> +<p>And Christians drove the steel through Rousseau's soul—</p> +<p>Rousseau who strove to render Christians—men.</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>FORTUNE AND WISDOM.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>In a quarrel with her lover</p> +<p class="i2">To Wisdom Fortune flew;</p> +<p>"I'll all my hoards discover—</p> +<p class="i2">Be but my friend—to you.</p> +<p>Like a mother I presented</p> +<p class="i2">To one each fairest gift,</p> +<p>Who still is discontented,</p> +<p class="i2">And murmurs at my thrift.</p> +<p>Come, let's be friends. What say you?</p> +<p class="i2">Give up that weary plough,</p> +<p>My treasures shall repay you,</p> +<p class="i2">For both I have enow!"</p> +<p>"Nay, see thy Friend betake him</p> +<p class="i2">To death from grief for thee—</p> +<p><i>He</i> dies if thou forsake him—</p> +<p class="i2">Thy gifts are nought to <i>me</i>!"</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>THE INFANTICIDE.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>1.</p> +<p>Hark where the bells toll, chiming, dull and steady,</p> +<p class="i2">The clock's slow hand hath reach'd the appointed time.</p> +<p>Well, be it so—prepare! my soul is ready,</p> +<p class="i2">Companions of the grave—the rest for crime!</p> +<p>Now take, O world! my last farewell—receiving</p> +<p class="i2">My parting kisses—in these tears they dwell!</p> +<p>Sweet are thy poisons while we taste believing,</p> +<p class="i2">Now we are quits—heart-poisoner, fare-thee-well!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>2.</p> +<p>Farewell, ye suns that once to joy invited,</p> +<p class="i2">Changed for the mould beneath the funeral shade</p> +<p>Farewell, farewell, thou rosy Time delighted,</p> +<p class="i2">Luring to soft desire the careless maid.</p> +<p>Pale gossamers of gold, farewell, sweet-dreaming</p> +<p class="i2">Fancies—the children that an Eden bore!</p> +<p>Blossoms that died while dawn itself was gleaming,</p> +<p class="i2">Opening in happy sunlight never more.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>3.</p> +<p>Swanlike the robe which Innocence bestowing,</p> +<p class="i2">Deck'd with the virgin favours, rosy fair,</p> +<p>In the gay time when many a young rose glowing,</p> +<p class="i2">Blush'd through the loose train of the amber hair.</p> +<p>Woe, woe! as white the robe that decks me now—</p> +<p class="i2">The shroud-like robe Hell's destined victim wears;</p> +<p>Still shall the fillet bind this burning brow—</p> +<p class="i2"><i>That</i> sable braid the Doomsman's hand prepares!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>4.</p> +<p>Weep, ye <i>who never fell</i>—for whom, unerring,</p> +<p class="i2">The soul's white lilies keep their virgin hue,</p> +<p>Ye who when thoughts so danger-sweet are stirring,</p> +<p class="i2">Take the stern strength that Nature gives the few</p> +<p>Woe, for too human was this fond heart's feeling—</p> +<p class="i2">Feeling!--my sin's avenger<a name="footnotetag12" id="footnotetag12"></a><a href="#footnote12"><sup>12</sup></a> doom'd to be;</p> +<p>Woe—for the false man's arm around me stealing,</p> +<p class="i2">Stole the lull'd Virtue, charm'd to sleep, from me.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>5.</p> +<p>Ah, he perhaps shall, round another sighing,</p> +<p class="i2">(Forgot the serpents stinging at my breast,)</p> +<p>Gaily, when I in the dumb grave am lying,</p> +<p class="i2">Pour the warm wish, or speed the wanton jest,</p> +<p>Or play, perchance, with his new maiden's tresses,</p> +<p class="i2">Answer the kiss her lip enamour'd brings,</p> +<p>When the dread block the head he cradled presses,</p> +<p class="i2">And high the blood his kiss once fever'd springs.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>6.</p> +<p>Thee, Francis, Francis,<a name="footnotetag13" id="footnotetag13"></a><a href="#footnote13"><sup>13</sup></a> league on league, shall follow</p> +<p class="i2">The death-dirge of the Lucy once so dear;</p> +<p>From yonder steeple, dismal, dull, and hollow,</p> +<p class="i2">Shall knell the warning horror on thy ear.</p> +<p>On thy fresh leman's lips when Love is dawning,</p> +<p class="i2">And the lisp'd music glides from that sweet well—</p> +<p>Lo, in that breast a red wound shall be yawning,</p> +<p class="i2">And, in the midst of rapture, warn of hell!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>7.</p> +<p>Betrayer, what! thy soul relentless closing</p> +<p class="i2">To grief—the woman-shame no art can heal—</p> +<p>To that small life beneath my heart reposing!</p> +<p class="i2">Man, man, the wild beast for its young can feel!</p> +<p>Proud flew the sails—receding from the land,</p> +<p class="i2">I watch'd them waning from the wistful eye,</p> +<p>Round the gay maids on Seine's voluptuous strand,</p> +<p class="i2">Breathes the false incense of his fatal sigh.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>8.</p> +<p>And there the Babe! there, on the mother's bosom,</p> +<p class="i2">Lull'd in its sweet and golden rest it lay,</p> +<p>Fresh in life's morning as a rosy blossom,</p> +<p class="i2">It smiled, poor harmless one, my tears away.</p> +<p>Deathlike yet lovely, every feature speaking</p> +<p class="i2">In such dear calm and beauty to my sadness,</p> +<p>And cradled still the mother's heart, in breaking,</p> +<p class="i2">The soft'ning love and the despairing madness.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>9.</p> +<p>"Woman, where is my father?"—freezing through me,</p> +<p class="i2">Lisp'd the mute Innocence with thunder-sound;</p> +<p>"Woman, where is thy husband?"—called unto me,</p> +<p class="i2">In every look, word, whisper, busying round!</p> +<p>For thee, poor child, there is no father's kiss.</p> +<p class="i2">He fondleth <i>other</i> children on his knee.</p> +<p>How thou wilt curse our momentary bliss,</p> +<p class="i2">When Bastard on thy name shall branded be!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>10.</p> +<p>Thy mother—oh, a hell her heart concealeth,</p> +<p class="i2">Lone-sitting, lone in social Nature's All!</p> +<p>Thirsting for that glad fount thy love revealeth,</p> +<p class="i2">While still thy look the glad fount turns to gall.</p> +<p>In every infant cry my soul is heark'ning,</p> +<p class="i2">The haunting happiness for ever o'er,</p> +<p>And all the bitterness of death is dark'ning</p> +<p class="i2">The heavenly looks that smiled mine eyes before.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>11.</p> +<p>Hell, if my sight those looks a moment misses—</p> +<p class="i2">Hell, when my sight upon those looks is turn'd—</p> +<p>The avenging furies madden in <i>thy</i> kisses,</p> +<p class="i2">That slept in <i>his</i> what time my lips they burn'd.</p> +<p>Out from their graves his oaths spoke back in thunder!</p> +<p class="i2">The perjury stalk'd like murder in the sun—</p> +<p>For ever—God!--sense, reason, soul, sunk under—</p> +<p class="i2">The deed was done!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>12.</p> +<p>Francis, O Francis! league on league, shall chase thee</p> +<p class="i2">The shadows hurrying grimly on thy flight—</p> +<p>Still with their icy arms they shall embrace thee,</p> +<p class="i2">And mutter thunder in thy dream's delight!</p> +<p>Down from the soft stars, in their tranquil glory,</p> +<p class="i2">Shall look thy dead child with a ghastly stare;</p> +<p>That shape shall haunt thee in its cerements gory,</p> +<p class="i2">And scourge thee back from heaven—its home is there!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>13.</p> +<p>Lifeless—how lifeless!--see, oh see, before me</p> +<p class="i2">It lies cold—stiff!--O God!--and with that blood</p> +<p>I feel, as swoops the dizzy darkness o'er me,</p> +<p class="i2">Mine own life mingled—ebbing in the flood—</p> +<p>Hark, at the door they knock—more loud within me—</p> +<p class="i2">More awful still—its sound the dread heart gave!</p> +<p>Gladly I welcome the cold arms that win me—</p> +<p class="i2">Fire, quench thy tortures in the icy grave!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>14.</p> +<p>Francis—a God that pardons dwells in heaven—</p> +<p class="i2">Francis, the sinner—yes—she pardons thee—</p> +<p>So let my wrongs unto the earth be given:</p> +<p class="i2">Flame seize the wood!--it burns—it kindles—see!</p> +<p>There—there his letters cast—behold are ashes—</p> +<p class="i2">His vows—the conquering fire consumes them here:</p> +<p>His kisses—see—see all—all are only ashes—</p> +<p class="i2">All, all—the all that once on earth were dear!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>15.</p> +<p>Trust not the roses which your youth enjoyeth,</p> +<p class="i2">Sisters, to man's faith, changeful as the moon!</p> +<p>Beauty to me brought guilt—its bloom destroyeth:</p> +<p class="i2">Lo, in the judgment court I curse the boon:</p> +<p>Tears in the headsman's gaze—what tears?—tis spoken!</p> +<p class="i2">Quick, bind mine eyes—all soon shall be forgot—</p> +<p>Doomsman—the lily hast thou never broken?</p> +<p class="i2">Pale doomsman—tremble not!</p> +</div></div> + +<blockquote class="note"> +<p>[The poem we have just concluded was greatly admired at the time of its +first publication, and it so far excels in art most of the earlier efforts by the +author, that it attains one of the highest secrets in true pathos. It produces +interest for the <i>criminal</i> while creating terror for the <i>crime</i>. This, indeed, is +a triumph in art never achieved but by the highest genius. The inferior +writer, when venturing upon the grandest stage of passion, (which unquestionably +exists in the delineation of great guilt as of heroic virtue,) falls into +the error either of gilding the crime in order to produce sympathy for the +criminal, or, in the spirit of a spurious morality, of involving both crime and +criminal in a common odium. It is to discrimination between the doer and +the deed, that we owe the sublimest revelations of the human heart: in this +discrimination lies the key to the emotions produced by the Œdipus and +Macbeth. In the brief poem before us a whole drama is comprehended. +Marvellous is the completeness of the pictures it presents—its mastery over +emotions the most opposite—its fidelity to nature in its exposition of the disordered +and despairing mind in which tenderness becomes cruelty, and +remorse for error tortures itself into scarce conscious crime.</p> + +<p>But the art employed, though admirable of its kind, still falls short of the +perfection which, in his later works, Schiller aspired to achieve, viz. the point +at which <i>Pain</i> ceases. The tears which Tragic Pathos, when purest and +most elevated, calls forth, ought not to be tears of pain. In the ideal world, +as Schiller has inculcated, even sorrow should have its charm—all that +harrows, all that revolts, belongs but to that inferior school in which Schiller's +fiery youth formed itself for nobler grades—the school "of Storm and Pressure"—(Stürm +und Dräng—as the Germans have expressively described it.) +If the reader will compare Schiller's poem of the 'Infanticide,' with the passages +which represent a similar crime in the Medea, (and the author of 'Wallenstein' +deserves comparison even with Euripides,) he will see the distinction +between the art that seeks an <i>elevated</i> emotion, and the art which is +satisfied with creating an <i>intense</i> one. In Euripides, the detail—the reality—all +that can degrade terror into pain—are loftily dismissed. The Titan +grandeur of the Sorceress removes us from too close an approach to the +crime of the unnatural Mother—the emotion of pity changes into awe—just +at the pitch before the coarse sympathy of actual pain can be +effected. And it is the avoidance of reality—it is the all-purifying Presence +of the Ideal, which make the vast distinction in our emotions between +following, with shocked and displeasing pity, the crushed, broken-hearted, +mortal criminal to the scaffold, and gazing—with an awe which has pleasure +of its own—upon the Mighty Murderess—soaring out of the reach of Humanity, +upon her Dragon Car!]</p> +</blockquote> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE.</h3> + +<h3>A HYMN.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>Blessed through love are the Gods above—</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like the Gods may man be;</p> +<p>Heavenlier through love is the heaven above,</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like a heaven earth can be!</p> +<p>Once, as the poet sung,</p> +<p class="i2">In Pyrrha's time, 'tis known,</p> +<p>From rocks Creation sprung,</p> +<p class="i2">And Men leapt up from stone;</p> +<p>Rock and stone, in night</p> +<p class="i2">The souls of men were seal'd,</p> +<p>Heaven's diviner light</p> +<p class="i2">Not as yet reveal'd;</p> +<p>As yet the Loves around them</p> +<p class="i2">Had never shone—nor bound them</p> +<p>With their rosy rings;</p> +<p class="i2">As yet their bosoms knew not</p> +<p>Soft song—and music grew not</p> +<p class="i2">Out of the silver strings.</p> +<p>No gladsome garlands cheerily</p> +<p class="i2">Were love-y-woven then;</p> +<p>And o'er Elysium drearily</p> +<p class="i2">The May-time flew for men;<a name="footnotetag14" id="footnotetag14"></a><a href="#footnote14"><sup>14</sup></a></p> +<p>The morning rose ungreeted</p> +<p class="i2">From ocean's joyless breast;</p> +<p>Unhail'd the evening fleeted</p> +<p class="i2">To ocean's joyless breast—</p> +<p>Wild through the tangled shade,</p> +<p>By clouded moons they stray'd,</p> +<p class="i2">The iron race of Men!</p> +<p>Sources of mystic tears,</p> +<p>Yearnings for starry spheres,</p> +<p class="i2">No God awaken'd then!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Lo, mildly from the dark-blue water,</p> +<p>Comes forth the Heaven's divinest Daughter,</p> +<p class="i2">Borne by the Nymphs fair-floating o'er</p> +<p class="i2">To the intoxicated shore!</p> +<p>Like the light-scattering wings of morning</p> +<p>Soars universal May, adorning</p> +<p>As from the glory of that birth</p> +<p>Air and the ocean, heaven and earth!</p> +<p>Day's eye looks laughing, where the grim</p> +<p>Midnight lay coil'd in forests dim;</p> +<p>And gay narcissuses are sweet</p> +<p>Wherever glide those holy feet—</p> +<p class="i2">Now, pours the bird that haunts the eve</p> +<p>The earliest song of love,</p> +<p class="i2">Now in the heart—their fountain—heave</p> +<p>The waves that murmur love.</p> +<p>O blest Pygmalion—blest art thou—</p> +<p>It melts, it glows, thy marble now!</p> +<p>O Love, the God, thy world is won!</p> +<p>Embrace thy children, Mighty One.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Blessed through love are the Gods above—</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like the Gods may man be;</p> +<p>Heavenlier through love is the heaven above,</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like a heaven earth can be.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Where the nectar-bright streams,</p> +<p>Like the dawn's happy dreams,</p> +<p>Eternally one holiday,</p> +<p>The life of the Gods glides away.</p> +<p>Throned on his seat sublime,</p> +<p>Looks He whose years know not time;</p> +<p>At his nod, if his anger awaken,</p> +<p>At the wave of his hair all Olympus is shaken.</p> +<p>Yet He from the throne of his birth,</p> +<p>Bow'd down to the sons of the earth,</p> +<p>Through dim Arcadian glades to wander sighing,</p> +<p class="i2">Lull'd into dreams of bliss—</p> +<p class="i2">Lull'd by his Leda's kiss</p> +<p>Lo, at his feet the harmless thunders lying!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>The Sun's majestic coursers go</p> +<p class="i2">Along the Light's transparent plain,</p> +<p class="i2">Curb'd by the Day-god's golden rein;</p> +<p>The nations perish at his bended bow;</p> +<p class="i2">Steeds that majestic go,</p> +<p class="i2">Death from the bended bow,</p> +<p class="i2">Gladly he leaves above—</p> +<p class="i2">For Melody and Love!</p> +<p>Low bend the dwellers of the sky,</p> +<p>When sweeps the stately Juno by;</p> +<p>Proud in her car, the Uncontroll'd</p> +<p class="i2">Curbs the bright birds that breast the air,</p> +<p>As flames the sovereign crown of gold</p> +<p class="i2">Amidst the ambrosial waves of hair—</p> +<p>Ev'n thou, fair Queen of Heaven's high throne,</p> +<p>Hast Love's subduing sweetness known;</p> +<p>From all her state, the Great One bends</p> +<p class="i2">To charm the Olympian's bright embraces,</p> +<p>The Heart-Enthraller only lends</p> +<p class="i2">The rapture-cestus of the Graces!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Blessed through love are the Gods above—</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like a God may man be;</p> +<p>Heavenlier through love is the heaven above,</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like a heaven earth can be!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Love can sun the Realms of Night—</p> +<p>Orcus owns the magic might—</p> +<p>Peaceful where She sits beside,</p> +<p>Smiles the swart King on his Bride;</p> +<p>Hell feels the smile in sudden light—</p> +<p>Love can sun the Realms of Night.</p> +<p>Heavenly o'er the startled Hell,</p> +<p>Holy, where the Accursed dwell,</p> +<p class="i2">O Thracian, went thy silver song!</p> +<p>Grim Minos, with unconscious tears,</p> +<p>Melts into mercy as he hears—</p> +<p>The serpents in Megara's hair,</p> +<p>Kiss, as they wreathe enamour'd there;</p> +<p class="i2">All harmless rests the madding thong;—</p> +<p>From the torn breast the Vulture mute</p> +<p>Flies, scared before the charmèd lute—</p> +<p>Lull'd into sighing from their roar</p> +<p>The dark waves woo the listening shore—</p> +<p>Listening the Thracian's silver song!—</p> +<p>Love was the Thracian's silver song!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Blessed through love are the Gods above—</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like a God may man be;</p> +<p>Heavenlier through love is the heaven above—</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like a heaven earth can be!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Through Nature blossom-strewing,</p> +<p><i>One</i> footstep we are viewing,</p> +<p class="i2">One flash from golden pinions!—</p> +<p>If from Heaven's starry sea,</p> +<p class="i2">If from the moonlit sky;</p> +<p>If from the Sun's dominions,</p> +<p class="i2">Look'd not Love's laughing eye;</p> +<p>Then Sun and Moon and Stars would be</p> +<p>Alike, without one smile for me!</p> +<p class="i2">But, oh, wherever Nature lives</p> +<p class="i4">Below, around, above—</p> +<p class="i2">Her happy eye the mirror gives</p> +<p class="i4">To thy glad beauty, Love!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Love sighs through brooklets silver-clear,</p> +<p class="i2">Love bids their murmur woo the vale;</p> +<p>Listen, O list! Love's soul ye hear</p> +<p class="i2">In his own earnest nightingale.</p> +<p>No sound from Nature ever stirs,</p> +<p>But Love's sweet voice is heard with hers!</p> +<p>Bold Wisdom, with her sunlit eye,</p> +<p>Retreats when love comes whispering by—</p> +<p class="i2">For Wisdom's weak to love!</p> +<p>To victor stern or monarch proud,</p> +<p>Imperial Wisdom never bow'd</p> +<p class="i2">The knee she bows to Love!</p> +<p>Who through the steep and starry sky,</p> +<p>Goes onward to the gods on high,</p> +<p class="i2">Before thee, hero-brave?</p> +<p>Who halves for thee the land of Heaven;</p> +<p>Who shows thy heart, Elysium, given</p> +<p class="i2">Through the flame-rended Grave?</p> +<p>Below, if we were blind to Love,</p> +<p>Say, should we soar o'er Death, above?</p> +<p>Would the weak soul, did Love forsake her,</p> +<p>E'er gain the wing to seek the Maker?</p> +<p>Love, only Love, can guide the creature</p> +<p>Up to the Father-fount of Nature;</p> +<p>What were the soul did Love forsake her?</p> +<p>Love guides the Mortal to the Maker!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Blessed through love are the Gods above—</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like a God may man be:</p> +<p>Heavenlier through love is the heaven above,</p> +<p class="i2">Through love like a heaven earth can be!</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>FANTASIE TO LAURA.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>What, Laura, say, the vortex that can draw</p> +<p class="i2">Body to body in its strong control;</p> +<p>Beloved Laura, what the charmèd law</p> +<p class="i2">That to the soul attracting plucks the soul?</p> +<p>It is the charm that rolls the stars on high,</p> +<p class="i2">For ever round the sun's majestic blaze—</p> +<p>When, gay as children round their parent, fly</p> +<p class="i2">Their circling dances in delighted maze.</p> +<p>Still, every star that glides its gladsome course,</p> +<p class="i2">Thirstily drinks the luminous golden rain;</p> +<p>Drinks the fresh vigour from the fiery source,</p> +<p class="i2">As limbs imbibe life's motion from the brain;</p> +<p>With sunny motes, the sunny motes united</p> +<p class="i2">Harmonious lustre both receive and give,</p> +<p>Love spheres with spheres still interchange delighted,</p> +<p class="i2">Only through love the starry systems live.</p> +<p>Take love from Nature's universe of wonder,</p> +<p class="i2">Each jarring each, rushes the mighty All.</p> +<p>See, back to Chaos shock'd, Creation thunder;</p> +<p class="i2">Weep, starry Newton—weep the giant fall!</p> +<p>Take from the spiritual scheme that Power away,</p> +<p class="i2">And the still'd body shrinks to Death's abode.</p> +<p>Never—love <i>not</i>—would blooms revive for May,</p> +<p class="i2">And, love extinct, all life were dead to God.</p> +<p>And what the charm that at my Laura's kiss,</p> +<p class="i2">Pours the diviner brightness to the cheek;</p> +<p>Makes the heart bound more swiftly to its bliss,</p> +<p class="i2">And bids the rushing blood the magnet seek—</p> +<p>Out from their bounds swell nerve, and pulse, and sense,</p> +<p class="i2">The veins in tumult would their shores o'erflow;</p> +<p>Body to body rapt—and charmèd thence,</p> +<p class="i2">Soul drawn to soul with intermingled glow.</p> +<p>Mighty alike to sway the flow and ebb</p> +<p class="i2">Of the inanimate Matter, or to move</p> +<p>The nerves that weave the Arachnèan web</p> +<p class="i2">Of Sentient Life—rules all-pervading Love!</p> +<p>Ev'n in the Moral World, embrace and meet</p> +<p class="i2">Emotions—Gladness clasps the extreme of Care;</p> +<p>And Sorrow, at the worst, upon the sweet</p> +<p class="i2">Breast of young Hope, is thaw'd from its despair.</p> +<p>Of sister-kin to melancholy Woe,</p> +<p class="i2">Voluptuous Pleasure comes, and with the birth</p> +<p>Of her gay children, (golden Wishes,) lo,</p> +<p class="i2">Night flies, and sunshine settles on the earth!<a name="footnotetag15" id="footnotetag15"></a><a href="#footnote15"><sup>15</sup></a></p> +<p>The same great Law of Sympathy is given</p> +<p class="i2">To Evil as to Good, and if we swell</p> +<p>The dark account that life incurs with Heaven,</p> +<p class="i2">'Tis that our Vices are thy Wooers, Hell!</p> +<p>In turn those Vices are embraced by Shame</p> +<p class="i2">And fell Remorse, the twin Eumenides.</p> +<p>Danger still clings in fond embrace to Fame,</p> +<p class="i2">Mounts on her wing, and flies where'er she flees.</p> +<p>Destruction marries its dark self to Pride,</p> +<p class="i2">Envy to Fortune: when Desire most charms,</p> +<p>'Tis that her brother Death is by her side,</p> +<p class="i2">For him she opens those voluptuous arms.</p> +<p>The very Future to the Past but flies</p> +<p class="i2">Upon the wings of Love—as I to thee;</p> +<p>O, long swift Saturn, with unceasing sighs,</p> +<p class="i2">Hath sought his distant bride, Eternity!</p> +<p>When—so I heard the oracle declare—</p> +<p class="i2">When Saturn once shall clasp that bride sublime,</p> +<p>Wide-blazing worlds shall light his nuptials there—</p> +<p class="i2">'Tis thus Eternity shall wed with Time.</p> +<p>In <i>those</i> shall be <i>our</i> nuptials! ours to share</p> +<p class="i2"><i>That</i> bridenight, waken'd by no jealous sun;</p> +<p>Since Time, Creation, Nature, but declare</p> +<p class="i2">Love—in our love rejoice, Beloved One!</p> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<h3>TO THE SPRING.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>Welcome, gentle Stripling,</p> +<p class="i2">Nature's darling, thou—</p> +<p>With thy basket full of blossoms,</p> +<p class="i2">A happy welcome now!</p> +<p>Aha!--and thou returnest,</p> +<p class="i2">Heartily we greet thee—</p> +<p>The loving and the fair one,</p> +<p class="i2">Merrily we meet thee!</p> +<p>Think'st thou of my Maiden</p> +<p class="i2">In thy heart of glee?</p> +<p>I love her yet the Maiden—</p> +<p class="i2">And the Maiden yet loves me!</p> +<p>For the Maiden, many a blossom</p> +<p class="i2">I begg'd—and not in vain;</p> +<p>I came again, a-begging,</p> +<p class="i2">And thou—thou giv'st again:</p> +<p>Welcome, gentle stripling,</p> +<p class="i2">Nature's darling thou—</p> +<p>With thy basket full of blossoms,</p> +<p class="i2">A happy welcome, now!</p> +</div></div> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<a name="bw329s7" id="bw329s7"></a><h2>NATURAL HISTORY OF SALMON AND SEA-TROUT.</h2> + +<blockquote class="note"> +<p>[<i>On the Growth of Grilse and Salmon</i>. By Mr Andrew Young, Invershin, +Sutherlandshire. (Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. XV. +Part III.) Edinburgh, 1843.]</p> + +<p>[<i>On the Growth and Migrations of the Sea-Trout of the Solway</i>. By Mr John +Shaw, Drumlanrig. (Ibid.) Edinburgh, 1843.]</p> +<br> +</blockquote> + +<p>The salmon is undoubtedly the finest +and most magnificent of our fresh-water +fishes, or rather of those <i>anadromous</i> +kinds which, in accordance with the +succession of the seasons, seek alternately +the briny sea and the "rivers +of water." It is also the most important, +both in a commercial and +culinary point of view as well as the +most highly prized by the angler as +an object of exciting recreation. Notwithstanding +these and other long-continued +claims upon our consideration, +a knowledge of its natural history and +habits has developed itself so slowly, +that little or nothing was precisely +ascertained till very recently regarding +either its early state or its eventual +changes. The salmon-trout, in certain +districts of almost equal value with the +true salmon, was also but obscurely +known to naturalists, most of whom, +in truth, are too apt to satisfy themselves +rather by the extension than the +increase of knowledge. They hand +down to posterity, in their barren +technicalities, a great deal of what is +neither new nor true, even in relation +to subjects which lie within the sphere +of ordinary observation,—to birds and +beasts, which almost dwell among us, +and give utterance, by articulate or +intelligible sounds, to a vast variety of +instinctive, and as it were explanatory +emotions:—what marvel, then, that +they should so often fail to inform us +of what we desire to know regarding +the silent, because voiceless, inhabitants +of the world of waters?</p> + +<p>But that which naturalists have +been unable to accomplish, has, so +far as concerns the two invaluable +species just alluded to, been achieved +by others with no pretension to the +name; and we now propose to present +our readers with a brief sketch of +what we conceive to be the completed +biography of salmon and sea-trout. +In stating that our information has +been almost entirely derived from +the researches of practical men, we +wish it to be understood, and shall +afterwards endeavour to demonstrate, +that these researches have, nevertheless, +been conducted upon those inductive +principles which are so often +characteristic of natural acuteness of +perception, when combined with candour +of mind and honesty of purpose. +We believe it to be the opinion of +many, that statements by comparatively +uneducated persons are less to be relied +upon than those of men of science. It +may, perhaps, be somewhat difficult +to define in all cases what really constitutes +a man of science. Many +sensible people suppose, that if a person +pursues an original truth, and +obtains it—that is, if he ascertains a +previously unknown or obscure fact of +importance, and states his observations +with intelligence—he is entitled to that +character, whatever his station may be. +For ourselves, we would even say that +if his researches are truly valuable, he +is himself all the more a man of science +in proportion to the difficulties or disadvantages +by which his position in +life may be surrounded.</p> + +<p>The development and early growth +of salmon, from the ovum to the smolt, +were first successfully investigated by +Mr John Shaw of Drumlanrig, one of +the Duke of Buccleuch's gamekeepers +in the south of Scotland. Its subsequent +progress from the smolt to the +adult condition, through the transitionary +state of grilse, has been +more recently traced, with corresponding +care, by Mr Andrew Young of Invershin, +the manager of the Duke of +Sutherland's fisheries in the north. +Although the fact of the parr being +the young of the salmon had been +vaguely surmised by many, and it was +generally admitted that the smaller +fish were never found to occur except +in streams or tributaries to which the +grown salmon had, in some way, the +power of access, yet all who have +any acquaintance with the works of +naturalists, will acknowledge that the +parr was universally described as a +distinct species. It is equally certain +that all who have written upon the +subject of smolts or salmon-fry, maintained +that these grew rapidly in fresh +water, and made their way to the sea +in the course of a few weeks after they +were hatched.</p> + +<p>Now, Mr Shaw's discovery in relation +to these matters is in a manner +twofold; first—he ascertained by a +lengthened series of rigorous and frequently-repeated +experimental observations, +that parr are the early state of +salmon, being afterwards converted +into smolts; secondly,—he proved that +such conversion does not, under ordinary +circumstances take place until the +second spring ensuing that in which +the hatching has occurred, by which +time the young are <i>two years old</i>. The +fact is, that during early spring there +are three distinct broods of parr or +young salmon in our rivers.</p> + +<p>1st, We have those which, recently +excluded from the ova, are still invisible +to common eyes; or, at least, are +inconspicuous or unobservable. Being +weak, in consequence of their recent +emergence from the egg, and of extremely +small dimensions, they are +unable to withstand the rapid flow of +water, and so betake themselves to the +gentler eddies, and frequently enter +"into the small hollows produced in +the shingle by the hoofs of horses +which have passed the fords." In +these and similar resting-places, our +little natural philosophers, instinctively +aware that the current of a stream +is less below than above, and along +the sides than in the centre, remain +for several months during spring, and +the earlier portion of the summer, till +they gain such an increase of size and +strength as enables them to spread +themselves abroad over other portions +of the river, especially those shallow +places where the bottom is composed +of fine gravel. But at this time their +shy and shingle-seeking habits in a +great measure screen them from the +observance of the uninitiated.</p> + +<p>2dly, We have likewise, during the +spring season, parr which have just +completed their first year. As these +have gained little or no accession of +size during the winter months, owing +to the low temperature both of the air +and water, and the consequent deficiency +of insect food, their dimensions +are scarcely greater than at the end of +the preceding October: that is, they +measure in length little more than +three inches.—(N.B. The old belief +was that they grew nine inches in +about three weeks, and as suddenly +sought the turmoil of the sea.) They +increase, however in size as the summer +advances, and are then the declared +and admitted parr of anglers and other +men.</p> + +<p>3dly, Simultaneously with the two +preceding broods, our rivers are inhabited +during March and April by parr +which have completed their second +year. These measure six or seven +inches in length, and in the months of +April and May they assume the fine +silvery aspect which characterizes their +migratory condition,—in other words, +they are converted into smolts, (the +admitted fry of salmon,) and immediately +make their way towards the sea.</p> + +<p>Now, the fundamental error which +pervaded the views of previous observers +of the subject, consisted in the +sudden sequence which they chose to +establish between the hatching of the +ova in early spring, and the speedy +appearance of the acknowledged salmon-fry +in their lustrous dress of +blue and silver. Observing, in the +first place, the hatching of the ova, +and, erelong, the seaward migration +of the smolts, they imagined these two +facts to take place in the relation of +immediate or connected succession; +whereas they had no more to do with +each other than an infant in the nursery +has to do with his elder, though +not very ancient, brother, who may be +going to school. The rapidity with +which the two-year-old parr are converted +into smolts, and the timid habits +of the new-hatched fry, which +render them almost entirely invisible +during the first few months of their +existence,—these two circumstances +combined, have no doubt induced the +erroneous belief that the silvery +smolts were the actual produce of +the very season in which they are +first observed in their migratory dress: +that is, that they were only a few +weeks old, instead of being upwards +of two years. It is certainly singular, +however, that no enquirer of the old +school should have ever bethought +himself of the mysterious fate of the +two-year-old parr, (supposing them +not to be young salmon,) none of +which, of course, are visible after the +smolts have taken their departure to +the sea. If the two fish, it may be +asked, are not identical, how does it +happen that the one so constantly disappears +along with the other? Yet +no one alleges that he has ever seen +parr <i>as such</i>, making a journey towards +the sea "They cannot do +so" says Mr Shaw, "because they +have been previously converted into +smolts."</p> + +<p>Mr Shaw's investigations were carried +on for a series of years, both on +the fry as it existed naturally in the +river, and on captive broods produced +from ova deposited by adult salmon, +and conveyed to ingeniously-constructed +experimental ponds, in which +the excluded young were afterwards +nourished till they threw off the livery +of the parr, and underwent their final +conversion into smolts. When this +latter change took place, the migratory +instinct became so strong that +many of them, after searching in vain +to escape from their prison—the little +streamlet of the pond being barred by +fine wire gratings—threw themselves +by a kind of parabolic somerset upon +the bank and perished. But, previous +to this, he had repeatedly observed and +recorded the slowly progressive growth +to which we have alluded. The value +of the parr, then, and the propriety of +a judicious application of our statutory +regulations to the preservation of +that small, and, as hitherto supposed, +insignificant fish, will be obvious without +further comment.<a name="footnotetag16" id="footnotetag16"></a><a href="#footnote16"><sup>16</sup></a></p> + +<p>Having now exhibited the progress +of the salmon fry from the ovum to +the smolt, our next step shall be to +show the connexion of the latter with +the grilse. As no experimental observations +regarding the future dimensions +of the <i>détenus</i> of the ponds could +be regarded as legitimate in relation +to the usual increase of the species, +(any more than we could judge of the +growth of a young English guardsman +in the prisons of Verdun,) after the +period of their natural migration to +the sea, and as Mr Shaw's distance +from the salt water—twenty-five miles, +we believe, windings included—debarred +his carrying on his investigations +much further with advantage, he +wisely turned his attention to a different, +though cognate subject, to which +we shall afterwards refer. We are, +however, fortunately enabled to proceed +with our history of the adolescent +salmon by means of another ingenious +observer already named, Mr +Andrew Young of Invershin.</p> + +<p>It had always been the prevailing +belief that smolts grew rapidly into +grilse, and the latter into salmon. +But as soon as we became assured of +the gross errors of naturalists, and +all other observers, regarding the progress +of the fry in fresh water, and +how a few weeks had been substituted +for a period of a couple of years, it +was natural that considerate people +should suspect that equal errors might +pervade the subsequent history of this +important species. It appears, however, +that <i>marine</i> influence (in whatever +way it works) does indeed exercise +a most extraordinary effect upon +those migrants from our upland +streams, and that the extremely rapid +transit of a smolt to a grilse, and of +the latter to an adult salmon, is strictly +true. Although Mr Young's labours +in this department differ from Mr +Shaw's, in being rather confirmatory +than original, we consider them of +great value, as reducing the subject to +a systematic form, and impressing it +with the force and clearness of the +most successful demonstration.</p> + +<p>Mr Young's first experiments were +commenced as far back as 1836, and +were originally undertaken with a +view to show whether the salmon of +each particular river, after descending +to the sea, returned again to their original +spawning-beds, or whether, +as some supposed, the main body, returning +coastwards from their feeding +grounds in more distant parts of the +ocean, and advancing along our island +shores, were merely thrown into, or +induced to enter, estuaries and rivers +by accidental circumstances; and that +the numbers obtained in these latter +localities thus depended mainly on +wind and weather, or other physical +conditions, being suitable to their upward +progress at the time of their +nearing the mouths of the fresher +waters. To settle this point, he caught +and marked all the spawned fish which +he could obtain in the course of the +winter months during their sojourn in +the rivers. As soon as he had hauled +the fish ashore, he made peculiar +marks in their caudal fins by means +of a pair of nipping-irons, and immediately +threw then back into the +water. In the course of the following +fishing season great numbers were +recaptured on their return from the +sea, each in its own river bearing its +peculiar mark. "We have also," +Mr Young informs us, "another +proof of the fact, that the different +breeds or races of salmon continue to +revisit their native streams. You are +aware that the river Shin falls into the +Oykel at Invershin, and that the conjoined +waters of these rivers, with the +Carron and other streams, form the +estuary of the Oykel, which flows +into the more open sea beyond, or +eastwards of the bar, below the Gizzen +Brigs. Now, were the salmon +which enter the mouth of the estuary +at the bar thrown in merely by accident +or chance, we should expect to +find the fish of all the various rivers +which form the estuary of the same +average weight; for, if it were a mere +matter of chance, then a mixture of +small and great would occur indifferently +in each of the interior streams. +But the reverse of this is the case. +The salmon in the Shin will average +from seventeen pounds to eighteen +pounds in weight, while those of the +Oykel scarcely attain an average of +half that weight. I am, therefore, +quite satisfied, as well by having +marked spawned fish descending to +the sea, and caught them ascending +the same river, and bearing that river's +mark, as by a long-continued general +observation of the weight, size, and +even something of the form, that +every river has its own breed, and +that breed continues, till captured and +killed, to return from year to year +into its native stream."</p> + +<p>We have heard of a partial exception +to this instinctive habit, which, +however, essentially confirms the rule. +We are informed that a Shin salmon +(recognized as such by its shape and +size) was, on a certain occasion, captured +in the river Conon, a fine stream which +flows into the upper portion of the neighbouring +Frith of Cromarty. It was marked +and returned to the river, and was +taken <i>next day</i> in its native stream +the Shin, having, on discovering its mistake, +descended the Cromarty Frith, +skirted the intermediate portion of +the outer coast by Tarbet Ness, and ascended +the estuary of the Oykel. The +distance may be about sixty miles. On +the other hand, we are informed by a +Sutherland correspondent of a fact of +another nature, which bears strongly +upon the pertinacity with which these +fine fish endeavour to regain their +spawning ground. By the side of the +river Helmsdale there was once a portion +of an old channel forming an angular +bend with the actual river. In +summer, it was only partially filled +by a detached or landlocked pool, +but in winter, a more lively communication +was renewed by the superabounding +waters. This old channel +was, however, not only resorted to by +salmon as a piece of spawning ground +during the colder season of the year, +but was sought for again instinctively +in summer during their upward migration, +when there was no water running +through it. The fish being, of +course, unable to attain their object, +have been seen, after various aerial +boundings, to fall, in the course of +their exertions, upon the dry gravel +bank between the river and the pool +of water, where they were picked up +by the considerate natives.</p> + +<p>No sooner had Mr Young satisfied +himself that the produce of a river invariably +returned to that river after +descending to the sea, than he commenced +his operations upon the smolts—taking +up the subject where it was +unavoidably left off by Mr Shaw<a name="footnotetag17" id="footnotetag17"></a><a href="#footnote17"><sup>17</sup></a>. +His long-continued superintendence +of the Duke of Sutherland's fisheries in +the north of Scotland, and his peculiar +position as residing almost within +a few yards of the noted river Shin, +afforded advantages of which he was +not slow to make assiduous use. He +has now performed numerous and +varied experiments, and finds that, +notwithstanding the slow growth of +parr in fresh water, "such is the +influence of the sea as a more +enlarged and salubrious sphere of life, +that the very smolts which descend +into it from the rivers in spring, +ascend into the fresh waters in the +course of the immediate summer as +grilse, varying in size in proportion +to the length of their stay in +salt water."</p> + +<p>For example, in the spring of 1837, +Mr Young marked a great quantity of +descending smolts, by making a perforation +in their caudal fins with a +small pair of nipping-irons constructed +for the purpose, and in the ensuing +months of June and July he recaptured +a considerable number on their +return to the rivers, all in the condition +of grilse, and varying from 3lbs. +to 8lbs., "according to the time which +had elapsed since their first departure +from the fresh water, or, in other +words, the length of their sojourn in +the sea." In the spring of 1842, he +likewise marked a number of descending +smolts, by clipping off what is +called the adipose fin upon the back. +In the course of the ensuing June and +July, he caught them returning up +the river, bearing his peculiar mark, +and agreeing with those of 1837 both +in respect to size, and the relation +which that size bore to the lapse +of time.</p> + +<p>The following list from Mr Young's +note-book, affords a few examples of +the rate of growth:—</p> + +<p><i>List of Smolts marked in the River, and recaptured as Grilse on their first ascent +from the Sea.</i></p> + +<table summary="" border class="blkquot"> + <tr> + <td> Period of marking. </td> + <td> Period of recapture. </td> + <td> Weight when retaken. </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> 1842. April and May. </td> + <td align="right">1842. June 28. </td> + <td align="center">4 lb.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">July 15. </td> + <td align="center">5 lb</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">15. </td> + <td align="center">5 lb.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">25. </td> + <td align="center">7 lb.<a name="footnotetag18" id="footnotetag18"></a><a href="#footnote18"><sup>18</sup></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">25. </td> + <td align="center">5 lb.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">30. </td> + <td align="center">3½ lb.<a href="#footnote18"><sup>18</sup></a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>We may now proceed to consider +the final change,—that of the grilse +into the adult salmon. We have just +seen that smolts return to the rivers +as grilse, (of the weights above noted,) +during the summer and autumn of the +same season in which they had descended +for the first time to the sea. +Such as seek the rivers in the earlier part +of summer are of small size, because +they have sojourned for but a short +time in the sea:—such as abide in the +sea till autumn, attain of course a larger +size. But it appears to be an established, +though till now an unknown +fact, that with the exception of the +early state of parr, in which the growth +has been shown to be extremely slow, +salmon actually never do grow in fresh +water at all, either as grilse or in the +adult state. All their growth in these +two most important later stages, takes +place during their sojourn in the sea. +"Not only," says Mr Young, "is this +the case, but I have also ascertained +that they actually decrease in dimensions +after entering the river, and that +the higher they ascend the more they +deteriorate both in weight and quality. +In corroboration of this I may refer to +the extensive fisheries of the Duke of +Sutherland, where the fish of each +station of the same river are kept distinct +from those of another station, and +where we have had ample proof that +salmon habitually decrease in weight +in proportion to their time and distance +from the sea."<a name="footnotetag19" id="footnotetag19"></a><a href="#footnote19"><sup>19</sup></a></p> + +<p>Mr Young commenced marking grilses, +with a view to ascertain that they +became salmon, as far back as 1837, +and has continued to do so ever since, +though never two seasons with the +same mark. We shall here record only +the results of the two preceding years. +In the spring of 1841, he marked a +number of spawned grilse soon after +the conclusion of the spawning period. +Taking his "net and coble," he fished +the river for the special purpose, and +all the spawned grilse of 4 lb. weight +were marked by putting a peculiarly +twisted piece of wire through the dorsal +fin. They were immediately thrown +into the river, and of course disappeared, +making their way downwards with +other spawned fish towards the sea. +"In the course of the next summer we +again caught several of those fish which +we had thus marked with wire as 4 lb. +grilse, grown in the short period of +four or five months into beautiful full-formed +salmon, ranging from 9 lb. to +14 lb. in weight, the difference still +depending on the length of their sojourn +in the sea."</p> + +<p>In January 1842, he repeated the +same process of marking 4 lb. grilse +which had spawned, and were therefore +about to seek the sea; but, instead of +placing the wire in the back fin, he +this year fixed it in the upper lobe of +the tail, or caudal fin. On their return +from the sea, he caught many of these +quondam grilse converted into salmon +as before. The following lists will +serve to illustrate the rate of growth:—</p> +<br> + +<p><i>List of Grilse marked after having spawned, and re-captured as Salmon, on their +second ascent from the Sea.</i></p> + +<table summary="" border align="center"> + <tr> + <td> Period of marking. </td> + <td> Period of recapture. </td> + <td> Weight when marked. </td> + <td> Weight when retaken. </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">1841. Feb. 18. </td> + <td align="right">1841. June 23. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">9 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">18. </td> + <td align="right">23. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">11 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">18. </td> + <td align="right">25. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">9 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">18. </td> + <td align="right">25. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">10 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">18. </td> + <td align="right">July 27. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">13 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">18. </td> + <td align="right">28. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">10 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">March 4. </td> + <td align="right">July 1. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">12 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">4. </td> + <td align="right">1. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">14 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">4. </td> + <td align="right">27. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">12 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">1842. Jan. 29. </td> + <td align="right">1842. July 4. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">8 lbs.<a name="footnotetag20" id="footnotetag20"></a><a href="#footnote20"><sup>20</sup></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">29. </td> + <td align="right">14. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">9 lbs.<a href="#footnote20"><sup>20</sup></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">29. </td> + <td align="right">14. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">8 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">March 8. </td> + <td align="right">23. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">9 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">Jan. 29. </td> + <td align="right">29. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">11 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">March 8. </td> + <td align="right">Aug. 4. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">10 lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">Jan. 29. </td> + <td align="right">11. </td> + <td align="center">4 lbs.</td> + <td align="center">12 lbs.</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>During both these seasons, Mr +Young informs us, he caught far more +marked grilse returning with the form +and attributes of perfect salmon, than +are recorded in the preceding lists. +"In many specimens the wires had +been torn from the fins, either by the +action of the nets or other casualties; +and, although I could myself recognise +distinctly that they were the fish I had +marked, I kept no note of them. All +those recorded in my lists returned and +were captured with the twisted wires +complete, the same as the specimens +transmitted for your examination."</p> + +<p>We agree with Mr Young in thinking +that the preceding facts, viewed in +connexion with Mr Shaw's prior observations, +entitle us to say, that we +are now well acquainted with the history +and habits of the salmon, and its +usual rate of growth from the ovum to +the adult state. The young are hatched +after a period which admits of considerable +range, according to the temperature +of the season, or the modifying +character of special localities.<a name="footnotetag21" id="footnotetag21"></a><a href="#footnote21"><sup>21</sup></a> They +usually burst the capsule of the egg in +90 to 100 days after deposition, but +they still continue for a considerable +time beneath the gravel, with the yelk +or vitelline portion of the egg adhering +to the body; and from this appendage, +which Mr Shaw likens to a red currant, +they probably derive their sole +nourishment for several weeks. But +though the lapse of 140 or even 150 +days from the period of deposition is +frequently required to perfect the form +of these little fishes, which even then +measure scarcely more than an inch in +length, their subsequent growth is still +extremely slow; and the silvery aspect +of the smolt is seldom assumed till +after the expiry of a couple of years. +The great mass of these smolts descend +to the sea during the months of April +and May,—the varying range of the +spawning and hatching season carrying +with it a somewhat corresponding +range in the assumption of the first +signal change, and the consequent +movement to the sea. They return +under the greatly enlarged form of +grilse, as already stated, and these +grilse spawn that same season in common +with the salmon, and then both +the one and the other re-descend into +the sea in the course of the winter or +ensuing spring. They all return again +to the rivers sooner or later, in accordance, +as we believe, with the +time they had previously left it after +spawning, early or late. The grilse +have now become salmon by the time +of their second ascent from the sea; +and no further change takes place in +their character or attributes, except +that such as survive the snares of the +fishermen, the wily chambers of the +cruives, the angler's gaudy hook, or +the poacher's spear, continue to increase +in size from year to year. Such, +however, is now the perfection of our +fisheries, and the facilities for conveying +this princely species even from our +northern rivers, and the "distant islands +of the sea," to the luxurious cities +of more populous districts, that we +greatly doubt if any salmon ever attains +a good old age, or is allowed to +die a natural death. We are not possessed +of sufficient data from which to +judge either of their natural term of +life, or of their ultimate increase of +size. They are occasionally, though +rarely, killed in Britain of the weight +of forty and even fifty pounds. In the +comparatively unfished rivers of +Scandinavia large salmon are much more +frequent, although the largest we ever +heard of was an English fish which +came into the possession of Mr Groves, +of Bond Street. It was a female, and +weighed eighty-three pounds. In the +year 1841, Mr Young marked a few +spawned salmon along with his grilse, +employing as a distinctive mark copper +wire instead of brass. One of +these, weighing twelve pounds, was +marked on the 4th of March, and was +recaptured on returning from the sea +on the 10th of July, weighing eighteen +pounds. But as we know not whether +it made its way to the sea immediately +after being marked, we cannot accurately +infer the rate of increase. It +probably becomes slower every year, +after the assumption of the adult state. +Why the salmon of one river should +greatly exceed the average weight of +those of another into which it flows, is +a problem which we cannot solve. +The fact, for example, of the river +Shin flowing from a large lake, with a +course of only a few miles, into the +Oykel, although it accounts for its +being an <i>early</i> river, owing to the receptive +depth, and consequently higher +temperature of its great nursing mother, +Loch Shin, in no way, so far at +least as we can see, explains the great +size of the Shin fish, which are taken +in scores of twenty pounds' weight. +They have little or nothing to do with +the loch itself, haunting habitually the +brawling stream, and spawning in the +shallower fords, at some distance up, +but still below the great basin;<a name="footnotetag22" id="footnotetag22"></a><a href="#footnote22"><sup>22</sup></a> and +there are no physical peculiarities +which in any way distinguish the Shin +from many other lake born northern +rivers, where salmon do not average +half the size.</p> + +<p>Leaving the country of the <i>Morer +Chatt</i> (the Celtic title of the Earls of +Sutherland) we shall now return to +the retainer of the "bold Buccleuch." +We have already mentioned that Mr +Shaw, having so successfully illustrated +the early history of salmon, next turned +his attention to a cognate subject, +that of the sea-trout (<i>Salmo-trutta</i>?) +Although no positive observations of +any value, anterior to those now before +us, had been made upon this species, +it is obvious that as soon as his discoveries +regarding salmon fry had afforded, +as it were, the key to this portion +of nature's secrets, it was easy for any +one to infer that the old notions regarding +the former fish were equally +erroneous. Various modifications of +these views took place accordingly; but +no one ascertained the truth by observation. +Mr Shaw was, therefore, entitled +to proceed as if the matter were +solely in his own hands; and he makes +no mention either of the "vain imaginations" +of Dr Knox, the more careful +compilation of Mr Yarrell, or the still +closer, but by no means approximate +calculations of Richard Parnell, M.D. +In this he has acted wisely, seeing that +his own essay professes to be simply +a statement of facts, and not an +historical exposition of the progress of +error.</p> + +<p>It would, indeed, have been singular +if two species, in many respects so +closely allied in their general structure +any economy, had been found to differ +very materially in any essential point. +It now appears, however, that Mr +Shaw's original discovery of the slow +growth of salmon fry in fresh water, +applies equally to sea trout; and, indeed, +his observations on the latter are valuable +not only in themselves, but as confirmatory +of his remarks upon the former +species. The same principle has +been found to regulate the growth and +migrations of both, and Mr Shaw's two +contributions thus mutually strengthen +and support each other.</p> + +<p>The sea trout is well known to +anglers as one of the liveliest of all the +fishes subject to his lure. Two species +are supposed by naturalists to haunt +our rivers—<i>Salmo eriox</i>, the bull +trout of the Tweed, comparatively +rare on the western and northern +coasts of Scotland, and <i>Salmo trutta</i>, +commonly called the sea or white trout, +but, like the other species, also known +under a variety of provincial names, +somewhat vaguely applied. In its various +and progressive stages, it passes +under the names of fry, smolt, orange-fin, +phinock, herling, whitling, sea-trout, +and salmon-trout. It is likewise +the "Fordwich trout" of Izaak Walton, +described by that poetical old piscator +as "rare good meat." As an +article of diet it indeed ranks next +to the salmon, and is much superior +in that respect to its near relation, +<i>S. eriox</i>. It is taken in the more +seaward pools of our northern rivers, +sometimes in several hundreds at +a single haul; and vast quantities, +after being boiled, and hermetically +sealed in tin cases, are extensively +consumed both in our home +and foreign markets. But, notwithstanding +its great commercial value, +naturalists have failed to present us +with any accurate account of its consecutive +history from the ovum to the +adult state. This desideratum we are +now enabled to supply through Mr +Shaw.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of November 1839, this +ingenious observer perceived a pair of +sea-trouts engaged together in depositing +their spawn among the gravel of +one of the tributaries of the river +Nith, and being unprovided at the +moment with any apparatus for their +capture, he had recourse to his fowling-piece. +Watching the moment +when they lay parallel to each other, +he fired across the heads of the devoted +pair, and immediately secured +them both, although, as it afterwards +appeared, rather by the influence of +concussion than the more immediate +action of the shot. They were about +six inches under water. Having obtained +a sufficient supply of the impregnated +spawn, he removed it in a +bag of wire gauze to his experimental +ponds. At this period the temperature +of the water was about 47°, but +in the course of the winter it ranged +a few degrees lower. By the fortieth +day the embryo fish were visible to the +naked eye, and, on the 14th January, +(seventy-five days after deposition,) +the fry were excluded from the egg. +At this early period, the brood exhibit +no perceptible difference from that of +the salmon, except that they are somewhat +smaller, and of paler hue. In +two months they were an inch long, +and had then assumed those lateral +markings so characteristic of the young +of all the known <i>Salmonidæ</i>. They +increased in size slowly, measuring +only three inches in length by the +month of October, at which time they +were nine months old. In January +1841, they had increased to three and +a half inches, exhibiting a somewhat +defective condition during the winter +months, in one or more of which, Mr +Shaw seems to think, they scarcely +grow at all. We need not here go +through the entire detail of these experiments.<a name="footnotetag23" id="footnotetag23"></a><a href="#footnote23"><sup>23</sup></a> +In October (twenty-one +months) they measured six inches in +length, and had lost those lateral bars, +or transverse markings, which characterise +the general family in their early +state. At this period they greatly +resembled certain varieties of the +common river-trout, and the males +had now attained the age of sexual +completion, although none of the females +had matured the roe. This physiological +fact is also observable in the +true salmon. In the month of May, +three-fourths of the brood (being now +upwards of two years old, and seven +inches long) assumed the fine clear +silvery lustre which characterises the +migratory condition, being thus converted +into smolts, closely resembling +those of salmon in their general aspect, +although easily to be distinguished by +the orange tips of the pectoral fins, +and other characters with which we +shall not here afflict our readers.</p> + +<p>The natural economy of the sea-trout +thus far approximates that of the +genuine salmon, but with the following +exception. Mr Shaw is of opinion +that about one-fourth of each brood +never assume the silvery lustre; and, +as they are never seen to migrate in a +dusky state towards the sea, he infers +that a certain portion of the species +may be permanent residents in fresh +water.<a name="footnotetag24" id="footnotetag24"></a><a href="#footnote24"><sup>24</sup></a> In this respect, then, they +resemble the river-trout, and afford an +example of those numerous gradations, +both of form and instinct, which compose +the harmonious chain of nature's +perfect kingdom. In support of this +power of adaptation to fresh water +possessed by sea-trout, Mr Shaw refers +to a statement by the late Dr McCulloch, +that these fish had become permanent +inhabitants of a loch in the +island of Lismore, Argyllshire. Similar +facts have been recorded by other naturalists, +though, upon the whole, in a +somewhat vague and inconclusive +manner. We have it in our power +to mention a very marked example. +When certain springs were conducted, +about twenty years ago, from the +slopes of the Pentland Hills, near +Edinburgh, into that city, which Dr +Johnson regarded as by no means +abundantly supplied with the "pure +element of water," it was necessary to +compensate the mill-owners by another +supply. Accordingly a valley, +(the supposed scene of Allan Ramsay's +"Gentle Shepherd,") through which +there flowed a small stream, had a +great embankment thrown across it. +After this operation, of course the +waters of the upper portion of the +stream speedily rose to a level with +the sluices, thus forming a small lake, +commonly called the "Compensation +Pond." The flow of water now escapes +by throwing itself over the outer +side of the embankment, which is lofty +and precipitous, in the form of a cataract, +up which no fish can possibly +ascend. Yet in the pond itself we +have recently ascertained the existence +of sea-trout in a healthy state, although +such as we have examined, +being young, were of small size. +These attributes, however, were all +the more important as proving the +breeding condition of the parents in +a state of prolonged captivity. It is +obvious that sea-trout must have made +their way (in fulfilment of their natural +migratory instinct) into the higher +portions of the stream prior to the +completion of the obstructing dam; +and as none could have ascended since, +it follows that the individuals in question +(themselves and their descendants) +must have lived and bred in fresh +water, without access to the sea, for a +continuous period of nearly twenty +years. This is not only a curious +fact in the natural history of the species, +but it is one of some importance +in an economical point of view. Sea-trout, +as an article of diet, are much +more valuable than river-trout; and +if it can be ascertained that they breed +freely, and live healthily, without the +necessity of access to the sea, it would +then become the duty, as it would +doubtless be the desire, of those +engaged in the construction of artificial +ponds, to stock those receptacles rather +with the former than the latter.<a name="footnotetag25" id="footnotetag25"></a><a href="#footnote25"><sup>25</sup></a></p> + +<p>Having narrated the result of Mr +Shaw's experiment up to the migratory +state of his brood, we shall now +refer to the further progress of the +species. This, of course, we can only +do by turning our attention to the +corresponding condition of the fry in +their natural places in the river. So +far back as the 9th of May 1836, our +observer noticed salmon fry descending +seawards, and he took occasion to +capture a considerable number by +admitting them into the salmon cruive. +On examination, he found about +one-fifth of each shoal to be what he +considered sea-trout. Wisely regarding +this as a favourable opportunity of +ascertaining to what extent they would +afterwards "suffer a sea change," he +marked all the smolts of that species +(about ninety in number) by cutting +off the whole of the adipose fin, and +three-quarters of the dorsal. At a +distance, by the course of the river, +of twenty-five miles from the sea, he +was not sanguine of recapturing many +of these individuals, and in this expectation +he was not agreeably surprised +by any better success than he expected. +However, on the 16th of July, +exactly eighty days afterwards, he recaptured +as a <i>herling</i> (the next progressive +stage) an individual bearing +the marks he had inflicted on the +young sea-trout in the previous May. +It measured twelve inches in length, +and weighed ten ounces. As the average +weight of the migrating fry is +about three and a half ounces, it had +thus gained an increase of six and a +half ounces in about eighty days' residence +in salt water, supposing it to +have descended to the sea immediately +after its markings were imposed. In +this condition of herlings or phinocks, +young sea-trout enter many of our +rivers in great abundance in the +months of July and August.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of August 1837—fifteen +months after being marked as fry, on +its way to the sea—another individual +was caught, and recognised by the absence +of one fin, and the curtailment +of another. This specimen, as well as +others, had no doubt returned, and escaped +detection as a herling, in 1836; +but it was born for greater things, +and when captured, as above stated, +weighed two pounds and a half. "He +may be supposed," says Mr Shaw, "to +represent pretty correctly the average +size of sea-trout on their second migration +from the sea." In this state they +usually make their appearance in our +rivers, (we refer at present particularly +to those of Scotland,) in greatest abundance +in the months of May and June. +This view of the progress of the species +clearly accounts for a fact well +known to anglers, that in spring and +the commencement of summer, larger +sea-trout are caught than in July and +August, which would not be the case +if they were all fish of the same season. +But the former are herlings +which have descended, after spawning +early, to the sea, and returned with the +increase just mentioned; the latter were +nothing more than smolts in May, and +have only once enjoyed the benefit of +sea bathing. They are a year younger +than the others.</p> + +<p>As herlings (sea-trout in their third +year) abounded in the river Nith during +the summer of 1834, Mr Shaw +marked a great number (524) by cutting +off the adipose fin. "During the +following summer (1835) I recaptured +sixty-eight of the above number +as sea-trout, weighing on an average +about two and a half pounds. On these +I put a second distinct mark, and again +returned them to the river, and on the +next ensuing summer (1836) I recaptured +a portion of them, about one +in twenty, averaging a weight of four +pounds. I now marked them distinctively +for the third time, and once +more returned them to the river, also +for the third time. On the following +season (23d day of August 1837) I +recaptured the individual now exhibited, +for the fourth time.<a name="footnotetag26" id="footnotetag26"></a><a href="#footnote26"><sup>26</sup></a> It then +weighed six pounds." This is indeed +an eventful history, and we question if +any <i>Salmo trutta</i> ever before felt himself +so often out of his element. However, +the individual referred to must +undoubtedly be regarded as extremely +interesting to the naturalist. It exhibits, +at a single glance, the various +marks put upon itself and its companions, +as they were successively recaptured, +from year to year, on their +return to the river—viz. 1st, The absence +of the adipose fin, (herling of ten +or twelve ounces in 1834;) 2dly, One-third +part of the dorsal fin removed, +(sea-trout of two and a half pounds in +1835;) 3dly, A portion of the anal fin +clipt off (large sea-trout of four pounds +in 1836). In the 4th and last place, it +shows, in its own proper person, as +leader of the forlorn hope of 1837, the +state in which it was finally captured +and killed, of the weight of six pounds. +It was then in its sixth year, and, representing +the adult condition of this +migratory species, we think it renders +further investigation unnecessary.</p> + +<p>From these and other experiments +of a similar nature, which Mr Shaw +has been conducting for many years, +he has come to the conclusion, that +the small fry called "Orange-fins," +which are found journeying to the sea +with smolts of the true salmon, are the +young of sea-trout of the age of two +years;—that the same individuals, after +nine or ten weeks' sojourn in salt +water, ascend the rivers as herlings, +weighing ten or twelve ounces and on +the approach of autumn pass into our +smaller tributaries with a view to the +continuance of their kind;—that, having +spawned, they re-descend into the +sea, where their increase of size (about +one and a half pound per annum) is +almost totally obtained;—and that they +return annually, with an accession of +size, for several seasons, to the rivers +in which their parents gave them birth. +In proof of this last point, Mr Shaw +informs us, that of the many hundred +sea-trout of different ages which he +has marked in various modes, he is not +aware that even a single individual +has ever found its way into any tributary +of the Solway, saving that of the +river Nith.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<a name="bw329s8" id="bw329s8"></a><h2>CALEB STUKELY.</h2> + +<h3>PART THE LAST.</h3> + +<h3>TRANQUILITY.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The sudden and unlooked-for appearance +of James Temple threw light +upon a mystery. Further explanation +awaited me in the house from which +the unfortunate man had rushed to +meet instant death and all its consequences. +It will be remembered that, +in the narrative of his victim, mention +is made of one Mrs Wybrow, with +whom the poor girl, upon the loss of +her father and of all means of support, +obtained a temporary home. It +appeared that Fredrick Harrington, +a few months after his flight, returned +secretly to the village, and, at the +house of that benevolent woman, made +earnest application for his sister. He +was then excited and half insane, +speaking extravagantly of his views +and his intentions in respect of her he +came to take away. "She should be +a duchess," he said, "and must take +precedence of every lady in the land. +He was a king himself and could command +it so. He could perform wonders, +if he chose to use the power +with which he was invested; but he +would wait until his sister might reap +the benefit of his acquired wealth." In +this strain he continued, alarming the +placid Mrs Wybrow, who knew not +what to do to moderate the wildness +and the vehemence of his demeanour. +Hoping, however, to appease him, she +told him of the good fortune of his sister—how +she had obtained a happy +home, and how grateful he ought to +be to Providence for its kind care of +her. Much more she said, only to +increase the anger of the man, whose +insane pride was roused to fury the +moment that he heard his sister was +doomed to eat the bread of a dependent. +He disdained the assistance of +Mrs Temple—swore it was an artifice, +a cheat, and that he would drag her +from the net into which they had enticed +her. When afterwards he learned +that it was through the mediation +of James Temple that his sister had +been provided for, the truth burst instantly +upon him, and he foresaw at +once all that actually took place. He +vowed that he would become himself +the avenger of his sister, and that he +would not let her betrayer sleep until he +had wrung from him deep atonement +for his crime. It was in vain that Mrs +Wybrow sought to convince him of +his delusion. He would not be advised—he +would not listen—he would +not linger another moment in the +house, but quitted it, wrought to the +highest pitch of rage, and speaking +only of vengeance on the seducer. He +set out for London. Mrs Wybrow, +agitated more than she had been at +any time since her birth, and herself +almost deprived of reason by her fears +for the safety of Miss Harrington, +James Temple, and the furious lunatic +himself, wrote immediately to Emma, +then resident in Cambridge, explaining +the sad condition of her brother, +and warning her of his approach—Emma +having already (without acquainting +Mrs Wybrow with her fallen +state) forwarded her address, with a +strict injunction to her humble friend +to convey to her all information of her +absent brother which she could possibly +obtain. The threatened danger +was communicated to the lover—darkened +his days for a time with +anxiety and dread, but ceased as time +wore on, and as no visitant appeared +to affect the easy tenor of his immoral +life. The reader will not have forgotten, +perhaps, that when for the +first time I beheld James Temple, he +was accompanied by an elder brother. +It was from the latter, his friend and +confidant, that the above particulars, +and those which follow in respect of +the deceased, were gathered. The +house in which, for a second time, I +encountered my ancient college friends, +was their uncle's. Parents they had +none. Of father and of mother both +they had been deprived in infancy; +and, from that period, their home had +been with their relative and guardian. +The conduct of one charge, at least, +had been from boyhood such as to +cause the greatest pain to him who +had assumed a parent's cares. Hypocrisy, +sensuality, and—for his years +and social station—unparalleled dishonesty, +had characterised James +Temple's short career. By some inexplicable +tortuosity of mind, with +every natural endowment, with every +acquired advantage, graced with the +borrowed as well as native ornaments +of humanity, he found no joy in his +inheritance, but sacrificed it all, and +crawled through life a gross and +earthy man. The seduction of Emma, +young as he was when he committed +that offence, was, by many, not the +first crime for which—not, thank Heaven! +without some preparation for his +trial—he was called suddenly to answer. +As a boy, he had grown aged +is vice. It has been stated that he +quitted the university the very instant +he disencumbered himself of the girl +whom he had sacrificed. He crept to +the metropolis, and for a time there +hid himself. But it was there that he +was discovered by Frederick Harrington, +who had pursued the destroyer +with a perseverance that was indomitable, +and scoffed at disappointment. +How the lunatic existed no one knew; +how he steered clear of transgression +and restraint was equally difficult to +explain. It was evident enough that +he made himself acquainted with the +haunts of his former schoolfellow; +and, in one of them, he rushed furiously +and unexpectedly upon him, +affrighting his intended victim, but +failing in his purpose of vengeance by +the very impetuosity of his assault. +Temple escaped. Then it was that +the latter, shaken by fear, revealed to +his brother the rise of progress of +his intimacy with the discarded girl, +and, in his extremity, called upon him +for advice and help. He could afford +him none; and the seducer found himself +in the world without an hour's +happiness or quiet. What quails so +readily as the heartiest soul of the +sensualist? Who so cowardly as the +man only courageous in his oppression +of the weak? The spirit of Temple +was laid prostrate. He walked, and +eat, and slept, in base and dastard fear. +Locks and bolts could not secure him +from dismal apprehensions. A sound +shook him, as the unseen wind makes +the tall poplar shudder—a voice struck +terror in his ear, and sickness to +recreant heart. He could not be +alone—for alarm was heightened by +the speaking conscience that pronounced +it just. He journeyed from +place to place, his brother ever at his +side, and the shadow of the avenger +ever stalking in the rear, and impelling +the weary wanderer still onward. +The health of the sufferer gave way. +To preserve his life, he was ordered +to the south-western coast. His faithful +brother was his companion still. +He had not received a week's benefit +from the mild and grateful climate—he +was scarcely settled in the tranquil +village in which they had fixed their +residence, before the old terror was +made manifest, and hunted the unhappy +man away. Whilst sitting at +his window, and gazing with something +of delight upon the broad and +smooth blue sea—for who can look, +criminal though he be, upon that glorious +sheet in summer time, when the +sky is bright with beauty, and the golden +sun is high, and not lose somewhat of +the heavy sense of guilt—not glow, it +may be, with returning gush of +childhood's innocence, long absent, +and coming now only to reproach and +then depart?—whilst sitting there and +thus, the sick man's notice was invited +to a crowd of yelling boys, who +had amongst them one, the tallest of +their number, whom they dragged +along for punishment or sport. He +was an idiot. Who he was none +knew so well as the pale man that +looked upon him, who could not drag +his eye away, so lost was it in wonder, +so transfixed with horror. The +invalid remained no longer there. +Fast as horses could convey him, he +journeyed homeward; and, in the bosom +of his natural protectors, he +sought for peace he could not gain +elsewhere. Here he remained, the +slave of fear, the conscience-stricken, +diseased in body—almost spent; and +here he would have died, had not +Providence directed the impotent +mind of the imbecile to the spot, and +willed it otherwise. I have narrated, +as shortly as I might, the history of +my earliest college friend, as I received +it from his brother's lips. There remain +but a few words to say—the +pleasantest that I have had to speak of +him James Temple did not die a +hardened man. If there be truth in +tears, in prayers of penitence that fall +from him who stand upon the borders +of eternity—who can gain nothing +by hypocrisy, and may lose by +it the priceless treasure of an immortal +soul—if serenity and joy are signs +of a repentance spoken, a forgiveness +felt, then Heaven had assuredly been +merciful with the culprit, and had remitted +his offences, as Heaven can, +and will, remit the vilest.</p> + +<p>I remained in the village of Belton +until I saw all that remained of the +schoolfellows deposited in the earth. +Their bodies had been easily obtained—that +of the idiot, indeed, before +life had quitted it. The evening that +followed their burial, I passed with +William Temple. Many a sad reminiscence +occurred to him which he +communicated to me without reserve, +many a wanton act of coarse licentiousness, +many a warning unheeded, +laughed at, spurned. It is a mournful +pleasure for the mind, as it dwells +upon the doings of the departed, to +build up its own theories, and to work +out a history of what might have been +in happier circumstances—a useless +history of <i>ifs</i>. "If my brother had +been looked to when he was young," +said William Temple more than once, +"he would have turned out differently. +My uncle spoiled him. As a +child, he was never corrected. If he +wished for a toy, he had but to scream +for it. If, at school, he had been fortunate +enough to contract his friendships +with young men of worth and +character, their example would have +won him to rectitude, for he was always +a lad easily led." And again, +"If he had but listened to the advice +which, when it would have served +him, I did not fail daily and hourly +to offer him, he might have lived for +years, and been respected—for many +know, I lost no opportunity to draw +him from his course of error." Alas! +how vain, how idle was this talk—how +little it could help the clod that was +already crumbling in the earth—the +soul already at the judgment-seat; yet +with untiring earnestness the brother +persisted in this strain, and with every +new hypothesis found fresh satisfaction. +There was more reason for +gratification when, at the close of the +evening, the surviving relative turned +from his barren discourse and referred +to the last days of the deceased. +There was comfort and consolation to +the living in the evidences which he +produced of his most blessed change. +It was a joy to me to hear of his repentance, +and to listen to the terms in +which he made it known. I did not +easily forget them. I journeyed homeward. +When I arrived at the house +of Doctor Mayhew, I was surprised to +find how little I could remember of +the country over which I had travelled. +The scenes through which I had +passed were forgotten—had not been +noticed. Absorbed by the thoughts +which possessed my brain, I had suffered +myself to be carried forward, +conscious of nothing but the waking +dreams. I was prepared, however, to +see my friend. Still influenced by the +latent hope of meeting once more with +Miss Fairman, still believing in the +happy issue of my love, I had resolved +to keep my own connexion with +the idiot as secret as the grave. There +was no reason why I should betray +myself. His fate was independent of +my act—my conduct formed no link +in the chain which must be presented +to make the history clear: and shame +would have withheld the gratuitous +confession, had not the ever present, +never-dying promise forbade the disclosure +of one convicting syllable. As +may be supposed, the surprise of Doctor +Mayhew, upon hearing the narrative, +was no less than the regret which +he experienced at the violent death of +the poor creature in whom he had +taken so kind and deep an interest. +But a few days sufficed to sustain his +concern for one who had come to him +a stranger, and whom he had known +so short a time. The pursuits and +cares of life gradually withdrew the +incident from his mind, and all +thoughts of the idiot. He ceased to +speak of him. To me, the last scene +of his life was present for many a +year. I could not remove it. By +day and night it came before my eyes, +without one effort on my part to invoke +it. It has started up, suddenly +and mysteriously, in the midst of enjoyment +and serene delight, to mingle +bitterness in the cup of earthly bliss. +It has come in the season of sorrow to +heighten the distress. Amongst men, +and in the din of business, the vision +has intruded, and in solitude it has +followed me to throw its shadows +across the bright green fields, beautiful +in their freshness. Night after +night—I cannot count their number—it +has been the form and substance +of my dreams, and I have gone to rest—yes, +for months—with the sure and +natural expectation of beholding the +melancholy repetition of an act which +I would have given any thing, and all +I had, to forget and drive away for +ever.</p> + +<p>A week passed pleasantly with my +host. I spoke of departure at the end +of it. He smiled when I did so, bade +me hold my tongue and be patient. I +suffered another week to glide away, +and then hinted once more that I had +trespassed long enough upon his hospitality. +The doctor placed his hand +upon my arm, and answered quickly, +"all in good time—do not hurry." +His tone and manner confirmed, I +know not why, the strong hope within +me, and his words passed with +meaning to my heart. I already built +upon the aerial foundation, and looked +forward with joyous confidence +and expectation. The arguments and +shows of truth are few that love requires. +The poorest logic is the +soundest reasoning—if it conclude for +him. The visits to the parsonage +were, meanwhile, continued. Upon +my return, I gained no news. I asked +if all were well there, and the simple, +monosyllable, "Yes," answered +with unusual quickness and decision, +was all that escaped the doctor's lips. +He did not wish to be interrogated +further, and was displeased. I perceived +this and was silent. For some +days, no mention was made of his +dear friend the minister. He was +accustomed to speak often of that +man, and most affectionately. What +was the inference? A breach had +taken place. If I entertained the idea +for a day, it was dissipated on the +next; for the doctor, a week having +elapsed since his last visit, rode over +to the parsonage as usual, remained +there some hours, and returned in +his best and gayest spirits. He spoke +of the Fairmans during the evening +with the same kind feeling and good-humour +that had always accompanied +his allusions to them and their proceedings, +and grew at length eloquent +in the praises of them both. The increasing +beauty of the young mistress, +he said, was marvellous. "Ah," he +added slyly, and with more truth, +perhaps, than he suspected, "it would +have done your eyes good to-day, only +to have got one peep at her." I sighed, +and he tantalized me further. He +pretended to pity me for the inconsiderate +haste with which I had thrown +up my employment, and to condole +with me for all I had lost in consequence. +"As for himself," he said, +"he had, upon further consideration, +given up all thought of marriage for +the present. He should live a little +longer and grow wiser; but it was not +a pleasant thing, by any means, to see +so sweet a girl taken coolly off by a +young fellow, who, if all he heard was +true, was very likely to have an early +opportunity." I sighed again, and asked +permission to retire to rest; but +my tormentor did not grant it, until +he had spoken for half an hour longer, +when he dismissed me in a state of +misery incompatible with rest, in bed, +or out of it. My heart was bursting +when I left him. He could not fail +to mark it. To my surprise, he made +another excursion to the parsonage on +the following day; and, as before, he +joined me in the evening with nothing +on his lips but commendation of the +young lady whom he had seen, and +complaint at the cruel act which was +about to rob them of their treasure; +for he said, regardless of my presence +or the desperate state of my feelings, +"that the matter was now all but +settled. Fairman had made up his +mind, and was ready to give his consent +the very moment the young fellow +was bold enough to ask it. And +lucky dog he is too," added the kind +physician, by way of a conclusion, +"for little puss herself is over head +and ears in love with him, or else I +never made a right prognosis."</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged to you, sir," +I answered, when Doctor Mayhew +paused; "very grateful for your +hospitality. If you please, I will depart +to-morrow. I trust you will ask +me to remain no longer. I cannot do +so. My business in London"——</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well! but that can wait, +you know," replied the doctor, interrupting +me. "I can't spare you to-morrow. +I have asked a friend to +dinner, and you must meet him."</p> + +<p>"Do not think me ungrateful, +doctor," I answered; "but positively +I must and will depart to-morrow. I +cannot stay."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, man, you shall. Come, +say you will, and I engage, if your intention +holds, to release you as early +as you like the next day. I have promised +my friend that you will give +him the meeting, and you must not +refuse me. Let me have my way to-morrow, +and you shall be your own +master afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Upon such terms, sir," I answered +immediately, "it would he unpardonable +if I persisted. You shall +command me; on the following day, +I will seek my fortunes in the world +again."</p> + +<p>"Just so," replied the doctor, and +so we separated.</p> + +<p>The character of Dr Mayhew was +little known to me. His goodness of +heart I had reason to be acquainted +with, but his long established love of +jesting, his intense appreciation of a +joke, practical or otherwise, I had yet +to learn. In few men are united, as +happily as they were in him, a steady +application to the business of the +world, and an almost unrestrained indulgence +in its harmless pleasantries. +The grave doctor was a boy at his +fireside. I spent my last day in preparing +for my removal, and in rambling +for some hours amongst the hills, with +which I had become too familiar to +separate without a pang. Long was +our leave-taking. I lingered and hovered +from nook to nook, until I had +expended the latest moment which it +was mine to give. With a burdened +spirit I returned to the house, as my +thoughts shifted to the less pleasing +prospect afforded by my new position. +I shuddered to think of London, and +the fresh vicissitudes that awaited me.</p> + +<p>It wanted but a few minutes to dinner +when I stepped into the drawing-room. +The doctor had just reached +home, after being absent on professional +duty since the morning. The +visitor had already arrived; I had +heard his knock whilst I was dressing. +Having lost all interest in the doings +of the place, I had not even cared to +enquire his name. What was it to +me? What difference could the chance +visitor of a night make to me, who +was on the eve of exile? None. I +walked despondingly into the room, +and advanced with distant civility towards +the stranger. His face was +from me, but he turned instantly upon +hearing my step, and I beheld——Mr +Fairman. I could scarcely trust my +eyes. I started, and retreated. My +reverend friend, however, betrayed +neither surprise nor discomposure. +He smiled kindly, held out his hand, +and spoke as he was wont in the days +of cordiality and confidence. What +did it mean?</p> + +<p>"It is a lovely afternoon, Stukely," +began the minister, "worthy of the +ripe summer in which it is born."</p> + +<p>"It is, sir," I replied; "but I shall +see no more of them," I added <i>instantly</i>, +anxious to assure him that I +was not lurking with sinister design +so near the parsonage—that I was on +the eve of flight. "I quit our friend +to-morrow, and must travel many +miles away."</p> + +<p>"You will come to us, Caleb," answered +Mr Fairman mildly.</p> + +<p>"Sir!" said I, doubting if I heard +aright.</p> + +<p>"Has Dr Mayhew said nothing +then?" he asked.</p> + +<p>I trembled in every limb.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir," I answered. "Oh, +yes! I recollect—he did—he has—but +what have I—I have no wish—no business"——</p> + +<p>The door opened, and Dr Mayhew +himself joined us, rubbing his hands, +and smiling, in the best of good tempers. +In his rear followed the faithful +Williams. Before a word of explanation +could be offered, the latter +functionary announced "<i>dinner</i>," and +summoned us away. The presence +of the servants during the meal interfered +with the gratification of my +unutterable curiosity. Mr Fairman +spoke most affably on different matters, +but did not once revert to the +previous subject of discourse. I was +on thorns. I could not eat. I could +not look at the minister without anxiety +and shame, and whenever my +eye caught that of the doctor, I was +abashed by a look of meaning and +good-humoured cunning, that was half +intelligible and half obscure. Rays of +hope penetrated to my heart's core, +and illuminated my existence. The +presence of Mr Fairman could not be +without a purpose. What was it, +then? Oh, I dared not trust myself +to ask the question! The answer bred +intoxication and delight, too sweet for +earth. What meant that wicked +smile upon the doctor's cheek? He +was too generous and good to laugh +at my calamity. He could not do it. +Yet the undisturbed demeanour of the +minister confounded me. If there had +been connected with this visit so important +an object as that which I +longed to believe was linked with it, +there surely would have been some +evidence in his speech and manner, +and he continued as cheerful and undisturbed +as if his mind were free +from every care and weighty thought. +"What can it mean?" I asked myself, +again and again. "How can +he coolly bid me to his house, after +what has passed, after his fearful anxiety +to get me out of it? Will he +hazard another meeting with his beloved +daughter?—Ah, I see it!" I suddenly +and mentally exclaimed; "it is +clear enough—she is absent—she is +away. He wishes to evince his friendly +disposition at parting, and now he +can do it without risk or cost." It +was a plain elucidation of the mystery—it +was enough, and all my airy +castles tumbled to the earth, and left +me there in wretchedness. Glad was +I when the dinner was concluded, and +eager to withdraw. I had resolved to +decline, at the first opportunity, the +invitation of the incumbent. I did +not wish to grieve my heart in feasting +my eyes upon a scene crowded +with fond associations, to revoke feelings +in which it would be folly to indulge +again, and which it were well +to annihilate and forget. I was about +to beg permission to leave the table, +when Dr Mayhew rose; he looked +archly at me when I followed his example, +and requested me not to be in +haste; "he had business to transact, +and would rejoin us shortly." Saying +these words, he smiled and vanished. +I remained silent. To be left alone +with Mr Fairman, was the most annoying +circumstance that could happen +in my present mood. There were +a hundred things which I burned to +know, whilst I lacked the courage to +enquire concerning one. But I had +waited for an opportunity to decline +his invitation. Here it was, and I had +not power to lift my head and look at +him. Mr Fairman himself did not +speak for some minutes. He sat +thoughtfully, resting his forehead in +the palm of his hand—his elbow on +the table. At length he raised his +eyes, and whilst my own were still +bent downward, I could feel that his +were fixed upon me.</p> + +<p>"Caleb," said the minister.</p> + +<p>It was the first time that the +incumbent had called me by my Christian +name. How strangely it sounded from +his lips! How exquisitely grateful it +dropt upon my ear!</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Caleb," continued Mr +Fairman, "did I understand you right? +Is it true that Mayhew has told you +nothing?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing distinctly, sir," I answered—"I +have gathered something +from his hints, but I know not what +he says in jest and what in earnest."</p> + +<p>"I have only her happiness at heart, +Stukely—from the moment that you +spoke to me on the subject, I have +acted solely with regard to that. I +hoped to have smothered this passion +in the bud. In attempting it, I believed +I was acting as a father should, and +doing my duty by her."</p> + +<p>The room began to swim round me, +and my head grew dizzy.</p> + +<p>"I am to blame, perhaps, as Mayhew +says, for having brought you together, +and for surrounding her with +danger. I should have known that to +trifle with a heart so guileless and so +pure was cruel and unjust, and fraught +with perilous consequences. I was +blind, and I am punished for my act."</p> + +<p>I looked at him at length.</p> + +<p>"I use the word deliberately—<i>punished</i>, +Stukely. It <i>is</i> a punishment +to behold the affection of which I have +ever been too jealous, departing from +me, and ripening for another. Why +have I cared to live since Heaven took +her mother to itself—but for her sake, +for her welfare, and her love? But +sorrow and regret are useless now. +You do not know, young man, a +thousandth part of your attainment +when I tell you, you have gained her +young and virgin heart. I oppose +you no longer—I thwart not—render +yourself worthy of the precious gift."</p> + +<p>"I cannot speak, sir!" I exclaimed, +seizing the hand of the incumbent in +the wildness of my joy. "I am stupified +by this intelligence! Trust me, +sir—believe me, you shall find me +not undeserving of your generosity +and"——</p> + +<p>"No, Stukely. Call it not by such +a name. It is any thing but that; +there is no liberality, no nobility of +soul, in giving you what I may not +now withhold. I cannot see her droop +and die, and live myself to know that +a word from me had saved her. I +have given my consent to the prosecution +of your attachment at the latest +moment—not because I wished it, but +to prevent a greater evil. I have told +you the truth! It was due to us both +that you should hear it; for the future +look upon me as your father, and I +will endeavour to do you justice."</p> + +<p>There was a stop. I was so oppressed +with a sense of happiness, +that I could find no voice to speak +my joy or tell my thanks. Mr Fairman +paused, and then continued.</p> + +<p>"You will come to the parsonage +to-morrow, and take part again in the +instruction of the lads after their return. +You will be received as my +daughter's suitor. Arrangements will +be made for a provision for you. +Mayhew and I have it in consideration +now. When our plan is matured, +it shall be communicated to you. +There need be no haste. You are +both young—too young for marriage—and +we shall not yet fix the period +of your espousal."</p> + +<p>My mind was overpowered with a +host of dazzling visions, which rose +spontaneously as the minister proceeded +in his delightful talk. I soon lost +all power of listening to details. +The beloved Ellen, the faithful and +confiding maiden, who had not deserted +the wanderer although driven from +her father's doors—she, the beautiful +and priceless jewel of my heart, was +present in every thought, and was the +ornament and chief of every group +that passed before my warm imagination. +Whilst the incumbent continued +to speak of the future, of his own sacrifice, +and my great gain—whilst his +words, without penetrating, touched +my ears, and died away—my soul +grew busy in the contemplation of the +prize, which, now that it was mine, I +scarce knew how to estimate. Where +was she <i>then</i>? How had she been? +To how many days of suffering and +of trial may she have been doomed? +How many pangs may have wrung +that noble heart before its sad complaints +were listened to, and mercifully +answered? I craved to be at her side. +The words which her father had +spoken had loosened the heavy chain +that tied me down—my limbs were +conscious of their freedom—my spirit +felt its liberty—what hindered instant +flight? In the midst of my reverie Dr +Mayhew entered the room—and I remember +distinctly that my immediate +impulse was to leave the two friends +together, and to run as fast as love +could urge and feet could carry me—to +the favoured spot which held all +that I cared for now on earth. The +plans, however, of Doctor Mayhew +interfered with this desire. He had +done much for me, more than I knew, +and he was not the man to go without +his payment. A long evening was +yet before us, time enough for a hundred +jokes, which I must hear, and +witness, and applaud or I was most +unworthy of the kindness he had +shown me. The business over for +which Mr Fairman had come expressly, +the promise given of an early +visit to the parsonage on the following +day, an affectionate parting at +the garden gate, and the incumbent +proceeded on his homeward road. +The doctor and I returned together +to the house in silence and one of us +in partial fear; for I could see the +coming sarcasm in the questionable +smile that played about his lips. Not +a word was spoken when we resumed +our seats. At last he rang the bell, +and Williams answered it——</p> + +<p>"Book Mr Stukely by the London +coach to-morrow, Williams," +said the master; "he <i>positively must +and will depart to-morrow</i>."</p> + +<p>The criminal reprieved—the child, +hopeless and despairing at the suffering +parent's bed, and blessed at length +with a firm promise of amendment +and recovery, can tell the feelings +that sustained my fluttering heart, +beating more anxiously the nearer it +approached its <i>home</i>. I woke that +morning with the lark—yes, ere that +joyous bird had spread its wing, and +broke upon the day with its mad note—and +I left the doctor's house whilst +all within were sleeping. There was +no rest for me away from that abode, +whose gates of adamant, with all their +bars and fastenings, one magic word +had opened—whose sentinels were +withdrawn—whose terrors had departed. +The hours were all too long +until I claimed my newfound privilege. +Morn of the mellow summer, +how beautiful is thy birth! How +soft—how calm—how breathlessly +and blushingly thou stealest upon +a slumbering world! fearful, as it +seems, of startling it. How deeply +quiet, and how soothing, are thy earliest +sounds—scarce audible—by no +peculiar quality distinguishable, yet +thrilling and intense! How doubly +potent falls thy witching influence on +him whose spirit passion has attuned +to all the harmonies of earth, and +made but too susceptible! Disturbed +as I was by the anticipation of my +joy, and by the consequent unrest, +with the first sight of day, and all its +charms, came <i>peace</i>—actual and profound. +The agitation of my soul was +overwhelmed by the prevailing stillness, +and I grew tranquil and subdued. +Love existed yet—what could +extinguish that?—but heightened and +sublimed. It was as though, in contemplating +the palpable and lovely +work of heaven, all selfishness had +at once departed from my breast—all +dross had separated from my best +affections, and left them pure and free. +And so I walked on, happiest of the +happy, from field to field, from hill to +hill, with no companion on the way, +no traveller within my view—alone +with nature and my heart's delight. +"And men pent up in cities," thought +I, as I went along, "would call this—<i>solitude</i>." +I remembered how +lonely I had felt in the busy crowds +of London—how chill, how desolate +and forlorn, and marvelled at the reasoning +of man. And came no other +thoughts of London and the weary +hours passed there, as I proceeded on +my delightful walk? Yes, many, as +Heaven knows, who heard the involuntary +matin prayer, offered in gratefulness +of heart, upon my knees, and +in the open fields, where no eye but +one could look upon the worshipper, +and call the fitness of the time and +place in question. The early mowers +were soon a-foot; they saluted me +and passed. Then, from the humblest +cottages issued the straight thin column +of white smoke—white as the snowy +cloud—telling of industry within, and +the return of toil. Now labourers +were busy in their garden plots, labouring +for pleasure and delight, ere +they strove abroad for hire, their children +at their side, giving the utmost +of their small help—young, ruddy, +wild, and earnest workmen all! The +country day is up some hours before +the day in town. Life sleeps in cities, +whilst it moves in active usefulness +away from them. The hills were +dotted with the forms of men before +I reached the parsonage, and when I +reached it, a golden lustre from the +mounting sun lit up the lovely house +with fire—streaming through the casements +already opened to the sweet and +balmy air.</p> + +<p>If I had found it difficult to rest on +this eventful morning, so also had another—even +here—in this most peaceful +mansion. The parsonage gate was +at this early hour unclosed. I entered. +Upon the borders of the velvet lawn, +bathed in the dews of night, I beheld +the gentle lady of the place; she was +alone, and walking pensively—now +stooping, not to pluck, but to admire, +and then to leave amongst its mates, +some crimson beauty of the earth—now +looking to the mountains of rich +gold piled in the heavens, one upon +another, changing in form and colour, +blending and separating, as is their +wondrous power and custom, filling +the maiden's soul with joy. Her back +was toward me: should I advance, +or now retire? Vain question, when, +ere an answer could be given, I was +already at the lady's side. Shall I tell +of her virgin bashfulness, her blushes, +her trembling consciousness of pure +affection? Shall I say how little her +tongue could speak her love, and how +eloquently the dropping tear told all! +Shall I describe our morning's walk, +her downward gaze—my pride?—her +deep, deep silence, my impassioned +tones, the insensibilty to all external +things—the rushing on of envious +Time, jealous of the perfect happiness +of man? The heart is wanting for the +task—the pen is shaking in the +tremulous hand.—Beautiful vision! +long associate of my rest, sweetener of +the daily cares of life, shade of the +heavenly one—beloved Ellen! hover +still around me, and sustain my aching +soul—carry me back to the earliest +days of our young love, quicken +every moment with enthusiasm—be +my fond companion once again, and +light up the old man's latest hour +with the fire that ceased to burn when +thou fleed'st heavenward! Thou hast +been near me often since we parted +here! Whose smile but thine has +cheered the labouring pilgrim through +the lagging day? In tribulation, +whose voice has whispered <i>peace</i>—whose +eye hath shone upon him, like +a star, tranquil and steady in the +gloomy night? Linger yet, and +strengthen and hallow the feeble +words, that chronicle our love!</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to conceive +a woman more eminently fitted to fulfil +the duties of her station, than the +gentle creature whose heart it had +been my happiness and fortune to +make my own. Who could speak so +well of the <i>daughter's</i> obedience as he +who was the object of her hourly solicitude? +Who could behold her tenderness, +her watchfulness and care +and not revere the filial piety that +sanctified the maid? The poor, most +difficult of mankind to please, the easily +offended, the jealous and the peevish, +were unanimous in their loud praise +of her, whose presence filled +the foulest hut with light, and was the +harbinger of good. It is well to +doubt the indigent when they speak +<i>evil</i> of their fellows; but trust them +when, with one voice, <i>they pray for +blessings</i>, as they did for her, who came +amongst them as a sister and a child. +If a spotless mind be a treasure in the +<i>wife</i>, if simplicity and truth, virtue +and steadfast love, are to be prized in +her who plights her troth to man, +what had I more to ask—what had +kind nature more to grant?</p> + +<p>Had all my previous sufferings been +multiplied a hundred times, I should +have been indemnified for all in the +month that followed my restoration to +the parsonage. Evening after evening, +when the business of the day +was closed, did we together wander +amongst the scenes that were so dear +to us—too happy in the enjoyment of +the present, dwelling with pleasure on +the past, dreaming wildly—as the +young must dream—of the uncreated +future. I spoke of earthly happiness, +and believed it not a fable. What +could be brighter than our promises? +What looked more real—less likely to +be broken? How sweet was our existence! +My tongue would never cease +to paint in dazzling colours the days +that yet awaited us. I numbered over +the joys of a domestic life, told her of +the divine favour that accompanies +contentment, and how angels of heaven +hover over the house in which it +dwells united to true love. Nor was +there wanting extravagant and fanciful +discourse, such as may be spoken +by the prodigal heart to its co-mate, +when none are by to smile and wonder +at blind feeling.</p> + +<p>"Dear Ellen," have I said, in all +the fulness of my passion—"what a +life is this we lead! what heavenly +joy! To be for ever only as we are, +were to have more of God's kindness +and beloved care than most of earthly +creatures may. Indissolubly joined, +and in each other's light to live, and +in each other's sight alone to seek +those blessings wedded feelings may +bestow—to perceive and know ourselves +as one—to breathe as one the +ripe delicious air—to fix on every object +of our mutual love the stamp and +essence of one living heart—to walk +abroad, and find glad sympathy in all +created things—this, this is to be conscious +of more lasting joy—to have +more comfort in the sight of God, +than they did know, the happy parent +pair, when heaven smiled on earth, and +earth was heaven, connected both by +tenderest links of love."</p> + +<p>She did not answer, when my soul +ran riot in its bliss. She listened, and +she sighed, as though experience cut +off the promises of hope, or as if intimations +of evil began already to cast +their shadows, and to press upon her +soul!</p> + +<p>Time flew as in a dream. The +sunny days passed on, finding and +leaving me without a trouble or a fear—happy +and entranced. Each hour +discovered new charms in my betrothed, +and every day unveiled a latent +grace. How had I merited my +great good fortune? How could I +render myself worthy of her love? It +was not long before the object of my +thoughts, sleeping and waking, became +a living idol, and I, a reckless +worshipper.</p> + +<p>Doctor Mayhew had been a faithful +friend, and such he continued, looking +to the interests of the friendless, which +might have suffered in the absence of +so good an advocate. It was he, as I +learnt, who had drawn from the incumbent +his reluctant consent to my +return. My departure following my +thoughtless declaration so quickly, +was not without visible effect on her +who had such deep concern in it. +Her trouble was not lost upon the experienced +doctor; he mentioned his +suspicion to her father, and recommended +my recall. The latter would +not listen to his counsel, and pronounced +his <i>diagnosis</i> hasty and incorrect. +The physician bade him wait. The +patient did not rally, and her melancholy +increased. The doctor once +more interceded, but not successfully. +Mr Fairman received his counsel with +a hasty word, and Dr Mayhew left +the parsonage in anger, telling the minister +he would himself be answerable +no longer for her safety. A week +elapsed, and Doctor Mayhew found it +impossible to keep away. The old +friends met, more attached than ever +for the parting which both had found +it difficult to bear. The lady was no +better. They held a conference—it +ended in my favour. I had been +exactly a month reinstated, when Doctor +Mayhew, who could not rest thoroughly +easy until our marriage was +concluded, and, as he said, "the affair +was off his hands," took a convenient +opportunity to intimate to Mr Fairman +the many advantages of an early +union. The minister was anxious to +postpone the ceremony to a distant +period, which he had not courage himself +to name. This Mayhew saw, and +was well satisfied that, if my happiness +depended on the word of the incumbent, +I should wait long before I +heard it voluntarily given. He told +me so, and undertook "to bring the +matter to a head" with all convenient +speed. He met with a hundred objections, +for all of which he was prepared. +He heard his friend attentively, +and with great deference, and then +he answered. What his answers +were, I cannot tell—powerful his reasoning +must have been, since it argued +the jealous parent into the necessity +of arranging for an early marriage, +and communicating with me +that same day upon the views which +he had for our future maintenance and +comfort.</p> + +<p>Nothing could exceed the gratification +of Doctor Mayhew, that best +and most successful of ambassadors, +when he ran to me—straight from the +incumbent's study—to announce the +perfect success of his diplomacy. Had +he been negotiating for himself, he +could not have been in higher spirits. +Ellen was with me when he acquainted +me, that in three months the treasure +would be my own, and mine +would be the privilege and right to +cherish it. He insisted that he should +be rewarded on the instant with a +kiss; and, in the exuberance of his +feelings, was immodest enough to +add, that "if he wasn't godfather to +the first, and if we did not call him +Jacob after him, he'd give us over to +our ingratitude, and not have another +syllable to say to us."</p> + +<p>It was a curious occupation to contemplate +the parent during the weeks +that followed—to observe all-powerful +nature working in him, the chastened +and the upright minister of heaven, +as she operates upon the weakest and +the humblest of mankind. He lived +for the happiness and prosperity of +his child. For that he was prepared +to make every sacrifice a father might—even +the greatest—that of parting +with her. Was it to be expected that +he should be insensible to the heavy +cost? Could it be supposed that he +would all at once resign the dear one +without a quiver or a pang? There is +a tremor of the soul as well as of the +body, when the knife is falling on the +limb to sever it, and this he suffered, +struggling for composure as a martyr, +and yet with all the weakness of a +man. I have watched him closely, +and I have known his heart wringing +with pain, as the eye of his child +sparkled with joy at my approach, +whilst the visible features of his face +strove fiercely to suppress the rising +selfishness. He has gazed upon her, +as we have sat together in the cheerful +night, wondering, as it seemed, by +what fascination the natural and deep-rooted +love of years could be surpassed +and superseded by the immature affection +of a day—forgetful of her mother's +love, that once preferred him +to her sire. In our evening walks I +have seen him in our track, following +from afar, eager to overtake and join +us, and yet resisting the strong impulse, +and forbearing. He could not +hide from me the glaring fact, that he +was envious of my fortune, manifest +as it was in every trifling act; nor +was it, in truth, easier for him to conceal +the strong determination which +he had formed to act with honour and +with justice. No angry or reproachful +word escaped his lips; every favour +that he could show me he gladly +proffered; nay, many uncalled-for +and unexpected, he insisted upon my +receiving, apparently, or, as I guessed, +because he wished to mortify his own +poor heart, and to remove from me +the smallest cause for murmuring or +complaint. I endeavoured not to be +unworthy of his liberality and confidence; +and the daughter, who perceived +the conflict in his breast, redoubled +her attention, and made more +evident her unimpaired and childlike +love.</p> + +<p>It wanted but a month to the time +fixed for our union, when Ellen reached +her twentieth year. On that occasion, +Doctor Mayhew dined with +us, and passed the evening at the parsonage. +He was in high spirits; and +the minister himself more gay than I +had known him since our engagement. +Ellen reflected her father's cheerfulness, +and was busy in sustaining it. +All went merry as a marriage-bell. +Ellen sang her father's favourite airs—played +the tunes that pleased him +best, and acquired new energy and +power as she proceeded. The parent +looked upon her with just pride, and +took occasion, when the music was at +its loudest, to turn to Mayhew, and to +speak of her.</p> + +<p>"How well she looks!" said he; +"how beautiful she grows!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the physician; +"I don't wonder that she made young +Stukely's heart ache. What a figure +the puss has got!"</p> + +<p>"And her health seems quite restored!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you are not surprised at +that, I reckon. Rest assured, my +friend, if we could only let young +ladies have their way, our patients +would diminish rapidly. Why, how +she sings to-night! I never knew her +voice so good—did you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she is happy, Mayhew; all +her thoughts are joyful! Her heart +is revelling. It was very sinful to be +so anxious on her account."</p> + +<p>"So I always told you; but you +wouldn't mind me. She'll make old +bones."</p> + +<p>"You think so, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, look at her yourself, and +say whether we should be justified in +thinking otherwise. Is she not the +picture of health and animation?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mayhew, but her mother"——</p> + +<p>"There, be quiet will you? The +song is over."</p> + +<p>Ellen returned to her father's side, +sat upon a stool before him, and placed +her arms upon his knee. The incumbent +drew her head there, and touched +her cheek in playfulness.</p> + +<p>"Come, my friend," exclaimed the +physician, "that isn't allowable by +any means. Recollect two young +gentlemen are present, and we can't +be tantalized."</p> + +<p>The minister smiled, and Ellen +looked at me.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember, doctor," enquired +the latter, "this very day +eleven years, when you came over on +the grey pony, that walked into this +room after you, and frightened us all +so?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, puss, I do very well; and +don't I recollect your tying my wig +to the chair, and then calling me to +the window, to see how I should look +when I had left it behind me, you +naughty little girl!"</p> + +<p>"That was very wrong, sir; but +you know you forgave me for it."</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't. Come here, though, +and I will now."</p> + +<p>She left her stool, and ran laughing +to him. The doctor professed to +whisper in her ear, but kissed her +cheek. He coughed and hemmed, +and, with a serious air, asked me what +I meant by grinning at him.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, doctor," continued +Ellen, "that this is my first birth-day, +since that one, which we have kept +without an interruption. Either papa +or you have been always called away +before half the evening was over."</p> + +<p>"Well, and very sorry you would +be, I imagine, if both of us were called +away <i>now</i>. It would be very distressing +to you; wouldn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It would hardly render her happy, +Mayhew," said Mr Fairman, "to be +deprived of her father's society +on such an occasion."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, papa," said Ellen, +earnestly; "and the good doctor +does not think so either."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't he, though, you wicked +pussy? You would be very wretched, +then, if we were obliged to go? No +doubt of it, especially if we happened +to leave that youngster there behind +us."</p> + +<p>"Ellen shall read to us, Mayhew," +said the incumbent, turning +from the subject. "You will find Milton +on my table, Caleb."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Ellen imparted to her +friend a look of tenderest remonstrance, +and the doctor said no more.</p> + +<p>The incumbent, himself a fine reader, +had taken great pains to teach his +child the necessary and simple, but +much neglected art of reading well. +There was much grace and sweetness +in her utterance, correct emphasis, +and no effort. An hour passed delightfully +with the minister's favourite +and beloved author; now the +maiden read, now he. He listened +with greater pleasure to her voice than +to his own or any other, but he watched +the smallest diminution of its power—the +faintest evidence of failing +strength—and released her instantly, +most anxious for her health and safety, +then and always.</p> + +<p>Then arose, as will arise from the +contented bosom of domestic piety, +grateful rejoicings—the incense of an +altar glowing with love's own offerings! +Past time was summoned up, +weighed with the present, and, with all +the mercies which accompanied it, +was still found wanting in the perfect +and unsullied happiness that existed +now. "The love of heaven," said +the minister, "had never been so +manifest and clear. His labours in +the service of his people, his prayers +on their behalf, were not unanswered. +Improvement was taking place around him; +even those who had given him +cause for deepest sorrow, were already +turning from the path of error into +that of rectitude and truth. The +worst characters in the village had +been checked by the example of their +fellows, and by the voice of their own +conscience, (he might have added, by +the working of their minister's most +affectionate zeal) and his heart was +joyful—how joyful he could not say—on +their account. His family was +blessed—(and he looked at Ellen with a +moistened eye)—with health, and with +the promise of its continuance. His +best and oldest friend was at his side; +and he, who was dear to them all on +her account whose life would soon be +linked with his, was about to add to +every other blessing, the advantages +which must follow the possession of so +good a son. What more could he +require? How much more was this +than the most he could deserve!"</p> + +<p>Doctor Mayhew, touched with the +solemn feeling of the moment, became +a serious man. He took the incumbent +by the hand, and spoke.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Fairman, we have cause for +gratitude. You and I have roughed +it many years, and gently enough do +we go down the hill. To behold the +suffering of other men, and to congratulate +ourselves upon our exemption, +is not the rational mode of receiving +goodness from Almighty God—yet +it is impossible for a human +being to look about him, and to see +family after family worn down by +calamity, whilst he himself is free from +any, and not have his heart yearning +with thankfulness, knowing, as he +must, how little he merits his condition. +You and I are happy fellows, +both of us; and all we have to do, is +to think so, and to prepare quietly to +leave our places, whilst the young +folks grow up to take them. As +for the boy there, if he doesn't smooth +your pillow, and lighten for you the +weight of old age as it comes on, then +am I much mistaken, and ready to +regret the steps which I have taken +to bring you all together."</p> + +<p>There was little spoken after this. +The hearts were full to the brink—to +speak was to interfere with their consummate +joy. The doctor was the +only one who made the attempt, and +he, after a very ineffectual endeavour +to be jocose, held his peace. The +Bible was produced. The servants +of the house appeared. A chapter +was read from it by the incumbent—a +prayer was offered up, then we +separated.</p> + +<p>I stole to Ellen as she was about to +quit us for the night. "And you, +dear Ellen," I whispered in her ear, +"are you, too, happy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, <i>dearest</i>," she murmured +with a gentle pressure, that passed +like wildfire to my heart. "I fear +<i>too</i> happy. Earth will not suffer it"</p> + +<p>We parted, and in twelve hours +those words were not without their +meaning.</p> + +<p>We met on the following morning +at the usual breakfast hour. The moment +that I entered the apartment, I +perceived that Ellen was indisposed—that +something had occurred, since the +preceding night, to give her anxiety +or pain. Her hand trembled slightly, +and a degree of perturbation was apparent +in her movements. My first +impression was, that she had received +ill news, for there was nothing in her +appearance to indicate the existence +of bodily suffering. It soon occurred +to me, however, that the unwonted +recent excitement might account for +all her symptoms—that they were, in +fact, the natural consequence of that +sudden abundance of joyous spirits +which I had remarked in her during +the early part of the evening. I satisfied +myself with this belief, or strove +to do so—the more easily, perhaps, because +I saw her father indifferent to +her state, if not altogether ignorant of +it. He who was ever lying in wait—ever +watching—ever ready to apprehend +the smallest evidence of ill health, +was, on this morning, as insensible to +the alteration which had taken place +in the darling object of his solicitude, +as though he had no eyes to see, or +object to behold; so easy is it for a +too anxious diligence in a pursuit to +overshoot and miss the point at which +it aims. Could he, as we sat, have +guessed the cause of all her grief—could +some dark spirit, gloating on +man's misery, have breathed one fearful +word into his ear, bringing to life +and light the melancholy tale of distant +years—how would his nature +have supported the announcement—how +bore the?——but let me not anticipate. +I say that I dismissed all +thought of serious mischief, by attributing +at once all signs of it to the +undue excitement of the festive night. +As the breakfast proceeded, I believed +that her anxiety diminished, and with +that passed away my fears.</p> + +<p>At the end of the pleasure garden +of the parsonage was a paddock, and, +immediately beyond this, another field, +leading to a small valley of great +beauty. On one side of "<i>the Dell</i>," +as it was called, was a summer-house, +which the incumbent had erected for +the sake of the noble prospect which +the elevation commanded. To this retreat +Ellen and I had frequently wandered +with our books during the progress +of our love. Here I had read to her of +affection and constancy, consecrated +by the immortal poet's song. Here +we had passed delightful hours, bestowing +on the future the same golden +lustre that made so bright the present. +In joy, I had called this summer-house +"<i>the Lover's Bower</i>," and it was pleasing +to us both to think that we should +visit in our after days, for many a year, +and with increasing love, a spot endeared +to us by the fondest recollections. +Thither I bent my steps at the +close of our repast. It wanted but +two days to the time fixed for the resumption +of our studies. The boys +had returned, and the note of preparation +was already sounded. I carried +my task to the retreat, and there commenced +my labours. An hour fled +quickly whilst I was occupied somewhat +in Greek, but more in contemplation +of the gorgeous scene before +me, and in lingering thoughts of her +whose form was never absent, but +hovered still about the pleasure or the +business of the day. The shadow of +that form was yet present, when the +substance became visible to the bodily +eye. Ellen followed me to the +"<i>Lover's Bower</i>," and there surprised +me. She was even paler than before—and +the burden of some disquietude +was written on her gentle brow; but a +smile was on her lips—one of a languid +cast—and also of encouragement and +hope. I drew her to my side. Lovers +are egotists; their words point ever +to themselves. She spoke of the birth-day +that had just gone by; the tranquil +and blissful celebration of it. My +expectant soul was already dreaming +of the next that was to come, and +speaking of the increased happiness +that must accompany it.</p> + +<p>Ellen sighed.</p> + +<p>"It is a lover's sigh!" thought I, +not heeding it.</p> + +<p>"Whatever may be the future, Caleb," +said Ellen seriously, but very +calmly, "we ought to be prepared +for it. Earth is not our <i>resting-place</i>. +We should never forget that. Should +we, dearest?"</p> + +<p>"No, love; but earth has happiness +of her kind, of which her children are +most sensible. Whilst we are here, +we live upon her promises."</p> + +<p>"But oh, not to the exclusion of +the brighter promises that come from +heaven! You do not say that, dear +Caleb?"</p> + +<p>"No, Ellen. You could not give +your heart to him who thought so; +howbeit, you have bestowed it upon +one unworthy of your piety and excellence."</p> + +<p>"Do not mock me, Caleb," said +Ellen, blushing. "I have the heart +of a sinner, that needs all the mercy of +heaven for its weaknesses and faults. +I have ever fallen short of my +duty."</p> + +<p>"You are the only one who says it. +Your father will not say so, and I +question if the villagers would take +your part in this respect."</p> + +<p>"Do not misunderstand me, Caleb. +I am not, I trust, a hypocrite. I have +endeavoured to be useful to the poor +and helpless in our neighbourhood—I +have been anxious to lighten the heaviness +of a parent's days, and, as far as +I could, to indemnify him for my mother's +loss. I believe that I have done +the utmost my imperfect faculties permitted. +I have nothing to charge +myself with on these accounts. But +my Heavenly Father," continued the +maiden, her cheeks flushing, her eyes +filling with tears—"oh! I have been +backward in my affection and duty to +him. I have not ever had before my +eyes his honour and glory in my daily +walk—I have not done every act in +subordination to his will, for his sake, +and with a view to his blessing. But +He is merciful as well as just, and if +his punishment falls now upon my +head, it is assuredly to wean me from +my error, and to bring me to himself."</p> + +<p>The maid covered her moistened +cheek, and sobbed loudly. I was fully +convinced that she was suffering from +the reaction consequent upon extreme +joy. I was rather relieved than distressed +by her burst of feeling, and I +did not attempt for a time to check +her tears.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, dear Caleb," she said +herself at length, "if I were to lose +you—if it were to please Heaven to +take you suddenly from this earth, +would it not be sinful to murmur at +his act? Would it not be my duty to +bend to his decree, and to prepare to +follow you?"</p> + +<p>"You would submit to such a trial +as a Christian woman ought. I am +sure you would, dear Ellen—parted, +as we should be, but for a season, and +sure of a reunion."</p> + +<p>"And would you do this?" enquired +the maiden quickly. "Oh, say +that you would, dear Caleb! Let me +hear it."</p> + +<p>"You are agitated, dearest. We +will not talk of this now. There is +grace in heaven appointed for the bitterest +seasons of adversity. It does +not fail when needed. Let us pray +that the hour may be distant which +shall bring home to either so great a +test of resignation."</p> + +<p>"Yes, pray, dear Stukely; but, +should it come suddenly and quickly—oh, +let us be prepared to meet it!"</p> + +<p>"We will endeavour, then; and +now to a more cheerful theme. Do +we go to Dr Mayhew's, as proposed? +We shall spend a happy day with +our facetious, but most kind-hearted +friend."</p> + +<p>Ellen burst again into a flood of +tears.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, love?" I exclaimed. +"Confide to me, and tell +the grief that preys upon your mind."</p> + +<p>"Do not be alarmed, Stukely," she +answered rapidly; "it may be nothing +after all; but when I woke this morning—it +may, I hope for your sake that +it <i>is</i> nothing serious—but my dear +mother, it was the commencement of +her own last fatal illness."</p> + +<p>She stopped suddenly, as if her +speech had failed her—coughed sharply, +and raised her handkerchief to her +mouth. I perceived a thick, broad +spot of BLOOD, and shuddered.</p> + +<p>"Do not be frightened, Stukely," she +continued, shocked fearfully herself. +"I shall recover soon. It is the +suddenness—I was unprepared. So it +was when I awoke this morning—and +it startled me, because I heard it was +the first bad symptom that my poor +mother showed. Now, I pray you, +Stukely, to be calm. Perhaps I shall +get well; but if I do not, I shall be so +happy—preparing for eternity, with +you, dear Caleb, at my side. You +promised to be tranquil, and to bear +up against this day; and I am sure you +will—yes, for my sake—that I may see +you so, and have no sorrow."</p> + +<p>I took the dear one to my bosom, +and, like a child, cried upon her neck. +What could I say? In one moment I +was a bankrupt and a beggar—my fortunes +were scattered to the winds—my +solid edifice as stricken by the thunder-bolt, +and lay in ruins before me! +Was it real?</p> + +<p>Ellen grew calmer as she looked at +me, and spoke.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, dearest Stukely. It +was my duty to acquaint you with this +circumstance, and I have done so, relying +on your manliness and love. +You have already guessed what I am +about to add. My poor father"—her +lips quivered as she said the word—"he +must know nothing for the present. +It would be cruel unnecessarily +to alarm him. His heart would break. +He MUST be kept in ignorance of this. +You shall see Mayhew; he will, I +trust, remove our fears. Should he +confirm them, he can communicate to +papa." Again she paused, and her +tears trickled to her lips, which moved +convulsively.</p> + +<p>"Do not speak, my beloved," I exclaimed. +"Compose yourself. We +will return home. Be it as you wish. +I will see Mayhew immediately, and +bring him with me to the parsonage. +Seek rest—avoid exertion."</p> + +<p>I know not what conversation followed +this. I know not how we reached +our home again. I have no recollection +of it. Three times upon our road was +the cough repeated, and, as at first, it +was accompanied by that hideous sight. +In vain she turned her head away to +escape detection. It was impossible +to deceive my keen and piercing gaze. +I grew pale as death as I beheld on +each occasion the frightful evidence of +disease; but the maiden pressed my +hand, and smiled sweetly and encouragingly +to drive away my fears. She +did not speak—I had forbidden her to +do so; but her looks—full of tenderness +and love—told how all her thoughts +were for her lover—all her anxiety and +care.</p> + +<p>At my request, as soon as we arrived +at home, she went to bed. I saw the +incumbent—acquainted him with her +sudden illness—taking care to keep its +nature secret—and then ran for my life +to Dr Mayhew's residence. The very +appearance of blood was to me, as it +is always to the common and +uninformed observer, beyond all doubt +confirmatory of the worst suspicions—the +harbinger of certain death. There +is something horrible in its sight, +presented in such a form; but not for +itself do we shrink as we behold it—not +for what it is, but for what it +awfully proclaims. I was frantic and +breathless when I approached the +doctor's house, and half stupified when +I at length stood before him.</p> + +<p>I told my errand quickly.</p> + +<p>The doctor attempted instantly to +mislead me, but he failed in his +design. I saw, in spite of the forced +smile that would not rest upon his lips, +how unexpectedly and powerfully this +news had come upon him—how seriously +he viewed it. He could not +remove my miserable convictions by +his own abortive efforts at cheerfulness +and unconcern. He moved to +his window, and strove to whistle, and +to speak of the haymakers who were +busy in the fields, and of the weather; +but the more he feigned to regard my +information as undeserving of alarm, +the more convinced I grew that deadly +mischief had already taken place. +There was an air about him that +showed him ill at ease; and, in the +midst of all his quietude and indifference, +he betrayed an anxiety to appear +composed, unwarranted by an ordinary +event. Had the illness been trifling +indeed, he could have afforded to be +more serious and heedful.</p> + +<p>"I will be at the parsonage some +time to-day. You can return without +me, Stukely."</p> + +<p>"Dr Mayhew," I exclaimed, "I +entreat, I implore you not to trifle with +me! I can bear any thing but that. +Tell me the worst, and I will not +shrink from it. You must not think +to deceive me. You are satisfied that +there is no hope for us; I am sure you +are, and you will not be just and say +so."</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied of no such thing," +answered the doctor quickly. "I +should be a fool, a madman, to speak +so rashly. There is every reason to +hope, I do believe, at present. Tell +me one thing—does her father know +of it?"</p> + +<p>"He does not."</p> + +<p>"Then let it still be kept a secret +from him. Her very life may depend +upon his ignorance. She must be +kept perfectly composed—no agitation—no +frightened faces around her. But +I will go with you, and see what can +be done. I'll warrant it is nothing at +all, and that puss is well over her fright +before we get to her."</p> + +<p>Again the doctor smiled unhealthfully, +and tried, awkwardly enough, to +appear wholly free from apprehension, +whilst he was most uncomfortable with +the amount of it.</p> + +<p>The physician remained for half an +hour with his patient, and rejoined me +in the garden when he quitted her. +He looked serious and thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"There is no hope, then?" I +exclaimed immediately.</p> + +<p>"Tush, boy," he answered; +"quiet—quiet. She will do well, I +hope—eventually. She has fever on her +now, which must be brought down. +While that remains there will be +anxiety, as there must be always—when +it leaves her, I trust she will be +well again. Do you know if she has +undergone any unusual physical exertion?"</p> + +<p>"I do not."</p> + +<p>"I confess to you that I do not like +this accident; but it is impossible to +speak positively now. Whilst the fever +lasts, symptoms may be confounded +and mistaken. I will watch her +closely."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen her father?"</p> + +<p>"I have; but I have told him +nothing further than he knew. He believes +her slightly indisposed. I have +calmed him, and have told him not to +have the child disturbed. You will +see to that?"</p> + +<p>"I will."</p> + +<p>"And now mark me, Stukely. I +expect that you will behave like a man, +and as you ought. We cannot keep +Fairman ignorant of this business. +Should it go on, as it may—in spite of +every thing we can do—he must +know it. You have seen sufficient of +his character to judge how he will +receive the information which it may +be my painful lot to take to him. I +think of it with dread. It has been +my pleasure to stand your friend—you +must prove mine. I shall expect you +to act with fortitude and calmness, and +not, by weakness and self-indulgence, +to increase the pain that will afflict the +parent's heart—for it will be sufficient +for Fairman to know only what has +happened to give up every hope and +consolation. You must be firm on his +account and chiefly for the sake of the +dear girl, who should not see your face +without a smile of confidence and love +upon it. Do you hear me? I will let +you weep now," he continued, noticing +the tears which prevented my reply, +"provided that you dry your eyes, and +keep them so from this time forward. +Do you hear me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I faltered.</p> + +<p>"And will you heed me?"</p> + +<p>"I will try," I answered, as firmly as +I might, with every hope within me +crushed and killed by the words which +he had spoken.</p> + +<p>"Very well. Then let us say no +more, until we see what Providence is +doing for us."</p> + +<p>The fever of Ellen did not abate +that day. The doctor did not leave +the house, but remained with the incumbent—not, +as he told his friend, +because he thought it necessary so +to do, but to keep the word which he +had given the night before—viz., to +pass the day with him. He was sorry +that he had been deprived of their +company at his own abode, but he +could make himself quite comfortable +where he was. About eleven o'clock +at night the doctor thought it strange +that Robin had not brought his pony +over, and wondered what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Shall we send to enquire?" asked +Mr Fairman.</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" was the quick answer, +"that never can be worth while. +We'll wait a little longer."</p> + +<p>At twelve the doctor spoke again. +"Well, he must think of moving; but +he was very tired, and did not care +to walk."</p> + +<p>"Why not stay here, then? I cannot +see, Mayhew, why you should be +so uneasy at the thought of sleeping +out. Come, take your bed with us for +once."</p> + +<p>"Eh?—well—it's very late—suppose +I do."</p> + +<p>Mayhew had not been shrewd enough, +and, with his ready acquiescence, the +minister learned all.</p> + +<p>I did not go to bed. My place was +at her door, and there I lingered till the +morning. The physician had paid his +last visit shortly after midnight, and had +given orders to the nurse who waited +on the patient, to call him up if necessary, +but on no account to disturb the +lady if she slept or was composed. +The gentle sufferer did not require his +services, or, if she did, was too thoughtful +and too kind to make it known. +Early in the morning Doctor Mayhew +came—the fever had increased—and +she had experienced a new attack of +hæmoptysis the moment she awoke. +The doctor stepped softly from her +room, and deep anxiety was written on +his brow. I followed him with eagerness. +He put his finger to his lips, +and said, "Remember, Stukely."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will—I do; but, is she better?"</p> + +<p>"No—but I am not discouraged yet. +Every thing depends upon extreme +tranquillity. No one must see her. +Dear me, dear me! what is to be said +to Fairman, should he ask?"</p> + +<p>"Is she placid?" I enquired.</p> + +<p>"She is an angel, Stukely," said the +good doctor, pressing my hands, and +passing on. When we met at breakfast, +the incumbent looked hard at me, +and seemed to gather something from +my pale and careworn face. When +Mayhew came, full of bustle, assumed, +and badly too, as the shallowest observer +could perceive, he turned to him, and +in a quiet voice asked "if his child +was much worse since the previous +night."</p> + +<p>"Not much," said Mayhew. "She +will be better in a short time, I trust."</p> + +<p>"May I see her?" enquired the father +in the same soft tone.</p> + +<p>"Not now—by and by perhaps—I +hope to-morrow. This is a sudden attack—you +see—any excitement may +prolong it—it wouldn't be well to give +a chance away. Don't you see that, +Fairman?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the minister, and from +that moment made no further mention +of his daughter during breakfast. The +meal was soon dispatched. Mr Fairman +retired to his study—and the doctor +prepared for his departure. He +promised to return in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" he exclaimed, as he +took leave of me at the gate, "that +Fairman remains so very unsuspicious. +This is not like him. I expected to +find him more inquisitive."</p> + +<p>"I am surprised," I answered; "but +it is most desirable that he should continue +so."</p> + +<p>"Yes—yes—by all means—for the +present at all events."</p> + +<p>Throughout the day there was no +improvement in the patient's symptoms. +The physician came according +to his promise, and again at night. He +slept at the parsonage for the second +time. The minister betrayed no wonder +at this unusual act, showed no agitation, +made no importunate enquiries. +He asked frequently during the day if +any amendment had taken place; but +always in a gentle voice, and without +any other reference to her illness. As +often as the doctor came, he repeated +his wish to visit his dear child, but, receiving +for answer "that he had better +not at present," he retired to his +study with a tremulous sigh, but offering +no remonstrance.</p> + +<p>The doctor went early to rest. He +had no inclination to spend the evening +with his friend, whom he hardly +cared to see until he could meet him +as the messenger of good tidings. I +had resolved to hover, as I did before, +near the mournful chamber in which +she lay; and there I kept a weary +watch until my eyes refused to serve +me longer, and I was forced against my +will, and for the sake of others, to yield +my place and crawl to my repose. As +I walked stealthily through the house, +and on tiptoe, fearful of disturbing one +beloved inmate even by a breath—I +passed the incumbent's study. The +door was open, and a glare of light +broke from it, and stretched across the +passage. I hesitated for a moment—then +listened—but, hearing nothing, +pursued my way. It was very strange. +The clock had just before struck three, +and the minister, it was supposed, had +been in bed since midnight. "His +lamp is burning," thought I—"he has +forgotten it." I was on the point of +entering the apartment—when I was +deterred and startled by his voice. My +hand was already on the door, and I +looked in. Before me, on his knees, +with his back towards me, was my revered +friend—his hands clasped, and his +head raised in supplication. He was +in his dress of day, and had evidently +not yet visited his pillow. I +waited, and he spoke—</p> + +<p>"Not my will," he exclaimed in a +piercing tone of prayer—"not mine, +but thy kind will be done, O Lord! +If it be possible, let the bitter cup pass +from me—but spare not, if thy glory +must needs be vindicated. Bring me +to thy feet in meek, and humble, and +believing confidence—all is well, then, +for time and for eternity. It is merciful +and good to remove the idol that +stands between our love and God. +Father of mercy—enable me to bring +the truth <i>home, home</i> to this most +traitorous—this lukewarm, earthy heart +of mine—a heart not worthy of thy +care and help. Let me not murmur at +thy gracious will—oh, rather bend and +bow to it—and kiss the rod that punishes. +I need chastisement—for I +have loved too well—too fondly. I am +a rebel, and thy all-searching eye hath +found me faithless in thy service. Take +her, Father and Saviour—I will resign +her—I will bless the hand that smites +me—I will"—he stopped; and big +tears, such as drop fearfully from manhood's +eye, made known to heaven the +agony that tears a parent's heart, whilst +piety is occupied in healing it.</p> + +<p>It is not my purpose to recite the +doubts and fears, the terrible suspense, +the anxious hopes, that filled the hours +which passed whilst the condition of +the patient remained critical. It is a +recital which the reader may well +spare, and I avoid most gladly. At +the end of a week, the fever departed +from the sufferer. The alarming symptoms +disappeared, and confidence flowed +rapidly to the soul again. At this +time the father paid his first visit to +his child. He found her weak and +wasted; the violent applications which +had been necessary for safety had +robbed her of all strength—had effected, +in fact, a prostration of power, which +she never recovered, from which she +never rallied. Mr Fairman was greatly +shocked, and asked the physician for +his opinion <i>now</i>. The latter declined +giving it until, as he expressed himself, +"the effects of the fever, and her attack, +had left him a fair and open field +for observation. There was a slight +cough upon her. It was impossible +for the present to say, whether it was +temporary and dependent upon what +had happened, or whether it resulted +from actual mischief in her lung."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>A month has passed away since the +physician spoke these words, and to +doubt longer would be to gaze upon +the sun and to question its brightness. +Mayhew has told the father his worst +fears, and bids him prepare like a Christian +and a man for the loss of his earthly +treasure. It was he who watched +the decay of her mother. The case is +a similar one. He has no consolation +to offer. It must be sought at the +throne of Him who giveth, and +hath the right to take away. The +minister receives the intelligence with +admirable fortitude. We are sitting +together, and the doctor has just spoken +as becomes him, seriously and well. +There is a spasm on the cheek of the +incumbent, whilst I sob loudly. The +latter takes me by the hand, and +speaks to the physician in a low and +hesitating tone.</p> + +<p>"Mayhew," said he, "I thank you +for this sincerity. I will endeavour to +look the terror in the face, as I have +struggled to do for many days. It is +hard—but through the mercy of Christ +it is not impracticable. Dear and oldest +friend, unite your prayers with +mine, for strength, and holiness, and +resignation. Cloud and agitation are +at our feet. Heaven is above us. Let +us look there, and all is well."</p> + +<p>We knelt. The minister prayed. +He did not ask his Master to suspend +his judgments. He implored him to +prepare the soul of the afflicted one for +its early flight, and to subdue the hearts +of them all with his grace and holy +spirit. Let him who doubts the efficacy +of <i>prayer</i> seek to clear his difficulty +in the season of affliction, or +when death sits grimly at the hearth—he +shall be satisfied.</p> + +<p>If it were a consolation and a joy +in the midst of our tribulation to behold +the father chastened by the heavy +blow which had fallen so suddenly +upon his age, how shall I express the +ineffable delight—yes, delight, amidst +sorrow the most severe—with which +I contemplated the beloved maiden, +upon whose tender years Providence +had allowed to fall so great a trial. +Fully sensible of her position, and of +the near approach of death, she was, +so long as she could see her parent and +her lover without distress, patient, +cheerful, and rejoicing. Yes, weaker +and weaker as she grew, happier and +happier she became in the consciousness +of her pure soul's increase. Into +her ear had been whispered, and before +her eyes holy spirits had appeared +with the mysterious communication, +which, hidden as it is from us, we find +animating and sustaining feeble nature, +which else would sink, appalled and +overwhelmed. There was not one of +us who did not live a witness to the +truth of the heavenly promise, "<i>as thy +days, so shall thy strength be</i>;" not one +amongst the dearest friends of the sufferer, +who did not feel, in the height of +his affliction, that God would not cast +upon his creatures a burden which a +Christian might not bear. But to <i>her</i> +especially came the celestial declaration +with power and might. An angel, +sojourning for a day upon the earth, +and preparing for his homeward flight, +could not have spread his ready wing +more joyfully, with livelier anticipation +of his native bliss, than did the maiden +look for her recall and blest ascension +to the skies. In her presence I had +seldom any grief; it was swallowed up +and lost in gratitude for the victory +which the dear one had achieved, in +virtue of her faith, over all the horrors +of her situation. It was when alone +that I saw, in its reality and naked +wretchedness, the visitation that I, +more than any other, was doomed to +suffer. For days I could scarcely bring +myself to the calm consideration of it. +It seemed unreal, impossible, a dream—any +thing but what it was—the direst +of worldly woes—the most tremendous +of human punishments.</p> + +<p>I remember vividly a day passed in +the chamber of the resigned creature, +about two months after the first indication +of her illness. Her disease had +increased rapidly, and the signs of its +ravages were painfully manifest in her +sunken eye, her hectic cheek, her hollow +voice, her continual cough. Her +spirit became more tranquil as her body +retreated from the world—her hopes +more firm, her belief in the love of her +Saviour—his will and power to save +her, more clear, and free from all perplexity. +I had never beheld so beautiful +a sight as the devoted maid presented +to my view. I had never supposed +it possible to exist; and thus, as +I sat at her side, though the thought of +death was ever present, it was as of a +terror in a milkwhite shroud—a monster +enveloped and concealed beneath +a robe of beauty. I listened to her +with enchantment whilst she spoke of +the littleness of this world, and the +boundless happiness that awaited true +believers in the next—of the unutterable +mercy of God, in removing us +from a scene of trouble whilst our +views were cloudless, and our hopes +sure and abiding. Yes, charmed by the +unruffled air, the angelic look, I could +forget even my mortality for a moment, +and feel my living soul in +deep communion with a superior and +brighter spirit. It was when she recalled +me to earth by a reminiscence +of our first days of love, that the +bruised heart was made sensible of +pain, and of its lonely widowed lot. +Then the tears would not be checked, +but rushed passionately forth, and, as +the clouds shut out and hid the one +brief glimpse of heaven, flowed unrestrained.</p> + +<p>Her mind was in a sweet composed +state during the interview to which I +allude. She had pleasure in referring +to the days of her childhood, and in +speaking of the happiness which she +had found amongst her native hills.</p> + +<p>"How little, Caleb," she said, "is +the mind occupied with thoughts +of death in childhood—with any +thoughts of actual lasting evil! We +cannot see these things in childhood—we +cannot penetrate so deeply or +throw our gaze so far, we are so +occupied with the joys that are round +about us. Is it not so? Our parents +are ever with us. Day succeeds to +day—one so like the other—and our +home becomes our world. A sorrow +comes at length—a parent dies—the +first and dearest object in that world; +then all is known, and the stability of +life becomes suspected."</p> + +<p>"The home of many," I replied, +"is undisturbed for years!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and how sweet a thing is love +of home! It is not acquired, I am +sure. It is a feeling that has its +origin elsewhere. It is born with us; +brought from another world, to carry +us on in this with joy. It attaches to +the humblest heart that ever throbbed."</p> + +<p>"Dear Ellen!" I exclaimed, "how +little has sorrow to do with your affliction!"</p> + +<p>"And why, dear Caleb? Have you +never found that the difficulties of the +broad day melt away beneath the influences +of the quiet lovely night? +Have you never been perplexed in the +bustle and tumult of the day, and has +not truth revealed itself when all was +dark and still? This is my night, and +in sickness I have seen the eye of God +upon me, and heard his words, as I +have never seen and heard before?"</p> + +<p>It was in this manner that she would +talk, not more disturbed, nay, not so +much, as when in happier times I +never heard her speak of the troubles +and anxieties of her poor villagers. +No complaint—no mournful accents +escaped her lips. If at times the soaring +spirit was repressed, dejected, +the living—the loved ones whom she +must leave behind her had possession +of her thoughts, and loaded them +with pain. Who would wait upon +her father? Who would attend to all +his little wants? Who could understand +his nature as she had learnt it—and +who would live to comfort and to +cheer his days? These questions she +has asked herself, whilst her only +answers have been her struggling +tears.</p> + +<p>The days were travelling fast; each +one taking from the doomed girl—years +of life. She dwindled and wasted; +and became at length less than a +shadow of her former self. Why +linger on the narrative? Autumn arrived, +and, with the general decay—she +died. A few hours before her +death she summoned me to her bedside, +and acquainted me with her fast-approaching +dissolution. "It is the +day," she said, speaking with difficulty—"I +am sure of it. I have watched +that branch for many days—look—it +is quite bare. Its last yellow leaf has +fallen—I shall not survive it." I gazed +upon her; her eye was brighter than +ever. It sparkled again, and most +beautiful she looked. But death was +there—and her soul eager to give him +all that he could claim!</p> + +<p>"You are quite happy, dearest +Ellen!" I exclaimed, weeping on her +thin emaciated hand.</p> + +<p>"Most happy, beloved. Do not +grieve—be resigned—be joyful. I have +a word to say. Nurse," she continued, +calling to her attendant—"the drawing."</p> + +<p>The nurse placed in her hand the +sketch which she had taken of my +favourite scene.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember, love?" said +she. "Keep it, for Ellen—you loved +that spot—oh, so did I!--and you will +love it still. There is another sketch, +you will find it by and by—afterwards—when +I am——It is in my desk. +Keep that too, for Ellen, will you? +It is the last drawing I have +made."</p> + +<p>I sat by and bit my lips to crush my +grief, but I would not be silent whilst +my heart as breaking.</p> + +<p>"You should rejoice, dear," continued +Ellen solemnly. "We did not +expect this separation so very soon; +but it is better now than later. Be +sure it is merciful and good. Prepare +for this hour, Caleb; and when it +comes, you will be so calm, so ready +to depart. How short is life! Do not +waste the precious hours. Read from +St John, dearest—the eleventh chapter. +It is all sweetness and consolation."</p> + +<p>The sun was dropping slowly into +the west, leaving behind him a deep +red glow that illuminated the hills, and +burnished the windows of the sick-chamber. +The wind moaned, and, +sweeping the sere leaves at intervals, +threatened a tempest. There was a +solemn stillness in the parsonage, +around whose gate—weeping in silence, +without heart to speak, or wish +to make their sorrow known—were +collected a host of humble creatures—the +poorest but sincerest friends of +Ellen—the villagers who had been her +care. They waited and lingered for +the heavy news, which they were told +must come to them this day; and +prayed secretly—every one of them, +old and young—for mercy on the sufferer's +soul! And she, whose gentle +spirit is about to flit, lies peacefully, +and but half-conscious of the sounds +that pass to heaven on her behalf. +Her father, Mayhew, and I, kneel +round her bed, and the minister in supplicating +tones, where nature does not +interpose, dedicates the virgin to <i>His</i> +favour whose love she has applied so +well. He ceases, for a whisper has +escaped her lips. We listen all. +"<i>Oh, this is peace</i>!" she utters faintly, +but most audibly, and the scene is +over.</p> + +<p>"It is a dream," said the minister, +when we parted for the night—I with +the vain hope to forget in sleep the +circumstances of the day—the father +to stray unwittingly into <i>her</i> former +room, and amongst the hundred objects +connected with the happy memory +of the departed.</p> + +<p>The picture of which my Ellen had +spoken, I obtained on the following +day. It was a drawing of the church +and the burial-ground adjoining it. +One grave was open. It represented +that in which her own mortal remains +were deposited, amidst the unavailing +lamentations of a mourning village.</p> + +<p>In three months the incumbent quitted +Devonshire. The scenery had no +pleasure for him, associated as it was +with all the sorrows of his life. His +pupils returned to their homes. He +had offered to retain them, and to retain +his incumbency for the sake of +my advancement; but, whilst I saw +that every hour spent in the village +brought with it new bitterness and +grief, I was not willing to call upon +him for so great a sacrifice. Such +a step, indeed, was rendered unnecessary +through the kind help of Dr Mayhew, +to whom I owe my present situation, +which I have held for forty years +with pleasure and contentment. Mr +Fairman retired to a distant part of +the kingdom, where the condition of +the people rendered the presence of an +active minister of God a privilege and +a blessing. In the service of his +Master, in the securing of the happiness +of other men, he strove for +years to deaden the pain of his own +crushed heart. And he succeeded—living +to bless the wisdom which had +carried him through temptation; and +dying, at last, to meet with the reward +conferred upon the man <i>who, by patient +continuance in well-doing, seeks for glory, +and honour, and immortality</i>—ETERNAL +LIFE.</p> + +<p>The employment obtained for me by +the kind interest of Dr Mayhew, which +the return of so many summers and +winters has found me steadily prosecuting, +was in the house of his brother—a +gentleman whose name is amongst +the first in a profession adorned by a +greater number of high-minded, honourable +men, than the world generally +is willing to allow. Glad to avail +myself of comparative repose, an active +occupation, and a certain livelihood, I +did not hesitate to enter his office in +the humble capacity of clerk. I have +lived to become the confidential secretary +and faithful friend of my respected +principal.</p> + +<p>As I have progressed noiselessly in +the world, and rather as a spectator +than an actor on the broad stage of +life, it has been no unprofitable task +to trace the career of those with whom +I formed an intimacy during the bustle +and excitement of my boyhood. Not +many months after my introduction +into the mysteries of law, tidings reached +my ears concerning Mr Clayton. +He had left his chapel suddenly. His +avarice had led him deeper and deeper +into guilt; speculation followed speculation, +until he found himself entangled +in difficulties, from which, by +lawful means, he was unable to extricate +himself. He forged the signature +of a wealthy member of his congregation, +and thus added another knot to +the complicated string of his delinquencies. +He was discovered. There +was not a man aware of the circumstances +of the case who was not satisfied +of his guilt; but a legal quibble +saved him, and he was sent into the +world again, branded with the solemn +reprimand of the judge who tried him +for his life, and who bade him seek existence +honestly—compelled to labour, +as he would be, in a humbler sphere of +life than that in which he had hitherto +employed his undoubted talents. To +those acquainted with the working of +the unhappy system of <i>dissent</i>, it will +not be a matter of surprise that the +result was not such as the good judge +anticipated. It so happened that, at +the time of Mr Clayton's acquittal, a +dispute arose between the minister of +his former congregation and certain +influential members of the same. The +latter, headed by a fruiterer, a very turbulent +and conceited personage, separated +from what they called the <i>church</i>, +and set up another <i>church</i> in opposition. +The meeting-house was built, +and the only question that remained +to agitate the pious minds of the half-dozen +founders was—<i>How to let the +pews</i>! Mr CLAYTON, more popular +amongst his set than ever, was invited +to accept the duties of a pastor. He +consented, and had the pews been +trebled they would not have satisfied +one half the applications which, in one +month, were showered on the victorious +schismatics. Here, for a few +years, Mr Clayton continued; his character +improved, his fame more triumphant, +his godliness more spiritual +and pure than it had been even before +he committed the crime of forgery. +His ruling passion, notwithstanding, +kept firm hold of his soul, and very +soon betrayed him into the commission +of new offences. He fled from London, +and I lost sight of him. At +length I discovered that he was preaching +in one of the northern counties, +and with greater success than ever—yes, +such is the fallacy of the system—with +the approbation of men, and the +idolatry of women, to whom the history +of his career was as familiar as +their own. Again circumstances compelled +him to decamp. I know not +what these were, nor could I ever +learn; satisfied, however, that from +his nature <i>money</i> must have been in +close connexion with them, I expected +soon to hear of him again; and +I did hear, but not for years. The +information that last of all I gained +was, that he had sold his noble faculties +<i>undisguisedly</i> to the arch enemy of +man. He had become the editor of +one of the lowest newspaper of the +metropolis, notorious for its Radical +politics and atheistical blasphemies.</p> + +<p>Honest, faithful and unimpeachable +John Thompson! Friend, husband, +father—sound in every relation of this +life—thou noble-hearted Englishman! +Let me not say thy race is yet extinct. +No; in spite of the change that has +come over the spirit of our land—in +spite of the rust that eats into men's +souls, eternally racked with thoughts +of gain and traffic—in spite of the +cursed poison insidiously dropped beneath +the cottage eaves, by reckless, +needy demagogues, I trust my native +land, and still believe, that on her lap +she cherishes whole bands of faithful +children, and firm patriots. Not +amongst the least inducements to return +to London was the advantage of +a residence near to that of my best +friend and truest counsellor. I cannot +number the days which I have spent +with him and his unequalled family—unequalled +in their unanimity and love. +For years, no Sunday passed which +did not find me at their hospitable +board; a companion afterwards in their +country walks, and at the evening service +of their parish church. The children +were men and women before it +pleased Providence to remove their +sire. How like his life was good John +Thompson's death! Full of years, +but with his mental vision clear as in +its dawn, aware of his decline, he called +his family about his bed, and to the +weeping group spoke firmly and most +cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"He had lived his time," he said, +"and long enough to see his children +doing well. There was not one who +caused him pain and fear—and that +was more than every father of a family +could say—thank God for it! He +didn't know that he had much to ask +of any one of them. If they continued +to work hard, he left enough behind +to buy them tools; and if they didn't, +the little money he had saved would +be of very little use. There was their +mother. He needn't tell 'em to be +kind to her, because their feelings +wouldn't let them do no otherwise. +As for advice, he'd give it to them +in his own plain way. First and foremost, +he hoped <i>they never would sew +their mouths up</i>—never act in such a +way as to make themselves ashamed +of speaking like a man;" and then he +recommended strongly that <i>they should +touch no bills but such as they might cut +wood with</i>. The worst that could befall +'em would be a cut upon the finger; +and if they handled other bills they'd +cut their heads off in the end, be sure +of it. "Alec," said he at last,—"you +fetch me bundle of good sticks. Get +them from the workshop." Alec +brought them, and the sire continued,—"Now, +just break one a-piece. +There, that's right—now, try and break +them altogether. No, no, my boys, +you can't do that, nor can the world +break you so long as you hold fast +and well together. Disagree and separate, +and nothing is more easy. If a year +goes bad with one, let the others see +to make it up. Live united, do your +duty, and leave the rest to heaven." +So Thompson spake; such was the +legacy he left to those who knew from +his good precept and example how to +profit by it. My friendship with his +children has grown and ripened. They +are thriving men. Alec has inherited +the nature of his father more than any +other son. All go smoothly on in +life, paying little regard to the broils +and contests of external life, but most +attentive to the <i>in-door</i> business. All, +did I say?—I err. Exception must +be made in favour of my excellent good +friend, Mr Robert Thompson. He has +in him something of the spirit of his +mother, and finds fault where his +brethren are most docile. Catholic +emancipation he regarded with horror—the +Reform bill with indignation; +and the onward movement of the present +day he looks at with the feelings +of an individual waiting for an earthquake. +He is sure that the world is +going round the other way, or is turned +topsy-turvy, or is coming to an end. +He is the quietest and best disposed +man in his parish—his moral character +is without a flaw—his honesty +without a blemish, yet is his mind +filled with designs which would astonish +the strongest head that rebel ever +wore. He talks calmly of the propriety +of hanging, without trial, all +publishers of immorality and sedition—of +putting embryo rioters to death, +and granting them a judicial examination +as soon as possible afterwards. +Dissenting meeting-houses he would +shut up instanter, and guard with +soldiers to prevent irregularity or +disobedience. "Things," he says, "are +twisted since his father was a boy, and +must be twisted back—by force—to +their right place again. Ordinary +measures are less than useless for +extraordinary times, and he only wishes +he had power, or was prime-minister +for a day or two." But for this unfortunate +<i>monomania</i>, the Queen has not a +better subject, London has not a worthier +citizen than the plain spoken, +simple-hearted Robert Thompson.</p> + +<p>In one of the most fashionable streets +of London, and within a few doors of +the residence of royalty, is a stylish +house, which always looks as if it were +newly painted, furnished, and decorated. +The very imperfect knowledge +which a passer-by may gain, denotes +the existence of great wealth within the +clean and shining walls. Nine times +out of ten shall you behold, standing at +the door, a splendid equipage—a britzka +or barouche. The appointments +are of the richest kind—the servants' +livery gaudiest of the gaudy—silvery +are their buttons, and silver-gilt the +horses' harness. Stay, whilst the big +door opens, and then mark the owner +of the house and britzka. A distinguished +foreigner, you say, of forty, or +thereabouts. He seems dressed in +livery himself; for all the colours of +the rainbow are upon him. Gold +chains across his breast—how many +you cannot count at once—intersect +each other curiously; and on every +finger sparkles a precious jewel, or a +host of jewels. Thick mustaches +and a thicker beard adorn the foreign +face; but a certain air which it assumes, +convinces you without delay +that it is the property of an unmitigated +blackguard. Reader, you see the +ready Ikey, whom we have met oftener +than once in this short history. Would +you know more? Be satisfied to learn, +that he exists upon the follies and the +vices of our high nobility. He has +made good the promises of his childhood +and his youth. He rolls in riches, +and is——a fashionable money-lender.</p> + +<p>Dark were the shadows which fell +upon my youth. The indulgent +reader has not failed to note them—with +pain it may be—and yet, I trust, not +without improvement. Yes, sad and +gloomy has been the picture, and light +has gleamed but feebly there. It has +been otherwise since I carried, for my +comfort and support, the memory of +my beloved Ellen into the serious employment +of my later years. With the +catastrophe of her decease, commenced +another era of my existence—the era +of self-denial, patience, sobriety, +and resignation. Her example dropped +with silent power into my soul, +and wrought its preservation. Struck +to the earth by the immediate blow, +and rising slowly from it, I did not +mourn her loss as men are wont to +grieve at the departure of all they hold +most dear. Think when I would of +her, in the solemn watches of the +night, in the turmoil of the bustling +day—a saint beatified, a spirit of purity +and love—hovered above me, smiling +in its triumphant bliss, and whispering——peace. +My lamentation was intercepted +by my joy. And so throughout +have I been irritated by the small annoyances +of the world, her radiant countenance—as +it looked sweetly even upon +death—has risen to shame and silence +my complaint. Repining at my humble +lot, her words—that estimated well +the value, the nothingness of life compared +with life eternal—have spoken +the effectual reproof. As we advance +in years, the old familiar faces gradually +retreat and fade at length entirely. +Forty long years have passed, +and on this bright spring morning the +gentle Ellen steals upon the lawn, unaltered +by the lapse of time. Her +slender arm is twined in mine, and her +eye fills with innocent delight. Not +an hour of age is added to her face, +although the century was not yet born +when last I gazed upon its meek and +simple loveliness. She vanishes. Is it +her voice that through the window +flows, borne on the bosom of the vernal +wind? Angel of Light, I wait +thy bidding to rejoin thee!</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<a name="bw329s9" id="bw329s9"></a><h2>COMMERCIAL POLICY.</h2> + +<h3>SPAIN.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The extraordinary breadth and +boldness of the fiscal measures propounded +and carried out at once in +the past year with vigour and promptitude +no less extraordinary, wisely +calculated of themselves, as they may +be, perhaps, and so far experience is +assumed to have confirmed, to exercise +a salutary bearing upon the physical +condition of the people, and to reanimate +the drooping energies of the +country, can, however, receive the +full, the just development of all the +large and beneficial consequences +promised, only as commercial intercourse +is extended, as new marts are +opened, and as hostile tariffs are mitigated +or abated, by which former +markets have been comparatively +closed against the products of British +industry. The fiscal changes already +operated, may be said to have laid the +foundation, and prepared the way, for +this extension and revival of our foreign +commercial relations; but it remains +alone for our commercial policy +to raise the superstructure and +consummate the work, if the foundations +be of such solidity as we are +assured on high authority they are. +In the promotion of national prosperity, +colonization may prove a gradually +efficient auxiliary; but as a remedy +for present ills, its action must evidently +be too slow and restricted; and +even though it should be impelled to +a geometrical ratio of progression, +still would the prospect of effectual relief +be discernible only through a vista +of years. Meanwhile, time presses, +and the patient might perish if condemned +alone to the homœopathic +process of infinitesimal doses of relief.</p> + +<p>The statesman who entered upon +the Government with his scheme of +policy, reflected and silently matured +as a whole, (as we may take for +granted,) with principles determined, +and his course chalked out in a right +line, was not, assuredly, tardy, whilst +engaged with the work of fiscal revision, +in proceeding practically to the +enlargement of the basis of the commercial +system of the empire. An +advantageous treaty of commerce with +the young but rising republic of Monte +Video, rewarded his first exertions, +and is there to attest also the zealous +co-operation of his able and accomplished +colleague, Lord Aberdeen. This +treaty is not important only in reference +to the greater facilities and increase +of trade, conceded with the provinces +on the right bank of the river Plate, +and of the Uruguay and Parana, but +inasmuch also as, in the possible failure +of the negotiations for the renewal +of the commercial treaty with Brazil, +now approaching its term, it cannot +fail to secure easy access for British +wares in the territory of Rio Grande, lying +on the borders of the republic of +the Uruguay, and far the most extensive, +though not the most populous, of +Brazilian provinces; and this in despite +of the Government of Brazil, +which does not, and cannot, possess the +means for repressing its intercourse +with Monte Video, even though its +possession and authority were as absolute +and acknowledged in Rio +Grande as they are decidedly the reverse. +The next, and the more difficult, +achievement of Conservative diplomacy +resulted in the ratification of a +supplementary commercial convention +with Russia. We say difficult, because +the iron-bound exclusiveness +and isolation of the commercial, as +well as of the political, system of St +Petersburg, is sufficiently notorious; +and it must have required no small +exercise of sagacity and address to +overcome the known disinclination of +that Cabinet to any relaxation of the +restrictive policy which, as the Autocrat +lately observed to a distinguished +personage, "had been handed down +to him from his ancestors, and was +found to work well for the interests of +his empire." The peculiar merits of +this treaty are as little understood, +however, as they have been unjustly +depreciated in some quarters, and the +obstacles to the accomplishment overlooked. +It will be sufficient to state, +on the present occasion, that notice +had been given by the Russian Government, +of the resolution to subject +British shipping, importing produce +other than of British, or British colonial +origin, to the payment of differential +or discriminating duties on entrance +into Russian ports. The result +of such a measure would have been +to put an entire stop to that branch +of the carrying trade, which consisted +in supplying the Russian market +with the produce of other European +countries, and of Brazil, Cuba, +and elsewhere, direct in British +bottoms. To avert this determination, +representations were not spared, +and at length negotiations were +consented to. But for some time they +wore but an unpromising appearance, +were more than once suspended, if +not broken off, and little, if any, disposition +was exhibited on the part of +the Russian Government to listen to +terms of compromise. After upwards +of twelvemonths' delay, hesitation, +and diplomacy, the arrangement was +finally completed, which was laid before +Parliament at the commencement +of the session. It may be accepted as +conclusive evidence of the tact and +skill of the British negotiators, that, +in return for waiving the alterations +before alluded to, and leaving British +shipping entitled to the same privileges +as before, it was agreed that the produce +of Russian Poland, shipped from +Prussian ports in Russian vessels, +should be admissible into the ports of +Great Britain on the same conditions +of duty as if coming direct and loaded +from Russian ports. As the greater +part of Russian Poland lies inland, +and communicates with the sea only +through the Prussian ports, it was no +more than just and reasonable that +Russian Polish produce so brought to +the coast—to Dantzig, for example—should +be admissible here in Russian +bottoms on the same footing as if from +a Russian port. To this country it +could be a matter of slight import +whether such portion of the produce +so shipped in Prussian ports as was +carried in foreign, and not in British +bottoms, came in Russian vessels or +in those of Prussia, as before. To +Russia, however, the boon was clearly +of considerable interest, and valued +accordingly. In the mean time, British +shipping retains its former position, +in respect of the carriage of foreign +produce; and, however hostile +Russian tariffs may be to British manufactured +products—as hostile to the +last degree they are, as well as against +the manufactured wares of all other +States—it is undeniable that our commercial +marine enjoys a large proportion +of the carrying trade with Russia—almost +a monopoly, in fact, of the +carrying trade between the two countries +direct. Of 1147 foreign ships +which sailed with cargoes during the +year 1842 from the port of Cronstadt, +515 were British, with destination direct +to the ports of the United Kingdom, +whilst only forty-one foreign or Russian +vessels were loaded and left during +that year for British ports. Of 525 +British vessels, of the aggregate burden +of nearly 118,000 tons, which anchored +in the roadstead of Cronstadt +in that year, 472 were direct from the +United Kingdom, and fifty-three from +various other countries, such as the +two Sicilies, Spain, Cuba, South America, +&c. The number of British +vessels which entered the port of St +Petersburg, as Cronstadt in fact is, +was more considerable still in 1840 +and 1841—having been in the first +year, 662, of the aggregate burden +of 146,682 tons; in the latter, of +645 ships and 146,415 tons. Of +the total average number of vessels +by which the foreign trade of that empire +is carried on, and load and leave +the ports of Russia yearly, which, in +round numbers, may be taken at +about 6000, of an aggregate tonnage +of 1,000,000—ships sailing on ballast +not comprehended—the average number +of ships under the Russian flag, +comprised in the estimate, does not +much, if any, exceed 1000, of the aggregate +burden of 150 or 160,000 tons. +This digression, though it has led us +further astray from our main object +than we had contemplated, will not +be without its uses, if it serve to correct +some exaggerated notions which +prevail about the comparative valuelessness +of our commerce with Russia, +because of its assumed entire one-sidedness—losing +sight altogether of +its vast consequence to the shipping +interest; and of the freightage, which +is as much an article of commerce and +profit as cottons and woollens; oblivious, +moreover, of the great political +question involved in the maintenance +and aggrandisement of that shipping +interest, which must be taken to +account by the statesman and the patriot +as redressing to no inconsiderable +extent the adverse action of unfriendly +tariffs. It is only after careful +ponderance of these and other combined +considerations, that the value of +any trading relations with Russia can +be clearly understood, and that the +importance of the supplementary +treaty of navigation recently carried +through, with success proportioned +to the remarkable ability and perseverance +displayed, can be duly appreciated. +It is, undoubtedly, the +special economical event of the day, +upon which the commercial, and +scarcely less the political, diplomacy +of the Government may be most justly +complimented for its mastery of prejudices +and impediments, which, under +the circumstances, and in view of the +peculiar system to be combated, appeared +almost insurmountable. Common +honesty and candour must compel +this acknowledgment, even from +men so desperate in their antipathies +to the political system of Russia, as +Mr Urquhart or Mr Cargill—antipathies, +by the way, with which we shall +not hesitate to express a certain measure +of participation.</p> + +<p>We shall not dwell upon those +other negotiations, now and for some +time past in active progress with +France, with Brazil, with Naples, +with Austria, and with Portugal, by +which Sir Robert Peel is so zealously +labouring to fill up the broad outlines +of his economical policy—a policy +which represents the restoration of +peace to the nation, progress to industry, +and plenty to the cottage; +but which also otherwise is not without +its dangers. Amidst the whirlwind +of passions, the storm of hatred and +envy, conjured by the evil genius of +his predecessors in office, and most +notably by the malignant star which +lately ruled over the foreign destinies +of England, the task has necessarily +been, yet is, and will be, Herculean; +but the force of Hercules is there also, +as may be hoped, to wrestle with and +overthrow the hydra—the Æolus to +recall and encage the tempestuous +elements of strife. A host in himself, +hosts also the premier has with him +in his cabinet; for such singly are the +illustrious Wellington, the Aberdeen, +the Stanley, the Graham, the Ripon, +and, though last, though youngest, +scarcely least, the Gladstone.</p> + +<p>Great as is our admiration, deeply +impressed as we are with a sense of +the extraordinary qualifications, of the +varied acquirements, of the conscientious +convictions, and the singleness +and rightmindedness of purpose of +the right honourable the vice-president +of the Board of Trade, we must +yet presume to hesitate before we give +an implicit adherence upon all the +points in the confession of economical +faith expressed and implied in an article +attributed to him, and not without +cause, which ushered into public +notice the first number of a new +quarterly periodical, "The Foreign +and Colonial Quarterly Review," +in January last, and was generally +accepted as a programme +of ministerial faith and action. Our +points of dissonance are, however, few; +but, as involving questions of principle, +whilst we are generally at one +on matters of detail, we hold them to +be of some importance. This, however, +is not the occasion proper for +urging them, when engaged on a special +theme. But on a question of +fact, which has a bearing upon the +subject in hand, we may be allowed +to express our decided dissent from +the <i>dictum</i> somewhat arbitrarily +launched, in the article referred to, +in the following terms:—"We shall +urge that foreign countries neither +have combined, nor ought to combine, +nor can combine, against the commerce +of Great Britain; and we <i>shall +treat as a calumny the imputation that +they are disposed to enter into such a +combination</i>." The italics, it must be +observed, are ours.</p> + +<p>We have at this moment evidence +lying on our table sufficiently explanatory +and decisive to our minds that +such a spirit of combination is abroad +against British commercial interests. +We might indeed appeal to events +of historical publicity, which would +seem confirmatory of a tacitly understood +combination, from the simultaneity +of action apparent. We have, for +example, France reducing the duties +on Belgian iron, coal, linen, yarn, and +cloths, whilst she raises those on similar +British products; the German +Customs' League imposing higher and +prohibitory duties on British fabrics +of mixed materials, such as wool, cotton, +silk, &c.; puny Portugal interdicting +woollens by exorbitant rates of +impost, and scarcely tolerating the +admission of cotton manufactures; +the United States, with sweeping action, +passing a whole tariff of prohibitory +imposts; and, in several of these +instances, this war of restrictions +against British industry commenced, +or immediately followed upon, those +remarkable changes and reductions in +the tariff of this country which signalized +the very opening of Sir Robert +Peel's administration. Conceding, +however, this seeming concert of action +to be merely fortuitous, what will +the vice-president of the Board of +Trade say to the long-laboured, but +still unconsummated customs' union +between France and Belgium? Was +that in the nature of a combination +against British commercial interests, +or was it the reverse? It is no cabinet +secret—it has been publicly proclaimed, +both by the French and Belgian +Governments and press, that the +indispensable basis, the <i>sine qua non</i> +of that union, must be, not a calculated +amalgamation of, not a compromise +between the differing and inconsistent +tariffs of Belgium and France, but the +adoption, the imposition, of the tariff +of France for both countries in all its +integrity, saving in some exceptional +cases of very slight importance, in deference +to municipal dues and <i>octrois</i> +in Belgium. When, after previous parley +and cajoleries at Brussels, commissioners +were at length procured to be +appointed by the French ministry, and +proceeded to meet and discuss the +conditions of the long-cherished project +of the union, with the officials +deputed on the part of France to assist +in the conference, it is well known +that the final cause of rupture was the +dogged persistance of the French members +of the joint commission in urging +the tariff of France, in all its nakedness +of prohibition, deformity, and fiscal +rigour, as the one sole and exclusive +<i>régime</i> for the union debated, +without modification or mitigation. +On this ground alone the Belgian deputies +withdrew from their mission. +How this result, this check, temporary +only as it may prove, chagrined the +Government, if not the people, and +the mining and manufacturing interests +of France, may be understood by +the simple citation of a few short but +pithy sentences from the <i>Journal des +Débats</i>, certainly the most influential, +as it is the most ably conducted, of +Parisian journals:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"<i>Le 'ZOLLVEREIN,'</i>" +observes the <i>Débats, "a prodigieusement +rehaussé la Prusse; l'union +douanière avec la Belgique aurait, à un +degré moindre cependant, le même résultat +pour nous.... Nous sommes, donc, +les partisans de cette union, ses partisans +prononcés, à deux conditions: la première, +c'est qu'il ne faille pas payer ces +beaux résultats par le bouleversement de +l'industrie rationale; la seconde, c'est +que la Belgique en accepte sincèrement +es charges en même temps qu'elle en +recuiellera les profits, et qu'en consequence +elle se prête à tout ce qui sera nécessaire +pour mettre NOTRE INDUSTRIE A L'ABRI +DE L'INVASION DES PRODUITS ETRANGERS, +et pour que les intérêts de notre +Trésor soient à couvert.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>This is +plain speaking; the Government journal +of France worthily disdains to +practise mystery or attempt deception, +for its mission is to contend +for the interests, one-sided, exclusive, +and egoistical, as they may +be, and establish the supremacy of +France—<i>quand même</i>; at whatever +resulting prejudice to Belgium—at +whatever total exclusion of Great +Britain from commercial intercourse +with, and commercial transit through +Belgium, must inevitably flow from +a customs' union, the absolute preliminary +condition of which is to be, +that Belgium "shall be ready to do +every thing necessary to place our +commerce beyond the reach of invasion +by foreign products." Mr Gladstone +may rest assured that the +achievement of this Franco-Belgiac +customs' union will still be pursued +with all the indomitable perseverance, +the exhaustless and ingenious devices, +the little-scrupulous recources, for +which the policy of the Tuileries in +times present does not belie the transmitted +traditions of the past. And it +will be achieved, to the signal detriment +of British interests, both commercial +and political, unless all the +energies and watchfulness of the distinguished +statesmen who preside at +the Foreign Office and the Board of +Trade be not unceasingly on the +alert.</p> + +<p>Other and unmistakeable signs of the +spirit of commercial combination, or +confederation, abroad, and more or less +explicitly avowed and directed against +this country, are, and have been for +some time past, only too patent, day by +day, in most of those continental journals, +the journals of confederated Germany, +of France, with some of those +of Spain and of Portugal, which exercise +the largest measure of influence +upon, and represent with most authority +the voice of, public opinion. +Nor are such demonstrations confined +to journalism. <i>Collaborateurs</i>, in serial +or monthly publications, are found +as earnest auxiliaries in the same +cause—as <i>redacteurs</i> and <i>redactores</i>; +pamphleteers, like light irregulars, +lead the skirmish in front, whilst the +main battle is brought up with the +heavy artillery of <i>tome</i> and works +voluminous. Of these, as of <i>brochures, +filletas</i>, and journals, we have +various specimens now on our library +table. All manner of customs, or commercial +unions, between states are +projected, proposed, and discussed, +but from each and all of these proposed +unions Great Britain is studiously +isolated and excluded. We +have the "Austrian union" planned +out and advocated, comprising, with +the hereditary states of that empire, +Moldavia, Wallachia, Bulgaria, Servia, +Bosnia, as well as those provinces +of ancient Greece, which, like Macedonia, +remain subject to Turkey, +with, perhaps, the modern kingdom of +Greece. We have the "Italian +union," to be composed of Sardinia, +Lombardy, Lucca, Parma, and Modena, +Tuscany, the two Sicilies, and +the Papal States. There is the +"Peninsular union" of Spain and +Portugal. Then we have one "French +union" sketched out, modestly projected +for France, Belgium, Switzerland, +and Savoy only. And we have +another of more ambitious aspirations, +which should unite Belgium, Switzerland, +and Spain under the commercial +standard of France. One of the +works treating of projects of this +kind was, we believe, crowned with a +prize by some learned institution in +France.</p> + +<p>From this slight sketch of what +is passing abroad—and we cannot +afford the space at present for more +ample development—the right honourable +Vice President of the Board +of Trade will perhaps see cause to +revise the opinion too positively +enounced, that "foreign countries +neither have combined, nor ought to +combine, nor can combine, against +the commerce of Great Britain;" +and that it is a "calumny" to conceive +that they are "disposed to enter +into such a combination."</p> + +<p>With these preliminary remarks, +we now proceed to the consideration +of the commercial relations between +Spain and Great Britain, and of the +policy in the interest of both countries, +but transcendently in that of Spain, +by which those relations, now reposing +on the narrowest basis, at least +on the one side, on that of Spain +herself, may be beneficially improved +and enlarged. It may be safely asserted, +that there are no two nations +in the old world—nay more, no two +nations in either, or both, the old +world and the new—more desirably +situated and circumstanced for an +intimate union of industrial interests, +for so direct and perfect an interchange +of their respective products. +The interchange would, indeed, under +a wise combination of reciprocal dealing, +resolve itself purely almost into +the primitive system of barter; for the +wants of Spain are such as can be +best, sometimes only, supplied from +England, whilst Spain is rich in products +which ensure a large, sometimes +an exclusive, command of British consumption. +Spain is eminently agricultural, +pastoral, and mining; Great +Britain more eminently ascendant +still in the arts and science of manufacture +and commerce. With a diversity +of soil and climate, in which +almost spontaneously flourish the +chief productions of the tropical as +of the temperate zone; with mineral +riches which may compete with, nay, +which greatly surpass in their variety, +and might, if well cultivated, in their +value, those of the Americas which +she has lost; with a territory vast and +virgin in proportion to the population; +with a sea-board extensively +ranging along two of the great high-ways +of nations—the Atlantic and the +Mediterranean—and abundantly endowed +with noble and capacious harbours; +there is no conceivable limit +to the boundless production and creation +of exchangeable wealth, of which, +with her immense natural resources, +still so inadequately explored, Spain +is susceptible, that can be imagined, +save from that deficient supply of labour +as compared with the territorial +expanse which would gradually come +to be redressed as industry was +promoted, the field of employment +extended, and labour remunerated. +With an estimated area of 182,758 +square miles, the population of +Spain does not exceed, probably, +thirteen millions and a half of souls, +whilst Great Britain and Ireland, +with an area of 115,702 square +miles, support a population of double +the number. Production, however, +squares still less with territorial +extent than does population; for the +stimulus to capital and industry is +wanting when the facilities of exchanges +are checked by fiscal prohibitions +and restrictions. Agricultural +produce, the growth of the vine and +the olive, is not unfrequently known +to run to waste, to be abandoned, as +not worth the toil of gathering and +preparation, because markets are +closed and consumption checked in +countries from which exchangeable +commodities are prohibited. The +extent of these prohibitions and restrictions, +almost unparalleled even +by the arbitrary tariff of Russia, may +be estimated in part by the following +extract from a pamphlet, published +last year by Mr James Henderson, +formerly consul-general to the Republic +of New Granada, entitled "A +Review of the Commercial Code and +Tariffs of Spain;" a writer, by the +way, guilty of much exaggeration of +fact and opinion when not quoting +from, or supported by, official documents.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"The 'Aranceles,' or Tariffs, are four +in number; 1st, of foreign importations; +2d, of importations from America; 3d, +from Asia; and, 4th, of exportations +from Spain.</p> + +<p>"The Tariff of foreign importations +contains 1326 articles alphabetically arranged:—</p></div> + +<table summary="" class="blkquot"> + <tr> + <td align="right">800</td> + <td>to pay a duty of</td> + <td align="right">15</td> + <td>per cent in Spanish vessels,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">230</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">20</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">80</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">25</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">55</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">10</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">26</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">30</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">3</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">36</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">2</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">24</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">2</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">45</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + </tr> +</table> + + +<div class="blkquot"><p>about 50 from 1 to 8 per cent, and the rest free of duty.</p></div> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"The preceding articles imported in +foreign vessels are subject to an increased +duty, at the following rates:—</p></div> + +<table summary="" class="blkquot"> + <tr> + <td align="right">1150</td> + <td>articles at the rate of</td> + <td align="right">1/8</td> + <td>more,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">80</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">1/4</td> + <td>more,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="right">10</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">1/2</td> + <td>more.</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"There is, besides, a duty of 'consumo,' +principally at the rate of 1/8 of the +respective duties, and in some very few +cases at the rate of 1/4 and 1/2.</p> + +<p>"Thus the duty of 15 per cent levied, +if the importation is by a Spanish vessel, +will be increased by the 'consumo' to +20 per cent. And the duty of 20 per cent +on the same articles, in foreign vessels, +will be augmented to 27 per cent.</p> + +<p>"The duty of 20 per cent will be about +27 in Spanish vessels, and in foreign +vessels, on the same articles, 36 per cent. +The duty of 25 per cent, will in the whole +be 33 per cent by Spanish, and by foreign +vessels 44 per cent.</p> + +<p>"The duty on articles, amounting to +seventy-three, imported from America, +vary from 1 to 15 per cent, with double +the duty if in foreign vessels.</p> + +<p>"The articles of importation from Asia +are—sixty-nine from the Phillipines at 1 to +5 per cent duty, and thirty-six from China +at 5 to 25 per cent duty, and can only be +imported in Spanish ships.</p> + +<p>"The articles of export are fourteen, +with duties at 1 to 80 per cent, with one-third +increase if by foreign vessels.</p> + +<p>"There are eighty-six articles of importation +prohibited, amongst which are +wrought iron, tobacco, spirits, quicksilver, +ready-made clothing, corn, salt, hats, soap, +wax, wools, leather, vessels under 400 +tons, &c. &c. &c.</p> + +<p>"There are eleven articles of exportation +prohibited, amongst which are hides, +skins, and timber for naval purposes."</p></div> + +<p>Such a tariff contrasts strangely +with that of this country, in which 10 +per cent is the basis of duty adopted +for importations of foreign manufactures, +and 5 per cent for foreign raw +products.</p> + +<p>Can we wonder that, with such a +tariff, legitimate imports are of so +small account, and that the smuggler +intervenes to redress the enormously +disproportionate balance, and administer +to the wants of the community? +Can we wonder that the powers of +native production should be so bound +down, and territorial revenue so comparatively +diminutive, when exchanges +are so hampered by fiscal and protective +rapacity? Canga Arguelles, the +first Spanish financier and statistician +of his day, calculated the territorial +revenue of Spain at 8,572,220,592 +reals, say, in sterling, L.85,722,200; +whilst he asserts, with better cultivation, +population the same, the soil +is capable of returning ten times the +value. As a considerable proportion +of the revenue of Spain is derived +from the taxation of land, the prejudice +resulting to the treasury is alone +a subject of most important consideration. +For the proprietary, and, in +the national point of view, as affecting +the well-being of the masses, it is of +far deeper import still. And what is +the financial condition of Spain, that +her vast resources should be apparently +so idle, sported with, or cramped? +Take the estimates, the budget, presented +by the minister <i>De ca Hacienda</i>, +for the past year of 1842:—</p> + +<table summary="" class="blkquot"> +<tr><td>Revenue 1842,</td><td align="right">879,193,400</td><td>reals</td></tr> +<tr><td>Id. expenditure,</td><td align="right">1,541,639,800</td><td align="center">id.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right">——————</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Deficit on the year,</td><td align="right">662,446,400</td><td> </td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Thus, with a revenue of L.8,791,934, +an expenditure of L.15,416,398, and +a deficit of L.6,624,460, the debt +of Spain, foreign and domestic, is +almost an unfathomable mystery as to +its real amount. Even at this present +moment, it cannot be said to be determined; +for that amount varies with +every successive minister who ventures +to approach the question. Multifarious +have been the attempts to arrive +at a clear liquidation—that is, classification +and ascertainment of claims; +but hitherto with no better success +than to find the sum swelling under +the labour, notwithstanding national +and church properties confiscated, +appropriated, and exchanged away +against <i>titulos</i> of debt by millions. It +is variously estimated at from 120 to +200 millions sterling, but say 150 +millions, under the different heads of +debt active, passive, and deferred; +debt bearing interest, debt without interest, +and debt exchangeable in part—that +is, payable in certain fixed proportions, +for the purchase of national +and church properties. For a partial +approximation to relative quantities, +we must refer the reader, for want of +better authority, to Fenn's "Compendium +of the English and Foreign Funds"—a +work containing much valuable +information, although not altogether +drawn from the best sources.</p> + +<p>In the revenues of Spain, the customs +enter for about 70,000,000 of +reals, say L.700,000 only, including +duties on exports as well as imports. +Now, assuming the contraband imports +to amount only to the value of +L.6,000,000, a moderate estimate, +seeing that some writers, Mr Henderson +among the number, rashly calculate +the contraband imports alone at +eight, and even as high as ten, millions +sterling, it should follow that, at +an average rate of duty of twenty per +cent, the customs should yield additionally +L.1,200,000, or nearly double +the amount now received under +that head. As, through the cessation +of the civil war, a considerable portion +of the war expenditure will be, +and is being reduced, the additional +L.1,200,000 gained, by an equitable +adjustment of the tariff, on imports +alone, perhaps we should be justified +in saying one million and a half, or +not far short of two millions sterling, +import and export duties combined, +would go far to remedy the +desperation of Spanish financial +embarrassments—the perfect solution +and clearance of which, however, +must be, under the most favourable +circumstances, an affair of many years. +It is not readily or speedily that the +prodigalities of Toreno, or the unscrupulous, +but more patriotic financial +impostures of Mendizabal, can be retrieved, +and the national faith redeemed. +The case is, to appearance, +one past relief; but, with honest and +incorruptible ministers of finance like +Ramon Calatrava, hope still lingers in +the long perspective. With an enlightened +commercial policy on the +one hand, with the retrenchment of a +war expenditure on the other, the +balance between receipts and expenditure +may come to be struck, an excess +of revenue perhaps created; whilst the +sales of national domains against <i>titulos</i> +of debt, if managed with integrity, +should make way towards its gradual +diminution.</p> + +<p>As there is much misapprehension, +and many exaggerations, afloat respecting +the special participation of +Great Britain in the contraband trade +of Spain, its extraordinary amount, +and the interest assumed therefrom +which would result exclusively from, +and therefore induces the urgency for, +an equitable reform of the tariff of +Spain, we shall briefly take occasion to +show the real extent of the British share +in that illicit trade, so far as under the +principal heads charged; and having +exhibited that part of the case in its +true, or approximately true, light, we +shall also prove that it is, as it should +be, the primary interest of this country +to regain its due proportion in the +regular trade with Spain, and which +can only be regained by legitimate +intercourse, founded on a reciprocal, +and therefore identical, combination of +interests. In this strife of facts we +shall have to contend against Señor +Marliani, and others of the best and +most steadfast advocates of a more +enlightened policy, of sympathies entirely +and patriotically favourable towards +a policy which shall cement +and interweave indissolubly the material +interests and prosperity of Spain +and Great Britain—of two realms +which possess each those products and +peculiar advantages in which the other +is wanting, and therefore stand seized +of the special elements required for +the successful progress of each other. +Our contest will, however, be one of +friendly character, our differences will +be of facts, but not of principles. +But we hold it to be of importance to +re-establish facts, as far as possible, in +all their correctness; or rather, to reclaim +them from the domain of vague +conjecture and speculation in which +they have been involved and lost sight +of. The task will not be without its difficulties; +for the position and precise data +are wanting on which to found, with +even a reasonable approximation to mathematical +accuracy, a comprehensive +estimate, to resolve into shape the various +and complex elements of Spanish +industry and commerce, legitimate and +contraband. Statistical science—for +which Spain achieved an honourable +renown in the last century, and may +cite with pride her Varela, Musquiz, +Gabarrus, Ulloa, Jovellanos, &c., was +little cultivated or encouraged in that +decay of the Spanish monarchy which +commenced with the reign of the idiotic +Carlos IV., and his venal minister +Godoy, and in the wars and revolutions +which followed the accession, +and ended not with the death of +Fernando his son, the late monarch—was +almost lost sight of; though Canga +Arguelles, lately deceased only, might +compete with the most erudite economist, +here or elsewhere, of his day. +Therefore it is, that few are the statistical +documents or returns existing +in Spain which throw any clear light +upon the progress of industry, or the +extent and details of her foreign commerce. +Latterly, indeed, the Government +has manifested a commendable +solicitude to repair this unfortunate +defect of administrative detail, +and has commenced with the periodical +collection and verification of returns +and information from the various +ports, which may serve as the basis—and +indispensable for that end they +must be—on which to reform the errors +of the present, or raise the superstructure +of a new, fiscal and commercial +system. Notwithstanding, however, +the difficulties we are thus exposed +to from the lack or incompleteness +of official data on the side of +Spain, we hope to present a body of +useful information illustrative of her +commerce, industry, and policy; in +especial, we hope to dispel certain +grave misconceptions, to redress signal +exaggeration about the extent of the +contraband trade, rankly as it flourishes, +carried on along the coasts, and more +largely still, perhaps, by the land +frontiers of that country, at least so +far as British participation. Various +have been the attempts to establish +correct conclusions, to arrive at some +fixed notions of the precise quantities +of that illicit traffic; but hitherto the +results generally have been far from +successful, except in one instance. In +a series of articles on the commerce of +Spain, published under the head of +"Money Market and City Intelligence," +in the months of December +and January last, the <i>Morning Herald</i> +was the first to observe and to +apply the data in existence by which +such an enquiry could be carried out, +and which we purpose here to follow +out on a larger scale, and with materials +probably more abundant and of +more recent date.</p> + +<p>The whole subject of Spanish commerce +is one of peculiar interest, and, +through the more rigorous regulations +recently adopted against smuggling, is +at this moment exciting marked attention +in France, which, it will be +found with some surprise, is far the +largest smuggler of prohibited commodities +into Spain, although the smallest +consumer of Spanish products in +return. It is in no trifling degree +owing to the jealous and exclusive +views which unhappily prevail with +our nearest neighbour across the Channel, +that the prohibitory tariff, scarcely +more adverse to commercial intercourse +than that of France after all, +which robs the revenue of Spain, +whilst it covers the country with hosts +of smugglers, has not sooner been revised +and reformed. France is not +willing to enter into a confederacy of +interests with Spain herself, nor to +permit other nations, on any fair equality +of conditions, and with the abandonment +of those unjust pretensions to +special privileges in her own behalf, +which, still tenaciously clinging to Bourbonic +traditions of by-gone times, would +affect to annihilate the Pyrenees, and +regard Spain as a dependent possession, +reserved for the exclusive profit and +the commercial and political aggrandisement +of France. That these exaggerated +pretensions are still entertained +as an article of national faith, +from the sovereign on his throne to +the meanest of his subjects, we have +before us, at this moment of writing, +conclusive evidence in the report of +M. Chégaray, read in the Chamber of +Deputies on the 11th of April last, +(<i>vide Moniteur</i> of the 12th,) drawn up +by a commission, to whom was referred +the consideration of the actual +commercial relations of France with +Spain—provoked by various petitions +of the merchants of Bayonne, and +other places, complaining of the prejudice +resulting to their commerce and +shipping from certain alterations in +the Spanish customs' laws, decreed by +the Regent in 1841. We may have +occasion hereafter to make further reference +to this report.</p> + +<p>The population of Spain may be +rated in round numbers at thirteen +millions and a half, whilst that of the +United Kingdom may be taken at +about double the number. With a +wise policy, therefore, the interchange +should be of an active and most extensive +nature betwixt two countries, +reckoning together more than forty +millions of inhabitants, one of which, +with a superficial breadth of territory +out of all proportion with a comparatively +thinly-scattered community, +abounding with raw products and natural +riches of almost spontaneous +growth; whilst the other, as densely +peopled, on the contrary, in comparison +with its territorial limits, is +stored with all the elements, and surpasses +in all the arts and productions +of manufacturing industry. Unlike +France, Great Britain does not rival +Spain in wines, oils, fruits, and +other indigenous products of southern +skies, and therefore is the more free +to act upon the equitable principle of +fair exchange in values for values. +Great Britain has a market among +twenty-seven millions of an active and +intelligent people, abounding in wealth +and advanced in the tastes of luxurious +living, to offer against one presenting +little more than half the range +of possible customers. She has more; +she has the markets of the millions of +her West Indies and Americas—of +the tens of millions of British India, +amongst whom a desire for the +various fruits and delicious wines +of Spain might gradually become diffused +for a thousand of varieties of +wines which, through the pressure of +restrictive duties, are little if at all +known to European consumption beyond +the boundaries of Spain herself. +With such vast fields of commercial +intercourse open on the one side and +the other, with the bands of mutual +material interests combining so happily +to bind two nations together which +can have no political causes of distrust +and estrangement, it is really +marvellous that the direct relations +should be of so small account, and so +hampered by jealous adherence to the +strict letter of an absurd legislation, +as in consequence to be diverted from +their natural course into other and +objectionable channels—as the waters +of the river artificially dammed up +will overflow its banks, and, regaining +their level, speed on by other pathways +to the ocean. We shall briefly +exemplify the force of these truths by +the citation of official figures representing +the actual state of the trade +between Spain and the United Kingdom +antecedent to and concluding +with the year 1840, which is the last +year for which in detail the returns +have yet issued from the Board of +Trade. That term, however, would +otherwise be preferentially selected, +because affording facilities for comparison +with similar but partial returns +only of foreign commerce made +up in Spain to the same period, little +known in this country, and with the +French customhouse returns of the +trade of France with Spain. It must +be premised that the tables of the +Board of Trade in respect of import +trade, as well as of foreign +and colonial re-exports, state quantities +only, but not values; nor do they +present any criteria by which values +approximately might be determined. +Where, therefore, such values are attempted +to be arrived at, it will be +understood that the calculations are +our own, and pretend no more—for no +more could be achieved—than a rough +estimate of probable approximation.</p> + +<p>Total declared value of British and Irish produce and manufactures exported +to Spain and the Balearic Isles in—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> +<tr><td>1840,</td><td> amounted to </td><td>L.404,252</td></tr> +<tr><td>1835,</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="right">405,065</td></tr> +<tr><td>1831,</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="right">597,848</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>From the first to the last year of the +decennial term, the regular trade, +therefore, had declined to the extent of +above L.193,000, or at the rate of about +33 per cent. But as for three of the +intermediate years 1837, 1838, and +1839, the exports are returned at +L.286,636, L.243,839, and L.262,231, +exclusive of fluctuations downwards +in previous years, it will be more satisfactory +to take the averages for five +years each, of the term. Thus from—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> +<tr><td>1831 to 1835,</td><td> both inclusive, the average was</td><td align="right"> L.442,916</td></tr> +<tr><td>1836 to 1840,</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="right">320,007</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The average decline in the latter +term, was therefore above 27½ per +cent.</p> + +<p>Of the Foreign and Colonial merchandise +re-exported within the +same period it is difficult to say what +proportion was for British account, +and, as such, should therefore be +classed under the head of trade with +Spain. It may be assumed, however, +that the following were the products +of British colonial possessions, whose +exports to Spain are thus stated in +quantities:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="center"> 1831. </td> + <td align="center"> 1835. </td> + <td align="center"> 1840. </td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Cinnamon,</td> + <td align="right">284,201</td> + <td align="right">123,590</td> + <td align="right">144,291</td> + <td>lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Cloves,</td> + <td align="right">15,831</td> + <td align="right">9,470</td> + <td align="right">23,504</td> + <td>...</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>India Cottons,</td> + <td align="right">38,969</td> + <td align="right">3,267</td> + <td align="right">10,067</td> + <td>pieces</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>India Bandannas,</td> + <td align="right">17,386</td> + <td align="right">11,864</td> + <td align="right">16,049</td> + <td>...</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Indigo,</td> + <td align="right">16,641</td> + <td align="right">5,231</td> + <td align="right">8,623</td> + <td>lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Pepper,</td> + <td align="right">227,305</td> + <td align="right">69,365</td> + <td align="right">194,254</td> + <td>...</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td></td> + <td align="right"></td> + <td align="right"></td> + <td align="right"></td> + <td></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>To which may be added—</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Tobacco,</td> + <td align="right">64,851</td> + <td align="right"> 2,252,356</td> + <td align="right"> 1,729,552</td> + <td>...</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>The tobacco, being of United States' +growth, may, to a considerable extent, +be bonded here for re-exportation on +foreign account merely. The foregoing, +though the heaviest, are not +the whole of the foreign and colonial +products re-exported for Spain, but +they constitute the great bulk of value. +Taking those of the last year, their +value may be approximatively +estimated in round numbers, as calculated +upon what may be assumed a +fair average of the rates of the prices +current in the market, as they appear +quoted in the London <i>Mercantile Journal</i> +of the 4th of April. It is only +necessary to take the more weighty +articles.</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>Cinnamon,</td> + <td align="right">144,290</td> + <td align="center">lbs.</td> + <td>at</td> + <td align="right">5s.</td> + <td>6d.</td> + <td>L.39,679</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Indigo,</td> + <td align="right">8,620</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td>at</td> + <td align="right">6s.</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">2,586</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Pepper,</td> + <td align="right">194,250</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td>at</td> + <td> </td> + <td>4d.</td> + <td align="right">3,232</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Tobacco,</td> + <td align="right">1,729,550</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td>at</td> + <td> </td> + <td>4d.</td> + <td align="right">28,825</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Indian Bandannas,</td> + <td align="right">16,049</td> + <td align="center">pieces</td> + <td>at</td> + <td> 25s.</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">20,061</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>It may, we conceive, be assumed +from these citations of some few of the +larger values exported to Spain under +the head of "Foreign and Colonial +Merchandise," that the total amount +of such values, inclusive of all the commodities +non-enumerated here, would +not exceed L.150,000, which, added +to the L.404,252 already stated as the +"declared values" of "British and Irish +produce" also exported, would give a +total export for 1840 of L.554,250.</p> + +<p>We come now to the imports from Spain and the Balearic Isles, direct +also into the United Kingdom, as stated in the Board of Trade tables in quantities; +selecting the chief articles only, however:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="center"> 1831.</td> + <td align="center"> 1835.</td> + <td align="center"> 1840.</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Barilla,</td> + <td align="right">61,921</td> + <td align="right">64,175</td> + <td align="right">36,585</td> + <td>cwts.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Lemons and Oranges,</td> + <td align="right">28,266</td> + <td align="right">30,548</td> + <td align="right">30,171</td> + <td>packages.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Madder,</td> + <td align="right">1,569</td> + <td align="right">3,418</td> + <td align="right">6,174</td> + <td>cwts.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Olive Oil,</td> + <td align="right">1,243,686</td> + <td align="right">1,793</td> + <td align="right">1,305,384</td> + <td>galls.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Quicksilver,</td> + <td align="right">269,558</td> + <td align="right">1,438,869</td> + <td align="right">2,157,823</td> + <td>lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Raisins,</td> + <td align="right">105,066</td> + <td align="right">104,334</td> + <td align="right">166,505</td> + <td>cwts.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Brandy,</td> + <td align="right">69,319</td> + <td align="right">15,880</td> + <td align="right">223,268</td> + <td>galls.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Wines,</td> + <td align="right">2,537,968</td> + <td align="right">2,641,547</td> + <td align="right">3,945,161</td> + <td>galls.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Wool,</td> + <td align="right"> 3,474,823</td> + <td align="right"> 1,602,752</td> + <td align="right"> 1,266,905</td> + <td>lbs.</td> + </tr> +</table> + + +<p>Applying the same plan of calculation upon an average of the prices ruling +in the London market, we arrive at the following approximate results:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>Barilla, 36,585 cwts. at 10s. per cwt.</td> + <td align="right">L.18,292</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Lemons and oranges, 30,170 packages, at 30s. per packet,</td> + <td align="right">45,255</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Madder, 6174 cwts. at 30s per cwt.</td> + <td align="right">9,261</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Olive oil, 1,305,384 gallons, at L.45 per 252 gallons</td> + <td align="right">233,100</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Quicksilver, 2,157,823 lbs., at 4s. per lb.,</td> + <td align="right">431,564</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Raisins, 166,505 cwts., at 40s. per cwt.</td> + <td align="right">333,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Brandy, 223,268 gallons, at 2s. 6d. per gallon,</td> + <td align="right">27,900</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Wines, 3,945,160, gallons, at L.20 per butt,</td> + <td align="right">730,580</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Wool, 1,266,900 lbs., at 2s. per lb.,</td> + <td align="right">126,690</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"> L.1,965,642</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>The value of the other articles of import from Spain, +which need not be enumerated here, amongst which +corn, skins, pig-lead, bark for tanning, &c., would +certainly swell this amount more by</td><td align="right">200,000.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Total direct imports from Spain,</td> + <td>L.2,165,642</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>On several of the foregoing commodities +the average rates of price on which +they are calculated may be esteemed +as moderate, such as wines, brandies, +raisins, &c.; and several are exclusive +of duty charge, as where the averages +are estimated at the prices in bond. +In other commodities the average rates +are inclusive of duty. Wines, brandies, +quicksilver, barilla, are exclusive +of duty, for example; the others, duty +paid, but in some instances duties +scarcely more than nominal. On the +other hand, it must be taken into the +account, for the purpose of a fair comparison, +that these average estimates of +the prices of imported merchandise +do include and are enhanced by the +expense of freights and the profits of +the importer, and therefore all the +difference must be in excess of the cost +price at which shipped, and by which +estimated in Spain. The "declared +values" of British exports to Spain +embrace but a small proportion, perhaps, +of these shipping charges, and +are altogether irrespective of duties +levied on arrival in Spanish ports. As +not only a fair, but probably an outside +allowance, let us, therefore, redress +the balance by striking off 20 +per cent from the total estimated values +of imports from Spain to cover +shipping charges, profits, and port-dues, +whether included in prices or not. The +account will then stand thus:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> +<tr><td>Estimated imports from Spain in round numbers</td><td align="right">L.2,165,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>Deduct 20 per cent,</td><td align="right">433,000</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right">—————</td></tr> +<tr><td>Value of imports shipped,</td><td align="right">L.1,732,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>Deduct declared value of British exports to Spain,</td><td align="right">554,000</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right">—————</td></tr> +<tr><td>Excess of Spanish imports direct on equalized estimates of values,</td> +<td align="right"> L.1,178,000</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The acceptation is so common, it +has been so long received as a truism +unquestionable as unquestioned, as +well in Spain as in Great Britain, of +British commerce being one-sided, +and carrying a large yearly balance +against the Peninsular state, that these +figures of relative and approximate +quantities can hardly fail to excite +a degree of astonishment and of +doubt also. It will be, as it ought +to be, observed at once, that the trade +with Spain direct represents one part +of the question only; that the indirect +trade through Gibraltar, and elsewhere, +might, in its results, reverse +the picture. The objection is reasonable, +and we proceed to enquire how far +it is calculated to affect the statement.</p> + +<p>The total "declared value" of the +exports of British and Irish produce, +and manufactures to Gibraltar, for the +year 1840, is stated at</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">£1,111,176</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Of which, as more or less destined +for Spain, licitly or illicitly, +cotton manufactures,</td> + <td align="right">635,821</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Linens, &c., &c.,</td> + <td align="right">224,061</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Woollens,</td> + <td align="right">97,092</td + </tr> +</table> + +<p>It may be asserted as a fact, for, +although not on official authority, yet +we have it from respectable parties +who have been resident on, and well +conversant with the commerce of that +rock, that, of the cotton goods thus +imported into Gibraltar, the exports +to Ceuta and the opposite coast of +Africa amount, on the average, to +L.70,000 per annum. Of linens and +woollens a considerable proportion +find their way there also, and to +Italian ports. Of British and colonial +merchandise exported to Gibraltar in +the same year, the following may be +considered to be mainly, or to some +extent, designed for introduction into +Spain:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>Cinnamon value, 77,352 lbs., say value</td> + <td align="right"> L.21,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Indigo 26,000 lbs., say</td> + <td align="right">7,800</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Tobacco 610,000 lbs., say</td> + <td align="right">10,166</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>Some cotton piece-goods from India, +and silk goods, such as bandannas, +&c., pepper, cloves, &c., &c., +were also exported there; say, inclusive +of the quantities enumerated above, +to the total value of L.100,000 of commodities, +of which a considerable proportion +was destined for Spain. Assuming +the whole of the cotton goods +to be for introduction into Spain, +minus the quantity dispatched to the +African coast, we have in round numbers +the value of</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.565,800</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Say of linens one-third,</td> + <td align="right">74,660</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Of woollens, ib.,</td> + <td align="right">32,360</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Of cinnamon, India goods, and other articles, in value<br> L.90,000, minus tobacco, one-half,</td> + <td align="right">45,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.717,820</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Tobacco, the whole,</td> + <td align="right">10,166</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> Total indirect exports</td> + <td align="right">727,986</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> To which add direct</td> + <td align="right">554,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.1,281,986</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>Again, however, various products of +Spain are also imported into the United +Kingdom <i>via</i> Gibraltar, such as—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>Bark for tanning or dyeing, 5,724 tons, say value,</td> + <td align="right"> L.51,500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Wool, 292,730 lbs. ib.,</td> + <td align="right">29,270</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>It may be fairly assumed, therefore, +that to the extent of L.100,000 +of Spanish products, consisting, besides +the foregoing, of wines, skins, +pig-lead, &c., &c., is brought here +through Gibraltar, which, added to +the amount of the imports from Spain +direct, will sum up the account thus:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>Imports from Spain direct,</td> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td align="right">L.1,732,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><i>Via</i> Gibraltar,</td> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td align="right">100,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Total,</td> + <td align="right">L.1,832,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Exports to Spain direct,</td> + <td align="right">L.554,000</td> + <td align="right"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><i>Via</i> Gibraltar,</td> + <td align="right">727,900</td> + <td align="right"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + <td align="right"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td align="right">L.1,281,900</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Excess in favour of Spain,<br> and against England,</td> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td align="right">L.550,100</td> + </tr> +</table> + + +<p>—A sum nearly equal to the amount +of the exports to Spain direct. As +we remarked before, these figures and +valuations, which are sufficiently approximative +of accuracy for any useful +purpose, will take public men and +economists, both here and in Spain, +by surprise. Amongst other of the +more distinguished men of the Peninsula, +Señor Marliani, enlightened +statesman, and well studied in the +facts of detail and the philosophy of +commercial legislation as he undoubtedly +is, does not appear to have exactly +suspected the existence of evidence +leading to such results.</p> + +<p>From the incompleteness of the +Spanish returns of foreign trade, it is +unfortunately not possible to test the +complete accuracy of those given here +by collation. The returns before us, +and they are the only ones yet undertaken +in Spain, and in order, embrace +in detail nine only of the principal +ports:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>For Cadiz, Malaga, Carthagena, St Sebastian, Bilboa, Santander, +Gijon, Corunna, and the Balearic Isles, the total imports and exports +united are stated to have amounted, in 1840, to about</td> + <td align="right">L.6,147,280</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Employing 5782 vessels of the aggregate tonnage of 584,287</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Of the foreign trade of other ports and provinces no returns are made +out. All known of the important seaport of Barcelona was, that its +foreign trade in the same year occupied 1,645 vessels of 173,790 +tonnage. The special aggregate exports from the nine ports cited to +the United Kingdom—the separate commodities composing which, as +of imports, are given with exactness of detail—are stated for 1840 +in value at</td> + <td>L.1,476,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>To which add, of raisins alone, from Valencia, about 184,000 cwts, +(other exports not given,) value</td> + <td align="right">185,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Exports from Almeria,</td> + <td align="right">13,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> L.1,674,000</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>Although these are the principal +ports of Spain, yet they are not the +only ports open to foreign trade, although, +comparatively, the proportion +of foreign traffic shared by the others +would be much less considerable. It +is remarkable, under the circumstances, +how closely these Spanish returns +of exports to Great Britain approach +to our own valuations of the total imports +from Spain direct, as calculated +from market prices upon the quantities +alone rendered in the tables of +the Board of Trade.</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>Our valuation of the direct imports from Spain being</td> + <td align="right"> L.1,732,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>The Spanish valuation,</td> + <td align="right">1,674,000</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>The public writers and statesmen +of Spain have long held, and still +maintain the opinion, that the illicit +introduction into that country of British +manufactures whose legal import +is prohibited, or greatly restricted by +heavy duties, is carried on upon a +much more extensive scale than what +is, or can be, the case. In respect of +cotton goods, the fact is particularly +insisted upon. It may be confidently +asserted, for it is susceptible of proof, +that much exaggeration is abroad on +the subject. We shall bring some +evidence upon the point. There can +be no question that, so far as British +agency is directly concerned, or British +interest involved, in the contraband +introduction of cottons, or other +manufactures, or tobacco, it is almost +exclusively represented by the trade +with Gibraltar. We are satisfied, +moreover, that the Spanish consumption +of cotton goods is overrated, as +well as the amount of the clandestine +traffic. Señor Marliani an authority +generally worthy of great respect, +errs on this head with many others of +his countrymen. In a late work, entitled +<i>De la Influencia del Sistema prohibitiva +en la Agricultura, Commercio, y rentas +Publicas</i>, he comes to the following +calculation:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>Imported direct to Spain,</td> + <td align="right">L.34,687</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>To Gibraltar,</td> + <td align="right">608,581</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>To Portugal, £731,673, of which three-fourths find their way to Spain,</td> + <td align="right">540,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Total,</td> + <td align="right">L.1,183,268</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>Again, Great Britain imports annually +into Italy to the amount of +£2,005,785 in cotton goods, £500,000 +worth of which, it is not too much to +assume, go into Spain through the ports +of Leghorn and Genoa. Adding together, +then, these several items of +cotton goods introduced from France +and England into Spain by contraband, +we arrive at the following startling +result:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> FRANCE.</td> + <td align="right"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Cotton goods imported into Spain, according to the Government returns,</td> + <td align="right">L.1,331,608</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> ENGLAND.</td> + <td align="right"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Cotton goods through Spanish ports,</td> + <td align="right">34,637</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Through Gibraltar,</td> + <td align="right">608,581</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Through Portugal,</td> + <td align="right">540,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Through Leghorn, Genoa, &c. &c.</td> + <td align="right">500,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Total,</td> + <td align="right"> L.3,014,826</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>An extravagant writer, of the name +of Pebrer, carried the estimate up to +£5,850,000. Señor Inclan, more +moderate, still valued the import and +consumption at £2,720,000. A "Cadiz +merchant," with another anonymous +writer of practical authority, calculated +the amount, with more sagacity, +at £2,000,000 and £2,110,000 +respectively. Señor Marliani is, +moreover, of opinion—considering the +weight of tobacco, from six to eight +millions of pounds, assumed to be +imported into Gibraltar for illicit +entrance into Spain, on the authority +of Mr Porter, but the words +and work not expressly quoted; the +tobacco, dressed skins, corn, flour, +&c. from France, with the illegal import +of cottons—that the whole contraband +trade carried on in Spain cannot +amount to less than the enormous +mass of one thousand millions of reals, +or say <i>ten millions</i> sterling a-year. +Conceding to the full the millions of +pounds of tobacco here registered as +smuggled from Gibraltar, of which, +notwithstanding, we cannot stumble +upon the official trace for half the +quantity, we must, after due reflection, +withhold our assent wholly to +this very wide, if not wild, assumption +of our Spanish friend. We are inclined, +on no slight grounds, to come +to the conclusion, that the amount of +contraband trade really carried on is +here surcharged by not far short of +one-half; that it cannot in any case +exceed six millions sterling—certainly +still a bulk of illegitimate values sufficiently +monstrous, and almost incredible. +We shall proceed to deal conclusively, +however, with that special +branch of the traffic for which the +materials are most accessible and irrecusable, +and the verification of truth +therefore scarcely left to the chances +of speculation.</p> + +<p>First, for the rectification for exact, +or official, quantities and values, we +give the returns of the total exports +of cotton manufactures, taken from +the tables of the Board of Trade:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>1840.</td> + <td>Cotton manufactures,</td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.17,567,310</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Yarns,</td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">7,101,308</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>And for 1840 here are the exports to the countries specified:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">Declared Value.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>1840.</td> + <td>Cottons to Portugal,</td> + <td align="center">yards</td> + <td align="right">37,002,209</td> + <td align="right">L.681,787</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Hosiery, lace, small wares,</td> + <td align="center"> </td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">20,403</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Yarn,</td> + <td align="center">lbs.</td> + <td align="right">175,545</td> + <td align="right">2,796</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center">Id.</td> + <td>Cottons to Spain,</td> + <td align="center">yards</td> + <td align="right">355,040</td> + <td align="right">7,987</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Hosiery, &c.</td> + <td align="center"> </td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">2,819</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Yarn,</td> + <td align="center">lbs.</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">345</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center">Id.</td> + <td>Cottons to Gibraltar,</td> + <td align="center">yards</td> + <td align="right">27,609,345</td> + <td align="right">610,456</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Hosiery, &c.</td> + <td align="center"> </td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">21,996</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Yarn,</td> + <td align="center">lbs.</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">3,369</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center">Id.</td> + <td>Cottons to Italy and Italian Islands,</td> + <td align="center">yds.</td> + <td align="right">58,866,278</td> + <td align="right">1,119,135</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Hosiery, &c.</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">41,197</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Yarn,</td> + <td align="center">lbs.</td> + <td align="right">11,490,034</td> + <td align="right">510,040</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="center"> </td> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>Total,</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.3,022,430</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>The discrepancies between some of the figures in these returns and those +cited by Señor Marliani, arise probably from their respective reference to different +years; they are, however, unimportant. We have already shown, that, +deducting the re-exports of cottons to Ceuta and the coast of Africa opposite +to Gibraltar, the value of those destined for Spain, by way of the Rock; in +1840, could not exceed</p> + +<table summary="" align="center" class="blkquot"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.565,800</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>We shall assume that <i>one-fourth</i> only of the cottons exported +to Portugal find their way fraudulently into Spain—say</td> + <td align="right">176,290</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Say re-exports of cottons from Genoa to Gibraltar, assumed to +be for Spain, as per official return of that port for 1839,</td> + <td align="right">31,400</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Cotton goods direct to Spain from the United Kingdom,</td> + <td align="right">11,150</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Total value of British cottons which could find their way into +Spain, direct and indirect, in 1840,</td> + <td align="right">L.784,640</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Instead of the amount exaggerated of Señor Marliani,</td> + <td align="right"> L.1,663,268</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Or the large excess in estimation, of</td> + <td align="right">898,628</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>We have the official returns of the +whole imports of cotton manufactures, +with the exports, of the Sardinian +States for 1840, now lying before us.</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>The imports were to the value of only</td> + <td align="right"> L.443,360</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Of which from the United Kingdom</td> + <td align="right">242,680</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Exported, or re-exported,</td> + <td align="right">458,680</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>The <i>whole</i> of which to Tuscany, the +Two Sicilies, the Roman States, Parma +and Placentia, the Isle of Sardinia, +and Austria. It will be observed that +there had been a great falling off in +the trade with the Sardinian States in +1840, as compared with 1838 and +1839; and here, for greater convenience, +we make free to extract the +following remarks and returns from +our esteemed contemporary of the +<i>Morning Herald</i>, with some slight +corrections of our own, when appropriately +correcting certain misrepresentations +of Mr Henderson, similar +to those of Señor Marliani, respecting +the assumed clandestine ingress of +British cotton goods into Spain from +the Italian states:—</p> + +<p>"Now the official customhouse returns +of most of the Italian states are +lying before us—the returns of the +Governments themselves—but unfortunately +none of them come down +later than 1839, so that it is impossible, +however desirable, to carry out +fully the comparison for 1840. Not +that it is of any signification for more +than uniformity, because, on referring +to years antecedent to 1839, the relation +between imports of cottons and +re-exports, with the places from which +imported and to which re-exports took +place, is not sensibly disturbed. The +returns for the whole of Sardinia are +not possessed later than 1838, but +those for Genoa, its chief port, are +for 1839, and nearly the whole imports +into Sardinia, as well as exports, +are effected at Genoa. Thus of the +total imports of cotton goods into +Sardinia in 1838, to the value of +about L.843,000, the amount into +Genoa alone was L.823,000. That +year was one of excessive imports +and 1839 one of equal depression, but +this can only bear upon the facts of the +case so far as proportionate quantities.</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>In 1839, total imports of cottons into Genoa—value</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.494,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Of which from England</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">313,680</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Total re-exports</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">475,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Of which to Tuscany</td> + <td align="right">L.131,760</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Naples and Sicily</td> + <td align="right">110,800</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Austria</td> + <td align="right">61,080</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Parma and Placentia</td> + <td align="right">40,840</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Sardinia Island</td> + <td align="right">28,320</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Switzerland</td> + <td align="right">22,240</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Roman States</td> + <td align="right">14,880</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>GIBRALTAR</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">31,440</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>The total value of cottons introduced +into the Roman states is stated for +1839 at L.108,640, of which the whole +imported from France, Sardinia, and +Tuscany—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center" class="blkquot"> + <tr> + <td>1839.</td> + <td>Total imports of cotton and hempen manufactures classed together into Tuscany (Leghorn)</td> + <td align="right">L.440,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Of woollens</td> + <td align="right">117,200</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>"The total imports of woollen, cotton, +and hempen goods together, in +the same year, were to the amount of +L.155,000.</p> + +<p>"Of the imports and exports of +Naples, unfortunately, no accounts +are possessed; but the imports of +cottons into the island of Sicily for +1839 were only to the extent of +L.26,000, of which to the value of +L.8,000 only from England. In +1838 the total imports of cottons were +for L.170,720, but no re-exportation +from the island. The whole of the +inconsiderable exports of cottons from +Malta are made to Turkey, Greece, +the Barbary States, Egypt, and the +Ionian Isles, according to the returns +of 1839."</p> + +<p>From these facts and figures, derived +from official documents, of the +existence of which it is probable +Señor Marliani was not aware, it will +be observed at once how extremely +light and fallacious are the grounds +on which he jumps to conclusions. +What more preposterous than the +vague assumption founded on data +little better then guess-work, that <i>one-fourth</i> +of the whole exports of British +cottons to Italy and the Italian islands, +say L.500,000 out of L.2,000,000, +go to Spain, when, in point of fact, +not one-tenth of the amount does, or +can find its way there—or could, under +any conceivable circumstances +short of an absolute famine crop of +fabrics in France and England. +Neither prices nor commercial profits +could support the extra charges of a +longer voyage out, landing charges, +transhipment and return voyage to +the coasts of Spain. It has been +shown that in the year 1840, not the +shipment of a single yard of cottons +took place from Genoa, the only port +admitting of the probability of such +an operation.</p> + +<p>Not less preposterous is the allegation, +that three-fourths of the whole +exports of British cottons to Portugal +are destined for, and introduced into +Spain by contraband. Assuming that +Spain, with thirteen and a half millions +of people, consumes, in the whole, cotton +goods to the value of</p> + +<table summary="" align="center" class="blkquot"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.2,200,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Why should not Portugal, with more than +three and a half millions of inhabitants, +that is more than one-fourth the population +of Spain, consume also more than one-fourth +the value of cotton goods, or say only</td> + <td align="right">550,000?</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Brazil, a <i>ci-devant</i> colony of +Portugal, and with a Portuguese population, +as may be said, of 5,400,000, consumed +British cotton fabrics to the value, in +1840, of</td> + <td align="right">1,525,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> +<td>So, also, why should not Italy and the +Italian islands, with twenty-two millions +of people, be able to consume as much +cotton values as Spain with 13½ millions; +or say only the whole amount really exported +there from this country of</td> + <td align="right">2,005,000?</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>It is necessary for the interests of +truth, for the interests also of both +countries, that the popular mind, the +mind of the public men of Spain also, +should be disabused in respect of +two important errors. The first is, +that an enormous balance of trade +against Spain, that is, of British +exports, licit and illicit too, compared +with imports from Spain—results annually +in favour of this country, from +the present state of our commercial +exchanges with her. The second is, +the greatly exaggerated notion of the +transcendant amount of the illicit +trade carried on with Spain in British +commodities, cottons more especially. +In correction of the latter misconception, +we have shown that the +amount of British cotton introduced +by contraband cannot exceed, <i>nor +equal</i>,</p> + +<table summary="" align="center" class="blkquot"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.780,640</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Instead, as asserted by Señor Marliani, of</td> + <td align="right">1,683,268</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>And, in correction of the first error +relative to the balance of trade, we have +established the feet by calculations of +approximate fidelity—for exactitude is out +of the question and unattainable with the +materials to be worked up—that an excess +of values, that is, of exports, results to +Spain upon such balance as against imports, +licit and illicit, to the extent per annum of</td> + <td align="right">550,000</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>It is therefore Great Britain, and +not Spain, which is entitled to demand +that this adverse balance be redressed, +and which would stand justified in +retaliating the restrictions and prohibitions +on Spanish products, with +which, so unjustly, Spain now visits +those of Great Britain. Far from us +be the advocacy of a policy so harsh—we +will add, so unwise; but at least +let our disinterested friendship and +moderation be appreciated, and provoke, +in reason meet, their appropriate +consideration.</p> + +<p>The more formidable, because far +more extensive and facile abuses, arising +out of the unparalleled contraband +traffic of which Spain is, and long has +been, the theatre, and the attempted +repression of which requires the constant +employment of entire armies of +regular troops, are elsewhere to be +found in action and guarded against; +they concern a neighbour nearer than +Great Britain. According to an official +report made to his Government +by Don Mateo Durou, the active and +intelligent consul for Spain at Bordeaux, +and the materials for which +were extracted from the customhouse +returns of France, the trade betwixt +France and Spain is thus stated, but +necessarily abridged:—</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="center">Francs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>1840.—Total exports from France into Spain,</td> + <td align="right">104,679,141</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>1840.—Total imports into France from Spain,</td> + <td align="right">42,684,761</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Deficit against Spain,</td> + <td align="right">61,994,380</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>France, therefore, exported nearly +two and a half times as much as she +imported from Spain; a result greatly +the reverse of that established in +the trade of Spain with Great Britain. +In these exports from France, +cotton manufactures figure for a total +of</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">34,251,068</td> + <td align="center">fr.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Or, in sterling,</td> + <td align="right">L.1,427,000</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Of which smuggled in by the land or Pyrennean frontier,</td> + <td align="right">32,537,992</td> + <td align="center">fr.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>By sea, only</td> + <td align="right">1,713,076</td> + <td align="center">...</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Linen yarns, entered for</td> + <td align="right">15,534,391</td> + <td align="center">...</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Silks, for</td> + <td align="right">8,953,423</td> + <td align="center">...</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Woollens, for</td> + <td align="right">8,919,760</td> + <td align="center">...</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>Among these imports from France, +various other prohibited articles are +enumerated besides cottons. As here +exhibited, the illicit introduction of +cotton goods from France into Spain +is almost double in amount that of +British cottons. The fact may be accounted +for from the closer proximity +of France, the superior facilities and +economy of land transit, the establishment +of stores of goods in Bayonne, +Bordeaux, &c., from which the +Spanish dealers may be supplied in +any quantity and assortment to order, +however small; whilst from Great +Britain heavy cargoes only can be +dispatched, and from Gibraltar quantities +in bulk could alone repay the +greater risk of the smuggler by sea.</p> + +<p>Señor Durou adds the following +brief reflections upon this <i>exposé</i> of the +French contraband trade. "Let the +manufactures of Catalonia be protected; +but there is no need to make all +Spain tributary to one province, when +it cannot satisfy the necessities of the +others, neither in the quantity, the +quality, nor the cost of its fabrics. +What would result from a protecting +duty? Why, that contraband trade +would be stopped, and the premiums +paid by the assurance companies established +in Bayonne, Oleron, and +Perpignan, would enter into the Exchequer +of the State."</p> + +<p>The active measures decreed by the +Spanish Government in July and October +1841, supported by cordons of +troops at the foot of the Pyrenees, +have, indeed, very materially interfered +with and checked the progress +of this contraband trade. In consequence +of ancient compact, the +Basque, that is frontier provinces of +Spain, enjoyed, among other exclusive +privileges, that of being exempt +from Government customhouses, or +customs' regulations. For this privilege, +a certain inconsiderable subsidy +was periodically voted for the service +of the State. Regent Espartero resolutely +suspended first, and then abrogated, +this branch of the <i>fueros</i>. He +carried the line of the customhouses +from the Ebro, where they were comparatively +useless and scarcely possible +to guard, to the very foot and passes +of the Pyrenees. The advantageous +effect of these vigorous proceedings was +not long to wait for, and it may be found +developed in the Report to the Chamber +of Deputies in Paris, before referred +to; in which M. Chégaray, the +<i>rapporteur</i> on the part of the complaining +petitioners of Bayonne, Bordeaux, +&c., after stating that the +general exports of France to Spain in</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>1839</td> + <td>represented the aggregate sum of</td> + <td align="right">83,000,000 francs,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>1840</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">104,000,000 francs,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>1841</td> + <td align="center">"</td> + <td align="right">101,000,000 francs,</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>proceeds to say, that the general returns +for 1842 were not yet (April 11) +made up, but that "<i>M. le directeur-général +des douanes nous a declaré que +la diminution avait été enorme</i>." But +although the general returns could +not be given, those specially referring +to the single customhouse of Bayonne +had been obtained, and they +amply confirmed the assertion of the +enormous diminution. The export +of cottons, woollens, silks, and linens, +from that port to Spain, which in</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>1840</td> + <td>amounted in value to</td> + <td align="right">15,800,000 francs,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>1841</td> + <td align="right">also</td> + <td align="right">15,800,000 francs,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>1842</td> + <td align="right">had fallen to</td> + <td align="right">5,700,000 francs.</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>A fall, really tremendous, of nearly +two-thirds.</p> + +<p>M. Chégaray, unfortunately, can +find no other grievance to complain of +but the too strict enforcement of the +Spanish custom laws, by which French +and Spanish contrabandists are harassed +and damaged—can suggest no +other remedy than the renewal of the +"family compact" of the Bourbons—no +hopes for the revival of smuggling +prosperity from the perpetuation of +the French reciprocity system of trade +all on one side, but in the restoration +of the commercial privileges so long +enjoyed exclusively by French subjects +and shipping, but now broken +or breaking down under the hammering +blows of Espartero—nor discover +any prospect of relief until the Spanish +customhouse lines are transferred +to their old quarters on the +other side of the Ebro, and the <i>fueros</i> +of the Biscaiano provinces, which, by +ancient treaty, he claims to be under +the guarantee of France, re-established +in all their pristine plenitude.</p> + +<p>It is surely time for the intelligence, +if not the good sense, of France to do +justice by these day-dreams. The +tutelage of Spain has escaped from the +Bourbons of Paris, and the ward of +full majority will not be allowed, cannot +be, if willing, to return or remain +under the trammels of an interested +guardian, with family pretensions to +the property in default of heirs direct. +France, above all countries, +has the least right to remonstrate +against the reign of prohibitions and +restrictions, being herself the classic +land of both. Let her commence +rather the work of reform at home, +and render tardy justice to Spain, +which she has drained so long, and +redress to Great Britain, against +whose more friendly commercial code +she is constantly warring by differential +preferences of duties in favour +of the same commodities produced +in other countries, which consume +less of what she abounds in, and +have less the means of consumption. +Beyond all, let her cordially join this +country in urging upon the Spanish +Government, known to be nowise +averse to the urgency of a wise revision +and an enlightened modification of +the obsolete principles of an absurd +and impracticable policy both fiscal +and commercial—a policy which beggars +the treasury, whilst utterly failing +to protect native industry, and +demoralizes at the same time that it +impoverishes the people. We are +not of the number of those who would +abandon the assertion of a principle +<i>quoad</i> another country, the wisdom +and expediency of which we have advocated, +and are still prepared to advocate, +in its regulated application to +our own, from the sordid motive of +benefiting British manufactures to +the ruin of those of Spain. Rather, +we say to the government of Spain, +let a fair protection be the rule, restrictions +the exceptions, prohibition +the obsolete outcast, of your fiscal +and commercial policy. We import +into this country, the chief and most +valuable products of Spain, those +which compose the elements and a +very considerable proportion of her +wealth and industry, are either untaxed, +or taxed little more than nominally. +We may still afford, with proper +encouragement and return in +kind, to abate duties on such Spanish +products as are taxed chiefly +because coming into competition with +those of our own colonial possessions, +and on those highly taxed as luxuries, +for revenue; and this we can do, +and are prepared to do, although +Spain is so enormously indebted to us +already on the balance of commercial +exchanges.</p> + +<p>This revision of her fiscal system, +and reconstruction, on fair and reciprocal +conditions, of her commercial +code, are questions of far deeper import—and +they are of vital import—to +Spain than to this empire. Look at +the following statement of her gigantic +debt, upon which, beyond some +three or four hundred thousand pounds +annually, for the present, on the capitalized +<i>coupons</i> of over-due interest +accruing on the conversion and consolidation +operation of 1834, the +Toreno abomination, not one <i>sueldo</i> +of interest is now paying, has been +paid for years, or can be paid for +years to come, and then only as industry +furnishes the means by extended +trade, and more abundant customhouse +revenues, resulting from an improved +tariff.</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td align="center" colspan=5><i>Statement of the Spanish Debt at commencement of 1842</i>:—</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Internal—</td> + <td>Liquidated, that is verified,</td> + <td align="right">L.50,130,565</td> + <td align="center" colspan=2>Without interest.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Not liquidated</td> + <td align="right">9,364,228</td> + <td align="center" colspan=2>with 5 per cent in paper.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Not consolidated,</td> + <td align="right">2,609,832</td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Bearing 5 per cent,</td> + <td align="right">15,242,593</td> + <td align="center">Interest,</td> + <td align="right">L.762,128</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> Do. 3 do.</td> + <td align="right">5,842,632</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">233,705</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.83,189,850</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.995,833</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>External</td> + <td>Loan of 1834, and the conversion of old debt,</td> + <td align="right">L.33,985,939</td> + <td align="center">5 per cent,</td> + <td align="right"> L.1,699,296</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Balance of inscription to the public treasury of France,</td> + <td align="right">2,782,681</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">160,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Inscriptions in payment of English claims,</td> + <td align="right">600,000</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">30,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Ditto for American claims,</td> + <td align="right">120,000</td> + <td align="center">—</td> + <td align="right">6,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.37,488,620</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">L.1,895,296</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Capitalized <i>coupons</i>, treasury bonds, &c., amount not stated, but some millions more</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="center">3 per cent,</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Deferred,</td> + <td align="right">5,944,584</td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Ditto,</td> + <td align="right">4,444,040</td> + <td align="center" colspan=2>Calculated at 100 reals</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td>Passive,</td> + <td align="right">10,542,582</td> + <td align="center" colspan=2>per L. sterling.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">20,931,206</td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan=2>Grand total, exclusive of capitalization</td> + <td align="right">L.141,669,676</td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>The latest account of Spanish +finance, that for 1842 before referred +to, exhibits an almost equally hopeless +prospect of annual deficit, as between +revenue and expenditure; 1st, +the actual receipts of revenue being +stated at</p> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">879,193,475</td> + <td>reals</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>The expenditure, </td> + <td align="right">1,541,639,879</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">—————</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center">Deficit,</td> + <td align="right">662,446,404</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> +</table> + +<table summary="" align="center"> + <tr> + <td>That is, with a revenue sterling of</td> + <td align="right">L.8,791,934 + </tr> + <tr> + <td>A deficiency besides uncovered, of</td> + <td align="right">6,624,464</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>Assuming the amount of the contraband +traffic in Spain at six millions +sterling per annum, instead of the +ten millions estimated, we think +most erroneously, by Señor Marliani, +the result of an average duty on the +amount of 25 per cent, would produce +to the treasury L.1,500,000 per +annum; and more in proportion as +the traffic, when legitimated, should +naturally extend, as the trade would +be sure to extend, between two countries +like Great Britain and Spain, +alone capable of exchanging millions +with each other for every million now +operated. The L.1,500,000 thus +gained would almost suffice to meet +the annual interest on the L.34,000,000 +loan conversion of 1834, still singularly +classed in stock exchange parlance +as "active stock." As for the +remaining mass of domestic and foreign +debt, there can be no hope for +its gradual extinction but by the sale +of national domains, in payment for +which the titles of debt of all classes +may be, as some now are, receivable +in payment. As upwards of two +thousand millions of reals of debt +are said to be thus already extinguished, +and the national domains yet +remaining for disposal are valued +at nearly the same sum, say +L.20,000,000, it is clear that the final +extinction of the debt is a hopeless +prospect, although a very large reduction +might be accomplished by +that enhanced value of these domains +which can only flow from increase of +population and the rapid progression +of industrial prosperity.</p> + +<p>All Spain, excepting the confining +provinces in the side of France, and +especially the provinces where are the +great commercial ports, such as +Cadiz, Malaga,<a name="footnotetag27" id="footnotetag27"></a><a href="#footnote27"><sup>27</sup></a> Corunna, &c., have +laid before the Cortes and Government +the most energetic memorials +and remonstrances against the prohibition +system of tariffs in force, and +ask why they, who, in favour of their +own industry and products, never +asked for prohibitions, are to be sacrificed +to Catalonia and Biscay? The +Spanish Government and the most +distinguished public men are well +known to be favourable, to be anxiously +meditating, an enlightened +change of system, and negotiations +are progressing prosperously, or +would progress, but for France. +When will France learn to imitate +the generous policy which announced +to her on the conclusion of peace with +China—We have stipulated no conditions +for ourselves from which we +desire to exclude you or other nations?</p> + +<p>We could have desired, for the pleasure +and profit of the public, to extend +our notice of, and extracts from, +the excellent work of Señor Marliani, +so often referred to, but our limits +forbid. To show, however, the state +and progress of the cotton manufacture +in Catalonia, how little it gains +by prohibitions, and how much it is +prejudiced by the contraband trade, +we beg attention to the following extract:—</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"Since the year 1769, when the cotton +manufacture commenced in Catalonia, the +trade enjoyed a complete monopoly, not +only in Spain, but also in her colonies. +To this protection were added the fostering +and united efforts of private individuals. +In 1780, a society for the encouragement +of the cotton manufacture was +established in Barcelona. Well, what has +been the result? Let us take the unerring +test of figures for our guide. Let us +take the medium importation of raw cotton +from 1834 to 1840 inclusive, (although +the latter year presents an inadmissible +augmentation,) and we shall have an average +amount of 9,909,261 lbs. of raw cotton. +This quantity is little more than half that +imported by the English in the year 1784. +The sixteen millions of pounds imported +that year by the English are less than the +third part imported by the same nation in +1790, which amounted in all to thirty-one +millions; it is only the sixth part of +that imported in 1800, when it rose to +56,010,732 lbs.; it is less than the seventh +part of the British importations in 1810, +which amounted to seventy-two millions of +pounds; it is less than the fifteenth part +of the cotton imported into the same +country in 1820, when the sum amounted +to 150,672,655 pounds; it is the twenty-sixth +part of the British importation in 1830, +which was that year 263,961,452 lbs.; +and lastly, the present annual importation +into Catalonia is about the sixty-sixth part +of that into Great Britain for the year +1840, when the latter amounted to +592,965,504 lbs. of raw cotton. Though +the comparative difference of progress is +not so great with France, still it shows the +slow progress of the Catalonian manufactures +in a striking degree. The quantity +now imported of raw cotton into Spain is +about the half of that imported into France +from 1803 to 1807; a fourth part compared +with French importations of that +material from 1807 to 1820; seventh-and-a-half +with respect to those of 1830; +and a twenty-seventh part of the quantity +introduced into France in 1840."</p></div> + +<p>And we conclude with the following +example, one among several which +Señor Marliani gives, of the daring +and open manner in which the operations +of the <i>contrabandistas</i> are conducted, +and of the scandalous participation +of authorities and people—incontestable +evidences of a wide-spread +depravation of moral sentiments.</p> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"Don Juan Prim, inspector of preventive +service, gave information to the Government +and revenue board in Madrid, +on the 22d of November 1841, that having +attempted to make a seizure of contraband +goods in the town of Estepona, in +the province of Malaga, where he was +aware a large quantity of smuggled goods +existed, he entered the town with a force +of carabineers and troops of the line. On +entering, he ordered the suspected depôt +of goods to be surrounded, and gave notice +to the second alcalde of the town to +attend to assist him in the search. In +some time the second alcalde presented +himself, and at the instance of M. Prim +dispersed some groups of the inhabitants +who had assumed a hostile attitude. In a +few minutes after, and just as some shots +were fired, the first alcalde of the town +appeared, and stated that the whole population +was in a state of complete excitement, +and that he could not answer for the +consequences; whereupon he resigned his +authority. While this was passing, about +200 men, well armed, took up a position +upon a neighbouring eminence, and assumed +a hostile attitude. At the same +time a carabineer, severely wounded from +the discharge of a blunderbuss, was +brought up, so that there was nothing left +for M. Prim but to withdraw his force +immediately out of the town, leaving the +smugglers and their goods to themselves, +since neither the alcaldes nor national +guards of the town, though demanded in +the name of the law, the regent, and the +nation, would aid M. Prim's force against +them!"</p></div> + +<p>All that consummate statesmanship +can do, will be done, doubtless, by the +present Government of Great Britain, +to carry out and complete the economical +system on which they have so +courageously thrown themselves <i>en +avant</i>, by the negotiation and completion +of commercial treaties on every +side, and by the consequent mitigation +or extinction of hostile tariffs. +Without this indispensable complement +of their own tariff reform, and +low prices consequent, he must be +a bold man who can reflect upon +the consequences without dismay. +Those consequences can benefit no one +class, and must involve in ruin every +class in the country, excepting the +manufacturing mammons of the Anti-corn-law +league, who, Saturn-like, devour +their own kindred, and salute +every fall of prices as an apology for +grinding down wages and raising profits. +It may be well, too, for sanguine +young statesmen like Mr Gladstone +to turn to the DEBT, and cast +about how interest is to be forthcoming +with falling prices, falling +rents, falling profits, (the exception +above apart,) excise in a rapid state +of decay, and customs' revenue a +blank!</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<a name="bw329-footnotes"></a> +<h2>FOOTNOTES.</h2> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1</b>: <a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +This was not the only case of compensation made out against this travelling +companion. "Milord," says our tourist, "in his quality of bulldog, was so great +a destroyer of cats, that we judged it wise to take some precautions against overcharges +in this particular. Therefore, on our departure from Genoa, in which +town Milord had commenced his practices upon the feline race of Italy, we enquired +the price of a full-grown, well-conditioned cat, and it was agreed on all +hands that a cat of the ordinary species—grey, white, and tortoiseshell—was worth +two pauls—(learned cats, Angora cats, cats with two heads or three tails, are not, +of course, included in this tariff.) Paying down this sum for two several Genoese +cats which had been just strangled by our friend, we demanded a legal receipt, and +we added successively other receipts of the same kind, so that this document +became at length an indisputable authority for the price of cats throughout all +Italy. As often as Milord committed a new assassination, and the attempt was +made to extort from us more than two pauls as the price of blood, we drew this +document from our pocket, and proved beyond a cavil that two pauls was what we +were accustomed to pay on such occasions, and obstinate indeed must have been +the man or woman who did not yield to such a weight of precedent."</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2</b>: <a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +It is amusing to contrast the <i>artistic</i> manner in which our author makes all his +statements, with the style of a guide-book, speaking on the manufactures and industry +of Florence. It is from Richard's <i>Italy</i> we quote. Mark the exquisite +medley of humdrum, matter-of-fact details, jotted down as if by some unconscious +piece of mechanism:—"Florence <i>manufactures</i> excellent silks, woollen cloths, +elegant carriages, bronze articles, earthenware, straw hats, perfumes, essences, <i>and +candied fruits</i>; also, all kinds of turnery and inlaid work, piano-fortes, philosophical +and mathematical instruments, &c. The dyes used at this city are much admired, +particularly the black, <i>and its sausages are famous throughout all Italy</i>."</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote3"></a><b>Footnote 3</b>: <a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> The extreme misery of the paupers in Sicily, who form, he tells us, a tenth +part of the population, quite haunts the imagination of M. Dumas. He recurs to +it several times. At one place he witnesses the distribution, at the door of a convent, +of soup to these poor wretches, and gives a terrible description of the famine-stricken +group. "All these creatures," he continues, "had eaten nothing +since yesterday evening. They had come there to receive their porringer of soup, +as they had come to-day, as they would come to-morrow. This was all their +nourishment for twenty-four hours, unless some of them might obtain a few <i>grani</i> +from their fellow-citizens, or the compassion of strangers; but this is very rare, +as the Syracusans are familiarized with the spectacle, and few strangers visit Syracuse. +When the distributor of this blessed soup appeared, there were unheard-of +cries, and each one rushed forward with his wooden bowl in his hand. Only there +were some too feeble to exclaim, or to run, and who dragged themselves forward, +groaning, upon their hands and knees. There was in the midst of all, a child +clothed, not in anything that could be called a shirt, but a kind of spider's web, +with a thousand holes, who had no wooden bowl, and who wept with hunger. It +stretched out its poor little meagre hands, and joined them together, to supply as +well as it could, by this natural receptacle, the absent bowl. The cook poured in +a spoonful of the soup. The soup was boiling, and burned the child's hand. It +uttered a cry of pain, and was compelled to open its fingers, and the soup fell upon +the pavement. The child threw itself on all fours, and began to eat in the manner +of a dog."—Vol. iii. p. 58. +</p><p> +And in another place he says, "Alas, this cry of hunger! it is the eternal cry +of Sicily; I have heard nothing else for three months. There are miserable +wretches, whose hunger has never been appeased, from the day when, lying in their +cradle, they began to draw the milk from their exhausted mothers, to the last hour +when, stretched on their bed of death, they have expired endeavouring to swallow +the sacred host which the priest had laid upon their lips. Horrible to think of! +there are human beings to whom, to have eaten once sufficiently, would be a remembrance +for all their lives to come."—Vol. iv. p. 108.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote4"></a><b>Footnote 4</b>: <a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> <i>Lar</i> is the Tartar plural of all substantives.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote5"></a><b>Footnote 5</b>: <a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> Beaters for the game.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote6"></a><b>Footnote 6</b>: <a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> Rather less than an English yard.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote7"></a><b>Footnote 7</b>: <a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> The Tartars have an invariable custom, of taking off some part of their dress +and giving it to the bearer of good news.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote8"></a><b>Footnote 8</b>: <a href="#footnotetag8">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> Coin.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote9"></a><b>Footnote 9</b>: <a href="#footnotetag9">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> Shakhéeds, traders of the sect of Souni. Yakhoúnt the senior moóllah.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote10"></a><b>Footnote 10</b>: <a href="#footnotetag10">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +Of the two opening lines we subjoin the original—to the vivacity and spirit of +which it is, perhaps, impossible to do justice in translation:—</p> +<p> +"Ihr—Ihr dort aussen in der Welt,<br> +Die Nasen einges pannt!"<br> +</p><p> +Eberhard, Count of Wurtemberg, reigned from 1344 to 1392. Schiller was a +Swabian, and this poem seems a patriotic effusion to exalt one of the heroes of his +country, of whose fame (to judge by the lines we have just quoted) the rest of the +Germans might be less reverentially aware.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote11"></a><b>Footnote 11</b>: <a href="#footnotetag11">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +Schiller lived to reverse, in the third period of his intellectual career, many of the +opinions expressed in the first. The sentiment conveyed in these lines on Rousseau is +natural enough to the author of "The Robbers," but certainly not to the poet of "Wallenstein" +and the "Lay of the Bell." We confess we doubt the maturity of any mind that +can find either a saint or a martyr in Jean Jacques.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote12"></a><b>Footnote 12</b>: <a href="#footnotetag12">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> "Und Empfindung soll mein Richtschwert seyn."<br><br> +A line of great vigour in the original, but which, if literally translated, would seem +extravagant in English.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote13"></a><b>Footnote 13</b>: <a href="#footnotetag13">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> Joseph, in the original.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote14"></a><b>Footnote 14</b>: <a href="#footnotetag14">(return)</a><div class="note"><p><br> +"The World was sad, the garden was a wild,<br> +And Man, the Hermit, sigh'd—till Woman smiled."<br> +CAMPBELL.<br> +</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote15"></a><b>Footnote 15</b>: <a href="#footnotetag15">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +Literally, "the eye beams its sun-splendour," or, "beams like a sun." For the +construction that the Translator has put upon the original (which is extremely obscure) +in the preceding lines of the stanza, he is indebted to Mr Carlyle. The general +meaning of the Poet is, that Love rules all things in the inanimate or animate +creation; that, even in the moral world, opposite emotions or principles meet and +embrace each other. The idea is pushed into an extravagance natural to the youth, +and redeemed by the passion, of the Author. But the connecting links are so slender, +nay, so frequently omitted, in the original, that a certain degree of paraphrase in many +of the stanzas is absolutely necessary to supply them, and render the general sense and +spirit of the poem intelligible to the English reader.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote16"></a><b>Footnote 16</b>: <a href="#footnotetag16">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> Mr Shaw's researches include some curious physiological and other details, for +an exposition of which our pages are not appropriate. But we shall here give the +titles of his former papers. "An account of some Experiments and Observations +on the Parr, and on the Ova of the Salmon, proving the Parr to be the Young of +the Salmon."—<i>Edinburgh New Phil. Journ</i>. vol. xxi. p. 99. "Experiments on +the Development and Growth of the Fry of the Salmon, from the Exclusion of the +Ovum to the Age of Six Months."—<i>Ibid</i>. vol. xxiv. p. 165. "Account of Experimental +Observations on the Development and Growth of Salmon Fry, from the +Exclusion of the Ova to the Age of Two Years."—<i>Transactions of the Royal Society +of Edinburgh</i>, vol. xiv. part ii. (1840.) The reader will find an abstract of +these discoveries in the No. of this Magazine for April 1840.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote17"></a><b>Footnote 17</b>: <a href="#footnotetag17">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +Mr Young has, however, likewise repeated and confirmed Mr Shaw's earlier +experiments regarding the slow growth of salmon fry in fresh water, and the conversion +of parr into smolts. We may add, that Sir William Jardine, a distinguished +Ichthyologist and experienced angler, has also corroborated Mr Shaw's observations.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote18"></a><b>Footnote 18</b>: <a href="#footnotetag18">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> These two specimens are now preserved in the Museum of the Royal Society +of Edinburgh.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote19"></a><b>Footnote 19</b>: <a href="#footnotetag19">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> The existence in the rivers during spring, of grilse which have spawned, and +which weigh only three or four pounds, is itself a conclusive proof of this retardation +of growth in fresh water. These fish had <i>run</i>, as anglers say—that is, had entered +the rivers about midsummer of the preceding year—and yet had made no progress. +Had they remained in the sea till autumn, their size on entering the fresh waters +would have been much greater; or had they spawned early in winter, and descended +speedily to the sea, they might have returned again to the river in spring <i>as small +salmon</i>, while their more sluggish brethren of the same age were still in the +streams under the form of grilse. All their growth, then, seems to take place during +their sojourn in the sea, usually from eight to twelve weeks. The length of +time spent in the salt waters, by grilse and salmon which have spawned, corresponds +nearly to the time during which smolts remain in these waters; the former +two returning as <i>clean</i> salmon, the last-named making their first appearance in our +rivers as grilse.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote20"></a><b>Footnote 20</b>: <a href="#footnotetag20">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +These two specimens, with their wire marks <i>in situ</i>, may now be seen in the +Museum of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote21"></a><b>Footnote 21</b>: <a href="#footnotetag21">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +Mr Shaw, for example, states the following various periods as those which he +found to elapse between the deposition of the ova and the hatching of the fry—90, +101, 108, and 131 days. In the last instance, the average temperature of the +river for eight weeks, had not exceeded 33°.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote22"></a><b>Footnote 22</b>: <a href="#footnotetag22">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +If we are rightly informed, salmon were not in the habit of spawning in the +rivulets which run into Loch Shin, till under the direction of Lord Francis Egerton +some full-grown fish were carried there previous to the breeding season. +These spawned; and their produce, as was to be expected, after descending to the +sea, returned in due course, and, making their way through the loch, ascended their +native tributaries.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote23"></a><b>Footnote 23</b>: <a href="#footnotetag23">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +A complete series of specimens, from the day of hatching till about the middle +of the sixth year, has been deposited by Mr Shaw in the Museum of the Royal +Society of Edinburgh.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote24"></a><b>Footnote 24</b>: <a href="#footnotetag24">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +Mr Shaw informs us, moreover, that if those individuals which have assumed +the silvery lustre be forcibly detained for a month or two in fresh water, they will +resume the coloured coating which they formerly bore. The captive females, he +adds, manifested symptoms of being in a breeding state by the beginning of the +autumn of their third year. They were, in truth, at this time as old as <i>herlings</i>, +though not of corresponding size, owing to the entire absence of marine agency.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote25"></a><b>Footnote 25</b>: <a href="#footnotetag25">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> +Another interesting result may be noticed in connexion with this Compensation +Pond. The original streamlet, like most others, was naturally stocked with small +"burn-trout," which never exceeded a few ounces in weight, as their ultimate term +of growth. But, in consequence of the formation above referred to, and the great +increase of their productive feeding-ground, and tranquil places for repose and play, +these tiny creatures have, in some instances, attained to an enormous size. We +lately examined one which weighed six pounds. It was not a sea-trout, but a +common fresh-water one—<i>Salmo fario</i>. This strongly exemplifies the conformable +nature of fishes; that is, their power of adaptation to a change of external circumstances. +It is as if a small Shetland pony, by being turned into a clover field, +could be expanded into the gigantic dimensions of a brewer's horse.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote26"></a><b>Footnote 26</b>: <a href="#footnotetag26">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> The specimen is preserved in the Museum of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a name="footnote27"></a><b>Footnote 27</b>: <a href="#footnotetag27">(return)</a><div class="note"><p> See <i>Exposicion de que dirige á las Cortes et Ayuntamiento Constitucional de +Malaga</i>, from which the following are extracts:—"El ayuntamiento no puede menos +de indicar, que entre los infinitos renglones fabriles aclimatados ya en Espana, las +sedas de Valencia, los panos de muchas provincias, los hilados de Galicia, las blondas +de Cataluna, las bayetas de Antequera, los hierros de Vizcaya y los elaborados por maquinaria +en las ferrerías á un lado y otro de esta ciudad, han adelantado, prosperan y +compiten con los efectos extranjeros mas acreditados. ¿Y han solicitado acaso una +prohibicion? Nó jamas: un derecho protector, sí; á su sombra se criaron, con la +competencia se formaron y llegaron á su robustez.... Ingleterra +figura en la exportacion por el mayor valor sin admitir comparacion alguna. Su +gobierno piensa en reducir muy considerablemente todos los renglones de su arancil; +pero se ha espresado con reserva para negar ó conceder, si lo estima conveniente, esta +reduccion á las naciones que no correspondan á los beneficios que les ofrece; ninguno +puede esperar que le favorezcan sin compensacion."</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<center><i>Edinburgh; Printed by Ballantyne and Hughes Paul's Work.</i></center> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12263 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |