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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16098-8.txt b/16098-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..adfeccc --- /dev/null +++ b/16098-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2027 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 281, November 3, 1827, by Various + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 281, November 3, 1827 + + +Author: Various + + + +Release Date: June 21, 2005 [eBook #16098] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, +AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 281, NOVEMBER 3, 1827*** + + +E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, David Garcia, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 16098-h.htm or 16098-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/0/9/16098/16098-h/16098-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/0/9/16098/16098-h.zip) + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. X. No. 281.] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1827. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + + * * * * * + +NO. XIV. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + + +The first of the above engravings represents one of the _Body Guards +of the Sheikh of Bornou_, copied from an engraving after a sketch +made by Major Denham, in his recent "Travels in Africa." These negroes, +as they are called, meaning the black chiefs and favourites, all raised +to that rank by Some deed of bravery, are habited in coats of mail, +composed of iron chain, which cover them from the throat to the knees, +dividing behind, and coming on each side of the horse; some of them wear +helmets or skull-caps of the same metal, with chin-pieces, all +sufficiently strong to ward off the shock of a spear. Their horses' +heads are also defended by plates of iron, brass, and silver, just +leaving room for the eyes of the animal; and not unfrequently they are +hung over with charms, enclosed in little red leather parcels, strung +together, round the neck, in front of the head, and about the saddle. + +[Illustration] + +Their appearance is altogether of a warlike character, the horses being +well caparisoned, and the riders well clothed for personal defence; and +though their equestrian evolutions be somewhat wild, the lance or spear +is doubtless a formidable weapon in their hands. The savage splendour of +their dress, together with the pawing and snorting of their fiery +steeds, render them appropriate auxiliaries to royalty, in countries +where such attributes of power are requisite to impress the people with +the importance of their rulers, and where the milder aids of +civilization and refinement are wanting to protect the sovereign from +violence. + +The second engraving, copied from the same authentic source as that +preceding it, is a somewhat grotesque portraiture of one of the _Lancers +of the Sultan of Begharmi_, described, in an historical and geographical +account by a native prince, as an extensive country, containing woods +and rivers, and fields fit for cultivation; but now desolated, as the +inhabitants say, by the "misconduct of the king, who, having increased +in levity and licentiousness to such a frightful degree, as even to +marry his own daughter, God Almighty caused Saboon, the prince of +Wa-da-i, to march against him, and destroy him, laying waste, at the +same time, all his country, and leaving the houses uninhabited, as a +signal chastisement for his impiety." + +Major Denham having applied for the covering of the above warrior and +his horse, in his journal thus describes their arrival:--"Aug. 11. Soon +after daylight, Karouash, with Hadgi, Mustapha, the chief of the +Shouaas, and the Sheikh's two nephews, Hassein and Kanemy, came to our +huts. They were attended by more than a dozen slaves, bearing presents +for us, for King George, and the consul at Tripoli. I had applied for a +_lebida_, (horse-covering,) after seeing those taken from the Begharmis; +the sheikh now sent a man, clothed in a yellow wadded jacket, with a +scarlet cap, and mounted on the horse taken from the Begharmis, on which +the sultan's eldest son rode. He was one of the finest horses I had +seen, and covered with a scarlet cloth, also wadded. 'Every thing,' +Hadgi Mustapha said, 'except the man, is to be taken to your great +king.'" + +The Begharmis, it will be seen, were conquered by the people of Kanem; +and Major Denham has translated, and given in the appendix to his +_Travels_, a song of thanksgiving on the triumphant return of the +governor, full of the characteristic beauty and simplicity of savage +life. In these struggles it would appear the law of nations is severe on +the weakest; for the son of the late sultan of the Begharmis is +described as "now a slave of the sheikh of Bornou." So wags the world! + + +LIVING AT TOULOUSE. + +Part of a house, sufficient for a small family, unfurnished, may be had +for 14 l. a year; and the most elegant in the city, in the best +situation, for 60 l., including coach-house, stable, cellar, &c. A horse +may be kept well for 14 l. a year. The wages of a coachman are 8 l., a +housemaid 8 l., a noted cook 16 l., and a lady's-maid 10 l. The price of +a chicken is 7-1/2 d.; a partridge 1 s.; a hare 2 s. 6 d.; a duck 1 s.; +a turkey 2 s. 6 d.; the best bread 1-1/2 d. per lb.; common ditto 1 d.; +a bottle of wine 3 d.; brandy is sold by the lb. of 16 oz. and costs 6 +d.; grapes 1/2 d. per lb.; meat 3 d.; butter 4 d.; cheese 6d; 50 lbs. +carrots 10 d.; other vegetables at the same rate. A dozen very fine +peaches now cost a halfpenny; pears 3 d. a dozen; labourers, who work +from sunrise to sunset, are fed by the proprietor, and have 6 d. per +day, which, in this part of the country, will go further than three +times the sum in England. The horses and oxen used about the farms are +fed chiefly on straw, and do not consume more than 3 d. a day. The +labouring people make a very nourishing diet from maize flour, which is +fried with grease; and this, with beans, forms the principal part of +their food. They neither use nor wish for meat; but at this season they +have figs and grapes almost for nothing--_Original Letter_. + + +MOHAMMEDAN SUPERSTITION. + +The eastern, and all Mohammedan people, considering Alexander the Great +as the only monarch who conquered the globe from east to west, give him +the title of "the two horned," in allusion to his said conquests. They +likewise believe that Gog and Magog were two great nations, but that, in +consequence of their wicked and mischievous disposition, Alexander +gathered and immured them within two immensely high mountains, in the +darkest and northernmost parts of Europe, by a most surprising and +insuperable wall, made of iron and copper, of great thickness and +height; and that to the present time they are confined there; that, +notwithstanding they are a dwarfish race,--viz. from two to three feet +in height only--they will one day come out and desolate the world. As +Lord Mayor's Day is just approaching, perhaps some of the visiters of +Gog and Magog on that occasion may decide this matter. It is almost akin +to our nursery quibble of the giants hearing the clock strike, &c. &c. + + +PERSIAN BARBER. + +The Khas-terash (literally, personal shaver) of the present sovereign +has, in the abundance of his wealth, built a palace for himself close to +the royal bath at Teheran. And he is _entitled_ to riches, for he +is a man of pre-eminent excellence in his art, and has had for a long +period, under his especial care, the magnificent beard of his majesty, +which is at this moment, and has been for years, the pride of +Persia.--_Persian Sketches_. + + +LIVING IN GENEVA. + +The vicinity of Geneva appears peculiarly eligible for the permanent +residence of an English family. There is perhaps no town on the +continent where greater facilities are afforded for a man of literary +and scientific pursuits to indulge his taste or to increase his +knowledge. The city is close built, and consequently not an agreeable +place to live in; but its immediate environs abound with delightful +spots. + +The costume of the Genevese assimilates much with that of the French; +but the better class of females are partial to the English fashions. The +language of the country is French, but its habits and religion are +widely different. Not only does the Protestant faith find here the +salutary prevalence of a kindred faith, but the members of our own +ecclesiastical establishment are enabled to join each other every +Sabbath day in the worship of God, and at stated seasons to receive the +holy sacrament according to the pure and apostolic ritual of the church +of England. + +The expense of a house, with a garden and piece of land, within a mile +of the gates, including also the keeping of a caleche and pair of +horses, for a gentleman, his lady, two children, and three servants, +does not exceed 300 l. a year; and with this he is enabled to receive his +friends occasionally, and in a respectable style. To proceed from a +family establishment to a bachelor's pension, "I," says Mr. Seth +Stevenson, in his _Continental Travels_, "was told that a person +at Petit Saconnex has a sleeping-room to himself, and his breakfast, +dinner, tea, and supper with the family, for 500 francs (20 l. 16 s. 8 d.) +per annum." + +The taxation of Geneva is described as very trifling. There is a sort of +income-tax, to which every man of property contributes, on his honour, +as to the amount of that property. The whole tax for horses and +carriages amounts to about 18 d. for each person; the richest it seems +pays no more, and the others pay no less. "My friend assures me," +continues Mr. S. "that his fellow citizens approve of their annexation +to Switzerland, and also of the union of the Valais with the Helvetic +confederation--that the people of this little republic are flourishing +again, contented with their government; and as the best proof of their +returning prosperity since the peace, he adverted to the comparatively +few indigent or distressed persons among them, and to the fact of there +being only forty-five persons in the poor's hospital, besides those +admitted under the head of casualties." + + * * * * * + + +ORIGINAL STORY OF HAMLET, + +(_From the Latin of Saxo Grammaticus, but interspersed._) + + +Florwendillus, king of Jutland, married Geruthra, or Gertrude, the only +daughter of Ruric, king of Denmark. The produce of this union was a son, +called Amlettus. When he grew towards manhood, his spirit and +extraordinary abilities excited the envy and hatred of his uncle, who, +before the birth of Amlettus, was regarded as presumptive heir to the +crown. Fengo, which was the name of this haughty prince, conceived a +passion for his sister-in-law, the queen; and meeting with reciprocal +feelings, they soon arranged a plan, which putting into execution, he +ascended the throne of his brother and espoused the widowed princess. +Amlettus, (or Hamlet,) suspecting that his father had died by the hand +or the devices of his uncle, determined to be revenged. But perceiving +the jealousy with which the usurper eyed his superior talents, and the +better to conceal his hatred and intentions, he affected a gradual +derangement of reason, and at last acted all the extravagance of an +absolute madman. Fengo's guilt induced him to doubt the reality of a +malady so favourable to his security; and suspicious of some direful +project being hidden beneath assumed insanity, he tried by different +stratagems to penetrate the truth. One of these was to draw him into a +confidential interview with a young damsel, who had been the companion +of his infancy; but Hamlet's sagacity, and the timely caution of his +intimate friend, frustrated this design. In these two persons we may +recognise the Ophelia and Horatio of Shakspeare. A second plot was +attended with equal want of success. It was concerted by Fengo that the +queen should take her son to task in a private conversation, vainly +flattering himself that the prince would not conceal his true state from +the pleadings of a mother. Shakspeare has adopted every part of this +scene, not only the precise situation and circumstances, but the +sentiments and sometimes the very words themselves. The queen's +apartment was the appointed place of conference, where the king, to +secure certain testimony, had previously ordered one of his courtiers to +conceal himself under _a heap of straw;_ so says the historian; and +though Shakspeare, in unison with the refinement of more modern times, +changes that rustic covering for the royal tapestry, yet it was even as +Saxo Grammaticus relates it. In those primitive ages, straw, hay, of +rushes, strewed on the floor, were the usual carpets in the chambers of +the great. One of our Henrys, in making a progress to the north of +England, previously sent forward a courier to order _clean straw_ +at every house where he was to take his lodging. But to return to the +subject. + +The prince, suspecting there might be a concealed listener, and that it +was the king, pursued his wild and frantic acts, hoping that by some +lucky chance he might discover his hiding-place. Watchful of all that +passed in the room, as he dashed from side to side, he descried a little +movement of the uneasy courtier's covering. Suddenly Hamlet sprung on +his feet, began to crow like a cock, and flapping his arms against his +sides, leaped upon the straw; feeling something under him, he snatched +out his sword and thrust it through the unfortunate lord. The barbarism +of the times is most shockingly displayed in the brutal manner in which +he treats the dead body; but for the honour of the Danish prince, we +must suppose that it was not merely a wanton act, but done the more +decidedly to convince the king, when the strange situation of the corpse +was seen, how absolutely he must be divested of reason. Being assured he +was now alone with his mother, in a most awful manner he turns upon her, +and avows his madness to be assumed; he reproaches her with her wicked +deeds and incestuous marriage; and threatens a mighty vengeance upon the +instigator of her crime. + +In the historian we find that the admonitions of Hamlet awakened the +conscience of the queen, and recalled her to penitence and virtue. The +king, observing the change, became doubly suspicious of the prince; and +baffling some preliminary steps he took to vengeance; Hamlet was +entrapped by him into an embassy to England. He sent along with him two +courtiers, who bore private letters to the English monarch, requesting +him, as the greatest favour he could confer on Denmark, to compass, by +secret and by sure means, the death of the prince as soon as he landed. +Hamlet, during the voyage, had reason to suspect the mission of his +companions; and by a stratagem obtaining their credentials, he found the +treacherous mandate; and changing it for one wherein he ordered the +execution of the two lords, he quietly proceeded with them to the +British shore. On landing, the papers were delivered, and the king, +without further parley, obeyed what he believed to be the request of his +royal ally; and thus did treason meet the punishment due to its crime. +The daughter of the king being charmed with the person and manners of +the foreign prince, evinced such marks of tenderness, that Hamlet could +not but perceive the depth of his conquest. He was not insensible to her +attractions; and receiving the king's assent, in the course of a few +days led her to the nuptial altar. Amidst all joys, he was, however, +like a perturbed ghost that could not rest; and before many suns had +rose and set, he obtained a hard wrung leave from his bride, once more +set sail, and appeared at Elsineur just in time to be a witness of the +splendid rites which Fengo (supposing him now to be murdered) had +prepared for his funeral. On the proclamation of his arrival, he was +welcomed with enthusiasm by the people, whose idol he was, and who had +been overwhelmed with grief when Fengo announced to them his sudden +death in England. The king, inflamed with so ruinous a disappointment, +and becoming doubly jealous of his growing popularity, now affected no +conciliation, but openly manifested his hatred and hostility. Hamlet +again had recourse to his pretended madness, and committed so many +alarming acts, that Fengo, fearing their direction, ordered his sword to +be locked in its scabbard, under a plea of guarding the lunatic from +personal harm, After various adventures, at last the prince accomplished +the death of his uncle's adherents, and vengeance on the fratricide +himself, by setting fire to the palace during the debauch of a midnight +banquet. Rushing amidst the flames, he kills Fengo with his own hand, +reproaching him at the moment with his murder, adultery, and incest. +Immediately on this act of retribution he was proclaimed lawful +successor to the throne, and crowned with all due solemnity. + +Thus far Shakspeare treads in the steps of the annalist; the only +difference is in the fate of the hero; in the one he finds a kingdom, in +the other a grave. Saxo Grammaticus carries the history further; and +after the crowning of Hamlet as king, brings him again into Britain, +where, in compliment to that land of beauty, he marries a second wife, +the daughter of a Scottish king. Hamlet brought both his wives to +Denmark, and prepared for a long life of prosperity and peace. But the +sword hung over his head; war burst around him, and he fell in combat by +the hand of Vigelotes, son of Ruric. Saxo Grammaticus sums up his +character in a few words: "He was a wise prince and a great warrior. +Like Achilles, he had the principal actions of his life wrought on his +shield. The daughter of the king of Scotland casting her eye on it, +loved him for the battles he had won, and became his bride." + + * * * * * + + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + * * * * * + + +ENGLISH FRUITS. + +(_Concluded from page 295._) + + +_The Vine_.--The value and transcendant excellence of this foreign fruit +is too well known to require any extended account in this paper; as a +native of the southern verge of the northern temperate zone, it only +requires its natural degree of heat to bring it to perfection. The +growth is luxuriant, is fertile, easy of management, and as it requires +support, obedient to the trainer's will. Many excellent varieties ate in +our stoves and vineries; differing in hardness, size of bunches, and in +colour and flavour of fruit. These, it is likely, have been gained from +seeds; and as its cultivation has been primæval with the inhabitants of +the earth, no wonder it received, for its unequalled utility, their +chiefest care. + +That the climate of this country has undergone a considerable change +within the last hundred years, is allowed by all who have considered the +subject; and nothing furnishes a more convincing proof of this, than the +history of the vine. Previous to the reign of Henry VIII., every abbey +and monastery had its vineyard. In the rent-rolls of church property in +those days, and long afterwards, considerable quantities of grapes were +paid as tithe; and the vestiges of some of those vineyards remain to +this day. They were usually placed on the south side of a hill, in a +light dry soil, having the surface covered with sand; the vines being +trained near the ground. But with such inclement and changeable springs, +and long protracted winters, as have been experienced of late, even such +frost as is seen at this moment (24th of April,) vines as standards in +the open air, would be destroyed; or, at least, no dependence could be +placed upon them for a crop. But vineyards in the country could neither +be so profitable, nor are they so necessary as they were in those days; +international intercourse is now more open, and corporations, whether +religious or civil, can be supplied with grapes in any shape, and their +precious juice in any quantity, at a cheaper rate than either home-grown +or home-made. In their cultivation in this country, practitioners are +more liable to err in planting them in too rich, than in too poor a +soil; the first adds too much to their natural luxuriance of growth, and +always reduces the flavour of the fruit. + +_The Mulberry_.--This fruit has not been subjected to the +operations and attention of the improver so much, perhaps, as it +deserves; true, it has been planted against walls, and as espaliers; and +in both places has done well. + +_The Fig_ has been long in our gardens; a very ancient one is still +alive in the garden of one of the colleges at Oxford. In its native +country it produces two crops in the year, and this property makes its +management rather difficult in a country where it can but with +difficulty be made to produce one; and especially when trained in the +common way to a wall, where the crop is often sacrificed to the useless +symmetry of the tree. It is impatient of frost, and requires protection +during winter; and is also impatient of the knife, and more, perhaps, +than any other tree, is disposed to form its own natural head. When kept +in a glass case, either planted in the ground or in pots, it well repays +the trouble bestowed upon it. + +_The Quince_.--This fruit remains very steadily in character to +what it has always been known to be; the taste is too austere to be used +alone from the tree; but with other fruits in pastry, or in the shape of +preserves or marmalade, it is useful. + +_The Medley_.--Two or three sorts of this tree are in cultivation: +they are placed in the lowest grade of fruits; though, when they are +perfectly mature, they are much relished by some palates. The azarola, +service, and two or three others used in the south of Europe, are not +worth notice here. + +_The Filbert_.--The common wild hazle of our hedges has been +improved, by chance or cultivation, into the several varieties of red +and white filberts and cob-nuts. Working them upon the hazle, or upon +themselves, is necessary; because, it not only makes them more fruitful, +but also brings them sooner into bearing. + +_The Walnut_.--This nuciferous tree has been cultivated in England +more for the value of the timber than for its fruit. There are several +varieties, differing chiefly in the size of the nut, from the diminutive +ben-nut, to the large or double French sort. The only improvement which +can be expected in this, is a hardier sort which would be less +susceptible of damage from frost. + +_The Chestnut_.--The description of the walnut may be applied to +this, as they are natives of the same climate; and their flowers are +alike impatient of frost. The fruit of this is, however, inferior to +that of the walnut, and seldom arrives at the same degree of perfection. +The tree grows to a great size, and is one of the most valuable of our +forest trees. In "days of yore," it must have been much more plentiful +in this country, or more plentifully imported, than it now is; as the +principal timbers of abbeys, cathedrals, and other ancient buildings, +are chiefly formed of it: being equally durable as the oak, which it so +much resembles, that they can hardly be distinguished from each other, +but by the test of the wet edge of a chissel being stained by the oak, +and not at all by the chestnut. + +_The Melon and Cucumber_.--These exotic fruits are extensively +cultivated; the latter takes various shapes in our bills of fare; the +former is more a luxury than a fruit for general use; their culture on +hot-beds forms a material branch of modern gardening, and with that of +the gourd, pumpkin, squash, vegetable marrow, &c., is well known. + +_The Pine-Apple_.--This sovereign of fruits is, and can only be, in +this country, an appendage to opulence and rank. Several varieties are +cultivated in our forcing-stoves, and grace the tables of the rich, and +in as great perfection as they can be had between the tropics. In their +wild state, they affect the sides of rivulets, and often under the shade +of lofty trees; but are of inferior flavour, unless the weather is very +dry when they are ripening off; and when cultivated, they receive little +or no water during the last stage of their growth.--_Quarterly Journal +of Science, &c._ + + * * * * * + + +ANECDOTES OF THE MARVELLOUS. + +_A Prediction Fulfilled._ + + +At the time of the American war, a gentleman (a mere youth) entered the +army, and saw some little service. One day, during an engagement, he +was, in the hurry and confusion of it, knocked down; and a soldier, +setting his foot upon his chest in passing over him, hurt him so +exceedingly that he became senseless; upon recovering, he found himself +still stretched on the ground, and a singular, looking female stood +beside him, who, as he opened his eyes, exclaimed in an ill-boding +voice, "Ay, young man, mark my words: _that_ hurt will be the +death of you in your forty-second year." He immediately recognised in +this old raven one of those _soothsayers_ who usually followed the +army, and gained a livelihood by their oracular powers. Mr. L. certainly +did _mark_ her words, inasmuch as returning to England, he quitted +the army, entered the church, and amongst other red-coat reminiscences, +used frequently to mention (and mention but to ridicule) the American +soothsayer's prediction. Nevertheless, true it is, that he did die in +his forty-second year, and of a disease in his _chest_ too, +although he had never suffered from the hurt beyond the period at which +he received it. + + +_Imagination._ + +The measles (it is pretty well known to all voyagers) is at St. Helena a +hideous and fatal disorder, although generally mild at the Cape, which +is about a fortnight's sail from the former island: every ship, +therefore, from the Cape, upon touching at St. Helena, undergoes +examination, and, if the measles are known to be prevalent at the former +place, is put into quarantine, and no officer, however urgent his +business may be, allowed to land without making oath or affidavit that +he has not been on shore at the Cape, or approached an infected person. +Some years since, a naval officer, acquainted with the then governor of +St. Helena, General P----n, was invited to dine with him, and met at +dinner another officer from another vessel, who, it is to be presumed, +had eluded undergoing the usual precautionary measures, and was perhaps +ignorant of their existence, since he mentioned, during the repast, that +the measles were prevailing at Cape Town, and admitted that he had +entered it. Now, he had just arrived at St. Helena, and though he +expressly stated that he had not gone near any infected person, poor +Mrs. P----, uttering a shriek, fled from the table, exclaiming that she +knew she should have the measles; in fact, she immediately fell sick of +that disorder, (and died, I think I understood.) All her family took it, +and it raged through the island, proving dreadfully destructive. + + +_Mysterious Incident._ + +It was the wedding day of Mr. and Mrs. Terry, (I mean the _actual_, +not the anniversary wedding-day,) and the jocund bridegroom, bride, and +their guests were assembled about noon in the drawing-room, when a +servant entered, and said a gentleman had called, and wished to speak to +Mr. T.; that he was waiting below stairs, and would not come up, because +he came upon very particular business. Mr. Terry, desiring his company +to excuse him for a few minutes, quitted the room. One hour elapsed--no +bridegroom; two hours--he did not appear;--three--four--he was not +returned: the bride's mind misgave her, and the hymeneal guests were +quite alarmed: the servants declared that they had seen their master and +the gentleman walk into the garden, from whence they were not returned. +Now, a high brick wall, in which there was no outlet, and over which no +person could climb except by a ladder, enclosed the garden, which, when +searched, was empty, whilst, at the same time, Mr. Terry and his +_friend_, "_the gentleman_," could not have walked out at the +hall-door without being, from its situation, seen and heard by the +servants in the kitchen. Time fled--and he did not return--no!--and +although his lady lived to be nearly ninety years of age, she +_never_ gained tidings again of the spouse, thus so mysteriously +spirited away! + + +_Raising the Wind._ + +The superstitions of sailors are not few, as those assert who are +conversant in maritime affairs. Amongst others, is the custom, pretty +well known, of _whistling for a wind_. A gentleman told me, that, on his +first voyage, being then very young, and ignorant of sea usages, he was +in the habit of walking the deck a great deal, "and whistling as he +went," perhaps "for want of thought"--perhaps for lack of something +better to do. Shortly, he fancied that the captain of the vessel seemed +not a little annoyed whenever this took place, although he kept a +respectful silence upon the subject. At length Mr. ---- resolved to +speak to him himself: and, accordingly, one day, when it blew a pretty +brisk gale, said, "I observe, captain, that you appear particularly +uneasy whenever I whistle."--"To say the truth, sir, I _am_ just _now_," +replied he. "On a fair, still day, whistle as much as you please; but, +when there is a wind like this, _we don't like to have any more +called._"--_New London Literary Gaz._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SELECTOR + +AND + +LITERARY NOTICES OF + +_NEW WORKS._ + + * * * * * + + +A PHILOSOPHICAL KITCHEN. + + +A romantic and ludicrous novel has just appeared, entitled "The Mummy, +or Tale of the Twenty-second Century," exhibiting some of the probable +results of "the march of intellect;" and of the pungency of its satire +the following is a fair specimen, describing a kitchen in the +twenty-second century:-- + +When Dr. Entwerfen left the breakfast-room of Lord Gustavus, which he +did not do till a considerable time after the rest of the party had +quitted it, he was so absorbed in meditation, that he did not know +exactly which way he was going; and, happening unfortunately to turn to +the right when he should have gone to the left, to his infinite surprise +he found himself in the kitchen instead of his own study. Absent as the +doctor was, however, his attention was soon roused by the scene before +him. Being, like many of his learned brotherhood, somewhat of a +gourmand, his indignation was violently excited by finding the cook +comfortably asleep on a sofa on one side of the room, whilst the meat +intended for dinner, a meal it was then the fashion to take about noon, +was as comfortably resting itself from its toils on the other. The +chemical substitute for fire, which ought to have cooked it, having gone +out, and the cook's nap precluding all reasonable expectation of its +re-illumination, the doctor's wrath was kindled, though the fire was +not, and in a violent rage he seized the gentle Celestina's shoulder, +and and shook her till she woke. "Where am I?" exclaimed she, opening +her eyes. "Any where but where you ought to be," cried the doctor, in a +fury. "Look, hussy! look at that fine joint of meat, lying quite cold +and sodden in its own steam." "Dear me!" returned Celestina, yawning, +"I am really quite unfortunate to-day! An unlucky accident has already +occurred to a leg of mutton which was to have formed part of to-day's +aliments, and now this piece of beef is also destroyed. I am afraid +there will be nothing for dinner but some mucilaginous saccharine +vegetables, and they, most probably, will be boiled to a viscous +consistency." "And what excuse can you offer for all this?" exclaimed +the doctor, his voice trembling with passion. "It was unavoidable;" +replied Celestina, coolly; "whilst I was copying a cast from the Apollo +Belvidere this morning, having unguardedly applied too much caloric to +the vessel containing the leg of mutton, the aqueous fluid in which it +was immersed evaporated, and the viand became completely calcinated. +Whilst the other affair--" "Hush, hush!" interrupted the doctor; "I +cannot bear to hear you mention it. Oh, surely Job himself never +suffered such a trial of his patience! In fact, _his_ troubles were +scarcely worth mentioning, for he was never cursed with learned +servants!" Saying this, the doctor retired, lamenting his hard fate in +not having been born in those halcyon days when cooks drew nothing but +their poultry; whilst the gentle Celestina's breast panted with +indignation at his complaint. An opportunity soon offered for revenge; +and seeing the doctor's steam valet ready to be carried to its master's +chamber, she treacherously applied a double portion of caloric; in +consequence of which, the machine burst whilst in the act of brushing +the doctor's coat collar, and by discharging the whole of the scalding +water contained in its cauldron upon him, reduced him to a melancholy +state. + + * * * * * + + +ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND. + + + Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee, + Since God was thy refuge, thy ransom, thy guide; + He gave thee, he took thee and he will restore thee, + And death has no sting since the Saviour has died. + +_The Amulet for_ 1828. + + * * * * * + + + + + +St. Martin's, near Canterbury. + +[Illustration: St. Martin's, near Canterbury.] + + * * * * * + +THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ERECTED IN ENGLAND. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +The venerable and interesting church of St. Martin is situated on the +side of a hill, (named from it,) at the distance of little more than a +quarter of a mile from the dilapidated walls of Canterbury. It is +generally believed to have been erected by the Christian soldiers in the +Roman army, about the time of king Lucius, A.D. 182, and hence is justly +esteemed as _the first Christian church erected in Britain_, and +indeed nothing appears to contradict this assertion; for the Britons, +before the arrival of the Romans, were, as is well known, in a state of +barbarism and idolatry, and their habitations huts of clay and turf; and +as to its being built after their departure, I do not think it at all +likely, for England was then ravaged and overrun by the warlike clans of +its mountain neighbours, and consequently its inhabitants had not time +or inclination to erect buildings, when their lives and property were +daily in danger. Their successors, the early Saxons, too, I think, +cannot claim any pretensions to St. Martin, they being heathens, and +unacquainted with the Christian religion. Nor could they, entirely +ignorant of Roman materials, have built an edifice completely composed +with them. + +Here then was a Christian church and a Christian congregation +established in Britain full 415 years before Augustin's arrival; but as +St. Martin, bishop of Tours, died in the year 395, this church could not +have been erected in his honour; but it might afterwards have been +dedicated to him by Luidhard, chaplain to Bertha, wife of Ethelbert, the +Kentish king; and this is the more likely, as Luidhard himself was a +French bishop. + +In conclusion, it may not be unnecessary to state, that though the +papists consider Augustin as the apostle of the English, they do not +acknowledge him as their first instructor in Christianity; for, as it +appears in their service for May 26, Lucius, a British king, wrote to +St. Eleutherius, (who was elected priest A.D. 177,) desiring that he +might be numbered among the Christians. By whom or by what means this +conversion was effected does not appear; but, however, in reply to it, +Eleutherius sent the monks Damian and Fryatius into Britain, from whom +the king and many of his subjects received the gospel. + +SAGITTARIUS. + + * * * * * + + +PICTURE OF LIBERTY. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + O, Liberty! thou goddess, heav'nly bright! + Profuse of bliss, and pregnant with delight, + External pleasures in thy presence reign. + + ADDISON. + + +Aristo tells a pretty story of a fairy, who, by some mysterious law of +her nature, was condemned to appear, at certain seasons, in the form of +a foul and poisonous snake. Those who injured her during the period of +her disguise were for ever excluded from participation in the blessings +which she bestowed. But to those who, in spite of her loathsome aspect, +pitied and protected her, she afterwards revealed herself in the +beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their +steps, granted all their wishes, filled their houses with wealth, made +them happy in love and victorious in war. Such a spirit is Liberty. At +times she takes the form of a hateful reptile; she grovels, she hisses, +she stings; but woe to those who in disgust shall venture to crush her! +And happy are those who, having dared to receive her in her degraded and +frightful shape, shall at length be rewarded by her in the time of her +beauty and glory!--_See Edin. Rev. vol._ xlii. _p._ 332. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +FIRST AND LAST. + +(_From the Italian_.) + + + One single truth before he died + Poor Dick could only boast; + "Alas, I die!" he faintly cried, + And then--gave up the ghost! + + + * * * * * + + +FRENCH GAMING HOUSES. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Dicing-houses, where cheaters meet, and cozen young men out of + their money. + + _Lord Herbert._ + + + Begin with a guinea, and end with a mortgage. + + _Cumberland._ + + + What more than madness reigns, + When one short sitting many hundreds drains, + When not enough is left him to supply + Board wages, or a footman's livery. + + _Dryden's Juvenal._ + + + Gaming finds a man a cully, and leaves him a knave. + + _Tom Brown._ + + +The last "nine days' wonder" is the excess to which gaming is carried +among the higher circles of this country; but I much doubt whether the +present expositions of such enormity in a neighbouring nation will work +the desired effect on Englishmen. + +Popular prejudices are obstinate points to combat; but every one who has +had opportunities for observation, must allow, that in their _taste +for gaming_, the French and English character are widely different. +In France, every one plays at cards, or dominoes, and at _all hours in +the day_, in every cafè, wine-shop, and road-side inn throughout the +country. I remember to have frequently seen, in the wine-shops at Paris, +carters in blue smock-frocks playing at ecartè and dominoes over a +bottle of _vin ordinaire_ at eleven o'clock in the morning, +particularly in the neighbourhood of the markets. In England such +amusements would be illegal, and the victualler who allowed them in his +house would probably be deprived of his license. + +In France every man plays at billiards--nay, every village has its +billiard tables, one of which is almost as frequent an article of +furniture in private houses, as piano-fortes are in England; and the +sign of two maces crossed, and the inscriptions "Cafè et Billards" are +as common over the wine-houses in the provinces, as chequers formerly +were in our own country towns. I remember meeting with a curious +adventure during my last residence in Paris. One morning, while +leisurely walking in _Rue Montmartre_, I was accosted in French, by a +respectably dressed man, apparently about fifty, who inquired of me the +situation of ---- street, (for at this moment I do not recollect the +name). I replied that, being a foreigner, I could not afford him the +required information, at the same time referring him to the next shop. +He did not follow my suggestion, but almost at the very instant my eye +caught the name of the street for which he had just inquired. The +stranger then told me that being on a visit to the capital, he was +anxious to see the interior of the palace of the Tuilleries, and was +proceeding to a friend resident in the above street, who had promised to +procure him admission to the royal residence, notwithstanding the king +was then in Paris. I congratulated him on his success, having been, a +few days previous, disappointed in the same object, when he offered also +to procure admission for myself and one or two of my friends. We +accordingly entered a second rate _cafè_, when, I made up to the +_garçon_ and demanded of him whether orders for viewing the Tuilleries +were to be obtained there: he made no reply, but my friend of the +street, who had by this time partly ascended a staircase at the +extremity of the room, beckoned, and anxiously besought me to accompany +him. I did so, notwithstanding I was aware that Paris, as well as +London, had its "frauds." We entered a large room, the first impression +of which, on some minds, would have been that of terror. In the centre +stood a handsome billiard-table, over which were two dirty lamps with +reflectors; the walls were papered in tawdry French taste, the ceiling +black with smoke, and the whole room but indifferently lighted with a +disproportionate and dusty window: the door, too, seemed planned for +security, having a large lock and two bolts inside, but exhibited marks +of recent repair from violent fracture. In short, there was a lurking +suspicion about the place, which was not lessened by my companion +meeting with a partner. From their conversation I learned they were both +_foreigners_, and were waiting for a friend to bring the orders to view +the palace, so that all the story was as yet in keeping, and I was +introduced as a suitor for the same favour. My fellows "in waiting" +showed much impatience, complained of cold, and politely asked me to +take a glass of liqueur with them, at the same time taking up the mace +and beginning to amuse themselves at the billiard-table. I looked on; +they asked me to join them; I declined, and professed ignorance of the +game; but their importunities became more pressing, and at last +troublesome. Not a word further was said of the palace admission. +I now judged it time to take my leave, and advancing towards the door +for that purpose, I perceived my companions moved also: I profited by +the hint, and seizing the handle of the door, thanked them for their +civility, assured them I could wait no longer, but would call in +half-an-hour--leaped down the stairs, and did not stop till I reached +_Rue Montmartre_. I afterwards learned this was a common _street trick_ +in Paris to decoy strangers to the billiard-table, and had I taken the +mace in hand, it would most probably have been at the expense of a good +dinner for my companions, as a smart for my credulity. + +A few evenings subsequent to this common-place incident, I strolled into +a house of play in the palais royal, the situation having been +previously pointed out to me by a friend.[1] The entrance was through a +narrow passage by a silversmith's shop, on the ground floor, at the end +of which a strong light shone through the figures denoting the number of +the house, largely cut in tin; alas! thought I, a fatal number to many +thousands. On the principal landing, being that above the _entre-sol_ +story, I gently tapped at a handsome door, which was almost as gently +opened. My friend (for I was not alone,) having deposited his hat and +stick with the garçon, was allowed to pass, but I was stopped for want +of--_whiskers_; till assuring him that I was older than he took me to +be, and an Englishman--I was also permitted to pass. We first entered a +small room, in which was a roulette-table surrounded by players, and +well staked: this communicated by folding-doors with a spacious saloon +with a double table for _Trente-et-un_, or _Rouge et Noir_, round which +were seated the players, behind whom stood a few lookers-on, and still +fewer young men, whose stakes were "few and far between,"--probably +those of cautious adventurers, or novices pecking at the first-fruits of +play. Nothing is better described in books than the folly of _gaming_, +and the sufferings of its victims; but, like Virgil, in his picture of +Heaven, they fall short in describing their extasies; a failing on the +right side, or perhaps purposely made, for the happiness of mankind. The +seated visitors here seemed to be quite at home, some picking up their +Napoleons and five franc pieces, and others recording the issues of the +game, and illustrating the doctrine of chances by pricking holes in +cards. A death-like stillness prevailed, interrupted only by the +monotonous result of the deal of the cards, and the bewitching, though +not frequent chink of gold and silver. The success of the winners was as +silent as the disappointment of the losers; neither joy nor grief +displaying itself otherwise than in an almost unvaried _tristesse_ on +the countenances of the seated players--in some measure produced by ill +health and intense anxiety so as to conceal better feelings. I took my +station at one end of the table beside a middle-aged Frenchman, and by +way of _forfeit-money_ (for _mere_ lookers on are not very acceptable +company) threw a few five-franc pieces, one by one, on the same colour +with his stakes, each of which varied from one to ten Napoleons. After +twelve chances I had lost about thirty francs, but the Frenchman +continued playing, and within twenty minutes rose a winner of three +hundred Napoleons, which the banker changing for paper, he coolly put +into his waistcoat pocket, and walked off. A slight emotion was visible +around the table, but there was no other expression. I had now time to +look around me, and enjoy a little reflection for my foolish risk. It +would be difficult to say whether more anxiety was displayed among the +sitters, or the company at their backs. The attractive _foci_ of all +eyes were the everlasting varieties of red and black, though not +accompanied by the usual grotesque mob of kings, queens, and _knaves_, +the latter being probably excluded by the jealousy of their living +fraternity around the table. A strong and steady light spread over the +faces of all present, and in some few showed the quiverings and workings +of the most intense passion; but the same stare or tip-toe of hope and +fear pervaded the whole assemblage. Some counted their money with +apparent caution, and seemed to divide their winnings from their store +with affected precision, probably with an idea of the winnings being +unfit company for other coin; whilst others listlessly played with their +cash, or in a vulgar phrase, handled it like dirt, the distinguishing +feature of the cold and calculating gamester, to whom money is an object +of secondary concern compared with that of play. In the standing groupe +I remember to have noticed (from his personal resemblance to a friend) a +young Englishman, whom I afterwards learned had been a constant visiter +to that table during the previous three months, and had then won about +two hundred Napoleons. He had just married an interesting woman, about +his own age, twenty-two, and had professedly taken up his degree in the +practice of play, as an elegant and honourable mode of subsistence. A +few weeks after I met him and his wife, on the Italian Boulevards; in +dress he was woefully changed, and in his countenance a ghastly stare, +sunken eye, and emaciated cheeks, bespoke some strong reverse of +fortune: his wife too seemed dimmed by sorrow, and suffering might be +traced in every lineament of her features, notwithstanding the artifice +of dress was tastefully displayed about her person. Alas! thought I, how +often is the charm of wedded life snapped asunder by man--the proud lord +of the creation, and how often by his strong hold on her affections, +does he sink lovely woman still fondly clinging to his disgrace, in the +abyss of crime and guilt. + +But as such incidents must be common to many of your readers who have +visited the French metropolis, I shall desist from further recital. The +following outline of those receptacles of vice, _French Gaming +Houses_, from facts which I collected on the spot, aided by +authenticated resources, may not prove uninteresting. + +Gaming-houses in Paris were first licensed in 1775, by the lieutenant of +police, who, to diminish the odium of such establishments, decreed that +the profit resulting from them should be applied to the foundation of +hospitals. The gamesters might therefore be said to resemble watermen, +looking one way and rowing another. Their number soon amounted to +twelve, and women were permitted to resort to them two days in the week. +Besides the licensed establishments, several illegal ones were +tolerated. In 1778, gaming was prohibited in France; but not at the +court or in the hotels of ambassadors, where police-officers could not +enter. By degrees the public establishments resumed their wonted +activity, and extended their pernicious effects. The numerous suicides +and bankruptcies which they occasioned, attracted the attention of the +_Parlement_, who drew up regulations for their observance; and +threatened those who should violate them with the pillory and whipping. +At length, the passion for gambling prevailing in the societies +established in the Palais Royal, under the title of _clubs_ or _salons_, +a police ordinance was issued in 1785, prohibiting them from gaming, and +in the following year, additional prohibitory measures were enforced. +During the revolution the gaming-houses were frequently prevented and +licenses withheld; but notwithstanding the rigour of the laws, and the +vigilance of the police, they still contrived to exist; and they are now +regularly licensed by the police, and are under its immediate +inspection. The following items of twenty tables distributed about Paris +(the established stake varying from a Napoleon to a sous) are from the +most authentic documents:-- + + + Current expenses 1,551,480 Francs. + _Bail_ to Government 6,000,000 Francs. + Bonus for the bail 166,666 Francs. + Making together 7,716,146 Francs, or about £321,589 English. + Gain of the tables, per annum 9,600,000 Francs. + Expenses as above 7,718,146 Francs. + Leaving a clear profit of 1,881,854 Francs, + + +or about £78,244 English! And yet, in spite of this unanswerable logic +of _figures and facts_, there are every day fresh victims who are +infatuated enough to believe that it is possible to counterbalance the +advantages which the bank possesses, by a judicious management of the +power the player has of altering his stake! The revenue formerly paid to +the government for licenses, has recently been transferred to the city +of Paris. + +In England, the outcry against gaming is loud, and deservedly so; and +the extent to which it is stated to be curried in the higher circles is +rather underrated than exaggerated; but the severity of our laws on this +crime, and recent visitations of its rigour, confine it to the saloons +of wealthy vice. With us it is not a national vice, as in France, where +every license, facility, and even encouragement presents itself. +Lotteries, which have been abolished in England, as immoral nuisances, +are tolerated in France, with more mischievous effect, since, the risk +is considerably less than our least shares formerly were, the lotteries +smaller, and those drawn three times every month. The relics of +_our_ gaming system are only to be found on race-courses; but in +France, half the toys sold at a fair or _fête_, where mothers win +rattles for their children, are by _lottery_, whilst our gaming at +fairs is restricted to a few low adventurers for snuff-boxes, &c. +Despair is the gloomiest feature of the French character, and of which +gaming produces a frightful proportion, notwithstanding all that our +neighbours say about _our hanging and drowning in November:_ +witness their suicides:-- + + In 1819: Suicides, 376; of which, 126 women. + 1820: do. 325; do. 114 do. + 1821: do. 348; do. 112 do. + + +Of the suicides of these three years 25, 50, and 36, were attributed to +love, and 52, 42, 43, to despair arising from _gaming, the +lottery_, &c. In the winter of 1826, several exaggerated losses by +gaming were circulated in Paris with great _finesse_, to enable +bankrupts to account for their deficiencies, many of whom were exposed +and deservedly punished. + +A few words on the _prevention_ of gaming, the consideration of +which gave rise to this hasty sketch; I mean by dramatic exhibitions of +its direful effects. On our stage we have a pathetic tragedy by E. +Moore, which, though seldom acted, is a fine domestic moral to old and +young; but the author + + "Was his own Beverley, a dupe to play." + + +It is scarcely necessary to allude to the recent transfers of a +celebrated French _exposé_ of French gambling to our English stage, +otherwise than to question their moral tendency. The pathos of our +_Gamester_ may reach the heart; but the French pieces command no +such appeal to our sympathies. On the contrary, the vice is emblazoned +in such romantic and fitful fancies, that their effect is questionable, +especially on the majority of those who flock to such exhibitions. The +_extasies_ of the gamester are too seductive to be heightened by +dramatic effect; neither are they counterbalanced by their consesequent +misery, when the aim of these representations should be to outweigh +them; for the authenticated publication of a single prize in the lottery +has been known to seduce more adventurers than a thousand losses have +deterred from risk. But they keep up the dancing spirits of the +multitude, and it will be well if their influence extends no further. + +PHILO. + + + [1] As the Palais Royal may be considered the central point of the + _maisons de jeu_, or gambling-houses, it will not be irrelevant + to give a brief sketch of them:-- + + The apartments which they occupy are on the first floor, and are + very spacious. Upon ascending the staircase is an antechamber, in + which are persons called _bouledogues_ (bull-dogs), whose + office it is to prevent the entrance of certain marked individuals. + In the same room are men to receive hats, umbrellas, &c., who give + a number, which is restored upon going out. + + The antechamber leads to the several gaming rooms, furnished with + tables, round which are seated the individuals playing, called + _pontes_ (punters), each of whom is furnished with a card and a pin + to mark the _rouge_ and _noir_, or the number, in order to regulate + his game. At each end of the table is a man called _bout de table_, + who pushes up to the bank the money lost. In the middle of the + table is the man who draws the cards. These persons, under the + reign of Louis XIV., were called _coupeurs de bourses_ + (purse-cutters); they are now denominated _tailleurs_. + After having drawn the cards, they mate known the result as + follows:--_Rouge gagne et couleur perd.--Rouge perd et couleur + gagne_. + + At _roulette_, the _tailleurs_ are those who put the ball in + motion and announce the result. + + At _passe-dix_, every time the dice are thrown, the _tailleurs_ + announce how many the person playing has gained. + + Opposite the _tailleur_, and on his right and left, are persons + called _croupiers_, whose business it is to pay and to collect + money. + + Behind the _tailleurs_ and _croupiers_ are inspectors, to see + that too much is not given in payment, besides an indefinite + number of secret inspectors, who are only known to the proprietors. + There are also _maîtres de maison_, who are called to decide + disputes; and _messieurs de la chambre_, who furnish cards to + the _pontes_, and serve them with beer, &c., which is to be + had _gratis_. Moreover, there is a _grand maître_, to whom the + apartments, tables, &c., belong. + + When a stranger enters these apartments, he will soon find near + him some obliging men of mature age, who, with an air of prudence + and sagacity, proffer their advice. As these advisers perfectly + understand _their own_ game, if their _protégés_ lose, the mentors + vanish; but it they win, the counsellor comes nearer, congratulates + the happy player, insinuates that it was by following his advice + that fortune smiled on him, and finally succeeds in borrowing a + small sum of money on honour. Many of these loungers have no + other mode of living. + + There is likewise another room, furnished with sofas, called + _chamber des blessés_, which is far from being the most + thinly peopled. + + The bank pays in ready money every successful stake and sweeps + off the losings with wooden instruments, called _rateaux_ + (rakes). + + It was in one of the houses in this quarter that the late Marshal + Blucher won and lost very heavy sums, during the occupation of + Paris by the allied armies. + + There are two gaming-houses in Paris of a more splendid description + than those of the Palais Royal, where dinners or suppers are given, + and where ladies are admitted.--_Galignani's History of Paris_. + + + * * * * * + + +A RETROSPECT. + + + Oh, when I was a tiny boy, + My days and nights were full of joy; + My mates were blithe and kind!-- + No wonder that I sometimes sigh, + And dash the tear-drop from my eye. + To cast a look behind! + + A hoop was an eternal round + Of pleasure. In those days I found + A top a joyous thing;-- + But now those past delights I drop; + My head alas! is all my top, + And careful thoughts the string! + + My marbles--once my bag was stor'd,-- + Now I must play with Elgin's lord,-- + With Theseus for a taw! + My playful horse has slipt his string. + Forgotten all his capering, + And harness'd to the law! + + My kite--how fast and fair it flew. + Whilst I, a sort of Franklin, drew + My pleasure from the sky! + 'Twas paper'd o'er with studious themes,-- + The tasks I wrote--my present dreams + Will never soar so high! + + My joys are wingless all, and dead; + My dumps are made of more than lead; + My flights soon find a fall; + My fears prevail, my fancies droop, + Joy never cometh with a hoop, + And seldom with a call! + + My football's laid upon the shelf; + I am a shuttlecock, myself + The world knocks to and fro;-- + My archery is all unlearn'd, + And grief against myself has turn'd + My sorrow and my bow! + + No more in noontide sun I bask; + My authorship's an endless task, + My head's ne'er out of school; + My heart is pain'd with scorn and slight; + I have too many foes to fight, + And friends grown strangely cool! + + The very chum that shar'd my cake + Holds out so cold a hand to shake, + It makes me shrink and sigh:-- + On this I will not dwell and hang, + The changeling would not feel a pang + Though these should meet his eye! + + No skies so blue or so serene + As these;--no leaves look half so green + As cloth'd the play-ground tree! + All things I lov'd are altered so, + Nor does it ease my heart to know + That change resides in me. + + O, for the garb that mark'd the boy! + The trousers made of corduroy. + Well ink'd with black and red; + The crownless hat, ne'er deem'd an ill-- + It only let the sunshine still + Repose upon my head! + + O, for that small, small beer anew! + And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-blue + That wash'd my sweet meals down! + The master even!--and that small turk + That fagg'd me!--worse is now my work,-- + A fag; for all the town! + + The "Arabian Nights'" rehears'd in bed! + The "Fairy Tales" in school-time read + By stealth, 'twixt verb and noun! + The angel form that always walk'd + In all my dreams, and look'd, and talk'd. + Exactly like Miss Brown! + + The _omne bene_--Christmas come! + The prize of merit, won for home'-- + Merit had prizes then! + But now I write for days and days + For fame--a deal of empty praise, + Without the silver pen. + + Then home, sweet home! the crowded coach-- + The joyous shout--the loud approach-- + The winding horn like ram's! + The meeting sweet that made me thrill, + The sweetmeats almost sweeter still, + No "_satis_" to the "_jams!_" + + * * * * * + + +ENGLISH DRESS. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +Mr. Editor.--In No. 200 of the MIRROR, you will find an article, +entitled _Female Fashions during the early part of the Last +Century_. The author then promised to give a description of the dress +of the English gentlemen of the same period, but as no such description +has _yet_ appeared in your pages, I trust you will insert the +annexed at your first convenient opportunity. + +G.W.N. + + +_Dress of the English Gentlemen during the Early part of the Last +Century._ + +In the reign of King William III., the English gentlemen affected to +dress like their dependents. Their hats were laced, and their coats and +waistcoats were embroidered with gold and silver fringe; indeed it +really became extremely difficult to distinguish a man of quality from +one of his lackeys. They did not, however, long persevere in this +ridiculous imitation, for they soon afterwards, like the ladies, +servilely followed the French fashions. The great partiality of the +English _beau monde_ towards the _bon ton_ of France, was a +wonderful advantage to that country--an advantage which the English +government in vain endeavoured to abolish, although a heavy duty was +imposed on all French ribbon and lace imported into this kingdom. Many +millions were annually expended in French cambric, muslin, ribbon, and +lace, which useless expenditure very sensibly injured our commercial +transactions with other nations. + +Perukes and long wigs were worn at the revolution; but these being +greatly inconvenient in all weathers, some people _tied up_ their +wigs, which was the first occasion of short wigs coming into fashion. +Some few years afterwards, bob-wigs were adopted by the gentlemen, +especially by those of the army and the navy. + +The English costume was remarkably neat and plain anterior to the year +1748; at which period, however, all gentlemen rather resembled military +officers than private individuals, for their coats were not only richly +embroidered with gold and silver, but they even assumed the cockade in +their hats, and carried _long_ rapiers at their sides. At length this +imposing attire was adopted by the merchants and tradesmen of the +metropolis, and soon afterwards by the most notorious rogues and +pickpockets in town, so that when any person with a laced coat, a +cockade, and a sword, walked along the streets of London, it was +absolutely impossible to determine whether he affected to be thought a +nobleman, a military officer, a tradesman, or a pickpocket, for he bore +an equal resemblance to each of these characters. + +In the year 1749, hair-powder was used by the _finished_ gentlemen, +though the use of it, a year or two previous, was prohibited in every +class of society. Of the costume of this period (_i.e._ about +1749), the immortal Hogarth, in his works, has left us numerous +specimens, which need no comment here: his productions, indeed, are so +equal in merit, that it is impossible to decide which is his _ne plus +ultra_. + +In conclusion, I would advise the reader to refer to a few of Hogarth's +prints, for they will admirably serve to illustrate the above +observations on the fashions and habits of our forefathers. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Astronomical Occurrences_ + +_FOR NOVEMBER, 1827._ + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Should the afternoon of Saturday, the 3rd of the month, prove +favourable, we shall be afforded an opportunity of witnessing another of +those interesting phenomena--eclipses, at least the latter part of one, +a portion of it only being visible to the inhabitants of this island; +the defect above alluded to is a lunar one. The passage of the moon +through the earth's shadow commences at 3 h. 29 m. 34 s. afternoon; she +rises at Greenwich at 4 h. 45 m. 34 s. with the northern part of her disk +darkened to the extent of nearly 10 digits. The greatest obscuration +will take place at 5 h. 7 m. 42 s. when 10-1/2 digits will be eclipsed; she +then recedes from the earth's shadow, when the sun's light will first be +perceived extending itself on her lower limb towards the east; it will +gradually increase till she entirely emerges from her veil of darkness, +the extreme verge of which leaves her at her upper limb 32 deg. from her +vertex, or highest point of her disc. + +We have the following in "Moore," some years ago, on the nature and +causes of eclipses of the sun and moon:-- + + "Far different sun's and moon's eclipses are, + The moon's are often, but the sun's more rare + The moon's do much deface her beauty bright; + Sol's do not his, but hide from us his sight: + It is the earth the moon's defect procures, + 'Tis the moon's shadow that the sun obscures. + Eastward, moon's front beginneth first to lack, + Westward, sun's brows begin their mourning black: + Moon's eclipses come when she most glorious shines, + Sun's in moon's wane, when beauty most declines; + Moon's general, towards heaven and earth together, + Sun's but to earth, nor to all places neither." + + +The Sun enters _Sagittarius_ on the 23rd, at 1 h. 2 m. morning. + +Mercury will be visible on the 10th, in 10 deg. of _Sagittarius_, a +little after sunset, being then at his greatest eastern elongation; he +is stationary on the 20th, and passes his inferior conjunction on the +30th, at 1-3/4 h. afternoon. + +Venus is in conjunction with the above planet on the 24th, at 9 h. +evening; she sets on the 1st at 5 h. 7 m., and on the 30th at 4 h. 47 m. +evening. + +Jupiter may be seen before sunrise making his appearance above the +horizon about 5 h.; he is not yet distant enough from the sun to render +the eclipses of his satellites visible to us. + +A small comet has just been discovered, situated in one of the feet of +_Cassiopea_. It is invisible to the naked eye, and appears +approaching the pole with great rapidity. + +PASCHE. + + * * * * * + + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + +DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF THE ROMANS IN THE FOURTH CENTURY. + + +A recent discovery has added to our information the most extensive +series of statistical data, which make known from an official act, and +by numerical figures, the state of the Roman empire 1500 years ago; the +price of agricultural and ordinary labour; the relative value of money; +the abundance or scarcity of certain natural productions; the use, more +or less common, of particular sorts of food; the multiplication of +cattle and of flocks; the progress of horticulture; the abundance of +vineyards of various qualities; the common use of singular meats, and +dishes, which we think betrays a corruption of taste; in short the +relation of the value existing between the productions of agriculture +and those of industry, from whence we obtain a proof of the degree of +prosperity which both had reached at this remote period. + +This precious archaeological monument is an edict of Diocletian, +published in the year 303 of our era, and fixing the price of labour and +of food in the Roman empire. The first part of this edict was found by +Mr. William Hanks, written upon a table of stone, which he discovered at +Stratonice, now called Eskihissar in Asia Minor. The second part, which +was in the possession of a traveller lately returned from the Levant, +has been, brought from Rome to London by M. de Vescovali, and Colonel +Leake intends to publish a literal translation of it. This agreement of +so many persons of respectable character, and known talents, excludes +all doubts respecting the authenticity of the monument. + +The imperial edict of Diocletian is composed of more than twenty-four +articles. It is quite distinct from that delivered the preceding year +for taxing the price of corn in the eastern provinces, and it contained +no law upon the value of corn. It fixed for all the articles which it +enumerated a maximum, which was the price in times of scarcity. For all +the established prices it makes use of the _Roman Denarii_; and it +applies them to the _sextarius_ for liquids, and to the _Roman +pound_ for the things sold by weight. + +Before the Augustan age, the _denarius_ was equal to eighteen sous +of our money; but it diminished gradually in value, and under Diocletian +its value was not above nine sous of French money, and 45 centimes. The +Roman pound was equivalent to 12 ounces, and the _sextarius_ which +was the sixth part of a conge, came near to the old Paris chopin, or +half a litre. + +Proceeding on these data, M. Moreau de Jonnes has formed a table, +showing, 1. the maximum in Roman measures, the same as the established +imperial edict; and 2. the mean price of objects _formed from_ half +the maximum, and reduced into French measures. + +The following is the table drawn up by M. Moreau de Jonnes. The +slightest inspection of it will enable us to appreciate the importance +of this archaeological discovery, for no monument of antiquity has +furnished so long a series of numerical terms, of statistical data, and +positive testimony of the civil life and domestic economy of the Greeks +and Romans:-- + + +I.--PRICE OF LABOUR. + + Maximum Mean Price + in Roman in English + Money. Money. + + £. s. d. + To a day labourer 25 Den. 0 4 8 + Do. for interior works 50 0 9 4 + To a mason 50 0 9 4 + To a maker of mortar 50 0 9 4 + To a marble-cutler, or maker of mosaic work 60 0 11 4 + To a tailor for making clothes 50 0 9 4 + Do. for sewing only 6 0 1 1-1/2 + For making shoes for the patricians 150 1 8 1 + Do. shoes for workmen 120 1 2 8 + for the military 100 0 18 8 + for the senators 100 0 18 8 + for the women 60 0 11 4 + Military sandals 75 0 14 0-1/2 + To a barber for each man 2 0 0 4-1/2 + To a veterinary surgeon for shearing the + animals and trimming their feet 6 0 1 1-1/2 + Do. for currycombing and cleaning them 20 0 9 9 + For one month's lessons in architecture 100 0 18 8 + To an advocate for a petition + to the tribunal 250 2 6 9 + For the hearing a cause 1000 9 7 6 + + +II.--PRICE OF WINES. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of the the English + Sextarius. Pint, Wine + Measure. + + £. s. d. + Picene, Tiburtine, Sabine, Aminean, + Surentine, Setinian, and Falernian wines 30 Den. 0 5 4 + Old wines of the first quality 24 0 4 2-3/4 + Do. of second quality 16 0 2 10 + Country wine 8 0 1 5 + Beer 4 0 0 4-3/4 + Beer of Egypt 2 0 0 2 + Spiced wine of Asia 30 0 5 4 + Barley wine of Attica 24 0 4 2-3/4 + Decoction of different raising 16 0 2 10 + + +III.--PRICE OF MEAT. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of the Roman the French + pound. pound. + + £. s. d. + Flesh of oxen 8 Den. 0 2 0 + Do. of mutton, or of goat 8 0 2 0 + Do. of lamb, or of kid 12 0 3 0 + Do. of pork 12 0 3 0 + The best lard 16 0 4 0 + The best ham from Westphalia, from Cerdagne, + or from the country of the Marses 20 0 5 0 + Fat fresh pork 12 0 3 0 + Belly and tripe 16 0 4 0 + Pig's liver, enlarged by being + fattened upon figs 16 0 4 0 + Pig's feet, each 4 0 0 9 + Fresh pork sausages, weighing one ounce 2 0 0 4-1/2 + Do. of fresh beef 16 0 2 9-1/2 + Pork sausages and seasoned 16 0 4 0 + Do. of smoked beef 10 0 2 9-1/2 + + +IV.--POULTRY AND GAME. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of each each in English + in Roman Money. + Money. + £. s. d. + One fat male peacock 250 Den. 2 6 9 + One fat female peacock 200 1 17 9 + One male wild peacock 125 1 3 4-1/2 + One female wild peacock 100 0 18 8 + One fat goose 200 2 6 9 + Do. not fat 100 0 18 8 + One hen 60 0 11 4 + One duck 40 0 7 4 + One partridge 30 0 5 8 + One hare 150 1 8 1 + One rabbit 40 0 7 4 + + +V.--FISH. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of each each in English + in Roman Money. + Money. + £. s. d. + Sea fish, first quality 24 Den. 0 4 6 + Do. second quality 16 0 3 0 + River fish, first quality 12 0 2 3 + Do. second quality 8 0 1 6 + Salt fish 6 0 1 1-1/2 + Oysters, per hundred 100 0 18 8 + + +VI.--CULINARY VEGETABLES. + + + Lettuces, the best, five together 4 0 0 9 + Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9 + Common cabbages, the best, single 4 0 0 9 + Cauliflower, the best, five together 4 0 0 9 + Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9 + Beet root, the best, five together 4 0 0 9 + Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9 + Radishes, the largest 4 0 0 9 + + +VII.--OTHER PROVISIONS. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of the each in English + Sextarius in Money. + Roman Money. + + £. s. d. + Honey, the best 40 Den. 0 15 0 + Do. second quality 20 0 7 6 + Oil, the best quality 40 0 15 0 + Do. the second quality 24 0 9 1 + Vinegar 6 0 3 3 + A stimulant to excite the appetite, made + of the essence of fish 6 0 2 3 + Dried cheese, the Roman pound 12 0 3 4 Fr. lb. + + +We are much surprised at the very high prices in this table. Labour and +provisions cost ten and twenty times as much as with us. But when we +come to compare the price of provisions with the price of labour the +dearness of all the necessaries of life appears still more excessive. +M. Moreau de Jonnes makes this comparison. He brings together from the +edicts of Diocletian a great many facts given by historians, and he +shows, that, if the abundance of the precious metals has any influence +on raising the prices, the want of labour, industry, and of produce, +must cause it also. + +These considerations point out in the strongest manner the poverty of +this royal people, of whom two-thirds, if not three-fourths, were +reduced to live on fish and cheese, and drink piquette, when the expense +of the table of Vitellius amounted, in a single year, to 175 millions of +Francs.--_Brewster's Journal of Science._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER. + +"I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's stuff."--_Wotton_ + + * * * * * + + +TWELVE GOLDEN RULES OF CHARLES I. + + +1. Profane no divine ordinances. 2. Touch no state matters. 3. Urge no +healths. 4. Pick no quarrels. 5. Maintain no ill opinions. 6. Encourage +no vice. 7. Repeat no grievances. 8. Reveal no secrets. 9. Make no +comparisons. 10. Keep no bad company. 11. Make no long meals. 12. Lay no +wagers. + + * * * * * + + +EPIGRAMS, + +_Written on the Union_, 1801, _by a celebrated Barrister of Dublin._ + +_Adapted to the Commercial Failures_, 1800. + + + Why should we exclaim, that the times are so bad, + Pursuing a querulous strain? + When Erin gives up all the rights that she had, + What _right has she left to com_plain? + + * * * * * + + + The Cit complains to all he meets, + That grass will grow in Dublin streets, + And swears that all is over! + Short-sighted mortals, can't you see, + Your mourning will be chang'd to glee-- + For then you'll live in _clover_. + + * * * * * + + +_Necessitas non habet legem._ + +ON SIR JOHN ANSTRUTHER. + +_By the Honourable Thomas Erskine._ + + Necessity and Law are alike each other: + Necessity has no Law--nor has Anstruther. + + + * * * * * + + +EPITAPH ON A CONTROVERSIALIST. + + +On the death of that turbulent and refractory enthusiast, John Lilburne, +_alias Free-born John, alias Lilburne the Trouble-world_, there +appeared the following epigrammatic epitaph:-- + + Is John departed, and is Lilburne gone? + Farewell to both, to Lilburne and to John! + Yet being gone, take this advice from me, + Let them not _both_ in one grave buried be. + + Here lay ye John; lay Lilburne thereabout, + For if they both should meet, they would fall out. + + +This alluded to a saying, that John Lilburne was so quarrelsome, that if +he were the only man in the world, John would quarrel with Lilburne, and +Lilburne with John. Lilburne, it will be remembered, was a sad thorn in +Cromwell's sore side, for which the protector amply repaid him. + + * * * * * + + +HOSPITAL OF SURGERY. + + +A new surgical hospital is to be forthwith erected in the neighbourhood +of Charing Cross, where the King, with his usual and characteristic +munificence, has given a spot of ground on which it is to be erected. A +benevolent individual has given, within these few days, 1,500 l. +towards a fund for the building. + + * * * * * + +_Printed and Published by J. Limbird, 143, Strand, (near Somerset +House,) and sold by all Newssmen and Booksellers._ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, +AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 281, NOVEMBER 3, 1827*** + + +******* This file should be named 16098-8.txt or 16098-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/0/9/16098 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 281, November 3, 1827</p> +<p>Author: Various</p> +<p>Release Date: June 21, 2005 [eBook #16098]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 281, NOVEMBER 3, 1827***</p> +<br /><br /><h4>E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, David Garcia,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h4><br /><br /> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page297" name="page297"></a>[pg 297]</span> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" summary="Banner"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>VOL. X, NO. 281.]</b></td> + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1827.</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + +<h2> + MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. +</h2> + +<h3> +NO. XIV. +</h3> + +<div class="figure" style="float:left;height:14em;"> +<a href="images/281-1.png"><img src="images/281-1.png" style="height:12em;" +alt="[Illustration]" /></a> +</div> +<div class="figure" style="float:right;height:14em;"> +<a href="images/281-2.png"><img src="images/281-2.png" style="height:12em;" +alt="[Illustration]" /></a> +</div> +<p> +The first of the above engravings represents one of the <i>Body Guards +of the Sheikh of Bornou</i>, copied from an engraving after a sketch +made by Major Denham, in his recent "Travels in Africa." These negroes, +as they are called, meaning the black chiefs and favourites, all raised +to that rank by Some deed of bravery, are habited in coats of mail, +composed of iron chain, which cover them from the throat to the knees, +dividing behind, and coming on each side of the horse; some of them wear +helmets or skull-caps of the same metal, with chin-pieces, all +sufficiently strong to ward off the shock of a spear. Their horses' +heads are also defended by plates of iron, brass, and silver, just +leaving room for the eyes of the animal; and not unfrequently they are +hung over with charms, enclosed in little red leather parcels, strung +together, round the neck, in front of the head, and about the saddle. +</p> +<p> +Their appearance is altogether of a warlike character, the horses being +well caparisoned, and the riders well clothed for personal defence; and +though their equestrian evolutions be somewhat wild, the lance or spear +is doubtless a formidable weapon in their hands. The savage splendour of +their dress, together with the pawing and snorting of their fiery +steeds, render them appropriate auxiliaries to royalty, in countries +where such attributes of power are requisite to impress the people with +the importance of their rulers, and where the milder aids of +civilization and refinement are wanting to protect the sovereign from +violence. +</p> +<p> +The second engraving, copied from the same authentic source as that +preceding it, is a somewhat grotesque portraiture of one of the +<i>Lancers of the Sultan of Begharmi</i>, described, in an historical +and geographical account by a native prince, as an extensive country, +containing woods and rivers, and fields fit for cultivation; but now +desolated, as the inhabitants say, by the "misconduct of the king, who, +having increased in levity and licentiousness to such a frightful +degree, as even to marry his own daughter, God Almighty + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page298" name="page298"></a>[pg 298]</span> + +caused Saboon, the prince of Wa-da-i, to march against him, and destroy +him, laying waste, at the same time, all his country, and leaving the +houses uninhabited, as a signal chastisement for his impiety." +</p> +<p> +Major Denham having applied for the covering of the above warrior and +his horse, in his journal thus describes their arrival:—"Aug. 11. Soon +after daylight, Karouash, with Hadgi, Mustapha, the chief of the +Shouaas, and the Sheikh's two nephews, Hassein and Kanemy, came to our +huts. They were attended by more than a dozen slaves, bearing presents +for us, for King George, and the consul at Tripoli. I had applied for a +<i>lebida</i>, (horse-covering,) after seeing those taken from the +Begharmis; the sheikh now sent a man, clothed in a yellow wadded jacket, +with a scarlet cap, and mounted on the horse taken from the Begharmis, +on which the sultan's eldest son rode. He was one of the finest horses I +had seen, and covered with a scarlet cloth, also wadded. 'Every thing,' +Hadgi Mustapha said, 'except the man, is to be taken to your great +king.'" +</p> +<p> +The Begharmis, it will be seen, were conquered by the people of Kanem; +and Major Denham has translated, and given in the appendix to his +<i>Travels</i>, a song of thanksgiving on the triumphant return of the +governor, full of the characteristic beauty and simplicity of savage +life. In these struggles it would appear the law of nations is severe on +the weakest; for the son of the late sultan of the Begharmis is +described as "now a slave of the sheikh of Bornou." So wags the world! +</p> + +<h3> + LIVING AT TOULOUSE. +</h3> + +<p> +Part of a house, sufficient for a small family, unfurnished, may be had +for 14<i>l.</i> a year; and the most elegant in the city, in the best +situation, for 60<i>l.</i>, including coach-house, stable, cellar, &c. A horse +may be kept well for 14<i>l.</i> a year. The wages of a coachman are 8<i>l.</i>, a +housemaid 8<i>l.</i>, a noted cook 16<i>l.</i>, and a lady's-maid 10<i>l.</i> The price of a +chicken is 7½<i>d.</i>; a partridge 1<i>s.</i>; a hare 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; a duck 1<i>s.</i>; a +turkey 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; the best bread 1½<i>d.</i> per lb.; common ditto 1<i>d.</i>; a +bottle of wine 3<i>d.</i>; brandy is sold by the lb. of 16 oz. and costs 6<i>d.</i>; +grapes ½<i>d.</i> per lb.; meat 3<i>d.</i>; butter 4<i>d.</i>; cheese 6d; 50 lb<i>s.</i> carrots +10<i>d.</i>; other vegetables at the same rate. A dozen very fine peaches now +cost a halfpenny; pears 3<i>d.</i> a dozen; labourers, who work from sunrise to +sunset, are fed by the proprietor, and have 6<i>d.</i> per day, which, in this +part of the country, will go further than three times the sum in +England. The horses and oxen used about the farms are fed chiefly on +straw, and do not consume more than 3<i>d.</i> a day. The labouring people make +a very nourishing diet from maize flour, which is fried with grease; and +this, with beans, forms the principal part of their food. They neither +use nor wish for meat; but at this season they have figs and grapes +almost for nothing—<i>Original Letter</i>. +</p> + +<h3> + MOHAMMEDAN SUPERSTITION. +</h3> + +<p> +The eastern, and all Mohammedan people, considering Alexander the Great +as the only monarch who conquered the globe from east to west, give him +the title of "the two horned," in allusion to his said conquests. They +likewise believe that Gog and Magog were two great nations, but that, in +consequence of their wicked and mischievous disposition, Alexander +gathered and immured them within two immensely high mountains, in the +darkest and northernmost parts of Europe, by a most surprising and +insuperable wall, made of iron and copper, of great thickness and +height; and that to the present time they are confined there; that, +notwithstanding they are a dwarfish race,—viz. from two to three feet +in height only—they will one day come out and desolate the world. As +Lord Mayor's Day is just approaching, perhaps some of the visiters of +Gog and Magog on that occasion may decide this matter. It is almost akin +to our nursery quibble of the giants hearing the clock strike, &c. &c. +</p> + +<h3> + PERSIAN BARBER. +</h3> + +<p> +The Khas-terash (literally, personal shaver) of the present sovereign +has, in the abundance of his wealth, built a palace for himself close to +the royal bath at Teheran. And he is <i>entitled</i> to riches, for he +is a man of pre-eminent excellence in his art, and has had for a long +period, under his especial care, the magnificent beard of his majesty, +which is at this moment, and has been for years, the pride of +Persia.—<i>Persian Sketches</i>. +</p> + +<h3> + LIVING IN GENEVA. +</h3> + +<p> +The vicinity of Geneva appears peculiarly eligible for the permanent +residence of an English family. There is perhaps no town on the +continent where greater facilities are afforded for a man of literary +and scientific pursuits to indulge his taste or to increase his +knowledge. The city is close built, and consequently not an agreeable +place to live in; but its immediate environs abound with delightful +spots. +</p> +<p> +The costume of the Genevese assimilates much with that of the French; +but the better class of females are partial to the English fashions. The +language of + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page299" name="page299"></a>[pg 299]</span> + +the country is French, but its habits and religion are widely different. +Not only does the Protestant faith find here the salutary prevalence of +a kindred faith, but the members of our own ecclesiastical establishment +are enabled to join each other every Sabbath day in the worship of God, +and at stated seasons to receive the holy sacrament according to the +pure and apostolic ritual of the church of England. +</p> +<p> +The expense of a house, with a garden and piece of land, within a mile +of the gates, including also the keeping of a caleche and pair of +horses, for a gentleman, his lady, two children, and three servants, +does not exceed 300<i>l.</i> a year; and with this he is enabled to receive his +friends occasionally, and in a respectable style. To proceed from a +family establishment to a bachelor's pension, "I," says Mr. Seth +Stevenson, in his <i>Continental Travels</i>, "was told that a person +at Petit Saconnex has a sleeping-room to himself, and his breakfast, +dinner, tea, and supper with the family, for 500 francs (20<i>l.</i> 16<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>) +per annum." +</p> +<p> +The taxation of Geneva is described as very trifling. There is a sort of +income-tax, to which every man of property contributes, on his honour, +as to the amount of that property. The whole tax for horses and +carriages amounts to about 18<i>d.</i> for each person; the richest it seems +pays no more, and the others pay no less. "My friend assures me," +continues Mr. S. "that his fellow citizens approve of their annexation +to Switzerland, and also of the union of the Valais with the Helvetic +confederation—that the people of this little republic are flourishing +again, contented with their government; and as the best proof of their +returning prosperity since the peace, he adverted to the comparatively +few indigent or distressed persons among them, and to the fact of there +being only forty-five persons in the poor's hospital, besides those +admitted under the head of casualties." +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2> + ORIGINAL STORY OF HAMLET, +</h2> + +<h3> +(<i>From the Latin of Saxo Grammaticus, but interspersed.</i>) +</h3> + +<p> +Florwendillus, king of Jutland, married Geruthra, or Gertrude, the only +daughter of Ruric, king of Denmark. The produce of this union was a son, +called Amlettus. When he grew towards manhood, his spirit and +extraordinary abilities excited the envy and hatred of his uncle, who, +before the birth of Amlettus, was regarded as presumptive heir to the +crown. Fengo, which was the name of this haughty prince, conceived a +passion for his sister-in-law, the queen; and meeting with reciprocal +feelings, they soon arranged a plan, which putting into execution, he +ascended the throne of his brother and espoused the widowed princess. +Amlettus, (or Hamlet,) suspecting that his father had died by the hand +or the devices of his uncle, determined to be revenged. But perceiving +the jealousy with which the usurper eyed his superior talents, and the +better to conceal his hatred and intentions, he affected a gradual +derangement of reason, and at last acted all the extravagance of an +absolute madman. Fengo's guilt induced him to doubt the reality of a +malady so favourable to his security; and suspicious of some direful +project being hidden beneath assumed insanity, he tried by different +stratagems to penetrate the truth. One of these was to draw him into a +confidential interview with a young damsel, who had been the companion +of his infancy; but Hamlet's sagacity, and the timely caution of his +intimate friend, frustrated this design. In these two persons we may +recognise the Ophelia and Horatio of Shakspeare. A second plot was +attended with equal want of success. It was concerted by Fengo that the +queen should take her son to task in a private conversation, vainly +flattering himself that the prince would not conceal his true state from +the pleadings of a mother. Shakspeare has adopted every part of this +scene, not only the precise situation and circumstances, but the +sentiments and sometimes the very words themselves. The queen's +apartment was the appointed place of conference, where the king, to +secure certain testimony, had previously ordered one of his courtiers to +conceal himself under <i>a heap of straw;</i> so says the historian; and +though Shakspeare, in unison with the refinement of more modern times, +changes that rustic covering for the royal tapestry, yet it was even as +Saxo Grammaticus relates it. In those primitive ages, straw, hay, of +rushes, strewed on the floor, were the usual carpets in the chambers of +the great. One of our Henrys, in making a progress to the north of +England, previously sent forward a courier to order <i>clean straw</i> +at every house where he was to take his lodging. But to return to the +subject. +</p> +<p> +The prince, suspecting there might be a concealed listener, and that it +was the king, pursued his wild and frantic acts, hoping that by some +lucky chance he might discover his hiding-place. Watchful of all that +passed in the room, as he dashed from side to side, he descried a little +movement of the uneasy courtier's covering. Suddenly Hamlet sprung on +his feet, began to crow like a cock, and flapping his arms against his +sides, leaped + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page300" name="page300"></a>[pg 300]</span> + + upon the straw; feeling something under him, he snatched out his sword +and thrust it through the unfortunate lord. The barbarism of the times +is most shockingly displayed in the brutal manner in which he treats the +dead body; but for the honour of the Danish prince, we must suppose that +it was not merely a wanton act, but done the more decidedly to convince +the king, when the strange situation of the corpse was seen, how +absolutely he must be divested of reason. Being assured he was now alone +with his mother, in a most awful manner he turns upon her, and avows his +madness to be assumed; he reproaches her with her wicked deeds and +incestuous marriage; and threatens a mighty vengeance upon the +instigator of her crime. +</p> +<p> +In the historian we find that the admonitions of Hamlet awakened the +conscience of the queen, and recalled her to penitence and virtue. The +king, observing the change, became doubly suspicious of the prince; and +baffling some preliminary steps he took to vengeance; Hamlet was +entrapped by him into an embassy to England. He sent along with him two +courtiers, who bore private letters to the English monarch, requesting +him, as the greatest favour he could confer on Denmark, to compass, by +secret and by sure means, the death of the prince as soon as he landed. +Hamlet, during the voyage, had reason to suspect the mission of his +companions; and by a stratagem obtaining their credentials, he found the +treacherous mandate; and changing it for one wherein he ordered the +execution of the two lords, he quietly proceeded with them to the +British shore. On landing, the papers were delivered, and the king, +without further parley, obeyed what he believed to be the request of his +royal ally; and thus did treason meet the punishment due to its crime. +The daughter of the king being charmed with the person and manners of +the foreign prince, evinced such marks of tenderness, that Hamlet could +not but perceive the depth of his conquest. He was not insensible to her +attractions; and receiving the king's assent, in the course of a few +days led her to the nuptial altar. Amidst all joys, he was, however, +like a perturbed ghost that could not rest; and before many suns had +rose and set, he obtained a hard wrung leave from his bride, once more +set sail, and appeared at Elsineur just in time to be a witness of the +splendid rites which Fengo (supposing him now to be murdered) had +prepared for his funeral. On the proclamation of his arrival, he was +welcomed with enthusiasm by the people, whose idol he was, and who had +been overwhelmed with grief when Fengo announced to them his sudden +death in England. The king, inflamed with so ruinous a disappointment, +and becoming doubly jealous of his growing popularity, now affected no +conciliation, but openly manifested his hatred and hostility. Hamlet +again had recourse to his pretended madness, and committed so many +alarming acts, that Fengo, fearing their direction, ordered his sword to +be locked in its scabbard, under a plea of guarding the lunatic from +personal harm, After various adventures, at last the prince accomplished +the death of his uncle's adherents, and vengeance on the fratricide +himself, by setting fire to the palace during the debauch of a midnight +banquet. Rushing amidst the flames, he kills Fengo with his own hand, +reproaching him at the moment with his murder, adultery, and incest. +Immediately on this act of retribution he was proclaimed lawful +successor to the throne, and crowned with all due solemnity. +</p> +<p> +Thus far Shakspeare treads in the steps of the annalist; the only +difference is in the fate of the hero; in the one he finds a kingdom, in +the other a grave. Saxo Grammaticus carries the history further; and +after the crowning of Hamlet as king, brings him again into Britain, +where, in compliment to that land of beauty, he marries a second wife, +the daughter of a Scottish king. Hamlet brought both his wives to +Denmark, and prepared for a long life of prosperity and peace. But the +sword hung over his head; war burst around him, and he fell in combat by +the hand of Vigelotes, son of Ruric. Saxo Grammaticus sums up his +character in a few words: "He was a wise prince and a great warrior. +Like Achilles, he had the principal actions of his life wrought on his +shield. The daughter of the king of Scotland casting her eye on it, +loved him for the battles he had won, and became his bride." +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2> + SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. +</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + ENGLISH FRUITS. +</h3> + +<center> +(<i>Concluded from page 295.</i>) +</center> + +<p> +<i>The Vine</i>.—The value and transcendant excellence of this foreign +fruit is too well known to require any extended account in this paper; +as a native of the southern verge of the northern temperate zone, it +only requires its natural degree of heat to bring it to perfection. The +growth is luxuriant, is fertile, easy of management, and as it requires +support, + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page301" name="page301"></a>[pg 301]</span> + + obedient to the trainer's will. Many excellent varieties ate in our +stoves and vineries; differing in hardness, size of bunches, and in +colour and flavour of fruit. These, it is likely, have been gained from +seeds; and as its cultivation has been primæval with the inhabitants of +the earth, no wonder it received, for its unequalled utility, their +chiefest care. +</p> +<p> +That the climate of this country has undergone a considerable change +within the last hundred years, is allowed by all who have considered the +subject; and nothing furnishes a more convincing proof of this, than the +history of the vine. Previous to the reign of Henry VIII., every abbey +and monastery had its vineyard. In the rent-rolls of church property in +those days, and long afterwards, considerable quantities of grapes were +paid as tithe; and the vestiges of some of those vineyards remain to +this day. They were usually placed on the south side of a hill, in a +light dry soil, having the surface covered with sand; the vines being +trained near the ground. But with such inclement and changeable springs, +and long protracted winters, as have been experienced of late, even such +frost as is seen at this moment (24th of April,) vines as standards in +the open air, would be destroyed; or, at least, no dependence could be +placed upon them for a crop. But vineyards in the country could neither +be so profitable, nor are they so necessary as they were in those days; +international intercourse is now more open, and corporations, whether +religious or civil, can be supplied with grapes in any shape, and their +precious juice in any quantity, at a cheaper rate than either home-grown +or home-made. In their cultivation in this country, practitioners are +more liable to err in planting them in too rich, than in too poor a +soil; the first adds too much to their natural luxuriance of growth, and +always reduces the flavour of the fruit. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Mulberry</i>.—This fruit has not been subjected to the +operations and attention of the improver so much, perhaps, as it +deserves; true, it has been planted against walls, and as espaliers; and +in both places has done well. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Fig</i> has been long in our gardens; a very ancient one is still +alive in the garden of one of the colleges at Oxford. In its native +country it produces two crops in the year, and this property makes its +management rather difficult in a country where it can but with +difficulty be made to produce one; and especially when trained in the +common way to a wall, where the crop is often sacrificed to the useless +symmetry of the tree. It is impatient of frost, and requires protection +during winter; and is also impatient of the knife, and more, perhaps, +than any other tree, is disposed to form its own natural head. When kept +in a glass case, either planted in the ground or in pots, it well repays +the trouble bestowed upon it. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Quince</i>.—This fruit remains very steadily in character to +what it has always been known to be; the taste is too austere to be used +alone from the tree; but with other fruits in pastry, or in the shape of +preserves or marmalade, it is useful. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Medley</i>.—Two or three sorts of this tree are in cultivation: +they are placed in the lowest grade of fruits; though, when they are +perfectly mature, they are much relished by some palates. The azarola, +service, and two or three others used in the south of Europe, are not +worth notice here. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Filbert</i>.—The common wild hazle of our hedges has been +improved, by chance or cultivation, into the several varieties of red +and white filberts and cob-nuts. Working them upon the hazle, or upon +themselves, is necessary; because, it not only makes them more fruitful, +but also brings them sooner into bearing. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Walnut</i>.—This nuciferous tree has been cultivated in England +more for the value of the timber than for its fruit. There are several +varieties, differing chiefly in the size of the nut, from the diminutive +ben-nut, to the large or double French sort. The only improvement which +can be expected in this, is a hardier sort which would be less +susceptible of damage from frost. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Chestnut</i>.—The description of the walnut may be applied to +this, as they are natives of the same climate; and their flowers are +alike impatient of frost. The fruit of this is, however, inferior to +that of the walnut, and seldom arrives at the same degree of perfection. +The tree grows to a great size, and is one of the most valuable of our +forest trees. In "days of yore," it must have been much more plentiful +in this country, or more plentifully imported, than it now is; as the +principal timbers of abbeys, cathedrals, and other ancient buildings, +are chiefly formed of it: being equally durable as the oak, which it so +much resembles, that they can hardly be distinguished from each other, +but by the test of the wet edge of a chissel being stained by the oak, +and not at all by the chestnut. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Melon and Cucumber</i>.—These exotic fruits are extensively +cultivated; the latter takes various shapes in our bills of fare; the +former is more a luxury than a fruit for general use; their culture + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page302" name="page302"></a>[pg 302]</span> + + on hot-beds forms a material branch of modern gardening, and with that +of the gourd, pumpkin, squash, vegetable marrow, &c., is well known. +</p> +<p> +<i>The Pine-Apple</i>.—This sovereign of fruits is, and can only be, in +this country, an appendage to opulence and rank. Several varieties are +cultivated in our forcing-stoves, and grace the tables of the rich, and +in as great perfection as they can be had between the tropics. In their +wild state, they affect the sides of rivulets, and often under the shade +of lofty trees; but are of inferior flavour, unless the weather is very +dry when they are ripening off; and when cultivated, they receive little +or no water during the last stage of their growth.—<i>Quarterly Journal +of Science, &c.</i> +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2> + ANECDOTES OF THE MARVELLOUS. +</h2> + +<center> +<i>A Prediction Fulfilled.</i> +</center> + +<p> +At the time of the American war, a gentleman (a mere youth) entered the +army, and saw some little service. One day, during an engagement, he +was, in the hurry and confusion of it, knocked down; and a soldier, +setting his foot upon his chest in passing over him, hurt him so +exceedingly that he became senseless; upon recovering, he found himself +still stretched on the ground, and a singular, looking female stood +beside him, who, as he opened his eyes, exclaimed in an ill-boding +voice, "Ay, young man, mark my words: <i>that</i> hurt will be the +death of you in your forty-second year." He immediately recognised in +this old raven one of those <i>soothsayers</i> who usually followed the +army, and gained a livelihood by their oracular powers. Mr. L. certainly +did <i>mark</i> her words, inasmuch as returning to England, he quitted +the army, entered the church, and amongst other red-coat reminiscences, +used frequently to mention (and mention but to ridicule) the American +soothsayer's prediction. Nevertheless, true it is, that he did die in +his forty-second year, and of a disease in his <i>chest</i> too, +although he had never suffered from the hurt beyond the period at which +he received it. +</p> + +<center> +<i>Imagination.</i> +</center> + +<p> +The measles (it is pretty well known to all voyagers) is at St. Helena a +hideous and fatal disorder, although generally mild at the Cape, which +is about a fortnight's sail from the former island: every ship, +therefore, from the Cape, upon touching at St. Helena, undergoes +examination, and, if the measles are known to be prevalent at the former +place, is put into quarantine, and no officer, however urgent his +business may be, allowed to land without making oath or affidavit that +he has not been on shore at the Cape, or approached an infected person. +Some years since, a naval officer, acquainted with the then governor of +St. Helena, General P——n, was invited to dine with him, and met at +dinner another officer from another vessel, who, it is to be presumed, +had eluded undergoing the usual precautionary measures, and was perhaps +ignorant of their existence, since he mentioned, during the repast, that +the measles were prevailing at Cape Town, and admitted that he had +entered it. Now, he had just arrived at St. Helena, and though he +expressly stated that he had not gone near any infected person, poor +Mrs. P——, uttering a shriek, fled from the table, exclaiming that she +knew she should have the measles; in fact, she immediately fell sick of +that disorder, (and died, I think I understood.) All her family took it, +and it raged through the island, proving dreadfully destructive. +</p> + +<center> +<i>Mysterious Incident.</i> +</center> + +<p> +It was the wedding day of Mr. and Mrs. Terry, (I mean the <i>actual</i>, +not the anniversary wedding-day,) and the jocund bridegroom, bride, and +their guests were assembled about noon in the drawing-room, when a +servant entered, and said a gentleman had called, and wished to speak to +Mr. T.; that he was waiting below stairs, and would not come up, because +he came upon very particular business. Mr. Terry, desiring his company +to excuse him for a few minutes, quitted the room. One hour elapsed—no +bridegroom; two hours—he did not appear;—three—four—he was not +returned: the bride's mind misgave her, and the hymeneal guests were +quite alarmed: the servants declared that they had seen their master and +the gentleman walk into the garden, from whence they were not returned. +Now, a high brick wall, in which there was no outlet, and over which no +person could climb except by a ladder, enclosed the garden, which, when +searched, was empty, whilst, at the same time, Mr. Terry and his +<i>friend</i>, "<i>the gentleman</i>," could not have walked out at the +hall-door without being, from its situation, seen and heard by the +servants in the kitchen. Time fled—and he did not return—no!—and +although his lady lived to be nearly ninety years of age, she +<i>never</i> gained tidings again of the spouse, thus so mysteriously +spirited away! +</p> + +<center> +<i>Raising the Wind.</i> +</center> + +<p> +The superstitions of sailors are not few, as those assert who are +conversant in + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page303" name="page303"></a>[pg 303]</span> + + maritime affairs. Amongst others, is the custom, pretty well known, of +<i>whistling for a wind</i>. A gentleman told me, that, on his first +voyage, being then very young, and ignorant of sea usages, he was in the +habit of walking the deck a great deal, "and whistling as he went," +perhaps "for want of thought"—perhaps for lack of something better to +do. Shortly, he fancied that the captain of the vessel seemed not a +little annoyed whenever this took place, although he kept a respectful +silence upon the subject. At length Mr. ——— resolved to speak to him +himself: and, accordingly, one day, when it blew a pretty brisk gale, +said, "I observe, captain, that you appear particularly uneasy whenever +I whistle."—"To say the truth, sir, I <i>am</i> just <i>now</i>," replied he. +"On a fair, still day, whistle as much as you please; but, when there is +a wind like this, <i>we don't like to have any more called.</i>"—<i>New London +Literary Gaz.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2> + THE SELECTOR +<br /> +AND +<br /> +LITERARY NOTICES OF +<br /> +<i>NEW WORKS.</i> +</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + A PHILOSOPHICAL KITCHEN. +</h3> + +<p> +A romantic and ludicrous novel has just appeared, entitled "The Mummy, +or Tale of the Twenty-second Century," exhibiting some of the probable +results of "the march of intellect;" and of the pungency of its satire +the following is a fair specimen, describing a kitchen in the +twenty-second century:— +</p> +<p> +When Dr. Entwerfen left the breakfast-room of Lord Gustavus, which he +did not do till a considerable time after the rest of the party had +quitted it, he was so absorbed in meditation, that he did not know +exactly which way he was going; and, happening unfortunately to turn to +the right when he should have gone to the left, to his infinite surprise +he found himself in the kitchen instead of his own study. Absent as the +doctor was, however, his attention was soon roused by the scene before +him. Being, like many of his learned brotherhood, somewhat of a +gourmand, his indignation was violently excited by finding the cook +comfortably asleep on a sofa on one side of the room, whilst the meat +intended for dinner, a meal it was then the fashion to take about noon, +was as comfortably resting itself from its toils on the other. The +chemical substitute for fire, which ought to have cooked it, having gone +out, and the cook's nap precluding all reasonable expectation of its +re-illumination, the doctor's wrath was kindled, though the fire was +not, and in a violent rage he seized the gentle Celestina's shoulder, +and and shook her till she woke. "Where am I?" exclaimed she, opening +her eyes. "Any where but where you ought to be," cried the doctor, in a +fury. "Look, hussy! look at that fine joint of meat, lying quite cold +and sodden in its own steam." "Dear me!" returned Celestina, yawning, +"I am really quite unfortunate to-day! An unlucky accident has already +occurred to a leg of mutton which was to have formed part of to-day's +aliments, and now this piece of beef is also destroyed. I am afraid +there will be nothing for dinner but some mucilaginous saccharine +vegetables, and they, most probably, will be boiled to a viscous +consistency." "And what excuse can you offer for all this?" exclaimed +the doctor, his voice trembling with passion. "It was unavoidable;" +replied Celestina, coolly; "whilst I was copying a cast from the Apollo +Belvidere this morning, having unguardedly applied too much caloric to +the vessel containing the leg of mutton, the aqueous fluid in which it +was immersed evaporated, and the viand became completely calcinated. +Whilst the other affair—" "Hush, hush!" interrupted the doctor; "I +cannot bear to hear you mention it. Oh, surely Job himself never +suffered such a trial of his patience! In fact, <i>his</i> troubles were +scarcely worth mentioning, for he was never cursed with learned +servants!" Saying this, the doctor retired, lamenting his hard fate in +not having been born in those halcyon days when cooks drew nothing but +their poultry; whilst the gentle Celestina's breast panted with +indignation at his complaint. An opportunity soon offered for revenge; +and seeing the doctor's steam valet ready to be carried to its master's +chamber, she treacherously applied a double portion of caloric; in +consequence of which, the machine burst whilst in the act of brushing +the doctor's coat collar, and by discharging the whole of the scalding +water contained in its cauldron upon him, reduced him to a melancholy +state. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND. +</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee,</p> +<p class="i2"> Since God was thy refuge, thy ransom, thy guide;</p> + <p> He gave thee, he took thee and he will restore thee,</p> +<p class="i2"> And death has no sting since the Saviour has died.</p> +<p style="text-align:right;"><i>The Amulet for</i> 1828.</p> +</div></div> + + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page304" name="page304"></a>[pg 304]</span> +</p> + + +<h2> +St. Martin's, near Canterbury. +</h2> + +<div class="figure" style="height: 20em;"> +<a href="images/281-3.png"><img src="images/281-3.png" style="height: 18em;" +alt="St. Martin's, Near Canterbury." /></a> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h3> +THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ERECTED IN ENGLAND. +</h3> + +<center> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</center> + +<p> +The venerable and interesting church of St. Martin is situated on the +side of a hill, (named from it,) at the distance of little more than a +quarter of a mile from the dilapidated walls of Canterbury. It is +generally believed to have been erected by the Christian soldiers in the +Roman army, about the time of king Lucius, A.D. 182, and hence is justly +esteemed as <i>the first Christian church erected in Britain</i>, and +indeed nothing appears to contradict this assertion; for the Britons, +before the arrival of the Romans, were, as is well known, in a state of +barbarism and idolatry, and their habitations huts of clay and turf; and +as to its being built after their departure, I do not think it at all +likely, for England was then ravaged and overrun by the warlike clans of +its mountain neighbours, and consequently its inhabitants had not time +or inclination to erect buildings, when their lives and property were +daily in danger. Their successors, the early Saxons, too, I think, +cannot claim any pretensions to St. Martin, they being heathens, and +unacquainted with the Christian religion. Nor could they, entirely +ignorant of Roman materials, have built an edifice completely composed +with them. +</p> +<p> +Here then was a Christian church and a Christian congregation +established in Britain full 415 years before Augustin's arrival; but as +St. Martin, bishop of Tours, died in the year 395, this church could not +have been erected in his honour; but it might afterwards have been +dedicated to him by Luidhard, chaplain to Bertha, wife of Ethelbert, the +Kentish king; and this is the more likely, as Luidhard himself was a +French bishop. +</p> +<p> +In conclusion, it may not be unnecessary to state, that though the +papists consider Augustin as the apostle of the English, they do not +acknowledge him as their first instructor in Christianity; for, as it +appears in their service for May 26, Lucius, a British king, wrote to +St. Eleutherius, (who was elected priest A.D. 177,) desiring that he +might be numbered among the Christians. By whom or by what means this +conversion was effected does not appear; but, however, in reply to it, +Eleutherius sent the monks Damian and Fryatius into Britain, from whom +the king and many of his subjects received the gospel. +</p> + +<h4> +SAGITTARIUS. +</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + PICTURE OF LIBERTY. +</h3> + +<center> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</center> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> O, Liberty! thou goddess, heav'nly bright!</p> + <p> Profuse of bliss, and pregnant with delight,</p> + <p> External pleasures in thy presence reign.</p> + <p style="text-align: right;"> ADDISON.</p> +</div></div> + +<p> +Aristo tells a pretty story of a fairy, who, by some mysterious law of +her nature, was condemned to appear, at certain seasons, in the form of +a foul and poisonous snake. Those who injured her during the period of +her disguise were for ever excluded from participation in the blessings +which she bestowed. But to those who, in spite of her loathsome aspect, +pitied and protected her, she afterwards revealed herself in the +beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their +steps, granted all their wishes, filled their houses with wealth, made +them happy in love and victorious in war. Such a spirit is Liberty. At +times she takes the form of + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page305" name="page305"></a>[pg 305]</span> + + a hateful reptile; she grovels, she hisses, she stings; but woe to those +who in disgust shall venture to crush her! And happy are those who, +having dared to receive her in her degraded and frightful shape, shall +at length be rewarded by her in the time of her beauty and +glory!—<i>See Edin. Rev. vol.</i> xlii. <i>p.</i> 332. +</p> + +<h4> +P.T.W. +</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + FIRST AND LAST. +</h3> + +<center> +(<i>From the Italian</i>.) +</center> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> One single truth before he died</p> + <p> Poor Dick could only boast;</p> + <p> "Alas, I die!" he faintly cried,</p> + <p> And then—gave up the ghost!</p> +</div></div> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + FRENCH GAMING HOUSES. +</h3> + +<center> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</center> + +<p class="quote"> +Dicing-houses, where cheaters meet, and cozen young men out of +their money.</p> +<p style="text-align:right;"> <i>Lord Herbert.</i></p> + +<p class="quote">Begin with a guinea, and end with a mortgage.</p> +<p style="text-align:right;"> <i>Cumberland.</i></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> What more than madness reigns,</p> + <p> When one short sitting many hundreds drains,</p> + <p> When not enough is left him to supply</p> + <p> Board wages, or a footman's livery.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p style="text-align:right;"> <i>Dryden's Juvenal.</i></p> +</div></div> + +<p class="quote">Gaming finds a man a cully, and leaves him a knave.</p> +<p style="text-align:right;"> <i>Tom Brown.</i></p> + +<p> +The last "nine days' wonder" is the excess to which gaming is carried +among the higher circles of this country; but I much doubt whether the +present expositions of such enormity in a neighbouring nation will work +the desired effect on Englishmen. +</p> + +<p> +Popular prejudices are obstinate points to combat; but every one who has +had opportunities for observation, must allow, that in their <i>taste +for gaming</i>, the French and English character are widely different. +In France, every one plays at cards, or dominoes, and at <i>all hours in +the day</i>, in every cafè, wine-shop, and road-side inn throughout the +country. I remember to have frequently seen, in the wine-shops at Paris, +carters in blue smock-frocks playing at ecartè and dominoes over a +bottle of <i>vin ordinaire</i> at eleven o'clock in the morning, +particularly in the neighbourhood of the markets. In England such +amusements would be illegal, and the victualler who allowed them in his +house would probably be deprived of his license. +</p> + +<p> +In France every man plays at billiards—nay, every village has its +billiard tables, one of which is almost as frequent an article of +furniture in private houses, as piano-fortes are in England; and the +sign of two maces crossed, and the inscriptions "Cafè et Billards" are +as common over the wine-houses in the provinces, as chequers formerly +were in our own country towns. I remember meeting with a curious +adventure during my last residence in Paris. One morning, while +leisurely walking in <i>Rue Montmartre</i>, I was accosted in French, by +a respectably dressed man, apparently about fifty, who inquired of me +the situation of —— street, (for at this moment I do not recollect +the name). I replied that, being a foreigner, I could not afford him the +required information, at the same time referring him to the next shop. +He did not follow my suggestion, but almost at the very instant my eye +caught the name of the street for which he had just inquired. The +stranger then told me that being on a visit to the capital, he was +anxious to see the interior of the palace of the Tuilleries, and was +proceeding to a friend resident in the above street, who had promised to +procure him admission to the royal residence, notwithstanding the king +was then in Paris. I congratulated him on his success, having been, a +few days previous, disappointed in the same object, when he offered also +to procure admission for myself and one or two of my friends. We +accordingly entered a second rate <i>cafè</i>, when, I made up to the +<i>garçon</i> and demanded of him whether orders for viewing the +Tuilleries were to be obtained there: he made no reply, but my friend of +the street, who had by this time partly ascended a staircase at the +extremity of the room, beckoned, and anxiously besought me to accompany +him. I did so, notwithstanding I was aware that Paris, as well as +London, had its "frauds." We entered a large room, the first impression +of which, on some minds, would have been that of terror. In the centre +stood a handsome billiard-table, over which were two dirty lamps with +reflectors; the walls were papered in tawdry French taste, the ceiling +black with smoke, and the whole room but indifferently lighted with a +disproportionate and dusty window: the door, too, seemed planned for +security, having a large lock and two bolts inside, but exhibited marks +of recent repair from violent fracture. In short, there was a lurking +suspicion about the place, which was not lessened by my companion +meeting with a partner. From their conversation I learned they were both +<i>foreigners</i>, and were waiting for a friend to bring the orders to +view the palace, so that all the story was as yet in keeping, and I was +introduced as a suitor for the same favour. My fellows "in waiting" +showed much impatience, complained of cold, and politely asked me to +take a glass of liqueur with them, at the + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page306" name="page306"></a>[pg 306]</span> + + same time taking up the mace and beginning to amuse themselves at the +billiard-table. I looked on; they asked me to join them; I declined, and +professed ignorance of the game; but their importunities became more +pressing, and at last troublesome. Not a word further was said of the +palace admission. I now judged it time to take my leave, and advancing +towards the door for that purpose, I perceived my companions moved also: +I profited by the hint, and seizing the handle of the door, thanked them +for their civility, assured them I could wait no longer, but would call +in half-an-hour—leaped down the stairs, and did not stop till I reached +<i>Rue Montmartre</i>. I afterwards learned this was a common <i>street +trick</i> in Paris to decoy strangers to the billiard-table, and had I +taken the mace in hand, it would most probably have been at the expense +of a good dinner for my companions, as a smart for my credulity. +</p> +<p> +A few evenings subsequent to this common-place incident, I strolled into +a house of play in the palais royal, the situation having been +previously pointed out to me by a friend.<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a> The entrance was through a +narrow passage by a silversmith's shop, on the ground floor, at the end +of which a strong light shone through the figures denoting the number of +the house, largely cut in tin; alas! thought I, a fatal number to many +thousands. On the principal landing, being that above the +<i>entre-sol</i> story, I gently tapped at a handsome door, which was +almost as gently opened. My friend (for I was not alone,) having +deposited his hat and stick with the garçon, was allowed to pass, but I +was stopped for want of—<i>whiskers</i>; till assuring him that I was +older than he took me to be, and an Englishman—I was also permitted to +pass. We first entered a small room, in which was a roulette-table +surrounded by players, and well staked: this communicated by +folding-doors with a spacious saloon with a double table for +<i>Trente-et-un</i>, or <i>Rouge et Noir</i>, round which were seated +the players, behind whom stood a few lookers-on, and still fewer young +men, whose stakes were "few and far between,"—probably those of +cautious adventurers, or novices pecking at the first-fruits of play. +Nothing is better described in books than the folly of <i>gaming</i>, +and the sufferings of its victims; but, like Virgil, in his picture of +Heaven, they fall short in describing their extasies; a failing on the +right side, or perhaps purposely made, for the happiness of mankind. The +seated visitors here seemed to be quite at home, some picking up their +Napoleons and five franc pieces, and others recording the issues of the +game, and illustrating the doctrine of chances by pricking holes in +cards. A death-like stillness prevailed, interrupted only by the +monotonous result of the deal of the cards, and the bewitching, though +not frequent chink of gold and silver. The success of the winners was as +silent as the disappointment of the + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page307" name="page307"></a>[pg 307]</span> + + losers; neither joy nor grief displaying itself otherwise than in an +almost unvaried <i>tristesse</i> on the countenances of the seated +players—in some measure produced by ill health and intense anxiety so +as to conceal better feelings. I took my station at one end of the table +beside a middle-aged Frenchman, and by way of <i>forfeit-money</i> (for +<i>mere</i> lookers on are not very acceptable company) threw a few +five-franc pieces, one by one, on the same colour with his stakes, each +of which varied from one to ten Napoleons. After twelve chances I had +lost about thirty francs, but the Frenchman continued playing, and +within twenty minutes rose a winner of three hundred Napoleons, which +the banker changing for paper, he coolly put into his waistcoat pocket, +and walked off. A slight emotion was visible around the table, but there +was no other expression. I had now time to look around me, and enjoy a +little reflection for my foolish risk. It would be difficult to say +whether more anxiety was displayed among the sitters, or the company at +their backs. The attractive <i>foci</i> of all eyes were the everlasting +varieties of red and black, though not accompanied by the usual +grotesque mob of kings, queens, and <i>knaves</i>, the latter being +probably excluded by the jealousy of their living fraternity around the +table. A strong and steady light spread over the faces of all present, +and in some few showed the quiverings and workings of the most intense +passion; but the same stare or tip-toe of hope and fear pervaded the +whole assemblage. Some counted their money with apparent caution, and +seemed to divide their winnings from their store with affected +precision, probably with an idea of the winnings being unfit company for +other coin; whilst others listlessly played with their cash, or in a +vulgar phrase, handled it like dirt, the distinguishing feature of the +cold and calculating gamester, to whom money is an object of secondary +concern compared with that of play. In the standing groupe I remember +to have noticed (from his personal resemblance to a friend) a young +Englishman, whom I afterwards learned had been a constant visiter to +that table during the previous three months, and had then won about two +hundred Napoleons. He had just married an interesting woman, about his +own age, twenty-two, and had professedly taken up his degree in the +practice of play, as an elegant and honourable mode of subsistence. A +few weeks after I met him and his wife, on the Italian Boulevards; in +dress he was woefully changed, and in his countenance a ghastly stare, +sunken eye, and emaciated cheeks, bespoke some strong reverse of +fortune: his wife too seemed dimmed by sorrow, and suffering might be +traced in every lineament of her features, notwithstanding the artifice +of dress was tastefully displayed about her person. Alas! thought I, how +often is the charm of wedded life snapped asunder by man—the proud lord +of the creation, and how often by his strong hold on her affections, +does he sink lovely woman still fondly clinging to his disgrace, in the +abyss of crime and guilt. +</p> +<p> +But as such incidents must be common to many of your readers who have +visited the French metropolis, I shall desist from further recital. The +following outline of those receptacles of vice, <i>French Gaming +Houses</i>, from facts which I collected on the spot, aided by +authenticated resources, may not prove uninteresting. +</p> +<p> +Gaming-houses in Paris were first licensed in 1775, by the lieutenant of +police, who, to diminish the odium of such establishments, decreed that +the profit resulting from them should be applied to the foundation of +hospitals. The gamesters might therefore be said to resemble watermen, +looking one way and rowing another. Their number soon amounted to +twelve, and women were permitted to resort to them two days in the week. +Besides the licensed establishments, several illegal ones were +tolerated. In 1778, gaming was prohibited in France; but not at the +court or in the hotels of ambassadors, where police-officers could not +enter. By degrees the public establishments resumed their wonted +activity, and extended their pernicious effects. The numerous suicides +and bankruptcies which they occasioned, attracted the attention of the +<i>Parlement</i>, who drew up regulations for their observance; and +threatened those who should violate them with the pillory and whipping. +At length, the passion for gambling prevailing in the societies +established in the Palais Royal, under the title of <i>clubs</i> or +<i>salons</i>, a police ordinance was issued in 1785, prohibiting them +from gaming, and in the following year, additional prohibitory measures +were enforced. During the revolution the gaming-houses were frequently +prevented and licenses withheld; but notwithstanding the rigour of the +laws, and the vigilance of the police, they still contrived to exist; +and they are now regularly licensed by the police, and are under its +immediate inspection. The following items of twenty tables distributed +about Paris (the established stake varying from a Napoleon to + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page308" name="page308"></a>[pg 308]</span> + +sous) are from the most authentic documents:— +</p> + +<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" summary="Expenses"> +<tr><td> Current expenses </td><td align="right">1,551,480</td><td>Francs. </td></tr> +<tr><td> <i>Bail</i> to Government </td><td align="right">6,000,000</td><td>Francs. </td></tr> +<tr><td> Bonus for the bail </td><td align="right"> 166,666</td><td>Francs. </td></tr> +<tr><td> Making together 7,716,146 Francs, or about </td><td align="right"> £321,589</td><td>English. </td></tr> +<tr><td> Gain of the tables, per annum </td><td align="right">9,600,000</td><td>Francs. </td></tr> +<tr><td> Expenses as above </td><td align="right">7,718,146</td><td>Francs. </td></tr> +<tr><td> Leaving a clear profit of </td><td align="right">1,881,854</td><td>Francs, </td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +or about £78,244 English! And yet, in spite of this unanswerable logic +of <i>figures and facts</i>, there are every day fresh victims who are +infatuated enough to believe that it is possible to counterbalance the +advantages which the bank possesses, by a judicious management of the +power the player has of altering his stake! The revenue formerly paid to +the government for licenses, has recently been transferred to the city +of Paris. +</p> +<p> +In England, the outcry against gaming is loud, and deservedly so; and +the extent to which it is stated to be curried in the higher circles is +rather underrated than exaggerated; but the severity of our laws on this +crime, and recent visitations of its rigour, confine it to the saloons +of wealthy vice. With us it is not a national vice, as in France, where +every license, facility, and even encouragement presents itself. +Lotteries, which have been abolished in England, as immoral nuisances, +are tolerated in France, with more mischievous effect, since, the risk +is considerably less than our least shares formerly were, the lotteries +smaller, and those drawn three times every month. The relics of +<i>our</i> gaming system are only to be found on race-courses; but in +France, half the toys sold at a fair or <i>fête</i>, where mothers win +rattles for their children, are by <i>lottery</i>, whilst our gaming at +fairs is restricted to a few low adventurers for snuff-boxes, &c. +Despair is the gloomiest feature of the French character, and of which +gaming produces a frightful proportion, notwithstanding all that our +neighbours say about <i>our hanging and drowning in November:</i> +witness their suicides:— +</p> + +<table border="0" align="center" summary="Suicide Rates"> +<tr><td> In 1819: </td><td>Suicides,</td><td> 376;</td><td> of which,</td><td> 126 </td><td>women.</td></tr> +<tr><td> 1820: </td><td>do. </td><td>325; </td><td>do. </td><td>114 </td><td>do. </td></tr> +<tr><td> 1821: </td><td>do. </td><td>348; </td><td>do. </td><td>112 </td><td>do. </td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +Of the suicides of these three years 25, 50, and 36, were attributed to +love, and 52, 42, 43, to despair arising from <i>gaming, the +lottery</i>, &c. In the winter of 1826, several exaggerated losses by +gaming were circulated in Paris with great <i>finesse</i>, to enable +bankrupts to account for their deficiencies, many of whom were exposed +and deservedly punished. +</p> +<p> +A few words on the <i>prevention</i> of gaming, the consideration of +which gave rise to this hasty sketch; I mean by dramatic exhibitions of +its direful effects. On our stage we have a pathetic tragedy by E. +Moore, which, though seldom acted, is a fine domestic moral to old and +young; but the author +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "Was his own Beverley, a dupe to play."</p> +</div></div> + +<p> +It is scarcely necessary to allude to the recent transfers of a +celebrated French <i>exposé</i> of French gambling to our English stage, +otherwise than to question their moral tendency. The pathos of our +<i>Gamester</i> may reach the heart; but the French pieces command no +such appeal to our sympathies. On the contrary, the vice is emblazoned +in such romantic and fitful fancies, that their effect is questionable, +especially on the majority of those who flock to such exhibitions. The +<i>extasies</i> of the gamester are too seductive to be heightened by +dramatic effect; neither are they counterbalanced by their consesequent +misery, when the aim of these representations should be to outweigh +them; for the authenticated publication of a single prize in the lottery +has been known to seduce more adventurers than a thousand losses have +deterred from risk. But they keep up the dancing spirits of the +multitude, and it will be well if their influence extends no further. +</p> + +<h4> +PHILO. +</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + A RETROSPECT. +</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Oh, when I was a tiny boy,</p> + <p> My days and nights were full of joy;</p> +<p class="i2"> My mates were blithe and kind!—</p> + <p> No wonder that I sometimes sigh,</p> + <p> And dash the tear-drop from my eye.</p> +<p class="i2"> To cast a look behind!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> A hoop was an eternal round</p> + <p> Of pleasure. In those days I found</p> +<p class="i2"> A top a joyous thing;—</p> + <p> But now those past delights I drop;</p> + <p> My head alas! is all my top,</p> +<p class="i2"> And careful thoughts the string!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> My marbles—once my bag was stor'd,—</p> + <p> Now I must play with Elgin's lord,—</p> +<p class="i2"> With Theseus for a taw!</p> + <p> My playful horse has slipt his string.</p> + <p> Forgotten all his capering,</p> +<p class="i2"> And harness'd to the law!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> My kite—how fast and fair it flew.</p> + <p> Whilst I, a sort of Franklin, drew</p> +<p class="i2"> My pleasure from the sky!</p> + <p> 'Twas paper'd o'er with studious themes,—</p> + <p> The tasks I wrote—my present dreams</p> +<p class="i2"> Will never soar so high!</p> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page309" name="page309"></a>[pg 309]</span> + +<div class="stanza"> + <p> My joys are wingless all, and dead;</p> + <p> My dumps are made of more than lead;</p> +<p class="i2"> My flights soon find a fall;</p> + <p> My fears prevail, my fancies droop,</p> + <p> Joy never cometh with a hoop,</p> +<p class="i2"> And seldom with a call!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> My football's laid upon the shelf;</p> + <p> I am a shuttlecock, myself</p> +<p class="i2"> The world knocks to and fro;—</p> + <p> My archery is all unlearn'd,</p> + <p> And grief against myself has turn'd</p> +<p class="i2"> My sorrow and my bow!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> No more in noontide sun I bask;</p> + <p> My authorship's an endless task,</p> +<p class="i2"> My head's ne'er out of school;</p> + <p> My heart is pain'd with scorn and slight;</p> + <p> I have too many foes to fight,</p> +<p class="i2"> And friends grown strangely cool!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> The very chum that shar'd my cake</p> + <p> Holds out so cold a hand to shake,</p> +<p class="i2"> It makes me shrink and sigh:—</p> + <p> On this I will not dwell and hang,</p> + <p> The changeling would not feel a pang</p> +<p class="i2"> Though these should meet his eye!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> No skies so blue or so serene</p> + <p> As these;—no leaves look half so green</p> +<p class="i2"> As cloth'd the play-ground tree!</p> + <p> All things I lov'd are altered so,</p> + <p> Nor does it ease my heart to know</p> +<p class="i2"> That change resides in me.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O, for the garb that mark'd the boy!</p> + <p> The trousers made of corduroy.</p> +<p class="i2"> Well ink'd with black and red;</p> + <p> The crownless hat, ne'er deem'd an ill—</p> + <p> It only let the sunshine still</p> +<p class="i2"> Repose upon my head!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> O, for that small, small beer anew!</p> + <p> And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-blue</p> +<p class="i2"> That wash'd my sweet meals down!</p> + <p> The master even!—and that small turk</p> + <p> That fagg'd me!—worse is now my work,—</p> +<p class="i2"> A fag; for all the town!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> The "Arabian Nights'" rehears'd in bed!</p> + <p> The "Fairy Tales" in school-time read</p> +<p class="i2"> By stealth, 'twixt verb and noun!</p> + <p> The angel form that always walk'd</p> + <p> In all my dreams, and look'd, and talk'd.</p> +<p class="i2"> Exactly like Miss Brown!</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> The <i>omne bene</i>—Christmas come!</p> + <p> The prize of merit, won for home'—</p> +<p class="i2"> Merit had prizes then!</p> + <p> But now I write for days and days</p> + <p> For fame—a deal of empty praise,</p> +<p class="i2"> Without the silver pen.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> Then home, sweet home! the crowded coach—</p> + <p> The joyous shout—the loud approach—</p> +<p class="i2"> The winding horn like ram's!</p> + <p> The meeting sweet that made me thrill,</p> + <p> The sweetmeats almost sweeter still,</p> +<p class="i2"> No "<i>satis</i>" to the "<i>jams!</i>"</p> +</div></div> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + ENGLISH DRESS. +</h3> + +<center> +(<i>To the Editor of the Mirror</i>.) +</center> + + +<p> +Mr. Editor.—In No. 200 of the MIRROR, you will find an article, +entitled <i>Female Fashions during the early part of the Last +Century</i>. The author then promised to give a description of the dress +of the English gentlemen of the same period, but as no such description +has <i>yet</i> appeared in your pages, I trust you will insert the +annexed at your first convenient opportunity. +</p> + +<h4> +G.W.N. +</h4> + +<center> +<i>Dress of the English Gentlemen during the Early part of the Last +Century.</i> +</center> + +<p> +In the reign of King William III., the English gentlemen affected to +dress like their dependents. Their hats were laced, and their coats and +waistcoats were embroidered with gold and silver fringe; indeed it +really became extremely difficult to distinguish a man of quality from +one of his lackeys. They did not, however, long persevere in this +ridiculous imitation, for they soon afterwards, like the ladies, +servilely followed the French fashions. The great partiality of the +English <i>beau monde</i> towards the <i>bon ton</i> of France, was a +wonderful advantage to that country—an advantage which the English +government in vain endeavoured to abolish, although a heavy duty was +imposed on all French ribbon and lace imported into this kingdom. Many +millions were annually expended in French cambric, muslin, ribbon, and +lace, which useless expenditure very sensibly injured our commercial +transactions with other nations. +</p> +<p> +Perukes and long wigs were worn at the revolution; but these being +greatly inconvenient in all weathers, some people <i>tied up</i> their +wigs, which was the first occasion of short wigs coming into fashion. +Some few years afterwards, bob-wigs were adopted by the gentlemen, +especially by those of the army and the navy. +</p> +<p> +The English costume was remarkably neat and plain anterior to the year +1748; at which period, however, all gentlemen rather resembled military +officers than private individuals, for their coats were not only richly +embroidered with gold and silver, but they even assumed the cockade in +their hats, and carried <i>long</i> rapiers at their sides. At length +this imposing attire was adopted by the merchants and tradesmen of the +metropolis, and soon afterwards by the most notorious rogues and +pickpockets in town, so that when any person with a laced coat, a +cockade, and a sword, walked along the streets of London, it was +absolutely impossible to determine whether he affected to be + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page310" name="page310"></a>[pg 310]</span> + + thought a nobleman, a military officer, a tradesman, or a pickpocket, +for he bore an equal resemblance to each of these characters. +</p> +<p> +In the year 1749, hair-powder was used by the <i>finished</i> gentlemen, +though the use of it, a year or two previous, was prohibited in every +class of society. Of the costume of this period (<i>i.e.</i> about +1749), the immortal Hogarth, in his works, has left us numerous +specimens, which need no comment here: his productions, indeed, are so +equal in merit, that it is impossible to decide which is his <i>ne plus +ultra</i>. +</p> +<p> +In conclusion, I would advise the reader to refer to a few of Hogarth's +prints, for they will admirably serve to illustrate the above +observations on the fashions and habits of our forefathers. +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2> +<i>Astronomical Occurrences</i> +</h2> + +<h3> +<i>FOR NOVEMBER, 1827.</i> +</h3> + +<center> +(<i>For the Mirror</i>.) +</center> + +<p> +Should the afternoon of Saturday, the 3rd of the month, prove +favourable, we shall be afforded an opportunity of witnessing another of +those interesting phenomena—eclipses, at least the latter part of one, +a portion of it only being visible to the inhabitants of this island; +the defect above alluded to is a lunar one. The passage of the moon +through the earth's shadow commences at 3 h. 29 m. 34 s. afternoon; she +rises at Greenwich at 4 h. 45 m. 34 s. with the northern part of her disk +darkened to the extent of nearly 10 digits. The greatest obscuration +will take place at 5 h. 7 m. 42 s. when 10½ digits will be eclipsed; she +then recedes from the earth's shadow, when the sun's light will first be +perceived extending itself on her lower limb towards the east; it will +gradually increase till she entirely emerges from her veil of darkness, +the extreme verge of which leaves her at her upper limb 32 deg. from her +vertex, or highest point of her disc. +</p> +<p> +We have the following in "Moore," some years ago, on the nature and +causes of eclipses of the sun and moon:— +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "Far different sun's and moon's eclipses are,</p> + <p> The moon's are often, but the sun's more rare</p> + <p> The moon's do much deface her beauty bright;</p> + <p> Sol's do not his, but hide from us his sight:</p> + <p> It is the earth the moon's defect procures,</p> + <p> 'Tis the moon's shadow that the sun obscures.</p> + <p> Eastward, moon's front beginneth first to lack,</p> + <p> Westward, sun's brows begin their mourning black:</p> + <p> Moon's eclipses come when she most glorious shines,</p> + <p> Sun's in moon's wane, when beauty most declines;</p> + <p> Moon's general, towards heaven and earth together,</p> + <p> Sun's but to earth, nor to all places neither."</p> +</div></div> + +<p> +The Sun enters <i>Sagittarius</i> on the 23rd, at 1 h. 2 m. morning. +</p> +<p> +Mercury will be visible on the 10th, in 10 deg. of <i>Sagittarius</i>, a +little after sunset, being then at his greatest eastern elongation; he +is stationary on the 20th, and passes his inferior conjunction on the +30th, at 1¾ h. afternoon. +</p> +<p> +Venus is in conjunction with the above planet on the 24th, at 9 h. +evening; she sets on the 1st at 5 h. 7 m., and on the 30th at 4 h. 47 m. +evening. +</p> +<p> +Jupiter may be seen before sunrise making his appearance above the +horizon about 5 h.; he is not yet distant enough from the sun to render +the eclipses of his satellites visible to us. +</p> +<p> +A small comet has just been discovered, situated in one of the feet of +<i>Cassiopea</i>. It is invisible to the naked eye, and appears +approaching the pole with great rapidity. +</p> + +<h4> +PASCHE. +</h4> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2> + RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. +</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3> +DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF THE ROMANS IN THE FOURTH CENTURY. +</h3> + +<p> +A recent discovery has added to our information the most extensive +series of statistical data, which make known from an official act, and +by numerical figures, the state of the Roman empire 1500 years ago; the +price of agricultural and ordinary labour; the relative value of money; +the abundance or scarcity of certain natural productions; the use, more +or less common, of particular sorts of food; the multiplication of +cattle and of flocks; the progress of horticulture; the abundance of +vineyards of various qualities; the common use of singular meats, and +dishes, which we think betrays a corruption of taste; in short the +relation of the value existing between the productions of agriculture +and those of industry, from whence we obtain a proof of the degree of +prosperity which both had reached at this remote period. +</p> +<p> +This precious archaeological monument is an edict of Diocletian, +published in the year 303 of our era, and fixing the price of labour and +of food in the Roman empire. The first part of this edict was found by +Mr. William Hanks, written upon a table of stone, which he discovered at +Stratonice, now called Eskihissar in Asia Minor. The second part, which +was in the possession of a traveller lately returned from the Levant, +has been, brought from Rome to London by M. de Vescovali, and Colonel +Leake intends to + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page311" name="page311"></a>[pg 311]</span> + + publish a literal translation of it. This agreement of so many persons +of respectable character, and known talents, excludes all doubts +respecting the authenticity of the monument. +</p> +<p> +The imperial edict of Diocletian is composed of more than twenty-four +articles. It is quite distinct from that delivered the preceding year +for taxing the price of corn in the eastern provinces, and it contained +no law upon the value of corn. It fixed for all the articles which it +enumerated a maximum, which was the price in times of scarcity. For all +the established prices it makes use of the <i>Roman Denarii</i>; and it +applies them to the <i>sextarius</i> for liquids, and to the <i>Roman +pound</i> for the things sold by weight. +</p> +<p> +Before the Augustan age, the <i>denarius</i> was equal to eighteen sous +of our money; but it diminished gradually in value, and under Diocletian +its value was not above nine sous of French money, and 45 centimes. The +Roman pound was equivalent to 12 ounces, and the <i>sextarius</i> which +was the sixth part of a conge, came near to the old Paris chopin, or +half a litre. +</p> +<p> +Proceeding on these data, M. Moreau de Jonnes has formed a table, +showing, 1. the maximum in Roman measures, the same as the established +imperial edict; and 2. the mean price of objects <i>formed from</i> half +the maximum, and reduced into French measures. +</p> +<p> +The following is the table drawn up by M. Moreau de Jonnes. The +slightest inspection of it will enable us to appreciate the importance +of this archaeological discovery, for no monument of antiquity has +furnished so long a series of numerical terms, of statistical data, and +positive testimony of the civil life and domestic economy of the Greeks +and Romans:— +</p> + +<table border="0" align="center" summary="Table of price comparisons"> + +<tr><td colspan="6"><h3>I.—PRICE OF LABOUR.</h3></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td>Maximum in Roman Money.</td><td colspan="4">Mean Price in English Money.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">£. </td><td align="right">s. </td><td align="right">d.</td></tr> + +<tr><td>To a day labourer </td><td align="right"> Den. 25 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 4 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. for interior works </td><td align="right"> 50 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 9 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>To a mason </td><td align="right"> 50 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 9 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>To a maker of mortar </td><td align="right"> 50 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 9 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>To a marble-cutler, or maker of mosaic work </td><td align="right"> 60 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">11 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>To a tailor for making clothes </td><td align="right"> 50 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 9 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. for sewing only </td><td align="right"> 6 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 1 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td>½ </td></tr> +<tr><td>For making shoes for the patricians </td><td align="right"> 150 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td align="right"> 8 </td><td align="right">1 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. shoes for workmen </td><td align="right"> 120 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td align="right"> 2 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> +<tr><td>for the military </td><td align="right"> 100 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">18 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> +<tr><td>for the senators </td><td align="right"> 100 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">18 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> +<tr><td>for the women </td><td align="right"> 60 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">11 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Military sandals </td><td align="right"> 75 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">14 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td>½ </td></tr> +<tr><td>To a barber for each man </td><td align="right"> 2 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td>½ </td></tr> +<tr><td>To a veterinary surgeon for shearing the + animals and trimming their feet </td><td align="right"> 6 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 1 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td>½ </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. for currycombing and cleaning them </td><td align="right"> 20 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 9 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>For one month's lessons in architecture </td><td align="right"> 100 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">18 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> +<tr><td>To an advocate for a petition + to the tribunal </td><td align="right"> 250 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right"> 6 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>For the hearing a cause </td><td align="right"> 1000 </td><td align="right">9 </td><td align="right"> 7 </td><td align="right">6 </td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="6"><h3>II.—PRICE OF WINES.</h3></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td>Maximum of the Sextarius.</td><td colspan="4">Mean Price of the English Pint, Wine Measure.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">£. </td><td align="right">s. </td><td align="right">d.</td></tr> + +<tr><td>Picene, Tiburtine, Sabine, Aminean, + Surentine, Setinian, and Falernian wines</td><td align="right"> Den. 30 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">5 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Old wines of the first quality </td><td align="right"> 24 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td>¾ </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. of second quality </td><td align="right"> 16 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right">10 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Country wine </td><td align="right"> 8 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td align="right">5 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Beer </td><td align="right"> 4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td>¾ </td></tr> +<tr><td>Beer of Egypt </td><td align="right"> 2 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">2 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Spiced wine of Asia </td><td align="right"> 30 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">5 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Barley wine of Attica </td><td align="right"> 24 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td>¾ </td></tr> +<tr><td>Decoction of different raising </td><td align="right"> 16 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right">10 </td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="6"><h3>III.—PRICE OF MEAT.</h3></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td>Maximum of the Roman pound.</td><td colspan="4">Mean Price of the French pound.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">£. </td><td align="right">s. </td><td align="right">d.</td></tr> + +<tr><td>Flesh of oxen </td><td align="right">Den. 8 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. of mutton, or of goat </td><td align="right"> 8 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. of lamb, or of kid </td><td align="right"> 12 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">3 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. of pork </td><td align="right"> 12 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">3 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>The best lard </td><td align="right"> 16 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>The best ham from Westphalia, from Cerdagne, + or from the country of the Marses </td><td align="right"> 20 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">5 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Fat fresh pork </td><td align="right"> 12 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">3 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Belly and tripe </td><td align="right"> 16 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Pig's liver, enlarged by being + fattened upon figs </td><td align="right"> 16 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Pig's feet, each </td><td align="right"> 4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Fresh pork sausages, weighing one ounce </td><td align="right"> 2 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td>½ </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. of fresh beef </td><td align="right"> 16 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right">9 </td><td>½ </td></tr> +<tr><td>Pork sausages and seasoned </td><td align="right"> 16 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. of smoked beef </td><td align="right"> 10 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right">9 </td><td>½ </td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="6"><h3>IV.—POULTRY AND GAME.</h3></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td>Maximum of each in Roman Money.</td><td colspan="4">Mean Price of each in English Money.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">£. </td><td align="right">s. </td><td align="right">d.</td></tr> + +<tr><td>One fat male peacock </td><td align="right">Den. 250 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right"> 6 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>One fat female peacock </td><td align="right">200 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td align="right">17 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>One male wild peacock </td><td align="right">125 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td align="right"> 3 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td>½ </td></tr> +<tr><td>One female wild peacock </td><td align="right">100 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">18 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> +<tr><td>One fat goose </td><td align="right">200 </td><td align="right">2 </td><td align="right"> 6 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. not fat </td><td align="right">100 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">18 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> +<tr><td>One hen </td><td align="right"> 60 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">11 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>One duck </td><td align="right"> 40 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 7 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> +<tr><td>One partridge </td><td align="right"> 30 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 5 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> +<tr><td>One hare </td><td align="right">150 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td align="right"> 8 </td><td align="right">1 </td></tr> +<tr><td>One rabbit </td><td align="right"> 40 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 7 </td><td align="right">4 </td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="6"><h3>V.—FISH.</h3></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td>Maximum of each in Roman Money.</td><td colspan="4">Mean Price of each in English Money.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">£. </td><td align="right">s. </td><td align="right">d.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Sea fish, first quality </td><td align="right">Den. 24 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 4 </td><td align="right">6 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. second quality </td><td align="right"> 16 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 3 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>River fish, first quality </td><td align="right"> 12 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 2 </td><td align="right">3 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. second quality </td><td align="right"> 8 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 1 </td><td align="right">6 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Salt fish </td><td align="right"> 6 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 1 </td><td align="right">1 </td><td>½ </td></tr> +<tr><td>Oysters, per hundred </td><td align="right"> 100 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">18 </td><td align="right">8 </td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="6"><h3>VI.—CULINARY VEGETABLES.</h3></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Lettuces, the best, five together </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. second quality, ten together </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="pagenum"><a id="page312" name="page312"></a>[pg 312]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Common cabbages, the best, single </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Cauliflower, the best, five together </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. second quality, ten together </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Beet root, the best, five together </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. second quality, ten together </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Radishes, the largest </td><td align="right">4 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">9 </td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="6"><h3>VII.—OTHER PROVISIONS.</h3></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td>Maximum of the Sextarius in Roman Money.</td><td colspan="4">Mean Price of each in English Money.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">£. </td><td align="right">s. </td><td align="right">d.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Honey, the best </td><td align="right">Den. 40 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">15 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. second quality </td><td align="right">20 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 7 </td><td align="right">6 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Oil, the best quality </td><td align="right">40 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right">15 </td><td align="right">0 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Do. the second quality </td><td align="right">24 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 9 </td><td align="right">1 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Vinegar </td><td align="right"> 6 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 3 </td><td align="right">3 </td></tr> +<tr><td>A stimulant to excite the appetite, made + of the essence of fish </td><td align="right"> 6 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 2 </td><td align="right">3 </td></tr> +<tr><td>Dried cheese, the Roman pound </td><td align="right">12 </td><td align="right">0 </td><td align="right"> 3 </td><td align="right">4 </td><td>Fr. lb. </td></tr> +</table> + + +<p> +We are much surprised at the very high prices in this table. Labour and +provisions cost ten and twenty times as much as with us. But when we +come to compare the price of provisions with the price of labour the +dearness of all the necessaries of life appears still more excessive. +M. Moreau de Jonnes makes this comparison. He brings together from the +edicts of Diocletian a great many facts given by historians, and he +shows, that, if the abundance of the precious metals has any influence +on raising the prices, the want of labour, industry, and of produce, +must cause it also. +</p> +<p> +These considerations point out in the strongest manner the poverty of +this royal people, of whom two-thirds, if not three-fourths, were +reduced to live on fish and cheese, and drink piquette, when the expense +of the table of Vitellius amounted, in a single year, to 175 millions of +Francs.—<i>Brewster's Journal of Science.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2> + THE GATHERER. +</h2> + +<p> +"I am but a <i>Gatherer</i> and disposer of other men's stuff."—<i>Wotton</i> +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + TWELVE GOLDEN RULES OF CHARLES I. +</h3> + +<p> +1. Profane no divine ordinances. 2. Touch no state matters. 3. Urge no +healths. 4. Pick no quarrels. 5. Maintain no ill opinions. 6. Encourage +no vice. 7. Repeat no grievances. 8. Reveal no secrets. 9. Make no +comparisons. 10. Keep no bad company. 11. Make no long meals. 12. Lay no +wagers. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + EPIGRAMS, +</h3> + +<center> +<i>Written on the Union</i>, 1801, <i>by a celebrated Barrister of Dublin.</i> +</center> + +<center> +<i>Adapted to the Commercial Failures</i>, 1800. +</center> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Why should we exclaim, that the times are so bad,</p> +<p class="i2"> Pursuing a querulous strain?</p> + <p> When Erin gives up all the rights that she had,</p> +<p class="i2"> What <i>right has she left to com</i>plain?</p> +</div></div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> The Cit complains to all he meets,</p> + <p> That grass will grow in Dublin streets,</p> +<p class="i2"> And swears that all is over!</p> + <p> Short-sighted mortals, can't you see,</p> + <p> Your mourning will be chang'd to glee—</p> +<p class="i2"> For then you'll live in <i>clover</i>.</p> +</div></div> + +<hr /> + +<center> +<i>Necessitas non habet legem.</i> +</center> + +<h3> +ON SIR JOHN ANSTRUTHER. +</h3> + +<center> +<i>By the Honourable Thomas Erskine.</i> +</center> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Necessity and Law are alike each other:</p> + <p> Necessity has no Law—nor has Anstruther.</p> +</div></div> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + EPITAPH ON A CONTROVERSIALIST. +</h3> + +<p> +On the death of that turbulent and refractory enthusiast, John Lilburne, +<i>alias Free-born John, alias Lilburne the Trouble-world</i>, there +appeared the following epigrammatic epitaph:— +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> Is John departed, and is Lilburne gone?</p> + <p> Farewell to both, to Lilburne and to John!</p> + <p> Yet being gone, take this advice from me,</p> + <p> Let them not <i>both</i> in one grave buried be.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> + <p> Here lay ye John; lay Lilburne thereabout,</p> + <p> For if they both should meet, they would fall out.</p> +</div></div> + +<p> +This alluded to a saying, that John Lilburne was so quarrelsome, that if +he were the only man in the world, John would quarrel with Lilburne, and +Lilburne with John. Lilburne, it will be remembered, was a sad thorn in +Cromwell's sore side, for which the protector amply repaid him. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3> + HOSPITAL OF SURGERY. +</h3> + +<p> +A new surgical hospital is to be forthwith erected in the neighbourhood +of Charing Cross, where the King, with his usual and characteristic +munificence, has given a spot of ground on which it is to be erected. A +benevolent individual has given, within these few days, 1,500<i>l.</i> +towards a fund for the building. +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p> +<i>Printed and Published by J. Limbird, 143, Strand, (near Somerset +House,) and sold by all Newssmen and Booksellers.</i> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a> +<b>Footnote 1</b>: +<a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> +<p> +As the Palais Royal may be considered the central point of the +<i>maisons de jeu</i>, or gambling-houses, it will not be irrelevant +to give a brief sketch of them:— +</p> +<p> +The apartments which they occupy are on the first floor, and are +very spacious. Upon ascending the staircase is an antechamber, in +which are persons called <i>bouledogues</i> (bull-dogs), whose +office it is to prevent the entrance of certain marked individuals. +In the same room are men to receive hats, umbrellas, &c., who give +a number, which is restored upon going out. +</p> +<p> +The antechamber leads to the several gaming rooms, furnished with +tables, round which are seated the individuals playing, called +<i>pontes</i> (punters), each of whom is furnished with a card and a pin +to mark the <i>rouge</i> and <i>noir</i>, or the number, in order to regulate +his game. At each end of the table is a man called <i>bout de table</i>, +who pushes up to the bank the money lost. In the middle of the +table is the man who draws the cards. These persons, under the +reign of Louis XIV., were called <i>coupeurs de bourses</i> +(purse-cutters); they are now denominated <i>tailleurs</i>. +After having drawn the cards, they mate known the result as +follows:—<i>Rouge gagne et couleur perd.—Rouge perd et couleur +gagne</i>. +</p> +<p> +At <i>roulette</i>, the <i>tailleurs</i> are those who put the ball in +motion and announce the result. +</p> +<p> +At <i>passe-dix</i>, every time the dice are thrown, the <i>tailleurs</i> +announce how many the person playing has gained. +</p> +<p> +Opposite the <i>tailleur</i>, and on his right and left, are persons +called <i>croupiers</i>, whose business it is to pay and to collect +money. +</p> +<p> +Behind the <i>tailleurs</i> and <i>croupiers</i> are inspectors, to see +that too much is not given in payment, besides an indefinite +number of secret inspectors, who are only known to the proprietors. +There are also <i>maîtres de maison</i>, who are called to decide +disputes; and <i>messieurs de la chambre</i>, who furnish cards to +the <i>pontes</i>, and serve them with beer, &c., which is to be +had <i>gratis</i>. Moreover, there is a <i>grand maître</i>, to whom the +apartments, tables, &c., belong. +</p> +<p> +When a stranger enters these apartments, he will soon find near +him some obliging men of mature age, who, with an air of prudence +and sagacity, proffer their advice. As these advisers perfectly +understand <i>their own</i> game, if their <i>protégés</i> lose, the mentors +vanish; but it they win, the counsellor comes nearer, congratulates +the happy player, insinuates that it was by following his advice +that fortune smiled on him, and finally succeeds in borrowing a +small sum of money on honour. Many of these loungers have no +other mode of living. +</p> +<p> +There is likewise another room, furnished with sofas, called +<i>chamber des blessés</i>, which is far from being the most +thinly peopled. +</p> +<p> +The bank pays in ready money every successful stake and sweeps +off the losings with wooden instruments, called <i>rateaux</i> +(rakes). +</p> +<p> +It was in one of the houses in this quarter that the late Marshal +Blucher won and lost very heavy sums, during the occupation of +Paris by the allied armies. +</p> +<p> +There are two gaming-houses in Paris of a more splendid description +than those of the Palais Royal, where dinners or suppers are given, +and where ladies are admitted.—<i>Galignani's History of Paris</i>. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 281, NOVEMBER 3, 1827***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 16098-h.txt or 16098-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/0/9/16098">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/9/16098</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 281, November 3, 1827 + + +Author: Various + + + +Release Date: June 21, 2005 [eBook #16098] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, +AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 281, NOVEMBER 3, 1827*** + + +E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, David Garcia, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 16098-h.htm or 16098-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/0/9/16098/16098-h/16098-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/0/9/16098/16098-h.zip) + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. X. No. 281.] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1827. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + + * * * * * + +NO. XIV. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + + +The first of the above engravings represents one of the _Body Guards +of the Sheikh of Bornou_, copied from an engraving after a sketch +made by Major Denham, in his recent "Travels in Africa." These negroes, +as they are called, meaning the black chiefs and favourites, all raised +to that rank by Some deed of bravery, are habited in coats of mail, +composed of iron chain, which cover them from the throat to the knees, +dividing behind, and coming on each side of the horse; some of them wear +helmets or skull-caps of the same metal, with chin-pieces, all +sufficiently strong to ward off the shock of a spear. Their horses' +heads are also defended by plates of iron, brass, and silver, just +leaving room for the eyes of the animal; and not unfrequently they are +hung over with charms, enclosed in little red leather parcels, strung +together, round the neck, in front of the head, and about the saddle. + +[Illustration] + +Their appearance is altogether of a warlike character, the horses being +well caparisoned, and the riders well clothed for personal defence; and +though their equestrian evolutions be somewhat wild, the lance or spear +is doubtless a formidable weapon in their hands. The savage splendour of +their dress, together with the pawing and snorting of their fiery +steeds, render them appropriate auxiliaries to royalty, in countries +where such attributes of power are requisite to impress the people with +the importance of their rulers, and where the milder aids of +civilization and refinement are wanting to protect the sovereign from +violence. + +The second engraving, copied from the same authentic source as that +preceding it, is a somewhat grotesque portraiture of one of the _Lancers +of the Sultan of Begharmi_, described, in an historical and geographical +account by a native prince, as an extensive country, containing woods +and rivers, and fields fit for cultivation; but now desolated, as the +inhabitants say, by the "misconduct of the king, who, having increased +in levity and licentiousness to such a frightful degree, as even to +marry his own daughter, God Almighty caused Saboon, the prince of +Wa-da-i, to march against him, and destroy him, laying waste, at the +same time, all his country, and leaving the houses uninhabited, as a +signal chastisement for his impiety." + +Major Denham having applied for the covering of the above warrior and +his horse, in his journal thus describes their arrival:--"Aug. 11. Soon +after daylight, Karouash, with Hadgi, Mustapha, the chief of the +Shouaas, and the Sheikh's two nephews, Hassein and Kanemy, came to our +huts. They were attended by more than a dozen slaves, bearing presents +for us, for King George, and the consul at Tripoli. I had applied for a +_lebida_, (horse-covering,) after seeing those taken from the Begharmis; +the sheikh now sent a man, clothed in a yellow wadded jacket, with a +scarlet cap, and mounted on the horse taken from the Begharmis, on which +the sultan's eldest son rode. He was one of the finest horses I had +seen, and covered with a scarlet cloth, also wadded. 'Every thing,' +Hadgi Mustapha said, 'except the man, is to be taken to your great +king.'" + +The Begharmis, it will be seen, were conquered by the people of Kanem; +and Major Denham has translated, and given in the appendix to his +_Travels_, a song of thanksgiving on the triumphant return of the +governor, full of the characteristic beauty and simplicity of savage +life. In these struggles it would appear the law of nations is severe on +the weakest; for the son of the late sultan of the Begharmis is +described as "now a slave of the sheikh of Bornou." So wags the world! + + +LIVING AT TOULOUSE. + +Part of a house, sufficient for a small family, unfurnished, may be had +for 14 l. a year; and the most elegant in the city, in the best +situation, for 60 l., including coach-house, stable, cellar, &c. A horse +may be kept well for 14 l. a year. The wages of a coachman are 8 l., a +housemaid 8 l., a noted cook 16 l., and a lady's-maid 10 l. The price of +a chicken is 7-1/2 d.; a partridge 1 s.; a hare 2 s. 6 d.; a duck 1 s.; +a turkey 2 s. 6 d.; the best bread 1-1/2 d. per lb.; common ditto 1 d.; +a bottle of wine 3 d.; brandy is sold by the lb. of 16 oz. and costs 6 +d.; grapes 1/2 d. per lb.; meat 3 d.; butter 4 d.; cheese 6d; 50 lbs. +carrots 10 d.; other vegetables at the same rate. A dozen very fine +peaches now cost a halfpenny; pears 3 d. a dozen; labourers, who work +from sunrise to sunset, are fed by the proprietor, and have 6 d. per +day, which, in this part of the country, will go further than three +times the sum in England. The horses and oxen used about the farms are +fed chiefly on straw, and do not consume more than 3 d. a day. The +labouring people make a very nourishing diet from maize flour, which is +fried with grease; and this, with beans, forms the principal part of +their food. They neither use nor wish for meat; but at this season they +have figs and grapes almost for nothing--_Original Letter_. + + +MOHAMMEDAN SUPERSTITION. + +The eastern, and all Mohammedan people, considering Alexander the Great +as the only monarch who conquered the globe from east to west, give him +the title of "the two horned," in allusion to his said conquests. They +likewise believe that Gog and Magog were two great nations, but that, in +consequence of their wicked and mischievous disposition, Alexander +gathered and immured them within two immensely high mountains, in the +darkest and northernmost parts of Europe, by a most surprising and +insuperable wall, made of iron and copper, of great thickness and +height; and that to the present time they are confined there; that, +notwithstanding they are a dwarfish race,--viz. from two to three feet +in height only--they will one day come out and desolate the world. As +Lord Mayor's Day is just approaching, perhaps some of the visiters of +Gog and Magog on that occasion may decide this matter. It is almost akin +to our nursery quibble of the giants hearing the clock strike, &c. &c. + + +PERSIAN BARBER. + +The Khas-terash (literally, personal shaver) of the present sovereign +has, in the abundance of his wealth, built a palace for himself close to +the royal bath at Teheran. And he is _entitled_ to riches, for he +is a man of pre-eminent excellence in his art, and has had for a long +period, under his especial care, the magnificent beard of his majesty, +which is at this moment, and has been for years, the pride of +Persia.--_Persian Sketches_. + + +LIVING IN GENEVA. + +The vicinity of Geneva appears peculiarly eligible for the permanent +residence of an English family. There is perhaps no town on the +continent where greater facilities are afforded for a man of literary +and scientific pursuits to indulge his taste or to increase his +knowledge. The city is close built, and consequently not an agreeable +place to live in; but its immediate environs abound with delightful +spots. + +The costume of the Genevese assimilates much with that of the French; +but the better class of females are partial to the English fashions. The +language of the country is French, but its habits and religion are +widely different. Not only does the Protestant faith find here the +salutary prevalence of a kindred faith, but the members of our own +ecclesiastical establishment are enabled to join each other every +Sabbath day in the worship of God, and at stated seasons to receive the +holy sacrament according to the pure and apostolic ritual of the church +of England. + +The expense of a house, with a garden and piece of land, within a mile +of the gates, including also the keeping of a caleche and pair of +horses, for a gentleman, his lady, two children, and three servants, +does not exceed 300 l. a year; and with this he is enabled to receive his +friends occasionally, and in a respectable style. To proceed from a +family establishment to a bachelor's pension, "I," says Mr. Seth +Stevenson, in his _Continental Travels_, "was told that a person +at Petit Saconnex has a sleeping-room to himself, and his breakfast, +dinner, tea, and supper with the family, for 500 francs (20 l. 16 s. 8 d.) +per annum." + +The taxation of Geneva is described as very trifling. There is a sort of +income-tax, to which every man of property contributes, on his honour, +as to the amount of that property. The whole tax for horses and +carriages amounts to about 18 d. for each person; the richest it seems +pays no more, and the others pay no less. "My friend assures me," +continues Mr. S. "that his fellow citizens approve of their annexation +to Switzerland, and also of the union of the Valais with the Helvetic +confederation--that the people of this little republic are flourishing +again, contented with their government; and as the best proof of their +returning prosperity since the peace, he adverted to the comparatively +few indigent or distressed persons among them, and to the fact of there +being only forty-five persons in the poor's hospital, besides those +admitted under the head of casualties." + + * * * * * + + +ORIGINAL STORY OF HAMLET, + +(_From the Latin of Saxo Grammaticus, but interspersed._) + + +Florwendillus, king of Jutland, married Geruthra, or Gertrude, the only +daughter of Ruric, king of Denmark. The produce of this union was a son, +called Amlettus. When he grew towards manhood, his spirit and +extraordinary abilities excited the envy and hatred of his uncle, who, +before the birth of Amlettus, was regarded as presumptive heir to the +crown. Fengo, which was the name of this haughty prince, conceived a +passion for his sister-in-law, the queen; and meeting with reciprocal +feelings, they soon arranged a plan, which putting into execution, he +ascended the throne of his brother and espoused the widowed princess. +Amlettus, (or Hamlet,) suspecting that his father had died by the hand +or the devices of his uncle, determined to be revenged. But perceiving +the jealousy with which the usurper eyed his superior talents, and the +better to conceal his hatred and intentions, he affected a gradual +derangement of reason, and at last acted all the extravagance of an +absolute madman. Fengo's guilt induced him to doubt the reality of a +malady so favourable to his security; and suspicious of some direful +project being hidden beneath assumed insanity, he tried by different +stratagems to penetrate the truth. One of these was to draw him into a +confidential interview with a young damsel, who had been the companion +of his infancy; but Hamlet's sagacity, and the timely caution of his +intimate friend, frustrated this design. In these two persons we may +recognise the Ophelia and Horatio of Shakspeare. A second plot was +attended with equal want of success. It was concerted by Fengo that the +queen should take her son to task in a private conversation, vainly +flattering himself that the prince would not conceal his true state from +the pleadings of a mother. Shakspeare has adopted every part of this +scene, not only the precise situation and circumstances, but the +sentiments and sometimes the very words themselves. The queen's +apartment was the appointed place of conference, where the king, to +secure certain testimony, had previously ordered one of his courtiers to +conceal himself under _a heap of straw;_ so says the historian; and +though Shakspeare, in unison with the refinement of more modern times, +changes that rustic covering for the royal tapestry, yet it was even as +Saxo Grammaticus relates it. In those primitive ages, straw, hay, of +rushes, strewed on the floor, were the usual carpets in the chambers of +the great. One of our Henrys, in making a progress to the north of +England, previously sent forward a courier to order _clean straw_ +at every house where he was to take his lodging. But to return to the +subject. + +The prince, suspecting there might be a concealed listener, and that it +was the king, pursued his wild and frantic acts, hoping that by some +lucky chance he might discover his hiding-place. Watchful of all that +passed in the room, as he dashed from side to side, he descried a little +movement of the uneasy courtier's covering. Suddenly Hamlet sprung on +his feet, began to crow like a cock, and flapping his arms against his +sides, leaped upon the straw; feeling something under him, he snatched +out his sword and thrust it through the unfortunate lord. The barbarism +of the times is most shockingly displayed in the brutal manner in which +he treats the dead body; but for the honour of the Danish prince, we +must suppose that it was not merely a wanton act, but done the more +decidedly to convince the king, when the strange situation of the corpse +was seen, how absolutely he must be divested of reason. Being assured he +was now alone with his mother, in a most awful manner he turns upon her, +and avows his madness to be assumed; he reproaches her with her wicked +deeds and incestuous marriage; and threatens a mighty vengeance upon the +instigator of her crime. + +In the historian we find that the admonitions of Hamlet awakened the +conscience of the queen, and recalled her to penitence and virtue. The +king, observing the change, became doubly suspicious of the prince; and +baffling some preliminary steps he took to vengeance; Hamlet was +entrapped by him into an embassy to England. He sent along with him two +courtiers, who bore private letters to the English monarch, requesting +him, as the greatest favour he could confer on Denmark, to compass, by +secret and by sure means, the death of the prince as soon as he landed. +Hamlet, during the voyage, had reason to suspect the mission of his +companions; and by a stratagem obtaining their credentials, he found the +treacherous mandate; and changing it for one wherein he ordered the +execution of the two lords, he quietly proceeded with them to the +British shore. On landing, the papers were delivered, and the king, +without further parley, obeyed what he believed to be the request of his +royal ally; and thus did treason meet the punishment due to its crime. +The daughter of the king being charmed with the person and manners of +the foreign prince, evinced such marks of tenderness, that Hamlet could +not but perceive the depth of his conquest. He was not insensible to her +attractions; and receiving the king's assent, in the course of a few +days led her to the nuptial altar. Amidst all joys, he was, however, +like a perturbed ghost that could not rest; and before many suns had +rose and set, he obtained a hard wrung leave from his bride, once more +set sail, and appeared at Elsineur just in time to be a witness of the +splendid rites which Fengo (supposing him now to be murdered) had +prepared for his funeral. On the proclamation of his arrival, he was +welcomed with enthusiasm by the people, whose idol he was, and who had +been overwhelmed with grief when Fengo announced to them his sudden +death in England. The king, inflamed with so ruinous a disappointment, +and becoming doubly jealous of his growing popularity, now affected no +conciliation, but openly manifested his hatred and hostility. Hamlet +again had recourse to his pretended madness, and committed so many +alarming acts, that Fengo, fearing their direction, ordered his sword to +be locked in its scabbard, under a plea of guarding the lunatic from +personal harm, After various adventures, at last the prince accomplished +the death of his uncle's adherents, and vengeance on the fratricide +himself, by setting fire to the palace during the debauch of a midnight +banquet. Rushing amidst the flames, he kills Fengo with his own hand, +reproaching him at the moment with his murder, adultery, and incest. +Immediately on this act of retribution he was proclaimed lawful +successor to the throne, and crowned with all due solemnity. + +Thus far Shakspeare treads in the steps of the annalist; the only +difference is in the fate of the hero; in the one he finds a kingdom, in +the other a grave. Saxo Grammaticus carries the history further; and +after the crowning of Hamlet as king, brings him again into Britain, +where, in compliment to that land of beauty, he marries a second wife, +the daughter of a Scottish king. Hamlet brought both his wives to +Denmark, and prepared for a long life of prosperity and peace. But the +sword hung over his head; war burst around him, and he fell in combat by +the hand of Vigelotes, son of Ruric. Saxo Grammaticus sums up his +character in a few words: "He was a wise prince and a great warrior. +Like Achilles, he had the principal actions of his life wrought on his +shield. The daughter of the king of Scotland casting her eye on it, +loved him for the battles he had won, and became his bride." + + * * * * * + + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + * * * * * + + +ENGLISH FRUITS. + +(_Concluded from page 295._) + + +_The Vine_.--The value and transcendant excellence of this foreign fruit +is too well known to require any extended account in this paper; as a +native of the southern verge of the northern temperate zone, it only +requires its natural degree of heat to bring it to perfection. The +growth is luxuriant, is fertile, easy of management, and as it requires +support, obedient to the trainer's will. Many excellent varieties ate in +our stoves and vineries; differing in hardness, size of bunches, and in +colour and flavour of fruit. These, it is likely, have been gained from +seeds; and as its cultivation has been primaeval with the inhabitants of +the earth, no wonder it received, for its unequalled utility, their +chiefest care. + +That the climate of this country has undergone a considerable change +within the last hundred years, is allowed by all who have considered the +subject; and nothing furnishes a more convincing proof of this, than the +history of the vine. Previous to the reign of Henry VIII., every abbey +and monastery had its vineyard. In the rent-rolls of church property in +those days, and long afterwards, considerable quantities of grapes were +paid as tithe; and the vestiges of some of those vineyards remain to +this day. They were usually placed on the south side of a hill, in a +light dry soil, having the surface covered with sand; the vines being +trained near the ground. But with such inclement and changeable springs, +and long protracted winters, as have been experienced of late, even such +frost as is seen at this moment (24th of April,) vines as standards in +the open air, would be destroyed; or, at least, no dependence could be +placed upon them for a crop. But vineyards in the country could neither +be so profitable, nor are they so necessary as they were in those days; +international intercourse is now more open, and corporations, whether +religious or civil, can be supplied with grapes in any shape, and their +precious juice in any quantity, at a cheaper rate than either home-grown +or home-made. In their cultivation in this country, practitioners are +more liable to err in planting them in too rich, than in too poor a +soil; the first adds too much to their natural luxuriance of growth, and +always reduces the flavour of the fruit. + +_The Mulberry_.--This fruit has not been subjected to the +operations and attention of the improver so much, perhaps, as it +deserves; true, it has been planted against walls, and as espaliers; and +in both places has done well. + +_The Fig_ has been long in our gardens; a very ancient one is still +alive in the garden of one of the colleges at Oxford. In its native +country it produces two crops in the year, and this property makes its +management rather difficult in a country where it can but with +difficulty be made to produce one; and especially when trained in the +common way to a wall, where the crop is often sacrificed to the useless +symmetry of the tree. It is impatient of frost, and requires protection +during winter; and is also impatient of the knife, and more, perhaps, +than any other tree, is disposed to form its own natural head. When kept +in a glass case, either planted in the ground or in pots, it well repays +the trouble bestowed upon it. + +_The Quince_.--This fruit remains very steadily in character to +what it has always been known to be; the taste is too austere to be used +alone from the tree; but with other fruits in pastry, or in the shape of +preserves or marmalade, it is useful. + +_The Medley_.--Two or three sorts of this tree are in cultivation: +they are placed in the lowest grade of fruits; though, when they are +perfectly mature, they are much relished by some palates. The azarola, +service, and two or three others used in the south of Europe, are not +worth notice here. + +_The Filbert_.--The common wild hazle of our hedges has been +improved, by chance or cultivation, into the several varieties of red +and white filberts and cob-nuts. Working them upon the hazle, or upon +themselves, is necessary; because, it not only makes them more fruitful, +but also brings them sooner into bearing. + +_The Walnut_.--This nuciferous tree has been cultivated in England +more for the value of the timber than for its fruit. There are several +varieties, differing chiefly in the size of the nut, from the diminutive +ben-nut, to the large or double French sort. The only improvement which +can be expected in this, is a hardier sort which would be less +susceptible of damage from frost. + +_The Chestnut_.--The description of the walnut may be applied to +this, as they are natives of the same climate; and their flowers are +alike impatient of frost. The fruit of this is, however, inferior to +that of the walnut, and seldom arrives at the same degree of perfection. +The tree grows to a great size, and is one of the most valuable of our +forest trees. In "days of yore," it must have been much more plentiful +in this country, or more plentifully imported, than it now is; as the +principal timbers of abbeys, cathedrals, and other ancient buildings, +are chiefly formed of it: being equally durable as the oak, which it so +much resembles, that they can hardly be distinguished from each other, +but by the test of the wet edge of a chissel being stained by the oak, +and not at all by the chestnut. + +_The Melon and Cucumber_.--These exotic fruits are extensively +cultivated; the latter takes various shapes in our bills of fare; the +former is more a luxury than a fruit for general use; their culture on +hot-beds forms a material branch of modern gardening, and with that of +the gourd, pumpkin, squash, vegetable marrow, &c., is well known. + +_The Pine-Apple_.--This sovereign of fruits is, and can only be, in +this country, an appendage to opulence and rank. Several varieties are +cultivated in our forcing-stoves, and grace the tables of the rich, and +in as great perfection as they can be had between the tropics. In their +wild state, they affect the sides of rivulets, and often under the shade +of lofty trees; but are of inferior flavour, unless the weather is very +dry when they are ripening off; and when cultivated, they receive little +or no water during the last stage of their growth.--_Quarterly Journal +of Science, &c._ + + * * * * * + + +ANECDOTES OF THE MARVELLOUS. + +_A Prediction Fulfilled._ + + +At the time of the American war, a gentleman (a mere youth) entered the +army, and saw some little service. One day, during an engagement, he +was, in the hurry and confusion of it, knocked down; and a soldier, +setting his foot upon his chest in passing over him, hurt him so +exceedingly that he became senseless; upon recovering, he found himself +still stretched on the ground, and a singular, looking female stood +beside him, who, as he opened his eyes, exclaimed in an ill-boding +voice, "Ay, young man, mark my words: _that_ hurt will be the +death of you in your forty-second year." He immediately recognised in +this old raven one of those _soothsayers_ who usually followed the +army, and gained a livelihood by their oracular powers. Mr. L. certainly +did _mark_ her words, inasmuch as returning to England, he quitted +the army, entered the church, and amongst other red-coat reminiscences, +used frequently to mention (and mention but to ridicule) the American +soothsayer's prediction. Nevertheless, true it is, that he did die in +his forty-second year, and of a disease in his _chest_ too, +although he had never suffered from the hurt beyond the period at which +he received it. + + +_Imagination._ + +The measles (it is pretty well known to all voyagers) is at St. Helena a +hideous and fatal disorder, although generally mild at the Cape, which +is about a fortnight's sail from the former island: every ship, +therefore, from the Cape, upon touching at St. Helena, undergoes +examination, and, if the measles are known to be prevalent at the former +place, is put into quarantine, and no officer, however urgent his +business may be, allowed to land without making oath or affidavit that +he has not been on shore at the Cape, or approached an infected person. +Some years since, a naval officer, acquainted with the then governor of +St. Helena, General P----n, was invited to dine with him, and met at +dinner another officer from another vessel, who, it is to be presumed, +had eluded undergoing the usual precautionary measures, and was perhaps +ignorant of their existence, since he mentioned, during the repast, that +the measles were prevailing at Cape Town, and admitted that he had +entered it. Now, he had just arrived at St. Helena, and though he +expressly stated that he had not gone near any infected person, poor +Mrs. P----, uttering a shriek, fled from the table, exclaiming that she +knew she should have the measles; in fact, she immediately fell sick of +that disorder, (and died, I think I understood.) All her family took it, +and it raged through the island, proving dreadfully destructive. + + +_Mysterious Incident._ + +It was the wedding day of Mr. and Mrs. Terry, (I mean the _actual_, +not the anniversary wedding-day,) and the jocund bridegroom, bride, and +their guests were assembled about noon in the drawing-room, when a +servant entered, and said a gentleman had called, and wished to speak to +Mr. T.; that he was waiting below stairs, and would not come up, because +he came upon very particular business. Mr. Terry, desiring his company +to excuse him for a few minutes, quitted the room. One hour elapsed--no +bridegroom; two hours--he did not appear;--three--four--he was not +returned: the bride's mind misgave her, and the hymeneal guests were +quite alarmed: the servants declared that they had seen their master and +the gentleman walk into the garden, from whence they were not returned. +Now, a high brick wall, in which there was no outlet, and over which no +person could climb except by a ladder, enclosed the garden, which, when +searched, was empty, whilst, at the same time, Mr. Terry and his +_friend_, "_the gentleman_," could not have walked out at the +hall-door without being, from its situation, seen and heard by the +servants in the kitchen. Time fled--and he did not return--no!--and +although his lady lived to be nearly ninety years of age, she +_never_ gained tidings again of the spouse, thus so mysteriously +spirited away! + + +_Raising the Wind._ + +The superstitions of sailors are not few, as those assert who are +conversant in maritime affairs. Amongst others, is the custom, pretty +well known, of _whistling for a wind_. A gentleman told me, that, on his +first voyage, being then very young, and ignorant of sea usages, he was +in the habit of walking the deck a great deal, "and whistling as he +went," perhaps "for want of thought"--perhaps for lack of something +better to do. Shortly, he fancied that the captain of the vessel seemed +not a little annoyed whenever this took place, although he kept a +respectful silence upon the subject. At length Mr. ---- resolved to +speak to him himself: and, accordingly, one day, when it blew a pretty +brisk gale, said, "I observe, captain, that you appear particularly +uneasy whenever I whistle."--"To say the truth, sir, I _am_ just _now_," +replied he. "On a fair, still day, whistle as much as you please; but, +when there is a wind like this, _we don't like to have any more +called._"--_New London Literary Gaz._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SELECTOR + +AND + +LITERARY NOTICES OF + +_NEW WORKS._ + + * * * * * + + +A PHILOSOPHICAL KITCHEN. + + +A romantic and ludicrous novel has just appeared, entitled "The Mummy, +or Tale of the Twenty-second Century," exhibiting some of the probable +results of "the march of intellect;" and of the pungency of its satire +the following is a fair specimen, describing a kitchen in the +twenty-second century:-- + +When Dr. Entwerfen left the breakfast-room of Lord Gustavus, which he +did not do till a considerable time after the rest of the party had +quitted it, he was so absorbed in meditation, that he did not know +exactly which way he was going; and, happening unfortunately to turn to +the right when he should have gone to the left, to his infinite surprise +he found himself in the kitchen instead of his own study. Absent as the +doctor was, however, his attention was soon roused by the scene before +him. Being, like many of his learned brotherhood, somewhat of a +gourmand, his indignation was violently excited by finding the cook +comfortably asleep on a sofa on one side of the room, whilst the meat +intended for dinner, a meal it was then the fashion to take about noon, +was as comfortably resting itself from its toils on the other. The +chemical substitute for fire, which ought to have cooked it, having gone +out, and the cook's nap precluding all reasonable expectation of its +re-illumination, the doctor's wrath was kindled, though the fire was +not, and in a violent rage he seized the gentle Celestina's shoulder, +and and shook her till she woke. "Where am I?" exclaimed she, opening +her eyes. "Any where but where you ought to be," cried the doctor, in a +fury. "Look, hussy! look at that fine joint of meat, lying quite cold +and sodden in its own steam." "Dear me!" returned Celestina, yawning, +"I am really quite unfortunate to-day! An unlucky accident has already +occurred to a leg of mutton which was to have formed part of to-day's +aliments, and now this piece of beef is also destroyed. I am afraid +there will be nothing for dinner but some mucilaginous saccharine +vegetables, and they, most probably, will be boiled to a viscous +consistency." "And what excuse can you offer for all this?" exclaimed +the doctor, his voice trembling with passion. "It was unavoidable;" +replied Celestina, coolly; "whilst I was copying a cast from the Apollo +Belvidere this morning, having unguardedly applied too much caloric to +the vessel containing the leg of mutton, the aqueous fluid in which it +was immersed evaporated, and the viand became completely calcinated. +Whilst the other affair--" "Hush, hush!" interrupted the doctor; "I +cannot bear to hear you mention it. Oh, surely Job himself never +suffered such a trial of his patience! In fact, _his_ troubles were +scarcely worth mentioning, for he was never cursed with learned +servants!" Saying this, the doctor retired, lamenting his hard fate in +not having been born in those halcyon days when cooks drew nothing but +their poultry; whilst the gentle Celestina's breast panted with +indignation at his complaint. An opportunity soon offered for revenge; +and seeing the doctor's steam valet ready to be carried to its master's +chamber, she treacherously applied a double portion of caloric; in +consequence of which, the machine burst whilst in the act of brushing +the doctor's coat collar, and by discharging the whole of the scalding +water contained in its cauldron upon him, reduced him to a melancholy +state. + + * * * * * + + +ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND. + + + Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee, + Since God was thy refuge, thy ransom, thy guide; + He gave thee, he took thee and he will restore thee, + And death has no sting since the Saviour has died. + +_The Amulet for_ 1828. + + * * * * * + + + + + +St. Martin's, near Canterbury. + +[Illustration: St. Martin's, near Canterbury.] + + * * * * * + +THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ERECTED IN ENGLAND. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +The venerable and interesting church of St. Martin is situated on the +side of a hill, (named from it,) at the distance of little more than a +quarter of a mile from the dilapidated walls of Canterbury. It is +generally believed to have been erected by the Christian soldiers in the +Roman army, about the time of king Lucius, A.D. 182, and hence is justly +esteemed as _the first Christian church erected in Britain_, and +indeed nothing appears to contradict this assertion; for the Britons, +before the arrival of the Romans, were, as is well known, in a state of +barbarism and idolatry, and their habitations huts of clay and turf; and +as to its being built after their departure, I do not think it at all +likely, for England was then ravaged and overrun by the warlike clans of +its mountain neighbours, and consequently its inhabitants had not time +or inclination to erect buildings, when their lives and property were +daily in danger. Their successors, the early Saxons, too, I think, +cannot claim any pretensions to St. Martin, they being heathens, and +unacquainted with the Christian religion. Nor could they, entirely +ignorant of Roman materials, have built an edifice completely composed +with them. + +Here then was a Christian church and a Christian congregation +established in Britain full 415 years before Augustin's arrival; but as +St. Martin, bishop of Tours, died in the year 395, this church could not +have been erected in his honour; but it might afterwards have been +dedicated to him by Luidhard, chaplain to Bertha, wife of Ethelbert, the +Kentish king; and this is the more likely, as Luidhard himself was a +French bishop. + +In conclusion, it may not be unnecessary to state, that though the +papists consider Augustin as the apostle of the English, they do not +acknowledge him as their first instructor in Christianity; for, as it +appears in their service for May 26, Lucius, a British king, wrote to +St. Eleutherius, (who was elected priest A.D. 177,) desiring that he +might be numbered among the Christians. By whom or by what means this +conversion was effected does not appear; but, however, in reply to it, +Eleutherius sent the monks Damian and Fryatius into Britain, from whom +the king and many of his subjects received the gospel. + +SAGITTARIUS. + + * * * * * + + +PICTURE OF LIBERTY. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + O, Liberty! thou goddess, heav'nly bright! + Profuse of bliss, and pregnant with delight, + External pleasures in thy presence reign. + + ADDISON. + + +Aristo tells a pretty story of a fairy, who, by some mysterious law of +her nature, was condemned to appear, at certain seasons, in the form of +a foul and poisonous snake. Those who injured her during the period of +her disguise were for ever excluded from participation in the blessings +which she bestowed. But to those who, in spite of her loathsome aspect, +pitied and protected her, she afterwards revealed herself in the +beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their +steps, granted all their wishes, filled their houses with wealth, made +them happy in love and victorious in war. Such a spirit is Liberty. At +times she takes the form of a hateful reptile; she grovels, she hisses, +she stings; but woe to those who in disgust shall venture to crush her! +And happy are those who, having dared to receive her in her degraded and +frightful shape, shall at length be rewarded by her in the time of her +beauty and glory!--_See Edin. Rev. vol._ xlii. _p._ 332. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +FIRST AND LAST. + +(_From the Italian_.) + + + One single truth before he died + Poor Dick could only boast; + "Alas, I die!" he faintly cried, + And then--gave up the ghost! + + + * * * * * + + +FRENCH GAMING HOUSES. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Dicing-houses, where cheaters meet, and cozen young men out of + their money. + + _Lord Herbert._ + + + Begin with a guinea, and end with a mortgage. + + _Cumberland._ + + + What more than madness reigns, + When one short sitting many hundreds drains, + When not enough is left him to supply + Board wages, or a footman's livery. + + _Dryden's Juvenal._ + + + Gaming finds a man a cully, and leaves him a knave. + + _Tom Brown._ + + +The last "nine days' wonder" is the excess to which gaming is carried +among the higher circles of this country; but I much doubt whether the +present expositions of such enormity in a neighbouring nation will work +the desired effect on Englishmen. + +Popular prejudices are obstinate points to combat; but every one who has +had opportunities for observation, must allow, that in their _taste +for gaming_, the French and English character are widely different. +In France, every one plays at cards, or dominoes, and at _all hours in +the day_, in every cafe, wine-shop, and road-side inn throughout the +country. I remember to have frequently seen, in the wine-shops at Paris, +carters in blue smock-frocks playing at ecarte and dominoes over a +bottle of _vin ordinaire_ at eleven o'clock in the morning, +particularly in the neighbourhood of the markets. In England such +amusements would be illegal, and the victualler who allowed them in his +house would probably be deprived of his license. + +In France every man plays at billiards--nay, every village has its +billiard tables, one of which is almost as frequent an article of +furniture in private houses, as piano-fortes are in England; and the +sign of two maces crossed, and the inscriptions "Cafe et Billards" are +as common over the wine-houses in the provinces, as chequers formerly +were in our own country towns. I remember meeting with a curious +adventure during my last residence in Paris. One morning, while +leisurely walking in _Rue Montmartre_, I was accosted in French, by a +respectably dressed man, apparently about fifty, who inquired of me the +situation of ---- street, (for at this moment I do not recollect the +name). I replied that, being a foreigner, I could not afford him the +required information, at the same time referring him to the next shop. +He did not follow my suggestion, but almost at the very instant my eye +caught the name of the street for which he had just inquired. The +stranger then told me that being on a visit to the capital, he was +anxious to see the interior of the palace of the Tuilleries, and was +proceeding to a friend resident in the above street, who had promised to +procure him admission to the royal residence, notwithstanding the king +was then in Paris. I congratulated him on his success, having been, a +few days previous, disappointed in the same object, when he offered also +to procure admission for myself and one or two of my friends. We +accordingly entered a second rate _cafe_, when, I made up to the +_garcon_ and demanded of him whether orders for viewing the Tuilleries +were to be obtained there: he made no reply, but my friend of the +street, who had by this time partly ascended a staircase at the +extremity of the room, beckoned, and anxiously besought me to accompany +him. I did so, notwithstanding I was aware that Paris, as well as +London, had its "frauds." We entered a large room, the first impression +of which, on some minds, would have been that of terror. In the centre +stood a handsome billiard-table, over which were two dirty lamps with +reflectors; the walls were papered in tawdry French taste, the ceiling +black with smoke, and the whole room but indifferently lighted with a +disproportionate and dusty window: the door, too, seemed planned for +security, having a large lock and two bolts inside, but exhibited marks +of recent repair from violent fracture. In short, there was a lurking +suspicion about the place, which was not lessened by my companion +meeting with a partner. From their conversation I learned they were both +_foreigners_, and were waiting for a friend to bring the orders to view +the palace, so that all the story was as yet in keeping, and I was +introduced as a suitor for the same favour. My fellows "in waiting" +showed much impatience, complained of cold, and politely asked me to +take a glass of liqueur with them, at the same time taking up the mace +and beginning to amuse themselves at the billiard-table. I looked on; +they asked me to join them; I declined, and professed ignorance of the +game; but their importunities became more pressing, and at last +troublesome. Not a word further was said of the palace admission. +I now judged it time to take my leave, and advancing towards the door +for that purpose, I perceived my companions moved also: I profited by +the hint, and seizing the handle of the door, thanked them for their +civility, assured them I could wait no longer, but would call in +half-an-hour--leaped down the stairs, and did not stop till I reached +_Rue Montmartre_. I afterwards learned this was a common _street trick_ +in Paris to decoy strangers to the billiard-table, and had I taken the +mace in hand, it would most probably have been at the expense of a good +dinner for my companions, as a smart for my credulity. + +A few evenings subsequent to this common-place incident, I strolled into +a house of play in the palais royal, the situation having been +previously pointed out to me by a friend.[1] The entrance was through a +narrow passage by a silversmith's shop, on the ground floor, at the end +of which a strong light shone through the figures denoting the number of +the house, largely cut in tin; alas! thought I, a fatal number to many +thousands. On the principal landing, being that above the _entre-sol_ +story, I gently tapped at a handsome door, which was almost as gently +opened. My friend (for I was not alone,) having deposited his hat and +stick with the garcon, was allowed to pass, but I was stopped for want +of--_whiskers_; till assuring him that I was older than he took me to +be, and an Englishman--I was also permitted to pass. We first entered a +small room, in which was a roulette-table surrounded by players, and +well staked: this communicated by folding-doors with a spacious saloon +with a double table for _Trente-et-un_, or _Rouge et Noir_, round which +were seated the players, behind whom stood a few lookers-on, and still +fewer young men, whose stakes were "few and far between,"--probably +those of cautious adventurers, or novices pecking at the first-fruits of +play. Nothing is better described in books than the folly of _gaming_, +and the sufferings of its victims; but, like Virgil, in his picture of +Heaven, they fall short in describing their extasies; a failing on the +right side, or perhaps purposely made, for the happiness of mankind. The +seated visitors here seemed to be quite at home, some picking up their +Napoleons and five franc pieces, and others recording the issues of the +game, and illustrating the doctrine of chances by pricking holes in +cards. A death-like stillness prevailed, interrupted only by the +monotonous result of the deal of the cards, and the bewitching, though +not frequent chink of gold and silver. The success of the winners was as +silent as the disappointment of the losers; neither joy nor grief +displaying itself otherwise than in an almost unvaried _tristesse_ on +the countenances of the seated players--in some measure produced by ill +health and intense anxiety so as to conceal better feelings. I took my +station at one end of the table beside a middle-aged Frenchman, and by +way of _forfeit-money_ (for _mere_ lookers on are not very acceptable +company) threw a few five-franc pieces, one by one, on the same colour +with his stakes, each of which varied from one to ten Napoleons. After +twelve chances I had lost about thirty francs, but the Frenchman +continued playing, and within twenty minutes rose a winner of three +hundred Napoleons, which the banker changing for paper, he coolly put +into his waistcoat pocket, and walked off. A slight emotion was visible +around the table, but there was no other expression. I had now time to +look around me, and enjoy a little reflection for my foolish risk. It +would be difficult to say whether more anxiety was displayed among the +sitters, or the company at their backs. The attractive _foci_ of all +eyes were the everlasting varieties of red and black, though not +accompanied by the usual grotesque mob of kings, queens, and _knaves_, +the latter being probably excluded by the jealousy of their living +fraternity around the table. A strong and steady light spread over the +faces of all present, and in some few showed the quiverings and workings +of the most intense passion; but the same stare or tip-toe of hope and +fear pervaded the whole assemblage. Some counted their money with +apparent caution, and seemed to divide their winnings from their store +with affected precision, probably with an idea of the winnings being +unfit company for other coin; whilst others listlessly played with their +cash, or in a vulgar phrase, handled it like dirt, the distinguishing +feature of the cold and calculating gamester, to whom money is an object +of secondary concern compared with that of play. In the standing groupe +I remember to have noticed (from his personal resemblance to a friend) a +young Englishman, whom I afterwards learned had been a constant visiter +to that table during the previous three months, and had then won about +two hundred Napoleons. He had just married an interesting woman, about +his own age, twenty-two, and had professedly taken up his degree in the +practice of play, as an elegant and honourable mode of subsistence. A +few weeks after I met him and his wife, on the Italian Boulevards; in +dress he was woefully changed, and in his countenance a ghastly stare, +sunken eye, and emaciated cheeks, bespoke some strong reverse of +fortune: his wife too seemed dimmed by sorrow, and suffering might be +traced in every lineament of her features, notwithstanding the artifice +of dress was tastefully displayed about her person. Alas! thought I, how +often is the charm of wedded life snapped asunder by man--the proud lord +of the creation, and how often by his strong hold on her affections, +does he sink lovely woman still fondly clinging to his disgrace, in the +abyss of crime and guilt. + +But as such incidents must be common to many of your readers who have +visited the French metropolis, I shall desist from further recital. The +following outline of those receptacles of vice, _French Gaming +Houses_, from facts which I collected on the spot, aided by +authenticated resources, may not prove uninteresting. + +Gaming-houses in Paris were first licensed in 1775, by the lieutenant of +police, who, to diminish the odium of such establishments, decreed that +the profit resulting from them should be applied to the foundation of +hospitals. The gamesters might therefore be said to resemble watermen, +looking one way and rowing another. Their number soon amounted to +twelve, and women were permitted to resort to them two days in the week. +Besides the licensed establishments, several illegal ones were +tolerated. In 1778, gaming was prohibited in France; but not at the +court or in the hotels of ambassadors, where police-officers could not +enter. By degrees the public establishments resumed their wonted +activity, and extended their pernicious effects. The numerous suicides +and bankruptcies which they occasioned, attracted the attention of the +_Parlement_, who drew up regulations for their observance; and +threatened those who should violate them with the pillory and whipping. +At length, the passion for gambling prevailing in the societies +established in the Palais Royal, under the title of _clubs_ or _salons_, +a police ordinance was issued in 1785, prohibiting them from gaming, and +in the following year, additional prohibitory measures were enforced. +During the revolution the gaming-houses were frequently prevented and +licenses withheld; but notwithstanding the rigour of the laws, and the +vigilance of the police, they still contrived to exist; and they are now +regularly licensed by the police, and are under its immediate +inspection. The following items of twenty tables distributed about Paris +(the established stake varying from a Napoleon to a sous) are from the +most authentic documents:-- + + + Current expenses 1,551,480 Francs. + _Bail_ to Government 6,000,000 Francs. + Bonus for the bail 166,666 Francs. + Making together 7,716,146 Francs, or about L321,589 English. + Gain of the tables, per annum 9,600,000 Francs. + Expenses as above 7,718,146 Francs. + Leaving a clear profit of 1,881,854 Francs, + + +or about L78,244 English! And yet, in spite of this unanswerable logic +of _figures and facts_, there are every day fresh victims who are +infatuated enough to believe that it is possible to counterbalance the +advantages which the bank possesses, by a judicious management of the +power the player has of altering his stake! The revenue formerly paid to +the government for licenses, has recently been transferred to the city +of Paris. + +In England, the outcry against gaming is loud, and deservedly so; and +the extent to which it is stated to be curried in the higher circles is +rather underrated than exaggerated; but the severity of our laws on this +crime, and recent visitations of its rigour, confine it to the saloons +of wealthy vice. With us it is not a national vice, as in France, where +every license, facility, and even encouragement presents itself. +Lotteries, which have been abolished in England, as immoral nuisances, +are tolerated in France, with more mischievous effect, since, the risk +is considerably less than our least shares formerly were, the lotteries +smaller, and those drawn three times every month. The relics of +_our_ gaming system are only to be found on race-courses; but in +France, half the toys sold at a fair or _fete_, where mothers win +rattles for their children, are by _lottery_, whilst our gaming at +fairs is restricted to a few low adventurers for snuff-boxes, &c. +Despair is the gloomiest feature of the French character, and of which +gaming produces a frightful proportion, notwithstanding all that our +neighbours say about _our hanging and drowning in November:_ +witness their suicides:-- + + In 1819: Suicides, 376; of which, 126 women. + 1820: do. 325; do. 114 do. + 1821: do. 348; do. 112 do. + + +Of the suicides of these three years 25, 50, and 36, were attributed to +love, and 52, 42, 43, to despair arising from _gaming, the +lottery_, &c. In the winter of 1826, several exaggerated losses by +gaming were circulated in Paris with great _finesse_, to enable +bankrupts to account for their deficiencies, many of whom were exposed +and deservedly punished. + +A few words on the _prevention_ of gaming, the consideration of +which gave rise to this hasty sketch; I mean by dramatic exhibitions of +its direful effects. On our stage we have a pathetic tragedy by E. +Moore, which, though seldom acted, is a fine domestic moral to old and +young; but the author + + "Was his own Beverley, a dupe to play." + + +It is scarcely necessary to allude to the recent transfers of a +celebrated French _expose_ of French gambling to our English stage, +otherwise than to question their moral tendency. The pathos of our +_Gamester_ may reach the heart; but the French pieces command no +such appeal to our sympathies. On the contrary, the vice is emblazoned +in such romantic and fitful fancies, that their effect is questionable, +especially on the majority of those who flock to such exhibitions. The +_extasies_ of the gamester are too seductive to be heightened by +dramatic effect; neither are they counterbalanced by their consesequent +misery, when the aim of these representations should be to outweigh +them; for the authenticated publication of a single prize in the lottery +has been known to seduce more adventurers than a thousand losses have +deterred from risk. But they keep up the dancing spirits of the +multitude, and it will be well if their influence extends no further. + +PHILO. + + + [1] As the Palais Royal may be considered the central point of the + _maisons de jeu_, or gambling-houses, it will not be irrelevant + to give a brief sketch of them:-- + + The apartments which they occupy are on the first floor, and are + very spacious. Upon ascending the staircase is an antechamber, in + which are persons called _bouledogues_ (bull-dogs), whose + office it is to prevent the entrance of certain marked individuals. + In the same room are men to receive hats, umbrellas, &c., who give + a number, which is restored upon going out. + + The antechamber leads to the several gaming rooms, furnished with + tables, round which are seated the individuals playing, called + _pontes_ (punters), each of whom is furnished with a card and a pin + to mark the _rouge_ and _noir_, or the number, in order to regulate + his game. At each end of the table is a man called _bout de table_, + who pushes up to the bank the money lost. In the middle of the + table is the man who draws the cards. These persons, under the + reign of Louis XIV., were called _coupeurs de bourses_ + (purse-cutters); they are now denominated _tailleurs_. + After having drawn the cards, they mate known the result as + follows:--_Rouge gagne et couleur perd.--Rouge perd et couleur + gagne_. + + At _roulette_, the _tailleurs_ are those who put the ball in + motion and announce the result. + + At _passe-dix_, every time the dice are thrown, the _tailleurs_ + announce how many the person playing has gained. + + Opposite the _tailleur_, and on his right and left, are persons + called _croupiers_, whose business it is to pay and to collect + money. + + Behind the _tailleurs_ and _croupiers_ are inspectors, to see + that too much is not given in payment, besides an indefinite + number of secret inspectors, who are only known to the proprietors. + There are also _maitres de maison_, who are called to decide + disputes; and _messieurs de la chambre_, who furnish cards to + the _pontes_, and serve them with beer, &c., which is to be + had _gratis_. Moreover, there is a _grand maitre_, to whom the + apartments, tables, &c., belong. + + When a stranger enters these apartments, he will soon find near + him some obliging men of mature age, who, with an air of prudence + and sagacity, proffer their advice. As these advisers perfectly + understand _their own_ game, if their _proteges_ lose, the mentors + vanish; but it they win, the counsellor comes nearer, congratulates + the happy player, insinuates that it was by following his advice + that fortune smiled on him, and finally succeeds in borrowing a + small sum of money on honour. Many of these loungers have no + other mode of living. + + There is likewise another room, furnished with sofas, called + _chamber des blesses_, which is far from being the most + thinly peopled. + + The bank pays in ready money every successful stake and sweeps + off the losings with wooden instruments, called _rateaux_ + (rakes). + + It was in one of the houses in this quarter that the late Marshal + Blucher won and lost very heavy sums, during the occupation of + Paris by the allied armies. + + There are two gaming-houses in Paris of a more splendid description + than those of the Palais Royal, where dinners or suppers are given, + and where ladies are admitted.--_Galignani's History of Paris_. + + + * * * * * + + +A RETROSPECT. + + + Oh, when I was a tiny boy, + My days and nights were full of joy; + My mates were blithe and kind!-- + No wonder that I sometimes sigh, + And dash the tear-drop from my eye. + To cast a look behind! + + A hoop was an eternal round + Of pleasure. In those days I found + A top a joyous thing;-- + But now those past delights I drop; + My head alas! is all my top, + And careful thoughts the string! + + My marbles--once my bag was stor'd,-- + Now I must play with Elgin's lord,-- + With Theseus for a taw! + My playful horse has slipt his string. + Forgotten all his capering, + And harness'd to the law! + + My kite--how fast and fair it flew. + Whilst I, a sort of Franklin, drew + My pleasure from the sky! + 'Twas paper'd o'er with studious themes,-- + The tasks I wrote--my present dreams + Will never soar so high! + + My joys are wingless all, and dead; + My dumps are made of more than lead; + My flights soon find a fall; + My fears prevail, my fancies droop, + Joy never cometh with a hoop, + And seldom with a call! + + My football's laid upon the shelf; + I am a shuttlecock, myself + The world knocks to and fro;-- + My archery is all unlearn'd, + And grief against myself has turn'd + My sorrow and my bow! + + No more in noontide sun I bask; + My authorship's an endless task, + My head's ne'er out of school; + My heart is pain'd with scorn and slight; + I have too many foes to fight, + And friends grown strangely cool! + + The very chum that shar'd my cake + Holds out so cold a hand to shake, + It makes me shrink and sigh:-- + On this I will not dwell and hang, + The changeling would not feel a pang + Though these should meet his eye! + + No skies so blue or so serene + As these;--no leaves look half so green + As cloth'd the play-ground tree! + All things I lov'd are altered so, + Nor does it ease my heart to know + That change resides in me. + + O, for the garb that mark'd the boy! + The trousers made of corduroy. + Well ink'd with black and red; + The crownless hat, ne'er deem'd an ill-- + It only let the sunshine still + Repose upon my head! + + O, for that small, small beer anew! + And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-blue + That wash'd my sweet meals down! + The master even!--and that small turk + That fagg'd me!--worse is now my work,-- + A fag; for all the town! + + The "Arabian Nights'" rehears'd in bed! + The "Fairy Tales" in school-time read + By stealth, 'twixt verb and noun! + The angel form that always walk'd + In all my dreams, and look'd, and talk'd. + Exactly like Miss Brown! + + The _omne bene_--Christmas come! + The prize of merit, won for home'-- + Merit had prizes then! + But now I write for days and days + For fame--a deal of empty praise, + Without the silver pen. + + Then home, sweet home! the crowded coach-- + The joyous shout--the loud approach-- + The winding horn like ram's! + The meeting sweet that made me thrill, + The sweetmeats almost sweeter still, + No "_satis_" to the "_jams!_" + + * * * * * + + +ENGLISH DRESS. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +Mr. Editor.--In No. 200 of the MIRROR, you will find an article, +entitled _Female Fashions during the early part of the Last +Century_. The author then promised to give a description of the dress +of the English gentlemen of the same period, but as no such description +has _yet_ appeared in your pages, I trust you will insert the +annexed at your first convenient opportunity. + +G.W.N. + + +_Dress of the English Gentlemen during the Early part of the Last +Century._ + +In the reign of King William III., the English gentlemen affected to +dress like their dependents. Their hats were laced, and their coats and +waistcoats were embroidered with gold and silver fringe; indeed it +really became extremely difficult to distinguish a man of quality from +one of his lackeys. They did not, however, long persevere in this +ridiculous imitation, for they soon afterwards, like the ladies, +servilely followed the French fashions. The great partiality of the +English _beau monde_ towards the _bon ton_ of France, was a +wonderful advantage to that country--an advantage which the English +government in vain endeavoured to abolish, although a heavy duty was +imposed on all French ribbon and lace imported into this kingdom. Many +millions were annually expended in French cambric, muslin, ribbon, and +lace, which useless expenditure very sensibly injured our commercial +transactions with other nations. + +Perukes and long wigs were worn at the revolution; but these being +greatly inconvenient in all weathers, some people _tied up_ their +wigs, which was the first occasion of short wigs coming into fashion. +Some few years afterwards, bob-wigs were adopted by the gentlemen, +especially by those of the army and the navy. + +The English costume was remarkably neat and plain anterior to the year +1748; at which period, however, all gentlemen rather resembled military +officers than private individuals, for their coats were not only richly +embroidered with gold and silver, but they even assumed the cockade in +their hats, and carried _long_ rapiers at their sides. At length this +imposing attire was adopted by the merchants and tradesmen of the +metropolis, and soon afterwards by the most notorious rogues and +pickpockets in town, so that when any person with a laced coat, a +cockade, and a sword, walked along the streets of London, it was +absolutely impossible to determine whether he affected to be thought a +nobleman, a military officer, a tradesman, or a pickpocket, for he bore +an equal resemblance to each of these characters. + +In the year 1749, hair-powder was used by the _finished_ gentlemen, +though the use of it, a year or two previous, was prohibited in every +class of society. Of the costume of this period (_i.e._ about +1749), the immortal Hogarth, in his works, has left us numerous +specimens, which need no comment here: his productions, indeed, are so +equal in merit, that it is impossible to decide which is his _ne plus +ultra_. + +In conclusion, I would advise the reader to refer to a few of Hogarth's +prints, for they will admirably serve to illustrate the above +observations on the fashions and habits of our forefathers. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Astronomical Occurrences_ + +_FOR NOVEMBER, 1827._ + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Should the afternoon of Saturday, the 3rd of the month, prove +favourable, we shall be afforded an opportunity of witnessing another of +those interesting phenomena--eclipses, at least the latter part of one, +a portion of it only being visible to the inhabitants of this island; +the defect above alluded to is a lunar one. The passage of the moon +through the earth's shadow commences at 3 h. 29 m. 34 s. afternoon; she +rises at Greenwich at 4 h. 45 m. 34 s. with the northern part of her disk +darkened to the extent of nearly 10 digits. The greatest obscuration +will take place at 5 h. 7 m. 42 s. when 10-1/2 digits will be eclipsed; she +then recedes from the earth's shadow, when the sun's light will first be +perceived extending itself on her lower limb towards the east; it will +gradually increase till she entirely emerges from her veil of darkness, +the extreme verge of which leaves her at her upper limb 32 deg. from her +vertex, or highest point of her disc. + +We have the following in "Moore," some years ago, on the nature and +causes of eclipses of the sun and moon:-- + + "Far different sun's and moon's eclipses are, + The moon's are often, but the sun's more rare + The moon's do much deface her beauty bright; + Sol's do not his, but hide from us his sight: + It is the earth the moon's defect procures, + 'Tis the moon's shadow that the sun obscures. + Eastward, moon's front beginneth first to lack, + Westward, sun's brows begin their mourning black: + Moon's eclipses come when she most glorious shines, + Sun's in moon's wane, when beauty most declines; + Moon's general, towards heaven and earth together, + Sun's but to earth, nor to all places neither." + + +The Sun enters _Sagittarius_ on the 23rd, at 1 h. 2 m. morning. + +Mercury will be visible on the 10th, in 10 deg. of _Sagittarius_, a +little after sunset, being then at his greatest eastern elongation; he +is stationary on the 20th, and passes his inferior conjunction on the +30th, at 1-3/4 h. afternoon. + +Venus is in conjunction with the above planet on the 24th, at 9 h. +evening; she sets on the 1st at 5 h. 7 m., and on the 30th at 4 h. 47 m. +evening. + +Jupiter may be seen before sunrise making his appearance above the +horizon about 5 h.; he is not yet distant enough from the sun to render +the eclipses of his satellites visible to us. + +A small comet has just been discovered, situated in one of the feet of +_Cassiopea_. It is invisible to the naked eye, and appears +approaching the pole with great rapidity. + +PASCHE. + + * * * * * + + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + +DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF THE ROMANS IN THE FOURTH CENTURY. + + +A recent discovery has added to our information the most extensive +series of statistical data, which make known from an official act, and +by numerical figures, the state of the Roman empire 1500 years ago; the +price of agricultural and ordinary labour; the relative value of money; +the abundance or scarcity of certain natural productions; the use, more +or less common, of particular sorts of food; the multiplication of +cattle and of flocks; the progress of horticulture; the abundance of +vineyards of various qualities; the common use of singular meats, and +dishes, which we think betrays a corruption of taste; in short the +relation of the value existing between the productions of agriculture +and those of industry, from whence we obtain a proof of the degree of +prosperity which both had reached at this remote period. + +This precious archaeological monument is an edict of Diocletian, +published in the year 303 of our era, and fixing the price of labour and +of food in the Roman empire. The first part of this edict was found by +Mr. William Hanks, written upon a table of stone, which he discovered at +Stratonice, now called Eskihissar in Asia Minor. The second part, which +was in the possession of a traveller lately returned from the Levant, +has been, brought from Rome to London by M. de Vescovali, and Colonel +Leake intends to publish a literal translation of it. This agreement of +so many persons of respectable character, and known talents, excludes +all doubts respecting the authenticity of the monument. + +The imperial edict of Diocletian is composed of more than twenty-four +articles. It is quite distinct from that delivered the preceding year +for taxing the price of corn in the eastern provinces, and it contained +no law upon the value of corn. It fixed for all the articles which it +enumerated a maximum, which was the price in times of scarcity. For all +the established prices it makes use of the _Roman Denarii_; and it +applies them to the _sextarius_ for liquids, and to the _Roman +pound_ for the things sold by weight. + +Before the Augustan age, the _denarius_ was equal to eighteen sous +of our money; but it diminished gradually in value, and under Diocletian +its value was not above nine sous of French money, and 45 centimes. The +Roman pound was equivalent to 12 ounces, and the _sextarius_ which +was the sixth part of a conge, came near to the old Paris chopin, or +half a litre. + +Proceeding on these data, M. Moreau de Jonnes has formed a table, +showing, 1. the maximum in Roman measures, the same as the established +imperial edict; and 2. the mean price of objects _formed from_ half +the maximum, and reduced into French measures. + +The following is the table drawn up by M. Moreau de Jonnes. The +slightest inspection of it will enable us to appreciate the importance +of this archaeological discovery, for no monument of antiquity has +furnished so long a series of numerical terms, of statistical data, and +positive testimony of the civil life and domestic economy of the Greeks +and Romans:-- + + +I.--PRICE OF LABOUR. + + Maximum Mean Price + in Roman in English + Money. Money. + + L. s. d. + To a day labourer 25 Den. 0 4 8 + Do. for interior works 50 0 9 4 + To a mason 50 0 9 4 + To a maker of mortar 50 0 9 4 + To a marble-cutler, or maker of mosaic work 60 0 11 4 + To a tailor for making clothes 50 0 9 4 + Do. for sewing only 6 0 1 1-1/2 + For making shoes for the patricians 150 1 8 1 + Do. shoes for workmen 120 1 2 8 + for the military 100 0 18 8 + for the senators 100 0 18 8 + for the women 60 0 11 4 + Military sandals 75 0 14 0-1/2 + To a barber for each man 2 0 0 4-1/2 + To a veterinary surgeon for shearing the + animals and trimming their feet 6 0 1 1-1/2 + Do. for currycombing and cleaning them 20 0 9 9 + For one month's lessons in architecture 100 0 18 8 + To an advocate for a petition + to the tribunal 250 2 6 9 + For the hearing a cause 1000 9 7 6 + + +II.--PRICE OF WINES. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of the the English + Sextarius. Pint, Wine + Measure. + + L. s. d. + Picene, Tiburtine, Sabine, Aminean, + Surentine, Setinian, and Falernian wines 30 Den. 0 5 4 + Old wines of the first quality 24 0 4 2-3/4 + Do. of second quality 16 0 2 10 + Country wine 8 0 1 5 + Beer 4 0 0 4-3/4 + Beer of Egypt 2 0 0 2 + Spiced wine of Asia 30 0 5 4 + Barley wine of Attica 24 0 4 2-3/4 + Decoction of different raising 16 0 2 10 + + +III.--PRICE OF MEAT. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of the Roman the French + pound. pound. + + L. s. d. + Flesh of oxen 8 Den. 0 2 0 + Do. of mutton, or of goat 8 0 2 0 + Do. of lamb, or of kid 12 0 3 0 + Do. of pork 12 0 3 0 + The best lard 16 0 4 0 + The best ham from Westphalia, from Cerdagne, + or from the country of the Marses 20 0 5 0 + Fat fresh pork 12 0 3 0 + Belly and tripe 16 0 4 0 + Pig's liver, enlarged by being + fattened upon figs 16 0 4 0 + Pig's feet, each 4 0 0 9 + Fresh pork sausages, weighing one ounce 2 0 0 4-1/2 + Do. of fresh beef 16 0 2 9-1/2 + Pork sausages and seasoned 16 0 4 0 + Do. of smoked beef 10 0 2 9-1/2 + + +IV.--POULTRY AND GAME. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of each each in English + in Roman Money. + Money. + L. s. d. + One fat male peacock 250 Den. 2 6 9 + One fat female peacock 200 1 17 9 + One male wild peacock 125 1 3 4-1/2 + One female wild peacock 100 0 18 8 + One fat goose 200 2 6 9 + Do. not fat 100 0 18 8 + One hen 60 0 11 4 + One duck 40 0 7 4 + One partridge 30 0 5 8 + One hare 150 1 8 1 + One rabbit 40 0 7 4 + + +V.--FISH. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of each each in English + in Roman Money. + Money. + L. s. d. + Sea fish, first quality 24 Den. 0 4 6 + Do. second quality 16 0 3 0 + River fish, first quality 12 0 2 3 + Do. second quality 8 0 1 6 + Salt fish 6 0 1 1-1/2 + Oysters, per hundred 100 0 18 8 + + +VI.--CULINARY VEGETABLES. + + + Lettuces, the best, five together 4 0 0 9 + Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9 + Common cabbages, the best, single 4 0 0 9 + Cauliflower, the best, five together 4 0 0 9 + Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9 + Beet root, the best, five together 4 0 0 9 + Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9 + Radishes, the largest 4 0 0 9 + + +VII.--OTHER PROVISIONS. + + Maximum Mean Price of + of the each in English + Sextarius in Money. + Roman Money. + + L. s. d. + Honey, the best 40 Den. 0 15 0 + Do. second quality 20 0 7 6 + Oil, the best quality 40 0 15 0 + Do. the second quality 24 0 9 1 + Vinegar 6 0 3 3 + A stimulant to excite the appetite, made + of the essence of fish 6 0 2 3 + Dried cheese, the Roman pound 12 0 3 4 Fr. lb. + + +We are much surprised at the very high prices in this table. Labour and +provisions cost ten and twenty times as much as with us. But when we +come to compare the price of provisions with the price of labour the +dearness of all the necessaries of life appears still more excessive. +M. Moreau de Jonnes makes this comparison. He brings together from the +edicts of Diocletian a great many facts given by historians, and he +shows, that, if the abundance of the precious metals has any influence +on raising the prices, the want of labour, industry, and of produce, +must cause it also. + +These considerations point out in the strongest manner the poverty of +this royal people, of whom two-thirds, if not three-fourths, were +reduced to live on fish and cheese, and drink piquette, when the expense +of the table of Vitellius amounted, in a single year, to 175 millions of +Francs.--_Brewster's Journal of Science._ + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER. + +"I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's stuff."--_Wotton_ + + * * * * * + + +TWELVE GOLDEN RULES OF CHARLES I. + + +1. Profane no divine ordinances. 2. Touch no state matters. 3. Urge no +healths. 4. Pick no quarrels. 5. Maintain no ill opinions. 6. Encourage +no vice. 7. Repeat no grievances. 8. Reveal no secrets. 9. Make no +comparisons. 10. Keep no bad company. 11. Make no long meals. 12. Lay no +wagers. + + * * * * * + + +EPIGRAMS, + +_Written on the Union_, 1801, _by a celebrated Barrister of Dublin._ + +_Adapted to the Commercial Failures_, 1800. + + + Why should we exclaim, that the times are so bad, + Pursuing a querulous strain? + When Erin gives up all the rights that she had, + What _right has she left to com_plain? + + * * * * * + + + The Cit complains to all he meets, + That grass will grow in Dublin streets, + And swears that all is over! + Short-sighted mortals, can't you see, + Your mourning will be chang'd to glee-- + For then you'll live in _clover_. + + * * * * * + + +_Necessitas non habet legem._ + +ON SIR JOHN ANSTRUTHER. + +_By the Honourable Thomas Erskine._ + + Necessity and Law are alike each other: + Necessity has no Law--nor has Anstruther. + + + * * * * * + + +EPITAPH ON A CONTROVERSIALIST. + + +On the death of that turbulent and refractory enthusiast, John Lilburne, +_alias Free-born John, alias Lilburne the Trouble-world_, there +appeared the following epigrammatic epitaph:-- + + Is John departed, and is Lilburne gone? + Farewell to both, to Lilburne and to John! + Yet being gone, take this advice from me, + Let them not _both_ in one grave buried be. + + Here lay ye John; lay Lilburne thereabout, + For if they both should meet, they would fall out. + + +This alluded to a saying, that John Lilburne was so quarrelsome, that if +he were the only man in the world, John would quarrel with Lilburne, and +Lilburne with John. Lilburne, it will be remembered, was a sad thorn in +Cromwell's sore side, for which the protector amply repaid him. + + * * * * * + + +HOSPITAL OF SURGERY. + + +A new surgical hospital is to be forthwith erected in the neighbourhood +of Charing Cross, where the King, with his usual and characteristic +munificence, has given a spot of ground on which it is to be erected. A +benevolent individual has given, within these few days, 1,500 l. +towards a fund for the building. + + * * * * * + +_Printed and Published by J. Limbird, 143, Strand, (near Somerset +House,) and sold by all Newssmen and Booksellers._ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, +AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 281, NOVEMBER 3, 1827*** + + +******* This file should be named 16098.txt or 16098.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/0/9/16098 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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