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From The Spectator.

ANGLING AT HOME AND ABROAD.*

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THERE are hills beyond Pentland, and streams beyond Forth. The rivers of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Norway, do not monopolize all the salmon fishing of the world. The author of one of the books before us begins his first chapter by laying down this fundamental proposition, that any one who doubts that Canada has its share of the sport is mistaken. He believes there is as good-salmon fishing in Canada as in any other part of the world, "and better, much better, than in a great many highly vaunted countries." His editor is more emphatic, and declares that on the lakes and rivers of British America frequented by the great maskanonge, salmon, bass, white fish, etc., the fisherman from the old country, would find such scope for his art that home fishing would appear to him "Take," says the auvery tame ever after. thor, " a map of Canada, find out Quebec; then run your eye eastward along the left hand or northern side of the river and Gulf of St. Lawrence; you will see many streams marked there; almost every one of them is a salmon river, and in every one of them that has been fished, excellent sport has been had, and heavy fish killed." It is a pity he did not tell us this a few months earlier in the year, for we ought to have been off from Liverpool on the first Saturday in May in order to arrive at Quebec about the middle of the month, and have time to see that strange old city and its magnificent environs, and to make the necessary preparations for the angling cruise, upon which we should have started about the 10th of June. The salmon-fishing season is generally at its height on the Canadian rivers in the last week of June or the first week of July. We shall, therefore, not see Quebec this year, nor Montreal, chief of Canadian cities, clean, handsome, and solid in appearance, on which a Yankee pronounced his opinion; "Well, I guess it looks like a city that was bought and paid for." One might, perhaps, even yet arrive in time to intercept a few belated "water-angels," as a Yankee writer calls salmon; and even should this hope fail the enthusiastic sportsman, he would have whale fishing in the St. Lawrence to fall back upon, or he might immortalize himself by being the first to drag to shore another ferocious and hitherto uncaptured monster occasionally to be met in that river. Says our author:

* Salmon Fishing in Canada. By a Resident. Edited by Colonel Sir James Edward Alexander, Knt., K.C.L.S., Fourteenth Regiment, Author of "Explorations in America, Africa, etc." With Illustrations. Published by Longman and Co.

"At this moment I have before me an official 'Report of the Commissioners for exploring the country lying between the Rivers Saguenay, Saint Maurice, and Saint Lawrence,' ordered to be printed by the House of Assembly on the 22d of March, 1831. These commissioners are gentlemen of the highest respectability and intelligence, Messieurs Andrew and David Stuart, who would not be likely to be deceived in a matter of the kind, and would be the last men to attempt a deception upon others. At pp. 16 and 17 of their report, are the following words, being an extract from the journal kept upon the

occasion:

"Sunday, August 26th, 1829.-Embarked at seven A.M. to go down to Baic de l'Echaffaud du Basque, or Rivière aux Canards; but, when we reached the Point of Baie des Roches, the wind blew too hard for us to proceed, and we put ashore in a little cove till noon, when we embarked again, and kept close in shore, with the tide and wind in our favor. We had not proceeded far, when we were pursued by a monstrous fish of prey, in consequence of which wo put ashore again. The animal was four hours about us, and apparently watching us. It came sometimes within twenty feet of the rock on which we were. It was at least from twenty to twenty-five feet long, and shaped exactly like a pike; its jaws were from five to six feet long, with a row of large teeth on each side, of a yellowish color. It kept itself sometimes for nearly

a minute on the surface of the water. At five P.M., seeing nothing more of it we embarked again, keeping close in shore, and at seven P.M. put in for the night at the fishing-hut at EchafSimard and Coton Felion, who were on their faud du Basque. Two men, named Baptiste way to Malbay, hunting for seals, put in at the same time as we did. Thermometer 71°, 77o, and 69°.'”

This book, besides being full of special, and we doubt not authentic, information, is very amusing, and is adorned with head and tail pieces in an original and highly comic dent in Canada, is a capital story-teller, a style. The author, an Irishman long resiclever draughtsman, and a parson par-dessus le marché, in proof whereof he actually treats his readers to a sermon-a regular sermon on the text "I go a fishing" (John xxi, 3).

Mr. Simeon, the author of a very pleasant volume of Stray Notes teaches his readers not only how to catch all sorts of fish in fresh water and salt, but how to cook a fish when they have caught him.

"There is a way of dressing fish, which may be resorted to by the side of the water with pleasure (and not without advantage should your stock of provisions run short), during the middle of the day, when fish do not generally feed so freely as at the other times, and when your sport is often improved by giving them, as well as yourself, a rest. It is managed as follows: first collect a lot of small dry wood and set it on fire-when a sufficient quantity of ashes has been thus obtained, which will be soon done,

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take a sheet of paper (an old newspaper will do) than the following mode of preparing Skate for and wet it thoroughly; shake the drops off it, the table, the ingenuity of which is only surand then, filling the mouth of your fish with salt, passed by its exceeding nastiness, and which I wrap him up in it just as he is, uncleaned, sim-was not a little taken aback at finding adopted plex immunditiis,' and digging a grave for him in a corner of our own enlightened kingdom. in your ash-heap, put him bodily into it, cover- The fish, when cleaned (a somewhat unnecessary ing him well up afterwards with hot ashes. preliminary one would think), is buried in wet When you think he ought to be done, allowing horse-dung, where it is allowed to soak for about from ten minutes to a quarter of an hour accord-twenty-four hours. It is then taken out (washed, ing to his size, partially uncover him and tear off a small piece of his winding-sheet. If his skin comes off with it he is sufficiently done, and out with him. Should, however, the paper come off minus the skin, cover him up again, and give him a little more law, until this test shows him to be perfectly done. On being turned out of his envelope, the whole of his skin should adhere to it. As for his inside, you may disregard it altogether, or opening him, turn it out, which you will find there is not the slightest difficulty in doing en masse. Pepper and salt him, if you have such condiments by you, and you will only be sorry that your own kitchen does not afford you the means of dressing your

fish thus at home."

we hope), and boiled for the table, when it is presented as 'Sour Skate '-' a varra delcecious dish,' according to my informant, who evidently spoke of it with considerable gusto. If, as has been asserted, the progress of the gastronomic art affords a fair test by which to estimate the march of civilization, what conclusion might not be drawn from this little circumstance with regard to our friends of the Hebrides?

"If some of the Scotch have strange fancies in the matter of diet, their cattle it would seem, occasionally take after them in this respect. I was one day fishing the Ness out of a boat, when I noticed a cow inquisitively examining some things which I had left by the water-side. On landing I found she had been influenced by other motives than those of mere curiosity, having caten up the whole of one side (the button half) of a new mackintosh. Happening shortly afterwards to meet the miller whose property she was, I exhibited to him the mangled evidence of her misdeeds, expecting at least to meet with something like sympathy for my loss. His sym"We have heard of strange modes of dressing pathies were however all on the other side. He food in use amongst uncivilized tribes, but I surveyed it for some time in silence and with an doubt whether any traveller's tales' have ven-air of dejection, and then simply exclaimed, tured on the description of one more eccentric Eh, but she'll no be the better o' the buttons.'"

But why should it not? The ashes of a turf fire might be used for the purpose, and a cheap artificial turf, which would serve for it very well, is hawked about the streets of London for the use of laundresses.

A CELTIC DICTIONARY.-The importance of the Celtic language, and the position which it holds in comparative philology, are now fully recognized by continental scholars, who naturally look to Ireland for the assistance, not to be obtained elsewhere, necessary for the prosecution of such studies. The great want is a dictionary, comprehending the existing remains of the language, and brought out in a creditable and scholarlike manner. To effect this object the committee appointed by the councils of the Irish Archæological and Celtic Societies are taking active steps, by appealing to the public for support, to carry this laudable undertaking into effect. This support we are confident they will have, not only from those interested in literature, but from the millions of the United Kingdom who claim a Celtic origin. Contributions will be received and acknowledged by Ed

ward Clibborn, Esq., Royal Irish Academy, 19
Dawson Street, Dublin, to whom post-office or-
ders may be made payable, and a list of sub-
after the 1st of July.
scribers will be published as soon as possible

THE Horticulturist opens with an essay on Flat Culture, by the editor. By flat culture is meant the method which, in the cultivation of Indian corn, potatoes, beans, etc., keeps the ground between the different clusters of plants perfectly level, instead of forming it into hillocks. Mr. Mead professes to have fully tried both the flat culture and the hilling system, and gives his decided approval to the former. Its advantages are that it requires less labor, admits of a more thorough cultivation of the soil, lessens the evil of drought, admits of the use of the most improved agricultural implements, and presupposes a thorough preparation of the soil.

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POETRY.-Saint Brandan, 386. Glory in the Grasp of France, 386.

SHORT ARTICLES.-Coloring Adulterated Wines, 400. Deadening Walls and Ceilings, 400. Growth of the Bamboo, 400. Lakes in Africa, 412. Map of Jeddo, 416. Bay of New York, 416. Musical Pitch, 416. British Museum, 416. Cobwebs for Fevers, 416. Tour through the whole Island of Great Britain, 419. Rock of Ages, 419. Mural Burial, 447. A Father's Justice, 447. George II. Halfpenny, 447. "Withered Violets,” 447.

PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY

LITTELL, SON, & CO., BOSTON.

For Six Dollars a year, in advance, remitted directly to the Publishers, the LIVING AGE will be punctually for warded free of postage.

Complete sets of the First Series, in thirty-six volumes, and of the Second Series, in twenty volumes, handsomely bound, packed in neat boxes, and delivered in all the principal cities, free of expense of freight, are for sale at two dollars a volume.

ANY VOLUME may be had separately, at two dollars, bound, or a dollar and a half in numbers.

ANY NUMBER may be had for 13 cents; and it is well worth while for subscribers or purchasers to complete any broken volumes they may have, and thus greatly enhance their value.

SAINT BRANDAN.

SAINT BRANDAN sails the Northern Main:

The brotherhoods of saints are glad.
He greets them once, he sails again:

So late!-such storms!-The Saint is mad!

He heard across the howling seas

Chime convent bells on wrintry nights ;
He saw on spray-swept Hebrides

Twinkle the monastery lights;

But north, still north, Saint Brandan steer'd:
And now no bells, no convents more!
The hurtling polar lights are near'd;
The sea without a human shore.

At last-(it was the Christmas night;
Stars shone after a day of storm)—
He sees float near an iceberg white,

And on it-Christ!-a living form!
That furtive mien-that scowling eye-
Of hair that black and tufted fell-
It is-oh, where shall Brandan fly?
The traitor Judas, out of hell !
Palsied with terror, Brandan sate;

The moon was bright, the iceberg near.
He hears a voice sigh humbly,
"Wait!

By high permission I am here.

"One moment wait, thou holy man!

On earth my crime, my death, they knew: My name is under all men's ban:

Ah, tell them of my respite too!

"Tell them, one blessed Christmas night—
(It was the first after I came,
Breathing self-murder, frenzy, spite,

To rue my guilt in endless flame)

"I felt, as if I in torment lay

'Mid the souls plagu'd by Heavenly Power, An Angel touch mine arm, and say

Go hence and cool thyself an hour i

"Ah, whence this mercy, Lord?' I said.
The leper recollect, said he,
Who ask'd the passers-by for aid,
In Joppa, and thy charity.
"Then I remembor'd how I went,
In Joppa, through the public street,
One morn, when the sirocco spent
Its storms of dust, with burning heat;
"And in the street a leper sato,

Shivering with fever, naked, old:
Sand rak'd his sores from heel to pate;
The hot wind fever'd him fivefold.
"He gaz'd upon me as I pass'd,

And murmur'd, Help me, or I die!-
To the poor wretch my cloak I cast,

Saw him look eas'd, and hurried by.
"O Brandan! Think, what grace divine,
What blessing must true goodness shower,
When semblance of it faint, like mine,
Hath such inalienable power!

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Soon, would she with us agree,
On strict non-interference,

Of all oppressors Italy

Would make a thorough clearance;
Soon expel, or quickly quell,
King, kaiser, priest fanatic,
Free, as somebody said well,
From Alps to Adriatic.

Lasting fame Napoleon's name
Would shout with acclamation;
If he would abjure the game,
So mean, of annexation:
To the end he did pretend

When first the ball he started,
Would he be so good a friend
As not to prove false-hearted.
France for bright ideas to fight
Vaunts herself-to free a
Land enslaved by foreign might
What a fine idea!

If she "fought" for this, nor thought
Of prey, to France all honor;
Base advantage if she sought,
False Humbug!-out upon her!

-Punch.

CONCERNING THE WORRIES OF LIFE.
From Fraser's Magazine.
CONCERNING THE WORRIES OF LIFE,
AND HOW TO MEET THEM.

sec.

or any

for the man who feels at once that he has no sympathy at all with their writer will speedily throw them aside; and as for his opinHERE are the long slips of paper again, ion of them, that is neither here nor there. covered with thoughts upon the subject you The thing I mainly dread is, that the people For many days that subject has been for whom I write should read these pages in simmering in the writer's mind; and now the wrong way. An immense deal depends he wishes to present to the thoughtful reader in the case of quiet and not brilliant writing, certain suggestions, which both reader and which yet cost some thought, upon the surwriter may perhaps be the better for remem-roundings amid which it is read. And the bering and acting on. The pages which fol- essay-writer, as he traces his successive lines, low are to be regarded as of the nature of has in his mind's eye some ideal reader reada moral medicine, which I trust may prove ing his essay in some ideal place and time. at once alterative, anodyne, and tonic. But But in his calculation in these respects, the you are aware, my friend, that when you essayist is no doubt often sadly mistaken. of your family get a little out of sorts, Here is a great advantage which one has in your physician is not content to tell you writing a sermon, as compared with writing mercly the medicine which you must take; he an essay. In writing your sermon you have tells you with equal particularity the way in your congregation before your mental view. which you are to take it. The vial does not You have before you the time and the place come home from the druggist's bearing sim- where it is to be preached. You see the ply the legend that it is steel, laudanum, or church: you remember the pulpit: you picether. That is all very well, but it is not ture to yourself the faces and aspect of the sufficient. Upon careful inspection you will congregation: you instinctively recognize discover a further inscription, setting forth the hour of the day at which you will give how many drops you are to imbibe at once, out your text and begin your discourse: you and how frequently and at what seasons of maintain intuitively and involuntarily a certhe day you are to repeat the imbibition. tain keeping between what you write, and Suffer me to exercise a similar prerogative all these attendant circumstances. But the with regard to the medicinal gum which I essayist writes for people he has never seen; offer to the wearied and worried mind. And who will read his essay in chambers unknown in addition to the title of my essay, which is to him: in comfortable easy-chairs by warm Concerning the Worries of Life, and how to fires: on stiff chairs with no arms in cold Meet them, let me write what in my case is corners: in lonely lodgings: amid a great analogous to the doctor's For Mrs. Smith: shouting of little children: with the accomFifteen drops to be taken at bedtime, in the paniment of a stupid old woman talking on following direction: For Thoughtful People: in a husky voice with their hard hats on To be read quietly, leisurely, and slowly, and their heads in the reading-rooms of Royal Exchanges, Athenæums, and Philosophical when alone. Institutions; in a great hurry, and standing: quite leisurely, and reclining: beside a window that looks out on evergreens and roses: beside a window, seldom cleaned, that comHow can you mands a slushy street, depressing with its brown, half-melted snow. adapt yourself to all these different people and their different circumstances? The material which suits one will not suit the rest. The essay suited to be read after dinner will not do for reading after breakfast. That which is intended for a man, resting and pensive, when the day's work is over, would be up the most incompatible with the few minutes for which the busy, energetic man takes magazine at 9.50. A.M., while waiting for the conveyance which is to come at 10,and convey him to his office or his chambers. And so it is at the present time, I desire not only to provide the written pages, but to explain where and when they are to be read: not only to provide the medicine, but to say how it is to be made use of. Let it then be understood that this essay is to be read in the evening,

For, as you know, physical medicines may be taken at such times and in such ways that they shall do no good whatsoever. And I am well aware that this essay, like all the other essays which this hand has written for Fraser, may have a similar fate. It may be read by the wrong people; it may be read at the wrong time and place. By the wrong people; by people whom it will merely serve to irritate and annoy: by men whose nervous system is so rudely vigorous that they will despise alike the little worries I describe, and the little remedies I suggest for them. I am acquainted with human beings to whom I should no more think of offering one of these essays, than I should think of walking into Mr. Smith's stable, and reading it to the horses that run in his drag. This is said, God knows, in no supercilious spirit: it is not that I believe such persons either worse or better than me: only I know that they are quite different from me. But I am not so much afraid of my essays getting into the hands of the wrong people;

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