66 Suddenly I awoke, and perceived a gentleman seated by my bed side, whom I knew by his dress to be a clergyman. He was short, of a florid complexion, and blue eyes. I asked him who he was and what he wanted, not doubting he was from the other world, because the doors were locked. He replied by asking me a question, which I well knew the uncle of my friend had made use of to satisfy the doubts of a lady: she had afterwards been found murdered. I immediately pronounced his name, and asked him what he wanted, and why he woke me, when his own niece, who stood in need of consolation as much as myself, was in the same room (she was fast asleep). I wished to wake her, but he forbade me, saying, he was sent to solve my doubts, which, in a very long conversation he did, so entirely that I approached the sacraments." Being exhausted with ill-treatment, and very ill, I was one night reflecting on the sufferings I was likely to endure the next day, when an interior voice informed me that the next day I had nothing to fear, for the power of my persecutors was gone. I believed the voice, and so it proved; for neither the next day, nor ever after, did they attempt to annoy me." "One of those who were accessary to the strange event, of my bed seeming surrounded by devils dancing and rejoicing, died, in a most dreadful manner, soon after, and while on his death-bed, asked several times, whether the devils would really dance round him and play? which, when I heard, I could not think otherwise than alluding to that night." "On entering my room one day, about eleven o'clock, I was startled by a very surprising vision. One side of the room represented a landscape: a lady in white, with a blue sash, and her hair in ringlets, was about the middle, while a tall young man, pretending to be our blessed Saviour, stood on an elevation, who addressed me scornfully, saying, 'that as I had greatly offended the Almighty I should the next day be seized with a dangerous illness from which I should not recover.' He informed me that he was our Divine Redeemer, and the lady the Blessed Virgin. I told him it was false, that our blessed Saviour did not treat his creatures with scorn, nor did the lady resemble anything that I had ever understood of the blessed Virgin. I bade them (as was my usual custom when provoked by any supernatural appearance, noise, &c.), to depart and leave me in peace. All disappeared, but terror and anxiety seized me; my spirits, long harassed, gave way, and I threw my arms on the window, and laid my head on them. Fear and anger made me tremble. "That soft interior voice, to which I was accustomed, however, recalled me, and said, 'Fear not: your illness, which it is true, will commence at this hour to-morrow, will come from God, who is a tender Father; kneel down and resign yourself into His hands, for life or death, sickness or health, and do not trouble yourself by reflecting whether it is in punishment of your sins, or merely for your sanctification; let it suffice you that God sends it.' "Having obeyed my heavenly monitor, I arose tranquil it then bade me quit my room, and seek to forget what had passed in active employment. "I never felt better than during that day, nor in better spirits; and I had actually forgotten what had occurred the day before, when, on entering my room at the hour, I was seized with illness. I hastily quitted the room to seek for assistance, and meeting some one, I begged them to help me to the room of the friend whom I was seeking, but had scarcely spoken, when I fainted, and was laid in my bed in a state of insensibility. 66 During my severe illness, which lasted some months, I frequently felt the presence of my angelic comforter, who desired me to be very attentive to the orders of my physician, but never to trouble myself about my recovery. "As during the whole time I was in imminent danger, great care was taken (according to the physician's orders) to keep my room very quiet; and for fear of being disturbed from meditation, I never opened my eyes. No hopes were entertained of my recovery, particularly as when asked if I would take such a mediciue, or if I would submit to such or such a remedy, I always answered, 'Yes, whatever you please.' "When the danger was over, I lost the sensible presence of my heavenly friend, to my great regret. I had never mentioned what had happened, as he forbade me to speak of it during my illness." "One night I returned at an early hour, and being in my bed, was surprised, after some space of time, to find myself annoyed by what appeared a sound of rejoicing, which I could only compare to cracked instruments, and a company of devils, which seemed to surround the bed dancing. At first looking upon it as the effects of imagination, I did not move; yet why so excited I could not tell. I had had nothing during the day particularly to trouble me. I retired early merely from being tired with the heat; but I soon found that my determined enemies were very busy, and even flattered themselves with some decisive victory. Prayer being my only refuge, therefore, I arose and descended to the chapel, but was irresistibly compelled to seek (after praying for some time) for some one to whom to speak. The state of surprise at my appearance, and the reception I met with, convinced me that not in vain had I been summoned to prayer. I insisted on seeing a priest; this was denied. I declared my firm purpose of not returning to bed till I had seen the gentleman I designated. After much resistance, a young person was sent, who soon returned, saying he was out. I then, in defiance of every one, quitted the house, and went for him myself; he was out, but I left a message for him; and to the great consternation of the guilty party, he came, and desired every one to leave the room. After he had patiently heard me, he quieted my fears, and bade me sleep in peace, which I obeyed, leaving all in great perplexity. "The next day the vile miscreant (who was a priest most unworthy of the sacred character), dared to threaten the venerable old man for assisting me, and even raised his hand against him. "This unfortunate wretch finding me resolute in resisting him, pursued me with his hate; and when my purpose of quitting was known, I was annoyed by mysterious voices, whisperings, threatenings, printed papers, and bats, and other creatures usually employed in witchcraft. Once, he being in the house, the cat assumed a most singular appearance, crawling on its hind legs, and approaching my mouth; I spat at it, and it became (after looking at me in a strange way) like itself." "I believe that in convents a great many effects are produced by means of the confessor, and other persons being introduced secretly, and there practising those arts which a knowledge of chemistry, natural philosophy, &c., enable them to perform, and which are unknown to the more ignorant. The state of subjection in which a novice is kept, and the exclusion of the studies which naturally enlarge the mind, and the books supplied which tend to depress the spirits, give also an influence to those on whom the unfortunate novice depends. To a fearful novice, little is necessary to subject her entirely to the power of her enemies. "In a convent in which I was novice, it was the custom to read, during meals, some very frightful books, usually tending to prove that every one out of that house, or, at least, any one quitting that house, was exposed to inevitable destruction; and even those, who in the least infringed its rules, could hardly be saved. "Books of the most horrible kind were put into the hands of the young, while the usual conversation (when it was not of the confessor, or of other young men, of which there were no inconsiderable number who visited the convent) was usually of hell, damnation, and purgatory, with the terrors of Divine justice. This, with poor diet, was frequently effectual in depressing the minds of young people, who were thereby terrified into a belief that the only way to save themselves from perdition, was to embrace this order. One, while I was there, though not gifted with much sense (indeed she was so weak, as to come under the denomination of those whom the canon law excludes, as well as their own particular rules), left of her own accord. We were all, in consequence, admonished of her dreadful case (the girl had money), and begged not to follow so awful an example, as she was declared utterly lost. Another wished to leave, but by dint of entreaties and expostulations, she was prevailed on to stay, and she made her vows.' So terminate this lady's extraordinary anecdotes. CORNELIUS AGRIPPA REDIVIVUS. 600 LINES BY JOHN ANSTER, LL.D. GLENGARIFFE. SCENE after scene, like clouds by loose winds blown, Faint voices murmur back, with lingering tone, ESK's eagle heights, GLENA, GLENGARIFFE lone. THE ANNUALS. FORGET ME Nor; a Christmas, New Year's and Birth-day Present for 1840. FRIENDSHIP'S OFFERING and WINTER'S WREATH-A Christmas and New This is the first of the Annuals that has reached us this year-and in giving our good word for its literary contents, it is desirable that we should bestow our unqualified praise upon the illustrations. These are engraved by Messrs. Bull, Cook, Higham, Jeavons, Periam, Simmons and Smith, from subjects by F. Stone, H. Corbould, H. W. Warren, D. Roberts, F. Corbaux, H. Andrews, Lady Burghersh, W. Satter, D. Roberts, and F. Hervé. The literature of Friendship's Offering, has always been of a superior character, and is this year of great merit. THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. London: Charles Tilt, Fleet-street, 1840. This very beautiful volume contains a series of capital tales, legends and historical romances, by Thomas Bacon, Esq. F.S.A., illustrated with some very excellent engravings by the two Findens, from Sketches by Mr. Bacon and Captain Meadows Taylor. We much regret that we are so pressed for space this month, as to be incapable of affording room for extracts from this in all respects very laudable work. ⚫ Written on reading a beautiful descriptive poem. FINDEN'S TABLEAUX: the Iris of Prose, Poetry, and Art, for 1840, illustrated with engravings by W. and E. Finden, from paintings by J. Browne; edited by Mary Russel Mitford, author of "Our Village," &c. London: Charles Tilt, Fleet-street. This is a magnificent book in size, in pictorial decoration, and in poetic beauty. Poetic beauty! are there not here verses by Miss Barrett, whom religion has made poetical, whom poetry has made religious? Mr. Chorley's lines too are instinct with the right spirit-and as to Barry Cornwall, he is a master in the school of song; nor is the name of Horne unknown. This book is a delight such as is calculated to make the possessor proud. Miss Mitfords own contrihntions are admirable. REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS. A MANUAL for the COLLEGE of SURGEONS in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, by J. STEGGALL, M. D., and M. W. HILLES. London: Churchhill. Among the subjects of reform of the present day, the learned professions have engaged their full share of public attention. In none perhaps has greater improvement taken place than in the education of the medical student. In addition to a strict enquiry as to his attendance at the required number and class of lectures the final trial of his abilities and attainments at the period of examination is much more severe than it was even a short time back. We can very well enter into the feelings of the candidate when about to go up for judgment, and can even sympathise with him in imagination in all the horrors of the funking-room, and the pleasures of having passed. But now the youthful aspirant must not trust to good fortune: he must rely altogether upon his previous industry and the skill of his teachers. He must work hard, and avail himself of every assistance offered by those who undertake to make his path to knowledge smooth and commodious. The Manual above mentioned must therefore be a great treasure to the student, when the awful time approaches. Dr. Steggall's name is too well known to require any.comment from us on the skill he displays in works of this nature. We may only observe, that this is by far the most complete volume we have seen as a guide for students, embracing in a succinct and well arranged form the most important points of Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery. Indeed, the only fear is that it may be too bulky; but it is thus rendered more fit for the country practitioner, who can carefully peruse its pages, and thus refresh his memory with those essentials of his profession, with which he was familiar in the days of his youth. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THOMAS PLATTER, a Schoolmaster of the Sixteenth Century. Translated from the German by the translator of Lavater's Original Maxims. London: B. Wertheim, 1839. We have derived very great gratification from the perusal of this little work. It is a brief record of the life of a man who may truly be pronounced extraordinary, and probably quite unknown to modern readers. It is a sketch of one in the lowly class of the Sixteenth Century,-a little mosaic in which the most engaging effect is produced by the ensemble of its unpretending materials, and the sweet, simple, and natural, but expressive touches of the artist. The subject is most winning, and the handling most effective. It is a piece of true nature portrayed in the most natural manner; and, after the hot, stimulating, gin-palace compounds of the present day, which, as mere gustatores, we are obliged in our vocation to taste, is as wholesome and delicious to the palate as a draught of pure water from " Choaspes or Hydaspes, sacred streams" to the parched sense of a Persian Satrap. It is the autobiography of one born in the humblest rank; first a goatherd in Switzerland, who ulti4 1 N. S.-VOL. II. |