Nature's Diary for November-Salmon Hunting.

The meanest herb we trample in the field

Or in the garden nurture, when its leaf
In Autumn dies, forebodes another Spring,
And from short slumber wakes to life again.
Man wakes no more! Man, peerless, valiant, wise,
Once chilled by death, sleeps hopeless in the dust,
A long, unbroken, never-ending sleep.

VOL. 4.] Wilkie's Picture from Burns-Howard's Apotheosis.'

159

turn, each season, to the self-same spot destruction arises from the practice of to deposit its spawn. netting the fords when the water is The value of this article of life has low, by which means the salmon advanced equally with every kind of spawn, deposited upon the sand and food, even in situations where salmon gravel, being loosened by the net, is were most abundant. The amazing swept away, and becomes food for fish disproportion in the present price of of an inferior quality, such as chub, salmon to that of twenty or thirty years ago, when it was sold from threepence to sixpence per lb., is attributed, in a great degree, to the several weirs upon the rivers, constructed so as to prevent the smallest salmon fry from escaping, as they proceed towards the sea. It is a known fact, that the fry have been taken in such quantities, that the captors have been obliged to throw them away. Another mode of incalculable

roach, dace, &c. The above, combined with other causes, such as the speedy conveyance now afforded, not only to the metropolis, but to all parts of the country, have fixed a worth upon the salmon which will not quickly admit of reduction.*

* In February, 1809, a Severn salmon, weighing nineteen pounds, was sold at Billingsgate for the immense sum of ONE GUINEA

per pound.

FINE ARTS.

Maggie coost her head fu' heigh,
Look'd asklant and unco skeigh
Gart poor Duncan stand abeigh,

Ha, ha, the wooing o't.-Burns.

E have seen pictures of more scientific Whave seen tu more concentrated effect and repose, from the hand of this admirable artist, but none with more complete expression and character. The principal persons in this little drama of art are perfect; so much so as to produce a desire in the mind of the beholder to follow them into after-life, and to anticipate, from the disdain and coquetry so exquisitely depicted in the countenance of Maggie, and the disappointment swelling into anger in that of her lover, that their marriage state will be chequered by a few storms, at least (for we are amiable critics) will not be allowed to stagnate. Of the damsel we may say that expression is carried to her very fingers' ends; and that Duncan clenches his hat in a way, which, without seeing his face, would teach us to divine what his feelings were. The kindly persuasive attitudes and looks of the father and mother are also charmingly given; and the rustic enjoyment of the joke, of which we catch a glimpse at the half-open door, adds humour to the scene, while it tells that there are some friends in the secret of Maggie's heart in spite of her coyness and scorn. Upon the whole, the intention of the artist has been fully accomplished in respect to the emotions he intended to raise; the story is pointed and sarcastic, with sufficient of humorous incident to correct the spirit of satire upon so serious a subject as love-making. The tone of colour is well adapted to keep up the interest; it is warm and lively. The drawing possesses all Mr. Wilkie's usual correct

ness.

We cannot omit the opportunity now offered, of submitting a word to Mr. W. in the

The

shape of remonstrance and advice. popular and excellent productions of the author of Rob Roy, Waverly, the Antiquary, &c. are of themselves amply attractive, and afford the finest scope for the pencil of the artist; but when the writer of such estimable works calls personally upon Mr. Wilinterior of Muklebuckit's cottage to the penhis Mukry much, it is impossible to pekie, and recommends (in the Antiquary) the ruse the description of the fisherman's hut and weigh the qualifications of the painter, without earnestly wishing that the challenge should not be thrown out in vain, and that Mr. Wilkie would turn his attention to a subject to which perhaps he alone can do adequate justice.

APOTHEOSIS.---H. Howard, R. A. -"flere et meminisse relictum est."

The character, expression, and tone of colour are in strict union with the subject; and, if we may be allowed the term, we scarcely ever recollect to have seen depicted, forms more spiritualized. There is a delicacy, a beauty, a thinness, which can belong only to the shadowy beings of another state---a diaphonous splendour which marks it for the state of the blessed. The obscurity which contrasts this bright and mournful vision appertains to that world which the poet compares to

160

Mexico, and its Glaciers."

[VOL. 4

dained, is finely introduced; and Britannia THE EVENING STAR.---Sir W. Beechey, R. A. full of grief personifies the national mourning with equal effect, while the retired figure of the disconsolate husband claims all our sympathy for his peculiar sorrows. In short, we cannot conceive a more interesting effort of the pencil. It has accomplished whatever the sister-art of poesy could attain, and we have only to express our wish that it may be multiplied throughout the kingdom by means of the ablest exertions of the burin.

This is a very sweet and silvery-toned picture, and the light which falls on the graceful female personification of the Evening Star is truly poetical. The wonder is to see the charm of the imagination broken by a little lumpish Cupid sitting on a cloud in one corner. As a single dash of the brush can annihilate this negative to grace, we hope Sir William will take our hint and expel this Love. In every other respect the composition is pleasing and beautiful.---Lit. Gaz.

WONDERS OF THE NEW WORLD.

From the Literary Gazette.

MEXICO, AND ITS GLACIERS.

IN TWO LETTERS FROM A HAMBURGH GENTLEMAN TO HIS FRIEND IN THAT CITY.

Letter I.

IT T was already fifty days after our when excessively heated on a sultry departure from Cadiz, when I as day, went into the ice cellar, and inusual left my cabin before day-break cautiously took so large a quantity of to enjoy the fresh air on deck. I had ice that both of them lost their lives on sat about a quarter of an hour at the the spot. officers' table, when the Lieutenant on In all the towns in New Spain where duty suddenly leaped on deck, crying ice can be had, in the hot seasons, the out Tierra! Tierra! (Land! Land!) Neveros (ice-sellers) are in the streets The Captain, officers, and passengers from nine o'clock in the morning till left their hammocks in great haste, and late at night, with frozen drinks to sell, came on deck half dressed to look on incessantly crying Tamarinto, Limon this happy discovery. As it was y Leche! Half-frozen milk, lemonade, scarcely twilight, we could see little or &c. a similar beverage, made of sugar nothing; but there soon opened before and tamarinds, are the most common our eyes a great panorama with a long refreshments, which they carry on their chain of high mountains, and a prodig backs in a tin pail with a close lid, ious conical Glacier in the foreground, divided by partitions, and which is the brilliant icy summit of which de- placed in a wooden vessel, and surlighted us all. It was the Pico of rounded with a mixture of ice and salt; Orizaba, which seemed to raise its head and every time that they sell their half far above the clouds, "There on the but not quite frozen drink, they turn summit I shall stand to-morrow," said their tin pail about in the ice which surI to myself; but alas! now I must rounds it, to increase the effect of the say that I did not even attempt to cold. Besides such iced drinks, the ascend it, as a nearer view showed dessert at a good table, or at least on that it was impossible. The Pico entertainments and feast days, consists however delighted me, during my stay partly of frozen fruits, which by par... in Vera Cruz, in more ways than one. ticular pressure and innoxious colours, I had chosen my residence so, that by are so admirably imitated, that if one means of the great French windows, sees them at the smallest distance one which are there very common, and lead cannot distinguish them from nature. to the balcony, I had it constantly be- It is to be supposed that they use for fore my eyes. I was also continually this purpose the juice of the fruit itself refreshed by the ice from it, with which mixed with more or less sugar. On the I cooled my drink; a very great lux- voyage from Vera Cruz to Mexico, I ury in the oppressive heat of that coun- was surprised with the agreeable sight try. But great precaution is necessary of two other Glaciers, which lie between in the enjoyment of this treat, for I Puebla and Mexico, and which give myself once saw two Creoles who, the whole country an inexpressibly

161

VOL. 4.] New Plays-The Green Man-Jealous on both Sides. fiue and romantic effect. In Puebla whole city, the houses as it were in they call them the "Volcanoes of Mex- succession, are lifted up. This terrible ico," and in Mexico, the "Volcanoes phenomenon has awaked me many of Puebla," but the right name is the times in the night; the continued cry Volcano of Popecatepatl, because only and the incessant loud prayers of the the Pico is a half extinguished and Mexican watchmen who during the sometimes smoking volcano, which is whole night do not leave the streets, without doubt the reason that the in- adding horror to this dreadful catashabitants of Mexico are often awaked trophe. This frightful and uneasy by earthquakes, and even in the day- sensation caused by earthquakes, is not time are frequently in such dreadful excited in Mexico by any experience anxiety, that one afternoon at three of the terrible consequences, but by o'clock, while the bells were tolling at the possibility of them; for unhappily the cathedral for prayers, most of the many towns in Spanish America have inhabitants were kneeling in the streets; been destroyed by earthquakes, by the whole city seemed to reel, so that which Mexico, except some small dammy windows and doors, which stood a age to the buildings, has hitherto been jar, were shut and opened, though there spared; and may it always remain so! was no wind, and the things which In my next letter I will give you an hung against the wall moved backwards account of my visit to the Glaciers, and forwards; this reeling motion, which was attended with some remarkdoes not hurt the buildings nearly so able circumstances. Your's, &c. much as the concussions by which the SONNESCHMID.

THE DRAMA.

HAYMARKET THEATRE, Aug. 29, 1818. THE THE Green Man continues to be played every night with unabating attractions, and, indeed, so long as peculiarly just and fine acting is relished by the public, so long will Terry's performance of this part draw and delight overflowing houses.

The Green Man was produced at L'Odeon in Paris, under the title of L'Homme Gris. It is the work of Messrs. Daubigny and Ponjol, for French dramatists are much given to hunt in couples, and the plot,taken originally from a novel of Augustus La Fontaine, is in many respects similar to that of Le Dissipateur. Its success ou the Parisian stage was a fair recommendation to Mr. Jones, our excellent comedian; and by his translation and adaptation, he has unquestionably added the laurel of authorship to that of acting,and now shines in both. Several of the scenes are altogether new; the characters of Major Dumpling and Captain Bibber are entirely different from their two insignificant prototypes, one of whom is a lawyer in the original; and Jones's own character, of Crackley, and the secondary action of his loves with Bertha, are great improvements, since in the Parisian drama Bertha has no admirer, and Crackley is nothing more than an almost dumb adventurer, who has a little of the Anglomania, and is in league with the gamblers who win Sir George Squander's money.

ENGLISH OPERA.

Jealous on all Sides has also been published, and we gather from the title page that it is the production of Mr. S. Beazley, the author of The Boarding House,' Is he Jealous,' &c. The involution of plot, and W ATHENEUM. Vol. 4.

Spanish nature of the incidents, forbid us to think it altogether original: it is however very whimsical and lively. The songs are indeed but indifferent, and there are more oaths than either humour requires or good manners sanction. By the way, we could wish that several lapses of this kind were also suppressed in the Green Man: it is a great mistake to suppose that vulgar swearing adds any thing to the spirit of dialogue. The French stage is less moral than the English, and the habits of the people more licentious; yet the one would not offer, nor the otber tolerate, that breach of decorun which is with us as common as lying." We subjoin Possado, the lodging-house keeper's song, as the most amusing specimen.

When first sweet Mrs. Poss I knew,
Oh! I was jealous, it is true

Of Mrs. Poss;
But married once, no jealous touch
E'er came my heart to trouble much
With Mrs. Poss.

One night, as used to roam, 'tis true,
I came late home, as husbands do,

To Mrs. Poss;
When as I bolted in-with doubt,
I saw another bolting out

From Mrs. Poss.

Alarm'd-My dear, says I, what's that?
You fool, 'twas nothing but a rat,
Says Mrs. Poss;
Then blows I dealt this way and that,
Says I, I thought I smelt a rat,

Good Mrs. Poss.

162

Varieties: Critical, Literary, and Historical.

[VOL. 4

IT

VARIETIES.

From the Monthly Magazines, August, 1818.

A Mr. Robert Aiken, at Stranraer în Scotland, has discovered a new mode of curing Herrings, so as to prevent the yellow rust, and preserve the fish in its original whiteness. The same mode of curing is applicable to meat and butter, which remain amazingly fresh, and have a pleasant taste when submitted to this process.

T is a singular coincidence, that in 1718, at the distance of precisely one hundred years from the present, the weather was extremely hot and dry over all Europe. The air felt so oppressive that all the Theatres were shut in Paris. Scarcely any rain fell for the space of nine months, and the springs and rivers were dried up. The grass and corn were quite parched. In some places, the fruit-tress blossomed two or three times. The thermometer renest hours." (Fahrenheit's) rose to 98° at Paris.

WITCHCRAFT.

The following letter is copied from the Harleian manuscript, 1686, pre

served in the British Museum. It is from a Mr. Manning, dissenting teacher at Halstead in Sussex, to John Morley, Esq. Halstead.

Halstead, August 2, 1632. SIR,-The narrative wh I gave you in relation to witchcraft, and which

Ingenious inscription upon a Sun Dial in Paris." I count only the se

honest

Falstaff's Company.-During, the representation of Shakspeare's Henry IV. in the Theatre at Berlin, Falstaff tradesmen in the pit said to his Bride, describing his company, an "Only hear, all that is a joke upon the Landsturm!" An unequivocal testimothat the Poet is adapted to all times.

ny

Cure for the Jaundice.-Drink plentifully of decoction of carrots.

Cure for the Gout.-Apply a leekpoultice to the part affected.

Cure for Dysentery.-Eat moderately of marlamade of quinces.

N. B. Tincture of goose-grass is an imperial sweetener of the blood.

PHILADELPHOS.

Brixton, Surrey, 12 Aug. 1818.

you are pleased to lay your commands upon me to repeat, is as follows. There was one Master Collett, a smith by trade, of Haveingham in the county of Suffolk, formerly served in Sir John Duke's family, in Benhall in Suffolk, who, as 'twas customary with him, assisting the maids to churne, and not being able (as the phrase is) to make the butter come, threw an hot iron into the churn, under the notion of witch- An intelligent Correspondent (of craft in the case, upon which a poore the New Monthly Mag.) says that labourer, then employed in carrying of the tender shoots of Scotch fir, peeled dung in the cart, cried out in a terrible and eaten fasting early in the morning manner, They have killed me! they in the woods, when the weather is dry, have killed me! still keeping his hand upon his back, intimating where the paine was, and died upon the spot. Mr. Collett, with the rest of the servants then present, took off the poore man's clothes, and found, to their great surprize, the mark of the iron that was heated and thrown into the churn, deeply impressed upon his back. This account I had from Mr. Collett's own mouth, who, being a man of an unblemished character, I verily believe to be matter of fact. I am, Sir, &c.

has performed many cures of pulmonary complaints among the Highlanders.' Is the effect the same as in the instance of tar-water recommended in one of our recent Numbers ?

P. Gumilla, Hist. Natur. de l'Oreonoque, says that 18 Spaniards seated themselves on a snake, which they mistook for an old trunk of a tree, and which, to their great astonishment, began to move! This was in the woods of Cora, Venezula.

* We insert these pithy Recipes as we SAM. MANNING. have received them.---ED.