support of our allegations. The bright side of the picture, however, is much more deserving of minute examination than this, its shadow; it is more gratifying at once, and more comprehensive. A few difficulties and embarrassments in the path of a limited number of men, many of whom, we can well believe, have been insensible of their accumulation; and a little temporary inefficiency, of which we cannot even say that fortunately it occurred in a period of comparative tranquillity; for in truth, such a season was necessary to bring it to maturity, and another active war would either again suspend, or hasten it to its final termination-these are cheap equiva lents for the prospects to the whole profession with which they seem connected, and of which they are, in our eyes, the harbingers and heralds. We have already said that the old system did its work excellently well in the time when it was in vigour; and notwithstanding the present unpopularity of such an opinion, we are much disposed to generalize the proposition, and maintain that as long as the human mind, either from infancy or want of cultivation, is, as it were, dead within, and can neither guide its actions by a long induction of reasoning, nor trace its transgressions through a series of indirect steps to their ultimate consequences, so long is it for the benefit of all parties that a despotic authority should be lodged in the hands of the chief of the community, and the connexion between crime and punishment kept direct and palpable, by means of summary corporal inflictions. It seems to us quite plain, that there is a period both of human life and human society, when the mind is accessible only to present impressions, communicated chiefly, almost exclusively, through the medium of the animal sensations; when, accordingly, the relative place of individuals is determined among themselves by their physical powers; and monarchs, masters, and among others sea-captains, must travel to influence over the minds of those intrusted to their care by the same brief road with their companions, if they would not lose their labour. On the other hand, however, it is indisputable that there is a period both of life and civilization when this system will not answer the purpose; when the youth shooting into manhood, the man becoming acquainted with his own rea soning powers, must be led, not driven: and the only difficulty then, is to make the transition. In a community, this should be begun as soon as a sense of shame and indignity is observed to mingle, in the individuals composing it, with a sense of mere pain under the inflictions of the original system, unjustly aggravating their severity; the mind thus called out on one point will presently expand; other and more generous sentiments will develope; and perhaps, an entire change may be effected in all cases, with time and care, and a complete system of moral influence be substituted for every vestige of physical coercion. This at least is certain, that a very considerable approximation to such a revolution may be made in every instance; and assuredly with advantage when it is accomplished, for that authority which merely crushes the wills and tempers of its subjects under its wheels, can never be so effective as that which harnesses them to its car. But then the period when this even commences cannot be the same in all individuals; and still less is it possible that all those vested with authority over others during its progress should have the tact requisite to meet its variations uniformly without mistake. Besides this, the springs of moral influence, however powerful, are unseen; whereas those of physical coercion are palpable to the grossest observation. The consequence is, that even when most skilfully conducted, this transition must always appear marked with encroachment on one hand, concession on the other; while the smallest precipitation, or want of tact, in either party, will elicit symptoms of discontent and insubordination, uncertainty and vacillation, isolated experiment, and want of concert on the receding side. Although still these accidents, (for they are no more,) unless very much aggravated, in which case it is certain that the transition is prematurely developing, are viewed, not in themselves with favour, but without much regret, by a liberal-minded observer. They always mark an advance made, and yet making, in the scale of civilization: they are bubbles on the surface which only boil over when an undue degree of heat is externally applied: laissez fuire les evenemens is the wise maxim concerning them, and the result, in such case, is always gratifying and satisfactory. But this is evidently the point to which the British navy has now for some time attained; this the source of the anomalies and embarrassments which we have mentioned; and this, accordingly, the light in which we regard them. Our seamen's minds have been expanding in common with those of the age in which they live: they staggered a little at first under the weight of their new found wisdom, which but ill agreed with the circumstances in which their ignorance had before chiefly contributed to place them; and their officers, on the other hand, are still perhaps a little perplexed and embarrassed by those throes of intelligence which discompose them in that seat of authority in which they were once immoveable. But the worst is over, and every thing now combines to facilitate their passage through the remainder. It is indeed a very striking subject of contemplation to consider the minute preparation which, unconsciously on all hands, has paved the way for this consummation. The men first mutinied:-they were not altogether to blame for this, but it fixed public attention for a while on their situation, obtained an example of relaxation in their favour, and proved besides satisfactorily, that they were not yet ready for more. From that time down to the present, they have been the most faithful and loyal of subjects; most exemplarily patient and persevering under many hardships, some discouragements, and what is worst of all for men of their stamp to bear, the ennui of protracted but inactive service. Yet have they always been making some way in their des tined course; their little finger was in, their arm has already more than followed, and now every thing seems ready for introducing their whole body. The officers, on the other hand, have not, as we have already intimated, been universally sensible of the change which was going on about them: they have borne, each his own burthen, as he might; carried along, all of them, by the stream of improvement, backing and filling in its channel, unconscious of their own progress, unless when made occasionally sensible of the altered bearings of the land about them. And this has been fortunate for the cause, for it is of the very essence of human policy to rush too rapidly to its object; and it has not been unfortunate for themselves, for such have been the judgment and temper which they have throughout exhibited, scarcely one stray brother has been drawn in by the eddies, or cast ashore and wrecked amid the shoals of the times. But now they are almost at sea, and only wait for a rendezvous signal to make sail in concert. For this has their present long relaxation been given them, for this their habits of violence have been interrupted, and themselves been constrained to study the arts of peace. To the same end are their people now subdued by circumstances to more regularity than before; and their own clubs, Bible Societies, elections, and the whole apparatus of civil collision in which they are involved, been provided. That thus inveterate habits on both sides might be gradually but imperatively * The elements of combustion were perhaps prepared, but, next to the agents of sedition from the shore, it was the Quota-men, as they were called, who fired the train. These were landsmen, volunteers furnished by the several counties, and lured by énor mous bounties, L.25, when the best seamen that could be impressed got either nothing, or at the most L.5; they were mostly better educated too than the regular hands-pen and ink gentry, unaccustomed alike to labour and restraint, and consequently prepa red to find every thing wrong. The celebrated chief delegate, Parker, was a fellow of this stamp ; contributed, we may add, by our own "gude town." We are acquainted with a gentleman still residing here, who was accidentally present when he was first brought before the sitting magistrate, charged with an intention to fly the country to defraud his landlady, to whom he owed about L.18. His address was so good, and pretensions so high, the magistrate at first scrupled to issue the warrant to detain him, although he had no bail to offer. But at length he was committed, accepted the high bounty to obtain his release; and just eighteen months afterwards hoisted his rebel flag at the Nore. We wish very much that some of the many surviving officers who held situations of rank and responsibility at that eventful period in the navy, would now, when details could do no harm, favour the world with their recollections on the subject. We are in possession of some anecdotes ourselves relating to it, which we should not scruple to publish, were nothing better offered. But they are hearsay, and it should be an eye-witness, and even an actor, who undertook the task. broken; and new ground occupied by each, of necessity and of course. It now remains then to trace the probable effects of so many causes, with their effects again, as we have already said, either as already deve loped, or likely progressively to appear. They naturally divide themselves under two heads, the changes which may thus be anticipated in the situation, and in the character of our seamen. And the first, strictly speaking, belongs to the present division of our subject, while the second would come in more appropriately when sailors are considered from under that eye of authority, which on board ship will always impose some restraint on their natural dispositions. As we have been led, however, now into a considerable detail, which was not at first anticipated, we shall postpone both to a future occasion. It is in the very nature of precipitation to subject those who submit themselves to its guidance to confession of error and mistake. Captivated by the promise of our present task, we rushed into it with a haste which, as PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD STUART. As, in the earlier Numbers of your Magazine, you gave an occasional insertion to articles relating to the exiled House of Stuart, I am induced to offer you a Birth-Day Ode, which, if it possesses no other merit, will at least tend to prove that the attachment to the fortunes of that ill-fated family, notoriously prevalent in the western counties of England in the year 1715, had not altogether subsided, when the chivalrous spirit of our northern neighbours gave more overt proofs of their fidelity. The original Ode is in the possession of the representative of a family of considerable station and consequence in this county, to whom it was transmitted by his Jacobite predecessor. The following fragment of a song, my mother, who is nearly connected with the same family, remembers often to have heard her nurse, who lived to a very advanced age, chaunt, in impotent defiance of the Usurper. The spelling is adapted to the pronunciation of our provincial patois, and will be easily recognized by a native Zummerzet. "Az I war a gwaing by the zign o' the Blue Bell, I zeed Major Metcalfe a gwaing to hell, I upp'd wi' my boot, and I kick'd un in, And I bid un make way for his Haniver King." It may perhaps be necessary to state, that Major Metcalfe was Chamberlain to the "Wee, wee German Lairdie." For the style of the ballad I make no apology, as it is only offered in confirmation of the idea, that the feeling in behalf of the House of Stuart was not confined to the higher classes of society, unless indeed some deference is due to the fastidious palates of the Edinburgh Reviewers, whom I humbly beg to assure, that although I can admire, and can appreciate the devotion of those persons who sacrificed their all to that which they held to be the rightful cause, I am by no means a "Life and Fortune Man," on behalf of the doctrines of Passive Obedience, Divine Right, and NonResistance. Dear, Mr North, your affectionate kinsman, Somerset, August 23, 1821. VOL. X. 3 A ODE ON THE BIRTH-DAY OF PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD STUART, The 20th of December, 1746. Written by Dr ISAACS of Exeter. Awhile forget the scene of woe, Forbid awhile the tear to flow, The pitying sigh to rise; So, when black clouds and beating rain, And all in gloom appears; Awhile the prospect clears: Come then, and whilst we largely pour That gave our Hero birth, No sinful court its poison lent, And blast his young renown: How, at an age, when pleasure's charms Allure the stripling to her arms, He form'd the great design, To assert his injured father's cause, Restore his suffering country's laws, And prove his right divine. How, when on Scotia's beach he stood, The wondering throng around him crowd, To bend the obedient knee ; Then, thinking on their country chain'd, They wept at worth so long detain'd, By Fate's severe decree. How, when he moved, in sweet amaze, E'en grief forgets to pine, Thus form'd with grace divine. By good unmoved, in ills resign'd, In vain the gales propitious blew, His mind was still the same. Amidst distresses great; For oh! the woes by Britain felt, So will'd offended Heaven; The rod for vengeance given. But in its vengeance Heaven is just, Shall rear her head again; What joys for happy Britain wait, When in full tide of transport tost, The nations round with wondering eyes As she was wont of yore. And when she holds the balanced scale, Oppression shall no more prevail, But fly her happy shore. Corruption, Vice on every hand, No more shall lord it o'er the land, With their Protector fled : Old English virtues in their place With all their hospitable race, Shall rear their decent head. In peaceful shades the happy swain, Shall hail his long-wish'd Lord, THE MAN IN THE BELL. In my younger days, bell-ringing was One Sunday, I went with another The room in which it was, was little more than sufficient to contain it, the bottom of the bell coming within a couple of feet of the floor of lath. At that time I certainly was not so bulky as I am now, but as I lay it was within an inch of my face. I had not laid myself down a second, when the ringing began. It was a dreadful situation. Over me swung an immense mass of metal, one touch of which would have crushed me to pieces; the floor under me was principally composed of crazy laths, and if they gave way, I was precipitated to the distance of about fifty feet upon a loft, which would, in all probability, have sunk under the impulse of my fall, and sent me to be dashed to atoms upon the marble floor of the chancel, an hundred feet below. I remembered for fear is quick in recollection-how a common clockwright, about a month before, had fallen, and bursting through the floors of the steeple, driven in the cielings of the porch, and even broken into the marble tombstone of a bishop who slept beneath. This was my first terror, but the ringing had not continued a minute, before a more awful and immediate dread came on me. The deafening sound of the bell smote into my ears with a thunder which made me fear their drums would crack.There was not a fibre of my body it did not thrill through: It entered my very soul; thought and reflection were almost utterly banished; I only retained the sensation of agonizing terror. Every moment I saw the bell sweep within an inch of my face; and my eyes-I could not close them, though to look at the object was bitter as death-followed it instinctively in its oscillating progress until it came back again. It was in vain I said to myself that it could come no nearer at any future swing than it did at first; every time it descended, I endeavoured to shrink into the very floor to avoid being buried under the down-sweeping mass; and then reflecting on the danger of pressing too weightily on my frail support, would cower up again as far as I dared. At first my fears were mere matter of fact. I was afraid the pullies above would give way, and let the bell plunge on me. At another time, the possibility of the clapper being shot out in some sweep, and dashing through my body, as I had seen a ramrod glide |