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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9882-8.txt b/9882-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e964f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/9882-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1884 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827 + +Author: Various + +Posting Date: December 5, 2011 [EBook #9882] +Release Date: February, 2006 +First Posted: October 27, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, JULY 7, 1827 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 10, No. 262.] SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1827. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + +HIS MAJESTY'S PONEY PHAETON. + +[Illustration] + + +We commence our tenth volume of the MIRROR with an embellishment quite +novel in design from the generality of our graphic illustrations, but +one which, we flatter ourselves, will excite interest among our friends, +especially after so recently, presenting them with a Portrait and Memoir +of his Majesty in the Supplement, which last week completed our ninth +volume. His Majesty, when residing at his cottage in Windsor Forest, the +weather being favourable, seldom allows a day to pass without taking his +favourite drive by the Long Walk, and Virginia Water, in his poney +phaeton, as represented in the above engraving. Windsor Park being +situated on the south side of the town, and 14 miles in circumference, +is admirably calculated for the enjoyment of a rural ride. The entrance +to the park is by a road called the _Long Walk_, near three miles in +length, through a double plantation of trees on each side, leading to the +Ranger's Lodge: on the north east side of the Castle is the _Little Park_, +about four miles in circumference: _Queen Elizabeth's Walk_ herein is +much frequented. At the entrance of this park is the _Queen's Lodge_, +a modern erection. This building stands on an easy ascent opposite the +upper court, on the south side, and commands a beautiful view of the +surrounding country. The gardens are elegant, and have been much +enlarged by the addition of the gardens and house of the duke of St. +Albans, purchased by his late majesty. The beautiful _Cottage Ornée_, an +engraving of which graces one of our early volumes, is also in the park, +and to which place of retirement his present Majesty resorts, and passes +much of his time in preference to the bustle and splendour of a royal +town life. + +Having now given as much description of the engraving as the subject +requires, we shall proceed to lay before our readers some further +anecdotes connected with the life of his Majesty; for our present +purpose, the following interesting article being adapted to our limits, +we shall introduce an + + _Original Letter of his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, to + Alexander Davison, Esq., on the death of Lord Nelson._ + + I am extremely obliged to you, my dear sir, for your confidential + letter, which I received this morning. You may be well assured, + that, did it depend upon me, there would not be a wish, a desire of + our-ever-to-be-lamented and much-loved friend, as well as adored + hero, that I should not consider as a solemn obligation upon his + friends and his country to fulfil; it is a duty they owe his memory, + and his matchless and unrivalled excellence: such are my sentiments, + and I should hope that there is still in this country sufficient + honour, virtue, and gratitude to prompt us to ratify and to carry + into effect the last dying request of our Nelson, and by that means + proving not only to the whole world, but to future ages, that we + were worthy of having such a man belonging to us. It must be + needless, my dear sir, to discuss over with you in particular the + irreparable loss dear Nelson ever must be, not merely to his friends + but to his country, especially at the present crisis--and during the + present most awful contest, his very name was a host of itself; + Nelson and Victory were one and the same to us, and it carried + dismay and terror to the hearts of our enemies. But the subject is + too painful a one to dwell longer upon; as to myself, all that I can + do, either publicly or privately, to testify the reverence, the + respect I entertain for his memory as a Hero, and as the greatest + public character that ever embellished the page of history, + independent of what I can with the greatest truth term, the + enthusiastic attachment I felt for him as a friend, I consider it as + my duty to fulfil, and therefore, though I may be prevented from + taking that ostensible and prominent situation at his funeral which + I think my birth and high rank entitled me to claim, still nothing + shall prevent me in a private character following his remains to + their last resting place; for though the station and the character + may be less ostensible, less prominent, yet the feelings of the + heart will not therefore be the less poignant, or the less acute. + + I am, my dear sir, with the greatest truth, + + Ever very sincerely your's, + + G. P.[1] + + _Brighton, Dec, 18th, 1805_. + + + [1] _New London Literary Gazette_. + + * * * * * + + +BYRON AND OTHER POETS COMPARED. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +There is a natural stimulus in man to offer adoration at the shrine of +departed genius.-- + + "There is a tear for all that die." + +But, when a transcendant genius is checked in its early age--when its +spring-shoots had only began to open--when it had just engaged in a new +feature devoted to man, and man to it, we cannot rest + + "In silent admiration, mixed with grief." + +Too often has splendid genius been suffered to live almost unobserved; +and have only been valued as their lives have been lost. Could the +divine Milton, or the great Shakspeare, while living, have shared that +profound veneration which their after generations have bestowed on their +high talents, happier would they have lived, and died more +extensively beloved. + +True, a Byron has but lately paid a universal debt. His concentrated +powers--his breathings for the happiness and liberty of mankind--his +splendid intellectual flowers, culled from a mind stored with the +choicest exotics, and cultivated with the most refined taste are all +still fresh in recollection. As the value of precious stones and metals +have become estimated by their scarcity, so will the fame of Byron live. + +A mind like Lord Byron's, + + "----born, not only to surprise, but cheer + With warmth and lustre all within its sphere," + +was one of Nature's brightest gems, whose splendour (even when +uncompared) dazzled and attracted all who passed within its sight. + + "So let him stand, through ages yet unborn." + +As comparison is a medium through which we are enabled to obtain most +accurate judgment, let us use it in the present instance, and compare +Lord Byron with the greatest poets that have preceded him, by which +means the world of letters will see what they have _really_ lost in Lord +Byron. To commence with the great Shakspeare himself, to whom universal +admiration continues to be paid. Had Shakspeare been cut off at the same +early period as Byron, _The Tempest, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, Julius +Caesar, Coriolanus_, and several others of an equal character, would +never have been written. The high reputation of Dryden would also have +been limited--his fame, perhaps, unknown. The _Absalom_ and _Achitophel_ +is the earliest of his best productions, which was written about his +fiftieth year; his principal production, at the age of Byron, was his +_Annus Mirabilis_; for nearly the whole of his dramatic works were +written at the latter part of his life. Pope is the like situated; that +which displayed most the power of his mind--which claims for him the +greatest praise--his _Essay on Man_, &c. appeared after his fortieth +year. _Windsor Forest_ was published in his twenty-second or +twenty-third year, both were the labour of some _years_; and the +immortal Milton, who published some few things before his thirtieth +year, sent not his great work, _Paradise Lost_, to the world until he +verged on sixty. + +With the poets, and the knowledge of what Byron _was_, we may ask what +he would have been had it pleased the Great Author of all things to +suffer the summer of his consummate mental powers to shine upon us? Take +the works of any of the abovenamed distinguished individuals previous to +their thirty-eighth year, and shall we perceive that flexibility of the +English language to the extent that Byron has left behind him? His +versatility was, indeed, astonishing and triumphant. His _Childe +Harold_, the _Bride of Abydos_, the _Corsair_, and _Don Juan_, (though +somewhat too freely written,) are established proofs of his unequalled +energy of mind. His power was unlimited; not only eloquent, but the +sublime, grave and gay, were all equally familiar to his muse. + +Few words are wanted to show that Byron was not depraved at heart; no +man possessed a more ready sympathy, a more generous mind to the +distressed, or was a more enthusiastic admirer of noble actions. These +feelings all strongly delineated in his character, would never admit, as +Sir Walter Scott has observed, "an imperfect moral sense, nor feeling, +dead to virtue." Severe as the + + "Combined usurpers on the throne of taste" + +have been, his character is marked by some of the best principles in +many parts of his writings. + + "The records there of friendships, held like rocks, + And enmities like sun-touch'd snow resign'd," + +are frequently visible. His glorious attachment to the Grecian cause is +a sufficient recompense for _previous_ follies exaggerated and +propagated by calumny's poisonous tongue. In a word, "there is scarce a +passion or a situation which has escaped his pen; and he might be drawn, +like Garrick, between the weeping and the laughing muses." + +A. B. C. + + * * * * * + + +THE SONG OF THE WIDOWED MOTHER TO HER CHILD. + +BY THE AUTHOR Of "AHAB." + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + O Sink to sleep, my darling boy, + Thy father's dead, thy mother lonely, + Of late thou wert his pride, his joy, + But now thou hast not one to own thee. + The cold wide world before us lies, + But oh! such heartless things live in it, + It makes me weep--then close thine eyes + Tho' it be but for one short minute. + + O sink to sleep, my baby dear, + A little while forget thy sorrow, + The wind is cold, the night is drear, + But drearier it will be to-morrow. + For none will help, tho' many see + Our wretchedness--then close thine eyes, love, + Oh, most unbless'd on earth is she + Who on another's aid relies, love. + + Thou hear'st me not! thy heart's asleep + Already, and thy lids are closing, + Then lie thee still, and I will weep + Whilst thou, my dearest, art reposing, + And wish that I could slumber free, + And with thee in yon heaven awaken, + O would that it our home might be, + For here we are by all forsaken. + + * * * * * + + +PAY OF THE JUDGES IN FORMER TIMES. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +In the twenty-third year of the reign of king Henry III., the salary of +the justices of the bench (now called the Common Pleas) was 20l. per +annum; in the forty-third year, 40l. In the twenty-seventh year, the +chief baron had 40 marks; the other barons, 20 marks; and in the forty, +ninth year, 4l. per annum. The justices _coram rege_ (now called the +King's Bench) had in the forty-third year of Henry III. 40l. per annum.; +the chief of the bench, 100 marks per annum; and next year, another +chief of the same court, had 100l.; but the chief of the court _coram +rege_ had only 100 marks per annum. + +In the reign of Edward I., the salaries of the justices were very +uncertain, and, upon the whole, they sunk from what they had been in the +reign of Henry III. The chief justice of the bench, in the seventh year +of Edward I., had but 40l. per annum, and the other justices there, 40 +marks. This continued the proportion in both benches till the +twenty-fifth year of Edward III., then the salary of the chief of the +King's Bench fell to 50 marks, or 33l. 6s. 8d., while that of the chief +of the bench was augmented to 100 marks, which may be considered as an +evidence of the increase of business and attendance there. The chief +baron had 40l.; the salaries of the other justices and barons were +reduced to 20l. + +In the reign of Edward II., the number of suitors so increased in the +common bench, that whereas there had usually been only three justices +there, that prince, at the beginning of his reign, was constrained to +increase them to six, who used to sit in two places,--a circumstance not +easy to be accounted for. Within three years after they were increased +to seven; next year they were reduced to six, at which number they +continued. + +The salaries of the judges, though they had continued the same from the +time of Edward I. to the twenty-fifth year of Edward III., were become +very uncertain. In the twenty-eighth year of this king, it appears, that +one of the justices of the King's Bench had 80 marks per annum. In the +thirty-ninth year of Edward III. the judges had in that court 40l.; the +same as the justices of the Common Pleas; but the chief of the King's +Bench, 100 marks. + +The salaries of the judges in the time of Henry IV. were as +follows:--The chief baron, and other barons, had 40 marks per annum; the +chief of the King's Bench, and of the Common Pleas, 40l. per annum; the +other justices, in either court, 40 marks. But the gains of the +practisers were become so great, that they could hardly be tempted to +accept a place on the bench with such low salaries; therefore in the +eighteenth year of Henry VI. the judges of all the courts at +Westminster, together with the king's attorney and sergeants, exhibited +a petition to parliament concerning the regular payment of their +salaries and perquisites of robes. The king assented to their request, +and order was taken for increasing their income, which afterwards became +larger, and more fixed; this consisted of a salary and an allowance for +robes. In the first year of Edward IV., the chief justice of the King's +Bench had 170 marks per annum, 5l. 6s. 6d. for his winter robes, and the +same for his Whitsuntide robes. Most of the judges had the honour of +knighthood; some of them were knights bannerets; and some had the order +of the Bath. + +In the first year of Henry VII. the chief justice of the court of King's +Bench had the yearly fee of 140 marks granted to him for his better +support; he had besides 5l. 6s. 11-1/4 d., and the sixth part of a +halfpenny (such is the accuracy of Sir William Dugdale, and the +strangeness of the sum,) for his winter robes, and 3l. 6s. 6d. for his +robes at Whitsuntide. + +In the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII. a further increase was made to +the fees of the judges;--to the chief justice of the King's Bench 30l. +per annum; to every other justice of that court 20l. per annum; to every +justice of the Common Pleas, 20l. per annum. + +There were usually in the court of Common Pleas five judges, sometimes +six; and in the reign of Henry VI. there were, it is said, eight judges +at one time in that court; but six appear to have been the regular +number. In the King's Bench there were sometimes four, sometimes five. +They did not sit above three hours a day in court,--from eight in the +morning to eleven. The courts were not open in the afternoon; but that +time was left unoccupied for suitors to confer with their counsel +at home. + +F. R. Y. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR +AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS. + + * * * * * + + +SIR WALTER SCOTT'S LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. + + +Sir Walter Scott, the author of _Waverley_, has become the biographer of +Napoleon Bonaparte; and the deepest interest is excited in the literary +world to know how the great master of romance and fiction acquits +himself in the execution of his task. In the preface to this elaborate +history, Sir Walter, with considerable ingenuousness, informs us that +"he will be found no enemy to the person of Napoleon. The term of +hostility is ended when the battle has been won, and the foe exists no +longer." But to our task: we shall attempt an analysis of the volumes +before us, and endeavour to gratify our readers with a narrative of +incidents that cannot fail interesting every British subject, whose +history, in fact, is strongly connected with the important events that +belong to the splendid career of Napoleon Bonaparte. + +The first and second volumes of Sir Walter's history are taken up with a +view of the French Revolution, from whence we shall extract a sketch of +the characters of three men of terror, whose names will long remain, we +trust, unmatched in history by those of any similar miscreants. These +men were the leaders of the revolution, and were called + +THE TRIUMVIRATE. + +Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivalled by his colleagues in +talent and audacity. He was a man of gigantic size, and possessed a +voice of thunder. His countenance was that of an Ogre on the shoulders +of a Hercules. He was as fond of the pleasures of vice as of the +practice of cruelty; and it was said there were times when he became +humanized amidst his debauchery, laughed at the terror which his furious +declamations excited, and might be approached with safety, like the +Maelstrom at the turn of tide. His profusion was indulged to an extent +hazardous to his popularity, for the populace are jealous of a lavish +expenditure, as raising their favourites too much above their own +degree; and the charge of peculation finds always ready credit with +them, when brought against public men. + +Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danton, that he did not seem +to seek for wealth, either for hoarding or expending, but lived in +strict and economical retirement, to justify the name of the +Incorruptible, with which he was honoured by his partizans. He appears +to have possessed little talent, saving a deep fund of hypocrisy, +considerable powers of sophistry, and a cold exaggerated strain of +oratory, as foreign to good taste, as the measures he recommended were +to ordinary humanity. It seemed wonderful, that even the seething and +boiling of the revolutionary cauldron should have sent up from the +bottom, and long supported on the surface, a thing so miserably void of +claims to public distinction; but Robespierre had to impose on the minds +of the vulgar, and he knew how to beguile them, by accommodating his +flattery to their passions and scale of understanding, and by acts of +cunning and hypocrisy, which weigh more with the multitude than the +words of eloquence, or the arguments of wisdom. The people listened as +to their Cicero, when he twanged out his apostrophes of _Pauvre Peuple, +Peuple vertueux!_ and hastened to execute whatever came recommended by +such honied phrases, though devised by the worst of men for the worst +and most inhuman of purposes. + +Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion, and though his countenance was +the image of his mind, he was vain even of his personal appearance, and +never adopted the external habits of a sans culotte. Amongst his fellow +Jacobins, he was distinguished by the nicety with which his hair was +arranged and powdered; and the neatness of his dress was carefully +attended to, so as to counterbalance, if possible, the vulgarity of his +person. His apartments, though small, were elegant and vanity had filled +them with representations of the occupant. Robespierre's picture at +length hung in one place, his miniature in another, his bust occupied a +niche, and on the table were disposed a few medallions exhibiting his +head in profile. The vanity which all this indicated was of the coldest +and most selfish character, being such as considers neglect as insult, +and receives homage merely as a tribute; so that, while praise is +received without gratitude, it is withheld at the risk of mortal hate. +Self-love of this dangerous character is closely allied with envy, and +Robespierre was one of the most envious and vindictive men that ever +lived. He never was known to pardon any opposition, affront, or even +rivalry; and to be marked in his tablets on such an account was a sure, +though perhaps not an immediate, sentence of death. Danton was a hero, +compared with this cold, calculating, creeping miscreant; for his +passions, though exaggerated, had at least some touch of humanity, and +his brutal ferocity was supported by brutal courage.--(_Continued at +page 17. [Note: See Mirror 263.]) + + * * * * * + + +THE EPICUREAN. + +_By T. Moore, Esq._ + + +The following is described by Alciphron, the hero of the tale, at the +termination of a festival, in a tone which strongly reminds us of +Rasselas:-- + +"The sounds of the song and dance had ceased, and I was now left in +those luxurious gardens alone. Though so ardent and active a votary of +pleasure, I had, by nature, a disposition full of melancholy;--an +imagination that presented sad thoughts even in the midst of mirth and +happiness, and threw the shadow of the future over the gayest illusions +of the present. Melancholy was, indeed, twin-born in my soul with +passion; and, not even in the fullest fervour of the latter were they +separated. From the first moment that I was conscious of thought and +feeling, the same dark thread had run across the web; and images of +death and annihilation mingled themselves with the most smiling scenes +through which my career of enjoyment led me. My very passion for +pleasure but deepened these gloomy fancies. For, shut out, as I was by +my creed, from a future life, and having no hope beyond the narrow +horizon of this, every minute of delight assumed a mournful preciousness +in my eyes, and pleasure, like the flower of the cemetery, grew but more +luxuriant from the neighbourhood of death. This very night my triumph, +my happiness, had seemed complete. I had been the presiding genius of +that voluptuous scene. Both my ambition and my love of pleasure had +drunk deep of the cup for which they thirsted. Looked up to by the +learned, and loved by the beautiful and the young, I had seen, in every +eye that met mine, either the acknowledgment of triumphs already won, or +the promise of others, still brighter, that awaited me. Yet, even in the +midst of all this, the same dark thoughts had presented themselves; the +perishableness of myself and all around me every instant recurred to my +mind. Those hands I had prest--those eyes, in which I had seen sparkling +a spirit of light and life that should never die--those voices that had +talked of eternal love--all, all, I felt, were but a mockery of the +moment, and would leave nothing eternal but the silence of their dust! + + "Oh, were it not for this sad voice, + Stealing amid our mirth to say, + That all in which we most rejoice, + Ere night may be the earth-worm's prey: + _But_ for this bitter--only this-- + Full as the world is brimm'd with bliss, + And capable as feels my soul + Of draining to its depth the whole, + I should turn earth to heaven, and be, + If bliss made gods, a deity!" + + * * * * * + + +THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. + + +I had already seen some of the most celebrated works of nature in +different parts of the globe; I had seen Etna and Vesuvius; I had seen +the Andes almost at their greatest elevation; Cape Horn, rugged and +bleak, buffeted by the southern tempest; and, though last not least, I +had seen the long swell of the Pacific; but nothing I had ever beheld or +imagined could compare in grandeur with the Falls of Niagara. My first +sensation was that of exquisite delight at having before me the greatest +wonder of the world. Strange as it may appear, this feeling was +immediately succeeded by an irresistible melancholy. Had this not +continued, it might perhaps have been attributed to the satiety incident +to the complete gratification of "hope long deferred;" but so far from +diminishing, the more I gazed, the stronger and deeper the sentiment +became. Yet this scene of sadness was strangely mingled with a kind of +intoxicating fascination. Whether the phenomenon is peculiar to Niagara +I know not, but certain it is, that the spirits are affected and +depressed in a singular manner by the magic influence of this stupendous +and eternal fall. About five miles above the cataract the river expands +to the dimensions of a lake, after which it gradually narrows. The +Rapids commence at the upper extremity of Goat Island, which is half a +mile in length, and divides the river at the point of precipitation into +two unequal parts; the largest is distinguished by the several names of +the Horseshoe, Crescent, and British Fall, from its semi-circular form +and contiguity to the Canadian shore. The smaller is named the American +Fall. A portion of this fall is divided by a rock from Goat Island, and +though here insignificant in appearance, would rank high among +European cascades.... + +The current runs about six miles an hour; but supposing it to be only +five miles, the quantity which passes the falls in an hour is more than +eighty-five millions of tuns avoirdupois; if we suppose it to be six, it +will be more than one hundred and two millions; and in a day would +exceed two thousand four hundred millions of tuns.... + +The next morning, with renewed delight, I beheld from my window--I may +say, indeed, from my bed--the stupendous vision. The beams of the rising +sun shed over it a variety of tints; a cloud of spray was ascending from +the crescent; and as I viewed it from above, it appeared like the steam +rising from the boiler of some monstrous engine.... + +This evening I went down with one of our party to view the cataract by +moonlight. I took my favourite seat on the projecting rock, at a little +distance from the brink of the fall, and gazed till every sense seemed +absorbed in contemplation. Although the shades of night increased the +sublimity of the prospect and "deepened the murmur of the falling +floods," the moon in placid beauty shed her soft influence upon the +mind, and mitigated the horrors of the scene. The thunders which +bellowed from the abyss, and the loveliness of the falling element, +which glittered like molten silver in the moonlight, seemed to complete +in absolute perfection the rare union of the beautiful with the +sublime.... + +While reflecting upon the inadequacy of language to express the feelings +I experienced, or to describe the wonders which I surveyed, an American +gentleman, to my great amusement, tapped me on the shoulder, and +"guessed" that it was "_pretty droll!_" It was difficult to avoid +laughing in his face; yet I could not help envying him his vocabulary, +which had so eloquently released me from my dilemma.... + +Though earnestly dissuaded from the undertaking, I had determined to +employ the first fine morning in visiting the cavern beneath the fall. +The guide recommended my companion and myself to set out as early as six +o'clock, that we might have the advantage of the morning sun upon the +waters. We came to the guide's house at the appointed hour, and +disencumbered ourselves of such garments as we did not wish to have +wetted; descending the circular ladder, we followed the course of the +path running along the top of the _débris_ of the precipice, which I +have already described. Having pursued this track for about eighty +yards, in the course of which we were completely drenched, we found +ourselves close to the cataract. Although enveloped in a cloud of spray, +we could distinguish without difficulty the direction of our path, and +the nature of the cavern we were about to enter. Our guide warned us of +the difficulty in respiration which we should encounter from the spray, +and recommended us to look with exclusive attention to the security of +our footing. Thus warned, we pushed forward, blown about and buffeted by +the wind, stunned by the noise, and blinded by the spray. Each +successive gust penetrated us to the very bones with cold. Determined to +proceed, we toiled and struggled on, and having followed the footsteps +of the guide as far as was possible consistently with safety, we sat +down, and having collected our senses by degrees, the wonders of the +cavern slowly developed themselves. It is impossible to describe the +strange unnatural light reflected through its crystal wall, the roar of +the waters, and the blasts of the hurried hurricane which perpetually +rages in its recesses. We endured its fury a sufficient time to form a +notion of the shape and dimensions of this dreadful place. The cavern +was tolerably light, though the sun was unfortunately enveloped in +clouds. His disc was invisible, but we could clearly distinguish his +situation through the watery barrier. The fall of the cataract is nearly +perpendicular. The bank over which it is precipitated is of concave +form, owing to its upper stratum being composed of lime-stone, and its +base of soft slate-stone, which has been eaten away by the constant +attrition of the recoiling waters. The cavern is about one hundred and +twenty feet in height, fifty in breadth, and three hundred in length. +The entrance was completely invisible. By screaming in our ears, the +guide contrived to explain to us that there was one more point which we +might have reached had the wind been in any other direction. Unluckily +it blew full upon the sheet of the cataract, and drove it in so as to +dash upon the rock over which we must have passed. A few yards beyond +this, the precipice becomes perpendicular, and, blending with the water, +forms the extremity of the cave. After a stay of nearly ten minutes in +this most horrible purgatory, we gladly left it to its loathsome +inhabitants the eel and the water-snake, who crawl about its recesses in +considerable numbers,--and returned to the inn--_De Roos's Travels in +the United States, &c._ + + * * * * * + + +THE GUILLOTINE. + + +The first sight, however, which it fell to my lot to witness at Brussels +in this second and short visit, was neither gay nor handsome, nor dear +in any sense, but the very reverse; it being that of the punishment of +the guillotine inflicted on a wretched murderer, named John Baptist +Michel.[2] Hearing, at the moment of my arrival, that this tragical +scene was on the point of being acted in the great square of the +market-place, I determined for once to make a sacrifice of my feelings +to the desire of being present at a spectacle, with the nature of which +the recollections of revolutionary horrors are so intimately associated. +Accordingly, following to the spot a guard of soldiers appointed to +assist at the execution, I disengaged myself as soon as possible from +the pressure of the immense crowd already assembled, and obtained a seat +at the window of a house immediately opposite the Hotel-de-Ville, in +front of the principal entrance to which the guillotine had been +erected. At the hour of twelve at noon precisely, the malefactor, tall, +athletic, and young, having his hands tied behind his back, and being +stripped to the waist, was brought to the square in a cart, under an +escort of gen-d'armes, attended by an elderly and respectable +ecclesiastic; who, having been previously occupied in administering the +consolations of religion to the condemned person in prison, now appeared +incessantly employed in tranquillizing him on his way to the scaffold. +Arrived near the fatal machine, the unhappy man stepped out of the +vehicle, knelt at the feet of his confessor, received the priestly +benediction, kissed some individuals who accompanied him, and was +hurried by the officers of justice up the steps of the cube-form +structure of wood, painted of a blood-red, on which stood the dreadful +apparatus of death. To reach the top of the platform, to be fast bound +to a board, to be placed horizontally under the axe, and deprived of +life by its unerring blow, was, in the case of this miserable offender, +the work literally of a moment. It was indeed an awfully sudden transit +from time to eternity. He could only cry out, "_Adieu, mes amis_," and +he was gone. The severed head, passing through a red-coloured bag fixed +under, fell to the ground--the blood spouted forth from the neck like +water from a fountain--the body, lifted up without delay, was flung down +through a trap-door in the platform. Never did capital punishment more +quickly take effect on a human being; and whilst the executioner was +coolly taking out the axe from the groove of the machine, and placing +it, covered as it was with gore, in a box, the remains of the culprit, +deposited in a shell, were hoisted into a wagon, and conveyed to the +prison. In twenty minutes all was over, and the _Grande Place_ nearly +cleared of its thousands, on whom the dreadful scene seemed to have +made, as usual, the slightest possible impression--_Stevenson's Tour in +France, Switzerland, &c._ + + [2] The circumstances of the case were as follows:--Jean + Baptiste Michel, aged 36, a blacksmith, accompanied by a female + named Marie Anne Debeyst, aged 22, was proceeding from Brussels + to Vilvorde, one day in the month of March, 1824. In the + Alléverte, they overtook a servant girl, who was imprudent + enough to mention to them that her master had entrusted her + with a sum of money. Near Vilvorde, Michel and his paramour, + having formed their plan of assassination and robbery, rejoined + the poor girl, whom they had momentarily left, and violently + demanded the bag containing the gold and silver. The + unfortunate young creature resisted their attacks as long as + she could, but was soon felled to the ground by Michel, who + with a thick stick fractured her skull, whilst Debeyst trod + upon the prostrate victim of their horrid crime. These wretches + were shortly afterwards arrested and committed to prison. On + the 5th of April, 1825, they were condemned to death by the + Court of Assize at Brussels, but implored of the royal clemency + a commutation of punishment. This was granted to the woman, + whose sentence was changed to perpetual imprisonment. Michel's + petition was rejected. + + * * * * * + + +THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE. + + +Of all the miseries of human life, and God knows they are manifold +enough, there are few more utterly heart-sickening and overwhelming than +those endured by the unlucky Heir Presumptive; when, after having +submitted to the whims and caprices of some rich relation, and endured a +state of worse than Egyptian bondage, for a long series of years, he +finds himself cut off with a shilling, or a mourning ring; and the El +Dorado of his tedious term of probation and expectancy devoted to the +endowment of methodist chapels and Sunday schools; or bequeathed to some +six months' friend (usually a female housekeeper, or spiritual adviser) +who, entering the vineyard at the eleventh hour, (the precise moment at +which his patience and humility become exhausted,) carries off the +golden prize, and adds another melancholy confirmation, to those already +upon record, of the fallacy of all human anticipations. It matters +little what may have been the motives of his conduct; whether duty, +affection, or that more powerful incentive self-interest; how long or +how devotedly he may have humoured the foibles or eccentricities of his +relative; or what sacrifices he may have made to enable him to comply +with his unreasonable caprices: the result is almost invariably the +same. The last year of the Heir Presumptive's purgatory, nay, perhaps +even the last month, or the last week, is often the drop to the full cup +of his endurance. His patience, however it may have been propped by +self-interest, or feelings of a more refined description, usually breaks +down before the allotted term has expired; and the whole fabric it has +cost him such infinite labour to erect, falls to the ground along with +it. It is well if his personal exertions, and the annoyances to which he +has subjected himself during the best period of his existence, form the +whole of his sacrifices. But, alas! it too often happens that, +encouraged by the probability of succeeding in a few years to an +independent property, and ambitious, moreover, of making such an +appearance in society as will afford the old gentleman or lady no excuse +for being ashamed of their connexion with him, he launches into expenses +he would never otherwise have dreamed of incurring, and contracts debts +without regard to his positive means of liquidating them, on the +strength of a contingency which, if he could but be taught to believe +it, is of all earthly anticipations the most remote and uncertain. A +passion for unnecessary expense is, under different circumstances, +frequently repressed by an inability to procure credit; but it is the +curse and bane of Mr. Omnium's nephew, and Miss Saveall's niece, that so +far from any obstacle being opposed to their prodigality, almost +unlimited indulgence is offered, nay, actually pressed upon them, by the +trades-people of their wealthy relations; who take especial care that +their charges shall be of a nature to repay them for any complaisance or +long suffering, as it regards the term of credit, they may be called +upon to display. But independently of the additional expense into which +the Heir Presumptive is often seduced by the operation of these +temptations, and his anxiety to live in a style in some degree accordant +with his expectations, what is he not called upon to endure from the +caprices, old-fashioned notions, eccentricities, avarice, and obstinacy, +of the old tyrant to whom he thus consents to sell himself, and it may +be his family, body and soul, for an indefinite number of +years.--_National Tales_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE MONTHS. + +JULY. + +[Illustration] + + + The sultry noontide of July + Now bids us seek the forest's shade; + Or for the crystal streamlet sigh. + That flows in some sequestered glade. + +B. BARTON. + + * * * * * + + +Summer! glowing summer! This is the month of heat and sunshine, of +clear, fervid skies, dusty roads, and shrinking streams; when doors and +windows are thrown open, a cool gale is the most welcome of all +visiters, and every drop of rain "is worth its weight in gold." Such is +July commonly--such it was in 1825, and such, in a scarcely less degree, +in 1826; yet it is sometimes, on the contrary, a very showery month, +putting the hay-maker to the extremity of his patience, and the farmer +upon anxious thoughts for his ripening corn; generally speaking, +however, it is the heart of our summer. The landscape presents an air of +warmth, dryness, and maturity; the eye roams over brown pastures, corn +fields "already white to harvest," dark lines of intersecting +hedge-rows, and darker trees, lifting their heavy heads above them. The +foliage at this period is rich, full, and vigorous; there is a fine haze +cast over distant woods and bosky slopes, and every lofty and majestic +tree is filled with a soft shadowy twilight, which adds infinitely to +its beauty--a circumstance that has never been sufficiently noticed by +either poet or painter. Willows are now beautiful objects in the +landscape; they are like rich masses of arborescent silver, especially +if stirred by the breeze, their light and fluent forms contrasting +finely with the still and sombre aspect of the other trees. + +Now is the general season of _haymaking_. Bands of mowers, in their +light trousers and broad straw hats, are astir long before the fiery eye +of the sun glances above the horizon, that they may toil in the +freshness of the morning, and stretch themselves at noon in luxurious +ease by trickling waters, and beneath the shade of trees. Till then, +with regular strokes and a sweeping sound, the sweet and flowery grass +falls before them, revealing at almost every step, nests of young birds, +mice in their cozy domes, and the mossy cells of the humble bee +streaming with liquid honey; anon, troops of haymakers are abroad, +tossing the green swaths wide to the sun. It is one of Nature's +festivities, endeared by a thousand pleasant memories and habits of the +olden days, and not a soul can resist it. + +There is a sound of tinkling teams and of wagons rolling along lanes and +fields the whole country over, aye, even at midnight, till at length the +fragrant ricks rise in the farmyard, and the pale smooth-shaven fields +are left in solitary beauty. + +They who know little about it may deem the strong _penchant_ of our +poets, and of ourselves, for rural pleasures, mere romance and poetic +illusion; but if poetic beauty alone were concerned, we must still +admire _harvest-time_ in the country. The whole land is then an Arcadia, +full of simple, healthful, and rejoicing spirits. Overgrown towns and +manufactories may have changed for the worse, the spirit and feelings of +our population; in them, "evil communications may have corrupted good +manners;" but in the country at large, there never was a more +simple-minded, healthful-hearted, and happy race of people than our +present British peasantry. They have cast off, it is true, many of their +ancestors' games and merrymakings, but they have in no degree lost their +soul of mirth and happiness. This is never more conspicuous than in +_harvest-time_. + +With the exception of a casual song of the lark in a fresh morning, of +the blackbird and thrush at sunset, or the monotonous wail of the +yellow-hammer, the silence of birds is now complete; even the lesser +reed-sparrow, which may very properly be called the _English mock-bird_, +and which kept up a perpetual clatter with the notes of the sparrow, the +swallow, the white-throat, &c. in every hedge-bottom, day and night, +has ceased. + +Boys will now be seen in the evening twilight with match, gunpowder, +&c., and green boughs for self-defence, busy in storming the paper-built +castles of _wasps_, the larvae of which furnish anglers with store of +excellent baits. Spring-flowers have given place to a very different +class. Climbing plants mantle and festoon every hedge. The wild hop, the +brione, the clematis or traveller's joy, the large white convolvulus, +whose bold yet delicate flowers will display themselves to a very late +period of the year--vetches, and white and yellow ladies-bed-straw-- +invest almost every bush with their varied beauty, and breathe on the +passer-by their faint summer sweetness. The _campanula rotundifolia_, +the hare-bell of poets, and the blue-bell of botanists, arrests the eye +on every dry bank, rock, and wayside, with its beautiful cerulean bells. +There too we behold wild scabiouses, mallows, the woody nightshade, +wood-betony, and centaury; the red and white-striped convolvulus also +throws its flowers under your feet; corn fields glow with whole armies +of scarlet poppies, cockle, and the rich azure plumes of +viper's-bugloss; even _thistles_, the curse of Cain, diffuse a glow of +beauty over wastes and barren places. Some species, particularly the +musk thistles, are really noble plants, wearing their formidable arms, +their silken vest, and their gorgeous crimson tufts of fragrant flowers +issuing from a coronal of interwoven down and spines, with a grace which +casts far into the shade many a favourite of the garden. + +But whoever would taste all the sweetness of July, let him go, in +pleasant company, if possible, into heaths and woods; it is there, in +her uncultured haunts, that summer now holds her court. The stern +castle, the lowly convent, the deer and the forester have vanished +thence many ages; yet nature still casts round the forest-lodge, the +gnarled oak and lovely mere, the same charms as ever. The most hot and +sandy tracts, which we might naturally imagine would now be parched up, +are in full glory. The _erica tetralix_, or bell-heath, the most +beautiful of our indigenous species, is now in bloom, and has converted +the brown bosom of the waste into one wide sea of crimson; the air is +charged with its honied odour. The dry, elastic turf glows, not only +with its flowers, but with those of the wild thyme, the clear blue +milkwort, the yellow asphodel, and that curious plant the _sundew_, with +its drops of inexhaustible liquor sparkling in the fiercest sun like +diamonds. There wave the cotton-rush, the tall fox-glove, and the taller +golden mullein. There creep the various species of heath-berries, +cranberries, bilberries, &c., furnishing the poor with a source of +profit, and the rich of luxury. What a pleasure it is to throw ourselves +down beneath the verdant screen of the beautiful fern, or the shade of a +venerable oak, in such a scene, and listen to the summer sounds of bees, +grasshoppers, and ten thousand other insects, mingled with the more +remote and solitary cries of the pewit and the curlew! Then, to think of +the coach-horse, urged on his sultry stage, or the plough-boy and his +teem, plunging in the depths of a burning fallow, or of our ancestors, +in times of national famine, plucking up the wild fern-roots for bread, +and what an enhancement of our own luxurious ease![3] + +But woods, the depths of woods, are the most delicious retreats during +the fiery noons of July. The great azure campanulas, or Canterbury +bells, are there in bloom, and, in chalk or limestone districts, there +are also now to be found those curiosities, the _bee_ and _fly +orchises_. The soul of John Evelyn well might envy us a wood lounge at +this period. + +_Time's Telescope._ + + [3] It is a fact not known to every juvenile lover of nature, + that a transverse section of a fern-root presents a miniature + picture of an _oak tree_ which no painter could rival. + + * * * * * + + + +ASTRONOMICAL OCCURENCES +FOR JULY, 1827. + + * * * * * + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +The sun is in apogee, or at his greatest distance from the earth on the +2nd, in 10 deg. _Cancer_; he enters _Leo_ on the 23rd, at 5h. 13m. +afternoon; he is in conjunction with the planet Saturn on the 2nd at +11h. 30m. morning, in 9 deg. _Cancer_, and with Mars on the 12th at 1h. +45m. afternoon, being advanced 10 deg. further in the eliptic. + +Venus and Saturn are also in conjunction on the 26th at 3 h. afternoon, +in 13 deg. _Cancer_. + +Mercury will again be visible for a short time about the middle of the +month a little after the sun has set, arriving on the 16th at his +greatest eastern elongation, or apparent distance from the centre of the +system, as seen from the earth in 20 deg. _Leo_; and in aphelio, or that +point of his orbit most distant from the sun, on the 22nd; he becomes +stationary on the 29th. + +There is only one visible eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite this +month--on the 5th, at 10h. 21m. evening. + +The Georgium Sidus, or Herschel, comes to an opposition with the sun on +the 19th, at 6h. 15m. evening; he is then nearest the earth, and +consequently in the most favourable position for observation; he began +retrograding on the 1st of May in 28 deg. 12m. of _Capricornus_; he +rises on the 1st, at 9h. 11m. evening, culminating at 1h. 16m., and +setting at 5h. 21m. morning, pursuing the course of the sun on the 17th +of January; he moves only 13m. of a deg. in the course of the month, +rising 2 h. earlier on the 31st. + +This planet, called also Uranus, was discovered by Herschel on the 13th +of March, 1781. It is the most distant orb in our system yet known. From +certain inequalities on the motion of Jupiter and Saturn, the existence +of a planet of considerable size beyond the orbit of either had been +before suspected; its apparent magnitude, as seen from the earth, is +about 3-1/2 sec., or of the size of a star of the sixth magnitude, and +as from its distance from the sun, it shines but with a pale light, it +cannot often be distinguished with the naked eye. Its diameter is about +4-1/2 times that of the earth, and completes its revolution in something +less than 83-1/2 years. The want of light in this planet, on account of +its great distance from the sun, is supplied by six moons, which revolve +round their primary in different periods. There is a remarkable +peculiarity attached to their orbits, which are nearly perpendicular to +the plane of the ecliptic, and they revolve in them in a direction +contrary to the order of the signs. + +"Moore," in an old almanack, speaking on the difference of light and +heat enjoyed by the inhabitants of _Saturn_, and the _earth_, says,-- + + "From hence how large, how strong the sun's bright ball, + But seen from thence, how languid and how small, + When the keen north with all its fury blows, + Congeals the floods and forms the fleecy snows: + 'Tis heat intense, to what can there be known, + Warmer our poles than in its burning (!) zone; + One moment's cold like their's would pierce the bone, + Freeze the heart's blood, and turn us all to stone." + +Were Saturn thus situated, what would the inhabitants of Herschel feel, +whose distance is still further?--pursuing this train of reasoning, the +heat in the planet Mercury would be seven times greater than on our +globe, and were the earth in the same position, all the water on its +surface would boil, and soon be turned into vapour, but as the degree of +sensible heat in any planet _does not_ depend altogether on its nearness +to the sun, the temperature of these planets may be as mild as that of +the most genial climate of our globe. + +The theory of the sun being a body of fire having been long since +exploded, and heat being found to be generated by the union of the sun's +rays with the atmosphere of the earth, so the caloric contained in the +atmosphere on the surfaces of the planets may be distributed in +different quantities, according to the situation they occupy with regard +to the sun, and which is put into action by the influence of the solar +rays, so as to produce that degree of sensible heat requisite for each +respective planet. We have only to suppose that a small quantity of +caloric exists in Mercury, and a greater quantity in Herschel, which is +fifty times farther from the sun than the other, and there is no reason +to believe that those planets nearest the sun suffer under the action of +excessive heat, or that the more distant are exposed to the rigours of +insufferable cold, which, in either case, might render them unfit for +the abodes of intellectual beings. PASCHE. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SKETCH BOOK + +NO. XLI. + + * * * * * + + +THE AUTHOR AND HIS COAT. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +My master, at first sight of me, expressed great admiration. He had +given his architect of garments orders to make him a blue coat in his +best style; in consequence of which I was ushered into the world. The +gentleman who introduced me into company was at the time in very high +spirits, being engaged in a new literary undertaking, of the success of +which he indulged very sanguine hopes. On this occasion we, that is, to +use similar language to Cardinal Wolsey, in a well-known instance, I and +my master paid a great number of visits to his particular friends, and +others whom he thought likely to encourage and promote his project The +reception _we_ generally met with was highly satisfactory; smiles and +promises of support were bestowed in abundance upon _us_. I use the +plural number, with justice, as it will appear in the sequel, although +my master scarcely ever dreamt that I had anything to do with it. As I +had, however, the special privilege of being _behind his back_, I had +the advantage which that situation peculiarly confers, of arriving at a +knowledge of the truth. He never dreamt that the expressions, "How well +you are looking,"--"I am glad to see you," &c. so common in his ears, +would scarcely ever have been used had it not been for my influence. To +be sure I have overheard him say, as we have been walking along, "There +goes an old acquaintance of mine; but, bless me, how altered he is! he +looks poor and meanly dressed, but I'm determined I'll speak to him, for +fear he should think me so shabby as to shy him." Thus giving an +instance in himself, certainly, of respect for the _man_ and not the +_coat_. My short history goes rather to prove that the reverse is almost +every day's experience. Matters went on pretty well with us until my +master was seized with a severe fit of illness, in consequence of which +his literary scheme was completely defeated, and his condition in life +materially injured; of course, the glad tones of encouragement which I +had been accustomed to hear were changed into expressions of condolence, +and sometimes assurances of unabated friendship; but then it must be +remembered that I, the handsomest blue coat, was _still in good +condition_, and it will perhaps appear, that if I were not my master's +_warmest_ friend, I was, at all events, the only one that _stuck to him +to the last_. Eternal respect to both of us continued much the same for +some time longer, but by degrees we both, _at the same time_, observed, +that an alteration began to take place. My master attributed this to his +altered fortunes, and I placed it to the score of my decayed +appearance--the threadbare cloth and tarnished button came in, I was +sure, for their full share of neglect, and he at last fell into the same +opinion. To describe all the variety of treatment that we experienced +would be a tedious and unpleasant task,--but I was the more convinced +that I had at least as much to do with it as my master, from observing +that all the gradations in manner, from coolness to shyness, and from +shyness to neglect, kept pace, remarkably, with the changes in my +appearance. My master was, at length, the only individual who paid any +respect or attention to me, after most of his old acquaintances had +ceased to notice him. I have heard him exclaim, "Oh, that mankind would +treat me with as much constancy as my old true blue! Thou hast +faithfully served me throughout the vicissitudes of fortune, and art +faithful still, now both of us are left to wither in adversity." + +I could make a long story of it, were I to detail all my adventures; +they may, however, be easily imagined from what has been stated, and +from which it is evident, that in too many instances, the world pays +more respect to _the coat_, than to _the man_, and therefore that a man +would often derive more consequence and benefit if he had the advantage +of having for his patron--_a tailor_ instead of _a man of rank_. J. B. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NOVELIST. + +NO. CIV. + + * * * * * + +THE COTTER'S DAUGHTER. + + +It was a cold stormy night in December, and the green logs as they +blazed and crackled on the Cotter's hearth, were rendered more +delightful, more truly comfortable, by the contrast with the icy showers +of snow and sleet which swept against the frail casement, making all +without cheerless and miserable. + +The Cotter was a handsome, intelligent old man, and afforded me much +information upon glebes, and flocks, and rural economy; while his +spouse, a venerable matron, was humming to herself some long since +forgotten ballad; and industriously twisting and twirling about her long +knitting needles, that promised soon to produce a pair of formidable +winter hose. Their son, a stout, healthy young peasant of +three-and-twenty, was sitting in the spacious chimney corner, sharing +his frugal supper of bread and cheese with a large, shaggy sheep dog, +who sat on his haunches wistfully watching every mouthful, and snap, +snap, snapping, and dextrously catching every morsel that was cast +to him. + +We were all suddenly startled, however, by his loud bark; when, jumping +up, he rushed, or rather flew towards the door. + +"Whew! whew!" whistled the youth--"Whoy--what the dickens ails thee, +Rover?" said he, rising and following him to the door to learn the cause +of his alarm. "What! be they gone again, ey?" for the dog was silent. +"What do thee sniffle at, boy? On'y look at 'un feyther; how the beast +whines and waggles his stump o' tail!--It's some 'un he knows for +sartain. I'd lay a wager it wur Bill Miles com'd about the +harrow, feyther." + +"Did thee hear any knock, lad?" said the father. + +"Noa!" replied the youth; "but mayhap Bill peep'd thro' the hoal in the +shutter, and is a bit dash'd like at seeing a gentleman here. Bill! is't +thee, Master Miles?" continued he, bawling. "Lord! the wind whistles so +a' can't hear me. Shall I unlatch the door, feyther?" + +"Ay, lad, do, an thou wilt," replied the old man; "Rover's wiser nor we +be--a dog 'll scent a friend, when a man would'nt know un." + +Rover still continued his low importunate whine, and began to scratch +against the door. The lad threw it open--the dog brushed past him in an +instant, and his quick, short, continuous yelping, expressed his +immoderate joy and recognition. + +"Hollo! where be'st thee, Bill?" said the young peasant, stepping over +the threshold. "Come, none of thee tricks upon travellers, Master Bill; +I zee thee beside the rick yon!" and quitting the door for half a +minute, he again hastily entered the cot. The rich colour of robust +health had fled from his cheeks--his lips quivered--and he looked like +one bereft of his senses, or under the influence of some frightful +apparition. + +The dame rose up--her work fell from trembling hands-- + +"What's the matter?" said she. + +"What's frighted thee, lad?" asked the old man, rising. + +"Oh! feyther!--oh! mother!"--exclaimed he, drawing them hastily on one +side and whispering something in a low, and almost inaudible voice. + +The old woman raised her hands in supplication and tottered to her +chair while the Cotter, bursting out into a paroxysm of violent rage, +clutched his son's arm, and exclaimed in a loud voice: + +"Make fast the door, boy, an thou'lt not have my curse on thee!--I tell +'ee, she shan't come hither!--No--never--never;--there's poison in her +breath--a' will spurn her from me!--A pest on her!--What; wilt not do +my bidding?" + +"O! feyther, feyther!" cried the young peasant, whose heart seemed +overcharged with grief, "It be a cold, raw night--ye wou'dna kick a cur +from the door to perish in the storm! Doant 'ee be hot and hasty, +feyther, thou art not uncharitable--On me knees!"-- + +"Psha!" exclaimed the enraged father, only exasperated by his +remonstrances. "Whoy talk 'ee to me, son--I am deaf--deaf!--Mine own +hand shall bar the door agen her!"--adding with bitterness--"let her +die!"--and stepping past his prostrate son, was about to execute his +purpose--when, a young girl, whose once gay and flimsy raiment was +drenched and stained, and torn by the violence of the storm, appeared at +the door. The old man recoiled with a shudder--she was as pale as +death--and her trembling limbs seemed scarcely able to support her--a +profusion of light brown hair hung dishevelled and in disorder about her +neck and shoulders, and added to her forlorn appearance. She stretched +forth her arms and pronounced the name of "Father!" but further +utterance was prevented by the convulsive sobs that heaved her bosom. + +"Mary--woman!" cried the old man, trembling--"Call me not feyther--thou +art none of mine--thou hast no feyther now--nor I a daughter--thou art a +serpent that hath stung the bosom that cherished thee! Go to the fawning +villain--the black-hearted sycophant that dragged thee from our +arms--from our happy home to misery and pollution--go, and bless him for +breaking thy poor old feyther's heart!" + +Overcome by these heart-rending reproaches, the distressed girl fainted; +but the strong arm of the young Cotter supported her--for her +tender-hearted youth, moved by his fallen sister's sorrows, had ventured +again to intercede. + +"Hah! touch not her defiled and loathsome body," cried the old +man--"thrust her from the door, and let her find a grave where she may. +Boy! wilt thou dare disobey me?" and he raised his clenched hand, while +anger flashed from his eye. + +"Strike! feyther--strike me!" said the poor lad, bursting into +tears--"fell me to the 'arth! Kill me, an thou wilt--I care not--I will +never turn my heart agen poor Mary!--Bean't she my sister? Did thee not +teach me to love her?--Poor lass!--she do want it all now, feyther--for +she be downcast and broken-hearted!--Nay, thee art kind and good, +feyther--know thee art--I zee thine eyes be full o' tears--and +thee--thee woant cast her away from thee, I know thee woant. Mother, +speak to 'un; speak to sister Mary too--it be our own Mary! Doant 'ee +kill her wi' unkindness!" + +The old man, moved by his affectionate entreaties, no longer offered any +opposition to his son's wishes, but hiding his face in his hands, he +fled from the affecting scene to an adjoining room. + +Her venerable mother having recovered from the shock of her lost +daughter's sudden appearance, now rose to the assistance of the +unfortunate, and by the aid of restoratives brought poor Mary to the +full sense of her wretchedness. She was speedily conveyed to the same +humble pallet, to which, in the days of her innocence and peace, she had +always retired so light-hearted and joyously, but where she now found a +lasting sleep--an eternal repose!--Yes, poor Mary died!--and having won +the forgiveness and blessing of her offended parents, death was welcome +to her.--_Absurdities: in Prose and Verse_. + + * * * * * + + + +ORIGINS AND INVENTIONS. + +No. XXVII. + + * * * * * + + +VAUXHALL GARDENS. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + "Here waving groves a checkered scene display, + And part admit, and part exclude the day." + +POPE. + + +Of the origin of these enchanting gardens, Mr. Aubrey, in his +"Antiquities of Surrey," gives us the following account;--"At Vauxhall, +Sir Samuel Morland built a fine room, anno 1667, the inside all of +looking-glass, and fountains very pleasant to behold, which is much +visited by strangers: it stands in the middle of the garden, covered +with Cornish slate, on the point of which he placed a punchinello, very +well carved, which held a dial, but the winds have demolished it." And +Sir John Hawkins, in his "History of Music," has the following account +of it:--"The house seems to have been rebuilt since the time that Sir +Samuel Morland dwelt in it. About the year 1730, Mr. Jonathan Tyers +became the occupier of it, and, there being a large garden belonging to +it, planted with a great number of stately trees, and laid out in shady +walks, it obtained the name of Spring Gardens; and the house being +converted into a tavern, or place of entertainment, was much frequented +by the votaries of pleasure. Mr. Tyers opened it with an advertisement +of a _Ridotto al Fresco_, a term which the people of this country had +till that time been strangers to. These entertainments were repeated in +the course of the summer, and numbers resorted to partake of them. This +encouraged the proprietor to make his garden a place of musical +entertainment, for every evening during the summer season. To this end +he was at great expense in decorating the gardens with paintings; he +engaged a band of excellent musicians; he issued silver tickets at one +guinea each for admission, and receiving great encouragement, he set up +an organ in the orchestra, and, in a conspicuous part of the garden, +erected a fine statue of Mr. Handel." These gardens are said to be the +first of the kind in England; but they are not so old as the Mulberry +Gardens, (on the spot now called Spring Gardens, near St. James's Park,) +where king Charles II. went to regale himself the night after his +restoration, and formed an immediate connexion with Mrs. Palmer, +afterwards Duchess of Cleveland. The trees, however, are more than a +century old, and, according to tradition, were planted for a public +garden. This property was formerly held by Jane Fauxe, or Vaux, widow, +in 1615; and it is highly probable (says Nichols) that she was the +relict of the infamous Guy. In the "Spectator," No. 383, Mr. Addison +introduces a voyage from the Temple Stairs to Vauxhall, in which he is +accompanied by his friend, Sir Roger de Coverley. In the "Connoisseur," +No. 68, we find a very humourous description of the behaviour of an old +penurious citizen, who had treated his family here with a handsome +supper. The magnificence of these gardens calls to recollection the +magic representations in the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments," where + + "The blazing glories, with a cheerful ray, + Supply the sun, and counterfeit the day." + +Grosely, in his "Tour to London,"[4] says, (relating to Ranelagh and +Vauxhall,) "These entertainments, which begin in the month of May, are +continued every night. They bring together persons of all ranks and +conditions; and amongst these, a considerable number of females, whose +charms want only that cheerful air, which is the flower and quintessence +of beauty. These places serve equally as a rendezvous either for +business or intrigue. They form, as it were, private coteries; there you +see fathers and mothers, with their children, enjoying domestic +happiness in the midst of public diversions. The English assert, that +such entertainments as these can never subsist in France, on account of +the levity of the people. Certain it is, that those of Vauxhall and +Ranelagh, which are guarded only by outward decency, are conducted +without tumult and disorder, which often disturb the public diversions +of France. I do not know whether the English are gainers thereby; the +joy which they seem in search of at those places does not beam through +their countenances; they look as grave at Vauxhall and Ranelagh as at +the Bank, at church, or a private club. All persons there seem to say, +what a young English nobleman said to his governor, _Am I as joyous as I +should be?_" + +P. T. W. + + [4] 1765, translated from the French by Thomas Nugent, LL.D. + + * * * * * + + + +FINE ARTS. + + * * * * * + +THE CHIEF CAUSES OF THE SUCCESS OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE IN GREECE AND +ROME. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +A cursory glance at the principal occasion of the amazing success +obtained by the Greeks and Romans, in painting and sculpture, during the +early ages, may perhaps prove interesting to the lovers of the arts in +this country. + +The elevation to which the arts in Greece arrived was owing to the +concurrence of various circumstances. The imitative arts, we are told, +in that classic country formed a part of the administration, and were +inseparably connected with the heathen worship. The temples were +magnificently erected, and adorned with numerous statues of pagan +deities, before which, in reverential awe, the people prostrated +themselves. Every man of any substance had an idol in his own +habitation, executed by a reputed sculptor. In all public situations the +patriotic actions of certain citizens were represented, that beholders +might be induced to emulate their virtues. On contemplating these +masterpieces of art, which were so truly exquisite that the very coldest +spectator was unable to resist their _almost magical_ influence, the +vicious were reclaimed, and the ignorant stood abashed. Indeed, it has +often been asserted, that the statues by Phidias and Praxiteles were so +inimitably executed, that the people of Paros adored them as living +gods. Those artists who performed such extraordinary wonders as these +were held in an esteemed light, of which we cannot form the least idea. +We are certain they were paid most enormous prices for their +productions, and consequently could afford to adorn them with every +beauty of art, and to bestow more time on them than can ever be expected +from any modern artist. + +As soon as the arts had arrived at their highest pitch of excellency in +Greece, the country was laid waste by the invading power of the Romans. +All the Greek cities which contained the greatest treasures were +demolished, and all the pictures[5] and statues fell into the hands of +the victorious general, who had them carefully preserved and conveyed +from the land where they had been adored. Of the estimation in which +these great works were held by the Romans, we may form some idea by the +general assuring a soldier, to whose charge he gave a statue by +Praxiteles, that if he broke it, he should get another as well made in +its place. War is a very destructive enemy to painting and sculpture; +the intestine quarrels which ensued after the Romans had conquered the +country, rendered the exercise of the art impracticable. + +The arts were neglected in Rome until the introduction of the popish +religion. At that eventful era, statues and pictures were eagerly sought +for; the admirable Grecian works were appropriated to purposes quite +contrary to their pagan origin, for in many cases heathen deities were +converted into apostles. The labours of Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles, +Lysippus, and Scopas,[6] were highly valued by the Romans, who became +the correct imitators, and in time the rivals, of those celebrated +sculptors. G.W.N. + + [5] The pictures alluded to were the works of Apelles, + Apollodorus, and Protogenes. + + [6] These sculptors, according to Pliny, were the most reputed + among the ancients. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE +PUBLIC JOURNALS + + * * * * * + +LOVE'S VICTIM.[7] + + She left her own warm home + To tempt the frozen waste, + What time the traveller fear'd to roam, + And hunter shunn'd the blast, + Love pour'd his strength into her soul-- + Could peril e'er his power controul! + + She left her own warm home. + When stone, and herb, and tree, + And all beneath heaven's lurid dome + By wintry majesty, + In his stern age, were clad with snow, + And human hearts beat chill and slow. + + It was a fearful hour + For one so young and fair: + The woods had not one sheltering bower, + The earth was trackless there, + The very boughs in silver slept, + As the sea-foam had o'er them swept. + + Snow after snow came down, + The sky look'd fix'd in ice; + She deem'd amid the season's power, + Her love would all suffice + To keep the source of being warm, + And mock the terrors of the storm. + + Love was her world of life. + She thought but of her heart, + And knowing that the winter's strife + Could not its hope dispart, + She dream'd not that its home of clay + Might yield before the tempest's sway-- + + Or judged that passion's power-- + Passion so strong and pure. + Might mock the snow-flake's wildering shower, + Proud that it could endure, + As woman oft in times before + Had peril borne as much or more. + + She went--dawn past o'er dawn, + None saw her face again, + The eyes she should have gazed upon, + Look'd for her face in vain-- + The ear to which her voice was song, + Her voice had sought--how vainly long! + + There is in Saco's vale + A gently swelling hill, + Shadows have wrapt it like a veil + From trees that mark it still, + Around, the mountains towering blue + Look on that spot of saddest hue. + + 'Twas by that little hill, + At the dark noon of night, + Close by a frozen snow-hid rill, + Where branches close unite + Even in winter's leafless time, + The skeletons of summer's prime. + + That flash'd the traveller's flame + On tree and precipice, + And show'd a fair unearthly frame + In robes of glittering ice, + With head against a trunk inclined, + Like a dream-spirit of the mind. + + 'Twas that love-wander'd maid, death-pale, + Her very heart's blood froze, + Love's Niobe, in her own vale, + Now reckless of all woes-- + Love's victim fair, and true, find meet, + As she of the famed Paraclete. + + The mountains round shall tell + Her tale to travellers long. + The little vale of Saco swell + The western poet's song, + And "Nancy's Hill" in loftier rhymes + Be sung through unborn realms and times. + +_New Monthly Magazine_. + + [7] A few miles below the Notch of the White Mountains in the + Valley of Saco, is a little rise of land called "Nancy's Hill." + It was formerly thickly covered with trees, a cluster of which + remains to mark the spot. In 1773, at Dartmouth, Jefferson co. + U.S. lived Nancy----, of respectable connexions. She was + engaged to be married. Her lover had set out for Lancaster. She + would follow him in the depth of winter, and on foot. There was + not a house for thirty miles, and the way through the wild + woods a footpath only. She persisted in her design, and + wrapping herself in her long cloak, proceeded on her way. Snow + and frost took place for several weeks, when some persons + passing her route, reached the lull at night. On lighting their + fires, an unearthly figure stood before them beneath the + bending branches, wrapped in a robe of ice. It was the lifeless + form of Nancy. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER + + "I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's + stuff."--_Wotton_. + + * * * * * + +The late Dr. Barclay was a wit and a scholar, as well as a very great +physiologist. When a happy illustration, or even a point of pretty broad +humour, occurred to his mind, he hesitated not to apply it to the +subject in hand; and in this way, he frequently roused and rivetted +attention, when more abstract reasoning might have failed of its aim. On +one occasion he happened to dine with a large party, composed chiefly of +medical men. As the wine cup circulated, the conversation accidentally +took a professional turn, and from the excitation of the moment, or some +other cause, two of the youngest individuals present were the most +forward in delivering their opinions. Sir James McIntosh once told a +political opponent, that so far from following his example of using hard +words and soft arguments, he would pass, if possible, into the opposite +extreme, and use soft words and hard arguments. But our unfledged M.D.'s +disregarded the above salutary maxim, and made up in loudness what they +wanted in learning. At length, one of them said something so +emphatic--we mean as to manner--that a pointer dog started from his lair +beneath the table and _bow-wow-wowed_ so fiercely, that he fairly took +the lead in the discussion. Dr. Barclay eyed the hairy dialectician, and +thinking it high time to close the debate, gave the animal a hearty push +with his foot, and exclaimed in broad Scotch--"Lie still, ye brute; for +I am sure ye ken just as little about it as ony o'them." We need hardly +add, that this sally was followed by a hearty burst of laughter, in +which even the disputants good-humouredly joined. + + * * * * * + + Fair woman was made to bewitch-- + A pleasure, a pain, a disturber, a nurse, + A slave, or a tyrant, a blessing, or curse; + Fair woman was made to be--which? + + * * * * * + + + +_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand (near Somerset +House), and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers_. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, JULY 7, 1827 *** + +***** This file should be named 9882-8.txt or 9882-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/8/8/9882/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + +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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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/9882-8.zip b/9882-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e39a22f --- /dev/null +++ b/9882-8.zip diff --git a/9882-h.zip b/9882-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f86b2e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/9882-h.zip diff --git a/9882-h/9882-h.htm b/9882-h/9882-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d066d21 --- /dev/null +++ b/9882-h/9882-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1907 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827, by Various</title> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- + body + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + p + {text-align: justify;} + blockquote + {text-align: justify;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 + {text-align: center;} + + hr + {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr + {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + + hr.full + {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full + {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + + pre + {font-size: 0.7em; background-color: #F0F0F0;} + + .poetry + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 0%; + text-align: left;} + + .footnote + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em;} + + .figure + {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; + text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em;} + .figure img + {border: none;} + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; + font-size: 0.7em;} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827 + +Author: Various + +Posting Date: December 5, 2011 [EBook #9882] +Release Date: February, 2006 +First Posted: October 27, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, JULY 7, 1827 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr class="full" /> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page1" name="page1"></a>[pg 1]</span> + +<!-- Mirror of Literature header --> +<h1>THE MIRROR<br /> +OF<br /> +LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> +<hr class="full" /> +<table width="100%"> + <tr><td align="left"><b> Vol. 10, No. 262.] + </b></td><td align="center"><b> SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1827. + </b></td><td align="right"> <b> [PRICE 2d. + </b></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="full" /> +<!-- end of header --> + +<h2>HIS MAJESTY'S PONEY PHAETON.</h2> +<p class="figure"> + <a href="images/262-1.png"><img width="100%" src="images/262-1.png" alt="" /></a><br /> +</p> + +<p>We commence our tenth volume of the MIRROR with an embellishment +quite novel in design from the generality of our graphic +illustrations, but one which, we flatter ourselves, will excite +interest among our friends, especially after so recently, +presenting them with a Portrait and Memoir of his Majesty in the +Supplement, which last week completed our ninth volume. His +Majesty, when residing at his cottage in Windsor Forest, the +weather being favourable, seldom allows a day to pass without +taking his favourite drive by the Long Walk, and Virginia Water, in +his poney phaeton, as represented in the above engraving. Windsor +Park being situated on the south side of the town, and 14 miles in +circumference, is admirably calculated for the enjoyment of a rural +ride. The entrance to the park is by a road called the <i>Long +Walk</i>, near three miles in length, through a double plantation +of trees on each side, leading to the Ranger's Lodge: on the north +east side of the Castle is the <i>Little Park</i>, about four miles +in circumference: <i>Queen Elizabeth's Walk</i> herein is much +frequented. At the entrance of this park is the <i>Queen's +Lodge</i>, a modern erection. This building stands on an easy +ascent opposite the upper court, on the south side, and commands a +beautiful view of the surrounding country. The gardens are elegant, +and have been much enlarged by the addition of the gardens and +house of the duke of St. Albans, purchased by his late majesty. The +beautiful <i>Cottage Ornée</i>, an engraving of which graces +one of our early volumes, is also in the park, and to which place +of retirement his present Majesty resorts, and passes much of his +time in preference to the bustle and splendour of a royal town +life.</p> +<p>Having now given as much description +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page2" name="page2"></a>[pg 2]</span> +of the engraving as the +subject requires, we shall proceed to lay before our readers some +further anecdotes connected with the life of his Majesty; for our +present purpose, the following interesting article being adapted to +our limits, we shall introduce an</p> +<blockquote> +<p><i>Original Letter of his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, +to Alexander Davison, Esq., on the death of Lord Nelson.</i></p> +<p>I am extremely obliged to you, my dear sir, for your +confidential letter, which I received this morning. You may be well +assured, that, did it depend upon me, there would not be a wish, a +desire of our-ever-to-be-lamented and much-loved friend, as well as +adored hero, that I should not consider as a solemn obligation upon +his friends and his country to fulfil; it is a duty they owe his +memory, and his matchless and unrivalled excellence: such are my +sentiments, and I should hope that there is still in this country +sufficient honour, virtue, and gratitude to prompt us to ratify and +to carry into effect the last dying request of our Nelson, and by +that means proving not only to the whole world, but to future ages, +that we were worthy of having such a man belonging to us. It must +be needless, my dear sir, to discuss over with you in particular +the irreparable loss dear Nelson ever must be, not merely to his +friends but to his country, especially at the present +crisis—and during the present most awful contest, his very +name was a host of itself; Nelson and Victory were one and the same +to us, and it carried dismay and terror to the hearts of our +enemies. But the subject is too painful a one to dwell longer upon; +as to myself, all that I can do, either publicly or privately, to +testify the reverence, the respect I entertain for his memory as a +Hero, and as the greatest public character that ever embellished +the page of history, independent of what I can with the greatest +truth term, the enthusiastic attachment I felt for him as a friend, +I consider it as my duty to fulfil, and therefore, though I may be +prevented from taking that ostensible and prominent situation at +his funeral which I think my birth and high rank entitled me to +claim, still nothing shall prevent me in a private character +following his remains to their last resting place; for though the +station and the character may be less ostensible, less prominent, +yet the feelings of the heart will not therefore be the less +poignant, or the less acute.</p> +<p>I am, my dear sir, with the greatest truth,<br /> +Ever very sincerely your's,<br /> +G. P.<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a><br /> +<i>Brighton, Dec, 18th, 1805</i>.</p> +</blockquote> +<hr /> + +<h2>BYRON AND OTHER POETS COMPARED.</h2> +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> +<p>There is a natural stimulus in man to offer adoration at the +shrine of departed genius.—</p> +<blockquote>"There is a tear for all that die."</blockquote> +<p>But, when a transcendant genius is checked in its early +age—when its spring-shoots had only began to open—when +it had just engaged in a new feature devoted to man, and man to it, +we cannot rest</p> +<blockquote>"In silent admiration, mixed with grief."</blockquote> +<p>Too often has splendid genius been suffered to live almost +unobserved; and have only been valued as their lives have been +lost. Could the divine Milton, or the great Shakspeare, while +living, have shared that profound veneration which their after +generations have bestowed on their high talents, happier would they +have lived, and died more extensively beloved.</p> +<p>True, a Byron has but lately paid a universal debt. His +concentrated powers—his breathings for the happiness and +liberty of mankind—his splendid intellectual flowers, culled +from a mind stored with the choicest exotics, and cultivated with +the most refined taste are all still fresh in recollection. As the +value of precious stones and metals have become estimated by their +scarcity, so will the fame of Byron live.</p> +<p>A mind like Lord Byron's,</p> +<blockquote>"——born, not only to surprise, but +cheer<br /> +With warmth and lustre all within its sphere,"</blockquote> +<p>was one of Nature's brightest gems, whose splendour (even when +uncompared) dazzled and attracted all who passed within its +sight.</p> +<blockquote>"So let him stand, through ages yet +unborn."</blockquote> +<p>As comparison is a medium through which we are enabled to obtain +most accurate judgment, let us use it in the present instance, and +compare Lord Byron with the greatest poets that have preceded him, +by which means the world of letters will see what they have +<i>really</i> lost in Lord Byron. To commence with the great +Shakspeare himself, to whom universal admiration continues to be +paid. Had Shakspeare been cut off at the same early period as +Byron, <i>The Tempest, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, +Coriolanus</i>, and several others of an equal character, would +never have been written. The high reputation of Dryden would also +have been limited—his fame, perhaps, unknown. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page3" name="page3"></a>[pg 3]</span> +The +<i>Absalom</i> and <i>Achitophel</i> is the earliest of his best +productions, which was written about his fiftieth year; his +principal production, at the age of Byron, was his <i>Annus +Mirabilis</i>; for nearly the whole of his dramatic works were +written at the latter part of his life. Pope is the like situated; +that which displayed most the power of his mind—which claims +for him the greatest praise—his <i>Essay on Man</i>, &c. +appeared after his fortieth year. <i>Windsor Forest</i> was +published in his twenty-second or twenty-third year, both were the +labour of some <i>years</i>; and the immortal Milton, who published +some few things before his thirtieth year, sent not his great work, +<i>Paradise Lost</i>, to the world until he verged on sixty.</p> +<p>With the poets, and the knowledge of what Byron <i>was</i>, we +may ask what he would have been had it pleased the Great Author of +all things to suffer the summer of his consummate mental powers to +shine upon us? Take the works of any of the abovenamed +distinguished individuals previous to their thirty-eighth year, and +shall we perceive that flexibility of the English language to the +extent that Byron has left behind him? His versatility was, indeed, +astonishing and triumphant. His <i>Childe Harold</i>, the <i>Bride +of Abydos</i>, the <i>Corsair</i>, and <i>Don Juan</i>, (though +somewhat too freely written,) are established proofs of his +unequalled energy of mind. His power was unlimited; not only +eloquent, but the sublime, grave and gay, were all equally familiar +to his muse.</p> +<p>Few words are wanted to show that Byron was not depraved at +heart; no man possessed a more ready sympathy, a more generous mind +to the distressed, or was a more enthusiastic admirer of noble +actions. These feelings all strongly delineated in his character, +would never admit, as Sir Walter Scott has observed, "an imperfect +moral sense, nor feeling, dead to virtue." Severe as the</p> +<blockquote>"Combined usurpers on the throne of taste"</blockquote> +<p>have been, his character is marked by some of the best +principles in many parts of his writings.</p> +<blockquote>"The records there of friendships, held like rocks,<br /> +And enmities like sun-touch'd snow resign'd,"</blockquote> +<p>are frequently visible. His glorious attachment to the Grecian +cause is a sufficient recompense for <i>previous</i> follies +exaggerated and propagated by calumny's poisonous tongue. In a +word, "there is scarce a passion or a situation which has escaped +his pen; and he might be drawn, like Garrick, between the weeping +and the laughing muses."</p> +<p>A. B. C.</p> +<hr /> +<h2>THE SONG OF THE WIDOWED MOTHER TO HER CHILD.</h2> +<h3>BY THE AUTHOR OF "AHAB."</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<blockquote>O Sink to sleep, my darling boy,<br /> + Thy father's dead, thy mother lonely,<br /> +Of late thou wert his pride, his joy,<br /> + But now thou hast not one to own thee.<br /> +The cold wide world before us lies,<br /> + But oh! such heartless things live in it,<br /> +It makes me weep—then close thine eyes<br /> + Tho' it be but for one short minute.<br /> +<br /> +O sink to sleep, my baby dear,<br /> + A little while forget thy sorrow,<br /> +The wind is cold, the night is drear,<br /> + But drearier it will be to-morrow.<br /> +For none will help, tho' many see<br /> + Our wretchedness—then close thine eyes, love,<br /> +Oh, most unbless'd on earth is she<br /> + Who on another's aid relies, love.<br /> +<br /> +Thou hear'st me not! thy heart's asleep<br /> + Already, and thy lids are closing,<br /> +Then lie thee still, and I will weep<br /> + Whilst thou, my dearest, art reposing,<br /> +And wish that I could slumber free,<br /> + And with thee in yon heaven awaken,<br /> +O would that it our home might be,<br /> + For here we are by all forsaken.</blockquote> +<hr /> +<h2>PAY OF THE JUDGES IN FORMER TIMES.</h2> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<p>In the twenty-third year of the reign of king Henry III., the +salary of the justices of the bench (now called the Common Pleas) +was 20l. per annum; in the forty-third year, 40l. In the +twenty-seventh year, the chief baron had 40 marks; the other +barons, 20 marks; and in the forty, ninth year, 4l. per annum. The +justices <i>coram rege</i> (now called the King's Bench) had in the +forty-third year of Henry III. 40l. per annum.; the chief of the +bench, 100 marks per annum; and next year, another chief of the +same court, had 100l.; but the chief of the court <i>coram rege</i> +had only 100 marks per annum.</p> +<p>In the reign of Edward I., the salaries of the justices were +very uncertain, and, upon the whole, they sunk from what they had +been in the reign of Henry III. The chief justice of the bench, in +the seventh year of Edward I., had but 40l. per annum, and the +other justices there, 40 marks. This continued the proportion in +both benches till the twenty-fifth year of Edward III., then the +salary of the chief of the King's Bench fell to 50 marks, or 33l. +6s. 8d., while that of the chief of the bench was augmented to 100 +marks, which may be considered as an +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page4" name="page4"></a>[pg 4]</span> +evidence of the increase of +business and attendance there. The chief baron had 40l.; the +salaries of the other justices and barons were reduced to 20l.</p> +<p>In the reign of Edward II., the number of suitors so increased +in the common bench, that whereas there had usually been only three +justices there, that prince, at the beginning of his reign, was +constrained to increase them to six, who used to sit in two +places,—a circumstance not easy to be accounted for. Within +three years after they were increased to seven; next year they were +reduced to six, at which number they continued.</p> +<p>The salaries of the judges, though they had continued the same +from the time of Edward I. to the twenty-fifth year of Edward III., +were become very uncertain. In the twenty-eighth year of this king, +it appears, that one of the justices of the King's Bench had 80 +marks per annum. In the thirty-ninth year of Edward III. the judges +had in that court 40l.; the same as the justices of the Common +Pleas; but the chief of the King's Bench, 100 marks.</p> +<p>The salaries of the judges in the time of Henry IV. were as +follows:—The chief baron, and other barons, had 40 marks per +annum; the chief of the King's Bench, and of the Common Pleas, 40l. +per annum; the other justices, in either court, 40 marks. But the +gains of the practisers were become so great, that they could +hardly be tempted to accept a place on the bench with such low +salaries; therefore in the eighteenth year of Henry VI. the judges +of all the courts at Westminster, together with the king's attorney +and sergeants, exhibited a petition to parliament concerning the +regular payment of their salaries and perquisites of robes. The +king assented to their request, and order was taken for increasing +their income, which afterwards became larger, and more fixed; this +consisted of a salary and an allowance for robes. In the first year +of Edward IV., the chief justice of the King's Bench had 170 marks +per annum, 5l. 6s. 6d. for his winter robes, and the same for his +Whitsuntide robes. Most of the judges had the honour of knighthood; +some of them were knights bannerets; and some had the order of the +Bath.</p> +<p>In the first year of Henry VII. the chief justice of the court +of King's Bench had the yearly fee of 140 marks granted to him for +his better support; he had besides 5l. 6s. 11-1/4 d., and the sixth +part of a halfpenny (such is the accuracy of Sir William Dugdale, +and the strangeness of the sum,) for his winter robes, and 3l. 6s. +6d. for his robes at Whitsuntide.</p> +<p>In the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII. a further increase was +made to the fees of the judges;—to the chief justice of the +King's Bench 30l. per annum; to every other justice of that court +20l. per annum; to every justice of the Common Pleas, 20l. per +annum.</p> +<p>There were usually in the court of Common Pleas five judges, +sometimes six; and in the reign of Henry VI. there were, it is +said, eight judges at one time in that court; but six appear to +have been the regular number. In the King's Bench there were +sometimes four, sometimes five. They did not sit above three hours +a day in court,—from eight in the morning to eleven. The +courts were not open in the afternoon; but that time was left +unoccupied for suitors to confer with their counsel at home.</p> +<p>F. R. Y.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>SIR WALTER SCOTT'S LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.</h3> +<p>SIR WALTER SCOTT, the author of <i>Waverley</i>, has become the +biographer of Napoleon Bonaparte; and the deepest interest is +excited in the literary world to know how the great master of +romance and fiction acquits himself in the execution of his task. +In the preface to this elaborate history, Sir Walter, with +considerable ingenuousness, informs us that "he will be found no +enemy to the person of Napoleon. The term of hostility is ended +when the battle has been won, and the foe exists no longer." But to +our task: we shall attempt an analysis of the volumes before us, +and endeavour to gratify our readers with a narrative of incidents +that cannot fail interesting every British subject, whose history, +in fact, is strongly connected with the important events that +belong to the splendid career of Napoleon Bonaparte.</p> +<p>The first and second volumes of Sir Walter's history are taken +up with a view of the French Revolution, from whence we shall +extract a sketch of the characters of three men of terror, whose +names will long remain, we trust, unmatched in history by those of +any similar miscreants. These men were the leaders of the +revolution, and were called</p> +<h4>THE TRIUMVIRATE.</h4> +<p>Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivalled by his +colleagues in talent and audacity. He was a man of gigantic size, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page5" name="page5"></a>[pg 5]</span> +and possessed a voice of thunder. His countenance was that of an +Ogre on the shoulders of a Hercules. He was as fond of the +pleasures of vice as of the practice of cruelty; and it was said +there were times when he became humanized amidst his debauchery, +laughed at the terror which his furious declamations excited, and +might be approached with safety, like the Maelstrom at the turn of +tide. His profusion was indulged to an extent hazardous to his +popularity, for the populace are jealous of a lavish expenditure, +as raising their favourites too much above their own degree; and +the charge of peculation finds always ready credit with them, when +brought against public men.</p> +<p>Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danton, that he did +not seem to seek for wealth, either for hoarding or expending, but +lived in strict and economical retirement, to justify the name of +the Incorruptible, with which he was honoured by his partizans. He +appears to have possessed little talent, saving a deep fund of +hypocrisy, considerable powers of sophistry, and a cold exaggerated +strain of oratory, as foreign to good taste, as the measures he +recommended were to ordinary humanity. It seemed wonderful, that +even the seething and boiling of the revolutionary cauldron should +have sent up from the bottom, and long supported on the surface, a +thing so miserably void of claims to public distinction; but +Robespierre had to impose on the minds of the vulgar, and he knew +how to beguile them, by accommodating his flattery to their +passions and scale of understanding, and by acts of cunning and +hypocrisy, which weigh more with the multitude than the words of +eloquence, or the arguments of wisdom. The people listened as to +their Cicero, when he twanged out his apostrophes of <i>Pauvre +Peuple, Peuple vertueux!</i> and hastened to execute whatever came +recommended by such honied phrases, though devised by the worst of +men for the worst and most inhuman of purposes.</p> +<p>Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion, and though his +countenance was the image of his mind, he was vain even of his +personal appearance, and never adopted the external habits of a +sans culotte. Amongst his fellow Jacobins, he was distinguished by +the nicety with which his hair was arranged and powdered; and the +neatness of his dress was carefully attended to, so as to +counterbalance, if possible, the vulgarity of his person. His +apartments, though small, were elegant and vanity had filled them +with representations of the occupant. Robespierre's picture at +length hung in one place, his miniature in another, his bust +occupied a niche, and on the table were disposed a few medallions +exhibiting his head in profile. The vanity which all this indicated +was of the coldest and most selfish character, being such as +considers neglect as insult, and receives homage merely as a +tribute; so that, while praise is received without gratitude, it is +withheld at the risk of mortal hate. Self-love of this dangerous +character is closely allied with envy, and Robespierre was one of +the most envious and vindictive men that ever lived. He never was +known to pardon any opposition, affront, or even rivalry; and to be +marked in his tablets on such an account was a sure, though perhaps +not an immediate, sentence of death. Danton was a hero, compared +with this cold, calculating, creeping miscreant; for his passions, +though exaggerated, had at least some touch of humanity, and his +brutal ferocity was supported by brutal +courage.—(<i>Continued at page 17.</i>)</p> +<hr /> +<h3>THE EPICUREAN.</h3> +<h4><i>By T. Moore, Esq.</i></h4> +<p>The following is described by Alciphron, the hero of the tale, +at the termination of a festival, in a tone which strongly reminds +us of Rasselas:—</p> +<p>"The sounds of the song and dance had ceased, and I was now left +in those luxurious gardens alone. Though so ardent and active a +votary of pleasure, I had, by nature, a disposition full of +melancholy;—an imagination that presented sad thoughts even +in the midst of mirth and happiness, and threw the shadow of the +future over the gayest illusions of the present. Melancholy was, +indeed, twin-born in my soul with passion; and, not even in the +fullest fervour of the latter were they separated. From the first +moment that I was conscious of thought and feeling, the same dark +thread had run across the web; and images of death and annihilation +mingled themselves with the most smiling scenes through which my +career of enjoyment led me. My very passion for pleasure but +deepened these gloomy fancies. For, shut out, as I was by my creed, +from a future life, and having no hope beyond the narrow horizon of +this, every minute of delight assumed a mournful preciousness in my +eyes, and pleasure, like the flower of the cemetery, grew but more +luxuriant from the neighbourhood of death. This very night my +triumph, my happiness, had seemed complete. I had been the +presiding genius of that voluptuous scene. Both my ambition and my +love of pleasure had drunk deep of the cup for which they thirsted. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page6" name="page6"></a>[pg 6]</span> +Looked up to by the learned, and loved by the beautiful and the +young, I had seen, in every eye that met mine, either the +acknowledgment of triumphs already won, or the promise of others, +still brighter, that awaited me. Yet, even in the midst of all +this, the same dark thoughts had presented themselves; the +perishableness of myself and all around me every instant recurred +to my mind. Those hands I had prest—those eyes, in which I +had seen sparkling a spirit of light and life that should never +die—those voices that had talked of eternal love—all, +all, I felt, were but a mockery of the moment, and would leave +nothing eternal but the silence of their dust!</p> +<blockquote>"Oh, were it not for this sad voice,<br /> + Stealing amid our mirth to say,<br /> +That all in which we most rejoice,<br /> + Ere night may be the earth-worm's prey:<br /> +<i>But</i> for this bitter—only this—<br /> +Full as the world is brimm'd with bliss,<br /> +And capable as feels my soul<br /> +Of draining to its depth the whole,<br /> +I should turn earth to heaven, and be,<br /> +If bliss made gods, a deity!"</blockquote> +<hr /> +<h3>THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.</h3> +<p>I had already seen some of the most celebrated works of nature +in different parts of the globe; I had seen Etna and Vesuvius; I +had seen the Andes almost at their greatest elevation; Cape Horn, +rugged and bleak, buffeted by the southern tempest; and, though +last not least, I had seen the long swell of the Pacific; but +nothing I had ever beheld or imagined could compare in grandeur +with the Falls of Niagara. My first sensation was that of exquisite +delight at having before me the greatest wonder of the world. +Strange as it may appear, this feeling was immediately succeeded by +an irresistible melancholy. Had this not continued, it might +perhaps have been attributed to the satiety incident to the +complete gratification of "hope long deferred;" but so far from +diminishing, the more I gazed, the stronger and deeper the +sentiment became. Yet this scene of sadness was strangely mingled +with a kind of intoxicating fascination. Whether the phenomenon is +peculiar to Niagara I know not, but certain it is, that the spirits +are affected and depressed in a singular manner by the magic +influence of this stupendous and eternal fall. About five miles +above the cataract the river expands to the dimensions of a lake, +after which it gradually narrows. The Rapids commence at the upper +extremity of Goat Island, which is half a mile in length, and +divides the river at the point of precipitation into two unequal +parts; the largest is distinguished by the several names of the +Horseshoe, Crescent, and British Fall, from its semi-circular form +and contiguity to the Canadian shore. The smaller is named the +American Fall. A portion of this fall is divided by a rock from +Goat Island, and though here insignificant in appearance, would +rank high among European cascades....</p> +<p>The current runs about six miles an hour; but supposing it to be +only five miles, the quantity which passes the falls in an hour is +more than eighty-five millions of tuns avoirdupois; if we suppose +it to be six, it will be more than one hundred and two millions; +and in a day would exceed two thousand four hundred millions of +tuns....</p> +<p>The next morning, with renewed delight, I beheld from my +window—I may say, indeed, from my bed—the stupendous +vision. The beams of the rising sun shed over it a variety of +tints; a cloud of spray was ascending from the crescent; and as I +viewed it from above, it appeared like the steam rising from the +boiler of some monstrous engine....</p> +<p>This evening I went down with one of our party to view the +cataract by moonlight. I took my favourite seat on the projecting +rock, at a little distance from the brink of the fall, and gazed +till every sense seemed absorbed in contemplation. Although the +shades of night increased the sublimity of the prospect and +"deepened the murmur of the falling floods," the moon in placid +beauty shed her soft influence upon the mind, and mitigated the +horrors of the scene. The thunders which bellowed from the abyss, +and the loveliness of the falling element, which glittered like +molten silver in the moonlight, seemed to complete in absolute +perfection the rare union of the beautiful with the sublime.</p> +<p>While reflecting upon the inadequacy of language to express the +feelings I experienced, or to describe the wonders which I +surveyed, an American gentleman, to my great amusement, tapped me +on the shoulder, and "guessed" that it was "<i>pretty droll!</i>" +It was difficult to avoid laughing in his face; yet I could not +help envying him his vocabulary, which had so eloquently released +me from my dilemma....</p> +<p>Though earnestly dissuaded from the undertaking, I had +determined to employ the first fine morning in visiting the cavern +beneath the fall. The guide recommended my companion and myself to +set out as early as six o'clock, that we might have the advantage +of the morning sun upon the waters. We came to the guide's +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page7" name="page7"></a>[pg 7]</span> +house at +the appointed hour, and disencumbered ourselves of such garments as +we did not wish to have wetted; descending the circular ladder, we +followed the course of the path running along the top of the +<i>débris</i> of the precipice, which I have already +described. Having pursued this track for about eighty yards, in the +course of which we were completely drenched, we found ourselves +close to the cataract. Although enveloped in a cloud of spray, we +could distinguish without difficulty the direction of our path, and +the nature of the cavern we were about to enter. Our guide warned +us of the difficulty in respiration which we should encounter from +the spray, and recommended us to look with exclusive attention to +the security of our footing. Thus warned, we pushed forward, blown +about and buffeted by the wind, stunned by the noise, and blinded +by the spray. Each successive gust penetrated us to the very bones +with cold. Determined to proceed, we toiled and struggled on, and +having followed the footsteps of the guide as far as was possible +consistently with safety, we sat down, and having collected our +senses by degrees, the wonders of the cavern slowly developed +themselves. It is impossible to describe the strange unnatural +light reflected through its crystal wall, the roar of the waters, +and the blasts of the hurried hurricane which perpetually rages in +its recesses. We endured its fury a sufficient time to form a +notion of the shape and dimensions of this dreadful place. The +cavern was tolerably light, though the sun was unfortunately +enveloped in clouds. His disc was invisible, but we could clearly +distinguish his situation through the watery barrier. The fall of +the cataract is nearly perpendicular. The bank over which it is +precipitated is of concave form, owing to its upper stratum being +composed of lime-stone, and its base of soft slate-stone, which has +been eaten away by the constant attrition of the recoiling waters. +The cavern is about one hundred and twenty feet in height, fifty in +breadth, and three hundred in length. The entrance was completely +invisible. By screaming in our ears, the guide contrived to explain +to us that there was one more point which we might have reached had +the wind been in any other direction. Unluckily it blew full upon +the sheet of the cataract, and drove it in so as to dash upon the +rock over which we must have passed. A few yards beyond this, the +precipice becomes perpendicular, and, blending with the water, +forms the extremity of the cave. After a stay of nearly ten minutes +in this most horrible purgatory, we gladly left it to its loathsome +inhabitants the eel and the water-snake, who crawl about its +recesses in considerable numbers,—and returned to the +inn—<i>De Roos's Travels in the United States, +&c.</i></p> +<hr /> +<h3>THE GUILLOTINE.</h3> +<p>The first sight, however, which it fell to my lot to witness at +Brussels in this second and short visit, was neither gay nor +handsome, nor dear in any sense, but the very reverse; it being +that of the punishment of the guillotine inflicted on a wretched +murderer, named John Baptist Michel. +<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a> +Hearing, at the moment of my arrival, that this tragical scene was +on the point of being acted in the great square of the +market-place, I determined for once to make a sacrifice of my +feelings to the desire of being present at a spectacle, with the +nature of which the recollections of revolutionary horrors are so +intimately associated. Accordingly, following to the spot a guard +of soldiers appointed to assist at the execution, I disengaged +myself as soon as possible from the pressure of the immense crowd +already assembled, and obtained a seat at the window of a house +immediately opposite the Hotel-de-Ville, in front of the principal +entrance to which the guillotine had been erected. At the hour of +twelve at noon precisely, the malefactor, tall, athletic, and +young, having his hands tied behind his back, and being stripped to +the waist, was brought to the square in a cart, under an escort of +gen-d'armes, attended by an elderly and respectable ecclesiastic; +who, having been previously occupied in administering the +consolations of religion to the condemned person in prison, now +appeared incessantly employed in tranquillizing him on his way to +the scaffold. Arrived near the fatal machine, the unhappy +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page8" name="page8"></a>[pg 8]</span> +man +stepped out of the vehicle, knelt at the feet of his confessor, +received the priestly benediction, kissed some individuals who +accompanied him, and was hurried by the officers of justice up the +steps of the cube-form structure of wood, painted of a blood-red, +on which stood the dreadful apparatus of death. To reach the top of +the platform, to be fast bound to a board, to be placed +horizontally under the axe, and deprived of life by its unerring +blow, was, in the case of this miserable offender, the work +literally of a moment. It was indeed an awfully sudden transit from +time to eternity. He could only cry out, "<i>Adieu, mes amis</i>," +and he was gone. The severed head, passing through a red-coloured +bag fixed under, fell to the ground—the blood spouted forth +from the neck like water from a fountain—the body, lifted up +without delay, was flung down through a trap-door in the platform. +Never did capital punishment more quickly take effect on a human +being; and whilst the executioner was coolly taking out the axe +from the groove of the machine, and placing it, covered as it was +with gore, in a box, the remains of the culprit, deposited in a +shell, were hoisted into a wagon, and conveyed to the prison. In +twenty minutes all was over, and the <i>Grande Place</i> nearly +cleared of its thousands, on whom the dreadful scene seemed to have +made, as usual, the slightest possible +impression—<i>Stevenson's Tour in France, Switzerland, +&c.</i></p> + +<hr /> +<h3>THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE.</h3> +<p>Of all the miseries of human life, and God knows they are +manifold enough, there are few more utterly heart-sickening and +overwhelming than those endured by the unlucky Heir Presumptive; +when, after having submitted to the whims and caprices of some rich +relation, and endured a state of worse than Egyptian bondage, for a +long series of years, he finds himself cut off with a shilling, or +a mourning ring; and the El Dorado of his tedious term of probation +and expectancy devoted to the endowment of methodist chapels and +Sunday schools; or bequeathed to some six months' friend (usually a +female housekeeper, or spiritual adviser) who, entering the +vineyard at the eleventh hour, (the precise moment at which his +patience and humility become exhausted,) carries off the golden +prize, and adds another melancholy confirmation, to those already +upon record, of the fallacy of all human anticipations. It matters +little what may have been the motives of his conduct; whether duty, +affection, or that more powerful incentive self-interest; how long +or how devotedly he may have humoured the foibles or eccentricities +of his relative; or what sacrifices he may have made to enable him +to comply with his unreasonable caprices: the result is almost +invariably the same. The last year of the Heir Presumptive's +purgatory, nay, perhaps even the last month, or the last week, is +often the drop to the full cup of his endurance. His patience, +however it may have been propped by self-interest, or feelings of a +more refined description, usually breaks down before the allotted +term has expired; and the whole fabric it has cost him such +infinite labour to erect, falls to the ground along with it. It is +well if his personal exertions, and the annoyances to which he has +subjected himself during the best period of his existence, form the +whole of his sacrifices. But, alas! it too often happens that, +encouraged by the probability of succeeding in a few years to an +independent property, and ambitious, moreover, of making such an +appearance in society as will afford the old gentleman or lady no +excuse for being ashamed of their connexion with him, he launches +into expenses he would never otherwise have dreamed of incurring, +and contracts debts without regard to his positive means of +liquidating them, on the strength of a contingency which, if he +could but be taught to believe it, is of all earthly anticipations +the most remote and uncertain. A passion for unnecessary expense +is, under different circumstances, frequently repressed by an +inability to procure credit; but it is the curse and bane of Mr. +Omnium's nephew, and Miss Saveall's niece, that so far from any +obstacle being opposed to their prodigality, almost unlimited +indulgence is offered, nay, actually pressed upon them, by the +trades-people of their wealthy relations; who take especial care +that their charges shall be of a nature to repay them for any +complaisance or long suffering, as it regards the term of credit, +they may be called upon to display. But independently of the +additional expense into which the Heir Presumptive is often seduced +by the operation of these temptations, and his anxiety to live in a +style in some degree accordant with his expectations, what is he +not called upon to endure from the caprices, old-fashioned notions, +eccentricities, avarice, and obstinacy, of the old tyrant to whom +he thus consents to sell himself, and it may be his family, body +and soul, for an indefinite number of years.—<i>National +Tales</i>.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page9" name="page9"></a>[pg 9]</span> +<h2>THE MONTHS.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>JULY.</h3> +<blockquote>The sultry noontide of July<br /> + Now bids us seek the forest's shade;<br /> +Or for the crystal streamlet sigh.<br /> + That flows in some sequestered glade.</blockquote> +<p>B. BARTON.</p> +<hr /> + +<p class="figure"> + <a href="images/262-2.png"><img width="100%" src="images/262-2.png" alt="" /></a><br /> +</p> + +<p>Summer! glowing summer! This is the month of heat and sunshine, +of clear, fervid skies, dusty roads, and shrinking streams; when +doors and windows are thrown open, a cool gale is the most welcome +of all visiters, and every drop of rain "is worth its weight in +gold." Such is July commonly—such it was in 1825, and such, +in a scarcely less degree, in 1826; yet it is sometimes, on the +contrary, a very showery month, putting the hay-maker to the +extremity of his patience, and the farmer upon anxious thoughts for +his ripening corn; generally speaking, however, it is the heart of +our summer. The landscape presents an air of warmth, dryness, and +maturity; the eye roams over brown pastures, corn fields "already +white to harvest," dark lines of intersecting hedge-rows, and +darker trees, lifting their heavy heads above them. The foliage at +this period is rich, full, and vigorous; there is a fine haze cast +over distant woods and bosky slopes, and every lofty and majestic +tree is filled with a soft shadowy twilight, which adds infinitely +to its beauty—a circumstance that has never been sufficiently +noticed by either poet or painter. Willows are now beautiful +objects in the landscape; they are like rich masses of arborescent +silver, especially if stirred by the breeze, their light and fluent +forms contrasting finely with the still and sombre aspect of the +other trees.</p> +<p>Now is the general season of <i>haymaking</i>. Bands of mowers, +in their light trousers and broad straw hats, are astir long before +the fiery eye of the sun glances above the horizon, that they may +toil in the freshness of the morning, and stretch themselves at +noon in luxurious ease by trickling waters, and beneath the shade +of trees. Till then, with regular strokes and a sweeping sound, the +sweet and flowery grass falls before them, revealing at almost +every step, nests of young birds, mice in their cozy domes, and the +mossy cells of the humble bee streaming with liquid honey; anon, +troops of haymakers are abroad, tossing the green swaths wide to +the sun. It is one of Nature's festivities, endeared by a thousand +pleasant memories and habits of the olden days, and not a soul can +resist it.</p> +<p>There is a sound of tinkling teams and of wagons rolling along +lanes and fields the whole country over, aye, even at midnight, +till at length the fragrant ricks rise in the farmyard, and the +pale smooth-shaven fields are left in solitary beauty.</p> +<p>They who know little about it may deem the strong +<i>penchant</i> of our poets, and of ourselves, for rural +pleasures, mere romance and poetic illusion; but if poetic beauty +alone were concerned, we +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page10" name="page10"></a>[pg 10]</span> +must still admire <i>harvest-time</i> in +the country. The whole land is then an Arcadia, full of simple, +healthful, and rejoicing spirits. Overgrown towns and manufactories +may have changed for the worse, the spirit and feelings of our +population; in them, "evil communications may have corrupted good +manners;" but in the country at large, there never was a more +simple-minded, healthful-hearted, and happy race of people than our +present British peasantry. They have cast off, it is true, many of +their ancestors' games and merrymakings, but they have in no degree +lost their soul of mirth and happiness. This is never more +conspicuous than in <i>harvest-time</i>.</p> +<p>With the exception of a casual song of the lark in a fresh +morning, of the blackbird and thrush at sunset, or the monotonous +wail of the yellow-hammer, the silence of birds is now complete; +even the lesser reed-sparrow, which may very properly be called the +<i>English mock-bird</i>, and which kept up a perpetual clatter +with the notes of the sparrow, the swallow, the white-throat, +&c. in every hedge-bottom, day and night, has ceased.</p> +<p>Boys will now be seen in the evening twilight with match, +gunpowder, &c., and green boughs for self-defence, busy in +storming the paper-built castles of <i>wasps</i>, the larvae of +which furnish anglers with store of excellent baits. Spring-flowers +have given place to a very different class. Climbing plants mantle +and festoon every hedge. The wild hop, the brione, the clematis or +traveller's joy, the large white convolvulus, whose bold yet +delicate flowers will display themselves to a very late period of +the year—vetches, and white and yellow +ladies-bed-straw—invest almost every bush with their varied +beauty, and breathe on the passer-by their faint summer sweetness. +The <i>campanula rotundifolia</i>, the hare-bell of poets, and the +blue-bell of botanists, arrests the eye on every dry bank, rock, +and wayside, with its beautiful cerulean bells. There too we behold +wild scabiouses, mallows, the woody nightshade, wood-betony, and +centaury; the red and white-striped convolvulus also throws its +flowers under your feet; corn fields glow with whole armies of +scarlet poppies, cockle, and the rich azure plumes of +viper's-bugloss; even <i>thistles</i>, the curse of Cain, diffuse a +glow of beauty over wastes and barren places. Some species, +particularly the musk thistles, are really noble plants, wearing +their formidable arms, their silken vest, and their gorgeous +crimson tufts of fragrant flowers issuing from a coronal of +interwoven down and spines, with a grace which casts far into the +shade many a favourite of the garden.</p> +<p>But whoever would taste all the sweetness of July, let him go, +in pleasant company, if possible, into heaths and woods; it is +there, in her uncultured haunts, that summer now holds her court. +The stern castle, the lowly convent, the deer and the forester have +vanished thence many ages; yet nature still casts round the +forest-lodge, the gnarled oak and lovely mere, the same charms as +ever. The most hot and sandy tracts, which we might naturally +imagine would now be parched up, are in full glory. The <i>erica +tetralix</i>, or bell-heath, the most beautiful of our indigenous +species, is now in bloom, and has converted the brown bosom of the +waste into one wide sea of crimson; the air is charged with its +honied odour. The dry, elastic turf glows, not only with its +flowers, but with those of the wild thyme, the clear blue milkwort, +the yellow asphodel, and that curious plant the <i>sundew</i>, with +its drops of inexhaustible liquor sparkling in the fiercest sun +like diamonds. There wave the cotton-rush, the tall fox-glove, and +the taller golden mullein. There creep the various species of +heath-berries, cranberries, bilberries, &c., furnishing the +poor with a source of profit, and the rich of luxury. What a +pleasure it is to throw ourselves down beneath the verdant screen +of the beautiful fern, or the shade of a venerable oak, in such a +scene, and listen to the summer sounds of bees, grasshoppers, and +ten thousand other insects, mingled with the more remote and +solitary cries of the pewit and the curlew! Then, to think of the +coach-horse, urged on his sultry stage, or the plough-boy and his +teem, plunging in the depths of a burning fallow, or of our +ancestors, in times of national famine, plucking up the wild +fern-roots for bread, and what an enhancement of our own luxurious +ease! +<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> +</p> +<p>But woods, the depths of woods, are the most delicious retreats +during the fiery noons of July. The great azure campanulas, or +Canterbury bells, are there in bloom, and, in chalk or limestone +districts, there are also now to be found those curiosities, the +<i>bee</i> and <i>fly orchises</i>. The soul of John Evelyn well +might envy us a wood lounge at this period.</p> + +<p><i>Time's Telescope.</i></p> + +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page11" name="page11"></a>[pg 11]</span> +<h2>ASTRONOMICAL OCCURENCES</h2> +<h3> FOR JULY, 1827.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<p>The sun is in apogee, or at his greatest distance from the earth +on the 2nd, in 10 deg. <i>Cancer</i>; he enters <i>Leo</i> on the +23rd, at 5h. 13m. afternoon; he is in conjunction with the planet +Saturn on the 2nd at 11h. 30m. morning, in 9 deg. <i>Cancer</i>, +and with Mars on the 12th at 1h. 45m. afternoon, being advanced +10 deg. further in the eliptic.</p> +<p>Venus and Saturn are also in conjunction on the 26th at 3h. +afternoon, in 13 deg. <i>Cancer</i>.</p> +<p>Mercury will again be visible for a short time about the middle +of the month a little after the sun has set, arriving on the 16th +at his greatest eastern elongation, or apparent distance from the +centre of the system, as seen from the earth in 20 deg. <i>Leo</i>; +and in aphelio, or that point of his orbit most distant from the +sun, on the 22nd; he becomes stationary on the 29th.</p> +<p>There is only one visible eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite +this month—on the 5th, at 10h. 21m. evening.</p> +<p>The Georgium Sidus, or Herschel, comes to an opposition with the +sun on the 19th, at 6h. 15m. evening; he is then nearest the earth, +and consequently in the most favourable position for observation; +he began retrograding on the 1st of May in 28 deg. 12m. of +<i>Capricornus</i>; he rises on the 1st, at 9h. 11m. evening, +culminating at 1h. 16m., and setting at 5h. 21m. morning, +pursuing the course of the sun on the 17th of January; he moves +only 13m. of a deg. in the course of the month, rising 2h. +earlier on the 31st.</p> +<p>This planet, called also Uranus, was discovered by Herschel on +the 13th of March, 1781. It is the most distant orb in our system +yet known. From certain inequalities on the motion of Jupiter and +Saturn, the existence of a planet of considerable size beyond the +orbit of either had been before suspected; its apparent magnitude, +as seen from the earth, is about 3-1/2 sec., or of the size of a +star of the sixth magnitude, and as from its distance from the sun, +it shines but with a pale light, it cannot often be distinguished +with the naked eye. Its diameter is about 4-1/2 times that of the +earth, and completes its revolution in something less than 83-1/2 +years. The want of light in this planet, on account of its great +distance from the sun, is supplied by six moons, which revolve +round their primary in different periods. There is a remarkable +peculiarity attached to their orbits, which are nearly +perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, and they revolve in +them in a direction contrary to the order of the signs.</p> +<p>"Moore," in an old almanack, speaking on the difference of light +and heat enjoyed by the inhabitants of <i>Saturn</i>, and the +<i>earth</i>, says,—</p> +<blockquote>"From hence how large, how strong the sun's bright +ball,<br /> +But seen from thence, how languid and how small,<br /> +When the keen north with all its fury blows,<br /> +Congeals the floods and forms the fleecy snows:<br /> +'Tis heat intense, to what can there be known,<br /> +Warmer our poles than in its burning (!) zone;<br /> +One moment's cold like their's would pierce the bone,<br /> +Freeze the heart's blood, and turn us all to stone."</blockquote> +<p>Were Saturn thus situated, what would the inhabitants of +Herschel feel, whose distance is still further?—pursuing this +train of reasoning, the heat in the planet Mercury would be seven +times greater than on our globe, and were the earth in the same +position, all the water on its surface would boil, and soon be +turned into vapour, but as the degree of sensible heat in any +planet <i>does not</i> depend altogether on its nearness to the +sun, the temperature of these planets may be as mild as that of the +most genial climate of our globe.</p> +<p>The theory of the sun being a body of fire having been long +since exploded, and heat being found to be generated by the union +of the sun's rays with the atmosphere of the earth, so the caloric +contained in the atmosphere on the surfaces of the planets may be +distributed in different quantities, according to the situation +they occupy with regard to the sun, and which is put into action by +the influence of the solar rays, so as to produce that degree of +sensible heat requisite for each respective planet. We have only to +suppose that a small quantity of caloric exists in Mercury, and a +greater quantity in Herschel, which is fifty times farther from the +sun than the other, and there is no reason to believe that those +planets nearest the sun suffer under the action of excessive heat, +or that the more distant are exposed to the rigours of insufferable +cold, which, in either case, might render them unfit for the abodes +of intellectual beings.</p> +<p>PASCHE.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page12" name="page12"></a>[pg 12]</span> +<h2>THE SKETCH BOOK</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>No. XLI.<br /> +THE AUTHOR AND HIS COAT.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<p>My master, at first sight of me, expressed great admiration. He +had given his architect of garments orders to make him a blue coat +in his best style; in consequence of which I was ushered into the +world. The gentleman who introduced me into company was at the time +in very high spirits, being engaged in a new literary undertaking, +of the success of which he indulged very sanguine hopes. On this +occasion we, that is, to use similar language to Cardinal Wolsey, +in a well-known instance, I and my master paid a great number of +visits to his particular friends, and others whom he thought likely +to encourage and promote his project The reception <i>we</i> +generally met with was highly satisfactory; smiles and promises of +support were bestowed in abundance upon <i>us</i>. I use the plural +number, with justice, as it will appear in the sequel, although my +master scarcely ever dreamt that I had anything to do with it. As I +had, however, the special privilege of being <i>behind his +back</i>, I had the advantage which that situation peculiarly +confers, of arriving at a knowledge of the truth. He never dreamt +that the expressions, "How well you are looking,"—"I am glad +to see you," &c. so common in his ears, would scarcely ever +have been used had it not been for my influence. To be sure I have +overheard him say, as we have been walking along, "There goes an +old acquaintance of mine; but, bless me, how altered he is! he +looks poor and meanly dressed, but I'm determined I'll speak to +him, for fear he should think me so shabby as to shy him." Thus +giving an instance in himself, certainly, of respect for the +<i>man</i> and not the <i>coat</i>. My short history goes rather to +prove that the reverse is almost every day's experience. Matters +went on pretty well with us until my master was seized with a +severe fit of illness, in consequence of which his literary scheme +was completely defeated, and his condition in life materially +injured; of course, the glad tones of encouragement which I had +been accustomed to hear were changed into expressions of +condolence, and sometimes assurances of unabated friendship; but +then it must be remembered that I, the handsomest blue coat, was +<i>still in good condition</i>, and it will perhaps appear, that if +I were not my master's <i>warmest</i> friend, I was, at all events, +the only one that <i>stuck to him to the last</i>. Eternal respect +to both of us continued much the same for some time longer, but by +degrees we both, <i>at the same time</i>, observed, that an +alteration began to take place. My master attributed this to his +altered fortunes, and I placed it to the score of my decayed +appearance—the threadbare cloth and tarnished button came in, +I was sure, for their full share of neglect, and he at last fell +into the same opinion. To describe all the variety of treatment +that we experienced would be a tedious and unpleasant +task,—but I was the more convinced that I had at least as +much to do with it as my master, from observing that all the +gradations in manner, from coolness to shyness, and from shyness to +neglect, kept pace, remarkably, with the changes in my appearance. +My master was, at length, the only individual who paid any respect +or attention to me, after most of his old acquaintances had ceased +to notice him. I have heard him exclaim, "Oh, that mankind would +treat me with as much constancy as my old true blue! Thou hast +faithfully served me throughout the vicissitudes of fortune, and +art faithful still, now both of us are left to wither in +adversity."</p> +<p>I could make a long story of it, were I to detail all my +adventures; they may, however, be easily imagined from what has +been stated, and from which it is evident, that in too many +instances, the world pays more respect to <i>the coat</i>, than to +<i>the man</i>, and therefore that a man would often derive more +consequence and benefit if he had the advantage of having for his +patron—<i>a tailor</i> instead of <i>a man of rank</i>. J. +B.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>THE NOVELIST.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>No. CIV.<br /> +THE COTTER'S DAUGHTER.</h3> +<p>It was a cold stormy night in December, and the green logs as +they blazed and crackled on the Cotter's hearth, were rendered more +delightful, more truly comfortable, by the contrast with the icy +showers of snow and sleet which swept against the frail casement, +making all without cheerless and miserable.</p> +<p>The Cotter was a handsome, intelligent old man, and afforded me +much information upon glebes, and flocks, and rural economy; while +his spouse, a venerable matron, was humming to herself some long +since forgotten ballad; and industriously twisting and twirling +about her long knitting needles, that promised soon to produce a +pair of formidable winter hose. Their son, a stout, healthy young +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page13" name="page13"></a>[pg 13]</span> +peasant of three-and-twenty, was sitting in the spacious chimney +corner, sharing his frugal supper of bread and cheese with a large, +shaggy sheep dog, who sat on his haunches wistfully watching every +mouthful, and snap, snap, snapping, and dextrously catching every +morsel that was cast to him.</p> +<p>We were all suddenly startled, however, by his loud bark; when, +jumping up, he rushed, or rather flew towards the door.</p> +<p>"Whew! whew!" whistled the youth—"Whoy—what the +dickens ails thee, Rover?" said he, rising and following him to the +door to learn the cause of his alarm. "What! be they gone again, +ey?" for the dog was silent. "What do thee sniffle at, boy? On'y +look at 'un feyther; how the beast whines and waggles his stump o' +tail!—It's some 'un he knows for sartain. I'd lay a wager it +wur Bill Miles com'd about the harrow, feyther."</p> +<p>"Did thee hear any knock, lad?" said the father.</p> +<p>"Noa!" replied the youth; "but mayhap Bill peep'd thro' the hoal +in the shutter, and is a bit dash'd like at seeing a gentleman +here. Bill! is't thee, Master Miles?" continued he, bawling. "Lord! +the wind whistles so a' can't hear me. Shall I unlatch the door, +feyther?"</p> +<p>"Ay, lad, do, an thou wilt," replied the old man; "Rover's wiser +nor we be—a dog 'll scent a friend, when a man would'nt know +un."</p> +<p>Rover still continued his low importunate whine, and began to +scratch against the door. The lad threw it open—the dog +brushed past him in an instant, and his quick, short, continuous +yelping, expressed his immoderate joy and recognition.</p> +<p>"Hollo! where be'st thee, Bill?" said the young peasant, +stepping over the threshold. "Come, none of thee tricks upon +travellers, Master Bill; I zee thee beside the rick yon!" and +quitting the door for half a minute, he again hastily entered the +cot. The rich colour of robust health had fled from his +cheeks—his lips quivered—and he looked like one bereft +of his senses, or under the influence of some frightful +apparition.</p> +<p>The dame rose up—her work fell from trembling +hands—</p> +<p>"What's the matter?" said she.</p> +<p>"What's frighted thee, lad?" asked the old man, rising.</p> +<p>"Oh! feyther!—oh! mother!"—exclaimed he, drawing +them hastily on one side and whispering something in a low, and +almost inaudible voice.</p> +<p>The old woman raised her hands in supplication and tottered to +her chair while the Cotter, bursting out into a paroxysm of violent +rage, clutched his son's arm, and exclaimed in a loud voice:</p> +<p>"Make fast the door, boy, an thou'lt not have my curse on +thee!—I tell 'ee, she shan't come +hither!—No—never—never;—there's poison in +her breath—a' will spurn her from me!—A pest on +her!—What; wilt not do my bidding?"</p> +<p>"O! feyther, feyther!" cried the young peasant, whose heart +seemed overcharged with grief, "It be a cold, raw night—ye +wou'dna kick a cur from the door to perish in the storm! Doant 'ee +be hot and hasty, feyther, thou art not uncharitable—On me +knees!"—</p> +<p>"Psha!" exclaimed the enraged father, only exasperated by his +remonstrances. "Whoy talk 'ee to me, son—I am +deaf—deaf!—Mine own hand shall bar the door agen +her!"—adding with bitterness—"let her die!"—and +stepping past his prostrate son, was about to execute his +purpose—when, a young girl, whose once gay and flimsy raiment +was drenched and stained, and torn by the violence of the storm, +appeared at the door. The old man recoiled with a shudder—she +was as pale as death—and her trembling limbs seemed scarcely +able to support her—a profusion of light brown hair hung +dishevelled and in disorder about her neck and shoulders, and added +to her forlorn appearance. She stretched forth her arms and +pronounced the name of "Father!" but further utterance was +prevented by the convulsive sobs that heaved her bosom.</p> +<p>"Mary—woman!" cried the old man, trembling—"Call me +not feyther—thou art none of mine—thou hast no feyther +now—nor I a daughter—thou art a serpent that hath stung +the bosom that cherished thee! Go to the fawning villain—the +black-hearted sycophant that dragged thee from our arms—from +our happy home to misery and pollution—go, and bless him for +breaking thy poor old feyther's heart!"</p> +<p>Overcome by these heart-rending reproaches, the distressed girl +fainted; but the strong arm of the young Cotter supported +her—for her tender-hearted youth, moved by his fallen +sister's sorrows, had ventured again to intercede.</p> +<p>"Hah! touch not her defiled and loathsome body," cried the old +man—"thrust her from the door, and let her find a grave where +she may. Boy! wilt thou dare disobey me?" and he raised his +clenched hand, while anger flashed from his eye.</p> +<p>"Strike! feyther—strike me!" said the poor lad, bursting +into tears—"fell me to the 'arth! Kill me, an thou +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page14" name="page14"></a>[pg 14]</span> +wilt—I care not—I will never turn my heart agen poor +Mary!—Bean't she my sister? Did thee not teach me to love +her?—Poor lass!—she do want it all now, +feyther—for she be downcast and broken-hearted!—Nay, +thee art kind and good, feyther—know thee art—I zee +thine eyes be full o' tears—and thee—thee woant cast +her away from thee, I know thee woant. Mother, speak to 'un; speak +to sister Mary too—it be our own Mary! Doant 'ee kill her wi' +unkindness!"</p> +<p>The old man, moved by his affectionate entreaties, no longer +offered any opposition to his son's wishes, but hiding his face in +his hands, he fled from the affecting scene to an adjoining +room.</p> +<p>Her venerable mother having recovered from the shock of her lost +daughter's sudden appearance, now rose to the assistance of the +unfortunate, and by the aid of restoratives brought poor Mary to +the full sense of her wretchedness. She was speedily conveyed to +the same humble pallet, to which, in the days of her innocence and +peace, she had always retired so light-hearted and joyously, but +where she now found a lasting sleep—an eternal +repose!—Yes, poor Mary died!—and having won the +forgiveness and blessing of her offended parents, death was welcome +to her.—<i>Absurdities: in Prose and Verse</i>.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>ORIGINS AND INVENTIONS.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>No. XXVII.<br /> +VAUXHALL GARDENS.</h3> +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> +<blockquote>"Here waving groves a checkered scene display,<br /> +And part admit, and part exclude the day."</blockquote> +<p>POPE.</p> +<hr /> +<p>Of the origin of these enchanting gardens, Mr. Aubrey, in his +"Antiquities of Surrey," gives us the following account;—"At +Vauxhall, Sir Samuel Morland built a fine room, anno 1667, the +inside all of looking-glass, and fountains very pleasant to behold, +which is much visited by strangers: it stands in the middle of the +garden, covered with Cornish slate, on the point of which he placed +a punchinello, very well carved, which held a dial, but the winds +have demolished it." And Sir John Hawkins, in his "History of +Music," has the following account of it:—"The house seems to +have been rebuilt since the time that Sir Samuel Morland dwelt in +it. About the year 1730, Mr. Jonathan Tyers became the occupier of +it, and, there being a large garden belonging to it, planted with a +great number of stately trees, and laid out in shady walks, it +obtained the name of Spring Gardens; and the house being converted +into a tavern, or place of entertainment, was much frequented by +the votaries of pleasure. Mr. Tyers opened it with an advertisement +of a <i>Ridotto al Fresco</i>, a term which the people of this +country had till that time been strangers to. These entertainments +were repeated in the course of the summer, and numbers resorted to +partake of them. This encouraged the proprietor to make his garden +a place of musical entertainment, for every evening during the +summer season. To this end he was at great expense in decorating +the gardens with paintings; he engaged a band of excellent +musicians; he issued silver tickets at one guinea each for +admission, and receiving great encouragement, he set up an organ in +the orchestra, and, in a conspicuous part of the garden, erected a +fine statue of Mr. Handel." These gardens are said to be the first +of the kind in England; but they are not so old as the Mulberry +Gardens, (on the spot now called Spring Gardens, near St. James's +Park,) where king Charles II. went to regale himself the night +after his restoration, and formed an immediate connexion with Mrs. +Palmer, afterwards Duchess of Cleveland. The trees, however, are +more than a century old, and, according to tradition, were planted +for a public garden. This property was formerly held by Jane Fauxe, +or Vaux, widow, in 1615; and it is highly probable (says Nichols) +that she was the relict of the infamous Guy. In the "Spectator," +No. 383, Mr. Addison introduces a voyage from the Temple Stairs to +Vauxhall, in which he is accompanied by his friend, Sir Roger de +Coverley. In the "Connoisseur," No. 68, we find a very humourous +description of the behaviour of an old penurious citizen, who had +treated his family here with a handsome supper. The magnificence of +these gardens calls to recollection the magic representations in +the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments," where</p> +<blockquote>"The blazing glories, with a cheerful ray,<br /> +Supply the sun, and counterfeit the day."</blockquote> +<p>Grosely, in his "Tour to London,"<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> +says, (relating to Ranelagh and Vauxhall,) "These entertainments, +which begin in the month of May, are continued every night. They +bring together persons of all ranks and conditions; and amongst +these, a considerable number of females, whose charms want only +that cheerful air, which is the flower and quintessence of beauty. +These places +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page15" name="page15"></a>[pg 15]</span> +serve equally as a rendezvous either for business or +intrigue. They form, as it were, private coteries; there you see +fathers and mothers, with their children, enjoying domestic +happiness in the midst of public diversions. The English assert, +that such entertainments as these can never subsist in France, on +account of the levity of the people. Certain it is, that those of +Vauxhall and Ranelagh, which are guarded only by outward decency, +are conducted without tumult and disorder, which often disturb the +public diversions of France. I do not know whether the English are +gainers thereby; the joy which they seem in search of at those +places does not beam through their countenances; they look as grave +at Vauxhall and Ranelagh as at the Bank, at church, or a private +club. All persons there seem to say, what a young English nobleman +said to his governor, <i>Am I as joyous as I should be?</i>"</p> +<p>P. T. W.</p> + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>FINE ARTS.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>THE CHIEF CAUSES OF THE SUCCESS OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE IN +GREECE AND ROME.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<p>A cursory glance at the principal occasion of the amazing +success obtained by the Greeks and Romans, in painting and +sculpture, during the early ages, may perhaps prove interesting to +the lovers of the arts in this country.</p> +<p>The elevation to which the arts in Greece arrived was owing to +the concurrence of various circumstances. The imitative arts, we +are told, in that classic country formed a part of the +administration, and were inseparably connected with the heathen +worship. The temples were magnificently erected, and adorned with +numerous statues of pagan deities, before which, in reverential +awe, the people prostrated themselves. Every man of any substance +had an idol in his own habitation, executed by a reputed sculptor. +In all public situations the patriotic actions of certain citizens +were represented, that beholders might be induced to emulate their +virtues. On contemplating these masterpieces of art, which were so +truly exquisite that the very coldest spectator was unable to +resist their <i>almost magical</i> influence, the vicious were +reclaimed, and the ignorant stood abashed. Indeed, it has often +been asserted, that the statues by Phidias and Praxiteles were so +inimitably executed, that the people of Paros adored them as living +gods. Those artists who performed such extraordinary wonders as +these were held in an esteemed light, of which we cannot form the +least idea. We are certain they were paid most enormous prices for +their productions, and consequently could afford to adorn them with +every beauty of art, and to bestow more time on them than can ever +be expected from any modern artist.</p> +<p>As soon as the arts had arrived at their highest pitch of +excellency in Greece, the country was laid waste by the invading +power of the Romans. All the Greek cities which contained the +greatest treasures were demolished, and all the pictures<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> +and +statues fell into the hands of the victorious general, who had them +carefully preserved and conveyed from the land where they had been +adored. Of the estimation in which these great works were held by +the Romans, we may form some idea by the general assuring a +soldier, to whose charge he gave a statue by Praxiteles, that if he +broke it, he should get another as well made in its place. War is a +very destructive enemy to painting and sculpture; the intestine +quarrels which ensued after the Romans had conquered the country, +rendered the exercise of the art impracticable.</p> +<p>The arts were neglected in Rome until the introduction of the +popish religion. At that eventful era, statues and pictures were +eagerly sought for; the admirable Grecian works were appropriated +to purposes quite contrary to their pagan origin, for in many cases +heathen deities were converted into apostles. The labours of +Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles, Lysippus, and Scopas,<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> +were +highly valued by the Romans, who became the correct imitators, and +in time the rivals, of those celebrated sculptors.</p> +<p>G.W.N.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>LOVE'S VICTIM.<a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> +</h3> +<blockquote>She left her own warm home<br /> + To tempt the frozen waste,<br /> +What time the traveller fear'd to roam,<br /> + And hunter shunn'd the blast,<br /> +Love pour'd his strength into her soul—<br /> +Could peril e'er his power controul!<br /> +<br /><span class="pagenum"><a id="page16" name="page16"></a>[pg 16]</span> +She left her own warm home.<br /> + When stone, and herb, and tree,<br /> +And all beneath heaven's lurid dome<br /> + By wintry majesty,<br /> +In his stern age, were clad with snow,<br /> +And human hearts beat chill and slow.<br /> +<br /> +It was a fearful hour<br /> + For one so young and fair:<br /> +The woods had not one sheltering bower,<br /> + The earth was trackless there,<br /> +The very boughs in silver slept,<br /> +As the sea-foam had o'er them swept.<br /> +<br /> +Snow after snow came down,<br /> + The sky look'd fix'd in ice;<br /> +She deem'd amid the season's power,<br /> + Her love would all suffice<br /> +To keep the source of being warm,<br /> +And mock the terrors of the storm.<br /> +<br /> +Love was her world of life.<br /> + She thought but of her heart,<br /> +And knowing that the winter's strife<br /> + Could not its hope dispart,<br /> +She dream'd not that its home of clay<br /> +Might yield before the tempest's sway—<br /> +<br /> +Or judged that passion's power—<br /> + Passion so strong and pure.<br /> +Might mock the snow-flake's wildering shower,<br /> + Proud that it could endure,<br /> +As woman oft in times before<br /> +Had peril borne as much or more.<br /> +<br /> +She went—dawn past o'er dawn,<br /> + None saw her face again,<br /> +The eyes she should have gazed upon,<br /> + Look'd for her face in vain—<br /> +The ear to which her voice was song,<br /> +Her voice had sought—how vainly long!<br /> +<br /> +There is in Saco's vale<br /> + A gently swelling hill,<br /> +Shadows have wrapt it like a veil<br /> + From trees that mark it still,<br /> +Around, the mountains towering blue<br /> +Look on that spot of saddest hue.<br /> +<br /> +'Twas by that little hill,<br /> + At the dark noon of night,<br /> +Close by a frozen snow-hid rill,<br /> + Where branches close unite<br /> +Even in winter's leafless time,<br /> +The skeletons of summer's prime.<br /> +<br /> +That flash'd the traveller's flame<br /> + On tree and precipice,<br /> +And show'd a fair unearthly frame<br /> + In robes of glittering ice,<br /> +With head against a trunk inclined,<br /> +Like a dream-spirit of the mind.<br /> +<br /> +'Twas that love-wander'd maid, death-pale,<br /> + Her very heart's blood froze,<br /> +Love's Niobe, in her own vale,<br /> + Now reckless of all woes—<br /> +Love's victim fair, and true, find meet,<br /> +As she of the famed Paraclete.<br /> +<br /> +The mountains round shall tell<br /> + Her tale to travellers long.<br /> +The little vale of Saco swell<br /> + The western poet's song,<br /> +And "Nancy's Hill" in loftier rhymes<br /> +Be sung through unborn realms and times.</blockquote> +<i>New Monthly Magazine</i>. +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>THE GATHERER</h2> +<blockquote> "I am but a <i>Gatherer</i> and +disposer of other men's stuff."—<i>Wotton</i>. +</blockquote> +<hr /> +<p>The late Dr. Barclay was a wit and a scholar, as well as a very +great physiologist. When a happy illustration, or even a point of +pretty broad humour, occurred to his mind, he hesitated not to +apply it to the subject in hand; and in this way, he frequently +roused and rivetted attention, when more abstract reasoning might +have failed of its aim. On one occasion he happened to dine with a +large party, composed chiefly of medical men. As the wine cup +circulated, the conversation accidentally took a professional turn, +and from the excitation of the moment, or some other cause, two of +the youngest individuals present were the most forward in +delivering their opinions. Sir James McIntosh once told a political +opponent, that so far from following his example of using hard +words and soft arguments, he would pass, if possible, into the +opposite extreme, and use soft words and hard arguments. But our +unfledged M.D.'s disregarded the above salutary maxim, and made up +in loudness what they wanted in learning. At length, one of them +said something so emphatic—we mean as to manner—that a +pointer dog started from his lair beneath the table and +<i>bow-wow-wowed</i> so fiercely, that he fairly took the lead in +the discussion. Dr. Barclay eyed the hairy dialectician, and +thinking it high time to close the debate, gave the animal a hearty +push with his foot, and exclaimed in broad Scotch—"Lie still, +ye brute; for I am sure ye ken just as little about it as ony +o'them." We need hardly add, that this sally was followed by a +hearty burst of laughter, in which even the disputants +good-humouredly joined.</p> +<hr /> +<blockquote> Fair woman was made to bewitch—<br /> +A pleasure, a pain, a disturber, a nurse,<br /> +A slave, or a tyrant, a blessing, or curse;<br /> + Fair woman was made to be—which?</blockquote> + +<hr class="full" /> +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a> + <b>Footnote 1</b>: <a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> + <p><i>New London Literary Gazette</i>.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a> + <b>Footnote 2</b>: <a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a> + <p>The circumstances of the case were as +follows:—Jean Baptiste Michel, aged 36, a blacksmith, +accompanied by a female named Marie Anne Debeyst, aged 22, was +proceeding from Brussels to Vilvorde, one day in the month of +March, 1824. In the Alléverte, they overtook a servant girl, +who was imprudent enough to mention to them that her master had +entrusted her with a sum of money. Near Vilvorde, Michel and his +paramour, having formed their plan of assassination and robbery, +rejoined the poor girl, whom they had momentarily left, and +violently demanded the bag containing the gold and silver. The +unfortunate young creature resisted their attacks as long as she +could, but was soon felled to the ground by Michel, who with a +thick stick fractured her skull, whilst Debeyst trod upon the +prostrate victim of their horrid crime. These wretches were shortly +afterwards arrested and committed to prison. On the 5th of April, +1825, they were condemned to death by the Court of Assize at +Brussels, but implored of the royal clemency a commutation of +punishment. This was granted to the woman, whose sentence was +changed to perpetual imprisonment. Michel's petition was +rejected.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a> + <b>Footnote 3</b>: <a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a> + <p>It is a fact not known to every juvenile lover of +nature, that a transverse section of a fern-root presents a +miniature picture of an <i>oak tree</i> which no painter could +rival.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a> + <b>Footnote 4</b>: <a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a> + <p>1765, translated from the French by Thomas Nugent, +LL.D.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a> + <b>Footnote 5</b>: <a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a> + <p>The pictures alluded to were the works of Apelles, +Apollodorus, and Protogenes.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a> + <b>Footnote 6</b>: <a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a> +<p>These sculptors, according to Pliny, were the most +reputed among the ancients.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a> + <b>Footnote 7</b>: <a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a> +<p>A few miles below the Notch of the White Mountains in +the Valley of Saco, is a little rise of land called "Nancy's Hill." +It was formerly thickly covered with trees, a cluster of which +remains to mark the spot. In 1773, at Dartmouth, Jefferson co. U.S. +lived Nancy——, of respectable connexions. She was +engaged to be married. Her lover had set out for Lancaster. She +would follow him in the depth of winter, and on foot. There was not +a house for thirty miles, and the way through the wild woods a +footpath only. She persisted in her design, and wrapping herself in +her long cloak, proceeded on her way. Snow and frost took place for +several weeks, when some persons passing her route, reached the +lull at night. On lighting their fires, an unearthly figure stood +before them beneath the bending branches, wrapped in a robe of ice. +It was the lifeless form of Nancy.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><i>Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand (near +Somerset House), and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers</i>.</p> +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, JULY 7, 1827 *** + +***** This file should be named 9882-h.htm or 9882-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/8/8/9882/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + +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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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827 + +Author: Various + +Posting Date: December 5, 2011 [EBook #9882] +Release Date: February, 2006 +First Posted: October 27, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, JULY 7, 1827 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 10, No. 262.] SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1827. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + +HIS MAJESTY'S PONEY PHAETON. + +[Illustration] + + +We commence our tenth volume of the MIRROR with an embellishment quite +novel in design from the generality of our graphic illustrations, but +one which, we flatter ourselves, will excite interest among our friends, +especially after so recently, presenting them with a Portrait and Memoir +of his Majesty in the Supplement, which last week completed our ninth +volume. His Majesty, when residing at his cottage in Windsor Forest, the +weather being favourable, seldom allows a day to pass without taking his +favourite drive by the Long Walk, and Virginia Water, in his poney +phaeton, as represented in the above engraving. Windsor Park being +situated on the south side of the town, and 14 miles in circumference, +is admirably calculated for the enjoyment of a rural ride. The entrance +to the park is by a road called the _Long Walk_, near three miles in +length, through a double plantation of trees on each side, leading to the +Ranger's Lodge: on the north east side of the Castle is the _Little Park_, +about four miles in circumference: _Queen Elizabeth's Walk_ herein is +much frequented. At the entrance of this park is the _Queen's Lodge_, +a modern erection. This building stands on an easy ascent opposite the +upper court, on the south side, and commands a beautiful view of the +surrounding country. The gardens are elegant, and have been much +enlarged by the addition of the gardens and house of the duke of St. +Albans, purchased by his late majesty. The beautiful _Cottage Ornee_, an +engraving of which graces one of our early volumes, is also in the park, +and to which place of retirement his present Majesty resorts, and passes +much of his time in preference to the bustle and splendour of a royal +town life. + +Having now given as much description of the engraving as the subject +requires, we shall proceed to lay before our readers some further +anecdotes connected with the life of his Majesty; for our present +purpose, the following interesting article being adapted to our limits, +we shall introduce an + + _Original Letter of his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, to + Alexander Davison, Esq., on the death of Lord Nelson._ + + I am extremely obliged to you, my dear sir, for your confidential + letter, which I received this morning. You may be well assured, + that, did it depend upon me, there would not be a wish, a desire of + our-ever-to-be-lamented and much-loved friend, as well as adored + hero, that I should not consider as a solemn obligation upon his + friends and his country to fulfil; it is a duty they owe his memory, + and his matchless and unrivalled excellence: such are my sentiments, + and I should hope that there is still in this country sufficient + honour, virtue, and gratitude to prompt us to ratify and to carry + into effect the last dying request of our Nelson, and by that means + proving not only to the whole world, but to future ages, that we + were worthy of having such a man belonging to us. It must be + needless, my dear sir, to discuss over with you in particular the + irreparable loss dear Nelson ever must be, not merely to his friends + but to his country, especially at the present crisis--and during the + present most awful contest, his very name was a host of itself; + Nelson and Victory were one and the same to us, and it carried + dismay and terror to the hearts of our enemies. But the subject is + too painful a one to dwell longer upon; as to myself, all that I can + do, either publicly or privately, to testify the reverence, the + respect I entertain for his memory as a Hero, and as the greatest + public character that ever embellished the page of history, + independent of what I can with the greatest truth term, the + enthusiastic attachment I felt for him as a friend, I consider it as + my duty to fulfil, and therefore, though I may be prevented from + taking that ostensible and prominent situation at his funeral which + I think my birth and high rank entitled me to claim, still nothing + shall prevent me in a private character following his remains to + their last resting place; for though the station and the character + may be less ostensible, less prominent, yet the feelings of the + heart will not therefore be the less poignant, or the less acute. + + I am, my dear sir, with the greatest truth, + + Ever very sincerely your's, + + G. P.[1] + + _Brighton, Dec, 18th, 1805_. + + + [1] _New London Literary Gazette_. + + * * * * * + + +BYRON AND OTHER POETS COMPARED. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +There is a natural stimulus in man to offer adoration at the shrine of +departed genius.-- + + "There is a tear for all that die." + +But, when a transcendant genius is checked in its early age--when its +spring-shoots had only began to open--when it had just engaged in a new +feature devoted to man, and man to it, we cannot rest + + "In silent admiration, mixed with grief." + +Too often has splendid genius been suffered to live almost unobserved; +and have only been valued as their lives have been lost. Could the +divine Milton, or the great Shakspeare, while living, have shared that +profound veneration which their after generations have bestowed on their +high talents, happier would they have lived, and died more +extensively beloved. + +True, a Byron has but lately paid a universal debt. His concentrated +powers--his breathings for the happiness and liberty of mankind--his +splendid intellectual flowers, culled from a mind stored with the +choicest exotics, and cultivated with the most refined taste are all +still fresh in recollection. As the value of precious stones and metals +have become estimated by their scarcity, so will the fame of Byron live. + +A mind like Lord Byron's, + + "----born, not only to surprise, but cheer + With warmth and lustre all within its sphere," + +was one of Nature's brightest gems, whose splendour (even when +uncompared) dazzled and attracted all who passed within its sight. + + "So let him stand, through ages yet unborn." + +As comparison is a medium through which we are enabled to obtain most +accurate judgment, let us use it in the present instance, and compare +Lord Byron with the greatest poets that have preceded him, by which +means the world of letters will see what they have _really_ lost in Lord +Byron. To commence with the great Shakspeare himself, to whom universal +admiration continues to be paid. Had Shakspeare been cut off at the same +early period as Byron, _The Tempest, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, Julius +Caesar, Coriolanus_, and several others of an equal character, would +never have been written. The high reputation of Dryden would also have +been limited--his fame, perhaps, unknown. The _Absalom_ and _Achitophel_ +is the earliest of his best productions, which was written about his +fiftieth year; his principal production, at the age of Byron, was his +_Annus Mirabilis_; for nearly the whole of his dramatic works were +written at the latter part of his life. Pope is the like situated; that +which displayed most the power of his mind--which claims for him the +greatest praise--his _Essay on Man_, &c. appeared after his fortieth +year. _Windsor Forest_ was published in his twenty-second or +twenty-third year, both were the labour of some _years_; and the +immortal Milton, who published some few things before his thirtieth +year, sent not his great work, _Paradise Lost_, to the world until he +verged on sixty. + +With the poets, and the knowledge of what Byron _was_, we may ask what +he would have been had it pleased the Great Author of all things to +suffer the summer of his consummate mental powers to shine upon us? Take +the works of any of the abovenamed distinguished individuals previous to +their thirty-eighth year, and shall we perceive that flexibility of the +English language to the extent that Byron has left behind him? His +versatility was, indeed, astonishing and triumphant. His _Childe +Harold_, the _Bride of Abydos_, the _Corsair_, and _Don Juan_, (though +somewhat too freely written,) are established proofs of his unequalled +energy of mind. His power was unlimited; not only eloquent, but the +sublime, grave and gay, were all equally familiar to his muse. + +Few words are wanted to show that Byron was not depraved at heart; no +man possessed a more ready sympathy, a more generous mind to the +distressed, or was a more enthusiastic admirer of noble actions. These +feelings all strongly delineated in his character, would never admit, as +Sir Walter Scott has observed, "an imperfect moral sense, nor feeling, +dead to virtue." Severe as the + + "Combined usurpers on the throne of taste" + +have been, his character is marked by some of the best principles in +many parts of his writings. + + "The records there of friendships, held like rocks, + And enmities like sun-touch'd snow resign'd," + +are frequently visible. His glorious attachment to the Grecian cause is +a sufficient recompense for _previous_ follies exaggerated and +propagated by calumny's poisonous tongue. In a word, "there is scarce a +passion or a situation which has escaped his pen; and he might be drawn, +like Garrick, between the weeping and the laughing muses." + +A. B. C. + + * * * * * + + +THE SONG OF THE WIDOWED MOTHER TO HER CHILD. + +BY THE AUTHOR Of "AHAB." + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + O Sink to sleep, my darling boy, + Thy father's dead, thy mother lonely, + Of late thou wert his pride, his joy, + But now thou hast not one to own thee. + The cold wide world before us lies, + But oh! such heartless things live in it, + It makes me weep--then close thine eyes + Tho' it be but for one short minute. + + O sink to sleep, my baby dear, + A little while forget thy sorrow, + The wind is cold, the night is drear, + But drearier it will be to-morrow. + For none will help, tho' many see + Our wretchedness--then close thine eyes, love, + Oh, most unbless'd on earth is she + Who on another's aid relies, love. + + Thou hear'st me not! thy heart's asleep + Already, and thy lids are closing, + Then lie thee still, and I will weep + Whilst thou, my dearest, art reposing, + And wish that I could slumber free, + And with thee in yon heaven awaken, + O would that it our home might be, + For here we are by all forsaken. + + * * * * * + + +PAY OF THE JUDGES IN FORMER TIMES. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +In the twenty-third year of the reign of king Henry III., the salary of +the justices of the bench (now called the Common Pleas) was 20l. per +annum; in the forty-third year, 40l. In the twenty-seventh year, the +chief baron had 40 marks; the other barons, 20 marks; and in the forty, +ninth year, 4l. per annum. The justices _coram rege_ (now called the +King's Bench) had in the forty-third year of Henry III. 40l. per annum.; +the chief of the bench, 100 marks per annum; and next year, another +chief of the same court, had 100l.; but the chief of the court _coram +rege_ had only 100 marks per annum. + +In the reign of Edward I., the salaries of the justices were very +uncertain, and, upon the whole, they sunk from what they had been in the +reign of Henry III. The chief justice of the bench, in the seventh year +of Edward I., had but 40l. per annum, and the other justices there, 40 +marks. This continued the proportion in both benches till the +twenty-fifth year of Edward III., then the salary of the chief of the +King's Bench fell to 50 marks, or 33l. 6s. 8d., while that of the chief +of the bench was augmented to 100 marks, which may be considered as an +evidence of the increase of business and attendance there. The chief +baron had 40l.; the salaries of the other justices and barons were +reduced to 20l. + +In the reign of Edward II., the number of suitors so increased in the +common bench, that whereas there had usually been only three justices +there, that prince, at the beginning of his reign, was constrained to +increase them to six, who used to sit in two places,--a circumstance not +easy to be accounted for. Within three years after they were increased +to seven; next year they were reduced to six, at which number they +continued. + +The salaries of the judges, though they had continued the same from the +time of Edward I. to the twenty-fifth year of Edward III., were become +very uncertain. In the twenty-eighth year of this king, it appears, that +one of the justices of the King's Bench had 80 marks per annum. In the +thirty-ninth year of Edward III. the judges had in that court 40l.; the +same as the justices of the Common Pleas; but the chief of the King's +Bench, 100 marks. + +The salaries of the judges in the time of Henry IV. were as +follows:--The chief baron, and other barons, had 40 marks per annum; the +chief of the King's Bench, and of the Common Pleas, 40l. per annum; the +other justices, in either court, 40 marks. But the gains of the +practisers were become so great, that they could hardly be tempted to +accept a place on the bench with such low salaries; therefore in the +eighteenth year of Henry VI. the judges of all the courts at +Westminster, together with the king's attorney and sergeants, exhibited +a petition to parliament concerning the regular payment of their +salaries and perquisites of robes. The king assented to their request, +and order was taken for increasing their income, which afterwards became +larger, and more fixed; this consisted of a salary and an allowance for +robes. In the first year of Edward IV., the chief justice of the King's +Bench had 170 marks per annum, 5l. 6s. 6d. for his winter robes, and the +same for his Whitsuntide robes. Most of the judges had the honour of +knighthood; some of them were knights bannerets; and some had the order +of the Bath. + +In the first year of Henry VII. the chief justice of the court of King's +Bench had the yearly fee of 140 marks granted to him for his better +support; he had besides 5l. 6s. 11-1/4 d., and the sixth part of a +halfpenny (such is the accuracy of Sir William Dugdale, and the +strangeness of the sum,) for his winter robes, and 3l. 6s. 6d. for his +robes at Whitsuntide. + +In the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII. a further increase was made to +the fees of the judges;--to the chief justice of the King's Bench 30l. +per annum; to every other justice of that court 20l. per annum; to every +justice of the Common Pleas, 20l. per annum. + +There were usually in the court of Common Pleas five judges, sometimes +six; and in the reign of Henry VI. there were, it is said, eight judges +at one time in that court; but six appear to have been the regular +number. In the King's Bench there were sometimes four, sometimes five. +They did not sit above three hours a day in court,--from eight in the +morning to eleven. The courts were not open in the afternoon; but that +time was left unoccupied for suitors to confer with their counsel +at home. + +F. R. Y. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR +AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS. + + * * * * * + + +SIR WALTER SCOTT'S LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. + + +Sir Walter Scott, the author of _Waverley_, has become the biographer of +Napoleon Bonaparte; and the deepest interest is excited in the literary +world to know how the great master of romance and fiction acquits +himself in the execution of his task. In the preface to this elaborate +history, Sir Walter, with considerable ingenuousness, informs us that +"he will be found no enemy to the person of Napoleon. The term of +hostility is ended when the battle has been won, and the foe exists no +longer." But to our task: we shall attempt an analysis of the volumes +before us, and endeavour to gratify our readers with a narrative of +incidents that cannot fail interesting every British subject, whose +history, in fact, is strongly connected with the important events that +belong to the splendid career of Napoleon Bonaparte. + +The first and second volumes of Sir Walter's history are taken up with a +view of the French Revolution, from whence we shall extract a sketch of +the characters of three men of terror, whose names will long remain, we +trust, unmatched in history by those of any similar miscreants. These +men were the leaders of the revolution, and were called + +THE TRIUMVIRATE. + +Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivalled by his colleagues in +talent and audacity. He was a man of gigantic size, and possessed a +voice of thunder. His countenance was that of an Ogre on the shoulders +of a Hercules. He was as fond of the pleasures of vice as of the +practice of cruelty; and it was said there were times when he became +humanized amidst his debauchery, laughed at the terror which his furious +declamations excited, and might be approached with safety, like the +Maelstrom at the turn of tide. His profusion was indulged to an extent +hazardous to his popularity, for the populace are jealous of a lavish +expenditure, as raising their favourites too much above their own +degree; and the charge of peculation finds always ready credit with +them, when brought against public men. + +Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danton, that he did not seem +to seek for wealth, either for hoarding or expending, but lived in +strict and economical retirement, to justify the name of the +Incorruptible, with which he was honoured by his partizans. He appears +to have possessed little talent, saving a deep fund of hypocrisy, +considerable powers of sophistry, and a cold exaggerated strain of +oratory, as foreign to good taste, as the measures he recommended were +to ordinary humanity. It seemed wonderful, that even the seething and +boiling of the revolutionary cauldron should have sent up from the +bottom, and long supported on the surface, a thing so miserably void of +claims to public distinction; but Robespierre had to impose on the minds +of the vulgar, and he knew how to beguile them, by accommodating his +flattery to their passions and scale of understanding, and by acts of +cunning and hypocrisy, which weigh more with the multitude than the +words of eloquence, or the arguments of wisdom. The people listened as +to their Cicero, when he twanged out his apostrophes of _Pauvre Peuple, +Peuple vertueux!_ and hastened to execute whatever came recommended by +such honied phrases, though devised by the worst of men for the worst +and most inhuman of purposes. + +Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion, and though his countenance was +the image of his mind, he was vain even of his personal appearance, and +never adopted the external habits of a sans culotte. Amongst his fellow +Jacobins, he was distinguished by the nicety with which his hair was +arranged and powdered; and the neatness of his dress was carefully +attended to, so as to counterbalance, if possible, the vulgarity of his +person. His apartments, though small, were elegant and vanity had filled +them with representations of the occupant. Robespierre's picture at +length hung in one place, his miniature in another, his bust occupied a +niche, and on the table were disposed a few medallions exhibiting his +head in profile. The vanity which all this indicated was of the coldest +and most selfish character, being such as considers neglect as insult, +and receives homage merely as a tribute; so that, while praise is +received without gratitude, it is withheld at the risk of mortal hate. +Self-love of this dangerous character is closely allied with envy, and +Robespierre was one of the most envious and vindictive men that ever +lived. He never was known to pardon any opposition, affront, or even +rivalry; and to be marked in his tablets on such an account was a sure, +though perhaps not an immediate, sentence of death. Danton was a hero, +compared with this cold, calculating, creeping miscreant; for his +passions, though exaggerated, had at least some touch of humanity, and +his brutal ferocity was supported by brutal courage.--(_Continued at +page 17. [Note: See Mirror 263.]) + + * * * * * + + +THE EPICUREAN. + +_By T. Moore, Esq._ + + +The following is described by Alciphron, the hero of the tale, at the +termination of a festival, in a tone which strongly reminds us of +Rasselas:-- + +"The sounds of the song and dance had ceased, and I was now left in +those luxurious gardens alone. Though so ardent and active a votary of +pleasure, I had, by nature, a disposition full of melancholy;--an +imagination that presented sad thoughts even in the midst of mirth and +happiness, and threw the shadow of the future over the gayest illusions +of the present. Melancholy was, indeed, twin-born in my soul with +passion; and, not even in the fullest fervour of the latter were they +separated. From the first moment that I was conscious of thought and +feeling, the same dark thread had run across the web; and images of +death and annihilation mingled themselves with the most smiling scenes +through which my career of enjoyment led me. My very passion for +pleasure but deepened these gloomy fancies. For, shut out, as I was by +my creed, from a future life, and having no hope beyond the narrow +horizon of this, every minute of delight assumed a mournful preciousness +in my eyes, and pleasure, like the flower of the cemetery, grew but more +luxuriant from the neighbourhood of death. This very night my triumph, +my happiness, had seemed complete. I had been the presiding genius of +that voluptuous scene. Both my ambition and my love of pleasure had +drunk deep of the cup for which they thirsted. Looked up to by the +learned, and loved by the beautiful and the young, I had seen, in every +eye that met mine, either the acknowledgment of triumphs already won, or +the promise of others, still brighter, that awaited me. Yet, even in the +midst of all this, the same dark thoughts had presented themselves; the +perishableness of myself and all around me every instant recurred to my +mind. Those hands I had prest--those eyes, in which I had seen sparkling +a spirit of light and life that should never die--those voices that had +talked of eternal love--all, all, I felt, were but a mockery of the +moment, and would leave nothing eternal but the silence of their dust! + + "Oh, were it not for this sad voice, + Stealing amid our mirth to say, + That all in which we most rejoice, + Ere night may be the earth-worm's prey: + _But_ for this bitter--only this-- + Full as the world is brimm'd with bliss, + And capable as feels my soul + Of draining to its depth the whole, + I should turn earth to heaven, and be, + If bliss made gods, a deity!" + + * * * * * + + +THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. + + +I had already seen some of the most celebrated works of nature in +different parts of the globe; I had seen Etna and Vesuvius; I had seen +the Andes almost at their greatest elevation; Cape Horn, rugged and +bleak, buffeted by the southern tempest; and, though last not least, I +had seen the long swell of the Pacific; but nothing I had ever beheld or +imagined could compare in grandeur with the Falls of Niagara. My first +sensation was that of exquisite delight at having before me the greatest +wonder of the world. Strange as it may appear, this feeling was +immediately succeeded by an irresistible melancholy. Had this not +continued, it might perhaps have been attributed to the satiety incident +to the complete gratification of "hope long deferred;" but so far from +diminishing, the more I gazed, the stronger and deeper the sentiment +became. Yet this scene of sadness was strangely mingled with a kind of +intoxicating fascination. Whether the phenomenon is peculiar to Niagara +I know not, but certain it is, that the spirits are affected and +depressed in a singular manner by the magic influence of this stupendous +and eternal fall. About five miles above the cataract the river expands +to the dimensions of a lake, after which it gradually narrows. The +Rapids commence at the upper extremity of Goat Island, which is half a +mile in length, and divides the river at the point of precipitation into +two unequal parts; the largest is distinguished by the several names of +the Horseshoe, Crescent, and British Fall, from its semi-circular form +and contiguity to the Canadian shore. The smaller is named the American +Fall. A portion of this fall is divided by a rock from Goat Island, and +though here insignificant in appearance, would rank high among +European cascades.... + +The current runs about six miles an hour; but supposing it to be only +five miles, the quantity which passes the falls in an hour is more than +eighty-five millions of tuns avoirdupois; if we suppose it to be six, it +will be more than one hundred and two millions; and in a day would +exceed two thousand four hundred millions of tuns.... + +The next morning, with renewed delight, I beheld from my window--I may +say, indeed, from my bed--the stupendous vision. The beams of the rising +sun shed over it a variety of tints; a cloud of spray was ascending from +the crescent; and as I viewed it from above, it appeared like the steam +rising from the boiler of some monstrous engine.... + +This evening I went down with one of our party to view the cataract by +moonlight. I took my favourite seat on the projecting rock, at a little +distance from the brink of the fall, and gazed till every sense seemed +absorbed in contemplation. Although the shades of night increased the +sublimity of the prospect and "deepened the murmur of the falling +floods," the moon in placid beauty shed her soft influence upon the +mind, and mitigated the horrors of the scene. The thunders which +bellowed from the abyss, and the loveliness of the falling element, +which glittered like molten silver in the moonlight, seemed to complete +in absolute perfection the rare union of the beautiful with the +sublime.... + +While reflecting upon the inadequacy of language to express the feelings +I experienced, or to describe the wonders which I surveyed, an American +gentleman, to my great amusement, tapped me on the shoulder, and +"guessed" that it was "_pretty droll!_" It was difficult to avoid +laughing in his face; yet I could not help envying him his vocabulary, +which had so eloquently released me from my dilemma.... + +Though earnestly dissuaded from the undertaking, I had determined to +employ the first fine morning in visiting the cavern beneath the fall. +The guide recommended my companion and myself to set out as early as six +o'clock, that we might have the advantage of the morning sun upon the +waters. We came to the guide's house at the appointed hour, and +disencumbered ourselves of such garments as we did not wish to have +wetted; descending the circular ladder, we followed the course of the +path running along the top of the _debris_ of the precipice, which I +have already described. Having pursued this track for about eighty +yards, in the course of which we were completely drenched, we found +ourselves close to the cataract. Although enveloped in a cloud of spray, +we could distinguish without difficulty the direction of our path, and +the nature of the cavern we were about to enter. Our guide warned us of +the difficulty in respiration which we should encounter from the spray, +and recommended us to look with exclusive attention to the security of +our footing. Thus warned, we pushed forward, blown about and buffeted by +the wind, stunned by the noise, and blinded by the spray. Each +successive gust penetrated us to the very bones with cold. Determined to +proceed, we toiled and struggled on, and having followed the footsteps +of the guide as far as was possible consistently with safety, we sat +down, and having collected our senses by degrees, the wonders of the +cavern slowly developed themselves. It is impossible to describe the +strange unnatural light reflected through its crystal wall, the roar of +the waters, and the blasts of the hurried hurricane which perpetually +rages in its recesses. We endured its fury a sufficient time to form a +notion of the shape and dimensions of this dreadful place. The cavern +was tolerably light, though the sun was unfortunately enveloped in +clouds. His disc was invisible, but we could clearly distinguish his +situation through the watery barrier. The fall of the cataract is nearly +perpendicular. The bank over which it is precipitated is of concave +form, owing to its upper stratum being composed of lime-stone, and its +base of soft slate-stone, which has been eaten away by the constant +attrition of the recoiling waters. The cavern is about one hundred and +twenty feet in height, fifty in breadth, and three hundred in length. +The entrance was completely invisible. By screaming in our ears, the +guide contrived to explain to us that there was one more point which we +might have reached had the wind been in any other direction. Unluckily +it blew full upon the sheet of the cataract, and drove it in so as to +dash upon the rock over which we must have passed. A few yards beyond +this, the precipice becomes perpendicular, and, blending with the water, +forms the extremity of the cave. After a stay of nearly ten minutes in +this most horrible purgatory, we gladly left it to its loathsome +inhabitants the eel and the water-snake, who crawl about its recesses in +considerable numbers,--and returned to the inn--_De Roos's Travels in +the United States, &c._ + + * * * * * + + +THE GUILLOTINE. + + +The first sight, however, which it fell to my lot to witness at Brussels +in this second and short visit, was neither gay nor handsome, nor dear +in any sense, but the very reverse; it being that of the punishment of +the guillotine inflicted on a wretched murderer, named John Baptist +Michel.[2] Hearing, at the moment of my arrival, that this tragical +scene was on the point of being acted in the great square of the +market-place, I determined for once to make a sacrifice of my feelings +to the desire of being present at a spectacle, with the nature of which +the recollections of revolutionary horrors are so intimately associated. +Accordingly, following to the spot a guard of soldiers appointed to +assist at the execution, I disengaged myself as soon as possible from +the pressure of the immense crowd already assembled, and obtained a seat +at the window of a house immediately opposite the Hotel-de-Ville, in +front of the principal entrance to which the guillotine had been +erected. At the hour of twelve at noon precisely, the malefactor, tall, +athletic, and young, having his hands tied behind his back, and being +stripped to the waist, was brought to the square in a cart, under an +escort of gen-d'armes, attended by an elderly and respectable +ecclesiastic; who, having been previously occupied in administering the +consolations of religion to the condemned person in prison, now appeared +incessantly employed in tranquillizing him on his way to the scaffold. +Arrived near the fatal machine, the unhappy man stepped out of the +vehicle, knelt at the feet of his confessor, received the priestly +benediction, kissed some individuals who accompanied him, and was +hurried by the officers of justice up the steps of the cube-form +structure of wood, painted of a blood-red, on which stood the dreadful +apparatus of death. To reach the top of the platform, to be fast bound +to a board, to be placed horizontally under the axe, and deprived of +life by its unerring blow, was, in the case of this miserable offender, +the work literally of a moment. It was indeed an awfully sudden transit +from time to eternity. He could only cry out, "_Adieu, mes amis_," and +he was gone. The severed head, passing through a red-coloured bag fixed +under, fell to the ground--the blood spouted forth from the neck like +water from a fountain--the body, lifted up without delay, was flung down +through a trap-door in the platform. Never did capital punishment more +quickly take effect on a human being; and whilst the executioner was +coolly taking out the axe from the groove of the machine, and placing +it, covered as it was with gore, in a box, the remains of the culprit, +deposited in a shell, were hoisted into a wagon, and conveyed to the +prison. In twenty minutes all was over, and the _Grande Place_ nearly +cleared of its thousands, on whom the dreadful scene seemed to have +made, as usual, the slightest possible impression--_Stevenson's Tour in +France, Switzerland, &c._ + + [2] The circumstances of the case were as follows:--Jean + Baptiste Michel, aged 36, a blacksmith, accompanied by a female + named Marie Anne Debeyst, aged 22, was proceeding from Brussels + to Vilvorde, one day in the month of March, 1824. In the + Alleverte, they overtook a servant girl, who was imprudent + enough to mention to them that her master had entrusted her + with a sum of money. Near Vilvorde, Michel and his paramour, + having formed their plan of assassination and robbery, rejoined + the poor girl, whom they had momentarily left, and violently + demanded the bag containing the gold and silver. The + unfortunate young creature resisted their attacks as long as + she could, but was soon felled to the ground by Michel, who + with a thick stick fractured her skull, whilst Debeyst trod + upon the prostrate victim of their horrid crime. These wretches + were shortly afterwards arrested and committed to prison. On + the 5th of April, 1825, they were condemned to death by the + Court of Assize at Brussels, but implored of the royal clemency + a commutation of punishment. This was granted to the woman, + whose sentence was changed to perpetual imprisonment. Michel's + petition was rejected. + + * * * * * + + +THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE. + + +Of all the miseries of human life, and God knows they are manifold +enough, there are few more utterly heart-sickening and overwhelming than +those endured by the unlucky Heir Presumptive; when, after having +submitted to the whims and caprices of some rich relation, and endured a +state of worse than Egyptian bondage, for a long series of years, he +finds himself cut off with a shilling, or a mourning ring; and the El +Dorado of his tedious term of probation and expectancy devoted to the +endowment of methodist chapels and Sunday schools; or bequeathed to some +six months' friend (usually a female housekeeper, or spiritual adviser) +who, entering the vineyard at the eleventh hour, (the precise moment at +which his patience and humility become exhausted,) carries off the +golden prize, and adds another melancholy confirmation, to those already +upon record, of the fallacy of all human anticipations. It matters +little what may have been the motives of his conduct; whether duty, +affection, or that more powerful incentive self-interest; how long or +how devotedly he may have humoured the foibles or eccentricities of his +relative; or what sacrifices he may have made to enable him to comply +with his unreasonable caprices: the result is almost invariably the +same. The last year of the Heir Presumptive's purgatory, nay, perhaps +even the last month, or the last week, is often the drop to the full cup +of his endurance. His patience, however it may have been propped by +self-interest, or feelings of a more refined description, usually breaks +down before the allotted term has expired; and the whole fabric it has +cost him such infinite labour to erect, falls to the ground along with +it. It is well if his personal exertions, and the annoyances to which he +has subjected himself during the best period of his existence, form the +whole of his sacrifices. But, alas! it too often happens that, +encouraged by the probability of succeeding in a few years to an +independent property, and ambitious, moreover, of making such an +appearance in society as will afford the old gentleman or lady no excuse +for being ashamed of their connexion with him, he launches into expenses +he would never otherwise have dreamed of incurring, and contracts debts +without regard to his positive means of liquidating them, on the +strength of a contingency which, if he could but be taught to believe +it, is of all earthly anticipations the most remote and uncertain. A +passion for unnecessary expense is, under different circumstances, +frequently repressed by an inability to procure credit; but it is the +curse and bane of Mr. Omnium's nephew, and Miss Saveall's niece, that so +far from any obstacle being opposed to their prodigality, almost +unlimited indulgence is offered, nay, actually pressed upon them, by the +trades-people of their wealthy relations; who take especial care that +their charges shall be of a nature to repay them for any complaisance or +long suffering, as it regards the term of credit, they may be called +upon to display. But independently of the additional expense into which +the Heir Presumptive is often seduced by the operation of these +temptations, and his anxiety to live in a style in some degree accordant +with his expectations, what is he not called upon to endure from the +caprices, old-fashioned notions, eccentricities, avarice, and obstinacy, +of the old tyrant to whom he thus consents to sell himself, and it may +be his family, body and soul, for an indefinite number of +years.--_National Tales_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE MONTHS. + +JULY. + +[Illustration] + + + The sultry noontide of July + Now bids us seek the forest's shade; + Or for the crystal streamlet sigh. + That flows in some sequestered glade. + +B. BARTON. + + * * * * * + + +Summer! glowing summer! This is the month of heat and sunshine, of +clear, fervid skies, dusty roads, and shrinking streams; when doors and +windows are thrown open, a cool gale is the most welcome of all +visiters, and every drop of rain "is worth its weight in gold." Such is +July commonly--such it was in 1825, and such, in a scarcely less degree, +in 1826; yet it is sometimes, on the contrary, a very showery month, +putting the hay-maker to the extremity of his patience, and the farmer +upon anxious thoughts for his ripening corn; generally speaking, +however, it is the heart of our summer. The landscape presents an air of +warmth, dryness, and maturity; the eye roams over brown pastures, corn +fields "already white to harvest," dark lines of intersecting +hedge-rows, and darker trees, lifting their heavy heads above them. The +foliage at this period is rich, full, and vigorous; there is a fine haze +cast over distant woods and bosky slopes, and every lofty and majestic +tree is filled with a soft shadowy twilight, which adds infinitely to +its beauty--a circumstance that has never been sufficiently noticed by +either poet or painter. Willows are now beautiful objects in the +landscape; they are like rich masses of arborescent silver, especially +if stirred by the breeze, their light and fluent forms contrasting +finely with the still and sombre aspect of the other trees. + +Now is the general season of _haymaking_. Bands of mowers, in their +light trousers and broad straw hats, are astir long before the fiery eye +of the sun glances above the horizon, that they may toil in the +freshness of the morning, and stretch themselves at noon in luxurious +ease by trickling waters, and beneath the shade of trees. Till then, +with regular strokes and a sweeping sound, the sweet and flowery grass +falls before them, revealing at almost every step, nests of young birds, +mice in their cozy domes, and the mossy cells of the humble bee +streaming with liquid honey; anon, troops of haymakers are abroad, +tossing the green swaths wide to the sun. It is one of Nature's +festivities, endeared by a thousand pleasant memories and habits of the +olden days, and not a soul can resist it. + +There is a sound of tinkling teams and of wagons rolling along lanes and +fields the whole country over, aye, even at midnight, till at length the +fragrant ricks rise in the farmyard, and the pale smooth-shaven fields +are left in solitary beauty. + +They who know little about it may deem the strong _penchant_ of our +poets, and of ourselves, for rural pleasures, mere romance and poetic +illusion; but if poetic beauty alone were concerned, we must still +admire _harvest-time_ in the country. The whole land is then an Arcadia, +full of simple, healthful, and rejoicing spirits. Overgrown towns and +manufactories may have changed for the worse, the spirit and feelings of +our population; in them, "evil communications may have corrupted good +manners;" but in the country at large, there never was a more +simple-minded, healthful-hearted, and happy race of people than our +present British peasantry. They have cast off, it is true, many of their +ancestors' games and merrymakings, but they have in no degree lost their +soul of mirth and happiness. This is never more conspicuous than in +_harvest-time_. + +With the exception of a casual song of the lark in a fresh morning, of +the blackbird and thrush at sunset, or the monotonous wail of the +yellow-hammer, the silence of birds is now complete; even the lesser +reed-sparrow, which may very properly be called the _English mock-bird_, +and which kept up a perpetual clatter with the notes of the sparrow, the +swallow, the white-throat, &c. in every hedge-bottom, day and night, +has ceased. + +Boys will now be seen in the evening twilight with match, gunpowder, +&c., and green boughs for self-defence, busy in storming the paper-built +castles of _wasps_, the larvae of which furnish anglers with store of +excellent baits. Spring-flowers have given place to a very different +class. Climbing plants mantle and festoon every hedge. The wild hop, the +brione, the clematis or traveller's joy, the large white convolvulus, +whose bold yet delicate flowers will display themselves to a very late +period of the year--vetches, and white and yellow ladies-bed-straw-- +invest almost every bush with their varied beauty, and breathe on the +passer-by their faint summer sweetness. The _campanula rotundifolia_, +the hare-bell of poets, and the blue-bell of botanists, arrests the eye +on every dry bank, rock, and wayside, with its beautiful cerulean bells. +There too we behold wild scabiouses, mallows, the woody nightshade, +wood-betony, and centaury; the red and white-striped convolvulus also +throws its flowers under your feet; corn fields glow with whole armies +of scarlet poppies, cockle, and the rich azure plumes of +viper's-bugloss; even _thistles_, the curse of Cain, diffuse a glow of +beauty over wastes and barren places. Some species, particularly the +musk thistles, are really noble plants, wearing their formidable arms, +their silken vest, and their gorgeous crimson tufts of fragrant flowers +issuing from a coronal of interwoven down and spines, with a grace which +casts far into the shade many a favourite of the garden. + +But whoever would taste all the sweetness of July, let him go, in +pleasant company, if possible, into heaths and woods; it is there, in +her uncultured haunts, that summer now holds her court. The stern +castle, the lowly convent, the deer and the forester have vanished +thence many ages; yet nature still casts round the forest-lodge, the +gnarled oak and lovely mere, the same charms as ever. The most hot and +sandy tracts, which we might naturally imagine would now be parched up, +are in full glory. The _erica tetralix_, or bell-heath, the most +beautiful of our indigenous species, is now in bloom, and has converted +the brown bosom of the waste into one wide sea of crimson; the air is +charged with its honied odour. The dry, elastic turf glows, not only +with its flowers, but with those of the wild thyme, the clear blue +milkwort, the yellow asphodel, and that curious plant the _sundew_, with +its drops of inexhaustible liquor sparkling in the fiercest sun like +diamonds. There wave the cotton-rush, the tall fox-glove, and the taller +golden mullein. There creep the various species of heath-berries, +cranberries, bilberries, &c., furnishing the poor with a source of +profit, and the rich of luxury. What a pleasure it is to throw ourselves +down beneath the verdant screen of the beautiful fern, or the shade of a +venerable oak, in such a scene, and listen to the summer sounds of bees, +grasshoppers, and ten thousand other insects, mingled with the more +remote and solitary cries of the pewit and the curlew! Then, to think of +the coach-horse, urged on his sultry stage, or the plough-boy and his +teem, plunging in the depths of a burning fallow, or of our ancestors, +in times of national famine, plucking up the wild fern-roots for bread, +and what an enhancement of our own luxurious ease![3] + +But woods, the depths of woods, are the most delicious retreats during +the fiery noons of July. The great azure campanulas, or Canterbury +bells, are there in bloom, and, in chalk or limestone districts, there +are also now to be found those curiosities, the _bee_ and _fly +orchises_. The soul of John Evelyn well might envy us a wood lounge at +this period. + +_Time's Telescope._ + + [3] It is a fact not known to every juvenile lover of nature, + that a transverse section of a fern-root presents a miniature + picture of an _oak tree_ which no painter could rival. + + * * * * * + + + +ASTRONOMICAL OCCURENCES +FOR JULY, 1827. + + * * * * * + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +The sun is in apogee, or at his greatest distance from the earth on the +2nd, in 10 deg. _Cancer_; he enters _Leo_ on the 23rd, at 5h. 13m. +afternoon; he is in conjunction with the planet Saturn on the 2nd at +11h. 30m. morning, in 9 deg. _Cancer_, and with Mars on the 12th at 1h. +45m. afternoon, being advanced 10 deg. further in the eliptic. + +Venus and Saturn are also in conjunction on the 26th at 3 h. afternoon, +in 13 deg. _Cancer_. + +Mercury will again be visible for a short time about the middle of the +month a little after the sun has set, arriving on the 16th at his +greatest eastern elongation, or apparent distance from the centre of the +system, as seen from the earth in 20 deg. _Leo_; and in aphelio, or that +point of his orbit most distant from the sun, on the 22nd; he becomes +stationary on the 29th. + +There is only one visible eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite this +month--on the 5th, at 10h. 21m. evening. + +The Georgium Sidus, or Herschel, comes to an opposition with the sun on +the 19th, at 6h. 15m. evening; he is then nearest the earth, and +consequently in the most favourable position for observation; he began +retrograding on the 1st of May in 28 deg. 12m. of _Capricornus_; he +rises on the 1st, at 9h. 11m. evening, culminating at 1h. 16m., and +setting at 5h. 21m. morning, pursuing the course of the sun on the 17th +of January; he moves only 13m. of a deg. in the course of the month, +rising 2 h. earlier on the 31st. + +This planet, called also Uranus, was discovered by Herschel on the 13th +of March, 1781. It is the most distant orb in our system yet known. From +certain inequalities on the motion of Jupiter and Saturn, the existence +of a planet of considerable size beyond the orbit of either had been +before suspected; its apparent magnitude, as seen from the earth, is +about 3-1/2 sec., or of the size of a star of the sixth magnitude, and +as from its distance from the sun, it shines but with a pale light, it +cannot often be distinguished with the naked eye. Its diameter is about +4-1/2 times that of the earth, and completes its revolution in something +less than 83-1/2 years. The want of light in this planet, on account of +its great distance from the sun, is supplied by six moons, which revolve +round their primary in different periods. There is a remarkable +peculiarity attached to their orbits, which are nearly perpendicular to +the plane of the ecliptic, and they revolve in them in a direction +contrary to the order of the signs. + +"Moore," in an old almanack, speaking on the difference of light and +heat enjoyed by the inhabitants of _Saturn_, and the _earth_, says,-- + + "From hence how large, how strong the sun's bright ball, + But seen from thence, how languid and how small, + When the keen north with all its fury blows, + Congeals the floods and forms the fleecy snows: + 'Tis heat intense, to what can there be known, + Warmer our poles than in its burning (!) zone; + One moment's cold like their's would pierce the bone, + Freeze the heart's blood, and turn us all to stone." + +Were Saturn thus situated, what would the inhabitants of Herschel feel, +whose distance is still further?--pursuing this train of reasoning, the +heat in the planet Mercury would be seven times greater than on our +globe, and were the earth in the same position, all the water on its +surface would boil, and soon be turned into vapour, but as the degree of +sensible heat in any planet _does not_ depend altogether on its nearness +to the sun, the temperature of these planets may be as mild as that of +the most genial climate of our globe. + +The theory of the sun being a body of fire having been long since +exploded, and heat being found to be generated by the union of the sun's +rays with the atmosphere of the earth, so the caloric contained in the +atmosphere on the surfaces of the planets may be distributed in +different quantities, according to the situation they occupy with regard +to the sun, and which is put into action by the influence of the solar +rays, so as to produce that degree of sensible heat requisite for each +respective planet. We have only to suppose that a small quantity of +caloric exists in Mercury, and a greater quantity in Herschel, which is +fifty times farther from the sun than the other, and there is no reason +to believe that those planets nearest the sun suffer under the action of +excessive heat, or that the more distant are exposed to the rigours of +insufferable cold, which, in either case, might render them unfit for +the abodes of intellectual beings. PASCHE. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SKETCH BOOK + +NO. XLI. + + * * * * * + + +THE AUTHOR AND HIS COAT. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +My master, at first sight of me, expressed great admiration. He had +given his architect of garments orders to make him a blue coat in his +best style; in consequence of which I was ushered into the world. The +gentleman who introduced me into company was at the time in very high +spirits, being engaged in a new literary undertaking, of the success of +which he indulged very sanguine hopes. On this occasion we, that is, to +use similar language to Cardinal Wolsey, in a well-known instance, I and +my master paid a great number of visits to his particular friends, and +others whom he thought likely to encourage and promote his project The +reception _we_ generally met with was highly satisfactory; smiles and +promises of support were bestowed in abundance upon _us_. I use the +plural number, with justice, as it will appear in the sequel, although +my master scarcely ever dreamt that I had anything to do with it. As I +had, however, the special privilege of being _behind his back_, I had +the advantage which that situation peculiarly confers, of arriving at a +knowledge of the truth. He never dreamt that the expressions, "How well +you are looking,"--"I am glad to see you," &c. so common in his ears, +would scarcely ever have been used had it not been for my influence. To +be sure I have overheard him say, as we have been walking along, "There +goes an old acquaintance of mine; but, bless me, how altered he is! he +looks poor and meanly dressed, but I'm determined I'll speak to him, for +fear he should think me so shabby as to shy him." Thus giving an +instance in himself, certainly, of respect for the _man_ and not the +_coat_. My short history goes rather to prove that the reverse is almost +every day's experience. Matters went on pretty well with us until my +master was seized with a severe fit of illness, in consequence of which +his literary scheme was completely defeated, and his condition in life +materially injured; of course, the glad tones of encouragement which I +had been accustomed to hear were changed into expressions of condolence, +and sometimes assurances of unabated friendship; but then it must be +remembered that I, the handsomest blue coat, was _still in good +condition_, and it will perhaps appear, that if I were not my master's +_warmest_ friend, I was, at all events, the only one that _stuck to him +to the last_. Eternal respect to both of us continued much the same for +some time longer, but by degrees we both, _at the same time_, observed, +that an alteration began to take place. My master attributed this to his +altered fortunes, and I placed it to the score of my decayed +appearance--the threadbare cloth and tarnished button came in, I was +sure, for their full share of neglect, and he at last fell into the same +opinion. To describe all the variety of treatment that we experienced +would be a tedious and unpleasant task,--but I was the more convinced +that I had at least as much to do with it as my master, from observing +that all the gradations in manner, from coolness to shyness, and from +shyness to neglect, kept pace, remarkably, with the changes in my +appearance. My master was, at length, the only individual who paid any +respect or attention to me, after most of his old acquaintances had +ceased to notice him. I have heard him exclaim, "Oh, that mankind would +treat me with as much constancy as my old true blue! Thou hast +faithfully served me throughout the vicissitudes of fortune, and art +faithful still, now both of us are left to wither in adversity." + +I could make a long story of it, were I to detail all my adventures; +they may, however, be easily imagined from what has been stated, and +from which it is evident, that in too many instances, the world pays +more respect to _the coat_, than to _the man_, and therefore that a man +would often derive more consequence and benefit if he had the advantage +of having for his patron--_a tailor_ instead of _a man of rank_. J. B. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NOVELIST. + +NO. CIV. + + * * * * * + +THE COTTER'S DAUGHTER. + + +It was a cold stormy night in December, and the green logs as they +blazed and crackled on the Cotter's hearth, were rendered more +delightful, more truly comfortable, by the contrast with the icy showers +of snow and sleet which swept against the frail casement, making all +without cheerless and miserable. + +The Cotter was a handsome, intelligent old man, and afforded me much +information upon glebes, and flocks, and rural economy; while his +spouse, a venerable matron, was humming to herself some long since +forgotten ballad; and industriously twisting and twirling about her long +knitting needles, that promised soon to produce a pair of formidable +winter hose. Their son, a stout, healthy young peasant of +three-and-twenty, was sitting in the spacious chimney corner, sharing +his frugal supper of bread and cheese with a large, shaggy sheep dog, +who sat on his haunches wistfully watching every mouthful, and snap, +snap, snapping, and dextrously catching every morsel that was cast +to him. + +We were all suddenly startled, however, by his loud bark; when, jumping +up, he rushed, or rather flew towards the door. + +"Whew! whew!" whistled the youth--"Whoy--what the dickens ails thee, +Rover?" said he, rising and following him to the door to learn the cause +of his alarm. "What! be they gone again, ey?" for the dog was silent. +"What do thee sniffle at, boy? On'y look at 'un feyther; how the beast +whines and waggles his stump o' tail!--It's some 'un he knows for +sartain. I'd lay a wager it wur Bill Miles com'd about the +harrow, feyther." + +"Did thee hear any knock, lad?" said the father. + +"Noa!" replied the youth; "but mayhap Bill peep'd thro' the hoal in the +shutter, and is a bit dash'd like at seeing a gentleman here. Bill! is't +thee, Master Miles?" continued he, bawling. "Lord! the wind whistles so +a' can't hear me. Shall I unlatch the door, feyther?" + +"Ay, lad, do, an thou wilt," replied the old man; "Rover's wiser nor we +be--a dog 'll scent a friend, when a man would'nt know un." + +Rover still continued his low importunate whine, and began to scratch +against the door. The lad threw it open--the dog brushed past him in an +instant, and his quick, short, continuous yelping, expressed his +immoderate joy and recognition. + +"Hollo! where be'st thee, Bill?" said the young peasant, stepping over +the threshold. "Come, none of thee tricks upon travellers, Master Bill; +I zee thee beside the rick yon!" and quitting the door for half a +minute, he again hastily entered the cot. The rich colour of robust +health had fled from his cheeks--his lips quivered--and he looked like +one bereft of his senses, or under the influence of some frightful +apparition. + +The dame rose up--her work fell from trembling hands-- + +"What's the matter?" said she. + +"What's frighted thee, lad?" asked the old man, rising. + +"Oh! feyther!--oh! mother!"--exclaimed he, drawing them hastily on one +side and whispering something in a low, and almost inaudible voice. + +The old woman raised her hands in supplication and tottered to her +chair while the Cotter, bursting out into a paroxysm of violent rage, +clutched his son's arm, and exclaimed in a loud voice: + +"Make fast the door, boy, an thou'lt not have my curse on thee!--I tell +'ee, she shan't come hither!--No--never--never;--there's poison in her +breath--a' will spurn her from me!--A pest on her!--What; wilt not do +my bidding?" + +"O! feyther, feyther!" cried the young peasant, whose heart seemed +overcharged with grief, "It be a cold, raw night--ye wou'dna kick a cur +from the door to perish in the storm! Doant 'ee be hot and hasty, +feyther, thou art not uncharitable--On me knees!"-- + +"Psha!" exclaimed the enraged father, only exasperated by his +remonstrances. "Whoy talk 'ee to me, son--I am deaf--deaf!--Mine own +hand shall bar the door agen her!"--adding with bitterness--"let her +die!"--and stepping past his prostrate son, was about to execute his +purpose--when, a young girl, whose once gay and flimsy raiment was +drenched and stained, and torn by the violence of the storm, appeared at +the door. The old man recoiled with a shudder--she was as pale as +death--and her trembling limbs seemed scarcely able to support her--a +profusion of light brown hair hung dishevelled and in disorder about her +neck and shoulders, and added to her forlorn appearance. She stretched +forth her arms and pronounced the name of "Father!" but further +utterance was prevented by the convulsive sobs that heaved her bosom. + +"Mary--woman!" cried the old man, trembling--"Call me not feyther--thou +art none of mine--thou hast no feyther now--nor I a daughter--thou art a +serpent that hath stung the bosom that cherished thee! Go to the fawning +villain--the black-hearted sycophant that dragged thee from our +arms--from our happy home to misery and pollution--go, and bless him for +breaking thy poor old feyther's heart!" + +Overcome by these heart-rending reproaches, the distressed girl fainted; +but the strong arm of the young Cotter supported her--for her +tender-hearted youth, moved by his fallen sister's sorrows, had ventured +again to intercede. + +"Hah! touch not her defiled and loathsome body," cried the old +man--"thrust her from the door, and let her find a grave where she may. +Boy! wilt thou dare disobey me?" and he raised his clenched hand, while +anger flashed from his eye. + +"Strike! feyther--strike me!" said the poor lad, bursting into +tears--"fell me to the 'arth! Kill me, an thou wilt--I care not--I will +never turn my heart agen poor Mary!--Bean't she my sister? Did thee not +teach me to love her?--Poor lass!--she do want it all now, feyther--for +she be downcast and broken-hearted!--Nay, thee art kind and good, +feyther--know thee art--I zee thine eyes be full o' tears--and +thee--thee woant cast her away from thee, I know thee woant. Mother, +speak to 'un; speak to sister Mary too--it be our own Mary! Doant 'ee +kill her wi' unkindness!" + +The old man, moved by his affectionate entreaties, no longer offered any +opposition to his son's wishes, but hiding his face in his hands, he +fled from the affecting scene to an adjoining room. + +Her venerable mother having recovered from the shock of her lost +daughter's sudden appearance, now rose to the assistance of the +unfortunate, and by the aid of restoratives brought poor Mary to the +full sense of her wretchedness. She was speedily conveyed to the same +humble pallet, to which, in the days of her innocence and peace, she had +always retired so light-hearted and joyously, but where she now found a +lasting sleep--an eternal repose!--Yes, poor Mary died!--and having won +the forgiveness and blessing of her offended parents, death was welcome +to her.--_Absurdities: in Prose and Verse_. + + * * * * * + + + +ORIGINS AND INVENTIONS. + +No. XXVII. + + * * * * * + + +VAUXHALL GARDENS. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + "Here waving groves a checkered scene display, + And part admit, and part exclude the day." + +POPE. + + +Of the origin of these enchanting gardens, Mr. Aubrey, in his +"Antiquities of Surrey," gives us the following account;--"At Vauxhall, +Sir Samuel Morland built a fine room, anno 1667, the inside all of +looking-glass, and fountains very pleasant to behold, which is much +visited by strangers: it stands in the middle of the garden, covered +with Cornish slate, on the point of which he placed a punchinello, very +well carved, which held a dial, but the winds have demolished it." And +Sir John Hawkins, in his "History of Music," has the following account +of it:--"The house seems to have been rebuilt since the time that Sir +Samuel Morland dwelt in it. About the year 1730, Mr. Jonathan Tyers +became the occupier of it, and, there being a large garden belonging to +it, planted with a great number of stately trees, and laid out in shady +walks, it obtained the name of Spring Gardens; and the house being +converted into a tavern, or place of entertainment, was much frequented +by the votaries of pleasure. Mr. Tyers opened it with an advertisement +of a _Ridotto al Fresco_, a term which the people of this country had +till that time been strangers to. These entertainments were repeated in +the course of the summer, and numbers resorted to partake of them. This +encouraged the proprietor to make his garden a place of musical +entertainment, for every evening during the summer season. To this end +he was at great expense in decorating the gardens with paintings; he +engaged a band of excellent musicians; he issued silver tickets at one +guinea each for admission, and receiving great encouragement, he set up +an organ in the orchestra, and, in a conspicuous part of the garden, +erected a fine statue of Mr. Handel." These gardens are said to be the +first of the kind in England; but they are not so old as the Mulberry +Gardens, (on the spot now called Spring Gardens, near St. James's Park,) +where king Charles II. went to regale himself the night after his +restoration, and formed an immediate connexion with Mrs. Palmer, +afterwards Duchess of Cleveland. The trees, however, are more than a +century old, and, according to tradition, were planted for a public +garden. This property was formerly held by Jane Fauxe, or Vaux, widow, +in 1615; and it is highly probable (says Nichols) that she was the +relict of the infamous Guy. In the "Spectator," No. 383, Mr. Addison +introduces a voyage from the Temple Stairs to Vauxhall, in which he is +accompanied by his friend, Sir Roger de Coverley. In the "Connoisseur," +No. 68, we find a very humourous description of the behaviour of an old +penurious citizen, who had treated his family here with a handsome +supper. The magnificence of these gardens calls to recollection the +magic representations in the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments," where + + "The blazing glories, with a cheerful ray, + Supply the sun, and counterfeit the day." + +Grosely, in his "Tour to London,"[4] says, (relating to Ranelagh and +Vauxhall,) "These entertainments, which begin in the month of May, are +continued every night. They bring together persons of all ranks and +conditions; and amongst these, a considerable number of females, whose +charms want only that cheerful air, which is the flower and quintessence +of beauty. These places serve equally as a rendezvous either for +business or intrigue. They form, as it were, private coteries; there you +see fathers and mothers, with their children, enjoying domestic +happiness in the midst of public diversions. The English assert, that +such entertainments as these can never subsist in France, on account of +the levity of the people. Certain it is, that those of Vauxhall and +Ranelagh, which are guarded only by outward decency, are conducted +without tumult and disorder, which often disturb the public diversions +of France. I do not know whether the English are gainers thereby; the +joy which they seem in search of at those places does not beam through +their countenances; they look as grave at Vauxhall and Ranelagh as at +the Bank, at church, or a private club. All persons there seem to say, +what a young English nobleman said to his governor, _Am I as joyous as I +should be?_" + +P. T. W. + + [4] 1765, translated from the French by Thomas Nugent, LL.D. + + * * * * * + + + +FINE ARTS. + + * * * * * + +THE CHIEF CAUSES OF THE SUCCESS OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE IN GREECE AND +ROME. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +A cursory glance at the principal occasion of the amazing success +obtained by the Greeks and Romans, in painting and sculpture, during the +early ages, may perhaps prove interesting to the lovers of the arts in +this country. + +The elevation to which the arts in Greece arrived was owing to the +concurrence of various circumstances. The imitative arts, we are told, +in that classic country formed a part of the administration, and were +inseparably connected with the heathen worship. The temples were +magnificently erected, and adorned with numerous statues of pagan +deities, before which, in reverential awe, the people prostrated +themselves. Every man of any substance had an idol in his own +habitation, executed by a reputed sculptor. In all public situations the +patriotic actions of certain citizens were represented, that beholders +might be induced to emulate their virtues. On contemplating these +masterpieces of art, which were so truly exquisite that the very coldest +spectator was unable to resist their _almost magical_ influence, the +vicious were reclaimed, and the ignorant stood abashed. Indeed, it has +often been asserted, that the statues by Phidias and Praxiteles were so +inimitably executed, that the people of Paros adored them as living +gods. Those artists who performed such extraordinary wonders as these +were held in an esteemed light, of which we cannot form the least idea. +We are certain they were paid most enormous prices for their +productions, and consequently could afford to adorn them with every +beauty of art, and to bestow more time on them than can ever be expected +from any modern artist. + +As soon as the arts had arrived at their highest pitch of excellency in +Greece, the country was laid waste by the invading power of the Romans. +All the Greek cities which contained the greatest treasures were +demolished, and all the pictures[5] and statues fell into the hands of +the victorious general, who had them carefully preserved and conveyed +from the land where they had been adored. Of the estimation in which +these great works were held by the Romans, we may form some idea by the +general assuring a soldier, to whose charge he gave a statue by +Praxiteles, that if he broke it, he should get another as well made in +its place. War is a very destructive enemy to painting and sculpture; +the intestine quarrels which ensued after the Romans had conquered the +country, rendered the exercise of the art impracticable. + +The arts were neglected in Rome until the introduction of the popish +religion. At that eventful era, statues and pictures were eagerly sought +for; the admirable Grecian works were appropriated to purposes quite +contrary to their pagan origin, for in many cases heathen deities were +converted into apostles. The labours of Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles, +Lysippus, and Scopas,[6] were highly valued by the Romans, who became +the correct imitators, and in time the rivals, of those celebrated +sculptors. G.W.N. + + [5] The pictures alluded to were the works of Apelles, + Apollodorus, and Protogenes. + + [6] These sculptors, according to Pliny, were the most reputed + among the ancients. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE +PUBLIC JOURNALS + + * * * * * + +LOVE'S VICTIM.[7] + + She left her own warm home + To tempt the frozen waste, + What time the traveller fear'd to roam, + And hunter shunn'd the blast, + Love pour'd his strength into her soul-- + Could peril e'er his power controul! + + She left her own warm home. + When stone, and herb, and tree, + And all beneath heaven's lurid dome + By wintry majesty, + In his stern age, were clad with snow, + And human hearts beat chill and slow. + + It was a fearful hour + For one so young and fair: + The woods had not one sheltering bower, + The earth was trackless there, + The very boughs in silver slept, + As the sea-foam had o'er them swept. + + Snow after snow came down, + The sky look'd fix'd in ice; + She deem'd amid the season's power, + Her love would all suffice + To keep the source of being warm, + And mock the terrors of the storm. + + Love was her world of life. + She thought but of her heart, + And knowing that the winter's strife + Could not its hope dispart, + She dream'd not that its home of clay + Might yield before the tempest's sway-- + + Or judged that passion's power-- + Passion so strong and pure. + Might mock the snow-flake's wildering shower, + Proud that it could endure, + As woman oft in times before + Had peril borne as much or more. + + She went--dawn past o'er dawn, + None saw her face again, + The eyes she should have gazed upon, + Look'd for her face in vain-- + The ear to which her voice was song, + Her voice had sought--how vainly long! + + There is in Saco's vale + A gently swelling hill, + Shadows have wrapt it like a veil + From trees that mark it still, + Around, the mountains towering blue + Look on that spot of saddest hue. + + 'Twas by that little hill, + At the dark noon of night, + Close by a frozen snow-hid rill, + Where branches close unite + Even in winter's leafless time, + The skeletons of summer's prime. + + That flash'd the traveller's flame + On tree and precipice, + And show'd a fair unearthly frame + In robes of glittering ice, + With head against a trunk inclined, + Like a dream-spirit of the mind. + + 'Twas that love-wander'd maid, death-pale, + Her very heart's blood froze, + Love's Niobe, in her own vale, + Now reckless of all woes-- + Love's victim fair, and true, find meet, + As she of the famed Paraclete. + + The mountains round shall tell + Her tale to travellers long. + The little vale of Saco swell + The western poet's song, + And "Nancy's Hill" in loftier rhymes + Be sung through unborn realms and times. + +_New Monthly Magazine_. + + [7] A few miles below the Notch of the White Mountains in the + Valley of Saco, is a little rise of land called "Nancy's Hill." + It was formerly thickly covered with trees, a cluster of which + remains to mark the spot. In 1773, at Dartmouth, Jefferson co. + U.S. lived Nancy----, of respectable connexions. She was + engaged to be married. Her lover had set out for Lancaster. She + would follow him in the depth of winter, and on foot. There was + not a house for thirty miles, and the way through the wild + woods a footpath only. She persisted in her design, and + wrapping herself in her long cloak, proceeded on her way. Snow + and frost took place for several weeks, when some persons + passing her route, reached the lull at night. On lighting their + fires, an unearthly figure stood before them beneath the + bending branches, wrapped in a robe of ice. It was the lifeless + form of Nancy. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER + + "I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's + stuff."--_Wotton_. + + * * * * * + +The late Dr. Barclay was a wit and a scholar, as well as a very great +physiologist. When a happy illustration, or even a point of pretty broad +humour, occurred to his mind, he hesitated not to apply it to the +subject in hand; and in this way, he frequently roused and rivetted +attention, when more abstract reasoning might have failed of its aim. On +one occasion he happened to dine with a large party, composed chiefly of +medical men. As the wine cup circulated, the conversation accidentally +took a professional turn, and from the excitation of the moment, or some +other cause, two of the youngest individuals present were the most +forward in delivering their opinions. Sir James McIntosh once told a +political opponent, that so far from following his example of using hard +words and soft arguments, he would pass, if possible, into the opposite +extreme, and use soft words and hard arguments. But our unfledged M.D.'s +disregarded the above salutary maxim, and made up in loudness what they +wanted in learning. At length, one of them said something so +emphatic--we mean as to manner--that a pointer dog started from his lair +beneath the table and _bow-wow-wowed_ so fiercely, that he fairly took +the lead in the discussion. Dr. Barclay eyed the hairy dialectician, and +thinking it high time to close the debate, gave the animal a hearty push +with his foot, and exclaimed in broad Scotch--"Lie still, ye brute; for +I am sure ye ken just as little about it as ony o'them." We need hardly +add, that this sally was followed by a hearty burst of laughter, in +which even the disputants good-humouredly joined. + + * * * * * + + Fair woman was made to bewitch-- + A pleasure, a pain, a disturber, a nurse, + A slave, or a tyrant, a blessing, or curse; + Fair woman was made to be--which? + + * * * * * + + + +_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand (near Somerset +House), and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers_. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, JULY 7, 1827 *** + +***** This file should be named 9882.txt or 9882.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/8/8/9882/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + +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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[PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + +HIS MAJESTY'S PONEY PHAETON. + +[Illustration] + + +We commence our tenth volume of the MIRROR with an embellishment quite +novel in design from the generality of our graphic illustrations, but +one which, we flatter ourselves, will excite interest among our friends, +especially after so recently, presenting them with a Portrait and Memoir +of his Majesty in the Supplement, which last week completed our ninth +volume. His Majesty, when residing at his cottage in Windsor Forest, the +weather being favourable, seldom allows a day to pass without taking his +favourite drive by the Long Walk, and Virginia Water, in his poney +phaeton, as represented in the above engraving. Windsor Park being +situated on the south side of the town, and 14 miles in circumference, +is admirably calculated for the enjoyment of a rural ride. The entrance +to the park is by a road called the _Long Walk_, near three miles in +length, through a double plantation of trees on each side, leading to the +Ranger's Lodge: on the north east side of the Castle is the _Little Park_, +about four miles in circumference: _Queen Elizabeth's Walk_ herein is +much frequented. At the entrance of this park is the _Queen's Lodge_, +a modern erection. This building stands on an easy ascent opposite the +upper court, on the south side, and commands a beautiful view of the +surrounding country. The gardens are elegant, and have been much +enlarged by the addition of the gardens and house of the duke of St. +Albans, purchased by his late majesty. The beautiful _Cottage Ornee_, an +engraving of which graces one of our early volumes, is also in the park, +and to which place of retirement his present Majesty resorts, and passes +much of his time in preference to the bustle and splendour of a royal +town life. + +Having now given as much description of the engraving as the subject +requires, we shall proceed to lay before our readers some further +anecdotes connected with the life of his Majesty; for our present +purpose, the following interesting article being adapted to our limits, +we shall introduce an + + _Original Letter of his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, to + Alexander Davison, Esq., on the death of Lord Nelson._ + + I am extremely obliged to you, my dear sir, for your confidential + letter, which I received this morning. You may be well assured, + that, did it depend upon me, there would not be a wish, a desire of + our-ever-to-be-lamented and much-loved friend, as well as adored + hero, that I should not consider as a solemn obligation upon his + friends and his country to fulfil; it is a duty they owe his memory, + and his matchless and unrivalled excellence: such are my sentiments, + and I should hope that there is still in this country sufficient + honour, virtue, and gratitude to prompt us to ratify and to carry + into effect the last dying request of our Nelson, and by that means + proving not only to the whole world, but to future ages, that we + were worthy of having such a man belonging to us. It must be + needless, my dear sir, to discuss over with you in particular the + irreparable loss dear Nelson ever must be, not merely to his friends + but to his country, especially at the present crisis--and during the + present most awful contest, his very name was a host of itself; + Nelson and Victory were one and the same to us, and it carried + dismay and terror to the hearts of our enemies. But the subject is + too painful a one to dwell longer upon; as to myself, all that I can + do, either publicly or privately, to testify the reverence, the + respect I entertain for his memory as a Hero, and as the greatest + public character that ever embellished the page of history, + independent of what I can with the greatest truth term, the + enthusiastic attachment I felt for him as a friend, I consider it as + my duty to fulfil, and therefore, though I may be prevented from + taking that ostensible and prominent situation at his funeral which + I think my birth and high rank entitled me to claim, still nothing + shall prevent me in a private character following his remains to + their last resting place; for though the station and the character + may be less ostensible, less prominent, yet the feelings of the + heart will not therefore be the less poignant, or the less acute. + + I am, my dear sir, with the greatest truth, + + Ever very sincerely your's, + + G. P.[1] + + _Brighton, Dec, 18th, 1805_. + + + [1] _New London Literary Gazette_. + + * * * * * + + +BYRON AND OTHER POETS COMPARED. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +There is a natural stimulus in man to offer adoration at the shrine of +departed genius.-- + + "There is a tear for all that die." + +But, when a transcendant genius is checked in its early age--when its +spring-shoots had only began to open--when it had just engaged in a new +feature devoted to man, and man to it, we cannot rest + + "In silent admiration, mixed with grief." + +Too often has splendid genius been suffered to live almost unobserved; +and have only been valued as their lives have been lost. Could the +divine Milton, or the great Shakspeare, while living, have shared that +profound veneration which their after generations have bestowed on their +high talents, happier would they have lived, and died more +extensively beloved. + +True, a Byron has but lately paid a universal debt. His concentrated +powers--his breathings for the happiness and liberty of mankind--his +splendid intellectual flowers, culled from a mind stored with the +choicest exotics, and cultivated with the most refined taste are all +still fresh in recollection. As the value of precious stones and metals +have become estimated by their scarcity, so will the fame of Byron live. + +A mind like Lord Byron's, + + "----born, not only to surprise, but cheer + With warmth and lustre all within its sphere," + +was one of Nature's brightest gems, whose splendour (even when +uncompared) dazzled and attracted all who passed within its sight. + + "So let him stand, through ages yet unborn." + +As comparison is a medium through which we are enabled to obtain most +accurate judgment, let us use it in the present instance, and compare +Lord Byron with the greatest poets that have preceded him, by which +means the world of letters will see what they have _really_ lost in Lord +Byron. To commence with the great Shakspeare himself, to whom universal +admiration continues to be paid. Had Shakspeare been cut off at the same +early period as Byron, _The Tempest, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, Julius +Caesar, Coriolanus_, and several others of an equal character, would +never have been written. The high reputation of Dryden would also have +been limited--his fame, perhaps, unknown. The _Absalom_ and _Achitophel_ +is the earliest of his best productions, which was written about his +fiftieth year; his principal production, at the age of Byron, was his +_Annus Mirabilis_; for nearly the whole of his dramatic works were +written at the latter part of his life. Pope is the like situated; that +which displayed most the power of his mind--which claims for him the +greatest praise--his _Essay on Man_, &c. appeared after his fortieth +year. _Windsor Forest_ was published in his twenty-second or +twenty-third year, both were the labour of some _years_; and the +immortal Milton, who published some few things before his thirtieth +year, sent not his great work, _Paradise Lost_, to the world until he +verged on sixty. + +With the poets, and the knowledge of what Byron _was_, we may ask what +he would have been had it pleased the Great Author of all things to +suffer the summer of his consummate mental powers to shine upon us? Take +the works of any of the abovenamed distinguished individuals previous to +their thirty-eighth year, and shall we perceive that flexibility of the +English language to the extent that Byron has left behind him? His +versatility was, indeed, astonishing and triumphant. His _Childe +Harold_, the _Bride of Abydos_, the _Corsair_, and _Don Juan_, (though +somewhat too freely written,) are established proofs of his unequalled +energy of mind. His power was unlimited; not only eloquent, but the +sublime, grave and gay, were all equally familiar to his muse. + +Few words are wanted to show that Byron was not depraved at heart; no +man possessed a more ready sympathy, a more generous mind to the +distressed, or was a more enthusiastic admirer of noble actions. These +feelings all strongly delineated in his character, would never admit, as +Sir Walter Scott has observed, "an imperfect moral sense, nor feeling, +dead to virtue." Severe as the + + "Combined usurpers on the throne of taste" + +have been, his character is marked by some of the best principles in +many parts of his writings. + + "The records there of friendships, held like rocks, + And enmities like sun-touch'd snow resign'd," + +are frequently visible. His glorious attachment to the Grecian cause is +a sufficient recompense for _previous_ follies exaggerated and +propagated by calumny's poisonous tongue. In a word, "there is scarce a +passion or a situation which has escaped his pen; and he might be drawn, +like Garrick, between the weeping and the laughing muses." + +A. B. C. + + * * * * * + + +THE SONG OF THE WIDOWED MOTHER TO HER CHILD. + +BY THE AUTHOR Of "AHAB." + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + O Sink to sleep, my darling boy, + Thy father's dead, thy mother lonely, + Of late thou wert his pride, his joy, + But now thou hast not one to own thee. + The cold wide world before us lies, + But oh! such heartless things live in it, + It makes me weep--then close thine eyes + Tho' it be but for one short minute. + + O sink to sleep, my baby dear, + A little while forget thy sorrow, + The wind is cold, the night is drear, + But drearier it will be to-morrow. + For none will help, tho' many see + Our wretchedness--then close thine eyes, love, + Oh, most unbless'd on earth is she + Who on another's aid relies, love. + + Thou hear'st me not! thy heart's asleep + Already, and thy lids are closing, + Then lie thee still, and I will weep + Whilst thou, my dearest, art reposing, + And wish that I could slumber free, + And with thee in yon heaven awaken, + O would that it our home might be, + For here we are by all forsaken. + + * * * * * + + +PAY OF THE JUDGES IN FORMER TIMES. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +In the twenty-third year of the reign of king Henry III., the salary of +the justices of the bench (now called the Common Pleas) was 20l. per +annum; in the forty-third year, 40l. In the twenty-seventh year, the +chief baron had 40 marks; the other barons, 20 marks; and in the forty, +ninth year, 4l. per annum. The justices _coram rege_ (now called the +King's Bench) had in the forty-third year of Henry III. 40l. per annum.; +the chief of the bench, 100 marks per annum; and next year, another +chief of the same court, had 100l.; but the chief of the court _coram +rege_ had only 100 marks per annum. + +In the reign of Edward I., the salaries of the justices were very +uncertain, and, upon the whole, they sunk from what they had been in the +reign of Henry III. The chief justice of the bench, in the seventh year +of Edward I., had but 40l. per annum, and the other justices there, 40 +marks. This continued the proportion in both benches till the +twenty-fifth year of Edward III., then the salary of the chief of the +King's Bench fell to 50 marks, or 33l. 6s. 8d., while that of the chief +of the bench was augmented to 100 marks, which may be considered as an +evidence of the increase of business and attendance there. The chief +baron had 40l.; the salaries of the other justices and barons were +reduced to 20l. + +In the reign of Edward II., the number of suitors so increased in the +common bench, that whereas there had usually been only three justices +there, that prince, at the beginning of his reign, was constrained to +increase them to six, who used to sit in two places,--a circumstance not +easy to be accounted for. Within three years after they were increased +to seven; next year they were reduced to six, at which number they +continued. + +The salaries of the judges, though they had continued the same from the +time of Edward I. to the twenty-fifth year of Edward III., were become +very uncertain. In the twenty-eighth year of this king, it appears, that +one of the justices of the King's Bench had 80 marks per annum. In the +thirty-ninth year of Edward III. the judges had in that court 40l.; the +same as the justices of the Common Pleas; but the chief of the King's +Bench, 100 marks. + +The salaries of the judges in the time of Henry IV. were as +follows:--The chief baron, and other barons, had 40 marks per annum; the +chief of the King's Bench, and of the Common Pleas, 40l. per annum; the +other justices, in either court, 40 marks. But the gains of the +practisers were become so great, that they could hardly be tempted to +accept a place on the bench with such low salaries; therefore in the +eighteenth year of Henry VI. the judges of all the courts at +Westminster, together with the king's attorney and sergeants, exhibited +a petition to parliament concerning the regular payment of their +salaries and perquisites of robes. The king assented to their request, +and order was taken for increasing their income, which afterwards became +larger, and more fixed; this consisted of a salary and an allowance for +robes. In the first year of Edward IV., the chief justice of the King's +Bench had 170 marks per annum, 5l. 6s. 6d. for his winter robes, and the +same for his Whitsuntide robes. Most of the judges had the honour of +knighthood; some of them were knights bannerets; and some had the order +of the Bath. + +In the first year of Henry VII. the chief justice of the court of King's +Bench had the yearly fee of 140 marks granted to him for his better +support; he had besides 5l. 6s. 11-1/4 d., and the sixth part of a +halfpenny (such is the accuracy of Sir William Dugdale, and the +strangeness of the sum,) for his winter robes, and 3l. 6s. 6d. for his +robes at Whitsuntide. + +In the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII. a further increase was made to +the fees of the judges;--to the chief justice of the King's Bench 30l. +per annum; to every other justice of that court 20l. per annum; to every +justice of the Common Pleas, 20l. per annum. + +There were usually in the court of Common Pleas five judges, sometimes +six; and in the reign of Henry VI. there were, it is said, eight judges +at one time in that court; but six appear to have been the regular +number. In the King's Bench there were sometimes four, sometimes five. +They did not sit above three hours a day in court,--from eight in the +morning to eleven. The courts were not open in the afternoon; but that +time was left unoccupied for suitors to confer with their counsel +at home. + +F. R. Y. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR +AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS. + + * * * * * + + +SIR WALTER SCOTT'S LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. + + +Sir Walter Scott, the author of _Waverley_, has become the biographer of +Napoleon Bonaparte; and the deepest interest is excited in the literary +world to know how the great master of romance and fiction acquits +himself in the execution of his task. In the preface to this elaborate +history, Sir Walter, with considerable ingenuousness, informs us that +"he will be found no enemy to the person of Napoleon. The term of +hostility is ended when the battle has been won, and the foe exists no +longer." But to our task: we shall attempt an analysis of the volumes +before us, and endeavour to gratify our readers with a narrative of +incidents that cannot fail interesting every British subject, whose +history, in fact, is strongly connected with the important events that +belong to the splendid career of Napoleon Bonaparte. + +The first and second volumes of Sir Walter's history are taken up with a +view of the French Revolution, from whence we shall extract a sketch of +the characters of three men of terror, whose names will long remain, we +trust, unmatched in history by those of any similar miscreants. These +men were the leaders of the revolution, and were called + +THE TRIUMVIRATE. + +Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivalled by his colleagues in +talent and audacity. He was a man of gigantic size, and possessed a +voice of thunder. His countenance was that of an Ogre on the shoulders +of a Hercules. He was as fond of the pleasures of vice as of the +practice of cruelty; and it was said there were times when he became +humanized amidst his debauchery, laughed at the terror which his furious +declamations excited, and might be approached with safety, like the +Maelstrom at the turn of tide. His profusion was indulged to an extent +hazardous to his popularity, for the populace are jealous of a lavish +expenditure, as raising their favourites too much above their own +degree; and the charge of peculation finds always ready credit with +them, when brought against public men. + +Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danton, that he did not seem +to seek for wealth, either for hoarding or expending, but lived in +strict and economical retirement, to justify the name of the +Incorruptible, with which he was honoured by his partizans. He appears +to have possessed little talent, saving a deep fund of hypocrisy, +considerable powers of sophistry, and a cold exaggerated strain of +oratory, as foreign to good taste, as the measures he recommended were +to ordinary humanity. It seemed wonderful, that even the seething and +boiling of the revolutionary cauldron should have sent up from the +bottom, and long supported on the surface, a thing so miserably void of +claims to public distinction; but Robespierre had to impose on the minds +of the vulgar, and he knew how to beguile them, by accommodating his +flattery to their passions and scale of understanding, and by acts of +cunning and hypocrisy, which weigh more with the multitude than the +words of eloquence, or the arguments of wisdom. The people listened as +to their Cicero, when he twanged out his apostrophes of _Pauvre Peuple, +Peuple vertueux!_ and hastened to execute whatever came recommended by +such honied phrases, though devised by the worst of men for the worst +and most inhuman of purposes. + +Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion, and though his countenance was +the image of his mind, he was vain even of his personal appearance, and +never adopted the external habits of a sans culotte. Amongst his fellow +Jacobins, he was distinguished by the nicety with which his hair was +arranged and powdered; and the neatness of his dress was carefully +attended to, so as to counterbalance, if possible, the vulgarity of his +person. His apartments, though small, were elegant and vanity had filled +them with representations of the occupant. Robespierre's picture at +length hung in one place, his miniature in another, his bust occupied a +niche, and on the table were disposed a few medallions exhibiting his +head in profile. The vanity which all this indicated was of the coldest +and most selfish character, being such as considers neglect as insult, +and receives homage merely as a tribute; so that, while praise is +received without gratitude, it is withheld at the risk of mortal hate. +Self-love of this dangerous character is closely allied with envy, and +Robespierre was one of the most envious and vindictive men that ever +lived. He never was known to pardon any opposition, affront, or even +rivalry; and to be marked in his tablets on such an account was a sure, +though perhaps not an immediate, sentence of death. Danton was a hero, +compared with this cold, calculating, creeping miscreant; for his +passions, though exaggerated, had at least some touch of humanity, and +his brutal ferocity was supported by brutal courage.--(_Continued at +page 17. [Note: See Mirror 263.]) + + * * * * * + + +THE EPICUREAN. + +_By T. Moore, Esq._ + + +The following is described by Alciphron, the hero of the tale, at the +termination of a festival, in a tone which strongly reminds us of +Rasselas:-- + +"The sounds of the song and dance had ceased, and I was now left in +those luxurious gardens alone. Though so ardent and active a votary of +pleasure, I had, by nature, a disposition full of melancholy;--an +imagination that presented sad thoughts even in the midst of mirth and +happiness, and threw the shadow of the future over the gayest illusions +of the present. Melancholy was, indeed, twin-born in my soul with +passion; and, not even in the fullest fervour of the latter were they +separated. From the first moment that I was conscious of thought and +feeling, the same dark thread had run across the web; and images of +death and annihilation mingled themselves with the most smiling scenes +through which my career of enjoyment led me. My very passion for +pleasure but deepened these gloomy fancies. For, shut out, as I was by +my creed, from a future life, and having no hope beyond the narrow +horizon of this, every minute of delight assumed a mournful preciousness +in my eyes, and pleasure, like the flower of the cemetery, grew but more +luxuriant from the neighbourhood of death. This very night my triumph, +my happiness, had seemed complete. I had been the presiding genius of +that voluptuous scene. Both my ambition and my love of pleasure had +drunk deep of the cup for which they thirsted. Looked up to by the +learned, and loved by the beautiful and the young, I had seen, in every +eye that met mine, either the acknowledgment of triumphs already won, or +the promise of others, still brighter, that awaited me. Yet, even in the +midst of all this, the same dark thoughts had presented themselves; the +perishableness of myself and all around me every instant recurred to my +mind. Those hands I had prest--those eyes, in which I had seen sparkling +a spirit of light and life that should never die--those voices that had +talked of eternal love--all, all, I felt, were but a mockery of the +moment, and would leave nothing eternal but the silence of their dust! + + "Oh, were it not for this sad voice, + Stealing amid our mirth to say, + That all in which we most rejoice, + Ere night may be the earth-worm's prey: + _But_ for this bitter--only this-- + Full as the world is brimm'd with bliss, + And capable as feels my soul + Of draining to its depth the whole, + I should turn earth to heaven, and be, + If bliss made gods, a deity!" + + * * * * * + + +THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. + + +I had already seen some of the most celebrated works of nature in +different parts of the globe; I had seen Etna and Vesuvius; I had seen +the Andes almost at their greatest elevation; Cape Horn, rugged and +bleak, buffeted by the southern tempest; and, though last not least, I +had seen the long swell of the Pacific; but nothing I had ever beheld or +imagined could compare in grandeur with the Falls of Niagara. My first +sensation was that of exquisite delight at having before me the greatest +wonder of the world. Strange as it may appear, this feeling was +immediately succeeded by an irresistible melancholy. Had this not +continued, it might perhaps have been attributed to the satiety incident +to the complete gratification of "hope long deferred;" but so far from +diminishing, the more I gazed, the stronger and deeper the sentiment +became. Yet this scene of sadness was strangely mingled with a kind of +intoxicating fascination. Whether the phenomenon is peculiar to Niagara +I know not, but certain it is, that the spirits are affected and +depressed in a singular manner by the magic influence of this stupendous +and eternal fall. About five miles above the cataract the river expands +to the dimensions of a lake, after which it gradually narrows. The +Rapids commence at the upper extremity of Goat Island, which is half a +mile in length, and divides the river at the point of precipitation into +two unequal parts; the largest is distinguished by the several names of +the Horseshoe, Crescent, and British Fall, from its semi-circular form +and contiguity to the Canadian shore. The smaller is named the American +Fall. A portion of this fall is divided by a rock from Goat Island, and +though here insignificant in appearance, would rank high among +European cascades.... + +The current runs about six miles an hour; but supposing it to be only +five miles, the quantity which passes the falls in an hour is more than +eighty-five millions of tuns avoirdupois; if we suppose it to be six, it +will be more than one hundred and two millions; and in a day would +exceed two thousand four hundred millions of tuns.... + +The next morning, with renewed delight, I beheld from my window--I may +say, indeed, from my bed--the stupendous vision. The beams of the rising +sun shed over it a variety of tints; a cloud of spray was ascending from +the crescent; and as I viewed it from above, it appeared like the steam +rising from the boiler of some monstrous engine.... + +This evening I went down with one of our party to view the cataract by +moonlight. I took my favourite seat on the projecting rock, at a little +distance from the brink of the fall, and gazed till every sense seemed +absorbed in contemplation. Although the shades of night increased the +sublimity of the prospect and "deepened the murmur of the falling +floods," the moon in placid beauty shed her soft influence upon the +mind, and mitigated the horrors of the scene. The thunders which +bellowed from the abyss, and the loveliness of the falling element, +which glittered like molten silver in the moonlight, seemed to complete +in absolute perfection the rare union of the beautiful with the +sublime.... + +While reflecting upon the inadequacy of language to express the feelings +I experienced, or to describe the wonders which I surveyed, an American +gentleman, to my great amusement, tapped me on the shoulder, and +"guessed" that it was "_pretty droll!_" It was difficult to avoid +laughing in his face; yet I could not help envying him his vocabulary, +which had so eloquently released me from my dilemma.... + +Though earnestly dissuaded from the undertaking, I had determined to +employ the first fine morning in visiting the cavern beneath the fall. +The guide recommended my companion and myself to set out as early as six +o'clock, that we might have the advantage of the morning sun upon the +waters. We came to the guide's house at the appointed hour, and +disencumbered ourselves of such garments as we did not wish to have +wetted; descending the circular ladder, we followed the course of the +path running along the top of the _debris_ of the precipice, which I +have already described. Having pursued this track for about eighty +yards, in the course of which we were completely drenched, we found +ourselves close to the cataract. Although enveloped in a cloud of spray, +we could distinguish without difficulty the direction of our path, and +the nature of the cavern we were about to enter. Our guide warned us of +the difficulty in respiration which we should encounter from the spray, +and recommended us to look with exclusive attention to the security of +our footing. Thus warned, we pushed forward, blown about and buffeted by +the wind, stunned by the noise, and blinded by the spray. Each +successive gust penetrated us to the very bones with cold. Determined to +proceed, we toiled and struggled on, and having followed the footsteps +of the guide as far as was possible consistently with safety, we sat +down, and having collected our senses by degrees, the wonders of the +cavern slowly developed themselves. It is impossible to describe the +strange unnatural light reflected through its crystal wall, the roar of +the waters, and the blasts of the hurried hurricane which perpetually +rages in its recesses. We endured its fury a sufficient time to form a +notion of the shape and dimensions of this dreadful place. The cavern +was tolerably light, though the sun was unfortunately enveloped in +clouds. His disc was invisible, but we could clearly distinguish his +situation through the watery barrier. The fall of the cataract is nearly +perpendicular. The bank over which it is precipitated is of concave +form, owing to its upper stratum being composed of lime-stone, and its +base of soft slate-stone, which has been eaten away by the constant +attrition of the recoiling waters. The cavern is about one hundred and +twenty feet in height, fifty in breadth, and three hundred in length. +The entrance was completely invisible. By screaming in our ears, the +guide contrived to explain to us that there was one more point which we +might have reached had the wind been in any other direction. Unluckily +it blew full upon the sheet of the cataract, and drove it in so as to +dash upon the rock over which we must have passed. A few yards beyond +this, the precipice becomes perpendicular, and, blending with the water, +forms the extremity of the cave. After a stay of nearly ten minutes in +this most horrible purgatory, we gladly left it to its loathsome +inhabitants the eel and the water-snake, who crawl about its recesses in +considerable numbers,--and returned to the inn--_De Roos's Travels in +the United States, &c._ + + * * * * * + + +THE GUILLOTINE. + + +The first sight, however, which it fell to my lot to witness at Brussels +in this second and short visit, was neither gay nor handsome, nor dear +in any sense, but the very reverse; it being that of the punishment of +the guillotine inflicted on a wretched murderer, named John Baptist +Michel.[2] Hearing, at the moment of my arrival, that this tragical +scene was on the point of being acted in the great square of the +market-place, I determined for once to make a sacrifice of my feelings +to the desire of being present at a spectacle, with the nature of which +the recollections of revolutionary horrors are so intimately associated. +Accordingly, following to the spot a guard of soldiers appointed to +assist at the execution, I disengaged myself as soon as possible from +the pressure of the immense crowd already assembled, and obtained a seat +at the window of a house immediately opposite the Hotel-de-Ville, in +front of the principal entrance to which the guillotine had been +erected. At the hour of twelve at noon precisely, the malefactor, tall, +athletic, and young, having his hands tied behind his back, and being +stripped to the waist, was brought to the square in a cart, under an +escort of gen-d'armes, attended by an elderly and respectable +ecclesiastic; who, having been previously occupied in administering the +consolations of religion to the condemned person in prison, now appeared +incessantly employed in tranquillizing him on his way to the scaffold. +Arrived near the fatal machine, the unhappy man stepped out of the +vehicle, knelt at the feet of his confessor, received the priestly +benediction, kissed some individuals who accompanied him, and was +hurried by the officers of justice up the steps of the cube-form +structure of wood, painted of a blood-red, on which stood the dreadful +apparatus of death. To reach the top of the platform, to be fast bound +to a board, to be placed horizontally under the axe, and deprived of +life by its unerring blow, was, in the case of this miserable offender, +the work literally of a moment. It was indeed an awfully sudden transit +from time to eternity. He could only cry out, "_Adieu, mes amis_," and +he was gone. The severed head, passing through a red-coloured bag fixed +under, fell to the ground--the blood spouted forth from the neck like +water from a fountain--the body, lifted up without delay, was flung down +through a trap-door in the platform. Never did capital punishment more +quickly take effect on a human being; and whilst the executioner was +coolly taking out the axe from the groove of the machine, and placing +it, covered as it was with gore, in a box, the remains of the culprit, +deposited in a shell, were hoisted into a wagon, and conveyed to the +prison. In twenty minutes all was over, and the _Grande Place_ nearly +cleared of its thousands, on whom the dreadful scene seemed to have +made, as usual, the slightest possible impression--_Stevenson's Tour in +France, Switzerland, &c._ + + [2] The circumstances of the case were as follows:--Jean + Baptiste Michel, aged 36, a blacksmith, accompanied by a female + named Marie Anne Debeyst, aged 22, was proceeding from Brussels + to Vilvorde, one day in the month of March, 1824. In the + Alleverte, they overtook a servant girl, who was imprudent + enough to mention to them that her master had entrusted her + with a sum of money. Near Vilvorde, Michel and his paramour, + having formed their plan of assassination and robbery, rejoined + the poor girl, whom they had momentarily left, and violently + demanded the bag containing the gold and silver. The + unfortunate young creature resisted their attacks as long as + she could, but was soon felled to the ground by Michel, who + with a thick stick fractured her skull, whilst Debeyst trod + upon the prostrate victim of their horrid crime. These wretches + were shortly afterwards arrested and committed to prison. On + the 5th of April, 1825, they were condemned to death by the + Court of Assize at Brussels, but implored of the royal clemency + a commutation of punishment. This was granted to the woman, + whose sentence was changed to perpetual imprisonment. Michel's + petition was rejected. + + * * * * * + + +THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE. + + +Of all the miseries of human life, and God knows they are manifold +enough, there are few more utterly heart-sickening and overwhelming than +those endured by the unlucky Heir Presumptive; when, after having +submitted to the whims and caprices of some rich relation, and endured a +state of worse than Egyptian bondage, for a long series of years, he +finds himself cut off with a shilling, or a mourning ring; and the El +Dorado of his tedious term of probation and expectancy devoted to the +endowment of methodist chapels and Sunday schools; or bequeathed to some +six months' friend (usually a female housekeeper, or spiritual adviser) +who, entering the vineyard at the eleventh hour, (the precise moment at +which his patience and humility become exhausted,) carries off the +golden prize, and adds another melancholy confirmation, to those already +upon record, of the fallacy of all human anticipations. It matters +little what may have been the motives of his conduct; whether duty, +affection, or that more powerful incentive self-interest; how long or +how devotedly he may have humoured the foibles or eccentricities of his +relative; or what sacrifices he may have made to enable him to comply +with his unreasonable caprices: the result is almost invariably the +same. The last year of the Heir Presumptive's purgatory, nay, perhaps +even the last month, or the last week, is often the drop to the full cup +of his endurance. His patience, however it may have been propped by +self-interest, or feelings of a more refined description, usually breaks +down before the allotted term has expired; and the whole fabric it has +cost him such infinite labour to erect, falls to the ground along with +it. It is well if his personal exertions, and the annoyances to which he +has subjected himself during the best period of his existence, form the +whole of his sacrifices. But, alas! it too often happens that, +encouraged by the probability of succeeding in a few years to an +independent property, and ambitious, moreover, of making such an +appearance in society as will afford the old gentleman or lady no excuse +for being ashamed of their connexion with him, he launches into expenses +he would never otherwise have dreamed of incurring, and contracts debts +without regard to his positive means of liquidating them, on the +strength of a contingency which, if he could but be taught to believe +it, is of all earthly anticipations the most remote and uncertain. A +passion for unnecessary expense is, under different circumstances, +frequently repressed by an inability to procure credit; but it is the +curse and bane of Mr. Omnium's nephew, and Miss Saveall's niece, that so +far from any obstacle being opposed to their prodigality, almost +unlimited indulgence is offered, nay, actually pressed upon them, by the +trades-people of their wealthy relations; who take especial care that +their charges shall be of a nature to repay them for any complaisance or +long suffering, as it regards the term of credit, they may be called +upon to display. But independently of the additional expense into which +the Heir Presumptive is often seduced by the operation of these +temptations, and his anxiety to live in a style in some degree accordant +with his expectations, what is he not called upon to endure from the +caprices, old-fashioned notions, eccentricities, avarice, and obstinacy, +of the old tyrant to whom he thus consents to sell himself, and it may +be his family, body and soul, for an indefinite number of +years.--_National Tales_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE MONTHS. + +JULY. + +[Illustration] + + + The sultry noontide of July + Now bids us seek the forest's shade; + Or for the crystal streamlet sigh. + That flows in some sequestered glade. + +B. BARTON. + + * * * * * + + +Summer! glowing summer! This is the month of heat and sunshine, of +clear, fervid skies, dusty roads, and shrinking streams; when doors and +windows are thrown open, a cool gale is the most welcome of all +visiters, and every drop of rain "is worth its weight in gold." Such is +July commonly--such it was in 1825, and such, in a scarcely less degree, +in 1826; yet it is sometimes, on the contrary, a very showery month, +putting the hay-maker to the extremity of his patience, and the farmer +upon anxious thoughts for his ripening corn; generally speaking, +however, it is the heart of our summer. The landscape presents an air of +warmth, dryness, and maturity; the eye roams over brown pastures, corn +fields "already white to harvest," dark lines of intersecting +hedge-rows, and darker trees, lifting their heavy heads above them. The +foliage at this period is rich, full, and vigorous; there is a fine haze +cast over distant woods and bosky slopes, and every lofty and majestic +tree is filled with a soft shadowy twilight, which adds infinitely to +its beauty--a circumstance that has never been sufficiently noticed by +either poet or painter. Willows are now beautiful objects in the +landscape; they are like rich masses of arborescent silver, especially +if stirred by the breeze, their light and fluent forms contrasting +finely with the still and sombre aspect of the other trees. + +Now is the general season of _haymaking_. Bands of mowers, in their +light trousers and broad straw hats, are astir long before the fiery eye +of the sun glances above the horizon, that they may toil in the +freshness of the morning, and stretch themselves at noon in luxurious +ease by trickling waters, and beneath the shade of trees. Till then, +with regular strokes and a sweeping sound, the sweet and flowery grass +falls before them, revealing at almost every step, nests of young birds, +mice in their cozy domes, and the mossy cells of the humble bee +streaming with liquid honey; anon, troops of haymakers are abroad, +tossing the green swaths wide to the sun. It is one of Nature's +festivities, endeared by a thousand pleasant memories and habits of the +olden days, and not a soul can resist it. + +There is a sound of tinkling teams and of wagons rolling along lanes and +fields the whole country over, aye, even at midnight, till at length the +fragrant ricks rise in the farmyard, and the pale smooth-shaven fields +are left in solitary beauty. + +They who know little about it may deem the strong _penchant_ of our +poets, and of ourselves, for rural pleasures, mere romance and poetic +illusion; but if poetic beauty alone were concerned, we must still +admire _harvest-time_ in the country. The whole land is then an Arcadia, +full of simple, healthful, and rejoicing spirits. Overgrown towns and +manufactories may have changed for the worse, the spirit and feelings of +our population; in them, "evil communications may have corrupted good +manners;" but in the country at large, there never was a more +simple-minded, healthful-hearted, and happy race of people than our +present British peasantry. They have cast off, it is true, many of their +ancestors' games and merrymakings, but they have in no degree lost their +soul of mirth and happiness. This is never more conspicuous than in +_harvest-time_. + +With the exception of a casual song of the lark in a fresh morning, of +the blackbird and thrush at sunset, or the monotonous wail of the +yellow-hammer, the silence of birds is now complete; even the lesser +reed-sparrow, which may very properly be called the _English mock-bird_, +and which kept up a perpetual clatter with the notes of the sparrow, the +swallow, the white-throat, &c. in every hedge-bottom, day and night, +has ceased. + +Boys will now be seen in the evening twilight with match, gunpowder, +&c., and green boughs for self-defence, busy in storming the paper-built +castles of _wasps_, the larvae of which furnish anglers with store of +excellent baits. Spring-flowers have given place to a very different +class. Climbing plants mantle and festoon every hedge. The wild hop, the +brione, the clematis or traveller's joy, the large white convolvulus, +whose bold yet delicate flowers will display themselves to a very late +period of the year--vetches, and white and yellow ladies-bed-straw-- +invest almost every bush with their varied beauty, and breathe on the +passer-by their faint summer sweetness. The _campanula rotundifolia_, +the hare-bell of poets, and the blue-bell of botanists, arrests the eye +on every dry bank, rock, and wayside, with its beautiful cerulean bells. +There too we behold wild scabiouses, mallows, the woody nightshade, +wood-betony, and centaury; the red and white-striped convolvulus also +throws its flowers under your feet; corn fields glow with whole armies +of scarlet poppies, cockle, and the rich azure plumes of +viper's-bugloss; even _thistles_, the curse of Cain, diffuse a glow of +beauty over wastes and barren places. Some species, particularly the +musk thistles, are really noble plants, wearing their formidable arms, +their silken vest, and their gorgeous crimson tufts of fragrant flowers +issuing from a coronal of interwoven down and spines, with a grace which +casts far into the shade many a favourite of the garden. + +But whoever would taste all the sweetness of July, let him go, in +pleasant company, if possible, into heaths and woods; it is there, in +her uncultured haunts, that summer now holds her court. The stern +castle, the lowly convent, the deer and the forester have vanished +thence many ages; yet nature still casts round the forest-lodge, the +gnarled oak and lovely mere, the same charms as ever. The most hot and +sandy tracts, which we might naturally imagine would now be parched up, +are in full glory. The _erica tetralix_, or bell-heath, the most +beautiful of our indigenous species, is now in bloom, and has converted +the brown bosom of the waste into one wide sea of crimson; the air is +charged with its honied odour. The dry, elastic turf glows, not only +with its flowers, but with those of the wild thyme, the clear blue +milkwort, the yellow asphodel, and that curious plant the _sundew_, with +its drops of inexhaustible liquor sparkling in the fiercest sun like +diamonds. There wave the cotton-rush, the tall fox-glove, and the taller +golden mullein. There creep the various species of heath-berries, +cranberries, bilberries, &c., furnishing the poor with a source of +profit, and the rich of luxury. What a pleasure it is to throw ourselves +down beneath the verdant screen of the beautiful fern, or the shade of a +venerable oak, in such a scene, and listen to the summer sounds of bees, +grasshoppers, and ten thousand other insects, mingled with the more +remote and solitary cries of the pewit and the curlew! Then, to think of +the coach-horse, urged on his sultry stage, or the plough-boy and his +teem, plunging in the depths of a burning fallow, or of our ancestors, +in times of national famine, plucking up the wild fern-roots for bread, +and what an enhancement of our own luxurious ease![3] + +But woods, the depths of woods, are the most delicious retreats during +the fiery noons of July. The great azure campanulas, or Canterbury +bells, are there in bloom, and, in chalk or limestone districts, there +are also now to be found those curiosities, the _bee_ and _fly +orchises_. The soul of John Evelyn well might envy us a wood lounge at +this period. + +_Time's Telescope._ + + [3] It is a fact not known to every juvenile lover of nature, + that a transverse section of a fern-root presents a miniature + picture of an _oak tree_ which no painter could rival. + + * * * * * + + + +ASTRONOMICAL OCCURENCES +FOR JULY, 1827. + + * * * * * + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +The sun is in apogee, or at his greatest distance from the earth on the +2nd, in 10 deg. _Cancer_; he enters _Leo_ on the 23rd, at 5h. 13m. +afternoon; he is in conjunction with the planet Saturn on the 2nd at +11h. 30m. morning, in 9 deg. _Cancer_, and with Mars on the 12th at 1h. +45m. afternoon, being advanced 10 deg. further in the eliptic. + +Venus and Saturn are also in conjunction on the 26th at 3 h. afternoon, +in 13 deg. _Cancer_. + +Mercury will again be visible for a short time about the middle of the +month a little after the sun has set, arriving on the 16th at his +greatest eastern elongation, or apparent distance from the centre of the +system, as seen from the earth in 20 deg. _Leo_; and in aphelio, or that +point of his orbit most distant from the sun, on the 22nd; he becomes +stationary on the 29th. + +There is only one visible eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite this +month--on the 5th, at 10h. 21m. evening. + +The Georgium Sidus, or Herschel, comes to an opposition with the sun on +the 19th, at 6h. 15m. evening; he is then nearest the earth, and +consequently in the most favourable position for observation; he began +retrograding on the 1st of May in 28 deg. 12m. of _Capricornus_; he +rises on the 1st, at 9h. 11m. evening, culminating at 1h. 16m., and +setting at 5h. 21m. morning, pursuing the course of the sun on the 17th +of January; he moves only 13m. of a deg. in the course of the month, +rising 2 h. earlier on the 31st. + +This planet, called also Uranus, was discovered by Herschel on the 13th +of March, 1781. It is the most distant orb in our system yet known. From +certain inequalities on the motion of Jupiter and Saturn, the existence +of a planet of considerable size beyond the orbit of either had been +before suspected; its apparent magnitude, as seen from the earth, is +about 3-1/2 sec., or of the size of a star of the sixth magnitude, and +as from its distance from the sun, it shines but with a pale light, it +cannot often be distinguished with the naked eye. Its diameter is about +4-1/2 times that of the earth, and completes its revolution in something +less than 83-1/2 years. The want of light in this planet, on account of +its great distance from the sun, is supplied by six moons, which revolve +round their primary in different periods. There is a remarkable +peculiarity attached to their orbits, which are nearly perpendicular to +the plane of the ecliptic, and they revolve in them in a direction +contrary to the order of the signs. + +"Moore," in an old almanack, speaking on the difference of light and +heat enjoyed by the inhabitants of _Saturn_, and the _earth_, says,-- + + "From hence how large, how strong the sun's bright ball, + But seen from thence, how languid and how small, + When the keen north with all its fury blows, + Congeals the floods and forms the fleecy snows: + 'Tis heat intense, to what can there be known, + Warmer our poles than in its burning (!) zone; + One moment's cold like their's would pierce the bone, + Freeze the heart's blood, and turn us all to stone." + +Were Saturn thus situated, what would the inhabitants of Herschel feel, +whose distance is still further?--pursuing this train of reasoning, the +heat in the planet Mercury would be seven times greater than on our +globe, and were the earth in the same position, all the water on its +surface would boil, and soon be turned into vapour, but as the degree of +sensible heat in any planet _does not_ depend altogether on its nearness +to the sun, the temperature of these planets may be as mild as that of +the most genial climate of our globe. + +The theory of the sun being a body of fire having been long since +exploded, and heat being found to be generated by the union of the sun's +rays with the atmosphere of the earth, so the caloric contained in the +atmosphere on the surfaces of the planets may be distributed in +different quantities, according to the situation they occupy with regard +to the sun, and which is put into action by the influence of the solar +rays, so as to produce that degree of sensible heat requisite for each +respective planet. We have only to suppose that a small quantity of +caloric exists in Mercury, and a greater quantity in Herschel, which is +fifty times farther from the sun than the other, and there is no reason +to believe that those planets nearest the sun suffer under the action of +excessive heat, or that the more distant are exposed to the rigours of +insufferable cold, which, in either case, might render them unfit for +the abodes of intellectual beings. PASCHE. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SKETCH BOOK + +NO. XLI. + + * * * * * + + +THE AUTHOR AND HIS COAT. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +My master, at first sight of me, expressed great admiration. He had +given his architect of garments orders to make him a blue coat in his +best style; in consequence of which I was ushered into the world. The +gentleman who introduced me into company was at the time in very high +spirits, being engaged in a new literary undertaking, of the success of +which he indulged very sanguine hopes. On this occasion we, that is, to +use similar language to Cardinal Wolsey, in a well-known instance, I and +my master paid a great number of visits to his particular friends, and +others whom he thought likely to encourage and promote his project The +reception _we_ generally met with was highly satisfactory; smiles and +promises of support were bestowed in abundance upon _us_. I use the +plural number, with justice, as it will appear in the sequel, although +my master scarcely ever dreamt that I had anything to do with it. As I +had, however, the special privilege of being _behind his back_, I had +the advantage which that situation peculiarly confers, of arriving at a +knowledge of the truth. He never dreamt that the expressions, "How well +you are looking,"--"I am glad to see you," &c. so common in his ears, +would scarcely ever have been used had it not been for my influence. To +be sure I have overheard him say, as we have been walking along, "There +goes an old acquaintance of mine; but, bless me, how altered he is! he +looks poor and meanly dressed, but I'm determined I'll speak to him, for +fear he should think me so shabby as to shy him." Thus giving an +instance in himself, certainly, of respect for the _man_ and not the +_coat_. My short history goes rather to prove that the reverse is almost +every day's experience. Matters went on pretty well with us until my +master was seized with a severe fit of illness, in consequence of which +his literary scheme was completely defeated, and his condition in life +materially injured; of course, the glad tones of encouragement which I +had been accustomed to hear were changed into expressions of condolence, +and sometimes assurances of unabated friendship; but then it must be +remembered that I, the handsomest blue coat, was _still in good +condition_, and it will perhaps appear, that if I were not my master's +_warmest_ friend, I was, at all events, the only one that _stuck to him +to the last_. Eternal respect to both of us continued much the same for +some time longer, but by degrees we both, _at the same time_, observed, +that an alteration began to take place. My master attributed this to his +altered fortunes, and I placed it to the score of my decayed +appearance--the threadbare cloth and tarnished button came in, I was +sure, for their full share of neglect, and he at last fell into the same +opinion. To describe all the variety of treatment that we experienced +would be a tedious and unpleasant task,--but I was the more convinced +that I had at least as much to do with it as my master, from observing +that all the gradations in manner, from coolness to shyness, and from +shyness to neglect, kept pace, remarkably, with the changes in my +appearance. My master was, at length, the only individual who paid any +respect or attention to me, after most of his old acquaintances had +ceased to notice him. I have heard him exclaim, "Oh, that mankind would +treat me with as much constancy as my old true blue! Thou hast +faithfully served me throughout the vicissitudes of fortune, and art +faithful still, now both of us are left to wither in adversity." + +I could make a long story of it, were I to detail all my adventures; +they may, however, be easily imagined from what has been stated, and +from which it is evident, that in too many instances, the world pays +more respect to _the coat_, than to _the man_, and therefore that a man +would often derive more consequence and benefit if he had the advantage +of having for his patron--_a tailor_ instead of _a man of rank_. J. B. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NOVELIST. + +NO. CIV. + + * * * * * + +THE COTTER'S DAUGHTER. + + +It was a cold stormy night in December, and the green logs as they +blazed and crackled on the Cotter's hearth, were rendered more +delightful, more truly comfortable, by the contrast with the icy showers +of snow and sleet which swept against the frail casement, making all +without cheerless and miserable. + +The Cotter was a handsome, intelligent old man, and afforded me much +information upon glebes, and flocks, and rural economy; while his +spouse, a venerable matron, was humming to herself some long since +forgotten ballad; and industriously twisting and twirling about her long +knitting needles, that promised soon to produce a pair of formidable +winter hose. Their son, a stout, healthy young peasant of +three-and-twenty, was sitting in the spacious chimney corner, sharing +his frugal supper of bread and cheese with a large, shaggy sheep dog, +who sat on his haunches wistfully watching every mouthful, and snap, +snap, snapping, and dextrously catching every morsel that was cast +to him. + +We were all suddenly startled, however, by his loud bark; when, jumping +up, he rushed, or rather flew towards the door. + +"Whew! whew!" whistled the youth--"Whoy--what the dickens ails thee, +Rover?" said he, rising and following him to the door to learn the cause +of his alarm. "What! be they gone again, ey?" for the dog was silent. +"What do thee sniffle at, boy? On'y look at 'un feyther; how the beast +whines and waggles his stump o' tail!--It's some 'un he knows for +sartain. I'd lay a wager it wur Bill Miles com'd about the +harrow, feyther." + +"Did thee hear any knock, lad?" said the father. + +"Noa!" replied the youth; "but mayhap Bill peep'd thro' the hoal in the +shutter, and is a bit dash'd like at seeing a gentleman here. Bill! is't +thee, Master Miles?" continued he, bawling. "Lord! the wind whistles so +a' can't hear me. Shall I unlatch the door, feyther?" + +"Ay, lad, do, an thou wilt," replied the old man; "Rover's wiser nor we +be--a dog 'll scent a friend, when a man would'nt know un." + +Rover still continued his low importunate whine, and began to scratch +against the door. The lad threw it open--the dog brushed past him in an +instant, and his quick, short, continuous yelping, expressed his +immoderate joy and recognition. + +"Hollo! where be'st thee, Bill?" said the young peasant, stepping over +the threshold. "Come, none of thee tricks upon travellers, Master Bill; +I zee thee beside the rick yon!" and quitting the door for half a +minute, he again hastily entered the cot. The rich colour of robust +health had fled from his cheeks--his lips quivered--and he looked like +one bereft of his senses, or under the influence of some frightful +apparition. + +The dame rose up--her work fell from trembling hands-- + +"What's the matter?" said she. + +"What's frighted thee, lad?" asked the old man, rising. + +"Oh! feyther!--oh! mother!"--exclaimed he, drawing them hastily on one +side and whispering something in a low, and almost inaudible voice. + +The old woman raised her hands in supplication and tottered to her +chair while the Cotter, bursting out into a paroxysm of violent rage, +clutched his son's arm, and exclaimed in a loud voice: + +"Make fast the door, boy, an thou'lt not have my curse on thee!--I tell +'ee, she shan't come hither!--No--never--never;--there's poison in her +breath--a' will spurn her from me!--A pest on her!--What; wilt not do +my bidding?" + +"O! feyther, feyther!" cried the young peasant, whose heart seemed +overcharged with grief, "It be a cold, raw night--ye wou'dna kick a cur +from the door to perish in the storm! Doant 'ee be hot and hasty, +feyther, thou art not uncharitable--On me knees!"-- + +"Psha!" exclaimed the enraged father, only exasperated by his +remonstrances. "Whoy talk 'ee to me, son--I am deaf--deaf!--Mine own +hand shall bar the door agen her!"--adding with bitterness--"let her +die!"--and stepping past his prostrate son, was about to execute his +purpose--when, a young girl, whose once gay and flimsy raiment was +drenched and stained, and torn by the violence of the storm, appeared at +the door. The old man recoiled with a shudder--she was as pale as +death--and her trembling limbs seemed scarcely able to support her--a +profusion of light brown hair hung dishevelled and in disorder about her +neck and shoulders, and added to her forlorn appearance. She stretched +forth her arms and pronounced the name of "Father!" but further +utterance was prevented by the convulsive sobs that heaved her bosom. + +"Mary--woman!" cried the old man, trembling--"Call me not feyther--thou +art none of mine--thou hast no feyther now--nor I a daughter--thou art a +serpent that hath stung the bosom that cherished thee! Go to the fawning +villain--the black-hearted sycophant that dragged thee from our +arms--from our happy home to misery and pollution--go, and bless him for +breaking thy poor old feyther's heart!" + +Overcome by these heart-rending reproaches, the distressed girl fainted; +but the strong arm of the young Cotter supported her--for her +tender-hearted youth, moved by his fallen sister's sorrows, had ventured +again to intercede. + +"Hah! touch not her defiled and loathsome body," cried the old +man--"thrust her from the door, and let her find a grave where she may. +Boy! wilt thou dare disobey me?" and he raised his clenched hand, while +anger flashed from his eye. + +"Strike! feyther--strike me!" said the poor lad, bursting into +tears--"fell me to the 'arth! Kill me, an thou wilt--I care not--I will +never turn my heart agen poor Mary!--Bean't she my sister? Did thee not +teach me to love her?--Poor lass!--she do want it all now, feyther--for +she be downcast and broken-hearted!--Nay, thee art kind and good, +feyther--know thee art--I zee thine eyes be full o' tears--and +thee--thee woant cast her away from thee, I know thee woant. Mother, +speak to 'un; speak to sister Mary too--it be our own Mary! Doant 'ee +kill her wi' unkindness!" + +The old man, moved by his affectionate entreaties, no longer offered any +opposition to his son's wishes, but hiding his face in his hands, he +fled from the affecting scene to an adjoining room. + +Her venerable mother having recovered from the shock of her lost +daughter's sudden appearance, now rose to the assistance of the +unfortunate, and by the aid of restoratives brought poor Mary to the +full sense of her wretchedness. She was speedily conveyed to the same +humble pallet, to which, in the days of her innocence and peace, she had +always retired so light-hearted and joyously, but where she now found a +lasting sleep--an eternal repose!--Yes, poor Mary died!--and having won +the forgiveness and blessing of her offended parents, death was welcome +to her.--_Absurdities: in Prose and Verse_. + + * * * * * + + + +ORIGINS AND INVENTIONS. + +No. XXVII. + + * * * * * + + +VAUXHALL GARDENS. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + "Here waving groves a checkered scene display, + And part admit, and part exclude the day." + +POPE. + + +Of the origin of these enchanting gardens, Mr. Aubrey, in his +"Antiquities of Surrey," gives us the following account;--"At Vauxhall, +Sir Samuel Morland built a fine room, anno 1667, the inside all of +looking-glass, and fountains very pleasant to behold, which is much +visited by strangers: it stands in the middle of the garden, covered +with Cornish slate, on the point of which he placed a punchinello, very +well carved, which held a dial, but the winds have demolished it." And +Sir John Hawkins, in his "History of Music," has the following account +of it:--"The house seems to have been rebuilt since the time that Sir +Samuel Morland dwelt in it. About the year 1730, Mr. Jonathan Tyers +became the occupier of it, and, there being a large garden belonging to +it, planted with a great number of stately trees, and laid out in shady +walks, it obtained the name of Spring Gardens; and the house being +converted into a tavern, or place of entertainment, was much frequented +by the votaries of pleasure. Mr. Tyers opened it with an advertisement +of a _Ridotto al Fresco_, a term which the people of this country had +till that time been strangers to. These entertainments were repeated in +the course of the summer, and numbers resorted to partake of them. This +encouraged the proprietor to make his garden a place of musical +entertainment, for every evening during the summer season. To this end +he was at great expense in decorating the gardens with paintings; he +engaged a band of excellent musicians; he issued silver tickets at one +guinea each for admission, and receiving great encouragement, he set up +an organ in the orchestra, and, in a conspicuous part of the garden, +erected a fine statue of Mr. Handel." These gardens are said to be the +first of the kind in England; but they are not so old as the Mulberry +Gardens, (on the spot now called Spring Gardens, near St. James's Park,) +where king Charles II. went to regale himself the night after his +restoration, and formed an immediate connexion with Mrs. Palmer, +afterwards Duchess of Cleveland. The trees, however, are more than a +century old, and, according to tradition, were planted for a public +garden. This property was formerly held by Jane Fauxe, or Vaux, widow, +in 1615; and it is highly probable (says Nichols) that she was the +relict of the infamous Guy. In the "Spectator," No. 383, Mr. Addison +introduces a voyage from the Temple Stairs to Vauxhall, in which he is +accompanied by his friend, Sir Roger de Coverley. In the "Connoisseur," +No. 68, we find a very humourous description of the behaviour of an old +penurious citizen, who had treated his family here with a handsome +supper. The magnificence of these gardens calls to recollection the +magic representations in the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments," where + + "The blazing glories, with a cheerful ray, + Supply the sun, and counterfeit the day." + +Grosely, in his "Tour to London,"[4] says, (relating to Ranelagh and +Vauxhall,) "These entertainments, which begin in the month of May, are +continued every night. They bring together persons of all ranks and +conditions; and amongst these, a considerable number of females, whose +charms want only that cheerful air, which is the flower and quintessence +of beauty. These places serve equally as a rendezvous either for +business or intrigue. They form, as it were, private coteries; there you +see fathers and mothers, with their children, enjoying domestic +happiness in the midst of public diversions. The English assert, that +such entertainments as these can never subsist in France, on account of +the levity of the people. Certain it is, that those of Vauxhall and +Ranelagh, which are guarded only by outward decency, are conducted +without tumult and disorder, which often disturb the public diversions +of France. I do not know whether the English are gainers thereby; the +joy which they seem in search of at those places does not beam through +their countenances; they look as grave at Vauxhall and Ranelagh as at +the Bank, at church, or a private club. All persons there seem to say, +what a young English nobleman said to his governor, _Am I as joyous as I +should be?_" + +P. T. W. + + [4] 1765, translated from the French by Thomas Nugent, LL.D. + + * * * * * + + + +FINE ARTS. + + * * * * * + +THE CHIEF CAUSES OF THE SUCCESS OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE IN GREECE AND +ROME. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +A cursory glance at the principal occasion of the amazing success +obtained by the Greeks and Romans, in painting and sculpture, during the +early ages, may perhaps prove interesting to the lovers of the arts in +this country. + +The elevation to which the arts in Greece arrived was owing to the +concurrence of various circumstances. The imitative arts, we are told, +in that classic country formed a part of the administration, and were +inseparably connected with the heathen worship. The temples were +magnificently erected, and adorned with numerous statues of pagan +deities, before which, in reverential awe, the people prostrated +themselves. Every man of any substance had an idol in his own +habitation, executed by a reputed sculptor. In all public situations the +patriotic actions of certain citizens were represented, that beholders +might be induced to emulate their virtues. On contemplating these +masterpieces of art, which were so truly exquisite that the very coldest +spectator was unable to resist their _almost magical_ influence, the +vicious were reclaimed, and the ignorant stood abashed. Indeed, it has +often been asserted, that the statues by Phidias and Praxiteles were so +inimitably executed, that the people of Paros adored them as living +gods. Those artists who performed such extraordinary wonders as these +were held in an esteemed light, of which we cannot form the least idea. +We are certain they were paid most enormous prices for their +productions, and consequently could afford to adorn them with every +beauty of art, and to bestow more time on them than can ever be expected +from any modern artist. + +As soon as the arts had arrived at their highest pitch of excellency in +Greece, the country was laid waste by the invading power of the Romans. +All the Greek cities which contained the greatest treasures were +demolished, and all the pictures[5] and statues fell into the hands of +the victorious general, who had them carefully preserved and conveyed +from the land where they had been adored. Of the estimation in which +these great works were held by the Romans, we may form some idea by the +general assuring a soldier, to whose charge he gave a statue by +Praxiteles, that if he broke it, he should get another as well made in +its place. War is a very destructive enemy to painting and sculpture; +the intestine quarrels which ensued after the Romans had conquered the +country, rendered the exercise of the art impracticable. + +The arts were neglected in Rome until the introduction of the popish +religion. At that eventful era, statues and pictures were eagerly sought +for; the admirable Grecian works were appropriated to purposes quite +contrary to their pagan origin, for in many cases heathen deities were +converted into apostles. The labours of Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles, +Lysippus, and Scopas,[6] were highly valued by the Romans, who became +the correct imitators, and in time the rivals, of those celebrated +sculptors. G.W.N. + + [5] The pictures alluded to were the works of Apelles, + Apollodorus, and Protogenes. + + [6] These sculptors, according to Pliny, were the most reputed + among the ancients. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE +PUBLIC JOURNALS + + * * * * * + +LOVE'S VICTIM.[7] + + She left her own warm home + To tempt the frozen waste, + What time the traveller fear'd to roam, + And hunter shunn'd the blast, + Love pour'd his strength into her soul-- + Could peril e'er his power controul! + + She left her own warm home. + When stone, and herb, and tree, + And all beneath heaven's lurid dome + By wintry majesty, + In his stern age, were clad with snow, + And human hearts beat chill and slow. + + It was a fearful hour + For one so young and fair: + The woods had not one sheltering bower, + The earth was trackless there, + The very boughs in silver slept, + As the sea-foam had o'er them swept. + + Snow after snow came down, + The sky look'd fix'd in ice; + She deem'd amid the season's power, + Her love would all suffice + To keep the source of being warm, + And mock the terrors of the storm. + + Love was her world of life. + She thought but of her heart, + And knowing that the winter's strife + Could not its hope dispart, + She dream'd not that its home of clay + Might yield before the tempest's sway-- + + Or judged that passion's power-- + Passion so strong and pure. + Might mock the snow-flake's wildering shower, + Proud that it could endure, + As woman oft in times before + Had peril borne as much or more. + + She went--dawn past o'er dawn, + None saw her face again, + The eyes she should have gazed upon, + Look'd for her face in vain-- + The ear to which her voice was song, + Her voice had sought--how vainly long! + + There is in Saco's vale + A gently swelling hill, + Shadows have wrapt it like a veil + From trees that mark it still, + Around, the mountains towering blue + Look on that spot of saddest hue. + + 'Twas by that little hill, + At the dark noon of night, + Close by a frozen snow-hid rill, + Where branches close unite + Even in winter's leafless time, + The skeletons of summer's prime. + + That flash'd the traveller's flame + On tree and precipice, + And show'd a fair unearthly frame + In robes of glittering ice, + With head against a trunk inclined, + Like a dream-spirit of the mind. + + 'Twas that love-wander'd maid, death-pale, + Her very heart's blood froze, + Love's Niobe, in her own vale, + Now reckless of all woes-- + Love's victim fair, and true, find meet, + As she of the famed Paraclete. + + The mountains round shall tell + Her tale to travellers long. + The little vale of Saco swell + The western poet's song, + And "Nancy's Hill" in loftier rhymes + Be sung through unborn realms and times. + +_New Monthly Magazine_. + + [7] A few miles below the Notch of the White Mountains in the + Valley of Saco, is a little rise of land called "Nancy's Hill." + It was formerly thickly covered with trees, a cluster of which + remains to mark the spot. In 1773, at Dartmouth, Jefferson co. + U.S. lived Nancy----, of respectable connexions. She was + engaged to be married. Her lover had set out for Lancaster. She + would follow him in the depth of winter, and on foot. There was + not a house for thirty miles, and the way through the wild + woods a footpath only. She persisted in her design, and + wrapping herself in her long cloak, proceeded on her way. Snow + and frost took place for several weeks, when some persons + passing her route, reached the lull at night. On lighting their + fires, an unearthly figure stood before them beneath the + bending branches, wrapped in a robe of ice. It was the lifeless + form of Nancy. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER + + "I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's + stuff."--_Wotton_. + + * * * * * + +The late Dr. Barclay was a wit and a scholar, as well as a very great +physiologist. When a happy illustration, or even a point of pretty broad +humour, occurred to his mind, he hesitated not to apply it to the +subject in hand; and in this way, he frequently roused and rivetted +attention, when more abstract reasoning might have failed of its aim. On +one occasion he happened to dine with a large party, composed chiefly of +medical men. As the wine cup circulated, the conversation accidentally +took a professional turn, and from the excitation of the moment, or some +other cause, two of the youngest individuals present were the most +forward in delivering their opinions. Sir James McIntosh once told a +political opponent, that so far from following his example of using hard +words and soft arguments, he would pass, if possible, into the opposite +extreme, and use soft words and hard arguments. But our unfledged M.D.'s +disregarded the above salutary maxim, and made up in loudness what they +wanted in learning. At length, one of them said something so +emphatic--we mean as to manner--that a pointer dog started from his lair +beneath the table and _bow-wow-wowed_ so fiercely, that he fairly took +the lead in the discussion. Dr. Barclay eyed the hairy dialectician, and +thinking it high time to close the debate, gave the animal a hearty push +with his foot, and exclaimed in broad Scotch--"Lie still, ye brute; for +I am sure ye ken just as little about it as ony o'them." We need hardly +add, that this sally was followed by a hearty burst of laughter, in +which even the disputants good-humouredly joined. + + * * * * * + + Fair woman was made to bewitch-- + A pleasure, a pain, a disturber, a nurse, + A slave, or a tyrant, a blessing, or curse; + Fair woman was made to be--which? + + * * * * * + + + +_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand (near Somerset +House), and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers_. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 262, JULY 7, 1827 *** + +This file should be named 7m26210.txt or 7m26210.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7m26211.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7m26210a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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[PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + +HIS MAJESTY'S PONEY PHAETON. + +[Illustration] + + +We commence our tenth volume of the MIRROR with an embellishment quite +novel in design from the generality of our graphic illustrations, but +one which, we flatter ourselves, will excite interest among our friends, +especially after so recently, presenting them with a Portrait and Memoir +of his Majesty in the Supplement, which last week completed our ninth +volume. His Majesty, when residing at his cottage in Windsor Forest, the +weather being favourable, seldom allows a day to pass without taking his +favourite drive by the Long Walk, and Virginia Water, in his poney +phaeton, as represented in the above engraving. Windsor Park being +situated on the south side of the town, and 14 miles in circumference, +is admirably calculated for the enjoyment of a rural ride. The entrance +to the park is by a road called the _Long Walk_, near three miles in +length, through a double plantation of trees on each side, leading to the +Ranger's Lodge: on the north east side of the Castle is the _Little Park_, +about four miles in circumference: _Queen Elizabeth's Walk_ herein is +much frequented. At the entrance of this park is the _Queen's Lodge_, +a modern erection. This building stands on an easy ascent opposite the +upper court, on the south side, and commands a beautiful view of the +surrounding country. The gardens are elegant, and have been much +enlarged by the addition of the gardens and house of the duke of St. +Albans, purchased by his late majesty. The beautiful _Cottage Ornée_, an +engraving of which graces one of our early volumes, is also in the park, +and to which place of retirement his present Majesty resorts, and passes +much of his time in preference to the bustle and splendour of a royal +town life. + +Having now given as much description of the engraving as the subject +requires, we shall proceed to lay before our readers some further +anecdotes connected with the life of his Majesty; for our present +purpose, the following interesting article being adapted to our limits, +we shall introduce an + + _Original Letter of his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, to + Alexander Davison, Esq., on the death of Lord Nelson._ + + I am extremely obliged to you, my dear sir, for your confidential + letter, which I received this morning. You may be well assured, + that, did it depend upon me, there would not be a wish, a desire of + our-ever-to-be-lamented and much-loved friend, as well as adored + hero, that I should not consider as a solemn obligation upon his + friends and his country to fulfil; it is a duty they owe his memory, + and his matchless and unrivalled excellence: such are my sentiments, + and I should hope that there is still in this country sufficient + honour, virtue, and gratitude to prompt us to ratify and to carry + into effect the last dying request of our Nelson, and by that means + proving not only to the whole world, but to future ages, that we + were worthy of having such a man belonging to us. It must be + needless, my dear sir, to discuss over with you in particular the + irreparable loss dear Nelson ever must be, not merely to his friends + but to his country, especially at the present crisis--and during the + present most awful contest, his very name was a host of itself; + Nelson and Victory were one and the same to us, and it carried + dismay and terror to the hearts of our enemies. But the subject is + too painful a one to dwell longer upon; as to myself, all that I can + do, either publicly or privately, to testify the reverence, the + respect I entertain for his memory as a Hero, and as the greatest + public character that ever embellished the page of history, + independent of what I can with the greatest truth term, the + enthusiastic attachment I felt for him as a friend, I consider it as + my duty to fulfil, and therefore, though I may be prevented from + taking that ostensible and prominent situation at his funeral which + I think my birth and high rank entitled me to claim, still nothing + shall prevent me in a private character following his remains to + their last resting place; for though the station and the character + may be less ostensible, less prominent, yet the feelings of the + heart will not therefore be the less poignant, or the less acute. + + I am, my dear sir, with the greatest truth, + + Ever very sincerely your's, + + G. P.[1] + + _Brighton, Dec, 18th, 1805_. + + + [1] _New London Literary Gazette_. + + * * * * * + + +BYRON AND OTHER POETS COMPARED. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +There is a natural stimulus in man to offer adoration at the shrine of +departed genius.-- + + "There is a tear for all that die." + +But, when a transcendant genius is checked in its early age--when its +spring-shoots had only began to open--when it had just engaged in a new +feature devoted to man, and man to it, we cannot rest + + "In silent admiration, mixed with grief." + +Too often has splendid genius been suffered to live almost unobserved; +and have only been valued as their lives have been lost. Could the +divine Milton, or the great Shakspeare, while living, have shared that +profound veneration which their after generations have bestowed on their +high talents, happier would they have lived, and died more +extensively beloved. + +True, a Byron has but lately paid a universal debt. His concentrated +powers--his breathings for the happiness and liberty of mankind--his +splendid intellectual flowers, culled from a mind stored with the +choicest exotics, and cultivated with the most refined taste are all +still fresh in recollection. As the value of precious stones and metals +have become estimated by their scarcity, so will the fame of Byron live. + +A mind like Lord Byron's, + + "----born, not only to surprise, but cheer + With warmth and lustre all within its sphere," + +was one of Nature's brightest gems, whose splendour (even when +uncompared) dazzled and attracted all who passed within its sight. + + "So let him stand, through ages yet unborn." + +As comparison is a medium through which we are enabled to obtain most +accurate judgment, let us use it in the present instance, and compare +Lord Byron with the greatest poets that have preceded him, by which +means the world of letters will see what they have _really_ lost in Lord +Byron. To commence with the great Shakspeare himself, to whom universal +admiration continues to be paid. Had Shakspeare been cut off at the same +early period as Byron, _The Tempest, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, Julius +Caesar, Coriolanus_, and several others of an equal character, would +never have been written. The high reputation of Dryden would also have +been limited--his fame, perhaps, unknown. The _Absalom_ and _Achitophel_ +is the earliest of his best productions, which was written about his +fiftieth year; his principal production, at the age of Byron, was his +_Annus Mirabilis_; for nearly the whole of his dramatic works were +written at the latter part of his life. Pope is the like situated; that +which displayed most the power of his mind--which claims for him the +greatest praise--his _Essay on Man_, &c. appeared after his fortieth +year. _Windsor Forest_ was published in his twenty-second or +twenty-third year, both were the labour of some _years_; and the +immortal Milton, who published some few things before his thirtieth +year, sent not his great work, _Paradise Lost_, to the world until he +verged on sixty. + +With the poets, and the knowledge of what Byron _was_, we may ask what +he would have been had it pleased the Great Author of all things to +suffer the summer of his consummate mental powers to shine upon us? Take +the works of any of the abovenamed distinguished individuals previous to +their thirty-eighth year, and shall we perceive that flexibility of the +English language to the extent that Byron has left behind him? His +versatility was, indeed, astonishing and triumphant. His _Childe +Harold_, the _Bride of Abydos_, the _Corsair_, and _Don Juan_, (though +somewhat too freely written,) are established proofs of his unequalled +energy of mind. His power was unlimited; not only eloquent, but the +sublime, grave and gay, were all equally familiar to his muse. + +Few words are wanted to show that Byron was not depraved at heart; no +man possessed a more ready sympathy, a more generous mind to the +distressed, or was a more enthusiastic admirer of noble actions. These +feelings all strongly delineated in his character, would never admit, as +Sir Walter Scott has observed, "an imperfect moral sense, nor feeling, +dead to virtue." Severe as the + + "Combined usurpers on the throne of taste" + +have been, his character is marked by some of the best principles in +many parts of his writings. + + "The records there of friendships, held like rocks, + And enmities like sun-touch'd snow resign'd," + +are frequently visible. His glorious attachment to the Grecian cause is +a sufficient recompense for _previous_ follies exaggerated and +propagated by calumny's poisonous tongue. In a word, "there is scarce a +passion or a situation which has escaped his pen; and he might be drawn, +like Garrick, between the weeping and the laughing muses." + +A. B. C. + + * * * * * + + +THE SONG OF THE WIDOWED MOTHER TO HER CHILD. + +BY THE AUTHOR Of "AHAB." + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + O Sink to sleep, my darling boy, + Thy father's dead, thy mother lonely, + Of late thou wert his pride, his joy, + But now thou hast not one to own thee. + The cold wide world before us lies, + But oh! such heartless things live in it, + It makes me weep--then close thine eyes + Tho' it be but for one short minute. + + O sink to sleep, my baby dear, + A little while forget thy sorrow, + The wind is cold, the night is drear, + But drearier it will be to-morrow. + For none will help, tho' many see + Our wretchedness--then close thine eyes, love, + Oh, most unbless'd on earth is she + Who on another's aid relies, love. + + Thou hear'st me not! thy heart's asleep + Already, and thy lids are closing, + Then lie thee still, and I will weep + Whilst thou, my dearest, art reposing, + And wish that I could slumber free, + And with thee in yon heaven awaken, + O would that it our home might be, + For here we are by all forsaken. + + * * * * * + + +PAY OF THE JUDGES IN FORMER TIMES. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +In the twenty-third year of the reign of king Henry III., the salary of +the justices of the bench (now called the Common Pleas) was 20l. per +annum; in the forty-third year, 40l. In the twenty-seventh year, the +chief baron had 40 marks; the other barons, 20 marks; and in the forty, +ninth year, 4l. per annum. The justices _coram rege_ (now called the +King's Bench) had in the forty-third year of Henry III. 40l. per annum.; +the chief of the bench, 100 marks per annum; and next year, another +chief of the same court, had 100l.; but the chief of the court _coram +rege_ had only 100 marks per annum. + +In the reign of Edward I., the salaries of the justices were very +uncertain, and, upon the whole, they sunk from what they had been in the +reign of Henry III. The chief justice of the bench, in the seventh year +of Edward I., had but 40l. per annum, and the other justices there, 40 +marks. This continued the proportion in both benches till the +twenty-fifth year of Edward III., then the salary of the chief of the +King's Bench fell to 50 marks, or 33l. 6s. 8d., while that of the chief +of the bench was augmented to 100 marks, which may be considered as an +evidence of the increase of business and attendance there. The chief +baron had 40l.; the salaries of the other justices and barons were +reduced to 20l. + +In the reign of Edward II., the number of suitors so increased in the +common bench, that whereas there had usually been only three justices +there, that prince, at the beginning of his reign, was constrained to +increase them to six, who used to sit in two places,--a circumstance not +easy to be accounted for. Within three years after they were increased +to seven; next year they were reduced to six, at which number they +continued. + +The salaries of the judges, though they had continued the same from the +time of Edward I. to the twenty-fifth year of Edward III., were become +very uncertain. In the twenty-eighth year of this king, it appears, that +one of the justices of the King's Bench had 80 marks per annum. In the +thirty-ninth year of Edward III. the judges had in that court 40l.; the +same as the justices of the Common Pleas; but the chief of the King's +Bench, 100 marks. + +The salaries of the judges in the time of Henry IV. were as +follows:--The chief baron, and other barons, had 40 marks per annum; the +chief of the King's Bench, and of the Common Pleas, 40l. per annum; the +other justices, in either court, 40 marks. But the gains of the +practisers were become so great, that they could hardly be tempted to +accept a place on the bench with such low salaries; therefore in the +eighteenth year of Henry VI. the judges of all the courts at +Westminster, together with the king's attorney and sergeants, exhibited +a petition to parliament concerning the regular payment of their +salaries and perquisites of robes. The king assented to their request, +and order was taken for increasing their income, which afterwards became +larger, and more fixed; this consisted of a salary and an allowance for +robes. In the first year of Edward IV., the chief justice of the King's +Bench had 170 marks per annum, 5l. 6s. 6d. for his winter robes, and the +same for his Whitsuntide robes. Most of the judges had the honour of +knighthood; some of them were knights bannerets; and some had the order +of the Bath. + +In the first year of Henry VII. the chief justice of the court of King's +Bench had the yearly fee of 140 marks granted to him for his better +support; he had besides 5l. 6s. 11-1/4 d., and the sixth part of a +halfpenny (such is the accuracy of Sir William Dugdale, and the +strangeness of the sum,) for his winter robes, and 3l. 6s. 6d. for his +robes at Whitsuntide. + +In the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII. a further increase was made to +the fees of the judges;--to the chief justice of the King's Bench 30l. +per annum; to every other justice of that court 20l. per annum; to every +justice of the Common Pleas, 20l. per annum. + +There were usually in the court of Common Pleas five judges, sometimes +six; and in the reign of Henry VI. there were, it is said, eight judges +at one time in that court; but six appear to have been the regular +number. In the King's Bench there were sometimes four, sometimes five. +They did not sit above three hours a day in court,--from eight in the +morning to eleven. The courts were not open in the afternoon; but that +time was left unoccupied for suitors to confer with their counsel +at home. + +F. R. Y. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR +AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS. + + * * * * * + + +SIR WALTER SCOTT'S LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. + + +Sir Walter Scott, the author of _Waverley_, has become the biographer of +Napoleon Bonaparte; and the deepest interest is excited in the literary +world to know how the great master of romance and fiction acquits +himself in the execution of his task. In the preface to this elaborate +history, Sir Walter, with considerable ingenuousness, informs us that +"he will be found no enemy to the person of Napoleon. The term of +hostility is ended when the battle has been won, and the foe exists no +longer." But to our task: we shall attempt an analysis of the volumes +before us, and endeavour to gratify our readers with a narrative of +incidents that cannot fail interesting every British subject, whose +history, in fact, is strongly connected with the important events that +belong to the splendid career of Napoleon Bonaparte. + +The first and second volumes of Sir Walter's history are taken up with a +view of the French Revolution, from whence we shall extract a sketch of +the characters of three men of terror, whose names will long remain, we +trust, unmatched in history by those of any similar miscreants. These +men were the leaders of the revolution, and were called + +THE TRIUMVIRATE. + +Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivalled by his colleagues in +talent and audacity. He was a man of gigantic size, and possessed a +voice of thunder. His countenance was that of an Ogre on the shoulders +of a Hercules. He was as fond of the pleasures of vice as of the +practice of cruelty; and it was said there were times when he became +humanized amidst his debauchery, laughed at the terror which his furious +declamations excited, and might be approached with safety, like the +Maelstrom at the turn of tide. His profusion was indulged to an extent +hazardous to his popularity, for the populace are jealous of a lavish +expenditure, as raising their favourites too much above their own +degree; and the charge of peculation finds always ready credit with +them, when brought against public men. + +Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danton, that he did not seem +to seek for wealth, either for hoarding or expending, but lived in +strict and economical retirement, to justify the name of the +Incorruptible, with which he was honoured by his partizans. He appears +to have possessed little talent, saving a deep fund of hypocrisy, +considerable powers of sophistry, and a cold exaggerated strain of +oratory, as foreign to good taste, as the measures he recommended were +to ordinary humanity. It seemed wonderful, that even the seething and +boiling of the revolutionary cauldron should have sent up from the +bottom, and long supported on the surface, a thing so miserably void of +claims to public distinction; but Robespierre had to impose on the minds +of the vulgar, and he knew how to beguile them, by accommodating his +flattery to their passions and scale of understanding, and by acts of +cunning and hypocrisy, which weigh more with the multitude than the +words of eloquence, or the arguments of wisdom. The people listened as +to their Cicero, when he twanged out his apostrophes of _Pauvre Peuple, +Peuple vertueux!_ and hastened to execute whatever came recommended by +such honied phrases, though devised by the worst of men for the worst +and most inhuman of purposes. + +Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion, and though his countenance was +the image of his mind, he was vain even of his personal appearance, and +never adopted the external habits of a sans culotte. Amongst his fellow +Jacobins, he was distinguished by the nicety with which his hair was +arranged and powdered; and the neatness of his dress was carefully +attended to, so as to counterbalance, if possible, the vulgarity of his +person. His apartments, though small, were elegant and vanity had filled +them with representations of the occupant. Robespierre's picture at +length hung in one place, his miniature in another, his bust occupied a +niche, and on the table were disposed a few medallions exhibiting his +head in profile. The vanity which all this indicated was of the coldest +and most selfish character, being such as considers neglect as insult, +and receives homage merely as a tribute; so that, while praise is +received without gratitude, it is withheld at the risk of mortal hate. +Self-love of this dangerous character is closely allied with envy, and +Robespierre was one of the most envious and vindictive men that ever +lived. He never was known to pardon any opposition, affront, or even +rivalry; and to be marked in his tablets on such an account was a sure, +though perhaps not an immediate, sentence of death. Danton was a hero, +compared with this cold, calculating, creeping miscreant; for his +passions, though exaggerated, had at least some touch of humanity, and +his brutal ferocity was supported by brutal courage.--(_Continued at +page 17. [Note: See Mirror 263.]) + + * * * * * + + +THE EPICUREAN. + +_By T. Moore, Esq._ + + +The following is described by Alciphron, the hero of the tale, at the +termination of a festival, in a tone which strongly reminds us of +Rasselas:-- + +"The sounds of the song and dance had ceased, and I was now left in +those luxurious gardens alone. Though so ardent and active a votary of +pleasure, I had, by nature, a disposition full of melancholy;--an +imagination that presented sad thoughts even in the midst of mirth and +happiness, and threw the shadow of the future over the gayest illusions +of the present. Melancholy was, indeed, twin-born in my soul with +passion; and, not even in the fullest fervour of the latter were they +separated. From the first moment that I was conscious of thought and +feeling, the same dark thread had run across the web; and images of +death and annihilation mingled themselves with the most smiling scenes +through which my career of enjoyment led me. My very passion for +pleasure but deepened these gloomy fancies. For, shut out, as I was by +my creed, from a future life, and having no hope beyond the narrow +horizon of this, every minute of delight assumed a mournful preciousness +in my eyes, and pleasure, like the flower of the cemetery, grew but more +luxuriant from the neighbourhood of death. This very night my triumph, +my happiness, had seemed complete. I had been the presiding genius of +that voluptuous scene. Both my ambition and my love of pleasure had +drunk deep of the cup for which they thirsted. Looked up to by the +learned, and loved by the beautiful and the young, I had seen, in every +eye that met mine, either the acknowledgment of triumphs already won, or +the promise of others, still brighter, that awaited me. Yet, even in the +midst of all this, the same dark thoughts had presented themselves; the +perishableness of myself and all around me every instant recurred to my +mind. Those hands I had prest--those eyes, in which I had seen sparkling +a spirit of light and life that should never die--those voices that had +talked of eternal love--all, all, I felt, were but a mockery of the +moment, and would leave nothing eternal but the silence of their dust! + + "Oh, were it not for this sad voice, + Stealing amid our mirth to say, + That all in which we most rejoice, + Ere night may be the earth-worm's prey: + _But_ for this bitter--only this-- + Full as the world is brimm'd with bliss, + And capable as feels my soul + Of draining to its depth the whole, + I should turn earth to heaven, and be, + If bliss made gods, a deity!" + + * * * * * + + +THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. + + +I had already seen some of the most celebrated works of nature in +different parts of the globe; I had seen Etna and Vesuvius; I had seen +the Andes almost at their greatest elevation; Cape Horn, rugged and +bleak, buffeted by the southern tempest; and, though last not least, I +had seen the long swell of the Pacific; but nothing I had ever beheld or +imagined could compare in grandeur with the Falls of Niagara. My first +sensation was that of exquisite delight at having before me the greatest +wonder of the world. Strange as it may appear, this feeling was +immediately succeeded by an irresistible melancholy. Had this not +continued, it might perhaps have been attributed to the satiety incident +to the complete gratification of "hope long deferred;" but so far from +diminishing, the more I gazed, the stronger and deeper the sentiment +became. Yet this scene of sadness was strangely mingled with a kind of +intoxicating fascination. Whether the phenomenon is peculiar to Niagara +I know not, but certain it is, that the spirits are affected and +depressed in a singular manner by the magic influence of this stupendous +and eternal fall. About five miles above the cataract the river expands +to the dimensions of a lake, after which it gradually narrows. The +Rapids commence at the upper extremity of Goat Island, which is half a +mile in length, and divides the river at the point of precipitation into +two unequal parts; the largest is distinguished by the several names of +the Horseshoe, Crescent, and British Fall, from its semi-circular form +and contiguity to the Canadian shore. The smaller is named the American +Fall. A portion of this fall is divided by a rock from Goat Island, and +though here insignificant in appearance, would rank high among +European cascades.... + +The current runs about six miles an hour; but supposing it to be only +five miles, the quantity which passes the falls in an hour is more than +eighty-five millions of tuns avoirdupois; if we suppose it to be six, it +will be more than one hundred and two millions; and in a day would +exceed two thousand four hundred millions of tuns.... + +The next morning, with renewed delight, I beheld from my window--I may +say, indeed, from my bed--the stupendous vision. The beams of the rising +sun shed over it a variety of tints; a cloud of spray was ascending from +the crescent; and as I viewed it from above, it appeared like the steam +rising from the boiler of some monstrous engine.... + +This evening I went down with one of our party to view the cataract by +moonlight. I took my favourite seat on the projecting rock, at a little +distance from the brink of the fall, and gazed till every sense seemed +absorbed in contemplation. Although the shades of night increased the +sublimity of the prospect and "deepened the murmur of the falling +floods," the moon in placid beauty shed her soft influence upon the +mind, and mitigated the horrors of the scene. The thunders which +bellowed from the abyss, and the loveliness of the falling element, +which glittered like molten silver in the moonlight, seemed to complete +in absolute perfection the rare union of the beautiful with the +sublime.... + +While reflecting upon the inadequacy of language to express the feelings +I experienced, or to describe the wonders which I surveyed, an American +gentleman, to my great amusement, tapped me on the shoulder, and +"guessed" that it was "_pretty droll!_" It was difficult to avoid +laughing in his face; yet I could not help envying him his vocabulary, +which had so eloquently released me from my dilemma.... + +Though earnestly dissuaded from the undertaking, I had determined to +employ the first fine morning in visiting the cavern beneath the fall. +The guide recommended my companion and myself to set out as early as six +o'clock, that we might have the advantage of the morning sun upon the +waters. We came to the guide's house at the appointed hour, and +disencumbered ourselves of such garments as we did not wish to have +wetted; descending the circular ladder, we followed the course of the +path running along the top of the _débris_ of the precipice, which I +have already described. Having pursued this track for about eighty +yards, in the course of which we were completely drenched, we found +ourselves close to the cataract. Although enveloped in a cloud of spray, +we could distinguish without difficulty the direction of our path, and +the nature of the cavern we were about to enter. Our guide warned us of +the difficulty in respiration which we should encounter from the spray, +and recommended us to look with exclusive attention to the security of +our footing. Thus warned, we pushed forward, blown about and buffeted by +the wind, stunned by the noise, and blinded by the spray. Each +successive gust penetrated us to the very bones with cold. Determined to +proceed, we toiled and struggled on, and having followed the footsteps +of the guide as far as was possible consistently with safety, we sat +down, and having collected our senses by degrees, the wonders of the +cavern slowly developed themselves. It is impossible to describe the +strange unnatural light reflected through its crystal wall, the roar of +the waters, and the blasts of the hurried hurricane which perpetually +rages in its recesses. We endured its fury a sufficient time to form a +notion of the shape and dimensions of this dreadful place. The cavern +was tolerably light, though the sun was unfortunately enveloped in +clouds. His disc was invisible, but we could clearly distinguish his +situation through the watery barrier. The fall of the cataract is nearly +perpendicular. The bank over which it is precipitated is of concave +form, owing to its upper stratum being composed of lime-stone, and its +base of soft slate-stone, which has been eaten away by the constant +attrition of the recoiling waters. The cavern is about one hundred and +twenty feet in height, fifty in breadth, and three hundred in length. +The entrance was completely invisible. By screaming in our ears, the +guide contrived to explain to us that there was one more point which we +might have reached had the wind been in any other direction. Unluckily +it blew full upon the sheet of the cataract, and drove it in so as to +dash upon the rock over which we must have passed. A few yards beyond +this, the precipice becomes perpendicular, and, blending with the water, +forms the extremity of the cave. After a stay of nearly ten minutes in +this most horrible purgatory, we gladly left it to its loathsome +inhabitants the eel and the water-snake, who crawl about its recesses in +considerable numbers,--and returned to the inn--_De Roos's Travels in +the United States, &c._ + + * * * * * + + +THE GUILLOTINE. + + +The first sight, however, which it fell to my lot to witness at Brussels +in this second and short visit, was neither gay nor handsome, nor dear +in any sense, but the very reverse; it being that of the punishment of +the guillotine inflicted on a wretched murderer, named John Baptist +Michel.[2] Hearing, at the moment of my arrival, that this tragical +scene was on the point of being acted in the great square of the +market-place, I determined for once to make a sacrifice of my feelings +to the desire of being present at a spectacle, with the nature of which +the recollections of revolutionary horrors are so intimately associated. +Accordingly, following to the spot a guard of soldiers appointed to +assist at the execution, I disengaged myself as soon as possible from +the pressure of the immense crowd already assembled, and obtained a seat +at the window of a house immediately opposite the Hotel-de-Ville, in +front of the principal entrance to which the guillotine had been +erected. At the hour of twelve at noon precisely, the malefactor, tall, +athletic, and young, having his hands tied behind his back, and being +stripped to the waist, was brought to the square in a cart, under an +escort of gen-d'armes, attended by an elderly and respectable +ecclesiastic; who, having been previously occupied in administering the +consolations of religion to the condemned person in prison, now appeared +incessantly employed in tranquillizing him on his way to the scaffold. +Arrived near the fatal machine, the unhappy man stepped out of the +vehicle, knelt at the feet of his confessor, received the priestly +benediction, kissed some individuals who accompanied him, and was +hurried by the officers of justice up the steps of the cube-form +structure of wood, painted of a blood-red, on which stood the dreadful +apparatus of death. To reach the top of the platform, to be fast bound +to a board, to be placed horizontally under the axe, and deprived of +life by its unerring blow, was, in the case of this miserable offender, +the work literally of a moment. It was indeed an awfully sudden transit +from time to eternity. He could only cry out, "_Adieu, mes amis_," and +he was gone. The severed head, passing through a red-coloured bag fixed +under, fell to the ground--the blood spouted forth from the neck like +water from a fountain--the body, lifted up without delay, was flung down +through a trap-door in the platform. Never did capital punishment more +quickly take effect on a human being; and whilst the executioner was +coolly taking out the axe from the groove of the machine, and placing +it, covered as it was with gore, in a box, the remains of the culprit, +deposited in a shell, were hoisted into a wagon, and conveyed to the +prison. In twenty minutes all was over, and the _Grande Place_ nearly +cleared of its thousands, on whom the dreadful scene seemed to have +made, as usual, the slightest possible impression--_Stevenson's Tour in +France, Switzerland, &c._ + + [2] The circumstances of the case were as follows:--Jean + Baptiste Michel, aged 36, a blacksmith, accompanied by a female + named Marie Anne Debeyst, aged 22, was proceeding from Brussels + to Vilvorde, one day in the month of March, 1824. In the + Alléverte, they overtook a servant girl, who was imprudent + enough to mention to them that her master had entrusted her + with a sum of money. Near Vilvorde, Michel and his paramour, + having formed their plan of assassination and robbery, rejoined + the poor girl, whom they had momentarily left, and violently + demanded the bag containing the gold and silver. The + unfortunate young creature resisted their attacks as long as + she could, but was soon felled to the ground by Michel, who + with a thick stick fractured her skull, whilst Debeyst trod + upon the prostrate victim of their horrid crime. These wretches + were shortly afterwards arrested and committed to prison. On + the 5th of April, 1825, they were condemned to death by the + Court of Assize at Brussels, but implored of the royal clemency + a commutation of punishment. This was granted to the woman, + whose sentence was changed to perpetual imprisonment. Michel's + petition was rejected. + + * * * * * + + +THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE. + + +Of all the miseries of human life, and God knows they are manifold +enough, there are few more utterly heart-sickening and overwhelming than +those endured by the unlucky Heir Presumptive; when, after having +submitted to the whims and caprices of some rich relation, and endured a +state of worse than Egyptian bondage, for a long series of years, he +finds himself cut off with a shilling, or a mourning ring; and the El +Dorado of his tedious term of probation and expectancy devoted to the +endowment of methodist chapels and Sunday schools; or bequeathed to some +six months' friend (usually a female housekeeper, or spiritual adviser) +who, entering the vineyard at the eleventh hour, (the precise moment at +which his patience and humility become exhausted,) carries off the +golden prize, and adds another melancholy confirmation, to those already +upon record, of the fallacy of all human anticipations. It matters +little what may have been the motives of his conduct; whether duty, +affection, or that more powerful incentive self-interest; how long or +how devotedly he may have humoured the foibles or eccentricities of his +relative; or what sacrifices he may have made to enable him to comply +with his unreasonable caprices: the result is almost invariably the +same. The last year of the Heir Presumptive's purgatory, nay, perhaps +even the last month, or the last week, is often the drop to the full cup +of his endurance. His patience, however it may have been propped by +self-interest, or feelings of a more refined description, usually breaks +down before the allotted term has expired; and the whole fabric it has +cost him such infinite labour to erect, falls to the ground along with +it. It is well if his personal exertions, and the annoyances to which he +has subjected himself during the best period of his existence, form the +whole of his sacrifices. But, alas! it too often happens that, +encouraged by the probability of succeeding in a few years to an +independent property, and ambitious, moreover, of making such an +appearance in society as will afford the old gentleman or lady no excuse +for being ashamed of their connexion with him, he launches into expenses +he would never otherwise have dreamed of incurring, and contracts debts +without regard to his positive means of liquidating them, on the +strength of a contingency which, if he could but be taught to believe +it, is of all earthly anticipations the most remote and uncertain. A +passion for unnecessary expense is, under different circumstances, +frequently repressed by an inability to procure credit; but it is the +curse and bane of Mr. Omnium's nephew, and Miss Saveall's niece, that so +far from any obstacle being opposed to their prodigality, almost +unlimited indulgence is offered, nay, actually pressed upon them, by the +trades-people of their wealthy relations; who take especial care that +their charges shall be of a nature to repay them for any complaisance or +long suffering, as it regards the term of credit, they may be called +upon to display. But independently of the additional expense into which +the Heir Presumptive is often seduced by the operation of these +temptations, and his anxiety to live in a style in some degree accordant +with his expectations, what is he not called upon to endure from the +caprices, old-fashioned notions, eccentricities, avarice, and obstinacy, +of the old tyrant to whom he thus consents to sell himself, and it may +be his family, body and soul, for an indefinite number of +years.--_National Tales_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE MONTHS. + +JULY. + +[Illustration] + + + The sultry noontide of July + Now bids us seek the forest's shade; + Or for the crystal streamlet sigh. + That flows in some sequestered glade. + +B. BARTON. + + * * * * * + + +Summer! glowing summer! This is the month of heat and sunshine, of +clear, fervid skies, dusty roads, and shrinking streams; when doors and +windows are thrown open, a cool gale is the most welcome of all +visiters, and every drop of rain "is worth its weight in gold." Such is +July commonly--such it was in 1825, and such, in a scarcely less degree, +in 1826; yet it is sometimes, on the contrary, a very showery month, +putting the hay-maker to the extremity of his patience, and the farmer +upon anxious thoughts for his ripening corn; generally speaking, +however, it is the heart of our summer. The landscape presents an air of +warmth, dryness, and maturity; the eye roams over brown pastures, corn +fields "already white to harvest," dark lines of intersecting +hedge-rows, and darker trees, lifting their heavy heads above them. The +foliage at this period is rich, full, and vigorous; there is a fine haze +cast over distant woods and bosky slopes, and every lofty and majestic +tree is filled with a soft shadowy twilight, which adds infinitely to +its beauty--a circumstance that has never been sufficiently noticed by +either poet or painter. Willows are now beautiful objects in the +landscape; they are like rich masses of arborescent silver, especially +if stirred by the breeze, their light and fluent forms contrasting +finely with the still and sombre aspect of the other trees. + +Now is the general season of _haymaking_. Bands of mowers, in their +light trousers and broad straw hats, are astir long before the fiery eye +of the sun glances above the horizon, that they may toil in the +freshness of the morning, and stretch themselves at noon in luxurious +ease by trickling waters, and beneath the shade of trees. Till then, +with regular strokes and a sweeping sound, the sweet and flowery grass +falls before them, revealing at almost every step, nests of young birds, +mice in their cozy domes, and the mossy cells of the humble bee +streaming with liquid honey; anon, troops of haymakers are abroad, +tossing the green swaths wide to the sun. It is one of Nature's +festivities, endeared by a thousand pleasant memories and habits of the +olden days, and not a soul can resist it. + +There is a sound of tinkling teams and of wagons rolling along lanes and +fields the whole country over, aye, even at midnight, till at length the +fragrant ricks rise in the farmyard, and the pale smooth-shaven fields +are left in solitary beauty. + +They who know little about it may deem the strong _penchant_ of our +poets, and of ourselves, for rural pleasures, mere romance and poetic +illusion; but if poetic beauty alone were concerned, we must still +admire _harvest-time_ in the country. The whole land is then an Arcadia, +full of simple, healthful, and rejoicing spirits. Overgrown towns and +manufactories may have changed for the worse, the spirit and feelings of +our population; in them, "evil communications may have corrupted good +manners;" but in the country at large, there never was a more +simple-minded, healthful-hearted, and happy race of people than our +present British peasantry. They have cast off, it is true, many of their +ancestors' games and merrymakings, but they have in no degree lost their +soul of mirth and happiness. This is never more conspicuous than in +_harvest-time_. + +With the exception of a casual song of the lark in a fresh morning, of +the blackbird and thrush at sunset, or the monotonous wail of the +yellow-hammer, the silence of birds is now complete; even the lesser +reed-sparrow, which may very properly be called the _English mock-bird_, +and which kept up a perpetual clatter with the notes of the sparrow, the +swallow, the white-throat, &c. in every hedge-bottom, day and night, +has ceased. + +Boys will now be seen in the evening twilight with match, gunpowder, +&c., and green boughs for self-defence, busy in storming the paper-built +castles of _wasps_, the larvae of which furnish anglers with store of +excellent baits. Spring-flowers have given place to a very different +class. Climbing plants mantle and festoon every hedge. The wild hop, the +brione, the clematis or traveller's joy, the large white convolvulus, +whose bold yet delicate flowers will display themselves to a very late +period of the year--vetches, and white and yellow ladies-bed-straw-- +invest almost every bush with their varied beauty, and breathe on the +passer-by their faint summer sweetness. The _campanula rotundifolia_, +the hare-bell of poets, and the blue-bell of botanists, arrests the eye +on every dry bank, rock, and wayside, with its beautiful cerulean bells. +There too we behold wild scabiouses, mallows, the woody nightshade, +wood-betony, and centaury; the red and white-striped convolvulus also +throws its flowers under your feet; corn fields glow with whole armies +of scarlet poppies, cockle, and the rich azure plumes of +viper's-bugloss; even _thistles_, the curse of Cain, diffuse a glow of +beauty over wastes and barren places. Some species, particularly the +musk thistles, are really noble plants, wearing their formidable arms, +their silken vest, and their gorgeous crimson tufts of fragrant flowers +issuing from a coronal of interwoven down and spines, with a grace which +casts far into the shade many a favourite of the garden. + +But whoever would taste all the sweetness of July, let him go, in +pleasant company, if possible, into heaths and woods; it is there, in +her uncultured haunts, that summer now holds her court. The stern +castle, the lowly convent, the deer and the forester have vanished +thence many ages; yet nature still casts round the forest-lodge, the +gnarled oak and lovely mere, the same charms as ever. The most hot and +sandy tracts, which we might naturally imagine would now be parched up, +are in full glory. The _erica tetralix_, or bell-heath, the most +beautiful of our indigenous species, is now in bloom, and has converted +the brown bosom of the waste into one wide sea of crimson; the air is +charged with its honied odour. The dry, elastic turf glows, not only +with its flowers, but with those of the wild thyme, the clear blue +milkwort, the yellow asphodel, and that curious plant the _sundew_, with +its drops of inexhaustible liquor sparkling in the fiercest sun like +diamonds. There wave the cotton-rush, the tall fox-glove, and the taller +golden mullein. There creep the various species of heath-berries, +cranberries, bilberries, &c., furnishing the poor with a source of +profit, and the rich of luxury. What a pleasure it is to throw ourselves +down beneath the verdant screen of the beautiful fern, or the shade of a +venerable oak, in such a scene, and listen to the summer sounds of bees, +grasshoppers, and ten thousand other insects, mingled with the more +remote and solitary cries of the pewit and the curlew! Then, to think of +the coach-horse, urged on his sultry stage, or the plough-boy and his +teem, plunging in the depths of a burning fallow, or of our ancestors, +in times of national famine, plucking up the wild fern-roots for bread, +and what an enhancement of our own luxurious ease![3] + +But woods, the depths of woods, are the most delicious retreats during +the fiery noons of July. The great azure campanulas, or Canterbury +bells, are there in bloom, and, in chalk or limestone districts, there +are also now to be found those curiosities, the _bee_ and _fly +orchises_. The soul of John Evelyn well might envy us a wood lounge at +this period. + +_Time's Telescope._ + + [3] It is a fact not known to every juvenile lover of nature, + that a transverse section of a fern-root presents a miniature + picture of an _oak tree_ which no painter could rival. + + * * * * * + + + +ASTRONOMICAL OCCURENCES +FOR JULY, 1827. + + * * * * * + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +The sun is in apogee, or at his greatest distance from the earth on the +2nd, in 10 deg. _Cancer_; he enters _Leo_ on the 23rd, at 5h. 13m. +afternoon; he is in conjunction with the planet Saturn on the 2nd at +11h. 30m. morning, in 9 deg. _Cancer_, and with Mars on the 12th at 1h. +45m. afternoon, being advanced 10 deg. further in the eliptic. + +Venus and Saturn are also in conjunction on the 26th at 3 h. afternoon, +in 13 deg. _Cancer_. + +Mercury will again be visible for a short time about the middle of the +month a little after the sun has set, arriving on the 16th at his +greatest eastern elongation, or apparent distance from the centre of the +system, as seen from the earth in 20 deg. _Leo_; and in aphelio, or that +point of his orbit most distant from the sun, on the 22nd; he becomes +stationary on the 29th. + +There is only one visible eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite this +month--on the 5th, at 10h. 21m. evening. + +The Georgium Sidus, or Herschel, comes to an opposition with the sun on +the 19th, at 6h. 15m. evening; he is then nearest the earth, and +consequently in the most favourable position for observation; he began +retrograding on the 1st of May in 28 deg. 12m. of _Capricornus_; he +rises on the 1st, at 9h. 11m. evening, culminating at 1h. 16m., and +setting at 5h. 21m. morning, pursuing the course of the sun on the 17th +of January; he moves only 13m. of a deg. in the course of the month, +rising 2 h. earlier on the 31st. + +This planet, called also Uranus, was discovered by Herschel on the 13th +of March, 1781. It is the most distant orb in our system yet known. From +certain inequalities on the motion of Jupiter and Saturn, the existence +of a planet of considerable size beyond the orbit of either had been +before suspected; its apparent magnitude, as seen from the earth, is +about 3-1/2 sec., or of the size of a star of the sixth magnitude, and +as from its distance from the sun, it shines but with a pale light, it +cannot often be distinguished with the naked eye. Its diameter is about +4-1/2 times that of the earth, and completes its revolution in something +less than 83-1/2 years. The want of light in this planet, on account of +its great distance from the sun, is supplied by six moons, which revolve +round their primary in different periods. There is a remarkable +peculiarity attached to their orbits, which are nearly perpendicular to +the plane of the ecliptic, and they revolve in them in a direction +contrary to the order of the signs. + +"Moore," in an old almanack, speaking on the difference of light and +heat enjoyed by the inhabitants of _Saturn_, and the _earth_, says,-- + + "From hence how large, how strong the sun's bright ball, + But seen from thence, how languid and how small, + When the keen north with all its fury blows, + Congeals the floods and forms the fleecy snows: + 'Tis heat intense, to what can there be known, + Warmer our poles than in its burning (!) zone; + One moment's cold like their's would pierce the bone, + Freeze the heart's blood, and turn us all to stone." + +Were Saturn thus situated, what would the inhabitants of Herschel feel, +whose distance is still further?--pursuing this train of reasoning, the +heat in the planet Mercury would be seven times greater than on our +globe, and were the earth in the same position, all the water on its +surface would boil, and soon be turned into vapour, but as the degree of +sensible heat in any planet _does not_ depend altogether on its nearness +to the sun, the temperature of these planets may be as mild as that of +the most genial climate of our globe. + +The theory of the sun being a body of fire having been long since +exploded, and heat being found to be generated by the union of the sun's +rays with the atmosphere of the earth, so the caloric contained in the +atmosphere on the surfaces of the planets may be distributed in +different quantities, according to the situation they occupy with regard +to the sun, and which is put into action by the influence of the solar +rays, so as to produce that degree of sensible heat requisite for each +respective planet. We have only to suppose that a small quantity of +caloric exists in Mercury, and a greater quantity in Herschel, which is +fifty times farther from the sun than the other, and there is no reason +to believe that those planets nearest the sun suffer under the action of +excessive heat, or that the more distant are exposed to the rigours of +insufferable cold, which, in either case, might render them unfit for +the abodes of intellectual beings. PASCHE. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SKETCH BOOK + +NO. XLI. + + * * * * * + + +THE AUTHOR AND HIS COAT. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +My master, at first sight of me, expressed great admiration. He had +given his architect of garments orders to make him a blue coat in his +best style; in consequence of which I was ushered into the world. The +gentleman who introduced me into company was at the time in very high +spirits, being engaged in a new literary undertaking, of the success of +which he indulged very sanguine hopes. On this occasion we, that is, to +use similar language to Cardinal Wolsey, in a well-known instance, I and +my master paid a great number of visits to his particular friends, and +others whom he thought likely to encourage and promote his project The +reception _we_ generally met with was highly satisfactory; smiles and +promises of support were bestowed in abundance upon _us_. I use the +plural number, with justice, as it will appear in the sequel, although +my master scarcely ever dreamt that I had anything to do with it. As I +had, however, the special privilege of being _behind his back_, I had +the advantage which that situation peculiarly confers, of arriving at a +knowledge of the truth. He never dreamt that the expressions, "How well +you are looking,"--"I am glad to see you," &c. so common in his ears, +would scarcely ever have been used had it not been for my influence. To +be sure I have overheard him say, as we have been walking along, "There +goes an old acquaintance of mine; but, bless me, how altered he is! he +looks poor and meanly dressed, but I'm determined I'll speak to him, for +fear he should think me so shabby as to shy him." Thus giving an +instance in himself, certainly, of respect for the _man_ and not the +_coat_. My short history goes rather to prove that the reverse is almost +every day's experience. Matters went on pretty well with us until my +master was seized with a severe fit of illness, in consequence of which +his literary scheme was completely defeated, and his condition in life +materially injured; of course, the glad tones of encouragement which I +had been accustomed to hear were changed into expressions of condolence, +and sometimes assurances of unabated friendship; but then it must be +remembered that I, the handsomest blue coat, was _still in good +condition_, and it will perhaps appear, that if I were not my master's +_warmest_ friend, I was, at all events, the only one that _stuck to him +to the last_. Eternal respect to both of us continued much the same for +some time longer, but by degrees we both, _at the same time_, observed, +that an alteration began to take place. My master attributed this to his +altered fortunes, and I placed it to the score of my decayed +appearance--the threadbare cloth and tarnished button came in, I was +sure, for their full share of neglect, and he at last fell into the same +opinion. To describe all the variety of treatment that we experienced +would be a tedious and unpleasant task,--but I was the more convinced +that I had at least as much to do with it as my master, from observing +that all the gradations in manner, from coolness to shyness, and from +shyness to neglect, kept pace, remarkably, with the changes in my +appearance. My master was, at length, the only individual who paid any +respect or attention to me, after most of his old acquaintances had +ceased to notice him. I have heard him exclaim, "Oh, that mankind would +treat me with as much constancy as my old true blue! Thou hast +faithfully served me throughout the vicissitudes of fortune, and art +faithful still, now both of us are left to wither in adversity." + +I could make a long story of it, were I to detail all my adventures; +they may, however, be easily imagined from what has been stated, and +from which it is evident, that in too many instances, the world pays +more respect to _the coat_, than to _the man_, and therefore that a man +would often derive more consequence and benefit if he had the advantage +of having for his patron--_a tailor_ instead of _a man of rank_. J. B. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NOVELIST. + +NO. CIV. + + * * * * * + +THE COTTER'S DAUGHTER. + + +It was a cold stormy night in December, and the green logs as they +blazed and crackled on the Cotter's hearth, were rendered more +delightful, more truly comfortable, by the contrast with the icy showers +of snow and sleet which swept against the frail casement, making all +without cheerless and miserable. + +The Cotter was a handsome, intelligent old man, and afforded me much +information upon glebes, and flocks, and rural economy; while his +spouse, a venerable matron, was humming to herself some long since +forgotten ballad; and industriously twisting and twirling about her long +knitting needles, that promised soon to produce a pair of formidable +winter hose. Their son, a stout, healthy young peasant of +three-and-twenty, was sitting in the spacious chimney corner, sharing +his frugal supper of bread and cheese with a large, shaggy sheep dog, +who sat on his haunches wistfully watching every mouthful, and snap, +snap, snapping, and dextrously catching every morsel that was cast +to him. + +We were all suddenly startled, however, by his loud bark; when, jumping +up, he rushed, or rather flew towards the door. + +"Whew! whew!" whistled the youth--"Whoy--what the dickens ails thee, +Rover?" said he, rising and following him to the door to learn the cause +of his alarm. "What! be they gone again, ey?" for the dog was silent. +"What do thee sniffle at, boy? On'y look at 'un feyther; how the beast +whines and waggles his stump o' tail!--It's some 'un he knows for +sartain. I'd lay a wager it wur Bill Miles com'd about the +harrow, feyther." + +"Did thee hear any knock, lad?" said the father. + +"Noa!" replied the youth; "but mayhap Bill peep'd thro' the hoal in the +shutter, and is a bit dash'd like at seeing a gentleman here. Bill! is't +thee, Master Miles?" continued he, bawling. "Lord! the wind whistles so +a' can't hear me. Shall I unlatch the door, feyther?" + +"Ay, lad, do, an thou wilt," replied the old man; "Rover's wiser nor we +be--a dog 'll scent a friend, when a man would'nt know un." + +Rover still continued his low importunate whine, and began to scratch +against the door. The lad threw it open--the dog brushed past him in an +instant, and his quick, short, continuous yelping, expressed his +immoderate joy and recognition. + +"Hollo! where be'st thee, Bill?" said the young peasant, stepping over +the threshold. "Come, none of thee tricks upon travellers, Master Bill; +I zee thee beside the rick yon!" and quitting the door for half a +minute, he again hastily entered the cot. The rich colour of robust +health had fled from his cheeks--his lips quivered--and he looked like +one bereft of his senses, or under the influence of some frightful +apparition. + +The dame rose up--her work fell from trembling hands-- + +"What's the matter?" said she. + +"What's frighted thee, lad?" asked the old man, rising. + +"Oh! feyther!--oh! mother!"--exclaimed he, drawing them hastily on one +side and whispering something in a low, and almost inaudible voice. + +The old woman raised her hands in supplication and tottered to her +chair while the Cotter, bursting out into a paroxysm of violent rage, +clutched his son's arm, and exclaimed in a loud voice: + +"Make fast the door, boy, an thou'lt not have my curse on thee!--I tell +'ee, she shan't come hither!--No--never--never;--there's poison in her +breath--a' will spurn her from me!--A pest on her!--What; wilt not do +my bidding?" + +"O! feyther, feyther!" cried the young peasant, whose heart seemed +overcharged with grief, "It be a cold, raw night--ye wou'dna kick a cur +from the door to perish in the storm! Doant 'ee be hot and hasty, +feyther, thou art not uncharitable--On me knees!"-- + +"Psha!" exclaimed the enraged father, only exasperated by his +remonstrances. "Whoy talk 'ee to me, son--I am deaf--deaf!--Mine own +hand shall bar the door agen her!"--adding with bitterness--"let her +die!"--and stepping past his prostrate son, was about to execute his +purpose--when, a young girl, whose once gay and flimsy raiment was +drenched and stained, and torn by the violence of the storm, appeared at +the door. The old man recoiled with a shudder--she was as pale as +death--and her trembling limbs seemed scarcely able to support her--a +profusion of light brown hair hung dishevelled and in disorder about her +neck and shoulders, and added to her forlorn appearance. She stretched +forth her arms and pronounced the name of "Father!" but further +utterance was prevented by the convulsive sobs that heaved her bosom. + +"Mary--woman!" cried the old man, trembling--"Call me not feyther--thou +art none of mine--thou hast no feyther now--nor I a daughter--thou art a +serpent that hath stung the bosom that cherished thee! Go to the fawning +villain--the black-hearted sycophant that dragged thee from our +arms--from our happy home to misery and pollution--go, and bless him for +breaking thy poor old feyther's heart!" + +Overcome by these heart-rending reproaches, the distressed girl fainted; +but the strong arm of the young Cotter supported her--for her +tender-hearted youth, moved by his fallen sister's sorrows, had ventured +again to intercede. + +"Hah! touch not her defiled and loathsome body," cried the old +man--"thrust her from the door, and let her find a grave where she may. +Boy! wilt thou dare disobey me?" and he raised his clenched hand, while +anger flashed from his eye. + +"Strike! feyther--strike me!" said the poor lad, bursting into +tears--"fell me to the 'arth! Kill me, an thou wilt--I care not--I will +never turn my heart agen poor Mary!--Bean't she my sister? Did thee not +teach me to love her?--Poor lass!--she do want it all now, feyther--for +she be downcast and broken-hearted!--Nay, thee art kind and good, +feyther--know thee art--I zee thine eyes be full o' tears--and +thee--thee woant cast her away from thee, I know thee woant. Mother, +speak to 'un; speak to sister Mary too--it be our own Mary! Doant 'ee +kill her wi' unkindness!" + +The old man, moved by his affectionate entreaties, no longer offered any +opposition to his son's wishes, but hiding his face in his hands, he +fled from the affecting scene to an adjoining room. + +Her venerable mother having recovered from the shock of her lost +daughter's sudden appearance, now rose to the assistance of the +unfortunate, and by the aid of restoratives brought poor Mary to the +full sense of her wretchedness. She was speedily conveyed to the same +humble pallet, to which, in the days of her innocence and peace, she had +always retired so light-hearted and joyously, but where she now found a +lasting sleep--an eternal repose!--Yes, poor Mary died!--and having won +the forgiveness and blessing of her offended parents, death was welcome +to her.--_Absurdities: in Prose and Verse_. + + * * * * * + + + +ORIGINS AND INVENTIONS. + +No. XXVII. + + * * * * * + + +VAUXHALL GARDENS. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + "Here waving groves a checkered scene display, + And part admit, and part exclude the day." + +POPE. + + +Of the origin of these enchanting gardens, Mr. Aubrey, in his +"Antiquities of Surrey," gives us the following account;--"At Vauxhall, +Sir Samuel Morland built a fine room, anno 1667, the inside all of +looking-glass, and fountains very pleasant to behold, which is much +visited by strangers: it stands in the middle of the garden, covered +with Cornish slate, on the point of which he placed a punchinello, very +well carved, which held a dial, but the winds have demolished it." And +Sir John Hawkins, in his "History of Music," has the following account +of it:--"The house seems to have been rebuilt since the time that Sir +Samuel Morland dwelt in it. About the year 1730, Mr. Jonathan Tyers +became the occupier of it, and, there being a large garden belonging to +it, planted with a great number of stately trees, and laid out in shady +walks, it obtained the name of Spring Gardens; and the house being +converted into a tavern, or place of entertainment, was much frequented +by the votaries of pleasure. Mr. Tyers opened it with an advertisement +of a _Ridotto al Fresco_, a term which the people of this country had +till that time been strangers to. These entertainments were repeated in +the course of the summer, and numbers resorted to partake of them. This +encouraged the proprietor to make his garden a place of musical +entertainment, for every evening during the summer season. To this end +he was at great expense in decorating the gardens with paintings; he +engaged a band of excellent musicians; he issued silver tickets at one +guinea each for admission, and receiving great encouragement, he set up +an organ in the orchestra, and, in a conspicuous part of the garden, +erected a fine statue of Mr. Handel." These gardens are said to be the +first of the kind in England; but they are not so old as the Mulberry +Gardens, (on the spot now called Spring Gardens, near St. James's Park,) +where king Charles II. went to regale himself the night after his +restoration, and formed an immediate connexion with Mrs. Palmer, +afterwards Duchess of Cleveland. The trees, however, are more than a +century old, and, according to tradition, were planted for a public +garden. This property was formerly held by Jane Fauxe, or Vaux, widow, +in 1615; and it is highly probable (says Nichols) that she was the +relict of the infamous Guy. In the "Spectator," No. 383, Mr. Addison +introduces a voyage from the Temple Stairs to Vauxhall, in which he is +accompanied by his friend, Sir Roger de Coverley. In the "Connoisseur," +No. 68, we find a very humourous description of the behaviour of an old +penurious citizen, who had treated his family here with a handsome +supper. The magnificence of these gardens calls to recollection the +magic representations in the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments," where + + "The blazing glories, with a cheerful ray, + Supply the sun, and counterfeit the day." + +Grosely, in his "Tour to London,"[4] says, (relating to Ranelagh and +Vauxhall,) "These entertainments, which begin in the month of May, are +continued every night. They bring together persons of all ranks and +conditions; and amongst these, a considerable number of females, whose +charms want only that cheerful air, which is the flower and quintessence +of beauty. These places serve equally as a rendezvous either for +business or intrigue. They form, as it were, private coteries; there you +see fathers and mothers, with their children, enjoying domestic +happiness in the midst of public diversions. The English assert, that +such entertainments as these can never subsist in France, on account of +the levity of the people. Certain it is, that those of Vauxhall and +Ranelagh, which are guarded only by outward decency, are conducted +without tumult and disorder, which often disturb the public diversions +of France. I do not know whether the English are gainers thereby; the +joy which they seem in search of at those places does not beam through +their countenances; they look as grave at Vauxhall and Ranelagh as at +the Bank, at church, or a private club. All persons there seem to say, +what a young English nobleman said to his governor, _Am I as joyous as I +should be?_" + +P. T. W. + + [4] 1765, translated from the French by Thomas Nugent, LL.D. + + * * * * * + + + +FINE ARTS. + + * * * * * + +THE CHIEF CAUSES OF THE SUCCESS OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE IN GREECE AND +ROME. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +A cursory glance at the principal occasion of the amazing success +obtained by the Greeks and Romans, in painting and sculpture, during the +early ages, may perhaps prove interesting to the lovers of the arts in +this country. + +The elevation to which the arts in Greece arrived was owing to the +concurrence of various circumstances. The imitative arts, we are told, +in that classic country formed a part of the administration, and were +inseparably connected with the heathen worship. The temples were +magnificently erected, and adorned with numerous statues of pagan +deities, before which, in reverential awe, the people prostrated +themselves. Every man of any substance had an idol in his own +habitation, executed by a reputed sculptor. In all public situations the +patriotic actions of certain citizens were represented, that beholders +might be induced to emulate their virtues. On contemplating these +masterpieces of art, which were so truly exquisite that the very coldest +spectator was unable to resist their _almost magical_ influence, the +vicious were reclaimed, and the ignorant stood abashed. Indeed, it has +often been asserted, that the statues by Phidias and Praxiteles were so +inimitably executed, that the people of Paros adored them as living +gods. Those artists who performed such extraordinary wonders as these +were held in an esteemed light, of which we cannot form the least idea. +We are certain they were paid most enormous prices for their +productions, and consequently could afford to adorn them with every +beauty of art, and to bestow more time on them than can ever be expected +from any modern artist. + +As soon as the arts had arrived at their highest pitch of excellency in +Greece, the country was laid waste by the invading power of the Romans. +All the Greek cities which contained the greatest treasures were +demolished, and all the pictures[5] and statues fell into the hands of +the victorious general, who had them carefully preserved and conveyed +from the land where they had been adored. Of the estimation in which +these great works were held by the Romans, we may form some idea by the +general assuring a soldier, to whose charge he gave a statue by +Praxiteles, that if he broke it, he should get another as well made in +its place. War is a very destructive enemy to painting and sculpture; +the intestine quarrels which ensued after the Romans had conquered the +country, rendered the exercise of the art impracticable. + +The arts were neglected in Rome until the introduction of the popish +religion. At that eventful era, statues and pictures were eagerly sought +for; the admirable Grecian works were appropriated to purposes quite +contrary to their pagan origin, for in many cases heathen deities were +converted into apostles. The labours of Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles, +Lysippus, and Scopas,[6] were highly valued by the Romans, who became +the correct imitators, and in time the rivals, of those celebrated +sculptors. G.W.N. + + [5] The pictures alluded to were the works of Apelles, + Apollodorus, and Protogenes. + + [6] These sculptors, according to Pliny, were the most reputed + among the ancients. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE +PUBLIC JOURNALS + + * * * * * + +LOVE'S VICTIM.[7] + + She left her own warm home + To tempt the frozen waste, + What time the traveller fear'd to roam, + And hunter shunn'd the blast, + Love pour'd his strength into her soul-- + Could peril e'er his power controul! + + She left her own warm home. + When stone, and herb, and tree, + And all beneath heaven's lurid dome + By wintry majesty, + In his stern age, were clad with snow, + And human hearts beat chill and slow. + + It was a fearful hour + For one so young and fair: + The woods had not one sheltering bower, + The earth was trackless there, + The very boughs in silver slept, + As the sea-foam had o'er them swept. + + Snow after snow came down, + The sky look'd fix'd in ice; + She deem'd amid the season's power, + Her love would all suffice + To keep the source of being warm, + And mock the terrors of the storm. + + Love was her world of life. + She thought but of her heart, + And knowing that the winter's strife + Could not its hope dispart, + She dream'd not that its home of clay + Might yield before the tempest's sway-- + + Or judged that passion's power-- + Passion so strong and pure. + Might mock the snow-flake's wildering shower, + Proud that it could endure, + As woman oft in times before + Had peril borne as much or more. + + She went--dawn past o'er dawn, + None saw her face again, + The eyes she should have gazed upon, + Look'd for her face in vain-- + The ear to which her voice was song, + Her voice had sought--how vainly long! + + There is in Saco's vale + A gently swelling hill, + Shadows have wrapt it like a veil + From trees that mark it still, + Around, the mountains towering blue + Look on that spot of saddest hue. + + 'Twas by that little hill, + At the dark noon of night, + Close by a frozen snow-hid rill, + Where branches close unite + Even in winter's leafless time, + The skeletons of summer's prime. + + That flash'd the traveller's flame + On tree and precipice, + And show'd a fair unearthly frame + In robes of glittering ice, + With head against a trunk inclined, + Like a dream-spirit of the mind. + + 'Twas that love-wander'd maid, death-pale, + Her very heart's blood froze, + Love's Niobe, in her own vale, + Now reckless of all woes-- + Love's victim fair, and true, find meet, + As she of the famed Paraclete. + + The mountains round shall tell + Her tale to travellers long. + The little vale of Saco swell + The western poet's song, + And "Nancy's Hill" in loftier rhymes + Be sung through unborn realms and times. + +_New Monthly Magazine_. + + [7] A few miles below the Notch of the White Mountains in the + Valley of Saco, is a little rise of land called "Nancy's Hill." + It was formerly thickly covered with trees, a cluster of which + remains to mark the spot. In 1773, at Dartmouth, Jefferson co. + U.S. lived Nancy----, of respectable connexions. She was + engaged to be married. Her lover had set out for Lancaster. She + would follow him in the depth of winter, and on foot. There was + not a house for thirty miles, and the way through the wild + woods a footpath only. She persisted in her design, and + wrapping herself in her long cloak, proceeded on her way. Snow + and frost took place for several weeks, when some persons + passing her route, reached the lull at night. On lighting their + fires, an unearthly figure stood before them beneath the + bending branches, wrapped in a robe of ice. It was the lifeless + form of Nancy. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER + + "I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's + stuff."--_Wotton_. + + * * * * * + +The late Dr. Barclay was a wit and a scholar, as well as a very great +physiologist. When a happy illustration, or even a point of pretty broad +humour, occurred to his mind, he hesitated not to apply it to the +subject in hand; and in this way, he frequently roused and rivetted +attention, when more abstract reasoning might have failed of its aim. On +one occasion he happened to dine with a large party, composed chiefly of +medical men. As the wine cup circulated, the conversation accidentally +took a professional turn, and from the excitation of the moment, or some +other cause, two of the youngest individuals present were the most +forward in delivering their opinions. Sir James McIntosh once told a +political opponent, that so far from following his example of using hard +words and soft arguments, he would pass, if possible, into the opposite +extreme, and use soft words and hard arguments. But our unfledged M.D.'s +disregarded the above salutary maxim, and made up in loudness what they +wanted in learning. At length, one of them said something so +emphatic--we mean as to manner--that a pointer dog started from his lair +beneath the table and _bow-wow-wowed_ so fiercely, that he fairly took +the lead in the discussion. Dr. Barclay eyed the hairy dialectician, and +thinking it high time to close the debate, gave the animal a hearty push +with his foot, and exclaimed in broad Scotch--"Lie still, ye brute; for +I am sure ye ken just as little about it as ony o'them." We need hardly +add, that this sally was followed by a hearty burst of laughter, in +which even the disputants good-humouredly joined. + + * * * * * + + Fair woman was made to bewitch-- + A pleasure, a pain, a disturber, a nurse, + A slave, or a tyrant, a blessing, or curse; + Fair woman was made to be--which? + + * * * * * + + + +_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand (near Somerset +House), and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers_. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 262, JULY 7, 1827 *** + +This file should be named 8m26210.txt or 8m26210.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8m26211.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8m26210a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/8m26210.zip b/old/8m26210.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6fd20a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8m26210.zip diff --git a/old/8m26210h.htm b/old/8m26210h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..625339d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8m26210h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1860 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827, by Various</title> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- + body + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + p + {text-align: justify;} + blockquote + {text-align: justify;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 + {text-align: center;} + + hr + {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr + {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + + hr.full + {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full + {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + + pre + {font-size: 0.7em; background-color: #F0F0F0;} + + .poetry + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 0%; + text-align: left;} + + .footnote + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em;} + + .figure + {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; + text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em;} + .figure img + {border: none;} + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; + font-size: 0.7em;} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827, by Various</h1> + +<pre> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 262, July 7, 1827 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9882] +[This file was first posted on October 27, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 262, JULY 7, 1827 *** + + + +</pre> +<h3> +Note: The zipped version of this HTML file includes the original illustrations. + See <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext06/8m26210h.zip">http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext06/8m26210h.zip</a> +</h3> +<br /> +<br /> +<center> +<h3>E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram<br /> + and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders</h3> +</center> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr class="full" /> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page1" name="page1"></a>[pg 1]</span> + +<!-- Mirror of Literature header --> +<h1>THE MIRROR<br /> +OF<br /> +LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> +<hr class="full" /> +<table width="100%"> + <tr><td align="left"><b> Vol. 10, No. 262.] + </b></td><td align="center"><b> SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1827. + </b></td><td align="right"> <b> [PRICE 2d. + </b></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="full" /> +<!-- end of header --> + +<h2>HIS MAJESTY'S PONEY PHAETON.</h2> +<p class="figure"> + <a href="images/262-1.png"><img width="100%" src="images/262-1.png" alt="" /></a><br /> +</p> + +<p>We commence our tenth volume of the MIRROR with an embellishment +quite novel in design from the generality of our graphic +illustrations, but one which, we flatter ourselves, will excite +interest among our friends, especially after so recently, +presenting them with a Portrait and Memoir of his Majesty in the +Supplement, which last week completed our ninth volume. His +Majesty, when residing at his cottage in Windsor Forest, the +weather being favourable, seldom allows a day to pass without +taking his favourite drive by the Long Walk, and Virginia Water, in +his poney phaeton, as represented in the above engraving. Windsor +Park being situated on the south side of the town, and 14 miles in +circumference, is admirably calculated for the enjoyment of a rural +ride. The entrance to the park is by a road called the <i>Long +Walk</i>, near three miles in length, through a double plantation +of trees on each side, leading to the Ranger's Lodge: on the north +east side of the Castle is the <i>Little Park</i>, about four miles +in circumference: <i>Queen Elizabeth's Walk</i> herein is much +frequented. At the entrance of this park is the <i>Queen's +Lodge</i>, a modern erection. This building stands on an easy +ascent opposite the upper court, on the south side, and commands a +beautiful view of the surrounding country. The gardens are elegant, +and have been much enlarged by the addition of the gardens and +house of the duke of St. Albans, purchased by his late majesty. The +beautiful <i>Cottage Ornée</i>, an engraving of which graces +one of our early volumes, is also in the park, and to which place +of retirement his present Majesty resorts, and passes much of his +time in preference to the bustle and splendour of a royal town +life.</p> +<p>Having now given as much description +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page2" name="page2"></a>[pg 2]</span> +of the engraving as the +subject requires, we shall proceed to lay before our readers some +further anecdotes connected with the life of his Majesty; for our +present purpose, the following interesting article being adapted to +our limits, we shall introduce an</p> +<blockquote> +<p><i>Original Letter of his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, +to Alexander Davison, Esq., on the death of Lord Nelson.</i></p> +<p>I am extremely obliged to you, my dear sir, for your +confidential letter, which I received this morning. You may be well +assured, that, did it depend upon me, there would not be a wish, a +desire of our-ever-to-be-lamented and much-loved friend, as well as +adored hero, that I should not consider as a solemn obligation upon +his friends and his country to fulfil; it is a duty they owe his +memory, and his matchless and unrivalled excellence: such are my +sentiments, and I should hope that there is still in this country +sufficient honour, virtue, and gratitude to prompt us to ratify and +to carry into effect the last dying request of our Nelson, and by +that means proving not only to the whole world, but to future ages, +that we were worthy of having such a man belonging to us. It must +be needless, my dear sir, to discuss over with you in particular +the irreparable loss dear Nelson ever must be, not merely to his +friends but to his country, especially at the present +crisis—and during the present most awful contest, his very +name was a host of itself; Nelson and Victory were one and the same +to us, and it carried dismay and terror to the hearts of our +enemies. But the subject is too painful a one to dwell longer upon; +as to myself, all that I can do, either publicly or privately, to +testify the reverence, the respect I entertain for his memory as a +Hero, and as the greatest public character that ever embellished +the page of history, independent of what I can with the greatest +truth term, the enthusiastic attachment I felt for him as a friend, +I consider it as my duty to fulfil, and therefore, though I may be +prevented from taking that ostensible and prominent situation at +his funeral which I think my birth and high rank entitled me to +claim, still nothing shall prevent me in a private character +following his remains to their last resting place; for though the +station and the character may be less ostensible, less prominent, +yet the feelings of the heart will not therefore be the less +poignant, or the less acute.</p> +<p>I am, my dear sir, with the greatest truth,<br /> +Ever very sincerely your's,<br /> +G. P.<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a><br /> +<i>Brighton, Dec, 18th, 1805</i>.</p> +</blockquote> +<hr /> + +<h2>BYRON AND OTHER POETS COMPARED.</h2> +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> +<p>There is a natural stimulus in man to offer adoration at the +shrine of departed genius.—</p> +<blockquote>"There is a tear for all that die."</blockquote> +<p>But, when a transcendant genius is checked in its early +age—when its spring-shoots had only began to open—when +it had just engaged in a new feature devoted to man, and man to it, +we cannot rest</p> +<blockquote>"In silent admiration, mixed with grief."</blockquote> +<p>Too often has splendid genius been suffered to live almost +unobserved; and have only been valued as their lives have been +lost. Could the divine Milton, or the great Shakspeare, while +living, have shared that profound veneration which their after +generations have bestowed on their high talents, happier would they +have lived, and died more extensively beloved.</p> +<p>True, a Byron has but lately paid a universal debt. His +concentrated powers—his breathings for the happiness and +liberty of mankind—his splendid intellectual flowers, culled +from a mind stored with the choicest exotics, and cultivated with +the most refined taste are all still fresh in recollection. As the +value of precious stones and metals have become estimated by their +scarcity, so will the fame of Byron live.</p> +<p>A mind like Lord Byron's,</p> +<blockquote>"——born, not only to surprise, but +cheer<br /> +With warmth and lustre all within its sphere,"</blockquote> +<p>was one of Nature's brightest gems, whose splendour (even when +uncompared) dazzled and attracted all who passed within its +sight.</p> +<blockquote>"So let him stand, through ages yet +unborn."</blockquote> +<p>As comparison is a medium through which we are enabled to obtain +most accurate judgment, let us use it in the present instance, and +compare Lord Byron with the greatest poets that have preceded him, +by which means the world of letters will see what they have +<i>really</i> lost in Lord Byron. To commence with the great +Shakspeare himself, to whom universal admiration continues to be +paid. Had Shakspeare been cut off at the same early period as +Byron, <i>The Tempest, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, +Coriolanus</i>, and several others of an equal character, would +never have been written. The high reputation of Dryden would also +have been limited—his fame, perhaps, unknown. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page3" name="page3"></a>[pg 3]</span> +The +<i>Absalom</i> and <i>Achitophel</i> is the earliest of his best +productions, which was written about his fiftieth year; his +principal production, at the age of Byron, was his <i>Annus +Mirabilis</i>; for nearly the whole of his dramatic works were +written at the latter part of his life. Pope is the like situated; +that which displayed most the power of his mind—which claims +for him the greatest praise—his <i>Essay on Man</i>, &c. +appeared after his fortieth year. <i>Windsor Forest</i> was +published in his twenty-second or twenty-third year, both were the +labour of some <i>years</i>; and the immortal Milton, who published +some few things before his thirtieth year, sent not his great work, +<i>Paradise Lost</i>, to the world until he verged on sixty.</p> +<p>With the poets, and the knowledge of what Byron <i>was</i>, we +may ask what he would have been had it pleased the Great Author of +all things to suffer the summer of his consummate mental powers to +shine upon us? Take the works of any of the abovenamed +distinguished individuals previous to their thirty-eighth year, and +shall we perceive that flexibility of the English language to the +extent that Byron has left behind him? His versatility was, indeed, +astonishing and triumphant. His <i>Childe Harold</i>, the <i>Bride +of Abydos</i>, the <i>Corsair</i>, and <i>Don Juan</i>, (though +somewhat too freely written,) are established proofs of his +unequalled energy of mind. His power was unlimited; not only +eloquent, but the sublime, grave and gay, were all equally familiar +to his muse.</p> +<p>Few words are wanted to show that Byron was not depraved at +heart; no man possessed a more ready sympathy, a more generous mind +to the distressed, or was a more enthusiastic admirer of noble +actions. These feelings all strongly delineated in his character, +would never admit, as Sir Walter Scott has observed, "an imperfect +moral sense, nor feeling, dead to virtue." Severe as the</p> +<blockquote>"Combined usurpers on the throne of taste"</blockquote> +<p>have been, his character is marked by some of the best +principles in many parts of his writings.</p> +<blockquote>"The records there of friendships, held like rocks,<br /> +And enmities like sun-touch'd snow resign'd,"</blockquote> +<p>are frequently visible. His glorious attachment to the Grecian +cause is a sufficient recompense for <i>previous</i> follies +exaggerated and propagated by calumny's poisonous tongue. In a +word, "there is scarce a passion or a situation which has escaped +his pen; and he might be drawn, like Garrick, between the weeping +and the laughing muses."</p> +<p>A. B. C.</p> +<hr /> +<h2>THE SONG OF THE WIDOWED MOTHER TO HER CHILD.</h2> +<h3>BY THE AUTHOR OF "AHAB."</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<blockquote>O Sink to sleep, my darling boy,<br /> + Thy father's dead, thy mother lonely,<br /> +Of late thou wert his pride, his joy,<br /> + But now thou hast not one to own thee.<br /> +The cold wide world before us lies,<br /> + But oh! such heartless things live in it,<br /> +It makes me weep—then close thine eyes<br /> + Tho' it be but for one short minute.<br /> +<br /> +O sink to sleep, my baby dear,<br /> + A little while forget thy sorrow,<br /> +The wind is cold, the night is drear,<br /> + But drearier it will be to-morrow.<br /> +For none will help, tho' many see<br /> + Our wretchedness—then close thine eyes, love,<br /> +Oh, most unbless'd on earth is she<br /> + Who on another's aid relies, love.<br /> +<br /> +Thou hear'st me not! thy heart's asleep<br /> + Already, and thy lids are closing,<br /> +Then lie thee still, and I will weep<br /> + Whilst thou, my dearest, art reposing,<br /> +And wish that I could slumber free,<br /> + And with thee in yon heaven awaken,<br /> +O would that it our home might be,<br /> + For here we are by all forsaken.</blockquote> +<hr /> +<h2>PAY OF THE JUDGES IN FORMER TIMES.</h2> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<p>In the twenty-third year of the reign of king Henry III., the +salary of the justices of the bench (now called the Common Pleas) +was 20l. per annum; in the forty-third year, 40l. In the +twenty-seventh year, the chief baron had 40 marks; the other +barons, 20 marks; and in the forty, ninth year, 4l. per annum. The +justices <i>coram rege</i> (now called the King's Bench) had in the +forty-third year of Henry III. 40l. per annum.; the chief of the +bench, 100 marks per annum; and next year, another chief of the +same court, had 100l.; but the chief of the court <i>coram rege</i> +had only 100 marks per annum.</p> +<p>In the reign of Edward I., the salaries of the justices were +very uncertain, and, upon the whole, they sunk from what they had +been in the reign of Henry III. The chief justice of the bench, in +the seventh year of Edward I., had but 40l. per annum, and the +other justices there, 40 marks. This continued the proportion in +both benches till the twenty-fifth year of Edward III., then the +salary of the chief of the King's Bench fell to 50 marks, or 33l. +6s. 8d., while that of the chief of the bench was augmented to 100 +marks, which may be considered as an +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page4" name="page4"></a>[pg 4]</span> +evidence of the increase of +business and attendance there. The chief baron had 40l.; the +salaries of the other justices and barons were reduced to 20l.</p> +<p>In the reign of Edward II., the number of suitors so increased +in the common bench, that whereas there had usually been only three +justices there, that prince, at the beginning of his reign, was +constrained to increase them to six, who used to sit in two +places,—a circumstance not easy to be accounted for. Within +three years after they were increased to seven; next year they were +reduced to six, at which number they continued.</p> +<p>The salaries of the judges, though they had continued the same +from the time of Edward I. to the twenty-fifth year of Edward III., +were become very uncertain. In the twenty-eighth year of this king, +it appears, that one of the justices of the King's Bench had 80 +marks per annum. In the thirty-ninth year of Edward III. the judges +had in that court 40l.; the same as the justices of the Common +Pleas; but the chief of the King's Bench, 100 marks.</p> +<p>The salaries of the judges in the time of Henry IV. were as +follows:—The chief baron, and other barons, had 40 marks per +annum; the chief of the King's Bench, and of the Common Pleas, 40l. +per annum; the other justices, in either court, 40 marks. But the +gains of the practisers were become so great, that they could +hardly be tempted to accept a place on the bench with such low +salaries; therefore in the eighteenth year of Henry VI. the judges +of all the courts at Westminster, together with the king's attorney +and sergeants, exhibited a petition to parliament concerning the +regular payment of their salaries and perquisites of robes. The +king assented to their request, and order was taken for increasing +their income, which afterwards became larger, and more fixed; this +consisted of a salary and an allowance for robes. In the first year +of Edward IV., the chief justice of the King's Bench had 170 marks +per annum, 5l. 6s. 6d. for his winter robes, and the same for his +Whitsuntide robes. Most of the judges had the honour of knighthood; +some of them were knights bannerets; and some had the order of the +Bath.</p> +<p>In the first year of Henry VII. the chief justice of the court +of King's Bench had the yearly fee of 140 marks granted to him for +his better support; he had besides 5l. 6s. 11-1/4 d., and the sixth +part of a halfpenny (such is the accuracy of Sir William Dugdale, +and the strangeness of the sum,) for his winter robes, and 3l. 6s. +6d. for his robes at Whitsuntide.</p> +<p>In the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII. a further increase was +made to the fees of the judges;—to the chief justice of the +King's Bench 30l. per annum; to every other justice of that court +20l. per annum; to every justice of the Common Pleas, 20l. per +annum.</p> +<p>There were usually in the court of Common Pleas five judges, +sometimes six; and in the reign of Henry VI. there were, it is +said, eight judges at one time in that court; but six appear to +have been the regular number. In the King's Bench there were +sometimes four, sometimes five. They did not sit above three hours +a day in court,—from eight in the morning to eleven. The +courts were not open in the afternoon; but that time was left +unoccupied for suitors to confer with their counsel at home.</p> +<p>F. R. Y.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>SIR WALTER SCOTT'S LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.</h3> +<p>SIR WALTER SCOTT, the author of <i>Waverley</i>, has become the +biographer of Napoleon Bonaparte; and the deepest interest is +excited in the literary world to know how the great master of +romance and fiction acquits himself in the execution of his task. +In the preface to this elaborate history, Sir Walter, with +considerable ingenuousness, informs us that "he will be found no +enemy to the person of Napoleon. The term of hostility is ended +when the battle has been won, and the foe exists no longer." But to +our task: we shall attempt an analysis of the volumes before us, +and endeavour to gratify our readers with a narrative of incidents +that cannot fail interesting every British subject, whose history, +in fact, is strongly connected with the important events that +belong to the splendid career of Napoleon Bonaparte.</p> +<p>The first and second volumes of Sir Walter's history are taken +up with a view of the French Revolution, from whence we shall +extract a sketch of the characters of three men of terror, whose +names will long remain, we trust, unmatched in history by those of +any similar miscreants. These men were the leaders of the +revolution, and were called</p> +<h4>THE TRIUMVIRATE.</h4> +<p>Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivalled by his +colleagues in talent and audacity. He was a man of gigantic size, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page5" name="page5"></a>[pg 5]</span> +and possessed a voice of thunder. His countenance was that of an +Ogre on the shoulders of a Hercules. He was as fond of the +pleasures of vice as of the practice of cruelty; and it was said +there were times when he became humanized amidst his debauchery, +laughed at the terror which his furious declamations excited, and +might be approached with safety, like the Maelstrom at the turn of +tide. His profusion was indulged to an extent hazardous to his +popularity, for the populace are jealous of a lavish expenditure, +as raising their favourites too much above their own degree; and +the charge of peculation finds always ready credit with them, when +brought against public men.</p> +<p>Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danton, that he did +not seem to seek for wealth, either for hoarding or expending, but +lived in strict and economical retirement, to justify the name of +the Incorruptible, with which he was honoured by his partizans. He +appears to have possessed little talent, saving a deep fund of +hypocrisy, considerable powers of sophistry, and a cold exaggerated +strain of oratory, as foreign to good taste, as the measures he +recommended were to ordinary humanity. It seemed wonderful, that +even the seething and boiling of the revolutionary cauldron should +have sent up from the bottom, and long supported on the surface, a +thing so miserably void of claims to public distinction; but +Robespierre had to impose on the minds of the vulgar, and he knew +how to beguile them, by accommodating his flattery to their +passions and scale of understanding, and by acts of cunning and +hypocrisy, which weigh more with the multitude than the words of +eloquence, or the arguments of wisdom. The people listened as to +their Cicero, when he twanged out his apostrophes of <i>Pauvre +Peuple, Peuple vertueux!</i> and hastened to execute whatever came +recommended by such honied phrases, though devised by the worst of +men for the worst and most inhuman of purposes.</p> +<p>Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion, and though his +countenance was the image of his mind, he was vain even of his +personal appearance, and never adopted the external habits of a +sans culotte. Amongst his fellow Jacobins, he was distinguished by +the nicety with which his hair was arranged and powdered; and the +neatness of his dress was carefully attended to, so as to +counterbalance, if possible, the vulgarity of his person. His +apartments, though small, were elegant and vanity had filled them +with representations of the occupant. Robespierre's picture at +length hung in one place, his miniature in another, his bust +occupied a niche, and on the table were disposed a few medallions +exhibiting his head in profile. The vanity which all this indicated +was of the coldest and most selfish character, being such as +considers neglect as insult, and receives homage merely as a +tribute; so that, while praise is received without gratitude, it is +withheld at the risk of mortal hate. Self-love of this dangerous +character is closely allied with envy, and Robespierre was one of +the most envious and vindictive men that ever lived. He never was +known to pardon any opposition, affront, or even rivalry; and to be +marked in his tablets on such an account was a sure, though perhaps +not an immediate, sentence of death. Danton was a hero, compared +with this cold, calculating, creeping miscreant; for his passions, +though exaggerated, had at least some touch of humanity, and his +brutal ferocity was supported by brutal +courage.—(<i>Continued at page 17.</i>)</p> +<hr /> +<h3>THE EPICUREAN.</h3> +<h4><i>By T. Moore, Esq.</i></h4> +<p>The following is described by Alciphron, the hero of the tale, +at the termination of a festival, in a tone which strongly reminds +us of Rasselas:—</p> +<p>"The sounds of the song and dance had ceased, and I was now left +in those luxurious gardens alone. Though so ardent and active a +votary of pleasure, I had, by nature, a disposition full of +melancholy;—an imagination that presented sad thoughts even +in the midst of mirth and happiness, and threw the shadow of the +future over the gayest illusions of the present. Melancholy was, +indeed, twin-born in my soul with passion; and, not even in the +fullest fervour of the latter were they separated. From the first +moment that I was conscious of thought and feeling, the same dark +thread had run across the web; and images of death and annihilation +mingled themselves with the most smiling scenes through which my +career of enjoyment led me. My very passion for pleasure but +deepened these gloomy fancies. For, shut out, as I was by my creed, +from a future life, and having no hope beyond the narrow horizon of +this, every minute of delight assumed a mournful preciousness in my +eyes, and pleasure, like the flower of the cemetery, grew but more +luxuriant from the neighbourhood of death. This very night my +triumph, my happiness, had seemed complete. I had been the +presiding genius of that voluptuous scene. Both my ambition and my +love of pleasure had drunk deep of the cup for which they thirsted. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page6" name="page6"></a>[pg 6]</span> +Looked up to by the learned, and loved by the beautiful and the +young, I had seen, in every eye that met mine, either the +acknowledgment of triumphs already won, or the promise of others, +still brighter, that awaited me. Yet, even in the midst of all +this, the same dark thoughts had presented themselves; the +perishableness of myself and all around me every instant recurred +to my mind. Those hands I had prest—those eyes, in which I +had seen sparkling a spirit of light and life that should never +die—those voices that had talked of eternal love—all, +all, I felt, were but a mockery of the moment, and would leave +nothing eternal but the silence of their dust!</p> +<blockquote>"Oh, were it not for this sad voice,<br /> + Stealing amid our mirth to say,<br /> +That all in which we most rejoice,<br /> + Ere night may be the earth-worm's prey:<br /> +<i>But</i> for this bitter—only this—<br /> +Full as the world is brimm'd with bliss,<br /> +And capable as feels my soul<br /> +Of draining to its depth the whole,<br /> +I should turn earth to heaven, and be,<br /> +If bliss made gods, a deity!"</blockquote> +<hr /> +<h3>THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.</h3> +<p>I had already seen some of the most celebrated works of nature +in different parts of the globe; I had seen Etna and Vesuvius; I +had seen the Andes almost at their greatest elevation; Cape Horn, +rugged and bleak, buffeted by the southern tempest; and, though +last not least, I had seen the long swell of the Pacific; but +nothing I had ever beheld or imagined could compare in grandeur +with the Falls of Niagara. My first sensation was that of exquisite +delight at having before me the greatest wonder of the world. +Strange as it may appear, this feeling was immediately succeeded by +an irresistible melancholy. Had this not continued, it might +perhaps have been attributed to the satiety incident to the +complete gratification of "hope long deferred;" but so far from +diminishing, the more I gazed, the stronger and deeper the +sentiment became. Yet this scene of sadness was strangely mingled +with a kind of intoxicating fascination. Whether the phenomenon is +peculiar to Niagara I know not, but certain it is, that the spirits +are affected and depressed in a singular manner by the magic +influence of this stupendous and eternal fall. About five miles +above the cataract the river expands to the dimensions of a lake, +after which it gradually narrows. The Rapids commence at the upper +extremity of Goat Island, which is half a mile in length, and +divides the river at the point of precipitation into two unequal +parts; the largest is distinguished by the several names of the +Horseshoe, Crescent, and British Fall, from its semi-circular form +and contiguity to the Canadian shore. The smaller is named the +American Fall. A portion of this fall is divided by a rock from +Goat Island, and though here insignificant in appearance, would +rank high among European cascades....</p> +<p>The current runs about six miles an hour; but supposing it to be +only five miles, the quantity which passes the falls in an hour is +more than eighty-five millions of tuns avoirdupois; if we suppose +it to be six, it will be more than one hundred and two millions; +and in a day would exceed two thousand four hundred millions of +tuns....</p> +<p>The next morning, with renewed delight, I beheld from my +window—I may say, indeed, from my bed—the stupendous +vision. The beams of the rising sun shed over it a variety of +tints; a cloud of spray was ascending from the crescent; and as I +viewed it from above, it appeared like the steam rising from the +boiler of some monstrous engine....</p> +<p>This evening I went down with one of our party to view the +cataract by moonlight. I took my favourite seat on the projecting +rock, at a little distance from the brink of the fall, and gazed +till every sense seemed absorbed in contemplation. Although the +shades of night increased the sublimity of the prospect and +"deepened the murmur of the falling floods," the moon in placid +beauty shed her soft influence upon the mind, and mitigated the +horrors of the scene. The thunders which bellowed from the abyss, +and the loveliness of the falling element, which glittered like +molten silver in the moonlight, seemed to complete in absolute +perfection the rare union of the beautiful with the sublime.</p> +<p>While reflecting upon the inadequacy of language to express the +feelings I experienced, or to describe the wonders which I +surveyed, an American gentleman, to my great amusement, tapped me +on the shoulder, and "guessed" that it was "<i>pretty droll!</i>" +It was difficult to avoid laughing in his face; yet I could not +help envying him his vocabulary, which had so eloquently released +me from my dilemma....</p> +<p>Though earnestly dissuaded from the undertaking, I had +determined to employ the first fine morning in visiting the cavern +beneath the fall. The guide recommended my companion and myself to +set out as early as six o'clock, that we might have the advantage +of the morning sun upon the waters. We came to the guide's +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page7" name="page7"></a>[pg 7]</span> +house at +the appointed hour, and disencumbered ourselves of such garments as +we did not wish to have wetted; descending the circular ladder, we +followed the course of the path running along the top of the +<i>débris</i> of the precipice, which I have already +described. Having pursued this track for about eighty yards, in the +course of which we were completely drenched, we found ourselves +close to the cataract. Although enveloped in a cloud of spray, we +could distinguish without difficulty the direction of our path, and +the nature of the cavern we were about to enter. Our guide warned +us of the difficulty in respiration which we should encounter from +the spray, and recommended us to look with exclusive attention to +the security of our footing. Thus warned, we pushed forward, blown +about and buffeted by the wind, stunned by the noise, and blinded +by the spray. Each successive gust penetrated us to the very bones +with cold. Determined to proceed, we toiled and struggled on, and +having followed the footsteps of the guide as far as was possible +consistently with safety, we sat down, and having collected our +senses by degrees, the wonders of the cavern slowly developed +themselves. It is impossible to describe the strange unnatural +light reflected through its crystal wall, the roar of the waters, +and the blasts of the hurried hurricane which perpetually rages in +its recesses. We endured its fury a sufficient time to form a +notion of the shape and dimensions of this dreadful place. The +cavern was tolerably light, though the sun was unfortunately +enveloped in clouds. His disc was invisible, but we could clearly +distinguish his situation through the watery barrier. The fall of +the cataract is nearly perpendicular. The bank over which it is +precipitated is of concave form, owing to its upper stratum being +composed of lime-stone, and its base of soft slate-stone, which has +been eaten away by the constant attrition of the recoiling waters. +The cavern is about one hundred and twenty feet in height, fifty in +breadth, and three hundred in length. The entrance was completely +invisible. By screaming in our ears, the guide contrived to explain +to us that there was one more point which we might have reached had +the wind been in any other direction. Unluckily it blew full upon +the sheet of the cataract, and drove it in so as to dash upon the +rock over which we must have passed. A few yards beyond this, the +precipice becomes perpendicular, and, blending with the water, +forms the extremity of the cave. After a stay of nearly ten minutes +in this most horrible purgatory, we gladly left it to its loathsome +inhabitants the eel and the water-snake, who crawl about its +recesses in considerable numbers,—and returned to the +inn—<i>De Roos's Travels in the United States, +&c.</i></p> +<hr /> +<h3>THE GUILLOTINE.</h3> +<p>The first sight, however, which it fell to my lot to witness at +Brussels in this second and short visit, was neither gay nor +handsome, nor dear in any sense, but the very reverse; it being +that of the punishment of the guillotine inflicted on a wretched +murderer, named John Baptist Michel. +<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a> +Hearing, at the moment of my arrival, that this tragical scene was +on the point of being acted in the great square of the +market-place, I determined for once to make a sacrifice of my +feelings to the desire of being present at a spectacle, with the +nature of which the recollections of revolutionary horrors are so +intimately associated. Accordingly, following to the spot a guard +of soldiers appointed to assist at the execution, I disengaged +myself as soon as possible from the pressure of the immense crowd +already assembled, and obtained a seat at the window of a house +immediately opposite the Hotel-de-Ville, in front of the principal +entrance to which the guillotine had been erected. At the hour of +twelve at noon precisely, the malefactor, tall, athletic, and +young, having his hands tied behind his back, and being stripped to +the waist, was brought to the square in a cart, under an escort of +gen-d'armes, attended by an elderly and respectable ecclesiastic; +who, having been previously occupied in administering the +consolations of religion to the condemned person in prison, now +appeared incessantly employed in tranquillizing him on his way to +the scaffold. Arrived near the fatal machine, the unhappy +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page8" name="page8"></a>[pg 8]</span> +man +stepped out of the vehicle, knelt at the feet of his confessor, +received the priestly benediction, kissed some individuals who +accompanied him, and was hurried by the officers of justice up the +steps of the cube-form structure of wood, painted of a blood-red, +on which stood the dreadful apparatus of death. To reach the top of +the platform, to be fast bound to a board, to be placed +horizontally under the axe, and deprived of life by its unerring +blow, was, in the case of this miserable offender, the work +literally of a moment. It was indeed an awfully sudden transit from +time to eternity. He could only cry out, "<i>Adieu, mes amis</i>," +and he was gone. The severed head, passing through a red-coloured +bag fixed under, fell to the ground—the blood spouted forth +from the neck like water from a fountain—the body, lifted up +without delay, was flung down through a trap-door in the platform. +Never did capital punishment more quickly take effect on a human +being; and whilst the executioner was coolly taking out the axe +from the groove of the machine, and placing it, covered as it was +with gore, in a box, the remains of the culprit, deposited in a +shell, were hoisted into a wagon, and conveyed to the prison. In +twenty minutes all was over, and the <i>Grande Place</i> nearly +cleared of its thousands, on whom the dreadful scene seemed to have +made, as usual, the slightest possible +impression—<i>Stevenson's Tour in France, Switzerland, +&c.</i></p> + +<hr /> +<h3>THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE.</h3> +<p>Of all the miseries of human life, and God knows they are +manifold enough, there are few more utterly heart-sickening and +overwhelming than those endured by the unlucky Heir Presumptive; +when, after having submitted to the whims and caprices of some rich +relation, and endured a state of worse than Egyptian bondage, for a +long series of years, he finds himself cut off with a shilling, or +a mourning ring; and the El Dorado of his tedious term of probation +and expectancy devoted to the endowment of methodist chapels and +Sunday schools; or bequeathed to some six months' friend (usually a +female housekeeper, or spiritual adviser) who, entering the +vineyard at the eleventh hour, (the precise moment at which his +patience and humility become exhausted,) carries off the golden +prize, and adds another melancholy confirmation, to those already +upon record, of the fallacy of all human anticipations. It matters +little what may have been the motives of his conduct; whether duty, +affection, or that more powerful incentive self-interest; how long +or how devotedly he may have humoured the foibles or eccentricities +of his relative; or what sacrifices he may have made to enable him +to comply with his unreasonable caprices: the result is almost +invariably the same. The last year of the Heir Presumptive's +purgatory, nay, perhaps even the last month, or the last week, is +often the drop to the full cup of his endurance. His patience, +however it may have been propped by self-interest, or feelings of a +more refined description, usually breaks down before the allotted +term has expired; and the whole fabric it has cost him such +infinite labour to erect, falls to the ground along with it. It is +well if his personal exertions, and the annoyances to which he has +subjected himself during the best period of his existence, form the +whole of his sacrifices. But, alas! it too often happens that, +encouraged by the probability of succeeding in a few years to an +independent property, and ambitious, moreover, of making such an +appearance in society as will afford the old gentleman or lady no +excuse for being ashamed of their connexion with him, he launches +into expenses he would never otherwise have dreamed of incurring, +and contracts debts without regard to his positive means of +liquidating them, on the strength of a contingency which, if he +could but be taught to believe it, is of all earthly anticipations +the most remote and uncertain. A passion for unnecessary expense +is, under different circumstances, frequently repressed by an +inability to procure credit; but it is the curse and bane of Mr. +Omnium's nephew, and Miss Saveall's niece, that so far from any +obstacle being opposed to their prodigality, almost unlimited +indulgence is offered, nay, actually pressed upon them, by the +trades-people of their wealthy relations; who take especial care +that their charges shall be of a nature to repay them for any +complaisance or long suffering, as it regards the term of credit, +they may be called upon to display. But independently of the +additional expense into which the Heir Presumptive is often seduced +by the operation of these temptations, and his anxiety to live in a +style in some degree accordant with his expectations, what is he +not called upon to endure from the caprices, old-fashioned notions, +eccentricities, avarice, and obstinacy, of the old tyrant to whom +he thus consents to sell himself, and it may be his family, body +and soul, for an indefinite number of years.—<i>National +Tales</i>.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page9" name="page9"></a>[pg 9]</span> +<h2>THE MONTHS.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>JULY.</h3> +<blockquote>The sultry noontide of July<br /> + Now bids us seek the forest's shade;<br /> +Or for the crystal streamlet sigh.<br /> + That flows in some sequestered glade.</blockquote> +<p>B. BARTON.</p> +<hr /> + +<p class="figure"> + <a href="images/262-2.png"><img width="100%" src="images/262-2.png" alt="" /></a><br /> +</p> + +<p>Summer! glowing summer! This is the month of heat and sunshine, +of clear, fervid skies, dusty roads, and shrinking streams; when +doors and windows are thrown open, a cool gale is the most welcome +of all visiters, and every drop of rain "is worth its weight in +gold." Such is July commonly—such it was in 1825, and such, +in a scarcely less degree, in 1826; yet it is sometimes, on the +contrary, a very showery month, putting the hay-maker to the +extremity of his patience, and the farmer upon anxious thoughts for +his ripening corn; generally speaking, however, it is the heart of +our summer. The landscape presents an air of warmth, dryness, and +maturity; the eye roams over brown pastures, corn fields "already +white to harvest," dark lines of intersecting hedge-rows, and +darker trees, lifting their heavy heads above them. The foliage at +this period is rich, full, and vigorous; there is a fine haze cast +over distant woods and bosky slopes, and every lofty and majestic +tree is filled with a soft shadowy twilight, which adds infinitely +to its beauty—a circumstance that has never been sufficiently +noticed by either poet or painter. Willows are now beautiful +objects in the landscape; they are like rich masses of arborescent +silver, especially if stirred by the breeze, their light and fluent +forms contrasting finely with the still and sombre aspect of the +other trees.</p> +<p>Now is the general season of <i>haymaking</i>. Bands of mowers, +in their light trousers and broad straw hats, are astir long before +the fiery eye of the sun glances above the horizon, that they may +toil in the freshness of the morning, and stretch themselves at +noon in luxurious ease by trickling waters, and beneath the shade +of trees. Till then, with regular strokes and a sweeping sound, the +sweet and flowery grass falls before them, revealing at almost +every step, nests of young birds, mice in their cozy domes, and the +mossy cells of the humble bee streaming with liquid honey; anon, +troops of haymakers are abroad, tossing the green swaths wide to +the sun. It is one of Nature's festivities, endeared by a thousand +pleasant memories and habits of the olden days, and not a soul can +resist it.</p> +<p>There is a sound of tinkling teams and of wagons rolling along +lanes and fields the whole country over, aye, even at midnight, +till at length the fragrant ricks rise in the farmyard, and the +pale smooth-shaven fields are left in solitary beauty.</p> +<p>They who know little about it may deem the strong +<i>penchant</i> of our poets, and of ourselves, for rural +pleasures, mere romance and poetic illusion; but if poetic beauty +alone were concerned, we +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page10" name="page10"></a>[pg 10]</span> +must still admire <i>harvest-time</i> in +the country. The whole land is then an Arcadia, full of simple, +healthful, and rejoicing spirits. Overgrown towns and manufactories +may have changed for the worse, the spirit and feelings of our +population; in them, "evil communications may have corrupted good +manners;" but in the country at large, there never was a more +simple-minded, healthful-hearted, and happy race of people than our +present British peasantry. They have cast off, it is true, many of +their ancestors' games and merrymakings, but they have in no degree +lost their soul of mirth and happiness. This is never more +conspicuous than in <i>harvest-time</i>.</p> +<p>With the exception of a casual song of the lark in a fresh +morning, of the blackbird and thrush at sunset, or the monotonous +wail of the yellow-hammer, the silence of birds is now complete; +even the lesser reed-sparrow, which may very properly be called the +<i>English mock-bird</i>, and which kept up a perpetual clatter +with the notes of the sparrow, the swallow, the white-throat, +&c. in every hedge-bottom, day and night, has ceased.</p> +<p>Boys will now be seen in the evening twilight with match, +gunpowder, &c., and green boughs for self-defence, busy in +storming the paper-built castles of <i>wasps</i>, the larvae of +which furnish anglers with store of excellent baits. Spring-flowers +have given place to a very different class. Climbing plants mantle +and festoon every hedge. The wild hop, the brione, the clematis or +traveller's joy, the large white convolvulus, whose bold yet +delicate flowers will display themselves to a very late period of +the year—vetches, and white and yellow +ladies-bed-straw—invest almost every bush with their varied +beauty, and breathe on the passer-by their faint summer sweetness. +The <i>campanula rotundifolia</i>, the hare-bell of poets, and the +blue-bell of botanists, arrests the eye on every dry bank, rock, +and wayside, with its beautiful cerulean bells. There too we behold +wild scabiouses, mallows, the woody nightshade, wood-betony, and +centaury; the red and white-striped convolvulus also throws its +flowers under your feet; corn fields glow with whole armies of +scarlet poppies, cockle, and the rich azure plumes of +viper's-bugloss; even <i>thistles</i>, the curse of Cain, diffuse a +glow of beauty over wastes and barren places. Some species, +particularly the musk thistles, are really noble plants, wearing +their formidable arms, their silken vest, and their gorgeous +crimson tufts of fragrant flowers issuing from a coronal of +interwoven down and spines, with a grace which casts far into the +shade many a favourite of the garden.</p> +<p>But whoever would taste all the sweetness of July, let him go, +in pleasant company, if possible, into heaths and woods; it is +there, in her uncultured haunts, that summer now holds her court. +The stern castle, the lowly convent, the deer and the forester have +vanished thence many ages; yet nature still casts round the +forest-lodge, the gnarled oak and lovely mere, the same charms as +ever. The most hot and sandy tracts, which we might naturally +imagine would now be parched up, are in full glory. The <i>erica +tetralix</i>, or bell-heath, the most beautiful of our indigenous +species, is now in bloom, and has converted the brown bosom of the +waste into one wide sea of crimson; the air is charged with its +honied odour. The dry, elastic turf glows, not only with its +flowers, but with those of the wild thyme, the clear blue milkwort, +the yellow asphodel, and that curious plant the <i>sundew</i>, with +its drops of inexhaustible liquor sparkling in the fiercest sun +like diamonds. There wave the cotton-rush, the tall fox-glove, and +the taller golden mullein. There creep the various species of +heath-berries, cranberries, bilberries, &c., furnishing the +poor with a source of profit, and the rich of luxury. What a +pleasure it is to throw ourselves down beneath the verdant screen +of the beautiful fern, or the shade of a venerable oak, in such a +scene, and listen to the summer sounds of bees, grasshoppers, and +ten thousand other insects, mingled with the more remote and +solitary cries of the pewit and the curlew! Then, to think of the +coach-horse, urged on his sultry stage, or the plough-boy and his +teem, plunging in the depths of a burning fallow, or of our +ancestors, in times of national famine, plucking up the wild +fern-roots for bread, and what an enhancement of our own luxurious +ease! +<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> +</p> +<p>But woods, the depths of woods, are the most delicious retreats +during the fiery noons of July. The great azure campanulas, or +Canterbury bells, are there in bloom, and, in chalk or limestone +districts, there are also now to be found those curiosities, the +<i>bee</i> and <i>fly orchises</i>. The soul of John Evelyn well +might envy us a wood lounge at this period.</p> + +<p><i>Time's Telescope.</i></p> + +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page11" name="page11"></a>[pg 11]</span> +<h2>ASTRONOMICAL OCCURENCES</h2> +<h3> FOR JULY, 1827.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<p>The sun is in apogee, or at his greatest distance from the earth +on the 2nd, in 10 deg. <i>Cancer</i>; he enters <i>Leo</i> on the +23rd, at 5h. 13m. afternoon; he is in conjunction with the planet +Saturn on the 2nd at 11h. 30m. morning, in 9 deg. <i>Cancer</i>, +and with Mars on the 12th at 1h. 45m. afternoon, being advanced +10 deg. further in the eliptic.</p> +<p>Venus and Saturn are also in conjunction on the 26th at 3h. +afternoon, in 13 deg. <i>Cancer</i>.</p> +<p>Mercury will again be visible for a short time about the middle +of the month a little after the sun has set, arriving on the 16th +at his greatest eastern elongation, or apparent distance from the +centre of the system, as seen from the earth in 20 deg. <i>Leo</i>; +and in aphelio, or that point of his orbit most distant from the +sun, on the 22nd; he becomes stationary on the 29th.</p> +<p>There is only one visible eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite +this month—on the 5th, at 10h. 21m. evening.</p> +<p>The Georgium Sidus, or Herschel, comes to an opposition with the +sun on the 19th, at 6h. 15m. evening; he is then nearest the earth, +and consequently in the most favourable position for observation; +he began retrograding on the 1st of May in 28 deg. 12m. of +<i>Capricornus</i>; he rises on the 1st, at 9h. 11m. evening, +culminating at 1h. 16m., and setting at 5h. 21m. morning, +pursuing the course of the sun on the 17th of January; he moves +only 13m. of a deg. in the course of the month, rising 2h. +earlier on the 31st.</p> +<p>This planet, called also Uranus, was discovered by Herschel on +the 13th of March, 1781. It is the most distant orb in our system +yet known. From certain inequalities on the motion of Jupiter and +Saturn, the existence of a planet of considerable size beyond the +orbit of either had been before suspected; its apparent magnitude, +as seen from the earth, is about 3-1/2 sec., or of the size of a +star of the sixth magnitude, and as from its distance from the sun, +it shines but with a pale light, it cannot often be distinguished +with the naked eye. Its diameter is about 4-1/2 times that of the +earth, and completes its revolution in something less than 83-1/2 +years. The want of light in this planet, on account of its great +distance from the sun, is supplied by six moons, which revolve +round their primary in different periods. There is a remarkable +peculiarity attached to their orbits, which are nearly +perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, and they revolve in +them in a direction contrary to the order of the signs.</p> +<p>"Moore," in an old almanack, speaking on the difference of light +and heat enjoyed by the inhabitants of <i>Saturn</i>, and the +<i>earth</i>, says,—</p> +<blockquote>"From hence how large, how strong the sun's bright +ball,<br /> +But seen from thence, how languid and how small,<br /> +When the keen north with all its fury blows,<br /> +Congeals the floods and forms the fleecy snows:<br /> +'Tis heat intense, to what can there be known,<br /> +Warmer our poles than in its burning (!) zone;<br /> +One moment's cold like their's would pierce the bone,<br /> +Freeze the heart's blood, and turn us all to stone."</blockquote> +<p>Were Saturn thus situated, what would the inhabitants of +Herschel feel, whose distance is still further?—pursuing this +train of reasoning, the heat in the planet Mercury would be seven +times greater than on our globe, and were the earth in the same +position, all the water on its surface would boil, and soon be +turned into vapour, but as the degree of sensible heat in any +planet <i>does not</i> depend altogether on its nearness to the +sun, the temperature of these planets may be as mild as that of the +most genial climate of our globe.</p> +<p>The theory of the sun being a body of fire having been long +since exploded, and heat being found to be generated by the union +of the sun's rays with the atmosphere of the earth, so the caloric +contained in the atmosphere on the surfaces of the planets may be +distributed in different quantities, according to the situation +they occupy with regard to the sun, and which is put into action by +the influence of the solar rays, so as to produce that degree of +sensible heat requisite for each respective planet. We have only to +suppose that a small quantity of caloric exists in Mercury, and a +greater quantity in Herschel, which is fifty times farther from the +sun than the other, and there is no reason to believe that those +planets nearest the sun suffer under the action of excessive heat, +or that the more distant are exposed to the rigours of insufferable +cold, which, in either case, might render them unfit for the abodes +of intellectual beings.</p> +<p>PASCHE.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page12" name="page12"></a>[pg 12]</span> +<h2>THE SKETCH BOOK</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>No. XLI.<br /> +THE AUTHOR AND HIS COAT.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<p>My master, at first sight of me, expressed great admiration. He +had given his architect of garments orders to make him a blue coat +in his best style; in consequence of which I was ushered into the +world. The gentleman who introduced me into company was at the time +in very high spirits, being engaged in a new literary undertaking, +of the success of which he indulged very sanguine hopes. On this +occasion we, that is, to use similar language to Cardinal Wolsey, +in a well-known instance, I and my master paid a great number of +visits to his particular friends, and others whom he thought likely +to encourage and promote his project The reception <i>we</i> +generally met with was highly satisfactory; smiles and promises of +support were bestowed in abundance upon <i>us</i>. I use the plural +number, with justice, as it will appear in the sequel, although my +master scarcely ever dreamt that I had anything to do with it. As I +had, however, the special privilege of being <i>behind his +back</i>, I had the advantage which that situation peculiarly +confers, of arriving at a knowledge of the truth. He never dreamt +that the expressions, "How well you are looking,"—"I am glad +to see you," &c. so common in his ears, would scarcely ever +have been used had it not been for my influence. To be sure I have +overheard him say, as we have been walking along, "There goes an +old acquaintance of mine; but, bless me, how altered he is! he +looks poor and meanly dressed, but I'm determined I'll speak to +him, for fear he should think me so shabby as to shy him." Thus +giving an instance in himself, certainly, of respect for the +<i>man</i> and not the <i>coat</i>. My short history goes rather to +prove that the reverse is almost every day's experience. Matters +went on pretty well with us until my master was seized with a +severe fit of illness, in consequence of which his literary scheme +was completely defeated, and his condition in life materially +injured; of course, the glad tones of encouragement which I had +been accustomed to hear were changed into expressions of +condolence, and sometimes assurances of unabated friendship; but +then it must be remembered that I, the handsomest blue coat, was +<i>still in good condition</i>, and it will perhaps appear, that if +I were not my master's <i>warmest</i> friend, I was, at all events, +the only one that <i>stuck to him to the last</i>. Eternal respect +to both of us continued much the same for some time longer, but by +degrees we both, <i>at the same time</i>, observed, that an +alteration began to take place. My master attributed this to his +altered fortunes, and I placed it to the score of my decayed +appearance—the threadbare cloth and tarnished button came in, +I was sure, for their full share of neglect, and he at last fell +into the same opinion. To describe all the variety of treatment +that we experienced would be a tedious and unpleasant +task,—but I was the more convinced that I had at least as +much to do with it as my master, from observing that all the +gradations in manner, from coolness to shyness, and from shyness to +neglect, kept pace, remarkably, with the changes in my appearance. +My master was, at length, the only individual who paid any respect +or attention to me, after most of his old acquaintances had ceased +to notice him. I have heard him exclaim, "Oh, that mankind would +treat me with as much constancy as my old true blue! Thou hast +faithfully served me throughout the vicissitudes of fortune, and +art faithful still, now both of us are left to wither in +adversity."</p> +<p>I could make a long story of it, were I to detail all my +adventures; they may, however, be easily imagined from what has +been stated, and from which it is evident, that in too many +instances, the world pays more respect to <i>the coat</i>, than to +<i>the man</i>, and therefore that a man would often derive more +consequence and benefit if he had the advantage of having for his +patron—<i>a tailor</i> instead of <i>a man of rank</i>. J. +B.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>THE NOVELIST.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>No. CIV.<br /> +THE COTTER'S DAUGHTER.</h3> +<p>It was a cold stormy night in December, and the green logs as +they blazed and crackled on the Cotter's hearth, were rendered more +delightful, more truly comfortable, by the contrast with the icy +showers of snow and sleet which swept against the frail casement, +making all without cheerless and miserable.</p> +<p>The Cotter was a handsome, intelligent old man, and afforded me +much information upon glebes, and flocks, and rural economy; while +his spouse, a venerable matron, was humming to herself some long +since forgotten ballad; and industriously twisting and twirling +about her long knitting needles, that promised soon to produce a +pair of formidable winter hose. Their son, a stout, healthy young +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page13" name="page13"></a>[pg 13]</span> +peasant of three-and-twenty, was sitting in the spacious chimney +corner, sharing his frugal supper of bread and cheese with a large, +shaggy sheep dog, who sat on his haunches wistfully watching every +mouthful, and snap, snap, snapping, and dextrously catching every +morsel that was cast to him.</p> +<p>We were all suddenly startled, however, by his loud bark; when, +jumping up, he rushed, or rather flew towards the door.</p> +<p>"Whew! whew!" whistled the youth—"Whoy—what the +dickens ails thee, Rover?" said he, rising and following him to the +door to learn the cause of his alarm. "What! be they gone again, +ey?" for the dog was silent. "What do thee sniffle at, boy? On'y +look at 'un feyther; how the beast whines and waggles his stump o' +tail!—It's some 'un he knows for sartain. I'd lay a wager it +wur Bill Miles com'd about the harrow, feyther."</p> +<p>"Did thee hear any knock, lad?" said the father.</p> +<p>"Noa!" replied the youth; "but mayhap Bill peep'd thro' the hoal +in the shutter, and is a bit dash'd like at seeing a gentleman +here. Bill! is't thee, Master Miles?" continued he, bawling. "Lord! +the wind whistles so a' can't hear me. Shall I unlatch the door, +feyther?"</p> +<p>"Ay, lad, do, an thou wilt," replied the old man; "Rover's wiser +nor we be—a dog 'll scent a friend, when a man would'nt know +un."</p> +<p>Rover still continued his low importunate whine, and began to +scratch against the door. The lad threw it open—the dog +brushed past him in an instant, and his quick, short, continuous +yelping, expressed his immoderate joy and recognition.</p> +<p>"Hollo! where be'st thee, Bill?" said the young peasant, +stepping over the threshold. "Come, none of thee tricks upon +travellers, Master Bill; I zee thee beside the rick yon!" and +quitting the door for half a minute, he again hastily entered the +cot. The rich colour of robust health had fled from his +cheeks—his lips quivered—and he looked like one bereft +of his senses, or under the influence of some frightful +apparition.</p> +<p>The dame rose up—her work fell from trembling +hands—</p> +<p>"What's the matter?" said she.</p> +<p>"What's frighted thee, lad?" asked the old man, rising.</p> +<p>"Oh! feyther!—oh! mother!"—exclaimed he, drawing +them hastily on one side and whispering something in a low, and +almost inaudible voice.</p> +<p>The old woman raised her hands in supplication and tottered to +her chair while the Cotter, bursting out into a paroxysm of violent +rage, clutched his son's arm, and exclaimed in a loud voice:</p> +<p>"Make fast the door, boy, an thou'lt not have my curse on +thee!—I tell 'ee, she shan't come +hither!—No—never—never;—there's poison in +her breath—a' will spurn her from me!—A pest on +her!—What; wilt not do my bidding?"</p> +<p>"O! feyther, feyther!" cried the young peasant, whose heart +seemed overcharged with grief, "It be a cold, raw night—ye +wou'dna kick a cur from the door to perish in the storm! Doant 'ee +be hot and hasty, feyther, thou art not uncharitable—On me +knees!"—</p> +<p>"Psha!" exclaimed the enraged father, only exasperated by his +remonstrances. "Whoy talk 'ee to me, son—I am +deaf—deaf!—Mine own hand shall bar the door agen +her!"—adding with bitterness—"let her die!"—and +stepping past his prostrate son, was about to execute his +purpose—when, a young girl, whose once gay and flimsy raiment +was drenched and stained, and torn by the violence of the storm, +appeared at the door. The old man recoiled with a shudder—she +was as pale as death—and her trembling limbs seemed scarcely +able to support her—a profusion of light brown hair hung +dishevelled and in disorder about her neck and shoulders, and added +to her forlorn appearance. She stretched forth her arms and +pronounced the name of "Father!" but further utterance was +prevented by the convulsive sobs that heaved her bosom.</p> +<p>"Mary—woman!" cried the old man, trembling—"Call me +not feyther—thou art none of mine—thou hast no feyther +now—nor I a daughter—thou art a serpent that hath stung +the bosom that cherished thee! Go to the fawning villain—the +black-hearted sycophant that dragged thee from our arms—from +our happy home to misery and pollution—go, and bless him for +breaking thy poor old feyther's heart!"</p> +<p>Overcome by these heart-rending reproaches, the distressed girl +fainted; but the strong arm of the young Cotter supported +her—for her tender-hearted youth, moved by his fallen +sister's sorrows, had ventured again to intercede.</p> +<p>"Hah! touch not her defiled and loathsome body," cried the old +man—"thrust her from the door, and let her find a grave where +she may. Boy! wilt thou dare disobey me?" and he raised his +clenched hand, while anger flashed from his eye.</p> +<p>"Strike! feyther—strike me!" said the poor lad, bursting +into tears—"fell me to the 'arth! Kill me, an thou +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page14" name="page14"></a>[pg 14]</span> +wilt—I care not—I will never turn my heart agen poor +Mary!—Bean't she my sister? Did thee not teach me to love +her?—Poor lass!—she do want it all now, +feyther—for she be downcast and broken-hearted!—Nay, +thee art kind and good, feyther—know thee art—I zee +thine eyes be full o' tears—and thee—thee woant cast +her away from thee, I know thee woant. Mother, speak to 'un; speak +to sister Mary too—it be our own Mary! Doant 'ee kill her wi' +unkindness!"</p> +<p>The old man, moved by his affectionate entreaties, no longer +offered any opposition to his son's wishes, but hiding his face in +his hands, he fled from the affecting scene to an adjoining +room.</p> +<p>Her venerable mother having recovered from the shock of her lost +daughter's sudden appearance, now rose to the assistance of the +unfortunate, and by the aid of restoratives brought poor Mary to +the full sense of her wretchedness. She was speedily conveyed to +the same humble pallet, to which, in the days of her innocence and +peace, she had always retired so light-hearted and joyously, but +where she now found a lasting sleep—an eternal +repose!—Yes, poor Mary died!—and having won the +forgiveness and blessing of her offended parents, death was welcome +to her.—<i>Absurdities: in Prose and Verse</i>.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>ORIGINS AND INVENTIONS.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>No. XXVII.<br /> +VAUXHALL GARDENS.</h3> +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> +<blockquote>"Here waving groves a checkered scene display,<br /> +And part admit, and part exclude the day."</blockquote> +<p>POPE.</p> +<hr /> +<p>Of the origin of these enchanting gardens, Mr. Aubrey, in his +"Antiquities of Surrey," gives us the following account;—"At +Vauxhall, Sir Samuel Morland built a fine room, anno 1667, the +inside all of looking-glass, and fountains very pleasant to behold, +which is much visited by strangers: it stands in the middle of the +garden, covered with Cornish slate, on the point of which he placed +a punchinello, very well carved, which held a dial, but the winds +have demolished it." And Sir John Hawkins, in his "History of +Music," has the following account of it:—"The house seems to +have been rebuilt since the time that Sir Samuel Morland dwelt in +it. About the year 1730, Mr. Jonathan Tyers became the occupier of +it, and, there being a large garden belonging to it, planted with a +great number of stately trees, and laid out in shady walks, it +obtained the name of Spring Gardens; and the house being converted +into a tavern, or place of entertainment, was much frequented by +the votaries of pleasure. Mr. Tyers opened it with an advertisement +of a <i>Ridotto al Fresco</i>, a term which the people of this +country had till that time been strangers to. These entertainments +were repeated in the course of the summer, and numbers resorted to +partake of them. This encouraged the proprietor to make his garden +a place of musical entertainment, for every evening during the +summer season. To this end he was at great expense in decorating +the gardens with paintings; he engaged a band of excellent +musicians; he issued silver tickets at one guinea each for +admission, and receiving great encouragement, he set up an organ in +the orchestra, and, in a conspicuous part of the garden, erected a +fine statue of Mr. Handel." These gardens are said to be the first +of the kind in England; but they are not so old as the Mulberry +Gardens, (on the spot now called Spring Gardens, near St. James's +Park,) where king Charles II. went to regale himself the night +after his restoration, and formed an immediate connexion with Mrs. +Palmer, afterwards Duchess of Cleveland. The trees, however, are +more than a century old, and, according to tradition, were planted +for a public garden. This property was formerly held by Jane Fauxe, +or Vaux, widow, in 1615; and it is highly probable (says Nichols) +that she was the relict of the infamous Guy. In the "Spectator," +No. 383, Mr. Addison introduces a voyage from the Temple Stairs to +Vauxhall, in which he is accompanied by his friend, Sir Roger de +Coverley. In the "Connoisseur," No. 68, we find a very humourous +description of the behaviour of an old penurious citizen, who had +treated his family here with a handsome supper. The magnificence of +these gardens calls to recollection the magic representations in +the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments," where</p> +<blockquote>"The blazing glories, with a cheerful ray,<br /> +Supply the sun, and counterfeit the day."</blockquote> +<p>Grosely, in his "Tour to London,"<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> +says, (relating to Ranelagh and Vauxhall,) "These entertainments, +which begin in the month of May, are continued every night. They +bring together persons of all ranks and conditions; and amongst +these, a considerable number of females, whose charms want only +that cheerful air, which is the flower and quintessence of beauty. +These places +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page15" name="page15"></a>[pg 15]</span> +serve equally as a rendezvous either for business or +intrigue. They form, as it were, private coteries; there you see +fathers and mothers, with their children, enjoying domestic +happiness in the midst of public diversions. The English assert, +that such entertainments as these can never subsist in France, on +account of the levity of the people. Certain it is, that those of +Vauxhall and Ranelagh, which are guarded only by outward decency, +are conducted without tumult and disorder, which often disturb the +public diversions of France. I do not know whether the English are +gainers thereby; the joy which they seem in search of at those +places does not beam through their countenances; they look as grave +at Vauxhall and Ranelagh as at the Bank, at church, or a private +club. All persons there seem to say, what a young English nobleman +said to his governor, <i>Am I as joyous as I should be?</i>"</p> +<p>P. T. W.</p> + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>FINE ARTS.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>THE CHIEF CAUSES OF THE SUCCESS OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE IN +GREECE AND ROME.</h3> +<h4>(<i>For the Mirror</i>.)</h4> +<p>A cursory glance at the principal occasion of the amazing +success obtained by the Greeks and Romans, in painting and +sculpture, during the early ages, may perhaps prove interesting to +the lovers of the arts in this country.</p> +<p>The elevation to which the arts in Greece arrived was owing to +the concurrence of various circumstances. The imitative arts, we +are told, in that classic country formed a part of the +administration, and were inseparably connected with the heathen +worship. The temples were magnificently erected, and adorned with +numerous statues of pagan deities, before which, in reverential +awe, the people prostrated themselves. Every man of any substance +had an idol in his own habitation, executed by a reputed sculptor. +In all public situations the patriotic actions of certain citizens +were represented, that beholders might be induced to emulate their +virtues. On contemplating these masterpieces of art, which were so +truly exquisite that the very coldest spectator was unable to +resist their <i>almost magical</i> influence, the vicious were +reclaimed, and the ignorant stood abashed. Indeed, it has often +been asserted, that the statues by Phidias and Praxiteles were so +inimitably executed, that the people of Paros adored them as living +gods. Those artists who performed such extraordinary wonders as +these were held in an esteemed light, of which we cannot form the +least idea. We are certain they were paid most enormous prices for +their productions, and consequently could afford to adorn them with +every beauty of art, and to bestow more time on them than can ever +be expected from any modern artist.</p> +<p>As soon as the arts had arrived at their highest pitch of +excellency in Greece, the country was laid waste by the invading +power of the Romans. All the Greek cities which contained the +greatest treasures were demolished, and all the pictures<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> +and +statues fell into the hands of the victorious general, who had them +carefully preserved and conveyed from the land where they had been +adored. Of the estimation in which these great works were held by +the Romans, we may form some idea by the general assuring a +soldier, to whose charge he gave a statue by Praxiteles, that if he +broke it, he should get another as well made in its place. War is a +very destructive enemy to painting and sculpture; the intestine +quarrels which ensued after the Romans had conquered the country, +rendered the exercise of the art impracticable.</p> +<p>The arts were neglected in Rome until the introduction of the +popish religion. At that eventful era, statues and pictures were +eagerly sought for; the admirable Grecian works were appropriated +to purposes quite contrary to their pagan origin, for in many cases +heathen deities were converted into apostles. The labours of +Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles, Lysippus, and Scopas,<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> +were +highly valued by the Romans, who became the correct imitators, and +in time the rivals, of those celebrated sculptors.</p> +<p>G.W.N.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>LOVE'S VICTIM.<a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> +</h3> +<blockquote>She left her own warm home<br /> + To tempt the frozen waste,<br /> +What time the traveller fear'd to roam,<br /> + And hunter shunn'd the blast,<br /> +Love pour'd his strength into her soul—<br /> +Could peril e'er his power controul!<br /> +<br /><span class="pagenum"><a id="page16" name="page16"></a>[pg 16]</span> +She left her own warm home.<br /> + When stone, and herb, and tree,<br /> +And all beneath heaven's lurid dome<br /> + By wintry majesty,<br /> +In his stern age, were clad with snow,<br /> +And human hearts beat chill and slow.<br /> +<br /> +It was a fearful hour<br /> + For one so young and fair:<br /> +The woods had not one sheltering bower,<br /> + The earth was trackless there,<br /> +The very boughs in silver slept,<br /> +As the sea-foam had o'er them swept.<br /> +<br /> +Snow after snow came down,<br /> + The sky look'd fix'd in ice;<br /> +She deem'd amid the season's power,<br /> + Her love would all suffice<br /> +To keep the source of being warm,<br /> +And mock the terrors of the storm.<br /> +<br /> +Love was her world of life.<br /> + She thought but of her heart,<br /> +And knowing that the winter's strife<br /> + Could not its hope dispart,<br /> +She dream'd not that its home of clay<br /> +Might yield before the tempest's sway—<br /> +<br /> +Or judged that passion's power—<br /> + Passion so strong and pure.<br /> +Might mock the snow-flake's wildering shower,<br /> + Proud that it could endure,<br /> +As woman oft in times before<br /> +Had peril borne as much or more.<br /> +<br /> +She went—dawn past o'er dawn,<br /> + None saw her face again,<br /> +The eyes she should have gazed upon,<br /> + Look'd for her face in vain—<br /> +The ear to which her voice was song,<br /> +Her voice had sought—how vainly long!<br /> +<br /> +There is in Saco's vale<br /> + A gently swelling hill,<br /> +Shadows have wrapt it like a veil<br /> + From trees that mark it still,<br /> +Around, the mountains towering blue<br /> +Look on that spot of saddest hue.<br /> +<br /> +'Twas by that little hill,<br /> + At the dark noon of night,<br /> +Close by a frozen snow-hid rill,<br /> + Where branches close unite<br /> +Even in winter's leafless time,<br /> +The skeletons of summer's prime.<br /> +<br /> +That flash'd the traveller's flame<br /> + On tree and precipice,<br /> +And show'd a fair unearthly frame<br /> + In robes of glittering ice,<br /> +With head against a trunk inclined,<br /> +Like a dream-spirit of the mind.<br /> +<br /> +'Twas that love-wander'd maid, death-pale,<br /> + Her very heart's blood froze,<br /> +Love's Niobe, in her own vale,<br /> + Now reckless of all woes—<br /> +Love's victim fair, and true, find meet,<br /> +As she of the famed Paraclete.<br /> +<br /> +The mountains round shall tell<br /> + Her tale to travellers long.<br /> +The little vale of Saco swell<br /> + The western poet's song,<br /> +And "Nancy's Hill" in loftier rhymes<br /> +Be sung through unborn realms and times.</blockquote> +<i>New Monthly Magazine</i>. +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>THE GATHERER</h2> +<blockquote> "I am but a <i>Gatherer</i> and +disposer of other men's stuff."—<i>Wotton</i>. +</blockquote> +<hr /> +<p>The late Dr. Barclay was a wit and a scholar, as well as a very +great physiologist. When a happy illustration, or even a point of +pretty broad humour, occurred to his mind, he hesitated not to +apply it to the subject in hand; and in this way, he frequently +roused and rivetted attention, when more abstract reasoning might +have failed of its aim. On one occasion he happened to dine with a +large party, composed chiefly of medical men. As the wine cup +circulated, the conversation accidentally took a professional turn, +and from the excitation of the moment, or some other cause, two of +the youngest individuals present were the most forward in +delivering their opinions. Sir James McIntosh once told a political +opponent, that so far from following his example of using hard +words and soft arguments, he would pass, if possible, into the +opposite extreme, and use soft words and hard arguments. But our +unfledged M.D.'s disregarded the above salutary maxim, and made up +in loudness what they wanted in learning. At length, one of them +said something so emphatic—we mean as to manner—that a +pointer dog started from his lair beneath the table and +<i>bow-wow-wowed</i> so fiercely, that he fairly took the lead in +the discussion. Dr. Barclay eyed the hairy dialectician, and +thinking it high time to close the debate, gave the animal a hearty +push with his foot, and exclaimed in broad Scotch—"Lie still, +ye brute; for I am sure ye ken just as little about it as ony +o'them." We need hardly add, that this sally was followed by a +hearty burst of laughter, in which even the disputants +good-humouredly joined.</p> +<hr /> +<blockquote> Fair woman was made to bewitch—<br /> +A pleasure, a pain, a disturber, a nurse,<br /> +A slave, or a tyrant, a blessing, or curse;<br /> + Fair woman was made to be—which?</blockquote> + +<hr class="full" /> +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a> + <b>Footnote 1</b>: <a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> + <p><i>New London Literary Gazette</i>.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a> + <b>Footnote 2</b>: <a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a> + <p>The circumstances of the case were as +follows:—Jean Baptiste Michel, aged 36, a blacksmith, +accompanied by a female named Marie Anne Debeyst, aged 22, was +proceeding from Brussels to Vilvorde, one day in the month of +March, 1824. In the Alléverte, they overtook a servant girl, +who was imprudent enough to mention to them that her master had +entrusted her with a sum of money. Near Vilvorde, Michel and his +paramour, having formed their plan of assassination and robbery, +rejoined the poor girl, whom they had momentarily left, and +violently demanded the bag containing the gold and silver. The +unfortunate young creature resisted their attacks as long as she +could, but was soon felled to the ground by Michel, who with a +thick stick fractured her skull, whilst Debeyst trod upon the +prostrate victim of their horrid crime. These wretches were shortly +afterwards arrested and committed to prison. On the 5th of April, +1825, they were condemned to death by the Court of Assize at +Brussels, but implored of the royal clemency a commutation of +punishment. This was granted to the woman, whose sentence was +changed to perpetual imprisonment. Michel's petition was +rejected.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a> + <b>Footnote 3</b>: <a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a> + <p>It is a fact not known to every juvenile lover of +nature, that a transverse section of a fern-root presents a +miniature picture of an <i>oak tree</i> which no painter could +rival.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a> + <b>Footnote 4</b>: <a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a> + <p>1765, translated from the French by Thomas Nugent, +LL.D.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a> + <b>Footnote 5</b>: <a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a> + <p>The pictures alluded to were the works of Apelles, +Apollodorus, and Protogenes.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a> + <b>Footnote 6</b>: <a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a> +<p>These sculptors, according to Pliny, were the most +reputed among the ancients.</p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a> + <b>Footnote 7</b>: <a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a> +<p>A few miles below the Notch of the White Mountains in +the Valley of Saco, is a little rise of land called "Nancy's Hill." +It was formerly thickly covered with trees, a cluster of which +remains to mark the spot. In 1773, at Dartmouth, Jefferson co. U.S. +lived Nancy——, of respectable connexions. She was +engaged to be married. Her lover had set out for Lancaster. She +would follow him in the depth of winter, and on foot. There was not +a house for thirty miles, and the way through the wild woods a +footpath only. She persisted in her design, and wrapping herself in +her long cloak, proceeded on her way. Snow and frost took place for +several weeks, when some persons passing her route, reached the +lull at night. On lighting their fires, an unearthly figure stood +before them beneath the bending branches, wrapped in a robe of ice. +It was the lifeless form of Nancy.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><i>Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand (near +Somerset House), and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers</i>.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<pre> + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 10, ISSUE 262, JULY 7, 1827 *** + +This file should be named 8m26210h.htm or 8m26210h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8m26211h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8m26210ah.htm + + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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