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A NEW SYSTEM of DOMESTIC COOK

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The Annual Biography and Obituary, for the year 1820.-Vol. IV.-London, 8vo. pp. 468.

We can so entirely appreciate the difficulties attendant upon editing this annual volume, that it affords us more

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servant, he was accustomed to declare on honour, "that he was not the father.”

"the

vant, with but one eye, and apparently maimed in other parts of his body, announced the name of his visitor. I at first thought my con- On the left-hand side of the drawing-room ductor might be an out-pensioner of the door was to be seen himself-a very old that he was a victim, not to war, but to brown suit of coarse cloth, with immense neighbouring hospital; but I soon learned and decrepid man, generally clothed in a science, having been nearly destroyed in the large silver buttons awkwardly fastened to service of his master. On announcing a the breast of his coat. He constantly wore message from a common friend, I was re-a small hat, both at home and abroad, and ceived with open arms; and, from that no- possessed both a white and a black beaver, than ordinary pleasure to notice how ment, all his treasures were subject to my the former of which was always selected for frequent inspection. great occasions. Sitting in an immense armvery ably they have been, in general, As he was sometimes shy of strangers, chair, lined with carpet; his body was mnesurmounted. When the only sources of many applied to me for an introduction; chanically placed in a reclining position, apintelligence are loose rumour, or the and, among others, I had the pleasure to proaching nearly to the horizontal. This was partial report of friends, it is no easy carry to Lindsay-Row some gentlemen be-effected by invariably reposing his legs and matter to steer in the mid-channel of longing to the British Museum. They were and feet on a Roman Triclinium, which he truth, between the barren coast on one collection of shells; and on our retiring, we ancients ought to have known something of chiefly desirous to see and examine the fine valued greatly. According to him, hand, and the flowing current on the took a turn on Battersca-Bridge, where, on health and comfort after a civilization of so other. In the work before us there is, my demanding their value, they agreed, many centuries! while, as to us, so lately at least, an evident desire to do this; that in time of peace, and under favoura- barbarians, we had not been above a thouand, in the desire itself, lies its accom-ble circumstances, they might sell for 9000 sand years out of the woods." plishment to a considerable extent. pounds or guineas." This venerable figure, with a sharp and The memoirs of Admiral Sir R. Calder, It was not difficult to discover Mr. Jen- croaking voice, saluted the visitor, whom Alderman Combe, Sir R. Musgrave, thenings was a good Latin scholar, and in his he recognised by means of a mirror, and to Irish political writer, John Palmer, the classics; some of these, indeed, were He appeared to sit enthroned in all the macollection he possessed fine copies of all whom he scarcely deigued to turn his head. Esq. the inventor of the mail-coach magnificent, both as to printing and binding jesty of Vert, amidst his books, his picsystem, Patrick Brydone the traveller, He himself was generally accustomed to tures, and Iris shells; and never willingly G. W. Meadley, Mrs. Billington, Col. read those in usum Delphini. arose, but to gratify himself and his guest, Tatham the Anglo-American projec Although his house commanded a fine by exhibiting some or all of these. Among tor, Sir P. Francis, Major Scott War-view of the river, he never once deigned to his portraits he had a May Queen of Scots; ing, Dr. Wolcot, the eccentric H. C. look at the charining prospect. Indeed it and he boasted that no profane pencil had Jennings, Professor Playfair, J. Watt, had he been inclined to regale his eye with A painter, however, showed me where it would have been difficult, if not impossible, ever been suffered to retouch it since finished. and Aaron Graham, Esq. are severally such a noble object, for his windows were had been evidently mended; and on this, as given in an agreeable, and, as far as so dirty as to bid defiance to all distinct vi- on many other occasions, Mr. Jennings was practicable, an impartial manner. Hav-sion; and indeed they seemed to realise the most assuredly the dupe of the dealers. ing ourselves previously obtained bi-poetic idea of darkness visible." This The picture of the children of Charles I. ographies of some of these parties for mansion, which had been formerly the resi- (Charles II. and James II &c.), with a fine the Literary Gazette, and, in so doing, school-fellow at Westminster, was occupied valued by him, as unique: the original, dence of the Earl of Buckinghamshire, his large mastiff in front, was much praised and consulted the best authorities to which in the following manner-In the front par- however, is at Windsor Castle. A landwe could have access, we are the better lour was an immense Arctic Bear, of a scape, with a rainbow, and some good £enabled to speak to the diligence and skill white colour, and, if I recollect aright, agures in the foreground, was estimated by of the Editor of the Obituary. In some winged animal, greatly decayed, which night its owner sometimes at 2000, sometimes at instances, Mrs. Billington, for example, once have been an eagle. The garden, 3000, according to the state of his purse, he does not tell us all the truth; but, either before or behind, bore no marks of on account of the shepherds, which were upon the whole, his views are not in- the spade, the rake, or the pruning-knife; said to have been painted by Rubens. It the very walls appeared in a state of com- was knocked down, at the sale, as well as I accurate, though possibly they do not plete ruin; the surubs were allowed to grow can recollect, for 401. There was a picture go far beneath the surface. The ac- wildly luxuriant; while the labours of man by a young but celebrated Italian artist, of a count of Mr. Jennings being most ori- never seemed to have been applied to the de- Venus awaiting the arrival of Mars, surginal, we shall quote from it, as a spe- serted mould, which was covered with a yel-rounded by Cupils blowing conchs and playcimen. The latter years of the life of lowish moss, and exhibited every mark of ing on warlike instruments. This he once this singular person are thus described: desolation. promised to a gentleman, who had underIn the rear were the offices of all kinds, taken to consume his body to ashes, by From this time, but few particulars of his and from the kitchen sallied forth, at the means of fire, and deposit the remains in a life are known to me, until he settled at approach of a stranger, his housekeeper, a sepulchral urn. Chelsea, where I first became known to him. married woman of about thirty years of age, This was about the year 1803, at which pe-accompanied by a number of ragged chilriod he must have been near 72 years of age. On presenting myself at his door, a man ser VOL. IV.

The shells, which must be allowed to have exhibited a most superb assemblage, dren, of whom, as if anxious for the cha-were chiefly arranged in mahogany cabinets, racter of her who at last became his only with a sliding glass top to every separate box

and appearance.

boast," that notwithstanding this mishap, with his usual punctuality, he kept an engagement to dinner that very day."

To procure some of these he had made im- | to harden into, and assume its present forin | wounds in his leg. He was accustomed to mense sacrifices, both in respect to the mode of obtaining the money and the sum actually paid. They were placed in due series, so as to exhibit every possible size, from early youth to extreme old age, on the part of the animals inhabiting them. In one, which he highly prized, the volute happened to be inverted. To the formation of others some obstruction had been given, and a new process, and sometimes new colours were recurred to. On asking him one day what had been the maximum price, he placed three in my hand, for which he had given 907. to the daughters of a late celebrated physician; and one alone, his many-ridged harp, cost

him 1207.

Among his other treasures, our virtuoso possessed two specimens of the Gambero nica, an indifferent one of which was disposed of for 451. at the Duchess of Portland's sale.

Mr. Jennings valued himself greatly on his Venus's slipper, for which he had paid 607., and I deemed it exquisite till I beheld one in the botanic garden at Paris. It had been obtained during the expedition in search of D'Entrecasteaux, and was presented to Josephine. It is unique of its kind.

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The exhibition always very properly closed with a view of its chief ornament. This was the figure, or rather the bust of a goddess In respect to exercise, he was not only a in bronze; but as the materials were said to great advocate for it, but he practised it to a consist of gold, silver, tin, &c. the appella-degree scarcely credible for upwards of half tion, perhaps, of "Corinthian brass," would a century. He possessed a long and ponbe rather more correct and appropriate. derous wooden instrument, capped with lead This ever had been, and still was with him, at both ends, in the management of which an object of high esteem, approaching, in- he was such an adept, that he boasted of deed, to adoration. He permitted none but having disarmed the best "small-swordsman those he termed "presentable people" to in Italy ;" and even now, give him but fair gaze on it; he, himself, approached the iron play, be" would not be afraid of five or six chest, in which his divinity was enshrined, English housebreakers." Every night, bewith an apparent degree of awe, and after fore bed-time, as has been already hinted, he brandishing the key in a peculiar manner, exercised himself with this formidable weaapplied it to the lock with a certain degree pon, until he acquired a comfortable warmth, of reverence. On being questioned as to the which enabled him to retire to rest with a gename of the artist, Praxiteles" was uni-nial glow. In the morning, according to formly honoured with mention; and the his own account, he got up between seven date of between three and four thousand and eight o'clock; and, in his own express years, assigned as the epoch of execution, words, "flourished his broad-sword exactly or rather of creation. had almost omitted 300 times; I then," adds he, "mount my to mention, that Mr. Jennings valued him-chaise-horse, composed of leather, and inself greatly on the possession of one other flated with wind like a pair of bellows, on article: this was the rouge box of the un- which I take exactly 1000 gallops !" He fortunate Marie Antoinette, queen of France. then retired to enjoy what always appeared The inside was intirely of gold, and the ver- to me to be a most miserable and uncommilion or fard appeared to have been put fortable breakfast. on by means of a camel's-hair pencil, with a handle of the same metal. The royal arms of France were designated on the rich cover, the whole forming a square of the ordinary You were finally admitted into the sanct- size of a snuff-box. Of the originality of this um sanctorum, through a passage, to the article, there can be no manner of doubt; right of which were carelessly piled up a va- and, to enhance the interest of the spectator, luable collection of English, French, and its delighted owner was always accustomed Latin books. Their appearance and value to conclude by observing, that it had been wonderfully contrasted with the slovenly taken out of her Majesty's pocket immemanner in which they were thrown toge-diately after her head was cut off by the ther. Of most the leaves were gilded; others executioner." exhibited the finest specimens of binding, Mr. Jennings wished always to be partiboth British and German; while many in cularly exact as to the measurement of milk-white vellum covers, would have dig-time, and in the course of his life had a senified the principal shelves of the amateurs. The apartment to which this led was no other than his own chamber, the bed. in which exhibited the most dreary and comfortless appearance; in short, it would have chilled the blood of any but a regular antiquary, who slept here, surrounded by the rarest, choicest, and most precious objects

After admiring these, you were ushered by the happy owner into an anti-room, but not until he had carefully locked his cabinets and his door.

of his ambition.

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After this meal, he employed himself, when no sale of curiosities was expected in town, chiefly in reading.

After a scanty dinner, which shall be described hereafter, for our antiquary seldom walked out for exercise, he still retained possession of his arm-chair and his triclinium, and folding the purple mantle of dyed flannel over his legs and feer, took a nap, which he termed his ciesto, a custom he had first been taught to indulge in during his residence in Italy. After this, either his books or his cabinets, occupied his attention until night. At all times of the day, however, he might be occasionally seen adjusting, arranging, and placing his shells in due order; but his choicest and most grateful employment was to clean, purify, and polish them, on their first arrival from their respective countries, He himself, in former times, has not unfre quently gone on board East and West India But he valued himself still more on an ap-men, for the purpose of buying these and pendage to it. This was a seal very plainly, other rare productions, exactly in the state but handsomely set, which he bought at Na-in which they were torn from their native ples for a single Paul (a pontifical sixpence). bore the consular insignia, with this singular motto:

ries of chronometers constructed for him by
the most eminent watchmakers of the day.
His last was at least equal to any of the for-
mer, in point of workmanship, although
perhaps inferior as to price, being inclosed in
silver instead of gold cases.

"CASSIUS IMPERATOR

Here, besides some pictures, &c. was an immense Beryl, which, as he frankly own-It ed to me, in his own emphatic language, "he had often pawned for 3001" was an object of considerable curiosity. Perhaps LIBERTATE LANGUESCENTE." within a foot of this rare gem was deposited, He was pleased to consider this as a real what he was pleased to term his antedilu- antique, engraved in the camp, with a diavian pig. This was a concare segment of a mond, and without the aid of a wheel, a stone of considerable magnitude and ponde-little before the fatal battle of Philippi. rosity, formerly appertaining to the collection of Sir Ashton Lever. It appeared vitreous, and represented, as through a glass, the bowels, fat, and even the bristles of a porker, in the most natural order possible; and with a verisimilitude, that could not fail to strike, and to amuse the most careless observer. According to his theory, it was a production evidently anterior to the flood of Noah, and had taken some thousand years

beds. Of late years, however, he was obliged to purchase at second-hand, and an enhanced value, from the dealers.

I have beheld him, with a green baize apron before and a wet towel in his hand, enjoying the most exquisite delight, after contemplating these in "the rough," applying his brushes to every part, with an unwonted display of vigour. A preparation Our VIRTUOSO addicted himself at one of spirit of sea-salt having almost instantaperiod to chemistry, and was accustomed to neously produced a gentle effervescence, the make experiments in his laboratory, until he outward surface began to disappear. Here had nearly become a victim to his love of all the skill of the shell-fancier was displayscience. On one of these occasions, like Dr. ed; for if the ley happened to be too strong, Watson, Bishop of Landaff, while professor the precious specimens might be damaged, at Cambridge, he was actually blown up! perhaps ruined; and if not sufficiently pow His valet, who acted as an assistant, and toerful, the operation proved ineffectual. whom reference has been already made, lost Next comes the polish and what were an eye, and he himself received several "his dear delights," when the colours began

:

to brighten; when the exact form, and between the parties afterwards ensued; and Ition is not likely to diminish the repushape, and size, were disclosed;-and above the mother of love being seized in execution, tation of the fair author; for though all, when any adventitious circumstance hap- was actually sold for a vile price, in the we cannot say that it is distinguished pened to heighten the value of the acquisi-presence of the indignant legatee.

tion! At length, the pearl-lined Nautilus, His goddess has been already mentioned, by any of the higher and most striking the radiant Buccinella, or the superb Tere- but it remains to be told, that for the first attributes of poetry; it is sufficiently bra, appeared in all its meridian splendour, six months after obtaining possession of such raised above the mass of ordinary diand the connoisseur, who had found these a prize, she was constantly seated, during din-dactic pretensions, by a sweetness of ugly and hideous objects but an hour before, ner, at the head of his table, with two foot- versification, a purity of thought, and a was now almost ready to fall down and wor-men, in laced liveries, behind; while the piety of sentiment, which recommend ship them, after the sudden and brilliant most costly viands were placed in succession it to our warmest regard. Every work change effected by the magic of his own before her, by way of oblation to her imworkmanship. tending to promote the cause of morality mortal charms! to be welcomed with kindness; and Mrs. and true religion, ought in these days Hémans' muse, even did she breathe less of genius, should be cherished for her beauty and virtue. We select a few passages to illustrate the subject, which generally sets the inestimable value of a faith in hereafter, against the fear, misgivings, and dreadful doubts of scepticism.

66 as

He died in the rules of the King's Bench, and the narrative thus concludes

Mr. Jennings had a great attachment to wax candles, which proceeded partly from foreign travel, and partly from frequenting genteel houses in the early period of his life. The fate of Mr. Jennings has been emiIn 1808, he laid in a supply to the amount nently singular, and the flux and reflux, the of 217.; partly because the maker, who, according to him, excelled in this manufacture, ever-varying ebbs and flows of his fortune might either die or become a bankrupt; and appear so strange as to be almost paradoxipartly with a view to prevent trouble, cal. At an early period of life we behold he thought they might last long enough to grims who repaired to Italy about half a cenhim mingling in the crowd of wealthy pilburn an old man out of this world!" In order to enable him to consume the last half-of taste and vertu. He returned at length, tury ago, to pay their devotions at the shrine. inch of the wick, and prevent the least par-like old Tradescant, with shells, statues, ticle of the wax from being wasted, he made minerals, gems, and the finest specimens of use of a silver save-all: this consisted of a natural history in his train. fine Queen Anne's half-crown piece, in excellent preservation. A Queen Anne's farthing, which is infinitely more valuable, or even an Otho, would have been used on a similar occasion, had it been deemed more convenient for the purposes of economy this, like the rod of Aaron, swallowed up all

:

After keeping company with foreign first nobility in his native country, and then, princes and princesses he associates with the by a fatal reverse, spends some years of his life, partly within the walls of a provincial, and partly of a town goal. Recovering as if by magic, from his embarrassments, we next behold him emerging above the horizon of distress, and throwing away a second fortune at Newmarket, where he became the dupe of titled and untitled jockeys.

above,

But thou! whose thoughts have no blest home
Captive of earth! and canst thou dare to love?
To nurse such feelings as delight to rest,
To fix each hope, concentrate every tie,
Within that hallow'd shrine-a parent's breast,
Yet mock the faith that points to worlds of light,
On one frail idol,- destined but to die.
Where sever'd souls, made perfect, re-unite?
Then tremble! cling to every passing joy,
Twin'd with the life a moment may destroy!
If there be sorrow in a parting tear,

other competitors.

After noticing many of Mr. J.'s eccentricities, the memoir says→→

Death usually puts a conclusion to all singularities; yet in his case, he determined to prove singular even then. Abhorring the idea of his corpse being consigned to the cold earth, he resolved to have recourse to the ancient rite of cremation. This was a circumstance so generally known, that his neighbours supposed he had an oven within his house, for the express purpose of reducing his body to ashes.

Still let "for ever" vibrate on thine ear!
If some bright hour on rapture's wing hath flown'
Find more than anguish in the thought-'tis

gone!

There seek thy blessings, there repose thy trust,
Lean on the willow, idolize the dust!
Then, when thy treasure best repays thy care,
Think on that dread "for ever—and despair!
Oh! what is nature's strength? the vacant eye,
By mind deserted, hath a dread reply!
The wild delirious laughter of despair,
The mirth of frenzy-seek an auswer there!
Turn not away, tho' pity's cheek grow pale,
They tell thee, reason, wandering from the ray
Close not thine ear against their awful tale.
Of Faith, the blazing pillar of her way,
In the mid-darkness of the stormy wave,
Forsook the struggling soul she could not save!
Weep not, sad moralist! o'er desert plains,
Strew'd with the wrecks of grandeur-mould-
ering fanes

Sudden and inevitable ruin now seems to Thou canst not lose its melody, and live; Go to a voice such magic influence give, overtake him, and he is apparently lost for And make an eye the lode star of thy soul, ever; but lo! in the course of a very short And let a glance the springs of thought controul; period, he once more revisits the circles of Gaze on a mortal form with fond delight, fashion, and sits enthroned in a temple, sur-Till the fair vision mingles with thy sight: rounded by the most rare and brilliant productions of nature, with pictures, and statues, and gems, and shells, and books, and goddesses, perpetually before his eyes! Having pitched upon a gentleman in the Again the scene changes: the wand of vicinity, he frankly opened his mind to him; some envious necromancer seems to be waand demanded if he had courage enough, ved over his venerable head; and the acquidespising all vulgar prejudice, to stand by sitions of ages, the wreck of his estates, and see his body publicly consumed by fire? every thing most precious in his eyes; his "Yes," replied his neighbour, "I will burn very "household goods," are all seized by your corpse on the centre arch of Battersea the unholy hands of vile bailiffs: and he himbridge, if you so desire; and that, too, in self, after languishing for two or three years spight and in sight of all the proprietors." in a prison, at length dies unheeded, unatHow is that possible?" demanded Mr. tended, and almost unknown, within the Jennings. Nothing more easy," rejoined purlieus of the King's Bench. the other, "it is only placing your corpse in a car, dressed in a pitched shirt, and surrounded by combustibles-I myself shall apply the match soon after the body leaves the place of your present abode, and when Of this lady's poetical talents the you arrive mid-way, between the two toll-public has several proofs before it. Her Of deeper import than each prostrate dome, houses, I intend to pull out the linch-pins."Tales and Historic Poems," "Resto-Mingling its marble with the dust of Rome. You can then consume at leisure, and with-ration of the Works of Art to Italy,"|- -He that hath beheld out danger, notwithstanding it is a wooden Modern Greece," and "Wallace's bridge." This whimsical proposition was instantly Invocation to Bruce," have been more agreed to in the presence of myself, and his or less approved by criticism and the Venus was to be the reward. But a coolness voice of fame. The present produc

The Sceptic; a Poem. By Mrs Hemans.
London, 1820. 8vo. pp. 38.

And regal cities, now the serpent's own:
Arches of triumph, long with weeds o'ergrown,

Earth has more awful ruins-one lost mind,
Whose star is quench'd, hath lessons for man-
kind,

The parting spirit, by its fears repell'd,
Cling in weak terror, to its earthly chain,
And from the dizzy brink recoil, in vain;
He that hath seen the last convulsive throe
Dissolve the union form'd and clos'd in woe,

Well knows, that hour is awful.--In the pride
Of youth and health, by sufferings yet untried,
We talk of Death, as something, which 'twere

sweet

In Glory's arms exultingly to meet,
A closing triumph, a majestic scene,

Where gazing nations watch the hero's mien,
As, undismay'd amidst the tears of all,
He folds his mantle, regally to fall!

This is the work of one of the most able | tious application of them to the wants of and distinguished of the German reformers; the church and the advancement of educabut as we do not allow much of our review tion; the abolition of exemptions from taxto native political publications, it will not be ation, a measure, no doubt, tending solely to expected from us to occupy any considerable benefit the public treasury, as the rate of space with a foreign subject of that nature. taxation was not thereby, in any degree, Indeed, we have a great distaste for German lowered; an equalisation, as far as possible, politics, and a great dislike of German mo- of the various parts of the country, with respect to land-tax; the allowing a diet for importance attached to Mr. Goerres' writings the seven lordships of East Friesland, and on the continent that we notice this translation the restoration of the magistrates in the prinat all. Of its literary merit we shall merely say cipal towns of that province; the abolition that it appears to be faithfully and forcibly of the torture and the oath of purification; rendered into English: of its peculiar tenets, the deliberating on a proposition for the inthat it is a fiery essay in favour of a reform troduction of juries; all these proceedings, in the constitution of the Empire; and of its though defective wherever practical dextegeneral character, that it throws a good deal rity and ability were requisite for their exeof light upon the present state of Germany, cution, and wherever extent of view and though transmitted through a medium of the clearness of conception were necessary in We shall add but one more extract-strongest factions colouring. The transla- their plan, are still entitled to thanks us a that with which the Sceptic concludes tor's assertion is, that "it contains a mas- praiseworthy commencement." after a pathetic tribute to the memory terly review of the conduct of the different of our late Princess, and asserting the governments, from the overthrow of Napoaltar as the ark of our national safety. leon down to the present time, and of the sentiments and opinions of the different parFor lo! the hour when storm-presaging skies, ties, during the same period." This, of Call on the watchers of the land to rise, course, will be denied by the other side, and To set the sign of fire on every height, And o'er the mountains rear, with patriot might, we only quote it as an opinion given, con Prepar'd, if summon'd, in its cause to die, amore, by a partizan, and on the statements The banner of our faith, the cross of victory! of a man who has been accused of being a By this hath England conquer'd-field and flood French agent to the year 1813. As we are Have own'd her sovereignty-alone she stood, more interested in Hanover than in any other When chains o'er all the sceptered earth were state visited by Mr. Goerres' pen, we shall thrown, give, as an example of his performance, a passage relating to that kingdom.

Hush fond enthusiast!-still, obscure, and lone, rality; and it is only in consideration of the
Yet not less terrible because unknown,
Is the last hour of thousands-they retire
From life's throng'd path, unnoticed to expire,
As the light leaf, whose fall to ruin bears
Some trembling insect's little world of cares,
Descends in silence-while around waves on
The mighty forest, reckless what is gone!
Such is man's doom-and, ere an hour be flown,
-Start not, thou trifler!-such may be thine

own.

In high and holy singleness, a one,
But mighty, in her God-and shall she now
Forget before th'Omnipotent to bow?
.From the bright fountain of her glory turn,
Or bid strange fire upon his altars burn?
No! sever'd land, midst rocks and billows rude,
Thron'd in thy majesty of solitude,
Still in the deep asylum of thy breas',
Shall the pure elements of greatness rest,
Virtue and faith, the tutelary powers,
Thy hearths that hallow, and defend thy towers!
Still, where thy hamlet-vales, O chosen isle!
In the soft beauty of their verdure smile,
Where yew and elm o'ershade the lowly fanes,
That guard the peasant's records and remains,
May the blest echos of the Sabbath-bell,
Sweet on the quiet of the woodlands swell,
And from each cottage-dwelling of thy glades,
When starlight glimmers through the deepening
shades,

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The following remarks on the atrocious murder of Kotzebue, will let our readers more into the spirit of the author.

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The deed struck the people like lightning. Since the years of our rising, nothing had taken place which they could comprehend; but what had long remained unintelligible, and struggled for meaning, now found a

language. A bloody deed had again become the point in which the thoughts of all were collected, and opinion was soon agreed respecting this event. Disapprobation of the act with approbation of the motives, a renovated feeling of the presence of eternal justice in all human things, a clear light thrown over the condition of the country, and a keen interest in public affairs, were the results of the general agitation which followed in a short space. Public opinion had passed a grand climacteric; a profound seriousness came over the age, which, up to that period, had entered into public affairs with less earnest

In Hanover, the new and unruly spirit of the times had not yet been in action a sufficient length of time to break up, along with the old manners, the tracks and paths of the mighty aristocracy of that country, and they soon succeeded in taking possession of the whole circle of powers which they formerly filled. The return of the aristocracy to authority and influence was accompanied by theness. return of the old government, which possessed a kindred spirit. This government was regular, equitable, and well-intentioned, but at the same time heavy, helpless, and punctilious to excess. It could not so much be said to resist the claims of the age, as (what is still a great deal worse) to be wholly ignorant of them, like its own university, which, with a high air of beggarly pride, affects an ignorance of the new spirit that has shed its refreshing influence on science, as if what we have not taken any notice of were wholly extinguished and renounced by the world. An assembly of estates which withdrew itself from publicity, in which the various elements were bound together in a species of satiety, and a vis inertia alone prevailed, was little calculated to convert an essentially oscillatory into a progressive movement, and to infuse spirit into the stagnant life of this people, who, accustomed in so many things to a slavish imitation of the ruling islanders, cannot, however, adopt Germany and the Revolution. By Pro- their activity. Yet, impelled by that spirit fessor Goerres, late editor of the Rhe-to which no one, however refractory, can nish Mercury. Translated from the original German, by John Black. London, 1820. 8vo. pp. 336.

Devotion's voice in choral hymus arise,
And bear the Land's warm incense to the skies.
There may the mother, as with anxious joy,
To Heaven her lessons consecrate her boy,
Teach his young accents still thinmortal lays,
Of Zion's bards, in inspiration's days,
When Angels, whispering thro' the cedar's

shade.

Prophetic tones to Judah's harp convey'd:
And as, her soul all glistening in her eyes,
She bids the prayer of infancy arise,
Tell of His name, who left his Throne on high,
Earth's lowliest lot to bear and sanctify,
His love divine, by keenest anguish tried,
And fondly say-"My child, for thee He died!"

ever be wholly insensible, many a salutary
and praise-worthy object was promoted; an
economical administration of the ecclesiastical
possessions still remaining, and a conscien-

"To this blow, which agitated men's minds so profoundly, another speedily followed, fearful and alarming from the very rapidity with which it succeeded. A young* man, to whom the Machiavelian system, in which his native province was entangled, had long been an abomination, possessed of a good-natured and composed, but moody and close disposition, was also instigated by the bitter rage which burned within his bosom, to adopt the determination of tearing asunder the net by an act of violence. He selected the President Ibell, whom he considered as the author of that system, for a sacrifice. But to obtain, by an overbearing energy, a tyranny over the multitude, who, by legal ways, may defend themselves from slavery, even though means of an unjustifiable nature may have been resorted to, is, by no means, a crime deserving of death. A people can only enjoy so much freedom as they know how to deserve; and violent actions can never supply the deficiency of merit. This was the second error of the young man, in addition to that which he shared with Sand; and he atoned for both with his life. But the angel of death passed by the object of

* Loehning. Trans.

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