Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

The sight of the country at this period, is pleasing in a high degree; not, as it has been rightly observed, on account of its picturesque effect, but because it conveys the idea of fully employed industry, and the attainment of a blessing, about which hope and anxiety have been exercised. Fine weather is required at this season, and it is usually enjoyed; the air is calm, hot, and sultry, and the human body is more relaxed than even the temperature, as indicated by the thermometer, seems to account for; we may therefore suppose, that it proceeds from the air being surcharged with electric fluid. Accordingly, it is common for striking electrical phenomena to be displayed at this season; the atmosphere gathers a thick and heavy gloom; a pause seems to take place in the operations of nature, whilst a pitchy cloud, more dense and awful than the general mass with which it is surrounded, floats heavily along. At last, and to those engaged in labour, very unexpectedly, a tremendous flash is seen, followed by the most heart-appalling sound:"The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereththe voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars. The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness." The rain pours in torrents; and in a short time the rivers' channels, which just before were nearly dry, are unable to carry No. 30.-VOL. III.

·

[1821.

off the floods, which swell over the banks, and carry all before them. Sometimes the effects are more awful still; the shock, in proceeding from the cloud to the earth, or from the earth to the cloud, proves fatal to the lives of men or animals, frequently with circumstances of curious interest. An electric cloud, thus highly charged, commonly traverses some part of a district every year, but within narrow bounds, and rarely in the same tract in two following years. The means of safety from a positive or charged cloud, are easily pointed out. The passenger should avoid taking refuge under any thing which is lofty, particularly if the summit be pointed; and he should be careful to keep moving. In a room, he should keep at a distance from metallic substances, more especially if they communicate with the external air; and in general, the safest place is in the middle of the room. A damp situation, in all cases, is to be selected; and perhaps, as an additional security, the feet might be placed in a vessel of water. Against the returning stroke, or shock given off from the earth to a negative or discharged cloud, the means of defence are not so easily obtained, though perhaps to people in the open air this is the most frequent source of danger. The most prudent plan would appear to be, to wear non-conductors about the feet, such as silk stockings; or the soles of the shoes might be charged with rosin. Any thing of iron on the soles of the shoes, as is now so much the custom, is productive of danger in these circumstances.

Hops, which are the female florescence of the Humulus lupulus, are gathered at this time; and in districts where they are cultivated, they afford busy employment to the poor. When twined about the pole, few vegetable productions exceed this plant in beauty, but the crop is very uncertain; at the beginning of the month, the Pilchard fishery commences on the shores of Cornwall. The Pilchard 2 X

683

2

Monthly Observations.

684

much resembles the herring, but is | Galium religiosum; Sea Plantain, somewhat smaller and much fatter. Plantago maritima; Fringed BuckBeing both gregarious and harmless, | bean, Menyanthes nymphæoides; this fish is followed and persecuted Round-leaved Bellflower, Campanula by numerous species of voracious rotundifolia; and three other species; creatures, some of which visit the Round-headed Rampion, Phyteuma coast at no other period. Among these orbiculare; Acrid Lobelia, L. urens; are the Grampus, and others of the Touch-me-not, Impatiens noli me tanWhale tribe, the blue and white gere; Large-flowered Mullein, VerSharks, with other more common spe- bascum virgatum; Dwarf-branch'd cies, and several scarcely less greedy Centaury, Chironia pulchella; Upcreatures of the genus Gadus. The right Goosefoot, Chenopodium urbipursuit of the Pilchard is also a chief cum; and six other species; Sea Beet, cause of the arrival of the Doree; Beta maritima; Greater and Lesser which, though apparently a slow mov- Dodder, Cuscuta Europea & Epithying fish, finds means of preying on mum; Marsh Felwort, Swertia perthose which are very swift. About ennis; Marsh Gentian, Gentiana this period, the Mackarel reaches the pneumonanthe; Small Alpine and shores of the Orkney Islands, where Autumnal Gentian, G. nivalis & amait continues but a short time, and then rella; Mountain Stone Parsley, Athareturns to the Atlantic deeps. manta libanotis; Meadow Sulphurwort, Peucedanum Silaus; Sea Samphire, Crithmum maritimum; Hedge Honewort, Sison amomum; Corn Honewort, S. segetum; Water Hemlock, Cicuta virosa; Wild Celery, Apium graveolens; Asparagus, A. officinalis: Fiddle Dock, Rumex pul cher; Scottish Asphodel, Tofiddia palustris; Small Water Plantain, Alisma ranunculoides; Small Waterwort, Elatine hydropiper; Yellow Marsh Saxifrage, Saxifraga hirculus; Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis; Sea Campion, Silene maritima; Orpine, Sedum telephium; Grasspoly, Lythrum hyssopifolium; Portland and Spurge, Euphorbia Portlandica & paralia; Seven species of Mint, Mentha; Red Hemp Nettle, Galeopsis Ladanum; Marsh Woundwort, Stactys palustris; Wild Basil, Clinopodium vulgare; Lesser Calamint, Thymus nepeta; Lesser Skullcap, Scutellaria minor; Branched Broomrape, Orobanche ramosa; Daisy-leaved Ladies' Smock, Cardamine bellidifolia; Sea Stock, Cheiranthus sinuatus; Small

The Swift, the largest British bird of the genus Hirundo, disappears in the earlier part of August, sometimes even so soon as the first or second day; and it has been remarked, that this and others of its genus retire earliest in the warmest seasons. The music of the grove is by this time hushed; except, perhaps, that from the Redbreast and Wren, which birds having moulted their coats early, re- | new their notes somewhat before the other winged minstrels. Insects abound; and the progeny of those which appeared early in the year, help to swell the numbers which now crowd the air. The Dragon Fly makes its appearance. There are several species, but the chief and commonest is the Libellula grandis, a strong and rapid insect, which is indeed a dragon to the creatures it is able to overcome. They all feed on insects, frequenting watery places, where in their larva state their time is wholly spent; and when perfect, are not only bold and voracious, but are able to bear considerable blows without injury. Va-flowered Fumitory, Fumaria parvirious kinds of fruit come into season; and are both delicious and refreshing amidst the heat of the weather.

Come into flower in August:-Marsh and Shrubby Samphire, Salicornia herbacea & fruticosa; Grasslorack, Zostera marina; eight species of Rush, Schoenus scirpus, & Juncus genera; six species of Grass, Milium agrostis, Melica dactylis, Avena, & Rotbollia genera; Small Teasel, Dipsacus pilosus; Devil's-bit Scabious, Scabiosa succisa; Rough Marsh Bedstraw,

Sea

flora; Dwarf-Furze, Ulex nanus; Rough-podded Yellow Vetch, Vicia lutea; Corn Sow Thistle, Sonchus arvensis; Strong-scented and two other species of Lettuce, Lactuca; Alpine Hedypnois, H. Taraxici; Autumnal Hedypnois, H. autumnalis; Shaggy Alpine Hawkweed, Hiracium villosum, and three other species; Milk and woolly-headed Thistle, Carduus marianus & eriophorus; Trifid Bur Marygold, Bidens tripartita; Sea Cotton Weed, Santolina maritima;

685

Memoirs of Leonardo Aretino.

686

(they are both past seventy,) should, for the sake of occupying the pontifical chair for a few years, lay aside the fear of God, and disregard the censure of men. Such were the angry remarks of people in general. If you ask my opinion, I was persuaded that our Pontiff was deceived by those whom I have mentioned above, and that evil counsellors filled him with

Field Southernwood, Artemisia Cam- | of the public. Hence arose great pestris ; Sea Wormwood, A. maritima; complaints, and open reproaches, all Common Wormwood, A. absinthium; being indignant that men of their age, Mugwort, A. vulgaris; Canada Flea- | bane, Erigeron Canadense; Sea Starwort, Aster tripolium; Common Fleabane, Inula dysenterica; Samphireleaved Fleabane, I. crithmoides; Corn Feverfew, Pyrethrum inodorum; Common Chamomile, Anthemis nobilis; Spiral Ophrys, O. spiralis; Small Burdock, Xanthium strumarium; Wild Amaranth, Amaranthus blitum; Common Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demer-empty fears: for I had from the besum; Upright Orache, Atriplex erecta; ginning witnessed his upright intenGrass-leaved Sea Orache, A. litto- tions, and I could not conceive that ralis; Pedunculated Sea Orache, A. a good man could, without the mispedunculata. chievous interference of others, undergo so great a change. If I had imagined that he entertained any crooked

MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF views, you should not have anticipated

LEONARDO ARETINO

(Continued from col. 630.)

"The Antipope indeed entertained no honourable designs; but he concealed his evil intentions by a specious shew of integrity; and his cause was esteemed the better of the two. For he had both repaired to Savona on the appointed day, which our master had failed to do, and had afterwards, with a semblance of eagerness, come to the shore of Tuscany, whilst we were yet delaying. And having thus come, as I may say, to our territory, he seemed to be justified in declaring that he would not quit the sea side, lest he should be deprived of the protection of his fleet; but that he would meet our master in any place contiguous to the sea. Such were the proposals of Benedict. But our Pontiff, on the contrary, refused to come down to the shore; and proposed to hold the meeting in an inland town, and further stipulated that the town in question should be one which acknowledged his authority. Thus the one, like an aquatic animal, would not come upon the dry land; and the other, like a land animal, dreaded the sight of water. In these circumstances our grief was imbittered by our knowledge of the general persuasion, that for the two counter proposals neither the one nor the other incurred any hazard. It was, moreover, thought that both the parties were well aware of this, and that they purposely simulated fear, in order to frustrate the expectations and wishes

[ocr errors]

my departure from his court.

"Affairs being in this posture, there arose a new occasion of disturbance. His Holiness determined to proceed to an election of Cardinals. To this step he was incited by two causes: in the first place, he was desirous of making a requital to his partisans, who were very importunate with him for some remuneration for their services. In the second place, because he was in hopes that the introduction of some new members into the sacred college would mitigate the vehemence of the ancient cardinals. It was not to be doubted that the Fathers would object to this new intention of his Holiness; and custom will not allow any such proceeding to be adopted without their consent. Being determined, therefore, to make a strenuous effort, he summoned the Fathers to a council. They hastily assembled, each forming a different conjecture as to the occasion of their being summoned. The place of meeting had been privately fitted up for their reception. The Pontiff came from his chamber, and seated himself on his throne. The Fathers, in pursuance of orders to that purport, took their places. The assembly being constituted, his Holiness, contrary to the received custom, retained about his person two of his domestics, and excluded the rest of the multitude. Whether he did this, in order that upon occasion he might avail himself of assistance, or for some other cause, I know not. After waiting for a little while in silence, he looked upon the

« AnteriorContinua »