Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

all traces of the weasel, and could follow it no farther. As there was no appear ance of a hole, he was much surprised; and paying close attention to the track of the animal, he came to be convinced that it had sprung upon one of the birds which had flown away with it. As he is a person of uncommonly acute observation, sound judgment, and strong sense, I have the utmost confidence in the correctness of his judgment regarding this curious circumstance. The conclusion is, that the stoat knew quite well what it was about, and would keep its hold until it came to the ground again, under similar circumstances with the eagle. The matchless agility and comparative strength of this little bold creature would enable it to save itself during the fall; before which took place, it had probably, as in the former strange instance, destroyed the life of its more harmless prey.

Mag Nat. Hist.

The Note Book.

I will make a prief of it in my Note-book. M. W. of Windsor.

BRAZILIAN JEALOUSY.

The following anecdote, related by an officer, an eye-witness of the event, is highly illustrative of the extent to which the baneful passion of jealousy is carried in this transatlantic clime. A young officer, on a tour of inspection, arrived on the eve of St. John at a small villa in Minas. On the following morning, he accompanied the capitao mor of the district to the celebration of high mass. During the ceremony he was forcibly struck with the beauty of a young female kneeling near the altar. Young, ardent, and impetuous, he expressed his admiration with all the indiscreet warmth of licentious passion. The innocent object of his aspirations was the wife of the capitao mor, who, however, vouchsafed no answer to his anxious inquiries; but his brow grew dark, and even as he bowed down before the elevated host, he meditated a deed at which the blood runs cold. On leaving the church, he framed an excuse for leaving the officer during the remainder of the day; but in the evening he rushed into his apartment, and, holding up a knife reeking with blood, exclaimed with a hysterical laugh, "Your intended victim is now beyond the reach of dishonour?" Among a people entertaining such extravagant notions of honour, it would be but natural to expect to find the purity of the female character fixed at an elevated point. This, however, is unfortunately not the case; few places, perhaps, persent a more lamentable picture of vice and

licentiousness than Villa-Rica, the capital of the province of Minas. To such a pitch is it carried, that a proposal to form a "liason" the most " equivoque" with a young female would not be received by her family as an insult, but acceded to, or declined, according as they might deem it advantageous. But, on the other hand, a clandestine correspondence, although carried on with the most honourable intentions, would, if prematurely discovered, bring down the vengeance of the family on the offender. The Mineheiro never forgives an affront; he will track his victim with the ruthless spirit of a tiger, till he has an opportunity of wreaking his revenge. The knife in the hands of these people is a most formidable weapon. With his left arm enveloped in the thick folds of his poncho, the Mineheiro, under cover of this shield, advances fearlessly against an experienced swordsman : if foiled in his onset, he will spring back ten or fifteen paces with the agility of a mountain-cat, and throw his knife at his advancing foe with unerring and fatal precision. Monthly Mag.

CARDS OF THE POPISH PLUT.
For the Olio.)

Continued from page 334.
Ace of Spades. - The Consult att
Somerset-house.

Two of Spades-The Funeral of Sir E. B. Godfree.

Three of Spades-The Execution of the murtherers of Sir E. B. Godfree.

Four of Spades-The murtherers of Sir E. B. Godfree are diverting themselves at Bow after the murther.

Five of Spades-The body of Sir E. B. Godfree carried to Primrose hill on a horse.

Six of Spades-The dead body of Sir E. B. Godfree convey'd out of Somersethouse in a sedan.

Seven of Spades-The body of Sir E. B. Godfree is shew'd to Captain Bedlow and Mr. Prance.

Eight of Spades-Sir E. B. Godfree carrying up into a roome.

Nine of Spades-Sir E. B. Godfree strangled Girald going to stab him. Ten of Spades-Sir E. B. Godfree is perswaded to goe down Somerset-house yard.

Knave of Spades-Sir E. B. Godfree dogg'd by St. Clement's church.

Queen of Spades- The Club at ye Plow Alehouse for the murther of Sir E. B. Godfree.

King of Spades-Mr. Prance discovers the murther of Sir E. B. Godfree to the King and Councell.

(To be concluded next paper)

A LAND OF PROMISE.

;

There is certainly no spot in the new world, or perhaps in the world at large, more inviting to emigrants, with small capitals, than the province of Tucuman. The city of San Miguel del Tucoman is seated in the midst of one of the most fertile plains in the world, producing rice, Indian corn, wheat, barley, the sugarcane, tobacco, sundry fruits and vegeta bles, and whatever else the husbandman Black cattle, may desire to cultivate. horses, mules, sheep, and goats, roam in large flocks and herds, in superabundant pasture. The mountains, about six leagues from the town, are covered with wood and timber of the finest kind orange and lemon trees abound upon the declivities, and the summits are clothed with rich pasture, thither the cattle are driven during the hot months of summer. -The forests of this province are said to contain some of the most useful and beautiful woods, whether for building, They for machinery, or for furniture. supply most of the wood-work used in the mining districts. Immense axle-trees, some of which are said to have employed three years on the road before reaching Potosi, at the cost of one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars each, are procured in these forests. Orange trees grow to a size unknown in Europe, and whole cartloads of the fruit are conveyed to the town by any one who chooses to take the pains of gathering them.

Temple's Travels in Peru.

A MAN HIS OWN GRANDFATHER.

In a neighbouring county there was a widow and her daughter-in-law, and a man and his son. The widow married the son, and the daughter the old man. The widow was therefore mother to her husband's father, and, consequently, grandmother to her own husband. They had a son, to whom she was great-grandmother. Now, as the son of a greatgrandfather must be either a grandfather or great uncle, this boy was one or the other. He was his own grandfather !— and this actually was the case with a boy

at Norwich School.

Fine Arts.

EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY

Look on this picture and upon this -HAMLET

THE magnet of attraction, as a work of art, the production of a first-rate genius, embodying in the splendour of its effect every charm both of colour, composition, and drawing, is Etty's Judith, No. 124.

381

A part of the interior of Holofernes' tent is seen, from whence Judith has just retreated with his head, which she is handing to a female attendant, whose expression is of fear and horror. The guards are scattered about the tent of their master, calmly locked in the arms of Morpheus; their athletic frames display Etty's consummate skill in the human form. The figure and attitude of Judith is finely conceived, though we could wish to have seen her face. The brilliancy of the colouring is magical; we know not if Etty has discovered the Venetian secret, but this we know, if for the future he improves as he has of late years done, to what a pitch of greatness will he not In these dull times, such carry the arts! a prospect kindles a flame in the breast of an artist, unknown, unfelt by other mortals. Happily for himself and his country, Etty has a competency, in a pecuniary point of view, which will support him in his arduous endeavours to elevate the arts, and gain for her the honourable distinction of possessing an Historical School. He has three others, all equally distinguished by his beauties; No. 37. The Storm.-Representing a man and a female in an open boat, in a tremendous sea; the purity of colouring in the female is beautiful; her expression of countenance shows forcibly the effect her situa tion has upon her, while instinctively she clings to the man for support, when his No. 380. The

aid can be of no avail.

Dancer.-A female dancing, with two recumbent figures, and a landscape back ground. No. 331. Candaules, King of Lydia, shows his wife by stealth to Gyges, one of his courtiers, as she goes to bed, is an exquisite gem.

Pickersgill, out of his number, has two excellent female portraits, Nos. 188 and 379. Portraits of Mrs. T. H. Baily, and Miss Ellen Marsh.-Both exquisitely painted, the colouring clear, rich, and the whole in good keeping. His portrait, No. 137, of the Duke of Argyle, is a very able performance.

Phillips, Jackson, Partridge, Faulkner, and Westall, have each some excellent portraits, as also have Howell, quite a new exhibitor, and Rothwell, from the Royal Academy at Dublin, of whom so much has been said and puffed about in certain weekly organs of such communication, that we are sure, and we are not single in this opinion, it has done him much harm; for out of his four portraits only one can be reckoned good, so that at present he is a very unequal painter; in fact, so inferior are the others to the single one, No. 447, that we could scarce believe they were by the same hand.

[ocr errors]

The one in question is certainly a very masterly work; the face is extremely well painted, the tints transparent, rich, and natural, but he works up his drapery too much, which produces a woolly effect, instead of being bold and spiritedly touched in; vide Lawrence, Reynolds, Rubens, in fact all the first-rate portrait painters. Let him look to it, and he will pass the Rubicon; he evidently has genius, and an eye for good colouring.

Those individuals (and we count ourself of that number) who are admirers of Wilkie, when he charmed us with his pictures of familiar life, must deeply regret the alteration which has taken place in his style. However honourable the distinction of Portrait Painter in ordinary to the King may be, however kindly the feeling may have been of his Majesty, when he was induced to confer that honour on the painter, with all humble and due submission we must still question the policy both of patron, in bestowing, and artist, in accepting of that office, when (no disparagement be it spoken) he is so totally incompetent for the duty. We speak not partially, we appeal to every discriminating person, we appeal to his own immediate friends, whether he is fit, and whether he has succeeded? Neither his previous study, nor style of painting, is suitable to it, and his former productions will always awaken powerful and fearful comparisons, by no means favorable to his present performances. His portrait of his Majesty in his Highland costume is a complete failure; we compare it (with no traitorous nor libellous insinuation to arouse the sting of" Scarlet Jemt,") to some of those semblances of men placed at the doors of vendors of Lundy Foot and Irish Blackguard. The head wants character, life, and spirit; it looks as if it did not belong to the body, and the body appears not to appertain to the legs; there is no unity in the whole figure, it is devoid of firmness and roundness; the only thing we can find to praise is the plaid dress, but this is meagre excellence, the last of all claims to merit. Turn we now to the other; No. 125. His Majesty K. George IV. received by the nobles and people of Scotland, upon his entrance to Holyrood House. Here again is a falling off. His Majesty (Heaven bless him!) looks as if he were in the pillory, or nigh to strangulation, and the whole wants clearness, or perhaps Wilkie wished to represent the effect of a Scottish mist, being a Scottish subject; and how comes it that his Majesty is on foot, and some of the noblemen riding?

† Paul Clifford.

Among the finest of Jackson's portraits are No. 48. Portrait of General Sir H. Dalrymple; and 143. Portrait of the Marquis of Chandos.-The latter is a whole length.

Beneath this is an excellent painting,
No. 144. Shylock and Jessica. G. S.
Newton, A.

Jessica, my girl, here are my keys,
Look to my house. MER. OF VEN.

Mr. Turner ought to blush, or turn yellow, when he looks at this Jessica, and compares it to his own extravagant pro throwing great expression both into the

duction. Mr. Newton has succeeded in

her father, the piercing eye of the Jew bespeaks his suspicious nature, and the girl looks as demurely as she possibly cau, when we consider she is in anticipa tion of eloping; it is cleverly composed, richly coloured, and boldly handled.

countenance and manner of Jessica and

No. 426. Abbot Boniface. By the

same.

He was gazing indolently on the fire, partly engaged in meditation on his past and present fortunes, partly occupied by endeavouring to trace towers and steeples in the red embers.

THE MONASTERY.

A very fac-simile of monastic indolence
and gluttony. On the table are various
good things of this world, with which (as
we heard a wag on viewing it say), he
of light is well managed.
was about mortifying his flesh. The effect

No. 284. Mount St. Michael, Cornwall. C. Stanfield.-It is only now and then, or by fits and starts, that the Academy will do justice to merit, and fortunately this fine production is well hung, and most ably is it executed; it leaves us nothing to desire, nature is stamped in every touch.

No. 275. The Shrine. D. Roberts.Here is an instance of the shocking manner with which good works are treated; instead of occupying as it deserves, a conspicuous place, it is thrust into a corner on the floor, and on the opposite corner, similarly treated, is a beautiful composi tion, sweetly coloured and drawn, No. 297. The Welcome. E. T. Parris.

Looks like impatience chiding weak delay;
He comes! he comes! and on his gallant grey,
Lord of my soul! how this short absence proves
The value of a heart which truly loves.
GENTS' POEMS.

While upon the subject of paintings, we must mention the collection of por traits by Lawrence now exhibiting at the British Institution, for the benefit of his family. Excellent as he always was, yet we regret to say that it had been better if several, (which we will hereafter notice,) had never been admitted. C. I. H.

[ocr errors]

Landscape Illustrations of the Waver ley Novels. Part 2. Charles Tilt. We have no hesitation in pronouncing this Number of the Landscape Illustra tions to be superior to the first. It contains four chaste and elegant engravings of views described or alluded to in the novels of " Guy Mannering,' "Old Mortality," and "Rob Roy." Those of "Loch Ard," and "The Waste of Cumberland," are beautiful specimens of the art, and are alone worth the price of the whole number. We again strongly recommend this elegant work to our readers, many of whom are probably subscribing to the new edition of the Waverley Novels, here so ably illustrated.

Customs of Various Countries.

SOCIETY AND MANNERS IN BRAZIL.

Many of the prevailing manners and domestic habits of this people are of Moorish origin. With the exception of the highest class of society, the Brazilians take their meals squatted a-la-Turc on mats spread on the ground. A very singular custom is observed at these repasts towards a stranger. The host, or the person whom chance may place beside him, extracts from his plate some portion of the dainty it may contain, and, in return, will convey some choice morsel from his own on to that of the stranger guest. As the use of knives and forks is on these occasions most religiously dispensed with, there is certainly something in this custom revolting to our European refinement; but here it is the pledge of hospitality, like salt with the wandering Arab.

Some traces of the language of flowers, so common all over the East, are still to be found in Brazil. A stranger on entering a house, is invariably presented with a flower by some female member of the family. This custom has survived the lapse of time, and the gradual revolution of manners; but the language, the delicate allusion, the sentiment of high-flown gallantry and tender affection, allegorically expressed by these beautiful productions of nature, is as little understood by the Brazilian as the mathematical analysis of the tables, by which he calculates an eclipse, by the modern Brahmin. By nature a Gascon, a Brazilian's description both of persons and things must be receiv ed with cautious imitation, for they are always in the richest vein of oriental bombast. I have repeatedly heard the emperor compared to a god, and his people to a nation of heroes. Their usual style of addressing a person is "most illustrious," A splendid entertainment is merely termed "hum copo d'ago," a glass of water;

[ocr errors]

while the courage of some favourite military officer is represented as something superhuman, varying in a ratio from that of ten to a hundred thousand devils. "Tem o animo de ceno-mil diabos,' is the hyperbole used on such occasions. One unacquainted with their national character would imagine he were residing among a nation of fire-eaters; but in few countries is the personal dignity of man sunk to a lower ebb than in Brazil. During a nine years' residence, I never heard of a single duel, nocturnal assassination being the fashionable mode of vindicating outraged honour. The rigid state of seclusion in which the females are kept, deprives society of that fascinating polish of exterior cast over its surface in other countries by the influence of the softer sex. The mind of the Brazilian female is left in all the wild luxuriance of uncultivated nature; her existence is monotony itself, gliding on in its dull course in the society of her slaves, to whom in point of intellect she is little superior; but her manners are soft and gentle, and her sensibilities, when roused, have all the fiery energy of her native clime. Interesting, rather than beautiful, her sedentary life tinges her cheek with a sickly hue; while early marriage gives to her figure an exuberant embonpoint, which, however, in the oriental taste of the country, is considered the beau ideal of personal beauty in both sexes. In this precocious climate ladies are grandmothers at seven and twenty. Female education, I have already remarked, is an absolute nullity; that of the other sex is not of a more elevated character. With the exception of those who have pursued their studies abroad, it is extremely rare to meet with any one who possesses even elementary knowledge on any branch of science or polite literature. Few among them ever take the trouble of reading their own beautiful Lusiad. Indolent, addicted to gambling, and a slave to the grossest sensuality, which but too often degenerates into the most criminal excesses, all the finer feelings of our nature are early blunted in the mind of the Brazilian, who bears the loss of his nearest and dearest friends with an indifference amounting to apathy.

Monthly Mag.

[blocks in formation]

Diary and Chronology.

Wednesday, June 16.

St. Aurelian, Bish. and Conf-Sun rises 44m after 3-sets 16m after 8. June 16, 1722.-Anniversary of the death of the English bero, John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. In that pleasing work of Sir Thomas Bernard's, "The Comforts of Old Age," written as a dialogue, we find put into the mouth of Bishop Hough, one of the interlocutors, the following honourable mention of the victor of Blenheim. "It was acuteness and sagacity of mind that enabled Marlborough to compel the surrender of the entire French army at Blenheim, and in one day to annihilate the tyrannic and destructive power of France. Among those who congratulated our deliverer upon his welcome arrival in 1688, one of the gayest and most lively cour tiers that I saw in the whole party, was Sergeant Marnard, then about my present age. I observed the kindness with which the Prince complimented him on his period of life, (he was then ninety,) and on his having out-lived all the lawyers of his time; I might,' replied the old man, have out-lived the law too, if your highness had not arrived.'"

4

Thursday, June 17.

St. Botolph, Abbot, died A.D. 655.-High Water 54m after 10mor.-30m after 11 After. June 17, 1734.-Died, T. 84, Marshal Villars, a distinguished warrior of France. This skilful general was solicited by his sovereign, Louis XIV. to take the command of the French army in Italy, when upwards of eighty-three years old, in order to defend the Sardinian territory. So vigorous were the measures taken by the Marshal. that we find no sooner had he joined the King of Sardinia against the enemy, than he drove the imperial army out of the Milanese territory, and rescued that country from an unexampled severity of oppression. This brave old man, at the siege of Milan, answered a question concerning his age with the following piece of plea santry, "Dans peu de jours J'aurois MIL-AN."

*

Friday, June 18.

[ocr errors]

St. Marina Virgin, 8th Cent.-Sun rises 43m after 3-sets 17m after 8. June 18, 1723.-Expired In his 78th year, Arthur Murphy, the successful translator of Tacitus, and author of several esteemed dramatic productions. Mr. Murphy, as a man of high talents and polished manners, lived respected, and, as a believer in Christianity, he was long, say his friends, resigned to the will of his Creator; often repeating from Pope the following lines:

Half taught by reason, half by mere decay,
To welcome death, and calmly pass away.
Saturday, June 19.

St Juliana Falconieri, Vir. died A.D. 1340.-High Water 0h 32m Morn-1h 0m Aftern. June 19, 1821.-Died Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. G.C.B. Such a distinguished name, known wherever civilization has extended itself, speaks more than any record we could introduce within our narrow limits. His time, his fortune, his talents, his labours, and his influence, were all devoted to the extension and cultivation of science, particularly natural history.

Sunday, June 20

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

Lessons for the Day, 4 chap. Judges Morning-5 chap. Judges Evening.

St. Bain, Bishop of Teronanne, A.D. 711.

The

June 20, 1825.-Expired of a wound received at Waterloo, the brave colonel Sir Henry Walton Ellis, of Worcester, who distinguished himself by a series of brilliant actions performed during fifteen years of active service in the cause of his country in Holland, Egypt, America, the West Indies, Spain. Portugal, and France. high estimation in which Colonel Ellis was held, may be gathered from the Duke of Wellington's dispatch announcing his death, wherein he laments him as a public loss, and a friend. He was interred in the field of battle, and has left behind him a name of imperishable lustre. Alas! all the honours he atchieved and received from his sovereign and country serve but to illustrate the words of the poet, that,- "The paths of glory lead but to the grave."

Monday, June 21.

St. Ralph Bishop, died A. D 866.

June 21, 1675-On this day was laid the first stone of St. Paul's Cathedral. This superb structure was finished in 1710, under one architect, the famous Sir Christopher Wren, and under one prelate, Henry Compton, Bishop of London. Tuesday, June 22.

St. Alban -High Water 58m after 2 Morn.-19m after 3 Afternoon.

St Alban.-This saint, who suffered for his faith, was the first Christian martyr.in Britain. He died A.D. 303.

June 22, 1746.-Fought on this day by the ancient Swiss, the decisive battle of Morat, when they signalized themselves by gaining a complete victory over Charles the Bold, and established that independence which they had long been struggling for against surrounding nations. Note. With the next number will be published a Supplement, completing Part 34, and Vol. V., containing the Preface, Index, Title, &c. illustrated with a fine Engraving, and a Splendid Vignette. The Editor takes this opportunity to mention that the Sixth Volume will be commenced with an entire new fount of type, cast expressly for the work, and that it is his intention, at the earnest solicitation of numerous readers, to back the engraving with type for the future. Every care will be taken that the engravings are not injured, as a somewhat thicker paper will be used; by the alteration, and some further improvement in the last page, the readers of the Olio will gain in every part nearly three pages of additional matter.

« AnteriorContinuar »