Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

In the third at-"The Lord said unto Abraham." Thus proceeding to the end of the law, at the annual feast of Tabernacles, from which they commenced. This custom has been used with advantage in the established church, excepting only such parts as are not considered canonical with the christian faith. Were we to take retrospective glances at the doings of our forefathers, we should rarely be at a loss for the derivation and usage continued down to ourselves, and will descend to posterity, applied to the two dispensations.

Anecdotiana.

JOIDA.

NAUTICAL TACT of the PRESENT KING. The following interesting anecdote, for which we are indebted to a naval friend, illustrates in a very striking manner the good humour and nautical tact of our present most gracious sovereign: It was in the summer of 1810, to the best of our remembrance, that his Majesty's ship Naiad, Captain Carteret, carried into Portsmouth one of Buonaparte's flat-bottomed

praams,

which had been captured by the frigate off Boulogne, in the presence of the French emperor. As one of that formidable squadron which had been destined to invade England, her appearance excited unusual interest. Among the persons who visited her was his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, before whom, as a naval commander, the Naiad's ship's company were mustered at their respective divisions. On these occasions the men are arranged in classes, according to their rating as regular seamen or otherwise; the top-men and forecastle-men taking the precedence of all others, as including the best sailors; the landsmen, under the denominations of afterguard and waisters, being the lowest in degree. Mr. Green, the first lieutenant, thinking he might safely presume a little on the Duke's want of familiarity with naval details, ventured to place five of the best looking landsmen among the regular blue-jackets, as a set-off; but it would not do: the Duke had not forgotten that indescribable something which impresses a distinctive character on a genuine seaman, and to the utter confusion of poor Green, he singled out each of the intruders, and boldly affirmed-which was the truth-that they had never been in a top nor on a yard in their lives. He immediately saw the drift of the deception which had been

attempted to be practised on him, and good-naturedly appreciated the feeling which had induced the first lieutenant to make the best appearance he could before the highest officer in the service. As he successively picked each unlucky wight out of the ranks in which he had been placed, he laughed heartily and said, "Ah, Mr. Green, here is an other of your topmien. Take him away, I know a sailor by head mark as well as any of you." If Mr. Green was mortified at the ill success of his ruse, the ship's company were as highly delighted with the unexpected display of nautical tact in the Duke. The captain of the fore-top, a tall weather-beaten Cornishman, said to one of his messmates, a regular going north country lad, "How his honour twigged Long Bill, and the rest of them, and all because Master Green would have them sailors, the lubbers, that don't know a weather earing from a bobstay." 66 Ay ay, leave him alone for that, my hearty,' rejoined his comrade, "I see'd by the cut of his jib that he know'd a marlin spike from a hand saw, for all Master Green's cleverness. I doesn't like no tricks on travellers." Among his messmates poor Green fared no better. His top-men continued to be a standing joke as long as he remained in the ship, but the Duke did not forget the honest lieu tenant, though he forgave his waggery, for he pocured his promotion as a captain in the course of a few months.

FIDELITY.

In one of the every-day actions of the Pyrenees, the 28th or 29th of July, 1813, I forget which, a French officer who was very much advanced in front of his men, having fallen desperately wounded, a young well-looking soldier immediately came forward to render him what assistance he could; some of our soldiers desired him to go to the rear as a prisoner. Happening to be near at the time, and hearing the altercation, I asked him why he did not do as he was ordered. He replied, he was servant to the officer who was wounded; that he and his master were Flemish, and that he considered it his duty to stay with him; he then attempted to carry him on his back, but the officer cried piteously: the French were at this time advancing on us in great force, and we were obliged to retire. What became of the officer and his faithful servant, I never could afterwards learn.

Biary and Chronology.

Monday, July 19.

St. Arsenius anchorite of Siete, d. A D. 449.—High Water 9m aft 1 Morn-33m aft 1 After. July 19, 1795.-Mr. Crosbie, an aronaut, ascended in a balloon from Dublin, to proceed across the channel, but his balloon fell into the sea, and he narrowly escaped drowning; he was relieved from his perilous situation by a Dunleary barge, and arrived safe at Dublin.

Tuesday, July 20.

St. Margaret-New Moon, Oh 14m Morning.

Our saint, who was the daughter of an idolatrous priest at Antioch, in Syria, was inhumanly put to death by Olybius, the president of the east, about 275, for refusing to abjure the Christian religion. The anniversary of St. Margaret in ancient times was a day celebrated with much festivity, many curious rites being performed thereon. The Star newspaper for June 13, 1820, contained the following sonnet to this saint, written on viewing Raphael's picture of her: To St. Margaret,

Hail, saint! whose form the pencil yet portrays,
Calling our minds to hallowed times of old,

When pastors grave, to guard their wandering fold
From prowling wolf, that on meek virtue preys,
Gathered their flocks on holy ground to graze,

By fountains pure, where sacred waters rolled;
And when, at eve, the vesper bell had tolled,
Around their hopes the pen of faith did raise,
Inspire me to exhort our faultering race;

To strive with him, thou, martyred virgin, trod.
Then cheer thou, with thy form and tranquil face,

Christ's sheep, awaiting his directing nod,
Who, whylome, held on earth the heavenly mace,
And brought them back to their appeased God.
Wednesday, July 21.

St. Arbogastus, Bishop died A.D. 678.-Sun rises 3m after 4-sets 56m after 7. July 21, 1828-Expired his grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, T. 73

Dr. Sutton" was

a man of mild but imposing presence. His voice was full and tuneable: his elocution distinct and unaffected; his arguments well weighed; his words well chosen; his manner grave and simple; his learning accurate; his knowledge comprehensive; and his judgment sound. spoke fluently and impressively on most subjects, even on those which might have appeared most averse from his general course of study."

Thursday, July 22.

He

St Vandrille abbot, died A.D. 666.- High Water 14m after 3 Morn-32m after 3 Evening. July 22, 1826-Died at the advanced age of 80, Joseph Piazzi, the celebrated astronomer. He was born at Ponte, in the Valteline, in 1746, and studied literature under Tiraboschi, and the physico-mathematical sciences under Beccaria, in the Calchi College at Milan; theology and mathematics at Rome, under Fathers Jacquier and Lesner. He afterwards professed those sciences at Geneva, Malta, Ravenna, and Rome, and became the colleague of Professor Chiaromonte, afterwards Pope Pius VII,, who never forgot his friend, He was nominated Professor

of Mathematics at the University of Palermo, in 1780, and completely re-formed the course of study. In 1797 he visited London; whilst he sojourned here he published a Memoir of the Solar Eclipse of 1788. In 1801 he discovered the planet Ceres, which led to the discovery of the other three Asteriods. Of this learned man Delambre used to say, that Astronomy owed more to Piazzi and Maskelyne, than to all other astronomers from Hipparchus downwards

Friday, July 23.

Sun rises 5m after 4-sets 54m after 7.

July 23, 1588-ORIGIN OF NEWSPAPERS.-It may gratify our national pride, says Mr. Andrews, to be told that we owe to the wisdom of Queen Elizabeth, and the prudence of Burleigh, the circulation of the first genuine newspaper, the " English Mercurie," printed during the time of the Spanish Armada; three of them, Nos, 50, 51, and 54, are preserved still in the British

Museum.

Saturday, July 24.

St. Kinga, Virgin. A.D. 1292.-High Water 20m after 4 Morning-36m after 4 Afternoon. July 24, 1756-Expired George Vertue, a celebrated antiquarian and engraver; he was born in London in 1684, and buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. Many of the productions of Vertue are of the highest excellence, and even at the present day his portraits will bear comparison with those of our best artists.

Sunday, July 25.

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

Lessons for the Day-21 chapter Samuel, morning-24 chapter Samuel, Evening

St. James the Great.

Our saint was the first victim singled out by Herod, the son of Herod Antipas, governor of Judea, to receive the crown of martyrdom, when he raised a persecution against the Christians In the year 44. St. James obtained the appellation of Proto-Martyr of the Apostles, from the circumstance of his being the first martyr of the twelve chosen disciples. His festival was instituted in the year 1089, and his emblems are a pilgrim's staff and a gourd bottle.

Our next, in addition to the usual embellishment, will contain a striking likeness of HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN ADELAIDE, with a Memoir; in the same number will also appear, "The Lone Man,” "The Progress of Science," and No. 3 of Royal Portraits. The Paper on Enigmas, by a Cantab, and the favours of Calebs, shall appear shortly.

Vols. 1. to V., illustrated with 139 Original Engravings, may now be had, price £1 18s.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic]
[blocks in formation]

"COME, cheer up, Lucy, my girl; what's the fun of piping your tears aboard? Ha'n't I said it, and when did ever Jack Lawson make false entry in his log, in the matter of keeping his word? Come, belay, woman; you know as well as an Admiralty clerk knows his A B C, that this is to be my last run, and the coast's pretty clear into the bargain. The red-coats are some twenty miles to the south'ard, and on a wrong scent; we've got a good wind; my head is a good chart of this here coast on both sides, and your namesake will carry us across and back again Bore morn; and by to-morrow's sunset VOL. VL

E

See page 51.

we'll have you spliced to Will, and what more can you wish? So dry your look-outs, and give us a buss, and then we're off and back again for good."

"Yes, father: but don't you see the mist rising eastward, and the sun's casting an awful kind of unnatural glare on it? and don't you hear that long heavy boom? It bodes no good, and I'm terribly afraid we'll have a storm soon. I'm too much of a sailor's daughter, not to know something about the weather."

"Right enough there, lass, but I know 'twill not be worth mindin' afore eight bells o' the morning, by which time we'll be back. So, good night, and God bless ye till then.-What! not take a buss, Will?" (turning to a young man by his side.) "Why, blow me! if you don't look now as like a marine as ever I see'd any thing in my born days! When I was a younker, I'd never have thought of parting company with a pretty girl without a salute given and taken, but times are altering sadly; more red coats than ever. I should not be surprised but what, in the course of time,

141

there'll be no such thing as a free-trader but it is one comfort how so be, I shan't live to see it.-There-that's right, lad: take another: odd's unlucky:

"And now away to sea right merrily,
With every rag now set so cheerily,

Hoist heave, and sail away!” Of all the pretty maidens of Kent, (and they are not few,) Lucy Lawson was one of the prettiest. On May-day, who so often chosen queen as Lucy? At fairs, her title was acknowledged and undisputed. Happy was he who could get her for his companion during the day, and his partner for the dance in the evening, though at the expence of loading her with ribbons, and all the other enchanting articles of rustic female finery, displayed by the itinerant traders assembled from all parts of the country, to the grand centre of attraction, Waldershare Fair. Alas, for Waldershare! The days of thy glory are gone! No more will the thought of thy one day's mirth and frolic gladden and cheer the heart of the lowly cottage maiden, and the honest and hardy peasant, through the twelve months' labour and toil; nor will the pale mechanic, or close-confined shopkeeper, ever more taste the enjoyment of thy verdant lawns and noble avenues, enlivened by the presence of the young, the happy, and the free! Thy last fair was held years ago. But let that pass. Though Lucy's claims to beauty were everywhere recognised, you could not have fixed on one single feature to which the term regular might be applied; but there was such a lightness in her step, such glee in the tone of her voice, her hazel eyes were so arch, yet soft, and such a sweet dimple lurked round the corners of her lips, so pouting ripe and rosy, as if "suing to be prest," an half open with a slight smile, displaying teeth beautifully white--and then she had a countenance so glowing with health and happiness, and so small and neat a figure, that it was no wonder she was the cause of many a sore heart as well as head. Of all her numerous admirers, both seamen and landsmen, Will Smith was the successful one. To him all the others had at last to give way. Will was as open, bold, and manly a young fellow, as ever put foot on salt water, and next to Lucy's father, was the best seaman and smuggler on the coast. Lawson was an old tar, who, from the time he could first handle a rope to the time of our story, had been a smuggler, and now, by dint of great success, as

well as skill, had become owner of the Lucy, one of the fastest sailing luggers that had ever come off the stocks, and so named after his daughter. Smith had always been looked upon by the old man with a favourable eye, and since Lucy had chosen him for her future commander through life, he had made him his mate. For a long time his daughter had used all her influence with her father to make him give up his mode of life, but till the time at which our story opens, in vain. He had now promised that this should be his last trip, and that henceforth he would live at home, and no more tempt the fortune and the peril of the free-trader. Lucy was dearer to him than all the world; her mother had died in giving her birth, and she was to him all that remained of his first and only love. He was proud of her too, for Lucy was somewhat more educated than the rest of her companions, and had even at times tried her hand at spinning the yard of a very simple species of rhyme or ballad, to the great delight of the old man; and now that she had chosen a sailor, and that he was going to see her happily married, who so well pleased as Lawson?

In the greatest glee he took leave of his daughter on the present occasion, and started along the cliff, followed at some distance by Will, who had stopped to say something which seemed to interest him and his sweetheart exceedingly, from the close position which it brought them both into. He soon came in sight of his boat, which lay waiting for him in a small bay formed by the projecting of two headlands, while, concealed under the dark shadow of one of them, lay his far-famed lugger, the Lucy. Being now rejoined by Will, the two sailors descended to the beach, and found the boat waiting for them, cautiously kept by her skilful crew just on the outside of the surf. A wave of the hand from Lawson, and with one stroke of her oars, she ran her head on the beach, and a few moments placed her again in deep water, swiftly cutting her way towards the lugger, propelled by six pair of stout and willing hands. In a short time they were all on board, the galley hoisted in, and the Lucy standing gallantly across the Channel at the rate of nine knots an hour. The opposite coast was reached in safety, her cargo, which was ready waiting for her, was soon stowed away, and swiftly back again she came, favoured by the same strong side wind.

A change, however, had taken place in the weather. The night had become quite dark, except to the eastward, where, on the verge of the horizon, a misty red light seemed to be dancing on the top of the waves, though, from the extreme distance, it could scarcely be told which was sea and which sky. Large heavy masses of dark clouds were coming rapidly up with the wind, while every now and then, some small cloud was detached from the main body, but was as soon scattered and dispersed by the force of the blast, which was rapidly rising. The long heavy swell of the sea, which had been prevalent during the fore part of the evening, had now assumed the appearance of arch ing waves, rolling thunderingly on, and breaking and re-forming every moment. "I say, Will," began Lawson, who was holding the tiller, and anxiously watching the signs of the weather, "I'm blow'd but here's a pretty storm abrewing. 'Tis coming on so fast, that I'm afraid we'll have to run to the south'ard, and that, I guess, is right into the teeth of the sharks, and be d-d to them!"-"I can't say as how I like it at all," replied Will, "specially as them 'ere gulls are making such furious sail to the land; if them birds arn't the weather glasses, I'm a land lubber. But as for the matter of running to the south, why, I think 'twould be even better to run her right ashore, and take our chance; we may perhaps cheat Davy that way, but, by the other, tis all up with us.'

"Belay there with your pipe, you young imp of the devil," roared out Lawson to an embryo free-trader, who was whistling most unconcernedly on the forecastle, 66 For I'll make this rope and your back better acquainted. I wonder yon haven't hoisted in more ballast in the article of sense since you've been to sea than to whistle in a storm. A pretty sort of a place you have sarved your time in, and be d-d t'ye, not to know better than that."

"Ahoy, there aft!" sung out a voice from the bow, where the lugger's lookout was stationed; "a sail rising seaward on the starboard bow! She's coming up right afore the wind, under reefed tops and a jib."

"I'm blow'd, Will, if I don't like this about as much as a stripped marine does the drummer! Who the devil can she be? Ahoy, there aft!-What is't now, lad?"

"The strange sail's hoisted her main,

double reefed, and has veered a point more to the nor'ard."

66

"By George, this is no joke now!Take the glass, Will, your eyes are younger than mine, and see what you can make of her." By heaven, Lawson, her hull's rising; she's a king's ship, as I am alive-Who the devil can she be? Strike my tops! but she sees us now, and here she comes witle a vengeance."-" You're right, you're right, boy! We must clap on more sail, our spars will bear it, but it is d-d unpleasant to have this here nest of sharks flung in our way, when we'd made so sure of having the coast clear. All hands, ahoy! Let out another reef in the main, and hoist the foresail.Are ye ready there, fore men? '—" Ay, ay!"" Away with it, then! That's right, my lads. She's walking a little faster now, Will. Are we dropping her at all?"-"No, sir: she's let out another reef in her main, and hoisted her gaff with a single one." "Schooner rigged, then ?""Ay, ay, sir."-"We must fight, then, Will; and if we've any luck, we may send one of her masts by the board; but she's too old I think to have any hope in her yawing. Clear the deck there, and out with the tompions; we may perhaps make our sixes rattle in a way she'll like about as much as nine-water grog on a banyan day. Knock the head out of that cask, and lash it to the main; there'll be enough of fighting water in't.-Are ye all ready now, every soul of ye?""Ay, ay "" Then listen, my lads, but three chances. First, run, and so while I speechify a bit. You see we've get clear off; second, fight, and beat them; third, blow ourselves and them to the devil together. We'll try'em all in turn, and now lie in, every mother's son of ye, and let not a gun be fired till I give the word."

The schooner was by this time within a mile of the smugglers, and had now altered her course so, that in a short time she would have run across the lugger's bows, and brought her whole broadside to bear on her; but Lawson was too old a hand to be caught in that way, and putting the tiller a little to starboard, the Lucy, in a moment, was running parallel with her foe."Ha! ha! old boy!" muttered the smuggler, "too deep for you this tack, I imagine. He's beginning to speak now, Will, and seriously too." A cloud of smoke rushed from the schooner's side, and a whole broadside of her shot passed harmlessly over the smuggler,

« AnteriorContinuar »