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dense cane-break in Arkansas, which bears the not very inviting name of the Devil's

Summer Retreat.'

The fight between the dogs and the bear now becomes desperate, and so equally matched does this most ferocious of the denizens of the forest appear, even though surrounded by that in reading the accounts of ancient beara score of dogs, that we cannot help feeling

the spoil, and gathering around the fire of turned, and exactly retraced his course, want of blazing pine-logs, roasting the bear's flesh, and breath having brought him to a fight with the then falling asleep beside the decaying embers, dogs. He passed us the second time within two bring to mind the rude hunter of long, long hundred yards, and coming against a fallen tree, past days. Volund the Swift,' his Saga tells backed up against it, and showed a determination, if necessary, there to die." us, thus hunted, thus feasted; and then, worn out with watching, sunk into that slumber from which he awakened in stern captivity. But little fear has the American hunter or trapper, of treachery. The wild wood is to him as it was to his English ancestors, the shrine of all manner of freedom and joyous liberty,' and merrily does he range its green solitudes. Our Nimrods at home have often baitings our sympathy ought to be awakened given us spirited sketches of the fox, and the for the dogs, rather than for the bear. The stag-hunt, but here is one of the bear, in a be inserted here, is most vividly told, and after struggle with both dogs and hunters, too long to many hair-breadth escapes from the savage beast the old hunter who never knowed fear,' and whom nothin but a yarthquake, or the A rude breakfast having been despatched, lots agur can shake,' regardless of danger rushes were drawn who should go into the drive with among the dogs, and thrusting a rifle close to the dogs. While this is going on, the hunters the bear's side, kills him. The huge carcase are at the stands, places their judgments dictate is dressed, and carried to the place of renas most likely to be passed by the bear when dezvous; the old hunter selecting for his share roused by the dogs. Two miles might on this the caul fat and the liver, which he dresses in occasion have been passed over by them, in the a style worthy of Soyer himself, remarking drive, in the course of three hours; and yet, that among the happy chances of his life, he though the signs were plenty as leaves, not a has had his fill of caul fat and liver.' 'Many bear was started. In the midst of our ill-humor, a solitary bark was heard; breathing was ala man who thinks he's lucky, lives and dies most suspended in the excitement of the mo- as ignorant of it, as a 'possum of corn cake. ment; presently another, and another bark was So if ever I look dead, don't bury me till you heard in swift succession; in a minute more, the see I don't open my eyes when it's ready for whole pack of thirty-five dogs opened. The eating. If I don't open my eyes when you change from silence to so much noise, made it show me that, I am a done gunner sure.' almost deafening. No idea, but personal experience can be had of the effect upon the mind of such a pack baying a bear in a cane brake. Before me were old hunters; they had been moving along as if destitute of all energy and feeling, but now their eyes flashed, their lips were compressed, and their checks flushed. They seemed incapable of fatigue. * ** One minute more to listen, to learn which way the war was raging, and then our party sent forth a yell that would have frightened a nation of Indians. The bear was in his bed when the dogs first came up with him, and he did not leave it till the pack surrounded him; then, finding things rather too warm, he broke off with a "whew," that was awful to her. His course was towards us, on

Here we must close our extracts, again remarking how gratified we have been with these volumes. After the extravagancies and sentimentalities of many recent American novels, these fresh and vigorous sketches have appeared like taking up some of Crabbe's forcible tales, after Monk Lewis's extravagant ballads, or some of Mary Mitford's pleasant rural sketches, after a batch of fashionable novels. From the preface we learn that there are classes and scenes of diversified interest, still untouched:' we hope they will soon follow..

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the Americans have been written by commercial While plenty of books upon America and the left; and as he went by, the cane cracked, men, by religious men, and by literary men; and smashed as if ridden over by a locomotive. and far more than enough by people who Bob Herring gave the dogs a salute as they pass- have gone thither for the purpose of mere ed close at the bear's heels, and the noise increas- bookmaking, it has been very unfortunate, we ed until he said, "It sounded as if all creation think, that no writer, a lover of country life, was pounding bark." The bear was commented interested in our old customs, and our folklore, on as he rushed by. One said he was a "buster," should have made pilgrimage to the New a regular built eight year old," said another; World; not speeding along her highways, and "fat as a candle," shouted a third; "It's a beauty visiting her chief cities, but wandering among of the Devil's Summer Retreat, with a band of the pleasant by-ways of New England and angels arter him," sang out Bob Herring. On

the bear plunged, so swiftly that our greatest Pennsylvania; visiting the quiet homesteads exertions scarcely availed us to keep within hear- overshadowed with the beech and sugar maple, ing distance. His course carried him towards and marking the everyday habits, the every those at the stands; but getting wind of them he day talk, the traditions of their people. Many

DLIX. LIVING AGE. VOL. VIII. 24

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a custom, unnoticed by Brande or Douce, -that never was England more proudly, more many a wild story, almost forgotten in the intensely national than when she sent forth old country,' he might, we doubt not, meet those devoted men, the founders of the Amerthere. And precious fragments of old bal-ican states. The glorious reign of Elizabeth lads,-precious because embodying the very was fresh in their memories, the name of feeling of the popular mind generations ago- Englishman was a name of fear throughout and vainly to be sought for in the Pepynian, Europe, and to preserve that distinctive naeven in the Roxburgh collection, might re- tionality was the very principle that urged ward his search. And snatches of old tunes the pilgrims to quit their asylum in Holland, too those wild melodies like the distant echo and cross an almost unknown sea. of our village bells, which lost to us may have was no silly cosmopolitism about these noble helped to rock the cradle of those six genera- men; they fled from Old England, prayerfultions which have passed away since the lulla- ly, reluctantly, and rejoiced to found a New by of the English mother broke upon the si- England in the Far West; giving the old falence of those wild forests. It is in their se- miliar names to the scenes around them, and cluded districts that the relationship of Eng- cherishing the customs of their fatherland as land and America is still most clearly seen. I a precious bequest. And many are the custhought I was in New England,' was the re- toms which even to this day have, as we see, mark of a well known American writer, to us lingered among them, and long may they consome years since, on returning from a visit in tinue, binding more closely together the famithe north-eastern counties. ly ties of two great nations. Long may America look back with pride on that noble heritage which she has received from our fathers, and long may Old England exult in the growing prosperity of the eldest and noblest of her

It were well to bear in mind,—and would that it had been more constantly borne in mind by writers on either side of the Atlantic, who seem inclined almost to ignore the thoroughly English descent of the Americans, daughters.

WINTER IN THE CRIMEA.

in the course of a very few days, they may be made much more comfortable than many a LonTo the Editor of the Times-Sir: In considera- don suburban dwelling. Excavations, where the tion of the deep anxiety which is felt at the pres-ground can be kept dry and well drained, are alent time concerning the health and comfort of ways warm; but "banking up," even with no our brave troops in the Crimea, perhaps a few better material than snow, will answer equally words from a practical man may afford a little well. It is not long since the writer commanded information, and be in a trifling degree consola- some hundreds of soldiers, with an unusually tory to the friends and relatives of those gallant large proportion of women and children, who were soldiers.

quartered in that most comfortless of all buildThe writer has been stationed (at different ings, a frame barrack," composed of threetimes) ten years in a climate where the thermome- quarter-inch boards, overlapping an inch, on a ter ranges from 104 deg. to 26 below zero of Fah- slight wooden frame. Though liberally supplied renheit, and occupied every description of dwel- with iron stoves and fuel, the men, and especially ling-place, from a stone house to a "shanty," at the women and children, suffered much from all seasons; during which time the only altera- cold whenever there was any wind. Half of the tions from the dress ordinarily worn in this coun- windows were by his directions blocked up, the try were, somewhat warmer under-clothing, a fur sashes of which, taken out and placed at a foot cap, with the flaps to cover the ears, woollen distance from those which remained, formed mittens, having only one division for the thumb, "double windows," which effectually excluded the and stout boots reaching to the knee; and though outer air; and as the earth was frozen so hard he has been out" skirmishing" for four hours, with that "banking" with that material was out of the the thermometer several degrees below zero, the question, snow was thrown up nearly to the eaves, "suffering" was very trifling, and the health and about six feet in thickness at the base, and taperspirits of men and horses unimpaired; and he has ing up as it ascended. From that day there was no doubt whatever that when the ample stores no more complaints of cold. On another occaand comforts, now on their way, reach their des- sion the writer, with a "fatigue party" of fifty tination, the noble fellows for whom they are in- men, constructed in four days a hut entirely tended will find themselves far more comfortable above ground, composed of earth, turf, and a few than they have been in many of our colonial bar-poles, with a small quantity of brush-wood, large racks. With respect to their "quarters," it is enough to contain the winter's supply of provis well known that, in all cases of extreme heat or cold, the comfort and health of the men depend infinitely more on the thickness of the walls than of the material of which they are composed; and as the "huts" about to be sent out must necessarily be very slight, it may be a relief to learn that,

ions and vegetables for 500 men, their wives and families, and in that hut (though of course no fire could be used) the thermometer never fell below 52 deg. when it was at 12 below zero outside.

London, Dec. 11.

VERBUM SAPIENTL

WHAT KIND OF PEACE?

How long time would elapse before Europe would be professedly governed from St. PetersThe Spectator of 30th December says:- burg, we know not-nor care. All that is Favorable as have been the results hitherto of humiliating, all that is disastrous in that result, the war which will render 1854 a memorable would have occurred, and the time and form year, it depends upon our future course for the open assumption of universal empire whether this year is to be memorable as a would be for the emperor of Russia to fix, glorious or an infamous date in English and and a matter in which the descendants of freeFrench annals. We can pass no satisfactory men could not much interest themselves. The judgment upon action till it is completed. If evil could not then be resisted: whatever we have embarked in the contest with deep resistance is to be offered must be offered now, convictions of the reasonable grounds of our and the fall of Sebastopol is the first and inproceeding, and with a firm purpose of not dispensable guarantee that such resistance is desisting till we have gained security for our- and will be successful. With the good wishes selves and for Europe, the end will be more of the season, the first thought that will rise glorious than the beginning. If, on the con- spontaneously in the heart of the nation on trary, an impatience of the expense, of the Monday morning, will be "Speedy destruction trouble, of the sacrifice, demanded by a great to Sebastopol." May both wishes be fully purpose, prove powerful enough to undermine realized.

From the Examiner, 30 Dec.

TERMS OF PEACE.

It is understood that the indirect negotiations which have been pending at Vienna, and failing which the allies expect the crisis which may lead to more active help from Austria have definitively failed. What the Czar offers, as might have been anticipated, is not satisfactory.

We do not profess to be acquainted with the details of these negotiations, but as to the main question on which they have broken down we have no reason to doubt the information communicated to us. Agreement even as to the construction of the four points was thought not unattainable, but it was on the condition required by the allies for the liberation of the Black Sea from the naval and military incubus of Sebastopol that every hope of accommodation vanished.

our convictions, to paralyze our action, and to lead us to abandon our own cause, the year that is passing will have been the beginning of the end. We see no symptoms of such pusillanimity, such weakness, in the public. But symptoms are not wanting that among the recognized advisers of the public a tendency of this kind is cautiously showing itself in wholesale abuse of the management and managers of the war. But we have now, as heretofore, to lift up our voice against any form of policy that would under any pretence advise abandonment of the war without material guarantees of security for the future. History would have no more ludicrous spectacle to of fer, were it not for the mighty hopes overthrown and the vast human interests compromised, than if England and France were to make a peace with Russia that should leave Sebastopol standing or Russia mistress of the Black Sea. The position of Europe would be inexpressibly worse than if we had never raised a finger to arrest the course of Russian domination. We should have tried and have failed; and this not through want of material, The Czar will listen to no stipulations limitbut of moral power-not because we were not ing his power over the fleet and the fortificarich and valiant, but because we were not tions of Sebastopol. Maintaining that each men, and our valor was a mere brute impulse, sovereign must be left to do what he likes unsustained by purpose and idea. Meanwhile, within his own territories, and that none can Russian policy would have received not a have the right to question his preparations at check, but a warning-would not have been Sebastopol, he argues that the Sultan, in like forced back upon her path, but simply have been enabled better to measure the obstacles and appreciate her own power for overcoming them. And how long would even caution be necessary after united Europe had failed to Such is said to be the reasoning and resolve arrest the stride of the despot? The enthusi- of Russia; and manifestly, if assented to or asm and the efforts of the Western Powers acted upon, the change would be merely from having evaporated with no result-their mili- open war to a state of antagonism as fatal to tary prestige gone their pretensions the the general interests of Europe. Each counlaughingstock of Europe-the spirit and con- try would be unceasingly engaged in constructfidence of their people lowered, who would ing fortresses, training and paying armies, undertake to lift voice or arm afterwards to building fleets, always preparing, in short, gainsay or stop that omnipotent influence? for no remote hostilities. It would be that

manner, is at full liberty to convert Sinope into a fortress and arsenal, which he may make, if it so please him, as extensive and as formidable as Sebastopol.

372

THE BALTIC FLEET AND SWEDISH CO-OPERATION.

most undesirable and most insecure of all things, an armed peace; for with Russia and Turkey in such attitudes, how could Europe disarm?

From the Examiner, 30 Dec.

THE BALTIC FLEET AND SWEDISH
CO-OPERATION.

borg, Helsingfors, or Cronstadt, or got at St. Petersburg, or had occasion to use those sharpened cutlasses we heard about soon after he sailed, it would be very unjust to say that he and his gallant comrades have done nothing. Despite all appearances, the old admiral has really accomplished something, as a brief statement may show.

Russia would characterize it as not less Sir Charles Napier has brought back from outrageous to demand of a great power, than the Baltic, all safe and sound, his fleet of fifty humiliating to such a power to consent, that sail, and though he has not destroyed Sweashe should limit her number of ships, and cease to make her batteries formidable in any sea. The first maritime countries, however, have not shrunk from entering into stipulations of this kind. England and France made mutual concessions not many years since that each should keep only a certain number of vessels in the waters east of Malta; and what would seem to have been demanded of Russia was First of all he has organized a great fleet something tantamount. If Russia maintain out of very inadequate materials, for his men her great fleet at Sebastopol, England and were composed of old sailors and landsmen, France must keep a corresponding fleet in the and if he has not turned the latter into firstBlack Sea or the Bosphorus; and such a state class seamen, he has taught them gunnery to of things would be as expensive and disquiet- perfection. Next, he has gained complete acing as war, without any hope of ultimate satis-quaintance with every nook and cranny of the faction from such results as are produced by

war.

It is idle to set up the point of honor in answer to the demand for a guarantee against aggression. What now must be forced from Russia is the satisfactory security that her future intentions are those of peace. If her fortresses in the Black Sea are to be kept armed to the teeth, Russia still meditates war. Her very demands prove it, and necessitate a continuance of the existing struggle till material guarantees shall be obtained for the effective re-establishment of peace.

Baltic and its gulfs, has tried and tested all the difficulties and possibilities of their navigation, and has gained an amount of practical knowledge of those seas which will be serviceable not merely for the next campaign, but for the next century. More than this, he has cultivated intimate relations with their as yet neutral nations; has inspired them, it is believed, with confidence in our strength and ability to protect them; and has converted their waters into an Anglo-French lake. As we all know, the formidable fortifications of Bomarsund, on which Russia had spent and was spending milThey lie before us in the Crimea, and the lions, for the purpose of overawing the nationfirst condition now, to whatever we may hope ality and attacking the independence of Swehereafter to achieve, must be the completion den, have been abated and destroyed; and of that enterprise. It is no longer upon the the neutrality of Denmark, which existed with Danube, but in the Crimea, that tranquillity Russian tendencies and inclinations, has been must be conquered. The line of the Danube converted into a neutrality with English is comparatively safe, but after all that has tendencies and inclinations. The naval prespassed an honorable peace is not possible which tige of the Czar has been reduced to the lowest would leave Russia possessed of the Tartar point, the Russian fleets have been locked up province. To do this would be to leave Turkey in their fortresses, and Russian commerce has in far worse strait than we found her. To de- been swept from the northern seas. Finally, prive Russia finally, decidedly, and by force by the complete stoppage of the trade in salt, of arms of the Crimea, is the work we have a prime necessity of life, terrible privations now, therefore, imperatively to do. We have must have been inflicted on the population of half accomplished it; it may take the summer Russia. All this, moreover, has been acto complete; the Sea of Azoff may have to be complished by Admiral Napier in difficult and entered by vessels fitted for the purpose, and dangerous waters, without loss or injury of the amount of reinforcements required for the any sort or kind to an immense fleet, and reduction of the fortresses of the mountains, as though many of the ships under his command well as of the batteries of Sebastopol, may be were utterly unfitted for the service to be larger than we have even yet taken into cal- performed. culation. But there the great obstacle to This may suffice to dispose of the notion peace now lies, and it can be removed only that the gallant old sailor has done little or by the sword. As long as the Czar retains nothing. That he has not done more would the Crimea he will persevere in his projects seem to be other people's fault, not his. against Turkey; and it is not till we are finally! What Admiral Napier may next year be masters of that province that the possibility of able to accomplish, when he returns with a peace to Europe can ever be restored. flotilla of gun-boats and floating batteries,

events will decide. But if, in 1855, we would effectively assail Russia in her northern extremities, something more than even that kind of craft, valuable as it must prove, and which we have no doubt Admiral Berkeley will give him in plenty, will have to be resorted to by Sir Charles Napier's superiors, the Queen's Government.

Swedes, the lighter the terms needful will be. Towards the close of the last war, it was thought worth the while of England to subsidize King Bernadotte to the extent of eight millions sterling, and, after its conclusion, to reward him by the annexation of Norway. Though far richer now than then, we have no desire to see English gold poured into Swedish coffers at that lavish extravagant rate; but, deeply concerned as Sweden is in the result of the present war, it is childish to expect that she will join the Western Powers unless they help her with money—and for this plain reason

That something is the conversion of the neutrality of Sweden into an alliance offensive and defensive with the allies. If the present struggle be for the freed om and independence of Europe, no state has a more direct or deeper interest in it than Sweden; and when Lord that Sweden has all the elements of military John Russell argues that in such a struggle it is the duty of Germany to take a large and active part, his argument applies with irresistible force to the Scandinavian states. England and France are fighting their battle, and have as much right to expect and require their co-operation as that of Germany.

It is idle to say that Russia has given Sweden no just cause of war, when we have just destroyed a fortress that could have had no object but the ultimate subjugation of Sweden. The erection of Bomarsund was as much a cause of alarm and danger to Sweden as that of Sebastopol to Turkey. By its agency, and under its protection, Russia would have been able to have a fleet of thirty sail of the line in a position, at any favorable moment, to destroy the Swedish monarchy and the independence and freedom of the Baltic; and the very first law of nature, the instinct of self-preservation, dictates an alliance on the part of Sweden with the powers that have reduced that formidable and threatening fortress.

strength except money. For what resource of that kind can a state with a revenue of only one million sterling have? The first condition of her co-operation, therefore, is and must be money. Supply her with that, economically and moderately, and her gun-boats are at our service in the Baltic, and her gallant army of 60,000 men may be used to create a diversion in our favor on the Polish frontier of Russia.

The next condition is, a permanent guarantee of her independence and integrity. Practically we do now give Sweden such a guarantee, for Europe would never tamely submit to see Sweden at any time attacked by Russia; and on the conclusion of a general peace we could easily lighten the weight of such an obligation, by binding Russia to the same effect. It was only two years ago that, for the sake of preserving the incongruous and heterogeneous elements that constitute the Danish monarchy under one sovereign, we concluded a treaty which protected them by such a guarantee; So long as the abatement of the power of and that treaty was greatly to the advantage Russia seemed a light and easy task, it may of Russia. Why, then, should France and have been no unwise policy not to extend the England hesitate, at a moment like this, to area of hostilities, and to disturb as little as possible the peace of minor countries. But as the magnitude and difficulties of the war increase, so our policy and our duties become enlarged. That which we could leave undone when Sebastopol seemed within easy grasp, it is folly, and worse than folly, to neglect, when our very army before Sebastopol is itself in danger. With a common cause in hand, we ought now to seek Swedish co-operation even at some sacrifices. Such co-operation is only a question of terms, and the sooner England and France authorize and empower their ministers at Stockholm to come to terms with the

give to Sweden and Norway a pledge such as they gave to Denmark? In the latter case there existed literally not a tittle of the inducement or the interest that dictates the wisdom of guaranteeing Sweden and Norway against all Russian assaults and intrigues.

If the winter be allowed to pass away without some effort to secure Swedish co-operation, deep indeed will be the responsibility of those who have the conduct of the war. To open the next Baltic campaign with that natural ally by our side would be a work of which statesmanship might be proud.

M. LEON FAUCHER, an eminent French writer and most serious books on our country published on questions of political economy, has just died. in France. M. Faucher played a leading part Amongst his productions are two large volumes, in political affairs, and was for some time a Cabicalled Etudes sur l'Angleterre," one of the best net Minister.

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