I hope these examples will be sufficient to convince R. H. that it requires no great "ability to metamorphose the superlative of an adjective into a substantive." It is indeed one of the simplest rules of grammar that an adjective put without a substantive, with an article before it, becomes a substantive in meaning. And in all those cases wherein an adjective is so used the sentence is elliptical. Indeed the omission of the substantive is an elegance of composition which I have often admired in our best writers, and the very passage in Nubilia would have been greatly weakened by the addition of the substantive to which the adjective highest is understood to refer. The authorities are numerous which might be adduced in support of this construction. DESCRIPTION of the LAKE of CIRK- AMONG the various natural cu riosities of Carniola, this lake, beyond all contradiction, merits on of the first places, particularly in con sequence of the singular phenomena that it presents. First, with respect to its position; it is about six miles from the town of Layback; it is bounded on the north by a pile of rocks of the most wild and terrific aspect, which are commanded by the Yavornig, a lofty mountain covered with a thick forest of firs, and other trees. These rocks and this forest impart the appearance of a frightful the first view inspire the traveller desert to the whole country, and at with the sensation of fear; however, averting his looks from the north ward, he perceives a change in the nature of the country: the soil, in general, is well cultivated; villages are scattered here and there, and in the midst of fertile fields they offer a picture, with the immense expanse most agreeable view. This smiling of the lake, shaded by the mountains semble altogether picturesque. on the opposite side, form a tout en R. H. asks me, "does the author of Nubilia live at St. Albans?" That is a question which the author must answer himself, for no one can do it better. All that I can say is, I have enquired of the parish clerk (who is a very likely man to know the affairs of the whole parish), and he thinks there is no per son here mad enough to write a book. I have also looked narrowly at the countenances of all my neighbours, but they have nothing authorly in them. There is a man, indeed, who This lake is about two leagues in has lately come to live here, of a very its extent from the east to the west; suspicious appearance. He wears and about one in breadth from its spectacles, generally has a book in northern extremity to that of the his hand, walks very much alone, south. Its depth is not equal in and, his landlady tells me, talks to every place, verging from one to four himself; but she has never caught fathoms. Three islands rise from its him with a pen in his hand yet.-1 bosom: the first, called Vornek, is often meet him in my walks, and sufficiently large to contain a village now I think of it, I heard him one and a church. The highly cultivated day, in a bye lane (I was on the other grounds, the meadows, and the or side of the hedge) damning a critic. I'll watch him closely; and I'll give the postman a shilling to tell me if he ever delivers any letters to him, the thickness of a proof sheet, and what his name is, for I can't find that out. If I should discover that he is the anthor of Nubilia, you may depend upon it I will let you know. But I am afraid he is not, for he is too I remain, Sir, fat. chards, render this island a most de- as will presently appear. Those of stances of its appeating and disappear Cirknitz and the Oberg are the most ing three times in the course of 1 onsiderable; the first runs through year; and then again whole years Je village of that name, situated have passed without its withdrawing ont halt a league from the source at all; but when it has withdrawn, is rivulet: from this village the its absence was never known to exJe derived its name, because the ceed four months. It most frequent knew it by the name of Lac ly retires about the end of June, or in but not including Cirknitz the middle of July. , in the isle of Vornek. The moment of its departure is a seven other villages, some signal of joy to the inhabitants of the all distance from the environs, in consequence of the plen Most of them upon its ty of fish it produces them. As soon as the waters of the lake are obBoo vace in this vast bason served to have decreased to a certain €79, they retire through degree, all the inhabitants of the surmade by the hand of rounding villages are apprized of it wgh the solid rock; and by the ringing of a bell. From that a species of canals or instant, young and old, men and hey convey them through men, may be seen all running te the mountain, and eject ther, each of them provided with the other side, near the net, attached to a long pole, for the of St. Cautien. These two purpose of dragging the lake and the are level with the lake, and caverns at the bottom. One reason ed by the names of great and for their haste on this occasion Karlouza. But besides these that during the rest of the year to , there are eighteen others at person is permitted to fish in the bottom of the lake, through lake; and besides this, it is evident a the whole of the waters are that the delay only of a few hours socletimes drawn off by such unac- would be a serious loss; as on this countable gradations, that the bottom occasion the inhabitants know by exis clearly distinguishable in the course perience, that the fish, following the of twenty-five days. rapidity of the current, are not to be The bottom now being left com- found by the time the waters have pletely dry, instead of a sheet of wa- subsided within the depth of two ter, presents a portion of soil, fertile fathoms. However, those who fi ́and ready for cultivation in the high- first pay for the privilege; and whe est degree. Accordingly the inha- these people are served, the poor bitants immediately commence with the most adventurous will undertak sowing, and a super-abundance of to grope in the mud, and often take vegetation in a very short time covers 'the whole extent; in three months after hay is cut and millet is ready for use; even game is sometime hunted, where but a short time before fish "were the only living beings. At the expiration of four months the lake generally refills spontaneously, in the same manner as it disappears. The first sign of the return of the waters is taken from the motion of this element in some of the neighbouring caverns; but though the bason of the lake requires twentyfive days to discharge itself, four and twenty hours are quite sufficient for very large fish by this mode of search. ing for them; and some fishermen will even undertake to descend into the caverns, and remain there some times till the biting of the crabs and blood-suckers, which come in shoals to attack their legs, compels them to desist and return. Among the fi-h of this lake the pike is the most mumerous: they are of ten, twenty, thirty, and forty pounds weight, and sometimes more. About the middle of the seventeenth century, this lake contained a pike of an aspect so imposing and of such weight, that whenever he was hooked it was always thought But with respect to the absence of prudent to let him go again. But the waters of this lake, the time is by when, as M. Valvasor observes, the no means regular. There are in- ecclesiastics of the Chartreux pur the bason to refill. chased the right of fishing in this lake, knock them down with sticks, no this king of fishes could no longer thing being more easy; as emerging obtain any favour on account of his from these darksome retreats all at superior size: they made no scruple once into open day, they for a time in having him served up at their own lose the use of their sight. They are table, when he there received the ho- generally very fat, and their flesh is mage of the Ictyophages, a clear black; and it is evident that these proof that these religious were greater birds are bred in some other lakes in gluttons and not so generous as the the interior of these rocks, especially Emperor Frederic II, who, being in as herbs and small fish have been possession of a very fine pike, put found in their crops, a circumstance him into a pond belonging to the which throws considerable light upon palace of Kaiserslautern, after having the phenomena of the lake. In fact, decorated him with a gold ring, the vast chain of mountains which, which being elastic, admitted of his under the appellation of the Alps of future growth, and bore the follow- Carniola, traverse the whole country ing inscription in Greek:-"I am from Dalmatia to Carinthia, is nothe first fish put into this pond by the thing more than an enormous ridge hands of the Emperor Frederic II, of rock, perforated here and there by Oct. 5, 1230." This pike, after hav an immense number of grottos. In ing passed 267 years in the pond, many of the caverns, the rain and the was taken with his ring in 1497, and melting of the snow form vast resertransmitted to Heidelberg to decorate yoirs of water, which are transmitted the table of the Elector Philip. He into other caverns by the usual canals was then, it is said, nine feet long of communication. There is thereand weighed 350 pounds. After- fore every appearance that the five wards a monumental representation great caverns before-mentioned, at was made of this pike as large as life, the bottom of the lake of Cirknitz, with an inscription adapted to the communicate with five other lakes or circumstance. reservoirs of water in the interior of But though the lake of Cirknitz the mountain; for from the moment does not contain fish of this magni- that the water begins to sink to any tude at present, there are very large degree into these subterranean caones in great number, especially verns, the canals which connect them when the waters of the lake remain with the lake of Cirknitz act as longer than ordinary without retiring. syphons passing the waters into other In 1656, when the lake disappeared caverns of the rocks: so when the for the first time, after remaining at rains or the melting of the snows rest five years, the cavern of Kes- cause the waters to collect in abunchetto alone supplied the first fisher- dance, these syphons force the mass man with twenty-one loads of fish, of water to return with impetuosity seventeen the second turn, and nine and to precipitate itself into the lake. at the last. The greatest misfortune Superstition, which is the fruit of attending this lake is, that the light- ignorance, can see nothing in this ning often falls upon it and kills a natural phenomenon but an object of great number of the inhabitants. fear; hence the people in the enviSome, however, who are struck are rons of the lake tell travellers a thoufrequently recovered by an instanta sand stories, one exceeding another neous immersion in fresh water. in extravagance. They have even Wild ducks have frequently been given one of these caverns on the found in the bellies of the pikes in borders of the lake the name of the lake Cirknitz; and sometimes on the Sorcerer's Cave, because in former approach of a storm, these wild ducks ages they seriously imagined that are seen issuing from the fissures of these conjurers met there to keep the rocks in great numbers, from their sabbaths! Hence M. Valvasor whence, distributing themselves over observed this country was richly the face of the country, they fall an provided with socerers:" but he adeasy prey to the peasantry. The ded, sometimes when these persons peasants who then watch for them as have been taken in the fact, more of near as possible to the caverns, often them have been burnt in one year in the environs of Cirknitz, than would • Before, however, encouraging the have died naturally, during a whole generation. Very happily at this time of day, sorcerers are no longer sought for in these mountains; but very probably the hunters seek among them for an excellent species of the wild pigeon, with as much ardour as ever their forefathers sought for magicians. During the cold season these pigeons seek refuge in great numbers in the rocks. This sport in general is very productive and attractive in the mountains of Carniola, where the fissures and rocky cavities are distinguished by the name of Taubenlocher, pigeon holes.' or On the CULTURE of the POPPY, and and farmer to attempt this article of cultivation, it is undoubtedly essential to shew the uses and properties of the oil which is extracted from the poppy, This oil is sweet, pleasant, and has the scent of fresh-gathered hazel, nuts. Next to olive oil it is the best for every culinary purpose, either in sallads, or in made dishes; its only defect is, that it is not fit to burn in a lamp. It was the dreadfully hard winter of 1709, which destroyed all the olive-trees of France, that occa sioned the cultivation of the poppy to be introduced, which had for a long time been known and practised it Germany. Those commercial me who were interested in the trade it olive-oil, of which a large quantity is imported, asserted, and almost s ceeded in establishing an opinion, that the oil d'œillet, or of poppies, was a dangerous narcot Tof the political circumstances that have judice gradually gained ground, in not only interrupted the commerce the same manner as so many other with those countries where it is prin- have done, with which society has cipally produced, but have also always been overwhelmed in such checked or nearly annihilated the times as mankind only see through culture of the olive in some of them, the eyes of others. Experiments, does not appear to have roused the however, were publicly made, and attention of experimentalists, or the cupidity of adventurers to search for a substitute in this country. Yet one that very nearly approaches in its quality to olive oil, has been known for upwards of a century in France, and is produced from the seeds of the common garden poppy. The following account, extracted from La petite Maison Rustique, Paris, 1802, tom. 1. may be interesting, and perhaps induce a trial in England of the qualities of this oil. The cultivation of the poppy is capable of producing considerable advantage to the fariner. It has two important objects; that of producing the seed from which the oil called huile d'oeillet or d'œillette is extracted, and that of yielding the poppy-heads employed in medicine.* The papaver somniferum has been cultivated in England for the production of opium; the largest quantity of this drug that was cured in this country, was raised in 1797, from the Earl of Egremont's garden at Petworth, in Sussex, and the fact, now indisputably ascertained, that all the foreign opium is highly adulterated, renders it an object of considerable importance to encourage the domest growth. Mr. André, domestic surge to Lord Egremont, was convince that in all his practice he never mat use of any opium that could be com pared with this. The operation of collecting the produce should be ef fected by a gentle incision in the head, as they grow, after the petals of the flowers have fallen (taking care not to wound the inner membrane, with a small knife. The morning af ter the incision is made, the gummy juice which exudes from the wound must be scraped into an earthen ves sel, dried in the sun, and preserved for use. This incision can be repeated three or four times. An acre will yield from four to five pounds of opium. The cultivation of the poppy for opium in India, has been de scribed by different authors. A va luable paper on the subject may be found in Tilloch's Philosophical Ma gazine, vol. iii. p. 417. the results were uniformly in favour at the time when it stands most in of the oil of poppies. It was demon- need of it. strated that neither the seed, nor the oil of the poppy, contamed a single particle of somniferous matter, or any narcotic quality; and the experience both of men, and of animals, has, at various times, and in various countries, confirmed the truth of this assertion. In fact, the ancient Romans made use of the seed in the preparation of their food. Every pharmacopeia clearly points out that the seed does not in any degree participate in the narcotic qualities of the capsule. In Italy, particularly at Geno, sugar-plumbs are made of the seed. Bird-catchers prepare a paste for nightingales,* of it. In those countries where the culture of the poppy is established on a large scale, the mare, or refuse which remain after the oil is pressed out, is given as food to cows, to hogs, and to poultry, and it would undoubtedly be in this refuse, that the greatest portion of somn ferous or deleterious matter would exist. In short, neither men or animals have ever been hurt either by the seed or by the oil extracted from it. Add to this the great use which this oil is applied to in the manufacture of the soft soap which is so much used in the north, and there will be no hesitation in announcing its cultivation as one of utility and profit in every part of the country. The climate, in some measure, must determine the time for sowing. The more the land destined for the growth of poppies lies toward the south, the earlier must the seed be put into the ground, because the warmth of May and June otherwise hasten the progress of its vegetation too much. In the southern parts it is therefore advisable to sow early, that is, towards the end of Septem ber or the beginning of October. On the contrary in the northern departments, even the month of March may be waited for, without much risk of the failure of the crop; yet, at all events, poppies which have been sown in the autumn will be the best. There is no fear that cattle or sheep will do any damage to this crop. If the sowing take place in September or October, the field should be twice cross-ploughed immediately after the corn is carried off. It is advisable to burn the stubble before ploughing, not because of the slight manure which its ashes may produce, but in order to facilitate the progress of the plough, and that the stubble, which would not have time enough to rot before seed-time, may not obstruct the smoothing and levelling of the earth at the time of sowing. The weather should be such at The poppy having a taproot, is the time of ploughing, that the earth adapted to succeed the surface-rooted be neither too dry nor too wet, and erops, such as wheat, barley, rye, especially that it be not turned up in oats, &c. and may serve to alternatet clods. It should be several times our fields instead of fallowing them. harrowed till the surface is quite The poppy, on account of its deep smooth; and to complete this opera taproot, delights in a deep and light tion, a last harrowing should be given sol. It rapidly advances in growth as soon as the warmth of the sun begins to animate it. The soil requires to be well manured, that the plant may not be in want of nourishinent The maw-seed, sold in the shops, for birds, is the seed of the black garden poppy; so called, because its seed is black, to distinguish it from, that kind whose seed is white or yel lowish, + An expressive French word which cannot be well translated, but thus anglicised, conveys its full meaning, with faggots of thorn-bushes. The seed must be sown broad-cast, and the bush-barrow must then be drawn over it twice: a gentle shower at this period will settle the seed in the earth, and it will make its appearance above ground in a few days. As, however, * Cross-ploughing is generally done at right angles, which is a defective practice, as that part of the soil that forms the centre of the square of the furrows remains unbroken. It should be done lozenge-wise, by which no part can well remain untouched by the plough. |
