should not otherwise have known it. liet, but it was well played : Mune In Sir Giles he spoke in his natural den’s Marall was better; he looked voice, which is rather deep (not very like a thriving villain (Mr. Farren powerful), and thick, and altogether did not), and his villainy and means distinct from the weak shrill notes ness were rounded and shadowed off which he produced on the previous in the true spirit of a comic artist : Saturday. As Mr. V. will probably he seemed as though he had dined not perform Sir Giles again, we will with Mr. Justice Greedy frequently, not go into the unpleasant task of and come away better for his fare. detailing what we conceived to be The Coriolanus of Mr. Vandenhoff failures. This gentleman has very was less original than his Lear, but considerable talent, but we think he more effective: it was a plain imitaa wants forming ; his action and man. tion of Mr. John Kemble, but it was ner are frequently constrained, and nevertheless better than Mr. Vi's his voice seems to say that he has portrait of Sir Giles Over-reach. prescribed for it a limit which it Upon the whole we think Mr. Vans must never overstep. If Mr. Van- denhoff a meritorious actor, but dea denhoff could see Mr. Kean in Othel- cidedly inferior both to Mr. Maca lo, or Mr. Macready and Mr. C. Kem- ready and Mr. Charles Kemble. The ble in Virginius, he would perceive latter gentleman “played him down" that they give themselves up to the as it is called in Massinger's play: passion of the moment without fear, with Mr. Macready he has not yet —and this is the secret of their suc- come in collision. cess. Mr. C. Kemble's Wellborn If it be not impertinent we would was entirely excellent: there was an fain ask the managers of theatres easy, airy, cavalier spirit in it, that why Shakspeare's Lear is not pera we think no , one else could have formed. The trash which Tate has given : he seemed at first as though had the impudence to mix, like base he would have given away his goods alloy, with the fine ore of our great and chattels for an old song, and af- poet, is not only bad, but frequently terwards that he would have fought un-dramatic. We wish that some with a lion to have regained them. performer would have the spirit and We confess that we like Farren's good sense to revive the Lear of Marall: it was too lean perhaps, and Shakspeare. We will promise him too like Dr. Pinch, or the worthy our best word if that be worth any seller of medicine in Romeo and Jus thing.

A.

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BELZONI'S NARRATIVE OF HIS OPERATIONS AND RECENT DIS

COVERIES IN EGYPT AND NUBIA. * We have never seen a work that discovery and elucidation of those more palpably bore on its face evi- celebrated monuments of an antidence of being dictated by a fearless, quity, which was also antiquity to candid, and naturally judicious cha- the generations that we term ancia racter. The author introduces him- ent; and the monuments of which self to our acquaintance in a very surpass, in stupendous character, unaffected manner, in a short preface. those of Greece and Rome, as much He tells us that he is not an English- as these latter surpass our modern man, but that he preferred writing productions. Mr. Belzoni seems to his book himself, to running the risk be in possession of some absolute of having his meaning misrepresent- and peculiar faculty, at once adapta ed by another : it is our duty to say, ing him for this sort of research, and that he has succeeded in giving us impelling him to the perils and la a very perspicuous, amusing, and bours which are inevitably connected manly narrative; in which the man- with it. He seems to have been diner is as lively as the details are rected to some of his most valuable important. No single individual has conclusions by a sort of instinct, yet effected so much in the way of sharpening his external senses to in

* 4to. Murray, 1820.

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dications that existed not for com- after residing in it nine years, 1 formed mon observers, and suggesting a the resolution of going to the south of Eu. train of deduction from them quicker rope. Taking Mrs. Belzoni with me, I and surer than the usual course of visited Portugal, Spain, and Malta, from reasoning.

which latter place we embarked for Egypt, His style of narrative has the effect Here I had the good fortune to be the dis

where we remained from 1815 to 1819. of exciting a strong interest in what relates to himself personally: and that primitive nation.

coverer of many remains of antiquity of

I succeeded in this is increased by the remarkable opening one of the two famous Pyramids fact of his having been accompanied of Ghizeh, as well as several of the tombs up the Nile by Mrs. Belzoni, -with- of the Kings of Thebes. Among the latout the accommodation of servants ter, that which has been pronounced by one and equipage, but as 'a married of the most distinguished scholars of the couple, taking by themselves a jaunt age to be the tomb of Psammuthis, is at of pleasure or business in a civilized this moment the principal, the most percountry! Their only attendant was

fect and splendid monument in that coun. a young Irish lad.—Mrs. Belzoni is, try. The celebrated bust of young Memon more than one occasion, intro- non, which I brought from Thebes, is now

in the British Museum ; and the alabaster duced to us in the attitude of pre- sarcophagus, found in the tombs of the senting a pistol when necessary,— kings, is on its way to England. and she seems to have made very light of the inconveniences and dan- It is due to the interests of science, gers of the journey. We owe to this as well as to the reputation and inlady an amusing appendix to her terests of this very meritorious indihusband's work, under the title of vidual, to enter an indignant protest « Mrs. Belzoni's trifling Account of against the cabals and persecutions, the Women of Egypt, Nubia, and to the evil influence of which he has Syria.”

been exposed by the envy and cupiThe following is Mr. Belzoni's ac- dity of beings, who, destitute of his count of himself, his family, and the sagacity, courage, and industry, principal results of his labours in grudged him the precious results of the East :

these qualities. The French Consul, My native place is the city of Padua ; &c. of various nations, conducted

Drouetti, and his agents, renegadoes, am of a Roman family, which had resided there for many years.

themselves towards this solitary and

The state and troubles of Italy in 1800, which are too

inoffensive traveller, in a spirit of inwell known to require any comment from trigue and injustice, that, we regret me, compelled me to leave it, and from to say, there are but too many exthat time I have visited different parts of amples of, under similar circumEurope, and suffered many vicissitudes. stances, staining the name of the naThe greater part of my younger days I tion in question. By Count Forbin, passed in Rome, the former abode of my

too, the present director of the Muancestors, where I was preparing myself seum in France, our traveller has to become a monk; but the sudden entry been most meanly treated.

That of the French army into that city altered the course of my education, and being des

weak-minded, small-souled person, tined to travel, I have been a wanderer ever

had neither the sagacity to do any since. My family supplied me occasion. thing worth mentioning himself, nor ally with remittances; but as they were

the honour or gratitude to acknownot rich, I did not choose to be a burs ledge what was done for him by then to them, and contrived to live on my another. Mr. Belzoni, however, unown industry, and the little knowledge Í fortunately for these parties, can tell had acquired in various branches. I turned his own story in a plain but strong my chief attention to hydraulics, a science way: he has the ability to put the that I had learned in Rome, which I found facts clearly before the public, a much to my advantage, and which was

circumstance which his enemies did ultimately the very cause of my going to Egypt. For I had good information, that

not probably suppose likely, in conservice in that country, to irrigate the fields, He is

, however, a man of shrewd a hydraulic machine would be of great sequence of Mr. B.'s not being a man

of what is commonly called learning, which want water only, to make them produce at any time of the year. But I am

sense, and that is often more to the rather anticipating. In 1803 I arrived in purpose. A direct attempt to assasEngland, soon after which I married, and, sinate him was the cause of his quite

ting' Egypt so soon; and a tempo- for some of them, I really believe, would rary stoppage has thus been put to sooner have their head cut off than their his investigations; but he has al- beard : he borrowed some Franks' clothes ready secured for England some first

of the Bashaw's apothecary, who was rate prizes, - objects whose names

from Europe, and, after dressing himconvey celebrity, or rather immor, the Bashaw as a European, who could not

self in our costumé, presented himself to tality,—and made discoveries which secure for himself that fame which speak a single word either of Turkish or

Arabic, which is often the case. Being in must have been the chief animation the dark, the Bashaw took him for what to his exertions. We allude parti- he represented himself to be, and sent imcularly to the Head of Memnon, mediately for the interpreter, who put some which is now safely lodged in the questions to him in Italian, which he did British Museum ; and the discovery not answer : he was then questioned in of the entrance into the second py- French, but no reply; and next in the ramid—an operation suggested by German and Spanish languages, and still infinite sagacity, and executed with he was silent: at last, when he saw that a hardihood and industry unparal- they were all deceived, the Bashaw not leled...

excepted, he burst out in plain Turkish, We shall make a few amusing ex

the only language he was acquainted with,

and his well known voice told them who tracts from this volume-chiefly cal- he was; for such was the change of his culated for the miscellaneous reader: - those who are interested in the beard, that otherwise they could scarcely

person, particularly by the cutting off his subjects must be referred by us to have recognised him. The Bashaw was the work itself. Of the private life delighted with the fellow; and, to keep of the Bashaw of Cairo the following up the frolic, gave him an order on the is a sketch :

treasury for an enormous sum of money, The Bashaw is in continual motion, be

and sent him to the Kaciabay, to present ing sometimes at his citadel, and some

himself as a Frank, to receive it. The times at his seraglio in the Esbakie ; but

Kaciabay started at the immensity of the Soubra is his principal residence. His chief sum, as it was nearly all that the treaamusement is in the evening a little before

sury could furnish: but upon questioning sunset, when he quits his seraglio, and

this new European, it was soon perceived

who he was. In this attire he went home seats himself on the bank of the Nile, to fire at an earthen pot, with his guards. If of the door ; and such was the disgrace of

to his women, who actually thrust him out any of them hit it, he makes him a pre- cutting off his beard, that even his fellow sent, occasionally of forty or fifty rubies.

buffoons would not eat with him till it was He is himself an excellent marksman ; for I saw him fire at and hit a pot only fifteen grown again. inches high, set on the ground on the op

Camel dealers in the East seem to posite side of the Nile, though the river be pretty much on a par with horseat Soubra is considerably wider than the dealers in the West. “At an Arabian Thames at Westminster Bridge. As soon

marriage, our author saw a dramatic as it is dark, he retires into the garden, entertainment performed, of which and reposes either in an alcove, or by the he gives the following account:margin of a fountain, on an European chair, with all his attendants round him. When the dancing was at an end, a sort Here his numerous buffoons keep him in of play was performed, the intent of: continual high spirits and good humour. which was to exhibit life and manners, as By moonlight the scene was beautiful. I we do in our theatres. The subject rewas admitted into the garden whenever I presented an Hadgee, who wants to go to wished, by which means I had an oppor- Mecca, and applies to a camel-driver, to tunity of observing the domestic life of a procure a camel for him. The driver im. man, who from nothing rose to be viceroy poses on him, by not letting him see the of Egypt, and conqueror of the most seller of the camel, and putting a higher powerful tribes of Arabia.

price on it than is really asked, giving so From the number of lights I frequently much less to the seller than he received saw through the windows of the seraglio Í from the purchaser. A camel is produced supposed the ladies were at such times at last, made up by two men covered with amusing themselves in some way or other. a cloth, as if ready to depart for Mecca. Dancing women were often brought to di- The Hadgee mounts on the camel, but vert them, and sometimes the famous Ca- finds it so bad, that he refuses to take it, talani of Egypt was introduced. One of and demands his money back again. A the buffoons of the Bashaw took it into his scuffle takes place, when, by chance, the head one day, for a frolic, to shave his seller of the camel appears, and finds that

which is no trifle among the Turks; the camel in question is not that which he

ence.

sold to the driver for the Hadgee. Thus astonishing pile that stood before us, comit turns out, that the driver was not satis- posed of such an accumulation of enormous fied with imposing both on the buyer and blocks of stones, that I was at a loss to seller in the price, but had also kept the conjecture how they could be brought thi. good camel for himself, and produced a bad ther. one to the Hadgee. In consequence he Of the ruins of Thebes he says, receives a good drubbing, and runs off.

“ it appeared to me like entering a Simple as this story appears, yet it was so interesting to the audience, that it seemed city of giants, who, after a long conas if nothing could please them better, flict, were all destroyed, leaving the as it taught them to be on their guard ruins of their various temples as the against dealers in camels, &c.

only proofs of their former exist

Nothing, we think, can be This was the play, he says"; the ridicule of the farce was directed description of one of the temples of

more animating than the following against Europeans.

this “ hundred-gated” capital. The afterpiece represented a European

Having then set the people to work in traveller, who served as a sort of clown.

another direction, where also I had hopes, He is in the dress of a Frank; and, on

I took the opportunity to examine at lei. his travels, comes to the house of an Arab,

sure the superb ruins of this edifice. In who, though poor, wishes to have the ap

a distant view of them nothing can be seen pearance of being rich. Accordingly he

but the towering propylæa, high portals, gives orders to his wife, to kill a sheep and obelisks, which project above the variimmediately. She pretends to obey; but

ous groups of lofty palm-trees, and even returns in a few minutes, saying, that the flock has strayed away, and it would be approaching the avenue of Sphinxes, which

at a distance announce magnificence. On the loss of too much time to fetch one.

leads to the great temple, the visiter is The host then orders four fowls to be inspired with devotion and piety: their killed; but these cannot be caught. A

enormous size strikes him with wonder and third time, he sends his wife for pigeons ; respect to the Gods, to whom they were but the pigeons are all out of their holes; dedicated. They represent lions with heads and at last the traveller is treated only with of rams, the symbols of strength and innosour milk and dhourra bread, the only cence, the power and purity of the Gods. provision in the house.

Advancing farther in the avenue, there Mr. Belzoni forcibly describes his stand before it towering propylæa, which view from the top of the first pyramid lead to inner courts, where immense coat sun-rise :

lossi are seated at each side of the gate,

as if guarding the entrance to the holy We went there to sleep, that we might ground. Still farther on was the magniascend the first pyramid early enough in the ficent temple dedicated to the great God morning, to see the rising of the sun; and of the creation. It was the first time that accordingly we were on the

top of it long I entered it alone, without being interbefore the dawn of day. The scene here rupted by the noise of the Arabs, who is majestic and grand, far beyond descrip- never leave the traveller an instant. tion : a mist over the plains of Egypt formed a veil, which ascended and vanish

Again, ed gradually as the sun rose and univeiled I had seen the temple of Tentyra, and to the view that beautiful land, once the I still acknowledge, that nothing can exsite of Memphis. The distant view of the ceed that edifice in point of preservation, smaller pyramids on the south marked the and in the beauty of its workmanship and extension of that vast capital; while the sculpture; but here I was lost in a mass solemn endless spectacle of the desert on the of colossal objects, every one of which was West inspired us with reverence for the all- more than sufficient of itself alone to at. powerful Creator. The fertile lands on tract my whole attention. How can I dethe north, with the serpentine course of the scribe my sensations at that moment ! I Nile, descending towards the sea; the seemed alone in the midst of all that is rich appearance of Cairo, and its numerous most sacred in the world ; a forest of erorminarets, at the foot of the Mokatam mous columns, adorned all round with mountain on the east; the beautiful plain beautiful figures, and various ornaments, which extends from the pyramids to that from the top to the bottom ; the graceful city ; the Nile, which flows magnificently shape of the lotus, which forms their capi. through the centre of the sacred valley, tals, and is so well proportioned to the and the thick groves of palm trees under columns, that it gives to the view the most our eyes; all together formed a scene, of pleasing effect; the gates, the walls, the which very imperfect ideas can be given pedestals, and the architraves, also adorned. by the most elaborate description. We in every part with symbolical figures in descended to admire at some distance the basso relievo and intaglio, representing

battles, processions, triumphs, feasts, of- throat and nose ; and though, fortunately, ferings, and sacrifices, all relating, no I am destitute of the sense of smelling, I doubt, to the ancient history of the country; could taste that the mummies were rather the sanctuary, wholly formed of fine red unpleasant to swallow. After the exertion ! granite, with the various obelisks standing of entering into such a place, through a -before it, proclaiming to the distant pas- passage of fifty, a hundred, three hundred, senger,

" Here is the seat of holiness ;” or perhaps six hundred yards, nearly over the high portals, seen at a distance from come, I sought a resting-place, found one, the openings to this vast labyrinth of and contrived to sit ; but when my weight edifices; the various groups of ruins of the bore on the body of an Egyptian, it crush. other temples within sight; these altoge- ed it like a band-box. I naturally had ther had such an effect upon my soul, as recourse to my hands to sustain my weight, to separate me in imagination from the rest but they found no better support; so that of mortals, exalt me on high over all, and I sunk altogether among the broken mum. cause me to forget entirely the trifles and mies, with a crash of bones, rags, and follies of life. I was happy for a whole wooden cases, which raised such a dust as day, which escaped like a flash of light- kept me motionless for a quarter of an ning ; but the obscurity of the night caused hour, waiting till it subsided again. I me to stumble over one large block of could not remove from the place, however, stone, and to break my nose against an- without increasing it, and every step I other, which, dissolving the enchantment, took I crushed a mummy in some part or brought me to my senses again.

other. Once I was conducted from such But his description of what he en

a place to another resembling it, through countered in the galleries of the

a passage of about twenty feet in length, mummies is, for picturesque effect, forced through.

and no wider than that a body could be

It was choaked with more striking than any other pas- mummies, and I could not pass without sage in the book, and with this our

putting my face in contact with that of extracts from it must close.

some decayed Egyptian ; but as the pasWhat a place of rest! surrounded by sage inclined downwards, my own weight bodies, by heaps of mummies in all di. helped me on : however, I could not avoid rections, which, previous to my being ac- being covered with bones, legs, arms, and customed to the sight, impressed me with

heads rolling from above. Thus I prohorror. The blackness of the wall, ceeded from one cave to another, all full of the faint light given by the candles or

mummies piled up in various ways, some torches for want of air, the different ob- standing, some lying, and some on their jects that surrounded me, seeming to con- heads. The purpose of my researches was verse with each other, and the Arabs with to rob the Egyptians of their papyri: of the candles or torches in their hands naked which I found a few hidden in their breasts, and covered with dust, themselves resem- under their arms, in the space above the bling living mummies, absolutely formed knees, or on the legs, and covered by the a scene that cannot be described. In such numerous folds of cloth, that envelop the a situation I found myself several times, mummy. and often returned exhausted and fainting, till at last I became inured to it, and in- A superb volume of plates acdifferent to what I suffered, except from companies the work, which may be the dust, which never failed to choak my purchased or not, at pleasure.

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THE EARTHQUAKE,

A TALE. *

We are absolutely sickened by in the most positive manner, so this :

:-not by the work itself, though strong is the internal evidence that it is very absurd and very offensive, the pen employed in the one is not but by the fraud of which it is at- that which has traced the other. tempted to be made the means. It This is another deception from the is expressed on its title-page to be source of so many: the real and able by the author of “ The Ayrshire writer of the Ayrshire Legatees has Legatees : we have no hesitation to taken a desperate step to turn sus declare that it is not by the author of picion from himself;—and he must the Ayrshire Legatees : we scruple feel the unpleasantness of the impunot to run the risk of affirming this tation very strongly,-peculiar and

Three Volumes, Blackwood, Edinburgh; and Cadell and Davies, London, 1820