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diff --git a/9884-8.txt b/9884-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..56e49af --- /dev/null +++ b/9884-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1818 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 264, July 14, 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 264, July 14, 1827 + +Author: Various + +Posting Date: December 5, 2011 [EBook #9884] +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 14, 1827 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 10, No. 264.] SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1827. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + +ARCHITECTURAL ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +NEW CHURCH, REGENT'S PARK. + +[Illustration] + + +The architectural splendour which has lately developed itself in and +about the precincts of the parish of St. Mary-le-Bonne, exhibits a most +surprising and curious contrast with the former state of this part of +London; and more particularly when compared with accounts extracted from +newspapers of an early date. + +Mary-le-Bonne parish is estimated to contain more than ten thousand +houses, and one hundred thousand inhabitants. In the plans of London, in +1707, it was a small village one mile distant from the Metropolis, +separated by fields--the scenes of robbery and murder. The following +from a newspaper of 1716:--"On Wednesday last, four gentlemen were +robbed and stripped in the fields between Mary-le-Bonne and London." The +"Weekly Medley," of 1718, says, "Round about the New Square which is +building near Tyburn road, there are so many other edifices, that a +whole magnificent city seems to be risen out of the ground in a way +which makes one wonder how it should find a new set of inhabitants. It +is said it is to be called by the name of _Hanover Square!_ On the other +side is to be built another square, called Oxford Square." From the same +article I have also extracted the dates of many of the different +erections, which may prove of benefit to your architectural readers, as +tending to show the progressive improvement made in the private +buildings of London, and showing also the style of building adopted at +later periods. Indeed, I would wish that some of your correspondents-- +_F.R.Y._, or _P.T.W._, for instance, would favour us with a _list of +dates_ answering this purpose. Rathbone-place and John-street (from +Captain Rathbone) began 1729. Oxford market opened 1732. Newman-street +and Berners-street, named from the builders, between 1723 and 1775. +Portland-place and street, 1770. Portman-square, 1764. Portman-place, +1770. Stratford-place, five years later, on the site of Conduit Mead, +built by Robert Stratford, Esq. This had been the place whereon stood +the banquetting house for the lord mayor and aldermen, when they visited +the neighbouring nine conduits which then supplied the city with water. +Cumberland-place, 1769. Manchester-square the year after. + +Previous to entering upon an architectural description of the superb +buildings recently erected in the vicinity of Regency Park, I shall +confine myself at present to that object that first arrests the +attention at the entrance, which is the church; it has been erected +under the commissioners for building new churches. The architect is J. +Soane, Esq. There is a pleasing originality in this gentleman's +productions; the result of extensive research among the architectural +beauties of the ancients, together with a peculiar happy mode of +distributing his lights and shadows; producing in the greatest degree +picturesque effect: these are peculiarities essentially his own, and +forming in no part a copy of the works of any other architect in the +present day. The church in question by no means detracts from his merit +in these particulars. The principal front consists of a portico of four +columns of the Ionic order, approached by a small flight of steps; on +each side is a long window, divided into two heights by a stone transum +(panelled). Under the lower window is a raised panel also; and in the +flank of the building the plinth is furnished with openings; each of the +windows is filled with ornamental iron-work, for the purpose of +ventilating the vaults or catacombs. The flank of the church has a +central projection, occupied by antae, and six insulated Ionic columns; +the windows in the inter-columns are in the same style as those in +front; the whole is surmounted by a balustrade. The tower is in two +heights; the lower part has eight columns of the Corinthian order. +Example taken from the temple of Vesta, at Tivoli; these columns, with +their stylobatæ and entablature, project, and give a very extraordinary +relief in the perspective view of the building. The upper part consists +of a circular peristyle of six columns; the example apparently taken +from the portico of the octagon tower of Andronicus Cyrrhestes, or tower +of the winds, from the summit of which rises a conical dome, surmounted +by the Vane. The more minute detail may be seen by the annexed drawing. +The prevailing ornament is the Grecian fret. + +Mr. Soane, during his long practice in the profession, has erected very +few churches, and it appears that he is endeavouring to rectify failings +that seem insurmountable in the present style of architecture,--that of +preventing the tower from having the appearance of rising out of the +roof, by designing his porticos without pediments; if this is the case, +he certainly is indebted to a great share of praise, as a pediment will +always conceal (particularly at a near view) the major part of a tower. +But again, we find ourselves in another difficulty, and it makes the +remedy as bad as the disease,--that of taking away the principal +characteristic of a portico, (namely, the pediment), and destroying at +once the august appearance which it gives to the building; we find in +all the churches of Sir Christopher Wren the campanile to form a +distinct projection from the ground upwards; thus assimilating nearer to +the ancient form of building them entirely apart from the main body of +the church. I should conceive, that if this idea was followed by +introducing the beautiful detail of Grecian architecture, according to +Wren's _models_ it would raise our church architecture to a very +superior pitch of excellence. + +In my next I shall notice the interior, and also the elevation towards +the altar. + +C. DAVY. + +_Furnivals' Inn_, + +_July 1, 1827._ + + * * * * * + + + +THE MONTHS + + * * * * * + + +THE SEASON. + + +The heat is greatest in this month on account of its previous duration. +The reason why it is less so in August is, that the days are then much +shorter, and the influence of the sun has been gradually diminishing. +The farmer is still occupied in getting the productions of the earth +into his garners; but those who can avoid labour enjoy as much rest and +shade as possible. There is a sense of heat and quiet all over nature. +The birds are silent. The little brooks are dried up. The earth is +chapped with parching. The shadows of the trees are particularly +grateful, heavy, and still. The oaks, which are freshest because latest +in leaf, form noble clumpy canopies; looking, as you lie under them, of +a strong and emulous green against the blue sky. The traveller delights +to cut across the country through the fields and the leafy lanes, where, +nevertheless, the flints sparkle with heat. The cattle get into the +shade or stand in the water. The active and air-cutting-swallows, now +beginning to assemble for migration, seek their prey about the shady +places; where the insects, though of differently compounded natures, +"fleshless and bloodless," seem to get for coolness, as they do at other +times for warmth. The sound of insects is also the only audible thing +now, increasing rather than lessening the sense of quiet by its gentle +contrast. The bee now and then sweeps across the ear with his gravest +tone. The gnats + + "Their murmuring small trumpets sounden wide:"--SPENSER. + +and here and there the little musician of the grass touches forth his +tricksy note. + + The poetry of earth is never dead; + When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, + And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run + From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead: + That is the grasshopper's.[1] + + [1] _Poems_, by John Keats, p. 93. + +The strong rains, which sometimes come down in summer-time, are a noble +interruption to the drought and indolence of hot weather. They seem as +if they had been collecting a supply of moisture equal to the want of +it, and come drenching the earth with a mighty draught of freshness. The +rushing and tree-bowing winds that precede them, the dignity with which +they rise in the west, the gathering darkness of their approach, the +silence before their descent, the washing amplitude of their +out-pouring, the suddenness with which they appear to leave off, taking +up, as it were, their watery feet to sail onward, and then the sunny +smile again of nature, accompanied by the "sparkling noise" of the +birds, and those dripping diamonds the rain-drops;--there is a grandeur +and a beauty in all this, which lend a glorious effect to each other; +for though the sunshine appears more beautiful than grand, there is a +power, not even to be looked upon, in the orb from which it flows; and +though the storm is more grand than beautiful, there is always beauty +where there is so much beneficence.--_The Months_. + + +BATHING + + +It is now the weather for bathing, a refreshment too little taken in +this country, either summer or winter. We say in winter, because with +very little care in placing it near a cistern, and having a leathern +pipe for it, a bath may be easily filled once or twice a week with warm +water; and it is a vulgar error that the warm bath relaxes. An excess, +either warm or cold, will relax, and so will any other excess; but the +sole effect of the warm bath moderately taken is, that it throws off the +bad humours of the body by opening and clearing the pores. As to summer +bathing, a father may soon teach his children to swim, and thus perhaps +may be the means of saving their lives some day or other, as well as +health. Ladies also, though they cannot bathe in the open air, as they +do in some of the West Indian islands and other countries, by means of +natural basins among the rocks, might oftener make a substitute for it +at home in tepid baths. The most beautiful aspects under which Venus has +been painted or sculptured have been connected with bathing; and indeed +there is perhaps no one thing that so equally contributes to the three +graces of health, beauty, and good temper; to health, in putting the +body into its best state; to beauty, in clearing and tinting the skin; +and to good temper, in rescuing the spirits from the irritability +occasioned by those formidable personages, "the nerves," which nothing +else allays in so quick and entire a manner. See a lovely passage on the +subject of bathing in Sir Philip Sydney's "Arcadia," where "Philoclea, +blushing, and withal smiling, makeing shamefastnesse pleasant, and +pleasure shamefast, tenderly moved her feet, unwonted to feel the naked +ground, until the touch of the cold water made a pretty kind of +shrugging come over her body; like the twinkling of the fairest among +the fixed stars."--_Ibid_. + + +INSECTS + + +Insects now take the place of the feathered tribe, and, being for the +most part hatched in the spring, they are now in full vigour. It is a +very amusing sight in some of our rural rambles, in a bright evening +after a drizzling summer shower, to see the air filled throughout all +its space with sportive organized creatures, the leaf, the branch, the +bark of the tree, every mossy bank, the bare earth, the pool, the ditch, +all teeming with animal life; and the mind that is ever framed for +contemplation, must awaken now in viewing such a profusion and variety +of existence. One of those poor little beings, the fragile _gnat_, +becomes our object of attention, whether we regard its form or peculiar +designation in the insect world; we must admire the first, and +innocently, perhaps, conjecture the latter. We know that Infinite +Wisdom, which formed, declared it "to be very good;" that it has its +destination and settled course of action, admitting of no deviation or +substitution: beyond this, perhaps, we can rarely proceed, or, if we +sometimes advance a few steps more, we are then lost in the mystery with +which the incomprehensible Architect has thought proper to surround it. +So little is human nature permitted to see, (nor perhaps is it capable +of comprehending much more than permitted,) that it is blind beyond +thought as to secondary causes; and admiration, that pure fountain of +intellectual pleasure, is almost the only power permitted to us. We see +a wonderfully fabricated creature, decorated with a vest of glorious art +and splendour, occupying almost its whole life in seeking for the most +fitting station for its own necessities, exerting wiles and stratagems, +and constructing a peculiar material to preserve its offspring against +natural or occasional injury, with a forethought equivalent to +reason--in a moment, perhaps, with all its splendour and instinct, it +becomes the prey of some wandering bird! and human wisdom and conjecture +are humbled to the dust. We can "see but in part," and the wisest of us +is only, perhaps, something less ignorant than another. This sense of a +perfection so infinitely above us, is the _natural_ intimation of a +Supreme Being; and as science improves, and inquiry is augmented, our +imperfections and ignorance will become more manifest, and all our +aspirations after knowledge only increase in us the conviction of +knowing nothing. Every deep investigator of nature can hardly be +possessed of any other than a humble mind. + + * * * * * + + +THE PEACOCK. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +Of this bird, there are several species, distinguished by their +different colours. The male of the common kind is, perhaps, the most +gaudy of all the bird-kind; the length and beauty of whose tail, and the +various forms in which the creature carries it, are sufficiently known +and admired among us. India is, however, his native country; and there +he enjoys himself with a sprightliness and gaiety unknown to him in +Europe. The translators of Hindoo poetry concur in their description of +his manners; and is frequently alluded to by the Hindoo poets. + + "Dark with her varying clouds, and peacocks gay." + +It is affirmed, among the delightful phenomena which are observable at +the commencement of the rainy season, (immediately following that of the +withering hot winds,) the joy displayed by the peacocks is one of the +most pleasing. These birds assemble in groups upon some retired spot of +verdant grass; jump about in the most animated manner, and make the air +re-echo with their cheerful notes. + + "Or can the peacock's animated hail." + +The wild peacock is also exceedingly abundant in many parts of +Hindoostan, and is especially found in marshy places. The habits of this +bird are in a great measure aquatic; and the setting in of the rains is +the season in which they pair; the peacock is, therefore, always +introduced in the description of cloudy or rainy weather. Thus, in a +little poem, descriptive of the rainy season, &c., the author says, +addressing his mistress,-- + + "Oh, thou, whose teeth enamelled vie + With smiling _Cunda's_ pearly ray, + Hear how the peacock's amorous cry + Salutes the dark and cloudy day." + +And again, where he is describing the same season:-- + + "When smiling forests, whence the tuneful cries + Of clustering pea-fowls shrill and frequent rise, + Teach tender feelings to each human breast, + And please alike the happy or distressed." + +The peacock flies to the highest station he can reach, to enjoy himself; +and rises to the topmost boughs of trees, though the female makes her +nest on the ground. + +F.R.Y. + + * * * * * + + +A WARNING TO FRUIT EATERS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +The mischiefs arising from the bad custom of many people swallowing the +stones of plums and other fruit are very great. In the _Philosophical +Transactions_, No. 282, there is an account of a woman who suffered +violent pains in her bowels for thirty years, returning once in a month, +or less, owing to a plum-stone which had lodged; which, after various +operations, was extracted. There is likewise an account of a man, who +dying of an incurable colic, which had tormented him many years, and +baffled the effects of medicine, was opened after his death, and in his +bowels was found the cause of his distemper, which was a ball, composed +of tough and hard matter, resembling a stone, being six inches in +circumference, when measured, and weighing an ounce and a half; in the +centre of this there was found the stone of a common plum. These +instances sufficiently prove the folly of that common opinion, that the +stones of fruits are wholesome. Cherry-stones, swallowed in great +quantities, have occasioned the death of many people; and there have +been instances even of the seeds of strawberries, and kernels of nuts, +collected into a lump in the bowels, and causing violent disorders, +which could never be cured till they were carried off. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +THE NIGHTINGALE, + +BY THE AUTHOR OF "AHAB." + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + In the low dingle sings the nightingale. + And echo answers; all beside is still. + The breeze is gone to fill some distant sail, + And on the sand to sleep has sunk the rill. + The blackbird and the thrush have sought the vale. + And the lark soars no more above the hill, + For the broad sun is up all hotly pale, + And in my reins I feel his parching thrill. + + Hark! how each note, so beautifully clear, + So soft, so sweetly mellow, rings around. + Then faintly dies away upon the ear, + That fondly vibrates to the fading sound. + Poor bird, thou sing'st, the thorn within thy heart, + And I from sorrows, that will not depart. + +S.P.J. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS + + * * * * * + + +A NIGHT ATTACK. + + +Charlton and I were in the act of smoking our cigars, the men having +laid themselves down about the blaze, when word was passed from sentry +to sentry, and intelligence communicated to us, that all was not right +towards the river. We started instantly to our feet. The fire was +hastily smothered up, and the men snatching their arms, stood in line, +ready to act as circumstances might require. So dense, however, was the +darkness, and so dazzling the effect of the glare from the bivouac, that +it was not possible, standing where we stood, to form any reasonable +guess, as to the cause of this alarm. That an alarm had been excited, +was indeed perceptible enough. Instead of the deep silence which five +minutes ago had prevailed in the bivouac, a strange hubbub of shouts, +and questions, and as many cries, rose up the night air; nor did many +minutes elapse, ere first one musket, then three or four, then a whole +platoon, were discharged. The reader will _easily_ believe that the +latter circumstance startled us prodigiously, ignorant as we were of the +cause which produced it; but it required no very painful exertion of +patience to set us right on this head; flash, flash, flash, came from +the river; the roar of cannon followed, and the light of her own +broadside displayed to us an enemy's vessel at anchor near the opposite +bank, and pouring a perfect shower of grape and round shot into +the camp. + +For one instant, and only for an instant, a scene of alarm and +consternation overcame us; and we almost instinctively addressed to each +other the question, "What can all this mean?" But the meaning was too +palpable not to be understood at once. "The thing cannot end here," said +we--"a night attack is commencing;" and we made no delay in preparing to +meet it. Whilst Charlton remained with the picquet, in readiness to act +as the events might demand, I came forward to the sentries, for the +purpose of cautioning them against paying attention to what might pass +in their rear, and keeping them steadily engaged in watching their +front. The men were fully alive to the peril of their situation. They +strained with their hearing and eyesight to the utmost limits; but +neither sound nor sight of an advancing column could be perceived. At +last, however, an alarm was given. One of the rifles challenged--it was +the sentinel on the high road; the sentinel who communicated with him +challenged also; and the cry was taken up from man to man, till our own +most remote sentry caught it. I flew to his station; and sure enough the +tramp of many feet was most distinctly audible. Having taken the +precaution to carry an orderly forward with me, I caused him to hurry +back to Charlton with intelligence of what was coming, and my earnest +recommendation that he would lose no time in occupying the ditch. I had +hardly done so, when the noise of a column deploying was distinctly +heard. The tramp of horses, too, came mingled with the tread of men; in +a word, it was quite evident that a large force, both of infantry and +cavalry, was before us. + +There was a pause at this period of several moments, as if the enemy's +line, having effected its formation, had halted till some other +arrangement should be completed; but it was quickly broke. On they came, +as far as we could judge from the sound, in steady array, till at length +their line could be indistinctly seen rising through the gloom. The +sentinels with one consent gave their fire. They gave it regularly and +effectively, beginning with the rifles on their left, and going off +towards the 85th on their right, and then, in obedience to their orders, +fell back. But they retired not unmolested. This straggling discharge on +our part seemed to be the signal to the Americans to begin the battle, +and they poured in such a volley, as must have proved, had any +determinate object been opposed to it, absolutely murderous. But our +scattered videttes almost wholly escaped it; whilst over the main body +of the picquet, sheltered as it was by the ditch, and considerably +removed from its line, it passed entirely harmless. + +Having fired this volley, the enemy loaded again, and advanced. We saw +them coming, and having waited till we judged that they were within +excellent range, we opened our fire. It was returned in tenfold force, +and now went on, for a full half hour, as heavy and close a discharge of +musketry as troops have perhaps ever faced. Confident in their numbers, +and led on, as it would appear, by brave officers, the Americans dashed +forward till scarcely ten yards divided us; but our position was an +admirable one, our men were steady and cool, and they penetrated no +farther. On the contrary, we drove them back, more than once, with a +loss which their own inordinate multitude tended only to render the +more severe. + +The action might have continued in this state about two hours, when, to +our horror and dismay, the approaching fire upon our right flank and +rear gave testimony that the picquet of the 85th, which had been in +communication with us, was forced. Unwilling to abandon our ground, +which we had hitherto held with such success, we clung for awhile to the +idea that the reverse in that quarter might be only temporary, and that +the arrival of fresh troops might yet enable us to continue the battle +in a position so eminently favourable to us. But we were speedily taught +that our hopes were without foundation. The American war-cry was behind +us. We rose from our lairs, and endeavoured, as we best could, to retire +upon the right, but the effort was fruitless. There too the enemy had +established themselves, and we were surrounded. "Let us cut our way +through," cried we to the men. The brave fellows answered only with a +shout; and collecting into a small compact line, prepared to use their +bayonets. In a moment we had penetrated the centre of an American +division; but the numbers opposed to us were overwhelming; our close +order was lost; and the contest became that of man to man. I have no +language adequate to describe what followed. For myself, I did what I +could, cutting and thrusting at the multitudes about me, till at last I +found myself fairly hemmed in by a crowd, and my sword-arm mastered. One +American had grasped me round the waist, another, seizing me by the +wrist, attempted to disarm me, whilst a third was prevented from +plunging his bayonet into my body, only from the fear of stabbing one or +other of his countrymen. I struggled hard, but they fairly bore me to +the ground. The reader will well believe, that at this juncture I +expected nothing else than instant death; but at the moment when I fell, +a blow upon the head with the butt-end of a musket dashed out the brains +of the man who kept his hold upon my sword-arm, and it was freed. I saw +a bayonet pointed to my breast, and I intuitively made a thrust at the +man who wielded it. The thrust took effect, and he dropped dead beside +me. Delivered now from two of my enemies, I recovered my feet, and found +that the hand which dealt the blow to which my preservation was owing, +was that of Charlton. There were about ten men about him. The enemy in +our front were broken, and we dashed through. But we were again hemmed +in, and again it was fought hand to hand, with that degree of +determination, which the assurance that life and death were on the +issue, could alone produce. There cannot be a doubt that we should have +fallen to a man, had not the arrival of fresh troops at this critical +juncture turned the tide of affairs. As it was, little more than a third +part of our picquet survived, the remainder being either killed or +taken; and both Charlton and myself, though not dangerously, were +wounded. Charlton had received a heavy blow upon the shoulder, which +almost disabled him; whilst my neck bled freely from a thrust, which the +intervention of a stout leathern stock alone hindered from being fatal. +But the reinforcement gave us all, in spite of wounds and weariness, +fresh courage, and we renewed the battle with alacrity. + +In the course of the struggle in which we had been engaged, we had been +borne considerably out of the line of our first position, and now found +that the main-road and the picquet of the rifles, were close in our +rear. We were still giving way--for the troops opposed to us could not +amount to less than fifteen hundred men, whilst the whole force on our +part came not up to one hundred--when Captain Harris, major of brigade +to Colonel Thornton, came up with an additional company to our support. +Making way for them to fall in between us and the rifles, we took ground +once more to the right, and driving back a body of the enemy, which +occupied it, soon recovered the position from which we had been +expelled. But we did so with the loss of many brave men, and, among +others, of Captain Harris. He was shot in the lower part of the belly at +the same instant that a musket-ball struck the hilt of his sword, and +forced it into his side. Once more established in our ditch, we paused, +and from that moment till the battle ceased to rage we never changed +our attitude. + +It might be about one o'clock in the morning,--the American force in our +front having fallen back, and we having been left, for a full half hour +to breathe, when suddenly the head of a small column showed itself in +full advance towards us. We were at this time amply supported by other +troops, as well in communication as in reserve; and willing to +annihilate the corps now approaching, we forbade the men to fire till it +should be mingled with us. We did even more than this. Opening a passage +for them through our centre, we permitted some hundred and twenty men to +march across our ditch, and then wheeling up, with a loud shout, we +completely enclosed them. Never have I witnessed a panic more perfect or +more sudden than that which seized them. They no sooner beheld the snare +into which they had fallen, than with one voice they cried aloud for +quarter; and they were to a man made prisoners on the spot. The reader +will smile when he is informed that the little corps thus captured +consisted entirely of members of the legal profession. The barristers, +attorneys, and notaries of New Orleans having formed themselves into a +volunteer corps, accompanied General Jackson in his operations this +night; and they were all, without a solitary exception, made prisoners. +It is probably needless to add, that the circumstance was productive of +no trifling degree of mirth amongst us; and to do them justice, the poor +lawyers, as soon as they recovered from their first alarm, joined +heartily in our laughter. + +This was the last operation in which we were engaged to-night. The +enemy, repulsed on all sides, retreated with the utmost disorder, and +the whole of the advance, collecting at the sound of the bugle, drew up, +for the first time since the commencement of the affair, in a continuous +line. We took our ground in front of the bivouac, having our right +supported by the river, and our left covered by the chateau and village +of huts. Among these latter the cannon were planted; whilst the other +divisions, as they came rapidly up, took post beyond them. In this +position we remained, eagerly desiring a renewal of the attack, till +dawn began to appear, when, to avoid the fire of the vessel, the advance +once more took shelter behind the bank. The first brigade, on the +contrary, and such portion of the second as had arrived, encamped upon +the plain, so as to rest their right upon the wood; and a chain of +picquets being planted along the entire pathway, the day was passed in a +state of inaction. + +I hardly recollect to have spent fourteen or fifteen hours with less +comfort to myself than these. In the hurry and bustle of last night's +engagement, my servant, to whose care I had intrusted my cloak and +haversack, disappeared; he returned not during the whole morning; and as +no provisions were issued out to us, nor any opportunity given to light +fires, I was compelled to endure, all that time, the extremes of hunger, +weariness, and cold. As ill luck would have it, too, the day chanced to +be remarkably severe. There was no rain, it is true, but the sky was +covered with gray clouds; the sun never once pierced them, and a frost, +or rather a vile blight, hung upon the atmosphere from morning till +night. Nor were the objects which occupied our senses of sight and +hearing quite such as we should have desired to occupy them. In other +parts of the field, the troops, not shut up as we were by the enemy's +guns, employed themselves in burying the dead, and otherwise effacing +the traces of warfare. The site of our encampment continued to be +strewed with carcases to the last; and so watchful were the crew of the +schooner, that every effort to convey them out of sight brought a heavy +fire upon the party engaged in it. I must say, that the enemy's +behaviour on the present occasion was not such as did them honour. The +house which General Kean had originally occupied as head-quarters, being +converted into an hospital, was filled at this time with wounded, both +from the British and American armies. To mark its uses, a yellow flag, +the usual signal in such cases, was hoisted on the roof--yet did the +Americans continue to fire at it, as often as a group of six or eight +persons happened to show themselves at the door. Nay, so utterly +regardless were they of the dictates of humanity, that even the parties +who were in the act of conveying the wounded from place to place, +escaped not without molestation. More than one such party was dispersed +by grape-shot, and more than one poor maimed soldier was in consequence +hurled out of the blanket in which he was borne. + +The reader will not doubt me when I say, that seldom has the departure +of day-light been more anxiously looked for by me, than we looked for it +now. It is true, that the arrival of a little rum towards evening served +in some slight degree to elevate our spirits; but we could not help +feeling, not vexation only, but positive indignation, at the state of +miserable inaction to which we were condemned. + +There was not a man amongst us who would have hesitated one moment, had +the choice been submitted to him, whether he would advance or lie still. +True, we might have suffered a little, because the guns of the schooner +entirely commanded us; and in rushing out from our place of concealment +some casualties would have occurred; but so irksome was our situation, +that we would have readily run all risks to change it. It suited not the +plans of our general, however, to indulge these wishes. To the bank we +were enjoined to cling; and we did cling to it, from the coming in of +the first gray twilight of the morning, till the last twilight of +evening had departed. + +As soon as it was well dark, the corps to which Charlton and myself were +attached received orders to file off to the right. We obeyed, and +passing along the front of the hospital, we skirted to the rear of the +village, and established ourselves in the field beyond. It was a +positive blessing this restoration to something like personal freedom. +The men set busily to work, lighting fires and cooking provisions;--the +officers strolled about, with no other apparent design than to give +employment to their limbs, which had become stiff with so protracted a +state of inaction. For ourselves we visited the wounded, said a few kind +words to such as we recognised, and pitied, as they deserved to be +pitied, the rest. Then retiring to our fire, we addressed ourselves with +hearty good will to a frugal supper, and gladly composed ourselves to +sleep.--_A Subaltern in America.--Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +SONNET--NOCHE SERENA. + + + How tranquil is the night! The torrent's roar + Dies off far distant; through the lattice streams + The pure, white, silvery moonshine, mantling o'er + The couch and curtains with its fairy gleams. + Sweet is the prospect; sweeter are the dreams + From which my loathful eyelid now unclosed:-- + Methought beside a forest we reposed, + Marking the summer sun's far western beams, + A dear-loved friend and I. The nightingale + To silence and to us her pensive tale + Sang forth; the very tone of vanish'd years + Came o'er me, feelings warm, and visions bright; + Alas! how quick such vision disappears, + To leave the spectral moon and silent night! + +_Delta of Blackwood's Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + + +ARTS AND SCIENCES. + + * * * * * + + +THE BEECH TREE.--A NONCONDUCTOR OF LIGHTNING. + + +Dr. Beeton, in a letter to Dr. Mitchill of New York, dated 19th of July, +1824, states, that the beech tree (that is, the broad leaved or American +variety of _Fagus sylvatiea_,) is never known to be assailed by +atmospheric electricity. So notorious, he says, is this fact, that in +Tenessee, it is considered almost an impossibility to be struck by +lightning, if protection be sought under the branches of a beech tree. +Whenever the sky puts on a threatening aspect, and the thunder begins to +roll, the Indians leave their pursuit, and betake themselves to the +shelter of the nearest beech tree, till the storm pass over; observation +having taught these sagacious children of nature, that, while other +trees are often shivered to splinters, the electric fluid is not +attracted by the beech. Should farther observation establish the fact of +the non-conducting quality of the American beech, great advantage may +evidently be derived from planting hedge rows of such trees around the +extensive barn yards in which cattle are kept, and also in disposing +groups and single trees in ornamental plantations in the neighbourhood +of the dwelling houses of the owners.--_New Monthly Magazine._ + + +ANTIQUITIES. + + +A valuable discovery was made the other day in Westminster Abbey. It had +become necessary to make repairs near the tomb of Edward the Confessor, +when, by removing a portion of the pavement, an exquisitely beautiful +piece of carved work, which had originally formed part of the shrine of +Edward's tomb, was discovered. This fine relic, the work of the eleventh +or twelfth century, appears to have been studded with precious stones; +and the presumption is, that during the late civil wars it was taken +down for the purpose of plunder, and after the gems were taken out, +buried under the ground (very near the surface of the earth) to avoid +detection.--_Ibid._ + + * * * * * + + + +ARCHERY + +[Illustration] + + +Previous to introducing the communication of a much respected +correspondent, who has well described, by drawing and observation, a +Royal Archer of Scotland, we shall offer a few general remarks on the +subject of the above engraving, which relates to an amusement which we +are happy to find is patronized in many counties in England by +respectable classes of society at this day. No instrument of warfare is +more ancient than that of the bow and arrow, and the skill of the +English bowmen is celebrated. It seems, that in ancient times the +English had the advantage over enemies chiefly by their archers and +light-armed troops. + +The _archers_ were armed with a long-bow, a sheaf of arrows, a sword, +and a small shield. + +The _cross-bowmen_, as their name implies, were armed with the +cross-bow, and arrows called _quarrels_. + +Even after the invention of guns, the English archers are spoken of as +excelling those of all other nations; and an ancient writer affirms that +an English arrow, with a little wax upon its point, would pass through +any ordinary corselet or cuirass. It is uncertain how far the archers +with the long-bow could send an arrow; but the cross-bowmen could shoot +their quarrels to the distance of forty rods, or the eighth part of a +mile. For a more general and extended notice of the history of archery, +however, we refer our readers to a recent volume,[2] and here we have +the correspondence alluded to a few lines above. + + [2] MIRROR, Vol. viii., p. 324. + + +A ROYAL ARCHER OF SCOTLAND. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + "Good-morrowe, good fellow,-- + Methinks, by this bowe thou beares in thy hand + A good archere thou shouldst bee." +_Old Ballad_. + +[Illustration] + + +I feel happy that it is in my power to present a drawing, made expressly +for the purpose, of the picturesque costume worn by the Royal Company of +Archers, or King's Body Guard of Scotland. This is described in Stark's +"Picture of Edinburgh" thus:--"Their uniform is 42nd tartan, with green +velvet collar and cuffs, and a Highland bonnet, with feathers; on the +front of the bonnet is the cross of St. Andrew, and a gold arrow on the +collar of the jacket." There is a something in the very idea of an +archer, and in the name of _Robin Hood_, particularly charming to most +bosoms, coming as they do to us fraught with all delicious associations; +the wild, free forest life, the sweet pastime, the adventures of bold +outlaws amid the heaven of sylvan scenery, and the national renown of +British bowmen which mingles with the records of our chivalry in history +and romance; while the revival of _archery_ in England of late years, as +an elegant amusement, sufficiently proves that the high feeling which +seems mysteriously to blend a present age with one long since gone by, +is not totally extinct. Shall I venture to assert, that for this we are +indebted to the charmed light cast around a noble and ancient pastime by +the antiquary, poet, and romance-writer of modern times? But to return, +the Scottish archers were first formed into a company and obtained a +charter, granting them great privileges, under the reign of queen Anne, +for which they were to pay to the crown, annually, a pair of barbed +arrows. One of these allowances was, that they might _meet and go forth +under their officer's conduct, in military form, in manner of +weapon-showing, as often as they should think convenient_. "But they +have made no public parade since 1743,"[3] owing, probably, to the state +of parties in Edinburgh, for their attachment to the Stuart family was +well understood, and falling under the suspicion of the British +government after the rebellion of 1745, they were watched, "and spies +appointed to frequent their company." The company possess a house built +by themselves, termed Archers' Hall. All their business is transacted by +a president and six counsellors, who are nominated by the members at +large, and have authority to admit or reject candidates _ad libitum_. +The number of this association is now very great, having been of late +years much increased; they have standards, with appropriate emblems and +mottoes, and shoot for several prizes annually; amongst these are a +silver bowl and arrows, which, by a singular regulation, "are retained +by the successful candidate only one year, when he appends a medal to +them; and as these prizes are of more than a hundred years standing, the +number of medals now attached to them are very curious." + + [3] Their part in the procession formed to welcome our monarch + to his Scottish metropolis, should be excepted. + +To this notice may I be permitted to subjoin a few stanzas? Old Izaak +Walton hath put songs and sylvan poesy in plenty into the mouths of his +anglers and rural _dramatis personae_, and shall _I_ be blamed for +following, in all humility, his illustrious example? Perchance--but +hold! it is one of the fairest of summer mornings; the sun sheds a pure, +a silvery light on the young, fresh, new-waked foliage and herbage; a +faint mist veils the blue distance of the landscape; but the pearly +shroud conceals not yonder troop of young blithe men, who, arranged in +green, after the olden fashion, each bearing the implements of archery, +and tripping lightly over the heath, are carolling in the joy of their +free spirits, while the fresh breeze brings to my ear most distinctly +the words of + + +THE ARCHER'S SONG. + + + Away!--away!--yon golden sun + Hath chas'd nights' shadows damp and dun; + Forth from his turfy couch, the lark + Hath sprung to meet glad day: and hark! + A mingling and delicious song + Breathes from the blithe-voiced plumy throng; + While, to the green-wood hasten _we_ + Whose craft is, gentle archery! + + Now swift we bound o'er dewy grass! + Rousing the red fox as we pass, + And startling linnet, merle, and thrush, + As recklessly the boughs we brush. + The _hunter's_ horn sings thro' the brakes. + And its soft lay apt echo takes; + But soon her sweet enamoured tone + Shall tell what song is all _our_ own! + + On!--on!--glad brothers of the bow! + The dun deer's couching place ye know, + And gallant bucks this day shall rue + Our feather'd shafts,--so swift,--so true; + Yet, sorer than the sylvan train, + Our foes, upon the battle-plain, + Will mourn at the unerring hands + Of Albion's _matchless_ archer bands! + + Now hie we on, to silent shades, + To glist'ning streams, and sunlit glades, + Where all that woodland life can give, + Renders it bliss indeed, to _live_. + Come, ye who love the shadowy wood, + Whate'er your days, whate'er your mood. + And join _us_, freakish knights that be + Of grey-goose wing, and good yew-tree! + + Say--are ye _mirthful_?--then we'll sing + Of wayward feasts and frolicking;-- + Tell jests and gibes,--nor lack we store + Of knightly tales, and monkish lore; + High freaks of dames and cavaliers, + Of warlocks, spectres, elfs, and seers, + Till with glad heart, and blithesome brow, + Ye bless your brothers of the bow! + + Is _sadness_ courted?--ye shall lie + When summer's sultry noons are high, + By darkling forest's shadow'd stream + To muse;--or, sweeter still, to dream + Day-dreams of love; while round ye rise + Distant, delicious harmonies; + Until ye languishing declare + An archer's life, indeed is fair! + +M. L. B. + + * * * * * + + + +THE NOVELIST + +NO. CV. + + * * * * * + + +THE GHIBELLINES. + +_A Fragment of a Tuscan Tale_. + +BY MISS EMMA ROBERTS. + + "His name's Gonzago.--The story is extant, and written in very + choice Italian." + + +Ten thousand lights burned throughout the Alberoni palace, and all the +nobility of Florence flocked to the bridal of its wealthy lord. It was a +fair sight to see the stately mirrors which spread their shining +surfaces between pillars of polished marble reflecting the gay +assemblage, that, radiant with jewels, promenaded the saloon, or +wreathed the dance to the witching music of the most skilful minstrels +in all Tuscany. Every lattice was open, and the eye, far as it could +reach, wandered through illuminated gardens, tenanted by gay groups, +where the flush of the roses, the silver stars of the jasmine, the +crimson, purple, orange, and blue of the variegated parterre were +revealed as if the brightest blaze of day flashed upon their silken +leaves. Amid all this pomp of beauty and splendour the bride moved +along, surpassing all that was fair and resplendent around her by the +exceeding loveliness of a face and form to which every eye and every +heart paid involuntary homage. At her side appeared the exulting +bridegroom, to whom, however, more it should seem through diffidence +than aversion, her eyes were never raised; for though Count Alberoni had +advanced beyond the middle age of life, yet he still retained the +majestic port and commanding lineaments for which he had been +distinguished in early youth; his riches rendered him all potent in +Florence, and none dared dispute with him the possession of its fairest +flower. Intoxicated with the pleasures offered at the banquet and the +ball, whatever of envy or of jealousy might have been hidden in the +bosoms of the guests while contemplating the treasure which the +triumphant Alberoni had snatched from contending suitors, it was +concealed, and the most cheerful hilarity prevailed. Yet, amid the +general expression of happiness, there were two persons who, attracting +notice by the meanness of their attire, and the melancholy gloom upon +their countenances, seemed to be out of place in so stately and so +joyous an assembly. They were brother and sister, the descendants of +Ghibellines who had died in exile, and distant relations of the Count, +who though not choosing to regard them as his heirs, had, when the +abolition of a severe law enabled the proscribed faction to return to +Florence, accorded them shelter and protection. Meanly clad in vestments +of coarse serge, there were yet no cavaliers who fluttered in silk and +velvet who could compare in personal beauty with Francesco Gonzago; and +the bride alone, of all the beauties who shone in gold and silver, +appeared superior in feminine charms to the lovely Beatrice, +notwithstanding that her cumbrous robe of grey stuff obscured the +delicate proportions of her sylph-like form. Buoyant in spirit, and +animated by the scene before her, occasionally a gleam of sunshine would +irradiate her brow as she gazed upon the sparkling throng who formed the +brilliant pageant which so much delighted her; but as she turned to +express her feelings to her brother, his pale pensive features and the +recollection of the intense anguish which wrung his heart, subdued her +gaiety, the smile passed away from her lip, the rose deserted her cheek, +and she stood by his side sad and sorrowful as some monumental statue. +Many persons grieved at the depressed fortunes of the once powerful +Gonzagos, but there were others who sneered at their present +degradation, enjoying the cruel mockery with which Alberoni had forced +the man who had cherished hopes of succeeding as heir-at-law to his +immense estates, to witness the downfall of those flattering +expectations. Few and slight were the salutations which passed between +the dejected pair and the more illustrious guests; but as the bride made +the circuit of the apartments, she paused when approaching her husband's +neglected relatives, and raising eyes swimming with drops of sympathy, +greeted them with unaffected tenderness. Francesco was unprepared for +the gentle kindness of her address; his stern heart melted, his proud +glance suddenly changed to one of gracious courtesy; he gazed upon her +as upon some angelic being sent down from heaven to soothe and gladden +his perturbed soul; and henceforward he saw nothing in the glare, and +the crowd, and the splendour around him, save the sweet face and the +delicate form of the Countess Alberoni; his charmed eyes followed her +from place to place, and so entirely was he engrossed by one object, +that he did not perceive that the attention of Beatrice was almost +wholly occupied by a young and sprightly cavalier, who pursued her like +a shadow, pouring tender tales in a not unwilling ear. Group by group +the guests retired from the festive scene, and the brother and sister, +scarcely able to define the new feelings which sprung up in the heart of +each, quitted the magnificent palace to seek their forlorn abode. A +pavilion, nearly in ruins, was the sole shelter which the proud lord of +Alberoni afforded to the only surviving branches of his family, when +returning to their native city they found their patrimonial estates +confiscated, and themselves dependent upon the niggard bounty of a cold +and selfish relative. Slowly recovering from a severe wound which he had +received in the wars of Lombardy, and disgusted with the ingratitude of +the prince he served, the ill-starred Francesco was at first rejoiced to +obtain any refuge from the storms of a tempestuous world; and the +unceasing efforts of his young and affectionate sister to reconcile him +to a bitter lot were not wholly unavailing. Summer had spread her +richest treasures upon the lap of Nature; and the fairy hands of +Beatrice transformed the bare walls of the dilapidated edifice which +they inhabited into bowers of luxuriant foliage; the most delicious +fruit also, the spontaneous product of the garden, cooled at some +crystal fount and heaped with flowers, tempted her brother's languid +appetite; and, waking the soft notes of her lute, she soothed his +desponding spirit with music's gentlest sound. Fondly trusting that +Francesco might be won to prize the simple enjoyments of which fortune +could not despoil him, and to find his dearest happiness in an approving +conscience, the light hearted girl indulged in delusive hopes of future +felicity. But these expectations were soon damped; as Francesco's health +returned he became restless and melancholy; he saw no prospect of +arriving at distinction by his talents, or by his sword; peace reigned +throughout the Tuscan states, and the jealousy of the government of all +who bore the mark of Ghibelline extraction, forbade the chance of +successful exertion and honourable reward; his days were spent in moody +abstraction, his nights in feverish dreams; his misfortunes, his +accomplishments and his virtues failed to excite affection in the breast +of his kinsman, who, jealous of the youth and personal attractions of +the man apparently destined to be his heir, grew uneasy at the thought +of benefitting a person he had learned to hate; and suddenly resolving +to cut off at once the presumptuous expectations which the luckless +exile might have cherished, exerted the influence procured by his wealth +to form an alliance with the most peerless beauty which the city +boasted. A new source of anguish added to the misery already sustained +by the wretched Gonzago; his arm was paralyzed by the utter hopelessness +of any attempt to emerge from the obscurity to which fate had condemned +him; he brooded over the dismal futurity which opened before him; and, +as a solace to these gloomy meditations, suffered his imagination to +dwell upon the charms and graces of the lovely Giacinta, his kinsman's +gentle bride. He saw her sometimes flitting through the myrtle groves +which skirted the neighbouring palace; and when night favoured his +concealment, he would approach the marble porticos to catch the sound of +her voice as, accompanied by a lute, she wasted its melody upon the +silent stars. Beatrice, in the mean time, experienced only in the pale +brow and haggard form of her brother an alloy to her happiness. +Alessandro, the young heir of the Orsini family, had abandoned the gay +revels of Florence to share the solitude of the despised Ghibellines; +and although there seemed to be little chance of ultimate triumph over +the obstacles which opposed themselves to an alliance between the +prosperous scion of a noble house and the unportioned orphan of a +banished man, yet hope pre-ponderated over fear, and, blessed by her +enchanting smiles, the lover indulged in delightful anticipations. + +... + +Again was the Alberoni palace illumined by innumerable tapers; again +were the glittering saloons filled with all the noble population of +Florence. A second nuptial feast, more splendid and joyous than the +first, was celebrated; again Giacinta, lovelier than ever, shone as the +bride, and by her side a cavalier appeared, whose summer of life was +better adapted to match with her tender years than the mature age of her +late husband had been. + +The Count Alberoni Gonzago was dead; and Francesco succeeding to his +wealth, had obtained the hand of his widow. Beatrice, also a bride, +followed in the train of the Countess, but followed more like a mourner +at some funeral solemnity than as the newly wedded consort of the +husband of her choice. Francesco all smiles and triumph, as he stood +with the fairest hand in Florence hanging on his arm, proudly greeting +the guests who crowded to pay him homage, turned frequently, and cast +looks of piercing examination and reproach upon his pale and trembling +sister, and, as if fascinated by his glance, she would rally her, +failing spirits and smile languidly upon the bridegroom, who bent over +her enamoured; and then, as if beguiled from some painful contemplation +by the sweet accents of the man she loved, she became calm, and her +quivering features resumed their wonted placidity. But these moments of +tranquillity were of short duration; she started at every shadow; the +flash of one of the jewels which broidered her satin robe would cause a +fit of trembling; and at length, when seated at the banquet opposite her +brother and his bride, a richly clad domestic offered wine in a golden +goblet; for a moment she held it to her lips, and then dashed it away, +exclaiming--"It is poison! Hide me,--save me. I see it every where; in +those green leaves from whence it was distilled.--Oh! Francesco, +Francesco, let us be poor and happy!" The guests shrunk aghast from the +speaker, who, falling from her seat, expired in convulsions. + +The power conferred by Gonzago's immense riches silenced the whispered +murmurs of the assembly. No man rose to higher eminence in the state +than the idolized husband of the beautiful Giacinta; but a dark cloud +hung upon his house, his children were all cut off in their infancy, +and, after a few brief years of outward felicity, struck from his horse +by the fragment of a building which fell upon him as he rode in pomp +through the city, he received a mortal wound, surviving the accident +only long enough to unburthen his soul to his confessor. + +His dying words were addressed to Alessandro, from whom since the hour +of his nuptials he had been estranged; pressing his hand, he +exclaimed--"She was innocent! she heard not of the murder until it had +been accomplished."--_London Weekly Review_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS. + + * * * * * + + +RAFTS AND RHINE SCENERY. + + +Between Andernach and Bonn I saw two or three of those enormous rafts +which are formed of the accumulated produce of the Swiss and German +forests. One was anchored in the middle of the river, and looked like a +floating island. These _Krakens_ of the Rhine are composed of oak and +fir floated in smaller rafts down the tributary streams, and, their size +constantly increasing till they arrive hereabouts, they make platforms +of from four hundred to seven hundred feet long, and one hundred and +forty feet in breadth. When in motion, a dozen boats and more precede +them, carrying anchors and cables to guide and arrest their course. The +navigation of a raft down the Rhine to Dort, in Holland, which is the +place of their destination,[4] is a work of great difficulty. The skill +of the German and Dutch pilots who navigate them, in spite of the abrupt +turnings, the eddies, the currents, rocks and shoals that oppose their +progress, must indeed be of a very peculiar kind, and can be possessed +but by few. It requires besides a vast deal of manual labour. The whole +complement of rowers and workmen, together with their wives and +children, on board one of the _first-rates_, amounts to the astonishing +number of nine hundred or a thousand; a little village, containing from +forty to sixty wooden houses, is erected upon each, which also is +furnished with stalls for cattle, a magazine for provisions, &c. The +dwelling appropriated to the use of the master of the raft and the +principal super-cargoes was conspicuous for its size and commodiousness. +It is curious to observe these rafts, on their passage, with their +companies of rowers stationed at each end, making the shores ring again +to the sound of their immense oars. + + [4] About twelve of these rafts annually arrive at Dort, in + July or August; when the German timber merchants, having + converted their floats into good Dutch ducats, return to their + own country. When the water is low, those machines are + sometimes months upon the journey.--_Campbell's Guide_. + +The succession of grand natural pictures, which I had been gazing upon +since my departure from Mentz and the district of the Rheingau, are +undoubtedly similar, but not the same; there is alternately the long +noble reach, the sudden bend, the lake-like expanse, the shores on both +sides lined with towns whose antique fortifications rise in distant +view, and villages whose tapering spires of blue slate peer above the +embosoming foliage; the mountains clothed with vines and forests, their +sides bristled and their summits crowned with the relics of feudal +residences,[5] or of cloistered fanes: but the varieties in the shape +and character of all these are inexhaustible; it is this circumstance +that enhances the pleasure of contemplating, scenery, in which there is, +as Lord Byron says, + + "A blending of all beauties, streams and dells, + Fruit, foliage, crag, wood, corn-field, mountain, vine, + And chiefless castles breathing stern farewells, + From gray but leafy walls where ruin greenly dwells." + + [5] There are the ruins of fourteen castles on the left bank, + and of fifteen on the right bank of the Rhine, from Mentz to + Bonn, a distance of thirty-six leagues. + +The oppositions of light and shade; the rich culture of the hills +contrasted with the rugged rocks that often rise from out of the midst +of fertility; the bright verdure of the islands which the Rhine is +continually forming; the purple hues and misty azure of the distant +mountains--these and a thousand other indescribable charms constitute +sources of visual delight which can be imparted only by a view of the +objects themselves. And is excitement awakened in contemplating the +borders of this graceful and magnificent river? Yes. When we revert to +the awful convulsions of the physical world, and the important +revolutions of human society, of which the regions it flows through have +been successively the theatre--when we meditate on the vast changes, the +fearful struggles, the tragic incidents and mournful catastrophes, which +they have witnessed from the earliest ages to the very times in which we +have ourselves lived and marked the issue of events--"the battles, +sieges, fortunes" that have passed before its green tumultuous current, +or within ken of its mountain watch-towers--the shouts of nations that +have resounded, and the fates of empires that have been decided, on its +shores--when we think of the slaughtered myriads whose bones have +bleached on the neighbouring plains, filled up the trenches of its +rock-built strong-holds, or found their place of sepulture beneath its +wave--when, at each survey we take of the wide and diversified scene, +the forms of centuries seem to be embodied with the objects around us, +and the record of the past becomes vividly associated with the +impression of present realities--it is then that we are irresistibly led +to compare the greatness of nature with the littleness of man; it is +then that we are forcibly struck with the power and goodness of the +Author of both; and that the deepest humility unites itself in a +grateful mind, with the highest admiration, at the sight of "these His +lowest works." + +But do you pretend, it may be asked, in the course of a three days' +journey, however lengthened by celerity of conveyance, or favoured by +advantages of season or weather--do you pretend to have experienced that +very eminent degree of gratification which the country is capable of +communicating? Certainly not. I speak of these scenes but as of things, +which before my own hasty and unsatisfied glances came like shadows--so +departed. Instead of two or three days, a whole month should be spent +between Mentz, Coblentz, and Bonn, in order fully to know and thoroughly +to enjoy the beauties and grandeurs with which that space +abounds.--_Stevenson's Tour in France, &c._ + + * * * * * + + +THE BARBER. + + + Nick Razorblade a barber was, + A _strapping_ lad was he; + And he could shave with such a grace, + It was a joy to see! + + And tho' employ'd within his house, + He kept like rat in hole; + All those that pass'd the barber's door, + Could always see his _pole_! + + His dress was rather plain than rich, + Nor fitted over well; + Yet, tho' no _macaroni_, Nick, + He often _cut a swell_! + + And Nick was brave, and he could fight, + As many times he proved; + A lamb became a lion fierce, + Whenever he was moved! + + Like many of his betters, who + To field with pistols rush, + When Nicky _lather'd_ any one, + He was obliged to _brush_! + + Some say Nick was a brainless _block_, + While those who've seen him waving + His bright sharp razor, o'er scap'd chins, + Declare he was a _shaving_! + + His next door neighbour, Nelly Jones, + A maid of thirty-eight, + 'Twas said regarded Nick with smiles, + But folks will always prate. + + 'Tis known in summer time that she, + (A maid and only daughter) + To show her love for Razorblade, + Kept Nicky in _hot water_! + + For politics Nick always said, + He never cared a fig; + Quoth he:--"If I a Tory were, + I likewise _wear a wig_!" + + No poacher he, yet _hairs_ he _wired_, + With skill that made maids prouder; + And though he never used a gun, + He knew the use of _powder_! + + He never took offence at words, + However broad or blunt; + But when maids brought a _front_ to dress, + Of course he took a _front_! + + Beneath his razor folks have slept, + So easy were they mown; + Yet (oh! most passing strange it was!) + His _razor_ was his _own_! + + Nick doubtless had a tender heart, + But not for Nelly Jones; + He made Miss Popps "bone of his bone," + But never made old bones! + + He died and left an only son, + A barber too by trade; + But when they ope'd his will, they found + A cruel will he'd made. + + And doubtless he was raving mad, + (To slander I'm unwilling) + For tho' a _barber_, Nicky cut + His _heir_ off with _a shilling!_ + +_Absurdities: in Prose and Verse_._ + + * * * * * + + +BONAPARTE ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. + + +While we endeavour to sum up the mass of misfortunes with which +Bonaparte was overwhelmed at this crisis, it seems as if Fortune had +been determined to show that she did not intend to reverse the lot of +humanity, even in the case of one who had been so long her favourite, +but that she retained the power of depressing the obscure soldier, whom +she had raised to be almost king of Europe, in a degree as humiliating +as his exaltation had been splendid. All that three years before seemed +inalienable from his person, was now reversed. The victor was defeated, +the monarch was dethroned, the ransomer of prisoners was in captivity, +the general was deserted by his soldiers, the master abandoned by his +domestics, the brother parted from his brethren, the husband severed +from the wife, and the father torn from his only child. To console him +for the fairest and largest empire that ambition ever lorded it over, he +had, with the mock name of emperor, a petty isle, to which he was to +retire, accompanied by the pity of such friends as dared express their +feelings, the unrepressed execrations of many of his former subjects, +who refused to regard his present humiliation as an amends for what he +had made them suffer during his power, and the ill-concealed triumph of +the enemies into whose hands he had been delivered. + +A Roman would have seen, in these accumulated disasters, a hint to +direct his sword's point against his breast; a man of better faith would +have turned his eye back on his own conduct, and having read, in his +misuse of prosperity, the original source of those calamities, would +have remained patient and contrite under the consequences of his +ambition. Napoleon belonged to the Roman school of philosophy; and it is +confidently reported, especially by Baron Fain, his secretary, though it +has not been universally believed, that he designed, at this extremity, +to escape from life by an act of suicide. + +The emperor, according to this account, had carried with him, ever since +the retreat from Moscow, a packet containing a preparation of opium, +made up in the same manner with that used by Condorcet for +self-destruction. His valet-de-chambre, in the night betwixt the 12th +and 13th of April, heard him arise and pour something into a glass of +water, drink, and return to bed. In a short time afterwards, the man's +attention was called by sobs and stifled groans--an alarm took place in +the chateau--some of the principal persons were roused, and repaired to +Napoleon's chamber. Yvan, the surgeon, who had procured him the poison, +was also summoned; but hearing the emperor complain that the operation +of the poison was not quick enough, he was seized with a panic-terror, +and fled from the palace at full gallop. Napoleon took the remedies +recommended, and a long fit of stupor ensued, with profuse perspiration. +He awakened much exhausted, and surprised at finding himself still +alive; he said aloud, after a few moments' reflection, "Fate will not +have it so," and afterwards appeared reconciled to undergo his destiny, +without similar attempts at personal violence. There is, as we have +already hinted, a difference of opinion concerning the cause of +Napoleon's illness; some imputing it to indigestion. The fact of his +having been very much indisposed is, however, indisputable. A general of +the highest distinction transacted business with Napoleon on the morning +of the 13th of April. He seemed pale and dejected, as from recent and +exhausting illness. His only dress was a night-gown and slippers, and he +drank from time to time a quantity of tisan, or some such liquid, which +was placed beside him, saying he had suffered severely during the night, +but that his complaint had left him. + +After this crisis, and having ratified the treaty which his mareschals +had made for him. Napoleon appeared more at his ease than he had been +for some time before, and conversed frankly with his attendants upon the +affairs of France. + + +NAPOLEON TAKES LEAVE OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD. + + +Napoleon having now resigned himself entirely to his fate, whether for +good or evil, prepared, on the 20th of April, to depart for his place of +retreat. But first, he had the painful task of bidding farewell to the +body in the universe most attached to him, and to which he was probably +most attached,--his celebrated Imperial Guard. Such of them as could be +collected were drawn out before him in review. Some natural tears +dropped from his eyes, and his features had the marks of strong emotion +while reviewing for the last time, as he must then have thought likely, +the companions of so many victories. He advanced to them on horseback, +dismounted, and took his solemn leave. "All Europe," he said, "had armed +against him; France herself had deserted him, and chosen another +dynasty. He might," he said, "have maintained with his soldiers a civil +war of years, but it would have rendered France unhappy. Be faithful," +he continued, (and the words were remarkable,) "to the new sovereign +whom France has chosen. Do not lament my fate; I will always be happy +while I know you are so. I could have died--nothing was easier--but I +will always follow the road of honour. I will record with my pen the +deeds we have done together. I cannot embrace you all, but I embrace +your general,"--(he pressed the general to his bosom.)--"Bring hither +the eagle,"--(he embraced the standard, and concluded)--"Beloved eagle, +may the kisses I bestow on you long resound in the hearts of the +brave!--Adieu, my children,--Adieu, my brave companions.--Surround me +once more--Adieu." Drowned in grief, the veteran soldiers heard the +farewell of their dethroned leader; sighs and murmurs broke from their +ranks, but the emotion burst out in no threats or remonstrances. They +appeared resigned to the loss of their general, and to yield, like him, +to necessity.--_Scott's Napoleon_. + + * * * * * + + +THE ARK OF NOAH + + +The Rabbins make the giant Gog or Magog contemporary with Noah, and +convinced by his preaching. So that he was disposed to take the benefit +of the Ark. But here lay the distress; it by no means suited his +dimensions. Therefore, as he could not enter in, he contented himself to +ride upon it astride. And though you must suppose that, in that stormy +weather, he was more than half boots over, he kept his seat, and +dismounted safely, when the Ark landed on Mount Ararat. Image now to +yourself this illustrious Cavalier mounted on his _hackney_; and see if +it does not bring before you the Church, bestrid by some lumpish +minister of state, who turns and winds it at his pleasure. The only +difference is, that Gog believed the preacher of righteousness and +religion.--_Warburton's Letters_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's + stuff."--_Wotton_ + + * * * * * + + +A preacher had held forth diffusely and ingeniously upon the doctrine +that the Creator of the universe had made all things beautiful. A little +crooked lawyer met him at the church door, and exclaimed, "Well, doctor, +what do you think of my figure? does it correspond with your tenets of +this morning?"--"My friend," replied the preacher, with much gravity, +"you are handsome for a hunch-backed man." + + * * * * * + +Kosciusko once wished to send some bottles of good wine to a clergyman +of Solothurn; and as he hesitated to send them by his servant, lest he +should smuggle a part, he gave the commission to a young man of the name +of Zeltner, and desired him to take the horse which he himself usually +rode. On his return, young Zeltner said that he would never ride his +horse again unless he gave him his purse at the same time. Kosciusko +asking what he meant, he answered, "As soon as a poor man on the road +takes off his hat and asks for charity, the horse immediately stands +still, and won't stir till something is given to the petitioner; and, as +I had no money about me, I was obliged to make believe to give +something, in order to satisfy the horse." + + * * * * * + +Persons in warm countries certainly possess powers of imagination +superior to persons in colder climates. The following description of a +small room will appear very poetic to an English reader: "I am now," +says a Turkish spy, writing to his employers, "in an apartment so +little, that the least suspicion cannot enter it." + + * * * * * + +An author, as too often happens, was very irritable in his disposition, +and very unfortunate in his productions. His tragedy and comedy had both +been rejected by the managers of both theatres. "I cannot account for +this," said the unfortunate bard to his friend; "for no one can say that +my tragedy was a _sad_ performance, or that my comedy was a thing to +laugh at." + + * * * * * + + + +_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 264, July 14, 1827, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, JULY 14, 1827 *** + +***** This file should be named 9884-8.txt or 9884-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/8/8/9884/ + +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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