VOL. 6] The Shepherd's Calendar. By James Hogg. ta'en twa or three mae o' them. Base villains! that the hale country should hae to suffer for their pranks! But, however, the law's to tak its course on them, an' they'll find, ere a' the play be played, that he has need of a lang spoon that sups wi' the deil." 21 to become fordable, I hastened over to Ettrick, and the day being fine, I found numbers of people astir on the same errand with myself,-the valley was moving with people, gathered in from the glens around, to hear and relate the dangers and difficulties that were just overThe next day John brought us word, past. Among others, the identical girl that it was only the servant maid that who served with the shepherd in whose the ill thief had ta'en away; and the house the scene of the meeting took next again, that it was actually Bryden place, had come down to Ettrick schoolof Glenkerry; but, finally, he was house to see her parents. Her name obliged to inform us, "That a' was ex- was Mary Beattie, a beautiful sprightly actly true, as it was first tauld, but only lass, about twenty years of age; and if that Jamie Bryden, after being a-want- the devil had taken her in preference to ing for some days, had casten up again." any one of the shepherds, his good taste There has been nothing since that could scarcely have been disputed. time that has caused such a ferment in The first person I met was my friend, the country-nought else could be talk- the late Mr. James Anderson, who was ed of; and grievous was the blame at- as anxious to hear what had passed at tached to those who had the temerity to the meeting as I was, so we two contriraise up the devil to waste the land. If ved a scheme whereby we thought we the effects produced by the Chaldee Man- would hear every thing from the girl's uscript bad not been fresh in the minds own mouth. of the present generation, they could have no right conception of the rancour that prevailed against these few individuals; but the two scenes greatly resembled each other, for in that case, as well as the latter one, legal proceedings, it is said were meditated, and attempted; but lucky it was for the shepherds that they agreed to no reference, for such were the feelings of the country, and the approbation in which the act was held, that it is likely it would have fared very ill with them ;-at all events, it would have required an arbiter of some decision and uprightness to have dared to oppose them, Two men were sent to come to the house as by chance, and endeavour to learn from the shepherd, and particularly from the servantmaid, what grounds there were for inflicting legal punishment; but before that happened 1 had the good luck to hear her examined myself, and that in a way by which all suspicions were put to rest, and simplicity and truth left to war with superstition alone. I deemed it very curious at the time, and shall give it verbatim, as nearly as I can recollect. Being all impatience to learn particulars, as soon as the waters abated, so as She We sent word to the school-house for Mary, to call at my father's house on her return up the water, as there was a parcel to go to Phawhope. came accordingly, and when we saw her approaching, we went into a little sleeping apartment, where we could hear every thing that passed, leaving directions with my mother how to manage the affair. My mother herself was in perfect horrors about the business, and believed it all; as for my father, he did not say much either the one way or the other, but bit his lip, and remarked, that "fo'k would find it was an ill thing to hae to do wi' the enemy.” My mother would have managed extremely well, had her own early prejudices in favour of the doctrne of all kinds of apparitions not got the better of her. She was very kind to the girl, and talked with her about the storm, and the events that had occurred, till she brought the subject of the meeting forward herself, on which the following dialogue commenced : "But dear Mary, my woman, what were the chiels a' met about that night?" "O, they were just gaun through their papers an' arguing." "What was't?" (in a half whisper with manifest alarm.) "When Will gaed out to try if he could gang to the sheep, he met wi' a great big rough dog, that had very near worn him into a lin in the water.' My mother was now deeply affected, and after two or three smothered exclamations, she fell a whispering; the other followed her example, and shortly after they rose and went out, leaving my friend and me very little wiser than we were, for we had heard both "Did ye no hear them speaking nae- these incidents before with little variathing about the deil ?" "Very little." "What were they saying about him ?" "I thought I aince heard Jamie Fletcher saying there was nae deil ava." "Ah! the unworthy rascal! How durst he for the life o' him! I wonder he didna think shame." "I fear aye he's something regardless, Jamie." "I hope nane that belangs to me will ever join him in sic wickedness! But tell me, Mary, my woman, did ye no see nor hear naething uncanny about the house yoursel' that night?" "There was something like a plover cried twice i' the peat-neuk, in at the side o' Will's bed." "A plover! His presence be about us! There was never a plover at this time o' the year. And in the house too! Ah, Mary, I'm feared and concerned about that night's wark! What thought ye it was that cried ?" "I didna ken what it was, it cried just like a plover." "Did the callans look as they war fear'd when they heard it?" "They lookit gay an' queer." 46 What did they say?" "Ane cried, "What is that?' an' another said, What can it mean.' None tion. I accompanied Mary to Phawhope, and met with my brother, who soon convinced me of the falsehood and absurdity of the whole report; but I was grieved to find him so much cast down and distressed about it. of them durst well shew their faces at either kirk or market for a whole year, and more. The weather continuing fine, we two went together and perambulated Eskdale moor, visiting the principal scenes of carnage among the flocks,where we saw multitudes of men skinning and burying whole droves of sheep, taking with them only the skins and tallow. I shall now conclude this long account of the storm, and its consequences, by an extract from a poet for whose works I always feel disposed to have a great partiality; and who ever reads the above will not doubt on what incident the description is founded, nor yet deem it greatly overcharged. "Who was it reared these whelming waves? VOL. 6.] Beautiful Extracts from Cornwall's "Dramatic Scenes." The feathery clouds, condensed and furled, The Grampians groan'd beneath the storm! Even far on Yarrow's fairy dale, The shepherd paused in dumb dismay; And cries of spirits in the gale Lured many a pitying hind away. The Lowthers felt the tyrant's wrath; But O, as fell that fateful night, What horrors Avin wilds deform, Ere morn the wind grew deadly still, And dawning in the air updrew On which the dazzled eye could rest; In lucid curls her brows adorn! - And dreams across the desart lone. 23 Sound sleeps our seer !---the tempests rave, JAMES HOGG. DRAMATIC SCENES AND OTHER POEMS. BY BARRY CORNWALL.* HE "Broken Heart" is founded THE upon a tale of Boccaccio, and exhibits great powers in the pathetic. Jeronymo, returning from Paris to Italy, finds that his mistress, Sylvestra, has been married, through the arts of his mother, to another-and gaining admittance into her chamber, dies there of a broker heart. The situation is a fine but a dangerous one-and Mr. Cornwall has succeeded in it to a miracle. Jeron. So: all is hush'd at last. Hist! There she lies, Who should have been my own: Sylvestra!-No; And never in such pure divinity Could sway the wanton blood, as she did-Hark! Sylv. Ha! who's there? * Sea Ath. vol. 5. p. 474. Sylv Alas! Jeronymo. Jeron. Aye, that's the name: you had forgot. Can I forget the many hours we've spent, Sylv. And figuring many a shape grotesque; All in the blue sky floating. Sylv. I thought you lik'd to hear of it. Sylv. Then wherefore look so sadly? Can I do aught to comfort you? Sylv. Away, You do forget yourself. Jeron. Not so. Can I Do aught to serve you? Speak! my time is short, For death has touch'd me Sylv. Now you're jesting. Jeron. Girl! Now, I am dying. Oh! I feel my blood Ebb slowly; and before the morning sun You fright me. Jeron. Yet I'd not do so, Sylvestra: I will but tell you, you have used me harshly, And children jeer me, and the boughs that wave Sylv. How is this? In that short compass; but my days have been I thought,-speak softly for my husband sleeps, Jeron. Speak again. Was 't so indeed? Sylv. Indeed, indeed. Yet, what had I done Fortune that she could Sylv. Alas, alas ! Jeron. Sweet! in the land to come we'll feed on flowers. Droop not, my beautiful child. Oh! we will love I wrote, and wrote, but never heard ; at last, Sylv. Alas! Jeron. Then I Grew moody, and at times I fear my brain Was fever'd but I could not die, Sylvestra! And bid you no farewell. Sylv. Jeronymo ! Break not my heart thus: They-they did deceive me. They told me that the girls of France were fair, Sylv. What's the matter? Jeron. Soft! The night wind sounds A funeral dirge for me, sweet! Let me lie Oh! Sylv. Pity me! Jeron. So I do. Sylv, Then talk not thus ; Though but a jest, it makes me tremble. Jeron, Jest ? Look in my eye, and mark how true the tale. I've told you: On its glassy surface lies Jeron. I've numbered eighteen summers. Much Death, my Sylvestra. It is Nature's last may lie And beautiful effort to bequeath a fire VOL. 6.] American Trade with China. To that bright ball on which the spirit sate Through life; and look'd out, in its various moods, of gentleness and joy, and love and hope, And gain'd this frail flesh credit in the world. It is the channel of the soul: Its glance 25 Our readers will see from these scenes now quoted, that Mr. Cornwall is a writer of no ordinary genius. volume is one of great performance, His Draws and reveals that subtle power, that doth and of greater promise. None but a Redeem us from our gross mortality. Sylv. Why, now you're cheerful. Jeron. Yes; 'tis thus I'd die. Jeron. Do so, and I'll smile too. I do; albeit-ah! now my parting words Sylv. Ah! cold. Jeron. 'Tis so; but scorn it not,my own poor girl : mind both of exquisite tact and original power, could, in our belief, have created so many fine things in the very spirit of the old drama and of nature. He does not servilely follow the elder dramatists, but he walks with humble dignity by their side. He is a worthy and hopeful disciple of illustrious mas They've used us hardly: Bless'em though. Thou wilt ters, and the shade of Massinger him Forgive them? One's a mother, and may feel, When that she knows me dead. Some air-more air: Where are you ?--I am blind-my hands are numb'd ; This is a wintry night. So,-cover me. [Dies. self might with pleasure hail his appearance in the world of imagination. TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES WITH CHINA. MR. EDITOR, From the New Monthly Magazine, July 1819. Fall the phenomena which occur in the history of commerce, from its earliest period to the present time, the most extraordinary, perhaps, is the intercourse between Europe and the East, chiefly through the medium of the English East India Company. This intercourse, as far as we are concerned, may be divided into two grand branches, the first with our own empire in Hindoostan, the second with the great Chinese empire, and the latter chiefly for the sake of obtaining a single article, the use of which bas become so habitual to all ranks of society, that it has long ceased to be a luxury, and may be now fairly classed among the chief necessaries of life. The immense importance of both these branches of our Asiatic commerce is universally acknowledged; and therefore, you may, probably, not be indisposed to admit into your valuable miscellany some observations on the danger with which one of them, the trade with China, appears to be threatened. I am induced to communicate them to you, because they are chiefly collected from conversations with intelligent Americans, and tho' they may be thought in some respects exaggerated, shew us at least the sentiments and views D ATHENEUM VOL. 6. of our rivals in a point of such great importance. We all know the enterprising spirit of the merchants of the United States, the boldness and intrepidity of their seamen, the astonishing and rapid increase of their maritime power, and the peculiar local advantages of that great continent. The American government beholds with pleasure the increasing commerce of its citizens with China, which promises to become more and more important to the republic, and has undoubtedly been much encouraged and promoted by numerous articles in American newspapers, and other periodical publications, minutely pointing out its great advantages. It would not be easy to find another instance of an intercourse with so remote a country, which so amply rewards the activity of the merchant and the seaman, as this trade with China, and the Americans possess such great advantages above the English, that well-informed persons do not hesitate to prog. nosticate, that the latter will not be able, in the long run, to maintain the competition with the former, but will be, in in the end,obliged intirely to abandon to them the trade of the Chinese seas. If |