PREFACE. THE second half-yearly volume of 'Dearden's Miscellany' is now before the public. The principles stated in the preface to Vol. I. have not been departed from; and the united testimonies of all those whose judgment the Proprietor values, lead him to believe, that by adhering to those principles, the Miscellany will be enabled to maintain a permanent place in the periodical literature of the country. It is intended, with the next year, to introduce some alterations into the Miscellany, not however of sufficient importance to authorize the announcement of a new series. The extracts from Scientific Journals will in future be omitted, to allow more room for the poetical and critical department. The Editorial portion of the work, viz. the Reviews of Books, and the Notes of the Month, will be enlarged: and in the latter article any striking advances in science, or events in literature will be noticed and commented on. The meteorological notices will be continued as before. The utmost care will be taken in the selection of articles for the Miscellany, to insert such as may be of general interest, without lowering its standard to the mere popular appetite for desultory amusement. The Proprietor takes this opportunity of repeating his best thanks to his literary friends. Nottingham, Dec. 1, 1839. CONTENTS OF VOL. II. PAGE Grey Doublet. By T. Featherstone... Floating Remembrances. By the Old Sailor...... Enquiry into the Origin and History of the Ancient Britons and of British On leaving England. By R. Howitt The Bond of Earth the Joy of Heaven. By T. Ragg Blanche of Beaulieu. A Tale of the Wars of La Vendee THE period at which the opening scene of our tale commences was about the middle of August......... The sun was slowly descending towards the western horizon, and the revelling waters of the broad Atlantic blushed most brilliantly beneath his reddening glare. The boisterous clamor of Æolus's rude voice for awhile had ceased, and all was hushed, save the gentle sighing of evening's softest zephyr which fanned the ocean's slightly agitated surface with its cooling and welcome breath. About the centre of this marine tableau two small white specks were visible. The only objects to be seen upon the wide expanse of dark blue waves, and still more extensive regions of firmament above, were the two small specks just alluded to. One, on a nearer view, was observed to be a most beautiful little vessel, gracefully haling to the breeze, and stealing almost imperceptibly on her course. The other was one of the largest kind of that immense species of sea fowl, called the Albatross. The saucy looking craft proved very deceptive with respect to her size, for at first sight she was taken for a light coasting cruiser, but on a closer survey was found to be the Fauny of Buenos Ayres, a fine Bermuda-built Brigantine of nearly two hundred and fifty tons burthen. The while this perfect specimen of naval architecture spread her large white studding sails to the wind, so apparently endowed with life were her gambols, that in the distance a landsman might easily have mistaken her for a mate of the wild ocean bird that majestically soared along with her in its flight. |