Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

LONDON JOURNAL.

TO ASSIST THE ENQUIRING, ANIMATE THE STRUGGLING, AND SYMPATHIZE WITH ALL.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1834.

CRICKET,

AND EXERCISE IN GENERAL.

THE fine, hard, flat, verdant floors are now preparing in the cricket-grounds for this manly and graceful game, and the village-greens (where they can) are no less getting ready, though not quite so perfect. No matter for that. A true cricketer is not the man to be put out by a trifle. He serves an apprenticeship to patience after her handsomest fashion. Henry the Fourth wished a time might arrive in France, when every man should have a pullet in his kettle. We should like to see a time when every man played at cricket, and had a sound sleep after it, and health, work, and leisure. It would be a pretty world, if we all had something to do, just to make leisure the pleasanter, and green merry England were sprinkled all over, "of afternoons," with gallant fellows in white sleeves, who threshed the earth and air of their cricket-grounds into a crop of health and spirits; after which they should read, laugh, love, and be honourable and happy beings, bringing God's work to its perfection, and suiting the divine creation they live in.

But to speak in this manner is to mix serious things with mirthful? Well; and what true joy does not? Joy, if you did but know him thoroughly, is a very serious fellow,—on occasion; and knows that happiness is a very solid thing, and is zealous for nature's honour and glory. The power to be grave is the proper foundation for levity itself to rejoice on. You must have floor, for your dancing,-good solid earth on which to bother your cricket-balls.

The Spring is monstrously said to be a sickly time of the year! Yes, for the sickly; or rather (not to speak irreverently of sickness which cannot be helped) for those who have suffered themselves to become so for want of stirring their bloods, and preparing for the general movement in Nature's merry veins. People stop in doors, and render themselves liable to all "the skiey influences," and then out of the same thoughtless effeminacy of self-indulgence, they expose themselves to the catching of colds and fevers, and the beautiful Spring is blamed, and "fine Mays make fat church-yards." The gypsies, we will be bound, have no such proverbs. The cricketer has none such. He is a sensible, hearty fellow, too wise not to take proper precautions, but above all, too wise not to take the best of all precautions; which is, to take care of his health, and be stirring. Nature is stirring, and so is he. Nature is healthy, and so is he. Nature, in a hundred thousand parts to a fraction, is made up of air, and fields, and country, and out-of-doors, and a strong teeming earth, and a good-natured sky; and so is the strong heart of the cricketer.

[ocr errors]

Do we then blame any of the sick, even those who are blameable?" Not we; we blame nobody; what is the use of it? Besides, we dont like to be blamed ourselves, especially when we are in the wrong. We like to be coaxed and called sensible, and to have people wonder good-naturedly (not spitefully) how people so very shrewd can do any thing erroneous; and then we love them, and wish to be led right by people so very intelligent, and know no bounds to our wish to please them. So the measure which we like ourselves, we would fain deal out to others. You may do it without any insincerity, if the patient have but one good or sensible quality, or one sweet drop in his heart, from which comfort is to be squeezed into the cup of advice. And who has not got this? But it may be said, it is not to be found. No? Then the eyesight is very bad, or the patient is not to be mended,-a case luckily as rare as it is melancholy, and to be looked upon as a madness. The best step to be taken in that instance is, to give him as little advice, and see that he does as little harm [SPARROW AND CO., CRANE COURT.

[blocks in formation]

none.

[ocr errors]

PRICE THREE HALFPENCE. the most natural of all instincts, and where it is totally stopped, must have been hurt by some very injudicious circumstances in the bringing up, either of pampered will or prevented activity. The restlessness felt by nervous people is Nature's kindly intimation that they should bestir themselves. Motion, as far as hitherto has been known, is the first law of the universe. The air, the rivers, the world move; the very "fixed stars," as we call them, are moving towards some unknown point; the substance, apparently the most unmoving, the table in your room, or the wall of the opposite house, is gaining or osing particles: if you had eyes fine enough, you would see its surface stirring: some philosophers even hold that every substance is made up of vital atoms. As to oneself, one must either move away from death and disease, and so keep pleasantly putting them off, or they will move us with a vengeance, aye, in the midst of our most sedentary forgetfulness, or while we flatter ourselves we are as still and as sound as marble. Time is all the while drawing lines in our faces, clogging our limbs, putting ditch-water into our blood ;—preparing us to mingle with the grave and the rolling earth, since we will not obey the great law, and move of our own accord.

The reader knows the perfection of meaning implied by that imperfect sentence, "Well, I never!" However the lady was not only a fiue lady, but a shrewd woman; so she "got out," and was a goer out afterwards, and lived happily enough to benefit others by her example. Many people take no exercise at all, because they cannot take, or think they cannot take, a great deal. At least this is the reason they give their consciences. It is not always a sincere one. They had better say to themselves at once 'I am too idle," or "I am too accustomed to sit still, to make exercise pleasant." Where the fault is aware of itself, there is better hope of its mending. But the least bit of exercise is better than A walk, five minutes before dinner in a garden, or down a street, is better than no walk at all. It is some break, however small a one, into the mere habit Come, dear readers, now is the season for such of you of sitting still and growing stagnant of blood, or cor- as are virtuous in this matter, to pride and rejoice yourpulent of body. A little tiny bit of the sense of doing selves; and for such of you as have omitted the virtue one's duty is kept up by it. A glimpse of a reverence is in your list, to put it there. It will grace and gladden retained for sprightliness of mind and shapeliness of all the rest. A cricketer is a sort of glorifier of exerperson; and thus the case is not rendered hopeless, cise, and we respect him accordingly: but it is not in should circumstances arise that tempt the patient into every one's power to be a cricketer; and respect attends a a more active system. A fair kinswoman of ours, once man in proportion as he does what he is able. Come then reckoned among the fairest of her native city,—a very be as respectable in this matter as far you can ;-have intelligent woman as far as books went, and latterly a whole mile's respectability, if possible,— —or two miles, a very sharp observer into the faults of other people, or four let our homage wait upon you into the by dint of a certain exasperation of her own, lite- fields, thinking of all the good you are doing to yourrally fell a sacrifice to sitting in doors, and never selves, to your kindred, to your offspring, born or not quitting her favourite pastime of reading. The pastime born, and to all friends who love you, and would b was at once her bane and her antidote. It would have grieved to lose you. Healthy and graceful example been nothing but a blessing, had she varied it. But her makes healthy and graceful children, makes cheerful misfortune was, that her self-will was still greater than tempers, makes grateful and loving friends. We know her sense, and that being able to fill up her moments as but of one inconvenience in virtue of any sort ; and that pleasantly as she wished during heaith, she had per- is, that it sometimes makes one love it too much, and suaded herself that she could go on filling them up as long to know it, and show our gratitude. A poet has pleasantly by the same process, when she grew older; said, that he never could travel through different places and this "would'nt do!" For our bodies are changing, and think how many agreeable people they probably while our minds are thinking nothing of the matter; and contained, without feeling a sort of impatience at no pe ple in vain attribute the new pains and weaknesses being able to make their acquaintance. But he was a which come upon them, to this and that petty cause,-a rich poet, and his benevolence was a little pampered cold, or a heat, or an apple; thinking they shall "be and self-willed. It is enough for us that we sometimes better to-morrow and as healthy as they were before. resent our inability to know those whom we behold,— Time will not palter with the real state of the case, for who charm us visibly, or of whose existence, somehow or all our self-will and our over-weaning confidence. The other, we are made pleasantly certain, without going so far person we speak of, literally rusted in her chair; lost as to raise up exquisite causes of distress after his fashion. the use of her limbs, and died paralytic and ghastly to Now, as we never behold the cricketer, or the horselook upon, of premature old age. The physicians said man, or the field-stroller (provided we can suppose him it was a clear case. On the other hand, we heard some bound on his task with a liking of it) without a feeling years ago, of a gentleman of seventy, a medical man, of something like respect and gratitude (for the two(now most probably alive and merry-we hope he will fold pleasurable idea he gives us of nature and himself) read this,) who, meeting a kinsman of ours in the so we cannot look upon all those fair creatures, bloomstreet, and being congratulated on the singular youthful- ing or otherwise, who walk abroad with their friends or ness of his aspect, said that he was never better or more children, whether in village or town, fine square or active in his life; that it was all owing to his having common street, without feeling something like a bit of walked sixteen miles a day, on an average, for the love, and wishing that the world were in such condition greater part of it; and that at the age of seventy, he as to let people evince what they feel, and be more felt all the lightness and cheerfulness of seventeen! like good, honest folks, and chatty companions. If we This is an extreme case, owing to peculiar circumstances; sometimes admire maid-servants instead of their misbut it shews of what our nature is capable, where favour- tresses, it is not our fault, but that of the latter, who able circumstances are not contradicted. This gentleman will not come abroad. Besides, a real good-humoured bad cultivated a cheerful benevolence of mind, as well mail-servant, with a pretty face, playing over the as activity of body, and the two together were irresis- sward of a green square with her mistress's children, tible, even to old Time. The death of such a man is a very respectable, as well as pleasant object. May must be like going to sleep after a good journey. no inferior of the other sex, under pretence of being a The instin hich sets people in exercise is one of gentleman, deceive her, and render her less so.

[ocr errors]

FOURTH WEEK IN MAY.

RECOLLECTIONS OF CRICKET.

WHEN we began our preceding article, we intended only to make a few introductory remarks on the following extract from Messrs. Clarke and Nyren's pleasant little relishing book, The Young Cricketer's Tutor,❤ whose bats and balls are now coming into season. But we found ourselves running to such lengths, that we we were obliged to make a separate paper of it. "Relishing," this book may be truly called; for Mr. Nyren remembers, and Mr. Clarke records, every thing with a right taste; masculine as the game, and pleasant as the punch after it. Cricketers may venture upon punch: they have a stomach for it. To most men it is little better than a punch in the stomach. It is a pity the reader cannot have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Nyren, as we have had. His appearance and general manner are as eloquent a testimony to the merits of his game, as any that he or his friend has put upon paper. He is still a sort of youth at seventy, hale and vigorous, and with a merry twinkle of his eye, in spite of an accident some years ago-a fall-that would have shattered most men of his age to pieces. A long innings to him in life still, and to all friends round the wicket.

[ocr errors]

The game of cricket, (says our author) is thoroughly British. Its derivation is probably from the Saxon cryce, a stick." Strutt, however, in his "Sports and Pastimes," states that he can find no record of the game under its present appellation, "beyond the commencement of the last century, where it occurs in one of the songs published by D'Urfey," The first four lines

"Of a noble race was Shenkin," run thus:

[ocr errors]

"Her was the prettiest fellow

At foot-ball, or at cricket,

At hunting chase, or nimble race,
How featly her could prick it."

The same historian of our games doubts not that wicket derived its origin from the ancient game of clubball, the patronymics of which being compounded of Welch and Danish (clwppa and bol), do not warrant his conclusion, the Saxon being an elder occupant of our island. From the circumstance, however, of there being no illustration extant-no missal illuminated with a group engaged in this king of athletic games, as is the case with its plebeian brother, the club-ball; also from its constitution, being of a more civil and complicated character-we may rationally infer that it is the offspring of a more polite, at all events, of a maturer age than its fellow. The game of club-ball appears to have been no other than the present well known bat-and-ball, which, with similar laws and customs prescribed in the playing at it, was doubtless anterior to trap-ball. The trap, indeed, carries with it an air of refinement in the "march of mechanism."

They who are acquainted with some of the remote and unfrequented villages of England, where the primitive manners, customs, and games of our ancestors survive in the perfection of rude and unadulterated simplicity, must have remarked the lads playing at a game which is the same in its outline and principal features as the consummate piece of perfection that at this day is the glory of Lord's-and the pride of English athleta. I mean the one in which a single stick is appointed for a wicket, ditto for a bat, and the same repeated, of about three inches in length, for a ball. If this be not the original of the game of cricket, it is a plebian imitation of it.

I never saw a finer specimen of the thorough-bred old English yeoman than Richard Nyren. He was a good face-to-face, unflinching, uncompromising, independent man. He placed a full and just value upon the station he held in society, and he maintained it without insolence or assumption. He could differ with a superior, without touching upon his dignity, or losing his own. I have known him maintain an opinion with great firmness against the Duke of Dorset and Horace Mann; and when, in consequence, of his being proved to be in the right, the latter has afterwards crossed the ground and shaken him heartily by the hand.

[ocr errors]

SMALL was a good fiddler, and taught himself the double bass. The Duke of Dorset having been informed of his musical talent, sent him as a present a handsome violin, and paid the carriage. Small, like a true and simplehearted Englishman, returned the compliment, by sending his Grace two bats and balls, also paying the carriage. We may be sure that on both hands the presents were choice of their kind. Upon one occasion he turned his Orphean accomplishment to good account. Having to cross two or three fields on his way to a musical party, a vicious bull made at him, when our hero, with the characteristic coolness and presence of mind of a good cricketer, began playing upon his bass, to the admiration and perfect satisfaction of the mischievous beast.

[ocr errors][merged small]

་་་་

wicket. Nothing went by him; and for coolness, and nerve
made us only "a little lower than angels." How those
in this trying and responsible post, I never saw his equal, fine brown-faced fellows of farmers would drink to our
As a proof of his quickness and skill, I have numberless success! And then, what stuff they had to drink!-
times seen him stump a man out with Brett's tremendous Punch!-not your new Ponche a la Romaine, or Ponche
bowling. Add to this valuable accomplishment, he was a la Groseille, or your modern cat-lap milk punch-
one of the manliest and most graceful bitters, Few punch be-deviled; but good, unsophisticated, John
would cut a ball harder at the point of the bat; and he Bull stuff-stark-that would stand on end-punch
was, moreover, an excellent short-runner. He had an that would make a cat speak! sixpence a bottle! We
eye like an eagle-rapid and comprehensive. He was
had not sixty millions of interest to pay in those days.
the first who departed from the custom of the old players. The ale, too!-not the modern horror under the same
before him, who deemed it a heresy to leave the crease
name, that drives as many men melancholy-mad as the
for the ball; he would get in at it, and hit it straight off, hypocrites do :-not the beastliness of these days, that
and straight on; and, egad! it was as if it had been · will make a fellow's inside like a shaking bog—and as
fired. As by the rules of our club, at the trial-matches, rotten; but barleycorn, such as would put the souls of
no man was allowed to get more than thirty runs, he
three butchers into one weaver. Ale that would flare
generally gained his number earlier than any of them. like turpentine-genuine Boniface! this immortal
I have seldom seen a handsomer man than Tom Sueter, viand (for it was more than liquor) was vended at two-
who measured about five feet ten. As if too Dame Nature pence per pint. The immeasurable villany of our vint-
wished to shew at his birth a specimen of her prodi- ners would, with their march of intellect, (if ever they
gality, she gave him so amiable a disposition, that he was
could get such a brewing,) drive a pint of it out into a
the pet of all the neighbourhood: so honourable a heart, gallon. Then the quantity the fellows would eat! Two
that his word was never questioned by the gentlemen or three of them would strike dismay into a round of
who associated with him; and a voice, which for sweet-
beef. They could no more have pecked in that style :
ness, power, and purity of tone, (a tenor) would, with a
than they could have flown, had the infernal black stream
proper cultivation, have made him a handsome fortune. (that type of Acheron !) which soddens the carcass of a
With what rapture have I hung upon his notes when he Londoner, been the fertilizer of their clay. Here would
has given us a hunting song in the club-room after the this company, consisting most likely of some thousands,
day's practice was over!
remain patiently and anxiously watching every turn of
fate in the game, as if the event had been the meeting
of two armies to decide their liberty. And whenever
a Hambledon man made a good hit, worth four or five
runs, you would hear the deep mouths of the whole
multitude baying away in pure Hampshire-" Go hard!

GEORGE LEAR of Hambledon, who always answered to the title among us of "Little George," was our best long-stop. So firm and steady was he, that I have known him stand through a whole match against Brett's bowling, and not lose more than two runs. The ball seemed to go into him, and he was as sure of it as if he besides, he had so good a judgment in running to cover had been a sand-bank. His activity was so great, and, the ball, that he would stop many that were hit in the slip, and this, be it remembered, from the swiftest bowling ever known.

[ocr errors]

BUCK, whose real name was Peter Steward, is the next Hambledon man that occurs to my recollection. He, too, played long field, and was a steady man at his post; his batting, too, reached the same pitch of excellence; he could cut the balls very hard at the point of the bat-nothing like Sueter however-very few could have equalled him. Buck was a dark-looking man, a shoemaker by trade, in height about five feet eight, rather slimly built, and very active. He had an ambition to be thought a humourist. The following anecdote may serve both as a specimen of his talent, and of the unfastidious taste of the men of Hambledon. When a match was to be played at a distance, the whole eleven, with the umpire and scorer, were conveyed in one caravan, built for their accommodation. Upon one occasion, the vehicle having been overturned, and the whole cargo unshipped, Buck remained at his post, and refused to come out, desiring that they would right the vessel with him in it; for that "one good turn deserved another." The repartee was admired for a week.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The tenth knight of our round table (of which old Richd. Nyren was the King Arthur) was a man we always called " The Little Farmer;" his name was LAMBERT. He was a bowler-right handed, and he had the most extraordinary delivery I ever saw. The ball was delivered quite low, and with a twist; not like that of the generality of right-handed bowlers, but just the reverse way that is, if bowling to a right-handed hitter, his ball would twist from the off stump into the leg. He was the first I remember who introduced this deceitful and teasing style of delivering the ball. When all England played the Hambledon Club, the Little Farmer was appointed one of our bowlers; and, egad! this new trick of his so bothered the Kent and Surrey men, that they tumbled out one after another, as if they had been picked off by a rifle corps. For a long time they could not tell what to make of that cursed twist of his. This, however, was the only virtue he possessed as a cricketer. He was no batter, and had no judgment of the game. The perfection he had attained in this one department, and his otherwise general deficiency, are at once accounted for by the circumstance, that when he was tending his father's sheep, he would set up a hurdle or two, and bowl away for hours together. Our General, old Nyren, after a great deal of trouble (for the Farmer's comprehension did not equal the speed of lightning), got him to pitch the ball a little to the off side of the wicket, when it would twist full in upon the stumps. Before he had got into this knack, he was once bowling against the Duke of Dorset, and, delivering his ball straight to the wicket, it curled in, and missed the Duke's leg-stump by a hair's breadth. The plain-spoken little bumpkin, in his eagerness and delight, and forgetting the style in which we were always accustomed to impress our aristocratical play-mates with our acknowledgment of their rank and station, bawled out-" Ah! it was near tedious you, Sir!" The familiarity of his tone, and the genuine Hampshire dialect in which it was spoken, set the whole ground laughing.

There was high-feasting held on Broad-Halfpenny during the solemnity of one of our grand matches. Oh! it was a heart-stirring sight to witness the multitude forming a complete and dense circle round that noble green. Half the county would be present, and all their hearts with us. Little Hambledon, pitted against all England, was a proud thought for the Hampshire men. Defeat was glory in such a struggle-Victory, indeed,

go hard!-Tick and turn!-tick and turn!" To the honour of my countrymen, let me bear testimony on this occasion also, as I have already done upon others. Although their provinciality in general, and personal partialities individually, were naturally interested in

behalf of the Hambledon men, I cannot call to recollection an instance of their wilfully stopping a ball that had been hit out among them by one of their opponents. Like true Englishmen, they would give an enemy fair play. How strongly are all those scenes, of fifty years · by-gone, painted in my memory!—and the result of that, ale comes upon me as freshly as the new May flowers.

The DUKE of DORSET or LORD TANKERVILLE, sometimes both, would play, to complete the eleven. Neither of these noblemen were to be compared to Lord FREDERIC BEAUCLERC. Whether in batting, bowling, or, indeed, in any department of the game, he would have distanced them; yet they were pretty players. Each usually played in the slip when the other was not present. This station was the Duke's forte. He was in height about five feet nine, very well made, and had a peculiar habit, when unemployed, of standing with his head on one side.

And now for those anointed clod-stumpers, the WALKERS, Tom and Harry. Never, sure, came two such unadulterated rustics into a civilized community. How strongly are the figures of the meu (of Tom in particular) brought to my mind when they first presented themselves to the club, upon Windmill-down,-Tom's hard, ungain, scrag-of-mutton frame; wilted, applejohn face (he always looked twenty years older than he really was), his long spider legs, as thick at the ancles as at the hips, and perfectly straight all the way down-for the embellishment of a calf in Tom's leg, Dame Nature had considered would be but a wanton superfluity. Tom was the driest and most rigid-limbed chap I ever knew; his skin was like the rind of an old oak, and as sapless. I have seen his knuckles handsomely knocked about from Harris's bowling; but never saw any blood upon his hands-you might just as well attempt to phlebotomize a mummy. This rigidity of muscle (or rather I should say of tendon, for muscle was another ingredient economised in the process of Tom's configuration)-this rigidity, I say, was carried into every motion. He moved like the rude machinery of a steam-engine in the infancy of construction, and when he ran, every member seemed ready to fly to the four winds. He toiled like a tar on horseback. The uncouth actions of these men furnished us, who prided ourselves upon a certain grace in movement and finished air, with an everlasting fund of amusment, and for some time they took no great fancy to me, because I used to worry, and tell them they could not play. They were, however, good hands when they first came among us, and had evidently received most excellent instruction; but after they had derived the advantage of first-rate practice, they became most admirable batters, and were the trustiest fellows (particularly Tom) in case of emergency or difficulty. They were devilish troublesome customers to get out. I have very frequently known Tom to go in first, and remain to the very last man. He was the coolest, the most imperturbable fellow in existence: it used to be said of him that he had no nerves at all. Whether he was only practising, or whether he knew that the game was in a critical state, and that much depended upon his play, he was the same phlegmatic, unmoved man-he was the Washington of cricketers. Neither he nor his brother were active, yet both were effective fieldmen. Upon one occasion, on the Mary-le-bone grounds, I remember Tom going in first, and Lord Frederick Beauclerc giving him the first four balls, all of an excellent length. First four or last four made no difference to Tom-he was always the same cool, collected fellow. Every ball he dropped down just before his bat. Off

[ocr errors]

went his lordship's white hat-dash upon the ground (his constant action when disappointed) calling him at the same time "a confounded old beast."* "I doant care what ee says," said Tom, when one close by asked if he had heard Lord Frederick call him "an old beast." No, no; Tom was not the man to be flustered.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The BELDHAMS, George and William, came next in succession, brothers, and both farmers. George was what would be called a fine player; a good batter, and generally competent to fill the different posts in the game; but as he attended the club a few times only during my stay in it, I am unable to discriminate or to speak pointedly to his merits. Upon turning, however to his brother William, we come to the finest batter of his own, or perhaps of any age. William Beldham was a close-set active man, standing about five feet eight inches and a half. He had light coloured hair, a fair complexion, and handsome, as well as intelligent features. We used to call him "Silver Billy." No one within my recollection could stop a ball better, or make more brilliant hits all over the ground. Wherever the ball was bowled, there she was hit away, and in the most severe, venomous style.

Beldham was quite a young man when he joined the Hambledon Club; and even in that stage of his playing, I hardly ever saw a man with a finer command of his bat; but, with the instruction and advice of the old heads superadded, he rapidly attained to the extraordi. nary accomplishment of being the finest player that has appeared within the latitude of more than half a century. There can be no exception against his batting, or the severity of his hitting. He would get in at the balls, and hit them away in a gallant style; yet, in this single feat, I think I have known him excelled; but when he could cut them at the point of the bat, he was in his glory; and upon my life, their speed was as the speed of thought. One of the most beautiful sights that can be imagined, and which would have delighted an artist, was to see him make himself up to hit a ball. It was the beau-ideal of grace, animation, and concentrated energy. In this peculiar exhibition of elegance with

Semiramis, whose name has become proverbial for an able and despotic female sovereign, has the reputation of having been one of those perplexing personages whose private and public actions appear to be at variance, and who have allowed themselves to do every bad thing they chose, upon the plea of turning it to some great general account.

Catherine the Second of Russia was such a woman, and has been called the "Semiramis of the North." Semiramis is said to have really got rid of her husband by means of his own delegated authority; though the French writer has invented the details. After all, she lived as far back as the time of Abraham! so that our certainty as to her proceedings, whether of love or murder, cannot be very precise. But the Frenchman has wisely considered, that a wilful undisciplined nature has nothing to do with chronology; and that foolish clever women, disagreeable beauties, and other ill-regulated phenomena, have talked and acted in the same high style of absurdity, in all ages. Yes, of all my wives, thou art the one I love best (said King Ninus to Semiramis). No one possesses so many graces and attractions as you. For you I willingly renounce all my other wives. S. How the wisdom of the king watches over his words! suppose I should believe my master? K. So long as you love me, what care I for the beauty

[ocr errors]

of others?

seraglio-you would send away the women who fill it. L. So then, if I desired it, you would shut up your I should be the only one you would love, and who would share your power; I should be your only wife; I should be the queen of Assyria.

Semiramis spoke with an ardour which made her a seraglio, and send away his wives, was rather a delicate thousand times handsomer. However, to shut up his matter. Ninus, therefore, did not answer her, but renewed his conversation and caresses.

vigour, the nearest approach to him I think was Lord thy beauty thou reign'st over the king of Assyria?

Frederick Beauclerc.

BIRTH-DAYS.

May is full of pleasant birth-days. To-morrow we have one, for which all the thrushes and nightingale's ought to sing their best, to wit, that of

Paesiello. Giovanni Paesiello was born on the 22nd of May (9th old style) at Tarento, in the kingdom of Naples, Anno Domini 1741. He was one of the most beautiful melodists in the world, as the airs of "La Rachelina" and "Io sono Lindoro" would be sufficient to testify, if he had left us none of all his others. Those two are well known to the English public under the titles of "Whither my love" and "For tenderness formed." But they who wish to know how far a few single notes can go, in reaching the depths of the heart, and sufficing it, should hear the song of poor Nina, "Il mio ben," in the opera of "Nina Pazza per Amore" (Nina mad for love). The truth and beauty of passion cannot go further. We are admirers of the rich accompaniments of the Germans; but more accompaniment than the author has given to that song, would be like hanging an embroidered robe on the shoulder of Ophelia.

Turgot (Ann Robert Jaques) was born at Paris on the 23rd of May (10th old style) in the year 1727. A philanthropic and enlightened French minister.

Fahrenheit (Gabriel Daniel) the improver of the thermometer known by his name, was born at Dantzic, May, 27 (14th old style) 1686.

A SURPRISE FOR A SULTAN. THE following lively sketch, with its very dramatic termination, is taken from the French, and appeared in one of the numbers of the Jamaica Herald, which has been kindly sent us by a correspondent. The editor of the Jamaica paper calls it "A Lesson for Husbands." intending it for the benefit, we suppose, of some of his friends the planters, whose wives may be a little too fond of playing the empress. We hope no Jamaica gentleman is afraid for his head. It is an allegory, per. haps, meaning that the "head of the house" will be brought low, if it does not take care, and that the pretty lips will reign in its stead. To call it, however, a Lesson for Husbands," is too exclusive. It is a lesson for wives also, and for lovers, -for all, in short, who confound the merely beautiful with the loveable, and who in admiring wilfulness in others, at once betray the propensity to it in their own natures, and tempt it to make them its unpitied victims. A handsome tyrannical husband may "snap off his wife's head," as well as a handsome vixen her husband's. "Lessons" for either party are invidious. Bad educations and undisciplined wills are of both sexes, and have a right to demand instruction through the medium of lessons for all.

"

(*Noble! and sensible !)

N. Queen of Assyria! and art thou not so, since by S. No, I am only a slave that you love to-day. Who can answer for to-morrow? I do not reign; I happen to please. If I give an order, they consult you before obeying me.

N. Do you think it then so great a pleasure to reign? S. Yes, for those who have never enjoyed it! N. Well-would you reign for a few days in my place?

S. Take care that you do not propose to be too ge

nerous.

N. Nay, I repeat, if you would for one day be the absolute mistress of Assyria, you shall.

S. Shall I?-and every thing that I command-shall it be obeyed?

N. Yes, I will cede to you, for one day, my power, and my golden sceptre, its emblem.

S. Suppose I should desire them to shut up the Seraglio?

Ninus smiled.-I will not retract my word. For one day, one entire day, you shall be queen and mistressI swear it. It shall no longer be to me, that the palace and empire pay obedience, but to you, to you alone. Summon up then all your whims and caprices, for you shall have absolute power.

S. And when shall this be?
N. To-morrow, if you wish it.
S. I do.

Semiramis sweetly bent towards Ninus, letting her head fall on the shoulder of the king. She had the air of a pretty woman, begging pardon for a little caprice, after it had been ceded to her. Never had she been so pleasing never had Ninus been so happy. In the morning the king said to Semiramis,-" Behold thy day to be queen !"

Semiramis called her women and made them dress her magnificently-she placed on her head a crown of precious stones, and appeared with it in the presence of Ninus-Ninus, enchanted with her beauty, ordered that all the officers and servants of the palace should repair to the ball of state, and that they should take from the treasury his sceptre of gold, and bring it to him. When this was done, and every one had assembled before the throne in expectation of some great event, be made them open the doors of the chamber, where he sat with Semiramis, and taking her by the hand, repaired with her to the hali. Ali the officers and servants prostrated themselves before the king. Ninus conducted Semiramis to the throne placed in the centre of the hall, and made her sit on it; then commanding every one to rise, he announced to them his wish, that during the present day they should obey Semiramis, as if she were himself. He took the golden sceptre from the hands of the chief slave, and putting it in the hands of Semiramis "Queen," said he, "behold the sign of sovereign power; take it, use it, and command as queen. You have here only slaves, and I myself, during the whole of this day, am but one among them. Whoever are slow to obey your orders, let them be punished, as if they had disobeyed the king." Having thus spoken, he kneeled before the queen, who smilingly gave him her hand to kiss. The whole court then passed before the throne of Semiramis, who touched each officer with the end of her royal sceptre, and received from each of them an oath to obey implicitly her commands. She received their oaths with a majesty which Ninus admired. When the ceremony

[ocr errors]

was ended, he complimented Semirimus, and asked her how she had obtained her grave and majestic air? S. Because whilst they were swearing obedience, replied Semiramis, I was thinking what I should command each of them to do. I have only one day of power, and I would employ it well.

The king laughed heartily at this answer. Semiramis appeared to him more than ever, amiable and lovely. Let us see, thought he, how she will play her part, and with what commands she will begin. "Let the seстеtary of the king approach my throne," said Semiramis, placed before him a small writing table. in a loud voice. The secretary drew near-two slaves " Write! On pain of death it is commanded that the governor of the citadel of Babylon do give up the government of the with the seal of the king, and hand me that order. citadel to him who shall hand hin this order. Seal it Write! On pain of death it is commanded to the chief of the slaves of the palace, that he give up the government of the slaves to him who presents this order. Close it-seal it with the signet of the king, and give me that order. Write! On pain of death it is commanded to the general of the armies encamped under the walls of Babylon, to give up the command of the armies to him who shall present this order. Close it, seal it, and give it to me!'

She took the three orders she had dictated, and put them in her bosom. The court was thunderstruck-the

king himself was astonished. "Let all listen," said

Semiramis "in two hours all the officers of the state the elevation of a new princess. Let a feast be preshall come to offer me presents, as it is the custom on pared for the evening. Wait, I have still another order. On pain of death it is commanded to the chief eunuch that he present this evening, at the feast, twenty of the seraglio. Go; let every one depart now, except my most beautiful women that they may be added to the

faithful servant Ninus-I would consult him on state affairs."

All the court went out-Ninus alone remained.

You see (said Semiramis) I know how to conduct myself as queen. Yesterday you would not sacrifice to me your seraglio-to-day I have augmented it. Is not this generous?

Ninus began to laugh. "My beautiful queen (said he) you play your part admirably; but if your servant might dare to question, what are you going to do with those orders which you have dictated?

S. I am no longer a queen, if I am to give you an account of my intentions; but (continued she, laughing) I wish to avenge myself of those three officers. N. To avenge yourself! for what?

S. The first, the Governor of the Citadel, is ugly, and frightens me whenever I see him. The second, the Chief of the Slaves, has twice presented you fresh slaves to wean from me your love; and the third, being General of the Army under the walls, deprives me too often of your presence; you are always at the Camp-I am jealous of the army, and not being able to disband the whole, I will disgrace their chief.

This answer, mingled with folly and flattery, enchanted Ninus.-Well (said he) behold three great officers disgraced for very weighty reasons.

Oh (continued Semiramis) it is my pleasure I tell you ; I mean to put your empire in disorder for one day at

least.

Ninus and the queen walked in the gardens of the palace-the slaves of the gardens prostrated themselves before Semiramis.

N. These handsome gardens are yours to-day, my

queen.

S. Beautiful gardens do you call them!—what is there in them that is royal, or that the meanest of your officers may not have? Oh, how few know how to use the power they possess !

N. But you have this day the power, to make use of it.

S. You shall see. Slave (cried she to the Chief of the Gardens), you see that portico on columns of granite, one hundred feet in height, and the terrace which surmounts them ;-take the gardens with its flowers, its trees, and its cascades, and place it on the top of that terrace. Queen!! said the chief of the gardens.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Thou diest, if I am not obeyed. Take a million of slaves, and do as I have ordered-Semiramis will then have gardens worthy of her.

The chief of the gardens stood petrified with surprise -Ninus laughed-an eunuch approached the queen. - Great queen, (said he) the lords of the court, beg that you will deign to receive their homage. S. Follow me, servant, (said the queen, smiling to Ninus), and she entered the hall of state.

The grandees of the court passed one by one before the throne, each bringing a present. The majority had considered it judicious to offer jewels and precious stuffs.

Semiramis paying little attention to these useless presents, ordered the treasurer to give to each lord another, three times the value of the one he brought.

[ocr errors]

It is thus (said she to Ninus) that a prince ought to receive presents as a homage, not as a charity. After the officers, came the servants of the palace.—These offered flowers, fruits, and roses, or elegant animals.--Semiramis received their offerings with a gracious air. Then came the slaves, who having nothing, could make no offering. The first slaves were three young brothers, who had been brought up in the same place with Semiramis. They were young, fierce, and

bold; and served as guards to the palace. Semiramis recognized them; for one day, in the place where she had resided, the females were attacked by an enormous tiger, and it was these three brothers who rushed to kill the animal. The females during the scene had remained veiled; therefore the brothers knew not Semiramis. When they passed before the throne, she said to them, "And have you no presents to make to the queen ?"

- None (replied the first, whose name was Zopyrus), but my ife to defend her.

None (replied the second, who was Artaban,) but my sword against her enemies.

None (replied the third, who was Assur,) but the respect and admiration with which her presence inspires me.

Slaves, said Semiramis, it is ye, who of all the court have made the best presents. I cannot recompense them with the riches of the treasury of the empire, as I have done the rest; but it never shall be said that Semiramis was ungrateful. Thou who hast offered me thy sword, against mine enemies, take this order; carry it to the General of the armies encamped under the wall of Babylon, hand it to him, and wait for that which he will do for thee.-Thou who hast offered me thy life to defend me, take this order, carry it to the governor of the citadel, and wait for that which he will do for thee.--Thou who hast offered me

the respect and admiration which my presence inspires, thou seemest to me a courtier; take this order, carry it to the chief of the slaves of the palace, and wait for that which he will do for thee.

The three brothers went out immediately, and the rest of the slaves passed on. The ceremony of gifts being finished, Semiramis descended from her throne, and desiring every one to quit the hall, remained alone with Ninus. “I told you (said she,) that I would upset your empire. You see I put your gardens upon high terraces, and your slaves at the head of armies; but now to my toilette for the feast. You will help me, will you not? and during that time we will judge of the beauty of the women whom I have added to your seraglio.

There was in Semiramis so much gaiety, folly, and beauty, that Ninus had never been so much in love as now. He assisted at the toilette of the queen. In a short time they introduced, one by one, the women destined for the seraglio. There were some beautiful, some only pretty. Ninus scarcely looked at them he bad eyes only for Semiramis. "You are wrong, (said she) not to pay attention to your new slaves: look at this young girl; what a timid air she has! and how pretty." Fifteen women had appeared; the eunuch announced that he had not been able to get any more. Very well, (said Ninus with indifference,) very well." The eyes of Semiramis lightened with anger. Slave, (said she) I told you this morning, on pain of death, twenty women for this evening, and you have only brought fifteen. Where are the others, that your head may not fall?"

46

[ocr errors]

The Eunuch did not answer, but kept his eyes fixed on Ninus.

S. It is not to Ninus that you are to answer for your disobedience- it is to me. Where are the five women, wanting to complete my order-I will have them or thy

head.

E. My head will not fall unless the king pleases. S. " That word has condemned thee!" then striking her hands, the slaves entered. "Seize that slave, drag him to the court yard of the Seraglio, and take off his head-let it be presented to me before the feast this evening begone."

N. Will this be your last whim," said Ninus laughing.

S. No; I have yet six hours to reign.

N. My lovely queen (said Ninus, laughing,) I willingly give you the head of the slave; but is it worth your while to be angry about it? It is true, your anger gives you new charms; but a few women, more or less, what signifies it?"

Without thinking any further of the slave condemned to death, Ninus conversed with Semiramis. In a short time evening, and the time for the banquet, arrived. When Semiramis entered the hall, a slave presented a plate, from which she turned not away her eyes, but carefully examined it. It contained the head of the Eunuch.. · It is well, (said she); place it in the Court of the Palace, through which the slaves must pass to the feast. Stand you by it, and repeat, that three hours since this man lived, but that having disobeyed me, his head. was instantly struck off." The banquet was magnificent; there were dances, flowers, and perfumes, and a sumptuous feast prepared in the gardens. Semiramis, receiving the homage paid her, with much majesty and grace, addressed herself constantly to Ninus, as if she would pay him the honours of the feast.

S. You are (said she) a stranger king, who comes to visit me in my Palace. I must conduct myself to please you.

They were soon at table. Semiramis confounded all ranks Ninus was placed at the foot of the table; he was the first to laugh at this change of the etiquette of the palace; and the court, following his example, allowed themselves to be seated according to the caprice of the queen. She placed near her the three brothers. "Are my orders obeyed," (she asked them). They answered, Yes." The banquet was gay. A slave having by chance served the king first, Semiramis caused him to be hung up and flogged with thorns; his cries mingled with the laughter of the company. Every one was disposed to be joyful; it was a comedy, in

[ocr errors]

which each played his part. Towards the end of the repast, when wine had inflamed the gaiety of the court, Semarimis spoke- Sire, the treasurer has read me the list of those who have offered me gifts on the joyous event of my sovereignty; the name of one lord only is wanting to complete it.

N. Who is be? (exclaimed Ninus); he must be se verely punished.

S. It is yourself (replied Semiramis). Speak: what have you given the queen this morning? Ninus rose, and with a smile, whispered that he had saluted her beautiful lips.

S. The queen is insulted by her slave. N. I embrace her knees to obtain my pardon. Pardon me, powerful queen, pardon me.

S. (Abandoning him her hand, which the king was covering with kisses,) "I do not pardon such an insult from a slave (then added in a lower voice) Slave, prepare to die."

N. What a little fool you are! (replied Ninus, still on his knees) I will, however, give way to your whims; but your reign will soon be over.

S. You will then not be angry with something which I am about to order. Slaves, seize this man-yes, even him-Ninus.

Ninus went laughingly up to the slaves, and put himself into their hands.

[ocr errors]

Drag him out of the hall, take him in the courtyard of the seraglio, prepare everything for his death, and wait my orders."

The slaves obeyed, and took Ninus out. He went willingly, laughing all the way. They lead him past the head of the murdered eunuch. Semiramis placed herself in a balcony. Ninus allowed them to chain his hands.

[ocr errors]

Run to the fortress, Zopyrus-you to the camp, Artaban: Assur, shut all the doors of the palace. The orders were given in a low voice, and were immediately executed. Well," said Ninus, " great queen, there remains but one word to end this comedy."- "Hear it," cried Semiramis; "slave, remember the eunuch. Strike!" They did strike, and before Ninus could utter a cry, his head fell on the ground, a smile still playing on his lips.

"Now I am queen of Assyria, (cried Semiramis.) and perish, as did the eunuch and Ninus, all those that dare to disobey."

ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE

XVI. THE STRANGE FORTUNES OF CONINGSMARK.

Charles John Coningsmark was a Swedish Count, supposed, on strong circumstantial evidence, to have procured three assassins to murder Mr. Thynne, a gentleman of good family and large fortune, in the reign of Charles the Secoud. This atrocious deed, to which Coningsmark was stimulated by the hope of obtaining the hand of the Countess of Ogle, a beautiful young woman to whom Mr. Thynne had been contracted, was perpetrated in Pall-Mall, near the bottom of St. Alban's-street, as the unfortunate man was returning from the house of his mother-in-law, Lady Northumberland, who lived in St. James's-street. At the hour of eight on a Sunday evening, in a crowded thoroughfare, in the heart of a great metropolis, almost within sight of a royal palace, and notwithstanding a running footman with a blazing flambeau proceeded the equipage, the villains having stopped and surrounded the coach, Charles Boratzi, a native of Poland, discharged a blunderbuss, loaded with bullets, at Mr. Thynne, which penetrating and dreadfully lacerating his body, he languished in great agonies a few hours and died. So flagrant, and, in England so unusual an enormity, as waylaying a man in order to murder him, naturally raised the indignation of the public, and excited the vigilance of the police.

The Count was seized a few days after near Gravesend, in disguise, and attempting to procure a passage in an outward bound ship. His three desperados were also soon after taken into custody, and with Coningsmark, tried at the Old Bailey, before the Chief Justices, Pemberton and North, the Chief Baron Montague, the

Recorder, and others.

Three of the assassins after a long trial were clearly convicted of murder, as well by their own confession, as by depositions previously taken by the coroner and other strong evidence; but strange to tell, the original proposer and promoter of all the mischief, the infamous Coningsmark, by far the most criminal, was acquitted; while the three wretched men whom he had corrupted and employed, were executed, under circumstances of general hatred and indignation.

The contriver of an act at which the heart revolts, thus escaping punishment, was a national disappointment, and naturally exasperated the friends and family of the deceased. A writer of that period, without producing any corroborating proofs, throws out a rash charge of corruption against the presiding judge (Pemberton) and the jury. Of the latter, many of whom were foreigners, but most of them respectable men (says the author, to whom we have been indebted for so many of these romances, and whom the reader may now recognize by his style), I am not prepared to speak; but as to the judge, we must not admit lightly au accusation which would brand with everlasting infamy a man who had devoted his whole life to a profession in which eminence and promotion are not very easily attained, but which, by toil and perseverance, assisted by lucky incidents, he had procured; nor is it probable that any douceur a profligate

foreign adventurer could present, would have seduced an eminent judge, of moderate enjoyments, to forget his duty and risk his independence, his fame, and his life. I rather impute the guilty count's acquittal to the fraudulent conduct of an interpreter employed to explain the evidence to the foreign part of the jury; he had been long connected with the count's family in some subordinate situation, appeared during the whole trial to interest himself strongly in his behalf, and was several times checked by the counsel on the part of the crown, for coming forward too officiously when not called upon; and was told that he acted the part of an advocate rather than an interpreter. The Chief Justice Pemberton, I confess, appears to have had a bias in favour of the prisoner; I hope and believe not a corrupt one. It was also remarked that the three condemned were not asked, as is usual in such cases, what they had to say in their defence; why sentence should not be pronounced against them. I have perused the trial with some attention, and confess, that there is not the shadow of a doubt on my mind of the count's guilt. In such infernal transactions, positive evidence can very rarely be procured, as they are generally carried on in darkness and mystery; but Couingsmark's previous and frequent intercourse with the murderers; his purchasing clothes for one, and weapons for another; the virulent manner in which he had long spoken of Mr. Thynne, and a singular question he directed a person to ask of the Swedish envoy, concerning the legality of marrying lady Ogle, in case of Mr. Thynne's falling in a rencontre with him; his perpetually changing lodgings and going by a feigned name when he came to London, to direct the nefarious business; and lastly, his attempting to escape in disguise, and telling the people of the house he lodged in that he was going to Windsor, when he actually went to Gravesend; were proof circumstantial it is true, but sufficiently strong to convince most per sons of his guilt. It is impossible to peruse the trial, without remarking the great lenity, inclination to mercy, and scrupulous attention in every minute particular, paid to these abominable culprits. It appears to have been carried to rather a dangerous extreme with respect to them; and I am of opinion, enabled the count, who was treated with too much respect and delicacy, to make impressions on the jury, which ultimately tended to his acquittal.

But all the pains he took, all the guilt he incurred, and the innocent blood he had shed, could not accomplish the purpose he wished. Abhorring his crime, and detesting the perpetrator of it, lady Ogle would never admit him into her presence, and was afterwards married to the Duke of Somerset, who although she was a virgin widow, was, in fact, her third husband; the lady having been betrothed in her infancy, to Henry, Earl of Ogle, only son of Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, who died in his childhood. After escaping punishment for a crime he had committed, the count, in the midst of a career of unbridled profligacy, and with the conscience of a murderer, was put to death for a crime of which he was innocent.

Wandering, restless, and self-tormented, over various parts of Europe, he visited the court of (I believe at that time) the Duke of Hanover, whose son, the Prince of Zell, was afterwards George I., King of England. In the indiscriminate ardour of vicious passion, aud taking advantages of domestic discord, he presumed to cast unhallowed looks on the princess of Zell, who had for some time lived in a comfortless state of estranged nuptial affection; the prince indulging a culpable latitude in female intercourse, whilst his wife lived almost in a state of seclusion in her own apartments.

But one of the frail court favourites, a most artful creature, afterwards created Duchess of Munster, having lately displeased this unfaithful husband, and being fearful of a reconciliation with his wife, saw with pleasure, and privately encouraged the insolent pretensions of the count; assuring him that a man of his personal accomplishments and merit, could not fail succeeding, after a little perseverance, with a lady so very ill-used.

Having, at the same time, excited the jealousy of the prince, by apt emissaries, and distant suggestions, concerning the marked attentions and known character of Conings mark (for, generally speaking, husbands, however negligent, are not fond of being made ridiculous) this abominable woman, by means of a bribe, prevailed on a valet of court Werenhauson, who attended the Princess, to go to the Count's lodging, and inform him that the Princess of Zell wished to speak with him immediately on an affair of importance. The man of gallantry, flattering himself that the lady's reserve had at length relaxed, hurried to what he considered as an appointment; while the insidious contriver of the meditated mischief, repairing, without delay, to the Prince, and effecting a concern for the honour of his house, told him, she could no longer be a silent observer of the fla gitious conduct of his wife; that if any doubt remained of her infidelity, his highness had now an opportunity of being an eye witness of his own dishonour; that the favoured lover, at the moment she spoke, was with the Princess in her bed-chamber, the conspirers against this unfortunate lady having chosen an hour when they knew she would be in that place, and the valet being previously instructed, to which room he was to conduct the count.

The irritated husband, constitutionally and ungovernably passionate, rushed furiously, sword in sword, to the apartment, and meeting the count at the door just returning from the princess, who had assured him she had never sent; he, without uttering a word, plunged his weapon into the bosom of the assassin; and, after bit

terly reproaching his wife, and refusing to listen to any explanation, imprisoned the unhappy woman for the remainder of her life, in a solitary castle.

We have heard the catastrophe of the above story related differently; Coningsmark being said to have been thrown down a trap door, like the more innocent subject in the Romance of Kenilworth. Other circumstances have also given rise to different conjectures; but all the relaters are agreed in loading the character of the Swedish Count with obloquy. Thynne is the man who has the extraordinary monument in Westminster Abbey, where the assassination is actually sculptured, coach, wig, and all; as if to be murdered was a sort of honour.

FRIGHTFUL INTERIOR OF A MOORISH

GOVERNMENT AND FAMILY. The following incidents are abstracted from letters written by the sister of Mr. Tully, at that time British Consul in Tripoli. The high favor the English had gained in Tripoli, aided by the personal character of Mr. Tully, (who appears to have enjoyed the esteem of all parties during his residence there) procured his family an unprecedented degree of confidence from all the principal people of the place, especially the reigning family.

Ali Bashaw appears to have been a mild and kind governor, but a very weak one; and being irresponsible, except remotely to the Grand Seignior he was led to tolerate worse deeds than he could have perpetrated himself. Altogether the narrative presents a painful view of a people at the mercy of weaknesses of all kinds. Whatever happens, they have no help for themselves; but are driven hither and thither, and butchered as remorsely as sheep. They are every way oppressed, -by their rulers,-and by custom, superstition, and miserable ignorance.

A more immediate interest is added to a narrative of this kind, by the curious existing attempt on the part of the French government to colonize the still more bar barous territory of Algiers.

Previously to entering the bay of Tripoli, a few miles from the land, the country looks picturesque, various tints of beautiful verdure being perceptible: no object whatever seems to interrupt the evenness of the Boil, which is of a light colour, almost white, interspersed with long avenues of trees, for such the numerous palms planted in regular rows appear, being kept in the finest order. Their immense branches, coarse when near, are neat and distinct at a distance. The land being low and very level, the naked stems of these trees are "carcely seen, and the plantations of dates resemble for many miles luxuriant woods and groves. On a nearer view, they make a more straggling appearance, and afford neither shelter nor shade from the burning atmosphere that every where surrounds them. The whole of the town appears in a semicircle, some time before reaching the harbour's mouth. The extreme whiteness of square flat buildings covered with lime, which in this climate encounters the sun's fiercest rays, is very striking. The baths form clusters of cupolas very large to the number of eight or ten, crowded together in different parts of the town. The mosques have in general a small plantation of Indian figs and date trees growing close to them, which, at a distance appearing to be so many rich gardens in different parts of the town, give the whole city an aspect truly novel and pleasing. On entering the harbour, the town begins to discover its dilapidations from the destructive hand of time, large hills of rubbish appearing in different parts of it. The castle, or royal palace, where the Bashaw resides, is at the east end of the town, within the walls, with a dock-yard adjoining, where the Bey, (the Bashaw's eldest son, and heir to the throne), builds his cruisers. This castle is very ancient, and is inclosed by a strong high wall that appears impregnable, but it has lost all symmetry on the inside, from the innumerable additions made to contain the different branches of the royal family; for there is scarcely an instanee of any of the blood royal, as far as to the Bashaw's great grandchildren, living out of the castle walls. These buildings bave increased it by degrees to a little irregular town. The arrival of Christians in the harbour occasions a great number of people to assemble at the mole-end and along the sea shore, the natural consequence of an African's curiosity, who never having been out of his own country, finds as much amusement at the first sight of an European, as his own uncouth appearance affords to the newly arrived stranger; and it was not easy for some minutes to draw off our attention from the extraordinary group we perceived collected. It was noon when we disembarked, an hour when, on account of the extreme heat of this season, no Moor of distinction leaves his house; but a number of the Bashaw's chief officers, some from the Bashaw, and some on their own account, came to welcome Mr. Tully on his return to Tripoli. This being the first time we had seen so many persons, splendidly arrayed in the fashion of the east, assembled together, rendered their appearance more striking. Their long flowing robes of satin, velvet, and costly furs, were exhibited amidst a crowd of miserable beings whose only covering was a piece of dark brown homespun cotton, or a lighter web, resembling a dirty blanket, and which, (by a wretched contrast), heightened the lustre of those who passed through them to

wards us.

The Bashaw, Ali Coromalli, is short in stature, and by no means equal to his sons in figure, but he looks

sons.

both consequential and venerable Though not sixty,
he appears an old man from the whiteness of his beard.
The Bey, his eldest son, is about thirty, a fine majestic
figure, much beloved, being extremely mild and just to
his people. His guards and power are nearly equal to
the Bashaw's, a circumstance which raises a jealousy in
his younger brothers, Sidy Hamet, and Sidy Useph,
which is cruelly heightened by disaffected persons
around them, and renders them both exceedingly trou-
blesome to him. Though the Moors and Turks are
allowed to marry four wives, the Bashaw has only
married Lilla Hullama, a truly amiable princess.
December 29, 1783.
The Bashaw, the
Bey, and his second son Sidy Hamet, went to day to
attend the mosque. None but the royal family ride in
town. Their suite follows on foot, excepting the head
Chaoux, who is first in the procession, richly dressed
and mounted on a stately horse; he has a large kettle,
drum before him on which he strikes minute strokes,
going before in the manner of a herald, proclaiming the
Bashaw at the entrance of every street. He rides be-
fore the Bey in the same manner when the Bashaw is
not present, but does not accompany any of the other
His dress is nearly the same with that of the
other chaouxes, with the difference of a large gold claw
on the left side of his turban; and the front of his under
jileck, or waistcoat, was almost an entire breastplate of
silver. Six chaouxes followed him on foot, dressed uni-
formly in scarlet cloth close dresses, quite plain, not
very long, and fastened round the waist with a leather
belt. They had all of them plain white stiff high caps,
made exactly in the shape of a cornucopia. The tails
were borne next (the sovereign of Tripoli is a Bashaw
of three tails); then followed the hampers, or the
Bashaw's body guard: some of these guards were with
the Bey; the younger sons have none at present. They
were drest very showily and carried a short silver
stick in their hands. After these followed the attend-
ants and suite of the Bashaw; round him were the
officers of state, those highest in rank, of course, nearest
his person. The sword-bearer was on one side of him,
and his first minister of state on the other, to whom he
seemed talking very earnestly. He was dressed in a
yellow satin caftan, lined with a rich fur. His turban
was very large with gold ends. He was without jewels
to-day, though usually adorned with very fine ones.
This omission of precious stones is to indicate to his
subjects, that the Bashaw's mind is oppressed. The
horses of the Bashaw and Bey were particularly beau-
tiful; they were buried in their trappings. Both their
saddles were embossed gold, and had gold stirrups
weighing more than thirteen pounds each pair. The
Bashaw's horse had on five solid gold necklaces; the
Bey's horse had three. The Bey wore a pale green and
silver caftan, and a crimson shawl with rich gold ends
twisted over his turban. One of his officers of state had
on a caftan of gold tissue, with a fine purple cloth ber-
nuse over it. You may perceive, that in few places,
the costume can be grander than it is here.

The Bashaw looks venerable, but the Bey looks much
more like a sovereign. He is a noble figure and re-
markably handsome. An immense number of black
slaves and servants encircled the whole procession and
kept off the crowd. The Bashaw visits the mosque on
every particular event, good or bad, that concerns him-
self or his state. He sometimes, though not often, pays
a visit to the Rais of the marine, who cannot wish much
for the honour, as it costs him two of his blacks, whom
he is obliged to present to the Bashaw for his gracious
condescension. While the Bashaw was passing, a man
who was in a consul's house for protection (all the con-
sulary houses being sanctuaries) ran out and touched
his horse, and was on that account pardoned. This
privilege extends to the touching any part, not only of
the Bashaw's, but of the Prince's garments or horses
when they are out; but the Bashaw's horse protects at
all times, even in his stable: if a criminal can get under
him or cling round him, his life is safe. When the
Bashaw goes to any of his gardens, which he always
does on horseback, he has three relay horses, richly
caparisoned, led before him by slaves, and all his suite
then ride.

May 24th, 1784.-The Bashaw has not given his consent for some time past to the Christians to reside in the country, at a greater distance from the city of Tripoli than four or five miles, as he cannot answer for their safety, on account of the incursions of the Arabs, or even of the Moors, many of the cyderies being at present nearly in a state of revolt. We have the use of a large Moorish country-house on the skirts of the sands; thougn the grounds belonging to it are not in the best order, yet they are in the style of all African gardensa mixture of beauty and desolation. The orange, citron, and lime trees are in their fullest bloom: their branches, covered with flowers, are bending down with the weight of fruit ready for gathering. The Arabian jessamine and violets cover the ground; yet in various parts of the garden wheat, barley, water-melons, and other still coarser plants are indiscriminately found growing. The high date tree, with its immense spreading branches, is planted round the gardens near the walls. The branches of this tree extend fourteen feet; they grow from the top of it, furnished with close leaves from twor to theee feet long. Each bunch of dates, which resemble colossean bunches of grapes, weighs from twenty to thirty pounds. The tree grows nearly a hundred feet high. From this tree the Arab gathers the richest nourishment for his family, and from its juices allays fevers with the freshest lakaby, and cheers his spirits with that which has been longer drawn. They extract the juice from

the tree by making three or four incisions at the top of
it. A stone jar that will contain a quart is put up to
each notch: the jars put up at night are filled by the
morning with the mildest and most pleasant beverage,
and, on the contrary, those jars put up in the morning,
and left till late in the day, become a spirituous strong
drink, which, the Moors render more perniciously strong
by adding leaven to it. The tree will yield this juice.
for six weeks or two months every day, and after the
season, if taken care of, recovers in three years, and
bears better fruit than before it was bled, as the Moors
term it. It is customary in noble families to have the
heart of the date tree at great feasts, such as weddings,
the first time a boy mounts a horse, the birth of a son,
or the return of an ambassador to his family. The heart
lies at the top of the tree between the branches of its
fruit, and weighs when cut out from ten to twenty
pounds; it is not of a substance to take out before the
tree has arrived at the height of its perfection. When
brought to table its taste is delicious, and its appearance
singular and beautiful. In colour it is composed of
every shade, from the deepest orange and bright green
(which latter encompasses it around) to the purest
white; these shades are delicately inlaid in veins and
knots, in the manner of the most curious wood. Its
flavour is that of the bannan and pine; except the white
part, which resembles more a green almond in consist
ence, but combines a variety of exquisite flavours that
cannot be described,

The best dates, called by the Moors and Arabs, ta ponis, when fresh gathered have a candied transparent appearance, far surpassing in richness any other fruit. In these gardens the Moors form no walks, only an irregular path is left, which you trace by the side of the numerous white marble channels that cross it with rivulets of water, as I have before described to you, through an almost impenetrable wood of aromatic trees and shrubs. The sweet orange of Barbary is reckoned finer than those of China, both in flavour and beauty; the next best is a small white orange which grows at Malta, almost crimsoned withinside. Cherries are not known here, and pease and potatoes only when cultivated by the Christians. Water melons, as if ordered by Provi dence, are particularly excellent and plentiful. Many owe their lives to this cooling and grateful fruit, when nearly expiring through insupportable heat. The pomegranate is another luxurious fruit of this country. The Moors, by pressing the juice through the rind of it, procure a most exquisite drink. The Indian and Turkey figs are acknowledged to be extremely good here. There are two sorts of apricots: one remarkable for its large size and excellence, the other, with the musk, melons, and peaches, are very indifferent. There are several sorts of fine plums and some very high-flavoured sweet grapes, which, if cultivated in quantities for wine, would render this country rich in vineyards, from the ease and excellence of their production; but Mahomet has too expressly forbidden Mussulmans wine, to admit of its being made in their presence, for even the sight of it is repugnant to the laws of the Koran. There are delightful olive woods near us, but when the olives are ripe, it is inconvenient to walk under the trees on account of the olives continually falling loaded with oil. Near to these woods are marble reservoirs to receive the oil the Moors extract from the olives, and from these reservoirs they collect it into earthern jars: it is as clear as spring water, and very rich. The natives who can afford it are so delicate in their taste of oil, that they allot it to their servants when it has been made eight or nine months, and yet when a year old it often surpasses the finest Florence oil. The walls which surround the houses and gardens of the principal people divide this part into a number of narrow roads in all directions; beyond them are date-trees interspersed with fields of barley and high Indian corn. Spaces of sand separated by olive plantations, sun-burnt peasants, and camels without number, add to these a burning sun and the clearest azure sky, and a just picture may be formed of Tripoli. The deserts adjoining, though singular in appearance seem frightful from the frequent and recent proofs we have had of their victims. A party arrived from them yesterday so exhausted that they would have died on the road if they had not been instantly relieved by the Moors. Four of their companions had perished the day before for want of water and from the excecsive heat. Haggi Abderrahman, who is just named ambassador to England, often speaks of the death of his favourite daughter, who died in great anguish two days after crossing these deserts with him in his last return from Mecca. Being extremely delicate in her constitution from the scorching heat of the ground at the different times they stopped with the tents, her feet became blistered and mortified."

In this fertile country, so fatal are the despotic laws to agricultural prosperity, that in the year 1785, a frightfu famine raged. While still the famine possessed the town, the plague made its horrid appearance, and the Christians were forced to shut up their houses. It is against the Mahometan faith, to endeavour to avert the decrees of destiny; pestilence is therefore almost totally unchecked by precautionary, or even remedial measures. Before the first attack had yet died away, the plague revived with increased horror, aud the new year, 1786, was ushered in, in the midst of pestilence and famine. At this time a vessel was expected from Europe with grain; it arrived, and was found to be freighted with Venetian boards, to cover the graves, and make boxes for the dead. The people were ready to tear in pieces the unfeeling Moor who had speculated in this dismally prophetic fashion.

« AnteriorContinuar »