AND Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, &c. This Journal is supplied Weekly, or Monthly, by the principal Booksellers and Newsmen, throughout the Kingdom; but to those who may desire its immediate transmission, by post, we recommend the LITERARY GAZETTE, printed on stamped paper, price One Shilling. No. 725. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1830. REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS. PRICE 8d. word nask terminates the notice of Gaelic law that the gypsire, or pouch, was worn banging terms; and the next paragraph-" In Man, at the girdle on one side during the middle the swine of felons belonged to the king," &c., ages, throughout Europe; and there is, or though it sounds as if it either had some rela- was, an effigy of a Scotch warrior, of the tion to what has gone before, or was, as the fourteenth century, to be seen at Ilcolmkil, French say, apropos des bottes, is, in fact, the attired in a gambeson, and wearing a square commencement of an entirely different subject leathern pouch (the dorlach) on the right (the legal punishments of the Celts), and re-side; but the hairy and tasselled sporan of quires, at least, a word or two by way of intro- the modern Highlander is worn in front, and In our short notice of this work, a fortnight duction. There is also something obscure in differs totally in form, as well as situation, ago, we recommended it to the patronage of the paragraph immediately succeeding :-"Ac- from any other description of pouch with which the public, as a most meritorious and curious cording to Diodorus, the Celts impaled on we have met. Could not Mr. Logan have furperformance. Our favourable opinion, thus stakes, and burned on lofty piles, those who were nished us with the date of the alteration ? expressed on a first hasty glance at the vo- guilty of any great crime, after a close impri- Respecting the trius again, which has been con. lumes, we are happy to say has not been sonment of five years; and in like manner he sidered by many of our best antiquaries to be shaken by an attentive perusal. Mr. Logan's says they used their captives-some cutting more ancient than the feile-beag, Mr. Logan reading is extensive, his research deep, and his the throats, burning, or otherwise destroying remarks, that the Gaelic triubahs, or triughas, enthusiasm extraordinary: his path was almost both men and beasts. Among the ancient Ca- the Irish trius and Welsh trus, signify the untrodden-a circumstance which must have ledonians, malefactors who were sentenced to vestment which covers the loins, derived from added greatly to the difficulty of the task, death were burnt between two fires; from the root trus, gather, truss, or tuck up, &c.;" but which is likely to reward him for his whence is derived the saying- Edir da teine and contends that the Irish trouse and mantle, labours by the value and novelty it attaches to Bheil'—he is between the two flames of Bel." so often alluded to by old writers, were formed them. His volumes have, however, in com- Now, we do not perceive the likeness in man-like the breacan or belted plaid of the Scots mon with many other archæological publica- ner between cutting the throat of a prisoner Highlanders, and left the legs bare. Yet imtions, two serious faults, which are consider- of war and burning or impaling a notorious mediately afterwards (p. 257) he says, without able drawbacks, unfortunately, on their general criminal after five years' imprisonment; nor any comment, "the triughas, pronounced trius, utility. The first is a lack of that chronologi- can we exactly understand what the other men are pantaloons and stockings joined; and are cal arrangement which can alone leave a clear and beasts have to do with the business. The either knit like the latter, or, according to the impression on the mind of the reader; and the peculiar custom of burning a malefactor be- ancient manner, are formed of tartan cloth, second, the absence of contemporary authority tween two fires, as practised by the ancient nicely fitted to the shape, and fringed down for numberless statements, which require to Caledonians, is not traced to the Celts de- the legs; they were sometimes merely striped, be so established before the cautious inquirer scribed by Diodorus; on the contrary, it is ex- and were fastened by a belt round the loins, chooses to accept them as the bases of ingenious pressly stated that their criminals were burned with a square piece of cloth hanging down speculations. Mr. Logan, besides, being him- on lofty piles and on what authority does before." And "respecting this dress," he tells self perfectly acquainted with, and enthusias- Mr. Logan record the former singular punish- us, "there is preserved a Gaelic saying," after tically attached to, his subject, canters on his ment? We presume he can furnish us with contending through the two previous pages hobby in the most excursive manner, from the one, but he has not done so; and before he that the trius was not originally a covering Grampians to the Alps, from the siege of Troy asserts that the Gaelic proverb is derived from for the legs, and that the term, which was to the battle of Culloden, from Tentabochus, that custom, the critical reader will require applicable to the tucked-up breacan, was king of the Teutoni, to Big Sam, the Prince that the custom itself should be proved to have given to the trousers adopted on the prohiof Wales's porter,-till his bewildered reader existed. In that very interesting portion of bition of the ancient dress. How are we to feels, on laying down the book, as if he had the work which relates to the national dress reconcile such contradictory statements? Notawoke from one of those puzzling dreams in of Scotland, round assertions are made by withstanding these faults, however, we repeat which every thing in nature is served up to his scores, without any authorities being quoted with pleasure, that there is much curious and mental vision, jumbled together like the dish in their support, while the want of chrono- valuable matter in these volumes; and that of salmagundi that has occasioned his indiges- logical arrangement is perplexing in the ex- Mr. Logan has acted as a zealous pioneer for tion. It is not to instances where parallels are treme. Mr. Logan discovers the feile-beag, the student of Celtic antiquity. He has not drawn between the customs of the Highlanders or kilt, on the seal of Alexander I. of Scot- the erudition of Chalmers, nor the perspicuity and those of some remnant of the great Celtic land, considering it apparently (as we under- of Davies; but he has gotten together a mass race in other parts of the globe, that we are stand him) neither more nor less than a tunic of very interesting materials, and deserves the here alluding it is to the jumping backwards reaching to the knees. Now it needs no ghost thanks and patronage of the British public, and forwards the abrupt transitions-the sud- from the grave to tell us, that the tunic is particularly of that portion of it to which he den stride to remote objects when least ex-nearly as ancient as the Grampians them- immediately belongs, and whose claims to our pected, and which, at the first glance, induces selves; but the garment so called was of the respect and admiration he has so ardently and us to imagine we have turned over two leaves shape of a shirt, with or without sleeves, and learnedly supported. The following miscelat once. For instance, at p. 213, vol. i., we covered the body from the neck to the knees. laneous extracts may be taken as a favourread" A tenant in Caithness spun a certain The feile-beag is now put on like a petticoat, able specimen of the style in which the work quantity of woollen yarn, and so much of lint; and is a separate article of dress from the vest or is written; though the need of cuts and enpaid a quantity of oats to feed the laird's horses; jacket that covers the chest to the waist. When gravings puts it out of our power to refer to trout, if near a river or lake; and if in the did this alteration take place? Did the fashion several portions of the highest antiquarian vicinity of a wood, a certain number of nasks, of making it separate originate with the Scots, interest. i. e. binders of birch, to secure the laird's cows." or was it borrowed from some other nation? "Every one knows that the Scots are fond "In Man, the swine of felons belonged to the The kilt is certainly not a tunic at present. of snuff, and the figure of a Highlander is the king, the goats to the queen." And the sporan, or purse, "anciently," Mr. almost invariable symbol of a snuff-shop. How Now, this is like the rough jotting down of Logan says, "was small, and less decorated;" they became so noted for their partiality to notes in an antiquary's pocket-book; and either and he instances that of Lord Lovat, who suf. sneeshin' is not easy to determine; it is a startles or confuses, according to the character fered in 1746. Anciently! Where is the auof the reader. With the explanation of the thority for its existence anciently? We know Mr. Logan is perhaps aware of the existence of this effigy, but he has not alluded to it. The Exiles of Palestine: a Tale of the Holy subject that has hitherto received little atten- in Ross-shire, where he was formerly resident, knots was an important part of the mystical tion. There is a tradition, that when the Black there was but one person addicted to drink; studies of the druidical order, and appears Watch, now the 42nd regiment, first came to and a native of Laggan, Inverness-shire, knew to have been known by few. Talliesin, who London, the men were so constantly calling to but one individual in that part who was accus- gloried in belonging to the profession, boasts supply themselves with their favourite powder, tomed to intoxication: these characters in- of this part of his knowledge; his acquaintance that the dealers whose snuff had met with dulged their depraved tastes in solitude, for with every sprig, and the meaning of the their patronage, adopted the figure of a High- they could find no associates. The Highland- trees, he calls understanding his institute.' lander to indicate their business. This may be ers seldom met for a carousal, and when they We thus see that the Celts had a method of very correct; but how came the inhabitants of did assemble, they enjoyed themselves very conveying their knowledge to the initiated by the remote Highlands and Isles so speedily to heartily, the lawing,' or bill, being paid by a a sort of hieroglyphic, or symbolical characters, bring into universal use an article that had general contribution, for which a bonnet was produced by twigs, or branches of various trees; been but recently introduced in England? Sir passed around the company. If, however, the and the characters, which afterwards formed an Walter Raleigh first brought tobacco here, Highlanders seldom met to drink together, it alphabet, represented those branches and reabout 1586; and we know that, like all inno- must be confessed that when they did forga-tained the names of different trees." vations, it must have been some time before its ther,' they were inclined to prolong their stay, [To be concluded in our next.] use became common, even in the south; yet, and would occasionally spend days and nights in a poem by Mary Mac Leod, of the house of over the bottle. Donald Ross, an old man, Dunvegan, addressed to John Mac Leod, bro- full of amusing anecdotes of the gentlemen of ther to Sir Norman, and written about 1600, Sutherland and the neighbouring counties, used she thanks him for presenting her with a bra to dwell with particular pleasure on those social thombac, or tobacco mill-stone. Now it is not treats. The laird of Assynt, on one occasion, THE time in which a romance is laid is a point at all probable that the Highlanders could having come down to Dunrobin, was accosted that at once tries the taste and the research have received their knowledge of this plant by the smith of the village, when just ready to of the writer. Novelty and association are both from the English, or that, in so short a time, mount his garron and set off. The smith being required; the ground, though haunted by the they would have been, not only reconciled, but an old acquaintance, and the laird, like the late past, should be unbroken by the present; and, proverbially addicted to its use. The strong Mac Nab and others of true Highland blood, in these writing days, it is no easy task to find prejudice which the Gaël have to innovation of thinking it no derogation from his dignity to an historical subject worthy of choice, and yet all kinds, even emanating from a less ob- accept the gobh's invitation to take deoch an unchosen. The crusades are full of adventure; jectionable quarter than the Sassanach, forbids doras, a draught at the door, or stirrup-cup, and, with recollections that come home to every us to believe that their snuff was connected (for every glass had its significant appellation,) memory, their only drawback is, that the lionwith Raleigh's discovery. The root cormheille, and went into the house, where the smith called hearted Richard and the noble Saladin are fami or braonan, was chewed like tobacco by the old for the largest jar or graybeard of whiskey, a liar to every reader. Highlanders, and may have been smoked or pitcher that holds perhaps two gallons, mean- The author before us has been peculiarly ground to snuff; but whatever the article was, ing, without doubt, to shew the laird that when happy in a choice of period which, while it has it is certain that the Celts were accustomed to they parted, it should not be for want of liquor. all the advantage of historic interest, yet insmoke, and their pipes have been frequently' Well,' says Donald, they continued to sit volves no comparison, and whose ground is new dug up both in Britain and Ireland. They and drink, and converse on various matters; and untouched. Nor has he been less judicious were discovered, in considerable numbers, under and the more they talked, the more subjects in his choice of place: perhaps not a man in ground, at Brannockstown, in the county of for conversation arose, and it was the fourth England is so well calculated as the writer of Kildare, in 1784; and a skeleton, found under day before the smith thought of his shop, or the Letters from the East" to do justice to an ancient barrow, had a pipe actually sticking the laird of Assynt.' It is customary at meet- the natural beauty and exciting memories of between its teeth. Its form is much similar to ings of Highland Societies to accompany certain the Holy Land. The scene is at a period when those now in use, only of an oval or egg-shape. toasts with Celtic honours,' that are thus be- valour took its highest tone from misfortune, Herodotus says, the Scyths had certain herbs, stowed. The chief or chairman, standing up, and devotion was deepened by despair into which were thrown into the fire, and the smoke gives the toast, and with a slight wave of the fervid enthusiasm. But we will use his own being inhaled by those sitting around, it affected | hand, repeats three times, suas e, suas e, suas e, words: them as wine did the Greeks. Strabo tells us,' up with it, up with it, up with it,' the whole "Almost at the foot of Mount Carmel, there a certain religious sect among them smoked company also standing, and joining him in stands a solitary castle, on a rock that juts out for recreation; and Mela and Solinus plainly three short huzzas. This is repeated, when he into the sea: the walls and towers are in a describe the smoke as being inhaled through then pronounces the word nish, now, also three ruinous state, but still massive enough to afford tubes. The Highlanders appear to have adopted times, with peculiar emphasis, in which he is a strong hold to the Bedouin, as well as a home the tobacco introduced by Raleigh from a pre-joined by the company, who dwell a consider- to the traveller. And this home, of a night,' vious addiction to a native herb of similar pun-able time on the last cheer. As the company is a romantic and impressive one; the beautiful gency; and they are said to have formerly sit down, the piper strikes up an appropriate declivities of the mountain are behind; dark grown and prepared their own tobacco in a tune. with trees, or covered with the flocks of the very judicious manner, drying it by the fire, "The word aos in Irish, which at first sig- shepherd. The waves bathe the walls of the and grinding both stem and leaf, making a nified a tree, was applied to a learned person; castle on every side, save one, a narrow path snuff not unlike what is now termed Irish and feadha, woods or trees, became the term that joins it to the main. Many of the apart blackguard. They are so partial to snuff, that applied to prophets or wise men, undoubtedly ments are still entire, and very spacious; for a supply of it is often a sufficient inducement from their knowledge of the alphabet, or sylvan here formerly lodged the kings and princes of for one to accompany a traveller across exten- characters, which were used. The Re- the crusades. The sun was setting on the sive tracts of mountain or muir." searches' of Mr. Davies have thrown much gloomy battlements as we rested on our jour. "The love of intoxicating liquors is a vice light on Celtic Antiquities, and in his pages ney beside them; for their shelter is the only which people in a low scale of civilisation are will be found several passages from bardic one for a long way on the coast. After the prone to. The Gauls, who drank sparingly of compositions, which elucidate the tree system expulsion of the Christians, by the capture of their own beverages, indulged to excess in the of learning. It is well known that various Ptolemais or Acre, this noble castle of Peleproduce of the Italian vintage. The High- trees and shrubs have been symbolical, or used grino was left desolate, till a singular instance landers can enjoy a social glass as much as any as tokens; but the learning of the sprigs con- of daring occurred. Only a few years afterpersons; but although whiskey is plentiful sisted in arranging, tying, and intertwining wards, a small and solitary band of knights with them, habitual tippling is extremely rare, them in various ways, thereby altering their took possession of it, and defended it with and there is a proverb which speaks their con- expression or import. There is a work which success, for some time, against all the power tempt of those who meet for the sake of drink- Mr. Davies quotes, in which the author says, of the enemy. ing only. The renowned Fingal, who, by the he loves the sprigs with their woven tops, "The castle of Pelegrino is a monument by, delivered his maxims in triads, said, that tied with a hundred knots, after the manner of what the enthusiasm of a few men could one of the worst things which could happen to of the Celts, with the artists employed about achieve. As we stood before its ruinous walls a man was to drink curmi in the morning. their mystery.' Small branches of different we could not help admiring the courage that. Measg, mixture, now pronounced meisg, signi- trees were fastened together, and being placed in this sea-girt hold, had set at defiance the fies drunkenness, apparently from the stupify- in the tablet of devices, they were read by whole power of the invaders. With great ing effects of drinking mixed liquors. A gen- sages who were versed in science.' The art labour they repaired the shattered defences; tleman assured me, that, in the parish of Lairg, of tying the sprigs in numerous and intricate while the desolate chambers, with their walls and floors of massive stone, afforded ample was dark and cheerless-and, for the first time, I have touched the hardest observer. Old men, lodging for their little band. From the towers the thirst of gold entered into his soul. It thrust forth from their homes in hamlet and city, they might look forth on many a faded and can do all,' was the last thought he cherished, childless and companionless, even on the brink sacred scene, of mountain, valley, and shore, as, laying himself on the couch, a deep and long of the grave, with none to soothe their passage in defence of which they came to give their slumber stole over him; it can give me friends to it; their dim gaze bent forward, as if even life-at least, so they professed-and their-power-pleasure-even in the desert.'" now the king of terrors bade them come. And deeds did not belie their words. A well of The following scene is too picturesque to be by their side knelt children, but not their own, water within the walls supplied their thirst, omitted :— cast on the kindness of the stranger." and incursions to the rich sides of the mountain, or the plain beyond, where hamlets and pastures are still scattered, supplied, no doubt, the demands of hunger." 66 Many of the descriptions are perfect pictures. We regret we have not room for the scene where the young Saracen enters the tent of the prisoner knight for the purpose of avenging her father's death: it is conceived in the very spirit of poetry. While on the subject of poetry, we must remark on the great beauty of the occasional poetry scattered through these volumes. We extract two or three verses of a piece which must have been written under one of the cedars of Lebanon. "Look forth--the land is beautiful, Seem natural temples made for prayer. Is drooped above the unburied slam. I see the lances flash below, I see the banners float above; I ask the dying and the dead, Are heavy with the harp no more; "It was the day of a Christian festival; and it was resolved by the people and their pastor that it should be more than usually splendid, on account of the strangers' arrival. The situThe characters of the three knights, its de-ation of Aden was peculiarly adapted to give fenders, are exceedingly well imagined, and effect to the simple and solemn ceremony: the brought into admirable contrast with each ground that sloped gently towards it, on each other. The serene enthusiasm, the calm reso- side, was covered thick with trees in the midlution, the high religious tone, only softened dle ran a rapid stream, and the dwellings on by his tender love for his sister, in Sir Philip, both of its banks were connected by a bridge find their opposite in the equally brave, but of fine stone, of simple and light proportions. more worldly and selfish, De Clifford. The The people, the greater part of whom were two female characters are similarly well opposed: females, all dressed in white for the festival, the strong affection, subdued but not destroyed were passing in eager groups over the bridge, by earnest devotion, of the meek yet high- and along the edge of the water, that rolled on minded Isabel, is of another order to the beau- silent and glittering in the sunbeams. The tiful and passionate Saracen, whose only rule gray mountain steeps rose above the body of of action impulse. Lucius is, however, the foliage; and this contrast was heightened by most original conception; "the quicksand paths the pure and exquisite piles of snow, that, far that lead from fault to crime" are developed above, hung in the cloudless air. There was with great truth. The want of dramatic power a rich cultivation on every side; the villagers in the dialogues is our author's chief failing-evidently lived in great comfort, and even yet the story requires them but little; and both competency; for few soils reward the hand of Which angel footsteps loved of yore." the narrative and descriptive style are especially industry so profusely as that of the interior flowing and graceful. The scene where the of Lebanon. To be the pastor of such a place We must find a place for the prose sketch love of gold first wakens in the heart of Lucius was an enviable thing. The church stood on which doubtless suggested the above lines. the Armenian, will give some idea of a picture a green bank at the extremity of the dwel- "Felled with an unsparing hand, neglected afterwards skilfully filled up. lings: the cemetery was below in the shadow by a desolate and oppressed people, these faUnclasping his girdle, he eagerly took from of the wood. Slowly and sweetly the hymn mous cedar groves had shrunk gradually away, his vest the vessels of gold that he had saved in rose on the air, sung by so many and willing leaving a naked and melancholy waste, where his flight, and placed them, one by one, on the voices, and the procession came forth and once was unfading coolness, and the gloom at table. Glittering baubles,' he said; the passed on in the avenues of the trees, whose noon-day, so welcome to the weary. The inhands that have so often clasped you, are now broken shadows, trembling in the breeze, habitant, who once made his nest beneath sealed in death, and the forms that have been were thrown on the forms and faces of the the pleasant branches,' was now compelled to bowed before your fancied virtue, are food for suppliants. The pastor led the way, followed lay his head on the rock: one group was still the vulture.' He stood, regarding them silently by the chief inhabitants; then came the fe- left, on which the tempest and the lightning for a long time, a thousand thoughts revolving males - all young women, with garlands of had spent their fury for ages; but the trunks in his mind; those which his own situation flowers on their brow, and bearing branches of were unscathed, the foliage unwithered. Thouexcited were bitter and painful in the extreme. the palm-tree in their hands. They were re-sands of years ago, the kings of the earth built A tranquil and luxurious home was suddenly markable for the luxuriant hair, and the fresh their palaces and temples from these noble taken from him: the numerous brethren, by and ruddy complexion peculiar to the women trees, and thought that their glory and beauty whom he was held in high regard and esteem, of this mountain region. When issuing from were to be for ever; but time had smote them for his talents and influence, if not for his the wood, they moved along the brink of the like the thistle on the hill. The people looked virtues, were buried in the ruins of their mo- water, the effect was beautiful, the rich and on the trees with reverence; and every one nastery, or else helpless outcasts. Deep dis- clear tones of their voices rising and falling. cut pieces from the branches, to be treasured tress, like deep poverty, often hardens and cor- It was only during their pause, at times, as relics, and borne to their various homes; rupts the heart; and so it proved here. The that the soft rush of the river was heard. they were about twenty in number, of imyouthful priest had been, during the many The many fugitives, as well as ecclesiastics mense size, being thirty or forty feet in cirvears of his profession, careless, gay, and fond from Acre, helped to swell the procession. cumference, with divers rows of branches, of indulgence; loved by his companions of a Mingling in the latter, were two figures that stretching straight out, as though they were similar vein, and seldom more than gently re- did not seem of the people of the village: they kept by art; some young cedar trees had been proved by his elders. Prosperity, perhaps, had were females: the low stature, as well as calm planted around by the hands of others, but it shrouded the vices of his nature the few days aspect of the first, marked her to be Isabel was only to grow up and die. The part of of famine, of scorn, of friendlessness, produced Audeley. There was another, whose veil the mountain where they stood was a small a rapid and fearful change; and he now stood, had never for a moment been drawn aside. plain, around which rose the high and snowselfish, a heartless, and a lonely man-re- Her looks bent on the ground, and her hands covered peaks, whose white mantle no summer olved to seek his own ends through every crossed on her breast, she joined not in the took way: it looked like a solitary world; the hange of fortune. He saw that the desperate ceremony, save by a slow and almost uncon- only thing that triumphed over the wide deravery of the knights would probably throw scious step. At last the long procession as- cay that had come down on city, temple, and ome chances in his way, that might be turned cended the bank, and entered the church. forest, was this single and eternal group of › great advantage; and their commission gra- Two of the soldiers of St. John followed, with cedars each year saw them put forth their fied at once his love of wandering through an altered demeanour, in which the pride | rich and proud foliage, and the same shadows land where so many happy hours had been and cruelty of their career seemed to vanish that had sheltered the princes of Tyre and assed, and the desire of fanning the expiring before a holier influence; for the spectacle of Judah, now waved over the lonely group of ames of resistance to the Saracens. He pre- this assembly, thus worshipping in the wilder-Christians. One tree alone of the group had erred, also, to trust to the promises and pro- ness, was strangely impressive. The pallid and fallen, long since, it was said by some; accordection of these men, two of whom, he was anguished features of so many suppliants, on ing to others, but a few years ago; but whether ware, were of great wealth, as well as rank, whom misery fell so suddenly-and on whom blown down by the storms, or levelled at last an to seek refuge in Europe, as a houseless poverty, like an armed man, had come; the by age, it was not easy to decide. Slowly the ad friendless guest. Struggling with the youthful and elegant forms of women, wasted hand of decay came over it: for, while some. haustion that weighed down his frame, he by the fearfulness of war, and the hands of the branches were withering, and put forth rove to look forward into futurity; but it clasped in trembling yet fervent hope, would no leaves, the rest were yet green and feebly flourishing; for the struggle for life was still strong in the noble tree. There is an exquisite episode of a wife abandoned by her husband, whose heart pours its woman's love on a child of the village where she dwells. We regret our limits forbid further extract, particularly of some very sweet lines on the child's death, though the author has been more careless of their polish than his wont. The sultan Melec Seraph's tent is sketched, "profuse in eastern luxury:" and we would point attention to the monastery "of the Martyrs ;" to several of the desert scenes; to the interview in the convent between Isabel and Ithalie and though we have carefully avoided any hint of the story, we must inform our younger readers that the dénouement is equally new and unexpected. In conclusion we must say, Mr. Carne has been very successful in the Oriental character given to his story, without losing human interest in the picturesque. We doubt not but the author's pain will be repaid by the author's pleasure popularity. Ritchie. : and inelegant in language. Kings of all sorts were not slow in promising wonders to their are an offence in his sight "The very name of Nazarene Is wormwood to his Paynim spleen." mistresses; and the latter amused themselves with imposing tasks upon their lovers, to be executed in the expected sally. One desired a His style is, occasionally, particularly objec- pebble from the opposite bank of the river; tionable-ex. gr. “Louis XIV. next took it into another longed for a branch of a tree which his head to fall out with the Dutch." The grew near the enemy's camp; and a third same monarch also sits on the arch of his tri- charged her servant with an ironical message umphs, " to snuff up the adulation of the to one of the Norman leaders, desiring him, world." A monk gives a sigh " from the very during its delivery, to strike three blows upon bottom of his bowels:" this seems rather a the Pagan's shield. Adele gave some trifling favourite expression, for it occurs once or twice commission of this kind to almost every one besides;-a knight, in combat, gives a stroke present; and as the Count Odon remarked the from "the very bottom of his bowels" also. air of absolute devotion with which his sister's But we must in fairness observe, that these are commands were listened to, a flush of pride rose only occasional blemishes; for Mr. Ritchie's into his brow. Conscious that the admiring language is often beautiful, even to poetry. eyes of her brother, whom she herself admired Before we return to do full justice to his great more than any human being, were fixed upon talents for narrative, we must again allude to her, she became more wildly gay, and gave the false flippancy of his historical summary. more extravagant scope to her imagination, The war against the Saxons was carried on by Listen, sirs,' said she; there is one thing I Charlemagne to extermination; Mr. Ritchie had forgotten a very trifle, it is true, and calls them "the martyrs of liberty"-license hardly worth the asking; but there may be rather: a set of bold idolaters, they were to some one here who will condescend to the task Europe what the Danes were a century later. for the sake of Adele.' 'Name it!—name it!" Again we repeat, nothing can be more unjust cried the chiefs, and the circle narrowed round The Romance of History-France. By Leitch than to judge of ancient times by our present her as they spoke. There is a tent,' she can 3 vols. 12mo. London, 1830. more equitable views: warfare, in those days, tinued, at the eastern angle of the Norman E. Bull. was a great and terrible means of civilisation. camp, distinguished from the rest by the splenWE must divide our review into two parts, as Out of evil hath worked good; and a nice line dour of its appearance, and the wide open area we have two opposite opinions to deliver, and of distinction ought to be drawn between our that encircles it, guarded by a double wall of to consider Mr. Ritchie in his romantic, and present conviction of the sin and error of blood- huts. Except on particular nights, when the then in his historical, character. We have no shed, and the former fierce spirit which made idolatrous fires are blazing, and the heathers hesitation in saying, that, as tales, this collec- battle glorious, because, in reality, necessary. gather into this enclosure for the performance tion is the best of the series. The stories are Mr. Ritchie has fallen too much into the com- of their unholy rites, the sole inhabitants of interesting, told with much dramatic effect in, mon cant against conquerors: the dominion of the tent are an aged woman of lofty stature, often, very beautiful language, and with an the church is also a perpetually recurring sub- and a young child. The former appears to be animation which keeps the attention awake. ject of sarcasm. Now, no one can be more even as a priestess among this unbelieving pesThe first three tales are our especial favourites. thoroughly convinced than ourselves of the ple, and either the mother of the infant or a The manners of the age give a rich and pic- evil of this enormous spiritual power; but let nurse appointed to tend and care for him.' turesque effect to the scene, while the spirit it be also remembered, that the priests were in Adele paused, and glanced carelessly round is just idealised enough to meet our modern those days the only depositaries of either reli- among the crowd of admiring hearers. Speak.” conception of romance. The attempts at hu- gion or learning; the only advocates, and, in a cried they with one voice; command, we are mour are failures-Mr. Ritchie is either coarse great measure, the conservators, of peace-some ready!' I would that some one,' said the (too common a fault with him, by the by,) or power was absolutely requisite. The monas- spoiled beauty,' would bring me that Paga extravagant; but we readily excuse the "King teries were places of refuge; and many of the boy for a foot-page!' The chiefs were silent: of the Beggars," and the "Magic Wand," in large donations were bestowed with the view some from surprise, and some in the belief that favour of the Bondsman's Feast" and "the that the donors or their children would benefit she had spoken in jest, so madly desperate did Pilgrim of St. James," which are equally spi- by the very shelter they endowed. All human the enterprise appear; but the next momest rited and characteristic. "The Rock of the institutions are liable to error; and the system Eriland stepped into the circle. Madam' Fort" must not be omitted, as it is a favour-of the pontifical power was essentially a human said he, with a low obeisance, if I return able specimen of the author's lighter powers: institution. The tide of events always finds from to-morrow's sally a living man, I will lay the historical incident is told in a very amusing its own level; and as soon as this great autho- that infant at your feet!'" manner. But is not the romance of the his- rity became only a hindrance and an injury, The young hero makes his way into the tory of France a misnomer, as regards great it was destroyed, or weakened—and, alas! part of these volumes? "The Phantom Fight," with much bloodshed: but who shall read his- "Farther on, the tent described by Adele. and "the Serf," are founded on Flemish tory, and not own that blood has ever been the and on which he had himself often gazed frc! history; and the "Dream Girl," a very af- seal of great change? We have gone rather at the city walls, presented a striking and beautifected term for a somnambulist, has no sort of length into this subject, because this work is ful contrast. It was surrounded by a l historical connexion with the plan; and this is destined for the young; and sweeping conclu- grove of flowering shrubs, which filled the air the more to be blamed, as Mr. Ritchie has, sions are always bad, more especially for the with a delicious fragrance, and a stream, triafter all, left untouched the great mass of the youthful, who cannot be too soon taught to ling from a fountain of carved stone, wandered romantic annals of France. The poetical re- hesitate in forming an opinion to balance the murmuring through the green parterre at the cords of Provence, the chivalrous court of Fran- good and the evil and to learn, that the only entrance. The pace of the adventurer slarscis I., the eventful contests between the Hugue-secret for forming an accurate judgment is to ened as he approached; and it was at last with nots and the Catholics, the romantic adven- make allowances. noiseless tread and suppressed breathing that tures of Henry IV., the rich field of the wars he entered the tent, where the silence seemed of the Frondeurs, so full of incident-are all strange and almost preternatural. No paraleft wholly unnoticed. Our author does not phernalia of religion, however—no awe-inappear to us to have entered con amore into "A spectator would not have been able to spiring gloom, such as he had been accustomed his subject; he looks on the past as if he were conjecture, from the appearance that evening to in the usages of his own church, met his pointing out its defects in a debating society; of the little court of Adele, that a struggle was view; the open lattices admitted a softezes and when he talks of Froissart as "a cold, dry so nearly at hand which, in all probability, light through leaves and flowers, and discoveresi writer," he shews how little he is embued with would decide the fate of the city. The laugh nothing more terrible than a lovely infant the spirit of the romance he undertakes to and the jest went lightly round; lays were sleeping in a cradle of wicker upon the floor. illustrate. He judges of the acts of past ages sung, and legends recited of the olden time; The features of the warrior relaxed at the by that unfair criterion, the opinions of the pre-warriors whispered soft tales in ladies' ears, sight; he gazed upon the little creature with a sent; and as his premises are unfair, his conclu- and ladies blushed and smiled while they lis- feeling of joy and tenderness; and taking it un sions are unjust. His "historical summary" is tened. Although the formal Vows of the Phea-cautiously in his arms, as one robs the nest of a flippant collection of prejudice-commonplace sant had not yet come into fashion, the chiefs | bird, he fed with his prize. At the instant, We have now to let our author speak for himself the time is during the siege of Paris by the Normans. camp. 6 startling scream rang in his ears, and a woman, | hearts! Farewell, my true comrades in arms! | critic) on art generally, on the peculiar quali who had been concealed by the drapery of the Farewell the light of day, the song of birds, ties of the Venetian school, and on the style of tent, rushed after him. Her lofty figure was and the sweet rush of waters! Farewell, my Titian, its illustrious chief. From these reunbent by the load of years whose mark was on life!' and grasping his sword with both hands, marks our extracts shall be principally, although her brow; and she was arrayed in a costume of the stout cavalier shouted his battle cry, and not entirely, made. picturesque extravagance, and crowned with rushed into the midst of his enemies. At this We trust that our young students in paintgarlands of evergreen shrubs, whose leaves moment a voice was heard behind, which rose ing will attend to the following sound opinion: seemed to mock the tresses, as white as snow, distinct and terrible above the yells of the "I will in this place venture to give my opiwith which they were twined. Eriland had multitude, and, springing over the wall of the nion, that there is no way so improving to a hardly time to turn round to gaze upon this enclosure where Eriland had descended, a student, as to finish his pictures to the utmost strange apparition, when he felt himself wound-gigantic Norman flung himself into the midst minuteness in his power; by which means he ed by a lance she bore in her hand. Disdain-of the fray. The people fell back at his com- will acquire a thorough knowledge of the exact ing to combat with a woman, he merely par- mand with habitual obedie..ce, conceiving, it is forms and character of the parts. If he has a ried, without returning, her furious blows; supposed, that he claimed to himself the pre- genius for the art, he will soon discover what but finding at length the odds less unequal rogative of despatching the prisoner; but he may treat slightly or leave out of his work; than he imagined, he was constrained to dis- when they saw that his purpose was to save and if he has none, he will be enabled, by this arm her. He would then have resumed his rather than destroy, they returned with re-method, to give such an air of truth to his flight; but the old woman, seizing on his man-newed fury to the assault. With entreaties productions as will pass for merit with a large tle, with the most passionate entreaties and mingled with imprecations and menaces, the part of the community, by which he will be lamentations, partly in her own language and giant at first endeavoured to shield his protegé; secure of employment, and will also have a cer partly in his, besought his forbearance. A but when these were unavailing, he had recourse tain claim to respect. But a careless, and what Christian and a soldier!' she exclaimed; oh, to blows; and they cut their way through the is often supposed to be a bold manner, when thou who warrest with babes and women, be- half-yielding, half-resisting mob to the outer practised by the ignorant, is detestable, and think thee of thy honour and thy faith! By wall. Eriland grasped the hand of his un-shews a kind of unfeeling assurance, as if the the sword of thy father-by the pains of thy known friend; and the two warriors looked artist said, 'Any thing is good enough for the mother in travail-by the souls of thy young for a moment in one another's faces with an public!' brothers and sisters by thy home, thy altar, expression of admiration and esteem. • The and thy God, have pity on the gray hairs of young child,' said the Norman, sent thee this my age have mercy on the child of a nation's rescue.' To thee, notwithstanding,' replied hope! He never injured thee nor thine; see, Eriland, I owe a life;' and jumping over the he smiles-yea, even now, he smiles in thy fortifications, he regained the city." face! Hard-hearted man! does not that holy We can only add, that the rest of the story beam fall like sunshine on thy soul to warm is equal to these spirited scenes. Mr. Ritchie and to melt? Give him back to my arms, and has a most original invention a vivid power receive the blessing of the aged and the stranger. of creation; and we give him but his due when Give me back the green leaf of promise-the we say he is by far our best writer of romantic sweet bud of hope and delight! Give back my and imaginative tales. child-my life of life-my own-my beautiful -my boy, my boy!' and she threw herself at the feet of the warrior, tearing her white hairs, and weeping and lamenting, as if her heart would break. Eriland hesitated. The smiles of the young infant-the tears of MR. NORTHCOTE has been too frequently the aged woman the breath of the flowers and before the public, both as a painter and a wrishrubs the coolness of the air-the murmur ter, to render it necessary for us to eulogise his of the water-all nature, animate and inani- various merits. Veteran as he is, his mind mate, conspired to shake his resolution. His seems to retain at least the greatest portion of soul was touched with pity-his eyes filled with the freshness and energy of youth. The votears; and pressing his trembling lip to the lumes which he has just produced have not cheek of the babe, he restored it to its nurse, been subjected to any very strict arrangement and sprang over the wall of the enclosure. (a circumstance which is, perhaps, not at all to The panic had in the mean time subsided, and be regretted); but they contain a great mass it was known that only a single stranger was of curious and amusing matter, and much food in the camp. Guards were stationed at every for serious reflection. The Life of Titian; with Anecdotes of the dis- "The diligence with which he (Titian) pur. sued his studies is sufficiently evident from his success. Statesmen and warriors may grow great from unexpected accidents, and from a fortunate concurrence of circumstances, neither procured nor foreseen by themselves; but reputation in the fine arts or the learned world must be the effect of industry and capacity. Titian never lost an hour-always endeavour. ing to add excellence to excellence." They may also derive some valuable hints from the subjoined observation : "I cannot but think that Titian had a considerable advantage in the improvement of his taste for colouring, from having been in his first studies taught fresco-painting, by which his eye was early inured to that fresh, clear, and unadulterated tone which is unavoidably preserved in all those works that are done without oil. It was by degrees he crept into the knowledge of the use of oil, without having had his eye familiarised by early habit to the heavy, dingy, slimy effect of various oils and megilps; which, as they more and more prevail, soak up and destroy the wholesome freshness and purity of the tints, and reduce them at last to the saturated appearance of an oilskin umbrella. Artists who paint in watercolours justly wish to give their pictures the force and finish of oil; as those who paint in oil should endeavour to impart to their tints the clear and vivid purity of water-colours. And the clearness of the one, with the depth and solidity of the other, is what Titian possessed the power of uniting beyond any other painter that ever lived." A third lesson, although of a different nature, may be found in an entertaining anecdote of Alfonso Lombardi, the sculptor, a friend of Titian's, and a youth of great promise: possible avenue of escape, and spies posted on When the length of Titian's life, the celethe roofs of the houses, to give notice of the brity he enjoyed, and his constant intercourse appearance of the prey; while a tumultuous with all who were distinguished either by crowd rolled like a stormy flood through the rank or by talent in his time, are considered, camp, every individual quivering with rage, it will not appear surprising that Mr. Northand hungering and thirsting after vengeance. cote, in the course of his narrative, has introEriland had no sooner left the enclosure than duced sketches-some very slight, others aphe was descried; and in a few moments more proximating to a finish-of many persons, of he saw the gleam of weapons amidst the tents, whom every body must be desirous of knowing and heard the near tread of his executioners, something. Among these are, Giorgione, the who rushed towards him, yelling like famished Bellini, Leo X., Bembo, Navagero, Francis I., wolves. The city walls were visible from Aretin (with numerous letters), Algarotti, where he stood, and the tower was still Tribolo, Benvenuto Cellini, Paul Veronese, "As he grew up, he was considered very crowded with ladies, the proud banner of St. Tintoret, Charles V., Alfonso Lombardi, Va handsome, having a very fine-proportioned per Martin floating over their heads. A thousand sari (with his history and correspondence), son, with a healthy and spirited countenance. thoughts swept across the heart of the warrior Hippolito, Alexander, Catharine, and Giovanni This undoubtedly was the chief cause of his as if at one instant. His dreams of fame-his de Medicis, Clement VII., Pordenone, Paris being idle; and accordingly he seemed to pracyouth, unripe and unrenowned—his presump- Bordone, Paul III., the Duke of Urbino, Mi-tise the art as if more for his amusement or for tuous love his obscure and unpitied death! chael Angelo (with many letters), Ludovico a certain vanity only, having no relish for the Adele!' he exclaimed aloud, looking with Dolce, El Mudo, &c. &c. &c. They will all slow and laborious process of cutting and chistraining eyes towards the city- lovely and well repay the perusal. But the most valuable selling marble: and (what is not very uncombeloved! Oh, would that thou couldst see me part of the work we take to be (and we wish mon in the youthful period of life) he became die! Yet thou wilt guess my fate, and my it had borne a greater proportion to the biogra- a very great fop, and attired himself most fanunstained name will live in thy memory. phical and historical part), the original remarks tastically. He used to wear round his neck Farewell, noble banner of France!-long by Mr. Northcote himself (an artist of no and on his arms, as well as on different parts mayest thou wave over strong walls and brave mean powers, and a judicious and experienced of his dress, fine ornaments of gold, and |