OR Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Politics, &c. NO. XXXI. ORIGINAL AND INTERESTING VOYAGE TO THE CONGO. CHAPTER THE SECOND. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1817. PRICE 1s. would be thrown away on so splendid a|would not sell him some butter, at the pile. The Captain-General was here same time lamenting the hopelessness of found entertaining a large party, among the case, as he was well aware "that whom were many greasy Monks, whose British officers never sold any thing, Visit to the Captain General of the of self-denial. The Father Paul of Shements." This broad hint was sucappearance was that of jollity rather than though they frequently made compli Cape Verd Islands, and to the Governor ridan, if added to their number, would ceeded by several specimens of address of Porto Praya-their grotesque Esta blishments sturdy and humourous beg not have been in such society by any of the same school; all of which were ging description of the Town, of the General's consort, a European Portu- equally transcendant, and had for their ging description of the Town, of the means a conspicuous character. The marked by meanness and effrontery Jortifications, and of the soldiery--An excursion into the adjacent Country, and of the table. Her dress was in the Eng potatoes. It is said "one fool makes guese, was seated with him at the head objects supplies of porter, cheese, and its appearance. - Excursions of the sciish style, but very plain. No other fe many"--we will not go out of the way to entifie Gentlemen into the interior. – Observations on the Bay and Anchorage male was present. As the General spoke examine the correctness of this proverb, -Oversetting of the Boat, and nearly pretty good French, Captain Tuckey and but at all events it cannot be denied that Lieutenant Hawkey, who understood that Captain Tuckey and those who accomfatal accident. -Extraordinary instance language, were able to converse with paned him had abundant opportunities of presence of mind by Lieutenant him, and to answer the series of ques of remarking on the force of example, in Hawkey. Sailors' jests with each other upon efforts at self-preservation.-Price thema respecting European affairs. Before emplified in the influence which the contions which he rather anxiously put to another way, as this was beautifully exof Provisions at Porto Praya. The their arrival, he had had no commum-duct of the Governor had on those under Caulking of the Congo being completed they sail for their ulterior destination. cation direct with the mother country for him. One of his officers wished to buy nearly four months, and the visitors were of the Captain a pair of epaulettes; a In the afternoon of April 9th, a boat perhaps on this account more welcome second was particularly anxious to ob was lowered down from the transport. than they would otherwise have been.tain a cocked hat, and a third was in in which Captain Tuckey, Lieutenant They next went to the residence of the want of a pair of shoes. Another very Hawkey, Professor Smith, Messrs, Governor, who was also at dinner, at dignified personage had occasion for Cranch, Tudor, and Galway, and Mr. tended by several Monks and military some gloves, as he pathetically remarked Eyre the purser, went on shore to visit officers. His lady, a mulatto, or half that a pair which he produced, though the Captain General, and to view the cast, was also at table attired in the ne- English, and on that account highly va town and island. The report they made gro fashion-that is to say, the simple lued, were not his property; as he had on their return was ludicrous in the ex-elegance of her costume was confined to been compelled to borrow them of a treme, and excited not a little merriment a chemise and petticoat. This in the brother officer for the day. All these among the crews of both ships. From wife of a Governor shewed a refinement persons, though they spoke very bad this it appeared, that having landed, on in taste, the English spectators were English, contrived with much ingenuity entering the town they were conducted hardly prepared to expect; however they and success to make their wants disby a negro to a house of decent external night concur with their Portuguese tinctly comprehended, and indeed it ap. appearance, when compared with the friends in thinking, that— peared there were few individuals in the hovels of which the town is composed; ** ........................ Loveliness needs not the aid of orga. town, who did not possess enough of our lang sage to make a very tolerable shift entered a large apartment, which resem-But is when unadorned adorned the most.” to barter and beg. On leaving the Gobled in its decorations, or rather in its The Governor spoke English suffici vernor, the party proceeded to promewant of all decoration, an English barn, ently well to make himself understood nade the town, which lies on a natural or spacious stable. It was true it was with ease. He forthwith desired to be platform, raised perpendicularly on nearly furnished with a few wretched daubs, commissioned to procure for Captain all sides. This capital of the Cape Verd which seemed to have been produced by Tuckey such provisions as he might have boasts three rows of mud built hovels, some profane wag as caricatures of the occasion for ;--not forgetting to add that partly sustained by stone work, and coSaints, and which would have provoked this offer originated in the most disinvered with branches of the date or palm laughter, if exhibited in England over the terested benevolence on his part. The tree. A few houses are white washed, door of an hedge ale-house; but in no Captain gave him an order for four bul- and these rendered conspicuous from the other instance was the natural beauty of locks, and a quantity of pumpkins and general wretchedness around, are inbathis superb edifice defaced by paint; nor oranges; but presently found his high-bited by the principal military officets hand the rafters, the floor or the wams minded Governor one of the most impu-who possess the privilege, we must not coat, been oppressed with the plane, or dent beggars that he had ever had the call it the right, of taking to themselves made in any way the subject of super misfortune to meet with. He commenced any house that a civil inhabitant may Buous labour. Its ingenious builder and his operations by intimating to the pur magnificent occupier had thought proper ser that his lady, of whom honourable to leave it wholly in the rough, having mention has already been made, had deperhaps discovered that all ornament sired him to enquire, if he (the purser) and having been taken up a ladder they ment, have built for himself, and that too without making him any remuneration. This it was stated by the people of the island, was the cause of their houses being so mean in appearance, as they could only fideas previously formed. Cocoa-nut employed under him are paid in the same be tolerably secure of possessing their trees, manioc, sweet potatoes, and the proportion, the expense of this settleown, while they appeared to be worth cotton shrub, were almost the only ob- ment to the parent State cannot be great;. nothing. The church corresponds well jects that presented themselves, even in for he assured the Captain his salary was with the rest of the scene. It has no the best cultivated places. They mea- but four dollars per day. Professor spire, and seems better adapted for the sured a Boabab, or Adansonia Digitata, Smith and Mr. Tudor, who undertook a reception of cattle or lumber, than for the trunk of which, at five feet from the more extended botanical excursion than a place of worship. There is a building, ground, measures seven yards in circum- the rest of the party, described the inwhich in courtesy is called a fort, and ference. At this period it carried no terior of the island as wearing a more presents to the bay sixteen old guns leaves; its branches were considered to pleasing aspect than that part of it which mounted in a parapet wall, which is al- be like those of the chesnut-tree. In the has been here described. They discovermost in a ruinous state. Captain Eve- Negro Hamlet of Saint Felippe, a large ed vallies well watered with springs; inleigh lies buried in the bastion. It may tamarind-tree was seen growing out of the tersected with little brooks; and embelbe remembered he perished from a crevice of a rock, and the 'profusion of lished with plantations of fruit-trees and wound, which he received on board the cocoa-nuts and other fruit trees, in parts vegetables, and affording good pasture Astrea in a drawn battle with a French where there was not a foot of soil, seem- for numerous herds of cattle and flocks frigate. No monument has been raised ed to prove that water is there the chief of sheep. to his memory. The defences of the bay source of vegetation. To requite the While here the attention of Captain have been already noticed. It might be civility of the Negroes placed in St. Tuckey was particularly directed to the made exceedingly strong, but at present Felippe, to watch the plantations, the Bay of Porto Praya, the result of his the works are in a state of deplorable Captain purchased a goat with her kid, observations was, that the South extreweakness, and the undisciplined vaga- and all the eggs they had to sell. It mity of the island made a very long low bonds who affect to guard them, have was interesting to remark, that among point coming from the North and South, no other earthly merit than that of being this suffering race, the severe privations and that three or four miles to the West admirably fitted to form a group in the to which they are constantly subjected, of this, is a bay bounded by a brown same picture with the fortifications to and the cruelties they have sometimes to sandy beach, which is surmounted by a which they are attached. To make the deplore, are not sufficient to annihilate grove of date-trees. Passing this Bay, satire here played off on military parade cheerfulness. The mind by degrees be- ships may keep along shore within a mile perfect in every part, most of the musk- comes indifferent to slavery; insensibility and a half of the land, and in 10 fathom ets carried by these barefooted ragged supplies the place of philosophy, and the water, to Porto Praya; distinguished by sentinels were without locks, and many Negro gaily drags his chain, and forgets a battery of earth or loose stones, off of the barrels were tied to the wood with the inflicted lash, almost before its smart which the sea breaks to a considerable which they were associated. After view- subsides. Unlike the Israelites of old, distance. The East point of the Bay ing this strange spectacle, the party de- who were in vain called upon to sing the should be rounded in 7 or 8 fathom soended to a valley on the left called the song of Sion by the waters of Babylon, water. The objects which first strike "Val de Trinidad." Here they found the slaves met with here, though held in the eye on approaching the Port where clusters of date trees, and some appear- cruel captivity far from the land of their the brown sandy beach is seen, are a ances of spontaneous vegetation; but progenitors, forget their degradation in house or shed; a grove of date-trees; they could discover no effort at cultiva- the lively dance, or joyous song; and and afterwards the Fort. Capt. Tuckey tion, with the exception of one cotton the wooden drum and the two-stringed considered the best berth for a ship to plantation, (near the wells whence the guitar, which form a part of the rude cast anchor in would be found with the town and shipping are supplied with wa- furniture of their humble cabins, add flag-staff of the Fort N. W. by W. in 7 ter,) surrounding a negro hut. Even this daily their dissonance in the character of or 8 fathom. There is always some surf was in a most wretched state, yet there harmony, to other sounds of gladness; on the beach, which makes it proper to is no reason to doubt the valley would as if to prove the truth of Goldsmith's provide grapnels for a boat going ashore. be fertile, if a more plentiful supply of remark, that Near a rock to the East of the town, it may be remarked, there is a good landing place when the surf runs high. It is ance. water were procured;-and this Indus-"Still to ourselves in every state consigned, try might effect by digging new wells; "Our own felicity we make or find." but it is not probable that it will ever be That industry should languish in a necessary to be cautious in carrying sail accomplished by the Portuguese, who country like that of which we have had in a boat, as the sudden bursts of wind seem to have no idea of making those im- occasion to speak, cannot excite sur- from the adjacent high lands are someprovements which would add to the com- prise. The labour of the inhabitants has times pregnant with danger. Of this forts of the inhabitants of St. Jago, and no object beyond the immediate supply the Captain and his party returning from make the island of real value and import- of their indispensible wants. Stock, the island, had a proof afforded them, vegetables and sugar for their own con- more convincing than satisfactory, which The Negro washerwomen seen here, sumption, and cotton garments for their occasioned them some inconvenience, and almost in a state of nakedness, appeared wear, constitute almost the sum total of had nearly been attended with fatal conrather to damp the spirits of some of the the articles here produced. Of course sequences. admirers of natural beauties, who had their exports-if they retain such a word It was in the afternoon of the 10th, till now revelled in the prospects of in their vocabulary, must be very insig- that Captain Tuckey, Lieutenant Hawtranscendant ebony loveliness, which nificant, and scarcely any money comes key, Mr. Eyre the Purser, and two of the they imagined would open to their de- into the islands which is not obtained gentlemen who had accompanied the exlighted eyes on the shores of the Congo. from the ships that touch here for re-pedition for the purposes of science, reA longer ramble over the island on the freshments. If the statement of the Go-turning to the ship in the gig, had the 40th, did little more than confirm the vernor be correct, and the other officers misfortune to be overset by a sudden gust board. on the spot. of wind from the mountain, in conse- for the most part procured from the Ne-heated on a sultry day, went into the ice quence of their having hoisted their sail, groes, may be advantageously obtained cellar, and incautiously took so large a quan(which was a large one for the boat,) with- by exchanging articles of wearing ap-tity of ice that both of them lost their lives A few Muscovy out reef, and the whole party were in an parel against them. In all the towns in New Spain where ice instant precipitated into the sea. Those Ducks were seen in the country. Green can be had, in the hot seasons, the Neveros who could swim immediately made for Monkies were offered for sale in great (ice-sellers) are in the streets from nine the land; but Lieut. Hawkey, though a abundance; and the Sailors would have o'clock in the morning till late at night, with good swimmer, having had the misfor- taken in an ample cargo of these, had frozen drinks to sell, incessantly crying Tatune to get his feet entangled in the cord- they been permitted to bring them on age of the boat, was held under water, and was unable to follow the rest. Capt. The caulking of the Congo being comTuckey, on perceiving this as he drew pleted, the vessels would have set sail near the shore, instantly turned about to on the 11th, but Holy Thursday (a great endeavour to assist Mr. Hawkey. This religious festival here,) falling on that day, gentleman was no longer to be seen, but it was impossible for the Captain to get he had sufficient presence of mind, while the Portuguese to attend to those worldly holding his breath under water, to keep affairs which remained to be adjusted up his hat with his hand, to indicate his before he could depart, and he was thereunfortunate situation. With much diffi- fore obliged to remain in Porto Praya till culty the Captain lifted his head above the next day. On Good Friday, in the the surface of the sea, and continued to afternoon, they again got to sea. Before sustain him till some of the parties suc- leaving the Bay, they had marked their ceeded in extricating the Lieutenant from reverence for the religion professed at St. his perilous situation. On discovering lago, by hoisting their colours half mast the danger to which Mr. Hawkey was ex- high, the Fort having been observed to posed, Captain Tuckey had called upon do the same, while the Portuguese ship-more or less sugar. On the voyage from ping put themselves in mourning by top- marinto, Limon y Leche! Half-frozen milk, Thomas Gilcrist the Coxswain, to return with him, but this the latter declined, observing, it was as much as he could do to save himself. The Purser, who, with one or two others, could not swim, got astride on the gig's keel, where they remained till the boat was dragged on the beach. Their alarm was considerable, [In two Letters, from a Gentleman at Ham-catepetl, because only the Pico is a half ex (To be continued regularly.) MEXICO, AND ITS GLACIERS. burg to a Friend in that City.] LETTER I. tinguished and sometimes smoking volcano, which is without doubt the reason that the ; and Mr. Eyre was particularly earnest in his endeavours to impress on those near It was already fifty days after our depar- inhabitants of Mexico are often awaked by him, who were attending to the Captain ture from Cadiz, when I as usual left my earthquakes, and even in the day-time are and Lieutenant, that they were unneces- cabin before day-break to enjoy the fresh air frequently in such dreadful anxiety, that one sarily exerting themselves, as those gen-hour at the officers' table, when the Lieute on deck. I had sat about a quarter of an afternoon at three o'clock, while the bells tlemen could not be exposed to so much were tolling at the cathedral for prayers, nant on duty suddenly leaped on deck, cry-most of the inhabitants were kneeling in the danger as he was, seeing he had not learnt ing out Tierra! Tierra! (Land! Land!). The streets; the whole city seemed to reel, so to swim. His eloquence, though not at- Captain, officers, and passengers left their that my windows and doors, which stood ajar, tended to at the time, was not forgotten, hammocks in great haste, and came on deck were shut and opened, though there was no and was afterwards frequently the subject half dressed to look on this happy discovery. wind, and the things which hung against of mirth. Lieut. Hawkey was insensible As it was scarcely twilight, we could see little the wall moved backwards and forwards when taken out of the water, and for or nothing; but there soon opened before our this reeling motion, does not hurt the buildsome days his recovery was doubtful. eyes a great panorama with a long chain of ings nearly so much as the concussions by high mountains, and a prodigious conical which the whole city, the houses as it were The prices of provisions at St. Iago are Glacier in the foreground, the brilliant icy in succession, are lifted up. This terrible by no means reasonable, as the following summit of which delighted us all. It was phenomenon has awaked me many times in list will sufficiently prove. At different the Pico of Orizaba, which seemed to raise the night; the continued cry and the incestimes they of course must vary, and the its head far above the clouds. sant loud prayers of the Mexican watchmen average may be somewhat higher or lower the summit I shall stand to-morrow," said I who during the whole night do not leave the to myself; but alas! now I must say that I streets, adding horror to this dreadful catasthan those charged to the expedition. did not even attempt to ascend it, as a nearer trophe, This frightful and uneasy sensation view showed that it was impossible. The caused by earthquakes, is not excited in Pico however delighted me, during my stay Mexico by any experience of the terrible in Vera Cruz, in more ways than one. I had chosen my residence so, that by means of consequences, but by the possibility of them; for unhappily many towns in Spanish Amethe great French windows, which are there rica have been destroyed by earthquakes, by very common, and lead to the balcony, which Mexico, except some small damage to had it constantly before my eyes. I was also the buildings, has hitherto been spared; and continually refreshed by the ice from it, may it always remain so! In my next letter with which I cooled my drink; a very great will give you an account of my visit to the luxury in the oppressive heat of that coun- Glaciers, which was attended with some retry. But great precaution is necessary in markable circumstances. Your's, &c. the enjoyment of this treat, for I myself once saw two Creoles who, when excessively DOLLARS. 4 from 2 to 3 Pigs weighing 50lb. (the long-legged breed,) Large Turkies, 5 1 Small long-legged fowls, the half doz. 1 The oxen and sheep were expected to be paid for in money; the other articles required for the ship's crew, which are "There on I SONNESCHMID, REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS. A TOUR through BELGIUM, HOLLAND, along the RHINE, and through the North of FRANCE, in the Summer of 1816; by JAMES MITCHELL, M. A. Published by Longman and Co. 8vo. pp. 390. To Brussels we shall not go with him, but jump at once to Rotterdam, of which he gives us a very pleasing description; part of which we transcribe. The smoke of Schiedam announced its. tous excuse for not remaining at Ghent, but proceeding to Brussels. These are trade. There are in that little town two hundred and four distilleries. The Dutch indeed trifling exceptions; but the true have no secret in the business, and we were tone might have been better preserved, allowed to see the process. It in fact conas the writer and the reader too must be sists in nothing more than in three simple supposed aware of the fact, that no local distillations; and the scientific methods incitement was required to induce Mr. practised in England to improve the liquor, The grain from which Mitchell to journey from Gheut to Brus-are here not in use. it is obtained, is wheat brought down from When a traveller has discrimination sels. Germany, which gives an advantage in the materials above the English gin, which is enough to direct his attention to matters The distilleries really worth attending to, we can accommade from barley and oats. pany him even over a beaten track with are none of them large. At Schiedam, which is a town of the fourth rank, a displeasure. He notices some things which The city of Rotterdam has been greatly tiller who has not more than three stills, have escaped his precursors, and he places other things in a new light. But he be- admired, and it is one which, when visited, pays for his patent, or licence, 25 guilders; will not disappoint the expectations which if he has from four to six stills, he pays 48 comes still more entertaining, when he deviates from the usual course, and visits have been raised. As we proceeded through guilders; if he has above that number, his the streets on our way to the hotel, we felt patent costs 95 guilders. The coals made spots which have not, at least recently, delighted on viewing the regularity and use of are chiefly those from the neighbourbeen brought under the regards of the grandeur of the houses, the splendour of the hood of Liege. The English coals are British reader. Of this description is shops, the neatness of the streets, the crowds reckoned much better, and some of them the Tour of Mr. Mitchell, in the Nether-on the footpaths, the rows of trees, the are used to make the others burn more lands. Where he only follows a multitude broad canals, the forest of masts of large readily. They would be generally used, of late Tourists, he touches on subjects vessels, with the trees, lamps, and houses on were it not that the very heavy duty upon the other side of the street beyond the canal. them almost amounts to a prohibition.of considerable interest, which have been The whole formed a scene which indicated Throughout Holland, turf from their own but imperfectly laid before the public; it was no ordinary city, and no ordinary turf-pits is the usual fuel. A hundred pieces, and as he proceeds through Holland, people. It afforded us an additional plea- each about the size of a brick, cost at Amand part of Prussia, to Cologne, a path sure, as a proof of the superior influence of sterdam about a guilder. less trodden, his Journal embraces ob- our country, to find at the hotel, on speakThe Hague offers little for new rejects of greater novelty, and offers more ing French, it was not understood, but that English answered exceedingly well. A good mark, and the letter dated from this to amuse and inform. supper was served up to us in the English style, and good port was put on the table. We had a good English carpet under our feet, and the transition from the naked boards of the Netherlands was felt a comfortable change. His observations are those of a man of cultivated mind, and sound principles, and impartial views. He sees what is best worth seeing, and communicates his remarks in an easy, though not elegant manner. The epistolary style which he has adopted is in our opinion the most judicious for such productions. It is like personal address, and one gets at once into that sort of intimacy with the writer, which is so advantageous to his future impressions. It also affords great facility to the author; for he does not em a barrass himself so much with the tram city might, with equal propriety, have been written any where else. It is not, however, the less valuable on that account, for it takes a very clear and comprehensive view of the political state of When I awoke next morning, and looked the Netherlands, since the restoration of out at the windows on the broad expanse the House of Orange. It shows that the of the Maese which lay before me, I was delighted with the activity of trade which two Legislative Chambers possess none was going on. The tide was up, and the of the checks on the Royal prerogative wind blew a fine fresh breeze. Three ves- which are essential in the British Parliasels were beating against the wind, and by ment. The Members are paid; those of the help of the tide, were working down; the first Chamber, in number from 40 to many small craft and boats were doing the 60, 3000 guilders, or about 2701. per A number of fine vessels also were ann., and those of the second, amounting lying at the side near the quay. On the opposite bank of the greenest of grass, stood to 110 individuals, 2500 guilders, or a vast array of trees, not indeed very high, about 181. per mouth. but extending as far as the eye could reach, and with the regularity of a regiment drawn out in line. It was pleasing, though not picturesque. same. mels of composition as if he were dividing The Revenue is his matter into Chapters, Sections, or other formal shapes, but enters into the raised from a land-tax, excise and cusfamiliar and accustomed fashion of lettertoms, as in England; but there is one writing, as if he were corresponding with very obnoxious imposition on patents, unknown, we rejoice to say, in our code an acquaintance. The only art which is Among the most agreeable features of of taxation, extensive as it is. It is in called for in this species of composition this Tour are the accounts of the learned effect a tax upon the exercise of almost is that of beginning and ending these Societies, public Schools, and other in- every trade and profession, for the conepistles in a proper and pleasing way, stitutions of the various places through veniency of which the whole population between private familiarity and public which the traveller passed. Upon these is divided into seven classes. The army, respect. In this point, though there is little to alledge against Mr. Mitchell, it subjects the information is often novel we are told, is better paid than heretoand always interesting. But though Mr. fore; but still the poverty of the officers does not appear to us that he is pre-Mitchell pays that marked attention to is so notorious, that it is "usual in the eminently happy. A letter closes with, the literature in his way which is due to play-bills to announce that military gen"I have more than enough trespassed on it from every well-informed mind, he does tlemen in their uniforms are admitted at your patience, I am, &c."-Now this is not neglect matters of a different com- half price!" The Police appears to be not correct for publication, though very well in friendly intercourse; for if the plexion, as we may exemplify by copy- very strict, and the number of persons trespass was too great, it ought not to ing his entertaining notice of a town of imprisoned for terms of years, is stated to The be very great. The prisoners are kept to have been committed to the press. next letter begins with an equally gratuilabour, and the gaols are conducted Bacchanalian fame. A lapse in Grammar. something in the manner of Penitentiaries. whole country bears strong impressions less fear that Musicians will not be less of the wretchedness which results from noisy, Scholars less dull, Poets less tedious, or Orators less like quacks. We now proWe should exceed our limits were we being a common theatre of war. to enter more at large into the general From Cologne Mr. Mitchell returned nified characters: they are addressed to ceed to quote a few thoughts for more digpolicy and present condition of the king-via Paris; but as this road is more ge-Statesmen, Courtiers, and all men of disdom, and must therefore refer to the vo- nerally known, we shall avail ourselves of tinction. Will they profit by them? Nobody lume under review for further informa- the occasion to take leave of our com- can hazard a doubt on the subject. tion. panion, whose work is so well calculated to occupy a place among the agreeable modern Continental Tours. M. SAY'S APERÇUS DES HOMMES, &c. La Rochefoucault, it is said, painted man- "In political affairs there are two ways of turning talent to account: some sell them-selves, whilst others disinterestedly devote themselves to the public cause. The former is the most expeditious plan; the latter the most honourable, and perhaps, when duly. of the two." considered, it will be found the most certain ing of the honesty of men in power. Call to mind the old Proverb-Tell me with whom not guess my meaning?- calumniated mankind. Civil disorders are 66 unmask all his faults and vices. tend to love truth. Go and tell it them, and Women, and great men, constantly pre judge how well they like it." 66 Tyrants as well as thieves fear those contrivances which reflect light. When imposture reigns, simple truth is seditious." which tyrants can endure, the most unpar"Terror being the greatest punishment donable crime in their eyes is to terrify. them." Of Leyden and Amsterdam there are amusing notices. At the latter place the fee of a physician who comes in his carriage to visit a patient, is one guilder, or 21d.; a surgeon in a whiskey receives only half that sum. At Brussels, the doctor gets only 20d.; and at Maestricht, a town of about 18,000 inhabitants, the fee is no more than sixpence. Our London practitioners would look blue were the Dutch practice imported among been still more afflicting. Such as it is, it now seems in no way exaggerated: the preour improvements! It is gratifying to learn, that the educa-sent generation cannot accuse him of having tion of the people is generally attended the theatre in which the passions are manito throughout Holland. There is a fested without disguise; they place man in primary school under the protection of the situation in which a great dramatic augovernment in every considerable village. thor would exhibit him; they, as it were, We do not remember to have met be-force him to depart from himself, and to "I pay fore with a description of a game called back to the public what they lent me," said Kolven: it is thus played at Leyden. La Bruyere. What a restitution would the There was a large room about seventy moralists of the present day have to make feet long, and upwards of twenty broad. A to the public! M. J. B. Say has lately dis- Plutarch, Theophrastus, and other mowalk along the side was partitioned off with charged a portion of his debt-we say a por-ralists, seem to have exhausted all that can boards rising three feet high, and the rest of tion, because he still retains large capitals in be said on the subject of flattery: but flatthe room was laid with a whitish clay, and his own hands; but there are certain things tery is like vanity; whatever discoveries sand made very hard and smooth. About of which he cannot conveniently dispossess may be made in this territory, says the nine feet from each end of the room, in the himself, and the public will readily grant author of the maxims, unknown tracts will. exact middle, was a small pillar, the lower him credit. The work which he has just always remain to be explored. part of which was of brass. There were published is intitled: Petit Volume contenant La Rochefoucault observes, that to praise two stuffed balls, rather hard, of the size of quelques Aperçus des Hommes et de la Société. Princes for virtues which they do not possess, twelve-pound cannon-balls, and clubs, the This little volume is as full of witty and is to insult them with impunity. lower parts of which were brass. Two peo-entertaining observations as many large vo- should disgust them with flattery and flatple play. The first commences at one end lumes are devoid of them. terers, says M. Say, is to find that the good of the room, and drives his ball towards the packets to every address, but we cannot pro- have never been half so much praised as the pillar, at the other; the second player, com- tion. We are, however, ready to assist in writers, who publish fine reflections on flatmise that they will all reach their destina- bad. But M. Say does not resemble those mencing at the same place, does the same to his ball. He of the two, whose ball has forwarding them. To quote from certain tery, and who never fail to flatter on the firstrolled nearest the pillar, has now the first suitable occasion. The world is full of such blow. They strike their balls alternately, Hexible philosophers. M. Say joins the and the object is to make the ball first roll "Custom is the law of ordinary minds, as example to the precept. He tells us that he against one pillar, and then they drive it to proverbs constitute the moral code of the once reproached Napoleon, with having dethe other end of the room, to try to make it vulgar; proverbs are however far preferablepraved the French Nation: "Do you not strike the other pillar. He whose ball first to custom." know, replied the latter, that it is easier to does so, gains the first notch. The pringovern men by their vices than by their virtues ?" ciple and mode of playing bears a resemdirected! To what fatal length, was this pretended skill blance to the Scotch game of Golf. The exercise is gentle, and the game seems easy, but it requires considerable dexterity. The landlord charges nothing for the room, as the parties usually play for a bottle of wine; and it affords great entertainment to the lookers-on, who will also be doing something for the good of the house. Utrecht, with its Cathedral and University, Nimeguen, Cleves, Rheinberg, &c. to Cologne, through the Prussian dominions, fall within the route of our Tourist, and are appropriately treated of, together with Cologne itself. The travelling in Prussia is deplorable, and the There are works is the highest praise that can be made by a succession of measured sounds." What "The finest ode offers no instruction, and literature. What then is an ill-written ode?" lest we should injure the interest of the but little amusement; it is the sonata of We could quote much more; but we fear "There is as much difference between a Bookseller in doing homage to the talents thinking man and a mere scholar, as between of the author. We shall therefore conclude a book and a table of contents." with the following passage, which ought to be engraven in the palace of every Monarch. "Fortune like an aerostatic balloon may raise a Prince very high, but should he wish to maintain this elevated position he must rest on some solid basis. Good faith is that "What is a Quack? A man who gets up on hustings for the purpose of selling his drugs. . . . . . This idea, Sir, is too bold, it must be suppressed. It will be said, that under the term hustings, you include an Academic Chair, a Tribune, a Pulpit, or any may speak aloud and be heard at a dis-true national interest. Those who hold any These are observations for Musicians, gerous advisers." Poets, Scholars, and Orators. We neverthe kind of elevated situation from which one tance." basis among an enlightened people; it is the other language, should be regarded as dan |