There is much probability in the assertion, that Ali Pasha was the model which suggested many of the most remarkable features in his heroes. circumstance : He appears "While the Salsette lay off the Dardanelles, Lord Byron saw the body of a man who had been executed by being cast into the sea, floating on the stream, moving to and fro with the tumbling of the water, which gave to his arms the effect of scaring away several seafowl that were hovering to devour. This incident he has strikingly depicted in The Bride of Abydos."" his good graces; and, as he was always most cal embalmment, or rather the amber immor- now become the ultimate goal of his intended agreeable and interesting when familiar, it was talization she possesses there-being herself a travels. To what cause this sudden and sinworth my while to advance, but by cautious heroine. There was no exaggeration in saying gular change, both in demeanour and design, circumvallations, into his intimacy; for his that many incidents of her life would appear was owing, I was on the point of saying, it uncertain temper made his favour precarious. improbable in fiction. Her adventures with would be fruitless to conjecture; but a letter The next morning, either owing to the relaxa- the Marquess de Salvo form one of the prettiest to his mother, written a few days before my tion of his abstinence, which he could not pro- romances in the Italian language; every thing arrival at Smyrna, throws some light on the bably well avoid amidst the good things of the in her destiny was touched with adventure: sources of his unsatisfied state. ambassadorial table; or, what was, perhaps, less nor was it the least of her claims to sympathy by it to have been disappointed of letters and questionable, some regret for his petulance to- that she had incurred the special enmity of remittances from his agent, and says: When wards his friend, he was indisposed, and did Napoleon." I arrive at Constantinople, I shall determine not make his appearance till late in the evenwhether to proceed into Persia or return ing. I rather suspect, though there was no which latter I do not wish if I can avoid it. evidence of the fact, that Hobhouse received But I have no intelligence from Mr. H., and any concession which he may have made with but one letter from yourself. I shall stand in indulgence; for he remarked to me, in a tone Of all Lord Byron's works, Mr. Galt gives need of remittances, whether I proceed or that implied both forbearance and generosity of the preference to those which treat of Greece: return. I have written to him repeatedly, regard, that it was necessary to humour him this we think admits of more than a query; that he may not plead ignorance of my situa like a child. But, in whatever manner the but as it is a mere point of taste, taste is too tion for neglect.' Here is sufficient evidence reconciliation was accomplished, the passengers debatable ground for us now to enter on. The that the cause of the undetermined state of his partook of the blessings of the peace. Byron, whole history of these travels, however, quite mind, which struck me so forcibly, was owing during the following day, as we were sailing supports Mr. Galt's assertion, that the scenes to the incertitude of his affairs at home; and it along the picturesque shores of Sicily, was in through which Byron past, and the various is easy to conceive that the false dignity he the highest spirits; overflowing with glee, and incidents and individuals he encountered, are assumed, and which seemed so like arrogance, sparkling with quaint sentences. The cham- the canvass he afterwards coloured, and the was the natural effect of the anxiety and pagne was uncorked and in the finest con- figures he introduced, and that his poetry was embarrassment he suffered, and of the appredition. Having landed the mail at Girgenti, never so great as when founded on actual occur-hension of a person of his rank being, on we stretched over to Malta, where we arrived rence, reality being at once his material and account of his remittances, exposed to require about noon next day-all the passengers, except his inspiration. This is true, for it is the part assistance among strangers." Orestes and Pylades, being eager to land, went of genius to apply more than to invent, to ex- We suspect the word kithe will puzzle some on shore with the captain. They remained haust this world rather than to imagine new. of Mr. Galt's southern readers. Another anecbehind for a reason-which an accidental ex- Our belief of how much he felt the straitness dote confirms, if confirmation were needed, pression of Byron let out-much to my secret of circumstances is confirmed by the follow-how much his genius was struck by a passing amusement; for I was aware they would be ing :disappointed, and the anticipation was relish- "I thought he was in that short space ing. They expected at least he did a salute something changed, and not with improvefrom the batteries, and sent ashore notice to ment. Towards Mr. Hobhouse he seemed less Sir Alexander Ball, the governor, of his ar- cordial, and was altogether, I should say, rival; but the guns were sulky, and evinced no having no better phrase to express what I respect of persons; so that late in the after- would describe, more of a captain grand than noon, about the heel of the evening, the two improved his manners, and more disposed to magnates were obliged to come on shore, and hold his own opinion than I had ever before slip into the city unnoticed and unknown. At observed in him. I was particularly struck this time Malta was in great prosperity. Her with this at dinner, on the day after my Again: "Both the Fare-thee-well, and commerce was flourishing; and the goodly arrival. We dined together with a large party the Anathema on Mrs. Charlemont, are splenclusters of its profits hung ripe and rich at at the consul's; and he seemed inclined to did corroborations of the metaphysical_fact every door. The merchants were truly hos- exact a deference to his dogmas, that was which it is the main object of this work to pitable, and few more so than Mr. Chabot. As more lordly than philosophical. One of the illustrate, namely, that Byron was only original I had letters to him, he invited me to dinner, naval officers present, I think the captain of and truly great when he wrote from the dictates along with several other friends previously en- the Salsette, felt, as well as others, this over- of his own breast, and described from the suggaged. In the cool of the evening, as we were weening, and announced a contrary opinion on gestions of things he had seen. When his sitting at our wine, Lord Byron and Mr. Hob- some question connected with the politics of imagination found not in his subject uses for house were announced. His lordship was in the late Mr. Pitt with so much firm good sense, the materials of his experience, and opportunibetter spirits than I had ever seen him. His that Lord Byron was perceptibly rebuked by it, ties to embody them, it seemed to be no longer appearance shewed, as he entered the room, and became reserved, as if he deemed that the same high and mysterious faculty that so that they had met with some adventure, and sullenness enhanced dignity. I never in the ruled the tides of the feelings of others. He he chuckled with an inward sense of enjoy- whole course of my acquaintance saw him then appeared a more ordinary poeta skilful ment, not altogether without spleen-a kind of kithe so unfavourably as he did on that occa- verse-maker. The necromancy which held the malicious satisfaction-as his companion re-sion. In the course of the evening, however, reader spell-bound became ineffectual; and the counted, with all becoming gravity, their woes he condescended to thaw, and before the party charm and the glory which interested so inand sufferings, as an apology for begging a bed broke up, his austerity began to leaf, and hide tensely, and shone so radiantly on his configu and morsel for the night. God forgive me! its thorns under the influence of a relenting rations from realities, all failed and faded; for but I partook of Byron's levity at the idea of temperament. It was, however, too evident his genius dealt not with airy fancies, but had personages so consequential wandering destitute at least it was so to me that without intend- its power and dominion amidst the living and in the streets, seeking for lodgings as it were ing wrong, or any offence, the unchecked the local of the actual world." from door to door, and rejected at all. Next humour of his temper was, by its caprices, day, however, they were accommodated by the calculated to prevent him from ever gaining governor with an agreeable house in the upper that regard to which his talents and freer part of Valetta; and his lordship, as soon as moods, independently of his rank, ought to they were domiciled, began to take lessons in have entitled him. Such men become objects "There has always been, from the first pubArabic from a monk-I believe one of the libra- of solicitude, but never of esteem. I was also lication of Manfred, a strange misapprehension rians of the public library. His whole time was on this occasion struck with another new phase with respect to it in the public mind. The not, however, devoted to study; for he formed in his character; he seemed to be actuated by whole poem has been misunderstood, and the an acquaintance with Mrs. Spencer Smith, the no purpose-he spoke no more of passing odious supposition that ascribes the fearful myslady of the gentleman of that name, who had beyond Aurora and the Ganges,' but seemed tery and remorse of the hero to a foul passion been our resident minister at Constantinople: disposed to let the current of chances carry him for his sister, is probably one of those coarse he affected a passion for her; but it was only as it might. If he had any specific object in imaginations which have grown out of the Platonic. She, however, beguiled him of his view, it was something that made him hesitate calumnies and accusations heaped upon the valuable yellow diamond-ring. She is the Flo-between going home and returning to Athens author. How can it have happened that none rence of Childe Harold, and merited the poeti-when he should have reached Constantinople, of the critics have noticed that the story is · 6 The inference that in Manfred there was no intention of implying that the hero bad a guilty passion for his sister is too ingeniously drawn to be omitted. derived from the human sacrifices supposed to have been in use among the students of the black art ?" Here is quoted a beautiful fragment, of which we subjoin only the last lines, for connexion: "I loved her and-destroy'd her- Not with my hand, but heart, which broke her heart. Blood, but not hers, and yet her blood was shed ;- madversion, lay in the unbridled state of his licity before; but they are not very numerous, is impossible,' said he, at such a time, when We wish to illustrate this; and we cannot all the west is golden and glowing behind them, go wrong. There is little occasion for selecto contemplate such vast masses of the Deity tion; fall in where we may, the critic, like a There is in this little scene, perhaps, the deep-without being awed into rest, and forgetting cat, is sure to fall upon his feet. For the est pathos ever expressed; but it is not of its such things as man and his follies.' Hunt,' reviewer at the dull season; for the lounger at beauty that I am treating; my object in no- said his lordship, smiling, has no perception a watering-place, or in snug country quarters; ticing it here is, that it may be considered in of the sublimity of alpine scenery; he calls a for the reader and the idler every where, (and connexion with that where Manfred appears mountain a great impostor.' we say it not in disparagement of its better with his insatiate thirst of knowledge, and Mr. Galt enters into less detail of opinion qualities,) this is the book. But we will open manacled with guilt. It indicates that his sis-respecting Don Juan than any other work. its hitherto poor, poor dumb mouth, and bid ter, Astarte, had been self-sacrificed in the We think a curious and interesting parallel it speak for itself. pursuit of their magical knowledge. Human might be drawn between that and the Pilgrim- Mr. Bernard was born, in 1756, at Portssacrifices were supposed to be among the initi- age: Don Juan is Childe Harold unidealised; mouth (whence, perhaps, he always manifested ate propitiations of the demons that have their he goes over the same ground, but in how dif- a good deal of Point); and very soon evinced purposes in magic-as well as compacts signed ferent a spirit! What once excited enthusiasm an invincible predilection for the science of with the blood of the self-sold. There was now gives scope for ridicule-sarcasms take the acting. His parentage was respectable, and of also a dark Egyptian art, of which the know- place of illusions; and if ever man felt that "a course averse to this spirit of vagabondising; ledge and the efficacy could only be obtained by glory was departed from the earth," Lord Byron but no art could stop the course of nature, and the novitius procuring a voluntary victim-the he ran from schools and clerkships the most dearest object to himself, and to whom he also was the dearest; and the primary spring of Byron's tragedy lies, I conceive, in a sacrifice of that kind having been performed, without obtaining that happiness which the votary expected would be found in the knowledge and power purchased at such a price. His sister was sacrificed in vain." But surely these arguments are overthrown by one line in Manfred's own speech"Though it were The deadliest sin to love as we have loved." We must confess, that the Italian confederacy for the Liberal places Mr. Hunt in a meaner point of view, to our judgment, than Mr. Galt seems to consider him-in three pithy sentences the whole is well characterised. "Vanity was mingled with their golden dreams. Lord Byron mistook Hunt's political notoriety for literary reputation, and Mr. Hunt thought it was a fine thing to be chum and partner with so renowned a lord. After all, however, the worst which can be said of it is, that, formed in weakness it could produce only vexation." was the man. We now bid farewell to Mr. Galt, though instructive and promising, to indulge in phanwith the intention of again recurring to his tasies the most visionary and unprofitable. pages; but we cannot defer to another week Yet Mr. Bernard was not exposed to the the expression of our most cordial approbation. protracted continuation of strolling, shifting, Good sense, good feeling, and good taste, go and starving: some supplies from home, the far towards making a good biographer: he pos- display of early talent, and a marriage with a sesses them all. We have read his work with clever actress, enabled him soon to surmount great delight-we close it with mingled regret the initiatory difficulties of his profession, and and admiration. It is now only necessary to to advance into comparative popularity and speak of its mechanical parts: it is handsomely comfort. Such being the case, we need not printed, has two beautifully engraved portraits enter upon his first theatrical efforts, when of Byron and the Countess Guiccioli, and is the only difference between him and a fowl most moderate in price. It forms the first was, that he was killed within the barn, and volume of the National Library; and is a the fowl at the door, and that the latter was foundation on which the highest expectations the better fed of the two. Incidents of strolling, may be formed of that undertaking. though amusing, have acquired a sameness, from repetition, which hardly admits of a novelty, and we pass over those of our author :let us see! may not the following be exceptions? Retrospections of the Stage. By the late John Bernard, Manager of the American Theatres, and formerly Secretary to the Beef-Steak Club. 12mo. 2 vols. Colburn and Bentley. A PUBLICATION of this kind needs little introduction: like the theatrical hero whose memoirs it contains, it walks upon the stage in character, and introduces itself. If we disIf any one doubts the justice of the follow-like it, we hiss; and if we approve of it, we ing, they have only to read the pages whose author states such conviction. applaud. "The same day (says our young Roscius) I was given Romeo to study to Mrs. Osborne's Juliet. This lady had that kind of originality in her style, which not merely disdained a resemblance to any other person's, but was altogether unlike any thing else in human nature. In the performance of the play, owing to the limited number of our corps, we were reduced to many shifts the most humorous of which was, Romeo's having to toll the bell, and Juliet the dead to sing her own dirge." At a loss for a play, when the absence of some actor had rendered it impracticable to perform that which had been announced (at Stow Market, it was): To continue our comparison, the present "I have never been able to understand why début is a hit. It revives a host of pleasant it has been so often supposed that Lord Byron recollections of by-gone times; it re-opens some was actuated in the composition of his different of the stores of wit which have been forgotten; works by any other motive than enjoyment: and it renews the life of many a gay companion, perhaps no poet had ever less of an ulterior whom death has long since snatched from the purpose in his mind during the fits of inspira- scene of jest, conviviality, and humour. In tion (for the epithet may be applied correctly reading, our enjoyment is often chastened into to him and to the moods in which he was ac- a deeper tone of feeling, and our laughter at "After canvassing the merits and pecucustomed to write), than this singular and im- the joke or bon-mot checked by a recollection liarities of twenty pieces, The Orphan' ap passioned man. Those who imagine that he of the fate of him who uttered it. They do peared to be the least difficult, and we fixed had any intention to impair the reverence due not come like shadows, so depart; but, on the upon it. Two other queries were now to be to religion, or to weaken the hinges of moral contrary, with all the amusement of a book of considered; whether, and how, we should acaction, give him credit for far more design and drollery, biographical anecdote, and the ex-quaint the public with a change. Mr. Osprospective purpose than he possessed. They hibition of society half a century old, these borne remarked, that as we expected a full could have known nothing of the man; the Retrospections possess a higher claim to public house to the comedy,-(the title, as well as that main defect of whose character, in relation to regard. In all that respects the drama they are of a Bold Stroke for a Husband,' being very every thing, was in having too little of the admirable chronicles; and they place vividly attractive in small country towns, where there element or principle of purpose. He was a before us many of those favourites of the stage are a great many unmarried young people)thing of impulses; and to judge of what he in whom our fathers delighted, in their habits he feared that the announcement of a tragedy either said or did, as the results of predetermi-as they lived. When an estimate of dramatic would turn money from the doors; and as that nation, was not only to do the harshest injus- talents is offered, or when opinions are given event was less desirable to the company than tice, but to shew a total ignorance of his cha- upon subjects connected with the stage, there the public enlightenment, it was decided on racter. His whole fault, the darkest course of is a degree of judgment displayed which we nem. con. that The Orphan' should be rethose flights and deviations from propriety consider to be of the highest order. A few of presented instead of the Bold Stroke,' but which have drawn upon him the severest ani- the stories, it is true, have slipped into pub-without any promulgation; thus leaving it to the critical acumen of our audience to dis- tail. As we could contemplate no evil results | reminds me of the story of a silk-mercer, who tinguish between Thalia and Melpomene! from such a joke, we agreed. The kite was had associated with Shuter till he caught, not The night came the house filled-the curtain accordingly constructed. A suitable evening only all his best jokes and ditties, but the very went up the play went on-moreover, it went came, windy and tenebrious; and being an manner in which they were given. The latter, down not a whisper was breathed-not a fan off-night,' we repaired to the hill with the hearing this, determined to visit a club one agitated-not a hand struck its fellow: one captain, and our materials in a cart. Arrived evening, which this gentleman frequented, and would have thought not a heart beat-all was at a convenient spot, the cat and lantern were see what would be the effect of his good things observation and quiescence as usual dead securely swathed to the tail, and the kite was at first hand, which had told so well at second. and deep,'-the spectators gazing upon us as raised. It was six feet in height, and required He did so; but soon lost both humour and though we were certain unearthly appearances, nearly six men to hold it. Sweeping over the temper, at hearing the worthy cits, whenever or more exactly like the people of a city in the town, it performed various curious evolutions, he attempted to be funny, respond with minArabian Nights,' who were suddenly con- owing to the gusty, unsteady nature of the gled wonder and delight, How like Tom verted into stone: the same raising of the wind (very favourable, by the by, to our de- Bennet!' brow, dropping of the jaw, propping of the sign); and the feline aeronaut, beginning to "Mrs. Ibbot used to relate to me many chin, and settling of the eye, continuing from exert his lungs, surpassed the finest strains of whimsical illustrations of dramatic life; and the commencement to the close of the act. a modern professor. As the body of the kite among others, once said, that about the period On this occasion, however, we were not in- was painted black, the light only was visible, of her entering the profession (1740), she was clined to murmur at their silence, fearing, on and very supernatural aspect it had, resem- present at the performance of an old Roman the contrary, that the first exclamation would bling nothing so much as the gambols of some play, in a gentleman's barn in Norfolk, when be to our detection, and, consequently, the aerial demon. The first effect that we noticed the principal actor came forward to deliver the rousing of the sleeping lion to our disgrace. was the rushing up of all the cats of Glaston-prologue (which then in the country used geneBut fate willed it otherwise. The play pro- bury to the house-tops, who, sympathising with rally to be an epitome of the plot), and having ceeded the actors went on and off and no- their friend, lifted up their tails and voices, to say, 'When Hannibal and Scipio first waged thing occurred to disturb either the looks or and yelled together loud enough to have scared war, they took a circumference to Africa,' he positions of the audience, till in the midst of all the devils in Milton's Pandemonium. Next enunciated- When Han-ni-bawl and Ski-pi-o the fourth act, when I, (as Castalio,) addressing came out all the old women and young child-first wag-ged war, they took a kirk-kum-ferMonimia's maid, exclaimed, in reply to her ren, who, grouped at the corners of the street, ence round to Afri-ca." refusal to admit mesilently contemplated, like so many statues, the At Norwich:"The character of the good By heaven! I'll scale the window, and get in by force, inexplicable phenomenon above them. When people who reside in this part of the world, Let the glad consequence be what it may;' we had amused ourselves in this way about whilst laying claim to as great a portion of inat which an old maiden lady, in a high-crowned two hours, the kite was taken in; and con- tegrity and generosity as any others in Christcritical cap, with spectacles on her nose, and fiding it to the care of the captain's servant, endom, is (or was) nevertheless distinguished her peaked chin propped on an ivory-headed we descended to the town to enjoy (though for a peculiar simplicity. It was quite common cane (who had sat as mute and motionless all rather wickedly) the alarm we had given rise for a servant who would come to the boxthe evening as the rest) suddenly relaxed her to. It would have filled a pretty thick volume office to learn what was the play, and being fixidity, and exclaimed, giving three emphatic (and not unamusingly) could I have penned informed the Beaux Stratagem' and the taps with her staff Bravo, young man-down the explanations we received of the ap-Virgin Unmasked,' to go home and say we bravo-that's a bold stroke for a wife,' in-parition in the air,' each of which varying intended to do the Boar Strangled' and the deed!'-Whether it was the example of so with the grade and intellect of the object, was Virgin Mary! A grazier who had got into respectable a person, or a general concurrence equally distant from a suspicion of the truth. the theatre and seen Griffiths play Richard, on in the justice of her criticism, I know not- The panic lasted throughout the night, and on one occasion waited upon the manager the but the impulse was electrical-the train was the morrow communicated to the surrounding next morning, to say, that if the gentleman fired; tongues, hands, and heels, were loosened villages. People flocked in from all quarters, who wanted a horse on the previous evening to their welcome office, and a universal ex- and the town was quite full. The captain's held his mind, he had got an abundance of plosion of approbation took place. sagacious head had foreseen this result, and cattle in his meadows, and should be happy to "Thornton (a manager) was the person perceived in it an opportunity of retrieving our deal with him. Bowles took me to a club one who originated the joke of a man going à jour-affairs. He accordingly proposed to write a evening, where the subject of public speaking ney and putting on six shirts; so that when play on the subject, to be called The Fiend being debated, a gentleman asked his friend he wanted a clean one he took one off. He in the Air, or the Glastonbury Apparition!' what he thought of Mr. Hopkins' style; who had a favourite Scotch dress given to him by which we should get a house-painter in the replied, that he considered it to be very troubleLee Digges, which he was in the habit of wear- town to illustrate with a view of the Torr-hill, some, and wished it was broken down-as he ing on all occasions, and once introduced in Sted- &c. This was agreed to; and an imaginary had to get over it every morning in going to fast in the Heir at Law,' compelling Henry likeness of the fiend' was constructed by the his farm, at the hazard of dislocating his hip. Moreland to say that they had been wrecked company, to be worked by wires, composed of I believe the joke is pretty well known of the on the coast of Scotland, instead of America, pasteboard and red flannel, with an illumined Norwich alderman, who being called on at a where his old friend lost his own, and was head, and a cracker at his tail. The piece was public dinner, when the cloth was removed, to forced to assume the national habiliments. His written, rehearsed, and acted; each one had a give a toast, said he would propose one which system of acting was not founded upon the part. Two gentlemen of the town gave imita- he had had the honour of hearing Sir Edward principle of suiting the word to the action, but tions at the wings of the congregated cats; Afflick deliver at the breaking up of a partythe action to the word. In Macheath (which whilst the captain, positioned above, mancu- 'Here's bon repos, gentlemen!" But one inhe invariably played for his benefit), he accord- vred and yelled for the fiend individually. This finitely more whimsical than this occurred duringly gave the lines- Some men are killed by experiment succeeded so well with the country-ing my stay at a dinner given by the body rope,' (mimicking the Newgate ceremony), or people, who had not witnessed the phenome-corporate' to Sir Thomas Jerningham, the gun' (levelling his aim like a musket), and non, but came to the theatre (as people always member. One of that illustrious number being others by the doctor's pill' (rolling the little should) to be instructed, that we performed it asked (at a late hour in the evening) to name ball in the palm of his hand, and pretending to four nights, and the receipts were sufficient to as a toast the finest demirep in Norwich! swallow it). take us out of town with respectability." filled his glass, and, rising with formal polite"Glastonbury was our next destination, At Norwich, the green-room (1774) "con-ness, replied- Here's Sir Thomas Jerningwhere we were patronised by a great eccentric, tained three or four individuals it may be ham, gentlemen!'" of the name of Shroud. The business becom- worth while to notice. Mrs. Ross (afterwards | At Plymouth: "Mrs. Bernard on her ing very bad, we were driven to all kinds of Mrs. Brown), a comedian whose merit will be benefit-night received an unexpected compliexpedients to recruit it; and this gentleman sufficiently attested by the fact, that she was ment. We were playing the Chances,' in hit upon one that proved successful. As a the acknowledged prototype of Mrs. Jordan; which my wife enacted the second Constanmere frolic, he proposed to myself and some the latter lady having imbibed the idea that tia;' and when repeating the soliloquy upon others of the company who were supping with she could play comedy from seeing the former her escape from Antonio, she exclaimed him, to fly a kite some dark and windy night perform a hoyden. 'Well! I'm glad I've got rid of that old felfrom the Torr-hill, when the wind set in the "When she appeared at Covent Garden (in low, however; and now, if any handsome young direction of the town. This kite was to be of Miss Prue, I believe), the audience were de-man would take a fancy to me, and make me extraordinary dimensions, and to have a large lighted; but the critics in the pit exclaimed, an honest woman, I'd make him the best wife tom-cat and a stable-lantern appended to its It's a pity she imitates Mrs. Jordan!' which in the universe!' A middy in the slips, who 6 These tales we shall close with one of Jemmy Whitely, an eccentric manager of a travelling corps. to. 66 Jemmy was not particular, in poor communities, as to whether he received the public support in money or in kind.' He would take meat, fowl, vegetables, &c., value them by scales, &c., and pass in the owner and friends for as many admissions as they amounted Thus his treasury very often, on a Saturday, resembled a butcher's warehouse rather than a banker's. At a village on the coast the inhabitants brought him nothing but fish; but as the company could not subsist without its concomitants of bread, potatoes, and spirits, a general appeal was made to his stomach and sympathies, and some alteration in the terms of admission required. Jemmy accordingly, after admitting nineteen persons one evening for a shad a-piece, stopped the twentieth, and said—' I beg your pardon, my darling-I am extramely sorry to refuse you; but if we ate any more fish, by the powers! we shall all be turned into mermaids !'" retreat. · 6 had never seen a play before, and took a deep the fire-place, one of whom appeared to be a and other ingredients, composed a mixture of interest in the scene, immediately started up, walking compound of wig, lace ruffles, rose- about two gallons, which was served up at his and leaning over the box in a manner which water, and the Bath Directory. The room table as his Siamese soup.' The company made him conspicuous to the whole house, was rather full, and for this reason the latter were in transports at its flavour; but Quin, clapped his hands, and cried out I'll have person commenced a detail of his fashionable pleading a cold, did not taste it. A pleasant you, ma'am ; I'll have you; d-n my eyes, if I connexions and advantages. Quin imme- evening was spent, and when the hour of don't. I have three years' pay to receive, be- diately desisted from eating, looked up, and departure arrived, each person pulled out his sides prize-money!" " made wry faces. The sprig of jesmine was tablets to write down the recipe. Quin now pleased, however, with the notice he excited, pretended that he had forgot making the proand continued in an effeminate tone suffi- mise; but his guests were not to be put off; ciently audible to disturb and disgust all around and closing the door, they told him in plain him, whose expressions he construed as the terms, that neither he nor they should quit the tokens of wonder or envy. Quin rose up and room till his pledge had been redeemed. Quin walked about the room; the lady-like creature stammered and evaded, and kept them from paid no attention to this, but entered into a the point as long as possible; but when their list of his weekly engagements, and numbered patience was bearing down all bounds, his rethe peers who would be of the parties. Quin luctance gave way. Well, then, gentlemen,' could contain himself no longer, and rang the said he, in the first place, take an old pair of bell furiously. Waiter,' said he, bring me boots!' 'What! an old pair of boots!' a basin.' A basin, sir!' A basin - I'm The older the better;'-(they stared at each going to be sick.' Away flew the waiter; and other)- cut off their tops and soles, and soak Quin, stepping up to the obnoxious person, them in a tub of water'-(they hesitated) begged he would delay his conversation a few chop them into fine particles, and pour them minutes. The object stared as though thun- into a pot with two gallons and a half of derstruck, but was silent. The eyes of the water.' Why, d-n it, Quin,' they simul. company were now directed to Quin in inqui- taneously exclaimed, you don't mean to say sitive surprise: the waiter returned; Quin that the soup we've been drinking was made took the basin and placed it on the table near of old boots!" 'I do, gentlemen,' he replied, his soup; he then unbuttoned his coat, loosened by G-d! my cook will assure you she chophis cravat, and, leaning his head over the uten- ped them up.' They required no such atsil, exclaimed-Now, sir, proceed when you testation; his cool, inflexible expression was like-I'm ready!' His design and action con- sufficient: in an instant, horror and despair But as our hero got onward, and became ac-vulsed the room in an instantaneous roar of were depicted on each countenance, in the full quainted with better-known folks than the laughter, which answered the desired end; conviction they were individually poisoned. Jemmy Whitelys of the barns and fish-money, for the young gentleman,' becoming incensed, Quin, observing this, begged them not to be he picked up and has preserved some anecdotes uttered a loud demme,' and made a speedy which are still more interesting and amusing. The following, of the celebrated Quin, have "Quin played Cato very well, which I attrinot excited our spleen-but vice versâ. bute to some constitutional resemblance between "Quin and Foote associated with the best the two. He was generally 'as cool (to use a company; and Quin, like Foote, was distin- vulgarism) as a cucumber.' 'Some person whom guished for a certain contempt for a portion of he had offended, met him one day in the street, the society he courted, namely, the more noble and stopped him. 'Mr. Quin,' said he,' I but less intelligent. Dining one day at a party I-I understand, sir, you have been taking in Bath, Quin uttered something which caused away my name!' What have I said, sir? a general murmur of delight. A nobleman You-you-you called me a scoundrel, sir!' present, who was not illustrious for the bril Keep your name,' replied Quin, and walked liancy of his ideas, exclaimed What a pity on. Quin in his old age, every one knows, 'tis, Quin, my boy, that a clever fellow like became a great gourmand, and, among other you should be a player!' Quin fixed and things, invented a composition, which he called flashed his eye upon the person, with this re- his Siamese soup,' pretending that its ingre- Instructions to Young Sportsmen in all that ply- What would your lordship have me be? dients were principally from the East.' The relates to Guns and Shooting. By Lieut.-a lord!' Quin was also distinguished for peculiarity of its flavour became the topic of Col. Hawker. Sixth edition, corrected, enhis attachment to the society of females; the day. The rage' at Bath was Mr. Quin's larged, and improved. 8vo. pp. 480. Lon though the accounts which have been handed soup; but as he would not part with the re- don, 1830. Longman and Co. down of his rugged habits and propensities may cipe, this state of notice was highly incon- TWICE already have we reviewed this work have led my reader to the contrary supposition. venient; every person of taste was endeavour- (No. 397, August 28, 1824, and No. 448, Where ladies were present one evening, the ing to dine with him; every dinner he was at, August 20, 1825); and now comes the sixth subject of conversation was the doctrine of an apology was made for the absence of the edition, so much enlarged and improved as to Pythagoras. Quin remained silent. One of Siamese soup.' His female friends Quin was deserve the name of a new publication; at the party (remarkable for the whiteness of her forced to put off with promises; the males least, we can say, the additions comprise more neck) asked Quin his opinion- Do you be- received a respectful but manly denial. A pith of information than is contained in many lieve in the transmigration of souls, Mr. Quin?' conspiracy was accordingly projected by a dozen entire original volumes which come under our 'Oh, yes, madam!" And pray may I in- bons vivans of Bath, against his peace and inspection. It is dedicated, by his royal perquire, what creature's form you would prefer comfort. At home he was flooded with anony- mission, to the King. hereafter to inhabit?" 'A fly's, madam." Amous letters; abroad, beset with applications In our last Number we celebrated the Fifth fly!' Yes, that I might have the pleasure, under every form. The possession of this secret of November; but for explosions, we presume at some future day, of resting on your lady was made a canker to all his enjoyments. At to think the First of September must, upon the ship's neck. There was infinite delicacy in length he discovered the design, and deter- long run, take a higher interest in national the following:-Being asked by a lady why it mined on revenge. Collecting the names of feeling. It is this which gratifies us so much was reported that there were more women in the principal confederates, he invited them to with Colonel Hawker: the subject and occa the world than men, he replied— It is in con- dinner, promising to give them the recipe before sion are the most generally important within formity with the arrangements of nature, ma- they departed-an invitation, as my reader will the whole circle of the yearly revolution; and dam: we always see more of heaven than suppose, which was joyfully accepted. Quin here is the Nimrod of the age, the Mentor and earth!' The measure of his devotion to the then gave a pair of his old boots to the house- guardian angel of sportsmen, blazing forth fair could only be equalled by his detestation maid to scour and soak, and when sufficiently upon it with such a quantum of the useful as for those creatures of his own sex who mi- seasoned, to chop up into fine particles, like would set up an Oracle, and in such a style as micked the former's accent and daintiness. minced meat. On the appointed day, he took would amuse a Heraclitus. Indeed, as we have Taking his soup one day at a coffee-house in these particles, and pouring them into a copper declared and almost sworn, this is a book of Bath, two gentlemen came in and blockaded pot, with sage, onions, spice, ham, wine, water, books for country quarters, and for townsmen 6 alarmed, since he could contemplate no dangerous results from their dinner; but if they thought it would sit uneasy on their stomachs, there was an apothecary's shop in the next street. The hint was taken: an idea of personal safety subdued the rising throbs of indig nation. Seizing their hats, away flew the whole bevy down the stairs, and along the street to the place advised, where ipecacuanha and other provocatives were speedily procured, and the Siamese soup' (and all its concomitants) was speedily disgorged." From these diverting volumes we shall continue our extracts next week. who have the felicity to be invited into rural shooting. I have luckily felt just enough of their roost. Having then spoiled the night's enjoyments. this annoyance to enable me to prescribe a sport, you may go home and sleep in peace. Next Wednesday, should the birds not be little remedy for it; as I well know the un- This was the plan of my friend, the late Mr. previously frightened to death by anticipating pleasant feelings of a shooting sportsman when Ponton, who, with only one regular keeper, the eclipse of the moon on Thursday-next deprived of his usual skill:he becomes, like had plenty of pheasants in the midst of poachWednesday, the harvest being pretty forward, one with gout, love, or sea-sickness, cruelly ers.' and the season auspicious, there will be much tormented, and laughed at into the bargain.' At pages 292-3, the reader will be taught powder burnt, much shot wasted, a great num- The song says, "just like love is yonder several methods of dissolving Indian rubber, ber of birds, and, probably, a few shooters, rose;" and now we learn that shooting badly for making shoes, trousers, or any thing else, killed, by the guns which will be out that day. is also "just like love." It puts one in a waterproof; and the annexed gives ample Even to the last-mentioned we would recom- tremble, we suppose, and he can no more pop information on a still more tender and touchmend an early reading of Col. Hawker: it will the question than he can pop off a partridge! ing point-corns. do them good! Let us run over its new mat- There is, however, a way of getting at the "To walk with corns, and without torture, ter, and the whole world will perceive how. game, like to which we know nothing (except get a piece of chamois leather, spread with After a flourish respecting the crack gun- it may be to fly a passionate letter) in affairs of diachylon plaster. Cut, with your waddingmakers in the trade, the author confesses a far the heart: it is, "to fly a paper kite, regularly punch, as many rounds as will form a sufficient more favourable opinion of detonaters than he painted like a bird of prey, at about thirty thickness to prevent the boot or shoe from formerly maintained. From improvements in yards above the ground, and with a very long pressing your stocking on the corn; for the the method of boring, which causes them to string, so as for the man who flies and walks reception of which you must punch a small detain the shot longer, till the powder is more on with it, to be at a distance; while the hole through the centre. By this simple coneffectually ignited and of new waddings, shooter and his dog approach behind the kite." trivance, I have known many a dot-and-go-one which clean the gun from the leading depo- In the usual mode of sporting, the following gentleman start off as bold as a dog just unsited when there is much firing-he is now new observations in Col. Hawker's volume will coupled." inclined to think they are superior, in some be found of service to our friends next week respects, and nearly equal in all, to the olden and throughout the seasonflint-gun. Copper caps, which have crept into pretty general use, are also mentioned as valuable innovations; but care should be taken in their selection." The following is also a secret worth knowing: "In walking up to your dogs, in turnips or "To preserve Gunning-clothes from the Moth. high stubble, when birds are wild, lift your To keep your gunning-dresses, and indeed legs high; and by thus making less noise, you all other cloths, furs, &c. free from the moth, will get twice as near to your game. In an let them be sewed up in a bag of brown holOn the question of elevation there are some open country, where the stubble is thin, ad- land, or other linen, which, if sewn tight, udicious remarks; the result of which is, that vance as quick as possible, tread light, and and kept dry, will rarely ever fail to preserve "the longer the gun, the higher must be the crouch your body as low as you can. Why them. But, if you wish to be doubly sure, you elevation." The colonel prefers the fine cylin- does a pointer sometimes get within ten yards, may put in the bag with them, equal quantider powder, with the copper-cap percussion when the birds fly up from the shooter at above ties of camphor and carbonate of ammonia. A guns, and tells us, in his own quaint manner, 100? Because a dog is so low the birds can- bladder filled with turpentine is another good "the gunmakers are by far the best deputy not see him, and rapidly advances on them remedy." 6 * "Penalty for Stealing Dogs.+ "By 7 and 8 Geo. IV. c. 29, the offender, on conviction before a justice of peace, to forfeit, for the first offence (over and above the value of the dog), a sum not exceed ing 20. For the second offence, to be imprisoned (with hard labour) not exceeding twelve calendar months, and whipped, at the discretion of the justice. Sect. 31. Persons found in possession of a stolen dog, or the skin thereof (knowing them to be stolen), are liable to the same penalties. Sect. 32." powder-merchants, and take great pains in the without making a noise. The sceptic may Upon the subject of dog-stealing we have management of their powder; because on that fancy this an old woman's story-but, for all some most curious intelligence: so curious, the killing of their guns must depend; and that, he'll get beat by the man who attends to that it may stand for a sketch of a particular therefore we must readily forgive any innocent it. * In beating a narrow strip of class of society which does not court much publittle bit of bam' as to putting their own turnips, with two shooters, when birds are lic notice in our strange metropolis; and we names to it, &c. This is all fair; and it is wild and run, let one of them enter the croft quote the whole. really a charity to let them earn a trifle, now about eighty yards in front of the other, and that they have been half-ruined by getting walk on in echellon, as the man in advance caught in their own trap-the detonating guns; will then have the wild ones coming to him, and then sadly troubled with the 'shorts,' from and his partner the tame ones, if some of the gentlemen finding it impossible to cash up,' birds happen to lie well. Much owing to the failure of their farming tenants.' game as I have seen killed in a September day, With regard to wadding, a novelty is spo- I do not recollect one solitary instance of any ken of as forthcoming; but, in the interim, thing extraordinary being done very early in "anointed wadding" is pronounced to be best the morning. Many people tell me about killupon the powder; and thin pasteboard, cut by ing ten and even twenty brace before breaka dented punch, upon the shot. Cartridges in fast; but I never yet had the fortune to see the wire are not found to answer in common sport- chance for such a performance; because the ing, though, in particular cases, they make dew is seldom off before eight or nine o'clock. very long shots. It would be bad manners to doubt their word; In the art of shooting it appears a grand so I will conclude that they mean before some requisite to be good tempered, and not to fume déjeúné à la fourchette at 12; or perhaps before and fret about missing. their breakfast on the following day. "When a good shot (observes the author) After a storm, as soon as the ground is dry, or misses, from being nervous, it generally occurs the next day, birds will lie in a calm; and through his left hand dropping as he pulls the after a calm they will lie in windy weather. trigger; and if it happens that his gun should Birds are frequently as much on the listen as miss fire, he will immediately detect this, by on the watch; and this is why, towards the seeing that the muzzle has fallen below the line end of the season, we sometimes do best in of aim. The best way to remedy this is to boisterous weather. If an obstinate make a firm resolution to fire full high, and dog will not come out of cover when repeatedly firmly grasp the stock for a few shots; and, as called, be silent; then he will begin to listen soon as a few birds have fallen handsomely, he for you, and through fear of being left behind, will, most likely, recover his nerves and his will most likely come sneaking out, so as to be "I need hardly add (says the colonel), that having caught for a timely flagellation. " If the caps of bad quality has perhaps doubled the number you owe a greedy shooter a grudge, give his "Such is here the inefficiency of the law, that dog-stealing in London has now become the regular trade of men calling themselves 'the Fancy;' and of whom there are, at least, fifty leading characters, besides their spies and avoid suspicion, either assume the character of outposts. These fellows, by way of a blind to plasterers, carpenters, &c. &c., and carry the very tools in their hands, or hawk about oranges, hardwares, and other little articles for sale. They have dens in the neighbourhood of Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Tottenham-court Road, and Westminster; outposts about Greenwich, Ball's Pond (a noted place on the right of the North Road), Lisson Grove, and Paddington; and a rendezvous in Long Acre for drinking and business. I have been told that Of one of these recipes, the colonel, in his characteristic language, states: It has, after six years' trial, proved to answer so well, that I have no doubt if it had was a dab' at preaching, puffing, and wall-chalking, he been disguised, and set a going' by some gentleman who might soon have made a little fortune by it, and set up for an E-s-q.; with his 'cad,' and his cab, and his -, &c." "N.B. This law holds good also for (as the act says) any beast or bird ordinarily kept in a state of confinement,' &c.; and in sect. 32 it says-That if any such dog, or any such beast, or the skin thereof; or any such bird, or any of the plumage thereof, shall be found in the possession, or on the premises, of any person, and the perliable to the same penalties."" son shall know the same to have been stolen,' &c. &c. |