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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:42:15 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:42:15 -0700 |
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diff --git a/13495-h/13495-h.htm b/13495-h/13495-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c475e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/13495-h/13495-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2177 @@ +<!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 470.</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;} + 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;} + .ctr {text-align: center;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .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 13495 ***</div> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page17" name="page17"></a>[pg 17]</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. 470.</b></td> + <td align="center"><b> SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 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/470-1.png"><img width="100%" src="images/470-1.png" alt="" /></a> CHICHESTER CROSS.</div> +<p>Few places in Britain can boast of +higher antiquity than the city of Chichester. +Its origin is supposed to date +back beyond the invasion of Britain by +the Romans. It was destroyed towards the +close of the fifth century, by Ella, but +rebuilt by his son, Cissa, the second +king of the South Saxons, who named +it after himself, and made it the royal +residence and capital of his dominions.</p> +<p>Chichester, as may be expected, is a +fertile field for antiquarian research. Its +cathedral, churches, and ecclesiastical +buildings abound with fine architecture; +and its Cross is entitled to special +mention. It is thus minutely described +in the <i>Beauties of England and Wales</i>:</p> +<p>The Cross stands in the centre of the +city, at the intersection of the four +principal streets. According to the inscription +upon it, this Cross was built by +Edward Story, who was translated to +this see from that of Carlisle, in 1475. +It was repaired during the reign of +Charles II., and at the expense of the +Duke of Richmond, in 1746; though +we are told that Bishop Story left an +estate at Amberley, worth full 25<i>l.</i> per +annum, to keep it in constant repair; +but a few years afterwards the mayor +and corporation sold it, in order to purchase +another nearer home. The date +of the erection of this structure is not +mentioned in the inscription; but, from +the style and ornaments, it must be referred +to the time of Edward IV. This +Cross is universally acknowledged to be +one of the most elegant buildings of the +kind existing in England. Its form is +octangular, having a strong butment at +each angle, surmounted with pinnacles. +On each of its faces is an entrance +through a pointed arch, ornamented +with crockets and a finial. Above this, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page18" id="page18"></a>[pg 18]</span> +on four of its sides, is a tablet, to commemorate +its reparation in the reign of +Charles II. Above each tablet is a dial, +exhibiting the hour to each of the three +principal streets; the fourth being excluded +from this advantage by standing +at an angle. In the centre is a large +circular column, the basement of which +forms a seat: into this column is inserted +a number of groinings, which, +spreading from the centre, form the +roof beautifully moulded. The central +column appears to continue through the +roof, and is supported without by eight +flying buttresses, which rest on the several +corners of the building. Till a few +years since this Cross was used as a +market-place; but the increased population +of the city requiring a more extensive +area for that purpose, a large +and convenient market-house was, about +the year 1807, erected in the North-street; +on the completion of which, it +was proposed to take down this Cross, +then considered as a nuisance. Fortunately, +however, the city was exempted +from the reproach of such a proceeding +by the public spirit of some of the +members of the corporation, who purchased +several houses on the north side +of the Cross, in order to widen that part +of the street, by their demolition.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>The Topographer</h2> +<h3>COUNTY COLLECTIONS.</h3> +<center>(<i>For the Mirror.</i>)</center> +<p style="margin-left:20%">Kent.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>He that will not live long,</p> +<p>Let him dwell at Murston, Tenham, or Tong.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%"><i>Queen Elizabeth's Gun at Dover.</i></p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"O'er hill and dale I throw my ball,</p> +<p>Breaker my name of mound and wall."</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Deal famed much vaunts of new turrets high,</p> +<p>A place well known by Cæsar's victory.</p> +<p style="margin-left:50%">Leland.</p> </div> </div> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Dover, Sandwich, and Winchelsea,</p> +<p>Rumney and Rye the Five Ports be.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">Hampshire—Sir Bevis of Southampton.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Bevis conquered Ascupart</p> +<p>And after slew the Boar,</p> +<p>And then he crossed beyond the seas</p> +<p>To combat with the Moor.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">Westmoreland.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>I came to Lonsdale where I staid</p> +<p>At hall, into a tavern made,</p> +<p>Neat gates, white walls, nought was sparing,</p> +<p>Pots brimful, no thought of caring.</p> +<p>They eat, drink, laugh, are still mirth making—</p> +<p>Nought they see, that's worth care taking.</p> + </div></div> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Drunken Barnaby's Journal.</i></p> +<p style="margin-left:20%">Cheshire.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>Chester of Castria took the name,</p> +<p>As if that Castria were the same.</p> + </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">SHROPSHIRE.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>"To all friends round the Wrekin."</p> + </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">LINCOLNSHIRE.—STAMFORD.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>Doctrinæ studium, quod nunc viget ad vada Boum</p> +<p>Tempore venture celebrabitur ad vada Saxi.</p> +<p>Science that now o'er Oxford sheds her ray</p> +<p>Shall bless fair Stamford at some future day.</p> </div> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Merlin.</i></p> +<p style="margin-left:20%">STAFFORDSHIRE.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>Or Trent who like some earth-born giant spreads</p> +<p>His thirsty arms along the indented meads.</p> </div> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Milton.</i></p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>And beauteous Trent that in himself enseams (fattens)</p> +<p>Both thirty sorts of fish and thirty sundry streams.</p></div> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Spenser.</i></p> + +<p style="margin-left:20%">BERKSHIRE.—ABINGDON.</p> +<p style="margin-left:20%">(<i>From Piers Plowman's MSS. 1400.</i>)</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>And there shall come a king and confess you religious,</p> +<p>And beat you as the Bible telleth, for breaking of your rule,</p> +<p>And then shall the Abbot of Abingdon and all his issue for ever</p> +<p>Have a knock of a king, and incurable the wound.</p> + </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">WILTSHIRE.—SALISBURY CATHEDRAL,</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>As many days as in one year there be,</p> +<p>So many windows in this church you see,</p> +<p>As many marble pillars here appear</p> +<p>As there are hours throughout the fleeting year,</p> +<p>As many gates as moons one here does view,</p> +<p>Strange tale to tell, yet not more strange than true.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>A noble park near Sarum's stately town,</p> +<p>In form a mount's clear top call'd Clarendon;</p> +<p>There twenty groves, and each a mile in space,</p> +<p>With grateful shades, at once protect the place.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%"><i>Chippenham.—On a Stone.</i></p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Hither extendeth Maud Heath's Gift,</p> +<p>For where I stand is Chippenham Clift.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">GLOUCESTERSHIRE.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>An owl shall build her nest upon the walls of Gloucester,</p> +<p>And in her nest shall be brought forth an ass.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>The Severn sea shall discharge itself through seven mouths,</p> +<p>And the river Usk shall burn seven months.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Merlin.</i></p> +<p style="margin-left:20%">YORKSHIRE.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Robin Hood in Barnesdale stood,</p> +<p> An arrow to head drew he,</p> +<p>"How far I can shoot," quoth he, "by the rood</p> +<p> "My merry men shall see."</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">SURREY.—ON THE MARKET HOUSE, FARNHAM.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>You who do like me, give money to end me,</p> +<p>You who dislike me, give as much to mend me.</p> +<p>And Mole that like a nousling mole doth make</p> +<p>His way still underground till Thames he over-take.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Spenser.</i></p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>The chalky Wey that rolls a milky wave. <i>Pope.</i></p> + </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">SOMERSETSHIRE.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>What ear so empty is, that hath not heard the sound</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page19" id="page19"></a>[pg 19]</span> +<p>Of Tannton's fruitful Deane; not matched by any ground.</p> + </div> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Drayton.</i></p> +<div class="poem"> +<p>"Stanton Drew,</p> +<p>One mile from Pensford, and another from Chew."</p> + </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%"><i>Bristol Castle.</i></p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>The castle there and noble tower,</p> +<p>Of all the towers of England is held the flower.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%"><i>Redcliffe Church.</i></p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Stay curious traveller, and pass not bye,</p> +<p>Until this fetive (elegant) pile astound thine eye,</p> +<p>That shoots aloft into the realms of day,</p> +<p>The Record of the Builder's fame for aie—</p> +<p>The pride of Bristowe and the Western Lande.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Chatterton.</i></p> +<p style="margin-left:20%">WALES.—GLAMORGANSHIRE.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>When the hoarse waves of Severn are screaming aloud,</p> +<p>And Penline's lofty castle involv'd in a cloud,</p> +<p>If true, the old proverb, a shower of rain,</p> +<p>Is brooding above, and will soon drench the plain.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">PEMBROKESHIRE.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Once to Rome thy steps incline.</p> +<p>But visit twice St. David's shrine.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>When Percelly weareth a hat,</p> +<p>All Pembrokeshire shall weet of that.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:10%">SCOTLAND.—STIRLINGSHIRE—BANNOCKBURN, 1314.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"Maidens of England, sore may ye mourn,</p> +<p>For your lemans ye've lost at Bannockburn"</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">ROXBURGH.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"Some of his skill he taught to me,</p> +<p>And, warrior, I could say to thee,</p> +<p>The words that cleft Eildon Hills in three,</p> +<p>And bridled the Tweed with a curb of stone."</p> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><i>Scott.</i></p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">WESTERN ISLES.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Seven years before that awful day,</p> +<p class="i2">When time shall be no more,</p> +<p>A watery deluge will o'ersweep</p> +<p class="i2">Hibernia's mossy shore.</p> +<p>The green clad Isla too shall sink,</p> +<p class="i2">While with the great and good,</p> +<p>Columba's happy isle shall rear</p> +<p class="i2">Her towers above the flood.</p> + </div> </div> +<p>This prophecy is said to be the reason why so +many kings of Scotland, Norway, and Ireland +have selected Icombkill for the place of their +interment.</p> +<p style="margin-left:20%">DUMBARTON.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>So cold the waters are of Lomond Lake,</p> +<p>What once were sticks, they hardened stones will make.</p> + </div> </div> +<p style="margin-left:20%">PERTH.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"Fear not till Birnam Wood</p> +<p>Do come to Dunsinane"</p> + </div> </div> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>Retrospective Gleanings</h2> +<h3>GREEK BALLOT.—VOTING AMONG THE +ANCIENT GREEKS.</h3> +<p>The manner of giving their suffrages +(says Potter) was by holding up their +hands. This was the common method +of voting among the citizens in the civil +government; but in some cases, particularly +when they deprived magistrates +of their offices for mal-administration, +they gave their votes in private, lest the +power and greatness of the persons accused +should lay a restraint upon them, +and cause them to act contrary to their +judgments and inclinations.</p> +<p>The manner of voting privately was +by casting pebbles into vessels or urns. +Before the use of pebbles, they voted +with beans: the beans were of two +sorts, black and white. In the Senate +of Five Hundred, when all had done +speaking, the business designed to be +passed into a decree was drawn up in +writing by any of the prytanes, or other +senators, and repeated openly in the +house; after which, leave being given +by the epistata, or prytanes, the senators +proceeded to vote, which they did +privately, by casting beans in a vessel +placed there for that purpose. If the +number of black beans was found to be +the greatest, the proposal was rejected; +if white, it was enacted into a decree, +then agreed upon in the senate, and +afterwards propounded to an assembly +of the people, that it might receive +from them a farther ratification, without +which it could not be passed into a law, +nor have any force or obligatory power, +after the end of that year, which was +the time that the senators, and almost +all the other magistrates, laid down +their commissions.</p> +<p>In the reign of Cecrops, women were +said to have been allowed voices in the +popular assembly; where Minerva contending +with Neptune which of the two +should be declared Protector of Athens, +and gaining the women to her party, was +reported by their voices, which were +more numerous than those of the men, +to have obtained the victory.</p> +<h4>P.T.W.</h4> +<hr /> +<h3>CLARENCE AND ITS ROYAL DUKES.</h3> +<center><i>(To the Editor.)</i></center> +<p>Clarentia, or Clarence, now Clare, a +town in Suffolk, seated on a creek of +the river Stour, is of more antiquity than +beauty; but has long been celebrated for +men of great fame, who have borne the +titles of earls and dukes. It has the remains +of a noble castle, of great strength +and considerable extent and fortification +(perhaps some of your readers could +favour you with a drawing and history +of it); and ruins of a collegiate church. +It had once a monastery of canons, of +the order of St. Augustine, or of St. +Benedict, founded in the year 1248, by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page20" id="page20"></a>[pg 20]</span> +Richard Clare, Earl of Gloucester. This +house was a cell to the Abbey of Becaherliven, +in Normandy, but was made +indigenous by King Henry II., who gave +it to the Abbey of St. Peter, at Westminster. +In after time, King John +changed it into a college of a dean and +secular canons. At the suppression, +its revenues were 324<i>l.</i> a year.</p> +<p>Seated on the banks of Stour river is +a priory of the Benedictine order, translated +thither from the castle, by Richard +De Tonebridge, Earl of Clare, about the +year 1315. Edmund Mortimer, Earl of +March, converted it into a collegiate +church. Elizabeth, the wife of Lionell, +Duke of Clarence, was buried in the +chancel of this priory, 1363; as was +also the duke.</p> +<p>The first duke was the third son of +King Edward III. He created his third +son, Lionell of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, +in 1362. His first wife was +Elizabeth of Clare, daughter of William +De Burgh, Earl of Ulster; she died in +1363. His second wife was Violante, +daughter of the Duke of Milan. He +died in Italy, 1370.</p> +<p>Clarencieux, the second king-at-arms, +so called by Lionell, who first +held it. King Henry IV. created his +second son, Thomas of Lancaster, to the +earldom of Albemarle and duchy of Clarence. +He was slain in Anjou, in 1421.</p> +<p>The third duke was the second son of +Richard of Plantagenet, Duke of York, +George Duke of Clarence, in Suffolk. +He was accused of high treason, and +was secretly suffocated in a butt of +Malmsley, or sack wine, in a place called +Bowyer Tower, in the Tower of London, +1478, by order of his brother, King +Edward IV.</p> +<p>The fourth duke. There was an interregnum +of 311 years before another +Duke of Clarence. George III. created +his third son, William Henry, to the +duchy of Clarence, August 16, 1789. +The only Duke of Clarence who ever +was raised to the throne is King +William IV. of England. </p> +<h4>CARACTACUS.</h4> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>SPIRIT OF THE +Public Journals.</h2> +<h3>SIR WALTER SCOTT.</h3> +<h4>(<i>From the first of "Living Literary +Characters," in the New Monthly +Magazine.</i>)</h4> +<p>It would be superfluous to continue the +list of his prose works: they are numerous; +but they are in all people's hands, +and censure or praise would come equally +late. He has triumphed over every difficulty +of subject, place, or time—exhibited +characters humble and high, cowardly +and brave, selfish and generous, +vulgar and polished, and is at home in +them all. I was present one evening, +when Coleridge, in a long and eloquent +harangue, accused the author of Waverley +of treason against Nature, in not +drawing his characters after the fashion +of Shakspeare, but in a manner of his +own. This, without being meant, was +the highest praise Scott could well receive. +Perhaps the finest compliment +ever paid him, was at the time of the +late coronation, I think. The streets +were crowded so densely, that he could +not make his way from Charing Cross +down to Rose's, in Abingdon-street, +though he elbowed ever so stoutly. He +applied for help to a sergeant of the +Scotch Greys, whose regiment lined the +streets. "Countryman," said the soldier, +"I am sorry I cannot help you," +and made no exertion. Scott whispered +his name—the blood rushed to the soldier's +brow—he raised his bridle-hand, +and exclaimed, "Then, by G-d, sir, you +shall go down—Corporal Gordon, here—see +this gentleman safely to Abingdon-street, +come what will!" It is needless +to say how well the order was obeyed.</p> +<p>I have related how I travelled to Edinburgh +to see Scott, and how curiously +my wishes were fulfilled; years rolled +on, and when he came to London to be +knighted, I was not so undistinguished +as to be unknown to him by name, or to +be thought unworthy of his acquaintance. +I was given to understand, from +what his own Ailie Gourlay calls a sure +hand, that a call from me was expected, +and that I would be well received. I +went to his lodgings, in Piccadilly, with +much of the same palpitation of heart +which Boswell experienced when introduced +to Johnson. I was welcomed +with both hands, and such kind, and +complimentary words, that confusion +and fear alike forsook me. When I saw +him in Edinburgh, he was in the very +pith and flush of life—even in my opinion +a thought more fat than bard beseems; +when I looked on him now, +thirteen years had not passed over him +and left no mark behind: his hair was +growing thin and grey; the stamp of +years and study was on his brow: he +told me he had suffered much lately +from ill-health, and that he once doubted +of recovery. His eldest son, a tall, +handsome youth—now a major in the +army—was with him. From that time, +till he left London, I was frequently in +his company. He spoke of my pursuits +and prospects in life with interest and +with feeling—of my little attempts in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page21" id="page21"></a>[pg 21]</span> +verse and prose with a knowledge that +he had read them carefully—offered to +help me to such information as I should +require, and even mentioned a subject +in which he thought I could appear to +advantage. "If you try your hand on a +story," he observed, "I would advise +you to prepare a kind of skeleton, and +when you have pleased yourself with +the line of narrative, you may then leisurely +clothe it with flesh and blood." +Some years afterwards, I reminded him +of this advice. "Did you follow it?" +he inquired. "I tried," I said; "but +I had not gone far on the road till some +confounded Will-o-wisp came in and dazzled +my sight, so that I deviated from +the path, and never found it again."—"It +is the same way with myself," said +he, smiling; "I form my plan, and then +I deviate."—"Ay, ay," I replied, "I +understand—we both deviate—- but you +deviate into excellence, and I into absurdity."</p> +<p>I have seen many distinguished poets, +Burns, Byron, Southey, Wordsworth, +Campbell, Rogers, Wilson, Crabbe, and +Coleridge; but, with the exception of +Burns, Scott, for personal vigour, surpasses +them all. Burns was, indeed, a +powerful man, and Wilson is celebrated +for feats of strength and agility; I +think, however, the stalworth frame, the +long nervous arms, and well-knit joints +of Scott, are worthy of the best days of +the Border, and would have gained him +distinction at the foray which followed +the feast of spurs. On one occasion he +talked of his ancestry, Sir Thomas Lawrence, +I think, was present. One of his +forefathers, if my memory is just, sided +with the Parliament in the Civil War, +and the family estate suffered curtailment +in consequence. To make amends, +however, his son, resolving not to commit +the error of his father, joined the +Pretender, and with his brother was +engaged in that unfortunate adventure +which ended in a skirmish and captivity +at Preston, in 1715. It was the fashion +of those times for all persons of the +rank of gentlemen to wear scarlet waistcoats—a +ball had struck one of the +brothers, and carried a part of this dress +into his body; it was also the practice +to strip the captives. Thus wounded, +and nearly naked, having only a shirt on +and an old sack about him, the ancestor +of the great poet was sitting along with +his brother and a hundred and fifty +unfortunate gentlemen, in a granary at +Preston. The wounded man fell sick, +as the story goes, and vomited the scarlet +which the ball had forced into the +wound. "L——d, Wattie!" cried his +brother, "if you have got a wardrobe in +your wame, I wish you would bring me +a pair of breeks, for I have meikle need +of them." The wound healed; I know +not whether he was one of those fortunate +men who mastered the guard at +Newgate, and escaped to the continent.</p> +<p>The mystery which hung so long +over the authorship of the Waverley +Novels, was cleared up by a misfortune +which all the world deplores, and which +would have crushed any other spirit +save that of Scott. This stroke of evil +fortune did not, perhaps, come quite +unexpected; it was, however, unavoidable, +and it arose from no mismanagement +or miscalculation of his own, unless +I may consider—which I do not—his +embarking in the hazards of a printing-house, +a piece of miscalculation. It is +said, that he received warnings: the +paper of Constable, the bookseller, or, +to speak plainer, long money-bills were +much in circulation: one of them, for a +large sum, made its appearance in the +Bank of Scotland, with Scott's name +upon it, and a secretary sent for Sir +Walter. "Do you know," said he, +"that Constable has many such bills +abroad—Sir Walter, I warn you."—"Well," +answered Sir Walter, "it is, +perhaps, as you say, and I thank you; +but," raising his voice, "Archie Constable +was a good friend to me when +friends were rarer than now, and I will +not see him balked for the sake of a +few thousand pounds." The amount +of the sum for which Scott, on the failure +of Constable, became responsible, I have +heard various accounts of—varying from +fifty to seventy thousand pounds. Some +generous and wealthy person sent him +a blank check, properly signed, upon +the bank, desiring him to fill in the sum, +and relieve himself; but he returned it, +with proper acknowledgments. He took, +as it were, the debt upon himself, as a +loan, the whole payable, with interest, +in ten years; and to work he went, with +head, and heart, and hand, to amend +his broken fortunes. I had several letters +from him during these disastrous +days: the language was cheerful, and +there were no allusions to what had +happened. It is true, there was no +occasion for him to mention these occurrences +to me: all that he said about +them was—"I miss my daughter, Mrs. +Lockhart, who used to sing to me; I +have some need of her now." No general, +after a bloody and disastrous battle, +ever set about preparing himself for a +more successful contest than did this +distinguished man. Work succeeded +work with unheard of rapidity; the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page22" id="page22"></a>[pg 22]</span> +chief of which was, "The Life of Napoleon +Bonaparte," in nine volumes—a +production of singular power, and an +almost perfect work, with the exception +of the parts which treat of the French +Revolution, and the captivity of the +great prisoner. I had the curiosity, on +seeing one of the reviews praising Hazlitt's +description of the Battle of the +Pyramid's, to turn to the account of +Scott. I need not say which was best: +Scott's was like the sounding of a trumpet. +The present cheap and truly elegant +edition of the works of the author +of "Waverley" has, with its deservedly +unrivalled sale, relieved the poet from +his difficulties, and the cloud which +hung so long over the towers of Abbotsford +has given place to sunshine.</p> +<p>Of Abbotsford itself, the best description +ever given, at least the briefest, was +"A Romance in stone and lime." It +would require a volume to describe all +the curiosities, ancient and modern, +living and dead, which are here gathered +together;—I say living, because a menagerie +might be formed out of birds and +beasts, sent as presents from distant +lands. A friend told me he was at +Abbotsford one evening, when a servant +announced, "A present from"—I forget +what chieftain in the North.—"Bring +it in," said the poet. The sound of +strange feet were soon heard, and in +came two beautiful Shetland ponies, +with long manes and uncut tails, and so +small that they might have been sent to +Elfland, to the Queen of the Fairies +herself. One poor Scotsman, to show +his gratitude for some kindness Scott, +as sheriff, had shown him, sent two +kangaroos from New Holland; and +Washington Irving lately told me, that +some Spaniard or other, having caught +two young wild Andalusian boars, consulted +him how he might have them +sent to the author of "The Vision of +Don Roderick."</p> +<p>This distinguished poet and novelist +is now some sixty years old—hale, fresh, +and vigorous, with his imagination as +bright, and his conceptions as clear and +graphic, as ever. I have now before +me a dozen or fifteen volumes of his +poetry, including his latest—"Halidon +Hill"—one of the most heroically-touching +poems of modern times—and +somewhere about eighty volumes of his +prose: his letters, were they collected, +would amount to fifty volumes more. +Some authors, though not in this land, +have been even more prolific; but their +progeny were ill-formed at their birth, +and could never walk alone; whereas +the mental offspring of our illustrious +countryman came healthy and vigorous +into the world, and promise long to continue. +To vary the metaphor—the tree +of some other men's fancy bears fruit +at the rate of a pint of apples to a peck +of crabs; whereas the tree of the great +magician bears the sweetest fruit—large +and red-cheeked—fair to look upon, and +right pleasant to the taste. I shall conclude +with the words of Sir Walter, +which no man can contradict, and which +many can attest: "I never refused a +literary person of merit such services in +smoothing his way to the public as were +in my power; and I had the advantage—rather +an uncommon one with our +irritable race—to enjoy general favour, +without incurring permanent ill-will, so +far as is known to me, among any of my +contemporaries."</p> +<hr /> +<h3>A CHRISTMAS CAROL.—IN HONOUR OF +MAGA. (BLACKWOOD.) +</h3> +<h4>SUNG BY THE CONTRIBUTORS.</h4> +<p>Noo—hearken till me—and I'll beat Matthews +or Yates a' to sticks wi' my impersonations.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">TICKLER.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>When Kit North is dead,</p> +<p class="i2">What will Maga do, sir?</p> +<p>She must go to bed,</p> +<p class="i2">And like him die too, sir!</p> +<p class="i4">Fal de ral, de ral,</p> +<p class="i6">Iram coram dago;</p> +<p class="i4">Fal de ral, de ral,</p> +<p class="i6">Here's success to Maga.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i6"> SHEPHERD.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>When death has them flat,</p> +<p class="i2">I'll stitch on my weepers,</p> +<p>Put crape around my bat,</p> +<p class="i2">And a napkin to my peepers!</p> +<p class="i4">Fal de ral, de ral, &c.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">NORTH.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Your words go to my heart,</p> +<p class="i2">I hear the death-owl flying,</p> +<p>I feel death's fatal dart—</p> +<p class="i2">By jingo, I am dying!</p> +<p class="i4">Fal de ral, de ral, &c.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p> COLONEL O'SHAUGHNESSY.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>See him, how he lies</p> +<p class="i2">Flat as any flounder!</p> +<p>Blow me! smoke his eyes—</p> +<p class="i2">Death ne'er closed eyes sounder!</p> +<p class="i4">Fal de ral, de ral, &c.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i6"> DELTA.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Yet he can't be dead,</p> +<p class="i2">For he is immortal,</p> +<p>And to receive his head</p> +<p class="i2">Earth would not ope its portal!</p> +<p class="i4">Fal de ral, de ral, &c.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">O'DOHERTY.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Kit will never die;</p> +<p class="i2">That I take for <i>sartain</i>!</p> +<p>Death "is all my eye"—</p> +<p class="i2">An't it, Betty Martin?</p> +<p class="i4">Fal de ral, de ral, &c.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2">MODERN PYTHAGOREAN.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Suppose we feel his arm—</p> +<p class="i2">Zounds' I never felt a</p> +<p>Human pulse more firm:</p> +<p class="i2">What's your opinion, Delta?</p> +<p class="i4">Fal de ral, de ral, &c</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page23" id="page23"></a>[pg 23]</span> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">CHARLES LAMB.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Kit, I hope you're well,</p> +<p class="i2">Up, and join our ditty;</p> +<p>To lose such a fine old fel-</p> +<p class="i2">Low would be a pity!</p> +<p class="i6">Fal de ral, de ral, &c.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i6"> NORTH.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Let's resume our booze,</p> +<p class="i2">And tipple while we're able;</p> +<p>I've had a bit of a snooze,</p> +<p class="i2">And feel quite comfortable!</p> +<p class="i6">Fal de ral, de ral, &c.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i6"> MULLION.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Be he who he may,</p> +<p class="i2">Sultan, Czar, or Aga,</p> +<p>Let him soak his clay</p> +<p class="i2">To the health of Kit and Maga!</p> +<p class="i6">Fal de ral, de ral, &c.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> OPIUM-EATER.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p>Search all the world around,</p> +<p class="i2">From Greenland to Malaga,</p> +<p>And nowhere will be found</p> +<p class="i2">A magazine like Maga!</p> +<p class="i6">Fal de ral, de ral,</p> +<p class="i8">Iram coram dago;</p> +<p class="i6">Fal de ral, de ral,</p> +<p class="i8">Here's success to Maga!</p> + </div> </div> +<h4><i>Blackwood—Noctes.</i></h4> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>Notes of a Reader.</h2> +<h3>KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PEOPLE; OR, +THE PLAIN WHY AND BECAUSE.</h3> +<h4>PART III.—<i>Origins and Antiquities.</i></h4> +<p>This contains the <i>Why and Because</i> of +the Curiosities of the Calendar; the Customs +and Ceremonies of Special Days; +and a few of the Origins and Antiquities +of Social Life. We quote a page of +articles, perhaps, the longest in the +Number:—</p> +<p class="ctr"><i>Cock-fighting.</i></p> +<p>Why was throwing at cocks formerly +customary on Shrove Tuesday?</p> +<p>Because the crowing of a cock once +prevented our Saxon ancestors from +massacreing their conquerors, another +part of our ancestors, the Danes, on the +morning of a Shrove Tuesday, while +asleep in their beds.</p> +<p>This is the account generally received, +although two lines in an epigram +"On a Cock at Rochester," by the witty +Sir Charles Sedley, imply that the cock +suffered this annual barbarity by way of +punishment for St. Peter's crime, in denying +his Lord and Master—</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"Mayst thou be punish'd for St. Peter's crime,</p> +<p>And on Shove Tuesday perish in thy prime."</p> + </div> </div> +<p>A writer in the <i>Gentleman's Magazine</i> +also says—"The barbarous practice of +throwing at a cock tied to a stake on +Shrovetide, I think I have read, has an +allusion to the indignities offered by the +Jews to the Saviour of the World before +his crucifixion."—<i>Ellis's Notes to Brand.</i></p> +<p>Why was cock-fighting a popular +sport in Greece?</p> +<p>Because of its origin from the Athenians, +on the following occasion: When +Themistocles was marching his army +against the Persians, he, by the way, +espying two cocks fighting, caused his +army to halt, and addressed them as +follows—"Behold! these do not fight +for their household gods, for the monuments +of their ancestors, nor for glory, +nor for liberty, nor for the safety of +their children, but only because the one +will not give way to the other."—This +so encouraged the Grecians, that they +fought strenuously, and obtained the +victory over the Persians; upon which, +cock-fighting was, by a particular law, +ordered to be annually celebrated by the +Athenians.</p> +<p>Cæsar mentions the English cocks in +his Commentaries; but the earliest +notice of cock-fighting in England, is by +Fitzstephen the monk, who died in 1191.</p> +<hr class="short" /> +<p class="ctr"><i>St. George.</i></p> +<p>Why is St. George the patron saint of +England?</p> +<p>Because, when Robert, Duke of Normandy, +the son of William the Conqueror, +was fighting against the Turks, +and laying siege to the famous city of +Antioch, which was expected to be relieved +by the Saracens, St. George appeared +with an innumerable army, +coming down from the hills, all clad in +white, with a red cross on his banner, +to reinforce the Christians. This so +terrified the infidels that they fled, and +left the Christians in possession of the +town.—<i>Butler.</i></p> +<p>Why is St. George usually painted on +horseback, and tilting at a dragon under +his feet?</p> +<p>Because the representation is emblematical +of his faith and fortitude, by +which he conquered the devil, called the +dragon in the Apocalypse.—<i>Butler.</i></p> +<p>Why was the Order of the Garter instituted?</p> +<p>Because of the victory obtained over +the French at the battle of Cressy, when +Edward ordered his garter to be displayed +as a signal of battle; to commemorate +which, he made a garter the +principal ornament of an order, and a +symbol of the indissoluble union of the +knights. The order is under the patronage +or protection of St. George, +whence he figures in its insignia. Such +is the account of Camden, Fern, and +others. The common story of the order +being instituted in honour of a garter of +the Countess of Salisbury, which she +dropped in dancing, and which was +picked up by King Edward, has been +denounced as fabulous by our best antiquaries.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page24" id="page24"></a>[pg 24]</span> +<hr class="short" /> +<p class="ctr"><i>Cock-crow.</i></p> +<p>Why was it formerly supposed that +cocks crowed all Christmas-eve?</p> +<p>Because the weather is then usually +cloudy and dark (whence "the dark days +before Christmas,") and cocks, during +such weather, often crow nearly all day +and all night. Shakspeare alludes to +this superstition in Hamlet—</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Some say that even 'gainst that hallow'd season,</p> +<p>At which our Saviour's birth is celebrated,</p> +<p>The Bird of Dawning croweth all night long.</p> +<p>The nights are wholesome, and no mildew falls;</p> +<p>No planet strikes, nor spirits walk abroad:</p> +<p>No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,</p> +<p>So gracious and so hallowed is the time.</p> + </div> </div> +<p>The ancient Christians divided the +night into four watches, called the evening, +midnight, and two morning cock-crowings. +Their connexion with the +belief in walking spirits will be remembered—</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>The cock crows, and the morn prows on,</p> +<p>When 'tis decreed I must be gone."—<i>Butler.</i></p> + </div> </div> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i6">—The tale</p> +<p>Of horrid apparition, tall and ghastly,</p> +<p>That walks at dead of night, or takes his stand</p> +<p>O'er some new-open'd grave; and, strange to tell,</p> +<p>Evanishes at crowing of the cock—<i>Blair.</i></p> + </div> </div> +<p>Who can ever forget the night-watches +proclaimed by the cock in that scene in +Comus, where the two brothers, in +search of their sister, are benighted in a +forest?—</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i6">—Might we but hear</p> +<p>The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes,</p> +<p>Or sound of pastoral reed with oaten stops,</p> +<p>Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock</p> +<p>Count the night-watches to his feathery dames,</p> +<p>'Twould be some solace yet, some little cheering,</p> +<p>In this close dungeon of innumerous boughs.</p> + </div> </div> +<p>Dr. Forster observes—"There is this +remarkable circumstance about the crowing +of cocks—they seem to keep night-watches, +or to have general crowing-matches, +at certain periods—as, soon +after twelve, at two, and again at day-break. +These are the Alectrephones +mentioned by St. John. To us, these +cock-crowings do not appear quite so +regular in their times of occurrence, +though they actually observe certain +periods, when not interrupted by the +changes of the weather, which generally +produce a great deal of crowing. Indeed, +the song of all birds is much influenced +by the state of the air." Dr. F. also +mentions, "that cocks began to crow +during the darkness of the eclipse of the +sun, Sept. 4, 1820; and it seems that +<i>crepusculum</i> (or twilight) is the sort of +light in which they crow most."</p> +<hr class="short" /> +<p class="ctr"><i>Goes of Liquor.</i></p> +<p>Why did tavern-keepers originally call +portions of liquor "goes?"</p> +<p>Because of the following incident, +which, though unimportant in itself, +convinces us how much custom is influenced +by the most trifling occurrences:—The +tavern called the Queen's +Head, in Duke's-court, Bow-street, was +once kept by a facetious individual of +the name of Jupp. Two celebrated +characters, Annesley Spay and Bob +Todrington, a sporting man, meeting +one evening at the above place, went to +the bar, and each asked for half a quartern +of spirits, with a little cold water. +In the course of time, they drank four-and-twenty, +when Spay said to the other, +"Now we'll go."—"O no," replied he, +"we'll have another, and then go."—This +did not satisfy the gay fellows, and +they continued drinking on till three in +the morning, when both agreed to GO; +so that under the idea of going, they +made a long stay. Such was the origin +of drinking, or calling for, <i>goes</i>.</p> +<p>Why was the celebrated cabinet council +of Charles II. called the Cabal?</p> +<p>Because the initials of the names of +the five councillors formed that word, +thus—</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Clifford,</p> +<p>Arlington,</p> +<p>Buckingham</p> +<p>Ashley,</p> +<p>Lauderdale.</p> + </div> </div> +<hr /> +<h3>COMPANION TO THE ALMANAC.</h3> +<p>The volume for the present year appears +to bring into play all the advantages +of the Society for the Diffusion of +Useful Knowledge. The majority of +the papers are of permanent value,—as +the Division of the Day—a Table of the +difference between London and Country +Time—the continuation of the "Natural +History of the Weather," commenced +in last year's <i>Companion</i>—Chronological +Table of Political Treaties, +from 1326—a Literary Chronology +of Contemporaneous Authors from the +earliest times, on the plan of last year's +Regal Table—Tables for calculating the +Heights of Mountains by the Barometer—and +illustrative papers on Life Assurance, +the Irish Poor, and East India +Trade.</p> +<p>The condensations of the official documents +of the year follow; and from +these we select two or three examples:</p> +<p class="ctr"><i>Bankruptcy Analysis, from November 1, +1829, to November 1, 1830.</i></p> +<p>Agricultural Implement Maker, 1; +Anchorsmiths, 3; Apothecaries, 7; +Auctioneers, 10; Bakers, 15; Bankers, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page25" id="page25"></a>[pg 25]</span> +3; Barge-master, 1; Basket-maker, 1; +Blacksmiths, 2; Bleacher, 1; Boarding-house +Keepers, 9; Boarding-school +Keeper, 1; Boat-builder, 1; Bombasin +Manufacturer, 1; Bone Merchant, 1; +Bookbinders, 3; Booksellers, 20; Boot +and Shoemakers, 14; Brassfounders, 4; +Brewers, 17; Bricklayers, 5; Brickmakers, +4; Brokers, 10; Brush Manufacturer, +1; Builders, 38; Butchers, 8; +Cabinet Makers, 9; Calico Printers, +3; Canvass Manufacturer, 1; Cap +Manufacturer, 1; Carpenters, 12; +Carpet Manufacturer, 1; Carriers, +4; Carvers and Gilders, 2; Cattle +Dealers, 13; Cement Maker, 1; Cheesemongers, +12; China Dealers, 2; Chemists +and Druggists, 16; Clothes' Salesman +1; Clothiers, 9; Cloth Merchants, +8; Coach Builders, 10; Coach Proprietors, +9; Coal Merchants, 28; Coffeehouse +Keeper, 1; Colour Maker, 1; +Commission Agents, 7; Confectioners, +3; Cook, 1; Cork Merchants, 2; Corn +Merchants, 36; Cotton Manufacturers, +16; Curriers, 8; Cutlers, 3; Dairyman, +1; Dealers, 20; Drapers, 35; +Drysalter, 1; Dyers, 12; Earthenware +Manufacturers, 4; Edge-tool Maker, 1; +Engineers, 5; Factors, 4; Farmers, +15; Farrier, 1; Feather Merchants, 3; +Fellmongers, 2; Fishmongers, 2: Flannel +Manufacturers, 2; Flax-dressers, +&c., 2; Fruit Salesman 1; Furriers, 3; +Gardener, 1; Gingham Manufacturers, +2; Glass Cutters, 2; Glass Dealers, 3; +Glove Manufacturers, 2; Goldsmiths, +2; Grazier, 1; Grocers, 98; Gunmakers, +4; Haberdashers, 4; Hardwareman, +1; Hat Manufacturers, 9; +Hop Merchants, 2; Horse Dealers, 10; +Hosiers, 9; Innkeepers, 40; Ironfounders, +5; Iron Masters, 4; Iron +Merchants, 4; Ironmongers, 19; Jewellers, +7; Joiners, 7; Lace Dealer, 1; +Lace Manufacturers, 3; Lapidary 1; +Leather Cutters, 2; Leather Dressers, +2; Lime Burners, 5; Linendrapers, 62; +Linen Manufacturers, 2; Livery Stable +Keepers, 9; Looking Glass Manufacturer, +1; Machine Makers, 2; Maltsters, +9; Manchester Warehousemen, +2; Manufacturers, 10; Manufacturing +Chemist, 1; Master Mariners, 10; +Mast Maker, 1; Mattress Maker, 1; +Mealman, 1; Mercers, 16; Merchants, +71; Millers, 22; Milliners, 7; Miner, +1; Money Scriveners, 21; MusicSellers, +5; Nurserymen, 4; Oil and Colourman, +8; Painters, 6; Paper Hanger, 1; +Paper Manufacturers, 8; Pawnbrokers, +2; Perfumers, 4; Picture Dealers, 3; +Pill Box Maker, 1; Plasterer, 1; +Plumbers, 12; Porter Dealers, 2; Potter, +1; Poulterer, 1; Printers, 4; Provision +Brokers, 2; Ribbon Manufacturers, +6; Rope Manufacturer, 1; Sack +Maker, 1; Saddlers, 6; Sail Cloth +Makers, 2; Sail Makers, 4; Salesmen, +3; Scavenger, 1; Schoolmasters, 6; +Seedsmen, 2; Ship Chandlers, 3; Ship +Owners, 5; Shipwrights, 8; Shopkeepers, +11; Silk Manufacturers, 6; +Silk Throwsters, 2; Silversmiths, 2; +Slate Merchants, 2; Smiths, 2; Soap +Maker, 1; Stationers, 7; Statuaries, +2; Steam Boiler Manufacturers, 2; +Stock Brokers, 2; Stocking Manufacturer, +1; Stonemasons, 8; Stuff Merchants, +7; Sugar Refiner, 1; Surgeons, +13; Surveyor, 1; Tailors, 25; Tallow +Chandler, 1; Tanners, 7; Tavern +Keepers, 3; Timber Merchants, 18; +Tinmen, 3; Tobacconists, 4; Toymen, +3; Turners, 2; Umbrella Manufacturer, +1; Underwriter, 1; Upholsterers, +16; Veneer Cutter, 1; Victuallers, 88; +Warehousemen, 15; Watch and Clock +Makers, 6; Wax Chandler 1; Wheelwright, +1; White Lead Manufacturer, +1; Whitesmith, 1; Whitster, 1; Wine +and Spirit Merchants, 50; Woollen +Drapers, 18; Woolstaplers, 5; Worsted +Manufacturers, 6.—Total, 1467.</p> +<p>This is but a gloomy page in the +commercial annals.</p> +<hr class="short" /> +<p class="ctr"><i>Duties on Soap and Candles.</i></p> +<p>The amount of the duty on Candles +has been, for the year ending 5th of +Jan. 1826, 491,236<i>l.</i>; 1827, 471,994<i>l.</i>; +1828, 492,622<i>l.</i>; 1829, 503,779<i>l.</i>; 1830, +495,138<i>l.</i></p> +<p>The rate of duty on the above articles +is—On hard soap, 3<i>d.</i> per lb.; soft soap, +1¾<i>d.</i>; candles, tallow, 1<i>d.</i> per lb.; wax +and spermaceti, 3½<i>d.</i> These duties are +payable by law one week after the accounts +are made up; but as the accounts +for the country include the operations +of six or seven weeks alternately, +the period allowed for payment depends +upon the locality of the traders, as those +resident where the collector attends +latest upon the round have a proportionally +longer credit; the time allowed +for payment may be stated generally at +from fourteen to twenty-eight days. +Within the limits of the chief office the +duties on candles are paid weekly; but +those on soap have, by custom, been extended +to fourteen days after the account +has been made up.</p> +<hr class="short" /> +<p class="ctr"><i>Duties on Newspapers.</i></p> +<p>Amount of Stamp Duties on Newspapers +and Advertisements in England +and Scotland, during the five +years ending January 5, 1830:</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page26" id="page26"></a>[pg 26]</span> +<table summary="Stamp Duties" align="center" cellspacing="15" cellpadding="0"> +<colgroup span="5" align="center"></colgroup> +<tr><td>Year</td><td colspan="2">NEWSPAPERS. </td><td colspan="2">ADVERTISEMENTS. </td></tr> +<tr><td>ending </td><td> England </td><td> Scotland </td><td> England. </td><td> Scotland. </td></tr> +<tr><td>Jan. 5.</td><td>£.</td><td>£.</td><td>£.</td><td>£. </td></tr> +<tr><td>1826</td><td>425,154</td><td>24,419</td><td>144,751</td><td>18,708</td></tr> +<tr><td>1827</td><td>429,662</td><td>22,013</td><td>135,687</td><td>17,779</td></tr> +<tr><td>1828</td><td>428,629</td><td>29,929</td><td>133,978</td><td>18,400</td></tr> +<tr><td>1829</td><td>439,798</td><td>33,556</td><td>136,368</td><td>18,939</td></tr> +<tr><td>1830</td><td>438,667</td><td>42,301</td><td>136,052</td><td>17,592</td></tr> +</table> +<p>In Ireland the total number of Newspaper +Stamps issued has been, in the +years ending 5th Jan. 1827, 3,473,014; +1828, 3,545,846; 1829, 3,790,272; and +1830, 3,953,550.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>The Selector;<br/> +AND +LITERARY NOTICES OF +<i>NEW WORKS</i>. +</h2> +<h3>MOORE'S LIFE OF BYRON. VOL. II.</h3> +<p>It is our intention to condense a sheet of +extracts from the above volume, upon the +plan adopted by us on the appearance +of the previous portion of the work. +Our publishing arrangements will not, +however, advantageously allow the appearance +of this sheet until next Saturday +week. In the meantime, a few extracts, +<i>per se</i>, may gratify the curiosity +of the reader, and not interfere with the +interest of our proposed Supplement.</p> +<p class="ctr"><i>Extracts from Lord Byron's Journal.</i></p> +<p>"Diodati, near Geneva, Sept. 19th, 1816.</p> +<p>"Rose at five. Crossed the mountains +to Montbovon on horseback, and +on mules, and, by dint of scrambling, +on foot also; the whole route +beautiful as a dream, and now to me +almost as indistinct. I am so tired;—for, +though healthy, I have not the +strength I possessed but a few years +ago. At Montbovon we breakfasted; +afterwards, on a steep ascent, dismounted; +tumbled down; cut a finger open; +the baggage also got loose and fell down +a ravine, till stopped by a large tree; +recovered baggage; horse tired and +drooping; mounted mule. At the approach +of the summit of Dent Jument<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> +dismounted again with Hobhouse and +all the party. Arrived at a lake in the +very bosom of the mountains; left our +quadrupeds with a shepherd, and ascended +farther; came to some snow in +patches, upon which my forehead's perspiration +fell like rain, making the same +dints as in a sieve; the chill of the wind +and the snow turned me giddy, but I +scrambled on and upwards. Hobhouse +went to the highest pinnacle; I did not, +but paused within a few yards (at an +opening of the cliff.) In coming down, +the guide tumbled three times; I fell a +laughing, and tumbled too—the descent +luckily soft, though steep and slippery; +Hobhouse also fell, but nobody hurt. +The whole of the mountains superb. A +shepherd on a very steep and high cliff +playing upon his <i>pipe</i>; very different +from <i>Arcadia</i>, where I saw the pastors +with a long musket instead of a crook, +and pistols in their girdles. Our Swiss +shepherd's pipe was sweet, and his tune +agreeable. I saw a cow strayed; am +told that they often break their necks +on and over the crags. Descended to +Montbovon; pretty scraggy village, with +a wild river and a wooden bridge. Hobhouse +went to fish—caught one. Our +carriage not come; our horses, mules, +&c. knocked up; ourselves fatigued.</p> +<p>"The view from the highest points +of to-day's journey comprised on one +side the greatest part of Lake Leman; +on the other, the valleys and mountain +of the Canton of Fribourg, and an immense +plain, with the Lakes of Neuchâtel +and Morat, and all which the +borders of the Lake of Geneva inherit; +we had both sides of the Jura before us +in one point of view, with Alps in +plenty. In passing a ravine, the guide +recommended strenuously a quickening +of pace, as the stones fall with great +rapidity and occasional damage; the +advice is excellent, but, like most good +advice, impracticable, the road being so +rough that neither mules, nor mankind, +nor horses, can make any violent progress. +Passed without fractures or menace +thereof.</p> +<p>"The music of the cows' bells (for +their wealth, like the patriarchs', is +cattle,) in the pastures, which reach to +a height far above any mountains in +Britain, and the shepherds shouting to +us from crag to crag, and playing on +their reeds where the steeps appeared +almost inaccessible, with the surrounding +scenery, realized all that I have ever +heard or imagined of a pastoral existence;—much +more so than Greece or +Asia Minor, for there we are a little too +much of the sabre and musket order—and +if there is a crook in one hand, you +are sure to see a gun in the other;—but +this was pure and unmixed—solitary, +savage, and patriarchal. As we +went, they played the 'Ranz des +Vaches' and other airs by way of farewell. +I have lately repeopled my mind +with nature.</p> +<p class="right">"Sept. 20th.</p> +<p>"Up at six; off at eight. The whole +of this day's journey at an average of +between from 2,700 to 3,000 feet above +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page27" id="page27"></a>[pg 27]</span> +the level of the sea. This valley, the +longest, narrowest, and considered the +finest of the Alps, little traversed by +travellers. Saw the bridge of La Roche. +The bed of the river very low and deep, +between immense rocks, and rapid as +anger;—a man and mule said to have +tumbled over without damage. The +people looked free, and happy, and +<i>rich</i> (which last implies neither of the +former;) the cows superb; a bull +nearly leapt into the char-à-banc—'agreeable +companion in a post-chaise;' +goats and sheep very thriving. A mountain +with enormous glaciers to the right—the +Klitzgerberg; further on, the +Hockthorn—nice names—so soft;—<i>Stockhorn</i>, +I believe, very lofty and +scraggy, patched with snow only; no +glaciers on it, but some good epaulettes +of clouds.</p> +<p>"Passed the boundaries, out of Vaud +and into Berne canton; French exchanged +for bad German; the district +famous for cheese, liberty, property, +and no taxes. Hobhouse went to fish—caught +none. Strolled to the river—saw +boy and kid—kid followed him like +a dog—kid could not get over a fence, +and bleated piteously—tried myself to +help kid, but nearly overset both self +and kid into the river. Arrived here +about six in the evening. Nine o'clock—going +to bed; not tired to-day, but +hope to sleep, nevertheless."</p> +<p class="right">"Sept. 22nd.</p> +<p>"Left Thoun in a boat, which carried +us the length of the lake in three +hours. The lake small, but the banks +fine. Rocks down to the water's edge. +Landed at Newhause—passed Interlachen—entered +upon a range of scenes +beyond all description, or previous conception. +Passed a rock: inscription—two +brothers—one murdered the other; +just the place for it. After a variety of +windings came to an enormous rock. +Arrived at the foot of the mountain (the +Jungfrau, that is, the Maiden)—glaciers—torrents: +one of these torrents +<i>nine hundred feet</i> in height of visible +descent. Lodged at the curate's. Set +out to see the valley—heard an avalanche +fall, like thunder—glaciers enormous—storm +came on, thunder, lightning, hail—all +in perfection, and beautiful. I +was on horseback; guide wanted to +carry my cane; I was going to give it +him, when I recollected that it was a +sword-stick, and I thought the lightning +might be attracted towards him; kept it +myself; a good deal encumbered with it, +as it was too heavy for a whip, and the +horse was stupid, and stood with every +other peal. Got in, not very wet, the +cloak being stanch. Hobhouse wet +through; Hobhouse took refuge in cottage; +sent man, umbrella, and cloak, +(from the curate's when I arrived) after +him. Swiss curate's house very good +indeed—much better than most English +vicarages. It is immediately opposite +the torrent I spoke of. The torrent is +in shape curving over the rock, like the +<i>tail</i> of a white horse streaming in the +wind, such as it might be conceived +would be that of the 'pale horse' on +which Death is mounted in the Apocalypse.<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a> +It is neither mist nor water, +but a something between both; its immense +height (nine hundred feet) gives +it a wave or curve, a spreading here, or +condensation there, wonderful and indescribable. +I think, upon the whole, +that this day has been better than any +of this present excursion.</p> +<p class="right">"Sept. 23rd.</p> +<p>"Before ascending the mountain, +went to the torrent (seven in the morning) +again; the sun upon it, forming a +<i>rainbow</i> of the lower part of all colours, +but principally purple and gold; the +bow moving as you move; I never saw +anything like this: it is only in the sunshine. +Ascended the Wengen mountain; +at noon reached a valley on the +summit; left the horses, took off my +coat, and went to the summit, seven +thousand feet (English feet) above the +level of the <i>sea</i>, and about five thousand +above the valley we left in the morning. +On one side, our view comprised the +Jungfrau, with all her glaciers; then +the Dent d'Argent, shining like truth; +then the Little Giant (the Kleine +Eigher;) and the Great Giant (the +Grosse Eigher,) and last, not least, +the Wetterhorn. The height of the +Jungfrau is 13,000 feet above the sea, +11,000 above the valley: she is the +highest of this range. Heard the avalanches +falling every five minutes nearly. +From whence we stood, on the Wengen +Alp, we had all these in view on one +side; on the other, the clouds rose from +the opposite valley, curling up perpendicular +precipices like the foam of the +ocean of hell, during a spring tide—it +was white and sulphury, and immeasurably +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page28" id="page28"></a>[pg 28]</span> +deep in appearance.<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> The side +we ascended was, of course, not of so +precipitous a nature; but on arriving at +the summit, we looked down upon the +other side upon a boiling sea of cloud, +dashing against the crags on which we +stood (these crags on one side quite perpendicular.) +Staid a quarter of an hour—begun +to descend—quite clear from +cloud on that side of the mountain. In +passing the masses of snow, I made a +snowball and pelted Hobhouse with it.</p> +<p>"Got down to our horses again; ate +something; remounted; heard the avalanches +still: came to a morass; Hobhouse +dismounted to get over well; I +tried to pass my horse over; the horse +sunk up to the chin, and of course he +and I were in the mud together; bemired, +but not hurt; laughed, and rode +on. Arrived at the Grindenwald; dined, +mounted again, and rode to the higher +glacier—like <i>a frozen hurricane</i>.<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> Starlight, +beautiful, but a devil of a path! +Never mind, got safe in; a little lightning, +but the whole of the day as fine +in point of weather as the day on which +Paradise was made. Passed <i>whole woods +of withered pines, all withered</i>; trunks +stripped and lifeless, branches lifeless; +done by a single winter."<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> +<hr class="short" /> +<p class="ctr"><i>Shelley and Byron,</i></p> +<p>It appears, first met at Geneva:—</p> +<p>There was no want of disposition +towards acquaintance on either side, +and an intimacy almost immediately +sprung up between them. Among the +tastes common to both, that for boating +was not the least strong; and in this +beautiful region they had more than +ordinary temptations to indulge in it. +Every evening, during their residence +under the same roof at Sécheron, they +embarked, accompanied by the ladies +and Polidori, on the Lake; and to the +feelings and fancies inspired by these +excursions, which were not unfrequently +prolonged into the hour of moonlight, +we are indebted for some of those enchanting +stanzas<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> in which the poet has +given way to his passionate love of Nature +so fervidly.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"There breathes a living fragrance from the shore</p> +<p>Of flowers yet fresh with childhood; on the ear</p> +<p>Drips the light drop of the suspended oar.</p> +<hr class="short" /> +<p>At intervals, some bird from out the brakes</p> +<p>Starts into voice a moment, then is still</p> +<p>There seems a floating whisper on the hill,</p> +<p>But that is fancy,—for the starlight dews</p> +<p>All silently their tears of love instil,</p> +<p>Weeping themselves away."</p> + </div> </div> +<p>A person who was of these parties +has thus described to me one of their +evenings. 'When the <i>bise</i> or northeast +wind blows, the waters of the Lake +are driven towards the town, and, with +the stream of the Rhone, which sets +strongly in the same direction, combine +to make a very rapid current towards the +harbour. Carelessly, one evening, we +had yielded to its course, till we found +ourselves almost driven on the piles; +and it required all our rowers' strength +to master the tide. The waves were +high and inspiriting,—we were all animated +by our contest with the elements. +'I will sing you an Albanian song,' cried +Lord Byron; 'now be sentimental, and +give me all your attention.' It was a +strange, wild howl that he gave forth; +but such as, he declared, was an exact +imitation of the savage Albanian mode, +laughing, the while, at our disappointment, +who had expected a wild Eastern +melody.</p> +<p>Sometimes the party landed, for a +walk upon the shore, and, on such +occasions, Lord Byron would loiter behind +the rest, lazily trailing his sword-*stick +along, and moulding, as he went, +his thronging thoughts into shape. +Often too, when in the boat, he would +lean abstractedly over he side, and surrender +himself up, in silence, to the +same absorbing task.</p> +<p>The conversation of Mr. Shelley, +from the extent of his poetic reading +and the strange, mystic speculations +into which his system of philosophy led +him, was of a nature strongly to arrest +and interest the attention of Lord Byron, +and to turn him away from worldly associations +and topics into more abstract +and untrodden ways of thought. As +far as contrast, indeed, is an enlivening +ingredient of such intercourse, it would +be difficult to find two persons more +formed to whet each other's faculties by +discussion, as on few points of common +interest between them did their opinions +agree; and that this difference +had its root deep in the conformation +of their respective minds needs but a +glance through the rich, glittering labyrinth +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page29" id="page29"></a>[pg 29]</span> +of Mr. Shelley's pages to assure +us.</p> +<hr class="short" /> +<p class="ctr"><i>Letter of Lord to Lady Byron.</i></p> +<p>"I have to acknowledge the receipt +of 'Ada's hair,' which is very soft and +pretty, and nearly as dark already as +mine was at twelve years old, if I may +judge from what I recollect of some in +Augusta's possession, taken at that age. +But it don't curl—perhaps from its being +let grow. I also thank you for the +inscription of the date and name, and I +will tell you why;—I believe that they +are the only two or three words of your +hand-writing in my possession. For +your letters I returned, and except the +two words, or rather the one word, +'household,' written twice in an old account +book, I have no other. I burnt +your last note, for two reasons:—firstly, +it was written in a style not very agreeable; +and, secondly, I wish to take your +word without documents, which are the +worldly resources of suspicious people. +I suppose that this note will reach you +somewhere about Ada's birthday—the +10th of December, I believe. She will +then be six; so that in about twelve more +I shall have some chance of meeting her; +perhaps sooner, if I am obliged to go +to England by business or otherwise. +Recollect, however, one thing, either in +distance or nearness;—every day which +keeps us asunder should, after so long +a period, rather soften our mutual feelings, +which must always have one rallying-point +as long as our child exists, +which I presume we both hope will be +long after either of her parents. The +time which has elapsed since the separation +has been considerably more than +the whole brief period of our union, +and the not much longer one of our +prior acquaintance. We both made a +bitter mistake; but now it is over, and +irrevocably so. For, at thirty-three on +my part, and a few years less on yours, +though it is no very extended period of +life, still it is one when the habits and +thought are generally so formed as to +admit of no modification; and as we +could not agree when younger, we +should with difficulty do so now. I say +all this, because I own to you, that, +notwithstanding everything, I considered +our re-union as not impossible for more +than a year after the separation; but +then I gave up the hope entirely and for +ever. But this very impossibility of reunion +seems to me at least a reason why, +on all the few points of discussion which +can arise between us, we should preserve +the courtesies of life, and as much +of its kindness as people who are never +to meet may preserve perhaps more +easily than nearer connexions. For my +own part, I am violent, but not malignant; +for only fresh provocations can +awaken my resentments. To you, who +are colder and more concentrated, I +would just hint, that you may sometimes +mistake the depth of a cold anger +for dignity, and a worse feeling for duty. +I assure you, that I bear you <i>now</i> (whatever +I may have done) no resentment +whatever. Remember, that <i>if you have +injured me</i> in aught, this forgiveness is +something; and that, if I have <i>injured +you</i>, it is something more still, if it be +true as the moralists say, that the most +offending are the least forgiving. Whether +the offence has been solely on my side, +or reciprocal, or on yours chiefly, I have +ceased to reflect upon any but two +things,—viz. that you are the mother of +my child, and that we shall never meet +again. I think if you also consider the +two corresponding points with reference +to myself, it will be better for all three."</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>The Naturalist.</h2> +<h3>DANCING FISH—SEA-SERPENT, &c.</h3> +<p>In a paper on "Oceanic Dangers," in +the <i>United Service Journal</i> is the following:—</p> +<p>There is a species of grampus from +two to three tons weight, and about sixteen +feet in length, that amuses itself +with jumping, or rather springing its +ponderous body entirely out of the water, +in a vertical position, and falling +upon its back; this effort of so large a +fish is almost incredible, and informs us +how surprisingly great the power of +muscle must be in this class of animal. +I have seen them spring out of the water +within ten yards of the ship's side, +generally in the evening, after having +swam all the former part of the day in +the ship's <i>wake</i>, or on either quarter. +When several of these fish take it into +their heads to dance a "hornpipe," as +the sailors have termed their gambols, +at the distance of half a mile they, especially +at or just after sun-down, may +easily be mistaken for the sharp points +of rocks sticking up out of the water, +and the splashing and foam they make +and produce have the appearance of the +action of the waves upon rocks. An +officer of the navy informed me, that +after sunset, when near the equator, he +was not a little alarmed and surprised +(because quite unexpected) at the cry of +"rocks on the starboard bow:" looking +forward through the dubious light (if +the expression may be admitted,) he indistinctly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page30" id="page30"></a>[pg 30]</span> +saw objects which he and all +on board took to be the pinnacles of several +rocks of a black and white colour: +in a short time, however he discovered +this formidable danger to be nothing +more than a company of dancing grampuses +with white bellies: as one disappeared, +another rose, so that there were +at least five or six constantly above the +surface!</p> +<p>The uncertainty attending the visual +organ during the continuance of the <i>aurora</i> +and of the <i>twilight</i>, must have been +noticed by all those person's who have +frequented the ocean. Most sailors have +the power of eye-sight strengthened +from constant practice, and from having +an unobstructed view so generally before +them; yet I have known an officer, +who was famous for his quickness of +sight, declare that in the evening and +morning he found it difficult to retain +sight for more than a second or two at a +time, of a strange sail; at night, even +with an inverting glass, his practised eye +could retain the object more steadily.</p> +<p>The public were amused for some +time, a few years ago, by the tales of +brother Jonathan respecting the huge +sea-serpent. Without at all disputing +the existence of creatures of that nature +in the ocean, I have little doubt that a +sight I witnessed in a voyage to the +West Indies, was precisely such as some +of the Americans had construed into a +"sea-serpent a mile in length," agreeing, +as it did, with one or two of the +accounts given. This was nothing more +than a tribe of black porpoises in one +line, extending fully a quarter of a mile, +fast asleep! The appearance certainly +was a little singular, not unlike a raft of +puncheons, or a ridge of rocks; but the +moment it was seen, some one exclaimed, +(I believe the captain)—"here is a +solution of Jonathan's enigma"—and +the resemblance to his "sea-serpent" +was at once striking.</p> +<p>Ice, sometimes, when a-wash with the +surface of the sea may be mistaken for +breakers; and that which is called +"black ice" has, both by Capt. Parry +and Mr. Weddell, been taken for rocks +until a close approach convinced them +of the contrary; and, I dare say, others +have been in like manner deceived, especially +near Newfoundland.</p> +<p>A <i>scole</i> of or indeed, a single, devil +fish (<i>Lophius</i>) when deep in the water, +may appear like a shoal; and I think, that +of all the various appearances of strange +things seen at sea, this monstrous animal +is more likely to deceive the judgment +into a belief of a submarine danger +being where none actually exists, +than any other. I have watched one of +these extraordinary creatures, as it passed +slowly along, occupying a space two-thirds +of the length of the ship (a 32-gun +frigate;) its shape was nearly circular, +of a dark green colour, spotted +with white and light green shades, like +the <i>ray</i>, and some other flat-fish.</p> +<p>Mr. Kriukof gave a curious description +to Capt. Kotzebue of a marine serpent +which pursued him off Behring's +island: it was red and enormously long, +the head resembling that of the sea-lion, +at the same time two disproportionately +large eyes gave it a frightful appearance. +Mr. Kriukof's situation seems to have +been almost as perilous above the surface +of the sea, as Lieutenant Hardy's +Spanish diver's was, with the <i>tinterero</i> +underneath!</p> +<p>In the History of Greenland, (which, +by the by, may with propriety be called +Parrynese,) I think there is a well authenticated +account of a large sea-serpent +seen upon the coast of that vast +insular land in Hudson's sea.</p> +<p>Sea-Devil.—Extract from the log-book +of the ship Douglas.—"Sailed +May 3rd from Curaçoa. May 6th, at +three P.M. in lat. 35 long. 68.40, made, +as we supposed, a vessel bottom up, five +or six miles distant—proceeded within +forty feet of the object, which appeared +in the form of a turtle—its height above +water ten or twelve feet; in length +twenty-five or thirty feet, and in breadth +twelve feet, with oars or flappers, one +on each side; twelve or fifteen feet in +length, one-third of the way from his +tail forward, and one on each side near +his tail five feet long. The tail twenty +to twenty-five feet long,—had a large +lion face with large eyes. The shell or +body looked like a clinker-built boat of +twenty-five or thirty tons, bottom up, +and the seams of the laps newly paid. +There were some large branches on him. +This animal was standing south-east, +and in the course of Bermuda, and his +velocity about two knots per hour. A +vessel running foul of this monster +might be much injured.—<i>New York +Paper</i>, May 22.</p> +<p>Spawn of fish, minute <i>mollusca</i>, the +small classes of <i>squilla</i> and <i>cancer</i>, are +known to voyagers as causing a discolouration +of the sea in particular +places. Patches and lines of these are +often seen within the tropics, of a brown +colour, and sometimes of a yellow, and +of a red shade, floating upon the surface +of the ocean, which, to those unused +to such sights, are considered as +indications of danger beneath. I met +with two patches of this description +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page31" id="page31"></a>[pg 31]</span> +lately in the Torrid Zone, but the captain +being familiar with such instances, +sailed through them without apprehension. +The first consisted of myriads of +small orbicular <i>medusæ</i>, about the size +of a pea, of a purple hue; the other +patch of a reddish-brown colour, was +produced by small <i>mollusca</i>, the size of +a needle, and about a <i>line</i> in length.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>The Gatherer.</h2> +<blockquote><p> +A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. +</p></blockquote> +<p style="margin-left:40%">SHAKSPEARE.</p> +<h3>CURIOUS SIGN.</h3> +<p>The following is on a violin maker's +sign-board, at Limerick:—"New Villins +mad here and old ones rippard, also +new heads, ribs, backs, and bellys mad +on the shortest notice. N.B. Choes +mended, &c.</p> +<p class="right">"Pat O'Shegnassy, painter."</p> +<h4>W.G.C.</h4> +<hr /> +<h3>ANCIENT PROPHECY.</h3> +<p>The author of "<i>The Blasynge of +Armes</i>,"<a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> at the end of Dame Julian +Berners's celebrated Treatise on Hawking, +Hunting, and Fishing, has informed +us that "Tharmes of the Kynge of +Fraunce were certaynly sent by an angel +from heven, that is to saye, thre floures +in manere of swerdes in a feld of azure, +the whyche certer armes were given to +the forsayd Kynge of Fraunce in sygne +of everlastynge trowble, and that he +and his successours alway with batayle +and swerdes sholde be punysshyd."</p> +<hr /> +<h3>BATHOS AND PATHOS.</h3> +<center>(<i>To the Editor.</i>)</center> +<p>Perceiving that you sometimes admit +curious and eccentric epitaphs into your +very amusing and instructive periodical, +if the enclosed is worthy a place, it at +least has this merit, if no other, that it +is a <i>literal</i> copy, from a tombstone in +St. Edmund's churchyard, Sarum:—</p> +<p><i>In Memory of 3 Children of Joseph and +Arabella Maton, who all died in their +Infancy, 1770.</i></p> +<p class="ctr">1.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Innocence Embellishes Divinely Compleat</p> +<p>To Prescience Coegent Now Sublimely Great</p> +<p>In the Benign, Perfecting, Vivifying State.</p> + </div> </div> +<p class="ctr">2.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>So Heavenly Guardian Occupy the Skies</p> +<p>The Pre-Existent God, Omnipotent Allwise</p> +<p>He can Surpassingly Immortalize thy Theme</p> +<p>And Permanent thy Soul Celestial Supreme.</p> + </div> </div> +<p class="ctr">3.</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>When Gracious Refulgence, bids the Grave Resign</p> +<p>The Creators Nursing Protection be Thine</p> +<p>Thus each Perspiring Æther will Joyfully Rise</p> +<p>Transcendantly Good Supereminently Wise.</p> + </div> </div> +<h4>W.C.</h4> +<hr /> +<h3>THE LETTER B.</h3> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"Or like a lamb, whose dam away is fet,</p> +<p>He treble <i>baas</i> for help, but none can get."</p> +<p style="margin-left:50%"> SIDNEY.</p> + </div> </div> +<p>Its pronunciation is supposed to resemble +the bleating of a sheep; upon +which account the Egyptians represented +the sound of this letter by the figure +of that animal. It is also one of those +letters which the eastern grammarians +call <i>labial</i>, because the principal organs +employed in its pronunciation are the +lips. With the ancients, B as a numeral +stood for 300. When a line was drawn +above it, it stood for 3,000, and with a +kind of accent below it, for 200.</p> +<h4>P.T.W.</h4> +<hr /> +<h3>A DOUBLE.</h3> +<center>(<i>To the Editor.</i>)</center> +<p>I read your story of the cherry-coloured +cat. The clergyman with whom I was +educated astonished me when a child, +by saying, when at his living at ——, +he preached in a cherry-coloured gown +and a <i>rose</i>-coloured wig (white.)</p> +<h4>AN OLD ONE.</h4> +<hr /> +<h3>PROPHECY OF LORD BYRON.</h3> +<p>In his journal, under the date of January +13, 1821, Lord Byron writes: +"Dined—news come—the powers mean +to war with the people. The intelligence +seems positive—let it be so—they +will be beaten in the end. The <i>King-times</i> +are fast finishing. There will be +blood shed like water, and tears like +mist; but the people will conquer in +the end. I shall not live to see it—but +I foresee it."</p> +<hr /> +<h3>HARDHAM'S 37</h3> +<p>Snuff-takers generally, especially the +patrons of Hardham's 37 will read the +following record of benevolence with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page32" id="page32"></a>[pg 32]</span> +some gratification:—"In 1772, Mr. +John Hardham, a tobacconist, in London, +a native of Chichester, left by his +will the interest of all his estates to the +guardians of the poor, 'to ease the inhabitants +in their poor-rates for ever.' +This valuable legacy amounting to 653<i>l.</i> +per annum was subject to the life of the +housekeeper of the testator, so that it +was not till 1786 that it reverted to the +city."—This is even better than the +plan for snuff-takers paying off the +national debt.</p> +<hr /> +<h3>PRESTON, LANCASTER.</h3> +<p>Preston is a market-town, borough, and +parish; situated on the river Ribble, in +the hundred of Amounderness, county +palatine of Lancaster. It was incorporated +by Henry II., in 1160; and the +privileges and free customs granted by +this and subsequent royal grants were +confirmed by Charter of 36th Charles II. +The body corporate consists of a mayor, +recorder, seven aldermen, and seventeen +capital burgesses, who, together, form +the common council of the borough. +The mayor, two town-bailiffs, and two +sergeants are elected annually, upon the +Friday preceding the festival of St. Wilfrid, +who was formerly lord of this town; +and they are invested, on the 12th of +October following, by a jury of twenty-four +guild burgesses. The members of +the council, with the exception of the +mayor, retain their seats for life, or +during the pleasure of a majority, and +vacancies are supplied by the remaining +members. The town sends two representatives +to parliament, and affords the +nearest practical example of universal +suffrage in the kingdom—every male +inhabitant, whether housekeeper or +lodger, who has resided six months in +the town, and who has not, during the +last twelve months, been chargeable to +any township as a pauper, having a right +to vote for two candidates at elections. +This principle was established by a decision +of the House of Commons, on an +appeal, in the year 1766, and has ever +since been acted upon. The burgesses +are entitled, by the charter of Henry II., +to have a GUILD MERCHANT, with the +usual franchises annexed, of safe transit +through the kingdom, exemption from +toll, pontage, and stallage; liberty to +buy and sell peaceably; and power to +hold a guild for the renewal of freedom +to the burgesses, the confirming of by-laws, +and other purposes. This privilege +is still made the occasion of great +festivity. For a long time after their +first institution, the guilds were held at +irregular periods, but they have now, +for more than a century, been uniformly +celebrated every twentieth year, commencing +on the Monday next after the +Decollation of St. John, which generally +happens in the last week of August; +the last was held in 1822, and commenced +on the 22nd of September. The +amusements, which are of great variety, +continue for a fortnight; but, for civic +purposes, the guild books are open for +one entire month. The corporation are +obliged to hold this carnival, on pain of +forfeiting their elective franchises, and +their rights as burgesses. The <i>guild</i> +appears to be of the nature of the ancient +frank-pledge: it is of Saxon origin, and +derived from the word <i>gile</i>, signifying +money, by which certain fraternities +enter into an association, and stipulate +with each other to punish crimes, make +losses good, and acts of restitution proportioned +to offences;—for which purposes, +they raised sums of money among +themselves, forming a common stock; +they likewise endowed chantries for +priests to perform orisons for the defunct. +Fraternities and guilds were, +therefore, in use, long before any formal +licenses were granted to them; though, +at this day, they are a company combined +together, with orders and laws +made by themselves, under sanction of +royal authority. The several trades of +Preston are incorporated; twenty-five +chartered companies go in procession on +the guild festival.</p> +<h4>W.G.C.</h4> +<hr /> +<h3>EPIGRAM.</h3> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Bob scrubs his head, in search of wit,</p> +<p>And calls his follies phrenzy fit;</p> +<p>But Bob forgets, with all his wit,</p> +<p>Poëta nascitur, non <i>fit</i>! </p> + </div> </div> +<h4>P.T.</h4> +<hr class="full" /> +<h3>COMPLETION OF VOL. XVI.</h3> +<h4>WITH THE PRESENT NUMBER</h4> +<h4>A SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER,</h4> +<p>With a Portrait of the Queen, and a Memoir of +her Majesty; with Title-page, Preface, and +Index to Vol. XVI.</p> +<hr /> +<p> +<sup>*</sup><small>*</small><sup>*</sup> Books are flocking fast around us. Among +them are Mr. Boaden's Life of Mrs. Jordan—the +Romance of History—Vols. 13 and 14 of +Lardner's Cyclopaedia—Dr. Dibdin's Sunday +Library—Vol 1 of the Cabinet Library—and +three other volumes of the periodical libraries. +Our preference of Moore's Byron is, we hope, +borne out by its paramount interest.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b><a href="#footnotetag1"> (return) </a><p>Dent de Jaman.</p></blockquote> +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b><a href="#footnotetag2"> (return) </a> +<p>It is interesting to observe the use to which +he afterwards converted these hasty memorandums +in his sublime drama of Manfred:—</p> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>It is not noon—the sunbow's rays still arch</p> +<p>The torrent with the many hues of heaven,</p> +<p>And roll the sheeted silver's waving column,</p> +<p>O'er the crag's headlong perpendicular,</p> +<p>And fling its lines of foaming light along,</p> +<p><i>And to and fro, like the pale courser's tail,</i></p> +<p><i>The Giant steed, to be bestrode by Death,</i></p> +<p><i>As told in the Apocalypse.</i></p> + </div> </div></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a><b>Footnote 3:</b><a href="#footnotetag3"> (return) </a> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Ye <i>avalanches</i>, whom a breath draws down</p> +<p>In mountainous o'erwhelming, come and crush me!</p> +<p><i>I hear ye momently above, beneath,</i></p> +<p><i>Crash with a frequent conflict</i></p> +<hr /> +<p>The mists boil up around the glaciers; <i>clouds</i></p> +<p><i>Rise curling</i> fast beneath me, white and sulphury,</p> +<p><i>Like foam from the roused ocean of deep hell!</i></p> +<p style="margin-left:50%">MANFRED.</p> </div> </div> +</blockquote> +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a><b>Footnote 4:</b><a href="#footnotetag4"> (return) </a> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">O'er the savage sea,</p> +<p>The glassy ocean of the mountain ice</p> +<p>We skim its rugged breakers, which put on</p> +<p>The aspect of a tumbling <i>tempest's</i> foam</p> +<p><i>Frozen in a moment</i>.</p> +<p style="margin-left:50%">MANFRED.</p> + </div> </div></blockquote> +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a><b>Footnote 5:</b><a href="#footnotetag5"> (return) </a> +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i10"> Like these <i>blasted pines,</i></p> +<p><i>Wrecks of a single winter, barkless, branchless</i></p> +<p style="margin-left:50%">MANFRED.</p> </div> </div> +</blockquote> +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a><b>Footnote 6:</b><a href="#footnotetag6"> (return) </a><p>Childe Harold, Canto 3.</p></blockquote> +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a><b>Footnote 7:</b><a href="#footnotetag7"> (return) </a><p>This book was printed at St. Albans in the +year 1486, and afterwards reprinted by Wynkyn +de Worde, in 1496.</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; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers.</i></p> +<hr class="full" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13495 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/13495-h/images/470-1.png b/13495-h/images/470-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4e6c8e --- /dev/null +++ b/13495-h/images/470-1.png |
