and which he penned as fast as I could read,-vanished from the paper and from my mind, leaving both as blank as before..."

The next apparition is that of the Great Unknown, fancifully imagined. "I caught the disappearing face of my former visitor, turned over his shoulder, with an arch significance of expression, which made it at once, ' another and the same,' and left me bewildered with transport at having discovered the greatest secret of the age, yet grievously tempted to doubt whether I had made any discovery at all. Of one thing, however, I am positive to this hour, that as the sun shone from the passage into the room, I saw the shadow of Sir Walter Scott following the person who went out.

The next "was in no hurry, how ever, for display; and to do him justice, he pored so long over his task, writing very slowly, halting sometimes on the down-stroke of a letter, and so frequently retracing, interlining, and blotting out, that having lost all patience, I was ready to push him from the seat, when he suddenly rose; is eye kindled into rapture; and, from a completely disfigured and illegible sheet,-in tones that yet ring in my ear, like music remembered from infancy, be recited about twenty lyric lines; a spell in which he had bound up so much harmony, splendour and pathos of language, imagination and feeling, that I could have listened to the repetition of the strain a thousand and a thousand times over, from morning till evening on a midsummer's day, and afterwards realized all the romance of the song in the fairy land of a Midsummer Night's Dream.

"Yet had he scarcely read them once, when Southey, who had been walking to and fro in the passage, till he could hold out no longer, burst into the room, and Campbell, whom I forgot to name before, vanished in a moment; but whether he went through the door, the window, or the ceiling, I could not distinguish. - -

Southey and Bloomfield are now sketched, and their writings disappear. "But this enchantment, as well as the rest, melted away like the rainbow

from my paper, while I gazed upon it, I had not time to regret the loss, for another of the tuneful fraternity, of diminutive stature, but with the airiness and vivacity of a bird, darting in at the door, lighted on the chair, and rapidly cross-lined and speckled my paper with the words and the melody of a song, composed and set to music by himself: which he immediately warbled forth with the sweetness of a redbreast, at the fall of the leaf. It was simple and passionate, tender and indignant, at the same time. The burthen, of course, was the beauty and the wrongs of a female, but whether she was his mistress or his country I could not precisely determine; if it was Ireland of whom he sung, his patriotism had the fervour of love; if it was Delia, his love had the impetuosity of patriotism. Would that he had always written as worthily or as ambiguously; the name of the bard, then, would never have been degraded under that of Little, much less under that of

Moore !----"

"W. had run through half a dozen of his nightingale cadences, and might have sung till next morning without hazard of interruption from me, when a being of almost super-human appearance made a third in our company. He might have issued from the world of spirits, for before either of us were aware, he stood glaring upon us. W. perceiving him, instantly flew away with his birds, and left me alone with the mysterious apparition. It was Byron! he seized the pen,-it became a magician's wand in his grasp;-he touched the ink-stand,-it expanded into a cauldron like that of the witches in Macheth, and there was a dance of

black spirits and white,-blue spirits and grey,' about it, using their ineffable incantations with such effect, that the walls of the house fell into nothing before them, and my Lord suddenly unfolding the paper, which had already undergone so many metamorphoses, it stretched itself into a landscape, under

the gloom of night, with a wan ray of the moon in the last quarter gleaming along it. Instantly we found ourselves, the mighty lord and I, in a corner of Lara's hall.

"A loud but hesitating succession of raps at the door, dissipated the whole phantasmagoria. A poet, who shall be nameless, came in; I looked up, and recollected myself!"

THE

HE Pasha of Egypt is a very extraordinary character. By birth a Greek, and enslaved in his early youth, he enjoyed no advantage of education; but in the course of his administration of the government of the celebrated province at present under his control, he evinces the wonderful effects which may be wrought by a mind naturally sagacious and energetic. Having established himself as a military chieftain, too formidable to be controlled by the Divan of Constantinople, he has of late years devoted himself to commercial enterprizes, which, if his life be spared, or if they are continued after his death, must tend to the speedy recivilizing of the ancient parent of the arts and sciences. He first directed his attention to the cultivation of sugar, of which he grew a considerable quantity; but as the quality was coarse, by the aid of a Scotch agent he established an extensive sugar refinery, the produce of which has occasionally been found a matter of anxiety to the European dealers in refined sugar in the Levant. In the course of the process of refinement he had occasion for a steam-engine, with which, we have been informed, he was supplied by the British Ministry, who wished to conciliate his favour by so acceptable a present; which, however, we have been told, he pretended he wished to possess only as an object of curiosity.

At a later period, an English gentleman, high in his confidence, advised him to turn his attention to the cultiva tion of cotton. He accordingly procured from the United States, in separate quantities, so as to produce no alarm, several tons weight of the best cotton seed, which he has sown in different spots on the banks of the Nile, favourable to the growth of the cotton plant. His success in this new

speculation has hitherto been decisive. A few months ago, a hundred bags of his cotton was sold at Liverpool, and is found, on working, to be superior to the Sea Island cotton. Several vessels have within these few days cleared out from Liverpool to Alexandria, where he has thirty thousand bags ready for sale; and his next year's crop is expected to be one hundred thousand. If the civilization of his people is within many degrees commensurate with his progress in agriculture, so that they can take a tolerable proportion of our manufactures in exchange for the raw material, Jonathan may look about him.

At present the purchases are made from the Pasha in hard dollars. *It will easily be believed that the rising power of this extraordinary man is viewed with extreme jealousy by the Porte. Accordingly, a short time ago, the Grand Signor, sent an agent with a couple of executioners, with instructions to bring his head to Constantinople; but the Pasha's spies gave him speedy intelligence of the danger that awaited him. He made preparations accordingly, and the ministers of death, instantly on their arrival in Egypt, and before they could display the fatal firman, were deprived of their heads, which the Pasha pickled and sent to the Sublime Porte, with a history of his providential escape from the plots of assassins. Since then he has remained unmolested in the prosecution of his grand and useful designs, and all who wish well to the progress of civilization in Africa, will pray that he may live a thousand years.

The Pasha, we further hear, bought from Rundel and Bridge the Pitt diamond, and has paid for it. The diamond was lately consigned to the care of the captain of a British ship of

war.

THE

HE last time the Taigheirm was performed in the Highlands, was in the island of Mull, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, and the place is still well known to the inhabitants. Allan Maclean, commonly styled Allan Mac Echan (son of Hector,) was the projector of these horrid rites; and he was joined by Lachlan Maclean, otherwise denominated Lachain Oer (dun Lachlan.) They were men of resolute and determined characters, and both young and unmarried. The institution was no doubt of pagan origin, and was a sacrifice offered to the Evil Spirit, in return for which the votaries were entitled to demand two boons. The idea entertained of it at the time must have been dreadful, and it is still often quoted for the purpose of terrifying the young and credulous. The sacrifice consisted of living cats roasted on a spit while life remain ed, and when the animal expired, another was put on in its place.

This operation was continued for four days and nights, without tasting food. The Taigheirm commenced at midnight between Friday and Saturday, and had not long proceeded, when infernal spirits began to enter the house or barn in which it was performing, in the form of black cats. The first cat that entered, after darting a furious look at the operator, said, "Lachain Oer, thou son of Neil, that is bad usage of a cat." Allan, who superintended as master of the rites, cautioned Lachlan, that whatever be should bear or see, he must continue to turn the spit; and this was done accordingly. The cats continued to enter, and the yells of the cat on the spit, joined by the rest, were tremendous. A cat of enormous size at last appear ed, and told Lachain Oer that if he did not desist before his great-eared brother arrived, he never would behold the face of God. Lachlan answered, that if all the devils in hell came, he would

not flinch until his task was concluded. By the end of the fourth day there was a black cat at the roof of the barn, and their yells were distinctly heard beyond the Sound of Mull, in Morven.

The Taigheirm at length was finished, and the votaries were then to demand their due reward on the spot where the rites were performed. Allan was agitated by the fearful sights he had witnessed, and made use of two words meaning wealth. Lachlan, who, though the youngest man, had the greatest firmness, and had all his wits about him, asked progeny and wealth, and each obtained literally what he asked.

When Allan was on his death-bed, and his pious friends advised him to beware of the wiles of Satan, he replied, that if Lachain Oer (who was then dead) and himself were to have the use of their arms, they would dethrone Satan, and take up the best births in his dominions. When Allan's funeralprocession approached the churchyard, the second-sighted present saw Lachain Oer at some distance in full armour, at the head of a party in sable attire, and the smell of sulphur was perceived by all the people.

The stone on which Cluase More, the fiercest of the cats, sat, is still exhibited, with marks visible in small pits on the surface. The word Taigheirm may mean a house of arms, or the yells of cats, by a variation in the accent,

Allan's figure, in full armour, is cut on the stone which covers his grave; and the story of the Taigheirm, is always attached to his name to this day.*

Cameron, of Lochiel, performed the Taigheirm some time before this, and was presented with a small silver shoe, which was to be put on the foot

of every son born in that family; and this custom was always continued, until the shoe was unfortunately lost when Lochiel's house was consumed by fire in 1746. This shoe fitted all of them

but one; and he afterwards turned his back to the foe at Sheriff Muir, having inherited a large foot by his mother, who was of another race.

WHEN Macbeth, the usurper, obtained possession of the Scottish throne, tradition says that he created his brother Thane of Cawdor. Of this brother was descended, in a direct line, Sir Hugh Calder, who held that estate in the 15th century.

Sir Hugh had one daughter, his only child, and having no prospect of other children, she was destined to inherit the whole of his ample domains. While yet very young, she was an object of desire to the needy and to the ambitious. John of Lorne, second son of the Earl of Argyle, procured minute information of the situation and circumstances of the family, and he resolved on carrying her away. Having selected a trusty party of his clan and followers, he found no difficulty in getting possession of the heiress of Calder, who was nursing at some distance from her father's ancient castle. The nurse guessing the purpose for which the child was taken, bit a joint of her little finger to mark her identity, and instantly gave the alarm to her father. Sir Hugh made an early and vigorous pursuit, and was pressing hard on a party of the marauders, who had charge of a large boiler for cooking provisions.

YOUTH is the victim of a morn,

That flies the coming day;

It is the blossom on the thorn,

Which rude winds sweep away.

*Tis like the charming hue which glows Upon a virgin's face;

Till care hath nipp'd her fading rose,
And wither'd every grace...

It is the image of the sky

In glassy waters seen;
When not a cloud appears to fly
Across the blue serene.
But when the waves begin to roar,
And lift their foaming head,
The mimic stars appear no more,
And all the heaven is fled.
'Tis fleeting as the passing rays
Of bright electric fire;

Campbell of Inverliver, who commanded this division, saw that the child would be rescued, unless means were found to retard the pursuit. He ordered his own seven sons, who accompanied him, to invert the boiler, and to defend it to the last extremity. His commands were obeyed, and the seven brothers fell in defence of the boiler. From the extraordinary bravery with which it was defended, the Calders were convinced that the heiress was beneath it, and consequently exerted all their efforts to obtain possession of the boiler; but, behold, they found nothing there! The main body, however, gained time to escape in safety, and Morilla Calder was carried to Loch Awe in triumph. In the midst of the joy expressed for acquiring possession of so rich an heiress, Campbell, of Achnanbreck, asked what was to be done if the girl died before she was of marriageable age? Inverliver promptly replied, that she could never die so long as a red-haired lassie was to be found on either side of Loch Awe. Of the marriage which afterwards took place, is descended the present highly respectable and noble family of Cawdor.

Which gild the pole with sudden blaze, And in that blaze expire.

And tender as the filmy threads,

Which, in the dewy dawn,

From flower to flower Arachne spreads
Wide o'er the verdant lawn.

It is the morning's gentle gale,
Which, as it softly blows,
Scarce seems to sigh across the vale,
Or bend the blushing rose.

But soon the gathering tempests pour,

And all the sky deform;

The gale becomes the whirlwind's roar,
The sigh, a raging storm.

For care and sorrow's morbid gloom,
And heart-corroding strife,
And sickness, pointing to the tomb,
Await the noon of life.

L
UKE x. 30. A certain man
went down from Jerusalem to
Jericho, and fell among thieves."

"About six o'clock in the morning, a Janissary was in waiting. Having been repeatedly assured that there was no danger on this side Jericho, and scarcely believing that there was any on the other, I had resolved upon hav ing no other attendant, except him and my servant Nocholai. I was at the same time provided with a letter to the Governor of Jericho, commanding him to furnish me with an escort. As we were on the point of starting, Nicholai expressed a wish to see the Jordan: a horse was procured; he girded on his sword, and, with my fowling-piece in his hand, we sallied forth. The route is over hills, rocky, barren, and uninteresting. We arrived at a fountain, and here my two attendants paused to refresh themselves. The day was so hot, that I was anxious to finish the journey, and therefore I hurried forwards. A ruined building situated on the summit of a hill, was now within sight, and I urged my horse towards it. The Janissary now galloped by me, and making signs for me not to precede him, he rode into and round the building, and then motioned me to advance. We came next to a hill, through the very apex of which has been cut a passage, the rocks overhanging it on either side. I was in the act of passing through this ditch when a bullet whizzed by close to my head. I saw no one, and had scarcely time to think, when another was fired some short distance in advance. I could as yet see no one: the Janissary was yet beneath the brow of the bill, in his descent: I looked back, but my servant was not yet within sight. I looked up, and within a few inches of my head were three muskets and three men taking aim at me. Escape or resistance were alike impossible. I got off my horse. Eight men jumped

down from the rocks and commenced a scramble for me. I observed also a party running towards Nicholai. At this moment the Janissary galloped in among us, with his sword drawn ; and, as I knew that if blood were spilt I should be sacrificed, I called upon him to fly. He wounded one man that had hold of me, and presently cut down a second Arab, and all the rest scrambled up the rocks. The Janissary turned his horse and rode off, calling on me to follow him, which I did on foot. In the mean time the Arabs prepared the matchlocks, and opened a fire upon us, but only few of their shots came very near. We had advanced about a league, when two of the banditti made a show of cutting us off. A sudden panic seized the Janissary; he cried on the name of the prophet, and galloped away. I called out to him that there were but two; that with his sword and pistols, if we stopped behind a stone, we could kill them both. He rode back towards the Arabs; they had guns, and the poor fellow returned full speed. As he passed I caught at a rope hanging from his saddle. I had hoped to have leaped upon his horse, but found myself unable; my feet were dreadfully lacerated by the honey-combed rocks. Nature would support me no longer; I fell, but still clung to the rope. In this manner I was drawn some few yards, till, bleeding from my ancle to my shoulder, I resigned myself to my fate. As soon as I stood up, one of my pursuers took aim at me, but the other happening to advance between us, prevented his firing. He then ran up, and with his sword aimed such a blow as would not have required a second. His companion prevented its full effect. so that it merely cut my ear in halves, and laid open one side of my face. They then stripped me naked."

SIR F. HENNIKER'S TRAVELS.