kindly, yet dignified, antiquated dames, mar- may be so: it may be, that we think those ried and single? My young friend Adolescens comes and tells me that I am wrong, and that there are as many good old ladies now as of yore. It 6 pleasant companionships lost because the years are gone in which we enjoyed them: and that we imagine there are no more old ladies, because those we loved are dead. form of sledge runners, and frozen together by an application of mud and water. Dr. Rae writes to the Athenæum :"13, Salisbury Street, Strand, Feb. 12. To this last mode of forming sledges the "Observing in your journal of the 10th inst. natives never resort, unless driven thereto by a some statements entitled 'An additional gleam very great scarcity of wood, because as soon as of light on the probable fate of the Franklin Ex- the sun acquires power in the spring, the skins pedition,' would you have the kindness to give thaw and become so soft and pliable as to be uninsertion to the following remarks on the sub-fit for use. The Esquimaux were from the same ject. The person from whom this additional cause-scarcity of wood-equally ill provided gleam,' is said to have been obtained was cer- with canoes, not having above half as many in tainly one of my best men on the recent Arctic proportion to the number of the party as they had Expedition. He is, however, not an Esquimaux, when I wintered at Repulse Bay in 1846-7. One but a Cree Indian, named Thomas Mistegan or two of their spear-handles and bows were (erroneously called Mastitukwin), who had never made of oak and ash, which appeared fresh and lived among the Esquimaux until he accompa- new; probably portions of the oars and gun-wales nied me to the Arctic Sea, nor could he speak of the boat found where the dead men were seen. or understand a syllable of the Esquimaux lan- Indeed, wood was so highly prized by the natives guage until he, as well as my other men, picked that a piece of stick about 5 feet long and 1 1-2 up a few words during the mouth or two we inch diameter was as highly-valued by them as a were with the natives of Repulse Bay. Our dagger or large knife, which most certainly winter station at Repulse Bay was exactly on the would not have been the case had the Esquimaux Arctic Circle, and consequently we had not, as obtained possession of one or even a portion of represented, six weeks constant night,' for re- one of Franklin's ships. It is said that, “ Sir fraction raised the sun at noon quite above the John Franklin was found dead with his blanket horizon, even on the 22nd of December, and over him and his gun by his side." This is as on this-the shortest day there were three difficult a question to decide as that of the hours good daylight. My northern journey com-identity of the fragments of Sir John's watch.menced on the last day of March, 1854, and The Esquimaux accounts, to me, were plain and occupied us fifty-six days, and not 'thirty-seven simple. They said, 'that there was no old man days,' as stated. We were never one hundred with the party of "whites" when seen alive,miles,' nor even one mile beyond the region in that the leader, or apparent leader (for the natives habited by the Esquimaux,' although, for a very could only judge by seeing one person walking good reason (the scarcity of deer, etc.,) none of unincumbered, whilst the others were dragging these people were seen at or near our extreme the sledges and boat), was a tall, stout man, point at the season of the year we were there. taller than myself, and, consequently, about six That one or two of Sir John Franklin's men feet high. They also remarked, that they may still be alive, is probably a theory of the thought one of the dead bodies found was that reverend gentleman who communicates the in- of an officer (chief), as he had a telescope strapformation. That Sir John Franklin's watch. ped over his shoulder, and had his double-barrelall in pieces,' was found, is more than I yet led gun lying under him. I shall leave your know. How the Esquimaux, or Thomas Miste-readers to judge how much reliance can be placed gan, the Cree, could distinguish it without any on the report of Mistegan, whom I, at the same particular marks, from the fragments of six or time, exonerate from the imputation of having cight other watches, all obtained at the same wilfully misstated facts. The Rev. Mr. Hurlbert time, is a question which I shall leave the Rev. has evidently "jumped" at conclusions, which T. Hurlburt and his informant to decide. The any statement that could have been made by statement that there was plenty of wood among Mistegan would scarcely warrant his arriving at the natives,' and that the ship was a god-send'-I am, etc., JOHN RAE. to them is equally incorrect with the previous portion of this report. Among some dozen or so, The Emperor of France has given 40,000 of sledges, I saw three, or at most four of francs for the purpose of founding a new laborawood; the wood in these was old and worn; and tory in connection with the High Normal School the Esquimaux distinctly told me that it had been obtained from a vessel many years ago, and pointed out the place on the chart in Prince Regent's Inlet, agreeing very closely with the position of Sir John Ross's vessel, abandoned, I think in 1832 or 1833. Two of the sledges were made of the jawbones of whales, and all the others were formed of musk-ox skins, folded up in the in Paris. It will be placed under the direction of M. Sainte-Claire Deville, and will be confined to researches and analyses in mineral chemistry. An order has been given to construct a vast number of cuirasses and other military armour of aluminum tested at this laboratory. This metal possesses the great advantage of being inoxidable, and at the same time extremely light. From The Morning Chronicle, March 5. |—who gave shape and form to its innate genius for aggression-and who established those conquering traditions which his successors have Ir would be difficult to over-estimate, even in maintained as the most sacred faith of Muscovy times of the profoundest peace, the importance of - we take to have been the Czar VLADIMIR. the abrupt termination of a reign of thirty years He it was who carried his arms to Constantinoby one of the most powerful sovereigns in the ple as the last heathen and the first Christian world, whose character and policy had served to Sovereign of the Russias, and brought back capstamp, in a pre-eminent degree the idiosyncrasy tive priests from the Byzantine capital to instruct of his age. Possessed of the profoundest dis- his Court and people in the doctrines of Christsimulation, of the most indomitable energy, of ianity. He, too, it was who, in the affairs of the firmest determination, of the most persever-internal government, laid the base to that fabric ing labor, of inexhaustible resource in difficulty, of political organization of which the GREAT it could scarcely fail to happen that the death of PETER long afterwards raised the superstructure. the Emperor NICHOLAS, at whatever period of It is only from the commencement of the last his reign it had been destined to transpire, would century that Russia becomes known to the West exert a vast influence on the future of the Rus- of Europe as a great and in any degree as a sian Empire, and paralyze the grand schemes, civilized Power. But it was by the slow workwhether of government or of war, with which ings of preceding ages alone that the Empire his powerful and untiring intellect might be was raised to these conditions of political imcharged. The life of a sovereign wielding portance. There was much, indeed, of retrogreswith absolute authority a cruel and relentless sion, as well as of progress in those early times. sceptre over seventy millions of human beings But it is equally certain that without the ante-and alarming, in turn, by the progress of his cedent policy of VLADIMIR, Russia would never power, all the monarchies of Europe and Asia-have attained the political development which must necessarily have formed one of the most salient features in the international politics of the day. It remains then to us, to consider the import of that death-note which is now sounding over Europe, as from the trumpet of the Archangel, to awaten the liberation of States, at a moment when the life of the tyrant stood in peculiar antagonisn to the allied interests of the world, and when his individual policy had been thus far staked in successful opposition to the voice of all the nations of the West. The political carea of the Emperor Nicholas, was characterized by an astonishing variety of means, and by a yet nore marvellously persevering unity of end. He seemed, indeed, alternately to be the conqueror, and the guardian of peace. He feigned to be the unvarying champion of conservative order. Yet, in reality, he was ever consistently building up and extending the might of Russia. The early years of his reign were cast in a period o' war; and, after a long interlude of European peace, his policy once more reverted to war. But Nicholas was possessed of that insight ino the character of his age which it has been the lot of few conquer ors to attain. On the conclusion of the Treaty of Adrianople, in 1829, le discovered that the temper of Europe was changed; and that the traditional policy of military conquest, which a long line of usurping predeessors had pursued, must be thenceforth abanoned. Accordingly, he substituted, for a lengthered period, the insidious encroachments of dipomacy, backed by power, for the open arrogations which had commenced, and which terminate his reign. The success of his negotiations wa more signal than the triumph of his arms. He gained in peace far more than he could have arrendered by an abandonment of the Muscovite raditions of war. The encroaching policy of the Government of Russia dates from a period longanterior to the accession of the House of ROMADFF. The real founder of the Empire-who centralized its polity-who first constituted it a luropean State she displayed under the reign of PETER. The political and social aspect exhibited by the eighteenth century throughout the States of Europe-the military and ambitious character still presented, in great degree, by the Turkish nation, and the melancholy feuds and divisions of the Holy Roman Empire-afterwards united to give scope to that policy of aggrandizement which has since become the first tradition of the House of ROMANOFF. The triumvirate of CATHERINE, of POTEMKIN, and SUWARKOW, seems still associated with a career of conquest, with a violation of the rights of States, and an abrogation of the fundamental principles of international law, which belong rather to the uncivilized populations of Asia than to a great member of the European commonwealth. The continuous aggressions of Russia upon Turkey may be gathered from the fact that, at no very distant period, the Ottoman Government was possessed of all the territories encompassing the Black Sea shore. One by one, the lands won by the prowess of the Crescent have been wrested back by the ambition of the Cross; and Europe has reclaimed what a less barbarous Asia had held for her own. In order to understand the manner in which this system of policy has been so long and successfully maintained by Russia, we must cast our eyes upon the working of the springs of action in the interior of the Empire. It is difficult to speak of Russia as a nation; for the Russian monarchy is composed of an aggregation of discordant nationalities. The policy of Government has been ever allied, as we have already intimated, with the Muscovite population. That race may be said to form at once the nucleus and the dominant party of the State. But it is of comparatively insignificant importance in a numerical point of view; and it is certain that there are few Empires of the earth so incompact so dependent on mere political unity, and consequently so liable to disruption from internal causes, as that of Russia. To the west of the central or Muscovite territory is the Polish turned into a mockery. The Emperor NICHOLAS nation; to the south is the Sclavonic; and in is presented to the imagination of the English every direction are other nationalities, whose people as the archetype of all that is most awful centrifugal influence is controlled simply by the in Royal or Imperial wickedness-as the docentripetal force of an unbending despotism of mestic tyrant, the enslaver of nations, the high arms. Hence it has happened that that gigantic priest of the religion of force, the perfect master military organization, which has served to sus- of diplomatic perfidy and fraud. Whatever vertain the traditions of conquest abroad, was also dict History may pronounce on his career, his primarily dictated by the necessities of Govern-contemporaries, however severe their condemment at home. It cannot be denied that the character of the successive reigns of ALEXANDER and NICHOLAS gave reason to hope that the violent and unscrupulous policy of CATHERINE had been at length ignored by the Government of Russia. Both Sovereigns, indeed, were ambitious. ALEXANDER in the day-dreams of his glory, shared with NAPOLEON that magnificent scheme for the division of Europe between two rival monarchies which was shadowed forth on the raft of Tilsit. He appropriated Finland, and he extended his political authority in the south. But his domestic Government was characterized by a lenity which few other contemporary Sovereigns of the Continent displayed. The main feature of his military enterprise was that of a defence against invaded rights. NICHOLAS himself long yielded to the change in popular opinion. Time, however, proved at length that no change of principles had corresponded to these outward alterations of policy. Europe rose in unanimous indignation against the disturber of that public peace which had finally become the normal condition of Eu rope. nation, can scarcely be accused of injustice, because they have suffered, still are suffering, and, for aught they know, may suffer for years to come, the consequences of his inordinate ambition, and of the system of combined conquest and corruption which he, if he copied it from his predecessors, at least carried to perfection. The Emperor NICHOLAS partook of some of the best and some of the worst qualities of the Sovereign who before him occupied the Imperial throne. His career was one long uninterrupted effort to consolidate his power. Scarcely had he mounted the throne, now nearly 30 years ago, when a formidable conspiracy and insurrection, in the name of the brother he had displaced, called forth the latent energy of his character.From the hour when he quelled that incipient rebellion, the Russians knew they had a master, and superadded to the fanatica superstition with which they revered the CZAR, a fear and respect for the individual Monarch who bore that title. It is difficult to conceive the life of one man elastic enough to compass the schemes of aggrandzicment actually realized by the Emperor NICHOLAS. He combined the domestic policy of Louis XI. with the insatiable ambitior for conquest of the first NAPOLEON. Let us in justice add, that he emulated the better genits of the last-named Monarch, in the grandeur of his plans for the elevation of his people, their advancement in refining arts and knowlege, and the development of their military resources. What may be the immediate consequence of the signal act of retribution which has just arrested the pride and vainglory of man, it would be rash in the extreme to predict. But it is difficult to resist the conviction that the sagacious counsels of that aged Minister-who has suffered his declining years to be degraded by becoming the instrument of every species of tyranny, duplicity, It is not easy to undersand how Europe could and wrong-will return to their original predomi- have permitted the course of military conquests nance in the Russian State, and urge upon the and of encroachment by diplomatic intrigue, with Imperial Government those concessions to the which the Emperor NCHOLAS signalized his just demands of Western Europe which even reign. No conqueror of modern times has adthe might of the House of ROMANOFF is daily ded such immense territory, and so permanently, growing less and less able to resist. To those to his domains. The EMPEROR regarded himfew who may cherish in Russia the recollection of a name which will elsewhere be handed down with the universal execration of mankind, there may arise perhaps this consolatory pride, that the great struggle maintained between Russia and Europe was dependent upon a single life; and that the contest which may now perhaps be approaching to its close, was sustained by the individual arm of NICHOLAS against the united energies of the nations of Western Europe. * * It is not yet the time to form an impartial judgment on the character of the Emperor NiCHOLAS. This nation still resents the outrage on public honor of which the Autocrat has been guilty still mourns the loss of brave troops sacrificed in repelling his ambition. The onward march of civilization has been arrested in its course, and all the triumphs of progress, of which this age so justly boasts, have been self as the inheritor and executor of a vast plan of universal empire, to the achievement of which nearly all his immediate predecessors had contributed. He believed himself destined to coinplete the work-at least to place in the hands of his successor the weapon by which it was to be perfected. Perhaps the approach of age, and the anticipation of early death, led him to overleap his usual caution, when he deliberately forced on the Western Nations the war in which they are now engaged. He thought to find them divided -he lived to see them more firmly united than they ever yet had been, and to know that his name was execrated throughout the world by the ruling powers, because he had wantonly destroyed the prestige which had enabled him to protect them, by the insurrectionary "nationalities," because he had krit more firmly by his aggression the strength of their so-called oppressors. Baffled alike in his diplomacy and in his military character, he died knowing that he had flung away the hardy-earned fame of a long and too success- | Europe. Against one thing we would warn peoful career. ple and rulers alike to be on their guard. Let The possible results of this event can scarcely them not suppose that the death of a man is the yet be compassed. The immense machine of death of a system. NICHOLAS but obeyed a dark Russian aggressive force is suddenly deprived of idea of destiny in all he did. His merit to Rusits mainspring and director. Who shall sway sian eyes, consisted in the gigantic energy and its powers? Humor had long been busy with unwearied watchfulness with which he accom. the dynastic question involved in the possible plished his appointed task. The personal charcontingency of the EMPEROR's death. Of his acter of the succeeding Prince might for a time two next sons, the one nearest to the succession modify the action of the Russian system; but was said not to partake his policy, while the there it would still remain, a great and mysteother was held to be the chosen chief of the old rious inheritance, a devolved duty. It is possible, Russian party, and to be even zealous in the de- in the words of Lord CLARENDON, that the death sire to carry out his father's schemes. Will the of the Emperor NICHOLAS may "exercise an imdeath of NICHOLAS be followed by any internal portant and immediate influence on the policy revolution in Russia? Will, the war once set in of Russia." But, after all we have suffered from motion be made to run its course-or will advan- the incarnate genius of that policy during the tage be taken of this event to withdraw honor- last two years, it would be something worse than ably from a position, which is untenable except weakness were we to recede from our position, at the risk of meeting the whole world in arms? in expectation of some relaxation of its omniThese are the two great questions which immediately occupy the public mind in Western present action, to follow from the personal character of the EMPEROR's successor. From Paris correspondence we gleam a few istic arms: vert: three needles in fess argent, each duparagraphs of interest, as proving how close is cally crowned or: crest, a Moor's head, couped at the the assumed relations of literature to events in shoulders in profile proper, wreathed about the France. Madame Sand, we hear has received a temples argent, and in his ear a pearl (the crest warning not to publish in La Presse that portion originally was an apple-tree and serpent); supof her memoir which relates to the year 1812 porters, a man and woman (termed Adam and and the retreat from Moscow. M. Eugène Sue's Eve), wreathed round the waist with leaves, all romance, "Le Diable Médecin," appearing in proper, in the woman's dexter hand a needle the Siecle, has been suspended by superior or argent: motto, "They sewed fig-leaves together der-the story is said to have given offence in and made themselves aprons." Stow tells us high quarters by its free description of "the lux- that needles were sold in Cheapside in the reign ury that is called prosperity." M. Berryer's re- of Queen Mary, and were then made by a Spanception at the Institute has produced more sur- ish negro, by a secret art; they are also said to prises than were expected. His speech-more have been made in London by a native of India, political even than has lately been the case in the in 1545; and by one Elias Krause, a German, in arena which, as Government alleges, is now the 1566. Needles were first made, or rather finishonly debating club left in France-was prohibited, in Whitechapel, by one Mackenzie; hence ed to the journals, but only after the country the cry of "Whitechapel needles, twenty-five for editions had been printed and sent out. Paris a penny." The trade then removed to the bordconsequently could not read what all the provin- ers of Warwickshire and Worcestershire; but ces could read:--and next day the sensitive au- Whitechapel labels are still used, and the fame thority withdrew its ban. Government, how- of "Whitechapel sharps" has reached the inteever, was not satisfied; and it is whispered that rior of Africa. the power which has swept the whole horizon of intellectual France will not respect the institute,] unless the members "learn how to respect themselves." Unhappily, the Institute has put itself, morally to a certain extent, in the power of Government; as its late elections, though of eminent men, have not always commanded the approval of that intellectual public which stands apart from political coteries. M. Berryer is a party chief-not one of the writers of whom the France of posterity will be proud. MM. Salvandy, Molé Pasquier are not known as French classics. Why, then, are they members of the Institute? Such is the grave question which M. Berryer's escapade has raised? The Needlemakers' is the only City Company not incorporated by a crowned head, they hay ing received their Charter from Cromwell in 1656. They have no Hall, but these character Curiosities of London. ARTIFICIAL ICE.-Your correspondent inquires "What was the substance exhibited under the name of artificial ice for skating on at the Egyptian Hall and Baker Street Bazaar, many years ago?" I believe it was merely a strong solution of Epsom or Glauber salts, which was frequently replaced, as it was soon cut up by the skates.-Notes and Queries. FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN NEW ENGLAND.At the sale of the residue of Mr. Pickering's books at Sotheby's Rooms, a lot (531) was sold comprising various editions of the Psalms betwixt the years 1630 and 1675; it was purchased by Mr. Stevens, the American agent, who stated that one of the versions, dated 1646, was the first book printed in New England. Notes and Queries. I received the box with the Bibles and Dr. Felton's books. The Bibles I think are very good; I hope you have included the charge of carriage to Chester, for I shall send you a Bank bill in two or three days of 8. 12. 6. If there be any more for the carriage, Mr. Jackson shall pay you. I desire my humble service and thanks to Dr. Felton; I have deliver the three books as he has directed. I will write to Coz" LaunceI am your assured friend and very humble servt. J. SWIFT. From The Gentleman's Magazine. LETTERS OF DEAN SWIFT. (Continued from Living Age, No. 566.) THE next letter will be found especially remarkable. The Dean assures Motte that he did not intend that any other bookseller than he should be concerned in the publication of his works. He intimates his determination to entrust the care of his posthumous writings to Mr. Pope, and expresses his hope that all his avowed productions should at some future time be issued in a collected edition. This was at last accomplished by Motte's successor, Charles Bathurst, under the editorship of Dr. Hawkesworth, in the year 1768. lot soon. I will add to Bank bill the 16s. for the Telescopes, which To Mr. Benjamin Motte, London. 8 12 6 0 16 0 9 8 Dublin, Jul. 15th, 1732. S',-I received your letter but two days ago, and will first answer the material part of it. Upon my word, I never intended that any but y'self should be concerned as printer or bookseller in anything that shall be published with my con- This letter is important, in reference to sent while I am alive, or after my death by my Swift's intentions with respect to the copyexecutors. As to my posthumous things I shall right of his writings, and the next is still more intrust them to Mr. Pope, but with a strong reSo. Conscious that the promulgation of his commendation that you alone may be employed: Supposing and being assured of your honest and severe satires and uncourtly politics was made fair dealing, which I have always found. I am at no little risk to a publisher, he seems to likewise desirous that some time or other all that have considered that any bold man who brav I acknoledge to be mine in prose and verse, which I shall approve of, with any little things that shall be thought deserving, should be published by themselves by you during my life (if it it contains any reasonable time), provided you are sure it will turn to your advantage. And this you may say to Mr. Pope, as my resolution, unless he hath any material objections to it, which I would desire to know. For I ever in tended the property as a bookseller should be onely in you, as long as you shall act with justice and reason, which I never doubted in the least; and I conceive that Mr. Pope's opinion of you is the same with mine. I am so well recovered of my lameness, that I can ride in gambadoes and hope in some time to come to my stirrups. I ride twice or thrice a week about ten miles at a time, and I begin to walk the town, but with halting a little. I tryed your remedy a good while onely not with red lead; but I use at present onely a soap playster. If I should be able before summer is spent to ride with stirrups, and get more strength in the sinew above my left heel, so as to be able to get in and out of a ship and a boat without danger of a new wrench, by severall of which my cure hath been much put back I did propose to go over and pass a month at Amesbury, and then the winter with Mr. Pope; but God knows whether I shall find it possible. Pray thank Mrs. Motte in my name, for her kind remembrance, with my humble service. I had lately a letter from my Cozen Launcelot, in answer to one I sent by Mr. Jackson, who I believe forgot to give her a small present I troubled him to carry over: it was only a piece of gold that goes here for 40sh but with you is worth something less. The Duke of Queensberry's seat in Wiltshire. ed the result was well entitled to all the profits that might attend his venture:* at the same time, with a desire to place his writings before as wide a range of readers as possible, he was willing to afford every encouragement in his power to their production, and re-production. Anything like copyright was, according to the Dean's account, unknown in Ireland; but if a Dublin printer, who possessed the first copy, chose to take it to London and there acquire a copyright in it, he was welcome so to do. Faulkner, the Dublin bookseller, had in several instances followed this course. Dublin, Nov. 4th 1732. S"--If I did not answer yours of Sept 4th, as I thought I did, I will do it now, and indeed I do not find it indorsed as answered. 'Tother day I received two copyes of the last Miscellany,t but I cannot learn who brought them to the house. Mr. Pope had been for some months before writing to me that he thought it would be proper to publish another Miscellany, for which "Swift readily abandoned the profits of his publications to those whom he meant to favor," "The remarks Sir Walter Scott, Works, i. 382. pecuniary emoluments of literature Swift seems never to have coveted, and therefore readily abantheir fugitive pieces into three volumes of Miscel doned to Pope the care of selecting and arranging lanies, as well as the profit that might arise from the publication." Scott, in life of Swift, i. 316. †This volume was entitled "Miscellanies. The Third Volume. London: Printed for Benj. Motte at the Middle Temple Gate, and Lawton Gilliver at Homer's Head, against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet, 1732." It consists of 100 pages of verse, and 276 of prose. |