visiters) where he died. Being a member of the episcopal church in America, the English burial service was of course read over him by the English clergyman resident at Marseilles; and his funeral was attended by a large company of Americans and of English. Among this gentleman's papers was found the poem, entitled "The Closing Scene-Burial at Sea." It appeared that he had been very apprehensive of dying on the passage, particularly after he had got into the Mediterranean. He accordingly made very particular inquiries as to the mode of burial at sea; and the beautiful poem on that subject was the result of those inquiries. It was written on two detached pieces of paper. On the first the poem ended at the twentysecond line "The sea rolled on as it rolled before." The last lines were found on another detached piece of paper, probably in his writing-desk or portfolio,-and these words were written at the commencement:-" End of the Burial at Sea. The rest in my trunk." It would seem that he had not health or nerve to seek the first paper. The whole was addressed to a female friend, whose name was prefixed to the first part of the poem. This interesting paper was communicated to me by the friend of the deceased, at whose house he died: and I trust that should he, or any of the deceased gentleman's friends, ever see this poem, and these remarks, they will not consider me guilty either of breach of confidence, much less of disrespect to the memory of the dead. The circumstances of the case are so singular, and the lines so beautiful, that they cannot fail to interest the feelings of all who peruse them, while they reflect the highest honour on the memory of the writer. The second poem- "The Burial on Land"-was written by myself as a sequel to the first, and to describe the actual "closing scene" of the deceased, and was sent with the first poem to the lady, for whose information was written "The Burial at Sea." 27. THE PHANTOMS of the forest.—Page 62. The Baron of Craon, being driven from the court of Charles VI. of France by the power of Clisson the constable, returned privately to his hotel at Paris, and lay wait for, and attempted to assassinate Clisson. The constable was dangerously wounded, and narrowly escaped with his life. The assassin fled to Brittany, and was concealed by Montfort, the duke, who refused to give him up to the king. Charles raised an army to invade Brittany, and to avenge the insult. Passing one day through the forest of Mans on account of the heat, and with few attendants, a man, almost naked, suddenly rushed from behind some trees, and seizing the king's bridle, cried in a loud voice-" King, ride no further; return, thou art betrayed." The man instantly escaped, and eluded all pursuit. This was probably the effect of stratagem to prevent the king's further prosecution of the war. the whole story is involved in mystery, and goes by the name of "The Phantom of the Forest." It had a visible effect on the king, who was subject to fits of madness. But Passing from the forest into a sandy plain, beneath the rays of a burning sun, the phrensy seized the unhappy monarch. He killed four men before he could be overcome. The troops were instantly recalled; and the army returned with their afflicted king. Upon this traditionary story are founded the verses of "The Phantoms of the Forest." 28.-Page 65. These verses were suggested by the following passage of one of Gray's letters to his friend West, and they have found a place in this collection, because they were written in France. "I believe my amusements are as little amusing as most folks. But no matter; it makes the hours pass; and is better than εν αμαθια και αμουσία καταβιωνα..” Gray's Works by Mason, Vol. i. p. 253, 12mo. 29. EPIGRAM.-Page 77. A church, that stood in the Place St. Ferreol, in the city of Marseilles, was pulled down during the revolution of 1789. In the year 1821, when the Marseillais celebrated the anniversary of a century after the cessation of the dreadful plague of 1720, a solemn procession was made to the Place St. Ferreol to lay the first stone of a church to be dedicated 66 au sacre-cœur de Jesus." Speeches on the occasion were delivered by the prefêt and mayor, and by the Archbishop of Aix; and finally was laid the foundation stone, inscribed with the immortal names of the venerable Bishop Belsunce, of whom Pope wrote the well known lines— "Why drew Marseilles' good bishop purer breath and of the other distinguished persons who signalized themselves by their heroic humanity during the plague. The whole transactions of that memorable fète-day are printed at the end of a new edition of the select works (Œuvres Choisies) of the venerable prelate, published at Metz, in 2 vols. 8vo. 1822. But after all this parade, instead of building a church, the civil authorities were sinking a deep well in 1829-30, over which they proposed to erect a fountain, which, I doubt not, now plays over the spot, and is much more suitable than a church to the good and pious citizens of Marseilles. FINIS. C. WHITTINGHAM, CHISWICK. |