Old Raths. two years. At last, knowing it to be a dry summer. This report is quite a good bit of ground, he resolved to as well attested as the other. sit up of a night to see what was used to be there: and so he did, himself and his two sons. About twelve o'clock, as they were standing, as it might be this way, what should they see rising out of the lake only a fine big cow and seven heifers, and they making towards his little field. Tha guthine says Morty to himself, is this the way of it? So he beckoned to his sons to come betune them and the lake, and turn them into the pound. The old cow seen what they were about, and, without ever spaking a word, made a dart right between the two sons and into the water with her. But the heifers they drove home, and inclosed them in a paddock, where they staid for a year; until one evening the gorsoon forgot to lock the gate, when they all made off into the lake, and were never heard of more." It is said that there is a magnificent palace under this water, one of whose turrets is visible above the surface in These very ancient places are a favourite haunt of the elves; and woe the axe or the spade to tree, shrub, to the hardy man who dares to apply or soil, in these hallowed spots. They the face of the country, and form are very numerously scattered over great eye-sores to the improving class of landholders, who have acquired wit but lack courage to adventure first in enough to contemn the superstition, the cause of common sense. I knew one stout man who lost an eye in the attempt to root out an old thorn on had a fine meadow turned up and one of these places; another who destroyed for his pains; and a third, who declared that the very night after he had superintended an exploit of a similar kind, he saw three siteogs, in the shape of strapping bucaughs, take each a cleave of turf from the reek in ENGLISH OPERA. The almost unequalled success of Der Freischulz having thrown the novelties prepared for this Theatre a little into arrear, the Proprietor favoured us with two new pieces on the same evening-Jonathan in England, and The Frozen Lake; the former the acknowledged production of Mr. Peake, and the latter attributed, and we believe correctly, to Mr. Planche. Jonathan in England, as its title implies, contains the adventures of that entertaining character during a visit to this country. He is first introduced to us at Liverpool, accompanied by his Nigger, whom he is anxious to "swop for a pony," or dispose of for a certain number of dollars. Here he delivers his "uncle Ben's" letter of introduction, and after getting turned out of the "Waterloo Hotel," for smoking, and brawling with his sable attendant, and meeting with some very absurd and improbable adventures at another inn to which he has thought proper to retire, procures a further recommendation and starts for the metropolis. It so happens, however, that the same gentleman who has recommended our friend Jonathan to Alderman Grossfeeder, has also sent him a postillion, one Natty Larkspur, who is anxious to succeed to the "vacant saddle" of his predecessor; and in the confusion which took place at the inp, in which Natty was a principal performer, the letters having got exchang, ed, the American, on his arrival, is taken for the Post-Boy, and "wicey wasey." Here, in the Alderman's family, we are fa voured with some amusing equivoque, until the mystery is cleared up, and the characters and persons of Jonathan and the Postillion satisfactorily identified. Mathews, for whom the piece was expressly written, laboured hard for its success, and threw all his little comicalities with great effect into the part of Jonathan; but the principal deficiency is a want of something to do. The phraseology of the character we are already familiarized to, and so far the nov elty of the thing is a little worn off. It required therefore to be strengthened by a certain number of ludicrous or ingenious selections to render it additionally entertaining, and as these are but sparingly supplied by the author, the effect is not exactly what we had anticipated, and Jonathan's adventures are, upon the whole, far from satisfactory. The best attempt at character in the piece, is that of the "swan-hopping Alderman ;" and the American's interview with the City knight, who is himself a bit of a wag, is very diverting. Keeley had a whimsical little part assigned him, which he played with his accustomed naivete; but the mistakes arising from his intrusion into the traveller's bed-room, have bee dramatized so often as to have become perfectly tedious. The piece indeed, as a whole, will add nothing to Mr. Peake's reputation: it is not, in fact, a dramatic composition there is too much of the "Wit-snapper" about it. Strings of puns, good, bad, and indifferent, are very well in their places; but the writer who would earn a lasting reputation must supply us with something better: they will do for the garnish, but are not substantial enough of themselves to furnish out the meal. VARIETIES. MARGATE HEALTH-HUNTING. "Come to Margate," says Mrs. Abrahams, "there you will get a colour and an appetite,bless you." Well, down they all go. First they take a warm bath, then a cold bath-floundering about for an hour in the water -stay out sauntering about in the night air...poke themselves into crowded libraries and dancing-rooms-go to bed at break of day-and then come to town in a fever! Thus it has been lately with several; and we at present visit a case which has had narrow escape from death-all brought on by health-hunting at Margate.-Let people, if they go to watering places for health, go to bed at ten o'clock-rise early,-immerse themselves in the water daily, and instantly leave it-live moderate-and mix with the amusements only at proper hours, and they will return with improved health and spirits; but Margate now a-days, since steam came into fashion, is the place to become an invalid. a LORD BYRON. Lord Byron, like his predecessors Napoleon and Dr. Johnson, it appears has also had his Boswell, in the person of Captain Medwin, a cousin of the late Percy Bysshe Shelley. This gentleman, who we understand is distinguished for his literary attainments, went to Italy in the autumn of 1821 for the benefit of his health, and residing for a considerable period with Lord Byron at Pisa, on the most familiar terms, was in the daily habit of noting down his conversations for his own amusements, and to curious matter for private reference. He alleges, that although the various communications were made to him without any injunctions to sececry, they would not have been given to the world had it not been for the destruction of his Lordship's own memoirs, which he considers to have been the inheritance of the public, and their suppression a serious loss. AFRICAN LIONS. "The The first number of the South African Journal, published at the Cape of Good Hope, contains some very interesting details respecting the Lions of that country. The writer says, that beyond the limits of the colony, they are accounted peculiarly fierce and dangerous, and he thinks Mr. Barrow's representation, that they are cowardly and treacherous, is a conclusion drawn from limited experience or inaccurate information. prodigious strength of this animal (he observes) does not appear to have been overrated. It is certain that he can drag the heaviest ox with ease a considerable way; and a horse, heifer, hartebeest, or lesser prey, he finds no difficulty in throwing over his shoulder and carrying off to any distance he may find convenient. I have myself witnessed an instance of a very young lion conveying a horse about a mile from the spot where he had killed it and a more extraordinary case has been mentioned to me on good authority, where a lion, having carried off a heifer of two years old, was followed on the track for five hours, above 30 English miles, by a party on horseback; and throughout the whole distance, the carcase of the heifer was only once or twice discovered to have touched the ground. The Bechuano Chief, old Peyshow (now in Cape Town) conversing with me a few days ago, said that the lion very seldom attacks man if unprovoked; but he will frequently approach within a few paces and survey him steadily; and sometimes he will attempt to get behind him, as if he could not stand his look, but was yet desirous of springing upon him unawares. If a person in such circum stances attempts either to fight or fly, he incurs the most imminent peril; but if he has sufficient presence of mind coolly to confront him, without appearance of either terror or aggression, the animal will in almost every instance after a little space, retire. The overmastering effect of the human eye upon the lion has been frequently mentioned, tho' much doubt ed by travellers; but, from my own inquiries among lion-hunters, I am perfectly satisfied of the fact; and an anecdote related to me a few days ago by Major Mackintosh, proves that this fascinating effect is not restricted to the lion. An Officer in India, well known to my informant, having chanced to ramble into a jungle, suddenly encountered a Royal Tyger. The rencounter appeared equally unexpected on both sides, and both parties made a dead halt, earnestly gazing on each other. The gentleman had no fire-arms, and was aware that a sword would be no effective defence in a struggle for life with such an antagonist. But he had heard that even the Bengal tyger might be sometimes checked by looking him firmly in the face. He did so. In a few minutes, the tyger, which appeared prepared to make his final spring, grew disturbed-slunk aside-and attempted to creep round upon him behind. The Officer turned constantly upon the tyger, which still continued to shrink from his glance; but darting into the thicket, and again issuing forth at a different quarter, it persevered for above half an hour in this attempt to catch him by surprize; till at last it fairly yielded the contest, and left the gentleman to pursue his pleasure walk. The direction he now took, as may be easily believed, was straight to the tents to double quick time."-After relating several terrific stories of encounters with lions, the writer concludes his article with one, not quite so fearful, related by Lucas Van Vuuren, a Vee Boor, his neighbour at the Bavian's river:"Lucas was riding across the open plains about daybreak, and observing a Lion at a distance, he endeavoured to avoid him by making a circuit. Lueas soon perceived that he was not dis posed to let him pass without further parlance, and that he was rapidly approaching to the encounter, and being without his roer (rifle) and otherwise little inclined to any closer acquaintance, he turned off at right angles laid the sambok freely to his horse's flank, and gallopped for life. The horse was fagged, and bore a heavy man on his back; the lion was fresh, and furious with hunger, and came down upon him like a thunderbolt! In a few seconds he overtook Lucas, and springing up behind him, brought horse and man in an instant tothe ground. Luckily the boor was unhurt, and the lion was too eager in worrying the horse to pay any immediate attention to the rider. Hardly knowing himself how he escaped, he contrived to scrambled out of the fray, and made a clean pair of heels of it till he reached the nearest house. Lucas, who gave me the details of this adventure himself, made no observations on it as being any way remarkable, except in the circumstance of the lion's audacity in pursuing a "Christian man" without provocation in open day! But what chiefly vexed him in the affair was the loss of the saddle. He returned next day with a party of friends to take vengeance on his feline foe; but both the lion and saddle had disappeared, and nothing could be found but the horse's clean-picked bones. Lucas said, he could have excused the schelm for killing the horse, as he had allowed himself to get away, but the felonious abstraction of the saddle (for which, as Lucas gravely observed, he could have no possible use) raised his spleen mightily, and called down a shower of curses whenever he told the story of this hairbreadth escape." EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON. Our correspondent at Leeds has forwarded to us the following account of one of the most extraordinary phenomena of which we remember to have seen an account in England:"On Thursday last, the 2d inst. at Haworth, five miles south of Keighley, in the West Riding of York, and on the borders of Lancashire, about six o'clock in the evening, a part of the highlands on the Stanbury-moor opened into a chasm, and sunk to the depth of six yards, in some places exhibiting a ragged appearance, and forming two principal cavities-the one was about 200 yards, and the other not less than 600 yards in circumference. From these hollows issued 2 immense volumes of muddy water, and uniting at a distance of upwards of 100 yards from their sources, constituted, for about two hours, an overwhelming flood from 40 to 50 (sometimes 70) yards in width, and seldom less than four yards in depth. This dark slimy mixture of mud and water followed the course of a rivulet, overflowing its banks for 20 or 30 yards on each side, and to the distance of seven or eight miles from the immediate irruption; all this way there is deposited a black moorish substance, vary. ing from eight to 36 inches in depth, and mixed occasionally with sand and rocky fragments, pieces of timber, and uprooted trees, which had been borne along by the impetuous torrent. This heavy and powerful stream broke dowu one solid stone bridge, made breaches in two others, clogged up and stopped several mills, laid flat and destroyed several whole fields of corn, and overthrew to the foundation several hedges and walls. In its course it entered the houses, floating the furniture about, to the astonishment and terror of the inhabitants. At the time of the irruption the clouds were copper-coloured,and lowering; the atmosphere was strongly electric, and unusually close and sultry. There was at the same time loud and frequent thunder, with much zigzag lightnings, peculiarly flaring and vivid. The whole is conjectured by the neighbours to be caused by some subterraneous commotion, the most considerable as to its results that has taken place in the kingdom for many generations. The river Aire, at Leeds, presented the effects of this phenomenon last Friday afternoon: the water that came down the river was in such a polluted state as to have poisoned great quantities of fish; and the water continuing in much the same turbid state, has become entirely useless for culinary purposes as well as for dyers, &c. on the outside were very noisy. However, nothing serious occurred, and the ceremony was completed. Another day a pig was killed and placed in a coffin; it was then carried to Norwood, where it was burnt. The ashes were collected and preserved, and a portion of them was folded up in paper, and given to the believers. The an imal was accompanied to the place where it was burnt by a considerable party, some armed with sabres. The house, in which the ceremony of lying in state was performed, on being inspected, betrayed that apprehensions had been entertained by the occupiers, that it might possibly be enter ed by the Police, for it was completely stripped of all the paraphernalia of Office, not a book nor a vestige of the ceremony having been left behiud. LONGEVITY. In the commune of Esladens, Upper Gar onne,there died on the 22d ult, a man of the name of Stephen Baque, who was upwards of 124 years of age, He was born on the 16th of January, 1700. For the last sixty years, he constantly traversed the Pyrenees, collecting medicinal herbs, and living on the charity of the peasantry. The ex cess of alms which his extraordinary repu tation for sanctity obtained, he distributed benevolence, he repeatedly refused the suc among the poor; and, relying on general cours even of Government. His grotesque dress excited surprise, and his piety com manded respect wherever he went. His the last, was so strong as to enable him to memory, which continued unimpaired to recognize his friends after 50 or 60 years of absence, and recount to youngsters of 80, the occurrences which took place in the days of their grandfathers. LITERARY NOVELTIES. It is whispered about, that the author of "Pleasures of Hope" has a volume of Poetry in the press; consisting of one princi pal, and several minor poems. The author of the "Stories of Old Daniel," &c. &c. has a new work in the press, entitled "The Sisters of Nansfield, a Tale for young Women." Mr. Boaden's Life of Mr. Kemble is now in the press. "Fire-side Scenes," by the author of the "Bachelor and Married Man," will appear early next season. In the press," Dunallan, or the Methodist Husband," in 3 vols. 12mo. by the author of "Decision," "Father Clement," &c. FOLLOWERS OF JOANNA SOUTHCOTE. On Saturday week, an application was made for an officer to protect a house near Whitehall, at the back of the County-terrace, New Kent-road When he got there, he discovered the windows were broken, and the neighbourhood had been greatly disturbed by a crowd of persons who had assembled round the house a few days before. The cause of the crowd assembling was reported to be owing to some ceremonies which were carrying on by the followers of Joanna Southcote; and it was alleged "Tales of the Crusaders," by the author by the spectators, that an old woman was of " Waverley," are announced as being in then lying in state to personate the proph- the press, and may be expected about the etess (Joanna) and that several wax end of November. candles were disposed about the room. The old Lady who had thus undertaken to per form the part of a corpse, had so well exe cuted her task, that it was almost doubtful, on the first glance, whether she was or was not a corpse. Prayers were offered up by a sort of High Priest of the prophetess. While this was being carried on, the crowd NEW WORKS. The Improvisatrice, 2d edit. 12mo. 10s. 6d.-Bidcombe Hill, a Poem, 8vo. 78.Poems for a Melancholy Hour, 12mo. 5.-Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life, 4th edit. 8vo. 10s. 6d.-Memoirs of the Dulane Family, 12mo. 4s.-The Two Mothers, by the author of 'Emma and her Nurse,' 12mo. The sparkling e'e that my welcome sang, I sought my reward in my Marian's face- Below, my Marian,-hush thee, my maiden- I the' e'en come hither, with fresh flowers laden, Yet I'll mind thee, too-glances like thine, As in search of some lover divine, Hath a treasure, hath a treasure in his breast, Oh! she'll have it, oh! she'll have it ere she resh, Then may I not, &c. |