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diff --git a/11710-h/11710-h.htm b/11710-h/11710-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d5c645 --- /dev/null +++ b/11710-h/11710-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1396 @@ +<!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 name="generator" + content="HTML Tidy for Linux/x86 (vers 1st November 2002), see www.w3.org" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> + <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mirror of Literature, Issue 375.</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + blockquote {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + 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%;} + hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; margin-left: 40%; width: 20%;} + .note, .footnote + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt;} + .poem + {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + .poem p.i14 {margin-left: 5em;} + .poem p.i16 {margin-left: 5em;} + .poem p.i18 {margin-left: 5em;} + + .figure + {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto;} + .figure img + {border: none;} + .figure p + .side { float:right; + font-size: 75%; + width: 25%; + padding-left:10px; + border-left: dashed thin; + margin-left: 10px; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-weight: bold; + font-style: italic;} + --> + /*]]>*/ + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11710 ***</div> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page129" name="page129"></a>[pg 129]</span> + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + <table width="100%" summary="Volume, Number, and Date"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>VOL. 13., No. 375.</b></td> + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1829.</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>CUMBERLAND TERRACE, REGENT'S PARK.</h2> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a href="images/375-001.png"><img width="100%" src="images/375-001.png" + alt="CUMBERLAND TERRACE, REGENT'S PARK." /></a> + </div> + <hr /> + <p>The annexed Engraving completes our Series of <i>Architectural Illustrations</i> + of the REGENT'S PARK, and is, withal the most magnificent Terrace in the circuit. It + stands considerably above the road, and is approached by a fine carriage sweep, with + handsome balustrades; below which, and level with the road, is the garden, or + promenade for the residents of the Terrace.</p> + <p>The architect of Cumberland Terrace is Mr. Nash, who appears to have been so + lavish of ornament, as to give the whole range the appearance of a triumphal temple. + It consists of a centre and wings, connected by two handsome arches, which have a + very pleasing and novel effect. The entrance, or ground story throughout, is + rusticated, and in the principal parts or masses of the elevation, serves as a base + or pediment for handsome Doric columns, above which is a balustrade, on which are + placed allegorical figures of the Seasons, the Quarters of the Globe, the Arts and + Sciences, &c. Each of these masses has a most imposing appearance, and bears four + figures; the figures in the whole range amount to twenty-seven. Above the balustrade + rises the attic story. The subordinate fronts of the residences are embellished with + Doric pilasters.</p> + <p>Each arch consists of four handsome Doric columns, with an entablature, and + blocking course.</p> + <p>The central portion of the terrace is in correspondent style with the wings; and + consists of a splendid colonnade of twelve columns and an entablature. Above the + attic story rises a pediment surmounted with figures of Painting, Architecture, and + Sculpture. This pediment is filled with a basso-relievo, executed by J.H. Bubb, and + representing Britannia crowned by Fame, and seated on a throne, the basis of which + represents Valour and Wisdom. On one side, Literature, Genius, Manufacture, + Agriculture, and Prudence, are bringing youth of different nations for instruction; + and on the other side, the guardian-spirit of the Navy, surmounted by Victory, + Navigation, Commerce, and Freedom, is extending her blessings to the Africans. The + group is terminated on each side by Plenty. This is supposed to be the largest + ornamental pediment in the kingdom, with the exception of that of the portico of St. + Paul's, which only exceeds it by a few feet.</p> + <p>From the sweep of this terrace may be enjoyed a highly picturesque view of the + park, with the crown of Primrose Hill in the distance.</p> + <p>At this close of the Series of Views, and as we are approaching the conclusion of + our volume, it may not be amiss to recapitulate the several engravings, with their + pages in the preceding and present volumes of the MIRROR, and the order in which they + stand in the Regent's Park, which order circumstances have prevented our uniformly + following in their publication: thus—</p> + <table width="100%" summary="Illustrations, Page references"> + <thead> + <tr> + <th><i>Buildings.</i></th> + <th><i>Architects.</i></th> + <th><i>Mirror, Vol.</i></th> + <th><i>Page.</i></th> + </tr> + </thead> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td>Ulster Terrace</td> + <td> </td> + <td>xi</td> + <td>401</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>York Terrace</td> + <td>Nash</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>129</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Sussex Place</td> + <td>Nash</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>273</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Cornwall Terrace</td> + <td>D. Burton</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>305</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Clarence Terrace</td> + <td>D. Burton</td> + <td>xii</td> + <td>17</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Hanover Terrace</td> + <td>Nash</td> + <td>x</td> + <td>313</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Hanover Lodge</td> + <td> </td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>49</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Grove House</td> + <td>D. Burton</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>49</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Marquess of Hertford's Villa</td> + <td>D. Burton</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>81</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Macclesfield Bridge</td> + <td>Morgan</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>351</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>East (now Gloucester) Gate</td> + <td> </td> + <td>xi</td> + <td>225</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>St. Katherine's</td> + <td>Poynter</td> + <td>xi</td> + <td>273</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Master's Residence</td> + <td>Poynter</td> + <td>xi</td> + <td>289</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Cumberland Terrace</td> + <td>Nash</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>401</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Chester Terrace</td> + <td>Nash</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>193</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Exterior of the Colosseum</td> + <td>D. Burton</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>65</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Interior of the Colosseum</td> + <td>D. Burton</td> + <td>xiii</td> + <td>97</td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + <hr class="short" /> + <p>In this <i>Series</i> we have endeavoured to represent all the architectural + beauties of the Park, and liable as are all of them to critical objection, they are + extremely interesting for pictorial displays of the taste of this castle-building + age.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h3>THE KING'S STAG, &C.</h3> + <h4><i>(To the Editor of the Mirror.)</i></h4> + <p>As several of your correspondents have lately interested themselves in the sign of + "The Cat and Fiddle;" a few observations may not be thought irrelevant, on the + probable origin of the "King's Stag," a description of which, under the signature, + <i>Ruris</i>, appeared in the MIRROR, of Saturday, the 30th ult. Its rise may, I + conceive, with tolerable certainty, be traced to the stag said to have been taken in + the Forest of Senlis, by Charles the Sixth, about whose neck was a collar, with the + inscription, <i>"Caesar hoc mihi donavit"</i>, which induced a belief that the animal + had lived from the reign of some one of the twelve Caesars. This inscription also + exists in the following form:—</p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"Tempore, quo Caesar Româ, dominatus in altâ</p> + <p>Aureolo jussit collum signare moniti;</p> + <p>Ne depascentem quisquis me gramina laedat,</p> + <p>Caesaris heu causâ, periturae parcere vitae."</p> + </div> + </div> + <p>which has been thus literally translated in nearly the same words quoted by + <i>Ruris</i>—</p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"When Julius Caesar reigned king,</p> + <p>About my neck he put this ring,</p> + <p>That whosoever did me take,</p> + <p>Should spare my life for Caesar's sake."</p> + </div> + </div> + <p>It thus appears that <i>Julius</i> Caesar is gratuitously introduced by the + English paraphrast, nothing appearing in the original inscription to determine its + application, or render it more probable, that the reference should be to Julius + Caesar, than to Domitian; and the two first lines given by <i>Ruris</i>, have + evidently been introduced by way of transferring the subject to our own country.</p> + <p>Allow me before concluding this communication, one word in reply to E.D.'s + observations on the "Cat and Fiddle." It is not impossible that some resemblance + (though I am disposed to think it very trifling) may exist between the "tones of a + <i>flute</i>" and those of "the human voice;" but I have yet to learn wherein + consists the similarity of the notes of the clarinet and those of a "GOOSE;" neither + do I imagine performers on the violin, (especially Italians,) will feel themselves + obliged by E.D.'s comparison of their favourite instrument, to the vile squall of the + feline race. On the whole, I should feel more disposed to concur with him who "has + been led away by a love of etymology" that the "Cat and Fiddle" is an "anomalous" + sign, and that "no two objects in the world have less to do with each other than a + cat and a violin," than to adopt the opposite theories of E.D. or his predecessor, + unless better supported than they are at present. IOTA.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>THE SKETCH-BOOK.</h2> + <hr /> + <h3>RECOLLECTIONS OF A WANDERER.</h3> + <h4><i>The Wreck.</i><a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a + href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a></h4> + <h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>All night the booming minute-gun</p> + <p class="i2">Had pealed along the deep,</p> + <p>And mournfully the rising sun</p> + <p class="i2">Look'd o'er the tide-worn steep,</p> + <p>A bark from India's coral strand,</p> + <p class="i2">Before the rushing blast,</p> + <p>Had vailed her topsails to the sand</p> + <p class="i2">And bowed her noble mast.</p> + <p>The Queenly ship! brave hearts had striven</p> + <p class="i2">And true ones died with her!</p> + <p>We saw her mighty cable riven,</p> + <p class="i2">Like floating gossamer!</p> + <p>We saw her proud flag struck that morn,</p> + <p class="i2">A star once o'er the seas,</p> + <p>Her helm beat down, her deck uptorn,</p> + <p class="i2">And sadder things than these!</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + MRS. HEMANS + </center> + <hr class="short" /> + <p>Sweet romantic Cove of Torwich—repository of my youth's + recollections!—A mingled gust of feeling crosses over me, + rainbow-like,—fraught with the checkered remembrances of "life's eventful + history," when I turn to the past, and glance over the scenes of my early life.</p> + <p>The Bay of Torwich, on the southern coast, unites in its fullest extent the + singularly wild and picturesque, with the softer features of the landscape. The bay + consists of two headlands, about four miles apart. On the eastern side a lofty range + of rocky heights extends for a considerable way, almost equalling those of Dovor in + sublimity, and juts out into the sea, on the assaults of which they seem to frown + defiance, terminating in a bold headland. The violence of the sea has caused + extensive and picturesque excavations and caverns; and at the end of the cliff, two + sharp rocks called the Needles, raised their heads at low water, connected by a low, + sunken reef. In a westerly gale these rocks were very dangerous to homeward-bound + ships, and I have often sat with admiration in the heights above, watching the + grotesque forms and silvery spray of the gigantic breakers, which after being broken + in their progress, heaved their expiring rage with a shock like thunder, against the + base of the cliffs, causing a prolonged echo in the huge caverns above. About midway + between these cliffs and the western side there was another lofty headland, which + terminated the Cove of Torwich; as the sea, except at low-water in high spring tides, + washed the foot of this promontory, it was only fordable at ebb-tide. In the middle + of the intermediate space, three rocks which might truly be called "forked + promontories" from their sharp pyramidical shape, jutted abruptly out of the beach, + and were connected by a sort of natural causeway to the main land. Beyond, a wild and + rocky valley ran inland, and the time-worn ruins of —— Castle, beetling + over the heights, terminated the view in this direction. This valley formed the bed + of a small stream, which ran by the end of the rocks, composing a channel by which + coasting vessels could run up and discharge their cargoes for the village of Torwich, + only part of which was visible at this spot. A natural cleft in the vein opened + through the centre of these singular rocks, resembling a lofty gothic arch, and it + was my favourite pastime to sit here in the most perfect seclusion, reading "sermons + in stones" and watching the progress of the tide till it kissed my feet, and often + surrounded me, for the flood came in with great velocity. Between these rocks and the + heights on the eastern side, there was another little retired creek, renowned in the + village annals, for the adventures of Jack Covering, a noted smuggler on this coast, + some forty years ago, with the locality of which the reader will erewhile become + better acquainted. The magnificence of the convulsed scenery, and yawning chasms + around, the deep intonation and ceaseless roar of the ocean, all combined to awaken + in the mind of the spectator, mingled sensations of admiration and awe.</p> + <p>The coast receded between the eastern point of the cove to that which terminated + the Bay of Torwich, embracing what may be almost termed a champaign country, compared + with the barren scenery I have described; and displaying the uneven surface of the + richly wooded Park of Dovedale, with the ruins of two castles.</p> + <p>The village of Torwich which stood on a declivity, with an opening descent to the + shore, about half a mile from the entrance of the cove, had little communication, + from the nature of its site, with the neighbouring country, except when the + all-powerful attraction of a wreck existed. Its inhabitants were chiefly sailors or + fishermen, barring a few useless individuals like myself. I loved to study life in + all its gradations—the "March of Intellect" was yet unknown here! and though + the situation afforded such numerous advantages for smuggling, there were, rather + unaccountably, only three persons in the village connected with the coast blockade; + and it was whispered that relying on the entire seclusion of the cove, these persons + too often winked when they ought to have been astir on their duty.</p> + <p>The day was far spent, when towards the close of the month of October, 18—, + I wandered out to the shore to watch the flow of the evening's tide. The weather had + been unsettled for some time previous, and the rain had fallen in torrents, with a + moderate breeze, during most part of the day. Towards evening the rain ceased, though + large heavy masses of black clouds were flying about, and backing up to seaward, + accompanied with a short gusty gale of wind. I never recollect a more dismal night. A + thick haze overspread the lower parts of the landscape, throwing the bloated masses + of clouds higher up in the horizon, into a sort of sombre relief. As I passed a + little look-out house on my way to the beach, I sauntered to a group of sailors at + their usual council, who were gazing with deep interest at a solitary vessel dimly + discernible through the fog in the offing. As she neared us we found her to be a + barque of apparently considerable burthen, making a tack to weather the Torhead, + which lay several miles under her lee, with a strong breeze from windward. She was + evidently quite out of her reckoning from the indecision and embarassment displayed + in her movements; and the captain seemed not sufficiently aware of the hazard he ran. + I waited sometime at this place watching the movements of the ship. The tide came + roaring in with a broken swell increased by a high spring flood; and there was that + in the "wind's eye" which betokened approaching disaster; while the gloom was + increasing, and the harsh cries and hurried flight of the sea-birds indicated + tempestuous weather.</p> + <p>"An ugly looking night this, Mr. —— as I have seen for many a-day," + remarked Harry Covering, one of the oldest of the group of sailors, and a crony of + mine. "Sink the Customs! if yon ship weathers Torhead this night, may I never pull an + oar again." "It is, indeed, a fearful-looking night, messmate, and no time ought to + be lost in the present state of the tide in putting off to her—for if the wind + holds in this part, it is great odds indeed, that she does not go upon the + Needles."</p> + <p>The breeze was freshening every moment; indeed the situation of the strange ship + must soon become imminently dangerous. The crew seemed at last to have awakened from + their lethargy, and were apparently making every effort to enable her to gain an + offing and weather Torhead, before the combined force of wind and flood should render + that impracticable. It was a moment of deep interest. I am not acquainted with any + event, notwithstanding the frequency of its recurrence, that appeals more directly to + our sympathies, than a shipwreck. The mighty power of the ocean is thus brought + before us in its most striking sense, and the general scene of disaster it occasions + is almost always varied with instances of individual sympathy for some of the + wrecked. We were now joined by the resident officer of the coast-blockade, and a + party of men were dispatched to pull off to the ship in distress, while the rest of + us hurried towards the Torhead, accompanied in our rear, (for the news had reached + the village) by a turn-out of most of its inhabitants, influenced both by the passion + of curiosity and that of expected plunder. Many of the older class looked upon + wrecking as legitimate a trade as fishing for herrings or pilchards; while perhaps + nearly all from the force of habit and long-practised example, regarded a wreck as a + booty sent them by the elements; the scattered contents of which it was no more crime + to take than it would be to pick up any other thing cast by accident on the + beach.</p> + <p>The sea was breaking over the needles with frightful violence when we reached + Torhead—the spray dashing almost to the summit of the cliffs. We were now + almost opposite the vessel, which appeared to be French built; but the increasing + darkness prevented our distinguishing her minutely. The, flash of a gun from her + side, amidst the deepening gloom, redoubled my interest. A more interesting object + than a solitary vessel in danger, I cannot well conceive. I have always looked upon a + ship as a living creature—the companion of man—a thing instinct with + life, walking the waters—and our feelings are not only excited for the safety + of the crew, but for that of the vessel itself, to which we attach a degree of + interest as for a friend. A gale was now up; the boat put off to their aid was in + danger of being swamped by the surf, and found it impracticable to make way against a + violent head-wind and tide united. Nothing short of a miracle could now save the + ship; however the wind suddenly shifted a little, and I began to hope that if she was + to be wrecked, it might be farther on the shore; as in case of her striking on the + Needles, she must almost immediately go to pieces under our eyes, without the most + remote chance of the escape of one of the crew. A sheet of light flashed occasionally + from her sides, calling for aid out of the power of man to grant. There was a sudden + lull in the wind, which sometimes happens in the most violent tempests, though often + succeeded by increased fury; and a strong shower of sleet and rain drove most of our + followers home. As it had now become quite dark, and it was morally impossible to + yield the ship any aid till daylight, I returned to the village with melancholy + forebodings, having placed beacons on the heights.</p> + <p>I hastily proceeded again to the shore just before daybreak. The distant moaning + of the sea, the harsh screams of the cormorants with the desolate nature of the spot, + chilled my spirits. I had passed a sleepless night, and the storm rose again, and + raged till near daybreak with increased fury, but the wind was now greatly hushed. + The sea, however, showed marks of its violence; the bay was white with foam, and as I + proceeded, the tide, which was just beginning to flow, roared loudly, and advanced in + short breakers wreathed with spray. The sky also looked dismally, and gave token that + the gale had not entirely passed away, though its violence had temporarily abated. I + advanced with deep interest by the peaked group of rocks, and passed the wreck of a + brig lying high and dry on the sand just before me. The whole of the shore between + the Heads, was strewed with her contents. I never witnessed so total a wreck in so + short a space of time. The violence of the surf had completely beaten her sides out, + leaving stem and stern hanging together as by a thread, while her ribs and broken + cordage and sails, completed the picture, had any thing been wanting to perfect it. I + could moralize any day on a single bit of plank on a shore—each fragment seems + to tell its tale, and awakens a train of thoughts and feelings in the mind; but "grim + desolation" was here visibly before me.</p> + <p>Though I was early astir, I found that the prospect of booty had been sufficiently + powerful already to draw out not only the inhabitants of Torwich, but great numbers + of the neighbouring peasantry. But where was the ship, about whose fate we had been + so greatly interested the preceding evening? This was manifestly not her; but I + distinctly saw a large, black hull lying under the western cliffs, half a mile + distant, towards which the people were rapidly moving. She had come ashore a little + after high water, during the night. I picked my way through the wreck strewn + around—to a small group of persons standing near me; five of them were + strangers, the crew of the brig. I learnt that my surmises were right concerning the + ship in the distance, and that the brig which was laden with crockery came ashore + about the same period.</p> + <p>I left these poor fellows endeavouring to rescue their little articles of + property, and took a route apart from the course of the crowd towards the other ship. + I had not gone far, when I almost stumbled over the dead body of a young female, + lying with her face uppermost, half buried in the sand—</p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Her very tresses clung</p> + <p>All tangled by the storm.</p> + </div> + </div> + <p>The bodies of a gentleman of foreign aspect, and that of a lad about seventeen, + (their hands still firmly clasped together, undivided even in death,) lay close by. + It was a melancholy scene. They had evidently been a father and his children. The + long boat of the vessel, which had I suppose, taken ground here, being staved and + swamped by the surf, was close beyond, near which I observed the bodies of several + other men. It was with pain and horror I remarked that some wretches who had been + here before me, had partly stripped the bodies of the lady and others in their search + after plunder, besides rifling the contents of some cases of valuables, which had + been put into the boat. I hastily turned towards the principal scene of disaster, and + addressed myself to one of the survivors, whom I found to be the supercargo. The + vessel was <i>La Bonne Esperance</i> of Brest, of 550 tons, homeward bound, with a + mixed cargo of rum, cotton, and colonial produce, from the West Indies. It appeared + that the captain, mate, and passengers had left the ship just as she struck, and + taken to the long boat, the fatal result of which has been seen. As I surmised, the + bodies I had seen consisted of one family, the only passengers on board, a colonel in + the army, with his son and daughter, returning to his country after long service in + foreign parts. The supercargo, in the confusion which took place, could not get into + the long boat in time, and remained with the rest of the crew on board; several of + the seamen were washed off the decks and dashed against the rocks, and my narrator + and three others were all that survived "to tell the tale."</p> + <p>The ship's hull lay jammed between two small rocks near the foot of the cliffs; + she was still almost outwardly entire, as the tide receded just after she came ashore + in the night; but there was a hole knocked in her side from whence a portion of the + cargo had been washed out. The two principal masts had gone by the board, but a part + of the mizen-mast was still standing; and the rocks were covered, far and near, with + tattered portions of her sails and cordage pasted against their sides, disposed by + the sea, in a grotesque manner.</p> + <p>As the principal station of the preventive corps was at a considerable distance, + some time would elapse before they could lend their aid in the protection of the + property; and the mob from the neighbouring country, disappointed at finding little + else but broken crockery at the other wreck, seemed disposed to make the most of + their time, and were proceeding with all the violence and rapacity of professed + wreckers. In spite of the exertions of the officer from Torwich and his assistants, + they were mounting the sides, and had spread themselves over the vessel like a pack + of hungry wolves on the dead carcass of a horse, when I arrived. A scene of greater + confusion and singularity cannot be described.</p> + <p>It was not long before their attention was awakened by the tapping of a cask of + rum, which with many more had been washed out of the hold. This beverage presented a + powerful attraction; the ship was soon, in some measure, deserted, and the mob + concentrated like a swarm of wasps round the casks. All distinctions were now at an + end; the better sort of farmer or shopkeeper, scrambled with the pauper for a cup or + cap (or shoe) full of the mellow liquid; while the supercargo and his men, aided by + myself and a few others, were occupied in hastily putting into some carts the more + valuable articles rescued from plunder. As the parties had been immoderate in their + potations, so the effects were equally speedy. Women lay on the sand, dead drunk, + beside the booty they had collected, while unable to stir, it was snatched from their + powerless grasp by others stronger or more sober than themselves. Several pitched + battles were also taking place, both amongst boys and men, which generally terminated + by each of the combatants falling prostrate martyrs to Bacchus. The infection was + universal, and even the three "mounseers," the surviving crew of the Bonne Esperance, + could not resist an occasional sly pull at the liquor. These men, though they had + only just escaped sudden death, seemed not to be cast down; but with their + characteristic agility, one minute assisted to roll the casks into carts, and then + ran off perhaps to whisper a compliment to some pretty girl, shrugging up their + shoulders at the unceremonious repulse they met with from <i>mademoiselle</i>.</p> + <p>But this scene was not to last long: for the tide had been imperceptibly making + way and closing. I had always observed that after coming to a certain place, its + velocity was greatly accelerated, and it was with feelings of alarm that I saw the + danger which the almost unconscious people incurred. From regard to our own safety we + had to retreat rapidly towards the shingles, carrying as many of the helpless as time + would admit out of danger, in which we were aided by many of the sailors from + Torwich, who had assisted in rescuing a portion of the cargo. The peasantry, at last + aware of the hazard they ran, took to their heels also; but from the state they were + in, many were forgotten or left behind. The roar of waters came rapidly onward, and + amid the foaming eddy created by its advance, the stifled death-cry, mingled with the + harsh and piercing shrieks of some of the half drowning victims—one moment + awakened to the consciousness of their situation, and the next hurried to + eternity—burst on the ear; and such was the advance of the spring-flood, that a + few minutes after the rush of people had reached the shingles, the curling breakers + rolled the bodies of several of the sufferers almost to their feet. The most lively + interest was now excited towards a small rock, which jutted out of the sand a little + distance from the wreck. The two poor children of a fisherman's widow in the village, + were playing in a cavity of this rock, when the tide surrounded them. Their voices + were drowned by the roaring of the waters, and their fate would have been unknown, + had not the wild appearance and frantic screams of the mother—come in search of + her children—attracted notice. When they were discovered, only a ledge of the + rock was discernible; and the little sufferers were seen imploring for help amidst + the spray with which the waves, fanned by a stiff breeze from windward, covered them. + Several brave fellows swam off towards the rock, but before they could reach it, a + sudden rush of tide swept over, and engulfed the children amidst the fragments of + wreck hurled forward in its advance. One of the sailors seized the youngest of the + children and bore him safely to shore. The body of the other was found when the tide + ebbed, under a ledge of rocks on the eastern side. Upwards of fifteen persons were + amongst the missing. It was an impressive scene, and read a powerful lesson to + all.</p> + <p>"Wrecking" has long been deservedly a national reproach. It is, however, rarely + accompanied with the cruelty and violence by which it was formerly characterized; and + such aggravated scenes now seldom occur. The people of our coasts have become, + generally, much more civilized, and probably the "march of improvement" will + ultimately eradicate so inhuman a custom. In Cornwall it was carried to such an + excess that the example was even given from the pulpit; and there is a story related + of a Cornish parson, who upon information being brought to his congregation of a + wreck whilst they were at church, exhorted them to pause as they were rushing out + <i>en masse</i> in the midst of the service; and having gained the door, took to his + heels saying, "Now, my lads, it is but fair we should all start alike!" and reached + the wreck first. The people view the plunder of a wreck as a right, and it is in vain + to attempt to persuade them otherwise. However it is but justice to say that they + have frequently risked, and even sacrificed, their own lives in endeavouring to + preserve those of others; though some recent instances, especially in Wales, prove + that the old disposition still lurks amongst the people, and sometimes breaks out + with unabated violence.</p> + <p>The arrival of a party of the Preventive Service that evening, in some measure + proved a check to the plunder of the peasantry; but the guards themselves were not + proof against the prevailing infection, and similar scenes to that related, prevailed + as long as there was any thing left to drink or pick up; however, a considerable part + of the cargo was safely stowed, though there were few of the rum casks that did not + afterwards turn out impregnated with bilge water.</p> + <p>On a fine grey morning, about a week after these events occurred, I wandered out + towards the shore: there had been rough weather in the channel, and many wrecks, and + the turbulence of the ocean had not yet subsided. It was about half-flood when I + reached the <i>Bonne Esperance</i>. She had disappeared by piece-meal under the + repeated assaults of the sea, but the principal part of the hull was still hanging + together. Each wave as it struck her tattered timbers, seemed to sap away her + strength and threatened to shake her to fragments. I sat with the supercargo for + about an hour, watching the flow of the tide. Her timbers cracked louder and louder + at each shock of the breakers; when a heavy sea struck her, her joints loosened, and + she broke up at last, scattered into fragments, and whelmed in a gulf of boiling + waters which foamed like an immense cauldron over the place she had occupied a minute + before. We had watched the progress to this final disaster with the deepest + interest—I may almost say sympathy—for we could hardly help looking upon + the ship as a friend in need, hovering as it were over destruction without an arm + being stretched forth to save her, and it was not without a real feeling of pain and + sorrow that we witnessed her destruction.</p> + <p>About half-ebb we descended to the shore—it was covered as far as the eye + could reach with her ruin and materials; and one could almost imagine it had been the + destruction of a fleet. Thus ended the fate of <i>La Bonne Esperance</i> of Brest, + and the occasional appearance of a solitary fragment on the beach, was soon all that + recalled her history to the remembrance of the passers-by.</p> + <p>VYVYAN.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>OLD POETS.</h2> + <hr /> + <h3>GOOD DEEDS.</h3> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Wretched is he who thinks of doing ill.</p> + <p class="i2">His evil deeds long to conceal and hide;</p> + <p>For though the voice and tongues of men be still,</p> + <p class="i2">By fowls and beasts his sins shall be descried.</p> + <p>And God oft worketh by his secret will,</p> + <p class="i2">That sin itself, the sinner so doth guide,</p> + <p>That of its own accord without request,</p> + <p class="i2">He makes his wicked doings manifest.</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + SIR J. HARRINGTON. + </center> + <hr class="short" /> + <h3>DEATH.</h3> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Death is a port whereby we reach to joy,</p> + <p class="i2">Life is a lake that drowneth all in pain,</p> + <p>Death is so near it ceaseth all annoy,</p> + <p class="i2">Life is so leav'd that all it yields is vain;</p> + <p>And as by life to bondage Man was brought,</p> + <p>Even so likewise by death was freedom wrought.</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + EARL OF SURREY. + </center> + <hr class="short" /> + <h3>BEAUTY.</h3> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Nought under Heaven so strongly doth allure</p> + <p class="i2">The sense of man and all his mind possess,</p> + <p>As Beauty's lovely bait that doth procure</p> + <p class="i2">Great warriors oft their rigour to repress,</p> + <p>And mighty hands forget their manliness.</p> + <p class="i2">Driven with the power of an heart robbing eye,</p> + <p>And wrapt in flowers of a golden tress,</p> + <p class="i2">That can with melting pleasance mollify</p> + <p class="i2">Their hard'ned hearts enur'd to blood and cruelty.</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + SPENSER. + </center> + <hr class="short" /> + <h3>LEARNING.</h3> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>——But that Learning in despite of fate</p> + <p>Will mount aloft and enter Heaven's gate;</p> + <p>And to the seat of Jove itself advance,</p> + <p>Hermes had slept in Hell with Ignorance.</p> + <p>Yet as a punishment they added this,</p> + <p>That he and Poverty should always kiss.</p> + <p>And to this day is every scholar poor,</p> + <p>Gross gold from them runs headlong to the boor.</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + C. MARLOWE. + </center> + <hr class="short" /> + <h3>FEELING.</h3> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>——The feeling power which is life's root,</p> + <p class="i2">Through every living part itself doth shed,</p> + <p>By sinews which extend from head to foot,</p> + <p class="i2">And like a net all over the body spread.</p> + <p>Much like a subtle spider, which doth sit</p> + <p class="i2">In middle of her web which spreadeth wide,</p> + <p>If aught do touch the outmost thread of it,</p> + <p class="i2">She feels it instantly on every side.</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + J. DAVIES. + </center> + <hr class="short" /> + <h3>INJUSTICE.</h3> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>So foul a thing, O thou injustice art,</p> + <p class="i2">That torment'st the doer and distrest;</p> + <p>For when a man hath done a wicked part,</p> + <p class="i2">O how he strives to excuse—to make the best;</p> + <p>To shift the fault t' unburden his charg'd heart,</p> + <p class="i2">And glad to find the least surmise of rest;</p> + <p>And if he could make his, seem other's sin,</p> + <p>O what repose, what ease he'd find therein.</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + DANIELL. + </center> + <hr class="short" /> + <h3>RICHES.</h3> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Vessels of brass oft handled brightly shine.</p> + <p>What difference between the richest mine</p> + <p>And basest earth, but use? for both not used</p> + <p>Are of little worth; then treasure is abused,</p> + <p>When misers keep it; being put to loan,</p> + <p>In time it will return us two for one.</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + C. MARLOWE. + </center> + <hr class="full" /> + <h3>THE IDIOT LOVER.</h3> + <h4>(DRAWN FROM LIFE.)</h4> + <h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man,</p> + <p>If with his tongue he cannot win a woman."</p> + </div> + </div> + <p>John Laconi was born in the romantic country of Switzerland. He was educated + tolerably well; he was a good musician, and could draw excellently. He possessed a + small, though independent fortune. However, notwithstanding his advantages and + acquirements, he proved, when he became a lover, to be an idiot.</p> + <p>At a certain period of his life, he fell violently in love with a beautiful young + Swiss lady. She was considerably younger than our hero, was much taller, and her + elegant refinements rendered her a very desirable object. John had a sister, to whom + the young lady paid frequent friendly visits, and upon such occasions, owing probably + to that <i>mauvaise honte</i>, with which he was cursed, he was usually absent from + home. I will not disgust my fair readers with a minute description of <i>all</i> his + absurdities; one example, or so, shall suffice.</p> + <p>One fine evening, in the month of June, after spending the day with Laconi's + sister, the young lady prepared to return alone to her father's <i>château</i>, + at the distance of about a mile; and on this occasion, John determined to give a + specimen of his gallantry in escorting the fair one home, resolving likewise to + declare his passion in plain terms. Accordingly, having put on his hat and cloak, and + stationed himself at the gate, he appeared as formidable as any doughty knight in the + days of romance, ready to offer his protection to some forlorn damsel. No sooner, + however, did the lady appear, than he became so confused as not to be able to answer + her greeting. She was also confused for a moment at his manner, but immediately began + her walk with much disgust and <i>nonchalance</i>; while he, like a silly <i>valet de + chambre</i>, followed behind, leaving his dear mistress' questions unanswered, and + gazing with a vacant stare at the moon. At length, to the lady's infinite + satisfaction, the white gate of her father's <i>château</i> appeared in view, + and John, finding they had nearly reached their destination, articulated, in a half + suffocated tone, "I—I beg pardon, ma—madam, I have been + considering—." "You have, indeed, Mr. John," quickly returned the smiling + damsel, "but I think you might have chosen another opportunity, more seasonable than + the present, to consider the moon!" To this retort, he said nothing, but looked + extremely foolish and ridiculous. However, when they had actually gained the gate of + the <i>château</i>, he boldly resolved to kiss his fair enslaver; but, after a + moment, his resolution failed, and his legs tottered under him. Without hearing the + lady's sweet "good night," as she tripped gaily from him, he exclaimed, "Madam, can + you love me?" This appeal was not heard by the flying maiden, who hastily ascended + the steps to her father's door, which opened and concealed her lovely form from the + sight of the amazed lover, who had not courage sufficient to follow her.</p> + <p>Whether our idiot did not comprehend the behaviour of his mistress, I cannot say; + certain it is, he went home well contented with the success he imagined he had gained + towards winning her heart. But, in reality, she was disgusted with his foolery, and + ceased paying any more visits to her female friend, in order to avoid the sight of so + strange a lover.</p> + <p>John, however, was a kind of philosopher, and calmly sustained his love + misfortunes. A particular occurrence happened which will somewhat account for this + passive resignation. One evening, during a solitary walk, he saw his identical + mistress in company with a young French officer. He walked sullenly home, wrote some + verses on the inconstancy of women, drew from recollection a portrait of the cruel + fair, which he hung in his study, and banished his former pretences. Report says, + that he lived the remainder of his days in a state of celibacy. G.W.N.</p> + <hr /> + <h3>SIR HUMPHRY DAVY.</h3> + <p>Sincerely do we regret to announce the death of this great and good man—the + most celebrated philosopher of our times, who has done more for the happiness of his + species than any associated Academy in Europe. He died at Geneva, May 29, aged 51. We + shall endeavour to do justice to his talents and amiable character, in a Memoir to be + published at the close of this volume of THE MIRROR—prefixed to which will be a + fine Portrait of the illustrious deceased.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY.</h2> + <hr /> + <h3>DISCOVERY OF THE FATE OF LA PEROUSE.</h3> + <h4><i>Abridged from the United Service Journal.</i></h4> + <p>The fate of this celebrated French navigator, which for upwards of forty years has + remained enveloped in mystery, has at length been satisfactorily ascertained, a + result that is owing to the active and spirited exertions of our gallant and + enterprising countryman Captain Dillon.</p> + <p>It is a remarkable circumstance, that the discovery of the relics of La Perouse, + arose out of the massacre of the ship Hunter's crew, at the Feejee Islands, in + 1813.</p> + <p>In this unfortunate affair, fourteen persons in all, from the ship Hunter, lost + their lives. The two that escaped with Mr. Dillon, were William Wilson and Martin + Buchart, a Prussian, who resided for two years at Bough. The latter entreated captain + Robson to give him and his Bough wife a passage to the first land at which he might + arrive, as they would certainly be sacrificed if they returned to the island. Having + made Tucopia on the 20th of September, Buchart, his wife, and a Lascar, were put on + shore, and the Hunter proceeded on her voyage to Canton.</p> + <p>On the 13th of May, 1826, while in command of the St. Patrick, bound from + Valparaiso to Pondicherry, captain Dillon came in sight of the island of Tucopia. + Prompted by curiosity, as well as regard for old companions in danger, he lay to, + anxious to ascertain whether the persons left there in 1813, were still alive. A + canoe, in which was the Lascar, soon afterwards put off from land and came alongside. + This was immediately succeeded by another canoe, containing Martin Buchart, the + Prussian. They were both in excellent health, and exceedingly rejoiced to see him. + They informed him, that the natives had treated them very kindly; and that no ship + had touched at the island from the time they were first landed, until about a year + previous to his arrival, when an English whaler visited them, and was soon after + followed by a second. The Lascar had an old silver sword-guard, which he bartered for + a few fishing-hooks. Captain Dillon inquired where he had obtained it; the Prussian + informed him, that on his arrival at the island, he saw it in the possession of the + natives, also several chainplates belonging to a ship, a number of iron bolts, five + axes, the handle of a silver fork, a few knives, tea-cups, glass beads and bottles, + one silver spoon with a crest and a cipher, a sword, &c. As soon as he became + sufficiently acquainted with the language, he asked the natives how they obtained + those articles, as they said that the Hunter was the first ship with which they had + ever held communication. They replied, that about two days' sail in their canoes to + leeward, there was a large group of islands, known generally by the name of Manicolo, + to which they were in the habit of making frequent voyages, and that they had + procured these articles from the inhabitants, who possessed many more of a similar + description.</p> + <p>Buchart proceeded to state, that the Tucopians asserted that a great number of + articles were on the Manicolo Islands in a state of preservation, and such articles + were evidently obtained from the wreck of a vessel. About seven months before captain + Dillon touched at Tucopia, a canoe had returned from Manicolo, and brought away two + large chain plates, and an iron bolt, about four feet in length. He spoke with some + of the crew of the canoe which had last made the voyage to Manicolo. They told him + that there was abundance of iron materials still remaining on the island. Those which + Martin Buchart saw were much oxydized and worn. The only silver spoon brought to + Tucopia, as far as captain Dillon could learn, was beaten out into a wire by Buchart, + for the purpose of making rings and other ornaments for the female islanders. Upon + examining the sword-guard minutely, captain Dillon discovered, or thought he + discovered, the initials of Perouse stamped upon it, which circumstance prompted him + to be more eager in his inquiries.</p> + <p>The Prussian said he had himself never made a trip to Manicolo with the Tucopians, + but the Lascar had gone once or twice. He positively affirmed, that he had seen and + conversed at Paiow, a native town, with the Europeans who spoke the language of the + islanders. They were old men, he said, who told him that they had been wrecked + several years ago in one of the ships, the remnants of which they pointed out to him. + They informed him also that no vessel had touched at the islands since they had been + there; that most of their comrades were dead, but they had been so scattered among + the various islands, that they could not tell precisely how many of them were still + living.</p> + <p>On hearing so many circumstances all tending to confirm his suspicions, from the + moment he saw the silver sword-guard with the cipher, captain Dillon determined to + proceed as quickly as possible to the Manicolo Islands, examine the wrecks himself, + and, if practicable, bring off the two men with whom the Lascar had spoken, and whom, + he said, were Frenchmen. For this purpose he begged the latter to accompany him, but + as he was married and comfortably settled on the island, neither promises nor threats + were of any avail, although captain Dillon offered to bring him back to Tucopia. + Martin Buchart, on the contrary, was tired of the savage life he had led for the last + fourteen years, and gladly acceded to the wishes of captain Dillon, who after + prevailing with a Tucopian also to come on board, sailed for the island. + Unfortunately, as the ship neared the land, it fell a perfect calm, and continued so + for seven days. At this time the stock of dry provisions was nearly exhausted, and + there was no animal food to be procured on Tucopia. The crew lived principally on New + Zealand potatoes and bananas. The vessel became every day more leaky from a long + continuance at sea; and a person on board, who was interested in the cargo, had, + during captain Dillon's stay in the islands, shown himself particularly discontented, + and had frequently and warmly remonstrated at what he considered an unnecessary and + useless delay; for these reasons, therefore, captain Dillon determined, though with + the greatest reluctance, to take advantage of a breeze which sprang up, continued his + voyage, and arrived at Bengal with much difficulty, his ship being in a very leaky + condition.</p> + <p>Unwilling to abandon his favourite object, captain Dillon now applied to the + Asiatic Society, and to the Bengal Government; and in consequence of his + representations, his suggestions were at length carried into effect. He was appointed + to the command of one of the Company's cruisers, of sixteen guns and eighty-five men, + called the Research; and on the 27th of January, 1827, he sailed from Bengal, visited + Van Dieman's Land, New South Wales, New Zealand, the Friendly Islands, Ro-Thoma, or + Granville Island of the Pandora, Tucopia, and arrived at Manicolo on the 27th of + September. This island (Manicolo, or Vanicolo) is not the Mallicolo of captain Cook, + being situated only 118 miles to the leeward of Tucopia, in latitude 11 deg. 47 min., + whilst the former lies in south latitude 16 deg. 15 min.</p> + <p>Captain Dillon personally visited the reefs on which the French ships are + ascertained to have struck and gone to pieces, according to the accounts of the + natives, from which the following particulars have been obtained of that disastrous + event:—"Many years ago two large ships arrived at the islands; one anchored off + the island of Whanoo, and the other off that of Paiow, a little distance from each + other. Soon after, and before they had any communication with the natives, a heavy + gale arose, and both vessels were driven ashore. The ship off Whanoo grounded upon + the rocks. The natives came in crowds to the sea-shore, armed with clubs, spears, + bows and arrows, and discharged some arrows into the vessel; the crew in return + fired, and killed several of the islanders. The vessel continued to strike violently + against the rocks, and soon went to pieces. Some of the crew took to their boats, but + were driven on shore, and murdered by the natives; others threw themselves into the + sea, and such as reached the land, shared the fate of their unfortunate companions, + so that not a single soul belonging to this vessel escaped alive."</p> + <p>"The ship which grounded on Paiow, was driven on a sandy beach, and the natives + came down and also discharged their arrows into her; but the crew prudently did not + resent the aggression, but held up axes, beads, and toys, as peace-offerings, upon + which the assailants desisted from farther hostilities. As soon as the wind had + moderated, an aged chief, in a canoe, put off to the ship. He was received with + caresses, accepted the presents offered to him: and upon going ashore, pacified the + islanders by assurances that the ship's crew were peaceably inclined towards them. + Upon this, several natives went on board, and were all presented with toys. In + return, they supplied the crew with yams, fowls, bananas, cocoa-nuts, hogs, &c. + and confidence was established between them. The ship was now abandoned, and the crew + went on shore, bringing with them part of her stores. Here they remained for some + time, and built a small vessel with the materials from the wreck. When it was ready + to put to sea, as many as could conveniently, embarked in her, being plentifully + supplied with fresh provisions by the islanders. The commander promised those who + were left behind, to return immediately with presents for the natives, and to bring + them off; but, as the little vessel was never afterwards heard of, the men sought the + protection of the neighbouring chiefs, with whom they lived. Several muskets and some + gunpowder had been left them by their comrades, and by means of these, they proved of + great service to their friends, in encounters with the neighbouring islanders."</p> + <p>The natives of Manicolo are not cannibals; but when an enemy falls into their + power he is immediately killed, and his body is deposited in sea-water, and kept + there until the bones become perfectly bare. The skeleton is then taken up, the bones + of the extremities scraped and cut into various forms, to point arrows and spears. + Their arms consist of heavy clubs, spears, and bows and arrows. They poison the + latter with a kind of reddish gum, extracted from a species of tree peculiar to the + island. When any one is struck by a poisoned arrow in any of the limbs, the part is + quickly cut out, and his life is sometimes saved; but if the wound happens to be in + the body, where it cannot be easily excised, he resigns himself quietly to death + without a murmur, though he frequently lingers for four or five days in excruciating + agony.</p> + <p>The Manicolans differ from almost all the other islanders in the South Sea; they + are as black as negroes, have short woolly hair, and resemble them in their features. + Their religion also is different; in every village in the island there is a house + dedicated to the Deity. At the principal chapel, the skulls of all the people who + were killed, belonging to the ship that grounded at Whanoo, are still preserved. The + natives of Tucopia, unaccustomed to the sight of human bones, avoid, as much as + possible, when they visit the island, approaching the sacred house where the skulls + are deposited.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF <i>NEW WORKS</i>.</h2> + <hr /> + <h3>WAVERLEY NOVELS.</h3> + <p>The <i>new edition</i>, (of which <i>Waverley</i> has just appeared,) is, without + exception, the handsomest book of the day, in editorship, literary and graphic + embellishment or typography. Perhaps little persuasion was necessary for a second + reading of so delightful a novel as <i>Waverley</i>, but the author's piquant notes + to the present edition would alike tempt the matter-of-fact man, and the inveterate + novel reader to "begin again." The prefatory anecdotes to <i>Waverley</i> are + extremely interesting—and the little autobiographic sketches are so many leaves + from the life of the ingenious author. We hope to introduce a few of the notes of the + Series; but content ourselves for the present with the following: being the original + of the legend of Mrs. Grizel Oldbuck:</p> + <p>Mr. R——d of Bowland, a gentleman of landed property in the vale of + Gala, was prosecuted for a very considerable sum, the accumulated arrears of teind + (or tithe) for which he was said to be indebted to a noble family, the titulars (lay + impropriators of the tithes.) Mr. R——d was strongly impressed with the + belief that his father had, by a form of process peculiar to the law of Scotland, + purchased these lands from the titular, and therefore that the present prosecution + was groundless. But after an industrious search among his father's papers, an + investigation of the public records, and a careful inquiry among all persons who had + transacted law business for his father, no evidence could be recovered to support his + defence. The period was now near at hand when he conceived the loss of his lawsuit to + be inevitable, and he had formed his determination to ride to Edinburgh next day, and + make the best bargain he could in the way of compromise. He went to bed with this + resolution, and with all the circumstances of the case floating upon his mind, had a + dream to the following purpose. His father, who had been many years dead, appeared to + him, he thought, and asked him why he was disturbed in his mind. In dreams men are + not surprised at such apparitions. Mr. R——d thought that he had informed + his father of the cause of his distress, adding that the payment of a considerable + sum of money was the more unpleasant to him, because he had a strong consciousness + that it was not due, though he was unable to recover any evidence in support of his + belief. "You are right, my son," replied the paternal shade; "I did acquire right to + these teinds, for payment of which you are now prosecuted. The papers relating to the + transaction are in the hands of Mr. ——, a writer (or attorney,) who is + now retired from professional business, and resides at Inveresk, near Edinburgh. He + was a person whom I employed on that occasion for a particular reason, but who never + on any other occasion transacted business on my account. It is very possible," + pursued the vision, "that Mr. —— may have forgotten a matter which is now + of a very old date; but you may call it to his recollection by this token, that when + I came to pay his account, there was difficulty in getting change for a Portugal + piece of gold, and that we were forced to drink out the balance at a tavern." Mr. + R——d awaked in the morning with all the words of the vision imprinted on + his mind, and thought it worth while to ride across the country to Inveresk, instead + of going straight to Edinburgh. When he came there, he waited on the gentleman + mentioned in the dream, a very old man; without saying any thing of the vision, he + inquired whether he remembered having conducted such a matter for his deceased + father. The old gentleman could not at first bring the circumstance to his + recollection, but on mention of the Portugal piece of gold, the whole returned upon + his memory; he made an immediate search for the papers, and recovered them; so that + Mr. R——d carried to Edinburgh the documents necessary to gain the cause + which he was on the verge of losing. The author has often heard this story told by + persons who had the best access to know the facts, who were not likely themselves to + be deceived, and were certainly incapable of deception. He cannot therefore refuse to + give it credit, however extraordinary the circumstances may appear. The + circumstantial character of the information given in the dream, takes it out of the + general class of impressions of the kind which are occasioned by the fortuitous + coincidence of actual events with our sleeping thoughts. On the other hand, few would + suppose that the laws of nature were suspended, and a special communication from the + dead to the living permitted, for the purpose of saving Mr. R——d a + certain number of hundred pounds. The author's theory is, that the dream was only the + recapitulation of information which Mr. R——d had really received from his + father while in life, but which at first he merely recalled as a general impression + that the claim was settled. It is not uncommon for persons to recover, during sleep, + the thread of ideas which they have lost during their waking hours. It may be added, + that this remarkable circumstance was attended with bad consequences to Mr. + R——d, whose health and spirits were afterwards impaired by the attention + which he thought himself obliged to pay to the visions of the night.—<i>Notes + to the Antiquary.</i></p> + <hr /> + <h3>ROAD-BOOK OF FRANCE.</h3> + <p>People who are bound for the Continent should provide themselves with the new + edition of Mr. Leigh's descriptive Road Book of France—even before they get + their passports at the French ambassador's, or if they only <i>intend</i> to visit + Calais, Boulogne, or Dieppe—and the chances are that they will be induced to + travel beyond these places, which, in truth, give an Englishman no more idea of + France than Dovor would afford a foreigner of England. A few years since, + comparatively speaking, people only knew their way from York to London, much less the + objects on the road—now, by the economy of guide books they may know every good + inn in France, and carry the <i>ichnography</i> of the kingdom in their coat pocket. + In the present edition of the "Road Book of France," attention has been paid to the + description of the delightful South, especially of Bordeaux, the mineral springs and + bathing-places of the Pyrenees, the navigation of the Rhone from Lyons to Avignon, as + well as of Marseilles, Toulouse, &c., and some of the principal towns have been + illustrated with plans. Dipping into the Itinerary from Calais to Paris, we were + reminded of a curious coincidence: Julius Caesar is supposed to have sailed from + Boulogne on his expedition against the Britons; and in later times, Napoleon + Bonaparte there prepared to carry into execution the invasion of Great Britain. But + how different have been the results!</p> + <hr /> + <h3>JOURNEY FROM THE BANK TO BARNES.</h3> + <p>A lively volume with many shreds of wit and humour, and occasional patches of + "righte merrie conceite," has just fallen into our hands, and has afforded us some + very pleasant reading. There is fun in the very title, "Personal Narrative of a + Journey overland from the Bank to Barnes, &c. with some account of the Regions + east of Kensington. By an Inside Passenger. With a Model for a Magazine, being the + product of the Author's sojourn at the village of Barnes, during five rainy days." + The author is a shrewd, clever fellow, who loves a little raillery on the follies of + the day, and joins with our friend, Popanilla in deploring the present artificial + state of society; therefore, suppose we give a few <i>flying</i> extracts from his + tour, premising that the good people of the little villages through which he passed, + are not aware of what good things he has said of them; for his little book would suit + every parlour window from Hyde Park Corner to Barnes.</p> + <h4><i>Brentford.</i></h4> + <p>The ancient and nearly deserted barony of Brentford still contains, in its + monuments and antiquities, vestiges of former splendour. The horse-trough opposite + the "Bell and Feathers" is to the antiquarian a most particularly interesting + <i>morceau</i>; the verdure of age has defaced it in part, but enough still remains + to prove that our ancestors had made no mean proficiency in the rustic style of + architecture. The reservoir, which contains the sparkling element so grateful to that + noble animal, is modelled from the celebrated sarcophagus in the British Museum; and + the posts which support it are evidently Doric. On the outside of it are several + nearly obliterated specimens of carving, as well as drawings in chalk.</p> + <p>Nearly parallel with the horse-trough, as you go down "Maud's Rents," is that + useful, and indeed indispensible, triumph of hydraulics, the pump. The taste and + science displayed in its execution do credit to the engineer; and the soil in which + it is imbedded, being argillaceous, partially encrusted with strontian, reflects + equal honour on his geological attainments. This pump, which you approach by three + steps, is perpendicular, and of an elegant appearance; and forms the chief ornament + of the "Rents." The handle is of wrought iron, highly polished; the snout copper, + studded with hobnails. It is neatly coated with white paint, and bears on its front + the following inscription, which I have copied for the gratification of the curious + in antiquarian research.</p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>This Pump was erected,</p> + <p>and Well sunk,</p> + <p>A.D. 1824,</p> + <p>from the proceeds of a Charity Sermon,</p> + <p>preached</p> + <p>in the Parish Church</p> + <p>of this Parish,</p> + <p>by his Grace the Bishop</p> + <p>of Bath and Wells.</p> + <hr class="short" /> + <p>Peter Broddupp,</p> + <p>Overseer,</p> + <p>Slingsby Stygle, and John Moles,</p> + <p>Churchwardens.</p> + <hr class="short" /> + <p>N.B. Whoever washes Fish at this Pump</p> + <p>will be prosecuted.</p> + </div> + </div> + <p>I cannot take leave of this interesting town without noticing the church. It is + surmounted by a neat steeple, cut in wood, in the pointed style of architecture; on + the top of which is a goodly key, to indicate the wind,—which, the inhabitants + remark, has blown due south for the last ten years. The porch, which is a curious + specimen of the Maeso-Gothic, is rather hurt by the simplicity of the scrapers, + which, being merely segments of iron hoops, do not harmonize with the otherwise + elaborate approach.</p> + <h4><i>Tossbury.</i></h4> + <p>The demesne of Tossbury (by Camden written Tossbery) was anciently a grant in + feoffment to the College of Physicians by King John. On the spot now occupied by the + burial grounds formerly stood their college; and here they flourished until the + population, originally abundant, diminished so alarmingly, as to induce them to + remove to Warwick Lane.</p> + <p>Mr. P. (the landlord of the inn,) ever ready to shew his guests what at that + village are esteemed great curiosities, was indefatigable in explaining the various + instances in which he has made science subservient to utility. The staircase, as far + as the great dining-room, he has, at considerable expense, macadamized; which, + provided it is kept well watered, and scrapers attached to the chamber-doors, our + worthy host assured us, was infinitely preferable to marble. He begged us to be under + no apprehension as to the dampness of our beds, as they were warmed by a + steam-apparatus of his own contrivance. He always keeps a Leyden jar, about the size + of a boiler, ready charged, wherewith he kills geese, turkeys, and even lamb; which, + he affirms, is a much less shocking method of neutralizing the vital spark than the + vulgar butchery of twisting and sticking. He has lost three of his fingers, through + incautiously handling a self-acting rat-trap of his own construction; and had his + left eye blown out, while investigating the exact interval between combustion and + explosion.</p> + <hr /> + <p>I found a difference of about half an hour between the dial of Putney Church and + my watch, which a young gentleman "intended for one of the universities" accounted + for from difference of latitude. He likewise explained a phenomenon, which rather + startled us, near Kew. We saw about half-a-dozen cows galloping furiously towards the + river's brink; flirting their tails, and, indeed, conducting themselves with a + vivacity perfectly inconsistent with the acknowledged sobriety of that useful animal. + He calmed our apprehensions, by informing us they were intended for the East Indies. + Every other day they are fed with best rock-salt, instead of green-meat; which, by + chemical agency, renders them fat and fit to be killed, and sent on ship-board at a + moment's notice; the trouble and delay of salting down being totally unnecessary. + These cows, he assured us, had just finished their thirst-inducing meal.</p> + <p>Near Hill's boat-shed is the patent Philanthropical Hay-tosser, a stupendous + machine, invented expressly to prevent the degradation and slavery to which thousands + of our fellow men are subjected during hay-harvest. It must gratify every friend to + the amelioration of his species to learn, that the humane intention of the inventer + is likely to be realized, as there are already three thousand Irishmen out of + employ.</p> + <p>Here we must halt with our tourist. The result of his lucubrations at + Barnes—a Model for a Magazine will be found very serviceable to all prospectus + writers, and furnish skeleton articles for a whole volume. We have been amused with + the pleasantries of the author, and in return we thank him, and recommend his little + book to our readers.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS</h2> + <hr /> + <h3>CLASSICAL CORRECTIONS.</h3> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>In a neat little cottage, some five miles from town,</p> + <p>Lived a pretty young maiden, by name Daphne Brown,</p> + <p class="i2">Like a butterfly, pretty and airy:</p> + <p>In a village hard by lived a medical prig,</p> + <p>With a rubicund nose, and a full-bottomed wig,</p> + <p class="i2">Apollo, the apothecary.</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>He, being crop sick of his bachelor life,</p> + <p>Resolved, in his old days, to look for a wife—</p> + <p class="i2">(<i>Nota bene</i>—Thank Heaven, I'm not married):</p> + <p>He envied his neighbours their curly-poled brats,</p> + <p>(All swarming, as if in a village of Pats,)</p> + <p class="i2">And sighed that so long he had tarried.</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Having heard of fair Daphne, the village coquette,</p> + <p>As women to splendour were never blind yet,</p> + <p class="i2">He resolved with his grandeur to strike her;</p> + <p>So he bought a new buggy, where, girt in a wreath,</p> + <p>Were his arms, pills, and pestle—this motto beneath—</p> + <p class="i2"><i>"Ego opifer per orbem dicor."</i></p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>To the village he drove, sought young Daphne's old sire,</p> + <p>Counted gold by rouleaus, and bank notes by the quire,</p> + <p class="i2">And promised the old buck a share in't,</p> + <p>If his daughter he'd give—for the amorous fool</p> + <p>Thought of young ladies' hearts and affections the rule</p> + <p class="i2">Apparently rests with a parent.</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Alas! his old mouth may long water in vain,</p> + <p>Who tries by this method a mistress to gain—</p> + <p class="i2">A <i>miss</i> is the sure termination:</p> + <p>For a maiden's delight is to plague the old boy,</p> + <p>And to think sixty-five not the period for joy;</p> + <p class="i2">Alas! all the sex are vexation.</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Daphne Brown had two eyes with the tenderest glances!</p> + <p>Her brain had been tickled by reading romances,</p> + <p class="i2">And those compounds of nonsense called novels,</p> + <p>Where Augustus and Ellen, or fair Isabel,</p> + <p>With Romeo, in sweet little cottages dwell:</p> + <p class="i2"><i>Sed meo periclo</i>, read hovels.</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>She had toiled through Clarissa; Camilla could quote;</p> + <p>Knew the raptures of Werter and Charlotte by rote;</p> + <p class="i2">Thought Smith and Sir Walter ecstatic;</p> + <p>And as for the novels of Miss Lefanu,</p> + <p>She dog's-eared them till the whole twenty looked blue;</p> + <p class="i2">And studied 'The Monk' in the attic.</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>When her sire introduced our Apollo, he found</p> + <p>The maiden in torrents of sympathy drowned—</p> + <p class="i2">"Floods of tears" is too trite and too common:</p> + <p>Her eyes were quite swelled—her lips pouting and pale;</p> + <p>For she just had been reading that heartbreaking tale,</p> + <p class="i2">"Annabelle, or the Sufferings of Woman."</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Apollo, I'll swear, had more courage than I,</p> + <p>To accost a young maid with a <i>drop in her eye</i>;</p> + <p class="i2">I'd as soon catch a snake or a viper:</p> + <p>She, while wiping her tears, gives Apollo some wipes;</p> + <p>And when a young lady has set up her pipes,</p> + <p class="i2">Her lover will soon pay the piper.</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Papa locked her up—but the very next night,</p> + <p>With a cornet of horse, the young lady took flight;</p> + <p class="i2">To Apollo she left this apology—</p> + <p>"That, were she to spend with an old man her life,</p> + <p>She would gain, by the penance she'd bear as a wife,</p> + <p class="i2">A place in the next martyrology."</p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Apollo gave chase, but was destined to fail;</p> + <p>The female had safely been lodged in the mail,</p> + <p class="i2">Now flying full speed to the borders;</p> + <p>So the doctor, compelled his sad fate to endure,</p> + <p>Came back to his shop, commissioned to cure</p> + <p class="i2">All disorders but Cupid's disorders.</p> + </div> + </div> + <p><i>Monthly Magazine.</i></p> + <hr /> + <h3>BAMBOROUGH CASTLE.</h3> + <p>The origin of this princely establishment may be new to our readers:—One of + the owners of the castle, John Forster, member for Northumberland, having joined in + the rebellion, and being general of the English part of the rebel army, of course his + estates, then valued at 1,314 <i>l</i>. <i>per annum</i>, were forfeited; Crewe, + bishop of Durham, purchased them from the government commissioners, and settled the + whole, by his will, on charitable uses. Under a clause which left the residue of the + rents to such charitable uses as his trustees might appoint, the "princely + establishment of Bamborough" has arisen—where</p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"Charity hath fixed her chosen seat;</p> + <p class="i2">And Pity, at the dark and stormy hour</p> + <p>Of midnight, when the moon is hid on high,</p> + <p class="i2">Keeps her love watch upon the topmost tower,</p> + <p>And turns her ear to each expiring cry,</p> + <p class="i2">Blest if her aid some fainting wretch might save,</p> + <p class="i2">And snatch him, cold and speechless, from the grave."</p> + </div> + </div> + <center> + BOWLES. + </center> + <hr class="short" /> + <p>The charitable intentions of a testator have never, in any instance, been better + fulfilled than this; the residuary rents, owing to the great increase of rental in + the Forster estates, became considerably the most important part of the bequest; and + the trustees, who are restricted to five in number, all clergymen, and of whom the + rector of Lincoln College is always one, being unfettered by any positive + regulations, have so discharged their trust as to render Bamborough Castle the most + extensively useful, as well as the most munificent, of all our eleemosynary + institutions. There are two free-schools there, both on the Madras system, one for + boys, the other for girls; and thirty of the poorest girls are clothed, lodged, and + boarded, till, at the age of sixteen, they are put out to service, with a good stock + of clothing, and a present of 2<i>l</i>. 12<i>s</i>. 6<i>d</i>. each; and at the end + of the first year, if the girl has behaved well, another guinea is given her, with a + Bible, a Prayer-book, the Whole Duty of Man, and Secker's Lectures on the Catechism. + There is a library in the castle, to which Dr. Sharp, one of the trustees, + bequeathed, in 1792, the whole of his own collection, valued at more than + 800<i>l</i>.; the books are lent gratuitously to any householder, of good report, + residing within twenty miles of Bamborough, and to any clergyman, Roman Catholic + priest, or dissenting minister within the said distance. There is an infirmary also + in the castle, of which the average annual number of in-patients is about + thirty-five—of out-patients above one thousand. There is an ample granary, from + whence, in time of scarcity, the poor are supplied on low terms. Twice a week the + poor are supplied with meal, at reduced prices, and with groceries at prime cost; and + the average number of persons who partake this benefit is about one thousand three + hundred in ordinary times, in years of scarcity very many more. To sailors on that + perilous coast Bamborough Castle is what the Convent of St. Bernard is to travellers + in the Alps. Thirty beds are kept for shipwrecked sailors; a patrol for above eight + miles (being the length of the manor) is kept along the coast every stormy night; + signals are made; a life-boat is in readiness at Holy Island, and apparatus of every + kind is ready for assisting seamen in distress;—wrecked goods are secured and + stored, the survivors are relieved, the bodies that are cast on shore are decently + interred.</p> + <p><i>Quarterly Review.</i></p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>FINE ARTS</h2> + <hr /> + <h3>THE DIORAMA.</h3> + <p>On the day of the unfortunate destruction of the Oxford Street Diorama and Bazaar, + by fire, two new views were opened at the Diorama in the Regent's Park. These are the + <i>Interior of St. Peter's at Rome</i>, and the <i>Village of Thiers</i>.</p> + <p>We have so often spoken in terms of the highest commendation of the Regent's Park + Diorama, that we hardly know in what set of words to point out the beauties of these + new views, the merits of which must not alter our meed of praise, however the + subjects may its details. The Interior of St. Peter's is by M. Bouton. The point of + view is at the east entry, opposite to the choir; the reader, perhaps, not being + aware that the choir in this cathedral is situated differently from all others, being + at the west end. So beautiful are the proportions of the cathedral itself, that its + vastness does not strike at first sight, and this effect is admirably preserved in + the Diorama. We think we could point out a few inaccuracies in the drawing; but the + projections, capitals of the columns, and some of the medallion portraits which + ornament them, are so well painted, that we can scarcely believe ourselves looking on + a flat surface. Again, the emmet-like figures of the distant congregation are + admirable illustrations of the vastness of the building; and above all, the flood of + light shed from the lantern of the dome is a perfect triumph of art.</p> + <p>The other view is the French Village of Thiers in the department of the Puy de + Doue, on the bank of the little River Durolle, which is actually made to flow, or + rather trickle over large stones; whilst smoke ascends from the chimney of an + adjoining cottage. As a romantic picture of still life, its merits can scarcely be + too highly spoken of, and when we say it is quite equal to <i>Unterseen</i>, by the + same artist, and engraved in our last volume, we hope our readers will not be long + ere they judge for themselves. We could have lingered for an hour in the + contemplation of this peaceful picture, with the devotional interior of St. + Peter's—and in contrasting them with the turmoil of the Great Town out of which + we had just stepped to view this little <i>Creation</i> of art.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>THE GATHERER</h2> + <center> + A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. + </center> + <center> + SHAKSPEARE. + </center> + <hr /> + <h3>LINES</h3> + <p><i>Written impromptu, by Sir Lumley Skeffington, Bart. in the Theatre Royal, Drury + Lane, at the Benefit of Miss Foote, on Wednesday, May 10, 1826, the last night of her + engagement.</i></p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Maria departs!—'tis a sentence of dread,</p> + <p>For the Graces turn pale, and the Fates droop their head!</p> + <p>In mercy to breasts that tumultuously burn,</p> + <p>Dwell no more on departure—but speak of return.</p> + <p>Since she goes, when the buds are just ready to burst,</p> + <p>In expanding its leaves, let the Willow be first.</p> + <p>We here shall no longer find beauties in May;</p> + <p>It cannot be Spring, when Maria's away:</p> + <p>If vernal at all, 'tis an April appears,</p> + <p>For the Blossom flies off, in the midst of our tears.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr /> + <h3>THE KING'S SPEECH IN 993.</h3> + <p>Sharon Turner, in his "History of the Anglo-Saxons," vol. iv. says, "The King + presided at the witena-gemots, and sometimes, perhaps, always addressed them." In + 993, we have this account of a royal speech. The King says, in a charter which + recites what had passed at one of their meetings, "I benignantly addressed to them + salutary and pacific words. I admonished all—that those things which were + worthy of the Creator, and serviceable to the health of my soul, or to my royal + dignity, and which should prevail as proper for the English people, they might, with + the Lord's assistance, discuss in common." P.T.W.</p> + <hr /> + <p>A very common excuse set up by economists for being too late for dinner is, "There + was not a coach to be found."—Uncalculating and improvident selfish idiot, not + to send for one till the very last moment; you save nothing by it, and spoil your + friend's dinner, in order to save yourself sixpence. Suppose you have a mile and a + half to go, the fare is one shilling and sixpence; you will be about eighteen minutes + going that distance, and for that sum you may detain the coach forty-four minutes. + Always call a coach a quarter of an hour before you want it—i.e. if you do not + wish to be too late.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <hr class="full" /> + <h2>LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS.</h2> + <p>CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, near + Somerset House.</p> + <p>The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. Embellished with nearly 150 Engravings. Price + 6s. 6d. boards.</p> + <p>The TALES of the GENII. Price 2s.</p> + <p>The MICROCOSM. By the Right Hon. G. CANNING. &c. Price 2s.</p> + <p>PLUTARCH'S LIVES, with Fifty Portraits, 2 vols. price 13s. boards.</p> + <p>COWPER'S POEMS, with 12 Engravings, price 3s. 6d. boards.</p> + <p>COOK'S VOYAGES, 2 vols. price 8s. boards.</p> + <p>The CABINET of CURIOSITIES: or, WONDERS of the WORLD DISPLAYED. Price 5s. + boards.</p> + <p>BEAUTIES of SCOTT, 2 vols. price 7s. boards.</p> + <p>The ARCANA of SCIENCE for 1828. Price 4s. 6d.</p> + <p>*** Any of the above Works can be purchased in Parts.***</p> + <p>GOLDSMITH'S ESSAYS. Price 8d.</p> + <p>DR. FRANKLIN'S ESSAYS. Price 1s. 2d.</p> + <p>BACON'S ESSAYS Price 8d.</p> + <p>SALMAGUNDI. Price 1s. 8d.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <hr class="full" /> + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1</b>: <a + href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> The scenes and events in tins sketch are drawn + from nature, and real occurrences on the southern coast. + </blockquote> + <hr class="full" /> + <hr class="full" /> + <i>Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; + sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; and by all Newsmen and + Booksellers.</i> + + <div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11710 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |