COMMON BANK. -Forth in the pleasing spring Echo the hills round; the forest smiles; There is a concinnous walk, near Preston, in Lancashire, called Com mon-bank. This pleasant spot is about 15 minutes excursion from the market place, the way is to proceed down Church-street, past the penitentiary, and so on, to the top of Walton brow, the turning to the left by a gateway, and thro' a narrow lane, which brings you immediately to this delightful eminence, which we shall endeavour to describe, leaving others to improve npon this our desultory sketch of this romantic situation. Before we enter into a detail we shall advise (with due submission) many if not all the young gentlemen resident in Freston, (instead of lounging in the town, to the great injury of their health, which brings on lowness of spirits, or ennui,) to take an airing to this "scene of nature," and by exercising the body, and Occupying the mind, by admiring the beauties of the surrounding scenery, "whose breath perfumes you, and whose pencil paints," By doing this, they would enjoy two of the grand constituents of hygeia, health and happiness;→ notion seems to be a great preserving principle of nature, to which even the material world pays due homage, for the winds and waves, the wafting of trees, shrubs and flowers, are known to be an essential part of their economy: what exercise is to the body, occupa tion is to the mind. Young men intended for the profession of the law, (as many are in Preston) ought to portion their hours, so as not to leave a moment unemployed. At this time the original foot-path across the fields, has been for sometime, blocked up, by the tract of ground having been plowed for the growth of corn, and that plot adjoining the highroad having been appropriated to the purposes of making brick-It is a pity that this path of Whilom is not re-opened, so that those who frequent this place in the spring and summer season, may have a nearer access, as it is rather circuitous to go the way we have men tioned before. It would be well if either the proprietor, or some spirited individual would take upon themselves to improve the undulated walk on the summit of the hill, as you move towards the N. E. If benches were placed at regular distances from each other, it would considerably improve the place, and render it a position perhaps of fashionable resort, although the working classes of society assemble here in quantities, there you may see them upon a Sunday or boliday in the after noon, basking in the_sun,-young and old of both sexes. The botaniet will find an ample field for hislabours here,→ it is truly astonishing to see what a variety of herbs, plants, &c, grow in exuberance, But to the point.When you arrive at this spot, surrounded as it is by a vicinage, consisting of all things which can reflect a lustre on the picturesque-it is here that you find yourself completely removed from the sound and tumult of a busy town, and placed in a sort of crescent, formed by the gradual declivity of the bill,at your feet a soft and verdant plain, somewhat half a mile in length, car petted by young herbage, powdered by the leaves and flowers of nature's Godt All along the valley (Fishwick,) agree. ably diversified by numerous inclosures, consisting of little gardens gracing the foreground, filled with coleworts, po tatoes and other vegetables for the use of man, The whole vale before you is variegated with the minor plants and other shrubs, all making forward at this season (April) to resume their summer robes of rich and varied dye. The blushing blossoms of the zig-zag hedgerows, have already crowned their heads, and indeed, every transient gale is loaded with their fragrance. ()! how these emblems of the true Alpha per suade me of the" Præsance deus." To see these shrubs and flowers revel in the. sunshine, and lift their pretty heads; to view the fields enamelled with the crimson and argent anemone, the azure violet, the snow-white daisy, the yel low pipped primrose, tipped with orange, the wood anemone, yellow pilewort, vert creeping ivy, woodruffe, chervil, eye-bright, strawberry, sweet-briar, red and argent wild-roses, and inna, merable herbs and flowers of indigenous growth, whilst bundreds of vert, azure, gules, argent and spotted insects of various hues and tints, (of the butterfly tribe,) buz about, and sip of every flower, just broke loose from their tiny shells, are hardly able yet to unfurl their little wings, in the ambient air: while on every bough is heard some feathered songster, hailing the new season of joy and love. Taus nature, man, and the whole creation, seems to enjoy in every form of diversified fes-: tivity, the epoch, when recommence the hopes, the labours, and the delights of summer. "The lambs now sport o'er sloping bills, And crop the grass impearl'd with dew, Murm'ring serene, the bubbling rills O'er pebbles flow of varied hue." The whole of this enchanting scene is bounded by the river Ribble. The opposing bank (or south bank,) rising immediately from the margin of the river is still rendered more superlative by the various majestic ind genous trees which slumbered during the winter and at this season (spring) break out in all the glory of their umbrageous foliage. Thus nature ever beautiful and consistent, has scattered here and there upon its slopes in groups, what art in vain attempts to imitate. Hoghton Tower upon your left forms a grand feature in the landscape, and, strongly reminds us of the feudal antiquity of olden days, when our baronTM ial ancestors dwelt in strong castles, enviroued with a moat and embellished by strong towers and a draw bridge, and most generally situate on the summit of a rock or high hill. Whilst Walton Hall, on your right (in the valley,) gives us a refined idea of the rapid progress of civilization, when each man is at perfect liberty to build his mansion according to his own eculiar faste of architecture, and as best suits his private convenience On the right of Hoghton Tower nearly embosomed in trees stands Walton Lodge, although it might with great propriety be termed Kuerdale Lodge, and beyond it amid thriving plantations, upon the summit. of the slope rising from the margin of the river Darwen, stands the elegant It is somewhat singular, that the organization of a flourishing country, has been compared to a vigorous tree, clothed with foliage, stretching its balancing sprays in all directions, and shooting forth fresh buds; whilst its head is encircled halos, and the transitory vegetation of its green leaves are intimately united with. the growth of its own body' white mansion, called Darwen Bank. The Church and village of Walton Le Dale, appear fancifully situated on the velvet margin of the river apparently which stream is seen meandering through the light arches of Walton-bridge; the woods of Kuerden together with those inclining to the N. E. and East, and the turrets of the Belvidere, peeping from between aparelled trees, fill up the foreground-the distant mountains of Lostock, Anglezark and Rivington, rising one above another, forming at once a/concatenation of hills, bound the cerulean horizon, and make the tout ensemble past all description. The beauty of this scene when the silvan trees are dressed in their livery of variegated hue, such as the oak, larch, Ar, ash, spruce, &c. together with every herb and hedgerow, that blooms, is as evanescent as it is fresh, vivid, and luxuriant. These are more mortal than ourselves, the modern fair ones of the day, and decay, and death await them on the morrow. But the unchanged, the everlasting hills, the ruins, they may be of an aboriginal world these are Gods antiquities, the true emblems of eternity, the soul may cause the body to genuflect before them, and our imaginations are carried back, aye, even to a date co-eval with the creation of man.. (To be concluded No. 1. Vol. 11.) SIR, It is an alarming fact that suicide is becoming more common every succeeding month. The Literary Gazette a few weeks since, informed us that in Paris they were no less than 360 such cases during the past year: and as to England- let our newspapers. speak to the morethan daily recurrence of this desperate act-let our own town: afford testimony. The suicides either effected or attempted are in reality more Humerous than is commonly believed: and, generally speaking, do we not find the circumstances to be as unconnected in the cases of insanity as they are with the most remote luminary of the Herschelian System of the Universe, This afternoona. coroners inquest is sitting in consultation on the case of a poor widow. in Meadow Lane, who swallowed a large quantity of the Corrosive Sublimate. Can it be deemed irrelevant, then, to make a few remarks on the subject ! Since writing the above, happening to take up the New Monthly Magazine for 1816, I opened to p. 408, no. 35, and find a few observations so much to the purpose that I am tempted to transcribe them, as being superior to what: 1.may, chance to say were I to complete the article in my own way. Yours &c. MOSES AVADITH. Leeds. It has long been a source of deep re.. gret to every well-disposed and reflecting mind, that the instances of selfmurder are so prevalent, and continue daily to increase, as also that the Coroners' Juries are so ready by their verdicts to evade the penalty or stigma which the law of the land attaches to the body of the suicide, rendering its beneficial effects nugatory, by declaring the individual almost. in every case to have been insane, satisfying their con sciences that no person of a sane mind would or could commit such an act. It is to be feared that a natural fellow-feeling and a humane sympathy for the survivors, especially where property is at stake, may have a share in determining their decision, as it must appear the height of injustice to visit the crime of the father on his offspring. The law of forfeiture of personal property to the Crown, being introduced soon after the Reformation, shews in what a strong point of view suicide was considered at that period, and how anxious our forefathers were for its sup pression. If this crime was held in equal abhorrence by us of this age of universal benevolence and philanthropy, surely some means might be devised to Jessen the evil. This subject has often suggested itself to my mind, but has made a deeper impression from witnessing a very distressing case, which was given in the public papers a few days since; and had the person, of whom the unhappy young woman bought the penny worth of arsenic, refused or even hesitated to sell it, the feelings she was then under might in a short time have subsided, and she been still a member of society. It is much to be lamented that the legislature have never wholly interdicted the sale of poisons, or at least put it under such restrictions as to prevent the facility of procuring them, owing to which, murder has been often committed; and many are the instances of children and others being poisoned by eating what was intended to destroy rats. being, in my mind, a species of manslaughter, by those who so wantonly expose poisons, ought they not to be treated as if actually convicted of that offence? This As it is only in melancholy madness that suicide is committed, and generally under lucid intervals, what a relief must it afford to the minds of a jury, if a medical gentleman shall establish that such was the unhappy situation of the deceased? The willing or sane suicide, trusting to the lenity of a Coroner's Jury that no infamy shall attach to his remains or injury to his family, becomes fortified in his mind; but were he to know that such juries would act up to the meaning of the solemn oath they have taken in foro conscientiæ, without respect of persons, in might in some instances prevent the horrid catastrophe. One more suggestion, and I leave the interesting subject to persons more competent to eny rce it on the minds of those whose peculiar province it is to be the guardians of the public weal.Instead of the suicide being buried in a cross road and a stake driven through the body, might it, not act more in ter rorem if the body were given to the Royal College of Surgeons for dissection? The fear of such an exposure before their fellow-creatures might oper ate more on their minds than the fear of appearing in the awful presence of their Creator and Judge, than hanging, and still more if their bodies are to be hung in chains. A remarkable instance of this kind happened at York about 25 years ago, and was related to me by an eye-witness. The convict's name was Broughton;* having robbed the mail, he was sentenced to be hung in chains near the spot where the crime was committed.He was so distressed in his mind at the latter part of his sentence, that his friends were induced to say, two days before his execution, that that part was remitted; in consequence of which he became tranquil and resigned, talking and shaking hands with many on his way to the gallows. To prove how exposure after death operated on the female mind,' when neither the tears nor entreaties of agonized parents had any effect, I refer your readers to the story of the Milesian Virgins, whom nothing could prevent from hanging themselves, till a deeree passed that their dead bodies should be dragged through the streets; and this enactment effectually restrained the practice. If these hints prove useful, it will be grateful to HUMANITAS. VOLCANO. The mountain called Oefields Jokkelen, to the south-east of Hecla, which had been quiet ever since the year 1612, broke out with great fury on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of December, 1821, so that the ice with which it was covered, burst with a tremendous crash, the earth trembled, and enormous masses of snow were precipitated from the summit (a The remains of Broughton's skeleton are still hanging in a field at Tinsley, near Sheffield. When I first saw it, in 1817, the field was sown with wheat. It is the first gibbet I ever saw, and must confess that my feelings on the occasion were as completely agonised as they ever have been during my whole life, by a sight in which I had no personal interest. I have been informed that Broughton was of good family, had received every polish which education and good society gave to a man of uncommon powers of mind. His son, some years afterwards made a pilgrimage to the weather-bleach ed remains of his father's once elegant and manly form-what a scene! It is also generally understood that Broughton was so far from deserving this severity of punishment, that he was more an accomplice per force than from his own choice. M. A. height of 5500 feet) into the plain.-From that time a column of fire continued to rise from the crater, which ejected vast quantities of ashes and stones, some of which, weighing from fifty to eighty pounds, half calcined, were thrown to the distance of five English miles from the crater. It does not appear that any great damage has been done by this eruption. The mass of sulphureous ashes which covered the adjoining country like a thick crust, has since been removed by a violent storm and torrents of rain. The mountain continued to burn till the 1st of February, and smoked till the 23d; but the ice had again formed round the crater. During the eruption the weather in the island was extremely unsettled and stormy, with a loud noise, and sensible shocks as of an earthquake. Awake my Lyre! the glowing wreath My burning sighs and stifled words, That song the sea-born goddess loved, Farewell it were vain for one Like me to upbraid thee-I have loved. The rose that crowns me, hides a thorn.. Farewell then fondest-coldest-No: To gain one smile of witchery- I dare not breathe my sighs to thee. He spurned me Oh that fearful thought! My own despair, and yet his name Forget me: I would have that pain To think of her who loved in vain! Dwells now thy trembling chords among. The hopes that bloomed, his frowns destroy, And what to ine is fame or song? He flies to seek a fairer bride And leaves to Sappho-Leucate's tide. IANTHE. THE BIRTH OF THE MUSHROOM. The twilight star with dewy ray His western lamp of beauty trimm'd, Beaming o'er vapours dense and grey, Which evening's face awhile had dimm'd. Young fancy's vision-gifted eye O'er the smooth mead of autumn's green, Tosoft ærial minstrelsy, Saw fairies sporting with their queen. Right merry to the tuneful song Gay sylph and sylphid join'd the reel, They skimm'd so light the sward along, Scarce kiss'd the dews each little heel. And now the moon full orb'd and chill" Tochaste the damp incumbent shade, And cheer'd their evening serenade. The Queen of Fays began her prayer: Propitious to our tiny race→→ Where hung the cowslip's scented bell, Her dew-gemm'd sceptre waved the queen O'er drops more bright than liquid glass, Smiling up sprung with pearl-white mien The mushroom through the twisted grass. No lambkins sported near its bed, No colt or heifer's trampling hoof, Urns of ambrosial dew were shed, While kine depastured far aloof. From its subtexture, pinky, fresh, And er wn of delicatisk white, Some spiders wove their filmy mesh, Their floating toils expanded light. Soon as the milk-maid trod the lawn, Not one of all the elves was seen; But eurrous, verdant circles drawn, Shew'd where their evening dance had been. She call'd the mashroom.-in its place Sprang others each succeeding morn, Prolific constant prov'd the race, Like it, dew-fed, and meadow-born. Their elfin genii held their court,- When Hope's fairy pictures bright colours display! How sweet, when we can, from futurity borrow A balm for the griefs that afflict us to-day! When wearisome sickness has taught me to langnish For health, and the comforts it bears on its wing, Let me hope (oh! how soon it would lessen my anguish) That to-morrow will ease and serenity bring. When travelling alone, quite forlorn, unbefriended, Sweet the hope that to-morrow my wand'rings will cease; That at home, then, with care sympathetic attended, I shall rest unmolested, and slumber in peace. Or when from the friends of my heart long di vided, The fond expectation with joy how replete! That from far distant regions by Providence guided, To-morrow will see us most happily meet. When six days of labour, each other succeeding, With hurry and toil have my spirits opprest, What pleasure to think as the last is receding, To-morrow will be a sweet Sabbath of rest. And when the vain shadows of time are retiring, When life is fast fleeting, and death is in sight, The Christian believing, exulting, aspiring, |