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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: June 27, 2011 [EBook #36530] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH *** + + + + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, JoAnn Greenwood, Jonathan +Ingram and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Library of Early +Journals.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>BLACKWOOD'S<br /> +EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</h1> +<p><br /></p> +<h3> +<span class="rspace">No. CCCLXXII.</span> +<span class="btbb">OCTOBER, 1846.</span> +<span class="lspace"><span class="smcap">Vol</span>. LX</span> +</h3> +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="transnote"> +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: A few obvious misprints have been corrected, but in +general the originally erratic spelling, punctuation and typesetting +conventions have been retained. Accents in foreign language poetry are +inconsistent in the original, and have not been standardized. Hyphenated +or nonhyphenated and accented or unaccented versions of same words +retained as in original when occurring evenly, or consistently by +individual author or speaker. Otherwise changed to most frequent use.</div> +<p><br /></p> + +<h3>CONTENTS.</h3> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#WILD_SPORTS_AND_NATURAL_HISTORY_OF_THE_HIGHLANDS1"><span class="smcap">Wild Sports and Natural History of the Highlands</span>,</a></td><td align="right">389</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#LETTERS_AND_IMPRESSIONS_FROM_PARIS2"><span class="smcap">Letters and Impressions from Paris</span>,</a></td><td align="right">411</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#VISIT_TO_THE_VLADIKA_OF_MONTENEGRO"><span class="smcap">Visit to the Vladika of Montenegro</span>,</a></td><td align="right">428</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#ELINOR_TRAVIS"><span class="smcap">Elinor Travis. Chapter the Last</span>,</a></td><td align="right">444</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#HOCHELAGA4"><span class="smcap">Hochelaga</span>,</a></td><td align="right">464</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#LETTERS_ON_ENGLISH_HEXAMETERS"><span class="smcap">Letters on English Hexameters. Letter</span> III.,</a></td><td align="right">477</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#THE_DANCE_FROM_SCHILLER"><span class="smcap">The Dance. From Schiller</span>,</a></td><td align="right">480</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#A_NEW_SENTIMENTAL_JOURNEY"><span class="smcap">A New Sentimental Journey</span>,</a></td><td align="right">481</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#POEMS_BY_ELIZABETH_BARRETT_BARRETT"><span class="smcap">Poems. By Elizabeth Barrett Barrett</span>,</a></td><td align="right">488</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#THE_CONDES_DAUGHTER"><span class="smcap">The Conde's Daughter</span>,</a></td><td align="right">496</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4> +EDINBURGH:<br /> +WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET;<br /> +AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.<br /></h4> +<h5><i>To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed.</i></h5> + +<h5>SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.<br /> +<br /> +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND HUGHES, EDINBURGH.</h5> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span></p> +<h2>BLACKWOOD'S<br /> +EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</h2> + +<p><br /></p> +<h4> +<span class="rspace">No. CCCLXXII.</span> +<span class="btbb">OCTOBER, 1846.</span> +<span class="lspace"><span class="smcap">Vol</span>. LX</span> +</h4> +<p><br /></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="WILD_SPORTS_AND_NATURAL_HISTORY_OF_THE_HIGHLANDS1" id="WILD_SPORTS_AND_NATURAL_HISTORY_OF_THE_HIGHLANDS1"></a>WILD SPORTS AND NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> year we have been a defaulter +on the Moors. Not that our eye has +become more dim, our aim less sure, +or our understanding weaker than of +yore; but we are no longer subject to +the same keen and burning impulses +which used periodically to beset us +towards the beginning of our departed +Augusts, inflaming our destructive +organs, and driving us to the heather, +as the stag is said to be driven by +instinct to the shores of the sea. +Somehow or other, we now take +things much more coolly. We no +longer haunt the shop of Dickson—that +most excellent and unassuming +of gunmakers—for weeks before the +shooting-season, discussing the comparative +excellences of cartridge and +plain shot, or refitting our battered +apparatus with the last ingenuities of +Sykes. Our talk is not of pointers +or of setters; neither do we think it +incumbent upon us to perambulate +Princes Street in a shooting-jacket, +or with the dissonance of hobnailed +shoes. We can even look upon the +northern steamers, surcharged with +all manner of ammunition, crammed +from stem to stern with Cockney +tourists and sportsmen, carriages and +cars, hampers, havresacks, and hair +trunks, steering their way from our +noble frith towards the Highlands, +without the slightest wish to become +one of that gay and gallant crew. Incredible +as it may appear, we actually +wrote an article upon the twelfth of +August last; nor was the calm, even +tenor of our thoughts for a moment +interrupted by the imaginary whirr of +the gor-cock. For the life of us, we +cannot recollect what sort of a day it +was. To be sure, we were early up and +at work—that is, as early as we ever +are, somewhere about ten: we wrote +on steadily until dinner-time, with +no more intermission than was necessary +for the discussion of a couple of +glasses of Madeira. After a slight +and salubrious meal, we again tackled +to the foolscap, and by nine o'clock +dismissed the printer's devil to his +den with a quarter of a ream of +manuscript. We then strolled up to +our club, where, for the first time, +we were reminded of the nature of +the anniversary, by the savour of +roasted grouse. So, with a kind of +melancholy sigh for the impairment +of our blunted energies, we sat down +to supper, and leisurely explored the +pungent pepper about the backbone +of the bird of the mountain.</p> + +<p>But empty streets, hot sun, and +dust like that of the Sahara, are combined +nuisances too formidable for +the most tranquil or indolent nature. +It is not good for any one to be the +last man left in town. You become +an object of suspicion to the porters—that +is, the more superannuated portion +of them, for the rest are all gone +to carry bags upon the moors—who, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span> +seeing you continue from day to day +sidling along the deserted streets, begin +to entertain strange doubts as to +the real probity of your character, or, +at all events, as to your absolute +sanity. If you are a lawyer, and remain +in town throughout August and +September, your own conscience will +tell you at once that you are nothing +short of an arrant sneak. Are there +not ten other months in the year +throughout which you may cobble +condescendences, without emulating +the endurance of Chibert, and confining +yourself in an oven, to the manifest +endangerment of your liver, for the +few paltry guineas which may occasionally +come tumbling in? Will +any agent of sense consider you a +better counsel, or a more estimable +plodder, because you affect an exaggerated +passion for <i>Morrison's Decisions</i>, +and refuse to be divorced even +for a week from your dalliance with +Shaw and Dunlop? Is that unfortunate +Lord Ordinary on the Bills to +be harassed day and night, deprived +of his morning drive, and deranged +in his digestive organs, on account of +your unhallowed lust for fees? Is +your unhappy clerk, whose wife and +children have long since been dismissed +to cheap bathing-quarters on +the coast of Fife, where at this moment +they are bobbing up and down among +the tangled rocks, skirling as the waves +come in, or hunting for diminutive +crabs and cavies in the sea-worn +pools—is that most oppressed and +martyred of all mankind to be kept, +by your relentless fiat, or rather wicked +obstinacy, from participating in the +same sanatory amusements with Bill, +and Harry, and Phemie, and the rest +of his curly-headed weans? Think +you that the complaints of Mrs Screever +will not be heard and registered +against you in heaven, as, mateless +and disconsolate, she cheapens haddocks +in the market, or plucks sea-pinks +along the cliffs of hoary Anstruther +or of Crail? Shame upon +you! Recollect, for the sake of others, +if not for your own, that you call +yourself a gentleman and a Christian. +Shut up your house from top to bottom—fee +the policeman to watch it—wafer +a ticket on the window, directing +all parcels to be sent to the grocer +with whom you have deposited the +key—give poor Girzy a holiday to +visit her friends at Carnwath—and +be off yourself, as fast as you can, +wherever your impulses may lead you, +either to the Highlands with rod and +gun, or, if you are no sportsman, to +Largs, or Ardrossan, or Dunoon, pleasant +places all, where you may saunter +along the shore undisturbed from morn +until dewy eve, hire a boat at a shilling +the hour, and purvey your own +whitings; or haply, if you are in good +luck, take a prominent part in the +proceedings of a regatta, and make +nautical speeches after dinner to the +intense amusement of your audience.</p> + +<p>But you say you are a physician. +Well, then, cannot you leave your +patients to die in peace? It is six +months since you were called in to +attend that old lady, who has a large +jointure and a predisposition to jaundice. +You have visited her regularly +once a day—sometimes twice—prescribed +for her a whole pharmacopeia +of drugs—blistered her, bled +her, leeched her—curtailed her of +wholesome diet, forbidden cordial +waters, and denounced the needful +cinnamon. Dare you lay your hand +on your heart and say that you think +her better? Not you. Why not, then, +give the poor old woman, who is not +only harmless, but an excellent subscriber +to several Tract societies, one +chance more of a slightly protracted +existence? Restore to her her natural +food and adventitious comforts. Send +her away to Cheltenham or Harrowgate, +or some such other vale of Avoca, +where, at all events, she may get fresh +air, clean lodgings, and lots of mineral +water. So shall you escape the pangs +of an awakened conscience, and your +deathbed be haunted by the thoughts +of at least one homicide the less.</p> + +<p>What we say to one we say to all. +Stockbroker! you are a good fellow +in the main, and you never meant to +ruin your clients. It was not your +fault that they went so largely into +Glenmutchkins, and made such unfortunate +attempts to <i>bear</i> the Biggleswade +Junction. But why should you +continue to tempt the poor devils at +this flat season of the year, and with +a glutted market, into any further +purchases of scrip? You know very +well, that until November, at the earliest, +there is not the most distant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span> +prospect of a rise, and you have +already pocketed, believe us, a remarkably +handsome commission. Do +not be in too great a hurry to kill the +goose with the golden eggs. A rest +for a month or so will make them all +the keener for speculation afterwards, +and nurse their appetite for premiums. +We foresee a stirring winter, if you +will but take things quietly in the +interim. Assemble your brethren together—shut +up the Exchange by +common consent during the dog-days—convert +your lists into wadding, +and let Mammon have a momentary +respite.—Writer to the Signet! is it +fair to be penning letters, each of +which costs your employer three and +fourpence, when they are certain to +remain unanswered? Do not do it. +This is capital time for taking infeftments, +and those instruments of +sasine may well suffice to plump out +the interior of a game-bag. No better +witnesses in the world than a shepherd +and an illicit distiller; and sweet will +be your crowning caulker as you take +instruments of earth and stone, peat +and divot, and the like, in the hands +of Angus and Donald, by the side of +the spring, far up in the solitary mountain. +Therefore, again we say, be off +as speedily as you can to the moors, +and leave the Deserted City to sun +and dust, and the vigilance of a perspiring +Town Council.</p> + +<p>Example, they say, is better than +precept—we might demur to the +doctrine, but we are not in a disputatious +humour. For we too are bound, +though late, to the land of grouse—indeed +we have already accomplished +the greater part of our journey, and +are writing this article in a pleasant +burgh of the west, separated only by +an arm of the sea, across which the +bright-sailed yachts are skimming, +from a long range of heathery hills, +whereon we hope, if it pleases fortune, +to do some execution on the +morrow. Our three pointers, Orleans, +Tours, and Bordeaux—so named +after the speculation that enabled us +to purchase them—are basking in the +sun on the little green beneath our +window; whilst Scrip, our terrier and +constant companion, is perched upon +the sill, barking with all his might at +a peripatetic miscreant of a minstrel, +who for the last half hour has been +grinding Gentle Zitella to shreds in +his barrel organ. We have tried in +vain to move him with coppers +dexterously shied so as to hit him if +possible on the head, but the nuisance +will not abate. We must follow the +example of the Covenanters, and put +an end to him at the expenditure of a +silver shot. "There, our good fellow, +is a shilling for you—have the kindness +to move on a few doors further; +there are some sick folks in this +house. At the end of the row you +will find a family remarkably addicted +to music—the house with the +green blinds—you understand us? +Thank you!" And in a few moments +we hear his infernal instrument, now +not unpleasantly remote, doling out +the popular air of the Glasgow Chappie, +for the edification of the intolerable +Gorbalier who poisoned our passage +down the Clyde by constituting +himself our Cicerone, and explaining +the method by which one might discriminate +the Railway boats from +those of the Castle Company, by the +peculiar ochreing of their funnels.</p> + +<p>Did we intend to remain here +much longer, we should be compelled +in self-defence to clear the neighbourhood. +This is not so impracticable as +at first sight may appear. We have +made acquaintance with a very +pleasant fellow of a Bauldy—quite a +genius in his way—who has a natural +talent for the French horn. To him +an old key-bugle would be an inestimable +treasure, and we doubt not that +with a few instructions he would become +such a proficient as to serenade +the suburb day and night. Nor +would our conscience reproach us for +having made one human creature +supremely happy, even at the cost of +the emigration of a few dozen others. +But fortunately we have no need to +recur to any such experiment. To-morrow +we shall enact the part of +Macgregor with our foot upon our +native heather; and for one evening, +wherever the locality, we could not +find a more apt or pleasant companion +than Mr Charles St John, whose +sporting journals are at last published +in the Home and Colonial Library.</p> + +<p>We make this preliminary statement +the more readily, because for +divers reasons we had hardly expected +to find the work so truly excellent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span> +of its kind; and had there been any +shortcomings, assuredly we should +have been foul of St John. In the +first place, we entertained, and do +still entertain, the opinion that very +few English sportsmen are capable +of writing a work which shall treat +not only of the Wild Sports, but of the +Natural History of the Highlands. +They belong to a migratory class, +and seldom exchange the comforts of +their clubs for the inconveniences of +northern rustication, at least before +the month of June. Now and then, +indeed, you may meet with some of +them, whose passion for angling +amounts to a mania, by the side of the +Tweed or the Shin, long before the +mavis has hatched her young. But +these are usually elderly grey-coated +men, whose whole faculties are bent +upon hackles—the patriarchs of a far +nobler school than that of Walton—magnificent +throwers of the fly—salmonicides +of the first water—yet +in our humble estimation not very +conversant with any other subject +under heaven. Their sporting error—rather +let us call it misfortune—is +that they do not generalise. By the +middle of September their occupation +for the year is over. Shortly afterwards +they assemble, like swallows +about to leave our shores, on the +banks of the Tweed, which river is +permitted by the mercy of the British +Parliament to remain open for a short +time longer. There they angle on, +kill their penultimate and ultimate +fish; and finally, at the approach of +winter, retreat to warmer quarters, +and recapitulate the campaigns of the +summer over port of the most generous +vintage. These are clearly not +the men to indite the Wild Sports and +Natural History of the North.</p> + +<p>The other section of English sportsmen +come later and depart a little +earlier. They are the renters of moors, +crack sportsmen in every sense of the +word, who resort to Ross-shire as regularly +as they afterwards emigrate +to Melton. Now, as to their slaughtering +powers, we entertain not the +shadow of a doubt. Steady shots +and deadly are they from their youth +upwards—trained, it may be, upon +level ground, but still unerring in +their aim. If not so wiry-sinewed, +and sound of wind as the Caledonian, +their pluck is undeniable, and their +perseverance praiseworthy in the extreme. +Show them the birds, and +they will bring them to bag—give +them a fair chance at a red-deer, and +the odds are that next minute he shall +be rolling in blood upon the heather. +But this, let it be observed, is after +all a mere matter of tooling. To be +a good shot is only one branch of the +finished sportsman's accomplishment, +and it enters not at all into the conformation +of the naturalist. We +would not give a brace of widgeons +for the best description ever written +of a week's sport in the Highlands, +or indeed any where else, provided it +contained nothing more than an account +of the killed and wounded, +some facetious anecdotes regarding +the lives of the gillies, and a narrative +of the manner in which the author +encountered and overcame a hart. +Even the adventures of a night in a +still will hardly make the book go +down. We want an eye accustomed +to look to other things beyond the +sight of a gun-barrel—we want to +know more about the quarry than the +mere fact that it was flushed, fired at, +and killed. Death can come but once +to the black-cock as to the warrior, +but are their lives to be accounted as +nothing? Ponto we allow to be a +beautiful brute—a little too thin-skinned, +perhaps, for the moors, and +apt, in case of mist, to lapse into a +state of ague—yet, notwithstanding, +punctual at his points, and cheap at +twenty guineas of the current money +of the realm. Howbeit we care not +for his biography. To us it is matter +of the smallest moment from what +breed he is descended, by whose gamekeeper +he was broken, neither are we +covetous as to statistics of the number +of his brothers and sisters uterine. +It is of course gratifying to know that +our southern acquaintance approves +of the sport he has met with in a particular +district; and that on the +twelfth, not only the bags but the +ponies were exuberantly loaded with +a superfluity of fud and feather. +Such intelligence would have been +listened to most benignly had it been +accompanied by a box of game duly +addressed to us at Ambrose's—as it +is, we accept the fact without any +spasm of extraordinary pleasure.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span></p> + +<p>There are, we allow, some sporting +tours from which we have derived +both profit and gratification; but the +locality of these is usually remote and +unexplored. We like to hear of +salmon-fishing in the Naamsen, and +of forty and fifty pounders captured +in its brimful rapids—of bear-skalls +in Sweden, buffalo-hunting in the +prairies, or the chase of the majestic +lion in Caffreland or Morocco. Such +narratives have the charm of novelty; +and if, now and then, they border a +little upon the marvellous or miraculous, +we do our best to summon up +faith sufficient to bolt them all. We +by no means objected to Monsieur +Violet's account of the <i>estampades</i> in +California, or of the snapping turtles +in the cane-brakes of the Red River. +He was, at all events, graphic in his +descriptions; and the zoology to which +he introduced us, if not genuine, was +of a gigantic and original kind. In +fact, no sort of voyage or travel is +readable unless it be strewn thickly +with incident and adventure, and +these of a startling character. Nobody +cares now-a-days about meteorological +observations, or dates, or +distances, or names of places; we +have been tired with these things +from the days of Dampier downwards. +Nor need any navigator hope to draw +the public attention to his facts unless +he possesses besides a deal of +the talent of the novelist. If incident +does not lie in his path, he must go +out of his way to seek it—if even then +it should not appear, there is an absolute +necessity for inventing it. What +a book of travels in Central Africa +could we not write, if any one would +be kind enough to furnish us with +a mere outline of the route, and the +authentic soundings of the Niger!</p> + +<p>Scotland, however, is tolerably well +known to the educated people of the +sister country, and her productions +have ceased to be a marvel. Grouse +are common as howtowdies in the +London market; and even red-deer +venison, if asked for, may be had for +a price. There is no great mystery +in the staple commodity of our sports. +Something, it is true, may still be +said with effect regarding deer-stalking—a +branch of the art venatory +which few have the opportunity to +study, and of those few a small +fraction only can attain to a high +degree. Grouse are to be found +on every hill, black-game in almost +every correi; few are the woods, at +the present day, unhaunted by the +roe; but the red-deer—the stag of +ten—he of the branches and the tines—is, +in most parts of the country save +in the great forests, a casual and a +wandering visitor; and many a summer's +day you may clamber over cairn +and crag, inspect every scaur and +glen, and sweep the horizon around +with your telescope, without discovering +the waving of an antler, or the +impress of a transitory footprint. But +this subject is soon exhausted. Scrope +has done ample justice to it, and left +but a small field untrodden to any +literary successor. The <i>Penny Magazine</i>, +if we mistake not, disposed several +years ago of otter-hunting, and +the chase of the fox as practised in +the rocky regions; and finally, Colquhoun—he +of the Moor and the Loch—with +more practical knowledge and +acute observation than any of his predecessors, +reduced Highland sporting +to a science, and became the Encyclopedist +of the <i>feræ naturæ</i> of the +hills. With these authorities already +before us, it was not unnatural that +we should have entertained doubts as +to the capabilities of any new writer, +not native nor to the custom born.</p> + +<p>Neither did the puff preliminary, +which heralded the appearance of this +volume, prepossess us strongly in its +favour. What mattered it to the +sensible reader whether or no "the +attention of the public has already +been called to this journal by the +<i>Quarterly Review</i> of December 1845?" +The book was not published, had not +an existence, until seven or eight +months after that article—a reasonably +indifferent one, by the way—was +penned; and yet we are asked to take +that sort of pre-Adamite notice as +a verdict in its favour! Now, we +object altogether to this species of side-winded +commendation, this reviewing, +or noticing, or extracting from +manuscripts before publication, more +especially in the pages of a great and +influential Review. It is always injudicious, +because it looks like the work +of a coterie. In the present case it +was doubly unwise, because this volume +really required no adventitious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span> +aid whatever, and certainly no artifice, +to recommend it to the public +favour.</p> + +<p>Whilst, however, we consider it +our duty to say thus much, let it not +be supposed that we are detracting +from the merits of the extracts contained +in that article of the <i>Quarterly</i>. +On the contrary, they impressed us +at the time with a high idea of the +graphic power of the writer, and presented +an agreeable contrast to the +general prolixity of the paper. It is +even possible that we are inclined to +underrate the efforts of the critic on +account of his having forestalled us +by printing <i>The Muckle Hart of Benmore</i>—a +chapter which we should +otherwise have certainly enshrined +within the columns of <i>Maga</i>.—At all +events it is now full time that we +should address ourselves more seriously +to the contents of the volume.</p> + +<p>Mr St John, we are delighted to +observe, is not a sportsman belonging +to either class which we have above +attempted to describe. He is not the +man whose exploits will be selected +to swell the lists of slaughtered game +in the pages of the provincial newspapers; +for he has the eye and the +heart of a naturalist, and, as he tells +us himself, after a pleasant description +of the wild animals which he has +succeeded in domesticating—"though +naturally all men are carnivorous, +and, therefore, animals of prey, and +inclined by nature to hunt and destroy +other creatures, and, although I share +in this our natural instinct to a great +extent, I have far more pleasure in +seeing these different animals enjoying +themselves about me, and in observing +their different habits, than I +have in hunting down and destroying +them."</p> + +<p>Most devoutly do we wish that +there were many more sportsmen of +the same stamp! For ourselves, we +confess to an organ of destructiveness +not of the minimum degree. We +never pass a pool, and hear the sullen +plunge of the salmon, without a bitter +imprecation upon our evil destiny if +we chance to have forgotten our rod; +and a covey rising around us, when +unarmed, is a plea for suicide. But +this feeling, as Mr St John very properly +expresses it, is mere natural instinct—part +of our original Adam, +which it is utterly impossible to subdue. +But give us rod or gun. Let +us rise and strike some three or four +fresh-run fish, at intervals of half-an-hour—let +us play, land, and deposit +them on the bank, in all the glory of +their glittering scales, and it is a hundred +to one if we shall be tempted to +try another cast, although the cruives +are open, the water in rarest trim, +and several hours must elapse ere the +advent of the cock-a-leekie. In like +manner, we prefer a moor where the +game is sparse and wild, to one from +which the birds are rising at every +twenty yards; nor care we ever to +slaughter more than may suffice for +our own wants and those of our immediate +friends. And why should +we? There is something not only +despicable, but, in our opinion, absolutely +brutal, in the accounts which +we sometimes read of wholesale massacres +committed on the moors, in +sheer wanton lust for blood. Fancy +a great hulking Saxon, attended by +some half-dozen gamekeepers, with a +larger retinue of gillies, sallying forth +at early morning upon ground where +the grouse are lying as thick and tame +as chickens in a poultry-yard—loosing +four or five dogs at a time, each of +which has found his bird or his covey +before he has been freed two minutes +from the couples—marching up in +succession to each stationary quadruped—kicking +up the unfortunate pouts, +scarce half-grown, from the heather +before his feet—banging right and left +into the middle of them, and—for the +butcher shoots well—bringing down +one, and sometimes two, at each discharge. +The red-whiskered keeper +behind him, who narrowly escaped +transportation, a few years ago, for a +bloody and ferocious assault, hands +him another gun, ready-loaded; and +so on he goes, for hour after hour, depopulating +God's creatures, of every +species, without mercy, until his +shoulder is blue with the recoil, and +his brow black as Cain's, with the +stain of the powder left, as he wipes +away the sweat with his stiff and discoloured +hand. At evening, the pyramid +is counted, and lo, there are two +hundred brace!</p> + +<p>Is this sporting, or is it murder? +Not the first certainly, unless the +term can be appropriately applied to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[395]</a></span> +the hideous work of the shambles. +Indeed, between knocking down stots +or grouse in this wholesale manner, +we can see very little distinction; +except that, in the one case, there is +more exertion of the muscles, and in +the other a clearer atmosphere to +nerve the operator to his task. Murder +is a strong term, so we shall not +venture to apply it; but cruelty is a +word which we may use without +compunction; and from that charge, +at least, it is impossible for the glutton +of the moors to go free.</p> + +<p>Great humanity and utter absence +of wantonness in the prosecution of +his sport, is a most pleasing characteristic +of Mr St John. He well +understands the meaning of Wordsworth's +noble maxim,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Never to blend our pleasure or our pride<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With sorrow of the meanest thing that feels;"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>and can act upon it without cant, +without cruelty, and, above all, without +hypocrisy. And truly, when we +consider where he has been located +for the last few years, in a district +which offers a greater variety of game +to the sportsman than any other in +Great Britain, his moderation becomes +matter of legitimate praise. +Here is his own description of the +locality wherein he has pitched his +tent:—</p> + +<p>"I have lived for several years in the +northern counties of Scotland, and during +the last four or five in the province +of Moray, a part of the country peculiarly +adapted for collecting facts in +Natural History, and for becoming intimate +with the habits of many of our British +wild birds and quadrupeds. Having +been in the habit of keeping an irregular +kind of journal, and of making notes +of any incidents which have fallen under +my observation connected with the zoology +of the country, I have now endeavoured, +by dint of cutting and pruning +those rough sketches, to put them into a +shape calculated to amuse, and perhaps, +in some slight degree, to instruct some of +my fellow-lovers of Nature. From my +earliest childhood I have been more +addicted to the investigation of the +habits and manners of every kind of +living animal than to any more useful +avocation, and have in consequence +made myself tolerably well acquainted +with the domestic economy of most of +our British <i>feræ naturæ</i>, from the field-mouse +and wheatear, which I stalked +and trapped in the plains and downs of +Wiltshire during my boyhood, to the +red-deer and eagle, whose territory I +have invaded in later years on the mountains +of Scotland. My present abode +in Morayshire is surrounded by as great +a variety of beautiful scenery as can be +found in any district in Britain; and no +part of the country can produce a +greater variety of objects of interest +either to the naturalist or to the lover +of the picturesque. The rapid and +glorious Findhorn, the very perfection +of a Highland river, here passes through +one of the most fertile plains in Scotland, +or indeed in the world; and though +a few miles higher up it rages through +the wildest and most rugged rocks, and +through the romantic and shaded glens +of the forests of Darnaway and Altyre, +the stream, as if exhausted, empties itself +peaceably and quietly into the Bay +of Findhorn—a salt-water loch of some +four or five miles in length, entirely +shut out by different points of land from +the storms which are so frequent in the +Moray Frith, of which it forms a kind +of creek. At low-water this bay becomes +an extent of wet sand, with the +river Findhorn and one or two smaller +streams winding through it, till they +meet in the deeper part of the basin +near the town of Findhorn, where there +is always a considerable depth of water, +and a harbour for shipping.</p> + +<p>"From its sheltered situation and the +quantity of food left on the sands at +low-water, the Bay of Findhorn is always +a great resort of wild-fowl of all +kinds, from the swan to the teal, and +also of innumerable waders of every +species; while occasionally a seal ventures +into the mouth of the river in +pursuit of salmon. The bay is separated +from the main water of the Frith +by that most extraordinary and peculiar +range of country called the Sandhills +of Moray—a long, low range of hills +formed of the purest sand, with scarcely +any herbage, excepting here and there +patches of bent or broom, which are +inhabited by hares, rabbits, and foxes. +At the extreme point of this range is a +farm of forty or fifty acres of arable +land, where the tenant endeavours to +grow a scanty crop of grain and turnips, +in spite of the rabbits and the +drifting sands. From the inland side +of the bay stretch the fertile plains of +Moray, extending from the Findhorn to +near Elgin in a continuous flat of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[396]</a></span> +richest soil, and comprising districts of +the very best partridge-shooting that +can be found in Scotland, while the +streams and swamps that intersect it +afford a constant supply of wild-fowl. +As we advance inland we are sheltered +by the wide-extending woods of Altyre, +abounding with roe and game; and beyond +these woods again is a very extensive +range of a most excellent grouse-shooting +country, reaching for many +miles over a succession of moderately-sized +hills which reach as far as the +Spey.</p> + +<p>"On the west of the Findhorn is a +country beautifully dotted with woods, +principally of oak and birch, and intersected +by a dark, winding burn, full of +fine trout, and the constant haunt of the +otter. Between this part of the country +and the sea-coast is a continuation of +the Sandhills, interspersed with lakes, +swamps, and tracts of fir-wood and +heather. On the whole, I do not know +so varied or interesting a district in +Great Britain, or one so well adapted +to the amusement and instruction of a +naturalist or sportsman. In the space +of a morning's walk you may be either +in the most fertile or the most barren +spot of the country. In my own garden +every kind of wall-fruit ripens to perfection, +and yet at the distance of only +two hours' walk you may either be in +the midst of heather and grouse, or in +the sandy deserts beyond the bay, where +one wonders how even the rabbits can +find their living.</p> + +<p>"I hope that my readers will be indulgent +enough to make allowances for +the unfinished style of these sketches, +and the copious use of the first person +singular, which I have found it impossible +to avoid whilst describing the adventures +which I have met with in this +wild country, either when toiling up the +rocky heights of our most lofty mountains, +or cruising in a boat along the +shores, where rocks and caves give a +chance of finding sea-fowl and otters; +at one time wandering over the desert +sand-hills of Moray, where, on windy +days, the light particles of drifting sand, +driven like snow along the surface of +the ground, are perpetually changing +the outline and appearance of the district; +at another, among the swamps, +in pursuit of wild-ducks, or attacking +fish in the rivers, or the grouse on the +heather.</p> + +<p>"For a naturalist, whether he be a +scientific dissector and preserver of +birds, or simply a lover and observer of +the habits and customs of the different +<i>feræ naturæ</i>, large and small, this district +is a very desirable location, as +there are very few birds or quadrupeds +to be found in any part of Great Britain +who do not visit us during the +course of the year, or, at any rate, are +to be met with in a few hours' drive. +The bays and rivers attract all the +migratory water-fowl, while the hills, +woods, and corn-lands afford shelter +and food to all the native wild birds and +beasts. The vicinity, too, of the coast +to the wild western countries of Europe +is the cause of our being often visited +by birds which are not strictly natives, +nor regular visitors, but are driven by +continued east winds from the fastnesses +of the Swedish and Norwegian forests +and mountains.</p> + +<p>"To the collector of stuffed birds +this county affords a greater variety of +specimens than any other district in the +kingdom; whilst the excellence of the +climate and the variety of scenery make +it inferior to none as a residence for +the unoccupied person or the sportsman.</p> + +<p>"Having thus described that part of +the globe which at present is my resting-place, +I may as well add a few lines +to enable my reader to become acquainted +with myself, and that part of my +belongings which will come into question +in my descriptions of sporting, &c. +To begin with myself, I am one of the +unproductive class of the genus homo, +who, having passed a few years amidst +the active turmoil of cities, and in places +where people do most delight to congregate, +have at last settled down to +live a busy kind of idle life. Communing +much with the wild birds and beasts +of our country, a hardy constitution and +much leisure have enabled me to visit +them in their own haunts, and to follow +my sporting propensities without fear +of the penalties which are apt to follow +a careless exposure of one's-self to cold +and heat, at all hours of night and day. +Though by habit and repute a being +strongly endowed with the organ of +destructiveness, I take equal delight in +collecting round me all living animals, +and watching their habits and instincts; +my abode is, in short, a miniature +menagerie. My dogs learn to respect +the persons of domesticated wild +animals of all kinds, and my pointers +live in amity with tame partridges and +pheasants; my retrievers lounge about +amidst my wild-fowl, and my terriers +and beagles strike up friendship with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[397]</a></span> +the animals of different kinds, whose +capture they have assisted in, and with +whose relatives they are ready to wage +war to the death. A common and well-kept +truce exists with one and all. My +boys, who are of the most bird-nesting +age (eight and nine years old), instead +of disturbing the numberless birds who +breed in the garden and shrubberies, in +full confidence of protection and immunity +from all danger of gun or snare, +strike up an acquaintance with every +family of chaffinches or blackbirds who +breed in the place, visiting every nest, +and watching over the eggs and young +with a most parental care."</p> + +<p>Why, this is the very Eden of a +sportsman! Flesh, fowl, and fish of +every description in abundance, and +such endless variety, that no month of +the year can pass over without affording +its quota of fair and legitimate +recreation. But to a man of Mr St +John's accomplishment and observant +habits, the mere prey is a matter of +far less moment than the insight which +such a locality affords, into the habits +and instincts of the creatures which +either permanently inhabit or casually +visit our shores. His journal is far +more than a sportsman's book. It +contains shrewd and minute observations +on the whole of our northern +fauna—the results of many a lonely +but happy day spent in the woods, +the glens, the sand-tracts, by river +and on sea. His range is wider than +that which has been taken either by +White of Selborne, or by Waterton; +and we are certain that he will hold +it to be no mean compliment when +we say, that in our unbiased opinion, +he is not surpassed by either of them +in fidelity, and in point of picturesqueness +of description, is even the +superior of both. The truth is, that +Mr St John would have made a first-rate +trapper. We should not have +the slightest objections to lose ourselves +in his company for several +weeks in the prairies of North America; +being satisfied that we should +return with a better cargo of beaver-skins +and peltry than ever fell to the +lot of two adventurers in the service +of the Company of Hudson's Bay.</p> + +<p>It is totally impossible to follow our +author through any thing like his +range of subjects, extending from the +hart to the seal and otter, from the eagle +and wild swan to the ouzel. One or +two specimens we shall give, in order +that you, our dear and sporting reader, +may judge whether these encomiums +of ours are exaggerated or misplaced. +We are, so say our enemies, +but little given to laudation, and far +too ready when occasion offers, and +sometimes when it does not, to clutch +hastily at the knout. You, who know +us better, and whom indeed we have +partially trained up in the wicked +ways of criticism, must long ago have +been aware, that if we err at all, it is +upon the safer side. But be that as +it may, you will not, we are sure, refuse +to join with us in admiring the +beauty of the following description;—it +is of the heronry on the Findhorn—a +river of peculiar beauty, even in this +land of lake, of mountain, and of +flood.</p> + +<p>"I observe that the herons in the +heronry on the Findhorn are now busily +employed in sitting on their eggs—the +heron being one of the first birds to +commence breeding in this country. A +more curious and interesting sight than +the Findhorn heronry I do not know: +from the top of the high rocks on the +east side of the river you look down into +every nest—the herons breeding on the +opposite side of the river, which is here +very narrow. The cliffs and rocks are +studded with splendid pines and larch, +and fringed with all the more lowly but +not less beautiful underwood which +abounds in this country. Conspicuous +amongst these are the bird-cherry and +mountain-ash, the holly, and the wild +rose; while the golden blossoms of +furze and broom enliven every crevice +and corner in the rock. Opposite to +you is a wood of larch and oak, on the +latter of which trees are crowded a vast +number of the nests of the heron. The +foliage and small branches of the oaks +that they breed on seem entirely destroyed, +leaving nothing but the naked +arms and branches of the trees on which +the nests are placed. The same nests, +slightly repaired, are used year after +year. Looking down at them from the +high banks of the Altyre side of the +river, you can see directly into their +nests, and can become acquainted +with the whole of their domestic +economy. You can plainly see the +green eggs, and also the young herons, +who fearlessly, and conscious of the +security they are left in, are constantly +passing backwards and forwards, and +alighting on the topmost branches of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[398]</a></span> +the larch or oak trees; whilst the still +younger birds sit bolt upright in the +nest, snapping their beaks together with +a curious sound. Occasionally a grave-looking +heron is seen balancing himself +by some incomprehensible feat of gymnastics +on the very topmost twig of a +larch-tree, where he swings about in an +unsteady manner, quite unbecoming so +sage-looking a bird. Occasionally a +thievish jackdaw dashes out from the +cliffs opposite the heronry, and flies +straight into some unguarded nest, +seizes one of the large green eggs, and +flies back to his own side of the river, +the rightful owner of the eggs pursuing +the active little robber with loud cries +and the most awkward attempts at +catching him.</p> + +<p>"The heron is a noble and picturesque-looking +bird, as she sails quietly through +the air with outstretched wings and +slow flight; but nothing is more ridiculous +and undignified than her appearance +as she vainly chases the jackdaw +or hooded crow who is carrying off her +egg, and darting rapidly round the +angles and corners of the rocks. Now +and then every heron raises its head +and looks on the alert as the peregrine +falcon, with rapid and direct flight, +passes their crowded dominion; but +intent on his own nest, built on the rock +some little way further on, the hawk +takes no notice of his long-legged +neighbours, who soon settle down again +into their attitudes of rest. The kestrel-hawk +frequents the same part of the +river, and lives in amity with the wood-pigeons +that breed in every cluster of +ivy which clings to the rocks. Even +that bold and fearless enemy of all the +pigeon race, the sparrowhawk, frequently +has her nest within a few yards of +the wood-pigeon; and you see these +birds (at all other seasons such deadly +enemies) passing each other in their +way to and fro from their respective +nests in perfect peace and amity. It +has seemed to me that the sparrowhawk +and wood-pigeon during the breeding +season frequently enter into a mutual +compact against the crows and jackdaws, +who are constantly on the look-out +for the eggs of all other birds. +The hawk appears to depend on the +vigilance of the wood-pigeon to warn +him of the approach of these marauders; +and then the brave little warrior sallies +out, and is not satisfied till he has driven +the crow to a safe distance from the +nests of himself and his more peaceable +ally. At least in no other way can I +account for these two birds so very +frequently breeding not only in the +same range of rock, but within two or +three yards of each other."</p> + +<p>Now for the wild swan. You will +observe that it is now well on in October, +and that the weather is peculiarly +cold. There is snow already +lying on the tops of the nearer hills—the +further mountains have assumed +a coat of white, which, with +additions, will last them until the beginning +of next summer; and those +long black streaks which rise upwards, +and appear to us at this distance so +narrow, are, in reality, the great ravines +in which two months ago we were +cautiously stalking the deer. The bay +is now crowded with every kind of +aquatic fowl. Day after day strange +visitants have been arriving from the +north; and at nightfall, you may hear +them quacking and screaming and gabbling +for many miles along the shore. +Every moonlight night the woodcock +and snipe are dropping into the thickets, +panting and exhausted by their flight +from rugged Norway, a voyage during +which they can find no resting-place +for the sole of their foot. In stormy +weather the light-houses are beset +with flocks of birds, who, their reckoning +lost, are attracted by the blaze of +the beacon, dash wildly towards it, +as to some place of refuge, and perish +from the violence of the shock. As +yet, however, all is calm; and lo, in +the moonlight, a great flight of birds +stooping down towards the bay!—noiselessly +at first, but presently, as +they begin to sweep lower, trumpeting +and calling to each other; and then, +with a mighty rustling of their pinions, +and a dash as of a vessel launched +into the waters, the white wild-swans +settle down into the centre of the +glittering bay! To your tents, ye +sportsmen! for ball and cartridge; and +now circumvent them if you can.</p> + +<p>"My old garde-chasse insisted on my +starting early this morning, <i>nolens volens</i>, +to certain lochs six or seven miles +off, in order, as he termed it, to take our +'satisfaction' of the swans. I must say +that it was a matter of very small satisfaction +to me, the tramping off in a +sleety, rainy morning, through a most +forlorn and hopeless-looking country, +for the chance, and that a bad one, of +killing a wild swan or two. However, +after a weary walk, we arrived at these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[399]</a></span> +desolate-looking lochs: they consist of +three pieces of water, the largest about +three miles in length and one in width; +the other two, which communicate with +the largest, are much smaller and narrower, +indeed scarcely two gunshots in +width; for miles around them, the +country is flat, and intersected with a +mixture of swamp and sandy hillocks. +In one direction the sea is only half a +mile from the lochs, and in calm winter +weather the wild-fowl pass the daytime +on the salt water, coming inland in the +evenings to feed. As soon as we were +within sight of the lochs we saw the +swans on one of the smaller pieces of +water, some standing high and dry on +the grassy islands, trimming their feathers +after their long journey, and +others feeding on the grass and weeds +at the bottom of the loch, which in some +parts was shallow enough to allow of +their pulling up the plants which they +feed on as they swam about; while +numbers of wild-ducks of different +kinds, particularly widgeons, swarmed +round them and often snatched the +pieces of grass from the swans as soon +as they had brought them to the surface, +to the great annoyance of the +noble birds, who endeavoured in vain to +drive away these more active little depredators, +who seemed determined to +profit by their labours. Our next step +was to drive the swans away from the +loch they were on; it seemed a curious +way of getting a shot, but as the old +man seemed confident of the success of +his plan, I very submissively acted according +to his orders. As soon as we +moved them, they all made straight for +the sea. 'This won't do,' was my remark, +'Yes, it will, though; they'll +no stop there long to-day with this +great wind, but will all be back before +the clock <i>chaps</i> two.' 'Faith, I should +like to see any building that could contain +a clock, and where we might take +shelter,' was my inward cogitation. The +old man, however, having delivered this +prophecy, set to work making a small +ambuscade by the edge of the loch which +the birds had just left, and pointed it +out to me as my place of refuge from +one o'clock to the hour when the birds +would arrive.</p> + +<p>"In the mean time we moved about in +order to keep ourselves warm, as a more +wintry day never disgraced the month +of October. In less than half an hour +we heard the signal cries of the swans, +and soon saw them in a long undulating +line fly over the low sand-hills which +divided the sea from the largest loch, +where they alighted. My commander +for the time being, then explained +to me, that the water in this loch was +every where too deep for the swans to +reach the bottom even with their long +necks, in order to pull up the weeds on +which they fed, and that at their feeding-time, +that is about two o'clock, they +would, without doubt, fly over to the +smaller lochs, and probably to the same +one from which we had originally disturbed +them. I was accordingly placed +in my ambuscade, leaving the keeper at +some distance, to help me as opportunity +offered—a cold comfortless time of +it we (<i>i. e.</i> my retriever and myself) +had. About two o'clock, however, I +heard the swans rise from the upper +loch, and in a few moments they all +passed high over my head, and after +taking a short survey of our loch +(luckily without seeing me), they alighted +at the end of it furthest from the +place where I was ensconced, and quite +out of shot, and they seemed more inclined +to move away from me than come +towards me. It was very curious to +watch these wild birds as they swam +about, quite unconscious of danger, and +looking like so many domestic fowls. +Now came the able generalship of my +keeper, who seeing that they were inclined +to feed at the other end of the +loch, began to drive them towards me, +at the same time taking great care not to +alarm them enough to make them take +flight. This he did by appearing at a +long distance off, and moving about +without approaching the birds, but as if +he was pulling grass or engaged in +some other piece of labour. When the +birds first saw him, they all collected in +a cluster, and giving a general low cry +of alarm, appeared ready to take flight; +this was the ticklish moment, but soon, +outwitted by his manœuvres, they dispersed +again, and busied themselves in +feeding. I observed that frequently all +their heads were under the water at +once, excepting one—but invariably <i>one</i> +bird kept his head and neck perfectly +erect, and carefully watched on every +side to prevent their being taken by +surprise; when he wanted to feed, he +touched any passer-by, who immediately +relieved him in his guard, and he in +his turn called on some other swan to +take his place as sentinel.</p> + +<p>"After watching some little time, and +closely watching the birds in all their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[400]</a></span> +graceful movements, sometimes having +a swan within half a shot of me, but +never getting two or three together, I +thought of some of my assistant's instruction +which he had given me <i>en +route</i> in the morning, and I imitated, as +well as I could, the bark of a dog: immediately +all the swans collected in a +body, and looked round to see where +the sound came from. I was not above +forty yards from them, so, gently raising +myself on my elbow, I pulled the +trigger, aiming at a forest of necks. +To my dismay, the gun did not go off, +the wet or something else having spoilt +the cap. The birds were slow in rising, +so without pulling the other trigger, +I put on another cap, and standing +up, fired right and left at two of the +largest swans as they rose from the +loch. The cartridge told well on one, +who fell dead into the water; the other +flew off after the rest of the flock, but +presently turned back, and after making +two or three graceful sweeps over +the body of his companion, fell headlong, +perfectly dead, almost upon her +body. The rest of the birds, after flying +a short distance away, also returned, +and flew for a minute or two in a +confused flock over the two dead swans, +uttering their bugle-like and harmonious +cries; but finding that they were +not joined by their companions, presently +fell into their usual single rank, +and went undulating off towards the +sea, where I heard them for a long time +trumpeting and calling.</p> + +<p>"Handsome as he is, the wild swan +is certainly not so graceful on the water +as a tame one. He has not the same +proud and elegant arch of the neck, +nor does he put up his wings while +swimming, like two snow-white sails. +On the land a wild swan when winged +makes such good way, that if he gets +much start it requires good running, to +overtake him."</p> + +<p>Confound that Regatta! What on +earth had we to do on board that +yacht, racing against the Meteor, unconquered +winger of the western +seas? Two days ago we could have +sworn that no possible temptation +could divorce us from our unfinished +article; and yet here we are with unsullied +pen, under imminent danger +of bartering our reputation and plighted +faith to Ebony, for some undescribable +nautical evolutions, a sack race, +and the skeleton of a ball! After all, +it must be confessed that we never +spent two more pleasant days. Bright +eyes, grouse-pie, and the joyousness +of happy youth, were all combined +together; and if, with a fair breeze +and a sunny sky, there can be fun in +a smack or a steamer, how is it possible +with such company to be dull +on board of the prettiest craft that +ever cleaved her way, like a wild +swan, up the windings of a Highland +loch? But we must make up for lost +time. As we live, there are Donald +and Ian with the boat at the rocks! +and we now remember with a shudder +that we trysted them for this +morning to convey us across to the +Moors! Here is a pretty business! +Let us see—the month is rapidly on +the wane—we have hardly, in sporting +phrase, broken the back of this +the leading article. Shall we give up +the moors, and celebrate this day as +another Eve of St John? There is a +light mist lying on the opposite hill, +but in an hour or two it will be drawn +up like a curtain by the sunbeams, +and then every bush of heather will +be sparkling with dewdrops, far +brighter than a carcanet of diamonds. +What a fine elasticity and freshness +there is in the morning air! A hundred +to one the grouse will sit like +stones. Donald, my man, are there +many birds on the hill? Plenty, did +you say, and a fair sprinkling of black-cock? +This breeze will carry us +over in fifty minutes—will it? That +settles the question. Off with your +caulker, and take down the dogs to the +boat. We shall be with you in the +snapping of a copper-cap.</p> + +<p>This article, if finished at all, must +be written with the keelavine pen on +the backs of old letters—whereof, +thank heaven! we have scores unanswered—by +fits and snatches, as we +repose from our labours on the greensward; +so we shall even take up our +gun, and trust for inspiration to the +noble scenery around us. Is every +thing in? Well, then, push off, and +for a time let us get rid of care.</p> + +<p>What sort of fishing have they had +at the salmon-nets, Ian? Very bad, +for they're sair fashed wi' the sealghs. +In that case it may be advisable to +drop a ball into our dexter barrel, in +case one of these oleaginous depredators +should show his head above<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[401]</a></span> +water. We have not had a tussle +with a phoca since, some ten years +ago, we surprised one basking on the +sands of the bay of Cromarty. No, +Donald, we did not kill him. We +and a dear friend, now in New Zealand, +who was with us, were armed +with no better weapon than our fishing-rods, +and the sealgh, after standing +two or three thumps with tolerable +philosophy, fairly turned upon us, and +exhibited such tusks that we were +glad to let him make his way without +further molestation to the water. +The seal is indeed a greedy fellow, +and ten times worse than his fresh-water +cousin the otter, who, it seems, +is considered by the poor people in +the north country as rather a benefactor +than otherwise. The latter is +a dainty epicure—a <i>gourmand</i> who +despises to take more than one steak +from the sappy shoulder of the salmon; +and he has usually the benevolence +to leave the fish, little the worse for +his company, on some scarp or ledge +of rock, where it can be picked up +and converted into savoury kipper. +He is, moreover, a sly and timid creature, +without the impudence of the +seal, who will think nothing of swimming +into the nets, and actually taking +out the salmon before the eyes of the +fishermen. Strong must be the twine +that would hold an entangled seal. +An aquatic Samson, he snaps the +meshes like thread, and laughs at the +discomfiture of the tacksman, who is +dancing like a demoniac on the shore; +and no wonder, for nets are expensive, +and the rent in that one is wide +enough to admit a bullock.</p> + +<p>Mr St John—a capital sportsman, +Donald—has had many an adventure +with the seals; and I shall read you +what he says about them, in a clever +little book which he has published—What +the deuce! We surely have not +been ass enough to forget the volume! +No—here it is at the bottom of our +pocket, concealed and covered by the +powder-flask:—</p> + +<p>"Sometimes at high-water, and when +the river is swollen, a seal comes in pursuit +of salmon into the Findhorn, notwithstanding +the smallness of the stream +and its rapidity. I was one day, in November, +looking for wild-ducks near the +river, when I was called to by a man +who was at work near the water, and +who told me that some 'muckle beast' +was playing most extraordinary tricks +in the river. He could not tell me what +beast it was, but only that it was something +'no that canny.' After waiting a +short time, the riddle was solved by the +appearance of a good-sized seal, into +whose head I instantly sent a cartridge, +having no balls with me. The seal immediately +plunged and splashed about +in the water at a most furious rate, and +then began swimming round and round +in a circle, upon which I gave him the +other barrel, also loaded with one of +Eley's cartridges, which quite settled +the business, and he floated rapidly away +down the stream. I sent my retriever +after him, but the dog, being very young +and not come to his full strength, was +baffled by the weight of the animal and +the strength of the current, and could not +land him; indeed, he was very near getting +drowned himself, in consequence of +his attempts to bring in the seal, who +was still struggling. I called the dog +away, and the seal immediately sank. +The next day I found him dead on the +shore of the bay, with (as the man who +skinned him expressed himself) 'twenty-three +pellets of large hail in his craig.'</p> + +<p>"Another day, in the month of July, +when shooting rabbits on the sand-hills, +a messenger came from the fishermen at +the stake-nets, asking me to come in +that direction, as the 'muckle sealgh' +was swimming about, waiting for the +fish to be caught in the nets, in order to +commence his devastation.</p> + +<p>"I accordingly went to them, and +having taken my observations of the +locality and the most feasible points of +attack, I got the men to row me out to +the end of the stake-net, where there +was a kind of platform of netting, on +which I stretched myself, with a bullet +in one barrel and a cartridge in the +other. I then directed the men to row +the boat away, as if they had left the +nets. They had scarcely gone three +hundred yards from the place when I +saw the seal, who had been floating, apparently +unconcerned, at some distance, +swim quietly and fearlessly up to the +net. I had made a kind of breastwork +of old netting before me, which quite +concealed me on the side from which he +came. He approached the net, and began +examining it leisurely and carefully +to see if any fish were in it; sometimes +he was under and sometimes above the +water. I was much struck by his activity +while underneath, where I could +most plainly see him, particularly as he +twice dived almost below my station, +and the water was clear and smooth as +glass.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[402]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I could not get a good shot at him +for some time; at last, however, he put +up his head at about fifteen or twenty +yards' distance from me; and while he +was intent on watching the boat, which +was hovering about waiting to see the +result of my plan of attack, I fired at +him, sending the ball through his brain. +He instantly sank without a struggle, +and a perfect torrent of blood came up, +making the water red for some feet round +the spot where he lay stretched out at +the bottom. The men immediately rowed +up, and taking me into the boat, we +managed to bring him up with a boat-hook +to the surface of the water, and +then, as he was too heavy to lift into the +boat (his weight being 378 lbs.) we put +a rope round his flippers, and towed him +ashore. A seal of this size is worth +some money, as, independently of the +value of his skin, the blubber (which lies +under the skin, like that of a whale) +produces a large quantity of excellent +oil. This seal had been for several years +the dread of the fishermen at the stake-nets, +and the head man at the place was +profuse in his thanks for the destruction +of a beast upon whom he had expended +a most amazing quantity of lead. He +assured me that L.100 would not repay +the damage the animal had done. Scarcely +any two seals are exactly of the same +colour or marked quite alike; and seals, +frequenting a particular part of the coast, +become easily known and distinguished +from each other."</p> + +<p>But what is Scrip youffing at from +the bow? A seal? No, it is a shoal +of porpoises. There they go with +their great black fins above the water +in pursuit of the herring, which ought +to be very plenty on this coast. Yonder, +where the gulls are screaming +and diving, with here and there a +solan goose and a cormorant in the +midst of the flock, must be a patch of +the smaller fry. The water is absolutely +boiling as the quick-eyed creatures +dart down upon their prey; and +though, on an ordinary day, you will +hardly see a single seagull in this +part of the loch, for the shores are +neither steep nor rocky, yet there they +are in myriads, attracted to the spot +by that unerring and inexplicable instinct +which seems to guide all wild +animals to their booty, and that from +distances where neither sight nor +scent could possibly avail them. This +peculiarity has not escaped the observant +eye of our author.</p> + +<p>"How curiously quick is the instinct +of birds in finding out their food. Where +peas or other favourite grain is sown, +wood pigeons and tame pigeons immediately +congregate. It is not easy to +ascertain from whence the former come, +but the house pigeons have often been +known to arrive in numbers on a new +sown field the very morning after the +grain is laid down, although no pigeon-house, +from which they could come, +exists within several miles of the place.</p> + +<p>"Put down a handful or two of unthrashed +oat-straw in almost any situation +near the sea-coast, where there are +wild-ducks, and they are sure to find it +out the first or second night after it has +been left there.</p> + +<p>"There are many almost incredible +stories of the acuteness of the raven's +instinct in guiding it to the dead carcass +of any large animal, or even in leading +it to the neighbourhood on the near approach +of death. I myself have known +several instances of the raven finding +out dead bodies of animals in a very +short space of time. One instance struck +me very much. I had wounded a stag +on a Wednesday. The following Friday, +I was crossing the hills at some distance +from the place, but in the direction towards +which the deer had gone. Two +ravens passed me, flying in a steady +straight course. Soon again two more +flew by, and two others followed, all +coming from different directions, but +making direct for the same point. ''Deed, +sir,' said the Highlander with me, 'the +corbies have just found the staig; he +will be lying dead about the head of the +muckle burn.' By tracing the course of +the birds, we found that the man's conjecture +was correct, as the deer was lying +within a mile of us, and the ravens were +making for its carcass. The animal had +evidently only died the day before, but +the birds had already made their breakfast +upon him, and were now on their +way to their evening meal. Though +occasionally we had seen a pair of ravens +soaring high overhead in that district, +we never saw more than that number; +but now there were some six or seven +pairs already collected, where from we +knew not. When a whale, or other large +fish, is driven ashore on the coast of any +of the northern islands, the ravens collect +in amazing numbers, almost immediately +coming from all directions and from all +distances, led by the unerring instinct +which tells them that a feast is to be +found in a particular spot."</p> + +<p>We should not wonder if the ancient +augurs, who, no doubt, were consummate +scoundrels, had an inkling of +this extraordinary fact. If so, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[403]</a></span> +would have been obviously easy, at +the simple expenditure of a few pounds +of bullock's liver, to get up any kind +of ornithological vaticination. A dead +ram, dexterously hidden from the +sight of the spectators behind the Aventine, +would speedily have brought birds +enough to have justified any amount +of warlike expeditions to the Peloponesus; +while a defunct goat to the left +of the Esquiline, would collect sooties +by scores, and forebode the death of +Cæsar. We own that formerly we +ourselves were not altogether exempt +from superstitious notions touching +the mission of magpies; but henceforward +we shall cease to consider +them, even when they appear by +threes, as bound up in some mysterious +manner with our destiny, and +shall rather attribute their apparition +to the unexpected deposit of an egg.</p> + +<p>But here we are at the shore, and +not a mile from the margin of the +moor. Ian, our fine fellow, look after +the dogs; and now tell us, Donald, +as we walk along, whether there are +many poachers in this neighbourhood +besides yourself? Atweel no, forbye +muckle Sandy, that whiles taks a shot +at a time.—We thought so. In these +quiet braes there can be little systematic +poaching. Now and then, to +be sure, a hare is killed on a moonlight +night among the cabbages behind +the shieling; or a blackcock, too +conspicuous of a misty morning on a +corn-stook, pays the penalty of his +depredations with his life. But these +little acts of delinquency are of no +earthly moment; and hard must be +the heart of the proprietor who, for +such petty doings, would have recourse +to the vengeance of the law. +But were you ever in Lochaber, Donald?—Oo +ay, and Badenoch too.—And +are you aware that in those districts +where the deer are plenty, there +exist, at the present day, gangs of +organised poachers—fellows who follow +no other calling—true Sons of the +Mist, who prey upon the red-deer of +the mountain without troubling the +herds of the Sassenach; and who, +though perfectly well known by head-mark +to keeper and constable, are +still permitted with impunity to continue +their depredations from year to +year?—I never heard tell of it.</p> + +<p>No more have we. Notwithstanding +Mr St John's usual accuracy and +great means of information, he has +given, in the fifth chapter of his book, +an account of the Highland poachers +which we cannot admit to be correct. +In every thinly-populated country, +where there is abundance of game, +poaching must take place to a considerable +extent, and indeed it is impossible +to prevent it. You never +can convince the people, that the +statutory sin is a moral one; or that, +in taking for their own sustenance +that which avowedly belongs to no +one, they are acting in opposition to a +just or a salutary law. The question +of <i>whence</i> the game is taken, is a +subtilty too nice for their comprehension. +They see the stag running +wild among the mountains, to-day on +one laird's land, and away to-morrow +to another's, bearing with him, as it +were, his own transference of property; +and they very naturally conclude +that they have an abstract +right to attempt his capture, if they +can. The shepherd, who has thousands +of acres under his sole superintendence, +and whose dwelling is situated +far away on the hills, at the +head, perhaps, of some lonely stream, +where no strange foot ever penetrates, +is very often, it must be confessed, +a bit of a poacher. Small +blame to him. He has a gun—for +the eagle, and the fox, and the raven, +must be kept from the lambs; and if, +when prowling about with his weapon, +in search of vermin, he should chance +to put up, as he is sure to do, a +covey of grouse, and recollecting at +the moment that there is nothing in +the house beyond a peas-bannock +and a diseased potato, should let +fly, and bring down a gor-cock, who +will venture to assert that, under +such circumstances, he would hesitate +to do the same? For every grouse +so slaughtered, the shepherd frees the +country from a brace of vermin more +dangerous than fifty human poachers; +for every day in the year they breakfast, +dine, and sup exclusively upon +game.</p> + +<p>Let the shepherd, then, take his pittance +from the midst of your plenty +unmolested, if he does no worse. +Why should his hut be searched by +some big brute of a Yorkshire keeper, +for fud or feather, when you know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[404]</a></span> +that, in all essentials, the man is as +honest as steel—nay, that even in +this matter of game, he is attentive +to your interests, watches the young +broods, protects the nests, and will +tell you, when you come up the glen, +where the finest coveys are to be +found? It is, however, quite another +thing if you detect him beginning to +drive a contraband trade. Home +consumption may be winked at—foreign +exportation is most decidedly +an unpardonable offence. The moment +you find that he has entered +into a league with the poulterer or +the coachman, give warning to the +offending Melibœus, and let him seek +a livelihood elsewhere. He is no +longer safe. His instinct is depraved. +He has ceased to be a creature of +impulse, and has become the slave +of a corrupted traffic. He is a +noxious member of the Anti-game-law +League.</p> + +<p>This sort of poaching we believe to +be common enough in Scotland, and +there is also another kind more formidable, +which, a few years ago, was +rather extensively practised. Parties +of four or five strong, able-bodied +rascals, principally inmates of some +of the smaller burghs in the north, +used to make their way to another +district of country, taking care, of +course, that it was far enough from +home to render any chance of identification +almost a nullity, and would +there begin to shoot, in absolute defiance +of the keepers. Their method +was not to diverge, but to traverse +the country as nearly as possible in a +straight line; so that very often they +had left the lands of the most extensive +proprietors even before the alarm +was given. These men neither courted +nor shunned a scuffle. They were +confident in their strength of numbers, +but never abused it; nor, so far +as we recollect, have any fatal results +attended this illegal practice. Be +that as it may, the misdemeanour is +a very serious one, and the perpetrators +of it, if discovered, would be +subjected to a severe punishment.</p> + +<p>But Mr St John asserts the existence +of a different class of poachers, +whose exploits, if real, are a deep reproach +to the vigilance of our respected +friends the Sheriffs of Inverness, +Ross, and Moray, as also to the Substitutes +and their Fiscals. According +to the accounts which have reached +him, and which he seems implicitly +to believe, there are, at this moment, +gangs of caterans existing among the +mountains, who follow no other occupation +whatever than that of poaching. +This they do not even affect to +disguise. They make a good income +by the sale of game, and by breaking +dogs—they take the crown of the +causeway in the country towns, where +they are perfectly well known, and +where the men give them "plenty of +walking-room." On such occasions, +they are accompanied with a couple +of magnificent stag-hounds, and in +this guise they venture undauntedly +beneath the very nose of "ta Phuscal!" +The Highland poacher, says +Mr St John, "is a bold fearless fellow, +shooting openly by daylight, +taking his sport in the same manner +as the laird, or the Sassenach who +rents the ground." That is to say, +this outlaw, who has a sheiling or a +bothy on the laird's ground—for a +man cannot live in the Highlands +without a roof to shelter him—shoots +as openly on these grounds as the laird +himself, or the party who has rented +them for the season! If this be the +case, the breed of Highland proprietors—ay, +and of Highland keepers—must +have degenerated sadly during +the last few years. The idea that +any such character would be permitted +by even the tamest Dumbiedykes +to continue a permanent resident +upon his lands, is perfectly preposterous. +Game is not considered as a +matter of such slight import in any +part of the Highlands; neither is the +arm of the law so weak, that it does +not interfere with most rapid and +salutary effect. No professed poacher, +we aver, dare shoot openly upon the +lands of the laird by whose tenure or +sufferance he maintains a roof above +his head; and it would be a libel +upon those high-minded gentlemen to +suppose, that they knowingly gave +countenance to any such character, +on the tacit understanding that their +property should be spared while that +of their neighbours was invaded. In +less than a week after the information +was given, the ruffian would be +without any covering to his head, +save that which would be afforded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[405]</a></span> +him by the arches of the Inverness or +Fort-William jail.</p> + +<p>Long tracts of country there are, +comparatively unvisited—for example, +the district around Lochs Ericht +and Lydoch, and the deserts towards +the head of the Spey. Yet, even there, +the poacher is a marked man. The +necessity of finding a market for the +produce of his spoil, lays him open +immediately to observation. If he +chooses to burrow with the badger, +he may be said to have deserted his +trade. He cannot by any possibility, +let him do what he will, elude the +vigilance of the keeper; and, if known, +he is within the clutches of the law +without the necessity of immediate +apprehension.</p> + +<p>The truth of the matter is, that the +poachers have no longer to deal directly +with the lairds. The number +of moors which are rented to Englishmen +is now very great; and it is +principally from these that the depredators +reap their harvest. Accordingly, +no pains are spared to +impress the Sassenach with an exaggerated +idea of the lawlessness of the +Gael, in every thing relating to the +game-laws and the statutes of the +excise. The right of the people to +poach is asserted as a kind of indefeasible +servitude which the law +winks at, because it cannot control; +and we fear that, in some cases, the +keepers, who care nothing for the +new-comers, indirectly lend themselves +to the delusion. The Englishman, +on arriving at the moor which +he has rented, is informed that he +must either compromise with the +poachers, or submit to the loss of his +game—a kind of treaty which, we +believe, is pretty often made in the +manner related by Mr St John.</p> + +<p>"Some proprietors, or lessees of +shooting-grounds, make a kind of +half compromise with the poachers, +by allowing them to kill grouse as +long as they do not touch the deer; +others, who are grouse-shooters, let +them kill the deer to save their birds. +I have known an instance where a +prosecution was stopped by the aggrieved +party being quietly made to +understand, that if it was carried on, +a score of lads from the hills would +shoot over his ground for the rest of +the season."</p> + +<p>Utterly devoid of pluck must the +said aggrieved party have been! Had +he carried on the prosecution firmly, +and given notice to the authorities of +the audacious and impudent threat, +with the names of the parties who +conveyed it, not a trigger would have +been drawn upon his ground, or a +head of game destroyed. If the +lessees of shooting-grounds are idiots +enough to enter into any such compromise, +they will of course find +abundance of poachers to take advantage +of it. Every shepherd on +the property will take regularly to +the hill; for by such an arrangement +the market is virtually thrown open, +and absolute impunity is promised. +But we venture to say that there is +not one instance on record where a +Highland proprietor, of Scottish birth +and breeding, has condescended to +make any such terms—indeed, we +should like to see the ruffian who +would venture openly to propose +them.</p> + +<p>As to Mr St John's assertion, that +"in Edinburgh there are numbers of +men who work as porters, &c., during +the winter, and poach in the Highlands +during the autumn," we can +assure him that he is labouring under +a total delusion. A more respectable +set of men in their way than the +Edinburgh chairmen, is not to be +found on the face of the civilised +globe. Not a man of those excellent +creatures, who periodically play at +drafts at the corners of Hanover and +Castle Street, ever went out in an +illicit manner to the moors: nor shall +we except from this vindication our +old acquaintances at the Tron. Their +worst vices are a strong predilection +for snuff and whisky; otherwise they +are nearly faultless, and they run +beautifully in harness between the +springy shafts of a sedan. If they +ever set foot upon the heather, it is in +the capacity of gillies, for which service +they receive excellent wages, +and capital hands they are for looking +after the comforts of the dogs. Does +Mr St John mean to insinuate that +the twin stalwart tylers of the lodge +Canongate Kilwinning—whose fine +features are so similar that it is almost +impossible to distinguish them—go +out systematically in autumn to +the Highlands for the purpose of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[406]</a></span> +poaching? Why, to our own knowledge, +they are both most praiseworthy +fathers of families, exemplary +husbands, well to do in the world, +and, were they to die to-morrow, there +would not be a drop of black-cock's +blood upon their souls. Like testimony +could we bear in favour of a +hundred others, whom you might +trust with untold gold, not to speak +of a wilderness of hares; but to any +one who knows them, it is unnecessary +to plead further in the cause of +the caddies.</p> + +<p>We fear, therefore, that in this particular +of Highland poaching, Mr St +John has been slightly humbugged; +and we cannot help thinking, that in +this work of mystification, his prime +favourite and hero, Mr Ronald, has +had no inconsiderable share. As to +the feats of this handsome desperado, +as related by himself, we accept them +with a mental reservation. Notwithstanding +the acknowledged fact that +the Grants existed simultaneously +with the sons of Anak, we doubt extremely +whether any one individual of +that clan, or of any other, could, more +especially when in bed, and fatigued +with a long day's exertion, overcome +five sturdy assailants. If so, the fellow +would make money by hiring a +caravan, and exhibiting himself as a +peripatetic Hercules: or, if such an +exhibition should be deemed derogatory +to a poaching outlaw, he might +enter the pugilistic or wrestling ring, +with the certainty of walking the +course. The man who, without taking +the trouble to rise out of bed, +could put two big hulking Highlanders +under him, breaking the ribs of +one of them, and keeping them down +with one knee, and who in that posture +could successfully foil the attack +of other three, is an ugly customer, +and we venture to say that his match +is not to be found within the four seas +of Great Britain. The story of his +tearing down the rafter, bestowing +breakfast upon his opponents, and +afterwards pitching the keeper deliberately +into the burn, is so eminently +apocryphal, that we cannot help wondering +at Mr St John for honouring it +with a place in his pages.</p> + +<p>Did you ever see a badger, Scrip? +That, we suspect, is the vestibule of +one of them at which you are snuffing +and scraping; but you have no chance +of getting at him, for there he is +lying deep beneath the rock; and, to +say the truth, game as you are, we +would rather keep you intact from +the perils of his powerful jaw. He is, +we agree with Mr St John, an ancient +and respectable quadruped, by far too +much maligned in this wicked age; +and—were it for no other reason +than the inimitable adaptation of his +hair for shaving-brushes—we should +sincerely regret his extinction in the +British isles. We like the chivalry +with which our author undertakes the +defence of any libelled and persecuted +animal, and in no instance is he more +happy than in his oration in favour +of the injured badger. Like Harry +Bertram, he is not ashamed "of +caring about a brock."</p> + +<p>"Notwithstanding the persecutions +and indignities that he is unjustly +doomed to suffer, I maintain that he +is far more respectable in his habits +than we generally consider him to be. +'Dirty as a badger,' 'stinking as a badger,' +are two sayings often repeated, but +quite inapplicable to him. As far as +we can learn of the domestic economy +of this animal when in a state of nature, +he is remarkable for his cleanliness—his +extensive burrows are always kept perfectly +clean, and free from all offensive +smell; no filth is ever found about his +abode; every thing likely to offend his +olfactory nerves is carefully removed. +I, once, in the north of Scotland, fell in +with a perfect colony of badgers; they +had taken up their abode in an unfrequented +range of wooded rocks, and appeared +to have been little interrupted +in their possession of them. The footpaths +to and from their numerous holes +were beaten quite hard; and what is +remarkable and worthy of note, they +had different small pits dug at a certain +distance from their abodes, which were +evidently used as receptacles for all offensive +filth; every other part of their +colony was perfectly clean. A solitary +badger's hole, which I once had dug out, +during the winter season, presented a +curious picture of his domestic and military +arrangements—a hard and long +job it was for two men to achieve, the +passage here and there turned in a sharp +angle round some projecting corners of +rock, which he evidently makes use of +when attacked, as points of defence, +making a stand at any of these angles, +where a dog could not scratch to enlarge +the aperture, and fighting from behind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[407]</a></span> +his stone buttress. After tracing out +a long winding passage, the workmen +came to two branches in the hole, each +leading to good-sized chambers: in one +of these was stored a considerable quantity +of dried grass, rolled up into balls +as large as a man's fist, and evidently +intended for food; in the other chamber +there was a bed of soft dry grass and +leaves—the sole inhabitant was a peculiarly +large old dog-badger. Besides +coarse grasses, their food consists of +various roots; amongst others, I have +frequently found about their hole the +bulb of the common wild blue hyacinth. +Fruit of all kinds and esculent vegetables +form his repast, and I fear that +he must plead guilty to devouring any +small animal that may come in his way, +alive or dead; though not being adapted +for the chase, or even for any very skilful +strategy of war, I do not suppose that +he can do much in catching an unwounded +bird or beast. Eggs are his delight, +and a partridge's nest with seventeen or +eighteen eggs must afford him a fine +meal, particularly if he can surprise and +kill the hen-bird also; snails and worms +which he finds above ground during his +nocturnal rambles, are likewise included +in his bill of fare. I was one summer +evening walking home from fishing in +Loch Ness, and having occasion to fasten +up some part of my tackle, and also +expecting to meet my keeper, I sat down +on the shore of the loch. I remained +some time, enjoying the lovely prospect: +the perfectly clear and unruffled loch lay +before me, reflecting the northern shore +in its quiet water. The opposite banks +consisted, in some parts, of bright greensward, +sloping to the water's edge, and +studded with some of the most beautiful +birch-trees in Scotland; several of +the trees spreading out like the oak, and +with their ragged and ancient-looking +bark resembling the cork-tree of Spain—others +drooping and weeping over the +edge of the water in the most lady-like +and elegant manner. Parts of the loch +were edged in by old lichen-covered +rocks; while farther on a magnificent +scaur of red stone rose perpendicularly +from the water's edge to a very great +height. So clearly was every object on +the opposite shore reflected in the lake +below, that it was difficult, nay impossible, +to distinguish where the water +ended and the land commenced—the +shadow from the reality. The sun was +already set, but its rays still illuminated +the sky. It is said that from the sublime +to the ridiculous there is but one +step;—and I was just then startled from +my reverie by a kind of grunt close to +me, and the apparition of a small waddling +grey animal, who was busily employed +in hunting about the grass and +stones at the edge of the loch; presently +another, and another, appeared in a little +grassy glade which ran down to the +water's edge, till at last I saw seven of +them busily at work within a few yards +of me, all coming from one direction. It +at first struck me that they were some +farmer's pigs taking a distant ramble, +but I shortly saw that they were badgers, +come from their fastnesses rather +earlier than usual, tempted by the +quiet evening, and by a heavy summer +shower that was just over, and which +had brought out an infinity of large +black snails and worms, on which the +badgers were feeding with good appetite. +As I was dressed in grey and sitting +on a grey rock, they did not see +me, but waddled about, sometimes close +to me; only now and then as they +crossed my track they showed a slight +uneasiness, smelling the ground, and +grunting gently. Presently a very large +one, which I took to be the mother of +the rest, stood motionless for a moment +listening with great attention, and then +giving a loud grunt, which seemed perfectly +understood by the others, she +scuttled away, followed by the whole +lot. I was soon joined by my attendant, +whose approach they had heard long before +my less acute ears gave me warning +of his coming. In trapping other vermin +in these woods, we constantly caught +badgers—sometimes several were found +in the traps; I always regretted this, as +my keeper was most unwilling to spare +their lives, and I fancy seldom did so. +His arguments were tolerably cogent, I +must confess. When I tried to persuade +him that they were quite harmless, he +answered me by asking—'Then why, +sir, have they got such teeth, if they +don't live, like a dog or fox, on flesh?—and +why do they get caught so often in +traps baited with rabbits?' I could not +but admit that they had most carnivorous-looking +teeth, and well adapted to +act on the offensive as well as defensive, +or to crunch the bones of any young +hare, rabbit, or pheasant that came in +their way."</p> + +<p>But now we have reached the moors, +and for the next few hours we shall +follow out the Wild Sports for ourselves. +Ian, let loose the dogs.</p> + +<p>Oh, pleasant—pleasant and cool are +the waters of the mountain well! It +is now past noonday, and we shall +call a halt for a while. Donald, let +us see what is in that bag. Twelve +brace and a half of grouse, three +blackcock, a leash of snipes, two ditto<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[408]</a></span> +of golden plovers, three hares, and +the mallard that we raised from the +rushes. Quite enough, we think, for +any rational sportsman's recreation, +howbeit we have a few hours yet before +us. Somewhere, we think, in the +other bag, there should be a cold fowl, +or some such kickshaw, with, if we +mistake not, a vision of beef, and a +certain pewter flask.—Thank you. +Now, let us all down by the side of +the spring, and to luncheon with what +appetite we may.</p> + +<p>Are there any deer on these hills, +Ian? But seldom. Occasionally a +straggler may come over from one +of the upper forests, but there are too +many sheep about; and the deer, +though they will herd sometimes with +black cattle, have a rooted antipathy +to the others. No sight is finer than +that of a stag surrounded by his hinds; +but it is late in the year that the spectacle +becomes most imposing, and we +would have given something to have +been present with Mr St John on the +following occasion:—</p> + +<p>"The red deer had just commenced +what is called by the Highlanders roaring, +<i>i. e.</i> uttering their loud cries of defiance +to rival stags, and of warning to +their rival mistresses.</p> + +<p>"There had been seen, and reported +to me, a particularly large and fine antlered +stag, whose branching honours I +wished to transfer from the mountain +side to the walls of my own hall. Donald +and myself accordingly, one fine +morning, early in October, started before +daybreak for a distant part of the mountain, +where we expected to find him; +and we resolved to pass the night at a +shepherd's house far up in the hills, if +we found that our chase led us too far +from home to return the same evening.</p> + +<p>"Long was our walk that day before +we saw horn or hoof; many a likely +burn and corrie did we search in vain. +The shepherds had been scouring the +hills the day before for their sheep, to +divide those which were to winter in the +low ground from those which were to remain +on the hills. However, the day was +fine and frosty, and we were in the midst +of some of the most magnificent scenery +in Scotland; so that I, at least, was not +much distressed at our want of luck. +Poor Donald, who had not the same enjoyment +in the beauty of the scene, unless +it were enlivened by a herd of deer +here and there, began to grumble and +lament our hard fate; particularly as +towards evening wild masses of cloud +began to sweep up the glens and along +the sides of the mountain, and every now +and then a storm of cold rain and sleet +added to the discomfort of our position. +There was, however, something so very +desolate and wild in the scene and the +day, that, wrapt in my plaid, I stalked +slowly on, enjoying the whole thing as +much as if the elements had been in better +temper, and the Goddess of Hunting +propitious.</p> + +<p>"We came in the afternoon to a rocky +burn, along the course of which was our +line of march. To the left rose an interminable-looking +mountain, over the sides +of which was scattered a wilderness of +grey rock and stone, sometimes forming +immense precipices, and in other places +degenerating into large tracts of loose and +water-worn grey shingle, apparently collected +and heaped together by the winter +floods. Great masses of rock were +scattered about, resting on their angles, +and looking as if the wind, which was +blowing a perfect gale, would hurl them +down on us.</p> + +<p>"Amongst all this dreary waste of +rock and stone, there were large patches +of bright green pasture, and rushes on +the level spots, formed by the damming +up of the springs and mountain streams.</p> + +<p>"Stretching away to our right was a +great expanse of brown heather and +swampy ground, dotted with innumerable +pools of black-looking water. The +horizon on every side was shut out by +the approaching masses of rain and +drift. The clouds closed round us, and +the rain began to fall in straight hard +torrents; at the same time, however, +completely allaying the wind.</p> + +<p>"'Well, well,' said Donald, 'I just +dinna ken what to do.' Even I began +to think that we might as well have remained +at home; but, putting the best +face on the matter, we got under a projecting +bank of the burn, and took out +our provision of oatcake and cold grouse, +and having demolished that, and made +a considerable vacuum in the whisky +flask, I lit my cigar, and meditated on +the vanity of human pursuits in general, +and of deer-stalking in particular, while +dreamy visions of balls, operas, and the +last pair of blue eyes that I had sworn +everlasting allegiance to, passed before +me.</p> + +<p>"Donald was employed in the more +useful employment of bobbing for burn +trout with a line and hook he had produced +out of his bonnet—that wonderful +blue bonnet, which, like the bag in the +fairy tale, contains any thing and every +thing which is required at a moment's +notice. His bait was the worms which +in a somewhat sulky mood he kicked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[409]</a></span> +out of their damp homes about the edge +of the burn. Presently the ring-ousel +began to whistle on the hill-side, and the +cock-grouse to crow in the valley below +us. Roused by these omens of better +weather, I looked out from our shelter +and saw the face of the sun struggling to +show itself through the masses of cloud, +while the rain fell in larger but more +scattered drops. In a quarter of an hour +the clouds were rapidly disappearing, +and the face of the hill as quickly opening +to our view. We remained under +shelter a few minutes longer, when suddenly, +as if by magic, or like the lifting +of the curtain at a theatre, the whole +hill was perfectly clear from clouds, and +looked more bright and splendidly beautiful +than any thing I had ever seen. No +symptoms were left of the rain, excepting +the drops on the heather, which shone +like diamonds in the evening sun. The +masses of rock came out in every degree +of light and shade, from dazzling white +to the darkest purple, streaked here and +there with the overpourings of the swollen +rills and springs, which danced and +leapt from rock to rock, and from crag +to crag, looking like streams of silver.</p> + +<p>"'How beautiful!' was both my inward +and outward exclamation. 'Deed +it's not just so dour as it was,' said Donald; +'but, the Lord guide us! look at yon,' +he continued, fixing his eye on a distant +slope, at the same time slowly winding +up his line and pouching his trout, of +which he had caught a goodly number. +'Tak your perspective, sir, and look +there,' he added, pointing with his chin. +I accordingly took my perspective, as +he always called my pocket-telescope, +and saw a long line of deer winding from +amongst the broken granite in single file +down towards us. They kept advancing +one after the other, and had a most +singular appearance as their line followed +the undulations of the ground. They +came slowly on, to the number of more +than sixty (all hinds, not a horn amongst +them), till they arrived at a piece of +table-land four or five hundred yards +from us, when they spread about to +feed, occasionally shaking off the raindrops +from their hides, much in the +same manner as a dog does on coming +out of the water.</p> + +<p>"'They are no that canny,' said +Donald. '<i>Nous verrons</i>,' said I. 'What's +your wull?' was his answer; 'I'm no +understanding Latin, though my wife +has a cousin who is a placed minister.' +'Why, Donald, I meant to say that we +shall soon see whether they are canny +or not: a rifle-ball is a sure remedy +for all witchcraft.' Certainly there +was something rather startling in the +way they all suddenly appeared as it +were from the bowels of the mountain, +and the deliberate, unconcerned manner +in which they set to work feeding like +so many tame cattle.</p> + +<p>"We had but a short distance to stalk. +I kept the course of a small stream +which led through the middle of the +herd; Donald followed me with my +gun. We crept up till we reckoned that +we must be within an easy shot, and +then, looking most cautiously through +the crevices and cuts in the bank, I saw +that we were in the very centre of the +herd: many of the deer were within +twenty or thirty yards, and all feeding +quietly and unconscious of any danger. +Amongst the nearest to me was a remarkably +large hind, which we had +before observed as being the leader and +biggest of the herd, I made a sign to +Donald that I would shoot her, and left +him to take what he liked of the flock +after I fired.</p> + +<p>"Taking a deliberate and cool aim at +her shoulder, I pulled the trigger; but, +alas! the wet had got between the cap +and nipple-end. All that followed was +a harmless snap: the deer heard it, and, +starting from their food, rushed together +in a confused heap, as if to give +Donald a fair chance at the entire flock, +a kind of shot he rather rejoiced in. +Before I could get a dry cap on my +gun, snap, snap, went both his barrels; +and when I looked up, it was but to see +the whole herd quietly trotting up the +hill, out of shot, but apparently not very +much frightened, as they had not seen +us, or found out exactly where the sound +came from. 'We are just twa fules, +begging your honour's pardon, and only +fit to weave hose by the ingle,' said +Donald. I could not contradict him. +The mischief was done; so we had nothing +for it but to wipe out our guns as +well as we could, and proceed on our +wandering. We followed the probable +line of the deers' march, and before +night saw them in a distant valley feeding +again quite unconcernedly.</p> + +<p>"'Hark! what is that?' said I, as a +hollow roar like an angry bull was heard +not far from us. 'Kep down, kep down,' +said Donald, suiting the action to the +word, and pressing me down with his +hand; 'it's just a big staig.' All the +hinds looked up, and, following the direction +of their heads, we saw an immense +hart coming over the brow of the hill +three hundred yards from us. He might +easily have seen us, but seemed too +intent on the hinds to think of any thing +else. On the height of the hill he halted,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[410]</a></span> +and, stretching out his neck and lowering +his head, bellowed again. He then +rushed down the hill like a mad beast: +when half-way down he was answered +from a distance by another stag. He +instantly halted, and, looking in that +direction, roared repeatedly, while we +could see in the evening air, which had +become cold and frosty, his breath coming +out of his nostrils like smoke. Presently +he was answered by another and +another stag, and the whole distance +seemed alive with them. A more unearthly +noise I never heard, as it echoed +and re-echoed through the rocky glens +that surrounded us.</p> + +<p>"The setting sun threw a strong light +on the first comer, casting a kind of +yellow glare on his horns and head, +while his body was in deep shade, giving +him a most singular appearance, particularly +when combined with his hoarse +and strange bellowing. As the evening +closed in, their cries became almost incessant, +while here and there we heard +the clash of horns as two rival stags +met and fought a few rounds together. +None, however, seemed inclined to try +their strength with the large hart who +had first appeared. The last time we +saw him, in the gloom of the evening, +he was rolling in a small pool of water, +with several of the hinds standing quietly +round him; while the smaller stags +kept passing to and fro near the hinds, +but afraid to approach too close to their +watchful rival, who was always ready to +jump up and dash at any of them who +ventured within a certain distance of his +seraglio. 'Donald,' I whispered, 'I +would not have lost this sight for a +hundred pounds.' 'Deed no, its grand,' +said he. 'In all my travels on the hill +I never saw the like.' Indeed it is very +seldom that chances combine to enable +a deer-stalker to quietly look on at such +a strange meeting of deer as we had +witnessed that evening. But night was +coming on, and though the moon was +clear and full, we did not like to start off +for the shepherd's house, through the +swamps and swollen burns among which +we should have had to pass; nor did we +forget that our road would be through +the valley where all this congregation of +deer were. So after consulting, we +turned off to leeward to bivouac amongst +the rocks at the back of the hill, at a +sufficient distance from the deer not to +disturb them by our necessary occupation +of cooking the trout, which our +evening meal was to consist of. Having +hunted out some of the driest of the fir-roots +which were in abundance near us, +we soon made a bright fire out of view +of the deer, and, after eating some fish, +and drying our clothes pretty well, we +found a snug corner in the rocks, where, +wrapped up in our plaids and covered +with heather, we arranged ourselves to +sleep.</p> + +<p>"Several times during the night I got +up and listened to the wild bellowing of +the deer: sometimes it sounded close to +us, and at other times far away. To an +unaccustomed ear it might easily have +passed for the roaring of a host of much +more dangerous wild beasts, so loud and +hollow did it sound. I awoke in the +morning cold and stiff, but soon put my +blood into circulation by running two or +three times up and down a steep bit of +the hill. As for Donald, he shook himself, +took a pinch of snuff, and was all +right. The sun was not yet above the +horizon, though the tops of the mountains +to the west were already brightly +gilt by its rays, and the grouse-cocks +were answering each other in every +direction."</p> + +<p>A graphic and most true description! +The same gathering of the +deer, but on a far larger scale, may +be seen in the glens near the centre +of Sutherland, hard by the banks of +Loch Naver. Many hundreds of them +congregate there together at the bleak +season of their love; and the bellowing +of the stags may be heard miles +off among the solitude of the mountain. +Nor is it altogether safe at that +time to cross their path. The hart—a +dangerous brute whenever brought +to bay—then appears to lose all trace +of his customary timidity, and will +advance against the intruder, be he +who he may, with levelled antler and +stamping hoof, as becomes the acknowledged +leader, bashaw, and champion +of the herd. Also among the Coolin +hills, perhaps the wildest of all our +Highland scenery, where the dark +rain-clouds of the Atlantic stretch +from peak to peak of the jagged heights—where +the ghostlike silence strikes +you with unwonted awe, and the echo +of your own footfall rings startlingly +on the ear from the metallic cliffs of +Hyperstein.</p> + +<p>What is it, Ian? As we live, Orleans +is pointing in yon correi, and +Bordeaux backing him like a Trojan. +Soho, Tours! Now for it. Black +game, we rather think. Well roaded, +dogs! Bang! An old cock. Ian, +you may pick him up.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[411]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="LETTERS_AND_IMPRESSIONS_FROM_PARIS2" id="LETTERS_AND_IMPRESSIONS_FROM_PARIS2"></a>LETTERS AND IMPRESSIONS FROM PARIS.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> gay metropolis of France has +not lacked chroniclers, whether indigenous +or foreign. And no wonder. +The subject is inexhaustible, the mine +can never be worn out. Paris is a +huge kaleidoscope, in which the slightest +movement of the hand of time +produces fantastic changes and still +recurring novelties. Central in position, +it is the rendezvous of Europe. +London is respected for its +size, wealth, and commerce, and as +the capital of the great empire on +which the sun never sets; Paris is +loved for its pleasures and pastimes, +its amusements and dissipations. The +one is the money-getter's Eldorado, +the other the pleasure-seeker's paradise. +The former is viewed with +wonder and admiration; for size it is +a province, for population a kingdom. +But Paris, the modern Babel, with its +boulevards and palaces, its five-and-twenty +theatres, its gaudy restaurants +and glittering coffee-houses, its light +and cheerful aspect, so different from +the soot-grimed walls of the English +capital, is the land of promise to truant +gentlemen and erratic ladies, whether +from the Don or the Danube, the Rhine +or the Wolga, from the frozen steppes +of the chilly north, or the orange groves +of the sunny south. A library has been +written to exhibit its physiognomy; +thousands of pens have laboured to +depict the peculiarities of its population, +floating and stationary.</p> + +<p>Amongst those who have most recently +attempted the task, Mr Karl +Gutzkow, a dramatist of some fame +in his own land, holds a respectable +place. He has recorded in print the +results of two visits to Paris, paid in +1842 and in the present year. The +self-imposed labour has been creditably +performed; much truth and +sharpness of observation are manifest +in his pages, although here and there +a triviality forces a smile, a far-fetched +idea or a bizarre opinion causes a +start. Mr Gutzkow partakes a fault +common to many of his countrymen—a +tendency to extremes, an aptness +either to trifle or to soar, now playing +on the ground with the children, then +floating in the clouds with mystical +familiars, or on a winged hobbyhorse. +Desultory in style, he neglects the +classification of his subject. Abruptly +passing from the grave to the light, +from the solid to the frothy, he breaks +off a profound disquisition or philosophical +argument to chatter about the +new vaudeville, and glides from a scandalous +anecdote of an actress into the +policy of Louis Philippe. His frequent +and capricious transitions are not disagreeable, +and help one pleasantly +enough through the book, but a methodical +arrangement would be more +favourable to the reader's memory. +As it is, we lay down the volume with +a perfect jumble in our brains, made +up of the sayings, doings, qualities, +and characteristics of actors, authors, +statesmen, communists, journalists, +and of the various other classes concerning +whom Mr Gutzkow discourses, +introducing them just as they occur +to him, or as he happened to meet +with them, and in some instances returning +three or four times to the +same individual. The first part of +the book, which is the most lengthy +and important, is in the form of letters, +and was perhaps actually written +to friends in Germany. This would +account for its desultoriness and medley +of matter. The second portion, +written during or subsequently to a +recent visit to Paris, serves as an appendix, +and as a rectification of what +came before. The author troubles +himself little about places; he went +to see Parisians rather than to gaze +at Paris, to study men rather than to +admire monuments, and has the good +sense to avoid prattling about things +that have been described and discussed +by more common-place writers +than himself. Well provided with +introductions, he made the acquaintance +of numerous notabilities, both +political and literary, and of them he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[412]</a></span> +gives abundant details: an eager play-goer, +his theatrical criticisms are bold, +minute, and often exceedingly happy; +an observant man, his remarks on the +social condition of Paris and of France +are both acute and interesting. Let +us follow him page by page through +his fifth letter or chapter, the first that +relates to Paris. Those that precede +contain an account of his journey from +Hanover. On his entrance into France, +he encounters various petty disagreeables, +in the shape of ill-hung vehicles, +sulky conductors, bad dinners, extravagant +prices, and attempts at extortion, +which stir up his bile, accustomed +as he is to the moderate charges, smiling +waiters, and snug although slow +<i>eilwagens</i> of his own country. But he +has resolved neither to grumble at +trifles nor to judge hastily. A visit +to France, and especially to Paris, +has long been his darling project. +His greatest fear is to be disappointed—imagination, +especially that of a German, +is so apt to outrun reality.</p> + +<p>"Every <i>sou</i> upon which I read +'Republique Française,' every portrait +of the unhappy Louis upon the +coarse copper money, makes such impression +on me, that I no longer +think of any thing but the historical +ground under my feet; and consoled +for my trifling grievances, upon a fine +spring morning I enter the great Babel +through the Barrière St Denis.</p> + +<p>"I am in France, in Paris. I must +reflect, in order to ascertain what was +my first thought. As a boy, I hated +France and loved Paris. My thoughts +clung fast to Germany's fall and Germany's +greatness; my feelings, my +fancy, ranged through the French +capital, of which I had early heard +much from my father, who had twice +marched thither as a Prussian soldier +and conqueror." Then come sundry +reflections on the July revolution, and +its effect on Europe. "These are +chains of thought which hereafter +will occupy us much. I must now +think for a while of the France that +I brought with me, because the one +I have found is likely to lead me astray. +Louis Philippe, Guizot, the armed +peace, the peace at all price, the +chamber of peers, the attempts on the +king's life, the deputies, the <i>épiciers</i>, +the great men and the little intrigues, +art and science, Véry, Vefour, Musard—I +am really puzzled not to forget +something of what I previously +knew. A hackney-coach horse, lying +dead upon the boulevard, preoccupies +me more than yonder <i>hôtel des Capucins</i>, +where Guizot gives his dinners. +A wood-pavement at the end of the +Rue Richelieu sets me a-thinking +more than the bulletin of to-day's +<i>Débats</i>. They pave Paris with wood +to deprive revolutions of building +materials. Barricades are not to be +made out of blocks. Better that those +who cannot hear should be run over +than that those who cannot see should +risk to fall from their high estate."</p> + +<p>Considering that, when this was +written, all the wood-pavement in +Paris might have been covered with +a Turkey carpet, and that up to this +day its superficies has very little increased, +Mr Gutzkow's discovery has +much the appearance of a mare's nest. +A better antidote to the stone within +Paris is to be found in the stone +around it. The fortifications will +match the barricades. But it would +be unfair to criticise too severely +the crude impressions of a novice, +suddenly set down amidst the turmoil, +bustle, tumult, and fever of the +French capital. From the pavements +we pass to the promenaders.</p> + +<p>"Pity that black should this year +be the fashion for ladies' dresses. The +mourning garments clash with the +freshness of spring. The heavens +are blue, the sun shines, the trees +already burst into leaf, the fountains +round the obelisk throw their countless +diamonds into the air. The +exhibition of pictures has just opened. +Shall I go thither, and exchange this +violet-scented atmosphere for the +odour of the varnish? In Paris the +exhibition comes with the violets—in +Berlin with the asters. I prefer +the autumn show at Berlin to the +spring exhibition in Paris; also intrinsically, +with respect to art. Our +German painters have more poetry. +With us painting is lyric—here all is, +or strives to be, dramatic. Every +picture seems to thrust itself forward +and demand applause. I see great +effects, but little feeling. Religion is +represented by a few gigantic altar-pieces. +They are the offerings of a +devotion which only thinks of the +saints because new churches require<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[413]</a></span> +new pictures. New churches consist +of stone, wood, gold, silver, an organ, +an altar-piece. These pictures of +saints belong to the ministry of public +works; it is easy to see that they have +been done to order. Besides them, +the gallery is full of Oriental scenes, +family pictures and portraits. The +first are to inspire enthusiasm for +Algiers, the second illustrate the happiness +of wedded life, the last are +matrimonial advertisements in oil +colour. In the family groups, children +and little dogs are most prominent; +of the male portraits the beard +is the principal part. It is useless to +look for men here; one sees nothing +but hair. Everybody wears a beard +<i>à la mode du moyen âge—flâneurs</i>, +coachmen, marquises, artisans. On +all sides one is surrounded with Vandyke +and Rubens heads, poetical +beards and hair, contrasting strangely +with prosaic eyes, pallid lips, and the +graceless costumes of the nineteenth +century."</p> + +<p>After some more very negative +praise of French art, Mr Gutzkow +gets sick of turpentine and confinement, +and rushes out of the Louvre +into the sunshine and the Champs +Elysées, where the sight of the throng +of dashing equipages, gay cavaliers, +and pretty amazons, instead of causing +him to throw up his hat and bless +his stars for having conducted him +into such ways of pleasantness, renders +him melancholy and metaphysical. +He is moralising on the Parisian ladies, +when a cloud of dust and the clatter +of cavalry give a new turn to his +reflections. "Here," he exclaims, +"comes an example of earthly happiness. +Louis Philippe, King of the +French, surrounded by a half squadron +of his body-guard; a narrow and +scarcely perceptible window in his +deep six-horse carriage; a King, flying +by, resting not, leaning back in his +coach, not venturing to look out, +breathing with difficulty under the +shirt of mail which, according to +popular belief, he ever wears beneath +his clothes. But of this more hereafter." +Quite enough as it is, Mr +Gutzkow; and you are right, being in +so gloomy a mood, to run off to the +Theatre Français, and try to dissipate +your vapours by seeing Rachel in Chimène. +An unfavourable criticism of +that actress, retracted at a later period, +closes the chapter. Chimène is one +of Rachel's worst parts, and her critic +was not in his best humour. He found +her cold, and deficient in voice. Subsequently, +in Joan of Arc, she fully redeemed +herself in his opinion, although +he had seen the best German actresses +in Schiller's tragedy of that name, +with which the work of Soumet ill +bears comparison. Here, he acknowledges, +she raised herself to an artistical +elevation to which no German +actress of the present day can hope +to attain.</p> + +<p>The next actress of whom Mr Gutzkow +records his judgment, is the queen +of the vaudeville, the faded but still +fascinating Dejazet. From the classic +hall of the "Français" to the agreeable +little den of iniquity at the other +end of the Palais Royal, the distance +was not great, but the transition was +very violent. It was passing from a +funeral to an orgie, thus to leave +Phèdre for Frétillon, Rachel for Dejazet. +"She performed in a little piece +called the <i>Fille de Dominique</i>, in which +she represents the daughter of a deceased +royal comedian of the days of +Molière. She comes to Paris to get +admitted into the troop to which her +father belonged. She is to give proofs +of her talents, and has already done +so before any one suspects it. She +has been to Baron, the comedian, and +presented herself alternately as a peasant +girl, a fantastical lady, and as a +young drummer of the Royal Guard. +She is seen by the audience in all +these parts. Her first word, her first +step, convinced me of the great fidelity +of her acting. She is no queen, +no fairy, or great dame out of Scribe's +comedies, but the peasant girl, the +grisette, the heroine of the vaudeville. +All about her is arch, droll, +true. Her gestures are extraordinarily +correct and steady; and in +spite of her harsh counter-tenor, and +of an organ in which many a wild +night and champagne debauch may +be traced, she sings her couplets with +clearness of intonation, grace of execution, +and not unfrequently with +most touching effect. I am at a loss +fully to explain and define her very +peculiar style of acting."</p> + +<p>Mr Gutzkow thought that the +French public had become careless of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[414]</a></span> +Dejazet, even when he first saw her, +now four years ago. We believe he +is mistaken, and that she is as much +appreciated as ever, in spite of her +five and forty years, soon to be converted +into fifty. Although haggard +from vigils and dissipation, neither +on the stage nor off it does she look +her age. The good heart and joyous +disposition that have endeared her to +her comrades of the buskin, have in +some degree neutralized the effects of +her excesses. On his second visit to +Paris, our author finds her grown +exceedingly old, and depreciates as +much as he before praised her—calls +her a rouged corpse, and makes all +manner of uncivil and unsavoury comments +and comparisons. He goes so +far as to style her acting in 1846, +languid, feeble, and insipid. <i>Qui trop +dit, ne dit rien</i>, and this is palpable +exaggeration. We perceive scarcely +any difference in Dejazet now and +five years ago. Her singing voice +may be a little less sure, her eyes a +trifle hollower—she may need rather +more paint to conceal the inroads of +time on her <i>piquante</i> and <i>spirituelle</i> +physiognomy, but she preserves the +same spirit and vivacity, <i>verve</i> and +vigour. Her appearance this spring +at the Variétés theatre, in the vaudeville +of <i>Gentil Bernard</i>, was a triumph +of talent over time; and crowded +houses, attracted not by the excellence +of the piece, but by the perfection of +the acting, proved that Dejazet is +still, which she long has been, the pet +of the Parisians. She is an extraordinary +actress—so true to nature, +possessed of such perfect judgment, +and grace of gesticulation. Not a +movement of her hand, a turn of her +head, an inflexion of her voice, but +has its signification and produces its +effect. Her performance in the picturesque +and bustling second act of +<i>Gentil Bernard</i> is faultless. The +frequenters of St James's theatre have +this summer had an opportunity of +appreciating it. At Paris she was +better supported. Lafont makes a +very fair La Tulipe, but not so good +a one as Hoffmann. The inferior +parts, also, were far better filled on +the Boulevard des Italiens, than in +King Street, St James's, where the +whole weight of the protracted and +not very interesting vaudeville rested +upon the shoulders of Dejazet.</p> + +<p>The success of Rachel has roused +the ambition and raised the reputation +of the daughters of Israel, who are now +quite in vogue at the Paris theatres. +Mesdemoiselles Rebecca and Worms, +at the "Français," are both Jewesses; +at the minor theatre of the "Folies +Dramatiques," Judith delights a motley +audience by her able enactment of +the grisette. Instances have been +known of very Christian young ladies +feigning themselves of the faith of +Moses, in hope that the fraud might +facilitate their admission to the Thespian +arena.</p> + +<p>A severe judgment is passed by Mr +Gutzkow upon the present state of +musical art and representations in the +French capital. The opera, he affirms, +and not without reason, is on its last +legs, sustained only by the ballet, by +the beauty of the scenery and costumes. +Duprez has had his day, Madame +Stolz is among the middlings, +Barroilhet alone may be reckoned a +first-rate singer. Our author saw the +<i>Elísir d'Amore</i> given by a company +which he says would hardly be listened +to in a German provincial town. +Madame Stolz was then absent on a +starring expedition. The ballet of +<i>Paquita</i> was some compensation for +the poorness of the singing. "At the +'Italiens' I heard the <i>Barber of Seville</i>, +with Lablache, Ronconi, Tagliafico, +Mario, and Persiani. This opera is +considered the triumph of the Italian +company; but I confess that the magnificence +of the theatre, the high charge +for admission, the Ohs! and Ahs! of +the English women in the boxes, just +arrived from London, and who had +never before heard good music, were +all insufficient to blind me with respect +to the merits of the performance. I +look upon the Italian opera at Paris +as a mystification on the very largest +scale, a thorough classic-Italian swindle. +That a German company, composed +of our best opera singers, would +be infinitely superior to this Italian +one, appears to me to admit of no dispute; +but even at an ordinary theatre +in Germany or Italy, one hears as +good singing, perhaps with the exception +of Lablache in <i>Bartolo</i>—and even +he is cold and careless, devoid of freshness, +and always seems to say to the +audience, 'You stupid people, take that +for your twelve francs a-seat!' The +quackery of this theatre becomes the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[415]</a></span> +more intelligible when we reflect that, +in all Paris, there is no other where a +single note of Italian opera music can +be heard, the Italians having the monopoly +of the sweet melodies of their native +country. The Grand Opera, and the +Opera Comique, deal in French music +only; and the pleasure obtainable in +any small German town possessing a +theatre, that, namely, of hearing <i>Norma</i>, +the <i>Somnambula</i>, and other similar +operas, is nowhere to be procured except +by paying extravagant prices to +these half-dozen Italians." This statement +is not quite correct. The Opera +Comique, it is true, gives nothing but +French music, and poor enough it is. In +this particular, the Parisians are not +difficult to satisfy. A good libretto, +smart scenery, a hard-handed <i>claque</i>, +a few skilful <i>reclames</i>, and laudatory +paragraphs in the newspapers, will +create an enthusiasm even for the insipid +music of Monsieur Halévy, and +sustain the <i>Mousquetaires de la Reine</i>, +or similar mawkish compositions, +through a whole season. But at the +Académie Royale, good operas are to +be heard, although the singing be deficient. +Meyerbeer, Rossini, and Donizetti +are not the names of Frenchmen; +and the operas of these and other +foreign composers are constantly given +in the Rue Lepelletier.</p> + +<p>"Several German opera companies +have visited Paris; have begun well, +and finished badly. And here our +most brilliant singers would meet +the same fate, because they would be +allowed to sing nothing but German +music; and German operas are not +listened to in Paris. But if it were +possible, with only a moderately good +German company, to give <i>Norma</i>, +the <i>Barber</i>, <i>Robert the Devil</i>, the +<i>Huguenots</i>, and Mozart's operas, +(omitting the dialogue,) that company, +supported by a good orchestra, +and performing in a decent theatre, +would carry all before them, and return +to Germany laden with fame and +gold. But that is the difficulty. In +France every one must stick to a speciality. +From the German they will +hear nothing but German music, and +the representation of other operas is +positively forbidden him."</p> + +<p>Without going the lengths that Mr +Gutzkow does, or by any means coinciding +in his sweeping censure of the +artists who now furnish forth the +Italian theatres of London and Paris, +we doubt whether it is not fashion, as +much as the excellence of the music, +that draws the élite of French and +English society to the Haymarket and +the Salle Ventadour, and whether a +German company of equal intrinsic +merit would receive adequate patronage +and encouragement in either +capital, supposing even that they were +allowed their choice of operas, and +had the benefit of a handsome theatre +and an able management. Certainly +they would not get the enormous +salaries which, in combination with +the greediness of managers, and the +manœuvres of ticket-sellers, render +the enjoyment of a good opera, in +London at least, a luxury attainable +but by an exceedingly limited class.</p> + +<p>Although the prices of admission +to most of the Paris theatres are moderate, +they are occasionally raised +by illegitimate stratagems. This is +especially the case when a new piece +is performed from which much is expected, +or concerning which, by puffery +or for other reasons, the public curiosity +has been greatly excited. On +such occasions, the first few representations +are sometimes rendered +doubly and even trebly productive. +The prices cannot be raised at the +theatre itself without express permission +from the authorities, and as this +is seldom granted, another plan is resorted +to. The box-office is transferred +<i>de facto</i> from the corridor of +the theatre to the open street. Whoever +applies for tickets is told that +there is not one left to any part of the +house. Nothing then remains but to +have recourse to the ticket-brokers, +who carry on their disreputable commerce +in the streets or at the wine-shops. +In the Rue Montmartre, +within a few doors of the Boulevard, +there is a <i>marchand de vin</i>, whose +establishment is a grand rendezvous +of these gentry. They are the agents +of the managers of the theatres. The +latter sell all the tickets to themselves +a fortnight beforehand, inscribing +on the <i>coupons</i> the names of imaginary +buyers, and then distribute them +amongst the brokers, who sell them +in front of the theatre to eager theatrical +amateurs, as a great favour, +and as the last obtainable tickets, at +two or three times the regulation price. +The theatre pockets the profits, minus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[416]</a></span> +a brokerage. In this manner a first +representation at the large theatre of +the Porte St Martin may be made to +yield ten thousand francs. When a +theatre is out of vogue, and filling +poorly, the same system is adopted; +but in the contrary sense. The <i>marchands +de billets</i> are provided with +tickets which they sell at less than +the established price.</p> + +<p>When De Balzac's drama, <i>Les Expédients +de Quinola</i>, was brought out +at the "Odeon," he compounded to +receive the proceeds of the first three +nights, in lieu of a share of each +representation whilst the piece should +run. The play had been greatly +talked of, the steam had been got up +in every way, and the public was in +a fever. It is customary enough in +Paris for dramatic authors, in order +at once to get paid for their labours, +to barter their <i>droits d'auteur</i> for the +entire profits of the first representations. +Scribe does it at the Français. +When the tickets are sold at the usual +prices, this financial arrangement is +regular enough, and concerns nobody +but author and manager. But that +would not satisfy Balzac, who is notorious +for his avarice. He set the +brokers to work, and drove the prices +up to the highest possible point, +fifteen francs for a stall, instead of +five, a hundred francs for a box and +so forth. "Under such circumstances," +says Mr Gutzkow, "it cannot +be wondered if people forgot +<i>Eugenie Grandet</i> and the <i>Père Goriot</i>, +and hissed his play. To-day, +nearly a hundred criticisms of <i>Quinola</i> +have appeared. It is my belief, that, +instead of reading them, Balzac is +counting his five-franc pieces." The +drama fell from want of merit as well +as from the indignation excited by +the author's greed. Although Balzac's +books are read and admired—some of +them at least—personally he is most +unpopular. He is accused, and not +without reason, of arrogance and avarice. +His assumption and conceit are +evident in his works. He has sacrificed +his fame to love of gold; for +one good book he has produced two +that are trash; by speculating on his +reputation, he has undermined and +nearly destroyed it. Moreover, he +has committed the enormous blunder +of affecting to despise the press, +which consequently shows him no +mercy. For a fortnight after the appearance +of <i>Quinola</i>—which, although +defective as a dramatic composition, +was not without its merits—the unlucky +play served as a daily laughing-stock +and whipping-post to the battalion +of Parisian critics. Janin led +the way; a host of minor wasps followed +in his wake, and threw themselves +with deafening hum and sharp +sting against the devoted head of M. +de Balzac. He bore their aggravating +assaults with great apparent +indifference, consoled for want of +friends by well-lined pockets.</p> + +<p>At the "Ambigu Comique," Mr +Gutzkow attended a performance of the +<i>Mousquetaires</i>, a melo-drama founded +on Dumas's romance of <i>Vingt Ans +Après</i>. Its success was prodigious; +it was performed the whole of last +winter and spring, upwards of one +hundred and fifty nights, always to +crowded houses. The novel was +dramatised by Dumas himself, with +the assistance of one of his literary +subordinates, M. Auguste Maquet. +One or two of the actors at the +"Ambigu" are to form part of the troop +at M. Dumas's new theatre, now +erecting, and which will open, it is +said, this autumn. It is built by a +company, and Dumas has engaged to +write for it a certain number of plays +yearly. The Duke of Montpensier +gives it his name.</p> + +<p>It will be the twenty-third theatre +in Paris. Mr Gutzkow lifts up his +hands and eyes in astonishment and +admiration. "And this is granted," +he says, "to that same Alexander +Dumas, who, two years ago, publicly +declared, that the stage and modern +literature, in France especially, suffer +from the indifference of the king!" +He proceeds to compare this good-humoured +facility with the scanty +amount of encouragement given to +theatricals in Prussia, with which he +appears as moderately satisfied as +with various other matters in the +Fatherland. In Berlin, he says, although +another theatre is sadly wanted, +there is little chance of its being conceded +either to a dramatic author or +to any one else. But to follow him in +his complaints, would lead us from +Paris.</p> + +<p>It is somewhat strange that Mr +Gutzkow, himself a dramatist, and +who tells us that his chief object in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[417]</a></span> +visiting Paris was to see the remarkable +men of France, did not make the +acquaintance of M. Dumas. We infer, +at least, that he did not, for the above +passing reference is all that his book +contains touching the distinguished +author of <i>Angèle and Antony</i>, of <i>Monte +Christo</i> and the <i>Mousquetaires</i>. To +numerous other <i>littérateurs</i>, of greater +and less merit, he sought and obtained +introductions, and of them +gives minute and interesting details. +In Germany, as in England, Dumas +is better known and more popular +than any other French novelist; but, +independently of that circumstance, +as a brother dramatist, we wonder +Mr Gutzkow neglected him. Perhaps, +since he blames Balzac for overproduction, +and speaks with aversion +to the system of bookmaking, he +eschewed the society of Dumas for a +similar reason. Balzac is believed, +at any rate, to write his books himself, +although they suffer from haste; but +Dumas has been openly and repeatedly +accused of having his books +written for him, and of maintaining a +regular establishment of literary aide-de-camps, +perpetually busied in the +fabrication of tale, novel, and romance, +whose productions he copies +and signs, and then gives to the world +as his own. His immense fertility +has been the origin of this charge, +which may be false, although appearances +are really in favour of its truth. +It seems physically impossible that +one man should accomplish the mere +pen and ink work of M. Dumas's literary +labours; and even if, like Napoleon, +he had the faculty of dictating +to two or three different secretaries at +once, it would scarcely account for the +number of volumes he annually puts +forth. From a clever but violent +pamphlet, published in Paris in the +spring of 1845, under the title of +<i>Fabrique de Romans; Maison Alexander +Dumas & C<sup>ie.</sup></i> we extract the +following statement, which, it cannot +be denied, is plausible enough:—</p> + +<p>"It is difficult to assign limits to +the fecundity of writer, and to fix +the number of lines that he shall +write in a given time. Romance-writing +especially, that frivolous style, +has a right to travel post, and to +scatter its volumes in profusion by +the wayside. Nevertheless, time must +be taken to consider a subject, to +arrange a plan, to connect the threads +of a plot, to organize the different +parts of a work; otherwise one proceeds +blindfold, and finishes by getting +into a blind alley, or by meeting insurmountable +obstacles. Allowing for +these needful preparations, supposing +that an author takes no more repose +than is absolutely necessary, eats in +haste, sleeps little, is constantly inspired; +in this hypothesis, the most +skilful writer will produce perhaps +fifteen volumes a-year—<span class="smcap">fifteen volumes</span>, +do you hear, Monsieur Dumas? +And, even in this case, he +will assuredly not write for fame; we +defy him to chasten and correct his +style, or to find a moment to look +over his proofs. Ask those who work +unassisted; ask our most fertile romance-writers, +George Sand, Balzac, +Eugène Sue, Frédéric Soulié; they +will all tell you, that it is impossible +to reach the limit we have fixed; +that they have never attained it.</p> + +<p>"You, M. Dumas, have published +<span class="smcap">thirty-six</span> volumes in the course of +the year 1844; and for the year 1845, +you announce twice as many.</p> + +<p>"Well, we make the following simple +calculation:—The most expert copyist, +writing twelve hours a-day, hardly +achieves 3900 letters in an hour, +which gives, per diem, 46,800 letters, +or sixty ordinary pages of a romance. +At that rate he can copy five octavo +volumes a month, and sixty in a year, +but he must not rest an hour or lose +a second. You, Monsieur Dumas, are +a penman of first-rate ability. From +the 1st of January to the 31st of December +you work regularly twelve +hours a-day, you sleep little, you eat +in haste, you deprive yourself of all +amusements, you hardly travel at all, +you are never seen out of your house: +consequently, if we suppose that your +dramatic compositions, the bringing +out of your plays, your correspondence +with newspapers and theatres, importunate +visitors, a few casual articles—as, +for example, your letters in the +<i>Democratie Pacifique</i>; (a series of five +letters containing a fierce attack on the +Théatre Français, and on its administrator +M. Buloz)—supposing, we +say, that all these various occupations +monopolize only one half of your time, +we understand that you may have +<i>copied</i> <span class="smcap">thirty</span> volumes in the course +of the year 1844—but only thirty!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[418]</a></span> +the six others must have been the result +of your son's labours. Now, if +you are going to publish twice as much +this year as you did during the last +one, how will you manage? You +must either give up sleeping, and work +the twenty-four hours through, or you +must teach your manufacturers to imitate +your hand-writing. There is no +other plan possible. To deliver your +manuscripts to the printers as they are +delivered to you, would be to furnish +proofs against yourself."</p> + +<p>The author of this pamphlet is himself +a novelist, and allowance must be +made for his jealousy of a successful +rival. But there are grounds for his +attack. M. Dumas is known to work +hard: literary labour has become a +habit and necessity of his life; but he +is not the man to chain himself to the +oar and renounce all the pleasures of +society and of Paris, even to swell +his annual budget to the enormous +sum which it is reported, and which +he has indeed acknowledged it, to +reach. We have seen works published +under his name, whose perusal +convinced us that he had had little or +nothing to do with their composition +or execution. The internal evidence +of others was equally conclusive in +fixing their <i>bona fide</i> authorship upon +their reputed author. <i>Au reste</i>, Dumas +troubles himself very little about +his assailants, but pursues the even +tenor of his way, careless of calumniators. +The most important point +for him is, that his pen, or at least his +name, should preserve its popularity; +and this it certainly does, notwithstanding +that his enemies have more +than once raised a cry that "<i>le Dumas +baisse sur la place</i>." On the contrary, +the article, whether genuine or +counterfeit, was never more in demand, +both with publishers and consumers. +In Paris, as Mr Gutzkow says, every +thing is a speciality; it requires half +a dozen different shops to sell the +merchandise that in England would +be united in one. One establishment +deals in lucifer-matches and nothing +else; chips and brimstone form its +whole stock in trade: it is the <i>spécialité +des allumettes chimiques</i>. Yonder +we find a spacious <i>magasin</i> appropriated +to glove-clasps; here is another +where <i>clysopompes</i> are the sole commodity. +We were aware of this +peculiarity of French shopkeeping, +but were certainly not prepared to +behold, as we did on our last visit to +Paris, a shop opened upon the Place +de la Bourse, exclusively for the sale +of Monsieur Dumas's productions. +This, we apprehend, is the <i>ne plus +ultra</i> of literary fertility and popularity. +"Le Dumas" has become a +commercial <i>spécialité</i>. The bookseller +who wishes to have upon his shelves +all the productions of the author of +the <i>Corricolo</i>, must no longer think of +appropriating any part of his space to +the writings of others; or if he persists +in doing so, he had better take +three or four shops, knock down the +partitions, and establish a <i>magasin +monstre</i>, like those of which ambitious +linendrapers have of late years +set the fashion in the Chaussée d'Antin +and Rue Montmartre. Curiosity +prompted us to enter the Dumas shop +and procure a list of its contents. +The number of volumes would have +stocked a circulating library. We +were gratified to find—for we have +always taken a strong interest in +Alexander Dumas, some of whose +bettermost books we have honoured +with a notice in Maga—that several +of his works were out of print. +On the other hand, five or six new +romances, from two to four volumes +each, were, we were informed by the +obliging Dumas-merchant, on the eve +of appearing. It was a small instalment +of the illustrious author's annual +contribution to the fund of French +<i>belles lettres</i>.</p> + +<p>In the <i>Galerie des Contemporains +Illustres</i>, by M. de Lomenie, we find +the following remarks concerning M. +Dumas:—</p> + +<p>"He has written masses of romances, +feuilletons by the hundred. In +the year 1840 alone, he published +twenty-two volumes. He has even +written with one hand the history +that he turned over with the other, +and heaven knows what an historian +M. Dumas is! He has published +<i>Impressions de Voyages</i>, containing +every thing, drama, elegy, eclogue, +idyl, politics, gastronomy, statistics, +geography, history, wit—every thing +excepting truth. Never did writer +more intrepidly hoax his readers, +never were readers more indulgent to +an author's gasconades. Nevertheless, +M. Dumas has abused to such +an extent the credulity of the public,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[419]</a></span> +that the latter begin to be upon +their guard against the <i>discoveries</i> of +the traveller."</p> + +<p>The public, we apprehend, take M. +Dumas's narratives of travels at their +just value, find them entertaining, but +rely very slightly on their authenticity. +It has been pretty confidently +affirmed and generally believed, that +many of his excursions were performed +by the fireside; that rambles +in distant lands are accomplished by +M. Dumas with his feet on his <i>chenets</i> +in the Chaussée d'Antin, or in his +country retirement at St Germains. +Nor does he, when taxed with being +a stay-at-home traveller, repel the +charge with much violence of indignation. +At the recent trial at Rouen of +a sprig of French journalism, a certain +Monsieur <i>de</i> Beauvallon, (truly the +noble particle was worthily bestowed,) +the accused was stated to be extraordinarily +skilful with the pistol; and in +support of the assertion, a passage +was quoted from a book written by +himself, in which he stated, that in +order to intimidate a bandit, he had +knocked a small bird off a tree with a +single ball. The prisoner declared that +this wonderful shot was to be placed +to the credit of his invention, and not +to his marksmanship. "I introduced +the circumstance," said he, "in hopes +of amusing the reader, and not because +it really happened. M. Dumas, who +has also written his travelling impressions, +knows that such license is +sometimes taken." Whereupon Alexander, +who was present in court, did +most heartily and admissively laugh.</p> + +<p>Apropos of that trial—and although +it leads us away from Mr Gutzkow, +who makes but a brief reference to the +orgies, revived from the days of the +Regency, which the evidence given +upon it disclosed—M. Dumas certainly +burst upon us on that occasion in an +entirely new character. We had already +inferred from some of his books, +from the knowing <i>gusto</i> with which he +describes a duel, and from his intimacy +with Grisier, the Parisian Angelo, to +whom he often alludes, that he was +cunning of fence and perilous with the +pistol. But we were not aware that +he was looked up to as a duelling dictionary, +or prepared to find him treated +by a whole court of justice—judge, +counsellors, jury, and the rest—as an +oracle in all that pertains to custom +of cartel. We had reason to be +ashamed of our ignorance; of having +remained till the spring of the year +1846 unacquainted with the fact that +in France proficiency with the pen +and skill with the sword march <i>pari +passu</i>. Upon this principle, and as +one of the greatest of penmen, M. +Dumas is also the prime authority +amongst duellists. With our Gallic +neighbours, it appears, a man must +not dream of writing himself down +literary, unless he can fight as well as +scribble. To us peaceable votaries of +letters, whose pistol practice would +scarcely enable us to hit a haystack +across a poultry-yard, and whose entire +knowledge of swordsmanship is +derived from witnessing an occasional +set-to at the minors between one sailor +and five villains, (sailor invariably +victorious,) there was something quite +startling in the new lights that dawned +upon us as to the state of hot water +and pugnacity in which our brethren +beyond the Channel habitually live. +When Hannibal Caracci was challenged +by a brother of the brush, +whose works he had criticised, he replied +that he fought only with his +pencil. The answer was a sensible +one; and we should have thought authors' +squabbles might best be settled +with the goosequill. Such, it would +seem, from recent revelations, is not +the opinion on the other side of Dover +Straits; in France, the aspirant to +literary fame divides his time between +the study and the shooting +gallery, the folio and the foil. There, +duels are plenty as blackberries; and +the editor of a daily paper wings his +friend in the morning, and writes a +<i>premier Paris</i> in the afternoon, with +equal satisfaction and placidity. Not +one of the men of letters who gave +their evidence upon the notable trial +now referred to, but had had his two, +three, or half-dozen duels, or, at any +rate, had <i>fait ses preuves</i>, as the slang +phrase goes, in one poor little encounter. +All had their cases of Devismes' +pistols ready for an emergency; all +were skilled in the rapier, and talked +in Bobadil vein of the "affairs" they +had had and witnessed. And greatest +amongst them all, most versed in the +customs of combat, stood M. Dumas, +quoting the code, (in France there is a +published code of duelling,) laying +down the law, figuring as an umpire,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[420]</a></span> +fixing points of honour and of the +duello, as, at a tourney of old, a veteran +knight.</p> + +<p>Mr Gutzkow is not far wrong in +qualifying the champagne orgies of +the Parisian actresses and newspaper +scribes, as a resuscitation of the +<i>mœurs de Régence</i>. It appears that +these gentlemen journalists live in +a state of polished immorality and +easy profligacy, not unworthy the +days of Philip of Orleans, whom M. +Dumas, be it said <i>en passant</i>, has represented +in one of his books as the +most amiable, excellent, and kind-hearted +of men, instead of as the base, +cold-blooded, and reckless debauchee +which he notoriously was. In France, +to a greater extent than in England, +the success of an actress or dancer depends +upon the manner in which the +press notices her performances. Theatrical +criticisms are a more important +feature in French than in English +newspapers, are more carefully done, +and better paid.</p> + +<p>"As an artist," said Mademoiselle +Lola Montes, the Spanish <i>bailerina</i>, +who formerly attracted crowds to the +Porte St Martin theatre—less, however, +by the grace of her dancing, +than by the brevity of her attire—"I +sought the society of journalists."</p> + +<p>Miss Lola is not the only lady of +her cloth making her chief society of +the men on whose suffrage her reputation, +as an actress, depends. In +Paris, people are apt to pin their faith +on their newspaper, and, finding that +the plan saves a deal of thought, +trouble, and investigation, they see +with the eyes and hear with the ears +of the editor, go to the theatres which +he tells them are amusing, and read +the books that he puffs. Actresses, +especially second-rate ones, thus find +themselves in the dependence of a few +<i>coteries</i> of journalists, whom they +spare no pains to conciliate. We +shall not enter into the details of the +subject, but the result of the system +seems to be a sort of socialist republic +of critics and actresses, having for +its object a reckless dissipation, and +for its ultimate argument the duelling +pistol. "In Paris," says Mr Gutzkow, +"the critics are often dilettanti, +who seek by their pen to procure admission +into the boudoirs of the pretty +actresses. The theatrical critic is a +<i>petit maître</i>, the analysis of a performance +a declaration of love." And +favours are bartered for feuilletons. +It does not appear, however, that +these Helens of the foot-lamps often +lead to serious rivalries between the +Greeks and Trojans of the press. A +pungent leading article, or a keen opposition +of interests, is far more likely +to produce duels than the smiles or +caprices even of a Liévenne or an +Alice Ozy. In these days of extinct +chivalry, to fight for a woman is voted +<i>perruque</i> and old style; but to fight for +one's pocket is correct, and in strict +conformity with the commercial spirit +of the age. A's newspaper, being +ably directed, rises in circulation and +enriches its proprietors. Journalist B, +whose subscribers fall off, orders a +sub-editor to pick a quarrel with A +and shoot him. The thing is done; +the paper of defunct A is injured by +the loss of its manager, and that of +surviving B improves. The object is +attained. "The history of the <i>Procès +Beauvallon</i>," we quote from Mr +Gutzkow, "so interesting as a development +of the modern <i>Mysteries +of Paris</i>, arose apparently from a +rivalry about women, but in reality +was to be attributed to one between +newspapers. It is tragical to reflect, +that for the <i>Presse</i> Emile de Girardin +shot Carrel, and that now the manager +of the same paper is in his turn +shot by a new rival, on account of the +<i>Globe</i> or the <i>Epoque</i>. We are reminded +of the poet's words: <i>Das ist +der Fluch der bösen That!</i>"</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that De +Girardin, the founder of the <i>Presse</i>, +killed Armand Carrel, the clever editor +of the <i>National</i>, in a duel. The +<i>Presse</i> was started at forty francs a-year, +at a time when the general price +of newspapers was eighty francs. The +experiment was bold, but it fully succeeded. +The thing was done well and +thoroughly; the paper was in all respects +equal to its contemporaries; in +talent it was superior to most of them, +surpassed by none. De Girardin and +his associates made a fortune, the +majority of the other papers were +compelled to drop their prices, some +of the inferior ones were ruined. +The innovation and its results made +the bold projector a host of enemies, +and he would have found no difficulty +in the world in getting shot, had he +chosen to meet a tithe of those who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[421]</a></span> +were anxious to fire at him. But +after his duel with Carrel he declined +all encounters of the kind, and fought +his battles in the columns of the <i>Presse</i> +instead of in the Bois de Boulogne. +Had he not adopted this course he +would long ago have fallen, probably +by the hand of a member of the democratic +party, who all vowed vengeance +against him for the death of +their idol. As it is, he has had innumerable +insults and mortifications +to endure, but he has retaliated and +borne up against them with immense +energy and spirit. On one occasion +he was assaulted at the opera, and received +a blow, when seated beside his +wife, a lady of great beauty and talent. +The aggressor was condemned +to three years' imprisonment. The +<i>Presse</i> being a conservative paper, +and a strenuous supporter of the Orleans +dynasty, the opposition and +radical organs of course loudly denounced +the injustice and severity of +the sentence. De Girardin was once +challenged by the editors of the <i>National +en masse</i>. His reply was an +article in his next day's paper, proving +that the previous character and +conduct of his challengers was such +as to render it impossible for a man +of honour to meet any one of them. +Mr Gutzkow made the acquaintance +of Girardin. "At the sight of the +slender delicate hand which slew the +steadfast and talented editor of the +<i>National</i>, I was seized with an emotion, +the expression of which might +have sounded somewhat too <i>German</i>. +Girardin himself affected me; his daily +struggles, his daily contests before the +tribunals, his daily letters to the <i>National</i>, +his uneasy unsatisfied ambition, +his unpopularity. One may have +shot a man in a duel, but in order to +remember the act with tranquillity, +the deceased should have been the +challenger. One may have received +a blow in the opera house, and yet +not deem it necessary, having already +had one fatal encounter, to engage in +a second, but it is hard that the giver +of the blow must pass three years in +prison. Such events would drive a +German to emigration and the back-woods; +they impel the Frenchman +further forward into the busy crowd. +Bitterness, melancholy, nervous excitement, +and morbid agitation, are +unmistakeably written upon Girardin's +countenance."</p> + +<p>Himself a clever critic, Mr Gutzkow +was anxious to make the acquaintance +of a king of the craft, the +well-known Jules Janin, the feuilletonist +of the <i>Debats</i>. "Janin has +lived for many years close to the +Luxembourg palace, on a fourth floor. +His habitation is by no means brilliant, +but it is comfortably arranged; and +when he married, shortly before I saw +him, he would not leave it. <i>Le Critique +marié</i>, as they here call him, +lives in the Rue Vaugirard, rather +near to the sky, but enjoying an extensive +view over the gardens, basins, +statues, swans, nurses and children, +of the Luxembourg. 'I have bought +a chateau for my wife,' said he, coming +down a staircase which leads from +his sitting-room to his study. 'I +am married, have been married six +months, am happy, too happy—Pst, +Adèle, Adèle!'</p> + +<p>"Adèle, a pretty young Parisian, +came tripping down stairs and joined +us at breakfast. Janin is better-looking +than his caricature at Aubert's. +Active, notwithstanding his <i>embonpoint</i>, +he is seldom many minutes +quiet. Now stroking his <i>jeune France</i> +beard, then caressing Adèle, or running +to look out of the window, he only +remains at table to write and to eat. +He showed me his apartment, his +arrangements, his books, even his +bed-chamber. 'I still live in my old +nest,' said he, 'but I will buy my +angel—we have been married six +months, and are very happy—I will +buy my angel a little chateau. I earn +a great deal of money with very bad +things. If I were to write good things, +I should get no money for them.'</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to write down mere +prattle. Janin, like many authors, +finds intercourse with men a relief +from intercourse with books. The +cleverest people willingly talk nonsense; +but Janin talked, on the contrary, +a great deal of sense, only in a +broken unconnected way, running +after Adèle, threatening to throw her +out of the window, or rambling about +the room with the stem of a little tree +in his hand. 'Do you see,' said he, +'I like you Germans because they +like me—(this by way of parenthesis)—do +you see, I have brought up my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[422]</a></span> +wife for myself; she has read nothing +but my writings, and has grown tall +whilst I have grown fat. She is a +good wife, without pretensions, sometimes +coquettish, a darling wife. It +is not my first love, but my first marriage. +You have been to see George +Sand? We do not smoke, neither I +nor my wife, so that we have no +genius. <i>Pas vrai, Adèle?</i>'</p> + +<p>"Adèle played her part admirably +in this matrimonial idyl. 'She does +not love me for my reputation,' said +her husband, 'but for my heart. I +am a bad author, but a good fellow. +Let's talk about the theatre.'</p> + +<p>"We did so. We spoke of Rachel, +and of Janin's depreciation of that +actress, whom he had previously supported. +'It's all over with her,' said +he; 'she has left off study, she revels +the night through, she drinks grog, +smokes tobacco, and intrigues by +wholesale. She gives soirées, where +people appear in their shirt-sleeves. +Since she has come of age, it's all up +with her. She has become dissipated. +Shocking—is it not, Adèle?'</p> + +<p>"'One has seen instances of +genius developing itself with dissipation.'</p> + +<p>"'They might stand her on her head, +but would get nothing more out of +her,' replied Janin. 'Luckily the +French theatre rests on a better foundation +than the tottering feet of Mamsell +Rachel.—Do you know Lewald? +Has he translated me well?'</p> + +<p>"'You have fewer translators than +imitators.'</p> + +<p>"'Can my style be imitated in German?'</p> + +<p>"'Why not? I will give you an +instance.'</p> + +<p>"Janin was called away to receive +a visitor, and was absent a considerable +time. He had some contract or +bargain to settle. I took out my +tablets, drank my cup of tea, and +wrote in Janin's style the following +criticism upon a performance at the +Circus which then had a great run."</p> + +<p>Having previously, it may be presumed, +noted down the suggestive and +curious dialogue of which we have +given an abbreviation. We have our +doubts as to the propriety, or rather +we have no doubts as to the impropriety +and indelicacy, of thus repeating +in print the familiar conversations, +and detailing the most private domestic +habits of individuals, merely +on the ground of their talents or +position having rendered them objects +of curiosity to the mob. Literary +notoriety does not make a man public +property, or justify his visitors in +dragging him before the multitude as +he is in his hours of relaxation, and +of mental and corporeal dishabille. +Mr Gutzkow is unscrupulous in this +respect. Possessing either an excellent +memory, or considerable skill in +clandestine stenography, he carefully +sets down the sayings of all who are +imprudent enough to gossip with him, +and important enough for their gossip +to be interesting. Surely he ought +to have informed Messrs Thiers, +Janin, and various others, who kindly +and hospitably entertained him, that +he was come amongst them to take +notes, and eke to print them. Forewarned, +they would perhaps have +been less confiding and communicative. +The last four years have produced +many instances of this species +of indiscretion. Two prominent ones +at this moment recur to us—a prying, +conceited American, and a clever but +impertinent German <i>prinzlein</i>. The +latter, we have been informed, was +on one occasion called to a severe +account for his tattling propensities. +With respect to Jules Janin, we are +sure that Mr Gutzkow's revelations +concerning his household economy, +his pretty wife, his morning pastimes +and breakfast-table <i>causeries</i>, will not +in the slightest degree disturb his +peace of mind, spoil his appetite, or +diminish his <i>embonpoint</i>. The good-humoured +and clever critic is proof +against such trifles. Nay, as regards +initiating the public into his private +affairs and most minute actions, he +himself has long since set the example. +The readers of the witty and playful +feuilletons signed J. J., will not have +forgotten one that appeared on the +occasion of M. Janin's marriage, +having for its subject the courtship +and wedding of that gentleman. The +commencement made us smile; the +continuation rendered us uneasy; and +as we drew near the close, we became +positively alarmed—not knowing how +far the writer was going to take us, +and feeling somewhat pained for +Madame Janin, who might be less +willing than her <i>insouciant</i> husband +that such very copious details of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[423]</a></span> +commencement of matrimony should +be supplied as pasture to the populace +in the columns of a widely-circulated +newspaper. Janin got a smart lashing +from some of his rival feuilletonists +for his indecent and egotistical +puerility. Doubtless he cared little +for the infliction. Habituated to such +flagellations, his epidermis has grown +tough, and he well knows how to +retaliate them. He has few friends. +Those who have felt his lash hate +him; those whom he has spared envy +him. As a professed critic, he finds +it easier and more piquant to censure +than to praise; and scarcely a French +author, from the highest to the lowest, +but has at one time or other experienced +his pitiless dissection and cutting +<i>persiflage</i>. His feuilletons were +once, and still occasionally are, distinguished +and prized for their graceful +<i>naïveté</i> and playful elegance of +style. His correctness of appreciation, +his adherence to the sound rules +of criticism, his thorough competency +to judge on all the infinite variety of +subjects that he takes up, have not +always been so obvious. And of late +years, his principal charm, his style, +has suffered from inattention, perhaps +also from weariness; chiefly, no doubt, +from his having fallen into that commercial +money-getting vein which is +the bane of the literature of the day. +Still, now and then, one meets with +a feuilleton in his old and better style, +delightfully graceful, and pungent and +witty, concealing want of depth by +brilliancy of surface. He is a journalist, +and a journalist only; he +aspires to no more; books he has not +written, none at least worth the naming—two +or three indifferent novels, +early defunct. His feuilletons are +especially popular in Germany—more +so, perhaps, than in France. His +arch and sparkling paragraphs contrast +agreeably with the heavy solidity +of German critics of the <i>belles +lettres</i>. By the bye, we must not +forget Gutzkow's attempt at an +imitation of M. Janin's style. He +was interrupted before he had completed +it, but favours us with the +fragment. It is a notice of the exploits +of a Pyrenean dog then acting +at Paris. Its author had not time to +read it to Janin, who went out to +walk with his wife. "I kept my +paper to myself, exchanged another +joke or two with my whimsical host, +and departed. I have written a +theatrical article, than which Janin +could not write one more childish. +What German newspaper will give +me twenty thousand francs a-year for +articles of this kind?" One, only, +whose proprietor and editor have +taken leave of their senses. The +article <i>à la Janin</i> is childish and +frivolous enough; but childishness +and frivolity would have availed the +Frenchman little had he not united +with them wit and grace. His German +copyist has not been equally +successful in operating that union. +But to attempt in German an imitation +of Janin's style, so entirely French +as it is, and only to be achieved in +that language, appears to us nearly as +rational as to try to manufacture a +dancing-pump out of elephant hide.</p> + +<p>We grieve to hear the bad accounts +of Mademoiselle Rachel's private propensities +and public prospects given +by Janin, or, at least, by Mr Gutzkow, +who in another place enters into +further details of the fair tragedian's +irregularities. It is difficult to imagine +Chimène smoking a cigar, Phèdre +sitting over a punch-bowl, the Maid +of Orleans intriguing with a journalist, +even though it be admitted that +the lords of the feuilleton are also +tyrants of the stage, and toss about +their <i>foulards</i> with a tolerable certainty +of their being gratefully and +submissively picked up. We will +hope, however, either that Janin was +pleased to mystify Gutzkow, thinking +it perhaps very allowable to pass a +joke on the curious German who had +ferreted him out in his <i>quatrième</i>, or +that Gutzkow has fathered upon Janin +the floating reports and calumnious +inuendos of the theatrical coffee-houses.</p> + +<p>Mr Gutzkow went to see George +Sand. This was his great ambition, +his burning desire. He is an enthusiastic +admirer of her works and of +her genius. It is to be inferred from +what he tells us, that he did not find +it easy to obtain an introduction. +Madame Dudevant lives retired, and +likes not to be trotted out for the entertainment +of the curious. She is +particularly distrustful of tourists. +They have sketched her in grotesque +outline, respecting neither her mysteries +nor her confidence. But Mr<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[424]</a></span> +Gutzkow was resolved to see the outside +of her house, pending the time +that he might obtain access to its interior. +So away he went to the Rue +Pigale, No. 16, chattered with the portress, +peeped into the garden, gazed +at the windows which George Sand, +"when exhausted with mental labour, +is wont to open to cool her bosom in +the fresh air." Considering that this +was in the month of March, some time +had probably elapsed since the lady +had done any thing so imprudent. +From a chapter of <i>Lelia</i> or <i>Mauprat</i> to +an equinoctial breeze! There is a catarrh +in the mere notion of the transition. +However, Mr Gutzkow viewed +the matter with a poet's eye—the window, +we mean to say—and after gazing +his fill, departed, musing as he +went. A fortnight later he was admitted +to see the jewel whose casket +he had contemplated with so much +veneration. "I have been to see +George Sand. She wrote to me: 'You +will find me at home any evening. +If, however, I am engaged with a +lawyer or compelled to go out, you +must not impute it to want of courtesy. +I am entangled in a lawsuit in +which you will see a trait of our +French usages, for which my patriotism +must needs blush. I plead against +my publisher, who wants to constrain +me to write a romance according +to his pleasure—that is to say, advocating +his principles. Life passes +away in the saddest necessities, and +is only preserved by anxieties and +sacrifices. You will find a woman of +forty years old, who has employed her +whole life not in pleasing by her amiability, +but in offending by her candour. +If I displease your eyes, I shall, +at any rate, preserve in your heart +the place that you have conceded me. +I owe it to the love of truth, a passion +whose existence you have distinguished +and felt in my literary +attempts.'</p> + +<p>"I went to see her in the evening. +In a small room, scarce ten feet square, +she sat sewing by the fire, her daughter +opposite to her. The little apartment +was sparingly lighted by a lamp with +a dark shade. There was no more +light than sufficed to illumine the +work with which mother and daughter +were busied. On a divan in one +corner, and in dark shadow, sat two +men, who, according to French custom, +were not introduced to me. +They kept silence, which increased +the solemn, anxious tension of the +moment. A gentle breathing, an oppressive +heat, a great tightness about +the heart. The flame of the lamp +flickered dimly, in the chimney the +charcoal glowed away into white shimmering +ashes, a ghostlike ticking was +the only sound heard. The ticking +was in my waistcoat pocket. It was +my watch, not my heart." How intensely +German is all this overwrought +emotion about nothing! Fortunately +a chair was at hand, into which the +impressionable dramatist dropped himself. +His first speech was a blunder, +for it sounded like a preparation.</p> + +<p>"'Pardon my imperfect French. +I have read your works too often, and +Scribe's comedies too seldom. From +you one learns the mute language of +poetry, from Scribe the language of +conversation.'"</p> + +<p>To which compliment Aurora Dudevant +merely replied: "'How do you +like Paris?'</p> + +<p>"'I find it as I had expected.—A +lawsuit like yours is a novelty. How +does it proceed?'</p> + +<p>"A bitter smile for sole reply.</p> + +<p>"'What is understood in France by +<i>contrainte par corps</i>?'</p> + +<p>"'Imprisonment.'</p> + +<p>"'Surely they will not throw a +woman into prison to compel her to +write a romance. What does your +publisher mean by his principles?'</p> + +<p>"'Those which differ from mine. +He finds me too democratic.'</p> + +<p>"And mechanics do not buy romances, +thought I. 'Does the <i>Revue +Indépendante</i> make good progress?'</p> + +<p>"'Very considerable, for a young +periodical.'"</p> + +<p>And so on for a couple of pages. +But George Sand was on her guard, +and stuck to generalities. She would +not allow her visitor to draw her out, +as he would gladly have done. She +had been already too much gossiped +about and calumniated in print. She +had an intuitive perception of the +approaching danger. She <i>nosed</i> the +intended book. Nevertheless, and +although reserved, she was very amiable; +talked about the drama—when +Mr Gutzkow, remembering her unsuccessful +play of <i>Cosima</i>, tried to +change the subject—inquired after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[425]</a></span> +<i>Bettina</i>, spoke respectfully of Germany—of +which, however, she does +not profess to know any thing—and +even smoked a cigar.</p> + +<p>"George Sand laid aside her work, +arranged the fire, and lighted one of +those innocent cigars which contain +more paper than tobacco, more coquetry +than emancipation. I was +now able, for the first time, to obtain +a good view of her features. She is +like her portraits, but less stout and +round than they make her. She has +a look of Bettina. Since that time +she has grown larger.</p> + +<p>"'Who translates me in Germany?'</p> + +<p>"'Fanny Tarnow, who styles her +translations <i>bearbeitungen</i>.'</p> + +<p>"'Probably she omits the so-called +immoral passages.'</p> + +<p>"She spoke this with great irony. +I did not answer, but glanced at her +daughter, who cast down her eyes. +The pause that ensued was of a second, +but it expressed the feelings of +an age."</p> + +<p>Although Mr Gutzkow's visits to +Paris were each but of a few weeks' +duration, and notwithstanding that he +had much to do, many persons to call +upon and things to see, he now and +then felt himself upon the brink of +<i>ennui</i>. This especially in the evenings, +which, he says, would be insupportable +without the theatres. To +foreigners they certainly would be so, +and to many Parisians. The theatre, +the coffee-house, the reading-room, +the unvarying and at last wearisome +lounge on the boulevards, compose +the resources of the stranger in Paris. +Access to domestic circles he finds +extremely difficult, rarely obtainable. +Many imagine, on this account, that +in Paris there is no such thing as domestic +life, that the quiet evenings +with books, music, and conversation, +the fireside coteries so delightful in +England and Germany, are unknown +in the French metropolis. If not unknown, +they are, at any rate, much +rarer. "The stranger complains especially," +says Mr Gutzkow, "that +his letters of introduction carry him +little further than the antechamber. +He misses nothing so much as the +opportunity of passing his evenings in +familiar intercourse with some family +who should admit him to their intimacy." +This want is most perceptible +at the season when Mr Gutzkow +was at Paris, March and April, +treacherous and rainy months, comprising +Lent, during which Paris is +comparatively dull, and when many +persons, either from religious scruples +or from weariness of winter and carnival +gaieties, refuse parties, and cease +to give their weekly or fortnightly +soirées, often more agreeable as an +habitual resort than balls and entertainments +of greater pretensions. Mr +Gutzkow complains bitterly of the +bad weather. The climate of Paris is +certainly the reverse of good. The +heat oppressively great in summer, +rain intolerably abundant for seven or +eight months of the twelve. If London +has its fogs, Paris has its deluge, +and its consequences, oceans of mud, +which, in the narrow streets of the +French capital, are especially obnoxious. +The Boulevards and the +Rues de Rivoli and De la Paix are +really the only places where one is +tolerably secure from the splashing +of coach and scavenger.</p> + +<p>"A rainy day," writes Mr Gutzkow, +on the 22nd March; "the sky grey, +the Seine muddy, the streets filthy +and slippery. You take refuge in +the passages, and in the Palais Royal. +Appointments are made in the passages +and reading-rooms. Dinner at +the Bœuf à la Mode, at the Grand +Vatel or Restaurant Anglais, reserving +Véry, Véfour, the Rocher de Cancale, +for a brighter day and more +cheerful mood."</p> + +<p>"Paris is too large in bad weather, +and too small in fine. Really, when +the sun shines, Paris is very small. +The fashionable part of the Boulevards, +the Rue Vivienne, the Rue Richelieu, +the Palais Royal, in all that region +you are soon so much at home that +your face is known to every shopkeeper. +Always the same impressions. +In the daytime often insipid; more +cheerful at night, when the gas-lights +gleam. The art of false appearances +is here brought to the greatest +perfection. The commonest shops are +so arranged as to deceive the eye. +Mirrors reflect the wares, and give the +establishment an artificial extension, +by lamplight a fantastical grandeur. +You try the different <i>restaurants</i>, +dining sometimes here, sometimes +there, and gradually becoming initiated +in the mysteries of the <i>carte</i>; for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[426]</a></span> +the most part avoiding all complicated +preparations, and confining yourself to +the dishes <i>au naturel</i>, as the surest +means of not eating cat for calf. In +the Palais Royal the shops are very +dear, only the dinners on the first floor +are cheap, and ennui is to be had gratis. +Since so many handsome passages +have been opened through the streets, +the Palais Royal has lost its vogue. +Some say that its decline began with +its morality. The <i>Cabinets particuliers</i>, +formerly of such evil repute, are now +the smoking rooms of the coffeehouses. +The Galerie d'Orleans is still the +most frequented part of the Palais +Royal. Here the loungers pull out +their watches every five minutes; +they all wait either for a friend or +for dinner-time. Meanwhile they +saunter to and fro, and admire the +skill of their tailors in the range of +mirrors on either side of the gallery.</p> + +<p>"I followed the boulevards, the +other day, from the Madeleine to the +Column of July—a distance which it +took me almost two hours to accomplish. +From the Portes St Denis +and St Martin, the boulevards lose +their metropolitan aspect. They become +more countrified and homely. +The magnificence of the shops and +coffeehouses diminishes and at last +disappears. The luxurious gives way +to the useful, the comfortable to the +needy. At the Château d'Eau, where +the boulevard turns off at a right +angle, four or five theatres stand +together. Here is the road to the +Père la Chaise. Here fell the victims +of Fieschi's infernal machine. From +one of these little houses the murderous +discharge was made. From +which, I will not ask. Perhaps no +one could tell me. Paris has forgotten +her revolutions.</p> + +<p>"Further on, the Goddess of Liberty +flashes on us from the summit of +the July Column. Why in that dancer-like +attitude? It may show the artist's +skill, but it is undignified, +and seems to challenge the stormwind +which once already blew down +Freedom's Goddess from the Pantheon. +Upon the column are engraved the +names of the heroes of July.</p> + +<p>"What stood formerly upon this +spot? Upon yonder little house I +read, 'Tavern of the Bastile.' This, +then, was the birthplace of French +freedom, of the freedom of the world. +Upon this site, now bare, stood the +fortress-prison, whose gloomy interior +beheld for centuries the crimes of +tyrants, the violence of despotism, +whereof nought but dark rumours +transpired to the world without. On +the 14th July 1789, came the dawn. +The Bastile was destroyed, and not +one stone of it remained upon another. +It is awfully impressive to contemplate +this place, now so naked and empty, +once so gloomily shadowed.</p> + +<p>"We enter the suburb of the workmen, +the faubourg St Antoine, the +former ally and reliance of the Jacobins. +Here things have a ruder and more +strongly marked aspect. It is a sort +of Frankfurt Sachsenhausen. By the +Rue St Antoine we again reach the +interior of the city, its most industrious +and busy quarter. I love these working-day +wanderings in the regions of +labour. I prefer them to all the Sunday +promenades upon the broad +pavements of luxury. True that each +of these intricate and dirty streets has +its own particular and often nauseous +odour. Here are the soapboilers, +yonder a slaughter-house, here again, +in the Rue des Lombards, the atmosphere +is laden with the scent of spices +and drugs. In the cellars, men, with +shirt-sleeves rolled up, crush brimstone +and pepper and a hundred other +things in huge iron mortars; a noise +and smell which reminds me of the +treacle-grinders on the Rialto at +Venice. And here, also, in these +narrow alleys and dingy lanes, historical +associations linger. Yonder is +the battered chapel of St Méry, where, +eight years ago, four hundred republicans, +intrenched in the cloisters, +strove against the whole armed +might of Paris, and were overcome +only by artillery. To-day the French +Opposition takes things more easily. +Its demonstrations are dinners, as in +Germany. The popping of champagne +corks causes no bloodshed. Written +speeches, an article in a newspaper, a +toast to the maintenance of order, +another against <i>tentatives insensées</i>;—it +will be long before such an opposition +attains its end."</p> + +<p>Mr Gutzkow, who does not conceal +his ultra-liberal opinions, seems almost +to regret the revolutionary days, and +to pity Paris for the tranquillity which +a firm and judicious government has +at length succeeded in establishing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[427]</a></span> +within its walls. Had a republican +outbreak taken place during his abode +in the French capital, one might have +expected to find him raising impromptu +battalions from the eighty thousand +Germans and Alsatians, who form an +important item of the Parisian population. +His doctrines will hardly gain +him much favour with the powers +that be in his own country. But for +that he evidently cares little. He is +one of the progress; Young Germany +reckons in him a stanch and devoted +partisan. With his democratic tendencies, +and in Paris, where monuments +of revolutions abound, and +where a thousand names and places +recall the struggles between the people +and their rulers, it is not wonderful +that his enthusiasm occasionally boils +over, and that he vents or hints opinions +which maturer reflection would +perhaps induce him to repudiate.</p> + +<p>A visit to Michel Chevalier suggests +a comparison between the different +modes of attaining to public honours +and ministerial office in France and +in Germany. "Most delightful to +me was the acquaintance of Chevalier. +Delightful and afflicting. Afflicting +when I contrasted the treatment of +talent in Germany with that which +it meets in France. Michel Chevalier, +the accomplished writer who knows +how to handle so well and agreeably +the dry topics of national economy, of +railways and public works, ten years +ago was a St Simonian. When the +association of Menilmontant was prosecuted +by the French government, +he was condemned to a year's imprisonment. +But those who persecuted +him for his principles, prized +him for his talents. Instead of letting +him undergo his punishment, as would +have been the case in Germany, they +gave him money and sent him to +North America, commissioned to +make observations upon that country. +Chevalier published, in the <i>Journal +des Debats</i>, his able letters from the +United States, returned to France, became +professor at the University, and, +a year ago, was made counsellor of +state." In opposition to this example, +Mr Gutzkow traces the progress of +the German candidate for his office; +pipes, beer, and dogs at the university, +plucked in his examination, a place +in an administration, counsellor, +knight of several orders, vice-president +of a province, president of a +province, minister.</p> + +<p>Although there are in Paris more +Germans than foreigners of any other +nation, little is seen and heard of +them. They do not hang together, +and form a society of their own, as do +the English, and even the Spaniards +and Italians. They may be classed +under the heads of political refugees, +artisans, men of science and letters, +merchants and bankers. Few of them +are of sufficient rank and importance +to represent their nation with dignity, +or sufficiently wealthy to make themselves +talked of for their lavish expenditure +and magnificent establishments. +They have not, like the +English, colonized and appropriated +to themselves one of the best quarters +of Paris. Mr Gutzkow complains of +the scanty kindness and attention +shown to his countrymen by the +richer class of German residents. +"I was in a drawing-room," he says, +"whose owner was indebted for his +fortune to a marriage with a German +lady. Yet the Germans there +present were neglected both by host +and hostess. The German artist +or scholar must not reckon on a +Schickler or a Rothschild to introduce +him into the higher circles of Parisian +life. These rich bankers are of the +same breed as the German waiters +in Switzerland and Alsace, who, +even when waiting upon Germans, +pretend to understand only French. +Music is the German's best passport +to French society. You may +be a great scientific genius, and +find no admission at the renowned +soirées of the Countess Merlin. Do +but offer to take a part in one of the +musical choruses, to strengthen the +bass or the tenor, and you are welcome +without name or fame, and even +without varnished boots."</p> + +<p>We have been diffuse upon the +lighter texts afforded us by Mr +Gutzkow's work, and must abstain +from touching upon its graver portions. +They will repay perusal. A vein of +satire, sometimes verging on bitterness, +is here and there perceptible in +his pages. It forms no unpleasant +seasoning to a very palatable book.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[428]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VISIT_TO_THE_VLADIKA_OF_MONTENEGRO" id="VISIT_TO_THE_VLADIKA_OF_MONTENEGRO"></a>VISIT TO THE VLADIKA OF MONTENEGRO.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> people of the old Illyricum +have shown a marvellous consistency +of character through all the changes +that have affected the other nations +of the Roman empire. They exist +now as they did of old, a hardy race +of borderers, not quite civilised, and +not quite barbarous—Christian in fact, +and Turkish to a great extent in appearance. +Living on the borders of +the two empires, they exhibit the +national characteristics of each <i>in +transitu</i> towards the other. Of all +civilised Europe, it is perhaps here +only that the practice of carrying +arms universally and commonly prevails—a +custom which we have very +old historical authority for considering +as the characteristic mark of unsettled, +predatory, and barbarous manners—an +opinion which will be abundantly +confirmed by a glance at the +neighbouring Albanians. Any thing +original is possessed of one element of +interest, especially when it has been +so sturdily preserved; and sturdy, +indeed, have the Illyrians been. In +spite of the polished condition of the +empire of which they form a constituent +part, and of the constant +steamers up and down the Adriatic +promoting intercourse with the world, +they remain much as they used to be, +and so do they seem likely to remain +indefinitely.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the secret of their stability +may be, that visitors pass all around +them, but seldom come among them. +People visit the coast to look at Spalatro +for Diocletian's sake, at Pola for +its magnificent amphitheatre, and for +the memory of Constantine's unhappy +son, and perhaps at Ragusa. But +this is pretty well all they could do +conveniently, which is the same thing +as to say, it is all that nineteen travellers +out of twenty would do. In +those places where visits are paid by +prescription, the traveller would find, +as is likely, nothing of distinct nationality. +Such places are like well-frequented +inns, where any body and +every body is at home, and where +every body influences the manners +for the time being—there will be found +cafés, carriages, and ciceroni.</p> + +<p>But the case is far different in the +more abstruse parts of this region—in +those districts of which some have +subsided into the domain of the Turks, +some remain independent, and a narrow +strip only is reserved—the wreck +of the old Empire. All are defaulters +in the march of civilisation. But the +independent Montenegrini retain in +full force the odour of barbaric romance. +They occupy a small territory, +not noticed in many maps, shut +in by the Turks on all sides, except +where, for a narrow space, they +border on Austria. But they pay +no sort of subjection to either of these +mighty powers. With Austria they +maintain friendly intelligence on the +footing of the proudest sovereignty, +and an unqualified assertion of the +right of nations. With the Turks +their relations are of a ruder and more +interesting kind.</p> + +<p>The Montenegrini alone of Europe +follow the political model of modern +Rome. Their political head is their +ecclesiastical superior. The regal and +episcopal offices, conjointly held, are +hereditary in collateral succession, +since the reigning prince is bound to +celibacy. In the consecration of their +bishops, they pay no regard to canonical +age, and the authorities of the +Greek church seem to bend to the +peculiar exigencies of the case. The +reigning Vladika was consecrated at +the age of eighteen. His power is, in +fact, supreme, though formally qualified +by the assessorship of a senate, +who, though entitled to advise, would +outstep their bounds did they attempt +to direct. Indeed, legal authority +among such a clan of barbarians can +only subsist by despotism. Where +every hand is armed, and violent +death a familiar object, the power +that rules must be enabled to act immediately +and without appeal. To +graduate authority among them, except +in the case of military command,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[429]</a></span> +exercised by immediate delegation +from the chief, would be to render it +contemptible.</p> + +<p>And such a bishop as now occupies +this throne has not been seen since +the martial days of the fighting Pope +Julius. The old stories of prelates +clad in armour, and fighting at the +head of their troops, astonish us, but +are regarded as altogether antiquated. +Yet among those hills is exhibited +a scene that may realise the wildest +descriptions of romance or history. +That the people are a people of warriors, +is not so surprising when we +consider their locality, their ancestry, +and the circumstances of their life. +If they were merely marauders, we +should be no more struck with the +singularity of their state than we are +with the vagabondism of the Albanians. +A wild country, a wandering +population, and distance from executive +restraints, may, in any case, +bring natural ferocity to a harvest of +violence and rapine. But the Montenegrini +disclaim the name of robbers +and the practice of evil. They consider +themselves to be engaged in a +warfare, not only justifiable, but meritorious, +and over bloodshed they +cast the veil of religious zeal.</p> + +<p>It seems to be a fact that their +violence is for the Turks only. So +far as we could gain intelligence, they +do not molest Christians; and experience +enables us to speak with pleasure +of our own hospitable reception. +But against the Turks their hatred +is intense, their valour and rage unquenchable. +It is not to be supposed +that any Turk would be so foolish as +to attempt the passage of their territory, +except under express assurance +of safe conduct; but should one do so, +he would find ineffectual the strongest +escort with which the Sultan could +furnish him. The savage nature of +the district must prevent the combined +action of regular troops, or of +any troops unacquainted with the +localities; and from behind the crags +an unseen enemy would wither the +ranks of the invader. Indeed, it would +appear that the passage is not safe for +a Turk even under the assurance of a +truce. A tragical <i>accident</i> was the +subject of conversation at the time of +our visit. A body of the enemy had +been surprised and cut off, notwithstanding +the subsistence of a truce. +Ignorance on the part of the assaulters +was the ready plea; and a message +had been dispatched to make such +reparation as could be found in apologies +and restitution of effects. But +the thing looked ill. A truce must +soon become notorious throughout so +confined a region, and among a people +of whom, if not every one engaged +personally in the field, every one had +his heart and soul there. It is to be +feared that the obligations of good +faith are qualified in the case of a +Mahomedan; and however we may +lament, we can hardly view with +astonishment so natural a consequence +of their bloody education. "Hates +any man the thing he would not +kill?"—and hatred to the Turks is +the dawning idea of the Montenegrino +child, and the master-passion +of the dying warrior.</p> + +<p>With certain saving clauses, we +may compare the position of the +Montenegrini to that of the old +knights of Malta. Rhodes and Malta +are hardly more isolated, and are +more accessible than this mountain +region. If there be a wide difference +between the gentle blood and European +dignities of the knights, and the +rude estate of the mountaineers, there +is between them a brotherhood of +courage, inflexibility, and devoted opposition +to Mahomet. Each company +may stand forth as having discharged a +like office, distinguished by the characteristic +differences of the two branches +of the church. The knights, noble, +polished, and temporally influential, +defended the weak point of Western +Christendom—the sea; the Montenegrini, +unpolished, ignorant, of little +worldly account, but great zeal, have +done their part for Eastern Christendom, +in opposing the continental +power of the Turks. The unpolished +nature of their life and actions has +been in the spirit of the church to +which they belong. They have been +rude but steady, and stand alone in +their strength. They have resisted +not only the power of Mahomedanism +on the one side, but have also refrained +from amalgamation with the +western Christians, remaining firm in +that allegiance to the sec of Constantinople,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[430]</a></span> +which the Sclavonians derived +from their first missionaries.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>There is one point of superiority in +the case of these barbarians as compared +with that of the military knights. +They have never been conquered, +never driven from their fastnesses. +The knights defended Rhodes with +valour such as never has been surpassed; +and to this day the recollection +moves the apathetic spirit of the +Turks; and the monstrous burying-grounds +in the suburbs are witnesses +of the slaughter of the assailants. +Yet Rhodes was evacuated, and the +Order obliged to seek another settlement. +But the Montenegrini have never +been conquered. They have withstood +the whole power of the mightiest +sultans, in whose territories they have +been as an ever-present nest of hornets, +always ready to sally forth, losing no +opportunity of destruction. These +Osmanlis, who so lately were the +proudest of nations, have been themselves +baffled and defied by a handful +of Christians. Their enthusiasm, +their numbers, their artillery, their +commanding possession of the lake of +Scutari, all have failed to bring under +their power a handful of some hundred +and fifty thousand men. The cross, +once planted in this rugged soil, has +taken effectual root, and continues +still to flash confusion on the followers +of Islam. It is the symbol of our +faith that is carried before the mountaineers +when they go forth to battle; +and it still inspirits them, as it did +those legions of the faithful who first +learned to reverence its virtue.</p> + +<p>We must not carry things too far. +It would be absurd to claim for these +people the general merit of devotion; +to suppose that as a general rule they +are actuated by the love of religion. +Alas! they are undoubtedly very ignorant +of the religion for which they +fight. Yet, so far as knowledge serves +them, they are religious; where error +is the consequence of ignorance, we +may grieve, but should be slow to +condemn. Some are probably led to +heroism by liberal devotion to the +person of the Bishop; some because +they have been nursed in the idea that +Turks are their natural enemies, whom +to destroy is a work of merit. But, +nevertheless, they exhibit the spectacle +of a people who, proceeding on +a principle of religion, however that +principle be obscured, have instituted, +and long have maintained, a crusade +against the religious fanatics who +once made Europe tremble. Their +spirit at least contains the commendable +elements of constancy, simplicity, +and heroism.</p> + +<p>It was my fortune to pay a visit to +this extraordinary people under favourable +circumstances. Visits to +them are very rare. Sometimes a +stray soldier's yacht, from Corfu, +finds its way to Cattaro; but generally +only in its course up the Adriatic. +These military visitants are +commonly more intent on woodcocks +than the picturesque, and game does +not particularly enrich these regions. +For very many years there has been an +account of only one English visiting-party +besides ourselves. We were +led thither by the happy favour of +circumstance. Our party was numerous, +and certainly must have been +the most distinguished that the Vladika +has had the opportunity of entertaining. +It consisted of the captain +and several officers of an English +man-of-war, reinforced by the accession +of a couple of volunteers from the +officers of the Austrian garrison of +Cattaro.</p> + +<p>We were all glad to have the opportunity +of satisfying our eyes on the +subject of the marvellous tales whose +confused rumour had reached us. We +were not young travellers, and it was +not a little that would astonish us—but +we felt that if the reality in this +case were at all like the report, we +might all afford to be astonished. It +was a singular thing that so little +should be known about these people +almost in their neighbourhood—for +Corfu is not two hundred miles distant. +But perhaps the reason may +be, that they are not to be seen beyond +their own confined region, and are +easily confounded with the irregular +tribes of Albanians.</p> + +<p>The wonders of our visit opened +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[431]</a></span> +upon us before reaching the land of +romance—a wonder of beauty in the +nature of the entrance to Cattaro. +The Bocca di Cattaro is of the same +kind as, and not much inferior to, the +Bosphorus. The man who has seen +neither the one nor the other of these +fairy streams must be content to rest +without the idea. The nearest things +to them, probably, would be found in +the passages of the Eastern Archipelago. +The entrance from the sea is +by a narrow mouth, which seems to +be nothing but a small indentation of +the coast, till you are pretty well arrived +at the inner extremity. You +then pass into another canal, whose +tortuous course shuts out the sight of +the sea, and puts you in the most landlocked +position in which it is possible +to see a ship of war. High hills +rise on either side, beautifully planted, +and verdant to the waters edge. +Villages are not wanting to complete +the effect; and here and there single +houses peep out beautiful in isolation. +Another turn brings into view a point +of divergence in the stream, where, +on a little island, stands a simple devout-looking +chapel. It looks as +though intended to call forth the pious +gratitude of the returning sailor, and +help him to the expression of his +thanks. The whole length of the +channel is something more than twenty +miles—and all of the same beautiful +description—not seen at once, +but opening gradually as the successive +bends of the stream are passed. +The wind failed us, and for a considerable +distance we had to track ship, +which we were easily able to do, as +there is plenty of water close to the +very edge. At the bottom of all lies +Cattaro—occupying a narrow level, +with the sea before, and the frowning +mountains behind.</p> + +<p>Our arrival set the little place quite +in a commotion. Indeed, this was +but the second time that a ship of +war had carried our flag up these +waters—the other visitant was, I believe, +from the squadron of Sir W. +Hoste. The whole place turned out +to see us, and the harbour was covered +with boat-loads of the nobility and +gentry. They were like all Austrians +that I have met, exceedingly kind, +and well-disposed to the English name. +We soon made acquaintances, and +exchanged invitations. Their musical +souls were charmed with the performances +of our really fine band, and +we were equally charmed with their +pleasing hospitality. The couple of +days occupied in the interchange of +agreeable civilities were useful in the +promotion of our scheme. From our +friends we learned the prescriptions of +Montenegrino etiquette. An unannounced +visit, in general cases, is by +them regarded as neither friendly nor +courteous: an evidence of habitual +caution that we should expect among +a people against whom open violence +is ineffectual, and only treachery dangerous. +Our friends provided a messenger, +and we awaited his return +amidst the amenities of Cattaro. These +combined so much good taste with +good will, that it was difficult to credit +the stories of barbarism subsisting +within a short day's journey: stories +that here, in the immediate neighbourhood +of the scene of action, became +more vivid in character.</p> + +<p>The appearance of the country was +in keeping with tales of romance. +Almost immediately behind the town +rises the mountain district, very +abruptly, and affording at first view +an appearance of inaccessibility. It +is not till the eye has become somewhat +habituated to the search that +one perceives a means of ascent. A +narrow road of marvellous construction +has been cut up the almost perpendicular +mountain. But the word <i>road</i> +would give a wrong idea of its nature. +It is rather a giant staircase, and like +a staircase it appears from the anchorage. +The lines are so many, and contain +such small angles, that when +considered with the height of the work, +they may aptly be compared to the +steps of a ladder. It is of recent construction, +and how the people used to +manage before this means of communication +existed, it is difficult to say. +Probably this difficulty of intercourse +has mainly tended to the preservation +of barbarism. Now, the route +is open to horses, sure-footed and +carefully ridden. The highlanders +occasionally resort to the town for +traffic in the coarse commodities of +their manufacture. On these occasions +they have to leave their arms in +a guard-house without the gates, as +indeed have all people entering the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[432]</a></span> +town; and a pretty collection is to be +seen in these depots, of the murderous +long guns of which the Albanians +make such good use.</p> + +<p>It was on the evening of the second +day that we first saw an accredited +representative of the tribe. A party +of us had strolled out towards the foot +of the mountain, and in the repose of +its shadows were speculating on the +probable adventures of the morrow. +A convenient bridge over a mountain +stream afforded a seat, whence we +looked wistfully up to the heights. +The contrast between the neatness of +the suburb, the hum of the town, the +noisy activity of the peasantry, and +the black desolation of the mountain, +engaged our admiration. This desolation +was presently relieved by the +emerging into view of a descending +group. One figure was on horseback, +with several footmen attending his +steps. The dress of the cavalier would +have served to distinguish him as of +consequence, without the distinction +of position. His dress affected a style +of barbaric magnificence that disdained +the notion of regularity. The original +idea perhaps was Hungarian, to +which was added, according to the +fancy of the wearer, whatever went to +make up the magnificent. His appearance +was very much, but not exactly, +that of a Turk—not the modernised +Turk in frock-coat and trousers, but +him of the old school, who despises, or +only partially adopts, sumptuary reform. +This splendid individual was attended +by several "gillies," who were +genuine specimens of the tribe. They +are almost, without exception, (an observation +of after experience,) of enormous +stature, swarthy, and thin. +Their dark locks give an air of wildness +to their face. Their long limbs +afford token of the personal activity +induced and rendered necessary by +the circumstances of their life. Their +garments are scanty, and such as very +slightly impede motion. The whole +party were abundantly armed, and a +brave man might confess them to be +formidable. We naturally stared at +these gentry, who, at length on level +ground, approached rapidly. It is not +every thing uncommon that deserves +a stare, and we were accustomed to +strangeness. But we had not met +any thing so striking as the wild figures +of these barbarians, thrown into relief +by the appropriate background of the +mountain. The horseman reciprocated +our stare, as was fit, on the +unusual meeting with the British uniform. +Presently he pulled up his +animal, and, dismounting, invited our +approach. The recognition was soon +complete. He introduced himself as +the aide-de-camp of his highness the +Vladika of the Montenegrini, who received +with pleasure our communication, +and invited our visit. The party +had been sent down as guides and +honourable escort into his territory; +and a led horse that they brought for +the special convenience of the captain, +completed the assurance of the gracious +hospitality of the prince. Now +this was a very propitious beginning +of the enterprise. We had hit upon a +time when a short truce allowed him +to do the honours of his establishment. +One might go, perhaps, fifty +times that way without a similar advantage. +You would hear, probably, +that he was out fighting on one of the +frontiers, or laying an ambuscade, or +perhaps that he had been shot the day +before. The least likely thing of all for +you to hear would be, as we did, that +he was at home, would be happy +to see you, and begged the pleasure +of your company to dinner. We became +at once great friends with our +new acquaintance, and carried him off +to dine on board. He proved not to +be one of the indigenous, a fact we +might have inferred from his comparatively +diminutive stature and fair +complexion. He was a Hungarian +who had taken service under the Vladika. +As it is not probable that this +paper will ever find its way into those +remote fastnesses, it may be permitted +to say, that he exhibited in his person +one of the evils inseparable from +the independent sovereign existence +of uncivilised borderers on civilisation. +In such a position they afford an ever-present +refuge to civilised malefactors. +Any person of Cattaro who offends +against the laws of Austria, has before +him a secure refuge, if he can +manage to obtain half-an-hour's start +of the police. The <i>pes claudus</i> of human +retribution must halt at the foot +of the mountain, whence the fugitive +may insult justice.</p> + +<p>Of this evil we saw further instances<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[433]</a></span> +besides that presented in the +person of our visitor. By his own +account, he was a sort of Captain +Dalgetty, who had seen service as +a mercenary under many masters, +and had finally come to dedicate +his sword to the interests of the Vladika. +The account of some of the +Austrian officers deprived him of even +the little respectability attached to +such a character as this. The gallantry +of martial excellence was in +him tarnished by the imputation of +tampering with the military chest; +so that it was either indignant virtue, +(for which they did not give him +credit,) or conscious guilt, that had +driven him to devote his laurels to the +cause of an obscure tribe. Such moral +blemishes are not likely to cloud the +reception of a fugitive to this court: +first, because rumour would hardly +travel so far; and next, because the +arts of civilisation, and especially military +excellence, are such valuable accessions +to the weal of Montenegro, +that their presence almost precludes +the consideration of qualifying defects. +Our Hungarian acquaintance was, +however, notwithstanding his supposed +delinquencies, and barbarous residence, +a polite and courteous person. +We learned from him much concerning +the people we were about to visit. +It was a sad picture of violence that +he drew. Blood and rapine were the +prominent features. War was not an +accidental evil—a sharp remedy for +violent disorder—but a habitual state. +The end and object of their institutions +was the destruction of the Turks; +scarcely coloured in his narrative with +the palliation of religious zeal. Indeed, +it required every allowance for +circumstances to avoid the idea of +downright brigandage. But great, certainly, +are the allowances to be made. +We must consider the many years +during which the little band has been +exposed to the wrath of the Turks, +when that wrath was more efficient +than it is at present. Their present +bitterness of feeling must be ascribed +to long years of struggle, to many +seasons of cruelty, and to the constant +stream of desperate enthusiasm. Their +war has become necessarily one of extinction; +and probably there are few +or none of the people to whom a +slaughtered father or brother has not +bequeathed a debt of revenge. These +personal feelings are aggravated by +the sense that they exist in the midst +of a people who want but the opportunity +to extinguish their name and +their religion; and this feeling is +maintained by bloody feats on every +available occasion.</p> + +<p>The conversation of our informant +was all in illustration of this state of +things. Such a horse he rode when +going to battle—such a sabre he wore, +and such pistols. The Vladika took +such a post, and executed such or such +manœuvres. At last we ventured to +enquire—"But is this sort of thing +always going on? have you never +peace by any accident?" "Oh yes!" +replied he, "we have peace sometimes—<i>for +two or three days</i>." He varied +his narrative with occasional accounts +of service he had seen in Spain; showing +us that he, at any rate, was not +scrupulous in what cause he shed +blood, provided it was for a "consideration."</p> + +<p>But we were now approaching the +moment when our own eyes were to be +our informants. The evening was given +to an entertainment by the Austrian +officers, of whom two, as already +mentioned, volunteered to join our +expedition, and the next morning +assigned to the start. The sun +beamed cheerfully after several days' +rain. In this spot, shut in on all sides, +except seawards, by highlands, the +rains are very frequent. It cleared +up during our visit, but, with the exception +of two days, rained pretty +constantly during the week of our +stay at Cattaro. On the morning +of our start, however, all was bright, +and any defence against the rain was +voted superfluous. Our trysting-place +was on board, and true to their time +our friends appeared. They amused +us much by their astonishment at the +preparation we were making for the +expedition, of which a prominent particular +was the laying in of a good store +of provant, as a contingent security +against deficiencies by the road. Our +breakfast was proceeding in the usual +heavy style of nautical housekeeping, +when the scene was revealed to our +allies. These gentlemen, who are in +the habit of considering a pipe and a +cup of coffee as a very satisfactory +morning meal, could not restrain their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[434]</a></span> +exclamations at the sight of the beef +and mutton with which we were engaged. +The A. D. C. was anxious to +explain that it was no region of famine +into which we were going. We +were to dine with the Vladika, and, +moreover, care had been taken to provide +a repast at a station midway on +the journey. "En route, en route," +cried the impatient warrior, "we +shall breakfast at twelve o'clock; +what's the use of all this set-out now?" +But whatever form of argument it +might require to cry back his warlike +self and myrmidons from the Albanian +cohorts, it proved no less difficult +a task to check us in this our +onslaught. We assured him with our +mouths full, that we considered a +meal at mid-day to be lunch; and +that this our breakfast was without +prejudice to the honour we should do +to his hospitable provision by the +way. The Austrians relented under +the force of our arguments and example, +and, turning to, ate like men; +while the inexorable A. D. C. gazed +impatiently, almost pityingly, on the +scene, as though in scorn, that men +wearing arms should so delight to use +knives and forks. But at last we +were mounted, and started with the +rabble of the town at our heels, and +a wilder rabble performing the part +of military escort. There is no such +thing as riding in Cattaro, because +the town is paved with stones smooth +as glass, on which it requires care +even to walk. This is so very singular +a feature of this town that it +deserves remark. The horses have +to be taken without the town, and +must, in their course thither, either +avoid the streets altogether, or be +carefully led. On leaving the town +the ascent begins almost immediately, +and most abruptly. The very singular +road, which has been cut with +immense labour, is the work of the +present Emperor. There was no other +spot which we could perceive to afford +the possibility of ascent, without the +use of hands as well as legs, and by +the road it was no easy matter. At +the commencement almost of the ascent, +and just outside the town, we +passed the last stronghold of Austria +in this direction. It is a fort in a +commanding position, but dismantled, +and allowed to fall into decay. This +is the last building of any pretension, +or of brick, that you see till well into +the Montenegrini territory. We could +not ascertain the exact line of demarcation +between the dominions of the +Emperor of Austria and him of the +mountains; but probably the stoppage +of the road may serve to mark +the point. The barbarians would +neither be able to execute, nor likely +to desire, such a highway into their +region, whose safety consists in its +inaccessibility. It is no other than +a difficult ascent, even so far as the +road extends, which, though of considerable +length on account of its +winding course, reaches no further +than up the face of the first hill.</p> + +<p>It was when abreast of this ruined +fort that our guides took a formal +farewell of the city. A general discharge +of musketry expressed their +salutation; which, in this favourite +haunt of echo, made a formidable +din. They do this not only in compliment +to those they leave, but as +a customary and necessary precaution +to those they approach. We soon +turned a point which shut out the +valley, and were in the wilderness +with our wild scouts. Encumbered +with their long and heavy guns, they +easily kept pace with the horses, as +well on occasional levels as during +the ascent. We were much struck +with their vigorous activity, which +seemed to surpass that of the animals; +and subsequently had occasion +to observe that even children are +capable of supporting the toil of this +difficult and rapid march. The two +foreigners in nation, but brothers in +adventure, whom we had adopted +into our fellowship, proved to be +agreeable companions. One was an +Italian, volatile and frivolous; the +other a grave German, clever and +solidly informed; he had been a professor +in one of their military colleges. +The Italian was up to all sorts of fun, +and ready to joke at the expense of +us all. His companion afforded some +mirth by his disastrous experience on +horseback. The continual ascent +which we had to pursue during the +early stages of our journey, had aided +the motion of his horse's shoulder in +rejecting to the stern-quarters his +saddle, till at length the poor man +was almost holding on by the tail.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[435]</a></span> +The figure that he cut in this position, +dressed in full military costume, +(your Austrian travels in panoply,) +was finely ridiculous, and was enjoyed +by the assistants, civilised and +barbarous.</p> + +<p>The country over which we were +passing was of an extraordinary character, +when considered as the nurse +of some hundred and fifty thousand +sons. It well deserves the name of +bleak; for any thing more <i>stepmother-like</i>, +in the list of inhabited countries, +it would be difficult to find. In the +earlier stages, we were content to +think that we were but at the beginning, +and should come down to the +cultivated region. That cultivation +there must be here, we knew; because +the people have to depend on +themselves for supplies, and have very +little money for extra provision. But +we passed on, and still saw nothing +but rugged and barren rocks—a country +from which the very goats might +turn in disgust. We presently observed +certain appearances, which, +but for the general utter want of +verdure, we should scarcely have +noticed. Here and there, the disposition +of the rocks leaves at corners +of the road, or perhaps on shelves +above its level, irregular patches of +more generous soil, but scantily disposed, +and of difficult access. These +are improved by indefatigable industry +into corn-plots. When we consider +with how much trouble the soil +must be conveyed to these places, the +seed bestowed, and the crop gathered, +we feel that land must be +indeed scanty with these barbarians, +who can take so much trouble for the +improvement of so little. It may be +supposed that their resources are not +entirely in lands of this description. +But, excepting one plain, we did not +pass, in our day's journey, what +might fairly be called arable land, +till we arrived at Zettinié, the capital. +Like many uncivilised tribes, +they behave with much ungentleness +to their women. They are not worse +in this respect than the Albanians, +or perhaps than the Greeks in the +remote parts of Peloponnesus; but +still they appear to lay an undue +burden on the fair sex. Much of the +out-door and agricultural work seems +to be done by the women; perhaps +all may be—since the constant occupations +of war, which demand the attention +of their husbands, induce a +contempt for domestic labour. I +would hope, for the honour of the +Montenegrini, that the labours of their +weaker assistants are confined to the +plain; the detached and rocky plots +must demand patience from even robust +men. The women—I speak by +a short anticipation—are a patient, +strong, and laborious race. As a +consequence, they are hard-featured, +and harsh in bony developments. +Like the men, they are tall and active, +though perhaps ungainly in gesture. +Unlike the men, they have +sacrificed the useful to the ornamental +in their dress. Of this a grand feature +is a belt, composed of many folds +of leather, and, of course, quite inflexible. +This awkward trapping is perhaps +a foot broad. This ornament +must, in spite of custom, be very inconvenient +to the wearer, as well by +its weight as by its inflexibility. It +is, however, thickly embellished with +bright-coloured stones, rudely set in +brass; thus we find the Montenegrini +women obeying the same instinct that +leads the dames of civilisation to +suffer that they may shine. This +belt is the obvious distinction in dress +between the two sexes; and when it +is hidden by the long rug, or scarf, +which is common to both men and +women, there remains between them +no striking difference of costume. +This rug is to the Montenegrino what +the capote is to the Greek and Albanian, +his companion in all weathers—his +shelter against the storm, and +his bed at night. The manufactures +here are of course rude; and, in this +instance, their ingenuity has not ascended +to the device of sleeves. The +article is <i>bona fide</i> a rug, much like +one of our horse-rugs, but very long +and very comfortable, enveloping, on +occasion, nearly the whole person. +It is ornamented by a long and +knotted fringe, and depends from the +shoulders of the natives not without +graceful effect. This light habiliment +constitutes the mountaineers' +house and home, rendering him careless +of weather by day, and independent +of shelter by night. Be it observed +as a note of personal experience, +that as a defence against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[436]</a></span> +weather, this scarf is really excellent, +and will resist rain to an indefinite +extent.</p> + +<p>As we proceeded on our road, we +learned fully to comprehend the secret +of their long independence. The +country is of such a nature that it +may be pronounced positively impregnable. +Our thoughts fell back to the +recollection of Affghanistan, and we +felt that we had an illustration of the +difficulties of that warfare. The passage +is throughout a continual defile. +The road, after the first hour or so, +relents somewhat of its abruptness. +But it pursues a course shut in +on both sides by rocks, that assert +the power of annihilating passengers. +The rocks are inaccessible except to +those familiar with the passages, +perhaps except to the aborigines, who +combine the knowledge with the necessary +activity. Behind these barriers, +the natives in security might +sweep the defile, from the numerous +gulleys that branch from it in all directions. +It is difficult to imagine +what conduct and valour could do +against a deadly and unseen enemy. +It is not only here and there that the +road assumes this dangerous character; +it is such throughout, with +scarcely the occasional exception of +some hundred yards, till it opens +into the valley of Zettinié. One +of our Austrian friends was of opinion +that their regiment of Tyrolean +chasseurs would be able to overrun +and subdue the territory. If +such an achievement be possible, +those, of course, would be the men for +the work. But it would be an unequal +struggle that mere activity +would have to maintain against activity +and local knowledge. During +our course, we kept close order; two +of us did attempt an episode, but +were soon warned of the expediency +of keeping with the rest. A couple +of minutes put us out of sight of our +friends, which we did not regain till after +some little suspense. Fogs here seem +ever ready to descend; and one which +at precisely the most awkward moment +enveloped us, obscured all around beyond +the range of a few feet. For our +comfort, we knew that the people would +be expecting visitors to their prince, +and thus be less suspicious of strangers, +if haply they should fall in with us.</p> + +<p>Some three hours after our start, +we perceived symptoms of excitement +amongst the foremost of our +band, and hastened to the eminence +from which they were gesticulating. +At our feet was disclosed a plain, not +level nor extensive, but a plain by +comparison. It bore rude signs of +habitation, the first we had met. There +was a single log-hut, much of the +same kind as the inland Turkish +guard-houses, only without the luxury +of a divan. Around this were several +people eagerly looking out for our approach. +They had good notice of our +coming; for as we rose into sight, our +party gave a salute of small arms. +This was returned by their brethren +below, and the whole community (not +an alarming number) hastened to tender +us the offices of hospitality. Our +horses were quickly cared for, seats +of one kind or other were provided, +and we sat down beneath the shade +of the open forest, to partake of their +bounty.</p> + +<p>The valley was a shade less wild +than the country we had passed, but +still a melancholy place for human +abode. It must be regarded as merely +a sort of outpost—not professing the +extent of civilisation attained by the +capital; but, with every allowance, it +was a sorry place. It did certainly +afford some verdure; but probably +they do not consider the situation +sufficiently central for secure pasturage. +That their sheep are excellent +we can bear witness, for the repast +provided consisted in that grand +Albanian dish—the sheep roasted +whole. Surely there can be nothing +superior to this dish in civilised cookery. +Common fragmentary presentations +of the same animal are scarcely +to be considered of the same kin—so +different are the juices, the flavour, +and generally, thanks to their skill, +the degree of tenderness. It happens +conveniently, that the proper mode of +treating this dish is without knives, +forks, or plates. It was therefore of +little moment that our retreat afforded +not these luxuries; we were strictly +observant of propriety, when with +our fingers we rent asunder the +morsels, and devoured. The wine +that assisted on this occasion was +quite comparable to the ordinary +country wines to be met, though it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[437]</a></span> +must be far from abundant. We saw +here some of the children. Poor +things, theirs is a strange childhood! +Edged tools are familiar to +their cradles. Sharp anguish, sudden +changes, violent alarms, compose the +discipline of their infancy. I saw one +of them hurt by one of the horses +having trodden on his foot, and, as he +was without shoes, he must have suffered +cruelly. A woman was comforting, +and doubtless tenderly sympathised +with him; but the expression +of feeling was suppressed—she spoke +as by stealth, without looking at him, +and he listened in the same mood, +withholding even looks of gratitude, +as he did cries of pain. He was +young enough, had he been a Frank, +to have cried without disgrace, but +his lesson was learnt. Suffering, he +knew, was a thing too common to +warrant particular complaint, or to +require particular compassion. Expressed +lamentation is the privilege of +those who are accustomed to condolence. +The husband, the son, the +friend, bewail themselves—the lonely +slave suffers in silence. Tears, even +the bitterest of them, have their source +in the spring of joy; when this spring +is dried up, when all is joyless, man +ceases to weep.</p> + +<p>While we partook of this entertainment, +the natives were preparing a +grand demonstration in honour of our +arrival. They had made noise enough, +in all conscience, with their muskets, +but small arms would not satisfy +them, now that we were on their territory. +They were preparing a salute +from great guns—and such guns! +They were made of wood, closely +hooped together. Of these they had +four, well crammed with combustibles. +We had not the least idea that they +would go off without being burst into +fragments, and would have given +something to dissuade our zealous +friends from the experiment. But it +was in vain that we hinted our fears—gently, +of course, in deference to their +self-esteem. A bold individual kept +coaxing the touch-hole with a bit of +burning charcoal—so long without +effect that we began to hope the thing +would prove a failure. Most people +will acknowledge it to be a nervous +thing to stand by, expecting an explosion +that threatens, but will not come +off. If it be so with a sound gun, what +must it have been with such artillery +as was here? Nothing less than serious +injury to the life or limbs of the +operator seemed to impend. To mend +matters, our Italian friend, smitten +with sudden zeal, usurped the office +of bombardier; and it is perhaps well +that he did for he had the common +sense to keep as much out of the way +as he could, under the circumstances. +He kept well on one side, and made +a very long arm, then dropped the +fiery particle right into the touch-hole, +and off went the concern, kicking +right over, but neither bursting nor +wounding our friend. It required +minute inspection to satisfy ourselves +that the guns had survived the effort, +and their construction partly explained +the wonder—the vents are nearly as +wide-mouthed as the muzzles.</p> + +<p>The interest of our day increased +rapidly during the latter part of our +journey. We were fairly enclosed in +the country, drawing near the capital, +and felt that every step was +bringing us nearer the redoubted presence +of the Vladika. The A. D. C. +was curiously questioned touching the +ceremonies of our reception, and uttered +many speculations as to the +mode in which the great man would +present himself to us—whether <i>with +his tail on</i>, or more unceremoniously. +All that we heard, raised increased +curiosity about the person of this martial +bishop—one so very boldly distinguished +from his fraternity. The +Greek bishops are so singularly reverend +in appearance, with flowing +black robes, and venerable beards, +supporting their grave progress with +a staff, and seldom unattended by +two or three deacons, that it became +difficult to imagine one of their body +charging at the head of warriors, or +adorned with the profane trappings +of a soldier. We kept a bright look-out +as we rode on, our cavalcade being +now attended by a fresh levy +from our last halting-place. The +country through which we passed was +of somewhat mitigated severity, but +still bare, and occasionally dangerous. +There was a hamlet, in our course, of +pretension superior to the first, as behoved—seeing +that it was much nearer +the metropolis, and security. Here +was a picturesque church, a well, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[438]</a></span> +a wide-spreading tree—the last a +notable object in this district, where +even brushwood becomes respectable.</p> + +<p>The road at length became decidedly +and sustainedly better. The rocks +began to assume positions in the distance, +and trotting became possible. +We learned that we were drawing +near the end of our journey, and our +anxious glances ahead followed the +direction of the A. D. C. At last the +cry arose—"Vladika is coming," and +in high excitement we pressed forward +to the meeting. A body of horsemen +were approaching at a rapid pace, +and in a cloud of dust; and no sooner +were we distinctly in sight than they +set spurs to their horses, and quickly +galloped near enough to be individually +scanned. We could do no less +than manifest an equal impatience +for the meeting. This, to some of us, +poor riders at the best, which sailors +are privileged to be, and just at that +time rather the worse for wear, was +no light undertaking. In some of our +cases it is to be feared that the mists +of personal apprehension dimmed this +our first view of the Vladika. The +confusion incidental to the meeting +of two such bodies of horse, was +aggravated by the zeal of the wretched +barbarians, who poured forth volley +after volley of musketry. They spurred +and kicked their horses, which, seeing +that they had probably all at one +time or an other been stolen from tip-top +Turks, like noble brutes as they were, +showed pluck, and kicked in return. +Happily our animals were peaceful—more +frightened by the noise than excited +by the race, and much tired with +their morning's work. Had they behaved +as did those of our new friends, the +narrator of this account would hardly +have been in a condition to say much +of the country, for he would probably +have been run away with right +through Montenegro, and have +pulled up somewhere about Herzogovinia.</p> + +<p>The confusion had not prevented +our being struck with the one figure +in the group, that we knew must be +the Vladika. He was distinguished +by position and by dress, but more +decidedly by nature. His gigantic +proportions would have humbled the +largest horse-guard in our three regiments; +and when he dismounted we +agreed that he must be upwards of +seven feet in stockings. This was +our judgment, subsequently and deliberately. +Captain —— was of +stature exceeding six feet, and standing +close alongside of Monseigneur +reached about up to his shoulders. +His frame seems enormously strong +and well proportioned, except that +his hand is perhaps too small for the +laws of a just symmetry. This, by +the by, we afterwards perceived to +be a cherished vanity with the +Vladika, who constantly wears gloves, +even in the house. His appearance +bore not the least trace of the clerical; +his very moustache had a military, +instead of an ecclesiastical air; and +though he wore something of a beard, +it was entirely cheated of episcopal +honours. It was merely an exaggeration +of the imperial. His garments +were splendid, and of the world, partly +Turkish, and partly <i>ad libitum</i>. +The ordinary fez adorned his head, +and his trousers were Turkish. The +other particulars were very splendid, +but I suppose hardly to be classed +among the recognised fashions of any +country. One might imagine that a +huge person, and enormous strength, +when fortified with supreme power +among a wild tribe, would produce +savageness of manner. But the +Vladika is decidedly one of nature's +gentlemen. His manners are such as +men generally acquire only by long +custom of the best society. His voice +had the blandest tones, and the reception +that he gave us might have +beseemed the most graceful of princes. +He was attended more immediately +by a youth some eighteen years of +age, his destined successor, and by +another whom we learned to be his +cousin. The rest of the group were +well dressed and armed, and, indeed, +a respectable troop. The Vladika +himself bore no arms.</p> + +<p>We did not waste much time in ceremony, +though during the short interval +of colloquy we must have afforded a +fine subject had an artist been leisurely +observant. All dismounted and +formed about the two chiefs of our +respective parties, and made mutual +recognisances. The confusion was considerable, +and the continual noise of +guns gave our poor beasts, who were +not proof to fire, no quiet. The men,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[439]</a></span> +who were now about us in numbers +sufficient to afford a fair sample of the +stock, were most of them, at a guess, +upwards of six feet high—some considerably +so; and a wild set they seemed, +though they looked kindly upon us. +We were formally presented by our +captain to the prince, and received the +welcome of his smiles. His polite +attention had provided a fresh and +fiery charger for our chief, and the +two headed the cavalcade, which in +order dashed forward to the royal +city. It was a grand progress that +we made through a line of the people, +who turned out to watch and honour +our entry. The discharge of muskets +was sustained almost uninterruptedly +throughout the line. It was not long +before the city of Zettinié opened to +our view, situated in an extensive +valley, quite amphitheatrical in character. +As we turned the corner of +the defile leading into the valley, a +salute was opened from a tower near +the palace, which mounts some respectable +guns. We rode at a great +pace into the town, and dashed into +the inclosure that surrounds the palace, +amidst a grand flourish of three +or four trumpets reserved for the +climax.</p> + +<p>To a bad rider like myself it was +the occupation of the first few minutes +to assure myself that I had passed +unscathed through such a scene of +kicking and plunging; one's first sensation +was that of security in treading +once more the solid earth. When I +looked up I saw the Vladika in +separate conference with the A. D. C., +and then he passed into the building. +His hospitable will was signified to +us by this functionary. The captain +was invited to sojourn in the palace; +we, whose rank did not qualify for +such a distinction, were to be bestowed +in two locandas; and all were +bidden to dinner in the evening. +Meanwhile the localities were open +to our investigation.</p> + +<p>One of the first curiosities was the +locanda itself; curious as existing in +such a place, and expected by us to be +something quite out of the general way +of such establishments. We proceeded +to inspect our quarters, and to +our astonishment found two houses +of a most satisfactory kind. The +rooms were neat, and perfectly clean, +far superior in this respect to many +inns of much higher pretensions. An +honourable particular (almost exception) +in their favour, is, that the +beds contain no vermin. This virtue +will be appreciated by any one +who has travelled in Greece. The +hostesses were not of the aborigines, +they were importations from +Cattaro. One was a widow, tearful +under the recent stroke; the other +was a talkative woman, delighted +with the visit of civilised strangers. +The fare to be obtained at these +places is exceedingly good, and the +solids are relieved by champagne, +no less—and excellent champagne +too. We were much surprised at +the discovery of these places, so distinct +from the popular rudeness, and +puzzled to conceive who were the +guests to support the establishments. +Besides these two we did not observe +any cafés or wine-shops, so probably +they flourish the rather that their custom, +such as it is, is subject but to one +division. The good-will of the landladies +was not the least admirable +part of their economy. Though our +numbers might have alarmed them, +they with the best grace made up beds +for us on the floor, and supplied us with +such helps to the toilette as occurred.</p> + +<p>We soon were scattered over the +place, each to collect some contribution +to the general fund of observation. +But one object, conspicuous, and portentous +of horrid barbarism, attracted +us all at first. It was the round +white tower from which the salute +had been fired at our entrance. A +solitary hillock rises in the plain, on +the top of which, clearly defined, +stands this tower. We had heard +something of a custom among the +Montenegrini of cutting off, and exposing +the heads of vanquished enemies; +but the story was one of so +many coloured with blood, that it +made no distinct impression. As we +had ridden into the plain, this tower +had attracted our observation, and we +had perceived its walls to be garnished +with some things that, in the distance, +looked like large drum-sticks—that +is to say, we saw poles each +with some thing round at its end. +These things we were told were +human heads, and our eyes were +now to behold the fact. And we did,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[440]</a></span> +indeed, look upon this spectacle, such +as Europe, except in these wilds, +would abhor. There were heads of +all ages, and of all dates, and of many +expressions; but from all streamed +the single lock that marks the follower +of Mahomet. Some were entire +in feature, and looked even +placid—others were advanced in +decomposition. Of some only fragments +remained, the exterior bones +having fallen away, and left only a +few teeth grinning through impaled +jaws. The ground beneath was strewed +with fragments of humanity, and the +air was tainted with the breath of decomposition. +It was truly a savage +sight, unworthy of Christians; and, +doubtless, such an exhibition tends to +maintain the thirst of blood in which +it originated. This hillock is a good +point of view for the survey of the +place. It looks immediately upon the +palace, and over it upon the town. +Near it stand the church and monastery; +and that monastery affords the +only specimen of a priest in priest's +garments that I saw here. The palace +is really a commodious, well-built +house, of considerable extent. +Its site occupies three sides of a parallelogram, +and it is completely enclosed +by a wall, furnished at the four +angles of its square with towers. The +part of this inclosure that is towards +the front of the palace is kept clear, +as a sort of parade. In its centre are +some dismounted guns of small calibre. +On the opposite side of the +building are the royal kitchen gardens; +neither large nor well-looking. +The interior of the building is superior +to its outside pretence. The rooms +into which we were more immediately +introduced, may be supposed to be +kept as show-rooms. At any rate +they were worthy of such appliance—lofty, +well built, and highly picturesque +in their appointments. But I +went also into some of the more remote +parts of the building, the room, +for instance, of the A. D. C., and that +was equally unexceptionable. It is +to be presumed that they gave our +captain one of their best bedrooms—and +it might have been a best bedroom +in London or Paris. Indeed, in +so civilized fashion was the place furnished, +that it heightened, by contrast, +the horrors of the scene outside. Barren +rocks, savage caverns, naked barbarian, +should have been associated +with the spectacle on the white tower. +It was caricaturing refinement to +practise it in such a neighbourhood; +the transition was too abrupt from +the urbanities within to the bloody +spectacle that met you if you put your +head out of the window.</p> + +<p>The City of Zettinié—it has a double +title to the name, from its bishop and +its prince—consists of little more than +two rows of houses, not disposed in a +street, but angularly. Besides these +there are a few scattered buildings. +The palace, the monastery, and church, +are at the upper end of the plain. +The valley is level to a considerable +extent, and not without cultivation. +It has no artificial fortification, being +abundantly protected by nature. The +hills that shut in the valley terminate +somewhat abruptly, and impart an +air of seclusion. The houses are far +more comfortable than might be expected. +The occupations of the people, +so nearly entirely warlike, are not +among the higher branches of domestic +economy. What industry they +exhibit at home is only by favour of +occasional leisure, and at intervals. +Yet they are not without their manufactures, +rude though they be. Specimens +were exhibited to us of their +doings in the way of coarse cloth. +They manufacture the cloth of which +their large scarfs or rugs are made, +and fashion the same stuff into large +bags for provisions; a useful article +to those who are so constantly on the +march. We also procured one of the +large girdles worn by their women, +to astonish therewith the eyes of +ladies, as, indeed, they might well +astonish any body. They brought to +us, also, some of the elaborately +wrought pipe-bowls peculiar to them. +They are ornamented with fine studs +of brass, in a manner really ingenious; +and so highly esteemed that a single +bowl costs more than a couple of beautiful +Turkish sticks elsewhere. These +articles are the sum of our experience +in their manufactures.</p> + +<p>The monastery and church are of +considerable antiquity, and contrast +pleasingly with the general fierceness. +It cannot be said that the +priests generally exhibit much of +the reverential in their appearance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[441]</a></span> +They follow the example of their warlike +chief, being mostly clad in gay colours, +and armed to the teeth. But in +the monastery we found one reverend +in aspect. He kindly exhibited to us +the treasures of the sanctuary. They +may claim at least one mark of primitive +institution, which is poverty. +Their shrine displays no show of silver +and gold, yet it is not without valued +treasure. A precious relic exists in +the defunct body of the late Vladika, +to which they seem to attach the full +measure of credence prescribed in such +cases. He is exhibited in his robes, +and preserves a marvellously lifelike +appearance. According to their account, +he has conferred signal benefit +on them since his departure, and well +merited his canonisation. His claims +ought to be unusual, since, in his instance, +the salutary rule which requires +the lapse of a considerable interval +between death and canonisation, that +the frailties of the man may be forgotten +in the memory of the saint, +has been superseded. The part of the +monastery which we inspected, little +more than the gallery however, was +kept quite clean—an obvious departure +from the mode of Oriental monasteries +generally, than which few things +can be more piggish.</p> + +<p>The Vladika pays great attention to +education, both for his people and himself. +It is much to his praise that he has +acquired the ready use of the French +language, which he speaks fluently and +well. He entertains masters in different +subjects, with whom he daily +studies. His tutor in Italian is a runaway +Austrian, whose previous bad +character does not prevent his honourable +entertainment. For his people +he has a school well attended, and +taught by an intelligent master. It +was not easy to proceed to actual +examination when we had no common +language; but it was pleasing to find +here a school, and apparent studiousness. +They not only read books, but +print them; and a specimen of their +typography was among the memorials +of our visit that we carried away with +us; unhappily we could not guess at +its subject. The Vladika is a great +reader, though his books must be procured +with difficulty. He reads, too, +the ubiquitous <i>Galignani</i>, and thus +keeps himself <i>au fait</i> to the doings of +the world. We were astonished at +the extent and particularity of his +information, when dinner afforded +opportunity for small talk. This was +the grand occasion to which we looked +forward as opportune to personal conclusions; +his conversation and his +<i>cuisine</i> would both afford <i>indicia</i> of +his social grade.</p> + +<p>But when this time arrived, it found +us under considerable self-reproach. +We had found our host to be a much +more polished person than we had +expected. In this calculation we had +perhaps, only vindicated our John Bullism, +which assigns to semi-barbarism +all the world beyond the sound of Bow +Bells, and of which feeling, be it observed, +the exhibition so often renders +John Bull ridiculous. The Austrian +officers had come in proper uniform; +the English had brought with them +only undress coats, without epaulettes +or swords, thinking such measure of +ceremony would be quite satisfactory. +We now found that the intelligence +of the Vladika, and the usage of his +reception, demanded a more observant +respect. But this same intelligence +accepted, and even suggested, our +excuses, and, in spite of deficiencies we +were welcomed with gracious smiles. +The strange mixture of the respectable +with the disrespectable, was, however, +maintained in our eyes to the last. +The messenger sent to summon us to +the banquet could hardly be esteemed +worthy of so honourable an office. +"See that man," said the grave Austrian +to me, "he is a scamp of the +first water—a deserter from my regiment, +a man of education, and an +officer reduced for misconduct to the +ranks—one who, for numerous acts of +misbehaviour and dishonesty, was repeatedly +punished. He at last deserted, +fled over the border, and now beards +me to my face." He nevertheless +proved a good herald, and led us to an +excellent and most welcome dinner.</p> + +<p>The table was perfectly well spread, +somewhat in the modern style, which +eschews the exhibition of dishes, and +presents fruits and flowers. Some +lighter provision was there, in the +shape of plates of sliced sausages and +so forth, but the dishes of resistance +were in reserve. There was an unexceptionable +array of plate, and +crockery, and <i>neatness</i>. The dining-room<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[442]</a></span> +was worthy of the occasion. It +is a large and lofty apartment, containing +little more furniture than a +few convenient couches and chairs. +The walls are profusely ornamented +with arms of various kinds, hung +round tastefully, so that it has the +air of a tent or guard-room. There +is a small apartment leading into it, +which contains a really valuable and +curious collection of arms, trophies of +victory, and associated with strange +legends. It contains many guns, with +beautifully inlaid stocks, and several +rare and valuable swords of the most +costly kind, such as you might seek +in vain in the Bezenstein of Constantinople. +Among others was one assumed +to be the sword of Scanderbeg: +strange if the sword, once so fatal to +the Turks in political rebellion, should +be pursuing its work no less truculently +now in religious strife! Our +host was seated, waiting our arrival, +having adapted his dress to the civilities +of life, by rejecting his hussar +pelisse, and assuming another vest: +he still retained his kid gloves. The +waiters were a most formidable group, +and such as could hardly have been +expected to condescend to a servile +office. They were chosen from among +his body guard, and were conspicuous +for their stature. They wore, even in +this hour of security and presumed +relaxation, their weighty cuirasses, +formed of steel plates that shone brilliantly. +Their presence must secure +the Vladika against the treachery to +which the banquets of the great have +been sometimes exposed.</p> + +<p>One little trait of the ecclesiastic +peeped out in the disposition of the +table, which showed that our host +had not quite lost the <i>esprit du corps</i>: +a clergyman who was of our party, +and who had been introduced as a +churchman, was placed in the second +place of honour after our captain. +The party generally arranged themselves +at will, and throughout the +affair, though there was all due observance, +we were not oppressed with +ceremony. The dinner went off like +most dinners, and our host did the +honours with unexceptionable grace. +The cookery was in the Turkish style, +both as to composition and quantity—and +we all voted his wines very +good. Champagne flowed abundantly, +and unexpectedly. The Vladika talked +in a gentle manner of the most ungentle +subject. War was the subject +on which he descanted with pleasure +and judgment, and on which those +who sat near him endeavoured to +draw him out. But he also proved +himself conversant with several subjects, +and inquisitive on European affairs. +His hostility to the Turks was +obviously a matter of deep reality—his +hatred was evident in the description +which he gave of them as bad, +wicked men, who observed no faith, +and with whom terms were impossible. +The Albanians especially were marked +by his animadversions. Our clergyman +nearly produced an explosion by +an ill-timed remark. As he listened +open-mouthed to the right reverend +lecturer on war, he was betrayed into +an expression of his sense of the incongruity. +The brow of the Bishop +was for a moment darkened, and his +lip curled in contempt, of which, perhaps, +the social blunder was not undeserving. +"And would not you +fight," said he, "if you were attacked +by pirates?" The wrath of such a man +was to be deprecated. It would have +been awkward to see the head of our +companion decorating the fatal white +tower, and a nod to one of the martial +waiters would have done the business. +We changed the subject, and asked +what was the Montenegro flag? "The +cross," said he, "as befits; what else +should Christians carry against infidels?" +We ventured to inquire whether +he, on occasion, wore the robes, +and executed the office of bishop, as we +had seen a portrait of him in the episcopal +robes. "Very seldom," he told +us: "and that only of necessity." He +excused the practice of exposing the +heads on the tower by the plea of +necessity. It was necessary for the +people, who were accustomed to the +spectacle, and whose zeal demanded +and was enlivened by the visible incentive. +He gave us the account of +a visit paid to him by the only lady +who has penetrated thus far. He was +at the time in the field, engaged in +active operations against the enemy, +and the lady, for the sake of an interview, +ventured even within range of +the Turkish battery. He expressed +his astonishment that a lady should +venture into such a scene, and asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[443]</a></span> +her what could have induced her so +to peril her life. "Curiosity," said +the lady: "I am an Englishwoman;" +and this fact of her nationality seems +quite to have satisfied him. She farther +won his admiration by partaking +of lunch coolly, under only partial +shelter from the surrounding danger.</p> + +<p>The most picturesque part of our +day's experience was the evening assembly. +Between the lights we sallied +forth, headed by the chief, to look +about us. For our amusement he +made the people exhibit their prowess +in jumping, which was something +marvellous. The wonder was enhanced +by the comparison of Frank +activity which our Italian friend insisted +on affording. But Bacchus, +who inspirited to the attempt, could +not invigorate to the execution; and +the good-natured barbarians were +amused at the puny effort which set +off their own achievements. After +showing us the neighbouring lands, +the Vladika conducted us back to the +palace, where we were promised the +spectacle of a Montenegro soirée. It +seems that custom has established a +public reception of evenings, and that +any person may at this time attend +without invitation. The whole thing +put one in mind of Donald Bean +Lean's cavern, or rather, perhaps, of +Ali Baba. The picturesque ornaments +of the walls waxed romantic in the +lamp-light; and costumes of many +sorts were moving about, or grouped +in the chamber. We were invited to +play at different games that were going +on, but preferred to remain quiet in +corners, where we enjoyed pipes and +coffee, and observed the group. Among +the servants was a Greek, for whom +it might have been supposed that his +own country would have been sufficiently +lawless. The body-guard +who, during dinner, had acted as servants, +were now gentlemen; and very +splendid gentlemen they made. The +universal passion of gaming is not +without a place here; it occupied the +greater part of the company. The +Vladika sat smoking, overlooking the +noisy group, and talking with our +captain. There were some who did +not lay aside their arms even in this +hour and place—one big fellow was +pointed out to me who would not stir +from one room to another unarmed; +so ever present to his fancy was the +idea of the Turks.</p> + +<p>Our host throughout the evening +maintained the character of a hospitable +and dignified entertainer; comporting +himself with that due admixture +of conscious dignity and affability, +which seems necessary to the courtesy +of princes. He occasionally addressed +himself to one or other of us, +and always seemed to answer with +pleasure the questions that we ventured +to put to him. It was with reluctance +that we took our leave. The +night passed comfortably at our several +locandas, and not one of us had +to speak in the morning of those +wretched vermin that plague the Mediterranean. +A capital breakfast put +us in condition for an early start, and +the hospitable spirit of the Vladika +was manifested in the refusal of the +landladies to produce any bill. With +difficulty we managed to press on +them a present. The Vladika, attended +by his former suite, accompanied +our departure, which was +honoured with the ceremonies that +had marked our entrance. He did +not leave us till arrived at the spot +where the day before we had met +him.</p> + +<p>As we halted here, and dismounted +for a moment, the Vladika took from +an attendant a specimen of their guns, +with inlaid stocks, and with graceful +action presented it to the captain as +a memorial of his visit.</p> + +<p>The whole party remounted. The +Vladika waved to us his parting +salute. "Farewell, gentlemen; remember +Montenegro!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[444]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="ELINOR_TRAVIS" id="ELINOR_TRAVIS"></a>ELINOR TRAVIS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Tale in Three Chapters.</span></h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Chapter the Last.</span></h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">I resolved</span> to seek Rupert Sinclair +no more, and I kept my word with +cruel fidelity. But what could I do? +Had I not seen him with my own eyes—had +I not passed within a few feet +of him, and beheld him, to my indignation +and bitter regret, avoiding his +house, sneaking basely from it, and retreating +into the next street, because +that house contained his wife and her +paramour? Yes—<i>paramour!</i> I disbelieved +the world no longer. There +could be no doubt of the fact. True, +it was incomprehensible—as incomprehensible +as terrible! Rupert Sinclair, +pure, sensitive, high-minded, and incorrupt, +was incapable of any act +branded by dishonour, and yet no +amount of dishonour could be greater +than that attached to the conduct +which I had heard of and then witnessed. +So it was—a frightful anomaly! +a hideous discrepancy! Such as we +hear of from time to time, and are +found within the experience of every +man, unhinging his belief, giving the +lie to virtue, staggering the fixed +notions of the confiding young, and +confirming the dark conclusions of +cold and incredulous age.</p> + +<p>I hated London. The very air +impure with the weight of +the wickedness which I knew it to +contain; and I resolved to quit the +scene without delay. As for the +mansion in Grosvenor Square, and its +aristocratic inhabitants, I had never +visited then with my own free will, +or for my own profit and advantage: +I forsook them without a sigh. For +Rupert's sake I had submitted to +insult from the overbearing lackeys of +Railton House, and suffered the arrogance +of the proud and imbecile lord +himself. Much more I could have +borne gladly and cheerfully to have +secured his happiness, and to have +felt that he was still as pure as I had +known him in his youth.</p> + +<p>To say that my suspicions were +confirmed by public rumour, is to say +nothing. The visits of Lord Minden +were soon spoken of with a sneer and +a grin by every one who could derive +the smallest satisfaction from the +follies and misfortunes of one who +had borne himself too loftily in his +prosperity to be spared in the hour of +his trial. The fact, promulgated, +spread like wildfire. The once fashionable +and envied abode became deserted. +There was a blot upon the door, +which, like the plague-cross, scared +even the most reckless and the boldest. +The ambitious father lost sight +of his ambition in the degradation +that threatened his high name; and +the half-conscientious, half-worldly +mother forgot the instincts of her +nature in the tingling consciousness +of what the world would say. Rupert +was left alone with the wife of his +choice, the woman for whom he had +sacrificed all—fortune, station, reputation—and +for whom he was yet ready +to lay down his life. Cruel fascination! +fearful sorcery!</p> + +<p>London was no place for such a +man. Urged as much by the battling +emotions of his own mind as by the +intreaties of his wife, he determined +to leave it for ever. And in truth the +time had arrived. Inextricably involved, +he could no longer remain +with safety within reach of the strong +arm of the law. His debts stared +him in the face at every turn; creditors +were clamorous and threatening; +the horrible fact had been conveyed +from the lips of serving-men to the +ears of hungry tradesmen, who saw in +the announcement nothing but peril +to the accounts which they had been +so anxious to run up, and now were +equally sedulous in keeping down. It +had always been known that Rupert +Sinclair was not a rich man; it soon +was understood that he was also a +forsaken one. One morning three disreputable +ill-looking characters were +seen walking before the house of Mr +Sinclair. When they first approached +it, there was a sort of distant respect +in their air very foreign to their looks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[445]</a></span> +and dress, which might indeed have +been the result of their mysterious +occupation, and no real respect at all. +As they proceeded in their promenade, +became familiar with the place, and +attracted observation, their confidence +increased, their respect retreated, and +their natural hideous vulgarity shone +forth. They whistled, laughed, made +merry with the gentleman out of +livery next door, and established a +confidential communication with the +housemaid over the way. Shortly +one separated from the rest—turned +into the mews at the corner of the +street, and immediately returned with +a bench that he had borrowed at a +public-house. His companions hailed +him with a cheer—the bench was +placed before the door of Sinclair's +house; the worthies sat and smoked, +sang ribald songs, and uttered filthy +jokes. A crowd collected, and the +tale was told. Rupert had fled the +country; the followers of a sheriff's +officer had barricadoed his once splendid +home, and, Cerberus-like, were +guarding the entrance into wretchedness +and gloom.</p> + +<p>Heaven knows! there was little +feeling in Lord Railton. Some, as I +have already intimated, still existed +in the bosom of his wife, whom providence +had made mother to save +her from an all-engrossing selfishness; +but to do the old lord justice, he was +shaken to the heart by the accumulated +misfortunes of his child—not that +he regarded those misfortunes in any +other light than as bringing discredit +on himself, and blasting the good +name which it had been the boast of +his life to uphold and keep clear of all +attaint. But this bastard sympathy +was sufficient to unman and crush +him. He avoided the society of men, +and disconnected himself from all public +business. Twenty years seemed +added to his life when he walked +abroad with his head turned towards +the earth, as though it were ashamed +to confront the public gaze; the furrows +of eighty winters were suddenly +ploughed into a cheek that no harsh +instrument had ever before impaired +or visited. In his maturity he was +called upon to pay the penalty of a +life spent in royal and luxurious ease. +He had borne no burden in his youth. +It came upon him like an avalanche +in the hour of his decline. It is not +the strong mind that gives way in the +fiery contest of life; the weakest +vessel has the least resistance. About +six months after Rupert had quitted +England, slight eccentricities in the +conduct of Lord Railton attracted the +notice of his lordship's medical attendant, +who communicated his suspicions +to Lady Railton, and frightened +her beyond all expression with +hints at lunacy. Change of air and +scene were recommended—a visit to +Paris—to the German baths—any +where away from England and the +scene of trouble. The unhappy Lady +Railton made her preparations in a +day. Before any body had time to +suspect the cause of the removal, the +family was off, and the house in Grosvenor +Square shut up.</p> + +<p>They travelled to Wiesbaden, two +servants only accompanied them, and +a physician who had charge of his +lordship, and towards whom her ladyship +was far less patronising and condescending +than she had been to the +tutor of her son. If misfortune had +not elevated her character, it had +somewhat chastened her spirit, and +taught her the dependency of man +upon his fellow man, in spite of the +flimsy barriers set up by vanity and +pride. Lord Railton was already +an altered man when he reached the +capital of Nassau. The separation +from every object that could give him +pain had at once dispelled the clouds +that pressed upon his mind; and the +cheerful excitement of the journey +given vigour and elasticity to his +spirit. He enjoyed life again; and his +faculties, mental and physical, were +restored to him uninjured. Lady +Railton would have wept with joy +had she been another woman. As it +was, she rejoiced amazingly.</p> + +<p>The first day in Wiesbaden was an +eventful one. Dinner was ordered, +and his lordship was dressing, whilst +Lady Railton amused herself in the +charming gardens of the hotel at +which they stopped. Another visitor +was there—a lady younger than herself, +but far more beautiful, and apparently +of equal rank. One look +proclaimed the stranger for a countrywoman, +a second was sufficient for an +introduction.</p> + +<p>"This is a lovely spot," said Lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[446]</a></span> +Railton, whose generally silent tongue +was easily betrayed into activity on +this auspicious morning.</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" answered the +stranger, laughing as she spoke; "you +are a new comer, and the loveliness +of the spot is not yet darkened by the +ugliness of the creatures who thrive +upon it. Wait awhile."</p> + +<p>"You have been here some time?" +continued Lady Railton, inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ja wohl!</i>" replied the other, mimicking +the accent of the German.</p> + +<p>"And the loveliness has disappeared?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Ja wohl!</i>" repeated the other with +a shrug.</p> + +<p>"You speak their language, I perceive?" +said Lady Railton.</p> + +<p>"I can say '<i>Ja wohl</i>,' '<i>Brod</i>,' and +'<i>Guten morgen</i>'—not another syllable. +I was entrapped into those; but not +another step will I advance. I take +my stand at '<i>Guten morgen</i>.'"</p> + +<p>Lady Railton smiled.</p> + +<p>"'Tis not a sweet language, I believe," +she continued.</p> + +<p>"As sweet as the people, believe +me, who are the uncleanest race in +Christendom. You will say so when +you have passed three months at +Wiesbaden."</p> + +<p>"I have no hope of so prolonged a +stay—rather, you would have me say +'no fear.'"</p> + +<p>"Oh! pray remain and judge for +yourself. Begin with his Highness +the Duke, who dines every day with +his subjects at the <i>table-d'hôte</i> of this +hotel, and end with that extraordinary +domestic animal, half little boy half +old man, who fidgets like a gnome +about him at the table. Enter into +what they call the gaieties of this +horrid place—eat their food—drink +their wine—look at the gambling—talk +to their greasy aristocracy—listen +to their growl—contemplate the universal +dirt, and form your own conclusions."</p> + +<p>"I presume you are about to quit +this happy valley!"</p> + +<p>The lovely stranger shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Ah no! Fate and—worse than +fate!—a self-willed husband!"</p> + +<p>"I perceive. He likes Germany, +and you"——</p> + +<p>"Submit!" said the other, finishing +the sentence with the gentlest sigh +of resignation.</p> + +<p>"You have amusements here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, a mine of them! We are +the fiercest gamesters in the world; +we eat like giants; we smoke like +furnaces, and dance like bears."</p> + +<p>The ladies had reached the open +window of the <i>saal</i> that led into the +garden. They stopped. The dinner +of one was about to be served up; +the husband of the other was waiting +to accompany her to the public +gardens. They bowed and parted. +A concert was held at the hotel that +evening. The chief singers of the +opera at Berlin, passing through the +town, had signified their benign intention +to enlighten the worthy denizens +of Nassau, on the subject of +"high art" in music. The applications +for admission were immense. +The chief seats were reserved by mine +host, "as in private duty bound," for +the visitors at his hotel; and the chiefest, +as politeness and interest dictated, +for the rich and titled foreigners: +every Englishman being rich and +noble in a continental inn.</p> + +<p>The young physician recommended +his lordship by all means to visit the +concert. He had recommended nothing +but enjoyment since they quitted +London. His lordship's case was one, +he said, requiring amusement; he +might have added that his own case +was another—requiring, further, a +noble lord to pay for it. Lord Railton +obeyed his medical adviser always +when he suggested nothing disagreeable. +Lady Railton was not sorry to +have a view of German life, and to +meet again her gay and fascinating +beauty of the morning.</p> + +<p>The hall was crowded; and at an +early hour of the evening the lovely +stranger was established in the seat +reserved for her amidst "the favoured +guests." Her husband was with her, +a tall pale man, troubled with grief or +sickness, very young, very handsome, +but the converse of his wife, who +looked as blooming as a summer's +morn, as brilliant and as happy. Not +the faintest shadow of a smile swept +across his pallid face. Laughter +beamed eternally from her eyes, and +was enthroned in dimples on her +cheek. He was silent and reserved, +always communing with himself, and +utterly regardless of the doings of +the world about him. <i>She</i> had eyes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[447]</a></span> +ears, tongue, thought, feeling, sympathy +only for the busy multitude, +and seemed to care to commune with +herself as little—as with her husband. +A movement in the neighbourhood +announced the arrival of fresh comers. +Lord Railton appeared somewhat flustered +and agitated by suddenly finding +himself in a great company, and +all the more nervous from a suspicion +that he was regarded as insane by +every one he passed: then came the +young physician, as if from a bandbox, +with a white cravat, white gloves, +white waistcoat, white face, and a +black suit of clothes, supporting his +lordship, smiling upon him obsequiously, +and giving him professional +encouragement and approval: and +lastly stalked her ladyship herself +with the airs and graces of a fashionable +duchess, fresh as imported, and +looking down upon mankind with +touching superciliousness and most +amiable contempt. She caught sight +of her friend of the morning on her +passage, and they exchanged bland +looks of recognition.</p> + +<p>The youthful husband had taken no +notice of the fresh arrival. Absorbed +by his peculiar cares, whatever they +might be, he sat perfectly still, unmoved +by the preparations of the +actors and the busy hum of the spectators. +His head was bent towards +the earth, to which he seemed fast +travelling, and which, to all appearances, +would prove a happier home +for him than that he found upon its +surface. Two or three songs had been +given with wonderful effect. Every +one had been encored, and <i>bouquets</i> +had already been thrown to the <i>prima +donna</i> of the Berlin opera. Never +had Wiesbaden known such delight. +Mine host, who stood at the entrance +of the <i>saal</i>, perspiring with mingled +pride and agitation, contemplated the +scene with a joy that knew no bounds. +He was very happy. Like Sir Giles +Overreach, he was "joy all over." +The young physician had just put an +eye-glass to an eye that had some +difficulty in screwing it on, with the +intention of killing a young and pretty +vocalist with one irresistible glance, +when he felt his arm clenched by his +patient with a passionate vigour that +not only seriously damaged his intentions +with respect to the young singer, +but fairly threw him from his equilibrium. +He turned round, and saw +the unhappy nobleman, as he believed, +in an epileptic fit. His eyes were +fixed—his lip trembling—his whole +frame quivering. His hand still +grasped the arm of the physician, and +grasped it the firmer the more the +practitioner struggled for release. +There was a shudder, a cry—the old +man fell—and would have dropped to +the floor had he not been caught by +the expert and much alarmed physician. +A scene ensued. The singer +stopped, the audience rose—the fainting +man was raised and carried out. +The noise had attracted the notice of +one who needed an extraordinary provocation +to rouse him from his accustomed +lethargy. As the invalid passed +him, the husband of the merry beauty +cast one glance towards his deathlike +countenance. It was enough. No, +not enough. Another directed to the +unhappy lady who followed the +stricken lord, was far more terrible, +more poignant and acute. It sent a +thousand daggers to his heart, every +one wounding, hacking, killing. He +sunk upon his seat, and covered his +streaming eyes with wan and bloodless +hands.</p> + +<p>"Rupert!" said Elinor, whispering +in his ear, "you are ill—let us go."</p> + +<p>"Elinor, it's he, it's he!" he stammered +in the same voice.</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"My father!"</p> + +<p>"And that lady?"</p> + +<p>"My mother!"</p> + +<p>"Good heaven! Lady Railton!"</p> + +<p>"I have killed him," continued Rupert. +"I have killed him!"</p> + +<p>Before the confusion consequent +upon the removal of Lord Railton had +subsided, Elinor, with presence of +mind, rose from her seat, and implored +her husband to do the like. He obeyed, +hardly knowing what he did, and followed +her instinctively. Like a woman +possessed, she ran from the scene, +and did not stop until she reached her +own apartments. Rupert kept at her +side, not daring to look up. When +he arrived at his room, he was not +aware that he had passed his parents +in his progress—that the eyes of his +wife and his mother had again encountered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[448]</a></span> +and that the sternest scowl +of the latter had been met by the most +indignant scorn of the former. To +this pass had arrived the pleasant acquaintance +established three hours +before in the hotel garden.</p> + +<p>Whilst Elinor Sinclair slept that +melancholy night, Rupert watched at +his father's door. He believed him +to be mortally ill, and he accused himself +in his sorrow of the fearful crime +of parricide. He had made frequent +inquiries, and to all one answer had +been returned. The noble lord was +still unconscious: her ladyship could +not be seen. It was not until the +dawn of morning that a more favourable +bulletin was issued, and +his lordship pronounced once more +sensible and out of danger. Rupert +withdrew—not to rest, but to write a +few hurried lines to his mother—begging +one interview, and conjuring her +to concede it, even if she afterwards +resolved to see him no more. The +interview was granted.</p> + +<p>It led to no good result. Another +opportunity for reconciliation and +peace came only to be rejected. It +availed little that Providence provided +the elements of happiness, whilst +obstinacy and wilful pride refused to +combine them for any useful end. +Lady Railton loved her son with the +fondness of a mother. Life, too, had +charms for so worldly a soul as hers; +yet the son could be sacrificed, and +life itself parted with, ere the lofty +spirit bend, and vindictive hatred give +place to meek and gentle mercy. The +meeting was very painful. Lady Railton +wept bitter tears as she beheld +the wreck that stood before her—the +care-worn remains of a form that was +once so fair to look at—so grateful to +admire; but she stood inflexible. She +might have asked every thing of her +son which he might honourably part +with, and still her desires have fallen +short of the sacrifices he was prepared +to offer for the misery he had caused. +She had but <span class="smcap">ONE</span> request to make—it +was the condition of her pardon—but +it was also the test of his integrity +and manhood.</p> + +<p><i>He must part with the woman he had +made his wife!</i></p> + +<p>The evening of the day found Rupert +Sinclair and his wife on the road +from Wiesbaden, and his parents still +sojourners at the hotel.</p> + +<p>Rupert had not told Elinor of the +sum that had been asked for the forgiveness +of a mother he loved—the +friendship of a father at whose bed-side +nature and duty summoned him +with appeals so difficult to resist. +He would not grieve her joyous spirit +by the sad announcement. He had +paid the price of affection, not cheerfully—not +triumphantly—but with a +breaking and a tortured heart. He +knew the treasure to be costly: he +would have secured it had it been +twice as dear. They arrived at Frankfort.</p> + +<p>"And whither now?" asked Elinor, +almost as soon as they alighted.</p> + +<p>"Here for the present, dearest," +answered Rupert. "To-morrow whither +you will."</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven for a safe deliverance +from the Duke of Nassau!" exclaimed +the wife. "Well, Rupert, +say no more that I am mistress of +your actions. I have begged for +months to be released from that dungeon, +but ineffectually. This morning +a syllable from the lips of another +has moved you to do what was refused +to my long prayers."</p> + +<p>Rupert answered not.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow, then, to Paris?" +coaxingly inquired the wife.</p> + +<p>A shadow passed across the countenance +of the husband.</p> + +<p>"Wherefore to Paris?" he answered. +"The world is wide enough. +Choose an abiding-place and a home +any where but in Paris."</p> + +<p>"And why not there?" said Elinor, +with vexation. "Any where but +where I wish. It is always so—it has +always been so."</p> + +<p>"No, Elinor," said Rupert calmly—"not +always. You do us both +injustice."</p> + +<p>"I have no pleasure," she continued, +"amongst these dull and addle-headed +people—who smoke and +eat themselves into a heaviness that's +insupportable. But Paris is too gay +for your grave spirit, Rupert; and to +sacrifice your comfort to my happiness +would be more than I have any +right to hope for or to ask."</p> + +<p>Sinclair answered not again. Reproach +had never yet escaped his lips:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[449]</a></span> +it was not suffered to pass now. +How little knew the wife of the sacrifices +which had already been wrung +from that fond and faithful bosom: +and which it was still disposed to +make, could it but have secured the +happiness of one or both!</p> + +<p>Is it necessary to add, that within +a week the restless and wandering +pair found themselves in the giddy +capital of France! Sinclair, as in +every thing, gave way before the well-directed +and irresistible attacks of +one whose wishes, on ordinary occasions, +he was too eager to forestall. +His strong objections to a residence +in Paris were as nothing against the +opposition of the wife resolved to gain +her point and vanquish. Paris was +odious to him on many grounds. It +was paradise to a woman created for +pleasure—alive and herself only when +absorbed in the mad pursuit of pleasure. +Sinclair regarded a sojourn in +Paris as fatal to the repose which he +yearned to secure: his wife looked +upon it as a guarantee for the joyous +excitement which her temperament +rendered essential to existence. General +Travis was in Paris; so was +the Earl of Minden; so were many +other stanch allies and friends of the +lady, who had so suddenly found herself +deprived of friends and supporters +in the very height of her dominion +and triumph. Sinclair had no desire +to meet with any of these firm adherents; +but, on the contrary, much +reason to avoid them. He made one +ineffectual struggle, and as usual—submitted +to direction.</p> + +<p>If the lady had passed intoxicating +days in London, she led madder ones +in France. Again she became the +heroine and queen of a brilliant circle, +the admired of all admirers, the mistress +of a hundred willing and too +obedient slaves. Nothing could surpass +the witchery of her power: nothing +exceed the art by which she +raised herself to a proud eminence, +and secured her footing. The arch +smile, the clever volubility, the melting +eye, the lovely cheek, the incomparable +form, all united to claim and +to compel the admiration which few +were slow to render. Elinor had been +slighted in England: she revenged +herself in France. She had been deserted—forsaken +by her own: she +was the more intent upon the glowing +praise and worship of the stranger. +Crowds flocked around her, confessing +her supremacy: and whilst women +envied and men admired, Rupert Sinclair +shrunk from publicity with a +heart that was near to breaking—and +a soul oppressed beyond the power of +relief.</p> + +<p>A gleam of sunshine stole upon +Rupert Sinclair in the midst of his +gloom and disappointment. Elinor +gave promise of becoming a mother. +He had prayed for this event; for he +looked to it as the only means of restoring +to him affections estranged +and openly transferred to an unfeeling +world. The volatile and inconsiderate +spirit, which no expostulation or entreaties +of his might tame, would +surely be subdued by the new and +tender ties so powerful always in +riveting woman's heart to duty. His +own character altered as the hour +approached which must confer upon +him a new delight as well as an additional +anxiety. He became a more +cheerful and a happier man: his brow +relaxed; his face no longer bore upon +it the expression of a settled sorrow +and an abiding disappointment. He +walked more erect, less shy, grew +more active, less contemplative and +reserved. Months passed away, quickly, +if not altogether happily, and +Elinor Sinclair gave birth to a daughter.</p> + +<p>Rupert had not judged correctly. +However pleasing may be the sacred +influence of a child upon the disposition +and conduct of a mother in the +majority of instances, it was entirely +wanting here. Love of distinction, +of conquest, of admiration, had left +no room in the bosom of Elinor Sinclair +for the love of offspring, which +Rupert fondly hoped would save his +partner from utter worldliness, and +himself from final wretchedness. To +receive the child from heaven, and to +make it over for its earliest nourishment +and care to strange cold hands, +were almost one and the same act. The +pains of nature were not assuaged by +the mother's rejoicings: the pride of +the father found no response in the +heart of his partner. The bitter trial +of the season past—returning strength +vouchsafed—and the presence of the +stranger was almost forgotten in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[450]</a></span> +brilliancy of the scene to which the +mother returned with a whettened +appetite and a keener relish.</p> + +<p>Far different the father! The fountain +of love which welled in his devoted +breast met with no check as it poured +forth freely and generously towards +the innocent and lovely stranger, that +had come like a promise and a hope to +his heart. Here he might feast his +eyes without a pang: here bestow the +full warmth of his affection, without +the fear of repulse or the torture of +doubt. His home became a temple—one +small but darling room an altar—his +daughter, a divinity. He eschewed +the glittering assemblies in which his +wife still dazzled most, and grew into +a hermit at the cradle of his child. It +was a fond and passionate love that +he indulged there—one that absorbed +and sustained his being—that gave +him energy when his soul was spent, +and administered consolation in the +bitterest hour of his sad loneliness—the +bitterest he had known as yet.</p> + +<p>I have said that Lord Minden was +in Paris when Sinclair and his wife +arrived there. The visits of this +nobleman to the house of Rupert in +London, and the strange conduct of +Rupert himself in connexion with +those visits, had helped largely to +drive the unfortunate pair from their +native country. Still those visits were +renewed in the French capital, and +the conduct of Sinclair lost none of +its singularity. The Parisians were +not so scandalized as their neighbours +across the water by the marked attentions +of his lordship to this unrivalled +beauty. Nobody could be blind to +the conduct of Lord Minden, yet +nobody seemed distressed or felt morally +injured by the constant contemplation +of it. If the husband thought +proper to approve, it was surely no +man's business to be vexed or angry. +Mr Sinclair was a good easy gentleman, +evidently vain of his wife's +attractions, and of his lordship's great +appreciation of them. His wife was +worshipped, and the fool was flattered. +But was this all? Did he simply +look on, or was he basely conniving +at his own dishonour? In England +public opinion had decided in favour +of the latter supposition; and public +feeling, outraged by such flagrant +wickedness, had thrust the culprits, +as they deserved, from the soil which +had given them birth, and which they +shamefully polluted.</p> + +<p>Nearly two years had elapsed, and +the exiles were still in the fascinating +city to which the ill-fated Elinor had +carried her too easily-led husband. +The time had passed swiftly enough. +Elinor had but one occupation—the +pursuits of pleasure. Sinclair had +only one—the care of his daughter. +He had bestowed a mother's tenderness +upon the neglected offspring, and +watched its young existence with a +jealous anxiety that knew no rest—and +not in vain. The budding creature +had learned to know its patient +nurse, and to love him better than all +its little world. She could walk, and +prattle in her way, and her throne +was upon her father's lap. She could +pronounce his name; she loved to +speak it;—she could distinguish his +eager footstep; she loved to hear it. +Rupert was born for this. To love +and to be loved with the truth, simplicity, +and power of childhood, was +the exigency of his being and the +condition of his happiness. Both +were satisfied—yet he was not happy.</p> + +<p>It was a winter's evening. For a +wonder, Elinor was at home: She had +not been well during the day, and had +declared her intention of spending the +evening with her child and husband—rare +indulgence! The sacrifice had +cost her something, for she was out of +spirits and ill at ease in her new character. +Her husband sat lovingly at +her side—his arm about her waist—his +gleeful eye resting upon the lovely +child that played and clung about his +feet.</p> + +<p>[And this man was a party to his +own dishonour! a common pandar! +the seller of yonder wife's virtue, the +destroyer of yonder child's whole life +of peace! Reader, believe it not!—against +conviction, against the world, +believe it not!]</p> + +<p>"To-morrow, Elinor," said Sinclair +musingly, "is your birthday. +Had you forgotten it?"</p> + +<p>Elinor turned pale. Why, I know +not.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered hurriedly, +"I had. It <i>is</i> my birthday."</p> + +<p>"We must pass the day together: +we will go into the country. Little +Alice shall be of the party, and shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[451]</a></span> +be taught to drink her mamma's +health. Won't you, Alice?"</p> + +<p>The child heard its name spoken +by familiar lips, and laughed.</p> + +<p>"Will Lord Minden, dear, be back? +He shall accompany us."</p> + +<p>"He will not," said Elinor, trembling +with illness.</p> + +<p>"More's the pity," replied Rupert. +"Alice will hardly be happy for a day +without Lord Minden. She has cried +for him once or twice already. But +you are ill, dearest. Go to rest."</p> + +<p>"Not yet," said Elinor, "I shall +be better soon. Come, Alice, to mamma."</p> + +<p>It was an unwonted summons, and +the child stared. She had seldom +been invited to her mother's arms; +and the visits, when made, were generally +of short duration. There seemed +some heart in Elinor to-night. Rupert +observed it. He caught the +child up quickly, placed her in her +mother's lap, and kissed them both.</p> + +<p>In the act, a tear—a mingled drop +of bitterness and joy—started to his +eye and lingered there.</p> + +<p>Strange contrast! His face suddenly +beamed with new-born delight: +hers was as pale as death.</p> + +<p>"Is she not lovely, Elinor?" asked +Rupert, looking on them both with +pride.</p> + +<p>"Very!" was the laconic and scarce +audible answer; and the child was put +aside again.</p> + +<p>"Elinor," said Sinclair, with unusual +animation, "rest assured this precious +gift of Heaven is sent to us for +good; our days of trouble are numbered. +Peace and true enjoyment +are promised in that brow."</p> + +<p>A slight involuntary shudder thrilled +the frame of the wife, as she disengaged +herself from her husband's +embrace. She rose to retire.</p> + +<p>"I will go to my pillow," she said. +"You are right. I need rest. Good-night!"</p> + +<p>Her words were hurried. There +was a wildness about her eye that +denoted malady of the mind rather +than of body. Rupert detained her.</p> + +<p>"You shall have advice, dearest," +said he. "I will go myself"——</p> + +<p>"No, no, no," she exclaimed, interrupting +him; "I beseech you. +Suffer me to retire. In the morning +you will be glad that you have spared +yourself the trouble. I am not worthy +of it; good-night!"</p> + +<p>"Not worthy, Elinor!"</p> + +<p>"Not ill enough, I mean. Rupert, +good-night."</p> + +<p>Sinclair folded his wife in his arms, +and spoke a few words of comfort and +encouragement. Had he been a quick +observer, he would have marked +how, almost involuntarily, she recoiled +from his embrace, and avoided his +endearments.</p> + +<p>She lingered for a moment at the +door.</p> + +<p>"Shall Alice go with you?" inquired +the husband.</p> + +<p>"No. I will send for her; let +her wait with you. Good-night, +Alice!"</p> + +<p>"Nay; why good-night? You will +see her again."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Elinor, still lingering. +The child looked towards +her mother with surprise. Elinor +caught her eye, and suddenly advanced +to her. She took the bewildered +child in her arms, and kissed it +passionately. The next moment she +had quitted the apartment.</p> + +<p>New feelings, of joy as much as of +sorrow, possessed the soul of Rupert +Sinclair as he sat with his little +darling, reflecting upon the singular +conduct of the dear one who had +quitted them. It found an easy solution +in his ardent and forgiving +breast. That which he had a thousand +times prophesied, had eventually +come to pass. The <i>mother</i> had +been checked in her giddy career, +when the <i>wife</i> had proved herself unequal +to the sacrifice. In the mental +suffering of his partner, Rupert saw +only sorrow for the past, bitter repentance, +and a blest promise of +amendment. He would not interfere +with her sacred grief; but, from his +heart, he thanked God for the mercy +that had been vouchsafed him, and acknowledged +the justice of the trials +through which he had hitherto passed. +And there he sat and dreamed. +Visions ascended and descended. He +saw himself away from the vice and +dissipation of the city into which he +had been dragged. A quiet cottage +in the heart of England was his +chosen dwelling-place; a happy smiling +mother, happy only in her domestic +paradise, beamed upon him; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[452]</a></span> +a lovely child, lovelier as she grew to +girlhood, sat at his side, even as the +infant stood whilst he dreamed on; +an aged pair were present, the most +contented of the group, looking upon +the picture with a calm and grateful +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>For a full hour he sat lost in his +reverie; his glowing heart relieved +only by his swelling tears.</p> + +<p>The child grew impatient to depart. +Why had Elinor not sent for her?</p> + +<p>He summoned a servant, and bade +her take the little Alice to her mother's +room. Thither she was carried—to +the room, not to the mother.</p> + +<p>The mother had quitted the room, +the house, the husband—for ever!</p> + +<p>A broken-hearted man quitted Paris +at midnight. The damning intelligence +had been conveyed to him by +one who was cognisant of the whole +affair, who had helped to his disgrace, +but whose bribe had not been sufficient +to secure fidelity. <i>Elinor Sinclair +had eloped with the Earl of Minden.</i> +Flattered by his lordship's +attention, dazzled by his amazing +wealth, impatient of the limits which +her own poverty placed to her extravagance, +dissatisfied with the mild +tenor of her husband's life, she had +finally broken the link which at any +time had so loosely united her to the +man, not of her heart or her choice, +but of her ambition.</p> + +<p>She had fled without remorse, without +a pang, worthy of the name. +Who shall describe the astonishment +of the aggrieved Rupert?—his disappointment, +his torture! He was +thunderstruck, stunned; but his resolution +was quickly formed. The +pair had started southwards. Sinclair +resolved to follow them. For the first +time in his life he was visited with a +desire for vengeance, and he burned +till it was gratified. Blood only could +wash away the stain his honour had +received, the injury his soul had suffered—and +it should be shed. He +grew mad with the idea. He who +had never injured mortal man, who +was all tenderness and meekness, +long-suffering, and patient as woman, +suddenly became, in the depth and by +the power of his affliction, vindictive +and thirsty for his brother's life. +Within two hours from the period of +the accursed discovery, all his preparations +were made, and he was on +the track. He had called upon a +friend; explained to him his wrong; +and secured him for a companion and +adviser in the pursuit. He took into +his temporary service the creature +who had been in the pay of his lordship, +and promised him as large a +sum as he could ask for one week's +faithful duty. He paid one hasty, +miserable visit to the bed-side of his +innocent and sleeping child—kissed +her and kissed her in his agony—and +departed like a tiger to his work.</p> + +<p>The fugitives had mistaken the character +of Sinclair. They believed that +he would adopt no steps either to +recover his wife or to punish her seducer, +and their measures were taken +accordingly. They proceeded leisurely +for a few hours, and stopped at the +small hotel of a humble market town. +Rupert arrived here at an early hour +of the morning. His guide, who +had quitted his seat on the carriage +to look for a relay, learned from the +hostler that a carriage had arrived +shortly before, containing an English +nobleman and his lady, who, +he believed, were then in the hotel. +Further inquiries, and a sight of the +nobleman's carriage, convinced him +that the object of the chase was gained. +He came with sparkling eyes to acquaint +his master with his good success, +and rubbed his hands as he announced +the fact that sickened Rupert to the +heart. Rupert heard, and started +from the spot, as though a cannonball +had hurled him thence.</p> + +<p>"Fortescue," he said, addressing +his friend, "we must not quit this +spot until he has rendered satisfaction. +Hoary villain as he is, he shall +not have an hour's grace."</p> + +<p>"What would you do?"</p> + +<p>"Abide here till morning; watch +every door; intercept his passage, and +take my vengeance."</p> + +<p>"You shall have it, but it must be +on principles approved and understood. +We are no assassins, let him +be what he may. Go you to rest. +Before he is awake, I will be stirring. +He shall give me an interview ere +he dispatches his breakfast; and rely +upon me for seeing ample justice done +to every party."</p> + +<p>Fortescue, who was an Englishman +done into French, coolly motioned to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[453]</a></span> +Sinclair to enter the hotel. The latter +retreated from it with loathing.</p> + +<p>"No, Fortescue," continued Sinclair, +"I sleep not to-night. Here I +take my dismal watch—here will I +await the fiend. He must not escape +me. I can trust you, if any man; +but I will trust no man to-night but +one."</p> + +<p>"As you please, Sinclair," answered +the other. "Your honour is in my +keeping, and, trust me, it shall not +suffer. I will be up betimes, and +looking to your interest. Where +shall we meet?"</p> + +<p>"Here. I shall not budge an +inch."</p> + +<p>"Good night, then, or rather morning. +The day is already breaking. +But I shall turn in, if it be but for an +hour. I must keep my head clear for +the early work."</p> + +<p>And saying these words, the worthy +Fortescue sought shelter and repose +in the hotel.</p> + +<p>Rupert counted the heavy moments +with a crushed and bleeding spirit, +as he paced the few yards of earth to +which he had confined his wretched +watch. He was alone. It was a +bitter morning—cold and sad as his +own being. He could not take his +eyes from the polluted dwelling; he +could not gaze upon it and not weep +tears of agony. "Heaven!" he cried, +as he walked on, "what have I done, +what committed, that I should suffer +the torment thou hast inflicted upon +me for so many years! Why hast +thou chosen me for a victim and a +sacrifice! Have I deserved it? Am +I so guilty that I should be so punished?" +He would have given all +that he possessed in the world to be +released from the horrid task he had +imposed upon himself; yet, for all +that the world could give, he would +not trust another with that important +guard. Oh! it was the excruciating +pang of perdition that he was conscious +of, as he stood and gazed, until +his swelling heart had wellnigh burst, +upon the house of shame. He had +brought pistols with him—he had +taken care of that; at least, he had +given them to Fortescue, and enjoined +him not to lose sight of them. Were +they in safety? He would go and see. +He ran from his post, and entered the +stable-yard of the hotel. There were +two carriages—his own and the Earl +of Minden's. His pistol-case was +safe—so were the pistols within. A +devilish instinct prompted him to look +into the carriage of the lord, that stood +beside his own; why he should do it +he could not tell. He had no business +there. It was but feeding the +fire that already inflamed him to madness. +Yet he opened it. His wife's +cloak was there, and a handkerchief, +which had evidently been dropped in +the owner's anxiety to alight. Her +initials were marked upon the handkerchief +with the hair of the unhappy +man, who forgot her guilt, his tremendous +loss, his indignation and revenge, +in the recollection of one bright distant +scene which that pale token suddenly +recalled. The battling emotions of +his mind overpowered and exhausted +him. He sobbed aloud, dropped on +his knees, and pressed the handkerchief +to his aching brain.</p> + +<p>It could not last. Madness—frenzy—the +hottest frenzy of the lost +lunatic possessed him, and he grasped +a pistol. The muzzle was towards +his cheek—his trembling finger was +upon the trigger—when a shrill cry, +imaginary or real, caused the victim +to withhold his purpose—to look +about him and to listen. It was nothing—yet +very much! The voice had +sounded to the father's ear like that of +an infant; and the picture which it +summoned to his bewildered eye +recalled him to reason—started him +to a sense of duty, and saved him +from self-murder.</p> + +<p>There was an impulse to force an +entrance to the hotel, and to drag the +sinful woman from the embrace of +her paramour; but it was checked as +soon as formed. He asked not to +look upon her face again; in his hot +anger he had vowed never to confront +her whilst life was still permitted +him, but to avoid her like a plague-curse +or a fiend. He asked only for +revenge upon the monster that had +wronged him—the false friend—the +matchless liar—the tremendous hypocrite. +Nothing should come between +him and that complete revenge. There +was connected with Lord Minden's +crime, all the deformity that attaches +to every such offence; but, over and +above, there was a rankling injury +never to be forgotten or forgiven.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[454]</a></span> +What that was <i>he</i> knew, <i>he</i> felt as his +pale lip grew white with shame and +indignation, and a sense of past folly, +suddenly, but fearfully awakened. +A thousand recollections burst upon +his brain as he persevered in his long +and feverish watch. Now mysterious +looks and nods were easily interpreted. +Now the neglect of the +world, the unkind word, the inexplicable +and solemn hints were unraveled +as by magic. "Fool, dolt, mad-man!" +he exclaimed, striking his forehead, +and running like one possessed +along the silent road. "A child +would have been wiser, an infant +would have known better,—ass—idiot—simple, +natural, fool!"</p> + +<p>The fault of a life was corrected in +a moment, but at an incalculable cost, +and with the acquisition of a far +greater fault. Rupert Sinclair could +be no longer the credulous and unsuspecting +victim of a subtile and self-interested +world. His affliction had +armed him with a shield against the +assaults of the cunning; but it had +also, unfortunately, given him a sword +against the approaches of the generous +and good. Heretofore he had +suspected none. Now he trusted as +few. Satan himself might have played +upon him in the days of his youth. +An angel of light would be repelled if +he ventured to give comfort to the +bruised soul broken down in its +prime.</p> + +<p>The guard as well as the sleeping +friend were doomed to disappointment. +Lord Minden and Elinor were not in +the hotel. Shortly after their arrival, +his lordship had determined to proceed +on his journey, and with a lighter +carriage than that which had brought +the pair from Paris. He privately +hired a vehicle of the landlord, and +left his own under the care of a servant +whose slumbers were so carefully +guarded by the devoted Sinclair. +Great was the disappointment of Fortescue, +unbounded the rage of Rupert, +when they discovered their mistake, +and reflected upon the precious hours +that had been so wofully mis-spent. +But their courage did not slacken, nor +the eagerness—of one at least—abate. +The direction of the fugitives obtained, +as far as it was possible to obtain +it, and they were again on the pursuit.</p> + +<p>At the close of the second day, +fortune turned against the guilty. +When upon the high-road, but at a +considerable distance from any town, +the rickety chariot gave way. Rupert +caught sight of it, and beckoned his +postilion to stop. He did so. A +boor was in charge of the vehicle, +the luckless owners of which had, according +to his intelligence, been compelled +to walk to a small roadside +public-house at the distance of a +league. The party was described. +A grey-headed foreigner and a beautiful +young woman—a foreigner also. +Rupert leaped into his carriage, and +bade the postilion drive on with all +his might. The inn was quickly +reached. The runaways were there.</p> + +<p>Fortescue's task was very easy. +He saw lord Minden, and explained +his errand. Lord Minden, honourable +man, was ready to afford Mr +Sinclair all the satisfaction a gentleman +could demand, at any time or +place.</p> + +<p>"No time like the present, my lord," +said Fortescue; "no place more opportune. +Mr Sinclair is ready at this +moment, and we have yet an hour's +daylight."</p> + +<p>"I have no weapons—no friend."</p> + +<p>"We will furnish your lordship +with both, if you will favour us with +your confidence. Pistols are in Mr +Sinclair's carriage. I am at your +lordship's service and command: at +such a time as this, forms may easily +be dispensed with."</p> + +<p>"Be it so. I will attend you."</p> + +<p>"In half an hour; and in the fallow +ground, the skirts of which your lordship +can just discover from this +window. We shall not keep you +waiting."</p> + +<p>"I place myself in your hands, Mr +Fortescue. I will meet Mr Sinclair. +I owe it to my order, and myself, to +give him the fullest satisfaction."</p> + +<p>The fullest! mockery of mockeries!</p> + +<p>The husband and the seducer met. +Not a syllable was exchanged. Lord +Minden slightly raised his hat as he +entered the ground; but Rupert did +not return the salute. His cheek +was blanched, his lips bloodless and +pressed close together; there was +wildness in his eye, but, in other +respects, he stood calm and self-possessed, +as a statue might stand.</p> + +<p>Fortescue loaded the pistols. Rupert<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[455]</a></span> +fired, not steadily, but determinedly—and +missed.</p> + +<p>Lord Minden fired, and Rupert +fell. Fortescue ran to him.</p> + +<p>The ball had struck him in the arm, +and shattered it.</p> + +<p>The nobleman maintained his position, +whilst Fortescue, as well as he +was able, stanched the flowing wound, +and tied up the arm. Fortunately +the mutual second had been a surgeon +in the army, and knowing the duty +he was summoned to, had provided +necessary implements. He left his +patient for one instant on the earth, +and hastened to his lordship.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sinclair," he said, hurriedly, +"must be conveyed to yonder house. +Your lordship, I need not say, must +quit it. That roof cannot shelter +you, him, and——no matter. Your +carriage has broken down. Ours is +at your service. Take it, and leave +it at the next post-town. Yours +shall be sent on. There is no time to +say more. Yonder men shall help +me to carry Mr Sinclair to the inn. +When we have reached it, let your +lordship be a league away from it."</p> + +<p>Fortescue ran once more to his +friend. Two or three peasants, who +were entering the field at the moment, +were called to aid. The wounded +man was raised, and, on the arms of +all, carried fainting from the spot.</p> + +<p>Elinor and her companion fled +from the inn, wherefore one of them +knew not. The luggage of Sinclair +had been hastily removed from the +carriage, and deposited in the house, +but not with necessary speed. As +the ill-fated woman was whirled from +the door, her eye caught the small +and melancholy procession leisurely +advancing. One inquiring gaze, +which even the assiduity of Lord +Minden could not intercept, made +known to her the <span class="smcap">presence</span>, and convinced +her of the <span class="smcap">fact</span>. She screamed,—but +proceeded with her paramour, +whilst her husband was cared for by +his friend.</p> + +<p>A surgeon was sent for from the +nearest town, who, arriving late at +night, deemed it expedient to amputate +the patient's arm without delay. +The operation was performed without +immediately removing the fears which, +after a first examination, the surgeon +had entertained for the life of the +wounded man. The injury inflicted +upon an excited system threw the +sufferer into a fever, in which he lay +for days without relief or hope. The +cloud, however, passed away, after +much suffering during the flitting +hours of consciousness and reason. +The afflicted man was finally hurled +upon life's shore again, prostrate, exhausted, +spent. His first scarce-audible +accents had reference to his +daughter.</p> + +<p>"My child!" he whispered imploringly, +to a sister of charity ministering +at his side.</p> + +<p>"Will be with you shortly," replied +the devoted daughter of heaven, +who had been with the sufferer for +many days.</p> + +<p>Rupert shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Be calm," continued the religious +nurse; "recover strength; enable +yourself to undergo the sorrow of an +interview, and you shall see her. She +is well provided for: she is happy—she +is here!"</p> + +<p>"Here!" faintly ejaculated Rupert, +and looking languidly about him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and very near you. In a +day or two she shall come and comfort +you."</p> + +<p>The benevolent woman spoke the +truth. When she had first been summoned +to the bed-side of the wounded +man, she diligently inquired into the +circumstances of the case, and learned +as much as was necessary of his sad +history from the faithful Fortescue. +It was her suggestion that the child +should forthwith be removed from +Paris, and brought under the same +roof with her father. She knew, with +a woman's instinct,—little as she had +mixed with the world,—how powerful +a restorative would be the prattle +of that innocent voice, when the moment +should arrive to employ it without +risk.</p> + +<p>Rupert acknowledged the merciful +consideration. He put forth his thin +emaciated hand, and moved his lips +as though he would express his thanks. +He could not, but he wept.</p> + +<p>The nurse held up her finger for +mild remonstrance and reproof. It +was not wanting. The heart was +elevated by the grateful flow. He +slumbered more peacefully for that +outpouring of his grateful soul.</p> + +<p>The child was promised, as soon as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[456]</a></span> +leave could be obtained from the +medical authorities to bring her to her +father's presence. If he should continue +to improve for two days, he +knew his reward. If he suffered +anxiety of mind and the thought of +his calamity to retard his progress, he +was told his punishment. He became +a child himself, in his eagerness to +render himself worthy of the precious +recompense. He did not once refer +to what had happened. Fortescue sat +hour after hour at his side, and he +heard no syllable of reproach against +the woman who had wronged him—no +further threat of vengeance against +the villain who had destroyed her.</p> + +<p>The looked-for morning came. Rupert +was sitting up, and the sister of +charity entered his humble apartment +with the child in her hand. Why +should that holy woman weep at human +love and natural attachments? +What sympathy had she with the +vain expressions of delight and woe—with +paternal griefs and filial joys? +The lip that had been fortified by recent +prayer, trembled with human +emotion;—the soul that had expatiated +in the passionless realms to +which its allegiance was due, acknowledged +a power from which it is +perilous for the holiest to revolt. +<i>Nature</i> had a moment of triumph in +the sick-chamber of a broken-hearted +man. It was brief as it was sacred. +Let me not attempt to describe or disturb +it!</p> + +<p>The religious and benevolent sister +was an admirable nurse, but she was +not to be named in the same day with +Alice. She learned her father's little +ways with the quickness of childhood, +and ministered to them with the alacrity +and skill of a woman. She knew +when he should take his drinks—she +was not happy unless permitted +to convey them from the hands of the +good sister to those of the patient. +She was the sweetest messenger and +ambassadrix in the world: so exact +in her messages—so brisk on her errands! +She had the vivacity of ten +companions, and the humour of a +whole book of wit. She asked a hundred +questions on as many topics, and +said the oddest things in life. When +Sinclair would weep, one passing observation +from her made him laugh +aloud. When his oppressed spirit +inclined him to dulness, her lighter +heart would lead him, against his +will, to the paths of pleasantness and +peace!</p> + +<p>Was it Providence or chance that +sealed upon her lips the name of one +who must no longer be remembered +in her father's house? Singularly +enough, during the sojourn of Rupert +Sinclair and his daughter in the roadside +inn, neither had spoken to the +other of the wickedness that had departed +from them; and less singular +was it, perhaps, that the acutest pang +that visited the breast of Elinor was +that which accompanied the abiding +thought, that Rupert was ever busy +referring to the mother's crime, and +teaching the infant lip to mutter curses +on her name.</p> + +<p>In the vicinity of the inn was a +forest of some extent. Hither, as +Sinclair gathered strength, did he +daily proceed with his little companion, +enjoying her lively conversation, +and participating in her gambols. +He was never without her. He could +not be happy if she were away: he +watched her with painful, though +loving jealousy. She was as unhappy +if deprived of his society. The religious +sister provided a governess to +attend upon her, but the governess +had not the skill to attach her to her +person. At the earliest hour of the +morning, she awoke her father with a +kiss: at the last hour of the night, a +kiss from his easily recognised lips +sealed her half-conscious half-dreaming +slumbers. Alice was very happy. +She could not guess why her father +should not be very happy too, and +always so.</p> + +<p>For one moment let us follow the +wretched Elinor, and trace her in her +flight. Whilst her own accusing conscience +takes from her pillow the softness +of its down, and the vision of her +husband, as she last saw him, haunts +her at every turn like a ghost—striking +terror even to her thoughtless +heart, and bestowing a curse upon her +life which she had neither foreseen +nor thought of, let us do her justice. +Vice itself is not all hideousness. The +immortal soul cannot be all pollution. +Defaced and smirched it may be—cruelly +misused and blotted over by +the sin and passion of mortality; but +it will, and must, proclaim its origin in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[457]</a></span> +the depths of degradation. There +have been glimpses of the heavenly +gift when it has been buried deep, +deep in the earth—beams of its light +in the murkiest and blackest day! +Elinor was guilty—lost here beyond +the power of redemption—she was +selfish and unworthy; yet not wholly +selfish—not utterly unworthy. I am +not her apologist—I appear not here +to plead her cause. Heaven knows, +my sympathy is far away—yet I will +do her justice. I will be her faithful +chronicler.</p> + +<p>Upon the fourth day of her elopement +she had reached Lyons. Here, +against the wish of the Earl of Minden, +she expressed a determination +to remain for at least a day: she desired +to see the city—moreover, she +had friends—one of whom she was +anxious to communicate with, and +might never see again. Who he was +she did not say, nor did his lordship +learn, before they quitted the city on +the following day. The reader shall +be informed.</p> + +<p>It was on the afternoon of the day +of their arrival in Lyons that Elinor +paid her visit to the friend in question. +He resided in a narrow street +leading from the river-side into the +densest and most populous thoroughfares +of that extensive manufacturing +town: the house was a humble one, +and tolerably quiet. The door was +open, and she entered. She ascended +a tolerably-wide stone staircase, and +stopped before a door that led into an +apartment on the fourth floor. She +knocked softly: her application was +not recognised—but she heard a voice +with which she was familiar.</p> + +<p>"Cuss him imperence!" it said; +"him neber satisfied. I broke my +heart, sar, in your service, and d—n +him—no gratitude."</p> + +<p>"Don't you turn against me, too," +answered a feeble voice, like that of +a sick man. "I shall be well again +soon, and we will push on, and meet +them at Marseilles."</p> + +<p>"Push on! I don't understand +'push on,' when fellow's not got half-penny +in the pocket. Stuck to you +like a trump all my life; it's not the +ting to bring respectable character +into dis 'ere difficulty."</p> + +<p>"Give me something to drink."</p> + +<p>"What you like, old genl'man?" +was the answer. "Course you call +for what you please—you got sich +lots of money. You have any kind of +water you think proper—from ditch +water up to pump."</p> + +<p>"You are sure there were no letters +for me at the post?" inquired the +feeble voice.</p> + +<p>"Come, stop dat, if you please. +That joke's damned stale and aggravating. +Whenever I ask you for +money, you send me to the post. +What de devil postman see in my +face to give me money?"</p> + +<p>Elinor knocked again and again; +still unanswered, she opened the door. +In the apartment which she entered, +she perceived, grinning out of the window, +with his broad arms stretched +under his black face, the nigger of our +early acquaintance—the old servant +of her father's house—the gentleman +who had represented the yahoo upon +the evening of my introduction to the +general—the fascinating Augustus. +Behind him, on a couch that was +drawn close to the wall, and surmounted +by a dingy drapery, lay—her +father—a shadow of his former +self—miserably attired, and very ill, +as it would seem, mentally and bodily. +Both the yahoo and the general started +upon her entrance, for which they +were evidently wholly unprepared.</p> + +<p>"Elinor!" said the general, "you +have received my letter?"</p> + +<p>"I have," was the reply—scarcely +heard—with such deep emotion was +it spoken!</p> + +<p>"And you cannot help me?" he +asked again, with a distracted air.</p> + +<p>"I can," she answered—"I will—it +is here—all you ask—take it—repair +to my mother—save her—yourself."</p> + +<p>She presented him with a paper +as she spoke. He opened it eagerly, +and his eye glittered again as he perused +it.</p> + +<p>"Did you get it easily, child?" he +said.</p> + +<p>"No—with difficulty—great difficulty," +she answered wildly. "But +there it is. It will relieve you from +your present trouble, and pay your +passage."</p> + +<p>"Augustus—we will start to-night," +said the general anxiously, +"we will not lose a moment."</p> + +<p>"Father," said Elinor, with agitation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">[458]</a></span> +"I must be gone. Give my +love to my mother. I have sent all +that I could procure for her comfort +and happiness. I tell you, father, it +was not obtained without some sacrifice. +Spend it not rashly—every coin +will have its value. I may not be +able to send you more. Tell her not +to curse me when she hears my name +mentioned as it will be mentioned, +but to forgive and forget me."</p> + +<p>The old man was reading the bank-bill +whilst his daughter spoke, and +had eyes and ears for nothing else.</p> + +<p>"We shall never forget you, dear +child," he said, almost mechanically.</p> + +<p>He folded the bill carefully, put it +into his pocket, buttoned that as carefully, +and looked up. The daughter +had departed.</p> + +<p>Rupert Sinclair recovered from the +wound he had received, and from the +subsequent operation; but strength +came not as quickly as it had been +promised, or as he could wish. He +removed, after many months, from +the inn, and commenced his journey +homewards. To be released from the +tie which still gave his name to her +who had proved herself so utterly +unworthy of it, was his first business; +his second, to provide instruction and +maternal care for the young creature +committed to his love. He travelled +by short and easy stages, and arrived +at length in London. He was +subdued and calm. All thoughts of +revenge had taken leave of his mind; +he desired only to forget the past, +and to live for the future. He had +witnessed and suffered the evil effects +of a false education. He was resolved +that his child should be more mercifully +dealt with. He had but one +task to accomplish in life. He would +fulfil it to the letter.</p> + +<p>Sinclair waited upon his legal adviser +as soon as he reached the metropolis. +That functionary heard his +client's statement with a lugubrious +countenance, and sighed profoundly, +as though he were very sorry that the +affair had happened.</p> + +<p>"These are cases, sir," said he, +"that make the prosecution of a noble +profession a painful and ungrateful +labour. Surgeons, however, must not +be afraid to handle the knife. What +we must do, it is better to do cheerfully. +Don't you think so?"</p> + +<p>Sinclair nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"And now your witnesses, Mr +Sinclair. We must look them up. +The chief, I presume, are abroad."</p> + +<p>"Many are, necessarily," answered +Rupert. "There is one gentleman +however, in England, with whom I +am anxious that you should put yourself +in immediate communication. +When I went abroad, he was at Oxford, +residing in the college, of which +he is a fellow. He is my oldest friend. +He is well acquainted with my early +history, and is aware of all the circumstances +of my marriage. He may +be of great service to us both: you, +he may save much trouble—me, +infinite pain."</p> + +<p>"Just so," said the lawyer. "And +his name?"</p> + +<p>"Walter Wilson, Esq. of —— +College, Oxford."</p> + +<p>"I will fish him up to-day," said +the legal man. "We shall have an +easy case. There will be no defence, +I presume?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly!" answered Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"Judgment by default! You will +get heavy damages, Mr Sinclair. +Lord Minden is as rich as Crœsus; +and the case is very aggravated. +Violation of friendship—a bosom-friend—one +whom you had admitted +to your confidence and hearth. We +must have these points prominently +put. I shall retain Mr Thessaly. +That man, sir, was born for these aggravated +cases."</p> + +<p>"You will write to Mr Wilson?" +said Sinclair, mournfully.</p> + +<p>"This very day. Don't be unhappy, +Mr Sinclair—you have a capital +case, and will get a handsome +verdict."</p> + +<p>"When you have heard from Mr +Wilson, let me know. I wish to arrange +an interview with him, and +have not the heart to write myself. +Tell him I am in town—that I must +see him."</p> + +<p>"I will do it. Can I offer you a +glass of wine, Mr Sinclair, or any refreshment? +You look pale and languid."</p> + +<p>"None, I thank you!"</p> + +<p>"And the little lady in the parlour?"</p> + +<p>"I am obliged to you—nothing. +I must go to her—I have kept her +waiting. Good-morning, sir."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">[459]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sinclair joined his daughter, and +proceeded with her to his hotel. She +was still his constant companion. He +did not move without her. His anxiety +to have the child always at his side +bordered on insanity. Whether he +quitted his home for amusement or +business, she must accompany him, +and clasp the only hand that he had +now to offer her. He dreaded to be +alone, and no voice soothed him but +that of the little chatterer. How fond +he was of it—of her—who shall say! +or how necessary to his existence the +treasure he had snatched from ruin in +the hour of universal wreck!</p> + +<p>Before visiting his lawyer, Sinclair +had dispatched a private communication +to his old serving-man, John +Humphreys, who, upon the breaking +up of Rupert's establishment, had returned +to the service of Lord Railton, +his ancient master. That trusty servant +was already at the hotel when +Sinclair reached it.</p> + +<p>"You have spoken to nobody of +my being here, Humphreys," said +Rupert, when he saw him.</p> + +<p>"To nobody, your honour."</p> + +<p>"Then follow me!"</p> + +<p>When they had come to Sinclair's +private room, he continued—</p> + +<p>"My father, Humphreys—Tell me +quickly how he is."</p> + +<p>"Oh, a world better, sir."</p> + +<p>"Thank God! And my mother?"</p> + +<p>"Breaking, sir. This last affair"—</p> + +<p>"They are in town?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, your honour—you will call +upon them, won't you? It will do her +ladyship's heart good to see you again—though, +saving your honour's presence, +you looks more like a spectre +than a human being."</p> + +<p>"No, Humphreys, I cannot see +them. They must not even know +that I am now in London. I would +have avoided this interview, could I +have quitted England again without +some information respecting them. I +shall be detained here for a few days—it +may be for weeks—but I return +again to the Continent, never again to +leave it."</p> + +<p>"Do you think them foreign doctors +understand your case, sir?"</p> + +<p>"My case!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir—you are not well, I am +sure. You want feeding and building +up—English beef and beer. Them +foreigners are killing you."</p> + +<p>Rupert smiled.</p> + +<p>"You'll excuse me, sir, but laughing +isn't a good sign, when a man has +reason to cry."</p> + +<p>Rupert shuddered.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir—I didn't +mean that," continued the honest fellow. +"I did not refer to your feelings. +I meant your health, sir. Live +well, sir; eat good English fare, and +take the bilious pills when you are +out of sorts."</p> + +<p>John Humphreys was dismissed +with many thanks for his sympathy +and advice, and with strict injunctions +to maintain silence respecting Rupert's +movements. Had Sinclair learned +that his parents were ill, or needful +of his presence, he would have gone +to them at once. They were well—why +should he molest them, or bring +fresh anguish to their declining years?</p> + +<p>I received the communication of +Sinclair's lawyer, and answered it respectfully, +refusing the interview that +was asked. As I have already intimated, +I had avoided his house and +himself from the very moment that I +had obtained what seemed ocular demonstration +of guilt, which that of his +friend and patron, the Earl of Minden +himself, could not surpass. Whilst +reports of that guilt came to me +through the medium of servants, however +trustworthy, and strangers, however +disinterested, I had resisted them +as cruel inventions and palpable slanders. +With the attestation of my own +eyes, I should have been an idiot had +I come to any but one conclusion, +how degrading soever that might +be to my friend, or contradictory to +all my past experience or preconceived +hopes. Nothing, I solemnly +vowed, should induce me to speak +again to the man, branded with infamy +so glaring, brought by his own +folly and vice so low. I had heard, +in common with the rest of the world, +of the elopement, and possibly with +less surprise than the majority of my +fellow-men. If I wondered at all at +the affair, it was simply as to how +much Rupert had been paid for his +consent, and as to the value he had +fixed upon his reputation and good +name. I received the application of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">[460]</a></span> +the lawyer, and declined to accede +to it.</p> + +<p>As I sat reading in my room, upon +the second morning after I had dispatched +my answer to Mr Cribbs, of +Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, I +was roused by a knock at the inner +door. I requested my visitor to walk +in. He did so.—Rupert Sinclair, +and his child, stood before me!</p> + +<p>I was fearfully shocked. He looked, +indeed, more like a ghost than a +living man. Fifty years of pain and +anxiety seemed written on a brow +that had not numbered thirty summers. +His eye was sunk, his cheek +was very wan and pallid. There was +no expression in his countenance; he +stood perfectly passionless and calm. +The little girl was a lovely creature. +A sickening sensation passed through +me as I mentally compared her lineaments +with those of the joyous creature +whom I had met in Bath, and +then referred to those of the poor +father, so altered, so wofully and so +wonderfully changed! She clung to +that father with a fondness that +seemed to speak of his desertion, and +of his reliance upon her for all his +little happiness. I was taken by surprise; +I knew not what to do; the +memory of past years rushed back +upon me. I saw him helpless and +forsaken. I could not bid him from +my door; I could not speak an unkind +word.</p> + +<p>I placed a chair before the man, +whose strength seemed scarce sufficient +to support its little burden.</p> + +<p>"Sinclair," I exclaimed, "you are +ill!"</p> + +<p>"I am!" he answered. "Very +ill; worse than I had feared. They +tell me I must leave the country, and +seek milder air. I shall do so shortly; +for her sake, not my own."</p> + +<p>The little Alice put her delicate +and alabaster hand about her parent's +face, and patted it to express her +gratitude or warm affection. My +heart bled in spite of me.</p> + +<p>"You refused to meet me, Wilson," +said Sinclair quietly.</p> + +<p>I blushed to think that I had done +so; for I forgot every thing in the +recollection of past intimacy, and in +the consciousness of what I now beheld. +I made no answer.</p> + +<p>"You refused to meet me," he repeated. +"You did me injustice. I +know your thoughts, your cruel and +unkind suspicions. I have come to +remove them. Walter, you have +cursed my name; you shall live to +pity my memory."</p> + +<p>"Rupert," I stammered, "whatever +I may have thought or done, I +assert that I have not willingly done +you injustice. I have"——</p> + +<p>I looked at the child, unwilling to +say more in that innocent and holy +presence.</p> + +<p>Sinclair understood me. He asked +permission for her to retire into an +adjoining room. I told him that +there was no one there to keep her +company. He answered, that it did +not matter; she was used to be alone, +and to wait hours for her parent when +business separated them in a stranger's +house. "They made it up at home," +he added, "and she was happier so +than in the society of her governess."</p> + +<p>"Is it not so, Alice?" he asked, +kissing her as he led her from the +apartment.</p> + +<p>She answered with a kiss as warm +as his, and a smile brighter than any +he could give.</p> + +<p>"Wilson," began Sinclair, as soon +as he returned to me, "you know my +history. The whole world knows it, +and enjoys it. I have come to England +to disannul our marriage. That +over, I must save this life if possible: +the doctors tell me I am smitten—that +I shall droop and die. The mild +air of Italy alone can save me. Oh, +I wish to live for that young creature's +sake! I cannot yet afford to +die."</p> + +<p>"Things are not so bad, I trust."</p> + +<p>He shook his head, and proceeded.</p> + +<p>"You, Wilson, must further my +views. I have acquainted my solicitor +with our former intimacy, and of +the part which you took in this unfortunate +business. You may accelerate +the affair by your co-operation and +aid. You must not deny it! Three +months to me now are worth ten times +as many years. I need peace of +mind—repose. I would seek them +in the grave, and gladly, but for her. +I must find them in a land that will +waft health to me, and give me +strength for coming duties. You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">[461]</a></span> +must stand by me now, if ever; you +must not leave me, Wilson, till we +have reached the opposite shore, and +are safely landed."</p> + +<p>"What can I do!"</p> + +<p>"Much! The solicitor says, every +thing. Your evidence is of the utmost +consequence. Your assistance cannot +be dispensed with. See him, and he +will tell you more. We cannot depart +until the marriage is dissolved. Should +I die, she must have no claim upon +that tender innocent!"</p> + +<p>"Rupert," I exclaimed, "shall I +speak plainly to you?"</p> + +<p>"Ay," he answered, growing erect, +and looking me full in the face, "as +a man!"</p> + +<p>"You demand of me," I continued, +"a simple impossibility! I can do +nothing for you. I can give you no +help, no counsel. Ask your own +once-faithful conscience, that once +stern and honest monitor, how I, of +all men, can befriend you? I may +speak only to destroy you and your +cause together. Seek a better ally—a +less shackled adviser. Is it not +publicly known?—do I not know it? +Rupert, you have told me to speak +plainly, and I will, I must. I say, +do I not know that you yourself pandered +to her profligacy? Did I not, +with these eyes, which, would to +Heaven, had been blind ere they had +seen that miserable day—did I not, +with these eyes, behold you walking +before your door, whilst Lord Minden +was closeted with your wife? Did +you not turn back when you discovered +he was there? Did I not see +you turn back? Answer me, Rupert. +Did I?—did I?"</p> + +<p>"You did," he answered, with perfect +equanimity.</p> + +<p>"And," I continued, "acknowledging +this horror, you ask me to +advance your cause, and to speak on +your behalf!"</p> + +<p>"I do," he said, with a majestic +calmness that confounded and abashed +me—so prophetic was it of an approaching +justification, so thoroughly +indicative of truth and innocence.</p> + +<p>"I do," he repeated, looking at me +steadily, and speaking with more emotion +as he proceeded. "Listen to me, +Walter. I am a dying man! Say +what they will, the seeds of an incurable +disease are sown within me. Do +what I may, my hours are numbered, +and life is nearly spanned. I speak +to you as a dying man. You saw that +child! She is friendless, motherless, +and will be shortly fatherless. I am +about to consign her to Heaven and +its mercy. I cannot utter falsehood +upon the verge of eternity, leaving +that dear pledge behind me. Upon +my sacred honour, I speak the truth. +Listen to it, and believe, as you would +believe a messenger accredited from +the skies. I have been a fool, an idiot, +weaker than the creature whom the +law deprives of self-control, and +places in the custody of guards and +keepers; but my honour is as spotless +as you yourself could wish it. You +knew of my difficulties: something you +knew also of my introduction to the +Earl of Minden—an aged villain—yes +<i>aged</i> and old enough to disarm suspicion, +if no stronger reason existed +to destroy it; but there was a stronger. +I marvelled at the extraordinary interest +evinced for a stranger by this +powerful and wealthy nobleman; but +wonder ceased with explanation—and +explanation from whom? from one +whom I trusted as myself—from my +wife, whom I loved better than myself. +It is nothing that I look back +with sickening wonder <i>now</i>. I was her +devoted husband <i>then</i>, and I believed +her. I would have believed her had she +drawn upon my credulity a thousand +times more largely. What devil put +the lie into her soul I know not, but +early in the friendship of this lord, +she confided to me the fact that General +Travis was not her father; she +had been consigned to him, she said, +at an early age, but her actual parent +was who?—the brother of this same +Lord Minden. It was a plausible tale +coming from her lips. I did not stay +to doubt it. Other lies were necessary +to maintain the great falsehood; +but the fabric which they raised was +well-proportioned and consistent in +its parts. Why did I not enter my +home when Lord Minden was closeted +with my wife? You will remember +that we speak of a time when there +was daily discussion concerning my +promotion. 'Her uncle,' she said +again and again, 'would do nothing +for me if I were present. He was a +singular and obstinate man, and would +make our fortune in his own way.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">[462]</a></span> +He was angry with me for running off +with his niece—whom, though illegitimate, +he had destined for greater +honour than even an alliance with +Lord Railton's heir; he was further +hurt at Lord Railton's treatment of +Elinor, and the proud neglect of my +mother; the conduct of my parents +had inspired him with a dislike for +their son, and although for Elinor's +sake he would advance our interests, +yet he would not consult me, or meet +me in the matter. If I were present, +her uncle would say nothing—do nothing. +This was reiterated day after +day. From fountains that are pure, +we look not for unclean waters. Trusting +her with my whole heart and soul, +I should have committed violence to +my nature had I doubted her. It +was impossible: with the plausibility +of Satan, she had the loveliness of +angels! Now I see the artifice and +fraud—now I feel the degradation—now +the horrible position in which I +stood is too frightfully apparent! But +what avails it all! God forgive me +for my blindness! He knows my +innocence!"</p> + +<p>The injured and unhappy husband +stopped from sheer exhaustion. Shame +overspread my face; bitter reproaches +filled my heart. I had done him cruel +wrong. I rose from my seat, and embraced +him. I fell upon my knees, +and asked his forgiveness.</p> + +<p>"Walter," he said, with overflowing +eyes; "you do not think me +guilty?"</p> + +<p>"Punish me not, Rupert," I answered, +"by asking me the question. +The sorceress was a subtle one. I +knew her to be so."</p> + +<p>"Name her not, friend," proceeded +Sinclair; "I have already forgiven +her. I seek to forget her. Life is +hateful to me, yet I must live if possible +for my darling Alice. You will +return to town with me, will you not, +and hasten on this business?"</p> + +<p>"I will not leave you, Rupert," I +replied, "till I have seen you safely +through it, and on the seas. We will +lose no time. Let us go to London +this very day."</p> + +<p>No time was lost. We set out in +the course of a few hours, and the +next day were closeted with Mr +Cribbs. Letters produced by Sinclair +corroborated all that he had said +touching the cheat that had been +played upon him. Astounded as I +had been by his explanation, it would +have argued more for my wisdom, to +say nothing of my friendship, had I +suspected at the outset some artifice +of the kind, and shown more eagerness +to investigate the matter, than to +conclude the hitherto unspotted Sinclair +so pre-eminently base. The fault +of his nature was credulity. Did I +not know that he trusted all men with +the simplicity of childhood, and believed +in the goodness of all things +with the faith and fervour of piety itself? +Had I no proofs of the wilyness +of the woman's heart, and of the +witchery of her tongue? A moment's +reflection would have enabled me to +be just. It was not the smallest triumph +of the artful Elinor that her +scheme robbed me of that reflection, +and threw me, and all the world besides, +completely off the scent.</p> + +<p>Mr Cribbs was the very man to +carry on this interesting case. He +lost not a moment. He had been concerned, +as he acknowledged, in more +actions of the kind than could be satisfactory +to himself, or complimentary +to the virtue of his country, and +he knew the salient points of a case +by a kind of moral instinct. His witnesses +were marshaled—his plan was +drawn out; every thing promised complete +success, and the day of trial +rapidly approached.</p> + +<p>That day of trial, however, Rupert +was not to see. The great anxiety +which he suffered in the preparation +of his unhappy cause—the affliction +he had already undergone, preying +upon a shattered frame, proved too +great an obstacle to the slow appliances +of healing nature. He sank +gradually beneath the weight of his +great sorrows. About a month previously +to the coming off of the suit +which he had brought against the +Earl of Minden, conscious of growing +still weaker and weaker, he resolved +to have a consultation of his physicians, +and to obtain from them their +honest opinion of his condition. That +consultation was held. The opinion +was most unfavourable. Rupert heard +it without a sigh, and prepared for his +great change.</p> + +<p>He spent the day upon which his +doom was pronounced—alone. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">[463]</a></span> +following day found him at an early +hour at the family mansion in Grosvenor +Square,—not alone,—for his little +Alice was with him. He knocked at +the door,—the well-known porter +opened it, and started at the melancholy +man he saw. Sorrow and sickness +claim respect, and they found it +here. The porter knew not whether +he should please his master by admitting +the visitors, but he did not +think of turning them away. They +passed on. His name was announced +to his mother. She came to him at +once.</p> + +<p>"Rupert!" cried Lady Railton, +looking at him with astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Mother," he answered placidly, +"I have brought you my child—the +innocent and unoffending. She will be +an orphan soon—as you may guess. +You will protect and be a mother to +her?"</p> + +<p>The proudest of women was sufficiently +humbled. The prodigal was +received with a tenderness that came +too late—a welcome that had nothing +of rejoicing. He was forgiven, but +his pardon availed him nothing. He +was watched and attended with affectionate +care, when watching and +attention could not add an hour to +his life, or one consolation to his +bruised spirit. The trial came on, +a verdict was pronounced in favour of +the plaintiff. The knot that had been +violently tied was violently broken +asunder. Upon the evening preceding +that day, Rupert Sinclair had finished +with the earth. He died, with +his little darling kneeling at his side. +He died, breathing her name.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Years have passed since that hour. +I have seen much since I followed my +poor friend to his last resting-place. +It has been my lot to behold a proud +and haughty woman instructed by +misfortune, and elevated by human +grief. Lady Railton repaired the +folly of a life by her conduct towards +the child committed to her charge. +She did her duty to the lovely Alice; +she fulfilled her obligations to her +father.—I have seen vice terribly punished. +A few months ago, I stood at +a pauper's grave. It was the grave +of <span class="smcap">Elinor Travis</span>. Deserted by +Lord Minden, she descended in the +scale of vice,—for years she lived in +obscurity,—she was buried at the +public charge. The family of General +Travis has long since been extinct. +The money with which his daughter +supplied him in Lyons enabled him +to compound with a merchant, whose +name he had forged, and to leave +Europe for ever.</p> + +<p>The little Alice is a matron now, +but lovely in the meridian of her virtuous +life, as in her earlier morn. She +is the mother of a happy family—herself +its brightest ornament.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">[464]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOCHELAGA4" id="HOCHELAGA4"></a>HOCHELAGA.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Let</span> not the unsophisticated reader +be alarmed at the somewhat barbarous +and unintelligible word that heads +this article. Let him not be deterred +by a name from the investigation of +facts, nor hindered by the repulsive +magic of harshly-sounding syllables +from rambling with us through the +pages of an amusing and clever book. +<span class="smcap">Hochelaga</span> is neither a heathen +god nor a Mohawk chief, an Indian +cacique nor a Scandinavian idol, but +simply the ancient and little known +name of a well-known and interesting +country. Under it is designated a +vast and flourishing territory, a bright +jewel in England's crown, a land +whose daily increasing population, if +only partially of British origin, yet is +ruled by British laws, and enjoys the +blessings of British institutions. On +the continent of North America, over +whose southern and central portions +the banner of republicanism exultingly +floats, a district yet remains where +monarchical government and conservative +principles are upheld and respected. +By nature it is far from +being the most favoured region of that +New World which Columbus first discovered +and Spaniards and English +first colonized. It has neither the mineral +wealth of Mexico nor the luxuriant +fertility of the Southern States. +Within its limits no cotton fields wave +or sugar-canes rustle; the tobacco +plant displays not its broad and valuable +leaf; the crimson cochineal and +the purple indigo are alike unknown; +no mines of silver and gold freight +galleons for the Eastern world. Its +produce is industriously wrung from +stubborn fields and a rigid climate—not +generously, almost spontaneously, +yielded by a glowing temperature and +teeming soil. The corn and timber +which it exchanges for European manufactures +and luxuries, are results of +the white man's hard and honest labour, +not of the blood and sweat and +ill-requited toil of flagellated negroes +and oppressed Indians. From the +Lakes and the St Lawrence to Labrador +and the Bay of Hudson this country +extends. Its name is <span class="smcap">Canada</span>.</p> + +<p>Mr Eliot Warburton, a gentleman +favourably known to the English public, +as author of a pleasant book of +travel in the East, has given the +sanction and benefit of his editorship +to a narrative of rambles and observations +in the Western hemisphere. +We put little faith in editorships; +favour and affection have induced +many able men to endorse indifferent +books; and we took up <i>Hochelaga</i> +with all due disposition to be difficult, +and to resist an imposition, had such +been practised. Even the tender and +touching compliments exchanged between +author and editor in their respective +prefaces, did not mollify us, +or dispose us to look leniently upon a +poor production. We are happy to +say that we were speedily disarmed +by the contents of the volumes; that +we threw aside the critical cat-o'-nine-tails, +whose deserved and well-applied +lashes have made many a literary sinner +to writhe, and prepared for the +more grateful task of commending the +agreeable pages of an intelligent and +unprejudiced traveller. Since the latter +chooses to be anonymous, we have +no right to dispel his incognito, or to +seek so to do. Concerning him, therefore, +we will merely state what may +be gathered from his book; that he +is plump, elderly, good-tempered, and +kind-hearted, and, we suspect, an ex-<i>militaire</i>.</p> + +<p>Before opening the campaign in +Canada, let us, for a moment, step +ashore in what our author styles the +fishiest of modern capitals, St John's, +Newfoundland. Here codfish are the +one thing universal; acres of sheds +roofed with cod, laid out to dry, boats +fishing for cod, ships loading with it, +fields manured with it, and, best of +all, fortunes made by it. The accomplishments +of the daughter, the education +of the son, the finery of the +mother, the comforts of the father, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">[465]</a></span> +all are paid for with this profitable fish. +The population subsist upon it; figuratively, +not literally. For, although +the sea is alive with cod, the earth +covered with it, and the air impregnated +with its odour, it is carefully +banished from the dinner table, and +"an observation made on its absence +from that apparently appropriate position, +excited as much astonishment +as if I had made a remark to a Northumberland +squire that he had not a +head-dish of Newcastle coals." But +the abundance which renders it unpalatable +to the Newfoundlanders, +procures them more acceptable viands, +and all the luxuries of life. The climate +ungenial, the soil barren, crops +are difficult to obtain, and rarely ripen; +even potatoes and vegetables are but +scantily compelled from the niggard +earth; fish, the sole produce, is the +grand article of barter. In exchange +for his lenten ration of <i>bacallao</i>, the +Spaniard sends his fruits and Xeres, +the Portuguese his racy port, the +Italian his Florence oil and Naples +maccaroni. Every where, but especially +in those "countries of the Catholic +persuasion" where the fasts of +the Romish church are most strictly +observed, Newfoundland finds customers +for its cod and suppliers of its +wants.</p> + +<p>Excepting in the case of a boundary +question to settle, or a patriot revolt +to quell, Canada obtains in England +a smaller share than it deserves +of the public thoughts. It does not +appeal to the imagination by those +attractive elements of interest which +so frequently rivet attention on others +of our colonies. India is brought into +dazzling relief by its Oriental magnificence +and glitter, and by its feats of +arms; the West Indies have wealth +and an important central position; +our possessions towards the South +pole excite curiosity by their distance +and comparative novelty. But +Canada, pacific and respectable, +plain and unpretending, to many suggests +no other idea than that of a +bleak and thinly-peopled region, with +little to recommend it, even in the +way of picturesque scenery or natural +beauty. Those who have hitherto +entertained such an opinion may feel +surprised at the following description +of Quebec.</p> + +<p>"Take mountain and plain, sinuous +river and broad tranquil waters, +stately ship and tiny boat, gentle hill +and shady valley, bold headland and +rich fruitful fields, frowning battlement +and cheerful villa, glittering +dome and rural spire, flowery garden +and sombre forest—group them all +into the choicest picture of ideal beauty +your fancy can create—arch it over +with a cloudless sky—light it up with +a radiant sun, and, lest the sheen +should be too dazzling, hang a veil +of lighted haze over all, to soften the +lines and perfect the repose; you will +then have seen Quebec on this September +morning."</p> + +<p>The internal arrangements of the +chief port and second town of Canada +do not correspond with its external +appearance and charming environs. +The public buildings are ugly; the +unsymmetrical streets twist and turn +in every possible direction—are narrow +and of quaint aspect, composed +of houses irregularly placed and built. +The suburbs, chiefly peopled by French +Canadians, are of wood, with exception +of the churches, hospitals, and +convents. The population of the city, +which now amounts to forty thousand +souls, has increased fifteen thousand +during the last fifteen years. The +people are as motley as their dwellings; +in all things there is a curious +mixture of French and English. "You +see over a corner house, 'Cul de Sac +Street;' on a sign-board, 'Ignace +Bougainville, chemist and druggist.' +In the shops, with English money you +pay a Frenchman for English goods; +the piano at the evening party of Mrs +What's-her-name makes Dutch concert +with the music of Madame Chose's +<i>soirée</i> in the next house. Sad to say, +the two races do not blend; they are +like oil and water—the English the +oil, being the richer and at the top." +The difference of descent tells its tale; +the restless, grumbling Anglo-Saxon +pushes his way upwards, energetic +and indefatigable; the easy-going, +contented French-Canadian, remains +where he is, or rather sinks than rises. +The latter has many good qualities; +he is honest, sober, hardy, kind, and +courteous. Brave and loyal, he willingly +takes the field in defence of the +established government and of British +rights. The most brilliant exploit of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">[466]</a></span> +the last American war is recorded +of three hundred French Canadians +under M. de Salaberry, who, by their +resolute maintenance of a well-selected +position, compelled General Hampton, +with a park of artillery and a body of +troops twenty times as numerous as +themselves, to evacuate Lower Canada. +Simple, credulous, and easily +worked upon, it was at the incitation +of a few knaves and adventurers that +a portion of the French population +were brought to share in the rebellion +of 1837. There is little danger of +another such outbreak, even though +colonial demagogues should again agitate, +French republicans again rave +about British tyranny towards their +oppressed brethren, and though the +refuse and rabble of the States should +once more assemble upon the frontier +to aid and abet an insurrection. The +abortive result of the last revolt, the +little sympathy it found amongst the +masses of the population, the judicious +and conciliatory measures of recent +governors, have combined to win over +the disaffected, and to convince them +that it is for their true interest to +continue under the mild rule of Great +Britain. An excellent feeling has +been shown by all parties during our +late difficult relations with the United +States. "The Americans are altogether +mistaken," said the leader of +the Upper Canada reformers, "if +they suppose that political differences +in Canada arise from any sympathy +with them or their institutions; we +have our differences, but we are perfectly +able to settle them ourselves, +and will not suffer their interference."</p> + +<p>"My countrymen," said one of the +most influential French Canadians, +during a discussion on the militia bill, +"would be the first to rush to the frontier, +and joyfully oppose their breasts +to the foe; the last shot fired on this +continent in defence of the British +crown will be by the hand of a French +Canadian. By habits, feeling, and religion, +we are monarchists and conservatives."</p> + +<p>When such sentiments are expressed +by the heads of the opposition, there +is little fear for Canada, and ambitious +democrats must be content to +push southwards. In a northerly +direction it would be absurd for them +to expect either to propagate their +principles or extend their territory. +They believe that in the event of a +war with England, twenty or thirty +thousand militia would speedily overrun +and conquer Canada. In a clear +and comprehensive statement of Canada's +means of defence, the author +of <i>Hochelaga</i> shows the folly of this +belief, which assuredly can only be +seriously entertained by men overweeningly +presumptuous or utterly +oblivious of the events of thirty years +ago. When, in 1812, we came to +loggerheads with our Yankee cousins, +and they walked into Canada, expecting, +as they now would, to walk over +it, they soon found that they were to +take very little by their motion. The +whole number of British troops then +in the colony was under two thousand +four hundred men. Upper Canada +was comparatively a wilderness, occupied +by a few scattered labourers, +difficult to organise into militia, and +including no class out of which officers +could be made. Yet, even with this +slender opposition, how did the invaders +fare? Where were the glorious +results so confidently anticipated? +Let the defeat at Chrystler's farm, the +rout and heavy loss at Queenstown, +the surrender of General Hall with his +whole army and the territory of Michigan, +reply to the question. And to-day +how do matters stand? "Within +the last twenty years, several entire +Scottish clans, under their chiefs—M'Nabs, +Glengarys, and others, worthy +of their warlike ancestors—have +migrated hither. Hardy and faithful +men from the stern hills of Ulster, +and fiery but kind-hearted peasants +from the south of Ireland, with sturdy +honest yeomen from Yorkshire and +Cumberland, have fixed their homes +in the Canadian forests. These immigrants, +without losing their love and +reverence for the crown and laws of +their native country, have become +attached to their adopted land, where +their stake is now fixed, and are +ready to defend their properties and +their government against foreign invasion +or domestic treason." The +militia, composed in great part of +the excellent materials just enumerated, +is of the nominal strength of +140,000 men. Of these a fourth might +take the field, without their absence +seriously impeding the commerce and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">[467]</a></span> +industry of the country. The Canadian +arsenals are well supplied, and +nearly eight thousand regular troops +occupy the various garrisons. Quebec, +with its strong fortifications and imposing +citadel, may bid defiance to any +force that could be brought against it +from the States; important works have +been erected upon the island of Montreal; +Kingston and its adjacent forts +would require a large army and corresponding +naval force to subdue it; +Toronto would give the invaders some +trouble. Defensive works exist along +the frontier of Lower Canada. In no +way has the security of the colonies +been neglected, or the possibility of a +war overlooked. But there is yet one +measure whose adoption the author of +<i>Hochelaga</i> strongly urges, whose utility +is obvious, and which we trust in +due time to see carried out. This is +the construction of a railroad, connecting +the whole of British America; +commencing at Halifax and extending, +by Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, +and Toronto, to Amherstburg and the +far west. The essential portion of +the line is that from Halifax to Quebec, +by which, when the St Lawrence +is closed by ice, troops might be forwarded +in a couple of days to the +latter city. In the spring of 1847, +we are told, the canals will be completed +which are to open the great +lakes to our fleets. For summer time +that may suffice. But the five months' +winter must not be overlooked. And +apart from the military view of the +case, the benefit of such a railway would +be enormous. "It will strengthen the +intimacy between this splendid colony +and the seat of government: the emigrant +from home, and the produce +from the west, will then pass through +British waters and over British territories +only, without enriching the +coffers of a foreign state. The Americans, +with their great mercantile +astuteness, are making every effort to +divert the trade of Canada into their +channels, and to make us in every +way dependent on them for our communications. +The drawback bill, by +which the custom-duties on foreign +goods are refunded on their passing +into our provinces, has already been +attended with great success in obtaining +for them a portion of our carrying +trade, especially during the winter, +when our great highway of the St +Lawrence is closed."</p> + +<p>The estimated cost of the railway, as +far as Quebec, is three millions sterling—a +sum far too large to be raised +by private means in the colony. The +advantages would be manifold, and a +vast impulse would be given to the +prosperity of Canada. The Canadians +are anxious to see the scheme +carried out, but they look to this +country for aid. As one means of +repaying the expenses of construction, +it has been proposed that tracts of +land along the line of road should be +granted to the company: the railway +once completed, these would speedily +become of great value. The engineering +difficulties are stated to be very slight.</p> + +<p>This proposed railway brings us +back to Quebec, whence we have been +decoyed sooner than we intended, by +the discussion of Canada's military +defences. We sincerely wish that +these may never be needed; that no +clouds may again overshadow our relations +with the States, and that, +should such arise, they may promptly +and amicably be dissipated. In disputes +and discussions with the great +American republic, this country has +ever shown itself yielding; far too much +so, if such pliancy encourages to further +encroachment. But if we are at +last met in a good spirit, if our forbearance +and facility are read aright, +it will be some compensation to Great +Britain for having more than once +ceded what she might justly have +maintained. We shall not at present +enter into the subject, or investigate +how far certain English governments +have been justified in relinquishing to +American clamour, and for the sake of +peace, tracts of territory which it +would have been more dignified to +retain, even by the strong hand. Insignificant +though these concessions +may individually have appeared, their +sum is important. Were evidence of +that fact wanting, we should find it +in the book before us.</p> + +<p>"Extensive though may be this +splendid province of Canada, it is yet +very different indeed from what it +originally was. In the fourteenth +year of the reign of George the Third, +the boundaries of the province of Quebec, +as it was then called, were defined +by an act of the Imperial Parliament.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">[468]</a></span> +By that act it included a +great extent of what is now New +England, and the whole of the country +between the state of Pennsylvania, +the river Ohio and the Mississipi, +north to the Hudson's Bay territory, +where now a great portion of the rich +and flourishing Western States add +their strength to the neighbouring republic. +By gradual encroachments on +the one hand, and concessions on +the other, by the misconstruction of +treaties and division of boundaries, +have these vast and valuable tracts +of country been separated from the +British empire."</p> + +<p>England has the reputation of holding +her own with a firm and tenacious +grasp; and by foreign rivals it is imputed +to her as a crime that she is +greedy and aggressive, more apt to +take with both hands, than to give +up with either. If such be really the +general character of her policy, in +North America she has strangely +relaxed it. None, it is true, not even +our kinsmen beyond the Atlantic, +highly as they estimate their own +weight and prowess, will suspect this +country of giving way from other +motives than a wish to remain on amicable +terms with a relative and a +customer. But such considerations +must not be allowed undue influence. +It would be unworthy the British +character to fly to arms for a pique +or a bauble; it would be still more +degrading to submit patiently to a +systematic series of encroachments. +Unquestionably, had France stood +towards America in the same position +that we do, with respect to Canada, +and if America had pursued with +France the same course that she has +done with us, there would long since +have been broken heads between +Frenchmen and Yankees; probably +at this very moment the tricolor and +the stars and stripes would have been +buffeting each other by sea and land. +We do not set up France as an +example to this country in that particular. +We are less sensitive than +our Gallic neighbours, and do not +care to injure or peril substantial interests +by excessive punctiliousness. +But there is a point at which forbearance +must cease. Governments +have patched up disputes, and made +concessions, through fear of complicating +their difficulties, and of incurring +blame for plunging the country +into a war. The country has looked +on, if not approvingly, at least passively; +and, the critical moment past, +has borne no malice, and let bygones +be bygones. But if war became +necessary, the people of England +would, whilst deploring that necessity, +enter upon it cheerfully, and +feel confident of its result. There +must be no more boundary questions +trumped up, no more attempts to chip +pieces off our frontier; or, strong as +the desire is to keep friends with +Brother Jonathan, something serious +will ensue. Meanwhile, and in case +of accidents, it is proper and prudent +to keep our bayonets bright, and to +put bolts and bars upon the gates of +Canada.</p> + +<p>In Quebec, our Hochelagian friend +seems greatly to have enjoyed himself. +Judging from his account, it +must be a pleasant place and eligible +residence. Such quadrilling and polkaing, +and riding and sleighing—picnics +in the summer to the Chaudière +falls and other beautiful places, fishing-parties +to Lake Beaufort in the +fine Canadian autumn, snow-shoing +in the winter, fun and merriment at +all seasons. In the Terpsichorean +divertisements above cited, our author—being, +as already observed, obese and +elderly—took no share, but looked on +good-humouredly, and slily noted the +love-passages between the handsome +English captains and pretty Canadian +girls. The latter are most attractive. +Brought out young, and +mixing largely in society, they are +not very deeply read, but are exceedingly +loveable, and possess an +indescribable charm of manner. Owing +probably to the extremes of heat +and cold in Canada, beauty is there +less durable than in the mother +country. Early matured, it speedily +fades. The fair Canadians make good +use of the interval, and find it abundantly +long to play havoc with the +hearts of the other sex. The English +officers are particularly susceptible +to their fascinations, and many +marry in Canada; as do also a large +proportion of the English merchants +who go over there. The style of dress +of these seductive damsels is simple, +but tasteful. In winter, of course,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">[469]</a></span> +they are furred to the eyes, as a protection +from the piercing cold, which +rivals that of Siberia. Muffed and +gauntleted, well packed in bear and +buffalo skins, they are driven about +in sledges by their male friends, who +wear huge fur caps, flapped over the +ears, enormous blanket or buffalo +coats, jack-boots, moose-skin moccasins, +and other contrivances equally +inelegant and comfortable. The extreme +dryness of the air renders the +cold much more endurable than might +be supposed. The sun shines brightly, +the atmosphere is crisp and exhilarating; +there is rarely much wind. +Under these circumstances, the thermometer +may go down, as it frequently +does, to thirty or forty degrees +below zero, without any serious inconvenience +or suffering being felt. +When a gale comes during the cold +season, the effect is very different. +Our author tells us of a certain Sunday, +"when the thermometer was at +thirty degrees below zero, and a high +wind blew at the same time. The +effect, in many respects, was not unlike +that of intense heat; the sky was +very red about the setting sun, and +deep blue elsewhere; the earth and +river were covered with a thin haze, +and the tin cross and spires, and the +new snow, shone with almost unnatural +brightness; dogs went mad +from the cold and want of water; +metal exposed to the air blistered the +hand, as if it had come out of a fire; +no one went out of doors but from +necessity, and those who did, hurried +along with their fur-gloved hands +over their faces, as if to guard against +an atmosphere infected with the +plague; for as the icy wind touched +the skin, it scorched it like a blaze. +But such a day as this occurs only +once in many years."</p> + +<p>There is tolerable fishing and shooting +around Quebec; trout in abundance, +salmon within five-and-twenty +miles, snipe and woodcock, hare and +partridge. Angling, however, is rendered +almost as unpleasant an operation +for the fisher as for the fish, by +the mosquitoes, which abound in the +summer months, and are extremely +troublesome in country places, though +they do not venture into towns. To +get good shooting it is necessary to +go a considerable distance. But the +grand object of the Canadian chase is +the enormous moose-deer, which +grows to the height of seven feet and +upwards, and is sometimes fierce and +dangerous. In the month of February, +our author and a military friend +started on a moose-hunting expedition, +which lasted six days, and ended +in the slaughter of two fine specimens. +They were guided by four Indians, +belonging to a remnant of the Huron +tribe, settled at the village of Sorette, +near Quebec; a degenerate race, mostly +with a cross of the French Canadian +in their blood, idle, dirty, covetous, +and especially drunken. There +are other domesticated Indians in +Canada who bear a higher character. +During the insurrection, a party of rebels +having approached the Indian +village of Caughrawaga, the warriors +of the tribe hastily armed themselves, +and sallied forth to attack them. +Taken by surprise, the insurgents were +made prisoners, bound with their own +sashes, and conveyed to Montreal +jail. The victors were of the once +powerful and ferocious tribe of the +Six Nations. Their chief told the +English general commanding, that, if +necessary, he would bring him, within +four-and-twenty hours, the scalps of +every inhabitant of the neighbourhood. +None of the Red men's prisoners had +been injured.</p> + +<p>The moose-hunting guides were of a +very different stamp to the brave, +loyal, and humane Indians of Caughrawaga. +They were most disgusting +and sensual ruffians, eating themselves +torpid, and constantly manœuvring +to get at the brandy bottle. +As guides, they proved tolerably efficient. +The account of the snow houses +they constructed for the night, and of +their proceedings in the "bush," is +highly interesting. Large fires were +lighted in the sleeping cabins, but +they neither melted the snow nor kept +out the intense cold. "About midnight +I awoke, fancying that some +strong hand was grasping my shoulders: +it was the cold. The fire blazed +away brightly, so close to our feet +that it singed our robes and blankets; +but at our heads diluted spirits froze +into a solid mass." Another curious +example is given of the violence of +Canadian cold. A couple of houses +were burned, and "the flames raged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">[470]</a></span> +with fury in the still air, but did not +melt the hard thick snow on the roof +till it fell into the burning ruins. The +water froze in the engines; hot water +was then obtained, and as the stream +hissed off the fiery rafters, the particles +fell frozen into the flames below." +A sharp climate this! but in +spite of it and of various inconveniences +and hardships, the hunters +reached the <i>ravagé</i> or moose-yard, +bagged their brace of deer, and returned +to Quebec, satisfied with their +expedition, still better pleased at +having it over, and fully convinced +that once of that sort of thing is +enough for a lifetime.</p> + +<p>From Quebec to Montreal, up the +St Lawrence, in glorious midsummer +weather, our traveller takes us, in a +great American river-steamer, like a +house upon the water, with a sort of +upper story built upon deck, and a +promenade upon its roof, gliding past +green slopes and smiling woodlands, +neat country-houses and white cottages, +and fertile fields, in which the +<i>habitans</i>, as the French Canadian +peasants are called, are seen at work, +enlivening their toil by their national +song of <i>La Claire Fontaine</i>, and by +other pleasant old ditties, first sung, +centuries ago, on the flowery banks +of the sunny Loire. Truly there is +something delightful and affecting in +the simple, harmless, contented life +of these French Canadians, in their +clinging to old customs—their very +costume is that of the first settlers—and +to old superstitions, in their +unaffected piety and gentle courtesy. +They do not "progress," they +are not "go-a-head;" of education +they have little; they are neither +"smart" nor "spry;" but they are +virtuous and happy. Knowing nothing +of the world beyond <i>La belle +Canada</i>, they have no desires beyond +a tranquil life of labour in their modest +farms and peaceful homesteads.</p> + +<p>Montreal is a handsome bustling +town, with a prosperous trade and +metropolitan aspect, and combines +the energy and enterprise of an American +city with the solidity of an English +one. In size, beauty, and population, +it has made astonishing strides +within the last few years. It owes +much to the removal thither of the +seat of government, more still to a +first-rate commercial position and to +the energy of its inhabitants. Its +broad and convenient stone wharf is +nearly a mile in length; its public +buildings are large and numerous, +more so than is necessary for its present +population of fifty thousand persons, +and evidently built in anticipation +of a great and speedy increase. +The most important in size, and the +largest in the New World, is the +French cathedral, within which, we +are told, ten thousand persons can at +one time kneel. The people of Montreal +are less sociable than those of +Quebec; the entertainments are more +showy but less agreeable. Party +feeling runs high; the elections are +frequently attended with much excitement +and bitterness; occasional +collisions take place between the +English, Irish, and French races. +Employment is abundant, luxury +considerable, plenty every where.</p> + +<p>It was during his journey from +Montreal to Kingston, performed +principally in steam-boats, that the +author of <i>Hochelaga</i> first had the felicity +of setting foot on the soil of the +States. Happening to mention that +he had never before enjoyed that +honour, a taciturn, sallow-looking +gentleman on board the steamer, who +wore a broad-brimmed white hat, +smoked perpetually, but never spoke, +waited till he saw him fairly on shore, +and then removed the cigar from his +mouth and broke silence. "'I reckon, +stranger,' was his observation, +'you have it to say now that you +have been in a free country.' It +was afterwards discovered that this +enthusiast for 'free' countries was a +planter from Alabama, and that, to +the pleasures of his tour, he united +the business of inquiring for runaway +slaves." On this occasion, however, +the singular advantage of treading +republican ground was luxuriated in +by our traveller but for a very brief +time. He had disembarked only to +stretch his legs, and returning on +board, proceeded to Lake Ontario +and to Kingston—an uncomfortable-looking +place, with wide dreary streets, +at the sides of which the grass grows. +Nevertheless, it has some trade and +an increasing population—the latter +rather Yankeefied, from the proximity +to, and constant intercourse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471">[471]</a></span> +with, the States. They "guess" a +few, and occasionally speak through +the nose more than is altogether +becoming in British subjects and loyal +Canadians, both of which, however, +they unquestionably are. Kingston +is a favourite residence with retired +officers of the English army and navy. +The necessaries of life are very cheap; +shooting and fishing good; and for +those who love boating, the inland +ocean of Ontario spreads its broad +blue waters, enlivened by a host of +steam and sailing vessels, fed by numerous +streams, and supplying the +dwellers on its banks with fish of +varied species and peculiar excellence. +The majority of emigrants +from the mother country settle in the +lake districts, where labour is well +remunerated and farmers' profits are +good. But the five-and-twenty thousand +who annually arrive, are as a +drop of water in the ocean; they are +imperceptible in that vast extent of +country. Here and there, it is true, +one finds a tolerably well-peopled +district. This is the case in the vicinity +of the Bay of Quinté, a narrow +arm of Lake Ontario, eighty miles in +length, and in many places not more +than one broad. "On its shores the +forests are rapidly giving way to +thriving settlements, some of them in +situations of very great beauty."</p> + +<p>To be in Canada without visiting +Niagara, would be equivalent to going +to Rome without entering St +Peter's. As in duty bound, our traveller +betook himself to the Falls; and +he distinguishes himself from many of +those who have preceded him thither +by describing naturally and unaffectedly +their aspect, and the impression +they made upon him. The "everlasting +fine water privilege," as the +Americans call this prodigious cataract, +did not at first strike him with +awe; but the longer he gazed and +listened, the greater did his admiration +and astonishment become. Seated +upon the turf, near Table Rock, +whence the best view is obtained, he +stared long and eagerly at the great +wonder, until he was dragged away +to inspect the various accessories and +smaller marvels which hungry cicerrones +insist upon showing, and confiding +tourists think it incumbent +upon them to visit. Cockneyism +and bad taste have found their way +even to Niagara. On both the English +and the American side, museum +and camera-obscura, garden, wooden +monument, and watch-tower abound; +and boys wander about, distributing +Mosaic puffs of pagodas and belvideres, +whence the finest possible +views are to be obtained. Niagara, +according to these disinterested gentry +and their poetical announcements, +must be seen from all sides; from +above and from below, sideways and +even from behind. The traveller is +rowed to the foot of the Falls, or as +near to it as possible, getting not a +little wet in the operation; he is then +seduced to the top of the pagoda, +twenty-five cents being charged for +the accommodation; then hurried off +to Iris island, where the Indians, in +days long gone by, had their burying-ground; +and, finally, having been +inducted into an oil-cloth surtout, and +a pair of hard, dirty shoes, he is compelled +to shuffle along a shingly path +cut out of the cliff, within the curve +described by the falling water—thus +obtaining a posterior view of the +cataract. Chilled with cold, soaked +and blinded by the spray, deafened +with the noise, sliding over numerous +eels, which wind themselves, like +wreathing snakes, round his ankles +and into his shoes, he undergoes this +last infliction; and is then let loose to +wander where he listeth, free from +the monotonous vulgarity of guides +and the wearisome babble of visitors, +and having acquired the conviction +that he might as well have saved +himself all this plague and trouble, +for that, "as there is but one perfect +view for a painting, so there is but +one for Niagara. See it from Table +Rock: gaze thence upon it for hours, +days if you like, and then go home. +As for the Rapids, Cave of the Winds, +Burning Springs, &c., &c., you might +as well enter into an examination of +the gilt figures on the picture frame, +as waste your time on them."</p> + +<p>With the first volume of <i>Hochelaga</i>, +the author concludes his Canadian +experiences, and rambles into the +States—beyond a doubt the most ticklish +territory a literary tourist can +venture upon. Of the very many +books that have been written concerning +America, not one did we ever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472">[472]</a></span> +hear of that was fortunate enough to +find approval in the eyes of Americans. +And we are entirely at a loss +to conjecture what sort of notice of +them and their country <i>would</i> prove +satisfactory to these very difficult +gentry. None, we apprehend, that +fell short of unqualified praise; none +that did not depreciate all other nations +to their greater glorification, +and set America and her institutions +on that pinnacle of perfection +which her self-satisfied sons persuade +themselves they have attained. To +please their pampered palates, praise +must be unlimited; no hints of positive +deficiency, or even of possible +improvement, must chill the glowing +eulogium. Censure, even conditional +commendation, they cannot stomach. +Admit that they are brave and hospitable, +energetic and industrious, intelligent +and patriotic; it will advance +you little in their good graces, unless +you also aver that they are neither +braggarts nor jealous; that, as a nation, +they are honest and honourable; +as individuals, models of polished demeanour +and gentlemanly urbanity. +Nay, when you have done all that, +the chances are that some red-hot +planter from the southern States calls +upon you to drink Success to slavery, +and the Abolitionists to the tar-barrel! +The author of <i>Hochelaga</i> is aware of +this weak point of the American character: +he likes the Americans; +considers them a wonderful people; +praises them more than we ever heard +them praised, save by themselves; +and yet, because he cannot shut his +eyes to their obvious failings, he feels +that he is ruined in their good opinion. +On his way to Saratoga, he fell +in with a Georgian gentleman and +lady, pleasant people, who begged him +frankly to remark upon any thing in +the country and its customs which +appeared to him unusual or strange. +He did so, and his criticisms were +taken in good part till he chanced +upon slavery. This was the sore +point. Luckily there was a heavy +swell upon the lake, and the Georgian +became sea-sick, which closed +the discussion as it began to get +stormy. With other Americans on +board the steamer, our traveller +sought opportunities of discoursing. +He found them courteous and intelligent; +with a good deal of superficial +information, derived chiefly from +newspaper reading; partial to the +English, as individuals—but not as a +nation; prone to judge of English +institutions and manners from isolated +and exceptional examples; to reason +"on the state of the poor from the +Andover workhouse: on the aristocracy, +from the late Lord Hertford; +on morality, from Dr Lardner." +Every where he met with kindness +and hospitality; but, on the other +hand, he was not unfrequently disgusted +by coarseness of manners, and +compelled to smile at the utter want +of tact which is an American characteristic, +and which inherent defect +education, travel, good-humour, and +kind-heartedness, are insufficient to +eradicate or neutralise in the natives +of the Union. "A friend, in giving +me hints of what was best worth seeing +in the Capitol at Washington, said, +'there are some very fine pictures. +Oh, I beg pardon; I mean that there +is a splendid view from the top of the +building.' I knew perfectly well that +those paintings, which his good-nature +rebuked him for having incautiously +mentioned, represented the surrender +of Burgoyne, and other similar scenes—in +reality about as heart-rending +to me as a sketch of the battle of +Hexham would be. To this day, I +admire my friend's kind intentions +more than his tact in carrying them +out."</p> + +<p>The expectoration, chewing, and +other nastinesses indulged in by many +classes of Americans, and which have +proved such fruitful themes for the +facetiousness of book-writers, are very +slightly referred to by the author of +<i>Hochelaga</i>, who probably thinks that +enough has already been said on such +sickening subjects. He attributes +some of these peculiarities to a sort +of general determination to alter and +improve on English customs. In +driving, the Americans keep the right +side of the road instead of the left; +in eating, they reverse the uses of the +knife and fork; perhaps it is the same +spirit of opposition that prompts them +to bolt their food dog-fashion and with +railroad rapidity, instead of imitating +the cleanly decorum with which Englishmen +discuss their meals. Talking +of knives—in most of the country inns<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473">[473]</a></span> +they are broad, round, and blunt at +the point, in order that they may be +used as spoons, and even thrust half-way +down the throats of tobacco-chewing +republicans, who do not +hesitate to cut the butter, and help +themselves to salt, with the same +weapon that has just been withdrawn +from the innermost recesses of their +mouth, almost of their gullet. In +America, people seem to be for ever +in a hurry; every thing is done "on +the rush," and as if it were merely +the preliminary to something else +much more important, to which it is +essential to get as speedily as possible. +At Boston our traveller was put into +a six-bedded room, the only empty +one in the hotel. Three of the beds +were engaged by Americans. "I +as fortunate to awaken just as the +American gentlemen came in; for it +gave me an opportunity of seeing a +dispatch in going to rest rivalling that +in the dinner department. From the +time the door opened, there appeared +to be nothing but a hop-step-and-jump +into bed, and then a snore of the profoundest +repose. Early in the morning, +when these gentlemen awoke from +their balmy slumbers, there was another +hop-step-and-jump out of bed, +and we saw no more of them." We +are happy to learn, however, that a +great change has of late years been +wrought in the coarser and more offensive +points of American manners +and habits—chiefly, we are assured, +by the satirical works of English +writers. Much yet remains to be +done, as is admitted in the book before +us, where it is certain that as good a +case as possible, consistent with truth, +has been made out for the Americans. +"Even now I defy any one to exaggerate +the horrors of chewing, and its +odious consequences; the shameless +selfishness which seizes on a dish, +and appropriates the best part of its +contents, if the plate cannot contain +the whole; and the sullen silence at +meal times." The class to which this +passage refers is a very numerous +one, and far from the lowest in the +country—as regards position and circumstances, +that is to say. Its members +are met with in every steam-boat +and railway carriage, at boarding-houses +and public dinner tables. They +have dollars in plenty, wear expensive +clothes, and live on the fat of the land; +but their manners are infinitely worse +than those of any class with which a +traveller in England can possibly be +brought in contact. Most of them, +doubtless, have risen from very inferior +walks of life. Their circumstances +have improved, themselves have remained +stationary, chiefly from the +want of an established standard of +refinement to strain up to. It would +be as absurd as illiberal to assert that +there are no well-bred, gentlemanly +men in the States; but it is quite +certain that they are the few, the +exceptions, insufficient in number to +constitute a class. Elegance and republicanism +are sworn foes; the latter +condemns what the first depends upon. +An aristocracy, an army, an established +church, mould, by their influence +and example, the manners of +the masses. The Americans decline +purchasing polish at such a price. The +day will come when they shall discover +their error, and cease to believe that +the rule of the many constitutes the +perfection of liberty and happiness. +At present, although they eagerly +snatch at the few titles current in their +country, and generals and honourables +are every where in exceeding abundance, +the only real eminence amongst +them is money. Its eager and unremitting +pursuit leaves little time for +the cultivation of those tastes which +refine and improve both mind and +manners. Nevertheless, as above +mentioned, there <i>is</i> an improvement +in the latter item; and certain gross +inelegancies, which passed unnoticed +half a score years ago, now draw down +public censure upon their perpetrators. +"A Trollope! a Trollope!" was the +cry upon a certain evening at the +Baltimore theatre, when one of the +sovereign people fixed his feet upon +the rail of the seat before him, and +stared at the performance through his +upraised legs. However they may +sneer at "benighted Britishers," and +affect to pity and look down upon +their oppressed and unhappy condition, +the Americans secretly entertain +a mighty deference for this country +and the opinion of its people. The +English press is looked upon with +profound respect; a leading article in +the <i>Times</i> is read as an oracle, and +carries weight even when it exasperates.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474">[474]</a></span> +And with all his assumed +superiority, the American is never +displeased, but the contrary, at being +mistaken for an Englishman. The +stinging missiles fired from this side of +the Atlantic at Pennsylvanian repudiators +had no small share in bringing +about the recent tardy payment of +interest. The satire of Sydney Smith +spoke more loudly to American ears +than did the voices of conscience and +common honesty.</p> + +<p>The old Hibernian boast, revived +and embalmed by Moore in a melody, +that a fair and virtuous maiden, decked +with gems both rich and rare, might +travel through Ireland unprotected +and unmolested, may now be made +by America. So, at least, the author +of <i>Hochelaga</i> instructs us, avouching +his belief that a lady of any age +and unlimited attractions may travel +through the whole Union without a +single annoyance, but aided, on the +contrary, by the most attentive and +unobtrusive civility. And many American +ladies do so travel; their own +propriety of behaviour, and the chivalry +of their countrymen, for sole +protectors. The best seat in coach +and at table, the best of every thing, +indeed, is invariably given up to +them. This practical courtesy to the +sex is certainly an excellent point in +the American character. A humorous +exemplification is given of it in +<i>Hochelaga</i>. An Englishman at the +New York theatre, having engaged, +paid for, and established himself in a +snug front corner of a box, thought +himself justified in retaining it, even +when summoned by an American to +yield it to a lady. A discussion ensued. +The pit inquired its cause; +the lady's companion stepped forward +and said, "There is an Englishman +here who will not give up his place to +a lady." Whereupon the indignant +pit swarmed up into the box, gently +seized the offender, and carried him +out of the theatre, neither regarding +nor retaliating his kicks, blows, and +curses, set him carefully down upon +the steps, handed him his hat, his +opera-glass, and the price of his ticket, +and shut the door in his face. "The +shade of the departed Judge Lynch," +concludes the narrator of the anecdote, +"must have rejoiced at such an angelic +administration of his law!"</p> + +<p>On his route from New York to +Boston, the Yankee capital, our author +made sundry observations on his +fellow travellers by railway and steam-boat. +They were very numerous, and +the fares were incredibly low. There +was also a prodigious quantity of luggage, +notwithstanding that many +American gentlemen travel light, with +their linen and brushes in their great-coat +pocket. Others, on the contrary, +have an addiction to very large portmanteaus +of thin strong wood, bound +with iron, nailed with brass, initialed, +double-locked and complicated, and +possessing altogether a peculiarly cautious +and knowing look, which would +stamp them as American though they +were encountered in Cabul or Algeria. +Round the walls of the reading-room +at the Boston hotel were hung maps +of the States, the blue of the American +territory thrusting itself up into the +red of the English to the furthest line +of the different disputed points. "At +the top they were ornamented by +some appropriate national design, +such as the American eagle carrying +the globe in its talons, with one claw +stuck well into Texas, and another +reaching nearly to Mexico."</p> + +<p>A remarkably clean city is Boston, +quite Dutch in its propriety, spotless +in its purity; smoking in the streets +is there prohibited, and chewing has +fewer proselytes than in most parts of +the States. It is one of the most +ancient of American towns, having +been founded within ten years after the +landing of the first New England settlers. +The anniversary of the day when</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A band of exiles moor'd their bark<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On the wild New England shore,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>the 21st December 1620, is still celebrated +at Plymouth, the earliest settlement +of the pilgrim fathers. Thousands +flock from Boston to assist at the +ceremony. On the last anniversary, +the author of <i>Hochelaga</i> was present. +The proceedings of the day commenced +with divine service, performed +by Unitarian and Baptist ministers. +This over, a marshal of the ceremonies +proclaimed that the congregation were +to form in procession and march to +the place where the "Plymouth Rock" +had been, there "to heave a sigh." +The "heaving" having been accomplished +with all due decorum and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475">[475]</a></span> +melancholy—barring that a few unprincipled +individuals in the tail of +the procession, fearing to be late for +dinner, shirked the sighing and took +a short cut to the hotel—the banquet, +not the least important part of the +day's business, commenced. The president +sat in a chair which came over +with the pilgrims in their ship, the +Mayflower. Beside each plate were +placed a few grains of dried maize—a +memento of the first gift of the friendly +natives to the exiles. The dinner +went off with much order. A large +proportion of the persons present were +members of temperance societies, and +drank no wine. The grand treat of +the evening, at least to an Englishman, +was the speechifying. The following +<i>resumé</i> is given to us as containing +the pith and substance of the +majority of the speeches, which were +all prepared for the occasion, and, of +course, contained much the same +thing. The orators usually commenced +with "English persecution, continued +with,—landing in the howling wilderness—icebound +waters—pestilence—starvation—so +on to foreign tyranny—successful +resistance—chainless +eagles—stars and stripes—glorious +independence;—then; unheard of progress—wonderful +industry—stronghold +of Christianity—chosen people—refuge +of liberty;—again; insults of +haughty Albion—blazes of triumph—queen +of the seas deposed for ever—Columbia's +banner of victory floating +over every thing—fire and smoke—thunder +and lightning—mighty republic—boundless +empire. When they +came to the 'innumerable millions' +they were to be a few years hence, +they generally sat down greatly exhausted." +Mr Everett, the late American +minister in London, was present +at this dinner, and replied with ability, +eloquence, and good feeling, to a +speech in which the president had +made a neatly turned and friendly reference +to Great Britain.</p> + +<p>We prefer the American volume of +<i>Hochelaga</i> to the Canadian one, although +both are highly interesting. +But, as he proceeds, the author gains +in vivacity and boldness. There is a +deal of anecdote and lively sketching +in his account of the States; there are +also some novel opinions and sound +reasoning. The chapter on the prospects +of America affords themes for +much curious speculation concerning +the probable partition of the great +republic. The discussion of the subject +is, perhaps, a little premature; +although our author affirms his belief +that many now living will not die till +they have seen monarchy introduced +into the stronghold of republicanism, +and a king governing the slave states +of North America. He recognises, in +the United States, the germs of three +distinct nations, the North, the West, +and the South. Slavery and foreign +warfare, especially the former, are to +be the apples of discord, the wedges +to split the now compact mass. The +men of the North, enlightened and +industrious, commercial and manufacturing, +are strenuous advocates of +peace. They have shown that they +do not fear war; they it was who +chiefly fought the great fight of American +independence; but peace is essential +to their prosperity, and they will +not lightly forego its advantages. +This will sooner or later form the +basis of differences between them and +the Western States, whose turbulent +sons, rapid in their increase, adventurous +and restless, ever pushing +forward, like some rolling tide, deeper +and deeper into the wilderness, and +ever seeking to infringe on neighbours' +boundaries, covet the rich +woods of Canada, the temperate shores +of Oregon, the fertile plains of California. +They have dispossessed, almost +exterminated, the aborigines; +the wild beasts of the forest have +yielded and fled before them, the forest +itself has made way for their +towns and plantations. Growing in +numbers and power with a rapidity +unparalleled in the world's history, +expansion and invasion are to them +a second nature, a devouring instinct. +This unrestrained impulse will sooner +or later urge them to aggressions +and produce a war. This they do not +fear or object to; little injury can +be done to them; but the Northern +States, to whose trade war is ruin, +will not be passively dragged into a +conflict on account of the encroaching +propensities of their western brethren. +These differences of interests will lead +to disputes, ill blood, and finally to +separation.</p> + +<p>Between South and North, the probabilities<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">[476]</a></span> +of a serious, and no very +distant rupture, are strong and manifest. +"Slavery" and "Abolition" +will be the battle-cries of the respective +parties. It may almost be said +that the fight has already begun, at +least on one side. An avowed abolitionist +dare not venture into the +South. There are laws for his chastisement, +and should those be deemed +too lenient, there are plenty of lawless +hands outstretched to string him +to a tree. A deputy from South Carolina +openly declared in the House +of Representatives at Washington, +that if they caught an abolitionist in +their State, they would hang him +without judge or jury. A respectable +Philadelphian and ardent abolitionist +confessed to us, a short time +ago, not without some appearance of +shame at the state of things implied +by the admission, that it would be as +much as his life was worth to venture +into certain slave-holding states. +Hitherto the pro-slavery men have +had the best of it; the majority of presidents +of the Union have been chosen +from their candidates, they have succeeded +in annexing Texas, and latterly +they have struck up an alliance with +the West, which holds the balance between +the South and the North, although, +at the rate it advances, it is +likely soon to outweigh them both. +But this alliance is rotten, and cannot +endure; the Western men are no +partizans of slavery. Meantime, the +abolitionists are active; they daily +become more weary of having the +finger of scorn pointed at them, on +account of a practice which they +neither benefit by nor approve. Their +influence and numbers daily increase; +in a few years they will be powerfully +in the ascendant, they will possess +a majority in the legislative +chambers, and vote the extinction of +slavery. To this, it is greatly to be +feared, the fiery Southerns will not +submit without an armed struggle. +"Then," says the author of <i>Hochelaga</i>, +"who can tell the horrors that +will ensue? The blacks, urged by +external promptings to rise for liberty, +the furious courage and energy of the +whites trampling them down, the +assistance of the free states to the +oppressed, will drive the oppressors +to desperation: their quick perception +will tell them that their loose +republican organization cannot conduct +a defence against such odds; and +the first popular military leader who +has the glory of a success, will become +dictator. This, I firmly believe, +will be the end of the pure democracy."</p> + +<p>May such sinister predictions never +be realised! Of the instability of +American institutions, we entertain +no doubt; and equally persuaded are +we, that so vast a country, the interests +of whose inhabitants are in +many respects so conflicting, cannot +remain permanently united under one +government. But we would fain believe, +that a severance may be accomplished +peaceably, and without bloodshed; +that the soil which has been +converted from a wilderness to a +garden by Anglo-Saxon industry and +enterprise, may never be ensanguined +by civil strife, or desolated by the dissensions +and animosities of her sons.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477">[477]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="LETTERS_ON_ENGLISH_HEXAMETERS" id="LETTERS_ON_ENGLISH_HEXAMETERS"></a>LETTERS ON ENGLISH HEXAMETERS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Letter</span> III.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Mr Editor</span>,—I hope you will be of opinion that I have, in my two +preceding letters, proved the hexameter to be a good, genuine English verse, +fitted to please the unlearned as well as the learned ear; and hitherto prevented +from having fair play among our readers of poetry, mainly by the +classical affectations of our hexameter writers—by their trying to make a +distinction of long and short syllables, according to Latin rules of quantity; +and by their hankering after spondees, which the common ear rejects as +inconsistent with our native versification. If the attempt had been made to +familiarise English ears with hexameters free from these disadvantages, it +might have succeeded as completely as it has done in German. And the +chance of popular success would have been much better if the measure had +been used in a long poem of a religious character; for religious poetry, as you +know very well, finds a much larger body of admirers than any other kind, +and fastens upon the minds of common readers with a much deeper hold. +Religious feeling supplies the deficiency of poetical susceptibility, and imparts +to the poem a splendour and solemnity which elevates it out of the world of +prose. I do not think it can be doubted that Klopstock's <i>Messiah</i> did a great +deal to give the hexameters a firm hold on the German popular ear; and I +am persuaded that if Pollok's <i>Course of Time</i> had been written in hexameters, +its popularity would have been little less than it is, and the hexameter +would have been by this time in a great degree familiarised in our language. +Perhaps it may be worth while to give a passage of the <i>Messiah</i>, that +your readers may judge whether a hexameter version of the whole would not +have been likely to succeed in this country, at the time when the prose translator +was so generally read and admired. The version is by William Taylor +of Norwich.</p> + +<p>The scene is the covenant made between the two first persons of the Trinity +on Mount Moriah. The effect is thus described:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i12">"While spake the eternals,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thrill'd through nature an awful earthquake. Souls that had never<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Known the dawning of thought, now started, and felt for the first time.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shudders and trembling of heart assail'd each seraph; his bright orb<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hush'd as the earth when tempests are nigh, before him was pausing.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But in the souls of future Christians vibrated transports,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sweet pretastes of immortal existence. Foolish against God,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aught to have plann'd or done, and alone yet alive to despondence,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fell from thrones in the fiery abyss the spirits of evil,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rocks broke loose from the smouldering caverns, and fell on the falling:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Howlings of woe, far-thundering crashes, resounded through hell's vaults."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It seems to me that such verses as these might very well have satisfied the +English admirers of Klopstock.</p> + +<p>You will observe, however, that we have, in the passage which I have +quoted, several examples of those <i>forced trochees</i> which I mentioned in my +first letter, as one of the great blemishes of English hexameters; namely, +these—<i>first tĭme</i>; <i>bright ŏrb</i>; <i>agaīnst Gŏd</i>; <i>hēll's văults</i>. And these produce +their usual effect of making the verse in some degree unnatural and un-English.</p> + +<p>It is, however, true, that in this respect the German hexametrist has a +considerable advantage over the English. Many of the words which are +naturally thrown to the end of a verse by the sense, are monosyllables in +English, while the corresponding German word is a trochaic dissyllable, which +takes its place in the verse smoothly and familiarly. In consequence of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478">[478]</a></span> +difference in the two languages, the Englishman is often compelled to lengthen +his monosyllables by various artifices. Thus, in <i>Herman and Dorothea</i>—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Und er wandte sich schnell; de sah sie ihm Thränen im <i>auge</i>."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"And he turned him quick; then saw she tears in his <i>eyelids</i>."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In order that I may not be misunderstood, however, I must say that I by +no means intend to proscribe such final trochees as I have spoken of, composed +of two monosyllables, but only to recommend a sparing and considerate +use of them. They occur in Goethe, though not abundantly. Thus in <i>Herman +and Dorothea</i>, we have three together:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Und es brannten die strassen bis zum markt, und das <i>Haus war</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Meines Vaters hierneben verzchrt und diesar zug<i>leich mit</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wenig flüchtehen wir. Ich safs, die traurige <i>Nacht durch</i>."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>None of these trochees, however, are so spondaic as the English ones which +I formerly quoted, consisting of a monosyllable-adjective with a monosyllable-substantive—"the +weight of his <i>right hand</i>;" or two substantives, as "the +heat of a <i>love's fire</i>."</p> + +<p>Yet even these endings are admissible occasionally. Every one assents to +Harris's recognition of a natural and perfect hexameter in that verse of the +Psalms—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a <i>vain thing</i>?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The fact is, that though the English hexameter, well constructed, is acknowledged +by an English ear, as completely as any other dactylic or anapæstic +measure, it always recalls, in the mind of a classical scholar, the recollection of +Greek and Latin hexameters; and this association makes him willing to accept +some rhythmical peculiarities which the classical forms and rules seem to +justify. The peculiarities are felt as an <i>allusion</i> to Homer and Virgil, and +give to the verse a kind of learned grace, which may or may not be pedantic, +according to the judgment with which it is introduced. Undoubtedly, if the +hexameter ever come to be as familiar in English as it is in German poetry, +our best hexametrists will, like theirs, learn to convey, along with the pleasure +which belongs to a flowing and familiar native measure, that which +arises from agreeable recollections of the rhythms of the great epics of +antiquity.</p> + +<p>And, I add further, that the recollection of classical hexameters which +will thus, in the minds of scholars, always accompany the flow of English +hexameters, makes any addition to, or subtraction from, the six standard +feet of the verse altogether intolerable. And hence I earnestly protest—and +I hope you, Mr Editor, agree with me—against the license claimed by Southey, +of using <i>any foot</i> of two or three syllables at the beginning of a line, to avoid +the exotic and forced character, which, he says, the verse would assume if +every line were to begin with a long syllable. No, no, my dear sir; this +will never do. If we are to have hexameters at all, every line <i>must</i> begin +with a long syllable. It is true, that this is sometimes difficult to attain. It +is a condition which forbids us to begin a line with <i>The</i>, or <i>It</i>, or many other +familiar beginnings of sentences. But it is a condition which must be +adhered to; and if any one finds it too difficult, he must write something +else, and leave hexameters alone. Southey, though he has claimed the +license of violating this rule, has not written many of such licentious lines. +I suppose the following are intended to be of this description:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"That nōt for lawless devices, nor goaded by desperate fortunes."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Upōn all seas and shores, wheresoever her rights were offended."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"His rēverend form repose; heavenward his face was directed."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The two former lines might easily be corrected by leaving out the first syllable. +The other is a very bad line, even if the licence be allowed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">[479]</a></span></p> + +<p>For the same reason it must be considered a very bad fault to have supernumerary +syllables, or syllables which would be supernumerary if not cut +down by a harsh elision. A final dactyl, requiring an elision to make it fit +its place, appears to me very odious. Southey has such:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i16">"wins in the chamber<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What he lost in the field, in fancy conquers the <i>conqueror</i>."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Still it deceiveth the weak, inflameth the rash and the <i>desperate</i>."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Rich in Italy's works and the masterly labours of <i>Belgium</i>."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And no less does the ear repudiate all other violent elisions. I find several +in the other translation of the Iliad referred to in your notice of N. N. T.'s. +And I am sure Mr Shadwell will excuse my pointing out one or two of them, +and will accept in a friendly spirit criticisms which arise from a fellow feeling +with him in the love of English hexameters. These occur in his First Iliad.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<i>Wheth'r</i> it's for vow not duly perform'd or for altar neglected."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Hand on his sword half drawn from its sheath, on a <i>sudd'n</i> from Olympus."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Fail to regard in his envy the <i>daught'r</i> of the sea-dwelling ancient."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Such crushing of words is intolerable. Our hexameters, to be generally +acceptable, must flow on smoothly, with the natural pronunciation of the +words; at least this is necessary till the national ear is more familiar with +the movement than it is at present.</p> + +<p>I believe I have still some remarks upon hexameters in store, if your +patience and your pages suffice for them: but for the present I wish to say a +word or two on another subject closely connected with this; I mean pentameters. +The alternate hexameter and pentameter are, for most purposes, a more +agreeable measure than the hexameter by itself. The constant double ending +is tiresome, as constant double rhymes would be. Southey says, in his angry +way, speaking of his hexameters—"the double ending may be censured as +double rhymes used to be; but that objection belongs to the duncery." This +is a very absurd mode of disposing of one objection, mentioned by him among +many others equally formal and minute, which others he pretends to discuss +calmly and patiently. The objection is of real weight. Though you +might tolerate a double ending here and there in an epic, I am sure, Mr +Editor, you would stop your critical ears at the incessant jingle of an epic in +which every couplet had a double rhyme. On the other hand, an alternation of +double and single endings is felt as an agreeable form of rhythm and rhyme. +We have some good examples of it in English; the Germans have more: and +the French manifest the same feeling in their peremptory rule for the alternation +of masculine and feminine rhymes. And there is another feature which +recommends the pentameter combined with the hexameter. This combination +carries into effect, on a large scale, a principle which prevails, I believe, +in all the finer forms of verse. The principle which I mean is this;—that the +metrical structure of the verse must be distinct and pure <i>at the end</i> of each +verse, though liberties and substitutions may be allowed at the beginning. +Thus, as you know, Mr Editor, the iambics of the Greek tragedians admit +certain feet in the early part of the line which they do not allow in the later +portions. And in the same manner the hexameter, a dactylic measure, +must have the last two feet regular, while the four preceding feet may each +be either trissyllabic or dissyllabic. Now, this principle of pure rhythm +at the end of each strain, is peculiarly impressed upon the hexameter-pentameter +distich. The end of the pentameter, rigorously consisting of two +dactyls and a syllable, closes the couplet in such a manner that the metrical +structure is never ambiguous; while the remainder of the couplet has liberty +and variety, still kept in order by the end of the hexameter; and the double +ending of the strain is avoided. I do not know whether you, Mr Editor, will +agree with me in this speculation as to the source of the beauty which belongs +to the hexameter-pentameter measure: but there can be no doubt that it has +always had a great charm wherever dactylic measures have been cultivated. +Schiller and Göethe have delighted in it no less than Tyrtæus and Ovid:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">[480]</a></span> +and I should conceive that this measure might find favour in English ears, +even more fully than the mere hexameter.</p> + +<p>But, in order that there may be any hope of this, it is very requisite that +the course of the verse should be natural and unforced. This is more requisite +even than in the hexameter; for, in the pentameter, the verse, if it be at +variance with the natural accent, subverts it more completely, and makes the +utterance more absurd. But it does not appear to be very difficult to attain +to this point. In the model distich quoted by Coleridge—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In the hexameter rises the fountain's silvery column,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the pentameter still falling in melody back;"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>the pentameter is a better verse than the hexameter. Surry's pentameters +often flow well, in spite of his false scheme of accentuation.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"With strong foes on land, on sea, with contrary tempests,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still do I cross this wretch, whatso he taketh in hand."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I will here terminate my criticisms for the present, but I will offer you, +along with them, a specimen of hexameter and pentameter. It is a translation +from Schiller, and could not fail to win some favour to the measure, if I +could catch any considerable share of the charm of the original, both in versification, +language, and thought. Such as the verses are, however, I shall +utter them in your critical ear—and am, dear Mr Editor, your obedient,</p> + + +<div class="author">M. L.</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_DANCE_FROM_SCHILLER" id="THE_DANCE_FROM_SCHILLER"></a>THE DANCE. FROM SCHILLER.</h2> + + +<div class="cpoem3"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">See with floating tread the bright pair whirl in a wave-like<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Swing, and the wingèd foot scarce gives a touch to the floor.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Say, is it shadows that flit unclogg'd by the load of the body?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Say, is it elves that weave fairy-wings under the moon?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So rolls the curling smoke through air on the breath of the zephyr;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So sways the light canoe borne on the silvery lake.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">—Bounds the well-taught foot on the sweet-flowing wave of the measure;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whispering musical strains buoy up the aëry forms.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now, as if in its rush it would break the chain of the dancers,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dives an adventurous pair into the thick of the throng.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Quick before them a pathway is formed, and closes behind them;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As by a magical hand, open'd and shut is the way.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now it is lost to the eye; into wild confusion resolvèd—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lo! that revolving world loses its orderly frame.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No! from the mass there it gaily emerges and glides from the tangle;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Order resumes her sway, only with alterèd charm.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vanishing still, it still reappears, the revolving creation,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And, deep-working, a law governs the aspects of change.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Say, how is it that forms ever passing are ever restorèd?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How still fixity stays, even where motion most reigns?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How each, master and free, by his own heart shaping his pathway,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Finds in the hurrying maze simply the path that he seeks?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This thou would'st know? 'Tis the might divine of harmony's empire;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She in the social dance governs the motions of each.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She, like the Goddess<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> Severe, with the golden bridle of order,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tames and guides at her will wild and tumultuous strength.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And around thee in vain the word its harmonies utters<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If thy heart be not swept on in the stream of the strain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">—Not by the measure of life which beats through all beings around thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">—Not by the whirl of the dance, which through the vacant abyss<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Launches the blazing suns in the spacious sweeps of their orbits.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Order rules in thy sports: so let it rule in thy acts.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="author">M. L.</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481">[481]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="A_NEW_SENTIMENTAL_JOURNEY" id="A_NEW_SENTIMENTAL_JOURNEY"></a>A NEW SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">At Moulins</span>.</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">I don't</span> think so," said the lady; +and, pulling up the window of the +calèche, she sank back on her seat: +the postilion gave another crack with +his whip, another <i>sacre</i> to his beasts, +and they rolled on towards Moulins.</p> + +<p>It's an insolent unfeeling world this: +when any one is rich enough to ride +in a calèche, the poorer man, who +can only go in a cabriolet, is despised. +Not but that a cabriolet is a good +vehicle of its sort: I know of few +more comfortable. And then, again, +for mine, why I have a kind of affection +for it. 'Tis an honest unpretending +vehicle: it has served me all +the way from Calais, and I will not +discard it. What though Maurice +wanted to persuade me at Paris that +I had better take a britska, as more +fashionable? I resisted the temptation; +there was virtue in that very +deed—'tis so rare that one resists; +and I am still here in my cabriolet: +and when I leave thee, honest cab, +may I——</p> + +<p>"<i>A l'Hôtel de l'Europe?</i>" asked +the driver; "'tis an excellent house, +and if Monsieur intends remaining +there, he will find <i>une table merveilleuse</i>."</p> + +<p>Why to the Hotel de l'Europe? +said I to myself. I hate these cosmopolitic +terms. Am I not in +France—gay, delightful France—partaking +of the kindness and civility of +the country? "A l'Hotel de France!" +was my reply.</p> + +<p>The driver hereupon pulled up his +horses short;—it was no difficult task: +the poor beasts had come far: there +had been no horses at Villeneuve, and +we had come on all the way from +St Imbert, six weary leagues. "<i>Connais +pas</i>," said the man: "Monsieur +is mistaken; besides, madame is so +obliging. If there were an Hotel de +France, it would be another affair: +add to this, that the voiture which +has just passed us is going to the +hotel."</p> + +<p>"Enough—I will go there too;" +and, so saying, we got through the +Barrière of Moulins.</p> + +<p>Now, I know not how it is, but, +despite of the fellow's honest air, I +had a misgiving that he intended to +cheat me. He was leading me to +some exorbitant monster of the road, +where the unsuspecting traveller would +be flayed alive: he was his accomplice—his +jackall; I was to be the +victim. Had he argued for an hour +about the excellence of mine host's +table, I had been proof: my Franco-mania +and my wish to be independent +had certainly taken me to some other +hotel. But he said something about +the voiture: <i>it</i> was going there. What +was that to me? I hate people in +great carriages when I am not in +them myself. But then, the lady! I +had seen nothing but her face, and +for an instant. She said "she did not +think so." Think what? <i>Mais ses +yeux!</i></p> + +<p>Reader, bear with me a while. +There is a fascination in serpents, and +there is one far more deadly—who has +not felt it?—in woman's eyes. Such a +face! such features, and such expression! +She might have been five-and-twenty—nay, +more: girlhood was +past with her: that quiet look of self-possession +which makes woman bear +man's gaze, showed that she knew +the pains, perhaps the joys, of wedded +life. And yet the fire of youthful +imagination was not yet extinct: the +spirit of poetry had not yet left her: +there was hope, and gaiety, and love +in that bright black eye: and there +was beauty, witching beauty, in every +lineament of her face. Her voice was +of the softest—there was music in its +tone: and her hand told of other +symmetry that could not but be in +exquisite harmony. "She did not +think so:" why should she have taken +the trouble to look out of the carriage +window at me as she said these words? +Was I known to her—or fancied to be +so? As she did not think so, I was +determined to know why. "We will +go to the Hotel de l'Europe, if you +press it;" and away the cabriolet +joggled over the roughly paved street.</p> + +<p>Moulins is any thing but one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482">[482]</a></span> +most remarkable towns in France: it +is large, and yet it is not important: as +a centre of communication, nothing: +little trade: few manufactures: the +houses are low, rather than high; the +streets wide, rather than narrow: +you can breathe in Moulins, though +you may be stifled in Rouen. It is +the quiet <i>chef lieu</i> of the Allier, and +was once the capital of the Bourbonnais. +An air of departing elegance, +and even of stateliness, still lingers +over it: the streets have the houses +of the <i>ancienne noblesse</i> still lining +their sides: high walls; that is to +say, with a handsome gateway in the +middle, and the <i>corps-de-logis</i> just +peering above. Retired in their own +dignity, and shunning the vulgar +world, the old masters of the province +here congregated in former days for +the winter months; Moulins was then +a gay and stirring town; <i>piquet</i> and +<i>Boston</i> kept many an old lady and +complaisant marquis alive through +the long nights of winter; there was +a sociable circle formed in many a +saloon; the harpsichord was sounded, +the minuet was danced, and the <i>petit +souper</i> discussed. The president of +the court, or the knight of Malta, or +M. l'Abbé, came in; or perhaps a +gallant gentleman of the regiment of +Bourbon or Auvergne joined the +circle; and conversation assumed that +style of piquant brilliancy tempered +with exquisite politeness which existed +nowhere but in ancient France, +and shall never be met with again. +Sad was the day when the Revolution +broke over Moulins! all the ancient +properties of the country destroyed; +blood flowing on many a +scaffold; the deserving and the good +thrust aside or trampled under foot; +the unprincipled and the base pushed +into places of power abused, and +wealth ill-gotten but worse spent. +That bad time has passed away, and +Moulins has settled down, like an +aged invalid of shattered constitution, +the ghost of what it was, into a dull +country-town. Yet it is not without +its redeeming qualities of literary and +even scientific excellence; somewhat +of the ancient spirit of disinterested +gaiety still remains behind; and it is +a place where the traveller may well +sojourn for many days.</p> + +<p>In the court-yard of the hotel was +standing the voiture, which had come +in some twenty minutes before us. +The femme-de-chambre was carrying +up the last package: the postilion had +got out of his boots, and had placed +them to lean against the wall. The good +lady of the house came out to welcome +me, and the garçon was ready at the step. +It's very true; the freshness, if not +the sincerity, of an inn welcome, +makes one of the amenities of life: it +compensates for the wearisomeness of +the road: it is something to look forward +to at the end of a fatiguing day; +and, what is best, you can have just +as much or as little of it as you like. +There is no keeping on of your buckram +when once you are seated in your +inn,—no stiffening up for dinner when +you had infinitely rather be quite at +your ease. What you want you ask +for, without saying, "by your leave," +or, "if you please;" and what you +ask for, if you are a reasonable man, +you get. Let no traveller go to a +friend's house if he wants to be comfortable. +Let him keep to an inn: +he is there, <i>pro tempore</i>, at home.</p> + +<p>"I shall stop here to-night, Madame."</p> + +<p>"As Monsieur pleases: and to-morrow—?"</p> + +<p>"I will resume my route to Clermont."</p> + +<p>"Monsieur is going to the baths of +Mont Dor, no doubt?"</p> + +<p>"Just so."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, you will have excellent +company, and you have done well to +come here; Monsieur le Marquis is +going on thither to-morrow: and if +Monsieur would be so obliging,—but +I will run up and ask him and Madame, +the sweetest lady in the world,—they +will be glad to have you at +dinner with them: you are all going +to Mont Dor. You will be enchanted: +excuse me, I will be back in an instant."</p> + +<p>How curious, thought I, that without +any doings of my own, I should +just be thrown into the way of the +person whom my curiosity—my impertinent, +or silly curiosity, which +you will—prompted me with the desire +to meet. The superciliousness of +the voiture vanished from my recollection, +and my national frigidity was +doomed to be thawed into civility, if +not into amiableness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483">[483]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The Marquis de Mirepoix would +be glad of the honour of Monsieur's +company at dinner, if he would be so +obliging as to excuse ceremony, and +the refinements of the toilette." What +a charming message! Surely there is +an innate grace in this people, notwithstanding +their twenty years of +blood and revolution, that can never +be worn out! Why, they did not +even know my name; and on the +simple suggestion of the hostess, they +consent to sit with me at table! +Truly this is the land of politeness, +and of kind accommodation: the land +of ready access to the stranger, where +the ties of his home, withered, or violently +snapped asunder, are replaced +by the engaging attractions of unostentatious +and well-judged civility; +and where he is induced to leave his +warmest inclinations, if not his heart. +Never give up this distinguishing attribute, +France, thou land of the brave +and the gay! it shall compensate for +much of thy waywardness: it shall +take off the rough edge of thy egotism: +it shall disarm thy ambition: it +shall make thee the friend of all the +world.</p> + +<p>"Il m'a payé trois francs la poste, +te dis-je: c'est un gros milord: que +sais-je!"</p> + +<p>"Diantre! for a cabriolet! Why, +they only gave me the tariff and a +miserable piece of ten sous as my +pour-boire, for a heavy calèche! +When I fetched them from the château +this morning, I knew how it would be—Monsieur +le Marquis is so miserly, +so exigeant!"</p> + +<p>"I would not be his wife for any +thing," said the fille-de-chambre, as +she came tripping down stairs, and +passed between the two postilions; +"an old curmudgeon, to go on in that +way with such a wife. Voyez-vous, +Pierre, elle est si belle, si douce! c'est +une ange! She wants to know who +the young Englishman is; qu'en sais-tu, +Jean-Marie?"</p> + +<p>"He gave us three francs a post; +that's all I know."</p> + +<p>"Then we have two angels in the +house instead of one."</p> + +<p>I hate to be long at my toilette at +any time; but to delay much in such +a matter while travelling is folly. +Yet, how shall one get over the interminable +plains of France, and pass +through those ever succeeding simooms +of dust which beset the high-roads of +the "fair country," without contracting +a certain dinginess of look that +makes one intolerable? Fellow-traveller, +never take much luggage with +thee, if thou hast thy senses rightly +awakened; leave those real "impediments" +of locomotion behind; take +with thee two suits at the most; adapt +them to the climate and the land thou +intendest to traverse; and, remember, +never cease to dress like a gentleman. +Take with thee plenty of white cravattes +and white waistcoats; they +will always make thee look clean +when thy ablutions are performed, +despite of whatever else may be thy +habiliments; carry with thee some +varnished boots; encourage the laundresses +to the utmost of thy power, +and thou wilt always be a suitably +dressed man. By the time I had +done my toilette there was a tap at +the door, and in another minute I was +in the salle-à-manger.</p> + +<p>The Marquis made me a profound +salutation, which I endeavoured to +return as well as a stiff Englishman, +with a poker up his back, extending +right through the spinal column into +his head, could be supposed to do. +To the Lady I was conscious of stooping +infinitely lower; and I even flattered +myself that the empressement +which I wished to put into my reverence +was not unperceived by her. +The little fluttering oscillation of the +head and form, with which a French +lady acknowledges a civility, came +forth on her part with exquisite grace. +Her husband might be fifty: he was +a tall, harsh-looking man; a gentleman +certainly, but still not one of the +right kind; there was a sort of roué +expression about his eyes that inspired +distrust, if not repulsion; his features +seemed little accustomed to a smile; +the tone of his voice was dissonant, +and he spoke sharply and quickly. But +his wife—his gentle, angelic wife—was +the type of what a woman should be. +She surpassed not in height that best +standard of female proportion, which +we give, gentle reader, at some five +feet and two inches. She was most +delicately formed: her face, of the +broad rather than the long oval shape, +tapered down to a most exquisitely +formed chin; while the arch expression<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">[484]</a></span> +of her mouth and eyes, tempered +as it was with an indefinable expression +of true feminine softness, gave +animation and vivid intelligence to +the whole. Who can define the tones +of a woman's voice? and that woman +one of the most refined and high-bred +of her sex? There was a richness +and smoothness, and yet such an exquisite +softness in it, as entranced +the hearer, and could keep him listening +to its flow of music for hours +together. I am persuaded of it, and +the more I think of it the more vividly +does it recur to my mind. 'Twas +only a single glance—that first glance +as I moved upwards from bowing +towards a hand which I could willingly +have kissed. There was the tale +of a whole life conveyed in it; there +was the narration of much inward +suffering—of thwarted hopes, of disappointed +desires—of a longing for +deliverance from a weight of oppression—of +a praying for a friend and +an avenger. And yet there was the +timidity of the woman, the observance +of conventional forms, the respect +of herself, the dread of her master, +all tending to keep down the +indication of those feelings. And +again there came the still-enduring +hope of amendment or of remedy. All +was in that glance. I felt it in a +moment; and the fascination—that +mysterious communication of sentiment +which runs through the soul as +the electric current of its vitality—was +completed.</p> + +<p>How is it that one instant of time +should work those effects in the human +mind which are so lasting in +their results! Ye unseen powers, +spirits or angels, that preside over +our actions, and guide us to or from +harm, is it that ye communicate some +portion of your own ethereal essence +to our duller substance at such moments, +and give us perceptive faculties +which otherwise we never had +enjoyed? Or is it that the soul has +some secret way of imparting its feelings +to another without the intervention +of material things, otherwise +than to let the immortal spark flash +from one being to the other? And +oh, ye sceptics, ye dull leaden-hearted +mortals! doubt not of the language of +the eyes—that common theme of +mawkish lovers—but though common, +not the less true and certain. +Interrogate the looks of a young +child—remember even the all-expressive +yet mute eyes of a faithful dog; +and give me the bright eloquent +glance of woman in the pride and +bloom of life—'tis sweeter than all +sounds, more universal than all languages.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, Monsieur le Marquis, +that I shall be interfering with +your arrangements?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, mon Dieu! you give us +great pleasure. Madame and myself +had just been regretting that we +should have to pass the evening in +this miserable hole of a town. 'Pas +de spectacle; c'est embêtant à ne pas +en finir.'"</p> + +<p>"And Monsieur is likely to be +with us to-morrow, mon ami; for +my femme-de-chambre tells me that +he is going to Mont Dor. Do you +know, Monsieur, that just as we were +coming into Moulins, we remarked +your odd-looking cabriolet de poste. +My husband detests them; on the +contrary, I like those carriages, for +they tell me of happy—I mean to say, +of former times. He wanted to wager +with me that it was some old-fashioned +sulky fellow that had got into it; +but, as we passed, I looked out at the +window, satisfied myself of the contrary, +and told him so. Will you be +pleased to take that chair by my side, +and as we go on with our dinner we +can talk about Mont Dor."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h3><span class="smcap">Clermont.</span></h3> + + +<p>As it had been arranged that I +should take an hour's start with my +cabriolet, and bespeak horses for my +companions as I went on, I set off +for Clermont early.</p> + +<p>As you advance through the Bourbonnais, +towards the south, the +country warms upon you: warms in +its sunny climate, and in the glowing +colours of its landscape. Not but +that France is smiling enough, even +in the north: Witness Normandy, +that chosen land of green meadow, +rich glebe, stately forests, and winding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485">[485]</a></span> +streams: nor that even in Champagne, +where the eye stretches over +endless plains, towards the Germanic +frontier, there are not rich valleys, +and deep woodlands, and sunny +glades. Do not quarrel with the +chalky ground of the Champenois—remember +its wine—think of the imprisoned +spirit of the land, that quintessence +of all that is French—give it +due vent; 'twill reward you for your +pains. Oh! certes, France is a gay +and a pleasing land. My fastidious +and gloomy countrymen may say +what they please, and may talk of +the beauties of England till they are +hoarse again; but there is not less +natural beauty in Gaul than in Britain. +Take all the broad tracts from +London to York, or from Paris to +Lyons, France has nothing to dread +from the comparison. But, in the +Bourbonnais, flat and open as it is, +the scene begins to change. The sun +shines more genially, more constantly; +he shines in good earnest; and your +rheumatic pains, if you have any still +creeping about your bones, ooze out +at every pore, and bid you a long +adieu. That grey, cold haze of the +north, which dims the horizon in the +distant prospect, here becomes warmed +into a purpler, pinker tint, borrowed +from the Italian side of the +Alps: the perpetual brown of the +northern soil here puts on an orange +tinge: above, the sky is more blue; +and around, the passing breeze woos +you more lovingly. Come hither, +poor, trembling invalid! throw off +those blankets and those swathing +bandages; trust yourself to the sun, +to the land, to the <i>waters</i> of the +Bourbonnais; and renovated health, +lighter spirits, pleasant days and +happy nights, shall be your reward.</p> + +<p>How can it be, that in a country +where nature is so genially disposed +towards the vegetable and the mineral +kingdoms of her wide empire, +she should have played the niggard +so churlishly when she peopled it +with human beings? The men of +the Bourbonnais are short and ordinary +of appearance, remarkable more +for the absence than for the presence +of physical advantages, and the women +are the ugliest in France!—mean and +uninviting in person, and repulsive in +dress! They are only to be surpassed +in this unenviable distinction by those +of Auvergne. Taking the two populations +together, or rather considering +them as one, which no doubt they +originally were, they are at the bottom +of the physiological scale of this +country. Some think them to be the +descendants of an ancient tribe that +never lost their footing in this centre +of the land, when the Gauls drove +out their Iberian predecessors. They +certainly are not Gauls, nor are they +Celts; still less are they Romans or +Germans. Are they then autochthonous, +like the Athenians? or are +they merely the offscourings, the rejected +of other populations? Decide +about it, ye that are learned in the +ethnographic distinctions of our race—but +heaven defend us from the Bourbonnaises!</p> + +<p>See how those distant peaks rise +serenely over the southern horizon!—is +it that we have turned towards +Helvetia?—for there is snow on the +tops of some, and many are there +towering in solitary majesty. No, +they are the goal of our pilgrimage; +they are the ridges of the Monts +Dor—the Puys and the extinct volcanoes +of ancient France. Look at +the Puy de Dôme, that grand and +towering peak: what is our friend +Ben Nevis to this his Gallic brother, +who out-tops him by a thousand feet! +And again, look at Mont Dor behind, +that hoary giant, as much loftier than +the Puy de Dôme as this is than the +monarch of the Scottish Highlands! +We are coming to the land of <i>real</i> +mountains now. Why, that long and +comparatively low table-land of granite, +from whence they all protrude, +and on which they sit as a conclave +of gods, is itself higher than the most +of the hills of our father-land. These +hills, if we have to mount them, shall +sorely try the thews of horse and man.</p> + +<p>There is something soothing, and +yet cheering, in the southern sky, +which tells upon the spirits, and consoles +the weary heart. Just where +the yellow streaks of this low white +horizon tell of the intensity of the +god of day, come the blue serrated +ridges of those mountains across the +sight. If I could fly, I would away +to those realms of light and warmth—far, +far away in the southern clime, +where the wants of the body should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486">[486]</a></span> +be few, and where the vigour of life +should be great. The glorious south +is, like the joyous time of youth, full +of hope and promise: all is sunny +and bright: there, flowers bloom and +birds sing merrily. Turn we our +backs to the cold gloomy north, to +the wet windy west, to the dry parching +east—on to the south!</p> + +<p>But what a magnificent plain is +this we are entering upon: it is of +immense extent. Those distant hills +are at least fifty miles from us; and +across it, from Auvergne to Le Forez, +cannot be less than twenty; and, in +the midst, what a gorgeous show of +harvests, and gardens, and walnut +groves, and all the luxuriance of the +continental Flora. This is the Limagne, +the garden of France—the +choicest spot of the whole country +for varied fertility and inexhaustible +productiveness. Ages back—let musty +geologists tell us how long ago—'twas +a lake, larger than the Lake of Geneva. +The volcanic eruptions of the mountains +on the west broke down its +barriers, and let its waters flow. +Now the Allier divides it; and +the astonished cultivator digs into +virgin strata of fertile loams, the +lowest depths of which have never yet +been revealed. Corn fields here are +not the wide and open inclosures +such as we know them in the north +and west, where every thing is removed +that can hinder a stray sunbeam +from shining on the grain: +here they are thickly studded with +trees—majestic, wide-spread, fruit-laden, +walnut-trees; where the corn +waves luxuriantly beneath its thickest +shade, and closes thickly round its +stem. Bread from the grain below, +and oil from the kernel above; +wine from the hills all around, and +honied fruits from many a well-stocked +garden; such are the abundant +and easily reared produce of this +land of promise. A Caledonian farmer, +put down suddenly in the Limagne, +would think himself in fairy +regions; so kindly do all things come +in it, so pure and excellent of their +sort—in such variety, in such never-failing +succession. Purple mountains, +red plains, dark green woods, and a +sky of pure azure—such is the combination +of colours that meets the eye +on first coming into Auvergne.</p> + +<p>And yet man thrives not much in +it; he remains a stunted half-civilized +animal—with his black shaggy +locks, his brown jacket, red sash, and +enormous round beaver; ox-goad in +hand, and knife ready to his grip, his +appearance accords but ill with the +luxuriant beauty of the scene in which +he dwells. His diminutive but hardy +companion—she who shares his toils +in the fields, and serves as his equal +if not his better half—is well suited to +his purpose, and resembles him in her +looks. Here, she can climb the mountain-side +as nimbly as her master; +here, she can drive the cattle to their +far-distant pastures with courage and +skill; here, she mounts the hot little +mountain-steed, not in female fashion, +but with a true masculine stride; +laborious and long-enduring, simple, +honest, and easily contented; but +withal easily provoked, and hard to +be appeased without blood; such is +the Auvergnat, and his wife.</p> + +<p>Riom seemed a picturesque town +when we drove through it; but our +eyes could not bear to be diverted +from the magnificent scenery that +kept rising upon us from the south. +We had now approached closely to +the foot of the mountain-ranges, and +their lofty summits were high above +us in mid-air. On the right, the Puy +de Dôme, cut in half by a line of motionless +clouds, reared itself into the +blue sky like some gigantic balloon, +so round was its summit—so isolated. +The granite plateau which constituted +its base, was broken into deep and +well-wooded ravines; while at intervals +there ran out into the Limagne, +for many a league, some extended +promontory of land, capped all along +by a flood of crystallized basalt, which +once had flowed in liquid fire from the +crater in the ridge. Here and there +rose from the plain a small conical +hill, crowned with a black mass of +basaltic columns, and there again +topped with an antique-looking little +town or fortress, stationed there, perhaps, +from the days of Cæsar. In +front stood Gergovia, where Roman +and Gallic blood once flowed at the +bidding of that great master of war, +freely as a mountain torrent; now +only a black plain, where the plough +is stopped in each furrow by bricks +and broken pots, and rusted arms,—tokens<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487">[487]</a></span> +of the site of the ancient +city.</p> + +<p>On turning short round a steeply +sloping hill, crowned with a goodly +château, and clad on its sides with +vines and all kinds of fruit-trees, we +saw a deep vale running up into the +mountains towards the west, and +Clermont covering an eminence in the +very midst. What a picturesque outline! +How closely the houses stand +together—how agreeably do they mix +with the trees of the promenades; +and how boldly the cathedral comes +out from amongst them all! It is +a lofty and richly-decorated pile of +the fourteenth century; and tells +of the labours and the wealth of a +foreign land. Anglo-Norman skill +and gold are said to have formed +it; but however this may be, we +know that it witnessed the presence +of our gallant Black Prince, and that +it once depended on Aquitaine, not +on France. Yet what fancy can have +possessed its builder to have constructed +it of black stone? Why not +have sought out the pure white lime-rocks +of the flat country, or the grey +granite of the hills? This is the deep +lava of the neighbouring volcanic +quarry; here basalt, and pumice, and +cinder, and scoriæ, are pressed into +the service of the architect; and there +stands a proof of the goodness of the +material—hard, sharp, and sonorous, +as when the hammer first clinked +against its edge five centuries ago.</p> + +<p>"Entrons, Monsieur," said the fair +Marquise, as I stood with her on the +esplanade before the Cathedral—the +Marquis had gone to see the commandant. +"Entrez donc, 'tis the work +of one of your compatriots; and here, +though a heretic, you may consider +yourself on English ground."</p> + +<p>Now, positively, I had never thought +a bit about Catholic or Protestant +ever since I had quitted my own +shores. All I knew was, that I was in +a country that gave the same evidences +of being Christian as the one +that I had left; and that, however +frivolous and profligate might be the +appearance of its capital, in the rural +districts, at least, the people were +honest and devout. I was not come +to quarrel, nor to find fault with +millions of men for thinking differently +from—but perhaps acting better +than—myself. So we entered.</p> + +<p>The old keeper of the <i>benitier</i> bowed +his head, and extended his brush; +the Marquise touched its extremity, +crossed herself, and fell on her knees.</p> + +<p>Thou fell spirit of pride, prejudice, +ignorance, and <i>mauvaise honte!</i> why +didst thou beset me at that moment, +and keep me, like a stiff-backed puritan, +erect in the house of God? Why, +on entering within its sacred limits, +did I not acknowledge my own unworthiness +to come in, and reverence +the sanctity of the place? No; there +I stood, half-astonished, half-abashed +while the Marquise continued on her +knees and made her silent orisons. +'Tis an admirable and a touching custom: +there is poetry and religion in +the very idea. Cross not that threshold +with unholy feet; or if thou dost, +confess that unholiness, and beg forgiveness +for the transgression ere +thou advancest within the walls. I +acknowledge that I felt ashamed of +myself; yet I knew not what to do. +One of the priests passed by: he +looked first at the lady and next at +me; then humbly bowing towards +the altar, went out of the church. +My embarrassment increased; but +the Marquise arose. "It is good to +pray here," she said, in a tone the +mildness and sincerity of which made +the reproach more cutting. "Let us +go forward now."</p> + +<p>"I will amend my manners," +thought I; "'tis not well to be +unconcerned in such things, and +when so little makes all the difference."</p> + +<p>"Is Monsieur fond of pictures? +Look at that painting of the Baptist, +how vigorously the figure is drawn! +And see what an exquisite Virgin! +Or turn your eyes to that southern +window, and remark the flood of gorgeous +light falling from it on the pillar +by its side!"</p> + +<p>I was thinking of any thing but the +Virgin, or the window, or the light; +I was thinking of my companion—so +fair, and so devout. Had she not +called me a heretic? Had she not +already put me to the blush for my +lack of veneration? Strange linking +of ideas! "Thou art worthy to be an +angel hereafter," said I to myself, "as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488">[488]</a></span> +truly thou resemblest what we call +angels here."</p> + +<p>We were once more at the western +door; Madame crossed herself again; +we went out.</p> + +<p>"Pour l'amour de Dieu, mon bon +monsieur!" "Que le ciel vous soit +ouvert!" whined out half-a-dozen +old crones with extended hands; +their shrivelled fingers seeking to +pluck at any thing they could get.</p> + +<p>Now I had paid away my last sous +to the garçon d'écurie at the Poste: +so I told them pettishly that I had +not a liard to give. A coin tinkled +on the ground; it had fallen from the +hand of the Marquise; and as I stooped +to reach it for her, I saw that it +was gold.</p> + +<p>"Let them have it, poor things. I +thought it was silver; but it has +touched holy ground, and 'tis now +their own."</p> + +<p>I turned round, thrust my purse +into the lap of the nearest, and with +a light heart led the lady back to the +hotel.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="POEMS_BY_ELIZABETH_BARRETT_BARRETT" id="POEMS_BY_ELIZABETH_BARRETT_BARRETT"></a>POEMS BY ELIZABETH BARRETT BARRETT.<br /><br /></h2> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Woman's Shortcomings.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem2"><div class="stanza"> + +<h5>1.</h5> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">She</span> has laughed as softly as if she sighed;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She has counted six and over,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of a purse well filled, and a heart well tried—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Oh, each a worthy lover!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They "give her time;" for her soul must slip<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where the world has set the grooving:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She will lie to none with her fair red lip—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But love seeks truer loving.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>2.</h5> +<span class="i0">She trembles her fan in a sweetness dumb,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As her thoughts were beyond her recalling;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With a glance for <i>one</i>, and a glance for <i>some</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From her eyelids rising and falling!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">—Speaks common words with a blushful air;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">—Hears bold words, unreproving:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But her silence says—what she never will swear—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And love seeks better loving.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>3.</h5> +<span class="i0">Go, lady! lean to the night-guitar,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And drop a smile to the bringer;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then smile as sweetly, when he is far,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">At the voice of an in-door singer!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bask tenderly beneath tender eyes;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Glance lightly, on their removing;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And join new vows to old perjuries—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But dare not call it loving!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>4.</h5> +<span class="i0">Unless you can think, when the song is done,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No other is soft in the rhythm;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unless you can feel, when left by One,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That all men beside go with him;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489">[489]</a></span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unless you can know, when unpraised by his breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That your beauty itself wants proving;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unless you can swear—"For life, for death!"—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Oh, fear to call it loving!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>5.</h5> +<span class="i0">Unless you can muse, in a crowd all day,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On the absent face that fixed you;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unless you can love, as the angels may,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With the breadth of heaven betwixt you;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unless you can dream that his faith is fast,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Through behoving and unbehoving;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unless you can <i>die</i> when the dream is past—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Oh, never call it loving!<br /><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Man's Requirements.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem4"><div class="stanza"> +<h5>1.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me, sweet, with all thou art,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Feeling, thinking, seeing,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love me in the lightest part,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Love me in full being.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>2.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me with thine open youth<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In its frank surrender;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the vowing of thy mouth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With its silence tender.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>3.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me with thine azure eyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Made for earnest granting!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Taking colour from the skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Can heaven's truth be wanting?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>4.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me with their lids, that fall<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Snow-like at first meeting!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love me with thine heart, that all<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The neighbours then see beating.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>5.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me with thine hand stretched out<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Freely—open-minded!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love me with thy loitering foot,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hearing one behind it.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>6.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me with thy voice, that turns<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sudden faint above me!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love me with thy blush that burns<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When I murmur '<i>Love me!</i>'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>7.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me with thy thinking soul—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Break it to love-sighing;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490">[490]</a></span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love me with thy thoughts that roll<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On through living—dying.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>8.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me in thy gorgeous airs,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When the world has crowned thee!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love me, kneeling at thy prayers,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With the angels round thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>9.</h5> +<span class="i0">Love me pure, as musers do,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Up the woodlands shady!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love me gaily, fast, and true,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As a winsome lady.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>10.</h5> +<span class="i0">Through all hopes that keep us brave,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Further off or nigher,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love me for the house and grave,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And for something higher.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>11.</h5> +<span class="i0">Thus, if thou wilt prove me, dear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Woman's love no fable,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>I</i> will love <i>thee</i>—half-a-year—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As a man is able.<br /><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Maude's Spinning.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem2"><div class="stanza"> +<h5>1.</h5> +<span class="i0">He listened at the porch that day<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To hear the wheel go on, and on,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And then it stopped—ran back away—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While through the door he brought the sun.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But now my spinning is all done.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>2.</h5> +<span class="i0">He sate beside me, with an oath<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That love ne'er ended, once begun;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I smiled—believing for us both,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">What was the truth for only one.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And now my spinning is all done.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>3.</h5> +<span class="i0">My mother cursed me that I heard<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A young man's wooing as I spun.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thanks, cruel mother, for that word,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For I have, since, a harder known!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And now my spinning is all done.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>4.</h5> +<span class="i0">I thought—O God!—my first-born's cry<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Both voices to my ear would drown!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I listened in mine agony——<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It was the <i>silence</i> made me groan!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And now my spinning is all done.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">[491]</a></span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>5.</h5> +<span class="i0">Bury me 'twixt my mother's grave,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who cursed me on her death-bed lone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And my dead baby's—(God it save!)<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who, not to bless me, would not moan.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And now my spinning is all done.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>6.</h5> +<span class="i0">A stone upon my heart and head,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But no name written on the stone!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sweet neighbours! whisper low instead,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"This sinner was a loving one—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And now her spinning is all done."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>7.</h5> +<span class="i0">And let the door ajar remain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In case that he should pass anon;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And leave the wheel out very plain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That <span class="smcap">he</span>, when passing in the sun,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">May <i>see</i> the spinning is all done.<br /><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Dead Rose.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem1"><div class="stanza"> +<h5>1.</h5> +<span class="i4">O rose! who dares to name thee?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But barren, and hard, and dry, as stubble-wheat,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Kept seven years in a drawer—thy titles shame thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>2.</h5> +<span class="i4">The breeze that used to blow thee<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Between the hedge-thorns, and take away<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An odour up the lane to last all day,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If breathing now,—unsweetened would forego thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>3.</h5> +<span class="i4">The sun that used to light thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mix his glory in thy gorgeous urn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till beam appeared to bloom, and flower to burn,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If shining now,—with not a hue would dight thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>4.</h5> +<span class="i4">The dew that used to wet thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, white first, grow incarnadined, because<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It lay upon thee where the crimson was,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If dropping now,—would darken where it met thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>5.</h5> +<span class="i4">The fly that lit upon thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To stretch the tendrils of its tiny feet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Along the leaf's pure edges after heat,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If lighting now,—would coldly overrun thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>6.</h5> +<span class="i4">The bee that once did suck thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And build thy perfumed ambers up his hive,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And swoon in thee for joy, till scarce alive,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If passing now,—would blindly overlook thee.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492">[492]</a></span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>7.</h5> +<span class="i4">The heart doth recognise thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Alone, alone! The heart doth smell thee sweet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Doth view thee fair, doth judge thee most complete—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Though seeing now those changes that disguise thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>8.</h5> +<span class="i4">Yes and the heart doth owe thee<br /></span> +<span class="i0">More love, dead rose! than to such roses bold<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As Julia wears at dances, smiling cold!——<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lie still upon this heart—which breaks below thee!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Change on Change.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem2"><div class="stanza"> +<h5>1.</h5> +<span class="i0">Three months ago, the stream did flow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The lilies bloomed along the edge;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And we were lingering to and fro,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where none will track thee in this snow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Along the stream, beside the hedge.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ah! sweet, be free to come and go;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For if I do not hear thy foot,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The frozen river is as mute,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The flowers have dried down to the root;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And why, since these be changed since May,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Shouldst <i>thou</i> change less than <i>they</i>?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>2.</h5> +<span class="i0">And slow, slow as the winter snow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The tears have drifted to mine eyes;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And my two cheeks, three months ago,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Set blushing at thy praises so,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Put paleness on for a disguise.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ah! sweet, be free to praise and go;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For if my face is turned to pale,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It was thine oath that first did fail,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It was thy love proved false and frail!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And why, since these be changed, I trow,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Should <i>I</i> change less than <i>thou</i>?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Reed.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem2"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I am no trumpet, but a reed!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No flattering breath shall from me lead<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A silver sound, a hollow sound!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I will not ring, for priest or king,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One blast that, in re-echoing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Would leave a bondsman faster bound.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I am no trumpet, but a reed,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A broken reed, the wind indeed<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Left flat upon a dismal shore!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet if a little maid, or child,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Should sigh within it, earnest-mild,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This reed will answer evermore.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493">[493]</a></span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I am no trumpet, but a reed!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Go, tell the fishers, as they spread<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Their nets along the river's edge,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I will not tear their nets at all,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor pierce their hands—if they should fall:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then let them leave me in the sedge.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Hector in the Garden.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem2"><div class="stanza"> +<h5>1.</h5> +<span class="i0">Nine years old! First years of any<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Seem the best of all that come!—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet when <i>I</i> was nine, I said<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Unlike things!—I thought, instead,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That the Greeks used just as many<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In besieging Ilium.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>2.</h5> +<span class="i0">Nine green years had scarcely brought me<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To my childhood's haunted spring,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I had life, like flowers and bees,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In betwixt the country trees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the sun, the pleasure, taught me<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which he teacheth every thing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>3.</h5> +<span class="i0">If the rain fell, there was sorrow;—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Little head leant on the pane,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Little finger tracing down it<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The long trailing drops upon it,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the "Rain, rain, come to-morrow,"<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Said for charm against the rain.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>4.</h5> +<span class="i0">And the charm was right Canidian,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Though you meet it with a jeer!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If I said it long enough,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then the rain hummed dimly off;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the thrush, with his pure Lydian,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Was the loudest sound to hear.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>5.</h5> +<span class="i0">And the sun and I together<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Went a-rushing out of doors!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We, our tender spirits, drew<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Over hill and dale in view,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glimmering hither, glimmering thither,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the footsteps of the showers.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>6.</h5> +<span class="i0">Underneath the chestnuts dripping,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Through the grasses wet and fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Straight I sought my garden-ground,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With the laurel on the mound;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the pear-tree oversweeping<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A side-shadow of green air.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">[494]</a></span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>7.</h5> +<span class="i0">While hard by, there lay supinely<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A huge giant, wrought of spade!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Arms and legs were stretched at length,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In a passive giant strength,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the meadow turf, cut finely,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Round them laid and interlaid.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>8.</h5> +<span class="i0">Call him Hector, son of Priam!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Such his title and degree.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With my rake I smoothed his brow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And his cheeks I weeded through:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But a rhymer such as I am<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Scarce can sing his dignity.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>9.</h5> +<span class="i0">Eyes of gentianella's azure,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Staring, winking at the skies;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nose of gillyflowers and box;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Scented grasses, put for locks—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which a little breeze, at pleasure,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Set a-waving round his eyes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>10.</h5> +<span class="i0">Brazen helm of daffodillies,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a glitter for the light;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Purple violets, for the mouth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Breathing perfumes west and south;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And a sword of flashing lilies,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Holden ready for the fight.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>11.</h5> +<span class="i0">And a breastplate, made of daisies,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Closely fitting, leaf by leaf;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Periwinkles interlaced<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Drawn for belt about the waist;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While the brown bees, humming praises,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shot their arrows round the chief.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>12.</h5> +<span class="i0">And who knows, (I sometimes wondered,)<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If the disembodied soul<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of old Hector, once of Troy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Might not take a dreary joy<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here to enter—if it thundered,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rolling up the thunder-roll?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>13.</h5> +<span class="i0">Rolling this way, from Troy-ruin,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To this body rude and rife,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He might enter and take rest<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Neath the daisies of the breast—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They, with tender roots, renewing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His heroic heart to life.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>14.</h5> +<span class="i0">Who could know? I sometimes started<br /></span> +<span class="i2">At a motion or a sound;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495">[495]</a></span><br /></span> +<span class="i2">Did his mouth speak—naming Troy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With an οτοτοτοτοι?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Did the pulse of the Strong-hearted<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Make the daisies tremble round?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>15.</h5> +<span class="i0">It was hard to answer, often!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But the birds sang in the tree—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But the little birds sang bold,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the pear-tree green and old;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And my terror seemed to soften,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Through the courage of their glee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>16.</h5> +<span class="i0">Oh, the birds, the trees, the ruddy<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And white blossoms, sleek with rain!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Oh, my garden, rich with pansies!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Oh, my childhood's bright romances!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All revive, like Hector's body,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And I see them stir again!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>17.</h5> +<span class="i0">And despite life's changes—chances,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And despite the deathbell's toll,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They press on me in full seeming!—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Help, some angel! stay this dreaming!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As the birds sang in the branches,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sing God's patience through my soul!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<h5>18.</h5> +<span class="i0">That no dreamer, no neglecter,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of the present's work unsped,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I may wake up and be doing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Life's heroic ends pursuing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though my past is dead as Hector,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And though Hector is twice dead.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496">[496]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_CONDES_DAUGHTER" id="THE_CONDES_DAUGHTER"></a>THE CONDE'S DAUGHTER.</h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">I should</span> think we cannot be very +far from our destination by this time."</p> + +<p>"Why, were one to put faith in +my appetite, we must have been at +least a good four or five hours <i>en route</i> +already; and if our Rosinantes are not +able to get over a <i>misère</i> of thirty or +forty miles without making as many +grimaces about it as they do now, +they are not the animals I took them +for."</p> + +<p>"Come, come—abuse your own as +much as you please, but this much I +will say for my Nero, though he has +occasionally deposited me on the roadside, +he is not apt to sleep upon the +way at least. Nay, so sure am I of +him, that I would wager you ten Napoleons +that we are not more than +four or five miles from the <i>chateau</i> at +this moment."</p> + +<p>"<i>Pas si bête, mon cher.</i> I am not +fool enough to put my precious Naps +in jeopardy, just when I am so deucedly +in want of them, too. But a +truce to this nonsense. Do you know, +Ernest, seriously speaking, I am beginning +to think we are great fools +for our pains, running our heads into +a perilous adventure, with the almost +certainty of a severe reprimand from +the general, which, I think, even your +filial protestations will scarcely save +you from, if ever we return alive; +and merely to see, what, I dare say, +after all, will turn out to be only a +pretty face."</p> + +<p>"What!—already faint-hearted!—A +miracle of beauty such as Darville +described is well worth periling one's +neck to gaze upon. Besides, is not +that our vocation?—and as for reprimands, +if you got one as often as I +do, you would soon find out that those +things are nothing when one is used +to them."</p> + +<p>"A miracle!—ah, bah! It was +the romance of the scene, and the +artful grace of the costume, which +fascinated his eyes."</p> + +<p>"No, no! be just. Recollect that +it was not Darville alone, but Delavigne; +and even that <i>connoisseur</i> in +female beauty, Monbreton himself, +difficult as he is, declared that she +was perfect. She must be a wonder, +indeed, when he could find no fault +with her."</p> + +<p>"Be it so. I warn you beforehand +that I am fully prepared to be disappointed. +However, as we are so far +embarked in the affair, I suppose we +must accomplish it."</p> + +<p>"Most assuredly, unless you wish +to be the laughing-stock of the whole +regiment for the next month; for +notwithstanding Darville's boasted +powers of discretion, half the subalterns, +no doubt, are in possession of +the secret of our <i>escapade</i> by this +time."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, Ernest, as we are +launched on this wise expedition, let +me sermonise a small portion of prudence +into that most giddy brain of +yours. Remember that, after all, if +those ruthless Spaniards were to discover +the trick we are playing them, +they would probably make us pay +rather too dearly for the frolic. In +short, Ernest, I am very much afraid +that your <i>étourderie</i> will let the light +rather too soon into the thick skulls +of those magnificent hidalgos."</p> + +<p>"Preach away—I listen in all +humility."</p> + +<p>"Ernest, Ernest, I give you up; +you are incorrigible!" rejoined the +other, turning away to hide the laugh +which the irresistibly comic expression +his friend threw into his countenance +had excited.</p> + +<p>And who were the speakers of this +short dialogue? Two dashing, spirited-looking +young men, who, at the close +of it, reined in their steeds, in the +dilemma of not knowing where to +direct them. Theirs was, indeed, a +wild-goose chase. Their <i>Chateau en +Espagne</i> seemed invisible, as such +<i>chateaux</i> usually are; and where it +might be found, who was there to +tell?—Not one. The scene was a +desert—not even a bird animated it; +and just before them branched out +three roads from the one they had +hitherto confidently pursued.</p> + +<p>After a moment's silence, the cavaliers +both burst into a gay laugh.</p> + +<p>"Here's a puzzle, Alphonse!" said +the one. "Which of the three roads +do you opine?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497">[497]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The left, by all means," replied +the other; "I generally find it leads +me right."</p> + +<p>"But if it shouldn't now?"</p> + +<p>"Why, then, it only leads us +wrong."</p> + +<p>"But I don't choose to go wrong."</p> + +<p>"And what have you been doing +ever since you set out?"</p> + +<p>"True; but as we are far enough +now from that point, we must e'en +make the best of the bad."</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, if one only knew which +was the best."</p> + +<p>At this moment the tinkling of a +mule's bells, mingled with the song +of the muleteer, came on the air.</p> + +<p>"Hist! here comes counsel," exclaimed +the young man whom the +other named Ernest. "Holla, señor +hidalgo! do you know the castle of +the Conde di Miranda?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Where is it?"</p> + +<p>"Where it was."</p> + +<p>"Near?"</p> + +<p>"That's as one finds it."</p> + +<p>"And how shall we find it?"</p> + +<p>"By reaching it."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, hidalgo mio."</p> + +<p>"I'm no hidalgo," said the man +roughly.</p> + +<p>"But you ought to be. I've seen +many less deserving of it," resumed +the traveller.</p> + +<p>"I dare say," retorted the muleteer.</p> + +<p>"If you'll conduct us within view +of the castle you shall be rewarded."</p> + +<p>"As I should well deserve."</p> + +<p>"Ah, your deserts may be greater +than our purse."</p> + +<p>But the man moved on.</p> + +<p>"Halte-là, friend! I like your company +so well that I must have it a +little longer." And the officer pulled +out a pistol. "Will you, or will you +not, guide us to the castle of the +Conde?"</p> + +<p>"I will," gruffly replied the man, +with a look which showed that he +was sorry to be forced to choose the +second alternative.</p> + +<p>"Can we trust this fellow?" said +the younger officer to the elder.</p> + +<p>"No—but we can ourselves; and +keep a sharp look-out."</p> + +<p>"Besides, I shall give him a hint. +Hidalgo mio——" he began.</p> + +<p>"Señor <i>Franzese</i>," interrupted the +muleteer.</p> + +<p>"What puts that into your head, +hidalgo? <i>Franzese</i>,—why, Don Felix +y Cortos, y Sargas, y Nos, y +Tierras, y, y,—don't you know an +Englishman when you see him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," muttered the Spaniard—"Yes, +and a Frenchman, too."</p> + +<p>"No, you don't, for here's the +proof. Why, what are we, but English +officers, carrying despatches to +your Conde from our General?"</p> + +<p>The muleteer looked doubtingly.</p> + +<p>"Why, do you suppose Frenchmen +would trust themselves amongst such +a set of"—</p> + +<p>"Patriots." Exclaimed the other +stranger, hastily.</p> + +<p>"All I say;" observed the man +drily, "is, that if you are friends of +the Conde, he will treat you as you +deserve. If enemies, the same. So, +backward."</p> + +<p>"Onward, you mean."</p> + +<p>"Ay, for me; but not for you, +señores, you have left the castle a mile +to the left."</p> + +<p>"I guessed right, you see," said +Alphonse, "when I guessed left."</p> + +<p>The muleteer passed on, and the +horsemen followed.</p> + +<p>"I say, hidalgo mio," called out +Ernest, "what sort of a don is this +same Conde?"</p> + +<p>"As how?" inquired the muleteer.</p> + +<p>"Is he rich?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Proud?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Old?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Has he a wife?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Has he children?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"No!" exclaimed the cavalier with +surprise. "No child!"</p> + +<p>"You said children, señor."</p> + +<p>"He has a child, then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"A son?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"A daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes and no seems all you +have got to say."</p> + +<p>"It seems to answer all you have +got to ask, señor."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498">[498]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is the Doña very handsome?" +interrupted Alphonse, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Yes and no, according to taste," +replied the muleteer.</p> + +<p>"He laughs at us," whispered +Ernest in French. The conversation +with the muleteer had been, thus far, +carried on in Spanish—which Ernest +spoke fairly enough. But the observation +he thoughtlessly uttered in +French seemed to excite the peasant's +attention.</p> + +<p>"Do you speak English?" asked +Ernest.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the reply, in English. +"Do you?"</p> + +<p>"Me English? ab course. Speak +well English," replied Ernest, in the +true Gallic-idiom. Then relapsing +into the more familiar tongue, he +added, "But in Spain I speak +Spanish."</p> + +<p>By this time the trio had arrived +within view of a large castellated +building, whose ancient towers, glowing +in the last rays of the setting sun, +rose majestically from the midst of +groves of dark cypress and myrtle +which surrounded it.</p> + +<p>The muleteer stopped. "There, +señores," he said, "stands the castle +of the Conde. Half-a-mile further on +lies the town of R——, to which, +señores," he added, with a sarcastic +smile, "you can proceed, should you +not find it convenient to remain at +the <i>Castello</i>. And now, I presume, +as I have guided you so far right, +you will suffer me to resume my own +direction."</p> + +<p>"Yes, as there seems no possibility +of making any more mistakes on our +way, you are free," replied the gravest +of the two. "But stop one moment +yet, <i>amigo</i>," and he pointed to a cross-road +which, a little further on, diverged +from the <i>camino real</i>, "where +does that lead to?"</p> + +<p>"Amigo!" muttered the man between +his teeth, "say <i>enemigo</i> rather!"</p> + +<p>"An answer to my question, <i>villano</i>," +said the young Frenchman, +haughtily—while his hand instinctively +groped for the hilt of his +sword.</p> + +<p>"To R——," replied the man, as +he turned silently and sullenly to retrace +his steps.</p> + +<p>"Holla, there!" Ernest called out; +"you have forgotten your money;" +and he held out a purse, but the man +was gone. "<i>Va donc, et que le diable +t'emporte, brutal!</i>" added Ernest de +Lucenay; taking good care, however, +this time, that the ebullition of his +feelings was not loud enough to reach +the ears of the retreating peasant. +"Confound it! I would rather follow +the track of a tiger through the pathless +depth of an Indian jungle alone, than +be led by such a savage <i>cicerone</i>."</p> + +<p>"Never mind the fellow; we have +more than enough to think of in our own +affairs," exclaimed his friend, impatiently. +"Let us stop here a moment +and consult, before we proceed any further. +One thing is evident, at all +events, that we must contrive to disguise +ourselves better if we wish to +pass for any thing but Frenchmen. +With my knowledge of the English +language, and acquaintance with their +manners and habits, trifling as it is, I +am perfectly certain of imposing on +the Spaniards, without any difficulty; +but you will as certainly cause a +blow up, unless you manage to alter +your whole style and appearance. +I daresay you have forgotten all my +instructions already."</p> + +<p>"Bah! Alphonse. Let me alone +for puzzling the dons; I'll be as complete +a <i>Goddam</i> in five minutes as +any stick you ever saw, I warrant +you."</p> + +<p>"Nothing can appear more perfectly +un-English than you do at present. +That <i>éveillé</i> look of yours is the +very devil;" and Alphonse shook his +head, despondingly.</p> + +<p>"Incredulous animal! just hold Nero +for five minutes, and you shall have +ocular demonstration of my powers +of acting. <i>Parbleu!</i> you shall see +that I can be solemn and awkward +enough to frighten half the <i>petites +maîtresses</i> of Paris into the vapours." +And, so saying, De Lucenay sprang +from his saddle, and consigning the +bridle into his friend's hands, ran towards +a little brook, which trickled +through the grass at a short distance +from the roadside; but not before he +had made his friend promise to abstain +from casting any profane glances +on his toilet till it was accomplished.</p> + +<p>Wisely resolving to avoid temptation, +Alphonse turned away, when, +to his surprise, he perceived the muleteer +halting on a rising ground at a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499">[499]</a></span> +little distance. "By Jove! that insolent +dog has been watching us. Scoundrel, +will you move on?" he exclaimed +in French, raising his voice angrily, +when, suddenly recollecting himself, +he terminated the unfinished phrase +by "<i>Sigue tu camin! Picaro! Bribon!</i>" +while he shook his pistol menacingly +at the man's head—a threat which +did not seem to intimidate him much, +for, though he resumed his journey, +his rich sonorous voice burst triumphantly +forth into one of the patriotic +songs; and long after he had disappeared +from their eyes, the usual +<i>ritournelle</i>, "<i>Viva</i> Fernando! <i>Muera</i> +Napoleon!" rang upon the air.</p> + +<p>This short interval had more than +sufficed for De Lucenay's mysterious +operations. And before his friend +was tired of fuming and sacreing +against Spain and Spaniards, Ernest +tapped him on the shoulder, and for +once both the young officer's anger +and habitual gravity vanished in an +uncontrollable fit of laughter. "By +Jupiter! it is incredible," he gasped +forth, as soon as returning breath +would allow him to speak: while +Ernest stood silently enjoying his +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Well, what think you? It will do, +will it not? Are you still in fear of +a <i>fiasco</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Nay! My only fear now is, that +the pupil will eclipse the master, and +that the more shining light of your +talents will cast mine utterly into the +shade. By heavens! the transformation +is inimitable. Your own father +would not know you."</p> + +<p>"He would not be the only one in +such an unhappy case, then."</p> + +<p>Nothing certainly could have been +more absurd than the complete metamorphosis +which, in those few moments, +De Lucenay had contrived to +make in his appearance. With the aid +of a little fresh water from the rivulet, +he had managed to reduce the rich +curly locks of his chesnut hair to an +almost Quaker flatness; the shirt collar, +which had been turned down, was +now drawn up to his cheek-bones, and +with his hat placed perpendicularly +on the crown of his head, one arm +crossed under the tails of his coat, +and the other balancing his whip, its +handle resting on his lips, the corners +of which were drawn puritanically +down, and his half-closed eyes staring +vacantly on the points of his boots, +he stood the living picture of an automaton.</p> + +<p>"Well, would you not swear that +I was a regular <i>boule-dog Anglais</i>?" +exclaimed Earnest, stalking up and +down for his friend's inspection, while +he rounded his shoulders, and carried +his chin in the air, in order to +increase the resemblance.</p> + +<p>"Excellent!—only not so much +<i>laisser aller</i>; a little more stiff—more +drawn up! That will do—oh, it's perfect!" +And again Alphonse burst into +a peal of laughter, in which De +Lucenay, notwithstanding his newly-assumed +gravity, could not refrain +from joining.</p> + +<p>"Let me see,—That coat fits a +great deal too well, too close. We +must rip out some of the wadding, +just to let it make a few wrinkles; it +ought to hang quite loosely, in order +to be in character."</p> + +<p>"Gently, <i>mon cher</i>!" interposed De +Lucenay, as his friend drew out a +pen-knife. "To satisfy you, I have +injured the sit of my cravat, I have +hidden the classic contour of my neck, +I have destroyed the Antinöus-like +effect of my <i>coiffure</i>—those curls +which were the despair of all my +rivals in conquest—I have consented +to look like a wretch impaled, and +thus renounce all the <i>bonnes fortunes</i> +that awaited me during the next +four-and-twenty hours; and now you +venture to propose, with the coolest +audacity, that I should crown all +these sacrifices by utterly destroying +the symmetry of my figure. No, no, +<i>mon cher</i>! that is too much; cut yourself +up as you please, but spare your +friend."</p> + +<p>"<i>Vive Dieu!</i>" laughed Alphonse. +"It is lucky that you have absorbed +such an unreasonable proportion of +vanity that you have left none for +me. To spare the acuteness of your +feelings, I will be the victim. Here +goes!" And, so saying, he ripped up +the lining of his coat, and scattered +a few handfuls of wadding to the +winds. "Will that do?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, capitally! I would rather +you wore it than me; it has as many +wrinkles as St Marceau's forehead."</p> + +<p>"Forward, then, <i>et vogue la galère!</i>" +exclaimed Alphonse, as De<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500">[500]</a></span> +Lucenay vaulted into his saddle, and +the cavaliers spurred on their horses +to a rapid canter.</p> + +<p>"<i>Apropos!</i>" exclaimed De Lucenay, +as they approached the castle; +"we ought to lay our plans, and +make a proper arrangement beforehand, +like honest, sociable brothers-in-arms; +it would never do to stand +in each other's light, and mar our +mutual hopes of success by cutting +each others' throats for the sake of +the <i>bella</i>."</p> + +<p>"Oh, as for me, you are welcome +to all my interest in the Doña's heart +beforehand; for I never felt less disposed +to fall in love than I do at present."</p> + +<p>"You are delightful in theory, <i>caro +mio</i>; but as your practice might be +somewhat different, suppose we make +a little compact, upon fair terms, +viz., that the choice is to depend on +the señora herself; that whoever she +distinguishes, the other is to relinquish +his claims at once, and thenceforth +devote all his energies to the +assistance of his friend. We cannot +both carry her off, you know; so it is +just as well to settle all these little +particulars in good time."</p> + +<p>"Oh! as you please. I am quite +willing to sign and seal any compact +that will set your mind at rest; +though, for my part, I declare off +beforehand."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, it is a done thing; +give me your hand on it. <i>Parole +d'honneur!</i>" said De Lucenay, stretching +out his.</p> + +<p>"<i>Parole d'honneur</i>," returned his +friend, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"But to return to the elopement"—</p> + +<p>"Gad! How you fly on! There +will be two words to that part of the +story, I suspect. Doña Inez will probably +not be quite so easily charmed as +our dear little <i>grisettes</i>; and she must +be consulted, I suppose; unless, indeed, +you intend to carry the fort +by storm; the current of your love +nay not flow as smoothly as you expect."</p> + +<p>"Oh, as for that, leave it to me. +Spanish women have too good a taste, +and we Frenchmen are too irresistible +to leave me any fears on that +score; besides, she must be devilishly +difficult if neither of us suit her. +You are dark, and I fair—you are +pensive, and I gay—you poetic, and I +witty. The deuce is in it, if she does +not fall in love with either one or +other!</p> + +<p>"Add to which, the private reservation, +no doubt, that if she has +one atom of discernment, it is a certain +<i>volage</i>, giddy, young aide-de-camp +that she will select."</p> + +<p>"Why, if I had but fair play; but +as my tongue will not be allowed to +shine, I must leave the captivation +part to my <i>yeux doux</i>. Who knows, +though?"——</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>vanitas vanitatum!</i>" exclaimed +Alphonse, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"I might say the same of a certain +rebellious aristocrat, who lays +claim to the euphonious patronymic +of La Tour d'Auvergne, with a pedigree +that dates from the Flood, and a +string of musty ancestors who might +put the patriarchs to the blush; but +I am more generous;" and De Lucenay +began carelessly to hum a few +bars of La Carmagnole.</p> + +<p>"Softly!" said his more prudent +friend. "We are drawing near the +chateau, and you might as well wear +a cockade <i>tricolor</i> as let them hear +that."</p> + +<p>It was an antique, half-Gothic, half-Saracenic +looking edifice, which they +now approached. A range of light arcades, +whose delicate columns, wreathed +round with the most graceful foliage, +seemed almost too slight to sustain +the massive structure which rose +above them, surrounded the <i>pian terreno</i>. +Long tiers of pointed windows, +mingled with exquisite fretwork, and +one colossal balcony, with a rich crimson +awning, completed the façade. +Beneath the <i>portico</i>, numbers of servants +and retainers were lounging +about, enjoying the <i>fresco</i>. Some, +stretched out at full length on the +marble benches that lined the open +arcades, were fast asleep; others, +seated <i>à la Turque</i> upon the ground, +were busily engaged in a noisy game +of cards. But the largest group of all +had collected round a handsome Moorish-looking +Andalusian, who, leaning +against the wall, was lazily rasping +the chords of a guitar that was slung +over his shoulder, while he sang one +of those charming little Tiranas, to +which he <i>improvised</i> the usual nonsense +words as he proceeded; anon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501">[501]</a></span> +the deep mellow voices of his auditory +would mingle with the "<i>Ay de mi +chaira mia! Luz de mi alma!</i>" &c. +of the <i>ritournelle</i>, and then again the +soft deep tones of the Andalusian rang +alone upon the air.</p> + +<p>As no one seemed to heed their approach, +the two young men stood for +a few moments in silence, listening +delightedly to the music, which now +melted into the softer strain of a +Seguidilla, now brightened into the +more brilliant measure of a Bolero. +Suddenly, in the midst of it, the singer +broke off, and springing on his feet as +if inspired, he dashed his hands across +the strings. Like an electric shock, +the well-known chords of the Tragala +aroused his hearers—every one crowded +round the singer. The players +threw down their cards, the loungers +stood immovable, even the sleepers +started into life; and all chorusing in +enthusiastically, a burst of melody +arose of which no one unacquainted +with the rich and thrilling harmony +peculiar to Spanish voices, can form +an idea.</p> + +<p>"Ernest," said La Tour d'Auvergne +in a whisper, "we shall never conquer +such a people: Napoleon himself +cannot do it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," replied his friend in the +same tone. "They are desperately +national; it will be tough work, at all +events. But, come on; as the song is +finished, we have some chance of +making ourselves heard now." And +De Lucenay spurred his horse up to +the entrance. At their repeated calls +for attendance, two or three servants +hastened out of the vestibule and held +their horses as they dismounted. They +became infinitely more attentive, however, +on hearing that the strangers +were English officers, the bearers of +dispatches to their master; and a dark +Figaro-looking laquey, in whose lively +roguish countenance the Frenchmen +would have had no difficulty in recognising +a Biscayan, even without the +aid of his national and picturesque +costume, offered to usher them into +the presence of the Conde.</p> + +<p>Their guide led the way through +the long and lofty vestibule, which +opened on a superb marble colonnade +that encircled the patio or court, in +the centre of which two antique and +richly-sculptured fountains were casting +up their glittering <i>jets-d'eau</i> in the +proscribed form of <i>fleurs-de-lis</i>, to be +received again in two wide porphyry +basins. Traversing the <i>patio</i>, they +ascended a fine marble staircase, from +the first flight of which branched off +several suites of apartments. Taking +the one to the right, the young men +had full leisure to observe the splendour +that surrounded them, as they +slowly followed their conductor from +one long line of magnificent rooms into +another. Notwithstanding many +modern alterations, the character of +the whole building was too evidently +Eastern to admit a doubt as to its +Moorish origin. Every where the +most precious marbles, agates, and +lapis-lazuli, oriental jasper, porphyry +of every variety, dazzled the eye. In +the centre of many of the rooms there +played a small fountain; in others +there were four, one in each angle. +Large divans of the richest crimson and +violet brocades lined the walls, while +ample curtains of the same served in +lieu of doors. But what particularly +struck the friends was the brilliant +beauty of the arabesques that covered +the ceilings, and the exquisite chiselling +of the cornices, and the framework +of the windows.</p> + +<p>"The palace is beautiful, is it not?" +said the Biscayan, as he perceived the +admiring glances they cast around +them. "It ought to be, for it was +one of the summer dwellings of <i>il rey +Moro</i>; and those <i>ereticos malditos</i> cared +but little what treasures they lavished +on their pleasures. It came into my +master's possession as a descendant +of the Cid, to whom it was given as a +guerdon for his services."</p> + +<p>"What a numerous progeny that +famous hero must have had! He was +a wonderful man!" exclaimed De +Lucenay, with extreme gravity.</p> + +<p>"<i>Si, señor—un hombre maravilloso +en verdad</i>," replied the Spaniard, +whom, notwithstanding his natural +acuteness, the seriousness of De +Lucenay's manner and countenance +had prevented from discovering the +irony of his words. "But now +señores," he continued, as they reached +a golden tissue-draped door, "we +are arrived. The next room is the +<i>comedor</i>, where the family are at +supper."</p> + +<p>"Then, perhaps, we had better<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502">[502]</a></span> +wait a while. We would not wish to +disturb them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, by no means! The Conde +would be furious if you were kept +waiting an instant. The English are +great favourites of his. Besides, they +must have finished by this time." +And raising the curtain, they entered +an immense frescoed hall, which was +divided in the centre by a sort of +transparent partition of white marble, +some fourteen or fifteen feet in height, +so delicately pierced and chiseled, +that it resembled lace-work much +more than stone. A pointed doorway, +supported by twisted columns, +as elaborately carved and ornamented +as the rest, opened into the upper +part of the hall, which was elevated a +step higher. In the centre of this, a +table was superbly laid out with a +service of massive gold; while the +fumes of the viands was entirely +overpowered by the heavy perfume +of the colossal <i>bouquets</i> of flowers +which stood in sculptured silver and +gold vases on the plateau. Around +the table were seated about twenty +persons, amongst whom the usual +sprinkling of <i>sacerdotes</i> was not wanting. +A stern, but noble-looking man +sat at the upper end of the table, and +seemed to do the honours to the rest +of the company.</p> + +<p>The Conde—for it was he—rose +immediately on receiving the message +which the young officers had sent in; +while they waited its answer in the +oriel window, being unwilling to +break in so unceremoniously upon a +party which seemed so much larger, +and more formal, than any they had +been prepared to meet. Their host +received them most courteously as +they presented their credentials—namely, +a letter from the English +general, Wilson, who commanded the +forces stationed at the city of S——, +about sixty miles distant from the +chateau. As the Conde ran his +glance over its contents,—in which the +general informed him that within +three or four days he would reach +R——, when he intended to avail +himself of the Conde's often proffered +hospitality, till when he recommended +his two aides-de-camp to his +kindness,—the politeness of their +welcome changed to the most friendly +cordiality.</p> + +<p>"Señores," he said, "I am most +grateful to his excellency for the +favour he has conferred on me, in +choosing my house during his stay +here. I feel proud and happy to +shelter beneath my roof any of our +valued and brave allies.—But you +must have had a hard day's ride of it, +I should think."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, it was a tolerable +morning's work," replied De Lucenay, +who felt none of Alphonse's embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"Pablo, place seats for their excellencies," +said the Conde to one +of the domestics who stood around; +while he motioned to the <i>soi-disant</i> +Englishmen to enter the supper-room, +in which the clatter of tongues and +plates had sensibly diminished, ever +since the commencement of the mysterious +conference which had been +taking place beyond its precincts. +"You must be greatly in want of +some refreshment, for the wretched +posadas on the road cannot have +offered you any thing eatable."</p> + +<p>"They were not very tempting, +certainly; however, we are pretty well +used to them by this time," replied De +Lucenay. "But, Señor Conde, really +we are scarcely presentable in such a +company," he added, as he looked +down on his dust-covered boots and +dress.</p> + +<p>"What matter? You must not be +so ceremonious with us; you cannot +be expected to come off a journey as +if you had just emerged from a lady's +boudoir," answered the Conde with a +smile. "Besides, these are only a +few intimate friends who have assembled +to celebrate my daughter's +fête-day." And, so saying, he led +them up to the table, and presented +them to the circle as Lord Beauclerc +and Sir Edward Trevor, aides-de-camp +to General Wilson. "And now," he +added, "I must introduce you to the +lady of the castle; my daughter, Doña +Inez;" and turning to a slight elegant-looking +girl, who might have been +about sixteen or seventeen, he said—"<i>Mi +queridita</i>, these gentlemen have +brought me the welcome news that +our friend the English general will be +here in three or four days at the latest; +the corps will be quartered in the +neighbourhood, but the general and +his aides-de-camp will reside with us.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503">[503]</a></span> +Therefore, as they are likely to remain +some time, we must all do our utmost +to render their stay amongst us as +agreeable to them as possible."</p> + +<p>"I shall be most happy to contribute +to it as far as it is in my slight +power," replied Doña Inez in a low +sweet voice, while she raised her large +lustrous eyes to those of Alphonse, +which for the last five minutes had +been gazing as if transfixed upon her +beautiful countenance.</p> + +<p>Starting as if from a dream, he +stammered out, "Señorita, I——I——," +when fortunately De Lucenay +came to his assistance, with one of those +little well-turned flattering speeches +for which French tact is so unrivalled; +and as the company politely made +room for them, they seated themselves +beside her.</p> + +<p>"Don Fernando," said the Conde +to a haughty, grave-looking man, +who sat next to De Lucenay, while +he resumed his place at the head of +the table, "you and Inez, I trust, +will take care of our new friends. +<i>Pobrecitos</i>, they must be half famished +by their day's expedition, and this +late hour."</p> + +<p>But the recommendation was superfluous; +every one vied with his +neighbour in attending to the two +strangers, who, on their part, were +much more intent on contemplating +the fair mistress of the mansion, than +on doing honour to the profusion +of <i>friandises</i> that were piled before +them.</p> + +<p>Doña Inez was indeed beautiful, +beyond the usual measure of female +loveliness: imagination could not enhance, +nor description give an idea of +the charm that fascinated all those +who gazed upon her: features cast +in the most classic mould—a complexion +that looked as if no southern +sun had ever smiled on it. But the +eyes!—the large, dark, liquid orbs, +whose glance would now seem almost +dazzling in its excessive brightness, +and now melted into all the softness +of Oriental languor, as the long, +gloomy Circassian lashes drooped +over them! As Alphonse looked upon +her, he could have almost fancied +himself transported to Mohammed's +paradise, and taken the Spanish maiden +for a houri; but that there was a soul +in those magnificent eyes—a nobleness +in the white and lofty brow—a +dignity in the calm and pensive calmness, +which spoke of higher and better +things.</p> + +<p>But if her appearance enchanted +him, her manners were not less winning; +unembarrassed and unaffected, +her graceful and natural ease in a few +moments contrived to make them feel +as much at home as another would +have done in as many hours. Much +to the young Frenchmen's regret, however, +they were not long allowed to +enjoy their <i>aparté</i> in quiet; for a thin +sallow-looking priest, whom Doña +Inez had already designated to them +as the <i>Padre Confessor</i>, interrupted +them in a few minutes, and the conversation +became general.</p> + +<p>"It is a great satisfaction to us all +to see you here, señores," he said. +"First, as it procures us the pleasure +of becoming personally acquainted +with our good friends and allies the +English; and, secondly, as a guarantee +that we are not likely to have our +sight polluted by any of those sacrilegious +demons the French, while you +are amongst us."</p> + +<p>"<i>Gracias a Dios!</i>" energetically +rejoined the <i>cappellan</i>—a fat, rosy, +good-humoured looking old man, the +very antipodes of his grim <i>confrère</i>. +"The saints preserve me from ever +setting eyes on them again! You +must know, señores, that some six +weeks ago I had gone to collect some +small sums due to the convent, and +was returning quietly home with a lay +brother, when I had the misfortune to +fall in with a troop of those sons of +Belial, whom I thought at least a hundred +miles off. Would you believe it, +señores! without any respect for my +religious habit, the impious dogs laid +violent hands on me; laughed in my +face when I told them I was almoner +to the holy community of Sancta Maria +de los Dolores; and vowing that +they were sure that my frock was well +lined, actually forced me to strip to +the skin, in order to despoil me of the +treasure of the Church! Luckily, however +the Holy Virgin had inspired me +to hide it in the mule's saddle-girths, +and so, the zechins escaped their +greedy fangs. But I had enough of +the fright; it laid me up for a week. +Misericordia! what a set of cut-throat, +hideous-looking ruffians! I thought I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504">[504]</a></span> +should never come alive out of their +hands!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Jesus!</i>" exclaimed a handsome +bronzed-looking Castilian, whom De +Lucenay had heard addressed as Doña +Encarnacion de Almoceres; "are +they really so wicked and so frightful?"</p> + +<p>"Without doubt; true demons incarnate," +replied the veracious priest.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, <i>reverendissimo padre</i>; +you are too hard upon the poor devils: +I have seen a good-looking fellow +amongst them, now and then."</p> + +<p>"<i>Bondad sua, señor</i>, I'll be sworn +there is not one fit to tie the latchet +of your shoe in the whole army."</p> + +<p>"Yet how strange, then," recommenced +Doña Encarnacion, "the infatuation +they excite! I am told that +it is inconceivable the numbers of +young girls, from sixteen and upwards, +who have abandoned their homes and +families to follow these brigands. +Their want of mature years and understanding," +she continued, with a +significant glance at Doña Inez—her +indignation having been gradually aroused +as she perceived the admiration +lavished on her by the strangers, +and the indifference with which they +viewed her riper charms,—"may be +one reason; but if the French are so +unattractive, such madness is inexplicable."</p> + +<p>"Arts, unholy arts all!" cried the +Confessor. "Their damnable practices +are the cause of it. They rob +the damsels of their senses, with their +infernal potions and elixirs. The +wretches are in league with the +devil."</p> + +<p>"Assuredly," replied Don Fernando, +gravely, "you must be right. No +woman in her senses would condescend +to look at those insignificant +triflers, while a single <i>caballero</i> of the +true old type is to be found on Spanish +soil;" and he drew himself still +more stiffly up.</p> + +<p>"The Holy Virgin defend me from +their snares!" fervently ejaculated a +thin wrinkled old woman, who until +then might easily have been mistaken +for a mummy, casting her eye up to +heaven, and crossing herself with the +utmost devotion.</p> + +<p>A suppressed laugh spread its contagious +influence all round the table.</p> + +<p>"Doña Estefania, have no fear; +you possess an infallible preservative," +exclaimed the cappellan.</p> + +<p>"And what may that be?" responded +the antiquated fair, somewhat +sharply.</p> + +<p>"Your piety and virtue, señora," +rejoined the merry <i>cappellano</i>, with a +roguish smile, which was not lost on +the rest of the company, though it +evidently escaped the obtuser perceptions +of Doña Estefania; for drawing +her mantilla gracefully around her, +and composing her parched visage into +a look of modesty, she answered in a +softened tone, while she waved her +<i>abanico</i> timidly before her face, "Ah, +<i>Padre Anselmo!</i> you are too partial; +you flatter me!"</p> + +<p>This was too much for the risible +faculties of the audience; even the +grim Don Fernando's imperturbable +mustache relaxed into a smile; while +to avert the burst of laughter which +seemed on the point of exploding on +all sides, Doña Inez interrupted——</p> + +<p>"But, señora, I should hope there +is much falsehood and exaggeration +in the reports you allude to. I trust +there are few, if any, Spanish maidens +capable of so forgetting what is due +to themselves and to their country."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, the contrary is the +case," replied Doña Encarnacion, with +asperity.</p> + +<p>"Oh! no no—it cannot be! I will +not believe it; it is calumnious—it is +impossible! What being, with one +drop of Spanish blood within their +veins, would be so debased as to follow +the invaders of their country, the +destroyers, the despoilers of their own +land?" Doña Inez, led away by her +own enthusiasm, coloured deeply, +while Doña Encarnacion seemed on +the point of making an angry retort, +when the count gave the signal to +rise. The rest followed his example, +and the Conde led the young Frenchmen +to a window, where he conversed +a little with them, asked many questions +about the forces, about the general +who was to be their inmate, &c.—to +all which De Lucenay's ready wit +and inimitable <i>sang froid</i> furnished +him with suitable and unhesitating +replies. The Conde then concluded +with the information, that as there +was to be rather a larger tertulia +than usual that evening, perhaps they +would wish to make some alteration<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505">[505]</a></span> +in their dress before the company +arrived.</p> + +<p>The officers gladly availed themselves +of the permission, and followed the +maggior-domo up a massive flight of +stairs, into a handsome suite of three +or four rooms, assigned entirely to +their use. After having promenaded +them through the whole extent of +their new domicile, the maggior-domo +retired, leaving them to the attendance +of their former guide, Pedro, +who was deputed to serve them in +the capacity of <i>valet-de-chambre</i>.</p> + +<p>The young men were astonished at +the magnificence of all that met their +eyes: walls covered with the finest +tapestry; ewers and goblets of chased +and solid silver; even to the quilts +and canopies of the bed, stiff with gold +embroidery. But they were too much +absorbed by the charms of the Conde's +daughter, and too anxious to return +to the centre of attraction, to waste +much time in admiring the splendour +of their quarters.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful Doña Inez is!" +said De Lucenay, as, in spite of all +prudential considerations, he tried to +force his glossy locks to resume a less +sober fashion. "She must have many +admirers, I should think?"</p> + +<p>"By the dozen," answered the +Spaniard. "She is the pearl of Andalusia; +there is not a noble <i>caballero</i> +in the whole province that would not +sell his soul to obtain a smile from +her."</p> + +<p>"And who are the favoured ones +at present?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she favours none; she is too +proud to cast a look on any of them: +yet there are four hidalgos on the +ranks at present, not one of whom +the haughtiest lady in Spain need disdain. +Don Alvar de Mendoce, especially, +is a cavalier whose birth and +wealth would entitle him to any thing +short of royalty; not to speak of the +handsomest face, the finest figure, +and the sweetest voice for a serenade, +of any within his most Catholic Majesty's +dominions."</p> + +<p>"And is it possible that the Doña +can be obdurate to such irresistible +attractions?"</p> + +<p>Pedro shrugged his shoulders. +"Why, she has not absolutely refused +him, for the Conde favours his suit; +but she vows she will not grant him a +thought till he has won his spurs, +and proved his patriotism, by sending +at least a dozen of those French dogs +to their father Satanasso."</p> + +<p>"A capital way to rid one's-self of +a bore!" exclaimed De Lucenay, while +he cast a last glance at the glass. +"So you are ready, milor," he added, +turning to his friend, who, notwithstanding +his indifference, had spent +quite as much time in adonising himself. +And, Pedro preceding them, the +young men gaily descended the stairs.</p> + +<p>On entering the <i>salon</i>, they found +several groups already assembled. +Doña Inez was standing speaking to +two or three ladies; while several cavaliers +hovered round them, apparently +delighted at every word that fell +from her lips. She disengaged herself +from her circle, however, on perceiving +them, and gradually approached +the window to which they had retreated.</p> + +<p>"What a lovely evening!" she exclaimed, +stepping out upon the balcony, +on which the moon shone full, +casting a flood of soft mellow light on +the sculptured façade of the old castle, +tipping its forest of tapering pinnacles +and the towering summits of the dark +cypresses with silver. "You do not +see such starlit skies in England, I +believe?"</p> + +<p>"I have enjoyed many a delightful +night in my own country, señora, +and in others, but such a night as this, +never—not even in Spain!" answered +Alphonse, fixing his expressive eyes +on her with a meaning not to be mistaken.</p> + +<p>"What a pity it is that we cannot +import a few of these soft moonlights +to our own chilly clime, for the benefit +of all lovers, past, present, and future!" +said De Lucenay gaily. "It is so much +pleasanter to make love in a serenade, +with the shadow of some kind projecting +buttress to hide one's blushes, +a pathetic sonnet to express one's +feelings infinitely more eloquently +than one can in prose, moonlight and +a guitar to cast a shade of romance +over the whole, and a moat or river +in view to terrify the lady into reason, +if necessary—instead of making a formal +declaration in the broad daylight, +looking rather more <i>bête</i> than one has +ever looked before, with the uncharitable +sun giving a deeper glow to one's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">[506]</a></span> +already crimson countenance. Or, +worse still, if one is compelled to torture +one's-self for an hour or two over +unlucky <i>billet-doux</i>, destined to divert +the lady and all her confidants for the +next six months. Oh! <i>evviva</i>, the +Spanish mode—nothing like it, to my +taste, in the world!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Misericordia!</i>" exclaimed Doña +Inez with a laugh, "you are quite +eloquent on the subject, señor. But I +should hope, for their sakes, that your +delineation of lovers in England is +not a very faithful one."</p> + +<p>"To the life, on my honour."</p> + +<p>"Probably they do not devote quite +as much time to it as our <i>caballeros</i>, +who are quite adepts in the +science."</p> + +<p>"Don Alvar de Mendoce, for example," +muttered Alphonse, between +his teeth.</p> + +<p>"What! where?" cried the young +girl, in an agitated tone; "who mentioned +Don Alvar? Did you? But +no—impossible!" she added hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"I?" exclaimed Alphonse, with +an air of surprise—"I did not speak. +But, <i>pardon</i>, señora! is not the cavalier +you have just named, your brother?"</p> + +<p>"No, señor—I have no brother: +that <i>caballero</i>, he is only a——a friend +of my father's," she answered confusedly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! excuse me," said Alphonse, +with the most innocent air imaginable; +"I thought you had."</p> + +<p>There was a moment's pause, and +Doña Inez returned into the saloon, +which was now beginning rapidly to +fill.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I must leave you, +señores; the dancing is about to commence," +she said, "and I must go +and speak to some young friends of +mine who have just come in. But +first let me induce you to select some +partners."</p> + +<p>"I did not know it was customary +to dance at tertulias," observed +Ernest.</p> + +<p>"Not in general, but to-night it is +augmented into a little ball, in honour +of its being my <i>dia de cumpleaños</i>. +But come, look round the room, and +choose for yourselves. Whom shall I +take you up to?"</p> + +<p>"May I not have the pleasure of +dancing with Doña Inez herself?" +said De Lucenay.</p> + +<p>"Ah no! I would not inflict so +<i>triste</i> a partner on you: I must find +you a more lively companion." And as +if to prevent the compliment that +was hovering on Ernest's lips, she +hurried on, while she pointed out a +group that was seated near the door. +"There! what do you think of Doña +Juana de Zayas? the liveliest, prettiest, +and most remorseless coquette +of all Andalusia; for whose bright +eyes more hearts and heads have been +broken than I could enumerate, or +you would have patience to listen to."</p> + +<p>"What! that sparkling-looking +brunette, who flutters her <i>abanico</i> +with such inimitable grace?"</p> + +<p>"The same."</p> + +<p>"Oh! present me by all means."</p> + +<p>"And you, señor," said Doña +Inez, returning with more interest to +Alphonse, who had stood silently +leaning against a column, while she +walked his friend across the room, +and seated him beside Doña Juana, +"will you be satisfied with Doña +Mercedes, who is almost as much +admired as her sister; or shall we +look further?"</p> + +<p>"But you, so formed to shine—to +eclipse all others—do you never +dance, señorita?"</p> + +<p>"Seldom or ever," she replied +sadly. "I have no spirit for enjoyment +now!"</p> + +<p>"But wherefore? Can there be a +cloud to dim the happiness of one so +bright—so beautiful?" he answered, +lowering his voice almost to a whisper.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" she said, touched by the +tone of interest with which he had +spoken,—"is there not cause enough +for sadness in the misfortunes of my +beloved country; each day, each +hour producing some fresh calamity? +Who can be gay when we see our +native land ravaged, our friends driven +from their homes; when we know not +how soon we may be banished from +our own?"</p> + +<p>"Deeply—sincerely do I sympathise +with, and honour your feelings; +but yet, for once, banish care, and let +us enjoy the present hour like the +rest."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I should prove a bad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507">[507]</a></span> +<i>danseuse</i>; it is so long since I have +danced, that I am afraid I have almost +forgotten how."</p> + +<p>"But as I fear nothing except ill +success, let me entreat."</p> + +<p>"No, no—I will provide you with a +better partner."</p> + +<p>"Nay, if Doña Inez will not favour +me, I renounce dancing, not only for +to-night, but for ever."</p> + +<p>"Oh! well then, to save you from +such a melancholy sacrifice, I suppose +I must consent," replied Doña Inez +with a laugh: and as the music now +gave the signal to commence, she accepted +his proffered arm; and in a +few moments she was whirling round +the circle as swiftly as the gayest of +the throng. The first turn of the +waltz sufficed to convince Alphonse +that his fears on one score, at least, +were groundless; for he had never +met with a lighter or more admirable +<i>valseuse</i>—a pleasure that none but a +good waltzer can appreciate, and +which, notwithstanding all her other +attractions, was not lost upon the +young Frenchman; and before the +termination of the waltz, he had decided +that Doña Inez was assuredly +the most fascinating, as she was undoubtedly +the most beautiful, being +he had ever beheld.</p> + +<p>"<i>Santa Virgen!</i>" exclaimed De +Lucenay's lively partner, after a moment's +silence, which both had very +profitably employed; he, in admiring +her pretty countenance, and she in +watching the somewhat earnest conversation +that was kept up between +the French officer and Doña Inez, as +they reposed themselves on a divan +after the fatigues of the waltz. "It +seems to me that our proud Inesilla +and your friend are very well satisfied +with each other. I wonder if Don +Alvar would be as well pleased, if he +saw them. <i>Grandios!</i> there he is, I +declare!"</p> + +<p>Instinctively De Lucenay's eyes +followed the direction of hers, and +lighted on a tall striking-looking cavalier, +whose handsome features were +contracted into a dark frown, while +he stood silently observing the couple, +the pre-occupation of whom had evidently +hitherto prevented their perceiving +him. "Do, <i>per caridad!</i> go +and tell your friend to be a little +more on his guard, or we shall certainly +have a duel: Don Alvar is the +first swordsman in Spain, jealous as a +tiger, and he makes it a rule to cripple, +or kill, every rival who attempts +to approach Doña Inez. Your friend +is such a good waltzer, that I should +really be sorry to see him disabled, at +least till I am tired of dancing with +him."</p> + +<p>"Your frankness is adorable."</p> + +<p>"Why, to be sure,—of what use are +you men except as partners? unless, +indeed, you are making love to us; +and then, I admit, you are of a little +more value for the time being."</p> + +<p>"The portrait is flattering."</p> + +<p>"Assuredly; you are only too fortunate +in being permitted to worship +us."</p> + +<p>"In the present instance, believe +me, I fully appreciate the happiness."</p> + +<p>"<i>Bravo, bravissimo!</i> I see you were +made for me; I hate people who +take as much time to fall in love as +if they were blind."</p> + +<p>"I always reflect with my eyes."</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is the true way; but +come," rattled on the merry Juanita, +"go and give your friend a hint, and +I will employ the interim in smoothing +the ruffled plumes of an admirer +of mine, who has been scowling at me +this last half hour, and whose flame +is rather too fresh to put an extinguisher +on just yet."</p> + +<p>"A rival!" exclaimed Ernest in a +tragic tone; "he or I must cease to +exist."</p> + +<p>"Oh! don't be so valiant," cried +Doña Juana, leaning back in a violent +fit of laughter. "You would +have to extinguish twenty of them at +that rate."</p> + +<p>"Twenty is a large number," said +Ernest reflectingly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes—be wise in time," said +the pretty coquette, still laughing. +"If you are patient and submissive, +you have always the chance of rising +to the first rank, you know. I am not +very exacting, and provided a caballero +devotes himself wholly to my service, +enlivens me when I am dull, sympathises +with me when I am sad, obeys +my commands as religiously as he +would his confessor's, anticipates my +every wish, and bears with every +caprice, is never gloomy or jealous,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508">[508]</a></span> +and is, moreover, unconscious of the +existence of any other woman in the +world beside, I am satisfied."</p> + +<p>"Is that all? Upon my word your +demands are moderate."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but as our pious friend Doña +Estefania says, perfection is not of this +world, and so I content myself with a +little," replied the animated girl, imitating +the look of mock humility, +shrouding herself in her mantilla, and +wielding her <i>abanico</i> with the identical +air and grace which had so completely +upset the gravity of the supper-table +an hour before. "And then, +consider," she continued, as suddenly +resuming her own vivacity, "how +much more glorious it will be to out-strip +a host of competitors, than +quietly to take possession of a heart +which no one takes the trouble of disputing +with you."</p> + +<p>"Your logic is positively unanswerable," +laughed De Lucenay.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ah, per piedad!</i> Spare my ignorance +the infliction of such hard words, +and be off."</p> + +<p>"But——" murmured the reluctant +Ernest.</p> + +<p>"Obedience, you know!" and Juanita +held up her finger authoritatively.</p> + +<p>Never had Ernest executed a lady's +behests with a worse grace, nor was +his alacrity increased by perceiving +that, ere he had even had time to cross +the room, his place was already occupied, +as much apparently to the satisfaction +of his substitute, as to that of +the faithless fair one herself. But Alphonse +and his partner had disappeared, +and De Lucenay went towards +the balcony, to which he suspected +they had retreated; but there was no +one there, and De Lucenay stood for +a few moments in the embrasure of +the window, irresolute whether he +should seek out his friend or not, while +he amused himself contemplating the +animated <i>coup-d'œil</i> of the saloon. The +dark-eyed Spanish belles, with their +basquinas and lace mantillas, their +flexible figures, and their miniature +feet so exquisitely <i>chaussées</i>; the handsome +caballeros, with their dark profiles +and black mustaches, their +sombre costume, brilliantly relieved +by the gold tissue divans, and varied +arabesques of the glittering saloon, +they looked like the noble pictures of +Velasquez or Murillo just stepped out +of their frames. As Ernest was re-entering +the saloon, the voices of a +group of ladies, from whom he was +concealed by the crimson drapery of +the curtains, caught his attention.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ah! Mariguita mia</i>," said one, +"how glad I am to meet you here! +<i>Que gusto!</i> It is a century since I saw +you last."</p> + +<p>"<i>Queridita mia</i>," responded a masculine +tone, very little in harmony +with the soft words it uttered; "in +these terrible times one dare not +venture a mile beyond the town: As +for me, the mere barking of a dog +puts me all in a flutter, and sends me +flying to the window. You know the +news, I suppose; Doña Isabel de Peñaflor +has quarrelled with her <i>cortejo</i>, +and he has flown off in a rage to her +cousin Blanca."</p> + +<p>"<i>Misericordia que lastima</i>, they +were such a handsome couple! But it +cannot last; they will make it up +again, certainly."</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" interposed another; "her +husband Don Antonio has done all he +could to reconcile them, but in vain—he +told me so himself."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am sure I don't wonder +at it; she is such a shrew there is no +bearing her."</p> + +<p>"No matter," resumed the first +speaker, "the example is scandalous, +and should not be suffered. Ah! it +is all the fault of that artificious Blanca: +I knew she would contrive to get +him at last."</p> + +<p>"<i>Aproposito</i>, what do you think of +the two new stars?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, charming! delightful!" exclaimed +a voice, whose light silvery +tone doubly enhanced the value of its +praise to the attentive listener in the +back-ground. "Only I fear they will +not profit us much; for if my eyes +deceive me not, both are already +captured."</p> + +<p>"No doubt, child," said a voice +which had not yet spoken; "good +looks and good dancing are quite +enough to constitute your standard +of perfection."</p> + +<p>"At all events," interrupted another, +"they are very unlike Englishmen. +Do you know," she continued, +lowering her voice to a whisper, "that +Don Alvar swears they are nothing +else than a pair of French spies; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509">[509]</a></span> +as he speaks English very well, he +means to try them by and by."</p> + +<p>The intelligence was pleasant! and +Ernest seized the first instant when +he could slip out unobserved, to go in +search of his friend. After looking for +him in vain amidst the dancing and +chattering crowd, he wandered into +an adjoining gallery, whose dark +length was left to the light of the +moon, in whose rays the gloomy portraits +that covered the walls looked +almost spectrally solemn. The gallery +terminated in a terrace, which was +decorated with colossal marble vases +and stunted orange-trees, whose blossoms +embalmed the air with their +fragrance. As Ernest approached, the +sound of whispered words caught +his ear. He stood still an instant, +hidden by the porphyry columns of +the portico.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, indeed, I must return; +do not detain me; it is not right; I +shall be missed; I cannot listen to +you," murmured the low voice of +Doña Inez.</p> + +<p>"One moment more. Inez, I +love, I adore you! Oh, do not turn +from me thus—the present instant +alone is ours; to-morrow, to-night, +this hour perhaps, I may be forced +to leave you; give me but hope, +one smile, one word, and I will live +upon that hope—live for the future—live +for you alone, beloved one! till +we compel fate to reunite us, or die. +But you will not say that word; you +care not for me—you love another!" +said Alphonse bitterly. "Would that +I had never seen you! you are cold, +heartless! or you could not reject thus +a love so ardent, so devoted, as that +I fling at your feet."</p> + +<p>"But why this impetuosity—this +unreasonable haste? If you love me, +there is time to-morrow, hereafter; +but this is madness. I love no one—I +hate Don Alvar; but your love is +folly, insanity. Three hours ago you +had never seen me, and now you +swear my indifference will kill you. +Oh! señor, señor! I am but a simple +girl—I am but just seventeen; yet I +know that were it even true that you +love me, a love so sudden in its birth +must perish as rapidly."</p> + +<p>"It is not true! you know—you +feel that it is not true—you do not +think what you say! There is a love +which, like the lightning, scorches the +tree which it strikes, and blasts it for +ever; but you reason—you do not +love—fool that I am!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! let me go—do not clasp my +hand so—you are cruel!" and Inez +burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me—oh, forgive me, best +beloved! <i>luz de mi alma!</i>"</p> + +<p>A sound of approaching footsteps +on the marble below startled them, +and Inez darted away like a frightened +fawn, and flew down the gallery.</p> + +<p>"Well, stoical philosopher!" exclaimed +Ernest, as his friend emerged +from behind the orange-trees; "for so +indifferent and frozen a personage, I +think you get on pretty fast. <i>Ca ira!</i> +I begin to have hopes of you. So +you have lost that frozen heart of +yours at last, and after such boasting, +too! But that is always the way with +you braggadocios. I thought it would +end so, you were so wondrously valiant."</p> + +<p>"But who ever dreamed of seeing +any thing so superhumanly beautiful +as that young girl? Nothing terrestrial +could have conquered me; but +my stoicism was defenceless against +an angel."</p> + +<p>"Bravo! your pride has extricated +itself from the dilemma admirably. I +must admit that there is some excuse +for you; the pearl of Andalusia is +undoubtedly <i>ravissante</i>. But your +pieces of still life never suit me. I +have the bad taste to prefer the laughing +black-eyed Juanita de Zayas to +all the Oriental languor, drooping +lashes, and sentimental monosyllables +of your divinity."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sacrilege! the very comparison +is profanation!" exclaimed Alphonse, +raising his hands and eyes to +heaven.</p> + +<p>"Hold hard, <i>mon cher</i>. I cannot stand +that!" responded Ernest energetically.</p> + +<p>"Then, in heaven's name, do not put +such a noble creature as Doña Inez +on a level with a mere little trifling +coquette."</p> + +<p>"Oh! she is every inch as bad. +I watched her narrowly, and would +stake my life on it she is only the +more dangerous for being the less +open. Smooth water, you know——however, +you have made a tolerable +day's work of it."</p> + +<p>"Either the best or the worst of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510">[510]</a></span> +my life, Ernest!" said his friend passionately.</p> + +<p>"What! is it come to that?—so hot +upon it! But while we are standing +trifling here, we ought to be discussing +something much more important." +And here De Lucenay repeated the +conversation he had overheard. "In +short, I fear we are fairly done for," +he added, in conclusion. "I hope you +are able to bear the brunt of the battle, +for my vocabulary will scarcely +carry me through ten words."</p> + +<p>"Oh, as for me, I shall do very +well; it must be the devil's own luck +if he speaks English better than I do," +said Alphonse; "and as for you, you +must shelter yourself under English +<i>morgue</i> and reserve."</p> + +<p>"Confound him!" muttered De +Lucenay: "jealousy is the very deuce +for sharpening the wits. But no +matter, courage!"—And so saying, +the friends sauntered back into the +circle.</p> + +<p>They had not been long there +when the Conde came up and introduced +his friend Don Alvar, who, +as they had expected, addressed them +in very good English; to which Alphonse +replied with a fluency which +would have delighted his friend less, +had he been able to appreciate the +mistakes which embellished almost +every sentence. To him Don Alvar +often turned; but as every attempt to +engage him in the conversation was met +by a resolute monosyllable, he at last +confined himself to Alphonse, much +to De Lucenay's relief. His manners, +however, were cautious and agreeable; +and as, after a quarter of an +hour, he concluded by hoping that +erelong they should be better acquainted, +and left them apparently +quite unsuspicious, the young men +persuaded themselves that they had +outwitted their malicious inquisitor. +Their gay spirits thus relieved from +the cloud that had momentarily over-shadowed +them, the remainder of the +evening was to them one of unmingled +enjoyment. In the society of +the beautiful Doña Inez, and her +sparkling friend, hours flew by like +minutes; and when the last lingering +groups dispersed, and the reluctant +Juanita rose to depart, the friends +could not be convinced of the lateness +of the hour.</p> + +<p>"Well, Alphonse! so you are +fairly caught at last!" said De Lucenay, +as, after dismissing Pedro half-an-hour +later, he stretched himself +full length on the luxurious divan of +the immense bedroom, which, for the +sake of companionship, they had determined +on sharing between them. +"After all, it is too absurd that you, +who have withstood all the artillery +of Paris, and escaped all the cross-fire +of the two Castiles, should come +and be hooked at last in this remote +corner of the earth, by the inexperienced +black eyes of an innocent of +sixteen."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! do cease that stupid +style of <i>persiflage</i>. I am in no humour +for jesting."</p> + +<p>"Well, defend me from the love +that makes people cross! My <i>bonnes +fortunes</i> always put me in a good +humour."</p> + +<p>"Will you never learn to be serious? +That absurd manner of talking +is very ill-timed."</p> + +<p>Ernest was on the point of retorting +very angrily, when the sound of a +guitar struck upon their ears; and, +with one accord, the friends stole +silently and noiselessly to the balcony—but +not before Ernest, with the tact +of experience, had hidden the light +behind the marble pillars of the alcove. +By this manœuvre, themselves +in shade, they could, unperceived, observe +all that passed in the apartment +opposite to them, from which the +sound proceeded; for the windows +were thrown wide open, and an antique +bronze lamp, suspended from +the ceiling, diffused sufficient light +over the whole extent of the room to +enable them to distinguish almost +every thing within its precincts. The +profusion of flowers, trifles, and musical +instruments, that were dispersed +around in graceful confusion, would +alone have betrayed a woman's sanctum +sanctorum, even had not the presiding +genius of the shrine been the +first and most prominent object that +met their eyes. Doña Inez—for it +was she—had drawn her seat to the +verge of the balcony; and, her guitar +resting on her knee, she hurried +over a brilliant prelude with a masterly +hand; and in a pure, rich voice, +but evidently tremulous with emotion, +sang a little plaintive seguidilla<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511">[511]</a></span> +with exquisite taste and feeling. The +two young men listened in hushed +and breathless attention; but the song +was short as it was sweet—in a moment +it had ceased; and the young +girl, stepping out upon the balcony, +leaned over the balustrade, and looked +anxiously around, as if her brilliant +eyes sought to penetrate the very +depths of night.</p> + +<p>"Well, Alphonse," said De Lucenay, +"let me congratulate you. This +serenade is for you; but I presume +you will no longer deny the coquettery +of your <i>innamorata</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Hush, hush!" exclaimed his +friend hastily, as Doña Inez resumed +her seat: "be sure there is some +better motive for it."</p> + +<p>The music now recommenced, but +it was the same air again.</p> + +<p>"This is strange!" muttered Ernest: +"her <i>repertoire</i> seems limited. +Does she know nothing else, I wonder?"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" replied the other. "Did +you mark the words?" exclaimed +Alphonse hurriedly, as the music concluded. +"<i>Descuidado caballero, este +lecho es vuestra tumba</i>, &c."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; I was much better +employed in watching the fair syren +herself. <i>Foi de dragon!</i> she is charming. +I have half a mind to dispute +her with you."</p> + +<p>"She has something to communicate!" +exclaimed Alphonse, in an agitated +voice; "we are in danger." +And, running rapidly into the room, +he replaced the light on the table, so +that they were full in view.</p> + +<p>His conjecture was right; for no +sooner did the light discover to her +those whom she was looking for, than, +uttering a fervent "<i>gracias a Dios!</i>" +she clasped her hands together, and +rushed into the apartment, from which +she almost instantaneously returned +with a small envelope, which she +flung with such precision that it fell +almost in the centre of the room, +with a sharp metallic sound. It was +the work of an instant to tear open +the packet, take out the key which it +contained, and decypher the following +words:—</p> + +<p>"Señores,—Strange, and I trust +unjust suspicions have arisen concerning +you. It is whispered that +you are not what you appear: that +secret and traitorous designs have +led you amongst us. To-morrow's +dawn will bring the proof to light. +But, should you have any thing to +fear, fly instantly—not a moment +must be lost. Descend by the small +staircase; the inclosed is a <i>passe-partout</i> +to open the gate, outside +which Pedro will wait you with your +horses, and guide you on your way, +till you no longer require him. Alas! +I betray my beloved parent's confidence, +to save you from a certain +and ignominious death. Be generous, +then, and bury all that you have +seen and heard within these walls +in oblivion, or eternal remorse and +misery must be mine.—<span class="smcap">Inez</span>."</p> + +<p>"Generous, noble-minded girl!" +enthusiastically exclaimed Alphonse, +as he paced the room with agitated +steps. "Scarcely do I regret this +hour of peril, since it has taught me +to know thee!"</p> + +<p>"For heaven's sake, Alphonse, +no heroics now!" cried De Lucenay, +who, not being in love, estimated the +value of time much more rationally +than his friend. "Scribble off an +answer—explain that we are not +spies—while I prepare for our departure. +Be quick!—five minutes are +enough for me."</p> + +<p>Alphonse followed his friend's advice, +and, in an incredibly short space +of time, penned off a tolerably long +epistle, explaining the boyish frolic +into which they had been led by getting +possession of the dispatches of +an imprisoned English aide-de-camp, +and the reports of her beauty; filled up +with protestations of eternal gratitude +and remembrance, and renewing +all the vows and declarations of the +evening—the precipitancy of which he +excused by the unfortunate circumstances +under which he was placed, +and the impossibility of bidding her +adieu, without convincing her of the +sentiments which filled his heart then +and for ever. The letter concluded +by intreating her carefully to preserve +the signet-ring which it contained; +and that should she at any +future time be in any danger or distress, +she had only to present or send +it, and there was nothing, within their +power, himself or his friends would +not do for her. Having signed their +real names and titles, and dispatched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512">[512]</a></span> +the <i>billet-doux</i> in the same manner as +its predecessor, the young men waited +till they had the satisfaction of seeing +Doña Inez open it; and then, waving +their handkerchiefs in sign of adieu, +Alphonse, with a swelling heart, followed +his friend down stairs. All +happened as the young girl had promised, +and in a few moments they +were in the open air and in freedom.</p> + +<p>"Señores," said Pedro, as they +mounted their horses, "the Señorita +thinks you had better not return to +your quarters, for Don Alvar is such +a devil when his jealous blood is up, +that he might pursue you with a +troop of assassins, and murder you on +the road. She desired me to conduct +you to S——, whence you may easily +take the cross-roads in any direction +you please."</p> + +<p>"The Señorita is a pearl of prudence +and discretion: do whatever +she desired you," said Alphonse.</p> + +<p>Pedro made no answer; but seemingly +as much impressed with the necessity +of speed as the young men +themselves, put the spurs to his horse; +and in a moment they were crossing +the country at a speed which bid fair +to distance any pursuers who were +not gifted with wings as well as feet; +nor did they slacken rein till the +dawn of day showed them, to their +great joy, that they were beyond the +reach of pursuit, and in a part of the +country with which they were sufficiently +well acquainted to enable them +to dispense with the services of Pedro—a +discovery which they lost no time +in taking advantage of, by dismissing +the thenceforth inconvenient guide, +with such substantial marks of their +gratitude as more than compensated +him for the loss of his night's rest. +A few more hours saw them safely returned +to the French camp, without +having suffered any greater penalty +for the indulgence of their curiosity, +than a night's hard riding, to the no +small discomfiture of the friendly circle +of <i>frères d'armes</i>, whose prophecies of +evil on the subject had been, if not +loud, deep and numerous.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>It was on a somewhat chilly evening, +towards the beginning of winter, +that Alphonse was writing a letter in +his tent; while De Lucenay, who, +when there were no ladies in question, +could never be very long absent +from his Pylades, was pacing up and +down, savouring the ineffable delights +of a long <i>chibouque</i>, when the orderly +suddenly entered, and laid a letter on +the table, saying that the bearer +waited the answer. Desiring him to +attend his orders outside, Alphonse +broke open the envelope.</p> + +<p>"What the devil have you got +there, Alphonse?" exclaimed De Lucenay, +stopping in the midst of his +perambulations, as he perceived the +agitated countenance and tremulous +eagerness with which his friend perused +the contents of the letter. "It +must be a powerful stimulant indeed, +which can make you look so much +more like yourself than you have done +for these last five months. You have +not been so much excited since that +mysterious blank letter you received, +with its twin sprigs of forget-me-not +and myrtle. I began to fear I should +have that unlucky expedition of ours +on my conscience for the rest of my +days. You have never been the same +being since."</p> + +<p>"There—judge for yourself!" exclaimed +Alphonse, flinging him the +note after he had hurriedly pressed it +to his lips, and rushed out of the tent.</p> + +<p>It was with scarcely less surprise +and emotion that De Lucenay glanced +over the following lines:—</p> + +<p>"If honour and gratitude have any +claims upon your hearts, now is the +moment to redeem the pledge they +gave. Danger and misfortune have +fallen upon us, and I claim the promise +that, unasked, you made; the +holy Virgin grant that it may be as +fresh in your memory as it is in mine. +I await your answer.—<span class="smcap">Inez</span>." The +signet was inclosed. Scarcely had +De Lucenay read its contents when +his friend re-entered, leading in a +trembling sister of charity, beneath +whose projecting hood Ernest had no +difficulty in recognising the beautiful +features of Doña Inez di Miranda.</p> + +<p>"This is indeed an unlooked-for +happiness!" passionately exclaimed +Alphonse, while he placed the agitated +and almost fainting girl on a seat. +"Since that memorable night of +mingled joy and despair, I thought +not that such rapture awaited me +again on earth."</p> + +<p>"Oh, talk not of joy, of happiness!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513">[513]</a></span> +imploringly exclaimed the young girl. +"I have come to you on a mission of +life or death. My father—my dear, +my beloved father—is a prisoner, and +condemned to be shot. Oh, save him! +save him!" she cried wildly, falling +on her knees.—"If you have hearts, +if you are human—save him! and +God will reward you for it; and I +shall live but to bless your names +every hour of my existence." Exhausted +by her emotion, she would +have fallen on the ground, had not +Alphonse caught her and raised her +in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Calm yourself, calm yourself, +sweet child!" he whispered soothingly: +"our lives, our blood is at your +service; there is nothing on earth +which my friend and I would not do +for you."</p> + +<p>A declaration which De Lucenay +confirmed with an energetic oath.</p> + +<p>Somewhat tranquillized by this assurance, +she at last recovered sufficiently +to explain that her father was +at the head of a guerilla band which +had been captured, having fallen into +an ambuscade, where they left more +than half their number dead on the +field. Some peasants had brought +the news to the chateau, with the +additional information that they were +all to be shot within two days.</p> + +<p>"In my despair," continued the +young girl, "I thought of you; and +ordering the fleetest horses in the +stables to be saddled, set off with two +servants, determined to throw myself +on your pity; and if that should fail +me, to fling myself on the mercy of +heaven, and lastly to die with him, if +I could not rescue him. But you will +save him! will you not?" she sobbed +with clasped hands—and a look so +beseeching, so sorrowful, that the +tears rushed involuntarily into their +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Save him! oh yes, at all costs, at +all hazards! were it at the risk of our +heads! But where is he? where was +he taken? where conveyed to?"</p> + +<p>"They were taken to the quarters +of the general-in-chief in command, +and it was he himself who signed +their condemnation."</p> + +<p>"My father!" said De Lucenay, +in a tone of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Ernest!" exclaimed his friend, +"they must be those prisoners who +were brought in this morning while +we were out foraging."</p> + +<p>"No doubt, no doubt, you are +right," replied De Lucenay, his countenance +lighting up with pleasure. +"Oh, then, all is well! I will go +instantly to my father; tell him we +owe our lives to you—and that will +be quite sufficient. Have no fear—he +is saved!"</p> + +<p>"He is saved! He is saved!" +shrieked Doña Inez. "Oh, may heaven +bless you for those words!" and +with a sigh—a gasp—she fell senseless +on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Poor girl!" said De Lucenay, +pityingly, "she has suffered indeed. +Alphonse, I leave you to resuscitate +her, while I hurry off to the General. +There is not a moment to be lost. +As soon as the grand affair is settled, +I will make my father send for her. +She will be better taken care of there; +and besides, you know, it would not be +<i>convenable</i> for her to remain here; +and we must be generous as well as +honourable."</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly—certainly! It is +well you think for me; for I am so +confused that I remember nothing," +exclaimed Alphonse, as De Lucenay +hurried away.</p> + +<p>It was not quite so easy a task, +however, as he had imagined, to bring +the young girl to life again. The terror +and distress she had undergone +had done their worst; and the necessity +for exertion past, the overstrung +nerves gave way beneath the unwonted +tension. One fainting-fit succeeded +to another; till at last Alphonse +began to be seriously alarmed. +Fortunately, however, joy does not +kill; and after a short while, Doña +Inez was sufficiently recovered to +listen with a little more attention to +the protestations, vows, and oaths, +which, for the last half hour, the +young Frenchman had been very +uselessly wasting on her insensible +ears.</p> + +<p>"And so, then, you did remember +me, it seems!" said Doña Inez, after a +moment's silence—while she rested +her head on one hand, and abandoned +the other to the passionate kisses of +her lover.</p> + +<p>"Remember you! What a word!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">[514]</a></span> +When I can cease to remember that +the sun shines, that I exist—then, perhaps, +I may forget you; but not till +then. Not an hour of my life, but I +thought of you; at night I dreamed +of you, in the day I dreamed of you; +amidst the confusion of the bivouac, +in the excitement of battle, in the +thunder of the artillery, amidst the +dead and the dying, your image rose +before me. I had but one thought;—should +I fall—how to convey to you +the knowledge that I had died loving +you,—that that sprig of forget-me-not, +that lock of dark hair, so often +bedewed by my kisses, had rested on +my heart to the last moment that it +beat!" And Alphonse drew out a +medallion.</p> + +<p>Doña Inez snatched it out of his +hand, and covered it with kisses. +"Blessed be the holy Virgin! I have +not prayed to her in vain. I, too, have +thought of you, Alphonse; I, too, have +dreamed of you by day, and lain awake +by night to dream of you again. How +have I supplicated all the saints in +heaven to preserve you, to watch +over you! For I, too, love you, Alphonse; +deeply—passionately—devotedly—as +a Spaniard loves—once, +and for ever!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Mes amis</i>, I regret to part you," said +De Lucenay, who re-entered the tent +a few moments after; "but the Conde +is pardoned—all is right, and you will +meet to-morrow; so let that console +you!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you were destined to be my +good angels!" cried Doña Inez enthusiastically, +as she drew the white +hood over her head, and left the tent +with the two friends.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Less enviable were the Conde's +feelings, when at noon, on the following +morning, an order from the General +summoned him to his tent, to +receive, as he supposed, sentence of +death. Great, therefore, was his surprise, +when he was ushered into the +presence of three officers, in two of +whom he instantly recognised his +former suspicious guests; while the +third, a tall dignified-looking man, +advanced towards him, and in the +most courteous manner announced to +him his free pardon.</p> + +<p>As the Conde poured forth his +thanks, the General interrupted him +by saying, that however happy he +was at having in his power to remit +his sentence, it was not to him that +the merit was due.</p> + +<p>"To whom, then?" exclaimed the +Conde in a tone of surprise.</p> + +<p>"To one most near and dear to +you," replied the General.</p> + +<p>"Who? who?"</p> + +<p>"You shall see." And the General +made a sign to Ernest, who slipped +out of the room, and in a few moments +returned leading in Doña Inez.</p> + +<p>"And it is to thee, then, my own +Inesilla, my darling, my beloved +child," passionately cried the Conde +as she rushed into his arms, and hid +her face upon his breast, "that I owe +my life!" To describe the joy, the +intense and tumultuous delight of that +moment, were beyond the power of +words. Even the stern, inflexible +commander turned to hide an emotion +he would have blushed to betray.</p> + +<p>After waiting till the first ebullition +of their joy had subsided, General de +Lucenay walked up to the Conde, +and shaking him cordially by the +hand, congratulated him on possessing +a daughter whose courage and +filial devotion were even more worthy +of admiration, more rare, than her +far-famed beauty; "and which," he +added, "even I, who have been in +all countries, have never seen surpassed."</p> + +<p>"Though not my own child, she +has indeed been a blessing and a +treasure to me," said the Conde; +"every year of her life has she repaid +to me, a thousand-fold, the love and +affection which I have lavished on +her; and now"——</p> + +<p>"Not your child!" exclaimed De +Lucenay and Alphonse in a breath.</p> + +<p>"No, not my child," replied the +Conde. "The story is a long one, but +with my generous preservers I can +have no secrets. Just seventeen +years ago, I was returning from a +visit, by the banks of the Guadiana, +with only two attendants, when I +heard a faint cry from amongst the +rushes on the water's edge; dismounting +from our horses, we forced our +way through the briars to the spot +whence the sound proceeded. To our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515">[515]</a></span> +great surprise, we discovered there a +little infant, which had evidently been +carried down the stream, and its dress +having got entangled amongst the +thorns had prevented its being swept +further on. Our providential arrival +saved its life; for it was drawing towards +the close of evening, and the +little creature, already half dead with +cold and exposure, must inevitably +have perished in the course of the +night. In one word, we carried it to +my chateau, where it grew up to be +the beautiful girl you see—the sole +comfort and happiness of my life."</p> + +<p>"But her parents, did you never +discover any thing about them—who +or what they were—the motive of so +strange an abandonment?" exclaimed +General de Lucenay in an agitated +voice. "Was there no clue by which +to trace them?"</p> + +<p>"No, I made all inquiries, but in +vain. Besides, it was many miles +from any habitation that we found +her. I sent the following day, and +made many inquiries in the neighbourhood; +but no one could give us +any information on the subject; so, +after an interval of months, I gave +the point up as hopeless. One thing +only is certain, that they were not +inferiors; the fineness of her dress, +and a little relic encased in gold and +precious stones, that she wore round +her neck, were sufficient proofs of +that."</p> + +<p>"This is, indeed, most singular!" +cried the General. "And do you recollect +the precise date of this occurrence?"</p> + +<p>"Recollect a day which for many +years I have been in the habit of +celebrating as the brightest of my +life! Assuredly—it was the fourteenth +of May—and well do I remember it."</p> + +<p>"The fourteenth of May! it must +be, it is, my long-lost, my long-mourned +daughter!" cried the General.</p> + +<p>"Your daughter!" exclaimed all +around in the greatest astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my daughter," repeated the +General. "You shall hear all: but +first—the relic, the relic! where is it? +let me see it. That would be the +convincing proof indeed."</p> + +<p>"It is easy to satisfy you," replied +Inez, "for it never leaves me;" and, +taking a small chain, she handed him +a little filigree gold case that she wore +in her bosom.</p> + +<p>"The same! the same! these are +my wife's initials on it. This is indeed +a wonderful dispensation of +Providence, to find a daughter after +having so long mourned her as lost; +and to find her all my heart could +have wished, more than my most +ambitious prayers could have asked! +Oh, this is too much happiness! +Alas!" he continued in a tone of deep +feeling, while he drew the astonished +and stupefied girl towards him, and, +parting the dark locks on her brow, +imprinted a paternal kiss upon her +forehead, "Would that my poor Dolores +had lived to see this hour! how +would it have repaid the years of +sorrow and mourning your loss occasioned +her?"</p> + +<p>"But how! what is this; it is most +extraordinary?" exclaimed the Conde, +who had waited in speechless surprise +the <i>dénoûment</i> of this unexpected +scene.</p> + +<p>The General explained. His wife +had been a Spanish lady of high birth. +Returning to France from a visit to +her relations, they had stopped to +change horses at a little <i>posada</i> on +the banks of the Guadiana; their little +daughter, a child of eight months +old, had sprung out of its nurse's arms +into the river. Every effort to recover +the child was fruitless; it sank +and disappeared. They returned to +France, and, after a few years, his +wife died. "You may judge, then, +of my feelings on hearing your story, +Señor Conde," concluded the General; +"the name of the river and the date +first roused my suspicions, which the +result has so fully confirmed."</p> + +<p>"My child, my child! and must I +then lose thee!" cried the Count, clasping +the young girl in his arms in an +agony of grief.</p> + +<p>"Never!" passionately exclaimed +Inez. "<i>Tuya à la vida a la muerta!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Not so, Señor Conde; the man +who has treated her so nobly has the +best right to her," said the General. +"I will never take her from you; an +occasional visit is all I shall ask."</p> + +<p>"But if you will not take her, I +know who would, most willingly," +said Ernest, stepping forward. "But +first, my little sister, let me congratulate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516">[516]</a></span> +you upon dropping from the clouds +upon such a good-natured, good-for-nothing, +excellent fellow of a brother, +as myself. And now, gentlemen, +I have a boon to ask—where there is +so much joy, why not make all happy +at once? There is an unfortunate friend +of mine who, to my certain knowledge, +has been all but expiring for +that fair damsel these last five months; +and if for once our sweet Inez would +dismiss all feminine disguise, and +confess the truth, I suspect she would +plead guilty to the same sin. Come, +come, I will spare you," he added, as +the rich blood mantled over Doña +Inez's cheek—"that tell-tale blush is +a sufficient answer. Then, why not +make them happy?" he added, more +seriously; "the Marquis de La Tour +d'Auvergne, the heir of an ancient +line, and a noble fortune, is in every +respect a suitable alliance for either +the Conde de Miranda, or General De +Lucenay. Besides which, he is a very +presentable young fellow, as you see, +not to speak of the trifle of their being +overhead and ears in love with each +other already."</p> + +<p>"What say you, my child?—Bah! +is it indeed so?" exclaimed the Conde, +as Inez stood motionless, her dark +eyes fixed on the ground, and the +flush growing deeper and deeper on +her cheek every minute—while Alphonse, +springing forward, declared +that he would not think such happiness +too dearly purchased with his +life.</p> + +<p>"No, no—no dying, if you please. A +ghostly mate would be no very pleasant +bridegroom for a young lady. +What say you, General? shall we consent?"</p> + +<p>"With all my heart."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! <i>Vive la joie!</i>" cried Ernest, +tossing his cap into the air.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is too much bliss!" murmured +Inez almost inaudibly.</p> + +<p>"No, dearest! may you be as happy +through life as you have rendered +me," said the Count, folding her in his +arms.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h4><i>Edinburgh: Printed by Ballantyne and Hughes, Paul's Work.</i></h4> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i>Wild Sports and Natural History of the Highlands.</i> From the Journals of +<span class="smcap">Charles St John</span>, Esq. Murray. London: 1846.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> <i>Briefe aus Paris</i>, 1842. +<i>Pariser Eindrücke</i>, 1846. Von <span class="smcap">Karl Gutzkow</span>. +Frankfurt am Main, 1846.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Methodius and Cyril, who were sent missionaries to the Sclavonians in the +ninth century.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> <i>Hochelaga; or, England in the New World.</i> Edited by <span class="smcap">Eliot Warburton</span>, +Esq. Two Volumes. London: 1846.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Nemesis.</p></div> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume +60, No. 372, October 1846, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH *** + +***** This file should be named 36530-h.htm or 36530-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/5/3/36530/ + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, JoAnn Greenwood, Jonathan +Ingram and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://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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