Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

gaged the consoling influence of all cher powers; and, in adducing reason and religion for calming her preturbed affliction, she imperceptibly mitigated the poignancy of her own. Grievous was the case was, it might have been worse: her brother was dead, but then her father lived. Her intended husband, too, was spared by Heaven; and, though she could not tell whether she loved him better than her brother because she loved both affectionately -yet surely she ought to be thankful that even one of them escaped with his life. Still her father and Lambert were in prison, but they were innocent; the justice of the country would, in proper time, liberate them, when their characters were established.

her mother's frenzied distraction en- to a man, whom the same law says is to be considered innocent until convicted-when she saw her father standing, as well as Lambert, within the iron spikes of the dock, and heard the solemn and heavy charges read-her eyes began to swim, her heart sank within her, and some of her neighbours carried her into the open air. When she recovered, she read, in the unwillingness of all to speak, the dreadful truth. The prisoners received from many, among whom was the parish priest, an excellent character; but, as all these were obliged to acknowledge that many men of good characters were frequently implicated in such lawless proceedings, their testimony availed little, particularly as they had been apprehended with weapons which they had used against his Majesty's troops. Appeals to mercy could not be attended to, as the state of the country demanded examples of terrifying severity; for laws. must be enforced where they are not respected.

"As the assizes approached, a great er bustle was apparent throughout the country. The only milch cow of the poor man was driven to the fair to get money to fee a lawyer to defend his son; and the wife, in her afflicted poverty, was preparing to sell the seed corn and family potatoes to pay the attorney for attending in behalf of the father of her children. Mary's mother exerted all her industry to prepare for her husband's trial. Gentlemen within the circuit of twenty miles were all supplicated by her for their interest; but all whose name inspired her with some hope of future support she found were either in Dublin, London, or Paris. - -

"The long-wished for, but still dreaded, assizes came. The road to Clonmel was thronged by the country people, who hastened to know the result of the fearful day. Among the most worn and dejected was Mary: she left her mother helpless, and was proceeding to witness the trial of a father, to whom she could now, for the first time, be of little service. Her husband, in every thing but form, was to be judged that day also. Alas! poor Mary apprehended the worst that could happen.

"The prisoners were arraigned; and when Mary heard the counts recited against them, and the number of times which the law imputes various crimes

[blocks in formation]

"Two days were only given the prisoners to prepare for the expiation required by justice! Mary concealed from her mother the result of the trial : she alleged protraction to satisfy her anxiety, and that on the morrow she was to go again. The morrow came, and Mary proceeded to Clonmel to take her last look and last farewell' of all that now could make existence desirable: their death she knew would terminate her mother's life, and then she would be alone and friendless. Her grief was too severe for tears; her movements were merely mechanical; and when she reached the dungeon of the gaol, she scarcely knew where she was. She threw herself on her knees to receive a father's blessing: she hung round Lambert's neck, and, unasked and unblushingly, gave his lips a thousand kisses. The fond embraces and agonizing tears of her lover soon brought Mary to herself: she wept aloud; but at length submitted to the advice of the attending clergyman. Religion may be despised by the great and unthinking, but it is the only and last friend of poverty and suffering: it now supported those with firmness who

were so soon to be rewarded for faith and hope.

"The fatal knell tolled in solemn warning, and the victims of offended laws made their appearance on the platform. Some acknowledged their guilty folly, and warned their countrymen of the danger of illegal associaation: but Wilson and Lambert declared their innocence, inasmuch as they were forced to accompany those with whom they suffered to the commission of an unexpected offence; then joining in prayer which was accompanied by Mary beneath the drop. Lambert overheard her devotional breathings; and, just before the fatal signal, he ejaculated Poor Mary! His last words-fixed themselves on the memory of the poor girl, who, after the dead bodies were cut down, paid the last duties to the deceased in a kind of bewildered affection. She was observed by the neighbours, who attended to carry home the dead, to talk in a most extravagant and incoherent manner; but her miserable situation apologized for her conduct, however extraordinary it might be.

"When Mary arrived at the glebe another cause of dissatisfaction met her: her mother had heard from a gossip the fatal information, and immediately expired. Mary fell into a stupifying trance, from which she never wakened to recollection; all she remembers of the past is her lover's last words, Poor Mary' which she repeats a hundred times a day.

"The dwelling of Wilson is yet standing: from the road it appears the habitation of comfort and tranquillity;

[merged small][ocr errors]

"Mary, in her days of happiness, was a general favourite, and the visitation which destroyed at once her terrestrial felicity and mind was so singular and appalling that her fate excites universal sympathy. For many miles round she is visited by those who are enabled, by little presents, to contribute to her comfort or mitigate the miseries of her condition to all who come she makes presents of flowers, so innocent and artless, sighing every moment Poor Mary! that the words are caught up by those whose bosoms are alive to pity; and, as they learn the wreck of misfortune,they generally add one more to the thousand testimonies of sympathy by writing, on the first substance that will retain it Poor Mary!

"Deluded Irishmen! study the history of this once lovely girl, and forego your folly by contemplating in her the misery you have caused to thousands; for many of your fair daughters are reminded of their own sufferings as they feelingly repeat 'Poor Mary!

Half a dozen of admirable illustrations, drawn by George Cruikshank in his best manner, add much to the pleasure with which we have perused. these volumes.

The squirrel that's sporting
Amid the dead leaves,
Full oft with its rustle
The hunter deceives;

Who, starting, imagines
That booty is nigh,
And, swelling with pleasure,
His bosom beats high.

"Now, courage!" he mutters;
And, crouching below
A thunder-split linden,
He waits for his foe:
"Ha! joy to the bunter!
A monstrous bear
Even now is approaching,
And bids me prepare.

DANISH BEAR SONG.

"Hark! hark! for the monarch
Of forests ere long
Will breathe out his bellow
Deep-throated and strong."
Thus saying, he gazes
Intently around;

But (death to his wishes!)
Can hear not a sound;

Except when at moments
The wind rising shrill,
Wafts boughs from the bushes
Across the lone bill;

Or save when the squirrel,
'Mid thicket and leaves,

Again with its rustle

The hunter deceives.

Original Anecdotes, Literary News, Chit Chat, Incidents, &c.

DAVID BARCLAY THE QUAKER.

[ocr errors]

David Barclay, of Mathers, in Scotland, and father of the famous Robert Barclay, served as a colonel under Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, and when the troubles broke out in Charles the First's time, he did not remain neuter. In that fluctuating period he became Quaker; and when he retired to live upon his estate, wished to improve his personal farm. But as he knew nothing of agriculture, he was obliged to trust all to his servants. Having discovered that he had an unskilful ploughman, he was at much pains to recommend better methods of ploughing, from what he had observed among his neighbours; but the fellow was obstinate, and would go on his own way, Thou knowest, friend,' said Mr. Barclay, that I feed and pay thee to do my work in a proper manner; but thou art wise in thine own eyes, and regardest not the admonition of thy employer. I have hitherto spoken to thee in a style thou understandest not, for, verily, thou art of a perverse spirit: I wish to correct thy errors for my own sake, and for thine, and therefore thus tell thee (coming over his head at the same time with a blow that brought him to the ground) that I am thy master, and will be obeyed.' Though the weapon was carnal, this was the demonstration of power, and had the desired effect: the ploughman became tractable and quiet as a lamb.

SPORTING.

Charles III. of Spain, a little before his death, boasted to a foreign ambassador that he had killed with his own hand 539 wolves, and 5323 foxes! and this he was enabled to tell accurately, as he kept a diary of this important matter.

When the King of Naples (the greatest sportsman in Europe) was in Germany, about the year 1792, it was said in the German papers, that in the different times he had been shooting in Austria, Bohemia, and Moravia, he had killed 5 bears, 1820 wild boars, 1968 stags, 13 wolves, 354 foxes,

15350 pheasants, 1121 rabbits, 16354 hares, 1625 she-goats, 1625 roe bucks, and 12435 partridges.

Francis made one, in 1755. There were twenty-three persons in the party, three of whom were ladies; the Princess Charlotte of Lorraine was one of them. The chase lasted eighteen days, and during that time they killed 47,950 head of game, and wild deer; of which 19 were stags, 77 roebucks, 10 foxes, 18,242 hares, 19,545 partridges, 9499 pheasants, 114 larks, 353 quails, 454 other birds. The Emperor fired 9798 shots, and the Princess Charlotte 9010; in all, there were 116,209 shots fired.

But all that we have stated comes short of the game establishment at Chantilli, the most extraordinary one in Europe, once belonging to the house of Condé. It included 21 miles of park, and 48 miles of forest. The horses, when the family were at that place, were above 500. The dogs 60 to 80: the servants above 500. The stables the finest and best in Europe. We shall now present to the sporting and unsporting reader, for both will lift up their eyes, a list of game killed, year by year, through a series of thirty-two years-beginning with the year 1748, ending with the year 1779 :

List of the Game. 54872 33055 26371 50812

37160

19774

[blocks in formation]

tles (the mail quail) 449, woodcocks 2164, snipes 2856, ducks 1553, woodpiquers 317, lapwings 720, becfique (small birds like our wheatear) 67, curlews 32, oyes d'Egypte 3, oyes sauvage 14, bustards 2, larks 106, tudells 2, fox 1, crapeaux 8, thrushes 1313, guynard 4, stags 1712, hinds 1682, facons 519, does 1921, young does 135, roe-bucks 4669, young ditto 810, wild boars 1942, marcassins (young boars) 818. A magnificent list of animal slaughter carefully and systematically recorded as achieve ments. In these archives it is stated, with more than senatorial gravity, that 'the pieces of game killed by S. A. R. Monseigneur Le Prince de Condé, were in number 65,524.' That the nine pieces killed by the late Prince's grandson, the Duc D'Enghein, were rabbits.' That the pieces killed by the Duc de Bourbon were these; pheasants 1451, hares 1207, partridges 1254, red ditto 143;' and by Č. D'Artois, these; 6 pheasants 978, hares 870, partridges 1105, red ditto 115.'

The ruling passion is the same every where. The following curious observation occurs in a treatise on hunting. "I once had the pleasure of a long conversation with a very ingenious gentleman then seventy years old. Having himself hunted with all sorts of dogs, and in most counties of England, he entertained me with a most delightful discourse on that subject; and on my making him a compliment on his perfect knowledge of the art; "Oh! Sir, (says he) the life of man is too short.' And yet how many of our first-rate sportsmen may be compared to Actæon, who was devoured by his dogs; so they, ruined by their hounds and hunters. Sir Isaac Newton wished to know why sportsmen should not be excluded from Juries, like butchers?" Let us now present the reader with the portrait of a sporting female, described by Mr. Pennant, Margaret Uch Evan, of Penllyn, in the neighbourhood of Snowdon, in Wales. "She is at this time (says Mr. Pennant, 1786) about 90 years of age. This extraordinary female was the

greatest hunter, sporter, and fisher, of her time. She kept a dozen at least of dogs, terriers, greyhounds, and spaniels; she killed more foxes in one year than all the confederate hunts do in ten: rowed stoutly, and was queen of the lake: fiddled excellently, and knew all our old music: did not neglect the mechanic arts, for she was a very good joiner; and at the age of 73 was the best wrestler in the country, and few young men dared to try a fall with her. Margaret was also a blacksmith, shoemaker, boat-builder, and maker of harps. She shod her own horses, made her own shoes, and built her own boats, while she was un- der contract to convey the copperore down the lakes. All the neighbouring bards paid their addresses to Margaret, and celebrated her exploits in pure British verse. At length she gave her hand to the most effeminate of her admirers, as if pre-determined to maintain the superiority which nature had bestowed on her!

THE NEW STOMACH PUMP.

It is gratifying to witness the success of any new invention for the preservation of human life. A surgeon of Shrewsbury has employed the new stomach pump in extracting some oxalic acid from the stomach of a young woman, who, in a fit of insanity, had taken a dose of this violent poison. Why is oxalic acid allowed to be commonly sold by druggists? It is of no utility in medicine, and is so very easily mistaken for Epsom salts. An order from the Apothecaries' Company would probably be sufficient to prevent these fatal results.

FEMALE PROTECTION SOCIETY.

few other ladies, have formed a society The benevolent Mrs. Fry, and a to afford temporary relief to females of good character, who may be destitute of employment. It more especially offers protection to young women in the following situations of life, who are capable of maintaining themselves, if employed :-Shop-women, teachers in schools, house-keepers, ladies' maids, and servants generally of unimpeachable character, if out of place. When

[blocks in formation]

The red cabbage stewed in veal broth is accounted upon the continent a specific cure against pulmonary complaints, and what is here called consumption. For this purpose red cabbage is especially cultivated in French kitchen gardens; to which, in the cooking, pistachios and calf's lights are added. This reminds us of an anecdote which passed current at the time we heard it. A young Roman Catholic clergyman, rector of a country parish, was called upon to preach a sermon upon a grand solemnity, at which the bishop of the diocese, a cardinal, appeared in the Roman purple, surrounded by the clergy in their white surplices. The preacher performed his task to the approbation of every one. After the ceremony, his eminence, meeting him, seemed to wonder at his not having been abashed when in the presence of a cardinal in the full blaze of his red paraphernalia. The simple and honest clergyman replied: Your eminence will cease to wonder, when you know that I learnt my discourse by heart in my garden, and used to practise declamation before a plot of white cabbages, in the center of which was a red one.'-A preferment was the reward of this witty answer.

JOHN FEWSTER.

April 1824. John Fewster died, a very respectable surgeon and apothecary at Thornbury. This gentleman is universally considered, in that neighbourhood, as the first person who noticed the effects of the vaccine virus. Many years past, a medical club was

Mr.

established at Thornbury, where gentlemen of that profession met each other, and communicated any fact or observation that had occurred in the course of their practice;—at one of these meetings, Mr. Fewster mentioned to the members present, that the hands of those persons who were employed in milking the cows in that great dairy neighbourhood contracted a complaint from the animal, appearing in the form of pustules; and that persons so affected were not liable to the contagion of the small pox. Jenner, of Berkley, a brother Esculapius, being struck with the relation, requested Mr. F. to investigate this curious fact more narrowly by a course of experiments; this Mr. F. declined on account of professional occupations, but pressed Mr. Jenner to do so. Fortunately for mankind, the advice was not neglected; and, from the skill and perseverance of this gentleman (afterwards Dr. Jenner) the blessings of the vaccine virus were distributed through the earth.

A LIVING CLOCK.

Dr. Willis mentions an idiot, who was accustomed to repeat the strokes of a clock near which he lived, with a loud voice. Afterwards having been removed into a parish where there was no church clock, he continued as before to call the hours successively; and this with so great accuracy, both as to the number of tolls, which he pretended to count, and as to the length of the intervening hours, that the family where he boarded conducted all their business by his proclamation of time.

INVENTIONS.-THE TELESCOPE. In or about the year 1590, was the invention of the telescope, or spyingglass, discovered, being justly esteemed one of the most useful and excellent discoveries of modern times; though it was, it seems, produced by mere chance. The common account is, that two children of one Janseen, a spectacle-maker of Middleburg, in Zealand, being at play in their father's shop, and looking through two pieces of glass between their fingers, which were at some small distance from each other, the weather-cock of the

« ПредишнаНапред »