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Literary and Scientific Mirror.

No. 15.-NEW SERIES.

Literary Notices.

AUTHOR OF THE SKETCH BOOK.

"UTILE DULCI."

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1820.

be quite unjust to the author not to add, that he deserves very high commendation for its more substantial qualities; and that we have seldom seen a work that gave us a more pleasing impression of the writer's character, or a more favourable one of his judgment and taste. There is a tone of fairness and indulgence-and It affords us some gratification to find the opinion of gentleness and philanthropy so unaffectedly diffused we have long since expressed on the merits of Mr. through the whole work, and tempering and harmonWashington Irving's Sketch Book, confirmed by such izing so gracefully, both with its pensive and its gayer authority as that of the Edinburgh Review, from the humours, as to disarm all ordinarily good-natured cri⚫last number of which we have copied the subjoined all worthy readers, the same candour and kindness of tics of their asperity, and to secure to the author, from complimentary remarks. They differ somewhat from which he sets so laudable an example. The want is of some strictures on the same subject which appeared force and originality in the reasoning, and speculative a short time ago in a metropolitan Sunday journal parts, and of boldness and incident in the inventive :which we should admire much more if it were not though the place of these more commanding qualities is not ill supplied by great liberality and sound sense, occasionally disfigured by egotism, and overweening and by a very considerable vein of humour, and no oraffectation; or what may be termed literary dandy-dinary grace and tenderness of fancy. The manner ism.-Edit. Kal.

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perhaps throughout is more attended to than the mat-
ter; and the care necessary to maintain the rythm and
polish of the sentences, has sometimes interfered with

the force of the reasoning, or limited and impoverished
the illustrations they might otherwise have supplied."
{After a variety of extracts from the Sketch Book, the
reviewers in closing their notice of the author's visit to
a country church yard, the northern critics conclude
with the following remark:]

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all he surveys. The arm chair is his throne; the poker his sceptre; and the little parlour of some twelve feet square, his undisputed empire. It is a morsel of certainty, snatched from the uncertainties of life; it is a sunny moment gleaming out kindly on a cloudy day; and he who has advanced some way on the ilgrimage of existence, knows the importance of husbanding even morsels and moments of enjoyment. "Shall I not take mine ease in mine inn ?"

“Though this is a very pleasing book in itself, and disthis wide world which he can truly call his To a homeless man, who has no spot on ays no ordinary reach of thought and elegance of cy, it is not exactly on that account that we are now own, there is a momentary feeling of someempted to notice it as a very agreeable publication,thing like independence and territorial connd to predict that it will form an era in the literature sequence, when after a weary day's travel, of the nation to which it belongs. It is the work of an he kicks off his boots, thrusts his feet into American, entirely bred and trained in that country, slippers, and stretches himself before an inn riginally published within its territory—and, as we "There are many better things than this in these vo- fire. Let the world without go as it may; understand, very extensively circulated, and very much lumes, but they are not easily extracted; and we be-let kingdoms rise or fall, so long as he dmired among its natives. Now, the most remarkable lieve that we have now done enough for the courteous has the wherewithal to pay his bill, he is, bing in a work so circumstanced certainly is, that it and ingenious stranger whom we are ambitious of in- for the time being, the very monarch of hould be written throughout with the greatest care troducing to the notice of our readers. It is probable, and accuracy, and worked up to great purity and indeed, that many of them have become acquainted Beauty of diction, on the model of the most elegant with him already; as we have found the book in the and polished of our native writers. It is the first Ame-hands of most of those to whom we have thought of ican work, we rather think, of any description, but mentioning it, and observe that the author, in the close Certainly the first purely literary production, to which of his last volume, speaks in very grateful terms of the ➡we could give this praise; and we hope and trust that encouragement he has received. We are heartily glad we may hail it as the harbinger of a purer and juster of it, both for his sake and for that of literature in gemaste the foundation of a chaster and better school, neral. There is a great deal too much contention and for the writers of that great and intelligent country acrimony in most modern publications; and because it lts genius, as we have frequently observed, has not has unfortunately been found impossible to discuss hitherto been much turned to letters; and, what it has practical questions of great interest without some dein that department, has been defective in taste certainly gree of heat and personality, it has become too much rather than in talent. The appearance of a few such the prevailing opinion, that these are necessary accomworks as the present will go far to wipe off this reproach paniments to all powerful or energetic discussion, also; and we cordially hope that this author's merited and that no work is likely to be well received by the Success, both at home and abroad, will stimulate his public, or to make a strong impression, which does not Countrymen to copy the methods by which he has attain abound in them. The success of such a work as this ed it; and that they will submit to receive, from the ex- before us, may tend to correct this prejudice, and teach ample of their ingenious compatriot, that lesson which our authors that gentleness and amenity are qualities the precepts of strangers do not seem hitherto to have quite as attractive as violence and impertinence; and very effectually inculcated. that truth is not less weighty, nor reason less persuasive, although not ushered in by exaggerations, and backed by defiance."

« But though it is primarily for its style and composition that we are induced to notice this book, it would

thought I, as I gave the fire a stir, lolled back in my elbow chair, and cast a complaisant look about the little parlour of the Red Horse, at Stratford-on-Avon.

The words of sweet Shakspeare were just passing through my mind as the clock struck midnight from the tower of the church in which he lies buried. There was a gentle tap at the door, and a pretty chambermaid, putting in her smiling face, inquired, with a hesitating air, whether I had rung. I understood it as a modest hint that it was time to

retire. My dream of absolute dominion was at an end; so abdicating my throne, like a prudent potentate, to avoid being deposed, and putting the Stratford Guide Book under my arm, as a pillow companion, I went to bed, and dreamt all night of Shakspear, the Jubilee and David Garrick.

The next morning was one of those quickening mornings which we sometimes have in early spring; for it was about the middle of March. The chills of a long winter had suddenly given way; the north wind had spent its last gasp; and a mild air came stealing from the west, breathing the breath of life into nature, and wooing every bud and flower to burst forth into fragrance and beauty.

though built of solid oak, such was the fer- parlour, kitchen, and hall. Rows of pewter vent zeal of devotees, that the chair had to be and earthen dishes glittered along the dresser, new bottomed at least once in three years. On an old oaken table, well rubbed and poIt is worthy of notice also, in the history of lished, lay the family Bible and Prayer this extraordinary chair, that it partakes book, and the drawer contained the familiv something of the volatile nature of the Santa library, composed of about half a score of Casa of Loretto, or the flying chair of the well-thumbed volumes. An ancient clock, Arabian enchanter, for though sold some few that important article of cottage furniture, years since to a northern princess, yet strange ticked on the opposite side of the room; to tell, it has found its way back again to with a bright warming-pan hanging on one the old chimney corner. side of it, and the old man's horn-handled I am always of easy faith in such matters, Sunday cane on the other. The fire-place, and am ever willing to be deceived, where the as usual, was wide and deep enough to ad deceit is pleasant, and costs nothing. I am mit a gossip knot within its jambs. In out therefore a ready believer in relics, legends, corner sat the old man's grand daughter sexand local anecdotes of goblins and great men;ing, a pretty blue-eyed girl,-and in the I had come to Stratford on a poetical pil- and would advise all travellers who travel for opposite corner was a superannuated croy, grimage. My first visit was to the house their gratification to be the same. What is it whom he addressed by the name of Jehn where Shakspeare was born, and where, ac- to us whether these stories be true or false, Ange, and who, I found, had been his concording to tradition, he was brought up to so long as we can persuade ourselves into the panion from childhood. They had played his father's craft of wool-combing. It is a belief of them, and enjoy all the charm of together in infancy; they had worked to small mean-looking edifice of wood and plas- the reality? There is nothing like resolute gether in manhood; they were now tottering ter, a true nestling place of genius, which good humoured credulity in these matters; about and gossiping away the evening of life; seems to delight in hatching its offspring and on this occasion I went even so far as and in a short time they will probably be in bye corners. The walls of its squalid willingly to believe the claims of mine host-buried together in the neighbouring church ess to a lineal descent from the poet, when, yard. It is not often that we see two streams unluckily for my faith, she put into my hands of existence running thus evenly and tra belief in her consanguinity at defiance. a play of her own composition, which set all quilly side by side; it is only in such quiet "bosom scenes" of life that they are to be met with.

chambers are covered with names and inscriptions, in every language, by pilgrims of all nations, ranks, and conditions, from the prince to the peasant; and present a simple, but striking instance of the spontaneous and universal homage of mankind to the great poet of nature.

I had hoped to gather some traditionary anecdotes of the bard from these ancient chroniclers; but they had nothing new to impart. The long interval during which Shakespeare's writings lay in comparative neglect, has spread its shadow over his his tory; and it is his good or evil lot, that scarcely any thing remains to his biogra phers but a scanty handful of conjectures.

of

From the birth-place of Shakspeare a few paces brought me to his grave. He lies buThe house is shown by a garrulous old ried in the chancel of the parish church, a lady in a frosty red face, lighted up by a large and venerable pile, mouldering with cold blue anxous eye, and garnished by arti- age, but richly ornamented. It stands on the ficial locks of flaxen hair, curling from under banks of the Avon, on an embowered point, an exceedingly dirty cap. She was pecu- and separated by adjoining gardens from the liarly assiduous in exhibiting the relies with suburbs of the town. Its situation is quiet which this, like all other celebrated shrines, and retired; the river runs murmuring at abounds. There was the shattered stock of the foot of the church-yard, and the elms The sexton and his companions had been the very matchlock with which Shakespeare which grow upon its banks droop their employed as carpenters on the preparations shot the deer, on his poaching exploit. branches into its clear bosom. An avenue for the celebrated Stratford jubilee, and they There, too, was his tobacco-box; which of limes, the boughs of which are curiously remembered Garrick, the prime mover proves that he was a rival smoker of Sir Wal- interlaced, so as to form in summer an the fête, who superintended the arrange ter Raleigh; the sword also with which he arched way of foliage, leads up from the ments, and who, according to the sexton, # played Hamlet; and the indentical lanthorn gate of the yard to the church porch. The "a short punch man, very lively and bust with which Friar Lawrence discovered Ro- graves are overgrown with grass; the greyling." John Ange had assisted also in cutmeo and Juliet at the tomb! There was an tomb-stones, some of them nearly sunk into ting down Shakespeare's mulberry tree, ample supply also of Shakspeare's mulberry the earth, are half covered with moss, which which he had a morsel in his pocket for tree, which seems to have as extraordinary has likewise tinted the reverend old build-sale; no doubt a sovereign quickener of litepowers of self multiplication as the wood of ing. Small birds have built their nests rary conception. the true cross; of which there is enough ex- among the cornices and fissures of the walls, I was grieved to hear these two worthy tant to build a ship of the line. and keep up a continual flutter and chirp-wights speak very dubiously of the eloquent The most favourite object of curiosity, ing; and rooks are sailing and cawing about dame who shows the Shakespeare house. however, is Shakspeare's chair. It stands its lofty grey spire. John Ange shook his head when I men in the chimney nook of a small gloomy cham- In the course of my ramble I met with tioned her valuable and inexhaustible colber just behind what was his father's shop. the grey-headed old sexton, and accompa-lection of relics, particularly her remains Here he may many a time have sat when a nied him home to get the key of the church. of the mulberry-tree; and the old sexton boy, watching the slowly revolving spit with He had lived in Stratford, man and boy, for even expressed a doubt as to Shakespeare all the longing of an urchin; or of an even- eighty years, and seemed still to consider having been born in her house. I soon ing, listening to the crones and gossips of himself a vigorous man, with the trivial ex-discovered that he looked upon her mansion Stratford, dealing forth church-yard tales and ception that he had nearly lost the use of with an evil eye, as a rival to the poet's legendary anecdotes of the troublesome times his legs for a few years past. His dwelling tomb; the latter having comparatively but of England. In this chair it is the custom was a cottage, looking out upon the Avon few visitors.

Thus it is that historians for every one that visits the house to sit and its bordering meadows; and was a pic-differ at the very outset, and mere pebbie whether this is done with the hope of imbib-ture of that neatness, order, and comfort, make the stream of truth diverge into dif ing any of the inspiration of the bard I am at which pervade the humblest dwellings in this ferent channels even at the fountain head. a loss to say, I merely mention the fact; and country. A low whitewashed room, with a mine hostess privately assured me, that stone floor carefully scrubbed, served for

We approached the church through the

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which, like those of the Kinght, had white luces* in the quarterings.

porch, highly ornamented, with carved doors | Combe, of usurious memory; on whom he of massive oak. The interior is spacious, is said to have written a ludicrous epitaph. and the architecture and embellishments There are other monuments around, but the Various attempts have been made by his superior to those of most country churches. mind refuses to dwell on any thing that is biographers to soften and explain away this There are several ancient monuments of not connected with Shakspeare. His idea early transgression of the poet; but I look nobility and gentry, over some of which hang pervades the place: the whole pile seems upon it as one of those thoughtless exploits funeral escutcheons, and banners dropping but as his mausoleum. The feelings, no natural to his situation and turn of mind. piece meal from the walls, the tomb of Shake- longer checked and thwarted by doubt, here Shakspeare, when young, had doubtless all speare is in the chancel. The place is so- indulge in perfect confidence: other traces the wildness and irregularity of an ardent, lemn and sepulchral. Tall elms wave before of him may be false or dubious, but here is undisciplined, and undirected genius. The by the pointed windows, and the Avon, which palpable evidence and absolute certainty. poetic temperament has naturally something runs at a short distance from the walls, keeps As I trod the sounding pavement, there was in it of the vagabond. When left to itself, Tup a low perpetual murmer. A flat stone something intense and thrilling in the idea, it runs loosely and wildly, and delights in: marks the spot where the bard is buried. that, in very truth, the remains of Shak-every thing eccentric and licentious. It is There are four lines inscribed on it, said to speare were mouldering beneath my feet. often a turn up of a die, in the gambling have been written by himself, and which It was a long time before I could prevail freaks of fate, whether a natural genius have in them something extremely awful. If upon myself to leave the place; and as I shall turn out a great rogue or a great poet; they are indeed his own, they show that so- passed through the church-yard I plucked a and had not Shakspeare's mind fortunately alicitude about the quiet of the grave, which branch from one of the yew trees, the only taken a literary bias, he might have as darbeseems natural to fine sensibilities and relic that I have brought from Stratford. ingly transended all civil, as he has all drathoughtful minds : matic laws.

Good friend, for Jesus' sake, forbeare
To dig the dust encloased here.

Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.

ould read in it clear indications of that

I had now visited the usual objects of a pilgrim's devotion, but I had a desire to see

I have little doubt that, in early life, when the old family seat of the Lucys at Charle-running, like an unbroken colt, about the cot, and to ramble through the park where neighbourhood of Stratford, he was to be Shakspeare, in company with some of the found in the company of all kinds of odd Just over the grave, in a niche of the wall, ful offence of deer-stealing. In this hair-with all the madcaps of the place, and was roysters of Stratford, committed his youth- anomalous characters; that he associated s a bust of Shakespeare, put up shortly after brained exploit we are told that he was one of those unlucky urchins, at mention of is death, and considered as a resemblance. taken prisoner, and carried to the keeper's whom old men shake their heads, and preThe aspect is pleasant and serene, with a inely- arched forehead; and I thought 1 lodge, where he remained all night in dole-dict that they will one day come to the galinely arched forehead; and I thoughtful captivity. When brought into the pre- lows. To him the poaching in Sir Thomas pre-lows. heerful, social disposition, by which he was must have been galling and humiliating; for a Scottish Knight, and struck his eager, and sence of Sir Thomas Lucy, his treatment Lucy's park was, doubtless, like a foray to is much characterized among his cotem-it wrought so upon his spirit as to produce as yet untamed, imagination, as something poraries as by the vastness of his genius. The inscription mentions his age at the time the park gate at Charlecot.* a rough pasquinade, which was affixed to delightfully adventurous.† of his decease-fifty-three years; an unThe old mansion of Charlecot and its surtimely death for the world for what fruit This flagitious attack upon the dignity of rounding park still remain in the possession might not have been expected from the golden the Knight so incensed him, that he applied of the Lucy family, and are peculiarly inteautumn of such a mind, sheltered as it was to a lawyer at Warwick to put the severity resting from being connected with this whimfrom the stormy vicissitudes of life, and flou- of the laws in force against the rhyming rishing in the sunshine of popular and royal deer-stalker. Shakspeare did not wait to

vour.

:

brave the united puissance of a Knight of
with abandoned the pleasant banks of the
the Shire and a country attorney. He forth-
Avon and his paternal trade; wandered down
theatres; then an actor; and, finally wrote
to London; became a hanger-on to the

• The luce is a pike, or jack, and abounds in the Avon about Charlecot.

ciates in his youthful days, may be found in a traditi† A proof of Shakspeare's random habits and asseonary anecdote, picked up at Stratford by the elder Ireland, and mentioned in his "Picturesque Views on the Avon."

About seven miles from Stratford lies the thirsty little market town of Bedford, famous for its ale. Two

The inscription on the tomb-stone has not been without its effect. It has prevented the removal of his remains from the bosom of hi native place to Westminster Abbey, which was at one time contemplated. A fe years since also, as some labourers were for the stage; and thus, through the perse- societies of the village yeomanry used to meet, under digging to make an adjoining vault, the cution of Sir Thomas Lucy, Stratford lost the appellation of the Bedford topers, and to challenge an indifferent wool-comber and the world the lovers of good ale of the neighbouring villages, to earth caved in, so as to leave a vacant space gained an immortal poet. He retained, how- a contest of drinking. Among others, the people of almost like an arch, through which one Stratford were called out to prove the strength of their might have reached into his grave. No one, treatment of the Lord of Charlecot, and re-speare, who, in spite of the proverb, that "they who ever, for a long time, a sense of the harsh-heads; and in the number of the champions was Shakhowever, presumed to meddle with his remains, so awfully guarded by a malediction; venged himself in his writings; but in the and lest any of the idle or the curious, or sportive way of a good natured mind. Sir any collector of relics, should be tempted to Thomas is said to be the original of Justice commit depredations, the old sexton kept him by the Justice's armorial bearings, Shallow, and the satire is slyly fixed upon watch over the place for two days, until the vault was finished, and the aperture closed again. He told me that he had made bold to look in at the hole, but could see neither coffin nor bones; nothing but dust. It was Something, I thought, to have seen the dust of Shakspeare.

Next to his grave are those of his wife, his favourite daughter Mrs. Hall, and others of his family. On a tomb close by, also, is full length effigy of his old friend John

drink beer will think beer," was as true to his ale as Falstaff to his sack. The chivalry of Stratford were staggered at the first onset, and sounded a retreat while they had yet legs to carry them off the field. crab-tree, where they passed the night. It is still failing them, they were forced to lie down under a

They had scarcely marched a mile, when, their legs

standing, and goes by the name of Shakspeare's tree. In the morning his companions awakened the bard, saying he had enough, having drank with

• The following is the only stanza extant of this and proposed returning to Bedford, but he declined, lampoon :

A parliament member, a justice of peace,
At home a poor scarecrow, at London an asse,
If lowsie is Lucy, as some volke miscalle it,
Then Lucy is lowsie, whatever befall it.
He thinks himself great;
Yet an asse in his state,

We allow, by his ears, but with asses to mate.
If Lucy is lowsie, as some volke miscall it,
Then sing lowsie Lucy whatever befall it.

Piping Pebworth, Dancing Marston, Haunted Hillbro', Hungry Grafton, Dudging Exhall, Papist Wicksford, Beggarly Broom, and Drunken Bedford. "The villages here alluded to," says Ireland, "still bear the epithets thus given them; the people of Pebworth are still famed for their skill on the pipe and tabor: Hillborough is now called Haunted Hillborough: and Grafton is famous for the poverty of its soil.'

sical but eventful circumstance in the scanty history of the bard. As the house stood at little more than three miles distance from Stratford, I resolved to pay it a pedestrian visit, that I might stroll leisurely through some of those scenes from which Shakspeare must have derived his earliest ideas of rural imagery.

Fashions for October.

Round dress of fine cambric, with broad muslin flounce, richly embroidered. Pelisse of blush coloured gros de Naples, elegantly ornamented with lozenge puffings in ornamented to correspond: Iberian frill of fine broad a novel style, and the bust, sleeves, and mancherous Mechlin lace. Demisaison dress bonnet of emerald green, crowned with a full and superb plumage, delicately tipped with blush pink. Maltese boots of eme rald green silk, with blank points; and lemon-coloured kid gloves. The favourite colours are pink, ethereal blue, silver grey, and polyanthean red.—La Beile As

semblés.

My route for a part of the way lay in sight of the Avon, which made a variety of the most fanciful doublings aud windings through a wide and fertile valley; sometimes high dress of violet-coloured gros de Naples, orna FRENCH-PARISIAN WALKING DRESS-Round glittering from among willows, which fringed mented at the border with irregular puffs of jonquil its borders; sometimes disappearing among with white, and crowned with full bunches of the Per coloured satin, in bias. Bonnet of open straw, lined groves, or beneath green banks; and some-sian lilac. Triple ruff à l'Anglaise; violet-coloured times rambling out into full view, and mak-half-boots, and white Norman gloves. The country was yet naked and leafless; ing an asure sweep round a slope of meadow ENGLISH-CARRIAGE VISITING COSTUME.--but English scenery is always verdant, and land. This beautiful bosom of country is the sudden change in the temperature of the called the vale of the Red Horse. A disweather was surprising in its quickening tant line of undulating blue hills seems to be effects upon the landscape. It was inspir-its boundary, whilst all the soft intervening ing and animating to witness this first landscape lies in a manner enchained in the awakening of spring. To feel its warm silvery links of the Avon. breath stealing over the senses; to see the After pursuing the road for about three moist mellow earth beginning to put forth miles, I turned off into a foot-path which led the green sprout and the tender blade; aud along the borders of fields and under helge the trees and shrubs, in their reviving rows to a private gate of the park; there was of jaconot muslin; the body of the robe is tight to the WALKING DRESS-A robe and petticoat cemped tints and bursting buds, giving the promise a stile, however, for the benefit of the shape, the waist a moderate length. The collar ishigh; of returning foliage and flower. The cold pedestrian; there being a public right of falls over in the neck, and is richly worked at the ere snow-drop, that little borderer on the skirts way through the grounds. I delighted in very rich work. The trimming of the robe consists of Long loose sleeves, finished at the bottom by a fall of of winter, was to be seen with its chaste these hospitable estates, in which every one a rich embroidery of moderate breadth, and scolloped white blossoms in the small gardens before has a kind of property-at least as far as the at the edge; this goes round the bottom and up the the cottages. The bleating of the new dropt foot-path is concerned. It in some measure ornamented at each side of the bust in a lighter pattern. lambs, was faintly heard from the fields. reconciles a poor man to his lot, and what is The bottom of the petticoat is very richly worked in a The sparrow twittered about the thatched more, to the better lot of his neighbour, thus pattern similar to the robe, but much deeper. Headeaves and budding hedges; the robin threw to have parks and pleasure grounds thrown crown is round, and of a moderate height; the brimi dress, a bonnet composed of blue gros de Noples; the a livelier note into his late querulous wintry open for his recreation. He breathes the deep, is rounded at the edges, and stands out a good strain; and the lark, springing up from the pure air as freely, and lolls as luxuriously brim are ornamented with gauze folds laid on at some deal from the sides of the face; both the crown and reeking bosom of the meadow, towered away under the shade, as the lord of the soil; distance: it is ornamented with a bouquet of blue into the bright fleecy cloud, pouring forth and if he has not the previlege of calling all flowers, placed upright in front of the crown, and a torrents of melody. As I watched the little that he sees his own, he has not, at the same of the crown, broad blue strings fasten it under the knot of ribbon to correspond, in the centre of the back songster, mounting up higher and higher, time, the trouble of paying for it, and keep-chin. A blue silk scarf, the border richly wrought in until his body was a mere speck on the ing it in order. white bosom of the cloud, while the ear was still filled with his musit, it called to mind Shakspeare's exquisite little song in Cymbeline:

"Hark! hark! the lark at heav'n's gate sings,
And Phoebus 'gins arise,

His steeds to water at those springs,
On chaliced flowers that lies.

And winking mary-buds begin

To ope their golden eyes;

With every thing that pretty bin,
My lady sweet, arise!"

it

fronts as far as the bottom of the waist; the fronts are

flowers of various bues, is thrown carelessly over the

shoulders. Gloves and half boots of kid, to correspond

with the bonnet and scarf.

gros

I now found myself among noble avenues of oaks and elms, whose vast size bespoke EVENING DRESS.-Round dress composed of Urthe growth of centuries, The wind sounded ling's net over a pink gros de Naples slip. The bortom solemnly among their branches, and the rooks of the skirt is trimmed with a full ruche of white satin; cawed from their hereditary nests in the tree corsage is tight to the shape, and of the usual length; it is scolloped at the edge, and one fall turns up. The tops. The eye ranged through the long les-it is cut moderately low round the bust, which is er sening vistas, with nothing to interrupt the namented with a thick rouleau of white satin entwined view but some distant statue: or a vagrant fully disposed, decorates the front of the corsage. The with pearl; a mixture of blond and white satin fanci deer stalker like a shadow across the open-sleeve is very short, and is uncommonly novel and ing. pretty; it is composed of blond, put on full over pik There is something about these stately old of pink gros de Naples, corded with white satin; white de Naples; the fulness is interspersed with Indeed the whole country about here is avenues that has the effect of gothic archi-satin shells are placed between these stars, and a pla poetic ground: every thing is associated with tecture, not merely from the pretended simi-band of blond edged with white satin finishes the sleeve, the idea of Shakspeare. Every old cottage larity of form, but from their bearing the that I saw, I fancied into some resort of his evidence of long duration, and having had boyhood, where he had acquired his intimate their origin in a period of time with which knowledge of rustic life and manners, and we associate ideas of romantic grandeur. heard those legendary tales and wild super- They betoken also the long-settled dignity, stitions which he has woven like witchcraft and prou-ly concentrated independence of into his dramas. For in his time, we are told, an ancient smily; and I have heard a worit was a popular amusement in wintry even-thy but aristocratic old friend observe, when ings to sit round the fire and tell merry speaking of the sumptuous palaces of mo

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and ends which reach nearly to the ground, completes A rich white satin sash, fastened behind in short bows, the dress. Head-dress, a small hat composed of pick gros de Naples; the crown is moderately high; it is chief of white blond net; the ends are tacked down, ornamented en marmotte with a small square handkere the ends of the handkerchief are ornamented with pearls. The brim of the hat is cut out in the form ornament is placed exactly in the centre of the hat tabs; they turn up, and are edged with pearl; a pearl between the tabs, and a superb plume of white ostrich feathers, placed on the left side, droops nearly to the

tales of errant knights, queens, lovers, lords, dern gentry, that "money could do much chin. White kid gloves, and white satin shoes. ladies, giants, dwarfs, thieves, cheaters, with stone and mortar, but thank heaven there witches, faries, goblins, and friars."*

Scot, in his "Discoverie of Witchcraft," enumerates a host of these fire-side fancies. "And they have so fraid us with bull-beggars, spirits, witches, urchins, elves, hags, fairies, satyrs, pans, faunes, syrens, kit with the can'sticke, tritons, centaurs, dwarfes, giantes, imps, calcars, conjurors, nymphes, changelings, incubus, Robin-good-fellow, the spoorne, the mare, the man in the oke, the hell-waine, the fier drake, the puckle, Tom Thombe, hobgoblins, Tom Tumbler, boneless, and such other bugs, that we were afraid of our own shadowes,"

was no such thing as suddenly building up
an avenue of oaks."

(To be concluded in our next.)

Method of Preserving Vessels.—An American ship now at Cowes, built with spruce and white oak, sixteen years ago, has all her original timbers and planks in the most perfect state of preservation and soundness, owing to her having been, while on the stocks, filled up between the timbers with salt; and whenever she has been opened fer examination filled up again.

Agriculture. Major-general Beatson, on a farm of 200 acres, at Knowle, Tunbridge-wells, since the year 1813, says he has proved, that by light or shallow plough ing, in a stiff soil with one horse, without lime or durg and without fallow, he can raise crops of wheat and other grain, at the expense of £5 an acre, equal or supe rior to those of his neighbours, in expense, of lime, and labour of cattle, of £16 an acre!

The fête of the Virgin, says a Naples article, was at tended by 80,000 men under arms, and the officiating Bishop was surrounded by the appropriate ensigne vi the Carbonari.

Poetry.

[ORIGINAL.]

SONNET.

He breathed upon the void, and instantly

The million worlds rushed into life and light;
Beneath the Almighty eye the Heavens grew bright,
And nature sang her song of extacy.

The dreary bounds of dark immensity
Brightened with being; universal night

(That had been all things) urged her rapid flight,
And
grace and beauty walked the illumined sky.
Martal! the power is granted thee to know

These holy wonders: canst thou then despise

The soul's high thoughts, and the heart's rapturous glow,
The splendours Heaven hath opened to thine eyes?
anst thou despise what God could thus bestow,
For the world's heartless, worthless vanities?
Liverpool, Oct. 6.

TO THE EDITOR.

Y.

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Sweet Rose, when the first early blush of Aurora
Thy bosom in fragrance and beauty has drest,
In every fond Zeyphr thou find'st an adorer,

To sport midst thy foliage and pant on thy breast. In the radience of youth's brightest morning I've found thee,

The butterfly wooes and the wild bee hums round thee, The pride of the valley all nature has crown'd thee, Prais'd, courted, and flattered, beloved, and carest. Ah Rose, lovely Rose! when calm ev'ning shall banish Those charms, which to grace and endear thee combine,

Alike shall the bee and the butterfly vanish,

And Zephyr his fond adulation resign.

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Oh! how her bosom throbb'd, and how her sunk eye The blade he brandish'd to the moon's clear light,

wept.

I've seen thee lurking with insidious wile,

Beneath a breast white as the summer's cloud;
Yet on her cheek there play'd a flat'ring smile,
Which seem'd to tell her lover's sanguine eye
That all was safe; she would not, could not die :
Alas! a few more days and she was 'neath the shroud.
I've seen thee too with vampyre-like intent,

Amid some social group thy poison strew;
First one frail flow'r has withered and bent,
And next the parent stock has died away:
Thus, one by one, they're dropt into the clay,
Until no mark was left to tell where once they grew.
'Tis thou canst quench that pure exalted fire,
That in the soul of genius burns so bright;
Thou bid'st the parent, lover, friend, expire,

Nay, who is safe? or where is that bless'd scene Thou canst not tread, and where thou hast not been? Thy empire is the world; and there thou rul'st in might: But oh to cull the best, it seems thy best delight.

Staffordshire Potteries.

LINES,

E. J.

ON THE DEATH OF MISS D, OF LIVERPOOL.

Oh! she is gone! and Death hath cropt a flower,
Lovely and dearly lov'd, in bitter hour;
Allowed to blossom, and awhile to bloom,
To be transplanted only to the tomb.
Both personal and mental charms combing
Around her parents partial hearts t'entwine;
To win each willing heart with her sweet smile,
The pride, the joy, the hope of each awhile;
But to infuse more bitterness and gall
Into the cup of sorrow, drunk by all.

Yes! she is gone! and mute is now that tongue,
On whose sweet accents all, delighted, hung;
Still are the lips, from which soft music fell;
Dim, those bright eyes, of such resistless spell;
Pale, that dear face, which might a fiend disarm;
And cold that hand and heart are, late so warm.

But, she is blest! and, though the charm is o'er, The secret spell is broken; and, no more To glad the heart, the drooping circle cheer, To fill a heartless void she may appear: Yet, she is happy! happier far, than e'er Was mortal pilgrim, in this world of care: From sorrow, sin, and suffering, she's at rest. Be this "our" consolation: She is blest.

THE MANIAC.

Calm was the scene, and silent ev'ry breeze,
Save the light murmur of a curling brook,
And the sweet humming of the wearied bees,
As o'er the fields their flight they homeward took.

Nor the smile of the morn, nor her tears shall restore I slowly onward mov'd, the beaten track,

thee,

Nor the plaint of thy nightingale wildly sung o'er thee,
Tho' his faithful heart then alone shall deplore thee,
And live on the memory of all that was thine.

TO CONSUMPTION.

Thou fiend! the flowers of lovliest form and hue
Feel the contagion of thy baleful breath:
They droop, and then revive; our hopes renew;
But ah ! thy blights are sure: again they fade,
And all our hopes with them are laid

Within that dark abode, the banquet-house of death.

That led towards the church, my fav'rite walk, So oft the talk of visions and of ghosts,

That o'er the yard on moonlight ev'nings stalk. As musing o'er the relics of the dead,

And monument's that time had mark'd her own,
From a dark tomb, I heard (the form unseen)
Pronounced, these words, in melancholy tone.
"The winds blew high, the tempest rose,
I wander'd o'er the plain,
The lightning flash'd, the thunder roar'd,
I sought my love in vain!

"Dread darkness mantled heaven's light:
In storms of hail and rain,

I've sought my dearest, only love,
And sought her, but in vain!

H.

He cast his wild, his glaring eyes around.
And screaming said, with a convulsive sound,

"Mary, my love, where'er thou'rt flown,
Hear thy dear lover's sigh,

Hear his short prayer, his piteous groan,
Oh! hear before I die!"

With that foul dagger quick he pierc'd his breast,
His last, last call was on his Mary dear;
He sunk beneath its deep and rankling wound,
And cried, "Oh, Mary! dearest Mary, hear!"
I from the wound the blood-stain'd dagger drew,
He seiz'd 't, and many a deadly stab he gave,
He wildly stared, convulsive shook, and soon
Yielded his life upon his Mary's grave.

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The appendix to the life of William Lord Russell, lately published by his descendant, Lord John Russell, contains a paper, for the publication of which, every man of taste, and every lover of virtue, must gratefully thank the noble author.

I refer to "The advice of William, Earl of Bedford, to his sons." It occupies 30 octavo pages; and more sound, round-about sense; more correct, general opinions, on the important subjects of manners, study, loyalty, morality, and religion; 1, with confidence assert, cannot be found compressed within so small a compass. The style resembles that of the Essays of Sir Francis Bacon, and is entitled to admiration for the same beauties-simplicity, strength, and felicity of expression. I have pointed it out to you, supposing it well calculated for filling with advantage, those pages of the Kaleidoscope reserved for extracts. If you have not already become acquainted with this paper, I beg to recommend it to your perusal; and should it not appear suitable for insertion in your miscellany, I know that, on rising from reading it, you will thank me for having directed your attention to so great a treasure. Who can judge how far this advice of its ancestor, may have contributed to form the character of a family, which, in each successive generation, has been the pride of its country, and the ornament of human nature. I am, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,
HELLUO LIBRORUM.

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