,,the ,,mirror ,,of ,,literature1 ,,amusement1 ,,and ,,instruction4 ,,vol4 ,,xix1 ,,no4 #ece4 ,,saturday1 ,,february #be1 #ahcb4 ,,price #b;d4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,zoological ,,gardens1 ,,regent',s ,,park4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,polar ,,bear4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,tunnel4 ,illustration3 ,,monkey ,,cage4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,gardens ,,of ,,the ,,zoological ,,society4 ,,regent',s ,,park4 ,a visit to these ,gardens is one of the most delightful of the rational recreations of the metropolis4 ,the walk out is pleasant enough3 though there is little rural beauty on the road1 the creations of art assume a more agreeable appearance than in the city itself2 and1 with cottages1 park-like grounds1 and flourishing wood1 the eye may enjoy a few picturesque groupings4 ,the ,garden of the ,society is one of the prettiest in the vicinity of the metropolis2 the ,menagerie is certainly the most important ever collected in this country4 ,it is a charming sight to behold myriads of tiny flowers fringing our very paths1 and little groves of shrubs and young trees around us2 yet it is a gratification of the highest order1 to witness the animals of almost every country on the earth assembled within a few acres2 and it is indeed a sublime study to observe how beautifully the links in the great chain of nature are wrought1 and how admirably are the habits and structure of some of these animals adapted to the wants of man1 while all are subservient to some great purpose in the scale of creation4 ,how clearly are these truths taught by the science of ,zoology2 and how attractively are they illustrated in the ,menagerie of the ,zoological ,gardens4 ,consider but for a moment that the cat which crouches by our fireside is of the same tribe with the lordly lion1 whose roar is terrific as an earthquake1 and the tiger who often stays but to suck the blood of his victims3 that the faithful dog1 who knows us personally1 watches for us1 and warns us of danger1 is but a descendant from the wolf1 who prowls through the wintry waste with almost untameable ferocity4 ,yet how do we arrive at the knowledge of these interesting facts--but by zoological study4 ,two of the ,cuts in the annexed page will furnish our country friends with the improved plan of keeping the animals in large open cages4 ,the first represents that of the ,polar ,bear1 of strong iron-work1 with a dormitory adjoining4 ,the enclosed area is flagged with stone1 and in the centre is a tank1 or pool1 of water1 in which the bear makes occasional plungings4 ,the present occupant is but small in comparison with the usual size of the species4 ,its favourite postures1 observes ,mr4 ,bennett1 are lying flat at its whole length2 sitting upon its haunches with its fore legs perfectly upright1 and its head in a dependent position2 or standing upon all fours with its fore-paws widely extended and its head and neck swinging alternately from side to side1 or upwards and downwards in one continued and equable libration4#a #a ,the ,gardens and ,menagerie of the ,zoological ,society delineated4 ,vol4 ,i4 ,the second ,cut represents the tunnelled communication between the two ,gardens1 beneath the carriage-road of the ,park4 ,above1 the archway is a pediment1 supported by two neat columns1 and a terraced walk1 with balustrades4 ,the whole is handsomely executed in cement or imitative stone4 ,the decorative vases are by ,austin1 of the ,new ,road4 ,a lion's head1 in bold relief1 forms an appropriate key-stone embellishment to the arch4 ,the sloping banks are formed of mimic rock-work profusely intermingled with plants and flowers4 ,the third ,cut is the ,monkey ,house1 of substantial iron-work1 with dormitories and winter apartments in the rear4 ,in fine sunny weather the monkeys may be here seen disporting their recreant limbs to the delight of crowds of visiters4 ,their species are too numerous but for a catalogue4 ,among them are the ,negro and ,sooty ,monkeys1--the ,mone ,monkey3 the name of ,monkey is supposed to be derived from the ,african appellation of this species1 ,mone corrupted into ,monachus4 ,bonneted1 pig-tailed1 and ,capuchin ,monkeys2 the last named from their dark crowns1 like the capuch or hood of a ,capuchin friar2 and black and white-fronted ,spider ,monkeys1 named from their great resemblance to large spiders4 ,by the way1 there is an abundance of still life in the ,gardens at this ungenial season4 ,we find the ,elephant1 the ,antelopes1 and the ,zebra1 in their winter quarters1 and their mightinesses1 the large cats1 as the lions1 tiger1 and leopards1 accommodated with a snug fire4 ,the tropical birds1 as the parrots1 maccaws1 c41 have been removed from the extremity of the north garden to warmer quarters2 and the hyaenas1 leopards1 and a host of smaller carnivorous quadrupeds have taken their places4 ,the upper end is occupied by four roomy dens1 with a lordly black-maned lion and a lioness1 from ,northern ,africa2 above them are a fine lioness and a leopard from ,ceylon3 these we take to have been among the recent arrivals from the ,tower ,menagerie4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,fragments ,,on ,,human ,,life4 7,for the ,mirror47 ,call not earth a barren spot1 ,pass it not ungrateful by1 ',tis to man a lovely lot4 ,there is no subject on which such a variety of opinions exist1 as on the question ,whether man is happy2 and that it is not easy to be settled1 is certain4 ,many persons have been so far contented with their lot as to wish to have their life over again1 and yet as many have expressed themselves to the contrary4 ,dr4 ,johnson1 who always spoke of human life in the most desponding terms1 and considered earth a vale of tears1 ,yet hope1 not life from pain or sorrow free1 ,or think the doom of man reversed for thee-- declared that he would not live over again a single week of his life1 had it been allowed him4#b ,such was his opinion on the past2 but so great is the cheering influence with which ,hope irradiates the mind1 that in looking forward to the future1 he always talked with pleasure on the prospect of a long life4 #b ,chamfort observes1 that the writers on physics1 natural history1 physiology1 and chemistry1 have been generally men of a mild1 even1 and happy temperament1 while the writers on politics1 legislation1 and even morals1 commonly exhibited a melancholy and fretful spirit4 ,it is to be expected that an inspection of the beauty and order of nature should affect the mind with peculiar pleasure4--,gaieties and ,gravities4 ,when he was in ,scotland1 ,boswell told him that after his death1 he intended to erect a memorial to him4 ,johnson1 to whom the very mention of death was unpleasant1 replied1 ,sir1 ,i hope to see your grand-children4 ,on his death-bed he observed to the surgeon who was attending him1 ,i want life1 you are afraid of giving me pain4 ,it has been supposed that this question had been settled by the authority of ,scripture4 ,man is born to trouble1 says ,job1 as the sparks fly upward4 ,in turning over a few pages more1 we find ourselves in doubt again4 ,the latter end of ,job was more blessed than his beginning2 for he had #ad1jjj sheep1 and #f1jjj camels1 and #a1jjj yoke of oxen1 and #a1jjj she-asses4 ,he had also seven sons and three daughters4 ,so ,job died being old and full of days4 ,it may not be unpleasant to place before the reader the opinions of several celebrated men1 on ,life1 that he may choose his side1 and either like the bee or the spider1 extract the poison or gather the honey4 ,we will begin with ,sterne1 one who well knew the human heart4 ,what is the life of man8 is it not to shift from side to side6 from sorrow to sorrow6 ,when ,i consider how oft we eat the bread of affliction1 when one runs over the catalogue of all the cross reckonings and sorrowful items with which the heart of man is overcharged1 'tis wonderful by what hidden resources the mind is enabled to stand it out1 and bear itself up1 as it does1 against the impositions laid upon our nature4--,t4 ,shandy4 ,a man has but a bad bargain of it at the best4--,chesterfield4 ,no scene of human life but teems with mortal woe4--,sir ,walter ,scott4 ,in opposition to these sentiments1 ,franklin1 in writing on the death of a friend1 gives us his opinion1 ,it is a party of pleasure1 some take their seats first4 ,and ,lord ,byron1 describing ,sunrise1 in the second canto of ,lara1 says ,but mighty nature bounds as from her birth1 ,the sun is in the heavens1 and life on earth2 ,flowers in the valley1 splendour in the beam4 ,health on the gale1 and freshness in the stream4 ,immortal ,man6 ,behold her glories shine1 ,and cry exultingly1 ',they are thine' ,gaze on1 while yet thy gladdened eyes may see1 ,a morrow comes when they are not for thee4 ,in the same spirit ,cowper begins his poem on ,hope3 ,see ,nature gay as when she first began1 ,with smiles alluring her admirer1 man1 ,she spreads the morning over eastern hills4 ,earth glitters with the drops the night distils4 ,the sun obedient at her call appears ,to fling his glories o'er the robe she wears1 444 to proclaim ,his happiness1 her dear1 her only aim4 ,the ,thracians1 says ,cicero1 wept when a child was born1 and feasted and made merry when a man went out of the world1 and with reason4 ,show me the man who knows what life is1 and dreads death1 and ,i'll show thee a prisoner who dreads his liberty4 ,of the misery of human life1 ,gray speaks in similar terms3 ,to all their sufferings all are men1 ,condemn'd alike to groan1 ,the feeling for another's pain1 ,the unfeeling for his own4 ,audi alteram partem3 ,it's a happy world after all4--,paley4 ,and ,gray himself3 ,for who to dumb forgetfulness a prey1 ,this careful1 anxious being e'er resigned1 ,e'er left the precincts of the cheerful day ,nor cast one longing1 lingering look behind4 ,and another popular author3 ,a world of pleasure is continually streaming in on every side4 ,it only depends on man to be a demi-god1 and to convert this world into ,elysium4--,gaieties and ,gravities4 ,it is doubtless wise to incline to the latter sentiment4 ,of the instability of human happiness and glory1 a fine picture is drawn by ,appian1 who represents ,scipio weeping over the destruction of ,carthage4 ,when he saw this famous city1 which had flourished seven hundred years1 and might have been compared to the greatest empires1 on account of the extent of its dominions1 both by sea and land1 its mighty armies1 its fleets1 elephants and riches2 and that the ,carthaginians were even superior to other nations1 by their courage and greatness of soul1 as1 notwithstanding their being deprived of arms and ships1 they had sustained for three whole years1 all the hardships and calamities of a long siege2 seeing1 ,i say1 this city entirely ruined1 historians relate that he could not refuse his tears to the unhappy fate of ,carthage4 ,he reflected that cities1 nations1 and empires are liable to revolutions1 no less than particular men2 that the like sad fate had befallen ,troy1 once so powerful2 and in later times1 the ,assyrians1 ,medes1 and ,persians1 whose dominions were once of so great an extent2 and lastly1 the ,macedonians1 whose empire had been so glorious throughout the world4 ,full of these mournful ideas1 he repeated the following verse of ,homer3 ,the day shall come1 that great avenging day1 ,which ,troy's proud glories in the dust shall lay1 ,when ,priam's powers1 and ,priam's self shall fall1 ,and one prodigious ruin swallow all-- thereby denouncing the future destiny of ,rome1 as he himself confessed to ,polybius1 who desired ,scipio to explain himself on that occasion4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,sketch-,,book 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,coasting ,,scrap4 7,for the ,mirror47 ,it was a bright summer afternoon3 the estuary of ,poole ,harbour lay extended before me2 its broad expanse studded with inlands of sand and furze bushes1 of which ,brownsea is the most considerable4 ,a slight ripple marked the deeper channels which were of a blue colour1 and the shallow mud banks being but barely covered by the tide1 appeared like sheets of molten silver4 ,the blue hills of ,purbeck bounded the distant heath-lands to the westward1 and the harbour extended itself inland towards the town of ,wareham1 becoming more and more intricate in its navigation1 although it receives the contributions of two rivers1 the ,piddle and the ,froome1 arising probably from the soil carried down by the streams1 and the faint action of the tide at a distance of eight or ten miles from the mouth of the harbour4 ,the ,wareham clay boats added life to the scene4 ,some were wending their way through the intricate channels close hauled upon a wind2 others were going right away with a flowing sheet4 ,on the eastern side was the bold sweep of the shore1 extending to the mouth of the harbour1 and terminating in a narrow point of bright sand hills1 separating the quiet waters of the harbour from the boisterous turmoilings of the ,english ,channel4 ,sauntering along the ,quay of ,poole1 indulging in a kind of reverie1 thinking1 or in fact1 thinking of nothing at all1 7a kind of waking dream1 when hundreds of ideas1 recollections1 and feelings float with wonderful rapidity through the brain17 my attention was attracted by a stout1 hardy-faced pilot1 with water boots on his legs1 and a red1 woollen night-cap on his head1 who was driving a very earnest bargain for a small1 but elegant assortment1 of dabs and flounders4 ,dree and zixpence if you like1 said he4 ,i could a bought vour times as much vor one and zixpence coast-ways1 if ,i'd a mind1 and ,i'll give thee no more1 and not a word of a lie4 ,his oratory conquered the coyness of the fishy damsel2 and he invited the lady to take a glass of zomat avore he topped his boom for ,swanwidge4 ,having before me the certainty of a dull1 monotonous afternoon1 and cheerless evening1 without any visible means of amusement1 ,i instantly closed a bargain with ,dick ,hart 7for such was the pilot's name7 to give me a cast to ,swanwidge4 ,in a short time ,i found myself on board a trim1 little pilot boat1 gliding along the waters as the sun was sliding his downward course1 and shedding a mellow radiance over the distant scenery towards ,lytchett4 ,the white steeple of ,poole church was lighted by the rays1 while the town presented a neat and picturesque appearance with the masts of the shipping cutting against the blue sky4 ,dick ,hart formed no small feature in the scene as he stood at the helm with his red cap and black1 curly hair1 smoking a short1 clay pipe1 which like his own face1 had become rather brown in service4 ,he looked around him with an air of independence and unconcern1 as the monarch of all he surveyed1 casting his eye up now and then at the trim of his canvass1 but more frequently keeping it on me4 ,dick began to open his budget of chat1 and ,i found him as full of fun as his mainsail was full of nettles4 ,a voice from the forecastle called out to ,dick1 who was so intent on his story that the helm slipped from his hand1 and the ship flew up in the wind1 ,mind1 skipper1 or you will run down ,old ,betty4 ,i was astonished at the insinuation against my noble captain that he was likely to behave rude to a lady1 but my suspicions were soon removed1 when ,i saw ,old ,betty was a buoy1 floating on the waters1 adorned with a furze bush4 ,old ,betty danced merrily on the rippling wave with her furze bush by way of a feather1 with shreds of dried sea weed hanging to it forming ribbons to complete the head dress of the lady buoy4 ,the nearer we approached1 the more rapid did ,betty dance1 and when we passed close alongside of her1 she curtsied up and down as if to welcome our visit4 ,dick narrated why a buoy placed at the head of a mud bank obtained the name of a lady fair1 and ,i briefly noted it down4 ,many years ago a single lady resided at ,poole1 of plain manners1 unaffected simplicity1 affable1 yet retiring1 and-- ,passing rich with forty pounds a-year4 ,the gentry courted her1 but she still adhered to her secluded habits4 ,year after year rolled on1 and though some may have admired her1 she was never led to the altar1 and consequently her condition was unaltered4 ,kind and friendly neighbours kept a vigilant eye upon her proceedings1 but her character was unimpeachable2 and they all agreed that she was a very suspicious person1 because they could not slander her4 ,she lived a blameless single lady4 ,her attentions were directed to an orphan boy4 ,he was her constant companion1 and the object of her tenderest solicitude4 ,as he grew up he excelled the youth of his own age in manly exercises2 could thrash all of his own size1 when insulted1 but never played the tyrant1 or the bully4 ,he could make the longest innings at cricket1 and as for swimming in all its various branches1 none could compare with ,william4 ,it was finally arranged by a merchant to send ,william a voyage to ,newfoundland1 and the news soon spread round the town that ,william 7for he was a general favourite7 was to see the world by taking to the sea4 ,the time arrived when the ship was to be warped out from the ,quay1 and to sail for her destination4 ,the crew and the passengers were all on board1 and ,william was1 by his absence1 rather trespassing on the indulgence of the captain2 but who could be angry with the boy whom every body loved8 ,the town gossips1 and many a fair maiden1 were on the ,quay to see young ,william embark4 ,the tide had already turned1 and the captain was about to give the word to cast off and let all go2 to send the vessel1 as it were1 adrift1 loose and unfettered upon the waters1 to struggle as a thing of life with the billows of the ,atlantic1 but animated and controled by the energies of men4 ,just at this moment ,william appeared at the end of the ,quay1 walking slowly to the scene of embarkation with his kind and benevolent benefactress leaning1 and leaning heavily1 for her heart was heavy1 upon the arm of her dutiful and beloved ,william4 ,as they approached1 the crowd made way with profound respect1 not the cringing respect paid to superior wealth1 but with that respect which worth of character and innate virtue can and will command1 though poverty may smite and desolate4 ,they walked unconscious of the notice they attracted4 ,their hearts were too full to heed the sympathies of others4 ,the youth kept his eye fixed upon the loosening topsails of his ship2 his benefactress grasped his arm almost convulsively1 and looked1 or rather stared1 upon the ground4 ,she dreaded the last1 the hurried fare well1 the last look1 the last word from her ,william1 and she tottered as she approached the side of the ship4 ,they stood locked hand in hand at the edge of the ,quay2 not a word was uttered by either2 but they gazed at each other with a fondness which showed that their souls were in communion4 ,now1 ,william1 jump on board--cast off there forward1 exclaimed the captain2 swing her head round--heave away my boys--come1 ,william1 come my boy4 ,the youth awoke as from a startled sleep4 ,he imprinted a kiss1 the last kiss1 upon the cold cheeks of his benefactress1 and dashing away with the sleeve of his jacket a tear1 of which he felt ashamed1 in a moment he was on the quarter deck of his commander4 ,he durst not look again upon the ,quay2 but had he looked he would have seen many a weeping maiden who had never told her love1 and he would have seen his affectionate benefactress borne away in a fainting fit4 ,all this he saw not1 for he braced his courage up before his future messmates1 and he looked forward to his duties1 considering the past as but a dream4 ,months elapsed and tidings were frequently received of ,william4 ,he had distinguished himself by his activity and docility4 ,his townsmen heard with pleasure of his good conduct1 and looked forward with satisfaction to welcome his return2 when at length a pilot boat brought intelligence that the ship was lying at anchor at the mouth of the harbour1 waiting the next tide with loss of foremast in a heavy gale the preceding night off the ,bill of ,portland4 ,his benefactress1 impatient of delay1 immediately hired a boat1 and preceded to the ship before the tide had turned2 but she no sooner reached the deck than she was informed by the captain that ,william was aloft when the foremast went by the board on the preceding night1 and that he fell into the raging waves without the possibility of relief being afforded him4 ,god's will be done1 murmured the unhappy woman as she clasped her hands1 and taking her station at the gangway1 she continued gazing on the water as it rippled by1 in a state of unconsciousness to every passing object4 ,in the meantime the vessel was under weigh1 and was coming once more in sight of ,brownsea1 when a plunge was heard--she's overboard1 exclaimed a sailor--cut away some spars--lower the boats--over with the hen coops--down with the helm1 and back the topsails--roared out many voices2 but she had sunk to rise no more6 ,her corpse was found a few days after when the tide receded1 lying on a mud bank1 close to the buoy which has ever since been known by every sailor and every pilot of ,poole under the name of ,old ,betty4 ,but to complete the sad narrative1 it appeared that ,william1 as he excelled in swimming1 succeeded in gaining the shore of ,portland1 and arrived in time at ,poole to attend the remains of his benefactress to the grave in character of chief mourner4 ,on opening her papers it was discovered that in losing his benefactress he had lost his mother6 ,that she had been privately married to a widower of considerable fortune1 who had one son by his first wife1 and that on his demise the estate would devolve on ,william1 provided his half brother had no children4 ,a few days afterwards the death of ,henry ----1 ,esq4 of ---- ,hall1 ,worcestershire1 was formally announced in the daily ,journals1 and the unexpected claims of ,william being acknowledged1 he succeeded to a very fine property and estate1 and died as much respected in a good old age as he was beloved in his buoyant childhood1 when the gossips and the maidens of ,poole agreed that the orphan boy promised to be a nice young man4--,and not word of a lie in it1 said ,dick ,hart1 as he finished his story1 his pipe1 and his grog4 ,we were now steering across ,studland ,bay4 ,banks of dark clouds were gathering majestically on the eastern horizon1 and the sun was rapidly sinking in a flood of golden light4 ,behind us was the ,isle of ,brownsea1 with its dark fir plantations and lofty1 cold-looking1 awkward castle4 ,on the left was the line of low sand hills1 stretching away towards ,christchurch1 and seeming to join the ,needles' ,rocks1 situated at the western extremity of the ,isle of ,wight1 the high chalk cliffs of which reflected the sun's last rays1 giving a rich and placid feeling to the cold and distant grey4 ,on the right1 and closer to us1 was the brown and purple heath-land of ,studland ,bay4 ,here barren1 there patches of verdure1 and the thin smoke threading its way from a cluster of trees1 denoted where the village hamlet lay embosomed from the storms of the southwest gales1 close at the foot and under the shelter of a lofty chalk range which abuts abruptly on the sea1 and before which stands a high1 detached pyramidical rock1 rising out of the waters like a sheeted spectre1 and known to mariners under the suspicious name of ,old ,harry4 ,this coast was once notorious for smuggling1 but those days of nautical chivalry have ceased1 if ,dick ,hart was to be credited1 who shook his head very mournfully as he alluded to the ,block-head service4 ,,james ,,silvester4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,spirit ,,of ,,the ,,public ,,journals4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,scene ,,from ,a ,,french ,,drama4 ,no4 ,,xvii4 of the ,foreign ,quarterly ,review1 contains a paper of much interest to the playgoer as well as to the lover of dramatic literature--on two ,french dramas of great celebrity--,la ,marchale d',ancre1 by de ,vigny2 and ,marion ,delorme1 by ,victor ,hugo4 ,we quote a scene from the former4 ,concini1 the principal character1 is a favourite of ,louis ,,xiii42 the ,marchale1 his wife1 has a first love1 ,borgia1 a ,corsican1 who1 disappointed in his early suit by the stratagems of ,concini1 has married the beautiful but uncultivated ,isabella ,monti4 ,on the conflicting feelings of this strange personage1 his hatred to the husband1 and his relenting towards the wife2 and the licentious plans of ,concini for the seduction of ,isabella1 whom he has seen without knowing her to be the wife of his deadly enemy1 the interest of the piece is made to turn4 ,the jealous ,isabella is at last persuaded that the ,marchale has robbed her of the attachment of her husband1 and appears as a witness against her on the pretended charge of witchcraft and sorcery4 ,while the ,marchal1 even in the dungeon of the ,bastile1 is awing her oppressors into silence1 bands of murderers are seeking ,concini through the streets of ,paris4 ,as he issues from the house of the ,jew which contains ,isabella1 he hears through the obscurity of the tempestuous night the cries of the populace1 but he thinks they are but the indications of some passing tumult4 ,he rests for a moment against a pillar on the pavement1 but recoils again1 as from a serpent1 for he perceives it is the stone on which ,ravaillac had planted his foot when he assassinated ,henry1 and in that murder it is darkly insinuated he had a share4 ,through the darkness of the ,rue de la ,ferronnerie1 ,michael ,borgia is seen advancing1 conducting the two children of his rival4 ,he has promised to the ,marchale to save them from the dangers of the night1 and has brought them in safety to his own threshold4 ,but his promise of safety extended not to ,concini4 ,the wild ferocity of the following scene has many parallels in the actual duels of the time1 as delineated in ,froissart and ,brantome4 ,borgia 7with the children47--,poor children6 come in2 you will be safer here than in the houses to which they have pursued us4 ,the ,boy4--,ah6 there is a man standing up4 ,borgia 7turning the lantern which the child holds towards ,concini47--,concini6 ,concini4--,borgia6 7,each raises his dagger1 and seizes with the left arm the right of his enemy4 ,they remain motionless1 and gazing at each other4 ,the children escape into the street and disappear47 ,concini4--,let go my arm1 and ,i will liberate yours4 ,borgia4--,what shall be my security8 ,concini4--,those children whom you have with you4 ,borgia4--,i am labouring to save them4 ,your palace is on fire--your wife is arrested--your fortune is wrecked--base1 senseless adventurer6 ,concini4--,have done--let go--let us fight6 ,borgia 7pushing him from him47--,back1 then1 and draw your sword4 ,concini 7draws47--,begin4 ,borgia4--,remove those children--they would be in our way4 ,concini4--,they are gone4 ,borgia4--,take these letters1 assassin6 ,i had promised to restore them to you4 7,he hands to ,concini a black portfolio47 ,concini4--,i would have taken them from your body4 ,borgia4--,i have performed my promise--and now1 ravisher6 look to yourself4 ,concini4--,base seducer1 defend thyself4 ,borgia4--,the night is dark1 but ,i shall feel you by my hate3 ,plant your foot against the wall1 that you may not retreat4 ,concini4--,would ,i could chain yours to the pavement1 that ,i might be sure of my mark6 ,borgia4--,agree that the first who is wounded shall inform the other4 ,concini4--,yes1 for we should not see the blood4 ,i swear it by the thirst ,i feel for yours4--,but not that the affair should end there4 ,borgia4--,no1 only to begin again with more spirit4 ,concini--,to continue till we can lift the sword no longer4 ,borgia4--,till the death of one or other of us4 ,concini--,i see you not4 ,are you in front of me8 ,borgia4--,yes1 wretch6 ,parry that thrust4 ,has it sped8 ,concini4--,no2 take that in return4 ,borgia4--,i am untouched4 ,concini4--,what1 still8 ,oh6 would ,i could but see thy hateful visage4 7,they continue to fight desperately1 but without touching each other4 ,both rest for a little47 ,borgia4--,have you a cuirass on1 ,concini8 ,concini4--,i had1 but ,i left it with your wife in her chamber4 ,borgia4--,liar6 7,he rushes on him with his sword4 ,their blades are locked for a moment1 and both are wounded47 ,concini4--,i feel no sword opposed to mine4 ,have ,i wounded you8 ,borgia1 7leaning on his sword1 and staunching the wound in his breast with1 his handkerchief47 ,no1 let us begin again4 ,there6 ,concini 7binding his scarf round his thigh47--,one moment and ,i am with you4 7,he staggers against the pillar47 ,borgia1 7sinking on his knees47--,are you not wounded yourself8 ,concini4--,no1 no6 ,i am resting4 ,advance1 and you shall see4 ,borgia 7endeavouring to rise1 but unable47--,i have struck my foot against a stone--wait an instant4 ,concini 7with delight47--,ah6 you are wounded6 ,borgia4--,no1 ,i tell you--'tis you who are so4 ,your voice is changed4 ,concini1 7feeling his sword47--,my blade smells of blood4 ,borgia4--,mine is dabbled in it4 ,concini4--,come then1 if you are not--come and finish me4 ,borgia1 7with triumph47--,finish6 then you are wounded4 ,concini1 7with a voice of despair47--,were ,i not1 would ,i not have already stabbed you twenty times over8 ,but you are at least as severely handled4 ,borgia--,it maybe so1 or ,i should not be grovelling here4 ,concini4--,shall we now have done8 ,borgia1 7enraged47--,both wounded--yet both living6 ,concini4--,what avails the blood ,i have drawn1 while a drop remains4 ,borgia4--,o6 were ,i but beside thee6 ,enter ,vitry1 followed by the ,guards walking slowly4 ,he holds the young ,count de la ,pene by the hand2 the boy leads his sister4 ,vitry1 7a pistol in his hand47--,well1 my child1 which is your father8 ,count de la ,pene4--,oh6 protect him1 sir1--that is he leaning against the pillar4 ,vitry1 7aloud47--,draw tip--remain at that gate--,guards6 7,the ,guards advance with lanterns and flambeaux47 ,sir1 ,i arrest you--your sword4 ,concini1 7thrusting at him47--,take it4 7,vitry fires his pistol--,du ,hallier1 ,d',ornano1 and ,person fire at the same time--,concini falls dead47 ,the malice of ,du ,luynes1 the inveterate enemy of the ,d',ancres1 and afterwards the minion of ,louis1 contrives that the ,marchale1 in her way to execution1 shall be conducted to this scene1 where her husband lies dead1 on the spot which had been stained with the blood of ,henry1 like ,caesar at the foot of ,pompey's statue2 and the play concludes with her indignant and animated denunciation of this wretch1 who stands calm and triumphant1 while the ,marchale exacts from her son1 over the body of ,concini1 an oath of vengeance against the destroyer of her house4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,martyr-,,student4 ,i am sick of the bird1 ,and its carol of glee2 ,it brings the voices heard ,in boyhood back to me3 ,our old village hall1 ,our church upon the hill1 ,and the mossy gates--all ,my darken'd eyes fill4 ,no more gladly leaping ,with the choir ,i go1 ,my spirit is weeping ,o'er her silver bow3 ,from the golden quiver ,the arrows are gone1 ,the wind from ,death's river ,sounds in it alone6 ,i sit alone and think ,in the silent room4 ,i look up1 and ,i shrink ,from the glimmering gloom4 ,o1 that the little one ,were here with her shout6-- ,o1 that my sister's arm ,my neck were roundabout6 ,i cannot read a book1 ,my eyes are dim and weak2 ,to every chair ,i look-- ,there is not one to speak6 ,could ,i but sit once more ,upon that well-known chair1 ,by my mother1 as of yore1 ,her hand upon my hair6 ,my father's eyes seeking1 ,in trembling hope to trace ,if the south wind had been breaking ,the shadows from my face2-- ,how sweet to die away ,beside our mother's hearth1 ,amid the balmy light ,that shone upon our birth6 ,a wild and burning boy1 ,i climb the mountain's crest1 ,the garland of my joy ,did leap upon my breast2 ,a spirit walk'd before me ,along the stormy night1 ,the clouds melted o'er me1 ,the shadows turn'd to light4 ,among my matted locks ,the death-wind is blowing2 ,i hear1 like a mighty rush of plumes1 ,the ,sea of ,darkness flowing6 ,upon the summer air ,two wings are spreading wide2 ,a shadow1 like a pyramid1 ,is sitting by my side6 ,my mind was like a page ,of gold-wrought story1 ,where the rapt eye might gaze ,on the tale of glory2 ,but the rich painted words ,are waxing faint and old1 ,the leaves have lost their light1 ,the letters their gold6 ,and memory glimmers ,on the pages ,i unrol1 ,like the dim light creeping ,into an antique scroll4 ,when the scribe is searching ,the writing pale and damp1 ,at midnight1 and the flame ,is dying in the lamp4 ,,fraser',s ,,magazine4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,selector2 ,,and ,,literary ,,notices ,,of ,,new ,,works 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,italian ,,republics4 ,m4,j4,c4,l4 ,de ,sismondi1 has1 to suit the plan of the ,cabinet ,cyclopaedia1 endeavoured to include in one of its volumes--a summary of ,italian history from the fall of the ,roman empire to the end of the ,middle ,age--a period of about six and a half centuries4 ,what a succession of stirring scenes does this volume present2 what fields of bloody action2 what revelry of carnage2 what schemes of petty ambition2 what trampling on necks1 what uncrowning of heads2 what orgies of fire1 sword1 famine1 and slaughter2 what overtoppling of thrones1 and unseating of rulers2 what pantings after freedom2 what slavery of passion2 what sunny scenes of fortune to be shaded with melancholy pictures of desolation and decay--are comprised in these few pages of the history of a comparatively small portion of the world for a short period--a narrow segment of the cycle of time4 ,what ,sismondi so ably accomplished in sixteen volumes1 he has here comprised in one4 ,he tells us that he could sacrifice episodes and details without regret4 ,the present is not1 however1 an abridgment of his great work1 but an entirely new history1 in which1 with my eyes fixed solely on the free people of the several ,italian states1 ,i have studied to portray their first deliverance1 their heroism1 and their misfortunes4 ,we quote a few sketchy extracts4 ,last ,struggle of ,rome for ,liberty4 #adec4 ,stefano ,porcari1 a ,roman noble1 willing to profit by the interregnum which preceded the nomination of ,nicholas ,v41 to make the ,roman citizens demand the renewal and confirmation of their ancient rights and privileges1 was denounced to the new pope as a dangerous person2 and1 so far from obtaining what he had hoped1 he had the grief to see the citizens always more strictly excluded from any participation in public affairs4 ,those were entrusted only to prelates1 who1 being prepared for it neither by their studies nor sentiments1 suffered the administration to fall into the most shameful disorder4 ,in an insurrection of the people in the ,piazza ,navona1 arising from a quarrel1 which began at a bull-fight1 ,stefano ,porcari endeavoured to direct their attention to a more noble object1 and turn this tumult to the advantage of liberty4 ,the pope hastily indulged all the fancies of the people1 with respect to their games or amusements2 but firmly rejected all their serious demands1 and exiled ,porcari to ,bologna4 ,the latter hoped to obtain by conspiracy what he had failed to accomplish by insurrection4 ,there were not less than #djj exiled ,roman citizens3 he persuaded them all to join him1 and appointed them a rendezvous at ,rome1 for the #eth of ,january1 #adec1 in the house of his brother-in-law4 ,having escaped the vigilance of the legate of ,bologna1 he proceeded there himself1 accompanied by #cjj soldiers1 whom he had enlisted in his service4 ,the whole band was assembled on the night of the appointed #eth of ,january2 and ,stefano ,porcari was haranguing them1 to prepare them for the attack of the capitol1--in which he reckoned on re-establishing the senate of the ,roman republic1--when1 his secret having been betrayed1 the house was surrounded with troops1 the doors suddenly forced1 and the conspirators overcome by numbers before their arms had been distributed4 ,next morning1 the body of ,stefano ,porcari1 with those of nine of his associates1 were seen hanging from the battlements of the castle of ,st4 ,angelo4 ,in spite of their ardent entreaties1 they had been denied confession and the sacrament4 ,eight days later1 the executions1 after a mockery of law proceedings1 were renewed1 and continued in great numbers4 ,the pope succeeded in causing those who had taken refuge in neighbouring states to be delivered up to him2 and thus the last spark of ,roman liberty was extinguished in blood4 ,general ,mildness of ,italian ,warfare4 #adib4 ,the horses and armour of the ,italian men at arms were reckoned superior to those of the transalpine nations against which they had measured themselves in ,france1 during the war of the public weal4 ,the ,italian captains had made war a science1 every branch of which they thoroughly knew4 ,it was never suspected for a moment that the soldier should be wanting in courage3 but the general mildness of manners1 and the progress of civilization1 had accustomed the ,italians to make war with sentiments of honour and humanity towards the vanquished4 ,ever ready to give quarter1 they did not strike a fallen enemy4 ,often1 after having taken from him his horse and armour1 they set him free2 at least1 they never demanded a ransom so enormous as to ruin him4 ,horsemen who went to battle clad in steel1 were rarely killed or wounded1 so long as they kept their saddles4 ,once unhorsed1 they surrendered4 ,the battle1 therefore1 never became murderous4 ,the courage of the ,italian soldiers1 which had accommodated itself to this milder warfare1 suddenly gave way before the new dangers and ferocity of barbarian enemies4 ,they became terror-struck when they perceived that the ,french caused dismounted horsemen to be put to death by their valets1 or made prisoners only to extort from them1 under the name of ransom1 all they possessed4 ,the ,italian cavalry1 equal in courage1 and superior in military science1 to the ,french1 was for some time unable to make head against an enemy whose ferocity disturbed their imaginations4 ,battle of ,marignano4 #aeae4--;,francis ,i4 succeeded ,louis ,,xii4 on the #ast of ,january2 on the #bgth of ,june he renewed his predecessor's treaty of alliance with ,venice2 and on the #aeth of ,august1 entered the plains of ,lombardy1 by the marquisate of ,saluzzo1 with a powerful army4 ,he met but little resistance in the provinces south of the ,po1 but the ,swiss meanwhile arrived in great force to defend ,maximilian ,sforza1 whom1 since they had reseated him on the throne1 they regarded as their vassal4 ,francis in vain endeavoured to negotiate with them2 they would not listen to the voice of their commanders2 democracy had passed from their landsgemeinde into their armies1 popular orators roused their passions2 and on the #acth of ,september they impetuously left ,milan to attack ,francis ,i4 at ,marignano4 ,deep ditches lined with soldiers bordered the causeway by which they advanced2 their commanders wished by some manoeuvre to get clear of them1 or make the enemy change his position2 but the ,swiss1 despising all the arts of war1 expected to command success by mere intrepidity and bodily strength4 ,they marched to the battery in full front2 they repulsed the charge of the knights with their halberds1 and threw themselves with fury into the ditches which barred their road4 ,some rushed on to the very mouths of the cannon1 which guarded the king1 and there fell4 ,night closed on the combatants2 and the two armies mingled together fought on for four hours longer by moonlight4 ,complete darkness at length forced them to rest on their arms2 but the king's trumpet continually sounded1 to indicate to the bivouac where he was to be found2 while the two famous horns of ,uri and ,unterwalden called the ,swiss together4 ,the battle was renewed on the #adth at daybreak3 the unrelenting obstinacy was the same2 but the ,french had taken advantage of the night to collect and fortify themselves4 ,marshal ,trivulzio1 who had been present at eighteen pitched battles1 declared that every other seemed to him children's play in comparison with this battle of giants1 as he called it3 #bj1jjj dead already covered the ground2 of these two-thirds were ,swiss4 ,when the ,swiss despaired of victory they retreated slowly1--but menacing and terrible4 ,the ,french did not dare to pursue them4 ,the concluding paragraph of the volume is beautifully enthusiastic3 it may almost be regarded as prophetic in connexion with events that are at this moment shaking ,italy to her very base3 ,italy is crushed2 but her heart still beats with the love of liberty1 virtue1 and glory3 she is chained and covered with blood2 but she still knows her strength and her future destiny3 she is insulted by those for whom she has opened the way to every improvement2 but she feels that she is formed to take the lead again3 and ,europe will know no repose till the nation which1 in the dark ages1 lighted the torch of civilization with that of liberty1 shall be enabled herself to enjoy the light which she created4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,child',s ,,arithmetical ,,tables4 ,the ,seventh ,edition1 besides being well adapted for ,schools1 will be found useful in the business of life4 ,it includes the monies1 weights1 and measures1 mentioned in ,scripture1 the length of miles in different countries1 astronomical signs1 and other matters computed with great care4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,georgian ,,era4 ,this work is intended to comprise ,memoirs of the most eminent characters who have flourished in ,great ,britain during the reigns of the four ,georges3 the present volume being only a fourth of its extent1 and containing the ,royal ,family1 the ,pretenders and their adherents1 churchmen1 dissenters1 and statesmen4 ,the importance of the chosen period is prefatorily urged by the editor3 ,in comparison with the ,elizabethan or the ,modern ,augustan1 7as the reign of ,anne has been designated7 that which may be appropriately termed the ,georgian ,era1 possesses a paramount claim to notice2 for not only has it been equally fertile in conspicuous characters1 and more prolific of great events1 but its influence is actually felt by the existing community of ,great ,britain4 ,the several memoirs1 so far as a cursory glance enables us to judge1 are edited with great care4 ,their uniformity of plan is very superior to hastily compiled biographies4 ,each memoir contains the life and labours of its subject1 in the smallest space consistent with perspicuity2 the dryness of names1 dates1 and plain facts being admirably relieved by characteristic anecdotes of the party1 and a brief but judicious summary of character by the editor4 ,in the latter consists the original value of the work4 ,the reader need not1 however1 take this summary for granted3 he is in possession of the main facts from which the editor has drawn his estimate1 and he may1 in like manner1 weigh and consider1 and draw his own inference4 ,the anecdotes1 to borrow a phrase from ,addison1 are the sweetmeats of the book1 but the caution with which they are admitted1 adds to their worth4 ,the running reader may say that much of this portion is not entirely new to him3 granted2 but it would be unwise to reject an anecdote for its popularity2 as ,addison thought of ,chevy ,chase1 its commonness is its worth4 ,but1 it should be added1 that such anecdotes are not told in the circumlocutory style of gossip1 nor nipt in the bud by undeveloped brevity4 ,we have ,selden's pennyworth of spirit without the glass of water3 the quintessence of condensation1 which1 we are told1 is the result of time and experience1 which rejects what is no longer essential4 ,here circumspection was necessary1 and it has been well exercised4 ,the anecdotes are not merely amusing but useful1 since only when placed in juxtaposition with a man's whole life1 can such records be of service in appreciating his character4 ,let us turn to the volume for a few examples1 and take ,george the ,fourth and ,sheridan1 for their contemporary interest2 though the earlier characters are equally attractive4 ,in the former the reader may better compare the editor's inference with his own impression4 ,,george ,,the ,,fourth4 ,endowed by nature with remarkably handsome features1 and a form so finely proportioned1 that at one period of his life it was deemed almost the best model of manly beauty in existence1 ,george the ,fourth1 during the early part of his manhood1 eclipsed the whole of his gay associates in fashion and gallantry1 as much by personal attractions1 as pre-eminence in birth4 ,byron describes him as having possessed fascination in his very bow2 and it is said1 that a young peeress1 on hearing of the prince's attentions to one of her fair friends1 exclaimed1 ,i sincerely hope that it may not be my turn next1 for to repel him is impossible4 ,towards the middle period of his life1 he became so enormously fat1 that four life-guardsmen could not1 without difficulty1 lift him on horseback2 but1 as he advanced in years1 although still corpulent1 his inconvenient obesity gradually diminished4 ,he scarcely ever forgot an injury1 an affront1 or a marked opposition to his personal wishes4 ,the cordiality which had previously subsisted between his majesty and ,prince ,leopold1 entirely ceased1 when the latter volunteered a visit to ,queen ,caroline on her return to this country1 in #ahbj3 ,brougham and ,dentrum1 for the zeal with which they had advocated the cause of their royal client1 were1 during a long period1 deemed unworthy of those legal honours to which their high talents and long standing at the bar1 justly entitled them3 and ,sir ,robert ,wilson was arbitrarily dismissed from the service1 for his interference at her majesty's funeral4 ,on account of his unpopular reception1 by the mob1 when he accompanied the allied sovereigns to ,guildhall1 in #ahad1 he never afterwards honoured the city with his presence2 and when ,rossini rudely declined the repetition of a piece of music1 in which the king had taken a conspicuous part1 at a court concert1 his majesty turned his back on the composer1 to whose works1 from that moment1 he displayed the most unequivocal dislike4 ,but1 on the other hand1 some cases have been recorded1 in which his conduct was unquestionably tolerant and forgiving4 ,he allowed ,canning1 an avowed supporter of the queen1 to retain office1 without taking any part in the ministerial proceedings against her majesty2 and at the last stage of his earthly career1 sent the ,duke of ,sussex1 with whom he had long been at variance1 his own ribbon of the order of ,st4 ,patrick1 with an assurance of his most sincere affection4 ,erskine1 while attorney-general to the prince1 had so offended his royal highness1 by accepting a retainer from ,paine1 on a prosecution being instituted against the latter for publishing the ,rights of ,man1 that his immediate resignation was required4 ,but1 sometime afterwards1 ,erskine was desired to attend at ,carlton house1 where the prince received him with great cordiality1 and1 after avowing his conviction that1 'in the instance that had separated them1 his learned and eloquent friend had acted from the purest motives1 he wished to give publicity to his present opinion on the subject1 by appointing ,mr4 ,erskine his chancellor4' ,on one occasion1 at the opening of a session of parliament by ,george the ,third in person1 his royal highness1 who was then very much in debt1 having gone down to the house of lords in a superb military uniform with diamond epaulettes1 ,major ,doyle subsequently remarked to him1 that his equipage had been much noticed by the mob4 ',one fellow1' added the major1 'prodigiously admired1 what he termed 'the fine things which the prince had upon his shoulders4' ',mighty fine1 indeed1' replied another2 'but1 mind me1 they'll soon be upon our shoulders1 for all that4' ',ah1 you rogue6' exclaimed the prince1 laughing1 'that's a hit of your own1 ,i am convinced3--but1 come1 take some wine4' ,he had some inclination for scientific pursuits1 and highly respected those who were eminent for mechanical inventions4 ,he contributed largely towards the erection of a monument to the memory of ,watt4 ,of his medical information1 slight as it undoubtedly was1 he is said to have been particularly proud4 ,carpue had demonstrated to him the general anatomy of the human body1 in his younger days2 and for a number of years1 the ingenious ,weiss submitted to his inspection all the new surgical instruments1 in one of which the king suggested some valuable improvements4 ,his talents were1 undoubtedly1 above the level of mediocrity3 they have1 however1 been greatly overrated1 on the supposition that several powerfully written documents1 put forth under his name1 but composed by some of his more highly-gifted friends1 were his own productions4 ,his style was1 in fact1 much beneath his station3 it was inelegant1 destitute of force1 and even occasionally incorrect4 ,he read his speeches well1 but not excellently3 he possessed no eloquence1 although1 as a convivial orator1 he is said to have been rather successful4 ,at one time1 while an associate of ,sheridan1 ,erskine1 ,fox1 c41 he affected1 in conversation1 to be brilliant1 and so far succeeded1 as to colloquial liveliness1 that during their festive intercourse1 according to the witty barrister's own admission1 'he fairly kept up at saddle-skirts' even with ,curran4 ,notwithstanding this compliment1 his pretensions to wit appear to have been but slender2 the best sayings attributed to him being a set of middling puns1 of which the following is a favourable selection3--,when ,langdale's distillery was plundered1 during the riots of #aghj1 he asked why the proprietor had not defended his property4 ',he did not possess the means to do so1' was the reply4 ',not the means of defence6' exclaimed the prince1 'and he a brewer--a man who has been all his life at cart and tierce6--,sheridan having told him that ,fox had cooed in vain to ,miss ,pulteney1 the prince replied1 'that his friend's attempt on the lady's heart was a coup maoqu4'--,he once quoted from ,suetonius1 the words1 ',jure caesus videtur1' to prove1 jestingly1 that trial by jury was as old as the time of the first ,caesar4--,a newspaper panegyric on ,fox1 apparently from the pen of ,dr4 ,parr1 having been presented to his royal highness1 he said that it reminded him of ,machiavel's epitaph1 ',tanto nomini nullum ,par eulogium4'--,a cavalry officer1 at a court ball1 hammered the floor with his heels so loudly1 that the prince observed1 ',if the war between the mother country and her colonies had not terminated1 he might have been sent to ,america as a republication of the stamp act4'--,while his regiment was in daily expectation of receiving orders for ,ireland1 some one told him1 that country quarters in the sister kingdom were so filthy1 that the rich uniforms of his corps would soon be lamentably soiled3 ',let the men act as dragoons1 then1' said his royal highness1 'and scour the country4' ,when ,horne ,tooke1 on being committed to prison for treason1 proposed1 while in jail1 to give a series of dinners to his friends1 the prince remarked1 that 'as an inmate of ,newgate1 he would act more consistently by establishing a ,ketch-club4'--,michael ,kelly having turned wine-merchant1 the prince rather facetiously said1 'that ,mick imported his music1 and composed his wine6' ,we reluctantly break off here till next week4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,topographer 99 99 99 99 99 ,,brighton ,,as ,,it ,,was4 7,concluded from page #ij47 ,this immunity1 however1 deprived them of the privileges which the people of the adjacent towns enjoyed2 and was probably the true reason1 why this town did not obtain a place among those called ,cinque ports4 ,it lies in their neighbourhood1 is more ancient1 and was always more considerable than most included in that number4 ,to reduce its consequence still more1 the tithes were in this period taken from the incumbent1 appropriated to the use of the ,priory at ,lewes1 and have never since been restored2 and a ,convent of mendicant friars1 more burthensome than ten endowed ones of monks1 was founded and dedicated to ,st4 ,bartholomew4 ,struggling under these difficulties1 nothing but the ,reformation could enable the inhabitants of this place to emerge from their wretchedness4 ,and accordingly we find1 that1 in the happier days of ,queen ,elizabeth1 their affairs put on a new face4 ,they then applied themselves with vigour to their old employments of fishing1 and fitting out vessels for trade2 seeking subsistence from their darling element the sea4 ,persecution prevailing at this juncture in many parts of ,europe1 numbers fled to this island as to an asylum1 and many settled in this town1 bringing with them industry1 and an attachment to maritime affairs2 or soon learning them here4 ,the number of its inhabitants being thus increased1 its trade became proportionably greater3 so that in #aegi1 a record now subsisting says1 ,there are in the said town of ,brighthelmston of fishing-boats four-score in number1 and of able mariners four hundred in number1 with ten thousand fishing-nets1 besides many other necessaries belonging to their mystery4#c ,and the descendants of many of these ,french1 ,dutch1 and ,spanish families still reside here4#d #c ,it is a melancholy reflection to compare the present state of the fishery with its prosperity in #aegi1 or in more modern periods4 ,within the recollection of the editor1 there were #fj boats employed in catching mackerel1 and in a propitious season1 that species of fish has produced in ,billingsgate market a sum of #aj1jjj1 with which the town was enriched4 ,in the autumn1 #bj of these boats were fitted out for the herring voyage1 and one boat has been known to land during the season from #bj to #cj lasts of herrings1 each last containing #aj1jjj fish1 computing #acb to the #ajj4 #d ,the families of ,mighell and ,wichelo are all that appear to remain as of ,spanish origin4 ,from this record we likewise learn1 that the town was fortified to the sea by a flint wall1 and that the fort1 called the ,block-house1 had been then lately erected4 ,the east-gate of this wall1 in a line with the ,block-house was actually standing last year1 and has been since taken down to open a more convenient entrance to a battery lately built4#e #e ,the kindness of a friend has enabled me to supply this work1 with a view of the town taken from the sea in #agdc1 when the wall1 ,block house1 and ,east gate were partly standing4 ,the town at present consists of six principal streets1 many lanes1 and some spaces surrounded with houses1 called by the inhabitants squares4 ,the great plenty of flint stones on the shore1 and in the corn-fields near the town1 enabled them to build the walls of their houses with that material1 when in their most impoverished state2 and their present method of ornamenting the windows and doors with the admirable brick which they burn for their own use1 has a very pleasing effect4 ,the town improves daily1 as the inhabitants1 encouraged by the late great resort of company1 seem disposed to expend the whole of what they acquire in the erecting of new buildings1 or making the old ones convenient4 ,and should the increase of these1 in the next seven years1 be equal to what it has been in the last1 it is probable there will be but few towns in ,england1 that will excel this in commodious buildings4#f #f ,the recent publications on the present state of the town1 will amply establish the prophecy of our historian4 ,here are two public rooms1 the one convenient1 the other not only so1 but elegant2 not excelled perhaps by any public room in ,england1 that of ,york excepted3 and the attention of the proprietor in preparing every thing that may answer for the conveniency and amusement of the company1 is extremely meritorious4 ,for divine service there is a large ,church1 pleasantly situated on a rising ground above the town2 but at a distance that is inconvenient to the old and infirm4 ,the ,dissenters1 who1 of all denominations1 amount to but forty families1 have a ,presbyterian1 a ,quaker's1 and an ,anabaptist's meeting-house4 ,the men of this town are busied almost the whole year in a succeeding variety of fishing2 and the women industriously dedicate part of their time1 disengaged from domestic cares1 to the providing of nets adapted to the various employments of their husbands4 ,the spring season is spent in dredging for oysters1 which are mostly bedded in the ,thames and ,medway1 and afterwards carried to the ,london market2 the mackerel fishery employs them during the months of ,may1 ,june1 and ,july2 and the fruits of their labour are always sent to ,london2 as ,brighthelmston has the advantage of being its nearest fishing sea-coast1 and as the consumption of the place1 and its environs1 is very inconsiderable4 ,in the early part of this fishery they frequently take the red mullet2 and near the close of it1 abundance of lobsters and prawns4 ,august is engaged in the trawl-fishery1 when all sorts of flat fish are taken in a net called by that name4 ,in ,september they fish for whiting with lines2 and in ,november the herring fishery takes place1 which is the most considerable and growing fishery of the whole4 ,those employed in this pursuit show an activity and boldness almost incredible1 often venturing out to sea in their little boats in such weather as the largest ships can scarce live in4 ,part of their acquisition in this way is sent to ,london1 but the greatest share of it is either pickled1 or dried and made red4 ,these are mostly sent to foreign markets1 making this fishery a national concern4#g #g ,there are #cjj fishermen1 #aa vessels1 and #eg fishing boats belonging to this place4 ,in examining the ancient and modern descriptions of the ,baiae in ,campania1 where the ,romans of wealth and quality1 during the greatness of that empire1 retired for the sake of health and pleasure1 when public exigencies did not require their attendance at ,rome1 and comparing them with those of ,brighthelmston1 ,i can perceive a striking resemblance2 and ,i am persuaded1 that every literary person who will impartially consider this matter on the spot1 will concur with me in opinion1 giving1 in some measure1 the preference to our own ,baiae1 as exempt from the inconvenient steams of hot sulphureous baths1 and the dangerous vicinity of ,mount ,vesuvius4 ,and ,i have no doubt but it will be equally frequented1 when the healthful advantages of its situation shall be sufficiently made known4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,spirit ,,of ,,discovery4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,night ,,on ,,the ,,niger4 7,from the ,landers' ,travels2 ,unpublished47 ,we made no stop whatever on the river1 not even at meal-times1 our men suffering the canoe to glide down with the stream while they were eating their food4 ,at five in the afternoon they all complained of fatigue1 and we looked around us for a landing-place1 where we might rest awhile1 but we could find none1 for every village which we saw after that hour was unfortunately situated behind large thick morasses and sloughy bogs1 through which1 after various provoking and tedious trials1 we found it impossible to penetrate4 ,we were employed three hours in the afternoon in endeavouring to find a landing at some village1 and though we saw them distinctly enough from the water1 we could not find a passage through the morasses1 behind which they lay4 ,therefore we were compelled to relinquish the attempt1 and continue our course on the ,niger4 ,we passed several beautiful islands in the course of the day1 all cultivated and inhabited1 but low and flat4 ,the width of the river appeared to vary considerably1 sometimes it seemed to be two or three miles across1 and at others double that width4 ,the current drifted us along very rapidly1 and we guessed it to be running at the rate of three or four miles an hour4 ,the direction of the stream continued nearly east4 ,the day had been excessively warm1 and the sun set in beauty and grandeur1 shooting forth rays tinged with the most heavenly hues1 which extended to the zenith4 ,nevertheless1 the appearance of the firmament1 all glorious as it was1 betokened a coming storm2 the wind whistled through the tall rushes1 and darkness soon covered the earth like a veil4 ,this rendered us more anxious than ever to land somewhere1 we cared not where1 and to endeavour to procure shelter for the night1 if not in a village1 at least under a tree4 ,accordingly1 rallying the drooping spirits of our men1 we encouraged them to renew their exertions by setting them the example1 and our canoe darted silently and swiftly down the current4 ,we were enabled to steer her rightly by the vividness of the lightning1 which flashed across the water continually1 and by this means also we could distinguish any danger before us1 and avoid the numerous small islands with which the river is interspersed1 and which otherwise might have embarrassed us very seriously4 ,but though we could perceive almost close to us several lamps burning in comfortable-looking huts1 and could plainly distinguish the voices of their occupants1 and though we exerted all our strength to get at them1 we were foiled in every attempt1 by reason of the sloughs and fens1 and we were at last obliged to abandon them in despair4 ,some of these lights1 after leading us a long way1 eluded our search1 and vanished from our sight like an ignis fatuus1 and others danced about we knew not how4 ,but what was more vexatious than all1 after we had got into an inlet1 and toiled and tugged for a full half hour against the current1 which in this little channel was uncommonly rapid1 to approach a village from which we thought it flowed1 both village and lights seemed to sink into the earth1 the sound of the people's voices ceased of a sudden1 and when we fancied we were actually close to the spot1 we strained our eyes in vain to see a single hut1--all was gloomy1 dismal1 cheerless1 and solitary4 ,it seemed the work of enchantment2 every thing was as visionary as sceptres grasped in sleep4 ,we had paddled along the banks a distance of not less than thirty miles1 every inch of which we had attentively examined1 but not a bit of dry land could any where be discovered which was firm enough to bear our weight4 ,therefore1 we resigned ourselves to circumstances1 and all of us having been refreshed with a little cold rice and honey1 and water from the stream1 we permitted the canoe to drift down with the current1 for our men were too much fatigued with the labours of the day to work any longer4 ,but here a fresh evil arose which we were unprepared to meet4 ,an incredible number of hippopotami arose very near us1 and came plashing1 snorting1 and plunging all round the canoe1 and placed us in imminent danger4 ,thinking to frighten them off1 we fired a shot or two at them1 but the noise only called up from the water and out of the fens1 about as many more of their unwieldy companions1 and we were more closely beset than before4 ,our people1 who had never in all their lives been exposed in a canoe to such huge and formidable beasts1 trembled with fear and apprehension1 and absolutely wept aloud2 and their terror was not a little increased by the dreadful peals of thunder which rattled over their heads1 and by the awful darkness which prevailed1 broken at intervals by flashes of lightning1 whose powerful glare was truly awful4 ,our people told us1 that these formidable animals frequently upset canoes in the river1 when every one in them was sure to perish4 ,these came so close to us1 that we could reach them with the butt-end of a gun4 ,when ,i fired at the first1 which ,i must have hit1 every one of them came to the surface of the water1 and pursued us so fast over to the north bank1 that it was with the greatest difficulty imaginable we could keep before them4 ,having fired a second time1 the report of my gun was followed by a loud roaring noise1 and we seemed to increase our distance from them4 ,there were two ,bornou men among our crew who were not so frightened as the rest1 having seen some of these creatures before on ,lake ,tchad1 where1 they say1 there are plenty of them4 ,however1 the terrible hippopotami did us no kind of mischief whatever2 they were only sporting and wallowing in the river for their own amusement1 no doubt1 at first when we interrupted them2 but had they upset our canoe1 we should have paid dearly for it4 ,we observed a bank on the north side of the river shortly after this1 and ,i proposed halting on it for the night1 for ,i wished much to put my foot on firm land again4 ,this1 however1 not one of the crew would consent to1 saying1 that if the ,gewo ,roua1 or water elephant1 did not kill them1 the crocodiles certainly would do so before the morning1 and ,i thought afterwards that we might have been carried off like the ,cumbrie people on the islands near ,yaoorie1 if we had tried the experiment4 ,our canoe was only large enough to hold us all when sitting1 so that we had no chance of lying down4 ,had we been able to muster up thirty thousand cowries at ,rabba1 we might have purchased one which would have carried us all very comfortably4 ,a canoe of this sort would have served us for living in entirely1 we should have had no occasion to land excepting to obtain our provisions2 and having performed our day's journey1 might have anchored fearlessly at night4 ,finding we could not induce our people to land1 we agreed to continue on all night4 ,the eastern horizon became very dark1 and the lightning more and more vivid2 indeed1 ,i never recollect having seen such strong fork lightning before in my life4 ,all this denoted the approach of a storm4 ,at eleven ,p4,m4 it blew somewhat stronger than a gale1 and at midnight the storm was at its height4 ,the wind was so strong1 that it washed over the sides of the canoe several times1 so that she was in danger of filling4 ,driven about by the wind1 our frail little bark became unmanageable2 but at length we got near a bank1 which in some measure protected us1 and we were fortunate enough to lay hold of a thorny tree against which we were driven1 and which was growing nearly in the centre of the stream4 ,presently we fastened the canoe to its branches1 and wrapping our cloaks round our persons1 for we felt overpowered with fatigue1 and with our legs projecting half over the sides of the little vessel1 which1 for want of room1 we were compelled to do1 we lay down to sleep4 ,there is something1 ,i believe1 in the nature of a tempest which is favourable to slumber1 at least so thought my brother2 for though the thunder continued to roar1 and the wind to blow1--though the rain beat in our faces1 and our canoe lay rocking like a cradle1 still he slept soundly4 ,the wind kept blowing hard from the eastward till midnight1 when it became calm4 ,the rain then descended in torrents1 accompanied by thunder and lightning of the most awful description4 ,we lay in our canoe drenched with water1 and our little vessel was filling so fast1 that two people were obliged to be constantly baling out the water to keep her afloat4 ,the water-elephants1 as the natives term the hippopotami1 frequently came snorting near us1 but fortunately did not touch our canoe4 ,the storm continued until three in the morning of the #agth1 when it became clear1 and we saw the stars sparkling like gems over our heads4 ,therefore1 we again proceeded on our journey down the river1 there being sufficient light for us to see our way1 and two hours after1 we put into a small1 insignificant1 fishing village1 called ,dacannie1 where we landed very gladly4 ,before we arrived at this island1 we had passed a great many native towns and villages1 but in consequence of the early hour at which we were travelling1 we considered it would be imprudent to stop at any of them1 as none of the natives were out of their huts4 ,had we landed earlier1 even near one of these towns1 we might have alarmed the inhabitants1 and been taken for a party of robbers2 or1 as they are called in the country1 jacallees4 ,they would have taken up arms against us1 and we might have lost our lives2 so that for our safety we continued down the river1 although we had great desire to go on shore4 ,in the course of the day and night1 we travelled1 according to our estimation1 a distance little short of a hundred miles4 ,our course was nearly east4 ,the ,niger in many places1 and for a considerable way1 presented a very magnificent appearance1 and1 we believe1 to be nearly eight miles in width4--,lit4 ,gaz4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,gatherer4 ,ancient ,trade4--,alexandria was formerly the chief commercial city in the world4 ,we may judge of its wealth and prosperity by the circumstance1 that1 after the defeat of ,queen ,zenobia1 a single merchant of this city1 undertook to raise and pay an army out of the profits of his trade4 ,delos was the richest city in the ,archipelago1 it was a free port1 where nations warring with each other1 resorted with their goods1 and traded4 ,strabo calls it one of the most frequented emporiums in the world2 and ,pliny tells us1 that all the commodities of ,europe and ,asia were sold1 purchased1 or exchanged there4 ,trade was much encouraged at ,athens2 and if any one ridiculed it1 he was liable to an action of slander4 ,a fine of a thousand drachmas 7about #cg4 #ajs47 was inflicted on him who accused a merchant of any crime which he was unable to prove4 ,solon was engaged in merchandize2 the founder of the city of ,messilia was a merchant2 ,thales and ,hippocrates1 the mathematician1 traded2 ,plato sold oil in ,egypt2 ,maximinus the ,roman emperor1 traded with the ,goths in the produce of his estate in ,thracia2 ,vespasian farmed the privies at ,rome2 and the ,emperor ,pertinax1 originally dealt in charcoal4 ,p4,t4,w4 ,unnecessary fears about the ,cholera4--,nothing is more calculated to allay unnecessay and groundless fear1 in the case of the cholera1 than the undeniable fact of the smallness of the mortality in proportion to the whole population1 where it has raged with most violence4 ,in addition to which1 if it be borne in mind1 that the disease invariably attacks those who are most predisposed to engender any malady1 it is not unreasonable to infer1 that of those to whom it has proved mortal1 many would have died within the same period1 had cholera not attacked them4--,morning ,herald4 ,king ,regner died singing the pleasure of falling in battle3 his words are1 ,the hours of my life are passed away1 ,i shall die laughing4--,britain's ,historical ,drama4 ,on a very ,fat ,man4 ,all flesh is grass1 so do the ,scriptures say1 ,and grass1 when mown1 is shortly turn'd to hay4 ,when ,time1 to mow you down1 his scythe doth take1 ,good ,man6 how large a stack you then will make4 ,j4,j4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,mirror4 99 99 99 99 99 ,purchasers of the ,,mirror who may wish to complete their ,sets or ,volumes1 are informed that the whole of the ,numbers are now in print1 and can he procured by giving an order to any ,bookseller or ,newsvender4 ,complete ,sets4 ,vol4 ,i4 to ,,xviii in boards1 price #d4 #ahs4 #f;d42 half-bound1 #f4 #fs4 99 99 99 99 99 ,printed and ,published by ,j4 ,,limbird1 #adc1 ,strand1 7near ,somerset ,house17 ,london2 sold by ,,ernest ,,fleischer1 #fbf1 ,new ,market1 ,leipsic2 ,g4,g4 ,,bennis1 #ee1 ,rue ,neuve1 ,st4 ,augustin1 ,paris2 and by all ,newsmen and ,booksellers4 99 99 99 99 99