Imatges de pàgina
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few yards, she looked round, and uttering a cry of alarm, started up and ran off to the adjacent woods. Had I pursued immediately, doubtless I should have overtaken her; but I was paralysed. As she rose and fled, her tail streamed behind like that of a comet. Many a tail have I seen since, but never one like that. A lover's description of his mistress, however, as I have since had frequent occasion to observe, is seldom interesting to any one else. I shall therefore only say, that she was the handsomest of the ringtailed species, of whose very existence I was not previously aware.

A passion, which I then believed would terminate only with my life, instantly took possession of me. I ran after her, and in wild and tender accents, besought her to take pity on a poor solitary being, far from home, and in a strange land. But all remained silent, save the coarse howling of some unknown animals which dwelt in that country; and I passed a sleepless night in a tree, anxiously watching for the morning, that I might be enabled to seek the mistress of my affections, and offer her my vows. Ere the sun rose, I began the search; yet it was noonday ere we met. Her shyness at first was excessive; but at length I persuaded her to sit quietly and listen to my story, at which she felt much interested, though it was evident that she doubted my word when I told her that I had crossed the sea. She then informed me that she likewise had lost sight of her own tribe and kindred, which had been alarmed and scattered by strange noises along the shore, which I suspect were from the guns of the ship. So there we were, alone in that wilderness! And when two young monkeys are left alone together in a wood, what can be expected? There was something singular about the countenance of my dear Cinera, which I could not help occasionally wishing were more in character with those of my own tribe; but then there was a gentleness in her manners, and a lightness and elegance in her every movement, which were perfectly bewitching, and which were doubtless greatly enhanced by the splendid black and white ringtail, the recollection of which even now sometimes haunts my pillow.

We had spent some hours together, and I flattered myself that all was going on favourably for me. We were again at the side of the rivulet, seated, side by side, beneath a low spreading tree that

overhung the water; and she had, at my request, assumed the same attitude as when I first saw her; and I was gazing passionately upon her, while her eyes were modestly cast upon the ground. If ever I felt the tender passion, it was at that moment! But I was soon to be cured, and in a very different way from what I had anticipated. The very recollection makes my blood run cold! I was sitting, as before described, lost to every earthly thing, save the beautiful Cinera, when suddenly I felt a sharp twitch across my two forepaws, by which they were perfectly benumbed; and, looking round, I beheld a monstrous animal with a huge grinning mouth, and blue ribbed cheeks, standing over me with a stick, with which he was about to repeat his blow. Resistance was out of the question against such a baboon, and, therefore, I immediately sprang aside, and made my escape, leaving Cinera to do the same. For some time I dared not venture to look round; but finding I was not pursued, I at length halted to draw breath, and then, casting my eyes towards the fatal spot, I beheld the hideous creature squatting by the side of Cinera, and sharing with her a pile of fruit which I had toiled hard to collect, and which I had presented to her as a pledge of the sincerity of my affection. What was to be done? My whole frame trembled with agony. I thought of taking a stone, and creeping slyly up the tree and letting it fall upon the monster's head; but my paws hung powerless by my side, and refused to perform their office. Yet a spell seemed to be upon me, and I could not tear myself from the spot. So I stood aloof and gazed, and a gleam of hope even then came upon me. He will soon have devoured the fruit, thought I, and as for his being a rival in the beautiful ringtail's affections with a well-formed and comely monkey like me, that is quite out of the question.

I was right respecting his appetite; for the gormandizing wretch would have crunched fifty times the quantity between his tremendous jaws; but no opportunity was afforded me of judging whether he really had sufficient vanity to talk of love. At that period my eyes were particularly good; so that, though I was more than three hundred yards distant, I plainly perceived a hideous, leering, liquorish expression in his countenance, as he looked towards Cinera, and drew his right arm, from the elbow down to the paw, across his

frightful grinning month. "By my native groves!" cried I, "this is too much!" and such was my agitation, that I plainly heard my heart thump against my ribs.

At this moment, however, there arose a strange outcry in the woods, which excited the attention of all parties. Cinera jumped upon her hind legs, and uttered a respondent shriek, at which the outcry was repeated, and suddenly a large party of ringtails, who were doubtless her friends and relatives, rushed forward into the open ground. The baboon looked sulkily around, and began his retreat by slowly and awkwardly lounging, and pretending occasionally to jump, along the banks of the rivulet, which, by a circuitous course, came to the spot where I lay concealed. The lovely ringtail-now for ever lost to me was instantly surrounded by her own tribe; and there was such a confused chattering among them, that I in vain endeavoured to ascertain whether they were congratulating or scolding the amiable truant. Amid the group, which had now grown very numerous, I plainly discerned her, as she stood alone in a sort of ring which they had formed round her; and she appeared to be addressing the multitude. With intense feelings of anxiety, I observed that she pointed in the direction which I took when scampering away from the baboon. Hope and strange ambitious dreams instantly arose within me. I perceived that she was a female of high rank among them, and judged that I was the subject of her discourse. "Dear creature!" said I to myself, "she is no doubt en deavouring to describe my perfections, and asking her parent's consent to our happy union. It is evident that her race are much behind my own nation in the noble art of climbing; but I will take pity upon their ignorance, and our young family shall be brought up according to the customs of Persia. In the meanwhile, I will, by long accounts of my travels, and the display of my agility, astonish the natives, and, as a matter of course, I shall become their leader."

Such was my last soliloquy in that country; and it was scarcely terminated, when the whole body of ringtails attered a simultaneous yell, and advanced towards the place of my retreat. Their grimaces were too evi dently hostile for me to wait the result! therefore, when they were within about a hundred yards, I rose up and fled,

Not

and, in an instant, all were in pursuit of me. I made for the sea-shore, where I had left the ship on the preceding day, and where she still fortunately lay at anchor. My speed was such that I gained ground considerably of all the ringtails, whose yells were far behind when I arrived within half-a-mile of the water side; and then, and not till then, I took courage to look back.→→→ Never shall I forget the horror which then took possession of me! twenty yards in my rear was that detestable ribbed-nose baboon who had driven me from happiness. He had joined, unknown to me, in the chase, and at every bound, notwithstanding his apparent clumsiness, gained upon me; and what made him still more horrible was the brandishing of that fearfùl stick, the painful effects of which I had already experienced. On he came, and nearer and yet nearer I heard the bounding of his hind legs, and the whirring of that awful weapon! Still I strained every nerve, and the ground appeared to fly from under me; but all my exertion seemed vain-the monster was now so close that I expected every bound would bring him on my tail. I heard him draw his breath, and fancied that the hot and impure air, which issued from his mouth, warmed the nape of my neck. Fear added wings to my flight-I saw nothing-I knew nothing-I cared for nothing;-death itself was nothing, so that I might escape from that inconceivable horror! To all that happened afterwards I was insensible. I made one tremendous bound it seemed as though I had leaped beyond the limits of earth, and was careering it amid the clouds-then came a noise as of thunder, and anon a yell of agony more piercing than the cry of ten thousand cats, and then all was darkness sudden and unusual darkness-for my eyes were open, and my limbs continued in full activity, yet without performing their duty; for the ground was gone from beneath me, and the light of day had closed upon me. I had jumped into the sea!

The noises which I had heard in my descent were the firing of a gun, and the consequent cry of my wounded pursuer. One of the ship's boats hap pened to be at the usual place of landing at that moment; and by the exer tions of the crew, I was snatched from a watery grave, after I had rescued myself, by my agility and that desperate leap, from the great blue-nosed baboons

The revulsion which had taken place

in my feelings was extraordinary; for immediately I found myself safe on shipboard, I would not have given a rotten nut for my hitherto beloved Cinera. She became as nothing to me; nay, the recollection of her, for some time after this adventure, was absolutely disgusting; so that I really think, had she at that period been delivered up to me, I should have contrived to throw her overboard. Reflection has, since that time, led me to do justice to her good qualities; for, after all, she did but submit to the guidance of her parents and friends, and is most likely long since married to some one in her own sphere of life. I question much, indeed, whether one bred up in the evident barbarity of the ring-tails would ever have made a fit companion for me. But let that pass.

I shall only add, that my love was completely dispelled when hope vanished; and that, from my own experience, I am convinced that a stick, properly applied, and a good ducking, would do more towards curing young monkeys, who fancy they are dying for love, than any other remedy with which I am acquainted.

[To be continued.]

ANECDOTES OF HIS LATE MAJESTY GEORGE IV. Collected from various sources.

It is well known that the Queen, from the infancy of the Prince of Wales, was constantly through life to him the fondest of mothers. Soon after his birth, her Majesty had a whole-length portrait of his Royal Highness modelled in wax. He was represented naked. This figure was half a span long, lying upon a crimson cushion, and it was covered by a bell-glass: her Majesty had it constantly on her toilette, at Buckingham-house; and there it was seen by the writer after her Majesty's decease. The likeness was still palpable, though the original had outlived the date of the fairy model more than half a century.

Few years passed, it is believed, without her Majesty having his portrait, either in miniature, enamel, silhouette, modelled in marble or wax, or in some other style of art. One of the latest, if not the very last, was a miniature head of his Royal Highness, enamelled by Mr. Bone, which he had the honour of placing in her Majesty's hands at Windsor, the year before her death,

when a conversation ensued upon the subject, which not only evinced the minute correctness of her Majesty's fond recollections concerning the illustrious original, but was accompanied by a circumstance very flattering to the artist.

In one of the state apartments at Windsor, is a family-piece, representing her Majesty seated with, as it would appear, two of the royal children; one on the lap, a few months old, exceedingly fair, the other a sturdy infant, aged apparently about two years. These are described as the Prince of Wales and Duke of York.

Some years since, his late Majesty, going round the collection, and describing the pictures to a foreigner of distinction, stopped at this family-piece. Mr. Legg, the principal cicerone, had just described it as usual to the party; when the condescending monarch observed, "You must alter your history, Mr. Legg." Then, smiling and addressing himself not only to the foreign gentleman, but to the whole party, he observed, "That picture was painted by the ingenious Mr. Allan Ramsay, son of the celebrated author of The Gentle Shepherd.' Now, Mr. Ramsay having, like his father, become celebrated too, fell into the common fault of portrait painters-undertaking more than he could perform. He engaged to paint, within a given time, the Queen and the Prince of Wales, then an infant in arms, as you perceive. He completed the likeness of the mother, who might have waited, but, somehow, neglected to finish the child, until he had grown into the sturdy boy, whom you see standing before her." So that, in fact, it is two portraits of the same child, though, in that short space, more dissimilar to each other, than, perhaps, at any subsequent period.

A Delicate Study.-She (the late Queen) knew not the affecting history of Mrs. Fitzherbert. Mr. Fox, who had spent his life in England, knew it not; on the contrary, he pledged his honour that the tale had no foundation. He declared before Parliament, that no marriage had ever taken place between the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert; and he proved the negative by a letter from the prince himself. But who could attest the truth of the prince's letter? We close this painful subject by observing, that Mr. Fox never afterwards forgave the falsehood which had duped him; nor could the royal person in question prevail upon himself to for

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give Mr. Fox for having so much to forgive.

Early Faults.-An extract from the Recollections of John Nicholls, Esq., M.P. laments the removal of Mr. Jack son from the charge of the late King's tuition in early life, and attributes the errors of his education to the change of preceptors. The disposal of the revenues of Cornwall, and the scanty provision compared with the immense establishment appointed for the late King, on his coming of age, is strongly reprobated on the same authority.

Eloquence. On the death of the late Duke of Cumberland, George the Fourth, then Prince of Wales, was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, and in that character his Royal Highness presided at the subsequent anniversary dinner, consisting of the members of all the inaugurated lodges of Masons in London. The meeting was held at Freemasons' Tavern, and nearly five hundred persons were present. On this occasion the Prince exhibited, in various speeches, powers of eloquence which astonished and electrified the audience; and whilst he expatiated upon the character and virtues of his recently deceased uncle and predecessor in office, the whole company were in tears. This, we be lieve, was the only great occasion on which the oratorical powers of the Prince of Wales were exhibited, during three or four years. Lord Moira occupied a place on the right hand of the Prince, who appointed him Lord Deputy Grand Master, which, by the death of the Duke of Manchester, had become

vacant.

Humanity. By his Royal Highness's gracious appointment, I had the great honour to sing to his Royal Highness at the house of a friend, twenty songs, all of which received perfect approbation. The Prince remained two hours, even though Mareschi had, during the interval, made his first appearance at the King's Theatre. His Royal Highness, upon my singing the High Mettled Racer, informed the company that he had fortunately, but a fortnight before, rescued a poor old half-blind race-horse from the galling shaft of a hackney post-chaise.-Dibdin's Musical Tour.

A Rival.-In early life, the Prince of Wales and Earl Grey were suitors for the favours of the Duchess of Devonshire, mother of the present Duke, after an understood separation from her husband (who had under his protection

Lady Elizabeth Foster, the last duchess.) Earl Grey succeeded, and the Prince was ousted.

An Expensive Trifle.-During the period when the Drury Lane company acted at the King's Theatre, the King became enamoured of Mrs. Crouch, then in the prime of life; he constantly visited her at Michael Kelly's Musical Saloon, in Pall-mall, and there lavished his favours on her most profusely. He gave her diamonds to the amount of 5,000l. and settled upon her an annuity of twelve hundred a year. When the debts of the Prince were arranged previously to his marriage, Mrs. Crouch's annuity was not recognized, as it was said no valuable consideration had been given for it.

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When his Royal Highness was between the age of thirty and forty, his mask was taken in plaster of Paris by Mr. Papiera, an Italian, from which, if we mistake not, the bust by Mr. Banks was modelled. The operation, even when executed by the most skilful, is not very agreeable, to say the least of it. Sometimes the plaster is apt to adhere to the skin, and, had such a circumstance occurred with this illustrious personage, the dilemma would have been of serious consequence perhaps to the operator. "How long think you, will it require to produce the mask?" enquired the prince. Five minutes, sir," was the answer. "Well, then," said the prince, "we shall see,"―so, looking at his watch, he showed the time to Papiera, laid it upon the table, and kindly added: "Do not hurry yourself, for I am not impatient, and I wish you to perform your task well." Papiera, to use his own words, observed, "So gracious and condescending was the manner of his Royal Highness, that I went to my work without embarrassment, and completed it within the time." The prince expressed his satisfaction at the skill with which it was performed, and entered into familiar chat with the plaster-caster. your height, Papiera?" asked his Royal Highness,-" I think you are as near as may be to my stature." Papiera answered, "I believe your Royal Highness has the advantage." "Come," said the Prince," let us measure," when, placing him against the wall, he unsheathed a small sword, and, with the point, made the mark. Now," said he, turning to Lord Moira, who was present, " mark my height-but do it fairly, my lord." The point was fixed, and Papiera proved himself,

"What is

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though a courtier, yet no flatterer, for his Royal Highness had the advantage by half an inch. This courtesy of the Prince extended to the ingenious of all classes, who had the least personal intercourse with him. Papiera, be it known, was of no higher rank in the arts-than a manufacturer of plaster

casts.

No royal master, perhaps, was ever more beloved by his whole household than the late Sovereign, for his benevolence extended even to the lowest menials of his establishment. We speak of him both as Prince of Wales and King. If any of the domestics were absent from their duty on account of indisposition, even when the Prince was a very young man, such was his consideration, that his enquires after their health were repeated daily; and no sooner had they resumed their occupation, than he kindly and condescendingly congratulated them on their recovery. Some years since, a gentleman, whilst copying a picture in one of the state apartments at Carlton House, overbeard the following conversation between an elderly woman, one of the housemaids, then employed in cleaning a stovegrate, and a journeyman glazier, who was supplying a broken pane of glass: "Have you heard how the Prince is to-day?" said he-his Royal Highness had been confined by illness. "Much better," was the reply. "I suppose,' said the glazier," you are glad of that" -subjoining, though, to be sure, it can't concern you much." "It does concern me," replied the housemaid, "for though I am only an humble menial, I have never been ill, but his Royal Highness has concerned himself about me and has always been pleased, on my resuming my work to say'I am glad to see you about again I hope you have been taken good care of do not exert yourself too much, lest you be ill again.'—If I did not rejoice at his Royal Highness's recovery, ay, and every one who eats his bread, we should all be very ungrateful indeed!"

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Alas! good King! he had his faults; but such was the innate benevolence of his heart, that he concerned himself not only for those who were immediately about his person, but for those against whom, too often, the hearts of all were closed - public offenders. "Blessed are the merciful," saith the holy adage, "for they shall obtain mercy."

Some years since, the same artist, being at Carlton Palace, observed to the late Mr. one of the royal es

tablishment-"How I should like to see
the council-table prepared for the coun-
cil!" It happened that a council was
to be held that very day. They pro-
ceeded to the apartment: when there
the artist, smiling, observed, “Now, if
I were to judge of your royal master
only by what I see, I should conclude
that he was very little-minded." "And
why so?" enquired Mr.
- "Be-
cause, I perceive, first and foremost,
that all the chairs for the council are
exactly equidistant; secondly, that there
are so many sheets of foolscap, and so
many sheets of post, and a long new
pen laid diagonally on each, and all at
measured mathematical distances; and
thirdly, that the very fold of the green
cloth"-fine broad cloth, which covered
the long table-" is laid right along the
centre of the table." "You are a quiz,”
said the officer of the household.--
"Would I could put on the invisible
cap," resumed the gentleman, “that I
might see and hear what passes, when
the Regent is seated in that golden
chair.*" "Perhaps you might be dis-
appointed in your expectations; but,"
added his friend, in a low voice, "if,.
sir, you could see and hear what I have
seen and heard, and what will likely
occur again after this day's council, you
might feel little disposed to relate what
you had seen with levity." The officer
of the household then took a sheet of
paper from the table, walked to the
fire-side, placed his right arm on the
marble chimney-piece, while he held
the paper in his left hand, and, looking
the artist steadfastly in the face, said:
"Sir, if you would see my royal master
in his truly princely character-fancy
him this day after the breaking up of
the council, standing thus, and the Re-
corder of London standing in your
place, bearing the list of the miserable
culprits doomed to death by the sentence
of the law-wretched criminals, most of
whom are friendless, and all, perhaps,
hopeless of mercy. How little do they
or the world know, that the most power-
ful pleader for a remission of their pu-
nishment, is the Prince-he, whom the
world, judging uncharitably, though
unwittingly of, consider as too much
absorbed in the pomp, and splendour,
and enjoyments of royalty, to trouble
himself with the miseries of his subjects

whilst, one by one, he enquires the nature of the offence in all its bearing,

Room, but his Royal Highness, then Regent,

The council was held in the Throne

sat at the head of the table, in a high-backed, richly carved, and gilt chair.

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