other, can be identified, as, if such an idea be admitted, every small and rocky island in the Ionian Sea, containing a good port, might, with equal plausibility, assume the appellation of Ithaca, author in his attempt to identify the situation of These citations, we think, appear to justify the "The Venetian geographers have in a great degree contributed to raise his rock and fountain with the place of those men those doubts which have existed on the identity of the modern with the tioned by Homer. But let us now follow him in ancient Ithaca, by giving, in their charts, the name of Val di Compare to the the closer description of the scene.-After some ac island. That name is, however, totally unknown in the country, where the count of the subjects in the plate affixed, Mr. Gell Isle is invariably called Ithaca by the upper ranks, and Theaki by the vulgar. remarks: "It is impossible to visit this sequestered The Venetians have equally corrupted the name of almost every place in spot without being struck with the recollection of Greece; yet, as the natives of Epactos or Naupactos never heard of Lepanto, the Fount of Arethusa and the rock Korax, which those of Zacynthos of Zante, or the Athenians of Settines, it would be as the poet mentions in the same line, adding, that unfair to rob Ithaca of its name, on such authority, as it would be to assert there the swine eat the sweet acorns, and drink the that no such island existed, because no tolerable representation of its form can be found in the Venetian surveys black water." "The rare medals of the island, of which three are represented in the titlepage, might be adduced as a proof that the name of Ithaca was not lost during the reigns of the Roman emperors. They have the head of Ulysses, recognized by the pileum, or pointed cap, while the reverse of one presents the figure of a cock, the emblem of his vigilance, with the legend 10AKON A few of these medals are preserved in the cabinets of the curious, and one also, with the cock, found in the island, is in the possession of Signor Zavo, of Bathi. The uppermost coin is in the collection of Dr. Hunter; the second is copied from Newman, and the third is the property of R. P. Knight, Esq. "Several inscriptions, which will be hereafter produced, will tend to the cenfirmation of the idea that Ithaca was inhabited about the time when the Romans were masters of Greece; yet there is every reason to believe that few, if any of the present proprietors of the soil are descended from ancestors who had long resided successively in the island. Even those who lived, at the time of Ulysses, in Ithaca, seem to have been on the point of emigrating to Argos, and no chief remained, after the second in descent from that hero, worthy of being recorded in history. It appears that the isle has been twice colonised from Cephalonia in modern times, and I was informed that a grant had been made by the Venetians, entitling each settler in Ithaca to as much land as his circumstances would enable him to cultivate." Δηεις του γε συεσσι παρημένον· αἱ δε νέμονται "Having passed some time at the fountain, taken a drawing, and made the necessary observations on the situation of the place, we proceeded to an examination of the precipice, climbing over the terraces above the source, among shady fig-trees, which, however, did not prevent us from feeling the powerful effects of the mid-day sun. After a short but fatiguing ascent, ve arrived at the rock, which extends in a vast perpendicular semicircle, beastfully fringed with trees, facing to the south-east. Under the crag we food of access, is seen in the view of the fount. They are still the reser, of kemp two caves of inconsiderable extent, the entrance of one of which, ut difficult and goats, and in oue of them are small natural receptacles for the waift, covered by a stalagmitic incrustation. "These caves, being at the extremity of the curve formed by the precipice, open toward the south, and present us with another accompaniment to the fount of Arethusa, mentioned by the poet, who informs us that the wincherd Eumeus left his guests in the house, whilst be, putting on a thick garment, Mr. Gell then proceeds to invalidate the authori- went to sleep near the herd, under the hollow of the rock, which stribered ty of previous writers on the subject of Ithaca. Sir fount; for Minerva tells Ulysses that he is to go first to Eumaus, whore be him from the northern blast. Now we know that the herd fod near the George Wheeler and Mr. le Chevalier fall under his should find with the swine, near the rock Korax and the fount of Arechost, severe animadversion; and, indeed, according to As the swine then fed at the fountain, so it is necessary that a cavern should his account, neither of these gentlemen had visited be found in its vicinity; and this seems to coincide, in distance and situslimy the island, and the description of the latter is "ab-with that of the poem. Near the fount also was the fold or stacamos of solutely too absurd for refutation." In another Eumaus; for the goddess informs Ulysses that he should find his failfai place, he speaks of M. le C. disgracing a work servant at or above the fount. of such merit by the introduction of such fabrica- "Now the hero meets the wincherd close to the fold, which was tions;" again, of inaccuracy of the author's maps; spot where the waterfall shoots down the precipice, is at this day a g sequently very near that source. At the top of the rock, and just shore the and, lastly, of his inserting an island at the south-pastoral dwelling, which the herdsmen of Ithaca still inhabit, on acend ern entry of the Channel between Cephalonia and the water necessary for their cattle. One of these people walked on the Ithaca, which has no existence. This observation verge of the precipice at the time of our visit to the place, and seemed very nearly approaches to the use of that mono-anxious to know how we had been conveyed to the spot, that his engine syllable which Gibbon, without expressing it, so reminded us of a question probably not uncommon in the days of Bace. adroitly applied to some assertion of his antagonist, ship had brought them to the island, it being evident they could not come an who more than once represents the Ithacences demanding of ranges wit Mr. Davies. In truth, our traveller's words are foot. He told us that there was, on the summit where he wood, a small rather bitter towards his brother tourist: but we cistern of water, and a kalybea, or shepherd's hut. There am also stigen must conclude that their justice warrants their se- of ancient habitations, and the place is now called Amarathia. verity. ged and elevated spot, to secure them from the robbers of the class, "Convenience, as well as safety, seems to have pointed out the why In the second chapter, the author describes his situation of Amarathia as a fit place for the residence of the herdsmen of th landing in Ithaca, and arrival at the rock Korax part of the island from the earliest ages. A small source of water is a and the fountain Arethusa, as he designates it with treasure in these climates; and if the inhabitants of Ithaca new wind a rig sufficient positiveness.-This rock, now known by is to be recollected that the Taphian pirates were not less formidatie, even la the name of Korax, or Koraka Petra, he contends the days of Ulysses, and that a residence in the solitary part of the island, to be the same with that which Homer mentions as far from the fortress, and close to a celebrated fountain, most at all c contiguous to the habitation of Eumæus, the faith-have teen dangerous, without some such security as the rocks of Re ful swine herd of Ulysses.-We shall take the lib-Indeed, there can be no doubt that the house of Eumeus was on the tip of erty of adding to our extracts from Mr. Gell some the precipice: for Ulysses, in order to evince the truth of his story to the of the passages in Homer to which he refers only, swineherd, desires to be thrown from the summit if his narration doen Hol conceiving this to be the fairest method of exhibit- prove correct. ing the strength or the weakness of his argument. feet high, which is expressed in the plate. It may be fairly presared, ira "Near the bottom of the precipice is a curious natural gallery, about seves "Ulysses," he observes, "came to the extremity the very remarkable coincidence between this place and the Homeric ac of the isle to visit Eumæus, and that extremity was that this was the scene designated by the poet as the fantain of Areth the most southern; for Telemachus, coming from and the residence of Eumeus; and, perhaps, it would be in poble to f Pylos, touched at the first south-eastern part of another spot which bears, at this day, so strong a resemblance to a posit "thaca with the same intention." Και τότε δη μ' Οδυσηα κακος ποθεν ήγαγε δαίμων Οδυσσει· Ω. description composed at a period so very renote. There is no other fiants in this part of the island, nor any rock which bears the slightest resembhot to the Korax of Homer. "The stathmos of the good Eummus appears to have been little different, either in use or construction, from the stagni and kalybea of the press ta The poet expressly mentions that other herdsmen drove their Sucks low de city at sunset,-a custom which still prevails throughost Grace Caring winter, and that was the season in which Ulyssa visited Earra. T Homer accounts for this deviation from the prevailing customs, by carriag that he had retired from the city to avoid the suitors of Proclupe. Ther trifling occurrences afford a strong presumption that the Ithacs of Hot was something more than the creature of his own fancy, as rome hate sup posed it; for though the grand outline of a fable may be easily imagined, p • "Sweet acorns." Does Mr. Gell translate from the Lata? To ad • See his Vindication of the 15th and 16th chapters of the Decline and similar cause of mistake, μects should not be restored sumpets, l♥ Fall, &c. gratam, as Barnes has given it. Αυταρ έπην πρώτην άκτην Ιθακες ἀφικησι ise sonsistent adaptation of minute incidents to a long and elaborate falsehood We must, however, observe that "demonstration" a taak of the most arduous and complicated nature." is a strong term.-In his description of the Leuca After this long extract, by which we have endeav-dian Promontory (of which we have a pleasing ored to do justice to Mr. Gell's argument, we can- representation in the plate), the author remarks not allow room for any farther quotations of such that it is "celebrated for the leap of Sappho, and extent; and we must offer a brief and imperfect the death of Artemisia." From this variety in the analysis of the remainder of the work. expression, a reader would hardly conceive that both In the third chapter, the traveller arrives at the the ladies perished in the same manner: in fact, the capital, and in the fourth, he describes it in an sentence is as proper as it would be to talk of the agreeable manner. We select his account of the decapitation of Russell, and the death of Sidney. mode of celebrating a Christian festival in the Greek The view from this promontory includes the island church :of Corfu; and the name suggests to Mr. Gell the following note, which, though rather irrelevant, is of a curious nature, and we therefore conclude our citations by transcribing it : "We were present at the celebration of the feast of the Ascension, when the citizens appeared in their gayest dresses, and saluted each other in the streets with demonstrations of pleasure. As we sate at breakfast in the house of Zignor Zavo, we were suddenly roused by the discharge of a gun, succeeded by a tremendous crash of pottery, which fell on the tiles, steps, and pavements, in every direction. The bells of the numerous churches commenced a most discordant jingle; colors were hoisted on every mast in the port, and a general shout of joy announced some great event. Our host informed us that the feast of the Ascension was annually commemorated in this manner at Bathi, the populace exclaiming avesn o Xpisos, aλn Divos o Ocos, Christ is risen, the true God." "It has been generally supposed that Corfu, or Corcyra, was the Phracia of Homer; but Sir Henry Englefield thinks the position of that island inconsistent with the voyage of Ulysses as described in the Odyssey. That gentleman has also observed a number of such remarkable coincidences between the courts of Alcinous and Solomon, that they may be thought curious and interesting. Homer was familiar with the names of Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt; and, as be lived about the time of Solomon, it would not have been extraordinary if he had introduced some account of the magnificence of that prince into his poem. As Solomon was famous for wisdom, so the name of Alcinous signifies strength of those of Alcinous. It is perhaps worthy of remark, that Neptune sate on the In another passage, he continues this account as knowledge; as the gardens of Solomon were celebrated, so are those of Alfollows:-"In the evening of the festival, the in-cinous (Od. 7. 112); as the kingdom of Solomon was distinguished by twelve habitants danced before their houses; and at one tribes under twelve princes (1 Kings, ch. 4), so that of Alcinous (Od. 8. 300) we saw the figure which is said to have been first was ruled by an equal number; as the throne of Solomon was supported by used by the youths and virgins of Delos, at the lions of gold (1 Kings, ch. 10), so that of Alcinous was placed on dogs of happy return of Theseus from the expedition of the silver and gold (Od. 7. 91); as the fleets of Solomon were famous, so were Cretan Labyrinth. It has now lost much of that mountains of the Solymi, as he returned from Ethiopia to Ege, while he intricacy which was supposed to allude to the wind-raised the tempest which threw Ulysses on the coast of Phencia; and that ings of the habitation of the Minotaur," &c., &c. the Solymi of Pamphilia are very considerably distant from the route.-The This is rather too much for even the inflexible suspicious character, also, which Nausicaa attributes to her countryman gravity of our censorial muscles. When the author agrees precisely with that which the Greeks and Romans gave of the Jews." talks, with all the reality (if we may use the ex- The seventh chapter contains a description of the pression) of a Lempriere, on the stories of the Monastery of Kathara, and several adjacent places. fabulous ages, we cannot refrain from indulging a The eighth, among other curiosities, fixes on an momentary smile; nor can we seriously accompany imaginary site for the farm of Laertes: but this is him in the learned architectural detail by which he the agony of conjecture, indeed!—and the ninth endeavors to give us, from the Odyssey, the ground-chapter mentions another Monastery, and a rock plot of the house of Ulysses, of which he actually still called the school of Homer. Some sepulchral offers a plan in drawing! showing how the de- inscriptions of a very simple nature are included.scription of the house of Ulysses in the Odyssey The tenth and last chapter brings us round to the may be supposed to correspond with the foundations Port of Schoenus, near Bathi; after we have comyet visible on the hill of Aito!" -Oh, Foote pleted, seemingly in a very minute and accurate Foote! why are you lost to such inviting subjects manner, the tour of the island. for your ludicrous pencil! In his account of this celebrated mansion, Mr. Gell says, one side of the court seems to have been occupied by the Thalamos, or sleeping apartments of the men, &c., &c.; and, in confirmation of this hypothesis, he refers to the 10th Odyssey, line three hundred and forty. On examining his reference, we read, volume to every lover of classical scene and story. We can certainly recommend a perusal of this If we may indulge the pleasing belief that Homer sang of a real kingdom, and that Ulysses governed it, though we discern many feeble links in Mr. Gell's chain of evidence, we are on the whole induced to fancy that it is the Ithaca of the bard and of the Ἐς θαλαμοτ· τ' ιέναι, και της επιβημενοι ἐυνῆς. monarch. At all events, Mr. Gell has enabled every future traveller to form a clearer judgment on the where Ulysses records an invitation which he re- question than he could have established without ceived from Ciree to take a part of her bed. How such a "Vade-mecum to Ithaca," or a "Have with this illustrates the above conjecture, we are at a loss you, to the House of Ulysses," as the present. to divine: but we suppose that some numerical With Homer in his pocket, and Gell on his sumptererror has occurred in the reference, as we have de- horse or mule, the Odyssean tourist may now make tected a trifling mistake or two of the same nature. a very classical and delightful excursion; and we Mr. G. labors hard to identify the cave of Dexia, doubt not the advantages accruing to the Ithacennear Bathi (the capital of the island), with the ces, from the increased number of travellers who grotto of the Nymphs described in the 13th Odys- will visit them in consequence of Mr. Gell's account sey. We are disposed to grant that he has suc- of their country, will induce them to confer on that ceeded: but we cannot here enter into the proofs gentleman any heraldic honors which they may have by which he supports his opinion; and we can only to bestow, should he ever look in upon them again extract one of the concluding sentences of the -Baron Baths would be a pretty title:chapter, which appears to us candid and judicious: "Hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atrida."-Virgil. "Whatever opinion may be formed as to the identity of the care of Dexia For ourselves, we confess that all our old Grecian with the grotto of the Nymphs, it is fair to state, that Straho positively asserts that no such cave as that described by Homer existed in his time, and that feelings would be alive on approaching the fountain geographer thought it better to assign a physical change, rather than of Melainudros, where, as the tradition runs, or as ignorance in Homer, to account for a difference which he imagined to exist the priests relate, Homer was restored to sight. between the Ithaca of his time and that of the poet. But Strabo, who was We now come to the "Grecian Patterson," or an uncommonly accurate observer with respect to countries surveyd by him-Cary," which Mr. Gell has begun to publish; and self, appears to have been wretchedly misled by his informers on many really he has carried the epic rule of concealing the “That Strabo had never visited this country is evident, not only from his person of the author to as great a length as either of the above-mentioned heroes of itinerary writ. whose relations are in direct opposition to each other on the subject of ithaca, We hear nothing of his "hair-breadth 'scapes" by sea or land; and we do not even know, for the occasions. Inaccurate account of it, but from his citation of Appollodorus and Scepsius, will be demonstrated on a future opportunity." greater part of his journey through Argolis, whether respect; and the prospect of Larissa, &c., is barely ne relates what he has seen or what he has heard. equal to the former. The view from this last place From other parts of the book, we find the former is also indifferent; and we are positively assured to be the case; but, though there have been tour-that there are no windows at Nauplia which look ists and "strangers" in other countries, who have like a box of dominos,-the idea suggested by Mr. kindly permitted their readers to learn rather too Gell's plate. We must not, however, be too severe much of their sweet selves, yet it is possible to carry on these picturesque bagatelles, which, probably, delicacy, or cautious silence, or whatever it may be were very hasty sketches; and the circumstances of called, to the contrary extreme. We think that weather, &c., may have occasioned some difference Mr. Gell has fallen into this error, so opposite to in the appearance of the same objects to different that of his numerous brethren. It is offensive, in-spectators. We shall therefore return to Mr. Gel's deed, to be told what a man has eaten for dinner, or preface: endeavoring to set him right in his direchow pathetic he was on certain occasions; but we tions to travellers, where we think that he is errolike to know that there is a being yet living who neous, and adding what appears to have been omitdescribes the scenes to which he introduces us; and ted. In his first sentence, he makes an assertion that it is not a mere translation from Strabo or Pau-which is by no means correct. He says, "We are sanias which we are reading, or a commentary on at present as ignorant of Greece, as of the interior those authors. This reflection leads us to the con-of Africa." Surely not quite so ignorant; or several cluding remark in Mr. Gell's preface (by much the of our Grecian Mungo Parks have travelled in vain, most interesting part of his book) to his Itinerary and some very sumptuous works have been pubof Greece, in which he thus expresses himself:-lished to no purpose! As we proceed, we find the author observing that "Athens is now the most "The confusion of the modern with the ancient names of places in this polished city of Greece," when we believe it to be volume is absolutely unavoidable; they are, however, mentioned in such a the most barbarous, even to a proverb manner, that the reader will soon be accustomed to the indiscriminate use of them. The necessity of applying the ancient appellations to the different routes, will be evident from the total ignorane? of the public on the subject of the modern names, which, having never appeared in print, are only known to the few individuals who have visited the country. Ω 'Αθηνα, πρώτη χώρα, "What could appear less intelligible to the reader, or less useful to the is a couplet of reproach now applied to this once traveller, than a route from Chione and Z ricca to Kotchikmadi, from famous city; whose inhabitants seem little worthy thence to Krabuta to Scornochorio, an1 by the mills of Feals, while every of the inspiring call which was addressed to them one is in some degree acquainted with the names of Stymphalus, Nemea within these twenty years, by the celebrated RigaMycene, Lyreia, Lerna, and Tegea?" Although this may be very true inasmuch as it Δεντε παίδες των Ελληνον κ. τ. λ. relates to the reader, yet to the traveller we must Iannina, the capital of Epirus, and the seat of Ali observe, in opposition to Mr. Gell, that nothing can Pacha's government, is in truth deserving of the be less useful than the designation of his route honors which Mr. Gell has improperly bestowed on according to the ancient names. We might as well, degraded Athens. As to the correctness of the and with as much chance of arriving at the place of remark concerning the fashion of wearing the hair our destination, talk to a Hounslow postboy about cropped in Molossia, as Mr. Gell informs us, our making haste to Augusta, as apply to our Turkish authorities cannot depose: but why will he use the guide in modern Greece for a direction to Stympha- classical term of Eleuthero-Lacones, when that lus, Nemea, Mycenæ, &c., &c. This is neither people are so much better known by their modera more nor less than classical affectation; and it ren-name of Mainotes? "The court of the Pacha of ders Mr. Gell's book of much more confined use Tripolizza" is said "to realise the splendid visions than it would otherwise have been :-but we have of the Arabian Nights." This is true with regard some other and more important remarks to make to the court: but surely the traveller ought to have on his general directions to Grecian tourists; and added that the city and palace are most miserable, we beg leave to assure our readers that they are de- and form an extraordinary contrast to the splendor rived from travellers who have lately visited Greece. of the court.-Mr. Gell mentions gold mines in In the first place, Mr. Gell is absolutely incautious Greece; he should have specified their situation, enough to recommend an interference on the part of as it certainly is not universally known. When, English travellers with the Minister at the Porte, also, he remarks that "the first article of necessity in behalf of the Greeks. "The folly of such neglect in Greece is a firman, or order from the Sultan, (page 16, preface), in many instances, where the permitting the traveller to pass unmolested," we are emancipation of a district might often be obtained much misinformed if he be right. On the contrary, by the present of a snuff-box or a watch, at Con- we believe this to be almost the only part of the stantinople, and without the smallest danger of ex- Turkish dominions in which a firman is not neces citing the jealousy of such a court as that of Turkey, sary; since the passport of the Pacha is absolute will be acknowledged when we are no longer able to within his territory (according to Mr. G.'s own rectify the error." We have every reason to believe, admission), and much more effectual than a firmat. on the contrary, that the folly of half a dozen travel-“Money," he remarks, "is easily procured at 88lers taking this advice, might bring us into a war. lonica, or Patras, where the English have consuls." "Never interfere with any thing of the kind," is a It is much better procured, we understand, from the much sounder and more political suggestion to all Turkish governors, who never charge discount English travellers in Greece. The consuls for the English are not of the most Mr. Gell apologises for the introduction of "his magnanimous order of Greeks, and far from being panoramic designs," as he calls them, on the score so liberal, generally speaking; although there are, of the great difficulty of giving any tolerable idea in course, some exceptions, and Strune of Patras of the face of a country in writing, and the ease has been more honorably mentioned.-After having with which a very accurate knowledge of it may be observed that "horses seem the best mode of co acquired by maps and panoramic designs. We are veyance in Greece," Mr. Gell proceeds: "Some informed that this is not the case with many of these travellers would prefer an English saddle; but a designs. The small scale of the single map we saddle of this sort is always objected to by the owner have already censured; and we have hinted that of the horse, and not without reason," &c. Ths, some of the drawings are not remarkable for correct we learn, is far from being the case; and, indeed, resemblance of their originals. The two nearer for a very simple reason, an English saddle mast views of the Gate of the Lions at Mycenae are indeed seem to be preferable to one of the country, becaust good likenesses of their subject, and the first of them is unusually well executed; but the general • We write these lines from the recitation of the travellers to wam w view of Mycenae is not more than tolerable in any have alluded; but we cannot vouch for the correctnem of the Ramail. .t is much lighter. When, too, Mr. Gell calls the since it is a work "which gives him a faithful de postilion "Menzilgi," he mistakes him for his bet- scription of the remains of cities, the very existenco ters: Serrugees are postilions; Menzilgis are post- of which was doubtful, as they perished before the masters-Our traveller was fortunate in his Turks, era of authentic history." The subjoined quotation who are hired to walk by the side of the baggage- is a good specimen of the author's minuteness of horses. They "are certain," he says, "of perform-research as a topographer; and we trust that the ing their engagement without grumbling." We credit which must accrue to him from the present apprehend that this is by no means certain-but performance will ensure the completion of his ItinMr. Gell is perfectly right in preferring a Turk to a erary:Greek for this purpose; and in his general recom Mr. Hawkins mendation to take a Janissary on the tour: who, "The inaccuracies of the maps of Anacharsis are in many respects very we may add, should be suffered to act as he pleases, glaring. The situation of Phlius is marked by Strabo as surrounded by the since nothing is to be done by gentle means, or even observed, that Palius, the ruins of which still exist near Agios Giorgios, lies territories of Sicyon, Argos. Cleone, and Stymphalus. by offers of money, at the places of accommodation. in a direct line between Cleonte and Stymphalus, and another from Beyon A courier, to be sent on before to the place at which to Argos; so that Strabo was correct in saying that it lay between those four the traveller intends to sleep, is indispensable to towns; yet we see Phlius, in the map of Argolis by M. Barbie du Bocage, comfort: but no tourist should be misled by the placed ten miles to the north of Stymphalus, contradicting both history and author's advice to suffer the Greeks to gratify their fact. D'Anville is guilty of the same error. curiosity, in permitting them to remain for some the point of land which forms the port of Drepano: there are not at present "M. du Bocage places a town named Phlius, and by him Phlionte, on time about him on his arrival at an inn. They should be removed as soon as possible; for, as to any others where ancient geography is concerned. any ruins there. The maps of D'Anville are generally more correct than A mistake occurs on the the remark that "no stranger would think of in-subject of Tiryns, and a place named by him Vathia, but of which nothing truding when a room is preoccupied," our inform-can be understood. It is possible that Vathi, or the profound valley, may be ants were not so well convinced of that fact. a name sometimes used for the valley of Barbitsa, and that the place named Though we have made the above exceptions to by D'Auville Claustra may be the outlet of that valley called Kleisoura the accuracy of Mr. Gell's information, we are most which has a corresponding signification. "The city of Tiryns is also placed in two different positions, once by its but its situation is not easily fixed. The ports called Bucephalium and Piraeus seem to have been nothing more than little bays in the country between Corinth and Epidaurus. The town called Athenae, in Cynouria, by Pausanias, is called Anthena by Thucydides, book 5. 41. "In general, the map of D'Anville will be found more accurate than ready to do justice to the general utility of his Greek name, and again as Tirynthus. The mistake between the islands o directions, and can certainly concede the praise Sphæria and Calaura has been noticed in page 135. The Pontinus, which which he is desirous of obtaining,-namely, "of D'Anville represents as a river, and the Erasinus are equally ill placed in his having facilitated the researches of future travel- map. There was a place called Creopolis, somewhere toward Cynouria; lers, by affording that local information which it was before impossible to obtain." This book, indeed, is absolutely necessary to any person who wishes to explore the Morea advantageously; and we hope that Mr. Gell will continue his Itinerary over that those which have been published since his tin.e; indeed the mistakes of that and every other part of Greece. He allows that his geographer are in general such as could not be avoided without visiting the volume is only calculated to become a book of country. Two errors of D'Anville may be mentioned, lest the opportunity reference, and not of general entertainment:" but of publishing the itinerary of Arcadia should never occur. The first is, that we do not see any reason against the compatibility of both objects in a survey of the most celebrated country of the ancient world. To that country, we trust, the attention, not only of our travellers, but of our legislators, will hereafter be directed. The greatest caution will, indeed, be required, as we have premised, in touching on so delicate a subject as the amelioration of the possessions of an ally: but the field for the exercise of political sagacity is In furtherance of our principal object in this criwide and inviting in this portion of the globe; and tique, we have only to add a wish that some of our Mr. Gell, and all other writers who interest us, Grecian tourists, among the fresh articles of inforhowever remotely, in its extraordinary capabilities, mation concerning Greece which they have lately deserve well of the British empire. We shall con- imported, would turn their minds to the language clude by an extract from the author's work, which, of the country. So strikingly similar to the ancient even if it fails of exciting that general interest Greek is the modern Romaic as a written language, which we hope most earnestly it may attract, to- and so dissimilar in sound, that even a few general wards its important subject, cannot, as he justly rules concerning pronunciation would be of most observes, "be entirely uninteresting to the scholar;"extensive use. the rivers Maletas and Mylaon, near Methydrium, are represented as running toward the south, whereas they flow northwards to the Ladon; and represented as flowing from the lake of Pheneos; a mistake which arises the second is, that the Aroanius, which falls into the Erymanthus at Psophis, from the ignorance of the ancients themselves who have written on the subject. The fact is that the Ladon receives the waters of the lakes of Orchomenos and Pheneos; but the Aroanius rises at a spot not two hours distant from Psophis." THE FIRST CHAPTER OF A NOVEL, BYRON CONTEMPLATED BY LORD BYRON IN THE SPRING OF 1812; [AFTERWARDS PUBLISHED IN ONE OF MR. DALLAS'S NOVELS.] J. 180 DARRELL TO G. Y. So much for your present pursuits. Iin our senates. The whole present system, with will now resume the subject of my last. How I regard to that sex, is a remnant of the chivalrous wish you were upon the spot; your taste for the barbarism of our ancestors; I look upon them as ridiculous would be fully gratified; and if you felt grown-up children, but, like a foolish mamma, an inclined for more serious amusement, there is no always the slave of some only one. With a con "lack of argument." Within this last week our tempt for the race, I am ever attached to the indiguests have been doubled in number, some of them vidual, in spite of myself. You know that, though my old acquaintance. Our host you already know not rude, I am inattentive; any thing but a "beau absurd as ever, but rather duller, and I should garçon." I would not hand a woman out of her conceive, troublesome to such of his very good carriage, but I would leap into a river after her. friends as find his house more agreeable than its However, I grant you that, as they must walk owner. I confine myself to observation, and do oftener out of chariots than into the Thames, you not find him at all in the way, though Veramore gentlemen servitors, Cortejos and Cicisbei, have a and Asply are of a different opinion. The former, better chance of being agreeable and useful; you in particular, imparts to me many pathetic com- might, very probably, do both; but as you can't plaints of the want of opportunities (nothing else swim, and I can, I recommend you to invite me to being wanting to the success of the said Veramore) your first water-party. created by the fractious and but ill-concealed jeal- Bramblebear's Lady Penelope puzzles me. She ousy of poor Bramblebear, whose Penelope seems is very beautiful, but not one of my beauties. You to have as many suitors as her namesake, and for aught I can see to the contrary, with as much prospect of carrying their point. In the mean time, I look on and laugh, or rather I should laugh were you present to share in it; sackcloth and sorrow are excellent wear for soliloquy; but for a laugh there should be two, but not many more, except at the first night of a modern tragedy. know I admire a different complexion, but the figure is perfect. She is accomplished, if her mother and music-master may be believed; amiable, if a soft voice and a sweet smile could make her so; young, even by the register of her baptism; pions and chaste, and doting on her husband, according to Bramblebear's observation; equally loving, not of her husband, though rather less pious, and tether You are very much mistaken in the design you thing, according to Veramore's; and if mine hath impute to myself; I have none here or elsewhere. any discernment, she detests the one, despises the I am sick of old intrigues, and too indolent to en- other, and loves-herself. That she dislikes Bramgage in new ones. Besides, I am, that is, I used blebear is evident; poor soul, I can't blame her: to be, apt to find my heart gone at the very time she has found him out to be mighty weak and litte when you fastidious gentlemen begin to recover tempered; she has also discovered that she married yours. I agree with you that the world, as well as too early to know what she liked, and that there are yourself, are of a different opinion. I shall never many likeable people who would have been less be at the trouble to undeceive either; my follies discordant and more creditable partners. Still, she have seldom been of my own seeking. "Rebellion conducts herself well, and in point of good humor. came in my way, and I found it." This may appear to admiration. A good deal of religion, (not enthu as coxcombical a speech as Veramore could make, siasm, for that leads the contrary way,) a prying yet you partly know its truth. You talk to me too husband who never leaves her, and, as I think, a of my character," and yet it is one which you and very temperate pulse, will keep her out of scrapes. fifty others have been struggling these seven years I am glad of it, first, because, though Bramblebeat to obtain for yourselves. I wish you had it, you is bad, I don't think Veramore much better; and would make so much better, that is, worse use of it; next, because Bramblebear is ridiculous enough relieve me, and gratify an ambition which is un- already, and it would be thrown away upon him to worthy of a man of sense. It has always appeared make him more so; thirdly, it would be a pity, beto me extraordinary that you should value women cause nobody would pity him; and, fourthly, (as so highly, and yet love them so little. The height Scrub says,) he would then become a melancholy of your gratification ceases with its accomplishment; and sentimental harlequin, instead of a merry, fretyou bow, and you sigh, and you worship,-and ful pantaloon, and I like the pantomime better as il abandon. For my part I regard them as a very is now cast. More in my next. beautiful, but inferior animal. I think them as much out of place at our tables as they would be Yours, truly, DARRELL |