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diff --git a/22694.txt b/22694.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed301e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/22694.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15525 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. +2, January, 1851, 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 International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 2, January, 1851 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: September 21, 2007 [EBook #22694] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE *** + + + + +Produced by Joshua Hutchinson, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by Cornell University Digital Collections). + + + + + + + + + + +THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE + +Of Literature, Art, and Science. + +Vol. II. NEW YORK, JANUARY 1, 1851. No. II. + + +Transcriber's note: Minor typos have been corrected and footnotes +moved to the end of the article. + + + + +[Illustration] + +EDMUND BURKE. + + +Edmund Burke is the most illustrious name in the political history of +England. The exploits of Marlborough are forgotten, as Wellington's will +be, while the wisdom and genius of Burke live in the memory, and form a +portion of the virtue and intelligence of the British nation and the +British race. The reflection of this superior power and permanence of +moral grandeur over that which, at best, is but a vulgar renown, +justifies the most sanguine expectations of humanity. + +It may be said of Burke, as it was said by him of another, that "his +mind was generous, open, sincere; his manners plain, simple, and noble; +rejecting all sorts of duplicity and disguise, as useless to his +designs, and odious to his nature. His understanding was comprehensive, +steady, and vigorous, made for the practical business of the state.... +His knowledge, in all things which concerned his duty was profound.... +He was not more respectable on the public scene, than amiable in private +life.... A husband and a father, the kindest, gentlest, most indulgent, +he was every thing in his family, except what he gave up to his +country.... An ornament and blessing to the age in which he lived, his +memory will continue to be beneficial to mankind, by holding forth an +example of pure and unaffected virtue, most worthy of imitation, to the +latest posterity." + +In the last of a series of articles by Mrs. S. C. Hall, entitled +"Pilgrimages to English Shrines," and published in the London _Art +Journal_, we have an account of a visit to the residences and to the +grave of Burke, which we reproduce in the following pages, with its +interesting illustrations. + + +THE GRAVE OF EDMUND BURKE. + +It has been said that we are inclined to over-value great men when their +graves have been long green, or their monuments gray above them, but we +believe it is only then we estimate them as they deserve. Prejudice and +falsehood have no enduring vitality, and posterity is generally anxious +to render justice to the mighty dead; we dwell upon their actions,--we +quote their sentiments and opinions,--we class them amongst our +household gods--and keep their memories green within the sanctuary of +our HOMES; we read to our children and friends the written treasures +bequeathed to us by the genius and independence of the great statesmen +and orators--the men of literature and science--who "_have been_." We +adorn our minds with the poetry of the past, and value it, as well we +may, as far superior to that of the present: we sometimes, by the aid of +imagination--one of the highest of God's gifts--bring great men before +us: we hear the deep-toned voices and see the flashing eyes of some, +who, it may be, taught kings their duty, or quelled the tumults of a +factious people: we listen to the lay of the minstrel, or the orator's +addresses to the assembly, and our pulses throb and our eyes moisten as +the eloquence flows--first, as a gentle river, until gaining strength in +its progress, it sweeps onwards like a torrent, overcoming all that +sought to impede its progress. What a happy power this is!--what a +glorious triumph over time!--recalling or creating at will!--peopling +our small chamber with the demigods of history; viewing them enshrined +in their perfections, untainted by the world; hearing their exalted +sentiments; knowing them as we know a noble statue or a beautiful +picture, without the taint of age or feebleness, or the mildew of decay. + +If these sweet wakening dreams were more frequent, we should be happier; +yes, and better than we are; we should be shamed out of much +baseness--for nothing so purifies and exalts the soul as the actual or +imaginary companionship of the pure and exalted; no man who purposed to +create a noble picture would choose an imperfect model; no one who seeks +virtue and cherishes honor and honorable things, will endure the +degradation of ignoble persons or ignoble thoughts; no one ever achieved +a great purpose who did not plant his standard on high ground. + +A little before the commencement of the present century, England was +rich in orators, and poets, and men of letters; the times were favorable +to such--events called them forth--and there was still a lingering +chivalric feeling in our island which the utilitarian principles or +tastes of the present period would now treat with neglect, if not +contempt. + +The progress of the French Revolution agitated Europe; and men wondered +if the young Corsican would ever dare to wield the sceptre wrenched from +the grasp of a murdered king; people were continually on the watch for +fresh events; great stakes were played for all over Europe, and those +who desired change were full of hope. It was an age to create great men. + +Let us then indulge in visions of those, who, in more recent times than +we have yet touched upon,--save in one or two PILGRIMAGES,--illumed the +later days of the last century; and, brightest and purest of the galaxy +was the orator, EDMUND BURKE. Ireland, which gave him birth, may well be +proud of the high-souled and high-gifted man, who united in himself all +the great qualities which command attention in the senate and the world, +and all the domestic virtues that sanctify home; grasping a knowledge of +all things, and yet having that sweet sympathy with the small things of +life, which at once bestows and secures happiness, and, in the end, +popularity. + +EDMUND BURKE was born on Arran Quay, Dublin, January the 1st, 1730; his +father was an attorney: the name, we believe, was originally spelt +Bourke. + +The great grandfather of Edmund inherited some property in that county +which has produced so many men of talent--the county of Cork; the family +resided in the neighborhood of Castletown Roche, four or five miles from +Doneraile, five or six miles from Mallow--now a railroad station--and +nearly the same distance from the ruins of Kilcolman Castle, whose every +mouldering stone is hallowed by the memory of the poet Spenser and his +dear friend, "the Shepherd of the Ocean," Sir Walter Raleigh. There can +be little doubt that Edmund--a portion of whose young life was passed in +this beautiful locality--imbibed much thought, as well as much poetry, +from the sacred memories which here accompanied him during his +wanderings. + +Nothing so thoroughly awakens the sympathy of the young as the imaginary +presence of the good and great amid the scenes where their most glorious +works were accomplished; the associations connected with Kilcolman are +so mingled, that their contemplation produces a variety of +emotions--admiration for the poem which was created within its +walls--contemplation of the "glorious two" who there spent so much time +together in harmony and sweet companionship, despite the storms which +ravaged the country; then the awful catastrophe, the burning of the +castle, and the loss of Spenser's child in the flames, still talked of +in the neighborhood, were certain to make a deep impression on the +imagination of a boy whose delicate health prevented his rushing into +the amusements and society of children of his own age. There are plenty +of crones in every village, and one at least in every gentleman's house +to watch "the master's children" and pour legendary lore into their +willing ears, accompanied by snatches of song and fairy tale. All these +were certain to seize upon such an imagination as that of Burke, and lay +the foundation of much of that high-souled mental poetry--one of his +great characteristics; indeed, the circumstances of his youth were +highly favorable to his peculiar temperament--his delicate constitution +rendered him naturally susceptible of the beautiful; and the locality of +the Blackwater, and the time-honored ruins of Kilcolman, with its +history and traditions, nursed, as they were, by the holy quiet of a +country life, had ample time to sink into his soul and germinate the +fruitage which, in after years, attained such rich perfection. + +An old schoolmaster, of the name of O'Halloran, was his first teacher; +he "played at learning" at the school, long since in ruins; and the +Dominie used to boast that "no matter how great Master Edmund (God bless +him) was, HE was the first who ever put a Latin grammar into his hands." + +Edmund was one of a numerous family; his mother, who had been a Miss +Nagle,[1] having had fourteen or fifteen children, all of whom died +young, except four,--one sister and three brothers: the sister, Mrs. +French, was brought up in the faith of her mother, who was a rigid Roman +Catholic, while the sons were trained in the father's belief. This, +happily, created no unkindness between them, for not only were they an +affectionate and a united family, but perfectly charitable in their +opinions, each of the other's creed. As the future statesman grew older, +it was considered wise to remove him to Dublin for better instruction, +and he was placed at a school in Smithfield kept by a Mr. James +Fitzgerald; but, fortunately for his strength of body and mind, the +reputation of an academy in the lovely valley of Ballitore, founded in +the midst of a colony of Quakers, by a member of that most benevolent +and intelligent society--the well-known Abraham Shackleton--was +spreading far and wide; and there the three young Burkes were sent in +1741, Edmund being then twelve years old. + +He was considered not so much brilliant, as of steady application. Here, +too, he was remarkable for quick comprehension, and great strength of +memory; indications which drew forth at first the commendation, and as +his powers unfolded, the warm regard of his master; under whose paternal +care the improvement of his health kept pace with that of his intellect, +and the grateful pupil never forgot his obligations: a truly noble mind +is prone to exaggerate kindnesses received, and never detracts from +their value; it is only the low and the narrow-minded who underrate the +benefits they have been blessed with at any period of their lives. + +In 1743 he entered Trinity College, Dublin, as a pensioner. He gained +fair honors during his residence there, but, like Johnson, Swift, +Goldsmith, and other eminent men, he did not distinguish himself so as +to lead to any speculation as to his after greatness, although his +elders said he was more anxious to acquire knowledge than to display +it;--a valuable testimony. His domestic life was so pure, his +friendships were so firm, his habits so completely those of a well-bred, +well-born IRISH GENTLEMAN--mingling, as only Irish gentlemen can do, the +suavity of the French with the dignity of English manners--that there is +little to write about, or speculate upon, beyond his public words and +deeds. + +Like most young men of his time, his first oratory was exercised at a +club, and his first efforts as a politician were made in 1749, previous +to his quitting the Dublin University, in some letters against Mr. Henry +Brooke, the author of "Gustavus Vasa." His determination was the bar, +and his entry at the Middle Temple bears date April 23, 1747. His +youthful impressions of England and its capital are recorded in graceful +language in his letters to those friends whom he never lost, but by +death; one passage is as applicable to the present as to the past. "I +don't find that genius, the 'rath primrose which forsaken dies,' is +patronized by any of the nobility, so that writers of the first talents +are left to the capricious patronage of the public." + +It was the taste of his time to desire, if not solicit patronage. In our +opinion literature is degraded by _patronage_, while it is honored by +the friendship of the good and great. Nothing is so loathsome in the +history of letters as the debased dedications which men of mind some +years ago laid at the feet of the so-styled "patron!" Literature in our +days has only to assert its own dignity, to be true and faithful to the +right, to avoid ribaldry, and preserve a noble and brave independence; +and then its importance to the state, as the minister of good, must be +acknowledged. It is only when forgetful of great purposes and great +power, that literature is open to be forgotten or sneered at. Still the +indifference an Englishman feels towards genius, even while enjoying its +fruits, was likely enough to check and chill the enthusiasm of Burke, +and drive him to much mystery as to his early literary engagements. One +of his observations made during his first visit to Westminster Abbey, +while hopes and ambitions quickened his throbbing pulse, and he might +have been pardoned for wishing for a resting-place in the grand +mausoleum of England, is remarkable, as showing how little he changed, +and how completely the youth + + "Was father to the man." + +"Yet after all, do you know that I would rather sleep in the southern +corner of a country church-yard than in the tomb of the Capulets? I +should like, however, that my dust should mingle with kindred dust; the +good old expression, 'family burying-grounds,' has something pleasant in +it, at least to me." + +This was his last, as it seems to have been his first desire; and it has +found an echo in many a richly dowered heart. + +"Lay me," said Allan Cunningham, "where the daisies can grow on my +grave;" and it is well known that Moore-- + + "The poet of all circles,"-- + +and, as a poor Irishman once rendered it-- + + "The _darlint_ of his own," + + +has frequently expressed a desire to be buried at Sloperton beside his +children. + +The future orator found the law, as a profession, alien to his habits +and feelings, for at the expiration of the usual term he was not even +called to the bar. Some say he desired the professorship of logic at the +University of Glasgow, and even stood the contest; but this has been +disputed, and if he was rejected, it is matter of congratulation, that +his talents and time were not confined to so narrow a sphere. At that +period his mind was occupied by his theories on the Sublime and +Beautiful, which were finally condensed and published in the shape of +that essay which roused the world to admiration. + +Mr. Prior says, and with every show of reason, "that Mr. Burke's +ambition of being distinguished in literature, seems to have been one of +his earliest, as it was one of his latest, passions." His first avowed +work was "The Vindication of Natural Society;" but he wrote a great deal +anonymously; and the essay on "The Sublime and Beautiful," triumphant as +it was, must have caused him great anxiety; he began it before he was +nineteen, and kept it by him for seven years before it was published--a +valuable lesson to those who rush into print and mistake the desire for +celebrity, for the power which bestows immortality. + +The literature which is pursued chiefly in solitude, is always the best +sort: society, which cheers and animates men in most employments, is an +impediment to an author if really warmed by true genius, and impelled by +a sacred love of truth not to fritter away his thoughts or be tempted to +insincerity. + +The genius and noble mind of Burke constituted him a high priest of +literature; the lighter, and it might be the more pleasurable enjoyments +of existence, could not be tasted without interfering with his pursuits; +but he knew his duty to his God, to the world, and to himself, and the +responsibility alone was sufficiently weighty to bend a delicate frame, +even when there was no necessity for laboring to live--but where an +object is to be attained, principles put forth or combated, God or man +to be served, the necessity for exertion always exists, and the great +soul must go forth on its mission. + +That sooner or later this strife, or love, or duty--pursued +bravely--must tell upon all who even covet and enjoy their labor, the +experience of the past has recorded; and Edmund Burke, even at that +early period of life, was ordered to try the effects of a visit to Bath +and Bristol, then the principal resort of the invalids of the United +Kingdom. + +At Bath he exchanged one malady for another, for he became attached to +Miss Nugent, the daughter of his physician, and in a very little time +formed what, in a worldly point of view, would be considered an +imprudent marriage, but which secured the happiness of his future life; +she was a Roman Catholic; but, however unfortunate dissenting creeds are +in many instances, in this it never disturbed the harmony of their +affection. + +She was a woman exactly calculated to create happiness; possessing +accomplishments, goodness of heart, sweetness of disposition and +manners, veneration for talent, a hopeful spirit to allay her husband's +anxieties, wisdom and love to meet his ruffled temper, and tenderness to +subdue it--qualities which made him frequently declare "that every care +vanished the moment he sheltered beneath his own roof." + +Edmund Burke became a husband, and also continued a lover--and once +presented to his ladylove, on the anniversary of their marriage, his +idea of "a perfect wife."[2] + +For a considerable time after his marriage Burke toiled as a literary +man, living at Battersea or in town, now writing, it is believed, +jointly with his brother Richard and his cousin William a work on the +"European Settlements in America," in two volumes, which, according to +tradition, brought him, or them, only fifty pounds! then planning and +commencing an abridgment of the "History of England." + +Struggling, it may be with difficulties brought on by his generous +nature, and which his father's allowance of two hundred a year, and his +own industry and perseverance could hardly overcome, the birth of a son +was an additional stimulant to exertion, and, in conjunction with +Dodsley, he established the _Annual Register_. This work he never +acknowledged, but his best biographers have no doubt of his having +brought forth and nurtured this useful publication. A hundred pounds a +volume seems to have been the sum paid for this labor; and Burke's +receipts for the money were at one time in the possession of Mr. Upcott. + +Long before he obtained a seat in Parliament he won the esteem of Doctor +Johnson, who bore noble testimony to his virtue and talent, and what he +especially admired, and called, his "affluence of conversation." + +For a time he went to Ireland as private secretary to Mr. Hamilton, +distinguished from all others of his name as "single-speech Hamilton;" +but disagreeing with this person, he nobly threw up a pension of three +hundred a year, because of the unreasonable and derogatory claims made +upon his gratitude by Hamilton, who had procured it for him. + +While in Dublin he made acquaintance with the genius of the painter +Barry, and though his own means were limited, he persuaded him to come +to England, and received him in his house in Queen Anne-street, where he +soon procured him employment; he already numbered Mr., afterwards Sir +Joshua, Reynolds amongst his friends; and his correspondence with Barry +might almost be considered a young painter's manual, so full is it of +the better parts of taste, wisdom, and knowledge. + +Mr. Burke was then on the threshold of Parliament, Lord Verney arranging +for his _debut_ as member for Wendover, in Buckinghamshire, under the +Rockingham administration; another star was added to the galaxy of that +brilliant assembly, and if we had space it could not be devoted to a +better purpose than to trace his glorious career in the senate; but that +is before all who read the history of the period, and we prefer to +follow his footsteps in the under current of private life. + +He was too successful to escape the poisoned arrows of envy, or the +misrepresentations of the disappointed. Certain persons exclaimed +against his want of consistency, and gave as a reason that at one +period he commanded the spirit of liberty with which the French +Revolution commenced, and after a time turned away in horror and disgust +from a people who made murder a pastime, and converted Paris into a +shambles for human flesh. + +But nothing could permanently obscure the fame of the eloquent Irishman, +he continued to act with such worthiness, that, despite his schism with +Charles James Fox, "the people" did him the justice to believe, that in +his public conduct, he had no one view but the public good. + +He outlived calumny, uniting unto genius diligence, and unto diligence +patience, and unto patience enthusiasm, and to these, deep-hearted +enthusiasm, with a knowledge, not only, it would seem, of all things, +but of such ready application, that in illustration or argument his +resources were boundless; the wisdom of the Ancients was as familiar to +him as the improved state of modern politics, science, and laws; the +metaphysics and logic of the Schools were to him as household words, and +his memory was gemmed with whatever was most valuable in poetry, +history, and the arts. + +[Illustration: GREGORIES.] + +After much toil, and the lapse of some time, he purchased a domain in +Buckinghamshire, called "Gregories;" there, whenever his public duties +gave him leisure, he enjoyed the repose so necessary to an overtaxed +brain; and from Gregories some of his most interesting letters are +dated.[3] Those addressed to the painter Barry, _whom his liberality +sent to and supported in Rome_, are, as we have said, replete with art +and wisdom; and the delicacy of both him and his excellent brother +Richard, while entreating the rough-hewn genius to prosecute his studies +and give them pleasure by his improvement, are additional proofs of the +beautiful union of the brothers, and of their _oneness_ of purpose and +determination that Barry should never be cramped by want of means.[4] + +After the purchase of Gregories[5] Mr. Burke had no settled town-house, +merely occupying one for the season. In one of his letters to Barry, he +tells him to direct to Charles-street, St. James's Square; he writes +also from Fludyer-street, Westminster, and from Gerrard-street, Soho; +but traces of his "whereabouts" are next to impossible to find. Barry +was not the only artist who profited by Edmund Burke's liberality. +Barret, the landscape-painter, had fallen into difficulties, and the +fact coming to the orator's ears during his short tenure in power, he +bestowed upon him a place in Chelsea Hospital, which he enjoyed during +the remainder of his life. + +Indeed, this great man's noble love of Art was part and parcel of +himself; it was no affectation, and it led to genuine sympathy with, not +only the artist's triumphs, but his difficulties. He found time, amid +all his occupations, to write letters to the irritable Barry, and if the +painter had followed their counsel, he would have secured his peace and +prosperity; but it was far otherwise: his conduct, both in Rome and +after his return to England, gave his friend just cause of offence; +though, like all others who offended the magnanimous Burke, he was soon +forgiven. + +He never forgot his Irish friends, or the necessities of those who lived +on the family estate; the expansive generosity of his nature did not +prevent his attending to the minor comforts of his dependants, and his +letters "home" frequently breathe a most loving and careful spirit, that +the sorrows of the poor might be ameliorated, and their wants relieved. + +We ought to have mentioned before that Mr. and Mrs. Burke's marriage was +only blessed by two sons; one died in childhood, the eldest grew up a +young man of the warmest affections, and blessed with a considerable +share of talent; to his parents he was every thing they could desire; +towards his mother he exhibited the tenderness and devotion of a +daughter, and his demeanor to his father was that of an obedient son, +and most faithful friend; at intervals he enjoyed with them the pleasure +they experienced in receiving guests of the highest consideration; +amongst them the eccentric Madame de Genlis, who put their politeness to +the test by the exercise of her peculiarities, and horrified the meek +and amiable Sir Joshua Reynolds by the assumption of talents she did not +possess. + +The publication of his reflections on the French Revolution, which, +perhaps, never would have seen the light but for the rupture with Mr. +Sheridan, which caused his opinions to be misunderstood, brought down +the applause of Europe on a head then wearying of public life. + +But, perhaps, a tribute Burke valued more than any, remembering the +adage--an adage which, unhappily, especially applies to Ireland--"no man +is a prophet in his own country," was, that on a motion of the provost +of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1790, the honorary degree of LL.D. was +conferred upon him in full convocation, and an address afterwards +presented in a gold box, to express the University's sense of his +services. When he replied to this distinguished compliment, his town +residence was in "Duke-street, St. James." + +His term of life--over-tasked as it was--might have been extended to a +much longer period, but that his deeply affectionate nature, as time +passed on, experienced several of those shocks inseparable from even +moderate length of days; many of his friends died; among others, his +sister and his brother; but still the wife of his bosom and his son were +with him--that son whose talents he rated as superior to his own, whom +he had consulted for some years on almost every subject, whether of a +public or a private nature, that occurred, and very frequently preferred +his judgment to his own. This beloved son had attained the age of +thirty-four, when he was seized with rapid consumption. When the malady +was recognized and acknowledged, his father took him to Brompton, then, +as now, considered the best air for those affected with this cruel +malady. "Cromwell House," chosen as their temporary residence, is +standing still, though there is little doubt the rage for extending +London through this once sequestered and rural suburb, will soon raze it +to the ground, as it has done others of equal interest. + +[Illustration: CROMWELL HOUSE.] + +We have always regarded "Cromwell House," as it is called, with +veneration. In our earliest acquaintance with a neighborhood, in which +we lived so long and still love so well, this giant dwelling, staring +with its whited walls and balconied roof over the tangled gardens which +seemed to cut it off from all communication with the world, was +associated with our "Hero Worship" of Oliver Cromwell. We were told he +had lived there (what neighborhood has not its "Cromwell House?")--that +the ghastly old place had private staircases and subterranean +passages--some underground communication with Kensington--that there +were doors in the walls, and out of the walls; and, that if not careful +you might be precipitated through trap-doors into some unfathomable +abyss, and encounter the ghost of old Oliver himself. These tales +operated upon our imagination in the usual way; and many and many a +moonlight evening, while wandering in those green lanes--now obliterated +by Onslow and Thurloe Squares--and listening to the nightingales, have +we watched the huge shadows cast by that solitary and melancholy-looking +house, and, as we have said, associated it with the stern and grand +Protector of England. Upon closer investigation, how grieved we have +often been to discover the truth, for it destroyed not only our castles +in the air, but their inhabitants; we found that Oliver never resided +there, but that his son, Richard, had, and was a rate payer to the +parish of Kensington for some time. To this lonely sombre house Mr. and +Mrs. Burke and their son removed, in the hope that the soft mild air of +this salubrious neighborhood might restore his failing strength; the +consciousness of his being in danger was something too terrible for them +to think of. He had just received a new appointment--an appointment +suited to his tastes and expectations; he must take possession of it in +a little time. He was their child, their friend, their treasure, their +all! Surely God would spare him to close their eyes. How could death and +he meet together? They entreated him of God, by prayer, and +supplication, and tears that flowed until their eyes were dry and their +eyelids parched--but all in vain. The man, in his prime of manhood, was +stricken down; we transcribe, from an article in the _Quarterly Review_, +on "Fontenelle's Signs of Death," the brief account of his last moments: + +"Burke's son, upon whom his father has conferred something of his own +celebrity, heard his parents sobbing in another room at the prospect of +an event they knew to be inevitable. He rose from his bed, joined his +illustrious father, and endeavored to engage him in a cheerful +conversation. Burke continued silent, choked with grief. His son again +made an effort to console him. 'I am under no terror,' he said; 'I feel +myself better and in spirits, and yet my heart flutters, I know not why. +Pray, talk to me, sir! talk of religion; talk of morality; talk, if you +will, of indifferent subjects.' Here a noise attracted his notice, and +he exclaimed, 'Does it rain?--No; it is the rustling of the wind through +the trees.' The whistling of the wind and the waving of the trees +brought Milton's majestic lines to his mind, and he repeated them with +uncommon grace and effect: + + 'His praise, ye winds, that from four quarters blow, + Breathe soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye pines, + With every plant, in sign of worship wave!' + +A second time he took up the sublime and melodious strain, and, +accompanying the action to the word, waved his own hand in token of +worship, and sank into the arms of his father--a corpse. Not a sensation +told him that in an instant he would stand in the presence of the +Creator to whom his body was bent in homage, and whose praises still +resounded from his lips." + +The account which all the biographies of Burke give of the effect this +bereavement produced upon his parents is most fearful even to read; what +must it have been to witness? His mother seems to have regained her +self-possession sooner than his father. In one of his letters to the +late Baron Smith, he writes--"So heavy a calamity has fallen upon me as +to disable me from business, and disqualifies me for repose. The +existence I have--_I do not know that I can call life_. * * Good nights +to you--I never have any." And again--"The life which has been so +embittered cannot long endure. The grave will soon close over me, and my +dejections." To Lord Auckland he writes--"For myself, or for my family +(alas! I have none), I have nothing to hope or to fear in this world." +And again in another letter--"The storm has gone over me, and I lie like +one of those old oaks which the late hurricane has scattered about me. I +am stripped of all my honors, I lie prostrate on the earth; I am alone, +I have none to meet my enemies in the gate. I greatly deceive myself, if +in this hard season of life, I would give a peck of refuse wheat for all +that is called fame and honor in the world." + +There is some thing in the "wail" and character of these laments that +recalls the mournful Psalms of David; like the Psalmist he endeavored to +be comforted, but it was by an effort. His political career was shrouded +for ever--the _motive_ to his great exertions was destroyed--but his +mind, wrecked as it had been, could not remain inactive. In 1795 his +_private_ reply to Mr. Smith's letter, requesting his opinion of the +expediency of and necessity for Catholic Emancipation, got into public +circulation; and in that singular document, though he did not enter into +the details of the question with as much minuteness as he would +previously have done, he pleaded for the removal of the whole of the +disabilities of the Roman Catholic body. From time to time he put forth +a small work on some popular question. He originated several plans for +benefiting the poor in his own neighborhood. He had a windmill in his +park for the purpose of supplying the poor with cheap bread, which bread +was served at his own table; and, as if clinging to the memory of the +youth of his son, he formed a plan for the establishment of an emigrant +school at Penn, where the children of those who had perished by the +guillotine or the sword amid the French convulsions, could be received, +supported, and educated. He made a generous appeal to government for the +benefit of these children, which was as generously responded to. The +house appropriated to this humane purpose had been inhabited by Burke's +old friend, General Haviland; and after his death several emigre French +priests sheltered within its walls. Until his last fatal illness Mr. +Burke watched over the establishment with the solicitude of a friend and +the tenderness of a father. The Lords of the Treasury allowed fifty +pounds per month for its sustenance: the Marquis of Buckingham made them +a present of a brass cannon and a stand of colors. When the Bourbons +were restored in 1814 they relieved the government from this charge, and +the institution was dissolved in 1820; in 1822 "Tyler's Green House," as +it was called, was sold in lots, pulled down, and carried away; thus, +Burke's own dwelling being destroyed by fire, and this building, +sanctified by his sympathy and goodness, razed to the ground, little +remains to mark the locality of places where all the distinguished men +of the age congregated around "the Burkes," and where Edmund, almost to +the last, extended hospitalities, coveted and appreciated by all who had +any pretensions to be considered as distinguished either by talent or +fortune. + +It has frequently struck us as strange, the morbid avidity with which +the world seizes upon the slightest evidence of abstraction in great +men, to declare that their minds are fading, or impoverished: the public +gapes for every trifle calculated to prove that the palsied fingers can +no longer grasp the intellectual sceptre, and that the well-worn and +hard-earned bays are as a crown of thorns to the pulseless brow. It was, +in those days whispered in London that the great orator had become +imbecile immediately after the publication of his "_Letter to a Noble +Lord_;" and that he wandered about his park kissing his cows and horses. + +A noble friend went immediately to Beaconsfield to ascertain the truth, +and was delighted to find Mr. Burke anxious to read him passages from "A +Regicide Peace," which he was then writing; after a little delicate +manoeuvring on his part, to ascertain the truth, Mr. Burke told him a +touching incident which proved the origin of this calumny on his +intellectual powers. + +An old horse, a great favorite of his son's, and his constant companion, +when both were full of life and health, had been turned out at the death +of his master, to take his run of the park for the remainder of his +life, at ease, with strict injunctions to the servants that he should +neither be ridden, nor molested by any one. While musing one day, +loitering along, Mr. Burke perceived this worn-out old servant come +close up to him, and at length, after some moments spent in viewing his +person, followed by seeming recollection and confidence, he deliberately +rested his head upon his bosom. The singularity of the action itself, +the remembrance of his dead son, its late master, who occupied so much +of his thoughts at all times, and the apparent attachment, tenderness +and intelligence of the creature towards him--as if it could sympathize +with his inward sorrow--rushing at once into his mind, totally +overpowered his firmness, and throwing his arms over its neck, he wept +long and loudly. + +But though his lucid and beautiful mind, however agonized, remained +unclouded to the last, and his affections glowed towards his old friends +as warmly as ever, his bodily health was failing fast; one of the last +letters he ever dictated was to Mary Leadbeater, the daughter of his old +friend and master, Shackleton; this lady was subsequently well known in +Ireland as the author of "Cottage Dialogues." The first literary +attempt, we believe, made towards the improvement of the lower order of +Irish, was by her faithful and earnest pen; to this letter, +congratulating her on the birth of a son, is a PS. where the invalid +says:--"I have been at Bath these four months to no purpose, and am +therefore to be removed to my own house at Beaconsfield to-morrow, _to +be nearer to a habitation more permanent, humbly_ and fearfully hoping +that my better part may find a better mansion!" + +It would seem as if he anticipated the hour of his passing away. He sent +sweet messages of loving-kindness to all his friends, entreating and +exchanging pardons; recapitulated his motives of action on various +political emergencies; gave directions as to his funeral, and then +listened with attention to some serious papers of Addison on religious +subjects and on the immortality of the soul. His attendants after this +were in the act of removing him to his bed, when indistinctly invoking a +blessing on all around him, he sunk down and expired on the 9th of July, +1797, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. + +"His end," said his friend Doctor Lawrence, "was suited to the simple +greatness of mind which he displayed through life; every way unaffected, +without levity, without ostentation, full of natural grace and dignity, +he appeared neither to wish nor to dread, but patiently and placidly to +await the appointed hour of his dissolution." + +[Illustration: THE TOMB OF EDMUND BURKE.] + +It was almost impossible to people, in fancy, the tattered and neglected +churchyard of Beaconsfield as it now is--with those who swelled the +funeral pomp of the greatest ornament of the British senate; to imagine +the titled pall-bearers, where the swine were tumbling over graves, and +rooting at headstones. Seldom, perhaps never, in England, had we seen a +churchyard so little cared for as that, where the tomb of Waller[6] +renders the surrounding disorder "in a sacred place" more conspicuous by +its lofty pretension, and where the church is regarded as the mausoleum +of Edmund Burke.[7] Surely the "decency of churchyards" ought to be +enforced, if those to whom they should be sacred trusts, neglect or +forget their duty. That the churchyard of Beaconsfield, which has long +been considered "a shrine," should be suffered to remain in the state in +which we saw it, is a disgrace not only to the town, but to England; it +was differently cared for during Burke's lifetime, and though, like that +of the revered Queen Dowager, his Will expressed a disinclination to +posthumous honors, and unnecessary expense, never were mourners more +sincere--never did there arise to the blue vault of heaven the incense +of greater, and more deep-felt sorrow, than from the multitude who +assembled in and around the church, while the mortal remains of Edmund +Burke were placed in the same vault with his son and brother. + +The tablet to his memory, placed on the wall of the south aisle of the +church, records his last resting-place with the relatives just named; as +well as the fact of the same grave containing the body of his "entirely +beloved and incomparable wife," who died in 1812, at the age of 76. + +Deeply do we deplore that the dwelling where he enjoyed so much that +renders life happy, and suffered what sanctifies and prepares us for a +better world, exists no longer; but his name is incorporated with our +history, and adds another to the list of the great men who have been +called into life and received their first and best impressions in +Ireland; and if Ireland had given nothing to her more prosperous sister +than the extraordinary men of the past and present century, she merits +her gratitude for the gifts which bestow so much honor and glory on the +United Kingdoms. + +Mrs. Burke, previous to her death, sold the mansion to her neighbor, Mr. +John Du Pre, of Wilton Park. Mrs. Haviland, Mr. Burke's niece, lived +with her to the last, though she did not receive the portion of her +fortune to which she was considered entitled. Her son, Thomas Haviland +Burke, grand-nephew of Edmund, became the lineal representative of the +family; but the library, and all the tokens of respect and admiration +which he received from the good, and from the whole world, went with the +property to _Mrs. Burke's_ nephew, Mr. Nugent. Some of the sculpture +which ornamented the house now graces the British Museum. + +The mansion was burnt on the 23d of April, 1813. The ground where it +stood is unequal; and some of the park wall remains, and fine old trees +still flourish, beneath whose shade we picture the meeting between the +mourning father and the favorite horse of his lost son. + +There is a full-length portrait of Edmund Burke in the Examination Hall +of the Dublin University. All such portraits should be copied, and +preserved in our own Houses of Parliament, a meet honor to the dead, and +a stimulant to the living to "go and do likewise." It hardly realizes, +however, the _ideal_ of Burke; perhaps no portrait could. What Miss +Edgeworth called the "ground-plan of the face" is there; but we must +imagine the varying expression, the light of the bright quick eyes, the +eloquence of the unclosed lips, the storm which could gather +thunder-clouds on the well-formed brow; but we have far exceeded our +limits without exhausting our subject, and, with Dr. Parr, still would +speak of Burke: + +"Of Burke, by whose sweetness Athens herself would have been soothed, +with whose amplitude and exuberance she would have been enraptured and +on whose lips that prolific mother of genius and science would have +adored, confessed--the Goddess of Persuasion." + +Alas! we have lingered long at his shrine, and yet our praise is not +half spoken. + +--[The notes and drawings for this paper were contributed by F. W. +Fairhold, of the Society of Antiquaries.] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Sylvanus Spenser, the eldest son of the Poet Spenser, married Ellen +Nagle, eldest daughter of David Nagle, Esq., ancestor of the lady, who +was mother to Edmund Burke. + +[2] This as a picture is outlined with so delicate a pencil, and colored +with such mingled purity and richness of tone, that we transcribe a few +passages, as much in honor of the man who could write, as the woman who +could inspire such praise:-- + +"The character of ---- + +"She is handsome, but it is beauty not arising from features, from +complexion, or from shape. She has all three in a high degree, but it is +not by these she touches a heart; it is all that sweetness of temper, +benevolence, innocence, and sensibility, which a face can express, that +forms her beauty. She has a face that just raises your attention at +first sight; it grows on you every moment, and you wonder it did no more +than raise your attention at first. + +"Her eyes have a mild light, but they awe when she pleases; they command +like a good man out of office, not by authority, but by virtue. + +"Her stature is not tall, she is not made to be the admiration of every +body, but the happiness of one. + +"She has all the firmness that does not exclude delicacy--she has all +the softness that does not imply weakness. * * + +"Her voice is a soft, low, music, not formed to rule in public +assemblies, but to charm those who can distinguish a company from a +crowd: it has this advantage--_you must come close to her to hear it_. + +"To describe her body, describes her mind; one is the transcript of the +other; her understanding is not shown in the variety of matters it +exerts itself on, but in the goodness of the choice she makes. + +"She does not display it so much in saying or doing striking things, as +in avoiding such as she ought _not_ to say or do." + + * * * * * + +"No persons of so few years can know the world better; no person was +ever less corrupted by the knowledge. + +"Her politeness flows rather from a natural disposition to oblige, than +from any rules on that subject, and therefore never fails to strike +those who understand good breeding, and those who do not." + + * * * * * + +"She has a steady and firm mind, _which takes no more from the solidity +of the female character, than the solidity of marble does from its +polish and lustre_. She has such virtues as make us value the truly +great of our own sex. She has all the winning graces that make us love +even the faults we see in the weak and beautiful in hers." + +[3] Our cut exhibits all that now remains of Gregories--a few walls and +a portion of the old stables. Mrs. Burke, before her death, sold the +mansion to her neighbor, Mr. John Du Pre, of Wilton Park. It was +destroyed by fire soon afterwards. + +[4] During Barry's five years' residence abroad he earned nothing for +himself, and received no supplies save from Edmund and Richard Burke. + +[5] Mr. Prior says in his admirable Life of Burke--"How the money to +effect this purchase was procured has given rise to many surmises and +reports; a considerable portion was his own, the bequest of his father +and elder brother. The Marquis of Rockingham offered the loan of the +amount required to complete the purchase; the Marquis was under +obligations to him publicly, and privately for some attention paid to +the business of his large estates in Ireland. Less disinterested men +would have settled the matter otherwise--the one by quartering his +friend, the other, by being quartered, on the public purse. To the honor +of both, a different course was pursued." + +[6] Waller was a resident in this vicinity, in which his landed property +chiefly lay. He lived in the family mansion named Well's Court, a +property still in the possession of his descendants. His tomb is a table +monument of white marble, upon which rises a pyramid, resting on skulls +with bat's wings; it is a peculiar but picturesque addition to the +churchyard, and, from its situation close to the walk, attracts much +attention. + +[7] Our engraving exhibits his simple tablet, as seen from the central +aisle of the church, immediately in front of the pew in which Burke and +his family always sat. + + + + +POEMS BY S. G. GOODRICH[8] + + +For the last twenty years the name of Mr. Goodrich has been very +constantly associated with American literature. He commenced as a +publisher, in Boston, and was among the first to encourage by liberal +copyrights, and to make attractive by elegant editions, the works of +American authors. One of his earliest undertakings was a collection of +the novels of Charles Brockden Brown, with a memoir of that author, by +his widow, with whom he shared the profits. In 1828 he began "The +Token," an annual literary souvenir, which he edited and published +fourteen years. In this appeared the first fruits of the genius of +Cheney, who has long been acknowledged the master of American engravers; +and the first poems and prose writings of Longfellow, Willis, Mellen, +Mrs. Osgood, Mrs. Child, Mrs. Sigourney, and other eminent authors. In +"The Token" also were printed his own earlier lyrical pieces. The work +was of the first rank in its class, and in England as well as in this +country it was uniformly praised. + +In 1831 an anonymous romance was published by Marsh & Capen, of Boston. +It was attributed by some to Willis, and by others to Mrs. Child, then +Miss Francis. It illustrated a fine and peculiar genius, but was soon +forgotten. Mr. Goodrich appreciated its merits, and applied to the +publishers for the name of the author, that he might engage him as a +contributor to "The Token." They declined to disclose his secret, but +offered to forward a letter to him. Mr. Goodrich wrote one, and received +an answer signed by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, many of whose best productions, +as "Sights from a Steeple," "Sketches under an Umbrella," "The Prophetic +Pictures," "Canterbury Pilgrims," &c., appeared in this annual. In 1839, +Mr. Goodrich suggested to Mr. Hawthorne the publication of a collection +of his tales, surrendering his copyrights to several of them for this +purpose; but so little were the extraordinary qualities of this +admirable author then understood, that the publishers would not venture +upon such an experiment without an assurance against loss, which Mr. +Goodrich, as his friend, therefore gave. The public judgment will be +entitled to little respect, if the copyright of the works of Hawthorne +be not hereafter a most ample fortune. + +Mr. Goodrich soon abandoned the business of publishing, and, though +still editing "The Token," devoted his attention chiefly to the writing +of that series of educational works, known as _Peter Parley's_, which +has spread his fame over the world. The whole number of these volumes is +about sixty. Among them are treatises upon a great variety of subjects, +and they are remarkable for simplicity of style and felicity of +illustration. Mr. Goodrich has accomplished a complete and important +revolution in juvenile reading, substituting truth and nature for +grotesque fiction in the materials and processes of instruction, and +his method has been largely imitated, at home and abroad. In England +many authors and publishers have disgraced the literary profession by +works under the name of "Parley," with which he has had nothing to do, +and which have none of his wise and genial spirit. + +Besides his writings under this pseudonym, Mr. Goodrich has produced +several works of a more ambitious character, which have been eminently +popular. Among them is a series entitled "The Cabinet Library," +embracing histories, biographies, and essays in science; "Universal +Geography," in an octavo volume of one thousand pages; and a "History of +all Nations," in two large octavos, in which he has displayed such +research, analysis, and generalization, as should insure for him an +honorable rank among historians. We cannot better illustrate his +popularity than by stating the fact, that more than four hundred +thousand volumes of his various productions are now annually sold in +this country and Europe. No living writer is, therefore, as much read, +and in the United States hardly a citizen now makes his first appearance +at the polls, or a bride at the altar, to whose education he has not in +a large degree contributed. For twenty years he has preserved the +confidence of parents and teachers of every variety of condition and +opinion, by the indefectible morality and strong practical sense, which +are universally understood and approved. + +Like many other eminent persons, Mr. Goodrich lets sought occasional +relaxation from the main pursuits of his life in poetry, and the volume +before us contains some forty illustrations of his abilities, as a +worshipper of the muse whose temples are most thronged, but who is most +coy and most chary of her inspiration. They have for the most part been +previously printed in "The Token," or in literary journals, but a few +are now published the first time. In typographical and pictorial +elegance the book is unique. It is an exhibition of the success of the +first attempt to rival the London and Paris publishers in woodcut +embellishment and general beauty of execution. + +That Mr. Goodrich possesses the poetical faculty in an eminent degree, +no one has doubted who has read his fine lines "To Lake Superior:" + +[Illustration] + + Father of Lakes! thy waters bend, + Beyond the eagle's utmost view, + When, throned in heaven, he sees thee send + Back to the sky its world of blue. + + Boundless and deep the forests weave + Their twilight shade thy borders o'er, + And threatening cliffs, like giants, heave + Their rugged forms along thy shore. + + Nor can the light canoes, that glide + Across thy breast like things of air, + Chase from thy lone and level tide, + The spell of stillness deepening there. + + Yet round this waste of wood and wave, + Unheard, unseen, a spirit lives, + That, breathing o'er each rock and cave, + To all, a wild, strange aspect gives. + + The thunder-riven oak, that flings + Its grisly arms athwart the sky, + A sudden, startling image brings + To the lone traveller's kindled eye. + + The gnarled and braided boughs that show + Their dim forms in the forest shade, + Like wrestling serpents seem, and throw + Fantastic horrors through the glade. + + The very echoes round this shore, + Have caught a strange and gibbering tone, + For they have told the war-whoop o'er, + Till the wild chorus is their own. + + Wave of the wilderness, adieu-- + Adieu, ye rocks, ye wilds, ye woods! + Roll on, thou Element of blue, + And fill these awful solitudes! + + Thou hast no tale to tell of man. + God is thy theme. Ye sounding caves, + Whisper of Him, whose mighty plan, + Deems as a bubble all your waves! + +The "Birth Night of the Humming Birds" has been declared by the London +_Athenaeum_ equal to Dr. Drake's "Culprit Fay," and it may be regarded as +in its way the best specimen of Mr. Goodrich's talents. It is too long +to be quoted in these paragraphs. In descriptions of nature he is +uniformly successful, presenting his picture with force and +distractness. + +There are many examples of this in one of his longest poems, "The +Mississippi," in which the traditions that cluster around the Father of +Waters, and the advances of civility along his borders, are graphically +presented. The river is described as rising. + +[Illustration] + + "Far in the west, where snow-capt mountain's rise, + Like marble shafts beneath heaven's stooping dome, + And sunset's charming curtain drapes the skies + As if Enchantment there would build her home. + +The bard laments that + + "though these scenes are fair + As fabled Arcady, the sylph and fay, + And all their gentle kindred, shun the air, + Where car and steamer make their stormy way;" + +Yet trusts that in a future time, + + "Perchance some Cooper's magic art may wake + The sleeping legends of this mighty vale, + And twine fond memories round the lawn and lake, + Where Warrior fought or Lover told his tale. + +In the volume are several allegorical pieces of much merit, of which the +most noticeable are the "Two Windmills," "The Bubble Chase," and "The +Rainbow Bridge." Several smaller poems are distinguished for a quaint +simplicity, reminding us of the old masters of English verse; and +others, for refined sentiment, as the "Old Oak," of which the key-note +is in the lines, + + Here is the grassy knoll I used to seek + At summer noon, beneath the spreading shade, + And watch the flowers that stooped, with glowing cheek, + To meet the romping ripples as they played. + +[Illustration] + +The longest of Mr. Goodrich's poems is "The Outcast." It was first +published many years ago, and it appears now with the improvements +suggested by reflection and criticism. Its fault is, a certain +_intensity_, but it has noble passages, betraying a careful study and +profound appreciation of the subtler operations of the mind, +particularly, when, in its most excited action, it is influenced by the +observation of nature. + +The volume will take its place in the cabinets of our choice literature, +and will be prized the more for the fact that by selecting American +themes for his most elaborate compositions, Mr. Goodrich has made +literature subservient to the purposes of patriotism. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] _Poems: by S. G. Goodrich._ New York, G. P. Putnam. [The +designs--about forty--are by Mr. Billings, the engravings by Bobbett & +Edmonds, Lossing & Barrett, Hartwell, and others, and the printing by +Mr. John F. Trow.] + + + + +[Illustration] + +RICHARD B. KIMBALL. + + +The author of "_St. Leger_" was by that admirable work placed in the +leading rank of the new generation of American writers. The appearance +in the _Knickerbocker_ for the present month, of the commencement of a +sequel to "St. Leger," makes it a fit occasion for some notice of his +life and genius. + +Mr. Kimball is by inheritance of the first class of New-England men, +numbering in his family a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a +President of the Continental Congress, and several other persons +honorably distinguished in affairs. He is a native of Lebanon, in New +Hampshire, where his father is still living--the centre of a circle +bound to him by their respect for every public and private virtue. +Though he had completed his preparatory studies before he was eleven +years of age, he did not enter college until he was nearly thirteen. +Four years after, in 1834, he graduated at Dartmouth, and upon devoting +one year to the study of the law, he went abroad; travelled in England, +Scotland, and Germany; and resided some time in Paris, where he attended +the lectures of Majendie, Broussais, and Louis, in medicine, and those +of the elder Dupin, and Coulanges, in law. Returning, he entered upon +the practice of the law, at Waterford, in this state, but soon removed +to New-York, where a year's devotion to his profession made him familiar +with its routine. In 1842 he went a second time to Europe, renewing the +associations of his travel and student-life in Great Britain and on the +continent. Since, for seven years, he has been an industrious and +successful lawyer in New-York. + +Although but few works are known to be from the pen of Mr. Kimball, he +has been a voluminous author. The vigorous and polished style of his +avowed compositions, is never attained but by long practice. He has +been, we believe, a contributor to every volume of the _Knickerbocker_ +published since 1842. He printed in that excellent magazine his +"Reminiscences of an Old Man," "The Young Englishman," and the +successive chapters of "St. Leger, or the Threads of Life." This last +work was published by Putnam, and by Bentley in London, about one year +ago, and it passed rapidly through two English and three American +editions. It was not raised into an ephemeral popularity, as so many +works of fiction easily are, for their lightness, by careless applauses; +it arrested the attention of the wisest critics; commanded their study, +and received their verdict of approval as a book of learning and +reflection in the anatomy of human life. + +Mr. Kimball had been eminent in his class at college for a love of Greek +literature, and he studied the Roman also with reverent attention. It +was his distinction that he had thoroughly acquainted himself with the +philosophy of the ancients. At a later day he was attracted by the +speculation of the Germans, and a mastery of their language enabled him +to enter fully into the spirit of Spinosa, Kant, and Fichte, as he did +into that of the finer intelligences, Goeethe and Richter, and pervading +he found the passion to know Whence are we? What are we? Whither do we +go? In "St. Leger," a mind predisposed to superstition by some vague +prophecies respecting the destiny of his family--a mind inquisitive, +quick, and earnest, but subject to occasional melancholy, as the +inherited spell obtains a mastery of the reason--is exposed to the +influences of a various study, and startling experiences, all conceived +with a profound knowledge of human nature, and displayed with consummate +art; having a metaphysical if not a strictly dramatic unity; and +conducting by the subtlest processes, to the determination of these +questions, and the flowering of a high and genial character; as +Professor Tayler Lewis expresses it, "at rest, deriving substantial +enjoyment from the present, because satisfied with respect to the +ultimate, and perfect, and absolute."[9] + +Aside from its qualities as a delineation of a deep inner experience, +"St. Leger" has very great merits as a specimen of popular romantic +fiction. The varied characters are admirably drawn, and are individual, +distinct, and effectively contrasted. The incidents are all shaped and +combined with remarkable skill; and, as the _Athenaeum_ observes, "Here, +there, everywhere, the author gives evidence of passionate and romantic +power." In some of the episodes, as in that of Wolfgang Hegewisch, for +example, in which are illustrated the tendency of a desperate philosophy +and hopeless skepticism, we have that sort of mastery of the feelings, +that chaining of the intensest interest, which distinguishes the most +wonderful compositions of Poe, or the German Hoffman, or Zschokke in his +"Walpurgis Night;" and every incident in the book tends with directest +certainty to the fulfilment of its main design. + +The only other work of which Mr. Kimball is the acknowledged author, is +"Cuba and the Cubans;" a volume illustrative of the history, and social, +political, and economical condition of the island of Cuba, written +during the excitement occasioned by its invasion from the United States, +in 1849, and exhibiting a degree of research, and a judicial fairness of +statement and argument, which characterizes no other production upon +this subject. As it was generally admitted to be the most reliable, +complete, and altogether important work, upon points commanding the +attention of several nations, its circulation was very large; but it was +produced for a temporary purpose, and it will be recalled to popularity +only by a renewal of the inevitable controversies which await the +political relations of the Antilles. + +"A Story of Calais," in the following pages, is an example of Mr. +Kimball's success as a tale writer. Though less remarkable than passages +in "St. Leger," it will vindicate his right to a place among the chief +creators of such literature among us. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[9] The Inner-Life, a Review of St. Leger, by Professor Tayler Lewis, +LL. D., &c. + + + + +THE BISHOP OF JAMAICA. + + +Among the distinguished strangers who visited the United States during +the last season, no one has left a more favorable impression upon +American society than the thoroughly accomplished scholar and highbred +gentleman, the Bishop of Jamaica. We propose a brief sketch of his +history: + +AUBREY GEORGE SPENCER, D.D. and D.C.L., was born in London on the 12th +of February, 1795, and is the eldest son of the late Hon. William +Spencer, the poet, whose father, Lord Charles Spencer, was a son of +Charles the second Duke of Marlborough, and grandson of John Churchill, +the illustrious hero of Ramillies and Blenheim. His Christian names were +given by the Dukes of St. Albans and Marlborough, who were his great +uncles and godfathers. His mother was Susan Jennison, a countess of the +Holy Roman Empire, and a lady of singular beauty and accomplishments, to +whom Mr. William Spencer was married at the court of Hesse Darmstadt, in +1791. Aubrey Spencer and his younger brother George (subsequently Bishop +of Madras,) received the rudiments of learning at the Abbey School of +St. Albans, whence the former was soon removed to the seminary of the +celebrated Grecian, D. Burme, of Greenwich, and the latter to the +Charter house. For some time previous to his matriculation at Magdalen +Hall, Oxford, Mr. Aubrey Spencer was the private pupil of Mr. Mitchell, +the very learned translator of Aristophanes. At the house of his father +in Curzon street, at Melbourne House in Chiswick, Blenheim, and +Woolbeednig, Hallowell Hill, (the seat of the Countess Dowager Spencer,) +he was in frequent and familiar intercourse with many of the most +distinguished contemporary statesmen, philosophers, and other men of +letters; and in this society his own literary and conversational talents +obtained an early celebrity, and commended him to the regard and +friendship of Mr. Rogers, Mr. Campbell, Lord Byron, Mr. Hallam, Lord +Dudley, Mr. Coutts, Mr. Wordsworth, Mr. Francis, Mr. Homer, Thomas +Moore, Mr. Southey, Lady Caroline Lamb, Mr. Crabb, and many other +authors, with some of whom he still maintains a correspondence, while +some have fallen asleep. + +With the society of the county of Oxford, and with that of the +University, he was equally popular. In the early part of the year 1818, +he took leave of his College, on being ordained deacon, and entered on a +charge of the parish of Great Oakering, in the diocese of London. From +this, which is a very unhealthy part of Essex, he removed at the end of +the year to Bannam, Norfolk, where he became the neighbor and frequent +guest of the Earl of Albemarle and the Bishop of Norwich. In March, +1819, he was admitted a priest, and soon after gave up the brilliant +society in which he had hitherto lived, and devoted himself to the +Church in the Colonies, where, for a quarter of a century, he has filled +a distinguished part as archdeacon and bishop. + +His first visit to the Bermudas was undertaken for the recovery of his +health, to which a colder climate has always been hostile; and when, in +the year 1825, these islands were attached to the diocese of Nova +Scotia, he was, at the instance of the late Primate, appointed to them +as Archdeacon and Ecclesiastical Commissary to the Bishop of the see. +Here he may be said to have created the Ecclesiastical Establishment +which, under his conciliatory influence, has so rapidly and largely +increased; and with it he soon associated the revival of Bishop +Berkeley's Classical Academy, and a system of general instruction, of +which a chain of schoolhouses, from either extremity of the island, are +the abiding monuments. + +From his connection with the Bishop of Nova Scotia, the visits of +Archdeacon Spencer to that colony were frequent, and many of the +inhabitants both of that province and of New Brunswick retain a lively +impression of his abilities, as they were illustrated in his preaching +and in the practice of the other duties of his profession and position. + +In July, 1839, Dr. Spencer was consecrated by the venerable Archbishop +of Canterbury, on the nomination of the crown, to the new see of +Newfoundland, retaining still episcopal jurisdiction over the isles of +Bermuda, under the extension of the Colonial Episcopate, which relieved +the indefatigable Bishop of Nova Scotia of a large portion of his cares. +The new Bishop was enabled, by the aid of the Society for the Promotion +of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to quadruple the number of his clergy +within four years, and to consecrate more than twenty additional +churches within the same period. A very grateful sense of the Bishop's +exertions, and of the prosperous results of his unceasing labor, was +manifested in the several addresses presented to his lordship on his +subsequent translation to the diocese of Jamaica, by the clergy and +laity of Newfoundland and Bermuda. + +In a paper which only purports to be a biographical notice of one who is +still living, it is not desirable to do more than briefly advert to the +principal topics and dates of a history which may hereafter be +advantageously amplified and filled up. The real progress of the +established church in Newfoundland at this period, would be best +gathered from the Bishop's letters to the government and the religious +societies, and to the clergy under his jurisdiction, but to these +documents it is not likely that any biographer will have unreserved +access during the life of his lordship. + +On the decease of Bishop Lipscombe, in April, 1843, Bishop Spencer was +translated, under circumstances peculiarly indicative of the high +opinion which was had of his ability by the Queen's ministers and the +heads of the English church, to the see of Jamaica, one of the most +important connected with the crown. He quitted his old diocese, as the +papers of the day amply testify, with the respect of all denominations +of Christians. A national ship, the Hermes, was appointed to convey him +and his family and suite to Jamaica, where he arrived in the first week +of November, having made the land on the auspicious festival of All +Saints. + +The sermon delivered by him at his installation, in the cathedral at +Spanish Town, was published at the request of the Speaker of the House +of Assembly, while the Earl of Elgin, the Governor-General, in his +speech to the Legislature, "congratulated the inhabitants of Jamaica on +the appointment of a prelate of such approved talents and piety to that +see." At every point of the Bishop's visitation, which he commenced by a +convention of eighty clergymen, at Spanish Town, he was met by +congratulatory addresses from the vestries, and other corporate bodies, +declaratory of their confidence in his projected measures, and of their +desire to aid him in the extension of the church. In consonance with his +views the local Legislature passed an act increasing the number of +island curates, and providing higher salaries for their support, while +at the same time, they granted three thousand pounds as a first +instalment to the Church Society, which had been organized by him, and +to which the Governor-General contributed the annual sum of one hundred +pounds. + +On his visit to England in 1845 and in the beginning of 1846, he was +continually employed in preaching in aid of various charities, and in +assisting at public meetings which had for their object the promotion of +Christianity by the servants of the church. At the weekly meetings of +the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, in London, he was a +constant attendant; and the increase of the funds of that association, +and the conciliation to it of many powerful supporters, are result of +measures which may be traced to his projection and tact. In his reply to +an address from the clergy, on his return from a recent visitation, +published at length in the last annual report of the parent Society for +the Propagation of the Gospel, will be found the clearest exposition of +the existing state and future prospects of the church in Jamaica; and a +charge addressed by his lordship to the clergy of the Bahamas, on the +subject of a difficult and embarrassing question, for the adjustment of +which the Bishop received the thanks of the Queen's government and of +the local Executive, is full of valuable information on the condition, +principles and progress of the colonial establishment. In closing the +last session of the Bahamas Legislature, Governor Gregory declared in +his speech, with reference to this matter, that he considered the +arrival of the Bishop in the island, at that juncture, as a convincing +proof of the interposition of a special Providence in the conduct of +human affairs. + +In 1822, the Bishop was married to Eliza, the daughter of John Musson, +Esq., and the sister of a former friend at the University. He has had +one son, now deceased, and has three daughters. + +As a man of letters, Bishop Spencer is entitled to a very honorable +position. As a scholar and as a critic, he has evinced such abilities +as, fitly devoted, would have secured fame; as a poet and essayist, he +has unusual grace and elegance; and a collection of the various +compositions with which he has relieved the monotony and arduous labors +of his professional and official career, would vindicate his title to be +classed with those prelates who have been most eminent in the literary +world. + +The following poems, from autographs of Bishop Spencer, we believe are +first given to the public in the _International_. + +"HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP." + + I tread the church-yard's path alone, + Unseen to shed the gushing tear: + I read on many a mould'ring stone + Fond records of the good and dear. + My soul is well-nigh faint with fear, + Where doubting many went to weep; + And yet what sweet repose is here-- + "He giveth His beloved sleep!" + + The world has but a feverish rest, + To weary pilgrims sometimes given, + When pleasure's cup has lost its zest, + And glory's hard-earned crown is riven. + Here, softer than the dews of even + Fall peaceful on the slumbering deep, + Asleep to earth, awake to heaven-- + "He giveth His beloved sleep." + + Yes, on the grave's hard pillows rise + No cankering cares, no dreams of woe; + On earth we close our aching eyes, + And heavenward all our visions grow. + The airs of Eden round us flow, + And in their balm our slumbers steep. + God calls His chosen home, and so + "He giveth His beloved sleep." + + Ah! vainly could the human voice, + In this dull world of sin and folly, + Tell how the sainted dead rejoice + In those high realms where joy is holy-- + Where no dim shade of melancholy + Beclouds the rest which angels keep, + Where, peace and bliss united wholly + "He giveth His beloved sleep." + + If on that brow so fair, so young, + Affliction trace an early furrow, + If Hope's too dear, delusive tongue + Has broke its promise of to-morrow, + Seek not the world again, to borrow + The deathful print its votaries reap. + Man gives his loved ones pain and sorrow, + God "giveth His beloved sleep." + + * * * * * + + +LINES WRITTEN ON WITNESSING A CONFIRMATION, IN BERMUDA, IN 1826. + + Veil'd in robes of snowy whiteness, + Filled with love and sacred fear, + Forms of beauty, eyes of brightness, + At the altar's foot appear. + + There with hearts oppressed with feeling + What their dying Saviour felt; + At His throne of mercy kneeling + Where their pious parents knelt, + + Many a youth, and many a maiden + Meekly and devoutly bow, + And from worldly cares unladen + Ratify a Christian's vow. + + Hark! what voice subdued and holy + In that deep and tender tone, + Prays upon those suppliants lonely + Christ's eternal benison! + + God! who call'st them to inherit + Joys no mortal tongue can speak, + Guide them with thy gracious Spirit + Through the storms that round them break. + + When thou seest these children straying + From the way thy word imparts, + Then, thine anger yet delaying, + Renovate their faltering hearts. + + If provoked by strong temptation + From thy paths again they swerve, + If in prideful elevation + They forget the God they serve, + + Then by timely, mild correction, + Lead them, wheresoe'er they roam, + Fan the embers of affection + For their Father and their Home. + + * * * * * + + +MIDNIGHT. + + Midnight is on the earth: + Flowers that in darkness bloom, + Their odorous life pour forth + Beneath the gloom. + O'er palace and o'er stall + Her sable curtain spread, + Mantles within its pall + The living dead! + + Midnight is on the sea: + A soft and still repose + Steals o'er the untroubled lea + That darkly glows. + Hushed in their ocean caves + The winds their sleep prolong, + Or mourn along the waves + In dreamlike song. + + Midnight is in the Heaven: + The planets of the air + To her as vassals given, + Wander and worship there. + No sound comes from her throne, + Piled in those lofty skies, + Calmly she broods upon + Her own deep mysteries. + + Yet in her silence deep, + There breathes a language fraught + With spell to wake and keep + The energies of thought; + And on her awful brow + Strange characters appear, + The portraitures to show + Of the advancing year. + + Night is a fearful book, + And in her darkling skies + Did Seers and Magi look, + Searching earth's destinies. + But oh! had I the power + To ancient science given, + I would not use this hour + To rifle Heaven. + + The night is Memory's sphere, + In light and shadow cast; + In her dim disk appear + The last--the past. + The lov'd ones of our youth + Hasten'd to life's last bourne; + Dear to the heart's deep truth, + Will they return? + + Ask of the phantoms pale + That haunt the hollow sky, + Ask of the fitful gale + That mourns and passes by, + Invoke the spirits' home, + Unsearchable, unseen-- + Where do the wanderers roam? + Are they as they have been? + + Silence is on the land, + No voice comes from the sea, + No spell can reach thy strand, + Thou dim Eternity! + Fled like the cloudy rack + With morning's early breath, + What night shall bring them back? + The night that brings us death! + + * * * * * + + +STETE SUPER VIAS ANTIGUAS. + + My heart lies buried with the past, + 'Mid scenes where fleeting memory strays + And time its darkening shadows cast + O'er all the marks of by-gone days; + I look in vain for ancient ways-- + The olden paths are worn and gone; + No friend that trod them here delays, + I pass benighted and alone. + Yet in this mist of life and mind, + Which ever dark and darker grows, + There is one living lamp enshrin'd, + Whose ray in deathless lustre glows. + That star-like light my God bestows + To break the deep sepulchral gloom; + Its beams Eternity disclose, + And show the garden round the tomb. + + + + +ENCOURAGEMENT OF LITERATURE. + + +In the concluding volume of the Life of Southey, just published by the +Harpers, is a letter from the poet in answer to one by Lord Brougham, on +the subject of the encouragement of literature by government. "Your +first question," writes Southey, "is, whether Letters would gain by the +more avowed and active encouragement of the Government? + +"There are literary works of national importance which can only be +performed by co-operative labor, and will never be undertaken by that +spirit of trade which at present preponderates in literature. The +formation of an English Etymological Dictionary is one of those works; +others might be mentioned; and in this way literature might gain much by +receiving national encouragement; _but Government would gain a great +deal more by bestowing it. Revolutionary governments understand this: I +should be glad if I could believe that our legitimate one would learn it +before it is too late. I am addressing one who is a statesman as well as +a man of letters, and who is well aware that the time is come in which +governments can no more stand without pens to support them than without +bayonets._ They must soon know, if they do not already know it, that the +volunteers as well as the mercenaries of both professions, who are not +already enlisted in this service, will enlist themselves against it; and +I am afraid they have a better hold upon the soldier than upon the +penman; because the former has, in the spirit of his profession and in +the sense of military honor, something which not unfrequently supplies +the want of any higher principle; and I know not that any substitute is +to be found among the gentlemen of the press. + +"But neediness, my Lord, makes men dangerous members of society, quite +as often as affluence makes them worthless ones. I am of opinion that +many persons who become bad subjects because they are necessitous, +because 'the world is not their friend, nor the world's law,' might be +kept virtuous (or, at least, withheld from mischief) by being made +happy, by early encouragement, by holding out to them a reasonable hope +of obtaining, in good time, an honorable station and a competent income, +as the reward of literary pursuits, when followed with ability and +diligence, and recommended by good conduct. + +"My Lord, you are now on the Conservative side. Minor differences of +opinion are infinitely insignificant at this time, when in truth there +are but two parties in this kingdom--the Revolutionists and the +Loyalists; those who would destroy the constitution, and those who would +defend it, I can have no predilections for the present administration; +they have raised the devil who is now raging through the land: but, in +their present position, it is their business to lay him if they can; and +so far as their measures may be directed to that end, I heartily say, +God speed them! _If schemes like yours for the encouragement of letters, +have never entered into their wishes, there can be no place for them at +present in their intentions._ Government can have no leisure now for +attending to any thing but its own and our preservation; and the time +seems not far distant when the cares of war and expenditure will come +upon it once more with their all-engrossing importance. But when better +times shall arrive (whoever may live to see them), it will be worthy the +consideration of any government whether the institution of an Academy, +with salaries for its members (in the nature of literary or lay +benefices), might not be the means of retaining in _its_ interests, as +connected with their own, a certain number of influential men of +letters, who should hold those benefices, and a much greater number of +aspirants who would look to them in their turn. A yearly grant of ten +thousand pounds would endow ten such appointments of five hundred pounds +each for the elder class, and twenty-five of two hundred pounds each for +younger men; the latter eligible, of course, and preferably, but not +necessarily, to be elected to the higher benefices, as those fell +vacant, and as they should have improved themselves. + +"The good proposed by this, as a political measure, is not that of +retaining such persons to act as pamphleteers and journalists, but that +of preventing them from becoming such, in hostility to the established +order of things; and of giving men of letters, as a class, something to +look for beyond the precarious gains of literature; thereby inducing in +them a desire to support the existing institutions of their country, on +the stability of which their own welfare would depend. + +"Your Lordship's second question,--in what way the encouragement of +Government could most safely and beneficially be given,--is, in the +main, answered by what has been said upon the first. I do not enter into +any details of the proposed institution, for that would be to think of +fitting up a castle in the air. Nor is it worth while to examine how far +such an institution might be perverted. Abuses there would be, as in the +disposal of all preferments, civil, military, or ecclesiastical; but +there would be a more obvious check upon them; and where they occurred +they would be less injurious in their consequences than they are in the +state, the army and navy, or the church. + +"With regard to prizes, methinks they are better left to schools and +colleges. Honors are worth something to scientific men, because they are +conferred upon such men in other countries; at home there are precedents +for them in Newton and Davy, and the physicians and surgeons have them. +In my judgment, men of letters are better without them, unless they are +rich enough to bequeath to their family a good estate with the bloody +hand, and sufficiently men of the world to think such distinctions +appropriate. For myself, if we had a Guelphic order, I should choose to +remain a Ghibelline. + +"I have written thus fully and frankly, not dreaming that your proposal +is likely to be matured and carried into effect, but in the spirit of +good will, and as addressing one by whom there is no danger that I can +be misunderstood. _One thing alone I ask from the legislature, and in +the name of justice,--that the injurious law of copyright should be +repealed, and that the family of an author should not be deprived of +their just and natural rights in his works when his permanent reputation +is established._ This I ask with the earnestness of a man who is +conscious that he has labored for posterity." + +The publication of this letter, and of the correspondence between +Southey and Sir Robert Peel, in which the poet declines being knighted, +on account of his poverty--a correspondence eminently honorable to the +late Prime Minister, has occasioned an eloquent letter from Walter +Savage Landor to Lord Brougham on the same subject. + + + + +CLASSICAL NOVELS. + + +The _Edinburgh Review_ rebukes the daring of those uneducated +story-tellers who profane by their intrusion the holy lands, the sacred +names, and golden ages of art. We have acceptable specimens of the +"classical novel" by Dr. Croly, Lockhart, Bulwer, and Collins (the +author of "Antonini"), and in this country by Mrs. Child and William +Ware; but nineteen of every twenty who have attempted such compositions +have failed entirely. The Edinburgh Reviewer, after showing that the +writers whom he arraigns have merely parodied the exterior life of our +own time, proceeds-- + +"It is not uncommon to excuse such deviations from historical propriety +by saying, that if the mere accidents have been neglected, the essential +humanity has been only more fully realized: and those who quarrel with +the neglect are stigmatized as pedants having no eyes except for the +external. We think, however, that it will be found, in most cases where +the plea is set up, that the humanity for which the sacrifice has been +made is equally external with that which has been disregarded, and much +more commonplace and conventional; being in fact, only the outer life of +existing society. We are met, of course, by the triumphant answer that +Shakspeare wrote Roman plays with a very slender knowledge of the +classics. It would be sufficient to reply, that we are speaking of cases +where ignorance of antiquity is not counterbalanced by any very +exuberant or profound knowledge of human nature. Possibly posterity may +have to deal with another myriad-minded dramatist whose poverty is +better than other men's riches; but it must not be rashly presumed that +he is likely to appear at all; or, if at all, with the same deficiency +of learning which was not unnatural three hundred years back. Meanwhile, +it is a perverse and pernicious paradox to maintain that Shakspeare's +consummate genius was in any way connected with his 'little Latin and +less Greek,' or that he might not have portrayed the Romans yet more +successfully if he had known more about them. Believing this, we are not +presuming, as the same absurd reasoning would have it, to set up +ourselves against him. We do not say that any other man in his age or +our own, however great his command of learning, could possibly mend +those plays by touching them; but we say that Shakspeare himself, with +increased knowledge, might have made them yet more perfect. It is easy +to oppose inspiration to scholastic culture; to coin antitheses between +nature and art; and to say that Shakspeare's Romans are more ideally +true than Niebuhr's. There is some truth in all this; but it is not to +the purpose. A poet like Burns may have really known more of classical +life than a critic like Blair; nay, it may be that if Keats or Tennyson +had been a senior medallist at Cambridge, they would not have produced +any thing not only so beautiful but so purely Greek as _Endymion_ or +_Oenone_. In what we were just saying we were thinking of the very +highest minds. And, when we recollect how gracefully Milton could walk +under the weight of his immense learning, we need not fear that the +Alantean shoulders of Shakspeare would have been oppressed by a similar +load. The knowledge of antiquity may operate on the recipient so as to +produce mere bookishness and intellectual sophistication; but in itself +it is a real and legitimate part of all knowledge, a portion of that +truth with which poets are conversant, a lesson set in other schools +than those where man is teacher. We know not what were Shakspeare's +feelings with respect to his own deficiencies; but we cannot believe +that the same modesty which besought his friend to chide with Fortune, +'the guilty goddess of his harmful deeds,' would have shrunk from +confessing want of knowledge as an evil to be lamented, at the same time +that it was imputed to want of opportunity. If he was self-centred, it +was in his strength, not in his weakness. His eulogists may show the +greatness of their faith in him by doubting whether he could have +assimilated the learning which obstructs Ben Jonson's _Catiline_ and +_Sejanus_; but we have no proofs that he thought so meanly of himself or +of that which he happened not to possess. On the contrary, it may be +argued, from the diligent use which he has made of such information as +he had, that he would gladly have taken advantage of more. Arnold, in +his Roman History, has noted the poet's perception of historical truth +in a matter where it might well have been overlooked; and future critics +may perhaps spend their time more profitably in discovering other +indications of a like vigilant industry than in laboring to prove that +the absence of so servile a virtue has been conducive to his preeminence +as a creative artist." + + + + +SLIDING SCALE OF THE INCONSOLABLES. + + +The editor of _The Albion_ thus christens, while he translates, the +following lively narrative, culled from the varied columns of the +_Courrier des Etats Unis_. The malicious writer dates from Paris; but +for such experiences our own city would probably be quite as prolific a +hunting-field. + + * * * * * + +How rapid is the progress of oblivion with respect to those who are no +more! How many a quadrille shall we see this winter, exclusively made up +from the ranks of inconsolable widows! Widows of this order exist only +in the literature of the tombstone. In the world, and after the lapse of +a certain period, there is but one sort of widows inconsolable--those +who refuse to be comforted, because they can't get married again! + +One of our most distinguished sculptors was summoned, a short time +since, to the house of a young lady, connected by birth with a family of +the highest grade in the aristocracy of wealth, and united in marriage +to the heir of a title illustrious in the military annals of the empire. +The union, formed under the happiest auspices, had been, alas! of short +duration. Death, unpitying death, had ruptured it, by prematurely +carrying off the young husband. The sculptor was summoned by the widow. +He traversed the apartments, silent and deserted, until he was +introduced into a bedroom, and found himself in presence of a lady, +young and beautiful, but habited in the deepest mourning, and with a +face furrowed by tears. "You are aware," said she, with a painful +effort, and a voice half choked by sobs, "you are aware of the blow +which I have received?" The artist bowed, with an air of respectful +condolence. "Sir," continued the widow, "I am anxious to have a funeral +monument erected in honor of the husband whom I have lost." The artist +bowed again. "I wish that the monument should be superb, worthy of the +man whose loss I weep, proportioned to the unending grief into which his +loss has plunged me. I care not what it costs. I am rich, and I will +willingly sacrifice all my fortune to do honor to the memory of an +adored husband. I must have a temple--with columns--in marble--and in +the middle--on a pedestal--his statue." + +"I will do my best to fulfil your wishes, madam," replied the artist; +"but I had not the honor of acquaintance with the deceased, and a +likeness of him is indispensable for the due execution of my work. +Without doubt, you have his portrait?" + +The widow raised her arm and pointed despairingly to a splendid likeness +painted by Amaury Duval. + +"A most admirable picture!" observed the artist, "and the painter's name +is a sufficient guarantee for its striking resemblance to the original." + +"Those are his very features, sir; it is himself. It wants but life. Ah! +would that I could restore it to him at the cost of all my blood!" + +"I will have this portrait carried to my studio, madam, and I promise +you that the marble shall reproduce it exactly." + +The widow, at these words, sprung up, and at a single bound throwing +herself towards the picture, with arms stretched out as though to defend +it, exclaimed, "Take away this portrait! carry off my only consolation! +my sole remaining comfort! never! never!" + +"But madam, you will only be deprived of it for a short time, and--" + +"Not an hour! not a minute! could I exist without his beloved image! +Look you, sir, I have had it placed here, in my own room, that my eyes +might be fastened upon it, without ceasing, and through my tears. His +portrait shall never leave this spot one single instant, and in +contemplating _that_ will I pass the remainder of a miserable and +sorrowful existence." + +"In that case, madam, you will be compelled to permit me to take a copy +of it. But do not be uneasy--I shall not have occasion to trouble your +solitude for any length of time: one sketch--one sitting will suffice." + +The widow agreed to this arrangement; she only insisted that the artist +should come back the following day. She wanted him to set to work on the +instant, so great was her longing to see the mausoleum erected. The +sculptor, however, remarked that he had another work to finish first. +This difficulty she sought to overcome by means of money. + +"Impossible!" replied the artist, "I have given my word; but do not +distress yourself; I will apply to it so diligently, that the monument +shall be finished in as short a time as any other sculptor would +require, who could apply himself to it forthwith." + +"You see my distress," said the widow; "you can make allowance for my +impatience. Be speedy, then, and above all, be lavish of magnificence. +Spare no expense; only let me have a masterpiece." + +Several letters echoed these injunctions, during the few days +immediately following the interview. At the expiration of three months +the artist called again. He found the widow still in weeds, but a little +less pallid, and a little more coquettishly dressed in her mourning +garb. "Madam," said he, "I am entirely at your service." + +"Ah! at last; this is fortunate," replied the widow, with a gracious +smile. + +"I have made my design, but I still want one sitting for the likeness. +Will you permit me to go into your bedroom?" + +"Into my bedroom? For what?" + +"To look at the portrait again." + +"Oh! yes; have the goodness to walk into the drawing-room; you will find +it there, now." + +"Ah!" + +"Yes; it hangs better there; it is better lighted in the drawing-room +than in my own room." + +"Would you like, madam, to look at the design for the monument?" + +"With pleasure. Oh! what a size! What profusion of decorations! Why, it +is a palace, sir, this tomb!" + +"Did you not tell me, madam, that nothing could be too magnificent? I +have not considered the expense; and, by the way, here is a memorandum +of what the monument will cost you." + +"Oh, heavens!" exclaimed the widow, after having cast an eye over the +total adding up. "Why, this is enormous!" + +"You begged me to spare no expense." + +"Yes, no doubt, I desire to do things properly, but not exactly to make +a fool of myself." + +"This, at present, you see, is only a design; and there is time yet to +cut it down." + +"Well, then, suppose we were to leave out the temple, and the columns, +and all the architectural part, and content ourselves with the statue? +It seems to me that this would be very appropriate." + +"Certainly it would." + +"So let it be, then--just the statue, alone." + +Shortly after this second visit, the sculptor fell desperately ill. He +was compelled to give up work; but, on returning from a tour in Italy, +prescribed by his physician, he presented himself once more before the +widow, who was then in the tenth month of her mourning. He found, this +time, a few roses among the cypress, and some smiling colors playing +over half-shaded grounds. He brought with him a little model of his +statue, done in plaster, and offering in miniature the idea of what his +work was to be. "What do you think of the likeness?" he inquired of the +widow. + +"It seems to me a little flattered; my husband was all very well, no +doubt; but you are making him an Apollo!" + +"Really? well, then, I can correct my work by the portrait." + +"Don't take the trouble--a little more, or a little less like, what does +it matter?" + +"Excuse me, but I am particular about likenesses." + +"If you absolutely must--" + +"It is in the drawing-room, yonder, is it not? I'll go in there." + +"It is not there any longer," replied the widow, ringing the bell. + +"Baptiste," said she to the servant who came in, "bring down the +portrait of your master." + +"The portrait that you sent up to the garret last week, madam?" + +"Yes." + +At this moment the door opened, and a young man of distinguished air +entered; his manners were easy and familiar; he kissed the fair widow's +hand, and tenderly inquired after her health. "Who in the world is this +good man in plaster?" asked he, pointing with his finger to the +statuette, which the artist had placed upon the mantel-piece. + +"It is the model of a statue for my husband's tomb." + +"You are having a statue of him made? The devil! It's very majestic!" + +"Do you think so?" + +"It is only great men who are thus cut out of marble, and at full +length; it seems to me, too, that the deceased was a very ordinary +personage." + +"In fact, his bust would be sufficient." + +"Just as you please, madam," said the sculptor. + +"Well, let it be a bust, then; that's determined!" + +Two months later, the artist, carrying home the bust, encountered on the +stairs a merry party. The widow, giving her hand to the elegant dandy +who had caused the statue of the deceased to be cut down, was on her way +to the mayor's office, where she was about to take a second oath of +conjugal fidelity. If the bust had not been completed, it would +willingly have been dispensed with. When, some time later, the artist +called for his money, there was an outcry about the price; and it +required very little less than a threat of legal proceedings, before the +widow, consoled and remarried, concluded by resigning herself to pay for +this funeral homage, reduced as it was, to the memory of her departed +husband. + + + + +A NEW SERIES OF TALES BY MISS MARTINEAU. + + +There is scarcely in English literature a collection of tales by a +simple writer that are better adapted for the instruction of the masses, +than HARRIET MARTINEAU'S _Illustrations of Political Economy_. Without +believing her a very profound philosopher, we are inclined to think +these works could be remembered longer than any of her other writings. +The pleasure and instruction we derived from them were recalled by the +announcement in the London _Leader_ that she is to contribute a new +series of stories for the people, to that journal. We copy the first of +them. + + +THE OLD GOVERNESS. + +The afternoon was come when the Morells must go on board. They were +going to Canada at last, after having talked about it for several years. +There were so many children, that it was with much difficulty they had +got on for some years past; and there was no prospect for the lads at +home. They had, with extreme difficulty, paid their way: and they had, +to a certain extent, educated the children. That, however, was Miss +Smith's doing. + +"We shall always feel, every one of us," said Mrs. Morell, with tears, +to the elderly homely governess, "that we are under the deepest +obligations to you. But for you, the children would have grown up +without any education at all. And, for the greatest service you or any +one could possibly render us, we have never been able to give you your +due,--even as regards the mere money." + +"I can only say again," replied the governess, "that you do not look at +the whole of the case. You have given me a home, when it is no easy +matter for such as I am to earn one, with my old-womanish ways and my +old-fashioned knowledge." + +"I will not hear any disparagement of your ways and your knowledge," +interrupted Mrs. Morell. "They have been every thing to my children: and +if you could have gone with us...." + +This, however, they all knew to be out of the question. It was not only +that Miss Smith was between fifty and sixty, too old to go so far, with +little prospect of comfort at the end of the journey; but she was at +present disabled for much usefulness by the state of her right hand. It +had been hurt by an accident a long time before, and it did not get +well. The surgeon had always said it would be a long case; and she had +no use whatever of the hand in the mean time. Yet she would not part +with the baby till the last moment. She carried him on the left arm, and +stood on the wharf with him--the mother at her side--till all the rest +were on board, and Mr. Morell came for his wife. It was no grand steamer +they were going in, but a humble vessel belonging to the port, which +would carry them cheap. + +"Now, my love," said the husband. "Now, Miss Smith," taking the child +from her. "Words cannot tell...." + +And if words could have told, the tongue could not have uttered them. It +was little, too, that his wife could say. + +"Write to us. Be sure you write. We shall write as soon as we arrive. +Write to us." + +Miss Smith glanced at the hand. She said only one word, "Farewell!" but +she said it cheerfully. + +The steam-tug was in a hurry, and down the river they went. She had one +more appointment to keep with them. She was to wave her handkerchief +from the rocks by the fort; and the children were to let her try whether +she could see their little handkerchiefs. So she walked quickly over the +common to the fort, and sat down on the beach at the top of the rocks. + +It was very well that she had something to do. But the plan did not +altogether answer. By the time the vessel crossed the bar it was nearly +dark, and she was not quite sure, among three, which it was, and she did +not suppose the children could see her handkerchief. She waved it, +however, according to promise. How little they knew how wet it was! + +Then there was the walk home. It was familiar, yet very strange. When +she was a child her parents used to bring her here, in the summer time, +for sea air and bathing. The haven and the old gray bathing houses, and +the fort, and the lighthouse, and the old priory ruins crowning the +rocks, were all familiar to her; but the port had so grown up that all +else was strange. And how strange now was life to her! Her parents gone, +many years back, and her two sisters since; and now, the Morells! She +had never had any money to lose, and the retired way in which the +Morells lived had prevented her knowing any body out of their house. She +had not a relation nor a friend, nor even an acquaintance, in England. +The Morells had not been uneasy about her. They left her a little money, +and had so high an opinion of her that they did not doubt her being +abundantly employed, whenever her hand should get well. They had lived +too much to themselves to know that her French, learned during the war, +when nobody in England could pronounce French, would not do in these +days, nor that her trilling, old-fashioned style of playing on the +piano, which they thought so beautiful, would be laughed at now in any +boarding school; and that her elegant needleworks were quite out of +fashion; and that there were new ways of teaching even reading, +spelling, and writing. + +She knew these things, and cautioned herself against discontent with the +progress of society, because she happened to be left alone behind. She +suspected, too, that the hand would not get well. The thing that she was +most certain of was, that she must not rack her brain with fears and +speculations as to what was to become of her. Her business was to wait +till she could find something to do, or learn what she was to suffer. +She thought she had better wait here. There was no call to any other +place. This was more familiar and more pleasant to her than any +other--the Morells' cottage being far away, and out of the question--and +here she could live with the utmost possible cheapness. So here she +staid. + +The hand got well, as far as the pain was concerned, sooner than she had +expected. But it was in a different way from what she had expected. It +was left wholly useless. And, though the time was not long, it had +wrought as time does. It had worn out her clothes; it had emptied her +little purse. It had carried away every thing she had in the world but +the very few clothes she had on. She had been verging towards the +resolution she now took for three or four weeks. She took it finally +while sitting on the bench near the fort. It was in the dusk; for her +gown, though she had done her best to mend it with her left hand, was in +no condition to show by daylight. She was alone in the dusk, rather +hungry and very cold. The sea was dashing surlily upon the rocks below, +and there was too much mist to let any stars shine upon her. It was all +dreary enough; yet she was not very miserable, for her mind was made up. +She had made up her mind to go into the work-Pouse the next day. While +she was thinking calmly about it a fife began to play a sort of jig in +the yard of the fort behind her. Her heart heaved to her throat and the +tears gushed from her eyes. In this same spot, fifty years before, she +had heard what seemed to her the same fife. Her father was then sitting +on the grass, and she was between his knees, helping to tassel the tail +of a little kite they were going to fly; and, when the merry fife had +struck up, her father had snatched up her gay Harlequin that lay within +reach, and made him shake his legs and arms to the music. She heard her +own laugh again now, through that long course of fifty years, and in the +midst of these tears. + +All that night she pondered her purpose: and the more she considered, +the more sure she was that it was right. "I might," thought she, "get +maintained by charity, no doubt: I might call on any of the clergymen of +this place, and the rich people. Or I might walk into the shops and tell +my story, and I dare say the people would give me food and clothes. And, +if it was a temporary distress, I would do so. I should think it right +to ask for help, if I had any prospect of work or independence in any +way. But I have none: and this, I am convinced, points out my duty. +Hopeless cases like mine are those which public charity--legal +charity--is intended to meet. My father little dreamed of this, to be +sure; and the Morells little dream of it at this moment. But when do our +parents and friends, when do we ourselves, dream of what our lot is +really to turn out? Those old notions have nothing to do, if we could +but think so, with the event. Nor has my disgust any thing to do with my +duty. The plain fact is, that I am growing old--that I am nearly +helpless--that I am cold and hungry, and nearly naked--that I have no +friends within reach, and no prospect whatever. I am, therefore, an +object for public charity, and I will ask for what is my due. I am +afraid of what I may find in the workhouse;--the vicious people, the +dirty people, the diseased people,--and, I suppose, not one among them +who can give me any companionship whatever. + +"It is dreadful; but it can't be helped. And the worse the case is about +my companions--my fellow-paupers--(for I must learn to bear the +word)--the greater are the chances of my finding something to do for +them;--something which may prevent my feeling myself utterly useless in +the world. This is not being wholly without prospect, after all. I +suppose nobody ever is. If it were not so cold now, I could sleep upon +mine." + +It was too cold for sleep; and when, in the morning, she offered her old +shawl in payment for her bed, assuring the poor old woman who let it +that she should not want the shawl, because she was going to have other +clothes, the woman shook her head sorrowfully,--her lodger looked so wan +and chilled. She had no fear that there was any thought of suicide in +the case. No one could look in Miss Smith's sensible face, and hear her +steady, cheerful voice, and suppose that she would do any thing wild or +impatient. + +"Who is that woman with a book in her hand?" inquired the visiting +Commissioner, some months afterwards, of the governor of the workhouse. +The governor could only say she was a single woman of the name of Smith, +who had no use of her right hand. As to who she was, he could tell no +more than this; but his wife had sometimes mentioned her as a different +sort of person from those they generally saw there. She could not only +read, but she read very well: and she read a great deal aloud to the old +people, and in the infirmary. She talked unlike the rest, too. She said +little; but her language was good, and always correct. She could not do +much on account of her infirmity: but she was always willing to do what +could be done with one hand; and she must have been very handy when she +had the use of both. + +"I should have thought her eyes had been too weak for much reading," +observed the Commissioner. "Has the medical officer attended to her?" + +The governor called his wife: and the wife called a pauper woman who was +told the question. This woman said that it was not exactly a case for +the doctor. Nobody that shed so many tears could have good eyes. Ah! the +governor might be surprised; because Smith seemed so brisk in the +daytime, and cheered the old people so much. But she made up for it at +night. Many and many a time she cried the night through. + +"How do you know?" asked the Commissioner. + +"I sleep in the next bed, sir. I can't say she disturbs any body; for +she is very quiet. But if any thing keeps me awake I hear her sobbing. +And you need but feel her pillow in the morning. It is wet almost +through." + +"And does that happen often?" + +"Yes, sir. Many a time when she has turned her back,--gone into the +infirmary, or been reading to the old people,--I have got her pillow and +dried it. And I have seen her do it herself, with a smile on her face +all the time." + +The Commissioner walked away. Before he left the place, the woman Smith +was beckoned out by the governor. She went with a beating heart, with +some wild idea in her head that the Morells had sent, that some friends +had turned up. While still in the passage, however, she said to herself +that she might as well look to see her parents risen from the dead. + +The Commissioner had, indeed, nothing to tell. He wanted to ask. He did +ask, as much as his delicacy would allow. But he learned nothing; +except, indeed, what he ought to have considered the most important +thing, the state of her mind about being there. About that, she was +frank enough. She said over again to him what she had said to herself, +about this being the right place for one in her circumstances. She +considered that it would be an abuse of private charity for her to be +maintained in idleness at an expense which might set forward in life +some person in a less hopeless position. + +"You speak cheerfully, as if you were in earnest," said the +Commissioner. + +"Of course, I am in earnest," she replied. + +And cheerful she remained throughout the conversation. Only once the +Commissioner saw her eyes filled and a quiver on her lips. He did not +know it; but he had unconsciously called her "Madam." + +Would she prefer the children's department of the House? There was no +doubt that she could teach them much. Would she change her quarters? No. +She was too old now for that. She should not be a good companion now for +children; and they would be too much for her. Unless she was wanted-- + +By no means. She should be where she preferred to be. + +She preferred to be where she was. The Commissioner's lady soon after +dropped in, and managed to engage Smith in conversation. But there was +no result; because Smith did not choose that there should be. Perhaps +she was more in the infirmary; and had oftener a warm seat by the fire, +and was spoken to with more deference. But this might be solely owing to +the way she made with the people by her own acts and manners. The +invalids and the infirm grew so fond of her that they poured out to her +all their complaints. She was favored with the knowledge of every +painful sensation as it passed, and every uneasy thought as it arose. + +"I never thought to die in such a place as this," groaned old Johnny +Jacks. + +"I wonder at that," said his old wife; "for you never took any care to +provide yourself a better--to say nothing of me." And she went on to +tell how Johnny had idled and drank his life away, and brought her here +at last. Much of Johnny's idling and drinking having been connected with +electioneering in an abominably venal city, he was a great talker on +politics, and the state was made responsible for all his troubles. He +said it was a shame that any body should die in a workhouse; he appealed +to his neighbor Smith, who was warming his broth, whether it was not so? + +"Which is best?" she answered; "being here, or on a common, or the +sea-sands? Because," she added, "there was a time when old people like +us were left to die wherever they fell. There are countries now where +old people die so. I should not like that." + +"You don't mean to say that you or any one likes being here?" + +"Oh, no; I don't mean to say that. But things are better than they were +once: and they may be better again." + +"I shall not live to see that," groaned Johnny. + +"No; nor I. But it is something to think of." + +"D---- it," said Johnny, "I am not the better for any good that does not +happen to me, nor to any body I know." + +"Are not you?" said neighbor Smith. "Well, now, I am." + +And so she was to the end. She died in that infirmary, and not very long +after. When the Morells' letter came, it was plain that they had enough +to do to take care of themselves. So she did not let them know,--in her +reply, written by the hands of the schoolmaster,--where she was. The +letter was so cheerful that they are probably far from suspecting, at +this moment, how she died and was buried. As "from the abundance of the +heart the mouth speaketh," there was so much in her letter as rather +surprised them about her hope and expectation that the time would come +when hearty work in the vigorous season of life should secure its easy +close; and when a greater variety of employment should be opened to +women. There was more of this kind of speculation and less news and +detail of facts than they would have liked. But it was a household event +to have a letter from Miss Smith; and the very little children, +forgetting the wide sea they had passed, began shouting for Miss Smith +to come to them just (as it happened) when her ear was closing to every +human voice. + + + + +ON THE ATTEMPTS TO DISCOVER THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE. + + +There are some peculiarities of style in the following performance, +which is by no means devoid of eloquence, and which derives a certain +interest from the efforts now being made to discover the fate of Sir +John Franklin. The author is GEORGE STOVIN VENABLES, LL. D., of Jesus +College, Cambridge. + + +THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE. + + "And now there came both mist and snow, + And it grew wondrous cold; + And ice, mast high, came floating by, + As green as emerald. + And through the drifts and snowy clifts + Did send a dismal sheen: + Nor shape of men, nor beasts we ken-- + The ice was all between-- + The ice was here, the ice was there-- + The ice was all around: + It crack'd and growl'd, and roar'd and howl'd, + Like noises in a swound." + + COLERIDGE. _Rime of the Ancient Mariner._ + +The secret wonders of the gloomy North bid proud defiance, in their +solitude, to man's triumphant daring. Who shall pierce the ancient +prison-house where Nature's might, in mightier chains of adamantine +frost, lies fettered, since Creation? Who shall live where promontories +huge, of piled ice, like monstrous fragments of primeval worlds tossed +on the surge of Chaos, over the waves rear their triumphant heads, and +laugh to scorn the undreaded kinghood of the lordly sea? + +A fearful challenge! yet the charmed spell, which summons man to high +discovery, is ever vocal in the outward world, though they alone may +hear it, who have hearts responsive to its tone. The gale of spring, +breathing sweet balm over the western waters, called forth that gifted +old adventurer[10] to seek the perfumes of spice-laden winds, far in the +Indian Isles. Yea, there is power in Nature's solemn music. All have +heard the sighs of Winter in the middle air, and seen the skirts of his +cloud-woven robe lingering upon the misty mountain-top: but years +rolled on, ere man might understand the mystic invitation of that call +to seek the Monarch in his Arctic home. + +At length that call is answered. Daringly yon gallant ship, towards the +Polar Star, walks the untrodden pathways of old Ocean, leaving the +haunts of man. Even now, the bounds are passed where silently the Boreal +Morn[11] folds and unfolds, in swiftest interchange, her silver robe of +alternating light over the midnight Heaven. There is a change in every +sight and sound. White glaciers clash on the tormented waves, in fierce +career waving eternally, and hoary whales, with musical din[12] booming +along the deep, breathe forth in giant chorus, wondrously, the welcome +of the Spirit of the North. + +Joy to the brave! That old phantasmal veil which checked the view of dim +antiquity, shrinks from their eagle glance, while fabled hills and +regions of impenetrable ice fade in the blue expanse of mighty +bays[13]--now spread the bosom of the expectant sail unto the Eastern +breeze, and while the prow furrows the yielding waters, image forth high +dreams of lofty hope--the joyous bound of billows gushing between parted +shores, where Asia's rocky brow for ever frowns on the opposing +continent. And, borne on spirit-plumed wings, let fancy soar far from +that sunless clime, to the warm South, where soft skies slumber through +the cloudless noon, o'er the gold palaces of fair Cathay. + +Why pause ye in mid ocean? Still the sail swells to the voiceful breeze; +the high mast bends with hideous creak, and every separate rib in the +huge fabric quivers. Yet the ship on the unmoved waters motionless +struggles, as one, who in a feverish dream nervelessly fleeing o'er a +haunted waste, strives horribly to shun some fiendish shape, with +straining sinews, and convulsive gasp, and faint limbs, magic-stricken. +There is rest, dismal and dreary, on the silent sea: most dismal quiet: +for the viewless might of the keen frost-wind[14] crisps the curling +waves, binding their motion with a clankless chain along the far +horizon. Fruitlessly the imprisoned vessel writhes, until the gale, +lulled in the embrace of evening, leaves its prey, to share the torpor +of the lifeless waste, till earth awaken from her half-year's sleep. + +Yet, in those daring hearts, the cheerless voice of boding Fear or dull +Despondency can find no answering tone, whether the storm, round the +snow-rampart[15] howling, interweaves his solemn moans with the +rejoicing shouts of the glad theatre,[16] or simple strains of homely +music leave that warm recess--vibrating far into the tremulous air. +Here, even here are pleasures; those stray[17] forms of joy, which +Nature spreads throughout the world, that he who seeks may find them. +When the Sun, uprising from his long and gloomy trance, beams through +the clearer air, how beautiful, in some obscurest dell[18] of that lone +land, led by the music of an unseen river to see fair flowers, with +light-awakened buds, salute the spring tide. Happily, they smile in the +midst of nakedness, like sweet memories of laughing infancy, beaming +around the desolation of an aged heart. + +Oh, that the might of Man's majestic will were self-sufficing! that the +meaner chains which bind him to this dark, material world, before the +lightning glance of Enterprise might fade, as those Philistian bonds, +that fell from him of Zorah. Back--in sorrow back--the ocean-wanderers +turn the unwilling prow; for Nature may not yield, and all is lost, save +gloomy thoughts of unrequited toil in the storm-beaten deep; and +phantasies of gorgeous dreams, for ever desolate; and hopes, which were, +and will not be again. + +Yet if the race of Man, as some have deemed[19], form but one mighty +Being, who doth live, yea with intenser life, while kingly Death benumbs +each separate atom with the touch of his pale sceptre--one unchanging +ocean of everchanging waves--one deathless heaven of clouds, which to +their graves roll ceaselessly: if it be so, not vainly have long years +sent forth their heralds on the trackless deep, where high endeavors of +exalted will which in themselves find no accomplishment, shall build at +length perfection. Peacefully he[20] sleeps, who erst beheld the rifted +shores of Greenland "glister in the sun, like gold:" and that deserted +chief[21] whose angry moan once mingled wildly with the screaming winds +and the hoarse gurgle of ingulfing waves, is unremembered now. But high +Emprise died not with them. Have not our latter days beheld, with awe, +the ice-borne Muscovite[22] ride the fierce billows of the Polar Sea? +Has not the Northern hunter seen the flag of England, o'er her floating +palaces, unfurled in his dominions crystalline? And who shall mourn, +while, in the mystic race, from hand to hand still moves the unquenched +torch, that none have reached the goal? Not suddenly doth the sweet +warmth of universal life, from brumal caves advancing, interfuse the +vast abysmal air, or penetrate the deep heart of the frost-entranced +Earth. Gentle, and in its very gentleness invincible, it moves, though +ruthlessly stern Winter calls his rallied armies on, and snow-blasts +violate the joyous prime. So is it, with the silent victories of Man's +enduring spirit: we have seen Winter and Spring; and shall we not behold +the full rejoicing of the complete year? + +The hour shall come, nor shall the longing heart in that dark interval +be all unblest with glance prophetic. Though no meteor shape glare from +the speaking sky, no sheeted ghost wander dim-moving in the weird +midnight, with such forshadowings true as ever wait on him who, with a +calm and reverend eye, hath viewed the mysteries of things, and dared to +image forth the future from the past--bind on the mystic robe, and from +the brow of Hope's enchanted hill look boldly forth upon the coming +ages. Saw ye not white fog-wreaths floating through the cold gray dawn +over ice-laden billows, as they roll through yon rock-cinctured chasm? A +dusky shape looms through the hazy atmosphere, and sails, as of some +struggling bark that wearily breasts the opposing strength of angry +waves,[23] float with a fitful motion to and fro. Still on and on--a +breath-suspending sight of pale Solicitude, and fearful hope--and hark! +the triple crash of Britain's joy, the magical music of her wild hurra, +peals with a sound of mighty exultation through the aerial depths. The +cloven mist unwraps its folded canopy, and lo! the blue Pacific, +boundlessly outspread, far glitters in the silvery light of morn. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] Columbus. + +[11] The phenomenon which is commonly called Aurora Borealis, is in high +latitudes frequently seen to the south. + +[12] On entering the Arctic Circle, the musical sounds of the white +whales is first heard. + +[13] Modern discoverers have frequently found an open passage in +latitudes, where chains of hills were laid down in the old charts. + +[14] The effect of the change of temperature at the beginning of winter +is almost instantaneous, as young ice at the thickness of half an inch +will stop a large vessel in full sail. + +[15] Captain Parry found considerable advantage from raising a wall of +snow round the ship, in its winter station. + +[16] The theatrical amusements, which were introduced during the stay of +the Fury and Hecla at Melvile Island, are well known. + +[17] Alluding to the following lines of Mr. Wordsworth:-- + + ----"Pleasure is spread throughout the earth, + In stray gifts, to be claim'd by whoever shall find." + + +[18] The beautiful effect of these Arctic Oases is described in the +account of Captain Parry's second voyage. + +[19] See the speech attributed by Socrates to Diotima in the Banquet of +Plato. + +[20] Sir Martin Frobisher, who in 1577 anchored on the Western coast of +Greenland, reported that in that country "the stones be altogether +sparkled, and glister in the sun like gold." + +[21] Hudson. + +[22] Baron Wrangle. + + + + +RECOLLECTIONS OF PAGANINI. + + +The "Leaves from the Portfolio of a Manager," in the December _Dublin +University Magazine_, disclose a number of interesting facts connected +with Prynne's "Histriomastix," Milton's "Samson Agonistes," Hannah +More's "Tragedies," Ireland's "Shakspeare Forgeries," and not a few very +startling disclosures respecting the extraordinary emoluments of first +class performers, from Roscius down to Jenny Lind. From this portion of +our Manager's Portfolio we select the amusing recollections of Paganini +in Ireland, twenty years ago: + +"Catalani, Pasta, Sontag, Malibran, Grisi, Taglioni, Rubini, Mario, +Tamburini, Lablache, _cum multis aliis_, have received their thousands, +and tens of thousands: but, until the Jenny Lind mania left every thing +else at an immeasurable distance, Paganini obtained larger sums than had +ever before been received in modern times. He came with a prodigious +flourish of trumpets, a vast continental reputation, and a few personal +legends of the most exciting character. It was said that he had killed +his wife in a fit of jealousy, and made fiddlestrings of her intestines; +and that the devil had composed a sonata for him in a dream, as he +formerly did for Tartini. When you looked at him, you thought all this, +and more, very likely to be true. His talent was almost supernatural, +while his 'get up,' and 'mise en scene,' were original and unearthly, +such as those who saw him will never forget, and those who did not can +with difficulty conceive. The individual and his performance were +equally unlike anything that had ever been exhibited before. No picture +or description can convey an adequate idea of his entrance and his exit. +To walk simply on and off the stage appears a commonplace operation +enough, but Paganini did this in a manner peculiar to himself, which +baffled all imitation. While I am writing of it, his first appearance in +Dublin, at the great Musical Festival of 1830, presents itself to 'my +mind's eye,' as an event of yesterday. When he placed himself in +position to commence, the crowded audience were hushed into a deathlike +silence. His black habiliments; his pale, attenuated visage, powerfully +expressive; his long, silky, raven tresses, and the flash of his dark +eye, as he shook them back over his shoulders; his thin, transparent +fingers, unusually long; the mode in which he grasped his bow, and the +tremendous length to which he drew it; and, climax of all, his sudden +manner of placing both bow and instrument under his arm, while he threw +his hands behind him, elevated his head, his features almost distorted +with a smile of ecstasy, and his very hair instinct with life, at the +conclusion of an unparalleled fantasia! And there he stood, immovable +and triumphant, while the theatre rang again with peals on peals of +applause, and shouts of the wildest enthusiasm! None who witnessed this +will ever forget it, nor are they likely again to see the same effect +produced by mere mortal agency. + +"The _one_ string feat I always considered unworthy this great master of +his art. It has been done by fifty others, and is at best but an +imperfect exhibition on a perfect instrument; a mere piece of +charlatanerie, or theatrical 'gag,' to use a professional term, +sufficiently intelligible. There have been, and _are_, mighty musicians +on the violin. Spagnoletti, De Beriot, Ole Bull (who according to some +plays without any string at all), Sivori, Joachim, Ernst, Levey, &c. +&c., are all in the list of great players; but there never was more than +one Paganini; he is unique and unapproachable. + +"In Dublin, in 1830, Paganini saved the Musical Festival, which would +have failed but for his individual attraction, although supported by an +army of talent in every department. All was done in first-rate style, +not to be surpassed. There were Braham, Madame Stockhausen, H. Phillips, +De Begnis, &c. &c., Sir G. Smart for conductor, Cramer, Mori, and T. +Cooke for leaders, Lindley, Nicholson, Anfossi, Lidel Hermann, Pigott, +and above ninety musicians in the orchestra, and more than one hundred +and twenty singers in the chorus. The festival was held in the +Theatre-Royal, then, as now, the only building in Dublin capable of +accommodating the vast number which alone could render such a +speculation remunerative. The theatre can hold two thousand six hundred +persons, all of whom may see and hear, whether in the boxes, pit, or +galleries. The arrangement was, to have oratorios kept distinct on +certain mornings, and miscellaneous concerts on the evenings of other +days. The concerts were crushers, but the first oratorio was decidedly a +break down. The committee became alarmed; the expenses were enormous, +and heavy liabilities stared them in the face. There was no time to be +lost, and at the second oratorio, duly announced, there stood Paganini, +in front of the orchestra, violin in hand, on an advanced platform, +overhanging the pit, not unlike orator Henley's tub, as immortalized by +the poet. Between the acts of the Messiah and the Creation, he fiddled +'the Witches at the Great Walnut Tree of Benevento,' with other equally +appropriate interpolations, to the ecstatic delight of applauding +thousands, who cared not a pin for Hadyn or Handel, but came to hear +Paganini alone; and to the no small scandal of the select few, who +thought the episode a little on the north side of consistency. But the +money was thereby forthcoming, every body was paid, the committee +escaped without damage, and a hazardous speculation, undertaken by a few +spirited individuals, was wound up with deserved success. + +"When the festival was over, the town empty, and a cannon-ball might +have fired down Sackville-street, without doing much injury, Paganini +was engaged by himself for a series of five performances in the theatre. +For this he received L1,143. His dividend on the first night's receipts +amounted to L330 (_horresco referens_)! without a shilling of outlay +incurred on his part. He had the lion's share with a vengeance, as the +manager cleared with difficulty L200. The terms he demanded and obtained +were a clear two-thirds of each night's receipts, twenty-five guineas +per night for the services of two auxiliaries, worth about as many +shillings, the full value allowed for every free ticket, and an express +stipulation that if he required a rehearsal on a dark morning, when +extra light might be indispensable, the expense of candles should not +fall on him--a contingency which by no possible contrivance could +involve a responsibility exceeding five or six shillings." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[23] A current is supposed to flow constantly from the Pacific through +the North-West Passage into the Atlantic. + + + + +A PEASANT DUCHESS. + + +The _Stamford Mercury_ gives an interesting account of the life and +fortunes of a young woman of that neighborhood who rose to a high +station by means of her personal attractions, and, after a checkered +life, died in Italy a few weeks ago. She was the daughter of John Peele, +a small farmer at Corringham, near Gainsborough, who eked out a somewhat +declining livelihood by dealing in horses, &c., having previously been +in better circumstances. Being an only daughter, and aware that she +possessed no small share of rustic charms, she resolved to try her +fortune in a higher sphere. She became a dressmaker in Gainsborough, and +resided subsequently in Hull, and it is said as housemaid in a good +family in London, where her attractions obtained for her the attentions +of a person of rank, to whom she afterwards averred she was married; and +she from that time occupied a position where her fortunes led her into +contact with some of the highest classes. A few years afterwards she +astonished her former companions by appearing with her carriage and +livery servants in the character of _chere amie_ to Mr. Fauntleroy, then +a flourishing banker in London. The riches of the banker were of a +doubtful character, however; some time afterward she was convicted of +forgery, and paid the penalty with his life. Affected by the ruin, but +not participating in the crime of Fauntleroy, she struggled bravely with +fate, and generally maintained a fair appearance in society both in +London and Paris. She shortly reappeared in her native county as Duchess +of Palata. At this time the fortunes of her family had reduced them to +be the occupants of a small cottage at Morton, and age rendering her +father incapable of active exertion, he filled the humble office of +rural postman. To her honor it should be recorded that she enabled her +parents to pass the remainder of their days in comfort. Six or seven +years ago she again visited her native place, a widow, his grace the +Duke of Palata having paid the debt of nature. Her mother she left at +Morton, paid the last duties to her father (somewhat ostentatiously), +and volunteered her assistance to promote the advancement of her female +relatives. Again, however, "a change came o'er the spirit of her dream;" +and some three or four years ago the public journals announced her +marriage to the son of an Irish clergyman of good family. In this +character, accompanied by her niece as _femme de chambre_, but not by +her husband, she once more visited Gainsborough and the scenes of her +youth; after making her mother an allowance, she again departed for +Italy, in good health; but death, which spares neither rank nor +character, has closed the "last scene of all, in this strange eventful +history." + + * * * * * + +The author of the "Nibelungenlied" is unknown, and, whether it be the +work of one poet, of two, or twenty, is still a matter of doubt, among +German critics. That the Nibelungenlied has been extensively +interpolated, is, I believe, agreed on all hands; we may conclude as +much, from having reason to believe that it was handed down for some +time (how long, nobody knows for certain), by oral tradition, and what +effect such a state of things may have on popular poetry, we may readily +collect from what Bishop Percy and Sir Walter Scott have told us of the +variations in the old ballads of England and Scotland. Lachmann +attributes it to the thirteenth century. + + + + +Original Correspondence. + + + PARIS, DEC. 2, 1850. + +FROM time immemorial, no one knows why (for the legends which recount +her history leave it doubtful whether she performed on any instrument), +St. Cecilia has been chosen by musicians as their patron saint; and the +musicians of Paris, on the approach of winter, always celebrate a mass, +in music, to her honor, and for the benefit of the distressed members of +their body. Not that they entertain any exaggerated idea of the +consoling powers of the musical art, or hope to relieve the positive +sufferings of poverty and destitution by any combination of sounds, no +matter how harmonious; but this festival being held in the church of St. +Eustache, the largest in Paris, and all lovers of music being so eager +to gain admission, that the immense aisles of this grand old pile (which +will contain five thousand persons), are always crowded to overflowing +on these occasions, every one paying a franc for his admission: the sum +thus gained, together with the collections taken up in the middle of the +service, by the committee of ladies chosen for that purpose (who go +round among the crowd, preceded by the beadle, and followed by two or +three attendant gentlemen, carrying a little embroidered bag of a +particular shape, used for that purpose, in which they receive the +contributions of the benevolent), constitute a fund, from which many an +unfortunate or superannuated brother of the tuneful craft obtains +relief. + +This vast building, with its lofty arches, is admirably calculated for +the performance of grand religious compositions; the effect of the music +being enhanced by the aspect of the building, and the accessories of +sculpture, painting, and carving, which render this church one of the +richest in the capital. + +To obtain places on any occasion of the kind, it is necessary to go an +hour or two in advance; and the gradual filling of the aisles is one of +the most curious scenes which a stranger can contemplate. As there are +no pews, each person, on entering, helps himself or herself to a chair, +which he holds aloft over the heads of his already seated neighbors, as +he slowly forces his way onward through their serried ranks, until he +espies some unappropriated gap into which he can insinuate his chair and +himself; the police and the beadles always taking care to keep a little +pathway, just large enough to squeeze through, open all through the +outer aisle that runs round the church. For the unfortunate people who +form the walls of this pathway, the process of filling is a severe +infliction; the uninterrupted stream of in-comers, forcing their way +along with a ruthless disregard of the shoulders of those between whom +they pass, is really, (especially when the in-comer happens to be a very +stout man, or a very fat lady, enveloped in an unusual quantity of +drapery,) almost overpowering. Every now and then the beadle comes +along, rapping his silver-headed cane on the pavement, and crying, "Way, +there! keep out of the path!" and escorting a party of privileged +individuals for whom seats have been reserved; and, as the beadle is +always tall and stout, and always forces his way through in defiance of +apparent impossibilities, a chorus of murmurs accompanies his progress. +The beadle is a very grand personage, and his appearance sufficiently +indicates this fact. He wears a cocked hat, covered with silver lace, +and decorated with nodding white plumes; a scarf of crimson velvet, +stiff with embroidery in silver thread, covers the upper part of his +person; black velvet smalls, fastened at the knee with silver buckles, +white silk stockings and gloves, and enormous buckles in his polished +shoes, complete his attire. He wears a massive silver chain round his +neck; and a sword hangs at his side to strike terror into the hearts of +all beholders. Besides the grand beadle, there are several minor ones, +dressed in black, but wearing heavy silver chains; _gens d'armes_ also +are always present, and often soldiers, who mount guard, musket in hand, +at all the doorways, and on the steps of the chancel. + +When these sapient guardians of the peace perceive that as many have +been admitted as can possibly be squeezed into the building, they shut +the doors; and the process of distribution goes on until the mass is +equalized throughout the edifice; a task of no small difficulty, as the +portions of the building contiguous to the doors are always densely +packed at an early period, so that the greater number have to pass +through these crowded centres to gain the remoter parts of the church. +Meantime people chat, and look about them, amusing themselves as they +best can; and the sonorous edifice echoes with the footsteps of the +moving mass. But at length the noise subsides; the "organ utters its +voices," and a hush, intense, unbroken, falls on the vast assembly. The +glorious music peals through the vaulted aisles, and swells upward to +the arching roof, pervading every nook and corner of the fane; and so +perfect is the stillness that one would think the winged notes the only +living things within its precincts. + +On Friday last this annual solemnity was celebrated as usual at St. +Eustache; the mass, composed by Adam, a very noble and beautiful +composition, was admirably executed by a choir of two hundred and fifty +singers, and a band of one hundred musicians, including the whole +orchestra of the _Opera Comique_, and the best performers from the +Italian opera. The solos were sung by Mesdames Grimm and Couraud, and by +Bassine and Chapuis, the latter being one of the best tenors in the +city. Some of the quartettes, with accompaniments of harps and wind +instruments, were indescribably beautiful. + +The Archbishop of Paris made an elegant little address, in which he +spoke of art in Pagan and in Christian days, and of its mission in the +present; and winding up with an appeal to the liberality of his hearers +on behalf of the charitable idea which had prompted this performance. +The Archbishop is a man of mild and grave countenance, but his dress was +very inharmonious. He wore a surplice of very rich lace, a cape of +violet silk, and a scarf richly embroidered in gold, which was all very +pretty, but his arms and hands were encased in sleeves, finished with +gloves, of scarlet cloth, which showed through the lace sleeves of the +surplice, and gave the hands a very frightful appearance. He wore a +little round cap on the top of his head, a golden crucifix on his bosom, +and an enormous gold ring on his right hand. He spoke very slowly, +screaming rather than speaking, in order to make himself heard in the +distant parts of the building. The service lasted two hours, and yielded +several thousand francs. + +The Duchess of Narbonne, famed for her benevolence, was so desirous to +aid on this occasion, that though unable, on account of her great age, +to go among the crowd _making the guest_, as it is termed, she held a +bag at one of the great doors, adding to the sum she thus received, a +thousand francs as her own contribution, and a hundred francs for her +chair, for which the ordinary price is two sous. + +The musicians are not alone in their preparations for winter. The +shopkeepers are just beginning the periodic display which betokens the +coming on of the holidays: and conspicuous among the novelties whose +appearance thus indicate the approach of Christmas, is a new style of +porcelain, of English invention, which imitates with great success the +antique marble vases, pitchers, &c., of classic days. Many of these +objects are of great beauty; the creamy hue of the ware itself, slightly +translucent, the graceful simplicity of their forms, and the delicate +mouldings of classical designs in bass-relief with which they are +adorned, producing an admirable effect, highly creditable to English +taste. + +While modern art is thus successfully emulating the symmetrical +achievements of ancient times, a relic of great interest, recalling the +romantic age of Spanish history, has just been unexpectedly brought to +light. Some workmen, employed in making repairs in the Guildhall of +Burgos, in Spain, have recently discovered the tomb of the Cid, so +renowned in ancient story; a tomb whose very existence was unknown. An +old chest, long considered as mere rubbish, and on which stood the +antique chair from which, in other days, the Counts of Castille gave +judgment, having been opened through the curiosity of these workmen, was +found to contain the remains of Don Rodrigo Campeador, and his wife +Chimena, immortalized in ancient legend, in the verses of Guilhen de +Castro, of Corneille, and in our own days, in the graceful writings of +Mrs. Hemans. The remains of the renowned hero and his beautiful spouse +are to be removed to the church of San Gadeo, where a suitable monument +will be erected to their memory. + +The following incident, connected with the two prevailing manias of the +day, lapdogs and balloon-ascensions, is just now amusing the gay circles +of this gossiping capital. + +It seems that Madame de N., the accomplished and beautiful wife of a +triple millionaire of the quartier St. Honore, equally renowned for the +charms of her wit, and for the intensity of her passion for the barking +pets so dear to Parisian hearts, had taken a violent fancy (shared by +half Paris) to a certain tiny gray spaniel, the property of one of the +most admired of the innumerable representatives of Albion at this time +here congregated, the beautiful and distinguished Lady R., whose +intimacy was assiduously cultivated by Madame de N., all for the love of +the little gray spaniel. + +Sylphide, the spaniel in question, was in sooth well calculated to make +havoc in hearts susceptible to canine charms. Her glossy fur, combed, +bathed, and perfumed every day with the utmost care, was of the most +delicate mouse-color, and softer than silk; her lustrous eyes sparkled +like jewels, and her expressive face, with the delicate drooping ears +that adorned her graceful head, were the realization of the most ideal +dream of little-doggish beauty; her tail was perfection; her slender +legs, in their light electric movements, hardly touched the ground; and +the dainty way in which she raised her charming little paws from the +sidewalk, when, by some rare chance (attired in her newest paletot of +the finest merino, lined with wadded silk, and trimmed with a rich +braid, her neck encircled with a silver collar, whose burnished chain +was attached to her mistress's waist), she honored the sidewalk with +their pressure, was so irresistibly bewitching, that all the fair round +arms of Paris opened spontaneously at the sight, as though to offer a +nestling-place to the little beauty, and raise her from a contact +unworthy of so peerless a creature. + +Any price, no matter how exorbitant, that could have been asked for this +little paragon, Madame de N. would very gladly have paid; but, +unhappily, Sylphide was not to be sold: Lady R. was very fond of her, +and never seemed to understand the various hints thrown out from time to +time, with the utmost tact and delicacy, but still quite intelligibly, +by Madame de N.; and all that the latter could do was to bring her +utmost power of petting to bear on the subject of her adoration, +trusting to some unlooked-for stroke of good fortune to aid her in the +accomplishment of her heart's desire. + +Sylphide was excessively fond of sugar-plums (in which she was a great +connoisseur), and also of fresh _brioche_, crumbs of which she would +eat, in the most charming manner, from the snowy hand of her admiring +friend; and as the _bonbonniere_ of Madame de N. was always well +supplied with her favorite dainties, Sylphide, who, on her side, was not +ungrateful, soon contracted a lively affection for Madame de N. and her +bonbonniere. + +Such was the position of affairs, when an incident occurred which +produced a total estrangement between the two ladies. M. de S., a +gentleman well known in the diplomatic circles, whom Madame de N. had +long numbered among her conquests, fascinated by the charms of the fair +islander, deserted his brilliant countrywoman, and ranged himself among +the satellites of her rival. And by a curious coincidence, at the very +time that M. de S. quitted thus abruptly the orbit of Madame de N., the +Prince of ----, who had hitherto been one of the brightest luminaries in +the train of Lady R., left her ladyship to lay his homage at the feet of +the charming Parisian. But the acquisition of the Prince seems to have +failed to console the latter for the loss of a knight who had so long +worn her colors; and the defection of M. de S. drew from her an +expression of resentment towards her rival, which the mutual friend to +whom these angry feelings had been confided, lost no time in repeating +to the object of her displeasure. But Lady R., so far from being +affected by the indignation of Madame de N., merely replied, with a +careless shrug of her handsome shoulders, "_Mais, ma chere_, she has +really nothing to complain of; all the world knows that '_exchange is no +robbery_!'" + +At this time a magnificent bracelet, the latest achievement of the +wonder-working _ateliers_ of Froment & Meurice, had been the object of +Lady R.'s most violent desire; but her lord, who was subject to +occasional attacks of a malady not uncommon to the husbands of beautiful +and fashionable ladies, was just then suffering from an attack of +jealousy so acute, that, to the despair of Lady R., he utterly refused +to gratify her desire to become the possessor of this costly ornament; +and the lady, after having vainly called to her aid all the force of her +address, and all the charms of her eloquence, found herself obliged, +though with a heavy heart, to renounce the idea of its acquisition. + +Lady R.'s desire for this bracelet, and its disappointment, were no +secret to Madame de N.; and on learning, from the gossiping confidant, +the response made by her rival to her complaint, a sudden thought darted +through her mind. "_Chere amie_," said she to the confidant, "I beg you +to say to her ladyship, that, since such is her opinion, I hold her to +the acceptance of the consequences of her maxim." + +The confidant lost no time in delivering this message, to which Lady R., +thinking only of her host of admirers, laughingly replied, that Madame +de N. was quite at liberty to make any practical application of the +principle that she pleased. + +Within two hours from the reception of this challenge, the beautiful +bracelet, inclosed in an elegant case, on whose lid the initials of Lady +R., surrounded by her crest, were engraved in letters of gold, had +passed from the jeweller's show-rooms to the boudoir of Madame de N., +who thenceforth, by means of an espionage that followed every movement +of her rival, kept her constantly in view. At length the tournament, to +be followed by the balloon-ascension (held a week or two ago in the +Champ de Mars), was announced to the great delight of the +spectacle-loving public; and having learned that the fair Englishwoman +was to be present in an open carriage, Madame de N. determined to avail +herself of this occasion to execute her scheme. + +Accordingly on the appointed day, the bracelet, in its elegant case, +being placed in the carriage beside her, and the coachman duly +instructed in the part he was to play, Madame de N., holding in her hand +her _bonbonniere_, supplied with fresh crumbs of the most delicate +_brioche_, followed, at short distance, the carriage of her rival to the +Champ de Mars, and took her stand just in the rear of her ladyship's +phaeton. + +Lady R. was in excellent spirits, receiving the homage of a crowd of +attendant cavaliers; Sylphide, to the unspeakable joy of Madame de N., +being seated on the front seat nearest her carriage. + +Madame de N. waited patiently through the various evolutions of the +gorgeous scene; and, at its close, when the great balloon of M. Poitevin +rose majestically from the field, surrounded by its graceful band of +nymphs that seemed to float, self-sustained, in the air, their silver +wands and wreaths of flowers shining in the light of the setting sun, +when all eyes followed the aeronauts, and deafening acclamations rent +the air, in less time than we take in recounting the movement, the +carriage of Madame de N. advanced to the side of Lady R.'s; Sylphide, +attracted by the well-known _bonbonniere_, leapt lightly into the +outstretched arms of her friend; and Madame de N. depositing the morocco +case on the very spot Sylphide had quitted, bowed gracefully to her +rival, and drove rapidly away, before Lady R. had had time to comprehend +what was passing. + +Great was her ladyship's amazement, as may well be supposed; and great, +for the first few moments, was also her indignation; but the mystery was +soon explained; for, in opening the case, which occupied Sylphide's +vacant place, and which was unmistakably intended for her, she perceived +the rich bracelet she had so much wished for, and beside it, the card of +Madame de N., on which was written, in pencil, these words, which +contained the key of the enigma, "_Exchange is no robbery_." + +A hearty laugh, which she tried in vain to repress, broke from the lips +of the fair lady; much to the astonishment of the gentlemen who had +witnessed the scene, and to whom, notwithstanding their eager inquiries, +Lady R. very naturally declined giving any explanation of the affair. + +I shall observe your instructions, to keep you advised of whatever +occurs here in the middle of the world. + + STELLA. + + + + +_Authors and Books_. + + +The German book trade has, for some months, been fairly overwhelmed with +books upon Hungary. We notice among the latest, "Flowers from Hungarian +Battlefields," a collection of novelettes, with scenes drawn from real +life in the late war, by Sajo, one of the most popular writers of +Hungary. The stories are spirited and vivid. "Confessions of a +Civilian," and "Confessions of a Soldier," are two books, of which the +last named has been for some time before the public, and has excited +attention by the thoroughness of its absolutist tendencies. The Civilian +is the opposite of the Soldier, being a liberal of the first stamp. Both +these writers, however, oppose the present Austrian ministry. A German +translation of Horwath's "History of the Hungarians" is coming out at +Pesth in numbers, and is welcomed by the German critics. This is +regarded by the most competent judges as an excellent work. "Janos the +Hero," a Romance of Hungarian Peasant Life, by Alexander Petoefy, one of +the most popular Magyar writers, is spoken of as a most successful +delineation of national peculiarities. "The Revolution and the Jews in +Hungary," is an interesting chapter out of the history of the Hungarian +Jews, by J. Eichorn. The fidelity of the Hebrews to the cause +represented by Kossuth and his associates, and defended by the entire +nation, is as well known as the extortions with which the butcher Haynau +attempted to punish their patriotism. _Rerum Hungaricum Monumenta_ is +the last work of the lamented antiquarian Eudlicher, and is designed to +open to the literary world the authentic sources of early Hungarian +history. It is, in short, a most valuable collection of ancient +documents relating to the origin of the Magyars, their first settlement +in Hungary, and their history under the native princes of the race of +Arpad. One of the best results of this work will be the provocation of +other savans to similar investigations, which cannot fail to throw light +on many obscure historical questions. + + * * * * * + +A very interesting work has just made its appearance at Leipsic, giving +an intimate though by no means flattering account of the condition of +the POLISH POPULATION IN GALLICIA. The peculiarities of this race of +people are described as wild barbarism combined with elegant politeness, +dreamy melancholy, and practical cunning. The author was in Gallicia +before the peasants' insurrection in 1846. He narrates a variety of the +most striking scenes, which though highly colored are apparently true in +the main. Among other things he gives an account of a dinner-party to +which he was invited, at the house of a nobleman. The house stood in the +midst of a scattered mass of outbuildings, none of which bore the +slightest appearance of neatness, order, or comfort. Every thing, in +fact, has the appearance of neglect and decay. Many of the walls are +supported by props to prevent them from tumbling. Around the doors the +slightest rain produces a disgusting morass, while the general aspect of +the whole reminds the beholder of Attila's wooden palace in Pannonia, +where he heaped up the booty of a world, and received the ambassadors of +Rome. When the writer reached the door, he found his host with some +other gentlemen waiting to receive him. The company was numerous, and +all, especially the ladies, expensively dressed, in the last Parisian +fashion, with abundant jewelry and ornaments. The saloon in which they +were received was large but low, the walls covered with dirty paper, the +floor of rough boards, the furniture of all sorts and sizes, and nowhere +a trace of art or refined taste. The conversation was carried on in +French, and the ladies exhibited a thorough acquaintance with Paris +matters, notabilities, and gossip generally. At the table the drinking +was almost incredible, and the topic of conversation, the emancipation +of Poland. Every word was aimed at the conversion of the German guest. +The hard treatment of the serfs was spoken of as necessary, as they must +be kept in complete subjection in order to be made useful in the great +work. The festivity grew more and more ardent, till at last one of the +gentlemen took a shoe off from a lady's foot, filled it with wine, and +after drinking from it himself, passed it to the others, so that all +could pledge the ladies from such a cup. The next morning the stranger +saw by chance a sight of another kind, as he was taking a walk. Behind a +wall a man lay on the earth; another held fast his head, and a third his +feet, while a fourth stood over him with a whip, laying on with all his +might. The lord stood by in his dressing-gown, smoking a long pipe, and +coolly directing the procedure. The guest turned away from the +spectacle, but was told by his servant that this was the tenth man who +had undergone the same punishment that morning. The offence was, that +they had not begun work at sunrise. Of course a peasantry so treated +could have no affection for their masters. All the work was done in the +worst manner, while the lord was plundered in every way by his servants. +Of the supplies for the family, more than half were regularly stolen, +there being no supervision in the household. The extravagance of the +masters was boundless, and when they got out of money they resorted to +the Jews, who had the whole commerce of the country in their hands, +besides having mortgages on most of the estates. + +This is the merest outline of a small portion of the book. It renders +more intelligible the atrocities which took place in the insurrection of +1846, and which the Austrian Government permitted, if they did not +foment. + + * * * * * + +One of the most remarkable philologists and travellers of the present +day is the Hungarian Professor REGULY, a man as yet little known out of +his own country and northern Europe. He has devoted himself a good deal +to the exposition of the affinities between the Magyar and the Finnish +languages, and his labors have impelled a number of learned Hungarians +to the same study. In the year 1839 he left his country, and passed ten +years in the north of Asia and Europe, mostly among the Finnish tribes +of the Moguls, Ostiacks, Tsheremisses, Nordwins, &c., making himself +familiar with their manners, customs, dialects, songs, and traditions, +in order to attain a thorough personal acquaintance therewith. He also +spent a long period in Kasan and St. Petersburgh, studying the other +languages of Central Asia. His adventures during this time were, as may +be supposed, remarkable. He suffered not only the privations and +exposures inseparable from such an undertaking, but was also poorly +supplied with money, and often in the greatest distress from that cause. +Nothing but scientific enthusiasm carried him through, till he became +acquainted with some Russian savans, and a Russian Councillor named +Balugyanszky, who were of great assistance to him. He left his home a +vigorous young man, and comes back broken down in strength and health. +His investigations have related not only to philology, but to geography +and ethnography. He has penetrated farther into the north of Asia than +any previous traveller. On his return, at St. Petersburgh, he prepared, +at the special request of the Geographical Society, a vast map of +Northern Asia along the Ural Mountains, between 58 and 70 deg. north +latitude, and 72 and 80 deg. east longitude, giving about five hundred +localities. This map is made on the largest scale, containing sixteen +large quarto sheets. The _St. Petersburgh Gazette_ says of it, that it +has proved Reguly to be the discoverer of a vast territory for Russia. +He is now at Pesth, engaged in preparing for publication the fruits of +his ten years' absence from home. He will treat of the languages of the +European and Asiatic Finnish tribes, their grammar and vocabularies, +with constant regard to the analogies of the Magyar tongue. By way of +introduction he will first publish a special work, containing his +philosophical views on the organism of language. After these +philological treatises he will print a series of ethnographic works on +the various races among which he has lived, with collections of their +songs and traditions, and finally a detailed narrative of his travels, +with a condensed account of their scientific results. The conclusion of +his philological studies is briefly, that the Central-Asiatic, or as it +might be called, the Ural-Altaic group of languages, is divided into six +branches or families, namely, the language of the Mandshu Tartars, the +Mongols, the Turkish-Tartar tribes, the Samoyedes, the Fins, and the +Magyars. These families have however no nearer relation to each other +than the individual tongues of the Indo-European group, as the Indian, +the Romanic, German, Celtic, Slavic, and Persian languages. Still he +regards the Magyar and Finnic languages as having greater mutual +affinities than the others, though not to such a degree that one of +these races of men can be supposed to be derived from the other. He +rather supposes all of the races whose languages form the +Central-Asiatic group to have sprung from an original race, which was +probably Scythian. + + * * * * * + +The Austrian government has just set on foot an enterprise which +promises to be of use to both Literature and Science. The plan is, to +prepare and publish at the expense of the Imperial Treasury, a great +work on the ethnography of the Empire, and all savans, teachers, +artists, poets, of every race, are invited to furnish materials. It is +designed to give a complete account of the origin, history, manners, +language, character and condition of each of the many tribes and peoples +included under the Austrian sceptre. This will be combined of course +with descriptions of the country, scenery, climate, soil, minerals, and +natural and industrial productions of each region. It is supposed that +the whole will be completed in eight big volumes. It will be accompanied +by a vast ethnographic map, which is now being prepared with great +energy under the superintendence of the Minister of Commerce. + + * * * * * + +KARL GUTZKOW is one of the most prolific and popular novel and +playwrights now living in Germany. As to his last work, _Die Ritter vom +Geiste_ (The Knights of the Spirit), of which only the first volume has +been published, the critics entertain the most contradictory opinions. +Some exclaim at its great length, which indeed is rather terrific: there +are to be nine books, and the first occupies the whole of the first +volume. Others are charmed with the skill with which the details of the +work are wrought up, and the great variety of persons who figure in the +story. The author has certainly laid out all his strength in this book, +which is designed to reproduce the present age in all the contradictions +of its doctrines and the complexity of its tendencies. But instead of +seizing these in some central and vital point, and setting them forth in +a work whose very simplicity would conceal its depth from most readers, +Gutzkow has adopted the easier and more clumsy method of multiplying his +characters and complicating the actions of his drama. Thus it is hardly +possible for it not to be tedious and a failure. But we can speak of it +more fairly when it is farther advanced. + + * * * * * + +Dr. NEANDER'S Library is advertised for sale by auction at Berlin, but +our correspondent thinks it will be saved from the hammer by a private +subscription, which will secure it to the University. + + * * * * * + +KARL SIMROCK has just brought out at Frankfort a new collection of +GERMAN POPULAR SONGS, not obsolete or artistic poems, but such as still +live among the people, and are familiar to every class. "Among +_Volkslieder_," he says in his preface, "I include only such as have +proceeded directly from the people, and still bear the tokens of their +origin, in their unsophisticated form, and simple, hearty language. The +pieces of cultivated poets which have found access and become loved with +the people, are reserved for a future collection of favorite German +songs. The distinction here hinted at between the people's songs and +popular songs is not generally understood. All previous collections have +confused the two, and some even have not a single production of the +people. For example, _Des Knaben Wunderhorn_, whose great merit must be +recognized, contains antique poems which by no means issued from among +the people." In another place he says: "The songs here collected and +arranged have been newly written down, literally from the mouths of the +people; and where they could not be procured in this way, have been +corrected by comparison of all earlier versions. So that as they here +stand, they are in a sort my own property." The work is spoken of by +competent critics as perfectly successful. We believe that Simrock, who +is perhaps better qualified for the undertaking than any other man in +Germany, intends in a future edition to publish the melodies of the +songs along with the words. + + * * * * * + +Belgian Literature is a standing joke with the authors of Paris, and not +without reason, for the majority of the books printed by the publishers +of Belgium, are pirated from their French neighbors. There is, however, +such a thing as a Belgian literature, though it is not very extensive, +and one of its chief ornaments is Professor BORGNEL, of Liege, best +known as the author of a _Historie des Belges a la fin du dix-huilieme +Siecle_, published some six years since, to which he is about to bring +out an addition, carrying the history back to the beginning of the same +century. He has also been occupied for several years with the history of +the Flemish Provinces, under the domination of the Spaniards, and has a +work on that subject in preparation. The Introduction to it appeared not +long since among the Memoirs of the Brussels Academy, where it is +entitled: _Philippe I. et la Belgique_. In treating a subject which the +masterly pen of Schiller has already rendered familiar to the world, +Prof. Borgnel does not attempt to imitate the ardent and splendid +eloquence of that great poet and historian; Borgnel's merits are +distinctness in his outlines, remarkable clearness of arrangement, +perfect impartiality towards individuals and parties, and conscientious +use of materials. Of these he has had a greater variety, including many +manuscripts not before brought to light, than any previous writer. + + * * * * * + +Among the new books announced in London is _Notes on North America, +Agricultural, Social, and Economical_, by J. F. W. Johnston, author of +"Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry." We may anticipate something of +value from a man of his studies and well earned reputation. Professor +Johnston passed the greater portion of his time, while in America, in +the British Provinces. He had been led to believe that they offered the +most interesting field for his professional observation. When he came +into New-England, New-York and Pennsylvania, he was continually +surprised at the perfection and the success of our agriculture. He +regretted only, that the mistake into which he had been led by British +travellers, had detained him from the United States until the period of +his absence from home was nearly expired. Professor Johnston's lectures +in New-York were given under singular disadvantages, but the too small +audiences who heard them were pleased and instructed. All who became +acquainted with him were impressed with a belief of his candor and his +talents. We hope to see immediately an edition of his book in this +country. + + * * * * * + +In Geissen, Prof. LIEBIG, has published a Review of the Progress of +Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Geology, in the year 1849. He has been +assisted in its preparation by Professor Kopp and several other savans +connected with the University at Giessen. It is marked by his usual +completeness, breadth of scope, and exhaustive treatment of each +particular subject. Liebig is now engaged in preparing a new series of +Chemical Letters, which will be specially devoted to the growth of this +science, in connection with the history of mental progress in general. +Professor Knobel, of the same University, has also issued a work on the +Genealogies of the Book of Genesis, which excites remark by the +thoroughness of its historical investigations. Leopold Schmid's last +work is on the Spirit of Catholicism, and also highly spoken of by both +Catholic and Protestant writers. This author holds a high rank in the +Catholic literature of Germany, and has been chosen Bishop of Mayence. +Professor Hillebrand is occupied with a revision of his highly esteemed +History of German national literature since Lessing. There seems to be +no reason to fear that Giessen is doing less than its share toward +keeping the ocean of German books up at a high-water mark. + + * * * * * + +BERANGER, the veteran _chansonier_, is now occupying himself in writing +biographies, anecdotes, criticisms, &c., of the public men with whom, in +the course of his long career, he has been in contact. It is five years +since he announced his intention of giving such a work to the public, +and he thinks it will possess great historical value, while of his +songs, which alone will convey his name to the last ages in which the +language of France is spoken, he thinks but "indifferently well." + + * * * * * + +The house, at Paris, in which EUGENE SUE laid some of the most exciting +scenes of his "Wandering Jew," has lately been advertised for sale, and +has been visited by crowds of curious loungers. It is known as the Hotel +Serilly, and is situated at No. 5 Rue Neuve Saint Francois, in the +quarter called the Marais. At the time the "Wandering Jew" was +published, the street was often filled by groups of gazers at the +strange old edifice, which had been so exactly described by the +romancer, that no one could mistake it. Some even ventured to knock at +the door and seek further information. They were received by a +mysterious and taciturn old Hebrew, who looked as if he himself had +charge of the great Rennepeal treasure, and three-quarters of the +visitors went away convinced that they had seen the veritable Samuel +himself. Now that the whole house has been thrown open to the public, +there have been found under it vast sub-cellars extending under the +large garden in the rear, and in these cellars are seven wells, +partially filled up, but with walls of careful masonry, and other +indications that they were of great depth and great utility. The opinion +was at once set on foot by the explorers, that the millions of the +treasure had been concealed in one of these wells. The fact is, that the +house formerly belonged to a Protestant family which suffered extreme +persecution after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and which +doubtless found the subterranean passages extremely convenient. In the +year 1791, it was inhabited by the revolutionist Carnot. + + * * * * * + +The COUNT DE TOCQUEVILLE, a relative of the author of "Democracy in +America," has just published a historical work on the Reign of Louis +XVI. The writer, an old man almost sinking into the grave, enjoys the +advantage of having himself witnessed and even shared in a part of the +events he describes. He was intimate with Malasherbes, and personally +devoted to the unfortunate Louis. Of his ability as a writer, a former +work on the Reign of Louis XV. furnished proofs which are repeated in +the present volume. Of course he does full justice to the amiable +personal qualities of Marie Antoinette and her husband, without doing +injustice to their faults. But he shows that after all what was charged +upon them as political crime, was but the consequence of long-standing +causes, over which they had no control, or even of measures of reform to +which with the best intentions, they had given their consent. In +speaking of the mission of Franklin at the French Court, M. de +Tocqueville gives some interesting details. "At Paris," he says, "the +zeal for the cause of the insurgents constantly increased. The women who +exercised a great influence in the reign of Louis XVI., became +passionate supporters of the Americans, and made aiding them a question +of honor. The simple manners of their envoys,--their hair without +powder, their citizens' dress, pleased by a sort of piquant novelty. All +who approached Franklin were charmed by his wit. In him people venerated +the founder of the liberty of a great nation, and even grew enthusiastic +in behalf of that liberty." M. de Tocqueville shows however that the +prime minister Maurepas only feared the Americans because he was +embarrassed in his position, and thought to relieve himself by making +war with England. But as there was no good reason for making such a war, +the honesty of the King revolted at it. M. de Vergennes also said in the +Council, that England would be much more weakened by a long war with her +colonies, than by their loss. "But how," repeated all the women, "can we +help embracing the cause of a people which sends us ambassadors without +powder, and with shoe-strings, instead of buckles?" So weighty a reason +turned the balance, and the war was declared. That war finished the ruin +of the French monarchy, not only by inspiring the officers and soldiers +sent to the United States with new ideas, but also by completing the +exhaustion of its finances. With regard to the Revolution in which Louis +XVI. lost his head, it is enough praise for our historian, that while he +inclines always to the monarchical side, he is not altogether unjust to +the popular virtues which shone with such rare brilliancy amid the gloom +of that epoch. + + * * * * * + +The great work of J. G. AUDUBON and the Rev. Dr. BACHMAN, upon the +"Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America," is much praised by those +persons in Europe whose praise is of most value. The _Athenaeum_ remarks +that, hitherto, the mammalia of America have been known chiefly through +descriptions by zoologists, in the Transactions of European Societies, +and that no systematic attempt has been made to bring together into one +connected view the very varied forms of animal life presented by this +great continent, while these authors have not only used the materials +which were at hand in the works of others, but have themselves observed +with great diligence the habits of many of the creatures which they have +described. "Their work is creditable to the United States, where a large +number of subscribers have induced the authors to undertake it,--and a +most valuable addition to our general natural-history literature." The +geographical range within which the animals described in these pages are +found is not that of the government of the United States merely; it +comprehends Russian and British America, in fact, all the country which +lies north of the tropics in the New World. + + * * * * * + +At the last MICHAELMAS BOOK FAIR at Leipsic, the Catalogue contained the +titles of 5,023 new works published in Germany since Easter. This is +from twelve to fifteen hundred more than at any fair since the +Revolution of 1848. A great number of these books are large and of +remarkable merit, being in some sort, the accumulation of the more +profound scientific labors of the past two years. + + * * * * * + +The BARONESS VON BECK has just published in London two volumes of +"Personal Adventures" in the Hungarian war. She is herself a Hungarian, +and she saw her husband fall while cheering his men to defend a +barricade at Vienna. In this book Kossuth is her hero, her prophet, her +demigod; and she sacrifices all other celebrities without compunction at +the altar of his greatness. Dembinsky she treats with manifest +injustice; Georgey comes out on her pages as a very Mephistopheles. +Klapka himself does not escape without animadversion. But without +adopting her opinions, either of the man she blames or the subject she +discusses, it cannot be denied that she has great cleverness, and a +wonderful power of exciting and interesting the reader. + + * * * * * + +A valuable scientific periodical is the _Geographisches Jahrbuch_ for +the Communication of all the more important New Investigations, edited +by the distinguished BERGHAUS, and published by Perthes of Gotha. The +last number has an article by the editor on the system of "Mountains and +Rivers of Africa," which differs altogether from what is laid down in +the present maps. The author lays down the river Nile as flowing from +the N'Yassi, and as connected with a great number of rivers in Dar Fur, +Waday, and Fertil, with relation to which only the vaguest views have +hitherto been entertained. The article shows, too, that the newly +discovered lake N'Gami, in Southern Africa, has been long known under +the name of Nampur. The same number of the _Jahrbuch_ also contains an +article from the pen of the late lamented ALBERT GALLATIN, on the +climate of North America. This article was written in English, and was +translated into German for the _Jahrbuch_. + + * * * * * + +BERGHAUS has also lately issued a complete work of the highest interest, +especially now that so much attention is every where paid to +Ethnographic studies. Its title is _Grundlinien der Ethnographie_ +(Outlines of Ethnography). It is in two parts, and contains a universal +tabular description of all the races of the globe, arranged +ethnographically and geographically, and according to languages and +dialects, with a comparative view of their manners, customs, and habits. +No person who undertakes to investigate the origin of the human family +and the mutual relations of its different members, can afford to be +without this work. Published in Stuttgart. + + * * * * * + +BERTHOLD AUERBACH has just brought out a little volume of tales, which +we may well infer from his previous performances are charmingly replete +with grace, good humor, and a keen perception of whatever is peculiar to +his subject. The title of the book is _Deutsche Abende_ (German +Evenings). It contains three stories: "Nice People," "What is +Happiness?" and "The Son of the Forester." Published at Mannheim. + + * * * * * + +BARON STERNBERG, a dilettante book-maker of Germany, who generally +resides at Berlin, has just added a new romance, or rather the beginning +of one, to his previous publications. It bears the promising, if not +pretentious title, of _The German Gil Blas_ (published at Bremen), and +claims to be comic, as a matter of course. As a whole, the book is a +failure. Though there are passages here and there which may be read with +satisfaction, there is not enough unity and connection between the +different parts, and the humor is generally but a thin potation. It must +be said, however, that the absence of continuous interest is the fault +of most comic novels, as well as poems. Even the matchless works of Jean +Paul grow tedious by the endeavor to read much of them at a time, a fact +which may be ascribed to the sentimentality and mere fantastics with +which the kernels of his wit are overburdened. It is certain that no +German humorous work can be compared with those great originals in that +kind, Gil Blas and Don Quixote, or even with the much inferior works of +Smollett and Dickens. Baron Sternberg's last effort forms no exception +to this remark, and there is little hope that the second and concluding +volume, whose appearance in Germany ought to be made by this time, will +prove superior to the first. His "Royalists," an anti-democratic novel, +which he had the courage to publish in the chaos of 1848, and which +excited much attention, and a great deal of severe criticism, was far +better. + + * * * * * + +"THE NEW FAITH SOUGHT IN ART," is the title of an anonymous little book +lately issued at Paris, which, though not of great value, has more +poetic originality of thought than is often found in printed pages. The +author thinks that the time has gone by in which the subjects of art +could properly be sought in the lives of saints and legends of the +Church, and wishes to substitute for them the lives of artists and +celebrated inventors, who have sprung from the bosom of the people. With +this writer, every thing is democratic and popular. For him the people +is alone King, and worthy of all honor. "Nothing," he says in one place, +"is truer than the song of Beethoven. It is the song of life, the voice +of truth, an infallible voice, which will create a world, and cause the +old false world to crumble. Born of the people, the people sing in him, +although they know him not." In painting, the heroes of the author are +Ruysdael, Rembrandt, Claude-Lorraine, and Paul Potter. + + * * * * * + +The Poet FREILIGRATH has received orders to leave the village of Bilk, +in the neighborhood of Dusseldorf; where he was residing, and to quit +the Prussian territories. He will probably go back to England, where he +passed some time in a counting-house or perhaps come to the United +States, where he has several friends, to whom he has written of such an +event as possible. + + * * * * * + +In AFRICAN DISCOVERY greater advances have been made in the last two +years than before since the journeys of the brothers Lander. We +mentioned in the last _International_ that the American traveller, Dr. +W. Mathews, had been heard of at Vienna, and we now learn that he has +been very successful in the five years of his adventure in the northern +and central parts of the continent. Letters received in Berlin from Drs. +Barth and Overweg, contain information of their having accomplished the +journey across the Great Desert, or Sahara, and of their arrival near +the frontiers of the kingdom of Air or Asben, (Air is the modern +Tuarick, and Asben the ancient Sudan name), the most powerful in that +part of Africa after Bornou, and never explored by Europeans. On the +24th of August--the date of their last letter--they were at Taradshit, a +small place in about 20 deg. 30' N. latitude, and 9 deg. 20' longitude E. of +Greenwich. Among their discoveries are some of peculiar interest, one of +which is of several curious and very ancient sculptures, apparently of +Egyptian origin. The King of Prussia has, at the instance of the +Chevalier Bunsen and Baron Alexander von Humboldt, augmented the funds +of the two travellers by a grant of 1,000 thalers. + +While Richardson, Barth and Overweg have penetrated the _terra +incognita_ of the north, Dr. Krapf and the Rev. Mr. Rebmann have +explored the region described on the common maps as the "Great Southern +Sahara," and found it to be fertile, healthy, abounding in mountains, +valleys and rivers, and inhabited by a race altogether superior to that +which occupies the Atlantic coast. Mr. Mansfield Parkyns is endeavoring +to cross the country southward from the Nile to the river Gambia; Mr. +Charles Johnson is travelling in Abysinnia; Baron von Mueller is +conducting an expedition up the White Nile; and the American +missionaries and colonists are gradually extending their knowledge over +the various settlements on the eastern coast of the continent. + + * * * * * + +THE PRUSSIAN EXPEDITION TO EGYPT, _Denkmaeler aus AEgypten und AEthiopien +nach den Zeichnungen der von Sr. Majestat dem Koenige von Preussen +Friedrich Wilhelm IV. nach diesen Laendern gesendeten, und in den Jahren +1842-45, ausgefuhrten wissenschaftlichen Expedition: Herausgegeben von +Dr. R. Lepsius_; published at the expense and under the guarantee of the +Prussian Government, will be completed in eighty parts, or eight hundred +plates. Most of the plates are printed with tints, and many in the +colors of the originals. This work forms a necessary completion of the +celebrated work of the French Expedition under Napoleon. Parts I. to X. +are now advertised as ready for subscribers, in London, at three dollars +and a half each. + + * * * * * + +A NEW WORK ON AFRICA, by H. C. Grund, is advertised at Berlin. + + * * * * * + +Almanacs for popular use, offer a means much used in France for the +propagation of political, social and religious doctrines. Every sect and +party issues its Almanac, and some issue several, crammed to the brim +with the peculiar notions whose dissemination is wished for. One of the +most successful for the year 1851, is the _Almanach des Opprimes_ (The +Almanac of the Oppressed). In fact, it is aimed wholly at the Society of +Jesuits, whose history it exposes in the blackest colors. It begins with +the early life of Loyola, depicts his debaucheries, his ambition, the +religious mechanism invented by his enthusiastic and fanatical genius, +the flexibility of his morality, and goes on to give an account of the +intrigues and crimes of his successors in various countries and times, +with an analysis of their books, their missions and their miracles. +Another of these publications is called the _Almanach du Peuple_, +containing a very great variety of articles of substantial value. Among +the contributors are, F. Arago, Quinet, Charras, Carnot, Girardin, +George Sand, Pierre Leroux, Dumil Aeur, E. Lithe, Mazzini, and other +republicans distinguished in the political, literary and scientific +world. This Almanac had the honor last year of being seized by the +Government, but on trial before a jury it was acquitted of the charge +against it, of being dangerous to society, and provoking citizens to +hate the republic and despise the authorities. + + * * * * * + +A critic in the _Allegemeine Zeitung_, in noticing "Ottomar, a Romance +from the Present Time," the last novel from the pen of Madame Von +Zoellner, takes occasion to give some hard hits at women's novels in +general. "It always must and always will be a failure," he says, "when a +woman attempts to form a just conception of masculine character, and to +put her conception into language. Female writers always comb out +smoothly the flaxen hair of their heroes, and dress them up in the +frockcoat of innocence. They go into raptures over a sort of green +enthusiasm, and a romantic fantasticality of virtue, such as we godless +fellows are not guilty of possessing; and in this way they turn out +automatons which resemble nothing in earth, heaven, or elsewhere." The +critic however admits that Madame Zoellner, who is undoubtedly one of the +best living German novel writers, possesses remarkable and peculiar +merits. No other woman occupies so high a place with the German public, +except it be Fanny Lewald. Madame Zoellner is praised for the pure moral +tone of her writings. + + * * * * * + +One of the most accomplished writers in France--M. DE CORMENIN--and one +of the most _spirituel_ of that _spirituel_ nation, said at Frankfort, +"It is true that it is difficult to abolish war, but it is far more +difficult to abolish death; and yet if people would take the same pains +to avoid the one as they did to escape the other, they would certainly +accomplish their object." + + * * * * * + +One of the most ardent and vigorous writers of Young France, Alphonse +Esquiros, has brought out at Paris a new book called "The History of the +Martyrs of Liberty." The author aims to follow the development of +liberty in humanity; to expose the tie which unites ancient and modern +society in historic solidarity; to determine the transformation of the +doctrines, which, for a century past, have invaded the religious world +under the name of philosophy, political economy, and socialism; to set +forth the fertile sufferings which have brought about that double +triumph of liberty in ideas and in facts, namely Christianity and the +French Revolution; to indicate the questions yet undecided; and to call +to their solution both the miseries of the laboring classes and the +lights of science. + + * * * * * + +Whatever may be said of the more elaborate writings of GEORGE SAND, it +is impossible for the most scrupulous critic to deny or resist the charm +of her smaller works, such as the "Mosaic Workers," the "Devil's Love," +and "Fadette." To these she has just added another, which is spoken of +with the utmost delight by all who have read it, as a work of remarkable +genius. It is intended for the use of children, and is called "The +History of the veritable Gribonille." The text is accompanied by richly +engraved illustrations, designed by Mr. Maurice Sand, the son, we +believe, of the author. Why will not some American publisher give us a +translation, with the original illustrations? + + * * * * * + +To the already immense literature of the French Revolution, we now have +to signalize another addition, which is worth the attention of those who +are not weary of books relating to that momentous epoch. It is a +"Biography of Camille Desmoulins," by Ed. Fleury--an octavo volume, +lately issued at Paris. The author discusses the history of this famous +pamphleteer and revolutionary rhetorician, as an advocate defends a +client before a jury. + + * * * * * + +THE HISTORY OF THE PRINCIPLES, INSTITUTIONS AND LAWS OF THE FRENCH +REVOLUTION, from 1789 to 1800, is an anti-revolutionary work of +elaborate character, and decided ability, published a few weeks since at +Paris, by an anonymous author, who thinks he can do something toward +getting the world right by rolling back some of its more recent +gyrations. + + * * * * * + +A popular History of the French Revolution, from 1789 to 1799, written +by HIPPOLITE MAGEN, and lately published at Paris, in one volume, is +having a great success among the laboring classes of Paris and other +French cities. It is of course in favor of the Montangards. + + * * * * * + +A valuable manual for students of French history is M. LOUIS TRIPIER'S +collection of French Constitutions, since 1789, with the decrees of the +Provisional Government of 1848. It has just been issued by Cotillon, at +Paris. + + * * * * * + +MIRABEAU, the great revolutionist, is the subject of a new work just +published at Vienna, from the pen of Franz Ernst Pipitz, a native of +that city, but now a teacher at the University of Zurich. It is in great +part the result of original investigations, and in many particulars +departs from the received biographies, while in others it casts a new +light on facts previously known. The critics of Vienna speak in the +highest terms of it, as worthy to be named along with the most brilliant +French productions on the same subject. They are, however, bound to say +the best thing possible for a book by a Viennese author, since they have +but few to rejoice in. + + * * * * * + +THE MEMOIRS OF MASSENA, which have for some time been in course of +publication at Paris, are at last completed, by the issue of the final +volume, which contains the history of the campaign of 1810-11, in +Portugal. No complete account of this campaign has ever before been +published. The book also casts a great deal of light not merely on the +history of the Marshal himself, but on the wars of Napoleon in general. +It is founded on documents left by Massena, which have not before been +published or consulted. + + * * * * * + +M. COUSIN, who, after having exerted a more powerful influence in +philosophy than any of his contemporaries, (though this influence was, +in a large degree, secondary in its character), has recently been almost +forgotten. We see by a paragraph in the _Debats_ that he is collecting +and editing all his various writings upon the subject of education. They +will fill several volumes. + + * * * * * + +Another tribute to the memory of LOUIS PHILIPPE, has just been offered +by M. R. PAIGNON, who has collected and published a volume of the +deceased King's thoughts and opinions on matters of State. This work +exhibits the mental and political history of its subject in the best +light, and has the merit of being arranged with care and fidelity. + + * * * * * + +M. FELIX PIGNORY, of the Commission despatched by the French Government, +in search of the tomb of Godfrey of Bouillon, has returned from Asia, +and reports some curious discoveries relative to the object of the +mission. + + * * * * * + +A new and enlarged edition of ZUINET'S _Genie des Religions_ has +appeared at Paris. + + * * * * * + +THE POLITICAL MAXIMS AND THE PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF FREDERICK THE GREAT is +the title of a curious piece in the last number of _Frazer's Magazine_. +It is unique as a sample of kingcraft; and every line supplies a proof +of the candor, hypocrisy, unscrupulousness, sense of duty, courage, +sensuality, and intellect, of the great Prussian, to whom are partially +due the literary merits or demerits of the paper. + + * * * * * + +The new edition of the POEMS OF ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING, contains +besides many original pieces, her translation of the "Prometheus Bound," +of AEschylus, never hitherto published, although, as she informs us, once +privately circulated in another and less complete form. It bears no mark +of a woman's hand: it is rugged, massive, and sublime, as befits the +grand old fate drama which the genius of the Greek moulded out of the +immortal agony of the beneficent Titan. From the new poems we select the +following exquisite love sonnets, from a series scarcely inferior to +those in which Shakspeare has given the history of his heart-life: + + "I lift my heavy heart up solemnly, + As once Electra her sepulchral urn, + And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn + The ashes at thy feet. Behold and see + What a great heap of grief lay hid in me, + And how the red wild sparkles dimly burn + Through the ashen grayness. If thy foot in scorn + Could tread them out to darkness utterly, + It might be well perhaps. But if instead + Thou wait beside me for the wind to blow + The gray dust up, ... those laurels on thine head, + O my beloved, will not shield thee so, + That none of all the fires shall scorch and shred + The hair beneath. Stand further off, then! Go. + + "Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand + Henceforward in thy shadow. Never more + Alone upon the threshold of my door + Of individual life, I shall command + The uses of my soul, nor lift my hand + Serenely in the sunshine as before, + Without the sense of that which I forbore, + Thy touch upon the palm. The widest land + Doom takes to part us, leaves thy heart in mine + With pulses that beat double. What I do + And what I dream include thee, as the wine + Must taste of its own grapes. And when I sue + God for myself, He hears that name of thine, + And sees within my eyes, the tears of two. + + "Beloved, my beloved, when I think + That thou wast in the world a year ago, + What time I sat alone here in the snow, + And saw no foot-print, heard the silence sink + No moment at they voice; ... but link by link + Went courting all my chains, as if that so + They never could fall off at any blow + Struck by thy possible hand.... Why, thus I drink + Of life's great cup of wonder. Wonderful, + Never to feel thee thrill the day or night + With personal act or speech,--nor ever call + Some prescience of thee with the blossoms white + Thou sawest growing! _Atheists are as dull, + Who cannot guess God's presence out of sight._ + + "First time he kissed me, he but only kissed + The fingers of this hand wherewith I write, + And ever since it grew more clear and white; + How to world greetings ... quick with its 'Oh, list,' + When the angels speak. A ring of amethyst + I could not wear there plainer to my sight + Than that first kiss. The second passed in height + The first, and sought the forehead, and half-missed, + Half falling on the hair. O, beyond meed! + That was the chrism of love, which love's own crown, + With sanctifying sweetness, did precede. + The third, upon my lips was folded down, + In perfect purple state! Since when, indeed, + I have been proud, and said, 'My love, my own.'" + + * * * * * + +The candidateship between Lord Palmerston and the historian Alison for +the office of Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow, resulted in a +majority for the latter, on the gross poll, of 69. As, however, of the +"four nations" into which the students were distributed, each of the +candidates had two, the election should have been decided by the vote of +the present Rector, Mr. Macaulay; but he declines the duty, and would +not go to the university during the contest. + + * * * * * + +The Official Gazette announces that "the Queen has been pleased to +appoint ALFRED TENNYSON, Esq., to be Poet Laureate in ordinary to her +Majesty, in the room of William Wordsworth, Esq., deceased." There have +been poorer poets than Tennyson among the laureates; but this +appointment does not and ought not to give much satisfaction. Mr. +Tennyson had already a pension from the government, and was in no need +of the salary of this office, as one or two others, and as we conceive, +greater poets, are; and it had been hoped that the queen would appoint +to the place the _greatest poet of her own sex_ who has lived in +England--Elizabeth Barrett Browning. + + * * * * * + +The original MS. of "WAVERLEY,"--wholly in the handwriting of Sir Walter +Scott,--the same which was sold in 1831 with the other MSS. of the +series of novels and romances--has been presented to the Advocates' +Library at Edinburgh, by Mr. James Hall, brother of the late Capt. Basil +Hall. Several of the MSS. of Scott are in this country, having been sold +here by Dr. Lardner, soon after his arrival here with Mrs. Heavyside. + + * * * * * + +MR. HORACE MAYHEW, author of the metropolitan "Labor and the Poor" +articles, has ceased to write for the London _Morning Chronicle_, the +conductors of that journal wishing him to suppress, in his reports on +the condition of the working classes, facts opposed to free trade. This +appears to be characteristic of the advocates of that side. + + * * * * * + +D'ISRAELI has published an edition of his father's "Curiosities of +Literature," with a "View of the Character and Writings of the Author." +He is now engaged upon a Life of Lord William Bentinck, which he has +undertaken at the request of the Duke of Portland. We do not think the +author of the "Wondrous Tale of Alroy" will do very well in history. + + * * * * * + +The EARL OF CARLISLE has recently given two lectures before the +Tradesmen's Benevolent Society of Leeds, and the Mechanics' Institute of +the same city, upon the Scenes, Institutions, and Characteristics of the +United States, which he visited when Lord Morpeth. + + * * * * * + +LEIGH HUNT has probably done a foolish thing in again becoming an +editor. He is too old. We have, by the last steamer, "Leigh Hunt's +Journal: a Miscellany for the Cultivation of the Memorable, the +Progressive, and the Beautiful"--certainly a characteristic title. + + * * * * * + +A Posthumous work of JOSEPH BALMAS,--(the celebrated Spanish priest, +whose book on Catholicism and Protestantism has lately been translated, +and published in Baltimore, and who perished prematurely in 1848), has +just been published. It is entitled _Escritos Posthumos, Poesias +Posthumos_, and contains prose and verse on science, literature, and +politics. + + * * * * * + +The Death of the late MRS. BELL MARTIN, at the Union Place Hotel, in +this city, was briefly noticed in the last number of the +_International_. It appears from a statement in the London _Times_ that +the vast estates known as the Connemara property, to which she had +succeeded as the daughter and heiress of the late Mr. Thomas Martin, of +Ballinahinch Castle, in Galway, was among the first brought into the new +"Encumbered Estates Court," and has been for some months advertised for +sale. The Dublin _Evening Mail_ has the following remarks upon the +melancholy history of Mrs. Martin, whose novel of "Julia Howard" must +preserve for her a very distinguished rank among the literary women, of +our time: + + "The vicissitudes of life have seldom produced a sadder or more + rapid reverse than that by which the fortunes of this excellent + lady were darkened and overthrown. Born to a noble inheritance + which extended over a territory far exceeding the domain of + many a reigning German prince, her name was known throughout + the United Kingdom as that of "the Irish heiress." Five years + ago her expectancy was considered to be equivalent, over and + above all encumbrances and liabilities, to a yearly income of + 5,000_l._ Before two years of the interval had elapsed she + found herself at the head of her patrimonial estates, without a + shilling that she could call her own. The failure of the potato + crop, the famine and pestilence which followed, the scourging + laws enacted and enforced by an ignorant Legislature to redress + the calamity, and the claims of money-lenders, swept every inch + of property from under her feet. Her hopes and her prospects + were for ever blighted. Her projects for the improvement of the + wild district over which she had reigned as a sort of native + sovereign were at an end; and she went forth from the roof of + her fathers as a wanderer, without a home, and, as it would + almost appear, without a friend. Never was hard fate less + deserved; for her untiring and active benevolence had been + devoted from her childhood to the comfort and relief of those + who suffered, and her powerful and original mind was + incessantly employed in devising means of moral and physical + amelioration in the condition of the tenantry on her father's + estates. She gave up her whole time to such pursuits, avoiding + the haunts of fashion and those amusements which might be + considered suitable to her age and place, that she might + perform the various duties of physician, almoner, + schoolmistress, and agricultural instructor. Her almost daily + habit was to visit the poor and the sick in the remote recesses + of that wild region, sometimes on foot--more frequently in her + little boat, well provided with medicaments and food, which she + impelled by the vigor of her own arm through the lakes which + stretch along the foot of the mountains. How grievous it is to + reflect that she should so soon have been driven across the + ocean in search of a place to lay her head. The American editor + intimates that the object of her voyage was to collect + materials for literary works. We have no doubt that such was + among her projects; for she was a very distinguished writer, + and would by no means eat the bread of idleness or dependence; + but there is reason to believe that it was a more stringent + compulsion which obliged her, at an advanced period of the + year, and in a peculiarly delicate situation, when even + peasants remain on shore, to encounter the tedium and perils of + a voyage in a sailing vessel. We have heard, in fact, from a + quarter which ought to be correctly informed, that she was + proceeding to the residence of a near relative of her father, + with the intention of remaining there till some favorable + change might come over the color of her life." + + * * * * * + +Our countrywoman, MRS. MOWATT, has revised and partially rewritten her +novels of "The Fortune Hunter," and "Evelyn, or the Heart Unmasked," and +they have just been published in London. The _Athenaeum_ says of them: + + "These tales give us a higher idea of Mrs. Mowatt's talents as + an authoress, than her plays did. Taken in conjunction with + those dramas, and with the pleasing powers as an actress + displayed by the lady,--they not only establish a case of more + than common versatility, but indicate that with labor and + concentration, so gifted a person might have taken a high + place, whether on the library shelf or on the stage. In another + point of view, they are less agreeable. Alas, for those + primitive souls, who with a perverse constancy may still wish + to fancy America a vast New-England of simple manners and + superior morals! The society which Mrs. Mowatt + describes--whether in 'Evelyn,' which begins with a wedding out + of Fleecer's boarding-house, or in 'The Fortune Hunter,' which + opens with table-talk at Delmonico's--is as sophisticated as + any society under which this wicked old world groans, and which + our Sir E. Lytton and Mrs. Gore have satirized--or Balzac (to + shame the French) has "shown up." _Major Pendennis_ himself + could hardly have produced anything more _blase_ in tone than + some of the pictures of 'New-York Society' drawn by this + American lady,--drawn, moreover, when the lady was young. + Evelyn is married to a rich man, without her heart having any + thing to say in the matter,--by a mother who is a superfine + _Mrs. Falcon_:--and wretched mischief comes of it. Brainard, + the fortune hunter, is a heartless and cynical illustration + that a Broadway hunter can be as unblushingly mercenary, and as + genteelly dishonorable as the veriest old Bond Street hack, + bred up in the traditions of the Regency, who ever began life + on nothing and a showy person--continued it on nothing and the + reputation of fashion--and ended no one cares how or where. + There are character, smartness and passion in both these + tales--though a certain looseness of structure and + incompleteness of style prevent us from being extreme in + praising them, or from recommending them by quotation,--and + though, as has been said, the tone and taste of the life which + they describe must jar on the feelings of those who are + unwilling to see the decrepitude of elderly civilization coming + down upon a new country, ere its maturity has been reached--or + even ere its youth has been sufficiently and steadily trained." + + * * * * * + +MRS. SOUTHWORTH, the authoress of "Retribution," "The Deserted Wife," +&c., has a new novel in the press of the Appletons, entitled +"Shannondale." Mrs. Southworth is the most popular of our female +novelists, notwithstanding the doubtful morality of her works. + + * * * * * + +CHARLES MACKAY, who, two or three years ago, passed some months in +New-York, and who is known for his very candid and intelligent book upon +the United States, entitled "The Western World," has gone to India, as +an agent of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, for the purpose of +inquiring into the state and prospects of Indian cotton cultivation. Mr. +Mackay has had experience in the collection of statistical information; +he has lived long enough abroad to know that essential differences +sometimes lurk beneath external resemblances in the social arrangements +of two countries, and to be on his guard against the erroneous +inferences to which ignorance of this fact leads. He is naturally acute, +energetic, and cautious. For the difficult task of investigating and +reporting upon the condition of an important branch of industry, and the +circumstances which are likely to promote or retard its progress among a +community so different from the English as that of India, he is probably +as well fitted as any man who could have been selected. The foundation +of the British Indian empire and the establishment of the United States +as an independent nation, were contemporary events. The loss of her +American colonies helped to concentrate the attention and exertions of +England upon her Indian dominions. The progress made by British India +since 1760, in civilization, material wealth, and intelligent +enterprise, is barely perceptible; while the United States have expanded +from a few obscure colonies into a nation second only to Great Britain +in the value and extent of their commercial relations, second to none in +intelligence and successful enterprise. The Anglo-Norman inhabitants of +the "Old Thirteen" provinces have made the valley of the Mississippi, +and the prairies beyond it, which little more than half a century ago +were mere wastes, the thronged abodes of a vigorous and wealthy European +population. They have done this without the aid of the aboriginal +tribes, who have proved irreclaimably addicted to their nomade habits. +The Anglo-Normans who rule British India have had to deal with a country +thickly peopled with races far advanced in civilization, though of a +peculiar character; yet, in every respect, the results of their efforts +lag far behind those visible in America. To place the difference in a +most striking point of view, it is only necessary to contrast the cotton +produce and the mercantile marine of British India with those of the +United States. There is actually a more fully-developed steam navigation +between Panama and California than between Bombay and China. The causes +of these results are plain enough to us, but to the English they are +enigmas. The mission of Mr. Mackay will scarcely end in a revelation of +the truth, that liberty and independence have kept healthy the blood in +the vigorous limbs of the Americans, while trammels and vassalage have +deadened the energies of the Indies; but it may have an important +influence upon the question whether the East India Company's charter +shall be renewed, and it certainly will develop much information +interesting to the cotton-growers of the United States. + + * * * * * + +MR. DE QUINCEY is one of the greatest of the elder race of literary men +now living in Great Britain, and we believe he is in no very affluent +circumstances. The bestowal of a pension by the Government upon Mr. +James Bailey, an editor of the classics, residing at Cambridge, on the +ground of his "literary services," causes _The Leader_ thus to refer to +the author of "The Opium Eater"-- + + "Where is Thomas De Quincey's pension? Some may not regard him, + as we do, the very greatest living master of the English + language; some may think lightly of those fragmentary works and + fugitive articles with which he has for more than thirty years + enriched our literature; but, whatever may be the individual + estimate of his services, one fact is patent, namely, that you + cannot mention De Quincey in any circle of the British Islands, + pretending to literary culture, but his name will sound + familiar; in most it will awaken responses of gratitude for + high pleasures bestowed, in none will it arouse indignation of + high power to base uses. Now, this we call a clear case for + national beneficence. He has done the state service, and they + know it; but they will not reward it." + +Apropos of pensions: Upon the whole, we have the best exchequer in the +world, and to _soldiers_ we have evinced no special lack of liberality. +To give five hundred dollars a year to Mr. Audubon, R. H. Dana, Moses +Stuart, Edward Robinson, H. R. Schoolcraft, James G. Percival, C. F. +Hoffman, and some half dozen others, would be something toward an +"honorable discharge" of the country's obligations in the premises, and +probably no slight addition to the happiness of men who have added much +to the real glory of the nation, while it would cost less than a +morning's useless debate in Congress. In a recent letter to Lord +Brougham, on a cognate subject, Savage Landor exclaims: + + "Probably the time is not far distant when the arts and + sciences, and even literary genius, may be deemed no less + worthy of this distinction than the slaughter of a thousand + men. But how, in the midst of our vast expenditure, spare so + prodigious a sum as five hundred a year to six, and three + hundred a year to six more!" + + * * * * * + +A MR. CHUBB has published in London, in a small volume, a paper which he +read before the Institution of Civil Engineers, on the construction of +locks and keys. It embraces a history of the lock and key from the +earliest ages, illustrated profusely with wood cuts. It forms an +instructive and entertaining essay; but we think Mr. Chubb might have +learned something more of the subject in the lock factories of Newark +and this city. + + * * * * * + +MR. TICKNOR'S History of Spanish Literature has been translated into +German, and is announced for publication by Brockhaus. + + * * * * * + +MR. DICKEN'S "David Copperfield" is at length completed, and Mr. Wiley +has published it in two handsome volumes, profusely illustrated. There +is a variety of opinions among the critics as to its rank among the +works of "Boz"; but it is not contended by any that it evinces a decay +of his extraordinary and peculiar genius. We copy a paragraph which +strikes us as just, from the _Spectator_: + + "This story has less of London life and town-bred character + than most of its predecessors; but what may thus be gained in + variety is lost in raciness, breadth, and effect. The peculiar + classes forced into existence by the hotbed of a great city, + and owing a part of their gusto to town usage, may be narrow + enough if compared with general nature, but they are broader + than the singularities whom Mr. Dickens copies or invents as + representatives of genteel country life, or human nature in + general. In the mere style there is frequently an + improvement--less effort and greater ease, with occasional + touches of the felicity of Goldsmith; but we should have + thought the work was likely to be less popular than many of the + previous tales of Mr. Dickens, as well as rather more open to + unfavorable criticism. Any prose fiction that is to take rank + in the first class, must have what in epic poetry is called a + fable,--some lesson of life embodied in a story that combines + the utile and the dulce. This fable should not only please the + reader by its succession of coherent events, and by the variety + of its persons and fortunes, but should touch by appeals to the + common kinship of humanity, and teach worldly conduct of + ethical lessons by particular incidents, as well as by the + general development. And when this end is attained, whether by + design or instinct, technical rules are readily forgotten; even + the great rule of unity of action can be dispensed with. It + does not appear that Mr. Dickens has the critical training + necessary to feel the importance of this principle, or a + knowledge of life sufficiently deep and extensive to enable him + to embody it unconsciously, as a well-chosen story will always + compel an author to do. So far as _David Copperfield_ appears + designed with any other object than as a vehicle for writing a + number of sketches, it would seem intended to trace the London + career of an inexperienced young man, with infirmity of + purpose, a dangerous friend, and no very experienced advisers. + Any purpose of this kind is only prosecuted by snatches; "the + theme" is constantly deserted, and matters are introduced that + have no connection with the hero further than his being present + at them, or their occurring to his acquaintance. In fact, from + the time that David Copperfield emerges from boyhood, the + interest in _his_ adventures ceases, beyond that sort of + feeling which many readers entertain of wishing to know 'how it + ends.'" + + * * * * * + +MR. DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, of this city, one of the three commissioners who +prepared the amended Code of the State of New-York, abolishing the +distinction in procedure between law and equity, being in England for a +brief visit, was invited by the leading members of the Law Amendment +Society to give some account of the great changes effected here in the +administration of justice. He complied, and a meeting of the Society was +summoned specially to hear him. The result is much remarked upon in +nearly all the London journals. Mr. Field is a clear headed man, master +of his subject, perspicuous in his rhetoric, and distinct in his +elocution, so that our new constitution was most advantageously +displayed before his learned and critical hearers. The _Spectator_ says +of the subject: + + "The visit of Mr. Dudley Field to England, and his interesting + statements to the members of our Law Amendment Society, are + real events in the progress of law reform in this country. The + injustice which the English people submit to in the revered + name of Law, and in the sacred but in their case profaned name + of Equity, is more enormous than the future historian will be + able remotely to conceive. The keystone of the barbarous Gothic + portal to Justice in our common-law procedure was struck out + some twenty years ago, when the logical forms of legal contest + were reduced to their now moderate number; other heavy blows + have further undermined the ruin, and almost cleared away + whatever was feudal in that portion of the edifice; and then + came the raising of the new and noble portal of the County + Courts. Still, in all but the most trivial litigation the delay + and expense are such that justice can only be had at a + percentage utterly disgraceful to a nation either honest or + merely clearheaded and commercial. We still preserve a + diversity of tribunals, to administer laws that ought not to be + inharmonious; and we are prevented from making the laws + harmonious by the difficulties of finding tribunals able to + rule the concord and administer the whole field of law as a + single empire. In this case, as in a multitude of others, our + young relations across the Atlantic have done that which we + only longed to do. In this rivalry of nations, far above all + other rivalries, they have pushed development of institutions + which they received from forefathers common to us both, to a + more rapid perfection than we. Mr. Dudley Field is one of three + men who framed a constitutional law for the State of New York, + under which the courts of legal and equitable jurisdiction have + been successfully merged; the enactment has succeeded in + practical working; and the spectacle of "Equity swallowing up + Law" has been so edifying to the citizens of his State, that + three other States of the Union have resolved to enact, and + four further States have appointed conferences to deliberate + upon, a similar procedure. It is impossible--however + narrow-minded lawyers may object--that what Americans find + practicable and beneficial should be either impracticable or + disadvantageous to Englishmen." + + * * * * * + +A second part of the "Historical Collections of Louisiana," by B. F. +French, has been published by Mr. Putnam. It contains some interesting +papers, among which are translations of an original letter of Hernando +de Soto, on the Conquest of Florida, of a brief account of de Soto's +memorable expedition to Florida, from a recently discovered manuscript +by a writer named Biedma, and Hackluyt's translation of the longer +narrative "by a gentleman of Elvas." It is to be followed, we +understand, by a second volume. + + * * * * * + +ELIHU BURRITT is one of those people who are filled with the comfortable +assurance of their own greatness. He seems always to regard the mob of +men as very diminutive creatures, while his introverted glances are +through a lens which reveals a character of qualities and proportions +the most extraordinary. This is unfortunate. It renders Mr. Elihu +Burritt, _par excellence_, the bore of his generation. He is really a +person of very small abilities; of very little information, considering +the opportunities presented by his travels; and the "_learned_ +blacksmith" has no learning at all. He had, indeed, an unusual facility +in acquiring words, but he knows nothing of languages; not having in any +a particle of scholarship; of the philosophy, even of his mother tongue, +being as ignorant as the bellows-hand in his smithy at Worcester. But +because of this not uncommon faculty of acquiring words--acquiring them +as Zerah Colburn did a certain mastery of figures, without being able to +comprehend any principle of mathematics--Mr. Everett, or some one else, +advertised him as "learned," and ever since he has neglected his fit +vocation to crowd himself into conspicuous places, all over Christendom; +to blow continually his penny whistle in the ears of the little people +called philanthropists; to speak and write in addresses and letters +immense aggregations of ambitious platitudes, to pontiffs, emperors, +kings, parliaments, etc., respecting their particular affairs, all of +which addresses and letters are as cogent as the barkings sent by a +lap-dog toward the moon, and receive from all sorts of people, except +diminutives and impertinents whose profession is "philanthropy," just +about as much consideration as Dian yields to the fast-yelping cur. It +is all unfortunate, for poor Elihu Burritt will never be persuaded that +he is a subject of derision only, instead of admiration; that men pause +to regard him as a miracle of conceit and assurance rather than as a +prophet; and that his commonplaces about "olive leaves," "calumets," +"universal brotherhood," "fatherland," etc., have no more influence than +the maudlin rigmarole of the madman whose preternatural force is lost in +senility. It is time for Elihu Burritt to go back to his shop: the world +wants a new fool. + + * * * * * + +JOHN MILLS, remembered by some unfortunate New-Yorkers as John _St. +Hugh_ Mills, has written half a dozen tolerable novels since he went +home, and he is now publishing, in the _United Service Magazine_, a +series of papers illustrative of his American travels, in which he +illustrates his knowledge and veracity by certain anecdotes, which are +described as having occurred on "_the western prairies of Louisiana_." + + * * * * * + +PRESIDENT HITCHCOCK, of Amherst College, who is capable of a very +conclusive treatment of the subject, has in the press of Philips & +Sampson, a work on the connection of Geology and Religion. + + * * * * * + +DR. LATHAM'S very important work on the "Varieties of Man," we are glad +to hear is to be republished by the Appletons. Though much less +voluminous than the work of Pritchard, and therefore less particular +generally in its illustrations, it may be regarded as decidedly the most +masterly and satisfactory production that has yet appeared in ethnology. +The prospect of its republication affords us the more satisfaction, +because the superficial and flippant infidelity of Dr. Robert Knox has +been reproduced here by a respectable publishing house, and widely +diffused. The "Races of Man," by Dr. Knox, is what is called a clever +book; the Yankees might style it "smart;" but it is no more entitled to +consideration as an exhibition of scholarship, intellectual strength, or +fairness, than the rigmarole of the Millerite or the Mormon. + + * * * * * + +THE HOMOEOPATHIC REVIEW AND QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, is a +new periodical, commencing with the year, of which the general character +is indicated by the title. It is edited by Dr. Marcy, author of "The +Homoeopathic Theory and Practice," one of the most eminent scholars +and successful practitioners of the new school; Dr. Herring, of +Philadelphia, whose name is familiar to the students of German +literature and science, and who was one of the most trusted friends of +Hahnemann; and Dr. Metcalfe, who has been known as an able lawyer and +ingenious critic, and who is regarded as a very accomplished physician. +Under such direction, the Homoeopathic Review can hardly fail of +success. It will certainly, we think, commend the doctrines of the +Hahnemannists to the favorable consideration of all thoughtful readers, +and compel those who have been accustomed to deride the new principles +to a courteous treatment of them. Mr. Radde is the publisher. + + * * * * * + +The cheapness of good books and good editions is one of the wonders of +our time. American publishers have done much toward bringing literature +into the homes of the poor, but the cheap books manufactured in this +country have, for the most part, been badly printed, and in every +respect so wretchedly put together, that they were hardly worth +preserving after a first reading. The English are now competing +vigorously for the popular market here, and mainly, through the house of +Bangs & Brother of this city. Bohn and other great London publishers are +supplying us with well printed, well bound, and excellently illustrated +books, at prices altogether lower than those for which the American +manufacturers have offered or can afford them. To sell such a book as +_Lodge's Portrait Gallery_, in eight volumes, with all its finely +engraved heads, for ten dollars, one must have the world for a market; +and so with the long list of important writings in the compactly but +correctly and elegantly printed volumes of Bohn's Standard Library--the +best and cheapest popular series ever issued in any country. + + * * * * * + +Many very correct writers are very poor authors, and there are abundance +of good books with imperfect rhetoric; yet we have a right to ask some +attention to the details of style in a literary critic. Professor Henry +Reed has a delicate appreciation in poetry, but his remarks are nearly +always marred by verbal infelicities incompatible with a knowledge of +literary art. Thus, within a few pages of his Memoir of Gray, just +published, he says of Jacob Bryant, who has been dead a century, that +"he _has_ recorded;" that "Gray retained a high admiration of Dryden's +poetry, _as_ was strongly expressed," &c.; that an ode published in +1747, "being the first publication _of_ his English verse" (meaning his +first publication in English verse); that Gray could not "break through +the circumspection of so contracted a system of metaphysics _as that of +Locke's_;" that "it is apparent from what Gray _has_ done" (as if Gray +were now living, or present), &c. &c. &c. &c. &c., all through every +thing he publishes. Such things in a professor of mathematics would +attract no attention, but they will be observed in a "Professor of +English Literature." + + * * * * * + +Mr. BANCROFT is not, as we were led by some newspaper to state in the +_International_, engaged in printing his History of the Revolution; and +when he does give it to the press, it is by no means likely that he will +have to leave New-York to find a publisher for it. The History of the +Colonization of America--introductory to the History of the United +States--has secured for Mr. Bancroft a place among the greatest +historians; he has now the assurance that he is writing for other ages; +and he will not endanger his fame, nor fail of the utmost perfection in +his work, for any needless haste. This second part of his History will +probably occupy five volumes; and although the story has been written by +many hands, with more or less fulness and various degrees of justice, +Mr. Bancroft will have studied it from beginning to end in the original +materials, of which his collection is by far the best that has ever been +made. If upon this field any one successfully competes with him for the +historic wreath, he must come after him, and be guided by his light. + + * * * * * + +HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT, LL. D., is occupied, as his official duties +permit, in the composition of memoirs of his long and honorably +distinguished life. His great work upon the History and Condition of the +Indians, now in press, and to be published in some half-dozen splendid +quarto volumes by Lippencott, Grambo & Co., of Philadelphia, will +contain the fruits of his observations in that department which he has +made so peculiarly his own, and upon which he will always be the chief +and highest authority; but his personal adventures, and his +reminiscences of his contemporaries, will form the subject of this +additional performance. + + * * * * * + +DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON, the father of the Protestant Episcopal Church in +Connecticut, and the first President of King's College, now Columbia +College, in New-York, was one of the most interesting characters in our +social history. His abilities, learning, activity, and influence, +entitle him to be ranked in the class of Franklin (who was his friend +and correspondent, and who printed, at his press in Philadelphia, +several of his works), as a promoter of the highest civilization in the +colonies. Except the Memoirs of Franklin, we have hitherto had no more +attractive specimen of biography than the book known as Dr. Chandler's +Life of Dr. Johnson. Franklin's Memoirs, it is well known, never came +before the public in the form in which they were written, until a few +years ago, and it has lately been discovered that Dr. Johnson's had +suffered a similar disadvantage. Dr. Johnson amused himself in his old +age by writing recollections of his life and times, which, after his +death, were placed in the hands of Dr. Chandler, who changed them from +the first to the third person, omitted many particulars which he did not +deem it expedient to publish, and added others which the modesty of Dr. +Johnson had not allowed him to write. The book thus made by Dr. Chandler +was printed by his son-in-law, the late Bishop Hobart, who probably was +not aware of its origin. But Dr. Johnson's MS. has now been discovered, +and it will immediately be given to the public, under the supervision of +the Rev. Mr. Pitkin, of Connecticut, who is adding to it many notes and +illustrative documents. It is very much to be regretted that so little +of the extensive correspondence of Dr. Johnson with the chief persons of +his time in the literary and the religious world abroad, has been +preserved; but the book will contain numerous letters by his more +eminent contemporaries which have not appeared elsewhere. + + * * * * * + +Somebody has made the "discovery" that General Charles Lee, of the +revolutionary army, was not unwilling to be considered the author of +"Junius;" and two or three of our contemporaries have been busy with the +subject of the internal and other evidence in the case. These critics +are about as wise as the editor of an evening paper who published one of +the old Washington forgeries, lately, as an important historical +document. It was "characteristic," that the chief wrote so familiarly to +his wife of affairs! In the same way, the history of the _Book of +Mormon_ (originally composed as a religious novel by the Rev. Solomon +Spaulding), appears as a curious and altogether new exposure! We shall +not be surprised if the same journals advise us that Walter Scott wrote +the Waverley Novels. + + * * * * * + +EMILIE GIRARDIN has a new book _L'Abolition de la Misere_, in which he +proposes the entire abolition of suffering. He has "found the +philosopher's stone." + + * * * * * + +Somebody is writing for the _United Service_, "Reminiscences of a Voyage +to Canada," and we have looked into a couple of his chapters to see what +sort of stuff, respecting America, is thus submitted to the officers of +her Majesty's Army and Navy. The style of a fellow who talks of his +"fellow countrymen" (not meaning, as the words do, persons who live with +him in rural neighborhoods), is scarcely deserving of criticism; but the +silliness of the falsehoods of this latest English traveller among us, +may be referred to as illustrating the causes of the common prejudices +in England against the United States. After describing his arrival at +the Tremont House, in Boston, he says: + + "A clerk [meaning our old friend Parker], dressed in the height + of fashion, presided at the bar [meaning the office] at which + we applied for rooms, wherein to perform our duties of the + toilet. The one to which I was directed contained several beds + without curtains, from which the occupants had evidently but a + short time previously taken their departure. This was however a + matter of indifference, as I imagined the apartment would have + been entirely at my own disposal. In the course of a few + minutes however, the door was opened, and in walked an + individual, who, depositing a small carpet bag on the floor, + commenced operations of a similar nature to those I myself was + engaged in--not a word was at first exchanged between us; he + eyed me critically, I returned the compliment, till at length I + was favored with 'Stranger, I guess you are from Europe' (a + strong accent on the last syllable), immediately followed by + questions as to where I was going, what was my business, &c. + This was somewhat amusing, so I informed my gentleman I was + journeying to New-York, whereupon he told me I should see an + 'almighty fine city.' His curiosity being next attracted by my + portmanteau, which was lying open on a chair, he strode up and + peered into it most attentively. Thinking I might as well + follow his example, I did the same by his carpet bag; whereupon + giving a grunt of dissatisfaction, he collected his valuables + and soon after took himself off." + +Thirty years ago, the Duke of Saxe Weimar published a western story of a +coachman who said, "I am the gentleman what's to drive you." Our very +original _United Service_ tourist tells of a visit to Mount Auburn, and +adds: + + "Whilst driving back to the hotel I happened to remark, 'That + is the _man_ who drove us from the steamer in the morning.' + Upon which 'Jehu' quickly replied, 'I reckon I'm the + _gentleman_ that drove you.' This information was received on + our part with all the respect due to the elevated rank of our + charioteer." + +In a paragraph about luggage: + + "The American trunk is a ponderous solid affair made of wood, + secured with braces of iron, studded with brass or iron nails, + and usually having the name or initials of the owner, and + frequently the state of which he is a native, painted on it in + large white letters. Owing to this custom, the traveller is + liable to be addressed by any peculiarity appertaining to his + trunk being affixed thereto. Thus a gentleman passing through + the states, found himself designated as 'Mr. Air Tight,' + because this simple term was marked on the outside of a + tin-box, and no affirmations on his part could induce the + bystanders to believe to the contrary. They 'reckoned it was on + his box,' and that was sufficient." + +Of the personal appearance of the Americans: + + "To a stranger newly arrived from England, the absence of fresh + complexions and of bright and cheerful faces among the male + part of the creation is very striking. They are gaunt, sallow, + cadaverous looking creatures; their general, far from + prepossessing, appearance, in no way improved by the habit of + wearing long, straight hair, combed entirely off the face, the + bare throat, the never absent 'quid,' and that abominably nasty + habit of constant expectoration." + +And this trash is from one of the most reputable periodicals published +in London--the one of all most especially addressed to _gentlemen_. + +In the next number of his "Reminiscences" the author promises a sketch +of the city of New-York, for which his authority will probably be Mrs. +Trolloppe, Mr. Joseph Miller, and the last pick-pocket who went home to +London. + + * * * * * + +The "Peace Congress," in which we have most faith--the only one that is +likely to exert any very desirable influence, is that to assemble next +year in Hyde Park. This will be a display of works rather than one of +words; and _apropos_ of its lingual character, which will show very +conclusively that as yet "all the nations of the earth" are not "as one +people," we find in _The Leader_ this paragraph: + +"The Exhibition of 1851, seems to promise a whole literature of its own. +Journals are already established for the record of its proceedings. +Useful information will be at a premium--unless there should happen to +be a "glut;" while in the shape of translations and dialogue-books, +every facility will be offered to foreigners. What a Babel it will be! +How the English ear will be rasped by Slavonic and Teutonic gutturals, +or distended by the breadth of Southern vowels. It will be a marvel if +this incursion of barbarians do not very much affect the purity of our +own tongue, and damage the tender susceptibility of the London ear, +already so delicate that when an actor says--as it _sometimes_ +happens--"_Donnar Elvirar_ is coming," the whole audience rises in a +mass to protest against the outrages on taste. We are told the Athenians +were also merciless critics in such matters. Nay, there is a famous +anecdote perpetually cited as an illustration of Athenian delicacy in +matters of pronunciation, that Theophrastus was known to be a foreigner +even by a herbseller. People who wonder at every thing recorded of the +Greeks, will regard us probably as reckless iconoclasts if we break that +by a stone flung from common sense; but really, with the daily +experience of Scotchmen and Irishmen before us, we must say the most +wonderful part of the anecdote is, that it should have been recorded. +Theophrastus came from Lesbos--if we remember rightly--and his +pronunciation, therefore, naturally preserved some of the Lesbian +flavor, as Carlyle's does that of Annandale. Would any critic compliment +the cockney on delicacy of ear because it detects the accent of Carlyle, +or Sheridan Knowles, to be other than its own true London accent? Yet, +this is precisely what critics do with respect to the Athenians." + + * * * * * + +MILTON, BURKE, MAZZINI, and DANIEL WEBSTER, present the most +extraordinary examples of the harmonious and effective combination of +political and literary genius, that have appeared in modern times. There +have been and there are now many politicians who are eminent as authors: +but these are preeminently great in both statesmanship and letters. +Mazzini is now the chief apostle of republicanism in Europe, as Milton +was in the time of the Protector. He devises and executes the schemes +which promise advances of liberty and happiness, and he is equal to the +defence with the pen of every thing he essays in affairs. "Young Italy," +since it was put down by French bayonets, has had as little quarter from +parasite writers as from patristic governors; but Mazzini has come to +her defence with as vigorous a pen as that with which Milton vindicated +the people of England against the hireling Salmasius, under similar +circumstances. In another part of this number of the _International_, we +have copied from the London _Examiner_ a reviewal of Mazzini's work on +the Italian revolution. We should be glad to see it criticised by Mr. +Walsh also, or by Professor Bowen, in his _North American Review_. + + * * * * * + +Since SIR FRANCIS HEAD went home from Canada, and finished the last +edition of his "Bubbles" and "Travels," and the funny anathema of poor +Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie, in the _Times_, he has been very quiet, +except now and then, when he has given an explosive and amusing paper in +the _Quarterly_. But now he has published a new book, on "The +Defenceless State of Great Britain," in which, the _Examiner_ says "he +has made up for lost time." Says the critic, "It is calculated to rouse +all the old women in the country. Such a fee-fa-fum of a book we never +read. The Duke's letter to Sir John Burgoyne was nothing to it, and it +beats even Lord Ellesmere hollow." The baronet thinks every thing +portends a French invasion, and he advocates the largest "war footing." + + * * * * * + +The REV. DR. BLOOMFIELD, whose edition of the Greek Testament is so well +known in this country, has just published two volumes of additional +Notes, critical, philological, and explanatory, in fulfilment of a +promise made in the third edition of his New Testament, in 1839. This +promise was, that he would make no further change in the notes to the +New Testament, but reserve all additions for a separate supplementary +work. That work, after the direct labor of eleven years, is now +published; forming a companion to all the editions of Bloomfield's Greek +Testament except the first two. The annotations relate to a critical +examination of the readings of the text, with the reasons for that +selected, philological notes on the meaning of words, and exegetical +annotations on the verbal interpretations of passages. + + * * * * * + +MR. COOPER has a new book in press which, in New-York, will produce a +profounder sensation, than any he has yet written. It is entitled "The +Men of Manhattan," and reveals the social condition of the city, past +and present, as it is known only to the author of "The Littlepage +Manuscripts." Mr. Cooper is a thorough New-Yorker; he is intimately +acquainted with all the sources of her past and present and prospective +greatness; and he has watched, with such emotions as none but a +gentleman of the old school can feel, the infusion and gradual diffusion +of those principles of plebeianism and ruffianism, from discontented +improvidence, immigration, and other causes, which threaten to destroy +whatever has justified the wisest pride; and to sink--not raise--all the +mob of people to a common level. He has his whims, and though they have +won for him little popularity, we regret that they are not shared more +largely by the public, which will never appreciate his merits as a +censor, until the best features of our civilization are quite +obliterated. + + * * * * * + +MR. JUDD, the author of "Margaret," an original, indigenous, striking, +and in many respects brilliant New-England story, and of "Philo," a +crude, extravagant, ridiculous mass of versified verbiage, has lately +published (through Phillips & Sampson, of Boston,) a new work entitled +"Richard Edney, or the Governor's Family; a Rus-Urban Tale, simple and +popular, yet cultured and noble, of morals, sentiment and life." It is +worthy of the author of "Margaret." Though it evinces very little of the +constructive faculty, it illustrates in every page a quick and +intelligent observation, a happy talent for characterization, and great +independence in speculation. + + * * * * * + +Mr. C. P. CASTANIS, formerly known in this country as an agreeable +lecturer upon various subjects connected with Modern Greece, has just +published (through Lippencott, Grambo & Co., of Philadelphia), a +narrative of his captivity and escape during the massacre by the Turks +on the Island of Scio, together with various adventures in Greece and +America. + + * * * * * + +MR. E. G. SQUIER, whose large work upon American antiquities, published +by the Smithsonian Institute, made for him a most desirable reputation, +is now engaged in the preparation of an elaborate work upon the remains +of ancient civilization in Central America, to contain the results of +investigations during his recent official residence there. + + * * * * * + +NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S new work, "The House of Seven Gables," is in the +press of Ticknor, Reed & Fields, of Boston. + + * * * * * + +MISS FENIMORE COOPER, whose beautiful work entitled "Rural Hours in +America" has been so much and so justly applauded, has a new volume in +the press of Putnam. + + * * * * * + +In the new novel of "Olive," republished by the Harpers, (which is much +praised by the London critics), the heroine, who has a lofty, noble +nature, full of poetic feeling and enthusiasm for art, determines to +devote herself to its study, urged on by a desire of liquidating a debt +contracted by her father. _Apropos_ of the purpose of her life, and the +sphere of her sex: + + "She became an artist--not in a week, a month, a year. Art + exacts of its votaries no less service than a lifetime. But in + her girl's soul the right chord had been touched, which began + to vibrate into noble music, the true seed had been sown, which + day by day grew into a goodly plant. Vanbrugh had said truly, + that genius is of no sex; and he had said likewise truly, that + no woman can be an artist--that is, a great artist. The + hierarchies of the soul's dominion belong only to man, and it + is right they should. He it was whom God created first, let him + take pre-eminence. But among those stars of lesser glory, which + are given to lighten the nations, among sweet-voiced poets, + earnest prose writers, who, by lofty truth that lies hid + beneath legend and parable, purify the world, graceful painters + and beautiful musicians, each brightening their generation with + serene and holy lustre--among these, let woman shine! But her + sphere is, and ever must be, bounded; because, however lofty + her genius may be, it always dwells in a woman's breast. + Nature, which gave to man the dominion of the intellect, gave + to her that of the heart and affections. These bind her with + everlasting links from which she cannot free herself,--nay, she + would not if she could. Herein man has the advantage. He, + strong in his might of intellect, can make it his all in all, + his life's sole aim and guerdon. A Brutus, for that ambition + which is misnamed patriotism, can trample on all human ties. A + Michael Angelo can stand alone with his genius, and so go + sternly down into a desolate old age. But there scarce ever + lived the woman who would not rather sit meekly by her own + hearth, with her husband at her side, and her children at her + knee, than be the crowned Corinne of the Capitol. + + "Thus woman, seeking to strive with man, is made feebler by the + very spirit of love which in her own sphere is her chiefest + strength. But sometimes chance, or circumstance, or wrong, + sealing up her woman's nature, converts her into a + self-dependant human soul. Instead of life's sweetness, she has + before her life's greatness. The struggle passed, her genius + may lift itself upward, expand and grow mighty; never so mighty + as man's, but still great and glorious. Then, even while she + walks over the world's rough pathway, heaven's glory may rest + upon her up-turned brow, and she may become a light unto her + generation." + + * * * * * + +DAUTZENBERG, a Flemish poet, has issued at Brussels a volume of small +compositions, which, apart from freshness of fancy and beauty of +thought, are remarkable for the correctness and smoothness of their +form. The Flemish tongue is used by him with a lyrical success that +would reflect honor on a writer in the more melodious dialects of +Southern Europe. He has also licked that jaw-cracking tongue so far into +shape, that it serves for regular hexameters. + + * * * * * + +MISS STRICKLAND'S LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND, republished by Lea & +Blanchard of Philadelphia, in ten or twelve volumes, is a work of very +great interest and value, for its illustrations of the higher and +progressive British civilization. Her Lives of the Queens of Scotland, +soon to be issued from the press of the Harpers, resembles generally her +former work, by the success of which it was probably suggested, as much +as by the desirableness of the biographies of the Northern Queens, as +"adjuncts" to the lives of those of England. A good deal of matter was +collected in reference to the later Queens of Scotland during the +biographer's researches for the Queens of England; and this, augmented +by further inquiries among public and private archives, especially among +the muniment-chests of noble Scottish families, forms the materials of +the present undertaking. The "lives" do not begin till the Tudor times, +when the nearer relationship with England imparts a greater interest to +the subject, not only from the closer communication between the courts, +but from the prospects of the Scottish succession to the English crown. + + * * * * * + +JOHN S. DWIGHT, of Boston, has recently delivered an admirable lecture +before the Mercantile Library Association of this city, on "Operatic +Music," illustrated by a critical examination of Rossini's _Don +Giovanni_. Mr. Dwight's rare musical learning and accomplishments, his +exquisite taste in art, and his remarkable felicity of expression, were +displayed to singular advantage in this masterly lecture, and won the +cordial applauses of the most appreciative critics in his large and +highly intelligent audience. + + * * * * * + +A History of the Greek Revolution is soon to be given to the public by +Baron PROKESH OSTEN, who for many years was Austrian ambassador at +Athens, and who now fills the same office at Berlin. Of course his book +will be published at Vienna. + + * * * * * + +A NEW EDITION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF GOeETHE, in thirty volumes (it +would look much better and be far more convenient in fifteen), is +advertised in Berlin. Two volumes are ready, and the whole are to be +issued before the close of 1851. + + * * * * * + +W. G. SIMMS, LL. D., is referred to in the _Southern Literary Gazette_ +as having delivered in Charleston lately an elaborate poem entitled "The +City of the Silent," on the occasion of the consecration of a beautiful +rural cemetery near that city. + + * * * * * + +DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES is writing a biographical sketch of the late +Dr. Parkman, to form a part of a work called "The Benefactors of the +Medical School of Harvard University," of which the poet is himself one +of the professors. + + * * * * * + +PIERRE DUPONT, the Parisian Socialist poet, has lately issued a new book +containing six songs that have not before been published. Dupont is as +much a favorite with the people as Beranger, and though he does not +equal the latter in originality of fancy and gayety of spirit, he even +excels him in revolutionary point and enthusiasm. His songs are heard in +every workshop and at every popular banquet, their words and music are +universally familiar, and when the clubs were permitted, each meeting +was opened and closed with a song of Dupont's, the whole audience +joining in the chorus. This was done instinctively and without previous +arrangement. It often happened, too, that after some orator had +delivered an ardent speech, Dupont would appear at the tribune with a +new song which he had composed on the inspiration of the moment. Now +each new political event is sure of a response from this poet; one of +his late productions is the _Chant du Vote_ (vote song), in which he +denounces the attempt of the Government to destroy universal suffrage. +Perhaps his most powerful production is the _Marsellaise of Hunger_; the +hold this has taken on the public may be judged from the fact, that when +at the theatre of the Porte St. Martin a piece was performed, called +_Misery_, founded on incidents in the Irish famine, when the curtain +went down at the end of the first act, the beholders spontaneously set +up this song. So in the same theatre, when the piece representing the +downfall of Rome was performed (this piece afterwards became famous +through its prohibition by the Government), one of the spectators in the +pit began the chorus of Dupont's Soldier's Song: + + "Les peuples sont pour nous des freres + Et les tyrans des ennemis," + +the whole house joined in, and the performance had to be interrupted +till the song was ended. The _Chant des Transportes_ wherever it is +heard moves the people to tears and indignation. The Peasant's Song +prophecies the time when independent industry shall render the earth +blooming with fertility, and the corn and wine shall "be free as warmth +in summer weather." While the majority of his poems are political and +social, some of them are full of love and appreciation of outward +nature. In one, the Romance of the Poplar, this sentiment is finely +combined with the spirit of liberty. + + * * * * * + +ARAGO'S great work, which was some time since announced in the +_International_, is now nearly complete and will soon be given to the +public. The scientific and literary world of Europe expect it with +impatience. It is said even that Alexander von Humboldt intends to be +its translator into German, but this is not probable. It is also rumored +that the author gives an appendix in which he for the moment abandons +science for politics, in order to pay off some of the attacks he has +suffered from Proudhon. Our own opinion is that he had better stick to +his trade and leave Proudhon alone. + + * * * * * + +CHARLES SUMNER has published (through Ticknor, Reed & Fields of Boston,) +two volumes of his "Orations and Addresses." Mr. Sumner is a scholar of +the finest and rarest capacities and accomplishments. He is of the +school of Everett, but has more earnestness, and consequently more +compactness of expression, and more force. He enters heartily into all +the 'progressive' movements of the day, and is of many the intellectual +leader. His bravery is equal to every emergency into which he may be led +by a search after truth, and to all combats he brings arms of the truest +metal and most exquisite polish. There are in New-England many more +fervid and powerful orators, but we know of none whose orations are +delivered with a more pleasing eloquence. We have not leisure now to +review Mr. Sumner's volumes; but if among our readers there are any who +desire to see displayed the "very form and spirit" of the new age, we +commend them to "The True Grandeur of Nations," and the other +discourses, speeches, and essays, here published. + + * * * * * + +"THE MANHATTANER IN NEW-ORLEANS" is the title of a small volume, from +the press of J. S. Redfield, which was written by an accomplished +New-York lawyer who had resided some time in the Crescent City. It is a +very graphic and delightful picture of the social life of the metropolis +of the South; betraying a quick insight, a genial appreciation of what +is manly, and fairness in regard to every thing. We have had need of +such a book, for hitherto we northerners have generally known less of +our southern neighbors than even Professor Bowen knew of the Hungarians, +before Mrs. Putnam enlightened him. We are sorry that Mr. Hall, to whom +we are indebted for "The Manhattaner in New-Orleans," intimates that it +is the last book for the preparation of which he will ever have +withdrawn his attention from the law. + + * * * * * + +"ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING, MARGARET FULLER D'OSSOLI AND GEORGE SAND," +is the title of an article in which the characters and genius of these +three remarkable women is discussed, in the last number of _The +Palladium_, a new English monthly. + + * * * * * + +IKE MARVEL'S "Reveries of a Bachelor," (printed by Baker & Scribner), +appears to be the "book of the season." All the critics praise it as one +of the choicest specimens of half-romance and half-essay, that has +appeared in our time. But for ourselves--we have not read it. + + * * * * * + +The subject of "Junius" is again discussed in "Junius and his Works, +Compared with the character and Writings of the Earl of Chesterfield," +by W. Cramp, just published in London. + + * * * * * + +PARKE GODWIN'S beautiful story of "Vala," suggested by the career of +Jenny Lind, has been issued in a luxurious quarto, by Putnam. + + + + +The Fine Arts. + + +GIFT FROM THE BAVARIAN ARTISTS TO KING LOUIS.--The artists and artisans +of Munich have combined to make to ex-King Louis of Bavaria a gift such +as monarchs have not often received. It consists of a writing-desk and +album. The desk is of oak varnished, adorned with rich carving, and with +locks and the Bavarian arms in gilt bronze enamel. The carving contains +the most charming figures representing the various arts and trades. The +album is bound in crimson velvet, the clasps and ornaments of gilt +bronze. On the outside is a medallion, designed by Widnmann, set in +brilliants, representing King Louis surrounded by artists. A smaller +medallion stands in each corner, one representing architects with plans +and models by Hautman; sculptors and bronze workers with the statue of +Bavaria, by Halbig; historic painters by Esseling; and landscape and +genre painters by Widnmann. Between the two upper medallions is a rich +ornament with the arms of the four tribes of Bavaria in enamel, and the +inscription "Louis I. King of Bavaria:" between the lower medallions is +a similar ornament with "The German Artists, A. D. 1850." All the +ornaments are in the old German style of the fifteenth century. In the +Album are 177 sheets, each containing a contribution from some artist. +The title-page is by Esseling. Kaulbach has a drawing of unusual +freshness and beauty, representing the King calling to new life, at +Rome, the neglected art of Germany. But we have not space to speak of +the works of individual artists in this remarkable collection. It is +enough to say that every distinguished painter and sculptor in Germany +is represented in it. + + * * * * * + +CHARLES EASTLAKE has been chosen _President of the Royal Academy_, and +the Queen has made him a knight. Sir Charles Eastlake is in some +respects a great painter, and he has produced many works which evince +very remarkable talents. Among the few pictures by him which evince +_genius_, is that owned by Mr. Henry Carey Baird, of Philadelphia, of +"Hagar and Ishmael." He has done something in literature, and from his +own account of himself we quote, that, like Haydon, he was born at +Plymouth, a soil congenial to art, for in its environs was also the +birth-place of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Like Rembrandt, Reynolds, and so +many before them, Eastlake showed an early aversion to the Latin +Grammar. He fled the Charter-house school; and a glimpse of Haydon's +picture of "The Dentatus," which was at that period exhibited at +Plymouth, made him a painter. After studying in the Academy two years, +under Fuseli, he produced "The Raising of Jairus's Daughter." This won +him a patron, in Mr. Harman, by whom he was commissioned to make studies +of the miracles of art, at that time collected in the Louvre by +Napoleon. Here also Lawrence, Haydon, Wilkie, and we believe Allston +also, came at this time to study. In the Louvre Eastlake made his first +acquaintance with the wonders of Roman art. But the pleasant task of +copying these old masters was relinquished on the sudden return of +Napoleon from Elba. At a not much later period, the fallen hero became +himself the subject of his pencil. Eastlake made a sketch of the +ex-Emperor as he appeared from the gangway of the Bellerophon, when at +anchor in Plymouth roads, interesting as the last delineation of a noble +visage, then untinged with chagrin. In 1817 and 1819 he visited Italy +and Greece, rather stirring up their living treasures than measuring +antiquity with the inch rule of the archaeologist. Nor yet did Eastlake +confine himself to the external forms of art and nature; he then laid +the foundation of that intimate knowledge of the arts, be they called +formative, architectural, plastic, or pictorial, the able elucidation of +which renders his writings so valuable. Thus, whilst all the technical +skill of ancient colorists is found in his style of painting, all the +principles on which Dutch and Venetian masters proceeded are found in +his writings. Those who reflect on the unceasing labors of the Secretary +of the Fine Art Commission, will be rather inclined to believe that the +title of President was alone wanting to render Eastlake the legitimate +leader of art in England. We need only mention his translation of +Goeethe's "Theory of Colors," the "Notes to Kugler," and the "Materials +for a History of Oil Painting." + + * * * * * + +NEW PICTURE BY KAULBACH. The King of Bavaria has ordered from Kaulbach a +picture some twenty feet high, to represent the Apotheosis of a Good +Prince. The lucky potentate is to be painted rising from the tomb, and +conducted up to heaven by attending angels, where the Saviour, enthroned +between the cherubim of Power and Justice, receives him with open arms. +The purple mantle and crown, the signs and adornments of earthly might, +sink from the transfigured monarch upon the tomb, around which the Seven +Works of Mercy bear witness for him, while the Seven Deadly Sins lie +under the earth asleep and in chains. The idea of the composition was +suggested by the King. Kaulbach has advanced so far with its execution +that the cartoon is nearly completed. + + * * * * * + +THE ROYAL RUSSIAN PORCELAIN MANUFACTORY, at Berlin, is known over the +world for the elegance and excellence of its productions; most of the +porcelain transparencies which are so common in all countries, and so +much admired, are from this source. An honorary council has just been +named to have the supervision of the artistic department of the +institution. Among its members, are the eminent painter CORNELIUS, the +sculptor RAUCH, and the architect HULER. + + * * * * * + +Mr. HEALEY, according to a letter by Mr. Walsh in the _Journal of +Commerce_, is proceeding rapidly in Paris with his picture of the +American Senate, during the debate so famous for the passages between +Mr. Webster and Col. Hayne. Mr. Healey is said to be a very worthy +person, and it is to be regretted that his skill and genius are not +equal to his morals, in which case we might not despair of his producing +a work not altogether unworthy of this subject. Some accident introduced +Mr. Healey to the late King of the French, who gave him various orders, +the reception of which was so noticed in the journals as to be of the +greatest possible advantage to him. He was suddenly elevated in the +common opinion to the condition of the first rank of artists. But he is +really a painter of very ordinary capacities. We have probably some +hundreds who are very much superior to him. It is impossible to point to +even _one_ portrait by him that is remarkable for any excellence; and +all his fame rests, rather than upon his productions, upon his having +received orders from Louis Philippe. We remember the general surprise +with which groups of his portraits, displayed in the rotunda of the +capitol, were viewed by critics. The "study" of Daniel Webster, upon +whose every feature God has set the visible stamp of greatness, was +among them, and it looked like the prim keeper of the accounts in a +respectable grocery-store. So of all the rest. Men sat to him from +deference to the wishes of the King, but every body felt that he was not +an artist. Accidents and newspapers may confer a transient reputation, +but they can endow no one with abilities; and to espouse the cause of +newspapers against the cause of nature is a grievous wrong, in the end, +to both newspapers and nature. + + * * * * * + +AN ELEGANT work of much value to the students of modern art has lately +appeared at Berlin, under the title of _Rimische Studien_ (Roman +Studies), from the pen of VON KESTNER, a diplomatist by profession. The +author, who by the way is a son of the famous CHARLOTTE, the heroine of +Goeethe's "Werther," dwells with the utmost partiality on these German +artists, who have developed their talents by long and intimate +acquaintance with Roman art, and who are now at work in the fatherland. +To the productions of "Cornelius," he devotes a great deal of space. The +special purpose of the work, as the author says in his preface, is to +glorify Germany in the great creations of its artists. + + * * * * * + +THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY of Paris, at one of its recent concerts, gave a +piece of original Russian music, called the "Song of the Cherubim," by +BORTNIANSKY, a composer who has written a good deal for the Imperial +Chapel at St. Petersburg. It is a chorus without accompaniment, and is +spoken of by the critics as most original and striking, in fact unlike +any thing familiar to Western or Southern ears. We can easily conceive +of a peculiar style of music being produced from the bosom of the Greek +Church. Those who have heard the melancholy and touching, half-barbaric +music usually employed in its ritual, will not be surprised that out of +it there should arise a quite new order of compositions. + + * * * * * + +THE GOeETHE'S INHERITANCE--an extensive collection of models, engravings, +sculptures, carvings, gems, minerals, fossils, original drawings, &c., +collected by the great poet,--is to be sold at Weimar, for the benefit +of his heirs, two grandsons. A _catalogue raisonnee_ has been published +by Fromman, at Jena, and it makes a very interesting book. It is +suggested in the _Art-Journal_ for December, that if the collection were +distributed in separate lots, in America, or England, or Germany, the +heirs would realize three or four times as much as they will by a single +sale for the whole, which they have determined upon. Letters upon the +subject may be addressed to Baron Walther Von Goethe, at Vienna. + + * * * * * + +The author of the following remarks on ART-UNIONS, is an eminent artist, +whose name has never been associated with any discussions of these +Institutions, or with any controversies connected with them, and he has +not, we believe, since the foundation of the first Art-Union in America, +had any production of his own in the market. + + +ART-UNIONS: THEIR TRUE CHARACTER CONSIDERED. + +ART-UNIONS, and their management, have recently attracted much attention +in this country, if we may judge from the numerous articles on the +subject which have appeared in some of the most reputable journals. It +is now about ten years since the first Art-Union was established in this +city. Others, in various sections, have followed, and all, whatever +their peculiarities, have been more or less successful in their chief +objects. + +Now it is reasonable to suppose, that the result of these ten years' +efforts to promote the cultivation of the Fine Arts among us, should +furnish some evidence of their capabilities for the accomplishment of so +worthy and so great a work. The whole subject of their usefulness +resolves itself into the following queries: + +I. Has any person of decided genius, who was unknown, friendless, and in +need, been sought out by them, assisted, encouraged, and at last added +to the effective number of artists who are profitably employed among us? + +II. Have those artists who have received the larger share of the +patronage of these institutions, shown by their works a corresponding +advance in the knowledge and love of excellence and truth in art? + +III. Have they furnished any peculiar advantages to artists, as a body, +by supplying the means of their improvement, in a free access to books, +casts, pictures, or good engravings? + +IV. Do Art-Unions promote the interests and reward the labors of those +who are most eminently deserving? + +V. Do they elevate the pursuit of art, in the minds of the people, and +teach them its value, by distributing to them, in return for their +subscriptions, _only_ the best specimens which they can purchase from +the studios of our artists? + +VI. Are there a dozen well known artists who will openly testify to a +conviction of their usefulness? + +It is believed by many that an affirmative response cannot be given to +these questions; and if not, then the subject of their influence need be +no longer discussed. + +It is not my intention, nor my desire, to inquire into the _management_ +of these institutions. It is only at the system itself that I wish to +direct the attention of the reader. If it is proved that, as a system, +this is not calculated to elevate and enlarge the sphere of the arts, +but on the contrary, that its tendency is to degrade and stifle all that +is lovely and desirable in their pursuit, then there will be no need of +troubling ourselves with the lower and baser subject of management; for +there is no bad system, which, by any method, can be managed into a good +one, and satisfy the just demands of those whose interests it professes +to hold in its keeping. + +Numbers rather than quality seem to govern the Art-Unions in their +purchases of works, that they may give to subscribers a greater number +of _chances_ to draw something for their money, and thus encourage them +to future _patronage_. This is the principle on which all lotteries +live: and when we come to sift the matter to the bottom, we cannot but +acknowledge that Art-Unions are nothing else but lotteries, under +another and more popular name. Both exist ostensibly for the good of +others, who in reality are but the dupes of a most deceitful and vicious +system, against which every good citizen should indignantly turn his +face. It cannot be justly said in defence of Art-Unions, that they spend +more money for art than was ever done in the same period of time, nor +that they have distributed works amongst a class of people who never +thought of giving money for such things before. They must first prove +that this great amount of money which they have collected, has been +spent _judiciously_, for the benefit of deserving and meritorious +artists, and that the works distributed are such as to elevate the +judgment and enlarge the feelings in relation to art, among those who +may have received them. + +It is for the interest of lotteries to offer some very large and +valuable prizes at the head of their list, to attract the attention of +the public, and thus to sell their tickets. + +Similar means are adopted by Art-Unions to increase their subscription +lists, which show that the system is _managed_ in the most efficient +manner. Those who can look back fifteen and twenty years, will remember +that our country was literally flooded with the bulletin boards of +lotteries, printed in the most gaudy and attractive colors, showing a +brilliant schedule of prizes, and pledging almost certain wealth to all +who would venture their money on the "grand scheme." They will also call +to mind how many a victim there was to this deceptive and depraved +system of legal fraud, until it became so injurious to the public +morals, that Legislatures were forced to hurl the bolts of the law +against them, in all parts of the United States, and so put an end to +their iniquity. Lotteries have been justly prohibited by wise +governments, because they attract men from legitimate pursuits, into the +speculative, uncertain, and, morally, illegitimate pursuit of fortune. +The case is similar in its results to that of Art-Unions. They attract +many from a calling for which their talents have fitted them, into a +sphere so much above their natural powers, that they must in time fall +back, victims to vanity and love of gain, into a lower plane of life +perhaps, than that they once happily occupied. The effect of these +Unions is seen rather in the great number of persons of mediocre +abilities they have _encouraged_ to enter upon the cultivation of art, +than in the bringing forth greater powers and excellence in those whose +undoubted genius is apparent to the world. + +It was remarked by Carlyle, that our modern intellect is of the spavined +kind, "all action and no go;" and so it appears to be in regard to the +efforts that are being made to "promote the interests of art," in this +country. Art-Unions have been active enough, for many years, and have +possessed themselves of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and yet it is +"no go;" the interests of art still lie gasping, without much hope of a +change for the better. There is a great display made every year in the +"distribution of prizes," and every means used to gain public +confidence, by holding up the names of the most respectable citizens as +guarantees that nothing under their control can go wrong; and by issuing +bulletins in which is proved, by figures, the flourishing state of the +institution, and consequently of the beautiful arts; yet in spite of all +this, the great mass of common-sense minds and of true lovers of art, +heretics that they are, go away and exclaim, "Well, after all it's 'no +go,' the works distributed are no better than those of last year, and we +are really afraid there are no hopes for the arts in this country, so +long as no other plan is adopted for their improvement." + +Some of the petty states in Germany and in southern Europe obtain a +large revenue from lotteries, which are entirely under the control of +the crown, and are hence commonly called "Royal," or "Imperial." The +prizes are comparatively small, but the tickets are fixed at such a very +low sum, say from ten to twenty cents, that they come within the reach +of the poorest inhabitants. The consequence is that nearly all persons +who are ignorant of the scheme which the Government has laid to tax +them, spend more or less every year for lottery tickets. We have known +persons who, under the excitement produced by these plans for rapidly +gaining fortunes, have pawned the last blanket from their beds, to +obtain the means of purchasing a ticket. At every drawing of these +"Imperial" lotteries, there is nothing left undone by Royalty to strike +the people with a sense of their importance, and the honesty with which +they are conducted. In an open square is erected a kind of stage large +enough to be occupied by some twenty persons. Rich canopies of scarlet +and gold overhang it, and above all are figures of Justice, Plenty, +Virtue, &c. &c. The "Royal" band of music is stationed near, and amidst +its enlivening tones, holding in silence many thousands of anxious +hearts, the cortege, preceded by Royalty itself, ascends, and is seated +in the order of its dignity. In front of the throne are placed, upon +pedestals, two large revolving globes half filled with tickets, and by +the side of each stands a page, in magnificent costume, blindfolded. +Then commences the distribution of the prizes, in the usual way, by +drawing numbers from the globes, by the hands of the pages, which are +announced from the throne, and so along to the ears of the most distant +in the multitude. At intervals, the drawing ceases, while most charming +music serves to keep the crowd together, and possibly to drive for the +moment, from many a heart, the pangs of disappointment or despair. Now +there is some excuse for ignorance on this subject, among those poor +people, for there are no means by which they can be enlightened and +warned of the evil. But in this country, where the press is free, and +the means of information abundant, it would be sad to reflect that such +things can, under any name or phrase, long continue unmasked and unshorn +of their power. + +There is consolation in the belief, that however prosperous this species +of gaming may be, the time is not far distant when its true character +and tendency will be made manifest; and when the unseen but certain +operations of the moral sense of our people will put an end to its +inglorious career; if not directly, through the action of the laws, yet +indirectly, by withholding the necessary contributions to its further +support. + +This parallel between Art-Unions and Lotteries is drawn that the +character of the former may be more readily comprehended by the reader. + +In the recent drawing of the American Art-Union there were distributed +_one thousand works of art_, making about one prize to sixteen blanks. +But where did all these "thousand works" come from? and what are they? +Have they all been executed by living American artists? Are they +paintings, or sculptures, or engravings, purchased from the artists who +made them, and who have received an adequate price for them? We know +from their advertisement that _sixty_ of them are "impressions from the +large engravings after Col. Trumbull's pictures of the _Battle of Bunker +Hill_ and the _Death of Montgomery_." Now the purchase of these +engravings from the pictures of a long deceased painter can be of no +possible service to the painters living and laboring among us, nor to +the progress of art in any way. As well might the Art-Union purchase for +distribution sixty copies of Dunlap's History of the Arts of Design, or +of Allston's Lectures on Art, or any object pertaining to the subject +that may be procured at any time of the book or print sellers. It is +true, they must manage to offer a number of small prizes, the best way +they can, that they may in some plausible way meet the expectations of +their very extended lists of subscribers, to which, it seems, they never +attempt to set a limit. Here is another proof that they are mere +speculators upon the labors of artists, and only seek to enlarge their +subscriptions, and usurp a power and control over the great body of +artists, which should never, with their consent, be allowed to any, no +matter how respectable, body of men. + +Let us turn to the "_Western Art-Union_." Having but few good prizes to +offer, nothing indeed which would ensure them a large subscription list, +it became necessary to procure some well known production for this +purpose, as a capital prize. The managers therefore negotiated, in a +very quiet manner, with a Mr. Robb, of New Orleans, for one of HIRAM +POWERS'S finest statues, the "_Greek Slave_," then in the possession of +Mr. Robb, and it was accordingly taken to Cincinnati, and placed on +exhibition in the Art-Union, as one of the prizes to be distributed this +year. Handbills were then sent over the United States announcing this +fact. Of course, with such a celebrated work as this, thousands would be +seduced to purchase a ticket, and thus place the _Art-Union_ in a most +flourishing condition, and probably secure to it at least double the sum +which it had paid, or the sculptor had originally received, for the +statue. + +Now let us consider this transaction in its true light. The Art-Union +was established solely for the purpose of benefiting artists, protecting +their interests, and increasing the knowledge of art among the people. +From these facts it is evident that neither of these purposes were kept +in view or carried out. Instead of negotiating with the sculptor himself +for one of his works, and giving him a liberal price for it, they never +mentioned the subject to him, but secretly purchased one of another +person--a rich man, who was in nowise whatever connected with the arts. + +One would have supposed that even if there were very strong inducements +to such a procedure on the part of this institution, for the sake of +gain, still that a friendly feeling towards the great sculptor, of whom +the Queen City is so proud, and a due regard for his interests and his +fame, would have prevented the consummation of such an act. It can be +no pleasing reflection to Mr. Powers, that a work which many persons in +Europe, as well as in America, would have purchased at any reasonable +price, should, by any movement of his own townsmen, be disposed of at a +public raffle, so that of its final destination he must long remain in +ignorance. + +It seems, from what has here been adduced, that Art-Unions have not +proved of service to art or artists, notwithstanding the immense amount +annually collected for this ostensible purpose; but that they are in +reality only lotteries operating under another but less objectionable +name. + +If a corporation can be granted by the Legislature, with the privilege +of selling pictures, or statuary, by lottery, every other branch of +industry is as much entitled to such a privilege, or our laws are +onesided and unjust. We would then see distributions of prizes from +every quarter, until the whole mechanical and commercial interests of +the country would be turned into Lotteries or Unions. Following the +example of the Art-Union in this state, we have already advertised a +"_Homestead Art-Union_," the grand prize of which is a "house and lot +situated in Williamsburgh, which cost nearly $5,000." Subscribers are +entitled to "an elegant and valuable engraving, which has heretofore +sold at $7.50, (being $2.50 more than the price of subscription,) and +superior in execution and elegance to any picture distributed in this +manner." It has in its collection for distribution "ninety-nine elegant +and costly oil paintings and engravings, richly framed in ornamental and +plain gilt frames." All the difference between these Unions, seems to be +in the fact that the "Homestead" has limited the number of +tickets--certainly an improvement on the other, so far as the public +interest is concerned. We may expect to hear very soon of _Bread and +Meat Art-Unions_, when the whole community, for a very small outlay, may +live like princes, and snap their fingers at haggard want. + +The tendency of these hotbed methods of cultivating an appreciation of +art and of rewarding its professors, has been to discourage artists from +any suitable efforts to provide instruction, upon a liberal scale, to +those who are seeking for it. Indeed it takes from them the power to do +so, by drawing away funds necessary to such an object, which, but for +these grand schemes, would be likely to come into their hands. One has +but to observe the motives which induce persons to subscribe to an +Art-Union, to be convinced that the great majority do so for the sake of +self-aggrandizement, that is, to have a chance of getting the works of +our best artists for a mere tithe of their value, or in the language of +the advertisements, "of obtaining a valuable return, for a small +investment;" as they would buy any other lottery tickets: to make the +most out of their money. But there are many who subscribe from nobler +motives--real lovers of art, whose only object is to lend a helping hand +to its interests, and to show a generous sympathy in the struggles and +self-denying endeavors of all whose souls are so wrapt up in its pursuit +that they scarcely arrive at the knowledge requisite to a charge of +their own pecuniary and worldly affairs. This latter class of +subscribers believe they are gratifying this genuine love of the +beautiful and good, when they give annually their five dollars to an +institution chartered for the express design of protecting and +cherishing the interests of art, and of enlarging the field of its +labors and usefulness among the people. These genuine _patrons_ give, +without a hope or thought of drawing a prize, or receiving in any shape +a return for their subscriptions. Did they reflect upon, or know, that +these funds were worse than misapplied, they would withhold them, and +seek in some other way to make a proper appropriation of them. + +We have said that these Art-Unions prevent artists from taking any steps +to provide the means of instruction for those who need and seek it. As +an illustration of this we may mention the present state of the +_National Academy of Design_. It is, and has been for two or three +years, quite prostrate for want of funds; its schools have been closed, +and without assistance it must soon die. A few years ago it was in a +flourishing state, and offered the advantages of study which their fine +collection of casts from the best antique statues, and a small but well +selected and growing library could afford to students. Such have been +the results of Art-Unions upon schools of art everywhere. To be sure the +members of the National Academy are not entirely free from censure in +this matter, for many of them, smitten with the "Union" mania, gave it +their countenance, and even something more substantial, to assist its +infant struggles for popularity, little suspecting, certainly, that they +were lending a club which would sooner or later strike them to the +ground. It may not be out of place here to remark, that it is firmly +believed that the Academy of Design can yet rise up from its ashes, and +overthrow all such schemes as Art-Unions, by placing itself upon a more +liberal and popular footing; and by disclaiming all exclusive titles as +utterly unworthy the ambition of every sensible and right-feeling +artist. Institutions in this country, to be useful, must be placed on a +popular foundation; and to be popular, they must rest upon the broad +republican principle of equal rights and equal privileges to all. Let +the members of the Academy open their doors wide enough to admit all +classes of artisans who desire to study the principles of design--the +basis upon which the beauty and the saleability of their works mainly +depends. There might then, in addition to the sections of Painting and +Sculpture, be added those of Architecture, Ornamental Marble and Stone +Workers, Carvers in Wood and Metal, Gold and Silver Smiths, Cabinet +Makers, and indeed, as many other occupations as chose to unite +themselves, in separate sections, for the purposes of mutual instruction +in the Art of Design. This would at once be practical and popular, and +with such objects in view, the Academy could with very little additional +funds be put into immediate and successful operation, and become a +highly honorable and most useful institution. These are mere +suggestions, thrown out for the consideration of the members of the +Academy and others interested. This is not the proper place to enlarge +upon such a subject. + +Artists must learn, if they do not know, how to control their own +affairs, and if they are determined to succeed, they must not think of +trusting their interests to the keeping of those not of their +profession, and entirely uneducated in art, and who consequently cannot +be qualified to discharge so delicate a duty with judgment and fidelity. +It is an old saying, but very applicable to the present instance, that +"if you neglect your own business, you need not expect others to attend +to it for you." Let artists depend more upon private sales of their +works to those who can appreciate them for a just remuneration, than +upon the deceptive offers which chartered schemes may hold out to them. +They will then, by their worth and their artistic merits, build up about +them a solid body of friends and patrons, of whom nothing but death +itself can rob them; and the number of whom time will but increase, +until they may look forward with well-founded hopes to a peaceful and +honorable old age, and a full reward for all their labors. They cannot +justly suppose that permanent success and a distinguished name can be +attained through any other channel than by honesty, and excellence in +their works. Honors and rewards from private sources may be very laggard +in their approach, but they must ultimately come--especially in this +enlightened, progressive, and prosperous country--to those who have +fairly earned them. + + + + +Recent Deaths. + + +Those who have been accustomed to visit the bookstore of Bartlett & +Welford, under the Astor House, during the last half-dozen years, must +have been familiar with the commanding figure and gentle but uneasy +expression of our late excellent friend, the Rev. SERENO E. DWIGHT, D. +D., who died in Philadelphia on the thirtieth of November, in the +sixty-fourth year of his age. Dr. Dwight was born in Greenfield, +Connecticut, in 1786, and was educated at Yale College, where he was +graduated in 1803, being then about seventeen years of age. He became a +tutor in the college, but soon abandoned this occupation to commence the +study of the law at Burlington in Vermont, and in a few years he was +admitted to practice in the highest courts of the country. An early and +ever-increasing predilection, however, led him to the profession of his +father, and upon completing his theological studies he was settled over +the Park-street Congregational church, in Boston, where, he rapidly +acquired the fame of being one of the ablest, most eloquent, and most +useful divines in New-England. + +He had contracted a cutaneous disease, from the injudicious use of +calomel, while a tutor in Yale College; and its effects increased so +much now, that his parishioners, who had become quite attached to him, +in 1825 induced him to undertake a voyage to Europe. A year's travel, in +Great Britain, Germany, France, and other countries, failed to restore +his health, and soon after his return to the United States he resigned +his charge of the Park-street church, and undertook the Presidency of +Hamilton College, which in turn he was compelled to surrender, and in +1830 he opened, at New-Haven, an Academy, in which he was assisted by +his wife, a daughter of the late Judge Daggett. The decline of Mrs. +Dwight's health, and other circumstances, induced him to relinquish the +business of teaching; he visited the Southern States, was during several +sessions chaplain to the United States Senate, and, devoting himself to +literature, wrote an elaborate memoir of his great-grandfather, Jonathan +Edwards, and several works of less importance, one of which was "The +Hebrew Wife," written to illustrate the Jewish laws of marriage, and +published in New-York in 1836. + +The death of his wife, and increasing physical infirmities, led him to +adopt a habit of the utmost seclusion in New-York, where he passed +nearly all the residue of his life. His last appearance in public was in +the summer of 1848, when he consented to act with Mr. John R. Bartlett +(now the chief of the Mexican Boundary Commission) and the writer of +these paragraphs, as an examiner of one of the departments of the +Rutgers Female Institute. He died suddenly, while upon a visit to +Philadelphia for the purpose of trying the effect of the hydropathic +treatment of his disease, on the 30th of September. In the _Home +Journal_ of December 14, Mr. Willis says of him:-- + + "In the death of this excellent man we have lost a friend, + whose loss to ourself we most sincerely mourn, though the grave + was, to him, a welcome relief from an insufferable disease, + that had made life wretched for years. Mr. Dwight was the son + of Rev. Dr. Dwight, President of Yale College. He became pastor + of Park-st. church, in Boston, while we attended it in boyhood, + and it is our pride to record that we were so fortunate as to + secure his friendship at that time, and to retain it, in + undiminished warmth and kindness, to the day of his death. Mr. + Dwight was a man of qualities unusual in his profession. When + he first came to Boston, in perfect health, he was, in personal + appearance, the ideal of a high-souled and faultlessly elegant + gentleman--with more of manly and refined beauty, indeed, than + we remember to have combined in any other man. He wore these + winning gifts most unconsciously, being beloved by the humblest + for his open and accessible simplicity and kindness: and his + health first gave way under the laborious discharge of his + parochial duties. He was too severely critical and polished a + scholar to be either a very eloquent preacher or an easy + writer, but his sermons were models of purity of style, study, + and elevated thought, and his pastoral intercourse and counsel + were too delightful ever to be forgotten by those who enjoyed + it. Sent to Europe for his health, by his congregation, Mr. + Dwight was received and followed with a degree of enthusiastic + and flattering attention which fully confirmed his mark as a + man, and showed how Nature's noblemen are recognized and + honored everywhere. He resumed his duties on his return, but + was soon obliged by illness to relinquish them, and, from that + time forward, he was never again well. His weakness took the + shape of a cutaneous disease of the most irritating and + incurable form, and though he made one or two attempts at + re-commencing his usefulness, it was sadly in vain. He resided + secludedly in New-York during the latter years of his life, + giving to books and scholarship what mind he could withdraw + from pain, and, even thus, ready always with kindness and + delightful earnestness, to give counsel or sympathy to those he + loved. Mr. Dwight was a martyr to that great wrong of our + country toward all clergymen--to express it by a common saying, + "the working a free horse to death"--and we have only to look + at the pale faces, the stooping chests, and the slender frames + of most of our clerical men, to see how mind, patience, + attention, needful leisure and more needful sleep, are cruelly + overdrawn upon, by the service expected of them. But for his + share of suffering by this exacting system, Mr. Dwight might + have been, for years to come, the ornament and pride to his + country which his unequalled combination of fine gifts + qualified him to be; and we should not mourn, as we now do, + over his life embittered while it lasted, and sent to the grave + in what might have been its meridian of usefulness and + ornament." + + * * * * * + +COUNT BRANDENBURGH, the Prussian Prime Minister, died on the 6th +November at Berlin. He was a natural brother of the late King of +Prussia, being the illegitimate son of the present King's grandfather, +by the Countess Doenhoff Frederichstein, and was acknowledged, educated, +and admitted as such, by the Prussian Royal family, by whom he was +invariably treated as a friend and relative, although not with royal +honors. He was born on the 23d of January, 1792, and had nearly +completed his 59th year. He was educated for the military profession and +entered the service in 1807; his promotion continued regularly, and in +1812 he was a captain on the staff of General Von York, under whom he +saw some service. In 1813 he became major, and in that rank took part in +the numerous actions between the Prussian and the French armies, +including the battles of Leipsic, and Bautzen, Brienne, Laon, and Paris. +At the passage of the Rhine at Caub, Count Brandenburgh was the first +who reached the French bank. For his good conduct at Mokern and +Wartenburg, he received the Iron Cross of the first class. In 1814 he +was made lieutenant-colonel. In 1816 he received the command of the +regiment in which he first entered the service. From 1816 to 1846 he +received various promotions, charges, and decorations. In 1848 he was +made general in command of the 8th army corps. Up to this time he had +taken no part in politics. The London _Times_ says: + + "It was in the midst of those scenes of anarchy and violence + which, about two years ago, had shaken the Prussian monarchy to + its foundations--when a furious Assembly, beleaguered and + intimidated by a more furious mob, had usurped sovereign power + in the capital, and a democratic constitution was all but + grafted on the military throne of Frederic the Great,--that we + remember to have exclaimed, in the wonder and the dread of that + terrible period, "Will no one save the house of Hohenzollern?" + The state seemed to be on the brink of a cataract, and even the + leaders of the popular movement were ignorant of the dark and + stormy course before them. At that moment, it was announced one + morning, to the amazement of the Prussians and of Europe, that + an elderly gentleman, who had never taken any active part in + politics, but had lived in the most exclusive circles of the + aristocracy, and the Prussian Guards, was about to enter on the + task which the boldest men had found beyond their courage, and + the ablest beyond their capacity. But though he laid small + claim to skill in political tactics, or experience in the + administration of affairs, Count Brandenburgh brought to the + service of his sovereign precisely those plain qualities which + no one else appeared to possess. He had sense, he had firmness, + he absolutely contemned the storm of unpopularity which greeted + his appointment, and he proceeded to conduct the Government + with full confidence that, although his countrymen were + peculiarly subject to fits of enthusiasm, they respect nothing + so much in the long run as a clear will and definite authority. + After about fifteen months the citizens of Berlin hailed Count + Brandenburgh as the saviour of his country." + + * * * * * + +GEORGE GRENVILLE, LORD NUGENT, died on the 26th of November at Lillies, +near Aylesbury, aged sixty-one. He was the second son of the Marquis of +Rockingham, and inherited the Irish Barony of Nugent, on the death of +his mother, in 1812. During the same year he was elected M. P. for +Aylesbury, and continued to represent that borough on the Liberal +interest, until 1832, when he was appointed Lord High Commissioner of +the Ionian Isles. He held that office until 1836, when he returned to +England. In 1847 he was re-elected for Aylesbury. He enjoyed a very fair +literary reputation. He was the author of "Lands, Classical and Sacred," +"Memorials of Hampden," and other interesting productions. In +conjunction with Lady Nugent, he also brought out the popular "Legends +of the Library at Lillies." + + * * * * * + +M. ALEXANDRE FRAGONARD, the eminent French painter and sculptor, died in +October. He was a pupil of David. As a statuary, his great work is the +frontispiece of the old Chamber of Deputies; and, as a painter, he +executed several fine pieces, amongst others a ceiling of the Louvre, +representing Tasso reading his "Jerusalem." His chief works were +engraved in 1840. + + * * * * * + +M. JOSEPH DROZ, a member of the French Institute, died in Paris in +November. The youth of M. Droz was devoted to stormier occupations than +that in which he gathered the laurels now laid upon his grave. For three +years he was a soldier:--for upwards of fifty he has been devoted to +letters and to philosophy. His last escort was composed of the men who +had been his comrades in that latter field,--and over his grave MM. +Guizot and Bartholemy Saint-Hilaire, pronounced eulogies. + + * * * * * + +PROFESSOR SCHORN, died in Augsburgh on the 7th of October, at the +premature age of forty-seven years. In the formation of the Munich +Gallery, he was the most trusted and active emissary, and traversed +considerable portions of Europe, including England and Italy, in search +of those treasures which now enrich this famous gallery. When in London, +his companion was Von Martins, the eminent Brazilian traveller and +naturalist. + + * * * * * + +GUSTAVE SCHWAB, one of the most popular poets of Germany, died at +Stuttgart on the 4th of November, aged fifty-eight. Schwab was the +friend of Uhland. His death was very sudden. On the morning of the day +on which he was summoned, he had entertained a party of his friends at +breakfast, and read to them passages of a translation into German verse, +which he was making of the poetical works of M. de Lamartine. + + + + +Spirit of the English Annuals. + +NEW TALES BY THACKERAY, BULWER, MRS. HALL, &c. + + +The holiday souvenirs for the present season are less numerous in +England, as in this country, than in some previous years; but the +_Keepsake_, edited formerly by Lady Blessington, and now by her niece, +Miss Power, is among the few favorite annuals that are continued, and it +is as good as in its best days. We quote several of its chief +attractions, and first + + +VOLTIGUER: + +BY THE AUTHOR OF THE "HISTORY OF PENDENNIS." + +There arose out of the last Epsom races a little family perplexity, +whereon the owner of Voltiguer little speculated: and as out of this +apparently trivial circumstance a profound and useful moral may be +drawn, to be applied by the polite reader; and as Epsom Races will +infallibly happen next year, and, I dare say, for many succeeding +generations; perhaps the moral which this brief story points had better +be printed upon Dorling's next "Correct Card," as a warning to future +patrons and patronesses of the turf. + +This moral, then--this text of our sermon, is, NEVER----but we will keep +the moral, if you please, for the end of the fable. + +It happened, then, that among the parties who were collected on the Hill +to see the race, the carriage of a gentleman, whom we shall call Sir +Joseph Raikes, occupied a commanding position, and attracted a great +deal of attention amongst the gentlemen sportsmen. Those bucks upon the +ground who were not acquainted with the fair occupant of that +carriage--as indeed, how should many thousands of them be?--some being +shabby bucks; some being vulgar bucks; some being hot and unpleasant +bucks, smoking bad cigars, and only staring into Lady Raikes's carriage +by that right which allows one Briton to look at another Briton, and a +cat to look at a king;--of those bucks, I say, who, not knowing Lady +Raikes, yet came and looked at her, there was scarce one that did not +admire her, and envy the lucky rogue her husband. Of those ladies who, +in their walks from their own vehicles, passed her ladyship's, there was +scarce one lady in society who did not say, "is that all?--is that the +beauty you are all talking about so much? She is overrated; she looks +stupid; she is over-dressed; she squints;" and so forth; whilst of the +men who _did_ happen to have the honor of an acquaintance with Lady +Raikes and her husband (and many a man, who had thought Raikes rather +stupid in his bachelor days, was glad enough to know him now), each as +he came to the carriage, and partook of the excellent luncheon provided +there, had the most fascinating grins and ogles for the lady, and the +most triumphant glances for all the rest of the world,--glances which +seemed to say, "Look, you rascals, I know Lady Raikes; you don't know +Lady Raikes. I can drink a glass of champagne to Lady Raikes's health. +What would you give, you dog, to have such a sweet smile from Lady +Raikes? Did you ever see such eyes? did you ever see such a complexion? +did you ever see such a killing pink dress, and such a dear little +delightfully carved ivory parasol?"--Raikes had it carved for her last +year at Baden, when they were on their wedding-trip. It has their coats +of arms and their ciphers intertwined elegantly round the stalk--a J and +a Z; her name is Zuleika; before she was married she was Zuleika +Trotter. Her elder sister, Medora, married Lord T--mn--ddy; her younger, +Haidee, is engaged to the eldest son of the second son of a noble D-ke. +The Trotters are of a good family. Dolly Trotter, Zuleika's brother, was +in the same regiment (and that, I need not say, an extremely heavy one) +with Sir Joseph Raikes. + +He did not call himself Joseph then: quite the contrary. Larkyn Raikes, +before his marriage, was one of the wildest and most irregular of our +British youth. Let us not allude--he would blush to hear them--to the +particulars of his past career. He turned away his servant for screwing +up one of the knockers which he had removed during the period of his own +bachelorhood, from an eminent physician's house in Saville Row, on the +housekeeper's door at Larkyn Hall. There are whole hampers of those +knockers stowed away somewhere, and snuff-taking Highlanders, and tin +hats, and black boys,--the trophies of his youth, which Raikes would +like to send back to their owners, did he know them; and when he carried +off these spoils of war he was not always likely to know. When he goes +to the Bayonet and Anchor Club now (and he dined there twice during Lady +Raikes's ... in fine, when there was no dinner at home), the butler +brings him a half-pint of sherry and a large bottle of Seltzer water, +and looks at him with a sigh, and wonders--"Is this Captain Raikes, as +used to breakfast off pale hale at three, to take his regular two +bottles at dinner, and to drink brandy and water in the smoking +billiard-room all night till all was blue?" Yes, it is the same Raikes; +Larkyn no more--riotous no more--brandivorous no longer. He gave away +all his cigars at his marriage; quite unlike Screwby, who also married +the other day, and offered to _sell_ me some. He has not betted at a +race since his father paid his debts and forgave him, just before the +old gentleman died and Raikes came into his kingdom. Upon that +accession, Zuleika Trotter, who looked rather sweetly upon Bob Vincent +before, was so much touched by Sir Joseph Raikes's determination to +reform, that she dismissed Bob and became Lady Raikes. + +Dolly Trotter still remains in the Paddington Dragoons; Dolly is still +unmarried; Dolly smokes still; Dolly owes money still. And though his +venerable father, Rear-admiral Sir Ajax Trotter, K.C.B., has paid his +debts many times, and swears if he ever hears of Dolly betting again, he +will disinherit his son, Dolly--the undutiful Dolly--goes on betting +still. + +Lady Raikes, then, beamed in the pride of her beauty upon Epsom +race-course, dispensed smiles and luncheon to a host of acquaintances, +and accepted, in return, all the homage and compliments which the young +men paid her. The hearty and jovial Sir Joseph Raikes was not the least +jealous of the admiration which his pretty wife caused; not even of Bob +Vincent, whom he rather pitied for his mishap, poor fellow! (to be sure, +Zuleika spoke of Vincent very scornfully, and treated his pretensions as +absurd); and with whom, meeting him on the course, Raikes shook hands +very cordially, and insisted upon bringing him up to Lady Raikes's +carriage, to take refreshment. + +There _could_ have been no foundation for the wicked rumor, that Zuleika +had looked sweetly upon Vincent before Raikes had carried her off. Lady +Raikes received Mr. Vincent with the kindest and frankest smile; shook +hands with him with perfect politeness and indifference, and laughed and +talked so easily with him, that it was impossible there could have been +any previous discomfort between them. + +Not very far off from Lady Raikes's carriage, on the hill, there stood a +little black brougham--the quietest and most modest equipage in the +world, and in which there must have been nevertheless something very +attractive, for the young men crowded around this carriage in numbers; +and especially that young reprobate Dolly Trotter was to be seen, +constantly leaning his great elbows on the window, and poking his head +into the carriage. Lady Raikes remarked that, among other gentlemen, her +husband went up and spoke to the little carriage, and when he and Dolly +came back to her, asked who was in the black brougham. + +For some time Raikes could not understand which was the brougham she +meant--there was so many broughams. "The black one with the red blinds +was it? Oh, that--that was a very old friend--yes, old Lord Cripplegate, +was in the brougham: he had the gout, and he couldn't walk." + +As Raikes made this statement he blushed as red as a geranium; he looked +at Dolly Trotter in an imploring manner, who looked at him, and who +presently went away from his sister's carriage bursting with laughter. +After making the above statement to his wife, Raikes was particularly +polite and attentive to her, and did not leave her side; nor would he +consent to her leaving the carriage. There were all sorts of vulgar +people about: she would be jostled in the crowd: she could not bear the +smell of the cigars--she knew she couldn't (this made Lady Raikes wince +a little): the sticks might knock her darling head off; and so forth. + +Raikes is a very accomplished and athletic man, and, as a bachelor, +justly prided himself upon shying at the sticks better than any man in +the army. Perhaps, as he passed the persons engaged in that fascinating +sport, he would have himself liked to join in it; but he declined his +favorite entertainment, and came back faithfully to the side of his +wife. + +As Vincent talked at Lady Raikes's side, he alluded to this +accomplishment of her husband. "Your husband has not many +accomplishments," Vincent said (he is a man of rather a sardonic humor), +"but in shying at the sticks he is quite unequalled: he has quite a +genius for it. He ought to have the sticks painted on his carriage, as +the French marshals have their batons. Hasn't he brought you a +pincushion or a jack-in-the-box, Lady Raikes? and has he begun to +neglect you so soon? Every father with a little boy at home" (and he +congratulated her ladyship on the birth of that son and heir) "ought +surely to think of him, and bring him a soldier, or a monkey, or a toy +or two." + +"Oh, yes," cried Lady Raikes, "her husband must go. He must go and bring +back a soldier, or a monkey, or a dear little jack-in-the-box, for dear +little Dolly at home." + +So away Raikes went; indeed nothing loth. He warmed with the noble +sport: he was one of the finest players in England. He went on playing +for a delightful half-hour; (how swiftly, in the blessed amusement, it +passed away!) he reduced several of the sticksters to bankruptcy by his +baculine skill; he returned to the carriage laden with jacks, wooden +apples and soldiers, enough to amuse all the nurseries in Pimlico. + +During his absence Lady Raikes, in the most winning manner, had asked +Mr. Vincent for his arm, for a little walk; and did not notice the sneer +with which he said that his arm had always been at her service. She was +not jostled by the crowd inconveniently; she was not offended by the +people smoking (though Raikes was forbidden that amusement); and she +walked up on Mr. Vincent's arm, and somehow found herself close to the +little black brougham, in which sat gouty old Lord Cripplegate. + +Gouty old Lord Cripplegate wore a light blue silk dress, a lace mantle +and other gimcracks, a white bonnet with roses, and ringlets as long as +a chancellor's wig, but of the most beautiful black hue. His lordship +had a pair of enormous eyes, that languished in a most killing manner; +and cheeks that were decorated with delicate dimples; and lips of the +color of the richest sealing-wax. + +"Who's that?" asked Lady Raikes. + +"That," said Mr. Vincent, "is Mrs. Somerset Montmorency." + +"Who's Mrs. Somerset Montmorency?" hissed out Zuleika. + +"It is possible you have not met her in society, Mrs. Somerset +Montmorency doesn't go much into society," Mr. Vincent said. + +"Why did he say it was Lord Cripplegate?" + +Vincent, like a fiend, burst out laughing. + +"Did Raikes say it was Lord Cripplegate? Well, he ought to know." + +"What ought he to know?" asked Zuleika. + +"Excuse me, Lady Raikes," said the other, with his constant sneer; +"there are things which people had best not know. There are things which +people had best forget, as your ladyship very well knows. You forget; +why shouldn't Raikes forget? Let by-gones be by-gones. Let's all forget, +Zulei--I beg your pardon. Here comes Raikes. How hot he looks! He has +got a hat full of jack-in-the-boxes. How obedient he has been! He will +not set the Thames on fire--but he's a good fellow. Yes; we'll forget +all: won't we?" And the fiend pulled the tuft under his chin, and gave a +diabolical grin with his sallow face. + +Zuleika did not say one word about Lord Cripplegate when Raikes found +her and flung his treasures into her lap. She did not show her anger in +words, but in an ominous, boding silence; during which her eyes might be +seen moving constantly to the little black brougham. + +When the Derby was run, and Voltigeur was announced as the winner, Sir +Joseph, who saw the race from the box of his carriage--having his arm +around her ladyship, who stood on the back seat, and thought all men the +greatest hypocrites in creation (and so a man _is_ the greatest +hypocrite of all animals, save one)--Raikes jumped up and gave a +"Hurrah!" which he suddenly checked when his wife asked, with a +deathlike calmness, "And pray, sir, have you been betting upon the race, +that you are so excited?" + +"Oh no, my love; of course not. But you know it's a Yorkshire horse, and +I--I'm glad it wins; that's all," Raikes said; in which statement there +was not, I am sorry to say, a word of truth. + +Raikes wasn't a betting man any more. He had forsworn it: he would never +bet again. But he had just, in the course of the day, taken the odds in +_one_ little bet; and he had just happened to win. When his wife charged +him with the crime, he was about to avow it. "But no," he thought; "it +will be a surprise for her. I will buy her the necklace she scolded me +about at Lacy and Gimcrack's; it's just the sum. She has been sulky all +day. It's about that she is sulky now. I'll go and have another shy at +the sticks." And he went away, delighting himself with this notion, and +with the idea that at last he could satisfy his adorable little Zuleika. + +As Raikes passed Mrs. Somerset Montmorency's brougham, Zuleika remarked +how that lady beckoned to him, and how Raikes went up to her. Though he +did not remain by the carriage two minutes, Zuleika was ready to take an +affidavit that he was there for half an hour; and was saluted by a +satanical grin from Vincent, who by this time had returned to her +carriage side, and was humming a French tune, which says that "_on +revient toujours a ses premi-e-res amours, a se-es premieres amours_." + +"What is that you are singing? How dare you sing that?" cried Lady +Raikes, with tears. + +"It's an old song--you used to sing it," said Mr. Vincent. "By the way, +I congratulate you. Your husband has won six hundred pounds. I heard +Betterton say so, who gave him the odds." + +"He is a wretch! He gave me his word of honor that he didn't bet. He is +a gambler--he'll ruin his child! He neglects his wife for that--that +creature! He calls her Lord Crick--crick--ipplegate," sobbed her +ladyship, "Why did I marry him?" + +"Why, indeed!" said Mr. Vincent. + +As the two were talking, Dolly Trotter, her ladyship's brother, came up +to the carriage; at which, with a scowl on his wicked countenance, and +indulging inwardly in language which I am very glad not to be called +upon to report, Vincent retired, biting his nails, like a traitor, and +exhibiting every sign of ill-humor which the villain of a novel or of a +play is wont to betray. + +"Don't have that fellow about you, Zuly," Dolly said to his darling +sister. "He is a bad one. He's no principle: he--he's a gambler, and +every thing that's bad." + +"I know others who are gamblers," cried out Zuleika. "I know others who +are every thing that's bad, Adolphus," Lady Raikes exclaimed. + +"For heaven's sake, what do you mean?" said Adolphus, becoming red and +looking very much frightened. + +"I mean my husband," gasped the lady. "I shall go home to papa. I shall +take my dear little blessed babe with me and go to papa, Adolphus. And +if you had the spirit of a man, you would--you would avenge me, that you +would." + +"Against Joe!" said the heavy dragoon; "against Joe, Zuly? Why, hang me +if Joe isn't the greatest twump in Chwistendom. By Jove he is!" said the +big one, shaking his fist; "and if that scoundwel, Vincent, or any other +wascal, has said a word against him, by Jove--" + +"Pray stop your horrid oaths and vulgar threats, Adolphus," her ladyship +said. + +"I don't know what it is--you've got something against Joe. Something +has put you against him; and if it's Vincent, I'll wring his--" + +"Mercy! mercy! Pray cease this language." Lady Raikes said. + +"You don't know what a good fellow Joe is," said the dragoon. "The best +twump in England, as _I've_ weason to say, sister: and here he comes +with the horses. God bless the old boy!" + +With this, honest Sir Joseph Raikes took his seat in his carriage; and +tried, by artless blandishments, by humility, and by simple +conversation, to coax his wife into good humor; but all his efforts were +unavailing. She would not speak a word during the journey to London; and +when she reached home, rushed up to the nursery and instantly burst into +tears upon the sleeping little Adolphus's pink and lace cradle. + +"It's all about that necklace, Mrs. Prince," the good-natured Baronet +explained to the nurse of the son and heir. "I know it's about the +necklace. She rowed me about it all the way down to Epsom; and I can't +give it her now, that's flat. I've _no_ money. I _won't_ go tick, that's +flat; and she ought to be contented with what she has had; oughtn't she, +Prince?" + +"Indeed she ought, Sir Joseph; and you're an angel of a man, Sir Joseph; +and so I often tell my lady, Sir Joseph," the nurse said: "and the more +you will spile her, the more she will take on, Sir Joseph." + +But if Lady Raikes was angry at not having the necklace, what must have +been her ladyship's feelings when she saw in the box opposite to her at +the Opera, Mrs. Somerset Montmorency, with that very necklace on her +shoulders for which she had pined in vain! How she got it? Who gave it +her? How she came by the money to buy such a trinket? How she dared to +drive about at all in the Park, the audacious wretch! All these were +questions which the infuriate Zuleika put to herself, her confidential +maid, her child's nurse, and two or three of her particular friends; and +of course she determined that there was but one clue to the mystery of +the necklace, which was that her husband had purchased it with the six +hundred pounds which he had won at the Derby, which he denied having won +even to her, which he had spent in this shameful manner. Nothing would +suit her but a return home to her papa--nothing would satisfy her but a +separation from the criminal who had betrayed her. She wept floods of +tears over her neglected boy, and repeatedly asked that as yet +speechless innocent, whether he would remember his mother when her place +was filled by another, and whether her little Adolphus would take care +that no insult was offered to her untimely grave? + +The row at home at length grew so unbearable, that Sir Joseph Raikes, +who had never had an explanation since his marriage, and had given into +all his wife's caprices--that Sir Joseph, we say, even with his 'eavenly +temper, he broke out into a passion; and one day after dinner, at which +only his brother-in-law Dolly was present, told his wife that her +tyranny was intolerable, and that it must come to an end. + +Dolly said he was "quite wight," and backed up Raikes in every way. + +Zuleika said they were a pair of brutes, and that she desired to return +to Sir Ajax. + +"Why, what the devil is urging you?" cried the husband; "you drive me +mad, Zuleika." + +"Yes; what are you at, Zuleika? You dwive him cwazy," said the brother. + +Upon which Zuleika broke out. She briefly stated that her husband was a +liar; that he was a gambler; that he had deceived her about betting at +Epsom, and had given his word to a lie; that he had deceived her about +that--that woman,--and given his word to another lie; and that, with the +fruits of his gambling transactions at Epsom, he had purchased the +diamond necklace, not for her, but for that--that person! That was +all--that was enough. Let her go home and die in Baker Street, in the +room which, she prayed Heaven, she never had quitted! That was her +charge. If Sir Joseph Raikes had any thing to say he had better say it. + +Sir Joseph Raikes said, that she had the most confounded jealous temper +that ever a woman was cursed with; that he had been on his knees to her +ever since his marriage, and had spent half his income in administering +to her caprices and extravagancies; that as for these charges, they were +so monstrous, he should not condescend to answer them; and as she chose +to leave her husband and her child, she might go whenever she liked. + +Lady Raikes upon this rang the bell, and requested Hickson the butler to +tell Dickson her maid to bring down her bonnet and shawl; and when +Hickson quitted the dining-room, Dolly Trotter began: + +"Zuleika," said he, "you are enough to twy the patience of an angel; +and, by Jove, you do! You've got the best fellow for a husband (a sneer +from Zuleika) that ever was bullied by a woman, and you tweat him like a +dawg. When you were ill, you used to make him get up of a night to go to +the doctor's. When you're well, you plague his life out of him. He pays +your milliner's bills, as if you were a duchess, and you have but to ask +for a thing and you get it." + +"Oh, yes, I have necklaces!" said Zuleika. + +"Confound you, Zuly! had'nt he paid three hundwed and eighty for a new +cawwiage for you the week before? Hadn't he fitted your dwawing-woom +with yellow satin at the beginning of the season? Hadn't he bought you +the pair of ponies you wanted, and gone without a hack himself, and he +gettin' as fat as a porpoise for want of exercise, the poor old boy? And +for that necklace, do you know how it was that you didn't have it, and +that you were very nearly having it, you ungwateful little devil you? It +was _I_ prevented you! He _did_ win six hundwed at the Derby; and he +would have bought your necklace, but he gave me the money. The governor +said he never would pay another play-debt again for me; and bet I would, +like a confounded, gweat, stooped fool: and it was this old Joe--this +dear old twump--who booked up for me, and took me out of the hole, like +the best fellow in the whole world, by Jove! And--and I'll never bet +again, so help me----! And that's why he couldn't tell--and that's why +he wouldn't split on me--and that's why you didn't have your confounded +necklace, which old Cwipplegate bought for Mrs. Montmowency, who's going +to marry her, like a confounded fool for his pains!" + +And here the dragoon being blown, took a large glass of claret; and when +Hickson and Dickson came down stairs, they found her ladyship in rather +a theatrical attitude, on her knees, embracing her husband's big hand, +and calling down blessings upon him, and owning that she was a wretch, a +monster, and a fiend. + +She was only a jealous, little spoiled fool of a woman; and I am sure +those who read her history have never met with her like, or have ever +plagued their husbands. Certainly they have not, if they are not +married: as, let us hope, they will be. + +As for Vincent, he persists in saying that the defence is a fib from +beginning to end, and that the Trotters were agreed to deceive Lady +Raikes. But who hasn't had his best actions misinterpreted by calumny? +And what innocence or good will can disarm jealousy? + + * * * * * + +Very different from THACKARAY is the genial Mrs. S. C. HALL, from whom +we have + + +EDWARD LAYTON'S REWARD. + +"I could not have believed it!" exclaimed Mrs. Pierce Bradshaw. "I could +not have believed it!" she repeated, over and over again; and she fell +into a fit of abstraction. + +Her husband, who had been glancing wearily over a magazine, turning leaf +after leaf without reading, or perhaps seeing even the heading of a +page, at length said, "I could!" + +"You have large faith, my dear," observed the lady. + +"Fortunately for Selina, I had no faith in him," was the reply. + +Mrs. Pierce Bradshaw was not an eloquent person; she never troubled her +husband or any one else with many words; so she only murmured, in a +subdued tone, "Fortunately, indeed!" + +"What a fellow he was!" said Mr. P. Bradshaw, as he closed the magazine. +"Do you remember how delighted you were with him the evening of the +_tableaux_ at Lady Westrophe's? There was something so elegant and +dignified in his bearing; so much ease and grace of manner; his address +was perfect--the confidence of a well-bred gentleman, subdued almost, +but not quite, into softness by the timidity of youth. This was thrown +into strong relief by the manners of the young men of the family, whose +habits and voices might have entitled them to take the lead, even now, +in the go-a-head school, which then was hardly in existence--at all +events in England." + +"You were quite as much taken with him as I was." + +"No, my dear, not _quite_. Edward Layton was especially suited for the +society of ladies. His tastes and feelings are--or _were_ at that +time--all sincerely refined; he was full of the impulse of talent, which +he never had strength to bring forth: his thoughts were ever wandering, +and he needed perpetual excitement, particularly the excitement of +beauty and music, to bring them and keep them where he _was_. He was +strongly and strangely moved by excellence of any kind, so that it _was_ +excellence; and the only thing I ever heard him express contempt for was +wealth!--yes wealth!" + +"I could not have believed it," said Mrs. Pierce Bradshaw again. + +"That particular night it was whispered he was engaged to Lelia Medwin. +When she sung, he stood like a young Apollo at her harp, too entranced +to turn over the leaves of music, his eyes overflowing with delight, and +the poor little girl so bewitched by his attentions that she fancied +every whisper a declaration of love." + +"Shameful!" said Mrs. Pierce Bradshaw. + +"Then her mother showed every one what a lovely sketch he had made of +Lelia's head, adding, that indeed it was too lovely; but then, he was a +_partial_ judge." + +"She was a silly woman," observed the lady. + +"She would not have been considered so if they had been married," +replied the gentleman. "Mammas have no mercy on each other in those +delicate manoeuvrings. Well, he waltzed with her always; and bent over +her--willow-fashion; looked with her at the moon; and wrote a sonnet +which she took to herself, for it was addressed 'To mine own dear ----;' +and then when, about eight weeks afterwards, we met him at the +_dejeuner_ at Sally Lodge, he was as entranced with Lizzie Grey's guitar +as he had been with Lelia's harp, sketched her little tiger head for her +grandmamma, waltzed with _her_, bent over _her_ willow-fashion, looked +with her at the moon, and wrote another sonnet, addressed 'To the loved +one.'" + +"Such men----" exclaimed Mrs. Pierce Bradshaw. She did not finish the +sentence, but looked as if such men ought to be exterminated. And so +they ought! + +"There was so much about him that I liked: his fine talents, good +manners, excellent position in society, added to his good nature, +and----" + +"Good fortune," added Mrs. Pierce Bradshaw. + +"No, Mary," said her husband, quietly, "I never was a _mammon +worshipper_. This occurred, if you remember, before the yellow +pestilence had so completely subverted London, that the very aristocracy +knelt and worshipped the golden calf; and no blame to the calf to +_receive_ the homage, whatever we may say of those who paid it. + +"I did not mean _that_ as a reproof, Pierce," replied his wife, most +truly. "_I_ think it quite natural to like young men of fortune--we +could not get on without them, you know; and it would be very +imprudent--very imprudent, indeed--to invite any young man, however +excellent. When we want to get these young girls, our poor nieces, off, +I declare it is quite melancholy. Jane is becoming _serious_ since she +has grown so thin; and I fear the men will think Belle a blue, she has +so taken to the British Museum. Oh, how I wish people would live, and +bring up, and get off their own daughters! Four marriageable nieces, +with such farthing fortunes, are enough to drive any poor aunt +distracted!" + +This was the longest speech Mrs. Bradshaw ever made in her life, and she +sighed deeply at its conclusion. + +"You may well sigh!" laughed the gentleman; "for the case seems +hopeless. But I was going to say, that as I knew him better, I was +really going to take the young gentleman a little to task on the score +of his philandering. Lelia was really attached to him, and had refused a +very advantageous offer for his sake; but the very next week, at another +house, I found him enchained by a sparkling widow--correcting her +drawings, paying the homage of intelligent silence and sweet smiles to +her wit, leaning his white-gloved hand upon her chair, and looking in +her eyes with his most bewitching softness. The extent of this +flirtation no one could anticipate; but the sudden appearance of Lady +Di' Johnson effected a total change. She drove four-in-hand, and was a +dead shot--the very antipodes of sentiment. We said her laugh would +drive Edward Layton distracted, and her _cigarette_ be his death. But, +no! the magnificence of her tomboyism caught his fancy. He enshrined her +at once as Diana, bayed the moon with hunting-songs, wrote a sonnet to +the chase, and then, with his own hands, twisted it into a _cigarette_, +with which her ladyship puffed it to the winds of heaven, while +wandering with the Lothario amid a grove of fragrant limes. The miracle +was, that at breakfast the next morning Lady Di' was subdued, voted +driving unfeminine, and asked Edward to take the reins for her after +lunch. You remember we left them there; and I next met him at Killarney, +giving his chestnut locks to the breeze, his arm to the oar, and his +eyes to a lady of blue-stocking celebrity, who, never having had many +lovers, was inclined to make the most of the present one. Circumstances +rendered me acquainted with some facts relating to his 'flirtations,' if +his soft and sentimental ways could be called by such a name. I had seen +poor Lelia at Baden-Baden; and I dare say you can recall what we heard +of another love of his nearer home. Well, I encountered my Hero of +Ladies that very evening, wandering amid the ruined aisles of Mucross +Abbey. I saw that his impressible nature had taken a thoughtful, if not +a religious tone, from the scene. And he commenced the conversation by +declaring, that 'He was a great fool.'" + +"Knave, rather," said Mrs. Pierce Bradshaw. + +"No," replied her husband; "not a knave, but a singular example of a man +whose feelings and susceptibilities never deepen into +affection--unstable as water--tossed hither and thither for want of +fixed principles, and suffering intensely in his better moods from the +knowledge of the weakness he has not the courage to overcome. I was not +inclined to let him spare himself, and did not contradict his opinion +that he was a 'fool,' but told him he might be what he pleased himself, +as long as he did not make fools of others." + +"'I tell every woman I know that I am not a marrying man,' he replied. + +"'That,' I said, 'does not signify as long as you act the lover, each +fair one believing you will revoke in her favor.' + +"'I give you my honor,' he exclaimed, 'as a man and a gentleman, I never +entertained for twenty-four hours the idea of marrying any woman I ever +knew.'" + +"The villain!" exclaimed the lady. "I hope, Pierce, you told him he was +a villain!" + +"No; because I knew the uncertainty of his disposition: but I lectured +him fully and honestly, and yet said nothing to him so severe as what he +said of himself. I told him he would certainly be caught in the end by +some unworthy person, and then he would look back with regret and misery +upon the chances he had lost, and the unhappiness he had caused to those +whose only faults had been in believing him true when he was false." + +"'Better that,' he answered, 'than marrying when he could not make up +his mind.' + +"'Then why play the lover?' + +"'He only did so while infatuated--he was certain to find faults where +he imagined perfection.'" + +"What assurance!" said Mrs. Pierce Bradshaw. + +"'I am sure,' I said, 'Lelia was very charming. Lelia Medwin was an +excellent, amiable little creature, with both good temper and good +sense.' + +"'That was it,' he said: 'only fancy the six-foot-one-and-three-quarters +wedded to bare five feet! The absurdity struck me one night as we were +waltzing and whirling past a looking-glass; I was obliged to bend +double, though I never felt it till I saw it.'" + +"Really, I have not patience," observed Mrs. Bradshaw. "And so her +feelings were to be trampled upon because she was not tall enough to +please _him_! Why did he not think of that before?" + +"'But there was Lizzy Grey, related to half the aristocracy, with a +voice like an angel.' + +"'A vixen,' he said, 'though of exquisite beauty--could have torn my +eyes out for the little attention I paid Mrs. Green.' + +"'_Little attention!_' I repeated; 'more than little.' + +"'Her wit was delicious,' he replied; 'but she was a widow! Only fancy +the horror of being compared with 'My dear first husband!' + +"'Then your conquest of Lady Di' Johnson! How badly you behaved to her!' + +"'She was magnificent on horseback; and her _cigarette_ as fascinating +as the fan of a Madrid belle, or the _tournure_ of a Parisian lady. They +were her _two points_. But when she relinquished both, I believe in +compliment to _me_, she became even more commonplace than the most +commonplace woman.'" + +"The puppy!" muttered the lady: "the dreadful puppy! I could not have +believed it!" + +Mr. Bradshaw did not heed the interruption, but continued: + +"'And who,' I inquired, 'was the Lady of the Lake? I do not mean of +_this lake_, for I see her reign is already over--your passion expired +with the third chapter of her novel, which I know she read to you by +moonlight--but the fair Lady of Geneva, whose betrothed called you out?' + +"'Her father was a sugar-boiler,' was the quiet reply: 'a sugar-boiler, +or something of the kind. What would my aristocratic mother say to that? +Of course I could have had no serious intention _there_. Indeed I never +_had_ a serious intention for a whole week.' + +"'But, my dear fellow, when presents are given, and letters written, and +locks of hair and vows exchanged----' + +"'No, no!' he exclaimed; '_no_ vows exchanged! I never broke my word to +a woman yet. It was admiration for this or that--respect, esteem, +perhaps a tender bewilderment--mere _brotherly_ love. And in that +particular instance her intended got angry at my civility. I know I was +wrong; and, to confess the truth, I am ashamed of that transaction--it +taught me a lesson; and, but for the confounded vacillation of my taste +and temper, I might perhaps have been a Benedick before this. You may +think it puppyism, if you please; but I am really sorry when I make an +impression, and resolve never to attempt it again: but the next fine +voice, or fine eyes----' + +"'Or cigarette,' I suggested; and then I said as much as one man can say +to another, for you know a woman can say much more to a man in the way +of reproof than he would bear from his own sex; but he silenced me very +quickly by regrets and good resolutions. It was after that our little +niece, Selina, made an impression upon him." + +"I did not know all you have now told me," expostulated his wife. "I own +I thought it would have been a good match for Selina; and he was +evidently deeply smitten before he knew she was your niece. I managed it +beautifully; but you cut the matter short by offending him." + +"There, say no more about it," said the sensible husband; "you thought +your blue-eyed, fair-haired, doll-like favorite, could have enchained a +man who had escaped heart-whole from the toils of the richest and rarest +in the land. It really is fearful to see how women not only tolerate, +but pursue this sort of men. You call them 'villains,' and I know not +what, when you are foiled; but if you succeed, you temper it; they have +been a little wild, to be sure--but then, and then, and then--you really +could not refuse your daughter; and add, "Men _are_ such creatures that +if the world knew but all, _he_ is not worse than others." + +"For shame, Pierce! how can you?" said the lady. + +"I told him then," continued Mr. Bradshaw, "that he would take '_the +crooked stick at last_;' but that he should not add a tress of Selina's +hair to his collection, to be turned over by _his_ WIFE one of those +days. Of course he was very indignant, and we parted; but I did not +think my prophecy would come true so soon. I have long since given up +speculating how marriages will turn out, for it is quite impossible to +tell. If women could be shut up in a harem, as in the East, a man who +was ashamed of his wife might go into society without her; but for a +refined and well-educated gentleman, as Edward Layton certainly is, to +be united to the _widow_ of a sugar-boiler!--yes, absolutely!--who is an +inch shorter than pretty Lelia and more tiger-headed than Lizzy Grey, +and who declares she hates music, although her dear first husband took +her _h_often to the Hopera--who adds deformity to shortness, talks +loudly of the _h_influence of wealth, and compares the presentations at +the Mansion House, that she has seen, to those at St. James's which she +has not yet seen! Verily, Edward Layton has had _his reward_!" + + * * * * * + +BULWER LYTTON contributes to the "Keepsake" an essay, characteristic of +his earlier rather than of his later style: + + +THE CONFIRMED VALETUDINARIAN. + +Certainly there is truth in the French saying, that there is no ill +without something of good. What state more pitiable to the eye of a man +of robust health than that of the Confirmed Valetudinarian? Indeed, +there is no one who has a more profound pity for himself than your +Valetudinarian; and yet he enjoys two of the most essential requisites +for a happy life; he is never without an object of interest, and he is +perpetually in pursuit of hope. + +Our friend Sir George Malsain is a notable case in point: young, well +born, rich, not ill educated, and with some ability, they who knew him +formerly, in what were called his "gay days," were accustomed to call +him "lucky dog," and "enviable fellow." How shallow is the judgment of +mortals! Never was a poor man so bored--nothing interested him. His +constitution seemed so formed for longevity, and his condition so free +from care, that he was likely to have a long time before him:--it is +impossible to say how long that time seemed to him. Fortunately, from +some accidental cause or other, he woke one morning and found himself +ill; and, whether it was the fault of the doctor or himself I cannot +pretend to say, but he never got well again. His ailments became +chronic; he fell into a poor way. From that time life has assumed to him +a new aspect. Always occupied with himself, he is never bored. He may be +sick, sad, suffering, but he has found his object in existence--he lives +to be cured. His mind is fully occupied; his fancy eternally on the +wing. Formerly he had travelled much, but without any pleasure in +movement: he might as well have stayed at home. Now, when he travels, it +is for an end; it is delightful to witness the cheerful alertness with +which he sets about it. He is going down the Rhine;--for its scenery? +Pshaw! he never cared a button about scenery; but he has great hopes of +the waters at Kreuznach. He is going into Egypt;--to see the Pyramids? +Stuff! the climate on the Nile is so good for the mucous membrane! Set +him down at the dullest of dull places, and he himself is never dull. +The duller the place the better; his physician has the more time to +attend to him. When you meet him he smiles on you, and says, poor +fellow, "The doctor assures me that in two years I shall be quite set +up." He has said the same thing the last twenty years, and will say it +the day before his death!... + +What a busy, anxious, fidgety creature Ned Worrell was? That iron frame +supported all the business of all society! Every man who wanted any +thing done, asked Ned Worrell to do it. And do it Ned Worrell did! You +remember how feelingly he was wont to sigh,--"Upon my life I'm a perfect +slave." But now Ned Worrell has snapped his chain; obstinate dyspepsia, +and a prolonged nervous debility, have delivered him from the carks and +cares of less privileged mortals. Not Ariel under the bough is more +exempt from humanity than Edward Worrell. He is enjoined to be kept in a +state of perfect repose, free from agitation, and hermetically shut out +from grief. His wife pays his bills, and he is only permitted to see his +banker's accounts when the balance in his favor is more than usually +cheerful. His eldest daughter, an intelligent young lady, reads his +letters, and only presents to him those which are calculated to make a +pleasing impression. Call now on your old friend, on a question of life +and death, to ask his advice, or request his interference--you may as +well call on King Cheops under the Great Pyramid. The whole houseguard +of tender females block the way. + +"Mr. Worrell is not to be disturbed on any matter of business whatever," +they will tell you. "But, my dear ma'am, he is trusted to my marriage +settlement; his signature is necessary to a transfer of my wife's +fortune from those cursed railway shares. To-morrow they will be down at +zero. We shall be ruined!" + +"Mr. Worrell is in a sad, nervous way, and can't be disturbed, sir." And +the door is shut in your face! + +It was after some such occurrence that I took into earnest consideration +a certain sentiment of Plato's, which I own I had till then considered +very inhuman; for that philosopher is far from being the tender and +sensitive gentleman generally believed in by lovers and young ladies. +Plato, in his "Republic," blames Herodicus (one of the teachers of that +great doctor Hippocrates) for showing to delicate, sickly persons, the +means whereby to prolong their valetudinary existence, as Herodicus +himself (naturally a very rickety fellow) had contrived to do. Plato +accuses this physician of having thereby inflicted a malignant and +wanton injury on those poor persons;--nay, not only an injury on them, +but on all society. "For," argues this stern, broad-shouldered Athenian, +"how can people be virtuous who are always thinking of their own +infirmities?" And therefore he opines, that if a sickly person cannot +wholly recover health and become robust, the sooner he dies the better +for himself and others! The wretch, too, might be base enough to marry, +and have children as ailing as their father, and so injure, _in +perpetuo_, the whole human race. Away with him! + +But, upon cool and dispassionate reflection, it seemed to me, angry as I +was with Ned Worrell, that Plato stretched the point a little too far; +and certainly, in the present state of civilization, so sweeping a +condemnation of the sickly would go far towards depopulating Europe. +Celsus, for instance, classes amongst the delicate or sickly the greater +part of the inhabitants of towns, and nearly all literary folks +(_omnesque pene cupidi literarum_). And if we thus made away with the +denizens of the towns, it would be attended with a great many +inconveniencies as to shopping, &c., be decidedly injurious to house +property, and might greatly affect the state of the funds; while, +without literary folks, we should be very dull in our healthy +country-seats, deprived of newspapers, novels, and "The Keepsake." +Wherefore, on the whole, I think Herodicus was right; and that sickly +persons should not only be permitted but encouraged to live as long as +they can. + +That proposition granted, if in this attempt to show that your confirmed +Valetudinarian is not so utterly miserable as he is held to be by those +who throw physic to the dogs--and that in some points he may be a +decided gainer by his physical sufferings--I have not wholly +failed--then I say, with the ingenious Author who devoted twenty years +to a work "On the Note of the Nightingale,"--"I have not lived in +vain!" + + + + +A STORY WITHOUT A NAME.[24] + +WRITTEN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE, + +BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + +_Continued from Page 44._ + + +CHAPTER VI. + +Reader, can you go back for twenty years? You do it every day. You say, +"Twenty years ago I was a boy--twenty years ago I was a youth--twenty +years ago I played at peg-top and at marbles--twenty years ago I +wooed--was loved--I sinned--I suffered!" What is there in twenty years +that should keep us from going back over them? You go on so fast, so +smoothly, so easily on the forward course--why not in retrogression? But +let me tell you: it makes a very great difference whether Hope or Memory +drives the coach. + +But let us see what we can do. Twenty years before the period at which +the last chapter broke off, Philip Hastings, now a father of a girl of +fifteen, was a lad standing by the side of his brother's grave. Twenty +years ago Sir John Hastings was the living lord of these fine lands and +broad estates. Twenty years ago he passed, from the mouth of the vault +in which he had laid the clay of the first-born, into the open splendor +of the day, and felt sorrow's desolation in the sunshine. Twenty years +ago, he had been confronted on the church-yard path by a tall old woman, +and challenged with words high and stern, to do her right in regard to a +paltry rood or two of land. Twenty years ago he had given her a harsh, +cold answer, and treated her menaces with impatient scorn. + +Do you remember her, reader? Well, if you do, that brings us to the +point I sought to reach in the dull flat expanse of the far past; and we +can stand and look around us for awhile. + +That old woman was not one easily to forget or lightly to yield her +resentments. There was something perdurable in them as well as in her +gaunt, sinewy frame. As she stood there menacing him, she wanted but +three years of seventy. She had battled too with many a storm--wind and +weather, suffering and persecution, sorrow and privation, had beat upon +her hard--very hard. They had but served to stiffen and wither and +harden, however. Her corporeal frame, shattered as it seemed, was +destined to outlive many of the young and fair spirit-tabernacles around +it--to pass over, by long years, the ordinary allotted space of human +life; and it seemed as if even misfortune had with her but a preserving +power. It is not wonderful, however, that, while it worked thus upon her +body, it should likewise have stiffened and withered and hardened her +heart. + +I am not sure that conscience itself went untouched in this searing +process. It is not clear at all that even her claim upon Sir John +Hastings was not an unjust one; but just or unjust his repulse sunk deep +and festered. + +Let us trace her from the church-yard after she met him. She took her +path away from the park and the hamlet, between two cottages, the ragged +boys at the doors of which called her "Old Witch," and spoke about a +broom-stick. + +She heeded them little: there were deeper offences rankling at her +heart. + +She walked on, across a corn-field and a meadow, and then she came upon +some woodlands, through which a little sandy path wound its way, round +stumps of old trees long cut down, amidst young bushes and saplings just +springing up, and catching the sunshine here and there through the +bright-tinted foliage overhead. Up the hill it went, over the slope on +which the copse was scattered, and then burst forth again on the +opposite side of wood and rise, where the ground fell gently the other +way, looking down upon the richly dressed grounds of Colonel Marshall, +at the distance of some three miles. + +Not more than a hundred yards distant was poor man's cottage, with an +old gray thatch which wanted some repairing, and was plentifully covered +with herbs, sending the threads of their roots into the straw. A little +badly cultivated garden, fenced off from the hill-side by a loose stone +wall, surrounded the house, and a gate without hinges gave entrance to +this inclosed space. + +The old woman went in and approached the cottage door. When near it she +stopped and listened, lifting one of the flapping ears of her cotton cap +to aid the dull sense of hearing. There were no voices within; but there +was a low sobbing sound issued forth as if some one were in bitter +distress. + +"I should not wonder if she were alone," said the old woman; "the +ruffian father is always out; the drudging mother goes about this time +to the town. They will neither stay at home, I wot, to grieve for him +they let too often into that door, nor to comfort her he has left +desolate. But it matters little whether they be in or out. It were +better to talk to her first. I will give her better than +comfort--revenge, if I judge right. They must play their part +afterwards." + +Thus communing with herself, she laid her hand upon the latch and opened +the door. In an attitude of unspeakable grief sat immediately before her +a young and exceedingly beautiful girl, of hardly seventeen years of +age. The wheel stood still by her side; the spindle had fallen from her +hands; her head was bowed down as with sorrow she could not bear up +against; and her eyes were dropping tears like rain. + +The moment she heard the door open she started, and looked up with fear +upon her face, and strove to dash the tears from her eyes; but the old +woman bespoke her softly, saying, "Good even, my dear; is your mother in +the place?" + +"No," replied the girl; "she has gone to sell the lint, and father is +out too. It is very lonely, and I get sad here." + +"I do not wonder at it, poor child," said the old woman; "you have had a +heavy loss, my dear, and may well cry. You can't help what is past, you +know; but we can do a good deal for what is to come, if we but take care +and make up our minds in time." + +Many and strange were the changes of expression which came upon the poor +girl's face as she heard these few simple words. At first her cheek +glowed hot, as with the burning blush of shame; then she turned pale and +trembled, gazing inquiringly in her visitor's face, as if she would have +asked, "Am I detected?" and then she cast down her eyes again, still +pale as ashes, and the tears rolled forth once more and fell upon her +lap. + +The old woman sat down beside her, and talked to her tenderly; but, +alas! very cunningly too. She assumed far greater knowledge than she +possessed. She persuaded the poor girl that there was nothing to conceal +from her; and what neither father nor mother knew, was told that day to +one comparatively a stranger. Still the old woman spoke tenderly--ay, +very tenderly; excused her fault--made light of her fears--gave her +hope--gave her strength. But all the time she concealed her full +purpose. That was to be revealed by degrees. Whatever had been the +girl's errors, she was too innocent to be made a party to a scheme of +fraud and wrong and vengeance at once. All that the woman communicated +was blessed comfort to a bruised and bleeding heart; and the poor girl +leaned her head upon her old companion's shoulder, and, amidst bitter +tears and sobs and sighs, poured out every secret of her heart. + +But what is that she says, which makes the old woman start with a look +of triumph? + +"Letters!" she exclaimed; "two letters: let me see them, child--let me +see them! Perhaps they may be more valuable than you think." + +The girl took them from her bosom, where she kept them as all that she +possessed of one gone that day into the tomb. + +The old woman read them with slow eyes, but eager attention; and then +gave them back, saying, "That one you had better destroy as soon as +possible--it tells too much. But this first one keep, as you value your +own welfare--as you value your child's fortune, station, and happiness. +You can do much with this. Why, here are words that may make your father +a proud man. Hark! I hear footsteps coming. Put them up--we must go to +work cautiously, and break the matter to your parents by degrees." + +It was the mother of the girl who entered; and she seemed faint and +tired. Well had the old woman called her a drudge, for such she was--a +poor patient household drudge, laboring for a hard, heartless, idle, and +cunning husband, and but too tenderly fond of the poor girl whose beauty +had been a snare to her. + +She seemed somewhat surprised to see the old woman there; for they were +of different creeds, and those creeds made wide separation in the days I +speak of. Perhaps she was surprised and grieved to see the traces of +tears and agitation on her daughter's face; but of that she took no +notice; for there were doubts and fears at her heart which she dreaded +to confirm. The girl was more cheerful, however, than she had been for +the last week--not gay, not even calm; but yet there was a look of some +relief. + +Often even after her mother's entrance, the tears would gather thick in +her eyes when she thought of the dead; but it was evident that hope had +risen up: that the future was not all darkness and terror. This was a +comfort to her; and she spoke and looked cheerfully. She had sold all +the thread of her and her daughter's spinning, and she had sold it well. +Part she hid in a corner to keep a pittance for bread from her husband's +eyes; part she reserved to give up to him for the purchase of drink: but +while she made all these little arrangements, she looked somewhat +anxiously at the old woman, from time to time, as if she fain would have +asked, "What brought you here?" + +The crone was cautious, however, and knew well with whom she had to +deal. She talked in solemn and oracular tones, as if she had possessed +all the secrets of fate, but she told nothing, and when she went away +she said in a low voice but authoritative manner, "Be kind to your +girl--be very kind; for she will bring good luck and fortune to you +all." The next day she laid wait for the husband, found and forced him +to stop and hear her. At first he was impatient, rude, and brutal; +swore, cursed, and called her many and evil names. But soon he listened +eagerly enough: looks of intelligence and eager design passed between +the two, and ere they parted they perfectly understood each other. + +The man was then, on more than one day, seen going down to the hall. At +first he was refused admission to Sir John Hastings; for his character +was known. The next day, however, he brought a letter written under his +dictation by his daughter, who had been taught at a charitable school of +old foundation hard by; and this time he was admitted. His conversation +with the Lord of the Manor was long; but no one knew its import. He came +again and again, and was still admitted. + +A change came over the cottage and its denizens. The fences were put in +order, the walls were repaired, the thatch renewed, another room or two +was added; plenty reigned within; mother and daughter appeared in +somewhat finer apparel; and money was not wanting. + +At the end of some months there was the cry of a young child in the +house. The neighbors were scandalized, and gossips spoke censoriously +even in the father's ears; but he stopped them fiercely, with proud and +mysterious words; boasted aloud of what they had thought his daughter's +shame; and claimed a higher place for her than was willingly yielded to +her companions. Strange rumors got afloat, but ere a twelvemonth had +passed, the father had drank himself to death. His widow and her +daughter and her grandson moved to a better house, and lived at ease on +money none knew the source of, while the cottage, now neat and in good +repair, became the dwelling of the old woman, who had been driven with +scorn from Sir John's presence. Was she satisfied--had she sated +herself? Not yet. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +There was a lady, a very beautiful lady indeed, came to a lonely house, +which seemed to have been tenanted for several years by none but +servants, about three years after the death of Sir John Hastings. That +house stood some miles to the north of the seat of that gentleman, which +now had passed to his son; and it was a fine-looking place, with a +massive sort of solemn brick-and-mortar grandeur about it, which +impressed the mind with a sense of the wealth and long-standing of its +owners. + +The plural has slipped from my pen, and perhaps it is right; for the +house looked as if it had had many owners, and all of them had been +rich. + +Now, there was but one owner,--the lady who descended from that +lumbering, heavy coach, with the two great leathern wings on each side +of the door. She was dressed in widow's weeds, and she had every right +to wear them. Though two-and-twenty only, she stood there orphan, +heiress, and widow. She had known many changes of condition, but not of +fate, and they did not seem to have affected her much. Of high-born and +proud parentage, she had been an only child for many years before her +parents' death. She had been spoiled, to use a common, but not always +appropriate phrase; for there are some people who cannot be spoiled, +either because the ethereal essence within them is incorruptible, or +because there is no ethereal essence to spoil at all. However, she had +been spoiled very successfully by fate, fortune, and kind friends. She +had never been contradicted in her life; she had never been +disappointed--but once. She had travelled, seen strange countries--which +was rare in those days with women--had enjoyed many things. She had +married a handsome, foolish man, whom she chose--few knew rightly why. +She had lost both her parents not long after; got tired of her husband, +and lost him too, just when the loss could leave little behind but a +decent regret, which she cultivated as a slight stimulant to keep her +mind from stagnating. And now, without husband, child, or parents, she +returned to the house of her childhood, which she had not seen for five +long years. + +Is that all her history? No, not exactly all. There is one little +incident which may as well be referred to here. Her parents had entered +into an arrangement for her marriage with a very different man from him +whom she afterwards chose,--Sir Philip Hastings; and foolishly they had +told her of what had been done, before the young man's own assent had +been given. She did not see much of him--certainly not enough to fall in +love with him. She even thought him a strange, moody youth; but yet +there was something in his moodiness and eccentricity which excited her +fancy. The reader knows that he chose for himself; and the lady also +married immediately after. + +Thus had passed for her a part of life's pageant; and now she came to +her own native dwelling, to let the rest march by as it might. At first, +as she slowly descended from the carriage, her large, dark, brilliant +eyes were fixed upon the ground. She had looked long at the house as she +was driving towards it, and it seemed to have cast her into a thoughtful +mood. It is hardly possible to enter a house where we have spent many +early years, without finding memory suddenly seize upon the heart and +possess it totally. What a grave it is! What a long line of buried +ancestors may not _the present_ always contemplate there. + +Nor are there many received into the tomb worth so much respect as one +dead hour. All else shall live again; lost hours have no resurrection. + +There were old servants waiting around, to welcome her, new ones +attending upon her orders; but for a moment or two she noticed no one, +till at length the old housekeeper, who knew her from a babe, spoke out, +saying, "Ah, madam! I do not wonder to see you a little sad on first +coming to the old place again, after all that has happened." + +"Ah, indeed, Arnold," replied the lady, "many sad things have happened +since we parted. But how are you, Goody? You look blooming:" and walking +into the house, she heard the reply in the hall. + +From the hall, the old housekeeper led her lady through the house, and +mightily did she chatter and gossip by the way. The lady listened nearly +in silence; for Mrs. Arnold was generous in conversation, and spared her +companion all expense of words. At length, however, something she said +seemed to rouse her mistress, and she exclaimed with a somewhat bitter +laugh, "And so the good people declared I was going to be married to Sir +Philip Hastings?" + +"_Mr._ Hastings he was then, madam," answered the housekeeper; "to be +sure they did. All the country around talked of it, and the tenants +listened at church to hear the banns proclaimed." + +The lady turned very red, and the old woman went on to say, "Old Sir +John seemed quite sure of it; but he reckoned without his host, I +fancy." + +"He did indeed," said the lady with an uncheerful smile, and there the +subject dropped for the time. Not long after, however, the lady herself +brought the conversation back to nearly the same point, asked after Sir +Philip's health and manner of living, and how he was liked in the +neighborhood, adding, "He seemed a strange being at the time I saw him, +which was only once or twice--not likely to make a very pleasant +husband, I thought." + +"Oh dear, yes, madam, he does," answered Mrs. Arnold, "many a worse, I +can assure you. He is very fond of his lady indeed, and gives up more to +her than one would think. He is a little stern, they say, but very just +and upright; and no libertine fellow, like his brother who was +drowned--which I am sure was a providence, for if he was so bad when he +was young, what would he have been when he was old?" + +"Better, perhaps," replied her mistress, with a quiet smile; "but was he +so very wicked? I never heard any evil of him." + +"Oh dear me, madam! do not you know?" exclaimed the old woman; and then +came the whole story of the cotter's daughter on the hill, and how she +and her father and old Mother Danby--whom people believed to be a +witch--had persuaded or threatened Sir John Hastings into making rich +people of them. + +"Persuaded or threatened Sir John Hastings!" said the lady in a tone of +doubt. "I knew him better than either of his sons; and never did I see a +man so little likely to yield to persuasion or to bow to menace;" and +she fell into a deep fit of musing, which lasted long, while the old +housekeeper rambled on from subject to subject, unlistened to, but very +well content. + +Let us dwell a little on the lady, and on her character. There is always +something to interest, something to instruct, in the character of a +woman. It is like many a problem in Euclid, which seems at first sight +as plain and simple as the broad sunshine; but when we come to study it, +we find intricacies beneath which puzzle us mightily to resolve. It is a +fine, curious, delicate, complicated piece of anatomy, a woman's heart. +I have dissected many, and I know the fact. Take and lay that fibre +apart--take care, for heaven's sake! that you do not tear the one next +to it; and be sure you do not dissever the fragments which bind those +most opposite parts together! See, here lies a muscle of keen +sensibility; and there--what is that? A cartilage, hard as a nether +millstone. Look at those light, irritable nerves, quivering at the +slightest touch; and then see those tendons, firm, fixed, and powerful +as the resolution of a martyr. Oh, that wonderful piece of organization! +who can describe it accurately? + +I must not pretend to do so; but I will give a slight sketch of the +being before me. + +There she stands, somewhat above the usual height, but beautifully +formed, with every line rounded and flowing gracefully into the others. +There is calmness and dignity in the whole air, and in every movement; +but yet there is something very firm, very resolute, very considerate, +in the fall of that small foot upon the carpet. She cannot intend her +foot to stay there for ever; and yet, when she sets it down, one would +be inclined to think she did. Her face is very beautiful--every feature +finely cut--the eyes almost dazzling in their dark brightness. How +chaste, how lovely the fine lines of that mouth. Yet do you see what a +habit she has of keeping the pearly teeth close shut--one pure row +pressed hard against the other. The slight sarcastic quiver of the upper +lip does not escape you; and the expanded nostril and flash of the eye, +contradicted by the fixed motionless mouth. + +Such is her outward appearance, such is she too within--though the +complexion there is somewhat darker. Much that, had it been cultivated +and improved, would have blossomed into womanly virtue; a capability of +love, strong, fiery, vehement, changeless--not much tenderness--not much +pity,--no remorse--are there. Pride, of a peculiar character, but +strong, ungovernable, unforgiving, and a power of hate and thirst of +vengeance, which only pride can give, are there likewise. Super-add a +shrewdness--a policy--a cunning--nay, something greater--something +approaching the sublime--a divination, where passion is to be gratified, +that seldom leads astray from the object. + +Yes, such is the interior of that fair temple, and yet, how calm, sweet, +and promising it stands. + +I have omitted much perhaps; for the human heart is like the caldron of +the witches in Macbeth, and one might go on throwing in ingredients till +the audience became tired of the song. However, what I have said will be +enough for the reader's information; and if we come upon any unexplained +phenomena, I must endeavor to elucidate them hereafter. + +Let us suppose the lady's interview with her housekeeper at an end--all +her domestic arrangements made--the house restored to its air of +habitation--visits received and paid. Amongst the earliest visitors were +Sir Philip and Lady Hastings. He came frankly, and in one of his most +happy moods, perfectly ignorant that she had ever been made aware of +there having been a marriage proposed between himself and her; and she +received him and his fair wife with every appearance of cordiality. But +as soon as these visits and all the ceremonies were over, the lady began +to drive much about the country, and to collect every tale and rumor she +could meet with of all the neighboring families. Her closest attention, +however, centred upon those affecting the Hastings' race; and she found +the whole strange story of the cottage girl confirmed, with many another +particular added. She smiled when she heard this--smiled blandly--it +seemed to give her pleasure. She would fain have called upon the girl +and her mother too. She longed to do so, and to draw forth with skill, +of which she possessed no small share, the key secret of the whole. But +her station, her reputation, prevented her from taking a step which she +knew might be noised abroad and create strange comments. + +She resolved upon another move, however, which she thought would do as +well. There would be no objection to her visiting her poorer neighbors, +to comfort, to relieve; and she went to the huts of many. At length one +early morning, on a clear autumn day, the carriage was left below on the +high road, and the lady climbed the hill alone towards the cottage, +where the girl and her parents formerly lived. She found the old woman, +who was now its occupant, busily cooking her morning meal; and sitting +down, she entered into conversation with her. At first she could obtain +but little information; the old woman was in a sullen mood, and would +not speak of any thing she did not like. Money was of no avail to unlock +her eloquence. + +She had never asked or taken charity, the old woman said, and now she +did not need it. + +The lady pondered for a few minutes, considering the character of her +ancient hostess, trying it by her experience and intuition; and thus she +boldly asked her for the whole history of young John Hastings and the +cottage girl. + +"Tell me all," she said, "for I wish to know it--I have an interest in +it." + +"Ay?" said the old woman, gazing at her, "then you are the pretty lady +Sir Philip was to have married, but would not have her?" + +"The same," replied the visitor, and for an instant a bright red spot +arose upon her cheek--a pang like a knife passed through her heart. + +That was the price she paid for the gratification of her curiosity. But +it probably was gratified, for she stayed nearly an hour and a half in +the cottage--so long, indeed, that her servants, who were with the +carriage, became alarmed, and one of the footmen walked up the hill. He +met his lady coming down. + +"Poor thing," she said, as if speaking of the old woman she had just +left, "her senses wander a little; but she is poor, and has been much +persecuted. I must do what I can for her. Whenever she comes to the +house, see she is admitted." + +The old woman did come often, and always had a conference with the lady +of the mansion; but here let us leave them for the present. They may +appear upon the stage again. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + "MY DEAR SIR PHILIP: + +"I have not seen you or dear Lady Hastings for many months; nor your +sweet Emily either, except at a distance, when one day she passed my +carriage on horseback, sweeping along the hill-side like a gleam of +light. My life is a sad, solitary one here; and I wish my friends would +take more compassion upon me and let me see human faces +oftener--especially faces that I love. + +"But I know that you are very inexorable in these respects, and, +sufficient to yourself, cannot readily conceive how a lone woman can +pine for the society of other more loving friends than books or nature. +I must, therefore, attack the only accessible point I know about you, +meaning your compassion, which you never refuse to those who really +require it. Now I do require it greatly; for I am at this present +engaged in business of a very painful and intricate nature, which I +cannot clearly understand, and in which I have no one to advise me but a +country attorney, whose integrity as well as ability I much doubt. To +whom can I apply so well as to you, when I need the counsel and +assistance of a friend, equally kind, disinterested, and clear-headed? I +venture to do so, then, in full confidence, and ask you to ride over as +soon as you can, to give me your advice, or rather to decide for me, in +a matter where a considerable amount of property is at stake, and where +decision is required immediately. I trust when you do come you will stay +all night, as the business is, I fear, of so complicated a nature, that +it may occupy more than one day of your valuable time in the affairs of + + Your faithful and obliged servant, + + CAROLINE HAZLETON." + +"Is Mrs. Hazleton's messenger waiting?" asked Sir Philip Hastings, after +having read the letter and mused for a moment. + +The servant answered in the affirmative; and his master rejoined, "Tell +him I will not write an answer, as I have some business to attend to; +but I beg he will tell his mistress that I will be with her in three +hours." + +Lady Hastings uttered a low-toned exclamation of surprise. She did not +venture to ask any question--indeed she rarely questioned her husband on +any subject; but when any thing excited her wonder, or, as was more +frequently the case, her curiosity, she was accustomed to seek for +satisfaction in a somewhat indirect way, by raising her beautiful +eyebrows with a doubtful sort of smile, or, as in the present instance, +by exclaiming, "Good gracious! Dear me!" or giving voice to some other +little vocative, with a note of interrogation strongly marked after it. + +In this case there was more than one feeling at the bottom of her +exclamation. She was surprised; she was curious; and she was, moreover, +in the least degree in the world, jealous. She had her share of +weaknesses, as I have said; and one of them was of a kind less uncommon +than may be supposed. Of her husband's conduct she had no fear--not the +slightest suspicion. Indeed, to have entertained any would have been +impossible--but she could not bear to see him liked, admired, esteemed, +by any woman--mark me, I say by _any woman_; for no one could feel more +triumphant joy than she did when she saw him duly appreciated by men. +She was a great monopolizer: she did not wish one thought of his to be +won away from her by another woman; and a sort of irritable feeling came +upon her even when she saw him seated by any young and pretty girl, and +paying her the common attentions of society. She was too well bred to +display such sensations except by those slight indications, or by a +certain petulance of manner, which he was not close observer enough of +other people's conduct to remark. + +Not to dwell too long on such things, Sir Philip Hastings, though +perfectly unconscious of what was going on in her heart, rarely kept her +long in suspense, when he saw any signs of curiosity. He perhaps might +think it a point of Roman virtue to spoil his wife, although she had +very little of the Portia in her character. On the present occasion, he +quietly handed over to her the letter of Mrs. Hazleton; and then +summoned a servant and gave orders for various preparations. + +"Had not I and Emily better go with you?" asked Lady Hastings, pointing +out to him the passage in the letter which spoke of the long absence of +all the family. + +"Not when I am going on business," replied her husband gravely, and +quitted the room. + +An hour after, Philip Hastings was on horseback with a servant carrying +a valise behind him, and riding slowly through the park. The day was far +advanced, and the distance was likely to occupy about an hour and a half +in travelling; but the gentleman had fallen into a reverie, and rode +very slowly. They passed the park gates; they took their way down the +lane by the church and near the parsonage. Here Sir Philip pulled in his +horse suddenly, and ordered the man to ride on and announce that he +would be at Mrs. Hazleton's soon after. He then fastened his horse to a +large hook, put up for the express purpose on most country houses of +that day in England, and walked up to the door. It was ajar, and without +ceremony he walked in, as he was often accustomed to do, and entered the +little study of the rector. + +The clergyman himself was not there; but there were two persons in the +room, one a young and somewhat dashing-looking man, one or two and +twenty years of age, exceedingly handsome both in face and figure; the +other personage past the middle age, thin, pale, eager and keen-looking, +in whom Sir Philip instantly recognized a well known, but not very well +reputed attorney, of a country town about twenty miles distant. They had +one of the large parish books before them, and were both bending over it +with great appearance of earnestness. + +The step of Sir Philip Hastings roused them, and turning round, the +attorney bowed low, saying, "I give you good day, Sir Philip. I hope I +have the honor of seeing you well." + +"Quite so," was the brief reply, and it was followed by an inquiry for +the pastor, who it seemed had gone into another room for some papers +which were required. + +In the mean time the younger of the two previous occupants of the room +had been gazing at Sir Philip Hastings with a rude, familiar stare, +which the object of it did not remark; and in another moment the +clergyman himself appeared, carrying a bundle of old letters in his +hand. + +He was a heavy, somewhat timid man, the reverse of his predecessor in +all things, but a very good sort of person upon the whole. On seeing the +baronet there, however, something seemed strangely to affect him--a sort +of confused surprise, which, after various stammering efforts, burst +forth as soon as the usual salutation was over, in the words, "Pray, Sir +Philip, did you come by appointment?" + +Sir Philip Hastings, as the reader already knows, was a somewhat +unobservant man of what was passing around him in the world. He had his +own deep, stern trains of thought, which he pursued with a passionate +earnestness almost amounting to monomania. The actions, words, and even +looks of those few in whom he took an interest, he could sometimes watch +and comment on in his own mind with intense study. True, he watched +without understanding, and commented wrongly; for he had too little +experience of the motives of others from outward observation, and found +too little sympathy with the general motives of the world, in his own +heart, to judge even those he loved rightly. But the conduct, the looks, +the words of ordinary men, he hardly took the trouble of remarking; and +the good parson's surprise and hesitation, passed like breath upon a +mirror, seen perhaps, but retaining no hold upon his mind for a moment. +Neither did the abrupt question surprise him; nor the quick, angry look +which it called up on the face of the attorney attract his notice; but +he replied quietly to Mr. Dixwell, "I do not remember having made any +appointment with you." + +The matter was all well so far; and would have continued well; but the +attorney, a meddling fellow, had nearly spoiled all, by calling the +attention of Philip Hastings more strongly to the strangeness of the +clergyman's question. + +"Perhaps," said the man of law, interrupting the baronet in the midst, +"Perhaps Mr. Dixwell thought, Sir Philip, that you came here to speak +with me on the business of the Honorable Mrs. Hazleton. She told me she +would consult you, and I can explain the whole matter to you." + +But the clergyman instantly declared that he meant nothing of the kind; +and at the same moment Sir Philip Hastings said, "I beg you will not, +sir. Mrs. Hazleton will explain what she thinks proper to me, herself. I +desire no previous information, as I am now on my way to her. Why my +good friend here should suppose I came by appointment, I cannot tell. +However, I did not; and it does not matter. I only wish, Mr. Dixwell, to +say, that I hear the old woman Danley is ill and dying. She is a papist, +and the foolish people about fancy she is a witch. Little help or +comfort will she obtain from them, even if they do not injure or insult +her. As I shall be absent all night, and perhaps all to-morrow, I will +call at her cottage as I ride over to Mrs. Hazleton's and inquire into +her wants. I will put down on paper, and leave there, what I wish my +people to do for her; but there is one thing which I must request you to +do, namely, to take every means, by exhortation and remonstrance, to +prevent the ignorant peasantry from troubling this poor creature's +death-bed. Her sad errors in matters of faith should only at such a +moment make us feel the greater compassion for her." + +Mr. Dixwell thought differently, for though a good man, he was a +fanatic. He did not indeed venture to think of disobeying the injunction +of the great man of the parish--the man who now held both the Hastings +and the Marshal property; but he would fain have detained Sir Philip to +explain and make clear to him the position--as clear as a demonstration +in Euclid to his own mind--that all Roman Catholics ought to be, at the +very least, banished from the country for ever. + +But Sir Philip Hastings was not inclined to listen, and although the +good man began the argument in a solemn tone, his visitor, falling into +a fit of thought, walked slowly out of the room, along the passage, +through the door, and mounted his horse, without effectually hearing one +word, though they were many which Mr. Dixwell showered upon him as he +followed. + +At his return to his little study, the parson found the young man and +the lawyer, no longer looking at the book, but conversing together very +eagerly, with excited countenances and quick gestures. The moment he +entered, however, they stopped, the young man ending with an oath, for +which the clergyman reproved him on the spot. + +"That is very well, Mr. Dixwell," said the attorney, "and my young +friend here will be much the better for some good admonition; and for +sitting under your ministry, as I trust he will, some day soon; but we +must go I fear directly. However, there is one thing I want to say; for +you had nearly spoiled every thing to-day. No person playing at cards--" + +"I never touch them," said the parson, with a holy horror in his face. + +"Well, others do," said the attorney, "and those who do never show their +hand to their opponent. Now, law is like a game of cards--" + +"In which the lawyer is sure to get the odd trick," observed the young +man. + +"And we must not have Sir Philip Hastings know one step that we are +taking," continued the lawyer. "If you have conscience, as I am sure you +have, and honor, as I know you have, you will not suffer any thing that +we have asked you, or said to you, to transpire; for then, of course, +Sir Philip would take every means to prevent our obtaining information." + +"I do not think it," said the parson. + +"And justice and equity would be frustrated," proceeded the attorney, +"which you are bound by your profession to promote. We want nothing but +justice, Mr. Dixwell: justice, I say; and no one can tell what card Sir +Philip may play." + +"I will trump it with the knave," said the young man to himself; and +having again cautioned the clergyman to be secret, not without some +obscure menaces of danger to himself, if he failed, the two gentlemen +left him, and hurried down, as fast as they could go, to a small +alehouse in the village, where they had left their horses. In a few +minutes, a well known poacher, whose very frequent habitation was the +jail or the cage, was seen to issue forth from the door of the alehouse, +then to lead a very showy looking horse from the stable, and then to +mount him and take his way over the hill. The poacher had never +possessed a more dignified quadruped than a dog or a donkey in his life; +so that it was evident the horse could not be his. That he was not +engaged in the congenial but dangerous occupation of stealing it, was +clear from the fact of the owner of the beast gazing quietly at him out +of the window while he mounted; and then turning round to the attorney, +who sat at a table hard by, and saying, "he is off, I think." + +"Well, let him go," replied the lawyer, "but I do not half like it, +Master John. Every thing in law should be cool and quiet. No +violence--no bustle." + +"But this is not a matter of law," replied the younger man, "it is a +matter of safety, you fool. What might come of it, if he were to have a +long canting talk with the old wretch upon her death-bed?" + +"Very little," replied the attorney, in a calm well-assured tone, "I +know her well. She is as hard as a flint stone. She always was, and time +has not softened her. Besides, he has no one with him to take +depositions, and if what you say is true, she'll not live till morning." + +"But I tell you, she is getting frightened, as she comes near death!" +exclaimed the young man. "She has got all sorts of fancies into her +head; about hell, and purgatory, and the devil knows what; and she spoke +to my mother yesterday about repentance, and atonement, and a pack of +stuff more, and wanted extreme unction, and to confess to a priest. It +would be a fine salve, I fancy, that could patch up the wounds in her +conscience; but if this Philip Hastings were to come to her with his +grave face and solemn tone, and frighten her still more, he would get +any thing out of her he pleased." + +"I don't think it," answered the lawyer deliberately; "hate, Master +John, is the longest lived passion I know. It lasts into the grave, as I +have often seen in making good men's wills when they were +dying--sanctified, good men, I say. Why I have seen a man who has spent +half his fortune in charity, and built alms-houses, leave a thoughtless +son, or a runaway daughter, or a plain-spoken nephew, to struggle with +poverty all his life, refusing to forgive him, and comforting himself +with a text or a pretence. No, no; hate is the only possession that goes +out of the world with a man: and this old witch, Danby, hates the whole +race of Hastings with a goodly strength that will not decay as her body +does. Besides Sir Philip is well-nigh as puritanical as his father--a +sort of cross-breed between an English fanatic and an old Roman cynic. +She abominates the very sound of his voice, and nothing would reconcile +her to him but his taking the mass and abjuring the errors of Calvin. +Ha! ha! ha! However, as you have sent the fellow, it cannot be helped. +Only remember I had nothing to do with it if violence follows. That man +is not to be trusted, and I like to keep on the safe side of the law." + +"Ay, doubtless, doubtless," answered the youth, somewhat thoughtfully; +"it is your shield; and better stand behind than before it. However, I +don't doubt Tom Cutter in the least. Besides, I only told him to +interrupt them in their talk, and take care they had no private gossip; +to stick there till he was gone, and all that." + +"Sir Philip is not a man to bear such interruption," said the attorney, +gravely; "he is as quiet looking as the deep sea on a summer's day; but +there can come storms, I tell you, John, and then woe to those who have +trusted the quiet look." + +"Then, if he gets in a passion, and mischief comes of it," replied the +young man, with a laugh, "the fault is his, you know, Shanks." + +"True," answered the attorney, meditating, "and perhaps, by a little +clever twisting and turning, we might make something of it if he did, +were there any other person concerned but this Tom Cutter, and we had a +good serviceable witness or two. But this man is such a rogue that his +word is worth nothing; and to thrash him--though the business of the +beadle--would be no discredit to the magistrate. Besides, he is sure to +give the provocation, and one word of Sir Philip's would be worth a +thousand oaths of Tom Cutter's, in any court in the kingdom." + +"As to thrashing him, that few can do," replied the youth; "but only +remember, Shanks, that I gave no orders for violence." + +"I was not present," replied the attorney, with a grin; "you had better, +by a great deal, trust entirely to me, in these things, Master John. If +you do, I will bring you safely through, depend upon it; but if you do +not, nobody can tell what may come. Here comes Folwell, the sexton. Now +hold your tongue, and let me manage him, sir. You are not acquainted +with these matters." + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Did you ever examine an ant-hill, dear reader? What a wonderful little +cosmos it is--what an epitome of a great city--of the human race! See +how the little fellows run bustling along upon their several +businesses--see how some get out of each other's way, how others jostle, +and others walk over their fellows' heads! But especially mark that +black gentleman, pulling hard to drag along a fat beetle's leg and +thigh, three times as large as his own body. He cannot get it on, do +what he will; and yet he tugs away, thinking it a very fine haunch +indeed. He does not perceive, what is nevertheless the fact, that there +are two others of his own race pulling at the other end, and thus +frustrating all his efforts. + +And thus it is with you, and me, and every one in the wide world. We +work blindly, unknowing the favoring or counteracting causes that are +constantly going on around us, to facilitate or impede our endeavors. +The wish to look into futurity is vain, irrational, almost impious; but +what a service would it be to any man if he could but get a sight into +Fate's great workshop, and see only that part in which the events are on +the anvil that affect our own proceedings. Still, even if we did, we +might not understand the machinery after all, and only burn or pinch our +fingers in trying to put pieces together which fate did not intend to +fit. + +In the mean time--that is to say while the attorney and his companion +were talking together at the alehouse--Sir Philip Hastings rode quietly +up the hill to the cottage I have before described, and therefore shall +not describe again, merely noticing that it now presented an appearance +of neatness and repair which it had not before possessed. He tied his +horse to the palings, walked slowly up the little path, gazing right and +left at the cabbages and carrots on either side, and then without +ceremony went in. + +The cottage had two tenants at this time, the invalid old woman, and +another, well-nigh as old but less decrepit, who had been engaged to +attend upon her in her sickness. How she got the money to pay her no one +knew, for her middle life and the first stage of old age had been marked +by poverty and distress; but somehow money seems to have a natural +affinity for old age. It grows upon old people, I think, like corns; and +certainly she never wanted money now. + +There she was, lying in her bed, a miserable object indeed to see. She +was like a woman made of fungus--not of that smooth, putty-like, fleshy +fungus which grows in dank places, but of the rough, rugged, brown, +carunculated sort which rises upon old stumps of trees and dry-rot +gate-posts. Teeth had departed nearly a quarter of a century before, and +the aquiline features had become more hooked and beaky for their loss; +but the eyes had now lost their keen fire, and were dull and filmy. + +The attorney was quite right. Hate was the last thing to go out in the +ashes where the spark of life itself lingered but faintly. At first she +could not see who it was entered the cottage; for the sight now reached +but a short distance from her own face. But the sound of his voice, as +he inquired of the other old woman how she was going on, at once showed +her who it was, and hate at least roused "the dull cold ear of death." + +For a moment or two she lay muttering sounds which seemed to have no +meaning; but at length she said, distinctly enough, "Is that Philip +Hastings?" + +"Yes, my poor woman," said the baronet; "is there any thing I can do for +you?" + +"Come nearer, come nearer," she replied, "I cannot see you plainly." + +"I am close to you, nevertheless," he answered. "I am touching the bed +on which you lie." + +"Let me feel you," continued she--"give me your hand." + +He did as she asked him; and holding by his hand, she made a great +struggle to raise herself in bed; but she could not, and lay exhausted +for a minute before she spoke again. + +At length, however, she raised her voice louder and shriller than +before--"May a curse rest upon this hand and upon that head!" she +exclaimed; "may the hand work its own evil, and the head its own +destruction! May the child of your love poison your peace, and make you +a scoff, and a by-word, and a shame! May the wife of your bosom perish +by----" + +But Sir Philip Hastings withdrew his hand suddenly, and an unwonted +flush came upon his cheek. + +"For shame!" he said, in a low stern tone, "for shame!" + +The next moment, however, he recovered himself perfectly; and turning to +the nurse he added, "Poor wretch! my presence only seems to excite evil +feelings which should long have passed away, and are not fit counsellors +for the hour of death. If there be any thing which can tend to her +bodily comfort that the hall can supply, send up for it. The servants +have orders. Would that any thing could be done for her spiritual +comfort; for this state is terrible to witness." + +"She often asks for a priest, your worship," said the nurse. "Perhaps if +she could see one she might think better before she died." + +"Alas, I doubt it," replied the visitor; "but at all events we cannot +afford her that relief. No such person can be found here." + +"I don't know, Sir Philip," said the old woman, with a good deal of +hesitation; "they do say that at Carrington, there is--there is what +they call a seminary." + +"You do not mean a papist college!" exclaimed the baronet, with +unfeigned surprise and consternation. + +"Oh, dear, no sir," replied the nurse, "only a gentleman--a seminary--a +seminary priest, I think they call it; a papist certainly; but they say +he is a very good gentleman, all but that." + +Sir Philip mused for a minute or two, and then turned to the door, +saying, "Methinks it is hard that a dying woman cannot have the +consolations of the rites of her own faith--mummery though they be. As a +magistrate, my good woman, I can give no authority in this business. You +must do as you think fit. I myself know of no priest in this +neighborhood, or I should be bound to cause his apprehension. I shall +take no notice of your word, however, and as to the rest, you must, as I +have said, act as you think fit. I did not make the laws, and I may +think them cruel. Did I make them, I would not attempt to shackle the +conscience of any one. Farewell," and passing through the door, he +remounted his horse and rode away. + +It was in the early autumn time of the year, and the scene was +peculiarly lovely. I have given a slight description of it before, but I +must pause and dwell upon it once more, even as Sir Philip Hastings +paused and dwelt upon its loveliness at that moment, although he had +seen and watched it a thousand times before. He was not very impressible +by fine scenery. Like the sages of Laputa, his eyes were more frequently +turned inwards than outwards; but there was something in that landscape +which struck a chord in his heart, that is sure to vibrate easily in the +heart of every one of his countrymen. + +It was peculiarly English--I might say singularly English; for I have +never seen any thing of exactly the same character anywhere else but in +Old England--except indeed in New England, where I know not whether it +be from the country having assimilated itself to the people, or from the +people having chosen the country from the resemblance to their own +paternal dwelling place, many a scene strikes the eye which brings back +to the wandering Englishman all the old, dear feelings of his native +land, and for a moment he may well forget that the broad Atlantic rolls +between him and the home of his youth. + +But let me return to my picture. Sir Philip Hastings sat upon his +horse's back, very nearly at the summit of the long range of hills which +bisected the county in which he dwelt. I have described, in mentioning +his park, the sandy character of the soil on the opposite slope of the +rise; but here higher up, and little trodden by pulverizing feet, the +sandstone rock itself occasionally broke out in rugged maps, +diversifying the softer characteristics of the scene. Wide, and far +away, on either hand, the eye could wander along the range, catching +first upon some bold mass of hill, or craggy piece of ground, assuming +almost the character of a cliff, seen in hard and sharp distinctness, +with its plume of trees and coronet of yellow gorse, and then, +proceeding onward to wave after wave, the sight rested upon the various +projecting points, each softer and softer as they receded, like the +memories of early days, till the last lines of the wide sweep left the +mind doubtful whether they were forms of earth or clouds, or merely +fancy. + +Such was the scene on either hand, but straightforward it was very +different, but still quite English. Were you ever, reader, borne to the +top of a very high wave in a small boat, and did you ever, looking down +the watery mountain, mark how the steep descent, into the depth below, +was checkered by smaller waves, and these waves again by ripples? Such +was the character of the view beneath the feet of the spectator. There +was a gradual, easy descent from the highest point of the whole county +down to a river-nurtured valley, not unbroken, but with lesser and +lesser waves of earth, varying the aspect of the scene. These waves +again were marked out, first by scattered and somewhat stunted trees, +then by large oaks and chestnuts, not undiversified by the white and +gleaming bark of the graceful birch. A massive group of birches here and +there was seen; a scattered cottage, too, with its pale bluish wreath of +smoke curling up over the tree-tops. Then, on the lower slope of all, +came hedgerows of elms, with bright, green rolls of verdant turf +between; the spires of churches; the roofs and white walls of many sorts +of man's dwelling-places, and gleams of a bright river, with two or +three arches of a bridge. Beyond that again appeared a rich wide +valley--I might almost have called it a plain, all in gay confusion, +with fields, and houses, and villages, and trees, and streams, and +towns, mixed altogether in exquisite disorder, and tinted with all the +variety of colors and shades that belong to autumn and to sunset. + +Down the descent, the eye of Sir Philip Hastings could trace several +roads and paths, every step of which he knew, like daily habits. There +was one, a bridle-way from a town about sixteen miles distant, which, +climbing the hills almost at its outset, swept along the whole range, +about midway between the summit and the valley. Another, by which he had +come, and along which he intended to proceed, traversed the crest of the +hills ere it reached the cottage, and then descended with a wavy line +into the valley, crossing the bridle-path I have mentioned. A wider +path--indeed it might be called a road, though it was not a +turnpike--came over the hills from the left, and with all those easy +graceful turns which Englishmen so much love in their highways, and +Frenchmen so greatly abhor, descended likewise into the valley, to the +small market-town, glimpses of which might be caught over the tops of +the trees. As the baronet sat there on horseback, and looked around, +more than one living object met his eye. To say nothing of some sheep +wandering along the uninclosed part of the hill, now stopping to nibble +the short grass, now trotting forward for a sweeter bite,--not to notice +the oxen in the pastures below, there was a large cart slowly winding +its way along an open part of the road, about half a mile distant, and +upon the bridle-path which I have mentioned, the figure of a single +horseman was seen, riding quietly and easily along, with a sauntering +sort of air, which gave the beholder at once the notion that he was what +Sterne would have called a "picturesque traveller," and was enjoying the +prospect as he went. + +On the road that came over the hill from the left, was another rider of +very different demeanor, going along at a rattling pace, and apparently +somewhat careless of his horse's knees. + +The glance which Sir Philip Hastings gave to either of them was but +slight and hasty. His eyes were fixed upon the scene before him, +feeling, rather than understanding, its beauties, while he commented in +his mind, after his own peculiar fashion. I need not trace the +procession of thought through his brain. It ended, however, with the +half uttered words, + +"Strange, that such a land should have produced so many scoundrels, +tyrants, and knaves!" + +He then slowly urged his horse forward, down the side of the hill, soon +reached some tall trees, where the inclosures and hedgerows commenced, +and was approaching the point at which the road he was travelling, +crossed the bridle-path, when he heard some loud, and as it seemed to +him, angry words, between two persons he could not see. + +"I will soon teach you that;" cried a loud, coarse tongue, adding an +exceedingly blasphemous oath, which I will spare the reader. + +"My good friend," replied another milder voice, "I neither desire to be +taught any thing, just now, nor would you be the teacher I should chose, +if I did, though perchance, in case of need, I might give you a lesson, +which would be of some service to you." + +Sir Philip rode on, and the next words he heard were spoken by the first +voice, to the following effect; "Curse me, if I would not try that, only +my man might get off in the mean time; and I have other business in hand +than yours. Otherwise I would give you such a licking in two minutes, +you would be puzzled to find a white spot on your skin for the next +month." + +"Two minutes would not detain you long," replied the calmer voice, "and, +as I have never had such a beating, I should like to see, first, whether +you could give it, and secondly, what it would be like." + +"Upon my soul, you are cool!" exclaimed the first speaker with another +oath. + +"Perfectly," replied the second; and, at the same moment, Sir Philip +Hastings emerged from among the trees, at the point where the two roads +crossed, and where the two speakers were face to face before his eyes. + +The one, who was in truth the sauntering traveller whom he has seen +wending along the bridle-path, was a tall, good-looking young man, of +three or four and twenty years of age. In the other, the Baronet had no +difficulty in recognizing at once, Tom Cutter, the notorious poacher and +bruiser, whom he had more than once had the satisfaction of committing +to jail. To see him mounted on a very fine powerful horse, was a matter +of no slight surprise to Sir Philip; but, naturally concluding that he +had stolen it, and was making off with his prize for sale to the +neighboring town, he rode forward and put himself right in the way, +determined to stop him. + +"Ay, ay! Here is my man!" cried Tom Cutter, as soon as he saw him. "I +will settle with him first, and then for you, my friend." + +"No, no, to an old proverb, first come must be first served," replied +the traveller, pushing his horse forward a few steps. + +"Keep the peace, in the King's name!" exclaimed Sir Philip Hastings. "I, +as a magistrate, charge you, sir, to assist me in apprehending this +man!--Thomas Cutter, get off that horse!" + +The only reply was a coarse and violent expletive, and a blow with a +thick heavy stick, aimed right at Sir Philip's head. The magistrate put +up his arm, which received the blow, and was nearly fractured by it; but +at the same moment, the younger traveller spurred forward his horse upon +the ruffian, and with one sweep of his arm struck him to the ground. + +Tom Cutter was upon his feet again in a moment. He was accustomed to +hard blows, and like the immortal hero of Butler, could almost tell the +quality of the stick he was beat withal. He was not long in discovering, +therefore, that the fist which struck him was of no ordinary weight, and +was directed with skill as well as with vigor; but he was accustomed to +make it his boast, that he had never taken a licking "from any man," +which vanity caused him at once to risk such another blow, in the hope +of having his revenge. + +Rushing upon the young stranger then, stick in hand, he prepared to +knock him from his horse; for the other appeared to have no defensive +arms, but a slight hazel twig, pulled from a hedge. + +"He will jump off the other side of his horse," thought Tom Cutter; "and +then, if he do, I'll contrive to knock the nag over upon him. I know +that trick, well enough." + +But the stranger disappointed him. Instead of opposing the horse between +him and his assailant, he sprung with one bound out of the saddle, on +the side next to the ruffian himself, caught the uplifted stick with one +hand, and seized the collar of the bruiser's coat with the other. + +Tom Cutter began to suspect he had made a mistake; but, knowing that at +such close quarters the stick would avail him little, and that strength +of thews and sinews would avail him much, he dropped the cudgel, and +grappled with the stranger in return. + +It was all the work of a moment. Sir Philip Hastings had no time to +interfere. There was a momentary struggle, developing the fine +proportions and great strength and skill of the wrestlers; and then, Tom +Cutter lay on his back upon the ground. The next instant, the victor put +his foot upon his chest, and kept the ruffian forcibly down, +notwithstanding all is exclamations of "Curse me, that isn't fair! When +you give a man a fall, let him get up again!" + +"If he is a fair fighter, I do," replied the other; "but when he plays +pirate, I don't--" Then turning to Sir Philip Hastings, who had by this +time dismounted, he said, "What is to be done with this fellow, sir? It +seems he came here for the express purpose of assaulting you, for he +began his impertinence, with asking if you had passed, giving a very +accurate description of your person, and swearing you should find every +dog would have his day." + +"His offence towards myself," replied the Baronet, "I will pass over, +for it seems to me, he has been punished enough in his own way; but I +suspect he has stolen this horse. He is a man of notoriously bad +character, who can never have obtained such an animal by honest means." + +"No, I didn't steal him, I vow and swear," cried the ruffian, in a +piteous tone; for bullies are almost always cravens; "he was lent to me +by Johny Groves--some call him another name; but that don't signify.--He +lent him to me, to come up here, to stop your gab with the old woman, +Mother Danty; and mayhap to give you a good basting into the bargain. +But I didn't steal the horse no how; and there he is, running away over +the hill-side, and I shall never catch him; for this cursed fellow has +well nigh broken my back." + +"Served you quite right, my friend," replied the stranger, still keeping +him tightly down with his foot. "How came you to use a cudgel to a man +who had none? Take my advice, another time, and know your man before you +meddle with him." + +In the mean time Sir Philip Hastings had fallen into a profound reverie, +only repeating to himself the words "John Groves." Now the train of +thought which was awakened in his mind, though not quite new, was +unpleasant to him; for the time when he first became familiar with that +name was immediately subsequent to the opening of his father's will, in +which had been found a clause ordering the payment of a considerable sum +of money to some very respectable trustees, for the purpose of +purchasing an annuity in favor of one John Groves, then a minor. + +There had been something about the clause altogether which the son and +heir of Sir John Hastings could not understand, and did not like. +However, the will enjoined him generally to make no inquiry whatsoever +into the motives of any of the bequests, and with his usual stern +rigidity in what he conceived right, he had not only asked no questions, +but had stopped bluntly one of the trustees, who was about to enter +into some explanations. The money was paid according to directions +received, and he had never heard the name of John Groves from that +moment till it issued from the lips of the ruffian upon the present +occasion. + +"What the man says may be true," said Sir Philip Hastings, at length; +"there is a person of the name he mentions. I know not how I can have +offended him. It may be as well to let him rise and catch his horse if +he can; but remember, Master Cutter, my eye is upon you; two competent +witnesses have seen you in possession of that horse, and if you attempt +to sell him, you will hang for it." + +"I know better than to do that," said the bruiser, rising stiffly from +the ground as the stranger withdrew his foot; "but I can tell you, Sir +Philip, others have their eyes upon you, so you had better look to +yourself. You hold your head mightily top high, just now: but it may +chance to come down." + +Sir Philip Hastings did not condescend to reply, even by a look; but +turning to the stranger, as if the man's words had never reached his +ear, he said, "I think we had better ride on, sir. You seem to be going +my way. Night is falling fast, and in this part of the country two is +sometimes a safer number to travel with than one." + +The other bowed his head gravely, and remounting their horses they +proceeded on the way before them, while Tom Cutter, after giving up some +five minutes to the condemnation of the eyes, limbs, blood, and soul of +himself and several other persons, proceeded to catch the horse which he +had been riding as fast as he could. But the task proved a difficult +one. + +TO BE CONTINUED. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[24] Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by G. P. R. +James, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States +for the Southern District of New York. + + + + +CYPRUS AND THE LIFE LED THERE. + + +"Eidolon, or the Trial of a Soul, and other Poems," is the title of a +new volume of verses from the press of Pickering, written by WALTER R. +CASSELS, a student of the school of Shelley, and Keats, and Tennyson, +and Browning. A favorable specimen of his abilities is offered in the +following description of Cyprus: + + Amid it riseth Olympus, + Stately and grand as the throne of the gods, + And the island sleeps 'neath its shadow + Like a fair babe 'neath the care of its father. + Streams clear as the diamond + Evermore wander around it, + Like the vein'd tide through our members, + Quick with the blessings of beauty, + And health and verdurous pleasure, + Filling with yellow sheaves + And plenty the bosom of Ceres; + Calling forth flowers from the slumbering earth, + Like thoughts from the dream of a poet, + Till the island throughout is a garden, + The child and the plaything of summer. + + "In luscious clusters the fruit hangs + In the sunshine, melting away + From swetness to sweetness; + The grapes clustering 'mid leaves, + That give their bright hue to the eye + Like the setting of rubies; + The nectarines and pomegranates + Glowing with crimson ripeness, + And the orange trees with their blossoms + Yielding sweet odor to every breeze, + As the incense flows from the censer. + + "The air is languid with pleasure and love, + Lulling the senses to dreams Elysian, + Making life seem a glorious trance, + Full of bright visions of heaven, + Safe from the touch of reality, + Toil none--woe none--pain, + Wild and illusive as sleep-revelations. + Time to be poured like wine from a chalice + Sparking and joyous for aye, + Drain'd amid mirth and music, + The brows circled with ivy, + And the goblets at last like a gift + Thrust in the bossom of slumber. + + "Thus are the people of Cyprus; + Young men and old making holiday, + Decking them daintily forth + In robes of Sidonian purple; + The maidens all beauteous, but wanton, + Foolishly flinging youth's gifts, + Its jewels--its richest adornment, + Like dross on the altar of pleasure; + Letting the worm of mortality + Eat out their hearts till they bear + Only the semblance of angels." + + + + +THE COUNT MONTE-LEONE, + +OR, THE SPY IN SOCIETY.[25] + + +TRANSLATED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE FROM THE FRENCH OF H. +DE ST. GEORGES. + +_Continued from page 60._ + + +BOOK THIRD. + +We left young Rovero in despair, yielding to the stupefaction which +overpowered him, just as the singer leaned over his bed to be assured +that he was asleep. La Felina looked at him for some time in silence, +with pity in her eyes. "Why does he love me?" said she; "what have I +done? why should this poor lad love one who scarcely knew him?" + +Rovero moved. "Heavens! is the effect of the narcotic over? Will he +awaken?" + +"Felina!" murmured Taddeo. + +"My name ever on his lips and in his heart. Yes! I was right in avoiding +another interview: this letter tells all." She took a paper from her +bosom. "But if he resist my prayer, if he shrink from the duty imposed +on him by honor and humanity! He alone can accomplish it--all my hope is +in him!" + +She approached the table, and by the pale moonlight looked at the flask +of Massa wine. A single glass had been taken from it. "_One glass!_" +said she, "_only one glass?_ His sleep cannot be long. This torpor will +terminate before any one enters his cell. But Lippiani the turnkey is +devoted to me, and will see nothing." + +Drawing near the bed she took out of her fine hair a long gold pin, with +which to fasten the letter on his pillow, so that his eyes would rest on +it when he awoke. While Felina's face was near Rovero's as she put the +letter beneath his head, her warm breath hung on his lips; they pressed +hers, and, terrified, she sprang from his side. + +The prisoner dreamed of happiness, and doubted not that his fancy was +realized. Whether this kiss had overcome his torpor, or whether, as La +Felina thought, the narcotic had been taken in such small quantity that +it had produced but a slight effect, Taddeo tossed on his bed. The +singer, terrified at these signs, which were the precursors of his +awakening, disappeared by the secret passages through which she had +entered. An hour rolled by before Taddeo could triumph over his sleep. +His heavy eyes shut together in spite of himself, and his eyelashes +rested on each other. All sensation was lost in general lassitude. In +the first disorder of his mind, he asked himself if he had not again +dreamed of the appearance of La Felina. Had he not seen her approaching +his bed just as he sunk to sleep, he would have been sure of it. He +shuddered at the thought that he had lost the opportunity so anxiously +expected. At last he recovered his strength, and attempted to rise. As +he did so, his hand touched La Felina's letter on the pillow. When he +drew out the diamond-headed pin which fastened it, he no longer doubted +that he had actually seen her. Having been unable to rouse him, she had +written to him. He felt angry with himself. He would have given ten +years of his life to regain that one lost hour. He went to the tall +window of the chapel to invoke a single ray of the moon to enable him to +read the lines which had been traced by the hand of the woman he +worshipped. This consolation was denied him. The moon was hidden by +clouds, and the completest obscurity pervaded the prison. What Taddeo +suffered during the time till day, which it seemed to him would never +dawn, may be fancied, but not described. His fate was in his own hands, +yet it was unknown. Ardently clasping to his heart and to his lips the +perfumed paper on which Felina had written, his heart became +intoxicated. He passionately kissed the sheet on which the singer had +left her words, and a sad presentiment of misfortune took possession of +him. He almost feared the coming of day, the light of which would reveal +to him his fate. + +Day dawned, at first feeble, then brighter, and still brighter, and +finally brilliant and clear. He opened the letter, and his eyes glanced +over it with tender earnestness. A livid pallor overcast his features, a +nervous tremor shook him. The lines traced by La Felina he could not +read; and overcome by despair, he sank to his seat. The keeper entered. +"Signor," said he to Taddeo, "the person who visited you three days ago +asks permission to see you again." + +"Who is he?" said Taddeo--his voice choked with grief. + +"The Marquis de Maulear." + +The name recalled to the prisoner his mother and Aminta. This memory +soothed his wounded heart. "My mother, my sister," thought he; "but for +their tenderness what now would be my life! Show the Marquis in." + +While the keeper was absent, he hurried to the bed, examined it +anxiously as if in search for something which had escaped his +observation. Seizing the letter, he read anxiously the last lines, +approached the bed, and discovered the mysterious deposit La Felina had +placed under the pillow. He took it and concealed it carefully in his +clothing; and with an accent which betrayed the contest in his crushed +heart, he said aloud, as if he wished some one to hear him, "You judged +me correctly, Felina; misfortune will not make me unjust; I will do what +you ask!" + +A cry of joy echoed beneath the vault of the old chapel. Taddeo turned. +The cry had penetrated his heart. But he was alone. Just then Henri de +Maulear entered. + +"Yesterday evening, Signor Rovero, confiding your promise, I informed +the minister that, consulting with prudent reflections, you would accept +the pardon offered by the King. You are free, and can now accompany me." + +"Let us hurry to my mother, Monsieur," said Taddeo, casting one last +look on the chapel walls, which had shut up so much sorrow, happiness +and torment. He followed the Marquis. An hour afterwards two gentlemen +on noble English steeds--the best the stables of the Marquis +afforded--rode toward Sorrento. One of these riders, Rovero, was +melancholy, so that even the French amiability of the Marquis could not +divert him from gloomy meditations. Ever and anon a smile hung on his +lips, till chased away by some painful memory. The Marquis de Maulear, +satisfied that Taddeo concealed a secret from him, avoided any allusion +to it, with the delicacy and good taste which above all things fears +indiscretion. He feigned to attribute to the reserve of a new +acquaintance his companion's coldness and absence of mind. For his own +part, delighted at being able to restore this prodigal son to the +parental roof, anxious to see her whom he loved (to whom, relying on +Taddeo's promise, he had gone the evening before to announce her +brother's return), he could scarcely repress his delight. + +"Signor," said he to Taddeo, at a moment when the state of the road +forced them to slacken their pace, "we have arranged all: we have left +the festivities and pleasures of Naples, and have nothing to say of your +suffering and captivity." + +"Not one word, Monsieur, if you please, either of what I have passed +through, or of the sufferings of my friends." + +"I think your mother and sister know nothing of what you have undergone. +Had they, their suffering and alarm would have been great. But do not +flatter yourself that the arrest of Count Monte-Leone is unknown to +them. One of the Neapolitan papers informed them yesterday of that fact; +and I do not hide from you, that in my presence, your mother deplored +your unfortunate intimacy with one so adventurous and rash." + +"And what said Aminta?" asked Rovero anxiously, as if struck by a +thought, which hitherto had escaped him. + +"Signorina said nothing," observed Maulear, with an air of surprise; +"and he heard the news with the most perfect indifference." + +"To him she is unchanged," murmured Rovero. + +Low as was the tone in which this was uttered, Maulear heard it, and +could not repress the question, which he put with great anxiety, "To +whom is the Signorina always the same?" + +"To him--to the Count," said Taddeo. "I confide to you almost a family +secret. Count Monte-Leone deeply loves my sister. He never told me so, +but it is the case. If he be restored to liberty, as his friends hope, +it will be a good match for Aminta." + +Every word of Rovero fell like a drop of boiling oil on the heart of +Maulear. + +"My father," said Taddeo, "left us but a moderate fortune. Perhaps some +day we may be rich--richer than the Monte-Leone--for we are the only +heirs of the Roman Cardinal Justiniani, my mother's brother, who, as +eldest son, inherited all the property of my maternal grandfather. As +yet, however, our fortune in small, though sufficient for my tastes and +ideas. But my mother and sister have other notions; and the marriage of +Aminta and Count Monte-Leone would assure her a magnificent and +brilliant portion." + +"But if your sister does not love Count Monte-Leone?" + +"Her refusal would make two persons unhappy; first the Count of +Monte-Leone, and in the second place----" + +"And in the second place?" said Maulear. + +"Myself." + +"Yourself!" said Maulear, with surprise; "Are you intent on their +marriage?" + +"Yes," replied Taddeo, with emotion; "now, all my happiness depends on +it." + +Maulear was amazed at these singular words. Scarcely had they been +uttered, when Taddeo spurred his horse sharply, and rode toward the +house of his mother, which he saw a few hundred yards distant. Henri +followed him, troubled, and for the first time, with a care-marked brow, +paused at Aminta's door. A fond mother clasped her son to her bosom, +with that pleasure which a mother only knows. Aminta, entirely recovered +from her accident, kissed her brother affectionately. + +"My son," said Madame Rovero to Taddeo, as she clasped the hand of +Maulear, "beyond all doubt the Marquis has told you what we owe him." + +"The Marquis has only told me how devoted he was to you." + +"Well," said Aminta, "I will be less discreet." With exquisite grace she +told Taddeo all that had passed. + +"Ah, Monsieur," said he, opening his arms to the Marquis, "I would I +could find some dearer name than friend to give you." + +Aminta blushed, and looked down. Maulear saw the motion, and a gentle +hope stole over him. The name which Taddeo could not think of, perhaps, +suggested itself to Aminta. It was the name Maulear was so anxious to +give Rovero. + +Aminta's brother wished to see the courageous child who had so +heroically sacrificed himself for her. All followed Signora Rovero to +the room of the invalid. He was better. The great inflammation of his +face had disappeared, and his eyes had returned to their orbits. +Apparently he was rapidly recovering; but the cruel prediction of the +physician seemed about to be verified: _He will live, but will never +speak again_. Only harsh and broken sounds escaped the invalid's lips. + +Aminta, who had become Scorpione's nurse as soon as she was able to +leave her room, had already learned to discriminate between the +modulations of his voice. A kind of mute groan called her to him; a hiss +expressed pain or impatience; but when his violent and almost savage +nature was excited, a terrible bellowing was heard, and the bravest +heart might quail at the inhuman sound. Tonio was asleep when the +visitors entered his room, but he awoke, and without seeming surprised +at the curious faces that surrounded his bed, looked at them earnestly. + +He first recognized Taddeo, and a contraction of his lips, which, bent +from their deformity, might have been called a smile, testified his +pleasure at the visit. Aminta's presence always produced a strange +effect on Scorpione, which his inability to speak enhanced. His eyes, of +pale green, became suddenly lighted up with a peculiar and gentle +languor, which was so tender that they seemed almost attractive. This +singular magnetism had a novel effect on the invalid. But his brow soon +became contracted; a violent storm seemed to agitate his heart; and the +hissing was heard. + +"What is the matter?" asked Taddeo. Aminta said she did not know. He had +perhaps some new suffering, or something put him out of humor. Following +the direction of Tonio's eyes, she saw they rested sparkling and bright +on those of Maulear. Aminta quailed, and Henri, who saw her tremble, +hurried to sustain her. He thought the strength of the young +convalescent needed this aid. But at the moment when the girl accepted +the arm of Maulear, Scorpione rose and uttered the horrible cry by which +he expressed his impotent fury. All shuddered as they heard him. Aminta +let go Maulear's arm, and quickly sought, by gesture and words, to +soothe the Cretin, as she would appease an angry child. He became +soothed at once, and Signora Rovero left him, followed by Taddeo, +Maulear, and Aminta; but Aminta did not take Maulear's arm. + + +II. A NIGHT AT SORRENTO. + +A feeling of uneasiness had suddenly taken possession of Maulear while +in the presence of Aminta and Tonio. But he had not remarked the smile +of happiness which played on the features of the invalid when Aminta, +with the most natural air in the world, took the arm of her mother +instead of his own. + +"Signor," said Aminta's mother to the Marquis, as they went into the +hall, "do not suffer this festival in honor of the return of my son to +be celebrated without your presence. Share our family meal, and be +satisfied that in doing so you will gratify us all." + +The offer delighted Maulear, and time flew by with the rapidity love +only confers on it when passed in the presence of loved ones. + +About dinner time two strangers came to the villa, the Count Brignoli +and his son. The Count was an old minister of war of Murat, and had been +a colleague of Taddeo's father. He was one of the best friends of +Rovero's widow and daughter. A country neighbor, he often visited them. +His son Gaetano had been educated and brought up with Aminta, and a +close friendship had been the consequence. Gaetano was twenty years of +age, and his features bore the imprint of masculine and impressive +Neapolitan beauty, deficient neither in the dark locks nor black though +somewhat glassy eye, which is as it were the ordinary seal of the +countenances of the men of the south. + +The arrival of these visitors displeased Maulear. The beauty of Gaetano +struck him unpleasantly. The intimacy between Aminta and the young man, +though thus explained, wounded him. During the whole day he fancied that +he discovered a thousand of those little trifles which a lover treasures +up so carefully, and also that Aminta seemed happy in his presence. His +anxiety had begun to pass away, when a new circumstance revived it. +Aminta, who was a perfect musician, went to the piano, and sang some of +those charming canzonets which are so sweet and touching, like the +flowers of this country of melody. The voice of Aminta found an echo in +the heart of Maulear, and his ecstasy was at its height, when Gaetano +joined her and sang the charming duo from Romeo e Julietta, the +_chef-d'oeuvre_ of Zingarelli. The jealous Maulear, as he heard this +passionate music, could not believe that art alone inspired the singer. +He trembled when he thought, that as Julietta loved Romeo, Aminta might +adore Gaetano. + +Unable to repress the agitation which took possession of him, Maulear +left the saloon at the end of the duo, to superintend the preparations +for his departure. The night was dark, and pale lightning shot through +the sky, foreboding a storm. The Marquis could not repress his +mortification. The voices of Aminta and the young Italian, blended +together, followed him wherever he went "People," thought he, "only sing +thus when they are linked together by love. Art alone cannot give so +passionate an expression to their tones. Indeed, what sentiment can be +more natural? Educated together, always near each other, their affection +cannot but have grown up with them, so that now they perceive the effect +without being aware of the cause. They love each other because they were +born to do so, as birds mate in the spring because it is the season of +love. The spring of Gaetano and Aminta is come. How can I, a stranger to +this young girl, hope to please her? Her real preserver was not I, but +the unfortunate Tonio. Her gratitude to me then must be very feeble. +Besides, does gratitude lead to love?" + +As he indulged in these painful reflections, his eyes became fixed on +the skies, already damascened with black clouds. He strode rapidly +across the court of the villa until he saw in front of him Gaetano +Brignoli. Maulear could not repress a sentiment of anger at seeing him, +and one of those emotions inconsiderately indulged in, and which +reflection often punishes, though too late, took possession of him. + +"Signor," said he to the young man, "you love the Signorina Aminta +Rovero." Gaetano, surprised at the sudden rencontre in the dark, and yet +more amazed at the excited tone of the Marquis, looked at him, and in +his dark black eyes shone neither anger nor indignation, but only +astonishment at the question. + +"I have the honor to ask you," said Maulear, now become more calm, +having more command of himself, and blushing at his first uncivil +question, "if you do not (and it is very natural) feel a deep and tender +affection for your childhood's friend, the Signorina Aminta Rovero?" + +"If I love Aminta?" replied Gaetano. "Ah! Monsieur, who would not love +her! Do you know a more beautiful girl in Naples? Do you know any one +more cultivated and refined than she?" + +"Certainly not," said the Marquis, with a voice of half-stifled emotion. + +"She is my childhood's friend, the companion of my sports. With her I +received my first lessons in music. The divine art I adore. You all know +we accord, exactly. I often sing false, my teacher tells me, but she +never does." + +To hear one the heart loves and adores, spoken of with qualification and +familiarity by a stranger, is often an acute pain to a lover, so acute, +that even the familiarity of a brother with a sister often causes +distress to certain minds. Some jealous souls think this a robbery of +friendship, and a profanation of their idol. + +Maulear, wounded that the cherished name of Aminta should be so +cavalierly treated by Gaetano, replied with ill-disguised temper, + +"I understand, Signor, that there is nothing false, even musically +speaking, in the sentiments expressed by you to Signora Rovero. Perhaps +this is an exception to your usual habits, as your professor says. But +were he to find fault with the correctness of your tones, he could not +censure the sincerity of the passion breathed through them." + +"Is not that true?" said Gaetano, really flattered at Maulear's +compliment. "It is exalted, distinct, and intense. It is of a good +school, and of the lofty style of Tacchinardi." + +"Ah! Signor," replied Maulear impatiently, "you know as well as I do, +that no artist, however skilful and great, can express love as lovers +do." + +"The fact is," continued Gaetano, "that Zingarelli must have loved some +Julietta, when he wrote his Romeo." + +"And you," answered Maulear, "must adore Signorina Aminta, to play so +well the part of Romeo!" + +"Certainly," said Gaetano, smiling; "and I know very few tenors in San +Carlo who sing that _duo_ as I do. All must confess that there is no +Julietta like her." + +Maulear was amazed, and could make no reply. The young man either was +sincere, and had not understood him, or he had affected not to do so, +assuming the remarks of his companion to refer to the singer, and not to +the lover. He positively refused to become Maulear's confidant, and by +his adroitness and tact made himself understood. The result of all this +was, that Maulear remained in a cruel state of doubt in relation to the +sentiments Gaetano entertained for Aminta, and, what was yet more +painful, in relation to those of Aminta for Gaetano. + +"Excuse me, Marquis," said the young man to Maulear, "our conversation +is so unexpected, that I, in my surprise, forgot a commission with which +I was charged by Signora Rovero. I sought you to inform you of it, when +our conversation was diverted to something else. Signora Rovero, +fancying that you were superintending the preparations for your +departure, wishes you to postpone them until to-morrow, as the night is +dark and the road difficult and dangerous. Look," said he, "at these +large drops of rain, which are the avant-couriers of a violent storm." + +"Indeed," said Maulear, "I will then accompany you to the ladies." + +When they returned to the room, they found Signora Rovero talking with +the Count Brignoli, and Taddeo, with his head on his hand, lost in sad +meditation. Leaning on the back of his chair, was the poetic figure of +Aminta. Her long black curls fell over her brother's brow, and when he +looked up to see what it was that hung over him, she leaned her face +towards his until their lips met. + +"Brother," said she, "I closed your eyes on purpose that I might hide +what I see in them." + +"What do you see there, my dear sister?" + +"I see," said she, "by their sadness and languor, that my brother has +three pieces of a heart. Two he keeps for my mother and myself, but the +third--" + +"Is for none," said Taddeo, rising. + +"Very well, very well, Monsieur," said Aminta, piqued. "No one asks you +for your secret. We take an interest only in those we love--and I love +you no more." + +"My good sister," said Taddeo, clasping her hands with emotion, "love +me, love me better than ever, for I have more need of your affection." +Aminta threw herself in his arms. + +"What is all that?" said their mother, looking around. + +"A family drama," said Gaetano, who had just come in with Maulear. + +"Yes, Gaetano," said Signora Rovero, "and a happy scene of that drama; +for I know of no family more fortunate than mine." + +Aminta drew near to Maulear, and her manner was so kind, and she paid +such attention to her guest, that Maulear felt his uneasiness pass away +and his confidence return. Just then the storm burst in all its fury. +The wind whistled violently among the tall trees of the park. Signora +Rovero kept her three guests. A night passed beneath the same roof with +Aminta, gratified every wish of the Marquis, and promised him an +opportunity on the next day to declare himself to the Rose of Sorrento, +and confirm or dissipate his jealous doubts. + +Signora Rovero wished to discharge every duty of hospitality to her +guest, and escorted him herself to the room he was to occupy. "This +room," said she to Maulear, "was long occupied by my dear daughter; but +after the death of her father we altered our arrangements, and Aminta is +now in my own room. Since that time it has been occupied by our young +friend Gaetano Brignoli. I have to-night placed him elsewhere, to be +able to give you the best room." + +Maulear quivered with joy at the idea of occupying the room in which she +he adored had slept, and it was with a kind of veneration that he took +possession of it. The room was on the first story, in the right wing of +the villa, and looked on a terrace covered with flowers, and +communicating with all the rooms of the first floor. It was possible to +reach, in two ways, the rooms of the first story--from the interior of +the building, and from the exterior by this elegant terrace. But Maulear +did not observe that night the situation of his room. + +The early days of March having been colder than those of February, after +a strange season, which well-nigh had deposed winter from its throne, +and the injury Aminta had received not having permitted her to leave her +room, during his previous visits the Marquis had not examined the +residence of Signora Rovero. The terrace on which his window opened was +therefore completely unknown to him. + +For about two hours after Maulear had been conducted to the old room of +Aminta by Signora Rovero, he was so agitated by the events of the +evening that he could not consent to seek repose. Love, hope, and +jealousy, disputed for the possession of his heart. Seated in a vast +arm-chair, near the hearth, the fire on which flickered faintly, the +eyes of Maulear were mechanically directed to one of the windows of his +room, by the beating of the rain against it. All at once he saw, or +thought he saw, a white figure on the other side of the window pause for +a few instants, as if it sought to enter his room. Maulear fancied +himself under the influence of a dream. He rubbed his eyes, to be sure +that he was awake, and that his sight did not deceive him. He hurried +towards the window and opened it hastily. But as he moved, and his steps +were heard, the nocturnal visitor disappeared, and Maulear lost sight of +it amid the shadows of night. For a moment he thought it some aerial +being, flitting through space, and coming, like the _djinns_ of the +East, to watch by night over the faithful believer. But his poetry gave +way to material evidence, and the sight of the terrace, of whose +existence he had had no suspicion, proved that the _djinn_ was really a +human being, who for some unknown motive had wandered across it, and was +by no means so unreal as he had supposed. The idea of crime and theft +occurred to him. He was about to follow the person who fled, when he saw +on the terrace, before his window, an object which he immediately picked +up, and examined by the light of his lamp. It was a veil of white lace, +at that time the ordinary dress of Neapolitan women, a vaporous cloud in +which they framed their features, the relic of a fashion imported from +France, and made illustrious by the pencil of our Irabey, the great +portrayer of the grace and beauty of the empire. + +"It is beyond doubt some love-scrape," thought Maulear, "interrupted by +my occupying this bedroom; and the heroine of the adventure, having come +to the window to ascertain whether or not I slept, has fled, losing a +portion of her drapery, like a frightened sheep running through thorns." +When, however, he had examined the veil more closely, Maulear observed +its elegance and richness, and began to think which of the inmates of +the villa was likely to wear such a one. Was this the headdress of a +chambermaid? If not, who else but Aminta could wear it, unless indeed +her mother did? Lost in conjectures, the Marquis was roused by hearing a +door in the same corridor on which his room was, open. He listened. Two +persons spoke in a low tone; and walking with such precaution that it +was evident they had no disposition to be overheard. Such an occurrence, +in a house usually so silent and calm, excited Maulear's curiosity so +much, that he resolved to know who the mysterious personages were. + +Silently leaving his room, he went down the long corridor through which +those he wished to follow had preceded him. A faint light from a dark +lantern, borne by one of the strangers, fell on the path in front of +them, and was a guide to Maulear. Thus they descended the principal +staircase of the villa, crossed the ground floor, and entered the front +court. A puff of wind just then put out the lantern, as the person who +bore it was attempting to brighten its flame. + +"Fool!" said one of the two men to his companion. "How can I saddle my +horse now?" + +"It is already saddled," said the other. + +"Then I have nothing to do but mount!" + +"And you will not have occasion to use the spur," said the man with the +lantern, "for he is wild, from having been three weeks in his stable." +As the two speakers thus communed, they entered the second courtyard of +the villa. Maulear had followed them thither, hidden in the deep shadow. +A horse, ready saddled, was waiting there. One of the two men sprang +lightly into the saddle, and the other, as he opened a gate into the +fields, through which the horseman rode, said, in a voice full of fear, +"May God protect you in this terrible midnight storm, Signor Taddeo. +Beware of the road down the ravine, and be careful whom you meet." + + +III.--THE AVOWAL. + +Maulear, uneasy and disturbed by what he had seen, returned to his room. +What could induce Taddeo thus to leave his mother's house, alone, at +midnight, and in a storm? Could it be that, so recently liberated, he +was about to begin again that life of plot and sedition which already +had cost him his liberty? A deep interest united Maulear to Taddeo. The +love he felt toward the sister, made him devoted to the brother, and the +new dangers which might befall the young man seriously affected Maulear. +The night passed away without his being able to sleep. In addition to +fear on account of Taddeo, his heart was yet agitated by the emotions of +the previous day; but above all, he thought of the woman who had stood +at his window, and whose appearance he could not forget. A terrible idea +then occurred to him. The room he occupied had been that of Gaetano +Brignoli. Had this young girl, apparently so pure and modest, had the +White Rose of Sorrento, any secret amour or intrigue? The young man who +had seen the companion of her infancy might know of it. Could this +charming flower be already scorched by the hot breath of passion? +Maulear reproached himself as with a crime, for the mental profanation +of his divinity. + +The morning meal assembled together all the family and guests. Taddeo +participated in it as naturally as if he had passed the whole night in +the villa, and not a word was said of his nocturnal expedition. He was +not so melancholy and moody as he had been on the previous night, and a +careful observer might have marked on his features the satisfaction +following the performance of a painful duty. The Brignoli bade adieu to +Signora Rovero immediately after breakfast, and returned to their villa. +Maulear was delighted at their departure. + +"Marquis," said Taddeo, "permit me to treat you as a friend, and ask a +favor of you--a favor that will require you to renounce the brilliant +saloons of Naples, whose chief ornaments are the _attaches_ of the +French embassy, to lead for a time a retired country-life with my mother +and sister?" + +"If that be the favor you ask of me," said Maulear with joy, "you confer +one on me. I accept your proposition with gratitude." + +"What are you thinking of, brother? How can you propose such an exile to +the Marquis? Our life in the country is so sad and melancholy; what can +we offer him as a compensation for the amusements he would sacrifice?" + +"Where would be the merit of the service, unless its performance cost +some sacrifice?" said Taddeo. "In one word, this is the state of +affairs. An obligation, my honor imposes on me, requires me for at least +a week to be absent from Sorrento. The trial of Count Monte-Leone will +begin in a few days, and I must be present at it. It is said," added he, +with hesitation and a significant glance at the Marquis, "that the +Count's partisans will on that occasion be active. His enemies too are +numerous, and as he is known to have come to this house, I cannot feel +satisfied unless some courageous and energetic man replaces me, and +deigns to watch over the two dear beings I am forced to leave. This, +Marquis, is what I expect from you." + +"My heart, my arm, my life, are all at the ladies' disposal. You may +rely on me." + +Aminta looked down, for the first consecration made by Maulear was +evidently intended for her. Taddeo did not remark it, and clasped with +gratitude the hand of his new friend. Signora Rovero, terrified at the +idea of losing her son again, looked sadly at him. + +"I do not know what is going on," said she with emotion, and with that +instinct which reveals to a mother the danger of a beloved son. "I +shudder, however, Taddeo, when I see you surrounded by danger. You do +not like the government, I know, for by the fall of Murat a brilliant +career was closed before you, for your father was one of his greatest +favorites. But in your father's name I, your mother, his widow, whose +hope and support you are, beseech you not to expose the life which does +not belong to you alone. Remember, my child, your sister and myself have +no other support in life than yourself, and that my weak and failing +existence could not withstand your loss." + +Taddeo grew pale, for the association with which he was affiliated might +expose him to all the dangers of which his mother was apprehensive. He +concealed his agitation by caresses and iterations of love, mentally +resolving to turn aside in time from his sad career, as if those who +involve themselves in perdition can pause in the rapid descent down the +declivity to sorrow and death, whither the sturdiest champions are +hurried to be entombed in the grave they have dug for themselves. + +"You will go then to Naples?" said Signora Rovero to her son. "God grant +that Monte-Leone recover his liberty, since he is your friend! But, +Taddeo, do not trust to his adventurous mind; he is a hurricane, +enveloping all in his path. Heaven grant he may not bear you away with +him." + +This conversation on this subject, so painful to the mother and annoying +to the son, ended here. + +"Will you deign, Signorina," said the Marquis to Aminta, "to accept me +as a guest for a few days?" + +"Certainly, if you are not afraid of our retreat. Besides," added she, +with a smile, "_one must have suffered as much as Leonora's lover, not +to be happy in the paradise of Sorrento_." + +Maulear remembered the words he had written on the wall of Tasso's +house. But before he could express his astonishment and joy, Aminta was +gone. Just then it was announced to Maulear, that his horse waited him +at the gate of the park. + +"We will accompany you thither (my sister and I)," said Taddeo. + +Signora Rovero called Aminta to her, and added: "The air is keen, my +child: cover your head with your lace veil. It becomes you." + +Maulear turned quickly toward Aminta with his mind full of fear and +surprise-- + +"I am afraid I have lost my veil. I looked for it this morning, but +could not find it." Aminta seemed annoyed. Her emotion was perceived at +once by Maulear, who said to himself: "What mystery is this? why conceal +it from me?" The coincidence of a veil being found by him, and of Aminta +having lost one, made him keenly anxious: he was terrified, confounded, +and so excited, that he could scarcely speak to Taddeo and Aminta as he +crossed the park with them. + +"Remember," said Rovero to him, "that my mother and sister will expect +you here in a few days." + +"In a few days," said Aminta, giving the Marquis her sweetest smile. + +"In a few days," replied Maulear, as he mounted his horse, and cast on +the young girl a look of doubting love. He then galloped off, and soon +disappeared in the long road to Sorrento. + +When he returned to Naples, the whole city was busy with the approaching +trial of Monte-Leone, who was so beloved by one portion of the community +and so unpopular with the other. The nobility of the two Sicilies +deplored the errors of the Count, and regretted that one of the most +illustrious of the great names of Naples should embrace and defend so +plebeian a cause; one in their eyes so utterly without interest as that +of popular rights. But it was wounded at the idea that a peer should die +by the hand of the executioner. The old leaven of independence, innate +in all the aristocracies of Europe; the feudal aspirations which Louis +XI. and Richelieu had so completely annihilated and subdued in France, +yet germinated in the minds of the nobles of Naples. They loved the king +because he maintained their privileges, and had re-established the +rights of their birth. They would have revolted had he touched them. +From pride of birth they would have applauded the execution of a +plebeian conspirator, but were prepared to cry out _en masse_ against +that of Monte-Leone, because he was one of themselves. + +The people looked on the illustrious prisoner as a defender of their +rights, and sympathized with him. To sharpen this sympathy, the adepts +of the Italian _vente_ everywhere represented their chief as a martyr to +his love of the people, and a victim of monarchy. Most injurious charges +were everywhere circulated against Fernando IV. It was said that he had +inherited the hatred of Carlos III. to the Monte-Leoni, and sought to +follow out on the son the vengeance to which the father had fallen a +victim. Nothing was omitted that could stimulate the favor of the +superstitious and impressionable people of Naples. The same executioner, +block and axe, which had been used at the father's death, by a strange +fatality, would come in play again at the murder of the son. The +imprisonment of the son at the Castle _Del Uovo_, where the father had +died, gave something of plausibility to this story. But what most +excited public curiosity was the strange incident which had taken place +at _Torre-del-Greco_. All were impatient for its explanation. The double +and impossible presence of the Count at the house of Stenio Salvatori, +and within the fifty locks of the Castle _Del Uovo_, his contest with +his enemy, the wound he was accused of having given him, his ubiquity at +the same hour in different places, produced a thousand incredible +versions, a thousand bets on this wonderful fact, unrivalled in the +judicial annals of Naples. + +The name of Monte-Leone was so closely and intimately linked with the +destiny of the Marquis de Maulear, with his friendship to Taddeo, and +his love of Aminta, that he partook of the general interest inspired by +the Count, and as a man of honor hoped for acquittal, notwithstanding +the influence it might exert on his happiness. + +To lose confidence in one we love, is the greatest agony possible. The +four days, therefore, which separated him from Aminta, were four +centuries to Maulear. Like the majority of rich young men of our times, +yielding at an early age to _liaisons_, he had formed an erroneous and +unjust opinion of women in general. The withered myrtles he had often +gathered, the passing amours in which almost all the men of his rank, +fortune and appearance indulge, had distorted his mind in relation to a +sex, the least respectable portion of which alone he was acquainted +with. But the young Marquis had exalted sentiments, and his high spirit +turned aside from vulgar, common pleasures. His first loves, or not to +profane that word, his first indulgences, had for their object those +women who lead astray an ardent mind or passionate natures; those women +who, betrayed into marriage, seek elsewhere a recompense for their +misfortunes or the deceptions practised upon them, and fancy they can +find it in the inexperience and youth of young men, whom chance throws +in their way. The latter proudly, and at first eagerly, accepting their +conquests, soon discover, that often they are not heroes. They become +themselves the accomplices of the criminal devices, the studied +falsehoods, employed by married women to abuse those on whom they +depend. In either case they see each other insensibly change, and in +spite of themselves conceive an aversion to those pleasures, even in +sharing which they blush. The idol becomes a mere woman, and the hero of +these adventures fancies himself right in estimating all women by a few +exceptions, and becomes an atheist in love because he has sacrificed to +false gods. + +This deplorable theory had taken possession of Maulear. His naturally +pure sentiments, the poetry of his heart, had been dissipated in +ephemeral indulgences. The Countess of Grandmesnil, the guardian of the +young man, fearing lest a serious passion should contravene his father's +views,--encouraged him in his _liaisons_, or at least she did nothing to +induce him to abandon them. Under this sad opinion, which is +unfortunately too common in our days, that female virtue is but a name, +and that the most prudent only need opportunity to go astray, Maulear +came to Naples, where we must say much success in gallantry fortified +his faith in these detestable principles. + +His meeting with one so pure as Aminta had wrought a complete change in +his ideas. He saw woman under a new aspect, as we dream of her at +twenty, when the young soul first awakes. He suffered intensely when +suspicion gnawed at his heart. "What," said he, yet under the influence +of the pernicious theories of his youth, "not one woman worthy of +respect! Even this young girl, apparently so modest and pure, unworthy +the confidence I reposed in her." The recollection of the chaste and +maidenly appearance of Aminta soon put such ideas to flight, and Maulear +thenceforth had but one idea, but one desire. He sought to clear up the +strange mystery of his nocturnal vision, and extricate himself from his +cruel perplexity. + +On the day appointed for his return to Sorrento, as the clock struck +ten, he stopped his horse at the garden gate where four days before he +had left Aminta. The gate was open. He entered the orange grove which +lay between it and the house. A secret hope told him he would find +Aminta there. He was not mistaken. She sat beneath a rustic porch, which +served as a portal to the prettiest cottage imaginable. This building, +constructed of the slightest material, had windows closed with +gayly-covered verandahs, and served to shelter walkers from the heat of +the summer's sun. It was Aminta's favorite retreat, and thither she came +in the morning to paint her sisters, the white Bengal roses, the red +cactus and the graceful clematides, which surrounded her charming +retreat. There in the evening, pensive and reflective, the young girl +suffered her glance to stray over the vast horizon of the sea gilded by +the sun's expiring rays. On the day we speak of, Maulear found her +reading, or rather seeming to read, for her book rested on her knee, her +ivory brow supported by her hand. Her eyes, lifted up to heaven, seemed +to ask the realization of some gentle dream inspired doubtless by the +author. Perhaps the nature of the dream might have been devised by the +book--Tasso's Divine Poem! Maulear glided rather than walked to her, so +fearful was he of destroying the beautiful tableau presented to him by +chance. Then he paused some moments behind a screen of leaves, and +looked at the beautiful dreamer, in mute but passionate adoration. As he +scanned her girlish form, becoming intoxicated with her modest charms, +Maulear blushed at his suspicions, and resolved to abandon them. God did +not make such angels for men to distrust, and Aminta, beautiful as the +heavenly beings, must be pure and spiritual as they. + +He left his concealment, and approached Aminta. She moved when she saw +him, for he had surprised her in a dream. The dreams of young girls are +treasures to be concealed from the profane in the most profound +sanctuary of the heart. Aminta advanced a step or two towards Maulear, +thus testifying her wish to return to the villa. But the Marquis, afraid +of losing this favorable opportunity to see her for a short time alone, +begged her to be seated, and took his place beside her, making, as an +excuse, an allusion to the fatigue of riding rapidly from Naples to +Sorrento. + +Aminta sat down, but with an embarrassment which Maulear could not but +see. "You have kept your promise, Signor," said she, seeking to disguise +her trouble by speaking first. + +"How could I not keep my promise?" said Maulear. "It was to see you +again." + +"We know what such devotion must cost you," Aminta replied, speaking +aloud, as if her words were not intended only for Maulear. "Both my +mother and myself are very grateful to you." + +"Signorina," said Maulear, with an effort, for he was afraid of wasting +in commonplaces moments in which every word he uttered had a priceless +value, "I did not think, as I wrote on the wall of Tasso's house the +simple lines you deigned to read and remember, that I thus wrote out my +horoscope, and divined the happiness fate marked out for me at +Sorrento." + +"Happiness?" said Aminta, and she trembled as she spoke. "You must refer +to the service you have rendered me." + +"I speak," said Maulear, unable to restrain himself, "of a new and +strange feeling to me, full of pleasure and pain, of hope and fear. I +speak of a love, which will be the pride and joy of my existence, if it +be shared; which will bring despair and torment, if she who inspires it +rejects it." + +"Pray be silent," said Aminta, rising and looking with fear around her. + +"Ah, you have understood me," said Maulear, attributing to his +confession Aminta'a emotion. + +The young girl was silent. Her eyes turned towards the door of the hut, +as if she feared some one would open it. + +"What I say here, Signorina, with nought near me but the passing cloud +and flying bird, I wish to repeat to those who love you--before your +mother and brother, whom I would look on as my own. It is for you to +tell me whether I shall speak to them or be silent." + +Just then a faint noise was heard in the summer-house. + +Maulear did not perceive it, for Aminta, more and more disturbed by the +mysterious noise, had suffered the Marquis to take her hand, and the +latter, interpreting this favor as his heart wished, fell on his knees +before the young girl, who, overcome with emotion, sat down. + +"Aminta," said he, passionately, "since the first day I saw you, my +soul, my life, have been your own. If you but will it, your life shall +be my own--my own, to make every hour of your life one of joy and +pleasure--mine, in adoring you as we do the saints in heaven." + +Maulear, with his eyes fixed on Aminta's, sought an echo to the +outpourings of his soul. His lips were on Aminta's hand, when, between +the young girl and himself, he saw a hideous head, made yet more horrid +by the agony it expressed. Aminta suddenly withdrew, and Maulear +experienced that terror of which the bravest are sensible when they +tread on a reptile. + +"Scorpione!" said the Marquis. + +This name, on the lips of the Marquis at such a time, made such an +impression, that a stream of blood, mingled with white froth, burst from +his lips, and fell at Aminta's feet. + +"Help, Signor!" said she to Maulear, "help, I pray you, for this +unfortunate man! This is the first time he has gone out since that cruel +day. See, he dies!" + +"What is the meaning of all this?" said Maulear to himself, as he +hurried towards the villa. "Twice my being with Aminta has exercised +the same effect on this unfortunate being. Can she love him? Can he be +jealous?" + + +IV. THE GRAND JUDGE. + +The trial of Count Monte-Leone, which had been so anxiously looked for, +and had given rise to so many disputes about the curious story which +occupied both the high and low of Naples, was about to begin. + +The Duke of Palma had not been able to make good his promise to the +prisoner, and bring him promptly before his judges. The incident at +_Torre-del-Greco_ made a new inquiry necessary, and the examinations, +researches, and inquiries of every kind it led to daily, retarded the +trial, much to the regret of the king and his minister of police, who +were aware of the extent to which the public imagination was excited, +and feared its consequences. Monte-Leone began to feel grave +apprehensions in relation to the dangerous game he had played. On the +evening of his excursion, faithful to his word, the Count had presented +himself again to the keeper of the Castle del Uovo in the costume in +which he had left it, and the pious wicket-keeper, when he saw the false +assistant jailer, who had gone out on the previous evening, return with +a trembling and uncertain step, read a long lecture on intemperance and +the results of drunkenness, deplorable faults, especially to be +regretted in one of his profession, where, added the turnkey proudly, +one needs morality, reason, and vigilance especially, to unravel the +plots of the prisoners confided to him, and to triumph over their +detestable _mania for liberty_. + +When Pietro on that evening, palpitating as he was with fear, saw +Monte-Leone, whom he waited for at the postern of the castle, return, +his joy was so great that he was ready to clasp the Count's neck. The +latter was not much flattered by his transports. + +"Well," said the head-jailer, "you are a noble and true gentleman. A +scoundrel in your place would have escaped, and put his keeper in +trouble. You are of a good race, of a noble and generous blood, you have +paid me well, and have been unwilling to hang the father of a family. +Now," added he, "do not let us talk together, or even look at each +other. Our looks may be watched and interpreted." + +From that time Pietro became more brutal, more savage and stern than +ever. The visit of the minister of police justly enough increased the +terror of the jailer. He had from public rumor heard of the terrible +episode at _Torre-del-Greco_, though he did not precisely understand the +motives of the prisoner. He was aware that he had become an accomplice +of his crime, and shuddered more and more at its probable results. +Whenever, therefore, the Count sought to ask him any question, Pietro +exhibited such terror, and his countenance was so complete a picture of +fright, that Monte-Leone at last ceased to speak to him. No news from +without, nothing enlightened the Count in relation to the consequences +of his daring conduct, and for the first time he despaired of the +result. One morning his door opened as usual at meal time; but instead +of withdrawing, the keeper approached Monte-Leone kindly, his ugly face, +on account of the complaisance which lit it up, seeming yet more horrid. +He said: + +"Excellence, the great day approaches, and we must arrange some little +details about which the High Court will no doubt be ill-mannerly enough +to question us!" + +"You can speak then," replied Monte-Leone, with surprise. + +"To-day is not yesterday. Then and ever since your escape, my gossip, +the Headsman, who lives up there as you know, distrusts me. I learn from +his assistant, who is a friend of mine, that the story of the cell +undermined by the sea has made him fancy I wish to deprive him of his +perquisites. I know that while he waters his flowers on the platform he +keeps an eye and ear open for all that passes here. Besides, he would +not be at all sorry to obtain my place for his first assistant--a +promising lad who becomes his son-in-law to-day." + +"Ah!" said Monte-Leone, "the executioner's daughter is to be married." + +"A love match. He wished to postpone the wedding until after _your +affaire_, as he calls it, for on such cases he always has large +perquisites, and would be able largely to increase the bride's portion. +The young girl, however, was in love, and was unwilling to wait for you. +The worthy father then determined to make her happy, and I have just +seen all the party set out for the church of Santa-Lucia. The +executioner, his wife, the bride, and the little executioners, all in +their best garb. The procession was so imposing, they might have been +taken for a family of turnkeys. Lest, however, the people should disturb +the ceremony by a volley of stones, they set out early, at five o'clock. +As, therefore, we have no inquisitive neighbors, I am come to have an +understanding with your excellency, in order that I may not be +compromised in the trial." + +"So be it!" said the Count, "let us have an understanding. In the first +place, have they any suspicions?" + +"Of whom?" + +"Of you to be sure, for unless I have wings and flew out of the window +to _Torre-del-Greco_, no one but you can have opened the prison gate to +me." + +"That is true, then," said Pietro, "you went to _Torre-del-Greco_ to +stab Stenio Salvatori. I really would not have believed it, for it seems +that twenty thousand piasters is too large a sum for the pleasure of a +poniard thrust--in the arm too! After all, though, we Neapolitans regard +nothing valuable compared with revenge!" + +"It matters little to you whether it was for revenge or another purpose. +All I wish is, for you alone to know that I was away for twelve hours. +As neither you or I will mention it, I am at ease." + +"You are right in the main, your Excellency. But we have placed our +heads in the balance, and I am determined yours shall not outweigh mine. +The hand of justice weighs heavily, especially on the poor. It would be +very bad if now, when I am prepared to live happily and pleasantly on +the proceeds of our little operation, I were called on to dangle at the +end of a rope, to the great delight of the dealers in ice-water and +macaroni, whom the people of Naples on that day would enrich. Few would +miss the entertainment which would be given at my expense." + +"What makes you fear this?" asked the Count. + +"One idea. They might take it into their heads to examine separately all +the inhabitants of the castle. First your Excellency, as its principal +guest, then your humble servant, the gate-keeper, and even my assistant +Crespo. If all did not tell the same story the Grand Judge would see +some trick." + +"You think so?" said the Count, moodily. + +"I know so," said Pietro. "The Grand Judge, as the child's story-book +says of ogres, loves fresh meat, and would see a spot on the brow of an +angel. Now, I am not exactly an angel--and if he saw a spot, your +excellency's head might be safe, but for want of a chicken he might +twist my neck. The jailer would be the victim, and my friend the +executioner would have to do with me. I know him. He would be +enthusiastic in the operation, to make a vacancy in my place. He is +bound up in his family." + +For an instant the Count had not heard the jailer. One single name +inspired him with the greatest terror, for it recalled one of the +participators in his escape. This man held in his own hands his own and +his accomplice's escape. Pietro had not foreseen all. This assistant, +the character and dress of whom he had assumed, this Crespo, this mole, +would be summoned before the magistrate. The keeper had seen and spoken +to him, had opened the gate of the castle to suffer him to pass out, or +at least fancied he had. What then would the man say? With great +emotion, then, Monte-Leone said, + +"The danger does not come from the place you apprehend. One witness, +however, may ruin all." + +"Of whom do you speak?" said Pietro, trembling. + +"Of Crespo," said the Count. + +"Ah--what have you to fear of Crespo?" + +"Have you gained him over?" + +"No. I was spared the trouble. At this moment the poor fellow is +probably in the other world." + +"Have you killed him?" said the Count, with terror. + +"For what does your excellency take me? One may yield to the prayers of +a prisoner, and secure a fortune by permitting him a few hours' +exercise, yet be no murderer. If Crespo dies, it is in consequence of +his unfortunate passion." + +"Was he in love?" + +"No. He was fond of water-rats." + +"Horrible appetite." + +"Not at all," said the jailer. "Crespo says the animal is very savory, +especially when fat as those in the ditches of the castle are. The +waters bear hither all the offal of Naples, and the rats live like +canons." + +"And Crespo eats them?" + +"He has a passion for game of that kind, and does nothing but hunt them. +He makes some very ingenious traps to catch them with. I do not molest +him, because the taste is so innocent, and besides, saves me the expense +of several cats." + +"But how came that passion to endanger Crespo's life?" + +"Ah--one is not always lucky. Perhaps the last rats Crespo ate, had +feasted on arsenic--rats are so whimsical. The poor devil, perhaps, was +poisoned in that manner. Rather an expensive taste. Unfortunately, the +lesson will do him no good." + +After this touching funeral oration, the jailer took out a blue and torn +handkerchief, and dried his eyes. The Count shuddered at this story. He +understood the atrocious plan adopted by Pietro to get rid of a +dangerous witness, and forgetful of his own safety, said, + +"Perhaps, if you hurry for a physician, the poor man may yet be saved." + +"Bah! do you think the Governor would let one of his officers die +without assistance? The doctor, however, was too late; and when I came +hither, Crespo was dying." + +Notwithstanding his firmness, the horror of Monte-Leone at the wretch +was so great that he hastened to terminate the conversation. The quasi +complicity in a crime committed in cold blood, and with premeditation; +was odious to him. + +"Do not fear lest my examination should compromise you. I will be +prudent. Now, one word more, or if you please to consider it so, one +favor more--when will I be tried?" + +"In two days. To-night they will come to take you to _Castello Capuano_, +where the supreme court will meet." + +Pietro left, and Monte-Leone relapsed into a profound reverie. The drama +was about to begin. What the Count hitherto had done, was as it were but +a prelude, an exposition, or rather a skilful introduction. On the eve +of the event he did not quail, but like a sagacious tactician asked +himself if he had been guilty of no neglect, if he had taken advantage +of all the circumstances. One thing alone made him uneasy. When he +returned to the Etruscan villa, to assume the clothes of the +assistant-jailer, he saw with terror that he had lost the great emerald, +the _chef-d'oeuvre_ of Benvenuto, the family ring, so long celebrated +and so well known. He readily enough fancied that it had been lost +during his rapid flight, and did not suspect that it had fallen into the +hands of his enemies. Reassured on this point, he waited patiently for +the hour when, as the jailer said, they would come to take him to +_Castello Capuano_. It came at last, and Monte-Leone was glad of it, for +it seemed to bring him nearer to liberty. It was about midnight when the +Governor came to the Count's cell, accompanied by the worthy jailer and +several officers. + +"Excellency," said he to Monte-Leone, "I have an order from the Duke of +Palma, minister of police, to take you to _Castello Capuano_, to be +tried." + +"I am ready to obey the orders of the Duke," said Monte-Leone, "late as +the hour and bad as the weather are. But, Signor, the Duke treats me +like those curious monsters, who travel by night to avoid the anxious +eyes of the public, and to enhance the profits received from their +exhibition." + +"Signor, the Duke of Palma," said the Governor, piqued by this irony in +relation to his patron, "has a more exalted object than exciting or +allaying the curiosity of the people of Naples. He wishes to prevent any +demonstration of your numerous partisans in your favor. Such conduct +would certainly injure your cause." + +The sarcasm of the Count had made the Governor say too much. He had +revealed to Monte-Leone the interest he had excited, and the efforts +which might be made to save him. To a man like Monte-Leone nothing was +lost, and like a skilful geometer, he knew how to take advantage of the +errors of his adversary. + +"Let us go, Signor," said Monte-Leone to the Governor. "I am impatient +to make an acquaintance with the new castle which the king honors me +with. Let me change once or twice again, and I will be able to publish a +statistical account of all the dungeons in the kingdom, for the +information of his majesty's beloved subjects." + +An hour after this scene the Count was in a room of _Castello Capuano_, +appropriated to the reception of great and distinguished criminals to be +tried by the high court. + +On the next day, a man of cold and ascetic air waited on Monte-Leone. +This person was Felippo San Angelo, the ogre of whom Pietro had spoken, +the terror of all criminals, the Grand Judge of Naples. If the _morale_ +of the Judge had been calumniated by Pietro, his physique bore a strong +analogy to that of certain beasts of prey to which carnivorous appetite +is attributed. His nose was hooked like an eagle's, his brow was +prominent, oblong and bald, his lips were thin and fixed as if he had +never smiled, his body was long and attenuated, and he never met the +glance of those with whom he spoke. + +"Signor," said the Grand Judge, "I am come to announce to you, as the +law requires, that you will appear before the court on the day after +to-morrow. You will be allowed to choose an advocate, and, as Grand +Judge of the Kingdom, I come to invite you to do so." + +"I am deeply sensible of your Excellency's consideration," said +Monte-Leone, "but I must say, the first act of your _justice_ is +_unjust_. If my enemies have had two months to prepare their accusation, +it is cruel to allow me but two days to prepare my defence." + +"This is the provision of the laws which regulate at Naples the special +courts, like the one which is to try you, Signor Comte. I do not make +the law, but only administer it." + +"But, Excellency, a man of your character should not administer an +unjust law; nothing should compel him to do so." + +"Signor," said the Grand Judge, much annoyed at finding himself +unexpectedly drawn into such a discussion, "the legislator gives us the +text of law, we find the interpretation. Your judges, the chief of whom +I am, have carefully studied them, and if we have assumed on our honor +and conscience their application, it is because we think them just. We +do not permit the accused to contest their forms. When a man is +unfortunately brought before a court, he must submit." + +"I do, Excellency," said Monte-Leone, "I will even court their severity, +and will not take advantage of the very short time allowed me to choose +a defender. For humanity's sake alone I address you as I do. It seems to +me, however, that it is necessary that I should know, in the first +place, of what I am accused; and I wait until it please your Excellency +to tell me." + +"You are charged, Signor, with two capital crimes. First, of having, on +the night of the 20th December, 1815, conspired against the security of +the state, near the ruins of Pompeii, where you presided over a secret +society, the object of which is the overthrow of royalty. You are, in +the second place, accused of having attempted to assassinate Stenio +Salvatori, of _Torre-del-Greco_, to avenge yourself on account of his +testimony." + +"Is this all?" asked Monte-Leone. + +"It is, Signor," said the Grand Judge; "I think such charges are +important enough to induce you to remember that you must now choose your +counsel." + +"You are right, Signor," said Monte-Leone. "For such a cause a skilful +advocate is required, one who shall be able to impress your heart with +the conviction of my innocence, for on his word depends my life or +death." + +"Find such a one, then, Signor," said the Grand Judge. "Believe me, +however, the most eloquent advocate has less influence over a +conscientious judge than the facts of the case, the light which +illumines them, and which it is their duty to make brilliant in our +eyes, rather than seek an opportunity to display their fluency and their +political opinions, or, worse yet, to produce public or private +scandal--" + +"You are right, Signor, but the person who will speak in my behalf is +neither eloquent nor skilful, yet the most famous pleas, the most +powerful defences of Naples, will not produce so much effect as the +words of that man." + +"You, Signor, alone," said the Grand Judge, "can choose your defender. +But let me know his name--" + +"That can only be revealed at the trial." + +"But you do not know, Signor, you thus deprive yourself of a precious +right to all who are accused, secured them by law, the right of +communicating with their defenders." + +"That right I waive. The man who will defend me will know his grave +mission only when called on in the face of the supreme tribunal to +fulfil it." + +The Grand Judge looked with amazement at Monte-Leone. "Why, Signor, +cannot he be informed of his grave duty?" + +"God forbid he should!" + +"Why?" + +"Because in that case I would lose my cause." The Count laughed. + +"Act then, Signor, as you please. Strange and whimsical as your conduct +is, I have no authority to speak of its advantages and disadvantages." + +He bowed to Monte-Leone and withdrew. + +"He is mad," said he, as he was leaving _Castello Capuano_. + +"He is a fool," said Monte-Leone, as the Grand Judge left. "He did not +understand that one defends himself from the effects of a crime +committed, but not when no crime has been committed." + + +V.--THE TRIAL. + +The appointed day came at last, and all Naples assumed a strange and +unusual air. One subject of interest took possession of all the city, +one idea occupied it, and from the Senator to the Lazzarone all had one +name on their lips. Monte-Leone, Count Monte-Leone. + +"Monte-Leone, the people's friend," said some. + +"Monte-Leone, the conspirator," said others. + +"Monte-Leone, the assassin of Stenio Salvatori," said the enemies of the +Count. + +"Monte-Leone, the victim of Fernando," said the enemies of the King. + +As all this was going on around the prison, calm and thoughtful +Monte-Leone waited for the hour of trial. + +_Castello Capuano_, usually called la Vicaria, had been for several +centuries the palace of the Kings and Viceroys, until Pedro de Toledo +abandoned for a more splendid palace, that of the existing Kings, and +devoted la Vicaria or _Castello Capuano_ to the civil and criminal +courts of the realm. Nothing can be more sad and melancholy than the +portion of the palace in which the prisons are. As if to enhance this +appearance, the outside of the prison was hung with iron cages, in which +were the heads and hands of persons who had been executed. These relics +of humanity, long before dried up, and the skeletons of which alone +remained, rattled in the night wind horribly, and filled with +superstitious terror the minds of belated travellers returning through +the _Porta Capuano_, from which the Castle took its name, to Naples. + +La Vicaria was then from an early hour in the morning besieged by a +numerous crowd, awaiting the opening of its gates to rush into the hall +of audience. The doors were opened. The hall was instantly occupied by a +crowd of curious persons, who everywhere in Europe are attracted by +criminal trials. It is a matter of surprise that in France women, and +especially those of rank, are attracted in numbers sufficient sometimes +to form a majority of the audience. But the reason is, that women are +nervous and impressionable, and that they constantly require excitement. +They are not often careful in the selection of these emotions, provided +there are violent shocks, revulsions of feeling, terror, hope, surprise. +Such are the fruits of criminal trials. The head of the prisoner becomes +a shuttlecock between the advocate and magistrate. The varied chances of +such a scene offer great and real interest, effacing all the fictions of +tragedy. There, far more than on the stage, women take delight in the +dark dramas, and are the first to resent the terrible effect of the +denouements. + +The beautiful women of Naples did not fail to add to the interest of the +representation of this drama, the hero of which possessed the admiration +of all and the good graces of many. Some of the upper seats were +occupied by women of high rank, who did not dare to show themselves +publicly at this strange spectacle, and came, like beggars, to enjoy a +scene which they would be ashamed to have acknowledged. Places, too, had +been reserved for the patrician women, near the bench of the judges and +advocates. These cold, careless creatures, attracted by mere curiosity, +were not the most numerous of the agitated crowd. The private friends of +the Count, his partisans, the members of the society of which he was the +chief, formed an imposing mass agitated by the most tumultuous +sentiments. Two hearts beat violently, and, though in different places, +a skilful clock-maker would have declared that one was not faster than +the other by a single second. These two hearts were full of the same +object, desired the same thing, pursued the same end. One sentiment +united both, and they were equally tortured by hope and fear. + +One of these was a woman dressed in black, and having a half disclosed, +fresh and beautiful face. A fine and delicately gloved hand was placed +upon her heart as if to restrain its pulsations. Her other hand, from +time to time, was passed beneath her veil, to bear to her lips an +exquisitely embroidered and perfumed handkerchief. She sat alone on one +of the remote benches. For a long time she remained motionless, but +suddenly seeming anxious to avoid observation, she approached, as +nearly as possible, the front of the recess in which the bench on which +she had been sitting was placed. She then cast a quick, anxious glance +on the crowd which filled every portion of the court-room, returned, and +became again motionless, and apparently calm as she had been before. + +The other actor in this silent scene, was a young man with a pale and +agitated countenance, which betrayed the anxiety of his mind, and the +deep interest he took in the events of the day. Yet not to the place +reserved for the judges, nor the doors through which the prisoner would +be led, did he look. Suspiciously examining every bench in the hall, +perceiving (so to speak) the mass of spectators, the long lines of which +rose one above another, he examined the most remote, even, without +perceiving what he was evidently so anxious to find. At last, by a +sudden start, he attracted the attention of those near him,--a +half-stifled cry burst from his lips; he had perceived the lonely woman +on the remote bench. + +"Do you know that lady?" said a young man who sat upon the advocates' +bench. + +"I know her?" said he, "not at all." + +"Excuse me, you seemed surprised when you saw her." + +"The fact was, I had not remarked those seats; they are real opera +boxes." + +"Look again, Signor, the lady amuses herself strangely." + +"I see nothing, sir," said the pale young man, who still kept his eyes +fixed upon the lady. + +"Three times," said the first speaker, "she has placed her hand upon her +hair, as if she would point out to somebody a diamond pin which shines +amid her jetty locks like a star in a stormy sky." + +"You think so?" + +"I am sure of it, it is a signal--and see, she has taken her pin from +her hair, and is imploring. Ah! sir, what a pretty Venus hand. One kiss +on her hand, and I would die content!" + +"To be sure," said the other mechanically, and without knowing what he +said. + +"It is some intrigue," said the gossiper, "the women of our country go +everywhere, to the church, to the court, and to the theatre. It would be +odd if it were the judge's wife. They who always condemn others, +sometimes must atone for it." + +"Speak lower, Signor, speak lower; you may compromise her." + +"True, true, but by St. Januarius, see what she is about now;" he spoke +lower. + +"What!" said the young man. + +"She has placed her finger upon her pin, and looks this way, as if she +was interrogating you." + +"You are mistaken; besides, how can you see under a veil which way she +looks?" + +"There is no doubt about it, it is intended for us, and she wishes to +speak either to you or to me." + +Looking towards the person of whom they spoke, for the purpose of giving +more force to his asseveration, he was amazed to see her white hand +holding the diamond pin to her lips. The scene we have been so long +describing had taken place in a few seconds. Prompt as was the reply of +the young man to the interrogatory of the woman, his companion had +perceived it. The latter being a man of good taste, and perfectly expert +in the telegraphs of love, was persuaded that he had interfered in some +love affair, and hastened to say to the hero of the adventure, + +"Do not be afraid, sir, I have seen nothing. Well-bred people, such as +you and I are, never speak of secrets we thus become acquainted +with--and I am ready to maintain with my lip and with my sword, that you +have not the slightest acquaintance with the lady there." + +"Thank you, sir," said the young man; "your conduct proves you to be a +gentleman." + +Just then all the assemblage became full of eager expectation at the +entrance of the High Court, preceded by the President. + +"The court is opened--produce the prisoner," said the Grand Judge. + +The agitation became stronger. Women stood up in their chairs, men +climbed up on the banisters, and others, vexed at not being able to see, +protested against the appropriation of seats by the legs and boots of +those in front of them. The disorder was quickly put an end to by the +imperious voice of the Grand Judge, who threatened to have the hall +cleared if order were not at once restored, and the respect due to the +court maintained. All became immediately quiet; the audience sat down, +those in the rear ceased to complain, and many an eye was fixed on Count +Monte-Leone. + +The Count sat in the lofty seat reserved for him, an arm-chair replaced +the stool used by vulgar criminals. The respect due to rank and birth +was religiously observed in this aristocratic tribunal. The noble, if +found guilty, was certainly sentenced to death, as the merest +commoner--the form of trial, though, always exhibited respect for +illustrious names, which was most gratifying to the people. The fact +was, at that time people believed in social superiority, had faith in +their God, king and nobles, and though they demanded that their nobles +should be punished, did not expect them to die like common people; the +difference was the difference between the rope and the sabre. That very +difference, however, between the two deaths--the terrible theatrical +effect of the latter, made a great impression on the masses. + +The public accuser arose, and pronounced an eloquent harangue against +Monte-Leone, as guilty of two crimes, the nature of which the Grand +Judge had already described to him in prison. + +First crime: Conspiracy against the State, in having presided at the +secret _venta_ of Pompeia, as chief of a society, having for its object +the overturning of the monarchy. + +TO BE CONTINUED. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[25] Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by Stringer +& Townsend, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United +States for the Southern District of New-York. + + + + +From Graham's Magazine. + +BALLAD OF JESSIE CAROL. + +BY ALICE CAREY. + + + I. + + At her window, Jessie Carol, + As the twilight dew distils, + Pushes back her heavy tresses, + Listening toward the northern hills. + "I am happy, very happy, + None so much as I am blest; + None of all the many maidens + In the Valley of the West," + Softly to herself she whispered; + Paused she then again to hear + If the step of Allen Archer, + That she waited for, were near. + "Ah, he knows I love him fondly!-- + I have never told him so!-- + Heart of mine be not so heavy, + He will come to-night, I know." + + Brightly is the full moon filling + All the withered woods with light, + "He has not forgotten surely-- + It was later yesternight!" + Shadows interlock with shadows-- + Says the maiden, "Woe is me!" + In the blue the eve-star trembles + Like a lily in the sea. + Yet a good hour later sounded,-- + But the northern woodlands sway!-- + Quick a white hand from her casement + Thrust the heavy vines away. + Like the wings of restless swallows + That a moment brush the dew, + And again are up and upward, + Till we lose them in the blue, + Were the thoughts of Jessie Carol,-- + For a moment dim with pain, + Then with pleasant waves of sunshine, + On the hills of hope again. + "Selfish am I, weak and selfish," + Said she, "thus to sit and sigh; + Other friends and other pleasures + Claim his leisure well as I. + Haply, care or bitter sorrow + 'Tis that keeps him from my side, + Else he surely would have hasted + Hither at the twilight tide. + Yet, sometimes I can but marvel + That his lips have never said, + When we talked about the future, + Then, or then, we shall be wed! + Much I fear me that my nature + Cannot measure half his pride, + And perchance he would not wed me + Though I pined of love and died. + To the aims of his ambition + I would bring nor wealth nor fame. + Well, there is a quiet valley + Where we both shall sleep the same!" + So, more eves than I can number, + Now despairing, and now blest, + Watched the gentle Jessie Carol + From the Valley of the West. + + + II. + + Down along the dismal woodland + Blew October's yellow leaves, + And the day had waned and faded, + To the saddest of all eves. + Poison rods of scarlet berries + Still were standing here and there, + But the clover blooms were faded, + And the orchard boughs were bare. + From the stubble fields the cattle + Winding homeward, playful, slow, + With their slender horns of silver + Pushed each other to and fro. + Suddenly the hound upspringing + From his sheltering kennel, whined, + As the voice of Jessie Carol + Backward drifted on the wind, + Backward drifted from a pathway + Sloping down the upland wild, + Where she walked with Allan Archer, + Light of spirit as a child! + All her young heart wild with rapture + And the bliss that made it beat-- + Not the golden wells of Hybla + Held a treasure half so sweet! + But as oft the shifting rose-cloud, + In the sunset light that lies, + Mournful makes us, feeling only + How much farther are the skies,-- + So the mantling of her blushes, + And the trembling of her heart, + 'Neath his steadfast eyes but made her + Feel how far they were apart. + + "Allan," said she, "I will tell you + Of a vision that I had-- + All the livelong night I dreamed it, + And it made me very sad. + We were walking slowly, seaward, + In the twilight--you and I-- + Through a break of clearest azure + Shone the moon--as now--on high; + Though I nothing said to vex you, + O'er your forehead came a frown, + And I strove, but could not soothe you-- + Something kept my full heart down; + When, before us, stood a lady + In the moonlight's pearly beam, + Very tall and proud and stately-- + (Allan, this was in my dream!--) + Looking down, I thought, upon me, + Half in pity, half in scorn, + Till my soul grew sick with wishing + That I never had been born. + 'Cover me from woe and madness!' + Cried I to the ocean flood, + As she locked her milk-white fingers + In between us where we stood,-- + All her flood of midnight tresses + Softly gathered from their flow, + By her crown of bridal beauty, + Paler than the winter snow. + Striking then my hands together, + O'er the tumult of my breast,-- + All the beauty waned and faded + From the Valley of the West!" + + In the beard of Allan Archer + Twisted then his fingers white, + As he said, "My gentle Jessie, + You must not be sad to-night; + You must not be sad, my Jessie-- + You are over kind and good, + And I fain would make you happy, + Very happy--if I could!" + Oft he kissed her cheek and forehead, + Called her darling oft, but said, + Never, that he loved her fondly, + Or that ever they should wed; + But that he was grieved that shadows + Should have chilled so dear a heart; + That the time foretold so often + Then was come--and they must part! + Shook her bosom then with passion, + Hot her forehead burned with pain, + But her lips said only, "Allan, + Will you ever come again?" + And he answered, lightly dallying + With her tresses all the while, + Life had not a star to guide him + Like the beauty of her smile; + And that when the corn was ripened + And the vintage harvest prest, + She would see him home returning + To the Valley of the West. + + When the moon had veiled her splendor, + And went lessening down the blue, + And along the eastern hill-tops + Burned the morning in the dew, + They had parted--each one feeling + That their lives had separate ends; + They had parted--neither happy-- + Less than lovers--more than friends. + For as Jessie mused in silence, + She remembered that he said, + Never, that he loved her fondly, + Or that ever they should wed. + + 'Twas full many a nameless meaning + My poor words can never say, + Felt without the need of utterance, + That had won her heart away. + + O the days were weary! weary! + And the eves were dull and long, + With the cricket's chirp of sorrow, + And the owlet's mournful song. + But in slumber oft she started + In the still and lonesome nights, + Hearing but the traveller's footstep + Hurrying toward the village lights. + + So, moaned by the dreary winter-- + All her household tasks fulfilled-- + Till beneath the last year's rafters + Came the swallows back to build. + Meadow-pinks, like flakes of crimson, + Over all the valleys lay, + And again were oxen ploughing + Up and down the hills all day. + Thus the dim days dawned and faded + To the maid, forsaken, lorn, + Till the freshening breeze of summer + Shook the tassels of the corn. + Ever now within her chamber + All night long the lamp-light shines, + But no white hand from her casement + Pushes back the heavy vines. + On her cheek a fire was feeding, + And her hand transparent grew-- + Ah, the faithless Allan Archer! + More than she had dreamed was true. + + No complaint was ever uttered, + Only to herself she sighed,-- + As she read of wretched poets + Who had pined of love and died. + Once she crushed the sudden crying + From her trembling lips away, + When they said the vintage harvest + Had been gathered in that day + Often, when they kissed her, smiled she, + Saying that it soothed her pain, + And that they must not be saddened-- + She would soon be well again! + Thus nor hoping nor yet fearing, + Meekly bore she all her pain. + Till the red leaves of the autumn + Withered from the woods again; + Till the bird had hushed its singing + In the silvery sycamore, + And the nest was left unsheltered + In the lilac by the door; + Saying, still, that she was happy-- + None so much as she was blest-- + None, of all the many maidens + In the Valley of the West. + + + III. + + Down the heath and o'er the moorland + Blows the wild gust high and higher, + Suddenly the maiden pauses + Spinning at the cabin fire, + And quick from her taper fingers + Falls away the flaxen thread, + As some neighbor entering, whispers, + "Jessie Carol lieth dead." + Then, as pressing close her forehead + To the window-pane, she sees + Two stout men together digging + Underneath the church-yard trees. + And she asks in kindest accents, + "Was she happy when she died?"-- + Sobbing all the while to see them + Void the heavy earth aside; + Or, upon their mattocks leaning, + Through their fingers numb to blow, + For the wintry air is chilly, + And the grave-mounds white with snow; + And the neighbor answers softly, + "Do not, dear one, do not cry: + At the break of day she asked us + If we thought that she must die; + And when I had told her, sadly, + That I feared it would be so, + Smiled she, saying, ''Twill be weary + Digging in the churchyard snow!' + 'Earth,' I said, 'was very dreary-- + That its paths at best were rough; + And she whispered, she was ready, + That her life was long enough. + So she lay serene and silent, + Till the wind, that wildly drove, + Soothed her from her mortal sorrow, + Like the lullaby of love." + Thus they talked, while one that loved her + Smoothed her tresses dark and long, + Wrapped her white shroud down, and simply + Wove her sorrow to this song: + + + IV. + + Sweetly sleeps she: pain and passion + Burn no longer on her brow-- + Weary watchers, ye may leave her-- + She will never need you now! + While the wild spring bloomed and faded, + Till the autumn came and passed, + Calmly, patiently, she waited-- + Rest has come to her at last! + Never have the blessed angels, + As they walked with her apart, + Kept pale Sorrow's battling armies + Half so softly from her heart + Therefore, think not, ye that loved her, + Of the pallor hushed and dread, + Where the winds, like heavy mourners, + Cry about her lonesome bed, + But of white hands softly reaching + As the shadow o'er her fell, + Downward from the golden bastion + Of the eternal citadel. + + + + +[From "The Memorial," just published by Putnam.] + +A STORY OF CALAIS. + +BY THE AUTHOR OF "ST. LEGER." + + +Some years ago, I was detained unexpectedly in Calais for an entire +week. It was with difficulty I could occupy the time. For a while my +chief resource was to inspect the different faces which daily presented +themselves at the Hotel de Meurice, where one could see every variety of +features belonging to every country, age, sex, and condition. I grew +tired of this presently, for I had been on the continent a considerable +period, and had seen the human species under as many different phases as +could well be imagined. Therefore, when the third day brought with it +one of those disagreeable storms peculiar to the coast--half drizzle, +half sleet and rain--it found me weary of the amusement of attending on +new arrivals and departures, and of the nameless petty doings by which +time, in a bustling hotel, is attempted to be frittered away. A misty, +dreary, damp, offensive day! An out-and-out tempest, a thorough +right-down drenching rain, would have been in agreeable contrast with +the previous hot, dusty, sunny weather; but this--it seemed absolutely +intolerable! I was, besides, in no particular condition to be pleased. I +was neither setting out upon a tour, nor returning from one, but had +been interrupted in my progress and forced to stand still at this most +uninteresting spot. I came down, and with a bad grace, to order +breakfast. + +"Garcon, Cafe--oeufs a la coque--biftek--rotie--vite!" + +I was about repeating this in a louder tone, for the waiter seemed +engrossed with something more important than attending to my wants, when +I heard a quiet voice behind me-- + +"Garcon, Cafe--oeufs a la coque--biftek--rotie--vite!" + +I turned angrily upon the speaker, doubtful of the design of this +repetition of my order. + +The reader will perceive that my breakfast was a substantial one; +indeed, such a breakfast as an American, who had not so far lost himself +in "European society" as to forget his appetite, would be very likely to +call for. The idea that I was watched, doubtless made me a little +suspicious, or sensitive, or irritable; at any rate, I turned, as I have +said, angrily upon the speaker. He was a slightly made, elderly man, at +least fifty, with pleasant features, a calm appearance, and quiet +manners--a person evidently at home with the world. I recollected at the +same moment, that the stranger had been at the hotel ever since my +arrival there, although I had not, from his unobtrusive habit, given him +more than a passing notice. His appearance at once dispelled the frown +which I had brought to bear upon him; but when he answered my stare with +a respectful yet half familiar bow, I could have sworn that it came +from an old acquaintance. I need not say that I returned the salutation +cordially. At the same time my new friend rose, came towards me, and +held out his hand. + +"I am quite sure," he said, "that you are an American--perhaps a New +Englander; _I_ am both; why, then, should not countrymen beguile an +unpleasant day in company? Excuse me--I did hear your order just now, +and as it suited my own taste, I proposed to myself that we should +breakfast together;--we may trust to Francois; he has been here, to my +knowledge, more than twenty years, and pleases every body." + +I pressed the hand of my new acquaintance--acknowledged myself to be +from New Hampshire--gave my name, and received in return--"Philip +Belcher." + +We sat down to the same table, and very soon Francois appeared with a +well-served breakfast. + +"Pray," said I, "what _can_ one do to relieve the monotony of this +intolerable place? If the country about were agreeable--nay, if it were +bearable! but as it is, I repeat, what is to be done?" + +"Done!" said Mr. Belcher, rather sharply, "a hundred things! Put on your +Mackintosh and overshoes; come with me to the Courtgain, and see the +fishermen putting to sea, their boats towed out by their wives and +daughters; a sight, I will be bound, you have not beheld, although you +may have coursed Europe over, and been at Calais half a dozen times." + +Mr. Belcher proceeded in this vein, detailing many things that could be +seen to advantage even in Calais; but as he suggested nothing which +interested me so much as he himself did, I had the boldness to tell him +so, and that my curiosity was excited to know more of him. + +"There is nothing in my history that can amuse a stranger; indeed, it is +without incident or marvel. To be sure, I am alone in the world, but I +have never been afflicted, or suffered misfortune, within my +recollection. My parents died when I was very young; my father and +mother were both only children; a small property which the former left +was carefully invested, and faithfully nursed during my minority, by a +scrupulous and honest lawyer, in no way connected with us, but whom my +father named as executor in his will, and my guardian. Ill health +prevented my getting on at school. I can't say that I was an invalid, +but my constitution was delicate and my temperament nervous. I tried to +make some progress in the study of a profession, under my excellent +guardian, but was forced to give it up as too trying to my nerves. The +excitement of a court-room I could not endure for a day, much less for a +lifetime. Before I was twenty-five, my income had so much increased that +I could afford to travel. I have gained in this way my health, which, +however, would become impaired should I return to a sedentary life; so, +as a matter of necessity, I have wandered about the world. You see my +story is soon told." + +I found Mr. Belcher was not in the habit of talking about himself, and I +liked him the better for it. Without pressing for a more particular +account, I led the conversation to treat of the different countries he +had visited, referring, by the way, to some principal objects of +attraction. Here I touched an idiosyncrasy of my new friend. + +"I never formed," he said, "any distinct 'plan' of travel. I never 'did' +Paris in eight days, nor the gallery of the Louvre in half an hour, as +they have been done by an acquaintance. I never opened a guide-book in +my life; I never employed a _commissionere_, a _valet_, a _courier_, a +_cicerone_, or a _dragoman_. My pleasure has been to let the +remarkable--the beautiful--the interesting--burst upon me without +introduction, and I have found my account in it. I have quitted the Val +d'Arno, turned off from the Lake of Como, passed to the wrong side of +Lake Leman and its romantic castles, pursuing my way, regardless of +these well-worn attractions, while I beheld rarer--at least familiar +scenes--and enjoyed with zest what was fresh and unhackneyed. No +everlasting 'route'--no mercenary and dishonest landlords--no troops of +travellers, travelling that they may become 'travelled'--but in place of +all this, I saw every thing naturally--the country in its +simplicity--the inhabitants in their simplicity--while, I trust, I have +preserved my own simplicity. Indeed, I rather prefer what your tourist +calls an 'uninteresting region.'" + +"For that reason," I remarked, pleasantly, "you have come here to Calais +to spend a few weeks; you must enjoy the barren sand-plain which extends +all the way from this to St. Omer. How picturesque are those pollards +scattered along the road, with here and there a superannuated windmill, +looking like an ogre with three arms and no legs: then, to relieve the +dreariness of the place, you have multitudes of miserable cabins, +grouped into more miserable villages, to say nothing of the chateaux of +dingy red, in which painters of the brick-dust school so much delight. +Really, Mr. Belcher, you will have a capital field here!" + +My new acquaintance shook his head a little seriously, as if deprecating +further pleasantry. + +"You are like the rest of them, I fear," he remarked, "a surface +traveller; at least you will force me to believe so if you go on in this +way. But come," he continued, "the storm threatens to last the morning; +if you wish, I will help to make away with part of it, by recounting a +little adventure which happened to me hard by those very pollards, which +you are pleased to abuse so freely." + +It is needless to add that I joyfully assented to the proposal, and was +soon seated in Mr. Belcher's room before a cheerful fire--for he had +managed even in Calais to procure one--when he commenced as follows: + +"I think it was during the first season I was on the continent, that I +visited St. Omer. After spending a day or two in that place, I concluded +to walk to Calais, and set out one morning accordingly. + +"The weather was fine; but after I had been a few hours on the road, the +wind began to blow directly in my face, and soon enveloped me in a cloud +of sand from which there seemed no escape, and which threatened actually +to suffocate me. To avoid this I left the highway, but keeping what I +supposed to be in the general direction of the road, I struck out into +the adjacent fields. There was nothing for a considerable distance to +repay me for this _detour_, except that I thus was rid of the sand. The +country was barren and uninteresting, the cottages little better than +hovels, and the whole scene uninviting. But I pushed on, not a whit +discouraged; indeed my spirits rose as the prospect darkened, and like a +valiant general invading a country for the purpose of conquering a +peace, I resolved in some way to force an adventure before I reached +Calais. I trudged along for hours, stopping occasionally for a draught +of sour wine and a bit of bread. I made no inquiry about the main road, +for I preferred to know nothing of it. In this way I proceeded, until it +was almost night, when I spied, some half a mile distant, a cluster of +trees surrounding a small tenement. I turned at once toward the spot, +and coming up to it, found a cottage not differing in size or structure +from those I had seen on the way, except that it appeared even more +antiquated. It was, however, in perfect repair, and finely shaded by a +variety of handsome trees, and flanked on one side by a neat garden. The +door stood open and I entered. There was no one in the room. I called, +but received no answer. I strayed out into the garden and walked through +it. At the lower end was a small inclosure covered over at the top as if +to protect it from the weather, and fenced on each side with open +wire-work, looking through which, I beheld a small grave, overspread +with mosses, and strewed with fresh-gathered white flowers. It bore no +name or inscription, except the following simple but pathetic line; + + "Enfant cherie, avec toi mes beaux jours sont passes.--1794." + +Surprised by the appearance of fresh flowers upon a tomb which had been +so long closed over its occupant, I turned, hoping to find some +explanation of the mystery, in what I might see elsewhere, But there was +nothing near to attract one's attention, nor was any person within +sight. + +"After taking a glance around, I returned to the cottage, and walking +in, sat down to wait the arrival of the occupants. In a few minutes, I +heard voices from the side of the house opposite the garden, and soon +two persons, of the peasant class, evidently husband and wife, came in. +The man was strong and robust, with the erect form and martial +appearance acquired only by military service, and which the weight of +nearly sixty years had not seemed to impair. His countenance was frank +and manly, and his step firm. The woman appeared a few years younger, +while the air of happy contentment which beamed in her face, put the +ordinary encroachments of time at defiance. Altogether, I had never seen +a couple so fitted to challenge observation and interest. They both +stopped short on seeing me. + +"I hastened to explain my situation, as that of a belated traveller, +attracted by the sight of the cottage; and told them I was both hungry +and tired, and desirous of the hospitality of their roof. I was made +welcome at once. + +"Louis Herbois, for that was his name, gave me a bluff, soldierly +greeting, while Agathe, his wife, smiled her acquiescence. Supper was +soon laid; I ate with a sharpened appetite, which evidently charmed my +host, who encouraged me at intervals, as I began to flag. + +"Supper concluded, I was glad to accept the offer of a bed--for I was +exhausted with fatigue. + +"I had been so engrossed with the repast, that curiosity was for the +time suspended, and it was not again in action until I had said +good-night to my entertainers, and found myself in the room where I was +to sleep. This was an apartment of moderate size; the furniture was old +and common, but neither dilapidated nor out of order; the bed was neatly +covered; around the room were scattered several books of interest, and +in one corner was a neat writing-desk, of antiquated appearance, with +silver mounting, and handsomely inlaid; while some small articles of +considerable value placed on a table in another corner, indicated at +least occasional denizens very different from the peasant and his wife. +Yet this could not be a rural resort for any family belonging to the +town. There were but two other apartments in the house, and these were +occupied. Nevertheless, I reasoned, these things can never have been +brought here by the worthy people I have seen; and then--the little +grave in the garden? who has watched the tomb for so many years, +preserving the moss so green and the flowers so fresh--cherishing an +affection which has triumphed over time? How intense, how sacred, how +strange must be such devotion! I decided that some persons besides my +host were concerned, in some way, in the history of the little dwelling, +and with this conclusion I retired; and so, being fatigued by my day's +travel, I soon fell asleep. + +"I awoke about sunrise. Going to the window, I put aside the curtain, +and looked out into the garden. Louis Herbois and his wife were there, +renewing the garlands with fresh flowers, and watering the moss which +was spread over the grave. It must be their own child, thought I, and +yet--no--I will step out and ask them, and put an end to the mystery. I +met the good people coming in: they inquired if I had rested well, and +said that breakfast would soon be ready. 'You do not forget your little +one,' I said to the old fellow, at the same time pointing towards the +inclosure. 'Monsieur mistakes,' replied he, crossing himself devoutly. +'Some dear friend, I suppose?' He looked at me earnestly: '_On voit +bien, Monsieur, que vous etes un homme comme il faut._ After you have +breakfasted, you shall hear the story. 'Ah, there is then a story,' said +I to myself, as I followed Louis Herbois into the cottage, where Agathe +had preceded us, and sat down to an excellent breakfast. When it was +concluded I asked for the promised narration. 'Let me see,' said Louis, +'Agathe, how long have we been married?' Agathe, matron as she was, +actually blushed at the question, yet answered readily, without stopping +to compute the time. 'Yes; true; very well;' resumed Louis. 'You must +know, Monsieur, that my father was a soldier, and enrolled me, at an +early age, in the same company with himself. Having been detailed, soon +after, on service to one of the provinces, I was so severely wounded +that I was thought to be permanently unfitted for duty, and was +honorably dismissed with a life pension. Owing to the care and skill of +a famous surgeon who attended me, and whom I was fortunate enough to +interest, I was at last cured of my wounds, and very soon after I +wandered away here, for no better reason, I believe, than that Agathe +was in the neighborhood; for we had known each other from the time we +were children. Very soon she and I were married, and we took this little +place, and were as blessed as possible. + +"'In the mean time, great changes were going on at Paris. The revolution +had begun, and soon swept every thing before it. But it did not matter +with us. We rose with the birds, and went to rest with the sun, and no +two could have been happier: am I not right, Agathe?' The old lady put +her hand affectionately upon the shoulder of her husband, but said +nothing. 'And we have never ceased being happy: we are always happy, are +we not Agathe?' The tears stood in Agathe's eyes, and Louis Herbois went +on. 'Well, the revolution was nothing to me, they were mad with it, and +killed the king, and slew each other, until our dear Paris became a +bedlam--still, as I said, it was nothing to me. To be sure, I went +occasionally to Calais, where I heard a new language in every body's +mouth, and much talk of _Les hommes suspects, Mandats d'arrets_, with +shouts of _Abas les aristocrates_, and _Vive la Republique_--but I did +not trouble myself about any of it; Agathe and I worked together in the +field, and in the garden, and in the house--always together--always +happy. One morning we went out to prune our vines, the door of the house +was open, just as you found it yesterday; why should we ever shut the +door? we were honest, and feared nobody; we stood--Agathe here on this +side holding the vine; I, with my knife, on the other side, bending over +to lop a sprout from it; when down came two young people--lad and +lass--upon us, as fast as they could run; out of breath--agitated--and +as frightened as two wood-pigeons. The young man flew to me, and +catching hold of my arm begged me, _pour l'amour de Dieu_, to secrete +his wife somewhere--anywhere--out of the reach of the _gens-d'armes_, +who were pursuing them. I felt in ill-humor, for I had cut my finger +just then; besides, I did not relish the mention of the _gens-d'armes_, +so I replied plainly, that I would have nothing to do with persons who +were _suspects_. Why should I thrust my own neck into the trap? they had +better go about their business, and not trouble poor people. Bah! such a +speech was not like Louis Herbois! but out it came, Heaven knows how, +and no sooner had I finished than up runs the young creature, and +seizing my moustache she cries, "My brave fellow, hie away, and crop off +all this; none but _men_ have a right to it; God grant you were not born +in France; no Frenchman could give such an answer to a man imploring +protection for his wife. Look at my husband--did he ask aid for himself? +Do you think he would turn you off in this way, had you sought his +assistance to save _her_?" pointing to Agathe, who stood trembling all +the while like an aspen. "Ah! you have made a mistake, I see you repent, +be quick; what will you do with us?" And she held me tight by the +moustache until I should answer, while the husband stared upon me in a +sort of breathless agony. I took another look at the little creature, +while she kept fast hold of me, and saw that she was----_eh bien_! I see +you understand me,' said Louis, interrupting himself, as he glanced +towards his wife. 'My heart knocked loud enough, believe me, and there +the dear little thing stood, her hand, as I was telling you, clenched +fast in my moustache--ha! ha! ha!--and looking so full into my eyes, +with her own clear bright blue gazers. "_Mon Dieu--mon Dieu!_ Agathe we +must help these _pauvres enfans_." "You _are_ a Frenchman--I thought +so," cried the little one, letting go my moustache and clapping her +hands. "Oh! hasten, hasten, or we are lost!" "All in good time," said I, +"for--" "No no," interrupted she, "they are almost upon us: in a moment +we may be captured, and then Albert, oh, Albert, what will become of +you?" So saying, she threw her arms about her husband, and clung to him +as if nothing should part them. "_Voila bien les femmes_; to the devil +with my caution; come with me, and I will put you in a place where the +whole Directory shall not find you, unless they pull my cottage down +stone by stone." I hurried them to the house, and hid them in a private +closet which, following out my soldier-like propensities, I had +constructed in one end of the room, in a marvellously curious way. Not a +soul but Agathe knew of it, and I disliked to give up the secret, but I +hurried the young people in, and arranged the place, and went back to +the vines and cut away harder than ever. In two minutes, up rode three +dragoons with drawn swords, as fine looking troopers as one would ask +for. I saw them reconnoitre the cottage, then spying me, they came +towards us at a gallop. "What have you done with the Comte and Comtesse +de Choissy?" said the leading horseman. "You had better hold your +tongue," I retorted, "than be clattering away at random. What the devil +do I know of the Comte and Comtesse de Choissy, as you call them?" +"Look, you," said the dragoon, laying his hand on my shoulder; "the +persons for whom I seek, are escaped prisoners; they were seen to come +in the direction of this cottage; our captain watched them with his +glass, and he swears they are here." "And look you, Monsieur Cavalier, I +am an old soldier, as you see, if scars and hard service can prove one, +and it seems to me you should take an old soldier's word. I have said +all I have to say; there is my house, the doors are open--look for +yourself: come Agathe, we must finish our morning's work." So saying, I +set at the vines harder than ever. I looked neither one way nor the +other, but kept clipping, clipping, thus standing between the dragoons +and poor Agathe, who was frightened terribly, although she tried to seem +as busy as I. The rider who was spokesman, stared for a minute without +saying a word, and then broke out into a loud laugh. "An old soldier +indeed!--a regular piece of steel! one has but to point a flint at you, +and the sparks fly." He turned to his men: "Our captain was mistaken, +evidently; this is a _bon camarade_; we may trust to him. We will take a +turn through the cottage and push forward." With that he bid me good +morning, and after looking around the house the party made off. + +"'"Well, Agathe, what's to be done now?" said I, when the dragoons were +fairly out of sight. "We have made a fine business of it." "Ah, Louis," +said she, "let us not think of the danger; we have saved two innocent +lives, for innocent I know they are: what if we _have_ perilled our own? +Heaven will reward us." Nothing more was said, though we both thought a +great deal, but we kept at our work as if nothing had happened. It was a +long time before I dared let the fugitives come from their hiding-place; +for I was afraid of that cursed glass of _Monsieur le Capitaine_. When I +did open it I found my prisoners nearly dead with suspense. We held a +council as to the best means for their concealment--for who would have +had the heart to turn the young people adrift?--and it was finally +settled that the comte and his wife should dress as peasants, and take +what other means were necessary to alter their appearance, that they +might pass as such without suspicion. This was no sooner resolved than +carried out. Agathe was as busy as a bee, and in a few minutes had a +dress ready for Victorine--we were to call her by her first name--who +was now as lively as a creature could be, running about the room, +looking into the glass, and making fun of her husband, who had in the +mean time pulled on some of my clothes. After this, the young comte +explained to me that his father had died a short time before, leaving +him his title and immense estates, which, however, should he die +childless, would pass to an uncle, a man unscrupulous and of bad +reputation. This uncle was among the most conspicuous of the +revolutionists. Through his agency the Comte de Choissy and his young +wife, with whom he had been but a twelvemonth united, were arrested, and +shortly after sentenced to death. They escaped from prison and the +guillotine by the aid of a faithful domestic, and were almost at Calais +when they discovered that they were pursued. By leaving the road and +sending the carriage forward, they managed to gain the few moments which +saved them. Their principal fear now was from the wicked designs of the +uncle, for the Directory had too much on their hands to hunt out escaped +prisoners who were not specially obnoxious. For some days the young +people did not stir from the house, but were ever ready to resort to +their hiding-place on the first alarm. There were, however, no signs of +the _gens-d'armes_ in the neighborhood. I went to Calais in a little +while, and found, after much trouble, the old servant who was in the +carriage when the comte and his wife deserted it. He had been permitted +to pass on without being molested, so alert were the soldiers in pursuit +of the fugitives; and he had brought the few effects which he could get +together for his master on leaving Paris to a safe place; and to prevent +suspicion, he himself had taken service with a respectable _traiteur_. +By degrees, I managed to bring off every thing belonging to my guests, +and we fitted up the little room in which you passed the night, as +comfortably as possible, without having it excite remark from any one +casually entering it. "Albert" was industrious, aiding me at my work, no +matter what I was doing, and "Victorine," too, insisted upon helping my +wife in whatever she did, here, there, and everywhere, the liveliest, +the merriest, the most innocent creature I ever set eyes upon. But for +all that, one could see that time hung heavy on the comte. He became +thoughtful and _triste_, and like every man out of his proper place, he +was restless and uneasy. Not so the dear wife: she declared she had +never been so happy, that she had her Albert all to herself: wanted +nothing more: if she but knew how to requite _us_, she would not wish +the estates back again--she would live where she was, forever. Then her +husband would throw his arms around her, and call her by endearing +names, which would make the little thing look so serious, but at the +same time so calm and satisfied and angel-like, that it seemed as if the +divine soul of the Holy Virgin had taken possession of her, as she +turned her eyes up to her husband and met his, looking lovingly +down....' + +"Here Louis Herbois stopped, and felt for his handkerchief, and blew his +nose until the walls resounded, and wiped his eyes as if trying to +remove something that was in them, and proceeded-- + +"'Any one to have seen her at different times would have sworn I had two +little women for guests instead of one: so full of fun and mischief and +all sorts of pranks; so lively, running hither and yon, teasing me, +amusing Agathe, rallying her husband; but on the occasions I mention, so +subdued, so thoughtful so--different from her other self: _Ciel!_ she +had all our hearts. + +"'Several months passed, much in the same manner. The comte by degrees +gained courage, and often ventured away from the house. Twice he had +been to the town, but his wife was in such terror during his absence, +that he promised her he would not venture again. He continued meanwhile +moody and ill at ease; it would be madness to leave his place of +concealment; this he knew well enough; still he could not bring himself +to be patient. Do not think, Monsieur, that the Comte de Choissy failed +to love his wife just as ever: that was not it at all. A man is a man +the world about; the comte felt as any body would feel who finds himself +rusting away like an old musket, which has been tossed aside into some +miserable cock-loft. I had seen the world and knew how it was with him. +But what could be done? In Paris things were getting worse and worse. At +first we had _le Cote Gauche; les Montagnards; les Jacobines_: then came +_les Patriotes de '93_; and after that, _les Patriotes par excellence_, +who were succeeded by _les Patriotes plus patriotes que les patriotes_: +and then the devil was let loose in mad earnest; for what with _les +Bonnets-Rouges, les Enrages, les Terroristes, les Beveurs de Sang_, and +_les Chevaliers du Poignard_, Paris was converted into a more fitting +abode for Satan than his old-fashioned country residence down below. +_Pardon Monsieur!_ I am getting warm; but it always stirs my blood when +I recall those days. I see, too, I am getting from my story. Well: I +tried to comfort the comte with such scraps of philosophy as I had +picked up in my campaigns--for in the army, you must know, one learns +many a good maxim--but I did little by that. The sweet young comtesse +was the only one who could make him cheerful, and smile, and laugh, and +seem happy in a natural way, for he loved her as tenderly as a man ever +loved; besides, the comtesse had now a stronger claim than ever upon her +husband. I fancy I can see her sitting _there_, her face bent over, +employing her needle upon certain diminutive articles, whose use it is +very easy to understand. Do you know, when she was at work on _these_, +that she was serious--never playful--_always_ serious; wearing the same +expression as when she received from her husband a tender word? No: +nothing could make her merry then. I used to sit and wonder how the +self-same person could become so changed all in one minute. How the +comte loved to look at her! his eyes were upon her wherever she was; not +a word she spoke, not a step she took, not a motion of hers escaped him. +Well, the time came at last, and by the blessing of God and the Holy +Virgin, as beautiful a child as the world ever welcomed, was placed by +my Agathe in the arms of the comtesse. Perhaps,' added Louis Herbois, in +a lower voice, while speech seemed for the instant difficult, 'perhaps I +have remembered this the better, because God willed it that we ourselves +should be childless. When Agathe took the infant and laid it in the +mother's bosom, the latter regarded it for a moment with an expression +of intense fondness; then, raising her eyes to her husband, who stood +over her, she laughed for joy. + +"'Mother and daughter prospered apace. The little girl became the pet of +the house; we all quarelled for her; but each had to submit in turn. How +intelligent! what speaking eyes! what knowing looks! what innocently +mischievous ways! mother and child! I wish you could have seen them. I +soon marked a striking change: the young comtesse was now never herself +a child. A gentle dignity distinguished her--new-born, it would +seem--but natural. I am making my story a long one, but I could talk to +you the whole day in this way. So, the months passed on--and the +revolution did not abate; and the comte was sick at heart, and the +comtesse was, as ever, cheerful, content, happy, and the little one +could stand alone by a chair and call out to us all, wherever we were. +The comte, notwithstanding his promise, could not resist his desire to +learn more of what was going on than I could inform him of. I seldom +went away, for when hawks are abroad, it is well to look after the +brood: and as I had nothing to gain, and every thing to lose, by +venturing out, I thought it best to stay at home. The comte, on the +contrary, was anxious to know every thing. He had made several visits to +Calais, first obtaining his wife's consent, although the agony she +suffered seemed to fill his heart with remorse; this, however, was soon +smothered by his renewed and unconquerable restlessness. One morning he +was pleading with her for leave to go again, answering her expressions +of fear with the fact that he had been often already without danger. +"There is always a first time," said my Agathe, who was in the room. +"And there is always a last time, too," said I, happening to enter at +that moment. I did not know what they were talking about, and the words +came out quite at random. The comtesse turned pale. "Albert," she said, +"content yourself with your Victorine and our babe: go not away from +us." The infant was standing by its mother's knee, and without +understanding what was said, she repeated, "Papa--not go. The comte +hesitated: "What a foreboding company--croakers every one of you--away +with such presentiments of evil. Go I will, to show you how foolish you +have all been;" and with that he snatched a kiss from his wife and the +little one, and started off. The former called to him twice, "Albert, +Albert!" and the baby in imitation, with its little voice said, "Papa, +papa!" but the comte did not hear those precious tones of wife or child, +and in a few minutes he was out of sight. I cannot say what was the +matter with me; my spirit was troubled; the comtesse looked so +desponding, and Agathe so _triste_, that I knew not what to do with +myself. I did nothing for an hour, then I spoke to Agathe: "Wife, I am +going across to the town." She said, "Ah, Louis, I almost wish you would +go. See how the comtesse suffers. I am sure I shall feel easier myself." +Then I told her to say nothing of where I had gone, and away I went. It +did not take me long, for it seemed as if I ought to hasten. I got into +the town, and having walked along till I came to the Rue de Paris, I was +about turning down it when I saw a small concourse of people on the +opposite corner; I crossed over and beheld the Comte de Choissy in the +custody of four _gens-d'armes_, and surrounded by a number of +"citizens." My first impulse was to rush to his assistance, but I +reflected in time, and contented myself with joining the crowd. One of +the soldiers had gone for a carriage, and the remainder were questioning +him; the comte, however, would make no reply, except, "You have me +prisoner, I have nothing to say, do what you will." I waited quietly for +an opportunity of showing myself to him, but he did not look toward me. +Presently I said to the man next me, "Neighbor, you crowd something too +hard for good fellowship." The comte started a very little at the sound +of my voice, but he did not immediately look up. Shortly he raised his +head and fixed his eyes on me for an instant only, and then turned them +upon others of the company with a look as indifferent as if he were a +mere spectator. What a courageous dog! by Heaven, he never changed an +iota, nor showed the slightest possible mark of recognition; still, I +knew well enough he did recognize me, but I got no sign of it, neither +did he look towards me again. Soon the carriage came up and he was +hurried in by the _gens-d'armes_, and off they drove! I made some +inquiries, and found that the comte was known, and that they were taking +him to Paris. + +"'It seems that he had been observed by a spy of the uncle during one of +his visits to the town, and although he was not tracked to his home--for +he was always very cautious in his movements--yet a strict watch was +kept for his next appearance. I went to see the old domestic, but he +knew not so much as I. My steps were next turned homeward. What a walk +that was for me? How could I enter my house the bearer of such tidings! +"_Bon Dieu! ah, bon Dieu_," I exclaimed, "_ayez pitie!_" and I stopped +under a hedge and got down on my knees and said a prayer, and then I +began crying like a child. I said my prayer again, and walked slowly on; +then I saw the house, and Agathe in the garden, and the comtesse with +the little one standing in the door--looking--looking. I came +up--"Albert--where is Albert? where is my husband?" I made no answer. +"Tell me," she said, almost fiercely, taking hold of my arm. I opened my +mouth and essayed to speak, but although my lips moved I did not get out +a syllable. I thought I might whisper it, so I tried to do so, but I +could not whisper! The comtesse shrieked, the child began to cry, and +Agathe came running in. "Come with me," said I to my wife, and I went +into our chamber and told her the whole, and bid her go to the comtesse +and tell the truth, for I could not. My dear Agathe went out half dead. +I sat still in my chamber; presently the door opened, and the comtesse +stood on the threshold. Her eyes were lighted up with fire, her +countenance was terribly agitated, her whole frame trembled: "And you +are the wretch base enough to let him be carried off to be butchered +before your eyes without lifting voice or hand against it, without +interposing one word--one look, one thought! Cowardly recreant!" she +screamed, and fell back in the arms of my wife in violent convulsions; +the infant looked on with wondering eyes and followed us as we laid the +comtesse on the bed, and then put her little hand on her mother's cheek, +and said softly, "Mamma." In a few minutes the comtesse began to +recover. She opened her eyes with an expression of intense pain, gave a +glance at Agathe and me, and then observing her child, she took it, and +pressed it to her breast and sobbed. Shortly she spoke to me, and oh, +with what a mournful voice and look: "Louis, forgive me; I said I knew +not what; I was beside myself. You have never merited aught from me but +gratitude; will you forgive me?" I cried as if I were a baby. Agathe too +went on so that I feared she could never be reconciled to the dreadful +calamity--for myself, I was well nigh mad. I could but commend the +comtesse to the Great God and hasten out of her sight. Five wretched and +wearisome days were spent. The character of the comtesse meantime +displayed itself. Instead of sinking under the weight of this sorrowful +event, she summoned resolution to endure it. She was devoted to her +child; she assumed a cheerful air when caressing it; she even tried to +busy herself in her ordinary occupations; but I could not be deceived, I +knew the iron had entered her soul. All these heroic signs were only +evidences of what she really suffered. Did I not watch her closely? and +when the comtesse, folding her infant to her breast, raised her eyes to +heaven as if in gratitude that it was left to her, I fancied there was +an expression which seemed to say, "Why were not _all_ taken?" The +little one, unconscious of its loss, would talk in intervals about +"papa;" and when the mother, pained by the innocent prattle, grew sad +of countenance, the child would creep into her lap, and putting its +slender fingers upon her eyes, her lips, and over her face, would say, +"Am I not good, mamma? I am not naughty; I am good, mamma." + +"'Five days were passed in this way; on the morning of the sixth, we +were startled by the comtesse, who, in manifest terror came to us +holding her child, which was screaming as if suffering acute pain: its +eyes were bloodshot and gleamed with an unnatural brilliancy, its pulse +rapid, and head so hot that it almost burned me to feel of it. Presently +it became quiet for a few minutes, but soon the screams were renewed. +Alas! what could we do? Agathe and I tried every thing that occurred to +us, but to no purpose: the pains in the head became so intense that the +poor thing would shriek as if some one was piercing her with a knife, +then she would lay in a lethargy, and again start and scream until +exhausted. Not for a moment did the comtesse allow her darling to be out +of her arms. For two days and two nights she neither took rest nor food; +absorbed wholly in her child's sufferings, she would not for a moment be +diverted from them. Agathe too watched night and day. On the third night +the child appeared much easier, and the comtesse bade Agathe go and get +some rest. She came and laid down for a little time and at last fell +asleep; when she awoke it was daylight; she knocked at the door of the +comtesse--all was still;--she opened it and went in. The comtesse, +exhausted by long watching, had fallen asleep in her chair, with her +little girl in her arms. The child had sunk into a dull lethargic state +never to be broken. Alas! Monsieur--alas! the little one was dead! +Agathe ran and called me. I came in. What a spectacle!... Which of us +should arouse the unhappy comtesse? or should we disturb her? Were it +not better gently to withdraw the dead child and leave the mother to her +_repose_? We thought so. I stepped forward, but courage failed me. I did +not dare furtively to abstract the precious burden from the jealous arms +which even in slumber were clasped tightly around it. Oh! my God!... +While we were standing the comtesse opened her eyes: her first motion +was to draw the child closer to her heart--then to look at us--then at +the little one. She saw the whole. She had endured so much that this +last stroke scarcely added to her wretchedness. She allowed me to take +the child, and Agathe to conduct her to the couch and assist her upon +it. She had held out to the point of absolute exhaustion, and when once +she had yielded she was unable to recall her strength. She remained in +her bed quite passive, while Agathe nursed her without intermission. I +dug a little grave in the garden yonder, and Agathe and I laid the child +in it. The mother shed no tears; when from her bed she saw us carry it +away she looked mournfully on, and as we went out she whispered, "_Mes +beaux jours sont passes_." Soon the grave was filled up and flowers +scattered over it, and we came back to the cottage. As I drew near her +room I beheld the comtesse at the window, supporting herself by a chair, +regarding the grave with an earnest longing gaze which I cannot bear to +recall. As I passed, her eye met mine,--such a look of quiet enduring +anguish, which combined in one expression a world of untold agonies! Oh! +I never could endure a second look like that. I rushed into the house: +Agathe was already in. I called to her to come to me, for I could not +enter _that_ room again. "Wife," I said, "I am going to Paris. Do not +say one word. God will protect us. Comfort the comtesse. Agathe, if I +_never_ return, remember--it is on a holy errand--adieu." I was off +before Agathe could reply. I ran till I came to the main road, there I +was forced to sit down and rest. At last I saw a wagoner going forward; +part of the way I rode with him, and a part I found a faster conveyance. +At night I walked by myself. + +"'I had a cousin in Paris, Maurice Herbois, with whom in old times I had +been on companionable terms. He was a smith, and had done well at the +trade until the revolution broke out, since then I had heard nothing +from him. He was a shrewd fellow, and I thought he would be likely to +keep near the top of the wheel. But I had a perilous time after getting +into Paris before I could find him. I learned as many of the _canaille_ +watchwords by heart as I could. I thought they would serve me if I was +questioned; but my dangers thickened, until I was at last laid hold of, +for not giving satisfactory answers, as _un homme sans aveu_, and was on +the point of being conveyed to a _maison d'arret_, when I mentioned the +name of Maurice Herbois as a person who could speak in my favor. "What," +said one, "_le Citoyen Herbois_?" "The very same," said I, "and little +thanks will you get from him for slandering his cousin with a charge of +_incivisme_." There was a general shout at this, and off we hurried to +find Maurice. I had answered nothing of whence I came or where I was +going, which was the reason I had at length got into trouble. I knew +Maurice to be a true fellow, revolution or no revolution, and so +determined to hold my peace till I should meet him. I found that he had +been rapidly advanced by the tide of affairs, which had set him forward +whether he would or no. Indeed Maurice was no insignificant fellow at +any rate. The noise of the men who carried me along, soon brought him +out. I spoke first: "Maurice, my dear cousin, I am glad to find you; but +before we can shake hands, you must first certify my--loyalty," I was +about to say, but bit my tongue, and got out "_civisme_." "My friends," +said Maurice, "this is my cousin Louis Herbois, once a valiant soldier, +now a brave and incorruptible _citoyen_. He is trustworthy; he comes to +visit me; I vouch for him." This was so satisfactory, that we were +greeted with huzzas, and then I went in with Maurice. I need not tell +you how much passed between us. In short, we talked till our tongues +were tired. I found my cousin as I expected, true as a piece of his own +steel. He had been carried along, in spite of himself, in the course of +revolution, and had become a great man as the best chance of saving his +head. I told him my whole story, and the object of my visit. "A +fruitless errand, Louis," said he; "I know the case; and where personal +malice is added to the ordinary motive for prosecution, there is no +escape. Poor fellow, I wish I could help him; but the uncle, he is in +power: ah! there is no help for it." Suddenly a new thought struck him. +"Louis, did you come by the Hotel de Ville?" "Yes." "What was going on?" +"I looked neither right nor left; I don't know." "Well, what did you +hear?" "I heard a cry of _Vive Tallien!_ with strange noises, and +shouts, and yells; and somebody said that the National Guards were +disbanding, and had forsaken Robespierre; and the people were +surrounding the Hotel de Ville." "Then, _Dieu merci_, there is hope. You +are in the nick of time; let us out. If Robespierre falls, you may +rescue the comte. He is in the Rue St. Martin; in the same prison is +Madame de Fontenay, the _friend_ of Tallien, whom Robespierre has +incarcerated. The former will proceed thither as soon as Robespierre is +disposed of, to free _Madame_; there will be confusion and much tumult. +I know the keeper: I must be cautious; but I will discover where the +comte and the lady are secured. Then I will leave you with the jailer; +the crisis cannot be delayed another day. Wait till you hear them +coming, then shout _Vive Tallien!_ run about, dance around like a crazy +man--hasten the jailer to release _Madame_, and do _you_ manage to +rescue the comte--then be off instantly; don't come here again; strike +into the country while the confusion prevails. Come; let us go this +minute." And I did go. I found Maurice's introduction potent with the +keeper, and what was better, I found the keeper to be an old companion +in arms, who had belonged to the same company with me. We embraced; we +were like two brothers; nothing could have happened better. I learned +from him all I cared to know. I staid hour after hour; just as I was in +despair at the delay, I heard the expected advance. I found my +fellow-soldier understood what it meant. I began to shout _Vive +Tallien!_ as loud as I could cry. In a fit of enthusiasm I snatched the +keys from the hands of the keeper, as if to liberate the lady, while my +comrade opened the doors to the company. I hied first to the comte's +room. In one instant the door was unlocked. "Quick!" I whispered; +"follow me--do as I do. Shout, huzza; jump this way and that--but stick +close to me." In another minute I had unbolted the door of Madame de +Fontenay, making as much noise as I could get from my lungs--the comte +keeping very good time to my music. So, while we were shouting _Vive +Tallien!_ at the top of our voices, Tallien himself rushed in with a +large party. I took the opportunity to gain the street, and without so +much as thanking my comrade for his attentions, I glided into an +unfrequented lane, the comte at my heels; and I did not stop, nor look +around, nor speak, till I found myself under cover of an old windmill +near St. Denis, where I used to play when I was a boy. There I came to a +halt, and seizing the comte in my arms, I embraced him a thousand times. +I look some provisions from my pouch, which my cousin had provided, and +bade him eat, for we should stand in need of food. We then proceeded, +avoiding the main road, and getting a ride whenever we could, but never +wasting a moment--not a moment. I told the comte what had happened, and +that he must hasten if he would see his wife alive. At last we came near +our house. The comte could scarcely contain himself; he ran before me: I +could not keep up with him. How my heart was filled with +foreboding!--how I dreaded to come nearer!--but apprehension was soon at +an end. There was my little cottage, and in the doorway, leaning for +support against the side, stood the comtesse, gazing on vacancy--the +picture of despair and desolation. At the sight of her husband, she +threw out her hands and tried to advance: she was too feeble, and would +have fallen had he not the same moment folded her in his arms. + +"'_Bien Monsieur!_' continued Louis Herbois, after clearing his voice, +'the worst of the story is told. The comtesse was gradually restored to +health, and the comte was content to remain quietly with us till the +storm swept past; but the lady never recovered the bright spirits which +she before displayed, and the comte himself could never speak of the +little one whom he kissed for the last time on that fatal morning, +without the deepest emotion. It seems to have been destined that this +should be their only affliction. The uncle was beheaded in one of the +sudden changes of parties the succeeding year, and in due time the comte +regained his estates. Sons and daughters were born to them, and their +family have grown up in unbroken numbers. The comte and comtesse can +scarcely yet be called old, their health and vigor remain, and they +enjoy still those blessings which a kind Providence is pleased to bestow +on the most favored. But the Comtesse de Choissy will never forget the +child which lies _there_. Twice a year, accompanied by the comte, she +visits the cottage. She lays with her own hands fresh flowers over the +little grave, and waters the moss which overspreads it; and the tears +stand in her eyes when she looks upon the spot where we buried her +_first-born_. We have engaged that every morning we will renew the +flowers, and preserve the mosses always green. It is a holy office, +consecrated by holy feelings. Ah! life is a strange business: we may not +be always serious, we cannot be always gay. God grant, Monsieur, that in +heaven we may all be happy!' + +"I have given you the whole story," said Mr. Belcher, after a short +pause; "but look, the sun is out; let us go to the Courtgain." + + + + +[From Fraser's Magazine.] + +LIFE AT A WATERING-PLACE. + +OLDPORT SPRINGS. + +BY CHARLES ASTOR BRISTED. + + +"Hold on a minute," said Harry, as they were about to take the stage, +after a very fair three-o'clock dinner at Constantinople (the +Occidental, not the Oriental city of that name); "there goes an +acquaintance of ours whom you must know. He has arrived by the Westfield +train, doubtless." + +Away sped Benson after the acquaintance, arm-in-arm with whom he shortly +returned, and, with all the exultation of an American who has brought +two lions into the same cage, introduced M. le Vicomte Vincent Le Roi to +the honorable Edward Ashburner. + +Ashburner was rather puzzled at Le Roi, whose personal appearance did +not in any way answer, either to his originally conceived idea of a +Frenchman, or to the live specimens he had thus far met with. The +Vicomte looked more like an Englishman, or perhaps like the very best +kind of Irishman. He was a middle-sized man, of thirty or thereabout, +with brown hair and a florid complexion; and very quietly dressed, his +clothes being neither obtrusively new nor cut with any ultra-artistic +pretension. Except his wearing a moustache and (of course) not speaking +English, there was nothing continental about his outward man, or the +first impression he gave of himself. Fortunately, he was also bound for +the Springs, so that Ashburner would have abundant opportunity to study +his character, if so disposed. + +The stage in which our tourists were to embark was not unlike a French +diligence, except that it had but one compartment instead of three; in +which compartment there were three seats, and on each seat more or less +room for three persons, and two more could sit with the driver. All the +baggage was carried on the top. The springs were made like +coach-springs, or C-springs, as they are always called in America (just +as in England a pilot-coat is called a P-jacket), only they were upright +and perpendicular to the axletree instead of curving; and the leathern +belts connected with them, on which the carriage swung, were of the +thickest and toughest description. As the party, with the addition of Le +Roi, amounted to eight, Benson managed, by a little extra expenditure of +tin and trouble, to secure the whole of one vehicle, and for the still +greater accommodation of the ladies and child, the gentlemen were to sit +on the box two at a time by turns. Benson's first object was to get hold +of the reins, for which end he began immediately to talk around the +driver about things in general. From the price of horses they diverged +to the prospects of various kinds of business, and thence slap into the +politics of the country. The driver was a stubborn Locofoco, and Benson +did not disdain to enter into an elaborate argument with him. Ashburner, +who then occupied the other box-seat, was astonished at the man's +statistical knowledge, the variety of information he possessed upon +local topics, and his accurate acquaintance with the government and +institutions of his country. It occurred to him to prompt Benson, +through the convenient medium of French, to sound him about England and +European politics. This Harry did, not immediately, lest he might +suspect the purport of their conversational interlude, but by a +dexterous approach to the point after sufficient preliminary; and it +then appeared that he had lumped "the despotic powers of the old world" +in a heap together, and supposed the Queen of England to be on a par +with the Czar of Russia as regarded her personal authority and +privileges. However, when Benson set him right as to the difference +between a limited and an absolute monarchy, he took the information in +very good part, listened to it attentively, and evidently made a mental +note of it for future reference. + +The four-horse team was a good strong one, but the stage with its load +heavy enough, and the roads, after the recent storm, still heavier, +besides being a succession of hills. The best they could do was to make +six miles an hour, and they would not have made three but for a method +of travelling down-hill, entirely foreign to European ideas on the +subject. When they arrived at the summit there was no talk of putting on +the drag, nor any drag to put on, but away the horses went, first at a +rapid trot, and soon at full gallop; by which means the equipage +acquired sufficient momentum to carry it part of the way up the next +hill before the animals relapsed into the slow walk which the steepness +of the ascent imposed upon them. Indeed this part of the route would +have been a very tedious one (for the country about was almost entirely +devoid of interest), had it not been for Le Roi, who came out in great +force. He laughed at every thing and with every body; told stories, and +good ones, continuously, and only ceased telling stories to break forth +into song. In fine, he amused the ladies so much, that when he took his +turn on the box they missed him immediately, and sent Benson outside +again on the first opportunity; whereat the Vicomte, being very much +flattered, waxed livelier and merrier than ever, and kept up a constant +fire of jest and ditty. As to Ashburner, who had a great liking for +fresh air, and an equal horror of a small child in a stage-coach, he +remained outside the whole time; for which the fair passengers set him +down as an insensible youth, who did not know how to appreciate good +company; until the evening becoming somewhat chilly by comparison with +the very hot day they had undergone, both he and Harry took refuge in +the interior, and a very jolly party they all made. + +While they were outside together, Benson had been giving Ashburner some +details about Le Roi--in fact, a succinct biography of him; for be it +noted, that every New-Yorker is able to produce off-hand a minute +history of every person, native or foreign, at all known in society: for +which ability he is indebted partly to the inquisitive habits of the +people, partly to their communicative disposition, partly to their +remarkable memory of small particulars, and partly to a fine imagination +and power of invention, which must be experienced to be fully +appreciated. Benson, we say, had been, telling his friend the story of +his other friend or acquaintance; how he was of good family and no +fortune; how he had written three novels and three thousand or more +_feuilletons_; how he had travelled into some out-of-the-way part of +Poland, where no one had ever been before or since, and about which he +was, therefore, at liberty to say what he pleased; how, besides his +literary capabilities, such as they were, he played, and sang, and +danced, and sketched--all very well for an amateur; how he was +altogether a very agreeable and entertaining man, and, as such, was +supposed to have been sent out by a sort of mutual-benefit +subscription-club, which existed at Paris for the purpose of marrying +its members to heiresses in different countries. Ashburner had once +heard rumors of such a club in Germany, but was never able to obtain any +authentic details concerning it, or to determine whether it was any +thing more than a traveller's traditionary legend. Even Benson was at +fault here, and, indeed, he seemed rather to tell the club part of the +story as a good joke, than to believe it seriously himself. + +As they approached the termination of their journey, their talk +naturally turned more and more on the Springs. The Vicomte was in +possession of the latest advices thence; the arrivals and expected +arrivals, and the price-current of stock: that is, of marriageable young +gentlemen, and all other matters of gossip; how the whole family of the +Robinsons was there in full force, with an unlimited amount of Parisian +millinery; how Gerard Ludlow was driving four-in-hand, and Lowenberg had +given his wife no end of jewelry; how Mrs. Harrison, who ought not to +have been (not being of our set), nevertheless _was_ the great lioness +of the season; how Miss Thompson, the belle expectant, had renounced the +Springs altogether, and shut herself up at home somewhere among the +mountains--all for unrequited love of Hamilton White, as was charitably +reported; last, but not least, how Tom Edwards had invented six new +figures for the German cotillon. Ashburner did not at first altogether +understand the introduction of this personage into such good company, +supposing from his familiar abbreviation and Terpsichorean attributes +that he must be the fashionable dancing-master of Oldport, or perhaps of +New-York; but he was speedily given to understand that, on the contrary, +Mr. Edwards was a gay bachelor of good family and large fortune, who, in +addition to gambling, intriguing, and other pleasant little +propensities, had an insatiable passion for the dance, and was +accustomed to rotate morning, noon, and night, whenever he was not +gambling, &c. as aforesaid. "And," continued Benson, "I'll lay you any +bet you please, that the first thing we see on arriving at our hotel, +will be Tom Edwards dancing the polka; unless, indeed, he happen to be +dancing the Redowa." + +"Very likely," said Mrs. Benson, "seeing we shall arrive there at ten +o'clock, and this is a ball-night." + +Both Harry and his wife were right; they arrived at half-past ten, just +as the ball was getting into full swing. On the large portico in front +of the large hotel opened a large room, with large windows down to the +floor,--the dining-room of the establishment, now cleared for dancing +purposes. All the idlers of Oldport, male and female, black and white, +congregated at these windows and thronged the portico; and almost into +the very midst of this crowd our party was shot, baggage and all. While +Ashburner was looking out of a confused heap of people and luggage, he +heard one of the assistant loafers say to another, "Look at Mr. +Edwards!" Profiting by the information not originally intended for him, +he followed the direction of the speaker's nose, and beheld a little +showily-dressed man flying down the room with a large showily-dressed +woman, going the _poursuite_ of the Redowa at a terrific rate. So that, +literally, the first thing he saw in Oldport was Tom Edwards dancing. +But there was no opportunity to make a further study of this, "one of +the most remarkable men among us," for the party had to look up their +night quarters. Benson had dispatched in advance to Mr. Grabster, +proprietor of the Bath Hotel at Oldport Springs, a very particular +letter, stating the number of his party, the time he meant to be there, +and the number of rooms he wanted, and had also sent his horses on +ahead; but though the animals had arrived safe and found stable-room, +there was no preparation for their master. Ashburner, at the request of +the ladies, followed Benson into the office (for the Bath Hotel being, +nominally at least, the first house in the place, had its bar-room and +office separate), and found Harry in earnest expostulation with a +magnificently-dressed individual, whom he took for Mr. Grabster himself, +but who turned out to be only that high and mighty gentleman's head +book-keeper. The letter had been dispatched so long beforehand that, +even at the rate of American country posts, it ought to have +arrived, but no one knew any thing about it. Both the young men +suspected--uncharitably, perhaps, but not altogether unnaturally--that +Mr. Grabster and his aids, finding a prospect of a full season, had not +thought it worth their while to trouble themselves about the +application, or to keep any rooms. Ashburner suggested trying another +hotel, but the roads were muddy, and vehicles scarce at that time of +night, so that altogether there seemed a strong probability of their +being compelled to "camp out" on the portico. But it was not in Benson +"to give it up so." He possessed, as we have already hinted, that +faculty so alarmingly common in his country, which polite people call +oratory, and vulgar ones the "gift of the gab;" and he was not the man +to throw away the opportunity of turning any of his gifts to account. +Warming with his subject, he poured out upon the gorgeously-attired Mr. +Black such a flood of conciliatory and expostulatory eloquence, that +that gentleman absolutely contrived to find some accommodation for them. +The ladies, child, and servants were huddled together into one tolerably +large room, in the third story. Benson had a sort of corner-cupboard in +the fourth, that might, perhaps, have accommodated a mouse with a small +family; and to Ashburner and Le Roi were assigned two small chambers in +the fifth. As to the baggage, that was all piled up in the office, with +the exception of a few indispensable articles. Supper was out of the +question, there being no room to eat it in because of the dancers. The +ladies did not want supper; they only regretted not being able to unpack +their trunks, and dress for the ball then and there going on; their eyes +lighted up at the sound of the music, and their little feet began to +beat the floor incontinently. The gentlemen took a drink all round by +way of substitute for something more solid. Ashburner had mounted to his +dormitory--no small journey--and was sitting on his bed, wishing he had +some contrivance for pulling off all his clothes at once without the +trouble of removing them piece by piece, when he heard in the passage +the voice of Le Roi, _quantum mutatus ab illo_! The Vicomte had sworn up +all his own language, and was displaying a knowledge of English +expletives that quite surprised his fellow-traveller. On investigation, +the cause of his wrath proved to be this: a semi-civilized Irish waiter +had shown him to No. 296, in accordance with Mr. Black's directions. But +Mr. Black, in the multiplicity of his affairs, had forgotten that No. +296 was already tenanted, to wit, by a Western traveller, who did, +indeed, intend to quit it by an early stage next morning, but had not +the least idea of giving up his quarters before that time; and +accordingly, as if from a presentiment that some attempt would be made +to dislodge him, had, in addition to the ordinary not very strong +fastenings of the door, so barricaded it with trunks and furniture, that +it could have stood a considerable amount of siege. The waiter had gone +off, leaving Le Roi to shift for himself. Bells were scarce in the upper +stories of the Bath Hotel, nor was there any light throughout the long +corridor, except the one tallow candle which his useless guide had +deposited on the floor. Utterly upset at the idea of having to tramp +down four pair of stairs and back again in search of accommodation, the +unlucky Gaul was seeking a momentary relief in the manner above stated, +when Ashburner came to the rescue. His bed happened to be rather a large +one--so large, comparatively, that it was a mystery how it had ever +found its way into the little room, the four walls of which seemed to +have grown or been built up around it; and this bed he instantly +proposed to share with Le Roi for the night. The Frenchman _mercied_, +and couldn't think of such a thing for five minutes, edging into the +room and pulling off his coat and boots all the time; then he gave a +glorious exemplification of _cessanta causa_, for all his rage vanished +in a moment, and he was the same exuberantly good-natured and profusely +loquacious man that he had been all day. On he streamed in a perpetual +flow of talk long after both were in bed, until Ashburner began to feel +as a man might to whom some fairy had given a magical instrument, which +discoursed sweet music at first, but could never be made to stop +playing. And when at length the Vicomte, having lighted on the subject +of women, poured out an infinity of adventures with ladies of all +countries, of all which stories Vincent Le Roi was, of course, the hero, +his fellow-traveller, unable to help being disgusted at his vanity and +levity, turned round to the wall, and without considering whether he was +acting in accordance with _bienseance_, fell fast asleep in the midst of +one of the most thrilling narratives. + +When Ashburner awoke next morning, the first thing he was conscious of +was Le Roi talking. It required very little exercise of the imagination +to suppose that he had been going on uninterruptedly all night. +Afterwards he became aware of a considerable disturbance, evidently +originating in the lower story of the house, but sufficiently audible +all over it, which he put down to the account of numerous new arrivals. +By the time they had completed their toilettes (which did not take very +long, for the room being just under the roof, was of a heat that made it +desirable for them to evacuate it as soon as possible), Benson made his +appearance. He had obtained possession of his baggage, and arrayed +himself in the extreme of summer costume:--a white grass-cloth coat, +about the consistency of blotting-paper, so transparent that the lilac +pattern of his check shirt was distinctly visible through the arms of +it; white duck vest, white drilled trousers, long-napped white hat, a +speckled cravat to match his shirt, and highly varnished shoes, with red +and white striped silk stockings,--altogether very fresh and +innocent-looking. He came to show them the principal spring, which was +not far from the hotel--just a pleasant walk before breakfast, though +it was not likely they would meet many people so early, on account of +last night's ball. + +"I am afraid your quarters were not very comfortable," said Harry, as +the three strolled arm-in-arm down a sufficiently sandy road; "but we +shall have better rooms before dinner to-day." + +"The house must be very full," Ashburner remarked; "and were there not a +great many arrivals this morning? From the noise I heard, I thought at +least fifty people had come." + +"No; I glanced at the book, and there were not a dozen names on it. +Hallo!" and Benson swore roundly in Spanish, apparently forgetting that +his friend understood that language. + +Ashburner looked up, and saw meeting them a large Frenchman and a small +Irish boy. The Frenchman had an immense quantity of hair of all sorts on +his face, nearly hiding his features, which, as what was visible of them +had a particularly villainous air, was about the best thing he could +have done to them; and on his head he carried a something of felt, which +indisputably proved the proposition that matter may exist without form. +The Irish youth sported a well-meant, but not very successful attempt at +a moustache, and a black cloth cap pitched on one side of his head. In +other respects, they were attired in the usual costume of an American +snob; that is to say, a dress-coat and full suit of black at seven in +the morning. Ashburner noticed that Benson spit ostentatiously while +passing them; and after passing he swore again, this time in downright +English. + +Le Roi had seen in his acquaintance with European watering-places, a +goodly amount of scamps and blacklegs, and Ashburner was not without +some experience of the sort, so that they were not disposed to be +curious about one blackguard more or less in a place of the kind; but +these two fellows had such a look of unmitigated rascality, that both +the foreigners glanced inquiringly at their friend, and were both on the +point of asking him some questions, when he anticipated their desire. + +"God forgive me for swearing, but it is too provoking to meet these +loafers in respectable quarters. The ancients used to think their +journey spoiled if they met an unclean animal on starting, and I feel as +if my whole stay here would go wrong after meeting these animals the +first thing in the first morning." + +"_Mais qu'est ce qu'ils sont donc, ces vaut-riens?_" asked Le Roi. + +"The Frenchman is a deported convict, who is doing us the honor to serve +out his time here; the Irishman is a refugee, I believe. They have come +here to report for _The Sewer_." + +They cooled their virtuous indignation in the spring, and were +returning. + +"Hallo, Benson! Hallo! I thought that was you!" shouted somebody, a +quarter of a mile off, from the hotel steps. + +"Ah," said Harry, "I understand now why you heard so much noise this +morning. Bird Simpson has arrived." + +Mr. Simpson, popularly known as "the bird" (_why_ no one could tell +exactly, but people often get such names attached to them for some +inexplicable reason), came on a half-run to meet them. He was a tall, +showy, and rather handsome, though not particularly graceful man; very +flashily got up in a blue cutaway with gilt buttons, wide blue stripes +down the sides of his white trousers, a check shirt of enormous crimson +pattern, and a red and white cravat; no waistcoat, and wide embroidered +braces, the work of some lady friend. He seemed to have dressed himself +on the principle of the tricolor, and to have carried it out in his +face--his cheeks being very red, his eyes very blue, and his hair very +white. After having pump-handled Benson's arm for some time, he made an +attack on Le Roi, whom he just knew by name, and inquired if he had just +come _de l'autre cote_, meaning the other side of the Atlantic, +according to a common New-York idiom; but the Vicomte not unnaturally +took it to mean from the other side of the road, and gave a +corresponding answer in English as felicitous as Mr. Simpson's French. +Then he digressed upon Ashburner, whom he saw to be an Englishman, in so +pointed a manner, that Benson was obliged to introduce them; and the +introduction was followed by an invitation on Simpson's part to the +company to take a drink, which they did, somewhat to the consternation +of the Frenchman, who knew not what to make of iced brandy and mint +before breakfast. Then Simpson, having primed himself for the morning +meal, set about procuring it, and his departure visibly relieved Benson, +who was clearly not proud of his acquaintance. Le Roi also went after +his breakfast, taking care to get as far as possible from the corner of +the room where Simpson was. + +"There," said Benson, "is a very fair specimen of 'second set.' He is B, +No. 1, rather a great man in his own circle, and imports French goods. +To hear him talk about French actresses and eating-houses, you would +think him a ten-years' resident of that city, instead of having been +there perhaps four times in his life, a week each time. But you know we +Americans have a wonderful faculty of seeing a great deal in a little +time. Just so with Italy; he was there two months, and professes to know +all about the country and the people. But he doesn't know the set abroad +or at home. Sometimes you meet him at a ball, where he does his duty +about supper time; but you will never see him dancing with, or talking +to, the ladies who are 'of us.' Nevertheless, they will avail themselves +of his services sometimes, when they want to buy silks at wholesale +prices, or to have something smuggled for them; for he is the +best-natured man in the world. And, after all, he is not more given to +scandal than the exquisites, and is a great deal honester and truer. +Once I caught a fever out on the north-eastern boundary, and had not a +friend with me, or any means of getting help. This man nursed me like a +brother, and put himself to no end of trouble for me until we could +fetch Carl on. I would certainly rather have been under such an +obligation to some other men I know than to Simpson; but having +incurred it, I do not think it can be justly paid off with a +'glad-to-know-you-when-I'm-at-Bath-again' acquaintance; and I feel bound +to be civil to him, though he does bother me immensely at times with his +free-and-easy habits,--walking into my parlor with his hat on and cigar +in his mouth; chaffing me or my wife in language about as elegant as an +omnibus driver's; or pawing ladies about in a way that he takes for +gallantry. Talking of ladies, I wish mine would show themselves for +breakfast. Ah, here are two men you must know; they are good types of +two classes of our beaux--the considerably French and the slightly +English--the former class the more numerous, you are probably aware. Mr. +White, Mr. Ashburner--Mr. Ashburner, Mr. Sumner." + +Hamilton White was a tall, handsome man, some few years on the wrong +side of thirty, broader-shouldered and deeper-chested than the ordinary +American model, elaborately but very quietly dressed, without any +jewelry or showy patterns. There was something very Parisian in his +get-up and manner, yet you would never take him for a Frenchman, still +less for a Frenchified-Englishman. But he had the look of a man who had +lived in a gay capital, and quite fast enough for his years: his fine +hair was beginning to go on the top of his head, and his face wanted +freshness and color. His manner, slightly reserved at first, rapidly +warmed into animation, and his large dark eyes gave double expression to +whatever he said. His very smallest talk was immensely impressive. He +would tell a stranger that he was happy to make his acquaintance with an +air that implied all the Spaniard's _mi casa a la disposicion de usted_, +and meant about as much; and when you saw him from the _parquet_ of the +Opera talking to some young lady in the boxes, you would have imagined +that he was making a dead set at her, when in fact he was only uttering +some ordinary meteorological observation. Apart from his knack of +looking and talking sentiment, he had no strongly-marked taste or hobby: +danced respectably, but not often; knew enough about horses to pick out +a good one when he wanted a mount for a riding-party; drank good wine +habitually, without being pedantic about the different brands of it; and +read enough of the current literature of the day to be able to keep up a +conversation if he fell among a literary circle. He was not a marrying +man, partly because his income, sufficient to provide him with all +bachelor luxuries, was not large enough to support a wife handsomely; +partly because that a man should tie himself to one woman for life was a +thing he could not conceive, much less practice: but he very much +affected the society of the softer sex, and was continually amusing +himself with some young girl or young wife. He rather preferred the +latter--it was less compromising; still he had no objection to victimize +an innocent _debutante_, and leave her more or less broken-hearted. (It +must be observed, however, for the credit of American young ladies, that +they are not addicted to dying of this complaint, so often fatal in +novels; many of Hamilton's victims had recovered and grown absolutely +fat upon it, and married very successfully.) Wherever there was a +_fiancee_, or a probable _fiancee_, or a married belle with an uxorious +husband,--in short, wherever he could make himself look dangerous and +another man jealous or foolish, he came out particularly strong; at the +same time, being adroit and not over belligerent, he always contrived to +stop or get out of the way in time if the other party showed open signs +of displeasure. + +Frank Sumner was rather shorter than White, rather younger, and rather +more dressed. He had the same broad shoulders, which in America, where +most of the beaux are either tall and thin or short and thin, find favor +with the ladies; just as blondes create a sensation in southern +countries, because they are so seldom seen. In almost all other +particulars, the two men were totally unlike, and Sumner might have +passed for an English gentleman put into French clothes. He was reserved +in his conversation, and marked in the expression of his likes and +dislikes. With no more intention of marrying than White, he took care +never to make love to any woman, and if any woman made love to him, he +gave her no encouragement. He was not richer than White, not so +good-looking, and certainly not so clever, but more respected and more +influential; for the solid and trustworthy parts of his character, +backed by a bull-dog courage and an utter imperturbability, got the +better in the long run of the other's more brilliant qualities. + +Some of these things Ashburner observed for himself, some of them Benson +told him after White and Sumner, who did _not_ ask the stranger to take +a drink, had passed on. He had noticed that the latter's manner, though +perfectly civil, was very cold compared with the _empressement_ which +the former had exhibited. + +"He doesn't like your countrymen," said Harry, "and nothing can vex him +more than to be told, what is literally the truth, that he resembles an +Englishman in many respects. I believe it is about the only thing that +_can_ vex him. What an immovable man it is! I have seen a woman throw a +lighted cigar into his face, and another cut off one end of his +moustache (that was when we were both younger, and used to see some +queer scenes abroad), and a servant drop half a tureen of soup over him, +and none of these things stirred him. Once at Naples, I recollect, he +set our chimney on fire. Such a time we had of it; every one in the +house tumbling into our room, from the _piccolo_, with no coat and half +a pair of pants, to the proprietor in his dressing-gown and +spectacles--women calling on the Virgin, men running after water--and +there sat Frank, absolutely radiating off so much coolness, that he +imparted a portion of it to me, and we sat through the scene as quietly +as if they had only been laying the cloth for dinner. A rum pair they +must have thought us! The day before we had astonished the waiter by +lighting brandy over a pudding. I suppose we left them under the +impression that the Anglo-Saxons had a propensity to set fire to every +thing they came in contact with." + +"It is very odd that so many of your people should be afraid of +resembling us, and take the French type for imitation in preference to +the English. The original feeling of gratitude to France for having +assisted you in the war of independence, does not seem sufficient to +account for it." + +"Certainly not; for that feeling would naturally diminish in succeeding +generations, whereas the Gallicism of our people is on the increase,--in +fact its origin is of comparatively recent date. But we really _are_ +more like the French in some senses. Politically the American is very +Anglo-Saxon. So he is morally; but socially, so far as you can separate +society from morals, he is very French. The Englishman's first idea of +his duty in society is non-interference; the Frenchman's and American's, +amusement. An Englishman does not think it his business to endeavor to +amuse the company in which he happens to be; an Englishwoman does not +think it her duty to make any attempt to entertain a man who is +introduced to her. A Frenchman will rather talk trash, _knowing that he +is talking trash_, than remain silent and let others remain silent. So +will an American. But an Englishman, unless he is sure of saying +something to the point, will hold his tongue. The imperturbable +self-possession of the English gentleman is generally understood by us, +any more than it is by the French. His minding his own business is +attributed to selfish indifference. The picture that half our people +form of an Englishman is, a heavy, awkward man, very badly dressed, +courageous, and full of learning; but devoid of all the arts and graces +of life, and caring for nobody but himself. It is a great pity that +there is not a better understanding; but, unfortunately, the best +Englishmen who come here seldom stay long enough to be appreciated, and +the best Americans who go to England seldom stay there long enough to +appreciate the country. Whenever an American chances to stay some years +among you, he ends by liking England very much; but it is very seldom +that he has any provocation, unless compelled by business, to stay some +years, for acquaintances are harder to make in London than in any other +city, while it has less resources for a man without acquaintances than +any other city--besides being so dear. But here come the ladies at last; +now for breakfast." + +Breakfast was the best managed meal at the Bath Hotel. The _table +d'hote_ began at half past seven, but fresh relays of rolls and eggs, +ham, chops, and steaks, were always to be obtained until half-past ten +or eleven by those who had interest with the waiters. After breakfast +the company went to work promenading. There was a very wide hall running +through the hotel, and up and down this, and up and down the two +broadest sides of the portico, all the world walked--"our set" being +conspicuous from the elegance of their morning costume. One side of the +portico was devoted to the gentlemen and their cigars, and there +Ashburner and Benson took a turn, leaving with the ladies Le Roi and a +small beau or two who had joined them. Suddenly Benson pressed his +friend's arm. + +"Here comes _really_ 'one of the most remarkable men'--the very god of +the dance; behold Tom Edwards!" + +Ashburner beheld a little man, about five feet and a half high. If he +could have stood on his bushy black beard it would have lifted him full +three inches higher. Besides this beard he cherished a small moustache, +very elaborately curling-tongsed at the ends into the shape of half a +lyre. Otherwise he had not much hair on his head, but what he had was +very carefully brushed. His features were delicate, and not without +intelligence, but terribly worn by dissipation. To look at his figure, +you would take him for a boy of nineteen; to look at his face, for a man +of thirty: he was, probably, about half way between the two ages. Every +thing about him was wonderfully neat: a white coat and hat like +Benson's; cream-colored waistcoat and pearl-colored trousers; +miraculously small feet in resplendent boots, looking more like a doll's +extremities than a man's; a fresh kid glove on one of his little hands, +and on the other a sapphire ring, so large that Ashburner wondered how +the little man could carry it, and thought that he should, like +Juvenal's dandies, have kept a lighter article for summer wear. Then he +had a watch-chain of great balls of blue enamel, with about two pounds +of chatelaine charms dependent therefrom; and delicate little enamelled +studs, with sleeve-buttons to match. Altogether he was a wonderful lion, +considering his size. Even Benson had not the courage to stop and +introduce his friend until he passed the great dancer more than once, in +silent admiration, and with a respectful bow. + +And as they passed he detailed to Ashburner, with his usual biographical +accuracy, the history of Tom Edwards, which he had begun in the +stage-coach. Tom had been left in his infancy with a fortune and without +a father, to be brought up by relatives who had an unlucky preference of +Parisian to American life. Under their auspices and those of other +Mentors, whom he found in that gay capital, his progress was so rapid, +that at a very early age he was known as the banker of two or three +distinguished _lorettes_, and the pet pupil of the renowned Cellarius. +Indeed, he had lived so much in the society of that gentleman and his +dancing girls, that he took the latter for his standard of female +society, and had a tendency to behave to all womankind as he behaved to +them. To married ladies he talked slightly refined _double-entendre_: to +young ladies he found it safest to say very little, his business and +pleasure being to dance with them; if they did not dance, he gave them +up for uncivilized beings, and troubled himself no further about them. +Of old people of either sex he took no further notice than to order them +out of the way when they impeded the polkers, or dance bodily over them +when they disobeyed. Still it must be said, in justice to him, that +dancing was not his sole and all-absorbing pursuit. Having an active +turn of mind and body, he found leisure for many other profitable +amusements. He was fond of that noble animal, the horse, gambled +habitually, ate and drank luxuriously,--in short, burned his candle at a +good many ends: but the dance was, though not his sole, certainly his +favorite passion; and he was never supremely happy but when he had all +the chairs in the house arranged in a circle, and all the boys and women +of "our set" going around them in the German cotillon, from noon to +midnight at a (so-called) _matinee_, or from midnight to daybreak at a +ball. + +"And now," said Benson, "I think my cousin Gerard must be up by this +time; he and Edwards are generally the last to come down to breakfast. +Perhaps we shall find him at the ten-pin alley; I see the ladies are +moving that way." + +To the ten-pin alley they went. Down stairs, men were playing, coat off +and cigar in mouth; while others waited their turn, with feet +distributed in various directions. Above, all was decorum; the second +story being appropriated to the ladies and their cavaliers. And very +fond of the game the ladies were, for it afforded them an opportunity of +showing off a handsome arm, and sometimes a neat ankle. Gerard was not +there; they had to wait some time for alleys: altogether Benson was a +little bored, and whispered to his friend that he meant to console +himself by making a little sensation. + +"By your play?" asked Ashburner. + +"No, but by taking off my coat." + +"Why, really, considering the material of your coat, I think it might as +well be on as off. Surely you can't find it an impediment?" + +"No, but I mean to take it off for fun,--just to give the people here +something to talk about; they talk so much about so little. They will be +saying all over by to-morrow that Mr. Benson was in the ladies' room +half undressed." + +After an hour's rolling they turned hotelwards again, and as they did so +a very spicy phaeton, with gray wheelers and black leaders, drove up to +the door. A tall, handsome man, handed out a rather pretty and very +showily-dressed little woman; and Ashburner recognized Gerard Ludlow. + +It was not the first time he had seen Gerard. They had travelled half +over Greece together, having accidentally fallen upon the same route. As +the Honorable Edward had all the national fear of compromising himself, +and Gerard was as proud and reserved as any Englishman, they went on +together for days without speaking, although the only Anglo-Saxons of +the party. At last, Ludlow having capsized, horse and all, on a +particularly bad road, Ashburner took the liberty of helping to pick him +up, and then they became very good friends. Gerard was at that time in +the full flush of youth and beauty, and the lion of the Italian capital +which he had made his headquarters, where it was currently reported that +a certain very desirable countess had made desperate love to him, and +that a rich nobleman (for there are _some_ rich noblemen still left on +the continent) had tried very hard to get the handsome foreigner for a +son-in-law. Knowing this and some other similar stories about him, +Ashburner was a little curious to see Mrs. Ludlow, and confessed himself +somewhat disappointed in her; he found her rather pretty, and certainly +not stupid; lively and agreeable in her manners, like most of her +countrywomen; but by no means remarkably distinguished either for beauty +or wit. Benson explained to him that his cousin "had married for tin." + +"But Ludlow always talked of his father as a rich man, and his family as +a small one. I should have supposed money about the last thing he would +have married for." + +"Yes, he had prospects of the best; but he wanted ready money and a +settled income. He was on a small allowance; he knew the only way to get +a handsome one was to marry, and that the more money his wife brought, +the more his father would come down with. So as Miss Hammersley had +eight thousand a year, old Ludlow trebled it; and Gerard may build as +many phaetons as he likes. I don't mean to say that the match is an +uncongenial one--they have many tastes alike; but I do mean to say that +love had nothing to do with it." + +"Well, I used to think that in your unsophisticated Republican country, +people married out of pure love; but now it looks as if the +fashionables, at least, marry for money about as often as we do." + +"They don't marry for any thing else," replied Benson, using one of the +slang phrases of the day.[26] + +While the two friends were gossiping, Sumner and Le Roi had carried off +the ladies; and an assemblage of juvenile beaux and young girls, and +some few of the younger married women, had extemporized a dance in the +largest of the public parlors, which they kept up till two o'clock, and +then vanished--to dress, as it appeared, for the three o'clock dinner. +Benson's party had obtained their apartments at last,--a parlor and two +bedrooms for the ladies on the first floor, and chambers for the three +men in the second story, of a recently built wing, popularly known as +"the Colony," where most of the gay bachelors, and not a few of the +young married men, slept. At dinner the ladies presented themselves as +much dressed as they could be without being _decolletees_; and the men +had doffed their grass-cloth or linen garments, and put on dress-coats, +or, at least, black coats. Ashburner was a good-looking young man +enough, and had sufficient vanity to take notice, in the course of the +morning, that he was an object of attention; at dinner many looks were +directed towards him, but with an expression of disappointment which he +did not exactly understand at the time, but afterwards learned the +reason of from his friend. Though making no pretensions to the title of +exquisite, he happened to have a very neat shooting-jacket, +unexceptionable in material and fit; and "our set," having approved of +this, were curious to see what sort of costume he would display at +dinner. When, therefore, he came to table, + + Avec les memes bas et la meme cravate, + +and the shooting-jacket unchanged, they were visibly disappointed. +Benson, to keep him in countenance, had retained his white coat, on the +plea of its being most wanted then, as they were in the hottest part of +the day, which excuse did not enable him to escape some hints from his +sister-in-law, and a direct scolding from his wife. + +Our Englishman thought the dinner hardly worth so much dressing for. The +dishes, so far as he had an opportunity of judging, were tolerably +cooked; but their number was not at all proportionate to that of the +guests; in short, it was a decided case of short commons, and the +waiters were scarce to match. There were but two parties well attended +to. One was the family of an old gentleman from the South, who was part +owner of the building, and who, besides this advantage, enjoyed the +privilege of letting his daughter monopolize the piano of the public +parlor half the day, to sing Italian _arias_ shockingly out of tune, +much to the disgust of the boarders generally, and especially of the +dancing set, who were continually wanting the instrument themselves for +polking purposes. The other was----the reporters of _The Sewer_; who had +a choice collection of dishes and waiters always at their command. To be +sure they had their end of the table to themselves, too, for not a +person sat within three chairs of them on either side; but this they, no +doubt, accepted as a complimentary acknowledgment of their formidable +reputation. Every one else was famished. The married women grumbled, and +scolded their husbands--those convenient scapegoats of all +responsibility; the young ladies tried to look very sentimental, and +above all such vulgar anxiety as that of meat and drink, but only +succeeded in looking very cross; the men swore in various dialects at +the waiters whenever they could catch them flying, and the waiters being +used to it didn't mind it; and Ashburner, as a recollection of a former +conversation flitted across his mind, could not help letting off a _tu +quoque_ at his friend. + +"I say, Benson," quoth he, "is this one of the hotels that are so much +better than ours, and that our people ought to take a lesson from?" + +Harry looked half-a-dozen bowie-knives at him. Besides the natural +irritation produced by hunger, his wife and sister-in-law had been +whipping him over each other's shoulders for the last half-hour, and now +this last remark made him ready to boil over. For a few seconds his face +wore an expression positively dangerous, but in another moment the +ridiculous side of the case struck him. With a good-humored laugh he +called for some wine--the only thing one was sure to get, as it was an +extra, and a pretty expensive one, too, on the hills--and they drowned +their hunger in a bumper of tolerable champagne. + +The fact was, that the Bath Hotel had been a most excellent house three +or four summers previous, and the "enterprising and gentlemanly" +landlord (to borrow an American penny-a-liner's phrase) having made a +fortune, as he deserved, had sold out his lease, with the good-will and +fixtures of the establishment, to Mr. Grabster. The latter gentleman was +originally a respectable farmer and market-gardener in the vicinity of +Oldport; and having acquired by his business a fair sum of money, was +looking about for some speculation in which to invest it. He commenced +his new profession with tolerably good intentions, but having as much +idea of keeping a hotel as he had of steering a frigate, and finding a +balance against him at the end of the first season from sheer +mismanagement, he had been endeavoring ever since to make up for it by +screwing his guests in every way. People naturally began to complain. +Two courses were open to him--to improve his living, or to tip an editor +to puff him. He deemed the latter course the cheaper, and bought _The +Sewer_, which, while uttering the most fulsome adulation of every thing +connected with the Bath Hotel, frightened the discontented into silence +through dread of its abuse. Ludlow, and some of the other exclusives, +had, in the beginning of the present season, contrived a remedy, which, +for the time, was perfectly successful. They held a private interview +with the cook, and made up a weekly contribution for him, on condition +of their having the best of every thing, and enough of it, for dinner; +and the waiters were similarly retained. For a time this worked to a +marvel, and the subscribers were as well fed as they could desire. But +the other guests began to make an outcry against the aristocracy and +exclusiveness of private dishes on a public table, and the servants soon +hit upon a compromise of their own, which was to take the money without +rendering the _quid pro quo_. This, of course, soon put an end to the +payments, and things were on the old starvation footing again. + +After dinner, every body who had horses rode or drove. The roads about +Oldport were heavy and sandy, and terrible work the dust made with the +ladies' fine dresses and the gentlemen's fine coats. + +"Rather different from the drives about Baden-Baden," said Benson. + +"Yes; but I suppose we must console ourselves on moral grounds, and +remember, that there we owe the beautiful promenades to the +gambling-table, while here we are without the roads, and also without +the play." + +"Ah, but isn't there play here! only all _sub rosa_. Wait a while, and +you'll find out." + +And Ashburner did find out before many nights, when the footsteps and +oaths of the young gamblers returning at four in the morning to their +rooms in the "Colony," woke him out of his first sleep. After the drive, +tea--still at the _table-d'hote_--and after tea, dressing for the ball, +which this night was at the Bellevue House, appropriately so called from +commanding a fine view of nothing. As the Bellevue was not a fashionable +hotel (although the guests were sufficiently fed there), some of the +exclusive ladies had hesitated about "assisting" on the occasion; but +the temptation of a dance was too strong to be resisted, and they all +ultimately went. Le Roi accompanied the Bensons in the all-accommodating +Rockaway. The Bellevue had a "colony," too, in the second story of which +was the ballroom. As they ascended the stairs, the lively notes of _La +Polka Sempiternelle, composee par Josef Bungel, et dediee a M. T. +Edwards_, reached their ears; and hardly were they over the threshold +when Edwards himself hopped up before them, and without other preface or +salutation than a familiar nod, threw his arm round Mrs. Benson's waist, +and swung her off in the dance; while Sumner, who had simultaneously +presented himself to Miss Vanderlyn, took similar possession of her. + +"Do you dance?" + +"No, I thank you." + +While Benson asked the question, Le Roi dived at a girl and whirled her +away: almost before Ashburner had answered it, his friend shot away from +him, making point at a young married lady in the distance; and his bow +of recognition ended in the back-step of the polka, as the two went off +together at a killing pace. In five seconds from the time of entrance, +Ashburner was left standing alone at one end of the room, and his +companions were twirling at the other. For so habituated were the +dancers to their fascinating exercise, that they were always ready to go +at the word, like trained horses. And certainly the dancing was +beautiful. He had never seen gentlemen move so gracefully and +dexterously in a crowded room as these young Americans did. Le Roi and +Roewenberg, who, by virtue of their respective nationalities, were bound +to be good dancers, looked positively awkward alongside of the natives. +As to the ladies, they glided, and swam, and realized all the +so-often-talked-of-and-seldom-seen "poetry of motion." Indeed Ashburner +thought they did it too well. He thought of Catiline's friend, +commemorated by Sallust, who "danced better than became a modest woman." +He thought some of their displays were a little operatic, and that he +had seen something like them at certain balls in Paris--_not_ the balls +of the Faubourg St. Germain. He thought that the historian's aphorism +might be extended to the male part of the company,--and that they danced +better than became intelligent men. He thought--but as he prudently kept +thoughts to himself, and as some of his foreign prejudice may have been +at the bottom of them, we will not stop to record them all. By and by +there was a quadrille for the benefit of the million, during which the +exclusives rested, and Ashburner had full opportunity of observing them. +The first thing that struck him was the extreme youth of the whole set, +and more especially of the masculine portion of it. Old men there were +none. The old women, that is to say, the mammas and aunts, were stuck +into corners out of the way, and no one took any notice of them. +Hamilton White was quite an old beau by comparison--almost +superannuated. Sumner would have been nearly off the books but for his +very superior dancing. Even Benson seemed a middle-aged man compared +with the majority of "our set," who averaged between boys of seventeen +and young men of twenty-four. And the more juvenile the youth, the +larger and stiffer was his white tie. Some of these neck-fastenings were +terrific to behold, standing out a foot on each side of the wearer. All +the Joinvilles that Ashburner had ever seen, on all the gents in London +or elsewhere, faded into insignificance before these portentous cravats. +He could not help making some observations on this fashion to Benson, as +he encountered him promenading with a fair _polkiste_. + +"Did you ever notice the whiffletrees of my team-trotting wagon, how +they extend on each side beyond the hubs of the wheels? They serve for +feelers in a tight place: wherever you clear your whiffletrees, you can +clear your wheels; and these cravats are built on the same +principle--wherever you clear your tie, you can clear your partner." + +By one in the morning the democracy of the ballroom had had enough of +four hours' dancing and looking on. "Our set" was left in full +possession of the floor. Forthwith they seized upon all the chairs, and +the interminable German cotillon commenced. It lasted two hours--and how +much longer Ashburner could not tell. When he went away at three, the +dancers looked very deliquescent, but gave no symptoms of flagging. And +so ended his first day's experience of an American watering-place. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[26] This is the strongest American (slang) way of putting an +affirmation; and, probably, the strongest instance of it on record is +that of a Bowery boy, who, when asked by a clergyman, "Wilt thou have +this woman?" replied, "I won't have any one else." + + + + +[From the Dublin University Magazine.] + +THE MYSTIC VIAL: + +OR, + +THE LAST DEMOISELLE DE CHARREBOURG. + +_Continued from page 75._ + + +PART II. + +VI.--THE MINIATURE. + +Lucille had not, therefore, gained by her marriage the position to which +her ambition aspired. She had made several ineffectual efforts to +dissolve the spell of isolation which seemed to seclude the intercourse +of the Chateau des Anges from all human ken and visitation as absolutely +as the palace of a merman. With the exception, however, of a few visits +from the great ladies who resided in the neighborhood, no casual beams +from the brilliant world of rank and fashion without penetrated the +dismal shadows of her gorgeous abode. + +She was dissatisfied, angry, and resolved upon the earliest fitting +occasion to rebel against the selfish tyranny which consigned her to +solitude and monotony. + +She had hitherto gained nothing by those little expedients, hints, and +even entreaties, which are sometimes found so effectual in like cases. +The old fermier-general was just as smiling and as promising as the +Chateau des Anges itself, but, alas! as absolutely impenetrable. An iron +will encountered and repressed all her shifts and struggles. She chafed +and coaxed alike in vain. Whether the bird sang or fluttered, the bars +of her cage were immovable. + +Under these circumstances, no very cordial feelings began to animate the +fiery girl respecting her resolute and reserved old helpmate. + +Meanwhile the humble cottage in the park of Charrebourg was deserted, +and permitted to fall to decay, for the old visconte, and even +Marguerite, had been removed to the establishment at Des Anges, and so, +in process of time, the little walks were overgrown with grass, the +fences spread and straggled, dark green plants clambered to the roof, +and weeds showed themselves over the tiled vestibule and even ventured +into the inner chambers. Thus time and nature, in mournful alliance, +began their obliterating work. But there were some plants and flowers +which grew outside what had been for so long Mademoiselle Lucille de +Charrebourg's window. They had been the objects of her care, and +Gabriel!--sweet but sorrowful remembrance!--had been, in those happy +times, privileged to tend them for her. Poor Gabriel was now desolate +indeed, but he pleased himself with dressing those flowers, and +watering, and weeding them day by day, just as if she were there; and he +would then sit on the bank that bounded the bowling-green, and watch the +desolate casement where he used so often to see that face that too +probably was never more to beam on him. And thus hours would glide away, +and, young as he was, he came to live chiefly in the past. + +And generally when he rose, and with an effort, and many a backward +look, lingeringly departed, he would strengthen his sinking heart with +some such reflection as this:-- + +"She did not love the fermier-general--it was the visconte who made her +marry him. This Monsieur Le Prun--what was he at first but a +roturier--no better than myself--and made his own money--fortune may yet +befriend me also. I have energies, and resolution, and courage, for her +sake, to dare ten thousand deaths. I'll not despair. And then the old +fellow can't live _very_ long--a few years--and so who knows yet what +may befall?" + +There was one beautiful rose which grew close to the window, and which +Lucille herself had planted, and this tree Gabriel came gradually to +regard as connected by some sweet and silent sympathy with the features +and feelings of its mistress. When it drooped, she, he thought, was sick +or in sorrow; when, on the contrary, it was covered with blossoms and +fresh leaves, she was full of smiles and health; when a rough gust tore +its slender sprays, some vexation and disappointment had fretted her; +and when again it put forth new buds and sprouts, these were forgotten, +and time had gathered round her new hopes and delights. Thus this tree +became to him an object of strangely tender interest, and he cherished +the fancy that, in tending and guarding it, he was protecting the +fortunes and the happiness of poor Lucille. + +Meanwhile, as a sort of beginning of that great fortune that awaited +him, he obtained employment as an under-gardener at the Chateau de +Charrebourg, which had just been let to a wealthy noble, whose millions +had elevated him (like Monsieur le Prun) from the bourgeoisie to his +present rank. + +But we must return to the Chateau des Anges. Lucille's apartments were +situated at a side of the chateau overlooking a small court +communicating with the greater one at the front of the building; and +this narrow area was bounded by a lofty wall, which separated the other +pleasure-grounds from the park. + +It was night; Lucille and her gentle companion, Julie, had been chatting +together, as young-lady friends will do, most confidentially. The little +maiden had detailed all her sadness and alarms. Her married companion +had been fluent and indignant upon her wrongs and disappointments. Each +felt a sort of relief, and drawn as it were into a securer intimacy, by +the absence of Monsieur le Prun, who was that night necessarily absent +upon business. + +The conversation had now shifted to Julie's engagement. + +"And so, I suppose, I must marry him. Is it not a cruel tyranny to +compel one who desires nothing but to live and die among good +Christians, in the quiet of a convent, to marry a person whom she does +not or cannot love?" + +"Yes, Julie, so it seems; but you may yet be happier so married, than +leading the life you long for. Remember, Julie, he is not a man who has +outlived the warmth, and tenderness, and trust of youth. He is still +capable of a generous passion, and capable of inspiring one. There is no +grief like the tyranny of one whom law and not love has made your +master." + +As they conversed, some cases of Lucille's lay open on the table before +her companion, who had been amusing herself in girlish fashion by the +varied splendor and exquisite taste of the jewelry they contained. + +"This brooch," she said, taking up a miniature in enamel, representing +some youthful tradition of Monsieur le Prun's person, set round with +diamonds, "is set very like mine, but I hate to look at it." + +"It represents, then----" + +"The Marquis. Yes." + +"The world calls him handsome, I am told." + +"Yes, but somehow, if he be so, I can't perceive it; he does not please +me." + +"Well, then, bring me the miniature, and I will pronounce between you +and the world." + +With a melancholy smile Julie ran to her own apartment, hard by, and in +a few minutes returned. With curiosity all alive, Lucille took the +brooch and looked at it. + +"Well, what say you?" asked Julie, who stood behind her chair, gazing at +the trinket over her shoulder. Lucille was silent, although nearly a +minute had elapsed. + +"He certainly has the noble air," she continued; but still Lucille +offered no criticism. + +On a sudden she put down the miniature sharply on the table, and said, +abruptly, "It is time to go to rest; let us go to bed." + +She rose and turned full round on Julie as she spoke. Her face was pale +as death, and her eyes looked large and gleaming. Her gaze was almost +wild. + +"Are you ill?" said Julie, frightened, and taking her hand, which was +quite cold. + +"O, no, no," said Lucille quickly, with a smile that made her pallor and +her dilated stare more shocking. "No, no, no--tired, vexed, heart-sick +of the world and of my fate." + +Julie, though shocked and horrified, thought she had never seen Lucille +look so handsome before. She was an apparition terrible, yet beautiful +as a lost angel. + +"You are, after all, right," she said suddenly. "I--I believe I _am_ +ill." + +The windows of the apartment descended to the floor, and opened upon a +balcony. She pushed the casement apart, and stood in the open air. Julie +had hurried to her assistance, fearing she knew not what, and stood +close by her. Never was scene so fitted to soothe the sick brain, and +charm the senses with its sad and sweet repose. The pure moon, high in +the deep blue of the heavens, shed over long rows of shimmering steps, +and urns, and marble images--over undulating woodlands, and sheets of +embowered and sleeping water, and distant hills, a mournful and airy +splendor. + +It seemed as though nature were doing homage to so much beauty. The old +forest wafted from his broad bosom a long hushed sigh as she came forth; +the moon looked down on her with a serene, sad smile; and the spirits of +the night-breeze sported with her tresses, and kissed her pale lips and +forehead. + +At least five minutes passed in silence. Lucille, on a sudden, said-- + +"So, at the end of a year you will be married?" + +It seemed to Julie that the countenance that was turned upon her gleamed +with an expression of hatred which froze her. But the moonlight is +uncertain, and may play wild freaks with the character of an excited +face. + +"Yes, dear Lucille; alas! yes," she answered, in a tone that was almost +deprecatory. + +"Well, well, I am better now," she said, after a second interval. "My +head, Julie--my poor head!" + +"Have you a pain there, dear Lucille?" + +"Yes, yes, it's all there," she said, abstractedly; and, returning, she +kissed her gentle companion, bade her good night, and was alone. + +Julie was strangely perplexed by the scene which had just occurred. She +could account for it upon no theory but the supposition that some +flickering vein of insanity was shooting athwart her reason, and as +suddenly disappeared. As soon as she was partially composed, she kneeled +down at the bedside, and prayed long and fervently; and for far the +greater part of the time poor Lucille was the sole theme of her +supplications. At last she lay down, and composed herself to sleep. +Spite of the unpleasant images with which her mind was filled, slumber +ere long overpowered her. But these painful impressions made teasing and +fantastic shapes to themselves. Her pillow was haunted, and strange +dreams troubled her slumbering senses. From one of these visions she +awoke with a start, and found herself sitting upright in her bed, with +her heart beating fast with terror. A burst of passionate wailing from +Lucille's apartments thrilled her with a sort of terror at the same +moment. In hushed uncertainty she listened for a repetition of the +sound; but in vain. She was prompted to go and try whether she needed +any help or comfort; but something again withheld her; and, after +another interval of somewhat excited reflection, she once more gradually +fell asleep. Again, however, hateful visions tormented her. She dreamed +that a phantom, said to have haunted the chateau for ages, and known by +the familiar title of "La Belle Colombe," was pursuing her from chamber +to chamber, dressed in her accustomed shroud of white; and had at last +succeeded in chasing her into a chamber from which there was no second +door of escape--when she awoke with a start; and, behold! there was a +light in the room, and a female form, dressed in white, standing between +the bedside and the door. For some moments she fancied that she saw but +the continuation of her dream, and awaited the further movements of the +figure with the fascination of terror. But gradually her senses reported +more truly, and she perceived that the figure in white was indeed +Lucille--pale, haggard; while with one she held the candlestick, with +the other she motioned slowly towards the bed, which she was approaching +with breathless caution, upon tiptoe. With an effort Julie succeeded in +calling her by name, almost expecting as she did so to see the whole +apparition vanish into air. + +"Awake, awake; how softly you breathe, Julie!" said Lucille, drawing +close to the bedside, and drawing the curtains. + +"Yes, dear Lucille; can I do any thing for you?" + +"No, no--nothing but----" + +"How do you feel now?--are you better?" + +"Yes, better than I desire to be." + +"But why are you here, dear Lucille? Has any thing--_frightened_ you?" + +"Ha! then you heard it, did you?" + +"Heard it? What?" + +"Why, how long have you been awake--did you--did you hear +music--singing?" + +"No, no; but in truth, dear Lucille, I thought I heard you weeping." + +"O, nonsense; who minds a girl's weeping. But you heard nothing else?" + +"No, indeed." + +Lucille appeared greatly relieved by this assurance. She stooped over +her and kissed her; and it was not until her face was thus brought near +that Julie could perceive how worn and wan with weeping it was. + +"I have been dreaming, then; yes, yes, I suspected as much--_dreaming_," +she said; and, as she reached her own room, she muttered-- + +"Well, God be thanked, she did _not_ hear it. But what can it mean? What +madness and crime can have conjured up these sounds? What can it mean +but guilt, danger, and despair?" + + +VII.--THE DEVIL'S COACH. + +It seemed to Julie that Lucille was moody and abstracted next morning. +Sometimes for a few moments she talked and smiled as before, but this +was fitfully, and with an effort. She appeared like one brooding over +some wrong that had taken possession of her thoughts, or some dark and +angry scheme which engrossed her imagination. She soon left Julie and +retired to her own apartments. + +When Monsieur Le Prun returned, some time after noon, not finding his +young wife in her usual chamber, he went up stairs to wish her good day +in her own suite of rooms. + +He was surprised at the sullen and stormy countenance with which she +greeted him. She had not yet ventured to rebel against his authority, +although she had frequently hinted her remonstrances and wrongs. But +there was now a darkness charged with thunder on her brow, and the +fermier-general began seriously (in nautical phrase) to look out for +squalls. + +"Good-day, my pretty wife." + +"Good-day, sir." + +"Are you well to-day?" + +"No." + +"Hey? that's a pity; what ails you, my charming little wife?" + +"Solitude." + +"Solitude! pooh, pooh! why, there is Julie." + +"Julie has her _young_ lover to think of." + +"And when you weary of her," he continued, resolved not to perceive the +slight but malicious emphasis, "you have got your own sweet thoughts to +retire upon." + +"My thoughts are ill company, sir." + +"Well, as it seems to me, the pretty child is out of temper to-day," he +said, with evident chagrin. + +"Perhaps I am--it is natural--I should be a fool were I otherwise." + +"Par bleu! what new calamity is this?" he asked, with a smile and a +shrug. + +"Nothing new, sir." + +"Well, what _old_ calamity?" + +The past night had wrought a change in Lucille; and, little as she had +ever liked M. Le Prun, she now felt a positive hatred of him, and she +answered with a gloomy sort of recklessness-- + +"Sir, I am a prisoner." + +"Tut, tut! pretty rogue." + +"Yes, a prisoner; _your_ prisoner." + +"A prisoner on parole, perhaps; but provided, pretty captive, you don't +desert me, you may wander where you will." + +"Pshaw! that is nonsense," she said sharply. + +"Nonsense!" he repeated, testily; "it is no such thing, madame; you have +the handsomest equipages in France. Pray, when did I refuse you +carriages, or horses, or free egress from this place? par bleu! or lock +the gates, madame? Treated as you are, how _can_ you call yourself a +prisoner?" + +"What advantage in carriages, and horses, and open gates, when we are +surrounded by a desert?" + +"A desert? what do you mean?" + +"There is not a soul to speak to." + +"Not a soul--why, you are jesting; pray, is the Marquise de Pompignaud +nobody? is the Conte de la Perriere nobody?" + +"_Worse_ than nobody, monsieur: I should prefer a desert to a wilderness +haunted by such creatures." + +"_Sacre!_ what does the child want?" + +"What every wife in France commands--society, sir." + +"Well, I say you have got it: independently of your immediate domestic +circle, you have a neighborhood such as ought to satisfy any reasonable +person. There are persons fully as well descended as yourself, and +others nearly as rich as I am, all within easy visiting distance." + +"The rich are all plebeians, and the nobles are all poor; there is and +can be in a group so incongruous no cordiality, no gayety, no splendor; +in a word, no such society as the last descendant of the Charrebourgs +may reasonably aspire to." + +"It is fully as numerous and respectable, notwithstanding, as the +society which the last descendant of the Charrebourgs enjoyed in the +ancestral park where first I had the honor of making her acquaintance." + +"Yes; but not such as with my birth and beauty I might and _must_ have +commanded, sir." + +"Well, what do you expect? These people won't give fetes." + +"Bring me to Paris, sir; I wish to take my place among the noble +society, where I may meet my equals; and at court, where I may, like all +my ancestry, see my sovereign. Here, sir, my days fly by in melancholy +isolation; I am kept but to amuse your leisure; this, sir, is not +indulgence--it is selfish and tyrannical." + +Monsieur Le Prun looked angrier and uglier than ever she had seen him +before. His eyes looked more black and prominent, and his face a great +deal paler. But he did not trust himself with an immediate answer; and +his features, as if in the effort to restrain the retort his anger +prompted, underwent several grotesque and somewhat ghastly contortions. + +His handsome wife, meanwhile, sat sullen and defiant, daring, rather +than deprecating, the menaced explosion of his wrath. + +Their matrimonial bickerings, however, were not so soon to reach their +climax. Monsieur Le Prun contrived to maintain a silent +self-command--thrust his hands into his pockets, walked to the window +humming an air, and after a few moments' pause, turned abruptly and left +the room. + +Near the stair-head he met old Marguerite on her way to Lucille's +apartments. He signed to her to follow him, and entered a chamber there. +She perceived the unmistakable traces of angry excitement in his +face--always sinister in an old man, but in one so powerful, and about +whom she had heard so many dark rumors, full of vague terrors. As soon +as he had closed the door, he said to her-- + +"I hope they make you comfortable here, Marguerite?" + +"Yes, sir, very comfortable," she replied, with a low courtesy, and +trembling a good deal. + +"Well, Marguerite, I suppose you would wish to make a suitable return. +Now, some vile miscreant meddler, who has got the ear of your young +mistress, has been endeavoring to make her unhappy in her present +secluded situation--I think I could place my hand upon the culprit; but +at all events, do _you_ lose no opportunity henceforward of cheering +her, and reconciling your young mistress, to this most suitable +residence." + +It was perfectly plain from his looks, that Monsieur Le Prun suspected +_her_ of being the "meddler" in question; but before she could muster +presence of mind to attempt her exculpation, he was gone. The interview +was like an ugly, flitting dream. His angry face and menacing croak had +scared her senses but for a moment; the apparition had vanished, and, +with a heart still beating fast, she went stealthily on her way. + +Now Julie perceived that a change had taken place in Lucille--she was +anxious and excited, and appeared morbidly and passionately eager to +share in those amusements which before she had desired with comparative +moderation. + +"Julie, I _will_ mix in the world; I _will_ meet people and associate +with my equals--I am resolved upon it. If Monsieur Le Prun persists in +refusing my reasonable wishes, it will perchance be the worse for +himself." + +Such sentences she used to utter amidst blushes and pallor, and with a +fire and agitation that painfully perplexed her gentle, but now somewhat +estranged, little companion. + +Her conduct, too, became eccentric and capricious; sometimes she +appeared sullen and reserved--sometimes, at moments, as if animated with +a positive hatred of her unoffending companion. Then, again, she would +relent, and, in an agony of compunction, entreat her to be reconciled. + +It happened, not unfrequently, that business compelled Monsieur Le Prun +to pass the night from home. Upon one of these occasions Lucille had +gone early to her bed, and old Marguerite, at her special desire, sat +beside her. + +"Well, Marguerite," said her young mistress, "I am going to exact the +fulfilment of a promise you made me long ago, when first you came home, +and before you became afraid of Monsieur Le Prun. You told me, then, +that you knew some stories of him--come, what are they?" + +"Hey dear, bless the pretty child!--did I though?" + +"Yes, yes, Marguerite; and you must tell them now--I say you _must_--I +_will_ have them. Nay, don't be afraid; I'll not tell them again, and +nobody can overhear us here." + +"But, my pretty pet, these stories----" + +"Then there _are_ stories--see, you can't deny it any longer; tell them, +tell them to me all." + +"Why, they are nothing but a pack of nonsense. You would laugh at me. It +is only about monsieur's father, and the wonderful coach they say he +left to his son." + +"Well, be it what it may, let me have it." + +"Well, then, my pretty bird, you shall have it as they told it to +myself." + +She looked into the next apartment, and having satisfied herself that +it was vacant, and shut the door of communication, she prepared for her +narrative. + +We have clipped the redundancies and mended the inaccuracies of honest +Marguerite's phraseology; but the substance and arrangement of the story +is recorded precisely as she gave it herself. + +"Monsieur's father, they say, began with a very little money, madame, +and he made it more by--by--in short, by _usury_; I beg pardon, but they +say so, madame; and so finding as he grew old that he had a great deal +of gold, and wishing to have some one of his own flesh and blood to +leave it to, when he should be dead and buried, he bethought him of +getting a wife. He must have been a shrewd man, I need not tell you, to +have made so much money, so he was determined not to make his choice +without due consideration. Now there was a farmer near them, who had a +pretty and innocent daughter, and after much cautious inquiry and +patient study of her character, old money-bags resolved that she was +excellently suited for his purpose." + +"She was young and pretty, and he old and ugly, but rich; well, what +followed?" + +"Why, she, poor thing, did not want to marry him at all; for though he +was rich, he had a very ill name in the country, and she was afraid of +him; but her father urged her, and the old man himself spoke her fair, +and between them they overpowered her fears and scruples, and so she was +married." + +"Poor thing!" said Lucille, unconsciously. + +"Well, madame, he married, and brought her home to his desolate old +house, and there, they say, he treated her harshly; and, indeed he might +there safely use her as he pleased, for there was not another house for +a great way round to be seen: and nobody but his own creatures and +dependents, who, they said, were just as bad as himself, could hear her +cries, or witness his barbarities." + +Lucille sat up in the bed, and listened with increased interest. + +"Poor thing! it was there, in the midst of sufferings and cruelties, +that she gave birth to a child, who is now Monsieur Le Prun, the great +fermier-general; but her health, and indeed her heart, was broken; and, +some rumor having reached her relations, that she was sick and unhappy, +a cousin of hers, who, they said, was in love with her in their early +days, brought the village physician with him to see her, though it was +full three leagues and a half away." + +"The cousin loved her; poor fellow, he was true," said Lucille, with a +blush of interest. + +"Ay, so they say; but Monsieur Le Prun, who was a jealous curmudgeon, +would not admit him; but he did allow the physician to see her (himself +standing by), because he was always glad to have the use of any body's +skill for nothing--which, more than any love he bore his poor wife, was +the reason of his letting him prescribe for her. Well, of course, she +could not send any message to her friends, nor tell how she was treated, +for old Le Prun was at her bedside; but the physician saw that she was +ill, and he said to the old miser--'Your wife can't walk, and she must +have air; let her drive every day in your coach.' 'I have no such +thing,' said old Le Prun. 'But you are rich,' said the physician, 'you +can afford to buy one; and it is your duty to do so for your wife, who +will die else.' 'Let her die, then, for me--the devil may send her a +coach to ride in, as they say he sent me my money; but I'll not waste my +gold on any such follies.' So the physician went away, disappointed and +disgusted, and her poor cousin was not able to effect any good on her +behalf; but it seems the words of Monsieur Le Prun did not fall quite to +the ground--they were heard in the quarter to where they were directed. +That evening closed in clouds, and before twelve o'clock at night, they +say, there came on such another thunder-storm as never was heard in the +neighborhood, before or since. Nothing but thunder, roaring and +crashing, peal upon peal, till the old house shook and trembled to its +very base; and the blue lightning glared at every window, and split +along the pavement in streams of livid fire; and all this time the rain +was beating straight down in an incessant and furious deluge." + +"And so, I suppose, the devil came in the midst of the tempest, and took +him away bodily in a flash of lightning?" + +"No, no, my pretty bird, not so fast. There was an old negro servant of +his, a fellow just as wicked as himself, who was sitting in the kitchen, +cursing the rain that was battering in huge drops down the chimney, and +putting out the wood at which he was warming his shins, when, in the +midst of the dreadful hubbub of the tempest, what should he hear but the +rush of a great equipage, and wheels and horses clattering over the +pavement, amidst the shouts of men and the sound of horns. Up jumped the +black, and, listening, he heard a loud voice shouting through the storm, +as if to summon some one to the door. Though they say he was a +courageous old sinner, his heart failed him, for such sounds had not +visited the old house within the memory of man in the day time, much +less in the dead of night; and, instead of going to the door, he hurried +away to the chamber where old Le Prun was cowering, screwed up in the +middle of a great old fauteuil, and more frightened at the tempest than +he would have cared to confess. So he told him of the sounds he had just +heard, and he and his master mounted together to a small room in a gable +over the hall-door, and from the casement of this they commanded a view +of the paved court in front. It was so dark, however, that they could +see nothing; and the thunder still echoing in loud explosions, and the +rain battering at the windows, prevented their distinctly hearing the +words which the voice was shouting outside. 'Shall we open the casement +and ask him what they want?' said the old negro. 'Let it alone,' said +his old master, shoving his arm back again, with a curse. At the same +moment a vivid flash of lightning, or rather several in almost +continuous succession, shed for some seconds a blue, pulsating +illumination over the scene, and then they saw before their eyes a +coach, with a team of horses and outriders, in the style of a royal +equipage, drawn up before the hall door; and all the postillions and +outriders were sitting motionless, with their whips pointing to the +house, as if they were signing to the inhabitants to come out: and some +one was looking from the window, and cried, in a tone like the shriek of +the wind--'The coach that Monsieur Le Prun ordered this morning.' In the +quivering blue light the whole thing looked like a smoky shadow, and was +swallowed in darkness in a moment. Then came the bellowing +thunder-burst, and a wild scream of winds rushed whooping, and sighing, +and hissing through the tree-tops, and died away in the unknown +distance. The two old sinners, master and man, crept away from the +window, and stumbled their way back again to the chamber which Monsieur +Le Prun had occupied before, and which, being in the rear of the house, +and most remote from the sight that had scared them, was preferred by +them to any other. In the morning a coach, of first-rate workmanship in +all respects, was standing in front of the hall door, just where they +had seen it on the night before, but no sign of horse, rider, or owner. +For several days it remained in the same position, no one caring to +touch it; but at the end of that time, having grown accustomed to its +presence, and gradually less and less in awe of it, they lodged it in +the coach-house; and so, after a considerable time, the old usurer's +instincts prevailed, and he resolved to make trial of the vehicle, with +a view to sell it in Paris. At first the horses snorted, and reared, and +shyed, when they were attempted to be harnessed to it, but in a little +while they too became reconciled to it, and Monsieur Le Prun made an +experimental trip in it himself. Whatever passed upon that occasion, it +certainly determined him against parting with it. And, it was said, +whenever he was thenceforward in doubt about any purchase, or meditating +any important financial _coup_, he invariably took a solitary drive in +this preternaturally-acquired vehicle; and, in the course of that drive, +his doubts, whatever they may have been, were invariably resolved, and +some lucky purchase or successful operation upon 'Change was sure to +follow. It was said that upon these occasions Monsieur Le Prun was +always heard to converse with some companion in the coach; and the +driver once avowed that, having been delayed by an accident on the road, +as the darkness came on, he distinctly saw two shadowy outriders +spurring duly in their van, and never lost sight of them until, with +hair standing on end, and bathed in a cold sweat, he drew up in the +court before his master's house." + +"And what happened to old Le Prun?" + +"When they returned from one of their drives, taken, Heaven bless us! +for the purpose of consulting the Evil One, so to speak, face to face, +they found old Le Prun quite dead, sitting back in his wonted attitude, +and with his arm slung in the embroidered strap." + +"And what has become of the wonderful coach?" + +"That I have never heard; but they say that Monsieur Le Prun, the +fermier-general, has it in one of his houses, either in the country or +in Paris, and that, whenever he wants to consult the familiar demon of +the family, he takes a drive in it alone; and this, they say, has been +the cause of his great successes and his enormous fortune." + +"I should like to ride in that coach myself," said Lucille. + +"Heaven and all the saints forbid!" + +"I want to know my destiny, Marguerite. Were I sure that all my days +were to pass as at present, I would rather die than live." + +"Oh, but sure my pretty bird would not ask her fortune of--of--" + +"Yes, of any one--of any spirit, good or evil, that could tell it. I am +weary of my life, Marguerite. I would rather beg or work with my +liberty, and the friends I like, than see my days glide by in this dull, +wealthy house, without interest, or hope, or--or _love_." + +"But never desire, while you live, my child, the visits of the Evil One. +Once asked for, it is said he never refuses them." + +"Say you so? then I invite him with all my heart," she said, with a +bitter pleasantry; "he can't be a great deal worse than the society I +have sometimes had to share; and, if he discloses the futurity that +awaits me, he will have been the most instructive companion that fortune +ever lent me." + +"Chut! madame, listen." + +"What is the matter, Marguerite?" + +"Did not you hear?" + +"What?--whom?" + +"There--there again; blessed Virgin shield us!" + +"Psha! Marguerite; it is nothing but the moths flying against the +window-panes; I have heard that little tapping a hundred times." + +"Well, well, maybe so; but say your prayers, my dear, and ask +forgiveness for your foolish words." + +"No, Marguerite; for in truth I do wish my fortune were read to me, and +care not by whom." + +"Hey, what's that? Chut! in Heaven's name hold thy mad tongue," she +cried, in the irritation of panic; "surely _that_ is no moth. May the +saints guard your bed, my child. You heard it, did you not?" + +"Hum--yes--there was a sound." + +"I should think so, par bleu! something a size or two larger than a +moth, too." + +"It was a spray of one of the plants swung by the breeze against the +window." + +"Ma foi! it was no such thing, my sweet pet; no, no, something with a +pair of wings fluttered up against it." + +Had the old woman, in her trepidation, had leisure to study the +countenance of her young mistress, she would have perceived that her +cheeks were flushed with crimson. But she was too busy with her medley +of prayers and protestations, and too fully preoccupied with the idea of +an unearthly visitation. + +"Well, well, Marguerite, be it as you say; I'll not dispute the point; +but leave me now; I'm tired, and would sleep. Good night." + +After the old woman had withdrawn some minutes, Lucille rose from her +bed. She had only been partially undressed; and throwing on her +dressing-gown, and putting her little ivory feet into her slippers, she +glided to her chamber-door, which she secured, and then cautiously, and +almost fearfully, stepped to the window, which she pushed open, and +stood upon the balcony. + +With a beating heart, and a cheek that momentarily changed color, she +looked all along the edges of the court, and over the tall plants, and +under the shadow of the lofty jessamine-covered wall. She listened with +breathless and excited suspense--she waited for some minutes; but, +having watched and listened in vain, she pressed her hand on her heart, +and, with a deep and trembling sigh, turned back again. It was at this +moment she saw something white, no bigger than a playing-card, lie at +her feet. She picked it up, entered her room, and trembling violently, +closed the window again, and was alone. + + +VIII.--THE ORDEAL. + +The next morning came with sunshine, and the merry carols of all the +sylvan choirs. It would have meetly ushered in a day of rejoicing; but +joy seemed to have bid an eternal adieu to the luxurious solitudes of +the Chateau des Anges. + +Julie that morning remarked that Lucille remained unusually late in her +own rooms. Fearing that she might be ill, she ventured to visit her in +her apartments. It was past twelve o'clock when she knocked at her door. +There was no answer; and she knocked repeatedly, but without success. At +last she opened the door, but Lucille was not as usual in that room. She +walked through it, and the apartment beyond it, without seeing her; but +in her dressing-room, which lay beyond that again, she found her. + +She was sitting in a loose morning-robe; her head was supported by her +hand, and the open sleeve of heavy silk had fallen back from her white +round arm. An open letter lay upon the table under her gaze. She had +evidently been weeping, and was so absorbed either in her own +reflections or the contents of the letter, that she did not perceive the +entrance of Julie. + +The visitor paused; but feeling that every moment of her undiscovered +presence added to the awkwardness of her situation, she called Lucille +by name. + +At the sound of her name she started from her seat, and stood, pale as +death, with all her dark hair shaken wildly about her shoulders, and her +eyes gleaming with a malign terror upon the intruder. At the same moment +she had clutched the letter, and continued to crumple it in her hand +with a spasmodic eagerness. + +Julie was almost as much confounded as Lucille. Both were silent for a +time. + +"I beg your pardon, dear Lucille; I fear my unperceived intrusion +startled you." + +"Yes, yes; I suppose I am nervous. I am not well. Oh, God! you did +startle me very much." + +To do her justice, she looked terrified; every vestige of color had fled +from her face, even from her lips, and her eyes continued gleaming +wildly and fixedly on her. + +"Why did you come, then--what do you want of me?" she said, at last, +excitedly, and even angrily. + +"I came to ask how you are, Lucille--I feared you were ill." + +"I--I ill? You know I was _not_ ill," she said hurriedly and +impatiently, and either forgetting or despising her own excuse of but a +moment before. "You came--you came for a _purpose_, Julie--yes, yes--do +not deny it--there is perfidy enough already." + +"You wrong me, Lucille; I told you the simple truth--why should I +deceive you?" + +"Why--why? Because the world is full of deceit, full of falsehood and +treason--they are every where, every where." + +She turned away, and Julie perceived that she was weeping. + +She was pained and puzzled--nay, she was crossed every moment by the +horrid fear that Lucille's mind was unsettled. Her strange agitation +seemed otherwise unaccountable. + +"Lucille--dear Lucille--surely you will not be angry with your poor +little friend--surely you believe Julie." + +She looked at her for a moment, and said-- + +"Yes, Julie, I do believe you;" and so saying, she kissed her. "But--but +I am utterly, and I fear irremediably miserable." + +"But what is the cause of your wretchedness, my dear Lucille?" + +"This place--this solitude oppresses me; I cannot endure the isolation +to which I am unnaturally and tyrannically condemned. Oh, Julie! there +are circumstances, secrets, miseries, I dare not tell you; fate is +weaving round me a net, to all eyes but my own invisible. But why do you +look at me with those strange glances? Do not believe that I am +_guilty_, because I am miserable--do not dare to touch me with such a +thought." + +She stamped her little foot furiously on the floor at these words, +while her cheek and eye kindled with excitement. It speedily subsided, +however, into a deep and sullen gloom, and she continued-- + +"I scarce know myself, Julie, what I am, or what I may be; but my heart +is as full of tumult, of suffering, of hatred, as hell itself. I will at +least be free--my captivity in this magician's prison shall terminate--I +_will_ not endure it. It shall end soon, one way or another--I will +liberate myself." + +Lucille spoke with something more than passion--it was fierceness; and +her gentle companion was filled with vague alarms. She had, as feeble +natures often have, an instinctive appreciation of the superior energy +and daring of her more fiery companion, and knew that she would, too +probably, take some violent and irreparable step in furtherance of her +resolution. It was, therefore, with feelings of anxiety and fear that +she left her to the solitary influence of her own angry and excited +thoughts. + +Monsieur Le Prun did not arrive till night. As he and the Count de +Blassemare rolled homeward, side by side in his carriage, under the +uncertain moonlight, between the lordly rows of forest-trees that, like +files of gloomy Titans, kept perennial guard along the approaches of the +chateau, or, as Lucille has not unaptly styled it, "the magician's +prison," they talked pretty much as follows: + +"Le Prun, my good friend, you are jealous--jealous, by all the imps in +true love's purgatory," said Blassemare. + +"Not jealous, but cautious." + +"A nice distinction." + +"Why, when one has reached our time of life----" + +"_Ours!_ you might be my father." + +"Well, I can't deny it, for nobody knows _how_ old you are. But at my +years a man with a young wife must exercise precaution. _Par bleu!_ we +are neither of us fools, and I need not tell you that." + +"Why, yes, we have had our experiences--I as a spectator--you as----" + +"Of course--therefore this threatened irruption of frivolity and vice--" + +"Say of youth and beauty; the other qualities--frivolity and vice--may +coexist with age and ugliness, and, therefore, harmlessly." + +"Well, what you will, it does not please me. But, under existing +circumstances, with my application pending, you know it was impossible +to deny the marchioness her whim." + +"Of course; and so for a single night the Chateau des Anges becomes a +fairy palace. Well, what harm--you can't apprehend that a single _fete_, +however gay and spirited, will--_ruin_ you." + +"Why, no; after all, it is, as you say, but a single _fete_, and then +extinguish the lights, and lock the doors, and so the Chateau des Anges +becomes as sober as before." + +"And I wager a hundred crowns you will tell Madame Le Prun that you have +given this _fete_ entirely on _her_ account." + +"I thought of that," he replied, with a grin; "but it would not be +wise." + +"Why so?" + +"Because it would make a precedent." + +"And will you never again indulge her fancy for society?" + +"By ---- my good friend, _never_. She fancies she has a great deal of +spirit, and will contrive to rule me; but she does not know Etienne Le +Prun--she does not know him--I will treat her like what she is--a +child." + +"And she will treat you, perhaps, like----" + +"Like what?" + +"Like what you are--a bridegroom of seventy." + +"If she dares. Ay, Blassemare, I have just as little trust as you in +what conventionality calls the _virtue_ of the sex. I rely upon my own +strong will--the discipline I can put in force, and their salutary +fears." + +There was here a pause of more than a minute in the dialogue; each +appeared to have enough to think of, and the carriage was driving nearly +at a gallop under the funereal shadow of the dense and lofty trees. With +a fierce start, Monsieur Le Prun cried, suddenly-- + +"What do you mean?" + +"_I?_--nothing." + +"Why do you say _that_?" + +"What?" + +"You said--Bluebeard." + +"Hey?" + +"Ay!--what the devil did you mean by that?" + +"Upon my soul, I said no such thing," said Blassemare, with a hollow, +satirical laugh. + +Monsieur Le Prun glanced over his shoulder once or twice, and then +hummed to himself for a time. + +"Seriously," he repeated, "did you not call me by that name?" + +"_I!_--no; I always call things by their name, and yours is gray." + +"Hem!--what is he driving in this shadow for? Tell him to keep in the +moonlight--one would think he wanted to break our necks." + +Monsieur Le Prun, it was evident, had become fidgety and fanciful. + +A few minutes' rapid driving brought the carriage to the hall-door of +the chateau, and its wealthy, but, perhaps, after all, not very much to +be envied, master conducted his familiar imp, Blassemare, into a saloon, +where supper awaited them. + +"I don't myself understand these things, Blassemare, but you will be my +stage-manager, and get up the spectacle in the best style." + +"Why, yes. I don't see why I should not lend a hand, that is to say, if +nothing happens to call me away," said Blassemare, who delighted in such +affairs, but liked a little importance also. + +"How soon is it to take place?" + +"She said in about three weeks." + +"Ha! very good." + +And the Count de Blassemare was instantaneously translated, in spirit, +among feu d'artifice, water-works, arches, colored lamps, bands, and all +the other splendors and delectations of an elaborate fete. + +"I remember," said Le Prun, abruptly dispelling these happy and gorgeous +visions with his harsh tones, "when I was at school, reading about +Socrates and those invisible demons that were always hovering at his +ears; it was devilish odd, Blassemare. But to be sure those were +good-natured devils; ay, that is true, and meant him no harm." + +"By my faith, I forget all about it; but what the devil connection have +these demons, blue, black, or red, with your fete?" + +"I sometimes think, Blassemare, you are a worse fellow than I am, for +you have no qualms of conscience." + +"No qualms of stomach, no fumes of indigestion; as for conscience, it is +an infirmity of which we both stand equally acquitted." + +"I did not speak of it in a good sense," said Le Prun, gloomily; "it may +be remorse or superstition, but I fancy the man who has none of it is +already dead, and under his coffin-lid, so far as his spiritual chances +are concerned." + +"Faith, it is a treat, Le Prun, to hear you talk religion. When do you +mean to take orders? I should so like to see you, my buck, in a cassock +and cowl begging meal, and telling your beads, and calling yourself +brother Ambrose." + +"I have not good enough in me for that," he replied, in a tone which +might be earnest, or might be a sneer; "besides, I dare say that the +grand _melange_ of rapture and diablerie they call religion is +altogether true; but _par bleu!_ my good fellow, there is something more +than this life--agencies, subtler and more powerful mayhap than those +our senses are commonly cognizant of. I say I have had experience of +this truth, and of them. You laugh! and I suppose will laugh on, until +that irresistible old gentleman-usher, DEATH, presents you to other +realities face to face." + +"Well, so be it. If they have faces, I suppose they have mouths, and can +laugh, and chat, and so, egad I'll make the best of them; it is one +comfort, we shall all understand religion then, and need not plague our +heads about it any further. But, in the mean time, suppose we have a +game of piquet." + +"Agreed! call for cards, and, by the time you have got them, I will +return." + +Le Prun took a candle, and opening a door which led through a passage to +a back stair communicating with Lucille's apartments, he directed his +steps thither for the purpose of announcing his arrival, and +ascertaining at the same time the state of his wife's temper. + +He tapped at the door, and, having received permission to enter, did so +to the manifest surprise of the occupants of the chamber, who had +expected to see one of the servants. + +Julie, who was in the very middle of a story about the Marquis de +Secqville, her intended husband, (to which Lucille was listening, as she +leaned pensively back in her rich fauteuil, with downcast eyes,) +suspended her narrative. + +"Well, sir?" + +"Well, madame?" + +Such was the curt and menacing greeting exchanged between the +fermier-general and his wife. + +"You appear dissatisfied," he said, after an interval, and having taken +a chair. + +"I _am_ so." + +"This is tiresome, _ma femme_." + +"Yes, insupportably; _this_, and every thing else that passes here." + +"It appears to me, you are somewhat hard to please." + +"Quite the reverse. I ask but to mix in human society." + +"You have society enough, madame." + +"I have absolutely none, sir." + +"I can't say what society you enjoyed in the Parc de Charrebourg, +madame," he began, in an obvious vein of sarcasm. And as he did so, he +thought he observed her eyes averted, and her color brighten for a +moment. He did not suffer this observation to interrupt him, but he laid +it up in the charnel of his evil remembrances, and continued: "I don't +know, I say, what society you there enjoyed. It may have been very +considerable, or it may have been very limited: it was possibly very +dull, or possibly very delightful, madame. But if you _had_ any society +there _whatever_, it was private, secret; it was neither seen nor +suspected, madame, and, therefore, you must excuse me if I can't see +what sacrifice, in point of society, you have made in exchanging your +_cottage_ in the Parc de Charrebourg for a residence in the Chateau des +Anges." + +"Sir, I _have_ made sacrifices--I have lost my liberty, and gained you." + +"I see, my pretty wife, it will be necessary that you and I should +understand one another," he said, tranquilly, but with a gloom upon his +countenance that momentarily grew darker and darker. + +"That is precisely what I desire," replied his undaunted helpmate. + +"Leave us, Julie," said the fermier-general, with a forced calmness. + +Julie threw an imploring glance at Lucille as she left the room, for she +held her uncle in secret dread. As she glided through the door her last +look revealed them seated at the little table; he--ugly: black, and +venomous; she--beautiful, and glittering in gay colors. It was like a +summer fly basking unconsciously within the pounce of a brown and +bloated spider. + +"Depend upon it, madame, this will never do," he began. + +"Never, sir," she repeated emphatically. + +"Be silent, and listen as becomes you," he almost shouted, with a sudden +and incontrollable explosion of rage, while the blood mounted to his +discolored visage. "Don't fancy, madame, that I am doting, or that you +can manage me with your saucy coquetry or sulky insolence. I have a +will of my own, madame, under which, by Heaven, I'll force yours to +bend, were it fifty times as stubborn as ever woman's was yet. You shall +obey--you shall submit. If you will not practise your duty cheerfully, +you shall learn it in privation and tears; but one way or another, I'll +bring you to act, and to speak, and to _think_ as I please, or I'm not +your husband." + +"Well, sir, try it: and in the mean time, I expect----" + +"What do you expect?" he thundered. + +"I expect to receive a counterpart of this," she said, with deliberate +emphasis, holding the magic vial steadily before his eyes. + +For a second or two, the talisman appeared powerless, but only for so +long. On a sudden his gaze contracted--he became fascinated, +petrified--his face darkened, as if a tide of molten lead were projected +through every vessel--and a heavy dew of agony stood in beads upon his +puckered forehead. With all this horror was mingled a fury, if possible, +more frightful still; every fibre of his face was quivering; the hand +that was clenched and drawn back, as if it held a weapon to be hurled +into her heart, was quivering too; his mouth seemed gasping in vain for +words or voice; he resembled the malignant and tortured victim of a +satanic possession; and this frightful dumb apparition was imperceptibly +drawing nearer and nearer to her. + +A sudden revulsion broke the horrid spell of which he was the slave; +like one awaking from a nightmare, conscience-stricken, he uttered a +trembling groan of agony, and with one hand upon his breast, the other +clutched upon his forehead, he hurried, speechless, like a despairing, +detected criminal, from the room. + + +IX.--THE UNTOLD SECRET. + +Julie, who had heard high words as she traversed the apartments which +lay _en suite_, paused in the lobby at the stair-head--a sort of _oeil +de boeuf_, to which several corridors converged, and with a lofty +lantern-dome above, from which swung a cluster of rose-colored lamps. + +Here she sat down upon a sofa, ill at ease on account of the scene which +was then going on so near her; and, in the midst of her reverie, raising +her eyes suddenly, she saw Monsieur Le Prun, the thick carpets rendering +his tread perfectly noiseless, gliding by her with a countenance guilty +and terrible beyond any thing that fancy had ever seen. + +Without appearing to see her, like a spectre from the grave he came, +passed, and vanished, leaving her frozen with horror, as if she had +beheld a phantom from the dead and damned. + +With steps winged with hideous alarm she sped through the intervening +chambers to that in which she had left Lucille. + +She was standing with an ashy smile of triumph on her face, and in her +hand was still mechanically grasped the queer little vial with its four +spires of gold. + +Monsieur Le Prun had recovered his self-possession to a certain extent +by the time he reached the apartment where he had left Blassemare. But +that observant gentleman did not fail to perceive, at a glance, that +something had occurred to agitate his patron profoundly. + +"Egad," he thought, "I should not be surprised if the girl were taken at +disadvantage by his abrupt visit, and that the venerable Adonis saw +something to justify his jealousy. A husband has no right to surprise +his wife. Le Prun," he continued carelessly aloud, "I wonder why Nature, +who has been so bounteous to the sex, has not furnished husbands, like +certain snakes, with rattles to their tails, to give involuntary warning +of their approach." + +Le Prun poured out a glass of cold water and drank it. Blassemare +observed, as he did so, that his hand trembled violently. The +fermier-general was silent, and his flippant Mercury did not care just +then to hazard any experiment upon his temper. + +"Blassemare!" he exclaimed, abruptly arresting his glass, and eyeing his +companion with a sort of brutal rage, "I ought to run you through the +body, sir, where you stand, for your accursed perfidy." + +"What! _me?_--by my soul, sir, I don't understand you," he replied, at +once offended and amazed. "Why the devil should you murder me?" + +"You have broken your word with me!" + +"In what respect?" + +"Exactly where it was most vitally needful to keep it, sir." + +"Deuce take me if I know what you mean." + +"You do--you _do_--a thousand curses! You _must_ know it." + +"But hang me if I do." + +"You have suffered that _calumny_ to reach her ears." + +"What calumny?" + +"She must have seen her." + +"_Her!_--whom?" + +"She must have spoken with her." + +"Do say, plainly, what it _is_ all about?" + +"About that--that d---- woman; there, is _that_ intelligible? She is at +large, sir, in spite of all I've said--in spite of all you undertook, +sir; and she has been filling my wife's ears with those hell-born lies +that have been whispered to _you_, sir, and which it was your business +to have suppressed and extinguished. By ----, Blassemare, you deserve my +curses and my vengeance." + +As he concluded, he struck the glass upon the table with a force that +shivered it to pieces. + +"Monsieur le Prun," said Blassemare, coolly, "I deprecate no man's +vengeance, and fear no man's sword; but whatever be the ground of your +present convictions, it is utterly fallacious. The person in question +has never stirred abroad--you mean the _sister_ of course--since your +marriage, except under close and trustworthy attendance; and the +other--_that_ you know is out of the question." + +"There has been mismanagement somewhere, or else some new device of +infernal malice; I say the thing has been misconducted, with the same +cursed blundering that has always attended that affair; and I would +rather my wife were in her coffin than have seen what I have seen +to-night." + +"What! in her coffin!" echoed Blassemare, with a sort of fiendish +satire. + +"Ay, sir, in her coffin!" said Le Prun, with a black defiance which made +Blassemare shrug his shoulders and become silent. + +The chill and the smell of death seemed to him to have come with these +words into the room. But he would not on any account have betrayed his +sensations; on the contrary, he pointed gayly to the cards, and looked a +smiling interrogatory towards the fermier. But that excellent gentleman +was in no mood for picquet. He declined the challenge gloomily and +peremptorily. + +"_Ma foi!_ you suffer trifles to plague you strangely," said Blassemare, +as they parted for the night. "What on earth does it signify after all? +Thwart a woman, and she will strive to vex you--there's nothing new in +that; why should not Madame Le Prun share the pretty weaknesses of her +sex? On the other hand, indulge her, and she will flatter as much as she +teased before. You are too sensitive, too fond, and, therefore, +exaggerate trifles. Good night." + +Monsieur Le Prun withdrew, and Blassemare muttered-- + +"Remorseless old criminal! I shall keep my eye close upon you, and if I +see any sign of the sort----" + +He set his teeth together, smiled resolutely and threateningly, and +nodded his head twice or thrice in the direction of the door through +which the fermier-general had just disappeared. + +The violent explosion we have just described was not followed by any +very decisive results. The fermier-general and his wife had not been +upon very pleasant terms for some time previous to the scene which had +so fearfully agitated the millionaire; and, whatever may have been the +immediate promptings of his anger, his temper had cooled down +sufficiently, before the morning, to enable him to carry the matter off, +like a man of the world, with a tolerable grace. Whatever change for the +worse had taken place in his feelings towards his wife, he was able to +suppress the manifestation of it: but, as we have said, their relations +had of late been by no means cordial, and Monsieur Le Prun did not think +it necessary to affect any warmer sentiment toward his wife, nor any +abatement of the sinister estrangement which had been gradually growing +between them. + +Meanwhile the preparations for the _fete_ proceeded at the Chateau des +Anges upon a scale worthy of the rarity of the occasion and the vastness +of the proprietor's fortune. + +All these were carried on by Blassemare, who indulged his gallantry by +consulting the beautiful young wife of the fermier-general upon every +detail of the tasteful and magnificent arrangements as they proceeded. + +Monsieur Le Prun had a special object in gratifying the great lady who +had insisted upon this sacrifice. Blassemare had, therefore, a _carte +blanche_ in the matter. There were to be musicians from Paris, bands of +winged instruments among the trees, galleys and singers upon the waters, +illuminated marquees and fanciful grottoes, feu d'artifice, and colored +lamps of every dye, in unimaginable profusion, theatricals, gaming, +feasting, dancing--in a word, every imaginable species of gayety, +revelry, and splendor. + +As these grand projects began to unfold themselves, Lucille's ill-temper +began to abate. Her interest was awakened, and at last she became +pleased, astonished, and even delighted. + +Now at length she hoped that the long-cherished object of her wishes was +about to be supplied, and that she was indeed to emerge from her +chrysalis state, and enjoy, among the sweets and gayeties of life, the +glittering freedom for which she felt herself so fitted, and had so long +sighed in vain; and which, moreover, as the reader may have suspected, +she desired also in furtherance of certain secret and cherished +aspirations. + +Monsieur de Blassemare found his aesthetic and festive confidences most +encouragingly received by the handsome and imperious Madame Le Prun. The +subject of his consultations delighted her; and knowing well the close +relation in which he stood with her husband, she perhaps thought it no +such bad policy to secure him, by a little civility, in her interest. +She little imagined, perhaps, engrossed as she was with other images, to +what aspiring hopes she was thus unconsciously introducing the Sieur de +Blassemare. That gentleman was proud of his _bonnes fortunes_; and the +rapid chemistry of his vanity instantaneously transmuted the lightest +show of good-humor, in a handsome woman, into the faint but +irrepressible evidences of a warmer sentiment of preference. + +Perfectly convinced of the reality of the _penchant_ he believed himself +to have inspired, you may be sure the lively scoundrel was not a little +flattered at his imaginary conquest. He debated, therefore, in his +self-complacent reveries, whether he should take prompt advantage of the +weakness of his victim, or pique her by the malice of suspense. He chose +the latter tactique, and, with a happy self-esteem, reserved the +transports of his confession to reward the longings and agitations of a +protracted probationary ordeal. + +Thus Blassemare was in his glory, superintending the preparations for a +_fete_, which left him nothing in prodigality and magnificence to +desire; enjoying, at the same time, the delightful consciousness of +having placed, without an effort, the prettiest woman in France at his +feet, and the _piquant_ sense, beside, of his little treason against old +Le Prun. + +Thus matters proceeded; but, strange to say, while the evening for which +all these preparations were being made was still more than a week +distant, Madame Le Prun, whose impatience of even that brief delay had +been unspeakable, on a sudden lost all her interest in the affair. Such, +alas! is the volatility, the caprice, of women. The object for sake of +which she had led poor Le Prun a dog's life for so long, was now +presented to her, and she turned from it with indifference, if not with +disgust. This would, indeed, have been very provoking to Le Prun +himself, had he been just then upon speaking terms with his wife; but +not happening to be so, and being in no mood to talk about her further +to his gay familiar, Blassemare, he was wholly ignorant of those +feminine fluctuations of interest and of liking which Blassemare himself +did not fully comprehend. The change was so abrupt as to excite his +surprise. Her apathy, too, was unaccompanied by ill-temper, and was +obviously so genuine, that he could hardly believe it affected merely to +pique him. We are disposed to think there was a powerful, but +mysterious, cause at work in this change. + +It was just about this time that one night, Julie, having sat up rather +later than usual, and intending to bid Lucille good night, if she were +still awake, entered her suite of apartments, and approached her +dressing-room door. She heard her rush across the floor, as she did so, +and, with a face of terror, she emerged from the door and stood before +it, as if to bar ingress to the room. + +Julie was disconcerted and agitated by this apparition; and Lucille was +evidently, from whatever cause, greatly terrified. The two girls +confronted one another with pale and troubled looks. Lucille was white +with fear, and, alas! as it seemed to her companion, with the agitation +of guilt. Julie looked at her all aghast. + +"Good night, Julie, good night," she whispered, hurriedly. + +"Good night," answered she; "I fear I have interrupted--I mean, startled +you." + +"Good night, good night," repeated Lucille. + +As Julie retreated across the lobby, she was overtaken by Lucille, who +placed her hand upon her shoulder. + +"Julie, will you hate me if I tell you all?" she said, in great +agitation, as she hurried with her into her apartment. + +"_Hate_ you, Lucille! How could I hate my dear friend and companion?" + +"Friend, O yes, _friend_; what a friend I have proved to you!" + +"Come, come, you must not let yourself be excited; you know you are my +friend, my _only_ friend and confidante, and you know I love you." + +Lucille covered her face with her hands and sobbed or shuddered +violently. Julie embraced and kissed her tenderly; but, in the midst of +these caresses, her unhappy friend threw her arms about her neck, and, +looking earnestly in her face for a few seconds, drew her passionately +to her heart and kissed her, murmuring as she did so-- + +"No, no; she never could forgive me." + +And, so saying, she mournfully betook herself away, leaving Julie a prey +to all manner of vague and perplexing alarms. + +Whatever was the cause of Lucille's profound mental agitation, it was an +impenetrable mystery to Julie. Blassemare obviously did not know what to +make of it; and as the fete drew near without eliciting any +corresponding interest on her part, Julie, who had observed with +pleasure the delight with which at first she had anticipated the event, +was dismayed and astonished at the change. As often as she had +endeavored to recall her to the topic so strangely approached, and +inexplicably recoiled from, upon the occasion we have just described, +Lucille repulsed her curiosity, or at least evaded it with entire and +impenetrable secrecy. Finding, therefore, that the subject was obviously +distasteful to her, she forbore to return to it, and contented herself +with recording the broken conversation of the night in question among +the other unexplained mysteries of her life. + +"Well, Lucille," she said to her one day, as they were walking upon the +terrace together, and interrupting by the remark a long and gloomy +silence, "you do not seem to enjoy the prospect of the gay night which +my uncle has prepared, now that it approaches, half so much as you did +in the distance." + +"Enjoy it? no, no." + +"But you longed for such an occasion." + +"Perhaps, Julie, I had reasons; perhaps it was not all caprice." + +"But do you not still enjoy the prospect? surely it has not lost all its +charms?" + +"I say, Julie, I had reasons--that is, perhaps I had--for wishing it. I +have none now." + +"Well, but it seems to me it positively depresses you. Surely, if it +were merely indifferent, it need not distress you." + +"Ah, Julie, Julie, we are strange creatures; we know not ourselves, +neither our strength nor our weakness, our good nor our evil, until time +and combinations solve the problem, and show us the sad truth." + +"It seems to me," said Julie, with a gentle smile, "you take a wondrous +moral tone in treating of a ball, my pretty sage; and, notwithstanding +all you say, I suspect you like a fete as well as most young women." + +"Julie, when I tell you honestly I hate it--that I would gladly be +hidden in the roof or the cellar of the loneliest tower in the chateau +upon that evening, you will cease to suspect me of so poor a +dissimulation. Honestly, then, and sadly, these crowded festivities, I +expected but a short time since with so much delight, are now not only +indifferent to me, but repulsive. I no longer wish to meet and mix with +people; the idea, on the contrary, depresses, nay, even terrifies me." + +"Lucille, you are hiding something from me." + +"_Hiding!_--no, nothing--that is, nothing but my own thoughts, the +images of my reflections; nothing, dear Julie, that it would not render +you unhappy to hear. Why should I throw upon your mind the gloom and +shadows of my own?" + +"But perhaps your troubles are fantastic and unreal; and, were you to +confide in me, I might convince you that they are so." + +"Julie, they are real." + +"So thinks every body who is haunted by chimeras." + +"These are none. Oh, Julie! would I could tell you all. The agony of the +relation would be in some sort recompensed by having one human being to +tell my thoughts to. But it cannot be; it is quite, quite impossible." + +"This impossibility is also one of the imagination." + +"No, no, Julie; the effort to repose this confidence would destroy _all_ +confidence between us. I have said enough--let us speak of other +matters. My innermost grief, be it what it may, I must endure alone. +Julie, it is a hard condition; but I must and will--alone." + +Here they were interrupted by Blassemare, who gayly joined them, with a +prayer that they would resolve a momentous difficulty, by deciding upon +the best site for one of his principal batteries of fireworks; and so, +with little good-will, they surrendered themselves for a quarter of an +hour to the guidance and the light sarcastic conversation of the master +of the revels, with whom for the present we shall leave them. + + +X.--THE FETE. + +At length the eventful night arrived--a beautiful, still, star-lit +night. You may fancy the splendor of the more than royal festivities. +What a magnificent levee of gayety, rank, and beauty! What unexampled +illuminations!--what fantastic and inexhaustible ingenuity of +pyrotechnics! How the gorgeous suites of salons laughed with the +brilliant crowd! How the terraces, arched and lined with soft-colored +lamps, re-echoed with gay laughter or murmured flatteries! What an +atmosphere it was of rosy hues, of music, and ceaseless hum of human +enjoyment! For miles around, the wandering peasants beheld the wide, +misty, prismatic circle that overarched the enchanted ground, and heard +the silver harmonies and drumming thunders of the orchestras floating +over the woods, and filling the void darkness with sounds of unseen +festivities. In such a scene all are in good-humor--all wear their best +looks. Each finds his appropriate amusement. The elegant gamester +discovers his cards and his companions; the garrulous find listeners; +the gossip retails, and imbibes, from a hundred sources, all the current +scandal; vanity finds incense--beauty adoration; the young make love, or +dance, or in groups give their spirits play in pleasantries, and +raillery, and peals of animated laughter; their elders listen to the +music, or watch the cards, or in a calmer fashion converse; while all, +each according to his own peculiar taste, find whatever pleases their +palate best. Whatever is rarest, most fantastic--things only dreamed +of--the epicurean connoisseur has only to invoke, and, at a touch of the +magic wand of Mammon, it is there before him. Wines, too,--what-not, +est-est, tokay, and all the rest, flowing from the inexhaustible tap of +the same Mephistopheles, with his golden gimlet. All the demons of +luxury riot there, and at your nod ransack the earth for a flavor or a +flask; and place it before you, almost before your wish is uttered. It +is, indeed, the Mahomet's paradise of all true believers in the stomach, +and worshippers of Bacchus. Thus in a realized dream all eddies on in a +delicious intoxication, and each is at once the recipient of enjoyment +and the dispenser of good-humor, imbibing through every sense enchanted +fare, reflecting smiles, and radiating hilarity. Each, indeed, becomes, +as it were, a single glowing particle in the genial and brilliant mass, +and tends to keep alive the general fire, from which he derives and to +which returns at once light and geniality. It is admitted that he who +has discovered the grand arcanum, and has the philosopher's stone in his +waistcoat-pocket, is, so to speak, _ex officio_, a magician. But M. Le +Prun had no need of any such discoveries. He had the gold itself, and +was, therefore, a ready-made magician, and as such was worshipped +accordingly with an oriental fanaticism. + +Monsieur le Prun had, like other favorites of fortune in the latter days +of the monarchy, purchased his patent of noblesse. Every body knew that +he was a _parvenu_; and rumor, as she is wont in such cases, had adorned +his early history with so many myths and portents, that Niebuhr himself +could hardly have distinguished between the fable and the truth. It was +said and believed that he was a foundling--a Gipsy's son, a wandering +beggar, a tinker. Others had seen him in rags, selling pencils at the +steps between the Pont-Neuf and the Pont-au-Change. Others, again, +maintained that he had for years filled the canine office of guide to an +old blind mendicant, whose beat was about the Rue de Bauboug; and were +even furnished with a number of pleasant anecdotes about his hardships +and adroitness, while in this somewhat undignified position. Indeed, the +varieties of positions though which good Mother Gossip sent him were +such, and so interminable, that a relation of half of them would alone +make a library of fiction. But fortune had consecrated this mean and +smutty urchin. He stood now worshipped in the awful glory of his +millions, pedestalled on his money-bags, gilded from head to heel; and +what could the proudest noblesse upon earth do but forget and forgive +the rags and hunger of his infancy, and come together, from the east and +from the west, to drink of the cup of his enchantments, and cry, "Long +live King Solomon in all his glory?" + +"She is beautiful as a divinity," exclaimed the gallant old Marquess de +Fauteuil, who had just completed an admiring survey of the fair Madame +le Prun. + +"Pretty--yes; but she has the manners of a _petite moine_," said the +Duchess de la Cominade, an old flame of the marquis, who, in spite of +her marriage and her mistakes, conceived her claims upon his devotions +unabated. + +"And her little gossip, too, Le Prun's niece, is a charming creature--an +exquisitely contrived contrast. By my word, this place deserves its +name--is it not truly the Chateau des Anges?" + +"Who is that young person whom Le Prun is leading towards them? He is +the only man I have seen to-night whose dress is perfect; and he looks +like a hero of romance." + +"That?--eh? Why that is the Marquis de Secqville." + +"What! the horrid man who enslaves us all? I have not seen him for +years--how very handsome he is!" + +"Yes; and I fancy that melancholy air assists him very much in +vanquishing the gentle sex. I once had a little vein of that myself." + +"So you had," murmured the duchess, with a tender smile of memory, and a +little sigh. "But is it not a madness of poor Le Prun to present that +terrible man to his handsome young wife?" + +"He is to marry the niece--the affair is concluded. Poor little thing! +she looks so frightened; see--a little fluttered pigeon of Venus--it +becomes her very much." + +Meanwhile Le Prun and the marquis were approaching Lucille and Julie, +who were seated together close to a window which opened to the floor, +and admitted the soft summer air, charged with such sounds and perfumes +as might have hovered among the evergreen groves of Calypso's island. + +"He is coming," said Julie, "he is coming with my uncle." + +"Who?" asked Lucille, looking coldly on the advancing figures. + +"My--my fiance, the Marquis de Secqville," whispered Julie, in trembling +haste, blushing, and dropping her eyes. + +"Oh, then, I must observe him carefully," said Lucille, with an arch +smile. + +"Do, and tell me honestly what you think of him." + +"Ha! little rogue, I see you are not quite so indifferent as you +pretend." + +"My _heart_ is indifferent--but--but he is very handsome--don't you +think so?" + +"Hush! here he is." + +"I have the happiness, madame, to present Monsieur le Marquis de +Secqville, with whom, as you are aware, we are about to have the honor +of being nearly allied." + +So said Monsieur le Prun, with a smile of conjugal affection, which may, +or may not, have been genuine. + +"I was not until now aware of the full extent of the honor and the +happiness involved in that alliance," said the marquis, with a glance of +respectful admiration. + +Madame le Prun acknowledged this little speech with a slight bow, and a +cold and haughty smile. + +"You have been in the south lately?" + +"Yes, madame, with my regiment at Avignon." + +"So he says," interrupted the fermier-general, with a cunning leer; "but +his colonel swears he never saw him there." + +"Then either you or your colonel must be wrong," said Madame le Prun, +drily. + +"No, no, madame; but Monsieur le Prun likes a jest at my expense." + +"Not at all," said Le Prun, laughing; "I protest D'Artois, his colonel, +vows he has not seen him for six months at least." + +"They are in a conspiracy to quiz me." + +"Then you _were_ at Avignon?" + +"No such thing, I tell you; the fellow was about some mischief--ha! ha! +ha!" + +"He is resolved to laugh at me." + +"Yes, yes, I say he is a mischievous fellow--the most dangerous dog in +France; and so shy that, by my word, it requires a shrewd fellow like +myself to discover his rogueries." + +"And so he deserves not only _all_ my sins, but a great deal more." + +"Stay--here is the Visconte de Charrebourg. Visconte, this is the +Marquis de Secqville, my future nephew." + +The old visconte looked closely and dubiously for a moment in the young +man's face. The marquis, on the contrary, seemed to have some little +difficulty in suppressing a smile. + +"But that I know I have not had the honor of meeting you before, I +should----but no doubt it is a family likeness. I knew your father when +he was about your age, and a very handsome fellow, by my faith. Is his +brother, the Conte de Cresseron, still living?" + +The old gentleman drew the marquis away before he had had time to pay +his devoirs to Julie, who had shrunk at his approach into the +background, and left the little group to themselves. + +"What do you think of him?" whispered Julie, resuming her place by +Lucille. + +"He is pretty well." + +"Monsieur le Marquis is a handsome man," said Blassemare, who at that +moment joined them; and, addressing Lucille, "You have seen him before?" + +"_I?_--no. He has just been presented to me for the first time." + +"And you think him----" + +"Rather handsome--indeed, _decidedly_ handsome; but, somehow, his +melancholy spoils him. But I forgot, Julie--I ask your pardon, my +pretty niece, for criticising your hero. Remember, however, I admit his +beauty, though I can't admire him." + +There is no truth of which we have been reminded with such unnecessary +reiteration, as the pretty obvious fact that every human enjoyment must, +sooner or later, come to an end. The _fete_ at the Chateau des Anges had +no exemption from this law of nature and necessity. Musicians, cooks, +artists, and artisans of all sorts, gradually disappeared. At length the +last equipage whirled down the great avenue, and a stillness and void, +more mournful from the immediate contrast, supervened. + +The windows were closed--the yawning servants betook themselves to their +beds, and the angel of sleep waved his downy wings over the old chateau. +The genius of Blassemare was of that electric sort which is not easily +unexcited. He could no more have slept than he could have transformed +himself into one of the stone Tritons of the fountain by which in the +moonlight he now stood alone. Blassemare had had a magnificent triumph; +so well-contrived an entertainment had never, perhaps, been known +before; and, like certain great generals, he felt desirous to visit the +field of his victory after the heat of action was over. + +Monsieur Le Prun was also wide awake and astir from other causes. No +vein of Blassemare's excitement--not even jealousy, nor conscience, nor +any mental malady--kept him waking. The cause of his vigilance was, +simply, his late supper and an indigestion. + +Now it happened that both these worthies were walking unconsciously +almost side by side--Le Prun along the summit, and Blassemare along the +base, of the beautiful terrace which stretched in front of the windows +of the chateau. + +There was a little receding court which lay in front of Madame Le Prun's +windows, which were furnished with a heavy stone balcony. On the side +opposite was a high wall, which divided the pleasure-grounds from the +wild, wooded park that lay immediately beyond, and in this was a door +with a private key and a spring lock. + +Now it happened that both Monsieur Le Prun and the Sieur de Blassemare, +as they approached this point, amid the fumes of expiring lamps and the +wreck of fireworks, heard certain sounds of an unexpected sort. These +were, in fact, human voices, conversing in earnest but suppressed +tones--so low, indeed, that were it not for the breathless stillness of +the night they would have been unheard. + +"Sacre!" muttered Le Prun, looking up like a toothless old panther. + +"Ma foi! what's this?" whispered Blassemare, whose jealousy was also +alarmed. + +The sounds continued--the eavesdroppers quickened their paces. Le Prun +was, however, unfortunately a little asthmatic, as sometimes happens to +bridegrooms of a certain age, and, spite of all his efforts to hold it +in, he could not contain a burst of coughing. + +Its effect was magical. There supervened an instantaneous silence, +followed by the dropping of a heavy body upon the ground, as it seemed, +under Madame Le Prun's windows. The descent was, however, unfortunately +made; a dog, evidently hurt, raised a frightful yelping, making the +night additionally hideous. Blassemare hurried up the steps, and at the +top encountered Le Prun, running and panting, with his sword drawn. +There was a sound, as of hastily closing the casement above the +balcony--a light gleamed from it for an instant, and was +extinguished--and, at the same moment, they beheld the dim figure of a +man hurrying across the court, and darting through the opposite door, +which shut with a crash behind him. + +"Thieves! robbers!" shouted Le Prun, dashing at the door. + +"Robbers! thieves!" cried a shrill voice of alarm from Madame Le Prun's +casement. + +"Horns! antlers!" halloed Blassemare. + +"Robbers! robbers!" + +"Thieves! thieves!" + +The lady screamed, Le Prun bawled, Blassemare laughed. + +"He is gone, however," said the latter, as soon as the explosion had a +little subsided. "Suppose we get the key, madame. Please throw us yours +from the window. I promise to pink the burglar through the body. +Quick--quick!" + +"Ay, ay," thundered Le Prun, "the key! the key!" + +Madame Le Prun was too much excited to get it in an instant. She ran +here, and flew there--she screamed and rummaged. Le Prun stormed. A key +was at last thrown out, amid prayers and imprecations. How +provoking!--it was a wrong one. Another effort--a new burst of +execration from Le Prun--another fit of laughter from Blassemare--more +screaming and pressing from the window--and all accompanied by the +sustained yelping of the injured lap-dog. + +"Here it is--this must be it," and another key clangs and jingles on the +ground. + +"Yes, this time it is the right key." The door flies open--Le Prun +rushes puffing among the bushes. Blassemare sees something drop +glittering to the ground as the door opens--a button and a little rag of +velvet; he says nothing, but pockets it, and joins the moonlight chase. + +It is all in vain. Le Prun, perspiring and purple, his passion as +swollen as his veins, knowing not what to think, but fearing every +thing, staggered back, silent and exhausted; Blassemare also silent--no +longer laughing--abstracted, walks with knit brows, and compressed lips, +beside him. + +"Of course," said Blassemare, "you have the fullest reliance upon the +honor of your wife?" + +Monsieur Le Prun growled an inarticulate curse or two, and Blassemare +whistled a minuet. + +"Come, my dear Le Prun," he resumed, "let us be frank; you are uneasy." + +"About what?" + +"Madame Le Prun." + +"She is not injured?" + +"No, but----" + +"Ah, she's in league with the thieves, may be?" said Le Prun, with an +agitated sneer. + +"Precisely so," answered Blassemare, with a cold laugh. + +"I know what you think, and I know what _I_ think," replied Le Prun, +with suppressed fury. + +His suspicions were all awake; he was bursting with rage, and looked +truly infernal. + +"On the faith of a gentleman," said Blassemare, with a changed tone, "I +cannot be said to _think_ any thing about the affair. I have my doubts, +but that is all. We men are naturally suspicious; but, after all, there +are such things as thieves and housebreakers." + +Le Prun said nothing, but looked black and icy as the north wind. + +"At all events," said Blassemare, "we men of the world know how to deal +with affairs of this sort; so long as any uncertainty exists, put +ostensibly the best possible construction upon it. Thus much is due to +one's dignity in the eyes of the public; and in private we may prosecute +inquiries unsuspected, and with the greater likelihood of success." + +"I know the world as well as you, Blassemare. I'm sick of your tone of +superiority and advice. I know when to respect and when to defy the +world. A man can no more make a fortune without tact than he can lose +one without folly." + +"Well, well," said Blassemare, who was used to an occasional rebuff, and +regarded a gruff word from his principal no more than he did the buzz of +a beetle, "I know all that very well; but you, robust fellows, with +millions at your back, are less likely to respect those subtle and +delicate influences which sometimes, notwithstanding, carry mischief +with them, than we poor, sensitive valetudinarians, without a guinea in +our pockets; and if you will permit me, I will, when I return to-day, +sift the matter for you. I understand woman; it is an art in itself, +though not, perhaps, a very high one. A careless conversation with +Madame Le Prun will let me further into the mystery, than a year spent +in accumulating circumstantial evidence. You may rely on the result." + +The fermier-general uttered something between a growl and a grunt, which +might or might not convey assent; and, waving Blassemare towards the +house, walked along the terrace alone; and sat himself down upon the +steps at the further end. + +The mental torpor which supervenes under sudden disasters was not, in +the case of the fermier-general, without its dreamy groups of ugly +images in prospect. As the light broke, and the darkness began to melt +eastward into soft crimson mists and streaks of amber, Monsieur Le Prun +rose stiffly from his hard, cold seat, and, with the slow step of a man +irresolute and oppressed with profound wrath and mortification, began to +return homeward. + +"Robbers!--thieves!" he muttered bitterly. "How glibly the traitress +echoed the cry! The rascal Blassemare gave the true alarm--she did not +echo _that_. D---- her, and d----him! Robbers, indeed! Thieves!--very +like. I know what they came a thieving for. Upon her balcony--talking in +murmurs--the candle extinguished in such a devil of a hurry--the ready +cry of 'Thieves'--the spring door open for his flight--and the long +delay to find the key. Bah! what proofs are wanting?" + +He heard just at this point a cracked voice singing a gay love verse +from an open window. He knew the voice; every association connected with +the performance and the performer jarred upon his nerves. + +It was indeed the Visconte de Charrebourg, some of whose early gayety +had returned with his good fortune. He had, such was the pride of his +rich son-in-law, a little household of his own, and kept his state and +his own exorbitantly early hours in a suite of rooms assigned him, +through one of whose windows, arrayed in a velvet cap and gown of +brocade, he was rivalling the lark and greeting the rising sun, and, +while sipping his chocolate in the intervals, moved, with the nimble +irregularity of idle and active-minded age, about his apartment. + +"Well, sir, a pleasant affair this!" cried a harsh voice, interrupting +his cheery occupation; and on looking round he saw the purple and +sinister face of the fermier-general looming through the window. + +"What affair?" asked the visconte, in unfeigned astonishment, for he had +been quite certain that his worthy son-in-law was quietly in his bed. + +"Your daughter's conduct." + +"What of her?" + +"Just this--she is a ----!" and, with the term of outrage, Le Prun +uttered a forced laugh of fury. + +"I cannot have heard you aright: be kind enough to repeat that." + +There was a certain air of pomp and menace in this little speech, which +drove Le Prun beyond all patience. He repeated the imputation in +language still grosser. This was an insult which the ancient blood of +the Charrebourgs could not tolerate, and the visconte taunted him with +the honor which one of his house had done him in mingling their pure +blood with that of a "roturier." Then came the obvious retort, "beggar," +and even "trickster," retaliated by a torrent of scarcely articulate +scorn and execration, and an appeal to the sword, which, with brutal +contempt, (while at the same time, nevertheless, he recoiled +instinctively a foot or two from the window,) the wealthy plebeian +retorted by threatening to arrest him for the sums he had advanced. Le +Prun had the best of it; he left the outraged visconte quivering and +shrieking like an old woman in a frenzy. It was some comfort to have +wrapt another in the hell-fire that tormented himself. + + + + +[From the Examiner.] + +MAZZINI ON ITALY. + + +We may--we do differ from Mazzini in many of his political views, and in +our estimate of what may be the wisest policy for Italian liberals in +existing circumstances. We think that he seeks to impart to politics a +mathematical precision of which they are not susceptible, and does not +sufficiently regard a principle the correctness of which has been +admitted by himself, that the fact of a thing being true in principle +cannot give the right of suddenly enthroning it in practice. But his +errors are all on the large and generous side. He is too apt to +attribute to society the precise convictions and spirit he feels within +himself, and so to expect impossibilities, by impossible means. But +there is a power of reasoning in Mazzini, an unsullied moral purity, a +chivalrous veracity and frankness, an utter abnegation of self, and a +courage that has stood the severest trials, which command not only +respect but veneration. He belongs to the martyr age of Italian +liberalism, and possesses himself the highest qualities of the martyr. + +His declared object in publishing the small volume[27] before us is to +correct public opinion in England as to the Italian movement in which he +took part. But it is a statement of principles rather than a narrative +of details. It is always dignified in tone, often singularly eloquent, +and substantially it contains little which would be likely to draw forth +an expression of willing disagreement from any well-educated, +high-minded, liberal Englishman. + +Mr. Mazzini thus declares his reasons + + WHY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE REPUBLICAN. + + The Italian tradition is eminently republican. In England, the + aristocratic element has a powerful influence, because it has a + history: well or ill, it _has_ organized society: it has + created a power, snatched from royalty, by conquering + guarantees for the rights of the subject; it has founded in + part the wealth and the influence of England abroad. The + monarchical element has still great influence over the + tendencies of France, because it also claims an important page + in the national history; it has produced a Charlemagne, a Louis + XI., a Napoleon; it has contributed to found the unity of + France; it has shared with the communes the risks and the + honors of the struggle against feudalism; it has surrounded the + national banner with a halo of military glory. What is the + history of the monarchy and of the aristocracy of Italy? What + prominent part have they played in the national development? + What vital element have they supplied to Italian strength, or + to the unification of the future existence of Italy? The + history of our royalty in fact commences with the dominion of + Charles V., with the downfall of our liberties; it is + identified with servitude and dismemberment; it is written on a + foreign page, in the cabinets of France, of Austria, and of + Spain. Nearly all of them the issue of foreign families, + viceroys of one or other of the great powers, our kings do not + offer the example of a single individual redeeming by brilliant + personal qualities the vice of subalternity, to which his + position condemned him; not a single one who has ever evinced + any grand national aspiration. Around them in the obscurity of + their courts, gather idle or retrograde courtiers, men who call + themselves _noble_, but who have never been able to constitute + an aristocracy. An aristocracy is a compact independent body, + representing in itself an idea, and from one extremity of the + country to another, governed, more or less, by one and the same + inspiration: our nobles have lived upon the crumbs of royal + favor, and if on some rare occasions they have ventured to + place themselves in opposition to the monarch, it has not been + in the cause of the nation, but of the foreigner, or of + clerical absolutism. The nobility can never be regarded as an + historical element: it has furnished some fortunate + _Condottieri_, powerful even to tyranny, in some isolated town; + it has knelt at the feet of the foreign emperors who have + passed the Alps or crossed the sea. The original stock being + nearly everywhere extinct, the races have become degenerated + amidst corruption and ignorance. The descendants of our noble + families at Genoa, at Naples, at Venice, and at Rome, are, for + the most part specimens of absolute intellectual nullity. + Almost every thing that has worked its difficult way in art, in + literature, or in political activity, is plebeian. + + In Italy the initiative of progress has always belonged to the + people, to the democratic element. It is through her communes + that she has acquired all she has ever had of liberty: through + her workmen in wool or silk, through her merchants of Genoa, + Florence, Venice, and Pisa, that she has acquired her wealth; + through her artists, plebeian and republican, from Giotto to + Michael Angelo, that she has acquired her renown; through her + navigators,--plebeian,--that she has given a world to humanity; + through her Popes--sons of the people even they--that until the + twelfth century she aided in the emancipation of the weak, and + sent forth a word of unity to humanity. All her memories of + insurrection against the foreigner are memories of the people: + all that has made the greatness of our towns, dates almost + always from a republican epoch: the educational book, the only + book read by the inhabitant of the Alps or the Transteverin who + can read, is an abridgment of the history of the Ancient Roman + Republic. This is the reason why the same men who have so long + been accused of coldness, and who had in fact witnessed with + indifference the aristocratic and royal revolutions of 1820 and + 1821, arose with enthusiasm and with a true power of + self-sacrifice at the cry of _St. Mark and the Republic, God + and the People_! These words contained for them a guarantee. + They awoke in them, even unconsciously to themselves, the + all-powerful echo of a living past, a confused recollection of + glory, of strength, of conscience, and of dignity. + + With such elements how would it be possible to found a monarchy + surrounded with an aristocracy? How can one speak of a balance + of powers, where there are but two forces--foreign absolutism, + and the people? How could one organize a constitutional + monarchy where the aristocracy is without a past, and where + royalty inspires neither affection nor respect? + +It will surprise many candid readers to find Mr. Mazzini repeatedly +declaring in this book that the republican, or, as he calls it, the +national party, are not responsible for the disunion, which, at a time +when the whole nation was armed against the foreigners and might have +driven them from the country, turned its forces against its own +citizens. He gives proof that his own advice was for union till the day +of victory, and _not till then_ for discussion as to what party should +reap its fruits. Whether to monarch, or to people, he affirms that he +was ready to submit; he asserts repeatedly that it was only after having +been betrayed that the national party set up for themselves; and he +expresses his belief that even now, when a union of princes has been +seen to be impossible, the leadership of a single prince would be +accepted by all, supposing such a fitting leader could be found. He thus +describes + + THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THEIR DETRACTORS. + + They have said, and they say again, without taking advantage of + the favorable position in which events have placed them:--Let + the nation arise; let her make herself mistress of her own + territory; then, the victory once gained, let her freely decide + who shall reap the fruits. Monarch or People, we will submit + ourselves to the power she herself shall organize. Is it + possible that so moderate and rational a proposition should be + the object of such false interpretations, in a country which + reveres the idea of right and of self-government? Is it + possible that its leaders should be the object of so much + calumny? + + It is time that these calumnies should cease. It matters little + to us, who act as our conscience dictates, without troubling + ourselves as to the personal result; and to whom faith and + exile have given the habit of looking higher than the praise or + blame of this earth. But it should be recognized as most + important by all who believe that political questions agitated + by whole nations, are questions eminently religious. For + religion, to all those who see more in it than the mere + materialism of forms and formulae, is not only a thought of + heaven, but the impulse which seeks to apply that thought, as + far as possible to government on earth, our rule of action for + the good of all, and for the moral development of humanity. + Politics then are like religion--sacred; and all good men are + bound to see them morally respected. Every question has a right + to serious, calm, and honest discussion. Calumny should be the + weapon of those only who have to defend not ideas, but crimes. + + It is immoral to say to men who have preached clemency + throughout the whole of their political career, who have + initiated their rule by the abolition of capital punishment, + who, when in power, never signed a single sentence of exile + against those who had persecuted them, nor even against the + known enemies of their principle.--"You are the sanguinary + organizers of _terror_, men of vengeance and of cruelty." It is + immoral to ascribe to them views which they never had, and to + choose to forget that they have, through the medium of the + press here and elsewhere, attracted and refuted those + communistic systems and exclusive solutions which tend to + suppress rather than to transform the elements of society; and + to say to them, "_You are communists, you desire to abolish + property_." It is immoral to accuse of irreligion and impiety + men who have devoted their whole lives to the endeavor to + reconcile the religious idea, betrayed and disinherited by the + very men who pretend to be its official defenders, with the + National movement. It is immoral to insinuate accusations of + personal interest and of pillage, against men who have serenely + endured the sufferings of poverty, and whose life, accessible + to all, has never betrayed either cupidity or the desire of + luxury. It is immoral continually to proclaim, as the act of a + whole party, the death of a statesman killed by an unknown + hand, under the influence of the irritation produced by his own + acts and by the attacks of another political party, many months + before the Republican party recommenced its activity. + +Mr. Mazzini charges no direct treachery against Carlo Alberto. He +declares him to have been himself the victim of the weakness which +caused others as well as himself so much loss and misery. For the +impossible political project of a Kingdom of the North he was content to +surrender the grand reality of a United People which fate had placed +within his hands. + + +CHARLES ALBERT. + +Genius, love, and faith were wanting in Charles Albert. Of the first, +which reveals itself by a life entirely, logically, and resolutely +devoted to a great idea, the career of Charles Albert does not offer the +least trace; the second was stifled in him by the continual mistrust of +men and things, which was awakened by the remembrance of an unhappy +past; the last was denied him by his uncertain character, wavering +always between good and evil, between _to do_ and _not to do_, between +daring and not daring. In his youth, a thought, not of virtue, but of +Italian ambition--the ambition however which may be profitable to +nations--had passed through his soul like lightning; but he recoiled in +affright, and the remembrance of this one brilliant moment of his youth +presented itself hourly to him, and tortured him like the incessant +throbbing of an old wound, instead of acting upon him as an excitement +to a new life. Between the risk of losing, if he failed, the crown of +his little kingdom, and the fear of the liberty which the people, after +having fought for him, would claim for themselves, he went hesitating +on, with this spectre before his eyes, stumbling at every step, without +energy to confront these dangers, without the will or power to +comprehend that to become King of Italy he must first of all forget that +he was King of Piedmont. Despotic from rooted instinct, liberal from +self-love, and from a presentiment of the future, he submitted +alternately to the government of Jesuits, and to that of men of +progress. A fatal disunion between thought and action, between the +conception and the faculty of execution, showed itself in every act. +Most of those who endeavored to place him at the head of the enterprise, +were forced to agree to this view of his character. Some of those +intimate with him went so far as to whisper that he was threatened with +lunacy. He was the Hamlet of Monarchy. + +A characteristic passage of the volume has relation to + + +LAMARTINE'S VIEWS OF ITALIAN INDEPENDENCE. + +The war between the two principles was general in Europe--the enthusiasm +excited by the movements in Italy, especially the Lombard insurrection +and the prodigies of the five days, was immense; and Italy could, had +she willed it and known how, have drawn thence sufficient force to +counterbalance all the strength of hostile reaction. But to do this, it +was necessary, whatever the mean policy of the _Moderates_ might fear, +to give to the movement a character so audaciously national as to alarm +our enemies, and to offer the most powerful element of support to our +friends. Both felt the time was ripe, and began to believe that Italy +would be but _Italy_, and not _the Kingdom of the North_. I remember the +consoling words Lamartine addressed to me, at his house, on the eve of +my departure for Italy, and in presence, amongst others, of Alfred de +Vigny, and of the same Forbin Janson whom I was afterwards to meet +preaching the papal restoration, and getting up various petty +conspiracies and ridiculous intrigues at Rome. + +"The hour has struck for you," said the minister, "and I am so firmly +convinced of it, that the first words with which I have charged Monsieur +d'Harcourt for the Pope are these; _Holy Father, you know that you ought +to be the President of the Italian Republic_." But Monsieur d'Harcourt +had quite other things to say to the Pope, on the part of that faction +which involved Lamartine in its snares whilst he imagined that he could +control it. For myself I attached no importance, except as a symptom, to +these words of Lamartine, a man of impulse and of noble instincts, but +unstable in belief, without energy for a fixed purpose, and without real +knowledge of men and things. He was indeed the echo of a tendency +all-powerful, in those moments of excitement, upon the French mind; and +every re-awakening nationality, every political programme, which, if not +absolutely republican, was like that, at least, of the Italian +constituent, would have compelled the support of the most hesitating +government in France. + +From great things great things are born. The _dwarfish_ conception of +the _Moderates_ froze up all souls, and imposed an utter change of +politics upon France. The ITALIAN PEOPLE was an ally more than +sufficiently powerful to preserve the Republic from all danger of a +foreign war; a _Kingdom of the North_, in the hands of princes little to +be relied upon, and hostile, by long tradition, to the Republicans of +France, did but add a dangerous element to the league of kings. The +French nation became silent, and left its government free to exist +without any foreign policy, and to leave the destinies of the republic +to the impenetrable future. + +The incidents described in most detail are those immediately preceding +and following the fatal surrender of Milan; and it is impossible not to +be struck by the contrast of the royal and the republican party, +assuming the statement to be in all respects correct. But passing this +ignominious period, there ought to be small difference of opinion in a +free and educated country as to where the right lay in the subsequent +Roman struggle. What sensible or honest Protestant would not sympathize +with the indignant eloquence of this earnest Italian protesting against +the flimsy oratory of a Jesuit Frenchman? + + +MAZZINI TO MONTALEMBERT. + +"You base your argument upon the void; you discuss that which was, not +that which is. The Papacy is dead, choked in blood and mire; dead, +because it has betrayed its own mission of protection to the weak +against the oppressor; dead, because for three centuries and a half it +has prostituted itself with princes; dead, because in the name of +egotism and before the palaces of all the corrupt, hypocritical, and +skeptical governments, it has for the second time crucified Christ; +dead, because it has uttered words of faith which it did not itself +believe; dead, because it has denied human liberty and the dignity of +our immortal souls; dead, because it has condemned science in Galileo, +philosophy in Giordano Bruno, religious aspiration in John Huss and +Jerome of Prague, political life by an anathema against the rights of +the people, civil life by Jesuitism, the terrors of the inquisition, and +the example of corruption, the life of the family by confession +converted into a system of espionage, and by division introduced between +father and son, brother and brother, husband and wife; dead, for the +princes, by the treaty of Westphalia; dead, for the peoples, with +Gregory XI., in 1378, and with the commencement of the schism; dead, for +Italy, since 1530, when Clement VII. and Charles V., the Pope and the +Emperor, signed an infamous compact, and extinguished, at Florence, the +dying liberties of Italy, as to-day you have attempted to extinguish her +rising liberties in Rome; dead, because the people has risen, because +Pius IX. has fled, because the multitude curses him, because those very +men who for fifteen years have made war upon the priests, in the name of +Voltaire, now hypocritically defend them, because you and yours defend +them, with intolerance and by force of arms, and declare that the Papacy +and liberty cannot live side by side? You ask Victor Hugo to point out +to you an idea which has been worshipped for eighteen centuries. It is +that idea which you have declared irreconcilable with the Papacy, and +which was breathed into humanity by God; the idea which has withdrawn +from Catholicism the half of the Christian world, the idea which has +snatched from you Lammennais and the flower of the intellects of Europe, +the idea of Christ, that pure, holy, and sacred liberty which you +invoked for Poland some years back, which Italy invokes for herself +to-day, under the form, and with the guarantee of nationality, and which +you cannot pretend to be good for one country and bad for another, +unless you believe it a part of religion to create a pariah people in +the bosom of humanity." + +Very admirably, too, and nobly written, are Mr. Mazzini's later remarks +on the republican and anti-papal administration of Rome, and the +coldness it met with in England and elsewhere. We must admit that it is +hard for a people to struggle, suffer, and bleed alone, yet hold +themselves in this temperate attitude. It is _not_ generous, as Mr. +Mazzini too truly complains, in a nation having the enjoyment and the +consciousness of liberty herself, to wait until the hour of victory has +sounded for another nation before she stretches out a sister's hand +towards her. + + +WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DID AND ENGLAND MIGHT HAVE DONE. + +I affirm that with the exception of Ancona, where the triumvirate were +obliged energetically to repress certain criminal acts of political +vengeance, the republican cause was never sullied by the slightest +excess; that no censorship was assumed over the press before the siege, +and that no occasion arose for exercising it during the siege. Not a +single condemnation to death or exile bore witness to a severity which +it would have been our right to have exercised, but which the perfect +unanimity which reigned amongst all the elements of the state rendered +useless. I affirm that, except in the case of three or four priests, who +had been guilty of firing upon our combatants, and who were killed by +the people during the last days of the siege, not a single act of +personal violence was committed by any fraction of the population +against another, and that if ever there was a city presenting the +spectacle of a band of brothers pursuing a common end, and bound +together by the same faith, it was Rome under the republican rule. The +city was inhabited by foreigners from all parts of the world, by the +consular agents, by many of your countrymen; let any one of them arise +and under the guarantee of his own signature deny, if he can, the truth +of what I say. Terror now reigns in Rome; the prisons are choked with +men who have been arrested and detained without trial; fifty priests are +confined in the castle of St. Angelo, whose only crime consists in their +having lent their services in our hospitals; the citizens, the best +known for their moderation, are exiled; the army is almost entirely +dissolved, the city disarmed, and the "factious" sent away even to the +last man; and yet France dares not consult in legal manner the will of +the populations, but re-establishes the papal authority by military +decree. I do not believe that since the dismemberment of Poland there +has been committed a more atrocious injustice, a more gross violation of +the eternal right which God has implanted in the peoples, that of +appreciating and defining for themselves their own life, and governing +themselves in accordance with their own appreciation of it. And I cannot +believe that it is well for you or for Europe that such things can be +accomplished in the eyes of the world, without one nation arising out of +its immobility to protest in the name of universal justice. This is to +enthrone brute force, where, by the power of reason, God alone should +reign; it is to substitute the sword and poniard for law--to decree a +ferocious war without limit of time or means between oppressors rendered +suspicious by their fears, and the oppressed abandoned to the instincts +of reaction and isolation. Let Europe ponder upon these things. For if +the light of human morality becomes but a little more obscured, in that +darkness there will arise a strife that will make those who come after +us shudder with dread. + +The balance of power in Europe is destroyed. It consisted formerly in +the support given to the smaller states by the great powers: now they +are abandoned. France in Italy, Russia in Hungary, Prussia in Germany, a +little later perhaps in Switzerland; these are now the masters of the +continent. England is thus made a nullity; the "celsa sedet in Eolus in +arce," which Canning delighted to quote, to express the moderating +function which he wished to reserve for his country, is now a +meaningless phrase. Let not your preachers of the theory of material +interests, your speculators upon extended markets deceive themselves; +there is history to teach them that political influence and commercial +influence are closely bound together. Political sympathies hold the key +of the markets; the tariff of the Roman Republic will appear to you, if +you study it, to be a declaration of sympathy towards England to which +your government did not think it necessary to respond. + + * * * * * + +And yet, above the question of right, above the question of political +interest, both of which were of a nature to excite early the attention +of England, there is, as I have said, another question being agitated at +Rome of a very different kind of importance, and which ought to have +aroused all those who believe in the vital principle of religious +reformation--it is that of liberty of conscience. The religious question +which broods at the root of all political questions showed itself there +great and visible in all its European importance. The Pope at Gaeta was +the theory of absolute infallible authority exiled from Rome for ever; +and exiled from Rome was to be exiled from the world. The abolition of +the temporal power evidently drew with it, in the minds of all those who +understood the secret of the papal authority, the emancipation of men's +minds from the spiritual authority. The principle of liberty and of free +consent, elevated by the Constituent Assembly into a living active +right, tended rapidly to destroy the absolutist dogma which from Rome +aims more than ever to enchain the universe. The high aristocracy of the +Roman Catholic clergy well know the impossibility of retaining the soul +in darkness, in the midst of light inundating the intelligence of men; +for this reason they carried off their Pope to Gaeta; for this reason +they now refuse all compromise. They know that any compromise would be +fatal to them; that they must re-enter as conquerors, or not at all. And +in the same way that the aristocracy of the clergy felt this +inseparability of the two powers, the French government, in its present +reactionary march, has felt that the keystone of despotism is at +Rome--that the ruin of the spiritual authority of the middle ages would +be the ruin of its own projects--and that the only method of securing to +it a few more years of existence was to rebuild for it a temporal +domination. + +England has understood nothing of this. She has not understood what +there was of sublime and prophetic in this cry of emancipation, in this +protestation in favor of human liberty, issuing from the very heart of +ancient Rome, in the face of the Vatican. She has not felt that the +struggle in Rome was to cut the Gordian knot of moral servitude against +which she has long and vainly opposed her Bible Societies, her Christian +and Evangelical Alliances; and that there was being opened, had she but +extended a sisterly hand to the movement, a mighty pathway for the human +mind. She has not understood that one bold word, "respect for the +liberty of thought," opposed to the hypocritical language of the French +government, would have been sufficient to have inaugurated the era of a +new religious policy, and to have conquered for herself a decisive +ascendency upon the continent. + +The writer of such passages as these may nevertheless be of good heart. +Though we may not think him exactly qualified to conduct to a successful +issue practical political movements in the existing state of Italian +society, we think him qualified for something far higher and nobler. +Like Knox and Wicliffe, Huss and Luther, Mr. Mazzini is no maker of +ephemeral arrangements and compromises; but like them he is the +uncompromising asserter of principles, and the creator of a national +sentiment, that will in time give law to the makers of such +arrangements. Looking to the yet weak and timid condition of public +opinion in Italy--looking to the narrow provincial views which still +hamper general society--above all, looking to the limited power of its +princes and prelates, and to the imbecile and demoralized characters of +its Pio Nonos and Antonellis, we must confess that we see no hope of any +immediate political settlement, the attainment of which need make it +worth while for Mr. Mazzini to compromise or abandon for a moment his +most extreme political opinions. Nothing is to be accomplished at +present; and he is therefore more usefully employed in rallying his +party by fervent reiteration of his principles, and in forming a pure +and elevated public sentiment alike by his precepts and his example. + +How masterly is this sketch of the career of + + +PIO NONO. + +A Pope arose, by his tendencies, his progressive instincts and his love +of popularity, an exception to the Popes of later times: to whom +Providence, as if to teach mankind the absolute powerlessness of the +institution, opened, in the love and in the illusions of the people, the +path to a new life. So great is the fascination exercised by great +memories--so great is the power of ancient customs--so feverish, in +these multitudes who are said to be agitated by the breath of anarchy, +is the desire for authority as the guide and sanction of their progress, +that a word of pardon and tolerance from the Pope's lips sufficed to +gather round him, in an enthusiasm and intoxication of affection, +friends and enemies, believers and unbelievers, the ignorant and the men +of thought. One long cry, the cry of millions ready to make themselves +martyrs or conquerors at his nod, saluted him as their father and +benefactor, the regenerator of the Catholic faith and of humanity. The +experience of three ages and the inexorable logic of ideas, were at once +forgotten; writers, powerful by their intellect and doctrines, until +then dreaded as adversaries, employed themselves in founding around that +_One_ man systems destined to prepare for him the way to a splendid +initiative. The many advocates of liberty of conscience, weary of the +spectacle of anarchy revealed by the Protestant sects, remained in +doubt. The few believers in the future church remained silent and +thoughtful. It might be that history had decided too rashly, it might be +amongst the secrets of Providence that an institution, which had for ten +centuries at least given life and movement to Europe, should rise again, +reconciled with the life and movement of humanity, from its own tomb. +The minds of the whole civilized world hung, troubled and excited, upon +the _word_ which was to issue from the Vatican. + +And where now is Pius IX.? + +In the camp of the enemy: irrevocably disjoined from the progressive +destinies of humanity; irrevocably adverse to the desires, to the +aspirations which agitate his people and the people of believers. The +experiment is complete. The abyss between Papacy and the world is +hollowed out. No earthly power can fill it up. + +Impelled by the impulses of his heart to seek for popularity and +affection, but drawn on by the all-powerful logic of the principle that +he represents, to the severity of absolute dictatorship; seduced by the +universal movement of men's minds, by living examples in other +countries, by the spirit of the age, to feel, to understand the sacred +words of progress, of people, of free brotherhood, but incapable of +making himself their interpreter; fearful of the consequences, and +trembling like one who feels himself insecure, lest he should see the +people, raised to a new consciousness of its own faculties and of its +own rights, question the authority of the pontificate--Pius IX. +vacillated contemptibly between the two paths presented to him, muttered +words of emancipation, which he neither knew how nor intended to make +good, and promises of country and independence to Italy which his +followers betrayed by conspiring with Austria. Then, struck with sudden +terror, he fled before the multitudes who cried aloud to him _courage;_ +he sheltered himself under the protection of a Prince whom he +despised--the executioner of his subjects; he imbibed his tendencies, +and in order to revenge himself for the quiet with which Rome, provoked +in vain to a civil war, was organizing a new government, he solicited +foreign aid; and he who had, from a horror of bloodshed, shortly before +endeavored to withdraw Roman assistance from the Lombard struggle, +agreed that French, Austrian, Neapolitan, and Spanish bayonets should +rebuild his throne. He now wanders amidst the fallacies of secret +protocols, the servant of his protectors, the servant of all except of +duty and of the wish of those who hoped in him, turning to the frontiers +of Rome and yet not expecting to re-enter there, and as if kept back by +the phantoms of the slain. The Louis XVI. of Papacy, he has destroyed it +for ever. The cannon ball of his allies discharged against the Vatican, +gave the last blow to the institution. + +Whilst these things were happening, a Prince was pursuing in the north +of our peninsula a similar course, accompanied by the same hopes, by the +same illusions and delusions of the people. He was saluted by the title +of the _Sword of Italy_. The choicest spirits from all parts pointed out +to him Austria and the Alps, and suspended, in order to make the last +trial of monarchy, the propagandism of their most cherished ideas. He +was preceded by the encouragement of all Europe, and followed by a +numerous and valiant army. Where died Charles Albert? + +Thus has Providence shown to our people, desirous of the right, but +lukewarm in faith and too credulous in the illusions of the old world, +the powerlessness of monarchy to insure the safety of Italy, and the +irreconcilability of papacy with the free progress of humanity. The +dualism of the middle ages is henceforward a mere form without life or +soul; the Guelph and Ghibelline insignia are now those of the tomb. +Neither Pope, nor King! God and the people only shall henceforth +disclose to us the regions of the future. + + * * * * * + +Future times--nay the present will do ample justice to Mazzini, as well +as to Pio Nono. In the first will be frankly recognized one of those +iron men who are able to beard tyranny and profligacy even while they +stand alone, the apostles of reformation, the originators and heralds of +after change. In the other--but the words just quoted anticipate as it +seems to us, and in no ungenerous spirit, the verdict and language of +history. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[27] Royalty and Republicanism in Italy; or Notes and Documents relating +to the Lombard Insurrection, and to the Royal War of 1848. By Joseph +Mazzini. Charles Gilpin. + + + + +[From the Keepsake for 1851.] + +THE MOTHER'S LAST SONG. + +BY BARRY CORNWALL. + + + Sleep!--the ghostly winds are blowing; + No moon's abroad; no star is glowing; + The river is deep, and the tide is flowing + To the land where you and I are going! + We are going afar, + Beyond moon or star, + To the land where the sinless angels are! + + I lost my heart to your heartless sire; + ('Twas melted away by his looks of fire;) + Forgot my God, and my father's ire, + All for the sake of a man's desire:-- + But now we'll go + Where the waters flow, + And make us a bed where none shall know. + + The world is cruel; the world's untrue; + Our foes are many; our friends are few; + No work, no bread, however we sue! + What is there left for us to do-- + But fly--fly, + From the cruel sky, + And hide in the deepest deeps--and die! + + + + +[From the Ladies' Companion.] + +A DRIVE ABOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN 1850. + +BY MARY RUSSEL MITFORD. + + +If there be one thing more than another in the nice balance of tastes +and prejudices (for I do not speak here of principles) which incline us +now to the elegance of Charles, now to the strength of Cromwell,--which +disgust us alternately with the license of the Cavaliers and the +fanaticism of the Roundheads; it would be the melancholy ruin of +cast-down castles and plundered shrines, that meet our eyes all over our +fair land, and nowhere in greater profusion than in this district, lying +as it does in the very midst of some of the most celebrated battles of +the Civil Wars. To say nothing of the siege of Reading, which more even +than the vandalism of the Reformation completed the destruction of that +noble abbey, the third in rank and size in England, with its magnificent +church, its cloisters, and its halls, covering thirty acres of +buildings,--and such buildings! within the outer courts;--to say nothing +of that most reckless barbarity just at our door--we in our little +village of Aberleigh lie between Basting-House to the south, whose +desperately defended walls offer little more now than a mere site,--and +Donnington to the west, where the ruined Gatehouse upon the hill alone +remains of that strong fortress, which overlooked the well-contested +field of Newbury,--and Chalgrove to the north, where the reaper, as he +binds his sheaf, still pauses to tell you the very place where Hampden +fell; every spot has a history! Look at a wooden spire, and your +companion shakes his head, and says that it has been so ever since the +Cavaliers were blown up in the church tower! Ask the history of a +crumbling wall, and the answer is pretty sure to be, Cromwell! That his +Highness the Lord Protector did leave what an accomplished friend of +mine calls "his peculiar impressions" upon a great many places in our +neighborhood is pretty certain; on so many, that there is no actual or +authentic catalogue of all; and in some cases there is nothing but +general tradition, and the nature of the "impressions" in question, to +vouch for the fact of their destruction at that period. + +Amongst these, one of the edifices that must have been best worth +preserving, and is even now most interesting to see, is the grand old +castellated mansion, which in the reign of Elizabeth belonged to one of +her favorite courtiers, and was known as Master Comptroller's House, at +Grays. + +The very road to it is singularly interesting. Passing through the town, +which increases in growth every day, until one wonders when and where it +will stop, and looking with ever fresh admiration at the beautiful +lacework window of the old Friary, which I long to see preserved in the +fitliest manner, by forming again the chief ornament of a church, and +then driving under the arch of the Great Western Railway, and feeling +the strange vibration of some monster train passing over our heads,--a +proceeding which never fails to make my pony show off his choicest airs +and graces, pricking up his pretty ears, tossing his slender head, +dancing upon four feet, and sometimes rearing upon two,--we arrive at +the long, low, picturesque old bridge, the oldest of all the bridges +that cross the Thames, so narrow that no two vehicles can pass at once, +and that over every pier triangular spaces have been devised for the +safety of foot passengers. On the centre arch is a fisherman's hut, +occupying the place once filled by a friar's cell, and covering a still +existing chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, now put to secular +uses--a dairy or a cellar. + +A little way down the river is one of the beautiful islands of the +Thames, now a smooth and verdant meadow, edged round with old willow +pollards calmly reflected in the bright, clear waters, but giving back +in the twelfth century a far different scene. Here was fought a wager of +battle between Robert de Montford, appellant, and Henry de Essex, +hereditary Standard-bearer of the kings of England, defendant, by +command, and in the presence of Henry the Second. The story is told very +minutely and graphically by Stowe. Robert de Montford at length struck +down his adversary, "who fell," says the old historian, "after receiving +many wounds; and the King, at the request of several noblemen, his +relations, gave permission to the monks to inter the body, commanding +that no further violence should be offered to it. The monks took up the +vanquished knight, and carried him into the abbey, where he revived. +When he recovered from his wounds, he was received into the community, +and assumed the habit of the order, his lands being forfeited to the +King." I have always thought that this story would afford excellent +scope to some great novelist, who might give a fair and accurate picture +of monastic life, and, indeed, of the monastic orders, as landlords, +neighbors, teachers, priests, without any mixture of controversial +theology, or inventing any predecessors of Luther or Wicliffe. How we +should have liked to have heard all about "The Monastery," about the +"Abbot" and Father Eustace, untroubled by Henry Warden or John Knox! +From the moment that they appear, our comfort in the book vanishes, just +as completely as that of the good easy Abbot Boniface himself. There we +are in the middle of vexed questions, with the beautiful pile of Melrose +threatening every moment to fall about our ears! + +Our business now, however, is to get over the bridge, which after the +excitement of one dispute with a pugnacious carrier, and another with a +saucy groom, whose caracoling horse had well nigh leaped over the +parapets on either side; after some backing of other carriages, and some +danger of being forced back to our own, we at last achieve, and enter +unscathed, the pleasant village of Caversham. + +To the left, through a highly ornamented lodge, lies the road to the +ancient seat of the Blounts, another house made famous by Pope, where +the fair ladies of his love, the sisters Martha and Teresa, lived and +died. A fine old place it is; and a picturesque road leads to it, +winding through a tract called the Warren, between the high +chalk-cliffs, clothed with trees of all varieties, that for so many +miles fence in the northern side of the Thames, and the lordly river +itself, now concealed by tall elms, now open and shining in the full +light of the summer sun. There is not such a flower bank in Oxfordshire +as Caversham Warren. + +Our way, however, leads straight on. A few miles further, and a turn to +the right conducts us to one of the grand old village churches, which +give so much of character to English landscape. A large and beautiful +pile it is. The tower half clothed with ivy, standing with its charming +vicarage and its pretty vicarage-garden on a high eminence, overhanging +one of the finest bends of the great river. A woody lane leads from the +church to the bottom of the chalk-cliff, one side of which stands out +from the road below, like a promontory, surmounted by the laurel hedges +and flowery arbors of the vicarage-garden, and crested by a noble cedar +of Lebanon. This is Shiplake church, famed far and near for its +magnificent oak carving, and the rich painted glass of its windows, +collected, long before such adornments were fashionable, by the fine +taste of the late vicar, and therefore filled with the very choicest +specimens of mediaeval art, chiefly obtained from the remains of the +celebrated Abbey of St. Bertin, near St. Omers, sacked during the first +French Revolution. In this church Alfred Tennyson was married. Blessings +be upon him! I never saw the great Poet in my life, but thousands who +never may have seen him either, but who owe to his poetry the purest and +richest intellectual enjoyment, will echo and re-echo the benison. + +A little way farther, and a turn to the left leads to another spot +consecrated by genius,--Woodcot, where Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton passed +the earlier years of his married life, and wrote several of his most +powerful novels. I have always thought that the scenery of Paul Clifford +caught some of its tone from that wild and beautiful country, for wild +and beautiful it is. The terrace in the grounds commands a most +extensive prospect; and beneath a clump of trees on the common behind +the house, is the only spot where on a clear day Windsor may be seen on +one side, and Oxford on the other,--looking almost like the domes, and +towers, and pinnacles that sometimes appear in the clouds--a fairy +picture that the next breeze may waft away! This beautiful residence +stands so high, that one of its former possessors, Admiral Fraser +(grandfather to that dear friend of mine who is the present owner), +could discover Woodcot Clump from the mast of his own ship at Spithead, +a distance of sixty miles. + +Wyfold's Court, another pretty place a little farther on, which also +belonged once to a most dear friend, possesses the finest Wych-elms in +England. Artists come from far and near to paint these stately trees, +whose down-dropping branches and magnificent height are at once so +graceful and so rich. They are said always to indicate ecclesiastical +possession, but no trace of such dependency is to be found in the +title-deeds, or in the tenure by which in feudal times the lands were +held,--that of presenting a rose to the King, should he pass by a +certain road on a May-day. + +And now we approach Rotherfield Grays,--its bowery lanes, its wild +rugged commons, and its vast beech woods, from the edge of which +projects every here and there a huge cherry-tree, looking, in the +blossoming springtime, as if carved in ivory, so exquisite is the +whiteness, casting upon the ferny-turf underneath showers of snowy +petals that blanch the very ground, and diffusing around an almond-like +odor, that mingles with the springing thyme and the flowering gorse, and +loads the very air with heavy balm. + +Exquisite is the pleasantness of these beech woods, where the light is +green from the silky verdure of the young leaves, and where the mossy +wood-paths are embroidered with thousands of flowers, from the earliest +violet and primrose, the wood-anemone, the wood-sorrel, the daffodil, +and the wild hyacinth of spring, to the wood-vetch, the woodroof, the +campanulas, and the orchises of summer;--for all the English orchises +are here: that which so curiously imitates the dead oak leaf, that again +which imitates the human figure; the commonest but most pretty bee +orchis, and the parallel ones which are called after the spider, the +frog, and the fly. Strange freak of nature this, in a lower order of +creation, to mimic her own handyworks in a higher!--to mimic even our +human mimicry!--for that which is called the man orchis is most like the +imitation of a human figure that a child might cut from colored paper. +Strange, strange mimicry! but full of variety, full of beauty, full of +odor. Of all the fragrant blossoms that haunt the woods, I know none so +exquisite as that night-scented orchis which is called indifferently, +the butterfly or the lily of the valley. Another glory of these woods, +an autumnal glory, is the whole fungus tribe, various and innumerable as +the mosses; from the sober drab-colored fungi, spotted with white, which +so much resemble a sea-egg, to those whose deep and gorgeous hues would +shame the tinting of an Indian shell. Truffles, too, are found beneath +the earth; and above it are deposited huge masses of the strange +compound called in modern geological phrase Agglomerate. Flint and +coral, and gravel, and attrited pebbles enter into the combination of +this extraordinary natural conglomeration, which no steel, however +hardened, can separate, and which seems to have been imitated very +successfully by the old builders in their cements and the substances +used in the filling up of their grandest structures, as may be seen in +the layers which unite the enormous slabs of granite in the Roman walls +at Silchester, as well as in the works of the old monkish architects at +Reading Abbey. Another beauty of this country is to be found in the +fields,--now of the deep-red clover, with its shining crimson tops, now +of the gay and brilliant saintfoin (the holy hay), the bright pink of +whose flowery spikes gives to the ground the look of a bed of roses. + +And now we reach the gate that admits us down a steep descent to the +Rectory-house, a large substantial mansion, covered with Banksia roses, +and finely placed upon a natural terrace,--a fertile valley below, and +its own woods and orchard-trees above. + +My friend the rector, raciest of men, is an Oxford divine of the old +school; a ripe scholar; one who has travelled wide and far, and is +learned in the tongues, the manners, and the literature of many nations; +but who is himself English to the backbone in person, thought, and +feeling. Orthodox is he, no doubt. Nowhere are church and schools, and +parish visitings, better cared for; but he has a knack of attending also +to the creature comforts of all about him, of calling beef and blankets +in aid of his precepts, which has a wonderful effect in promoting their +efficacy. Mansion and man are large alike, and alike overflowing with +hospitality and kindliness. His original and poignant conversation is so +joyous and good-humored, the making every body happy is so evidently his +predominant taste, that the pungency only adds to the flavor of his +talk, and never casts a moment's shade over its sunny heartiness. + +Right opposite the Rectory terrace, framed like a picture by the rarest +and stateliest trees, stands the object of my pilgrimage, Grays' Court, +a comparatively modern house, erected amongst the remains of a vast old +castellated mansion, belonging first to the noble family of Gray, who +gave their name not merely to the manor, but to the district; then to +the house of Knollys; and latterly to the Stapletons, two venerable +ladies of that name being its present possessors. + +All my life I had heard of Grays' Court; of the rich yet wild country in +which it is placed; of the park so finely undulated, and so profusely +covered by magnificent timber; of the huge old towers which seem to +guard and sentinel the present house; of the far extended walls, whose +foundations may yet be traced, in dry seasons, among the turf of the +lawn; of the traditions which assign the demolition of those ancient +walls to the wars of the Commonwealth; and of the strange absence of all +documentary evidence upon the subject. + +Another cause for my strong desire to see this interesting place, is to +be found in its association with one of those historical personages in +whom I have always taken the warmest interest. Lord Essex (whose mother +was the famous Lettice Knollys, who had had for her second husband +another of Queen Elizabeth's favorites, Robert Dudley, Earl of +Leicester), when confined in London, a prey to the tyranny of Elizabeth, +petitioned, in one of those eloquent letters to the Virgin Queen which +will always remain amongst the earliest and finest specimens of English +prose, to be allowed to repair, for the benefit of his health, "to +Master Comptroller's house at Grays." Ah! we can fancy, when looking +over this lovely valley, with its woods, its verdure, its sweep of +hills, its feeling of the near river, we can well fancy how the +poet-heart of the great Earl must have longed to leave the trial, the +turmoil, the jangling, the treachery, the weary fears, the bitter +humiliations of his London captivity, and to taste once more the sweet +air, the pleasant sights, the calmness and the quiet of the country. +Hope and comfort must have come with the thought. One of the prettiest +pictures that I know, is an extract from a contemporary letter, in the +first volume of Mr. Craik's most interesting book, the "Romance of the +Peerage," telling of the Earl and Countess, during one of the daily +visits that she was at one time permitted to pay him when he was a +prisoner in Essex House, walking together in the garden, "now he, now +she, reading one to the other." The whole taste and feeling of the man, +the daily habit of his life, is shown in this little circumstance. And +this is the brave soldier who, when examined before the Privy Council, a +council composed of open enemies and treacherous friends, had been kept +nearly all the day kneeling at the bottom of the table. Tyranny drove +him into madness, and then exacted the full penalty of the wild acts +which that madness prompted. But Essex was a man in advance of his age; +the companion as well as the patron of poets; the protector of papist +and puritan; the fearless asserter of liberty of conscience! He deserved +a truer friend than Bacon, a more merciful judge than Elizabeth. + +To the house of Knollys belongs another interesting association, that +strangest of genealogical romances, the great case of the Banbury +peerage. The cause was decided (if decided it can be called even now) by +evidence found in the parish register of Rotherfield Grays. + +The place has yet another attraction in its difficulty of access; the +excellent ladies of the Court admitting few beyond their own immediate +connections and nearest friends. One class, to be sure, finds its way +there as if by instinct--the poor, who, as the birds of the air detect +the grain under the surface in the newly sown ground, are sure to find +out the soil where charity lies germinating. Few excepting these +constant visitors are admitted. But, besides the powerful introduction +of our mutual friend the rector, a nephew of theirs, and his most sweet +and interesting wife, had for some time inhabited the house which had +been the home of my own youth, so that my name was not strange to them; +and they had the kindness to allow me to walk over their beautiful +grounds and gardens, to see their charming Swiss dairy, with its marbles +and its china, and, above all, to satisfy my curiosity by looking over +the towers which still remain of the old castle,--piles whose prodigious +thickness of wall and distance from each other give token of the immense +extent and importance of the place. It is said to have been built round +two courts. Alnwick and Windsor rose to my thoughts as I contemplated +these gigantic remains, and calculated the space that the original +edifice must have covered. One of these towers is still occupied by the +well of the castle, a well three hundred feet deep, which supplies the +family with water. It will give some idea of the scale of the old +mansion, to say that the wheel by which the water is raised, is +twenty-five feet in diameter. Two donkeys are employed in the operation. +One donkey suffices for the parallel but much smaller well at +Carisbrook, where the animal is so accustomed to be put in for the mere +purpose of exhibiting the way in which the water is raised to the +visitors who go to look at the poor king's last prison, that he just +makes the one turn necessary to show the working of the machine, and +then stops of his own accord. The donkeys at Grays, kept for use and not +for show, have not had a similar opportunity of displaying their +sagacity. + +One cannot look at the place without a feeling of adaptedness. It is the +very spot for a stronghold of the Cavaliers: a spot where Lovelace and +Montrose might each have fought and each have sung, defending it to the +last loaf of bread and the last charge of powder, and yielding at last +to the irresistible force of Cromwell's cannonade. + + + + +[From the Keepsake for 1851.] + +STANZAS. + + + Come not, when I am dead, + To drop thy foolish tears upon my grave, + To trample round my fallen head, + And vex the unhappy dust thou wouldst not save. + There let the wind sweep, and the plover cry; + But go thou by. + + Child, if it were thine error or thy crime + I care no longer, being all unblest; + Wed whom thou wilt; but I am sick of time, + And I desire to rest. + Pass on, weak heart, and leave me where I lie. + Go by--go by! + + ALFRED TENNYSON. + + + + +[From Blackwood's Magazine.] + +MY NOVEL: + +OR, VARIETIES IN ENGLISH LIFE. + +BY PISISTRATUS CAXTON. + +_Continued from page 120._ + + +BOOK II.--CHAPTER VII. + +In spite of all his Machiavellian wisdom, Dr. Riccabocca had been foiled +in his attempt to seduce Leonard Fairfield into his service, even though +he succeeded in partially winning over the widow to his views. For to +her he represented the worldly advantages of the thing. Lenny would +learn to be fit for more than a day-laborer; he would learn gardening, +in all its branches--rise some day to be a head gardener. "And," said +Riccabocca, "I will take care of his book learning, and teach him +whatever he has a head for." + +"He has a head for every thing," said the widow. + +"Then," said the wise man, "every thing shall go into it." + +The widow was certainly dazzled; for, as we have seen, she highly prized +scholarly distinction, and she knew that the parson looked upon +Riccabocca as a wondrous learned man. But still, Riccabocca was said to +be a Papist, and suspected to be a conjuror. Her scruples on both these +points, the Italian, who was an adept in the art of talking over the +fair sex, would no doubt have dissipated, if there had been any use in +it; but Lenny put a dead stop to all negotiations. He had taken a mortal +dislike to Riccabocca; he was very much frightened by him--and the +spectacles, the pipe, the cloak, the long hair, and the red umbrella; +and said so sturdily, in reply to every overture, "Please, sir, I'd +rather not; I'd rather stay along with mother"--that Riccabocca was +forced to suspend all further experiments in his Machiavellian +diplomacy. He was not at all cast down, however, by his first failure; +on the contrary, he was one of those men whom opposition stimulates. And +what before had been but a suggestion of prudence, became an object of +desire. Plenty of other lads might no doubt be had, on as reasonable +terms as Lenny Fairfield; but the moment Lenny presumed to baffle the +Italian's designs upon him, the special acquisition of Lenny became of +paramount importance in the eyes of Signor Riccabocca. + +Jackeymo, however, lost all his interest in the traps, snares, and gins +which his master proposed to lay for Leonard Fairfield, in the more +immediate surprise that awaited him on learning that Dr. Riccabocca had +accepted an invitation to pass a few days at the Hall. + +"There will be no one there but the family," said Riccabocca. "Poor +Giacomo, a little chat in the servants' hall will do you good: and the +squire's beef is more nourishing, after all, than the sticklebacks and +minnows. It will lengthen your life." + +"The Padrone jests," said Jackeymo, statelily, "as if any one could +starve in his service." + +"Um," said Riccabocca. "At least, faithful friend, you have tried that +experiment as far as human nature will permit;" and he extended his hand +to his fellow-exile with that familiarity which exists between servant +and master in the usages of the continent. Jackeymo bent low, and a tear +fell upon the hand he kissed. + +"_Cospetto!_" said Dr. Riccabocca, "a thousand mock pearls do not make +up the cost of a single true one! The tears of women, we know their +worth; but the tear of an honest man--fie, Giacomo!--at least I can +never repay you this! Go and see to our wardrobe." + +So far as his master's wardrobe was concerned, that order was pleasing +to Jackeymo; for the Doctor had in his drawers suits which Jackeymo +pronounced to be as good as new, though many a long year had passed +since they left the tailor's hands. But when Jackeymo came to examine +the state of his own clothing department, his face grew considerably +longer. It was not that he was without other clothes than those on his +back--quantity was there, but the quality! Mournfully he gazed on two +suits, complete in the three separate members of which man's raiments +are composed: the one suit extended at length upon his bed, like a +veteran stretched by pious hands after death; the other brought +piecemeal to the invidious light--the _torso_ placed upon a chair, the +limbs dangling down from Jackeymo's melancholy arm. No bodies long +exposed at the Morgue could evince less sign of resuscitation than those +respectable defuncts. For, indeed, Jackeymo had been less thrifty of his +apparel--more _profusus sui_--than his master. In the earliest days of +their exile, he preserved the decorous habit of dressing for dinner--it +was a respect due to the Padrone--and that habit had lasted till the two +habits on which it necessarily depended had evinced the first symptoms +of decay; then the evening clothes had been taken into morning wear, in +which hard service they had breathed their last. + +The Doctor, notwithstanding his general philosophical abstraction from +such household details, had more than once said, rather in pity to +Jackeymo, than with an eye to that respectability which the costume of +the servant reflects on the dignity of the master, "Giacomo, thou +wantest clothes; fit thyself out of mine!" + +And Jackeymo had bowed his gratitude, as if the donation had been +accepted; but the fact was, that that same fitting out was easier said +than done. For though--thanks to an existence mainly upon sticklebacks +and minnows--both Jackeymo and Riccabocca at that state which the +longevity of misers proves to be most healthful to the human frame, +viz., skin and bone--yet, the bones contained in the skin of Riccabocca +all took longitudinal directions; while those in the skin of Jackeymo +spread out latitudinally. And you might as well have made the bark of a +Lombardy poplar serve for the trunk of some dwarfed and pollarded oak, +in whose hollow the Babes of the Wood could have slept at their ease, as +have fitted out Jackeymo from the garb of Riccabocca. Moreover, if the +skill of the tailor could have accomplished that undertaking, the +faithful Jackeymo would never have had the heart to avail himself of the +generosity of his master. He had a sort of religious sentiment too, +about those vestments of the Padrone. The ancients, we know, when +escaping from shipwreck, suspended in the votive temple the garments in +which they had struggled through the wave. Jackeymo looked on those +relics of the past with a kindred superstition. "This coat the Padrone +wore on such an occasion. I remember the very evening the Padrone last +put on those pantaloons!" And coat and pantaloons were tenderly dusted, +and carefully restored to their sacred rest. + +But now, after all, what was to be done? Jackeymo was much too proud to +exhibit his person, to the eyes of the Squire's butler, in habiliments +discreditable to himself and the Padrone. In the midst of his perplexity +the bell rang, and he went down into the parlor. + +Riccabocca was standing on the hearth, under his symbolical +representation of the "Patriae Exul." + +"Giacomo," quoth he, "I have been thinking that thou hast never done +what I told thee, and fitted thyself out from my superfluities. But we +are going now into the great world; visiting once begun, Heaven knows +where it may stop! Go to the nearest town and get thyself clothes. +Things are dear in England. Will this suffice?" And Riccabocca extended +a L5 note. + +Jackeymo, we have seen, was more familiar with his master than we formal +English permit our domestics to be with us. But in his familiarity he +was usually respectful. This time, however, respect deserted him. + +"The Padrone is mad!" he exclaimed; "he would fling away his whole +fortune if I would let him. Five pounds English, or a hundred and +twenty-six pounds Milanese![28] Santa Maria! Unnatural Father! And what +is to become of the poor Signorina? Is this the way you are to marry her +in the foreign land?" + +"Giacomo," said Riccabocca, bowing his head to the storm, "the Signorina +to-morrow; to-day, the honor of the house. Thy small-clothes, Giacomo. +Miserable man, thy small-clothes!" + +"It is just," said Jackeymo, recovering himself, and with humility; "and +the Padrone does right to blame me, but not in so cruel a way. It is +just--the Padrone lodges and boards me, and gives me handsome wages, and +he has a right to expect that I should not go in this figure." + +"For the board and the lodgment, good," said Riccabocca. "For the +handsome wages, they are the visions of thy fancy!" + +"They are no such thing," said Jackeymo, "they are only in arrear. As if +the Padrone could not pay them some day or other--as if I was demeaning +myself by serving a master who did not intend to pay his servants! And +can't I wait? Have I not my savings, too? But be cheered, be cheered; +you shall be contented with me. I have two beautiful suits still. I was +arranging them when you rang for me. You shall see, you shall see." + +And Jackeymo hurried from the room, hurried back into his own chamber, +unlocked a little trunk which he kept at his bed head, tossed out a +variety of small articles, and from the deepest depth extracted a +leathern purse. He emptied the contents on the bed. They were chiefly +Italian coins, some five-franc pieces, a silver medallion inclosing a +little image of his patron saint--San Giacomo--one solid English guinea, +and two or three pounds' worth in English silver. Jackeymo put back the +foreign coins, saying prudently, "One will lose on them here;" he seized +the English coins and counted them out. "But are you enough, you +rascals?" quoth he angrily, giving them a good shake. His eye caught +sight of the medallion--he paused; and after eyeing the tiny +representation of the saint with great deliberation, he added, in a +sentence which he must have picked up from the proverbial aphorisms of +his master: + +"What's the difference between the enemy who does not hurt me, and the +friend who does not serve me? _Monsignore San Giacomo_, my patron saint, +you are of very little use to me in the leathern bag. But if you help me +to get into a new pair of small-clothes on this important occasion, you +will be a friend indeed. _Alla bisogna, Monsignore_." Then, gravely +kissing the medallion, he thrust it into one pocket, the coins into the +other, made up a bundle of the two defunct suits, and, muttering to +himself, "Beast, miser that I am, to disgrace the Padrone, with all +these savings in his service!" ran down stairs into his pantry, caught +up his hat and stick, and in a few moments more was seen trudging off to +the neighboring town of L----. + +Apparently the poor Italian succeeded, for he came back that evening in +time to prepare the thin gruel which made his master's supper, with a +suit of black--a little threadbare, but still highly respectable--two +shirt fronts, and two white cravats. But, out of all this finery, +Jackeymo held the small-clothes in especial veneration; for as they had +cost exactly what the medallion had sold for, so it seemed to him that +San Giacomo had heard his prayer in that quarter to which he had more +exclusively directed the saint's attention. The other habiliments came +to him in the merely human process of sale and barter; the small-clothes +were the personal gratuity of San Giacomo! + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Life has been subjected to many ingenious comparisons: and if we do not +understand it any better, it is not for want of what is called +"reasoning by illustration." Amongst other resemblances, there are +moments when, to a quiet contemplator, it suggests the image of one of +those rotatory entertainments commonly seen in fairs, and known by the +name of "whirligigs or roundabouts," in which each participator of the +pastime, seated on his hobby, is always apparently in the act of +pursuing some one before him, while he is pursued by some one behind. +Man, and woman too, are naturally animals of chase; the greatest still +finds something to follow, and there is no one too humble not to be an +object of prey to another. Thus, confining our view to the village of +Hazeldean, we behold in this whirligig Dr. Riccabocca spurring his hobby +after Lenny Fairfield; and Miss Jemima, on her decorous side-saddle, +whipping after Dr. Riccabocca. Why, with so long and intimate a +conviction of the villany of our sex, Miss Jemima should resolve upon +giving the male animal one more chance of redeeming itself in her eyes, +I leave to the explanation of those gentlemen who profess to find "their +only books in woman's looks." Perhaps it might be from the +over-tenderness and clemency of Miss Jemima's nature; perhaps it might +be that, as yet, she had only experienced the villany of man born and +reared in those cold northern climates; and in the land of Petrarch and +Romeo, of the citron and myrtle, there was reason to expect that the +native monster would be more amenable to gentle influences, less +obstinately hardened in his iniquities. Without entering farther into +these hypotheses, it is sufficient to say, that on Signor Riccabocca's +appearance in the drawing-room, at Hazeldean, Miss Jemima felt more than +ever rejoiced that she had relaxed in his favor her general hostility to +man. In truth, though Frank saw something quizzical in the old-fashioned +and outlandish cut of the Italian's sober dress; in his long hair, and +the _chapeau bras_, over which he bowed so gracefully, and then pressed +it, as if to his heart, before tucking it under his arm, after the +fashion in which the gizzard reposes under the wing of a roasted pullet; +yet it was impossible that even Frank could deny to Riccabocca that +praise which is due to the air and manner of an unmistakable gentleman. +And certainly as, after dinner, conversation grew more familiar, and the +Parson and Mrs. Dale, who had been invited to meet their friend, did +their best to draw him out, his talk, though sometimes a little too wise +for his listeners, became eminently animated and agreeable. It was the +conversation of a man who, besides the knowledge which is acquired from +books and life, had studied the art which becomes a gentleman--that of +pleasing in polite society. Riccabocca, however, had more than this +art--he had one which is often less innocent,--the art of penetrating +into the weak side of his associates, and of saying the exact thing +which hits it plump in the middle, with the careless air of a random +shot. + +The result was, that all were charmed with him; and that even Captain +Barnabas postponed the whist-table for a full hour after the usual +time. The Doctor did not play--he thus became the property of the two +ladies, Miss Jemima and Mrs. Dale. + +Seated between the two, in the place rightfully appertaining to Flimsey, +who this time was fairly dislodged, to her great wonder and discontent, +the Doctor was the emblem of true Domestic Felicity, placed between +Friendship and Love. + +Friendship, as became her, worked quietly at the embroidered +pocket-handkerchief, and left Love to its more animated operations. "You +must be very lonely at the Casino," said Love, in a sympathizing tone. + +"Madam," replied Riccabocca, gallantly, "I shall think so when I leave +you." + +Friendship cast a sly glance at Love--Love blushed or looked down on the +carpet, which comes to the same thing. "Yet," began Love again--"yet +solitude, to a feeling heart--" + +Riccabocca thought of the note of invitation, and involuntarily buttoned +his coat, as if to protect the individual organ thus alarmingly referred +to. + +"Solitude, to a feeling heart, has its charms. It is so hard even for +us, poor ignorant women, to find a congenial companion--but for _you_!" +Love stopped short, as if it had said too much, and smelt confusedly at +its boquet. + +Dr. Riccabocca cautiously lowered his spectacles, and darted one glance, +which, with the rapidity and comprehensiveness of lightning, seemed to +envelope and take in it, as it were, the whole inventory of Miss +Jemima's personal attractions. Now, Miss Jemima, as I have before +observed, had a mild and pensive expression of countenance, and she +would have been positively pretty had the mildness looked a little more +alert, and the pensiveness somewhat less lackadaisical. In fact, though +Miss Jemima was constitutionally mild, she was not _de natura_ pensive; +she had too much of the Hazeldean blood in her veins for that sullen and +viscid humor called melancholy, and therefore this assumption of +pensiveness really spoilt her character of features, which only wanted +to be lighted up by a cheerful smile to be extremely prepossessing. The +same remark might apply to the figure, which--thanks to the same +pensiveness--lost all the undulating grace which movement and animation +bestow on the fluent curves of the feminine form. The figure was a good +figure, examined in detail--a little thin, perhaps, but by no means +emaciated--with just and elegant proportions, and naturally light and +flexible. But that same unfortunate pensiveness gave the whole a +character of inertness and languor; and when Miss Jemima reclined on the +sofa, so complete seemed the relaxation of nerve and muscle, that you +would have thought she had lost the use of her limbs. Over her face and +form, thus defrauded of the charms Providence had bestowed on them, Dr. +Riccabocca's eye glanced rapidly; and then moving nearer to Mrs. +Dale--"Defend me" (he stopped a moment, and added,) "from the charge of +not being able to appreciate congenial companionship." + +"Oh, I did not say that!" cried Miss Jemima. + +"Pardon me," said the Italian, "if I am so dull as to misunderstand you. +One may well lose one's head, at least, in such a neighborhood as this." +He rose as he spoke, and bent over Frank's shoulder to examine some +Views of Italy, which Miss Jemima (with what, if wholly unselfish, would +have been an attention truly delicate) had extracted from the library in +order to gratify the guest. + +"Most interesting creature, indeed," sighed Miss Jemima, "but too--too +flattering!" + +"Tell me," said Mrs. Dale gravely, "do you think, love, that you could +put off the end of the world a little longer, or must we make haste in +order to be in time?" + +"How wicked you are!" said Miss Jemima, turning aside. + +Some few minutes afterwards, Mrs. Dale contrived it so that Dr. +Riccabocca and herself were in a farther corner of the room, looking at +a picture said to be by Wouvermans. + +_Mrs. Dale._--"She is very amiable, Jemima, is she not?" + +_Riccabocca._--"Exceedingly so. Very fine battle-piece!" + +_Mrs. Dale._--"So kind-hearted." + +_Riccabocca._--"All ladies are. How naturally that warrior makes his +desperate cut at the runaway!" + +_Mrs. Dale._--"She is not what is called regularly handsome, but she has +something very winning." + +_Riccabocca_, with a smile.--"So winning, that it is strange she is not +won. That gray mare in the foreground stands out very boldly!" + +_Mrs. Dale_, distrusting the smile of Riccabocca, and throwing in a more +effective grape charge.--"Not won yet; and it _is_ strange!--she will +have a very pretty fortune." + +_Riccabocca._--"Ah!" + +_Mrs. Dale._--"Six thousand pounds, I dare say--certainly four." + +_Riccabocca_, suppressing a sigh, and with his wonted address.--"If Mrs. +Dale were still single, she would never need a friend to say what her +portion might be; but Miss Jemima is so good that I am quite sure it is +not Miss Jemima's fault that she is still--Miss Jemima!" + +The foreigner slipped away as he spoke, and sat himself down beside the +whist-players. + +Mrs. Dale was disappointed, but certainly not offended.--"It would be +such a good thing for both," muttered she, almost inaudibly. + +"Giacomo," said Riccabocca, as he was undressing, that night, in the +large, comfortable, well-carpeted English bedroom, with that great +English four-posted bed in the recess which seems made to shame folks +out of single-blessedness--"Giacomo, I have had this evening the offer +of probably six thousand pounds--certainly of four thousand." + +"_Cosa meravigliosa!_" exclaimed Jackeymo--"miraculous thing!" and he +crossed himself with great fervor. "Six thousand pounds English! why, +that must be a hundred thousand--blockhead that I am!--more than a +hundred and fifty thousand pounds Milanese!" And Jackeymo, who was +considerably enlivened by the Squire's ale, commenced a series of +gesticulations and capers, in the midst of which he stopped and cried, +"But not for nothing?" + +"Nothing! no!" + +"These mercenary English!--the Government wants to bribe you." + +"That's not it." + +"The priests want you to turn heretic." + +"Worse than that," said the philosopher. + +"Worse than that! O Padrone! for shame!" + +"Don't be a fool, but pull off my pantaloons--they want me never to wear +_these_ again!" + +"Never to wear what!" exclaimed Jackeymo, staring outright at his +master's long legs in their linen drawers--"never to wear--" + +"The breeches," said Riccabocca, laconically. + +"The barbarians!" faltered Jackeymo. + +"My nightcap!--and never to have any comfort in this," said Riccabocca, +drawing the cotton head-gear; "and never to have any sound sleep in +that," pointing to the four-posted bed. "And to be a bondsmen and a +slave," continued Riccabocca, waxing wroth; "and to be wheedled and +purred at, and pawed, and clawed, and scolded, and fondled, and blinded, +and deafened, and bridled, and saddled--bedevilled and--married." + +"Married!" said Jackeymo, more dispassionately--"that's very bad, +certainly; but more than a hundred and fifty thousand _lire_, and +perhaps a pretty young lady, and--" + +"Pretty young lady!" growled Riccabocca, jumping into bed and drawing +the clothes fiercely over him. "Put out the candle, and get along with +you--do, you villainous old incendiary!" + + +CHAPTER IX. + +It was not many days since the resurrection of those ill-omened stocks, +and it was evident already to an ordinary observer, that something wrong +had got into the village. The peasants wore a sullen expression of +countenance; when the Squire passed, they took off their hats with more +than ordinary formality, but they did not return the same broad smile to +his quick, hearty "Good day, my man." The women peered at him from the +threshold or the casement, but did not, as was their wont (at least the +wont of the prettiest), take occasion to come out to catch his passing +compliment on their own good looks, or their tidy cottages. And the +children, who used to play after work on the site of the old stocks, now +shunned the place, and, indeed, seemed to cease play altogether. + +On the other hand, no man likes to build, or rebuild, a great public +work for nothing. Now that the Squire had resuscitated the stocks, and +made them so exceedingly handsome, it was natural that he should wish to +put somebody into them. Moreover, his pride and self-esteem had been +wounded by the Parson's opposition; and it would be a justification to +his own forethought, and a triumph over the Parson's understanding, if +he could satisfactorily and practically establish a proof that the +stocks had not been repaired before they were wanted. + +Therefore, unconsciously to himself, there was something about the +Squire more burly, and authoritative, and menacing, than heretofore. Old +Gaffer Solomons observed, "that they had better moind well what they +were about, for that the Squire had a wicked look in the tail of his +eye--just as the dun bull had afore it tossed neighbor Barnes's little +boy." + +For two or three days these mute signs of something brewing in the +atmosphere had been rather noticeable than noticed, without any positive +overt act of tyranny on the one hand, or rebellion on the other. But on +the very Saturday night in which Dr. Riccabocca was installed in the +four-posted bed in the chintz chamber, the threatened revolution +commenced. In the dead of that night, personal outrage was committed on +the stocks. And on the Sunday morning, Mr. Stirn, who was the earliest +riser in the parish, perceived, in going to the farmyard, that the knob +of the column that flanked the board had been feloniously broken off; +that the four holes were bunged up with mud; and that some jacobinical +villain had carved, on the very centre of the flourish or scroll work, +"Dam the stoks!" Mr. Stirn was much too vigilant a right-hand man, much +too zealous a friend of law and order, not to regard such proceedings +with horror and alarm. And when the Squire came into his dressing-room +at half-past seven, his butler (who fulfilled also the duties of valet) +informed him with a mysterious air, that Mr. Stirn had something "very +particular to communicate, about a most howdacious midnight 'spiracy and +'sault." + +The Squire stared, and bade Mr. Stirn be admitted. + +"Well!" cried the Squire, suspending the operation of stropping his +razor. + +Mr. Stirn groaned. + +"Well, man, what now!" + +"I never knowed such a thing in this here parish afore," began Mr. +Stirn, "and I can only 'count for it by s'posing that them foreign +Papishers have been semminating"-- + +"Been what?" + +"Semminating"-- + +"Dissemminating, you blockhead--disseminating what?" + +"Damn the stocks," began Mr. Stirn, plunging right _in medias res_, and +by a fine use of one of the noblest figures of rhetoric. + +"Mr. Stirn!" cried the Squire, reddening, "did you say 'Damn the +stocks?'--damn my new handsome pair of stocks!" + +"Lord forbid, sir; that's what _they_ say: that's what they have digged +on it with knives and daggers, and they have stuffed mud in its four +holes, and broken the capital of the elewation." + +The Squire took the napkin off his shoulder, laid down strop and razor; +he seated himself in his arm-chair majestically, crossed his legs, and, +in a voice that affected tranquillity, said-- + +"Compose yourself, Stirn; you have a deposition to make, touching an +assault upon--can I trust my senses?--upon my new stocks. Compose +yourself--be calm. NOW! What the devil is come to the parish?" + +"Ah, sir, what indeed?" replied Mr. Stirn: and then laying the +forefinger of the right hand on the palm of the left, he narrated the +case. + +"And whom do you suspect? Be calm now, don't speak in a passion. You are +a witness, sir--a dispassionate, unprejudiced witness. Zounds and fury! +this is the most insolent, unprovoked, diabolical--but whom do you +suspect, I say?" + +Stirn twirled his hat, elevated his eyebrows, jerked his thumb over his +shoulder, and whispered--"I hear as how two Papishers slept at your +honor's last night." + +"What, dolt! do you suppose Dr. Rickeybockey got out of his warm bed to +bung up the holes in my new stocks?" + +"Noa; he's two cunning to do it himself, but he may have been +semminating. He's mighty thick with Parson Dale, and your honor knows as +how the Parson set his face agin the stocks. Wait a bit, sir--don't fly +at me yet. There be a boy in this here parish"-- + +"A boy!--ah fool, now you are nearer the mark. The Parson write 'Damn +the stocks,' indeed! What boy do you mean?" + +"And that boy be cockered up much by Mister Dale; and the Papishers went +and sat with him and his mother a whole hour t'other day; and that boy +is as deep as a well; and I seed him lurking about the place, and hiding +hisself under the tree the day the stocks was put up--and that ere boy +is Lenny Fairfield." + +"Whew," said the Squire, whistling, "you have not your usual senses +about you to-day, man. Lenny Fairfield--pattern boy of the village. Hold +your tongue. I dare say it is not done by any one in the parish, after +all; some good-for-nothing vagrant--that cursed tinker, who goes about +with a very vicious donkey--whom, by the way, I caught picking thistles +out of the very eyes of the old stocks! Shows how the tinker brings up +his donkeys! Well, keep a sharp look-out. To-day is Sunday; worst day of +the week, I'm sorry and ashamed to say, for rows and depredations. +Between the services, and after evening church, there are always idle +fellows from all the neighboring country about, as you know too well. +Depend on it, the real culprits will be found gathering round the +stocks, and will betray themselves: have your eyes, ears, and wits about +you, and I've no doubt we shall come to the rights of the matter before +the day's out. And if we do," added the Squire, "we'll make an example +of the ruffian!" + +"In course," said Stirn; "and if we don't find him, we must make an +example all the same. That's where it is, sir. That's why the stock's +ben't respected: they has not had an example yet--we wants an example." + +"On my word, I believe that's very true; and the first idle fellow you +catch in any thing wrong we'll clap in, and keep him there for two hours +at least." + +"With the biggest pleasure, your honor--that's what it is." + +And Mr. Stirn, having now got what he considered a complete and +unconditional authority over all the legs and wrists of Hazeldean +parish, _quoad_ the stocks, took his departure. + + +CHAPTER X. + +"Randal," said Mrs. Leslie, on this memorable Sunday--"Randal, do you +think of going to Mr. Hazeldean's?" + +"Yes, ma'am," answered Randal. "Mr. Egerton does not object to it; and +as I do not return to Eaton, I may have no other opportunity of seeing +Frank for some time. I ought not to fail in respect to Mr. Egerton's +natural heir!" + +"Gracious me!" cried Mrs. Leslie, who, like many women of her cast and +kind, had a sort of worldliness in her notions, which she never evinced +in her conduct--"gracious me!--natural heir to the old Leslie property!" + +"He is Mr. Egerton's nephew, and," added Randal, ingenuously letting out +his thoughts, "I am no relation to Mr. Egerton at all." + +"But," said poor Mrs. Leslie, with tears in her eyes, "it would be a +shame in the man, after paying your schooling and sending you to Oxford, +and having you to stay with him in the holidays, if he did not mean any +thing by it." + +"Any thing, mother--yes--but not the thing you suppose. No matter. It is +enough that he has armed me for life, and I shall use the weapons as +seems to me best." + +Here the dialogue was suspended, by the entrance of the other members of +the family, dressed for church. + +"It can't be time for church! No! it can't!" exclaimed Mrs. Leslie. She +was never in time for any thing. + +"Last bell ringing," said Mr. Leslie, who, though a slow man, was +methodical and punctual. Mrs. Leslie made a frantic rush at the door, +the Montfydget blood being now in a blaze--whirled up the stairs--gained +her room, tore her best bonnet from the peg, snatched her newest shawl +from the drawers, crushed the bonnet on her head, flung the shawl on her +shoulders, thrust a desperate pin into its folds, in order to conceal a +buttonless yawn in the body of her gown, and then flew back like a +whirlwind. Meanwhile the family were already out of doors, in waiting; +and just as the bell ceased, the procession moved from the shabby house +to the dilapidated church. + +The church was a large one, but the congregation was small, and so was +the income of the Parson. It was a lay rectory, and the great tithes had +belonged to the Leslies, but they had been long since sold. The +vicarage, still in their gift, might be worth a little more than L100 a +year. The present incumbent had nothing else to live upon. He was a good +man, and not originally a stupid one; but penury and the anxious cares +for wife and family, combined with what may be called _solitary +confinement_ for the cultivated mind, when, amidst the two-legged +creatures round, it sees no other cultivated mind with which it can +exchange an extra-parochial thought--had lulled him into a lazy +mournfulness, which at times was very like imbecility. His income +allowed him to do no good to the parish, whether in work, trade, or +charity; and thus he had no moral weight with the parishioners beyond +the example of his sinless life and such negative effect as might be +produced by his slumberous exhortations. Therefore his parishioners +troubled him very little; and but for the influence which in hours of +Montfydget activity, Mrs. Leslie exercised over the most tractable--that +is, the children and the aged--not half-a-dozen persons would have known +or cared whether he shut up his church or not. + +But our family were seated in state in their old seignorial pew, and Mr. +Dumdrum, with a nasal twang, went lugubriously through the prayers; and +the old people who could sin no more, and the children who had not yet +learned to sin, croaked forth responses that might have come from the +choral frogs in Aristophanes. And there was a long sermon _apropos_ to +nothing which could possibly interest the congregation--being, in fact, +some controversial homily, which Mr. Dumdrum had composed and preached +years before. And when this discourse was over, there was a loud +universal grunt, as if of release and thanksgiving, and a great clatter +of shoes--and the old hobbled, and the young scrambled, to the church +door. + +Immediately after church, the Leslie family dined; and, as soon as +dinner was over, Randal set out on his foot journey to Hazeldean Hall. + +Delicate and even feeble though his frame, he had the energy and +quickness of movement which belongs to nervous temperaments; and he +tasked the slow stride of a peasant, whom he took to serve him as a +guide for the first two or three miles. Though Randal had not the +gracious open manner with the poor which Frank inherited from his +father, he was still (despite many a secret hypocritical vice, at war +with the character of a gentleman) gentleman enough to have no churlish +pride to his inferiors. He talked little, but he suffered his guide to +talk; and the boor, who was the same whom Frank had accosted, indulged +in eulogistic comments on that young gentleman's pony, from which he +diverged into some compliments on the young gentleman himself. Randal +drew his hat over his brows. There is a wonderful tact and fine breeding +in your agricultural peasant; and though Tom Stowell was but a brutish +specimen of the class, he suddenly perceived that he was giving pain. He +paused, scratched his head, and glancing affectionately towards his +companion, exclaimed-- + +"But I shall live to see you on a handsomer beastis than that little +pony, Master Randal; and sure I ought, for you be as good a gentleman as +any in the land." + +"Thank you," said Randal. "But I like walking better than riding--I am +more used to it." + +"Well, and you walk bra'ly--there ben't a better walker in the county. +And very pleasant it is walking; and 'tis a pretty country afore you, +all the way to the Hall." + +Randal strode on, as if impatient of these attempts to flatter or to +soothe; and, coming at length into a broader lane, said--"I think I can +find my way now. Many thanks to you, Tom;" and he forced a shilling into +Tom's horny palm. The man took it reluctantly, and a tear started to his +eye. He felt more grateful for that shilling than he had for Frank's +liberal half-crown; and he thought of the poor fallen family, and forgot +his own dire wrestle with the wolf at his door. + +He stayed lingering in the lane till the figure of Randal was out of +sight, and then returned slowly. Young Leslie continued to walk on at a +quick pace. With all his intellectual culture, and his restless +aspirations, his breast afforded him no thought so generous, no +sentiment so poetic, as those with which the unlettered clown crept +slouchingly homeward. + +As Randal gained a point where several lanes met on a broad piece of +waste land, he began to feel tired, and his step slackened. Just then a +gig emerged from one of these by-roads, and took the same direction as +the pedestrian. The road was rough and hilly, and the driver proceeded +at a foot's-pace; so that the gig and the pedestrian went pretty well +abreast. + +"You seem tired, sir," said the driver, a stout young farmer of the +higher class of tenants, and he looked down compassionately on the boy's +pale countenance and weary stride. "Perhaps we are going the same way, +and I can give you a lift?" + +It was Randal's habitual policy to make use of every advantage proffered +to him, and he accepted the proposal frankly enough to please the honest +farmer. + +"A nice day, sir," said the latter, as Randal sat by his side. "Have you +come far?" + +"From Rood Hall." + +"Oh, you be young Squire Leslie," said the farmer, more respectfully, +and lifting his hat. + +"Yes, my name is Leslie. You know Rood, then?" + +"I was brought up on your father's land, sir. You may have heard of +Farmer Bruce?" + +_Randal._--"I remember, when I was a little boy, a Mr. Bruce, who +rented, I believe, the best part of our land, and who used to bring us +cakes when he called to see my father. He is a relation of yours?" + +_Farmer Bruce._--"He was my uncle. He is dead now, poor man." + +_Randal._--"Dead! I am grieved to hear it. He was very kind to us +children. But it is long since he left my father's farm." + +_Farmer Bruce_, apologetically.--"I am sure he was very sorry to go. +But, you see, he had an unexpected legacy----" + +_Randal._--"And retired from business?" + +_Farmer Bruce._--"No. But, having capital, he could afford to pay a good +rent for a real good farm." + +_Randal_, bitterly.--"All capital seems to fly from the lands of Rood. +And whose farm did he take?" + +_Farmer Bruce._--"He took Hawleigh, under Squire Hazeldean. I rent it +now. We've laid out a power o' money on it. But I don't complain. It +pays well." + +_Randal._--"Would the money have paid as well, sunk on my father's +land?" + +_Farmer Bruce._--"Perhaps it might, in the long run. But then, sir, we +wanted new premises--barns, and cattle-sheds, and a deal more--which the +landlord should do; but it is not every landlord as can afford that. +Squire Hazeldean's a rich man." + +_Randal._--"Ay!" + +The road now became pretty good, and the farmer put his horse into a +brisk trot. + +"But which way be you going, sir? I don't care for a few miles more or +less, if I can be of service." + +"I am going to Hazeldean," said Randal, rousing himself from a reverie. +"Don't let me take you out of your way." + +"Oh, Hawleigh Farm is on the other side of the village, so it be quite +my way, sir." + +The farmer then, who was really a smart young fellow--one of that race +which the application of capital to land has produced, and which, in +point of education and refinement, are at least on a par with the +squires of a former generation--began to talk about his handsome horse, +about horses in general, about hunting and coursing; he handled all +these subjects with spirit, yet with modesty. Randal pulled his hat +still lower down over his brows, and did not interrupt him till past the +Casino, when, struck by the classic air of the place, and catching a +scent from the orange-trees, the boy asked abruptly--"Whose house is +that?" + +"Oh, it belongs to Squire Hazeldean, but it is let or lent to a foreign +Mounseer. They say he is quite the gentleman, but uncommonly poor." + +"Poor," said Randal, turning back to gaze on the trim garden, the neat +terrace, the pretty belvidere, and (the door of the house being open) +catching a glimpse of the painted hall within--"poor; the place seems +well kept. What do you call poor, Mr. Bruce?" + +The farmer laughed. "Well, that's a home question, sir. But I believe +the Mounseer is as poor as a man can be who makes no debts and does not +actually starve." + +"As poor as my father?" asked Randal, openly and abruptly. + +"Lord, sir! your father be a very rich man compared to him." + +Randal continued to gaze, and his mind's eye conjured up the contrast of +his slovenly, shabby home, with all its neglected appurtenances! No trim +garden at Rood Hall, no scent from odorous orange blossoms. Here poverty +at least was elegant--there, how squalid! He did not comprehend at how +cheap a rate the luxury of the Beautiful can be effected. They now +approached the extremity of the Squire's park pales! and Randal, seeing +a little gate, bade the farmer stop his gig, and descended. The boy +plunged amid the thick oak groves; the farmer went his way blithely, and +his mellow merry whistle came to Randal's moody ear as he glided quick +under the shadow of the trees. + +He arrived at the Hall, to find that all the family were at church; and, +according to the patriarchal custom, the church-going family embraced +nearly all the servants. It was therefore an old invalid housemaid who +opened the door to him. She was rather deaf, and seemed so stupid that +Randal did not ask leave to enter and wait for Frank's return. He +therefore said briefly that he would just stroll on the lawn, and call +again when church was over. + +The old woman stared, and strove to hear him; meanwhile Randal turned +round abruptly, and sauntered towards the garden side of the handsome +old house. + +There was enough to attract any eye in the smooth greensward of the +spacious lawn--in the numerous parterres of varying flowers--in the +venerable grandeur of the two mighty cedars, which threw their still +shadows over the grass--and in the picturesque building, with its +projecting mullions and heavy gables; yet I fear that it was with no +poet's nor painter's eye that this young old man gazed on the scene +before him. + +He beheld the evidence of wealth--and the envy of wealth jaundiced his +soul. + +Folding his arms on his breast, he stood a while, looking all around him +with closed lips and lowering brow; then he walked slowly on, his eyes +fixed on the ground, and muttered to himself---- + +"The heir to this property is little better than a dunce; and they tell +me I have talents and learning, and I have taken to my heart the maxim, +'Knowledge is power.' And yet, with all my struggles, will knowledge +ever place me on the same level as that on which this dunce is born? I +don't wonder that the poor should hate the rich. But of all the poor, +who should hate the rich like the pauper gentleman? I suppose Audley +Egerton means me to come into Parliament, and be a Tory like himself. +What! keep things as they are! No; for me not even Democracy, unless +there first come Revolution. I understand the cry of a Marat--'More +blood!' Marat had lived as a poor man, and cultivated science--in the +sight of a prince's palace." + +He turned sharply round, and glared vindictively on the poor old hall, +which, though a very comfortable habitation, was certainly no palace; +and with his arms still folded on his breast, he walked backwards, as if +not to lose the view, nor the chain of ideas it conjured up. + +"But," he continued to soliloquize--"but of revolution there is no +chance. Yet the same wit and will that would thrive in revolutions +should thrive in this commonplace life. Knowledge is power. Well, then, +shall I have no power to oust this blockhead? Oust him--what from? His +father's halls? Well, but if he were dead, who would be the heir of +Hazeldean? Have I not heard my mother say that I am as near in blood to +this Squire as any one, if he had no children? Oh, but the boy's life is +worth ten of mine! Oust him from what? At least from the thoughts of his +uncle Egerton--an uncle who has never even seen him! That, at least, is +more feasible. 'Make my way in life,' sayest thou, Audley Egerton? +Ay--and to the fortune thou hast robbed from my ancestors. +Simulation--simulation. Lord Bacon allows simulation. Lord Bacon +practised it--and--" + +Here the soliloquy came to a sudden end; for as, rapt in his thoughts, +the boy had continued to walk backwards, he had come to the verge where +the lawn slided off into the ditch of the ha-ha--and, just as he was +fortifying himself by the precept and practice of my Lord Bacon, the +ground went from under him, and slap into the ditch went Randal Leslie! + +It so happened that the Squire, whose active genius was always at some +repair or improvement, had been but a few days before widening and +sloping off the ditch just in that part, so that the earth was fresh and +damp, and not yet either turfed or flattened down. Thus when Randal, +recovering his first surprise and shock, rose to his feet, he found his +clothes covered with mud; while the rudeness of the fall was evinced by +the fantastic and extraordinary appearance of his hat, which, hollowed +here, bulging there, and crushed out of all recognition generally, was +as little like the hat of a decorous hard-reading young +gentlemen--_protege_ of the dignified Mr. Audley Egerton--as any hat +picked out of a kennel after some drunken brawl possibly could be. + +Randal was dizzy, and stunned, and bruised, and it was some moments +before he took heed of his raiment. When he did so, his spleen was +greatly aggravated. He was still boy enough not to like the idea of +presenting himself to the unknown Squire, and the dandy Frank, in such a +trim: he resolved at once to regain the lane and return home, without +accomplishing the object of his journey; and seeing the footpath right +before him, which led to a gate that he conceived would admit him into +the highway sooner than the path by which he had come, he took it at +once. + +It is surprising how little we human creatures heed the warnings of our +good genius. I have no doubt that some benignant power had precipitated +Randal Leslie into the ditch, as a significant hint of the fate of all +who choose what is, now-a-days, by no means an uncommon step in the +march of intellect--viz., the walking backwards, in order to gratify a +vindictive view of one's neighbor's property! I suspect that, before +this century is out, many a fine fellow will thus have found his ha-ha, +and scrambled out of the ditch with a much shabbier coat than he had on +when he fell into it. But Randal did not thank his good genius for +giving him a premonitory tumble;--and I never yet knew a man who did! + + +CHAPTER XI. + +The Squire was greatly ruffled at breakfast that morning. He was too +much of an Englishman to bear insult patiently, and he considered that +he had been personally insulted in the outrage offered to his recent +donation to the parish. His feelings, too, were hurt, as well as his +pride. There was something so ungrateful in the whole thing, just after +he had taken so much pains, not only in the resuscitation, but the +embellishment of the stocks. It was not, however, so rare an occurrence +for the Squire to be ruffled, as to create any remark. Riccabocca, +indeed, as a stranger, and Mrs. Hazeldean, as a wife, had the quick tact +to perceive that the host was glum and the husband snappish; but the one +was too discreet and the other too sensible, to chafe the new sore, +whatever it might be; and shortly after breakfast the Squire retired +into his study, and absented himself from morning service. + +In his delightful _Life of Oliver Goldsmith_, Mr. Foster takes care to +touch our hearts by introducing his hero's excuse for not entering the +priesthood. He did not feel himself good enough. Thy Vicar of Wakefield, +poor Goldsmith, was an excellent substitute for thee; and Dr. Primrose, +at least, will be good enough for the world until Miss Jemima's fears +are realized. Now, Squire Hazeldean had a tenderness of conscience much +less reasonable than Goldsmith's. There were occasionally days in which +he did not feel good enough--I don't say for a priest, but even for one +of the congregation--"days in which (said the Squire in his own blunt +way), as I have never in my life met a worse devil than a devil of a +temper, I'll not carry mine into the family pew. He shan't be growling +out hypocritical responses from my poor grandmother's prayer-book." So +the Squire and his demon stayed at home. But the demon was generally +cast out before the day was over; and, on this occasion, when the bell +rang for afternoon service, it may be presumed that the Squire had +reasoned or fretted himself into a proper state of mind; for he was then +seen sallying forth from the porch of his hall, arm-in-arm with his +wife, and at the head of his household. The second service was (as is +commonly the case, in rural districts) more numerously attended than the +first one; and it was our Parson's wont to devote to this service his +most effective discourse. + +Parson Dale, though a very fair scholar, had neither the deep theology +nor the archaeological learning that distinguish the rising generation of +the clergy. I much doubt if he could have passed what would now be +called a creditable examination in the Fathers; and as for all the nice +formalities in the rubric, he would never have been the man to divide a +congregation or puzzle a bishop. Neither was Parson Dale very erudite in +ecclesiastical architecture. He did not much care whether all the +details in the church were purely gothic or not: crockets and finials, +round arch and pointed arch, were matters, I fear, on which he had never +troubled his head. But one secret Parson Dale did possess, which is +perhaps of equal importance with those subtler mysteries--he knew how to +fill his church! Even at morning service no pews were empty, and at +evening service the church overflowed. + +Parson Dale, too, may be considered, now-a-days, to hold but a mean idea +of the spiritual authority of the Church. He had never been known to +dispute on its exact bearing with the State--whether it was incorporated +with the State, or above the State--whether it was antecedent to the +Papacy, or formed from the Papacy, &c., &c. According to his favorite +maxim, _Quieta non movere_ (not to disturb things that are quiet), I +have no doubt that he would have thought that the less discussion is +provoked upon such matters, the better for both church and laity. Nor +had he ever been known to regret the disuse of the ancient custom of +excommunication, nor any other diminution of the powers of the +priesthood, whether minatory or militant; yet for all this, Parson Dale +had a great notion of the sacred privilege of a minister of the +gospel--to advise--to deter--to persuade--to reprove. And it was for the +evening service that he prepared those sermons, which may be called +"sermons that preach _at_ you." He preferred the evening for that +salutary discipline, not only because the congregation was more +numerous, but also because, being a shrewd man in his own innocent way, +he knew that people bear better to be preached at after dinner than +before; that you arrive more insinuatingly at the heart when the stomach +is at peace. There was a genial kindness in Parson Dale's way of +preaching at you. It was done in so imperceptible fatherly a manner, +that you never felt offended. He did it, too, with so much art, that +nobody but your own guilty self knew that you were the sinner he was +exhorting. Yet he did not spare rich nor poor: he preached at the +Squire, and that great fat farmer, Mr. Bullock the church-warden, as +boldly as at Hodge the ploughman, and Scrub the hedger. As for Mr. +Stirn, he had preached at _him_ more often than at any one in the +parish; but Stirn, though he had the sense to know it, never had the +grace to reform. There was, too, in Parson Dale's sermons, something of +that boldness of illustration which would have been scholarly if he had +not made it familiar, and which is found in the discourses of our elder +divines. Like them, he did not scruple, now and then, to introduce an +anecdote from history, or borrow an allusion from some non-scriptural +author, in order to enliven the attention of his audience, or render an +argument more plain. And the good man had an object in this, a little +distinct from, though wholly subordinate to the main purpose of his +discourse. He was a friend to knowledge--but to knowledge accompanied by +religion; and sometimes his references to sources not within the +ordinary reading of his congregation would spirit up some farmer's son, +with an evening's leisure on his hands, to ask the Parson for farther +explanation, and so he lured on to a little solid or graceful +instruction under a safe guide. + +Now on the present occasion, the Parson, who had always his eye and +heart on his flock, and who had seen with great grief the realization of +his fears at the revival of the stocks; seen that a spirit of discontent +was already at work amongst the peasants, and that magisterial and +inquisitorial designs were darkening the natural benevolence of the +Squire; seen, in short, the signs of a breach between classes, and the +precursors of the ever inflammable feud between the rich and the poor, +meditated nothing less than a great Political Sermon--a sermon that +should extract from the roots of social truths a healing virtue for the +wound that lay sore, but latent, in the breast of his parish of +Hazeldean: + +And thus ran-- + +_The Political Sermon of Parson Dale._ + + +CHAPTER XII. + + "For every man shall bear his own burden." + + _Galatians_, c. vi., v. 5. + +"Brethren, every man has his burden. If God designed our lives to end at +the grave, may we not believe that he would have freed an existence so +brief from the cares and sorrows to which, since the beginning of the +world, mankind has been subjected? Suppose that I am a kind father, and +have a child whom I dearly love, but I know by a divine revelation that +he will die at the age of eight years, surely I should not vex his +infancy by needless preparations for the duties of life. If I am a rich +man, I should not send him from the caresses of his mother to the stern +discipline of school. If I am a poor man, I should not take him with me +to hedge and dig, to scorch in the sun, to freeze in the winter's cold: +why inflict hardships on his childhood, for the purpose of fitting him +for manhood, when I know that he is doomed not to grow into man? But if, +on the other hand, I believe my child is reserved for a more durable +existence, then should I not, out of the very love I bear to him, +prepare his childhood for the struggle of life, according to that +station in which he is born, giving many a toil, many a pain to the +infant, in order to rear and strengthen him for his duties as man? So is +it with our Father that is in heaven. Viewing this life as our infancy, +and the next as our spiritual maturity, where, 'in the ages to come, he +may show the exceeding riches of his grace,' it is in his tenderness, as +in his wisdom, to permit the toil and the pain which, in tasking the +powers and developing the virtues of the soul, prepare it for the +earnest of our inheritance, the 'redemption of the purchased +possession.' Hence it is that every man has his burden. Brethren, if you +believe that God is good, yea, but as tender as a human father, you will +know that your troubles in life are a proof that you are reared for an +eternity. But each man thinks his own burden the hardest to bear: the +poor man groans under his poverty, the rich man under the cares that +multiply with wealth. For, so far from wealth freeing us from trouble, +all the wise men who have written in all ages, have repeated with one +voice the words of the wisest, 'When goods increase, they are increased +that eat them; and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the +beholding of them with their eyes?' And this is literally true, my +brethren; for, let a man be as rich as was the great King Solomon +himself, unless he lock up all his gold in a chest, it must go abroad to +be divided amongst others; yea, though, like Solomon, he make him great +works--though he build houses and plant vineyards, and make him gardens +and orchards--still the gold that he spends feeds but the mouths he +employs; and Solomon himself could not eat with a better relish than the +poorest mason who builded the house, or the humblest laborer who planted +the vineyard. Therefore, 'when goods increase, they are increased that +eat them.' And this, my brethren, may teach us toleration and compassion +for the rich. We share their riches whether they will or not; we do not +share their cares. The profane history of our own country tells us that +a princess, destined to be the greatest queen that ever sat on this +throne, envied the milk-maid singing; and a profane poet, whose wisdom +was only less than that of the inspired writers, represents the man who +by force and wit had risen to be a king, sighing for the sleep +vouchsafed to the meanest of his subjects--all bearing out the words of +the son of David--'The sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he +eat little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to +sleep.' + +"Amongst my brethren now present, there is doubtless some one who has +been poor, and by honest industry has made himself comparatively rich. +Let his heart answer me while I speak: are not the chief cares that now +disturb him to be found in the goods he hath acquired?--has he not both +vexations to his spirit and trials to his virtue, which he knew not when +he went forth to his labor, and took no heed of the morrow? But it is +right, my brethren, that to every station there should be its care--to +every man his burden; for if the poor did not sometimes so far feel +poverty to be a burden as to desire to better their condition, and (to +use the language of the world) 'seek to rise in life,' their most +valuable energies would never be aroused; and we should not witness that +spectacle, which is so common in the land we live in--namely, the +successful struggle of manly labor against adverse fortune--a struggle +in which the triumph of one gives hope to thousands. It is said that +necessity is the mother of invention; and the social blessings which are +now as common to us as air and sunshine, have come from that law of our +nature which makes us aspire towards indefinite improvement, enriches +each successive generation by the labors of the last, and, in free +countries, often lifts the child of the laborer to a place amongst the +rulers of the land. Nay, if necessity is the mother of invention, +poverty is the creator of the arts. If there had been no poverty, and no +sense of poverty, where would have been that which we call the wealth of +a country? Subtract from civilization all that has been produced by the +poor, and what remains?--the state of the savage. Where you now see +laborer and prince, you would see equality indeed--the equality of wild +men. No; not even equality there; for there, brute force becomes +lordship, and woe to the weak! Where you now see some in frieze, some in +purple, you would see nakedness in all. Where stand the palace and the +cot, you would behold but mud huts and caves. As far as the peasant +excels the king among savages, so far does the society exalted and +enriched by the struggles of labor excel the state in which Poverty +feels no disparity, and Toil sighs for no ease. On the other hand, if +the rich were perfectly contented with their wealth, their hearts would +become hardened in the sensual enjoyments it procures. It is that +feeling, by Divine Wisdom implanted in the soul, that there is vanity +and vexation of spirit in the things of Mammon, which still leaves the +rich man sensitive to the instincts of heaven, and teaches him to seek +for happiness in those elevated virtues to which wealth invites +him--namely, protection to the lowly and beneficence to the distressed. + +"And this, my brethren, leads me to another view of the vast subject +opened to us by the words of the apostle--'Every man shall bear his own +burden.' The worldly conditions of life are unequal. Why are they +unequal? O my brethren, do you not perceive? Think you that, if it had +been better for our spiritual probation that there should be neither +great nor lowly, rich nor poor, Providence would not so have ordered the +dispensations of the world, and so, by its mysterious but merciful +agencies, have influenced the framework and foundations of society? But +if, from the remotest period of human annals, and in all the numberless +experiments of government which the wit of man has devised, still this +inequality is ever found to exist, may we not suspect that there is +something in the very principles of our nature to which that inequality +is necessary and essential? Ask why this inequality! Why? as well ask +why life is the sphere of duty and the nursery of virtues. For if all +men were equal, if there were no suffering and no ease, no poverty and +no wealth, would you not sweep with one blow the half at least of human +virtues from the world? If there were no penury and no pain, what would +become of fortitude?--what of patience?--what of resignation? If there +were no greatness and no wealth, what would become of benevolence, of +charity, of the blessed human pity, of temperance in the midst of +luxury, of justice in the exercise of power? Carry the question further; +grant all conditions the same--no reverse, no rise and no fall--nothing +to hope for, nothing to fear--what a moral death you would at once +inflict upon all the energies of the soul, and what a link between the +heart of man and the Providence of God would be snapped asunder! If we +could annihilate evil, we should annihilate hope; and hope, my brethren, +is the avenue to faith. If there be 'a time to weep, and a time to +laugh,' it is that he who mourns may turn to eternity for comfort, and +he who rejoices may bless God for the happy hour. Ah! my brethren, were +it possible to annihilate the inequalities of human life, it would be +the banishment of our worthiest virtues, the torpor of our spiritual +natures, the palsy of our mental faculties. The moral world, like the +world without us, derives its health and its beauty from diversity and +contrast. + +"'Every man shall bear his own burden.' True; but now turn to an earlier +verse in the same chapter. 'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil +the law of Christ.' Yes; while Heaven ordains to each his peculiar +suffering, it connects the family of man into one household, by that +feeling which, more perhaps than any other, distinguishes us from the +brute creation--I mean the feeling to which we give the name of +_sympathy_--the feeling for each other! The herd of deer shun the stag +that is marked by the gunner; the flock heedeth not the sheep that +creeps into the shade to die; but man has sorrow and joy not in himself +alone, but in the joy and sorrow of those around him. He who feels only +for himself, abjures his very nature as man; for do we not say of one +who has no tenderness for mankind that he is _inhuman_? and do we not +call him who sorrows with the sorrowful, _humane_? + +"Now, brethren, that which especially marked the divine mission of our +Lord, is the direct appeal to this sympathy which distinguishes us from +the brute. He seizes not upon some faculty of genius given but to few, +but upon that ready impulse of heart which is given to us all; and in +saying, 'Love one another,' 'Bear ye one another's burdens,' he elevates +the most delightful of our emotions into the most sacred of his laws. +The lawyer asks our Lord, 'who is my neighbor?' Our Lord replies by the +parable of the Good Samaritan. The priest and the Levite saw the wounded +man that fell among the thieves, and passed by on the other side. That +priest might have been austere in his doctrine, that Levite might have +been learned in the law; but neither to the learning of the Levite, nor +to the doctrine of the priest, does our Saviour even deign to allude. He +cites but the action of the Samaritan, and saith to the lawyer, 'Which +now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among +the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy unto him. Then said Jesus +unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.' + +"O shallowness of human judgments! It was enough to be born a Samaritan +in order to be rejected by the priest, and despised by the Levite. Yet +now, what to us the priest and the Levite, of God's chosen race though +they were? They passed from the hearts of men when they passed the +sufferer by the wayside; while this loathed Samaritan, half thrust from +the pale of the Hebrew, becomes of our family, of our kindred; a brother +amongst the brotherhood of Love, so long as Mercy and Affliction shall +meet in the common thoroughfare of Life! + +"'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ!' Think +not, O my brethren, that this applies only to almsgiving--to that relief +of distress which is commonly called charity--to the obvious duty of +devoting, from our superfluities, something that we scarcely miss, to +the wants of a starving brother. No. I appeal to the poorest amongst ye, +if the worst burdens are those of the body--if the kind word and the +tender thought have not often lightened your hearts more than bread +bestowed with a grudge, and charity that humbles you by a frown. +Sympathy is a beneficence at the command of us all,--yea, of the pauper +as of the king; and sympathy is Christ's wealth. Sympathy is +brotherhood. The rich are told to have charity for the poor, and the +poor are enjoined to respect their superiors. Good: I say not to the +contrary. But I say also to the poor, '_In your turn have charity for +the rich_;' and I say to the rich, '_In your turn respect the poor_.' + +"'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.' Thou, +O poor man, envy not nor grudge thy brother his larger portion of +worldly goods. Believe that he hath his sorrows and crosses like +thyself, and perhaps, as more delicately nurtured, he feels them more; +nay, hath he not temptations so great that our Lord hath exclaimed--'How +hardly they that have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven?' And what +are temptations but trials?--what are trials but perils and sorrows? +Think not that you cannot bestow your charity on the rich man, even +while you take your sustenance from his hands. A heathen writer, often +cited by the earliest preachers of the gospel, hath truly +said--'Wherever there is room for a man, there is place for a benefit.' + +"And I ask any rich brother amongst you when he hath gone forth to +survey his barns and his granaries, his gardens and orchards, if +suddenly, in the vain pride of his heart, he sees the scowl on the brow +of the laborer--if he deems himself hated in the midst of his wealth--if +he feels that his least faults are treasured up against him with the +hardness of malice, and his plainest benefits received with the +ingratitude of envy--I ask, I say, any rich man, whether straightway all +pleasure in his worldly possessions does not fade from his heart, and +whether he does not feel what a wealth of gladness it is in the power of +the poor man to bestow! For all these things of Mammon pass away; but +there is in the smile of him whom we have served, a something that we +may take with us into heaven. If, then, ye bear one another's burdens, +they who are poor will have mercy on the errors, and compassion for the +griefs of the rich. To all men it was said--yes, to the Lazarus as to +the Dives--'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' But think not, O rich +man, that we preach only to the poor. If it be their duty not to grudge +thee thy substance, it is thine to do all that may sweeten their labor. +Remember, that when our Lord said, 'How hardly shall they that have +riches enter into the kingdom of heaven,' he replied also to them who +asked, 'Who then shall be saved?' 'The things which are impossible with +men are possible with God:' that is, man left to his own temptations +would fail; but strengthened by God, he shall be saved. If thy riches +are the tests of thy trial, so may they also be the instruments of thy +virtues. Prove by thy riches that thou art compassionate and tender, +temperate and benign; and thy riches themselves may become the evidence +at once of thy faith and of thy works. + +"We have constantly on our lips the simple precept, 'Do unto others as +ye would be done by.' Why do we fail so often in the practice? Because +we neglect to cultivate that SYMPATHY which nature implants as an +instinct, and the Saviour exalts as a command. If thou wouldst do unto +thy neighbor as thou wouldst be done by, ponder well how thy neighbor +will regard the action thou art about to do to him. Put thyself into his +place. If thou art strong, and he is weak, descend from thy strength, +and enter into his weakness; lay aside thy burden for the while, and +buckle on his own; let thy sight see as through his eyes--thy heart beat +as in his bosom. Do this, and thou wilt often confess that what had +seemed just to thy power will seem harsh to his weakness. For 'as a +zealous man hath not done his duty, when he calls his brother drunkard +and beast,'[29] even so an administrator of the law mistakes his object +if he writes on the grand column of society, only warnings that irritate +the bold, and terrify the timid: and a man will be no more in love with +law than with virtue, 'if he be forced to it with rudeness and +incivilities.' If, then, ye would bear the burden of the lowly, O ye +great--feel not only _for_ them, but _with!_ Watch that your pride does +not chafe them--your power does not wantonly gall. Your worldly inferior +is of the class from which the apostles were chosen--amidst which the +Lord of Creation descended from a throne above the seraphs." + +The Parson here paused a moment, and his eye glanced towards the pew +near the pulpit, where sat the magnate of Hazeldean. The Squire was +leaning his chin thoughtfully on his hand, his brow inclined downwards, +and the natural glow of his complexion much heightened. + +"But"--resumed the Parson softly, without turning to his book, and +rather as if prompted by the suggestion of the moment--"But he who has +cultivated sympathy commits not these errors, or, if committing them, +hastens to retract. So natural is sympathy to the good man, that he +obeys it mechanically when he suffers his heart to be the monitor of his +conscience. In this sympathy behold the bond between rich and poor! By +this sympathy, whatever our varying worldly lots, they become what they +were meant to be--exercises for the virtues more peculiar to each; and +thus, if in the body each man bear his own burden, yet in the fellowship +of the soul all have common relief in bearing the burdens of each other. +This is the law of Christ--fulfil it, O my flock!" + +Here the Parson closed his sermon, and the congregation bowed their +heads. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[28] By the pounds Milanese, Giacomo means the Milanese lira. + + + + +Gleanings from the Journals. + + +Dr. TURNBULL says in the _Medical Gazette_, "It has struck me that, if +we could discover any substance which could be so applied as to contract +the _iris_, one cause of the effect of shortsightedness would be +remedied. The result, I am happy to say, has been most satisfactory. In +the first instance I applied the extract of ginger, which was rubbed +five or ten times over the whole forehead, with the view of acting upon +the fifth pair of nerves. Afterwards I substituted a concentrated +tincture, of the strength of one part of ginger to two parts of spirits +of wine, decolorated by animal charcoal. In numerous cases this +application has almost doubled the vision." + + * * * * * + +Mr. GEORGE CRUIKSHANK has presided over a temperance meeting at Bristol. +He maintained in his address that if Shakspeare were alive now, he would +be of their society! "In 'Othello,' there was the character of a bad +man, one Iago, who, setting himself to work the ruin of another, begins +by making him drunk, and when it is first offered to him the answer is, +'Not to-night, good Iago. I have very poor and unhappy brains for +drinking. I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of +entertainment.' They would re-echo that wish, he was sure; courtesy +might invent a better custom of entertainment than that of +drinking"--(applause). We observe that the meeting gave three cheers for +"The Bottle." A stranger to modern engravings would no doubt consider +this in the last degree inconsistent. + + * * * * * + +We find in the London papers accounts of a Copying Electric Telegraph, +invented by a Mr. Bakewell, who had given lectures upon it at the +Russell Institution. Its object is the transmission of the _handwriting_ +of correspondents. Its advantages are, freedom from error, as the +messages transmitted are fac-similes of the originals: authentication of +the communications by the transmission of copies of the handwriting; +increased rapidity, to such an extent that a single wire may be as +effective as ten with the needle telegraph, and consequent economy in +the construction of telegraphic lines of communication. The secrecy of +correspondence would also be maintained in a greater degree by the +copying telegraph, as it would afford peculiar facility for transmitting +messages in cipher, and the telegraph clerks, instead of being compelled +by their duties to read all the messages transmitted, might be forbidden +from perusing any portion but the address. As an additional means of +secrecy, the messages may be transmitted invisibly, by moistening the +paper with diluted muriatic acid alone, the writing being rendered +legible by a solution of prussiate of potass. + + * * * * * + +The "original Mrs. Partington" was a respectable old lady (says _Notes +and Queries_), living at Sidmouth, in Devonshire. Her cottage was on the +beach, and during an awful storm (November, 1824, when some fifty or +sixty ships were wrecked at Plymouth) the sea rose to such a height as +every now and then to invade the old lady's place of domicile; in fact, +almost every wave dashed in at the door. Mrs. Partington, with such help +as she could command, with mops and brooms, as fast as the water entered +the house, mopped it out again; until at length the waves had the +mastery, and the dame was compelled to retire to an upper story of the +house. The first allusion to the circumstance was made by Lord Brougham +in his celebrated speech in the House of Commons on the Reform Bill, in +which he compared the Conservative opposition to the bill to be like the +opposition of "Dame Partington, who endeavored to mop out the waves of +the Atlantic." + + * * * * * + +It is stated that the Neapolitan Government has granted a sum of twenty +thousand ducats for continuing the excavations at Pompeii. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[29] JEREMY TAYLOR--_Of Christian Prudence_. + + + + +Ladies' Fashions for January. + + +[Illustration] + +The evening costumes of the present season are characterized by profuse +trimming. The skirts of the newest dresses, excepting those composed of +very rich materials, are all very fully trimmed. Corsages, whether high +or low, are ornamented in some way or other. Flounces, employed to trim +the skirts of ball dresses, are made somewhat fuller than heretofore. +Even lace flounces, which used to be set on plain, are now gathered up +in slight fulness. To add still more to the appearance of amplitude in +dresses trimmed with lace, some dressmakers edge the skirts with a +fontange of ribbon. With ball dresses of transparent textures, trimmed +with flounces of the same, this fontange of ribbon is frequently placed +at the edge of the slip worn under the dress. Tulle dresses are now +fashionable for ball costume. Some pretty organdy muslins, intended for +very young ladies, have just been introduced. These dresses should be +made with two jupes, simply edged with a broad hem. + +Cloth is adopted for morning walking dresses, _redingote_ form, open +down the front, and embroidered in arabesque pattern, in silk braid and +other trimming; the sleeves are worked at bottom, and open, to admit +underneath cambric or muslin sleeves tight at the wrist; the body is +embroidered to match the skirts. With this _redingote_ is worn a +_pardessus_ of the same cloth, embroidered in front and at bottom with +braiding of from two to two and a half inches wide. + +[Illustration] + +The more showy dresses, and a little _decolletees_, are square in front +(Louis XV. style), the body pointed, the skirt plain, and but few +flounces. The colors are sombre and plain; the materials are velvet, +satin, damask, watered, _antique_, and some plaids, for the theatres and +for half dress. These dresses are always worn with open sleeves, trimmed +with _engageantes_. + +Short velvet cloaks, richly embroidered either in satin stitch, silk +braid, or gimp, are in vogue, the preferred colors being burnt-bread and +black. Short velvet cloaks, of the paletot shape, half tight, trimmed +with lace, embroidered entirely in satin stitch, and with narrow +braiding, are also worn. + +On mantelets of silk, entirely embroidered velvet ribbon is worn; or +stamped velvet flowers, upon the stuff, produce a very pleasing effect. +The braid used for the arabesque pattern is commonly plain, or has only +a thick cord, and is from half to three quarters of an inch wide. +Walking boots, entirely of leather, are the most fashionable. + +In the _Illustrations_ which we give this month: + +I. Is a Cap of Alencon lace, with flat bows of ribbon, and lappets of +the same. + +II. A Bonnet of pink satin, covered with cut black velvet. A trimming of +black lace encircles the crown. The bonnet may be lined either with pink +satin or with black velvet; and the under trimming consists of small +pink flowers. Strings of pink satin ribbon. + +III. _Engageantes_ of India muslin, with two rows of Mechlin lace, one +above the other. + +IV. Velvet mantelet, with arabesque in silk braiding, a quarter of an +inch wide, and satin stitch, slightly fitting to the waist; wide +sleeves, and entirely embroidered. + +V. (See the group of figures upon the following page.) + +(I.) _Evening Costume for a Bride, back view._--The headdress a wreath +of white roses, mingled with orange-blossom. Back hair arranged in +twists, in the style called _noeud d' Apollon_. Across the forehead +may be worn a narrow bandeau of pearls or diamonds. Dress of white crape +over white satin; front of the skirt with bouquets of the same flowers +as those in the wreath. The corsage has a berthe of folds of white +tulle. The sleeves slightly full, and ornamented on the shoulder with +epaulettes of tulle. Necklace, a single row of pearls. (II.) _Costume +for an Evening Party._--Dress of brocade, the ground a dark violet +color, with large bouquets of flowers in a variety of hues. + +[Illustration] + +A _sortie de bal_ of cerulean blue satin, edged with a broad band of +velvet of the same color, on which a braid is disposed in a zigzag +pattern. The headdress of loops of narrow blue velvet ribbon fixed on +each side of the head. (III.) _Bride's dress suited to the Nuptial +Ceremony._--Robe of white satin; the skirt ornamented with side +trimmings, consisting each of a row of lace, headed by a fronce of white +satin ribbon. This trimming is set on spirally up each side of the +skirt, and is attached at intervals by small bows of white satin ribbon. +The corsage is half high at the back, and is sloped somewhat lower in +front. The front of the corsage is trimmed with rows of lace set on +horizontally. On the neck is worn a chemisette of lace. The sleeves are +finished at the ends with a full trimming of white satin ribbon. The +under-sleeves are loose at the ends, and are edged with two rows of +lace. On each arm a bracelet of gold, one of the serpent pattern, and +the other fastened by a cameo snap. Bridal wreath of orange-blossom and +jasmin. A very large veil of tulle illusion is fixed under the wreath +instead of being thrown over it, as is sometimes customary. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The International Magazine, Volume 2, +No. 2, January, 1851, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE *** + +***** This file should be named 22694.txt or 22694.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/6/9/22694/ + +Produced by Joshua Hutchinson, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by Cornell University Digital Collections). + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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