L'HIVER. LE POUR ET LE CONTR POUR. Vous dont le pinceau téméraire Il réunit les cœurs, il bannit les soupirs, Flore pent se vanter des fleurs qu'elle nous donne, Bacchus peut s'applaudir des trésors de l'automne; Mais l'hiver, seul en recueille le fruit. Les Dienx du ciel et de l'onde, Le soleil, la terre et l'air Tout travaille dans le monde Arbres dépouillés de verdure, Que devient aujourd'hui cette riche parure Je cherche vainement dans cette triste plaine, Que leur fureur déclare à tous les élémens. Et les saules conchés étalant leurs ruines, Pour implorer la vengeance des cieux. Bois paisibles et sombres, Qui prodiguiez vos ombres Aux larcins amoureux! December, 1826, BIRTHS IN NOVEMBER. At Falmouth, wife of Mr. Selley, Green Bank At Camelford, Mrs. J. Scott of a daughter. At St. Austle, Mrs. A. Brenton of a daughter. IN DECEMBER. At Truro, the wife of Mr. J. Nankivell of a son. At Falmouth, Mrs. Hocken of a son. At Lower St. Columb, Mrs Darke of a son. At St. Columb, wife of T. Collings Esq. of a daughter. At Wadebridge, the wife of the Rev. C. Hall of a sou. At St. Austle, Mrs. F. Vivian of a son. MARRIAGES IN NOVEMBER. At St. Anstle, Mr. W. Banks to Miss, T. Melhuish. IN DECEMBER. At Stoke, W. S. Fort, Esq. to Miss M. A At Egloshayle Mr. R. Cleave to Miss L. Hawken. DEATHS IN DECEMBER. At Marazion, Mrs. Grenfell. At Stable Habba, Penzance, Mr. J. Hoskin. At St. Pinnock, Mr Little. At St. Columb, Mr. James Junr. At Newland, Mrs Julia Clemow. At St Feock, Jane Fittock. On board H. M. P. Chichester from Jamaica, Mr. Fletcher Mr. Noye and Mr. W. Vincent. At St. Austle, Mrs. Ough. IN DECEMBER. At Truro, J. Vivian Esq, Vice-Warden of the At Helston, C. Wallis Esq. At St. Kevern, Mr. Cock aged 75. At Penzance, J. Price Esq. At Holsworthy T. Pearce Esq. aged 76. At East Looe, Miss A. S. Wynhall. At Falmouth, Mr. Mankin. At Falmouth, Mr. F. Lowry, At Redruth Mrs. E. Argall aged 68. At Redruth Mrs. E. Badock. At Redruth, Mrs. Nicholls aged 84. At Trewollock, Mr. H. Hawken aged 67. At St. Austle, Mr. J. May, aged 71. At St. Austle, Mrs. Giles. At Falmouth, Mr. J. Earle, aged 21, second son of Mr. J. Earle Quay Master. At Trehaverne, Mrs. E. Buckingham. At Newham, Philip, W. Hernaman aged 71 At Phillack, Mrs. E. Bowden. At Marazion, E. Wills aged 74. At Marazion, Mr. W. Bond aged 32. Printed and Published by J. PHILP, Falmouth, and sold by most Booksellers in the County, THE GREENLAND OR POLAR ICE. THE following is an abridged account of the Greenland or Polar Ice, from a paper by W. SCORESBY, jun. M. W.S. published in the memoirs of the Wernerian Natural-History Society :— "Greenland is a country where every object is strikingly singular, or highly magnificent. The atmosphere, the land, and the ocean, each exhibit remarkable or sublime appearances. "With regard to the atmosphere, several peculiarities may be noticed, viz. its darkness of colour, and density; its frequent productions of crystallized snow in a wonderful perfection and variety of form and texture; and its astonishingly sudden changes from calm to storm, from fair weather to foul, and vice versa. "The land is of itself a sublime object; its stupendous mountains, rising by steep acclivities from the very margin of the ocean to an immense height, terminating in rigid, conical, or pyramidical summits; its surface, contrasting its native protruding dark coloured rocks, with its burden of purest snow;-the whole viewed, under the density of a gloomy sky, forms a picture impressive and grand. "Of the inanimate productions of Greenland, none perhaps excites so much interest and astonishment in a stranger, as the Ice, in its great abundance and variety. The stupendous masses, known by the name of ice islands, floating mountains, or icebergs, common to Davis' Straits; and sometimes met with here, from their height, various forms, and the depth of water in which they ground, are calculated to strike the beholder with wonder: yet the fields of ice, more peculiar to Greenland, are not less astonishing. Their deficiency in elevation is sufficiently compensated by their amazing extent of surface. Some of them have been observed near 100 miles in length, and more than half that breadth; each consisting of a single sheet of ice, having its surface raised in general four or six feet above the level of the water, and its base depressed the depth of nearly twenty feet beneath. "The thickest and strongest fields cannot resist the power of a heavy swell; indeed, such are much less capable of bending without being dissevered, than the thinner ice, which is more pliable. When a field by the set of the current, drives to the southward, and being deserted by the loose ice, becomes exposed to the effects of a ground swell, it presently breaks into a great many pieces, few of which exceed forty or fifty yards in diameter. Now, such a number of these pieces collected together in close contact, so that they cannot, from the top of the ship's mast be seen over, are termed a puck, "The occasional rapid motion of fields, with the strange effects produced on any opposing substance, exhibited by such immense bodies, is one of the most striking objects this country presents, and is certainly the most terrific. They not unfrequently acquire a rotary movement, whereby the circumference attains a velocity of several miles per hour. A field thus in motion, coming in contact with one at rest, or, more especially, with a contrary direction of movement, produces a dreadful shock. The consequence of a body of more than ten thousand millions of tons in weight, meeting with resistance when in motion, may be better conceived than expressed! The weaker field is crushed with an awful noise; sometimes the destruction is mutual: pieces of high dimensions and weight are not unfrequently piled upon the top, to the height of twenty or thirty feet, whilst doubtless, a proportunate quantity is depressed beneath. The view of these stupendous effects, in safety, exhibits a picture sublimely grand; but when there is danger of being overwhelmed, terror and dismay must be the predominant feelings. It may be imagined that the strongest ship can no more withstand the shock of two fields, than a sheet of paper can stop a musketball. Numbers of vessels, since the establishment of the fishery, have been thus destroyed, some have been thrown upon the ice, some have had their hulls completely torn open, and others have been buried beneath the heaped frag ments of the ice. "The term Ice-bergs has commonly been applied to those immense bodies of ice situated on the land, filling the valleys between the high mountains,' and generally exhibiting a square perpendicular towards the sea. They recede backward in land to an extent never explored. Martin, Crantz, Phipps, and others have described those wonders of nature, and all agree as to the manner of formation, in the congelation of the sleet and rains of summer, and of the accumulated snow, partly dissolved by the summer sun, which, on its decline, freezes to a transparent ice. They are as permanent as the rocks on which they rest for although large portions may be frequently seperated, yet the annual growth replaces the less, and probably on the whole, produces a perpetual increase. I have seen those styled the Seven Icebergs, Situated in the valleys of the north-west coast of Spitzburgen, their perpendicular front may be about 300 feet in height, the green colour, and glistening surface of which, form a pleasing variety in prospect, with the magnificence of the encompassing snow-clad mountains, which, as they recede from the eye, seem to rise crag over crag,' in endless perspective. "Large pieces may be separated from those icebergs in the summer season, when they are particularly fragile by their ponderous overhanging masses overcoming the force of cohesion. Pieces thus or otherwise detached, are hurled into the sea with a dreadful crash: if they are received into deep water, they are liable to be drifted off land; but I must question if all the floating bergs seen in the sea west of old Greenland, thus derive their origin, their number being so great, and their dimensions so vast." 66 If all the floating islands of ice thus proceed from disruptions of icebergs generated on the land, how is it that so few are met with in Greenland, and then comparatively so diminutive, whilst Baffin's Bay affords them so plentifully, and of such amazing size? There winter arm'd with terrors here unknown, Beckons the legions of his storms away And scorns to share it with the distant Sun. THE BROKEN HEART. (Concluded from page 22.) A considerable pause here ensued in their conversation, during which, Rose cast a timid glance towards her lover; and beheld, with dismay, an expression of violent, and, as she judged, painful anxiety upon his countenance; such as it had never before exhibited. "What is the matter?" cried she, greatly alarmed, "You are ill, Elliot, or you are offended with me; and, indeed, I feel that I have done more than I ought to have done." The anxious look departed, instantly, from his visage, and his old sweet smile took its place. "Not so, dear Rose; I cannot be offended with you, though I may I wish that this had occurred somewhat differently. But no matter: Rose has had her way; and she is convinced, there is nothing which Elliot would not do to make her happy. Let me, however, obtain one promise from you. Never act again, as you acted to-day; and take no further notice of the persons whom you have obliged. -He is not a good man; and she is a very bad woman; and they may impose upon you."-" I promise," answered Rose, restored, once more, to her accustomed composure. The remainder of the ride passed, as their rides usually passed, and Elliot spent the day at the Toll. There was one member of the family at the Toll, of whom no mention has yet been made; but who, if long and faithful services entitle a domestic to notice, ought not to be passed over. Old Bligh, like his master, had spent his best days in the navy. He was originally a cabin-boy, in the frigate of which Captain Wilmot was first lieutenant, and, as such waited upon his officer. When the lieutenant obtained promotion, Bligh followed him to his own ship, where he filled the situations, first, of coxswain to the captain's barge, and, afterwards, of steward in his cabin, and, when the captain himself abandoned the service, Bligh did not forsake him. He now executed the joint offices of maître d'hotel, footman, and head gardener; and was as sincerely attached to Rose and her father, as if he had been their relation. It is a curious fact, that, whilst others treated Major Elliot with confidence the most boundless, old Bligh could not be prevailed upon to regard him without something of suspicion. Civil and attentive to him, he invariably was; because he saw that a contrary line of conduct would have been displeasing to his master; but he took no liberties with him, nor addressed him in that familiar tone, which old servants are apt to employ, when they believe that they are addressing those who have the interests of the family really at heart, Of this, the Major himself was not unobservant, and he more than once complained of it to Rose. There was another singular circumstance remarked, at this time, by the friends of the family. Major Elliot had, for some weeks back, been more grave and thoughtful than appeared natural to him: and the nearer the wedding-day approached, the more frequent, and decided, his fits of abstraction became. Since the adventure with the soldier and his wife, in particular, his manner exhibited symptoms the most marked, of a state of mind very far from being composed. He would drop in fits of musing, even whilst Rose was by; and when she was not present, he hardly attempted to speak a word.-For this behaviour, many reasons were assigned. Some imagined that, now, when the moment of trial was at hand, his family pride, or, perhaps, the most positive interference of his relations, began to throw impediments in the way; others fancied that his own inclinations were changed, and that he repented of an engagement too rashly entered into The only individuals, indeed, who neither observed the circumstance, nor hazarded a conjecture respecting it, were Rose and her father. Their minds were too busily occupied in contemplating their own approaching separation, to permit their seeing with eyes as clear as those of persons far less deeply interested; and they were too conscious of being themselves liable to fits of musing and forgetfulness, to look, with alarm or suspicion, upon the musings and forgetfulness of the Major. And, now, but one day stood between the wishes of the lovers, and their accomplishment. It so happened, that, on that day, a small party,-the curate of the parish, with his mother and sister, had been invited to meet Major Elliot to dinner. Between the Curate (the reverend Abraham Williams) and Captain Wilmot, a close intimacy subsisted, and Miss Williams and Rose were bosom-friends. The party were in the act of discussing certain arrangements, which were to take place subsequent to the weddingday;-the direction of the marriagejaunt was under consideration,--when old Bligh made his appearance, and informed Rose, that a person in the kitchen desired to see her. Rose, instantly, obeyed the summons, and had reached the parlour-door, when the jingling of spurs in the hall, beyond, arrested her. Major Elliot entered; he seemed heated, and a good deal agitated. "Whither go you, love?' cried he, in a hurried tone, seizing Rose by the hand, and leading her back to her chair. "Some one desires to see me," replied Rose, smiling sweetly, and gently disengaging herself; "I shall be with you again in a minute," "Do not go, love," exclaimed the Major, forcibly detaining her, and yet struggling to appear calm; "I know who has asked to see you. I saw her enter by the back way, as I came up the avenue. It was the woman with whom you promised to hold no further intercourse. You will not go, now." "No, certainly," answered Rose. "Tell the woman, Bligh, that I cannot see her; but, if she has any thing to communicate, let her send in her message by you." The awkwardness attendant upon such a scene had, in some degree, passed away, and all parties were recovering, their wonted composure, when Bligh again entered: "The woman would hardly be persuaded to go, Miss," said he; "and though I told her how you were engaged, she was only the more desirous, on that account, to see you. At last, when I positively assured her you could not be spoken with, she asked for pen, ink, and paper, and wrote a little note, which is here." "Read it not, Rose," exclaimed Major Elliot, starting from his chair, and grasping at the bit of paper. "It is some infernal petition, some imposture, to deceive your good nature;read it not." Bligh, however, knew his duty better, than to permit a note, addressed to his mistress, to pass into other hands. He shrunk back from the Major's clutch, and held it tight. Nay, Elliot," said Rose, "this is absolute folly. You must look upon me as no better than a child, if you imagine that a single note, or any other single communication either with the husband or the wife, must necessarily expose me to danger.-But I have no desire to read the billet. Give it to my father, Bligh, or to Mr. Williams, 64 he is beside you."-"Give it to me." cried the Major, in a voice of thunder; at the same time grasping Bligh, fiercely, by the collar, "as you value your life." The whole party were struck with astonishment; Captain Wilmot half rose from his chair; whilst Rose trembled excessively, the colour coming and going, upon her cheek, in rapid succession. As to Bligh, he shook off the Major's hand with the coolness of a veteran, and, delivering the note to the Curate, stood, bolt upright, between him and his own late assailant. "Read, Mr. Williams," said Rose, in a tone of womanly dignity; "and read aloud, that all may hear you. There must be something singular, indeed, in that piece of paper, when it produces such effects." Mr. Williams did read ; but, before he came to an end, Major Elliot was gone. The letter ran thus: "I have followed you, dear lady, far and near, for the purpose of putting you upon your guard; but no opportunity of speaking has been afforded me: even now you will not see me. But, perhaps, you may read this, and, if so, the kind office which you rendered to me and my husband, will not go unrewarded. Oh, lady, beware of Major Elliot-he is a villain and will betray you. They say you are to wed him to-morrow. Wed him |