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cites perspiration, and, on this account, it contributes to relax the whole nervous system. A still more pernicious plan is the immoderate use of strong wines and ardent spirits. Gin and brandy are the punch of the lower people; and even women of this class are not less addicted to drinking than the

men.

Combining all these meteorological and dietetic observations, I think we can understand why the English character is more slow, more deliberate, more restless, more sombre than ours; why the Englishman's actions are more rapid, if movement be required-more steady, unless under excitement; why his gaiety is less natural, more rare, and more convulsive, with less levity and more firmness; why he is more alive to feeling, less communicative, but more to be relied upon. When the Englishman is active, his action is calculated reflection: his moments of folly and gaiety seem to approach intoxication, and, more or less, resemble an attack of fever.

Mirabeau's Letters.

CAPTIVITY AMONG THE INDIANS.

THE following account is extracted from one of our daily papers. Were De Foe alive, he would probably give us a novel founded on the adventures of this unfortunate man, whose situation must excite the commiseration of every feeling mind.

"Information has reached Sydney of the existence of a young man named Matthews, who was captured about three years ago, by the natives of an island called Malanta, near the New Hebrides, in the South Seas. It may be recollected that about the time mentioned, the Alfred, whaler, was off that island fishing; and, in a dispute between the natives and the crew, the Captain and several hands were murdered, and a mate (the person now discovered) was carried off a prisoner, and never since heard of. The manner in which this unfortunate young man has at last made himself known was by cutting his name, the particulars of his capture, and his present situation (which he represents as miserable), on a piece of bamboo, and then giving it to the natives to trade with. Not understanding the characters, and supposing the bamboo to be an original piece of tattoo workmanship, they bartered it away amongst other things to one of our colonial whaling captains

(Captain Harwood of the Hashmy) who retains it in his possession. We are informed that a humane attempt will be made to purchase this unhappy fellow from the savages."

Since the above was written, the schooner New Zealander has arrived in Sydney, from Malanta, and other places, and brings up more particulars of the fate of Matthews. Captain Hedges has in his possession a letter, and a carved cocoa-nut, which were brought on board the New Zealander by a native, from their prisoner, the subject of this narrative. The following is a literal copy of the letter:

"Sir,-Be kind to the natives, as my life is in their hands. I am alive, after a long illness from the wounds I received. Write to me the particulars if a ship killed any of the natives on the other side of the island. They say our ship killed three men. They keep me close, and will not let me come near the ship. Make him a present of something showy;-his name is Bolowwa. If you will send me a shirt and a pair of trowsers, I will be much obliged to you; I am in a state of nature. A ship may get a good supply on this island, by making friends with them. Give the men something to eat, as it is great friendship with them. Write to me the particulars what ships are cruising off this island. I live on the North Side of the island. Be careful of the natives they are forming a plan to take a ship. Do not come on shore without fire arms. They are cannibals. If I can once get a note from you, I can form a plan to get away.

I am, your humble servant,
JOHN MATTHEWS.'

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Table Talk.

The

FONDNESS FOR CHILDREN, generally denotes not only a kind heart, but a guileless one. A knave always detests children their innocent looks and open brow, speak daggers to his heart. He sees his own villany reflected from their countenance, as it were from a mirror. Always mark that man or woman who avoids children. great and good have always been remarkable for their fondness of children. Agesilaus, king of Sparta, was the most generous of monarchs, and the most tender of fathers. Diverting himself one day with riding on a stick with his children, and being surprised in the action by a gentleman, he desired him not to mention it till he was a father.

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THE late Hon. Henry Erskine, whose talents at the bar and in society were eminent, met his acquaintance, Jemmy Balfour, a barrister, who dealt greatly in hard words, and circumlocutious sentences. Perceiving that his ancle was tied up with a silk handkerchief, the former asked the cause. "Why, my dear sir," answered the wordy lawyer, "I was taking a rural, romantic ramble in my brother's grounds, when coming to a gate I had to climb over it, by which I came in contact with the first bar, and having grazed the epidermis on my shin, it was attended with a slight extravasation of blood."-"You may thank your lucky stars," replied Mr. Erskine," that your brother's gate was not as lofty as your style, or you must have broken your neck."

A CLEAR sky is a novelty in this city (London) which makes one forget every other; and a stranger cannot fail to remark the extraordinary interest excited in all classes on the appearance of a fine day, "What beautiful weather! What a lovely morning!" is heard on all sides.

Mirabeau's Letters.

THE HARBOUR OF NEW YORK.-"I have never," says Mrs. Trollope," seen the bay of Naples, I can therefore make no comparison, but my imagination is incapable of conceiving any thing of the kind more beautiful than the harbour of New York. Various and lovely are the objects which the eye meet on every side, but the naming them would only be to give a list of words, without conveying the faintest idea of the scene. I doubt if ever the pencil of Turner could do it justice, bright and glorious

Diary and

Tuesday, July 3.

July 3-Dog-days begin, and on the 11th of August they end. These days were named from Sirius, the Dog-star, because when the sun had passed this great star, it was thought to have its heat increased. The sun passes every star later in each succeeding year; but, without regard to this, the dog-days are now properly made stationary to the hottest time of the year, as they happened formerly.

as it rose upon us. We seemed to enter the harbour of New York upon waves of liquid gold, and as we darted past the green isles which rise from its bosom, like guardian centinels of the fair city, the setting sun stretched his horizontal beams farther and farther at each moment, as if to point out to us some new glory in the landscape.New York, indeed, appeared to us, even when we saw it by a soberer light, a lovely and a noble city. To us, who had been so long travelling through half-cleared forests, and sojourning among an 'I'm-as-good-asyou' population, it seemed, perhaps, more beautiful, more splendid, and more refined than it might have done, had we arrived there directly from London; but, making every allowance for this, I must still declare that I think New York one of the finest cities I ever saw, and as much superior to every other in the Union (Philadelphia not excepted) as London to Liverpool, or Paris to Rouen. Its advantages of position are, perhaps, unequalled any where. Situated on an island, which I think it will one day cover, it rises, like Venice, from the sea, and like that fairest of cities, in the days of her all the riches of the earth.” glory, receives into its lap tribute of

fall of Wolfe was noble indeed. He DEATH OF GENERAL WOLFE.-The vered it from his soldiers with his received a wound in the head, but cohandkerchief. A second ball struck him in the belly: that too he dissembled. A third hitting him in the breast, he sunk under the anguish, and was carried behind the ranks. Yet, fast as life ebbed out, his whole anxiety centered on the fortune of the day. He begged to be borne nearer to the action; but his sight being dimmed by the approach of death, he entreated to be told what they who supported him saw. He was answered, that the enemy gave ground. He eagerly repeated the question-heard the enemy was totally routed-cried, "I am satisfied!"—and expired.

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OLD STORIES OF THE RHINE ways, and many among them were

CASTLES.

By Roger Calverley.

FOR THE OLIO.

THE VALE OF THE PHANTOMS.

A STORY OF THE RHEINGAU.

Nor wizard stern, nor goblin grim,
Nor giant huge of form and limb,

Nor heathen knight was there:
But the cressets, that odours flung aloft,
Show'd, by their yellow light and soft,
A band of damsels fair!
Onward they came like summer wave
That dances to the shore;
An hundred voices welcome gave,
And welcome o'er and o'er.
Loud laugh'd they all;-the king in vain
With questions task'd the giddy train,
Let him entreat, or crave, or call,
'Twas one reply,-loud langh'd they all.

SIR W. SCOTT. Bridal of Triermain.

BEHIND Lorich there is a wild and melancholy vale, where there are only a few miserable cabins, and whose title corresponds with its desolate appearance; it is called the Wisperthal, or Vale of Phantoms. It has remained for a long time uninhabited ; for most of those who had ventured VOL. IX.

never seen or heard of more.

A long time ago, three young sparks traversed the environs of the Rhine in search of adventures. They were the sons of three wealthy merchants at Nuremberg. At the inn at Lorich they heard talk of divers extraordinary things that happened in the Wisperthal, and they resolved immediately to make an excursion thither. It was not without difficulty that they succeeded in opening themselves a way through the tangled thickets; and in about an hour they arrived at the foot of an enormous castle, which had almost the air of a mountain moulded into a baronial mansion. Spenser thus describes such a pile :

A stately palace built of squared brick,

Which cunningly was, without mortar, laid; Whose walls were high, but nothing strong or

thick,

And golden foile all over them displaid, That purest sky with brightness they dismaid. Hie lifted up were many loftie towres,

And goodly galleries far overlaid, Full of faire windows, and delightful bowres; And, on the top, a diall told the timely howres.

249

At one of the windows appeared the bright faces of three young girls, which seemed to invite our adventurers to come up to them.

“Come, come," said these last, "all this is not so mighty terrible as we imagined. These three fair damsels seem to be dull and lonely; let us go

in and endeavour to amuse them."

The grand entrance, a vast gateway, stood invitingly open; our three companions entered, crossed an extensive court, and passed by another portal into a long and sombre corridor, from whence they ascended a stately staircase, which opened upon a vestibule of great extent. The gloom of evening had already deeply veiled the Wisperthal, and what little light remained was still more obscured in these ample apartments, either by the beechwoods that waved before the windows, or by the gorgeous gloom of the painted glass through which the cloudy sunset so feebly found its way, that our heroes were obliged to grope about for another door, which, when they at length opened, the blaze of brilliance that burst upon their eyes almost blinded them. They found themselves in a great gallery, whose walls were lined from the floor to the cornice with prodigious mirrors, a thousand flambeaux of perfumed wax redoubled their lustre without end; while the radiant features and sylphed figures of the three damsels; one of whom was attired in pink, another in azure, and the third in green, were equally multiplied to the eyes of the bewildered young burghers, who, instead of meeting with each his sweetheart, found about a hundred young ladies gaily robed and refulgently jewelled, who, as with one voice, bade them welcome, kissed their hands to them, and then burst into peals of silver-toned laughter at the poor spoonies, who stood gaping and staring, astounded, dazzled, and dismayed, at this unexpected reception. All on a sudden, a door, that stood in a recess of the gallery, flew open, and an old man of a commanding stature, dressed in black, and having a long white beard, entered the saloon. Advancing to the young cits, he said to them.

"Doubtless, you are come to demand my daughters in marriage; I shall not play the niggard with you, for I am not a commercial man, and I will give you with each of them one thousand florins of gold."

Shrieks of laughter burst from the lovely girls, when the old man uttered

these words, and our city sparks knew not what to make of all this.

"Well," at length cried the old man, in a voice of thunder, "let every one choose his lady-love."

The young citizens began sheepishly to shuffle each towards a damsel, and fancying that they were in the act of presenting their hands, found that they touched nothing but the cold surface of the mirror. This seemed to be too much even for the old man's gravity; he fell into convulsions of laughter, and scarcely able to articulate the words, led up a fair girl to each of them. "I see you want my assistance !" he

Disconcerted as our young tradesmen were, their embarrassment and apprehensions quickly gave way to the power of beauty, and their bosoms for the daughters of the old man. were inspired with a violent passion

"I give you leave to embrace your sweethearts," said the sire.

They did not wait to be told twice; but the incense of those ripe lips comthe confusion of their senses. pleted the conquest of their hearts, and

"And now," resumed the old man, "it is necessary that you should furnish me with sufficient proofs of your love for my daughters. Rosaflor, the one you see in pink, has lost a starling, which was a prodigious favourite; Celestine, she in the azure robe, has also lost a pet, a fine magpie; while Emiral, the young lady in green, equally unfortunate with her sisters, laments the absence of a great raven, which she cherished with care, and prized most highly."

Again the beautiful features and white bosoms of the three graces of the Wisperthal seemed convulsed with laughter, which they had great difficulty in suppressing.

"These pets," continued the sire, with wonderful gravity, "have probably flown to the adjacent wood; and you will recognise them by the following characteristic marks: the starling knows an enigma; the raven a ballad; and the magpie relates the history of her grandmother the very moment you ask her. Go now, therefore, look for these birds, which are not at all fierce, and easily suffer themselves to be taken."

Our three enamoured burghers did exactly as the old man directed them.About a quarter of a league from the castle, they found the three birds perched upon the branch of an ancient oak.

66 Starling!" cried number one, "read me thy riddle."

The starling immediately perched himself upon his shoulder, and said"Tell me what is that which you have in your face, but which you cannot see in the looking-glass."

66 Raven, sing me thy song," exclaimed number two.

The raven immediately cleared his voice, and in croaking tones, sang as follows:

Three black priests a walking went,

In the country of Cockaign;
The little birds plucked and roasted,
Fell round them like the rain.

But this abundance, as it seems,

Availed them not at all;

For they found the little birds too large,
And their great mouths too small.

Then back they went to their own country,
Worn down to skin and bone;
And they loudly swore the Cockaign folk,
Had little brains or none.

For if they had, those savoury birds,
('Twas thus the black priests cried);
'Would have been of a more convenient
size,

Or else their mouths more wide!'

The raven had scarcely finished his ballad, when he came and perched upon the head of number two.

"Magpie, magpie, give us the his tory of thy grandmother," shouted num→ ber three.

The magpie immediately assumed an air of great importance, and narrated as follows.

"Gentlemen, you must know that my grandmother was a magpie; she was in the habit of laying eggs, from whence used to proceed more magpies; and if she had not died one day, she would have been alive still.",

The magpie flapped her wings as she uttered these words, and hastened to place herself upon the hand of number three.

The young tradesmen were delighted at having accomplished their expedition so easily, and they hastened to regain the castle. But when they set foot in the gallery, they were astonished to see that the mirrors had entirely disappeared; and still more so, that the three belles of the Wisperthal were not visible in any part of it. Three tables, sumptuously spread, were placed in three different recesses. Three toothless old hags came tottering, and coughing, and spitting, up to our Nuremberg youths, and holding out to them their fleshless hands, exclaimed

"Ah! here are our sweethearts!" and they embraced them so tenderly, that a cold sweat oozed from every pore of their bodies.

The three beldames then betook

themselves to grimacing and chattering the starling repeated his riddle; the raven sang his song, and the magpie related the history of her grandmother; in short, they managed altogether to make such a hullabaloo, that no one could make out a single word that was said. Each of the three witches then took her lover by the arm, and led him to one of the three tables, entertaining him with talk, hideously amorous, of the many happy days she hoped to pass with him in the castle. The starling, the raven, and the magpie, in the meantime chanted and chattered louder and louder. The luckless Nurembergers, it may be imagined, had not much appetite, but they each accepted a glass of wine, which they had no sooner emptied than they sank into a profound sleep.

The afternoon was far advanced when they awoke. They found themselves couched upon brambles at the bottom of a savage rock, and it was with no little difficulty that they recovered their feet and extricated themselves. Filled with confusion and chagrin, they struck into the road which was to lead them out of this ill-omened vale; but they heard on all sides voices which seemed to call them; and thought that, in every direction, they saw an old woman's head nodding and grimacing at them.— In the gorge of the vale, they perceived the three birds perched upon an elm. The starling was as usual repeating his riddle; the raven singing his song; and the magpie relating the history of her grandmother.

One of our three youths, having taken courage as soon as he found himself in an open country, and perceived the world about him, demanded of a peasant, who passed near them, if he could not inform them what it was that those confounded birds meant with their histories and their songs?

"Oh, surely," replied the peasant, "I can explain it all to you quite clearly; but gentlemen, you must not take it in evil part. The starling's enigma refers to that expression of folly and conceit in your faces, which you will never discover in the lookingglass, if you look till doomsday. The raven's song means to instruct you in the propriety of taking roasted birds with knife and fork, and not with the mouth; and the magpie relates a history which, one day, your grandchildren, perhaps, will relate of you."

Our precious trio opened their foolish eyes wider than ever at these words,

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