"Forgive me, Ernestine!' cried the chevalier, kneeling also.

666

Forgive you? What? It is I who ought to beg forgiveness. I was just going to be married to the capitaine.'

Vic

"Good God, how fortunate! torine and I were married this morning' The two gentlemen embraced with ardour.

"My children,' said the good mother, 'all has happened for the best. I will not now reproach the capitaine with leaving me in the snow, since I, on my part, have endeavoured to leave him in the lurch. In the meantime, let us go in to breakfast.'

"Agreed! agreed !' The good mother was handed in by the two gentlemen, one on each side; and the young ladies followed, with their arms round one another's necks."

[We have now given our unbiassed opinion

of, and selections from, nearly a dozen of these

splendid and popular perennials, and yet several remain unnoticed by us. We mention this circumstance to shew that it has not been the result of prejudice: in future numbers we shall endeavour to perfect the list, and so bring up the arrear.]

Notices of New Books.

Nicotiana; or, the Smoker's and Snuff taker's Companion. By Henry J. Meller. 18mo. pp. 128. London: Effingham Wilson.

Tobacco, from its first introduction into this island, up to the present time, has had, notwithstanding its acknowledged useful and social qualities, the strong prejudices of countless enemies to contend with. Pedantic royalty, in the infancy of its importation, instead of hailing it with delight for its medicinal virtues, condemned its use; and in our own times its refreshing and exhilarating powers are despised by our fair country women, who, generally speaking, have a thorough aversion to the herb. To endeavour to remove such unmerited odium is the laudable purport of Mr. Meller's labours; and it will be strange indeed if such powerful arguments as he has used do not prove successful in the accomplishment of his purpose.

The author has treated his subject in a very masterly and pleasing way. The facts and opinions (the result of almost unbounded research) which he has collected, to show the high estimation the "sovereign and precious weed" has been held in by both potentates and philosophers in remote times, are very numerous and conclusive; they are also

admirably calculated to convince those persons who still asperse its salutary qualities, how much the herb is still revered by the natives of most nations, whether civilized or uncivilized.

In the work before us is given a concise history of the Tobacco plant, its culture, medical qualities, and an abstract of the laws relative to its importation and manufacture; an account of the origin of smoking; an article upon snuff; a well-written essay in defence of the pipe and box; besides a long string of anecdotes of illustrious smokers, and some very clever pieces of poetry in its praise. So that it will be seen for the grave there is something serious, and much to please the lighthearted. The following is a portion of the amusing contents of this clever little volume.

Origin of the Lundy Foot, or Irish Blackguard. - Lundy Foot, the celebrated snuff-manufacturer, some sixand-twenty years ago, had his premises at Essex-bridge in Dublin, where he made the common scented snuffs then in vogue. In preparing the snuffs, it was usual to dry them by a kiln at night, which kiln was always left in strict charge of a man appointed to regulate the heat, and see the snuffs were not spoilt. The man usually employed in this business, Larey by name, a tight boy of Cork, chanced to get drunk over the 'cratur' (i. e. a little whiskey) that he had gotten to comfort him, and quite regardless of his watch, fell fast asleep, leaving the snuff drying away. Going his usual round in the morning, Lundy Foot found the kiln still burning, and its guardian lying snoring with the fatal bottle, now empty, in his right hand. Imagining the snuff quite spoilt, and giving way to his rage, he instantly began belabouring the shoulders of the sleeper with the stick he carried.

"Och, be quiet wid ye, what the devil's the matter, master, that ye be playing that game?” shouted the astounded Larey, as he sprung up and capered about under the influence of the other's walking cane.

"You infernal scoundrel, I'll teach you to get drunk, fall asleep, and suffer my property to get spoilt," uttered the enraged manufacturer, as each word was accompanied by a blow across the dancing Mr. Larey's shoulders.

Stop! stop! wid ye, now; sure you wouldn't be afther spaking to ye'r ould sarvant that way,-the snuff's only a little dryer, or so, may be," exclaimed 'the boy,' trying to soften matters.

"You big blackguard you, didn't you get drunk and fall asleep?" interrogated his master, as he suspended his arm for a moment.

"Och by all the saints, that's a good"'un now, where can be the harum of slaaping wid a drop or so; besides but hould that shilelah-hear a man spake raison."

Just as Lundy Foot's wrath had in some degree subsided in this serio-comic scene, and he had given the negligent watcher his nominal discharge, who should come in but a couple of merchants. They instantly gave him a large order for the snuffs they were usually in the habit of purchasing, and requested to have it ready for shipping by the next day. Not having near so large a quantity at the time by him, in consequence of what had happened, he related the occurrence to them, at the same time, by way of illustration, pointing out the trembling Larey, occupied in rubbing his arms and back, and making all kinds of contortions.

Actuated by curiosity, the visitors requested to look at the snuff, although Lundy Foot told them, from the time it had been drying, it must be burnt to a chip. Having taken out the tins, they were observed to emit a burnt flavour, anything but disagreeable, and one of the gentlemen taking a pinch up, and putting it to his nose, he pronounced it the best snuff he had ever tasted. Upon this, the others made a similar trial, and all agreed that chance had brought it to a degree of perfection before unknown. Reserving about a third, Lundy Foot sold the rest to his visitors. The only thing that remained now, was to give it a name for this purpose, in a face itous mood, arising from the sudden turn affairs had taken, the master called his man to him, who was lingering near, "Come here, you Irish blackguard, and tell these gentlemen what you call this snuff, of your own making.'

Larey, who did not want acuteness, and perceived the aspect of things, affected no trifling degree of sulky indig nation, as he replied:" And is it a name ye'r in want of, sir? fait I should have thought it was the last thing you couldn't give; without, indeed, you've given all your stock to me already. You may even call it 'Irish blackguard,' stidd of one Michael Larey."

'Upon this hint he spake,' and as many a true word is spoken in jest, so was it christened on the spot. The snuff was sent to England immediately, and to different places abroad, where it soon

became a favourite to so great a degree, that the proprietor took out a patent and rapidly accumulated a handsome fortune. Such are the particulars connected with the discovery of the farfamed Lundy Foot, or Irish Blackguard

for which we are indebted to a member of the Irish bar, who was a resident in Dublin at the time."

Every one who entertains a distate to the plant should read this volume, to acquire a knowledge of the manifold virtues which it possesses; and those who regard it with "a particular fondness," should possess it for the mass of useful information which it contains.

Customs of Warious Countries.

RELIGION OF THE BOHEMIANS.-It was a remarkable feature of the character of these wanderers, that they did not, like the Jews, whom they otherwise resembled in some particulars, possess or profess any particular religion, whether in form or principle. They readily conformed, as far as might be required, with the religion of any country in which they happened to sojourn, nor did they ever practice it more than was demanded of them. It is certain that in India they embraced neither the tenets of the religion of that it Bramah nor of Mahomet. They have hence been considered as belonging to the outcast East Indian tribes of Nuts or Parias. Their want of religion is supplied by a good deal of superstition. Such of their ritual as can be discovered, for example that belonging to marriage, is savage in the extreme, and resembles the customs of the Hottentots more than of any civilized people. They adopt various observances, picked up from the religion of the country in which they live. It is, or rather was, the custom of the tribes on the Borders of England and Scotland, to attribute success to those journeys which are commenced by passing through the parish church; and they usually try to obtain permission from the beadle to do so when the church is empty, for the performance of divine service is not considered as essential to the omen. They are, therefore, totally devoid of any effectual sense of religion; and the higher, or more instructed class, may be considered as acknowledging no Deity save those of Epicurus, and such is described as being the faith, or no faith, of Hayraddin Maugrabin. I may here take notice, that nothing is more

disagreeable to this indolent and voluptuous people, than being forced to follow any regular profession. When Paris was garrisoned by the Allied troops in the year 1815, the author was walking with a British officer, near a post held by the Prussian troops. He happened at the time to smoke a cigar, and was about, while passing the sentinel, to take it out of his mouth, in compliance with a general regulation to that effect, when greatly to the astonishment of the passengers, the soldier addressed them in these words: "Rauchen sic immerfort; verdamt sey der Preussiche dienst!" that is, "Smoke away; may the Prussian service be d-d!" Upon looking closely at the man, he seemed plainly to be a Zigeuner, or gipsy, who took this method of expressing his detestation of the duty imposed on him. When the risk he ran by doing so is considered, it will be found to argue a deep degree of dislike which could make him commit himself so unwarily. If he had been overheard by a serjeant or corporal, the prugel would have been the slightest instrument of punishment employed. Note to Quentin Durward.

The Note Book.

I will make a prief of it in my Note-book. M.W. of Windsor. PURIFYING DWELLINGS. - The following is Dr. J. C. Smith's recipe for purifying houses where contagion is supposed to exist, for the discovery of which that gentleman received a Parliamentary grant of 5001. :--" Take 6 dr. of oil of vitriol, mix them in a tea-cup, by adding to the nitre I dr. of the vitriol at a time; the cup to be placed during the preparation on a hot hearth or plate of heated iron, and the mixture stirred with a tobacco-pipe or glass rod; the cup to be placed in different parts of the contaminated chamber."

ILLUSTRIOUS SMOKERS. -Tobacco was first brought into England in the reign of Elizabeth, who greatly patronized it among the nobles and poorer orders, by whom it came speedily into general use. Most mighty herb!-the effects of thy worship were soon visible, for where do we find a reign so great and glorious either for victories by land and sea, or the distinguished talent and genius, whether in the camp or cabinet, it fostered at home. Then was it, that Shakspeare-the magnificent Shakspeare, (blest and honoured was the reign in which he drew life)

burst forth like a star destined to excite the astonishment of the world he came to throw the effulgent light of his genius upon. He was a smoker.

Then, to sketch forth the gigantic march of intellect, in the ages of which we write, came forth those luminaries of the world; Hobbes, the parent of Locke's philosophy, the profound philosopher Lord Bacon, the most illustrious mathematician and philosopher, Sir Isaac Newton, and the singularly talented metaphysician Locke, each and all of whom were celebrated for their devotion to the soothing and stimulating powers of a pipe! It is related of Hobbes, who was one of the most profound thinkers of his time, that as soon as the dinner was over, he used to retire to his study and had his candle with ten or twe've pipes of tobacco laid by him; then shutting the door he fell to smoking, thinking and writing for several hours together. Locke and Bacon smoked much for recreation; the latter of whom probably was indebted to the practice for the preservation of his life in the plague of 1665, from whose contagious influence in London he sought safety in the country and his pipe. Nicotiana.

INVENTION OF THE AIR-GUN.-This machine, for expelling bullets by the expansive force of air, is first noticed in thr Elemons d'Artillerie of David Rivant, the preceptor to Louis XIII. He gives the merit of the invention to Marin, a burgher of Lesieux, who was presented to Henry IV. of France, about the year 1592.

Anecdotiana.

J.J.

A WELL-DOER.-A father wishing to dissuade his daughter from marrying, said to her, "She who marries does well-but she who remains single does better." "My dear father," she answered meekly, "I am content with doing well; let her do better who can."

LORD ROSS.-Walpole relates that the reprobate Lord Ross, being on his death-bed, was desired by his chaplain to call on God, when he replied, "I will if I go that way, but I don't believe I shall."

↑ NOT IMPROBABLE.- -" The Bishop of London has a great dislike to skittles and bowls."-"Not if the bowls have punch in them," replied a wag.

CONUNDRUMS-What newspaper is like a bottle of soda-water?-The Cork Reporter.

Monday, Dec. 5.

St. Sabas, Abb. A.D. 532.

High Water 27m after 2 Morn-41m after 2 After. On this day the festival of the Faunalia was celebrated at Rome, in honour of Faunus, who is said to have been originally a son of Picus, and to have reigned in Italy 1300 hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. His bravery as well as his wisdom have given rise to the tradition that he was the son of Mars. He raised a temple in honour of the god Pan, called by the Latins Lupercus, at the foot of the Palatine Hill; and he exer

cised popularity, and his fondness for agriculture made his subjects revere him as one of their country deities. After death he was represented with all the equipage of the satyrs, and was consulted to give oracles.

Tuesday, Dec. 6.

St. Nicholas of Myra, b. and conf. AD. 342. Sun rises im after 8-Sets 59m after 3. Hospinian observes, that it used to be common on the Vigil of St. Nicholas, for parents to convey secretly various sorts of presents to their little sons and daughters, who were taught to believe that they owed them to the kindness of St. Nicholas and his train, who, going up and down among the towns and villages, came in at the windows, though they were shut, and distributed them.This custom, he says, originated from the legendary account of that saint's having given portions to three daughters of a poor citizen, whose necessities had driven him to an intention of prostituting them; and this he effected by throwing a purse filled with money, privately at night, in at the father's bed-chainber window, to enable him to portion them out honestly.

Wednesday, Dec. 7.

St. Ambrose, bish. and conf. A. D. 397. High Water 32m after 3 Morn-4ôm after 3 Aftern. Dec. 7, 1714.-To-day the Turks declared war against the Venetians. After the Turks had entirely driven the Venetians from the Isle of Candia, the emperor undertook the defence of the Venetian Republic, and declared war against the Porte. His example was followed by the Pope and the King of Spain, who joined their ships to those of the Venetians.

The Turks, beaten in several naval engagements, were obliged to raise the siege of Corfu. Prince Eugene, at the head of the Imperial troops, gained a complete victory on August 5th, 1717, near Peter waradin, which completed the conquest of Hungary. He laid siege, the year following, to Belgrade, beat the Grand Vizier, and surrounded him. Belgrade surrendered soon after, and the war ended by the treaty of the 21st of July, 1718, upon the basis of the uti possidetis.

The island of Candia, the Crete of the ancients, is said to have been the birth-place of the fabulous deity Jupiter, and was once famous for its hundred cities, for the laws of Minos, and for the labyrinth of Dædalus. From this labyrinth, Theseus, after destroying the Minotaur, escaped by means of a clue of thread, given to him by Ariadne.

Hence back the victor bent his cautious tread,
Led through the labyrinth by a slender thread,
Which mark'd those tortuous paths that thought

in vain

Had toil'd to trace, or memory to retain.

Lamb's Catullus.

Thursday, Dec. 8.
Conception of Our Lady.

Sun rises 2m after 8-sets 58m after 3.

Dec. 8, 1695.-Expired Berthelemi d'Herbelot, the first person among the French who made himself acquainted with the Eastern tongues and Oriental history. He was held in the highest esteem by Colbert. His Oriental library is a curious work, necessary to those who wish to know the genius, history, and customs of the East. The best edition of this work is that published at the Hague, in four vols. 4to.

Friday, Dec. 9.

St. Leocadia, Vir. and Mar. A. D. 304. High Water, 41m after 4 Mor— Om after 5 After. - Advent. In the ancient church great austerity was practised during this season as a pious preparation for the coming of the Feast of the Nativity; marriages were, consequently, prohibited; it was first directed to be observed A.D. 430, and formerly included five or six Sundays; the num ber was limited to four A.D. 1000.

As this day is one included in the season of Advent, we may introduce the following ancient lines on the sports of the season :

"Three weekes before the day whereon was borne And on the Thursdaye boyes and girles do runne the Lorde of Grace,

in every place,

And bounce and beate at every doore with blowes and lustie snaps,

And cry, The Advent of the Lord, not borne as yet, perhaps.

And wishing to the neighbours all, that in the

houses dwell,

A happie yeare, and every thing to spring and prosper well;

Ilere have they peares, and plumbs, and pence, ech man gives willinglee,

For these three weeks are always thought unfor.

tunate to bee;

Wherein they are afrayde of sprites, and cankred

witches spight,

And dreadful devils black and grim, that then

have chiefest might.

Saturday, Dec. 10.

St. Eulatia, vir, and mart.

Sun rises 4m after 8-Sets 56m after 3.

This

Dec. 10, 1508,-The Convention of Cambray was concluded against the Venetians, between King of France, and the King of Spain. Pope Julius II., the Emperor Maximilian, the was a most astonishing league of princes against a Republic, which, 300 years previous, was no more than a small fishing-town. Pope Julius saw with indignation his country under the yoke of France. An effort had been made at Genoa to recover its ancient freedom, and was Punished by Louis XII. with all pomp and oppression; entered that city sword in hand, and ordered their charter of privileges to be burat before his face ;

he

Bureau

being put in type.

Ellustrated Article.

CASTLE BAYNARD.

A PAGE FROM THE HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.

For the Olio.

IN Thames Street, between Blackfriars and Queenhithe, may be seen on the wharf now occupied by the Carron Iron Company, a few remains of the once celebrated Baynard Castle. Behold the changes a few centuries have wrought. In ancient times it was the abode of feudal power, and the scene of chivalric magnificence. In 1831, it degenerates into a receptacle for fryingpans and register stoves; and the same ground on which richly caparisoned chargers pranced to the "Martial Trumpet's Sound," is now torn up by the clumsy hoofs of the draught-horse, accompanied by the ear-splitting clashings of the iron cart.

Baynard's Castle was built by Geffry Baynard, of Baynard, who came to England in the victorious train of William the Conqueror. In the year VOL. VIII.

2 A

See page 371

1111, William Baynard, the third possessor of this castle, and grandson of its founder, by an act of felony, forfeited this, together with the rest of his property; and it was subsequently granted to Robert Fitz-Walter, in whose time it was partially destroyed and rebuilt. Lastly, it devolved on the Pembroke family, with whom it remained until its partial destruction by the great fire of 1666.

Before commencing our narrative, it may not be amiss to submit to the reader a slight description of the castle.

Baynard's Castle presented from the Thames the appearance of a huge, ungainly mass, sufficiently characteristic of the tasteless inelegance of the primitive Norman architecture It consisted of four sides, the whole forming a hollow square; and it had also five towers, three facing the river, the fourth on the east side, and the other in the middle of the square; all of a septangular form, except that at the southwestern corner, which was round.Seven abutments protruded into the river, and between the second and

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