Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Rug. A timothy at the Club to-night.

Scug. Done then-so tell me how you manage.

Rug.-I'll shew you that—there are three lodgers in the house besides myself, and we just order the landlady to take in The Day, and charge each of us with his proportion in our weekly bill, so the reading only stands me one farthing per day. What do you think of that, Mr. Scug?

Scug. Why I think you are an extravagant fool to throw away your money in such a manner. I thought you were a more knowing hand at a bargain than that Mr. Rug.

Rug.-(piqued) Well, how the devil do you manage then. Scug. I'll tell you that I have three lounging shops in town I go to them.alternately, and ask a sight of The Day, and, after reading it over, I either sneak away, or if I see the bookseller looking queer, I lay it down with a pshaw! trash, and observe, that as soon as it shews a little more talent I will put down my name, but it has not yet as the Editor says, "come up to my standard." So you see, Mr. Rug, The Day does not cost me one farthing.

Rug. Well, Mr. Scug, that's one way of doing it.

Scug. And a very good way too, Mr. Rug. I read the other papers on the same terms.

Rug. The devil you do! You must surely take something from the booksellers occasionally when you are so favoured. Scug. O yes, I take a wafer from them now and then. Rug.-A wafer! They cannot charge you for that.

Scug. I know it, and that's my very reason for asking it. Rug. Well, Scug, your booksellers must be a very obliging set of folks indeed, when they allow people to lounge about their shops, read their new publications, and borrow their wafers without receiving a farthing's worth of benefit, in the way of their business. Scug. So long as they don't complain, why should I trouble my head about it.

Rug.-Well, Scug, if they don't give you a broad hint now and then, I must say, that I am at a loss to know whether there is more of the simpleton than the gentleman in the composition of your booksellers: as for you, you seem equally removed from either.

Scug. You are severe, Mr. Rug; but you'll acknowledge you have lost the bet.

Rug. I'm not sure about that Mr. Scug. I rather think your system of reading is dearer to you than you are aware of and before I pay I shall submit it to the Club.

Scug. Well, I've no objections to a reference.

[Last night the question was laid before a full meeting in the COAL HOLE, and it was unanimously decided that Scug had lost.]

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

THE OPERA Box, containing sketches in Prose and Verse, of the most celebrated characters who have performed on the stage of the Italian Opera, embellished with full-length portraits, will'speedily be published.

"LEAVES OF LAUREL," being a selection from Mr. Bayley's Lyrical Poems, with a few originals, illustrated with steel engravings, is in the press.

MISCELLANEA.

REVOLUTIONS.Good men are never concerned in revolutions, because they will not go the lengths. Sunderland caused the revolution of 1688, while Devonshire stood aloof-the latter was the angel, the former the storm. Bad men, and poisonous plants, are sometimes of superlative use in skilful hands.

FONTENELLE.-Fontenelle, in his old age, was very deaf, and was always attended in company by a nephew, a talkative, vain young man. When anything remarkable had escaped Fontenelle's auditory nerve, he used to apply to his nephew, "What was said?” This coxcomb would often answer, " Uncle, I said " Bah! was the constant retort of the philosopher.

Gray This

AUTHORS IN FLOWER.-Mr. Walpole remarks that, at a certain time of their lives, men of genius seemed to be in flower. was in flower three years, when he wrote his odes, &e. starting the idea of the American aloe, some kinds of which are said to flower only once in a century, he observed, laughing, that had Gray lived a hundred years longer, perhaps he would have been in flower again. Sir Charles Hanbury Williams bore only one blossom; he was in flower only for one ode.

112 Acute

and

IMPOSITIONS. sensible people are often the most easily deceived. A deceit, of which it may be said, "it is impossible for any one to dare it" always succeeds.

COALS TO NEWCASTLE.The chief apprehension of the Duke of Newcastle, (the minister), was that of catching cold. Often in the heat of summer the debates, in the House of Lords, would stand still, till some window was shut, in consequence of the Duke's orders. The Peers would all be melting in sweat, that the Duke might not catch cold. When Sir Joseph Yorke was ambassador at the Hague, a curious instance happened of this idle apprehension. The late King going to Hanover, the Duke must go with him, that his foes might not injure him in his absence. The day they were to pass the sea, a messenger came, at five o'clock in the morning, and drew Sir Joseph's bed curtains. Sir Joseph starting, asked what was the matter. The man said he came from the Duke of Newcastle. "For God's sake,” exclaimed Sir Joseph, "what is it? is the King ill?" No. After several fruitless questions, the messenger at length said, "the Duke sent me to see you in bed, for in this bed he means to sleep." Two MINISTERS.-Mr. Pitt's plan, when he had the gout, was to have no fire in his room, but to load himself with bed-clothes. At his house at Hayes he sleeped in a long room; at one end of which was his bed, and his lady's at the other. His way was, when he thought the Duke of Newcastle had fallen into any mistake, to send for him, and read him a lecture. The Duke was sent for once, and came, when Mr. Pitt was confined to bed by the gout. There was, as usual no fire in the room; the day was very chilly, and the Duke, as usual, afraid of catching cold. The Duke first sat down on Mrs. Pitt's bed, as the warmest place; then drew up his legs into it, as he got colder. The lecture unluckily continuing a considerable time, the Duke at length fairly lodged himself under Mrs. Pitt's bed-clothes. A person, from whom I had the story, suddenly going in, saw the two ministers in bed, at the two ends of the room, while Pitt's long nose, and black beard unshaved for 'some days, added to the grotesque of the scene. Walpole.

QUIN.-Quin sometimes said things at once witty and wise. Disputing concerning the execution of Charles I. "But by what Jaws," said his opponent, "was he put to death?" Quin replied, "By all the laws he had left them."

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"W. L." of Greenock will find a place as soon as we have

room.

"L.'s" paper on the Power of Religion shall be submitted to the sombre Signor who caters for our Saturday's Number.

"Maria S's" Stanzas have been received, along with as many others as would fill an octavo volume. Really our poetical friends put themselves and us to much unnecessary trouble. We must say, once for all, that we can never consent to open our Poet's Corner to mere rhymsters.

"A. B.'s" Communication will be taken into immediate consideration.

"M. S. C.'" Lines "On a Dead Child" would, we fear, if put in type, fall still-born from the press.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

THE DAY,

A MORNING JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, FASHION, &c.

CARPE DIEM.

GLASGOW, TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1832.

THE SPIRIT OF CHANGE.

WE remember to have read, no matter how many years ago, a book called Roderick Random; and we also remember to have been much struck with the account which the facetious author of the said book gave of the devotion of the French people to every thing which was national. It signified not what the thing was a periwig or a king-a soup or a marshal -a pair of boots or a duke-a pinch of snuff or a beautiful woman—were alike interesting in the eyes of a good Frenchman of those days; for it was his delight to glory in all that belonged to la grande Nation. We were much struck, we say, with all this; for, to tell the truth, in the simplicity of boyhood, we did not understand it. We were not aware that this giddy people had but one common feeling upon every thing which belonged to themselves, and we were too ignorant of history to know that this, otherwise very pardonable and praise-worthy propensity, might be, and had been, abused by them. By-and-bye, however, the spirit of change came upon them, and, with the characteristic impetuosity of the Gallic temper, it produced, not a reform, as that word is commonly used, but a total and radical revolution. The philosophy of Sans Souci, and of Ferney, might have had their shares in this great change; but it cannot be doubted that an oppressed peasantry, a despotic throne, a monopolizing aristocracy aud priesthood, and an ignorant and bigotted people, were the true elements out of which the mighty conflagration was fed. The history of England was open to them, and so was that of Rome; but, in the wantonness of absolute power, and with the tyranny of vulgar minds, they spurned both. They desired a Republic on American principles, and they obtained-what? The grinding autocracy of Napoleon-thirteen years of the conscription-military renown-Lodi-Marengo-Leipsic Moscow-ruined commerce-colonial loss-naval decrepitude-Waterloo, and the Bourbons! What they have done since is not properly before us; but we may be permitted, we hope, (for we are old-fashioned sort of folks,) to say, that, in the time of the Israelites, the conduct of this unaccountable people would have been held to be a warning unto all the nations. We are aware that it is most unfashionable to speak of the Jews in these times, or of anything that belongs to them, except the dark eyes and beautiful hair of their women; but, as we said, we are antiquated in our tastes, and we cannot help thinking, that these same Israelites were in the right on points of this kind. The French have been blundering on for more than half a century, often to the terror, and not unfrequently to the amusement of all Europe, and, after all, what have they made of it? When the poor Jews worshipped a golden calf, they were only a little more genteel than their neighbours, who, it will be remembered, worshipped stocks and stones; but these modern changelings (dare we so use the word?) have alternately bowed the knee to Baal-to Nobody-to Reason-to the Pope-to the Emperor to the Devil-to Talleyrand--to the King of France to the People-to the King of the French -and they are now worshipping the moon. yet these are the people whom we would imitate ! Will any man have the goodness to tell us what

And

[merged small][ocr errors]

Gentle reader! you have heard of Rome-of the Romans of their Empire-their Legions-their Power of Sylla-Marius-Cæsar-Pompey-Augustus, and even of Tiberius, who was a consum mate scoundrel, but a clever man, and a profound politician; now, we, the erudite and philanthropic conductors of "The Day," (we despise Phaeton, who was a bungler, and came bump against the sun, the jackass,) beg of you to understand, that this wise people disliked change, more especially in two things, namely, in religion, and in state government. It is quite a clear case, that they were originally robbers and outcasts, and that, in order to give themselves any decent standing in society, they were forced to claim a connexion with the Gods, though, after all, it was but a bastard one: still, their own opinion of their own superiority led to great things. They beat the world, the Parthians excepted, and their free government lasted longer than any similar government of the ancient world. ancient world. What was the cause of this?

In the first place, like the French of Louis the Fourteenth's time, they despised all the world beside, which was as dross to them. Their laws were cruel, domestically considered, and only moderately just, politically considered; yet they were better than those of many other nations. Their religion, pi issime loquatur, was nonsense, still they respected it. Their prejudices, regarding themselves and their own superiority, were, as all prejudices are, very absurd, yet they tended to good; and, as they were not oppressed by any scruples of conscience touching nice points, they never quarrelled with their neighbours on theology. This they carefully avoided, and the consequence was, that they waxed great, and became the masters of the world. The philosophy of the whole matter, however, lies in this, that they possessed, in the highest possible state of perfection, the secret of National Concord. Whatever disputes they might have amongst themselves, they never allowed these to interfere with their external interests. They knew well, that to be formidable, they must be united, and, acting on the principle that Rome was the Imperial City, wherein was kept the balance of justice, and that the world was made for the Roman people, not the Roman people for the world, they succeeded, in the course of a few centuries, in converting the arrogant fictions with which they commenced their career, into positive realities. When they conquered, their principle was to incorporate, not to destroy. The Gods of the vanquished were allotted places in the national calendar, and though, to the eyes of profane posterity, no resemblance can be traced between the deities of Rome and those of other nations, neighbouring or remote, except such as may proceed from the equivocal principle of lucus a non lucendo, the arrangement pleased all parties, and, we have no reason to doubt, was productive of advantage. In the same way their system

of colonization was one of accommodation. If they abolished the liberties of a nation, they haughtily offered the freedom of Rome and the privileges of Roman citizenship, in exchange; and, strange though it ́may appear to us, who have been educated in principles so unlike theirs, this insolent mode of doing justice was often attended with real advantage to the parties to whom it was extended. If a weak Prince happened to be an ally, or dependent of the Roman people, these bold Republicans made common cause with him, and, by the terror of their name, and the force of their arms, prevented aggression on the part of a powerful or ambitious neighbour. It was thus, that, while their own city was rent by factions, turbulent and truculent, they kept the rest of the world chained at their feet, until their vast empire had no other limits than such as the boundaries of the known world afforded. We do not mean to offer any commentary, on the system of international law as it was understood by the Romans, but we desire, particularly, to impress on the minds of such of our readers as may happen to be smitten with the spirit of change, that the career of victory which characterised their history, only lasted so long as the people were united in support of their ancient and original institutions. When these came to be despised, or when attempts were made to improve upon them, the ponderous and unwieldy structure fell to the ground, a magnificent ruin, but still only a ruin. We learn from an historian, remarkable for his power as a writer, and his profligacy as a man, and who spent one half of his long life in Republican, and the other in Imperial Rome, that, before the eruption of the formidable conspiracy which threatened the destruction of the city, the manners and habits of the citizens had undergone a great and decisive change. Money, the reward of conquests and of robbery, had engendered luxury and avarice-the temples were neglected, and cruelty and pride substituted for probity and good behaviour. Ambition introduced double-dealing and falsehood, and reduced the system of life to a condition closely resembling our own at present; for friendships and enmities were entertained, not upon the principle of reciprocal esteem, or honest dislike, (for there is such a thing) but upon the principle of convenience, and political expediency-non ex re, sed ex commodo, as he expresses it. In a city so depraved, this historian concludes, that an association of villains might easily accomplish their ends; and they very nearly did so. What we have to contemplate in the narrative, however, is this, that the same circumstances may always, in the progress of events, lead to the same consequences. Let the moral elements of social life be disturbed by any series of causes, real or imaginary, and the dissolution of society will speedily follow. A wise man would not choose to trifle with the prejudices even of a people, much less would he hold them up to scorn and derision. Cicero and Cæsar had their own opinions, as to the belief of their countrymen; but they did not seek to give unnecessary offence, by openly declaring their sentiments. Had they done so, no good could have followed, but much mischief might have ensued, and this they knew. Whatever their impressions might have been of the institutions of other nations, they never forgot that their own glory was bound up in that of their own country; and that, when they addressed an audience, that audience was Roman in feeling, thought and action. Not so, however, a modern orator. It is his principle to forget, who and what the parties are, whom he addresses to adopt some favourite word-liberality, for example-and to ring on it a thousand changes→→→→ to assume an air of superior wisdom-and to laugh at every thing venerable, as antiquated and irrational -to preach cosmopolitism, and to swagger before a vulgar rabble, as a citizen of the world. But what is this liberality, which can lead to such consequences? It was a maxim of the ancient philosophers, that ex ni

A

hilita, nihil fit, but, with humility be it spoken, ex malo, nihil bonum, would have been better. That which leads to absurd consequences, can never be true. man who professes to have a deeper interest in the affairs of another, than in his own, may justly be suspected of false pretensions; and he who proclaims his preference of the habits and institutions of all other nations to his own must be in one of two predicaments-either he can have little to lose by change, which is most commonly the case-or he is the dupe of his own vanity. One of the most irrepressible instincts of man is, to love the land of his birth, with a sort of idolatrous love; and, of all the weaknesses which attach to him, this, if it can be so called, is the most amiable: but, if any faith can be placed in the dogmas of liberalism, it is a contemptible prejudice, which should be bunted down wherever it is met with. We think differently, and in a future Number, we shall endeavour to prove that it lies at the bottom, not only of brotherhood, but of good government.

CELEBS NOT IN SEARCH OF A WIFE.

We have received the following letter, and, as it contains charges which require the grave consideration of Mothers and Daughters," we give it without the slightest alteration. We are confident, however, that, though the amiable and accomplished portion of society, for whose fair eye it appears to have been written, may have failed in matching the fastidious and all-captivating Mr. Celebs with a wife, they will have no difficulty in matching him with an answer. We may also mention, that no reply to the following will be inserted unless written by a female hand, and, in order to give every opportunity to our fair friends, their communications will be submitted to a full meeting of the "Council of Ten," who will exercise their acumen in selecting the most meritorious and suitable production. For our own part, we are quite shocked at the insolent insinuations thrown out. What would we not give for the dear and tender advances which he affects to undervalue. We have, really, no patience with such people. Communications will be received on the subject till Tuesday next, on which night the Council will decide.

To the Editor of THE DAY.

SIR, AS I understand your paper, like that of your great progenitors, the Spectator, Lounger, &c. to be for the correction of private as well as public abuses, I have thought of stating my case to you, in the hope of exciting some sympathy towards me, and also, of giving a hint, through the medium of your paper, to those respecting whom, as you shall see, I have some just reason to complain.

I am a middle-aged man, of sober and retired habits, and with a moderately sufficient competency to subsist upon, but have not yet made up my mind to marry, and this, in the eye of certain persons in the world, constitutes my only fault. I see very little company either at home or abroad, but when I do indulge in having a few friends at my fireside, they are of my own disposition, and of course Bachelors. One cannot however live always in the world without visiting, and, being sometimes invited to a comfortable party, but, what to the generality of people is a circumstance of joy and interest, is to me turned into gall and wormwood from an almost unheard-of species of annoyance, which my friends infallibly fix upon me, namely, that of continually tormenting and pestering me, about why and how I do not get married. They seem to have taken it into their heads, that a man can have no enjoyment out of that state; that he can neither be clothed, fed, warmed, nor comforted, without a wife, and, proceeding upon this hypothesis, they batter away at an inoffensive individual. I can partly excuse this system of drilling one into matrimony, from that intrinsic goodness and benevolence, that "humanity to man," which dwells and reigns in the female heart; but, so far as regards myself, I should like to see it exhibited a little less ostentatiously; and, partly may it be justified from the anxiety of the dear, young creatures themselves, never to get into the list of old maids. I, however, can find no palliation for what, at the same time, I have often observed that intense interest, taken by mo

thers, in forcing their daughters on the attention of the public. Without doubt, markets have to be made for the tender objects of their care, and, mothers themselves having gone the round of a courtship, and, with some little experience of the world, know better how to give advice, and direct the tactics of manœuvre; but, obstinate as I am, I retain as much sense of delicacy about me as to perceive some bad taste in this conduct, and think little of the smile of the fair one attempting to draw me into the meshes of a courtship, when prompted by the mother. On this head, my advice, therefore, is-mothers, leave these affairs to your daughters; they will manage, though with less artifice, yet, with greater power on the heart. I am, however, rambling from the main object of my epistle, which was, to detail to you a few of the hardships of my situation; and, to give you one or two instances, you would be astonished at the inquisitiveness of some old ladies, how I can contrive to keep house at all without a wife. They will then, with the greatest coolness, lay out the advantages of having one, and wind up a well concocted harangue with such interrogations as "Does not the servant crack the china? smash the crystal?" &c. &c. ; yea, even, in the exercise of their impertinent, though, I daresay, sometimes well-meaning curiosity, they do not hesitate to throw out inuendos as to the moral integrity and honesty of the poor servant girl, who has no capital to trade upon but her good character, and thus my attentive girl must frequently come off with no great palm of reputation, just because it is her misfortune to be serving with a bachelor; but, I would ask, why should any part of the odium rest upon her, though, it seems, she must share in it with her master, who is pryed into, and interrogated out of his wits, because he has no wife; and a better reason I cannot assign for their misplaced interest in my affairs, than that I do not choose to select a rib from among their daughters-it may be, to crack and smash as much as the servant, and, to boot, waste, in one new gown, by following the current of a ridiculous fashion, as much as she would do in a twelvemonth. There is, however, no reasoning with these sexagenarians but upon the principles of their own logic, which is to apply the sovereign remedy. For Miss Letitia I do entertain the most profound esteem, but not with any love nearer than that which philosophers call the Platonic. Judge, then, Mr. Editor, if, at our interviews in presence of a few friends, she has a liberty to construe any delicate attention, which usual politeness demands from me, into the symptoms of a love passion. On that tender point she is perpetually hitting me; and in some of her thieveless errands to my quiet domicile, just to perplex me, and shew me what a nice intelligent help-mate she would make, she criticises my pictures, informs me where to get my linens well dressed-instructs me in the mode of preparing my jellies, and a thousand other little things which I can ascribe only to her fondness to be employed by me. As I happen to have a good musical instrument in the house, she vexes my life out to have a party, and, when I plead my inability to have such matters arranged in a style of becoming etiquette, for an assemblage of young ladies, she replies in language of the most artless persuasion, "Oh! she will come and manage it," so that it requires all the ingenuity I am possessed of, to escape respectably from the horns of a dilemma. To recount to you, Mr. Editor, the various ways I am attacked, and infested, whether more openly or more covertly by male and by female, at home and abroad, besides narrating how I am beset by a very amiable young widow, would tire out your own, and your readers' patience. In one word, I am teased, agitated, nay, even persecuted, and am now of opinion that some conspiracy has been entered into against me, that I shall not be allowed to remain tranquil out of matrimony, so that, if in due time after the printing of this letter, I do not find some abatement, I suppose I shall be compelled to marry, just to please the public; for, though I flatter myself I have a good sweet temper, I find it has, involuntarily, become more irritable, and you know "that much dropping wears away the rock." The situation in which I am placed, is, if possible, even more intolerable since the commencement of this year, and I can only explain the augmented courage and railleries of the ladies, from its being what is called " Leap Year," during which, I am told, they are licensed to change sides, and to make, on their own part, the advances usually expected to come from the nobler sex; but, whatever be its style in the catalogue of years, I am determined to be as obliging and courteous to all my friends and admirers as formerly, only

[blocks in formation]

'Tis said she long had loved the youth-
And loved him passing well;
Till all at once her love grew cold,

But why-no one could tell.

At first he whined-then raved and blamed
The fair one's fickle fancies;
For Miss's heart was led astray

By reading of romances.

She dreamed of lords, of knights, and 'squires,
And men of high degree;

But lords were scarce, and knights were shy-
So ne'er a joe had she.
Alarmed, at last, to see old age

Was like to overtake her,
She wrote a loving valentine

Unto the Candle-maker.

"She hoped," she said, "for her disdain
He did not mean to slight her;
As she but meant to snuff his flame,

To make it burn the brighter.
You know Love's taper must be trimmed,
To keep it brightly blazing;
And how can that be better done,
Than by a little teazing?"

He owned "her arguments were good,
And weighty as a feather;
But, while in snuffing, she had snuffed
The flame out altogether;
And what was worse-'twas very plain,
Her charms were sadly blighted;
And there was little hope that now
Love's taper could be lighted."

With grief this billet-dour she read,

And, while her heart was bleeding,
Took three-and-nine pence from the till,
And paid her quarter's reading,
The stings of humbled female pride,
Embittered every feeling;
And, next day, poor Miss Rose was found
Suspended from the ceiling.

Now, ladies all, of every grade,

I hope you'll here take warning;
And when you meet with lovers true,
Please show some more discerning.
You're not aware how much by scorn,
The flame of true love suffers;
Yet, should you think it fit to snuff,
Be gentle with the snuffers.

GLASGOW GOSSIP.

NOTHING is now talked of except the Cholera-it is, in fact, the Gossip of "THE DAY." We are happy to find that every thing is doing by the authorities that can possibly be thought of to meet the exigencies of the moment. A carriage, upon the most approved plan, has been presented by Convener M'Lellan to the Board of Health, for transporting patients to the hospitals. Baths have been prepared, and the cleansing of houses is in full operation. As a means of aiding the Board of Health in the dissemination of useful hints relative to the prevention and cure of the frightful malady, now at our door, we purpose presenting our readers, in an early Number, with a plain, short, and succinct set of directions, drawn up by a medical gentleman, applicable to the present emergency.

The splendid Return Ball, which was to take place in the course of February, it is said, is to be converted into a Grand Charity Assembly for the benefit of the poor and destitute.

CONUNDRUM.-Why is Jamaica-Street Bridge a Classical Relic? Ans. Because it is the foundation of belles-lettres—( Bell's Letters.)

ANOTHER. Why are the Glasgow watchmen proof against broken pates? Ans.-Because they are without a head.

[blocks in formation]

We have already spoken of these Foreigners, who, we are happy to Whether hear, are obtaining that patronage which they deserve. we consider the characteristic and striking beauty of the national melodies which they sing, the energetic and excellent style in which they are executed, or the very unusual extent and quality of the voices of the vocalists, we are ready to admit that, we scarcely remember any musical treat that has given us so much pleasure. Many of our readers, no doubt, still remember the Tyrolese, or Rainer family, who were so well received in this country a few years ago; but, we are of opinion, that the Bohemians are much superior, both in respect to the character of the music and its performance. The melodies of the Rainer family were of the most simple and unpretending kind, and, except the novelty of "Jodlen," which, we think, only pleased for a night or so, had few claims to attraction. The melodies of the Bohemians, on the other hand, are more complete and varied in their harmonies, and, when sung by such voices, are singularly effective. The first, or leading voice, is a soprano, of great compass and beauty. In some of the variations, when he is accompanied by the other voices, in imitation of instruments, he shews much taste and flexibility. The next two are tenores, but, from the nature of their parts, have little opportunity for display; but it struck us that the one next the bass, has a fine, full and sonorous quality of tone. comes the bass, which is certainly, of all the voices we have ever heard, the most astonishing for depth and power. We are not sure whether it has ever been before hinted that, this is not a legitimate voice, but an artificial one, after the manner of a ventriloquist. We are inclined to think so from its quality, which is that of the strong, reedy tone of an organ trumpet stop, from its limited compass, and also from its unusual strength in the lowest notes that the human voice was ever known to reach. We have not yet heard the Bohemians sing the Huntmen's Chorus in the Freischütz, which, we understand, they do in a manner unequalled by any, except their own countrymen. Let us hint to them to give it immediately.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

To the Editor of THE DAY.

Lastly

SIR,-In the course of my reading Sir Walter's "Count Robert of Paris," I was somewhat astonished at stumbling on the following expression, which he puts into the mouth of Edward the Varangian:-"The people of this country (Constantinople) have so many ways of saying the same thing, that one can hardly know at last what is their real meaning. We, English, on the other hand, can only express ourselves in one set of words, but it is one out of which all the ingenuity of the world could not extract a double meaning." I should like to know what then becomes of the inuendos, double entendres, &c. that so much abound in the writings and conversations of the English? By throwing light on the subject, you will certainly oblige

Glasgow Subscription Library, 28th Jan. 1832.

IGNORAMUS.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

MR. CHAMBERS, the author of the "Book of Scotland," &c. has announced a new weekly print, to be published every Saturday in Edinburgh, to be entitled "Chambers Edinburgh Journal.”

MISCELLANEA.

CHOLERA A PUZZLER!--At a recent sitting of the Westminster Medical Society, Dr. Gordon Smith declared, that he had read all the books, and reports, and essays, that had been published on the all-absorbing question; that he had spelt the labouring columns of the newspapers; that he bad consulted philosophic men in the profession, and the philosophic men out of the profession— nay, he had consulted philosophic women also; that he had thought upon the subject by day, and had dreamt on it by night; and he had arrived at a conclusion, for which he was, alone, responsible; of which neither the credit, nor the discredit, would he impart to another, viz. :-That, after all his reading, his talking, his thinking, and his dreaming, he knew nothing more about the matter than he did before!

TIPPLING ON SUNDAY.-The following is the German mode of preventing Sunday tippling:-All persons drinking and tippling upon Sundays, or holidays, in coffee-houses, &c., during divine service, are authorized to depart without paying for what they have had. This would have a most beneficial tendency in improving the morals of the lower orders of society, and greatly contribute to the comfort of their families.

ON DUELLING.-Listen to the reason of the thing, and consider whether such a custom can obtain, as that which we term the duello, in any country of civilization and common sense. Two great lords or high officers quarrel in the Court or in the messroom. They dispute about a point of fact. Now, instead of each maintaining his own opinion by argument or evidence, they go to work thus:-" Why, thou liest in thy throat," says the one; "and thou liest in thy very lungs," says the other-and Each they measure forth the lists of battle in the next meadow. swears to the truth of his quarrel, though, probably, neither well knows precisely how the fact stands. One-perhaps the hardier, truer, and better man of the two-lies dead on the ground: and the other comes back to predominate in the Court or in the messroom, where, had the matter been inquired into by the rules of common sense and reason, the victor, as he is termed, would have been sent to the gallows! And, yet, this is the "Law of Arms," which your nice sense-of-honour people are pleased to call it !— Count Robert of Paris.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We feel much indebted to Giovanni for his kind communications, and will feel obliged by his continuing to be a Correspondent. Let us warn him, however, not to send us anything which he, at the same time, despatches to other Journals. We had given out his "Love à la Mode" for publication, when we fortunately noticed it in the "Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle." This is a species of Love à la Mode which we cannot admire, and is apt to make us afraid, in future, of inserting the Communications of those whose anxiety for notoriety appears so voracious. Surely our extensive circulation might satisfy most authors; and, if the production be really first-rate, it stands every chance of being transplanted, which is far more honourable to the writer than to follow the London penny-a-line men, who send a copy of every thing they write to every newspaper in the metropolis.

"Peggy's" kind letter has been received; but she must excuse us inserting the Lines which she picked up at the Assembly t'other night.

"A Legend of Glasgow' is under consideration.

[blocks in formation]
« ZurückWeiter »