er, he took his gun, repaired to her house, and deliberately shot her dea d The misguided man is to be tried at the next assizes. He acknowledges the act of which he was guilty, but declares that he shot the devil under the form of the wicked hag. SIR FRANCIS BULLER while pupil to Mr. Coulthard, uncle to the Graham of Lincoln's Inn, having bought a fiddle, was addressed as follows by the special pleader just alluded to:-"I would advise you, young man, to part with your kit, for music is so enticing, that, if you take to it, you will never endeavour to comprehend Coke upon Littleton." Mr. Buller took the hint ; and became a judge! GASCON'S DINNER FOR A WEEK. Are you Frenchman enough to know bow a Gascon sustains his family for a week : Dimanche, une esclanche ; Jeudi, bon pour la capillotade; Samedi, qu'on me casse les os, et les chiens creveront des restes de mon mouton. The he should not have thought of their use.--Among several, he may mention three inplaster of the London Pharmacopoeia have stances in which the opium and cumin proved conspicuously serviceable. first, a case of obstinate rheumatism, fixed upon the large mass of muscular fibres that are connected with the movements of the back and lower limbs; the second, one of chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the bowels; and the third, an instance of atrophy, in which the prevailing irritation was so great as imperiously to require opium, while the idiosyncracy of the patient was such as to forbid its internal use.* Now, in these examples of beneficial result, what has been the modus operandi? Is a warm and anodyne plaster to rheumatic muscles a mechanical support to their fibres? If so, one should anticipate the cutaneous nerves, or the cutaneous aban equal effect from mere bandage. Are sorbents, parts of the series through which the mitigation of pain or the subduction of irritation are brought about? In that case, what becomes of our theory, that the outer skin whilst unabraded forms a barrier against the admission of things from without? And why cannot we effect the same good through the media of the stomach and internal absorbents? The fact is, that vital circumstance, either in orderly manifestation or irregular display, presents us with a constant puzzle to ingenuity and employment of thought; and we are apt, by entering with too much eagerness into seeming openings for solution, to pursue less speculation. their tract into confusing labyrinths of use NEW WORKS. Thompson's Inquiry into the Distribution of 'Vealth, 8vo. 14s.-Wallace's Voyage to India, 8vo. 7s.-Shelly's Posthumous Po ems, 8vo. 15s.-Templeman's Conrad, and other Poems, 12mo. 5s.-The Inheritance, by the author of "Marriage," 3 vols. post 8vo. 11. 4s. 6d.-Combe's Letters between Amelia and her Mother, 18mo.5s.-Goethe's Wilhelm Meister, 3 vols. post Svo 11. 11s. 6d-The Relapse, or True and False Morality, 12mo. 4s. 6d.-Selwyn's Botany, 12mo. 3s. 6d. plain; 5s. coloured.-Analysis of Paley's Philosophy, 12mo. 5s.—Bishop Hall's Tracts, by Bradley, 12mo. 7s. Bingley's Roman History, 12mo. 7s.World in Miniature, (South Sea Islands,) 2 vols. 18mo. 12s.-Natural History of Quad System of Education, (French,) 2 vols. rupeds, 12mo. 4s.-Black's Paidophilean 12mo. 6s 6d.-Stocker's Alteration in the London Pharmacopoeia, Svo. 5s.-Graham on Epilepsy, 8vo. 2s. 6d. * All practitioners of medicine will occasionally have met with these peculiar susceptibilities to certain drugs, and indeed to articles of diet. Many individuals, even with a powerful stomach generally, can never eat with impunity of some kinds of meat, which are abstractedly easy of digestion; and to some persons the smallest conceivable quantity of opium proves absolutely poisonous. Ten years ago, ten years ago, Life was to us a fairy scene; Had sered not then its pathway green. II. Time has not blanch'd a single hair That clusters round thy forehead now: Nor bath the cankering touch of care Left even one furrow on thy brow. Thine eyes are blue as when we met, In love's deep truth, in earlier years; Thy cheek of rose is blooming yet, Though sometimes stain'd by secret tears; I too am changed-I scarce know why- In soul and form, I linger still In the first summer month of life; Yet journey on my path below, IV. But look not thus-I would not give To bid those joyous hours revive When all around me seem'd so fair. We've wander❜d on in sunny weather, 57 ATHENEUM VOL. 1. 2d series. Wordsworth. When winds were low, and flowers in bloom, And hand in hand have kept together, And still will keep, 'mid storm and gloom ; Endear'd by ties we could not know When life was young-ten years ago! V. Has Fortune frown'd? Her frowns were vain, Twin barks on this world's changing wave, . Nor mourn, whatever winds may blow, Have we not knelt beside his bed, And watch'd our first-born blossom die? To think, 'mid mutual tears and sighs, (Mon. Mag.) THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BRIDAL. That she was lovely, aye, and lov'd as ever, HE Night before the Bridal, a To his false heart, and riot in each charm; o never,-so heaven witness me !—shalt thou She stood,-oh! how shall I describe her!—how Rush'd vengeful red,-high breast and swelling vein, * * * * He shrunk beneath the vengeance of her eye, Had fac'd the battle in its darkest lower, by Catherine Grace Garnet," rises far above the common class of poetical productions with which the press is teeming. The versification, if not remarkable for its elegance, is never tame and insipid, and the story is well imag. ined. A young Sevillian lady is doomed from her infancy to become the resident of a cloister; she even takes the vows,-but still remains in her father's house until he departs for the wars. In the mean time, Helena (the name of the heroine,) becomes acquainted with a young cavalier of the name of Leontio; they become lovers although there is no lawful hope for either the consequence of this is, that Helena yields herself to Leontio's guilty passion the very night before he sets off in company with her father: Merciful God! ah no, not on his breast, she is immediately immersed in her convent. Don Miguel, her father, falls in battle. Leontio returns,-falls Around her form,-nor mov'd, nor look'd, nor in love with a young rich heiress, of the name of Inez,-woos her, and is accepted. Helena hears of this, and, maddened at the news, sends a letter to her seducer, entreating him to meet her, the night before the bridal, in the deserted house of her deceased parent. He comes, and sees her in all her charms, seated in a magnificent apartment: his heart at first seems to soften, but it soon regains its wonted tone : How could he chide her kneeling there, so full For she had nerv'd her sinews for a deed,- But to the earth. Her heart was woman's still,- breath'd. * * Inez, on her bridal morn, anxiously awaits the coming of Leontio; but he does not appear. At last she is informed by a menial that his body, covered with wounds, had been found near the towers of Alcazar: she instantly falls lifeless. Seville is in an uproar on account of this murder: Leontio had been seen the preceding night to enter the gate of Don Miguel: thither rush the crowds, they seek Helena : And there she sat ! the dying lamp gleam'd faint thought To have found there with guilt and shame o'er- They trac'd no sign of fear,-but guilt, deep guilį, She is siezed, and brought to trial, where she vehemently asserts that she is intirely innocent of the deed: her protestations, however, avail her not,— she is condemned and executed. Many years pass away, till one night the priest who attended her in her last moments, is called to visit the couch of a dying man, and to hear his confession :- He lay in slumber, if such could be call'd He confesses himself to be a noble of the first rank, who had aspired to the hand of Inez, but, being supplanted by Leontio, he in revenge caused him to be murdered. I 'scaped the vengeance of the laws,—one fell Of my foul crime the victim innocent. But that guilt clung to me where'er I went, He thought on that yet well remember'd day, And on the parting words of Helena ; How to the last she had asserted clear Her innocence. He turn'd him,-what lay there? The murderer's corse stretch'd on its gorgeous bier. Loud roll'd the storm; one broad sulphureous flame Flash'd through the chamber, and then redly came Full on that couch. The features of the dead Glared in the light one moment,-then were spread O'er them those pale and livid hues that come Faintly to show the secrets of the tomb. Thus ends the poem: the specimens which we have given of it speak for themselves; they require no panegyrist, and cannot fail to recommend the entire work to universal favour. THE OWL. BY BERNARD BARTON, THE QUAKER POET. BIRD of the solemn midnight hour! If arms might be the Muse's dower, Fresh omens for thy song:- Are not thy habits grave and sage, (Eclectic Review, July.) 'Twere well if nuns and hermits spent On undulating wing, So noiseless in thy dream-like flight, Thou seem'st more like a phantom sprite, Than like a living thing. I love to hear thy hooting cry, And feel its utmost power: To solitudes profound; To wild, secluded haunts of thine, To tangled wood, and briery brake, To answer to thy scream. While habits, hours, and haunts so lone And lofty, blend with thee, Well may'st thou, bird of night! be prone His own ephem❜ral day. (Lond. Lit. Gaz.) SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. BY WM. BULLOCK. WE continue our extracts from this interesting volume without furher preface. On the road between Vera Cruz and Mexico, "Xalapa, or Jalapa, from which the wellknown drug takes its name, was till within the last century the great mart of New Spain for European goods. All merchan dise arriving at Vera Cruz (the unhealthi ness of which prevented merchants from stopping there) was brought on mules to the great annual fair held in this city, and attended by all the mercantile interests of this part of the world. The opening of the grand mart took place amid much form and religious ceremony; prayers and processions were made by the clergy for the success of trade, but they expected some remuneration for this service and the nu. merous churches and rich religious establishments amply attest the liberality of the merchants. The city at present contains 13,000 inhabitants; but at the time of the fair it was crowded to excess. It is probably decreasing in population, though still a very handsome place. It has many two storied houses, built after the old Spanish manner, forming a square, and enclosing a court planted with trees and flowers, and having a well or fountain. The roofs are tiled, and not flat as in Vera Cruz, yet projecting from the sides, sheltering the house from the sun in hot weather, and keeping it dry in the rainy season. Many are furnished with glass windows, and most have an ornamental grating in front of those on the ground floor, which admits a free circulation of air-for the climate is so delightful as seldom to require their being closed. There are still eight churches of a mixed style of architecture; they are kept clean and the interiors highly decorated with carving, gilding, and painting. The high altar of the Cathedral is of silver, and the walls are covered with gilt ornaments.-There are eleven other altars; and the ser vice is performed in an orderly and impressive manner. I attended high mass on Sunday, which was very splendid; all the females above the very lowest class wear black, and are dressed alike, with a handsome lace veil over the head, but which is seldom worn over the face; in this respect retaining less of the manner of the mother country than is still to be found in Antwerp and in the Netherlands, although so long a period has elapsed since these countries were subject to Spain. A great proportion of the congregation were Indians, who had come to market, and it was really a pleasing sight to observe with what attention and devotion this simple and innocent people, the descendants of cannibal ancestors, performed their acknowledgements to their Creator. All the convents and religious houses, except one, are now closed, and We met yester will probably remain so. day, it being Lent, a religious procession, carrying a figure of Christ bearing his cross. The streets through which it passed had been swept, watered, and strewed with orange leaves and flowers; and many of the houses had small crosses, 'decorated with flowers and drapery, placed over the doors. "The shops and warehouses do not make a showy appearance, as nothing is The barbers' exposed in the windows. shops, however, form an exception: they are very numerous, and have a very respectable exterior. Mambrino's helmet is All sported as a sign over their doors. being three or four hundred per cent.above articles of European manufacture are dear, the cost price, and generally of the worst kind. This is probably owing to the policy of Old Spain in compelling the provinces to receive all supplies from the mother country.TM "Xalapa is justly celebrated for the excellency of its washing: I never saw linen look so well; many of the inhabitants of Vera Cruz send hither to have their washing done. Near one of the entrances is a fountain of the purest water supplying a public washhouse, called Techacupa, in which 144 persons can be employed at the same time. Each washerwoman is supplied with a constant stream, conveyed by pipes to a stone vessel in which the linen is soaked. Added to this, is a flat stone on which they wash, and this constitutes the whole apparatus. The operation is perlinen is rubbed by the hand as in England. formed with cold water and soap, and the I observed that the women had a cut lemon with which they sometimes rubbed the clothes. "Both men and women in general are very ill-informed with respect to the state of Europe. They believe the continent to be under the dominion of Spain; that Eng land, France, Italy, Holland, Germany, &c. are only so many paltry states or provinces to which the king of Spain appoints governors, who superintend the manufactories, &c. for the benefit of that country. I found lady asked me where a muslin dress had it dangerous to contradict this flintly. One been made ?" in England;' and bow came it here?' probably through Spain,' the workshop of Spain? Many think that I replied; well then, what is England but the riches of Spain enable the others, and as they call them, the poorer parts of Europe to live. little as of its general state; and even the "Of the wars in Europe they know as in Xalapa, though they had heard indeed name of Wellington seemed scarcely known of the buccaneers, and spoke of our illus |