Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

both in regard to his presumed fact of natural history, and the application of it. There is no room for doubt, as to the foundation of the custom. The ancient soldiers wore, during military excursions, the horns of such animals as had been sacrificed to the god of battles; and it was in allusion to the prevalent levity of their helpmates, during the separation, that every unfortunate husband was first said to be one who wore the horns.

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

a

Queen Elizabeth is well known to have been parsimonious in every particular. The following instance of this saving knowledge, in her majesty, is not, I believe, to be seen in any other work than the life of sir Thomas Smith, the secretary; book published in the sixteenth century, and almost unknown at the present day. When the earl of Desmond (that potent instigator of rebellion among the Irish) was prisoner in England, A. D. 1572, the queen consented to a political reconciliation; and, in observance of the rank and immense power of the earl, and, in consideration of his promising to drive the rebels entirely out of Ireland, she informed the secretary of her graciously intending to confer some tokens of her regard on Desmond, before he left the metropolis. Sir Thomas applauded this intention, and then the queen professed her readiness to bestow on the demi monarch a piece of silk for his apparel, together with some of the current coin of her kingdom. "Upon which sir Thomas's judgment was, that, seeing the queen would tie the earl to her service with a benefit, it should be done liberally and largely, not grudgingly and meanly. Which, as he added, did so disgrace the benefit, that, instead of love, it many times left a grudge behind, in the

heart of him that received it, which marred the whole benefit." The queen was proud of her frugality, and therefore was not offended with the secretary's advice.

The abovementioned sir Thomas Smith wrote a long conversational disquisition on the propriety of his royal mistress entering into that holy state, against which her love of sway adduced stronger arguments than any opposed by the well-meaning zeal of the secretary. Sir Thomas was a warm advocate for her majesty's marrying with an Englishman; and some idea of his style, and of the manner in which it was usual to address the sovereign, may be formed from the following passage of his work: "Then, if there be any qualities and perfection in any of our nation which her majesty

can like, were it not more to be wished for her highness to make her choice there, where her own self is judge, than to build upon hearsay, and, in so weighty a matter by marrying an alien-prince) to buy, as the common proverb is, a pig in the poke."

Merited and Mercantile Nobility.

One of the former kings of France used sometimes to admit a merchant to his presence, in consequence of his ability in his profession. At length the latter thought it convenient to solicit a patent of nobility, which was granted him. This new nobleman soon after presented himself at court; but his majesty did not deign to pay him the least attention. Upon his inquiring into the cause of it, he was told that the king had observed, that whilst he was a merchant, he was the first of his profession; but that, since he had been made a nobleman, he was of course the last, and no longer worthy of that preference he had formerly enjoyed.

ANAGRAM

On the name of Horatio Nelson. The following anagram is, perhaps, the neatest and most pointed one extant, and cannot be too gene. rally known. The christian and surname of the late hero of the Nile and Trafalgar, make exactly the following Latin words:

Honor est a Nilo.

Honour is from the Nile.

Thirteen letters, exactly the same as in the name of Horatio Nelson, which forms a happy coincidence and allusion; for had he been christened Horace, or Horatius, the anagram could not obtain; and farther, had he not gained the victory of the Nile, it still would have been defective; but as it is, it is, perhaps, the happiest and most complete that ever was produced; and it is justly attributed to the ingenious and learned Dr. Burney, of Greenwich. Had this anagram been previously discovered, it would have been a motto for his lordship's arms, equally, if not more in point than the present:

“Palmam qui meruit ferat.” "Let him bear the palm who has deserved it."

ANECDOTE OF REMBRANDT.

Rembrandt, being in want of money, and finding his works of heavy vent, put into the newspapers that he was dead, and advertised a publick sale of the finished and unfinished paintings in his house. Crowds flocked to the auction, eager to possess one of the last efforts of so great a master. The meanest sketch sold at a price, which entire pictures had never fetched before. After collecting the proceeds, Rembrandt came to life again; but the Dutch, who resent improbity even in genius, never would employ him after his resurrection.

Anecdote of sir Christopher Wren

and king Charles II.

Sir Christopher Wren was a man of small stature. When king Charles II. came to see the hunting palace he had built at Newmarket, he thought the rooms too low. Sir Christopher walked about them, and looking up, replied: "Sir, and please your majesty, I think they are high enough." The king squatted down to sir Christopher's height, and creeping about in that posture, cried: Aye, sir Christopher, I think they are high enough.”

THE MASKED JEW.

At one of the masquerades lately given at the Margate theatre, a gentleman, who appeared in the character of a Jew, came up to an officer, and asked to purchase his sword. The officer indignantly replied: "Be careful, sir: that sword will fight of itself." The humorous Israelite rejoined: "That is the sword that just suits you."

MILANESE PHYSICIAN.

A physician at Milan, who took care of insane persons, on their being guilty of any irregularity, used to have them placed up to the chin, or knees, in a stinking pond, according to the degrees of their fault. One of these persons who had undergone this discipline, and was allowed to walk about the yard, meeting a gentleman with his hounds coming through, he addressed the sportsman: "What are those dogs for?" "To catch hares," replied the gentleman. "And what do they cost you by the year?" "Two hundred pounds, including servants and horses." "And what is the value of the hares you kill in a twelvemonth?" "About forty pounds, perhaps, or less," replied the gentleman. "Ride away, then, as fast as you can," said the madman, for if the doctor finds you here, you will soon be in that pond up to your chin."

FOX-CHASE IN THE STREETS OF WHITEHAVEN,

A brace of American foxes, much admired for their handsome figure, and particularly on account of their enormous bushy tails, have, for some time, been kept in Fox-lane, where they were properly attended. One morning lately, in order that they might the more freely receive some sustenance that was offered to them, they were uncoupled. At this opportunity, one of them conceived the desire to take an airing; he sprang past his keeper, and in less than half a minute cleared a wall twelve feet high. He made a rapid excur

sion through Scotch street, Church street, Lowther street, and Cross street, where he sought refuge; but was opposed in his design by a host of damsels. who ever-and-anon brandished both mofis and brooms at him. Twice he made the tour of Church street-at last, with about a hundred people at his heels. Thus closely pursued, he returned into Mr. Furnass's leather-shop, secreting himself underneath a bale of leatherwhere he was taken. On being restored to his den, he was received with great joy, and even congratulation, by his companion.

[blocks in formation]

The wandering mariner, whose eye explores

The wealthiest isles, the most enchanting shores,

Views not a realm so bountiful and fair,
Nor breaths the spirit of a purer air;
In every clime the magnet of his soul,
Touched by remembrance, trembles to

that pole;

For in this land of heaven's peculiar grace, The heritage of nature's noblest race, There is a spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest, Where man, creation's tyrant, casts aside His sword and sceptre, pageantry and pride,

While in his softened looks benignly blend

The sire, the son, the husband, father, friend:

Here woman reigns; the mother, daughter, wife,

Strows with fresh flowers the narrow way

of life;

In the clear heaven of her delightful eye, An angel-guard of loves and graces lie; Around her knees domestick duties meet, And fireside pleasures gambol at her feet. "Where shall that land, that spot of earth be found?"

Art thou a man?-a patriot ?--look around; O, thou shalt find, howe'er thy footsteps

roam,

That land thy country, and that spot thy home!

A BALLAD,

UPON THE LOSS OF SIR THOMAS TROW
BRIDGE, IN THE BLENHEIM.

[By James Montgomery.]
A vessel sailed from Albion's shore,
To utmost India bound;
Its crest a hero's pendant bore,

With broad sea-laurels crowned
Though foiled on that Egyptian night,
In many a fierce and noble fight,

When Gallia's host was drowned, And NELSON o'er his country's foes, Like the destroying angel rose.

A gay and gallant company,

With shouts that rend the air, For warriour-wreaths upon the sea, Their joyful brows prepare;

[blocks in formation]

Majestick o'er the sparkling tide,
See the tall vessel sail,

With swelling wings, in shadowy pride,
A swan before the gale;
Deep-laden merchants rode behind;
-But, fearful of the fickle wind,

Britannia's cheek grew pale,
When, lessening through the flood oflight,
Their leader vanished from her sight.

Oft had she hailed its trophied prow,
Victorious from the war,
And bannered masts, that would not bow,
Though riven with many a scar;
Oft had her oaks their tribute brought,
To rib its flanks with thunder fraught;
But late her evil star

Had cursed it on its homeward way,
"The spoiler shall become the prey."

Thus warned, Britannia's anxious heart
Throbbed with prophetick wo,
When she beheld that ship depart,
A fair ill-omened show!
Thus views the mother, through her tears,
The daughter of her hopes and fears,

When hectick beauties glow

On the frail cheek, where sweetly bloom The roses of an early tomb.

No fears the brave adventurers knew;
Peril and death they spurned;
Like full-fledged eagles forth they flew;
Jove's birds, that proudly burned,
In battle-hurricanes to wield
His lightnings on the billowy field;
And many a look they turned
O'er the blue waste of wave to spy
A Gallick ensign in the sky.

But not to crush the vaunting foe,
In combat on the main,

Nor perish by a glorious blow,
In mortal triumph slain,

Was their unutterable fate;
-That story would the muse relate,
The song might rise in vain;
In Ocean's deepest, darkest bed
The secret slumbers with the dead.

On India's long-expecting strand Their sails were never furled; Never on known or friendly land,

By storms their keel was hurled; Their native soil no more they trod; They rest beneath no hallowed sod; Throughout the living world, This sole memorial of their lot Remains, they were, and they are not.

The Spirit of the Cape* pursued
Their long and toilsome way;
At length, in ocean solitude,

He sprang upon his prey,

"Havock!" the shipwreck-demon cried, Loosed all his tempests on the tide, Gave all his lightnings play:

The abyss recoiled before the blast,
Firm stood the seaman till the last.

Like shooting stars, athwart the gloom
The merchant-sails were sped;
Yet oft, before its midnight doom,

They marked the high mast head
Of that devoted vessel, tost

By winds and floods, now seen, now lost;
While every gun-fire spread

A dimmer flash, a fainter roar;
-At length they saw, they heard no more.

There are to whom. that ship was dear,
For love and kindred's sake;
When these the voice of rumour hear,

Their inmost heart shall quake,
Shall doubt, and fear, and wish and grieve,
Believe, and long to unbelieve,

But never cease to ache;
Still doomed in sad suspense, to bear
The hope that keeps alive despair.

TWO OF A TRADE.

A Fisherman one morn displayed
Upon the Steine his net;
CORINNA Could not promenade,
And 'gan to fume and fret.

The fisher cried: "Give o'er the spleen,
We both are in one line:

You spread your nets upon the Steine,
Why may not I spread mine?
Two of a Trade can ne'er agree,
"Tis that which makes you sore;
I fish for flat-fish in the sea,
And you upon the shore."

The Cape of Good Hope, formerly called the Cape of Storms. See CAMOENS's Lusiad, book V.

A MODERN LOVE SONNET.

MORE fragrant far than musk or berga.

mot,

Or Seville's golden fruit the sense that
draws,

Or May dew in the morning early got,
Or milk of roses in a China vase,
Is Mary's balmy breath!-more passing

sweet

Her mien; her air more sprightly is and gay
Than Champagne sparkling, or
Lisbon wine;

sweet

[blocks in formation]

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

COMMUNICATIONS for this head, from authors and booksellers, post paid, will be inserted free of expense. Literary advertisements will be printed upon the covers at the usual price.

Articles of literary intelligence, inserted by the booksellers in the United States' Gazette, will be copied into this Magazine, without further order.

WE have witnessed, with very great pleasure, the taste and judgment with which the three volumes of the "American Law Journal," by John E. Hall, Esquire, of Baltimore, have been produced. We have no doubt that the subsequent volumes will furnish additional reasons to applaud this very useful publication. It has been justly valued by the lawyers of our country; has been quoted as authority in the several professional publications, which Messrs. Day, Condy, Story, Ingersoll, and Duponceau, have issued from the American press; and is frequently cited on the trial of causes before our highest tribunals. It is also gradually making its way among those other classes of readers, to whom some knowledge of the improvements and changes in the law is either incidentally useful in their avocations, or desirable, in order to fill up the stock of general information. It is not merely a compilation, but embraces original articles, with which it will, doubtless, be more frequently enriched, as the task becomes more familiar to the editor, and his professional friends shall be more generally engaged to contribute to its variety and advance its utility by studies of their own. Its use is not confined to any state in the union. It contains decisions of the judicial tribunals of every state, and copious extracts from those of their laws, which, being founded on general principles, it is important should be consulted by all our lawyers No work of the kind has appeared before in the United States, and assuredly no work is calculated for practical utility, more than this, if the industrious and meritorious author shall be patronised, as he deserves, by those for whom he has laboured.

The "American Law Journal" is published in quarterly numbers, at a very moderate price. It commenced in 1808, and three volumes have been published.

RECENT AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

By Bradford and Inskeep, Philadelphia, Published-A Catalogue of their Medical Stock. Delivered gratis to those who may apply at the bookstore.

Also-Rush's Syllabus. Together with sixteen Introductory Lectures to Courses of Lectures upon the Institutes and Practice of Medicine. To which are addedTwo Lectures upon the Pleasures of the Senses and of the Mind, with an Inquiry into their proximate Cause.

Also-The Nautical Almanack and Astronomical Ephemeris. Continued anLondon editions. By John Garnett. Price nually, and carefully revised from the 1 dollar 25 cents.

By Thomas Dobson, Philadelphia,

Republished-Surgical Essays on the Constitutional Origin and Tres ment of Local Diseases; on Aneurisms, on Diseases resembling Syphilis; and on Diseases of the Urethra. By John Abernethy,

F. R. S.

Day's "Ord on Usury." Condy's "Marshall on Ensurance." Story's "Abbott on Shipping." Ingersoll's "Roccus;" and Duponceau's "Bynkershock.”

« ZurückWeiter »