A WEEKLY LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY. The extensive circulation of the IRIS, renders it a very desirable medium for ADVERTISEMENTS of a LITERARY and SCIENTIFIC nature, No. 71.-VOL. II. THE PHILANTHROPIST. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1823. veral small ulcerations.-The symptoms caused [The following paper cannot be too strongly recommended to by a large dose of sulphuric acid, and the apimmediate and frequent perusal: nor can we omit this oppor-pearances which present themselves after death, tnuity of thanking our kind correspondent for his disinterest-lead to a conclusion that the sulphuric acid desedness and generous sympathy.-Professional knowledge becomes valuable when it thus gratuitously enlightens aud troys like the solid mineral poisons, by inducing benefits mankind.-ED.] inflammation and disorganization of the stomach, with which the brain and heart (but more particularly the former) are brought into consent, or in other words, to sympathize. ESSAY II. MINERAL POISONS. ON ACIDS. It is not often that the mineral acids are chosen as the instruments of self-destruction, but they have been taken by mistake, and the result has been a forfeiture of life: the public prints have within the three or four past years communicated to us very many awful instances of death from the swallowing of Oxalic Acid in lieu of Epsom Salts, a poison scarcely to be surpassed by any, both for the celerity of its operation, and the fatality of its effects; it is therefore imperatively required that the mineral acids should be admitted into our essays, as poisons of a most formidable description, and oxalic acid in particular, from being so very notorious for its poisonous properties. fortis, on the animal economy, is in every res- similar. The name of OXALIC ACID is sufficient to cre- well as vegetable substances, and is used occa- PRICE 3 d. and label it in a conspicuous manner, VIOLENT POISON. Experiments have recently been made at Edinburgh with a view to determine its modus operandi on the animal economy, and the conclusions drawn were as follow: 1st. That when introduced into the stomach in large doses, and highly concentrated, it irritates and corrodes it, and death takes place by a sympathetic injury of the nervous system. 2ndly. When given in a diluted state, it acts neither by irritating the stomach, nor by sympathy, but through the medium of absorption upon distant organs. 3rdly. Though it is absorbed it cannot be detected in any of the fluids, because probably it undergoes decomposition in passing through the lungs, and its elements combine with the blood. 4thly. It is a direct sedative. The organs it acts upon through absorption, are the spine and brain primarily, and the lungs and heart secondarily; and the immediate cause of death is sometimes paralysis of the heart, sometimes slow asphyxia, and sometimes a combination of both. this acid was in 1814. A woman swallowed half TREATMENT OF PERSONS POISONED BY ACIDS. SULPHURIC ACID, (commonly known by the an ounce of it instead of the sulphate of mag- A fact well known in chemistry is the incomname of oil of vitriol) is not likely to be selected nesia, or Epsom salts, and expired in forty mi-patible existence of an acid and an alkali. If for the purpose of suicide, but when taken in nutes after, enduring the most horrible agonies. an acid and an alkali be brought into contact, a the quantity of a few drams in an undiluted Death, however, has been known to ensue in a mutual action takes place, and a new compound state, it will produce death, unless remedies are much shorter time. Within the last two years arises out of it; that compound will be a neuat hand; and even the hazard is tremendously a great number of cases in which this poison tral salt, provided the acid and alkali are in due great, because concentrated acids are powerfully proved fatal, have appeared in the public news-proportions according to chemical circumstances, caustic, and therefore exert an immediate action papers and periodical journals, and the neces- thus from sulphuric acid and soda there will reon the mouth, gullet, stomach, and intestines.sity that something should be done to prevent sult sulphate of soda, or Glauber's salts-sulI shall mention an experiment performed by such occurrences has been so urgent that the phuric acid and potash, sulphate of potashOrfila, and to be found in his "Traite de Toxi- attention of chemists and scientific men has been sulphuric acid and magnesia, sulphate of magcoligie," illustrative of the caustic effects of the directed to the subject. Oxalic acid is a salt nesia, or Epsom salts, and so on. If the ressulphuric acid. Two drams of concentrated presenting small, needle like, white crystals, pective quantities should exceed the bounds of sulphuric acid, mixed an hour before with a very much resembling those of the sulphate of neutralization, the new salt will contain either dram of water, were introduced into the stomach magnesia, or the Epsom salts; and to the simi- the acid or alkali in excess. An alkaline subof a dog, and the gullet was tied. Ten minutes larity of the two salts in their external character stance then may be regarded as a counter-poison afterwards the animal experienced horrible suf- are to be assigned the fatal mistakes which have or antidote in cases of poisoning by acids; but ferings, and made great efforts to vomit. At happened. Not many months ago publicity was a choice out of them must be made, because one o'clock (the injection having been made at given to a case where a country man and his some are corrosive or caustic, and therefore canfive minutes after twelve at noon) the dog con- wife found in the street a paper of salts, which not be given in sufficient quantity with impunity. tinued to utter plaintive cries; he made fresh they mistook for Epsom; the man standing in Suppose a person swallowed in mistake half and fruitless efforts to vomit; his breathing did need of an aperient medicine dissolved and swal- an ounce or more of oil of vitriol, the error not appear at all incommoded. Half an hour lowed a portion of it, and died in consequence. would be immediately detected. What is to be afterwards, he had great inclination to vomit, Seeing the ground of error, it has been suggested done in this case? By loss of time life is immiand was agitated to that degree that he broke that preparers of the oxalic acid should colour nently endangered: our first aim should be to the thread with which the esophagus or gullet it by artificial means, and thereby destroy the destroy the nature of the poison, and experience had been tied, and which was partly burnt by resemblance which it naturally bears to Epsom has shown that common magnesia is well calcuthe sulphuric acid. The dog instantly threw up salts: this suggestion is judicious, and the adop-lated to do this. A dram or more of this media great quantity of matter as black as ink, and tion might prevent the mischief. Either this cine mixed with water should be administered, of the consistence of a thick liquid, similar in should be done, the sale of it prohibited, or and repeated twice or thrice at intervals of five appearance to sulphuric acid which has remained certain restrictions established. The temptation or ten minutes. The patient will soon begin to a long time upon straw or matches. His suffer- to druggists to vend this article is so great from vomit, and this is to be encouraged by frequent ings continued very severe, and obliged the ani- the profits arising out of it, and from the ex- potations of tepid water. Should not the whole mal to remain lying on his belly. The dog died traordinary demand, that it will not be easy to of the contents of the stomach be rejected, no at half-past three o'clock, having survived the persuade them to exclude it from their shops. harm will follow its passing into the intestines, introduction of the poison three hours and I was surprised beyond measure the other day for the compound formed is Epsom salts, which twenty five minutes. Quarter of an hour after to hear of the quantity sold by a druggist in will be beneficial as a mild aperient. Magnesia death the body was examined. The internal or this town, for the purpose, I presume, of clean- is at hand almost always, but should it not be a mucous membrane of the stomach was destroyed, ing leather, or of that domestic economy adopted solution of soap may be given instead. and partly expelled, by the vomiting. The by the continental innkeepers. I do not think middle or muscular coat, which was of a cherry it necessary that the article should be expelled red colour, was covered over in some points from the shops, but the druggist should vend it with a sort of blackish pulp, and exhibited se- with as great a caution as he would do arsenic, When the acid is thus chemically acted upon, the patient is not be considered as rescued from peril; its effects on the gullet and stomach are yet to be combated: and to do this a medical practitioner must be consulted, great judgment, great care, and active treatment are necessary. To hint at what should be done would be to put into the hands of the unprofessional man a weapon which he would be more likely to abuse than to use. The whole scene had passed with a rapidity that confused the female, who was unconsciously rejoicing in In poisoning too from aquafortis, magnesia is There were furs and silks peeping from under a large the escape of the buck, as he rather darted like a the antidote best to be relied on. Oxalic acid proves more rapidly fatal than either the sulphuric or nitric acids. Out of all the cases on record there are only two or three instances of recovery. Some have died in a few hours after taking this poison-some within an hour-one person survived scarcely 15 minutes -and in the London Courier for Feb. 1st, 1823, notice is given of an inquest on the body of a young man who lived scarcely ten minutes. The same substances as act on the acids previously mentioned, act too in changing the chemical nature of the oxalic. Magnesia here is entitled to our preference, both for its simplicity and its efficacy. Thus the first management of cases of poisoning from acids is very simple. The after treatment involves circumstances which can only be safely trusted to the medical practitioner. There are other mineral acids beside those mentioned, but officinal preparations of them are not common. Should of them however any be procured, and criminally given or accidentally taken, the hints thrown out are applicable, and therefore may be extended, to them. S. REVIEW. the head. From beneath this masque were to be seen part of a fine manly face, and particularly a pair of expressive, large blue eyes, that promised extraordinary intellect, covert humour, and great benevolence. The form of his companion was literally hid beneath the multitude and variety of garments which she wore. camblet cloak, with a thick flannel lining, that, by its cut and size, was evidently intended for a masculine wearer. A huge bood of black silk, that was quilted with down, concealed the whole of her head, except at a small opening in front for breath, through which occasionally sparkled a pair of animated eyes of the deepest black. years Both the father and daughter (for such was the connection between the travellers) were too much occupied with their different reflections to break the stillness, that received little or no interruption from the The former was thinking of the wife that had held this easy gliding of the sleigh, by the sound of their voices. their only child fondly to her bosom, when, four before, she had reluctantly consented to relinquish the society of her daughter, in order that the latter might enjoy the advantages which the city could afford to her education. A few months afterwards death had deprived him of the remaining companion to his solitude; but still he had enough of real regard for his child, not to bring her into the comparative wilderness in which he dwelt, until the full period had expired, to which he had limited her juvenile labours. The reflections of the daughter were less melancholy, and mingled with a pleased astonishment at the novel scenery that she met at every turn in the road. The mountain on which they were journeying was covered with pines that rose without a branch seventy or eighty feet, and which frequently towered to an additional height, that more than equalled that elevation. Through the innumerable vistas that opened be The Pioneers, or the Sources of the Susque-neath the lofty trees the eye could penetrate, until it hanna, a Descriptive Tale. By the Author of "The Spy." London, 1823. was met by a distant inequality in the ground, or was stopped by a view of the summit of the mountain which lay on the opposite side of the valley to which they were hastening. The sleigh had glided for some distance along the even surface, and the gaze of the female was bent in inquisitive, and, perhaps, timid glances, into the recesses of the forest, which were lighted by the unsullied covering of the earth, when a loud and continued bowling was heard, pealing under the long arches of the woods, like the cry of a numerous pack of hounds. The instant the sounds reached the ears of the gentleman, whatever might have been the subject of his me THIS transatlantic writer, Mr. Cooper, is one of the most successful rivals of our Northern Novelist. Whether we regard the number of his characters, their diversity, or their able developement, our admiration is equally elicited, and we evidently follow a pen that has been directed by genius, and governed by the nicest judgment. The Pioneers is intended to represent the manners and pursuits of a back-settlement in its commencement; consequently, we cannot look for deep plot, mysterious charac-ditations, he forgot it; for he cried aloud to the blackter, or romantic story; but in sketchings of scenery, persons, manners, and common and extraordinary incident, it is so extremely natural and beautiful as to reconcile us to it as it is, in all its highly interesting variety and appearances. As our extracts are copious, we feel it incumbent to be concise in our introductory remarks. The sleigh was one of those large, comfortable, old-fashioned conveyances, which would admit a whole family within its bosom, but which now contained only two passengers besides the driver. Its outside was of a modest green, and its inside of a fiery red, that was intended to convey the idea of heat in that cold climate. Large Buffalo skins, trimmed around the edges with red cloth, cut into festoons, covered the back of the sleigh, and were spread over its bottom, and drawn up around the feet of the travellers--one of whom was a man of middle age, and the other a female just entering upon womanhood. The former was of a large stature; bat the precautions he had taken to guard against the cold, left but little of his person exposed to view. A great-coat, that was abundantly ornamented, if it were not made more comfortable, by a profusion of furs, enveloped the whole of his figure excepting the head, which was covered with a cap of marten skins, lined with morocco, the sides of which were made to fall, if necessary, and were now drawn close over the ears, and were fastened beneath his chin with a black ribbon; its top was surmounted with the tail of the animal whose skin bad furnished the materials for the cap, which fell back, not ungracefully, a few inches behind Hold up, Aggy; there is old Hector; I should know his bay among ten thousand. The Leather-stocking has put his hounds into the hills this clear day, and they have started their game, you hear. There is a deer-track a few rods ahead ;-and now, Bess, if thou canst master courage enough to stand fire, I will give thee a saddle for thy Christmas dinner.' The black drew up, with a cheerful grin upon his chilled features, and began thrashing his arms together, in order to restore the circulation of his fingers, while the speaker stood erect, and, throwing aside his outer covering, stept from the sleigh upon a bank of snow, which sustained his weight without yielding more than an inch or two. A storm of sleet had fallen and frozen upon the surface a few days before and but a slight snow had occurred since to purify, without weakening its covering. meteor, than ran across the road before her, when a flat, dull sound struck her ear, quite different from the full, round reports of her father's gun, but still sufficiently distinct to be known as the concussion produced by fire arms. At the same instant that she heard this unexpected report, the buck sprang from the snow, to a great height in the air, and directly a second discharge, similar in sound to the first, followed, when the animal came to the earth, falling headlong, and rolling over on the crust once or twice with its own velocity. A loud shout was given by the unseen couple of men instantly appeared from behind the marksman, as triumphing in his better aim; and a trunks of two of the pines, where they had evidently placed themselves in expectation of the passage of the deer. Ha! Natty, had I known you were in ambush, I would not have fired,' cried the traveller, moving towards the spot where the deer lay-near to which he was followed by the delighted black, with the sleigh; 'but the sound of old Hector was too exhilarating to let me be quiet; though I hardly think I struck him either.' 'No, no, Judge,' returned the hanter, with an inward chuckle, and with that look of exultation that indicates a consciousness of superior skill; 'you burnt your powder only to warm your nose this cold evening. Did ye think to stop a full-grown buck, with Hector and the slut open upon him, within sound, with that robin pop-gun in your hand? There's plenty of pheaflying round your own door, where you may feed them sants amongst the swamps; and the snow birds are with crumbs, and shoot enough for a pot-pye any day; but if you're for a buck, or a little bear's meat, Judge, you'll have to take the long rifle, with a greased wadding, or you'll waste more powder than you'll fill stomachs, I'm thinking.' As the speaker concluded he drew his bare hand across the bottom of his nose, and again opened his enormous mouth with a kind of inward laugh. The gun scatters well, Natty, and has killed a deer before now,' said the traveller, smiling good humouredly. One barrel was charged with buck shot; but the other was loaded for birds only. Here are two hurts that he has received: one through his neck, and the other directly through his heart. It is by no means certain, Natty, but I gave him one of the two.' 'Let who will kill him,' said the hunter, rather surlily, I suppose the cretur is to be eaten.' So saying, he drew a large knife from a leathern sheaf, which was stuck through his girdle or sash, and cut the throat of the animal. If there is two balls through the deer, I want to know if there was'nt two rifles fired-besides, who ever saw sich a ragged hole from a smooth-bore, as this is through the neck ?—and you will own yourself, Judge, that the buck fell at the last shot, which was sent from a truer and a younger band, than your'n or mine 'ither; but for my part, although I am a poor man, I can live without the venison, but I don't love to give up my lawful dues in a free country. Though, for the matter of that, might often makes right here, as well as in the old country, for what I can see.' An air of sullen dissatisfaction pervaded the manner of the hunter during the whole of this speech; yet he thought it prudent to utter the close of the sentence in such an under tone, as to leave nothing audible but the grumbling sounds of his voice. ་ In a few moments the speaker succeeded in extricating a double-barrelled fowling-piece from amongst a multitude of trunks and band-boxes. After throwing aside the thick mittens which had encased his hands, that now appeared in a pair of leathern gloves tipped with fur, he examined his priming, and was about to move forward, when the light bounding noise of an animal plunging through the woods was heard, and directly a fine back darted into the path, a short distance ahead of him. The appearance of the animal was sudden, and his flight inconceivably rapid; but the traveller appeared to be too keen a sportsman to be disconcerted by either. As it came first into view he raised the fowling-piece to his shoulder, and, with Ah! the game is becoming hard to find, indeed, a practised eye and steady hand, drew a trigger; but Judge, with your clearings and betterments,' said the the deer dashed forward undaunted, and apparently un-old hunter, with a kind of disdainful resignation. The Nay, Natty,' rejoined the traveller, with undisturbed good humour, it is for the honour that I contend. A few dollars will pay for the venison; but what will requite me for the lost honour of a buck's tail in my cap? Think, Natty, how I should triumph over that quizzing dog, Dick Jones, who has failed seven times this season already, and has only brought in one wood-chuck and a few grey squirrels.' time has been, when I have shot thirteen deer, without counting the fa'ns, standing in the door of my own hut; -and, for bear's meat, if one wanted a ham or so; from the cretur, he had only to watch a-nights, and he could shoot one by moonlight, through the cracks of the logs; no fear of his over-sleeping himself, n'ither, for the howling of the wolves was sartin to keep his eyes open. There's old Hector,'-patting with affection a tall hound, of black and yellow spots with white belly and legs, that just then came in on the scent, accompanied by the slut he had mentioned; see where the wolves bit his throat, the night I druve them from the venison I was smoking on the chimney top-that dog is more to be trusted nor many a Christian man; for he never forgets a friend, and loves the hand that gives him bread.' There was a peculiarity in the manner of the hunter, that struck the notice of the young female, who had been a close and interested observer of his appearance and equipments, from the moment that he first came into view. He was tall, and so meagre as to make him seem above even the six feet that he actually stood in his stockings. On his head, which was thinly covered with lank, sandy hair, he wore a cap made of fox-skin, resembling in shape the one we have already described, although much inferior in finish and ornaments. His face was skinny, and thin almost to emaciation; but yet bore no signs of disease; on the contrary, it had every indication of the most robust and enduring health. The cold and the exposure had, together, given it a colour of uniform red; his grey eyes were glancing under a pair of shaggy brows, that overhung them in long hairs of grey mingled with their natural hue; his scraggy neck was bare, and burnt to the same tint with his face; though a small part of a shirt collar, made of the country check, was to be seen above the over-dress he wore. A kind of coat, made of dressed deer-skin, with the hair on, was belted close to his lank body, by a girdle of coloured worsted. On his feet were deer-skin moccasins, ornamented with porcupines' quills, after the manner of the Indians, and his limbs were guarded with long leggings of the same material as the moccasins, which, gartering over the knees of his tarnished buck-skin breeches, had obtained for him, among the settlers the nick-name of Leather-stocking, notwithstanding his legs were protected beneath, in winter, by thick garments of woollen, duly made of good blue yarn. Over his left shoulder was slung a belt of deer-skin, from which depended an enormous ox horn, so thinly scraped, as to discover the dark powder that it contained. The larger end was fitted ingeniously and securely with a wooden bottom, and the other was stopped tight by a little plug. A leathern pouch hung before him, from which, as he concluded his last speech, he took a small measure, and, filling it accurately with powder, he commenced re-loading the rifle, which, as its butt rested on the snow before him, reached nearly to the top of his fox-skin cap. The traveller had been closely examining the wounds during these movements, and now, without heeding the ill-humour of the hunter's manner, exclaimed 'I would fain establish a right, Natty, to the honour of this capture; and surely if the bit in the neck be mine, it is enough; for the shot in the heart was unnecessary-what we call an act of supererogation, Leather-stocking.' You may call it by what learned name you please, Judge,' said the hunter, throwing his rifle across his left arm, and knocking up a brass lid in the breech, from which he took a small piece of greased leather, and wrapping a ball in it, forced them down by main strength on the powder, where he continued to pound them while speaking. It's far easier to call names, than to shoot a buck on the spring; but the cretur come by his end from a younger hand than 'ither your'n or mine, as I said before.' What say you, my friend,' cried the, traveller, turning pleasantly to Natty's companion; shall we toss up this dollar for the honour, and you keep the silver if you lose-what say you, friend?' ་ That I killed the deer,' answered the young man with a little haughtiness, as he leaned on another long rifle, similar to that of Natty's. Here are two to one, indeed,' replied the Judge, with a smile; 'I am out-voted-over-ruled, as we say, on the bench. There is Aggy, he can't vote, being a slave; and Bess is a minor-so I must even make the best of it. But you'll sell me the venison; and the deuce is in it, but I make a good story about its death.' The meat is none of mine to sell,' said Leatherstocking, adopting a little of his companion's hanteur ; ⚫ for my part, I have known animals travel days with shots in the neck, and I'm none of them who'll rob a man of his rightful dues.' You are tenacious of your rights, this cold evening, Natty,' returned the Jadge with unconquerable good nature; but what say you, young man, will three dollars pay you for the buck?' First, let us determine the question of right to the satisfaction of us both,' said the youth, firmly but respectfully, and with a pronunciation and language vastly superior to his appearance; with how many shot did you load your gun?' With five, Sir, said the Judge, gravely, a little struck with the other's manner; are they not enough to slay a buck like this?' 'One would do it; but,' moving to the tree from behind which he had appeared, you know, Sir, you fired in this direction-bere are four of the bullets in the tree.' The Judge examined the fresh marks in the rough bark of the pine, and, shaking his head, said, with a laugh You are making out the case against yourself, my young advocate-where is the fifth?' Here,' said the youth, throwing aside the rough. over-coat that he wore, and exhibiting a hole in his under garment, through which large drops of blood were oozing. 'Good God!' exclaimed the Judge, with horror; have I been trifling bere about an empty distinction, and a fellow-creature suffering from my hands without a murmur? But hasten-quick-get into my sleighit is but a mile to the village, where surgical aid can be obtained;-all shall be done at my expense, and thou shalt live with me, until thy wonnd is healedaye, and for ever afterwards, too.' Α (To be continued in our next.) THE DIVER, A BALLAD TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN. (From the New Monthly Magazine.) "WHERE is the man who will dive for his King, It seem'd that the womb of the ocean would bear It thunder'd again as the wave gather'd slow, And now ere the waves had returned from the deep, It drizzled, it thunder'd, it hiss'd and it whirl'd, Long life to the monarch! how happy are they I felt myself seized, with the quickness of thought But God in his mercy, for to him alone Ball'd up to a mass, in a moment uncoil'd I saw a behemoth contend with a shark; The sounds of their hideous duel awaken The black-bellied whale, and the slumbering craken. The monarch has taken the cup in his hand, THE CHILD ANGEL:-A DREAM. shoots, and to fall fluttering, because its birth And a name was given to the Babe Angel, and And it could not taste of death, by reason of its adoption into immortal palaces; but it was to know weakness, and reliance, and the shadow of human imbecility; and it went with a lame gait; but in its goings it exceeded all mortal children in grace and swiftness. Then pity first sprang up in angelic bosoms; and yearnings (like the human) touched them at the sight of the immortal lame one. And with pain did then first those Intuitive Essences, with pain and strife to their natures (not grief), put back their bright intelligences, I chanced upon the prettiest, oddest, fantas- and reduce their etherial minds, schooling them tical thing of a dream the other night, that you to degrees and slower processes, so to adapt shall hear of. I had been reading the "Loves their lessons to the gradual illumination (as of the Angels," and went to bed with my head must needs be) of the half-earth-born; and what full of speculations, suggested by that extraor-intuitive notices they could not repel (by reason dinary legend. It had given birth to innumer- that their nature is to know all things at once), able conjectures; and, I remember, the last the half-heavenly novice, by the better part of waking thought, which I gave expression to on its nature, aspired to receive into its undermy pillow, was a sort of wonder, "what could standing; so that Humility and Aspiration went on even-paced in the instruction of the glorious Amphibium. come of it." I was suddenly transported, how or whither I could scarcely make out-but to some celestial region. It was not the real heavens neither not the downright Bible heaven-but a kind of fairy-land heaven, about which a poor human fancy may have leave to sport and air itself, I will hope, without presumption. Methought-what wild things dreams are I was present-at what would you imagine! at an angel's gossiping. Whence it came, or how it came, or who bid it come, or whether it came purely out of its own head, neither you nor I know-but there lay, sure enough, wrapt in its little cloudy swaddling bands-a Child Angel. Sun-threads-filmy beams-ran through the celestial napery of what seemed its princely cradle. All the winged orders hovered round, watching when the new-born should open its yet unclosed eyes: which, when it did, first one, and then the other-with a solicitude and apprehension, yet not such as, stained with fear, dims the expanding eye-lids of mortal infantsbut as if to explore its path in those its unhereditary palaces-what an inextinguishable titter that time spared not celestial visages! Nor wanted there to my seeming- the inexplicable simpleness of dreams!-bowls of that cheering nectar, But, by reason that Mature Humanity is too gross to breathe the air of that super-subtile region, its portion was, and is, to be a child for ever. And because the human part of it might not press into the heart and inwards of the palace of its adoption, those full-natured angels tended it by turns in the purlieus of the palace, where were shady groves and rivulets, like this green earth from which it came: so Love, with Voluntary Humility, waited upon the entertainment of the new-adopted. And myriads of years rolled round (in dreams Time is nothing), and still it kept, and is to keep, perpetual childhood, and is the Tutelar Genius of Childhood upon earth, and still goes lame and lovely. By the banks of the river Pison is seen, lonesitting by the grave of the terrestrial Mirzah, whom the angel Nadir loved, a Child; but not the same which I saw in heaven. A pensive hue overcasts its lineaments; nevertheless, a correspondency is between the child by the grave, and that celestial orphan, whom I saw above; and the dimness of the grief upon the heavenly, is as a shadow or emblem of that which stains the terrestial. And this correspondency is not to be understood but by dreamsAnd in the archives of heaven I had grace to Nor were wanting faces of female ministrants, read, how that once the angel Nadir, being -stricken in years, as it might seem so dexter- exiled from his place for mortal passion, upous were those heavenly attendants to counter-springing on the wings of parental love (such feit kindly similitudes of earth, to greet with terrestrial child-rites the young Present, which -which mortals caudle call below earth had made to heaven. -Lond. Mag. power had parental love for a moment to suspend the else irrevocable law) appeared for a brief instant in his station; and, depositing a Then were celestial harpings heard, not in wondrous Birth, straightway disappeared, and full symphony as those by which the spheres the palaces knew him no more. And this charge are tutored; but, as loudest instruments on was the self-same Babe, who goeth lame and earth speak oftentimes, muffled; so to accom-lovely-but Mirzah sleepeth by the river Pison. modate their sound the better to the weak ears of the imperfect-born. And, with the noise of those subdued soundings, the Angelet sprang forth, fluttering its rudiments of pinions-but forthwith flagged and was recovered into the arms of those full-winged angels. And a wonder it was to see how, as years went round in heaven—a year in dreams is a day-continually its white shoulders put forth buds of wings, but, wanting the perfect angelic nutriment, anon was shorn of its aspiring, and fell fluttering-still caught by angel hands-for ever to put forth CORRESPONDENCE. To the editor, SIR,- While the Magazines and Newspapers teem ports of female fashions, from the feather to the shoeat the commencement of every month with profuse retye, it has been a matter of considerable surprise to me, and, no doubt, of great concern to many, that the Corinthians, Exquisites, Dandies, and Demi-dandies, should so long remain neglected in the list of public rum, notice, and have been without some "Speculum modoto guide them to the pinnacle of fashion; as well as to hand down to posterity, the exquisite taste of our own tasteful, and variefying period, in the art of male decoration. Peaceful and propitious as the times now are, when "Arma cedant toga," a report of this nature would unfailingly be received with approbation, studied with admiration, and followed by inclination. Therefore, in order to set a laudable example in an affair of such importance, I hand you a report for the last month; or rather a prospectus of what may be done to gratify so large a body of your readers, if some more able correspondent would take up the cause, and vindicate the modes of men, as is done of women, or in politer phraseology, gentlemen and ladies. Q in the corner. The few observations we have hitherto been enabled banishment of a few years, are likely to become once to make convince us that grey hats, after the temporary more prevalent and produce a plentiful crop ; among those already sported, we think, we recognize a few that are somewhat shorn of their pristine honour. The hair is disposed in so peculiar a form, that we scarcely know how to report it,the front rising in perpendicular assurance of its appearing as if saturated and emitting sparks of electric fancy, while the sides, in negligence and confusion, seem to bid defiance to the comb, and demand the assistance of the fingers only. stations round the necks of both old and young-conBlack and occasionally blue stocks still keep their trived to buckle behind-with ends in front which tye nothing and pins or brooches which fasten nothing. They far outdo the dull inventions of our ancient beau monde. The angles of the shirt collars, (vulgarly called shams) are not quite so acute as of late, and we perceive them lowered about the eighth of an inch. This has a very becoming effect on the bust and general contour. Coats and coatees are both worn, the latter however confined for the present to the exquisites-while the short frocks remind us of the out-grown ones of our childhood, reaching only a little below the knees. Some upper and under waistcoats have appeared with a high military like collar, and buttoned close to the neck; we see neither the ornament nor utility of this mode, excepting occasionally to hide unbleached linenthey are chiefly confined to Corinthians and Demis Wristbands as low as the knuckles still prevail; bat we observe among the Demis that they seldom appear beyond the first or second day of the week; some few again shew themselves about Thursday, but this is by no means general. White kid gloves bear a very ephemeral beauty, like premature old age fast fading into grey. make the same remarks; but we think the present rage Fashion in every thing bears sovereign sway, First couple and second lady hands round-first couple and second gentleman hands round-first couple lead down the middle and up again-first and second couple Poussette. ON NATURE AND ART IN POETRY. (Concluded from our last.) Lord Byron himself furnishes a striking and beautiful instance of the superiority of Nature to Art in its effect on human passion, as pictured in poetry They were alone, but not alone as they The twilight glow which momently grew lessThe voiceless sauds, and dropping caves, which lay Around them, made them to each other press, As if there were no life beneath the sky, Save their's, and that their life could never die. Such, indeed, is the true effect of Nature upon the soul. The lines under which I have run my pen are the most direct exemplification of my position. They were not alone in the chambers of man, but in the vast dome of Nature; the most gorgeous scenes of worldly art would not have drawn their hearts together like the simple solitude of the evening shore, and the solemn aspect of its natural beauty. Again. Take the following splendid passage from Manfred-for from Lord Byron's own mouth will I judge him : My joy was in the wilderness, to breathe On the swift whirl of the new-breaking wave In these my early strength exulted, or To follow through the night the moving moon, The stars and their developements; or catch The dazzling lightnings till my eyes grew dim; Or to look, list'ning, on the scatter'd leaves, While autumn winds were at their evening song. Now, could a mind like Manfred's-fallen, indeed, bat originally, and at the time to which these lines have reference, of the highest mould possible for humanity to be cast in,-could this mind have derived the same sensations from gazing on any objects of Art, as it did from communing thus with Nature in the scenes and seasons of her wildest and grandest sublimity ?-I think not. Lord Byron has made great appeal to sculpture in support of the doctrines which he upholds so much in his theory, but from which he departs so wholly in practice and he cites the Venus as being more beautiful than (almost) any thing he has ever seen in Nature. I shall not take advantage of his exception in favour of Lady Charlemont and the Albanian roadmaker, I shall merely say that I have seen numberless women who, however inferior to the Venus in form, have far excelled her in general beauty, insomuch as a woman of marble must always yield in expression to a woman of flesh and blood. Marble may have the Venus has-all the beauty of perfection of form and feature, and of gracefulness of attitude-but can it have that far superior grace, the grace of motion? Can a statue have that magical variety of beautiful colouring which delights us in the eyes, lips, teeth, hair and complexion of a living woman? Can the surface of stone possess that exquisite texture which nothing but the skin of lovely living flesh can have-that mingling of velvet and satin, with the freshness of life superadded? Can the hair of a statue float on the wind? Can the glance of its eye shift? Can the smile of its lip change?-These, it will be said are impossibilities-they are so; stone cannot be made to equal a living being-Art cannot be made to equal Nature. How beautifully this idea is expressed in the following lines ; They said her cheek of youth was beautiful Till withering sorrow blanched the bright rose there- morally, "It is better that man should be a living being than a stock or a stone?" Has Art any thing so poetical as the desert-with its ocean-like extent-its columns of moving sand-its burning and death-bearing winds-and, more than all, its occasional green spots and gushing springs, rendered doubly beautiful and grateful by their contrast to all around? I believe there is no image more frequently made use of in poetry, especially by Lord Byron himself, than this very one of a fountain in the midst of the desert As springs in deserts found seem sweet, all brackish though they be; [me. So, midst the withered waste of life, those tears would flow to How is it that caravans add poetry to the desert? It is not by the contrast between the littleness of man and the immensity of the wilds through which he journeys ?--by his toil, his privations, bis peril? We see him exposed to be swept from the face of the earth by the whirlwinds of sand, or to perish from drought in the desert; and we reflect how little he is, and how vast and awful is the wilderness around him. Which is it, then, which confers poetry-the caravan on the desert, or the desert on the caravan? Each certainly heightens and adds to the interest of the other, but the desert would still be sublime, though man never crossed its surface,-whilst the bales, and slaves, and camels of the merchants would lose all poetry, were they unconnected with the wildness and grandeur of the desert. But there is one whole class, and that the highest class, of poetry, in which Nature is all-Art nothing.I mean that of feeling and of passion. I think it will These lines certainly were written without the slight-be conceded, that the highest of all poetry is that est reference to the rivalry of Nature and art-but they were written in the true spirit of poetry, and they represent the effect of withering grief on a lovely woman, as being that Song and smile-beauty and melody, And youth and happiness are gone from her, and that her form is "chilled into a cold and joyless statue;"-that, in short, she has faded from a being, instinct with beautiful life, formed by Nature,-to It is also observable, that every image in this pas-motionless" shapen stone," chiselled by Art. May we not say, then, physically, as Godwin has said, sage of exquisite poetry is drawn from Nature--not one single one from Art. The same remark is generally applicable to the whole of the splendid poem from which these lines are taken-and, indeed, with few exceptions, to all Lord Byron's works. But it is natural that it should be so,-for all our most poetical poets (if I may so speak) derive the great majority of their images from Nature. I will defy the bestread Shakspearian to point out in his works more than one image in ten not deduced from the poetry of Nature. Lord B., in the following lines, directly contradicts the position here advanced in his letter-but, indeed, his preachments in the pamphlet are in direct opposition to his practice in poetry : she was one Fit for the model of a statuary, (A race of mere impostors, when all's done.) I've seen much finer women, ripe and real, Than all the nonsense of their stone ideal."-So have I. + Bertram. conflicts of the human heart.-And is not this all Nawhich portrays the workings of the human mind-the ture? Is not the jealousy of Othello, Nature? Is not the love of Romeo, Nature? Are not the irresolute guilt and vacillating ambition of Macbeth-the relentless cruelty of Richard- the broken-hearted madness ture's above art in that respect." I would willingly of Lear, Nature? Truly may we say with him-"Narest my quarrel upon this ground. Strike out from poetry all that relates to Man, and what have you left? which does relate to man, is wholly derived from, "Twere endless to prove by citation that all poetry and dependent upon, Nature-and has no connection with Art. To do this I might quote the better half of the poetry of the better half of poets-to do this I might quote nearly the whole of Shakspeare. You have only to take down from your shelf the first volume of Shakspeare that falls under your hand, to see how truly. Nature was the well-spring from which the streams of his genius flowed. Hence is it that he still lives within the soul of all those to whom his language |