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the chief command, both civil and military, of others, he concealed himself, when in the im- | Victoria should pass in the mean time, the torthe province of Veracruz, to Don Fernando mediate vicinity of the royal troops, beneath tillas would attract his attention, and convince Miyāres, (an officer of high rank and distin- the thick shrubs and creepers with which the him that some friend was in search of him. guished attainments, recently arrived from woods of Veracruz abound. At last a story His little plan succeeded completely: Victoria, Spain,) for the special purpose of establishing was made up, to satisfy the viceroy, of a body on crossing the ravine two days afterwards, a chain of fortified posts, on the whole ascent having been found, which had been recognised perceived the maize cakes, which the birds had to the Table-land, sufficiently strong to curb as that of Victoria. A minute description was fortunately not devoured. He had then been Victoria's incursions. The execution of this given of his person, which was inserted offi- four whole days without eating, and upwards plan was preceded and accompanied by a cially in the Gazette of Mexico, and the of two years without tasting bread; and he series of actions between the insurgents and troops were recalled to more pressing labours says himself, that he devoured the tortillas royalists, in the course of which Miyares gra- in the interior. But Victoria's trials did not before the cravings of his appetite would allow dually drove Victoria from his strong holds at cease with the pursuit: harassed and worn him to reflect upon the singularity of finding Puente del Rey, and Puente de San Juan out by the fatigues which he had undergone, them on this solitary spot, where he had never (September 1815); and although the latter his clothes torn to pieces, and his body lace- before seen any trace of a human being. He maintained the unequal struggle for upwards rated by the thorny underwood of the tropics, was at a loss to determine whether they had of two years, he never was able to obtain he was indeed allowed a little tranquillity, but been left there by friend or foe; but feeling any decisive advantage over the reinforce- his sufferings were still almost incredible: sure, that whoever had left them intended to ments which the government was continually during the summer, he managed to subsist return, he concealed himself near the place, in sending to the seat of war. Two thousand upon the fruits of which nature is so lavish in order to observe his motions, and to take his European troops landed with Miyares, and one those climates; but in winter he was attenu-own measures accordingly. Within a short thousand more with Apădăcă, (in 1816); and ated by hunger, and I have heard him repeat- time the Indian returned; Victoria instantly notwithstanding the desperate efforts of Vic-edly affirm, that no repast has afforded him so recognised him, and abruptly started from his toria's men, their courage was of no avail much pleasure since, as he experienced, after concealment, in order to welcome his faithful against the superior discipline and arms of being long deprived of food, in gnawing the follower; but the man, terrified at seeing a their adversaries. In the course of the year bones of horses, or other animals, that he hap- phantom, covered with hair, emaciated, and 1816, most of his old soldiers fell: those by pened to find dead in the woods. By degrees clothed only with an old cotton wrapper, adwhom he replaced them had neither the same he accustomed himself to such abstinence, that vancing upon him with a sword in his hand enthusiasm nor the same attachment to his he could remain four, and even five days, from amongst the bushes, took to flight; and person. The zeal with which the inhabitants without tasting any thing but water, without it was only on hearing himself repeatedly called had engaged in the cause of the revolution was experiencing any serious inconvenience; but by his name, that he recovered his composure worn out with each reverse their discourage- whenever he was deprived of sustenance for a sufficiently to recognise his old general. He ment increased; and, as the disastrous accounts longer period, his sufferings were very acute. was affected beyond measure at the state in from the interior left them but little hope of For thirty months he never tasted bread nor which he found him, and conducted him inbringing the contest to a favourable issue, the saw a human being, nor thought, at times, stantly to his village, where Victoria was revillages refused to furnish any farther supplies; ever to see one again. His clothes were received with the greatest enthusiasm. the last remnant of Victoria's followers deserted duced to a single wrapper of cotton, which he him, and he was left absolutely alone. Still, found one day, when driven by hunger he had his courage was unsubdued, and his resolution approached nearer than usual to some Indian not to yield, on any terms, to the Spaniards, huts, and this he regarded as an inestimable unshaken. He refused the rank and rewards treasure. The mode in which Victoria, cut off, which Apodaca proffered as the price of his as he was, from all communication with the submission, and determined to seek an asylum world, received intelligence of the revolution in the solitude of the forests, rather than of 1821, is hardly less extraordinary than the accept the indulto, on the faith of which so fact of his having been able to support existmany of the insurgents yielded up their arms. ence amidst so many hardships, during the This extraordinary project was carried into intervening period. When in 1818 he was execution with a decision highly characteristic abandoned by all the rest of his men, he was of the man. Unaccompanied by a single at- asked by two Indians, who lingered with him tendant, and provided only with a little linen to the last, and on whose fidelity he knew that and a sword, Victoria threw himself into the he could rely, if any change took place, where mountainous district which occupies so large a he wished them to look for him? He pointed, portion of the province of Veracruz, and dis- in reply, to a mountain at some distance, and appeared from the eyes of his countrymen. told them that, on that mountain, perhaps, they His after-history is so extremely wild, that I might find his bones. His only reason for seshould hardly venture to relate it here, did not lecting it, was its being particularly rugged and the unanimous evidence of his countrymen inaccessible, and surrounded by forests of a vast confirm the story of his sufferings, as I have extent. The Indians treasured up this hint, and often heard it from his own mouth. During as soon as the first news of Iturbide's declaration the first few weeks, Victoria was supplied with reached them, they set out in quest of Victoria; provisions by the Indians, who all knew and they separated on arriving at the foot of the respected his name; but Apodaca was so ap- mountain, and employed six whole weeks in prehensive that he would again emerge from examining the woods with which it was cohis retreat, that a thousand men were ordered vered: during this time, they lived principally out, in small detachments, literally to hunt by the chase; but finding their stock of maize him down. Wherever it was discovered that exhausted, and all their efforts unavailing, they a village had either received him, or relieved were about to give up the attempt, when one of his wants, it was burnt without mercy; and them discovered, in crossing a ravine which this rigour struck the Indians with such Victoria occasionally frequented, the print of a terror, that they either fled at the sight of foot, which he immediately recognised to be Victoria, or were the first to denounce the that of a European. By European, I mean approach of a man whose presence might prove of European descent, and consequently accusso fatal to them. For upwards of six months tomed to wear shoes, which always give a difhe was followed like a wild beast by his pur-ference of shape to the foot, very perceptible to suers, who were often so near him, that he the eye of a native. The Indian waited two could hear their imprecations against himself, days upon the spot; but seeing nothing of Vicand Apodaca too, for having condemned them toria, and finding his supply of provisions quite to so fruitless a search. On one occasion, he at an end, he suspended upon a tree near the escaped a detachment, which he fell in with place four tortillas, or little maize cakes, which unexpectedly, by swimming a river, which were all he had left, and set out for his village, they were unable to cross; and on several in order to replenish his wallets, hoping that if

report of his reappearance spread like lightning through the province, where it was not credited at first, so firmly was every one convinced of his death; but as soon as it was known that Guadelupe Victoria was indeed in existence, all the old insurgents rallied around him. In an incredibly short time he induced the whole province, with the exception of the fortified towns, to declare for independence, and then set out to join Iturbide, who was at that time preparing for the siege of Mexico. He was received with great apparent cordiality; but his independent spirit was too little in unison with Iturbide's projects, for this good understanding to continue long. Victoria had fought for a liberal form of government, and not merely for a change of masters; and Iturbide, unable to gain him over, drove him again into the woods during his short-lived reign, from whence he only returned to give the signal for a general rising against the too ambitious emperor."

Here we must pause, and have only to add, that the beautiful illustrations of the work stand in no need of the following interesting apology for them.

"The drawings were all taken upon the spot; many of them under circumstances which would have discouraged most persons from making the attempt, as fatigue and a burning sun often combined to render it unpleasant. I mention this in justice to Mrs. Ward, whose name, in conformity to custom, appears upon the plates, for all of which I am indebted to her pencil."

Penelope; or, Love's Labour Lost: a Novel. 3 vols. 12mo. London, 1828. Hunt and Clarke.

WITH too much of that affectation, the knowledge of fashionable life, so little really possessed, yet so set forth in the circulating mediums of the present day; with much of misrepresentation, much bad taste, and a story common-place, besides not being of very vivid

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interest ;-yet, with all these faults, there is | inform me ?? That I can, sir,' said Mr. Kip-| stated, that the operatives find philosophy a enough in these pages to distinguish them from person; and I shall have great pleasure in so far more agreeable recreation after labour than the mere run of everyday novels. There are doing; for, to tell you the truth, I am a very drinking strong beer?" "You may be right, many lively remarks, many of the characters in zealous promoter of these institutions. The sir, and I have no doubt you are; but, as I middle life are well drawn, and the observa- object of these institutions is to give an oppor- have been so long out of England, it is not to tions are often as shrewd as they are neatly tunity to artisans, who are employed all day in be wondered at, that my ideas have not been turned. When we particularise "middle life," manual labour, to acquire a scientific know- able to keep pace with the rapid strides which we do not mean to say that there are not ledge, not only of the art by which he lives education has made in England during that "lords and ladies" enow on the canvass but and at which he works, but of every thing else time. I am very far from wishing to throw all are drawn either by an ignorant or wilfully which can possibly be known or become a any objection or obstacle in the way of human perverting pencil. Nothing can be more ab- subject of human inquiry or interest.' But improvement. You call these establishments surd than the remarks about poaching. One of surely,' interrupted Mr. Primrose, it is not mechanics' institutions :' but pray, sir, do the great faults in the cant of liberality, is, designed to convert mechanical into scientific you not allow any but mechanics to enjoy the that it leads to results the most opposite to its men. That seems to my view rather a contra- benefit of them? Now there is a very numeroriginal setting out. Why one part of a gen- diction to the general order of things.' 'I beg ous class of men, and women too for I should tleman's property should be deemed a peculiar your pardon,' replied the other, you are re-think that so enlightened an age would not subject for depredation; or why his birds peating, I perceive, exploded objections. Is it exclude women from the acquisition of knowshould be stolen more than his sheep, we possible, do you think, that a man should do ledge;-there is, I say, a very numerous class have not philosophy enough to comprehend. his work worse for understanding something of of men and women who have much leisure and We believe game to be as expensive an article the philosophy of it? Is it not far better, little learning-I mean the servants of the of produce as any on the estate; yet it is where it is practicable, that a man should act nobility and gentry at the west end of the very easy for a gentleman who owes his whole as a rational reflecting creature, than as a piece town. It would be charitable to instruct them landed property to mud and Macadam, to be of mere machinery ?" Very true, certainly, also in the sciences. How pleasant it must be most eloquently tolerant. But we are rather sir; you are right. Ay, ay, now I see you now for the coachman and footman, who are digressing, and so will now quote, instead of instruct all artisans in the philosophy of their waiting at the door of a house for their master criticising. The following dialogue in the several employments. Most excellent. Then, and mistress, at or after midnight, instead of mail is an amusing sketch of "the march of I suppose, you teach architecture and read lec- sleeping on the carriage, or swearing and blasintellect." tures on Vitruvius to journeymen-bricklayers?' pheming, as they too frequently do, to have a "We need not say that Mr. Kipperson was Nay, nay, sir,' replied Mr. Kipperson, we knowledge of astronomy, and study the movein good spirits. He always was so. He was do not carry it quite so far as that.' Oh! I ments of the planets. Is there no provision so very happy that by this last journey to Lon- beg your pardon,' replied Mr. Primrose, I had made for these poor people?' Certainly there don he had saved the nation from being starved not the slightest idea that this was carrying is,' said Mr. Kipperson. There are cheap to death by a superabundance of corn. What your system too far. It might, perhaps, be a publications which treat of all the arts and a fine thing it is to be the cleverest man in the little refinement on the scheme, to suppose that sciences; so that for the small charge of sixkingdom! What would become of us all were you would teach tailors anatomy; but after all pence, a gentleman's coachman may, in the it not for such men as Mr. Kipperson starting I do not see why you should start at carrying course of a fortnight, become acquainted with up about once in a century, or twice a week, a matter of this kind too far. The poet says, all the Newtonian theory.' Mr. Primrose was to rectify all the errors of all the rest of the a little knowledge is a dangerous thing;' and, delighted and astonished at what Mr. Kipperworld? And what is the use of all the world for my own part, I can see no great liberality son told him; he could hardly believe his beside, but to admire the wisdom of such men in this parsimonious and stinted mode of deal- senses; he began to imagine that he must as Mr. Kipperson? Our only fear is, that we ing out knowledge; for unless you teach the himself be the most ignorant and uninformed may have too many such profoundly wise men; lower classes all that is to be taught, you make, person in his majesty's dominions. 'But and the consequence of an over supply of wis- or, more properly speaking, keep up, the dis- tell me, sir,' continued he, if those persons, dom would be to ruin the nation by folly. tinction.' Mr. Kipperson was not best pleased whose time and attention are of necessity so Whether Mr. Kipperson addressed Mr. Prim- with these remarks: he saw that his fellow- much occupied, are become so well informed; rose, or Mr. Primrose addressed Mr. Kipperson, traveller was one of those narrow-minded aris- do others, who have greater leisure, keep pace we know not; but in a very short time they tocratic people, who are desirous of keeping with them; or, I should say, do they keep as became mighty good friends. To some obser- the mass of the people in gross ignorance, in much in the advance as their leisure and opvation of Mr. Primrose, his fellow-traveller order that they may be the more easily go-portunity allow them? For, according to your replied: You have been abroad, I suppose, verned and imposed upon. Though in good account, the very poorest of the community sir ? I have, sir,' said Mr. Primrose, and truth it has been said, that the ignorant are are better instructed now, than were the gentry that for a long while: it is now upwards of not so easily governed as the enlightened. when I lived in England.’ Education, sir,' sixteen years since I left England, and I am The ingenious and learned Mr. Kipperson then answered Mr. Kipperson, with the tone of an most happy to return to it. Many changes replied: You may say what you please, sir, oracle, is altogether upon the advance. The have taken place since I went abroad, and in disparagement of the system of enlightening science of instruction has reached a point of some, I hope, for the better.' Many im- the public mind; but surely you must allow perfection which was never anticipated; nay, provements have indeed been made in the that it is far better for a poor industrious me. I may say, we are astonished at ourselves. course of that time. We have improved, for chanic to attend some lecture on a subject of The time is now arrived when the only iginstance, in the rapidity with which we travel; science or philosophy, than to spend his even-norant and uninformed persons are those who our roads are as smooth as a bowling-green. ings in drunkenness and intemperance.' 'In- have had the misfortune to be educated at our But our greatest improvements of all are our deed, sir, I have no wish to disparage the public schools and universities; for in them intellectual improvements. We have made system of enlightening the public mind; and I there is no improvement. I have myself been wonderful strides in the march of intellect. am quite of your opinion, that it is much more witness of the most shocking and egregious England is now the first country in the world desirable that a labouring man'- Opera- ignorance in those men who call themselves for all that relates to science and art. The cul- tive, if you please,' said Mr. Kipperson; we masters of arts. They know nothing in the tivation of the understanding has advanced most have no labouring men.' 'Well,' pursued world about agriculture, architecture, botany, astonishingly.' 'I remember noticing when Mr. Primrose, operative: the term used to ship-building, navigation, ornithology, political I was in India,' said Mr. Primrose, that the be labouring or working when I was last in economy, icthyology, zoology, or any of the number of publications seemed much increased. England. I will agree with you, sir, that it is ten thousand sciences with which all the rest But many of them appeared to be merely light really better that an operative should study of the world is intimate. I have actually reading. Very likely, sir; but we have not philosophy, than that he should drink an inor- heard an Oxford student, as he called himself, merely light reading; we have a most abundant dinate quantity of beer. But do you find, sir, when looking over a manufactory at Birmingsupply of scientific publications; and these are that your system does absolutely and actually ham, ask such questions as shewed that he was read with the utmost avidity by all classes of produce such effects ?' 'Do we?' exclaimed totally ignorant even of the very first rudi. people, especially by the lower classes. You Mr. Kipperson triumphantly: that we cer-ments of button-making.' Astonishing ighave no doubt heard of the formation of the tainly and clearly do; it is clear to demonstra- norance!' exclaimed Mr. Primrose, who was mechanics' institutes? I have, sir,' replied tion; for, since the establishment of mechanics' rather sleepy; I dare say they make it a Mr. Primrose; but I am not quite aware of institutes, the excise has fallen off very consi- rule to teach nothing but ignorance at the two the precise nature of their constitution, or the derably. And what can that deficiency be universities.' I believe you are right, sir,' object at which they aim. Perhaps you can owing to, if it be not to the fact which I have said Mr. Kipperson, rubbing his hands with

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THE LITERARY GAZETTE, AND

cold and ecstacy; those universities have been was to her a mighty amusement to laugh and he certainly had some slight idea that he him-
a dead weight on the country for centuries; talk aloud, especially during those passages self might be driven mad by the young lady's
but their inanity and weakness will be exposed, of the performance which were most interesting perverseness and obstinacy. Therefore he
and the whole system exploded. There is not to the rest of the audience. By such means adopted the very wise and prudent precaution,
We extract one or two of the scattered ob-
a common boys' school in the kingdom which did Miss Glossop manifest her own importance in such cases made and provided, of sending
does not teach ten times more useful knowledge and superiority. This kind of public rudeness the lovely and loving Arabella to his worthy
than both the universities put together, and all passed with the ignorant people in the country friend and relative, Sir George Aimwell, Bart."
the public schools into the bargain. Why, sir, for elegance and fashion. The young lady was
"From these circumstances it may be then
if you send a boy to school now, he does not in error in this respect. But not only was she servations, which we think will justify our
spend, as he did formerly, ten or twelve years wrong in her calculations on this point. Many praise.
in learning the Latin grammar; but now he other blunders did she make. For being very
learns Latin and Greek, and French, German, pretty, she thought herself handsome; and easily inferred that Penelope was not in an
Spanish, Italian, dancing, drawing, music, being tall, she thought herself elegant; and enviable situation, and that nothing could have
mapping, the use of the globes, chemistry, his- being acquainted with many books, she thought supported her spirits but that exceedingly
tory, botany, mechanics, hydrostatics, hydrau- herself learned; and having a full, clear, com- strong propensity to bright hopes which is the
lics, hydrodynamics, astronomy, geology, gym- prehensive voice, she thought herself a beau- characteristic of the youthful mind, and about
nastics, architecture, engineering, ballooning, tiful singer; and being able to perform at which moralists, and essay-writers, and other
and many more useful and indispensable arts sight very complicated pieces of music, she wiseacres, make such a prodigious and prosy
and sciences; so that he is fitted for any station apprehended that she was an excellent mu- preachment. Mr. Malthus himself could not
in life, from a prime minister down to a shoe-sician; and being rude and blunt in her man- desire a more effectual means of thinning the
black. Before this speech was finished, Mr. ner of speaking, she thought herself a person denseness of population, than causing every
the of great intellectual superiority; and from mind, if it were possible, to form such a view
But it never will be so, and it
Primrose was fast asleep; but short
sleep in a coach that travels by night. The being very much stared at, she took it for of future days as should be actually realised by
coach stopped and woke our foreigner from a granted that she was very much admired. Now the event.

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frightful dream. We do not wish to terrify this lady did not apprehend that there was any never can be so: Providence is wiser and our readers, but we must relate the dream in individual in the compass of her provincial ac- kinder than moralists and essay-writers; and consequence of its singularity. He dreamed, quaintance worthy to aspire to the honour of Providence has given to the young that brightthen, that he was in the island of Laputa, and her hand; and she was in the habit of giving ness of hope, the pleasures of which are far that having provoked the indignation of some herself such arrogant and domineering airs at greater than the pains of disappointment. The of the learned professors by expressing a doubt the country balls, that a facetiously inclined very disappointments of maturer life bring as to the practicability of some of their schemes, young gentleman once actually contrived in the with them some pleasurable alleviation in the he was sentenced to be buried alive under a advertisement announcing these balls to have eloquence and pathos with which we sigh and pyramid of encyclopædias. Just as the cruel the name of Arabella Glossop, Esq. printed as lament over the deceitfulness of the world's people were putting the sentence into execu- one of the stewards. The circumstance caused promises; and thus there is a double good detion, he woke and found his coat-collar almost a great deal of talk at the time; but it is now rived from a single evil. For youth is pleased The printer of the paper was forced is soothed and instructed as it looks backward in his mouth, and heard the wordology' totally forgotten, or at least very seldom al- as it looks forward to manhood, and manhood "Now, to render exhortation palatable, or to tell a great many lies to save himself from to youth. from the lips of his fellow-traveller. He was luded to. serious inconvenience. At one of these country very glad to find that matters were no worse.' The following is a lively sketch :"There was residing under the roof of Sir balls there happened to be a lieutenant who even tolerable, requires a very considerable George Aimwell, a young lady who had been was quartered in that neighbourhood, and was share of address and dexterity; more, indeed, consigned to the care of the worthy baronet. a person of exceedingly good address, and also than usually falls to the lot of clerical or of The name of this lady was Arabella Glossop. of good understanding, except that he was so laical gentry. It is easy enough to utter most She had very recently been sent to Neverden very desirous of obtaining a fortune, that, for majestically and authoritatively a mass of comby her careful father, in order that time, absence, the sake of money, he would willingly have mon places concerning the dangers to which and change of scene, might eradicate from her married Miss Glossop. He had heard reports young people are exposed in the world. It is mind an unfortunate attachment which she of the lady's fortune, and these reports were easy to say, Now let me advise you always had formed for a pennyless lieutenant. Here of course exaggerated. He paid the usual to be upon your guard against the allurements we cannot but suggest to our legislators an attentions, and was so far successful, that, had of the world, and to conduct yourself circumimprovement which might and ought to be it not been for some untoward accident, Mr. spectly, and be very, very attentive to all the made in our military code. It is melancholy Glossop's ambition of matching his daughter proper decorums and duties of your station.' to think how many instances have occurred of with some gentleman of fortune and considera-Such talk as this any body may utter; and men of low family and no fortune winning the tion in the county, would have been frustrated when young people commence life they expect hearts of young ladies of high birth, of re- by a poor lieutenant. As soon as the unfor- to hear such talk; and for the most part, to There is one old custom in these pages, spectable connexions, and of good fortune. tunate attachment was made known to the say the best of it, it produces no effect, good, This might be prevented by a law making it father, he put himself with all suitable speed bad, or indifferent." felony for a military officer without fortune to into a most towering passion; he banged all fall in love with a lady of good family. Miss the doors, thumped all the tables, kicked all" more honoured in the breach than the obGlossop was not indeed of high family; but the chairs, and, but for the interference of Mrs. servance:" we mean, giving most significant she was the daughter of a gentleman whose Glossop, would have broken all the crockery in names to the characters. Such appellations The young lady was locked up; Crop, &c. are never met with in real life; and family had with great diligence been pushing the house, because his daughter would not listen as Lord Smatterton, Lord Spoonbill, Colonel itself up into consideration and importance. to reason. The whole work impresses us with the idea The mortification of any thing like a humiliat- but the young lady grew sulky, and thought vulgarity of sound is the only effect they proing connexion was so much the greater. Mr. that her dear lieutenant was the most charming duce. Glossop, the young lady's father, was an emi-creature in the world, because her father was nent solicitor in a small but genteel town, and in a violent passion. And the more angry was that it is the performance of an observant perhad married a distant relation of Sir George Mr. Glossop, the more deeply in love was Miss son, who has lived in the country, in good Now Arabella did not like knows nothing, except from novel and newsAimwell. Of this connexion Mr. Glossop was Glossop. We have said that the young lady country society: of the town and upper life he naturally proud; and he made the most of it. was locked up. In the town where he lived was a theatre; and this discipline; and she seriously threatened paper report. But he is an intelligent person; the company which performed there was pro- her inexorable paa, that if she was not suffered and Penelope, in spite of its outrageous and nounced by such London performers as occa- to have her own way, she would either starve stupid puffs, is a far superior production to sionally lent their mighty selves for provincial herself to death or go mad. This last idea was Truckleborough Hall. exhibition, to be one of the best provincial com- no doubt suggested by a pathetic passage in panies they had ever performed with. When one of Oliver Goldsmith's poems, wherein he an actor from London made his appearance on saysthe stage, Miss Glossop honoured the theatre with her presence. Greatly did the young

'The dog to gain his private ends
Went mad.'

lady surprise the natives by her studied inat- Whatever apprehensions Mr. Glossop might
tention to what was passing on the stage. It entertain concerning his daughter's madness,

Narrative of the Peninsular War. By the Marquess of Londonderry. [Third notice: conclusion.] THE next action that was fought proved little in favour of the force described in the extract with which our last paper closed.

Busaco, the next battle of consequence, is clearly described; and on this, as on one or two other occasions, it is maintained that Massena did not display the highest skill of an assailant. He took the bull by the horns (to use a vulgar proverb), and lost five or six thousand men, while our loss fell considerably short of one

thousand.

"The truth is, (says the author,) that men (no fewer than 6577. Of the enemy's loss we never afterwards laid aside, of throwing off at could not more carefully avoid coming to close were necessarily unable to form a calculation settled points on established days in every quarters with their adversaries, than the Spanish equally exact, but it was estimated to amount week, whilst the army was not in the field; troops did this day. To us it was quite annoying to full 8000, among whom were three generals and the incidents, replete with mirth, to which to see with how much caution they hung back, killed, and many superior officers wounded. these meetings gave rise, are far too numerous when every thing invited them to advance; and, The latter fact we learned from our prisoners, to be recorded, though they will be long reto confess the truth, we acquired for them a feel- who asserted that the casualties among their membered. Then, in our quarters, we lived ing of distrust, of which, during some time leaders had been such as to leave the troops in gaily and well. A spirit of good-fellowship I might have said during the remainder of the many instances at a loss from whom to receive and hospitality every where prevailed; and in war-we hardly succeeded in divesting our- orders; and that this circumstance, more than the midst of war, balls, private theatricals, and selves." any other, led to the retreat from the height, agreeable parties, were things of continual Lord Londonderry bestows the utmost praise and the abandonment of further operations. occurrence. It is unnecessary to add, that this upon the position taken up by his commander During the battle of Albuera, a number of system, whilst it detracted in no degree from at the battle of Talavera, where, "out of nine- little events occurred, some of them honourable the discipline and efficiency of the troops, teen thousand men, which formed the whole of in the highest degree to individuals, and others, spread abroad among those who came under our effective force when the battle began, up- not disgraceful, but somewhat ludicrous. It its influence the very best disposition and temwards of four thousand were either killed or is not necessary for me to add my tribute of per; and all men really learned to love their wounded; and among them were many officers, respect to the memory of the brave youth, occupation, even at its most trying moments, whose services, at a juncture like the present, Ensign Thomas, of the buffs, who refused to from a recollection of the many enjoyments of could ill be spared." resign the standard of his regiment except which it was the parent." with life, and whose life paid the forfeit of his With this extract we shall conclude. The devoted gallantry. Though young in years, only event of importance which is afterwards and holding but an inferior rank in his profes- mentioned, is the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo sion, his name will be recorded in the list of in 1812; but the noble writer promises us anthose of whom England has just cause to be other volume of the campaigns of 1813-14 in proud; and his example will doubtless be fol- Germany and France, should his recollections lowed by others, as often as the chances of of the preceding war in the Peninsula interest war may leave them only a choice between his "brother officers." As critics we would If between the battles we do not follow the death and dishonour. But there were one or say, that, some details spared, it would interest noble author, it is because no epitome, within two circumstances besides this of which little the public more; but still it is a valuable conthe space we are able to allot, can render his notice has elsewhere been taken, and which tribution to the history of an era and contest details of positions, movements, operations, and appear to me to be deserving of some passing never to be forgotten. A map, some plans, rumours and changes caused by them, suffi- record. During the hottest of the action, and an appendix of military returns, &c. add ciently interesting to the civil, or sufficiently Marshal Beresford exposed himself with a de- to its documentary worth. We have underexplanatory to the military, reader; and which, gree of intrepidity which could hardly fail of stood that the substance of the narrative is after all, are, as we have mentioned, more likely spreading an example of heroism around. He comprehended in letters originally addressed to to attract the latter than the former. We thus repeatedly dragged the Spanish officers from the author's near relation, the late Marquess of leap to Albuera, one of the most sanguinary their ranks, compelling them to lead their men Londonderry. fights of the whole contest. forward, and shew them the way; and when "Our artillery was admirably served its individually charged by a Polish lancer, he An Introduction to Geology, &c. By Robert fire was very destructive, and the men stood to grappled his adversary by the throat, and threw Bakewell. Third Edition, with New Plates, their guns till many of them were sabred; him from his saddle. A very different fate &c. 8vo. pp. 540. London, 1828. Long. indeed, there was not an officer or soldier in attended the personal exertions of the Portu- man and Co. any department of the army who failed this guese staff. They too were charged by a single THE former editions of this work contained day in doing more than his duty. I have lancer, who knocked down one with the butt much original information respecting the geoalready spoken of the daring intrepidity of the of his pike, overset another man and horse,logy of our own country, which was then but fusileers, and it deserves to be held up to re- and gave ample employment to the entire little known, and the explanations of the prinmembrance; but the bravery of the 57th and head-quarters before he was finally despatched. ciples of the science were clearly and intel. 31st fell in no degree short of that of their These heroes declared, that the man seemed ligibly stated;-hence it was favourably recomrades. These regiments having ascended possessed by an evil spirit; and that when he ceived, and has long been out of print. Since the height, stood their ground nobly against fell at last, he literally bit the ground. The the publication of the last edition, the author all the efforts of a column of French grenadiers. lancers, as is well known, were peculiarly dar- has been (he informs us in the preface) actively The enemy's fire thinned their ranks, but never ing in their attacks, and merciless in their engaged in examining and re-examining the once broke them; for at the close of the action, operations. They seldom paused to offer quar- principal situations of much geological interest the dead and wounded were found in two dis-ter, but speared our men without mercy, whe-in Great Britain, and in comparing the rich tinct lines, upon the very spots which they had ther offering resistance, or giving proofs of formations with those which he has scrutinised occupied whilst alive and fighting. They submission." in France, Switzerland, and Savoy. These fought, too, in every imaginable order which comparisons will be found particularly instrucinfantry can be called upon to assume. They tive, and, with the large additions made to all resisted cavalry in square, deployed again into the chapters, give to the present volume the line, received and returned repeated volleys, character of a new work. Among the chapwhilst a few yards only divided them from "No set of persons could more industriously ters that are entirely new, of which there are their opponents; and at last carried every thing strive to unite mirth with hardships, and re-five, Chap. XVIII. on the destruction of mounbefore them by a charge with the bayonet. laxation with severe duty. For some time we tains, on alluvial and diluvial depositions, and All this could not, of course, be done without a contented ourselves with keeping pointers and on the bones of quadrupeds in beds of gravel prodigious slaughter on both sides; indeed, grayhounds, and indulging, as often as oppor- and clay, and in caverns; and Chap. XIX. on the killed and wounded lay in masses so com-tunities offered, in the sports of shooting, the formation of valleys, and on deluges and part, that full seven thousand bodies occupied coursing, and fishing; but now a taste for denudations, will perhaps be the most interestthe space of a few hundred feet; and our artil-hunting began to prevail amongst us, and fox-ing to the general reader, as they contain an lery, when advancing towards the close of the hounds and harriers, more or less numerous account of the great changes which the surface day, were compelled to pass over them, deaf to and good, were established in the different of our globe appears to have undergone at their cries, and averting their gaze from the divisions of the army. At head-quarters we comparatively recent periods. At the conclubrave fellows thus laid prostrate in the dust. were fortunate enough to become possessed of sion of Chap. VIII. on the coal strata, the The victory was a highly important one, but it an excellent pack, which afforded us much author has introduced some observations on was purchased at a rate dearer than had been amusement, and occupied time which would the period when the coal mines of England required to secure any other victory in the have otherwise hung heavily on our hands; must (as he contends) be exhausted. These Peninsula. Out of 7500 British troops en- and it is worthy of remark, that in such minor we shall extract, as they relate to a subject in gaged, 4158 were placed hors de combat, the undertakings, no man entered more heartily which every Englishman is more or less con Portuguese lost 389, and the Spaniards nearly than our leader. It was during this summer cerned. 2000; so that there fell of the allies this day.hat he first instituted the custom, which be

In the midst, or rather during intervals, of this slaughter, it completes the picture to peruse the amusements of the combatants, the staff, and other officers.

"Coal was known, and partially used, at a

The Prima Donna; a Tale of To-Day. 12mo.

Edward Bull.

"It was the

very early period of our history. I was in-Yorkshire which are yet unwrought; but the Pelham; or, the Adventures of a Gentleman. formed by the late Marquess of Hastings, that time is not very distant when they must be 3 vols. 12mo. H. Colburn. stone hammers and stone tools were found in put in requisition to supply the vast demand of THOUGH too late in the week to do these some of the old workings in his mines at that populous manufacturing county, which at pages justice, we cannot refrain from their Ashby Wolds; and his lordship informed me present consumes nearly all the produce of its merited, though passing, eulogium. If the also, that similar stone tools had been dis-own coal mines. In the midland counties, most brilliant wit; remarks as acute in obcovered in the old workings in the coal mines Staffordshire possesses the nearest coal district servation as they are profound in judgment; in the north of Ireland. Hence we may infer to the metropolis of any great extent; but playful satire, by the side of sound philosophy; that these coal mines were worked at a very such is the immense daily consumption of coal a narrative whose interest never flags; and remote period, when the use of metallic tools in the iron-furnaces and founderies, that it is some pictures of the most rivetting interest; was not general. The burning of coal was generally believed this will be the first of if these can make a work popular, Pelham prohibited in London in the year 1308, by the our own coal-fields that will be exhausted. will be as first-rate in celebrity as it is in excelroyal proclamation of Edward the First. In The thirty-feet bed of coal in the Dudley coal-lence. The scenes are laid in the present day, the reign of Queen Elizabeth the burning of field is of limited extent; and in the present and in fashionable life; but we protest against coal was again prohibited in London during mode of working it, more than two-thirds of meaning to class it with the general run of the sitting of parliament, lest the health of the the coal is wasted and left in the mine. If we "fashionable novels," written with the Court knights of the shire should suffer injury during look to Whitehaven or Lancashire, or to any Guide, like a rhyming dictionary, by way of their abode in the metropolis. In the year 1643 of the minor coal-fields in the west of England, help, on the table. The great merit of Pelham the use of coal had become so general, and the we can derive little hope of their being able to is its individuality of character: but we must price being then very high, many of the poor supply London and the southern counties with leave it till next week to justify praise such as are said to have perished for want of fuel. At coal, after the import of coal fails from Nor- we now bestow. the present day, when the consumption of coal thumberland and Durham. We may thus in our iron-furnaces and manufactories, and anticipate a period, not very remote, when all for domestic use, is immense, we cannot but the English mines of coal and iron-stone will regard the exhaustion of our coal-beds as in- be exhausted; and, were we disposed to in- WE must beg leave to quote a portion of this volving the destruction of a great portion of dulge in gloomy forebodings, like the ingeni-soi-disant author's" preface. our private comfort and national prosperity. ous authoress of the Last Man,' we might author's original intention to produce a work Nor is the period very remote when the coal draw a melancholy picture of our starving entitled the Female Character"-" but thinkdistricts which at present supply the metropolis and declining population, and describe some ing the title he had first chosen of a too digwith fuel will cease to yield any more. The manufacturing patriarch travelling to see the nified and general description, he has adopted annual quantity of coal shipped in the rivers last expiring English furnace before he emi- one which he has reason to believe will be of Tyne and Wear, according to Mr. Bailey, grated to distant regions. Fortunately, how- greater attraction, although not relating to the exceeded three million tons. A cubic yard of ever, we have in South Wales, adjoining the whole of the work, which professes rather to coal weighs nearly one ton, and the number Bristol Channel, an almost exhaustless sup-illustrate than to develop the female characof tons contained in a bed of coal one square ply of coal and iron-stone which are yet A most modest setting-forth of our mile in extent and one yard in thickness, is nearly unwrought. It has been stated that author's" intentions! whose originality must about four millions. The number and extent of this coal-field extends over about 1200 square be great, when we just mention, that the all the principal coal-beds in Northumberland miles, and that there are twenty-three beds of Prima Donna is a poor translation, or rather and Durham are known; and from these data it workable coal, the total average thickness of imitation, of Henrietta, the German novel of has been calculated that the coal in these coun- which is 95 feet, and the quantity contained in which Malle. Sontag is the heroine, containing ties will last 360 years. Mr. Bailey in his Sur- each acre is 100,000 tons, or 65,000,000 tons the history, either false or true, of her royal vey of Durham states, that one-third of the coal per square mile. If from this we deduct, one and romantic engagement. Could any one being already got, the coal districts will be half for waste and for the minor extent of the suppose so barefaced a plagiarism would escape exhausted in 200 years. It is probable that upper beds, we shall have a clear supply of detection? There are some other tales; but many beds of inferior coal, which are now coal equal to 32,000,000 tons per square mile. the " Adventures of a Guinea" has been deteneglected, may in future be worked; but the Now if we admit that the five million tons of riorated. consumption of coal being greatly increased coal from the Northumberland and Durham since Mr. Bailey published his Survey of Dur- mines is equal to nearly one-third of the total ham, we may admit his calculation to be an annual consumption of coal in England, each approximation to the truth." square mile of the Welch coal-field would yield coal for two years' consumption; and as there are from one thousand to twelve hundred square miles in this coal-field, it would supply England with fuel for two thousand years, after all our English coal mines are worked out."

Mr. Bakewell then states the inaccuracies of Dr. Thomson's calculations on this subject (in the Annals of Philosophy), and compares them with those of Mr. Bailey and Mr. Winch; and after making allowance for the waste of coal at the mouth of the pit, and the quantity of Mr. Bakewell states, however, that a concoal left unwrought in the mines, he concludes siderable part of the coal in South Wales is of that the period when the coal mines of Nor-an inferior quality, and is not at present burnt thumberland and Durham will be exhausted for domestic use. (giving it the longest duration), cannot exceed 360 years from the present time.

"It cannot (says the author) be deemed uninteresting to inquire what are the repositories

southern counties, when no more can be ob

SIGHTS OF BOOKS.

The Fall of Nineveh: a Poem. By
J. Atherstone.

ter."

66

Solitary Walks through Many Lands. By
Derwent Conway, Author of the "Tales of
the Ardennes." 2 vols. 12mo. Hurst,
Chance, and Co.
Two gracefully written volumes, containing
some very picturesque descriptions, and some
prettily told legends, with a tinge of romance
over the whole which will doubtless be very
attractive to the author's more juvenile readers.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. Paris, May 3. HOPING to render my letters more interesting, I attend literary soirées twice a week; but I am generally disappointed in my calculations, as systems are the order of the day, and civilisation the never-ending rallying word. On the of coal that can supply the metropolis and the A POEM in Miltonic blank verse, and formed last evening the party was mixed; old school, on that great model. It paints the fall of the new school, philosophers, anti-philosophers, tained from the Tyne and the Wear. The mighty city as painted by Martin in his extra-wenites, Sayites, in fact iles of all descriponly coal-fields of any extent on the eastern side of England between London and Durham, ordinary picture about to be exhibited. We are those of Derbyshire, and those in the West are sorry that we, this week, have no room for Riding of Yorkshire. The Derbyshire coalfield is not of sufficient magnitude to supply for any long period more than is required for home consumption and that of the adjacent counties. There are many valuable beds of coal in the western part of the West Riding of

quotation.

The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life
by Diet and Regimen. By the late Dr.
Kitchiner. Whittaker.

THIS is a much-enlarged edition of a production which, in its original form, has had a very extensive sale; and as the subject comes home "The waste of coal at the pit's mouth may be stated to every bosom, we have no doubt but this cuat one-sixth of the quantity sold, and that left in the mines at one-third. Mr. Holmes in his Treatise on Coal rious performance will also make great way in

Mines states the waste of small coal at the pit's mouth to the world. be one-fourth of the whole."

tions, each of which held forth" to tire each other down ;" and the Tower of Babel did not furnish a greater variety of languages, than these gentlemen did opinions: all agreed as to the evils of the age, but each varied as to the specific capable of producing a cure; so that while doctors are differing, the poor patient runs a chance of dying of exhaustion. heads as to the choice of remedies, murderAt least, en attendant the decision of wise ing, thieving, cheating, hanging, starving, and begging, are going on in the old routine, or rather gaining ground.

Wednesday last I went to Lafond's concert,

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