returning one evening from his daily labours, he was met in an obscure street in Paris by a well-dressed man, whose face he never remembered to have seen before, but who stopped him, and inquired to what trade he belonged. On being answered that he was a mason, the man said, that if he would wall up a certain niche which would be shewn to him, he should receive as his reward fifty louis d'ors. The stranger added, that he must submit to have his eyes covered, and to be carried in that state for a considerable distance. To all this the mason readily consented, partly from curiosity, and partly from the greatness of the reward offered to him for so inconsiderable a work. The stranger immediately placed a bandage over his eyes, and having led him by the hand for a few paces, they came to the spot where a carriage waited for them, into which they both got, and it drove rapidly off. They soon got out of Paris; at least so the mason conjectured, from the noise of the wheels going over the stones having ceased. After having proceeded thus for about two hours, the rattling of the stones returned, and they seemed to the mason to have entered another town; shortly after which they stopped, and the mason was taken out of the carriage, and led through several passages, and up a flight of stairs, till they came to a place where he heard the sound of voices. Here his eyes were uncovered, and he found himself in a large room, the walls, roof, and floor of which were entirely hung with black cloth, excepting a niche on one side, which was left open. By the side of it was placed a considerable quantity of stones and mortar, together with all the tools necessary for the work upon which the mason was to be employed. There were also several men in the room, whose faces were covered with masks. One of these came up to the mason, and addressing himself to him, said, "Here are the fifty louis-d'ors which were promised you; and there is only one condition to be exacted from you, which is, that you must never mention to any person what you may see or hear in this place." This the mason promised; and at this instant another man, who was also masked, entered the room, and demanded if all was ready. Upon being answered in the affirmative, he went out, and returned again in a few minutes with two other men, both masked; one of whom, from the whiteness of his hair, the mason supposed to be an old man. These three dragged in with them a very beautiful young woman, with her hair di shevelled, and her whole appearance be 714 tokening great disorder. They pushed her with great violence towards the niche, into which they at length succeeded in forcing her, notwithstanding her struggling and resistance. During this time she never ceased alternately uttering dreadful screams, and crying for mercy in the most piteous manner. Once she got loose from her persecutors, and immediately prostrated herself at the feet of the old man, and embracing his knees, besought him to kill her at once, and not to let her suffer a cruel and lingering death; but all in vain. When the three men had at last forced her into the niche, they held her there, and commanded the mason to commence his work, and wall her up. Upon witnessing this dreadful scene, the mason fell on his knees, and entreated to be permitted to depart, without being accessory to this act of cruelty. The men however told him that this was impossible. They menaced him, if he refused to perform his promise, with instant death; whereas, on the other hand, if he complied, they said he should receive an additional fifty louisd'ors when he had completed his work. This united threat and promise had such an effect upon the mason, that he instantly did as he was commanded, and at last actually walled up the poor victim, so as to render her escape impossible. She was then left to perish by slow degrees, without light, air, or sustenance. When the mason had finished, he received the fifty additional louis-d'ors; his eyes were again covered; he was led through various passages as on his arrival; and finally put into the carriage, which drove off rapidly as before. When he was again taken out of it, his eyes were uncovered, and he found himself standing on the exact spot in Paris where he had first met the stranger. The same man now stood beside him, and addressing him, desired him not to stir from the place where he then was for five minutes, after which he was at liberty to return home; adding, that he was a dead man, if he moved before the time prescribed. He then left him; and the mason having waited the five minutes, proceeded straight to the police officers, to whom he told his story; and they considered the circumstance so curious, that they carried him immediately to the Duke of Abrantes. The Duke at first imagined his account to be an invention; but upon his producing the purse containing the hundred louis-d'ors, he was compelled to believe it. The strictest search was immediately made in and about Paris for the discovery of the perpetrators of this horrid m 715 Early Development of Genius. but in vain. The Emperor Napoleon particularly interested himself in it, and special orders were issued by him to the officers of the police, to leave no means untried to attain their object. Many houses were searched, in the hope of finding some place which had been lately walled up, and which answered to the account given by the mason; but, notwithstanding all these endeavours, nothing further has ever transpired respecting this dreadful mystery. THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF GENIUS. THE development of powers, either physical or moral, is usually the concomitant of age, since neither can sustain a continuous action without premature decay, unless supported by a strength and firmness which nothing but time can supply. This mysterious association between the progress of time and the constitution of man, whether we consider his bodily or mental faculties, is impressed upon him by the hand of the Creator, and marks him with a distinguishing characteristic, which is wanting in the inferior rank of animals. Descending in the scale of nature, we shall indeed find some analogy in the vegetable world, for such flowers or plants as are brought to premature development by art, though they exhibit the brightest colours, and emit the most grateful fra- | grance, and bear all the indications of health and vigour, quickly shew symptoms of decay, and a want of that permanence and stability, which the usual operation of natural agents would have produced. No animal is so helpless in infancy, or so long in coming to the full exercise of its bodily functions, as man; others, in the short period of a few weeks become independent of the parent. Yet some of these, as the raven and the tortoise, live beyond the common age of man; there are, therefore, some examples of early development, in which extended life is observed, though generally the contrary is the case. This slow expansion of the human powers, both of body and mind, under ordinary circumstances, may account for the strength with which both are endowed, allowing, as we must, that the mind, though immaterial, acts and operates through the media of material organs, and appears to come to perfection with them. There are, however, cases in which children exhibit, at a very early age, mental powers and capacities, which appear inherent in them, and which develop themselves, without visible effort, or laborious 716 cultivation. They seem to exist almost independently of bodily development, or even of general habits and associations, as the form is still puerile, and the tastes, habits, and associations, such as are usually observed in the early stages of human existence, and the mental capability appears to be confined to the immediate object of development. This has been called intuitive genius, and it evidently depends rather on mental construction, than early bias, since in most, if not all cases, it shews itself without previous instruction, or even example. Instances of this kind are to be found in the lives of Gassendi, Pascal, Ferguson, and some of our most eminent philosophers, which exhibit not only the power of memory and association, but the combination of ideas, and a train of ratiocination that is truly surprising. Though these are by no means common, they are frequently brought forward as proofs of the possibility of juvenile precocity, and the attainment of a high degree of excellence, by judicious cultivation, and unwearied assiduity. Such instances, however, are much too rare to be made the standard of juvenile capacity, and we find the greater part of the children, who are thus forced to proficiency, like hothouse plants, beautiful but brief. We indeed read of some peculiar characters, who flourish in our juvenile biographies, that arrive at man's estate, but by far the greater number of these recorded instances are nipped in the bud, and fall victims to consumption, or some chronic malady of an equally fatal nature. Others, after having exhibited extraordinary mental powers at an early age, become stationary in their acquirements, and, if they live to maturity, display little more than the common ratio of capacity; and, though wonderful among children, cease to astonish among men. Of this, Mr. Betty the actor is a remarkable instance. He who attracted crowded audiences, even to suffocation, as a boy, during his subsequent career has tried the London boards without success, and would doubtless have died in penury and neglect, had not his friends seized the tide of fortune at the flood, and “made hay while the sun shone." The inculcation of first principles on the minds of children, is always a work of labour, and the memory is cultivated rather than the judgment, since, from the stores of the former the latter must draw the resources necessary to its exercise. The rudiments of all learning are made up of a number of minute particulars, which, though apparently insignificant in them selves, by their dependence and combinations, make up the sum of science; and it is only when brought into exercise in combination, that their real importance is discovered. What can be so dry, uninteresting, and wearisome to a child, as the first elements of grammar? The whole appears a jargon of unmeaning sound and frivolous distinctions; yet these must be committed to memory with laborious exactness; and it is only in future composition, then unknown, that their real value can be estimated. In vain have the powers of invention been taxed to smooth the rugged road of philosophy; its natural asperity defies all the efforts of literary Macadamization, and the sterile soil refuses to nourish the flowers so carefully planted in its bosom. Grammar is grammar still; and though the geniuses of Hamilton and Pestalozzi have raised a glittering superstructure of apparent proficiency, we in vain seek for the solid foundation of the venerable Lilly and other ancient worthies, and are compelled to confess that the present, though an age of scientific discovery, has yet failed in the desideratum of a royal road to learning; it may make learned machines, but it cannot make learned men. Thus, the very nature of grammatical knowledge implies severe and constant application for a continued period, in which memory is cultivated independently of imagination and judgment. And to this cause it may be attributed, that grammarians, in the strict sense of the word, are so seldom found among children. To comprehend the philosophy of grammar, requires a degree of judgment which the lapse of time seems necessary to mature. If we turn from grammar and philosophy to the mechanical sciences, we find the scene changed. Here, elementary knowledge immediately leads to combination, which produces illustrative facts; the senses are addressed, and the judgment exerts its powers. A child that has been taught the nine digits may immediately acquire the rules of addition and subtraction; and the judgment will be exercised with pleasure, because actual demonstration of utility follows the experiment. The same may be said of geometry, drawing, and mathematics, and all the powers of mechanism, in which a few leading data, addressed to the senses, may be applied, to produce demonstrations equally easy and obvious. Hence we shall, in our intercourse with children, find ten embryo Fergusons and Pascals, to one Crichton; so far does animal sense contribute to mental exertion. E. G. B. WILD BEASTS IN INDIA. 718 "THE lion, which was long supposed to be unknown in India, is now ascertained to exist in considerable numbers in the districts of Saharunpoor and Loodianah. Lions have likewise been killed on this side the Ganges in the northern parts of Rohilcund, in the neighbourhood of Moradabad and Rampoor, as large, it is said, as the average of those in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope. Both lions, where they are found, and tigers, are very troublesome to the people of the villages near the forest, who having no elephants, have no very effectual means of attacking them with safety. The peasantry here, however, are not a people to allow themselves to be devoured without resistance, like the Bengalees; and it often happens that, when a tiger has established himself near a village, the whole population turn out, with their matchlocks, swords, and shields, to attack him. Fighting on foot, and compelled to drive him from his covert by entering and beating the jungle, one or two generally lose their lives, but the tiger seldom escapes; and Mr. Boulderson has seen some skins of animals of this description, which bore the strongest marks of having been fought with, if the expression may be used, hand to hand; and were in fact slashed all over with cuts of the "tulwar," or short scymitar. A reward of four rupees for every tiger's head brought in, is given by government; and if the villagers of any district report that a tiger or lion is in their neighbourhood, there are seldom wanting sportsmen among the civil or military officers, who hear the news with pleasure, and make haste to rid them of the nuisance. A good shot, on an elephant, seldom fails, with perfect safety to himself, to destroy as many of these terrible animals as he falls in with." "The young Rajah mentioned, in the course of conversation, that there was a tiger in an adjoining tope, which had done a good deal of mischief, that he should have gone after it himself had he not been ill, and had he not thought that it would be a fine diversion for Mr. Boulderson and me. I told him I was no sportsman; but Mr. Boulderson's eyes sparkled at the name of tiger, and he expressed great anxiety to beat up his quarters in the afternoon. Under such circumstances, I did not like to deprive him of his sport, as he would not leave me by myself, and went, though with no intention of being more than a spectator. Mr. Boulderson, however, advised me to load my pistols for the sake of defence, lent me a very fine double-barrelled gun for the same purpose. We set out a little after three on our elephants, with a servant behind each howdah carrying a large chattah, which, however, was almost needless. The Rajah, in spite of his fever, made his appearance too, saying that he could not bear to be left behind. A number of people, on foot and horseback, attended from our own camp and the neighbouring villages, and the same sort of interest and delight was evidently excited which might be produced in England by a great coursing party. The Rajah was on a little female elephant, hardly bigger than the Durham ox, and almost as shaggy as a poodle. She was a native of the neighbouring wood, where they are generally, though not always, of a smaller size than those of Bengal and Chittagong. He sat in a low howdah, with two or three guns ranged beside him ready for action. Mr. Boulderson had also a formidable apparatus of muskets and fowlingpieces, projecting over his mohout's head. We rode about two miles across a plain covered with long jungle grass, which very much put me in mind of the country near the Cuban. Quails and wild fowl rose in great numbers, and beautiful antelopes were seen scudding away in all directions. With them our party had no quarrel; their flesh is good for little, and they are in general favourites both with native and English sportsmen, who feel disinclined to meddle with a creature so graceful and so harmless. 720 seen from time to time above it. A little further, another rose, which Mr. Boulderson said was the female; of her I had but an imperfect view. The sight of these curious animals had already, however, well repaid my coming out, and from the animation and eagerness of every body round me, the anxiety with which my companions looked for every waving of the jungle-grass, and the continued calling and shouting of the horse and foot behind us, it was impossible not to catch the contagion of interest and enterprise. "At last the elephants all drew up their trunks into the air, began to roar, and to stamp violently with their fore feet; the Ra jah's little elephant turned short round, and, in spite of all her mohout could say or do, took up her post, to the Rajah's great annoyance, close in the rear of Mr. Boulderson. The other three, (for one of my baggage elephants had come out too, the mohout, though unarmed, not caring to miss the show,) went on slowly but boldly, with their trunks raised, their ears expanded, and their sagacious little eyes bent intently forward. We are close upon him,' said Mr. Boulderson, fire where you see the long grass shake, if he rises before you.' Just at that moment my elephant stamped again violently. There, there,' cried the mohout, I saw his head!' A short roar, or rather loud growl, followed, and I saw immediately before my elephant's head the motion of some large animal stealing away "At last we came to a deeper and more through the grass. I fired as directed, and, marshy ground, which lay a little before the a moment after, seeing the motion still tope pointed out to us; and while Mr. more plainly, fired the second barrel. AnBoulderson was doubting whether we should other short growl followed, the motion was pass through it, or skirt it, some country immediately quickened, and was soon lost people came running to say that the tiger in the more distant jungle. Mr. Boulderhad been tracked there that morning. We son said, 'I should not wonder if you hit therefore went in, keeping line as if we had him that last time; at any rate we shall been beating for a hare, through grass so drive him out of the cover, and then I will high that it reached up to the howdah of my take care of him.' In fact, at that moment, elephant, though a tall one, and almost hid the crowd of horse and foot spectators at the the Rajah entirely. We had not gone far jungle side, began to run off in all direcbefore a very large animal of the deer kind, tions. We went on to the place, but found sprung up just before me, larger than a it was a false alarm, and, in fact, we had stag, of a dusky brown colour, with spread- seen all we were to see of him, and went ing, but not palmated horns. Mr. Boul- twice more through the jungle in vain. A derson said it was a 'mohr,' a species of large extent of high grass stretched out in elk; that this was a young one, but that one direction, and this we had now not they sometimes grew to an immense size, so sufficient day-light to explore. In fact, that that he had stood upright between the tips the animal so near me was a tiger at all, I of their horns. He could have shot it, but have no evidence but its growl, Mr. Bouldid not like to fire at present, and said it derson's belief, the assertion of the mohout, was, after all, a pity to meddle with such and what is perhaps more valuable than all harmless animals. The mohr accordingly the rest, the alarm expressed by the eleran off unmolested, rising with splendid phants. I could not help feeling some bounds up to the very top of the high jun-apprehension that my firing had robbed Mr. gle, so that his whole body and limbs were Boulderson of his shot, but he assured me that I was quite in rule; that in such sport no courtesies could be observed, and that the animal in fact rose before me, but that he should himself have fired without scruple, if he had seen the rustle of the grass in time. Thus ended my first, and probably my last essay in the 'field sports' of India, in which I am much mistaken, notwithstanding what Mr. Boulderson said, if I harmed any living creature. "I asked Mr. Boulderson, on our return, whether tiger hunting was generally of this kind, which I could not help comparing to that chase of bubbles which enables us in England to pursue an otter. In a jungle, he answered, it must always be pretty much the same, inasmuch as, except under very peculiar circumstances, or when a tiger felt himself severely wounded, and was roused to revenge by despair, his aim was to remain concealed, and to make off as quietly as possible. It was after he had broken cover, or when he found himself in a situation so as to be fairly at bay, that the serious part of the sport began, in which case he attacked his enemies boldly, and always died fighting. He added, that the lion, though not so large or swift an animal as the tiger, was generally stronger and more courageous. Those which have been killed in India, instead of running away when pursued through a jungle, seldom seem to think its cover necessary at all. When they see their enemies approaching, they spring out to meet them, open-mouthed, in the plain, like the boldest of all animals, a mastiff dog. They are thus generally shot with very little trouble, but if they are missed or only slightly wounded, they are truly formidable enemies. Though not swift, they leap with vast strength and violence, and their large heads, immense paws, and the great weight of their body forwards, often enable them to spring on the head of the largest elephants, and fairly pull them down to the ground, riders and all. When a tiger springs on an elephant, the latter is generally able to shake him off under his feet, and then woe be to him! The elephant either kneels on him and crushes him at once, or gives him a kick which breaks half his ribs, and sends him flying perhaps twenty paces. The elephants, however, are often dreadfully torn, and a large old tiger sometimes clings too fast to be thus dealt with. In this case it often happens that the elephant himself falls, from pain or from the hope of rolling on his enemy, and the people on his back are in very considerable danger both from friends and foes, for Mr. Boulderson said the scratch of a tiger was sometimes venomous, as that of a cat is said 140.-VOL. XII. 722 to be. But this did not often happen, and in general persons wounded by his teeth or claws, if not killed outright, recovered easily enough.”—Bishop Heber's Journal, Vol. II. p. 149-150, and 166-171. REASON NEGLECTED. reason DR. WATTS has observed, that 66 is the glory of human nature, and one of the chief eminences whereby we are raised above our fellow-creatures, the brutes, in this lower world." "For my part," said Lady Wilmot, "I don't pretend to be better than my neighbours." "And they are bad enough," grumbled Sir Andrew, "in all conscience." "It signifies nothing, Sir Andrew. Opinions are but opinions, and after all we may be wrong; but if we take the maxims of the world for our guide, we cannot often err." "Nothing surer, my lady. So the Catholic supposes-pretends to be too humble to think for himself, and resolves all into the church says this, and the church says that.' Reason was given us for use." Lady Wilmot was silenced, not convinced. It would seem strange, were it not for the incontrovertible fact, that out of ten individuals, scarcely more than one takes the trouble to reason or to think for himself. Man boasts of his superiority over the brutes, talks largely of the wonderful inventions, emanations of genius, and displays of learning, that exhibit this superiority; and after all, he frequently differs but little from the rest of the animal creation. "Reason," continued Sir Andrew with violent emphasis, "is the god-like attribute of man; but in the present age it is debased, degraded.” "You certainly have, Sir Andrew, the most visionary and unfashionable notions. Is not one of the characteristic features of the times, the march of intellect?' Sir Andrew laughed. "Ay; ay; it has been marching a long time, and, to say the truth, I think it has stolen a march at last, an dhas now marched off." "You may ridicule me; but turn your eyes impartially to the wonderful discoveries that have been made in the last century. Look at the perfection of machinery." "Very good as far as it goes, but no farther. Utility should be the grand end of all inventions-even virtue ceases to be virtue when it is not founded in utility. There's your steam-carriages and balloons, there's your iron-boots to walk across rivers, and 2 z |