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How many more have you, not absolutely lost, but to a certain extent abused, at breakfast-sip, sipping away at unnecessary cups of sirupy tea, or gob, gobbling away at jambuttered rolls, for which nature never called-or "to party giving up what was meant for mankind"-forgetting the loss of Time in the Times, and, after a long, blank, brown, and blue study, leaving behind you a most miserable chronicle indeed! Then think-O think-on all your aimless forenoon saunterings-round and round about the premises-up and down the avenue-then into the garden on tiptoe-in and out among the neat squares of onion-beds-now humming a tune by the brink of abysses of mould, like trenches dug for the slain in the field of battle, where the tender celery is laid-now down to the river-side to try a little angling, though you well know there is nothing to be had but Pars-now into a field of turnips, without your double-barreled Joe Manton, to see Ponto point a place where once a partridge had pruned himself—now home again, at the waving of John's red sleeve, to receive a coach-full of

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country cousins, come in the capacity of forenoon callers-endless talkers all-sharp and blunt noses alike— and grinning voraciously in hopes of a lunch-now away to dress for dinner, which will not be for two long, long hours to come-now dozing, or daized on the drawing-room sofa, wondering if the bell is ever to be rung― now grimly gazing on a bit of bloody beef which your impatience has forced the blaspheming cook to draw from the spit ere the outer folds of fat were well melted at the firenow, after a disappointed dinner, discovering that the old port is corked, and the filberts all pluffing with bitter snuff, except such as enclose a worm-now an unwholesome sleep of interrupted snores, your bobbing head ever and anon smiting your breast-bone-now burnt-beans palmed off on the family for Turkish coffee-now a game of cards, with a dead partner, and the ace of spades missing-now no supper-you have no appetite for supper-and now into bed tumbles the son of Genius, complaining to the moon of the shortness of human life, and the fleetness of time !

VARIETIES.

"" There is more of the conscious security of power, than in any other of his serious pieces of considerable length; the whole has the appearance of coming in a full stream from the fountain of the heart-a stream that soothes the ear, and has no glare on the surface.

، THE COTTAR'S SATURDAY NIGHT. "HE Cottar's Saturday Night," says Mr. Lockhart, "is, perhaps, of all Burns's pieces, the one whose exclusion from the collection, were such things possible now-a-days, would be the most injurious, if not to the genius, at least to the character of the man. In spite of many feeble lines, and some heavy stanzas, it appears to me, that even his genius would suffer more in estimation, by being contemplated in the absence of this poem, than of any other siugle performance he has left us. Loftier flights he certainly has made, but in these he remained but a short while on the wing, and effort is too often perceptible; here the motion is easy, gentle, placidly undulating.

"It is delightful to turn from any of the pieces which present so great a genius as writhing under an inevitable burden, to this, where his buoyant energy seems not even to feel the pressure. The miseries of toil and penury, who shall affect to treat as unreal? Yet they shrunk to small dimensions in the presence of a spirit thus exalted at once, and softened, by the pieties of virgin love, filial reverence, and domestic devotion.

"That he who thus enthusiastic- falls. The mercury here stood at ally apprehended, and thus exquisitely painted, the artless beauty and solemnity of the feelings and thoughts that ennoble the life of the Scottish peasant, could witness observances in which the very highest of these redeeming influences are most pow. erfully and gracefully displayed, and yet describe them in a vein of unmixed merriment-that the same man should have produced the Cottar's Saturday Night and the Holy Fair about the same time-will ever continue to move wonder and regret,

"It can hardly be doubted that the author of the Cottar's Saturday Night had felt, in his time, all that any man can feel in the contemplation of the most sublime of the religious observances of his country; and as little, that had he taken up the subject of this rural sacrament in a solemn mood, he might have produced a piece as gravely beautiful as his Holy Fair is quaint, graphic, and picturesque. It is surely just that we should pay most attention to what he has delivered under the gravest sanction. In noble natures, we may be sure, the source of tears lies nearer the heart than that of smiles."

FALLS OF NIAGARA.

Captain Basil Hall in his excursion through the United States last autumn, paid a visit to the celebrated Falls of Niagara, with the view of determining a question, which had been mooted by several scientific men-whether the pressure or elasticity of the air is not increased in the immediate vicinity of a sheet of falling water? In describing the experiment to Professor Silliman, Captain Hall says:As a first step, I placed the barometer at the distance of about one hundred and fifty feet from the extreme western end of the fall, on a flat rock, as nearly as possible on a level with the top of the talas or back of shingle lying at the base of the overhanging cliff, from which the cataract descends. This station was about thirty perpendicular feet above the pool or basin into which the water

29.68 inches. I then moved the instrument to another rock within ten or twelve feet of the edge of the fall, where it was placed by means of a levelling instrument exactly at the same height as in the first instance. It still stood at 29.68; and the only difference I could observe was a slight continuous vibration of about two or three hundredths of an inch, at intervals of a few seconds. Cap. tain Hall ascribes the difficulty of breathing felt by parties visiting this celebrated water-fall to the simple agitation of the air by percussion.

MONKISH SUPERSTITION.

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A gentleman, some years ago, ing upon a visit to the Escurial, after having spent some hours in viewing the splendid collection of paintings, was shown over the several towers of this stupendous edifice. He remarked to the Monk who had, with great civility and attention, pointed out everything deserving notice, that he was much surprised there were no lightning conductors attached to any part of the building. "We can have no occasion for them," said he, crossing himself very devoutly, "as we have relics of Santa Barbara in every one of the towers." About a fortnight after this conversation, one of the principal towers was completely destroyed by lightning. Upon the gentleman's subsequently revisiting the monastery, he ventured to represent to the Monk, the inefficien cy of the relics of which he had so much boasted. "The only way in which we can account for Santa Bar bara's having so neglected us," replied the monk, shrugging up his shoulders, " is, that she must have been angry with us for some sins that we had committed."

HAPPINESS.

A captain in the navy meeting a friend as he landed at Portsmouth Point, boasted that he had left his whole ship's company the happiest fellows in the world." "How so?" asked his friend. "Why, I have

just flogged seventeen, and they are happy it is over; and all the rest are happy that they have escaped."

JUVENILE SANG FROID.

In the year 1821, a young Englishman, (seventeen years of age,) left Madrid in the diligence for Yrun. About seven leagues from Madrid, at two in the morning, the diligence was stopped by a band of robbers, who ordered the whole of the passengers to alight forthwith, and then bound them with cords. The banditti immediately lighted a number of torches, and proceeded to ransack the vehicle. The young Englishman having a great passion for drawing, and conceiving it to be a picturesque scene, managed to slip the cords from his hands, took out his sketch book, and began very coolly to commit it to paper. The robbers were so struck with the extraordinary enthusiasm of the young man, that they permitted him to continue his sketch, and left his property untouched, although they took possession of the smallest articles from every other passenger. The Danish Secretary of Legation at Madrid, who was one of the party, was stripped to his shirt: his elegant travelling cap was changed for an old Castilian Montero. He had a ring on his finger which, though intrinsically of little value, he much prized; and by way of preserving it, told one of the robbers that it had been so many years on his finger, that it was impossible to get it off. "Tenemos cuchillos," we have knives," said the ruffian, coolly. Upon this information the finger instinctively shrunk, and the ring was immediately delivered.

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PASSION.

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Fletcher, of Saltoun, is well known to have possessed a most irritable temper. His footman desiring to be dismissed, 66 Why do you leave me ?" said he. 66 Because, to speak the truth, I cannot bear your temper." "To be sure, I am passionate, but my passion is no sooner on than it is off."

"Yes," replied the servant,

"but then it is no sooner off than it is on."

OXFORD ALE.

About half a century ago, when it was more the fashion to drink ale at

Oxford than it is at present, a humorous fellow, of punning memory, established an alehouse near the pound, and wrote over his door, "Ale sold by the pound." As his ale was as good as his jokes, the Oxonians resorted to his house in great numbers, and sometimes staid there beyond the college hours. This was made a matter of complaint to the Vice Chancellor, who was directed to take away his license, by one of the Proctors of the University. Boniface was summoned to attend, and when he came into the Vice Chancellor's presence, he began hawking and spitting about the room; this the Chancellor observed, and asked what he meant by it?"Please your worship," said he, "I came here on purpose to clear myself." The Vice Chancellor imagined that he actually weighed his ale and sold it by the pound; "is that true ?" "No, au't please your worship,” replied the wit. "How do you, then ? said the Chancellor. "Very well I thank you, Sir," replied he, "how do you do?" The Chancellor laughed, and said, "Get away for a rascal; lí say no more to you." The fellow departed, and crossing the quadrangle met the Proctor who laid the information. "Sir," said he, “the chancellor wants to speak to you ;" and returned with him. "Here, Sir," said he, when he came into the Chancellor's presence, "You sent me for a rascal, and I've brought you the greatest that I know of."

FOREIGN DEBTS.

Hartlib, the friend of Milton, pensioned by Cromwell for his agricultural writings, says, that old men in his days remembered the first gardeners that came over to Surrey, (Eng.) and sold turnips, carrots, parsnips, early peas, and rape, which were then great rarities, being imported from Holland. Cherries and

hops were first planted, he says, in the reign of Henry VIII.; artichokes and currants made their appearance in the time of Elizabeth: but even at the end of this latter period cherries were brought from Flanders; onions, saffron, and liquorice, from Spain; and hops from the Low Countries. Potatoes, which were first known in these islands about the year 1586, continued for nearly a century to be cultivated in gardens as a curious exotic, and furnished a luxury only for tables of the richest persons in the kingdom. It appears in a manuscript account of the household expenses of Queen Anne, wife of James I., that the price of potatoes was then 1s. the pound.

Mr. Uniake, the barrister, in his letter to Lord Eldon, sums up not less than sixty statutes passed as lately as the session of 1824, expressly, as their titles import, for the purpose of amending and continuing, and repealing, and removing doubts, and explaining, and rendering effectual, and altering, and suspending, and facilitating the execution of other acts previously passed.

There are few labourers of either sex who live to old age unmarried; scarcely any, it has been said, of tolerable character; and this remark may be confirmed by any person's observation.

Nothing wearies me more than to see a young lady at home, sitting with her arms across, or twirling her thumbs for want of something to do. Poor thing! I always pity her, for I am sure her head is empty, and that she has not the sense even to devise the means of pleasing herself.

He who expects to find the husbandman flourishing while the manufacturers are out of employ; or the tradesman, on the other hand, in prosperity, while the farmer is in distress, let him," as Fuller says, "try whether one side of his face can smile while the other is pinched."

SALUTATIONS.

The use of "Your humble servant" came first into England on the marriage of Queen Mary, daughter of Henry IV. of France, which is derived from votre tres humble serviteur.

The usual salutation before

that time was, "God keep you," "God be with you ;" and among the vulgar, "How dost do?" with a thump on the shoulder.

THE TURKISH NAVY.

The Capitan Pasha, Gazi Hassan, was a man of extraordinary boldness: he applied himself with unremitting zeal to the formation of an effective navy; and under his protection, a nautical academy was opened in 1773, in which instructions were given by an Algerine, not deficient in practical abilities. Before this time the Turks knew nothing of navigation, and were almost ignorant of the use of the compass, as was remarked by Boscovich. The best models of naval architecture were procured from Deptford and Toulon. European artists were engaged; docks were constructed by a Swede, named Rodé; the great natural resources of the empire-the forests of Taurus, and the mines of Trebisond —were put in requisition, and Brun, Benoit, and Spurring, launched in the port of Constantinople some of the finest vessels of which any nation could boast.

It affords us pleasure to announce a new volume of Poems by L. E. L. The two principal pieces are the Venetian Bracelet and the Lost Pleiad; the former being, we understand, more of a connected narrative or story than this delightful songstress has hitherto attempted. The Golden Violet, notwithstanding the large impression printed, is rapidly following the Troubadour and Improvisatrice into new editions; a proof of the correctness of our opinion, that the poetry of L. E. L. is of that fine order which not only commands present admiration, but everlasting fame.

OF THE

ENGLISH MAGAZINES.

NO. 9.]

BOSTON, AUGUST 1, 1828.

[VOL. 9, N. S.

SKETCHES OF CONTEMPORARY AUTHORS.
No. V.-MR. COBBETT.

THERE never has been an Euro-
pean nation in which this writer
could have arisen, and have been
what he is, for so long a time, except
only the dominions of George IV. He
has existed by nothing but the free-
dom of the press; and therefore
England alone, or revolutionary
France, could have furnished him
with the necessary field. In France
his talents would have placed him at
the head of a party, and he would
have found the shoulders of his sup-
porters but steps to the guillotine.
But it is in England, and here only,
that he could have been produced,
here only, that he could become
what he is, the ablest of mob writers,
the least successful of public men;
the opponent whose abuse is the
most virulent, and at the same time
the least regarded; the most vigo-
rous adversary of the aristocracy,
yet the most despised laughing-stock'
of the people; the most uniformly
obnoxious to the general mind, yet
the most strenuous friend to every
time-honoured prejudice; the poli-
tician, who with the largest fertility
of talent and the most unwearied in-
dustry has failed in every thing he
has undertaken; and yet with a
kind of blundering omnipotence, still
continues to amuse, to excite, and
sometimes even to terrify society.
Without a great mass of democratic
opinion he would have had nothing
on which to act, or whereby to sus-
tain himself; without considerable
41 ATHENEUM, VOL. 9, 2d series.

freedom of discussion, he never could have wielded his weapons; but for the general consciousness of great evils in our social system, he would have wanted objects which men would endure to hear denounced; and if we were not governed by the deeply founded predominance of an aristocracy, his abilities must at some time or other have enabled him to profit by occasion, and perhaps to raise a permanent power on a popularity, which has now long departed, and for ever.

Mr. Cobbett is the natural outgrowth of our soil; and as he could not have existed in any other country, so he can scarcely be understood by any but Englishmen. In France, Italy and Spain, the body who misgovern the nation have little power of perverting the opinions of the instructed classes, and therefore politics in these countries have been commonly studied as a science, and reduced to general principles. These are taken for granted by the persons who would now discuss such subjects, and the attempt to argue on any other grounds would only produce contempt and ridicule. But as the class by whom political power is held in this country are an aristocracy, supported partly by privileges and partly by wealth, the combined influence of these enables them to guide in a great degree the direction of public opinion, and prevent the universal reception of any determi

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