writings, something more, but per sonally, Mudford is quite horror-struck at the notion of us. The Roman Catholic Association, professedly friends of the liberty of the press, have brought an information against him 'for inserting some remarks of a correspondent on Maynooth College, and availed themselves of an obscure law, to lay the venue against him in Cork. The very wind of the word has frightened my friend Mudford out of his seven senses. Some Cockney blackguard, with that spirit of personality so disgustingly the distinction of the Cockney school, once called him " a pile of fleecy hosiery,"but that name is every day becoming less and less applicable. He looks on the Corkagians as no better than Ashantees, and, no doubt, anticipates, from the jaws of long John Brixon, mayor of that beef-abounding city, the fate of poor Sir Charles M'Carthy. Let him be comforted. Cork, I can assure him, is well munitioned with victual and drink, and he has but a small chance of being eaten alive there, particularly as he remains but a fortnight. Nor let him dread the hostile countenances of a grand jury, empannelled by Jack Bagnell and Ned Colburn, best of little men-sheriffs of the aforesaid bailiwick. And even if that is improbable, the thing comes to a petit jury, even before themlet him pluck up courage. Men there are to be found on all sides of the banks of The spreading lee, that like an island fayre, Encloseth Corke with its divided flood, who would devour the boot from the silk twist that hems its upper-leather, to the iron horse-shoe which guards its heel, sooner than give a verdict against the right. Counselled by these reflections, let him devour turbot, hot (as the old cookery books have it) from the bank in the harbour-let him swallow salmon, creaming in everlasting curd from the Lee-let Kinsale feed him with hake, fish of delicious flavour, unheard of in Augusta Trinobantum-from Cove let him gulp down oysters capacious as his well-fleshed hand. Kerry will supply him mutton to masticate, small, but lively. Cork itself will offer its beef and butter, peerless throughout the land. Pork is, I own, inferior to the flesh of Anglia pigs ;but Wicklow can send her turf-dried hams, easily procurable, that will scarce vail bonnet to those of Wiltshire. He may, no doubt, regret the crammed poultry of London,-but a turkey in native flavour, will smoke upon his board for two tenpennies. Does he long for dainties more rich and rare? In a harbour, yawning for the West Indies, he need not desiderate turtle-in a city within easy march of sporting hills and dales, he need not be afraid of wanting game or venison. As for drink, is he fond of port? Vessels from Oporto will jostle the boat that brings him to the quay-if of claret, he must be unskilled in bibulous lore, if he knows not the value set upon the claret of Ireland. But as his stay is short, I recommend whisky-punch. That he cannot get for love nor money in London. Let him there ingurgitate that balmy fluid. There's Walker-there's Wise-there's Calaghan-there's Hewitt-excellent artists all-they will sell it to him for from 6s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. a-gallon and a gallon will make sixty-four tumblers-I have often calculated it-and that is three times as much as he should drink in an evening. So doing, he will be happy, and fearless of the act of Judge Johnson. But what is this I am about? di gressing from a disquisition on songs, pseudo-Irish, to the way in which a stranger, who knows how, could live in Cork. It can't be helped-I have lost the thread of my argument. So I think I had better conclude. M. OD. WORKS OF THE FIRST IMPORTANCE. LAST DAYS OF NAPOLEON, BY DOCTOR ANTOMMARCHI.† We intended that paragraph for the opening of a good-natured quiz of the first importance, but something has disagreed with our stomach this evening, and we find we really have not the heart to go through with the matter in that strain. Let us speak the honest truth, without one single circumbendibus either of puff, banter, advertisement, or bile: This work is the most egregious piece of quackery with which as yet even Mr Colburn has ever had any concern. This beats Las Cases and Medwin all to shivers. This leaves even the translation of Goethe's Memoirs, yea, even the private memoirs of Madame Campan, in the Shade. This is beyond even the title-paging of the old version of Benvenuto Cellini. This is unquestionably one of the most impudent of all the insults that have ever been, by any bookseller whatever, offered to the reading public of these free and happy islands. If this poor devil of a Corsican doctor had published a medical diary of Napoleon's last days, we should have perhaps acknowledged some small service at his hands-he might have made a pamphlet of twelve pages, readable to the profession. But the miserable animal, incited, no doubt, by the success of Barry O'Meara's grand melange of physic, and politics, and slander, has attempted to manufacture his two octavos also, and a pretty hand, we must say, hath he made thereof. The book is so totally below contempt in every respect whateverso devoid of anything like novelty as to facts-so baldly and execrably written-and bulked out to fill the desired extent which such a mass of extraneous materials of such kinds-that we really cannot help having much pity even for Mr Colburn, since we can scarcely suppose it possible that even he should have seen the MS. ere he paid the money. These, however, are not considerations to which the public ought to listen. They ought to unite in a steady manner to put down this new, this totally new audacity of quackery, without asking one question as to the relative shares in which the author and the bookseller have thought fit or found it convenient to divide the said quackery between them. If Antommarchi be the thief, our important friend is assuredly the resetter. The book is made up, firstly, of Antommarchi's own little details about Napoleon's reluctance to take castor oil; his preference of enemas to purgatives-his method of shaving and washing-his admiration of Soupe a la Reine-his pulling of ears, and slapping of cheeks-as to all which matters, (except indeed the shaving,) Barry O'Meara had unquestionably given us, at least, as much information as was wanted by anybody: but the shaving, of itself, is a novelty of the First Importance. 2dly, Of Antommarchi's recollections of his own conversations with Buonaparte on Buonaparte's campaigns-of which campaigns Antommarchi frankly tells us, he knew no "Mr Colburn begs to acquaint his friends and the public in general, that having disposed of his interest in the library in Conduit Street, he has now entirely removed to No. 8, New Burlington Street, where he intends to confine himself to the publication and sale of WORKS OF THE HIGHEST INTEREST AND IMPORTANCE."-New Monthly Magazine, February 1, 1825. The Last Days of the Emperor Napoleon. By Doctor F. Antommarchi, his Physician. 2 vols. 8vo, London. Henry Colburn, 1825, thing at the time when he joined Buonaparte at Longwood, vice O'Meara kicked out. In these conversations, Buonaparte's share consists of a few little sentences as old as the hills, and Antommarchi does not reply-no, but he does as the Emperor bids him; that is, he turns to the files of the Moniteur, &c. and reads the official dispatches, bulletins, letters, &c. of the various epochs under discussion-(discussion!)—and HE PRINTS all these documents of the First Importance in his book, thereby making it a book in two volumes, instead of twelve or twenty pages; and, therefore, a work of the First Importance. 3dly, Of Antommarchi's conversations with Napoleon on the subject of an Italian work on Anatomy, illustrated with plates, of which work Antommarchi has the glory to be editor. This is by far the most novel part of the materials in the work before us, and must be admitted to be of the First Importance. 4thly, Of the report upon Napoleon's dead body, with a full and particular narrative of his lying in state, and interment, all quite exact, as may be seen by referring to the newspapers of the period, and all of the First Importance. 5thly, Of Napoleon's will, with all its codicils-here republished for the five hundredth time; but "what for no?" being unquestionably of the First Importance. 6thly, Of a full and particular narrative of Dr Antommarchi's journeys from Italy to St Helena, via London, and back again-together with interesting memoranda of all that was said to him, by everybody he met with going and coming, touching the magnificent character of the anatomical magnum opus, above referred to, and of which we sincerely hope Mr Colburn has a translation in the press, there being no possibility of doubting that that would be a work of the First Importance. We shall give one or two very short extracts, just enough to shew, that we have not been speaking a whit too severely. The only new facts about NAPOLEON, to be gathered from these two new volumes, are all contained in the following two passages. "The Emperor was walking round Longwood. I observed him looking about, peeping into the interior of the apartments to see what was going forward there, and visiting, one after the other, every room occupied by his suite. I was going up to him to shew him the letter I had received, when I was stopped by one of the servants,— 'You must not go near the Emperorhis Majesty is incognito.'-' How incognito?'-' Certainly: do you not see that he has not his usual dress on, nor the cocked hat, which he never leaves off, excepting during the short time he is at table? Well, whenever the Emperor is dressed as you now see him,-when he puts on that long green great-coat, and buttons it up to the neck, and takes that large round hat, he does not wish to be approached by anybody, and even the him.'-I thanked the servant for his inGrand Marshal himself does not disturb formation, and waited till the Emperor should come in; but he went to pay a visit to Madame Bertrand, and remained there two hours. I was beginning to find the time very long. Have a little patience,' said Noveraz*; ' I see movement at the posts; they are going to relieve the sentries: the Emperor does not expose himself to be elbowed by the redcoats; he will soon come in.'-In a short time HE ACTUALLY DID COME IN !" the whole book-the gem, the jewel, But now comes the very kernel of which alone stamps it as a work of the First Importance. ably well all day yesterday, and part of "14th.-The Emperor had been tolerthe night. This morning he was rather dejected; and after having taken a few turns he came into the house again, breakfasted, and went into his apartment. I feel uncomfortable,' said he; 'I "Je passais jusqu'aux lieux où l'on garde mon fils. One of the servants. † Act I. Scene IV. "He was greatly affected, and hid his face. Doctor,' said he, ' I am too agi tated; leave me alone.' I withdrew. He became more calm, slept a few minutes, and sent for me again. Sleep had dispelled his indisposition, and he was less gloomy and agitated. He was going to shave; and as I had heard that this ceremony was singular, I remained to witness it. He was in his shirt, his head uncovered, and two servants by the side of him; one held the looking-glass and towel, the other the remainder of the apparatus. The Emperor soaped half his face, gave back the brush, wiped his hands and his mouth, took a razor which had been dipped in warm water, and shaved the right side of his face with an uncommon degree of dexterity.' Is it ready, Noveraz? Yes, Sire.' Well! now face about-there, halt!' The light fell upon the left side of his face, which he shaved with the same ceremonies and the same promptitude. The expression of his countenance was full of kindness. He passed his hand over his chin. 'Hold the glass up; am I well shaved? Yes, that is right. Not a hair has escaped, what say you?'-' No, Sire,' said the servant. No? I think I see some. Hold the glass up higher-place it in a better light. How is this, rogue-you flatter, you deceive me, here at St Helena! on this rock! and you! you are an accomplice;' and at the same time he gave little blows to both, gently boxed their ears, laughed, made them laugh, and pursued them in the most comical manner. After this he took a tooth-pick, then brushed his teeth, and washed his mouth with a mixture of brandy and cold water, part of which he swallowed. I asked him why he did not reject the whole. Because,' said he,' what does good to the gums, cannot do any harm to the stomach. Is it not odd that I have never been able to use anything but cold water to wash my mouth? Tepid water occasions a convulsive cough, hot water produces vomiting; and I never could gargle without running the risk of choking, or swallowing the gargle, even if it were poisonous.' And I observed, indeed, that part of the liquid being raised by the epiglottis, fell through the aperture of the glottis into the larynx, and produced the cough, the efforts and the vomiting. "Whilst I was speaking with the Em. peror, Marchand had prepared in the next room his sponge, his wash-hand stand and his clothes. He passed into it; and washed his face and head, throwing the flannel far from him after he had done. You see, Doctor,' said he, 'fine arms, breast plump and rounded, skin white. And my hand, how many amongst the fair sex would be jealous of it!' The servant was washing his skin, and Napoleon was passing in review the charms and the defects of some European ladies, interrupting his description to stimulate his servant, taking it up again, and again discontinuing :- Madame - was lively, animated,...harder, you rascal,... and was very anxious to have a child of the race of heroes...harder, I tell you, as if you were scrubbing an ass...she came one day...but that fellow does not brush me...Doctor, I will relate that to you another time...get out of the way, let me punish this fellow's shoulders for having spared mine as he has done;' and in saying this he gently pulled the servant's ears, and gave him some slight blows. 'Now let us see what the correction has produced-give me the Eau de Cologne.' Having caused some to be poured on his hands and washed part of his body with it, he put on a flannel waistcoat, silk stockings, breeches of white kerseymere, shoes with gold buckles, a black stock, a white waistcoat, the riband of the grand cross of the Legion of Honour, which he constantly wore when he was not in an undress, a green coat, and the cocked hat; and his dress was complete. Now, Doctor,' said he, the remainder of the day is ours; no more working, no more reading! As soon as I am en costume, I either receive visits or walk about; I think no more about anything.' 29th.-The Emperor's health in the same state. He was arranging his nails, and brush and scissars succeeded each other rapidly. He examined his hand for some time without saying a word, and suddenly asked me several questions. 'What are the nails? What is the beard, the epidermis? How are they formed? What are their functions, their structure? You have not explained that to me very clearly; begin again. Sire, as I told your Majesty, the epidermis is divided into two layers, one exterior and the other interior. One is thin, transparent, un * Scarfskin. alterable by the afr; the other is opaque. The first, of a close and firm texture, is composed of small and delicate absorbent vessels, proceeding from the inhalent orifices which cover the surface of that membrane. The second, which is placed underneath, reposes upon the papillæ, and extends over the intervals which separate them. It is composed of the same vessels, but they are considerably larger, and contain numerous orifices which line the internal surface. These two layers are united by a multitude of small trunks and lymphatic vessels passing from one to the other, and serving to bind them together. The absorbents, which form the internal layer of the epidermis, are filled with a kind of matter, which is black in some individuals and opaque in others; and produces the difference between the negro and the white man:-such is the epidermis. Its use is as follows: the numerous inhalent orifices of the absorbent vessels, which are heaped together and occupy the whole of the external surface of the membrane, are thin, slender, capillary, and only admit substances in the state of gas; the inhalent orifices of the second layer, which are, as we have already said, stronger and larger, are capable of receiving liquids: and thus the use of the epidermis is to absorb foreign substances, and repair the losses of the human frame," &c. and so on for five more pages. But no mention as yet of the plates! we must rectify this. "13th.-The Emperor had passed a good night, and the hemicrania was gone. Bath. Walk. I accompanied the Emperor into the garden. He was weak; and, having sat down, he looked around him to the right and to the left, and said, with a painful expression, Ah, Doctor, where is France and its cheerful climate? If I could but see it once more! If I could but breathe a little air that had passed over that happy country! What a specific is the soil that gave us birth! Antæus renewed his strength by touching the earth; and I feel that this prodigy would be repeated in me, and that I should revive on perceiving our coasts. Our coasts! Ah! I had forgotten that cowardice has taken victory by surprise; its decisions are without appeal. "But do you know, Doctor, that you are a terrible man? You have disturbed all the notions I had acquired; you have upset all the ideas I had formed: I am at a loss what to make of your work.The epidermis is an organic mass; veins are only prolongations of the arteries; they form a net, the threads of which wind back upon themselves, and the two extremities of which are mixed and confused together....'-You criticise without mercy everything that has been written on the subject. Your introduction to the works of Mascagni is a revolution in anatomy.' "I think so, sire; for it rectifies many results improperly studied.' "And does not contain any views too lightly adopted and promulgated?' "I believe not.' "What will the anatomists say on seeing old and acknowledged theories destroyed?' "What men say when they discover their error.' "But your doctrine is totally different from that of our schools. Are there not clever anatomists in Paris?' "Yes, sire, many.' "Well! how, then, does it happen that you do not agree together on the subject?' "You cultivate science, sire, and could answer that question better than 1 can.' "Ah! you want me to give the answer myself; you are afraid the faculty may be listening to what we say?' "No, sire; but every man takes his own view of a subject. One follows one thing, another pursues another; and very often the man who does not obtain any result, displays more sagacity than the man who makes a discovery.' "You fear that I may accuse you of presumption; such is not my intention.'"' Pretty well-but read on, dear read ers. "The Emperor had resumed his ha bits of early rising, and would frequently go and breathe the fresh air before sunrise. One day, his gums being painful, he entered my room, and addressing himself to me before I had perceived him: I suffer, Doctor,' said he 'my teeth ache. What is to be done; let us seewhat says your work?' My anatomical plates were lying open before me, and without allowing me time to answer him, he began to discuss upon the work. He regretted it had not been executed sooner; he would have applied to anatomy. He would know it, and that would be an additional satisfaction to him. He had often tried to study it, but disgust had overcome his wish to learn; he had never been able to conquer the sort of horror with which the sight of a corpse inspired him. These plates rendered dissection, as it were, uscless; a single glance enabled one to discover the play and structure of the various organs, to observe their relation one to and G |
