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diff --git a/27611.txt b/27611.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f53e7f --- /dev/null +++ b/27611.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9738 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, +Number 361, November, 1845., 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: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, Number 361, November, 1845. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: December 25, 2008 [EBook #27611] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, NOV. 1845 *** + + + + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, Erica Hills, Jonathan Ingram +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Library of Early +Journals.) + + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Spellings are sometimes erratic. A few obvious +misprints have been corrected, but in general the original spelling +and typesetting conventions (e.g. ellipses as * * *) have been retained. +Accents in foreign language phrases are inconsistent, and have not been +standardised. + + + + +BLACKWOOD'S +EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. + + +NO. CCCLXI. NOVEMBER, 1845. VOL. LVIII. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +THE STUDENT OF SALAMANCA. PART I., 521 + +HUMBOLDT, 541 + +HAKEM THE SLAVE, 560 + +THE LAY OF STARKATHER, 570 + +MOZART, 572 + +ACCOUNT OF A VISIT TO THE VOLCANO OF KIRAUEA, 591 + +THE DAYS OF THE FRONDE, 596 + +THE GRAND GENERAL JUNCTION AND INDEFINITE + EXTENSION RAILWAY RHAPSODY, 614 + +SKETCHES OF ITALY--LUCCA, 617 + +THE RAILWAYS, 633 + + * * * * * + + +EDINBURGH: +WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET; +AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. + +_To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed._ + +SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND HUGHES, EDINBURGH. + + +BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. + + +No. CCCLXI. NOVEMBER, 1845. VOL. LVIII. + + + + +THE STUDENT OF SALAMANCA. + +PART I. + + + "Espana de la guerra + Tremola la pendon." + _Cancion Patriotica._ + +It wanted about an hour of sunset on the last day of September 1833, +when two young men, whose respective ages did not much exceed twenty +years, emerged from a country lane upon the high-road from Tarazona to +Tudela, in that small district of Navarre which lies south of the +river Ebro. + +The equipments of the travellers--for such the dusty state of their +apparel, and the knapsacks upon their shoulders, indicated them to +be--were exactly similar, and well calculated for a pedestrian journey +across the steep sierras and neglected roads of Spain. They consisted, +with little variation, of the national Spanish dress--short jackets of +dark cloth, somewhat braided and embroidered, knee-breeches of the +same material, and broad-brimmed hats, surrounded by velvet bands. +Only, instead of the tight-fitting stockings and neat pumps, which +should have completed the costume, long leathern gamashes extended +from knee to ankle, and were met below the latter by stout +high-quartered shoes. Each of the young men carried a stick in his +hand, rather, as it appeared, from habit, or for purposes of defence, +than as a support, and each of them had a cloak of coarse black serge +folded and strapped upon his otter-skin knapsack. With their costume, +however, the similarity in their appearance ceased; nothing could be +more widely different than their style of person and countenance. The +taller of the two, who was also apparently the elder, was of a +slender, active figure, with well-moulded limbs, and a handsome, +intelligent countenance, in which energy and decision of character +were strongly marked. His complexion was dark olive; his eyes and +short curling hair were of a coal black; what little beard he had was +closely shaven, excepting upon the upper lip, which was fringed by a +well-defined mustache, as gracefully curved and delicately penciled as +any that Vandyke ever painted. At this time, however, there was a +shade over his countenance other than that cast by the broad leaf of +his sombrero; it was the look of mingled hope, anxiety, and suspense, +sometimes worn by persons who are drawing near to a goal, their +attainment of which is still doubtful, and at which, even when +attained, it is not quite certain whether pleasure or pain awaits +them. + +No such thoughts or anxieties were to be read upon the joyous, +careless countenance of the second traveller--a stout, square-built +young man, whose ruddy complexion and light-brown hair contrasted as +strongly with the dark locks and olive skin of his companion as they +differed from the generally received notions of Spanish physiognomy. +The face wore no particular expression, excepting that of +good-humoured _insouciance_; his hazel eye had a merry twinkle, and a +slight fulness of lip and chin seemed to denote a reasonable degree of +addiction to the good things of this life. Altogether, and to judge +them by their physiognomies only, one would have chosen the first for +a friend, the latter for a pleasant and jovial boon-companion. + +On leaving the cross-road, the two pedestrians took a northerly +direction, in which they proceeded for nearly a quarter of an hour +without exchanging a syllable, the one absorbed in meditations which +the other was apparently unwilling to disturb. At the end of that time +they paused, as if by preconcerted arrangement, in front of a small +_venta_, or country inn, less remarkable for the accommodation it +afforded, than for its pleasant situation and aspect. It stood a +little back from the road, in a nook formed by the recession of a line +of wooded hills which there skirt the highway. The front of the house, +composed of rough blocks of grey stone, was overgrown by the twisted +branches of a venerable vine, the age of which did not prevent it from +becoming covered each spring with leaves and tendrils, nor from +yielding in the autumn an abundant supply of delicious gold-coloured +grapes. At a short distance in front of the door, which opened into +the stable, whence a wooden step-ladder led to the upper floor, there +stood a huge oak, throwing its broad shadow over a table and some +benches placed beneath it for the accommodation of guests. On one side +of the venta, and detached from it, but in a right line with its +front, was a massive fragment of wall, which had probably, at no very +remote period, formed part of a chapel or convent. Its summit, which +was broken and irregular, rose full thirty feet from the ground +throughout more than double that length, and along the wall, at about +two-thirds of a man's height, ran a horizontal black line, indicating, +as did also the numerous marks and bruises upon the whitewashed +surface, that this ancient piece of masonry enabled the frequenters of +the venta to indulge in the favourite _juego de pelota_, or a game at +ball, to which the Navarrese and the northern Spaniards generally are +much addicted, and at which most of them excel. + +On the arrival of our travellers, the benches in front of the venta +had already two occupants, belonging to classes of men which may rank +amongst the chief supporters of Spanish roadside inns. One of them was +a corporal of dragoons, returning to his garrison at Tudela, whence he +had probably been sent with a despatch, or on some similar mission. He +was a strapping, powerful fellow, well set up, as the phrase goes, and +whose broad shoulders and soldierly figure showed to advantage in his +dark-green uniform. His horse--a high-crested, fine-legged Andalusian, +whose jetty coat looked yet blacker by contrast with the white +sheep-skin that covered the saddle, and the flakes of foam with which +his impatient champings had covered his broad chest--was tied up near +the stable door, the bridle removed, finishing out of a nose-bag a +plentiful feed of maize. The dragoon's sabre and his brass and +leopard-skin helmet were hanging at the saddle-bow, their owner having +temporarily covered his head with a smart foraging-cap of green and +scarlet cloth, which set off to great advantage his bearded and +martial countenance. Having provided for his horse, the trooper was +now attending to the calls of his own appetite, and doing immense +execution on some goat's-milk cheese and excellent white bread, which +he moistened by copious draughts of the thick black wine of Navarre. + +Seated opposite to the soldier, and similarly employed, was a +hardy-looking man, who had arrived in company with two mules, which +were also tethered to a ring in the venta wall, but at a respectful +distance from the dragoon's charger. A heap of chopped straw and +Indian corn leaves was lying before them, at which they assiduously +munched--not, however, without occasionally casting wistful glances +at the more luxurious repast of their neighbour. The soldier and the +muleteer had apparently met before; and when the new-comers approached +them, they were discussing with great animation the merits of the +various players in a ball-match which they had recently witnessed near +Tudela. Thence they glided into a discussion concerning ball-players +in general; the muleteer, who was a Navarrese, asserting the +invincibility of his country at the game of pelota, whilst the +corporal, who came from the neighbourhood of Oviedo, was equally +confident of the superiority of the Asturians. + +Whilst the younger of the travellers was ascertaining from the +_patrona_ the state of the larder, which, as is usual enough in +Spanish inns, was but meagrely provided, his companion sought out the +landlord of the venta, whom he found in the chimney-corner, enjoying a +supplementary siesta amidst a cloud of wood smoke. + +"The Conde de Villabuena," enquired the young man, when he had shaken +the drowsy host out of his slumbers--"is he still at his house between +this and Tudela?" + +The _ventero_, a greasy, ill-conditioned Valencian, rubbed his eyes, +muttered a coarse oath, and seemed half disposed, instead of replying, +to pick a quarrel with his interrogator; but a glance at the athletic +figure and resolute countenance of the latter, dissipated the +inclination, and he answered by a surly affirmative. + +"And his daughter also?" continued the stranger in a lower tone. + +"Dona Rita? To be sure she is, or was yesterday; for I saw her ride by +with her father and some other cavaliers. What eyes the little beauty +has; and what a foot! It was peeping from under her habit as she +passed. Sant'Antonio, what a foot!" + +And now thoroughly awakened, the ventero launched out into a panegyric +on the lady's beauty, interlarded by appeals to various saints as to +the justice of his praise, which was continued, in the manner of a +soliloquy, for some time after the stranger had turned his back upon +him and descended the stairs. + +At the door of the venta the young man encountered his companion, who +was issuing forth with a jug of wine in his hand. + +"Well, Luis," said the latter, "have you ascertained it? Is she still +here, or has our journey been in vain?" + +"She is here," was the reply. + +"Good. Then I hope you will put aside your melancholy, and eat and +drink with better appetite than you have lately done. We have plenty +of time; it will not be dark for the next two hours. So let us to +supper, such as it is; ham as rancid as an old oil-cask, eggs that +would have been chickens to-morrow, and wine--but the wine may atone +for the rest--it is old Peralta, or the patrona is perjured. I have +had the table spread under the tree, in hopes that fresh air may +sweeten musty viands, and in order that we may see the ball-play of +yonder soldier and muleteer." + +The young man who had been addressed by the name of Luis, glanced in +the direction of the ball-court, where the two men to whom his +companion referred were preparing for a match. The discussion as to +the superiority of Navarrese or Asturian ball-players had increased in +warmth, until the disputants, each obstinate in his opinion, finding +themselves, perhaps, at a loss for verbal arguments, had agreed to +refer the matter to a trial of individual skill. The challenge came +from the dragoon, who, as soon as he heard it accepted, proceeded to +lighten himself for his task. With great alacrity he threw aside his +foraging-cap, stripped off his pouch-belt and uniform coat, and +unfastened his spurs. The preparations of the muleteer were even more +rapidly completed. When he had thrown off his jacket--the back of +which was adorned, according to the custom of his class, with flowers +and various quaint devices, cut out in cloth of many colours, and sewn +upon the brown material of which the garment was composed--he stood in +his shirt and trousers of unbleached linen, with light sandals of +plaited hemp upon his feet. In this latter respect he had the +advantage of the soldier, who, not choosing to play barefooted, was +obliged to retain his heavy boots. In apparent activity, too, the +advantage was greatly on the side of the Navarrese, who was spare and +sinewy, without an ounce of superfluous flesh about him, but with +muscles like iron, and limbs as elastic and springy as whalebone. His +very face partook of the hard, wiry character of his person; the +cheekbones were slightly prominent, and, although he evidently wanted +some years of thirty, two deep furrows or lines, such as are rarely +seen on the countenance of so young a man, curved outwards from either +nostril to considerably below the mouth, increasing in depth when he +talked or smiled, and giving, in conjunction with a quick grey eye, +considerable character to his frank, and by no means disagreeable +countenance. + +The game began with great spirit, and with much appearance of equality +between the players, who would both have been deemed first-rate in any +ball-court in Europe. The great strength of the dragoon seemed at +first to give him the advantage; the tremendous blows he delivered +sent the ball against the wall with as much seeming force as if it had +been driven out of a cannon, and caused it to rebound to an immense +distance, keeping the muleteer continually at the very top of his +speed. The match was to be the best two out of three games. The first +of the three was won by the muleteer, after the victory had been long +and well contested. + +"_Bien!_" said the dragoon, as he wiped the perspiration from his +face, and took a deep draught out of a jug of wine which the ventero +presented to him. "_Bien_--that is one for you; the next may go +differently. I only missed the ball through my foot slipping. Curse +boots for playing ball in, say I! Hola, Valenciano! have you never a +pair of shoes or espadrillas to lend me?" + +The landlord, who acted as umpire, and who, as well as his wife and +two or three loitering peasants, was taking an intense interest in the +game, ran into the house and brought out a pair of sandals. These the +soldier tied upon his feet, in lieu of the boots to which he +attributed his defeat. Then, with renewed confidence, he took his +place opposite the wall, where the muleteer was waiting for him. + +But if, as the dragoon said, an accident had lost him the first game, +it soon became evident that the superior activity and endurance of his +antagonist were equally certain to make him lose the second. The +idleness of a garrison life, fat feeding, and soft lying, had +disqualified the soldier to compete for any length of time with a man +like the Navarrese, accustomed to the severest hardships, whose most +luxurious meal was a handful of boiled beans, his softest couch a +bundle of straw or the packsaddles of his mules. Constant exposure and +unceasing toil had given the muleteer the same insensibility to +fatigue attributed to certain savage tribes. Whilst his antagonist, +with inflamed features and short-drawn breath, and reeking with +perspiration, was toiling after the ball, the Navarrese went through +the same, or a greater amount of exertion, without the least +appearance of distress. Not a bead of moisture upon his face, nor a +pant from his broad, well-opened chest, gave token of the slightest +inconvenience from the violent exercise he was going through. On the +contrary, as he went on and got warm in the harness, he seemed to play +better, to run faster, to catch the ball with greater address, and +strike it with more force. Sometimes he would be standing close to the +wall, when a mighty blow from the strong arm of the dragoon sent the +ball scores of yards in his rear. It seemed impossible that he should +arrive soon enough to strike it. But before it had time to rebound, he +was behind it, and by a blow of his horny palm, less forcible perhaps, +but more dexterously applied than the one his opponent had given, he +sent it careering back to the wall with greater swiftness than it had +left it. He rarely struck the ball in the air, even when the +opportunity offered, but allowed it to rebound--a less dashing, but a +surer game than he would perhaps have played, had he not considered +the honour of "Navarra la bella" to be at stake, represented in his +person. Again, when the ball fell near the wall, he would sometimes +swing his arm as though about to strike it a violent blow, and, whilst +the dragoon was already beginning to retire in the direction he +expected it to take, he would change his apparent intention, and drop +it gently just above the line, so that his opponent, although rushing +up in desperate haste, could scarcely arrive in time to avoid being +put out. It was by a feint of this description that the second game +was decided in favour of the Navarrese. + +"_Viva la Navarra!_" shouted the winner, bounding like a startled +roebuck three or four feet from the ground, in front of the +discomfited soldier. + +"_Viva el demonio!_" growled the latter in reply. "Do you think that +because you have beaten me to-day, thanks to your herring guts and +dog's hide, that you could do the same if I were in training, or had a +month's practice? You would find it very different, Master Paco." + +"Viva la Navarra!" repeated Paco, chucking the small hard ball up into +the air, to a height at which it appeared scarcely bigger than a +bullet. Then replying to the words of the dragoon; "At your orders, +Senor Velasquez," said he, "I shall pass through Tudela some time next +month, and shall be ready to give you your revenge." + +And catching the ball as it fell, the Navarrese, whom victory had put +into extravagant spirits, began tossing it from one hand to the other, +catching it behind his back, and performing various other small feats +of address, looking the while at the corporal with a sort of jeering +smile, which greatly aggravated the irritation of the latter. + +"_Pues_," said Velasquez at last, after gazing at Paco for the space +of a minute with a stern look, which was insufficient, however, to +make the other lower his eyes, or alter the expression of his +countenance; "Well, what do you stare at? Oh! I forgot--you may well +stare. It is the first time that you have seen an Asturian caballero +beaten at any thing by a cur of a Navarrese." + +"Not at all," replied the muleteer coolly; "your Senoria is mistaken. +It is only the first time that I have seen an Asturian _caballero_ +with a pipeclayed belt over his shoulder, and a corporal's bars upon +his arm." + +And he broke out into one of those wild shrill laughs of scorn and +defiance with which the peasant soldiers of Navarre have so often, +during recent Spanish wars, caused the rocks and ravines of their +native province to ring again. + +"_Hijo de zorra!_" muttered the soldier, enraged beyond endurance by +this last taunt; and drawing back his right arm, he dealt so heavy and +unexpected a blow upon the breast of the muleteer that the latter +reeled a couple of paces backwards, and then fell headlong and with +considerable violence to the ground. The dragoon gazed for an instant +at the fallen man, as if expecting him to rise and attack him in turn; +but, seeing that he did not do so, he turned round and walked slowly +in the direction of his charger. + +He had taken but a few steps when the Navarrese sprang to his feet, +and thrust his hand into the red sash which girded his waist, as +though seeking a weapon. He found none, and, instantly darting +forward, he passed the soldier, and reached his mules a moment sooner +than the former did his horse. The next instant a long brown barrel +was projected across the packsaddles, and behind it was seen the blue +cap and pale countenance of Paco, who, with glittering eye and face +livid from fury, was taking a deadly aim at the soldier, now standing +beside the shoulder of his charger. Without a moment's hesitation the +Navarrese pulled the trigger. As he did so, the dragoon, suddenly +aware of his danger, threw himself on one side, and at the same time +his horse, either startled by the movement or tormented by a fly, +tossed his head violently up and backwards. The muleteer's bullet, +intended for the rider, entered the brain of the steed. There was a +convulsive quivering of the animal's whole frame, and then, before the +smoke cleared away, the horse fell over so heavily and suddenly that +he bore down Velasquez under him. The soldier lay with the whole +weight of the expiring animal resting upon his legs and thighs; and, +before he could make an attempt to extricate himself, the Navarrese, +with a large dagger-shaped knife gleaming in his hand, sprang across +the space that separated him from his antagonist. The fate of the +latter would speedily have been decided, had not the innkeeper, his +wife, and the two young men, who had been observing with much +interest these rapidly occurring incidents, thrown themselves between +Paco and the object of his wrath. + +"Out of the way!" roared the infuriated muleteer. "He has struck me, +and by the Holy Trinity I will have his blood. He has struck _me_, a +free Navarrese!" repeated he, striking his own breast with the points +of his fingers, one of the expressive and customary gestures of his +countrymen. + +"Let him be, Senor Don Paco!" yelled the ventero and his wife, greatly +alarmed at the prospect of a murder in broad daylight and at their +very threshold. "You have done enough already to send you to the +galleys. Get on your mules, and ride away before worse comes of it." + +"_A los infiernos!_" shouted Paco. "As the horse now is, so shall be +the rider." And he gave a long sweep of his arm, making the bright +blade of his knife flash in the last red sun-rays like a curved line +of burnished gold. The point of the weapon passed within an inch or +two of the face of the innkeeper, who started back with a cry of +alarm. At the same moment the wrist of the Navarrese was caught in a +firm grasp by the elder of the two travellers, and the knife was +wrested from his hand. The muleteer turned like a madman upon his new +antagonist. The latter had laid aside the hat which shaded his face, +and now fixed his eyes upon the angry countenance of the Navarrese. + +"Do you not know me, Paco?" said he, repulsing the first furious onset +of the muleteer. + +Paco stared at him for a moment with a look of doubt and astonishment. + +"Don Luis!" he at last exclaimed. + +"The same," replied the stranger. "You have been too hasty, Paco, and +we expose ourselves to blame by not detaining you to answer for your +attempt on yonder soldier's life, and for the death of his horse. But +you had some provocation, and I, for one, am willing to take the risk. +Begone, and that immediately." + +"I shall do your bidding, Senorito," said Paco, "were it only for old +acquaintance sake. But let that cowardly Asturian beware how he meets +me in the mountains. I have missed him once, but will answer for not +doing so again." + +"And you," retorted the soldier, whom the innkeeper and a peasant had +dragged from under the dead horse, and placed upon a bench, where he +sat rubbing his legs, which were numbed and bruised by the weight that +had fallen upon them--"and you, have a care how you show yourself in +Tudela. If there is a stirrup-leather or sword-scabbard in the +garrison, I promise you as sound a beating as you ever yet received." + +The Navarrese, who had returned to his mules and was busied reloading +his gun, snapped his fingers scornfully at this menace. Don Luis +walked up to him. + +"Listen, Paco," said he, in a low voice, "take my advice, and avoid +this neighbourhood for a while. Are you still in the service of Count +Villabuena?" + +"No, Senor," replied the man, "I have left his Senoria, and the mules +are my own. I shall be passing near the count's house to-morrow, if +you have any thing to send." + +"I have nothing," answered Don Luis. "Should you by chance see any of +the family, it is unnecessary to mention our meeting." + +Paco nodded his head significantly, seated himself sideways on one of +his mules, his gun across his knees, and, leading the other by the +bridle, trotted off at a brisk pace down a mountain path nearly +opposite to the venta. Ten minutes later the dragoon, having regained, +in some degree, the use of his legs, resumed his boots, took his +saddle and valise on his shoulders, and set out on foot for his +garrison. + +The sun had set, and the twilight passed away, the night was clear and +starlight, but moonless, when Luis and his companion left the venta +and resumed their progress northwards. After following the highway for +a short league, they took a cross-road, on either side of which the +richly cultivated plain was sprinkled with farmhouses, and with a few +country villas. In spite of the darkness, which was increased by the +overhanging foliage of the fruit-trees that on either hand bordered +the road, Luis moved rapidly and confidently forward, in the manner +of one perfectly acquainted with the ground; and presently, leaving +the beaten track, he passed through a plantation of young trees, +crossed a field, and arrived with his companion at a low hedge +surrounding a spacious garden. Jumping over this boundary, the young +men penetrated some distance into the enclosure, and soon found +themselves within fifty yards of a house, of which the white walls +were partially visible, rising out of a thick garland of trees and +bushes in which the building was embowered. Several of the windows +were lighted up, and the sound of music reached the ears of Luis and +his companion. + +"This is far enough, Mariano," said the former. "To the right, amongst +the trees, you will find an old moss-grown bench, upon which I have +often sat in happier days than these. There await my return." + +"Let me accompany you further," replied Mariano. "There is no saying +what reception the count may give you." + +"I shall not see the count," answered Luis; "and if by chance I +should, there is nothing to apprehend. But my plan, as I have already +explained to you, is only to seek one moment's interview with Rita. I +am well acquainted with the arrangements of the house, and you may +depend that I shall be seen by no one whom I wish to avoid." + +Mariano turned into the shrubbery, and Luis, with rapid but silent +step, advanced towards the villa, favoured in his clandestine approach +by the darkness of the night and the trees of the thickly-planted +garden. + +The house was a square edifice, without balconies, and the windows +that were lighted up were those of the first floor. On the side on +which Luis first approached the building, the windows were closed, +but, upon moving noiselessly round to the front, he perceived one +which the fineness of the weather, still mild and genial although at +the end of September, had induced the occupants of the room to leave +open. The sound of laughter and merriment issued from it; but this was +presently hushed, and two voices, accompanied by guitars, began to +sing a lively _seguidilla_, of which, at the end of each piquant +couplet, the listeners testified their approbation by a hum of +mirthful applause. Before the song was over, Luis had sought and found +a means of observing what was passing within doors. Grasping the lower +branch of a tree which grew within a few feet of the corner of the +house, he swung himself up amongst the foliage. A large bough extended +horizontally below the open window, and by climbing along this, he was +enabled to look completely into the apartment; whilst, owing to the +thickness of the leafage and the dark colour of his dress, there was +scarcely a possibility of his being discovered. + +The room was occupied by about twenty persons, the majority of whom +were visitors, inhabitants of Tudela or of neighbouring +country-houses. With four or five exceptions, the party consisted of +men, for the most part elderly or middle-aged. One of the ladies and a +young officer of the royal guard were the singers, and their +performance seemed partially to interrupt the conversation of a group +of the seniors who were seated round a card-table at the further end +of the apartment. The cards, however, if they had been used at all, +had long been thrown aside, and replaced by a discussion carried on in +low tones, and with an earnestness of countenance and gesture, which +gave to those engaged in it the appearance rather of conspirators than +of friends met together for the enjoyment of each other's society. The +ladies, and a few of the younger men, did not appear disposed to let +the gravity of their elders interfere with their own pleasures. The +song and the dance, the pointed epigram and witty repartee, all the +varied resourccs which Spaniards know so well how to bring into play, +and which render a Spanish _tertulia_ so agreeable, had been in turn +resorted to. When the seguidilla--during the continuance of which Luis +had gained his post of observation--was brought to a close, there +seemed to ensue a sort of break in the amusements of the evening. The +younger members of the company, whose conversation had previously been +general, separated into groups of two or three persons; and in more +than one of those composed of the former number, the flashing eye, +coquettish smile, and rapidly significant motions of the fan, bespoke +the existence of an animated flirtation. + +Two ladies, neither of whom could have seen more than eighteen +summers, now left the sofa upon which they had been sitting, and, with +arms intertwined, approached the open window. Luis remained motionless +as the leaves that surrounded him, and which were undisturbed by a +breath of wind. The ladies leaned forward over the window-sill, +enjoying the freshness of the night; and one of them, the lively +brunette who had taken a part in the seguidilla, plucked some sprays +of jasmine which reared their pointed leaves and white blossoms in +front of the window, and began to entwine them in the hair of her +companion--a pale and somewhat pensive beauty, in whose golden locks +and blue eyes the Gothic blood of old Spain was yet to be traced. +Presently she was interrupted in this fanciful occupation by a voice +within the room calling upon her to sing. She obeyed the summons, and +her friend remained alone at the window. + +No sooner was this the case than a slight rustling occurred amongst +the branches of the tree, and the name of "Rita" was uttered in a +cautious whisper. The lady started, and but half suppressed a cry of +terror. The next instant the leaves were put aside, and the light from +the apartment fell upon the countenance of Luis, who, with uplifted +finger, warned the agitated girl to restrain her emotion. + +"Santa Virgen!" she exclaimed, leaning far out of the window, and +speaking in a hurried whisper, "this is madness, Luis. My father is +unchanged in his sentiments, and I dread his anger should he find you +here." + +"I will instantly depart," replied Luis, "if you promise me an +interview. I am about to leave Spain--perhaps for ever; but I cannot +go without bidding you farewell. You will not refuse me a meeting +which may probably be our last." + +"What mean you?" exclaimed the lady. "Why do you leave Spain, and +when? But we shall be overheard. To-morrow my father goes to Tudela. +Be here at mid-day. Brigida will admit you." + +She held out her hand, which Luis pressed to his lips. At that moment +the clatter of a horse's hoofs, rapidly approaching, was heard upon +the hard ground of the avenue. The lady hastily withdrew her land and +left the window, whilst Luis again concealed himself behind the screen +of foliage. Scarcely had he done so, when a horseman dashed up to the +house, forced his steed up the three or four broad steps leading to +the door, and, without dismounting or looking for a bell or other +means of announcing his arrival, struck several blows upon the oaken +panels with the butt of his heavy riding-whip. Whilst the party +above-stairs hurried to the windows, and endeavoured to discern who it +was that disturbed them in so unceremonious a manner, a servant opened +the small grated wicket in the centre of the door, and enquired the +stranger's pleasure. + +"Is the Conde de Villabuena at home?" demanded the horseman. "I must +see him instantly." + +"The name of your Senoria," enquired the domestic. + +"It is unnecessary. Say that I have a message to him from friends at +Madrid." + +The servant disappeared, and in another moment his place was occupied +by a grave, stern-looking man, between fifty and sixty years of age. + +"I am Count Villabuena," said he; "what is your business?" + +The stranger bent forward over his horse's mane, so as to bring his +face close to the wicket, and uttered three words in a tone audible +only to the count, who replied to them by an exclamation of surprise. +The door was immediately opened, and Villabuena stood beside the +horseman. + +"When?" said he. + +"Yesterday. I have ridden night and day to bring you the intelligence, +and shall now push on to the interior of Navarre. At the same time as +myself, others of our friends started, north and south, east and west. +Early this morning, Santos Ladron heard it at Valladolid, and Merino +in Castile. To-day the news has reached Vittoria; this night they will +be at Bilboa and Tolosa. It is from the northern provinces that most +is expected; but 'El Rey y la Religion' is a rallying-cry that will +rouse all Spaniards worthy of the name. You are prepared for the +event, and know what to do. Farewell, and success attend us!" + +The stranger set spurs to his horse, and galloped down the avenue at +the same rapid pace at which he had arrived. The count re-entered the +house; and, as soon as he had done so, Luis dropped from his tree, and +hurried to rejoin Mariano. In another hour they had returned to the +venta. + +Luis Herrera was the son of a Castilian gentleman, who had suffered +much, both in person and property, for his steady adherence to the +constitutional cause in Spain. Severely wounded whilst fighting +against the Royalists and their French allies in 1823, Don Manuel +Herrera with difficulty escaped to England, taking with him his only +son, then a boy of eleven years of age. In 1830 he changed his +residence to the south of France, and thence, taking advantage of his +proximity to the frontier, and wishing his son's education to be +completed in Spain, he dispatched Luis to Madrid, with a +recommendation to the Conde de Villabuena, who, notwithstanding that +his political principles were diametrically opposed to those of Don +Manuel, was one of the oldest friends of the latter. The count +welcomed Luis kindly, and received him into his house, where for some +months he prosecuted his studies in company with the young +Villabuenas, and, at the end of that time, went with them to the +university of Salamanca. The vacations were passed by the young men +either at the count's house at Madrid, or at a country residence near +Tudela, north of which, in the central valleys of his native province +of Navarre, the Conde de Villabuena owned extensive estates. The count +was a widower, and, besides his two sons, had an only daughter, who, +at the time of Luis's arrival was in her sixteenth year, and who added +to great personal attractions a share of accomplishment and +instruction larger than is usually found even amongst the higher +classes of Spanish women. During the first sojourn of Luis at the +count's house, he was naturally thrown a great deal into Dona Rita's +society, and a reciprocal attachment grew up between them, which, if +it occasionally afforded the young Villabuenas a subject of +good-humoured raillery, on the other hand was unobserved or uncared +for by the count--a stern silent man, whose thoughts and time were +engrossed by political intrigues. When Luis went to Salamanca, his +attachment to Rita, instead of becoming weakened or obliterated, +appeared to acquire strength from absence; and she, on her part, as +each vacation approached, unconsciously looked forward with far more +eagerness to the return of Herrera than to that of her brothers. + +The autumn of 1832 arrived, and the count and his family, including +Luis, were assembled at the villa near Tudela. The attachment existing +between Rita and Luis had become evident to all who knew them; and +even the count himself seemed occasionally, by a quiet glance and +grave smile, to recognise and sanction its existence. Nor was there +any very obvious or strong reason for disapproval. The family of +Herrera was ancient and honourable; and, although Don Manuel's estates +had been confiscated when he fled the country, he had previously +remitted to England a sum that secured him a moderate independence. +The state of things in Spain was daily becoming more favourable to the +hopes of political exiles. The declining health of Ferdinand had +thrown the reins of government almost entirely into the hands of Queen +Christina, who, in order to increase the number of her adherents, and +ensure her daughter's succession to the throne, favoured the return to +Spain of the Liberal party. Although Don Manuel, who was known to be +obstinate and violent in his political views, had not yet been +included in the amnesties published, it was thought that he speedily +would be so; and then time and importunity, and an adherence to the +established order of things, might perhaps procure him the restitution +of some part of his confiscated property. + +It chanced, that on the fourth day after the arrival of Luis and the +Villabuenas from Salamanca, the two latter rode over to the Ebro, +below Tudela, for the purpose of bathing. They were not good swimmers, +and were moreover unaccustomed to bathe in so rapid and powerful a +stream. A peasant, who observed two horses tied to a tree, and some +clothes upon the grass by the river side, but who could see nothing of +the owners, suspected an accident, and gave the alarm. A search was +instituted, and the dead bodies of the unfortunate young men were +found upon the sandy shore of an island some distance down the river. + +This melancholy event was destined to have an important influence on +the position of Luis Herrera in the family of Count Villabuena, and on +his future fortunes. Mingled with the natural grief felt by the count +at the untimely death of his children, were the pangs of disappointed +pride and ambition. He had reckoned upon the gallant and promising +young men, thus prematurely snatched away, for the continuance and +aggrandizement of his ancient name. Upon his daughter he had hitherto +scarcely bestowed a thought. She would marry--honourably of course, +richly if possible; but even in this last respect he would not be +inflexible, for where his pride of birth did not interfere, Villabuena +was not an unkind father. But the death of his sons brought about +great changes. The next heir to his title and estates was a distant +and unmarried cousin, and to him the count determined to marry his +daughter, whose beauty and large fortune in money and unentailed +estates, rendered any objection to the match on the part of her +kinsman a most improbable occurrence. As a first step towards the +accomplishment of this scheme, the count resolved to put an end at +once to what he considered the childish attachment existing between +Rita and Luis. Within a week after the death of his sons, he had a +conversation with young Herrera, in which he informed him of his +intentions with regard to his daughter, and pointed out to him the +necessity of forgetting her. In vain did Luis declare this to be +impossible, and plead the strength which his attachment had acquired +by his long permitted intercourse with Rita. The count cared little +for such lover-like arguments; he assured Luis that he was mistaken, +that time and absence brought oblivion in their train, and that after +a few months, perhaps weeks, of separation, he would wonder at the +change in his sentiments, and laugh at the importance he had attached +to a mere boyish fancy. It so happened, that on the day preceding the +one upon which this conversation took place, a letter had been +received from Don Manuel Herrera, announcing his speedy return to +Spain, the much-desired permission having at length been obtained. In +order to give Luis an opportunity of speedily testing the effects of +absence, the count proposed that he should at once set out for the +French frontier to meet his father. Under the existing circumstances, +he said, it was undesirable that he should remain under the same roof +with his daughter longer than could be avoided. + +Although bitterly deploring the prospect of an immediate and lasting +separation from Rita, Luis had no choice but to adopt the course +proposed; nor would his pride have allowed him to remain in the +count's house an instant longer than his presence there was +acceptable. He feared that the count would prevent his having a last +interview with Rita; but this Villabuena did not think it worth while +to do, contenting himself with repeating to his daughter the +communication he had already made to Luis. When the latter sought his +mistress, he found her in tears and great affliction. The blow was so +sudden and unexpected, that she could scarcely believe in its reality, +and still less could she bring herself to think that the count would +persist in his cruel resolution. "He will surely relent," she said, +"when he sees how unhappy his decision makes me; but should he not do +so, rest assured, Luis, that I will never be forced into this odious +marriage. Sooner than submit to it, a convent shall receive me." And +once more repeating the vows of constancy which they had so often +interchanged, the lovers separated. At daybreak upon the following +morning, Luis set out for Bayonne. + +The joy experienced by Don Manuel Herrera upon once more treading his +native soil, did not so engross him as to prevent his observing the +melancholy of his son. In reply to his father's enquiries, Luis +informed him of his attachment to Rita, and of the interdict which +the count had put upon its continuance. Don Manuel was indignant at +what he termed the selfish and unfeeling conduct of Villabuena, who +would thus sacrifice his daughter's happiness to his own pride and +ambition. He then endeavoured to rouse the pride of Luis, and to +convert his regrets into indignation; but, finding himself +unsuccessful, he resolved to try the effect of change of scene and +constant occupation. He set out with his son for Old Castile, of which +he was a native, and undertook various journeys through the province +in search of a small estate, such as his means would permit him to +purchase, and upon which he might in future reside. This he at last +found, a few leagues to the south of Burgos. The purchase completed, +there were still many arrangements to make before Don Manuel could +settle down and enjoy the peaceful country life which he had planned +for himself, and in making these arrangements he took care to find his +son abundant and varied employment. But all his well-meant efforts +were in vain. Luis could not detach his thoughts from one +all-engrossing subject; and at last, although Count Villabuena had +expressly forbidden any correspondence between his daughter and young +Herrera, the latter, after some weeks' absence, unable to resist any +longer his desire to hear from Rita, ventured to write to her. The +letter was intercepted by the count, and returned unopened, with a few +haughty lines expressive of his indignation at the ingratitude of +Luis, who was requiting the kindness he had received at his hands by +endeavouring to thwart his plans and seduce the affections of his +daughter. The terms in which this letter was couched roused the ire of +Don Manuel, who in his turn forbade his son to expose himself to a +repetition of similar insults by any communication with the count or +his daughter. Shortly afterwards Luis returned to Salamanca to +complete his studies. + +The profession of the law, to which young Herrera was destined, had +never had any charms for him. His own inclinations pointed to a +military career, which he had on various occasions urged his father to +allow him to adopt; but Don Manuel had invariably refused his request, +alleging the poor prospect of advancement in time of peace, and in a +service in which nearly all promotion was gained by interest and +court-favour. Nevertheless, from his earliest youth Luis had devoted +his leisure hours to the attainment of accomplishments qualifying him +for the trade of war. He was the boldest horseman, most skilful +swordsman, and best shot in the University of Salamanca. His +superiority in these respects, his decided character, and agreeable +manners, had gained him considerable popularity amongst his +fellow-students, who frequently expressed their surprise, that one +whose vocation was evidently military should abide by the dusty folios +and dry intricacies of the law. + +More insupportable than ever did his studies now appear to Luis, who +nevertheless persevered in them for several months after his father's +return to Spain, endeavouring by strenuous application to divert his +thoughts from his hopeless attachment. Weary at length of the effort, +he determined to abandon a pursuit so uncongenial to his tastes, and +to seek a more active course of life, and one for which he felt he was +better suited. His plan was to repair to Africa, and endeavour to +obtain a commission in one of the foreign corps which the French were +raising for their campaign against the Bedouins. Should he fail in +this, he would serve as a volunteer, and trust to his courage and +merits for procuring him advancement. Previously, however, to the +execution of this scheme, he resolved to see Rita once more, ascertain +from her own lips whether there was a chance of the count's relenting, +and, should there be none, bid her a last farewell. He would then +return to his father's house, and obtain Don Manuel's sanction to his +project. + +Since the unfortunate death of the young Villabuenas, Herrera's chief +intimate at the University had been Mariano Torres, a hot-headed, +warm-hearted Arragonese, entirely devoted to Luis, to whom he looked +up as a model of perfection. To this young man Luis had confided his +love for Rita, and her father's opposition, and to him he now +communicated his new plans. To his infinite surprise, scarcely had he +done so when Mariano, instead of expressing regret at his approaching +departure, threw his three-cornered student's hat to the ceiling, tore +off his gown, and declared his intention of accompanying his friend to +Africa, or to any other part of the world to which he chose to betake +himself. Luis tried to persuade him to abandon so mad a resolution; +but Torres persisted in it, protesting that it would suit his taste +much better to fight against Bedouins than to become a bachelor of +arts, and that he had always intended to leave the University with his +friend, and to accompany him wherever he might go. Trusting that, by +the time they should reach Navarre, Mariano's enthusiasm would cool +down, and his resolution change, Luis at length yielded, and the two +friends left Salamanca together. Travelling by the public conveyances, +they reached Valladolid, and subsequently the town of Soria, whence +they had still nearly twenty leagues of high-road to Tudela. The path +across the mountains being considerably shorter, and in order to +diminish the risk of being seen by persons who might inform the count +of his arrival, Luis resolved to complete the journey on foot; and +after two short days' march, the young men reached the neighbourhood +of Count Villabuena's residence. + +The church and convent clocks of the right Catholic city of Tudela had +not yet chimed out the hour of noon, when Luis, impatient for the +interview promised by Rita, entered the count's domain by the same +path as on the previous evening. Before he came in sight of the house, +he was met at an angle of the shrubbery by Rita herself. + +"I was sure you would take this path," said she, with a smile in which +melancholy was mingled with the pleasure she felt at seeing her lover; +"it was your favourite in days gone by. Our interview must be very +brief. My father was to have remained at Tudela till evening, but +something has occurred to derange his plans. He sat up the whole night +in close conference with some gentlemen. At daybreak two couriers were +dispatched, and the count rode away with his friends without having +been in bed. He may return at any moment." + +Luis drew the arm of his mistress through his own, and they slowly +walked down one of the alleys of the garden. Rita had little to tell +him favourable to the hopes which he still, in spite of himself, +continued to cherish. The appeals which she had ventured to make to +her father's affection, and to his regard for her happiness, had been +met by severe reproof. Her evident depression and melancholy remained +unnoticed, or at least unadverted to, by the count. All that she said +only confirmed Luis in his resolution of seeking high distinction or +an honourable death in a foreign service. He was deliberating, with +eyes fixed upon the ground, on the best manner of breaking his +intentions to Rita, when an exclamation of alarm from her lips caused +him to look up, and he saw Villabuena crossing on horseback the end of +the walk along which they were advancing. The count's head was turned +towards them, and he had without doubt seen and recognised them. + +Herrera's resolution was instantly taken. He would seek the count's +presence, take upon himself the whole blame of his clandestine meeting +with Rita, and appease her father's anger by informing him of his +proposed self-banishment. Before, however, he had succeeded in calming +Rita's fears, he again perceived the count, who had left his horse, +and was advancing slowly towards them, with a grave, but not an angry +countenance. On his near approach, Luis was about to address him; but +by a wave of his hand Villabuena enjoined silence. + +"Return to the house, Rita," said he in a calm voice: "and, you, Senor +de Herrera, remain here; I would speak a few words with you." + +Tremblingly, and with one last lingering look at Luis, Rita withdrew. + +"We will walk, sir, if you please," said the count; and the two men +walked for some distance side by side and in silence; Villabuena +apparently plunged in reflection, Luis wondering at his forbearance, +and impatient for its explanation. + +"You are surprised," said the count at last, "after all that has +passed, that I show so little resentment at your uninvited presence +here, and at Rita's infringement of my positive commands." + +Luis would have spoken, but Villabuena resumed. + +"You will be still more astonished to learn, that there is a +possibility of your attachment receiving my sanction." + +Herrera started, and his face was lighted up with sudden rapture. + +"You will of course have heard," continued the count, "of the +important intelligence received here last night, and with which this +morning all the country is ringing. I allude to the death of Ferdinand +VII." + +"I had not heard of it," replied Luis, much surprised; for, although +the desperate state of the king's health was well known, his malady +had lasted so long that men had almost left off expecting his death. + +"I know I can depend upon your honour, Luis," said the count; "and I +am therefore about to speak to you with a confidence which I should +repose in few so young and inexperienced." + +Luis bowed. + +"Although," resumed Villabuena, "his Majesty Charles the Fifth is at +this moment absent from Spain, his faithful subjects will not allow +that absence to be prejudicial to him. They intend to vindicate his +just rights, and to overturn the contemptible faction which, headed by +an intriguing woman, supports the unfounded claims of a sickly infant. +In anticipation of Ferdinand's death, all necessary measures have been +taken; and, before three days elapse, you will see a flame lighted up +through the land, which will speedily consume and destroy the enemies +of Spain, and of her rightful monarch. Navarre and Biscay, Valentia +and Arragon, Catalonia and Castile, will rise almost to a man in +defence of their king; the other provinces must follow their example, +or be compelled to submission. Although confident of success, it yet +behoves us to neglect no means of securing it; nor are we so blinded +as to think that the faction which at present holds the reins of +government will resign them without a struggle. Avoiding +overconfidence, therefore, which so often leads to failure, each man +must put his shoulder to the wheel, and contribute his best efforts to +the one great end, regardless of private sacrifices. What I have to +propose to you is this. Time was when our universities were the +strongholds of loyalty and religion; but that time is unfortunately +past, and the baneful doctrines of republicanism and equality have +found their way even into those nurseries of our priesthood and +statesmen. We are well informed that at Salamanca especially, many of +the students, even of the better class, incline to the self-styled +Liberal party. You, Luis, are ready of speech, bold and prompt in +action, and, moreover, you are known to have great influence amongst +your fellow-students. Return, then, to Salamanca, and exert that +influence to bring back into the right path those who have been led +astray. Urge the just claims of Charles V., hold out the prospect of +military glory and distinction, and of the gratitude of an admiring +country. Let your efforts be chiefly directed to gain over young men +of wealthy and influential families, and to induce them to take up +arms for the king. Form them into a squadron, of which you shall have +the command, and the private soldiers of which shall rank as officers +in the army, and subsequently be transferred to other corps to act as +such. Appoint a place of rendezvous; and, when your men are assembled +there, march them to join the nearest division of the Royalist army. I +guarantee to you a captain's commission; and as soon as the king, with +whom I have some influence, arrives in Spain, I will strongly +recommend you to his favour. Our campaign, however brief, must afford +opportunities of distinction to brave men who seek them. With your +energy, and with the natural military talents which I am persuaded you +possess, high rank, honours, and riches may speedily be yours. And +when Charles V., firmly seated on the throne of Spain, points you out +to me as one of those to whom he owes his crown, and as a man whom he +delights to honour, I will no longer refuse to you my daughter's +hand." + +However distant the perspective of happiness thus offered to his view, +and although the avenue leading to it was beset with dangers and +uncertainties, it promised to realize the ardent hopes which Luis +Herrera had once ventured to indulge. Sanguine and confident, he would +at once have caught at the count's proposal, but for one consideration +that flashed across his mind. He was himself wedded to no political +creed, and had as yet scarcely bestowed a thought upon the different +parties into which his countrymen were split. But his father, who had +so strenuously adhered to the Liberal side, who had poured out his +blood with Mina, fought side by side with Riego, sacrificed his +property, and endured a long and wearisome exile for conscience and +his opinions' sake--what would be his feelings if he saw his only son +range himself beneath the banner of absolutism? The struggle in the +mind of Luis, between love on the one hand and filial duty and +affection on the other, was too severe and too equally balanced to be +instantly decided. He remained silent, and the count, mistaking the +cause of his hesitation, resumed. + +"You are surprised," said he, "to find me so willing to abandon my +dearest projects for the sake of a remote advantage to the king's +cause. But remember that I promise nothing--all is contingent on your +own conduct and success. And although you may have thought me +unfeeling and severe, I shall gladly, if possible, indulge the +inclinations of my only surviving child." + +It required all Herrera's firmness and sense of duty to prevent him +from yielding to the temptation held out, and pledging himself at once +to the cause of Charles V. + +"You will not expect me, Senor Conde," said he, "to give an immediate +answer to a proposal of such importance. I feel sincerely grateful to +you, but must crave a short delay for consideration." + +"Let that delay be as brief as possible," said Villabuena. "In the +present circumstances, the value of assistance will be doubled by its +promptness. When love and loyalty are both in one scale," added he, +with a slight smile, "methinks a decision were easy." + +They had now approached the gate of the garden, and Luis, desirous of +finding himself alone, to arrange his thoughts and reflect on his +future conduct, took his leave. The count held out his hand with some +of his former cordiality. + +"You will write to me from Salamanca?" said he. + +Herrera bowed his head, and then, fearful lest his assent should be +misconstrued, he replied-- + +"From Salamanca, or from elsewhere, you shall certainly hear from me, +Senor Conde, and that with all speed." + +The count nodded and turned towards the house, whilst Luis retook the +road to the venta. + +He found Mariano impatiently waiting his return, and eager to learn +the result of his interview with Rita. Upon being informed of the +proposal that had been made to Luis, Torres, seeing in it only a means +of happiness for his friend, strongly urged him to accept it. To this, +however, Luis could not make up his mind; and finally, after some +deliberation, he resolved to proceed to Old Castile, and endeavour to +obtain his father's consent to his joining the party of Don Carlos. +Should he succeed in this, of which he could not help entertaining a +doubt, he would no longer hesitate, but at once inform the count of +his decision, and hasten to Salamanca to put his instructions into +execution. Without further delay the two friends set out for Tarazona, +where they trusted to find some means of speedy conveyance to the +residence of Don Manuel. + + * * * * * + +In the kingdom of Old Castile, and more especially in its mountainous +portions and the districts adjacent to the Ebro, an extraordinary +bustle and agitation were observable during the first days of October +1833. There was great furbishing of rusty muskets, an eager search +for cartridges, much dusting of old uniforms that had long served but +as hiding-places for moths, and which were now donned by men, many of +whom seemed but ill at ease in their military equipments. For ten +years Spain had been tranquil, if not happy; but now, as if even this +short period of repose were too long for the restless spirit of her +sons, a new pretext for discord had been found, and an ominous stir, +the forerunner of civil strife, was perceptible through the land. +Whilst Santos Ladron, an officer of merit, who had served through the +whole of the war against Napoleon, raised the standard of Charles V. +in Navarre, various partisans did the same in the country south of the +Ebro. In the northeastern corner of Castile, known as the Rioja, +Basilio Garcia, agent for the Pope's bulls in the province of Soria--a +man destitute of military knowledge, and remarkable only for his +repulsive exterior and cold-blooded ferocity--collected and headed a +small body of insurgents; whilst, in other districts of the same +province, several battalions of the old Royalist volunteers--a loose, +ill-disciplined militia, as motely and unsoldierlike in appearance as +they were unsteady and inefficient in the field--ranged themselves +under the orders of a general-officer named Cuevillas, and of the +veteran Merino. To these soon joined themselves various individuals of +the half-soldier half-bandit class, so numerous in Spain--men who had +served in former wars, and asked no better than again to enact the +scenes of bloodshed and pillage which were their element. The +popularity and acknowledged skill of Merino as a guerilla-leader, +secured to him the services of many of these daring and desperate +ruffians, who flocked joyously to the banner of the soldier-priest, +under whose orders some of them had already fought. + +Through a tract of champaign country in the province of Burgos, a +column of these newly-assembled troops was seen marching early upon +the third morning after the interview between Luis Herrera and Count +Villabuena. It consisted of a battalion of the Realista militia, for +the most part middle-aged citizens, who, although they had felt +themselves bound to obey the call to arms, seemed but indifferently +pleased at having left their families and occupations. Their equipment +was various: few had complete uniform, although most of them displayed +some part of one; but all had belts and cartridge-box, musket and +bayonet. Although they had as yet gone but a short distance, many of +them appeared footsore and weary; and it was pretty evident that, in +the event of a campaign, their ranks would be thinned nearly as much +by the fatigues of the march as by the fire of the enemy. In front and +rear of the battalion marched a squadron of cavalry, of a far more +soldierly aspect than the foot-soldiers, although even amongst them +but little uniformity of costume was found. The bronzed and bearded +physiognomy, athletic form and upright carriage, which bespeak the +veteran soldier, were not wanting in their ranks; their horses were +active and hardy, their arms clean and serviceable. + +At the head of the column, a few paces in advance, rode a small group +of officers, the chief amongst whom was only to be distinguished by +the deference shown to him by his companions. Insignia of rank he had +none, nor any indications of his military profession, excepting the +heavy sabre that dangled against the flank of his powerful black +charger. His dress was entirely civilian, consisting of a long surtout +something the worse for wear, and a round hat. Heavy spurs upon his +heels, and an ample cloak, now strapped across his holsters, completed +the equipment of the cura Merino, in whose hard and rigid features, +and wiry person, scarcely a sign of decay or infirmity was visible +after more than sixty years of life, a large portion of which had been +passed amidst the fatigues and hardships of incessant campaigning. + +As if infected by the sombre and taciturn character of their leader, +the party of officers had been riding for some time in silence, when +they came in sight of a house situated at a short distance from the +road, and of a superior description to the _caserias_ and peasants' +cottages which they had hitherto passed. It was a building of moderate +size, with an appearance of greater comfort and neatness about it than +is usually found in Spanish houses. Stables adjoined it, and, at some +distance in its rear, a range of barns and outhouses served to store +the crops produced by the extensive tract of well-cultivated land in +the centre of which the dwelling was situated. The front of the house +was partially masked from the road by an orchard, and behind it a +similar growth of fruit trees seemed intended to intercept the keen +blasts from a line of mountains which rose, grey and gloomy, at the +distance of a few miles. + +"Who lives yonder?" abruptly enquired Merino, pointing to the house, +which he had been gazing at for some time from under his bushy +eyebrows. The officer to whom the question was addressed referred to +another of the party, a native of that part of the country. + +"Senor de Herrera," was the answer. "We have been riding for some +minutes through his property. He purchased the estate about a year +ago, on his return from France." + +"What had he been doing in France?" + +"Living there, which he could not have done here unless he had been +bullet-proof, or had a neck harder than the iron collar of the +garrote." + +"Herrera!" repeated the cura musingly--"I know the name, but there are +many who bear it. There was a Manuel Herrera who sat in the Cortes in +the days of the constitutionalists, and afterwards commanded a +battalion of their rabble. You do not mean him?" + +"The same, general," replied the officer, addressing Merino by the +rank which he held in the Spanish army since the war of Independence. +A most unpriestly ejaculation escaped the lips of the cura. + +"Manuel Herrera," he repeated; "the dog, the _negro_,[1] the friend of +the scoundrel Riego! I will hang him up at his own door!" + +All the old hatreds and bitter party animosities of Merino seemed +wakened into new life by the name of one of his former opponents. His +eyes flashed, his lips quivered with rage, and he half turned his +horse, as if about to proceed to Herrera's house and put his threat +into execution. The impulse, however, was checked almost as soon as +felt. + +"Another time will do," said he, with a grin smile. "Let us once get +Charles V. at Madrid, and we will make short work of the Senor Herrera +and of all who resemble him." And the cura continued his march, silent +as before. + +He had proceeded but a short half mile when the officer commanding the +cavalry rode up beside him. + +"We have no forage, general," said he--"not a blade of straw, or a +grain in our corn-sacks. Shall I send on an orderly, that we may find +it ready on reaching the halting-place?" + +"No!" replied Merino. "Send a party to that house on the left of the +road which we passed ten minutes ago. Let them press all the carts +they find there, load them with corn, and bring them after us." + +The officer fell back to his squadron, and the next minute a subaltern +and twenty men detached themselves from the column, and, at a brisk +trot, began retracing their steps along the road. Upon arriving in +sight of the house to which they were proceeding, they leaped their +horses over a narrow ditch dividing the road from the fields and +struck across the latter in a straight line, compelled, however, by +the heaviness of the ground to slacken their pace to a walk. They had +not got over more than half the distance which they had to traverse, +when they heard the clang of a bell, continuously rung; and this was +followed by the appearance of two men, who issued from the stables and +out-buildings, and hurried to the house. Scarcely had they entered +when the shutters of the lower windows were pushed to, and the heavy +door closed and barred. The soldiers were now within a hundred yards +of the dwelling. + +"Hallo!" cried the officer contemptuously, "they will not stand a +siege, will they? The old don is a black-hearted rebel, I know; but he +will hardly be fool enough to resist us." + +The trooper was mistaken. The courage of Don Manuel Herrera was of +that obstinate and uncalculating character which would have induced +him to defend his house, single-handed, against a much larger force +than that now brought against it. When he had learned, three days +previously, that risings were taking place in his own neighbourhood in +the name of Charles V., he had attached very little importance to the +intelligence. An old soldier himself, he entertained the most +unmitigated contempt for the Realista volunteers, whom he looked upon +as a set of tailors, whose muskets would rather encumber them than +injure any body else; and who, on the first appearance of regular +troops, would infallibly throw down their arms, and betake themselves +to their homes. As to the parties of insurgent guerillas which he was +informed were beginning to show themselves at various points of the +vicinity, he considered them as mere bandits, availing themselves of +the stir and excitement in the country to exercise their nefarious +profession; and, should any such parties attempt to molest him, he was +fully determined to resist their attacks. In this resolution he now +persevered, although he rightly conjectured that the horsemen +approaching his house were either the rearguard or a detachment of the +disorderly-looking column of which he had a short time previously +observed the passage. + +"Hola! Don Manolo!" shouted the officer, as he halted his party in +front of the house; "what scurvy hospitality is this? What are you +fastening doors and ringing alarm-bells for, as if there were more +thieves than honest men in the land? We come to pay you a friendly +visit, and, instead of welcome and the wine-skin, you shut the door in +our faces. Devilish unfriendly, that, Don Manolito!" + +The speaker, who, like many of Merino's followers, was an inhabitant +of the neighbouring country, knew Don Manuel well by name and +reputation, and was also known to him as a deserter from the +Constitutionalists in 1823, and as one of the most desperate smugglers +and outlaws in the province. + +"What do you want with me, Pedro Rufin?" demanded Don Manuel, who now +showed himself at one of the upper windows; "and what is the meaning +of this assemblage of armed men?" + +"The meaning is," replied Rufin, "that I have been detached from the +division of his Excellency General Merino, to demand from you a +certain quantity of maize or barley, or both, for the service of his +Majesty King Charles V." + +"I know no such persons," retorted Don Manuel, "as General Merino or +King Charles V. But I know you well, Rufin, and the advice I give you +is to begone, yourself and your companions. We shall have troops here +to-day or to-morrow, and you will find the country too hot to hold +you." + +The officer laughed. + +"Troops are here already," he said; "you may have seen our column +march by not half an hour ago. But we have no time to lose. Once more, +Senor Herrera, open the door, and that quickly." + +"My door does not open at your bidding," replied Don Manuel. "I give +you two minutes to draw off your followers, and, if you are not gone +by that time, you shall be fired upon." + +"Morral," said the officer to one of his men, "your horse is a kicker, +I believe. Try the strength of the door." + +The soldier left the ranks, and turning his rawboned, vicious-looking +chestnut horse with its tail to the house-door, he pressed his +knuckles sharply upon the animal's loins, just behind the saddle. The +horse lashed out furiously, each kick of his iron-shod heels making +the door crack and rattle, and striking out white splinters from the +dark surface of the oak of which it was composed. At the first kick +Don Manuel left the window. The soldiers stood looking on, laughing +till they rolled in their saddles at this novel species of +sledge-hammer. Owing, however, to the great solidity of the door, and +the numerous fastenings with which it was provided on the other side, +the kicks of the horse, although several times repeated, failed to +burst it open; and at last the animal, as if wearied by the resistance +it met with, relaxed the vigour of its applications. + +"Famous horse that of yours, Morral!" said the officer; "as good as a +locksmith or a six-pounder. Try it again, my boy. You have made some +ugly marks already. Another round of kicks, and the way is open." + +"And if another blow is struck upon my door," said Don Manuel, +suddenly reappearing at the window, to the soldier, "your horse will +go home with an empty saddle." + +"Silence! you old rebel," shouted Rufin, drawing a pistol from his +holster. "And you, Morral, never fear. At it again, man." + +The soldier again applied his knuckles to his horse's back, and the +animal gave a tremendous kick. At the same instant a puff of smoke +issued from the window at which Don Manuel had stationed himself, the +report of a musket was heard, and the unlucky Morral, shot through the +body, fell headlong to the ground. + +"Damnation!" roared the officer, firing his pistol at the window +whence the shot had proceeded; and immediately his men, without +waiting for orders, commenced an irregular fire of carbines and +pistols against the house. It was replied to with effect from three of +the windows. A man fell mortally wounded, and two of the horses were +hit. Rufin, alarmed at the loss the party had experienced, drew his +men back under shelter of some trees, till he could decide on what was +best to be done. It seemed at first by no means improbable that the +Carlists would have to beat a retreat, or at any rate wait the arrival +of infantry, which it was not improbable Merino might have sent to +their assistance when the sound of the firing reached his ears. The +lower windows of the house were protected by strong iron bars; and, +although the defenders were so few in number, their muskets, and the +shelter behind which they fought, gave them a great advantage over the +assailants, whose carbines would not carry far, and who had no cover +from the fire of their opponents. At last a plan was devised which +offered some chance of success. The party dismounted; and whilst four +men, making a circuit, and concealing themselves as much as possible +behind trees and hedges, endeavoured to get in rear of the building, +the others, with the exception of two or three who remained with the +horses, advanced towards the front of the house, firing as rapidly as +they could, in order, by the smoke and by attracting the attention of +the besieged, to cover the manoeuvre of their comrades. The +stratagem was completely successful. Whilst Don Manuel and his +servants were answering the fire of their assailants with some effect, +the four men got round the house, climbed over a wall, found a ladder +in an out-building, and applied it to one of the back-windows, which +they burst open. A shout of triumph, and the report of their pistols, +informed their companions of their entrance, and the next moment one +of them threw open the front door, and the guerillas rushed +tumultuously into the house. + +It was about two hours after these occurrences, that Luis Herrera and +Mariano Torres arrived at Don Manuel's residence. They had been +delayed upon the road by the disturbed state of the country, which +rendered it difficult to procure conveyances, and had at last been +compelled to hire a couple of indifferent horses, upon which, +accompanied by a muleteer, they had made but slow progress across the +mountainous district they had to traverse. The news of the Carlist +insurrection had inspired Luis with some alarm on account of his +father, whom he knew to be in the highest degree obnoxious to many of +that party. At the same time he had not yet heard of the perpetration +of any acts of violence, and was far from anticipating the spectacle +which met his eyes when he at last came in view of the Casa Herrera. +With an exclamation of horror he forced his horse, up a bank +bordering the road, and, followed by Mariano, galloped towards the +house. + +Of the dwelling, so lately a model of rural ease and comfort, the four +walls alone were now standing. The roof had fallen in, and the tongues +of flame which licked and flickered round the apertures where windows +had been, showed that the devouring element was busy completing its +work. The adjoining stables, owing to their slighter construction, and +to the combustibles they contained, had been still more rapidly +consumed. Of them, a heap of smoking ashes and a few charred beams and +blackened bricks were all that remained. The paling of the tastefully +distributed garden was broken down in several places; the parterres +and melon-beds were trampled and destroyed by the hoofs of the Carlist +horses, which had seemingly been turned in there to feed, or perhaps +been ridden through it in utter wantonness by their brutal owners. The +ground in front of the house was strewed with broken furniture, and +with articles of wearing apparel, the latter of which appeared to have +belonged to the Carlists, and to have been exchanged by them for +others of a better description found in the house. Empty bottles, +fragments of food, and a couple of wine-skins, of which the greater +part of the contents had been poured out upon the ground, lay +scattered about near the carcass of a horse and three human corpses, +two of the latter being those of Carlists, and the third that of one +of the defenders of the house. A few peasants stood by, looking on in +open-mouthed stupefaction; and above the whole scene of desolation, a +thick cloud of black smoke floated like a funereal pall. + +In an agony of suspense Luis enquired for his father. The peasant to +whom he addressed the question, pointed to the buildings in rear of +the house, which the Carlists, weary perhaps of the work of +destruction, had left uninjured. + +"Don Manuel is there," said he, "if he still lives." + +The latter part of the sentence was drowned in the noise of the +horse's feet, as Luis spurred furiously towards the buildings +indicated, which consisted of barns, and of a small dwelling-house +inhabited by his father's steward. On entering the latter, his worst +fears were realized. + +Upon a bed in a room on the ground floor, Don Manuel Herrera was +lying, apparently insensible. His face was overspread with an ashy +paleness, his eyes were closed, his lips blue and pinched. He was +partially undressed, and his linen, and the bed upon which he lay, +were stained with blood. A priest stood beside him, a crucifix in one +hand and a cordial in the other; whilst an elderly peasant woman held +a linen cloth to a wound in the breast of the expiring man. In an +adjacent room were heard the sobbings and lamentations of women and +children. With a heart swollen almost to bursting, Luis approached the +bed. + +"Father!" he exclaimed as he took Don Manuel's hand, which hung +powerless over the side of the couch--"Father, is it thus I find you!" + +The voice of his son seemed to rouse the sufferer from the swoon or +lethargy in which he lay. He opened his eyes, a faint smile of +recognition and affection came over his features, and his feeble +fingers strove to press those of Luis. The priest made a sign to the +woman, and, whilst she gently raised Don Manuel's head, he held the +cordial to his lips. The effect of the draught was instantaneous and +reviving. + +"This is a sad welcome for you, Luis," said Don Manuel. "Your home +destroyed, and your father dying. God be thanked for sending you now, +and no sooner! I can die happy since you are here to close my eyes." + +He paused, exhausted by the exertion of speaking. A slight red foam +stood upon his lips, which the priest wiped away, and another draught +of the cordial enabled him to proceed. + +"My son," said he, "my minutes are numbered. Mark my last words, and +attend to them as you value my blessing, and your own repose. I +foresee that this country is on the eve of a long and bloody struggle. +How it may end, and whether it is to be the last that shall rend +unhappy Spain, who can tell? But your course is plain before you. By +the memory of your sainted mother, and the love you bear to me, be +stanch to the cause I have ever defended. You are young, and strong, +and brave; your arm and your heart's best blood are due to the cause +of Spanish freedom. My son, swear that you will defend it!" + +No selfish thought of his own happiness, which would be marred by the +oath he was required to take, nor any but the one absorbing idea of +smoothing his dying father's pillow by a prompt and willing compliance +with his wishes, crossed the mind of Luis as he took the crucifix from +the hand of the priest, and, kneeling by the bedside, swore on the +sacred emblem to obey Don Manuel's injunctions both in letter and +spirit, and to resist to his latest breath the traitors who would +enslave his country. His father listened to the fervent vow with a +well-pleased smile. By a last effort he raised himself in his bed, and +laid his hand upon the head of his kneeling son. + +"May God and his saints prosper thee, Luis," said he, "as thou +observest this oath!" + +He sank back, his features convulsed by the pain which the movement +occasioned him. + +"Mother of God!" exclaimed the woman, who was still holding the +bandage to the wound. The bleeding, which had nearly ceased, had +recommenced with redoubled violence, and a crimson stream was flowing +over the bed. The death-rattle was in Don Manuel's throat, but his +eyes were still fixed upon his son, and he seemed to make an effort to +extend his arms towards him. With feelings of unutterable agony, Luis +bent forward and kissed his father's cheek. It was that of a corpse. + +For the space of a minute did the bereaved son gaze at the rigid +features before him, as if unable to comprehend that one so dear was +gone from him for ever. At last the sad truth forced itself upon his +mind; he bowed his face upon the pillow of his murdered parent, and +his overcharged feelings found relief in a passion of tears. The +priest and the woman left the apartment. Mariano Torres remained +standing behind his friend, and after a time made an effort to lead +him from the room. But Luis motioned him away. His grief was of those +that know not human consolation. + +It was evening when Mariano, who had been watching near the chamber of +death, without venturing to intrude upon his friend's sorrow, saw the +door open and Luis come forth. Torres started at seeing him, so great +was the change that had taken place in his aspect. His cheeks were +pale and his eyes inflamed with weeping, but the expression of his +countenance was no longer sorrowful; it was stern even to fierceness, +and his look was that of an avenger rather than a mourner. Taking +Mariano's arm, he led him out of the house, and, entering the stable, +began to saddle his horse with his own hands. Torres followed his +example in silence, and then both mounted and rode off in the +direction of the high-road. Upon reaching it, Mariano first ventured +to address a question to his friend. + +"What are your plans, Luis?" said he. "Whither do we now proceed?" + +"To provide for my father's funeral," was the reply. + +"And afterwards?" said his friend, with some hesitation. + +"To revenge his death!" hoarsely shouted Herrera, as he spurred his +horse to its utmost speed along the rough road that led to the nearest +village. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] _Negro_, or black, was the term commonly applied to the Liberals +by their antagonists. + + + + +HUMBOLDT. + + +We hear much, and much that is true, of the ephemeral character of a +large part of our literature; but to no branch of it are the +observations more truly applicable, than to the greater number of +travels which now issue from the British press. It may safely be +affirmed that our writers of travels, both male and female, have of +late years arrived at a pitch of weakness, trifling, and emptiness, +which is unparalleled in the previous history of literature in this or +perhaps any other country. When we see two post octavos of travels +newly done up by the binder, we are prepared for a series of useless +remarks, weak attempts at jokes, disquisitions on dishes, complaints +of inns, stale anecdotes and vain flourishes, which almost make us +blush for our country, and the cause of intelligence over the world. +The Russian Emperor, who unquestionably has the power of licensing or +prohibiting any of his subjects to travel at his own pleasure, is said +to concede the liberty only to the men of intelligence and ability in +his dominions; the fools are all obliged to remain at home. Hence the +high reputation which the Muscovites enjoy abroad and the frequent +disappointment which is felt by travellers of other nations, when they +visit their own country. It is evident, from the character of the +books of travels which every spring issue from the London press, with +a few honourable exceptions, that no such restraining power exists in +the British dominions. We have no individuals or particular works in +view in these observations. We speak of things in general. If any one +doubts their truth, let him enquire how many of the numberless travels +which annually issue from the British press are ever sought after, or +heard of, five years after their publication. + +Our annual supply of ephemeral travels is far inferior in point of +merit to the annual supply of novels. This is the more remarkable, +because travels, if written in the right spirit, and by persons of +capacity and taste, are among the most delightful, and withal +instructive, species of composition of which literature can boast. +They are so, because by their very nature they take the reader, as +well as the writer, out of the sphere of every-day observation and +commonplace remark. This is an immense advantage: so great indeed, +that, if made use of with tolerable capacity, it should give works of +this sort a decided superiority in point of interest and utility over +all others, excepting History and the higher species of Romance. +Commonplace is the bane of literature, especially in an old and +civilized state; monotony--the thing to be principally dreaded. The +very air is filled with ordinary ideas. General education, universal +reading, unhappily make matters worse; they tend only to multiply the +echoes of the original report--a new one has scarce any chance of +being heard amidst the ceaseless reverberation of the old. The more +ancient a nation is, the more liable is it to be overwhelmed by this +dreadful evil. The Byzantine empire, during a thousand years of +civilisation and opulence, did not produce one work of original +thought; five hundred years after the light of Athenian genius had +been extinguished, the schools of Greece were still pursuing the +beaten paths, and teaching the doctrines of Plato and Aristotle. It is +the peculiar and prodigious advantage of travelling, that it +counteracts this woful and degrading tendency, and by directing men's +thoughts, as well as their steps, into foreign lands, has a tendency +to induce into their ideas a portion of the variety and freshness +which characterize the works of nature. Every person knows how great +an advantage this proves in society. All must have felt what a relief +it is to escape from the eternal round of local concerns or county +politics, of parish grievances or neighbouring railroads, with which +in every-day life we are beset, to the conversation of a person of +intelligence who has visited foreign lands, and can give to the +inquisitive at home a portion of the new ideas, images, and +recollections with which his mind is stored. How, then, has it +happened, that the same acquaintance with foreign and distant +countries, which is universally felt to be such an advantage in +conversation, is attended with such opposite effects in literature; +and that, while our travellers are often the most agreeable men in +company, they are beyond all question the dullest in composition? + +Much of this extraordinary and woful deficiency, we are persuaded, is +owing to the limited range of objects to which the education of the +young of the higher classes is so exclusively directed in Oxford and +Cambridge. Greek and Latin, Aristotle's logic and classical +versification, quadratic equations, conic sections, the differential +calculus, are very good things, and we are well aware that it is by +excellence in them that the highest honours in these seminaries of +learning can alone be attained. They are essential to the fame of a +Parr or a Porson, a Herschel or a Whewell. But a very different +species of mental training is required for advantageous travelling. +Men will soon find that neither Greek prose nor Latin prose, Greek +verse nor Latin verse, will avail them when they come to traverse the +present states of the world. The most thorough master of the higher +mathematics will find his knowledge of scarce any avail in Italy or +Egypt, the Alps or the Andes. These acquisitions are doubtless among +the greatest triumphs of the human understanding, and they are +calculated to raise a few, perhaps one in a hundred, to distinction in +classical or scientific pursuits; but upon the minds of the remaining +ninety-nine, they produce no sort of impression. Nature simply rejects +them; they are not the food which she requires. They do not do much +mischief to such persons in themselves; but they are of incalculable +detriment by the time and the industry which they absorb to no +available purpose. Ten years of youth--the most valuable and important +period of life--are wasted in studies which, to nineteen-twentieths of +the persons engaged in them, are of no use whatever in future years. +Thus our young men, of the highest rank and best connexions, are sent +out into the world without any ideas or information which can enable +them to visit foreign countries with advantage. Need we wonder that, +when they come to write and publish their travels, they produce such a +woful brood of ephemeral bantlings?[2] + +The reaction against this enormous evil in a different class of +society, has produced another set of errors in education--of an +opposite description, but perhaps still more fatal to the formation of +the mental character, which is essential to the useful or elevating +observation of foreign countries. The commercial and middle classes of +society, educated at the London university, or any of the numerous +academies which have sprung up in all parts of the country, have gone +into the other extreme. Struck with the uselessness, to the great bulk +of students, of the classical minutiae required at one of the +universities, and the mathematical depth deemed indispensable at the +other, they have turned education into an entirely different channel. +Nothing was deemed worthy of serious attention, except what led to +some practical object in life. Education was considered by their +founders as merely a step to making money. Science became a trade--a +mere handmaid to art. Mammon was all in all. Their instruction was +entirely utilitarian. Mechanics and Medicine, Hydraulics and +Chemistry, Pneumatics and Hydrostatics, Anatomy and Physiology, +constituted the grand staples of their education. What they taught was +adapted only for professional students. One would suppose, from +examining their course of study, that all men were to be either +doctors or surgeons, apothecaries or druggists, mechanics, +shipwrights, or civil-engineers. No doubt we must have such +persons--no doubt it is indispensable that places of instruction +should exist in which they can learn their various and highly +important avocations; but is that the school in which the enlarged +mind is to be formed, the varied information acquired, the +appreciation of the grand and the beautiful imbibed, which are +essential to an accomplished and really useful writer of travels? +Sulphuric acid and Optics, Anatomy and Mechanics, will do many things; +but they will never make an observer of Nature, a friend of Man, a fit +commentator on the world of God. + +Persons of really cultivated minds and enlarged views will probably +find it difficult to determine which of these opposite systems of +education is the best calculated to attain what seems the grand object +of modern instruction, the cramping and limiting the human mind. But +without entering upon this much-disputed point--upon which much is to +be said on both sides, and in which each party will perhaps be found +to be in the right when they assail their opponents, and in the wrong +when they defend themselves--it is more material to our present +purpose to observe, that both are equally fatal to the acquisition of +the varied information, and the imbibing of the refined and elegant +taste, which are essential to an accomplished writer of travels. Only +think what mental qualifications are required to form such a +character! An eye for the Sublime and the Beautiful, the power of +graphically describing natural scenery, a vivid perception of the +peculiarities of national manners, habits, and institutions, will at +once be acknowledged to be the first requisites. But, in addition to +this, how much is necessary to make a work which shall really stand +the test of time, in the delineation of the present countries of the +world, and the existing state of their inhabitants? How many branches +of knowledge are called for, how many sources of information required, +how many enthusiastic pursuits necessary, to enable the traveller +worthily to discharge his mission? Eyes and no Eyes are nowhere more +conspicuous in human affairs; and, unhappily, eyes are never given but +to the mind which has already seen and learned much. + +An acquaintance with the history of the country and the leading +characters in its annals, is indispensable to enable the traveller to +appreciate the historical associations connected with the scenes; a +certain degree of familiarity with its principal authors, to render +him alive to that noblest of interests--that arising from the +recollection of Genius and intellectual Achievement. Without an +acquaintance with political economy and the science of government, he +will be unable to give any useful account of the social state of the +country, or furnish the most valuable of all information--that +relating to the institutions, the welfare, and the happiness of man. +Statistics form almost an indispensable part of every book of travels +which professes to communicate information; but mere statistics are +little better than unmeaning figures, if the generalizing and +philosophical mind is wanting, which, from previous acquaintance with +the subjects on which they bear, and the conclusions which it is of +importance to deduce from them, knows what is to be selected and what +laid aside from the mass. Science, to the highest class of travellers, +is an addition of the utmost moment; as it alone can render their +observations of use to that most exalted of all objects, an extension +of the boundaries of knowledge, and an enlarged acquaintance with the +laws of nature. The soul of a poet is indispensable to form the most +interesting species of travels--a mind, and still more a heart, +capable of appreciating the grand and the beautiful in Art and in +Nature. The eye of a painter and the hand of a draughtsman are equally +important to enable him to observe with accuracy the really +interesting features of external things, and convey, by faithful and +graphic description, a correct impression of what he has seen, to the +mind of the reader. Such are the qualifications necessary for a really +great traveller. It may be too much to hope to find these ever united +in one individual; but the combination of the majority of them is +indispensable to distinction or lasting fame in this branch of +literature. + +Compare these necessary and indispensable qualifications for a great +traveller, with those which really belong to our young men who are +sent forth from our universities or academies into the world, and take +upon themselves to communicate what they have seen to others. Does the +youth come from Oxford? His head is full of Homer and Virgil, Horace +and AEschylus: he could tell you all the amours of Mars and Venus, of +Jupiter and Leda; he could rival, Orpheus or Pindar in the melody of +his Greek verses, and Cicero or Livy in the correctness of his Latin +prose; but as, unfortunately, he has to write neither about gods nor +goddesses, but mere mortals, and neither in Greek verse nor Latin +verse, but good English prose, he is utterly at a loss alike for +thought and expression. He neither knows what to communicate, nor is +he master of the language in which it is to be conveyed. Hence his +recorded travels dwindle away into a mere scrap-book of classical +quotations--a transcript of immaterial Latin inscriptions, destitute +of either energy, information, or eloquence. Does he come from +Cambridge? He could solve cubic equations as well as Cardan, is a more +perfect master of logarithms than Napier, could explain the laws of +physical astronomy better than Newton, and rival La Grange in the +management of the differential calculus. But as, unluckily, the world +which he visits, and in which we live, is neither a geometric world +nor an algebraic world, a world of conic sections or fluxions; but a +world of plains and mountains, of lakes and rivers, of men and women, +flesh and blood--he finds his knowledge of little or no avail. He +takes scarce any interest in the sublunary or contemptible objects +which engross the herd of ordinary mortals, associates only with the +learned and the recluse in a few universities, and of course comes +back without having a word to utter, or a sentence to write, which can +interest the bulk of readers. Does he come from the London University, +or any of the provincial academies? He is thinking only of railroads +or mechanics, of chemistry or canals, of medicine or surgery. He could +descant without end on sulphuric acid or decrepitating salts, on +capacity for caloric or galvanic batteries, on steam-engines and +hydraulic machines, on the discoveries of Davy or the conclusions of +Berzelius, of the systems of Hutton or Werner, of Liebig or Cuvier. +But although an acquaintance with these different branches of +practical knowledge is an indispensable preliminary to a traveller in +foreign countries making himself acquainted with the improvements they +have respectively made in the useful or practical arts, they will +never qualify for the composition of a great or lasting book of +travels. They would make an admirable course of instruction for the +overseer of a manufactory, of a canal or railway company, of an +hospital or an infirmary, who was to visit foreign countries in order +to pick up the latest improvements in practical mechanics, chemistry, +or medicine; but have we really become a race of shopkeepers or +doctors, and is Science sunk to be the mere handmaid of Art? + +We despair therefore, as long as the present system of education +prevails in England, (and Scotland of course follows in the wake of +its great neighbour,) of seeing any traveller arise of lasting +celebrity, or book of travels written which shall attain to durable +fame. The native vigour and courage, indeed, of the Anglo-Saxon race, +is perpetually impelling numbers of energetic young men into the most +distant parts of the earth, and immense is the addition which they are +annually making to the sum-total of _geographical_ knowledge. We have +only to look at one of our recent maps, as compared to those which +were published fifty years ago, to see how much we owe to the courage +and enterprise of Parry and Franklin, Park and Horneman, of Burckhardt +and Lander. But giving all due credit--and none give it more sincerely +than we do--to the vigour and courage of these very eminent men, it is +impossible not to feel that, however well fitted they were to explore +unknown and desert regions, and carry the torch of civilization into +the wilderness of nature, they had not the mental training, or varied +information, or powers of composition, necessary to form a great +_writer of travels_. Clarke and Bishop Heber are most favourable +specimens of English travellers, and do honour to the great +universities of which they were such distinguished ornaments; but they +did not possess the varied accomplishments and information of the +continental travellers. Their education, and very eminence in their +peculiar and exclusive lines, precluded it. What is wanting in that +character above every thing, is an acquaintance with, and interest in, +a _great many and different branches of knowledge_, joined to +considerable power of composition, and unconquerable energy of mind; +and that is precisely what our present system of education in England +renders it almost impossible for any one to acquire. The system +pursued in the Scottish universities, undoubtedly, is more likely to +form men capable of rising to eminence in this department; and the +names of Park and Bruce show what travellers they are capable of +sending forth. But the attractions of rank, connexion, and fashion, +joined to the advantage of speaking correct English, are fast drawing +a greater proportion of the youth of the higher ranks in Scotland to +the English universities; and the education pursued at home, +therefore, is daily running more and more into merely utilitarian and +professional channels. That system is by no means the one calculated +to form an accomplished and interesting writer of travels. + +In this deficiency of materials for the formation of a great body of +male travellers, the ladies have kindly stepped in to supply the +deficiency; and numerous works have issued from the press, from the +pens of the most accomplished and distinguished of our aristocratic +beauties. But alas! there is no royal road to literature, any more +than geometry. Almack's and the exclusives, the opera and ducal +houses, the lordlings and the guards, form an admirable school for +manners, and are an indispensable preliminary to success at courts and +coronations, in ball-rooms and palaces. But the world is not made up +of courts or palaces, of kings or princes, of dukes or marquesses. Men +have something more to think of than the reception which the great +world of one country gives to the great world of another--of the balls +to which they are invited, or the fetes which they grace by their +charms--or the privations to which elegant females, nursed in the lap +of luxury, are exposed in roughing it amidst the snows of the North or +the deserts of the South. We are grateful to the lady travellers for +the brilliant and interesting pictures they have given us of capitals +and manners,[3] of costume and dress, and of many eminent men and +women, whom their rank and sex gave them peculiar opportunities of +portraying. But we can scarcely congratulate the country upon having +found in them a substitute for learned and accomplished travellers of +the other sex; or formed a set-off on the part of Great Britain, to +the Humboldts, the Chateaubriands, and Lamartines of continental +Europe. + +It is impossible to contemplate the works of these great men without +arriving at the conclusion, that it is in the varied and discursive +education of the Continent, that a foundation has been laid for the +extraordinary eminence which its travellers have attained. It is the +vast number of subjects with which the young men are in some degree +made acquainted at the German universities, which has rendered them so +capable in after life of travelling with advantage in any quarter of +the globe, and writing their travels with effect. This advantage is in +a peculiar manner conspicuous in HUMBOLDT, whose mind, naturally +ardent and capacious, had been surprisingly enlarged and extended by +early and various study in the most celebrated German universities. He +acquired, in consequence, so extraordinary a command of almost every +department of physical and political science, that there is hardly any +branch of it in which facts of importance may not be found in his +travels. He combined, in a degree perhaps never before equalled in one +individual, the most opposite and generally deemed irreconcilable +mental qualities. To an ardent poetical temperament, and an eye alive +to the most vivid impressions of external things, he united a power of +eloquence rarely given to the most gifted orators, and the habit of +close and accurate reasoning which belongs to the intellectual powers +adapted for the highest branches of the exact sciences. An able +mathematician, a profound natural philosopher, an exact observer of +nature, he was at the same time a learned statistician, an +indefatigable social observer, an unwearied philanthropist, and the +most powerful describer of nature that perhaps ever undertook to +portray her great and glorious features. It is this extraordinary +combination of qualities that render his works so surprising and +valuable. The intellectual and imaginative powers rarely coexist in +remarkable vigour in the same individual; but when they do, they +produce the utmost triumphs of the human mind. Leonardo da Vinci, +Johnson, Burke, and Humboldt, do not resemble single men, how great +soever, but rather clusters of separate persons, each supremely +eminent in his peculiar sphere. + +Frederick Henry Alexander, Baron of Humboldt, brother of the +celebrated Prussian statesman of the same name, was born at Berlin on +the 14th September 1769, the same year with Napoleon, Wellington, +Goethe, Marshal Ney, and many other illustrious men. He received an +excellent and extensive education at the university of Gottingeu, and +at an academy at Frankfort on the Oder. His first step into the +business of life was as a clerk in the mercantile house of Buch, at +Hamburg, where he soon made himself master of accounts and +bookkeeping, and acquired that perfect command of arithmetic, and +habit of bringing every thing, where it is possible, to the test of +figures, by which his political and scientific writings are so +pre-eminently distinguished. But his disposition was too strongly bent +on scientific and physical pursuits, to admit of his remaining long in +the comparatively obscure and uninviting paths of commerce. His thirst +for travelling was from his earliest years unbounded, and it erelong +received ample gratification. His first considerable journey was with +two naturalists of distinction, Messrs Fontu and Genns, with whom he +travelled in Germany, Holland, and England, in the course of which his +attention was chiefly directed to mineralogical pursuits. The fruit of +his observations appeared in a work, the first he ever published, +which was printed at Brunswick in 1790, when he was only twenty-one +years of age, entitled _Observations sur les Basaltes du Rhin_. + +To extend his information, already very considerable, on mineralogical +science, Humboldt in 1791 repaired to Freyburg, to profit by the +instructions of the celebrated Werner; and, when there, he devoted +himself, with the characteristic ardour of his disposition, to make +himself master of geology and botany, and prosecuted in an especial +manner the study of the fossil remains of plants in the rocks around +that place. In 1792, he published at Berlin a learned treatise, +entitled _Specimen Florae, Friebergensis Subterraniae_; which procured +for him such celebrity, that he was soon after appointed +director-general of the mines in the principalities of Anspach and +Bayreuth, in Franconia. His ardent and philanthropic disposition there +exerted itself for several years in promoting, to the utmost of his +power, various establishments of public utility; among others, the +public school of Streben, from which has already issued many +distinguished scholars. Charmed by the recent and brilliant +discoveries of M. Galvani in electricity, he next entered with ardour +into that new branch of science; and, not content with studying it in +the abstract, he made a great variety of curious experiments on the +effects of galvanism on his own person, and published the result in +two octavos, at Berlin, in 1796, enriched by the notes of the +celebrated naturalist Bluemenbach. This work was translated into French +by J. F. Jadelot, and published at Paris in 1799. Meanwhile Humboldt, +consumed with an insatiable desire for travelling, resumed his +wanderings, and roamed over Switzerland and Italy, after which he +returned to Paris in 1797, and formed an intimacy with a congenial +spirit, M. Aime Bonpland; who afterwards became the companion of his +South American travels. At this time he formed the design of joining +the expedition of Captain Baudin, who was destined to circumnavigate +the globe; but the continuance of hostilities prevented him from +carrying that design into effect. Baffled in that project, upon which +his heart was much set, Humboldt went to Marseilles with the intention +of embarking on board a Swedish frigate for Algiers, from whence he +hoped to join Napoleon's expedition to Egypt, and cross from the banks +of the Nile to the Persian Gulf and the vast regions of the East. This +was the turning point of his destiny. The Swedish frigate never +arrived; the English cruisers rendered it impossible to cross the +Mediterranean, except in a neutral vessel; and after waiting with +impatience for about two months, he set out for Madrid, in the hope of +finding means in the Peninsula of passing into Africa from the +opposite shores of Andalusia. + +Upon his arrival in the Spanish capital, the German philosopher was +received with all the distinction which his scientific reputation +deserved; and he obtained from the government the extraordinary and +unlooked-for boon of a formal leave to travel over the whole South +American colonies of the monarchy. This immediately determined +Humboldt. He entered with ardour into the new prospects thus opened to +him; wrote to his friend Aime Bonpland to propose that he should join +him in the contemplated expedition--an offer which was gladly +accepted; and soon the visions of Arabia and the Himalaya were +supplanted by those of the Pampas of Buenos Ayres and the Cordilleras +of Peru. The two friends embarked at Corunna on board a Spanish +vessel, and after a prosperous voyage, reached Cumana, in the New +World, in July 1799. From that city they made their first expedition +in Spanish America, during which they travelled over Spanish Guiana, +New Andalusia, and the Missions of the Caribbees, from whence they +returned to Cumana in 1800. There they embarked for the Havannah; and +the whole of the summer of that year was spent in traversing that +great and interesting island, on which he collected much important and +valuable information. In September 1801, he set out for Quito, where +he arrived in January of the succeeding year, and was received with +the most flattering distinction. Having reposed for some months from +their fatigues, Humboldt and Bonpland proceeded, in the first +instance, to survey the country which had been devastated in 1797 by +the dreadful earthquake, so frequent in those regions, and which +swallowed up in a minute forty thousand persons. Then he set out, in +June 1802, to visit the volcano of Tungaragno and the summit of +Chimborazo. They ascended to the height of 19,500 feet on the latter +mountain; but were prevented from reaching the top by impassable +ravines. Perched on one of the summits, however, of this giant of +mountains, amidst ice and snow, far above the abode of any living +creature except the condor, they made a great variety of most +interesting observations, which have proved of essential service to +the cause of science. They were 3485 feet above the most elevated +point which the learned Condamine, who had hitherto ascended highest, +reached in 1745, but were still 2140 feet below the loftiest summit of +the mountain. They determined, by a series of strict trigonometrical +observations, the height of the chief peaks of that celebrated ridge-- + + "Where Andes, giant of the western star, + Looks from his throne of clouds o'er half the world." + +Having returned, after this fatiguing and dangerous mountain +expedition, to Lima, Humboldt remained several months enjoying the +hospitality of its kind-hearted inhabitants, whose warm feelings and +excellent qualities excited in him the warmest admiration. In the +neighbouring harbour of Callao, he was fortunate enough to see the +passage of the planet Mercury over the disk of the sun, of which +transit he made very important observations; and from thence passed +into the province of New Spain, where he remained an entire year, +sedulously engaged in agricultural, political, and statistical, as +well as physical enquiries, the fruits of which added much to the +value of his published travels. In April 1803, he proceeded to Mexico, +where he was so fortunate as to discover the only specimen known to +exist of the tree called _Cheirostomon Platanoides_, of the highest +antiquity and gigantic dimensions. During the remainder of that year, +he made several excursions over the mountains and valleys of Mexico, +inferior to none in the world in interest and beauty; and in autumn +1804, embarked for the Havannah, from whence he passed into +Philadelphia, and traversed a considerable part of the United States. +At length, in 1805, he returned to Europe, and arrived safe at Paris +in November of that year, bringing with him, in addition to the +observations he had made, and recollections with which his mind was +fraught, the most extensive and varied collection of specimens of +plants and minerals that ever was brought from the New World. His +herbarium consisted of four thousand different plants, many of them of +extreme rarity even in South America, and great part of which were +previously unknown in Europe. His mineralogical collection was of +equal extent and value. But by far the most important additions he has +made to the cause of science, consist in the vast series of +observations he has made in the New World, which have set at rest a +great many disputed points in geography, mineralogy, and zoology, +concerning that interesting and, in a great degree, unknown part of +the world, and extended in a proportional degree the boundaries of +knowledge regarding it. Nor have his labours been less important in +collecting the most valuable statistical information regarding the +Spanish provinces of those vast regions, especially the condition of +the Indian, negro, and mulatto race which exist within them, and the +amount of the precious metals annually raised from their mines; +subjects of vast importance to Great Britain, and especially its +colonial and commercial interests, but which have hitherto been in an +unaccountable manner neglected, even by those whose interests and +fortunes were entirely wound up in the changes connected with these +vital subjects. + +The remainder of Baron Humboldt's life has been chiefly devoted to the +various and important publications, in which he has embodied the fruit +of his vast and extensive researches in the New World. In many of +these he has been assisted by M. Aime Bonpland, who, his companion in +literary labour as in the danger and fatigues of travelling, has, with +the generosity of a really great mind, been content to diminish, +perhaps destroy, his prospect of individual celebrity, by associating +himself with the labours Of his illustrious friend. Pursued even in +mature years by the desire of fame, the thirst for still greater +achievements, which belongs to minds of the heroic cast, whether in +war or science, he conceived, at a subsequent period, the design of +visiting the upper provinces of India and the Himalaya range. After +having ascended higher than man had yet done on the elevated ridges of +the New World, he was consumed with a thirst to surmount the still +more lofty summits of the Old, which have remained in solitary and +unapproachable grandeur since the waves of the Deluge first receded +from their sides. But the East India Company, within whose dominions, +or at least beneath whose influence, the highest ridges of the +Himalaya are situated, gave no countenance to the design, and even, it +is said, refused liberty to the immortal Naturalist to visit their +extensive territories. Whatever opinion we may form on the liberality +or wisdom of this resolution, considered with reference to the +interests, physical, moral, and political, of British India, it is not +to be regretted, for the cause of science and literature over the +world, that the great traveller has been prevented from setting out +late in life to a fresh region of discovery. It has left the remainder +of his life, and his yet undiminished powers, to illustrate and +explain what he has already seen. To do that, was enough for the +ordinary span of human life. + +Humboldt's works relating to the New World are very numerous. I. He +first published, in 1805, at Paris, in four volumes quarto, the +_Personal Narrative_ of his travels from 1799 to 1804. Of this +splendid and interesting work, several editions have since been +published in French, in twelve volumes octavo. It is upon it that his +fame with the generality of readers mainly rests. II. _Vues des +Cordilleras et Monumens des Peuples Indigenes de l'Amerique_--two +volumes folio: Paris, 1811. This magnificent work, the cost of which +is now L130, contains by far the finest views of the Andes in +existence. Its great price renders it very scarce, and not more than a +few copies are to be met with in Great Britain; but a cheap edition, +without the great plates, was published at Paris in 1817. III. +_Recueil d'Observations Astronomiques, et de Mesures executees dans le +Nouveau Continent_: two volumes quarto. This learned work contains the +result of Humboldt's astronomical and trigonometrical observations on +the lunar distances, the eclipses of the satellites of Jupiter, the +transit of Mercury, and upwards of five hundred elevated points in the +New World, taken from barometrical observations, with all the +requisite allowances and calculations carefully made. IV. _Essai sur +la Geographie des Plantes, ou Tableau Physique des Regions +Equinoxiales_: in quarto, with a great map. V. _Plantes Equinoxiales +recueillies au Mexique, dans l'Ile de Cuba, dans les Provinces de +Caraccas, &c._: two volumes folio. A splendid and very costly work. +VI. _Monographie des Melastomes_: two volumes folio. A most curious +and interesting work on a most interesting subject. VII. _Nova Genera +et Species Plantarum_: three volumes folio. Containing an account of +the botanical treasures collected by him in the New World, and brought +home in his magnificent herbarium. VIII. _Recueil des Observations de +Zoologie et d'Anatomie comparee faites dans un Voyage aux Tropiques_: +two volumes quarto. IX. _Essai Politique sur la Nouvelle Espagne._ +1811: two volumes quarto. Of this admirable work a subsequent edition +has been published in 1822, in four volumes octavo. It contains an +astonishing collection of important statistical facts, arranged and +digested with the utmost ability, and interspersed with political and +philosophical reflections on the state of the human race, and the +relation of society in the New World. X. _Ansichten der Natur._ +Tubingen, 1808: in octavo. It is remarkable that this is the only one +of the learned author's works on Spanish America which originally +appeared in his own language; but it was soon translated into French +under the title of _Tableaux de la Nature_. Paris: 1808. It contains a +series of descriptions of the different styles of scenery and +remarkable objects in the vast regions he had visited, portrayed with +all the vigour and accuracy for which the author is distinguished. XI. +_De Distributione Geographica Plantarum secundum Coeli Temperiem et +Altitudinem Montium, Prolegomena_. In octavo. Paris: 1817. The title +of this work explains its object and its importance, in describing a +portion of the globe consisting of such lofty and successive ridges +and table-lands as rise from the level of the sea to the summits of +the Cordilleras of Mexico and Peru. XII. _Sur l'Elevation des +Montagnes de l'Inde._ Octavo. Paris: 1818. A work prepared when the +author was contemplating a journey to the Himalaya and mountains of +Thibet. XIII. _Carte du Fleuve Orenoque._ Presented to the Academy of +Sciences in 1817. M. Humboldt has there demonstrated the singular fact +of the junction of the great rivers Orinoco and of the Amazon by the +intermediate waters of the Rio Negro; a fact which the sagacity of +D'Anville had long ago led him to suspect, but which the travels of +the indefatigable German has established beyond a doubt. XIV. _Examen +Critique de l'Histoire de la Geographie du Nouveau Continent, et du +Progres de l'Astronomie Nautique aux 15me et 16me siecles._ Paris: +1837. XV. "_Cosmos:_" in German--a "Scheme of a Physical Description +of the Universe." This last work embraces a much wider sphere of +learning and speculation than any of the preceding, and is more +characteristic of the vast erudition and ardent genius of the author. + +From the brief account which has now been given of the published works +of this indefatigable traveller and author, the reader will be able to +appreciate the extent and variety of his scientific and political +attainments. We shall now present him under a different aspect, as an +eloquent and almost unrivalled describer of nature. It need hardly be +said that it is on these splendid pictures, more even than the +numerous and valuable additions he has made to the treasures of +science, that his reputation with the world in general is founded. + +The rapids of the Orinoco--one of the most striking scenes in +America--are thus described by our author:[4]-- + + "When we arrived at the top of the Cliff of Marimi, the first + object which caught our eye was a sheet of foam, above a mile in + length and half a mile in breadth. Enormous masses of black rock, + of an iron hue, started up here and there out of its snowy + surface. Some resembled huge basaltic cliffs resting on each + other; many, castles in ruins, with detached towers and + fortalices, guarding their approach from a distance. Their sombre + colour formed a contrast with the dazzling whiteness of the foam. + Every rock, every island, was covered with flourishing trees, the + foliage of which is often united above the foaming gulf by + creepers hanging in festoons from their opposite branches. The + base of the rocks and islands, as far as the eye can reach, is + lost in the volumes of white smoke, which boil above the surface + of the river; but above these snowy clouds, noble palms, from + eighty to an hundred feet high, rise aloft, stretching their + summits of dazzling green towards the clear azure of heaven. With + the changes of the day these rocks and palm-trees are alternately + illuminated by the brightest sunshine, or projected in deep shadow + on the surrounding surge. Never does a breath of wind agitate the + foliage, never a cloud obscure the vault of heaven. A dazzling + light is ever shed through the air, over the earth enameled with + the loveliest flowers, over the foaming stream stretching as far + as the eye can reach; the spray, glittering in the sunbeams, forms + a thousand rainbows, ever changing, yet ever bright, beneath whose + arches, islands of flowers, rivalling the very hues of heaven, + flourish in perpetual bloom. There is nothing austere or sombre, + as in northern climates, even in this scene of elemental strife; + tranquillity and repose seem to sleep on the very edge of the + abyss of waters. Neither time, nor the sight of the Cordilleras, + nor a long abode in the charming valleys of Mexico, have been able + to efface from my recollection the impression made by these + cataracts. When I read the description of similar scenes in the + East, my mind sees again in clear vision the sea of foam, the + islands of flowers, the palm-trees surmounting the snowy vapours. + Such recollections, like the memory of the sublimest works of + poetry and the arts, leave an impression which is never to be + effaced, and which, through the whole of life, is associated with + every sentiment of the grand and the beautiful."--(Vol. vii. + 171-172.) + +Such is a specimen of the descriptive powers of the great German +natural philosopher, geographer, botanist, and traveller. When our +senior wranglers from Cambridge, our high-honoured men from Oxford, or +lady travellers from London, produce a parallel to it, we shall hope +that England is about to compete with the continental nations in the +race of illustrious travellers--but not till then. + +As a contrast to this, we cannot resist the pleasure of laying before +our readers the following striking description of night on the +Orinoco, in the placid part of its course, amidst the vast forests of +the tropical regions:-- + + "The night was calm and serene, and a beautiful moon shed a + radiance over the scene. The crocodiles lay extended on the sand; + placed in such a manner that they could watch our fire, from which + they never turned aside their eyes. Its dazzling evidently + attracted them, as it does fish, crabs, and the other inhabitants + of the waters. The Indians pointed out to us in the sand the + recent marks of the feet of three tigers, a mother and two young, + which had crossed the open space between the forest and the water. + Finding no tree upon the shore, we sank the end of our oars into + the sand, in order to form poles for our tents. Every thing + remained quiet till eleven at night, when suddenly there arose, in + the neighbouring forest, a noise so frightful that it became + impossible to shut our eyes. Amidst the voice of so many savage + animals, which all roared or cried at once, our Indians could only + distinguish the howling of the jaguar, the yell of the tiger, the + roar of the cougar, or American lion, and the screams of some + birds of prey. When the jaguars approached near to the edge of the + forest, our dogs, which to that moment had never ceased to bark, + suddenly housed; and, crouching, sought refuge under the shelter + of our hammocks. Sometimes, after an interval of silence, the + growl of the tiger was heard from the top of the trees, followed + immediately by the cries of the monkey tenants of their branches, + which fled the danger by which they were menaced. + + "I have painted, feature by feature, these nocturnal scenes on the + Orinoco, because, having but lately embarked on it, we were as yet + unaccustomed to their wildness. They were repeated for months + together, every night that the forest approached the edge of the + river. Despite the evident danger by which one is surrounded, the + security which the Indian feels comes to communicate itself to + your mind; you become persuaded with him, that all the tigers fear + the light of fire, and will not attack a man when lying in his + hammock. In truth, the instances of attacks on persons in hammocks + are extremely rare; and during a long residence in South America, + I can only call to mind one instance of a Llanero, who was found + torn in pieces in his hammock opposite the island of Uhagua. + + "When one asks the Indians what is the cause of this tremendous + noise, which at a certain hour of the night the animals of the + forest make, they answer gaily, 'They are saluting the full moon.' + I suspect the cause in general is some quarrel or combat which has + arisen in the interior of the forest. The jaguars, for example, + pursue the pecaris and tapirs, which, having no means of defence + but their numbers, fly in dense bodies, and press, in all the + agony of terror, through the thickets which lie in their way. + Terrified at this strife, and the crashing of boughs or rustling + of thickets which they hear beneath them, the monkeys on the + highest branches set up discordant cries of terror on every side. + The din soon wakens the parrots and other birds which fill the + woods, they instantly scream in the most violent way, and erelong + the whole forest is in an uproar. We soon found that it is not so + much during a full moon, as on the approach of a whirlwind or a + storm, that this frightful concert arises among the wild beasts. + 'May heaven give us a peaceable night and rest, like other + mortals!' was the exclamation of the monk who had accompanied us + from the Rio Negro, as he lay down to repose in our bivouac. It is + a singular circumstance to be reduced to such a petition in the + midst of the solitude of the woods. In the hotels of Spain, the + traveller fears the sound of the guitar from the neighbouring + apartment: in the bivouacs of the Orinoco, which are spread on the + open sand, or under the shade of a single tree, what you have to + dread is, the infernal cries which issue from the adjoining + forest."--(Vol. vi., 222-3.) + +One of the most remarkable of the many remarkable features of Nature +in South America, is the prodigious plains which, under the name of +Llanos and Pampas, stretch from the shores of the Atlantic to the foot +of the Andes, over a space from fifteen hundred to two thousand miles +in breadth. Humboldt traversed them more than once in their full +extent, and has given the following striking description of their +remarkable peculiarities. + + "In many geographical works, the savannahs of South America are + termed _prairies_. That word, however, seems not properly + applicable to plains of pasturage, often exclusively dry, though + covered with grass four or five feet high. The Llanos and Pampas + of South America are true _steppes_: they present a rich covering + of verdure during the rainy season; but in the months of drought, + the earth assumes the appearance of a desert. The turf is then + reduced to powder, the earth gapes in huge cracks; the crocodiles + and great serpents lie in a dormant state in the dried mud, till + the return of rains, and the rise of the waters in the great + rivers, which flood the vast expanse of level surface, awaken them + from their long slumber. These appearances are often exhibited + over an arid surface of fifty or sixty leagues square--every + where, in short, where the savannah is not traversed by any of the + great rivers. On the borders, on the other hand, of the streams, + and around the lakes, which in the dry season retain a little + brackish water, the traveller meets from time to time, even in the + most extreme drought, groves of Mauritia, a species of palm, the + leaves of which, spreading out like a fan, preserve amidst the + surrounding sterility a brilliant verdure. + + "The steppes of Asia are all out of the region of the tropics, and + form in general the summit of very elevated plateaux. America also + presents, on the reverse of the mountains of Mexico, of Peru, and + of Quito, steppes of considerable extent. But the greatest + steppes, the Llanos of Cumana, of Caraccas, and of Meta, all + belong to the equinoctial zone, and are very little elevated above + the level of the ocean. It is this which gives them their peculiar + characters. They do not contain, like the steppes of Southern + Asia, and the deserts of Persia, those lakes without issue, or + rivers which lose themselves in the sand or in subterraneous + filtrations. The Llanos of South America incline towards the east + and the south; their waters are tributary to the Orinoco, the + Amazon, or the Rio de la Plata. + + "What most strongly characterizes the savannahs or steppes of + South America, is the entire absence of hills, or inequalities of + any kind. The soil, for hundreds of miles together, is perfectly + flat, without even a hillock. For this reason, the Castilian + conquerors, who penetrated first from Coro to the banks of the + Apure, named the regions to which they came, neither deserts, nor + savannahs, nor meadows, but _plains--los Llanos_. Over an extent + of thirty leagues square, you will often not meet with an eminence + a foot high. The resemblance to the sea which these immense plains + bear, strikes the imagination the more forcibly in those places, + often as extensive as half of France, where the surface is + absolutely destitute of palms, or any species of trees, and where + the distance is so great from the mountains, or the forests on the + shores of the Orinoco, as to render neither visible. The uniform + appearance which the Llanos exhibit, the extreme rarity of any + habitations, the fatigues of a journey under a burning sun, and in + an atmosphere perpetually clouded with dust, the prospect of a + round girdle of an horizon, which appears constantly to recede + before the traveller, the isolated stems of the palm-tree, all + precisely of the same form, and which he despairs to reach, + because he confounds them with other seemingly identical trunks + which appear in the distant parts of the horizon: all these causes + combine to make these steppes appear even more vast than they + really are. + + "Yet are their actual dimensions so prodigious, that it is hard to + outstrip them, even by the wildest flights of the imagination. The + colonists, who inhabit the slopes of the mountains which form + their extreme boundary on the west and north, see the steppes + stretch away to the south and east, as far as the eye can reach, + an interminable ocean of verdure. Well may they deem it boundless! + They know that from the Delta of the Orinoco, crossing the + province of Vannos, and from thence by the shores of the Meta, the + Guaviare, and the Caguan, you may advance in the plains, at first + from east to west, then from north-east, to south-east, three + hundred and eighty leagues--a distance as great as from Tombuctoo + to the northern coast of Africa. They know, by the report of + travellers, that the Pampas of Buenos Ayres--which are also + Llanos, destitute of trees, covered with rich grass, filled with + cattle and wild horses--are equally extensive. They imagine, + according to the greater part of maps, that this huge continent + has but one chain of mountains, the Andes, which forms its western + boundary; and they form a vague idea of the boundless sea of + verdure, stretching the whole way from the foot of this gigantic + wall of rock, from the Orinoco and the Apure, to the Rio de la + Plata and the Straits of Magellan. Imagination itself can hardly + form an idea of the extent of these plains. The Llanos, from the + Caqueta to the Apure, and from thence to the Delta of the Orinoco, + contain 17,000 square marine leagues--a space nearly equal to the + area of France; that which stretches to the north and south is of + nearly double the extent, or considerably larger than the surface + of Germany; and the Pampas of Buenos Ayres, which extend from + thence towards Cape Horn, are of such extent, that while one end + is shaded by the palm-trees of the tropics, the other, equally + flat, is charged with the snows of the antarctic circle."--(Vol. + vi. 52, 67.) + +These prodigious plains have been overspread with the horses and +cattle of the Old World, which, originally introduced by the Spanish +settlers, have strayed from the enclosures of their masters, and +multiplied without end in the vast savannahs which nature had spread +out for their reception. + + "It is impossible," says Humboldt, "to form an exact enumeration + of the cattle in the Pampas, or even to give an approximation to + it, so immensely have they augmented during the three centuries + which have elapsed since they were first introduced; but some idea + of their number may be formed from the following facts in regard + to such portions of these vast herds as are capable of being + counted. It is calculated that in the plains from the mouths of + the Orinoco to the lake Maracaybo, there are 1,200,000 head of + cattle, 180,000 horses, and 90,000 mules, which belong to + individual proprietors. In the Pampas of Buenos Ayres there are + 12,000,000 cows and 3,000,000 horses belonging to private persons, + besides the far greater multitude which are wild, and wander + altogether beyond the reach of man. Considerable revenues are + realized from the sale of the skins of these animals, for they are + so common that the carcasses are of scarcely any value. They are + at the pains only to look after the young of their herds, which + are marked once a-year with the initial letter of the owner. + Fourteen or fifteen thousand are marked by the greater proprietors + every year, of which five or six thousand are annually + sold."--(Vol. vi. 97.) + +The enormous number of beasts of prey which multiply with this vast +accumulation of animals to be devoured, as well those introduced by +man as those furnished by the hand of nature, renders the life of many +of the inhabitants of these regions little else than a constant +struggle with wild animals. Many hairbreadth escapes and heroic +adventures are recounted by the natives, which would pass for fabulous +if not stated on such unquestionable authority as that of M. Humboldt, +and supported by the concurring testimony of other travellers. The +number of alligators, in particular, on the Orinoco, the Rio Apure, +and their tributary streams, is prodigious; and contests with them +constitute a large portion of the legendary tales of the Indian and +European settlers in the forest. + + "The numerous wild animals," says Humboldt, "which inhabit the + forests on the shores of the Orinoco, have made apertures for + themselves in the wall of vegetation and foliage by which the + woods are bounded, out of which they come forth to drink in the + river. Tigers, tapirs, jaguars, boars, besides numberless lesser + quadrupeds, issue out of these dark arches in the green + wilderness, and cross the strip of sand which generally lies + between it and the edge of the water, formed by the large space + which is annually devastated and covered with shingle or mud, + during the rise of the water in the rainy season. These singular + scenes have always possessed a great attraction for me. The + pleasure experienced was not merely that of a naturalist in the + objects of his study; it belongs to all men who have been educated + in the habits of civilization. You find yourself in contact with a + new world, with savage and unconquered Nature. Sometimes it is the + jaguar, the beautiful panther of America, which issues from its + dark retreat; at others the hosco, with its dark plumes and curved + head, which traverses the _sauso_, as the band of yellow sand is + called. Animals of the most various kinds and opposite + descriptions succeed each other without intermission. 'Es como en + el Paraiso,' (It is as in Paradise,) said our pilot, an old Indian + of the Missions. In truth, every thing here recalls that primitive + world of which the traditions of all nations have preserved the + recollection, the innocence, and happiness; but on observing the + habits of the animals towards each other, it is evident that the + age of gold has ceased to them as well as to the human race; they + mutually fear and avoid each other, and in the lonely American + forests, as elsewhere, long experience has taught all living + beings that gentleness is rarely united to force." + + * * * * * + + "When the sands on the river side are of considerable breadth, the + sauso often stretches to a considerable distance from the water's + edge. It is on this intermediate space that you see the + crocodiles, often to the number of eight or ten, stretched on the + sand. Motionless, their huge jaws opened at right angles, they lie + without giving any of those marks of affection which are + observable in other animals which live in society. The troop + separate when they leave the coast; they are probably composed of + several females and one male. The former are much more numerous + than the latter, from the number of males which are killed in + fighting during the time of their amours. These monstrous reptiles + have multiplied to such a degree, that there was hardly an instant + during our voyage along the whole course of the river that we had + not five or six in view. We measured one dead which was lying on + the sand; it was sixteen feet nine inches long. Soon after, Mr + Bonpland found a dead male on the shore, measuring twenty-two + feet three inches. Under every zone--in America as in Egypt--this + animal attains the same dimensions. The Indians told us, that at + San Fernando scarce a year passes without two or three grown up + persons, usually women, who are drawing from the river, being + devoured by these carnivorous lizards. + + "They related to us an interesting story of a young daughter of + Urituen, who, by extraordinary intrepidity and presence of mind, + succeeded in extricating herself from the very jaws of a + crocodile. When she felt herself seized by the voracious animal in + the water, she felt for its eyes, and thrust her fingers into them + with such violence that she forced the animal to let go, but not + before he had torn off the lower part of her left arm. The Indian + girl, notwithstanding the enormous quantity of blood which she + lost, succeeded in swimming to shore with the hand which was left, + and escaped without further injury. In those desert regions, where + man is constantly in strife with animated or inanimated nature, + they daily speak of similar or corresponding means by which it is + possible to escape from a tiger, a great boa, or a crocodile. + Every one prepares himself against a danger which may any day + befall him, 'I knew,' said the young girl calmly, when praised for + her presence of mind, 'that the crocodile lets go his hold when + you plunge your fingers in his eyes.' Long after my return to + Europe, I learned that the negroes in the interior of Africa make + use of the same method to escape from the alligators in the Niger. + Who does not recollect with warm interest, that Isaaco the guide, + in his last journey of the unfortunate Mungo Park, was seized + twice near Boulinkombro, and that he escaped from the throat of + the monster solely by thrusting his fingers into his two eyes?[5] + The African Isaaco and the young American girl owed their safety + to the same presence of mind, and the same combination of + ideas."--(Vol. vi. 203, 205.) + +If there is any one fact more than another demonstrated by the +concurring testimony of travellers, historians, and statistical +observers, in all ages and quarters of the world, it is, that the +possession of _property in land_ is the first step in social +improvement, and the only effectual humanizer of Savage Man. +Rousseau's famous paradox, "The first Man who enclosed a field, and +called it mine, is the author of all the social ills which followed," +is not only false but decidedly the reverse of the truth. He was the +first and greatest benefactor of his species. Subsequent ills have +arisen, not from following but forgetting his example; and preferring +to the simplicity of country life the seductions and vices of urban +society. Humboldt adds his important testimony to the noble army of +witnesses in all ages, and from all parts of the world, on this all +important subject. + + "The Guamos are a race of Indians whom it is extremely difficult + to fix down to the soil. Like other wandering savages, they are + distinguished by their dirt, revengeful spirit, and fondness for + wandering. The greater part of them live by fishing and the chase, + in the plains often flooded by the Apure, the Meta, and the + Guaviare. The nature of those regions, their vast extent, and + entire want of any limit or distinguishing mark, seems to invite + their inhabitants to a wandering life. On entering, again, the + mountains which adjoin the cataracts of the Orinoco, you find + among the Piroas, the Macos, and the Macquiritares, milder + manners, a love of agriculture, and remarkable cleanliness in the + interior of their cabins. On the ridges of mountains, amidst + impenetrable forests, man is forced to fix himself, to clear and + cultivate a corner of the earth. That culture demands little care, + and is richly rewarded: while the life of a hunter is painful and + difficult. The Guamos of the Mission of Santa Barbara are kind and + hospitable; whenever we entered their cottages, they offered us + dried fish and water."--(Vol. vi. 219.) + +No spectacle in nature can exceed, few equal, the sublimity and +magnificence of the scenery presented by the vast chain of mountains +which, under the name of Cordilleras, Andes, and Rocky Mountains, +traverses the whole continent of America, both north and south, in the +neighbourhood of the Pacific Ocean. Of this prodigious pile of rocks +and precipices, Humboldt, in another of his works, has given the +following admirable account:-- + + "The immense chain of the Andes, traversing its whole extent near + the Pacific Ocean, has stamped a character upon South American + nature which belongs to no other country. The peculiarity which + distinguishes the regions which belong to this immense chain, are + the successive plateaux, like so many huge natural terraces, which + rise one above another, before arriving at the great central + chain, where the highest summits are to be found. Such is the + elevation of some of these plains that they often exceed eight and + nine, and sometimes reach that of twelve thousand feet above the + level of the sea. The lowest of these plateaux is higher than the + summit of the Pass of the Great St Bernard, the highest inhabited + ground in Europe, which is 7545 feet above the level of the sea. + But such is the benignity of the climate, that at these prodigious + elevations, which even in the south of Europe are above the line + of perpetual snow, are to be found cities and towns, corn-fields + and orchards, and all the symptoms of rural felicity. The town of + Quito itself, the capital of a province of the same name, is + situated on a plateau, or elevated valley, in the centre of the + Andes, nearly 9000 feet above the level of the sea. Yet there are + found concentrated a numerous population, and it contains cities + with thirty, forty, and even fifty thousand inhabitants. After + living some months on this elevated ground, you experience an + extraordinary illusion. Finding yourself surrounded with pasture + and corn-fields, flocks and herds, smiling orchards and golden + harvests, the sheep and the lama, the fruits of Europe and those + of America, you forget that you are as it were suspended between + heaven and earth, and elevated to a height exceeding that by which + the European traveller makes his way from France into Italy, and + double that of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain. + + "The different gradations of vegetation, as might be expected in a + country where the earth rises from the torrid zone by a few steep + ascents to the regions of eternal congelation, exhibit one of the + most remarkable features in this land of wonders. From the borders + of the sea to the height of two thousand feet, are to be seen the + magnificent palm-tree, the musa, the heleconia, the balms of Tolu, + the large flowering jasmin, the date-tree, and all the productions + of tropical climates. On the arid and burning shores of the ocean, + flourish, in addition to these, the cotton-tree, the magnolias, + the cactus, the sugar-cane, and all the luscious fruits which + ripen under the genial sun, and amidst the balmy breezes of the + West India Islands. One only of these tropical children of nature, + the _Carosylou Andicola_, is met with far in advance of the rest + of its tribe, tossed by the winds at the height of seven and eight + thousand feet above the sea, on the middle ridges of the + Cordillera range. In this lower region, as nature exhibits the + riches, so she has spread the pestilence, of tropical climates. + The humidity of the atmosphere, and the damp heats which are + nourished amidst its intricate thickets, produce violent fevers, + which often prove extremely destructive, especially to European + constitutions. But if the patient survives the first attack, the + remedy is at hand; a journey to the temperate climate of the + elevated plateau soon restores health; and the sufferer is as much + revived by the gales of the Andes, as the Indian valetudinarian is + by a return to Europe. + + "Above the region of the palms commences the temperate zone. It is + there that vegetation appears in its most delightful form, + luxuriant without being rank, majestic yet not impervious; it + combines all that nature has given of the grand, with all that the + poets have figured of the beautiful. The bark-tree, which she has + provided as the only effectual febrifuge in the deadly heats of + the inferior region; the cyprus and melastoma, with their superb + violet blossoms; gigantic fuchsias of every possible variety, and + evergreen trees of lofty stature, covered with flowers, adorn that + delightful zone. The turf is enamelled by never-fading flowers; + mosses of dazzling beauty, fed by the frequent rains attracted by + the mountains, cover the rocks; and the trembling branches of the + mimosa, and others of the sensitive tribe, hang in graceful + pendants over every declivity. Almost all the flowering shrubs + which adorn our conservatories, are to be found there in primeval + beauty, and what to Europeans appears a gigantic scale; + magnificent arums of many different kinds spread their ample snowy + petals above the surrounding thickets; and innumerable creepers, + adorned by splendid blossoms, mount even to the summit of the + highest trees, and diffuse a perennial fragrance around. + + "The oaks and trees of Europe are not found in those parts of the + Andes which lie in the torrid zone, till you arrive at the height + of five thousand feet above the sea. It is there you first begin + to see the leaves fall in winter, and bud in spring, as in + European climates: below that level the foliage is perpetual. + Nowhere are the trees so large as in this region: not unfrequently + they are found of the height of a hundred and eighty or two + hundred feet; their stems are from eight to fifteen feet across at + their base, and sometimes rise a hundred feet without a single + cross branch. When so great an elevation as the plains of Quito, + however, which is 9515 above the sea, is reached, they become less + considerable, and not larger than those usually found in the + forests of Europe. If the traveller ascends two thousand feet + higher, to an elevation of eleven or twelve thousand feet, trees + almost entirely disappear; but the frequent humidity nourishes a + thick covering of arbutus and other evergreens, shrubs three or + four feet high, covered with flowers generally of a bright yellow, + which form a striking contrast to the dark evergreen foliage with + which they are surrounded. Still higher, at the height of thirteen + thousand feet, near the summit of the lower ranges of the + Cordilleras, almost constant rains overspread the earth with a + verdant and slippery coating of moss; amidst which a few stunted + specimens of the melastoma still exhibit their purple blossoms. A + broad zone succeeds, covered entirely with Alpine plants, which, + as in the mountains of Switzerland, nestle in the crevices of + rocks, or push their flowers, generally of yellow or dark blue, + through the now frequent snow. Higher still, grass alone is to be + met with, mixed with the grey moss which conducts the wearied + traveller to the region of perpetual snow, which in those warm + latitudes is general only at an elevation of fifteen thousand + feet. Above that level no animated being is found, except the huge + condor, the largest bird that exists, which there, amidst ice and + clouds, has fixed its gloomy abode."--(_Tableau de la Nature dans + les Regions Equatoriales_, 59, 140-144.) + +In the rhythm of prose these are the colours of poetry; but it is of +poetry chastened and directed by the observation of reality, and +possessing the inimitable charm of being drawn from real life, and +sharing the freshness and variety which characterize the works of +nature, and distinguish them from the brightest conceptions of human +fancy. As we have set out in this article with placing Humboldt at the +head of modern travellers, and much above any that Great Britain has +produced, and assigned as the main reason of this superiority the +exclusive and limited range of objects on which the attention of our +youth is fixed at our great universities, we shall, in justice to +Oxford and Cambridge, present the reader with a specimen of the finest +passages from Clarke and Bishop Heber, that he may judge for himself +on their merit, great as it often is, when compared with that of the +ardent and yet learned German. + +Clarke, on leaving Greece, gives the following brilliant summary of +the leading features of that classic land:-- + + "The last moments of this day were employed in taking once more a + view of the superb scenery exhibited by the mountains Olympus and + Ossa. They appeared upon this occasion in more than usual + splendour; like one of those imaginary Alpine regions suggested by + viewing a boundary of clouds when they terminate the horizon in a + still evening, and are gathered into heaps, with many a towering + top shining in fleecy whiteness. The great Olympian chain forms a + line which is exactly opposite to Salonica; and even the chasm + between Olympus and Ossa, constituting the defile of Tempe, is + here visible. Directing the eye towards that chain, there is + comprehended in one view the whole of Pieria and Bottiaea; and with + the vivid impressions which remain after leaving the country, + memory easily recalled into one mental picture the whole of + Greece. Every reader may not duly comprehend what is meant by + this: but every traveller who has beheld the scenes to which + allusion is made, will readily admit its truth; he will be aware + that, whenever his thoughts were directed to that country, the + whole of it recurred to his imagination, as if he were actually + indulged with a view of it. + + "In such an imaginary flight he enters, for example, the defile of + Tempe; and as the gorge opens to the south, he beholds all the + Larissian plain. This conducts him to the fields of Pharsalia, + whence he ascends the mountains south of Pharsalus; then, crossing + the bleak and still more elevated region extending from these + mountains towards Lamia, he views Mount Pindus far before him, and + descending into the plain of the Sperchius, passes the straits of + Thermopylae. Afterwards, ascending, Mount Oeta, he beholds + opposite to him the snowy point of Lycorea, with the rest of + Parnassus, and the villages and towns lying at its base: the whole + plain of Elataia lying at his feet, with the course of the + Cephissus to the sea. Passing to the summit of Parnassus, he looks + down upon all the other mountains, plains, islands, and gulfs of + Greece; but especially surveys the broad bosom of Cithaeron, + Helicon, and Hymettus. Thence, roaming into the depths and over + all the heights of Euboea and Peloponnesus, he has their inmost + recesses again submitted to his contemplation. Next, resting upon + Hymettus, he examines, even in the minutest detail, the whole of + Attica, to the Sunian promontory; for he sees it all--and all the + shores of Argos, Sicyon, Corinth, Megara, Eleusis, and Athens. + Thus, although not in all the freshness of its living colours, yet + in all its grandeur, doth GREECE actually present itself to the + mind's eye--and may the impression never be obliterated! In the + eve of bidding it farewell for ever, as the hope of visiting this + delightful country constituted the earliest and warmest wish of + his youth, the author found it to be some alleviation of his + regret excited by a consciousness of never returning, that he + could thus summon to his recollection the scenes over which he had + passed."--(_Clarke's Travels_, Vol. vii. pp. 476-478.) + +So far Clarke--the accomplished and famed traveller of Cambridge. We +now give a favourable specimen of Bishop Heber--his companion in +traversing Russia--the celebrated author, in early life at Oxford, of +_Palestine_, the amiable and upright Bishop of Calcutta, whose life, +if ever that could be said of mortal, was literally spent in doing +good. This accomplished and excellent prelate thus describes the first +view of the Himalaya range and the summits of Nundidevi, the highest +mountain in the world, neatly 5000 feet above the loftiest peak of +Chimborazo. + + "After coasting the lake for a mile, we ascended for thirteen more + by a most steep and rugged road over the neck of Mount Gaughur, + through a succession of glens, forests, and views of the most + sublime and beautiful description. I never saw such prospects + before, and had formed no adequate idea of such. My attention was + completely strained, and my eyes filled with tears; every thing + around was so wild and magnificent that man appeared as nothing, + and I felt myself as if climbing the steps of the altar of the + great temple of God. The trees, as we advanced, were in a large + proportion fir and cedar; but many were ilex, and to my surprise I + still saw, even in these wild Alpine tracts, many venerable Peepul + trees, on which the white monkeys were playing their gambols. + Tigers used to be very common and mischievous; but since the + English have begun to frequent the country, they have become very + scarce. There are many wolves and bears, and some chamois, two of + which passed near us. After wending up + + 'A wild romantic chasm, that slanted + Down the steep hill athwart a cedar cover-- + A savage place, as holy and enchanted + As e'er beneath the waning moon was haunted + By woman's wailing for her demon lover,' + + we arrived at the gorge of the Pass, in an indent between the two + principal summits of Mount Gaughur, near 8600 feet above the sea. + And now the snowy mountains, which had been so long eclipsed, + opened upon us in full magnificence. To describe a view of this + kind is only lost labour: and I found it nearly as impossible to + make a sketch of it. Nundidevi was immediately opposite, Kedar + Nath was not visible, but Marvo was visible as a distant peak. The + eastern mountains, for whom I could procure no name, rose into + great consequence, and were very glorious objects as we wound down + the hill on the other side. The guides could only tell us they + were a great way off, and on the borders of the Chinese empire. + Nundidevi, the highest peak in the world, is 25,689 feet above the + sea, 4000 higher than Chimborazo. Bhadinath and Kedernath, which + are merely summits of it, are 22,300 feet high. They are all in + the British dominions."--(_Heber's India_, Vol. ii. pp. 193-194, + 209.) + +On comparing the descriptions of the most interesting objects in +Europe and Asia--Greece and the Himalaya range--by these two +distinguished British travellers, with the pictures given by Humboldt +of the Andes, the falls of the Orinoco, the forests of the same river, +and the expanse of the Pampas in South America, every one must admit +the great superiority of the German's powers of painting Nature. +Neither Clarke nor Heber appear to attempt it. They tell you, indeed, +that certain scenes were grand and beautiful, certain rocks wild, +certain glens steep; but they make no attempt to portray their +features, or convey to the reader's mind the pictures which they tell +you are for ever engraven on their own. This is a very great defect, +so great indeed that it will probably prevent their works, how +valuable soever as books of authority or reference, from ever +acquiring lasting fame. It is a total mistake to say that it is in +vain to attempt describing such scenes; that is the same mistake as +was formerly committed by pacific academical historians, who said it +was useless to attempt painting a battle, for they were all like each +other. How like they really are to each other, has been shown by +Colonel Napier and many other modern historians. We question if even +the sight of the rapids of the Orinoco would make so vivid an +impression on the imagination, as Humboldt's inimitable description; +or a journey over the Pampas or the Andes, convey a clearer or more +distinct idea of their opposite features than what has been derived +from his brilliant pencil. It is the same with all the other scenes in +nature. Description, if done by a masterly hand, can, to an +intelligent mind, convey as vivid an idea as reality. What is wanting +is the enthusiasm which warms at the perception of the sublime and the +beautiful, the poetic mind which seizes as by inspiration its +characteristic features, and the pictorial eye which discerns the +appearances they exhibit, and by referring to images known to all, +succeeds in causing them to be generally felt by the readers. + +With all Humboldt's great and transcendent merits, he is a child of +Adam, and therefore not without his faults. The principal of these is +the want of arrangement. His travels are put together without any +proper method; there is a great want of indexes and tables of +contents; it is scarcely possible, except by looking over the whole, +to find any passage you want. This is a fault which, in a person of +his accurate and scientific mind, is very surprising, and the more +inexcusable that it could so easily be remedied by mechanical +industry, or the aid of compilers and index-makers. But akin to this, +is another fault of a more irremediable kind, as it originates in the +varied excellences of the author, and the vast store of information on +many different subjects which he brings to bear on the subject of his +travels. He has so many topics of which he is master himself, that he +forgets with how few, comparatively, his readers are familiar; he sees +so many objects of enquiry--physical, moral, and political--in the +countries which he visits, that he becomes insensible to the fact, +that though each probably possesses a certain degree of interest to +each reader, yet it is scarcely possible to find one to whom, as to +himself, they are _all alike_ the object of eager solicitude and +anxious investigation. Hence, notwithstanding his attempt to detail +his personal narrative from the learned works which contain the result +of his scientific researches, he has by no means succeeded in +effecting their separation. The ordinary reader, who has been +fascinated by his glowing description of tropical scenery, or his +graphic picture of savage manners, is, a few pages on, chilled by +disquisitions on the height of the barometer, the disk of the sun, or +the electricity of the atmosphere; while the scientific student, who +turns to his works for information on his favourite objects of study, +deems them strangely interspersed with rhapsodies on glowing sunsets, +silent forests, and sounding cataracts. It is scarcely possible to +find a reader to whom all these objects are equally interesting; and +therefore it is scarcely to be expected that his travels, unrivalled +as their genius and learning are, will ever be the object of general +popularity. + +In truth, here, as in all the other branches of human thought, it will +be found that the rules of composition are the same, and that a +certain _unity of design_ is essential to general success or durable +fame. If an author has many different and opposite subjects of +interest in his head, which is not unfrequently the case with persons +of the higher order of intellect, and he can discant on all with equal +facility, or investigate all with equal eagerness, he will do well to +recollect that the minds of his readers are not likely to be equally +discursive, and that he is apt to destroy the influence, or mar the +effect of each, if he blends them together; separation of works is the +one thing needful there. A mathematical proposition, a passage of +poetry, a page of history, are all admirable things in their way, and +each may be part of a work destined to durable celebrity; but what +should we say to a composition which should present us, page about, +with a theorem of Euclid, a scene from Shakspeare, and a section from +Gibbon? Unity of effect, identity of train of thought, similarity of +ideas, are as necessary in a book of travels as in an epic poem, a +tragedy, or a painting. There is no such thing as one set of rules for +the fine arts, and another for works of thought or reflection. The +_Iliad_ is constructed on the same principles as the _Principia_ of +Newton, or the history of Thucydides. + +What makes ordinary books of travels so uninteresting, and, in +general, so shortlived, is the want of any idea of composition, or +unity of effect, in the minds of their authors. Men and women seem to +think that there is nothing more to do to make a book of travels, than +to give a transcript of their journals, in which every thing is put +down of _whatever_ importance, provided only it really occurred. +Scenes and adventures, broken wheels and rugged rocks, cataracts and +omelets, lakes and damp beds, thunderstorms and waiters, are huddled +together, without any other thread of connexion than the accidental +and fortuitous one of their having successively come under the notice +of the traveller. What should we say to any other work composed on the +same principle? What if Milton, after the speech of Satan in _Paradise +Lost_, were to treat us to an account of his last dinner; or +Shakspeare, after the scene of the bones in Juliet, were to tell us of +the damp sheets in which he slept last night; or Gibbon, after working +up the enthusiasm of his readers by the account of the storming of +Constantinople by the Crusaders, was to favour us with a digression on +the insolence of the postilions in Roumelia? All the world would see +the folly of this: and yet this is precisely what is constantly done +by travellers, and tolerated by the public, because it is founded on +nature. Founded on nature! Is every thing that is actually true, or +real, fit to be recorded, or worthy of being recounted? Sketches from +nature are admirable things, and are the only foundation for correct +and lasting pictures; but no man would think of interposing a gallery +of paintings with chalk drawings or studies of trees. Correctness, +fidelity, truth, are the only secure bases of eminence in all the arts +of imitation; but the light of genius, the skilful arrangement, the +principles of composition, the selection of topics, are as necessary +in the writer of travels, as in the landscape painter, the historian, +or the epic poet. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] We lately heard of a young man, who had gone through the +examination at Cambridge with distinction, enquiring, "whether the +Greek church _were Christians?_" What sort of a traveller would he +make in the East or Russia? + +[3] Lady Londonderry's description of Moscow is the best in the +English language. + +[4] We have translated all the passages ourselves. A very good +translation of Humboldt's _Personal Narrative_ was published many +years ago, by Miss H. Williams; but we could not resist the pleasure +of trying to transfer to English such noble specimens of descriptive +eloquence. + +[5] Park's _Last Mission to Africa_, 1815, p. 89. + + + + +HAKEM THE SLAVE. + +A TALE EXTRACTED FROM THE HISTORY OF POLAND. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Albert Glinksi, the powerful, ostentatious, and intriguing Duke of +Lithuania, was passing, distinguished by his glancing plume and +gorgeous mantle, through one of the more retired streets of the city +of Cracow, at this time (A.D. 1530) the capital of Poland, when a +domestic wearing the livery of the palace deferentially accosted him. + +"Her Majesty," he said, "commands me to deliver these tablets into +your hands; you dropped them in the palace." + +"I dropped no tablets," replied the duke; but instantly added, "Yes, +they are mine--Give them me." + +He took from the hands of the domestic certain tablets of ivory, which +folded into a case of gold exquisitely wrought by one of the most +skilful artists of Italy, and dismissed the bearer with a liberal +gratuity for his services. + +"Ha! my excellent Bona! youthful bride of our too aged monarch +Sigismund!" said the duke to himself when he was left alone. "Each day +some new device. What have we in these tablets? Here, in the corner of +each leaf, I see a solitary figure finely pencilled in, which to any +other eye than mine would mean nothing, but which tells me that at +eight o'clock this evening you will receive your favoured duke. So, +so! But, charming Bona! it is not love--loveable as you are--it is not +love--it is ambition gives its zest, and must bring the recompense to +this perilous intrigue. The Duke of Lithuania is no hot-brained youth +to be entangled and destroyed by a woman's smiles. To have a month's +_happiness_, as men phrase it, and then the midnight dagger of a +jealous monarch--I seek no such adventures. It is the crown of +Poland--yes, the crown--that you must help me to, fair lady." + +As he stood reflecting on his ambitious schemes, his rival in the +state, Count Laski, minister and chancellor of the king, passed by him +on his way to the palace. The duke, assuming a frank and cordial +manner, called to him. Laski paused. "What would the Duke of +Lithuania?" he asked in his usual calm and reserved manner. + +"Peace!" replied the duke--"amicable terms. Political opponents it +seems we are destined to be. The world gives us out as the selected +champions of two hostile factions. You affect the commons, I side with +the nobility. Be it so. But there exists between us, I hope, a mutual +respect; and it would be my greatest boast if, in spite of this +political antagonism, I might reckon Count Laski amongst my personal +friends." + +A derisive smile played upon the countenance of the chancellor as he +replied--"Such friendship, my lord, as is consistent with perpetual +strife--open and concealed--shall, if it please you, subsist between +us. Pardon me, but we prate a silly jargon when we talk of private +friendship and public hostility." + +"At all events," rejoined the duke, "political rivalry does not +exclude the practice of the courtesies of life. It has been reported +to me that you admire the marble statue of a nymph which an Italian +sculptor has lately wrought for me. I, on my part, have envied you the +possession of a certain Arab slave, a living statue, a moving bronze, +that you have amongst your retainers. Let us, like Homeric heroes, +make an exchange. Give me your statue-man, your swart Apollo, and +accept from me what many have been pleased to call the living statue." + +Glinski had a secret motive for the acquisition of this slave: his +known fidelity, his surprising address and power, had protected the +life of the minister against more than one scheme of assassination. + +"The exchange," replied Laski, "is too much in my favour. Your Italian +marble would purchase a hundred slaves. It would be a present in +disguise; and you know my rule--even from his Majesty himself I never +_receive_." + +"Yes, we know your tyrannous munificence; but this," said the duke +with a smile, "shall be pure barter." + +"What say you, then," said the count, "to those golden tablets which +you hold in your hand? Give me leave to look at them. They might suit +my pedantic way of life. But," added he, as he examined their delicate +workmanship, "came you honestly by this toy, my lord? What fair +frailty have you cheated of this knack, that never, I will be sworn, +was a man's marketing?" + +"I am glad to hear so grave a gentleman indulge so pleasant a view," +said the duke. + +As Count Laski was handling the tablets, he touched, whether by +accident or design, a spring that had not been observed by him to whom +the present had been sent. The outer case flew back, and disclosed a +miniature of the queen! + +"I have been indiscreet," said the count, and immediately folded up +and returned the tablets. "This is perilous ware to deal in, Duke of +Lithuania. Have you aught else in the way of honest barter to +propose?" + +"What you may infer," said the duke, reddening with anger, and +grievously embarrassed at his discovery--"What you may infer from this +silly bauble I shall not be at the pains to enquire. I addressed you, +my lord, in courteous and amicable terms; you have ill responded to +them; our conversation had better close here." + +"As you will," said the chancellor, bowing; and he continued his way +towards the palace, with the same deliberate step with which he was +proceeding when accosted by the duke. + +"He is master of our secret," muttered the duke. "He or I"---- + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +In an apartment of the palace fitted up with every luxury her native +Italy could supply, sat Bona, the young and beautiful queen of Poland. +She is known to have transplanted into that northern clime, not only +the arts and civilization of her own genial soil, but also the +intrigue and voluptuousness, and the still darker crimes for which it +was celebrated. Daughter of the crafty Sforza, Duke of Milan, educated +in a city and at a court where pleasure reigned predominant, married +out of policy to a monarch many years older than her own father, it +was almost to be expected that she should seek, in the society of some +gay cavalier, a compensation for this banishment to a northern +country, and a sexagenarian spouse. Nor had she hesitated long in her +choice. Albert Glinski, Duke of Lithuania, who, though he was the +father of a son ripening into manhood, was still in the vigour of +life, and surpassed all his younger rivals in grace of manner and +charm of conversation, had soon fixed her regard, and won whatever of +affection or love the luxurious princess had to bestow. + +She now sat waiting his arrival. Punctually at the hour of eight he +entered. If any observer could have watched the duke as he traversed +the corridor which led to the queen's apartment, he would have had +great difficulty in believing that it was a favoured lover that was +passing before him; so serious a brow did he wear, and so deep an air +of abstraction was there on his countenance. No sooner, however, did +he enter that apartment, than, by a sudden effort, his countenance lit +up; his manner grew free and unrestrained, and he assumed that mingled +tone of gaiety and pathos so effective with the fair sex. Never had +the queen felt more entirely convinced of the merits of her cavalier; +never had she more thoroughly approved of the choice she had made. + +When this favourable disposition was at its height, the duke, adopting +gradually a more serious tone of conversation, said-- + +"Has it never occurred to you, charming Bona, that the most exalted of +your sex share with the humblest this one privilege--love alone must +be the motive which brings a suitor to their feet. That passion must +be genuine, must be fever-high, which makes a subject quite forget his +Queen in the lovely woman before him, and tempts him to dare the +vengeance of a Monarch, as well as of a husband." + +"True, there is danger--perhaps to both of us," she replied, "but it +daunts us not." + +"No;--but it is at hand." + +"What mean you, Glinski?" + +"We are betrayed." + +"How?--by whom?" + +"How, or by whom, it matters little; but that subtle demon, Count +Laski, knows that which in his hands is a warrant for our +destruction." + +"What is to be done? We will bribe him. All my jewels, all my hoards +shall go to purchase his silence." + +"Bribe Laski! bribe the north wind! bribe destiny itself, whose nature +it is to distribute good and ill, but to feel neither. No, but I would +have a dagger in his throat before the night were passed, but that his +short light slumbers are guarded by a slave of singular power, whom +the villains fear to attack. I had meant to beg or buy of him this +same fierce automaton, but something broke off the treaty." + +"We will poison the mind of the king against him: he shall be +dismissed from all his offices." + +"That poison is too slow. Besides, if he once communicate his +suspicions to the king--which at this very moment he may be doing--see +you not, that it is no longer the minister, but the jealous monarch +that we have to guard against. Hear me, Bona, one of two fates must +now be mine. Death--or thy hand, and with it the crown of Poland. Do +not start. There is for _me_ no middle station. You may be safe. A few +tears, a few smiles, and the old king will lapse into his dotage." + +"You speak in riddles, Glinski; I comprehend nothing of all this." + +"Yet it is clear enough. Thus it stands: the Duke of Lithuania loved +the wife of Sigismund, king of Poland. Love!--I call to witness all +the saints in heaven!--love alone prompted his daring suit. But now +that fortune has first favoured and then betrayed him, where think you +does his safety lie? Where, but in the bold enterprises of ambition? +His only place of refuge is a throne. He who has won a queen must +protect her with a sceptre. You must be mine--my very queen--you must +extend your hand and raise me to the royalty of Poland, or see my +blood flow ignominiously upon the scaffold." + +"I extend my hand!" exclaimed the agitated queen, "how can a feeble +woman give or take away the crown of Poland?" + +"Him who wears the crown--she can take away." + +"Murder the king!" shrieked Bona. + +"Or sentence me," replied the duke. + +It was no affected horror that the queen here displayed. Though at a +subsequent period of her life, if history speaks true, her imagination +had grown familiar with deeds of this very nature, and she had become +skilful in the art of poisoning, she was at this time young, and +unpractised in crime, and received its first suggestions with the +horror which it naturally inspires. She had sought for pleasure only +in the society of Glinski; it was a cruel disappointment, it was a +frightful surprise, to find herself thrust suddenly, with unsandaled +feet, on the thorny path of ambition. She sank back on the couch where +they had both been sitting, and, hiding her face in both her hands, +remained in that position while the duke continued to unfold his +schemes at greater length. + +He represented to her that the possession of the duchy of Lithuania, +the inhabitants of which were distinguished by their bravery and their +turbulence, would enable him--should the king opportunely die--to +seize upon the vacant throne of Poland;--that he had numerous and +powerful friends among the nobility;--that he had already drawn +together his Lithuanians, under pretence of protecting the frontier +from the incursion of predatory bands;--that he intended immediately +to place himself at their head, and march towards Cracow. Now, if at +this moment the throne should suddenly become vacant, what power on +earth could prevent him from ascending it, and claiming the hand of +his then veritable queen? And then he expatiated on the happiness they +should enjoy, when they should live in fearless union, + + "Like gods together, careless of mankind." + +"What is this," exclaimed Bona, suddenly starting up--"what is this +you would tempt me to? You dare not even _name_ the horrid deed you +would have me _commit_. Avaunt! you are a devil, Albert Glinski!--you +would drag me to perdition." Then, falling in tears upon his neck, she +implored him not to tempt her further. "Oh, Albert! Albert!" she +cried, "I beseech you, plunge me not into this pit of guilt. You +_can_! I feel you can. Have mercy! I implore you, I charge you on your +soul, convert me not into this demon. Spare me this crime!" + +"Is it I alone," said the duke, who strove the while by his caresses +to soothe and pacify her--"Is it I alone who have brought down upon us +this distressful alternative? Neither of us, while love decoyed us on +step by step, dreamed of the terrible necessity towards which it was +hourly conducting us. But here we _are_--half-way up, and the +precipice below. We must rush still upwards. There is safety only on +the summit. Pause, and we fall. Oh, did you think that you, a queen, +could play as securely as some burgher's wife the pleasant comedy of +an amorous intrigue? No, no; you must queen it even in crime. High +station and bold deed become each other. We are committed, Bona. It is +choice of life or death. His death or _ours_. For--scarcely dare I +breathe the thought--the sudden revenge of your monarch husband, whose +jealousy at least, age has not tamed, _may_ execute its purpose before +his dotage has had time to return." + +"Where do you lead me? What shall I become?" cried the bewildered +queen. "I have loved thee, Albert, but I hate not him." + +"I ask thee not to _hate_"---- + +"They married me to Sigismund out of state policy. You I have chosen +for the partner of my heart, and I will protect you to the uttermost. +Let things rest there--'tis well enough." + +"We will consult further of our plans, sweet Bona," said the duke, +and, circling her with his arm, he led the weeping queen into an +adjoining room. + +The victory, he felt, was his. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The scene changes to an apartment of a very different style. We enter +the house of the chancellor; but it is not the chancellor himself who +is first presented to our view. In an antique Gothic chamber, in the +decoration and structure of which the most costly material had been +studiously united with the severest simplicity of taste, sat Maria, +the only daughter and child of Count Laski. She sat at her embroidery. +The embroidery, however, had fallen upon her lap; she leaned back, +resigned to her meditations, in a massive arm-chair covered with +purple velvet, which it is impossible not to think must have felt +something like pride and pleasure as her slight and lovely form sank +into it. It was a long reverie. + +In an angle of this lofty room, at some distance, but not out of the +range of clear vision, stood, motionless as a statue, the slave Hakem. +His arms were folded on his breast, his eye rested, without, as it +seemed, a power to withdraw it, on the beautiful figure of the young +girl before him. It was one of those long intense looks which show +that the person on whom it is fixed is still more the object of +meditation than of vision--where it is the soul that looks. Hakem +gazed like a devotee upon the sacred image of his saint. + +Maria, quite unconscious of this gaze, pursued her meditations. Her +eye caught the hour-glass that stood on a small table beside her. +"Sand after sand," said she, musing to herself--"Sand after sand, +thought after thought. The same sand ever trickling there; the same +thought ever coursing through my mind. Oh, love! love! They say it +enlarges the heart; I think it contracts it to a single point." + +"Hakem," she said, after a pause, and turning towards the slave, "you +are true to my father, will you be true also to me?" + +"To her father!" he murmured to himself, "as if"----And then, +checking himself and speaking aloud, he answered--"The Christians are +not so true to your sweet namesake, the Holy Virgin, whom they adore, +as I will be to you." + +"A simple promise will suffice," said Maria. "You have, Hakem--let me +say it without offence--a style of language--Eastern, I +suppose--hyperbolical--which either I must learn to pardon, or you +must labour to reform. It does not suit our northern clime." + +"I am mute. Yet, lady, you have sometimes chid me for my long +silence." + +"And is it for your _much_ speaking that I chide you now?" said the +maiden, with a smile. "You will stand half the day like a statue +there; and, when spoken to, answer with a gesture only--so that many +have thought you really dumb. Much speaking is certainly not thy +fault." + +"I understand. The slave speaks as one who felt the indescribable +charm of thy presence. It is a presumption worthy of death. Shall I +inflict the punishment?" + +"Is this amendment of thy fault, good Hakem, or repetition of it?" + +"I await your commands. What service can Hakem render?" + +But Maria relapsed again into silence. She seemed to hesitate in +making the communication she had designed. Meantime, the arrival of +her father was announced, and the slave left the apartment. + +Never man felt more tender love for his daughter than did the proud, +high-minded minister for this his beautiful Maria. His demeanour +towards her, from childhood upwards, had been one of unalterable, +uninterrupted fondness. He knew no other mood, no other tone, in which +he could have addressed her. Did the grave chancellor, then--some one, +who in his way, also, is very grave, may ask--did he, by constant +fondness, _spoil_ his child? No. It is the fondness which is _not_ +constant that spoils. It is the half-love of weak and irritable +natures, who are themselves children amongst their children, who can +themselves be petulant, selfish, and capricious--it is this that mars +a temper. But calm and unalterable love--oh, believe it not that such +ever spoilt a child! Maria grew up under the eye of affection, and the +ever-open hand of paternal love; and she herself seemed to have +learned no other impulses but those of affection and generosity. + +Alas for fathers! when the child grows into the budding woman, and by +her soft, intelligent companionship fills the house with gladness, and +the heart with inappreciable content, then comes the gay, permitted +spoiler--comes the lover with his suit--his honourable suit--and robs +them of their treasure. The world feels only with the lover--with the +youth, and the fair maiden that he wins. For the bereaved parent, not +a thought! No one heeds the sigh that breaks from him, as, amidst +festivities and mirth, and congratulatory acclamations, he sees his +daughter, with all her prized affections, borne off from him, in +triumph, for ever. + +There was, on this occasion, in the manner of Laski towards his child, +an evident sadness. It was not that the political horizon was +darkening; he had never permitted _that_ to throw its gloom over his +companionship with his daughter. It was because he had grounds to +believe that the events which threatened the tranquillity of Poland +threatened also the peace of his daughter, whose affections he had +divined were no longer exclusively his own. + +She, observing his emotion, and attributing it to some untoward event +in the political world, could not refrain from expressing the wish +that he would quit the harassing affairs of state, and live wholly in +his home. + +"I would long since have done so," he replied, "if personal happiness +had been the sole aim of my existence. But I have a taskwork to +accomplish--one, I think, which God, by fitting me thereto, has +pointed out as mine. Else it is indeed here, with thee beside me, that +I find all that can bear the name of happiness. The rest of life is +but sternest duty--strife, hostility, contempt. But away with this +gloomy talk--what gossip is there stirring in your idle world, Maria?" + +"Pray, is there war forward?" + +"I hope not. Why do you ask?" + +"A maid of mine, who in the city gathers news as busily as bees, in +the open fields, their honey"---- + +"Your simile, I fear, would scarce hold good as to the _honey_." + +"No, in faith; and there is no honey in the news she brings. She tells +me that a camp is forming in the frontiers between Poland and +Lithuania, and that Augustus Glinski is sent there to command the +troops. Is this true?" + +"It is; and she might have added that the duke himself secretly left +the city last night, to place himself at their head." + +"Is it a dangerous service?" + +"The service on which the duke has entered, and into which he misleads +his son, _is_ dangerous. You tremble, Maria. It was no maiden, nor the +tattle of the town, that brought you this. When did you last see or +hear from him--from Augustus Glinski?" + +"Believe me," said Maria, while a crimson blush suddenly spread over +her countenance, "if I have concealed any thing from you, it was not +from craft, nor subtlety, nor fear, but from"---- + +"From a mere delicacy, a simple bashfulness," said the father, coming +to her assistance. "I know it well. Had you a mother living, I would +bid you confide these sentiments of your heart to her, and to her +only; but, having no other parent, make me your confidant. Trust me, +you shall not find a woman's heart more open to your griefs, your +fears, your joys, than mine shall be. Make me your sole confidant--you +love this young Augustus?" + +"When I was at my aunt's we met each other often--but to you, my +father, I have ever referred him as our final arbiter. I need not say +that the known political rivalry between his father and yourself has +made him backward in addressing you." + +"All men speak well of Augustus Glinski. I blame you not, my child; I +only tremble for you. The duke, his father, is a restless, bold +ambitious man, who will lead him--honourable as he is, but too young +to judge, or to resist his parent--into treasonable enterprises. Both +father and son--if they will play the rebel, and bring down war on +Poland--I stand prepared to meet. The sword of justice shall sweep +them from the earth. But if thy heart, my child, is doomed to bleed in +this encounter, the wound will not be more yours than mine. There +shall be no secrets between us. I will protect thee all I can; and if +I cannot prevent thy sorrows, I will at least share them." + +A low tap was here heard at the door, and a page made his appearance. +On seeing the minister, the stripling was about to retire. Maria, +however, called him in, and bade him deliver his message. "You come," +she said to the youth, who still hesitated to speak--"you come from +the younger Glinski: speak openly--what is it he has commissioned you +to say?" + +"This, my lady," answered the page, "that he has ridden in all haste +from the camp--that he must quit the city again before nightfall, and +craves an audience if only for one minute." + +Maria looked towards her father, and thus referred the answer to him. + +Count Laski was silent. + +"Will you not," said his daughter, "tell this messenger, whether his +master may come here or not?" + +"My child, he _cannot!_ he is at this moment under my arrest. Return, +sir page," and he motioned him from the room--"but return to the +fortress of----; you will find your master there a prisoner, under +charge of high treason." + +"Oh, spare him! spare him!" cried Maria, as she sank back almost +senseless with terror and alarm. + +"My child! my child!" exclaimed the minister in heart-breaking +anguish, as he bent over his weeping daughter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +After having in some measure soothed the terrors of his daughter, the +chancellor called to him his trusty Hakem. He briefly explained to him +that the Duke of Lithuania was at that moment in open rebellion +against his Majesty, and placed in his hands a warrant for his +execution. "The law cannot reach him through its usual servants," he +said; "it is a bold enterprise I propose to you--to decapitate a +general at the head of his troops." + +If this was a measure which hardly another minister than Laski would +have contemplated, it was one also which he would have hardly found +another than Hakem to undertake and accomplish. The bravery of this +man was all but miraculous, and was only rescued from madness by the +extreme skill and address by which it was supported. In battle, he +rushed on danger as a bold and delighted swimmer plunges in the waves, +which to him are as innocuous as the breeze that is freshening them. +Yet, when the excitement was passed, he relapsed into a state of +apparent apathy. He had been taken captive in one of those +engagements, at this time not unfrequent, between the Poles and the +Turks, with the latter of whom he had served as a soldier of fortune. +To say that he was taken prisoner, is hardly correct; for he was found +lying half dead on the field of battle, and was brought home by the +Poles, by some caprice of compassion, with their own sick and dying. +Neither was it constraint that held him beneath the roof of Laski, or +in the nominal condition of a slave, for at all times escape would +have been easy to him. It was either attachment to those who lived +beneath that roof, or an equal indifference to every thing without or +beyond it, that retained him there. + +To propose to Hakem some bold and perilous enterprise, was to offer +him one of the few pleasures to which he was open. He accepted, +therefore, of the strange commission now entrusted to him without +hesitation; stipulating, only, that he might take from the stables of +the king a horse which was much celebrated for its amazing power and +fleetness. + +Mounted upon this incomparable steed, he pursued his way to the camp +of the Duke of Lithuania. On his journey he had made trial of its +speed, and yet had husbanded its strength. Arrived at the plain where +the insurgent army was encamped, he there lay in ambush for some time, +till he saw where the duke, passing his troops in review, rode +somewhat in advance of what in the language of modern warfare we +should call his staff. Hakem set spurs to his horse, and rushed upon +him with the velocity of lightning, his drawn cimeter flashing in the +sun, and his loud cry of defiance calling the duke to his defence. +Thus challenged, he put his lance in rest to meet his furious +assailant. But the thrust of the lance was avoided, and the next +moment the head of the duke was seen to roll upon the field. The Arab +wheeled round, and, without quitting his steed, picked up the severed +head, placed it on his saddle-bows, and darted off fleeter than the +wind. A cry of horror and a shout of pursuit arose from the whole +army, who were spectators of this scene. Every horse was in motion. +But where the contest is one of speed, of what avail are numbers? In +the whole camp there was not a steed which could compete with that on +which the solitary fugitive was mounted, and was already seen scouring +the plain at a distance. As he fled, a paper was observed to fall from +his hands, which the wind bore amongst his innumerable pursuers; it +was the judicial warrant that had been thus strangely executed. + +Meanwhile, at the palace, the royal mind of Sigismund was not a little +disquieted and alarmed by this sudden rebellion of the powerful Duke +of Lithuania. That alarm would not have been diminished had he been +aware that this open rebellion was to be aided by a secret domestic +treason, which, in his own palace, was lying in ambush for his life. +The queen, whilst watching her opportunity to perform her part in this +criminal enterprise, affected to throw all the blame of this +formidable rebellion on the unpopularity of the minister Laski, whose +measures, indeed, the duke proclaimed as the main motive of his +conduct. + +Matters were in this condition when Count Laski, attended by his +slave, entered the royal apartment. There were present, beside the +queen, several of the nobility--all prepared, by the insinuations and +address of the queen, to give but a cold greeting to the minister. + +"In good time," said the queen, "Count Laski makes his appearance. We +wish to know how you will extricate his Majesty from the peril in +which your unpopular counsels have thrust him. With what forces will +you meet the Duke of Lithuania? Now, when there is need of the brave +chivalry of Poland to defend the king from rebellion, we find the +nobility alienated from the crown by your unwise, and arrogant, and +plebeian policy. But let us hear what is the excellent advice, what is +the good intelligence, that you now bring us?" + +"The Duke of Lithuania, madam," said the chancellor, slightly raising +his voice, but preserving the same calm dignity as if he had been +presiding in a high court of justice--"the Duke of Lithuania is in +open, manifest rebellion; and rebellion is, in the laws of all +nations, punished by death." + +"Punished!" said the queen scoffingly: "are you speaking of some +trembling caitiff who holds up his naked hand at your bar of justice? +Punished! you must conquer him." + +"Your Majesty will be pleased to hear," continued the chancellor with +a look full of significance, "that Albert Glinski, Duke of Lithuania, +whose treason was open and proclaimed, has been by the royal warrant +sentenced"---- + +Count Laski paused. + +"Sentenced!" exclaimed Bona, and repeated her scornful laugh, which +this time but ill concealed a certain vague terror that was rising in +her mind. "Is our chancellor mad, or does he sport with us? This +rebel, whom you talk of sentencing--of condemning, we presume, to the +block--stands at the head of a greater army than his Majesty can at +this moment assemble." + +"And the sentence," pursued the minister, "has been executed!" + +As he pronounced these words, the slave Hakem advanced, and drawing +aside his robe, which had hitherto concealed it, he held up by the +hair the severed head of the Duke of Lithuania. + +There ran a thrill of horror through the assembly. But, the next +moment, a loud hysterical shriek drew the attention of all parties to +the queen: she had fallen insensible at the feet of the king. The +council was abruptly dismissed. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Thus far the cause of the chancellor had prospered. Poland had been +preserved from the horrors of a civil war. The king's life had also +been saved, and a great crime prevented; the career of assassination +and of poisoning, into which the queen afterwards entered, was at all +events postponed. As a public man, the minister was fully triumphant. +But the minister was a father; at this side he was vulnerable; and +fortune dealt her blow with cruel and unexpected severity. + +We have seen with what stern fidelity to his ministerial duty, and at +how great a peril to his daughter's happiness, the chancellor had +arrested Augustus Glinski. The rebellion quelled, the author of it +punished and decapitated, there seemed no just motive for holding +longer in imprisonment a youth who could not be accused of having any +guilty participation in the crime of his father. He accordingly +proposed his release. But the anger of the king against the late duke, +who to his political offence had added that of personal ingratitude, +(for it was Sigismund himself who had bestowed on him the powerful +duchy of Lithuania,) was still unappeased, and he insisted upon +including the son in the guilt and punishment of his parent. The +representations of the minister were here unavailing; he would listen +to nothing but the dictates of his own vindictive feelings. + +Count Laski detailed the manner of his arrest, and explained the +singular interest he felt in the pardon and liberation of this youth; +adding, that if Angustus Glinski died upon the scaffold, he feared the +life of his daughter. But even this was unavailing. The old monarch +thought he was displaying a great acuteness when he detected, as he +imagined, in this plea of a daughter's happiness, a scheme of selfish +aggrandizement. "Ha! ha!" said he, "so the wind sits in that quarter. +A good match--duchess of Lithuania! I would rather you asked for the +dukedom yourself, and married your daughter to another." + +It was in vain that the minister again repeated his simple and true +statement; it was in vain that he limited his request to the life of +the younger Glinski, consenting to the forfeiture of his title and +estates; Sigismund was resolved this time not to be _overreached_ by +his subtle minister. The language of entreaty was new to Laski; he +had tried it, and had failed. It was new to Laski to endure tamely the +misconstruction of his motives, or the least impeachment of his +veracity. He had no other resource, no other response, left than the +resignation of his ministerial office. But the obstinacy and anger of +the king were proof against this also. The danger which threatened his +reign had been dispelled. He could afford to be self-willed. He would +not be controlled. In short, Count Laski left the royal presence--a +discarded minister. + +In a monarchy uncontrolled and unaided by representative assemblies, +the power which is secured perhaps to one of the weakest of men or +women, perhaps to a child, has often struck the observer of human +affairs as a strange anomaly. But the insecure and precarious +foundation of the power of the great minister in such a monarchy, is +scarcely less curious to contemplate. The sagacious counsellor, the +long-experienced governor, who has for years wielded the powers of the +state, may be reduced to obscurity and impotence by a word--a word of +puerile passion, kindled perhaps by a silly intrigue. A great ruler is +displaced at the caprice of a dotard. When Count Laski entered the +presence of the king, he was in reality the governor of Poland; Europe +acknowledged him amongst the controllers and directors of human +affairs; his country expected many signal improvements at his hands; +the individual happiness of thousands depended upon him; but this +power, which had devised great schemes, and which was the rock of +support to so many, could itself be shaken and overthrown in a moment, +by the splenetic humour of an angry old man. + +Who shall describe the grief and despair of Maria when she heard of +the cruel resolution which the king had taken, of the dreadful fate +which threatened Augustus Glinski? As she sat this time in her Gothic +chamber, and in her accustomed chair, what a mortal paleness had +settled upon her countenance! Her eye glared out, and was fixed on the +vacant wall, as if a spirit had arisen before her, and arrested her +regard. There _was_ a spirit there. It was the form of the young +Augustus, whom she saw withering and wasting in his dungeon; a dungeon +which would deliver him up only to the scaffold. After the events +which had occurred all idea of a union with Augustus, presuming that +his life should be spared, had been resigned. How could he, on whom +the maxims of that age especially imposed the duty of revenging his +parent, ally himself to her? How could he choose for his second father +the very man who had deprived him of his first and natural parent? If +she could but hear that he had broken loose from imprisonment, that he +was but safe--this was all that she felt entitled to wish or to pray +for. It need hardly be added that it was additional bitterness to +reflect, that but for his unhappy attachment to herself, his arrest +and captivity would never have taken place. + +Again, in the same angle of the apartment, the Arab slave might have +been seen standing, silent and motionless as before, regarding with +deep interest and commiseration the beautiful daughter of Laski. The +secret which she was about, on one occasion, to betray to Hakem, had +now betrayed itself to his own observation. She loved--she loved the +son of him whom he had assassinated, or executed. There was a profound +sadness on the features of the slave. + +The silence of the room was suddenly broken by Maria, who, turning to +the slave, exclaimed in a tone of anguish--"Hakem, you must save him! +you must save him!" This was said in mere desperation, certainly not +with any distinct hope that it was in the power of Hakem to obey. +When, therefore, she heard his voice reply, in a calm but saddened +tone, "I will!" she was almost as much surprised as if she had not +addressed herself to him. She rose to be assured that it was he who +spoke; to bid him repeat his consolatory promise; to question him on +his means of fulfilling it: but Hakem was no longer there; he had +suddenly quitted the apartment. It seemed as if some voice in the air +had sported with her grief. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +But it was no voice that mocked at her grief. Hakem proceeded that +very day to the palace, and sought an interview with the queen. The +guard or sentinel to whom he addressed himself, laughed at his +request. "Give her majesty this paper," said the slave, "and refuse to +deliver it at your peril." + +The paper was forwarded to the queen--Hakem was immediately ushered +into her presence. + +"You promise here," she said, pointing to the missive she had +received, "to revenge the death of the Duke of Lithuania. I presume +some private motive of revenge against the minister and your master, +prompts your conduct, and you seek from me in additional recompense +for an act which you have already resolved on, but which you think +will be grateful to me. Is it not so? + +"Your Majesty is penetrating." + +"And this recompense, what is it?" + +"That which will cost you nothing, though you alone can accomplish +it--the release and pardon of Augustus Glinski. Obtain this from the +king--which to you will be easy--and with my own hand I will +assassinate the assassin (for such you will doubtless deem him) of the +Duke of Lithuania." + +"I will not ask what are your motives in all this, nor how you have +divined my wishes, but revenge the death of the Duke of Lithuania, and +far more than the liberation of the young Augustus shall be your +reward." + +"I ask, and will accept no other. But his rescue must _first_ be +obtained." + +The queen had no objection to urge against this condition; although +she had hitherto, for reasons which may be easily surmised, avoided +any appearance of interest in the fate of Augustus. She acquiesced, +therefore, in Hakem's demand; surprised indeed that she should have +obtained the gratification of her revenge at so slight a cost. + +What the influence and the reasonings of the minister could not +effect, was very speedily brought about by the blandishments of the +queen. Augustus Glinski was pardoned, and restored to a portion of his +father's wealth and dignities. + +The warrant for the release of the prisoner was conveyed to the hand +of Hakem, together with a message that he was now expected to perform +his part of the engagement. + +Hakem, bearing this warrant, and accompanied by one of the officers of +justice, proceeded to the prison of Augustus, and having liberated +him, carried him forthwith to the house of the chancellor; the young +man, who as yet hardly apprehended that he was master of his own +movements, permitting himself without remonstrance to be led by his +new conductor. + +The chancellor and his daughter sat together in the same apartment to +which we have already twice introduced the reader. Had his daughter +been happy, what a release for Laski had been his enfranchisement from +public office! "Banishment from court!" he exclaimed to one who would +have condoled with him--"make way there for a liberated prisoner!" But +the grief of his daughter, who strove in vain to check her flowing +tears, entirely pre-occupied his mind. These tears he never chid; her +sadness he never rebuked; he shared it, and by renewed kindness strove +to alleviate it. They sat in silence together, when Hakem, entering, +made his obeisance, and presented Augustus to the astonished Maria. + +"I have saved him!" was all he said. + +The joy of Maria was extreme. It was soon, however, followed by a +painful embarrassment. Amongst all parties there was a sad conflict of +feeling. Augustus would have given worlds to have thrown himself at +the feet of Maria; but if the memory of what had occurred had not been +sufficient, there stood her father in person before him--the author of +his own father's death. + +Hakem broke the silence. "Beautiful being!" he said, kneeling on one +knee before Maria, "whom I have in secret worshipped, whom alone to +worship I have lingered here in the guise and office of a slave--you +bade me save _him_--and I have! Is there any thing further for thy +happiness which the Arab can accomplish?" + +"No, Hakem, and I feel already overburdened with gratitude for this +service you have rendered me--_how_ rendered I cannot as yet divine. +There is no other service now I think that any one can render me." As +she spoke, her eye had already turned to the spot where Augustus, +hesitating to approach or to retreat, was still standing. + +"No other service! But, by the living God, there is!" cried Hakem, +starting to his feet. His countenance flushed with sudden excitement; +his eye kindled with some generous sentiment. "Hear me, gentle sir," +he said, addressing himself to Augustus. "Nature calls for +vengeance--is it not so? Christian and Mahometan, we all resemble in +this. Blood cries for blood. But the hand that slew your father--it +was mine. I am the first and direct object of your resentment. Let now +one victim suffice. Is the Arab too ignoble a victim? That Arab is the +preserver of your life, at what cost you may one day learn. Let this +enhance the value of the sacrifice. Over my blood let peace be made +between you." Turning once more, and bowing with deep emotion before +Maria, he then, with a movement quick as thought, plunged a poniard in +his bosom, and fell to the ground. "Go, tell the queen," he said to +the officer of justice, who had stood a mute spectator of this +scene--"tell her what you have witnessed; and add, that my promise has +been fulfilled. And you, Augustus Glinski--will not this suffice? The +assassin of the duke lies here before you. Oh, take her by the hand!" +Then, looking his last towards Maria, he murmured--"And I, +too--loved!" and closed his eyes in death. + +The prayer of Hakem was granted. It was impossible to demand another +sacrifice--impossible not to accept this as full atonement to the +spirit of revenge. Over the body of Hakem, whom all lamented and +admired, peace was made. + +The generous object of the slave was fully accomplished. His death +procured the long happiness of Maria. + + + + +THE LAY OF STARKATHER. + + + [The following lines are founded on the account given by + Saxo-Grammaticus (Lib. VIII.) of the guilt, penitence, and death + of Starkather, a fabulous Scandinavian hero, famous throughout the + North for his bodily strength and warlike achievements, as well as + for his poetical genius, of which traces are still to be found in + the metrical traditions and phraseology of his country. According + to the old legend, the existence of Starkather was prolonged for + three lifetimes, in each of which he was doomed to commit some act + of infamy; but this fiction has not here been followed out. + Oehlenschlaeger's drama, bearing the name of this hero, has many + beauties; but deviates widely from Saxo's story of his death.] + + It was an aged man went forth with slow and tottering tread, + The frosts of many a Northland Yule lay thick upon his head; + A staff was in his outstretched hand, to lead him on his way, + And vainly rolled his faded eyes to find the light of day. + + Yet in that ancient form was seen the pride of other years, + In ruined majesty and night the HERO there appears. + The awful brow, the ample breast, a shelter from the foe, + And there the massive weight of arm that dealt the deadly blow. + + He stopped a passing stranger's steps, and thus his purpose told,-- + "See here the twin swords by my side, and see this purse of gold; + Thy weapon choose to cope with One who should no longer live, + And by an easy slaughter earn the guerdon I would give. + + "A hundred winters o'er my soul have shed their gathering gloom, + And still I seek, but seek in vain, an honourable tomb; + With friendly enmity consent to quench this lingering breath, + And give, to crown a warrior's life, one boon--a warrior's death. + + "Of matchless might and fearless soul, with powers of song sublime, + I spread afar my name and fame in every Gothic clime; + Those godlike gifts were treasured long from blot and blemish clear, + But one dark act of fraudful guilt bedimmed my bright career. + + "When Olo sat, the people's choice, in Sealand's kingly seat, + And trampled liegemen and the laws beneath his tyrant feet, + His nobles placed this glittering hoard within my yielding hand, + And bade me rid them of a rule that wide enslaved the land. + + "I watched my royal victim well, I tracked his every path, + And found him with a faithless guard within the secret bath; + Yet rather had I faced an host fast rushing to the fight, + Than the eye of that unarmed man, there gleaming bold and bright. + + "The fear of my defenceless foe awhile unnerved my arm, + But thoughts of glory or of gain dispelled the better charm; + The water reddened with his blood, I left the lifeless corse, + To meet myself a living death,--a lifetime of remorse. + + "In every feud, in every fray, on every field of strife, + I since have fondly sought release from such a loathed life; + The foremost, who suborned my crime, have perished at my feet, + But none had heart or hand to strike the blow I longed to meet. + + "Even as I am, I seek the fight, and offer as the prize + The untasted bait that bribed my soul, nor thou the boon despise; + Else, like some worn-out beast of prey, Starkather soon must lie, + Nor gain the bliss that Odin gives to men who nobly die." + + "I know thee now," the stranger said, "I hear thy hated name, + I take thy gold, I take thy life, a forfeit to my claim; + My father fell beneath thy hand, his image haunts me still-- + But the hour of his revenge is come, and he shall drink his fill." + + He seized a sword; its sweeping edge soon laid the Hero low, + But not before his sinking arm was felt upon his foe: + "Thanks, youthful friend!" the Hero said; "now Odin's hall is won, + Its rays already greet my soul, its raptures are begun." + + + + +MOZART.[6] + + +The true position of the creative musical power in the scale of human +genius is difficult to determine; and will be differently estimated by +different minds. That it is a heavenly gift of a high order, admits of +no doubt; that it exercises over men's minds a mighty, and, under due +safeguards, a beneficent influence, is equally indisputable; and that +its existence implies, and is closely connected with, the possession +of other superior faculties, moral and intellectual, must also, we +think, be clear upon reflection, though this last proposition is not +so likely to be readily conceded. Yet the place which the great +COMPOSER is generally allowed to occupy, in relation to the PAINTER or +the POET, does not correspond either to the qualities or to the +effects displayed in his art. Many would think it a disparagement to +connect the names of Milton or Virgil, Raphael or Michael Angelo, with +those of the greatest musical masters; and it may seem not easy to say +whether this feeling is the result of injustice or accident, on the +one hand; or, on the other, is founded on some deep and solid truth in +the laws and elements of our nature. + +The mighty magic that lies in the highest manifestations of musical +composition, must command the wonder and reverence of all who +understand, or even observe, its operation. The power of giving birth +to innumerable forms of exquisite melody, delighting the ear and +stirring every emotion of the soul, agitating us with fear or horror, +animating us with ardour and enthusiasm, filling us with joy, melting +us with grief, now lulling us to repose amidst the luxurious calm of +earthly contentment, now borrowing wings more ethereal than the +lark's, and wafting us to the gate of heaven, where its notes seem to +blend undistinguishably with the songs of superior beings--this is a +faculty that bears no unequivocal mark of a divine descent, and that +nothing but prejudice or pride can deem of trivial or inferior rank. +But when to this is added a mastery over the mysterious combinations +of harmony, a spirit that can make subservient to its one object +immense masses of dissimilar and sometimes discordant, sounds; and, +like the leader of a battle, can ride on the whirlwind and direct the +storm, till it subdue the whole soul, taking captive all our feelings, +corporeal and mental, and moulding them to its will--a power of this +nature seems to equal in dignity the highest faculties of genius in +any of its forms, as it undoubtedly surpasses all the others in the +overwhelming and instantaneous efficacy of its agency while thus +working its wonders. Tame is the triumph of the artist in the +exhibition-room, dim and distant the echo which the poet receives of +the public praise, compared with the unequivocal and irrepressible +bursts of admiration which entrance the great composer in the crowded +theatre, or even with that silent incense which is breathed in the +stifled emotions of his audience in some more sacred place. The +nearest approach to any such enthusiastic tribute, is that which +sometimes awaits the successful tragic poet at the representation of +his dramas; but, besides the lion's share of applause which the actor +is apt to appropriate, what dramatic writer, in our own experience or +history, has been greeted with such homage as that paid to Handel, +when the king and people of England stood up in trembling awe to hear +his _Hallelujah_ chorus?--that which hailed Mozart from the enraptured +theatres of Prague when listening to his greatest operas?--that which +fanned into new fire the dying embers of Haydn's spirit, when the +_Creation_ was performed at Vienna, to delight his declining days, +before an audience of 1500 of the Austrian nobility and gentry? + +The ancient poets felt the force of those emotions which musical sound +produces, and shadowed out under its name the great principles of +human harmony and social order. Societies were founded, cities built, +and countries cultivated by Orpheus and Amphion, and men of analogous +fame, who wielded at will this mythic power, and made all the +susceptibilities of nature "sequacious of the lyre." + +In one respect the fame of the composer is less diffusible than that +of the poet. He requires various mechanical means and appliances for +his full success. His works must be performed in order to be felt. He +cannot be read, like the poet, in the closet, or in the cottage, or on +the street-stall, where the threadbare student steals from day to day, +as he lingers at the spot, new draughts of delicious refreshment. Few +can sit down and peruse a musical composition even for its melody; and +very few, indeed, can gather from the silent notes the full effect of +its splendid combinations. Yet even here the great master has +analogous compensations. The idle amateur, the boarding-school girl, +the street minstrel, and the barrel-organ, reflect his more palpable +beauties; and, subjecting them to the severe test of incessant +reiteration, make us wonder that "custom cannot stale" the infinite +variety that is shut up even in his simplest creations. + +But the creative musician has an immeasurable advantage over both the +painter and the poet in the absence of all local limitation to his +popularity. Here, indeed, the painter is the least favoured by the +nature of his art. The immediate presence of the prophet could only be +felt at Mecca; the perfection of painting can only be seen at Rome. +The poet has a wider range, and can be prized and appreciated wherever +the language is known in which he writes. But the musician is still +more highly privileged. He speaks with a tongue intelligible alike to +every nation and class; he expresses himself in a universal character, +which Bishop Wilkins would have died to possess; he needs no +translation; he can suffer nothing by change of place; his works are +equally and at once capable of being enjoyed at London and Naples, +Paris and Prague, Vienna and St Petersburg. If the enjoyment received +from his powers is not every where equally great, it is not from the +want of a medium to make them understood, but from a difference in the +minds to which they are presented. + +The creative art of the musician is not one of mere talent, or of a +certain sensual refinement and dexterity. It involves deep systematic +study, closely akin to that of the severer sciences. It has a sequence +and logic of its own, and excellence in it is unattainable without +good sense and strong intellect. It involves great moral and pathetic +sensibility, and a ready sympathy with all the joys and sorrows of +mankind. And finally, the lightest branch of it is beyond the reach of +any but those who are lifted up by strong feelings of reverence and +devotion. Handel was a man of sincere piety, who avowed it to be the +object of his compositions not merely to please men, but "to make them +better." + + "The character of Handel," says Mr Hogarth, in his excellent + _Musical History_, "in all its great features, was exalted and + amiable. Throughout his life he had a deep sense of religion. He + used to express the great delight he felt in setting to music the + most sublime passages of Holy Writ; and the habitual study of the + Scriptures had constant influence on his sentiments and conduct. + For the last two or three years of his life, he regularly attended + divine service in his parish church of St George's, Hanover + Square, where his looks and gestures indicated the fervour of his + devotion. In his life he was pure and blameless."--(Vol. i. 209.) + + "Haydn," in like manner, (we quote from the same biographer,) "was + a stranger to every evil and malignant passion; and, indeed, was + not much under the influence of passion of any sort. But his + disposition was cheerful and gentle, and his heart was brimful of + kindly affections. He was friendly and benevolent, open and candid + in the expression of his sentiments, always ready to acknowledge + and aid the claims of talent in his own art, and, in all his + actions, distinguished by the most spotless integrity. Such is the + account of him given by all those who knew him best; and they add, + as the most remarkable feature of his character, that strong and + deeply-rooted sense of religion, which is the only solid + foundation of moral excellence. Haydn's piety was not a mere + feeling, capable, as is often the case with worldly men, of being + excited for the moment by circumstances, and dying away when the + external influence is removed; it was an active principle, which + guided the whole tenor of his life and conduct. His sacred music + was exalted by the existence, in his mind, of those devout + sentiments which it is the object of sacred music to express. + 'When I was engaged in composing _The Creation_,' he used to say, + 'I felt myself so penetrated with religious feeling, that before I + sat down to write, I earnestly prayed to God that he would enable + me to praise him worthily.'"--(Vol. i. 304.) + +Similar feelings of strong piety, as well as of generous benevolence, +animated and inspired the great and amiable man whose character is +more immediately the subject of this article. It would be difficult, +indeed, to think of an oratorio or requiem written by a scoffer or a +sceptic. + +With such exalted requisites, so intense a power, and so extensive a +range of influence, it is strange that the composer should not have +taken the rank and relative dignity to which he seems entitled in the +province of the arts. But honour and fame are chiefly dispensed by +poets and literary men; and it is impossible not to feel that, +generally speaking, the musician is treated by men of letters as an +alien from their own lineage. Music may be praised in vague and +evasive terms; but the individual composer is not deemed deserving of +mention. All the great masters of the pencil have been cordially +commended in immortal verse; but of the great composers' names scarce +a notice is to be found. It is not wonderful that the poet should +prize above all others his own form of art. Poetry, as the mouthpiece +of practical wisdom, as the clearest interpreter of all instruction, +must ever hold an undisputed pre-eminence. Painting, too, as nearest +akin to poetry in the objects it presents and the effects it produces, +may be allowed at least to contest the palm for the second rank. But +that music in the person of her most inspired sons, should have been +sternly excluded from a participation in the honours awarded to her +sister arts, seems an injustice which can be defended on no pleadable +grounds. The explanation of it seems to be, that most of our great +poets--and this has certainly been the case in England--have had no +love or knowledge, and no true appreciation, of high musical +composition. Milton alone seems to have been an exception; and, we +cannot doubt, that if he had lived in the same age with Handel, he +would have given utterance to his admiration in strains worthy of them +both. The rest of our _vates sacri_, on whom immortality is +proverbially said to depend, seem, generally speaking, to have been +ignorance itself in this department. Several of them, indeed, have +written odes for St Cecilia's day, but this does not prove that they +had a taste for more than rhythm. Pope had the tact to call Handel a +giant, and speaks cleverly of his "hundred hands" as sure to be fatal +to the reign of Dulness. + + "Strong in new arms, lo! giant Handel stands, + Like bold Briareus, with his hundred hands, + To stir, to rouse, to shake the soul he comes, + And Jove's own thunders follow Mars's drums. + Arrest him, goddess! or you sleep no more." + +But no reference is made to the exquisite beauty of his compositions. +The loudness is all that seems to be praised, and we suspect, that in +private Pope was inclined to laugh with Swift in his disparaging +comparison between Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Wordsworth has written +on the "Power of Sound;" but the small part of it that touches on the +musical art, does not impress us with the idea of his knowing or +caring much about it, though in this, as in other things, he has the +sense and philosophy to sacrifice a cock to Esculapius, and to bow +down to what others worship, even where he does not himself feel the +influence of a warm devotion. Collins and Moore, and perhaps a few +others whom we have overlooked, ought to be excluded from this +condemnation; but they have not been led to speak of individual +musicians, or have not had courage to leave the beaten track. + +Thus neglected by those who would have been its most faithful +depositaries and most effective champions, the fame of the musical +composer has been left to the guardianship of the few sound and +enlightened judges who thoroughly comprehend him, to the humble but +honest admiration of professional performers, to the practice and +imitation of effeminate amateurs, to the cant of criticism of the +worthies on the free list, and to the instinctive applause of the +popular voice. Even with these humbler hands to build up his monument, +the great master of music has a perpetual possession within the hearts +of men, that the poet and the painter may well envy. Every chord in +the human frame that answers to his strains, every tear that rises at +the bidding of his cadences, every sob that struggles for an outlet at +his touches of despairing tenderness, or at the thunders of his +massive harmony, is a tribute to his power and his memory, enough to +console his spirit if it can still be conscious of them, or to have +rewarded his living labours in their progress by a bright anticipation +of their effects. If nobles, and even nations, do not contend for the +possession of his works, or offer a ransom for their purchase, such as +is daily given for the masterpieces of the painter's power; it is the +pride of his genius that his compositions cannot be appropriated or +possessed. An oratorio of Handel, or an opera of Mozart, cannot become +property like a picture of Raphael or Guido. They belong to mankind at +large, open to all, and enjoyable by all who have the faculty to +perceive, and delight in, their beauties; and in every theatre and +public place, in every church and in every chamber throughout +Christendom, a portion of their divine and various influence, suited +to the scene and occasion, is always within reach, to make men gentler +and better, happier and holier, than they would otherwise be without +such manifestations of their Maker's wondrous gifts. + +Nowhere can the views we have above suggested be better illustrated, +than in the fate and character of the singular man who, if not the +first, was yet only second to one other, among those on whom music has +shed her fullest inspiration. + +It is not our intention to follow minutely the events of Mozart's +life. They are generally well known; and to those who wish to have a +clear, complete, and judicious view of them, we can safely recommend +the book noticed at the outset of this article. + +Mozart was born at Salzburg in 1756, and died at Vienna in 1791, in +his thirty-sixth year. But into that short space were compressed as +many proofs and compositions of genius, as much joy and sorrow, as +much triumph and humiliation, as would have crowded a much longer +lifetime. His early indications of genius are well known, and were +indeed wonderful, even as compared with those of other great +composers--for Handel, Haydn, and Beethoven, all gave proofs of their +musical powers in boyhood--though none of them as children showed that +full maturity of mind which distinguished Mozart, and which only a few +of those who witnessed it could fully appreciate. Mozart's +organization was obviously of the finest and tenderest texture; but he +had also many advantages in his nurture, and, among others, the +inestimable blessing of a happy home, where harmony reigned in the +hearts, as well as upon the lips and fingers of the inmates. His +father was a man of sense and education, as well as of musical talent, +and in all respects did his duty to his son throughout life, amidst +many difficulties and disappointments, resulting partly from his own +dependent situation at Salzburg, and partly from an over-estimate of +the worldly prosperity which his son's genius should have commanded. +His mother seems also to have been an excellent person; and from the +remarkable letters which Mozart wrote from Paris to prepare his father +for her death, after the event had happened, she appears to have been +the object of the tenderest affection to her family. Mozart uniformly +discharged towards his parents all the offices of pious devotion; and +he was always affectionately attached to his sister, who was a few +years older than himself, and whose early and distinguished skill as a +performer must have been useful in assisting her brother's tastes. In +1829 the Novello family saw this lady at Salzburg, a widow and in +narrow circumstances. + + "We found Madame Sonnenberg, lodged in a small but clean room, + bed-ridden and quite blind. Hers is a complete decay of nature; + suffering no pain, she lies like one awaiting the stroke of + death, and will probably expire in her sleep.... Her voice was + scarcely above a whisper, so that I was forced to lean my face + close to hers to catch the sound. In the sitting-room still + remained the old clavichord, on which the brother and sister had + frequently played duets together; and on its desk were some pieces + of his composition, which were the last things his sister had + played over previous to her illness." + +With becoming delicacy, the fruits of an English subscription were +presented to her on her name-day, as a remembrance from some friends +of her brother. + +The bane of Mozart's fortunes was the patronage on which he was +dependent. His father had got into the trammels of the Archbishop of +Salzburg--a sordid, arrogant, and ignorant man, who saw Mozart's value +in the eyes of others, though he could not himself estimate it, and +would neither pay him nor part with him. When in his twentieth year, +and already a great composer and an efficient performer, Mozart was in +the receipt, from this princely prelate, for the liberal use of his +musical talents, of a salary equal in amount to about L1, 1s. English, +per annum. + + "Among a multitude of compositions that he wrote for the + archbishop's concerts, in 1775, are five concertos for the violin, + which he probably performed himself. His gentle disposition made + him easily comply with any proposal to augment pleasure, however + out of his usual course. During the following year, 1776, he seems + to have made his last great effort to awaken the archbishop to + some sense of his desert, and a due generosity of acknowledgment, + by producing masses, litanies, serenades, divertimentos for + instruments, clavier concertos, &c., too numerous for detail. But + in vain; and what aggravated the injury of this monstrous + appropriation of labour was, that the father, whose household + economy was now somewhat pinched, on applying for permission to + remedy these circumstances by a tour, was refused. From that hour + Wolfgang threw by his pen in disgust--at least as far as it + concerned voluntary labour." + +It was now resolved that Mozart should leave Salzburg with his mother, +and try his fortune in the world. He was every where admired; but the +wonder of his childhood had passed away, and empty praise was all that +he could, for the most part, earn. After lingering, in the sickness of +hope deferred, at several of the German courts, his destination was at +last fixed for Paris. His chance of success as a courtier was probably +diminished by the blunt though kindly frankness of his opinions, and +by his inability to stoop to unworthy means of rising. He had also +many rivals to encounter, particularly those of the more slender +school of Italian melody; and few of the public had knowledge or +independence enough to forsake the inferior favourites that were in +vogue. + +In approaching Paris, Mozart became alarmed at the prospect of his +being there compelled to resort to the drudgery of tuition for his +support. "I am a composer," he said, "and the son of a kapell-meister, +and I cannot consent to bury in teaching the talent for composition +which God has so richly bestowed upon me." His father, more +experienced in the world, and more prudential in his ideas, +endeavoured to modify his alarm, and urge him to perseverance in any +honourable course of employment. The father's letter at this time to +his son, to apprize him of the true position of the family, and +preserve him against the dangers in his path, is honourable to both, +and worthy of perusal. + + "This being in all probability the last letter that you will + receive from me at Mannheim, I address it to you alone. How deeply + the wider separation which is about to take place between us + affects me, you may partly conceive, though not feel it in the + same degree with which it oppresses my heart. If you reflect + seriously on what I have undergone with you two children in your + tender years, you will not accuse me of timidity, but, on the + contrary, do me the justice to own that I am, and ever have been, + a man with the heart to venture every thing, though indeed I + always employed the greatest circumspection and precaution. + Against accidents it is impossible to provide, for God only sees + into futurity. Up to this time we cannot be said to have been + either successful or unsuccessful; but, God be thanked, we have + steered between the two. Every thing has been attempted for your + success, and through you for our own. We have at least endeavoured + to settle you in some appointment on a secure footing; though fate + has hitherto decreed that we should fail in our object. This last + step of ours, however, makes my spirit sink within me. You may see + as clearly as the sun at noonday, that, through it, the future + condition of your aged parents, and of your affectionately + attached sister, entirely depends upon you. From the time of your + birth, and indeed earlier, ever since my marriage, I have found it + a hard task to support a wife, and, by degrees, a family of seven + children, two relatives by marriage, and the mother, on a certain + income of twenty-five florins a month, out of this to pay for + maintenance and the expenses of child-bed, deaths, and sicknesses; + which expenses, when you reflect upon them, will convince you that + I not only never devoted a kreutzer to my own private pleasure, + but that I could never, in spite of all my contrivances and care, + have managed to live free from debt without the especial favour of + God; and yet I never was in debt till now. I devoted all my time + to you two, in the hope and indeed reliance upon your care in + return; that you would procure for me a peaceful old age, in which + I might render account to God for the education of my children, + and, without any other concern than the salvation of my soul, + quietly await death. But Providence has so ordered, that I must + now afresh commence the ungrateful task of lesson-giving, and in a + place, too, where this dreary labour is so ill paid, that it will + not support one from one end of the year to the other; and yet it + is to be thought a matter of rejoicing if, after talking oneself + into a consumption, something or other is got by it. + + "I am far, my dear Wolfgang, from having the least mistrust in + you--on the contrary, on your filial love I place all confidence + and every hope. Every thing now depends upon fortunate + circumstances, and the exercise of that sound understanding which + you certainly possess, if you will listen to it; the former are + uncontrollable--but that you will always take counsel of your + understanding I hope and pray.... + + "You are now a young man of twenty-two years of age; here is none + of that seriousness of years which may dissuade a youth, let his + condition be what it may--an adventurer, a libertine, a + deceiver--be he old or young, from courting your acquaintance, and + drawing you into his society and his plans. One may fall into this + danger unawares, and then not know how to recede. Of the other sex + I can hardly speak to you, for there the greatest reserve and + prudence are necessary, Nature herself being our enemy; but + whoever does not employ all his prudence and reserve in his + intercourse, will with difficulty extricate himself from the + labyrinth--_a misfortune that usually ends in death_. How blindly, + through inconsiderate jests, flattery, and play, one may fall into + errors at which the returning reason is ashamed, you may perhaps + have already a little experienced, and it is not my intention to + reproach you. I am persuaded that you do not only consider me as + your father, but as your truest and most faithful friend, and that + you know and see that our happiness or unhappiness--nay, more, my + long life or speedy death is, under God, so to speak, in your + hands. If I know you aright, I have nothing but pleasure to expect + in you, which thought must console me in your absence for the + paternal pleasure of seeing, hearing, and embracing you. Lead the + life of a good Catholic Christian; love and fear God; pray to him + with devotion and sincerity, and let your conduct be such, that + should I never see you more, the hour of my death may be free from + apprehension. From my heart I bless you." + +His reception at Paris was comparatively cold. The Parisians were +scarcely done with the "faction fight" in which the rivalry of Gluck +and Piccini had involved them; but none of the partisans were inclined +to be enthusiastic about the new-comer. His only great admirer, and +his best friend, seems to have been his acute and accomplished +countryman Grimm, who prophesied that monarchs would dispute for the +possession of Mozart. The prediction was fulfilled, but not in +sufficient time to benefit the unhappy subject of their competition. + + "Baron Grimm and myself often vent our indignation at the state of + music here, that is to say, between ourselves; but in public it is + always '_bravo! bravissimo!_' and clapping till the fingers burn. + What most displeases me is, that the French gentlemen have only + so far improved their taste as to be able to _endure_ good things; + but as for any perception that their music is bad--Heaven help + them!--and the singing--_oime!_" + +Again he writes-- + + "You advise me to visit a great deal, in order to make new + acquaintances, or to revive the old ones. That is, however, + impossible. The distance is too great, and the ways too miry to go + on foot; the muddy state of Paris being indescribable; and to take + a coach, one may soon drive away four or five livres, and all in + vain, for the people merely pay you compliments, and then it is + over. They ask me to come on this or that day--I play, and then + they say, '_O c'est un prodige, c'est inconcevable, c'est + etonnant_;' and then '_a Dieu_.'" + + "All this, however," Mr Holmes observes, "might have been endured, + so far as mere superciliousness and _hauteur_ to the professional + musician were involved, if these people had possessed any real + feeling or love for music; but it was their total want of all + taste, their utter viciousness, that rendered them hateful to + Mozart. He was ready to make any sacrifice for his family, but + longed to escape from the artificial and heartless Parisians. + + "If I were in a place," he writes, "where people had ears to hear, + hearts to feel, and some small degree of perception and taste, I + should laugh heartily over all these things--but really, as it + regards music, I am living among mere brute beasts. How can it be + otherwise? It is the same in all their passions, and, indeed, in + every transaction of life; no place in the world is like Paris. Do + not think that I exaggerate when I speak thus of the state of + music here--ask any one except a native Frenchman, and if he be + fit to answer the question, he will tell you the same. I must + endure out of love to you--but I shall thank God Almighty if I + leave this place with my healthful natural taste. It is my + constant prayer that I may be enabled to establish myself, that I + may do honour to the German nation, and make fame and money, and + so be the means of helping you out of your present narrow + circumstances, and of our all living together once more, + cheerfully and happily." + +Take the following vivid sketch of his task in teaching composition to +a young lady:-- + + "Among these pupils one is daughter of the Duc de Guines, with + whom I am in high favour, and I give her two hours' instruction in + composition daily, for which I am very liberally paid. He plays + the flute incomparably, and she magnificently on the harp. She + possesses much talent and cleverness, and, in particular, a very + remarkable memory, which enables her to play all her pieces, of + which there are at least two hundred, without book. She is + doubtful whether she has genius for composition--particularly with + respect to thoughts or ideas; her father (who, between ourselves, + is a little too much in love with her) affirms that she certainly + has ideas, and that nothing but modesty and a want of confidence + in herself prevent their appearing. We shall now see. If she + really have no ideas, and I must say I have as yet seen no + indication of them, it will be all in vain, for God knows I can + give her none. It is not her father's intention to make any very + great composer of her. 'I do not wish her,' he says, 'to write any + operas, airs, concertos, or symphonies, but merely grand sonatas + for her instrument, as I do for mine.' + + "I gave her the fourth lesson to-day, and, as far as the rules of + composition go, am tolerably satisfied with her; she put the bass + to the first minuet which I placed before her, very correctly. We + now commenced writing in three parts. She tried it, and fatigued + herself in attempts, but it was impossible to help her; nor can we + move on a step further, for it is too early, and in science one + must advance by the proper gradations. If she had genius--but + alas! there is none--she has no thoughts--nothing comes. I have + tried her in every imaginable way; among others it occurred to me + to place a very simple minuet before her, to see whether she could + make a variation upon it. That was all to no purpose. Now, thought + I, she does not know how to begin; so I varied the first bar for + her, and told her to continue the variation pursuing that idea; + and at length she got through tolerably well. I next requested her + to begin something herself--the first part only--a melody; but + after a quarter of an hour's cogitation nothing came. I then wrote + four bars of a minuet, and said, 'What a stupid fellow I am, I + have begun a minuet, and cannot finish the first part of it. Have + the goodness to do it for me.' She distrusted her ability, but at + last, with much labour, something came to light. I rejoiced that + we got something at last. She had now to complete the entire + minuet, that is to say, the melody only. On going away, I + recommended her to alter my four bars for something of her own; to + make another beginning even if she retained the same harmony, and + only altered the melody. I shall see to-morrow how she has + succeeded." + +In the midst of this irksome labour, Mozart's beloved mother expired +at Paris in the summer of 1778, after a fortnight's illness. He then +wrote to his father that she was "very ill," and to a family friend at +Salzburg, desiring him to prepare his father and sister for the truth. +The whole correspondence at this time is interesting. The letter to +the Abbe Bullinger is in these words:-- + + "Sympathize with me on this the most wretched and melancholy day + of my life. I write at two o'clock in the morning to inform you + that my mother--my dearest mother--is no more! God has called her + to himself. I saw clearly that nothing could save her, and + resigned myself entirely to the will of God; he gave, and he can + take away. Picture to yourself the state of alarm, care, and + anxiety in which I have been kept for the last fortnight. She died + without being conscious of any thing--her life went out like a + taper. Three days ago she confessed, received the sacrament and + extreme unction; but since that time she has been constantly + delirious and rambling, until this afternoon at twenty-one minutes + after five, when she was seized with convulsions, and immediately + lost all perception and feeling. I pressed her hand and spoke to + her; but she neither saw me, heard me, nor seemed in the least + sensible; and in this state she lay for five hours, namely, till + twenty-one minutes past ten, when she departed, no one being + present but myself, M. Haine, a good friend of ours whom my father + knows, and the nurse. + + "I cannot at present write you the whole particulars of the + illness; but my belief is, that she was to die--that it was the + will of God. Let me now beg the friendly service of you, to + prepare my poor father by gentle degrees for the melancholy + tidings. I wrote to him by the same post, but told him no more + than that she was very ill; and I now await his answer, by which I + shall be guided. May God support and strengthen him! Oh, my + friend! through the especial grace of God I have been enabled to + endure the whole with fortitude and resignation, and have long + since been consoled under this great loss. In her extremity I + prayed for two things: a blessed dying hour for my mother, and + courage and strength for myself; and the gracious God heard my + prayer, and richly bestowed those blessings upon me. Pray, + therefore, dear friend, support my father. Say what you can to + him, in order that when he knows the worst, he may not feel it too + bitterly. I commend my sister also to you from the bottom of my + heart. Call on both of them soon, but say no word of the + death--only prepare them. You can do and say what you will; but + let me be so far at ease as to have no new misfortune to expect. + Comfort my dear father and my dear sister, and pray send me a + speedy answer." + +The letter to his father is curiously circumstantial; but if on such +occasion it is allowable to deceive at all, it is allowable to make +the deception complete. + + "The cause of my having left your letter of the 11th of June so + long unanswered is, that I have very unpleasant and melancholy + intelligence to communicate. My dear mother is very ill. At the + beginning of her illness she was, as usual, bled, and this seemed + to relieve and do her good; but in a few days she began to + complain of sudden chills and heats, which were accompanied by + headach and diarrhoea. We began now to use the remedy that we + employ at home--the antispasmodic powder. We wished that we had + brought the black, but had it not, and could not get it here, + where even its name, _pulvis epilepticus_, is unknown. But as she + got worse continually, spoke with difficulty, and so far lost her + hearing, that it was necessary to call out in speaking to her, + Baron Grimm sent us his physician. She is still very weak, and is + also feverish and delirious. They want to give me hope; but I have + not much. I have been long already--for days and nights + together--between hope and fear; but I have now entirely resigned + myself to the will of God, and I hope that you and my dear sister + will do the like. What are the means then to give us calm and + peace, in a degree, if not absolutely? I am resigned, let the end + be what it may, because I know that God, who, however mysteriously + he may proceed to human eyes, ordains every thing for the best, so + wills it; and I am not easily persuaded out of the belief, that + neither physician nor any other man, neither misfortune nor + accident, can either take or give life, but God alone, though + these are the means which he mostly employs; but even these not + always. We see people constantly sinking and dying around us; but + I do not say, on that account, that my mother must and will die, + or that we have lost all hope. She may recover, if it be the will + of God. I, however, find consolation in these reflections, after + praying to God as earnestly as I am able for my dear mother's + health and life; they strengthen, encourage, and console me, and + you must needs think I require them. Let us now change the + subject, and quit these melancholy thoughts. Let us hope, if not + much, and put our trust in God, consoling ourselves with the + reflection, that every thing is well ordered which the Almighty + orders, and that he best knows what is essential to our temporal + happiness and our eternal salvation." + +The elder Mozart had, in the mean time, without knowing of her +illness, begun a letter to his wife, designed to reach her on her +name-day; but, before its conclusion, he had received his son's +letter, and seen the Abbe, and had thus learned not only her danger +but its result. + + "M. Bullinger found us, as every one else did, in deep affliction; + I handed him your letter without saying a word; he dissembled very + well; and having read it, enquired what I thought about it. I + said, that I firmly believed my dear wife was no more. He almost + feared the same thing, he told me--and then, like a true friend, + entered upon consolatory topics, and said to me every thing that I + had before said to myself. We finished our conversation, and our + friends gradually left us with much concern. M. Bullinger, + however, remained behind, and when we were alone, asked me whether + I believed that there was any ground for hope after such a + description of the illness as had been given. I replied, that I + not merely believed her dead by this time--but that she was + already so on the very day that the letter was written; that I had + resigned myself to the will of God, and must remember that I have + two children, who I hoped would love me, as I lived solely and + entirely for them; indeed, that I felt so certain, as to have + taken some pains to write to, and remind you of the consequences, + &c. Upon this he said, 'Yes, she is dead,' and in that instant the + scales fell from my eyes; for the suddenness of the accident had + prevented my perceiving, what I else should have suspected, as + soon as I had read your letter--namely, how probable it was that + you had privately communicated the real truth to M. Bullinger. In + fact, your letter stupified me--it at first was such a blow as to + render me incapable of reflection. I have now no more to say. Do + not be anxious on my account, I shall bear my sorrow like a man. + Remember what a tenderly loving mother you have had--now you will + be able to appreciate all her care--as in your mature years, after + my death, you will mine, with a constantly increasing affection. + If you love me, as I doubt not but you do, take care of your + health--on your life hangs mine, and the future support of your + affectionate sister. How incomprehensibly bitter a thing it is, + when death rends asunder a happy marriage--can only be known by + experience." + +In a few days, Mozart wrote to his father again:-- + + "I hope that you are now prepared to receive with firmness some + intelligence of a very melancholy and distressing character; + indeed, my last letter, of the 3d, will not have encouraged you to + expect any thing very favourable. On the evening of the same day + (the 3d,) at twenty-one minutes after ten at night, my mother fell + happily asleep in God, and was already experiencing the joys of + heaven at the very moment that I wrote to you. All was over--I + wrote to you in the night, and I trust that you and my sister will + pardon this slight but very necessary artifice;--for when, after + all the distress that I had suffered, I turned my thoughts towards + you, I could not possibly persuade myself to surprise you all at + once with the dreadful and fatal news. Now, however, I hope that + you have both prepared yourselves to hear the worst; and after + giving way to the reasonable and natural impulses of your grief, + to submit yourselves at last to the will of God, and to adore his + inscrutable, unfathomable, and all-wise providence. + + * * * * * + + "I write this in the house of Madame d'Epinay and M. Baron de + Grimm, with whom I am now staying, and where I have a pretty + little room with a pleasant prospect, and am, as far as + circumstances will permit, happy. It would be a great additional + comfort were I to hear that my dear father and sister had resigned + themselves with fortitude and submission to the will of God; + trusting him entirely, in the full conviction that every thing is + ordered for our good. Dear father--be comforted! Dearest + sister--be comforted!--you know not the kind intentions of your + brother towards you; because hitherto they have not been in his + power to fulfil. + + "I hope that you will both be careful of your health. Remember + that you have still a son--a brother--who will exert himself to + the utmost for your happiness, well knowing what sacrifices you + are both ready to make for him, and that when the time shall come, + neither of you will oppose the fulfilment of his honourable + wishes. Oh! then we will lead a life as peaceful and happy as is + attainable in this world; and at length, in God's time, meet all + together again in the enjoyment of that object for which we were + created." + +We have given these letters at some length, as we think they show the +worth, affection, and right feeling of the whole family. + +The disconsolate state in which his father was thus left, decided +Mozart, however reluctant, to return to the hated service of the +Archbishop at Salzburg. The terms on which he was received back were +somewhat improved, for his absence had rendered his value more +perceptible; and a greater latitude was allowed him in visiting, and +composing for other courts. In the winter of 1780-1, he made use of +his leave of absence by writing and bringing out at Munich, with +triumphant success, the splendid serious opera of _Idomeneo_, always +so great a favourite with himself, and which is still regarded as a +masterpiece. + + "With this work, the most important in its influence on music, + Mozart crowned his twenty-fifth year. The score is still a picture + to the musician. It exhibits consummate knowledge of the theatre, + displayed in an opera of the first magnitude and complexity; which + unites to a great orchestra the effects of a double chorus on the + stage and behind the scenes; and introduces marches, processions, + and dances, to various accompaniments in the orchestra, behind the + scenes, or under the stage. This model opera, in which Mozart + rises on the wing from one beauty to another through long acts, + was completed, as we have seen, within a few weeks, and ever since + has defied the scrutiny of musicians to detect in it the slightest + negligence of style." + +In March 1781, Mozart followed the Salzburg court to Vienna, where he +was subjected to such indignity by his patron, as finally to terminate +their connexion. The author of _Idomeneo_ was required to take his +meals at the same table with his grace's valets, confectioner, and +cooks. This was too much, even for Mozart's good-nature; and, +aggravated by the Archbishop's refusal to allow the display of his +talents to the public, gave him courage to insist for his dismissal. + + "The step, however, of resigning a pension, and of throwing + himself entirely upon the public for fame and support, was a more + important one than his sanguine imagination and excitement of + feeling permitted him at the time to contemplate. How far his + being an _unappointed_ composer may have hastened the production + of his immortal works, is open to question; but that his life was + sacrificed in struggling against the difficulties in which he was + thereby involved, is beyond a doubt. + + "In the absence of any immediate design of a new dramatic + composition, and delighted at the effect which his public + performance on the pianoforte had created at Vienna, Mozart forgot + all the fears he had expressed previously to his journey to Paris; + thought no more that teaching would interfere with the higher + vocation of his muse; and was content to become the fashionable + performer, teacher, and pianoforte composer of the day. This mode + of life for a time had its temptations and its success; and he + hoped that he might still better assist his father at Vienna than + at Salzburg, as he was at intervals able to remit to him sums of + from ten to thirty ducats. But here commenced the precarious + existence which the composer was for the future destined to lead. + For, not only was the taste of Vienna then, as now, proverbially + variable and flippant--not only was concert-giving an uncertain + speculation, and teaching an inconstant source of income--but in a + man, who, like Mozart, had, from time to time, strong impulses to + write for the theatre, it frequently happened that the order and + regularity of his engagements were made to yield to the object + which engrossed him; and that the profits of his time were + sacrificed on the one hand, without any proportionate advantage on + the other." + +Let it be observed that Mozart's payment for teaching among the +Austrian nobility, was, at the rate of five shillings a lesson! + +Mozart was distinguished for virtues which belong only to great or +good men when labouring in the field of emulation--an absence of all +envy and jealousy, of which he was himself too much the object, and a +just and generous estimate of excellence in others. As observed by Mr +Holmes, good music, not his own, was his best relaxation from his +toils; and his predecessors and contemporaries were alike sure of that +sincere admiration which sprang from an unselfish love of the art. His +regard and respect for Haydn, who was greatly his inferior in genius +and power, is a pleasing illustration of what we have said. + + "At this time, Joseph Haydn was established as kapell-meister in + the service of Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, and enjoyed a very + extensive reputation, which, indeed, the native energy of his + genius, and the fortunate circumstances of his mature life, + enabled him to earn with ease in a variety of compositions. He was + frequently at Vienna, in the suite of his prince; and it was + natural that Mozart, who had long lived on terms of mutual esteem + with Michael Haydn, at Salzburg, should be predisposed to a regard + for his brother;--but the simplicity, benevolence, and sincerity + of Joseph Haydn's character, when united with the charming + qualities of his genius, offered more than the materials for an + ordinary friendship. The attachment of these two men remains + accordingly one of the most honourable monuments of the virtuous + love of art that musical history can produce. Haydn was at this + period about fifty years of age. His constant habit of writing + five hours a-day, had accumulated in a series of years a large + collection of quartets, pianoforte music, church music, and + symphonies, most of which were greatly admired for the spirit and + elegance of their style, and the clearness and originality of + their design. Mozart at once saw and acknowledged the excellence + of Haydn; and in his future intercourse with that master, took the + part which the difference of their age, if not of their genius, + rendered graceful--by deferring to his judgment with all the + meekness of a learner. To Haydn he submitted many of his + compositions before publication; delighting often to call him his + master and model in quartet writing, which he now began to + cultivate in earnest; and omitting no circumstance which could + gratify the veteran musician in possessing such an admirer. Haydn + on his part repaid all this devotion with becoming generosity. + However conscious that, in the universality of musical power, his + own genius must be placed at a disadvantage in comparison with + that of his friend, he harboured no envious or unworthy sentiment; + and death alone interrupted the kind relation in which each stood + to the other. + + "At the musical parties which Mozart gave from time to time, when + he had new compositions to try, and leisure to indulge his + disposition for sociality, Haydn was a frequent guest, and no one + more profoundly enjoyed the extraordinary beauty and perfection of + Mozart's pianoforte playing. Years after, when those fingers, and + the soul which animated them, were sought for in vain, a few + touching words from Haydn spoke more feelingly to the imagination, + in the description of that beauty, than the most laboured and + minute criticism could have done. 'Mozart's playing,' said he, 'I + can never forget.'" + +Haydn's high estimate of his friend's superiority to himself, was +always expressed with equal generosity. In a company of critics, who +discovered that there were faults in Mozart's operas, Haydn, when +appealed to, replied--"All I know is, that Mozart is the greatest +composer now existing." When applied to in 1787, to write a comic +opera, Haydn thought a new subject, or _libretto_, would be necessary, +and adds-- + + "Even then it would be a bold attempt, as scarcely any one can + stand by the side of the great Mozart. For were it possible that + I could impress every friend of music, particularly among the + great, with that deep musical intelligence of the inimitable works + of Mozart--that emotion of the soul with which they affect me, and + in which I both comprehend and feel them, the nations would + contend together for the possession of such a gem. Prague ought to + retain him, and reward him well too; else the history of great + genius is melancholy, and offers posterity but slight + encouragement to exertion, which is the reason, alas! that many + hopeful and aspiring spirits are repressed. I feel indignant that + this _unique_ Mozart is not yet engaged at some royal or imperial + court. Forgive me if I stray from the subject--but I love the man + too much." + +Again, when engaged, along with Mozart, for Salomon's concerts in +England--a plan which, so far as Mozart was concerned, was unhappily +not carried out--Haydn's only stipulation was, that his compositions +should precede those of his friend; and avowed, with unparalleled +frankness, his feeling that he would otherwise have less chance of +being heard with success. + +The celebrity of Mozart, and the applause which attended some of his +new compositions, procured him the notice, and ultimately the +patronage, of the Emperor Joseph--though somewhat unsteadily +conferred, and divided with unworthy Italian rivals. The change, +however, was tardy, and, when it came, did not much improve his +external circumstances. The appointments he held made but a miserable +sinecure, with a still more miserable salary; but the deficiency was +supplied by soft words and familiar looks, which, with Mozart's kindly +disposition, served to attach him to his imperial master, better than +would have been done by a larger allowance ungraciously given. + +In the mean time, relying upon his position as a composer, and hoping +for the best, Mozart had formed the connexion, as to which Mr Hogarth +justly says, "that his fixing his affections on the admirable woman +whom he married, was the wisest act, as it was the happiest event, of +his life. Constance Weber was his guide--his monitress--his guardian +angel. She regulated his domestic establishment--managed his +affairs--was the cheerful companion of his happier hours--and his +never-failing consolation in sickness and despondency. He passionately +loved her, and evinced his feelings by the most tender and delicate +attentions." + +It is remarkable that Mozart's attachment had at first been directed +to his wife's elder sister, and seemed to be returned on her part. But +after his absence in Paris, he was coldly received when they again +met, and, fortunately for himself, he transferred his affections to +Constance, who became his wife. + +Rich as this union was in affection, and in all the happiness that +affection can bestow, it was soon checkered by distress and +difficulty. The health of the wife became precarious; and Mozart's +ignorance of the world, as well as his generous and joyous +disposition, joined to the precarious and varying amount of his +earnings, and the disappointment in his prospects of imperial favour, +involved him in debt, which, by overtaxing his mind and body, led to +the errors and excesses, such as they were, of his latter life, and +ultimately undermined his constitution, and brought him to an untimely +tomb. + +The "res angusta domi" stimulated the composer's pen, and the rapidity +of his productions at this time is marvellous. The taste of Vienna, +however, was capricious; and cabals among singers and critics +succeeded in deadening the effect of his _Figaro_, when first brought +out, and in thoroughly disgusting Mozart with the Viennese opera. How +different the reception which it met from the true hearts and +well-attuned ears of the Bohemian audiences! It was in February 1787, +after parting with the Storaces, on their leaving for England, with a +hope that the mighty master would soon be allured to follow them, that +his Bohemian visit was paid. + + "In the very same week that he parted from his English friends, + Mozart himself set out upon a journey to Prague, whither he had + been very cordially invited by a distinguished nobleman and + connoisseur, Count John Joseph Thun, who maintained in his service + an excellent private band. This was the first professional + expedition of any consequence in which he had engaged since his + settlement in Vienna; it was prosecuted under the most favourable + auspices, and with glowing anticipations of that pleasure for + which he so ardently longed, but so imperfectly realized at + home--the entire sympathy of the public. Nor was he disappointed. + On the same evening that he alighted at the castle of his noble + entertainer, his opera of 'Figaro' was given at the theatre, and + Mozart found himself for the first time in the midst of that + Bohemian audience of whose enthusiasm and taste he had heard so + much. The news of his presence in the theatre quickly ran through + the parterre, and the overture was no sooner ended than the whole + audience rose and gave him a general acclamation of welcome, + amidst deafening salvos of applause. + + "The success of 'Le Nozze di Figaro,' so unsatisfactory at Vienna, + was unexampled at Prague, where it amounted to absolute + intoxication and frenzy. Having run through the whole previous + winter without interruption, and rescued the treasury of the + theatre from ruinous embarrassments, the opera was arranged in + every possible form; for the pianoforte, for wind-instruments + (garden music,) as violin quintets for the chamber, and German + dances; in short, the melodies of 'Figaro' re-echoed in every + street and every garden; nay, even the blind harper himself, at + the door of the beer-house, was obliged to strike up _Non piu + andrai_ if he wished to gain an audience, or earn a kreutzer. Such + was the effect of the popular parts of the opera on the public at + large; its more refined beauties exercised an equal influence on + musicians. The director of the orchestra, Strobach, under whose + superintendence 'Figaro' was executed at Prague, often declared + the excitement and emotion of the band in accompanying this work + to have been such, that there was not a man among them, himself + included, who, when the performance was finished, would not have + cheerfully recommenced and played the whole through again. + + "Finding himself, at length, in a region of sympathy so genial and + delightful, a new era in the existence of the composer seemed to + open, and he abandoned himself without reserve to its pleasures. + In retracing a life so ill rewarded by contemporaries, and so + checkered by calamity, it is pleasant to dally awhile in the + primrose path, and enjoy the opening prospects of good fortune. + + "In a few days he was called upon to give a grand concert at the + opera-house. This was in reality his first public appearance, and + many circumstances conspire to render it memorable; but chiefly + that every piece throughout the performance was of his own + composition. The concert ended by an improvisation on the + pianoforte. Having preluded and played a fantasia, which lasted a + good half-hour, Mozart rose; but the stormy and outrageous + applause of his Bohemian audience was not to be appeased, and he + again sat down. His second fantasia, which was of an entirely + different character, met with the same success; the applause was + without end, and long after he had retired to the + withdrawing-room, he heard the people in the theatre _thundering_ + for his re-appearance. Inwardly delighted, he presented himself + for the third time. Just as he was about to begin, when every + noise was hushed, and the stillness of death reigned throughout + the theatre, a voice in the pit cried '_from Figaro_.' He took the + hint, and ended this triumphant display of skill by extemporising + a dozen of the most interesting and scientific variations upon the + air _Non piu andrai_. It is needless to mention the uproar that + followed. The concert was altogether found so delightful, that a + second, upon the same plan, soon followed. A sonnet was written in + his honour, and his performances brought him one thousand florins. + Wherever he appeared in public, it was to meet testimonies of + esteem and affection. His emotion at the reception of 'Figaro' in + Prague was so great, that he could not help saying to the manager, + Bondini, 'As the Bohemians understand me so well, I must write an + opera on purpose for them.' Bondini took him at his word, and + entered with him, on the spot, into a contract to furnish his + theatre with an opera for the ensuing winter. Thus was laid the + foundation of 'Il Don Giovanni.'" + +The greatest of Mozart's operas was composed at Prague, on a second +visit thither in 1787, when he lived with a musical friend in the +suburbs of the city. "Here, on an elevated site which commanded a view +of the antique magnificence of Prague, its faded castles, ruined +cloisters, and other majestic remains of feudal times, under the mild +rays of an autumnal sun, and in the open air, _Don Giovanni_ was +written." It was immediately brought out at Prague with the success +it deserves, and was afterwards performed at Vienna, but was badly got +up, and but indifferently received. "Don Giovanni," said its author, +"was rather written for Prague than Vienna, but chiefly for myself and +my friends." It is a disgraceful fact, that it was eclipsed in +popularity among the Viennese by the "Tarrare" of Salieri, of which no +one now knows any thing. + +In 1787 Mozart's father died at Salzburg, less happy, it is to be +feared, than his own worth and his son's genius should have made him. +But he was ignorant of the great truth, that fame, and often merely +posthumous fame, is the chief external blessing that awaits men of +extraordinary mental powers in the arts, and that the appropriate +reward of genius, any more than of virtue, is not always--"bread." On +hearing of his father's illness, Mozart had written him in +affectionate terms-- + + "I have just received some news which has given me a sad blow; the + more so, as your last letter left me reason to suppose that you + were in perfect health. I now, however, learn that you are really + very ill. How anxiously I await and hope for some comforting + intelligence from you I need hardly say, although I have long + since accustomed myself in all things to expect the worst. As + death, rightly considered, fulfils the real design of our life, I + have for the last two years made myself so well acquainted with + this true friend of mankind, that his image has no longer any + terrors for me, but much that is peaceful and consoling; and I + thank God that he has given me the opportunity to know him as the + key to our true felicity. I never lie down in bed without + reflecting that, perhaps (young as I am), I may never see another + day; yet no one who knows me will say that I am gloomy or morose + in society. For this blessing I daily thank my Creator, and from + my heart wish it participated by my fellow-men." + +In the autumn of the same year, he lost a valued and valuable friend +in Dr Barisani of Vienna, whose medical attentions had already been +eminently useful to him, and might, if they had been continued, have +saved him from those irregularities of alternate labour and indulgence +which so soon afterwards began to affect his health. Mozart made, on +this occasion, an affecting entry in his memorandum-book, under some +lines which his friend had written for him. + + "To-day, the 2d of September, I have had the misfortune to lose, + through an unexpected death, this honourable man, by best and + dearest friend, and the preserver of my life. He is happy!--but + I--we, and all who thoroughly knew him, cannot again be so--till + we have the felicity to meet him in a better world, never again to + separate." + +In 1789, Mozart visited Prussia, where he was well received by every +one, and seems to have been happy. We may here insert part of a +well-known letter, written about this time, to an amateur baron, which +gives a curious picture of Mozart's character and habits, as well as +of the mixed tone of good humour and good sense with which he seems to +have both written and conversed. The baron had sent him some tolerable +music, and some better wine. + + "TO THE BARON V----. + + "Herewith I return you, my good baron, your scores; and if you + perceive that in my hand there are more _nota benes_ than notes, + you will find from the sequel of this letter how that has + happened. Your symphony has pleased me, on account of its ideas, + more than the other pieces, and yet I think that it will produce + the least effect. It is too much crowded, and to hear it partially + or piecemeal (_stueckweise_) would be, by your permission, like + beholding an ant-hill (_Ameisen haufen_). I mean to say, that it is + as if Eppes, the devil, were in it. + + "You must not snap your fingers at me, my dearest friend, for I + would not for all the world have spoken out so candidly if I could + have supposed that it would give you offence. Nor need you wonder + at this; for it is so with all composers who, without having from + their infancy, as it were, been trained by the whip and the curses + (_Donnerwetter_) of the maestro, pretend to do every thing with + natural talent alone. Some compose fairly enough, but with other + people's ideas, not possessing any themselves; others, who have + ideas of their own, do not understand how to treat and master + them. This last is your case. Only do not be angry, pray! for St + Cecilia's sake, not angry that I break out so abruptly. But your + song has a beautiful cantabile, and your dear _Fraenzl_ ought to + sing it very often to you, which I should like as much to see as + to hear. The minuet in the quartet is also pleasing enough, + particularly from the place I have marked. The _coda_, however, + may well clatter or tinkle, but it will never produce _music_; + _sapienti sat_, and also to the _nihil sapienti_, by whom I mean + myself. I am not very expert in writing on such subjects; I rather + show at once how it ought to be done. + + "You cannot imagine with what joy I read your letter; only you + ought not to have praised me so much. We may get accustomed to the + hearing of such things, but to read them is not quite so well. You + good people make too much of me; I do not deserve it, nor my + compositions either. And what shall I say to your present, my + dearest baron, that came like a star in a dark night, or like a + flower in winter, or like a cordial in sickness? God knows how I + am obliged, at times, to toil and labour to gain a wretched + livelihood, and Staenerl, (Constance,) too, must get something. + + "To him who has told you that I am growing idle, I request you + sincerely (and a baron may well do such a thing) to give him a + good box on the ear. How gladly would I work and work, if it were + only left me to write always such music as I please, and as I can + write; such, I mean to say, as I myself set some value upon. Thus + I composed three weeks ago an orchestral symphony, and by + to-morrow's post I write again to Hoffmeister (the music-seller) + to offer him three pianoforte quatuors, supposing that he is able + to pay. Oh heavens! were I a wealthy man, I would say, 'Mozart, + compose what you please, and as well as you can; but till you + offer me something finished, you shall not get a single kreutzer. + I'll buy of you every MS., and you shall not be obliged to go + about and offer it for sale like a hawker.' Good God! how sad all + this makes me, and then again how angry and savage, and it is in + such a state of mind that I do things which ought not to be done. + You see, my dear good friend, so it is, and not as stupid or vile + wretches (_lumpen_) may have told you. Let this, however, go _a + cassa del diavolo_. + + "I now come to the most difficult part of your letter, which I + would willingly pass over in silence, for here my pen denies me + its service. Still I will try, even at the risk of being well + laughed at. You say, you should like to know my way of composing, + and what method I follow in writing works of some extent. I can + really say no more on this subject than the following; for I + myself know no more about it, and cannot account for it. When I + am, as it were, completely myself, entirely alone, and of good + cheer--say, travelling in a carriage, or walking after a good + meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such + occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly. _Whence_ + and _how_ they come, I know not; nor can I force them. Those ideas + that please me I retain in memory, and am accustomed, as I have + been told, to hum them to myself. If I continue in this way, it + soon occurs to me how I may turn this or that morsel to account, + so as to make a good dish of it; that is to say, agreeably to the + rules of counterpoint, to the peculiarities of the various + instruments, &c. + + "All this fires my soul, and, provided I am not disturbed, my + subject enlarges itself, becomes methodized and defined, and the + whole, though it be long, stands almost complete and finished in + my mind, so that I can survey it, like a fine picture or a + beautiful statue, at a glance. Nor do I hear in my imagination the + parts _successively_, but I hear them, as it were, all at once + (_gleich alles zusammen_.) What a delight this is I cannot tell! + All this inventing, this producing, takes place in a pleasing + lively dream. Still the actual hearing of the _tout ensemble_ is + after all the best. What has been thus produced I do not easily + forget, and this is perhaps the best gift I have my Divine Maker + to thank for. + + "When I proceed to write down my ideas, I take out of the bag of + my memory, if I may use that phrase, what has previously been + collected into it in the way I have mentioned. For this reason the + committing to paper is done quickly enough, for every thing is, as + I said before, already finished; and it rarely differs on paper + from what it was in my imagination. At this occupation, I can + therefore suffer myself to be disturbed; for whatever may be going + on around me, I write, and even talk, but only of fowls and geese, + or of Gretel or Baerbel, or some such matters. But why my + productions take from my hand that particular form and style that + makes them _Mozartish_, and different from the works of other + composers, is probably owing to the same cause which renders my + nose so or so large, so aquiline, or, in short, makes it Mozart's, + and different from those of other people. For I really do not + study or aim at any originality; I should, in fact, not be able to + describe in what mine consists, though I think it quite natural + that persons who have really an individual appearance of their + own, are also differently organized from others, both externally + and internally. At least I know that I have constituted myself + neither one way nor the other. + + * * * * * + + "Here, my best friend and well-wisher, the pages are full, and the + bottle of your wine, which has done the duty of this day, is + nearly empty. But since the letter which I wrote to my + father-in-law, to request the hand of my wife, I hardly ever have + written such an enormously long one. Pray take nothing ill. In + speaking, as in writing, I must show myself as I am, or I must + hold my tongue, and throw my pen aside. My last word shall be--my + dearest friend, keep me in kind remembrance. Would to God I could + one day be the cause of so much joy to you as you have been to me. + Well! I drink to you in this glass: long live my good and + faithful ----." "W. A. MOZART." + + +Before he left Prussia, the King offered him an appointment and a +liberal pension. "Can I leave my good Emperor?" said Mozart with +emotion. The proposal, however, made its impression, and shortly +afterwards probably encouraged him, at Vienna, on occasion of fresh +intrigues against him, to tender his resignation of his paltry +situation there. But a kind-like appeal from his imperial patron drove +him at once from his intention, and fixed him where he was. It was +afterwards hinted to him that he might, at least, have taken this +opportunity to stipulate for a better provision for himself. "Satan +himself," he replied, "would hardly have thought of bargaining at such +a moment." + +The year 1789-90 seems to have been about the most disastrous in the +situation of his affairs, and led to the most unhappy results. + + "The music-shops, as a source of income, were almost closed to + him, as he could not submit his genius to the dictates of fashion. + Hoffmeister, the publisher, having once advised him to write in a + more _popular_ style, or he could not continue to purchase his + compositions, he answered with unusual bitterness, 'Then I can + make no more by my pen, and I had better starve, and go to + destruction at once.' The fits of dejection which he experienced + were partly the effect of bodily ailments, but more of a weariness + with the perplexity of affairs, and of a prospect which afforded + him but one object on which he could gaze with certainty of + relief, and that was--death. Constant disappointment introduced + him to indulgences which he had not before permitted himself. + + "He became wild in the pursuit of pleasure; whatever changed the + scene was delightful to him, and the more extravagant the better. + His associates, and the frequent guests at his table, were + recommended by their animal spirits and capacity as boon + companions. They were stage-players and orchestral musicians, low + and unprincipled persons, whose acquaintance injured him still + more in reputation than in purse. Two of these men, Schickaneder, + the director of a theatre (for whom Mozart wrote the + 'Zauberfloete,') and Stadler, a clarionet-player, are known to have + behaved with gross dishonesty towards the composer; and yet he + forgave them, and continued their benefactor. The society of + Schickaneder, a man of grotesque humour, often in difficulties, + but of inexhaustible cheerfulness and good-fellowship, had + attractions for Mozart, and led him into some excesses that + contributed to the disorder of his health, as he was obliged to + retrieve at night the hours lost in the day. A long-continued + irregularity of income, also, disposed him to make the most of any + favourable moment; and when a few rouleaus of gold brought the + means of enjoyment, the Champagne and Tokay began to flow. This + course is unhappily no novelty in the shifting life of genius, + overworked and ill-rewarded, and seeking to throw off its cares in + the pursuits and excitements of vulgar existence. It is necessary + to know the composer as a man of pleasure, in order to understand + certain allusions in the correspondence of his last years, when + his affairs were in the most embarrassed condition, and his + absence from Vienna frequently caused by the pressure of + creditors. He appears at this time to have experienced moments of + poignant self-reproach. His love of dancing, masquerades, masked + balls, &c., was so great, that he did not willingly forego an + opportunity of joining any one of those assemblies, whether public + or private. He dressed handsomely, and wished to make a favourable + impression in society independently of his music. He was sensitive + with regard to his figure, and was annoyed when he heard that the + Prussian ambassador had said to some one, 'You must not estimate + the genius of Mozart by the insignificance of his exterior.' The + extremity of his animal spirits may occasion surprise. He composed + pantomimes and ballets, and danced in them himself, and at the + carnival balls sometimes assumed a character. He was actually + incomparable in Arlequin and Pierrot. The public masquerades at + Vienna, during the carnival, were supported with all the vivacity + of Italy; the emperor occasionally mingled in them, and his + example was generally followed. We are not, therefore, to measure + these enjoyments by our colder northern notions." + +It should be added, what Mr Holmes tells us on good authority, that +the vice of ebriety was not among Mozart's failings. "He drank to the +point of exhilaration, but not beyond." His fondness for +ballet-dancing may seem strange to us, who have almost a Roman +repugnance to such exhibitions in men of good station. But it is +possible that in some minds the love of graceful motion may be a +refined passion and an exalted art; and it is singular that Mozart's +wife told of him, that, in his own estimation, his taste lay in +dancing rather than in music. + + "That these scenes of extravagant delight seduced him into + occasional indulgences, which cannot be reconciled with the purity + of his earlier life, it would be the worst affectation in his + biographer to deny. Nor is it necessary to the vindication of + Mozart that such temporary errors should be suppressed by a + feeling of mistaken delicacy. Living such a round of excitements, + and tortured by perpetual misfortunes, there is nothing very + surprising in the fact, that he should sometimes have been drawn + into the dangerous vortex; but he redeemed the true nobility of + his nature by preserving, in the midst of his hasty inconstancies, + the most earnest and unfailing attachment to his home. It is a + curious illustration of his real character, that he always + confessed his transgressions to his wife, who had the wise + generosity to pardon them, from that confidence in his truth which + survived alike the troubles and temptations of their checkered + lives." + +Let none lightly dare either to condemn or to imitate the +irregularities of life of such wondrous men as Mozart and our own +Burns. Those who may be gifted with equally strong and exquisite +sensibilities as they, as fine and flexible affections, as bright an +imagination, beautifying every object on which its rainbow colours +rest, and who have been equally tried by affliction and +misconstruction, and equally tempted by brilliant opportunities of +pleasure in the intervals of penury and pain--these, if they stand +fast, may be allowed to speak, and they will seldom speak +uncharitably, of their brethren who have fallen; or, if they fall, +they may be heard to plead a somewhat similar excuse. But let ordinary +men, and men less extraordinary than those we speak of, beware how +they either refer to them as a reproach, or follow them as an example. + +The excesses of men of genius are always exaggerated by their enemies, +and often overrated even by their friends and companions. With +characteristic fervour they enter enthusiastically into every thing in +which they engage; and, when they indulge in dissipation, delight to +sport on the brink of all its terrors, and to outvie in levity and +extravagance the most practised professors of their new art. Few that +see or hear them think, that even in the midst of their revels their +hearts are often far away, or are extracting good from the evil spread +before them; and that all the waste of time and talent, so openly and +ostentatiously exhibited, is compensated in secret by longer and +intenser application to the true object of their pursuit, and by acts +of atonement and self-denial, of which the conscious stars of heaven +are the only created witnesses. The worst operation of dissolute +indulgences on genius is not, perhaps, in producing depravity of +heart or habits, for its pure plumes have a virtue about them that is +a preservative against pollution; but in wearing out the frame, +ruffling the temper, and depressing the spirits, and thus embittering +as well as shortening a career that, even when most peaceful and +placid, is often destined to be short and sad enough. + +The good-natured sympathy which Mozart always felt in the welfare of +the very humblest of his brethren of the lyre, is highly creditable to +him. But the extent to which he sacrificed his own interests to serve +them, was often any thing but prudent. He was devoid of every sordid +and avaricious feeling, and indeed carried his generosity to an +excess. + + "The extreme kindness of his nature was grossly abused by artful + performers, music-sellers, and managers of theatres. Whenever any + poor artists, strangers in Vienna, applied to him for assistance, + he offered them the use of his house and table, introduced them to + the persons whom he thought could be of use to them, and + frequently composed for their use concertos, of which he did not + even keep a copy, in order that they might have the exclusive + advantage of playing them. But, not content with this, they sold + these pieces to music-publishers; and thus repaid his kindness by + robbing him. He seldom received any recompense for his pianoforte + compositions, but generally wrote them for his friends, who were, + of course, anxious to possess some work of his for their own use, + and suited to their powers of playing. Artaria, a music-seller of + Vienna, and other members of the trade, contrived to get + possession of many of these pieces, and published them without + obtaining the author's consent, or making him any remuneration for + them. A Polish count, who was invited to a concert at Mozart's + house, heard a quintet performed for the first time, with which he + was so greatly delighted that he asked Mozart to compose for him a + trio for the flute. Mozart agreed, on condition that he should do + it at his own time. The count next day sent a polite note, + expressive of his thanks for the pleasure he had enjoyed, and, + along with it, one hundred gold demi-sovereigns (about L100 + sterling.) Mozart immediately sent him the original score of the + quintet that had pleased him so much. The count returned to Vienna + a year afterwards, and, calling upon Mozart, enquired for the + trio. Mozart said that he had never found himself in a disposition + to write any thing worthy of his acceptance. "Perhaps, then," said + the count, "you may find yourself in a disposition to return me + the hundred demi-sovereigns I paid you beforehand." Mozart + instantly handed him the money, but the count said not a word + about the quintet; and the composer soon afterwards had the + satisfaction of seeing it published by Artaria, arranged as a + quartet, for the pianoforte, violin, tenor, and violoncello. + Mozart's quintets for wind instruments, published also as + pianoforte quartets, are among the most charming and popular of + his instrumental compositions for the chamber; and this anecdote + is a specimen of the manner in which he lost the benefit he ought + to have derived, even from his finest works. The opera of the + 'Zauberfloete' was composed for the purpose of relieving the + distresses of a manager, who had been ruined by unsuccessful + speculations, and came to implore his assistance. Mozart gave him + the score without price, with full permission to perform it in his + own theatre, and for his own benefit; only stipulating that he was + not to give a copy to any one, in order that the author might + afterwards be enabled to dispose of the copyright. The manager + promised strict compliance with the condition. The opera was + brought out, filled his theatre and his pockets, and, some short + time afterwards, appeared at five or six different theatres, by + means of copies received from the grateful manager." + +Mozart's career, when hastening to its close, was illumined by gleams +of prosperity that came but too late. On returning from Prague, in +Nov. 1791, from bringing out the _Clemenza di Tito_, at the coronation +of Leopold, the new Emperor-- + + "He found awaiting him the appointment of kapell-meister to the + cathedral church of St Stephen, with all its emoluments, besides + extensive commissions from Holland and Hungary for works to be + periodically delivered. This, with his engagements for the + theatres of Prague and Vienna, assured him of a competent income + for the future, exempt from all necessity for degrading + employment. But prospects of worldly happiness were now phantoms + that only came to mock his helplessness, and embitter his parting + hour." + + "Now must I go," he would exclaim, "just as I should be able + to live in peace; now leave my art when, no longer the slave + of fashion, nor the tool of speculators, I could follow the + dictates of my own feeling, and write whatever my heart prompts. I + must leave my family--my poor children, at the very instant in + which I should have been able to provide for their welfare." + +The story of his composing the requiem for a mysterious stranger, and +his melancholy forebodings during its composition, are too well known +to require repetition here. The incident, to all appearance, was not +extraordinary in itself, and owed its imposing character chiefly to +the morbid state of Mozart's mind at the time. + +On the 5th of December 1791, the ill-defined disease under which he +had for some time laboured, ended in his dissolution; and subsequent +examination showed that inflammation of the brain had taken place. He +felt that he was dying--"The taste of death," he said to his +sister-in-law, "is already on my tongue--_I taste death_; and who will +be near to support my Constance if you go away?" + + "Suessmayer (an assistant) was standing by the bedside, and on the + counterpane lay the 'Requiem,' concerning which Mozart was still + speaking and giving directions. As he looked over its pages for + the last time, he said, with tears in his eyes, 'Did I not tell + you that I was writing this for myself?'" + + It should be added that this "Suessmayer, who had obtained + possession of one transcript of the 'Requiem,' the other having + been delivered to the stranger immediately after Mozart's decease, + published the score some years afterwards, claiming to have + composed from the _Sanctus_ to the end. As there was no one to + contradict this extraordinary story, it found partial credit until + 1839, when a full score of the 'Requiem' in Mozart's handwriting + was discovered." + +We have now done. The life and character that we have been +considering, speak for themselves. Mozart is not perhaps the greatest +composer that ever lived, but Handel only is greater than he; and to +be second to Handel, seems now to us the highest conceivable praise. +Yet, in some departments, Mozart was even greater than his +predecessor. It is not our intention to characterise his excellences +as a composer. The millions of mankind that he has delighted in one +form or other, according to their opportunities and capacities, have +spoken his best panegyric in the involuntary accents of open and +enthusiastic admiration; and his name will for ever be sweet in the +ear of every one who has music in his soul. + +Two remarks only we will make upon Mozart's taste and system as a +master. The first is, that he invariably considered and proclaimed, +that the great object of music was, not to astonish by its difficulty, +but to delight by its beauty. Some of his own compositions are +difficult as well as beautiful, and in some the beauty may be too +transcendental for senses less exalted than his own. But the +production of _pleasure_, in all its varied forms and degrees, was his +uniform aim and effort; and no master has been more successful. Our +next remark is, that, with all his genius, he was a laborious and +learned musician; and the monument to his own fame which he has +completed in his works, was built upon the most anxious, heartfelt, +and humble study of all the works of excellence that then existed, and +without knowing and understanding which, he truly felt that he could +never have equalled or surpassed them. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[6] _The Life of Mozart, including his Correspondence._ By EDWARD +HOLMES Author of "A Ramble among the Musicians of Germany." London: +Chapman and Hall. 1845 + + + + +TO THE EDITOR OF BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE. + + SIR,--The accompanying narrative was originally sent from the + Sandwich Islands in the shape of a letter. Since my return to + England, it has been suggested to me that it would suit your + pages. If you think so, I shall be happy to place it at your + disposal. The ground-plan annexed is intended merely to assist the + description: it has no pretensions to strict accuracy, the + distances have been estimated, not measured.--I remain, Sir, your + obedient servant, + + AN OFFICER OF THE ROYAL NAVY. + + +ACCOUNT OF A VISIT TO THE VOLCANO OF KIRAUEA, IN OWHYHEE, SANDWICH +ISLANDS, IN SEPTEMBER 1844. + +The ship being about to proceed to Byron's Bay, (the Hilo of the +natives,) on the N.E. side of Owhyhee, to water, the captain arranged, +that to give all opportunity to all those who wished to visit the +volcano, distant from the anchorage forty miles, the excursion should +be made in two parties. Having anchored on Wednesday the 11th of +September, he and several of the officers left Hilo early on the 12th; +they travelled on horseback, and returned on the ensuing Monday, +highly delighted with their trip, but giving a melancholy description +of the road, which they pronounced to be in some places impassable to +people on foot. This latter intelligence was disheartening to the +second division, some of whom, and myself of the number, had intended +to walk. These, notwithstanding, adhered to their resolution; and the +second party, consisting of eight, left the ship at 6 A.M. on Tuesday. +Some on horseback, and some on foot, we got away from the village +about eight o'clock, attended by thirteen natives, to whose calabashes +our prog and clothing had been transferred; these calabashes answer +this purpose admirably; they are gourds of enormous size, cut through +rather above their largest diameter, which is from eighteen inches to +two feet; the half of another gourd forms the lid, and keeps all clean +and dry within; when filled, they are hung by net-work to each end of +a pole thrown across the shoulders of a native, who will thus travel +with a load of fifty or sixty pounds about three miles an hour. The +day was fine and bright, and we started in high spirits, the horsemen +hardly able to conceal their exultation in their superiority over the +walkers, whilst they cantered over the plain from which our ascent +commenced; this, 4000 feet almost gradual in forty miles, is not +fatiguing; and thus, although we found the path through a wood about +three miles long, very deep, and the air oppressive, we all arrived +together without distress at the "half-way house," by 1 P.M. Suppose a +haystack hollowed out, and some holes cut for doors and windows, and +you have a picture of the "half-way house," and the ordinary dwellings +of the natives of these islands; it is kept by a respectable person, +chiefly for the accommodation of travellers, and in it we found the +comfort of a table, a piece of furniture by these people usually +considered superfluous. Here we soon made ourselves snug, commencing +by throwing ourselves on the mats, and allowing a dozen vigorous +urchins to "rumi rumi" us. In this process of shampooing, every muscle +is kneaded or beaten; the refreshing luxury it affords can only be +perfectly appreciated by those who have, like us, walked twenty miles +on a bad road, in a tropical climate. Here we were to stay the night, +and our first object was to prepare dinner and then to eat it; all +seemed disposed to assist in the last part of this operation, and +where every one was anxious to please, and determined to be pleased, +sociability could not be absent. After this we whiled away our time +with books and conversation, till one by one dropping asleep, all +became quiet, except a wretched child belonging to our hostess, who, +from one corner of the hut, every now and then set up its shrill pipe +to disturb our slumbers. + +[Illustration: Map of the Crater.] + +_Explanation of Plan:--_ + + A A The outer rim. + B B The inner rim. + C The active crater. + D D D D D The surface of the larger crater. + E E E E The dike. + F The house. + G The hut. + H H Track to and from crater. + I I Track of party on Wednesday night. + _o o o o o o_ Cones in large crater. + +We were on the march the next morning at six, the walkers more +confident than the horsemen, some of whose beasts did not seem at all +disposed for another day's work. Our road lay for the most part +through immense seas of lava, in the crevices of which a variety of +ferns had taken root, and, though relieving the otherwise _triste_ +appearance, in many places shut out our view of any thing besides. Two +of the walkers, and some of the horsemen, came in at the journey's +end, shortly after eleven o'clock; the remainder, some leaving their +horses behind them, straggled in by two P.M. Here we were at the +crater! Shall I confess that my first feeling was disappointment? The +plan shows some distance between the outer and inner rims, immediately +below the place where the house (F) is situated; this is filled up by +another level, which shuts out a great part of the prospect; the +remainder was too distant, and the sun's rays too powerful, to allow +of our seeing more than a quantity of smoke, and an occasional fiery +ebullition from the further extremity. It was not until we had walked +to the hut (G) that we became sensible of the awful grandeur of the +scene below; from this point we looked perpendicularly down on the +blackened mass, and felt our insignificance. The path leads between +many fissures in the ground, from which sulphurous vapour and steam +issue; the latter, condensing on the surrounding bushes, and falling +into holes in the compact lava, affords a supply of most excellent +water. As evening set in, the active volcano assumed from the house +the appearance of a city in flames; long intersecting lines of fire +looked like streets in a blaze; and when here and there a more +conspicuous burst took place, fancy pictured a church or some large +building a prey to the element. Not contented with this distant view, +three of our party started for the hut, whence in the afternoon we had +so fine a prospect. When there, although our curiosity was highly +gratified, it prompted us to see more; so, pressing a native into our +service, we proceeded along the brink of the N.W. side, until, being +nearly half-way round the outer circle of the crater, we had hoped to +obtain almost a bird's-eye view of the active volcano; we were +therefore extremely chagrined to find, that as we drew nearer our +object, it was completely shut out by a ridge below the one on which +we stood. Our walking had thus far been very difficult, if not +dangerous, and this, with the fatigues of the morning, had nearly +exhausted our perseverance. We determined, however, to make another +effort before giving it up, and were repaid by the discovery of a spur +which led us down, and thence through a short valley to the point +where our track (I) terminates. We came in sight of the crater as we +crested the hill; the view from hence was most brilliant. The crater +appeared nearly circular, and was traversed in all directions by what +seemed canals of fire intensely bright; several of these radiated from +a centre near the N.E. edge, so as to form a star, from which a +coruscation, as if of jets of burning gas, was emitted. In other parts +were furnaces in terrible activity, and undergoing continual change, +sometimes becoming comparatively dark, and then bursting forth, +throwing up torrents of flame and molten lava. All around the edge it +seemed exceedingly agitated, and noise like surf was audible; +otherwise the stillness served to heighten the effect upon the senses, +which it would be difficult to describe. The waning moon warned us to +return, and reluctantly we retraced our steps; it required care to do +this, so that we did not get back to the house before midnight. Worn +out with the day's exertions, we threw ourselves on the ground and +fell asleep, but not before I had revolved the possibility of standing +at the brink of the active crater after nightfall. In the morning we +matured the plan, which was to descend by daylight, so as to +reconnoitre our road, to return to dinner, and then, if we thought it +practicable, to leave the house about 5 P.M., and to remain in the +large crater till after night set in. The only objection to this +scheme (and it was a most serious one) was, that when we mentioned it +to the guides, they appeared completely horror-struck at the notion of +it. Here, as elsewhere in the neighbourhood of volcanic activity, the +common people have a superstitious dread of a presiding deity; in this +place, especially, where they are scarcely rescued from heathenism, we +were not surprised to find it. This, and their personal fears, (no +human being ever having, as the natives assured us, entered the crater +in darkness,) we then found insuperable: all we could do was to take +the best guides we were able to procure with us by daylight, so that +they should refresh their memories as to the _locale_, and ascertain +if any change had taken place since their last visit, and trust to +being able during our walk to persuade one to return with us in the +evening. Accordingly we all left the house after breakfast, following +the track marked (H), which led us precipitously down, till we landed +on the surface of the large crater, an immense sheet of scoriaceous +lava cooled suddenly from a state of fusion; the upheaved waves and +deep hollows evidencing that congelation has taken place before the +mighty agitation has subsided. It is dotted with cones 60 or 70 feet +high, and extensively intersected by deep cracks, from both of which +sulphurous smoke ascends. It is surrounded by a wall about twelve +miles in circumference, in most parts 1000 feet deep. I despair of +conveying an idea of what our sensations were, when we first launched +out on this fearful pit to cross to the active crater at the further +end. With all the feeling of insecurity that attends treading on +unsafe ice, was combined the utter sense of helplessness the +desolation of the scene encouraged: it produced a sort of instinctive +dread, such as brutes might be supposed to feel in such situations. +This, however, soon left us, and attending our guides, who led us away +to the right for about a mile, we turned abruptly to the left, and +came upon a deep dike, which, running concentric with the sides, +terminates near the active crater, with which I conceive its bottom is +on a level. The lava had slipped into it where we crossed, and the +loose blocks were difficult to scramble over. In the lowest part where +these had not fallen, the fire appeared immediately beneath the +surface. The guides here evinced great caution, trying with their +poles before venturing their weight; the heat was intense, and made us +glad to find ourselves again on _terra firma_, if that expression may +be allowed where the walking was exceedingly disagreeable, owing to +the hollowness of the lava, formed in great bubbles, that continually +broke and let us in up to our knees. This dike has probably been +formed by the drainage of the volcano by a lateral vent, as the part +of the crater which it confines has sunk lower than that outside it, +and the contraction caused by loss of heat may well account for its +width, which varies from one to three hundred yards. In support of +this opinion, I may mention, that in 1840 a molten river broke out, +eight miles to the eastward, and, in some places six miles broad, +rolled down to the sea, where it materially altered the line of coast. +From where we crossed, there is a gradual rise until within 200 yards +of the volcano, when the surface dips to its margin. Owing to this we +came suddenly in view of it, and, lost in amazement, walked silently +on to the brink. To the party who had made the excursion the previous +evening, the surprise was not so great as to the others; moreover, a +bright noonday sun, and a floating mirage which made it difficult to +discern the real from the deceptive, robbed the scene of much of its +brilliancy; still it was truly sublime, as a feeble attempt at +description will show. This immense caldron, two and three quarter +miles in circumference, is filled to within twenty feet of its brim +with red molten lava, over which lies a thin scum resembling the slag +on a smelting furnace. The whole surface was in fearful agitation. +Great rollers followed each other to the side, and, breaking, +disclosed deep edges of crimson. These were the canals of fire we had +noticed the night before diverging from a common centre, and the +furnaces in equal activity; while what had appeared to us like jets of +gas, proved to be fitful spurts of lava, thrown up from all parts of +the lake (though principally from the focus near the N.E. edge) a +height of thirty feet. Most people probably would have been satisfied +with having witnessed this magnificent spectacle; but our admiration +was so little exhausted, that the idea continually suggested itself, +"How grand would this be by night!" The party who had encountered the +difficulties of the walk the night before, were convinced that no +greater ones existed in that of to-day; and therefore, if it continued +fine, and we could induce the guide to accompany us, the project was +feasible. The avarice of one of these ultimately overcame his fears, +and, under his direction, we again left the house at 5 P.M., and, +returning by our old track, reached the hill above the crater about +the time the sun set, though long after it had sunk below the edge of +the pit. Here we halted, and smoking our cigars lit from the cracks +(now red-hot) which we had passed unnoticed in the glare of the +sunlight, waited until it became quite dark, when we moved on; and, +great as had been our expectations, we found them faint compared with +the awful sublimity of the scene before us. The slag now appeared +semi-transparent, and so extensively perforated as to show one sheet +of liquid fire, its waves rising high, and pouring over each other in +magnificent confusion, forming a succession of cascades of unequalled +grandeur; the canals, now incandescent, the restless activity of the +numerous vents throwing out great volumes of molten lava, the terrible +agitation, and the brilliancy of the jets, which, shooting high in the +air, fell with an echoless, lead-like sound, breaking the otherwise +impressive stillness; formed a picture that language (at least any +that I know) is quite inadequate to describe. We felt this; for no one +spoke except when betrayed into an involuntary burst of amazement. On +our hands and knees we crawled to the brink, and lying at full length, +and shading our faces with paper, looked down at the fiery breakers as +they dashed against the side of the basin beneath. The excessive heat, +and the fact that the spray was frequently dashed over the edge, put a +stop to this fool-hardiness; but at a more rational distance we stood +gazing, with our feelings of wonder and awe so intensely excited, that +we paid no regard to the entreaties of our guide to quit the spot. He +at last persuaded us of the necessity of doing so, by pointing to the +moon, and her distance above the dense cloud which hung, a lurid +canopy, above the crater. Taking a last look, we "fell in" in Indian +file, and got back to the house, with no further accident than a few +bruises, about ten o'clock. The walk had required caution, and it was +long after I had closed my eyes ere the retina yielded the impressions +that had been so nervously drawn on them. The next morning at nine, we +started on our return to the ship, sauntering leisurely along, picking +strawberries by the way, and enjoying all the satisfaction inherent to +the successful accomplishment of an undertaking. With health and +strength for any attempt we had been peculiarly favoured by the +weather, and had thus done more than any who had preceded us. Our +party, under these circumstances, was most joyous; so that, +independent of the object, the relaxation itself was such as we +creatures of habit and discipline seldom experience. + +To make this narrative more intelligible, it will be necessary to +describe briefly the position and general features of this volcano, +which does not, like most others, spring from a cone, but has +excavated for itself a bed in the side of Mowna Roa, which rises +14,000 feet above the level of the sea; it is about sixteen miles +distant from the summit of the mountain, wherein is an enormous +extinct crater, from which this is probably the outlet; it is 4000 +feet above the level of the sea, and twenty miles from the nearest +coast line. Several distinct levels in the present crater prove that +it has eaten its way to its present depth. On the most elevated of +these large trees now grow, evidences of many years' tranquillity; +lower down we come to shrubs, and lastly to the fern, apparently the +most venturesome of the vegetable kingdom; it seems to require nothing +but rest and water, for we found it shooting out of crevices where the +lava appeared to have undergone no decomposition. Nowhere, I conceive, +(not even in Iceland,) can be seen such stupendous volcanic efforts as +in Owhyhee. The whole island, eighty-six miles long by seventy broad, +and rising, as it does at Mowna Keah, more than 15,000 feet above the +sea, would seem to have been formed by layers of lava imposed at +different periods. Some of these have followed quickly on each other; +while the thickness of soil, made up of vegetable mould and decomposed +lava, indicates a long interval of repose between others. The present +surface is comparatively recent, though there is no tradition of any +but partial eruptions. + +"O Lord! how manifold are Thy works: in wisdom hast Thou made them +all!" + +We reached the village the next day at 1 P.M., and after a refreshing +bathe, returned on board to find the ship prepared for sea, to which +we proceeded the following morning at four o'clock. + + + + +THE DAYS OF THE FRONDE. + + +At the beginning of the present year, and upon the authority of M. +Alexandre Dumas, we laid before the readers of this Magazine a sketch +of certain incidents in the lives of three French guardsmen, who, in +company with a young cadet of Gascony, fought, drank, loved, and +plotted under the reign of Louis the Thirteenth and the rule of +Richelieu. The sketch was incomplete: contrary to established +practice, M. Dumas neither married nor killed his heroes; but after +exposing them to innumerable perils, out of all of which they came +triumphant, although from none did they derive any important benefit, +he left them nearly as he found them--with their fortunes still to +make, and with little to rely upon save their good swords and their +dauntless courage. He promised, however, a continuation of their +history, and that promise he has kept, but with a difference. Passing +over a score of years, he again introduces us to the guardsmen, whom +he left in the heyday of youth, and who have now attained, most of +them passed, the sober age of forty. + +Twenty years later, then, we find D'Artagnan, the young Gascon +gentleman aforesaid, alone upon the scene. His three friends, +influenced by various motives, have retired from the corps of +mousquetaires: Athos to reside upon a small estate in Poitou, Porthos +to marry a rich widow, Aramis to become an abbe. D'Artagnan alone, +having no estate to retire to larger than a cabbage-garden, no widow +to marry, or inclination for the church, has stuck to the service with +credit, but with small profit to himself; and the lieutenancy bestowed +upon him by the Cardinal-Duke in 1628, is still a lieutenancy in 1648, +under Richelieu's less able, but equally ambitious successor, Cardinal +Mazarine. Moreover, deprived, during the greater part of these twenty +years, of the society of his three fiends, who had in some measure +formed his character, and from the example of two of whom he had +caught much of what chivalry and elegance he possessed--deprived also +of opportunities of displaying those peculiar talents for bold +intrigue, which had once enabled him to thwart the projects of +Richelieu himself, D'Artagnan has degenerated into a mere trooper. His +talents and shrewdness have not deserted him; on the contrary, the +latter has increased with his experience of the world; but instead of +being employed in the service of queens and princes, their exercise +has been for some years confined to procuring their owner those +physical and positive comforts which soldiers seek and prize--namely, +a good table, comfortable quarters, and a complaisant hostess. + +Although thus making the best of his position, and only occasionally +grumbling at the caprice of Dame Fortune, who seems entirely to have +forgotten him, it is with a lively sensation of joy that D'Artagnan, +one evening when on guard at the Palais Royal, hears himself summoned +to the presence of Mazarine. It is at the commencement of the Fronde; +the exactions of the cardinal have irritated the people, who show +symptoms of open resistance; his enemies, already sufficiently +numerous, are daily increasing and becoming more formidable. Mazarine +trembles for his power, and looks around him for men of head and +action, to aid him in breasting the storm and carrying out his +schemes. He hears tell of the four guardsmen, whose fidelity and +devotion had once saved the reputation of Anne of Austria, and baffled +the most powerful minister France ever saw; these four men he resolves +to make his own, and D'Artagnan is dispatched to find his three former +companions, and induce them to espouse the cause of the cardinal. The +mission is but partially successful. D'Artagnan finds Porthos, whose +real name is Du Vallon, rich, flourishing, and a widower, but, +notwithstanding all these advantages, perfectly unhappy because he has +no title. Vanity was always the failing of Porthos. Aramis, otherwise +the Chevalier--now the Abbe--d'Herblay, is up to the ears in intrigues +of every description. Athos, Count de la Fere, has abandoned the +wine-flask, formerly the deity of his adoration, and is busied in the +education of a natural son, a youth of sixteen, of whom the beautiful +Duchess of Chevreuse is the mother. By the promise of a barony, +D'Artagnan easily induces Porthos to follow him to Paris; but with his +other two friends he is less successful. Athos and Aramis put him off +with excuses, for both have already pledged themselves to the cause of +the Fronde and of the Duke of Beaufort. + +This prince, the grandson of Henry the Fourth, and of the celebrated +Gabrielle D'Estrees, is a prisoner in the fortress of Vincennes, and a +constant subject of uneasiness to Mazarine. Brave as steel, but of +limited capacity, the idol of the people, who, by the use of his name, +are easily roused to rebellion, the duke has beguiled his long +captivity by abuse of the Facchino Mazarini, as he styles the +cardinal, and by keeping up a constant petty warfare with the governor +of Vincennes, Monsieur de Chavigny. On his way to prison, he boasted +to his guards that he had at least forty plans of escape, some one of +which would infallibly succeed. This was repeated to the cardinal; and +so well is the duke guarded in consequence, that five years have +elapsed and he is still at Vincennes. At last his friends find means +of communicating with him, and Grimaud, the servant of the Count de la +Fere, is introduced, in the capacity of an under jailer, into the +fortress, where, by his taciturnity and apparent strictness, he gains +the entire confidence of La Ramee, an official who, under M. de +Chavigny, is appointed to the especial guardianship of the Duke of +Beaufort. An attempt to escape is fixed for the day of the Pentecost. +Upon the morning of that day, Monsieur de Chavigny starts upon a short +journey, leaving the castle in charge of La Ramee, whom the duke +invites to sup with him upon a famous pasty, that has been ordered for +the occasion from a confectioner who has recently established himself +at Vincennes. Here is what takes place at the repast. + +La Ramee, who, at the bottom of his heart, entertained a considerable +degree of regard and affection for M. de Beaufort, made himself a +great treat of this tete-a-tete supper. His chief foible was gluttony, +and for this grand occasion the confectioner had promised to outdo +himself. The pasty was to be of pheasants, the wine of the best +vintage of Chambertin. By adding to the agreeable images which this +promise called up in his mind, the society of the duke, who in the +main was such an excellent fellow, who played Monsieur de Chavigny +such capital tricks, and made such biting jokes against the cardinal, +La Ramee had composed a picture of a perfectly delightful evening, +which he looked forward to with proportionate jubilation, and with an +impatience almost equalling that of the duke. His first visit that +morning had been to the pastrycook, who had shown him the crust of a +gigantic pasty, decorated at the top with the arms of Monsieur de +Beaufort. The said crust was still empty, but beside it were a +pheasant and two partridges, so minutely and closely larded, that each +of them looked like a cushion stuck full of pins. La Ramee's mouth +watered at the sight. + +Early in the day, M. de Beaufort went to play at ball with La Ramee; a +sign from Grimaud warned him to pay attention to every thing. Grimaud +walked before them, as if to point out the road that he and the duke +would have to take that evening. The place where they were in the +habit of playing was the smaller court of the fortress--a solitary +enclosure, where sentinels were only stationed when the duke was +there; even that precaution seeming unnecessary, on account of the +great height of the ramparts. There were three doors to open before +reaching this court, and each door was opened with a different key. +All three keys were kept by La Ramee. When they reached the court, +Grimaud seated himself negligently in one of the embrasures, his legs +dangling outside the wall. The duke understood that the rope-ladder +was to be fixed at that place. This, and other manoeuvres, +comprehensible enough to M. de Beaufort, and carefully noted by him, +had, of course, no intelligible meaning for La Ramee. + +The game began. M. de Beaufort was in play, and sent the balls +wherever he liked; La Ramee could not win a game. When they had +finished playing, the duke, whilst rallying La Ramee on his ill +success, pulled out a couple of louis-d'ors, and offered them to his +guards, who had followed him to the court to pick up the balls, +telling them to go and drink his health. The guards asked La Ramee's +permission, which he gave, but for the evening only. Up to that time +he had various important matters to arrange, some of which would +require him to absent himself from his prisoner, whom he did not wish +to be lost sight of. + +Six o'clock came, and although the dinner-hour was fixed for seven, +the table was already spread, and the enormous pie placed upon the +side-board. Every body was impatient for something: the guards to go +and drink, La Ramee to dine, and Monsieur de Beaufort to escape. +Grimaud was the only one who seemed to be waiting for nothing, and to +remain perfectly calm; and at times when the duke looked at his dull, +immoveable countenance, he almost doubted whether that could be the +man who was to aid his projected flight. + +At half-past six La Ramee dismissed the guards, the duke sat down at +the table, and signed to his jailer to take a chair opposite to him. +Grimaud served the soup, and stationed himself behind La Ramee. The +most perfect enjoyment was depicted on the countenance of the latter, +as he commenced the repast from which he had been anticipating so much +pleasure. The duke looked at him with a smile. + +"Ventre St Gris! La Ramee," cried he, "if I were told that at this +moment there is in all France a happier man than yourself, I would not +believe it." + +"And you would be quite right not to do so, Monseigneur," said La +Ramee. "I confess that, when I am hungry, I know no pleasure equal to +that of sitting down to a good dinner; and when I remember that my +Amphitryon is the grandson of Henry the Fourth, the pleasure is at +least doubled by the honour done to me." + +The duke bowed. "My dear La Ramee," said he, "you are unequaled in the +art of paying compliments." + +"It is no compliment, Monseigneur," said La Ramee; "I say exactly what +I think." + +"You are really attached to me then?" said the duke. + +"Most sincerely," replied La Ramee; "and I should be inconsolable if +your highness were to leave Vincennes." + +"A singular proof of affection that!" returned the duke. + +"But, Monseigneur," continued La Ramee, sipping at a glass of Madeira, +"what would you do if you were set at liberty? You would only get into +some new scrape, and be sent to the Bastile instead of to Vincennes." + +"Indeed!" said the duke, considerably amused at the turn the +conversation was taking, and glancing at the clock, of which the +hands, as he thought, advanced more slowly than usual. + +"M. de Chavigny is not very amiable," said La Ramee, "but M. de +Tremblay is a great deal worse. You may depend, Monseigneur, that it +was a real kindness to send you here, where you breathe a fine air, +and have nothing to do but to eat and drink, and play at ball." + +"According to your account, La Ramee, I was very ungrateful ever to +think of escaping." + +"Exceedingly so," replied La Ramee; "but your highness never did think +seriously of it." + +"Indeed did I, though!" said the duke; "and what is more, folly though +it may be, I sometimes think of it still." + +"Still by one of your forty plans, Monseigneur?" + +The duke nodded affirmatively. + +"Monseigneur," resumed La Ramee, "since you have so far honoured me +with your confidence, I wish you would tell me one of the forty +methods of escape which your highness had invented." + +"With pleasure," replied the duke. "Grimaud, give me the pasty." + +"I am all attention," said La Ramee, leaning back in his chair, and +raising his glass so as to look at the setting sun through the liquid +amber which it contained. The duke glanced at the clock. Ten minutes +more and it would strike seven, the hour for which his escape was +concerted. Grimaud placed the pie before M. de Beaufort, who took his +silver-bladed knife--steel ones were not allowed him--to cut it; but +La Ramee, unwilling to see so magnificent a pasty mangled by a dull +knife, passed him his own, which was of steel. + +"Well, Monseigneur," said he, "and this famous plan?" + +"Do you wish me to tell you," said the duke, "the one on the success +of which I most reckoned, and which I intended to try the first?" + +"By all means," said La Ramee. + +"Well," said M. de Beaufort, who was busy in the dissection of the +pie, "in the first place I hoped to have for my guardian some honest +fellow like yourself, Monsieur La Ramee." + +"Your hope was realized, Monseigneur. And then?" + +"I said to myself," continued the duke, "if once I have about me a +good fellow like La Ramee, I will get a friend, whom he does not know +to be my friend, to recommend to him a man devoted to my interests, +and who will aid my escape." + +"Good!" said La Ramee. "No bad idea." + +"When I have accomplished this," said the duke, "if the man is +skilful, and manages to gain the confidence of my jailer, I shall have +no difficulty in keeping up a communication with my friends." + +"Indeed!" said La Ramee; "how so?" + +"Easily enough," replied M. de Beaufort; "in playing at ball, for +instance." + +"In playing at ball!" repeated La Ramee, who was beginning to pay +great attention to the duke's words. + +"Yes. I strike a ball into the moat; a man who is at hand, working in +his garden, picks it up. The ball contains a letter. Instead of +throwing back the same ball, he throws another, which contains a +letter for me. My friends hear from me and I from them, without any +one being the wiser." + +"The devil!" said La Ramee, scratching his head, "you do well to tell +me this, Monseigneur. In future I will keep an eye on pickers up of +balls. But, after all, that is only a means of correspondence." + +"Wait a little. I write to my friends--'On such a day and at such an +hour, be in waiting on the other side of the moat with two led +horses.'" + +"Well," said La Ramee, with some appearance of uneasiness, "but what +then? Unless, indeed, the horses have wings, and can fly up the +rampart to fetch you." + +"Or that I have means of flying down," said the duke, carelessly. "A +rope-ladder, for instance." + +"Yes," said La Ramee, with a forced laugh; "but a rope ladder can +hardly be sent in a tennis-ball, though a letter may." + +"No; but it may be sent in something else. Let us only suppose, for +argument's sake, that my cook, Noirmont, has purchased the +pastrycook's shop opposite the castle. La Ramee, who is a bit of an +epicure, tries his pies, finds them excellent, and asks me if I would +like to taste one. I accept the offer, on condition that he shall help +me to eat it. To do so more at his ease, he sends away the guards, and +only keeps Grimaud here to wait upon us. Grimaud is the man whom my +friend has recommended, and who is ready to second me in all things. +The moment of my escape is fixed for seven o'clock. At a few minutes +to seven"---- + +"At a few minutes to seven!" repeated La Ramee, perspiring with alarm. + +"At a few minutes to seven," continued the duke, suiting the action to +the word, "I take the crust off the pie. Inside it, I find two +poniards, a rope-ladder, and a gag. I put one of the poniards to La +Ramee's breast, and I say to him--'My good friend, La Ramee, if you +make a motion or utter a cry, you are a dead man!'" + +The duke, as we have already said, whilst uttering these last +sentences, had acted in conformity. He was now standing close to La +Ramee, to whom his tone of voice, and the sight of the dagger levelled +at his heart, intimated plainly enough that M. de Beaufort would keep +his word. Meanwhile Grimaud, silent as the grave, took out of the pie +the second poniard, the rope-ladder, and the gag. La Ramee followed +each of these objects with his eyes with a visibly increasing terror. + +"Oh, Monseigneur!" cried he, looking at the duke with an air of +stupefaction, which at any other time would have made M. de Beaufort +laugh heartily, "you would not have the heart to kill me?" + +"No, if you do not oppose my flight." + +"But, Monseigneur, if I let you escape, I am a ruined man." + +"I will pay you the value of your office." + +"And if I defend myself, or call out?" + +"By the honour of a gentleman, you die upon the spot!" + +At this moment the clock struck. + +"Seven o'clock," said Grimaud, who had not yet uttered a word. + +La Ramee made a movement. The duke frowned, and the unlucky jailer +felt the point of the dagger penetrate his clothes, and press against +his breast. + +"Enough, Monseigneur," cried he; "I will not stir. But I entreat you +to tie my hands and feet, or I shall be taken for your accomplice." + +The duke took off his girdle, and gave it to Grimaud, who tied La +Ramee's hands firmly behind his back. La Ramee then held out his legs; +Grimaud tore a napkin into strips, and bound his ankles together. + +"And now the gag!" cried poor La Ramee; "the gag! I insist upon it; or +they will hang me for not having given the alarm." + +In an instant La Ramee was gagged, and laid upon the ground; two or +three chairs were overturned, to make it appear that there had been a +struggle. Grimaud took from La Ramee's pockets all the keys that they +contained, opened the room-door, shut and double-locked it when the +duke and himself had passed out, and led the way to the court. This +the fugitives reached without accident or encounter, and found it +entirely deserted; no sentinels, nor any body at the windows that +overlooked it. The duke hurried to the rampart, and saw upon the +further side of the moat three horsemen and two led horses. He +exchanged a sign with them; they were waiting for him. Meanwhile +Grimaud was fastening the rope by which the descent was to be +effected. It was not a ladder, but a silken cord rolled upon a stick, +which was to be placed between the legs, and become unrolled by the +weight of the person descending. + +"Go," said the duke. + +"First, Monseigneur?" asked Grimaud. + +"Certainly," was the reply; "if I am taken, a prison awaits me; if you +are caught, you will be hung." + +"True," said Grimaud; and putting himself astride the stick, he +commenced his perilous descent. The duke followed him anxiously with +his eyes. About three quarters of the distance were accomplished, when +the cord broke, and Grimaud fell into the moat. M. de Beaufort uttered +a cry; but Grimaud said nothing, although he was evidently severely +hurt, for he remained motionless upon the spot on which he had fallen. +One of the three horsemen slid down into the moat, fastened the noose +of a rope under the arms of Grimaud, and his two companions, who held +the other end, pulled him up. + +"Come down, Monseigneur," cried the cavaliers; "the fall is only about +fifteen feet, and the grass is soft." + +The duke was already descending. His task was difficult; for the stick +was no longer there to sustain him, and he was obliged to lower +himself along the slender rope from a height of fifty feet by sheer +force of wrist. But his activity, strength, and coolness came to his +aid; in less than five minutes he was at the end of the cord. He then +let go his hold, and fell upon his feet without injury. Climbing out +of the moat, he found himself in the company of Count Rochefort, and +of two other gentlemen with whom he was unacquainted. Grimaud, whose +senses had left him, was fastened upon a horse. + +"Gentlemen," said the duke, "I will thank you by and by; just now we +have not an instant to lose. Forward then, and let who loves me +follow." + +And springing upon his horse, he set off at full gallop, breathing as +if a load were removed from his breast, and exclaiming in accents of +inexpressible joy-- + +"Free! Free! Free!" + +The two cavaliers who accompany the Duke and the Count de Rochefort, +are Athos and Aramis. D'Artagnan and Porthos are sent in pursuit of +the cardinal, and in the obscurity by night the four friends, who have +so often fought side by side, find themselves at sword's point with +each other. Fortunately a recognition ensues before any harm is done. +A strong party of the Duke of Beaufort's adherents comes up, and +D'Artagan and Porthos are taken prisoners, but immediately set at +liberty by the duke. + +The readers of the _Three Mousquetaires_ will not have forgotten a +certain Lady de Winter, having a _fleur-de-lis_ branded on her +shoulder, who plays an important part in that romance, and who, after +committing innumerable crimes, at last meets her death at the hands of +a public executioner, but without form of trial. This latter, indeed, +might be considered almost superfluous, so numerous and notorious were +her offences; but nevertheless, D'Artagnan and his three friends, by +whose order and in whose presence the execution took place, sometimes +feel pangs of remorse for the deed, which none of the many lives they +have taken in fair and open fight ever occasion them. Athos +especially, the most reflecting and sensitive of the four, continually +reproaches himself with the share he took in that act of illegal +justice. This woman has left a son, who inherits all her vices, and +who, having been proved illegitimate, has been deprived of Lord De +Winter's estates, and passes by the name of Mordaunt. He is now +brought upon the scene. Raoul, Viscount of Braguelonne, the son of +Athos, is proceeding to Flanders, in company with the young Count de +Guiche, to join the army under the Prince of Conde, when, on the last +day of his journey, and whilst passing through a forest, he falls in +with, and disperses a party of Spanish marauders who are robbing and +ill-treating two travellers. Of these latter, one is dead, and the +other, who is desperately wounded, implores the aid of a priest. Raoul +and his friend order their attendants to form a litter of branches, +and to convey the wounded man to a neighbouring forest inn, whilst +they hasten on to the next village to procure him the spiritual +consolation he is so urgent to obtain. + +The two young men had ridden more than a league, and were already in +sight of the village of Greney, when they saw coming towards them, +mounted upon a mule, a poor monk, whom, from his large hat and grey +woollen gown, they took to be an Augustine friar. Chance seemed to +have sent them exactly what they were seeking. Upon approaching the +monk, they found him to be a man of two or three and twenty years of +age, but who might have been taken for some years older, owing +probably to long fasts and severe penances. His complexion was pale, +not that clear white paleness which is agreeable to behold, but a +bilious yellow; his hair was of a light colour, and his eyes, of a +greenish grey, seemed devoid of all expression. + +"Sir," said Raoul, with his usual politeness, "have you taken orders?" + +"Why do you ask?" said the stranger, in a tone so abrupt as to be +scarcely civil. + +"For our information," replied the Count de Guiche haughtily. + +The stranger touched his mule with his heel, and moved onwards. With a +bound of his horse, De Guiche placed himself before him, blocking up +the road. "Answer, sir" said he. "The question was polite put, and +deserves a reply." + +"I am not obliged, I suppose, to inform the first comer who and what I +am." + +With considerable difficulty De Guiche repressed a violent inclination +to break the bones of the insolent monk. + +"In the first place," said he, "we will tell you who _we_ are. My +friend here is the Viscount of Braguelonne, and I am the Count de +Guiche. It is no mere caprice that induces us to question you; we are +seeking spiritual aid for a dying man. If you are a priest, I call +upon you in the name of humanity to afford him the assistance he +implores; if, on the other hand, you are not in orders, I warn you to +expect the chastisement which your impertinence merits." + +The monk's pale face became livid, and a smile of so strange an +expression overspread it, that Raoul, whose eyes were fixed upon him, +felt an involuntary and unaccountable uneasiness. + +"He is some spy of the Imperialists," said the viscount, putting his +hand upon his pistols. A stern and menacing glance from the monk +replied to the accusation. + +"Well, sir," said De Guiche, "will you answer?" + +"I am a priest," replied the young man, his face resuming its former +calm inexpressiveness. + +"Then, holy father," said Raoul, letting his pistol fall back into the +holster, and giving a tone of respect to his words, "since you are a +priest, you have now an opportunity of exercising your sacred +functions. A man wounded to death is at the little inn which you will +soon find upon your road, and he implores the assistance of one of +God's ministers." + +"I will go to him," said the monk calmly, setting his mule in motion. + +"If you do not, sir," said De Guiche, "remember that our horses will +soon overtake your mule, that we possess sufficient influence to have +you seized wherever you go, and that then your trial will be very +short. A tree and a rope are to be found every where." + +The eyes of the monk emitted an angry spark, but he merely repeated +the words, "I will go to him," and rode on. + +"Let us follow," said De Guiche; "it will be the surest plan." + +"I was about to propose it," said Raoul. And the young men followed +the monk at pistol-shot distance. + +On arriving in sight of the roadside tavern, they saw their servants +approaching it from the opposite direction, leading their horses, and +carrying the wounded man. On perceiving the monk, an expression of joy +illuminated the countenance of the sufferer. + +"And now," said Raoul, "we have done all we can for you, and must +hasten onwards to join the prince's army. There is to be a battle +to-morrow, it is said, and we would not miss it." + +The host had got everything ready, a bed, lint and bandages, and a +messenger had been dispatched to Lens, which was the nearest town, to +bring back a surgeon. + +"You will follow us," said Raoul to the servants, "as soon as you have +conveyed this person to his room. A horseman will arrive here in the +course of the afternoon," added he to the innkeeper, "and will +probably enquire if the Viscount de Braguelonne has passed this way. +He is one of my attendants, and his name is Grimaud. You will tell him +that I have passed, and shall sleep at Cambrin." + +By this time the litter had reached the door of the inn. The monk got +off his mule, ordered it to be put in the stable without unsaddling, +and entered the house. The two young men rode away, followed by the +benedictions of the wounded man. + +The litter was just being carried into the inn, when the hostess +hurried forward to receive her guests. On catching sight of the +sufferer, she seized her husband's arm with an exclamation of terror. + +"Well," said the host, "what is the matter?" + +"Do you not recognise him?" said the woman, pointing to the wounded +man. + +"Recognise him! No--yet--surely I remember the face. Can it be?"---- + +"The former headsman of Bethune," said his wife, completing the +sentence. + +"The headsman of Bethune!" repeated the young monk, recoiling with a +look and gesture of marked repugnance. + +The chief of Raoul's attendants perceived the disgust with which the +monk heard the quality of his penitent. + +"Sir," he said, "although he may have been an executioner, or even if +he still be so, it is no reason for refusing him the consolations of +religion. Render him the service he claims at your hands, and you will +have the more merit in the sight of God." + +The monk made no reply, but entered a room on the ground-floor, in +which the servants were now placing the wounded man upon a bed. As he +did so, every one left the apartment, and the penitent remained alone +with his confessor. The presence of Raoul's and De Guiche's followers +being no longer required, the latter remounted their horses, and set +off at a sharp trot to rejoin their masters, who were already out of +sight. + +They had been gone but a few minutes, when a single horseman rode up +to the door of the inn. + +"What is your pleasure, sir?" said the host, still pale and aghast at +the discovery his wife had made. + +"A feed for my horse, and a bottle of wine for myself," was the reply. +"Have you seen a young gentleman pass by," continued the stranger, +"mounted on a chestnut horse, and followed by two attendants." + +"The Viscount de Braguelonne?" said the innkeeper. + +"The same." + +"Then you are Monsieur Grimaud?" + +The traveller nodded assent. + +"Your master was here not half an hour ago," said the host. "He has +ridden on, and will sleep at Cambrin." + +Grimaud sat down at a table, wiped the dust and perspiration from his +face, poured out a glass of wine, and drank in silence. He was about +to fill his glass a second time, when a loud shrill cry was heard, +issuing from the apartment in which the monk and the patient were shut +up together. Grimaud started to his feet. + +"What is that?" exclaimed he. + +"From the wounded man's room," replied the host. + +"What wounded man?" + +"The former headsman of Bethune, who has been set upon and sorely hurt +by Spanish partisans. The Viscount de Braguelonne rescued and brought +him hither, and he is now confessing himself to an Augustine friar. He +seems to suffer terribly." + +"The headsman of Bethune," muttered Grimaud, apparently striving to +recollect something. "A man of fifty-five or sixty years of age, tall +and powerful; of dark complexion, with black hair and beard?" + +"The same; excepting that his beard has become grey, and his hair +white. Do you know him?" + +"I have seen him once," replied Grimaud gloomily. + +At this moment another cry was heard, less loud than the first, but +followed by a long deep groan. Grimaud and the innkeeper looked at +each other. + +"It is like the cry of a man who is being murdered," said the latter. + +"We must see what it is," said Grimaud. + +Although slow to speak, Grimaud was prompt in action. He rushed to the +door, and shook it violently; it was secured on the inner side. + +"Open the door instantly," cried he, "or I break it down." + +No answer was returned. Grimaud looked around him, and perceived a +heavy crowbar standing in a corner of the passage. This he seized hold +of, and before the host could interfere, the door was burst open. The +room was inundated with blood, which was trickling from the mattrass; +there was a hoarse rattling in the wounded man's throat; the monk had +disappeared. Grimaud hurried to an open window which looked upon the +court-yard. + +"He has escaped through this," said he. + +"Do you think so?" said the host. "Boy, see if the monk's mule is +still in the stable." + +"It is gone," was the answer. + +Grimaud approached the bed, and gazed upon the harsh and strongly +marked features of the wounded man. + +"Is he still alive?" said the host. + +Without replying, Grimaud opened the man's doublet to feel if his +heart beat, and at the same time the innkeeper approached the bed. +Suddenly both started back with an exclamation of horror. A poniard +was buried to the hilt in the left breast of the headsman. + +What had passed between the priest and his penitent was as follows. + +It has been seen that the monk showed himself little disposed to delay +his journey in order to receive the confession of the wounded man; so +little, indeed, that he would probably have endeavoured to avoid it by +flight, had not the menaces of the Count de Guiche, and afterwards the +presence of the servants, or perhaps his own reflections, induced him +to perform to the end the duties of his sacred office. + +On finding himself alone with the sufferer, he approached the pillow +of the latter. The headsman examined him with one of those rapid, +anxious looks peculiar to dying men, and made a movement of surprise. + +"You are very young, holy father," said he. + +"Those who wear my dress have no age," replied the monk severely. + +"Alas, good father, speak to me more kindly! I need a friend in these +my last moments." + +"Do you suffer much?" asked the monk. + +"Yes, but in soul rather than in body." + +"We will save your soul," said the young man; "but, tell me, are you +really the executioner of Bethune, as these people say?" + +"I was," replied the wounded man hurriedly, as though fearful that the +acknowledgment of his degrading profession might deprive him of the +assistance of which he stood in such imminent need. "I was, but I am +so no longer; I gave up my office many years ago. I am still obliged +to appear at executions, but I no longer officiate. Heaven forbid that +I should!" + +"You have a horror of your profession, then?" + +The headsman groaned. + +"So long as I only struck in the name of the law and of justice," said +he, "my conscience was at rest, and my sleep untroubled; but since +that terrible night when I served as instrument of a private +vengeance, and raised my sword with hatred against one of God's +creatures--since that night"---- + +The headsman paused, and shook his head despairingly. + +"Speak on," said the monk, who had seated himself on the edge of the +bed, and began to take an interest in a confession that commenced so +strangely. + +"Ah!" exclaimed the dying man, "what efforts have I not made to stifle +my remorse by twenty years of good works! I have exposed my own +existence to preserve that of others, and have saved human lives in +exchange for the one I had unwarrantably taken. I frequented the +churches, sought out the poor to console and relieve them; those who +once avoided became accustomed to see me, and some have even loved me. +But God has not pardoned me; for, do what I will, the memory of my +crime pursues me, and each night in my dreams the spectre of that +woman stands menacing before me." + +"A woman! Was it a woman, then, whom you assassinated?" cried the +monk. + +"And you, too," exclaimed the headsman--"you, too, use that word, +assassinated. It _was_ an assassination, then, not an execution, and I +am a murderer!" + +He shut his eyes and uttered a hollow moan. The monk feared probably +that he would die without completing his confession, for he hastened +to console him. + +"Go on," said he. "I cannot yet know how far you are guilty. When I +have heard all, I will decide. Tell me, then, how you came to commit +this deed." + +"It was night," resumed the headsman, in faltering accents: "a man +came to my house to seek me, and showed me an order. I followed him. +Four other gentlemen were waiting for him; they put a mask upon my +face, and led me with them. I was resolved to resist, if what they +required me to do appeared unjust. We rode on for five or six leagues +almost without uttering a word; at last we halted--and they showed me, +through the window of a cottage, a woman seated at a table. 'That,' +said they, 'is she whom you are to decapitate.'" + +"Horrible!" exclaimed the monk. "And you obeyed?" + +"Father, that woman was a monster; she had poisoned her husband, had +tried to assassinate her brother-in-law, who was one of the men that +now accompanied me; she had murdered a young girl whom she thought her +rival; and, before leaving England, had instigated the assassination +of the king's favourite." + +"Buckingham?" exclaimed the monk. + +"Yes, Buckingham--that was the name." + +"She was an Englishwoman, then?" + +"No--a Frenchwoman, but she had been married to an English nobleman." + +The monk grew pale, passed his hand across his forehead, and, rising +from the bed, approached the door and bolted it. The headsman thought +that he was leaving him, and implored him to return. + +"I am here," said the monk, resuming his seat. "Who were the five men +who accompanied you?" + +"One was an Englishman; the other four were French, and wore the +uniform of the mousquetaires." + +"Their names?" demanded the monk. + +"I do not know them. But the four Frenchmen called the Englishman 'My +lord.'" + +"And the woman; was she young?" + +"Young and beautiful, most beautiful, as she kneeled before me +imploring mercy. I have never been able to understand how I had the +courage to strike off that pale and lovely head." + +The monk seemed to be under the influence of some violent emotion; his +limbs trembled, and he appeared unable to speak. At last, mastering +himself by a strong effort--"The name of this woman?" said he. + +"I do not know it. She had been married twice, once in France and once +in England." + +"And you killed her!" said the monk, vehemently. "You served as +instrument to those dastardly villains who dared not kill her +themselves. You had no pity on her youth, her beauty, her weakness! +You killed her!" + +"Alas! holy father," said the headsman, "this woman concealed, under +the exterior of an angel, the vices of a demon; and when I saw her, +when I remembered all that I had myself suffered from her"---- + +"You? And what could she have done to you?" + +"She had seduced my brother, who was a priest, had fled with him from +his convent, lost him both body and soul." + +"Your brother?" + +"Yes, my brother had been her first lover. Oh, my father! do not look +at me thus. I am very guilty, then! You cannot pardon me!" + +The monk composed his features, which had assumed a terrible +expression during the latter part of the dying man's confession. + +"I will pardon you," said he, "if you tell me all. Since your brother +was her first lover, you must know her maiden name. Tell it me." + +"Oh, my God! my God!" exclaimed the headsman--"I am dying! Absolution, +holy father! absolution!" + +"Her name," said the monk, "and I give it to you." + +The headsman, who was convulsed with agony, both physical and moral, +seemed scarcely able to speak. The monk bent over him as if to catch +the smallest sound he should utter. + +"Her name," said he, "or no absolution." The dying man seemed to +collect all his strength. + +"Anne de Bueil," murmured he. + +"Anne de Bueil!" repeated the monk, rising to his feet and lifting his +hands to heaven, "Anne de Bueil! Did you say Anne de Bueil?" + +"Yes, yes, that was her name; and now absolve me, for I am dying." + +"_I_ absolve you?" cried the monk, with a laugh that made the +sufferer's hair stand on end; "_I_ absolve you? I am no priest!" + +"You are no priest!" cried the headsman; "but who and what are you, +then?" + +"I will tell you, miscreant! I am John de Winter, and that woman"---- + +"And that woman"----gasped the executioner. + +"Was my mother!" + +The headsman uttered a shriek, the long and terrible one which Grimaud +and the innkeeper had heard. + +"Oh, pardon, pardon!" murmured he--"forgive me, if not in God's name, +at least in your own. If not as a priest, as a son." + +"Pardon you!" replied the pretended monk; "pardon you! God may perhaps +do it, but I never will. Die, wretch, die! unabsolved, despairing, and +accursed." And, drawing a dagger from under his gown, he plunged it +into the breast of the headsman. "Take that," said he, "for my +absolution." + +It was then that the second cry, followed by a long moan, had been +uttered. The headsman, who had partially raised himself, fell back +upon the bed. The monk, without withdrawing his dagger from the wound, +ran to the window, opened it, jumped out into the little flower-garden +below, and hurried to the stable. Leading out his mule, he plunged +into the thickest part of the adjacent forest, stripped off his monk's +garb, took a horseman's dress out of his valise, and put it on. Then, +making all haste to the nearest post-house, he took a horse, and +continued with the utmost speed his journey to Paris. + +The headsman lives long enough to inform Grimaud of what has passed; +and Grimaud, who was present at the decapitation of Lady de Winter, +returns to Paris, to put Athos and his friends on their guard against +the vengeance of her son. Mordaunt, _alias_ De Winter, is one of +Cromwell's most devoted and unscrupulous agents, and is proceeding to +the French capital to negotiate with Mazarine on the part of the +Parliamentary general. Guided by what he has heard from the +executioner of Bethune, he discovers who the men are by whose order +his mother was beheaded, and he vows their destruction. The four +friends soon afterwards meet in England, whither D'Artagnan and +Porthos have been sent on a mission to Cromwell; whilst Athos and +Aramis have repaired thither to strive to prop the falling fortunes of +Charles the First. We cannot say much in favour of that portion of the +book of which the scene is laid on English ground. M. Dumas is much +happier in his delineations of Frondeurs and Mazarinists than of +Puritans and Cavaliers; and his account of Charles the First, and of +the scenes prior to his execution, is horribly Frenchified. + +After numerous narrow escapes from Mordaunt, who pursues them with +unrelenting rancour, and succeeds in assassinating their friend and +his uncle, Lord de Winter, the four guardsmen embark on board a small +vessel to return to France. Mordaunt discovers this, gets the captain +and crew out of the way, replaces them by one Groslow and other +creatures of his own, and conceals himself on board. His plan is, so +soon as the vessel is a short distance out at sea, to escape in a boat +with his confederates, after firing a train communicating with some +barrels of powder in the hold. There is some improbability in this +part of the story; but gunpowder plots have special privilege of +absurdity. The guardsmen, however, discover the mischief that is +brewing against them, just in time to escape through the cabin +windows, and swim off to the boat, which is towing astern. + +Scarcely had D'Artagnan cut the rope that attached the boat to the +ship, when a shrill whistle was heard proceeding from the latter, +which, as it moved on whilst the boat remained stationary, was already +beginning to be lost to view in the darkness. At the same moment a +lantern was brought upon deck, and lit up the figures of the crew. +Suddenly a great outcry was heard; and just then the clouds that +covered the heavens split and parted, and the silver light of the moon +fell upon the white sails and dark rigging of the vessel. Persons were +seen running about the deck in bewilderment and confusion; and +Mordaunt himself, carrying a torch in his hand, appeared upon the +poop. + +At the appointed hour, Groslow had collected his men, and Mordaunt, +after listening at the door of the cabin, and concluding from the +silence which reigned that his intended victims were buried in sleep, +had hurried to the powder barrels and set fire to the train. Whilst he +was doing this, Groslow and his sailors were preparing to leave the +ship. + +"Haul in the rope," said the former, "and bring the boat along-side." + +One of the sailors seized the rope and pulled it. It came to him +without resistance. + +"The cable is cut!" exclaimed the man; "the boat is gone." + +"The boat gone!" repeated Groslow; "impossible!" + +"It is nevertheless true," returned the sailor. "See here; nothing in +our wake, and here is the end of the rope." + +It was then that Groslow uttered the cry which the guardsmen heard +from their boat. + +"What is the matter?" demanded Mordaunt, emerging from the hatchway, +his torch in his hand, and rushing towards the stern. + +"The matter is, that your enemies have escaped you. They have cut the +rope, and saved themselves in the boat." + +With a single bound Mordaunt was at the cabin-door, which he burst +open with his foot. It was empty. + +"We will follow them," said Groslow; "they cannot be far off. We will +give them the stem; sail right over them." + +"Yes; but the powder--I have fired the train!" + +"Damnation!" roared Groslow, rushing to the hatchway. "Perhaps there +is still time." + +A horrible laugh and a frightful blasphemy were Mordaunt's reply; and +then, his features distorted by rage and disappointed hate rather than +by fear, he hurled his torch into the sea, and precipitated himself +after it. At the same moment, and before Groslow had reached the +powder barrels, the ship opened like the crater of a volcano, a gush +of fire rose from it with a noise like that of fifty pieces of +artillery, and blazing fragments of the doomed vessel were seen +careering through the air in every direction. It lasted but an +instant; the red glow that had lit up the sea for miles around +vanished; the burning fragments fell hissing into the water; and, with +the exception of a vibration in the air, all was calm as before. The +felucca had disappeared; Groslow and his men were annihilated. + +Our four guardsmen had witnessed this terrible spectacle with mute awe +and horror, and when it was over, they remained for a moment downcast +and silent. Porthos and D'Artagnan, who had each taken an oar, forgot +to use them, and sat gazing at their companions, whilst the boat +rocked to and fro at the will of the waves. + +"_Ma foi!_" said Aramis, who was the first to break the pause, "this +time I think we are fairly rid of him." + +"Help, gentlemen, help!" just then cried a voice that came sweeping in +piteous accents over the troubled surface of the sea. "Help! for +heaven's sake, help!" + +The guardsmen looked at each other. Athos shuddered. + +"It is his voice!" said he. + +All recognised the voice, and strained their eyes in the direction in +which the felucca had disappeared. Presently a man was seen swimming +vigorously towards them. Athos extended his arm, pointing him out to +his companions. + +"Yes, yes," said D'Artagnan; "I see him." + +"Will nothing kill him?" said Porthos. + +Aramis leaned forward and spoke in a whisper to D'Artagnan. Mordaunt +advanced a few yards, and raised one hand out of the water in sign of +distress. + +"Pity! gentlemen," cried he; "pity and mercy! My strength is leaving +me, and I am about to sink." + +The tone of agony in which these words were spoken awakened a feeling +of compassion in the breast of Athos. + +"Unhappy man!" he murmured. + +"Good!" said D'Artagnan. "I like to see you pity him. On my word, I +think he is swimming towards us. Does he suppose we are going to take +him in? Row, Porthos, row." + +And D'Artagnan plunged his oar into the water. Two or three long +strokes placed twenty fathoms between the boat and the drowning man. + +"Oh! you will have mercy!" cried Mordaunt. "You will not let me +perish!" + +"Aha! my fine fellow," said Porthos, "we have you now, I think, +without a chance of escape." + +"Oh, Porthos!" murmured the Count de la Fere. + +"For heaven's sake, Athos," replied Porthos, "cease your eternal +generosity, which is ridiculous under such circumstances. For my part +I declare to you, that if he comes within my reach, I will split his +skull with the oar." + +D'Artagnan, who had just finished his colloquy with Aramis, stood up +in the boat. + +"Sir," said he to the swimmer, "be so good as to betake yourself in +some other direction. The vessel which you intended for our coffin is +scarcely yet at the bottom of the sea, and your present situation is a +bed of roses compared to that in which you intended to put us." + +"Gentlemen!" said Mordaunt in despairing accents, "I swear to you that +I sincerely repent. I am too young to die. I was led away by a +natural resentment; I wished to revenge my mother. You would all have +acted as I have done." + +"Pshaw!" said D'Artagnan, who saw that Athos was becoming more and +more softened by Mordaunt's supplications. The swimmer was again +within three or four fathoms of the boat. The approach of death seemed +to give him supernatural strength. + +"Alas!" said he, "I am going to die, then. And yet I was right to +avenge my mother. And besides, if it were a crime, I repent of it, and +you ought to pardon me." + +A wave that passed over his head, interrupted his entreaties. He again +emerged, and made a stroke in the direction of the boat. D'Artagnan +took his oar in both hands. The unhappy wretch uttered a groan of +despair. Athos could bear it no longer. + +"D'Artagnan!" cried he, "my son D'Artagnan, I entreat of you to spare +his life. It is so horrible to let a man die when you can save him by +stretching out your hand. I cannot witness such a deed; he _must_ be +saved." + +"Mordieu!" replied D'Artagnan, "why do you not tie our hands and feet, +and deliver us up to him at once? The thing would be sooner over. Ha! +Count de la Fere, you wish to perish at his hands: well, I, whom you +call your son--I will not suffer it." + +Aramis quietly drew his sword, which he had carried between his teeth +when he swam off from the ship. + +"If he lays a hand upon the boat," said he, "I sever it from his body, +like that of a regicide, as he is." + +"Wait a moment," said Porthos. + +"What are you going to do?" said Aramis. + +"Jump overboard and strangle him," replied the giant. + +"Oh, my friends!" said Athos, in a tone of entreaty that was +irresistible; "remember that we are men and Christians! Grant me the +life of this unhappy wretch!" + +D'Artagnan hung his head: Aramis lowered his sword: Porthos sat down. + +"Count de la Fere," exclaimed Mordaunt, now very near the boat, "it is +you whom I implore. Have pity upon me, and that quickly, for my +strength is exhausted. Count de la Fere, where are you?" + +"I am here, sir," replied Athos, with that noble and dignified air +that was habitual to him. "Take my hand, and come into our boat." + +"I cannot bear to witness it," said D'Artagnan; "such weakness is +really pitiable." And he turned towards his two remaining friends, +who, on their part, recoiled to the other side of the boat, as if +unwilling to touch the man to whom Athos alone did not fear to give +his hand. Mordaunt made an effort, raised himself up, and seized the +arm extended to him. + +"So," said Athos, leaning over the gunwale of the boat--"now place +your other hand here;" and he offered him his shoulder as a support, +so that his head nearly touched that of Mordaunt; and for a moment the +two deadly foes seemed to embrace each other like brothers. Mordaunt +grasped the count's collar with his cold and dripping fingers. + +"And now, sir, you are saved," said Athos; "compose yourself." + +"Ah, my mother!" exclaimed Mordaunt, with the look of a demon, and an +accent of hatred impossible to render, "I can offer you but one +victim, but it is the one you would yourself have chosen!" + +D'Artagnan uttered a cry; Porthos raised his oar; Aramis sprang +forward, his naked sword in his hand. But it was too late. By a last +effort, and with a yell of triumph, Mordaunt dragged Athos into the +water, compressing his throat, and winding his limbs round him like +the coils of a serpent. Without uttering a word, or calling for help, +Athos strove for a moment to maintain himself on the surface of the +water. But his movements were fettered, the weight that clung to him +was too great to bear up against, and little by little he sank. Before +his friends could get to his assistance, his head was under water, and +only his long hair was seen floating; then all disappeared, and a +circle of foam, which in its turn was rapidly obliterated, alone +marked the spot where the two men had been engulfed. Struck dumb by +horror, motionless, and almost suffocated with grief and indignation, +the three guardsmen remained, with dilated eyes and extended arms, +gazing down upon the dark waves that rolled over the body of their +friend, the brave, the chivalrous, the noble-hearted Athos. Porthos +was the first to recover his speech. + +"Oh, Athos!" said he, tearing his hair, and with an explosion of grief +doubly affecting in a man of his gigantic frame and iron mould; "Oh, +Athos! are you indeed gone from us?" + +At this moment, in the midst of the vast circle which the rays of the +moon lit up, the agitation of the water which had accompanied the +absorption of the two men, was renewed, and there appeared, first a +quantity of fair hair, then a pallid human face, with eyes wide open, +but fixed and glazed, then a body, which, after raising its bust out +of the water, fell softly backwards, and floated upon the surface of +the sea. In the breast of the corpse was buried a dagger, of which the +golden hilt sparkled in the moonbeams. + +"Mordaunt! Mordaunt!" cried the three friends; "it is Mordaunt! But +Athos! where is he?" + +Just then the boat gave a lurch, and Grimaud uttered an exclamation of +joy. The guardsmen turned, and saw Athos, his face livid with +exhaustion, supporting himself with a trembling hand upon the gunwale +of the boat. In an instant he was lifted in, and clasped in the arms +of his friends. + +"You are unhurt?" said D'Artagnan. + +"Yes," replied Athos. "And Mordaunt?" + +"Oh! thank God, he is dead at last. Look yonder." + +And D'Artagnan forced Athos to look in the direction he pointed out, +where the body of Mordaunt, tossed upon the wave, seemed to pursue the +friends with a look of insult and mortal hate. Athos gazed at it with +an expression of mingled pity and melancholy. + +"Bravo! Athos," cried Aramis, with a degree of exultation which he +rarely showed. + +"A good blow," exclaimed Porthos. + +"I have a son," said Athos, "and I wished to live. But it was not I +who killed him. It was the hand of fate." + +Soon after the escape of Monsieur de Beaufort, the Parisians, stirred +up by various influential malecontents--one of the chief of whom is +the famous Jean de Gondy, Coadjutor of Paris, and afterwards Cardinal +de Retz--break out into open insurrection. Mazarine's life is menaced; +the queen-mother and the young king are virtually prisoners of the +Frondeurs. The Prince of Conde, with the laurels he has gained on the +battle-field of Lens yet fresh upon his brow, hurries to Paris to take +part against the Fronde; the queen and Mazarine are anxious to escape +from the capital in order to carry on the war in the open field +instead of in the narrow streets, fighting in which latter, or from +behind their barricades, the ill-disciplined troops of the insurgents +are nearly as efficient as the most practised veterans. How to manage +the escape is the difficulty. The gates of the city are guarded by +armed citizens; there appears no possibility of egress. In this +dilemma, Anne of Austria bethinks her of the man to whose address and +courage she had, twenty years previously, been so deeply indebted; +D'Artagnan is called in to her assistance. He succeeds in smuggling +the cardinal out of Paris, and then returns to fetch Louis XIV. and +the queen-mother. + +Instead of re-entering Paris by the gate of St Honore, D'Artagnan, who +had time to spare, went round to that of Richelieu. The guard stopped +him, and when they saw by his plumed hat and laced cloak that he was +an officer of mousquetaires, they insisted upon his crying out, "Down +with Mazarine." This he did with so good a grace, and in so sonorous a +voice, that the most difficult were fully satisfied. He then walked +down the Rue Richelieu, reflecting how he should manage the escape of +the queen, for it would be impossible to take her away in one of the +royal carriages, with the arms of France painted upon it. On passing +before the hotel of Madame de Guemenee, who passed for the mistress of +Monsieur de Gondy, he perceived a coach standing at the door. A sudden +idea struck him. + +"Pardieu!" said he, "it would be an excellent manoeuvre." And, +stepping up to the carriage, he examined the arms upon the panels, +and the livery of the coachman, who was sleeping on the box. + +"It is the Coadjutor's carriage," said D'Artagnan to himself. +"Providence is decidedly in our favour." + +He opened the door without noise, got into the coach, and pulled the +check-string. + +"To the Palais Royal," cried he to the coachman. + +The man, waking in a fright, made no doubt that the order came from +his master, and drove off at full speed to the palace. The gates of +the court were just closing as he drove in. On pulling up at the +steps, the coachman perceived that the footmen were not behind the +carriage, and, supposing that M. de Gondy had sent them somewhere, he +got off his box and opened the door. D'Artagnan jumped out, and just +as the coachman, alarmed at seeing a stranger instead of his master, +made a step backwards, he seized him by the collar with his left hand, +and with his right put a pistol to his breast. + +"Not a word," said D'Artagnan, "or you are a dead man." + +The coachman saw that he had fallen into a snare. He remained silent, +with open mouth and staring eyes. Two mousquetaires were walking up +and down the court; D'Artagnan called them, handed over the coachman +to one of them, with orders to keep him in safe custody, and desired +the other to get on the box of the carriage, drive it round to the +door of the private staircase leading out of the palace, and there to +wait till he came. The coachman's livery coat and hat went with the +carriage. These arrangements completed, D'Artagnan entered the palace, +and knocked at the door of the queen's apartments. He was instantly +admitted; Anne of Austria was waiting for him in her oratory. + +"Is every thing prepared?" said she. + +"Every thing, madam." + +"And the cardinal?" + +"He has left Paris without accident, and waits for your majesty at +Cours la Reine." + +"Come with me to the king." + +D'Artagnan bowed and followed the queen. The young king was already +dressed, with the exception of his shoes and doublet. He seemed +greatly astonished at being thus roused in the middle of the night, +and overwhelmed his valet-de-chambre, Laporte, with questions, to all +of which the latter replied--"Sire, it is by order of her majesty." +The bed-clothes were thrown back, and the sheets were seen worn +threadbare and even into holes. This was one of the results of +Mazarine's excessive parsimony. The queen entered, and D'Artagnan +remained at the door of the apartment. As soon as the child saw his +mother, he escaped from Laporte's hand and ran up to her. She signed +to D'Artagnan to approach. + +"My son," said Anne of Austria, showing him the mousquetaire, who +stood with his plumed hat in his hand, calm, grave, and collected, +"this is M. D'Artagnan, who is brave as one of those knights of old +whose histories you love to hear repeated. Look at him well, and +remember his name, for he is about to render us a great service." + +Louis XIV. gazed at D'Artagnan with his large proud eyes; then, slowly +lifting his little hand, he held it out to the officer, who bent his +knee and kissed it. + +"Monsieur D'Artagnan," repeated the young king. "It is well, madam; I +shall remember it." + +At this moment a loud murmuring noise was heard approaching the +palace. + +"Ha!" said D'Artagnan, straining his ears to distinguish the +sound--"The people are rising." + +"We must fly instantly," said the queen. + +"Madam," said D'Artagran, "you have deigned to give me the direction +of this night's proceedings. Let your majesty remain and learn what +the people want. I will answer for every thing." + +Nothing is more easily communicated than confidence. The queen, +herself courageous and energetic, appreciated in the highest degree +those two virtues in others. + +"Do as you please," said she. "I trust entirely to you." + +"Does your majesty authorize me to give orders in your name?" + +"I do, sir." + +D'Artagnan hurried from the room. The tumult was increasing; the mob +seemed to surround the Palais Royal. On all sides were heard seditious +cries and clamours. Presently M. de Comminges, who was on guard that +night at the Palais Royal, craved admittance to the queen's presence. +He had about two hundred men in the court-yard and stables, and he +placed them at her majesty's disposal. + +"What do the people want?" said Anne of Austria to D'Artagnan, who +just then re-appeared. + +"A report has been spread, madam, that your majesty has left the +Palais Royal, taking the king with you. The mob demand a proof of the +contrary, or threaten to demolish the palace." + +"Oh! this time it is too bad," said the queen. "I will soon show them +that I am not gone." + +D'Artagnan saw by the expression of Anne's face, that she was about to +give some violent order. He hastened to interfere. + +"Madam," said he, in a low voice, "have you still confidence in me?" + +"Entire confidence, sir," was the reply. + +"Then let your majesty send away M. de Comminges, and order him to +shut himself up with his men in the guard-room and stables. The people +wish to see the king, and the people must see him." + +"See him! But how? On the balcony?" + +"No, madam; here, in his bed, sleeping." + +The queen reflected a moment, and smiled. There as a degree of +duplicity in the course proposed that chimed in with her humour. + +"Let it be as you will," said she. + +"Monsieur Laporte," said D'Artagnan; "go and announce to the people, +that in five minutes they shall see the king in his bed. Say also that +his majesty is sleeping, and that the queen requests them to be +silent, in order not to awaken him." + +"But they cannot all come," said Anne. "A deputation of two or four +persons." + +"All of them, madam." + +"But it will last till to-morrow morning." + +"In a quarter of hour it will be over. I know the mob, madam; it is a +great baby that only wants flattery and caresses. Before the king, +these noisy rioters will be mute and timid as lambs." + +"Go, Laporte," said the queen. The young king approached his mother. + +"Why do you do what these people ask?" said he. + +"It must be so, my son," said Anne of Austria. + +"But if they can tell me that it _must_ be so, I am no longer king." + +The queen remained silent. + +"Sire," said D'Artagnan, "will your majesty permit me to ask you a +question?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Louis, after a moment's pause, occasioned by +surprise at the guardsman's boldness. + +"Does our majesty remember, when playing in the park at +Fontaine-bleau, or the gardens at Versailles, to have seen the heavens +become clouded, and to have heard the thunder roll?" + +"Certainly I do," answered Louis. + +"Well, the noise of that thunder told your majesty, that, however +disposed you might be to play, you _must_ go in-doors." + +"Certainly, sir; but I have been told that the voice of the thunder is +the voice of God." + +"Well, sire, let your majesty listen to the voice of the people, and +you will perceive that it greatly resembles that of the thunder." + +As he spoke, a low deep roar, proceeding from the multitude without, +was borne upon the night breeze to the windows of the apartment. The +next instant all was still and hushed. + +"Hark, sire," said D'Artagnan, "they have just told the people that +you are sleeping. You see that you are still king." + +The queen looked with astonishment at the singular man, whose +brilliant courage made him the equal of the bravest; whose keen and +ready wit rendered him the equal of all. Laporte entered the room, and +announced that the message he had taken to the people had acted like +oil upon the waves, and that they were waiting in respectful silence, +till the five minutes, at the expiration of which they were to see the +king, should have elapsed. By the queen's order, Louis was put into +bed, dressed as he was, and covered up to the throat with the sheets. +His mother stooped over him, and kissed his forehead. + +"Pretend to sleep, Louis," said she. + +"Yes," said the king, "but not one of those men must touch me." + +"Sire," said D'Artagnan, "I am here; and if one of them had that +audacity, he should pay for it with his life." + +The five minutes were over. Laporte went out to usher in the mob; the +queen remained standing near the door; D'Artagnan concealed himself +behind the curtains of the bed. Then was heard the march of a great +multitude of men, striving to step lightly and noiselessly. The queen +raised with her own hand the tapestry that covered the doorway, and +placed her finger on her lips. On beholding her, the crowd paused, +struck with respect. + +"Come in, gentlemen--come in," said the queen. + +There was apparent in the mob a degree of hesitation which resembled +shame; they had expected resistance, had anticipated a contest with +the guards, bloodshed and violence; instead of that, the gates had +been peaceably opened, and the king, ostensibly at least, was +unguarded save by his mother. The men in front of the throng stammered +out an excuse, and attempted to retire. + +"Come in, gentlemen," said Laporte, "since the queen desires it." + +Upon this invitation, a man, bolder than the rest, entered the room, +and advanced on tiptoe towards the bed. He was followed by others, and +the chamber was rapidly filled, as silently as if the new-comers had +been the most humble and obsequious courtiers. D'Artagnan saw every +thing through a hole he had made in the curtain. In the man who had +first entered, he recognised his former servant Planchet, who, since +he had left his service, had been a sergeant in the regiment of +Piedmont, and who was now a confectioner in the Rue des Lombards, and +an active partisan of the Fronde. + +"Sir," said the queen, who saw that Planchet was a leader of the mob, +"you wished to see the king, and the king is here. Approach, and look +at him, and say if we resemble persons who are going to escape." + +"Certainly not, your majesty," said Planchet, a little astonished at +the honour done to him. + +"You will tell my good and loyal Parisians," continued Anne of +Austria, with a smile of which D'Artagnan well understood the meaning, +"that you have seen the king in bed, and sleeping, and the queen about +to go to bed also." + +"I will tell them so, madam, and those who accompany me will also bear +witness to it, but"---- + +"But what?" said the queen. + +"I beseech your majesty to pardon me," said Planchet "but is this +really the king?" + +The queen trembled with suppressed anger. + +"Is there one amongst you who knows the king?" said she. "If so, let +him approach, and say if this be his majesty or not." + +A man, muffled in a cloak, which he wore in such a manner as to +conceal his face, drew near, and stooping over the bed, gazed at the +features of Louis. For a moment D'Artagnan thought that this person +had some evil design, and he placed his hand upon his sword; but as he +did so, the cloak slipped partially from before the man's face, and +the guardsman recognised the Coadjutor, De Gondy. + +"It is the king himself," said the man. "God bless his majesty!" + +"God bless his majesty!" murmured the crowd. + +"And now, my friends," said Planchet; "let us thank her majesty, and +retire." + +The insurgents bowed their thanks, and left the room with the same +caution and silence with which they had entered it. When the last had +disappeared, followed by Laporte, the remaining actors in this strange +scene remained for a moment looking at each other without uttering a +word: the queen standing near the door; D'Artagnan half out of his +hiding-place; the king leaning on his elbow, but ready to fall back +upon his pillow at the least noise that should indicate the return of +the mob. The noise of footsteps, however, grew rapidly more remote, +and at last entirely ceased. The queen drew a deep breath of relief; +D'Artagnan wiped the perspiration of anxiety from his brow; the king +slid out of his bed. + +"Let us go," said Louis. + +Just then Laporte returned. + +"I have followed them to the gates, madam," said the valet-de-chambre; +"they informed their companions that they had seen the king and spoken +to the queen, and the mob has dispersed, perfectly satisfied." + +"The wretches!" murmured Anne of Austria; "they shall pay dearly for +their insolence." Then, turning to D'Artagnan, "Sir," said she, "you +have this night given me the best advice I ever received in my life. +What is next to be done?" + +"We can set out when your majesty pleases. I shall be waiting at the +foot of the private staircase." + +"Go, sir," said the queen. "We will follow you." + +D'Artagnan descended the stairs, and found the carriage at the +appointed place, with the guardsman sitting on the box. He took the +hat and coat of M. de Gondy's coachman, put them on himself, and took +the guardsman's place. He had a brace of pistols in his belt, a +musquetoon under his feet, his naked sword behind him. The queen +appeared, accompanied by the king, and by his brother, the Duke of +Anjou. + +"The Coadjutor's carriage!" exclaimed she, starting back in +astonishment. + +"Yes, madam," said D'Artagnan "but be not alarmed. I shall drive you." + +The queen uttered a cry of surprise, and stepped into the coach. The +king and his brother followed, and sat down beside her. By her +command, Laporte also entered the vehicle. The mantelets of the +windows were closed, and the horses set off at a gallop along the Rue +Richelieu. On reaching the gate at the extremity of the street, the +chief of the guard advanced at the head of a dozen men, and carrying a +lantern in his hand. D'Artagnan made him a sign. + +"Do you recognise the carriage?" said he to the sergeant. + +"No," was the reply. + +"Look at the arms." + +The sergeant put his lantern close to the pannel. + +"They are those of M. le Coadjuteur," said he. + +"Hush!" said d'Artagnan. "Madam de Guemenee is with him." + +The sergeant laughed. "Open the gate," said he; "I know who it is." +Then, approaching the mantelet--"Much pleasure, Monseigneur," said he. + +"Hold your tongue!" cried D'Artagnan, "or you will lose me my place." + +The gate creaked upon its hinges; D'Artagnan, seeing the gate open, +flogged his horses, and set off at a rapid trot. In five minutes he +had rejoined the cardinal's coach. + +"Mousqueton," cried D'Artagnan to M. du Vallon's servant, "open the +door of his majesty's carriage." + +"It is he!" exclaimed Porthos, who was waiting for his friend. + +"In a coachman's livery!" cried Mazarine. + +"And with the Coadjutor's carriage," said the queen. + +"_Corpo di Dio_, Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said the cardinal, "you are +worth your weight in gold!" + +We cannot attempt to give more than these slight glimpses of the eight +volumes now lying before us, in which the extravagance and +exaggeration of many of the incidents are only redeemed by the +brilliant diction and animated narrative of their clever but +unscrupulous author. It would be too lengthy to give even a sketch of +the chain of incidents that succeeds those above detailed, or to show +how, according to M. Dumas, D'Artagnan and his friends became +instrumental to the conclusion of the treaty by which the hostilities +between Frondeurs and Mazarinists are for the time brought to a close. +The first act of the war of the Fronde is over; Louis XIV., now within +a year of his majority, re-enters the capital with Anne of Austria and +Mazarine, D'Artagnan, now captain of mousquetaires, riding on one side +of his carriage, and Porthos, now Baron du Vallon, on the other. Baron +Porthos goes back to his estates, happy and glorious; Aramis and Athos +return to the seclusion whence the stirring times had called them +forth, the latter leaving his son in charge of D'Artagnan, who is to +take the young man with him to the Flemish wars. The restless spirit +of the Gascon abhors the idea of repose. + +"Come, D'Artagnan," said Porthos, as he got upon his horse to depart, +"take my advice; throw up your commission, hang up your sword, and +accompany me to Du Vallon. We will grow old together, whilst talking +of our past adventures." + +"Not so," replied D'Artagnan. "_Peste!_ the campaign is just opening, +and I mean to make it. I hope to gain something by it." + +"And what do you hope to become?" + +"_Pardieu!_ who can tell? Marshal of France, perhaps." + +"Ah, ah!" said Porthos, looking at D'Artagnan, to whose gasconading he +had never been able quite to accustom himself. And the two friends +parted. + +"You will prepare your best apartment for me, Madeleine," said +D'Artagnan to his handsome hostess, as he re-entered his hotel. "I +must keep up appearances, now that I am Captain of Mousquetaires." + + + + +THE GRAND GENERAL JUNCTION AND INDEFINITE EXTENSION RAILWAY RHAPSODY. + +BY A PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE OF CONTRIBUTORS. + + + Though the farmer's hope may perish, + While in floods the harvest lies, + Speculation let us cherish, + Let the Railway market rise! + + Honest trader, whosoever, + Sick with losses, sad with cares, + Quit your burden now or never, + Cut the shop and deal in shares. + + Spendthrift--short of drink and dinners, + Half-pay captain, younger son, + Boldly throw while all are winners, + Laugh henceforth at debt and dun. + + Come, ye saints, whose skill in cavilling, + Shock'd at skittles, cards, or dice, + Thinks, except for Sunday travelling, + Railway gaming is no vice. + + Hither haste, each black-leg fellow, + Quit the turf or loaded bone; + Like your brother-black Othello, + Own your occupation's gone. + + Tribes that live by depredation-- + "Bulls" and "Bears," and birds of prey, + See the coming spoliation, + Scent the premiums far away. + + "Stags!" your rapid forms revealing, + Show awhile your front so bright, + Then from your pursuers stealing, + Vanish sudden out of sight. + + Leave all meaner things, my St John, + For the locomotive race; + Post your tin upon the engine, + Go ahead, and keep the pace. + + At a Railway Monarch's splendour + Envious squires and nobles stare; + Even the Hebrew gewgaw vender + Turns sharebroker in despair. + + Now no more the Ragfair dealer + Hints with horrid breath, "Old Clo';" + Putting forth another feeler, + "Any shares?" he whispers low. + + Every paper's a prospectus, + Nostrums, news, are at an end; + "Easy shaving" don't affect us, + Silent even "The Silent Friend." + + Morison resigns his bubbling, + Lazenby has lost his zest; + Widow Welch has ceased from troubling, + Weary Moses is at rest. + + Every station, age, and gender, + Deep within the torrent dip; + Even our children, young and tender, + Play at games of nursery scrip. + + Over meadows, moors, and mosses, + Quagmires black, and mountains grey, + Careless where or how it crosses, + Speculation finds the way. + + Every valley is exalted, + Every mountain is made low; + Where we once were roughly jolted, + Light and lively now we go. + + Speed along with fire and fury! + Hark! the whistle shrilly shrieks! + Speed--but mark! we don't insure ye + 'Gainst the boiler's frolic freaks. + + But before a trip is ventured, + This precaution prudence begs: + When you've seen your luggage enter'd, + Also book your arms and legs. + + Ask not if yon luckless stoker, + Blown into the air, survive-- + These are trifles, while the broker + Quotes our shares at Ninety-five. + + Vainly points some bleeding spectre + To his mangled remnants;--still + Calmly answers each Director, + "Charge the damage to the bill." + + All the perils which environ + (As the poet _now_ would sing) + Him who meddles with _hot_ iron, + Seem to us a pleasant thing. + + Countless lines, from Lewes to Lerwick, + Cross like nets the country soon; + Soon a railway (Atmospheric,) + Speeds our progress to the moon. + + Traversing yon space between us, + Soon the rapid trains will bring + Ores from Mars and fires from Venus, + Lots of lead from Saturn's Ring; + + Belts from Jupiter's own factory, + Mercury from Maia's Son; + And when summers look refractory, + Bottled sunbeams from the sun. + + If too soaring, too seraphic, + Seems to some that heavenward track, + T'other way there's much more traffic, + Though not many travel back. + + What a gradient through Avernus! + What a curve will Hades take! + When with joy the Shades discern us, + How Hell's terminus will shake! + + How the Pandemonium Junction, + With the Central will combine, + Rattling both without compunction + Down the Tartarus incline! + + Phlegethon no more need fright us, + For we've bridged its fiery way; + And the steamer on Cocytus + Long ago has ceased to pay. + + Charon--under sequestration-- + Does the Stygian bark resign, + Glad to find a situation + As policeman to the line. + + Thoughts of penance need not haunt us; + Who remains our sins to snub? + Pluto, Minos, Rhadamanthus, + All have joined the "Railway Club." + + Fortune's gifts, then, catch and cherish; + Follow where her currents flow; + Sure to prosper--or to perish, + Follow, though to Styx we go! + + + + +SKETCHES OF ITALY--LUCCA. + + +The records of travellers in the _Livre des Etrangers_ at Modena, had +prepared us to expect nothing tolerable at the night halts in our +journey through the Apennines to our projected place of _sejour_ +during the great heats of summer, the _Bagni di Lucca_. At the +_mountain_ locandas, we were always prepared, not to say resigned, to +encounter those various distresses which seem light evils at a +distance--knowing that we could not starve as long as eggs and +maccaroni were to be found, and even as to lodging we were too old +travellers to flinch at trifles. The rural inn at Piave, which looked +more inviting than the great one of the small place, was delighted to +receive us, and gave us good trout, tolerable bread, and excellent +honey: we were in the midst of a lovely country, we heard a limpid +stream running within a few yards of our window; and what had we to +fear? But night came, and with it more annoyances than one bargains +for even in Italy. A floor of thin planks which had never fitted, and +of which the joinings, which had never been of the kind called +_callidae_, were now widened by time, was all that parted our small +bedroom from that of the horses. Through these, and also through large +rat-holes, there came up copious ammoniacal smells, which our mucous +membrane resented from the first; and well it had fared with us had +this been all. We had never been so near horses at night, and had no +idea they made such an incessant noise. _One_ horse stabled and +littered for the night were bad enough, but we had a whole stableful; +and just as we were forgetting the fleas, and forgiving the mosquitos, +and sleep led on by indigestion was heavy on our eyelids, a snort, +loud as a lion's roar, made us start. Then there came a long +succession of chump, chump, from the molar teeth, and a snort, snort, +from the wakeful nostril of our mute companions, (_equo ne credite, +Teucri!_)--one stinted quadruped was ransacking the manger for hay, +another was cracking his beans to make him frisky to-morrow, and more +than one seemed actually rubbing his moist nose just under our bed! +This was not all; not a whisk of their tails escaped us, and when they +coughed, which was often, the hoarse _roncione_ shook the very +tressels of our bed; in short, we never suffered such real night_mare_ +before. We dreamt _stethoscopes_ and racks. But morning came, and, +with it, morning freshness and morning sound. The wood-pigeons are +cooing, the green hills just opposite seem to have come closer up to +our window to wish us good-day; so we throw open our little casement, +to let out the gaseous compounds from bed and stable. How elegantly do +the dew-bedded vines take hold of the poplars and elms, and hang their +festoons of ripening fruit from branch to branch! But the sun begins +to break a brilliant pencil of rays over the hill-top, nor will he +take long to leave the screen and uncover himself; indeed, in less +than a quarter of an hour, he will have stared us quite out of +countenance, and, long before the hour of his advent shall have been +completed, the birds, which till now have been all activity, will +become torpid, the pigeons will have given over their cooing, and the +sparrow his chirp; so the fish that has not yet breakfasted had better +make haste, for his are chariot-wheels which have been looked after +overnight, and linchpins that never come out; nor has he had one +break-down or overturn since he first set off on his _Macadamized_ +way. In haste to escape from the heat of the plains of Tuscany, we +were not sorry when we saw the douaniers of _Pistoia_, the last of its +cities. This town is dulness, not epitomized, but extended over a +considerable space; its streets are many, long, and, what is not usual +in Italy, wide. There is no population stirring; the very piazza is +without activity; and, if you leave it, you may walk a mile between +very large houses, churches, convents, and palaces, without meeting +any one. Pistoia, in short, is an improvement on _Oxford_ in the long +vacation--the place, however, has its ancient fame, has given birth to +two or three distinguished literati, and figured in the civil wars. +The fifteenth century records among others the name of _Cini_, whose +epitaph we saw in the cathedral; and the author of the _Riciardetto_ +was, we believe, also one of its citizens. In its immediate vicinity +fell _Catiline_. They say the Italian language is spoken here with +great purity of _accent_, which is remarkable, as it is only twenty +miles from the guttural and inharmonious speech of Florence. It was +not our purpose to explore its decayed manufactures, if such there +still exist at all, of fire-arms and organs; indeed, we know not if +pistols and organ-pipes have any thing particular to do with it; so, +after refreshment of the cattle, we passed on through a beautiful +country at its most beautiful season, and thought we had seldom seen +any thing more striking than the views from _Serravalle_, or those +about _Pescia_ and _Monte Catino_. The high, almost the highest +Apennines were right a-head; and could we have taken the wings of the +bird, or of the morning, and lighted on any of those peaks at no great +distance, we should have looked directly down on to the Mediterranean, +and almost into the gulf of _La Spezzia_; we should have seen the long +Ligurian promontory in the distant horizon to the right, and have +embraced Leghorn, Elba, Gorgona, and the coast as far as _Piombino_, +in the opposite direction. An imperceptible ascent conducts from the +_town of Lucca_ towards its _baths_; and you may expect, in about +three hours, to have accomplished its sixteen miles. The road follows +the long windings and beautiful valleys of the _Serchio_, of which, +harmless as it looks, we read on all the bridges records of its +occasional violence, and of their repeated destruction. After a +morning's ride, to which there are few equals even in Italy or +Switzerland, we begin to get our books, and paper, and light luggage, +out of the nets and pockets of the carriage--for there are the _Bagni +Caldi_, about a mile before us. It is not our purpose to describe the +humours of an Italian watering-place; but let it not be supposed that +this retreat is the happy thought of our own restless population. The +English have had nothing to do with bringing the baths of Lucca into +notice or fashion, although they are at present among its principal +inhabitants from June to September. Hither flock in summer the +families who have established themselves in winter-quarters at +Florence or Pisa; and here they soon get possession of all the cracked +pianos, and strolling music-masters who come on speculation, and +forthwith begin a series of screaming lessons, called singing, +executed by English young women, studious of cheap accomplishments, to +the infinite distress of all who pass by their open windows, at +whatever hour! As the baths are frequented by the little court of +Lucca, there is a _residenza_, a _casino_, and tables for play. There +are two or three good hotels or _tables-d'hotes_, and there is a +shabby little coffee-house, and a handful of _Balzacs and Paul de +Kocks_ at one circulating library. There is one butcher and one baker +at each of the villages, privileged dispensers of their respective +commodities. There is a scarcity of poultry, of fresh butter, and +vegetables; but there is abundance of maccaroni. There are two +grocers, who both supply amateurs with English pickles, Harvey's +sauce, Warren's blacking, Henry's magnesia, James's powder, and the +other necessaries of life. The houses are generally let for the +season, and the rent of the best is as high as L4 a-week. The +furniture is old and bad, but tolerably clean. Ascend any of the +hills, and you look down on roofs that have scarcely any chimneys. +Whenever you ride or walk, you have a hill on the right and left of +you, and a river making its way against the opposition of huge masses +of stone, and angular impediments from the turns of the valley itself. +On these hills, you have uniformly vines below; and when you get above +the vines, you walk entirely among the chestnut-trees which constitute +the real riches of the country. The best office, however, of the +hills, is not the production of fruit-trees, but the screen they +afford against the Italian sun. The early sunset here is worth all the +wine of the territory, which is scarce and very bad. In the evenings +of July and August, there is a turn-out of equipages that have figured +on the Boulevards and in Hyde Park, which commonly make a halt +opposite the little shabby coffee-house, to eat bad ices, and do the +agreeable to each other--the rush-bottomed chairs at the door being +occupied the while by a set of _intelligent_ young men, with mustache, +who smoke bad cigars, and cultivate as elsewhere the charm of each +others' classical conversation. Montaigne was here in the 15th +century, and Fallopius, he of the trumpets, came here to be cured of +deafness--which is one of the infirmities which the Latin inscription +declares to have yielded to the use of the waters. Lorenzo di Medici +came to talk platonism and the fine arts at a place which will never +know either any more; and, from a Latin letter extant, was summoned +from the Bagni to the death-bed of his wife. Ladies have often been +recommended to the baths to be cured of sterility; and, from what we +have seen, we think there are far more unpromising places. Doctors, +whose names only are known, but who were probably men of learning, +have written on these salutary springs, and modern flippancy has at +present forborne them. We have no Quack to patronize them; the "_numen +aquae_" is not violated in _print_ at least by jobbing apothecaries; +but there is Gentile di Foligno, and Ugolino di Monte Catino, and +Savonarola, and Bandinelli (1483,) and Fallopio (1569,) and Ducini +(1711,) who have written books, of which the object, as they are in +Latin, is not assuredly what there is too much reason to believe it +_is_, when such books are now presented to the world. Of the waters, +(which, like those of Bath, contain minute portions of silex and oxide +of iron,) the temperature differs at the different establishments--and +there are three; 43 deg. Reaumur is assigned as the highest, and 35 deg. 24' +to two others. + +We were stranded at this pleasant place of endurable ennui for three +long months, during which there was no going out from nine to five +P.M. Our society afforded little resource, our reading less. When the +weather permitted--that is, in the delicious, incomparable month of +October--we made little excursions to Barga, Ponte Nero, &c. &c., and +always returned delighted; nor were our walks of shorter distance +unproductive of interest. The Lucchese are the most industrious people +in the world, and their agriculture made us, _pro tempore_, amateurs +of rural economy. We will not bore the reader with _Georgics_ such as +ours; but if he will accept, in place of picture galleries and +churches, the "_quid faciat laetas segetes_" of this far from miserable +population, we will cheerfully take him with us in our walks. + + +AGRICULTURE ROUND LUCCA. + +The _bearded_ wheat, or _triticum_, not the _siligo_, or common wheat +of our English culture, was the plant which, whenever the attributes +of Ceres were to be represented on ancient coins, was selected for +that purpose; but the Lucchese territory, where the _Cerealia_ in +general abound, offers few specimens of either kind. These productions +seem afraid of their _ears_ in the neighbourhood of the _Great Turk_, +who is the great tyrant here, and, together with the rice, monopolizes +three-fourths of all the land devoted to the culture of grain; the +_millet_ (_miglio_,) the _panixa_ (_panico_,) Indian wheat (_sagena_,) +together with the lupins, and a variety of peas, beans, and lentiles, +occupy the remainder. "The Great Turk is a great eater, is he not?" +"Yes," replied the peasant who cultivated him, "_mangia come +Cristiano_,"--he eats like a Christian all he can get out of the +ground; only, the more he gets the better he looks for it--which is +not always the case with Christians. There are two kinds of _Gran +Turco_, or _maize_; that sown in May is of rather better quality than +the other, and produces on an average 10 lbs. more per sack in weight +than that which is sown afterwards in June. In order to secure a good +crop, it is necessary that the ground should be well manured with +lupins, which are either grown for this single purpose the year +before, and left to rot, or boiled to prevent their germination, and +then scattered over the field. The Grand Turk commonly carries but one +head on his shoulders, but occasionally we have remarked two or more +on the same stem. In the year 1817, the sack (160 lbs.) fetched +fifty-eight pauls; while wheat was seventy-eight, and even the +chestnut flour sold at fifty; so that, even in the Lucchese territory, +they have their approach to famine in bad years. + + +SAGENA. + +Pliny mentions the _Sagena_, under the name of Saracenic millet, as a +thing which came from India, and was first brought into Italy in his +own time. Herodotus speaks of its cultivation by the Babylonians. The +Saracens used it in the fourteenth century for making bread, as do the +Lucchese to this day; it is, however, lightly esteemed, and not used +at all when other corn abounds, but thrown into the hencoop to fatten +poultry. It is a beautiful thing to see the high jungle of this most +elastic plant bending to the breeze, and displaying, as it moves, its +beaded top, looking at a distance like so many flowers; but, when seen +nearer, exhibiting _racemes_ (on highly polished stems) of small +pedunculated berries, in mitre-looking capsules. When the seed has +been shaken from the plant, the tops are brought together, and form +those excellent besoms which, throughout southern Europe, supply the +place of birch-broom, than which they are more elastic, not so +brittle, and much cleaner. The ultimate fibrils of this plant are +sometimes sold in little bundles for the purpose of being slit, and +receiving the small Neapolitan firework called _gera foletti_, which +scintillates like a fire-fly. Other kinds of millet and pannick are +also grown here; care being taken to plant them far from the vine and +mulberry, as they make considerable demands on the soil. Rice is said +to have constituted the sole aliment of the republicans of early Rome, +and it is still largely cultivated in many parts of Italy. In the +low-land about Viareggio, it monopolizes the ground almost as much as +the Grand Turk in the more interior parts of the country. + + +LUPINS + +Lupins are largely cultivated, both for their own intrinsic value, and +to induce the growth of other plants. "We are bitter," say the Lupins +in an Italian work on agriculture; "but we enrich the earth which +lacks other manure, and by our bitterness kill those insects which, if +not destroyed, would destroy our successors in the soil. You owe much, +O husbandmen! to us Lupins." + + +HEMP. + +Invaluable plant--pride of intelligent agriculture--that tendest thine +own fibre--and strength to him that rightly cultivates thee--and +constitutest the greatest element of mechanical power! What does not +England--the world itself--owe to that growth which we now +contemplate! Armies are encamped within thy walls--thou towest forth +the ship of discovery on her venturous way, and carriest man and his +merchandise to the Equator and to the Pole! Vain were the auspicious +breeze unless it blew upon thy opening sails; and what were the +sheet-anchor, but for that cable of thine which connects it with the +ship. Vegetable iron! incomparable hemp! Extemporaneous memory can +scarcely follow thy services. Talk of the battering-ram--but what +propelled it forward? The shot, whizzing in the teeth of adverse +winds, carries thy _coil_ to snatch the sailor from the rock where he +stands helpless and beyond aid from all the powers or productions of +man and nature but thine! Thy ladder, and thine alone, can rescue from +the house on fire! Look at the fisheries all over the world--the +herrings of Scotland and the cod of the Baltic might defy us but for +thee. What were wells and windlasses without thee? useless as +corkscrews to empty bottles. Thou art the strong arm of the pulley and +the crane. Gravitation itself, that universal tyrant, had bound all +things to the earth but for thy opposition. The scaffolds were thine +from which grew the _Colosseum_, and the Pyramids have arisen in thine +arms. The kite of science, which went cruising among thunder-clouds to +bring down to a modern Prometheus the spark which ignites the storm, +was held by fibres of thine. The _diver_ and the _miner_ cling to thee +for safety, and they that hunt the wild-bird's egg on the sea-shaken +cliff, as they swing over the frightful abyss. With the lasso the bold +Matador, like the _Retiarius_ of the ancient arena, makes the cast +that is for life. Then the fine arts!--Carrara sends her block for the +Laocoon by aid of thine; and what were all the galleries in Europe but +a collection of gilt frames, but for thy backing and support. By thy +subserviency alone (for what were _panel_ or _laminated copper_ for +such gigantic works?) did Raffaelle bequeath so many legacies of his +immortal genius. It is the strength of thy fibres that is the strength +of the loaded supper-tables of Paul Veronese; and the velvets, the +furs, the satins of Titian and Vandyke, are quilted upon thee. Nor +disdainest thou to render to man, who bruises thee to try thy virtue, +a thousand humbler services. Thou preservest our horses from flies, +our fruit from birds; and who has not felt how thou cheerest the weary +length of continental travelling, by the crack of thy whipcord at the +approach of a new relay? + +Here our friend _Anamnesis_ seemed fatigued, as if he thought he had +spun a sufficiently _long yarn_ on the subject; so we prevailed on him +to prosecute the walk, as evening was beginning to close in--not, +indeed, without apprehension that he would make a stand at several +other interesting plants on which it might suit him to prelect! + +Hemp, when cut, is left to dry for a week; it is then immersed for an +other week in water; after which it is flayed of its skin--a process +which is conducted either by the hand, leaving the stem in this case +entire; or by subjecting the whole plant to a bruising process, +conducted by a machine. + +Besides the above-mentioned grain, the ground produces plenty of +vegetables, but of an inferior quality, as are all Italian fruits, and +most of the leguminous productions also, from want of care. Even as to +flowers, you would find it difficult to make up a bouquet, unless of +ferns, which here abound. The only cultivated flower, except a few +dahlias and sunflowers, are the yellow petals of the lucchini, a kind +of vegetable marrow, which creeps and creeps till its twisted tendrils +and broad leaves occupy, by continual encroachment, the whole field +where they germinate. Besides the _fruit_ of this plant, which we +begin to be supplied with about August, its young leaf and stalk are +boiled like kail for common greens; and its yellow flower, a little +later, makes a _frittura_, which is in request. Fruits are plentiful, +and some of them good; but, for the greater part, of a very inferior +quality. Strawberries, and particularly raspberries, (_lamponi_,) are +found throughout the season; which, commencing with these, and a +scanty supply of currants and gooseberries, (the latter very poor +indeed, and the first quite inferior to our own,) brings us fine figs +of many species and in vast quantities. Apples and pears have their +kinds, and many distinctive names, but are without flavour. The great +supply of the raspberry and small Alpine strawberry is about midsummer +The next-door-hood of all the _Scotch_ families is now fragrant, "on +all lawful days," with the odour of boiling down fruit for jams and +marmalades for winter consumption. As autumn comes on, heaps of +watermelons, piled like cannon-balls under the chestnut-trees, display +their promising purple flesh, and look cooling and desirable, but are +not to be attempted twice under penalty of gastric inconvenience. +Plums and nuts abound, and are followed by a second course of hard, +unripe, and tasteless nectarines and peaches. The season is closing +fast, for the prickly pods of the ripening chestnut now begin to gape, +and the indifferent grapes of the district attain their imperfect +maturity, and are gathered for the wine-press. September is in its +last week, and in less than another month we must all migrate +somewhere for the winter. The baths, on the 15th of October, are quite +empty. + + +TREES. + +A good walnut-tree is as good to a poor man as a milk-cow. "I would +not sell either of those walnut-trees in my garden for thirty scudi +a-piece," said a peasant to us; and, observing that we looked as if we +would not like to tempt him, asked us if we had seen the large +walnut-tree of _Teraglia_, (we had, and had _pic-nicked_ very nearly +under it,) "because," added he, "the proprietor of _that_ tree refused +sixty _scudi_ for it last week, _e ha ragione_, for it is a nonpareil. +A good tree like those in my garden yields me eight _sacks of shelled +fruit_ on an average every year; and a sack of walnuts fetches from a +scudo to ten pauls (four shillings and sixpence) in the market. So +that my trees, between them, bring me in one hundred and sixty pauls +(_i.e._ L4 English) every year." Indeed! and the chestnut-trees +opposite? Oh! in this land of chestnut-trees we don't pay _prezzi +d'affezione_ for them--a good tree standing in the _plain_ may cost +about eight or ten scudi, and may yield about four sacks of shelled +fruit in a good year; but it is a capricious tree even in the _plain_; +while those on the _mountain_, the roots of which derive a precarious +subsistence from the uncertain soil, are liable to be blown down, and +are made pollards of at an early age to prevent this mishap; also, +they are frequently burned down by bonfires kindled under them to +destroy the furze. The chestnut shoot is only four years old before it +begins to bear. Three pounds of fresh chestnuts fetch about one +penny--_dried_, or in flour, about double that price. The peasants +bake a little cake of the chestnut flour called "_netche_," about the +thickness of a crimpet, and having much the flavour and appearance of +potato scones. This paste they bake between two hot stones, with a +couple of the leaves of the chestnut (dried for the purpose by the +peasants) interposed. The baking takes scarcely a minute, and the +cakes are then piled and packed, and sent far and wide. The arms and +the tops of the chestnuts are made into charcoal, so that no part of +this important tree is lost. We are here in the very midst of forests +of chestnut only--far as the eye can reach in every direction, and as +far as vegetation will go up every mountain side, its grateful green +forms a pleasing contrast to those gloomy frequenters and favourites +of the mountain, the sombre pine and dusky olive. + +Several fine-sized olive-trees were shown to us for sale, and said to +be good fruit-bearers, (no olive bears fruit under ten years,) for +twenty-five scudi per tree. These trees were computed to yield about +two and a quarter to three sacks of berries; whereof every sack +yielded a profit of three scudi for one hundred to one hundred and ten +pounds of oil, which represents about the quantity generally +expressed. In retail, Lucca oil, at the present moment, is about one +paul, and olives about three farthings per pound. + + +OAKS. + +We observe three kinds of oaks which here both flourish and abound. +The _Farnia_, the _Querci_, and the _Leccio_--the last evidently a +corruption of Ilex. The first kind grows with amazing rapidity; in +twenty years it is a head and shoulders above all the other trees +which began life with it. It has very long acorns, which are less +astringent than those of either of the other trees, and very much +preferred by pigs. A common oak felled for ship timber costs, where it +stands, from ten to fourteen scudi, and they are in great request for +the Leghorn market. + + +INSECTS. + +Insects do not greatly abound in the neighbourhood about Lucca. Even +the mosquito winds his horn less frequently in our valley, than his +universality elsewhere would lead you to expect. Our beds are free +from bugs, and fleas are not very troublesome. Of the out-of-doors +insects, those which live upon the vegetable kingdom are not very +numerous, nor of much variety. The _Cassida_, who rejoices in lettuce, +brings up his family in other districts where the lettuce abounds. +Wanting the tamarisk, we miss our little _Curculio_, who thrives upon +its leaves; and the _Bruchus pisi_, for want of peas, is frequently +caught in the bean-tops. But the republican armies of ants are +immense, and the realm of bees is uncircumscribed; as no birds of +prey, neither the audacious robin, nor the woodpecker, tapping away on +the hollow beech-tree, diminish their hordes. But if the fowls of the +air be few, the nets of entomologists abound. _Slaters_ of an immense +kind, and spotted, and small mahogany-coloured _Blattidae_, are found +under stones, which also conceal hordes of predatory _beetles_ and +_scorpions_, which bristle up at you as you expose them; and nests of +tiny _snakes_, that coil and cuddle together, from the size of +crowquills to the thickness of the little finger. During June and +July, the monotonous _Cicadae_ spring their rattles in the trees +around, and one comes at last even to like their note, in spite of its +sameness. A little later, flies and wasps send their buzzing progeny +into our dining-rooms, to tease us over our dessert, like troublesome +children: at the same period, some of the larger families of +_Longicorns_ abound, and one of them, _Hamaticherus moschatus_, musks +your finger if you lay hold of him. In the July and August evenings, +fire-flies scintillate on a thousand points around you, and swarm +along the hedges, lighting each other to bed, till about midnight, +which is their curfew; for you seldom meet one of these +lantern-bearers later, though you may still, in returning from a late +party, be stopped with momentary admiration at beholding a magnificent +glow-worm burning her tail away at a great rate, and lighting up some +dark recess unvisited by star or moon, herself a star, and giving +sufficient light to enable you to read the small print of a newspaper +a foot off! But who shall attempt to describe his first acquaintance +with the fire-fly! We have seen birthday illuminations in London and +in Paris; we have seen the cupola of St Peter's start into pale yellow +light, as the deepening shadows of night shrouded all things around; +we have seen the Corso, on _Moccoletti_ night, a long fluctuating line +of ever renewed light, from the street to the fourth story--an +illumination _sui generis_, and "beautiful exceedingly;" but noise and +confusion are around all these as you approach them. But, oh! to +plunge suddenly into an atmosphere filled with _Lucciole_ in the quiet +gloaming of an Italian sky, amidst the olive groves and plantations of +Indian corn, with no noise but the drowsy hum of the huge _stag +beetle_, (the only patrole of the district,) or the yet fainter sounds +of frogs complaining to each other of the sultriness of the night, or +the monotonous hymn, at the peasant's door, addressed to the Virgin! +Your first impression is unmixed delight--your next, a wish probably +that you could introduce the fire-fly into England. Could one empty a +few hatfuls along Pall-Mall or Bond Street, on opera nights, what an +amazement would seize the people! We swept them up into the crown of +our hat, and could not get enough of them; then we set them flying +about our room, putting out the lights and shutting the shutters; and +then we caught them, and began to look more closely at the sources of +our delight, and to examine the acts and deeds of these wonderful +little creatures. As to the light itself, we soon perceived that, in +reality, the fire-fly emitted it from _two sources_; for, besides his +_steady_ light, which never varied, there came, we saw, at intervals, +flicks or sparks of far greater brilliancy, like the revolving light +of the beacon on the sea-shore, only that the light here was never +wholly eclipsed, but merely much abated. We soon perceived, too, that +those sudden jets of light came and went at vastly IRREGULAR +intervals; sometimes in very quick succession, sometimes less +frequently--from which observation, we concluded that this +dispensation of his rich endowment did not proceed from any motion of +the _fluids_ in the animal economy, analogous to our own +circulation--it being far too irregular and inconstant to depend on +any such regulated movement. On removing the head of a _Lucciola_, +this intermitting light _immediately_ ceased; but the other--the +permanent, steady, and equable light--remained unchanged, and was not +extinguished for from _sixty to seventy hours after the death of the +insect_, unless the body was immersed in oil or alcohol, which +extinguished it presently. We found, that though oil and alcohol +quickly extinguished the light, it became suddenly much brighter when +fading, by plunging the insect into hot water; but we did not find +that it could be restored when it had once _entirely_ ceased, by this +or any other means, as some French naturalists have affirmed; and as +to its exploding a jar of hydrogen, as others have written, we +disbelieve it, because the temperature of the insect is far too low. +We think, then, for the present, that there are two distinct +repositories, or two different sources, of light in the fire-fly; and +that while _one_ depends on the _head_, and is a strictly _vital +phenomenon_, the other is altogether independent of any physiological +law of the nervous or circulating system. + + * * * * * + +We have a great respect for _ants_; but we do not go the length of +some of their historians, or believe them to be, any more than +ourselves, _infallible_. We have seen a laborious ant (_magni Formica +laboris_) tugging a snail-shell (for some reason only known to +himself) up a hill, stopping to take breath, and going cheerily to +work again till he had nearly accomplished his ascent, and found +himself on the very edge of its summit. Here he has been surrounded by +friends, officious busy-bodies, who, _intending_ no doubt to help him, +have got _into_ the shell, in place of lending him a hand, till their +added load was too much, and the unfortunate ant has been obliged to +loose its hold and let them go, shell and all! Then off they would +send, very much frightened no doubt at the overturn; while he, having +remained stationary a moment as if to watch its results, takes his +resolution, and proceeds on his journey without his load. In brushing +the grass for insects, we have constantly found that the ants, _with +their mouths full_, fight with each other, or with their brother +captives, and are quite unaware of their bondage. For while most other +insects, on opening the net, are glad to escape by flying or leaping, +these will remain as if to secure their booty, and turn even +misfortunes to account. Often have we watched their battles, which are +battles indeed!--battles, in which every man of them seems to think +the day depends on his own courage and activity. We have never been +able to make out which were the best battalions of these variously +coloured troops; for all of them fight to the death, and _show no +quarter_. We have seen on some large tree the ants running up and +down, and picking off individual enemies from a horde of smaller kind +and reddish colour below. We have occasionally knocked off one or two +of the giants, who, falling alive into the midst of their enemies, +were surrounded, spread-eagled, trampled upon, and either lacerated to +death, or killed by their own _formic acid_, in a very short space of +time indeed. We have seen all this and marvelled; but we were never +sufficiently in the confidence of either the invaders or the invaded +to know their motives for fighting. It could not be for territory, for +they had all the world before them; it could not be for food, for they +were full. + +We never could make out why flies seem _fond of walking over dead +spiders_; for we will not impute to them our unworthy feelings of +enduring hatred and hostility. That insects had no brains in their +heads to direct and guide their progressive movements, or form focuses +for their passions, had long ago to us been plain. Besides all that we +once committed ourselves by writing on the subject, we have done many +other cruel things; such as dividing insects, (whether at the union of +the head with corselet, or of the corselet with the abdomen,) and we +have found that the segments to which the members were articulated +carried on their functions _without the head_. The Elytra would open +the wings, and the legs would move, as by association they had moved +in the perfect insect. The guidance of the head was destroyed, yet the +legs pushed the abdomen and corselet on; so that a disapproving friend +had to _divide_ his sympathy, and to _feel for each of the pieces_. +And what appeared to us worthy of remark was, that whereas, when a +snake was decollated, it was only the tail that continued to +wriggle--when a _worm_ was divided, _all_ the segments writhed in the +same way, and manifested an equal irritability; showing the difference +between creatures of annulated structure, according as they have or +have not a _brain_. A new argument against the brain as the organ of +sensation, was afforded to us by the conduct of many insects of +voracious propensities. We took _locusts_ and _grilli_; we held them +by their wings, and we presented them _with their own legs_ for +dinner; and on our veracity we can affirm, that on no single occasion +did the animal fail to seize his foot; and having demolished the toes +and the tibia, with all the meat upon it, proceed to demolish up to +the very end of the _trochanter_! Nor were they more tender of their +own _antennae_, of which, when we had duly convinced a sceptical +friend, he exclaimed--It _seems impossible_; but _there is no doubting +the fact_! + +Insects (who would have thought it?) lose a great deal by insensible +transpiration; from one-tenth to one-quarter of their whole weight, as +we have abundantly ascertained by series of experiments, for which we +have the tables to show. A very interesting fact respecting the +difference of irritability of insects from that of the higher animals, +is this: the temperature of man and the mammalia is in health always +the same, and varies very inconsiderably in disease. _External_ heat +and _external_ cold do not produce a blood, in man, warmer at the +equator than at the pole. This is not the case with insects, whose +mean temperature may be about 80 deg.; but the thermometer inserted into +their bodies may be made to _rise_ or _fall_ by bringing any cold or +warm body in contact with their external surface. You may thus sink +the temperature of an insect to 50 deg. or raise it to 100 deg., and the +insect continue alive. This is a very curious fact, and shows the +inaccuracy of Hunter's description or definition of _life_--"That it +was _that_ which _resisted_ the physical agency of cold and heat." +Insectorum duorum (e genere Cantharidum) in coitu deprehensorum, +extincto a nobis uno, alterum per dies plures, nullo alio quam +organorum sexus vinculo sibi adstrictum, amicae suae corpus sursum et +deorsum trahentem, mirantes vidimus!--_Spanish_ flies, you +exclaim!--as if he had not taken a dose of his own powder; but after +the joke is over, we think this is another _poser_ for the advocates +of insect intelligence. We found that if either of two insects was +destroyed in coition, that state was not interrupted for two or three +days. The insects on which are observed this remarkable circumstance, +were the _Cantharis oclemero_, and some others. Spanish flies, you +will say? That accounts for it; but at present we are not mystifying +our indulgent readers. + + +SHOOTING FISH. + +Long before the middle of September we are frequently startled, before +we have proceeded a hundred yards, by the popping of guns amongst the +vineyards and chestnut woods, but more frequently in the direction of +the stream that winds along our valley--and the sight of one or two of +the chasseurs on the road may well surprise any not accustomed to the +sports of the Lucchese.--Here are two of them, each with a gun on his +shoulder, coming up the stream. One has shot three four-ounce dace, +which dangle by his side; the other has a bag full of _small fry_, +shot as they frisked about in shoals near the water's edge! an ounce +of _sand_ exploded to receive about the same amount of fish! The man +who has shot the dace is proud of his exploit, and keeps turning them +round and round to gauge their dimensions, as if they were partridges! +Don't think, however, they have killed off all the fish of the stream. +Besides that string of four-ounce dace, we have every now and then a +sample of barbel and trout. One man has purchased the monopoly of the +fishery within two miles, and for which he pays twelve crowns by the +year. He sells his trout at two, and two and a half, pauls per pound, +and we should have thought that he made a good thing of it; but they +lose their fish: the torrents come and empty the holes, and they have +nothing for it but to stock them again--an event which, he assured me, +frequently took place. Besides, fly-rods and flies have been +introduced by an English shopkeeper, and there is no legal provision +against them. + + +OWLS. + +There comes a man with an owl in a basket and another tied by the leg +on a pole covered with red cloth; another accompanies him with a +bundle of reeds, through which a rod runs, smeared all the way down +with birdlime. This apparatus he disposes on a hedge or cover of any +kind--the little owl (_Civetta_) sits opposite on his pole--the birds +come to tease him, and fly on the birdlime twig, when, if it be a +sparrow, he is effectually detained by the viscus only--if a +blackbird, pop at him goes an old rusty gun. "We sometimes catch +twenty tomtits before breakfast," said a modest-looking sportsman, +modestly, but not shamefacedly, showing us one thrush and one linnet. + +An image-man told me to-day, that after the trade for classical +models--Apollos and Venuses--had gone out, and nobody would buy, _Tam +o' Shanter_ and _Souter Johnny_ operated a good _revival_ of the fine +arts for several months. How much, then, the models from the antique, +do towards improving our taste! and how absurd to set up institutions +with the expectation of making the populace other than the gross, +unideal, matter-of-fact thing it is, and always was, no doubt, even in +Athens itself! + + +THE IMPROVISATORE. + +We heard one of these monsters last night. The arena for his +exhibition might, but for the known liberality of society, be thought +objectionable--being none other than the English place of worship. But +_tout est sain aux sains_--or _aux saints_, if you please. Charity +covereth many sins; and if there be a place upon earth where charity +reigns, it is at what you call _watering-places_. Pindar was right, +[Greek: ariston men hudoz]. If we were enquired of, and propitiated +by a fee, as to the effects of the waters here, we should give it as +our opinion that they act directly on the _picrochole_, or bitter +principle of bile, and carry it, soft as milk, through the duodenal +passages. Our Improvisatore has, we understand, been six times +_painted_, (we know not what saloons are so fortunate as to possess +his portrait,) but we believe he has not been described. When we saw +him, his hair danced wildly over his shoulders, as if electrified: he +had a quick eye, and wore enviably well-fitting ducks: his neck, +besides supporting his head and all its contents, supported an +inextricable labyrinth of gold chains; from every buttonhole of his +waistcoat the chains they came in, and the chains they came out, like +the peripatetic man on the Boulevards who sells them: his gloves, +well-fitting, and buttoning at the wrist, were of the whitest kid, and +grasped a yet whiter and highly-scented cambric: his boots shone +bright with varnish, and his face with self-complacency. As the room +filled, he went round, giving the girls permission to write _subjects_ +on bits of waste (wasted!) paper, which set them _thinking_ at a great +rate. Presently, a second circuit round the room, to collect the +orders payable at sight--a title such as the _Lucciola_, _Italia_, +_The Exile_, _Woman's Love_, _Man's Ingratitude_; after which he +proceeds to fold up and puts them into a large glass vessel. Presently +a small hand, properly incited, dives down for a second into the +interior of the vase, and brings up, between two of its fair, round, +turquoise-encircled fingers, the scrap of paper. Its pretty owner +blushes, and timidly announces, "Bellini's Tomb;" _Bellini's Tomb_ is +buzzed about the room. At this juncture the Duke, who has been +_expected_, sends a messenger to announce that we are not to wait for +him--a sly fellow the Duke! The bard now concentrates himself for +inspiration, but begs us to talk on, and not mind him. While he waits +for the _afflatus divinus_, and consults the muses--and in fact his +eyes soon begin to betray _possession_--he passes his hand over his +parturient forehead, while the _os magno sonaturum_ is getting ready; +the labour-pains are evidently on him; he hurls back his hair, and +fixes his eyes upon the moon, (who has been looking at _him_ for +several minutes through the window opposite.) Full of her influence, +and not knowing there is such a place as Bedlam in the world, he +starts upon his legs, makes two or three rapid strides up and down the +room, like a lion taking exercise, or a lord of council and session in +Scotland preparing to pronounce sentence, and means to be delivered +(mercy on us!) exactly opposite our chair! All are attentive to the +godlike man; you might hear a pin drop: the subject is announced once +and again in a very audible voice; the touch-paper is ignited, the +magazine will blow up presently! Incontinently we are rapt off to +_Pere la Chaise_, where the great composer lies buried, and a form of +communication is made to us on this suitable spot, that Bellini is +_dead_; then comes, in episode, a catalogue of all the operas he ever +wrote, with allusions to each, and not a little vapouring and pathos, +while a host of heroes and heroines we never before heard of, is let +loose upon us; presently, a marked pause, and some by-play, makes it +evident that he sees something, and cannot see what the thing is; he +shortly, however, imparts to us in confidence, though in a very low +tone, for fear of disturbing it--he sees, he assures us, a female form +stealing to the young man's tomb--the form of a widowed lady--who is +she? _e la sua madre!_ This was startling, no doubt; though we, or +many of us, were like the cat in Florian, to whom the monkey was +showing a magic lantern _without a light_, and describing what she +ought to have seen. Believing her, however, to be there on such good +authority, we were getting very sorry for Bellini's mother, when we +were unexpectedly relieved, by finding it was only a bit of +make-believe; for it was now divulged, _che questa madre che piangea +il suo figlio_, was not in fact his personal mother, but "_Italy_" +dressed up _like_ his mother, and gone to Paris on purpose to weep and +put garlands on the composer's tomb, amaranth and crocus, and whatever +else was in season. Thunders of applause--we hope the new chapel is +insured!-for the _assiduo ruptae lectore columnae_ is as old as +earthquake in Italy. He now mopped his forehead, and prepared for a +new effort. The English girls are already in raptures, and their +Italian masters, sitting by, "ride on the whirlwind and direct the +storm." The next subject which destiny assigned to him, and inflicted +on us, was _The Exile_. A nicely manured field or common place to sow +and reap on--and what a harvest it yielded accordingly!--the dear +friends! the dear native hill! the honour of suffering for the truth! +(political martyrdom!) the mother that bore him--(and a good deal +besides)--his helpless children! (a proper number for the +occasion,)--all these fascinating themes were dwelt on, one by one, +till, moved apparently at our emotion, he dropt his menacing attitude, +and, mitigating his voice, assumed a resigned demeanour, of which many +of his audience had long since set him the example. He began to look +down mournfully, whereas he had a minute ago looked up fiercely--a +smile, to the relief of the young ladies, stole over his countenance, +and having thrice shaken his head to dispel whatever gloomy thoughts +might still be lingering there, he carried us to the Exile's return, +which brought of course the natal soil and a second service of the +mother, sire, and son, with the addition of a dog, a clump of trees, a +church, and a steeple. He compresses between his hands the yielding +cambric into a very small space, his body is fixed, his legs are +slightly apart, his head wags, like a wooden mandarin's, with thoughts +too big for utterance, till the moment arrives for the critical start, +then, "_Duplices tendens ad sidera palmas_," he becomes quite +Virgilian. The unfurled cambric flutters to the breeze of his own +creation, and coruscations of white kid and other white materials pass +and repass before our eyes. He gives vent to his emotions in tears, +after a reasonable indulgence in which, as he cannot (as Tilburina's +_confidante_ very properly observes) stay crying there all night, he +gradually comes right again. Besides all which, it is eight o'clock, +and he has still to _do_, and we to _suffer_, _Napoleon_--whose ashes +were just then being carried to Paris, as we had read in all the +papers of last week. Glad were we when they reached the _Octroi_, and +when the indulgent _Barriere_ passed them with all the honours of the +_Douane_. An old lady has twice yawned, and many would follow her +example, but that the performer fascinates his audience by staring at +them--like the boa at the poor bird in the wood--and frightens them to +their seats for a few minutes longer. At length one _resolute_ chair +moves; two others are out of the ranks; new centres of movement are +establishing; several shawls are seen advancing to the door. The rout +is complete, there will be no rally, and the efforts of the artist +have been _crowned_ (one hundred and fifty scudi) with success. We +meet him every where. He honours our table-d'hote daily, where he +stays an hour and a half to bait--after which we see him lounging in +the carriage of some fair _compatriote_ with herself and daughters. If +we are paying a morning visit, in he comes, "glissarding it" into the +drawing-room, and bowing like a dancing-master; nor does he disdain to +produce a small book of testimonials, in which the subscribers have +agreed to give him a poetic _character_, and compare him to a torrent, +to a nightingale, to an eagle, to an avalanche. They who love flattery +as a bee loves honey, are all captivated, and almost make love to him. +Their albums are rich in the spoils of his poetry, and she is happy +who, by her blandishment, can detain him in conversation for five +minutes. Yet they own they understand less than half of what he says. +Vexed with _one_ to whom we were talking, we thought rationally, for +permitting herself to be "so pestered by a popinjay,"--"He _is_ so +clever," was the reply; "such an odd creature, too. I wish you knew +him. He is in such a strange humour to-night. Do you know he tells me +he wishes to marry an English girl? See! he is gone into the balcony +yonder to look at the moon." To be sure he was. He came back looking +somewhat wild, and, walking in like a modern Prometheus, down he sits, +and the new inspiration is presently bespoken for the fly page of +virgin scrap-book. Smoothly flows the immortal verse, without care, +correction, or halt, for the lines are the result of power that works +unerringly, (Pope _blotted_ most disgracefully,) and goes right +_ahead_. The precious _morceau_ is concluded, and the improvisatore's +name appears in a constellation of zig-zags. + + +TABLES D'HOTES--MR SNAPLEY. + +Did you never meet Mr Snapley?--Mr Snapley was the greatest of +bores--he bored holes in your self-complacency, and riddled your +patience through and through; to put up with him was hard, to put him +down was impossible, (your long tolerated nuisance of fifty is always +incorrigible.) His bore was surprising considering the smallness of +his calibre; like a meagre gimlet, he would drill a small hole in some +unimportant statement, and then gather up his _opima spolia_, and +march off to the sound of his own trumpet. For instance, on convicting +you of assigning a fine picture to a wrong church or gallery, he +denied all your pretensions to judge of the picture itself. He had a +reindeer's length of tongue, (how often did we wish it salted and +dried!) and the splutter of words it sent forth, took off, as often +happens, sufficient observation of the miserably small stock of ideas +that he had to work upon. He enjoyed, as we all do, the blameless +pleasure of dining out as often as he could; when, though he did not +consume all the provisions, he would willingly have taken possession +of the whole of the talk, (_that_ being his notion of a conversation.) +When one had to dine at the same table with him, one contrived to take +up a position as remote as possible from the interruption of his thin, +wiry, ill-modulated voice--the _false_ suavity of which in saying +impertinent things was really so disagreeable, that one would have +renounced the society of wit or beauty on the right hand, rather than +have been flanked by Mr Snapley on the _left_, and thankfully have +accepted the companionship, _pro hac vice_, of the plainest woman or +the dullest man of the party, to be only completely out of his reach. +Your _soup_ you _might_ take in peace, for he was at this time +studying the composition of the party, and the chances of endurance or +resistance inscribed on the countenance of the guests; but the moment +an opportunity occurred of correcting or cavilling with any of those +unprecise and generally unchallenged observations, the interruption of +which is at the cost of the quietness of the repast, Mr Snapley's +voice was heard! You were too glad, of course, to give up the trifling +point out of which he had raised a discussion; but the earliest +concession never saved you, nor did you ever afterwards escape the +consciousness that he was still hovering like a harpy over the +tablecloth, and ready to fall foul of you again. Let the subject be +what it might, you had only to make a remark in his presence, and +without his permission, to _insure_ its contradiction. "What a +needless annoyance in travelling it is for a family to be stopped by +douaniers, only to extort money for _not_ doing a duty which would be +absurd if _done_!" "Why, really I don't see that," &c. &c. "What a +plague it is to send your servant (a whole morning's work) from one +subaltern with a queer name, to another, for a lady's ticket to +witness any of the functions at the Sistine!" Well, it did appear to +him the simplest thing in the world; it was ten times more troublesome +to see any thing in London! "What a nuisance it is on quitting an +Italian city, to find the passport which has already given you so much +trouble only available for _three_ days, leaving you liable to be +stopped at the gate, if sickness or accident have made you transgress +even _by an hour_!" "Why, it is _your own fault_, it is _so easy_ to +get it _vised again_ overnight." All these impertinencies were only +[Greek: pidakos ex hieres olige libas]. Besides all this, Mr Snapley +was a miserable monopolizer of pompously advanced nothings. He would +not willingly suffer any other man's goose to feed upon the common--he +cared for nobody but himself, and every thing that was or he esteemed +to be _his_--his very joints were worked unlike those of another +man--he must have had a set of _adductors_ and _abductors_, of +_flexors_ and _extensors_, on purpose. He was stiff, priggish, +precise, when he addressed any gentleman with light hair and an +_English complexion_; but let him approach any foreign buttonhole with +a bit of riband in it, then worked he the muscles of his face into +most grotesque expression of interest or pleasure--(_Tunc immensa cavi +spirant mendacia folles!_)--and you had a famous display of grimace +and deferential civility, in bad French or worse Italian. We have seen +him sneering and leering as he made his way round a drawing-room at an +evening party, and bowing like a French perruquier to some absurd fool +of a foreigner; and we have seen him, a minute after, holding up his +head and cocking his chin in defiance, if an English voice approached. +When any of us ventured to criticise _any thing foreign_, he was up in +arms, and cock-a-hoop for the climate, the customs, the constitution! +He sneered awfully at a simple _gaucherie_, but, to make amends, had +ever an approving wink for the meanest _irreverence_; any intellect, +however feeble, being secure of his praise if it only tried to thwart +the end for which it was given. When not _talking_ about himself, +which was seldom, he was evidently _occupied_ about his _personel_, +with which he was obviously satisfied. If you talked of books, he +settled for you, in laconic sentences, works of acknowledged +merit--put down men of uncontested superiority--but women of title and +tainted reputation, if they would but ask him to their parties, +became at once his favourites and his oracles. He cunningly contrives +to get a good artist's opinion on works of art, and debits it as his +own--a proceeding which makes Mr Snapley _sometimes_ formidable in +sculpture and in painting. As to other topics, on which educated men +and accomplished women converse, he would fain be as profound as +_Locke_ with the one, and as gallant as _Fontenelle_ with the other. +For ourselves, who meet him but too often, we would as soon approach +without necessity a huxter's mongrel growling under his master's cart, +as venture near enough to examine all the small-wares of one who +"hates coxcombs," and is the very prince of fops; laughs at pedants, +and only wants a _little more learning_ to attempt the character; with +whom no repetition of familiar acts can reconcile you, and to whom no +number of dinners can conquer your repugnance.----_Did_ you ever meet +Mr Snapley? We are sure you must--the Snapleys are a very old +family--you may generally know them by the _nez retrousse_, (which our +acquaintance, however, had not.) We never knew but _one_ good-natured +man with a _nez retrousse_, and he was, if ever man was--a +philanthropist. Generally, however, _beware_ of the _nez retrousse_ +except in women--you know its interpretation _chez elles_;--and if you +do, (on second thoughts,) still beware. + + +HINTS FOR DOCTORS. + +_Esquilias_, dictumque petunt a _Vimine_ collem--JUV. + +* * * "I observed a gentleman in black," said our informant, "who +seemed to fix me across the table-d'hote, at dinner, in a way which +soon showed me I was an object of interest to him. It was very odd! We +were not in Austria! I could not have offended the police--nor in +Spain, the Inquisition. If I _took_ of a particular dish, his eye was +on me again. They _did_ use to _poison_ people in Italy, but it was in +the fifteenth century, and all the Borgias were gone! What could it +mean? The very waiters seemed to watch the man in black, and signals +of intelligence seemed to pass between them as they went their rounds +with the dishes. After thus meeting the eye of the unknown at +intervals for more than an hour, when the table was beginning to +clear, I rose, and limped out of the room as well as my complaints +would let me, and was sauntering a few steps from the door, when judge +of my terror on turning round, to find him of the black coat at my +elbow! "In pain, sir, I see." All my alarm ceased in a moment. It was +pure philanthropy which had made me an object of so much interest. +"Yes, sir, in great pain." "_You should take care of yourself, sir._ +Rheumatic, are you not?" "Very rheumatic." "Well, sir, you have come +to the best place in the world for rheumatism. The air, the water, and +proper treatment, will soon set you up." "Your report is encouraging; +but I have suffered too long to hope much." "Well, at any rate, sir, +let us not talk over your interesting case in this heat. Come and put +your feet up on a chair in my rooms, and we will drink a glass of +soda-water to your better health." What a kind-hearted man I had met +with, and how kind Providence is to us! I now ventured to ask him his +name. "My name is Dr ----; and now, my dear friend, just tell me your +whole case from the very beginning down to now, for I am really +interested in you." I told my case. "Put out your tongue." "Brown," we +thought we heard him say. "Wrist--pulse not amiss--but you _require +care, sir! you require care!_ Clear case for the medicine I gave so +successfully last week." Finding myself thus fallen into professional +hands _without intending it_, I said something introductory to the +mention of a fee. "True, I was _forgetting_ that; when one takes a +proper interest in one's case, and hopes to do good, fees are the last +thing one thinks of--two scudi if you please." So I found myself +immediately booked in a small memorandum-book, and constituted his +patient. Now came civil promises to introduce me, &c. &c. &c., and I +took my leave delighted. It is almost needless to say, that in a very +short time I found that my acquaintance had, like so many more, +commenced physician on the soil of Italy. What will become of London +if all her apothecaries desert her at this rate? For ourselves, +reflecting on the accomplishments of many of these patriotic men, +their learning, their modesty, their disinterestedness, we have often +had a twinge of the philanthropic extorted by the loss inflicted on +our native city--she may come to want a doze of julap, and have nobody +to mix it!--and have said to ourselves, as we have looked more than +one of these worthies in the face, [Greek: O alein Athenai, Pallados +th'orismata, Oion steresesth andros]! + +One day after dinner a little bit of gold rolled over the table to the +doctor, from a bluff-looking gentleman opposite--it was well +aimed--"There, doctor! _there's your fee_; but don't you begin again +prating a parcel of stuff to my wife about her complaints--she is +quite well--and if you frighten her into illness, take notice, you +will get a different sort of fee next time!" All this, half joke, half +earnestly, must have been very agreeable to the guests." + + +PRIVATE MUSIC PARTY. + +Let us try to describe the last musical party at which we assisted. A +scramble amid piles of unbound music; the right _cahier_ found, +snatched up, and opened at the well-thumbed solo with which she has +already contended for many a long hour, and now hopes to execute for +our applause. Alas! the piano sounds as if it had the pip; the +paralytic keys halt, and stammer, and tremble, or else run into each +other like ink upon blotting paper, and the pedals are the only part +of the instrument which do the work for which they were intended. We +should be sorry that our favourite dog had his paw between them and +the lady's slipper. The dust which succeeds the concerto proves +satisfactorily that it is possible to be frisky without being lively; +its vulgarity is so pronounced that it offends you like low +conversation. Another concerto follows--ten folio pages! whew!!----Oh, +ye ebony and ivory devils! oh, for an exorcist to put you to +flight! Cramped fingers are crossing each other at a great rate; we +really tremble for the glue, and the pegs, and the wires, and the +whole economy of the instrument, at that critical juncture when the +performers arrive at a piece of mysterious notation, where a great +many tadpole-looking figures are huddled together under a black +rainbow. At such a "passage" as this, it seems one would think the +house were on fire, and no time to be lost; the black mittens and the +white now _Rob-Royishly_ invade each other's territory; each snatches +up something and carries it off, like the old marauders of the Border +country; and reprisals are made, and lines of discord and dissonance +are establishing, which require the police, the magistrate, and the +riot act. Bravo! bravo! bravo! and the battle ceases, and the _babble_ +commences. Place for the foreign train, the performers _par metier!_ +Full of confidence are they; amidst all their smiles and +obsequiousness, there is a business air about the thing. As soon as +the pianist has asked the piano how it finds itself, and the piano has +intimated that it is pretty well, but somewhat out of tune, a +collateral fiddler and a violoncello brace up their respective nerves, +compare notes, and when their drawlings and crookings are in unison, a +third piece of music of indefinite duration, and as it seems to us all +about nothing, begins. Our violinist is evidently not long come out, +and has little to recommend him--he employs but a second-rate tailor, +wears no collar, dirty mustaches, and a tight coat; he is ill at ease, +poor man, wincing, pulling down his coat-sleeves, or pulling up his +braces over their respective shoulders. His strings soon become moist +with the finger dew of exertion and trepidation; his bow draws out +nothing but groans or squeals; and so, in order to correct these +visceral complaints, a piece of rosin is awkwardly produced from his +trousers' pocket, and applied to the rheumatic member, with some +half-dozen brisk rubs in a parenthesis of music. The effect is +painfully ludicrous!---- + +I am _sleepy_, _sleepy_, begins the piano! Sleepy, sleepy, _mews_ Mr +Violin--very, very, very sleepy, drones the drowsy four-stringed +leviathan. Oh, do try if you can't say something, something, something +to enliven one a bit! On this hint, the little violin first got +excited upon one string, and then upon another, and then the bow rode +a hand-gallop over two at once; then saw we four fingers flying as far +up the finger-board as they could go, without falling overboard, near +the _bridge_--a dangerous place at all times from the currents and +eddies--and there provoking a series of sounds, as if the performer +were pinching the tails of a dozen mice, that squeaked and squealed as +he made the experiment. The bow (like the funambulist with the soles +of his slippers fresh chalked) kept glancing on and off, till we hoped +he would be off altogether and break his neck; and now the least harsh +and grating of the cords snaps up in the fiddler's face, and a crude +one is to be applied; and now--but what is the use of pursuing the +description? Let us leave the old bass to snore away his lethargic +accompaniment for ten minutes more, and the affair will end. The +pianist, the Octavius of the triumvirs, thinks it necessary to excuse +Signor ----, telling us, "He has bad violin, he play like one angel on +good one"--but hisht, hisht! the evening-star is rising, and we are to +be repaid, they say, for all we have gone through! Signor * * * is going +to play. The _maestro_ advances with perfect consciousness of his own +powers; his gait is lounging, he does not mean to hurry himself, not +he--his power of abstraction (from the company) is perfect; he is +going to play in solitude before fifty people, and only for his own +amusement. He placed himself at least a foot from the piano, his knees +touching the board, his body rises perpendicularly from the +music-stool, his head turns for a moment to either shoulder as if he +were glancing at epaulettes thereon, and then he looks right ahead; he +neither has nor needs a book; with the wide-extended fingers of both +hands, down he pounces, like a falcon, on the sleeping keys, which, +caught by surprise, now speak out and exert all their energies. Those +keys, which a few minutes ago vibrated so feebly, and spoke so +inarticulately, now pour forth a continuous swell of the richest +melody and distinctest utterance. The little wooden parallelograms at +first seem to be keeping out of their ranks just to see what is going +on, till, the affair becoming warm, they can no longer stand it, but +grow excited and take part in the general action. Relying fully on the +perfect obedience of his light troops, and relaxing a little from his +erect attitude of command, he gently inclines his body to the left, +leads his disposable force rapidly upwards in that direction, where, +having surprised the post against which they were dispatched, he +recovers his swerve, and they retrace with equal precision and +rapidity their course from the wings to the centre. + +Come, _this_ is playing! This is worth coming to; the instrument seems +but the organ of the man's own feelings; its mournful tones are only a +paraphrase of his sighs; its brilliant arabesques are but the playful +expression of his own delight with every thing and every body! His +cheek is warm, his eyes sparkle, his hands detonate thunder and +lightnings from the keys, and he concludes as suddenly as he began; +the very silence is felt, and the breathless guests, who have watched +the fingers and been rapt by the tones, now burst forth simultaneously +in expressions of delight and applause. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE RAILWAYS. + + +We read, no later than yesterday, two very pungent leading articles in +the London daily journals, on the present all-absorbing subject of +railway speculation. Both writers are evidently well versed in the +details of the novel system; both possess some smattering of political +economy, sufficient at least to enable them to form a judgment; and +both consistent in their data and statistical information. Yet, +agreeing in these points, it is somewhat singular to find that the +_Coryphaei_ have arrived at diametrically opposite conclusions. One of +them is quite clear, that if the present railway _mania_ (as he calls +it) is permitted to go on unchecked for a short time further, the +country will not only be on the verge of bankruptcy, but a general +crash will be inevitable; that, vast as the resources of Britain +undoubtedly are, she cannot, by any exertion short of crippling her +staple commercial relations, furnish capital enough for the fulfilment +of a moiety of the schemes already announced, and thrown into the +public market; that the fact, which is incontestable, that a large +proportion of these shares were originally, and are presently, held by +parties who have no means of paying up the calls, but who are solely +speculating for the rise, must very soon produce a reaction, and that +such reaction will be of the absolute nature of a panic. Such are the +opinions of this writer, who is clearly of the restrictive school. He +holds, that the government is bound, in such a crisis as that which he +rather states than prophesies, to interfere at once with an arbitrary +order, and to prevent the issue of any new schemes until those already +before the public are either disposed of or exhausted. + +How this is to be effected, the writer does not sufficiently explain. +He points to immediate interference, from which expression we are led +to believe he points at some such proceeding as an Order in Council, +to be pronounced during the recess of Parliament. If so, we may +dismiss this gentleman and his remedy in a very summary manner. Such +an Order in Council would be worse than useless, because it would be a +manifest breach of the constitution. As well might an Order be issued +to close our manufactories, to restrict the amount of any branch of +produce, or to prevent parties from forming themselves into companies +for the most blameless and legitimate purpose. It is a strange symptom +of the credulousness of the age, or rather of the ignorance of the +people in all matters relating to the science of government, that, +towards the close of September last, some such rumour was actually +circulated and believed, though its father was manifestly _a bear_, +and its birthplace the Stock Exchange. But if this merely is meant, +that there lies with the Imperial Parliament a controlling and +interferential power, and that the great estates of the realm may be +called upon to use it, we do not question the proposition. Whether, +however, it would be wise to use that power so sweepingly as the +journalist recommends, or whether, practically, it could be possible, +are very serious considerations indeed. + +But the existence of any evil is denied _in toto_ by the other +journalist. In the crowded columns of the morning prints, driven to +supplement and even extra-supplement by the overwhelming mass of +railway advertisements, he can see no topic of alarm, but "matter for +high exultation, and almost boundless hope." His belief in +superabundance of capital, and its annual enormous increment, is fixed +and steadfast. He considers the railways as the most legitimate +channel ever yet afforded for the employment of that capital, and the +most fortunate in result for the ultimate destinies of the country. He +compares--and very aptly too--the essential difference between the +nature of the schemes in which the public are now embarking and those +which led to the disastrous results of 1825. His sole regret is, that +he must regard the present direction of enterprise, "as an +opportunity, that is, facility of investment, that from its nature can +be but temporary, though the profit of the investment must, from the +nature of things, be perpetual, and though even the temporary facility +may, and probably will, last for some years." This is a hopeful, +sunny-minded fellow, with whose aspirations, did our conscience permit +us, we should be thoroughly delighted to concur. + +These writers may be taken as examples of two numerous classes. They +are, in fact, the Trois Eschelles' and Petit Andres of the railroads. +The first consider every commercial exertion consequent on a new +discovery, or the opening of a new channel for investment, doubtful in +itself, and highly dangerous if hurriedly and unhesitatingly adopted. +The social system, in their view, may suffer quite as much from +plethora as from inanition. Too much blood is as unwholesome as too +little, notwithstanding of any extraneous means to work it off. "Slow +and sure," is their motto--"Carpe diem," essentially that of their +antagonists. And yet in one thing, we believe, most individuals +holding these opposite opinions will be found to concur. They all +speculate. Heraclitus signs his contract with a shudder, and trembles +as he places his realized premium in the bank. Democritus laughingly +subscribes his name to thousands, and chuckles as he beholds his +favourite stock ascending in the thermometer of the share-market. +Heraclitus sells--Democritus holds; and thus the great point of wisdom +at issue between them, is reduced to a mere question of time. + +But it is with their opinions, not their practice, that we have to +deal. As usual, truth will be found to lie somewhere between two +opposite extremes. We neither entertain the timid fear of the one +writer, nor the fearless enthusiasm of the other. The present state of +matters presents, in a double sense, a vast field of speculation, +through which we think it necessary to see our way a little more +clearly. Rash interference may be as dangerous as the principle of +"_laissez faire_," which in fact is no principle at all, but a blind +abandonment to chance. Let us, therefore, endeavour to borrow some +light from the experience of the past. + +The desire of growing rapidly rich is a very old epidemic in this +country. It is a disease which infests the nation whenever capital, in +consequence of the success of trade and prosperous harvests, becomes +abundant; nor can it, in the nature of things, be otherwise. Capital +will not remain unemployed. If no natural channel is presented, the +accumulated weight of riches is sure to make an outlet for itself; and +the wisdom or folly of the irruption depends solely upon the course +which the stream may take. Of false channels which have conducted our +British Pactolus directly to a Dead Sea, from which there is no +return--we or our fathers have witnessed many. For example, there were +the South American and Mexican mining companies, founded on the most +absurd reports, and miserably mismanaged, in which many millions of +the capital of this country were sunk. Again, Mr Porter writes so late +as 1843--"A very large amount of capital belonging to individuals in +this country, the result of their savings, has of late years sought +profitable investments in other lands. It has been computed that the +United States of America have, _during the last five years_, absorbed +in this manner more than TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS of English capital, +which sum has been invested in various public undertakings, such as +canals, _railroads_, and banks in that country. Large sums have also +been, from time to time, invested in the public securities of that and +other foreign governments, not always, indeed, with a profitable +result." We need hardly remind our readers of the poignant testimony +of the Rev. Sydney Smith as to the profit derived from such +investments, or the probable fate of the actual capital under a +repudiating system. + +These may be taken as two great instances of the danger of foreign +speculation. The capital of the mining companies was squandered with +no other effect than that of providing employment, for a certain +number of years, to the lowest of the Mexican peasantry; whereas the +same amount, applied to a similar purpose in this country, would not +only have produced a handsome return to the invester, but would have +afforded work and wages to a considerable portion of the community. +There is a reciprocity between labour and capital which never ought +to be forgotten. Labour is the parent of all capital, and capital, +therefore, should be used for the fostering and assistance of the +power by which it is produced. Here, however, it was removed, and +became, to all intents and purposes, as useless and irrecoverable as +the bullion on board of a vessel which has foundered at sea. This, +therefore, may be regarded as so much lost capital; but what shall we +say to the other instance? Simply this--that whoever has lost by the +failure of American banks, by repudiation, or by stoppages of +dividends, need not claim one single iota of our compassion. With +British money has the acute Columbian united state to state by more +enduring ties than can be framed within the walls of Congress--with +it, he has overcome the gigantic difficulties of nature--formed a +level for the western waters where none existed before--pierced the +interminable forests with his railroads, and made such a rapid stride +in civilization as the world has never yet witnessed. What of all this +could he have done on his own resources? Something, we must +allow--because his spirit of enterprise is great, even to +recklessness, and a young and forming country can afford to run risks +which are impossible for an older state--but a very small part, +unquestionably, without the use of British capital. We cannot, and we +will not, believe that any considerable portion of these loans will be +ultimately lost to this country. Great allowance must be made for the +anger and vexation of the prospective sufferers at the first apparent +breach of international faith, and it is no wonder if their lament was +both loud, and long, and heavy. But we think it is but a fair +construction to suppose that our Transatlantic brethren, in the very +rapidity of their "slickness," have carried improvement too far, given +way to a false system of credit among themselves, and so, having +outrun the national constable, have found themselves compelled to +suspend payment for an interval, which, in the present course of their +prosperity, cannot be of long continuance. So at least we, having lent +the American neither plack nor penny, do in perfect charity presume; +but in the mean time he has our capital--say now some thirty +millions--he has used it most thoroughly and judiciously for himself, +and even supposing that we shall not ultimately suffer, what gain can +we qualify thereby? + +If John Doe hath an estate of some twenty thousand acres in tolerable +cultivation, which, nevertheless, in order to bring it to a perfect +state of production, requires the accessaries of tile-draining, +planting, fencing, and the accommodation of roads, it is quite evident +that his extra thousand pounds of capital will be more profitably +expended on such purposes than on lending it to Richard Roe, who has +double the quantity of land in a state of nature. For Richard, though +with the best intentions, may not find his agricultural returns quite +so speedy as he expected, may shake his head negatively at the hint of +repayment of the principal, and even be rather tardy with tender of +interest at the term. John, moreover, has a population on his land +whom he cannot get rid of, who must be clothed and fed at his expense, +whether he can find work for them or no. This latter consideration, +indeed, is, in political economy, paramount--give work to your own +people, and ample work if possible, before you commit in loan to your +neighbour that capital which constitutes the sinews alike of peace and +of war. + +We believe there are few thinking persons in this country who will +dispute the truth of this position. Indeed, the general results of +foreign speculation have been unprofitable altogether, as is shown by +the testimony of our ablest commercial writers. One of them gives the +following summary:--"Large sums have, from time to time, been lent to +various foreign states by English capitalists, whose money has been +put to great hazard, and, in some cases, lost. On the other hand, many +foreign loans have been contracted by our merchants, which have proved +highly profitable, through the progressive sale of the stock in +foreign countries at higher than the contract prices. It is evidently +impossible to form any correct estimate of the profit or loss which +has resulted to the country from these various operations; the +general impression is, that hitherto the losses have much exceeded the +gains." In that general impression we most cordially concur--indeed, +we never heard any man whose opinion was worth having, say otherwise. + +But in the absence of home speculation it is little wonder that, for +the chance of unfrequent gain, men should choose, rather than leave +their capital unemployed, to run the risk of the frequent loss. It +does not, however, follow, as a matter of course, that home +speculation shall always prove profitable either to the invester or to +the nation at large. We have said already, that the proper function of +capital is to foster and encourage labour; but this may be carried too +far. For example, it is just twenty years ago, when, at a time of +great prosperity in trade--the regular products of this country being +as nearly as possible equal to the demand--a large body of +capitalists, finding no other outlet for their savings, gave an +unnatural stimulus to production, by buying up and storing immense +quantities of our home manufactures. This they must have done upon +some abstruse but utterly false calculation of augmented demand from +abroad, making no allowance for change of season, foreign fluctuation, +or any other of the occult causes which influence the markets of the +world. The result, as is well known, was most disastrous. Trade on a +sudden grew slack. The capitalists, in alarm, threw open the whole of +their accumulated stock at greatly depreciated prices. There was no +further demand for manufacturing labour, because the world was glutted +with the supply, and hence arose strikes, panic, bankruptcy, and a +period of almost unexampled hardship to the workman, and of serious +and permanent loss to the master manufacturer. Speculation, therefore, +in an old branch of industry, is perilous not only to the invester but +to the prosperity of the branch itself. The case, however, is widely +different when a new and important source of industry and income is +suddenly developed in the country. + +We shall look back in vain over our past history to find any parallel +at all approaching to the present state and prospects of the railway +system. Forty-four years have elapsed since the first public railway +in Great Britain (the Wandsworth and Croydon) received the sanction of +the legislature. Twenty-five years afterwards, at the close of 1826, +when the Manchester and Liverpool bill was passed, the whole number of +railroad acts amounted to thirty-five: in 1838 it had increased to one +hundred and forty-two. The capital of these railways, with the sums +which the proprietors were authorized to borrow, cannot be taken at +less than SIXTY MILLIONS STERLING. + +Now, it is very instructive to remark, that until the opening of the +Liverpool and Manchester line in September 1830, not one single +railway was constructed with a view to the conveyance of passengers. +The first intention of the railway was to provide for the carriage of +goods at a cheaper rate than could be effected by means of the canals, +and for the accommodation of the great coal-fields and mineral +districts of England. In the Liverpool and Manchester prospectus--a +species of document not usually remarkable for modesty or shyness of +assumption--the estimate of the number of passengers between these two +great towns was taken at the rate of one half of those who availed +themselves of coach conveyance. Cotton bales, manufactures, cattle, +coals, and iron, were relied on as the staple sources of revenue. Had +it not been for the introduction of the locomotive engine, and the +vast improvements it has received, by means of which we are now +whirled from place to place with almost magical rapidity, there can be +no doubt that the railways would, in most instances, have proved an +utter failure. The fact is singular, but it is perfectly ascertained, +that the railroads have not hitherto materially interfered with the +canals in the article of transmission of goods. The cost of railway +construction is incomparably greater than that attendant on the +cutting of canals, and therefore the land carriage can very seldom, +when speed is not required, compete with the water conveyance. But for +passengers, speed is all in all. The facility and shortness of transit +creates travellers at a ratio of which we probably have as yet no +very accurate idea. Wherever the system has had a fair trial, the +number of passengers has been quadrupled--in some cases quintupled, +and even more; and every month is adding to their numbers. + +But 1838, though prolific in railways, was still a mere Rachel when +compared with the seven Leahs that have succeeded it. The principle of +trunk lines, then first recognised, has since been carried into effect +throughout England, and adopted in Scotland, though here the system +has not yet had full time for development. The statistics of the +railways already completed, have fully and satisfactorily demonstrated +the immense amount of revenue which in future will be drawn from these +great national undertakings, the increase on the last year alone +having amounted to upwards of a million sterling. That revenue is the +interest of the new property so created; and, therefore, we are making +no extravagant calculation when we estimate the increased value of +these railways at twenty millions in the course of a single year. That +is an enormous national gain, and quite beyond precedent. Indeed, if +the following paragraph, which we have extracted from a late railway +periodical, be true, our estimate is much within the mark. "The +improvement in the incomes of existing railways still continues, and +during the last two months has amounted to upwards of L200,000 in +comparison with the corresponding two months of 1844. The lines which +have reduced their fares most liberally, are the greatest gainers. At +this rate of increase of income, the value of the railway property of +the country is becoming greater by upwards of L2,000,000 sterling per +month." It is, therefore, by no means wonderful that as much of the +available capital of the country as can be withdrawn from its staple +sources of income should be eagerly invested in the railways, since no +other field can afford the prospect of so certain and increasing a +return. + +The question has been often mooted, whether government ought not in +the first instance to have taken the management of the railways into +its own hands. Much may be said upon one or other side, and the +success of the experiment is, of course, a very different thing from +the mere prospect of success. Our opinion is quite decided, that, as +great public works, the government ought most certainly to have made +the trunk railways or, as in France, to have leased them to companies +who would undertake the construction of them for a certain term of +years, at the expiry of which the works themselves would have become +the property of the nation. Never was there such a prospect afforded +to a statesman of relieving the country, by its own internal +resources, of a great part of the national debt. Public works are not +unknown or without precedent in this country; but somehow or other +they are always unprofitable. At the cost of upwards of a million, +government constructed the Caledonian Canal, the revenue drawn from +which does not at the present moment defray its own expenses, much +less return a farthing of interest on this large expenditure of +capital. Now it is very difficult to see why government, if it has +power to undertake a losing concern, should not likewise be entitled, +for the benefit of the nation at large, to undertake even greater +works, which not only assist the commerce of the nation, but might in +a very short period, comparatively speaking, have almost extinguished +its taxation. It is now, of course, far too late for any idea of the +kind. The golden opportunity presented itself for a very short period +of time, and to the hands of men far too timid to grasp it, even if +they could have comprehended its advantages. Finance never was, and +probably never will be, a branch of Whig education, as even Joseph +Hume has been compelled a thousand times piteously and with wringing +of the hands to admit--and whose arithmetic could we expect them even +to know, if they admitted and knew not Joseph's? But this at least +they might have done, when the progress of railroads throughout the +kingdom became a matter of absolute certainty. The whole subject +should have been brought under the consideration of a board, to +determine what railways were most necessary throughout the kingdom, +and what line would be cheapest and most advantageous to the public; +and when these points had once been ascertained, no competition +whatever should have been allowed. The functions of the Board of +Trade were not nearly so extensive; they had no report of government +engineers, and no _data_ to go upon save the contradictory statements +of the rival companies. Hence their decision, in almost every +instance, was condemned by the parties interested, who, having a +further tribunal in Parliament, where a thousand interests unknown to +the Board of Trade could be appealed to, rushed into a protracted +contest, at an expenditure which this year is understood to have +exceeded all precedent. We have no means of ascertaining the expenses +of such a line as the London and York, which was fought inch by inch +through the Committees of both Houses with unexampled acrimony and +perseverance. We know, however, that the expenses connected with the +Great Western, and the London and Birmingham bills, amounted +respectively to L88,710 and L72,868, exclusive altogether of the costs +incurred by the different parties who opposed these lines in +Parliament. It has been stated in a former number of this +Magazine--and we believe it--that the parliamentary costs incurred for +the Scottish private and railway bills, during the last session alone, +amounted to a million and a half. + +Now, though a great part of the money thus expended is immediately +returned to circulation, still it is a severe tax upon the provinces, +and might very easily have been avoided by the adoption of some such +plan as that which we have intimated above; and we shall presently +venture to offer a few practical remarks as to the course which we +think is still open to the government for checking an evil which is by +no means inseparable from the system. + +But, first, we are bound to state that, _as yet_, we can see no +grounds for believing that the nominal amount of capital invested in +the railways which have obtained the sanction of Parliament is beyond, +or any thing approaching to, the surplus means of the country. Foreign +speculation, except in so far as regards railroads, (and these are +neither so safe nor so profitable an investment as at home,) seems for +the present entirely to have ceased. The last three years of almost +unequalled prosperity have accumulated in the country a prodigious +deal of capital, which is this way finding an outlet; and though it +may be true that the parties who originally subscribed to these +undertakings may not, in the aggregate, be possessed of capital enough +to carry them successfully to an end, still there has been no want of +capitalists to purchase the shares at a premium--not, as we verily +believe, for a mere gambling transaction, but for the purposes of +solid investment. We base our calculations very much upon the steadily +maintained prices of the railways which passed in 1844, and which are +now making. Now, these afford no immediate return--on the contrary, a +considerable amount of calls is still due upon most of them, and the +earliest will probably not be opened until the expiry of ten months +from the present date. It is quite obvious that, in this kind of +stock, there can be no incentive to gambling, because the chances are, +that any new lines which may be started in the vicinity of them shall +be rivals rather than feeders; and if capital were so scarce as in +some quarters it is represented to be, it is scarce possible that +these lines could have remained so firmly held. Let us take the prices +of the principal of these from the Liverpool share-lists as on 27th +September. + + Share. Paid. Selling Price. + 25 10 BLACKBURN AND PRESTON, 19-3/4 to 20-1/4 + 50 15 CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD, 20 to 20-1/2 + 50 25 LANCASTER AND CARLISLE, 53-1/2 to 54-1/2 + 50 15 LEEDS AND BRADFORD, 61 to 63 + 25 12-1/2 EAST LANCASHIRE, 22 to 22-1/2 + 20 9 NORTH WALES MINERAL, 14-3/4 to 15-1/4 + 10 1 DO. NEW, 5-1/4 to 5-1/2 + 25 15 NORTH BRITISH, 25 to 26 + 50 20 SOUTH DEVON, 34 to 36 + +These lines have, in the language of the Stock Exchange, passed out of +the hands of the jobbers, and most of them are now too heavy in +amount for the operations of the smaller speculators. We therefore +look upon their steadiness as a high proof, not only of their ultimate +value, but of the general abundance of capital. + +It is hardly possible as yet to draw any such deduction from the +present prices of the lines which were passed in the course of last +session. Upon many of these no calls have yet been made, and +consequently they are still open to every kind of fluctuation. It +cannot, therefore, be said that they have settled down to their true +estimated value, and, in all probability, erelong some may decline to +a certain degree. Still it is very remarkable, and certainly +corroborative of our view, that the amazing influx of new schemes +during the last few months--which, time and circumstance considered, +may be fairly denominated a craze--has as yet had no effect in +lowering them; more especially when we recollect, that the amount of +deposit now required upon new railways is ten per cent on the whole +capital, or exactly double of the ratio of the former deposits. We +give these facts to the terrorists who opine that our surplus capital +is ere now exhausted, and that deep inroads have been made upon the +illegitimate stores of credit; and we ask them for an explanation +consistent with their timorous theory. + +At the same time, we would by no means scoff at the counsel of our +Ahitophels. A glance at the newspapers of last month, and their +interminable advertising columns, is quite enough to convince us that +the thing may be overdone. True, not one out of five--nay, perhaps, +not one out of fifteen--of these swarming schemes, has the chance of +obtaining the sanction of Parliament for years to come; still, it is +not only a pity, but a great waste and national grievance, that so +large a sum as the deposits which are paid on these railways should be +withdrawn--it matters not how long--from practical use, and locked up +to await the explosion of each particular bubble. We do think, +therefore, that it is high time for the legislature to interfere, not +for any purpose of opposing the progress of railways, but either by +establishing a peremptory board of supervision, or portioning out the +different localities with respect to time, on some new and compendious +method. + +Last session the committees, though they performed their duties with +much zeal and assiduity, were hardly able to overtake the amount of +business before them. It was not without much flattery and coaxing +that the adroit Premier, of all men best formed for a general leader +of the House of Commons, could persuade the unfortunate members that +an unfaltering attendance of some six hours a-day in a sweltering and +ill-ventilated room, where their ears were regaled with a constant +repetition of the jargon connected with curves, gradients, and +traffic-tables, was their great and primary duty to the commonwealth. +Most marvellous to say, he succeeded in overcoming their stubborn +will. Every morning, by times, the knight of the shire, albeit +exhausted from the endurance of the over-night's debate, rose up from +his neglected breakfast, and posted down to his daily cell in the +Cloisters. Prometheus under the beak of the vulture could not have +shown more patience than most of those unhappy gentlemen under the +infliction of the lawyer's tongue; and their stoicism was the more +praiseworthy, because in many instances there seemed no prospect, +however remote, of the advent of a Hercules to deliver them. The only +men who behaved unhandsomely on the occasion were some of the Irish +members, advocates of Repeal, who, with more than national brass, +grounded their declinature on the galling yoke of the Saxon, and +retreated to Connemara, doubtless exulting that in this instance at +least they had freed themselves from "hereditary bonds." It may be +doubted, however, whether the tone of the committees was materially +deteriorated by their absence. Now, we have a great regard for the +members of the House of Commons collectively; and, were it on no other +account save theirs, we cannot help regarding the enormous +accumulation of railway bills for next session with feelings of +peculiar abhorrence. Last spring every exertion of the whole combined +pitchforks was required to cleanse that Augean stable: can Sir Robert +Peel have the inhumanity next year to request them to buckle to a +tenfold augmented task? In our humble opinion, (and we know something +of the matter,) flesh and blood are unable to stand it. The private +business of this country, if conducted on the ancient plan, must +utterly swamp the consideration of public affairs, and the member of +Parliament dwindle into a mere arbiter between hostile surveyors; +whilst the ministry, delighted at the abstraction of both friend and +foe, have the great game of politics unchecked and unquestioned to +themselves. The surest way to gag a conscientious opponent, or to stop +the mouth of an imprudent ally, is to get him placed upon some such +committee as that before which the cases of the London and York, and +Direct Northern lines were discussed. If, after three days' patient +hearing of the witnesses and lawyers, he has one tangible idea +floating in his head, he is either an Alcibiades or a Bavius--a +heaven-born genius or the mere incarnation of a fool! + +Let it be granted that the present system pursued by Parliament, more +especially when its immediate prospects are considered, is an +evil--and we believe there are few who will be bold enough to deny +it--it still remains that we seek out a remedy. This is no easy task. +The detection of an error is always a slight matter compared with its +emendation, and we profess to have neither the aptitude nor the +experience of a Solon. But as we are sanguine that wherever an evil +exists a remedy also may be found, we shall venture to offer our own +crude ideas, in the hope that some better workman, whose appetite for +business has been a little allayed by the copious surfeit of last +year, may elaborate them into shape, and emancipate one of the most +deserving, as well as the worst used, classes of her Majesty's +faithful lieges. And first, we would say this--Do not any longer +degrade the honourable House of Commons, by forcing on its attention +matters and details which ought to fall beneath the province of a +lower tribunal: do not leave it in the power of any fool or knave--and +there are many such actively employed at this time--who can persuade +half a dozen of the same class with himself into gross delusion of the +public, to occupy the time, and monopolize the nobler functions of the +legislature, in the consideration of some miserable scheme, which +never can be carried into effect, and which is protracted beyond +endurance simply for the benefit of its promoters. We do not mean that +Parliament should abandon its controlling power, or even delegate it +altogether. We only wish that the initiative--the question whether any +particular project is likely to tend to the public benefit, and, if +so, whether this is a fit and proper time to bring it forward--should +be discussed elsewhere. A recommendation of the Board of Trade, which +still leaves the matter open, is plainly useless and inoperative. It +has been overleaped, derided, despised, and will be so again--we +scarcely dare to say unjustly; for no body of five men, however +intelligent, could by possibility be expected to form an accurate +judgment upon such an enormous mass of materials and conflicting +statements as were laid before them. And yet, preliminary enquiry +there must be. The movement is far too great, and charged with too +important interests, to permit its march unchecked. Of all tyrannical +bodies, a railway company is the most tyrannical. It asks to be armed +with powers which the common law denies to the Sovereign herself. It +seeks, without your leave, to usurp your property, and will not buy it +from you at your own price. It levels your house, be it grange or +cottage, lays down its rails in your gardens, cuts through your +policy, and fells down unmercifully the oaks which your Norman +ancestor planted in the days of William Rufus. All this you must +submit to, for the public benefit is paramount to your private +feelings; but it would be an intolerable grievance were you called +upon to submit to this, not for the public benefit, but for the mere +temporary emolument of a handful of unprincipled jobbers. Therefore +there must be enquiry, even though Parliament, strangled with a +multitude of projects, should delegate a portion of its powers +elsewhere. + +And why not? It required no great acuteness of vision to see, that, +even had the railway mania not risen to this singular height, some +such step must erelong have been rendered imperative by the growing +necessities and altered circumstances of the country. The leading +feature of our age is the institution of joint-stock societies. We +have taken up very lately the views which AEsop hinted at some +thousands of years ago, in his quaint parabolic manner, and which +Defoe, who lived a century and a half before his time, most clearly +enunciated and described. We have found the way, at last, to make +small capitals effect the most gigantic results, by encircling them +with the magic ties of combination. No matter when it was discovered; +the principle has never yet been thoroughly acted upon until now, and +we know not how far it may be carried. Our fathers, for want of this +principle, ruined themselves by isolated attempts--we are in no such +danger, if we do not yield ourselves to the madness of extravagant +daring. Put railways aside altogether, and the number of private bills +which are now brought before Parliament is perfectly astounding. +Twenty years ago, such an influx would have daunted the heart of the +stoutest legislator; and yet, with all this remarkable increase, we +have clung pertinaciously to the same machinery, and expect it to work +as well as when it had not one tithe of the labour to perform. + +We have always been, and we shall always continue to be, the strenuous +advocates of LOCAL BOARDS, as by far the soundest, cheapest, and most +natural method of administering local affairs. We can recognise no +principle in the system by which a Scottish bill is entrusted to the +judgment of a committee consisting of strangers, who are utterly +ignorant of locality, vested interest, popular feeling, and every +other point which ought to influence the consideration of such a +matter. One would think, by the care which is invariably taken to +exclude from the committee every man whose local knowledge can qualify +him to form an opinion, that in ignorance alone is there safety from +venality and prejudice--a supposition which, to say the least, conveys +no compliment to the character or understanding of the British +statesman. And yet this is the system which has hitherto been most +rigidly adopted. We have judges in our law courts whose impartiality +is beyond all suspicion. They are placed on a high, conspicuous +pinnacle in the sight of the nation, to do justice between man and +man; they are fenced and fortified by the high dignity, almost +sanctity, of their calling, against clamour, idle rumour, private +interest, or any other element that might disturb the course of +equity, and therefore their decisions are received on all sides with +reverential acquiescence. Why should not the private business of the +country be placed upon the same footing? Let there be three +commissions issued--three permanent local boards established in +England, Scotland, and Ireland, under the superintendence, if +necessary, of the Board of Trade; let Parliament lay down rules for +their guidance, and let every measure which at present would be +launched _de plano_ into the House of Commons, be first submitted to +their consideration; and let their determination to reject or postpone +be final, unless the legislature shall see fit, by a solemn vote, to +reverse that portion of their report. In this way a multitude of loose +and undigested schemes would be thrown back upon the hands of their +promoters, without clogging the wheels of Parliament; and such only as +bear _ex facie_ to be for the public advantage, would be allowed to +undergo the more searching ordeal of a committee. These boards would +literally cost the country nothing, even although the constituent +members of them were paid, as they ought to be for the performance of +such a duty, very highly. Each company applying for a bill might be +assessed to a certain amount, corresponding to the value of its stock; +as it is but fair that the parties who have created the exigency, and +whose avowed object is profit, should defray the attendant expense. + +Supposing that the principle of these boards were admitted, it seems +to us that Parliament has still to exercise a great and serious duty +in laying down rules for their guidance. This is perhaps the most +difficult subject connected with the railway system; and we approach +it with diffidence, as it is inseparable, nay, must be based upon the +two grand considerations of CAPITAL and LABOUR. We shall endeavour to +explain our meaning a little more minutely. + +The reader will gather from what we have written above, that we +entertain no fear that the nominal capital invested in the railways +_which have already received the sanction of Parliament_, is now more +than the surplus capital floating in the country which can be applied +to such a purpose without injuring any portion of our staple +manufactures or commerce. On the contrary, we think that it is very +greatly below that mark, and therefore that it matters little, in a +general point of view, by whom the stock is presently held. Sooner or +later it must find its way into the hands of the capitalists, a class +whose numbers are notoriously every day on the increase. Even were +this not the case, and the balance otherwise, it must be recollected +that the investment of that capital is not the thing of a moment. Four +years, probably, may elapse before all the railways _which have +obtained bills_ can be completed, and during that time the calls are +gradual. Unless, therefore, there shall occur some untoward and +unforeseen cause, such as a continental war or a general stoppage of +trade, the accumulation of capital in this country will be at least +equally progressive. There is thus a future increment corresponding to +the period of the completion of these public works, which may very +fairly be taken into consideration, at least, as a kind of security +that we have not hitherto advanced with too rash or hasty steps. But +with the unchecked influx of new schemes, this security, which at best +is but contingent, must disappear, and a further enormous absorption +of capital, the existence of which is not satisfactorily proved, be +called for. In such a state of things, it is unquestionably the duty +of government to use its controlling power. The payment of ten per +cent deposit is no guarantee at all. Whilst new stocks are at premium, +a hundred pounds, in the hands of an enterprising speculator, may +figure as the representative of many thousands in twenty different +railway schemes. The limit of disposable capital in the country +must--if all the new projects are permitted to go on--be reached, and +that erelong; then comes a period of gambling whilst money is cheap +and credit plentiful--a sudden contraction of currency--and a crash. + +It has been found utterly impossible to ascertain the amount of +capital at any time floating in Great Britain. We can, therefore, only +guess from certain commercial symptoms when it is nearly exhausted. On +this point the money articles in the London journals have of late +contained many significant hints. The settlements on the Stock +Exchange are weekly becoming more difficult, and an enormous per +centage is said to be paid at present for temporary accommodation. It +is understood, also, that the banks are about to raise the rate of +discount; from which we infer that their deposits are being gradually +withdrawn, since there is no other circumstance whatever that ought to +operate a change.[7] But really it requires no calculation and no +foresight to see, that the mere amount of deposits required for the +new schemes must erelong lock up the whole available capital of Great +Britain. Let those who think this is a bold assertion on our part, +attend to the following fact. We have taken from _The Railway Record_, +the amount of _new railway schemes_ advertised _in a single week_, at +the beginning of October. The number of the schemes is FORTY; and they +comprehend the ephemera of England and Ireland only--Scotland, which, +during that period, was most emulously at work, seems, by some +unaccountable accident, to have been overlooked. Of the amount of +capital to be invested in no less than ELEVEN of these, we have no +statement. The promoters apparently have no time to attend to such +trifling details; and, doubtless, it will be early enough to announce +the capital when they have playfully pounced upon the deposits. But +there is some candour in TWENTY-NINE provisional committees, and their +accumulated nominal capital proves to be--how much, think you, gifted +reader, and confident dabbler in new stock? Why, merely +this--TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS EIGHT HUNDRED AND THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS!!! +Now--for we wish always to speak and write within the mark--let us +calculate the eleven Harpocrates Companies and the Northern Schemes, +(which are more than eleven,) at fourteen or fifteen additional +millions; and you thus have parties engaged, _in the course of a +single week_, for FORTY MILLIONS STERLING, or _about one-twentieth +part of the whole national debt_; which, according to this rate of +subscription, may be extinguished by our surplus capital in the short +space of five months. And this is the country, where, three years ago, +the manufacturer and miner were starving, Manchester almost in a state +of siege, and Staley-bridge in absolute insurrection! Happy Britain, +where every man has discovered the philosopher's stone! + +After this, need we say any thing more upon the great topic of +capital? Were the nation now in its sober senses, the facts which we +have stated, and for the accuracy of which we pledge ourselves, would +surely be enough to awaken it to a true conception of the vortex into +which it is plunging. But as every man will no doubt think--with the +ordinary self-delusion of our kind--that the scheme in which he is +individually embarked is an exception from the common rule; let us ask +each speculator candidly to make answer, whether he has minutely +examined the merits of the line which he has adopted, or whether he +has thrown himself into it upon the assurances of others, and the mere +expectations of a premium? If the former, let him hold. We war with no +man's deliberate judgment; and that there are many projected lines in +Great Britain which must ultimately be carried, and which will prove +most profitable to the shareholders, is beyond all manner of doubt. +Whether they may receive the sanction of the legislature so soon as +the proprietor expects, is a very different question. But if the +latter, his case is far otherwise. We have seen the prospectus of +several of the most gigantic schemes now in the market, by means of +which the whole length of England is to be traversed, and these have +undergone no further survey than the application of a ruler to a +lithographic map, and a trifling transplantation of the principal +towns, so as to coincide with the direct and undeviating rail. There +is hardly a sharebroker in the kingdom who is not cognisant of this +most flagrant fact; and by many of them the impudent impositions have +been returned with the scorn which such conduct demands. It is hardly +possible to conceive that these schemes were ever intended to meet the +eye of Parliament; but, if not, why were they ever started? The +reflection is a very serious one for those who have deposited their +money. + +Such projects, of course, are the exceptions, and not the rule. Still, +their existence, and the support which they have unthinkingly +obtained, are very lamentable symptoms of the recklessness which +characterises the present impulse. Were the tone of commercial +enterprise healthy, and kept within due bounds, there would be nothing +of this; neither should we hear, as we do every day, of shares which, +immediately after their allocation, attain an enormous premium, and, +after having fluctuated for a week or two, subside to something like +their real value. + +Are we then justified or not in saying, that it is the imperative duty +of the legislature to look to this question of capital; that it is +bound to see that the country does not pledge itself so utterly beyond +its means; and that the advance of the railway system must be made +slow and steady, in order to render its basis secure? + +But there is another point beyond this. Supposing that all our remarks +on the subject of capital were erroneous, and that our financial views +were as puerile as we believe them to be strictly sound--we fall back +upon an element which is more easily ascertained, and that is, LABOUR. +We hold it to be a clear economical maxim, that beyond a certain +point, at all events within a given time, capital, however abundant it +may be, cannot _create_ labour. It has passed into a sort of truism +that there is nothing which money cannot accomplish--analyse it, and +you will find that it is not a truism but a popular fallacy. There are +many, many things which money cannot accomplish. It has no power to +clear the social atmosphere from crime; it may mar the morals of a +people, but it cannot make them; and still less can it usurp the +stupendous functions of the Deity. It may rear labour, but it cannot +by any possibility create it, after such a fashion as the crop that +sprang from the sowing of the Cadmean teeth. Let us illustrate this a +little. + +Probably--nay, certainly--there never was a country in which labour +has been so accurately balanced as in Great Britain. Our population +has been for a number of years upon the increment; but the increase +has been of the nature of supply, consequent and almost dependent upon +the demand. The wages paid to the children in manufacturing districts +have swelled that portion of our population to a great degree, though +probably not more than is indispensable from the fluctuating nature of +commerce. But, so far as we can learn from statistical tables, the +number of agricultural labourers--that is, those who are strictly +employed in the cultivation of the land, and who cannot be spared from +that most necessary task--has been rather on the decrease. Our +business, however, is neither with manufacturer nor with +agriculturist, but with a different class--those, namely, who are +engaged in the public works of the country. Let us take Mr Porter's +estimate, according to the census of 1831. + + "The summary of the returns of 1831, respecting the occupations of + males twenty years of age and upwards, throws considerable light + upon the subject, by exhibiting them under several subdivisions. + The males belonging to the families included in the + non-agricultural and non-manufacturing classes, were given at the + last census under four distinct heads of description, viz.:-- + + "Capitalists, Bankers, Professional, and other educated men. + + "_Labourers employed in labour, not Agricultural._ + + "Other males, twenty years of age, except servants. + + "Male servants, twenty years of age. + + "The whole number of males included under these heads, amounts to + 1,137,270. Of _these_, 608,712 were actually employed in labour, + which although, usually speaking, it was neither manufacturing nor + trading, was yet necessary in the successful prosecution of some + branch of trade or manufactures, _such as mining, road-making, + canal-digging, inland navigation, &c._" + +Of these 600,000, now probably augmented by a tenth, how many can be +spared from their several employments for the construction of the +railways, and how many are at this moment so employed, with their +labour mortgaged for years? This is a question which Parliament ought +most certainly--if it can be done--to get answered in a satisfactory +manner. It must be remarked, that in this class are included the +miners, who certainly cannot be withdrawn from their present work, +which in fact is indispensable for the completion of the railways. If +possible, their numbers must be augmented. The stored iron of the +country is now exhausted, and the masters are using every diligence in +their power to facilitate the supply, which still, as the advancing +price of that great commodity will testify, is short of, and +insufficient for the demand. From the agricultural labourers you +cannot receive any material number of recruits. The land, above all +things, must be tilled; and--notwithstanding the trashy assertions of +popular slip-slop authors and Cockney sentimentalists, who have +favored us with pictures of the Will Ferns of the kingdom, as unlike +the reality as may be--the condition of those who cultivate the soil +of Britain is superior to that of the peasantry in every other country +of Europe. The inevitable increase of demand for labour will even +better their condition, according to the operation of a law apparent +to every man of common sense, but which is hopelessly concealed from +the eyes of these spurious regenerators of the times. It is impossible +to transform the manufacturer, even were that trade slack, into a +railway labourer; the habits and constitution of the two classes +being essentially different and distinct. Indeed, as the writer we +have already quoted well remarks--"Experience has shown that +uneducated men pass with difficulty, and unwillingly, from occupations +to which they have been long accustomed," and nothing, consequently, +is more difficult than to augment materially and suddenly the numbers +of any industrial class, when an unexpected demand arises. To us, +therefore, it seems perfectly clear, that even if the capital were +forthcoming, there is not labour enough in the country for the +simultaneous construction of a tithe of the projected schemes. + +There are considerations connected with this matter which entail a +great responsibility upon the government. The capitalists are, in +fact, putting at its disposal the means of maintaining a great portion +of the poorer population for many years to cone. If this be properly +attended to, emigration, which principally benefits the labourer, may +be discontinued. We have now arrived at a pass when the absence of +those who have already emigrated becomes a matter of regret. There is +work to be had nearer than the Canadian woods or the waterless +prairies of Australia--work, too, that in its results must be of +incalculable benefit to the community. But the government is bound to +regulate it so, that, amidst superabundance of wealth, due regard is +paid to the ECONOMY OF LABOUR. It is rumoured that some railway +directors, fully aware of the facts which we have stated, are +meditating, in their exuberant haste for dividends, the introduction +of foreign labourers. We doubt whether, under any circumstances, such +a scheme is practicable; but of this we entertain no doubt, that it is +as mischievous a device as ever was forged in the cabinet of Mammon! +Some years ago the cuckoo cry of the political quacks was +over-population. Now it seems there is a scarcity of hands, and in +order to supply the want--for we have drained the Highlands--we are to +have an importation from Baden or Bavaria, without even the protecting +solemnity of a tariff. If this be true, it seems to us that government +is bound to interpose by the most stringent measures. It is monstrous +to think, that whereas, for many years past, for mere slackness of +labour, we have been encouraging emigration among the productive +classes of our countrymen to a very great degree; draining, as it +were, the mother country to found the colonies, and therein resorting +to the last step which a paternal government, even in times of the +greatest necessity, should adopt--now, when a new experiment, or +social crisis--call it which you will--has arisen, when labour has +again reached the point where the demand exceeds the supply, we are to +admit an influx of strangers amongst us, and thereby entail upon +ourselves and posterity the evils of prospective pauperism. We have +been already too prone, in matters relating rather to the luxuries +than the necessities of our social system, to give undue preference to +the foreigner. British art has, in many branches, been thereby +crippled and discouraged, and a cry, not unnatural surely, has ere now +been raised against the practice. But how incomparably more dangerous +it would be to inundate the country with an alien population, whose +mere brute strength, without a particle of productive skill, is their +only passport and certificate! This too, be it observed, is not for +the purpose of establishing or furthering a branch of industry which +can furnish permanent employment, but merely for carrying out a system +of great change certainly, but of limited endurance. If labour +required to be forced, it would certainly be more for our advantage to +revise our penal institutions, and to consider seriously whether those +who have committed offences against our social laws, might not be more +profitably employed in the great works of the kingdom, than by +transplanting them as at present to the Antipodes at a fearful +expense, the diminution of which appears, in all human probability, +impossible. + +If, then, we are right in our premises, the two leading points which +Parliament must steadily regard in forming its decisions connected +with the new schemes, are the sufficiency of unfettered capital and +the adequate supply of labour. Our conviction is, that neither exist +to any thing like the extent which would be required were the present +mania allowed to run its course unchecked. But, on the other hand, a +total stoppage of improvement might be equally dangerous; and it will +therefore be necessary to steer a middle course, and to regulate the +movement according to certain principles. Let us, then, first consider +what lines ought _not_ to be granted. + +At the head of these we should place the whole bundle of rival +companies to railways already completed or in progress. We are not of +the number of those who stand up for exclusive commercial monopoly; +but we do think that there is a tacit or implied contract between the +state and the proprietors of the sanctioned lines, which ought to +shield the latter against rash and invidious competition. The older +railways are the parents of the system; without them, it never could +have been discovered what gradients were requisite, what works +indispensable, what savings practicable. The expense of their +construction we know to have been, in many instances, far greater than +is contained in the modern estimates, and the land which they required +to occupy was procured at extravagant prices. Now it does seem to us +in the highest degree unfair, that the interest of these companies +should be sacrificed for the sake of what is called the "direct" +principle. A saving of twenty or thirty miles between Newcastle and +London, is now thought to be a matter of so much importance as to +justify one or more independent lines, which, despising intermediate +cities and their traffic, still hold their even course as the crow +flies, from point to point, and thereby shorten the transit from the +south to the north of England by--it may be--the matter of an hour. We +did not use to be quite so chary of our minutes: nor, though fully +aware of the value of time, did we ever bestow the same regard upon +the fractional portions of our existence. What the nation requires is +a safe, commodious, and speedy mode of conveyance, and we defy the +veriest streak-of-lightning man to say, that the present companies in +operation do not afford us that to our heart's content. It is but a +very few years ago since we used to glorify ourselves in the rapidity +of the mail-coach, doing its ten miles an hour with the punctuality of +clockwork. Now we have arrived at the ratio of forty within the same +period, and yet we are not content. Next year, within fourteen hours +we shall be transported from Edinburgh to London. That, it seems, is +not enough. A company offers to transport us by a straighter line in +thirteen; and for that purpose they ask leave of the legislature to +construct a rival line at the expense of a few millions! Now, keeping +in mind what we have said as to capital, is not this, in the present +state of things, most wanton prodigality? The same "few millions"--and +we rather suspect they are fewer than is commonly supposed--would open +up counties hitherto untouched by the railway system--would give us +communication through the heart of the Highlands, through the remoter +districts of Wales, through the unvisited nooks of Ireland, and, in so +doing, would minister not only to the wants of the community, but in +an inconceivable degree to the social improvement of the people. Among +the list of proposed schemes for next session, there are many such; +and surely our government, if its functions correspond to the name, is +bound, in the first instance, to give a preference to these; +and--since all cannot be accomplished at once--to assist the schemes +which volunteer the opening of a new district, rather than the +competition of mushroom companies where the field is already occupied. + +There is also a filching spirit abroad, which ought decidedly to be +checked. Scarce a main line has been established from which it has not +been found necessary, for the purposes of accommodation, to run +several branches. Until about a year ago, it was generally understood +that these adjuncts ought to be left in the hands of the original +companies, who, for their own sakes, were always ready to augment +their traffic by such feeders. Now it is widely different. Four or +five miles of cross country is reckoned a sufficient justification for +the establishment of an independent company, who, without any +consultation with the proprietors of the main line, or enquiry as to +their ultimate intentions, seize upon the vacant ground as a waif, +and throw themselves confidently upon the public. If the matter does +not end in a lease, the unfortunate public will be the losers, since +it is manifestly impossible that a little Lilliput line can be cheaply +worked, independent of the larger trunk. This class of schemes also +should receive their speedy _quietus_; for what would be the use of +permitting the promoters to attempt the proof of an impossible case? + +England has already made a great portion of her railroads, but neither +Scotland nor Ireland as yet have attained the same point. Now, in a +general point of view, it will hardly be denied, that it is of far +greater importance to have the country thoroughly opened up, +throughout its length and breadth, than to have an accumulation of +cross and intersecting railways in one particular district. We are +asking no favouritism, for it has become a mere matter of choice +between companies, as to which shall have the earlier preference. In +point of policy, the legislature ought certainly to extend every +possible favour to the Irish lines. It may be that in this railway +system--for Providence works with strange agents--there lies the germ +of a better understanding between us, and the dawn of a happier day +for Ireland. At any rate, to its pauper population, the employment +afforded by companies, where no absenteeism can exist, is a great and +timely boon, and may work more social wonders than any scheme of +conciliation which the statesman has as yet devised. Idleness and lack +of employment are the most fertile sources of agitation; let these be +removed, and we may look, if not with confidence, at least with hope, +for a cessation of the stormy evil. By all means, then, let Ireland +have the precedence. She needs it more than the other countries do, +and to her claims we are all disposed to yield. + +But England owes Scotland something also. For a long series of years, +amidst great political changes, through good and through evil report, +this Magazine has been the consistent champion of our national +interests; and, whether the blow was aimed at our country by seeming +friend or open foe, we have never hesitated to speak out boldly. More +than twenty years ago, a measure was passed by the United Parliament, +which literally brought down ruin upon the Highlands of Scotland, and +from the effects of which many of the districts have never recovered. +Along all the western coast and throughout the islands, the +manufacture of kelp was the only branch of industry within the reach +of a poor and extended population, who, from their very poverty, were +entitled to the most kindly regard of government. But, as it is +believed, at the instigation of one member of the cabinet, himself +largely connected with foreign trade, without enquiry and without +warning, the market was thrown open to competition from without, +barilla imported, and the staple product of the north of Scotland +annihilated. To this fatal, and, we hesitate not to say, most wanton +measure, we attribute the periods of distress, and the long-continued +depression, which, in very many lamentable instances, have been the +ruin of our ancient families, and in consequence of which the Highland +glens have been depopulated. It was a cruel thing to do, under any +circumstances--a wicked thing, when we remember the interest by which +it was carried. There is now a great opportunity of giving us a +reasonable compensation. From the introduction of the railway system, +we anticipate a new era of prosperity to Scotland--a time when we +shall not have to devote ourselves to the melancholy task of +decreasing the population by a harsh or inhuman exile--when the crofts +of the valleys shall again be tilled, and the household fires shall be +lighted on the now deserted hearthstone. Therefore, in the event of a +restriction, we so far claim precedence. Let the work, however, be +impartially distributed throughout the kingdoms, and there can be no +ground any where for complaint. Only let our haste be tempered with +prudence, and our enthusiasm moderated down to a just coincidence with +our means. + +During all this torrent of speculation, what is the Currency doing? No +man seems to know. The nation has found a paper of its own quite as +effective as that which is doled out by the chartered bank. The +brokers are, in fact, becoming bankers, and payments of all kinds are +readily made in scrip. This is an instructive fact, and may somewhat +tend to disturb the triumph of the theorists who uphold the doctrine +of a restrictive trade in money. We do not rely on the safety of the +system, but we look upon it as a strong proof that our monetary +regulations are wrong, and that there is not only a wish, but several +practical ways, effectually to evade its fetters. We are not, however, +going into that question, though it is by no means unconnected with +our present subject. At the same time we should like to see this same +article of scrip, which is fast approximating to notes, a little more +protected. Has it never occurred to the mind of the Chancellor of the +Exchequer, or to the Premier, who has a most searching eye, that a +very profitable source of revenue to the public, and one which would +hardly be grudged, might be derived from the simple expedient of +requiring that _all scrip should be stamped_? There is no practical +difficulty in the matter. Companies already formed, if they do not +desire the benefit of a stamp--the best, and indeed at present the +only security against the forger--may be called upon to pay their +quota, corresponding to the number of their shares, from the fund of +their Parliamentary deposit. New companies, again, might be +imperatively required to issue stamps; and we confidently believe that +no tax whatever would be more cheerfully assented to. Let the currency +doctors do what they will, they never can drive scrip from the market. +Would it not, then, be a measure of good policy to enlist it as a +serviceable ally? + +Whether these observations of ours may stand the test of another +year's experience, is certainly matter of doubt. The period of a +single month makes wild changes in the prospects of the system, and +involves us not only in new calculations but in a newer phase of +things. At any rate it can do no harm, in the present period of +excitement, to preach a little moderation, even though our voice +should be as inaudible as the chirp of a sparrow on the house-top. The +speculative spirit of the age may be checked and controlled, but it +cannot be put down, nor would we wish to see it pass away. All great +improvement is the fruit of speculation, upon which, indeed, commerce +itself is based. We have, therefore, no sympathy for that numerous +class of gentlemen who profess a pious horror for every venture of the +kind, who croak prophetical bankruptcies, and would disinherit their +sons without scruple, if by any accident they detected them in +dalliance with scrip. A worthier, but a more contracted, section of +the human race does not exist. They are the genuine descendants of the +Picts; and, had they lived in remoter days, would have been the first +to protest against the abolition of ochre as an ornament, or the +substitution of broadcloth for the untanned buffalo hide. The nation +must progress, and the true Conservative policy is to lay down a +proper plan for the steadiness and endurance of its march. The Roman +state was once saved by the judicious dispositions of a Fabius, and, +in our mind, Sir Robert Peel cannot do the public a greater service +than to imitate the example of the _Cunctator_. He has the power, and, +more than any living statesman, the practical ability, to grapple with +such a subject in all its details. That Parliament must do something, +is apparent to every reflecting man. The machinery of it cannot +dispose, as heretofore, of the superabundant material. It must devise +some method of regulation, and that method must be clear and decisive. +A question more important can hardly be conceived, and so with the +legislature we leave it. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[7] Since this article was sent to press, the Bank of England has +raised its rates of discount one-half per cent. Our prognostication, +therefore, has been verified sooner than we expected, and we are not +sorry to find that great establishment thus early indicating its +opinion that speculation has been pushed too far. We see no ground of +alarm in the rise, but rather a security for a more healthy and +moderate market. + + * * * * * + +_Edinburgh: Printed by Ballantyne & Hughes, Paul's Work._ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume +62, Number 361, November, 1845., by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, NOV. 1845 *** + +***** This file should be named 27611.txt or 27611.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/6/1/27611/ + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, Erica Hills, Jonathan Ingram +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Library of Early +Journals.) + + +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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