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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:41:20 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:41:20 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13090-0.txt b/13090-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d445d9b --- /dev/null +++ b/13090-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1543 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13090 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + + + +No. 494.] SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1831. [Price 2d. + + + +[Illustration.] + + +EXETER HALL, STRAND. + + +We rejoice to see the site of Burleigh House partly occupied by the +above Building. Its object is to afford accommodation for the meetings +of Philanthropic Societies--so that whatever may be the olden +celebrity of the spot, it is reasonable to expect that its present +appropriation will be associated with the most grateful recollections. + +This building is, perhaps, the most perfect erection of its kind in +England. The approach from the Strand is remarkably modest: it is by a +very narrow, though very chaste, door-way, situated between two +Corinthian columns and pilasters. Within the door is a hall, with two +flights of steps, which afterwards unite, and lead up to the entrance +of the great hall itself; the hall below leads into a broad passage, +which extends to the farther extremity of the building, opening right +and left into various offices. On entering the door of the great hall, +a vast and splendid room is presented to view, with scarcely a single +interruption to the eye throughout its whole extent, capable of +containing, with comfort, more than 3,000 persons. The floor is +covered with substantial oak seats, equal to the accommodation of +2,500 persons. The greater portion of these are situated on a gentle +rise, to permit a perfect view of the platform on which the +proceedings take place. The platform is raised about six feet from the +floor, and extends the whole breadth of the room, curving inwards, the +extremities bending towards the audience: it contains seats for nearly +300 individuals. Behind this gallery again, are very capacious +recesses, which will hold from three to four hundred persons. The +lower part of the walls of the room is quite plain, the architect, +probably, regarding the audience as a sufficient ornament in that +quarter, though the rising of the seats would obscure carved-work if +it were there. The windows are at a considerable height from the +ground, and are of dimmed glass, with a chaste and classical border. +The ceiling, which is at a noble height, is beautifully laid out in +squares, with borderings and rosettes. An oblong opening occurs in the +centre, with massive beams stretching across, presenting to view an +erection in the roof, a form of construction, probably, necessary to +so immense a mass of roofing, and serving also for the purposes of +ventilation, as it contains windows at each end. There are four +pillars near the end of the hall, rising to the ceiling, the capitals +of which, as also those of some pilasters at the upper extremity of +the hall, are exquisitely carved in straw-coloured marble. Behind the +platform are numerous and convenient committee-rooms. The word +"Philadelpheion," which may be rendered "loving brothers," is carved +in Greek capitals over the entrance in the Strand.[1] + +Exeter Hall has been erected by subscription, by a public company +established for the purpose. + + [1] Ballot Newspaper. + + * * * * * + + +WILLS OF SHAKSPEARE, MILTON AND BUONAPARTE. + +(_To the Editor._) + + +The last wills and testaments of the three greatest men of modern ages +are tied up in one sheet of foolscap, and may be seen together at +Doctors Commons. In the will of the "Bard of Avon" is an +interlineation in his own handwriting--"I give unto my wife my brown +best bed, with the furniture." It is proved by William Byrde, 22nd +July, 1616. + +The will of the Minstrel of Paradise is a nuncupative one taken by his +daughter, the great poet being blind. + +The will of Napoleon, to whom future ages, in spite of legitimacy, +will confirm the epithet "le grand," is signed in a bold style of +handwriting; the codicil, on the contrary, written shortly before his +death, exhibits the then weak state of his body. + +T.H.K. + + * * * * * + + +VERNAL STANZAS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + The earth displayed its robe of gorgeous hues, + And o'er the tufted violets softly stole + The downy pinions of the fragrant wind, + Which tuned the brook with music; there were clouds + O'er the blue heaven dispersed in various shapes, + And touch'd with most impassive light, whereon + The heart might dwell and dream of future bliss; + And as the sound of distant bells awaked + The echoes of the woods, they raised the thoughts + To worlds more bright and beautiful than ours! + + G.R.C. + + The spring has waved her sunny wing + Upon the verdant earth, + And winds from distant, places bring + The festal tones of mirth; + The sky appears an azure field, + With clouds emblazoned like a shield. + + A golden light has touched the woods, + And o'er the silent dell + A languid breathless quiet broods, + Scarce broken by the swell + Of streams that whisper through the air, + As if they were awaked to pray'r. + + Survey the lovely scene around, + The river beams in gold, + Its rippling waves with song resound, + And rainbow light unfold, + And as the flow'rs unclose their eyes, + Their hue seems coloured by the skies. + + The mould'ring church on yonder slope, + Perchance by heaven designed + To consecrate the heart with hope, + In ivy-wreaths is shrined: + Its rural tombs are green with age, + And types of earthly pilgrimage. + + On this delightful vernal day, + In scenes so rich and fair, + The spirit feels a hallow'd ray + Kindling its essence there; + And Fancy haunts the mourner's urn, + "With thoughts that breathe, and words that burn." + +_Deal._ G.R.C. + + * * * * * + + +POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + All power of fancy over reason is a degree of + insanity.--JOHNSON. + + +In a former number I gave some observations on apparitions, and I +shall here continue my remarks. + +The argument that was used by Dr. Johnson was founded on premises +that are as inadmissible as his conclusion, viz. that the popular +opinion in favour of the reality of apparitions could only obtain +universal credence by its truth. This is very plausible, but destitute +of foundation. Does the learned doctor mean to deny the universality +of errors? does he mean to call the whole body of the learned and +enlightened cavillers? and that because they are not willing to +consent to his monstrous opinion? To reverse the argument, does he +mean to deny the truth of the Scriptures, or is he bold enough to +assert that they have received universal credence? So much for the +arguments wielded by Dr. Johnson, who has not been unaptly termed the +Colossus of Literature. The idea that departed spirits revisited the +earth, probably took its rise from the opinion of the immortality of +the soul, which was very general in both ancient and modern times.[2] +This supposition is most consonant with probability. It is always to +be remarked that this species of superstition is most prevalent in +those countries where learning and reason have made but little +progress. The demons [Greek: Daimones] and genii of former times were +exactly the same as the ghosts of this; the same attributes, the same +power, and the same malice were observed of one, as are now attributed +to the other. By the Chaldeans these demons were divided into two +kinds, good and bad. But as it is foreign to my purpose to enter into +an investigation of the opinions of the ancients on this subject, I +shall content myself with referring the curious reader to Stanley's +_History of Philosophy_, a deservedly popular work. + + [2] It must not be supposed that the opinion on the + immortality of the soul was confined either to Christians or + Jews; according to Herodotus, (lib. 2) the Massagetae believed + in the immortality of the soul; the most eminent of the + ancient philosophers invariably advocated that doctrine, one + of the most important in the Christian's Creed. + +I shall here recount one of the most extraordinary tales relating to +this subject that I ever heard; I believe the solution is evident, and +I am not aware that it has appeared before; but if it has, some of the +readers of the Mirror may not have seen it. + +A surgeon of Edinburgh was confined to his bed by some illness, and at +"the dewy hour of eve," when the room was lighted by nothing but the +glimmering and flickering light of a wood fire, he perceived _a female +sitting at the foot of the bed clothed in white_! Imagining that it +was some defect in his sight, he gazed more intensely at it, still it +was there. He then raised his hand before his eyes and he did not +perceive it; on withdrawing it the apparition was there. Closing his +eyes he went through a mathematical calculation to convince himself he +was in his right senses; upon reopening them he still perceived her +there. The fire then went out and he saw no more. I confess I see no +difficulty in accounting for this, by supposing the gentleman was +afflicted with that horrid disease of which Sir Walter Scott gives +many cases in his _Demonology and Witchcraft._ Although I have no +warrant for asserting spirits do not return, yet I must say, all the +tales I have ever heard do not necessarily require any such +interpretation on them. It may be true, and so may everything which we +have no evidence against or for. If my opinion on the subject was to +be shaken by anything, it would be with the following story, which was +given to me by one whose veracity I have no reason to doubt. + +There is, or rather was, a very ancient castle in Lancashire, near +Liverpool, called Castle de Bergh, which belongs to a noble family of +that name. Many years ago the possessor of the castle, Mr. de Burgh, +died, and the castle was then let out to various of the tenantry, +among whom was a carpenter. Two years after the death of Mr. de Burgh, +as this carpenter was employed in his workshop, about a quarter of a +mile from the castle, melting glue, it being evening, and only four of +his men with him, he perceived a gentleman in mourning passing the +lathe where the men were at work. He was immediately seized with a +violent trembling and weakness, his hair stood on end, and a clammy +sweat spread over his forehead. The lights were put out, he knew not +how, and at last, in fear and terror, he was obliged to return home. +On his arrival at the castle, as he was passing up the stairs, he +heard a footstep behind, and on turning round he perceived the same +apparition. He hastily entered his room, and bolted, locked, and +barred the door, but to his horror and surprise this offered no +impediment to his ghostly visiter, for the door sprang open at his +touch, and he entered the room! The apparition was seen by various +others, all of whom asserted it bore the strongest resemblance to +their deceased master! One gentleman spoke to him, and the spirit told +him "that he was not happy." + +_Foley Place._ AN ANTIQUARY. + + * * * * * + + +LINES. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Upon the silent grassy bed, + Shall maiden's tears at eve be shed, + And friendship's self shall often there + Heave the sigh, and breathe the pray'r. + Young flowers of spring around shall bloom, + And summer's roses deck thy tomb. + The primrose ope its modest breast + Where thy lamented ashes rest, + And cypress branches lowly bend + Where thy lov'd form with clay shall blend. + The silver willow darkly wave + Above thy unforgotten grave, + And woodbine leaves will fondly creep, + Where * * lies in holy sleep. + +_Sturminster._ COLBOURNE. + + * * * * * + + +PARLIAMENTARY SCRAPS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +Lord Coke, in his fourth institute, defines certain qualities +essentially requisite to constitute a good member of parliament; and +he refers to a parliament roll, 3 Henry VI., which affirms that a +parliament man should have three properties ascribed to the +elephant--1. That he hath no gall; 2. That he is inflexible, and +cannot bow; 3. That he is of a most ripe and perfect memory.--1. To be +without malice, rancour, heat, and envy;--in elephante melancholia +transit in nutrimentum corporis: every gallish inclination, if any +were, should tend to the good of the whole body--the commonwealth. 2. +That he be constant, inflexible, and not be bowed, or turned from the +right, either from fear, reward, or favour; not in judgment respect +any person. 3. That in remembering perils past, dangers to come may be +prevented. + +To these, addition is made by Lord Coke of two other properties of +elephants: the one, that though they be maximæ virtutis et maximi +intellectus, of great strength and understanding, _tamen gregatim +semper incedunt_, yet they are sociable, and go in companies; for +_animalia gregalia non sunt nociva, sed animalia solivaga sunt +nociva_: sociable creatures that go in flocks or herds are not +hurtful--as deer, sheep, &c.; but beasts that walk solely or +singularly, as bears, foxes, &c., are dangerous and hurtful. The other +property is, that the elephant is philanthropos, homini erranti viam +ostendit. And, in the opinion of Coke, these properties ought every +parliament man to have. + +Neither the ancient nor modern election statutes mention, or imply, +the existence of a "candidate." The old laws direct that the +representative shall be freely and indifferently chosen by the +electors. The choice was of their own motion, and the person elected +was passive. Even at the present day, the law does not contemplate his +asking for votes, and therefore does not allow, after the issuing of +the writ, sufficient time for a regular canvass. The term "candidate" +had its derivation from the person being _candidatus,_ clothed in +white, as symbolical of the wearer's purity. + +James I. issued a proclamation, in which the voters for members of +parliament are directed "not to choose curious and wrangling lawyers, +who seek reputation by stirring needless questions." + +At the Sussex election, in 1807, an elector, named Morton, voted in +right of his patrimonial land at Rusper, which had been in possession +of his ancestors 750 years. + +W.G.C. + + * * * * * + + +SONNET + +TO AN EOLIN HARP, HEARD AT EVENING. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Soft breathings of aerial melody, + Ye seem like love-songs from the elfin land, + Or soundings from that heaven-commissioned band, + Ushering the good man to the bliss on high. + Now swells the chorus full, anon ye die + Away upon the breeze, so soft and bland + Melting on evening's ear. Sure Love's own hand + In kindest mood hath wrought this minstrelsy. + How to the lorn heart does its influence creep, + As the wild winds sweep o'er the fairy strings, + Bringing again departed, perish'd things, + O'er which we feel it luxury to weep. + Sing on ye zephyr-sprites, your vespers cheer + The heart, whose off'ring is a holy tear. + +_Sturminster._ COLBOURNE. + + * * * * * + + + +THE COSMOPOLITE. + +HINTS FOR SELF-ADVANCEMENT; OR, HOW TO MAKE ONE'S WAY IN THE WORLD. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +When you visit married people, pay particular attention to their +children: the more noisy, troublesome, and disagreeable they are, the +more is it incumbent upon you to praise them. Should the baby +entertain you with a passionate squall for an hour or two, vow that it +is "a charming child"--"a sweet pet"--"a dear, pretty, little +creature," &c. &c. Call red hair auburn, and "a sweet, uncommon +colour;" a squint, or cross-eye, think "an agreeable expression;" +maintain that an ugly child is extremely handsome, and the image +either of one or other of its parents, or of its handsomest, +wealthiest, or most aristocratic relations. Discover which of a +family is mamma's, and which papa's favourite, and pay your court +accordingly; for it is better to lavish, in this case, your attentions +and encomiums upon one or two, than upon all. + +When requiring an introduction to any great people, scruple not to +avail yourself of the services of the little; but when mounted as high +as you please, by all means kick down your ladders, cast away your +stepping stones--since they might, instead of being of any further +assistance, only prove incumbrances to you. + +Take every opportunity of joining in conversation with those to whom +you desire to recommend yourself. Should you feel at a loss for topics +of discourse, mention servants, and tradesmen, upon whom fail not to +bestow most hearty abuse;--vow that they are an unprincipled set of +knaves, scoundrels, and thieves. Hence you will be thought to have +"much to say for yourself;" and should you be enabled to narrate any +grievous losses sustained from these members of society, you will +obtain credit for having "something to lose" at any rate, and find it +of incalculable value. + +When you direct a letter to a knight bachelor--though it is indeed +customary and well-bred to omit altogether the Knt.--yet it will never +be taken amiss should you venture to address him as a Knight of the +Garter, Bath, &c. &c., or even as a Baronet. Undoubtedly it is as +vulgar to misapprehend and confound titles, as it is to mispronounce +and misspell names; nevertheless rest assured, that flattered vanity +will go far to pardon vulgarity. + +If a gentleman, pay infinite attention to the single ladies of a +family--compliment, flirt, converse with, and ask them to dance. This +conduct will obtain for you, on account of the fair creatures, +marvellous good report, numerous invitations; and if you have +sufficient tact to steer clear of committing yourself for more than a +few flattering and general attentions, you may be considered one of +the happiest of those who live--by their wits, and upon their friends. + +Should your "dancing days be over," which is scarcely probable, +considering how greatly it is now the fashion for "potent, grave, and +reverend signors," and signoras also, to join the gay quadrille, &c. +(and here we may as well note, that in genteel society, dowager +honourables and old ladies may dance, whilst young, plain misses may +not)--there are sundry modes of rendering yourself agreeable, which +your own taste and talents, it is to be presumed, will naturally +suggest: chess, whist, ecarté, quadrille, &c. &c., not to mention a +little practical knowledge of music, are acquirements which cause an +individual to be considered "very agreeable"--because very useful; and +rely upon it, as the world goes, utility in nine cases out of ten is, +with society, a consideration. Hence, no creature is so universally +voted disagreeable as one from whom no kind of service can be exacted; +and whilst roués, gamesters, and tipplers, duelists, pugilists, and +blacklegs, are tolerated in society, stupid men are overlooked, or +thrust out of it with contempt. + +Dress in the extreme of fashion: you can neither gain nor maintain +your ground without so doing; and as you have an end to answer, which +your tailors or milliners have not, of course you will not suffer the +unfashionable dictates of conscience, respecting their bills, to +interfere with your proceedings. + +Answer an invitation as soon as it is received; many individuals defer +so doing for some days, which certainly shows fashionable ease and +nonchalance, besides allowing time for the arrival of another and +preferable one; but, by those who are absolutely bent upon advancing +themselves in society, this practice is to be eschewed, since by +perplexing, it so annoys the donor of a fête, that the chances are +greatly against your ever again being asked. + +Never omit, the day after a party, to send or leave your card, as an +acknowledgment for the civility you have received. This ceremony, +indeed, it is to your interest frequently to repeat at the doors of +your friends, since it will ensure your never being forgotten by them. + +Never go to an evening party until you are pretty certain that +everybody else is coming away. Your consequence will by this conduct +be enhanced;--you may protest that you have already appeared at two or +three balls, &c. When, if a student or fashionable novel-writer, your +time may have been more rationally employed at home, you go too late +to dance much, if the exercise, or rather the partners, be +disagreeable to you; you ensure being seen, which is something,--for, +alas! how many worthy aspirants to fashion, fortune, and fame, if of +no actual importance, are fated to pass unnoticed in a crowd! and the +opportunity is besides afforded you of paying almost undivided +attention to your host, hostess, and family, which must materially +advance your interests. Neither be in too great haste to quit the +houses of those to whom you desire to recommend yourself. Parties, +even the worst, cost both money and trouble; and whilst the givers of +them feel it no compliment to be run away from, as if a pestilence +raged in their habitations, it is positively insulting to inform them +that another soiree, from which you hope better things, awaits your +presence. + +If a lady, "set up for a beauty:" rely upon it, no persons will "cry +you up" as such unless you give them the note. Should you be extremely +plain, no matter; friz your hair until it stands out one English ell +from your face, and mount it, in bows, braids, &c., three yards at +least from the crown of your head; drawl, or lisp in your speech; +bring out words and phrases from every living tongue with which you +may happen to be slightly acquainted; boast of "the continent;" mince +your gait; wriggle forward upon your toes when you walk; and swim and +dip, whenever led into the atrocity of committing a _quad_-rille. In +brief, give yourself unimaginable airs; then protest that your +manners, as well as your costume, are of the newest Parisian mode--and +it is ten to one but that affectation will be accepted in lieu of, or +mistaken for, beauty. + +Never forget, that as it is sometimes very prudent to be deaf and dumb +in society, so is it extremely convenient upon occasions to be blind. +The cuts, direct and oblique--the looks at, and the looks over--the +distant, formal bow, and the adroit turn upon the heel (should you +perceive the party, intended to be cut for the time being at least, +advancing with dire intent of obliging a recognition), may be, +especially upon old and provincial friends, practised _ad libitum_, +without the slightest danger of your character for etiquette, +politeness, suavity, and general pleasantness, being impeached. Indeed +it is not incompatible with the highest breeding, to allow your +slighted and amazed acquaintance to hear you quizzing, and see you +laughing at, him heartily, should it be your interest so to do; and +then next day, to walk boldly up to him, protest he is the best fellow +in the world; and should he be so senseless as to venture an allusion +to your "late conduct," to vow, with the extremest audacity, that he +happens to be under some evident and deplorable mistake, &c. &c. In +short, should you really find yourself in a scrape, to back out of it +as well as you are able. + +When at a ball, it may sometimes be to your advantage (though +fashionable insolence should not be carried too far) to act in the +following manner:-- + +1. Ask a lady if she is engaged to dance. Should she answer "No," +whilst her eyes say "Yes, if you will be my partner," then, instead of +offering yourself for that purpose, protest that "dancing is a mighty +bore, which no gentleman would endure, could he possibly help it," and +walk away. + +2. Having elicited from a lady that she is not engaged for the ensuing +dance, exclaim, with a smile of triumph, "I am! and must go and find +my partner." + +3. When conversing with one young lady, whom you do not design to +compliment by leading out for waltz, quadrille, or galoppe, mazurka, +or Russian cotillon, &c., take particular care, in her hearing, to +engage yourself to another. This is equally kind and polite. + +4. Upon the conclusion of a dance, either leave your partner standing +in the middle of the room--which I have beheld performed with +admirable effect---or, hastily leading her to a seat, quit her +instantly: which proceeding says, in plain English, "Lady, I would not +stay another moment with you for anything that could be offered me, +lest the world should choose to fancy we are engaged." + +Respecting giving and lending, which are sometimes necessary worldly +duties, your guide must be this brief, but infallible rule--"Venture a +small fish to catch a large one." Those antiquated beings, indeed, +whom the polite style "horrid bores," but whose generic appellation is +Christians, are accustomed to "lend and give, not hoping to receive;" +yet this maxim cannot of course be supposed to influence the conduct +of those who desire to advance themselves in the world, because they +are bound to bear in mind, that they cannot admit of any principle of +action which tends, in the slightest degree, to militate against their +interest.--_Et caetera desunt._ + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NATURALIST. + +THE WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. + +(_Concluded from page 389._) + + +The intrepidity of character, before mentioned, may be farther +illustrated by the following fact, which occurred a few years ago, +near Great Egg Harbour, New Jersey. A woman, who happened to be +weeding in the garden, had set her child down near, to amuse itself +while she was at work; when a sudden and extraordinary rushing sound, +and a scream from her child, alarmed her, and starting up, she beheld +the infant thrown down, and dragged some few feet, and a large bald +eagle bearing off a fragment of its frock, which being the only part +seized, and giving way, providentially saved the life of the infant. + +The appetite of the bald eagle, though habituated to long fasting, is +of the most voracious and often the most indelicate kind. Fish, when +he can obtain them, are preferred to all other fare. Young lambs and +pigs are dainty morsels, and made free with on all favourable +occasions. Ducks, geese, gulls, and other sea fowl, are also seized +with avidity. The most putrid carrion, when nothing better can be had, +is acceptable; and the collected groups of gormandizing vultures, on +the approach of this dignified personage, instantly disperse, and make +way for their master, waiting his departure in sullen silence, and at +a respectful distance, on the adjacent trees. + +In one of those partial migrations of tree squirrels that sometimes +take place in our western forests, many thousands of them were +destroyed in attempting to cross the Ohio; and at a certain place, not +far from Wheeling, a prodigious number of their dead bodies were +floated to the shore by an eddy. Here the vultures assembled in great +force, and had regailed themselves for some time, when a bald eagle +made his appearance, and took sole possession of the premises, keeping +the whole vultures at their proper distance for several days. He has +also been seen navigating the same river on a floating carrion, though +scarcely raised above the surface of the water, and tugging at the +carcass, regardless of snags, sawyers, planters, or shallows. He +sometimes carries his tyranny to great extremes against the vultures. +In hard times, when food happens to be scarce, should he accidentally +meet with one of these who has its craw crammed with carrion, he +attacks it fiercely in the air; the cowardly vulture instantly +disgorges, and the delicious contents are snatched up by the eagle +before they reach the ground. + +The nest of this species is generally fixed on a very large and lofty +tree, often in a swamp or morass, and difficult to be ascended. On +some noted tree of this description, often a pine or cypress, the bald +eagle builds, year after year, for a long series of years. When both +male and female have been shot from the nest, another pair has soon +after taken possession. The nest is large, being added to and repaired +every season, until it becomes a black prominent mass, observable at +a considerable distance. It is formed of large sticks, sods, earthy +rubbish, hay, moss, &c. Many have stated to me that the female lays +first a single egg, and that, after having sat on it for some time, +she lays another; when the first is hatched, the warmth of that, it is +pretended, hatches the other. Whether this be correct or not, I cannot +determine; but a very respectable gentleman of Virginia assured me, +that he saw a large tree cut down, containing the nest of a bald +eagle, in which were two young, one of which appeared nearly three +times as large as the other. As a proof of their attachment to their +young, a person near Norfolk informed me, that, in clearing a piece of +wood on his place, they met with a large dead pine tree, on which was +a bald eagle's nest and young. The tree being on fire more than half +way up, and the flames rapidly ascending, the parent eagle darted +around and among the flames, until her plumage was so much injured +that it was with difficulty she could make her escape, and even then, +she several times attempted to return to relieve her offspring. + +The flight of the bald eagle, when taken into consideration with the +ardour and energy of his character, is noble and interesting. +Sometimes the human eye can just discern him, like a minute speck, +moving in slow curvatures along the face of the heavens, as if +reconnoitering the earth at that immense distance. Sometimes he glides +along in a direct horizontal line, at a vast height, with expanded and +unmoving wings, till he gradually disappears in the distant blue +ether. Seen gliding in easy circles over the high shores and +mountainous cliffs that tower above the Hudson and Susquehanna, he +attracts the eye of the intelligent voyager, and adds great interest +to the scenery. At the great Cataract of Niagara, already mentioned, +there rises from the gulf into which the Falls of the Horse-Shoe +descend, a stupendous column of smoke, or spray, reaching to the +heavens, and moving off in large black clouds, according to the +direction of the wind, forming a very striking and majestic +appearance. The eagles are here seen sailing about, sometimes losing +themselves in this thick column, and again reappearing in another +place, with such ease and elegance of motion, as renders the whole +truly sublime. + + High o'er the watery uproar, silent seen, + Sailing sedate in majesty serene, + Now midst the pillar'd spray sublimely lost, + And now, emerging, down the Rapids tost, + Glides the bald eagle, gazing, calm and slow, + O'er all the horrors of the scene below; + Intent alone to sate himself with blood, + From the torn victims of the raging flood. + +The white-headed eagle is three feet long, and seven feet in extent; +the bill is of a rich yellow; cere the same, slightly tinged with +green; mouth flesh-coloured; tip of the tongue, bluish black; the +head, chief part of the neck, vent, tail coverts, and tail, are white +in the perfect, or old birds of both sexes, in those under three years +of age these parts are of a gray brown; the rest of the plumage is +deep, dark brown, each feather tipt with pale brown, lightest on the +shoulder of the wing, and darkest towards its extremities. The +conformation of the wing is admirably adapted for the support of so +large a bird; it measures two feet in breadth on the greater quills, +and sixteen inches on the lesser; the longest primaries are twenty +inches in length, and upwards of one inch in circumference where they +enter the skin; the broadest secondaries are three inches in breadth +across the vane; the scapulars are very large and broad, spreading +from the back to the wing, to prevent the air from passing through; +another range of broad flat feathers, from three to ten inches in +length, also extend from the lower part of the breast to the wing +below, for the same purpose; between these lies a deep triangular +cavity; the thighs are remarkably thick, strong, and muscular, covered +with long feathers pointing backwards, usually called the femoral +feathers; the legs, which are covered half way below the knee, before, +with dark brown downy feathers, are of a rich yellow, the colour of +ripe Indian corn; feet the same; claws blue black, very large and +strong, particularly the inner one, which is considerably the largest; +soles, very rough and warty; the eye is sunk, under a bony, or +cartilaginous projection, of a pale yellow colour, and is turned +considerably forwards, not standing parallel with the cheeks, the iris +is of a bright straw colour, pupil black. + +The male is generally two or three inches shorter than the female; the +white on the head, neck, and tail being more tinged with yellowish, +and its whole appearance less formidable; the brown plumage is also +lighter, and the bird itself less daring than the female, a +circumstance common to almost all birds of prey. + +The eagle is said to live to a great age--sixty, eighty, and, as some +assert, one hundred years. This circumstance is remarkable, when we +consider the seeming intemperate habits of the bird. Sometimes +fasting, through necessity, for several days, and at other times +gorging itself with animal food till its craw swells out the plumage +of that part, forming a large protuberance on the breast. This, +however, is its natural food, and for these habits its whole +organization is particularly adapted. It has not, like men, invented +rich wines, ardent spirits, and a thousand artificial poisons, in the +form of soups, sauces, and sweetmeats. Its food is simple, it indulges +freely, uses great exercise, breathes the purest air, is healthy, +vigorous, and long lived. The lords of the creation themselves might +derive some useful hints from these facts, were they not already, in +general, too wise, or too proud, to learn from their _inferiors,_ the +fowls of the air and beasts of the field. + + * * * * * + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + +THE LATE MRS. SIDDONS. + + +The subsequent account of Mrs. Siddons, nearly fifty years since, will +perhaps give the reader a better outline of that "Queen of Tragedy" +than any that has since appeared. We ought to mention that it is +quoted from Mr. Boaden's _Memoirs_, and was written on the appearance +of Mrs. Siddons in the character of Isabella, for the first time in +London, October 10, 1782. Mr. Boaden thus introduces the quotation, in +vol. i. of his work:-- + +As the person of our great actress has undergone some change, and her +features by time became stronger, I should find it difficult now to +describe her accurately by memory, as she stood before the audience on +the night of the 10th of October. I am relieved from this difficulty +by an account of her written at the time. I shall change only a few of +the expressions then used, more from a feeling as to composition than +alteration as to sentiment. + +There never, perhaps, was a better stage-figure than that of Mrs. +Siddons. Her height is above the middle size, but not at all inclined +to the _em-bon-point_. There is, notwithstanding, nothing sharp or +angular in the frame; there is sufficient muscle to bestow a roundness +upon the limbs, and her attitudes are, therefore, distinguished +equally by energy and grace. The symmetry of her person is exact and +captivating. Her face is peculiarly happy, the features being finely +formed, though strong, and never for an instant seeming overcharged, +like the Italian faces, nor coarse and unfeminine under whatever +impulse; on the contrary, it is so thoroughly harmonized when +quiescent, and so expressive when impassioned, that most people think +her more beautiful than she is; so great, too, is the flexibility of +her countenance, that the rapid transitions of passion are given with +a variety and effect that never tire upon the eye. Her voice is +naturally plaintive, and a tender melancholy in her level speaking +denotes a being devoted to tragedy; yet this seemingly settled quality +of voice becomes at will sonorous or piercing, overwhelms with rage, +or in its wild shriek absolutely harrows up the soul. Her sorrow, too, +is never childish--her lamentation has a dignity which belongs, I +think, to no other woman: it claims your respect along with your +tears. Her eye is brilliant and varying like the diamond; it is +singularly well placed; "it _pries_," in Shakspeare's language, +"through the portal of the head," and has every aid from brows +flexible beyond all female parallel, contracting to disdain, or +dilating with the emotions of sympathy, or pity, or anguish. Her +memory is tenacious and exact--her articulation clear and +distinct--her pronunciation systematic and refined. + +Nor has Nature been partially bountiful: she has endowed her with a +quickness of conception, and a strength of understanding equal to the +proper use of such extraordinary gifts. So entirely is she mistress of +herself, so collected, and so determined in gestures, tone, and +manner, that she seldom errs, like other actors, because she doubts +her powers or comprehension. She studies her author attentively, +conceives justly, and describes with a firm consciousness of +propriety. She is sparing in her action, because English nature does +not act much; but it is always proper, picturesque, graceful, and +dignified: it arises immediately from the sentiments and feeling, and +is not seen to prepare itself before it begins. No studied trick or +start can be predicted;--no forced tremulation of the figure, where +the vacancy of the eye declares the absence of passion, can be +seen;--no laborious strainings at false climax, in which the tired +voice reiterates one high tone beyond which it cannot reach, is ever +heard;--no artificial heaving of the breasts, so disgusting when the +affectation is perceptible;--none of those arts by which the actress +is seen, and not the character, can be found in Mrs. Siddons. So +natural are her gradations and transitions, so classical and correct +her speech and deportment, and so intensely interesting her voice, +form, and features, that there is no conveying an idea of the pleasure +she communicates by words. She must be seen to be known. What is still +more delightful, she is an original: she copies no one living or dead, +but acts from nature and herself. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + +THE TWO MUNCHAUSENS. + +_By a veteran._ + + +In the late ---- Regiment of Light Dragoons, were two worthy persons, +who were denominated the regimental liars: a distinction to which, +giving every man his due, they were eminently entitled. The great and +fundamental requisites for accomplished lying, I conceive to be a good +memory, a fertile fancy, a ready wit, fluency of speech, and a brazen +countenance, so that you shall tell a man a most bare-faced falsehood, +and afterwards adduce such connected proofs as especially characterize +actual facts. The following dialogue is a specimen of the talents of +the aforementioned mendacious personages. + +C.--"See a man walk after he was shot dead! so have I, a whole day's +march." + +B.--"Come, come, that's stealing a march on our senses. No, no, it +won't do: that's a naked one; do pray turn them out with some kind of +probability covering over them." + +C.--"What, doubt my veracity;" + +B.--"Not for the world; that would be illiberal and unkind, and by the +way, now I think on it, I believe the possibility of a man travelling +without his _cranium,_ for at the battle of Laswaree, during that +desperate contest for British India, I saw a sergeant of the +seventy-sixth shot dead; yet the fellow pursued his antagonist some +hundred yards afterwards, threatening vengeance on the miscreant for +having robbed the service of one of its best men. Finding himself weak +from loss of blood, he deliberately unscrewed his head, threw it +violently at the foe, and took him on the spine; down he tumbled; the +veteran jumped upon him; fearful was the struggle; chest to chest, +fist to fist; at last they joined in the death grapple, and dreadful +indeed was their dying hug." + +C.--"My dear friend, I was an eye witness of the whole transaction. +You have however forgotten the best part of the story. After the +sergeant had well pummelled his enemy, he picked up his head again, +and thrust into a neighbouring great gun: from the want of his +_peepers_ he made a random shot, and killed the horse on which Lord +Lake was riding--his Lordship saluted the sod." + +B.--"I recollect it perfectly; for the nose of the said sergeant +(recognised by sundry carbuncles) was so hard, that the following day +it was extracted from the abdomen of the unfortunate animal." + +C.--"You make a mistake about the nose; it was discovered lodged in a +loaf in a corporal's knapsack; the man could swear to it, for it was +perforated by three balls, and otherwise curiously marked. Report said +that a shell had once blown it completely off, and that it was +stitched on again by a shoe-maker, who, ever after, went by the name +of the _nosy_ cobbler." + +B.--"Nothing impossible. It reminds me of a story somewhat as strange: +During the battle of Delhi there was a quarter-master in the regiment, +a queer fellow, who was never at a loss; (he is now in the corps, and +can vouch for my statement) he was charging at the head of his +squadron, when he caught a cannon shot in his hands: instantly +dismounting, he chucked the ball into a field-piece, but, for want of +a ramrod, he drove it home with his head. One of the enemy, seeing him +thus zealously occupied, fired off the gun; strange to tell he was not +killed! From constant exposure to the sun, in search of toddy, and +from the free use of cocoa-nut oil, his head had become proof against +shot. The distance from the place whence he was projected, to that +where he was picked up, measured three miles, two furlongs, three +yards, and eleven inches. A hard-headed fellow, Sir.--In his career he +upset his colonel and a brace of captains." + +C.--"He did; and where the colonel was capsized, he made such a hole +by his enormous weight, that the sovereign of Delhi ordered a large +well to be dug on the spot, in memory of the event." + +B.--"I remember the well--twelve feet, three inches and a half, was +the exact depth of the excavation occasioned by the fall." + +C.--"There you are wrong; only eleven feet, three inches--" + +B.--"No, believe me, I am right; twelve feet, and three inches to a +barleycorn." + +C.--"Never mind: a little, this way or that, is of no consequence. +The most extraordinary thing was, that the gallant colonel only +sprained his right arm." + +B.--"By no means extraordinary. You remember the great gun of Agra, in +which a regiment of cavalry used to drill." + +C--"I do. The one that fired the stone ball to the wall of Futtipoore +Sikrah--twenty miles." + +B.--"The same. Well, when that gun was fired, a thing that never +occurred but once, the head of the rash man who fired it was +afterwards found in the Old Woman's Tank, eleven miles from the spot, +without so much as a blemish, except a slight singing of the right +whisker." + +C.--"Ah! I can never forget the time; I had just landed in Calcutta +when we heard the report. Some of the wadding went as far as +Cawnpore." + +Here the trumpet, sounding for morning drill, put a stop to the +colloquy.--_Englishman's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +THE MISER'S GRAVE. + +BY THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD. + + + Here's a lesson for the earth-born worm, + So deep engraven on the meagre platen + Of human frailty, so debased in hue, + That he who dares peruse it needs but blush + For his own nature. The poor shrivell'd wretch, + For whose lean carcass yawns this hideous pit, + Had naught that he desired in earth or heaven-- + No God, no Saviour, but that sordid pelf, + O'er which he starved and gloated. I have seen him + On the exchange, or in the market-place + When money was in plenteous circulation, + Gaze after it with such Satanic looks + Of eagerness, that I have wonder'd oft + How he from theft and murder could refrain. + 'Twas cowardice alone withheld his hands, + For they would grasp and grapple at the air, + When his grey eye had fixed on heaps of gold, + While his clench'd teeth, and grinning, yearning face, + Were dreadful to behold. The merchants oft + Would mark his eye, then start and look again, + As at the eye of basilisk or snake. + His eye of greyish green ne'er shed one ray + Of kind benignity or holy light + On aught beneath the sun. Childhood, youth, beauty, + To it had all one hue. Its rays reverted + Right inward, back upon the greedy heart + On which the gnawing worm of avarice + Preyed without ceasing, straining every sense + To that excruciable and yearning core. + Some thirteen days agone, he comes to me, + And after many sore and mean remarks + On men's rapacity and sordid greed, + He says, "Gabriel, thou art an honest man, + As the world goes. How much, then, will you charge + And make a grave for me, fifteen feet deep?"-- + "We'll talk of that when you require it, sir." + "No, no. I want it made, and paid for too; + I'll have it settled, else I know there will + Be some unconscionable overcharge + On my poor friends--a ruinous overcharge."-- + "But, sir, were it made now, it would fill up + Each winter to the brim, and be to make + Twenty or thirty times, if you live long." "There! + there it is! Nothing but imposition! + Even Time must rear his stern, unyielding front, + And holding out his shrivelled skeleton hand, + Demands my money. Naught but money! money! + Were I coin'd into money I could not + Half satisfy that craving greed of money. + Well, how much do you charge? I'll pay you now, + And take a bond from you that it be made + When it is needed. Come, calculate with reason-- + Work's very cheap; and two good men will make + That grave at two days' work: and I can have + Men at a shilling each--_without_ the meat-- + That's a great matter! Let them but to meat, + 'Tis utter ruin. I'll give none their meat-- + That I'll beware of. Men now-a-days are cheap, + Cheap, dogcheap, and beggarly fond of work. + One shilling each a-day, _without_ the meat. + Mind that, and ask in reason; for I wish + To have that matter settled to my mind."-- + "Sir, there's no man alive will do't so cheap + As I shall do it for the ready cash," + Says I, to put him from it with a joke. + "I'll charge you, then, one-fourth part of a farthing + For every cubic foot of work I do, + Doubling the charge each foot that I descend." + "Doubling as you descend! Why, that of course. + A quarter of a farthing each square foot-- + No meat, remember! Not an inch of meat, + Nor drink, nor dram. You're not to trust to these. + Wilt stand that bargain, Gabriel?"--"I accept." + He struck it, quite o'erjoy'd. We sought the clerk, + Sign'd--seal'd. He drew his purse. The clerk went on + Figuring and figuring. "What a fuss you make! + 'Tis plain," said he, "the sum is eighteen-pence"-- + "'Tis somewhat more, sir," said the civil clerk-- + And held out the account. "Two hundred round, + And gallant payment over." The Miser's face + Assumed the cast of death's worst lineaments. + His skinny jaws fell down upon his breast; + He tried to speak, but his dried tongue refused + Its utterance, and cluck'd upon the gum. + His heart-pipes whistled with a crannell'd sound; + His knell-knees plaited, and his every bone + Seem'd out of joint. He raved--he cursed--he wept-- + But payment he refused. I have my bond, + Not yet a fortnight old, and shall be paid. + It broke the Miser's heart. He ate no more, + Nor drank, nor spake, but groan'd until he died; + This grave kill'd him, and now yearns for his bones. + But worse than all. 'Tis twenty years and more + Since he brought home his coffin. On that chest + His eye turn'd ever and anon. It minded him, + He said, of death. And as be sat by night + Beside his beamless hearth, with blanket round + His shivering frame, if burst of winter wind + Made the door jangle, or the chimney moan, + Or crannied window whistle, he would start, + And turn his meagre looks upon that chest; + Then sit upon't, and watch till break of day. + Old wives thought him religious--a good man! + A great repentant sinner, who would leave + His countless riches to sustain the poor. + But mark the issue. Yesterday, at noon, + Two men could scarcely move that ponderous chest + To the bedside to lay the body in. + They broke it sundry, and they found it framed + With double bottom! All his worshipp'd gold + Hoarded between the boards! O such a worm + Sure never writhed beneath the dunghill's base! + Fifteen feet under ground! and all his store + Snug in beneath him. Such a heaven was his. + Now, honest Teddy, think of such a wretch, + And learn to shun his vices, one and all. + Though richer than a Jew, he was more poor + Than is the meanest beggar. At the cost + Of other men a glutton. At his own, + A starveling. A mere scrub. And such a coward, + A cozener and liar--but a coward, + And would have been a thief--But was a coward. + +_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS._ + + +PARIS AND ITS HISTORICAL SCENES. + +(_Library of Entertaining Knowledge, Part 18._) + +We have little inclination to quote more than a few passages from the +General View of Paris in this Number; the topographical portion of +which, (as far as a four months residence there will serve our +judgment) is eminently characteristic. + + +_Ancient City._ + +The Archbishop of Narbonne, writing in the reign of Francis I., (about +1520,) calls Paris even then a world rather than a city[3]; yet at +that period its population was probably not much more than the fifth +part of what it now is; nor did the quantity of ground it covered bear +even the same proportion to the immense space over which it has now +extended. But in both convenience and elegance, Paris has made still +more extraordinary advances since the time of Francis than even in +population and extent. It was then, compared to what it now is, but a +gloomy and incommodious fortress, without even the security which +encompassing fortifications might be supposed to yield. Lighted only +by candles placed here and there by the inhabitants themselves in +their windows, it was so infested by thieves and assassins that hardly +any person ventured out after dark, and the approach of night was the +source of constant terror even to those who remained in their houses. +The streets thus imperfectly lighted, were worse paved; and most of +them were as dirty and narrow as those still to be seen in the more +ancient part of the city. The supply of water was so inadequate that +the severest miseries were sometimes suffered from the absolute want +of that necessary of life, and the greatest inconveniences at all +times from its scarcity. Finally, the public edifices were without +splendour, and even the best of the private houses unprovided with +many of what are now accounted the most indispensable accommodations. +Instead of all this, we behold Paris now one of the very central seats +of civilization; and although still deficient in many of the +accommodations which supply to the necessities of the many instead of +the luxuries of the few, in possession of the greater portion of the +most important provisions which ingenuity has found out, whether for +the comfort or the embellishment of existence. What a contrast between +the French capital of 1831, and that Lutetia of the ancient Parisii, +which Caesar found nearly nineteen hundred years ago occupying the +little island, around which has since extended itself so wide a circle +of wealth, industry, intelligence, and the works which these create! + + [3] Felibien, Histoire de Paris, tome i. + +_Bridges._ + +Paris, stands, like London, on both banks of a river, and is thus cut +into two great divisions, one to the north, and the other to the +south, of the water. The Seine, however, is not nearly so broad as the +Thames; and the northern and southern halves of Paris are not, +therefore, by any means so much separated from each other, either +locally, politically, or socially, as are the corresponding portions +of the English metropolis. They form, in all respects one city. + +The Seine flows in a direction nearly opposite to that of the Thames, +namely, from south-east to north-west. It preserves almost a perfectly +straight course in passing through Paris, except that it bends +considerably to the south immediately before leaving the town. The +river, as it flows through the heart of the city, is interrupted by +three small islands lying in succession, the two most westerly of +which, the Ile de la Cité (otherwise called the Ile du Palais) and the +Ile St. Louis, or de Notre Dame, are covered with streets and houses. +The third, called the Ile Louvier, is used only as a depôt for +fire-wood. The parts of the town on the opposite sides of the river +are connected with each other, and with these islands, by nineteen +bridges, thirteen of which are constructed of stone, and two of stone +and iron: of the others two are chain-bridges, one is built of wood, +and two of wood and iron. Several of these structures, especially the +Pont des Arts, the Pont Louis XVI., and the Pont de Jena, or de +l'Ecole Militaire, all of which are to the west of the Ile du Palais, +are distinguished by their majesty or elegance, and add much beauty +and picturesque effect to the vista of the river. Excepting at one +place where the two branches enclosing the Ile du Palais unite, +immediately to the west of that island, the breadth of the Seine at +Paris is no where greater than about 550 English feet, and at some +points it is not more than half that distance from the one bank to +the other. The bridges, therefore, by which the Seine is traversed, +are not to be compared in point of magnitude with those of the Thames +at London. Even the Pont Neuf, which connects the Ile du Palais with +both the northern and the southern divisions of the city, and +comprehends in fact two bridges, with an intermediate street, is +shorter taken altogether, than Waterloo bridge by more than 200 feet; +and the Pont Louis XVI., which next to the Pont Neuf is the longest of +the Parisian stone bridges, measures only about 485 feet between the +abutments, while Westminster Bridge measures 1223, and Waterloo Bridge +1242 feet. It is in the _number_ of its bridges alone, therefore, that +the Seine is superior to the Thames. + +_The Boulevards._ + +The most remarkable feature in the general appearance of Paris, is the +inner inclosure formed by the celebrated road called the _Boulevards._ +On the north side of the river, the Boulevards follow a line nearly +midway, on an average, between the river and the wall. The space which +they comprehend, therefore, is but a small portion of that included +within the outer boundary of the city. The length of this part of the +road is about 5,200 English yards, or somewhat under three miles. That +on the south side of the river is of far greater extent, approaching, +as it does, throughout its whole sweep, very much closer to the wall, +and in some parts entirely coinciding with it. It measures about +16,000 yards, or above nine miles in length. Each of these lines, +although in reality forming an uninterrupted road from its +commencement to its termination, is divided into a succession of +parts, each having its particular name. The northern Boulevards are +twelve in number, the southern seven. We have nothing in England like +the Parisian Boulevards. They may be generally described as a road or +street, of great breadth, along each side of which are planted double +rows of elms. But these shady avenues do not present merely a picture +of rural beauty. Rising as they do in the heart of a great city, they +partake also of its artificial elegance and splendour, and are +associated with all the luxuries of architectural decoration. +Considered merely as a range of streets, the Boulevards are hardly +rivalled by any other part of Paris. Those to the north of the river +are lined on both sides throughout their whole extent, by buildings +more uniformly handsome than are those of almost any other street in +the city, and by many which may be even described as magnificent. Some +of these are private residences; others are shops, cafés, public +hotels, and theatres. The crowds by whom so many parts of these +Boulevards are frequented chiefly give to the scene its singular +liveliness and brilliancy. The southern Boulevards, though equally +beautiful, are far from being so much the habitual resort of the +citizens; but the walks on this very account, have a charm for some +moods of mind which the others want. Another road, planted in a +similar manner, has more recently been carried round the outside of +the present walls of the city. It is distinguished from the inner +Boulevards by the name of the _Boulevards Extérieurs._ + +_Streets._ + +To a person accustomed to the appearance of the streets of London, or +indeed of any other English town, those of the interior of Paris will +present considerable novelty of aspect. The extreme narrowness, in the +first place, of those in the more ancient parts of the city, and the +great height of the houses, with their windows in many cases fortified +by bars of iron, would alone give them an air of gloom and precaution, +almost sufficient to impress the Englishman who walks through them +with the feeling that he has been transported, not only into another +country, but into another age. Even where these indications of the +more ancient evils of Paris are not visible, the general aspect of the +town shows that it has not grown with the growth of a free people, +amongst whom the inequalities of rank have been softened down by +respect to the comforts of all classes. Under the ancient régime, +which was in full activity half a century ago, there were only two +classes in Paris, the _noblesse_, and the _bourgeoisie_; and the +latter, being driven into the gutters by the carriage-wheels of their +arrogant masters, went by the general name of the _canaille._ Few of +the streets even now have any side pavement for foot passengers--that +invaluable accommodation which gives such perfect security to the +pedestrian even in our most crowded and tumultuous thoroughfare. The +causeway itself, on which walkers and drivers are thus mingled +together in confusion, is often most uneven and rugged. The stones of +which it is formed, about ten inches square, present each a convex +surface, usually wet and slippery, so that under the most favourable +circumstances, walking in the streets of Paris is anything but an +agreeable exercise. Still farther to abridge the level space, the +street is made to incline from both sides towards the centre, in order +to form there a sort of ditch, in which flows a black and fetid +stream. From the want of a proper system of drains, this receptacle of +filth is generally sufficiently replenished even in the driest +weather, to keep the whole street wet and dirty. Carriages, having +usually one wheel in the midst of the kennel, dash about the offensive +puddle in all directions. But the principle of a clear middle way, +such as our English streets possess, is neglected in all the +arrangements connected with those of Paris. Even the lights, instead +of being fixed on posts, as ours are, at the sides, are suspended in +the middle on ropes swung across, and having their opposite ends +fastened to the walls of the houses. It was these ropes which the mob, +in the Revolution of 1789, were wont to make use of as halters for +their victims; whence their famous cry of _á la lanterne_, as they +dragged them along to execution. + +The aspect of Paris by night, except in a few of the principal streets +where gas has been very partially introduced, is singularly gloomy. +The darkness is occasionally relieved by the brilliancy of a café; but +in the more quiet parts of the town, particularly in the fashionable +quarter of the Faubourg St. Germain, it is almost impossible for the +pedestrian to direct his steps aright. It is quite evident that the +arrangements of this capital have not been made for a walking people. +This evil, however, is fast disappearing. Numerous _passages_ have +been constructed, within the last ten years, which are paved with flat +stones, and brilliantly lighted; and the active and pleasure-seeking +population of Paris crowd to these attractive and convenient places, +to the Boulevards, or to the Palais-Royal, and leave the narrow and +dirty streets principally to the few who keep their own carriages, or +to the many who hire public conveyances. These are of various kinds; +and such was the growing importance of the middle classes, that +_fiacres_ (so called after the sign of St Fiacre, at the house where +they were first established) were in use a century and a half ago. + +The remainder of the Part is occupied with a sketch of the Revolution +of 1789. + + * * * * * + + +REFORM OF EARLY PARLIAMENTS. + + +Though no language can adequately condemn the base subserviency of +Henry's parliament, it may be reasonably doubted whether his reign +was, in its ultimate consequences, injurious to public liberty. The +immense revolutions of his time in property, in religion, and in the +inheritance of the crown, never could have been effected without the +concurrence of parliament. Their acquiescence and co-operation in the +spoliation of property, and the condemnation of the innocent, tempted +him to carry all his purposes into execution, through their means. +Those who saw the attainders of queens, the alteration of an +established religion, and the frequent disturbance of the regal +succession, accomplished by acts of parliament, considered nothing as +beyond the jurisdiction of so potent an assembly.[4] If the supremacy +was a tremendous power, it accustomed the people to set no bounds to +the authority of those who bestowed it on the king. The omnipotence of +parliament appeared no longer a mere hyperbole. Let it not be +supposed, that to mention the good thus finally educed from such +evils, is intended or calculated to palliate crimes, or to lessen our +just abhorrence of criminals. Nothing, on the contrary, seems more to +exalt the majesty of virtue than to point out the tendency of the +moral government of the world, which, as in this instance, turns the +worst enemies of all that is good into the laborious slaves of +justice. Of all outward benefits, the most conducive to virtue as well +as to happiness is, doubtless, popular and representative government. +It is the reverse of a degradation of it to observe, that its +establishment among us was perhaps partially promoted by the +sensuality, rapacity, and cruelty of Henry VIII. The course of affairs +is always so dark, the beneficial consequences of public events are so +distant and uncertain, that the attempt to do evil in order to produce +good is in men a most criminal usurpation. + + [4] The observations of Nathaniel Bacon, or rather of Selden + from whose MS. notes he is said to have written his book, + deserve serious consideration. Bacon on the Laws and + Government of England, chap. 27. + +Some direct benefits the constitution owes to this reign. The act +which established a parliamentary representation in so considerable a +territory as Wales may be regarded as the principal reformation in the +composition of the House of Commons since its legal maturity in the +time of Edward I. That principality had been divided into twelve +shires: of which eight were ancient,[5] and four owed their origin to +a statute of Henry's reign.[6] Knights, citizens, and burgesses were +now directed to be chosen and sent to parliament from the shires, +cities, and burghs of Wales.[7] A short time before, the same +privileges were granted to the county palatine of Chester, of which +the preamble contains a memorable recognition and establishment of the +principles which are the basis of the elective part of our +constitution.[8] Nearly thirty members were thus added to the House of +Commons on the principle of the Chester bill: that is disadvantageous +to a province to be unrepresented; that representation is essential to +good government; and that those who are bound by the laws ought to +have a reasonable share of direct influence on the passing of laws. As +the practical disadvantages are only generally alleged, and could +scarcely have been proved, they must have been inferred from the +nature of a House of Commons. The British constitution was not thought +to be enjoyed by a district till a popular representation was bestowed +on it. Election by the people was regarded, not as a source of tumult, +but as the principle most capable of composing disorder in territories +not represented.--_Cabinet Cyclopaedia_, vol. xix. _Sir James +Mackintosh's History of England_, vol. ii. + + [5] Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Flint, + Carnarvon, Anglesea and Merioneth. + + [6] Radnor, Brecknock, Montgomery, and Denbigh, 27 Henry 8 c. + 26. + + [7] 34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 26. s. 50. + + [8] 34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 13.--"That the said county have + hitherto been excluded from the high court of parliament, to + have any knights and burgesses within the said court, by + reason whereof the inhabitants have sustained manifold damages + in their lands, goods, and bodies, as well as in the good + governance of the commonwealth of their said country; and for + as much as they have been bound by the acts of the said court, + and yet have had no knights and burgesses therein, for lack + whereof they have been often touched and grieved by the acts + of the said parliament, prejudicial to the commonwealth, + quietness, rest, and peace of your highness's bounden + subjects, inhabiting within the said county," &c. + + * * * * * + + + +THE TOPOGRAPHER. + + +TRAVELLING NOTES IN SOUTH WALES. + +(_Continued from page 312._) + + +The grounds of Penrice Castle, which stretch to the sea-shore, and on +which art has embellished scenery possessing capabilities of a high +order--are exceedingly picturesque and extensive. Penrice bears marks +of having been a Roman station. Henry de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, +here defeated the Welsh prince, Rhys, which decided the fate of Gower. +He was beheaded after the battle, whence the Welsh name, Pen-Rhys. On +the field of battle the victor erected Penrice Castle, which is now +certainly a striking ruin. On the coast near Penrice is the village +and ruins of the Castle of Oxwich, now a barn--_sic transit!_ + +The afternoon was waxing apace--we had lost time in attending to our +horses, for ostler there was none--and in musing amongst the simply +decorated graves in the humble churchyard;[9] after discussing with +great relish our repast of eggs and bacon, and Welsh ale, the best the +village afforded, (by the way, we shall not readily forget the fluster +of our Welsh hostess when we talked of dining on our arrival at the +little hostelrie) we then rode down to the sea-shore, intending to +cross the sandy beach of Oxwich, which extends several miles, on our +return to the Gower Inn. The tide flows with great rapidity on this +coast, and it had already advanced to the foot of a stupendous +headland, which juts into the beach about half way. We waded our +horses through the surf--but how can we do justice to the splendour of +the scenery around us. The alternations of stern and savage +beauty--the gigantic masses of "fantastic cliffs," and caverns, that +have stood the combat of the mighty Atlantic for countless ages? +Oxwich is almost unknown to the traveller, and there are few coast +scenes in these islands that surpass it in beauty. We lingered long on +the shore. There is a perpetual "jabble" against the cliffs on this +coast--and we have seldom met with a soul save an aged and solitary +fisherwoman--a study for a Bonington--pursuing her precarious calling +of crab or shrimp fishing, or of pulling lobsters from their retreats +in the savage cliffs. + + [9] See _Mirror_, vol. xvi. p. 253. + + A holy peace, + Pervades this _sea-shore solitude_--The world + And all who love that world, are far away. + N.T. CARRINGTON. + +It was getting dusk when we ascended from the shore, on our way +homewards, past the wild--the truly shattered, and desolate ruins of +Pennard Castle; which bear, we think, decided marks of having been +erected long prior to the Norman era. The country people tell you its +origin was supernatural; and some writers ascribe it to that great +castle-builder, Henry de Newburgh. Pennard stands in a situation of +extreme beauty, and deeply rivets the attention: + + "The stones have voices, and the walls do live, + It is the House of Memory!" + MATAIRE. + +Our favourite mare and her companion were in high spirits, (horses are +generally so on returning) exhilarated by the rapid motion; and our +hearts elate with the "songs of spring," we returned home on as sweet +an April evening as ever blessed man. + +Another interesting excursion maybe made to Cefyn-bryn, the most +elevated hill in the district, about twelve miles from Swansea. The +road to Western Gower is carried over it; the summit is level, and a +carriage may be driven in safety for a couple of miles to the southern +point; which commands, on a clear day, in one direction, a vast and +unbounded view of the Bristol Channel, the whitened houses of +Ilfracombe, with the hills of Devon and Somerset, Lundy Island, and +the scenery of Swansea Bay. And on the reverse of the picture, almost +the whole peninsula of Gower, the extensive estuary of the Burry +River, and part of the beautiful expanse of the County and Bay of +Carmarthen, is spread out like a map before you. King Arthur's Stone, +an immense rock of _lapis molaris_, twenty tons weight, supported by a +circle of others--the remains of Druidism--invites the attention of +the antiquary, on the north-west point of Cefyn-bryn. We may here +remark that this district, especially the coast, offers a rich harvest +to the geologist. The general substratum of the peninsula is limestone +and marble, bounded to the north by an immense iron and coalfield. The +limestone stratum is continually "cropping out" in the interior, and +of course it can be worked at a trifling expense. This may account for +the general healthiness of the district. Though rain in consequence of +the western exposure, falls frequently, and sometimes with great +violence, yet it speedily runs off, leaving none of the bad effects +which would be produced in a tenacious soil. Marble of valuable +quality is worked at Oystermouth. + +But we must hasten to close our Notes on Gower--_to proceed with our +circuit of the coast:--West from Oxwich is Porteyron_, where there is +an extensive lobster and oyster fishery, near which is Landewy Castle. +There is a wonderful precipice here. Further west we come to the +village of Rossilly, near the Worms-Head, the termination of a range +of rocks, which form the western point of the peninsula, being +connected with it by a low isthmus. It extends more than a mile into +the ocean, and at half-flood becomes an island. The name arose by +mariners comparing it to a worm with its head erect, between the Nass +Point and St. Gower's Head, in Pembrokeshire. The scenery here is +deeply interesting. This wild and desolate coast has proved fatal to +numberless ships; the recent erection of the light-house on Caldy +Island, near Tenby, on the opposite point of Carmarthen Bay, has, +however, been most important. Several Indiamen have been wrecked here, +and about fifty years since, a quantity of Spanish dollars, date 1625, +were found amongst the sand, when the tide had receded unusually far, +supposed to be part of the cargo of the "Scanderoon galley" lost on +this coast nearly two centuries ago. This would do for the "Vigo Bay +Company." We proceed along the western shore of Carmarthen Bay, till +we pass Whitford Point, a singular _peninsula of sand_, covered with +reeds, which stands the fury of the tide, forming one side of the wide +estuary of Barry, along the coast of which we pass a Roman encampment +at Llanmadoc--the striking Castle of Llanridian, and other ruins, as +we return eastward to Swansea; till we arrive at the village--we +forget ourselves, the _Borough_ of Castell Llwchyr, or Loughor, the +_Leucarum_ of Antoninus, and the fifth Roman station on the _Via +Julia._ It is seven miles from Swansea. Upon a mount, the supposed +work of the Romans, is a square tower, the remains of a castle built +by Henry, Earl of Warwick. Three miles to the east are two Roman +encampments; many Roman coins have been found at Loughor, from whence +there is a ferry to the Carmarthenshire side opposite, which is +fordable at low water. There is a large colliery here. It is a +delightful sail from this village down the Burry River to Whitford +Point, or round the coast to Worms-Head. + +VYVYAN. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." + SHAKSPEARE. + + +_The following curious letter was found among the papers of a Mr. +Goldwyre, Surgeon, of Salisbury._ + +To Mr. Edward Goldwyre, at his house on the Close of Salisbury. + +Sir,--Being informed that you are the only surgeon in this city (or +country) that anatomises men, and I being under the present unhappy +circumstances, and in a very mean condition, would gladly live as long +as I can, but by all appearances I am to be executed next March, but +having no friends on earth that will speak a word to save my life, nor +send me a morsel of bread to keep life and soul together until that +fatal day; so if you will vouchsafe to come hither, I will gladly +sell you my body (being whole and sound) to be ordered at your +discretion, knowing that it will rise again at the general +resurrection, as well from your house as from the grave. Your answer +will highly oblige, yours, &c. + +JAMES BROOKE. +_Fisherton-Auger Gaol_, _Oct._ 3, 1736. + + * * * * * + +A farmer walking out one day, by chance met Jack Ketch, and jocosely +asked him whether he could tell him the difference between their +trades. "That I can," said Jack, "the only difference is +_utility_--you till, I tie." + +WALTER. + + * * * * * + +What is the most suitable motto for a doctor's carriage? Live or die. + +Why is the _carver_ in a cook-shop like a naval officer? Because he +commands a _cutter._ + +W.G.C. + + * * * * * + + +EPITAPHS. + + Here lies poor Thomas, and his Wife, + Who led a pretty jarring life; + But all is ended--do you see? + He holds his tongue, and so does she. + + If drugs and physic could but save + Us mortals from the dreary grave, + 'Tis known that I took full enough + Of the apothecaries' stuff + To have prolong'd life's busy feast + To a full century at least; + But spite of all the doctors' skill, + Of daily draught and nightly pill, + Reader, as sure as you're alive, + I was sent here at twenty-five. + + * * * * * + + +FOR ALL FAMILIES. + +This Day, Second Edition, price 5s. + +FAMILY MANUAL and SERVANTS' GUIDE, +With upwards of One Thousand New and Approved Receipts, arranged and +adapted for Families and all Classes of Servants. + +"We shall recommend this book every where, if it were only for the +sake of the excellent suggestions on the 'self-improvement' of +house-servants."--_Gardeners' Magazine_, June 1830. + +"It should find a place in the kitchen or servants' hall of those who +desire to blend comfort with elegance, and prudence with +luxury."--_New Monthly Magazine_, Feb. 1831. + +"This book contains a mass of information that cannot fail to be +useful in the conduct of household affairs."--_Atlas_, May 22. + +"No servant should he without it."--_Morning Advertiser_, April 27. + +Printed for JOHN LIMBIRD, 143. Strand. + + * * * * * + +_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset +House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; +G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen +and Booksellers._ + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, No. 494., by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13090 *** diff --git a/13090-h/13090-h.htm b/13090-h/13090-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f0673a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/13090-h/13090-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2320 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> + + <title>The Mirror of Literature, Issue 494.</title> + + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + blockquote {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; margin-left: 40%; width: 20%;} + + .note, .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt;} + + .poem + {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + .poem p.i16 {margin-left: 8em;} + + .figure + {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto;} + .figure img + {border: none;} + .figure p + + + .side { float:right; + font-size: 75%; + width: 25%; + padding-left:10px; + border-left: dashed thin; + margin-left: 10px; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-weight: bold; + font-style: italic;} + --> + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13090 ***</div> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page401" name="page401"></a>[pg 401]</span> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" summary="Volume, Number, and Date"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>Vol. XVII. No. 494.</b></td> + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1831.</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + + +<div class="figure" style="width:100%;"><a href="images/494-1.png"><img width="100%" src="images/494-1.png" alt="" /></a></div> +<h3>EXETER HALL, STRAND.</h3> + + +<p>We rejoice to see the site of Burleigh +House partly occupied by the above +Building. Its object is to afford accommodation +for the meetings of Philanthropic +Societies—so that whatever +may be the olden celebrity of the spot, +it is reasonable to expect that its present +appropriation will be associated +with the most grateful recollections.</p> + +<p>This building is, perhaps, the most +perfect erection of its kind in England. +The approach from the Strand is remarkably +modest: it is by a very narrow, +though very chaste, door-way, +situated between two Corinthian columns +and pilasters. Within the door +is a hall, with two flights of steps, which +afterwards unite, and lead up to the entrance +of the great hall itself; the hall +below leads into a broad passage, which +extends to the farther extremity of the +building, opening right and left into +various offices. On entering the door +of the great hall, a vast and splendid +room is presented to view, with scarcely +a single interruption to the eye throughout +its whole extent, capable of containing, +with comfort, more than 3,000 +persons. The floor is covered with substantial +oak seats, equal to the accommodation +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page402" id="page402"></a>[pg 402]</span> +of 2,500 persons. The greater +portion of these are situated on a gentle +rise, to permit a perfect view of the +platform on which the proceedings +take place. The platform is raised +about six feet from the floor, and extends +the whole breadth of the room, +curving inwards, the extremities bending +towards the audience: it contains +seats for nearly 300 individuals. Behind +this gallery again, are very capacious +recesses, which will hold from three +to four hundred persons. The lower +part of the walls of the room is quite +plain, the architect, probably, regarding +the audience as a sufficient ornament +in that quarter, though the rising of +the seats would obscure carved-work if +it were there. The windows are at a +considerable height from the ground, +and are of dimmed glass, with a chaste +and classical border. The ceiling, which +is at a noble height, is beautifully laid +out in squares, with borderings and rosettes. +An oblong opening occurs in +the centre, with massive beams stretching +across, presenting to view an erection +in the roof, a form of construction, +probably, necessary to so immense a +mass of roofing, and serving also for +the purposes of ventilation, as it contains +windows at each end. There are +four pillars near the end of the hall, +rising to the ceiling, the capitals of +which, as also those of some pilasters +at the upper extremity of the hall, +are exquisitely carved in straw-coloured +marble. Behind the platform are numerous +and convenient committee-rooms. +The word "Philadelpheion," which may +be rendered "loving brothers," is carved +in Greek capitals over the entrance in +the Strand.<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> + +<p>Exeter Hall has been erected by subscription, +by a public company established +for the purpose.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>WILLS OF SHAKSPEARE, MILTON AND BUONAPARTE.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>To the Editor</i>.)</h4> + + +<p>The last wills and testaments of the +three greatest men of modern ages are +tied up in one sheet of foolscap, and +may be seen together at Doctors Commons. +In the will of the "Bard of +Avon" is an interlineation in his own +handwriting—"I give unto my wife my +brown best bed, with the furniture." It +is proved by William Byrde, 22nd July, +1616.</p> + +<p>The will of the Minstrel of Paradise +is a nuncupative one taken by his daughter, +the great poet being blind.</p> + +The will of Napoleon, to whom future +ages, in spite of legitimacy, will confirm +the epithet "le grand," is signed in a +bold style of handwriting; the codicil, +on the contrary, written shortly before +his death, exhibits the then weak state +of his body. +<h4>T.H.K.</h4> +<hr /> + + +<h3>VERNAL STANZAS.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>The earth displayed its robe of gorgeous hues,</p> +<p>And o'er the tufted violets softly stole</p> +<p>The downy pinions of the fragrant wind,</p> +<p>Which tuned the brook with music; there were clouds</p> +<p>O'er the blue heaven dispersed in various shapes,</p> +<p>And touch'd with most impassive light, whereon</p> +<p>The heart might dwell and dream of future bliss;</p> +<p>And as the sound of distant bells awaked</p> +<p>The echoes of the woods, they raised the thoughts</p> +<p>To worlds more bright and beautiful than ours!</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<h4>G.R.C.</h4> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>The spring has waved her sunny wing</p> +<p class="i2">Upon the verdant earth,</p> +<p>And winds from distant, places bring</p> +<p class="i2">The festal tones of mirth;</p> +<p>The sky appears an azure field,</p> +<p>With clouds emblazoned like a shield.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>A golden light has touched the woods,</p> +<p class="i2">And o'er the silent dell</p> +<p>A languid breathless quiet broods,</p> +<p class="i2">Scarce broken by the swell</p> +<p>Of streams that whisper through the air,</p> +<p>As if they were awaked to pray'r.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Survey the lovely scene around,</p> +<p class="i2">The river beams in gold,</p> +<p>Its rippling waves with song resound,</p> +<p class="i2">And rainbow light unfold,</p> +<p>And as the flow'rs unclose their eyes,</p> +<p>Their hue seems coloured by the skies.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>The mould'ring church on yonder slope,</p> +<p class="i2">Perchance by heaven designed</p> +<p>To consecrate the heart with hope,</p> +<p class="i2">In ivy-wreaths is shrined:</p> +<p>Its rural tombs are green with age,</p> +<p>And types of earthly pilgrimage.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>On this delightful vernal day,</p> +<p class="i2">In scenes so rich and fair,</p> +<p>The spirit feels a hallow'd ray</p> +<p class="i2">Kindling its essence there;</p> +<p>And Fancy haunts the mourner's urn,</p> +<p>"With thoughts that breathe, and words that burn."</p> + </div> </div> +<i>Deal.</i> + +<h4>G.R.C.</h4> +<hr /> + + +<h3>POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + +<blockquote><p>All power of fancy over reason is a degree of +insanity.—JOHNSON. +</p></blockquote> + +<p>In a former number I gave some observations +on apparitions, and I shall here +continue my remarks.</p> + +<p>The argument that was used by Dr. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page403" id="page403"></a>[pg 403]</span> +Johnson was founded on premises that +are as inadmissible as his conclusion, +viz. that the popular opinion in favour +of the reality of apparitions could only +obtain universal credence by its truth. +This is very plausible, but destitute of +foundation. Does the learned doctor +mean to deny the universality of errors? +does he mean to call the whole body of +the learned and enlightened cavillers? +and that because they are not willing to +consent to his monstrous opinion? To +reverse the argument, does he mean to +deny the truth of the Scriptures, or is +he bold enough to assert that they have +received universal credence? So much +for the arguments wielded by Dr. +Johnson, who has not been unaptly +termed the Colossus of Literature. The +idea that departed spirits revisited the +earth, probably took its rise from the +opinion of the immortality of the soul, +which was very general in both ancient +and modern times.<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a> This supposition +is most consonant with probability. It +is always to be remarked that this species +of superstition is most prevalent in +those countries where learning and reason +have made but little progress. The +demons [Greek: Daimones] and genii of former +times were exactly the same as the +ghosts of this; the same attributes, the +same power, and the same malice were +observed of one, as are now attributed to +the other. By the Chaldeans these +demons were divided into two kinds, +good and bad. But as it is foreign to +my purpose to enter into an investigation +of the opinions of the ancients on +this subject, I shall content myself with +referring the curious reader to Stanley's +<i>History of Philosophy</i>, a deservedly popular +work.</p> + + +<p>I shall here recount one of the most +extraordinary tales relating to this subject +that I ever heard; I believe the solution +is evident, and I am not aware that +it has appeared before; but if it has, +some of the readers of the Mirror may +not have seen it.</p> + +<p>A surgeon of Edinburgh was confined +to his bed by some illness, and at "the +dewy hour of eve," when the room was +lighted by nothing but the glimmering +and flickering light of a wood fire, he +perceived <i>a female sitting at the foot of +the bed clothed in white</i>! Imagining +that it was some defect in his sight, he +gazed more intensely at it, still it was +there. He then raised his hand before +his eyes and he did not perceive it; on +withdrawing it the apparition was there. +Closing his eyes he went through a mathematical +calculation to convince himself +he was in his right senses; upon +reopening them he still perceived her +there. The fire then went out and he +saw no more. I confess I see no difficulty +in accounting for this, by supposing +the gentleman was afflicted with +that horrid disease of which Sir Walter +Scott gives many cases in his <i>Demonology +and Witchcraft</i>. Although I have +no warrant for asserting spirits do not +return, yet I must say, all the tales I +have ever heard do not necessarily require +any such interpretation on them. +It may be true, and so may everything +which we have no evidence against or +for. If my opinion on the subject was +to be shaken by anything, it would be +with the following story, which was +given to me by one whose veracity I +have no reason to doubt.</p> + +<p>There is, or rather was, a very ancient +castle in Lancashire, near Liverpool, +called Castle de Bergh, which +belongs to a noble family of that name. +Many years ago the possessor of the +castle, Mr. de Burgh, died, and the +castle was then let out to various of the +tenantry, among whom was a carpenter. +Two years after the death of Mr. de +Burgh, as this carpenter was employed +in his workshop, about a quarter of a +mile from the castle, melting glue, it +being evening, and only four of his +men with him, he perceived a gentleman +in mourning passing the lathe +where the men were at work. He was +immediately seized with a violent trembling +and weakness, his hair stood on +end, and a clammy sweat spread over his +forehead. The lights were put out, he +knew not how, and at last, in fear and +terror, he was obliged to return home. +On his arrival at the castle, as he was +passing up the stairs, he heard a footstep +behind, and on turning round he perceived +the same apparition. He hastily +entered his room, and bolted, locked, +and barred the door, but to his horror +and surprise this offered no impediment +to his ghostly visiter, for the door sprang +open at his touch, and he entered the +room! The apparition was seen by +various others, all of whom asserted it +bore the strongest resemblance to their +deceased master! One gentleman spoke +to him, and the spirit told him "that +he was not happy."</p> + +<p><i>Foley Place.</i></p> + +<h4>AN ANTIQUARY.</h4> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page404" id="page404"></a>[pg 404]</span> + + +<h3>LINES.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Upon the silent grassy bed,</p> +<p>Shall maiden's tears at eve be shed,</p> +<p>And friendship's self shall often there</p> +<p>Heave the sigh, and breathe the pray'r.</p> +<p>Young flowers of spring around shall bloom,</p> +<p>And summer's roses deck thy tomb.</p> +<p>The primrose ope its modest breast</p> +<p>Where thy lamented ashes rest,</p> +<p>And cypress branches lowly bend</p> +<p>Where thy lov'd form with clay shall blend.</p> +<p>The silver willow darkly wave</p> +<p>Above thy unforgotten grave,</p> +<p>And woodbine leaves will fondly creep,</p> +<p>Where * * lies in holy sleep.</p> + </div></div> + +<i>Sturminster</i>. +<h4>COLBOURNE.</h4> +<hr /> + +<h3>PARLIAMENTARY SCRAPS.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + +<p>Lord Coke, in his fourth institute, defines +certain qualities essentially requisite +to constitute a good member of +parliament; and he refers to a parliament +roll, 3 Henry VI., which affirms +that a parliament man should have three +properties ascribed to the elephant—1. +That he hath no gall; 2. That he is inflexible, +and cannot bow; 3. That he is +of a most ripe and perfect memory.—1. +To be without malice, rancour, heat, +and envy;—in elephante melancholia +transit in nutrimentum corporis: every +gallish inclination, if any were, should +tend to the good of the whole body—the +commonwealth. 2. That he be constant, +inflexible, and not be bowed, or +turned from the right, either from fear, +reward, or favour; not in judgment respect +any person. 3. That in remembering +perils past, dangers to come may +be prevented.</p> + +<p>To these, addition is made by Lord +Coke of two other properties of elephants: +the one, that though they be +maximæ virtutis et maximi intellectus, +of great strength and understanding, +<i>tamen gregatim semper incedunt</i>, yet +they are sociable, and go in companies; +for <i>animalia gregalia non sunt nociva, +sed animalia solivaga sunt nociva</i>: sociable +creatures that go in flocks or +herds are not hurtful—as deer, sheep, +&c.; but beasts that walk solely or +singularly, as bears, foxes, &c., are dangerous +and hurtful. The other property +is, that the elephant is philanthropos, +homini erranti viam ostendit. +And, in the opinion of Coke, these properties +ought every parliament man to +have.</p> + +<p>Neither the ancient nor modern election +statutes mention, or imply, the existence +of a "candidate." The old laws +direct that the representative shall be +freely and indifferently chosen by the +electors. The choice was of their own +motion, and the person elected was passive. +Even at the present day, the law +does not contemplate his asking for +votes, and therefore does not allow, +after the issuing of the writ, sufficient +time for a regular canvass. The term +"candidate" had its derivation from the +person being <i>candidatus,</i> clothed in +white, as symbolical of the wearer's +purity.</p> + +<p>James I. issued a proclamation, in +which the voters for members of parliament +are directed "not to choose +curious and wrangling lawyers, who +seek reputation by stirring needless +questions."</p> + +<p>At the Sussex election, in 1807, an +elector, named Morton, voted in right +of his patrimonial land at Rusper, which +had been in possession of his ancestors +750 years.</p> +<h4>W.G.C.</h4> +<hr /> + +<h3>SONNET</h3> +<h4>TO AN EOLIN HARP, HEARD AT EVENING.</h4> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Soft breathings of aerial melody,</p> +<p class="i2">Ye seem like love-songs from the elfin land,</p> +<p class="i2">Or soundings from that heaven-commissioned band,</p> +<p>Ushering the good man to the bliss on high.</p> +<p>Now swells the chorus full, anon ye die</p> +<p class="i2">Away upon the breeze, so soft and bland</p> +<p class="i2">Melting on evening's ear. Sure Love's own hand</p> +<p>In kindest mood hath wrought this minstrelsy.</p> +<p>How to the lorn heart does its influence creep,</p> +<p class="i2">As the wild winds sweep o'er the fairy strings,</p> +<p class="i2">Bringing again departed, perish'd things,</p> +<p>O'er which we feel it luxury to weep.</p> +<p>Sing on ye zephyr-sprites, your vespers cheer</p> +<p>The heart, whose off'ring is a holy tear.</p> + </div> </div> + +<i>Sturminster.</i> + +<h4>COLBOURNE.</h4> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<h2>THE COSMOPOLITE</h2>. +<h3>HINTS FOR SELF-ADVANCEMENT; OR, +HOW TO MAKE ONE'S WAY IN THE WORLD.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + + +<p>When you visit married people, pay +particular attention to their children: +the more noisy, troublesome, and disagreeable +they are, the more is it incumbent +upon you to praise them. +Should the baby entertain you with a +passionate squall for an hour or two, +vow that it is "a charming child"—"a +sweet pet"—"a dear, pretty, little creature," +&c. &c. Call red hair auburn, +and "a sweet, uncommon colour;" a +squint, or cross-eye, think "an agreeable +expression;" maintain that an +ugly child is extremely handsome, and +the image either of one or other of its +parents, or of its handsomest, wealthiest, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page405" id="page405"></a>[pg 405]</span> +or most aristocratic relations. Discover +which of a family is mamma's, and which +papa's favourite, and pay your court accordingly; +for it is better to lavish, in +this case, your attentions and encomiums +upon one or two, than upon all.</p> + +<p>When requiring an introduction to +any great people, scruple not to avail +yourself of the services of the little; +but when mounted as high as you please, +by all means kick down your ladders, +cast away your stepping stones—since +they might, instead of being of any further +assistance, only prove incumbrances +to you.</p> + +<p>Take every opportunity of joining in +conversation with those to whom you +desire to recommend yourself. Should +you feel at a loss for topics of discourse, +mention servants, and tradesmen, upon +whom fail not to bestow most hearty +abuse;—vow that they are an unprincipled +set of knaves, scoundrels, and +thieves. Hence you will be thought to +have "much to say for yourself;" and +should you be enabled to narrate any +grievous losses sustained from these +members of society, you will obtain credit +for having "something to lose" at +any rate, and find it of incalculable +value.</p> + +<p>When you direct a letter to a knight +bachelor—though it is indeed customary +and well-bred to omit altogether the +Knt.—yet it will never be taken amiss +should you venture to address him as a +Knight of the Garter, Bath, &c.&c., or +even as a Baronet. Undoubtedly it is +as vulgar to misapprehend and confound +titles, as it is to mispronounce and misspell +names; nevertheless rest assured, +that flattered vanity will go far to pardon +vulgarity.</p> + +<p>If a gentleman, pay infinite attention +to the single ladies of a family—compliment, +flirt, converse with, and ask them +to dance. This conduct will obtain for +you, on account of the fair creatures, +marvellous good report, numerous invitations; +and if you have sufficient tact +to steer clear of committing yourself for +more than a few flattering and general +attentions, you may be considered one +of the happiest of those who live—by +their wits, and upon their friends.</p> + +<p>Should your "dancing days be over," +which is scarcely probable, considering +how greatly it is now the fashion for +"potent, grave, and reverend signors," +and signoras also, to join the gay quadrille, +&c. (and here we may as well +note, that in genteel society, dowager +honourables and old ladies may dance, +whilst young, plain misses may not)—there +are sundry modes of rendering +yourself agreeable, which your own +taste and talents, it is to be presumed, +will naturally suggest: chess, whist, +ecarté, quadrille, &c. &c., not to mention +a little practical knowledge of +music, are acquirements which cause an +individual to be considered "very agreeable"—because +very useful; and rely +upon it, as the world goes, utility in +nine cases out of ten is, with society, a +consideration. Hence, no creature is +so universally voted disagreeable as one +from whom no kind of service can be +exacted; and whilst roués, gamesters, +and tipplers, duelists, pugilists, and +blacklegs, are tolerated in society, stupid +men are overlooked, or thrust out +of it with contempt.</p> + +<p>Dress in the extreme of fashion: you +can neither gain nor maintain your +ground without so doing; and as you +have an end to answer, which your +tailors or milliners have not, of course +you will not suffer the unfashionable +dictates of conscience, respecting their +bills, to interfere with your proceedings.</p> + +<p>Answer an invitation as soon as it is +received; many individuals defer so doing +for some days, which certainly shows +fashionable ease and nonchalance, besides +allowing time for the arrival of +another and preferable one; but, by +those who are absolutely bent upon advancing +themselves in society, this practice +is to be eschewed, since by perplexing, +it so annoys the donor of a fête, +that the chances are greatly against your +ever again being asked.</p> + +<p>Never omit, the day after a party, to +send or leave your card, as an acknowledgment +for the civility you have received. +This ceremony, indeed, it is to +your interest frequently to repeat at the +doors of your friends, since it will ensure +your never being forgotten by them.</p> + +<p>Never go to an evening party until +you are pretty certain that everybody +else is coming away. Your consequence +will by this conduct be enhanced;—you +may protest that you have already appeared +at two or three balls, &c. When, +if a student or fashionable novel-writer, +your time may have been more rationally +employed at home, you go too late to +dance much, if the exercise, or rather +the partners, be disagreeable to you; +you ensure being seen, which is something,—for, +alas! how many worthy +aspirants to fashion, fortune, and fame, +if of no actual importance, are fated to +pass unnoticed in a crowd! and the +opportunity is besides afforded you of +paying almost undivided attention to +your host, hostess, and family, which +must materially advance your interests. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page406" id="page406"></a>[pg 406]</span> +Neither be in too great haste to quit the +houses of those to whom you desire to +recommend yourself. Parties, even the +worst, cost both money and trouble; +and whilst the givers of them feel it no +compliment to be run away from, as if a +pestilence raged in their habitations, it +is positively insulting to inform them +that another soiree, from which you +hope better things, awaits your presence.</p> + +<p>If a lady, "set up for a beauty:" +rely upon it, no persons will "cry you +up" as such unless you give them the +note. Should you be extremely plain, +no matter; friz your hair until it stands +out one English ell from your face, and +mount it, in bows, braids, &c., three +yards at least from the crown of your +head; drawl, or lisp in your speech; +bring out words and phrases from every +living tongue with which you may happen +to be slightly acquainted; boast of +"the continent;" mince your gait; +wriggle forward upon your toes when +you walk; and swim and dip, whenever +led into the atrocity of committing a +<i>quad</i>-rille. In brief, give yourself unimaginable +airs; then protest that your +manners, as well as your costume, are +of the newest Parisian mode—and it is +ten to one but that affectation will be +accepted in lieu of, or mistaken for, +beauty.</p> + +<p>Never forget, that as it is sometimes +very prudent to be deaf and dumb in +society, so is it extremely convenient +upon occasions to be blind. The cuts, +direct and oblique—the looks at, and +the looks over—the distant, formal bow, +and the adroit turn upon the heel (should +you perceive the party, intended to be +cut for the time being at least, advancing +with dire intent of obliging a recognition), +may be, especially upon old and +provincial friends, practised <i>ad libitum</i>, +without the slightest danger of your +character for etiquette, politeness, suavity, +and general pleasantness, being +impeached. Indeed it is not incompatible +with the highest breeding, to allow +your slighted and amazed acquaintance +to hear you quizzing, and see you laughing +at, him heartily, should it be your +interest so to do; and then next day, to +walk boldly up to him, protest he is the +best fellow in the world; and should he +be so senseless as to venture an allusion +to your "late conduct," to vow, with +the extremest audacity, that he happens +to be under some evident and deplorable +mistake, &c. &c. In short, should you +really find yourself in a scrape, to back +out of it as well as you are able.</p> + +<p>When at a ball, it may sometimes be +to your advantage (though fashionable +insolence should not be carried too far) +to act in the following manner:—</p> + +<p>1. Ask a lady if she is engaged to +dance. Should she answer "No," whilst +her eyes say "Yes, if you will be my +partner," then, instead of offering yourself +for that purpose, protest that +"dancing is a mighty bore, which no +gentleman would endure, could he possibly +help it," and walk away.</p> + +<p>2. Having elicited from a lady that +she is not engaged for the ensuing dance, +exclaim, with a smile of triumph, "I +am! and must go and find my partner."</p> + +<p>3. When conversing with one young +lady, whom you do not design to compliment +by leading out for waltz, quadrille, +or galoppe, mazurka, or Russian +cotillon, &c., take particular care, in +her hearing, to engage yourself to another. +This is equally kind and polite.</p> + +<p>4. Upon the conclusion of a dance, +either leave your partner standing in the +middle of the room—which I have beheld +performed with admirable effect—-or, +hastily leading her to a seat, quit her +instantly: which proceeding says, in +plain English, "Lady, I would not stay +another moment with you for anything +that could be offered me, lest the world +should choose to fancy we are engaged."</p> + +<p>Respecting giving and lending, which +are sometimes necessary worldly duties, +your guide must be this brief, but infallible +rule—"Venture a small fish to +catch a large one." Those antiquated +beings, indeed, whom the polite style +"horrid bores," but whose generic appellation +is Christians, are accustomed to +"lend and give, not hoping to receive;" +yet this maxim cannot of course be supposed +to influence the conduct of those +who desire to advance themselves in the +world, because they are bound to bear +in mind, that they cannot admit of any +principle of action which tends, in the +slightest degree, to militate against their +interest.—<i>Et caetera desunt.</i></p> + +<h4>M.L.B.</h4> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>THE NATURALIST.</h2> + +<h3>THE WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>Concluded from page</i> 389.)</h4> + + +<p>The intrepidity of character, before +mentioned, may be farther illustrated +by the following fact, which occurred a +few years ago, near Great Egg Harbour, +New Jersey. A woman, who happened +to be weeding in the garden, had set her +child down near, to amuse itself while +she was at work; when a sudden and +extraordinary rushing sound, and a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page407" id="page407"></a>[pg 407]</span> +scream from her child, alarmed her, and +starting up, she beheld the infant thrown +down, and dragged some few feet, and +a large bald eagle bearing off a fragment +of its frock, which being the only +part seized, and giving way, providentially +saved the life of the infant.</p> + +<p>The appetite of the bald eagle, +though habituated to long fasting, is of +the most voracious and often the most +indelicate kind. Fish, when he can obtain +them, are preferred to all other +fare. Young lambs and pigs are dainty +morsels, and made free with on all +favourable occasions. Ducks, geese, +gulls, and other sea fowl, are also seized +with avidity. The most putrid carrion, +when nothing better can be had, is acceptable; +and the collected groups of +gormandizing vultures, on the approach +of this dignified personage, instantly disperse, +and make way for their master, +waiting his departure in sullen silence, +and at a respectful distance, on the adjacent +trees.</p> + +<p>In one of those partial migrations of +tree squirrels that sometimes take place +in our western forests, many thousands +of them were destroyed in attempting +to cross the Ohio; and at a certain +place, not far from Wheeling, a prodigious +number of their dead bodies were +floated to the shore by an eddy. Here +the vultures assembled in great force, +and had regailed themselves for some +time, when a bald eagle made his appearance, +and took sole possession of +the premises, keeping the whole vultures +at their proper distance for several days. +He has also been seen navigating the +same river on a floating carrion, though +scarcely raised above the surface of the +water, and tugging at the carcass, regardless +of snags, sawyers, planters, or +shallows. He sometimes carries his +tyranny to great extremes against the +vultures. In hard times, when food +happens to be scarce, should he accidentally +meet with one of these who has +its craw crammed with carrion, he attacks +it fiercely in the air; the cowardly +vulture instantly disgorges, and the delicious +contents are snatched up by the +eagle before they reach the ground.</p> + +<p>The nest of this species is generally +fixed on a very large and lofty tree, often +in a swamp or morass, and difficult to +be ascended. On some noted tree of +this description, often a pine or cypress, +the bald eagle builds, year after year, +for a long series of years. When both +male and female have been shot from the +nest, another pair has soon after taken +possession. The nest is large, being +added to and repaired every season, +until it becomes a black prominent mass, +observable at a considerable distance. +It is formed of large sticks, sods, earthy +rubbish, hay, moss, &c. Many have +stated to me that the female lays first a +single egg, and that, after having sat on +it for some time, she lays another; when +the first is hatched, the warmth of that, +it is pretended, hatches the other. +Whether this be correct or not, I cannot +determine; but a very respectable gentleman +of Virginia assured me, that he +saw a large tree cut down, containing +the nest of a bald eagle, in which were +two young, one of which appeared nearly +three times as large as the other. As +a proof of their attachment to their +young, a person near Norfolk informed +me, that, in clearing a piece of wood +on his place, they met with a large dead +pine tree, on which was a bald eagle's +nest and young. The tree being on fire +more than half way up, and the flames +rapidly ascending, the parent eagle darted +around and among the flames, until +her plumage was so much injured that +it was with difficulty she could make her +escape, and even then, she several times +attempted to return to relieve her offspring.</p> + +<p>The flight of the bald eagle, when +taken into consideration with the ardour +and energy of his character, is noble +and interesting. Sometimes the human +eye can just discern him, like a minute +speck, moving in slow curvatures along +the face of the heavens, as if reconnoitering +the earth at that immense distance. +Sometimes he glides along in a +direct horizontal line, at a vast height, +with expanded and unmoving wings, till +he gradually disappears in the distant +blue ether. Seen gliding in easy circles +over the high shores and mountainous +cliffs that tower above the Hudson and +Susquehanna, he attracts the eye of the +intelligent voyager, and adds great interest +to the scenery. At the great Cataract +of Niagara, already mentioned, +there rises from the gulf into which the +Falls of the Horse-Shoe descend, a +stupendous column of smoke, or spray, +reaching to the heavens, and moving off +in large black clouds, according to the +direction of the wind, forming a very +striking and majestic appearance. The +eagles are here seen sailing about, sometimes +losing themselves in this thick column, +and again reappearing in another +place, with such ease and elegance of +motion, as renders the whole truly sublime.</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>High o'er the watery uproar, silent seen,</p> +<p>Sailing sedate in majesty serene,</p> +<p>Now midst the pillar'd spray sublimely lost,</p> +<p>And now, emerging, down the Rapids tost,</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page408" id="page408"></a>[pg 408]</span> +<p>Glides the bald eagle, gazing, calm and slow,</p> +<p>O'er all the horrors of the scene below;</p> +<p>Intent alone to sate himself with blood,</p> +<p>From the torn victims of the raging flood.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>The white-headed eagle is three feet +long, and seven feet in extent; the bill +is of a rich yellow; cere the same, +slightly tinged with green; mouth flesh-coloured; +tip of the tongue, bluish +black; the head, chief part of the neck, +vent, tail coverts, and tail, are white in +the perfect, or old birds of both sexes, +in those under three years of age these +parts are of a gray brown; the rest of +the plumage is deep, dark brown, each +feather tipt with pale brown, lightest on +the shoulder of the wing, and darkest +towards its extremities. The conformation +of the wing is admirably adapted +for the support of so large a bird; it +measures two feet in breadth on the +greater quills, and sixteen inches on +the lesser; the longest primaries are +twenty inches in length, and upwards +of one inch in circumference where they +enter the skin; the broadest secondaries +are three inches in breadth across +the vane; the scapulars are very large +and broad, spreading from the back to +the wing, to prevent the air from passing +through; another range of broad +flat feathers, from three to ten inches in +length, also extend from the lower part +of the breast to the wing below, for +the same purpose; between these lies a +deep triangular cavity; the thighs are +remarkably thick, strong, and muscular, +covered with long feathers pointing backwards, +usually called the femoral feathers; +the legs, which are covered half +way below the knee, before, with dark +brown downy feathers, are of a rich +yellow, the colour of ripe Indian corn; +feet the same; claws blue black, very +large and strong, particularly the inner +one, which is considerably the largest; +soles, very rough and warty; the eye is +sunk, under a bony, or cartilaginous +projection, of a pale yellow colour, and +is turned considerably forwards, not +standing parallel with the cheeks, the +iris is of a bright straw colour, pupil +black.</p> + +<p>The male is generally two or three +inches shorter than the female; the +white on the head, neck, and tail being +more tinged with yellowish, and its +whole appearance less formidable; the +brown plumage is also lighter, and the +bird itself less daring than the female, a +circumstance common to almost all birds +of prey.</p> + +<p>The eagle is said to live to a great +age—sixty, eighty, and, as some assert, +one hundred years. This circumstance +is remarkable, when we consider the +seeming intemperate habits of the bird. +Sometimes fasting, through necessity, +for several days, and at other times +gorging itself with animal food till its +craw swells out the plumage of that +part, forming a large protuberance on +the breast. This, however, is its natural +food, and for these habits its whole +organization is particularly adapted. It +has not, like men, invented rich wines, +ardent spirits, and a thousand artificial +poisons, in the form of soups, sauces, +and sweetmeats. Its food is simple, it +indulges freely, uses great exercise, +breathes the purest air, is healthy, vigorous, +and long lived. The lords of +the creation themselves might derive +some useful hints from these facts, were +they not already, in general, too wise, +or too proud, to learn from their <i>inferiors,</i> +the fowls of the air and beasts +of the field.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>NOTES OF A READER.</h2> + +<h3>THE LATE MRS. SIDDONS.</h3> + +<p>The subsequent account of Mrs. Siddons, +nearly fifty years since, will perhaps +give the reader a better outline of +that "Queen of Tragedy" than any that +has since appeared. We ought to mention +that it is quoted from Mr. Boaden's +<i>Memoirs</i>, and was written on the appearance +of Mrs. Siddons in the character +of Isabella, for the first time in London, +October 10, 1782. Mr. Boaden +thus introduces the quotation, in vol. i. +of his work:—</p> + +<p>As the person of our great actress +has undergone some change, and her +features by time became stronger, I +should find it difficult now to describe +her accurately by memory, as she stood +before the audience on the night of the +10th of October. I am relieved from +this difficulty by an account of her written +at the time. I shall change only a +few of the expressions then used, more +from a feeling as to composition than +alteration as to sentiment.</p> + +<p>There never, perhaps, was a better +stage-figure than that of Mrs. Siddons. +Her height is above the middle size, but +not at all inclined to the <i>em-bon-point</i>. +There is, notwithstanding, nothing sharp +or angular in the frame; there is sufficient +muscle to bestow a roundness upon +the limbs, and her attitudes are, therefore, +distinguished equally by energy and +grace. The symmetry of her person is +exact and captivating. Her face is peculiarly +happy, the features being finely +formed, though strong, and never for an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page409" id="page409"></a>[pg 409]</span> +instant seeming overcharged, like the +Italian faces, nor coarse and unfeminine +under whatever impulse; on the contrary, +it is so thoroughly harmonized +when quiescent, and so expressive when +impassioned, that most people think her +more beautiful than she is; so great, +too, is the flexibility of her countenance, +that the rapid transitions of passion +are given with a variety and effect +that never tire upon the eye. Her voice +is naturally plaintive, and a tender melancholy +in her level speaking denotes a +being devoted to tragedy; yet this seemingly +settled quality of voice becomes at +will sonorous or piercing, overwhelms +with rage, or in its wild shriek absolutely +harrows up the soul. Her sorrow, +too, is never childish—her lamentation +has a dignity which belongs, I +think, to no other woman: it claims +your respect along with your tears. +Her eye is brilliant and varying like the +diamond; it is singularly well placed; +"it <i>pries</i>," in Shakspeare's language, +"through the portal of the head," and +has every aid from brows flexible beyond +all female parallel, contracting to disdain, +or dilating with the emotions of +sympathy, or pity, or anguish. Her +memory is tenacious and exact—her articulation +clear and distinct—her pronunciation +systematic and refined.</p> + +<p>Nor has Nature been partially bountiful: +she has endowed her with a quickness +of conception, and a strength of +understanding equal to the proper use +of such extraordinary gifts. So entirely +is she mistress of herself, so collected, +and so determined in gestures, tone, and +manner, that she seldom errs, like other +actors, because she doubts her powers +or comprehension. She studies her author +attentively, conceives justly, and +describes with a firm consciousness of +propriety. She is sparing in her action, +because English nature does not act +much; but it is always proper, picturesque, +graceful, and dignified: it +arises immediately from the sentiments +and feeling, and is not seen to prepare +itself before it begins. No studied trick +or start can be predicted;—no forced +tremulation of the figure, where the vacancy +of the eye declares the absence +of passion, can be seen;—no laborious +strainings at false climax, in which the +tired voice reiterates one high tone beyond +which it cannot reach, is ever +heard;—no artificial heaving of the +breasts, so disgusting when the affectation +is perceptible;—none of those arts +by which the actress is seen, and not +the character, can be found in Mrs. +Siddons. So natural are her gradations +and transitions, so classical and correct +her speech and deportment, and so intensely +interesting her voice, form, and +features, that there is no conveying an +idea of the pleasure she communicates +by words. She must be seen to be +known. What is still more delightful, +she is an original: she copies no one +living or dead, but acts from nature and +herself.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.</h2> + +<h3>THE TWO MUNCHAUSENS.</h3> + +<h4><i>By a veteran.</i></h4> + + +<p>In the late —— Regiment of Light +Dragoons, were two worthy persons, +who were denominated the regimental +liars: a distinction to which, giving +every man his due, they were eminently +entitled. The great and fundamental +requisites for accomplished lying, I conceive +to be a good memory, a fertile +fancy, a ready wit, fluency of speech, +and a brazen countenance, so that you +shall tell a man a most bare-faced falsehood, +and afterwards adduce such connected +proofs as especially characterize +actual facts. The following dialogue +is a specimen of the talents of the aforementioned +mendacious personages.</p> + +<p>C.—"See a man walk after he was +shot dead! so have I, a whole day's +march."</p> + +<p>B.—"Come, come, that's stealing a +march on our senses. No, no, it won't +do: that's a naked one; do pray turn +them out with some kind of probability +covering over them."</p> + +<p>C.—"What, doubt my veracity;"</p> + +<p>B.—"Not for the world; that would +be illiberal and unkind, and by the way, +now I think on it, I believe the possibility +of a man travelling without his <i>cranium,</i> +for at the battle of Laswaree, +during that desperate contest for British +India, I saw a sergeant of the seventy-sixth +shot dead; yet the fellow pursued +his antagonist some hundred yards +afterwards, threatening vengeance on +the miscreant for having robbed the service +of one of its best men. Finding +himself weak from loss of blood, he deliberately +unscrewed his head, threw it +violently at the foe, and took him on the +spine; down he tumbled; the veteran +jumped upon him; fearful was the +struggle; chest to chest, fist to fist; +at last they joined in the death grapple, +and dreadful indeed was their dying +hug."</p> + +<p>C.—"My dear friend, I was an eye +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page410" id="page410"></a>[pg 410]</span> +witness of the whole transaction. You +have however forgotten the best part of +the story. After the sergeant had well +pummelled his enemy, he picked up his +head again, and thrust into a neighbouring +great gun: from the want of his +<i>peepers</i> he made a random shot, and +killed the horse on which Lord Lake +was riding—his Lordship saluted the +sod."</p> + +<p>B.—"I recollect it perfectly; for the +nose of the said sergeant (recognised by +sundry carbuncles) was so hard, that the +following day it was extracted from the +abdomen of the unfortunate animal."</p> + +<p>C.—"You make a mistake about the +nose; it was discovered lodged in a loaf +in a corporal's knapsack; the man +could swear to it, for it was perforated +by three balls, and otherwise curiously +marked. Report said that a shell had +once blown it completely off, and that it +was stitched on again by a shoe-maker, +who, ever after, went by the name of the +<i>nosy</i> cobbler."</p> + +<p>B.—"Nothing impossible. It reminds +me of a story somewhat as strange: +During the battle of Delhi there was a +quarter-master in the regiment, a queer +fellow, who was never at a loss; (he is +now in the corps, and can vouch for my +statement) he was charging at the head +of his squadron, when he caught a cannon +shot in his hands: instantly dismounting, +he chucked the ball into a +field-piece, but, for want of a ramrod, +he drove it home with his head. One +of the enemy, seeing him thus zealously +occupied, fired off the gun; strange to +tell he was not killed! From constant +exposure to the sun, in search of toddy, +and from the free use of cocoa-nut oil, +his head had become proof against shot. +The distance from the place whence he +was projected, to that where he was +picked up, measured three miles, two +furlongs, three yards, and eleven inches. +A hard-headed fellow, Sir.—In his career +he upset his colonel and a brace of +captains."</p> + +<p>C.—"He did; and where the colonel +was capsized, he made such a hole by +his enormous weight, that the sovereign +of Delhi ordered a large well to be dug +on the spot, in memory of the event."</p> + +<p>B.—"I remember the well—twelve +feet, three inches and a half, was the +exact depth of the excavation occasioned +by the fall."</p> + +<p>C.—"There you are wrong; only +eleven feet, three inches—"</p> + +<p>B.—"No, believe me, I am right; +twelve feet, and three inches to a barleycorn."</p> + +<p>C.—"Never mind: a little, this way +or that, is of no consequence. The +most extraordinary thing was, that the +gallant colonel only sprained his right +arm."</p> + +<p>B.—"By no means extraordinary. +You remember the great gun of Agra, +in which a regiment of cavalry used to +drill."</p> + +<p>C—"I do. The one that fired the +stone ball to the wall of Futtipoore Sikrah—twenty +miles."</p> + +<p>B.—"The same. Well, when that +gun was fired, a thing that never occurred +but once, the head of the rash man +who fired it was afterwards found in the +Old Woman's Tank, eleven miles from +the spot, without so much as a blemish, +except a slight singing of the right +whisker."</p> + +<p>C.—"Ah! I can never forget the +time; I had just landed in Calcutta when +we heard the report. Some of the wadding +went as far as Cawnpore."</p> + +<p>Here the trumpet, sounding for morning +drill, put a stop to the colloquy.—<i>Englishman's Magazine.</i></p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>THE MISER'S GRAVE.</h3> + +<h4>BY THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD.</h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Here's a lesson for the earth-born worm,</p> +<p>So deep engraven on the meagre platen</p> +<p>Of human frailty, so debased in hue,</p> +<p>That he who dares peruse it needs but blush</p> +<p>For his own nature. The poor shrivell'd wretch,</p> +<p>For whose lean carcass yawns this hideous pit,</p> +<p>Had naught that he desired in earth or heaven—</p> +<p>No God, no Saviour, but that sordid pelf,</p> +<p>O'er which he starved and gloated. I have seen him</p> +<p>On the exchange, or in the market-place</p> +<p>When money was in plenteous circulation,</p> +<p>Gaze after it with such Satanic looks</p> +<p>Of eagerness, that I have wonder'd oft</p> +<p>How he from theft and murder could refrain.</p> +<p>'Twas cowardice alone withheld his hands,</p> +<p>For they would grasp and grapple at the air,</p> +<p>When his grey eye had fixed on heaps of gold,</p> +<p>While his clench'd teeth, and grinning, yearning face,</p> +<p>Were dreadful to behold. The merchants oft</p> +<p>Would mark his eye, then start and look again,</p> +<p>As at the eye of basilisk or snake.</p> +<p>His eye of greyish green ne'er shed one ray</p> +<p>Of kind benignity or holy light</p> +<p>On aught beneath the sun. Childhood, youth, beauty,</p> +<p>To it had all one hue. Its rays reverted</p> +<p>Right inward, back upon the greedy heart</p> +<p>On which the gnawing worm of avarice</p> +<p>Preyed without ceasing, straining every sense</p> +<p>To that excruciable and yearning core.</p> +<p class="i2">Some thirteen days agone, he comes to me,</p> +<p>And after many sore and mean remarks</p> +<p>On men's rapacity and sordid greed,</p> +<p>He says, "Gabriel, thou art an honest man,</p> +<p>As the world goes. How much, then, will you charge</p> +<p>And make a grave for me, fifteen feet deep?"—</p> +<p class="i2">"We'll talk of that when you require it, sir."</p> +<p class="i2">"No, no. I want it made, and paid for too;</p> +<p>I'll have it settled, else I know there will</p> +<p>Be some unconscionable overcharge</p> +<p>On my poor friends—a ruinous overcharge."—</p> +<p class="i2">"But, sir, were it made now, it would fill up</p> +<p>Each winter to the brim, and be to make</p> +<p>Twenty or thirty times, if you live long."—</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page411" id="page411"></a>[pg 411]</span> +<p class="i2">"There! there it is! Nothing but imposition!</p> +<p>Even Time must rear his stern, unyielding front,</p> +<p>And holding out his shrivelled skeleton hand,</p> +<p>Demands my money. Naught but money! money!</p> +<p>Were I coin'd into money I could not</p> +<p>Half satisfy that craving greed of money.</p> +<p>Well, how much do you charge? I'll pay you now,</p> +<p>And take a bond from you that it be made</p> +<p>When it is needed. Come, calculate with reason—</p> +<p>Work's very cheap; and two good men will make</p> +<p>That grave at two days' work: and I can have</p> +<p>Men at a shilling each—<i>without</i> the meat—</p> +<p>That's a great matter! Let them but to meat,</p> +<p>'Tis utter ruin. I'll give none their meat—</p> +<p>That I'll beware of. Men now-a-days are cheap,</p> +<p>Cheap, dogcheap, and beggarly fond of work.</p> +<p>One shilling each a-day, <i>without</i> the meat.</p> +<p>Mind that, and ask in reason; for I wish</p> +<p>To have that matter settled to my mind."—</p> +<p class="i2">"Sir, there's no man alive will do't so cheap</p> +<p>As I shall do it for the ready cash,"</p> +<p>Says I, to put him from it with a joke.</p> +<p>"I'll charge you, then, one-fourth part of a farthing</p> +<p>For every cubic foot of work I do,</p> +<p>Doubling the charge each foot that I descend."</p> +<p class="i2">"Doubling as you descend! Why, that of course.</p> +<p>A quarter of a farthing each square foot—</p> +<p>No meat, remember! Not an inch of meat,</p> +<p>Nor drink, nor dram. You're not to trust to these.</p> +<p>Wilt stand that bargain, Gabriel?"—"I accept."</p> +<p class="i2">He struck it, quite o'erjoy'd. We sought the clerk,</p> +<p>Sign'd—seal'd. He drew his purse. The clerk went on</p> +<p>Figuring and figuring. "What a fuss you make!</p> +<p>'Tis plain," said he, "the sum is eighteen-pence"—</p> +<p class="i2">"'Tis somewhat more, sir," said the civil clerk—</p> +<p>And held out the account. "Two hundred round,</p> +<p>And gallant payment over." The Miser's face</p> +<p>Assumed the cast of death's worst lineaments.</p> +<p>His skinny jaws fell down upon his breast;</p> +<p>He tried to speak, but his dried tongue refused</p> +<p>Its utterance, and cluck'd upon the gum.</p> +<p>His heart-pipes whistled with a crannell'd sound;</p> +<p>His knell-knees plaited, and his every bone</p> +<p>Seem'd out of joint. He raved—he cursed—he wept—</p> +<p>But payment he refused. I have my bond,</p> +<p>Not yet a fortnight old, and shall be paid.</p> +<p>It broke the Miser's heart. He ate no more,</p> +<p>Nor drank, nor spake, but groan'd until he died;</p> +<p>This grave kill'd him, and now yearns for his bones.</p> +<p>But worse than all. 'Tis twenty years and more</p> +<p>Since he brought home his coffin. On that chest</p> +<p>His eye turn'd ever and anon. It minded him,</p> +<p>He said, of death. And as be sat by night</p> +<p>Beside his beamless hearth, with blanket round</p> +<p>His shivering frame, if burst of winter wind</p> +<p>Made the door jangle, or the chimney moan,</p> +<p>Or crannied window whistle, he would start,</p> +<p>And turn his meagre looks upon that chest;</p> +<p>Then sit upon't, and watch till break of day.</p> +<p class="i2"> Old wives thought him religious—a good man!</p> +<p>A great repentant sinner, who would leave</p> +<p>His countless riches to sustain the poor.</p> +<p>But mark the issue. Yesterday, at noon,</p> +<p>Two men could scarcely move that ponderous chest</p> +<p>To the bedside to lay the body in.</p> +<p>They broke it sundry, and they found it framed</p> +<p>With double bottom! All his worshipp'd gold</p> +<p>Hoarded between the boards! O such a worm</p> +<p>Sure never writhed beneath the dunghill's base!</p> +<p>Fifteen feet under ground! and all his store</p> +<p>Snug in beneath him. Such a heaven was his.</p> +<p class="i2">Now, honest Teddy, think of such a wretch,</p> +<p>And learn to shun his vices, one and all.</p> +<p>Though richer than a Jew, he was more poor</p> +<p>Than is the meanest beggar. At the cost</p> +<p>Of other men a glutton. At his own,</p> +<p>A starveling. A mere scrub. And such a coward,</p> +<p>A cozener and liar—but a coward,</p> +<p>And would have been a thief—But was a coward.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p><i>Blackwood's Magazine.</i></p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<h2>THE SELECTOR; +AND +LITERARY NOTICES OF +<i>NEW WORKS.</i></h2> + + +<h3>PARIS AND ITS HISTORICAL SCENES</h3>. + +<h4>(<i>Library of Entertaining Knowledge, +Part 18.</i>)</h4> + +<p>We have little inclination to quote more +than a few passages from the General +View of Paris in this Number; the topographical +portion of which, (as far as +a four months residence there will serve +our judgment) is eminently characteristic.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Ancient City.</i></p> + +<p>The Archbishop of Narbonne, writing +in the reign of Francis I., (about 1520,) +calls Paris even then a world rather than +a city<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a>; yet at that period its population +was probably not much more than the +fifth part of what it now is; nor did the +quantity of ground it covered bear even +the same proportion to the immense +space over which it has now extended. +But in both convenience and elegance, +Paris has made still more extraordinary +advances since the time of Francis than +even in population and extent. It was +then, compared to what it now is, but +a gloomy and incommodious fortress, +without even the security which encompassing +fortifications might be supposed +to yield. Lighted only by candles placed +here and there by the inhabitants themselves +in their windows, it was so infested +by thieves and assassins that hardly +any person ventured out after dark, and +the approach of night was the source of +constant terror even to those who remained +in their houses. The streets thus +imperfectly lighted, were worse paved; +and most of them were as dirty and narrow +as those still to be seen in the more +ancient part of the city. The supply of +water was so inadequate that the severest +miseries were sometimes suffered +from the absolute want of that necessary +of life, and the greatest inconveniences +at all times from its scarcity. Finally, +the public edifices were without splendour, +and even the best of the private +houses unprovided with many of what +are now accounted the most indispensable +accommodations. Instead of all this, +we behold Paris now one of the very central +seats of civilization; and although +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page412" id="page412"></a>[pg 412]</span> +still deficient in many of the accommodations +which supply to the necessities of +the many instead of the luxuries of the +few, in possession of the greater portion +of the most important provisions which +ingenuity has found out, whether for the +comfort or the embellishment of existence. +What a contrast between the +French capital of 1831, and that Lutetia +of the ancient Parisii, which Caesar +found nearly nineteen hundred years ago +occupying the little island, around which +has since extended itself so wide a circle +of wealth, industry, intelligence, and the +works which these create!</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Bridges.</i></p> + +<p>Paris, stands, like London, on both +banks of a river, and is thus cut into two +great divisions, one to the north, and the +other to the south, of the water. The +Seine, however, is not nearly so broad +as the Thames; and the northern and +southern halves of Paris are not, therefore, +by any means so much separated +from each other, either locally, politically, +or socially, as are the corresponding +portions of the English metropolis. +They form, in all respects one city.</p> + +<p>The Seine flows in a direction nearly +opposite to that of the Thames, namely, +from south-east to north-west. It preserves +almost a perfectly straight course +in passing through Paris, except that it +bends considerably to the south immediately +before leaving the town. The +river, as it flows through the heart of +the city, is interrupted by three small +islands lying in succession, the two most +westerly of which, the Ile de la Cité +(otherwise called the Ile du Palais) and +the Ile St. Louis, or de Notre Dame, +are covered with streets and houses. +The third, called the Ile Louvier, is used +only as a depôt for fire-wood. The parts +of the town on the opposite sides of the +river are connected with each other, and +with these islands, by nineteen bridges, +thirteen of which are constructed of stone, +and two of stone and iron: of the others +two are chain-bridges, one is built of +wood, and two of wood and iron. Several +of these structures, especially the +Pont des Arts, the Pont Louis XVI., +and the Pont de Jena, or de l'Ecole +Militaire, all of which are to the west of +the Ile du Palais, are distinguished by +their majesty or elegance, and add much +beauty and picturesque effect to the +vista of the river. Excepting at one +place where the two branches enclosing +the Ile du Palais unite, immediately to +the west of that island, the breadth of +the Seine at Paris is no where greater +than about 550 English feet, and at some +points it is not more than half that distance +from the one bank to the other. +The bridges, therefore, by which the +Seine is traversed, are not to be compared +in point of magnitude with those +of the Thames at London. Even the +Pont Neuf, which connects the Ile du +Palais with both the northern and the +southern divisions of the city, and comprehends +in fact two bridges, with an +intermediate street, is shorter taken +altogether, than Waterloo bridge by +more than 200 feet; and the Pont Louis +XVI., which next to the Pont Neuf is +the longest of the Parisian stone bridges, +measures only about 485 feet between +the abutments, while Westminster Bridge +measures 1223, and Waterloo Bridge +1242 feet. It is in the <i>number</i> of its +bridges alone, therefore, that the Seine +is superior to the Thames.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>The Boulevards.</i></p> + +<p>The most remarkable feature in the +general appearance of Paris, is the inner +inclosure formed by the celebrated road +called the <i>Boulevards</i>. On the north +side of the river, the Boulevards follow +a line nearly midway, on an average, +between the river and the wall. The +space which they comprehend, therefore, +is but a small portion of that included +within the outer boundary of the city. +The length of this part of the road is +about 5,200 English yards, or somewhat +under three miles. That on the south +side of the river is of far greater extent, +approaching, as it does, throughout its +whole sweep, very much closer to the +wall, and in some parts entirely coinciding +with it. It measures about 16,000 yards, +or above nine miles in length. Each of +these lines, although in reality forming +an uninterrupted road from its commencement +to its termination, is divided into a +succession of parts, each having its particular +name. The northern Boulevards +are twelve in number, the southern +seven. We have nothing in England +like the Parisian Boulevards. They may +be generally described as a road or +street, of great breadth, along each side +of which are planted double rows of elms. +But these shady avenues do not present +merely a picture of rural beauty. Rising +as they do in the heart of a great city, +they partake also of its artificial elegance +and splendour, and are associated with +all the luxuries of architectural decoration. +Considered merely as a range of +streets, the Boulevards are hardly rivalled +by any other part of Paris. Those to +the north of the river are lined on both +sides throughout their whole extent, by +buildings more uniformly handsome than +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page413" id="page413"></a>[pg 413]</span> +are those of almost any other street in +the city, and by many which may be +even described as magnificent. Some of +these are private residences; others are +shops, cafés, public hotels, and theatres. +The crowds by whom so many parts of +these Boulevards are frequented chiefly +give to the scene its singular liveliness +and brilliancy. The southern Boulevards, +though equally beautiful, are far +from being so much the habitual resort +of the citizens; but the walks on this +very account, have a charm for some +moods of mind which the others want. +Another road, planted in a similar manner, +has more recently been carried +round the outside of the present walls of +the city. It is distinguished from the +inner Boulevards by the name of the +<i>Boulevards Extérieurs</i>.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Streets</i>.</p> + +<p>To a person accustomed to the appearance +of the streets of London, or indeed +of any other English town, those of the +interior of Paris will present considerable +novelty of aspect. The extreme +narrowness, in the first place, of those +in the more ancient parts of the city, and +the great height of the houses, with +their windows in many cases fortified by +bars of iron, would alone give them an +air of gloom and precaution, almost +sufficient to impress the Englishman +who walks through them with the feeling +that he has been transported, not +only into another country, but into +another age. Even where these indications +of the more ancient evils of Paris +are not visible, the general aspect of the +town shows that it has not grown with +the growth of a free people, amongst +whom the inequalities of rank have been +softened down by respect to the comforts +of all classes. Under the ancient régime, +which was in full activity half a century +ago, there were only two classes in Paris, +the <i>noblesse</i>, and the <i>bourgeoisie</i>; and +the latter, being driven into the gutters +by the carriage-wheels of their arrogant +masters, went by the general name of +the <i>canaille</i>. Few of the streets even +now have any side pavement for foot +passengers—that invaluable accommodation +which gives such perfect security +to the pedestrian even in our most crowded +and tumultuous thoroughfare. The +causeway itself, on which walkers and +drivers are thus mingled together in +confusion, is often most uneven and +rugged. The stones of which it is formed, +about ten inches square, present each +a convex surface, usually wet and slippery, +so that under the most favourable +circumstances, walking in the streets of +Paris is anything but an agreeable exercise. +Still farther to abridge the level +space, the street is made to incline from +both sides towards the centre, in order +to form there a sort of ditch, in which +flows a black and fetid stream. From +the want of a proper system of drains, +this receptacle of filth is generally sufficiently +replenished even in the driest +weather, to keep the whole street wet +and dirty. Carriages, having usually +one wheel in the midst of the kennel, +dash about the offensive puddle in all +directions. But the principle of a clear +middle way, such as our English streets +possess, is neglected in all the arrangements +connected with those of Paris. +Even the lights, instead of being fixed +on posts, as ours are, at the sides, are +suspended in the middle on ropes swung +across, and having their opposite ends +fastened to the walls of the houses. It +was these ropes which the mob, in the +Revolution of 1789, were wont to make +use of as halters for their victims; whence +their famous cry of <i>á la lanterne</i>, as +they dragged them along to execution.</p> + +<p>The aspect of Paris by night, except +in a few of the principal streets where +gas has been very partially introduced, +is singularly gloomy. The darkness is +occasionally relieved by the brilliancy of +a café; but in the more quiet parts of +the town, particularly in the fashionable +quarter of the Faubourg St. Germain, it +is almost impossible for the pedestrian +to direct his steps aright. It is quite +evident that the arrangements of this +capital have not been made for a walking +people. This evil, however, is fast +disappearing. Numerous <i>passages</i> have +been constructed, within the last ten +years, which are paved with flat stones, +and brilliantly lighted; and the active +and pleasure-seeking population of Paris +crowd to these attractive and convenient +places, to the Boulevards, or to the Palais-Royal, +and leave the narrow and +dirty streets principally to the few who +keep their own carriages, or to the many +who hire public conveyances. These +are of various kinds; and such was the +growing importance of the middle classes, +that <i>fiacres</i> (so called after the sign of +St Fiacre, at the house where they were +first established) were in use a century +and a half ago.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the Part is occupied +with a sketch of the Revolution of 1789.</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>REFORM OF EARLY PARLIAMENTS.</h3> + +<p>Though no language can adequately +condemn the base subserviency of Henry's +parliament, it may be reasonably doubted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page414" id="page414"></a>[pg 414]</span> +whether his reign was, in its ultimate +consequences, injurious to public +liberty. The immense revolutions of his +time in property, in religion, and in the +inheritance of the crown, never could +have been effected without the concurrence +of parliament. Their acquiescence +and co-operation in the spoliation +of property, and the condemnation of +the innocent, tempted him to carry all +his purposes into execution, through +their means. Those who saw the attainders +of queens, the alteration of an +established religion, and the frequent +disturbance of the regal succession, accomplished +by acts of parliament, considered +nothing as beyond the jurisdiction +of so potent an assembly.<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> If the supremacy +was a tremendous power, it +accustomed the people to set no bounds +to the authority of those who bestowed +it on the king. The omnipotence of +parliament appeared no longer a mere +hyperbole. Let it not be supposed, +that to mention the good thus finally +educed from such evils, is intended or +calculated to palliate crimes, or to lessen +our just abhorrence of criminals. Nothing, +on the contrary, seems more to +exalt the majesty of virtue than to point +out the tendency of the moral government +of the world, which, as in this +instance, turns the worst enemies of all +that is good into the laborious slaves +of justice. Of all outward benefits, +the most conducive to virtue as well +as to happiness is, doubtless, popular +and representative government. It is the +reverse of a degradation of it to observe, +that its establishment among us +was perhaps partially promoted by the +sensuality, rapacity, and cruelty of Henry +VIII. The course of affairs is always +so dark, the beneficial consequences of +public events are so distant and uncertain, +that the attempt to do evil in order +to produce good is in men a most criminal +usurpation.</p> + +<p>Some direct benefits the constitution +owes to this reign. The act which +established a parliamentary representation +in so considerable a territory as +Wales may be regarded as the principal +reformation in the composition of the +House of Commons since its legal maturity +in the time of Edward I. That +principality had been divided into twelve +shires: of which eight were ancient,<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> +and four owed their origin to a statute +of Henry's reign.<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> Knights, citizens, +and burgesses were now directed to be +chosen and sent to parliament from the +shires, cities, and burghs of Wales.<a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> A +short time before, the same privileges +were granted to the county palatine of +Chester, of which the preamble contains +a memorable recognition and establishment +of the principles which are +the basis of the elective part of our constitution.<a id="footnotetag8" name="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> +Nearly thirty members were +thus added to the House of Commons +on the principle of the Chester bill: +that is disadvantageous to a province to +be unrepresented; that representation +is essential to good government; and +that those who are bound by the laws +ought to have a reasonable share of direct +influence on the passing of laws. +As the practical disadvantages are only +generally alleged, and could scarcely +have been proved, they must have been +inferred from the nature of a House of +Commons. The British constitution +was not thought to be enjoyed by a +district till a popular representation was +bestowed on it. Election by the people +was regarded, not as a source of tumult, +but as the principle most capable of +composing disorder in territories not +represented.—<i>Cabinet Cyclopaedia</i>, vol. +xix. <i>Sir James Mackintosh's History of +England</i>, vol. ii.</p> + +<hr class="full"/> + + +<h2>THE TOPOGRAPHER.</h2> + + +<h3>TRAVELLING NOTES IN SOUTH WALES.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>Continued from page 312.</i>)</h4> + + +<p>The grounds of Penrice Castle, which +stretch to the sea-shore, and on which +art has embellished scenery possessing +capabilities of a high order—are exceedingly +picturesque and extensive. +Penrice bears marks of having been a +Roman station. Henry de Newburgh, +Earl of Warwick, here defeated the +Welsh prince, Rhys, which decided the +fate of Gower. He was beheaded +after the battle, whence the Welsh +name, Pen-Rhys. On the field of battle +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page415" id="page415"></a>[pg 415]</span> +the victor erected Penrice Castle, +which is now certainly a striking ruin. +On the coast near Penrice is the village +and ruins of the Castle of Oxwich, +now a barn—<i>sic transit!</i></p> + +<p>The afternoon was waxing apace—we +had lost time in attending to our +horses, for ostler there was none—and +in musing amongst the simply decorated +graves in the humble churchyard;<a id="footnotetag9" name="footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> +after discussing with great relish our +repast of eggs and bacon, and Welsh +ale, the best the village afforded, (by +the way, we shall not readily forget the +fluster of our Welsh hostess when we +talked of dining on our arrival at the +little hostelrie) we then rode down to +the sea-shore, intending to cross the +sandy beach of Oxwich, which extends +several miles, on our return to the +Gower Inn. The tide flows with great +rapidity on this coast, and it had already +advanced to the foot of a stupendous +headland, which juts into the beach +about half way. We waded our horses +through the surf—but how can we do +justice to the splendour of the scenery +around us. The alternations of stern +and savage beauty—the gigantic masses +of "fantastic cliffs," and caverns, that +have stood the combat of the mighty +Atlantic for countless ages? Oxwich is +almost unknown to the traveller, and +there are few coast scenes in these +islands that surpass it in beauty. We +lingered long on the shore. There is a +perpetual "jabble" against the cliffs on +this coast—and we have seldom met +with a soul save an aged and solitary +fisherwoman—a study for a Bonington—pursuing +her precarious calling of +crab or shrimp fishing, or of pulling +lobsters from their retreats in the savage +cliffs.</p> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i10"> A holy peace,</p> +<p>Pervades this <i>sea-shore solitude</i>—The world</p> +<p>And all who love that world, are far away!</p><br /> +<p><span style="margin-left: 10em;">N.T. CARRINGTON.</span></p> + </div> </div> + + +<p>It was getting dusk when we ascended +from the shore, on our way homewards, +past the wild—the truly shattered, and +desolate ruins of Pennard Castle; which +bear, we think, decided marks of having +been erected long prior to the Norman +era. The country people tell you +its origin was supernatural; and some +writers ascribe it to that great castle-builder, +Henry de Newburgh. Pennard +stands in a situation of extreme beauty, +and deeply rivets the attention:</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"The stones have voices, and the walls do live,</p> +<p>It is the House of Memory!"</p> +<br /> +<p ><span style="margin-left: 10em;">MATAIRE.</span></p> </div> </div> + + +<p>Our favourite mare and her companion +were in high spirits, (horses are +generally so on returning) exhilarated +by the rapid motion; and our hearts +elate with the "songs of spring," we +returned home on as sweet an April +evening as ever blessed man.</p> + +<p>Another interesting excursion maybe +made to Cefyn-bryn, the most elevated +hill in the district, about twelve miles +from Swansea. The road to Western +Gower is carried over it; the summit +is level, and a carriage may be driven in +safety for a couple of miles to the +southern point; which commands, on a +clear day, in one direction, a vast and +unbounded view of the Bristol Channel, +the whitened houses of Ilfracombe, with +the hills of Devon and Somerset, Lundy +Island, and the scenery of Swansea Bay. +And on the reverse of the picture, almost +the whole peninsula of Gower, the +extensive estuary of the Burry River, +and part of the beautiful expanse of the +County and Bay of Carmarthen, is +spread out like a map before you. King +Arthur's Stone, an immense rock of +<i>lapis molaris</i>, twenty tons weight, supported +by a circle of others—the remains +of Druidism—invites the attention +of the antiquary, on the north-west +point of Cefyn-bryn. We may here remark +that this district, especially the +coast, offers a rich harvest to the geologist. +The general substratum of the +peninsula is limestone and marble, +bounded to the north by an immense +iron and coalfield. The limestone stratum +is continually "cropping out" in the interior, +and of course it can be worked +at a trifling expense. This may account +for the general healthiness of the district. +Though rain in consequence of +the western exposure, falls frequently, +and sometimes with great violence, yet +it speedily runs off, leaving none of the +bad effects which would be produced in +a tenacious soil. Marble of valuable +quality is worked at Oystermouth.</p> + +<p>But we must hasten to close our Notes +on Gower—<i>to proceed with our circuit +of the coast:—West from Oxwich is +Porteyron</i>, where there is an extensive +lobster and oyster fishery, near which +is Landewy Castle. There is a wonderful +precipice here. Further west we +come to the village of Rossilly, near the +Worms-Head, the termination of a range +of rocks, which form the western point +of the peninsula, being connected with +it by a low isthmus. It extends more +than a mile into the ocean, and at half-flood +becomes an island. The name +arose by mariners comparing it to a +worm with its head erect, between the +Nass Point and St. Gower's Head, in +Pembrokeshire. The scenery here is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page416" id="page416"></a>[pg 416]</span> +deeply interesting. This wild and desolate +coast has proved fatal to numberless +ships; the recent erection of the +light-house on Caldy Island, near Tenby, +on the opposite point of Carmarthen +Bay, has, however, been most important. +Several Indiamen have been wrecked +here, and about fifty years since, a +quantity of Spanish dollars, date 1625, +were found amongst the sand, when the +tide had receded unusually far, supposed +to be part of the cargo of the "Scanderoon +galley" lost on this coast nearly +two centuries ago. This would do for +the "Vigo Bay Company." We proceed +along the western shore of Carmarthen +Bay, till we pass Whitford +Point, a singular <i>peninsula of sand</i>, +covered with reeds, which stands the +fury of the tide, forming one side of +the wide estuary of Barry, along the +coast of which we pass a Roman encampment +at Llanmadoc—the striking +Castle of Llanridian, and other ruins, +as we return eastward to Swansea; till +we arrive at the village—we forget ourselves, +the <i>Borough</i> of Castell Llwchyr, +or Loughor, the <i>Leucarum</i> of Antoninus, +and the fifth Roman station on the +<i>Via Julia</i>. It is seven miles from +Swansea. Upon a mount, the supposed +work of the Romans, is a square tower, +the remains of a castle built by Henry, +Earl of Warwick. Three miles to the +east are two Roman encampments; many +Roman coins have been found at Loughor, +from whence there is a ferry to the +Carmarthenshire side opposite, which +is fordable at low water. There is a +large colliery here. It is a delightful +sail from this village down the Burry +River to Whitford Point, or round the +coast to Worms-Head.</p> + +<h4>VYVYAN.</h4> + +<hr class="full"/> + + +<h2>THE GATHERER.</h2> + +<blockquote><p> +"A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles."</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 8em;">SHAKSPEARE.</span></p></blockquote> + + +<p><i>The following curious letter was found +among the papers of a Mr. Goldwyre, +Surgeon, of Salisbury.</i></p> + +<p>To Mr. Edward Goldwyre, at his house +on the Close of Salisbury.</p> + +<p>Sir,—Being informed that you are +the only surgeon in this city (or country) +that anatomises men, and I being under +the present unhappy circumstances, and +in a very mean condition, would gladly +live as long as I can, but by all appearances +I am to be executed next March, +but having no friends on earth that will +speak a word to save my life, nor send +me a morsel of bread to keep life and +soul together until that fatal day; so if +you will vouchsafe to come hither, I +will gladly sell you my body (being +whole and sound) to be ordered at your +discretion, knowing that it will rise +again at the general resurrection, as well +from your house as from the grave. +Your answer will highly oblige, yours, +&c.</p> + +<p>JAMES BROOKE.<br /> + <i>Fisherton-Auger Gaol</i>,<br /> + <i>Oct</i>. 3, 1736.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A farmer walking out one day, by +chance met Jack Ketch, and jocosely +asked him whether he could tell him the +difference between their trades. "That +I can," said Jack, "the only difference +is <i>utility</i>—you till, I tie."</p> + +<h4>WALTER.</h4> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>What is the most suitable motto for a +doctor's carriage? Live or die.</p> + +<p>Why is the <i>carver</i> in a cook-shop like +a naval officer? Because he commands +a <i>cutter</i>.</p> + +<h4>W.G.C.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h3>EPITAPHS.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Here lies poor Thomas, and his Wife,</p> +<p>Who led a pretty jarring life;</p> +<p>But all is ended—do you see?</p> +<p>He holds his tongue, and so does she.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>If drugs and physic could but save</p> +<p>Us mortals from the dreary grave,</p> +<p>'Tis known that I took full enough</p> +<p>Of the apothecaries' stuff</p> +<p>To have prolong'd life's busy feast</p> +<p>To a full century at least;</p> +<p>But spite of all the doctors' skill,</p> +<p>Of daily draught and nightly pill,</p> +<p>Reader, as sure as you're alive,</p> +<p>I was sent here at twenty-five.</p> + </div> </div> + +<hr /> + +<h3>FOR ALL FAMILIES.</h3> + +<p class="center">This Day, Second Edition, price 5s.</p> + +<p class="center">FAMILY MANUAL and SERVANTS' GUIDE,</p> + +<p>With upwards of One Thousand New and Approved +Receipts, arranged and adapted for Families +and all Classes of Servants.</p> + +<p>"We shall recommend this book every where, +if it were only for the sake of the excellent suggestions +on the 'self-improvement' of house-servants."—<i>Gardeners' +Magazine</i>, June 1830.</p> + +<p>"It should find a place in the kitchen or servants' +hall of those who desire to blend comfort +with elegance, and prudence with luxury."—<i>New +Monthly Magazine</i>, Feb. 1831.</p> + +<p>"This book contains a mass of information +that cannot fail to be useful in the conduct of +household affairs."—<i>Atlas</i>, May 22.</p> + +<p>"No servant should he without it."—<i>Morning +Advertiser</i>, April 27.</p> + +<p class="center">Printed for JOHN LIMBIRD, 143. Strand.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b><a href="#footnotetag1"> (return) </a><p>Ballot Newspaper.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b><a href="#footnotetag2"> (return) </a><p>It must not be supposed that the opinion on +the immortality of the soul was confined either +to Christians or Jews; according to Herodotus, +(lib. 2) the Massagetae believed in the immortality +of the soul; the most eminent of the ancient +philosophers invariably advocated that doctrine, +one of the most important in the Christian's +Creed.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a><b>Footnote 3:</b><a href="#footnotetag3"> (return) </a><p>Felibien, Histoire de Paris, tome i.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a><b>Footnote 4:</b><a href="#footnotetag4"> (return) </a><p>The observations of Nathaniel Bacon, or +rather of Selden from whose MS. notes he is +said to have written his book, deserve serious +consideration. Bacon on the Laws and Government +of England, chap. 27.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a><b>Footnote 5:</b><a href="#footnotetag5"> (return) </a><p>Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, +Flint, Carnarvon, Anglesea and Merioneth.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a><b>Footnote 6:</b><a href="#footnotetag6"> (return) </a><p>Radnor, Brecknock, Montgomery, and Denbigh, +27 Henry 8 c. 26.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a><b>Footnote 7:</b><a href="#footnotetag7"> (return) </a><p>34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 26. s. 50.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote8" name="footnote8"></a><b>Footnote 8:</b><a href="#footnotetag8"> (return) </a><p>34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 13.—"That the said +county have hitherto been excluded from the +high court of parliament, to have any knights +and burgesses within the said court, by reason +whereof the inhabitants have sustained manifold +damages in their lands, goods, and bodies, as +well as in the good governance of the commonwealth +of their said country; and for as much as +they have been bound by the acts of the said +court, and yet have had no knights and burgesses +therein, for lack whereof they have been +often touched and grieved by the acts of the said +parliament, prejudicial to the commonwealth, +quietness, rest, and peace of your highness's +bounden subjects, inhabiting within the said +county," &c.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote9" name="footnote9"></a><b>Footnote 9:</b><a href="#footnotetag9"> (return) </a><p>See <i>Mirror</i>, vol. xvi. p. 253.</p></blockquote> +<hr class="full" /> + +<p><i>Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, +Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; sold +by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, +Leipsic; G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. +Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen and +Booksellers.</i></p> +<hr class="full" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13090 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/13090-h/images/494-1.png b/13090-h/images/494-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..03a744f --- /dev/null +++ b/13090-h/images/494-1.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e3d4ea --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #13090 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13090) diff --git a/old/13090-8.txt b/old/13090-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3f79f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13090-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1935 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, No. 494., by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 494. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: August 2, 2004 [EBook #13090] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Victoria Woosley and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + + + +No. 494.] SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1831. [Price 2d. + + + +[Illustration.] + + +EXETER HALL, STRAND. + + +We rejoice to see the site of Burleigh House partly occupied by the +above Building. Its object is to afford accommodation for the meetings +of Philanthropic Societies--so that whatever may be the olden +celebrity of the spot, it is reasonable to expect that its present +appropriation will be associated with the most grateful recollections. + +This building is, perhaps, the most perfect erection of its kind in +England. The approach from the Strand is remarkably modest: it is by a +very narrow, though very chaste, door-way, situated between two +Corinthian columns and pilasters. Within the door is a hall, with two +flights of steps, which afterwards unite, and lead up to the entrance +of the great hall itself; the hall below leads into a broad passage, +which extends to the farther extremity of the building, opening right +and left into various offices. On entering the door of the great hall, +a vast and splendid room is presented to view, with scarcely a single +interruption to the eye throughout its whole extent, capable of +containing, with comfort, more than 3,000 persons. The floor is +covered with substantial oak seats, equal to the accommodation of +2,500 persons. The greater portion of these are situated on a gentle +rise, to permit a perfect view of the platform on which the +proceedings take place. The platform is raised about six feet from the +floor, and extends the whole breadth of the room, curving inwards, the +extremities bending towards the audience: it contains seats for nearly +300 individuals. Behind this gallery again, are very capacious +recesses, which will hold from three to four hundred persons. The +lower part of the walls of the room is quite plain, the architect, +probably, regarding the audience as a sufficient ornament in that +quarter, though the rising of the seats would obscure carved-work if +it were there. The windows are at a considerable height from the +ground, and are of dimmed glass, with a chaste and classical border. +The ceiling, which is at a noble height, is beautifully laid out in +squares, with borderings and rosettes. An oblong opening occurs in the +centre, with massive beams stretching across, presenting to view an +erection in the roof, a form of construction, probably, necessary to +so immense a mass of roofing, and serving also for the purposes of +ventilation, as it contains windows at each end. There are four +pillars near the end of the hall, rising to the ceiling, the capitals +of which, as also those of some pilasters at the upper extremity of +the hall, are exquisitely carved in straw-coloured marble. Behind the +platform are numerous and convenient committee-rooms. The word +"Philadelpheion," which may be rendered "loving brothers," is carved +in Greek capitals over the entrance in the Strand.[1] + +Exeter Hall has been erected by subscription, by a public company +established for the purpose. + + [1] Ballot Newspaper. + + * * * * * + + +WILLS OF SHAKSPEARE, MILTON AND BUONAPARTE. + +(_To the Editor._) + + +The last wills and testaments of the three greatest men of modern ages +are tied up in one sheet of foolscap, and may be seen together at +Doctors Commons. In the will of the "Bard of Avon" is an +interlineation in his own handwriting--"I give unto my wife my brown +best bed, with the furniture." It is proved by William Byrde, 22nd +July, 1616. + +The will of the Minstrel of Paradise is a nuncupative one taken by his +daughter, the great poet being blind. + +The will of Napoleon, to whom future ages, in spite of legitimacy, +will confirm the epithet "le grand," is signed in a bold style of +handwriting; the codicil, on the contrary, written shortly before his +death, exhibits the then weak state of his body. + +T.H.K. + + * * * * * + + +VERNAL STANZAS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + The earth displayed its robe of gorgeous hues, + And o'er the tufted violets softly stole + The downy pinions of the fragrant wind, + Which tuned the brook with music; there were clouds + O'er the blue heaven dispersed in various shapes, + And touch'd with most impassive light, whereon + The heart might dwell and dream of future bliss; + And as the sound of distant bells awaked + The echoes of the woods, they raised the thoughts + To worlds more bright and beautiful than ours! + + G.R.C. + + The spring has waved her sunny wing + Upon the verdant earth, + And winds from distant, places bring + The festal tones of mirth; + The sky appears an azure field, + With clouds emblazoned like a shield. + + A golden light has touched the woods, + And o'er the silent dell + A languid breathless quiet broods, + Scarce broken by the swell + Of streams that whisper through the air, + As if they were awaked to pray'r. + + Survey the lovely scene around, + The river beams in gold, + Its rippling waves with song resound, + And rainbow light unfold, + And as the flow'rs unclose their eyes, + Their hue seems coloured by the skies. + + The mould'ring church on yonder slope, + Perchance by heaven designed + To consecrate the heart with hope, + In ivy-wreaths is shrined: + Its rural tombs are green with age, + And types of earthly pilgrimage. + + On this delightful vernal day, + In scenes so rich and fair, + The spirit feels a hallow'd ray + Kindling its essence there; + And Fancy haunts the mourner's urn, + "With thoughts that breathe, and words that burn." + +_Deal._ G.R.C. + + * * * * * + + +POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + All power of fancy over reason is a degree of + insanity.--JOHNSON. + + +In a former number I gave some observations on apparitions, and I +shall here continue my remarks. + +The argument that was used by Dr. Johnson was founded on premises +that are as inadmissible as his conclusion, viz. that the popular +opinion in favour of the reality of apparitions could only obtain +universal credence by its truth. This is very plausible, but destitute +of foundation. Does the learned doctor mean to deny the universality +of errors? does he mean to call the whole body of the learned and +enlightened cavillers? and that because they are not willing to +consent to his monstrous opinion? To reverse the argument, does he +mean to deny the truth of the Scriptures, or is he bold enough to +assert that they have received universal credence? So much for the +arguments wielded by Dr. Johnson, who has not been unaptly termed the +Colossus of Literature. The idea that departed spirits revisited the +earth, probably took its rise from the opinion of the immortality of +the soul, which was very general in both ancient and modern times.[2] +This supposition is most consonant with probability. It is always to +be remarked that this species of superstition is most prevalent in +those countries where learning and reason have made but little +progress. The demons [Greek: Daimones] and genii of former times were +exactly the same as the ghosts of this; the same attributes, the same +power, and the same malice were observed of one, as are now attributed +to the other. By the Chaldeans these demons were divided into two +kinds, good and bad. But as it is foreign to my purpose to enter into +an investigation of the opinions of the ancients on this subject, I +shall content myself with referring the curious reader to Stanley's +_History of Philosophy_, a deservedly popular work. + + [2] It must not be supposed that the opinion on the + immortality of the soul was confined either to Christians or + Jews; according to Herodotus, (lib. 2) the Massagetae believed + in the immortality of the soul; the most eminent of the + ancient philosophers invariably advocated that doctrine, one + of the most important in the Christian's Creed. + +I shall here recount one of the most extraordinary tales relating to +this subject that I ever heard; I believe the solution is evident, and +I am not aware that it has appeared before; but if it has, some of the +readers of the Mirror may not have seen it. + +A surgeon of Edinburgh was confined to his bed by some illness, and at +"the dewy hour of eve," when the room was lighted by nothing but the +glimmering and flickering light of a wood fire, he perceived _a female +sitting at the foot of the bed clothed in white_! Imagining that it +was some defect in his sight, he gazed more intensely at it, still it +was there. He then raised his hand before his eyes and he did not +perceive it; on withdrawing it the apparition was there. Closing his +eyes he went through a mathematical calculation to convince himself he +was in his right senses; upon reopening them he still perceived her +there. The fire then went out and he saw no more. I confess I see no +difficulty in accounting for this, by supposing the gentleman was +afflicted with that horrid disease of which Sir Walter Scott gives +many cases in his _Demonology and Witchcraft._ Although I have no +warrant for asserting spirits do not return, yet I must say, all the +tales I have ever heard do not necessarily require any such +interpretation on them. It may be true, and so may everything which we +have no evidence against or for. If my opinion on the subject was to +be shaken by anything, it would be with the following story, which was +given to me by one whose veracity I have no reason to doubt. + +There is, or rather was, a very ancient castle in Lancashire, near +Liverpool, called Castle de Bergh, which belongs to a noble family of +that name. Many years ago the possessor of the castle, Mr. de Burgh, +died, and the castle was then let out to various of the tenantry, +among whom was a carpenter. Two years after the death of Mr. de Burgh, +as this carpenter was employed in his workshop, about a quarter of a +mile from the castle, melting glue, it being evening, and only four of +his men with him, he perceived a gentleman in mourning passing the +lathe where the men were at work. He was immediately seized with a +violent trembling and weakness, his hair stood on end, and a clammy +sweat spread over his forehead. The lights were put out, he knew not +how, and at last, in fear and terror, he was obliged to return home. +On his arrival at the castle, as he was passing up the stairs, he +heard a footstep behind, and on turning round he perceived the same +apparition. He hastily entered his room, and bolted, locked, and +barred the door, but to his horror and surprise this offered no +impediment to his ghostly visiter, for the door sprang open at his +touch, and he entered the room! The apparition was seen by various +others, all of whom asserted it bore the strongest resemblance to +their deceased master! One gentleman spoke to him, and the spirit told +him "that he was not happy." + +_Foley Place._ AN ANTIQUARY. + + * * * * * + + +LINES. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Upon the silent grassy bed, + Shall maiden's tears at eve be shed, + And friendship's self shall often there + Heave the sigh, and breathe the pray'r. + Young flowers of spring around shall bloom, + And summer's roses deck thy tomb. + The primrose ope its modest breast + Where thy lamented ashes rest, + And cypress branches lowly bend + Where thy lov'd form with clay shall blend. + The silver willow darkly wave + Above thy unforgotten grave, + And woodbine leaves will fondly creep, + Where * * lies in holy sleep. + +_Sturminster._ COLBOURNE. + + * * * * * + + +PARLIAMENTARY SCRAPS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +Lord Coke, in his fourth institute, defines certain qualities +essentially requisite to constitute a good member of parliament; and +he refers to a parliament roll, 3 Henry VI., which affirms that a +parliament man should have three properties ascribed to the +elephant--1. That he hath no gall; 2. That he is inflexible, and +cannot bow; 3. That he is of a most ripe and perfect memory.--1. To be +without malice, rancour, heat, and envy;--in elephante melancholia +transit in nutrimentum corporis: every gallish inclination, if any +were, should tend to the good of the whole body--the commonwealth. 2. +That he be constant, inflexible, and not be bowed, or turned from the +right, either from fear, reward, or favour; not in judgment respect +any person. 3. That in remembering perils past, dangers to come may be +prevented. + +To these, addition is made by Lord Coke of two other properties of +elephants: the one, that though they be maximæ virtutis et maximi +intellectus, of great strength and understanding, _tamen gregatim +semper incedunt_, yet they are sociable, and go in companies; for +_animalia gregalia non sunt nociva, sed animalia solivaga sunt +nociva_: sociable creatures that go in flocks or herds are not +hurtful--as deer, sheep, &c.; but beasts that walk solely or +singularly, as bears, foxes, &c., are dangerous and hurtful. The other +property is, that the elephant is philanthropos, homini erranti viam +ostendit. And, in the opinion of Coke, these properties ought every +parliament man to have. + +Neither the ancient nor modern election statutes mention, or imply, +the existence of a "candidate." The old laws direct that the +representative shall be freely and indifferently chosen by the +electors. The choice was of their own motion, and the person elected +was passive. Even at the present day, the law does not contemplate his +asking for votes, and therefore does not allow, after the issuing of +the writ, sufficient time for a regular canvass. The term "candidate" +had its derivation from the person being _candidatus,_ clothed in +white, as symbolical of the wearer's purity. + +James I. issued a proclamation, in which the voters for members of +parliament are directed "not to choose curious and wrangling lawyers, +who seek reputation by stirring needless questions." + +At the Sussex election, in 1807, an elector, named Morton, voted in +right of his patrimonial land at Rusper, which had been in possession +of his ancestors 750 years. + +W.G.C. + + * * * * * + + +SONNET + +TO AN EOLIN HARP, HEARD AT EVENING. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Soft breathings of aerial melody, + Ye seem like love-songs from the elfin land, + Or soundings from that heaven-commissioned band, + Ushering the good man to the bliss on high. + Now swells the chorus full, anon ye die + Away upon the breeze, so soft and bland + Melting on evening's ear. Sure Love's own hand + In kindest mood hath wrought this minstrelsy. + How to the lorn heart does its influence creep, + As the wild winds sweep o'er the fairy strings, + Bringing again departed, perish'd things, + O'er which we feel it luxury to weep. + Sing on ye zephyr-sprites, your vespers cheer + The heart, whose off'ring is a holy tear. + +_Sturminster._ COLBOURNE. + + * * * * * + + + +THE COSMOPOLITE. + +HINTS FOR SELF-ADVANCEMENT; OR, HOW TO MAKE ONE'S WAY IN THE WORLD. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +When you visit married people, pay particular attention to their +children: the more noisy, troublesome, and disagreeable they are, the +more is it incumbent upon you to praise them. Should the baby +entertain you with a passionate squall for an hour or two, vow that it +is "a charming child"--"a sweet pet"--"a dear, pretty, little +creature," &c. &c. Call red hair auburn, and "a sweet, uncommon +colour;" a squint, or cross-eye, think "an agreeable expression;" +maintain that an ugly child is extremely handsome, and the image +either of one or other of its parents, or of its handsomest, +wealthiest, or most aristocratic relations. Discover which of a +family is mamma's, and which papa's favourite, and pay your court +accordingly; for it is better to lavish, in this case, your attentions +and encomiums upon one or two, than upon all. + +When requiring an introduction to any great people, scruple not to +avail yourself of the services of the little; but when mounted as high +as you please, by all means kick down your ladders, cast away your +stepping stones--since they might, instead of being of any further +assistance, only prove incumbrances to you. + +Take every opportunity of joining in conversation with those to whom +you desire to recommend yourself. Should you feel at a loss for topics +of discourse, mention servants, and tradesmen, upon whom fail not to +bestow most hearty abuse;--vow that they are an unprincipled set of +knaves, scoundrels, and thieves. Hence you will be thought to have +"much to say for yourself;" and should you be enabled to narrate any +grievous losses sustained from these members of society, you will +obtain credit for having "something to lose" at any rate, and find it +of incalculable value. + +When you direct a letter to a knight bachelor--though it is indeed +customary and well-bred to omit altogether the Knt.--yet it will never +be taken amiss should you venture to address him as a Knight of the +Garter, Bath, &c. &c., or even as a Baronet. Undoubtedly it is as +vulgar to misapprehend and confound titles, as it is to mispronounce +and misspell names; nevertheless rest assured, that flattered vanity +will go far to pardon vulgarity. + +If a gentleman, pay infinite attention to the single ladies of a +family--compliment, flirt, converse with, and ask them to dance. This +conduct will obtain for you, on account of the fair creatures, +marvellous good report, numerous invitations; and if you have +sufficient tact to steer clear of committing yourself for more than a +few flattering and general attentions, you may be considered one of +the happiest of those who live--by their wits, and upon their friends. + +Should your "dancing days be over," which is scarcely probable, +considering how greatly it is now the fashion for "potent, grave, and +reverend signors," and signoras also, to join the gay quadrille, &c. +(and here we may as well note, that in genteel society, dowager +honourables and old ladies may dance, whilst young, plain misses may +not)--there are sundry modes of rendering yourself agreeable, which +your own taste and talents, it is to be presumed, will naturally +suggest: chess, whist, ecarté, quadrille, &c. &c., not to mention a +little practical knowledge of music, are acquirements which cause an +individual to be considered "very agreeable"--because very useful; and +rely upon it, as the world goes, utility in nine cases out of ten is, +with society, a consideration. Hence, no creature is so universally +voted disagreeable as one from whom no kind of service can be exacted; +and whilst roués, gamesters, and tipplers, duelists, pugilists, and +blacklegs, are tolerated in society, stupid men are overlooked, or +thrust out of it with contempt. + +Dress in the extreme of fashion: you can neither gain nor maintain +your ground without so doing; and as you have an end to answer, which +your tailors or milliners have not, of course you will not suffer the +unfashionable dictates of conscience, respecting their bills, to +interfere with your proceedings. + +Answer an invitation as soon as it is received; many individuals defer +so doing for some days, which certainly shows fashionable ease and +nonchalance, besides allowing time for the arrival of another and +preferable one; but, by those who are absolutely bent upon advancing +themselves in society, this practice is to be eschewed, since by +perplexing, it so annoys the donor of a fête, that the chances are +greatly against your ever again being asked. + +Never omit, the day after a party, to send or leave your card, as an +acknowledgment for the civility you have received. This ceremony, +indeed, it is to your interest frequently to repeat at the doors of +your friends, since it will ensure your never being forgotten by them. + +Never go to an evening party until you are pretty certain that +everybody else is coming away. Your consequence will by this conduct +be enhanced;--you may protest that you have already appeared at two or +three balls, &c. When, if a student or fashionable novel-writer, your +time may have been more rationally employed at home, you go too late +to dance much, if the exercise, or rather the partners, be +disagreeable to you; you ensure being seen, which is something,--for, +alas! how many worthy aspirants to fashion, fortune, and fame, if of +no actual importance, are fated to pass unnoticed in a crowd! and the +opportunity is besides afforded you of paying almost undivided +attention to your host, hostess, and family, which must materially +advance your interests. Neither be in too great haste to quit the +houses of those to whom you desire to recommend yourself. Parties, +even the worst, cost both money and trouble; and whilst the givers of +them feel it no compliment to be run away from, as if a pestilence +raged in their habitations, it is positively insulting to inform them +that another soiree, from which you hope better things, awaits your +presence. + +If a lady, "set up for a beauty:" rely upon it, no persons will "cry +you up" as such unless you give them the note. Should you be extremely +plain, no matter; friz your hair until it stands out one English ell +from your face, and mount it, in bows, braids, &c., three yards at +least from the crown of your head; drawl, or lisp in your speech; +bring out words and phrases from every living tongue with which you +may happen to be slightly acquainted; boast of "the continent;" mince +your gait; wriggle forward upon your toes when you walk; and swim and +dip, whenever led into the atrocity of committing a _quad_-rille. In +brief, give yourself unimaginable airs; then protest that your +manners, as well as your costume, are of the newest Parisian mode--and +it is ten to one but that affectation will be accepted in lieu of, or +mistaken for, beauty. + +Never forget, that as it is sometimes very prudent to be deaf and dumb +in society, so is it extremely convenient upon occasions to be blind. +The cuts, direct and oblique--the looks at, and the looks over--the +distant, formal bow, and the adroit turn upon the heel (should you +perceive the party, intended to be cut for the time being at least, +advancing with dire intent of obliging a recognition), may be, +especially upon old and provincial friends, practised _ad libitum_, +without the slightest danger of your character for etiquette, +politeness, suavity, and general pleasantness, being impeached. Indeed +it is not incompatible with the highest breeding, to allow your +slighted and amazed acquaintance to hear you quizzing, and see you +laughing at, him heartily, should it be your interest so to do; and +then next day, to walk boldly up to him, protest he is the best fellow +in the world; and should he be so senseless as to venture an allusion +to your "late conduct," to vow, with the extremest audacity, that he +happens to be under some evident and deplorable mistake, &c. &c. In +short, should you really find yourself in a scrape, to back out of it +as well as you are able. + +When at a ball, it may sometimes be to your advantage (though +fashionable insolence should not be carried too far) to act in the +following manner:-- + +1. Ask a lady if she is engaged to dance. Should she answer "No," +whilst her eyes say "Yes, if you will be my partner," then, instead of +offering yourself for that purpose, protest that "dancing is a mighty +bore, which no gentleman would endure, could he possibly help it," and +walk away. + +2. Having elicited from a lady that she is not engaged for the ensuing +dance, exclaim, with a smile of triumph, "I am! and must go and find +my partner." + +3. When conversing with one young lady, whom you do not design to +compliment by leading out for waltz, quadrille, or galoppe, mazurka, +or Russian cotillon, &c., take particular care, in her hearing, to +engage yourself to another. This is equally kind and polite. + +4. Upon the conclusion of a dance, either leave your partner standing +in the middle of the room--which I have beheld performed with +admirable effect---or, hastily leading her to a seat, quit her +instantly: which proceeding says, in plain English, "Lady, I would not +stay another moment with you for anything that could be offered me, +lest the world should choose to fancy we are engaged." + +Respecting giving and lending, which are sometimes necessary worldly +duties, your guide must be this brief, but infallible rule--"Venture a +small fish to catch a large one." Those antiquated beings, indeed, +whom the polite style "horrid bores," but whose generic appellation is +Christians, are accustomed to "lend and give, not hoping to receive;" +yet this maxim cannot of course be supposed to influence the conduct +of those who desire to advance themselves in the world, because they +are bound to bear in mind, that they cannot admit of any principle of +action which tends, in the slightest degree, to militate against their +interest.--_Et caetera desunt._ + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NATURALIST. + +THE WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. + +(_Concluded from page 389._) + + +The intrepidity of character, before mentioned, may be farther +illustrated by the following fact, which occurred a few years ago, +near Great Egg Harbour, New Jersey. A woman, who happened to be +weeding in the garden, had set her child down near, to amuse itself +while she was at work; when a sudden and extraordinary rushing sound, +and a scream from her child, alarmed her, and starting up, she beheld +the infant thrown down, and dragged some few feet, and a large bald +eagle bearing off a fragment of its frock, which being the only part +seized, and giving way, providentially saved the life of the infant. + +The appetite of the bald eagle, though habituated to long fasting, is +of the most voracious and often the most indelicate kind. Fish, when +he can obtain them, are preferred to all other fare. Young lambs and +pigs are dainty morsels, and made free with on all favourable +occasions. Ducks, geese, gulls, and other sea fowl, are also seized +with avidity. The most putrid carrion, when nothing better can be had, +is acceptable; and the collected groups of gormandizing vultures, on +the approach of this dignified personage, instantly disperse, and make +way for their master, waiting his departure in sullen silence, and at +a respectful distance, on the adjacent trees. + +In one of those partial migrations of tree squirrels that sometimes +take place in our western forests, many thousands of them were +destroyed in attempting to cross the Ohio; and at a certain place, not +far from Wheeling, a prodigious number of their dead bodies were +floated to the shore by an eddy. Here the vultures assembled in great +force, and had regailed themselves for some time, when a bald eagle +made his appearance, and took sole possession of the premises, keeping +the whole vultures at their proper distance for several days. He has +also been seen navigating the same river on a floating carrion, though +scarcely raised above the surface of the water, and tugging at the +carcass, regardless of snags, sawyers, planters, or shallows. He +sometimes carries his tyranny to great extremes against the vultures. +In hard times, when food happens to be scarce, should he accidentally +meet with one of these who has its craw crammed with carrion, he +attacks it fiercely in the air; the cowardly vulture instantly +disgorges, and the delicious contents are snatched up by the eagle +before they reach the ground. + +The nest of this species is generally fixed on a very large and lofty +tree, often in a swamp or morass, and difficult to be ascended. On +some noted tree of this description, often a pine or cypress, the bald +eagle builds, year after year, for a long series of years. When both +male and female have been shot from the nest, another pair has soon +after taken possession. The nest is large, being added to and repaired +every season, until it becomes a black prominent mass, observable at +a considerable distance. It is formed of large sticks, sods, earthy +rubbish, hay, moss, &c. Many have stated to me that the female lays +first a single egg, and that, after having sat on it for some time, +she lays another; when the first is hatched, the warmth of that, it is +pretended, hatches the other. Whether this be correct or not, I cannot +determine; but a very respectable gentleman of Virginia assured me, +that he saw a large tree cut down, containing the nest of a bald +eagle, in which were two young, one of which appeared nearly three +times as large as the other. As a proof of their attachment to their +young, a person near Norfolk informed me, that, in clearing a piece of +wood on his place, they met with a large dead pine tree, on which was +a bald eagle's nest and young. The tree being on fire more than half +way up, and the flames rapidly ascending, the parent eagle darted +around and among the flames, until her plumage was so much injured +that it was with difficulty she could make her escape, and even then, +she several times attempted to return to relieve her offspring. + +The flight of the bald eagle, when taken into consideration with the +ardour and energy of his character, is noble and interesting. +Sometimes the human eye can just discern him, like a minute speck, +moving in slow curvatures along the face of the heavens, as if +reconnoitering the earth at that immense distance. Sometimes he glides +along in a direct horizontal line, at a vast height, with expanded and +unmoving wings, till he gradually disappears in the distant blue +ether. Seen gliding in easy circles over the high shores and +mountainous cliffs that tower above the Hudson and Susquehanna, he +attracts the eye of the intelligent voyager, and adds great interest +to the scenery. At the great Cataract of Niagara, already mentioned, +there rises from the gulf into which the Falls of the Horse-Shoe +descend, a stupendous column of smoke, or spray, reaching to the +heavens, and moving off in large black clouds, according to the +direction of the wind, forming a very striking and majestic +appearance. The eagles are here seen sailing about, sometimes losing +themselves in this thick column, and again reappearing in another +place, with such ease and elegance of motion, as renders the whole +truly sublime. + + High o'er the watery uproar, silent seen, + Sailing sedate in majesty serene, + Now midst the pillar'd spray sublimely lost, + And now, emerging, down the Rapids tost, + Glides the bald eagle, gazing, calm and slow, + O'er all the horrors of the scene below; + Intent alone to sate himself with blood, + From the torn victims of the raging flood. + +The white-headed eagle is three feet long, and seven feet in extent; +the bill is of a rich yellow; cere the same, slightly tinged with +green; mouth flesh-coloured; tip of the tongue, bluish black; the +head, chief part of the neck, vent, tail coverts, and tail, are white +in the perfect, or old birds of both sexes, in those under three years +of age these parts are of a gray brown; the rest of the plumage is +deep, dark brown, each feather tipt with pale brown, lightest on the +shoulder of the wing, and darkest towards its extremities. The +conformation of the wing is admirably adapted for the support of so +large a bird; it measures two feet in breadth on the greater quills, +and sixteen inches on the lesser; the longest primaries are twenty +inches in length, and upwards of one inch in circumference where they +enter the skin; the broadest secondaries are three inches in breadth +across the vane; the scapulars are very large and broad, spreading +from the back to the wing, to prevent the air from passing through; +another range of broad flat feathers, from three to ten inches in +length, also extend from the lower part of the breast to the wing +below, for the same purpose; between these lies a deep triangular +cavity; the thighs are remarkably thick, strong, and muscular, covered +with long feathers pointing backwards, usually called the femoral +feathers; the legs, which are covered half way below the knee, before, +with dark brown downy feathers, are of a rich yellow, the colour of +ripe Indian corn; feet the same; claws blue black, very large and +strong, particularly the inner one, which is considerably the largest; +soles, very rough and warty; the eye is sunk, under a bony, or +cartilaginous projection, of a pale yellow colour, and is turned +considerably forwards, not standing parallel with the cheeks, the iris +is of a bright straw colour, pupil black. + +The male is generally two or three inches shorter than the female; the +white on the head, neck, and tail being more tinged with yellowish, +and its whole appearance less formidable; the brown plumage is also +lighter, and the bird itself less daring than the female, a +circumstance common to almost all birds of prey. + +The eagle is said to live to a great age--sixty, eighty, and, as some +assert, one hundred years. This circumstance is remarkable, when we +consider the seeming intemperate habits of the bird. Sometimes +fasting, through necessity, for several days, and at other times +gorging itself with animal food till its craw swells out the plumage +of that part, forming a large protuberance on the breast. This, +however, is its natural food, and for these habits its whole +organization is particularly adapted. It has not, like men, invented +rich wines, ardent spirits, and a thousand artificial poisons, in the +form of soups, sauces, and sweetmeats. Its food is simple, it indulges +freely, uses great exercise, breathes the purest air, is healthy, +vigorous, and long lived. The lords of the creation themselves might +derive some useful hints from these facts, were they not already, in +general, too wise, or too proud, to learn from their _inferiors,_ the +fowls of the air and beasts of the field. + + * * * * * + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + +THE LATE MRS. SIDDONS. + + +The subsequent account of Mrs. Siddons, nearly fifty years since, will +perhaps give the reader a better outline of that "Queen of Tragedy" +than any that has since appeared. We ought to mention that it is +quoted from Mr. Boaden's _Memoirs_, and was written on the appearance +of Mrs. Siddons in the character of Isabella, for the first time in +London, October 10, 1782. Mr. Boaden thus introduces the quotation, in +vol. i. of his work:-- + +As the person of our great actress has undergone some change, and her +features by time became stronger, I should find it difficult now to +describe her accurately by memory, as she stood before the audience on +the night of the 10th of October. I am relieved from this difficulty +by an account of her written at the time. I shall change only a few of +the expressions then used, more from a feeling as to composition than +alteration as to sentiment. + +There never, perhaps, was a better stage-figure than that of Mrs. +Siddons. Her height is above the middle size, but not at all inclined +to the _em-bon-point_. There is, notwithstanding, nothing sharp or +angular in the frame; there is sufficient muscle to bestow a roundness +upon the limbs, and her attitudes are, therefore, distinguished +equally by energy and grace. The symmetry of her person is exact and +captivating. Her face is peculiarly happy, the features being finely +formed, though strong, and never for an instant seeming overcharged, +like the Italian faces, nor coarse and unfeminine under whatever +impulse; on the contrary, it is so thoroughly harmonized when +quiescent, and so expressive when impassioned, that most people think +her more beautiful than she is; so great, too, is the flexibility of +her countenance, that the rapid transitions of passion are given with +a variety and effect that never tire upon the eye. Her voice is +naturally plaintive, and a tender melancholy in her level speaking +denotes a being devoted to tragedy; yet this seemingly settled quality +of voice becomes at will sonorous or piercing, overwhelms with rage, +or in its wild shriek absolutely harrows up the soul. Her sorrow, too, +is never childish--her lamentation has a dignity which belongs, I +think, to no other woman: it claims your respect along with your +tears. Her eye is brilliant and varying like the diamond; it is +singularly well placed; "it _pries_," in Shakspeare's language, +"through the portal of the head," and has every aid from brows +flexible beyond all female parallel, contracting to disdain, or +dilating with the emotions of sympathy, or pity, or anguish. Her +memory is tenacious and exact--her articulation clear and +distinct--her pronunciation systematic and refined. + +Nor has Nature been partially bountiful: she has endowed her with a +quickness of conception, and a strength of understanding equal to the +proper use of such extraordinary gifts. So entirely is she mistress of +herself, so collected, and so determined in gestures, tone, and +manner, that she seldom errs, like other actors, because she doubts +her powers or comprehension. She studies her author attentively, +conceives justly, and describes with a firm consciousness of +propriety. She is sparing in her action, because English nature does +not act much; but it is always proper, picturesque, graceful, and +dignified: it arises immediately from the sentiments and feeling, and +is not seen to prepare itself before it begins. No studied trick or +start can be predicted;--no forced tremulation of the figure, where +the vacancy of the eye declares the absence of passion, can be +seen;--no laborious strainings at false climax, in which the tired +voice reiterates one high tone beyond which it cannot reach, is ever +heard;--no artificial heaving of the breasts, so disgusting when the +affectation is perceptible;--none of those arts by which the actress +is seen, and not the character, can be found in Mrs. Siddons. So +natural are her gradations and transitions, so classical and correct +her speech and deportment, and so intensely interesting her voice, +form, and features, that there is no conveying an idea of the pleasure +she communicates by words. She must be seen to be known. What is still +more delightful, she is an original: she copies no one living or dead, +but acts from nature and herself. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + +THE TWO MUNCHAUSENS. + +_By a veteran._ + + +In the late ---- Regiment of Light Dragoons, were two worthy persons, +who were denominated the regimental liars: a distinction to which, +giving every man his due, they were eminently entitled. The great and +fundamental requisites for accomplished lying, I conceive to be a good +memory, a fertile fancy, a ready wit, fluency of speech, and a brazen +countenance, so that you shall tell a man a most bare-faced falsehood, +and afterwards adduce such connected proofs as especially characterize +actual facts. The following dialogue is a specimen of the talents of +the aforementioned mendacious personages. + +C.--"See a man walk after he was shot dead! so have I, a whole day's +march." + +B.--"Come, come, that's stealing a march on our senses. No, no, it +won't do: that's a naked one; do pray turn them out with some kind of +probability covering over them." + +C.--"What, doubt my veracity;" + +B.--"Not for the world; that would be illiberal and unkind, and by the +way, now I think on it, I believe the possibility of a man travelling +without his _cranium,_ for at the battle of Laswaree, during that +desperate contest for British India, I saw a sergeant of the +seventy-sixth shot dead; yet the fellow pursued his antagonist some +hundred yards afterwards, threatening vengeance on the miscreant for +having robbed the service of one of its best men. Finding himself weak +from loss of blood, he deliberately unscrewed his head, threw it +violently at the foe, and took him on the spine; down he tumbled; the +veteran jumped upon him; fearful was the struggle; chest to chest, +fist to fist; at last they joined in the death grapple, and dreadful +indeed was their dying hug." + +C.--"My dear friend, I was an eye witness of the whole transaction. +You have however forgotten the best part of the story. After the +sergeant had well pummelled his enemy, he picked up his head again, +and thrust into a neighbouring great gun: from the want of his +_peepers_ he made a random shot, and killed the horse on which Lord +Lake was riding--his Lordship saluted the sod." + +B.--"I recollect it perfectly; for the nose of the said sergeant +(recognised by sundry carbuncles) was so hard, that the following day +it was extracted from the abdomen of the unfortunate animal." + +C.--"You make a mistake about the nose; it was discovered lodged in a +loaf in a corporal's knapsack; the man could swear to it, for it was +perforated by three balls, and otherwise curiously marked. Report said +that a shell had once blown it completely off, and that it was +stitched on again by a shoe-maker, who, ever after, went by the name +of the _nosy_ cobbler." + +B.--"Nothing impossible. It reminds me of a story somewhat as strange: +During the battle of Delhi there was a quarter-master in the regiment, +a queer fellow, who was never at a loss; (he is now in the corps, and +can vouch for my statement) he was charging at the head of his +squadron, when he caught a cannon shot in his hands: instantly +dismounting, he chucked the ball into a field-piece, but, for want of +a ramrod, he drove it home with his head. One of the enemy, seeing him +thus zealously occupied, fired off the gun; strange to tell he was not +killed! From constant exposure to the sun, in search of toddy, and +from the free use of cocoa-nut oil, his head had become proof against +shot. The distance from the place whence he was projected, to that +where he was picked up, measured three miles, two furlongs, three +yards, and eleven inches. A hard-headed fellow, Sir.--In his career he +upset his colonel and a brace of captains." + +C.--"He did; and where the colonel was capsized, he made such a hole +by his enormous weight, that the sovereign of Delhi ordered a large +well to be dug on the spot, in memory of the event." + +B.--"I remember the well--twelve feet, three inches and a half, was +the exact depth of the excavation occasioned by the fall." + +C.--"There you are wrong; only eleven feet, three inches--" + +B.--"No, believe me, I am right; twelve feet, and three inches to a +barleycorn." + +C.--"Never mind: a little, this way or that, is of no consequence. +The most extraordinary thing was, that the gallant colonel only +sprained his right arm." + +B.--"By no means extraordinary. You remember the great gun of Agra, in +which a regiment of cavalry used to drill." + +C--"I do. The one that fired the stone ball to the wall of Futtipoore +Sikrah--twenty miles." + +B.--"The same. Well, when that gun was fired, a thing that never +occurred but once, the head of the rash man who fired it was +afterwards found in the Old Woman's Tank, eleven miles from the spot, +without so much as a blemish, except a slight singing of the right +whisker." + +C.--"Ah! I can never forget the time; I had just landed in Calcutta +when we heard the report. Some of the wadding went as far as +Cawnpore." + +Here the trumpet, sounding for morning drill, put a stop to the +colloquy.--_Englishman's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +THE MISER'S GRAVE. + +BY THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD. + + + Here's a lesson for the earth-born worm, + So deep engraven on the meagre platen + Of human frailty, so debased in hue, + That he who dares peruse it needs but blush + For his own nature. The poor shrivell'd wretch, + For whose lean carcass yawns this hideous pit, + Had naught that he desired in earth or heaven-- + No God, no Saviour, but that sordid pelf, + O'er which he starved and gloated. I have seen him + On the exchange, or in the market-place + When money was in plenteous circulation, + Gaze after it with such Satanic looks + Of eagerness, that I have wonder'd oft + How he from theft and murder could refrain. + 'Twas cowardice alone withheld his hands, + For they would grasp and grapple at the air, + When his grey eye had fixed on heaps of gold, + While his clench'd teeth, and grinning, yearning face, + Were dreadful to behold. The merchants oft + Would mark his eye, then start and look again, + As at the eye of basilisk or snake. + His eye of greyish green ne'er shed one ray + Of kind benignity or holy light + On aught beneath the sun. Childhood, youth, beauty, + To it had all one hue. Its rays reverted + Right inward, back upon the greedy heart + On which the gnawing worm of avarice + Preyed without ceasing, straining every sense + To that excruciable and yearning core. + Some thirteen days agone, he comes to me, + And after many sore and mean remarks + On men's rapacity and sordid greed, + He says, "Gabriel, thou art an honest man, + As the world goes. How much, then, will you charge + And make a grave for me, fifteen feet deep?"-- + "We'll talk of that when you require it, sir." + "No, no. I want it made, and paid for too; + I'll have it settled, else I know there will + Be some unconscionable overcharge + On my poor friends--a ruinous overcharge."-- + "But, sir, were it made now, it would fill up + Each winter to the brim, and be to make + Twenty or thirty times, if you live long." "There! + there it is! Nothing but imposition! + Even Time must rear his stern, unyielding front, + And holding out his shrivelled skeleton hand, + Demands my money. Naught but money! money! + Were I coin'd into money I could not + Half satisfy that craving greed of money. + Well, how much do you charge? I'll pay you now, + And take a bond from you that it be made + When it is needed. Come, calculate with reason-- + Work's very cheap; and two good men will make + That grave at two days' work: and I can have + Men at a shilling each--_without_ the meat-- + That's a great matter! Let them but to meat, + 'Tis utter ruin. I'll give none their meat-- + That I'll beware of. Men now-a-days are cheap, + Cheap, dogcheap, and beggarly fond of work. + One shilling each a-day, _without_ the meat. + Mind that, and ask in reason; for I wish + To have that matter settled to my mind."-- + "Sir, there's no man alive will do't so cheap + As I shall do it for the ready cash," + Says I, to put him from it with a joke. + "I'll charge you, then, one-fourth part of a farthing + For every cubic foot of work I do, + Doubling the charge each foot that I descend." + "Doubling as you descend! Why, that of course. + A quarter of a farthing each square foot-- + No meat, remember! Not an inch of meat, + Nor drink, nor dram. You're not to trust to these. + Wilt stand that bargain, Gabriel?"--"I accept." + He struck it, quite o'erjoy'd. We sought the clerk, + Sign'd--seal'd. He drew his purse. The clerk went on + Figuring and figuring. "What a fuss you make! + 'Tis plain," said he, "the sum is eighteen-pence"-- + "'Tis somewhat more, sir," said the civil clerk-- + And held out the account. "Two hundred round, + And gallant payment over." The Miser's face + Assumed the cast of death's worst lineaments. + His skinny jaws fell down upon his breast; + He tried to speak, but his dried tongue refused + Its utterance, and cluck'd upon the gum. + His heart-pipes whistled with a crannell'd sound; + His knell-knees plaited, and his every bone + Seem'd out of joint. He raved--he cursed--he wept-- + But payment he refused. I have my bond, + Not yet a fortnight old, and shall be paid. + It broke the Miser's heart. He ate no more, + Nor drank, nor spake, but groan'd until he died; + This grave kill'd him, and now yearns for his bones. + But worse than all. 'Tis twenty years and more + Since he brought home his coffin. On that chest + His eye turn'd ever and anon. It minded him, + He said, of death. And as be sat by night + Beside his beamless hearth, with blanket round + His shivering frame, if burst of winter wind + Made the door jangle, or the chimney moan, + Or crannied window whistle, he would start, + And turn his meagre looks upon that chest; + Then sit upon't, and watch till break of day. + Old wives thought him religious--a good man! + A great repentant sinner, who would leave + His countless riches to sustain the poor. + But mark the issue. Yesterday, at noon, + Two men could scarcely move that ponderous chest + To the bedside to lay the body in. + They broke it sundry, and they found it framed + With double bottom! All his worshipp'd gold + Hoarded between the boards! O such a worm + Sure never writhed beneath the dunghill's base! + Fifteen feet under ground! and all his store + Snug in beneath him. Such a heaven was his. + Now, honest Teddy, think of such a wretch, + And learn to shun his vices, one and all. + Though richer than a Jew, he was more poor + Than is the meanest beggar. At the cost + Of other men a glutton. At his own, + A starveling. A mere scrub. And such a coward, + A cozener and liar--but a coward, + And would have been a thief--But was a coward. + +_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS._ + + +PARIS AND ITS HISTORICAL SCENES. + +(_Library of Entertaining Knowledge, Part 18._) + +We have little inclination to quote more than a few passages from the +General View of Paris in this Number; the topographical portion of +which, (as far as a four months residence there will serve our +judgment) is eminently characteristic. + + +_Ancient City._ + +The Archbishop of Narbonne, writing in the reign of Francis I., (about +1520,) calls Paris even then a world rather than a city[3]; yet at +that period its population was probably not much more than the fifth +part of what it now is; nor did the quantity of ground it covered bear +even the same proportion to the immense space over which it has now +extended. But in both convenience and elegance, Paris has made still +more extraordinary advances since the time of Francis than even in +population and extent. It was then, compared to what it now is, but a +gloomy and incommodious fortress, without even the security which +encompassing fortifications might be supposed to yield. Lighted only +by candles placed here and there by the inhabitants themselves in +their windows, it was so infested by thieves and assassins that hardly +any person ventured out after dark, and the approach of night was the +source of constant terror even to those who remained in their houses. +The streets thus imperfectly lighted, were worse paved; and most of +them were as dirty and narrow as those still to be seen in the more +ancient part of the city. The supply of water was so inadequate that +the severest miseries were sometimes suffered from the absolute want +of that necessary of life, and the greatest inconveniences at all +times from its scarcity. Finally, the public edifices were without +splendour, and even the best of the private houses unprovided with +many of what are now accounted the most indispensable accommodations. +Instead of all this, we behold Paris now one of the very central seats +of civilization; and although still deficient in many of the +accommodations which supply to the necessities of the many instead of +the luxuries of the few, in possession of the greater portion of the +most important provisions which ingenuity has found out, whether for +the comfort or the embellishment of existence. What a contrast between +the French capital of 1831, and that Lutetia of the ancient Parisii, +which Caesar found nearly nineteen hundred years ago occupying the +little island, around which has since extended itself so wide a circle +of wealth, industry, intelligence, and the works which these create! + + [3] Felibien, Histoire de Paris, tome i. + +_Bridges._ + +Paris, stands, like London, on both banks of a river, and is thus cut +into two great divisions, one to the north, and the other to the +south, of the water. The Seine, however, is not nearly so broad as the +Thames; and the northern and southern halves of Paris are not, +therefore, by any means so much separated from each other, either +locally, politically, or socially, as are the corresponding portions +of the English metropolis. They form, in all respects one city. + +The Seine flows in a direction nearly opposite to that of the Thames, +namely, from south-east to north-west. It preserves almost a perfectly +straight course in passing through Paris, except that it bends +considerably to the south immediately before leaving the town. The +river, as it flows through the heart of the city, is interrupted by +three small islands lying in succession, the two most westerly of +which, the Ile de la Cité (otherwise called the Ile du Palais) and the +Ile St. Louis, or de Notre Dame, are covered with streets and houses. +The third, called the Ile Louvier, is used only as a depôt for +fire-wood. The parts of the town on the opposite sides of the river +are connected with each other, and with these islands, by nineteen +bridges, thirteen of which are constructed of stone, and two of stone +and iron: of the others two are chain-bridges, one is built of wood, +and two of wood and iron. Several of these structures, especially the +Pont des Arts, the Pont Louis XVI., and the Pont de Jena, or de +l'Ecole Militaire, all of which are to the west of the Ile du Palais, +are distinguished by their majesty or elegance, and add much beauty +and picturesque effect to the vista of the river. Excepting at one +place where the two branches enclosing the Ile du Palais unite, +immediately to the west of that island, the breadth of the Seine at +Paris is no where greater than about 550 English feet, and at some +points it is not more than half that distance from the one bank to +the other. The bridges, therefore, by which the Seine is traversed, +are not to be compared in point of magnitude with those of the Thames +at London. Even the Pont Neuf, which connects the Ile du Palais with +both the northern and the southern divisions of the city, and +comprehends in fact two bridges, with an intermediate street, is +shorter taken altogether, than Waterloo bridge by more than 200 feet; +and the Pont Louis XVI., which next to the Pont Neuf is the longest of +the Parisian stone bridges, measures only about 485 feet between the +abutments, while Westminster Bridge measures 1223, and Waterloo Bridge +1242 feet. It is in the _number_ of its bridges alone, therefore, that +the Seine is superior to the Thames. + +_The Boulevards._ + +The most remarkable feature in the general appearance of Paris, is the +inner inclosure formed by the celebrated road called the _Boulevards._ +On the north side of the river, the Boulevards follow a line nearly +midway, on an average, between the river and the wall. The space which +they comprehend, therefore, is but a small portion of that included +within the outer boundary of the city. The length of this part of the +road is about 5,200 English yards, or somewhat under three miles. That +on the south side of the river is of far greater extent, approaching, +as it does, throughout its whole sweep, very much closer to the wall, +and in some parts entirely coinciding with it. It measures about +16,000 yards, or above nine miles in length. Each of these lines, +although in reality forming an uninterrupted road from its +commencement to its termination, is divided into a succession of +parts, each having its particular name. The northern Boulevards are +twelve in number, the southern seven. We have nothing in England like +the Parisian Boulevards. They may be generally described as a road or +street, of great breadth, along each side of which are planted double +rows of elms. But these shady avenues do not present merely a picture +of rural beauty. Rising as they do in the heart of a great city, they +partake also of its artificial elegance and splendour, and are +associated with all the luxuries of architectural decoration. +Considered merely as a range of streets, the Boulevards are hardly +rivalled by any other part of Paris. Those to the north of the river +are lined on both sides throughout their whole extent, by buildings +more uniformly handsome than are those of almost any other street in +the city, and by many which may be even described as magnificent. Some +of these are private residences; others are shops, cafés, public +hotels, and theatres. The crowds by whom so many parts of these +Boulevards are frequented chiefly give to the scene its singular +liveliness and brilliancy. The southern Boulevards, though equally +beautiful, are far from being so much the habitual resort of the +citizens; but the walks on this very account, have a charm for some +moods of mind which the others want. Another road, planted in a +similar manner, has more recently been carried round the outside of +the present walls of the city. It is distinguished from the inner +Boulevards by the name of the _Boulevards Extérieurs._ + +_Streets._ + +To a person accustomed to the appearance of the streets of London, or +indeed of any other English town, those of the interior of Paris will +present considerable novelty of aspect. The extreme narrowness, in the +first place, of those in the more ancient parts of the city, and the +great height of the houses, with their windows in many cases fortified +by bars of iron, would alone give them an air of gloom and precaution, +almost sufficient to impress the Englishman who walks through them +with the feeling that he has been transported, not only into another +country, but into another age. Even where these indications of the +more ancient evils of Paris are not visible, the general aspect of the +town shows that it has not grown with the growth of a free people, +amongst whom the inequalities of rank have been softened down by +respect to the comforts of all classes. Under the ancient régime, +which was in full activity half a century ago, there were only two +classes in Paris, the _noblesse_, and the _bourgeoisie_; and the +latter, being driven into the gutters by the carriage-wheels of their +arrogant masters, went by the general name of the _canaille._ Few of +the streets even now have any side pavement for foot passengers--that +invaluable accommodation which gives such perfect security to the +pedestrian even in our most crowded and tumultuous thoroughfare. The +causeway itself, on which walkers and drivers are thus mingled +together in confusion, is often most uneven and rugged. The stones of +which it is formed, about ten inches square, present each a convex +surface, usually wet and slippery, so that under the most favourable +circumstances, walking in the streets of Paris is anything but an +agreeable exercise. Still farther to abridge the level space, the +street is made to incline from both sides towards the centre, in order +to form there a sort of ditch, in which flows a black and fetid +stream. From the want of a proper system of drains, this receptacle of +filth is generally sufficiently replenished even in the driest +weather, to keep the whole street wet and dirty. Carriages, having +usually one wheel in the midst of the kennel, dash about the offensive +puddle in all directions. But the principle of a clear middle way, +such as our English streets possess, is neglected in all the +arrangements connected with those of Paris. Even the lights, instead +of being fixed on posts, as ours are, at the sides, are suspended in +the middle on ropes swung across, and having their opposite ends +fastened to the walls of the houses. It was these ropes which the mob, +in the Revolution of 1789, were wont to make use of as halters for +their victims; whence their famous cry of _á la lanterne_, as they +dragged them along to execution. + +The aspect of Paris by night, except in a few of the principal streets +where gas has been very partially introduced, is singularly gloomy. +The darkness is occasionally relieved by the brilliancy of a café; but +in the more quiet parts of the town, particularly in the fashionable +quarter of the Faubourg St. Germain, it is almost impossible for the +pedestrian to direct his steps aright. It is quite evident that the +arrangements of this capital have not been made for a walking people. +This evil, however, is fast disappearing. Numerous _passages_ have +been constructed, within the last ten years, which are paved with flat +stones, and brilliantly lighted; and the active and pleasure-seeking +population of Paris crowd to these attractive and convenient places, +to the Boulevards, or to the Palais-Royal, and leave the narrow and +dirty streets principally to the few who keep their own carriages, or +to the many who hire public conveyances. These are of various kinds; +and such was the growing importance of the middle classes, that +_fiacres_ (so called after the sign of St Fiacre, at the house where +they were first established) were in use a century and a half ago. + +The remainder of the Part is occupied with a sketch of the Revolution +of 1789. + + * * * * * + + +REFORM OF EARLY PARLIAMENTS. + + +Though no language can adequately condemn the base subserviency of +Henry's parliament, it may be reasonably doubted whether his reign +was, in its ultimate consequences, injurious to public liberty. The +immense revolutions of his time in property, in religion, and in the +inheritance of the crown, never could have been effected without the +concurrence of parliament. Their acquiescence and co-operation in the +spoliation of property, and the condemnation of the innocent, tempted +him to carry all his purposes into execution, through their means. +Those who saw the attainders of queens, the alteration of an +established religion, and the frequent disturbance of the regal +succession, accomplished by acts of parliament, considered nothing as +beyond the jurisdiction of so potent an assembly.[4] If the supremacy +was a tremendous power, it accustomed the people to set no bounds to +the authority of those who bestowed it on the king. The omnipotence of +parliament appeared no longer a mere hyperbole. Let it not be +supposed, that to mention the good thus finally educed from such +evils, is intended or calculated to palliate crimes, or to lessen our +just abhorrence of criminals. Nothing, on the contrary, seems more to +exalt the majesty of virtue than to point out the tendency of the +moral government of the world, which, as in this instance, turns the +worst enemies of all that is good into the laborious slaves of +justice. Of all outward benefits, the most conducive to virtue as well +as to happiness is, doubtless, popular and representative government. +It is the reverse of a degradation of it to observe, that its +establishment among us was perhaps partially promoted by the +sensuality, rapacity, and cruelty of Henry VIII. The course of affairs +is always so dark, the beneficial consequences of public events are so +distant and uncertain, that the attempt to do evil in order to produce +good is in men a most criminal usurpation. + + [4] The observations of Nathaniel Bacon, or rather of Selden + from whose MS. notes he is said to have written his book, + deserve serious consideration. Bacon on the Laws and + Government of England, chap. 27. + +Some direct benefits the constitution owes to this reign. The act +which established a parliamentary representation in so considerable a +territory as Wales may be regarded as the principal reformation in the +composition of the House of Commons since its legal maturity in the +time of Edward I. That principality had been divided into twelve +shires: of which eight were ancient,[5] and four owed their origin to +a statute of Henry's reign.[6] Knights, citizens, and burgesses were +now directed to be chosen and sent to parliament from the shires, +cities, and burghs of Wales.[7] A short time before, the same +privileges were granted to the county palatine of Chester, of which +the preamble contains a memorable recognition and establishment of the +principles which are the basis of the elective part of our +constitution.[8] Nearly thirty members were thus added to the House of +Commons on the principle of the Chester bill: that is disadvantageous +to a province to be unrepresented; that representation is essential to +good government; and that those who are bound by the laws ought to +have a reasonable share of direct influence on the passing of laws. As +the practical disadvantages are only generally alleged, and could +scarcely have been proved, they must have been inferred from the +nature of a House of Commons. The British constitution was not thought +to be enjoyed by a district till a popular representation was bestowed +on it. Election by the people was regarded, not as a source of tumult, +but as the principle most capable of composing disorder in territories +not represented.--_Cabinet Cyclopaedia_, vol. xix. _Sir James +Mackintosh's History of England_, vol. ii. + + [5] Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Flint, + Carnarvon, Anglesea and Merioneth. + + [6] Radnor, Brecknock, Montgomery, and Denbigh, 27 Henry 8 c. + 26. + + [7] 34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 26. s. 50. + + [8] 34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 13.--"That the said county have + hitherto been excluded from the high court of parliament, to + have any knights and burgesses within the said court, by + reason whereof the inhabitants have sustained manifold damages + in their lands, goods, and bodies, as well as in the good + governance of the commonwealth of their said country; and for + as much as they have been bound by the acts of the said court, + and yet have had no knights and burgesses therein, for lack + whereof they have been often touched and grieved by the acts + of the said parliament, prejudicial to the commonwealth, + quietness, rest, and peace of your highness's bounden + subjects, inhabiting within the said county," &c. + + * * * * * + + + +THE TOPOGRAPHER. + + +TRAVELLING NOTES IN SOUTH WALES. + +(_Continued from page 312._) + + +The grounds of Penrice Castle, which stretch to the sea-shore, and on +which art has embellished scenery possessing capabilities of a high +order--are exceedingly picturesque and extensive. Penrice bears marks +of having been a Roman station. Henry de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, +here defeated the Welsh prince, Rhys, which decided the fate of Gower. +He was beheaded after the battle, whence the Welsh name, Pen-Rhys. On +the field of battle the victor erected Penrice Castle, which is now +certainly a striking ruin. On the coast near Penrice is the village +and ruins of the Castle of Oxwich, now a barn--_sic transit!_ + +The afternoon was waxing apace--we had lost time in attending to our +horses, for ostler there was none--and in musing amongst the simply +decorated graves in the humble churchyard;[9] after discussing with +great relish our repast of eggs and bacon, and Welsh ale, the best the +village afforded, (by the way, we shall not readily forget the fluster +of our Welsh hostess when we talked of dining on our arrival at the +little hostelrie) we then rode down to the sea-shore, intending to +cross the sandy beach of Oxwich, which extends several miles, on our +return to the Gower Inn. The tide flows with great rapidity on this +coast, and it had already advanced to the foot of a stupendous +headland, which juts into the beach about half way. We waded our +horses through the surf--but how can we do justice to the splendour of +the scenery around us. The alternations of stern and savage +beauty--the gigantic masses of "fantastic cliffs," and caverns, that +have stood the combat of the mighty Atlantic for countless ages? +Oxwich is almost unknown to the traveller, and there are few coast +scenes in these islands that surpass it in beauty. We lingered long on +the shore. There is a perpetual "jabble" against the cliffs on this +coast--and we have seldom met with a soul save an aged and solitary +fisherwoman--a study for a Bonington--pursuing her precarious calling +of crab or shrimp fishing, or of pulling lobsters from their retreats +in the savage cliffs. + + [9] See _Mirror_, vol. xvi. p. 253. + + A holy peace, + Pervades this _sea-shore solitude_--The world + And all who love that world, are far away. + N.T. CARRINGTON. + +It was getting dusk when we ascended from the shore, on our way +homewards, past the wild--the truly shattered, and desolate ruins of +Pennard Castle; which bear, we think, decided marks of having been +erected long prior to the Norman era. The country people tell you its +origin was supernatural; and some writers ascribe it to that great +castle-builder, Henry de Newburgh. Pennard stands in a situation of +extreme beauty, and deeply rivets the attention: + + "The stones have voices, and the walls do live, + It is the House of Memory!" + MATAIRE. + +Our favourite mare and her companion were in high spirits, (horses are +generally so on returning) exhilarated by the rapid motion; and our +hearts elate with the "songs of spring," we returned home on as sweet +an April evening as ever blessed man. + +Another interesting excursion maybe made to Cefyn-bryn, the most +elevated hill in the district, about twelve miles from Swansea. The +road to Western Gower is carried over it; the summit is level, and a +carriage may be driven in safety for a couple of miles to the southern +point; which commands, on a clear day, in one direction, a vast and +unbounded view of the Bristol Channel, the whitened houses of +Ilfracombe, with the hills of Devon and Somerset, Lundy Island, and +the scenery of Swansea Bay. And on the reverse of the picture, almost +the whole peninsula of Gower, the extensive estuary of the Burry +River, and part of the beautiful expanse of the County and Bay of +Carmarthen, is spread out like a map before you. King Arthur's Stone, +an immense rock of _lapis molaris_, twenty tons weight, supported by a +circle of others--the remains of Druidism--invites the attention of +the antiquary, on the north-west point of Cefyn-bryn. We may here +remark that this district, especially the coast, offers a rich harvest +to the geologist. The general substratum of the peninsula is limestone +and marble, bounded to the north by an immense iron and coalfield. The +limestone stratum is continually "cropping out" in the interior, and +of course it can be worked at a trifling expense. This may account for +the general healthiness of the district. Though rain in consequence of +the western exposure, falls frequently, and sometimes with great +violence, yet it speedily runs off, leaving none of the bad effects +which would be produced in a tenacious soil. Marble of valuable +quality is worked at Oystermouth. + +But we must hasten to close our Notes on Gower--_to proceed with our +circuit of the coast:--West from Oxwich is Porteyron_, where there is +an extensive lobster and oyster fishery, near which is Landewy Castle. +There is a wonderful precipice here. Further west we come to the +village of Rossilly, near the Worms-Head, the termination of a range +of rocks, which form the western point of the peninsula, being +connected with it by a low isthmus. It extends more than a mile into +the ocean, and at half-flood becomes an island. The name arose by +mariners comparing it to a worm with its head erect, between the Nass +Point and St. Gower's Head, in Pembrokeshire. The scenery here is +deeply interesting. This wild and desolate coast has proved fatal to +numberless ships; the recent erection of the light-house on Caldy +Island, near Tenby, on the opposite point of Carmarthen Bay, has, +however, been most important. Several Indiamen have been wrecked here, +and about fifty years since, a quantity of Spanish dollars, date 1625, +were found amongst the sand, when the tide had receded unusually far, +supposed to be part of the cargo of the "Scanderoon galley" lost on +this coast nearly two centuries ago. This would do for the "Vigo Bay +Company." We proceed along the western shore of Carmarthen Bay, till +we pass Whitford Point, a singular _peninsula of sand_, covered with +reeds, which stands the fury of the tide, forming one side of the wide +estuary of Barry, along the coast of which we pass a Roman encampment +at Llanmadoc--the striking Castle of Llanridian, and other ruins, as +we return eastward to Swansea; till we arrive at the village--we +forget ourselves, the _Borough_ of Castell Llwchyr, or Loughor, the +_Leucarum_ of Antoninus, and the fifth Roman station on the _Via +Julia._ It is seven miles from Swansea. Upon a mount, the supposed +work of the Romans, is a square tower, the remains of a castle built +by Henry, Earl of Warwick. Three miles to the east are two Roman +encampments; many Roman coins have been found at Loughor, from whence +there is a ferry to the Carmarthenshire side opposite, which is +fordable at low water. There is a large colliery here. It is a +delightful sail from this village down the Burry River to Whitford +Point, or round the coast to Worms-Head. + +VYVYAN. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." + SHAKSPEARE. + + +_The following curious letter was found among the papers of a Mr. +Goldwyre, Surgeon, of Salisbury._ + +To Mr. Edward Goldwyre, at his house on the Close of Salisbury. + +Sir,--Being informed that you are the only surgeon in this city (or +country) that anatomises men, and I being under the present unhappy +circumstances, and in a very mean condition, would gladly live as long +as I can, but by all appearances I am to be executed next March, but +having no friends on earth that will speak a word to save my life, nor +send me a morsel of bread to keep life and soul together until that +fatal day; so if you will vouchsafe to come hither, I will gladly +sell you my body (being whole and sound) to be ordered at your +discretion, knowing that it will rise again at the general +resurrection, as well from your house as from the grave. Your answer +will highly oblige, yours, &c. + +JAMES BROOKE. +_Fisherton-Auger Gaol_, _Oct._ 3, 1736. + + * * * * * + +A farmer walking out one day, by chance met Jack Ketch, and jocosely +asked him whether he could tell him the difference between their +trades. "That I can," said Jack, "the only difference is +_utility_--you till, I tie." + +WALTER. + + * * * * * + +What is the most suitable motto for a doctor's carriage? Live or die. + +Why is the _carver_ in a cook-shop like a naval officer? Because he +commands a _cutter._ + +W.G.C. + + * * * * * + + +EPITAPHS. + + Here lies poor Thomas, and his Wife, + Who led a pretty jarring life; + But all is ended--do you see? + He holds his tongue, and so does she. + + If drugs and physic could but save + Us mortals from the dreary grave, + 'Tis known that I took full enough + Of the apothecaries' stuff + To have prolong'd life's busy feast + To a full century at least; + But spite of all the doctors' skill, + Of daily draught and nightly pill, + Reader, as sure as you're alive, + I was sent here at twenty-five. + + * * * * * + + +FOR ALL FAMILIES. + +This Day, Second Edition, price 5s. + +FAMILY MANUAL and SERVANTS' GUIDE, +With upwards of One Thousand New and Approved Receipts, arranged and +adapted for Families and all Classes of Servants. + +"We shall recommend this book every where, if it were only for the +sake of the excellent suggestions on the 'self-improvement' of +house-servants."--_Gardeners' Magazine_, June 1830. + +"It should find a place in the kitchen or servants' hall of those who +desire to blend comfort with elegance, and prudence with +luxury."--_New Monthly Magazine_, Feb. 1831. + +"This book contains a mass of information that cannot fail to be +useful in the conduct of household affairs."--_Atlas_, May 22. + +"No servant should he without it."--_Morning Advertiser_, April 27. + +Printed for JOHN LIMBIRD, 143. Strand. + + * * * * * + +_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset +House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; +G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen +and Booksellers._ + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, No. 494., by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE *** + +***** This file should be named 13090-8.txt or 13090-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/0/9/13090/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Victoria Woosley and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 494. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: August 2, 2004 [EBook #13090] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Victoria Woosley and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + + +</pre> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page401" name="page401"></a>[pg 401]</span> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" summary="Volume, Number, and Date"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>Vol. XVII. No. 494.</b></td> + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1831.</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + + +<div class="figure" style="width:100%;"><a href="images/494-1.png"><img width="100%" src="images/494-1.png" alt="" /></a></div> +<h3>EXETER HALL, STRAND.</h3> + + +<p>We rejoice to see the site of Burleigh +House partly occupied by the above +Building. Its object is to afford accommodation +for the meetings of Philanthropic +Societies—so that whatever +may be the olden celebrity of the spot, +it is reasonable to expect that its present +appropriation will be associated +with the most grateful recollections.</p> + +<p>This building is, perhaps, the most +perfect erection of its kind in England. +The approach from the Strand is remarkably +modest: it is by a very narrow, +though very chaste, door-way, +situated between two Corinthian columns +and pilasters. Within the door +is a hall, with two flights of steps, which +afterwards unite, and lead up to the entrance +of the great hall itself; the hall +below leads into a broad passage, which +extends to the farther extremity of the +building, opening right and left into +various offices. On entering the door +of the great hall, a vast and splendid +room is presented to view, with scarcely +a single interruption to the eye throughout +its whole extent, capable of containing, +with comfort, more than 3,000 +persons. The floor is covered with substantial +oak seats, equal to the accommodation +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page402" id="page402"></a>[pg 402]</span> +of 2,500 persons. The greater +portion of these are situated on a gentle +rise, to permit a perfect view of the +platform on which the proceedings +take place. The platform is raised +about six feet from the floor, and extends +the whole breadth of the room, +curving inwards, the extremities bending +towards the audience: it contains +seats for nearly 300 individuals. Behind +this gallery again, are very capacious +recesses, which will hold from three +to four hundred persons. The lower +part of the walls of the room is quite +plain, the architect, probably, regarding +the audience as a sufficient ornament +in that quarter, though the rising of +the seats would obscure carved-work if +it were there. The windows are at a +considerable height from the ground, +and are of dimmed glass, with a chaste +and classical border. The ceiling, which +is at a noble height, is beautifully laid +out in squares, with borderings and rosettes. +An oblong opening occurs in +the centre, with massive beams stretching +across, presenting to view an erection +in the roof, a form of construction, +probably, necessary to so immense a +mass of roofing, and serving also for +the purposes of ventilation, as it contains +windows at each end. There are +four pillars near the end of the hall, +rising to the ceiling, the capitals of +which, as also those of some pilasters +at the upper extremity of the hall, +are exquisitely carved in straw-coloured +marble. Behind the platform are numerous +and convenient committee-rooms. +The word "Philadelpheion," which may +be rendered "loving brothers," is carved +in Greek capitals over the entrance in +the Strand.<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> + +<p>Exeter Hall has been erected by subscription, +by a public company established +for the purpose.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>WILLS OF SHAKSPEARE, MILTON AND BUONAPARTE.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>To the Editor</i>.)</h4> + + +<p>The last wills and testaments of the +three greatest men of modern ages are +tied up in one sheet of foolscap, and +may be seen together at Doctors Commons. +In the will of the "Bard of +Avon" is an interlineation in his own +handwriting—"I give unto my wife my +brown best bed, with the furniture." It +is proved by William Byrde, 22nd July, +1616.</p> + +<p>The will of the Minstrel of Paradise +is a nuncupative one taken by his daughter, +the great poet being blind.</p> + +The will of Napoleon, to whom future +ages, in spite of legitimacy, will confirm +the epithet "le grand," is signed in a +bold style of handwriting; the codicil, +on the contrary, written shortly before +his death, exhibits the then weak state +of his body. +<h4>T.H.K.</h4> +<hr /> + + +<h3>VERNAL STANZAS.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>The earth displayed its robe of gorgeous hues,</p> +<p>And o'er the tufted violets softly stole</p> +<p>The downy pinions of the fragrant wind,</p> +<p>Which tuned the brook with music; there were clouds</p> +<p>O'er the blue heaven dispersed in various shapes,</p> +<p>And touch'd with most impassive light, whereon</p> +<p>The heart might dwell and dream of future bliss;</p> +<p>And as the sound of distant bells awaked</p> +<p>The echoes of the woods, they raised the thoughts</p> +<p>To worlds more bright and beautiful than ours!</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<h4>G.R.C.</h4> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>The spring has waved her sunny wing</p> +<p class="i2">Upon the verdant earth,</p> +<p>And winds from distant, places bring</p> +<p class="i2">The festal tones of mirth;</p> +<p>The sky appears an azure field,</p> +<p>With clouds emblazoned like a shield.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>A golden light has touched the woods,</p> +<p class="i2">And o'er the silent dell</p> +<p>A languid breathless quiet broods,</p> +<p class="i2">Scarce broken by the swell</p> +<p>Of streams that whisper through the air,</p> +<p>As if they were awaked to pray'r.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Survey the lovely scene around,</p> +<p class="i2">The river beams in gold,</p> +<p>Its rippling waves with song resound,</p> +<p class="i2">And rainbow light unfold,</p> +<p>And as the flow'rs unclose their eyes,</p> +<p>Their hue seems coloured by the skies.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>The mould'ring church on yonder slope,</p> +<p class="i2">Perchance by heaven designed</p> +<p>To consecrate the heart with hope,</p> +<p class="i2">In ivy-wreaths is shrined:</p> +<p>Its rural tombs are green with age,</p> +<p>And types of earthly pilgrimage.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>On this delightful vernal day,</p> +<p class="i2">In scenes so rich and fair,</p> +<p>The spirit feels a hallow'd ray</p> +<p class="i2">Kindling its essence there;</p> +<p>And Fancy haunts the mourner's urn,</p> +<p>"With thoughts that breathe, and words that burn."</p> + </div> </div> +<i>Deal.</i> + +<h4>G.R.C.</h4> +<hr /> + + +<h3>POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + +<blockquote><p>All power of fancy over reason is a degree of +insanity.—JOHNSON. +</p></blockquote> + +<p>In a former number I gave some observations +on apparitions, and I shall here +continue my remarks.</p> + +<p>The argument that was used by Dr. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page403" id="page403"></a>[pg 403]</span> +Johnson was founded on premises that +are as inadmissible as his conclusion, +viz. that the popular opinion in favour +of the reality of apparitions could only +obtain universal credence by its truth. +This is very plausible, but destitute of +foundation. Does the learned doctor +mean to deny the universality of errors? +does he mean to call the whole body of +the learned and enlightened cavillers? +and that because they are not willing to +consent to his monstrous opinion? To +reverse the argument, does he mean to +deny the truth of the Scriptures, or is +he bold enough to assert that they have +received universal credence? So much +for the arguments wielded by Dr. +Johnson, who has not been unaptly +termed the Colossus of Literature. The +idea that departed spirits revisited the +earth, probably took its rise from the +opinion of the immortality of the soul, +which was very general in both ancient +and modern times.<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a> This supposition +is most consonant with probability. It +is always to be remarked that this species +of superstition is most prevalent in +those countries where learning and reason +have made but little progress. The +demons [Greek: Daimones] and genii of former +times were exactly the same as the +ghosts of this; the same attributes, the +same power, and the same malice were +observed of one, as are now attributed to +the other. By the Chaldeans these +demons were divided into two kinds, +good and bad. But as it is foreign to +my purpose to enter into an investigation +of the opinions of the ancients on +this subject, I shall content myself with +referring the curious reader to Stanley's +<i>History of Philosophy</i>, a deservedly popular +work.</p> + + +<p>I shall here recount one of the most +extraordinary tales relating to this subject +that I ever heard; I believe the solution +is evident, and I am not aware that +it has appeared before; but if it has, +some of the readers of the Mirror may +not have seen it.</p> + +<p>A surgeon of Edinburgh was confined +to his bed by some illness, and at "the +dewy hour of eve," when the room was +lighted by nothing but the glimmering +and flickering light of a wood fire, he +perceived <i>a female sitting at the foot of +the bed clothed in white</i>! Imagining +that it was some defect in his sight, he +gazed more intensely at it, still it was +there. He then raised his hand before +his eyes and he did not perceive it; on +withdrawing it the apparition was there. +Closing his eyes he went through a mathematical +calculation to convince himself +he was in his right senses; upon +reopening them he still perceived her +there. The fire then went out and he +saw no more. I confess I see no difficulty +in accounting for this, by supposing +the gentleman was afflicted with +that horrid disease of which Sir Walter +Scott gives many cases in his <i>Demonology +and Witchcraft</i>. Although I have +no warrant for asserting spirits do not +return, yet I must say, all the tales I +have ever heard do not necessarily require +any such interpretation on them. +It may be true, and so may everything +which we have no evidence against or +for. If my opinion on the subject was +to be shaken by anything, it would be +with the following story, which was +given to me by one whose veracity I +have no reason to doubt.</p> + +<p>There is, or rather was, a very ancient +castle in Lancashire, near Liverpool, +called Castle de Bergh, which +belongs to a noble family of that name. +Many years ago the possessor of the +castle, Mr. de Burgh, died, and the +castle was then let out to various of the +tenantry, among whom was a carpenter. +Two years after the death of Mr. de +Burgh, as this carpenter was employed +in his workshop, about a quarter of a +mile from the castle, melting glue, it +being evening, and only four of his +men with him, he perceived a gentleman +in mourning passing the lathe +where the men were at work. He was +immediately seized with a violent trembling +and weakness, his hair stood on +end, and a clammy sweat spread over his +forehead. The lights were put out, he +knew not how, and at last, in fear and +terror, he was obliged to return home. +On his arrival at the castle, as he was +passing up the stairs, he heard a footstep +behind, and on turning round he perceived +the same apparition. He hastily +entered his room, and bolted, locked, +and barred the door, but to his horror +and surprise this offered no impediment +to his ghostly visiter, for the door sprang +open at his touch, and he entered the +room! The apparition was seen by +various others, all of whom asserted it +bore the strongest resemblance to their +deceased master! One gentleman spoke +to him, and the spirit told him "that +he was not happy."</p> + +<p><i>Foley Place.</i></p> + +<h4>AN ANTIQUARY.</h4> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page404" id="page404"></a>[pg 404]</span> + + +<h3>LINES.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Upon the silent grassy bed,</p> +<p>Shall maiden's tears at eve be shed,</p> +<p>And friendship's self shall often there</p> +<p>Heave the sigh, and breathe the pray'r.</p> +<p>Young flowers of spring around shall bloom,</p> +<p>And summer's roses deck thy tomb.</p> +<p>The primrose ope its modest breast</p> +<p>Where thy lamented ashes rest,</p> +<p>And cypress branches lowly bend</p> +<p>Where thy lov'd form with clay shall blend.</p> +<p>The silver willow darkly wave</p> +<p>Above thy unforgotten grave,</p> +<p>And woodbine leaves will fondly creep,</p> +<p>Where * * lies in holy sleep.</p> + </div></div> + +<i>Sturminster</i>. +<h4>COLBOURNE.</h4> +<hr /> + +<h3>PARLIAMENTARY SCRAPS.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + +<p>Lord Coke, in his fourth institute, defines +certain qualities essentially requisite +to constitute a good member of +parliament; and he refers to a parliament +roll, 3 Henry VI., which affirms +that a parliament man should have three +properties ascribed to the elephant—1. +That he hath no gall; 2. That he is inflexible, +and cannot bow; 3. That he is +of a most ripe and perfect memory.—1. +To be without malice, rancour, heat, +and envy;—in elephante melancholia +transit in nutrimentum corporis: every +gallish inclination, if any were, should +tend to the good of the whole body—the +commonwealth. 2. That he be constant, +inflexible, and not be bowed, or +turned from the right, either from fear, +reward, or favour; not in judgment respect +any person. 3. That in remembering +perils past, dangers to come may +be prevented.</p> + +<p>To these, addition is made by Lord +Coke of two other properties of elephants: +the one, that though they be +maximæ virtutis et maximi intellectus, +of great strength and understanding, +<i>tamen gregatim semper incedunt</i>, yet +they are sociable, and go in companies; +for <i>animalia gregalia non sunt nociva, +sed animalia solivaga sunt nociva</i>: sociable +creatures that go in flocks or +herds are not hurtful—as deer, sheep, +&c.; but beasts that walk solely or +singularly, as bears, foxes, &c., are dangerous +and hurtful. The other property +is, that the elephant is philanthropos, +homini erranti viam ostendit. +And, in the opinion of Coke, these properties +ought every parliament man to +have.</p> + +<p>Neither the ancient nor modern election +statutes mention, or imply, the existence +of a "candidate." The old laws +direct that the representative shall be +freely and indifferently chosen by the +electors. The choice was of their own +motion, and the person elected was passive. +Even at the present day, the law +does not contemplate his asking for +votes, and therefore does not allow, +after the issuing of the writ, sufficient +time for a regular canvass. The term +"candidate" had its derivation from the +person being <i>candidatus,</i> clothed in +white, as symbolical of the wearer's +purity.</p> + +<p>James I. issued a proclamation, in +which the voters for members of parliament +are directed "not to choose +curious and wrangling lawyers, who +seek reputation by stirring needless +questions."</p> + +<p>At the Sussex election, in 1807, an +elector, named Morton, voted in right +of his patrimonial land at Rusper, which +had been in possession of his ancestors +750 years.</p> +<h4>W.G.C.</h4> +<hr /> + +<h3>SONNET</h3> +<h4>TO AN EOLIN HARP, HEARD AT EVENING.</h4> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Soft breathings of aerial melody,</p> +<p class="i2">Ye seem like love-songs from the elfin land,</p> +<p class="i2">Or soundings from that heaven-commissioned band,</p> +<p>Ushering the good man to the bliss on high.</p> +<p>Now swells the chorus full, anon ye die</p> +<p class="i2">Away upon the breeze, so soft and bland</p> +<p class="i2">Melting on evening's ear. Sure Love's own hand</p> +<p>In kindest mood hath wrought this minstrelsy.</p> +<p>How to the lorn heart does its influence creep,</p> +<p class="i2">As the wild winds sweep o'er the fairy strings,</p> +<p class="i2">Bringing again departed, perish'd things,</p> +<p>O'er which we feel it luxury to weep.</p> +<p>Sing on ye zephyr-sprites, your vespers cheer</p> +<p>The heart, whose off'ring is a holy tear.</p> + </div> </div> + +<i>Sturminster.</i> + +<h4>COLBOURNE.</h4> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<h2>THE COSMOPOLITE</h2>. +<h3>HINTS FOR SELF-ADVANCEMENT; OR, +HOW TO MAKE ONE'S WAY IN THE WORLD.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + + +<p>When you visit married people, pay +particular attention to their children: +the more noisy, troublesome, and disagreeable +they are, the more is it incumbent +upon you to praise them. +Should the baby entertain you with a +passionate squall for an hour or two, +vow that it is "a charming child"—"a +sweet pet"—"a dear, pretty, little creature," +&c. &c. Call red hair auburn, +and "a sweet, uncommon colour;" a +squint, or cross-eye, think "an agreeable +expression;" maintain that an +ugly child is extremely handsome, and +the image either of one or other of its +parents, or of its handsomest, wealthiest, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page405" id="page405"></a>[pg 405]</span> +or most aristocratic relations. Discover +which of a family is mamma's, and which +papa's favourite, and pay your court accordingly; +for it is better to lavish, in +this case, your attentions and encomiums +upon one or two, than upon all.</p> + +<p>When requiring an introduction to +any great people, scruple not to avail +yourself of the services of the little; +but when mounted as high as you please, +by all means kick down your ladders, +cast away your stepping stones—since +they might, instead of being of any further +assistance, only prove incumbrances +to you.</p> + +<p>Take every opportunity of joining in +conversation with those to whom you +desire to recommend yourself. Should +you feel at a loss for topics of discourse, +mention servants, and tradesmen, upon +whom fail not to bestow most hearty +abuse;—vow that they are an unprincipled +set of knaves, scoundrels, and +thieves. Hence you will be thought to +have "much to say for yourself;" and +should you be enabled to narrate any +grievous losses sustained from these +members of society, you will obtain credit +for having "something to lose" at +any rate, and find it of incalculable +value.</p> + +<p>When you direct a letter to a knight +bachelor—though it is indeed customary +and well-bred to omit altogether the +Knt.—yet it will never be taken amiss +should you venture to address him as a +Knight of the Garter, Bath, &c.&c., or +even as a Baronet. Undoubtedly it is +as vulgar to misapprehend and confound +titles, as it is to mispronounce and misspell +names; nevertheless rest assured, +that flattered vanity will go far to pardon +vulgarity.</p> + +<p>If a gentleman, pay infinite attention +to the single ladies of a family—compliment, +flirt, converse with, and ask them +to dance. This conduct will obtain for +you, on account of the fair creatures, +marvellous good report, numerous invitations; +and if you have sufficient tact +to steer clear of committing yourself for +more than a few flattering and general +attentions, you may be considered one +of the happiest of those who live—by +their wits, and upon their friends.</p> + +<p>Should your "dancing days be over," +which is scarcely probable, considering +how greatly it is now the fashion for +"potent, grave, and reverend signors," +and signoras also, to join the gay quadrille, +&c. (and here we may as well +note, that in genteel society, dowager +honourables and old ladies may dance, +whilst young, plain misses may not)—there +are sundry modes of rendering +yourself agreeable, which your own +taste and talents, it is to be presumed, +will naturally suggest: chess, whist, +ecarté, quadrille, &c. &c., not to mention +a little practical knowledge of +music, are acquirements which cause an +individual to be considered "very agreeable"—because +very useful; and rely +upon it, as the world goes, utility in +nine cases out of ten is, with society, a +consideration. Hence, no creature is +so universally voted disagreeable as one +from whom no kind of service can be +exacted; and whilst roués, gamesters, +and tipplers, duelists, pugilists, and +blacklegs, are tolerated in society, stupid +men are overlooked, or thrust out +of it with contempt.</p> + +<p>Dress in the extreme of fashion: you +can neither gain nor maintain your +ground without so doing; and as you +have an end to answer, which your +tailors or milliners have not, of course +you will not suffer the unfashionable +dictates of conscience, respecting their +bills, to interfere with your proceedings.</p> + +<p>Answer an invitation as soon as it is +received; many individuals defer so doing +for some days, which certainly shows +fashionable ease and nonchalance, besides +allowing time for the arrival of +another and preferable one; but, by +those who are absolutely bent upon advancing +themselves in society, this practice +is to be eschewed, since by perplexing, +it so annoys the donor of a fête, +that the chances are greatly against your +ever again being asked.</p> + +<p>Never omit, the day after a party, to +send or leave your card, as an acknowledgment +for the civility you have received. +This ceremony, indeed, it is to +your interest frequently to repeat at the +doors of your friends, since it will ensure +your never being forgotten by them.</p> + +<p>Never go to an evening party until +you are pretty certain that everybody +else is coming away. Your consequence +will by this conduct be enhanced;—you +may protest that you have already appeared +at two or three balls, &c. When, +if a student or fashionable novel-writer, +your time may have been more rationally +employed at home, you go too late to +dance much, if the exercise, or rather +the partners, be disagreeable to you; +you ensure being seen, which is something,—for, +alas! how many worthy +aspirants to fashion, fortune, and fame, +if of no actual importance, are fated to +pass unnoticed in a crowd! and the +opportunity is besides afforded you of +paying almost undivided attention to +your host, hostess, and family, which +must materially advance your interests. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page406" id="page406"></a>[pg 406]</span> +Neither be in too great haste to quit the +houses of those to whom you desire to +recommend yourself. Parties, even the +worst, cost both money and trouble; +and whilst the givers of them feel it no +compliment to be run away from, as if a +pestilence raged in their habitations, it +is positively insulting to inform them +that another soiree, from which you +hope better things, awaits your presence.</p> + +<p>If a lady, "set up for a beauty:" +rely upon it, no persons will "cry you +up" as such unless you give them the +note. Should you be extremely plain, +no matter; friz your hair until it stands +out one English ell from your face, and +mount it, in bows, braids, &c., three +yards at least from the crown of your +head; drawl, or lisp in your speech; +bring out words and phrases from every +living tongue with which you may happen +to be slightly acquainted; boast of +"the continent;" mince your gait; +wriggle forward upon your toes when +you walk; and swim and dip, whenever +led into the atrocity of committing a +<i>quad</i>-rille. In brief, give yourself unimaginable +airs; then protest that your +manners, as well as your costume, are +of the newest Parisian mode—and it is +ten to one but that affectation will be +accepted in lieu of, or mistaken for, +beauty.</p> + +<p>Never forget, that as it is sometimes +very prudent to be deaf and dumb in +society, so is it extremely convenient +upon occasions to be blind. The cuts, +direct and oblique—the looks at, and +the looks over—the distant, formal bow, +and the adroit turn upon the heel (should +you perceive the party, intended to be +cut for the time being at least, advancing +with dire intent of obliging a recognition), +may be, especially upon old and +provincial friends, practised <i>ad libitum</i>, +without the slightest danger of your +character for etiquette, politeness, suavity, +and general pleasantness, being +impeached. Indeed it is not incompatible +with the highest breeding, to allow +your slighted and amazed acquaintance +to hear you quizzing, and see you laughing +at, him heartily, should it be your +interest so to do; and then next day, to +walk boldly up to him, protest he is the +best fellow in the world; and should he +be so senseless as to venture an allusion +to your "late conduct," to vow, with +the extremest audacity, that he happens +to be under some evident and deplorable +mistake, &c. &c. In short, should you +really find yourself in a scrape, to back +out of it as well as you are able.</p> + +<p>When at a ball, it may sometimes be +to your advantage (though fashionable +insolence should not be carried too far) +to act in the following manner:—</p> + +<p>1. Ask a lady if she is engaged to +dance. Should she answer "No," whilst +her eyes say "Yes, if you will be my +partner," then, instead of offering yourself +for that purpose, protest that +"dancing is a mighty bore, which no +gentleman would endure, could he possibly +help it," and walk away.</p> + +<p>2. Having elicited from a lady that +she is not engaged for the ensuing dance, +exclaim, with a smile of triumph, "I +am! and must go and find my partner."</p> + +<p>3. When conversing with one young +lady, whom you do not design to compliment +by leading out for waltz, quadrille, +or galoppe, mazurka, or Russian +cotillon, &c., take particular care, in +her hearing, to engage yourself to another. +This is equally kind and polite.</p> + +<p>4. Upon the conclusion of a dance, +either leave your partner standing in the +middle of the room—which I have beheld +performed with admirable effect—-or, +hastily leading her to a seat, quit her +instantly: which proceeding says, in +plain English, "Lady, I would not stay +another moment with you for anything +that could be offered me, lest the world +should choose to fancy we are engaged."</p> + +<p>Respecting giving and lending, which +are sometimes necessary worldly duties, +your guide must be this brief, but infallible +rule—"Venture a small fish to +catch a large one." Those antiquated +beings, indeed, whom the polite style +"horrid bores," but whose generic appellation +is Christians, are accustomed to +"lend and give, not hoping to receive;" +yet this maxim cannot of course be supposed +to influence the conduct of those +who desire to advance themselves in the +world, because they are bound to bear +in mind, that they cannot admit of any +principle of action which tends, in the +slightest degree, to militate against their +interest.—<i>Et caetera desunt.</i></p> + +<h4>M.L.B.</h4> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>THE NATURALIST.</h2> + +<h3>THE WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>Concluded from page</i> 389.)</h4> + + +<p>The intrepidity of character, before +mentioned, may be farther illustrated +by the following fact, which occurred a +few years ago, near Great Egg Harbour, +New Jersey. A woman, who happened +to be weeding in the garden, had set her +child down near, to amuse itself while +she was at work; when a sudden and +extraordinary rushing sound, and a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page407" id="page407"></a>[pg 407]</span> +scream from her child, alarmed her, and +starting up, she beheld the infant thrown +down, and dragged some few feet, and +a large bald eagle bearing off a fragment +of its frock, which being the only +part seized, and giving way, providentially +saved the life of the infant.</p> + +<p>The appetite of the bald eagle, +though habituated to long fasting, is of +the most voracious and often the most +indelicate kind. Fish, when he can obtain +them, are preferred to all other +fare. Young lambs and pigs are dainty +morsels, and made free with on all +favourable occasions. Ducks, geese, +gulls, and other sea fowl, are also seized +with avidity. The most putrid carrion, +when nothing better can be had, is acceptable; +and the collected groups of +gormandizing vultures, on the approach +of this dignified personage, instantly disperse, +and make way for their master, +waiting his departure in sullen silence, +and at a respectful distance, on the adjacent +trees.</p> + +<p>In one of those partial migrations of +tree squirrels that sometimes take place +in our western forests, many thousands +of them were destroyed in attempting +to cross the Ohio; and at a certain +place, not far from Wheeling, a prodigious +number of their dead bodies were +floated to the shore by an eddy. Here +the vultures assembled in great force, +and had regailed themselves for some +time, when a bald eagle made his appearance, +and took sole possession of +the premises, keeping the whole vultures +at their proper distance for several days. +He has also been seen navigating the +same river on a floating carrion, though +scarcely raised above the surface of the +water, and tugging at the carcass, regardless +of snags, sawyers, planters, or +shallows. He sometimes carries his +tyranny to great extremes against the +vultures. In hard times, when food +happens to be scarce, should he accidentally +meet with one of these who has +its craw crammed with carrion, he attacks +it fiercely in the air; the cowardly +vulture instantly disgorges, and the delicious +contents are snatched up by the +eagle before they reach the ground.</p> + +<p>The nest of this species is generally +fixed on a very large and lofty tree, often +in a swamp or morass, and difficult to +be ascended. On some noted tree of +this description, often a pine or cypress, +the bald eagle builds, year after year, +for a long series of years. When both +male and female have been shot from the +nest, another pair has soon after taken +possession. The nest is large, being +added to and repaired every season, +until it becomes a black prominent mass, +observable at a considerable distance. +It is formed of large sticks, sods, earthy +rubbish, hay, moss, &c. Many have +stated to me that the female lays first a +single egg, and that, after having sat on +it for some time, she lays another; when +the first is hatched, the warmth of that, +it is pretended, hatches the other. +Whether this be correct or not, I cannot +determine; but a very respectable gentleman +of Virginia assured me, that he +saw a large tree cut down, containing +the nest of a bald eagle, in which were +two young, one of which appeared nearly +three times as large as the other. As +a proof of their attachment to their +young, a person near Norfolk informed +me, that, in clearing a piece of wood +on his place, they met with a large dead +pine tree, on which was a bald eagle's +nest and young. The tree being on fire +more than half way up, and the flames +rapidly ascending, the parent eagle darted +around and among the flames, until +her plumage was so much injured that +it was with difficulty she could make her +escape, and even then, she several times +attempted to return to relieve her offspring.</p> + +<p>The flight of the bald eagle, when +taken into consideration with the ardour +and energy of his character, is noble +and interesting. Sometimes the human +eye can just discern him, like a minute +speck, moving in slow curvatures along +the face of the heavens, as if reconnoitering +the earth at that immense distance. +Sometimes he glides along in a +direct horizontal line, at a vast height, +with expanded and unmoving wings, till +he gradually disappears in the distant +blue ether. Seen gliding in easy circles +over the high shores and mountainous +cliffs that tower above the Hudson and +Susquehanna, he attracts the eye of the +intelligent voyager, and adds great interest +to the scenery. At the great Cataract +of Niagara, already mentioned, +there rises from the gulf into which the +Falls of the Horse-Shoe descend, a +stupendous column of smoke, or spray, +reaching to the heavens, and moving off +in large black clouds, according to the +direction of the wind, forming a very +striking and majestic appearance. The +eagles are here seen sailing about, sometimes +losing themselves in this thick column, +and again reappearing in another +place, with such ease and elegance of +motion, as renders the whole truly sublime.</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>High o'er the watery uproar, silent seen,</p> +<p>Sailing sedate in majesty serene,</p> +<p>Now midst the pillar'd spray sublimely lost,</p> +<p>And now, emerging, down the Rapids tost,</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page408" id="page408"></a>[pg 408]</span> +<p>Glides the bald eagle, gazing, calm and slow,</p> +<p>O'er all the horrors of the scene below;</p> +<p>Intent alone to sate himself with blood,</p> +<p>From the torn victims of the raging flood.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>The white-headed eagle is three feet +long, and seven feet in extent; the bill +is of a rich yellow; cere the same, +slightly tinged with green; mouth flesh-coloured; +tip of the tongue, bluish +black; the head, chief part of the neck, +vent, tail coverts, and tail, are white in +the perfect, or old birds of both sexes, +in those under three years of age these +parts are of a gray brown; the rest of +the plumage is deep, dark brown, each +feather tipt with pale brown, lightest on +the shoulder of the wing, and darkest +towards its extremities. The conformation +of the wing is admirably adapted +for the support of so large a bird; it +measures two feet in breadth on the +greater quills, and sixteen inches on +the lesser; the longest primaries are +twenty inches in length, and upwards +of one inch in circumference where they +enter the skin; the broadest secondaries +are three inches in breadth across +the vane; the scapulars are very large +and broad, spreading from the back to +the wing, to prevent the air from passing +through; another range of broad +flat feathers, from three to ten inches in +length, also extend from the lower part +of the breast to the wing below, for +the same purpose; between these lies a +deep triangular cavity; the thighs are +remarkably thick, strong, and muscular, +covered with long feathers pointing backwards, +usually called the femoral feathers; +the legs, which are covered half +way below the knee, before, with dark +brown downy feathers, are of a rich +yellow, the colour of ripe Indian corn; +feet the same; claws blue black, very +large and strong, particularly the inner +one, which is considerably the largest; +soles, very rough and warty; the eye is +sunk, under a bony, or cartilaginous +projection, of a pale yellow colour, and +is turned considerably forwards, not +standing parallel with the cheeks, the +iris is of a bright straw colour, pupil +black.</p> + +<p>The male is generally two or three +inches shorter than the female; the +white on the head, neck, and tail being +more tinged with yellowish, and its +whole appearance less formidable; the +brown plumage is also lighter, and the +bird itself less daring than the female, a +circumstance common to almost all birds +of prey.</p> + +<p>The eagle is said to live to a great +age—sixty, eighty, and, as some assert, +one hundred years. This circumstance +is remarkable, when we consider the +seeming intemperate habits of the bird. +Sometimes fasting, through necessity, +for several days, and at other times +gorging itself with animal food till its +craw swells out the plumage of that +part, forming a large protuberance on +the breast. This, however, is its natural +food, and for these habits its whole +organization is particularly adapted. It +has not, like men, invented rich wines, +ardent spirits, and a thousand artificial +poisons, in the form of soups, sauces, +and sweetmeats. Its food is simple, it +indulges freely, uses great exercise, +breathes the purest air, is healthy, vigorous, +and long lived. The lords of +the creation themselves might derive +some useful hints from these facts, were +they not already, in general, too wise, +or too proud, to learn from their <i>inferiors,</i> +the fowls of the air and beasts +of the field.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>NOTES OF A READER.</h2> + +<h3>THE LATE MRS. SIDDONS.</h3> + +<p>The subsequent account of Mrs. Siddons, +nearly fifty years since, will perhaps +give the reader a better outline of +that "Queen of Tragedy" than any that +has since appeared. We ought to mention +that it is quoted from Mr. Boaden's +<i>Memoirs</i>, and was written on the appearance +of Mrs. Siddons in the character +of Isabella, for the first time in London, +October 10, 1782. Mr. Boaden +thus introduces the quotation, in vol. i. +of his work:—</p> + +<p>As the person of our great actress +has undergone some change, and her +features by time became stronger, I +should find it difficult now to describe +her accurately by memory, as she stood +before the audience on the night of the +10th of October. I am relieved from +this difficulty by an account of her written +at the time. I shall change only a +few of the expressions then used, more +from a feeling as to composition than +alteration as to sentiment.</p> + +<p>There never, perhaps, was a better +stage-figure than that of Mrs. Siddons. +Her height is above the middle size, but +not at all inclined to the <i>em-bon-point</i>. +There is, notwithstanding, nothing sharp +or angular in the frame; there is sufficient +muscle to bestow a roundness upon +the limbs, and her attitudes are, therefore, +distinguished equally by energy and +grace. The symmetry of her person is +exact and captivating. Her face is peculiarly +happy, the features being finely +formed, though strong, and never for an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page409" id="page409"></a>[pg 409]</span> +instant seeming overcharged, like the +Italian faces, nor coarse and unfeminine +under whatever impulse; on the contrary, +it is so thoroughly harmonized +when quiescent, and so expressive when +impassioned, that most people think her +more beautiful than she is; so great, +too, is the flexibility of her countenance, +that the rapid transitions of passion +are given with a variety and effect +that never tire upon the eye. Her voice +is naturally plaintive, and a tender melancholy +in her level speaking denotes a +being devoted to tragedy; yet this seemingly +settled quality of voice becomes at +will sonorous or piercing, overwhelms +with rage, or in its wild shriek absolutely +harrows up the soul. Her sorrow, +too, is never childish—her lamentation +has a dignity which belongs, I +think, to no other woman: it claims +your respect along with your tears. +Her eye is brilliant and varying like the +diamond; it is singularly well placed; +"it <i>pries</i>," in Shakspeare's language, +"through the portal of the head," and +has every aid from brows flexible beyond +all female parallel, contracting to disdain, +or dilating with the emotions of +sympathy, or pity, or anguish. Her +memory is tenacious and exact—her articulation +clear and distinct—her pronunciation +systematic and refined.</p> + +<p>Nor has Nature been partially bountiful: +she has endowed her with a quickness +of conception, and a strength of +understanding equal to the proper use +of such extraordinary gifts. So entirely +is she mistress of herself, so collected, +and so determined in gestures, tone, and +manner, that she seldom errs, like other +actors, because she doubts her powers +or comprehension. She studies her author +attentively, conceives justly, and +describes with a firm consciousness of +propriety. She is sparing in her action, +because English nature does not act +much; but it is always proper, picturesque, +graceful, and dignified: it +arises immediately from the sentiments +and feeling, and is not seen to prepare +itself before it begins. No studied trick +or start can be predicted;—no forced +tremulation of the figure, where the vacancy +of the eye declares the absence +of passion, can be seen;—no laborious +strainings at false climax, in which the +tired voice reiterates one high tone beyond +which it cannot reach, is ever +heard;—no artificial heaving of the +breasts, so disgusting when the affectation +is perceptible;—none of those arts +by which the actress is seen, and not +the character, can be found in Mrs. +Siddons. So natural are her gradations +and transitions, so classical and correct +her speech and deportment, and so intensely +interesting her voice, form, and +features, that there is no conveying an +idea of the pleasure she communicates +by words. She must be seen to be +known. What is still more delightful, +she is an original: she copies no one +living or dead, but acts from nature and +herself.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.</h2> + +<h3>THE TWO MUNCHAUSENS.</h3> + +<h4><i>By a veteran.</i></h4> + + +<p>In the late —— Regiment of Light +Dragoons, were two worthy persons, +who were denominated the regimental +liars: a distinction to which, giving +every man his due, they were eminently +entitled. The great and fundamental +requisites for accomplished lying, I conceive +to be a good memory, a fertile +fancy, a ready wit, fluency of speech, +and a brazen countenance, so that you +shall tell a man a most bare-faced falsehood, +and afterwards adduce such connected +proofs as especially characterize +actual facts. The following dialogue +is a specimen of the talents of the aforementioned +mendacious personages.</p> + +<p>C.—"See a man walk after he was +shot dead! so have I, a whole day's +march."</p> + +<p>B.—"Come, come, that's stealing a +march on our senses. No, no, it won't +do: that's a naked one; do pray turn +them out with some kind of probability +covering over them."</p> + +<p>C.—"What, doubt my veracity;"</p> + +<p>B.—"Not for the world; that would +be illiberal and unkind, and by the way, +now I think on it, I believe the possibility +of a man travelling without his <i>cranium,</i> +for at the battle of Laswaree, +during that desperate contest for British +India, I saw a sergeant of the seventy-sixth +shot dead; yet the fellow pursued +his antagonist some hundred yards +afterwards, threatening vengeance on +the miscreant for having robbed the service +of one of its best men. Finding +himself weak from loss of blood, he deliberately +unscrewed his head, threw it +violently at the foe, and took him on the +spine; down he tumbled; the veteran +jumped upon him; fearful was the +struggle; chest to chest, fist to fist; +at last they joined in the death grapple, +and dreadful indeed was their dying +hug."</p> + +<p>C.—"My dear friend, I was an eye +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page410" id="page410"></a>[pg 410]</span> +witness of the whole transaction. You +have however forgotten the best part of +the story. After the sergeant had well +pummelled his enemy, he picked up his +head again, and thrust into a neighbouring +great gun: from the want of his +<i>peepers</i> he made a random shot, and +killed the horse on which Lord Lake +was riding—his Lordship saluted the +sod."</p> + +<p>B.—"I recollect it perfectly; for the +nose of the said sergeant (recognised by +sundry carbuncles) was so hard, that the +following day it was extracted from the +abdomen of the unfortunate animal."</p> + +<p>C.—"You make a mistake about the +nose; it was discovered lodged in a loaf +in a corporal's knapsack; the man +could swear to it, for it was perforated +by three balls, and otherwise curiously +marked. Report said that a shell had +once blown it completely off, and that it +was stitched on again by a shoe-maker, +who, ever after, went by the name of the +<i>nosy</i> cobbler."</p> + +<p>B.—"Nothing impossible. It reminds +me of a story somewhat as strange: +During the battle of Delhi there was a +quarter-master in the regiment, a queer +fellow, who was never at a loss; (he is +now in the corps, and can vouch for my +statement) he was charging at the head +of his squadron, when he caught a cannon +shot in his hands: instantly dismounting, +he chucked the ball into a +field-piece, but, for want of a ramrod, +he drove it home with his head. One +of the enemy, seeing him thus zealously +occupied, fired off the gun; strange to +tell he was not killed! From constant +exposure to the sun, in search of toddy, +and from the free use of cocoa-nut oil, +his head had become proof against shot. +The distance from the place whence he +was projected, to that where he was +picked up, measured three miles, two +furlongs, three yards, and eleven inches. +A hard-headed fellow, Sir.—In his career +he upset his colonel and a brace of +captains."</p> + +<p>C.—"He did; and where the colonel +was capsized, he made such a hole by +his enormous weight, that the sovereign +of Delhi ordered a large well to be dug +on the spot, in memory of the event."</p> + +<p>B.—"I remember the well—twelve +feet, three inches and a half, was the +exact depth of the excavation occasioned +by the fall."</p> + +<p>C.—"There you are wrong; only +eleven feet, three inches—"</p> + +<p>B.—"No, believe me, I am right; +twelve feet, and three inches to a barleycorn."</p> + +<p>C.—"Never mind: a little, this way +or that, is of no consequence. The +most extraordinary thing was, that the +gallant colonel only sprained his right +arm."</p> + +<p>B.—"By no means extraordinary. +You remember the great gun of Agra, +in which a regiment of cavalry used to +drill."</p> + +<p>C—"I do. The one that fired the +stone ball to the wall of Futtipoore Sikrah—twenty +miles."</p> + +<p>B.—"The same. Well, when that +gun was fired, a thing that never occurred +but once, the head of the rash man +who fired it was afterwards found in the +Old Woman's Tank, eleven miles from +the spot, without so much as a blemish, +except a slight singing of the right +whisker."</p> + +<p>C.—"Ah! I can never forget the +time; I had just landed in Calcutta when +we heard the report. Some of the wadding +went as far as Cawnpore."</p> + +<p>Here the trumpet, sounding for morning +drill, put a stop to the colloquy.—<i>Englishman's Magazine.</i></p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>THE MISER'S GRAVE.</h3> + +<h4>BY THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD.</h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Here's a lesson for the earth-born worm,</p> +<p>So deep engraven on the meagre platen</p> +<p>Of human frailty, so debased in hue,</p> +<p>That he who dares peruse it needs but blush</p> +<p>For his own nature. The poor shrivell'd wretch,</p> +<p>For whose lean carcass yawns this hideous pit,</p> +<p>Had naught that he desired in earth or heaven—</p> +<p>No God, no Saviour, but that sordid pelf,</p> +<p>O'er which he starved and gloated. I have seen him</p> +<p>On the exchange, or in the market-place</p> +<p>When money was in plenteous circulation,</p> +<p>Gaze after it with such Satanic looks</p> +<p>Of eagerness, that I have wonder'd oft</p> +<p>How he from theft and murder could refrain.</p> +<p>'Twas cowardice alone withheld his hands,</p> +<p>For they would grasp and grapple at the air,</p> +<p>When his grey eye had fixed on heaps of gold,</p> +<p>While his clench'd teeth, and grinning, yearning face,</p> +<p>Were dreadful to behold. The merchants oft</p> +<p>Would mark his eye, then start and look again,</p> +<p>As at the eye of basilisk or snake.</p> +<p>His eye of greyish green ne'er shed one ray</p> +<p>Of kind benignity or holy light</p> +<p>On aught beneath the sun. Childhood, youth, beauty,</p> +<p>To it had all one hue. Its rays reverted</p> +<p>Right inward, back upon the greedy heart</p> +<p>On which the gnawing worm of avarice</p> +<p>Preyed without ceasing, straining every sense</p> +<p>To that excruciable and yearning core.</p> +<p class="i2">Some thirteen days agone, he comes to me,</p> +<p>And after many sore and mean remarks</p> +<p>On men's rapacity and sordid greed,</p> +<p>He says, "Gabriel, thou art an honest man,</p> +<p>As the world goes. How much, then, will you charge</p> +<p>And make a grave for me, fifteen feet deep?"—</p> +<p class="i2">"We'll talk of that when you require it, sir."</p> +<p class="i2">"No, no. I want it made, and paid for too;</p> +<p>I'll have it settled, else I know there will</p> +<p>Be some unconscionable overcharge</p> +<p>On my poor friends—a ruinous overcharge."—</p> +<p class="i2">"But, sir, were it made now, it would fill up</p> +<p>Each winter to the brim, and be to make</p> +<p>Twenty or thirty times, if you live long."—</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page411" id="page411"></a>[pg 411]</span> +<p class="i2">"There! there it is! Nothing but imposition!</p> +<p>Even Time must rear his stern, unyielding front,</p> +<p>And holding out his shrivelled skeleton hand,</p> +<p>Demands my money. Naught but money! money!</p> +<p>Were I coin'd into money I could not</p> +<p>Half satisfy that craving greed of money.</p> +<p>Well, how much do you charge? I'll pay you now,</p> +<p>And take a bond from you that it be made</p> +<p>When it is needed. Come, calculate with reason—</p> +<p>Work's very cheap; and two good men will make</p> +<p>That grave at two days' work: and I can have</p> +<p>Men at a shilling each—<i>without</i> the meat—</p> +<p>That's a great matter! Let them but to meat,</p> +<p>'Tis utter ruin. I'll give none their meat—</p> +<p>That I'll beware of. Men now-a-days are cheap,</p> +<p>Cheap, dogcheap, and beggarly fond of work.</p> +<p>One shilling each a-day, <i>without</i> the meat.</p> +<p>Mind that, and ask in reason; for I wish</p> +<p>To have that matter settled to my mind."—</p> +<p class="i2">"Sir, there's no man alive will do't so cheap</p> +<p>As I shall do it for the ready cash,"</p> +<p>Says I, to put him from it with a joke.</p> +<p>"I'll charge you, then, one-fourth part of a farthing</p> +<p>For every cubic foot of work I do,</p> +<p>Doubling the charge each foot that I descend."</p> +<p class="i2">"Doubling as you descend! Why, that of course.</p> +<p>A quarter of a farthing each square foot—</p> +<p>No meat, remember! Not an inch of meat,</p> +<p>Nor drink, nor dram. You're not to trust to these.</p> +<p>Wilt stand that bargain, Gabriel?"—"I accept."</p> +<p class="i2">He struck it, quite o'erjoy'd. We sought the clerk,</p> +<p>Sign'd—seal'd. He drew his purse. The clerk went on</p> +<p>Figuring and figuring. "What a fuss you make!</p> +<p>'Tis plain," said he, "the sum is eighteen-pence"—</p> +<p class="i2">"'Tis somewhat more, sir," said the civil clerk—</p> +<p>And held out the account. "Two hundred round,</p> +<p>And gallant payment over." The Miser's face</p> +<p>Assumed the cast of death's worst lineaments.</p> +<p>His skinny jaws fell down upon his breast;</p> +<p>He tried to speak, but his dried tongue refused</p> +<p>Its utterance, and cluck'd upon the gum.</p> +<p>His heart-pipes whistled with a crannell'd sound;</p> +<p>His knell-knees plaited, and his every bone</p> +<p>Seem'd out of joint. He raved—he cursed—he wept—</p> +<p>But payment he refused. I have my bond,</p> +<p>Not yet a fortnight old, and shall be paid.</p> +<p>It broke the Miser's heart. He ate no more,</p> +<p>Nor drank, nor spake, but groan'd until he died;</p> +<p>This grave kill'd him, and now yearns for his bones.</p> +<p>But worse than all. 'Tis twenty years and more</p> +<p>Since he brought home his coffin. On that chest</p> +<p>His eye turn'd ever and anon. It minded him,</p> +<p>He said, of death. And as be sat by night</p> +<p>Beside his beamless hearth, with blanket round</p> +<p>His shivering frame, if burst of winter wind</p> +<p>Made the door jangle, or the chimney moan,</p> +<p>Or crannied window whistle, he would start,</p> +<p>And turn his meagre looks upon that chest;</p> +<p>Then sit upon't, and watch till break of day.</p> +<p class="i2"> Old wives thought him religious—a good man!</p> +<p>A great repentant sinner, who would leave</p> +<p>His countless riches to sustain the poor.</p> +<p>But mark the issue. Yesterday, at noon,</p> +<p>Two men could scarcely move that ponderous chest</p> +<p>To the bedside to lay the body in.</p> +<p>They broke it sundry, and they found it framed</p> +<p>With double bottom! All his worshipp'd gold</p> +<p>Hoarded between the boards! O such a worm</p> +<p>Sure never writhed beneath the dunghill's base!</p> +<p>Fifteen feet under ground! and all his store</p> +<p>Snug in beneath him. Such a heaven was his.</p> +<p class="i2">Now, honest Teddy, think of such a wretch,</p> +<p>And learn to shun his vices, one and all.</p> +<p>Though richer than a Jew, he was more poor</p> +<p>Than is the meanest beggar. At the cost</p> +<p>Of other men a glutton. At his own,</p> +<p>A starveling. A mere scrub. And such a coward,</p> +<p>A cozener and liar—but a coward,</p> +<p>And would have been a thief—But was a coward.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p><i>Blackwood's Magazine.</i></p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<h2>THE SELECTOR; +AND +LITERARY NOTICES OF +<i>NEW WORKS.</i></h2> + + +<h3>PARIS AND ITS HISTORICAL SCENES</h3>. + +<h4>(<i>Library of Entertaining Knowledge, +Part 18.</i>)</h4> + +<p>We have little inclination to quote more +than a few passages from the General +View of Paris in this Number; the topographical +portion of which, (as far as +a four months residence there will serve +our judgment) is eminently characteristic.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Ancient City.</i></p> + +<p>The Archbishop of Narbonne, writing +in the reign of Francis I., (about 1520,) +calls Paris even then a world rather than +a city<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a>; yet at that period its population +was probably not much more than the +fifth part of what it now is; nor did the +quantity of ground it covered bear even +the same proportion to the immense +space over which it has now extended. +But in both convenience and elegance, +Paris has made still more extraordinary +advances since the time of Francis than +even in population and extent. It was +then, compared to what it now is, but +a gloomy and incommodious fortress, +without even the security which encompassing +fortifications might be supposed +to yield. Lighted only by candles placed +here and there by the inhabitants themselves +in their windows, it was so infested +by thieves and assassins that hardly +any person ventured out after dark, and +the approach of night was the source of +constant terror even to those who remained +in their houses. The streets thus +imperfectly lighted, were worse paved; +and most of them were as dirty and narrow +as those still to be seen in the more +ancient part of the city. The supply of +water was so inadequate that the severest +miseries were sometimes suffered +from the absolute want of that necessary +of life, and the greatest inconveniences +at all times from its scarcity. Finally, +the public edifices were without splendour, +and even the best of the private +houses unprovided with many of what +are now accounted the most indispensable +accommodations. Instead of all this, +we behold Paris now one of the very central +seats of civilization; and although +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page412" id="page412"></a>[pg 412]</span> +still deficient in many of the accommodations +which supply to the necessities of +the many instead of the luxuries of the +few, in possession of the greater portion +of the most important provisions which +ingenuity has found out, whether for the +comfort or the embellishment of existence. +What a contrast between the +French capital of 1831, and that Lutetia +of the ancient Parisii, which Caesar +found nearly nineteen hundred years ago +occupying the little island, around which +has since extended itself so wide a circle +of wealth, industry, intelligence, and the +works which these create!</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Bridges.</i></p> + +<p>Paris, stands, like London, on both +banks of a river, and is thus cut into two +great divisions, one to the north, and the +other to the south, of the water. The +Seine, however, is not nearly so broad +as the Thames; and the northern and +southern halves of Paris are not, therefore, +by any means so much separated +from each other, either locally, politically, +or socially, as are the corresponding +portions of the English metropolis. +They form, in all respects one city.</p> + +<p>The Seine flows in a direction nearly +opposite to that of the Thames, namely, +from south-east to north-west. It preserves +almost a perfectly straight course +in passing through Paris, except that it +bends considerably to the south immediately +before leaving the town. The +river, as it flows through the heart of +the city, is interrupted by three small +islands lying in succession, the two most +westerly of which, the Ile de la Cité +(otherwise called the Ile du Palais) and +the Ile St. Louis, or de Notre Dame, +are covered with streets and houses. +The third, called the Ile Louvier, is used +only as a depôt for fire-wood. The parts +of the town on the opposite sides of the +river are connected with each other, and +with these islands, by nineteen bridges, +thirteen of which are constructed of stone, +and two of stone and iron: of the others +two are chain-bridges, one is built of +wood, and two of wood and iron. Several +of these structures, especially the +Pont des Arts, the Pont Louis XVI., +and the Pont de Jena, or de l'Ecole +Militaire, all of which are to the west of +the Ile du Palais, are distinguished by +their majesty or elegance, and add much +beauty and picturesque effect to the +vista of the river. Excepting at one +place where the two branches enclosing +the Ile du Palais unite, immediately to +the west of that island, the breadth of +the Seine at Paris is no where greater +than about 550 English feet, and at some +points it is not more than half that distance +from the one bank to the other. +The bridges, therefore, by which the +Seine is traversed, are not to be compared +in point of magnitude with those +of the Thames at London. Even the +Pont Neuf, which connects the Ile du +Palais with both the northern and the +southern divisions of the city, and comprehends +in fact two bridges, with an +intermediate street, is shorter taken +altogether, than Waterloo bridge by +more than 200 feet; and the Pont Louis +XVI., which next to the Pont Neuf is +the longest of the Parisian stone bridges, +measures only about 485 feet between +the abutments, while Westminster Bridge +measures 1223, and Waterloo Bridge +1242 feet. It is in the <i>number</i> of its +bridges alone, therefore, that the Seine +is superior to the Thames.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>The Boulevards.</i></p> + +<p>The most remarkable feature in the +general appearance of Paris, is the inner +inclosure formed by the celebrated road +called the <i>Boulevards</i>. On the north +side of the river, the Boulevards follow +a line nearly midway, on an average, +between the river and the wall. The +space which they comprehend, therefore, +is but a small portion of that included +within the outer boundary of the city. +The length of this part of the road is +about 5,200 English yards, or somewhat +under three miles. That on the south +side of the river is of far greater extent, +approaching, as it does, throughout its +whole sweep, very much closer to the +wall, and in some parts entirely coinciding +with it. It measures about 16,000 yards, +or above nine miles in length. Each of +these lines, although in reality forming +an uninterrupted road from its commencement +to its termination, is divided into a +succession of parts, each having its particular +name. The northern Boulevards +are twelve in number, the southern +seven. We have nothing in England +like the Parisian Boulevards. They may +be generally described as a road or +street, of great breadth, along each side +of which are planted double rows of elms. +But these shady avenues do not present +merely a picture of rural beauty. Rising +as they do in the heart of a great city, +they partake also of its artificial elegance +and splendour, and are associated with +all the luxuries of architectural decoration. +Considered merely as a range of +streets, the Boulevards are hardly rivalled +by any other part of Paris. Those to +the north of the river are lined on both +sides throughout their whole extent, by +buildings more uniformly handsome than +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page413" id="page413"></a>[pg 413]</span> +are those of almost any other street in +the city, and by many which may be +even described as magnificent. Some of +these are private residences; others are +shops, cafés, public hotels, and theatres. +The crowds by whom so many parts of +these Boulevards are frequented chiefly +give to the scene its singular liveliness +and brilliancy. The southern Boulevards, +though equally beautiful, are far +from being so much the habitual resort +of the citizens; but the walks on this +very account, have a charm for some +moods of mind which the others want. +Another road, planted in a similar manner, +has more recently been carried +round the outside of the present walls of +the city. It is distinguished from the +inner Boulevards by the name of the +<i>Boulevards Extérieurs</i>.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Streets</i>.</p> + +<p>To a person accustomed to the appearance +of the streets of London, or indeed +of any other English town, those of the +interior of Paris will present considerable +novelty of aspect. The extreme +narrowness, in the first place, of those +in the more ancient parts of the city, and +the great height of the houses, with +their windows in many cases fortified by +bars of iron, would alone give them an +air of gloom and precaution, almost +sufficient to impress the Englishman +who walks through them with the feeling +that he has been transported, not +only into another country, but into +another age. Even where these indications +of the more ancient evils of Paris +are not visible, the general aspect of the +town shows that it has not grown with +the growth of a free people, amongst +whom the inequalities of rank have been +softened down by respect to the comforts +of all classes. Under the ancient régime, +which was in full activity half a century +ago, there were only two classes in Paris, +the <i>noblesse</i>, and the <i>bourgeoisie</i>; and +the latter, being driven into the gutters +by the carriage-wheels of their arrogant +masters, went by the general name of +the <i>canaille</i>. Few of the streets even +now have any side pavement for foot +passengers—that invaluable accommodation +which gives such perfect security +to the pedestrian even in our most crowded +and tumultuous thoroughfare. The +causeway itself, on which walkers and +drivers are thus mingled together in +confusion, is often most uneven and +rugged. The stones of which it is formed, +about ten inches square, present each +a convex surface, usually wet and slippery, +so that under the most favourable +circumstances, walking in the streets of +Paris is anything but an agreeable exercise. +Still farther to abridge the level +space, the street is made to incline from +both sides towards the centre, in order +to form there a sort of ditch, in which +flows a black and fetid stream. From +the want of a proper system of drains, +this receptacle of filth is generally sufficiently +replenished even in the driest +weather, to keep the whole street wet +and dirty. Carriages, having usually +one wheel in the midst of the kennel, +dash about the offensive puddle in all +directions. But the principle of a clear +middle way, such as our English streets +possess, is neglected in all the arrangements +connected with those of Paris. +Even the lights, instead of being fixed +on posts, as ours are, at the sides, are +suspended in the middle on ropes swung +across, and having their opposite ends +fastened to the walls of the houses. It +was these ropes which the mob, in the +Revolution of 1789, were wont to make +use of as halters for their victims; whence +their famous cry of <i>á la lanterne</i>, as +they dragged them along to execution.</p> + +<p>The aspect of Paris by night, except +in a few of the principal streets where +gas has been very partially introduced, +is singularly gloomy. The darkness is +occasionally relieved by the brilliancy of +a café; but in the more quiet parts of +the town, particularly in the fashionable +quarter of the Faubourg St. Germain, it +is almost impossible for the pedestrian +to direct his steps aright. It is quite +evident that the arrangements of this +capital have not been made for a walking +people. This evil, however, is fast +disappearing. Numerous <i>passages</i> have +been constructed, within the last ten +years, which are paved with flat stones, +and brilliantly lighted; and the active +and pleasure-seeking population of Paris +crowd to these attractive and convenient +places, to the Boulevards, or to the Palais-Royal, +and leave the narrow and +dirty streets principally to the few who +keep their own carriages, or to the many +who hire public conveyances. These +are of various kinds; and such was the +growing importance of the middle classes, +that <i>fiacres</i> (so called after the sign of +St Fiacre, at the house where they were +first established) were in use a century +and a half ago.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the Part is occupied +with a sketch of the Revolution of 1789.</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>REFORM OF EARLY PARLIAMENTS.</h3> + +<p>Though no language can adequately +condemn the base subserviency of Henry's +parliament, it may be reasonably doubted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page414" id="page414"></a>[pg 414]</span> +whether his reign was, in its ultimate +consequences, injurious to public +liberty. The immense revolutions of his +time in property, in religion, and in the +inheritance of the crown, never could +have been effected without the concurrence +of parliament. Their acquiescence +and co-operation in the spoliation +of property, and the condemnation of +the innocent, tempted him to carry all +his purposes into execution, through +their means. Those who saw the attainders +of queens, the alteration of an +established religion, and the frequent +disturbance of the regal succession, accomplished +by acts of parliament, considered +nothing as beyond the jurisdiction +of so potent an assembly.<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> If the supremacy +was a tremendous power, it +accustomed the people to set no bounds +to the authority of those who bestowed +it on the king. The omnipotence of +parliament appeared no longer a mere +hyperbole. Let it not be supposed, +that to mention the good thus finally +educed from such evils, is intended or +calculated to palliate crimes, or to lessen +our just abhorrence of criminals. Nothing, +on the contrary, seems more to +exalt the majesty of virtue than to point +out the tendency of the moral government +of the world, which, as in this +instance, turns the worst enemies of all +that is good into the laborious slaves +of justice. Of all outward benefits, +the most conducive to virtue as well +as to happiness is, doubtless, popular +and representative government. It is the +reverse of a degradation of it to observe, +that its establishment among us +was perhaps partially promoted by the +sensuality, rapacity, and cruelty of Henry +VIII. The course of affairs is always +so dark, the beneficial consequences of +public events are so distant and uncertain, +that the attempt to do evil in order +to produce good is in men a most criminal +usurpation.</p> + +<p>Some direct benefits the constitution +owes to this reign. The act which +established a parliamentary representation +in so considerable a territory as +Wales may be regarded as the principal +reformation in the composition of the +House of Commons since its legal maturity +in the time of Edward I. That +principality had been divided into twelve +shires: of which eight were ancient,<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> +and four owed their origin to a statute +of Henry's reign.<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> Knights, citizens, +and burgesses were now directed to be +chosen and sent to parliament from the +shires, cities, and burghs of Wales.<a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> A +short time before, the same privileges +were granted to the county palatine of +Chester, of which the preamble contains +a memorable recognition and establishment +of the principles which are +the basis of the elective part of our constitution.<a id="footnotetag8" name="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> +Nearly thirty members were +thus added to the House of Commons +on the principle of the Chester bill: +that is disadvantageous to a province to +be unrepresented; that representation +is essential to good government; and +that those who are bound by the laws +ought to have a reasonable share of direct +influence on the passing of laws. +As the practical disadvantages are only +generally alleged, and could scarcely +have been proved, they must have been +inferred from the nature of a House of +Commons. The British constitution +was not thought to be enjoyed by a +district till a popular representation was +bestowed on it. Election by the people +was regarded, not as a source of tumult, +but as the principle most capable of +composing disorder in territories not +represented.—<i>Cabinet Cyclopaedia</i>, vol. +xix. <i>Sir James Mackintosh's History of +England</i>, vol. ii.</p> + +<hr class="full"/> + + +<h2>THE TOPOGRAPHER.</h2> + + +<h3>TRAVELLING NOTES IN SOUTH WALES.</h3> + +<h4>(<i>Continued from page 312.</i>)</h4> + + +<p>The grounds of Penrice Castle, which +stretch to the sea-shore, and on which +art has embellished scenery possessing +capabilities of a high order—are exceedingly +picturesque and extensive. +Penrice bears marks of having been a +Roman station. Henry de Newburgh, +Earl of Warwick, here defeated the +Welsh prince, Rhys, which decided the +fate of Gower. He was beheaded +after the battle, whence the Welsh +name, Pen-Rhys. On the field of battle +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page415" id="page415"></a>[pg 415]</span> +the victor erected Penrice Castle, +which is now certainly a striking ruin. +On the coast near Penrice is the village +and ruins of the Castle of Oxwich, +now a barn—<i>sic transit!</i></p> + +<p>The afternoon was waxing apace—we +had lost time in attending to our +horses, for ostler there was none—and +in musing amongst the simply decorated +graves in the humble churchyard;<a id="footnotetag9" name="footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> +after discussing with great relish our +repast of eggs and bacon, and Welsh +ale, the best the village afforded, (by +the way, we shall not readily forget the +fluster of our Welsh hostess when we +talked of dining on our arrival at the +little hostelrie) we then rode down to +the sea-shore, intending to cross the +sandy beach of Oxwich, which extends +several miles, on our return to the +Gower Inn. The tide flows with great +rapidity on this coast, and it had already +advanced to the foot of a stupendous +headland, which juts into the beach +about half way. We waded our horses +through the surf—but how can we do +justice to the splendour of the scenery +around us. The alternations of stern +and savage beauty—the gigantic masses +of "fantastic cliffs," and caverns, that +have stood the combat of the mighty +Atlantic for countless ages? Oxwich is +almost unknown to the traveller, and +there are few coast scenes in these +islands that surpass it in beauty. We +lingered long on the shore. There is a +perpetual "jabble" against the cliffs on +this coast—and we have seldom met +with a soul save an aged and solitary +fisherwoman—a study for a Bonington—pursuing +her precarious calling of +crab or shrimp fishing, or of pulling +lobsters from their retreats in the savage +cliffs.</p> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i10"> A holy peace,</p> +<p>Pervades this <i>sea-shore solitude</i>—The world</p> +<p>And all who love that world, are far away!</p><br /> +<p><span style="margin-left: 10em;">N.T. CARRINGTON.</span></p> + </div> </div> + + +<p>It was getting dusk when we ascended +from the shore, on our way homewards, +past the wild—the truly shattered, and +desolate ruins of Pennard Castle; which +bear, we think, decided marks of having +been erected long prior to the Norman +era. The country people tell you +its origin was supernatural; and some +writers ascribe it to that great castle-builder, +Henry de Newburgh. Pennard +stands in a situation of extreme beauty, +and deeply rivets the attention:</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"The stones have voices, and the walls do live,</p> +<p>It is the House of Memory!"</p> +<br /> +<p ><span style="margin-left: 10em;">MATAIRE.</span></p> </div> </div> + + +<p>Our favourite mare and her companion +were in high spirits, (horses are +generally so on returning) exhilarated +by the rapid motion; and our hearts +elate with the "songs of spring," we +returned home on as sweet an April +evening as ever blessed man.</p> + +<p>Another interesting excursion maybe +made to Cefyn-bryn, the most elevated +hill in the district, about twelve miles +from Swansea. The road to Western +Gower is carried over it; the summit +is level, and a carriage may be driven in +safety for a couple of miles to the +southern point; which commands, on a +clear day, in one direction, a vast and +unbounded view of the Bristol Channel, +the whitened houses of Ilfracombe, with +the hills of Devon and Somerset, Lundy +Island, and the scenery of Swansea Bay. +And on the reverse of the picture, almost +the whole peninsula of Gower, the +extensive estuary of the Burry River, +and part of the beautiful expanse of the +County and Bay of Carmarthen, is +spread out like a map before you. King +Arthur's Stone, an immense rock of +<i>lapis molaris</i>, twenty tons weight, supported +by a circle of others—the remains +of Druidism—invites the attention +of the antiquary, on the north-west +point of Cefyn-bryn. We may here remark +that this district, especially the +coast, offers a rich harvest to the geologist. +The general substratum of the +peninsula is limestone and marble, +bounded to the north by an immense +iron and coalfield. The limestone stratum +is continually "cropping out" in the interior, +and of course it can be worked +at a trifling expense. This may account +for the general healthiness of the district. +Though rain in consequence of +the western exposure, falls frequently, +and sometimes with great violence, yet +it speedily runs off, leaving none of the +bad effects which would be produced in +a tenacious soil. Marble of valuable +quality is worked at Oystermouth.</p> + +<p>But we must hasten to close our Notes +on Gower—<i>to proceed with our circuit +of the coast:—West from Oxwich is +Porteyron</i>, where there is an extensive +lobster and oyster fishery, near which +is Landewy Castle. There is a wonderful +precipice here. Further west we +come to the village of Rossilly, near the +Worms-Head, the termination of a range +of rocks, which form the western point +of the peninsula, being connected with +it by a low isthmus. It extends more +than a mile into the ocean, and at half-flood +becomes an island. The name +arose by mariners comparing it to a +worm with its head erect, between the +Nass Point and St. Gower's Head, in +Pembrokeshire. The scenery here is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page416" id="page416"></a>[pg 416]</span> +deeply interesting. This wild and desolate +coast has proved fatal to numberless +ships; the recent erection of the +light-house on Caldy Island, near Tenby, +on the opposite point of Carmarthen +Bay, has, however, been most important. +Several Indiamen have been wrecked +here, and about fifty years since, a +quantity of Spanish dollars, date 1625, +were found amongst the sand, when the +tide had receded unusually far, supposed +to be part of the cargo of the "Scanderoon +galley" lost on this coast nearly +two centuries ago. This would do for +the "Vigo Bay Company." We proceed +along the western shore of Carmarthen +Bay, till we pass Whitford +Point, a singular <i>peninsula of sand</i>, +covered with reeds, which stands the +fury of the tide, forming one side of +the wide estuary of Barry, along the +coast of which we pass a Roman encampment +at Llanmadoc—the striking +Castle of Llanridian, and other ruins, +as we return eastward to Swansea; till +we arrive at the village—we forget ourselves, +the <i>Borough</i> of Castell Llwchyr, +or Loughor, the <i>Leucarum</i> of Antoninus, +and the fifth Roman station on the +<i>Via Julia</i>. It is seven miles from +Swansea. Upon a mount, the supposed +work of the Romans, is a square tower, +the remains of a castle built by Henry, +Earl of Warwick. Three miles to the +east are two Roman encampments; many +Roman coins have been found at Loughor, +from whence there is a ferry to the +Carmarthenshire side opposite, which +is fordable at low water. There is a +large colliery here. It is a delightful +sail from this village down the Burry +River to Whitford Point, or round the +coast to Worms-Head.</p> + +<h4>VYVYAN.</h4> + +<hr class="full"/> + + +<h2>THE GATHERER.</h2> + +<blockquote><p> +"A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles."</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 8em;">SHAKSPEARE.</span></p></blockquote> + + +<p><i>The following curious letter was found +among the papers of a Mr. Goldwyre, +Surgeon, of Salisbury.</i></p> + +<p>To Mr. Edward Goldwyre, at his house +on the Close of Salisbury.</p> + +<p>Sir,—Being informed that you are +the only surgeon in this city (or country) +that anatomises men, and I being under +the present unhappy circumstances, and +in a very mean condition, would gladly +live as long as I can, but by all appearances +I am to be executed next March, +but having no friends on earth that will +speak a word to save my life, nor send +me a morsel of bread to keep life and +soul together until that fatal day; so if +you will vouchsafe to come hither, I +will gladly sell you my body (being +whole and sound) to be ordered at your +discretion, knowing that it will rise +again at the general resurrection, as well +from your house as from the grave. +Your answer will highly oblige, yours, +&c.</p> + +<p>JAMES BROOKE.<br /> + <i>Fisherton-Auger Gaol</i>,<br /> + <i>Oct</i>. 3, 1736.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A farmer walking out one day, by +chance met Jack Ketch, and jocosely +asked him whether he could tell him the +difference between their trades. "That +I can," said Jack, "the only difference +is <i>utility</i>—you till, I tie."</p> + +<h4>WALTER.</h4> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>What is the most suitable motto for a +doctor's carriage? Live or die.</p> + +<p>Why is the <i>carver</i> in a cook-shop like +a naval officer? Because he commands +a <i>cutter</i>.</p> + +<h4>W.G.C.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h3>EPITAPHS.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Here lies poor Thomas, and his Wife,</p> +<p>Who led a pretty jarring life;</p> +<p>But all is ended—do you see?</p> +<p>He holds his tongue, and so does she.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>If drugs and physic could but save</p> +<p>Us mortals from the dreary grave,</p> +<p>'Tis known that I took full enough</p> +<p>Of the apothecaries' stuff</p> +<p>To have prolong'd life's busy feast</p> +<p>To a full century at least;</p> +<p>But spite of all the doctors' skill,</p> +<p>Of daily draught and nightly pill,</p> +<p>Reader, as sure as you're alive,</p> +<p>I was sent here at twenty-five.</p> + </div> </div> + +<hr /> + +<h3>FOR ALL FAMILIES.</h3> + +<p class="center">This Day, Second Edition, price 5s.</p> + +<p class="center">FAMILY MANUAL and SERVANTS' GUIDE,</p> + +<p>With upwards of One Thousand New and Approved +Receipts, arranged and adapted for Families +and all Classes of Servants.</p> + +<p>"We shall recommend this book every where, +if it were only for the sake of the excellent suggestions +on the 'self-improvement' of house-servants."—<i>Gardeners' +Magazine</i>, June 1830.</p> + +<p>"It should find a place in the kitchen or servants' +hall of those who desire to blend comfort +with elegance, and prudence with luxury."—<i>New +Monthly Magazine</i>, Feb. 1831.</p> + +<p>"This book contains a mass of information +that cannot fail to be useful in the conduct of +household affairs."—<i>Atlas</i>, May 22.</p> + +<p>"No servant should he without it."—<i>Morning +Advertiser</i>, April 27.</p> + +<p class="center">Printed for JOHN LIMBIRD, 143. Strand.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b><a href="#footnotetag1"> (return) </a><p>Ballot Newspaper.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b><a href="#footnotetag2"> (return) </a><p>It must not be supposed that the opinion on +the immortality of the soul was confined either +to Christians or Jews; according to Herodotus, +(lib. 2) the Massagetae believed in the immortality +of the soul; the most eminent of the ancient +philosophers invariably advocated that doctrine, +one of the most important in the Christian's +Creed.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a><b>Footnote 3:</b><a href="#footnotetag3"> (return) </a><p>Felibien, Histoire de Paris, tome i.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a><b>Footnote 4:</b><a href="#footnotetag4"> (return) </a><p>The observations of Nathaniel Bacon, or +rather of Selden from whose MS. notes he is +said to have written his book, deserve serious +consideration. Bacon on the Laws and Government +of England, chap. 27.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a><b>Footnote 5:</b><a href="#footnotetag5"> (return) </a><p>Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, +Flint, Carnarvon, Anglesea and Merioneth.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a><b>Footnote 6:</b><a href="#footnotetag6"> (return) </a><p>Radnor, Brecknock, Montgomery, and Denbigh, +27 Henry 8 c. 26.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a><b>Footnote 7:</b><a href="#footnotetag7"> (return) </a><p>34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 26. s. 50.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote8" name="footnote8"></a><b>Footnote 8:</b><a href="#footnotetag8"> (return) </a><p>34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 13.—"That the said +county have hitherto been excluded from the +high court of parliament, to have any knights +and burgesses within the said court, by reason +whereof the inhabitants have sustained manifold +damages in their lands, goods, and bodies, as +well as in the good governance of the commonwealth +of their said country; and for as much as +they have been bound by the acts of the said +court, and yet have had no knights and burgesses +therein, for lack whereof they have been +often touched and grieved by the acts of the said +parliament, prejudicial to the commonwealth, +quietness, rest, and peace of your highness's +bounden subjects, inhabiting within the said +county," &c.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote9" name="footnote9"></a><b>Footnote 9:</b><a href="#footnotetag9"> (return) </a><p>See <i>Mirror</i>, vol. xvi. p. 253.</p></blockquote> +<hr class="full" /> + +<p><i>Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, +Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; sold +by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, +Leipsic; G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. +Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen and +Booksellers.</i></p> +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, No. 494., by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE *** + +***** This file should be named 13090-h.htm or 13090-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/0/9/13090/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Victoria Woosley and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 494. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: August 2, 2004 [EBook #13090] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Victoria Woosley and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + + + +No. 494.] SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1831. [Price 2d. + + + +[Illustration.] + + +EXETER HALL, STRAND. + + +We rejoice to see the site of Burleigh House partly occupied by the +above Building. Its object is to afford accommodation for the meetings +of Philanthropic Societies--so that whatever may be the olden +celebrity of the spot, it is reasonable to expect that its present +appropriation will be associated with the most grateful recollections. + +This building is, perhaps, the most perfect erection of its kind in +England. The approach from the Strand is remarkably modest: it is by a +very narrow, though very chaste, door-way, situated between two +Corinthian columns and pilasters. Within the door is a hall, with two +flights of steps, which afterwards unite, and lead up to the entrance +of the great hall itself; the hall below leads into a broad passage, +which extends to the farther extremity of the building, opening right +and left into various offices. On entering the door of the great hall, +a vast and splendid room is presented to view, with scarcely a single +interruption to the eye throughout its whole extent, capable of +containing, with comfort, more than 3,000 persons. The floor is +covered with substantial oak seats, equal to the accommodation of +2,500 persons. The greater portion of these are situated on a gentle +rise, to permit a perfect view of the platform on which the +proceedings take place. The platform is raised about six feet from the +floor, and extends the whole breadth of the room, curving inwards, the +extremities bending towards the audience: it contains seats for nearly +300 individuals. Behind this gallery again, are very capacious +recesses, which will hold from three to four hundred persons. The +lower part of the walls of the room is quite plain, the architect, +probably, regarding the audience as a sufficient ornament in that +quarter, though the rising of the seats would obscure carved-work if +it were there. The windows are at a considerable height from the +ground, and are of dimmed glass, with a chaste and classical border. +The ceiling, which is at a noble height, is beautifully laid out in +squares, with borderings and rosettes. An oblong opening occurs in the +centre, with massive beams stretching across, presenting to view an +erection in the roof, a form of construction, probably, necessary to +so immense a mass of roofing, and serving also for the purposes of +ventilation, as it contains windows at each end. There are four +pillars near the end of the hall, rising to the ceiling, the capitals +of which, as also those of some pilasters at the upper extremity of +the hall, are exquisitely carved in straw-coloured marble. Behind the +platform are numerous and convenient committee-rooms. The word +"Philadelpheion," which may be rendered "loving brothers," is carved +in Greek capitals over the entrance in the Strand.[1] + +Exeter Hall has been erected by subscription, by a public company +established for the purpose. + + [1] Ballot Newspaper. + + * * * * * + + +WILLS OF SHAKSPEARE, MILTON AND BUONAPARTE. + +(_To the Editor._) + + +The last wills and testaments of the three greatest men of modern ages +are tied up in one sheet of foolscap, and may be seen together at +Doctors Commons. In the will of the "Bard of Avon" is an +interlineation in his own handwriting--"I give unto my wife my brown +best bed, with the furniture." It is proved by William Byrde, 22nd +July, 1616. + +The will of the Minstrel of Paradise is a nuncupative one taken by his +daughter, the great poet being blind. + +The will of Napoleon, to whom future ages, in spite of legitimacy, +will confirm the epithet "le grand," is signed in a bold style of +handwriting; the codicil, on the contrary, written shortly before his +death, exhibits the then weak state of his body. + +T.H.K. + + * * * * * + + +VERNAL STANZAS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + The earth displayed its robe of gorgeous hues, + And o'er the tufted violets softly stole + The downy pinions of the fragrant wind, + Which tuned the brook with music; there were clouds + O'er the blue heaven dispersed in various shapes, + And touch'd with most impassive light, whereon + The heart might dwell and dream of future bliss; + And as the sound of distant bells awaked + The echoes of the woods, they raised the thoughts + To worlds more bright and beautiful than ours! + + G.R.C. + + The spring has waved her sunny wing + Upon the verdant earth, + And winds from distant, places bring + The festal tones of mirth; + The sky appears an azure field, + With clouds emblazoned like a shield. + + A golden light has touched the woods, + And o'er the silent dell + A languid breathless quiet broods, + Scarce broken by the swell + Of streams that whisper through the air, + As if they were awaked to pray'r. + + Survey the lovely scene around, + The river beams in gold, + Its rippling waves with song resound, + And rainbow light unfold, + And as the flow'rs unclose their eyes, + Their hue seems coloured by the skies. + + The mould'ring church on yonder slope, + Perchance by heaven designed + To consecrate the heart with hope, + In ivy-wreaths is shrined: + Its rural tombs are green with age, + And types of earthly pilgrimage. + + On this delightful vernal day, + In scenes so rich and fair, + The spirit feels a hallow'd ray + Kindling its essence there; + And Fancy haunts the mourner's urn, + "With thoughts that breathe, and words that burn." + +_Deal._ G.R.C. + + * * * * * + + +POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + All power of fancy over reason is a degree of + insanity.--JOHNSON. + + +In a former number I gave some observations on apparitions, and I +shall here continue my remarks. + +The argument that was used by Dr. Johnson was founded on premises +that are as inadmissible as his conclusion, viz. that the popular +opinion in favour of the reality of apparitions could only obtain +universal credence by its truth. This is very plausible, but destitute +of foundation. Does the learned doctor mean to deny the universality +of errors? does he mean to call the whole body of the learned and +enlightened cavillers? and that because they are not willing to +consent to his monstrous opinion? To reverse the argument, does he +mean to deny the truth of the Scriptures, or is he bold enough to +assert that they have received universal credence? So much for the +arguments wielded by Dr. Johnson, who has not been unaptly termed the +Colossus of Literature. The idea that departed spirits revisited the +earth, probably took its rise from the opinion of the immortality of +the soul, which was very general in both ancient and modern times.[2] +This supposition is most consonant with probability. It is always to +be remarked that this species of superstition is most prevalent in +those countries where learning and reason have made but little +progress. The demons [Greek: Daimones] and genii of former times were +exactly the same as the ghosts of this; the same attributes, the same +power, and the same malice were observed of one, as are now attributed +to the other. By the Chaldeans these demons were divided into two +kinds, good and bad. But as it is foreign to my purpose to enter into +an investigation of the opinions of the ancients on this subject, I +shall content myself with referring the curious reader to Stanley's +_History of Philosophy_, a deservedly popular work. + + [2] It must not be supposed that the opinion on the + immortality of the soul was confined either to Christians or + Jews; according to Herodotus, (lib. 2) the Massagetae believed + in the immortality of the soul; the most eminent of the + ancient philosophers invariably advocated that doctrine, one + of the most important in the Christian's Creed. + +I shall here recount one of the most extraordinary tales relating to +this subject that I ever heard; I believe the solution is evident, and +I am not aware that it has appeared before; but if it has, some of the +readers of the Mirror may not have seen it. + +A surgeon of Edinburgh was confined to his bed by some illness, and at +"the dewy hour of eve," when the room was lighted by nothing but the +glimmering and flickering light of a wood fire, he perceived _a female +sitting at the foot of the bed clothed in white_! Imagining that it +was some defect in his sight, he gazed more intensely at it, still it +was there. He then raised his hand before his eyes and he did not +perceive it; on withdrawing it the apparition was there. Closing his +eyes he went through a mathematical calculation to convince himself he +was in his right senses; upon reopening them he still perceived her +there. The fire then went out and he saw no more. I confess I see no +difficulty in accounting for this, by supposing the gentleman was +afflicted with that horrid disease of which Sir Walter Scott gives +many cases in his _Demonology and Witchcraft._ Although I have no +warrant for asserting spirits do not return, yet I must say, all the +tales I have ever heard do not necessarily require any such +interpretation on them. It may be true, and so may everything which we +have no evidence against or for. If my opinion on the subject was to +be shaken by anything, it would be with the following story, which was +given to me by one whose veracity I have no reason to doubt. + +There is, or rather was, a very ancient castle in Lancashire, near +Liverpool, called Castle de Bergh, which belongs to a noble family of +that name. Many years ago the possessor of the castle, Mr. de Burgh, +died, and the castle was then let out to various of the tenantry, +among whom was a carpenter. Two years after the death of Mr. de Burgh, +as this carpenter was employed in his workshop, about a quarter of a +mile from the castle, melting glue, it being evening, and only four of +his men with him, he perceived a gentleman in mourning passing the +lathe where the men were at work. He was immediately seized with a +violent trembling and weakness, his hair stood on end, and a clammy +sweat spread over his forehead. The lights were put out, he knew not +how, and at last, in fear and terror, he was obliged to return home. +On his arrival at the castle, as he was passing up the stairs, he +heard a footstep behind, and on turning round he perceived the same +apparition. He hastily entered his room, and bolted, locked, and +barred the door, but to his horror and surprise this offered no +impediment to his ghostly visiter, for the door sprang open at his +touch, and he entered the room! The apparition was seen by various +others, all of whom asserted it bore the strongest resemblance to +their deceased master! One gentleman spoke to him, and the spirit told +him "that he was not happy." + +_Foley Place._ AN ANTIQUARY. + + * * * * * + + +LINES. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Upon the silent grassy bed, + Shall maiden's tears at eve be shed, + And friendship's self shall often there + Heave the sigh, and breathe the pray'r. + Young flowers of spring around shall bloom, + And summer's roses deck thy tomb. + The primrose ope its modest breast + Where thy lamented ashes rest, + And cypress branches lowly bend + Where thy lov'd form with clay shall blend. + The silver willow darkly wave + Above thy unforgotten grave, + And woodbine leaves will fondly creep, + Where * * lies in holy sleep. + +_Sturminster._ COLBOURNE. + + * * * * * + + +PARLIAMENTARY SCRAPS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +Lord Coke, in his fourth institute, defines certain qualities +essentially requisite to constitute a good member of parliament; and +he refers to a parliament roll, 3 Henry VI., which affirms that a +parliament man should have three properties ascribed to the +elephant--1. That he hath no gall; 2. That he is inflexible, and +cannot bow; 3. That he is of a most ripe and perfect memory.--1. To be +without malice, rancour, heat, and envy;--in elephante melancholia +transit in nutrimentum corporis: every gallish inclination, if any +were, should tend to the good of the whole body--the commonwealth. 2. +That he be constant, inflexible, and not be bowed, or turned from the +right, either from fear, reward, or favour; not in judgment respect +any person. 3. That in remembering perils past, dangers to come may be +prevented. + +To these, addition is made by Lord Coke of two other properties of +elephants: the one, that though they be maximae virtutis et maximi +intellectus, of great strength and understanding, _tamen gregatim +semper incedunt_, yet they are sociable, and go in companies; for +_animalia gregalia non sunt nociva, sed animalia solivaga sunt +nociva_: sociable creatures that go in flocks or herds are not +hurtful--as deer, sheep, &c.; but beasts that walk solely or +singularly, as bears, foxes, &c., are dangerous and hurtful. The other +property is, that the elephant is philanthropos, homini erranti viam +ostendit. And, in the opinion of Coke, these properties ought every +parliament man to have. + +Neither the ancient nor modern election statutes mention, or imply, +the existence of a "candidate." The old laws direct that the +representative shall be freely and indifferently chosen by the +electors. The choice was of their own motion, and the person elected +was passive. Even at the present day, the law does not contemplate his +asking for votes, and therefore does not allow, after the issuing of +the writ, sufficient time for a regular canvass. The term "candidate" +had its derivation from the person being _candidatus,_ clothed in +white, as symbolical of the wearer's purity. + +James I. issued a proclamation, in which the voters for members of +parliament are directed "not to choose curious and wrangling lawyers, +who seek reputation by stirring needless questions." + +At the Sussex election, in 1807, an elector, named Morton, voted in +right of his patrimonial land at Rusper, which had been in possession +of his ancestors 750 years. + +W.G.C. + + * * * * * + + +SONNET + +TO AN EOLIN HARP, HEARD AT EVENING. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Soft breathings of aerial melody, + Ye seem like love-songs from the elfin land, + Or soundings from that heaven-commissioned band, + Ushering the good man to the bliss on high. + Now swells the chorus full, anon ye die + Away upon the breeze, so soft and bland + Melting on evening's ear. Sure Love's own hand + In kindest mood hath wrought this minstrelsy. + How to the lorn heart does its influence creep, + As the wild winds sweep o'er the fairy strings, + Bringing again departed, perish'd things, + O'er which we feel it luxury to weep. + Sing on ye zephyr-sprites, your vespers cheer + The heart, whose off'ring is a holy tear. + +_Sturminster._ COLBOURNE. + + * * * * * + + + +THE COSMOPOLITE. + +HINTS FOR SELF-ADVANCEMENT; OR, HOW TO MAKE ONE'S WAY IN THE WORLD. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +When you visit married people, pay particular attention to their +children: the more noisy, troublesome, and disagreeable they are, the +more is it incumbent upon you to praise them. Should the baby +entertain you with a passionate squall for an hour or two, vow that it +is "a charming child"--"a sweet pet"--"a dear, pretty, little +creature," &c. &c. Call red hair auburn, and "a sweet, uncommon +colour;" a squint, or cross-eye, think "an agreeable expression;" +maintain that an ugly child is extremely handsome, and the image +either of one or other of its parents, or of its handsomest, +wealthiest, or most aristocratic relations. Discover which of a +family is mamma's, and which papa's favourite, and pay your court +accordingly; for it is better to lavish, in this case, your attentions +and encomiums upon one or two, than upon all. + +When requiring an introduction to any great people, scruple not to +avail yourself of the services of the little; but when mounted as high +as you please, by all means kick down your ladders, cast away your +stepping stones--since they might, instead of being of any further +assistance, only prove incumbrances to you. + +Take every opportunity of joining in conversation with those to whom +you desire to recommend yourself. Should you feel at a loss for topics +of discourse, mention servants, and tradesmen, upon whom fail not to +bestow most hearty abuse;--vow that they are an unprincipled set of +knaves, scoundrels, and thieves. Hence you will be thought to have +"much to say for yourself;" and should you be enabled to narrate any +grievous losses sustained from these members of society, you will +obtain credit for having "something to lose" at any rate, and find it +of incalculable value. + +When you direct a letter to a knight bachelor--though it is indeed +customary and well-bred to omit altogether the Knt.--yet it will never +be taken amiss should you venture to address him as a Knight of the +Garter, Bath, &c. &c., or even as a Baronet. Undoubtedly it is as +vulgar to misapprehend and confound titles, as it is to mispronounce +and misspell names; nevertheless rest assured, that flattered vanity +will go far to pardon vulgarity. + +If a gentleman, pay infinite attention to the single ladies of a +family--compliment, flirt, converse with, and ask them to dance. This +conduct will obtain for you, on account of the fair creatures, +marvellous good report, numerous invitations; and if you have +sufficient tact to steer clear of committing yourself for more than a +few flattering and general attentions, you may be considered one of +the happiest of those who live--by their wits, and upon their friends. + +Should your "dancing days be over," which is scarcely probable, +considering how greatly it is now the fashion for "potent, grave, and +reverend signors," and signoras also, to join the gay quadrille, &c. +(and here we may as well note, that in genteel society, dowager +honourables and old ladies may dance, whilst young, plain misses may +not)--there are sundry modes of rendering yourself agreeable, which +your own taste and talents, it is to be presumed, will naturally +suggest: chess, whist, ecarte, quadrille, &c. &c., not to mention a +little practical knowledge of music, are acquirements which cause an +individual to be considered "very agreeable"--because very useful; and +rely upon it, as the world goes, utility in nine cases out of ten is, +with society, a consideration. Hence, no creature is so universally +voted disagreeable as one from whom no kind of service can be exacted; +and whilst roues, gamesters, and tipplers, duelists, pugilists, and +blacklegs, are tolerated in society, stupid men are overlooked, or +thrust out of it with contempt. + +Dress in the extreme of fashion: you can neither gain nor maintain +your ground without so doing; and as you have an end to answer, which +your tailors or milliners have not, of course you will not suffer the +unfashionable dictates of conscience, respecting their bills, to +interfere with your proceedings. + +Answer an invitation as soon as it is received; many individuals defer +so doing for some days, which certainly shows fashionable ease and +nonchalance, besides allowing time for the arrival of another and +preferable one; but, by those who are absolutely bent upon advancing +themselves in society, this practice is to be eschewed, since by +perplexing, it so annoys the donor of a fete, that the chances are +greatly against your ever again being asked. + +Never omit, the day after a party, to send or leave your card, as an +acknowledgment for the civility you have received. This ceremony, +indeed, it is to your interest frequently to repeat at the doors of +your friends, since it will ensure your never being forgotten by them. + +Never go to an evening party until you are pretty certain that +everybody else is coming away. Your consequence will by this conduct +be enhanced;--you may protest that you have already appeared at two or +three balls, &c. When, if a student or fashionable novel-writer, your +time may have been more rationally employed at home, you go too late +to dance much, if the exercise, or rather the partners, be +disagreeable to you; you ensure being seen, which is something,--for, +alas! how many worthy aspirants to fashion, fortune, and fame, if of +no actual importance, are fated to pass unnoticed in a crowd! and the +opportunity is besides afforded you of paying almost undivided +attention to your host, hostess, and family, which must materially +advance your interests. Neither be in too great haste to quit the +houses of those to whom you desire to recommend yourself. Parties, +even the worst, cost both money and trouble; and whilst the givers of +them feel it no compliment to be run away from, as if a pestilence +raged in their habitations, it is positively insulting to inform them +that another soiree, from which you hope better things, awaits your +presence. + +If a lady, "set up for a beauty:" rely upon it, no persons will "cry +you up" as such unless you give them the note. Should you be extremely +plain, no matter; friz your hair until it stands out one English ell +from your face, and mount it, in bows, braids, &c., three yards at +least from the crown of your head; drawl, or lisp in your speech; +bring out words and phrases from every living tongue with which you +may happen to be slightly acquainted; boast of "the continent;" mince +your gait; wriggle forward upon your toes when you walk; and swim and +dip, whenever led into the atrocity of committing a _quad_-rille. In +brief, give yourself unimaginable airs; then protest that your +manners, as well as your costume, are of the newest Parisian mode--and +it is ten to one but that affectation will be accepted in lieu of, or +mistaken for, beauty. + +Never forget, that as it is sometimes very prudent to be deaf and dumb +in society, so is it extremely convenient upon occasions to be blind. +The cuts, direct and oblique--the looks at, and the looks over--the +distant, formal bow, and the adroit turn upon the heel (should you +perceive the party, intended to be cut for the time being at least, +advancing with dire intent of obliging a recognition), may be, +especially upon old and provincial friends, practised _ad libitum_, +without the slightest danger of your character for etiquette, +politeness, suavity, and general pleasantness, being impeached. Indeed +it is not incompatible with the highest breeding, to allow your +slighted and amazed acquaintance to hear you quizzing, and see you +laughing at, him heartily, should it be your interest so to do; and +then next day, to walk boldly up to him, protest he is the best fellow +in the world; and should he be so senseless as to venture an allusion +to your "late conduct," to vow, with the extremest audacity, that he +happens to be under some evident and deplorable mistake, &c. &c. In +short, should you really find yourself in a scrape, to back out of it +as well as you are able. + +When at a ball, it may sometimes be to your advantage (though +fashionable insolence should not be carried too far) to act in the +following manner:-- + +1. Ask a lady if she is engaged to dance. Should she answer "No," +whilst her eyes say "Yes, if you will be my partner," then, instead of +offering yourself for that purpose, protest that "dancing is a mighty +bore, which no gentleman would endure, could he possibly help it," and +walk away. + +2. Having elicited from a lady that she is not engaged for the ensuing +dance, exclaim, with a smile of triumph, "I am! and must go and find +my partner." + +3. When conversing with one young lady, whom you do not design to +compliment by leading out for waltz, quadrille, or galoppe, mazurka, +or Russian cotillon, &c., take particular care, in her hearing, to +engage yourself to another. This is equally kind and polite. + +4. Upon the conclusion of a dance, either leave your partner standing +in the middle of the room--which I have beheld performed with +admirable effect---or, hastily leading her to a seat, quit her +instantly: which proceeding says, in plain English, "Lady, I would not +stay another moment with you for anything that could be offered me, +lest the world should choose to fancy we are engaged." + +Respecting giving and lending, which are sometimes necessary worldly +duties, your guide must be this brief, but infallible rule--"Venture a +small fish to catch a large one." Those antiquated beings, indeed, +whom the polite style "horrid bores," but whose generic appellation is +Christians, are accustomed to "lend and give, not hoping to receive;" +yet this maxim cannot of course be supposed to influence the conduct +of those who desire to advance themselves in the world, because they +are bound to bear in mind, that they cannot admit of any principle of +action which tends, in the slightest degree, to militate against their +interest.--_Et caetera desunt._ + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NATURALIST. + +THE WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. + +(_Concluded from page 389._) + + +The intrepidity of character, before mentioned, may be farther +illustrated by the following fact, which occurred a few years ago, +near Great Egg Harbour, New Jersey. A woman, who happened to be +weeding in the garden, had set her child down near, to amuse itself +while she was at work; when a sudden and extraordinary rushing sound, +and a scream from her child, alarmed her, and starting up, she beheld +the infant thrown down, and dragged some few feet, and a large bald +eagle bearing off a fragment of its frock, which being the only part +seized, and giving way, providentially saved the life of the infant. + +The appetite of the bald eagle, though habituated to long fasting, is +of the most voracious and often the most indelicate kind. Fish, when +he can obtain them, are preferred to all other fare. Young lambs and +pigs are dainty morsels, and made free with on all favourable +occasions. Ducks, geese, gulls, and other sea fowl, are also seized +with avidity. The most putrid carrion, when nothing better can be had, +is acceptable; and the collected groups of gormandizing vultures, on +the approach of this dignified personage, instantly disperse, and make +way for their master, waiting his departure in sullen silence, and at +a respectful distance, on the adjacent trees. + +In one of those partial migrations of tree squirrels that sometimes +take place in our western forests, many thousands of them were +destroyed in attempting to cross the Ohio; and at a certain place, not +far from Wheeling, a prodigious number of their dead bodies were +floated to the shore by an eddy. Here the vultures assembled in great +force, and had regailed themselves for some time, when a bald eagle +made his appearance, and took sole possession of the premises, keeping +the whole vultures at their proper distance for several days. He has +also been seen navigating the same river on a floating carrion, though +scarcely raised above the surface of the water, and tugging at the +carcass, regardless of snags, sawyers, planters, or shallows. He +sometimes carries his tyranny to great extremes against the vultures. +In hard times, when food happens to be scarce, should he accidentally +meet with one of these who has its craw crammed with carrion, he +attacks it fiercely in the air; the cowardly vulture instantly +disgorges, and the delicious contents are snatched up by the eagle +before they reach the ground. + +The nest of this species is generally fixed on a very large and lofty +tree, often in a swamp or morass, and difficult to be ascended. On +some noted tree of this description, often a pine or cypress, the bald +eagle builds, year after year, for a long series of years. When both +male and female have been shot from the nest, another pair has soon +after taken possession. The nest is large, being added to and repaired +every season, until it becomes a black prominent mass, observable at +a considerable distance. It is formed of large sticks, sods, earthy +rubbish, hay, moss, &c. Many have stated to me that the female lays +first a single egg, and that, after having sat on it for some time, +she lays another; when the first is hatched, the warmth of that, it is +pretended, hatches the other. Whether this be correct or not, I cannot +determine; but a very respectable gentleman of Virginia assured me, +that he saw a large tree cut down, containing the nest of a bald +eagle, in which were two young, one of which appeared nearly three +times as large as the other. As a proof of their attachment to their +young, a person near Norfolk informed me, that, in clearing a piece of +wood on his place, they met with a large dead pine tree, on which was +a bald eagle's nest and young. The tree being on fire more than half +way up, and the flames rapidly ascending, the parent eagle darted +around and among the flames, until her plumage was so much injured +that it was with difficulty she could make her escape, and even then, +she several times attempted to return to relieve her offspring. + +The flight of the bald eagle, when taken into consideration with the +ardour and energy of his character, is noble and interesting. +Sometimes the human eye can just discern him, like a minute speck, +moving in slow curvatures along the face of the heavens, as if +reconnoitering the earth at that immense distance. Sometimes he glides +along in a direct horizontal line, at a vast height, with expanded and +unmoving wings, till he gradually disappears in the distant blue +ether. Seen gliding in easy circles over the high shores and +mountainous cliffs that tower above the Hudson and Susquehanna, he +attracts the eye of the intelligent voyager, and adds great interest +to the scenery. At the great Cataract of Niagara, already mentioned, +there rises from the gulf into which the Falls of the Horse-Shoe +descend, a stupendous column of smoke, or spray, reaching to the +heavens, and moving off in large black clouds, according to the +direction of the wind, forming a very striking and majestic +appearance. The eagles are here seen sailing about, sometimes losing +themselves in this thick column, and again reappearing in another +place, with such ease and elegance of motion, as renders the whole +truly sublime. + + High o'er the watery uproar, silent seen, + Sailing sedate in majesty serene, + Now midst the pillar'd spray sublimely lost, + And now, emerging, down the Rapids tost, + Glides the bald eagle, gazing, calm and slow, + O'er all the horrors of the scene below; + Intent alone to sate himself with blood, + From the torn victims of the raging flood. + +The white-headed eagle is three feet long, and seven feet in extent; +the bill is of a rich yellow; cere the same, slightly tinged with +green; mouth flesh-coloured; tip of the tongue, bluish black; the +head, chief part of the neck, vent, tail coverts, and tail, are white +in the perfect, or old birds of both sexes, in those under three years +of age these parts are of a gray brown; the rest of the plumage is +deep, dark brown, each feather tipt with pale brown, lightest on the +shoulder of the wing, and darkest towards its extremities. The +conformation of the wing is admirably adapted for the support of so +large a bird; it measures two feet in breadth on the greater quills, +and sixteen inches on the lesser; the longest primaries are twenty +inches in length, and upwards of one inch in circumference where they +enter the skin; the broadest secondaries are three inches in breadth +across the vane; the scapulars are very large and broad, spreading +from the back to the wing, to prevent the air from passing through; +another range of broad flat feathers, from three to ten inches in +length, also extend from the lower part of the breast to the wing +below, for the same purpose; between these lies a deep triangular +cavity; the thighs are remarkably thick, strong, and muscular, covered +with long feathers pointing backwards, usually called the femoral +feathers; the legs, which are covered half way below the knee, before, +with dark brown downy feathers, are of a rich yellow, the colour of +ripe Indian corn; feet the same; claws blue black, very large and +strong, particularly the inner one, which is considerably the largest; +soles, very rough and warty; the eye is sunk, under a bony, or +cartilaginous projection, of a pale yellow colour, and is turned +considerably forwards, not standing parallel with the cheeks, the iris +is of a bright straw colour, pupil black. + +The male is generally two or three inches shorter than the female; the +white on the head, neck, and tail being more tinged with yellowish, +and its whole appearance less formidable; the brown plumage is also +lighter, and the bird itself less daring than the female, a +circumstance common to almost all birds of prey. + +The eagle is said to live to a great age--sixty, eighty, and, as some +assert, one hundred years. This circumstance is remarkable, when we +consider the seeming intemperate habits of the bird. Sometimes +fasting, through necessity, for several days, and at other times +gorging itself with animal food till its craw swells out the plumage +of that part, forming a large protuberance on the breast. This, +however, is its natural food, and for these habits its whole +organization is particularly adapted. It has not, like men, invented +rich wines, ardent spirits, and a thousand artificial poisons, in the +form of soups, sauces, and sweetmeats. Its food is simple, it indulges +freely, uses great exercise, breathes the purest air, is healthy, +vigorous, and long lived. The lords of the creation themselves might +derive some useful hints from these facts, were they not already, in +general, too wise, or too proud, to learn from their _inferiors,_ the +fowls of the air and beasts of the field. + + * * * * * + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + +THE LATE MRS. SIDDONS. + + +The subsequent account of Mrs. Siddons, nearly fifty years since, will +perhaps give the reader a better outline of that "Queen of Tragedy" +than any that has since appeared. We ought to mention that it is +quoted from Mr. Boaden's _Memoirs_, and was written on the appearance +of Mrs. Siddons in the character of Isabella, for the first time in +London, October 10, 1782. Mr. Boaden thus introduces the quotation, in +vol. i. of his work:-- + +As the person of our great actress has undergone some change, and her +features by time became stronger, I should find it difficult now to +describe her accurately by memory, as she stood before the audience on +the night of the 10th of October. I am relieved from this difficulty +by an account of her written at the time. I shall change only a few of +the expressions then used, more from a feeling as to composition than +alteration as to sentiment. + +There never, perhaps, was a better stage-figure than that of Mrs. +Siddons. Her height is above the middle size, but not at all inclined +to the _em-bon-point_. There is, notwithstanding, nothing sharp or +angular in the frame; there is sufficient muscle to bestow a roundness +upon the limbs, and her attitudes are, therefore, distinguished +equally by energy and grace. The symmetry of her person is exact and +captivating. Her face is peculiarly happy, the features being finely +formed, though strong, and never for an instant seeming overcharged, +like the Italian faces, nor coarse and unfeminine under whatever +impulse; on the contrary, it is so thoroughly harmonized when +quiescent, and so expressive when impassioned, that most people think +her more beautiful than she is; so great, too, is the flexibility of +her countenance, that the rapid transitions of passion are given with +a variety and effect that never tire upon the eye. Her voice is +naturally plaintive, and a tender melancholy in her level speaking +denotes a being devoted to tragedy; yet this seemingly settled quality +of voice becomes at will sonorous or piercing, overwhelms with rage, +or in its wild shriek absolutely harrows up the soul. Her sorrow, too, +is never childish--her lamentation has a dignity which belongs, I +think, to no other woman: it claims your respect along with your +tears. Her eye is brilliant and varying like the diamond; it is +singularly well placed; "it _pries_," in Shakspeare's language, +"through the portal of the head," and has every aid from brows +flexible beyond all female parallel, contracting to disdain, or +dilating with the emotions of sympathy, or pity, or anguish. Her +memory is tenacious and exact--her articulation clear and +distinct--her pronunciation systematic and refined. + +Nor has Nature been partially bountiful: she has endowed her with a +quickness of conception, and a strength of understanding equal to the +proper use of such extraordinary gifts. So entirely is she mistress of +herself, so collected, and so determined in gestures, tone, and +manner, that she seldom errs, like other actors, because she doubts +her powers or comprehension. She studies her author attentively, +conceives justly, and describes with a firm consciousness of +propriety. She is sparing in her action, because English nature does +not act much; but it is always proper, picturesque, graceful, and +dignified: it arises immediately from the sentiments and feeling, and +is not seen to prepare itself before it begins. No studied trick or +start can be predicted;--no forced tremulation of the figure, where +the vacancy of the eye declares the absence of passion, can be +seen;--no laborious strainings at false climax, in which the tired +voice reiterates one high tone beyond which it cannot reach, is ever +heard;--no artificial heaving of the breasts, so disgusting when the +affectation is perceptible;--none of those arts by which the actress +is seen, and not the character, can be found in Mrs. Siddons. So +natural are her gradations and transitions, so classical and correct +her speech and deportment, and so intensely interesting her voice, +form, and features, that there is no conveying an idea of the pleasure +she communicates by words. She must be seen to be known. What is still +more delightful, she is an original: she copies no one living or dead, +but acts from nature and herself. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + +THE TWO MUNCHAUSENS. + +_By a veteran._ + + +In the late ---- Regiment of Light Dragoons, were two worthy persons, +who were denominated the regimental liars: a distinction to which, +giving every man his due, they were eminently entitled. The great and +fundamental requisites for accomplished lying, I conceive to be a good +memory, a fertile fancy, a ready wit, fluency of speech, and a brazen +countenance, so that you shall tell a man a most bare-faced falsehood, +and afterwards adduce such connected proofs as especially characterize +actual facts. The following dialogue is a specimen of the talents of +the aforementioned mendacious personages. + +C.--"See a man walk after he was shot dead! so have I, a whole day's +march." + +B.--"Come, come, that's stealing a march on our senses. No, no, it +won't do: that's a naked one; do pray turn them out with some kind of +probability covering over them." + +C.--"What, doubt my veracity;" + +B.--"Not for the world; that would be illiberal and unkind, and by the +way, now I think on it, I believe the possibility of a man travelling +without his _cranium,_ for at the battle of Laswaree, during that +desperate contest for British India, I saw a sergeant of the +seventy-sixth shot dead; yet the fellow pursued his antagonist some +hundred yards afterwards, threatening vengeance on the miscreant for +having robbed the service of one of its best men. Finding himself weak +from loss of blood, he deliberately unscrewed his head, threw it +violently at the foe, and took him on the spine; down he tumbled; the +veteran jumped upon him; fearful was the struggle; chest to chest, +fist to fist; at last they joined in the death grapple, and dreadful +indeed was their dying hug." + +C.--"My dear friend, I was an eye witness of the whole transaction. +You have however forgotten the best part of the story. After the +sergeant had well pummelled his enemy, he picked up his head again, +and thrust into a neighbouring great gun: from the want of his +_peepers_ he made a random shot, and killed the horse on which Lord +Lake was riding--his Lordship saluted the sod." + +B.--"I recollect it perfectly; for the nose of the said sergeant +(recognised by sundry carbuncles) was so hard, that the following day +it was extracted from the abdomen of the unfortunate animal." + +C.--"You make a mistake about the nose; it was discovered lodged in a +loaf in a corporal's knapsack; the man could swear to it, for it was +perforated by three balls, and otherwise curiously marked. Report said +that a shell had once blown it completely off, and that it was +stitched on again by a shoe-maker, who, ever after, went by the name +of the _nosy_ cobbler." + +B.--"Nothing impossible. It reminds me of a story somewhat as strange: +During the battle of Delhi there was a quarter-master in the regiment, +a queer fellow, who was never at a loss; (he is now in the corps, and +can vouch for my statement) he was charging at the head of his +squadron, when he caught a cannon shot in his hands: instantly +dismounting, he chucked the ball into a field-piece, but, for want of +a ramrod, he drove it home with his head. One of the enemy, seeing him +thus zealously occupied, fired off the gun; strange to tell he was not +killed! From constant exposure to the sun, in search of toddy, and +from the free use of cocoa-nut oil, his head had become proof against +shot. The distance from the place whence he was projected, to that +where he was picked up, measured three miles, two furlongs, three +yards, and eleven inches. A hard-headed fellow, Sir.--In his career he +upset his colonel and a brace of captains." + +C.--"He did; and where the colonel was capsized, he made such a hole +by his enormous weight, that the sovereign of Delhi ordered a large +well to be dug on the spot, in memory of the event." + +B.--"I remember the well--twelve feet, three inches and a half, was +the exact depth of the excavation occasioned by the fall." + +C.--"There you are wrong; only eleven feet, three inches--" + +B.--"No, believe me, I am right; twelve feet, and three inches to a +barleycorn." + +C.--"Never mind: a little, this way or that, is of no consequence. +The most extraordinary thing was, that the gallant colonel only +sprained his right arm." + +B.--"By no means extraordinary. You remember the great gun of Agra, in +which a regiment of cavalry used to drill." + +C--"I do. The one that fired the stone ball to the wall of Futtipoore +Sikrah--twenty miles." + +B.--"The same. Well, when that gun was fired, a thing that never +occurred but once, the head of the rash man who fired it was +afterwards found in the Old Woman's Tank, eleven miles from the spot, +without so much as a blemish, except a slight singing of the right +whisker." + +C.--"Ah! I can never forget the time; I had just landed in Calcutta +when we heard the report. Some of the wadding went as far as +Cawnpore." + +Here the trumpet, sounding for morning drill, put a stop to the +colloquy.--_Englishman's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +THE MISER'S GRAVE. + +BY THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD. + + + Here's a lesson for the earth-born worm, + So deep engraven on the meagre platen + Of human frailty, so debased in hue, + That he who dares peruse it needs but blush + For his own nature. The poor shrivell'd wretch, + For whose lean carcass yawns this hideous pit, + Had naught that he desired in earth or heaven-- + No God, no Saviour, but that sordid pelf, + O'er which he starved and gloated. I have seen him + On the exchange, or in the market-place + When money was in plenteous circulation, + Gaze after it with such Satanic looks + Of eagerness, that I have wonder'd oft + How he from theft and murder could refrain. + 'Twas cowardice alone withheld his hands, + For they would grasp and grapple at the air, + When his grey eye had fixed on heaps of gold, + While his clench'd teeth, and grinning, yearning face, + Were dreadful to behold. The merchants oft + Would mark his eye, then start and look again, + As at the eye of basilisk or snake. + His eye of greyish green ne'er shed one ray + Of kind benignity or holy light + On aught beneath the sun. Childhood, youth, beauty, + To it had all one hue. Its rays reverted + Right inward, back upon the greedy heart + On which the gnawing worm of avarice + Preyed without ceasing, straining every sense + To that excruciable and yearning core. + Some thirteen days agone, he comes to me, + And after many sore and mean remarks + On men's rapacity and sordid greed, + He says, "Gabriel, thou art an honest man, + As the world goes. How much, then, will you charge + And make a grave for me, fifteen feet deep?"-- + "We'll talk of that when you require it, sir." + "No, no. I want it made, and paid for too; + I'll have it settled, else I know there will + Be some unconscionable overcharge + On my poor friends--a ruinous overcharge."-- + "But, sir, were it made now, it would fill up + Each winter to the brim, and be to make + Twenty or thirty times, if you live long." "There! + there it is! Nothing but imposition! + Even Time must rear his stern, unyielding front, + And holding out his shrivelled skeleton hand, + Demands my money. Naught but money! money! + Were I coin'd into money I could not + Half satisfy that craving greed of money. + Well, how much do you charge? I'll pay you now, + And take a bond from you that it be made + When it is needed. Come, calculate with reason-- + Work's very cheap; and two good men will make + That grave at two days' work: and I can have + Men at a shilling each--_without_ the meat-- + That's a great matter! Let them but to meat, + 'Tis utter ruin. I'll give none their meat-- + That I'll beware of. Men now-a-days are cheap, + Cheap, dogcheap, and beggarly fond of work. + One shilling each a-day, _without_ the meat. + Mind that, and ask in reason; for I wish + To have that matter settled to my mind."-- + "Sir, there's no man alive will do't so cheap + As I shall do it for the ready cash," + Says I, to put him from it with a joke. + "I'll charge you, then, one-fourth part of a farthing + For every cubic foot of work I do, + Doubling the charge each foot that I descend." + "Doubling as you descend! Why, that of course. + A quarter of a farthing each square foot-- + No meat, remember! Not an inch of meat, + Nor drink, nor dram. You're not to trust to these. + Wilt stand that bargain, Gabriel?"--"I accept." + He struck it, quite o'erjoy'd. We sought the clerk, + Sign'd--seal'd. He drew his purse. The clerk went on + Figuring and figuring. "What a fuss you make! + 'Tis plain," said he, "the sum is eighteen-pence"-- + "'Tis somewhat more, sir," said the civil clerk-- + And held out the account. "Two hundred round, + And gallant payment over." The Miser's face + Assumed the cast of death's worst lineaments. + His skinny jaws fell down upon his breast; + He tried to speak, but his dried tongue refused + Its utterance, and cluck'd upon the gum. + His heart-pipes whistled with a crannell'd sound; + His knell-knees plaited, and his every bone + Seem'd out of joint. He raved--he cursed--he wept-- + But payment he refused. I have my bond, + Not yet a fortnight old, and shall be paid. + It broke the Miser's heart. He ate no more, + Nor drank, nor spake, but groan'd until he died; + This grave kill'd him, and now yearns for his bones. + But worse than all. 'Tis twenty years and more + Since he brought home his coffin. On that chest + His eye turn'd ever and anon. It minded him, + He said, of death. And as be sat by night + Beside his beamless hearth, with blanket round + His shivering frame, if burst of winter wind + Made the door jangle, or the chimney moan, + Or crannied window whistle, he would start, + And turn his meagre looks upon that chest; + Then sit upon't, and watch till break of day. + Old wives thought him religious--a good man! + A great repentant sinner, who would leave + His countless riches to sustain the poor. + But mark the issue. Yesterday, at noon, + Two men could scarcely move that ponderous chest + To the bedside to lay the body in. + They broke it sundry, and they found it framed + With double bottom! All his worshipp'd gold + Hoarded between the boards! O such a worm + Sure never writhed beneath the dunghill's base! + Fifteen feet under ground! and all his store + Snug in beneath him. Such a heaven was his. + Now, honest Teddy, think of such a wretch, + And learn to shun his vices, one and all. + Though richer than a Jew, he was more poor + Than is the meanest beggar. At the cost + Of other men a glutton. At his own, + A starveling. A mere scrub. And such a coward, + A cozener and liar--but a coward, + And would have been a thief--But was a coward. + +_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS._ + + +PARIS AND ITS HISTORICAL SCENES. + +(_Library of Entertaining Knowledge, Part 18._) + +We have little inclination to quote more than a few passages from the +General View of Paris in this Number; the topographical portion of +which, (as far as a four months residence there will serve our +judgment) is eminently characteristic. + + +_Ancient City._ + +The Archbishop of Narbonne, writing in the reign of Francis I., (about +1520,) calls Paris even then a world rather than a city[3]; yet at +that period its population was probably not much more than the fifth +part of what it now is; nor did the quantity of ground it covered bear +even the same proportion to the immense space over which it has now +extended. But in both convenience and elegance, Paris has made still +more extraordinary advances since the time of Francis than even in +population and extent. It was then, compared to what it now is, but a +gloomy and incommodious fortress, without even the security which +encompassing fortifications might be supposed to yield. Lighted only +by candles placed here and there by the inhabitants themselves in +their windows, it was so infested by thieves and assassins that hardly +any person ventured out after dark, and the approach of night was the +source of constant terror even to those who remained in their houses. +The streets thus imperfectly lighted, were worse paved; and most of +them were as dirty and narrow as those still to be seen in the more +ancient part of the city. The supply of water was so inadequate that +the severest miseries were sometimes suffered from the absolute want +of that necessary of life, and the greatest inconveniences at all +times from its scarcity. Finally, the public edifices were without +splendour, and even the best of the private houses unprovided with +many of what are now accounted the most indispensable accommodations. +Instead of all this, we behold Paris now one of the very central seats +of civilization; and although still deficient in many of the +accommodations which supply to the necessities of the many instead of +the luxuries of the few, in possession of the greater portion of the +most important provisions which ingenuity has found out, whether for +the comfort or the embellishment of existence. What a contrast between +the French capital of 1831, and that Lutetia of the ancient Parisii, +which Caesar found nearly nineteen hundred years ago occupying the +little island, around which has since extended itself so wide a circle +of wealth, industry, intelligence, and the works which these create! + + [3] Felibien, Histoire de Paris, tome i. + +_Bridges._ + +Paris, stands, like London, on both banks of a river, and is thus cut +into two great divisions, one to the north, and the other to the +south, of the water. The Seine, however, is not nearly so broad as the +Thames; and the northern and southern halves of Paris are not, +therefore, by any means so much separated from each other, either +locally, politically, or socially, as are the corresponding portions +of the English metropolis. They form, in all respects one city. + +The Seine flows in a direction nearly opposite to that of the Thames, +namely, from south-east to north-west. It preserves almost a perfectly +straight course in passing through Paris, except that it bends +considerably to the south immediately before leaving the town. The +river, as it flows through the heart of the city, is interrupted by +three small islands lying in succession, the two most westerly of +which, the Ile de la Cite (otherwise called the Ile du Palais) and the +Ile St. Louis, or de Notre Dame, are covered with streets and houses. +The third, called the Ile Louvier, is used only as a depot for +fire-wood. The parts of the town on the opposite sides of the river +are connected with each other, and with these islands, by nineteen +bridges, thirteen of which are constructed of stone, and two of stone +and iron: of the others two are chain-bridges, one is built of wood, +and two of wood and iron. Several of these structures, especially the +Pont des Arts, the Pont Louis XVI., and the Pont de Jena, or de +l'Ecole Militaire, all of which are to the west of the Ile du Palais, +are distinguished by their majesty or elegance, and add much beauty +and picturesque effect to the vista of the river. Excepting at one +place where the two branches enclosing the Ile du Palais unite, +immediately to the west of that island, the breadth of the Seine at +Paris is no where greater than about 550 English feet, and at some +points it is not more than half that distance from the one bank to +the other. The bridges, therefore, by which the Seine is traversed, +are not to be compared in point of magnitude with those of the Thames +at London. Even the Pont Neuf, which connects the Ile du Palais with +both the northern and the southern divisions of the city, and +comprehends in fact two bridges, with an intermediate street, is +shorter taken altogether, than Waterloo bridge by more than 200 feet; +and the Pont Louis XVI., which next to the Pont Neuf is the longest of +the Parisian stone bridges, measures only about 485 feet between the +abutments, while Westminster Bridge measures 1223, and Waterloo Bridge +1242 feet. It is in the _number_ of its bridges alone, therefore, that +the Seine is superior to the Thames. + +_The Boulevards._ + +The most remarkable feature in the general appearance of Paris, is the +inner inclosure formed by the celebrated road called the _Boulevards._ +On the north side of the river, the Boulevards follow a line nearly +midway, on an average, between the river and the wall. The space which +they comprehend, therefore, is but a small portion of that included +within the outer boundary of the city. The length of this part of the +road is about 5,200 English yards, or somewhat under three miles. That +on the south side of the river is of far greater extent, approaching, +as it does, throughout its whole sweep, very much closer to the wall, +and in some parts entirely coinciding with it. It measures about +16,000 yards, or above nine miles in length. Each of these lines, +although in reality forming an uninterrupted road from its +commencement to its termination, is divided into a succession of +parts, each having its particular name. The northern Boulevards are +twelve in number, the southern seven. We have nothing in England like +the Parisian Boulevards. They may be generally described as a road or +street, of great breadth, along each side of which are planted double +rows of elms. But these shady avenues do not present merely a picture +of rural beauty. Rising as they do in the heart of a great city, they +partake also of its artificial elegance and splendour, and are +associated with all the luxuries of architectural decoration. +Considered merely as a range of streets, the Boulevards are hardly +rivalled by any other part of Paris. Those to the north of the river +are lined on both sides throughout their whole extent, by buildings +more uniformly handsome than are those of almost any other street in +the city, and by many which may be even described as magnificent. Some +of these are private residences; others are shops, cafes, public +hotels, and theatres. The crowds by whom so many parts of these +Boulevards are frequented chiefly give to the scene its singular +liveliness and brilliancy. The southern Boulevards, though equally +beautiful, are far from being so much the habitual resort of the +citizens; but the walks on this very account, have a charm for some +moods of mind which the others want. Another road, planted in a +similar manner, has more recently been carried round the outside of +the present walls of the city. It is distinguished from the inner +Boulevards by the name of the _Boulevards Exterieurs._ + +_Streets._ + +To a person accustomed to the appearance of the streets of London, or +indeed of any other English town, those of the interior of Paris will +present considerable novelty of aspect. The extreme narrowness, in the +first place, of those in the more ancient parts of the city, and the +great height of the houses, with their windows in many cases fortified +by bars of iron, would alone give them an air of gloom and precaution, +almost sufficient to impress the Englishman who walks through them +with the feeling that he has been transported, not only into another +country, but into another age. Even where these indications of the +more ancient evils of Paris are not visible, the general aspect of the +town shows that it has not grown with the growth of a free people, +amongst whom the inequalities of rank have been softened down by +respect to the comforts of all classes. Under the ancient regime, +which was in full activity half a century ago, there were only two +classes in Paris, the _noblesse_, and the _bourgeoisie_; and the +latter, being driven into the gutters by the carriage-wheels of their +arrogant masters, went by the general name of the _canaille._ Few of +the streets even now have any side pavement for foot passengers--that +invaluable accommodation which gives such perfect security to the +pedestrian even in our most crowded and tumultuous thoroughfare. The +causeway itself, on which walkers and drivers are thus mingled +together in confusion, is often most uneven and rugged. The stones of +which it is formed, about ten inches square, present each a convex +surface, usually wet and slippery, so that under the most favourable +circumstances, walking in the streets of Paris is anything but an +agreeable exercise. Still farther to abridge the level space, the +street is made to incline from both sides towards the centre, in order +to form there a sort of ditch, in which flows a black and fetid +stream. From the want of a proper system of drains, this receptacle of +filth is generally sufficiently replenished even in the driest +weather, to keep the whole street wet and dirty. Carriages, having +usually one wheel in the midst of the kennel, dash about the offensive +puddle in all directions. But the principle of a clear middle way, +such as our English streets possess, is neglected in all the +arrangements connected with those of Paris. Even the lights, instead +of being fixed on posts, as ours are, at the sides, are suspended in +the middle on ropes swung across, and having their opposite ends +fastened to the walls of the houses. It was these ropes which the mob, +in the Revolution of 1789, were wont to make use of as halters for +their victims; whence their famous cry of _a la lanterne_, as they +dragged them along to execution. + +The aspect of Paris by night, except in a few of the principal streets +where gas has been very partially introduced, is singularly gloomy. +The darkness is occasionally relieved by the brilliancy of a cafe; but +in the more quiet parts of the town, particularly in the fashionable +quarter of the Faubourg St. Germain, it is almost impossible for the +pedestrian to direct his steps aright. It is quite evident that the +arrangements of this capital have not been made for a walking people. +This evil, however, is fast disappearing. Numerous _passages_ have +been constructed, within the last ten years, which are paved with flat +stones, and brilliantly lighted; and the active and pleasure-seeking +population of Paris crowd to these attractive and convenient places, +to the Boulevards, or to the Palais-Royal, and leave the narrow and +dirty streets principally to the few who keep their own carriages, or +to the many who hire public conveyances. These are of various kinds; +and such was the growing importance of the middle classes, that +_fiacres_ (so called after the sign of St Fiacre, at the house where +they were first established) were in use a century and a half ago. + +The remainder of the Part is occupied with a sketch of the Revolution +of 1789. + + * * * * * + + +REFORM OF EARLY PARLIAMENTS. + + +Though no language can adequately condemn the base subserviency of +Henry's parliament, it may be reasonably doubted whether his reign +was, in its ultimate consequences, injurious to public liberty. The +immense revolutions of his time in property, in religion, and in the +inheritance of the crown, never could have been effected without the +concurrence of parliament. Their acquiescence and co-operation in the +spoliation of property, and the condemnation of the innocent, tempted +him to carry all his purposes into execution, through their means. +Those who saw the attainders of queens, the alteration of an +established religion, and the frequent disturbance of the regal +succession, accomplished by acts of parliament, considered nothing as +beyond the jurisdiction of so potent an assembly.[4] If the supremacy +was a tremendous power, it accustomed the people to set no bounds to +the authority of those who bestowed it on the king. The omnipotence of +parliament appeared no longer a mere hyperbole. Let it not be +supposed, that to mention the good thus finally educed from such +evils, is intended or calculated to palliate crimes, or to lessen our +just abhorrence of criminals. Nothing, on the contrary, seems more to +exalt the majesty of virtue than to point out the tendency of the +moral government of the world, which, as in this instance, turns the +worst enemies of all that is good into the laborious slaves of +justice. Of all outward benefits, the most conducive to virtue as well +as to happiness is, doubtless, popular and representative government. +It is the reverse of a degradation of it to observe, that its +establishment among us was perhaps partially promoted by the +sensuality, rapacity, and cruelty of Henry VIII. The course of affairs +is always so dark, the beneficial consequences of public events are so +distant and uncertain, that the attempt to do evil in order to produce +good is in men a most criminal usurpation. + + [4] The observations of Nathaniel Bacon, or rather of Selden + from whose MS. notes he is said to have written his book, + deserve serious consideration. Bacon on the Laws and + Government of England, chap. 27. + +Some direct benefits the constitution owes to this reign. The act +which established a parliamentary representation in so considerable a +territory as Wales may be regarded as the principal reformation in the +composition of the House of Commons since its legal maturity in the +time of Edward I. That principality had been divided into twelve +shires: of which eight were ancient,[5] and four owed their origin to +a statute of Henry's reign.[6] Knights, citizens, and burgesses were +now directed to be chosen and sent to parliament from the shires, +cities, and burghs of Wales.[7] A short time before, the same +privileges were granted to the county palatine of Chester, of which +the preamble contains a memorable recognition and establishment of the +principles which are the basis of the elective part of our +constitution.[8] Nearly thirty members were thus added to the House of +Commons on the principle of the Chester bill: that is disadvantageous +to a province to be unrepresented; that representation is essential to +good government; and that those who are bound by the laws ought to +have a reasonable share of direct influence on the passing of laws. As +the practical disadvantages are only generally alleged, and could +scarcely have been proved, they must have been inferred from the +nature of a House of Commons. The British constitution was not thought +to be enjoyed by a district till a popular representation was bestowed +on it. Election by the people was regarded, not as a source of tumult, +but as the principle most capable of composing disorder in territories +not represented.--_Cabinet Cyclopaedia_, vol. xix. _Sir James +Mackintosh's History of England_, vol. ii. + + [5] Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Flint, + Carnarvon, Anglesea and Merioneth. + + [6] Radnor, Brecknock, Montgomery, and Denbigh, 27 Henry 8 c. + 26. + + [7] 34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 26. s. 50. + + [8] 34 and 35 Henry 8. c. 13.--"That the said county have + hitherto been excluded from the high court of parliament, to + have any knights and burgesses within the said court, by + reason whereof the inhabitants have sustained manifold damages + in their lands, goods, and bodies, as well as in the good + governance of the commonwealth of their said country; and for + as much as they have been bound by the acts of the said court, + and yet have had no knights and burgesses therein, for lack + whereof they have been often touched and grieved by the acts + of the said parliament, prejudicial to the commonwealth, + quietness, rest, and peace of your highness's bounden + subjects, inhabiting within the said county," &c. + + * * * * * + + + +THE TOPOGRAPHER. + + +TRAVELLING NOTES IN SOUTH WALES. + +(_Continued from page 312._) + + +The grounds of Penrice Castle, which stretch to the sea-shore, and on +which art has embellished scenery possessing capabilities of a high +order--are exceedingly picturesque and extensive. Penrice bears marks +of having been a Roman station. Henry de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, +here defeated the Welsh prince, Rhys, which decided the fate of Gower. +He was beheaded after the battle, whence the Welsh name, Pen-Rhys. On +the field of battle the victor erected Penrice Castle, which is now +certainly a striking ruin. On the coast near Penrice is the village +and ruins of the Castle of Oxwich, now a barn--_sic transit!_ + +The afternoon was waxing apace--we had lost time in attending to our +horses, for ostler there was none--and in musing amongst the simply +decorated graves in the humble churchyard;[9] after discussing with +great relish our repast of eggs and bacon, and Welsh ale, the best the +village afforded, (by the way, we shall not readily forget the fluster +of our Welsh hostess when we talked of dining on our arrival at the +little hostelrie) we then rode down to the sea-shore, intending to +cross the sandy beach of Oxwich, which extends several miles, on our +return to the Gower Inn. The tide flows with great rapidity on this +coast, and it had already advanced to the foot of a stupendous +headland, which juts into the beach about half way. We waded our +horses through the surf--but how can we do justice to the splendour of +the scenery around us. The alternations of stern and savage +beauty--the gigantic masses of "fantastic cliffs," and caverns, that +have stood the combat of the mighty Atlantic for countless ages? +Oxwich is almost unknown to the traveller, and there are few coast +scenes in these islands that surpass it in beauty. We lingered long on +the shore. There is a perpetual "jabble" against the cliffs on this +coast--and we have seldom met with a soul save an aged and solitary +fisherwoman--a study for a Bonington--pursuing her precarious calling +of crab or shrimp fishing, or of pulling lobsters from their retreats +in the savage cliffs. + + [9] See _Mirror_, vol. xvi. p. 253. + + A holy peace, + Pervades this _sea-shore solitude_--The world + And all who love that world, are far away. + N.T. CARRINGTON. + +It was getting dusk when we ascended from the shore, on our way +homewards, past the wild--the truly shattered, and desolate ruins of +Pennard Castle; which bear, we think, decided marks of having been +erected long prior to the Norman era. The country people tell you its +origin was supernatural; and some writers ascribe it to that great +castle-builder, Henry de Newburgh. Pennard stands in a situation of +extreme beauty, and deeply rivets the attention: + + "The stones have voices, and the walls do live, + It is the House of Memory!" + MATAIRE. + +Our favourite mare and her companion were in high spirits, (horses are +generally so on returning) exhilarated by the rapid motion; and our +hearts elate with the "songs of spring," we returned home on as sweet +an April evening as ever blessed man. + +Another interesting excursion maybe made to Cefyn-bryn, the most +elevated hill in the district, about twelve miles from Swansea. The +road to Western Gower is carried over it; the summit is level, and a +carriage may be driven in safety for a couple of miles to the southern +point; which commands, on a clear day, in one direction, a vast and +unbounded view of the Bristol Channel, the whitened houses of +Ilfracombe, with the hills of Devon and Somerset, Lundy Island, and +the scenery of Swansea Bay. And on the reverse of the picture, almost +the whole peninsula of Gower, the extensive estuary of the Burry +River, and part of the beautiful expanse of the County and Bay of +Carmarthen, is spread out like a map before you. King Arthur's Stone, +an immense rock of _lapis molaris_, twenty tons weight, supported by a +circle of others--the remains of Druidism--invites the attention of +the antiquary, on the north-west point of Cefyn-bryn. We may here +remark that this district, especially the coast, offers a rich harvest +to the geologist. The general substratum of the peninsula is limestone +and marble, bounded to the north by an immense iron and coalfield. The +limestone stratum is continually "cropping out" in the interior, and +of course it can be worked at a trifling expense. This may account for +the general healthiness of the district. Though rain in consequence of +the western exposure, falls frequently, and sometimes with great +violence, yet it speedily runs off, leaving none of the bad effects +which would be produced in a tenacious soil. Marble of valuable +quality is worked at Oystermouth. + +But we must hasten to close our Notes on Gower--_to proceed with our +circuit of the coast:--West from Oxwich is Porteyron_, where there is +an extensive lobster and oyster fishery, near which is Landewy Castle. +There is a wonderful precipice here. Further west we come to the +village of Rossilly, near the Worms-Head, the termination of a range +of rocks, which form the western point of the peninsula, being +connected with it by a low isthmus. It extends more than a mile into +the ocean, and at half-flood becomes an island. The name arose by +mariners comparing it to a worm with its head erect, between the Nass +Point and St. Gower's Head, in Pembrokeshire. The scenery here is +deeply interesting. This wild and desolate coast has proved fatal to +numberless ships; the recent erection of the light-house on Caldy +Island, near Tenby, on the opposite point of Carmarthen Bay, has, +however, been most important. Several Indiamen have been wrecked here, +and about fifty years since, a quantity of Spanish dollars, date 1625, +were found amongst the sand, when the tide had receded unusually far, +supposed to be part of the cargo of the "Scanderoon galley" lost on +this coast nearly two centuries ago. This would do for the "Vigo Bay +Company." We proceed along the western shore of Carmarthen Bay, till +we pass Whitford Point, a singular _peninsula of sand_, covered with +reeds, which stands the fury of the tide, forming one side of the wide +estuary of Barry, along the coast of which we pass a Roman encampment +at Llanmadoc--the striking Castle of Llanridian, and other ruins, as +we return eastward to Swansea; till we arrive at the village--we +forget ourselves, the _Borough_ of Castell Llwchyr, or Loughor, the +_Leucarum_ of Antoninus, and the fifth Roman station on the _Via +Julia._ It is seven miles from Swansea. Upon a mount, the supposed +work of the Romans, is a square tower, the remains of a castle built +by Henry, Earl of Warwick. Three miles to the east are two Roman +encampments; many Roman coins have been found at Loughor, from whence +there is a ferry to the Carmarthenshire side opposite, which is +fordable at low water. There is a large colliery here. It is a +delightful sail from this village down the Burry River to Whitford +Point, or round the coast to Worms-Head. + +VYVYAN. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." + SHAKSPEARE. + + +_The following curious letter was found among the papers of a Mr. +Goldwyre, Surgeon, of Salisbury._ + +To Mr. Edward Goldwyre, at his house on the Close of Salisbury. + +Sir,--Being informed that you are the only surgeon in this city (or +country) that anatomises men, and I being under the present unhappy +circumstances, and in a very mean condition, would gladly live as long +as I can, but by all appearances I am to be executed next March, but +having no friends on earth that will speak a word to save my life, nor +send me a morsel of bread to keep life and soul together until that +fatal day; so if you will vouchsafe to come hither, I will gladly +sell you my body (being whole and sound) to be ordered at your +discretion, knowing that it will rise again at the general +resurrection, as well from your house as from the grave. Your answer +will highly oblige, yours, &c. + +JAMES BROOKE. +_Fisherton-Auger Gaol_, _Oct._ 3, 1736. + + * * * * * + +A farmer walking out one day, by chance met Jack Ketch, and jocosely +asked him whether he could tell him the difference between their +trades. "That I can," said Jack, "the only difference is +_utility_--you till, I tie." + +WALTER. + + * * * * * + +What is the most suitable motto for a doctor's carriage? Live or die. + +Why is the _carver_ in a cook-shop like a naval officer? Because he +commands a _cutter._ + +W.G.C. + + * * * * * + + +EPITAPHS. + + Here lies poor Thomas, and his Wife, + Who led a pretty jarring life; + But all is ended--do you see? + He holds his tongue, and so does she. + + If drugs and physic could but save + Us mortals from the dreary grave, + 'Tis known that I took full enough + Of the apothecaries' stuff + To have prolong'd life's busy feast + To a full century at least; + But spite of all the doctors' skill, + Of daily draught and nightly pill, + Reader, as sure as you're alive, + I was sent here at twenty-five. + + * * * * * + + +FOR ALL FAMILIES. + +This Day, Second Edition, price 5s. + +FAMILY MANUAL and SERVANTS' GUIDE, +With upwards of One Thousand New and Approved Receipts, arranged and +adapted for Families and all Classes of Servants. + +"We shall recommend this book every where, if it were only for the +sake of the excellent suggestions on the 'self-improvement' of +house-servants."--_Gardeners' Magazine_, June 1830. + +"It should find a place in the kitchen or servants' hall of those who +desire to blend comfort with elegance, and prudence with +luxury."--_New Monthly Magazine_, Feb. 1831. + +"This book contains a mass of information that cannot fail to be +useful in the conduct of household affairs."--_Atlas_, May 22. + +"No servant should he without it."--_Morning Advertiser_, April 27. + +Printed for JOHN LIMBIRD, 143. Strand. + + * * * * * + +_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset +House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; +G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen +and Booksellers._ + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, No. 494., by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE *** + +***** This file should be named 13090.txt or 13090.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/0/9/13090/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Victoria Woosley and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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