I tried to pass my horse over; the horse sunk up a speech in German, of which I know nothing; I to the chin, and of course he and I were in the do not know whether the speech was pretty, but as mud together; bemired, but not hurt; laughed, the woman was, I hope so. Reembarked on the and rode on. Arrived at the Grindelwald; dined, lake of Thoun; fell asleep part of the way; sent mounted again, and rode to the higher glacier- our horses round; found people on the shore, like a frozen hurricane.* Starlight, beautiful, but blowing up a rock with gunpowder; they blew it a devil of a path! Never mind, got safe in; a little up near our boat, only telling us a minute before;lightning, but the whole of the day as fine in point mere stupidity, but they might have broken our of weather as the day on which Paradise was made. noddles. Got to Thoun in the evening; the weaPassed whole woods of withered pines, all withered;t ther has been tolerable the whole day. But as the trunks stripped and lifeless, branches lifeless; done wild part of our tour is finished, it don't matter to by a single winter. us; in all the desirable part, we have been the most "September 24. lucky in warmth and clearness of atmosphere. "Set off at seven; up at five. Passed the black glacier, the mountain Wetterhorn on the right;| "September 26. crossed the Scheideck mountain; came to the Rose "Being out of the mountains, my journal must glacier, said to be the largest and finest in Switzer-be as flat as my journey. From Thoun to Berne, land. I think the Bossons glacier at Chamouni as good road, hedges, villages, industry, property, and fine; Hobhouse does not. Came to the Reichen- all sorts of tokens of insipid civilization. From bach waterfall, two hundred feet high; halted to Berne to Fribourg; different canton; Catholics; rest the horses. Arrived in the valley of Oberland; passed a field of battle; Swiss beat the French in rain came on; drenched a little; only four hours' one of the late wars against the French republic. rain, however, in eight days. Came to the lake of Bought a dog. The greater part of this tour has Brientz, then to the town of Brientz; changed. been on horseback, on foot, and on mule. In the evening, four Swiss peasant girls of Oberhasli came and sang the airs of their country; two of the voices beautiful-the tunes also; so wild and original, and at the same time of great sweetness. The singing is over; but below stairs I hear the notes of a fiddle, which bode no good to my night's rest; I shall go down and see the dancing. "September 25. "September 28. "Saw the tree planted in honor of the battle of Morat; three hundred and forty years old; a good deal decayed. Left Fribourg, but first saw the cathedral; high tower. Overtook the baggage of the nuns of La Trappe, who are removing to Normandy, afterward a coach, with a quantity of nuns in it. Proceeded along the banks of the lake of "The whole town of Brientz were apparently Neufchâtel; very pleasing and soft, but not so gathered together in the rooms below; pretty mountainous-at least, the Jura, not appearing music and excellent waltzing: the dancing much so, after the Bernese Alps. Reached Yverdun in better than in England; the English can't waltz, the dusk; a long line of large trees on the border never could, never will. One man, with his pipe of the lake; fine and sombre; the Auberge nearly in his mouth, but danced as well as the others; full-a German Princess and suite; got rooms. some other dances in pairs and in fours, and very good. I went to bed, but the revelry continued below late and early. Brientz but a village. Rose early. Embarked on the lake of Brientz; rowed but not mountainous. In the evening reached Au"Passed through a fine and flourishing country, by the women in a long boat; presently we put to bonne, (the entrance and bridge something like that shore, and another woman jumped in. It seems it is the custom here for the boats to be manned by view of the Lake of Geneva; twilight; the moon of Durham,) which commands by far the fairest women; four or five men and three women in our on the lake; a grove on the height, and of very bark, all the women took an oar, and but one man. noble trees. Here Tavernier (the eastern traveller) "Got to Interlachen in three hours; pretty lake; bought (or built) the chateau, because the site renot so large as that of Thoun. Dined at Inter- sembled and equalled that of Erivan, a frontier city lachen. Girl gave me some flowers and made me of Persia; here he finished his voyages, and I this little excursion,-for I am within a few hours of Diodati and have little more to see, and no more to say." • Manfred, Act II., Scene 111. † Manfred, Act 1., Scene II. * Childe Harold, Canto III.-Song after stanza V. "September 29. EXTRACTS FROM A JOURNAL IN ITALY. "Ravenna, January 4, 1821. was-I picked up the commandant, mortally wound"A SUDDEN thought strikes me.' Let me begin a ed, out of the street; he died in my house; assas Journal once more. The last I kept was in Swit- sins unknown, but presumed political. His brethren zerland, in record of a tour made in the Bernese wrote from Rome last night to thank me for having Alps, which I made to send to my sister in 1816, assisted him in his last moments. Poor fellow! it and I suppose that she has it still, for she wrote to was a pity; he was a good soldier, but imprudentme that she was pleased with it. Another, and It was eight in the evening when they killed him. longer, I kept in 1813-1814, which I gave to Thomas We heard the shot; my servants and I ran out, and Moore in the same year. found him expiring, with five wounds, two whereof "This morning I gat me up late, as usual-mortal-by slugs they seemed. I examined him, weather bad-bad as England-worse. The snow but did not go to the dissection next morning. of last week melting to the sirocco of to-day, so "Carriage at eight or so-went to visit La Contessa that there were two d-d things at once. Could not G.-found her playing on the pianoforte talked even get to ride on horseback in the forest. Stayed till ten, when the Count, her father, and the no less at home all the morning-looked at the fire-won- Count, her brother, came in from the theatredered when the post would come. Post came at Play, they said, Alfieri's Filippo-well received. the Ave Maria, instead of half-past one o'clock, as Two days ago the King of Naples passed it ought. Galignani's Messengers, six in number-through Bologna on his way to congress. My ser a letter from Faenza, but none from England.- vant Luigi brought the news. I had sent him to Very sulky in consequence, (for there ought to have Bologna for a lamp. How will it end? Time will been letters,) and ate in consequence a copious dinner; for when I am vexed, it makes me swallow quicker-but drank very little. show. "Came home at eleven, or rather before. If the road and weather are comformable, mean to ride to"I was out of spirits-read the papers-thought morrow. High time-almost a week at this workwhat fame was, on reading, in a case of murder, that snow, sirocco, one day-frost and snow the otherMr. Wych, grocer, at Tunbridge, sold some bacon, sad climate for Italy. But the two seasons, last and flour, cheese, and, it is believed, some plums, to present, are extraordinary. Read a Life of Leonardo some gipsy woman accused. He had on his counter da Vinci, by Rossi-ruminated-wrote this much, (I quote faithfully) a book, the Life of Pamela, and will go to bed. which he was tearing for waste paper, &c., &c. In "January 5, 1971. the cheese was found, &c., and a leaf of Pamela "Rose late-dull and drooping-the weather dripwrapped round the bacon!' What would Richardson, ping and dense. Snow on the ground, and sirocco the vainest and luckiest of living authors (i. e. while above in the sky, like yesterday. Roads up to the alive)-he who, with Aaron Hill, used to prophecy horse's belly, so that riding (at least for pleasure) is and chuckle over the presumed fall of Fielding (the not very feasible. Added a postscript to my letter prose Homer of human nature) and of Pope (the to Murray. Read the conclusion, for the fiftieth most beautiful of poets)-what would he have said time (I have read all W. Scott's novels at least fifty could he have traced his pages from their place on times) of the third series of Tales of my Land the French prince's toilets (see Boswell's Johnson) lord,'-grand work-Scotch Fielding, as well as to the grocer's counter and the gipsy-murderess's great English poet--wonderful man! I long to get drunk with him. bacon !!! "What would he have said? what can any body "Dined versus six o' the clock. Forgot that say, save what Solomon said long before us? After there was a plum-pudding, (I have added, lately, all, it is but passing from one counter to another, eating to my family of vices,') and had dined before from the bookseller's to the other tradesman's I knew it. Drank half a bottle of some sorts of grocer or pastry-cook. For my part, I have met spirits-of wine; for what they call brandy, ram with most poetry upon trunks; so that I am apt &c., &c., here is nothing but spirits of wine, colored to consider the trunk-maker as the sexton of author- accordingly. Did not eat two apples, which were ship. placed, by way of dessert. Fed the two cats, the Wrote five letters in about half an hour, short hawk, and tame (but not tamed) crow. Read Mitand savage, to all my rascally correspondents. Car- ford's History of Greece-Xenophon's Retreat of riage came. Heard the news of three murders at the Ten Thousand. Up to this present moment Faenza and Forli-a carabinier, a smuggler, and an writing, six minutes before eight o' the clockattorney-all last night. The first two in a quarrel, French hours, not Italian. the latter by premeditation.* "Three weeks ago-almost a month--the 7th it • See Letter cooclxv., &c. "Hear the carriage-order pistols and great coat, as usual-necessary articles. Weather cold-carriage open, and inhabitants somewhat savage-rather treacherous and highly inflamed by politics. Fine fellows, though-good materials for a nation. Out | well as the assassinations. It won't do. There must of chaos God made a world, and out of high passions be a universal republic,-and there ought to be. comes a people. "The crow is lame of a leg-wonder how it hap"Clock strikes going out to make love. Some-pened-some fool trod upon his toe, I suppose.what perilous, but not disagreeable. Memorandum The falcon pretty brisk-the cats large and noisy-a new screen put up to-day. It is rather antique, the monkeys I have not looked to since the cold but will do with a little repair. weather, as they suffer by being brought up. Horses "Thaw continues-hopeful that riding may be must be gay-get a ride as soon as weather serves. practicable to-morrow. Sent the papers to Alli-Deused muggy still-an Italian winter is a sad thing, grand events coming. but all the other seasons are charming. "Eleven o' the clock and nine minutes. Visited "What is the reason that I have been, all my La Contessa G. Nata G. G. Found her beginning lifetime more or less ennuyé? and that, if any thing, my letter of answer to the thanks of Alessio del I am rather less so now than I was at twenty, as far Pinto of Rome for assisting his brother, the late as my recollection serves ? I do not know how to commandant, in his last moments, as I had begged answer this, but presume that it is constitutional,her to pen my reply for the purer Italian, I being an as well as the waking in low spirits, which I have ultra-montane, little skilled in the set phrase of invariably done for many years. Temperance and Tuscany. Cut short the letter-finish it another exercise, which I have practised at times, and for a day. Talked of Italy, patriotism, Alfieri, Madame long time together vigorously and violently, made Albany, and other branches of learning. Also Sal- little or no difference. Violent passions did;lust's Conspiracy of Catiline, and the war of Jugur-when under their immediate influence-it is odd, tha. At nine came in her brother, Il Conte Pietro-but-I was in agitated, but not in depressed spirits. at ten, her father, Conte Ruggiero. "A dose of salts has the effect of a temporary "Talked of various modes of warfare-of the inebriation, like light champagne upon me. But Hungarian and Highland modes of broadsword ex- wine and spirits make me sullen and savage to feercise, in both whereof I was once a moderate 'mas-rocity-silent, however and retiring, and not quaiter of fence.' Settled that the R. will break out on relsome, if not spoken to. Swimming also raises the 7th or 8th of March, in which appointment I my spirits,-but in general they are low, and get should trust, had it not been settled that it was to daily lower. That is hopeless; for I do not think have broken out in October, 1820. But those Bo- I am so much ennuyé as was at nineteen.-lognese shirked the Romagnuoles. The proof is, that then I must game, or drink, "It is all one to Ranger.' One must not be par- or be in motion of some kind, or I was miserticular, but take rebellion when it lies in the way. able. At present, I can mope in quietness; and Came home-read the Ten Thousand' again, and like being alone better than any company-except will go to bed. the lady's whom I serve. But I feel a something, "Mem.-Ordered Fletcher (at four o'clock this which makes me think that, if I ever reach near to afternoon) to copy out seven or eight apothegms old age, like Swift, I shall die at top' first. Only of Bacon, in which I have detected such blunders as I do not dread idiotism or madness so much as he a school-boy might detect, rather than commit. did. On the contrary, think some quieter stages Such are the sages! What must they be, when such of both must be preferable to much of what men as I can stumble on their mistakes or mistatements? think the possession of their senses. I will go to bed, for I find that I grow cynical. "January 6, 1821. "January 7, 1821, Sunday. "Still rain-mist-snow-drizzle--and all the in"Mist-thaw-slop-rain. No stirring out on calculable combinations of a climate, where heat and horseback. Read Spence's Anecdotes. Pope a fine cold struggle for mastery. Read Spence, and turned fellow-always thought him so. Corrected blunders over Roscoe, to find a passage I have not found.--in nine apothegms of Bacon-all historical-and Read the fourth vol. of W. Scott's second series of read Mitford's Greece. Wrote an epigram. Turned Tales of my Landlord.' Dined. Read the Lugano to a passage in Guinguene-ditto, in Lord Hol- Gazette. Read-I forget what. At eight went to land's Lope de Vega. Wrote a note on Don Juan.* conversazione. Found there the Countess Gel"At eight went out to visit. Heard a little music trude, Betti V., and her husband, and others.-like music. Talked with Count Pietro G. of the Pretty black-eyed woman that-only twenty-twoItalian comedian Vestris, who is now at Rome-same age as Teresa, who is prettier, though. have seen him often act in Venice-a good actor- "The Count Pietro G. took me aside to say that very. Somewhat of a mannerist; but excellent in the Patriots have had notice from Forli (twenty broad comedy, as well as in sentimental pathetic. He miles off) that to-night the government and its has made me frequently laugh and cry, neither of party mean to strike a stroke-that the Cardinal which is now a very easy matter-at least, for a here has had orders to make several arrests immeplayer to produce in me. diately, and that, in consequence, th Liberals are Thought of the state of women under the ancient arming, and have posted patrols in the streets, to Greeks-convenient enough. Present state, a rem-sound the alarm and give notice to fight for it. nant of the barbarism of the chivalry and feudal "He asked me what should be done?'-I anages-artificial and unnatural. They ought to mind swered, 'fight for it, rather than be taken in detail;' home--and be well fed and clothed-but not mixed and offered, if any of them are in immediate apprein society. Well educated, too, in religion-but to hension of arrest, to receive them in my house, read neither poetry nor politics-nothing but books (which is defensible,) and to defend them, with my of piety and cookery. Music-drawing-dancing-servants and themselves, (we have arms and ammualso a little gardening and ploughing now and then. nition,) as long as we can,-or to try to get them I have seen them mending the road in Epirus with away under cloud of night. On going home, I offered good success. Why not, as well as hay-making and him the pistols which I had about me--but he remilking? fused, but said he would come off to me in case of accidents. "Came home, and read Mitford again, and played with my mastiff-gave him his supper. Made an- "It wants half an hour of midnight, and rains;other reading to the epigram, but the turn the same. as Gibbet says, a fine night for their enterpriseTo-night at the theatre, there being a prince on his dark as hell, and blows like the devil.' If the row throne in the last scene of the comedy,-the audi- don't happen now, it must soon. I thought that ence laughed, and asked him for a Constitution.— their system of shooting people would soon produce This shows the state of the public mind here, as a reaction-and now it seems coming. I will do • Don Juan, note 9, to Canto v. what I can in the way of combat, though a little out of exercise. The cause is a geed one. "Turned over and over half a score of books for Drank some Seltzer-water. Mem.-received to-day the passage in question, and can't find it. Expect a print, or etching of the story of Ugolino, by an to hear the drum and the musketry momently (for Italian painter--different, of course, from Sir Joshua they swear to resist, and are right)-but I hear no- Reynolds's, and I think (as far as recollection goes! thing, as yet, save the splash of the rain and the no worse, for Reynolds is not good in history. Tore gusts of the wind at intervals. Don't like to go to a button in my new coat. bed, because I hate to be waked, and would rather "I wonder what figure these Italians will make sit up for the row, if there is to be one. in a regular row. I sometimes think that, like the "Mended the fire-have got the arms-and a Irishman's gun, (somebody had sold him a crooked book or two, which I shall turn over. I know little one,) they will only do for 'shooting round a corof their numbers, but think the Carbonari strong ner;' at least this sort of shooting has been the lats enough to beat the troops, even here. With twenty tenor of their exploits. And yet, there are mate men, this house might be defended for twenty-four rials in this people, and a noble energy, if well dihours against any force to be brought against it, rected. But who is to direct them? No matter now in this place, for the same time; and, in such a Out of such times heroes spring. Difficulties are time, the country would have notice, and would the hot-beds of high spirits, and Freedom the mother rise, if ever they will rise, of which there is some of the few virtues incident to human nature. doubt. In the mean time, I may as well read as do any thing else, being alone. "January 8, 1821, Monday. “Tuesday, January 9, 184. "Rose-the day fine. Ordered the horses, but "Rose, and found Count P. G. in my apartments. Lega (my secretary, an Italianism for steward or Sent away the servant. Told me that, according to chief servant) coming to tell me that the painter hd the best information, the government had not issued finished the work in fresco, for the room he has been orders for the arrests apprehended; that the attack employed on lately, I went to see it before I set out. in Forli had not taken place (as expected) by the The painter has not copied badly the prints from Sanfedisti-the opponents of the Carbonari or Lib- Titian, &c., considering all things. erals-and that, as yet, they are still in apprehension only. Asked me for some arms of a better sort, "Dined. Read Johnson's Vanity of Human which I gave him. Settled that, in case of a row, Wishes,'-all the examples and mode of giving the Liberals were to assemble here, (with me,) and them sublime, as well as the latter part, with the that he had given the word to Vincenzo G. and exception of an occasional couplet. I do not so others of the Chiefs for that purpose. He himself much admire the opening. I remember an observaand father are going to the chase in the forest; but tion of Sharpe's (the conversationist, as he was called V. G. is to come to me, and an express to be sent off in London, and a very clever man), that the first line to him, P. G., if any thing occurs. Concerted opera- of this poem was superfluous, and that Pope (the tions. They are to seize--but no matter. very best of poets I think) would have begun at 'Survey mankind from China to Peru!' 6 "I advised them to attack in detail, and in differ- once, only changing the punctuationent parties, in different places, (though at the same time,) so as to divide the attention of the troops, who, though few, yet being disciplined, would beat | The former line. Let observation,' &c., is certainly any body of people (not trained) in a regular fight-heavy and useless. But 'tis a grand poem-and se unless dispersed in small parties, and distracted true!-true as the 10th of Juvenal himself. The with different assaults. Offered to let them assem-lapse of ages changes all things-time-languageble here, if they choose. It is a strongish post-the earth-the bounds of the sea-the stars of the narrow street, commanded from within-and tenable sky, and every thing about, around, and unde walls. neath man, except man himself, who has always "Dined. Tried on a new coat. Letter to Mur-been, and always will be, an unlucky rascal. The ray, with corrections of Bacon's Apothegms and infinite variety of lives conducts but to death, and an epigram-the latter not for publication. At eight the infinity of wishes leads but to disappointment. went to Teresa, Countess G. * * At nine All the discoveries which have yet been made have and a half came in Il Conte P. and Count P. G. multiplied little but existence. An extirpated de Talked of a certain proclamation lately issued. ease is succeeded by some new pestilence; and a Count R. G. had been with (the **), to sound discovered world has brought little to the old one, him about the arrests. He, * *, is a trimmer, and except the p-first and freedom afterward-the latter deals, at present, his cards with both hands. If he a fine thing, particularly as they gave it to Europe don't mind, they'll be full. ** pretends (I doubt in exchange for slavery. But it is doubtful whether him-they don't,-we shall see) that there is no such the sovereigns' would not think the first the best order, and seems staggered by the immense exer- present of the two to their subjects. tions of the Neapolitans, and the fierce spirit of the "At eight went out-heard some news. They say Liberals here. The truth is, that ** cares for little the king of Naples has declared, by couriers from but his place (which is a good one) and wishes to Florence, to the powers (as they call now those play pretty with both parties. He has changed his wretches with crowns) that his constitution was mind thirty times these last three moons, to my compulsive, &c., &c., and that the Austrian barbaknowledge, for he corresponds with me. But he is rians are placed again on war pay, and will march. not a bloody fellow-only an avaricious one. Let them they come like sacritices in their trim,' "It seems that, just at this moment (as Lydia the hounds of hell! Let it still be a hope to see Languish says) there will be no elopement after all. their bones piled like those of the human dogs at I wish that I had known as much last night-or, Morat, in Switzerland, which I have seen. rather, this morning-I should have gone to bed "Heard some music. At nine the usual visiters two hours earlier. And yet I ought not to com--news, war, or rumors of war. Consulted with P. plain; for, though it is a sirocco, and heavy rain, I G., &c., &c. They mean to insurrect here, and are have not yawned for these two days. to honor me with a call thereupon. I shall not fall "Came home-read History of Greece-before back; though I don't think them in force or heart dinner had read Walter Scott's Rob Roy. Wrote sufficient to make inuch of it. But oncard!-it is address to the letter in answer to Alessio del Pinto, now the time to act, and what signifies self, if a who has thanked me for helping his brother (the single spark of that which would be worthy of the ate commandant, murdered here last month) in his past can be bequeathed unquenchedly to the future? last moments. Have told him I ouly did a duty of It is not one man, nor a million, but the spirit of humanity as is true. The brother lives at Rome. liberty, which must be spread. The waves which Mended the fire with some 'sgobole,' (a Romag nuole word,) and gave the falcon some water. • Childe Harold, Cauto 11., stanza Ixiii., and note 14. Lash upon the shore are, one by one, broken, but full of grossly false scenery, as all Americans_deyet the ocean conquers, nevertheless. It overwhelms clare, though they praise parts of the poem. It is the Armada, it wears the rock, and, if the Neptu-thus that self-love for ever creeps out, like a snake, nians are to be believed, it has not only destroyed, to sting any thing which happens, even accidentally, but made a world. In like manner, whatever the to stumble upon it. sacrifice of individuals, the great cause will gather "January 12, 1921. strength, sweep down what is rugged, and fertilize "The weather still so humid and impracticable, (for sea-weed is manure) what is cultivable. And that London, in its most oppressive fogs, were a so, the mere selfish calculation ought never to be summer-bower to this mist and sirocco, which has made on such occasions; and, at present, it shall not be computed by me. I was never a good arithmetician of chances, and shall not commence now. "January 10, 1821. now lasted, (but with one day's interval,) checked with snow or heavy rain only, since the 30th of December, 1820. It is so far lucky that I have a literary turn; but it is very tiresome not to be able to stir out, in comfort, on any horse but Pegasus, "Day fine-rained only in the morning. Looked for so many days. The roads are even worse than over accounts. Read Campbell's Poets-marked the weather, by the long splashing, and the heavy errors of Tom (the author) for correction. Dined soil, and the growth of the waters. the variations of the Italian school. -went out-music-Tyrolese air, with variations. "Read the poets-English, that is to say-out of Sustained the cause of the original simple air against Campbell's edition. There is a good deal of taffeta in some of Tom's prefatory phrases, but his work is good, as a whole. I like him best, though, in his own poetry. * * "Politics somewhat tempestuous, and cloudier daily. To-morrow being foreign post-day, probably something more will be known. "Came home-read. Corrected Tom Campbell's slips of the pen. A good work, though-style affected-but his defence of Pope is glorious. To be sure, it is his own cause, too,—but no matter, it is very good, and does him great credit. "Midnight. "Murray writes that they want to act the tragedy of Marino Faliero; more fools they-it was written for the closet. I have protested against this piece of usurpation, (which, it seems, legal for managers over any printed work, against the author's will,) and I hope they will not attempt it. Why don't they bring out some of the numberless aspirants for theatrical celebrity, now encumbering their "I have been turning over different Lives of the shelves, instead of lugging me out of the library? Poets. I rarely read their works, unless an occa- I have written a fierce protest against any such atsional flight over the classical ones, Pope, Dryden, tempt, but I still would hope that it will not be Johnson, Gray, and those who approach them near- necessary, and that they will see, at once, that it is est, (I leave the rant of the rest to the cant of the not intended for the stage. It is too regular-the day,) and I had made several reflections, but I feel time, twenty-four hours-the change of place not sleepy, and may as well go to bed. frequent-nothing melo-dramatic-no surprises, no starts, nor trap-doors, nor opportunities for tossing "Read the letters. Corrected the tragedy and their heads and kicking their heels'—and no lovethe Hints from Horace.' Dined, and got into bet- the grand ingredient of a modern play, ter spirits. Went out-returned-finished letters, "I have found out the seal cut on Murray's letfive in number. Read poets, and an anecdote in ter. It is meant for Walter Scott-or Sir WalterSpence. he is the first poet knighted since Sir Richard "All writes to me that the Pope, and Duke of Tus-Blackmore. But it does not do him justice. Scott's cany, and King of Sardinia have also been called to-particularly when he recites-is a very intelligent Congress; but the Pope will only deal there by countenance, and this seal says nothing. proxy. So the interests of millions are in the hands of about twenty coxcombs, at a place called Leibach! "January 11, 1821. "I should almost regret that my own affairs went well, when those of nations are in peril. If the interests of mankind could be essentially bettered, (particularly of these oppressed Italians,) I should not so much mind my own 'sma' peculiar.' God grant us all better times, or philosophy. "Scott is certainly the most wonderful writer of the day. His novels are a new literature in themselves, and his poetry as good as any-if not better (only on an erroneous system)-and only ceased to be so popular, because the vulgar learned were tired of hearing Aristides called the Just,' and Walter Scott the Best, and ostracised him. "I like him, too, for his manliness of character, for the extreme pleasantness of his conversation, "In reading, I have just chanced upon an expres- and his good nature towards myself, personally.sion of Tom Campbell's;-speaking of Collins, he May he prosper!-for he deserves it. I know no says that no reader cares any more about the char-reading to which I fall with such alacrity as a work acteristic manners of his eclogues than about the of W. Scott's. I shall give the seal with his bust authenticity of the tale of Troy.' 'Tis false-we do on it, to Madame la Contessa G. this evening, who care about the authenticity of the tale of Troy.' will be curious to have the effigies of a man so celeI have stood upon the plain daily, for more than a brated. month in 1810; and, if any thing diminished my "How strange are my thoughts!-The reading of pleasure, it was that the blackguard Bryant had the song of Milton, Sabrina fair,' has brought impugned its veracity. It is true I read Homer back upon me-I know not how or why-the hapTravestied,' (the first twelve books,) because Hob- piest, perhaps, days of my life (always excepting, house and others bored me with their learned locali- here and there, a Harrow holyday in the two latter ties, and I love quizzing. But I still venerated the summers of my stay there,) which living at Camgrand original as the truth of history (in the mate- bridge with Edward Noel Long, afterward of the rial facts) and of place. Otherwise it would have Guards,-who, after having served honorably in the given me no delight. Who will persuade me, when expedition to Copenhagen, (of which two or three I reclined upon a mighty tomb, that it did not thousand scoundrels yet survive in plight and pay,) contain a hero?-its very magnitude proved this. was drowned early in 1809, on his passage to Lisbon Men do not labor over the ignoble and petty dead- with his regiment in the St. George transport, which and why should not the dead be Homer's dead? was run foul of, in the night, by another transport. The secret of Tom Campbell's defence of inaccuracy We were rival swimmers-fond of riding-reading, in costume and description is, that his Gertrude, and of conviviality. We had been at Harrow to&c., has no more locality in common with Pennsyl- gether; but-there, at least-his was a less boistevania than with Penmanmaur. It is notoriously rous spirit than mine. I was always cricketing ⚫ Don Juan, note 9, to Canto V. rebelling-fighting-rowing, (from row, not boat- |