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diff --git a/13865-h/13865-h.htm b/13865-h/13865-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c50fc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/13865-h/13865-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2533 @@ +<!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 name="generator" + content="HTML Tidy for Linux/x86 (vers 1st March 2004), see www.w3.org" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> + + <title>Chambers' Journal Vol. XVII. No. 418. January 3, + 1852</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + blockquote {text-align: justify; font-size: 0.9em;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + .returnTOC {text-align: right; font-size: 70%;} + 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 + {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.i20 {margin-left: 10em;} + // --> + /*]]>*/ + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13865 ***</div> + + <h2>CHAMBERS' EDINBURGH JOURNAL</h2> + + <h3><a name="Contents" + id="Contents">CONTENTS</a></h3><a href="#article1">A CHILD'S + TOY</a><br /> + <a href="#article2">JAMES FENIMORE COOPER</a><br /> + <a href="#article3">WHY DOES THE PENDULUM SWING?</a><br /> + <a href="#article4">THE COUNTRY COUSIN</a><br /> + <a href="#article5">THE DROLLERIES OF FALSE POLITICAL + ECONOMY</a><br /> + <a href="#article6">FAMILY LIFE IN A NEGRO TOWN</a><br /> + <a href="#article7">THE COMMERCIAL PORTS OF ENGLAND</a><br /> + <a href="#article8">AN UNFORTUNATE MAN</a><br /> + <a href="#article9">SLOW BUT SURE</a><br /> + <a href="#article10">THE SEA-KINGS OF NANTUCKET</a><br /> + <a href="#article11">THE LINNÆA BOREALIS</a><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page1" + id="page1"></a>[pg 1]</span> <img src="images/banner.png" + width="100%" + alt="Banner: Chambers' Edinburgh Journal" /> + + <h4>CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS, EDITORS OF + 'CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE,' 'CHAMBERS'S + EDUCATIONAL COURSE,' &c.</h4> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" + summary="Volume, Date and Price"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>No. 418. NEW + SERIES.</b></td> + + <td align="left"><b>SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 1852.</b></td> + + <td align="right"><b>PRICE 1½<i>d</i>.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + + <h3><a name="article1" + id="article1">A CHILD'S TOY.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <p>The afternoon was drawing in towards evening; the air was + crisp and cool, and the wind near the earth, steady but gentle; + while above all was as calm as sleep, and the pale + clouds—just beginning in the west to be softly gilded by + the declining sun—hung light and motionless. The city, + although not distant, was no longer visible, being hidden by + one of the many hills which give such enchantment to the aspect + of <i>our</i> city. There was altogether something singularly + soothing in the scene—something that disposed not to + gravity, but to elevated thought. As we looked upwards, there + was some object that appeared to mingle with the clouds, to + form a part of their company, to linger, mute and motionless + like them, in that breathless blue, as if feeling the influence + of the hour. It was not a white-winged bird that had stolen + away to muse in the solitudes of air: it was nothing more than + a paper kite.</p> + + <p>On that paper kite we looked long and intently. It was the + moral of the picture; it appeared to gather in to itself the + sympathies of the whole beautiful world; and as it hung there, + herding with the things of heaven, our spirit seemed to ascend + and perch upon its pale bosom like a wearied dove. Presently we + knew the nature of the influence it exercised upon our + imagination; for a cord, not visible at first to the external + organs, though doubtless felt by the inner sense, connected it + with the earth of which we were a denizen. We knew not by what + hand the cord was held so steadily. Perhaps by some silent boy, + lying prone on the sward behind yonder plantation, gazing up + along the delicate ladder, and seeing unconsciously angels + ascending and descending. When we had looked our fill, we went + slowly and thoughtfully home along the deserted road, and + nestled as usual, like a moth, among our books. A dictionary + was lying near; and with a languid curiosity to know what was + said of the object that had interested us so much, we turned to + the word, and read the following definition: Kite—<i>a + child's toy</i>.</p> + + <p>What wonderful children there are in this world, to be sure! + Look at that American boy, with his kite on his shoulder, + walking in a field near Philadelphia. He is going to have a + fly; and it is famous weather for the sport, for it is in + June—June 1752. The kite is but a rough one, for Ben has + made it himself, out of a silk-handkerchief stretched over two + cross-sticks. Up it goes, however, bound direct for a + thunder-cloud passing overhead; and when it has arrived at the + object of its visit, the flier ties a key to the end of his + string, and then fastens it with some silk to a post. By and by + he sees some loose threads of the hempen-string bristle out and + stand up, as if they had been charged with electricity. He + instantly applies his knuckle to the key, and as he draws from + it the electrical spark, this strange little boy is struck + through the very heart with an agony of joy. His labouring + chest relieves itself with a deep sigh, and he feels that he + could be contented to die that moment. And indeed he was nearer + death than he supposed; for as the string was sprinkled with + rain, it became a better conductor, and gave out its + electricity more copiously; and if it had been wholly wet, the + experimenter might have been killed upon the spot. So much for + <i>this</i> child's toy. The splendid discovery it + made—of the identity of lightning and + electricity—was not allowed to rest by Ben Franklin. By + means of an insulated iron rod the new Prometheus drew down + fire from heaven, and experimented with it at leisure in his + own house. He then turned the miracle to a practical account, + constructing a pointed metallic rod to protect houses from + thunder. One end of this true magic wand is higher than the + building and the other end buried in the ground; and the + submissive lightning, instead of destroying life and property + in its gambols, darts direct along the conductor into the + earth. We may add that Ben was a humorous boy, and played at + various things as well as kite-flying. Hear this description of + his pranks at an intended pleasure-party on the banks of the + Skuylkill: 'Spirits at the same time are to be fired by a spark + sent from side to side through the river, without any other + conductor than water—an experiment which we have some + time since performed to the amazement of many. A turkey is to + be killed for dinner by the electrical shock; and roasted by + the electrical jack, before a fire kindled by the electric + bottle; when the healths of all the famous electricians in + England, Holland, France, and Germany, are to be drunk in + electrified bumpers, under the discharge of guns from the + electrical battery.'</p> + + <p>We now turn to a group of capital little fellows who did + something more than fly their kite. These were English + skippers, promoted somehow to the command of vessels before + they had arrived at years of discretion; and, chancing to meet + at the port of Alexandria in Egypt, they took it into their + heads—these naughty boys—that they would drink a + bowl of punch on the top of Pompey's Pillar. This pillar had + often served them for a signal at sea. It was composed of red + granite, beautifully polished, and standing 114 feet high, + overtopped the town. But how to get up? They sent for a kite, + to be sure; and the men, women, and children of Alexandria, + wondering what they were going to do with it, followed the toy + in crowds. The kite was flown over the Pillar, and with such + nicety, that when it fell on the other side the string lodged + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page2" + id="page2"></a>[pg 2]</span> upon the beautiful Corinthian + capital. By this means they were able to draw over the + Pillar a two-inch rope, by which one of the youngsters + 'swarmed' to the top. The rope was now in a very little + while converted into a sort of rude shroud, and the rest of + the party followed, and actually drank their punch on a spot + which, seen from the surface of the earth, did not appear to + be capable of holding more than one man.</p> + + <p>By means of this exploit it was ascertained that a statue + had once stood upon the column—and a statue of colossal + dimensions it must have been to be properly seen at such a + height. But for the rest—if we except the carving of + sundry initials on the top—the result was only the + knocking down of one of the volutes of the capital, for boys + are always doing mischief; and this was carried to England by + one of the skippers, in order to execute the commission of a + lady, who, with the true iconoclasm of her country, had asked + him to be so kind as to bring her a piece of Pompey's + Pillar.</p> + + <p>Little fellows, especially of the class of bricklayers, are + no great readers, otherwise we might suspect that the feat of + the skipper-boys had conveyed some inspiration to Steeple Jack. + Who is Steeple Jack? asks some innocent reader at the + Antipodes. He is a little spare creature who flies his kite + over steeples when there is anything to do to them, and lodging + a cord on the apex, contrives by its means to reach the top + without the trouble of scaffolding. No fragility, no + displacement of stones, no leaning from the perpendicular, + frightens Steeple Jack. He is as bold as his namesake + Jack-the-Giant-Killer, and does as wonderful things. At + Dunfermline, not long ago, when the top of the spire was in so + crazy a state that the people in the street gave it a wide + berth as they passed, he swung himself up without hesitation, + and set everything to rights. At the moment we write his cord + is seen stretched from the tall, slim, and elegant spire of the + Assembly Hall in Edinburgh, which is to receive through his + agency a lightning-conductor; and Jack only waits the + subsidence of a gale of wind to glide up that filmy rope like a + spider. He is altogether a strange boy, Steeple Jack. Nobody + knows where he roosts upon the earth, if he roosts anywhere at + all. The last time there was occasion for his services, this + advertisement appeared in the <i>Scotsman</i>: 'Steeple Jack is + wanted at such a place immediately'—and immediately + Steeple Jack became visible.</p> + + <p>In 1827 the child's toy was put to a very remarkable use by + one Master George Pocock. This clever little fellow observed + that his kite sometimes gave him a very strong pull, and it + occurred to him that if made large enough it might be able to + pull something else. In fact, he at length yoked a pair of + large kites to a carriage, and travelled in it from Bristol to + London, distancing in grand style every other conveyance on the + road. A twelve-foot kite, it appears, in a moderate breeze, has + a one-man power of draught, and when the wind is brisker, a + force equal to 200 lbs. The force in a rather high wind is as + the squares of the lengths; and two kites of fifteen and twelve + feet respectively, fastened one above the other, will draw a + carriage and four or five passengers at the rate of twenty + miles an hour. But George's invention went beyond the simple + idea. He had an extra line which enabled him to vary the angle + of the surface of his kites with the horizon, so as to make his + aërial horses go fast or slow as he chose; and side-lines + to vary the direction of the force, till it came almost to + right angles with the direction of the wind. His kites were + made of varnished linen, and might be folded up into small + compass. The same principle was successfully applied by a + nautical lad of the name of Dansey to the purpose of saving + vessels in a gale of wind on 'the dread lee-shore.' His kite + was of light canvas.</p> + + <p>In India, China, and the intermediate countries, the + aggregate population of which includes one-half of mankind, + kites are the favourite toy of both old and young boys, from + three years to threescore and ten. Sometimes they really + resemble the conventional dragon, from which, among Scotch + children, they derive their name; sometimes they are of a + diamond shape, and sometimes they are like a great spider with + a narrow waist. Our Old Indian is eloquent on kites, and the + glory of their colours, which, in the days of other years, made + her girlish heart leap, and her girlish eyes dazzle. The + kite-shop is like a tulip-bed, full of all sorts of gay and + gorgeous hues. The kites are made of Chinese paper, thin and + tough, and the ribs of finely-split bamboo. A wild species of + silkworm is pressed into the service, and set to spin + <i>nuck</i> for the strings—a kind of thread which, + although fine, is surprisingly strong. Its strength, however, + is wanted for aggression as well as endurance; and a mixture + composed of pounded glass and rice gluten is rubbed over it. + Having been dried in the sun, the prepared string is now wound + upon a handsome reel of split bamboo inserted in a long handle. + One of these reels, if of first-rate manufacture, costs a + shilling, although coarser ones are very cheap; and of the + nuck, about four annas, or sixpence worth, suffices for a + kite.</p> + + <p>In a Hindoo town the kite-flying usually takes place on some + common ground in the vicinity, and there may be seen the young + and old boys in eager groups, and all as much interested in the + sport as if their lives depended upon their success. And + sometimes, indeed, their fortunes do. Many a poor little fellow + bets sweetmeats upon his kite to the extent of his only anna in + the world; and many a rich baboo has more rupees at stake than + he can conveniently spare. But the exhilarating sport makes + everybody courageous; and the glowing colours of the kites + enable each to identify his own when in the air, and give him + in it, as it were, a more absolute property. Matches are soon + made. Up go the aërial combatants, and with straining eyes + and beating hearts their fate is watched from below. But their + masters are far from passive, for this is no game of chance, + depending upon the wind. Kite-flying is in these countries an + art and mystery; and some there be who would not disclose their + recipe for the nuck-ointment, if their own grandfathers should + go upon their knees to ask it.</p> + + <p>Sometimes an event occurs on the common. It is the ascent of + a pair of kites of a <i>distingué</i> air, and whose + grand and determined manner shews that the combat is to be + <i>à l'outrance,</i> and that a large stake of money + depends upon the result. The fliers are invisible. They are + probably on the flat roof of some neighbouring house; but the + kites are not the less interesting on account of their origin + being unknown. What a host of anxious faces are turned up to + the sky! Some take a liking to the red at first sight, while + others feel attracted by a mysterious sympathy to the green. + Bets are freely offered and accepted either in sweetmeats or + money; and the crowd, condensing, move to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page3" + id="page3"></a>[pg 3]</span> and fro in a huge wave, from + which their eager voices arise like the continuous roaring + of the sea. Higher and higher go the kites. Well done, Red! + he has shot above his antagonist, and seems meditating a + swoop; but the Green, serenely scornful, continues to soar, + and is soon uppermost. And thus they go—now up, now + down, relatively to each other, but always ascending higher + and higher, till the spectators almost fear that they will + vanish out of sight. But at length the Green, taking + advantage of a loftier position he has gained, makes a + sudden circuit, and by an adroit manoeuvre gets his silken + string over the silken string of the other, Here a shout of + triumph and a yell of terror break simultaneously from the + crowd; for this is the crisis of the fight. The victor gives + a fierce cut upon his adversary's line. The backers of the + latter fancy they hear it grate, and in an instant their + forebodings are realised; far the unfortunate Red is seen to + waver like a bird struck by a shot, and then, released from + the severed string, he descends in forlorn gyrations to the + earth.</p> + + <p>Now rush in the smaller boys to play their part, Their + object is that of the plunderers who traverse the field after a + battle, to rob the dying and the slain. Off run the little + Hindoos, like a company of imps from the nether regions, + tearing and fighting as they fly; and on reaching the fallen + kite, the object of their contention is torn to pieces in the + scuffle. Presently the victorious Green is seen descending, and + the gross excitement of the common pauses to watch his majestic + flight. He is of the largest size of Indian kites called + <i>ching</i>, and of the spider shape. Before being drawn in, + he hangs for an instant high up over the crowd. It is not, + however, to sing <i>Io Pæans</i> for his victory, but + apparently rather to mourn over the ruin he has made; for a + wailing music breathes from his wings as he passes. This is + caused by the action of the wind upon some finely-split bamboo + twigs arched over the kite without touching the paper, and + which thus become a true Æolian harp. Sometimes a kite of + this kind is sent up at night, bearing a small lighted lantern + of talc; and the sleepers awakened, called to their balconies + by the unearthly music, gaze after the familiar apparition not + without a poetical thrill.</p> + + <p>Upon the whole, it must be admitted, we think, that this is + a somewhat interesting child's toy. But has the kite a future? + Will its powers exhibit new developments, or has it already + reached its pride of place? If a twelve-foot kite has the force + of a man, would it take many more feet to lift a man into the + air? And supposing the man to be in a strong cage of network, + with bamboo ribs, and a seat of the same material, would he + have greater difficulty in governing his aërial coursers + by means of the Pocock cords, than if he were flashing along + the road from Bristol to London? Mind, we do not say that this + is possible: we merely ask for the sake of information; and if + any little boy will favour us with his opinion, we shall take + it very kind. Come and let us fancy that it <i>is</i> possible. + The traveller feels much more comfortable than in the car of a + balloon, for he knows he can go pretty nearly in what direction + he chooses, and that he can hasten or check the pace of his + horses, and bring them to a stand-still at pleasure. See him, + therefore, boldly careering through the air at the rate of any + number of miles the wind pleases. At a single bound he spans + yonder broad river, and then goes bowling over the plantation + beyond, just stirring the leaves as he passes; trees, water, + houses, men, and animals gliding away beneath his feet like a + dream. Now he stoops towards the earth, just to make the people + send up their voices that there may be some sound in the desert + air. Now he swings up again; now he leaps over that little + green hill; now he—Hold! hold, little boy!—that + will do: enough for a time of a Child's Toy.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article2" + id="article2">JAMES FENIMORE COOPER.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i8">'. . . . Whose trained eye was keen,</p> + + <p>As eagle of the wilderness, to scan</p> + + <p>His path by mountain, lake, or deep ravine,</p> + + <p>Or ken far friendly huts on good savannas + green.'</p> + + <p class="i20">— CAMPBELL:<i>Gertrude of + Wyoming</i>.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>On the 14th of last September, America lost the greatest of + her novelists in the person of James Fenimore Cooper. He was + born on the 15th of that month, 1789; so that, had he lived but + a few hours longer, he would have completed his sixty-second + year. At the time of his birth, his father, Judge Cooper, + resided at Burlington, New Jersey, where the future + <i>littérateur</i> commenced his education, and in so + doing acquired a decided reputation for talent, which was not + tarnished during subsequent years of tutelage at Newhaven and + Yale College. At sixteen he exchanged the study of ancient + literature and the repose of academic life for the bustling + career of a 'middy' in the American navy; continuing for some + half-dozen years his connection with those ocean scenes which + he then learned to love so well and to describe so vividly. His + retirement into private life took place in 1811, soon after + which he married Miss de Lancey (whose brother is known to many + as one of the New York bishops), and settled at Cooper's Town, + his patrimonial estate. Ten years elapsed before his + <i>début</i> as an author. In 1821 he presented the + public with a novel bearing the perhaps apposite title of + <i>Precaution</i>—apposite, if the two <i>lustra</i> thus + elapsed were passed in preparation for that début, and + as being after all anonymously published. The subject was one + with which Cooper never shewed himself conversant—namely, + the household life of England. Like his latest works, + <i>Precaution</i> was a failure, and gave scanty indications of + that genius which was to find its true sphere and full scope in + the trackless prairies of his native land, and its path upon + the mountain-wave he had ridden in buoyant youth. But the same + year produced <i>The Spy</i>, still considered by many to be + his masterpiece, and from that production his fame was secure; + and not only America but British voices, exhorted Sir Walter to + look to his laurels. Certainly there was a little more reason + in calling Cooper the American Scott than in pronouncing + Klopstock the German Milton.</p> + + <p>The successful novelist visited Europe a few years after + this 'sign and seal' of his literary renown, and spent a + considerable period among the principalities and powers of + Old-World Christendom. In Paris and London especially he was + lionised to the top of his bent. Sir Walter met him in the + French metropolis in 1826; and in his diary of November 3, + after recording a morning visit to 'Cooper the American + novelist,' adds: 'this man, who has shewn so much genius, has a + good deal of the manners or want of manners peculiar to his + countrymen.' Three days later we find the following entry: + 'Cooper came to breakfast, but we were <i>obsédes + partout</i>. Such a number of Frenchmen bounced in + successively, and exploded—I mean discharged—their + compliments, that I could hardly find an opportunity to speak a + word or entertain Mr Cooper at all.'<a name="backnote1" + id="backnote1"></a><a href="#note1">1</a> The 'illustrious + stranger' appears to have spent about ten years in Europe, + for which he was, perhaps, in a literary point of view, none + the better; as—to use the words of a periodical of the + day—'he did not carry back the same fresh spirit that + he brought, something of which must be attributed, no doubt, + to the years which intervened; + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page4" + id="page4"></a>[pg 4]</span> but something, too, to his + abandonment of that mother-ground which to him, as to the + fabled Antaeus, was the source of strength.' The autumn of + his life glided quietly on amid the pleasures and pains of + literature; its sombre close being pleasantly illuminated by + the rays of spring-promise that radiated around the young + brow of his daughter, which the dying veteran might well + hope would be matured into 'glorious summer by the sun of' + time. <i>Valeat signum</i>!</p> + + <p>In calling Cooper the greatest of American novelists, we + have not incurred much risk of contradiction. Others may + rival—some surpass him—in this or that province of + the art of fiction; but as a master of the art in its broad + aspect, he is <i>facile princeps</i>. Brockden Brown treads a + circle of mysterious power but mean circumference: Washington + Irving is admirable at a sketch, one of the liveliest and most + graceful of essayists, and quite equal to the higher demands of + imaginative prose—witness his <i>Rip Van Winkle</i> and + <i>Sleepy Hollow</i>—but his forte is in miniature, and + the orthodox dimensions of three volumes post-octavo would suit + him almost as ill as would the Athenian vesture of Nick Bottom + the spruce proportions of royal Oberon: Haliburton is + inimitable in his own line of things; his measure of wit and + humour—qualities unknown, or nearly so, to + Cooper—is 'pressed down, and shaken together, and running + over;' but his 'mission' and Cooper's in the tale-telling art + are wide as the poles asunder: John Neale had once, + particularly by his own appraisement, a high repute as the + eccentric author of <i>Logan</i> and <i>Seventy-six</i>, but + the repute, like the <i>Seventy-six</i>, is quite in the + preterite tense now; and to review him and his works at this + time of day would be suspiciously like a <i>post-mortem</i> + examination, resulting possibly in a verdict of temporary + insanity—if not, indeed, of <i>felo de se</i>—so + wilful and wrongheaded were the vagaries of this 'rough, + egotistical Yankee,' as he has been called: Herman Melville is + replete with graphic power, and riots in the exuberance of a + fresh, racy style; but whether he can sustain the 'burden and + heat' of a well-equipped and full-grown novel as deftly as the + fragmentary autobiographies he loves to indite; remains to be + seen: Longfellow's celebrity in fiction is limited to + <i>Hyperion</i> and <i>Kavanagh</i>—clever, but slight + foundations for enduring popularity—as irregular (the + former at least) as Jean Paul's nondescript stories, without + the great German's tumultuous genius: Hawthorne is probably the + most noteworthy of the rising authors of America, and indeed + manifests a degree of psychological knowledge and far-sighted, + deep-searching observation of which there are few traces or + none in Cooper; but the real prowess of the author of <i>The + Scarlet Letter</i> is, we apprehend, still undeveloped, and the + harvest of his honours a thing of the future. All these + distinguished persons—not to dwell on the kindred names + of Bird, Kennedy, Ware, Paulding, Myers, Willis, Poe, Sedgwick, + &c.—must yield the palm to him who has attracted all + the peoples and tongues of Europe<a name="backnote2" + id="backnote2"></a><a href="#note2">2</a> to follow out the + destiny of a Spy on the neutral ground, of a Pilot on the + perilous coasts of a hostile race, of a Last of the Mohicans + disappearing before the onward tramp of the white man.</p> + + <p>As Rob Roy felt the pulses of life quickened when his foot + was on his native heath, so Cooper wrote with vigour and + <i>aplomb</i> only when his themes were the aboriginal forest + and the melancholy main. Pity that, having discovered the fount + of his strength—the Samson-lock by which alone he towered + above his fellows—he had not restrained himself, and + concentrated his efforts within the appointed sphere. He + repudiated the oracular counsel which his own consciousness + must have approved—<i>Hoc signo vinces</i>; and seemed to + assume that whatever province he invaded, the bulletin of the + campaign would be another <i>Veni, vidi, vici</i>. Few things + can be more unsatisfactory and insipid than his attempts in the + 'silver-fork school' of novel-writing—his dreary + commonplaces of fashionable life—his faded sermonisings + on domestic, and political, and social economy. Few things can + be more inspiriting, more energetic, more impressive, than his + pictures of</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>'A wet sheet and a flowing sea,</p> + + <p class="i2">A wind that follows fast,</p> + + <p>And fills the white and rustling sail,</p> + + <p class="i2">And bends the gallant mast;'</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>for we see in every stroke that the world of waters is his + home, and that to <i>his</i> ear there is music in the wild + piping of the wind, and that <i>his</i> eye beams afresh when + it descries tempest in the horned moon, and lightning in the + cloud. To him the ocean is indeed 'a glorious mirror,' where + the form of the Highest 'glasses itself in tempests;' dear to + him it is</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i20">————'in all + time,</p> + + <p>Calm or convulsed—in breeze, or gale, or + storm;</p> + + <p class="i8">. . . . Boundless, endless, and + sublime—</p> + + <p>The image of Eternity—the throne</p> + + <p>Of the Invisible.'</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Well might one who had lived six years on her swelling + bosom, combine with his love 'of the old sea some reverential + fear,' as Wordsworth has it. This compound feeling is highly + effective in his marine fictions, so instinct is it with the + reality of personal experience. Mr Griswold tells us that + Cooper informed him as follows of the origin of <i>The + Pilot</i>: 'Talking with the late Charles Wilkes of New York, a + man of taste and judgment, our author [Cooper] heard extolled + the universal knowledge of Scott, and the sea-portions of + <i>The Pirate</i> cited as a proof. He laughed at the idea, as + most seamen would, and the discussion ended by his promising to + write a sea-story which could be read by landsmen, while seamen + should feel its truth. <i>The Pilot</i> was the result of that + conversation.'<a name="backnote3" + id="backnote3"></a><a href="#note3">3</a> Of this tale Scott + says, in a letter to Miss Edgeworth: 'I have seen a new + work, <i>The Pilot</i>, by the author of <i>The Spy</i> and + <i>The Pioneers</i>. The hero is the celebrated Paul Jones, + whom I well remember advancing above the island of + Inchkeith, with three small vessels, to lay Leith under + contribution.... The novel is a very clever one, and the + sea-scenes and characters in particular are admirably drawn; + and I advise you to read it as soon as possible.' Still + higher panegyric would not have been misbestowed in this + instance, which illustrates Mr Prescott's remark, that + Cooper's descriptions of inanimate nature, no less than of + savage man, are alive with the breath of + poetry—'Witness his infinitely various pictures of the + ocean; or, still more, of the beautiful spirit that rides + upon its bosom, the gallant ship.' Though it is to <i>The + Pilot</i>, pre-eminently, and <i>The Waterwitch</i>, in + nearly an equal degree, that these remarks apply, there is + many a passage in Cooper's later novels—for example, + <i>The Two Admirals, Homeward Bound, Mark's Reef, Ashore and + Afloat</i>, and <i>The Sea-Lions</i>—in which we + recognise the same 'cunning' right hand which pencilled the + <i>Ariel</i>, and its crew, the moody, mysterious pilot, and + stalwart Long Tom Coffin.</p> + + <p>Nor was he less at home in the backwoods and prairies of his + fatherland, than upon the broad seas which divide it from the + Old World. Tastes differ; and there are those—possibly + the majority of his readers—who prefer the Indian + associations of <i>The Last of the Mohicans, The Pioneers</i>, + &c. to the salt-water scenery of the other class of works. + For our part, we prefer his prairies to his savages, his + forests to his <span class="pagenum"><a name="page5" + id="page5"></a>[pg 5]</span> aborigines, his inanimate to + his living sketches of Indian story.[1] His wild men of the + woods are often too sentimental, too dreamy, too ideal. In + this respect Brockden Brown has the advantage of him; for, + as Mr Prescott has pointed out, Brown shews the rude and + uncouth lineaments of the Indian character, though he is + chargeable with withholding intimations of a more generous + nature. While Cooper discards all the coarser elements of + savage life, and idealises the portrait. The first of this + series of tales of</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <p>'Painted chiefs with pointed spears,'</p> + </div> + + <p>was <i>The Pioneers</i>—the materials for which, it + seems, were to a considerable extent derived from his father, + who had an interest in large tracts of land near the 'sources + of the Susquehanna,' where the scene is laid, and allied, + therefore, to Campbell's <i>Gertrude of Wyoming</i>. It was + speedily followed by <i>The Last of the Mohicans</i>—not + uncommonly pronounced his <i>chef d'oeuvre</i>—and <i>The + Prairie</i>; which, among numerous descriptions of absorbing + interest, pervaded throughout by a fine imaginative spirit, + contains one of thrilling power—where the squatter + discovers and avenges the murder of his son. <i>The Wept of + Wish-ton-Wish</i>—a strange story with a strange title, + and which forms (chronologically at least) the climax of + Cooper's fame—is justly admired by all who appreciate + 'minute painting,' and that pensive monotony which begets a + certain 'melancholy charm.' His skill in martial narrative was + favorably attested in <i>Lionel Lincoln</i>; in which he + describes with remarkable spirit and equal accuracy the battles + of Lexington and of Bunker's Hill. But to go through in detail + the <i>opera omnia</i> of our prolific author would involve us + in difficulties with editor and reader too serious to bear + anticipation. Passing over, therefore, such of his earlier + writings as are better known—like <i>The Red Rover, The + Waterwitch, The Pathfinder</i>, and <i>The + Deerslayer</i>—we proceed to notice briefly a select few + from the long series produced during the last ten years.</p> + + <p><i>The Two Admirals</i> is of unequal interest—the + twin heroes, Sir Gervaise Oakes and Bluewater, engrossing + whatever charm it possesses, and reacting disastrously on the + tedious scenes wherein they bear no part; but they certainly + <i>do</i> walk and talk like sound-hearted sons of Neptune, and + there is no resisting the spell of the battle and the breeze + which they encounter together, in the <i>Plantagenet</i> and + the <i>Cæsar</i>. <i>The Jack o' Lantern, or the + Privateer</i>, was put forth with an expression of the author's + conviction that his faculty in this class of fictions was + inexhaustible; to which, however, the critics demurred. One of + them observed that, following out the fantastical supposition + which ascribes especial virtues to certain numbers, or even + working out the analogy of the seventh wave, which sea-shore + gossips tell us is ampler and stronger than its predecessors, + the seventh sea-novel of Mr Cooper's ought to be the most + remarkable of the series for force, brilliancy, and movement. + But such symbolism was here found defective: the seventh wave + broke abruptly on the shore; the Jack o' Lantern's existence + has been brief and uncertain as that of the <i>ignis fatuus</i> + on the marsh. The story introduces Caraccioli and the + Neapolitan court, Nelson and Lady Hamilton; but without + striking points. There are some cleverly-drawn characters, + however: Clinch, the drunken but winning British tar; Raoul + Yvard, brilliant, handsome, and Parisian all over, philosophism + included; and Ithuel Bolt, a new (not improved) edition of Long + Tom. The plot is ingenious, though perhaps, constrained and + far-fetched; and its <i>dénouement</i> makes the reader + put down the third volume with increased respect for the + novelist's tact. <i>Wyandotte, or the Hutted Knoll</i> (1843), + is a quiet yet animated narrative, descriptive of a family of + British settlers and their fortunes in their wild Susquehanna + home. There is a pleasure, the author observes, in diving into + a virgin forest, and commencing the labours of civilisation, + that has no exact parallel in any other human occupation; and + some refracted share of this pleasure is secured by every + intelligent reader while engaged in perusing records so + faithful and characteristic as those embodied in this tale. + <i>Ravensnest</i>, with no lack of scenic embellishments, + introduces to us three of the author's happiest + characters—always excepting Leatherstocking and Long + Tom—namely, the two Littlepages, 'Captain Hugh' and his + 'Uncle Ro,' and Mistress Opportunity Newcome. The didactic + asperities in which he indulged naturally marred the fortune of + a book whose readers, whatever they might be, were pretty + safely 'booked' for a scolding. Otherwise, it gleamed with + scintillations, neither faint nor few, of the light of other + days. But it was evident that Mr Cooper was overwriting + himself. He seemed determined not to be outdone in fecundity by + the most prolific of his contemporaries—as though it were + a safe speculation or a healthy emulation to run against such + light horsemen and horsewomen as Mr James and M. Dumas, and + Mesdames Gore and Trollope. Hence he might have appropriately + echoed the complaint of the slave in Terence: 'Parum succedit + quod ago, at facio sedulò.'</p> + + <p>In 1847, he produced <i>Mark's Reef</i>, a story of the + Crusoe genus, but far behind; the desert island being created + 'positively for this occasion only,' and being swallowed up in + the sea again when it has served Mark Woolston and the + novelist's requirements. It is characterised, however, by much + glowing description—especially that relating to the + crater, with its noble peak, 'ever the same amid the changes of + time, and civilisation, and decay; naked, storm-beaten, and + familiar to the eye.' The following year he was ready with + <i>The Bee-Hunter</i>, wherein he sought to revive his pristine + successes among American solitudes and Red Indians. Again we + hear the palaver of the stately and sentimental Chippewas; and + again we watch, with sadly-relaxed attention, the dodging + extraordinary of Pale Faces and Red Men. Alas!</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>'Both of them speak of something that is + gone: . . .</p> + + <p>Whither is fled the visionary gleam?</p> + + <p>Where is it now, the glory and the dream?'</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>The Indians have become comparatively seedy and second-hand + individuals; the scenery, with occasional exceptions, looks + worn; the machinery creaks and betrays itself, no longer + possessing the <i>ars celare artem</i>. ''Tis true, 'tis pity; + pity 'tis, 'tis true.' One novelty, nevertheless, this tale can + boast, and that is the very able and interesting sketch of the + bee-hunter following his vocation in the 'oak-openings;' nor is + the portrait of Buzzing Ben himself an ordinary daub. In 1849 + appeared <i>The Sea-Lions</i>, a clever but often prolix work, + which ought to keep up its interest with the public, if only + for its elaborate painting of scenes to which the protracted + mystery of Sir John Franklin's expedition has imparted a + melancholy charm. The sufferings of sealers and grasping + adventurers among 'thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice' are + recounted with dramatic earnestness. <i>The Ways of the + Hour</i> was both 'nominally' and 'really' Cooper's last novel: + he announced it as such; and the announcement was not related + to that fallacious category to which belong the 'more last + nights' of popular tragedians, and the farewell prefaces of the + accomplished author of <i>Rienzi</i>. It was not the 'going, + going!' but the 'gone!' of the auctioneer. And critics + maliciously said: <i>Tant mieux</i>. In <i>The Ways of the + Hour</i> there was one vigorous portrait, Mary Monson, and + several 'moving accidents by flood and field:' but with these + positive qualities the reader had to accept an unlimited stock + of negatives.</p> + + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page6" + id="page6"></a>[pg 6]</span> Besides the works thus referred + to, Cooper wrote at short intervals a 'serried phalanx' of + others, from the ranks of which suffice it to name <i>The + Heidenmauer, The Bravo, The Manikins</i> (a weak and + injudicious tale, quite unworthy of his honourable + reputation), <i>The Headsman of Berne, Mercedes of Castille, + Satanstoe, Home as Found, Ashore and Afloat</i>. In + miscellaneous literature his writings include a <i>History + of the Navy of the United States, Lives of Distinguished + Naval Officers, Sketches of Switzerland, Gleanings in + Europe</i>, and <i>Notions of the Americans</i>.</p> + + <p>It is by his early tales of wilderness and ocean life that + he will survive. There his genius is fresh, vigorous, + natural—uncramped by restraints, undeformed by + excrescences, uninterrupted by crotchets, such as injured its + aftergrowth—the swaddling-clothes of its second + childhood. If we have spoken freely—we hope not + flippantly—of these feeblenesses, it is because the + renown of Cooper is too tenaciously and permanently rooted to + be 'radically' affected thereby, however they may diminish the + symmetry and dim the verdure of blossom and branch. His + magnificent panoramas of prairie solitude, his billowy expanses + of the 'many-voiced sea,' his artistically-grouped figures of + red-skins and trappers, sealers and squatters, are among the + things which Anglo-Saxon literature in either hemisphere will + not willingly let die. By these he is, and long will be, known + and read of all men. And if ever Mr Macaulay's New Zealander + should ponder over the ruins of Broadway, as well as of St + Paul's, he will probably carry in his pocket one of those + romances which tell how the Last of the Mohicans came to his + end, and which illustrate the closing destinies of tribes which + shall then have disappeared before the chill advance of the + Pale Face.</p> + + <h4>Notes:</h4> + + <div class="note"> + <a name="note1" + id="note1">1.</a> Lockhart's Life of Scott. + <a href="#backnote1">Back to text</a> + </div> + + <div class="note"> + <a name="note2" + id="note2">2.</a>And, in <i>one</i> instance at + least, of Asia also; for <i>The Spy</i> was translated + into Persian! <a href="#backnote2">Back to text</a> + </div> + + <div class="note"> + <a name="note3" + id="note3">3.</a> 'The Prose-Writers of America.' + <a href="#backnote3">Back to text</a> + </div> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article3" + id="article3">WHY DOES THE PENDULUM SWING?</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <p>The attention of the visitor to the recent Exhibition in + Hyde Park was arrested, as he advanced westwards down the + central promenade of the building, by a large clock busily at + work marking off the seconds of passing time. That piece of + mechanism had a remarkably independent and honest look of its + own. The inmost recesses of its breast were freely bared to the + inspection of every passer-by. As if aware of the importance of + the work intrusted to its care, it went on telling, in the + midst of the ever-changing and bustling crowd, with a bold and + unhesitating click, the simple fact it knew; and that there + might be no mistake, it registered what it told in palpable + signs transmitted through the features of its own stolid face. + Mr Dent's great clock was by no means the least distinguished + object in the collection of the world's notabilities.</p> + + <p>But there was one thing which nearly concerned that + industrious and trusty monitor that he surely could not have + known, or his quiet countenance would have shewn traces of + perturbation. He was doing Exhibition work, but he was not + keeping Exhibition time. The wonderful building in which he had + taken up his temporary residence was, in fact, of too + cosmopolitan a nature to have a time of its own. Its entire + length measured off very nearly 1-42,000th part of the circle + of terrestrial latitude along which it stretched. The meridian + of the Liverpool Model was close upon thirty seconds of space + farther west than the meridian of the Greek Slave. Imagine the + surface of Hyde Park to have been marked off, before Messrs Fox + and Henderson's workmen commenced their labours, by lines + running north and south at the equal distance of a second of a + degree from each other, just as one sees the surface of large + maps traced by meridians, nearly thirty of those lines would + then have been covered in by the east and west span of the + crystal roof. Mr Dent's clock might have been set to the + precise time of the Greek Slave, and it would yet have been + nearly two seconds wrong by the time of the Liverpool Model. + The pendulum swinging so steadily within its case had a longer + and more stately stride than most of its congeners. It took a + second and a half of time to complete its step from side to + side. But notwithstanding this, if a string had been suddenly + stretched across in space above the east end of the building, + and left there in free suspension, independent of all + connection with the terrestrial surface, it would have taken + longer for the huge structure to be trailed beneath it by the + earth's rotation—swift as that rotation is—than it + did for the sober and leisurely mass of metal to finish its + beat from side to side.</p> + + <p>Our immediate business, however, at this present time is not + with the geographical relations of Mr Paxton's building, but + rather with that sober and leisurely-moving mass—the + pendulum. Even in the seventeenth century, old Graunt was + shocked when some irreverent babbler spoke of one of its + honourable race by the rude epithet of 'a swing-swang;' and he + penned an indignant protest on the subject to the Royal + Society. Since that time the pendulum has done much more to + merit the reverence of the world. Plain and simple as its + outward bearing is, it really holds a high and dignified + position in the annals of science.</p> + + <p>Instead, however, of touching upon its pedigree and + achievements, we proceed at once to speak of certain + interesting peculiarities that enter as an element into all + considerations in which it has concern. In the first place, + what is that characteristic motion which it so constantly + assumes—that restless swinging from side to side? Is it a + property inherent in its own nature, or is it a power + communicated to it from without? There is a train of wheelwork + enclosed with it in the case. Is that the source of its + vibratile mobility? Assuredly not. For if we arrest its motion + with our hand at the instant that its form hangs + perpendicularly suspended, that motion is not renewed although + the wheels remain in unaltered relation. Those mechanical + contrivances clearly do not comprise the secret of its + swinging. We must look elsewhere if we would ascertain the + fundamental cause.</p> + + <p>Has the reader ever looked at the plain white building, with + successive rows of little windows, which so often spans the + breadth of our smaller streams? If he has, the thought has at + once arisen that within those walls huge wheels and + heavy-revolving stones remorselessly tear and crush to powder + heaps upon heaps of yellow grain, with a power that is equal to + the combined effort of a whole troop of horses concentred in + the task. But we question very much whether he has as clearly + seen whence those clattering wheels derive their many + horse-power! If we were to ask him to tell us how they acquired + their rolling strength, he would most probably + answer—from the current of the stream. This reply would + amount to nothing in the matter of explanation; the force of + the current is as much a borrowed attribute as the force of the + wheelwork. The running water is no more an independent and + living agent than is the machinery which it turns. Beyond both + is the one grand determining influence—the attractive + energy inherent in the substance of the vast earth. This it is + which makes the water run; this it is which enables the running + water to move the wheelwork inserted into its channel. As the + magnet draws to itself the fragment of steel, the earth draws + to itself all ponderable matter; and whenever ponderable matter + is free to move, it rushes as far as it can go towards the + centre of the earth's substance, in obedience to the summons. + Mobile water runs down from a higher to a lower level because + the latter is nearer to the earth's centre than the former, and + as it falls it pushes before it such minor obstructions as are + unable to resist the influence of its weight. The float-boards + of the mill-wheel are of this nature; they are striving to + uphold the water <span class="pagenum"><a name="page7" + id="page7"></a>[pg 7]</span> by means of the rubbing and + friction of the apparatus that is mechanically connected + with the axle. But the resistance of the friction is less + than the strength with which the earth tugs at the water, + and therefore the wheel goes round and the water rushes + down. The force which really grinds the hard corn into flour + it terrestrial attraction! Gravitation of material substance + towards material substance, acting with an energy + proportioned to the relative masses and to the relative + distances of the elements concerned.</p> + + <p>Let us now suppose that the matter drawn towards the earth + is not free to move. Let us fancy, for instance, a drop of the + running water all at once stopped in its downward path by the + attachment of a string from above. The earth would then tug at + that string in its effort to get the drop of water, and would + consequently stretch it to a certain extent. The power that was + before expended in causing the drop to move, would be now + employed in striving to tear asunder the substance of the + string. A heavy body hanging by a cord from a fixed point is + then in this predicament. It is drawn towards the earth, but is + prevented from moving to it. It consequently finds a position + of rest in which it is placed as near to the source of + attraction as the suspending string allows; that is, it hangs + perpendicularly and immovably beneath it, stretching the string + by its tendency toward the ground.</p> + + <p>If, however, the suspended body be raised up from its + position of forced repose by any interference that draws it to + one side, the string being still kept on the stretch, it will + be observed that it has been made to move in a curved line away + from the earth's attracting mass, and that the pull of the + attraction is then to a certain extent taken off from the + string and transferred to the supporting hand; the force of the + attraction consequently becomes then sensible as the weight of + the body that is upheld. If in this state of affairs the + supporting hand is taken away, the body at once rushes down + sideways to the position it before occupied, with a pace + accelerating considerably as it goes; for the earth continues + to attract it during each instant of its descent. When it has + reached the second stage of its journey, it is moving with a + velocity that is caused by the addition of the attraction + exercised in that stage to the attraction that had been + exercised in the first stage; and so of the third, fourth, and + other successive stages. It must go quicker and quicker until + it comes to the place which was before its position of absolute + repose.</p> + + <p>But when it has at last arrived at this place, it cannot + rest there, for during its increasingly-rapid journey + downwards, it has been perseveringly acquiring a new force of + its own—an onward impulse that proves to be sufficient to + carry it forward and upward in spite of the earth's pressing + solicitation to it to stay. Moving bodies can no more stop of + their own accord than resting bodies can move of their own + accord. Both require that some extraneous force shall be + exerted upon them before the condition in which they are can be + changed.</p> + + <p>Now, in the case of the vibrating pendulum, it is the + downward pull of the earth's attraction that first causes the + stationary body to move, and as this commencing motion is + downwards, in the direction of the pull, it is also an + accelerating one. As soon, however, as this motion is changed + by the resistance of the string into an upward one, it becomes + a retarded one from the same cause. The body is now going + upwards, away from the earth, and the earth's attraction + therefore drags upon it and keeps it back instead of hastening + it. As it travels up in its curved path, more and more of its + weight is taken off the string, and thrown, so to speak, upon + the moving impulse. In the descending portion of the vibration + the weight of the body increases its movement; in the ascending + portion it diminishes its movement. At last the upward movement + becomes so slow, that the impulse of momentum is lost, and the + earth's attraction is again unopposed. The body then begins to + retrograde, acquires progressively increasing velocity as it + descends, overshoots the place of its original repose, and once + more commences the ascent on the opposite side.</p> + + <p>Whenever, then, a heavy body suspended by a flexible string + is drawn to one side, and dropped from the hand, a vibrating + pendulum is made, because weight and acquired impulse influence + it alternately with a sort of see-saw action, the power of the + one diminishing as the power of the other augments. Weight + pulls down—confers velocity and impulse during the + pulling—and then velocity carries up. As velocity carries + up, weight diminishes its impulse, and at last arrests it, and + then begins to pull down again. In the middle of the vibration + velocity is at its greatest, and weight at its least, as + regards their influence on the motion. At the extremes of the + vibration velocity is at its least, and weight at its greatest. + Now here it is the earth's attraction clearly that confers the + impulse of the downward movement, just as much as it is the + earth's attraction that causes the downward movement of running + water. Therefore the power which makes the pendulum swing is + the same with the power which grinds the corn in the + water-mill—the attraction of the earth's vast mass for + the mass of a smaller body placed near to its surface under + certain peculiar conditions of position.</p> + + <p>But there is a very startling reflection connected with this + consideration. How strange it is that the vast 'substantial + fabric' of the earth should, after all, present itself as one + grand source of motion in terrestrial things! Gravitation, + weight, the majestic influence that holds the stable pyramid + upon its base through centuries of time, condescending to turn + the restless wheels of man's machinery! When the expansive + burst of the vapour confined within the cylinder of the + condensing steam-engine thrusts upwards the piston-rod with its + mighty beams, it is simple weight—the weight of the + superincumbent transparent atmosphere—that crushes the + metal back with antagonistic force. When particles of water + have been sublimated into the air by the heating power of the + solar rays, it is simple weight—the weight of their own + aqueous substance—that brings them down again, and that + causes their falling currents to turn the countless mill-wheels + implanted in the direction of their descent. When isolated + tracts of the atmosphere have been rendered rare and light + under the concentrated warmth of the sun, it is simple + weight—the weight of colder and heavier portions of the + air—that makes winds rush into the spots where the + deficient downward pressure is, and that causes the sails of + innumerable windmills to whirl before the impulse of the + breeze.</p> + + <p>In the steam-engine we see the earth's gravitation and + artificial heat combining to effect sundry useful purposes, + requiring enormous expenditure of effort. In windmills and + watermills we see the earth's gravitation and natural or solar + heat working together to perform like service. In the pendulum, + the earth's gravitation acting alone as an enumerator of + passing moments; for the momentum conferred by motion is after + all but a secondary result, an offspring of the earth's + attraction. In the steady oscillations of this little + instrument no less a power is concerned than that grand + elementary force of nature, that is able to uphold the orbitual + movements of massive worlds. In the one case, the majestic + presence is revealed in its Atlantean task of establishing the + firm foundations of the universe; in the other, in its + Saturnian occupation of marking the lapse of time. In the + planetary movements, material attraction bends onward impulse + round into a circling curve; in the pendulum oscillations, + material attraction alternately causes and destroys onward + impulse. In the former it acts by a steady sweep; in the latter + by recurring broken starts. The + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page8" + id="page8"></a>[pg 8]</span> reason of the difference is + simply this: the planetary bodies are free to go as the two + powers, attraction and impulse, urge them. The weight of the + pendulum is prevented from doing so by the restraining power + of the string or rod, that holds it bound by a certain + invariable interval to a point of suspension placed farther + than the weight from the source of attraction. A pendulum, + in all its main features, is a terrestrial satellite in + bonds—unable to fall to the surface of the earth, and + unable to get away and circle round it, yet influenced by a + resistless tendency to do both. Its vibrations are its + useless struggles to free itself from the constraint of its + double chains.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article4" + id="article4">THE COUNTRY COUSIN.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <p>The village of Westbourne was what Americans would call a + stylish place, though situated deep in the heart of Derbyshire. + Most of its houses had green palings and flowers in front; + there was a circulating library, a milliner's shop, and a + ladies' boarding-school, within its bounds; and from each + extremity of its larger and smaller street—for Westbourne + had only two—outlying cottages of various names dotted + the surrounding fields. The largest of these, and decidedly the + handsomest, belonged, as the door-plate set forth, to Mr Harry + Phipps Bunting. It had been called Bunting Cottage, ever since + the late possessor—after having made what his neighbours + esteemed a fortune, by himself keeping the circulating library, + and his spouse the boarding-school—built it by way of + consolation for the second year of his widowhood, and retired + there from business to hold high gentility in his latter days + with his only daughter and heiress, Miss Jenny. At least half + of Westbourne believed that in the said arrangements Mr Bunting + had his eye on a second and somewhat superior match: in short, + those good people averred that the handsome cottage was neither + more nor less than a substantial snare for Mrs Phipps, the + widow of a captain and second-cousin of a baronet, who, with a + small annuity and an only son, lived in the odour of great rank + and fashion in a neat brick-house at the other end of the + village.</p> + + <p>But if Mr Bunting had indeed indulged in speculations on the + widow's heart, they were cut short by a sudden summons to take + the journey on which his early partner had preceded him; and + Miss Jenny was left the undisputed heiress of all his gains and + gatherings, now amounting to a comfortable sum in a London + bank, besides the newly-built cottage. None of the village + remembered the time when Miss Jenny was young—not but + that there were older ladies in the community, and few who wore + their years so well—but a matronly staidnees and + industry, a solidity of manner and appearance, had grown so + early on the lady, that she had no youth, and scarcely any + childhood, in the recollection of her neighbours, and she was + now on the shady side of thirty.</p> + + <p>Miss Jenny might have had suitors, had her encouragement + been more liberal: where is the maiden of fortune who might + not? But she had no admirers, though there was not a more + popular woman in Westbourne. Time out of mind she was known to + have a good advice and a helping-hand for all who required + either. The help was always kindly given, and the advice + generally judicious: indeed, if Miss Jenny had a weakness, it + was the love of direction and counsel-giving; and by that + breach the strong citadel of her heart was won. There was no + house in Westbourne that gave her abilities half such scope as + that of Mrs Captain Phipps—so the lady continued to style + herself. Miss Jenny's father had advised there till he + departed; after which event, the widow and her son confided in + his heiress. Master Harry Phipps was not what would be called a + successful young man. He was not either wild or remarkably + stupid, as the world goes; his mother knew him to be a dear + domestic fellow, who would play the flute or dominos for weeks + of evenings in her back-parlour. He had taken one prize at + college and sundry at school; had the reputation of being + almost a beau, and, at least in Westbourne society, half a wit; + and was a tall, fair-faced, lathy young man, dressing well, and + looking rather genteel, in spite of an overgrown boyishness + which hung about him and kept the Master fastened to his name, + though he had left twenty-five behind him. Master Harry had + made attempts on law, physic, and divinity, without completing + the studies requisite for any of those learned professions; + somehow he had always got disgusted when just half-way, and at + the time of our tale, had a serious notion of civil + engineering. The fates, nevertheless, chalked out another line + for Master Harry Phipps. How it first came about the + keenest-eared gossips in Westbourne never knew, but the widow's + son was observed to become a frequent visitor at the cottage as + the days of Miss Jenny's mourning for her father expired. In + these expeditions he was occasionally supported by Mrs Captain + Phipps, who at length told her confidential friends, and they + informed the village, that her son was about to marry, and take + the name of Bunting. Some said that Miss Jenny insisted on the + latter step as a badge of her perpetual sovereignty; some that + it was a provision in her father's will, the old gentleman + having been heard to hope that none but Buntings would ever + inhabit the cottage; but while they disputed that point the + wedding came off with a liberal distribution of cards, cake, + and gloves, a breakfast, at which Mrs Captain Phipps presided, + and an excursion of three weeks to the Lakes; after which, Mr + and Mrs Phipps Bunting, having got a new door-plate, and an + additional crest on the spoons, settled down comfortably at + home, where our story found them.</p> + + <p>There they were duly visited and made due returns, even to + their uttermost acquaintance. Evening parties wore got up for + their benefit, as Westbourne gentility dictated. A few + responses were given at the cottage, and people learned to call + them the Buntings. When these occurrences and the talk + concerning them were fairly over, it was surprising how little + things had altered. Mrs Phipps Bunting superintended + everything, from the napery in the drawers to the bee-hives in + the garden, with so much of her old and independent activity, + that people caught themselves occasionally calling her Miss + Jenny. As for her lord, he was Master Harry still. Matrimony + made no change in him. On Sundays he dressed himself and went + to church with Mrs Phipps Bunting. On week-days, he said he + studied, paid little visits, took small excursions, and came + home to dinner. Even bachelors agreed that he lived under the + mildest form of gynecocracy. Mrs Captain Phipps gave him good + advices at the one end of the village, Mrs Phipps Bunting kept + him all right at the other; and between them an indescribable + amount of nobodyism grew and gathered around him.</p> + + <p>Mr Phipps Bunting—as the best bred of his neighbours + now endeavoured to call him—was doubtless not less + contented than most men in the married state. Miss + Jenny—that was—made a noble housekeeper, that was + natural to her; she was not given to storms nor temper, nor + fault-finding, nor what is called gaiety: they had kind country + neighbours; and Mrs Phipps Bunting sometimes spoke of her + mother's relatives, who were known to be fine people in + London.</p> + + <p>There was no appearance of change when the second of their + wedded years commenced; but one December morning an + extraordinary event occurred at the cottage, for Harry received + a letter. It came from Charles Lacy, an old college-friend, + whose achievements in the fast line had furnished him with many + a joke and tale. He had been till lately a briefless barrister, + but had just fallen heir to a neat property in an + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page9" + id="page9"></a>[pg 9]</span> adjoining county, bequeathed + him by a distant relative, his advent to which he intended + celebrating with a notable bachelors' party, and Harry's + presence was requested, together with that of many a college + comrade.</p> + + <p>'I think I'll go,' said Harry, in a hesitating tone, as the + note was read at the breakfast-table.</p> + + <p>'Of course you will, dear,' said Mrs Bunting. 'And now that + I think of it; something must be done with that parlour + chimney, it smokes so. Just send up the mason on your way to + the coach.'</p> + + <p>The vehicle thus mentioned was an old stager which passed + through Westbourne daily, carrying passengers to sundry of the + unrailwayed towns on its track; and within two hours from the + receipt of the invitation Mr Phipps Bunting, well wrapped up, + and better warned against taking cold, with his best things in + a carpet bag and his lady's commands delivered to the mason, + took possession of an inside seat on his way to Charles Lacy's + domicile.</p> + + <p>How the bachelors' party proceeded in that locality, and how + the failings of the parlour chimney were corrected at the + cottage, imaginative readers may suppose; but on the third day + after Harry's departure there arrived a note, stating that his + host had invited him to remain a fortnight that they were to + have shooting in the fine frosty weather he thought he might + stay. Mrs. Phipps Bunting sent her approbation by return of + post. There was a colony of rats to be expatriated, a clearing + out of the coal cellar to be achieved, and a bottling of cider + to get forward, under which considerations she concluded he was + better out of the way; but all these things were accomplished, + and more than the specified time elapsed, when another note + came to say that Lacy positively would not let Harry home + without seeing his uncle, the great barrister, who lived in the + nearest assize town; and the legal protector of Miss Jenny + 'thought he might go on that visit.'</p> + + <p>There was a graver and more lengthy reply to that + communication; but the fates forbade that Harry should read Mrs + Bunting's in time. Charles Lacy's housekeeper had a + standing-order to put all letters into a huge card-bracket, + which that young gentleman affirmed had been presented to him + by an heiress of L.20,000 in her own right; and Mrs Bunting's + epistle was placed in the receptacle—for before its + arrival Harry had, like an undutiful husband, started with + Charles for the house of his uncle. The old barrister, though + not one of the brightest, was among the successful of his + profession, and kept a hospitable, easy-going house, with a + maiden sister and two dashing nephews, in a comfortable English + country town, at one end of which was a railway station for the + coming and going of London trains. Our Harry had been always an + agreeable, commodious fellow. There were no angles on his + temper to come in contact with those of other people: rich + uncle, maiden aunt, and sporting nephews, all joined in + requesting his stay from week to week; while three successive + notes were in turn committed to the card-bracket on Charles + Lacy's mantelpiece.</p> + + <p>'Harry, my boy,' said that gay gentleman, as they stood + looking at a passing train, 'what do you say to a run for + London? I have another uncle there—a first-rate solicitor + in the firm of Grindley, Blackmore, & Co. Ours is a legal + family. Grindley and the old hen would be glad to see us; and + I'll introduce you to the Blackmores, a delightful mother and + four daughters; all charming girls with three thousand a piece. + I wish you could only hear Clementina Blackmore sing <i>Will + you still be true to me?</i> Harry, if ever I am so left to + myself as to think of marrying, that's the girl!'</p> + + <p>Let us now suppose that a quantity of additional pressing + took place—that the nephews offered to go along as + Christmas was coming—that Harry sent home another note to + say 'he thought he might go'—and that long before it + reached the cottage, he was installed at the house of Mr + Grindley in London, who, as his nephew promised, divided a + capital legal business with his partner Mr Blackmore.</p> + + <p>The proverb which says, 'Out of sight out of mind,' was by + this time in course of being fulfilled as regarded the good + woman at the cottage. In the revival of old associations his + college-friend partially forgot that Harry was a family man, + and the easy gentleman himself never thought of intruding the + circumstance on people's notice. To do him justice, he had a + remarkably single look; all his acquaintances called him Harry + Phipps. It was therefore no marvel that the unsuspecting + household of Blackmore received him as a bachelor.</p> + + <p>The papa of it was a hard-witted, busy lawyer; the mamma an + excessively fine lady; and the four daughters pretty, + accomplished, fashionable-looking girls, from + twenty-two—their mamma said seventeen—upwards, who + judiciously came out in different lines; for Miss Blackmore was + metaphysical, Miss Caroline sentimental, Miss Maria fast, and + Miss Clementina musical. Between the last mentioned and Charles + Lacy a strong and not discouraged flirtation was in progress, + which afforded Harry better than ordinary opportunities for + cultivating that domestic circle. It was not every day he would + have such a house to call at, and Harry did his best to be + popular. He hunted up high-life gossip for Mrs Blackmore; he + admired the solicitor's law-stories after dinner; he was the + humble servant of all the young ladies in turn, but his chief + devoirs were paid to the fast Maria. The reason was that the + fast Maria would have it so. She thought him, it is + true—as she said once to a confidential friend—a + sort of goosey-goosey-gander, but he polked capitally, was a + personable fellow—and Maria was a spinster. Christmas was + coming, and Harry stood high in favour with all the Blackmores. + The senior miss found out that he had a philosophic mind; Miss + Caroline said she knew there was a little romance about + him—he had been disappointed in first-love or something; + and Charles Lacy had an intuitive suspicion that the old people + would soon begin to inquire regarding his income and prospects. + The idea was excessively amusing, but yet somewhat alarming. He + thought Harry was carrying it on too far—he was. Hadn't + he better give Clementina a hint? But then Clementina would + think he ought to have done so long ago. Charles was puzzled, + and he did not like to be puzzled. He would have nothing more + to do with it. He would wash his hands of it. How was he + obliged to know that they were not aware of Harry's being tied + up? The whole thing was really uncomfortable, and he did not + like anything that was uncomfortable. He would take Harry to + task for his enormity, and then think no more about it. + Meditating thus, he entered Mrs Blackmore's drawing-room one + forenoon early enough to find mamma and the young ladies hard + at Berlin wool—they were finishing Christmas + presents—all but Maria, for whose amusement Harry was + turning over a volume of sporting prints at a little table by + themselves.</p> + + <p>'We are all industrious to-day,' said Mrs Blackmore, 'on + account of our country cousin—a dear odd creature. She + has sent us hampers and baskets full of everything nice, for I + don't know how long. The girls can scarcely remember when she + was here last, and it would be such a comfort to her to have + some of their work. Do, Maria, try and finish that purse.'</p> + + <p>Charles and Harry had heard of that 'dear odd country + cousin' ever since they first entered the house. The turkeys + and chickens she sent had been described in their hearing till + they thought they had eaten them. From the conversation of her + relatives Harry concluded her to be a spinster or widow of an + uninteresting age. However, the threatened arrival created a + new employment for him in the shape of holding purse-silk for + Miss Maria to wind; and owing perhaps to the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page10" + id="page10"></a>[pg 10]</span> quietness of this + employment—perhaps to its occupying so long a + time—the awkwardness of his position began to stare + him in the face. He began to think he was a bad + fellow—although it was all Charles's fault. He did not + know that Miss Maria thought him a goosey-goosey-gander, but + he began at last to hate her all the same—we are so + liable to hate those we are conscious of injuring! He became + in truth afraid of her—she haunted him. He knew he + ought to do something, but he did not know what to do. He + had all his life acted under advice, and he now felt as if + he had broken from his moorings, and was on the wide, wide + sea, drifting at the mercy of this calamity.</p> + + <p>At the moment we have arrived at, things had come to an + alarming climax. In reply to his bewildered look Charles had + turned away with severity—washing his hands of + it—to join Miss Clementina in the corner; and the rest of + the family, who seemed suddenly to find themselves <i>de + trop</i>, scattered away to other parts of the room. Now Miss + Maria was a fast girl, and Harry knew it. She looked wicked, as + if determined upon a <i>coup d'etat</i>; and he began to + perspire all over. The skein fared badly. At this moment some + slight diversion was made in his favour by a servant appearing + with a message regarding somebody in the back-parlour; + whereupon Mrs Blackmore went hastily down stairs; and Harry's + eyes followed her wistfully: he thought he should like to get + out.</p> + + <p>'Oh, girls,' said Caroline, returning in a few minutes, 'it + is poor cozy, and mamma is bringing her up for us all to + comfort her. She has lost I don't know how much money by the + failure of that horrid Skinner's bank; and what's worse, she + can't find her husband.'</p> + + <p>'He ought to be sent home wherever he is,' replied Maria; + 'I'm sure she was just too good to him. Oh, Mr Harry Phipps, + what a sad set you men are! I declare you are ravelling + again.'</p> + + <p>Harry, colouring to the roots of the hair, bent forward to + plead some unintelligible excuse; the fast Maria took hold of + his finger as if she was cross; and at that instant another + finger was pressed upon his shoulder, and looking up, he gazed + into the eyes of his wife!</p> + + <p>For some seconds Harry and his spouse looked at each other + as if unable to believe their eyes; but the lady's good sense + at last prevailed, and gulping down something which would have + come out with most women, she gently shook her husband's hand, + now liberated from the purse-silk, with 'Harry, love, I am so + glad to find you here. I was really afraid that worse had + happened than the failure of Skinner & Co.'</p> + + <p>Harry replied in rather an indistinct tone, though Charles + Lacy ever after vowed he did wonderfully, considering the looks + of Mrs Blackmore and her daughters. As for Maria she retired + from silk and all, without a word about deceivers, which was + also remarkable. Sense in the person of Mrs Bunting for once + appeared contagious. The Blackmores, one and all, tacitly + agreed that there had been no mistake whatever in the family, + beyond the droll particular of their not recognising in a + gentleman introduced to them as Mr Harry Phipps the husband of + a lady whom they had been accustomed to address as Mrs Bunting. + By the failure of Skinner & Co. poor Mrs Bunting had lost + everything but the cottage and furniture at Westbourne; a fact + which she learned only on her arrival in London to pay a + long-projected visit to her mother's relatives, the + Blackmores.</p> + + <p>The Buntings in due time went home. We have reason to + believe that there was never even a curtain-lecture delivered + on the subject of the purse-silk. When we last visited + Westbourne, Mrs Phipps Bunting was as active, as good-natured, + and as popular as ever; but people had forgotten to say Master + Harry, for Henry Phipps Bunting, Esquire, had been appointed + Her Majesty's stamp-distributer for the district. He was also + invested with a couple of agencies for certain absent + proprietors; but he never again 'thought he might go' on + sporting-excursions; and no family could have imagined him to + be a bachelor, for ever since he set fairly to work, a more + married-like man we never saw.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article5" + id="article5">THE DROLLERIES OF FALSE POLITICAL + ECONOMY.</a></h3> + + <h4>WINES AND OTHER LIQUORS.</h4> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <p>The portion devoted to the subject of intoxicating liquors + would make a curious chapter in the history of legislation in + almost every European country. Here there is a double cause of + disturbance, since besides notions about the balance of trade + and the like, many well-meaning, though not always judicious, + attempts have been made to render such legislation conducive to + sobriety and morality. Thus among the Irish statutes one + stumbles on an act of Queen Elizabeth's reign 'Against making + of Aqua Vitæ.' It is justly described as 'a drink nothing + profitable to be daily drunken and used,' 'and thereby much + corn, grain, and other things are consumed, spent, and wasted + to the great hinderance, loss, and damages of the poor + inhabitants of this realm'—for which reason are passed + provisions, not to modify but entirely to suppress + it—with what effect we may easily know. But our object at + present is not with legislation for the suppression of + drunkenness, which always deserves favourable consideration, + but with the commercial regulations affecting liquors, and the + strange notions of political economy involved in them. The + subject is so ample that we are obliged to restrict our + illustrations almost entirely to one small + country—Scotland.</p> + + <p>It will rather surprise the reader perhaps to find that, for + the promotion of their economic ends, the laws seem to have + been directed more to the encouragement than the suppression of + drinking. The earliest interference with commerce in liquors + appearing among the Scottish acts of parliament is very + imperious and comprehensive, but not very explicable in its + objects. Statutes at that time were short, and it will cost the + reader little trouble to peruse that which was passed in the + year 1436, and the reign of James I., 'anent Flemish wines.' + 'It is statute and ordained that no man buy at Flemings of the + Dane in Scotland, any kind of wine, under the pain of escheat + (or forfeiture) thereof.' Doubtless parliament believed that it + had reasons for this enactment, but it would not be easy to + find out at the present day what they were. In 1503 a more + minute act was passed referrible to ale and other provisions. + It appoints magistrates of towns 'that they set and ordain a + certain price, goodness, and fineness, upon bread, ale, and all + other necessary things that is wrought and daily bought and + used by the king's lieges. And that they make certain purviews + and examinations to wait daily upon the keeping thereof. And + when any workman be's noted taking an exorbitant price for his + stuff, above the price, and over far disproportionate of the + stuff he buys, that he be punished by the said barons, + provosts, and bailies, &c.' A little later, in 1540, an act + was passed 'touching the exorbitant prices of wine, salt, and + timmer.' The provisions that follow are somewhat curious, and + rank among the most barefaced instances of a class legislating, + not only for its own interest, but its own enjoyment. In the + first place, the provosts and bailies—supposed to be + always excellent judges of good cheer—are to fix a low + and reasonable price at which the wines and other commodities + are obtainable. When this is fixed, it is appointed that 'na + man is to buy till the king's grace be first served. And His + Grace and officers being content + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page11" + id="page11"></a>[pg 11]</span> for so meikle (much) as will + please them to take to our sovereign's use entirely, that + noblemen of the realm, such as prelates, barons, and other + gentlemen of the same, be served at the same prices; and + thereafter all and sundry our sovereign lord's lieges be + served at the same prices.' Evidently it was cunningly + foreseen that but little wine would be imported at a + compulsory and necessarily an unremunerating price. Of such + as did come, and was thus sold cheap, the 'prelates, barons, + and other gentlemen' who sat in parliament, sagaciously + provided that they should have the preemption; and it is + pretty clear that the 'all and sundry' who were to come + after them would have little chance of obtaining any of the + cheap wine.</p> + + <p>Fifteen years afterwards, during the regency of Mary of + Lorraine, it was found that the act just cited was not + sufficiently stringent, and that some sterner provision must be + made to enable the aristocracy to get cheap wine. An act was + passed referring to the previous one, and stating that + 'nevertheless the noblemen—such as prelates, earls, + lords, barons, and other gentlemen—are not served + according to the said act, but are constrained to buy the same + from merchants at greater prices, contrary to the tenor of the + said acts.' Hence it is declared that whenever wines have + arrived in any town, and the prices have been fixed, the + magistrates 'shall incontinent pass to the market-cross of that + burgh, and there, by open proclamation, declare none of the + goods foresaid as they are made, and that none of the goods + foresaid be disposed of for the space of four days.' Thus were + measures taken to let the privileged persons have the benefit + of their preemption.</p> + + <p>That these acts, and the proclamations for enforcing them, + were not a dead letter is shewn by the criminal records. On the + 8th of March 1550, Robert Hathwy, John Sym, and James Lourie, + burgesses of Edinburgh, confess their guilt in transgressing a + regulation against purchasing Bordeaux wines dearer than L.22, + 10s. (Scots of course) per tun, and Rochelle wines dearer than + L.18 per tun. On the 4th of May 1555, George Hume and thirteen + other citizens of Leith were arraigned for retailing wines + above the proclaimed price—which for Bordeaux and Anjou + wine was 10d. per pint; and for Rochelle, Sherry, and something + called Cunezeoch—which may for all we know to the + contrary mean Cognac—8d. per pint.</p> + + <p>In Ireland the privilege of having their wine cheaper than + other people was given to the aristocracy with almost more + flagrant audacity. By the Irish statute of the 28th Elizabeth, + chap. 4, imposing customs-duties on wines, the lord-lieutenant + is not only authorised to take for his own consumption twenty + tuns, duty free, annually, but he is at the same time declared + to have 'full power to grant, limit, and appoint, unto every + peer of this realm, and to every of the Privy-Council in the + same, and the queen's learned counsel for the time being, at + his or their discretion from time to time, such portion and + quantity of wines, to be free and discharged of and from the + said customs and subsidy, as he shall think to be mete and + competent for every of them, after their degrees and callings + to have.'</p> + + <p>To return to Scotland. In the ensuing century we find the + legislature resorting to the homely liquor of the + working-classes. On the 23d December 1669, an act was passed + which begins in the following considerate and paternal + fashion:—</p> + + <p>'Our sovereign lord, considering that it is most agreeable + to reason and equity, and of universal concernment to all his + majesty's subjects, and especially to those of the meaner sort, + that a due proportion be observed betwixt the price of the boll + of beer and the pint and other measures of ale and + drinking-beer rented and sold within this kingdom, that thereby + the liberty taken by brewers and vintners, to exact exorbitant + prices for ale and drinking-beer at their pleasure, may be + restrained. Therefore his majesty, with advice and consent of + his estates of parliament, doth recommend to and authorise the + lords of his majesty's Privy-Council from time to time, after + consideration had of the ordinary rates of rough beer and + barley for the time, to regulate and set down the prices of ale + and drinking-beer rented and sold in the several shires and + burghs of the kingdom, as they shall think just and + reasonable.' The council were authorised to make their + regulations by acts and orders, 'and to inflict such censures, + pains, and penalties upon the contraveners of these acts and + orders as they shall think fit; and to do all other things + requisite for the execution of the same.'</p> + + <p>When the Scottish Privy-Council ceased to exist by the union + with England, there was some difficulty in knowing how this act + should be applied. The Court of Session, looking upon the + supply of ale as vital to the country, took on itself to + protect the public, just as a passenger sometimes undertakes + the management of a vessel which has lost its proper commander. + On the occasion of the malt-duty being extended to Scotland in + 1725, they thought a juncture had come when it was absolutely + necessary to interfere, as there was no saying how far the + brewers, let loose from the old regulations of the + Privy-Council, might abuse the public by charging an + extravagant price or selling a bad article. The Court of + Session is the supreme civil tribunal in Scotland. Its rules of + court for the regulation of judicial proceedings are called + 'acts of sederunt.' On this occasion it passed 'an act for + preventing the sale of bad ale.' The object was an excellent + one, but we are apt at the present day to consider that brewers + under the influence of competition can best save the public + from bad ale, and that judges are better employed when they + direct their attention to the protection of the public from bad + law. They enacted that the brewers should sell by wholesale at + a merk Scots per gallon, and that dealers should sell by retail + at 2d. per pint. They professed to make this regulation from + 'taking into consideration the frequent abuses in vending and + retailing bad twopenny ale; and that from the present duties + and burdens wherewith the brewers of ale in and about the city + of Edinburgh are charged, occasion may be taken by + ill-designing persons to impose on the lieges and undersell + fair dealers, unless the prices for brewers and retailers be + certain and fixed.'</p> + + <p>The brewers threatened to give up their business, and the + court found it necessary to take farther measures. Another act + of sederunt was passed. It is best, we think, where their + contents are so curious, to quote the documents themselves, + however stiff or formal they may seem, and the commencement of + the act follows:</p> + + <p>'Whereas, in the information and memorial this day offered + by his majesty's advocate to the Lords of Council and Session, + it is represented that the brewers within the city of Edinburgh + and liberties thereof, and others who have the privilege of + furnishing the said city with ale, have entered into a + resolution and confederacy that they will at once give over + brewing when the duties on malt granted to his majesty by act + of parliament are attempted to be recovered; that this + resolution and confederacy must bring much distress on the good + people of the said city through want of ale, and likewise by + want of bread, the preparing whereof depends upon yeast or + barm, and must produce tumults and confusions, to the overthrow + of all good government, and to the great loss and hurt of the + most innocent of his majesty's subjects, and is most dangerous + and highly criminal.'</p> + + <p>Thus, it being clearly shewn that the refusal of brewers to + brew ale at the price fixed by the judges of the Court of + Session must produce something like a French revolution, and be + followed by general anarchy, the court next proceeds to + declare—not in the best of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page12" + id="page12"></a>[pg 12]</span> composition—'that it is + illegal and inconsistent with the public welfare for common + brewers, or others whose employment is to provide necessary + sustenance for the people, all at once to quit and forbear + the exercise of their occupation, when they are in the sole + possession of the materials, houses, and instruments for to + carry on the trade, so that the people may be deprived of, + or much straitened in their meat or drink; and that so to do + in defiance and contempt of the laws is highly criminal and + severely punishable. And therefore the said Lords of Council + and Session, to prevent the mischiefs threatened to the city + and limits aforesaid, do hereby require and ordain all and + every brewer and brewers within the city of Edinburgh and + liberties thereof, and others who have the privilege of + furnishing the said city with ale, to continue and carry on + their trade of brewing for the service of the lieges.'</p> + + <p>It is astonishing to find that the brewers gave way. + Scotland was at that time much under government and + aristocratic influence; and very likely the poor men felt that + it would be better to lose a little money than to fight a + battle with the Court of Session, especially as the Lord + Advocate threatened to indict them for a conspiracy. That they + continued permanently to accept of the profits—or rather, + perhaps, losses—fixed by the Court of Session no one will + believe. They would in due time manage to get the usual profit + of capital and exertion from their operations, or else would + contrive to give up business.</p> + + <p>It is one of the consequences of adopting false and + artificial notions on political economy, that these drive the + most conscientious and virtuous men to the most mischievous and + violent extremities. Where things should be left to themselves + they believe interference to be right, and so believing, they + think it necessary to carry out their views at whatever cost. A + remarkable instance of this was shewn by the virtuous and + high-minded Duncan Forbes of Culloden. He thought the + introduction of foreign commodities ruinous to the country. He + considered that whatever was paid for them was so much lost to + his fellow-countrymen. On this principle he waged a determined + war against a foreign commodity coming into vogue in his latter + days, using all his endeavours to suppress its use, and + substitute for it a commodity of home-produce. Will the reader, + in the days of temperance societies, believe that the commodity + which he desired to suppress was <i>tea</i>, and that which he + wished to encourage was <i>beer</i>? Here are his own words in + a letter to a statesman of the time: 'The cause of the mischief + we complain of is evidently the excessive use of <i>tea</i>, + which is now become so common that the meanest families even of + labouring people, particularly in burghs, make their morning's + meal of it, and thereby wholly disuse the ale which heretofore + was their accustomed drink; and the same drug supplies all the + labouring women with their afternoon's entertainment, even to + the exclusion of the twopenny.' After so formidable a picture, + it is not unnatural to find him thus crying out against the + influence of Dutch enterprise, which was then spreading the + drink which cheers but not inebriates throughout Europe: 'They + run their low-priced tea into Scotland, and sold it very + cheap—a pound went from half a crown to three or four + shillings. The goodwife was fond of it because her betters made + use of tea; a pound of it would last her a month, which made + her breakfast very cheap, so she made no account of the sugar + which she took up only in ounces. In short, the itch spread; + the refuse of the vilest teas were run into this country from + Holland, sold and bought at the prices I have mentioned; and at + present there are very few cobblers in any of the burghs of + this country who do not sit down gravely with their wives and + families to tea.'<a name="backnote4" + id="backnote4"></a><a href="#note4">1</a>] What a frightful + picture! We may laugh at it, but it really was frightful to + one who sincerely believed that the money paid for tea was a + dead loss to the country, and who did not know that the tea + was paid for by the exportation of home-produce.</p> + + <h4>Notes</h4> + + <div class="note"> + <a name="note4" + id="note4">1.</a> Culloden Papers, 191. + <a href="#backnote4">Back to text</a> + </div> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article6" + id="article6">FAMILY LIFE IN A NEGRO TOWN.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <p>There is a large mass of mankind occupying an intermediate + position between the savage and the civilised nations of the + world. These have no literature of their own, yet they have + received some amount of knowledge by tradition or communication + with other people. They know little or nothing of science, yet + they are skilled in some of the useful arts of life. They have + no regular legislation nor codes of civil law, yet they have + forms of government and unwritten laws to which they + steadfastly adhere, and about which they can plead as + eloquently as a Chancery barrister or an advocate in the Courts + of Session. While they cultivate the ground, keep cattle, and + live upon the lawful products of the soil, they have none of + the culinary dainties of life; whilst they plant the + cotton-tree, and weave and dye cloth to make their garments, + their clothing is scant, and devoid of all excellence in the + manufacture. As far removed from the polite European on the one + hand, as from the savage Indian or the rude Hottentot on the + other, they may be rightly termed the semi-barbarous portion of + mankind. It is a curious question how they came to occupy this + middle state of civilisation, which they have retained for so + many centuries. We know that the wandering tribes of Asia, and + some of the kingdoms of that continent which partake of the + characteristics now described, in former ages enjoyed seasons + of national splendour and gleams of civilisation, the twilight + of which has not yet passed away; but we know nothing of the + history of Central Africa, a large part of which is composed of + semi-barbarous nations.</p> + + <p>We now specially refer to that portion of the African + continent which lies between the Great Desert and the Kong + Mountains, with a continuation toward Lake + Tchad—comprising a tract of country about 300 miles in + length and 2000 in breadth. South of this latitude the people + are more barbarous and cruel, and the deserts of the west are + inhabited by tribes more purely negro and ignorant. Moors, + Mandingoes, Foolahs, and Jaloofs, principally dwell in this + vast region of West-Central Africa. All these peoples are more + or less European in their form and countenance; the pure + negroes occasionally mixed with them being probably imported + slaves or their descendants. These nations differ from each + other in their languages, and in some of their customs and + manners; but there is a similarity in their mode of living, if + we except the Moors, which makes it as unnecessary as it would + be tedious to describe each of them separately. We wish to make + our readers acquainted with the forms and habits of + semi-barbarous life, whatever local name or geographical + appearance it may assume.</p> + + <p>The first and most important feature of observation is the + position of the female sex. This regulates the size of the + houses and the towns, the nature of agriculture, and the whole + social economy. In Africa the women are emphatically the + working-class of the community, and hold an intermediate + station between wife and slave, occupying the rank and + employments of both. A wife is usually bought for so many head + of cattle or such a number of slaves, and then becomes the + property of her husband. There is no limit to the number of + wives. Even the Mohammedan negroes do not conform to the Koran + in its restriction to the number of four. One chief boasted + that he had eighty wives; and upon the Englishman answering + that his countrymen thought one woman quite enough to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page13" + id="page13"></a>[pg 13]</span> manage, the African + flourished a whip, with which he said he kept them in order. + In some countries one of these wives is recognised as + head-wife, and enjoys certain prerogatives appertaining to + this place.</p> + + <p>Being desirous of obtaining an insight into the minutiae of + African life, we accepted the invitation of a negro who traded + on the Gambia to pay him a visit, and spend a day in his town, + especially as there would be a dance in the evening. We left + our vessel in the morning, and having rowed for some miles up a + tributary stream, landed in an open place. Here we met the + horses which Samba had sent for us, as the town lay at a + considerable distance. They were fine animals, of a small + breed, but very spirited, and apparently only half-trained. + Their accoutrements were in some respects novel; for the saddle + was an unwieldy article, with a high pommel in front, and an + elevation behind, so that we were fairly wedged in the seat, + and had many thumps before we learned to sit correctly in these + stocks. We therefore had no wish, as we had little opportunity, + of trying the speed of our beasts, the road lying through a + vast forest. The men who accompanied us were armed with + muskets, and kept a sharp look-out among the bushes, though + there was not much fear of being attacked in this place by wild + beasts in the day-time, as it was a frequented route and had + been often visited by the hunter. By and by we came, to a + stream, which was fordable in the dry season. Senegambia + abounds with rivers and creeks; indeed it seems to be one of + the best-watered regions of the earth, and has excellent means + of communication for trade. These waters are full of fish, + which form an important article of food for the people.</p> + + <p>After crossing the river, we saw the place of our + destination on a rising ground surrounded with fields. The town + was surrounded with a low mud-wall and stockade to keep off + wild beasts, and as a slight protection against roving + freebooters. Larger towns, especially those belonging to + warrior chiefs, have high mud-walls, sometimes with loopholes + and bastions, and are capable of standing a siege where the + enemy has neither cannon nor battering-rams. The gate was made + of planks shaped with the axe, for the natives have no saws. + The appearance of the place from a distance was very singular, + for it consisted of 400 or 500 huts, all built in the same + manner, with conical roofs thatched with grass. No chimneys, + spires, nor windows relieved the monotony of the scene. Upon + entering, we threaded our way through narrow passages, between + high fences, as through the mazes of a labyrinth, where we + might have wandered all day without finding an exit. At last + our guides brought us to a wicket-door, through which we + passed, and found ourselves in Samba's enclosure. He welcomed + us with great cordiality, and led us towards his dwelling + through a group of inquisitive women and children. It was a + circular hut, rather larger than the others, and constructed + with a little more care. The wall was composed of large lumps + of clay in square blocks, laid upon each other while still wet; + these speedily dry and harden in the sun, forming a substantial + support, of about four feet high, for the roof. The roof is a + conical frame of bamboo-cane thatched with long grass, having + long eaves to protect the walls from the deluging rains of + Africa. The most substantial of these dwellings are liable to + be undermined by wet, if the ground be level, or to be + penetrated by rain, if the roof be not kept in good repair; in + which case the sides can no longer support its weight. For + this, reason, deserted towns soon become heaps of mud ruins, + and finally a mound of clay.</p> + + <p>The interior of Samba's dwelling was as simple as the + outside. On one side was a platform or hurdle of cane, raised + about two feet from the ground upon stakes. This served for a + bedstead, and the bedding was composed of a simple skin or mat. + Being rich, Samba had other mats for himself and his friends to + sit upon, and two or three low stools. His gun, spear, leathern + bottle, and other accoutrements, lay in a convenient place: and + we observed a couple of boxes, one of which contained clothes, + and the other a heterogeneous mass of trifling valuables + received from Europeans. Of course such boxes and their + contents are not of frequent occurrence in these lowly + dwellings. Near this hut was another small one which served for + a kitchen: it contained some earthen pots, wooden bowls, and + calabashes, with iron pots and neat baskets as articles of + distinction. Here was also the large pestle and mortar, the use + of which will be presently described.</p> + + <p>Samba was dressed in the usual garb of a negro gentleman. He + wore large cotton drawers, which reached half-way down the leg, + and a loose smock with wide sleeves. On his feet were sandals, + fastened with leathern straps over his toes, the legs being + bare. His head was covered with a white cap encircled with a + Paisley shawl—which I had formerly given him—and + which was worn in the manner of a turban. Two large + <i>greegrees</i> or amulets—being leathern purses, + containing some holy words or sacred scraps—depended from + his neck by silken cords. This costume was pleasing, and set + off his manly form to advantage. One of his wives immediately + presented us with a calabash of sour milk, and some cakes of + rice of pounded nuts and honey. The Africans have in general + only two meals a day; but some, who can afford it, take lunch + about two o'clock. Strict Mohammedans profess not to drink + intoxicating liquors; but looser religionists cannot resist the + temptation of rum, of which the pagan negroes drink to excess. + Samba brought out a bottle of this liquor, and presented it + with evident glee, himself doing justice to its contents.</p> + + <p>We then proceeded to view the rest of the premises. Samba + had six wives, each of whom had a separate hut. Their dwellings + resembled that of their lord, but were of smaller size, and the + doors were very low, so as to require considerable stooping to + enter. These apertures for admitting light, air, and human + beings, and for letting out the smoke, always look towards the + west, for the easterly wind brings clouds of sand; and if the + tornadoes which blow from the same quarter are allowed an inlet + to a hut, they speedily make an outlet for themselves by + whirling the roof into the air. The women were dressed in their + best style on the occasion of our visit. One cloth, or + <i>pang</i>, was fastened round their waist, and hung down to + the ankles: another was thrown loosely over the bosom and + shoulders. Their hair was plaited with ribbons, and decorated + with beads, coral, and pieces of gold. Their legs were bare; + but they had neat sandals on their feet. They were loaded with + necklaces, bracelets, armlets, and anklets, composed of coral, + amber, and fine glass-beads, interspersed with beads of gold + and silver. These are their wealth and their pride. Some had + little children, whose only covering was strings of beads round + the waist, neck, ankles, and wrists: an elder girl of about ten + years had a small cloth about her loins. We saw no furniture in + their huts except a few bowls and calabashes, a rude distaff + for spinning cotton, and the usual bed-hurdle covered with + mats. The ladies were very garrulous and inquisitive, narrowly + inspecting our skin and dress, and asking many questions about + European females. They wondered how a rich man could do with + only one wife, but thought monogamy was a good thing for the + women. These mothers never carry their children in their arms, + but infants are borne in a <i>pang</i> upon the back.</p> + + <p>Another hut served for Samba's store, where he kept his + merchandise; another was occupied by some female slaves, and + another by male slaves. These poor creatures wore only a cloth + round their loins, hanging as far as the knees; the females had + each a necklace of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page14" + id="page14"></a>[pg 14]</span> common beads given by their + mistresses. At night they lie down upon a mat or skin, and + light a fire in the middle of the hut. This serves both for + warmth and to keep away noxious insects. Their furniture + consisted of working instruments—hoes, calabashes, + rush-baskets, and the redoubtable <i>paloon</i>. The + last-mentioned instrument is a large wooden mortar made by + the Loubles, a wandering class of Foolahs, one of the most + stunted and ugly of African races, and quite different from + the pastoral and warrior tribes. These roving gipsies work + in wood, and may be called the coopers of Africa. When they + find a convenient spot of ground furnished with the proper + kind of trees, they immediately proceed to cut them down: + the branches are formed into temporary huts, and the trunks + are made into canoes, bowls, pestles and mortars, and other + wooden utensils. Their chief implements are an axe and a + knife, which they use with great dexterity.</p> + + <p>The freemen are very indolent, and, with the exception of + the Foolahs, seldom engage in any useful work. The time not + occupied in hunting, fishing, travelling, or public business, + is usually spent in indolent smoking, gossipping, or revelling. + The male slaves are employed in felling timber, weaving, + drawing water, collecting grass for horses, and helping the + women in the fields; but as all this, excepting the first, can + be done by females, the slaveholders do not care to keep many + male slaves. Women generally attend to field-work. Before the + rains set in, they make holes in the ground with a hoe, and, + after dropping in seeds, cover in the earth with their feet. In + case of rice, the surface of the ground is turned up with a + narrow spade. After the rains the grain is ripe, and the tops + are cut off. When the natives have not separate store-huts of + their own, they keep their corn in large rush-baskets raised + upon stakes outside the village; and these stores are not + violated by their fellow-townsmen. The grain is beaten or + trodden out of the husks, and then winnowed in the wind. The + women pound it into meal or flour with a pestle nearly five + feet long, the ordinary mortar containing about two gallons. + This is a most laborious process, and occupies many hours of + the day or night.</p> + + <p>After gratifying, if not satisfying, the curiosity of + Samba's wives, we thought it right that a return should be made + by their explaining to us their mode of dressing food, + especially the celebrated <i>kooskoos</i>. This was cheerfully + done, the more so as we presented them with small articles of + tinselled finery. The flour is moistened with water, then + shaken and stirred in a calabash until it forms into small hard + granules like peppercorns, which will keep good for a long time + if preserved in a dry place. The poorer class wet this prepared + grain with hot water until it swells like rice; others steam it + in an earthen pot with holes, which is placed above another + containing flesh and water, so that the flavour of the meat + makes the kooskoos savoury. We saw a dish of this kind in + preparation for our dinner, along with other stews of a + daintier kind, made of rice boiled with milk and dried fish, or + with butter and meat, not forgetting vegetables and condiments. + Some, of these stews, when well prepared, are not to be + despised.</p> + + <p>After inspecting the kitchen and its contents, our host + conducted us to the <i>bentang</i> or <i>palaver</i> house, + which answers the purpose of a town-hall and assembly-room. It + is a large building, without side-walls, being a roof supported + upon strong posts, and having a bank of mud to form a seat or + lounging-bench. It is generally erected under the shade of a + large tabba-tree, which is the pride of the town. Here all + public business is transacted, trials are conducted, strangers + are received, and hither the idle resort for the news of the + day. As Africans are interminable speakers, they make excellent + lawyers, and know how to spin out a case or involve it in a + labyrinth of figures of speech. Mungo Park, who frequently + heard these special pleaders, says that in the forensic + qualifications of procrastination and cavil, and the arts of + confounding and perplexing a cause, they are not easily + surpassed by the ablest pleaders in Europe. The following may + serve as an example of their talent:—An ass had got loose + and broken into a field of corn, much of which it destroyed. + The proprietor of the corn caught the beast in his field, and + immediately cut its throat. The owner of the ass then brought + an action to recover damages for the loss of the ass, on which + he set a high value. The other acknowledged having killed it, + but pleaded as a set-off that the value of the corn destroyed + was quite equal to that of the beast which he had killed. The + law recognised the validity of both claims—that the ass + should be paid for, and so should the corn; for the proprietor + had no right to kill the beast, and it had no right to damage + the field. The glorious uncertainty was therefore displayed in + ascertaining the relative value of each; and the learned + gentlemen managed so to puzzle the cause, that after a hearing + of three days the court broke up without coming to any + decision, and the cause was adjourned for a future hearing.</p> + + <p>Another <i>palaver</i> which lasted four days was on the + following occasion:—A slave-merchant had married a woman + of Tambacunda, by whom he had two children. He subsequently + absented himself for eight years without giving any account of + himself to his deserted wife, who, seeing no prospect of his + return, at the end of three years married another man, to whom + she likewise bore two children. The <i>slatee</i> now returned + and claimed his wife; but the second husband refused to + surrender her, insisting that, by the usage of Africa, when a + man has been three years absent from his wife without giving + notice of his being alive, the woman is at liberty to marry + again. This, however, proved a puzzling question, and all the + circumstances on both sides had to be investigated. At last it + was determined that the differing claims were so nicely + balanced that the court could not pronounce on the side of + either, but allowed the woman to make her choice of the + husbands. She took time to consider; and it is said that, + having ascertained that her first husband, though older than + the second, was much richer, she allowed her first love to + carry the day.</p> + + <p>These lawsuits afford much amusement to the freemen of + African towns, who have little employment, and to whom time + seems to be a matter of no importance. Whether a journey + occupies a week, a month, or a year, is of little moment, + provided they can obtain victuals and find amusement in the + place they visit. African labourers are quite surprised at the + bustle and impatience of Englishmen; and when urged to make + haste in finishing a job, will innocently exclaim—'No + hurry, master: there be plenty of time: to-morrow, comes after + to-day.'</p> + + <p>We went to see the blacksmith and saddler of the town. These + are the only professional persons, and they are held in high + esteem. The blacksmith is a worker in all kinds of metal, and + combines the avocations of goldsmith, silversmith, jeweller, + nailer, and gunsmith. In the interior, he also manufactures + native iron by smelting the stone in furnaces with charcoal, + which process converts it at once into steel: but as this + operation is rudely performed, it is attended with a great + waste of metal, which is also very hard and difficult to be + worked; so that English iron is used when it can be obtained, + and bars of iron form a considerable article of commerce. The + blacksmith's utensils consist of a hammer, anvil, forceps, and + a pair of double bellows made of two goat-skins. When we saw + him he and his slaves were making stirrups, but the operation + was very tedious.</p> + + <p>The saddler tans and dresses leather, and can make a very + beautiful and soft material by repeatedly rubbing and beating + the hides. The thick skins are converted into sandals; those of + sheep and goats are dyed and made + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page15" + id="page15"></a>[pg 15]</span> into sheaths of various + kinds, purses for greegrees, covers for quivers and saddles, + and a variety of ornaments, which are neatly sewn, as all + negro lads can use the needle. These arts, with those of + weaving, working in rushes, soap-making, and a rude pottery, + constitute the native crafts. The Africans evidently + understand the principles of many useful arts, and evince + considerable ingenuity in the execution, considering the + rudeness of their instruments, their want of capital, and + the total absence of hired labour.</p> + + <p>Suspended on a tree near the entrance of the town we saw the + strange dress of bark called Mumbo Jumbo. This is a device used + by the men to keep their wives in awe when the husband's + authority is not sufficient to prevent family feuds and + maintain proper subordination. It may be called the pillory of + Africa, and is thus employed: Mumbo Jumbo announces his + approach by loud cries in the woods, and at night enters the + town and proceeds to the bentang, where all the inhabitants are + obliged to assemble. The ceremony begins with songs and dances, + which last till midnight, by which time Mumbo Jumbo has fixed + upon his unfortunate victim. She is immediately seized, + stripped, tied to a post, and scourged with Mumbo's rod, amid + the shouts and derision of the whole assembly. No wonder that + Mumbo Jumbo is held in great awe by the women!</p> + + <p>When we had finished our walks about town, the day was far + spent, and the setting sun bade us hasten to our lodging; for + here there is no twilight, so that in a few minutes after the + orb of day has disappeared night supervenes, and the moon rules + the heavens. The few cattle which belonged to the inhabitants + were brought into a pen at the town-wall, where they are + watched at night by armed men. We found a fire of blazing wood + in Samba's hut, and sat down on mats to gossip and smoke till + dinner should be served. The ladies brought in the kooskoos, + and other viands already described, in wooden bowls, and laid + them on the floor; they then retired, as they never eat with + the men. Each guest is expected to help himself with his + fingers, and Samba hoped to play us a little trick in return + for one played upon himself. When he visited us on board ship + we provided only knives and forks, which all were expected to + use. Poor Samba could hardly get a mouthful, and was the + laughing-stock of the company, till in mercy a spoon was + brought to him. He now ordered the stews to be made thin, and + the meat to be cut up in small morsels, hoping to see us very + awkward in using our fingers; when suddenly we produced pocket + spoons and knives, which turned the joke against him and his + negro friends, for the food was too watery for themselves to + manage well with their hands.</p> + + <p>After our repast we went out to see the dancing. This + favourite amusement of the Africans takes place in the open air + when the weather is fine; in wet weather it is held in the + bentang, and when it is dark large fires are kindled to give + light to the performers. They have two or three musical + instruments, the chief of which is a drum. When this is beat, + all the young folks become animated, and dance to the sound, + clapping their hands, and performing a number of evolutions, + some of which are not the most seemly. They keep up this + exercise through a great part of the night; so that we left + them in the midst of their sport, and retired to rest. Our + preparations for sleep were soon made, by simply lying down + upon the mats placed upon the hurdle. The negroes are very + susceptible of cold, and complain of it when we are panting + with heat; but the fire in their huts keeps up the desired + temperature. They sleep very soundly, and cannot be easily + aroused till after sun-rise. In the morning we made a slight + repast of gruel, to which a kind of hasty-pudding with + shea-butter was added for our peculiar gratification. This + butter is made of the fruit of the shea-tree, which is not + unlike a Spanish olive, and has a kernel from which the butter + is extracted by boiling. It is in great repute, having a richer + taste than the butter of milk, and keeping for a long time + without salt, which is very expensive in Africa. After + breakfast we took leave of our kind host and his family, and + returned in the same way we came.</p> + + <p>The foregoing description of semi-barbarous life may seem to + portray it in some attractive colours, so that indolent and + licentious persons might ask: Is it not preferable to our + sophisticated state of society? We are not judges of other + people's taste, but we can see in it nothing desirable. Its + evils are numerous and very great. It is a dearth or death of + the soul, and of all that which truly constitutes man an + intelligent being, aiming at mental progress. Again, it is + intimately connected with a state of slavery, with the + degradation of females, and with polygamy—three great + moral evils, the sources of endless rapine, injustice, and + misery. Famine also frequently prevails, and is a dreadful + scourge, even compelling mothers to sell some of their children + that they may save the rest. For in such an uncertain state of + society, no one cares to lay up for the future, as his hordes + would only incur the greater risk of being pillaged and + destroyed.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article7" + id="article7">THE COMMERCIAL PORTS OF ENGLAND.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <p>A return has just been made, by order of parliament, which + shews that Liverpool is now the greatest port in the British + Empire in the value of its exports and the extent of its + foreign commerce. Being the first port in the British Empire, + it is the first port in the world. New York is the only place + out of Great Britain which can at all compare with the extent + of its commerce. New York is the Liverpool of America, as + Liverpool is the New York of Europe. The trade of those two + ports is reciprocal. The raw produce of America, shipped in New + York, forms the mass of the imports of Liverpool; the + manufactures of England, shipped at Liverpool, form the mass of + the imports of New York. The two ports are, together, the gates + or doors of entry between the Old World and the New. On + examining the return just made, it appears that the value of + the exports of Liverpool in the year 1850 amounted to nearly + L.35,000,000 sterling (L.34,891,847), or considerably more than + one-half of the total value of the exports of the three + kingdoms for that year. This wonderful export-trade of + Liverpool is partly the result of the great mineral riches of + Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and the West + Riding of Yorkshire; partly of the matchless ingenuity and + untiring industry of the population of those counties; partly + of a multitude of canals and railways, spreading from Liverpool + to all parts of England and the richest parts of Wales; partly + to Liverpool being the commercial centre of the three kingdoms; + and partly to the fact that very nearly L.12,000,000 have been + expended in Liverpool, and more than L.12,000,000 in the river + Mersey, in converting a stormy estuary and an unsafe anchorage + into the most perfect port ever formed by the skill of man. On + comparing the respective amounts of the tonnage of Liverpool + and London, it appears at first impossible to account for the + fact that the shipping of Liverpool is rather less than that of + London, while its export-trade is much more than twice as + great. The explanation of this fact is, that the vessels + employed in carrying the million or million and a half of tons + of coal used in London, appear in the London return; while the + canal and river flats, to say nothing of the railway trains, + employed in carrying the million and a quarter of tons of coal + used or employed in Liverpool, do not. State the case fairly, + and the maritime superiority of Liverpool will be found to be + as decided as is its commercial. We ought also to add, that + while the Custom-house returns for 1850 give Liverpool only + 3,262,253 tons of shipping, the payment of rates to the + Liverpool Dock Estate in the twelve months ending June 25, + 1851, gives 3,737,666 tons, or nearly + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page16" + id="page16"></a>[pg 16]</span> 500,000 tons more. Comparing + the rate of increase of the exports of Liverpool with that + of other ports, it appears that Liverpool is not only the + first port in the kingdom, but that it is becoming more + decidedly the first every year. During the last five years + the increase of the exports of Liverpool has been from + 26,000,000 to nearly 35,000,000, while that of London has + been from little less than 11,000,000 to rather more than + 14,000,000. The exports of Hull—which is undoubtedly + the third port of the kingdom—though still very large, + have rather declined, having been L.10,875,870 in 1846, and + not more than L.10,366,610 in 1850. The exports of Glasgow, + now the fourth port of the empire, shew a fair increase, + from L.3,024,343 to L.3,768,646. No other port now sends out + exports of the value of L.2,000,000 a year, though + Southampton comes near to L.2,000,000, and Cork passes + L.1,000,000.—<i>Liverpool Times</i>.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article8" + id="article8">AN UNFORTUNATE MAN.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <p>I am fallen into the hands of publicans and sequestrators, + and they have taken all from me. What now? Let me look about + me. They have left me sun and moon, fire and water, a loving + wife, and many friends to pity me, and some to relieve me; and + I can still discourse; and, unless I list, they have not taken + away my merry countenance and my cheerful spirits, and a good + conscience; they have still left me the providence of God, and + all the promises of the gospel, and my religion, and my hope of + heaven, and my charity to them too. And still I sleep, and + digest, and eat, and drink; I read and meditate; I can walk in + my neighbour's pleasant fields, and see the varieties of + natural beauty, and delight in all that in which God + delights—that is, in virtue and wisdom, in the whole + creation, and in God himself.—<i>Jeremy Taylor</i>.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article9" + id="article9">SLOW BUT SURE.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <p>Some years ago a man was apprehended in Hampshire, charged + with a capital offence—sheep-stealing, I believe. After + being examined before a justice of the peace, he was committed + to the county jail at Winchester for trial at the ensuing + assizes. The evidence against the man was too strong to admit + of any doubt of his guilt; he was consequently convicted, and + sentence of death—rigidly enforced for this crime at the + period alluded to—pronounced. Months and years passed + away, but no warrant for his execution arrived. In the interval + a marked improvement in the man's conduct and bearing became + apparent. His natural abilities were good, his temper mild, and + his general desire to please attracted the attention and + engaged the confidence of the governor of the prison, who at + length employed him as a domestic servant; and such was his + reliance on his integrity that he even employed him in + executing commissions, not only in the city, but to places at a + great distance from it. After a considerable lapse of time, + however, the awful instrument, which had been inadvertently + concealed among other papers, was discovered, and at once + forwarded to the high-sheriff, and by the proper authority to + the unfortunate delinquent himself. My purpose is brief + relation only; suffice it to say, the unhappy man is stated + under these affecting circumstances to have suffered the last + penalty of the law.—<i>Notes and Queries</i>.</p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article10" + id="article10">THE SEA-KINGS OF NANTUCKET.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p>Let America add Mexico to Texas, and pile Cuba + upon Canada; let the English overswarm all India, and hang out + their blazing banner from the sun; two-thirds of this + terraqueous globe are the Nantucketer's. For the sea is + his—he owns it as emperors own empires, other seamen + having but a right to pass through it. Merchant-ships are but + extension bridges; armed ones but floating forts; even pirates + and privateers, though following the sea as highwaymen the + road, they but plunder other ships, other fragments of the land + like themselves, without seeking to draw their living from the + bottomless sea itself. The Nantucketer, he alone resides and + riots on the sea; he alone, in Bible language, goes down to it + in ships; to and fro ploughing it as his own special + plantation. <i>There</i> is his home; <i>there</i> lies his + business; which a Noah's flood would scarcely interrupt, though + it overwhelmed all the millions in China. He lives on the sea + as prairie cocks in the prairie; he hides among the waves; he + climbs them as chamois hunters climb the Alps. For years he + knows not the land; so that when he comes to it at last, it + smells like another world, more strangely than the moon would + to an earthsman. With the landless gull, that at sunset folds + her wings and is rocked to sleep between billows, so at + nightfall the Nantucketer, out of sight of land, furls his + sails, and lays him to his rest, while under his very pillow + rush herds of walruses and whales.—<i>Herman Melville's + The Whale</i>. + <hr /> + + <h3><a name="article11" + id="article11">THE LINNÆA BOREALIS.</a></h3> + + <p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of + Contents</a></p> + + <blockquote> + <p>'Linné selected a tiny wild-flower that he + discovered, of exquisite beauty and delicious odour, to + bear his name—one that refuses to exchange the silent + glen and melancholy wood for the more gay parterres of + horticulture.'—<i>Rambles in Sweden and Gottland, by + Sylvanus</i>.</p> + </blockquote> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>'Tis a child of the old green woodlands,</p> + + <p class="i2">Where the song of the free wild bird,</p> + + <p>And swaying of boughs in the summer breeze,</p> + + <p class="i2">Are the only voices heard.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>In the richest moss of the lonely dells</p> + + <p class="i2">Are its rosy petals found,</p> + + <p>With the clear blue skies above it spread,</p> + + <p class="i2">And the lordly trees around.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>In those still, untrodden solitudes</p> + + <p class="i2">Its lovely days are passed;</p> + + <p>And the sunny turf is its fragrant bier</p> + + <p class="i2">When it gently dies at last.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>But if from its own sweet dwelling-place</p> + + <p class="i2">By a careless hand 'tis torn,</p> + + <p>And to hot and dusty city streets</p> + + <p class="i2">In its drooping beauty borne,</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Its graceful head is with sorrow bowed,</p> + + <p class="i2">And it quickly pines and fades;</p> + + <p>Till the fragile bloom is for ever fled</p> + + <p class="i2">That gladdened the forest glades.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>It will not dwell 'neath a palace dome,</p> + + <p class="i2">With rare exotic flowers,</p> + + <p>Whose perfumed splendour gaily gleams</p> + + <p class="i2">In radiant festal hours:</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>It loves not the Parian marble vase,</p> + + <p class="i2">On the terrace fair and wide;</p> + + <p>Or the bright and sheltered garden bowers</p> + + <p class="i2">Smiling in gorgeous pride.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>But it mourns for the far-off dingles,</p> + + <p class="i2">For their fresh and joyous air,</p> + + <p>For the dewy sighs and sunny beams</p> + + <p class="i2">That lingered o'er it there.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>O lonely and lovely forest-flower!</p> + + <p class="i2">A holy lot is thine,</p> + + <p>Amid nature's deepest solitudes,</p> + + <p class="i2">With radiance meek to shine.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Bright blossom of the shady woods!</p> + + <p class="i2">Live on in your cool retreat,</p> + + <p>Unharmed by the touch of human hand,</p> + + <p class="i2">Or the tread of careless feet;</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>With the rich green fern around your home,</p> + + <p class="i2">The birds' glad song above,</p> + + <p>And the solemn stars in the still night-time</p> + + <p class="i2">Looking down with eyes of love!</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i20">LUCINDA ELLIOTT.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr class="full" /> + + <p>Printed and Published by W. and R. CHAMBERS, High Street, + Edinburgh. Also sold by W.S. ORR, Amen Corner, London; D.N. + CHAMBERS, 55 West Nile Street, Glasgow; and J. M'GLASHAN, 50 + Upper Sackville Street, Dublin.—Advertisements for + Monthly Parts are requested to be sent to MAXWELL & Co., 31 + Nicholas Lane, Lombard Street, London, to whom all applications + respecting their insertion must be made.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13865 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/13865-h/images/banner.png b/13865-h/images/banner.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd11d1b --- /dev/null +++ b/13865-h/images/banner.png |
