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Rh Chapter 27''th. Settling with Mr. De Pilsen.''—The cake-seller was not long absent: he soon returned, to call for the payment of his merchandise, and to request some indemnification for the terror he had undergone. Both were immediately granted by the student, and he then went to the coffee-room of the inn, where he took an earthen pipe from the shelf, and sat down in a corner to smoke and reflect again. If Jupiter should come to any misfortune, what would be the consequence? and how would his friend Fabian Sebastian like it? The nearer the fatal stipulated term approached, the more this required to be taken into consideration; and all the probably impending consequences had never struck him so forcibly before. His train of thoughts, and the cloudy atmosphere, of his own creation, had made him entirely forget that he was in a public room, and in the midst of a numerous company: but the whispering and tittering around him increased so much, that at last it attracted his attention, the more so as he thought he heard the voice of the arch-fiend De Pilsen. The latter had actually been long amusing the guests at the expense of the student; and, taking his inactivity for cowardice, he became at last so bold, that he threw out a kind of indirect challenge, by placing a chair in the middle of the room, with a great noise, and sitting down upon it with the declaration, that he was quite in a fighting mood, and that he ardently wished somebody would give him an opportunity of taking a little exercise: at the same time he directed his quizzing-glass in so striking a manner towards the smoker, that his meaning could not possibly be mistaken. It appeared, however, as if Jeremiah Schnackenberger had lost hearing and seeing: he finished his pipe without altering even a muscle in his face; and when he finally arose, the spectators thought that he had enough, and that his exit would give them an opportunity of indulging in the loud laughter which they had so long contained; when they saw him, to their great surprise, stop before Mr. De Pilsen, and, very quietly, knock his pipe against the challenger’s nose, until every particle of the accumulated ashes had fallen to the ground. The sufferer had become pale and speechless during the operation: but when it was over, and nothing further seemed likely to follow, he plucked up his spirit, and ran after the operator with open arms, exclaiming, “Well, I declare you are the very man I want; we are quite made for each other, and must be friends.”—“Enough, fellow, never dare to call me your friend again; and if ever you should feel inclined to amuse yourself and friends with choice anecdotes, do not forget to mention at whose nose I have cleared my pipe.” Thus the hero departed, and the bursts of laughter became quite as loud as they had anticipated, with the remarkable difference, that they were set up at the expense of Mr. De Pilsen, who immediately left the room, and was never more heard of.

Chapter 28th.—A duel.—Jeremiah had but just reached his own room again, when he heard the sound of such boots and spurs as only he himself and his most intimate friends used to wear. The door opened, and in came Mr. Fabian Sebastian, to whom the horse-dealer had betrayed the excursion of his fellow-collegian. “Brother,” he said, “the time is expired, where is the dog? I bring the money with me.” Mr. Schnackenberger shrugged his shoulders. “That won’t do, brother; you have been wrong in taking my property out of my sight, and you are answerable for it.” “But,” said Jeremiah, “supposing the dog to be lost.” “Then we must fight until he comes back again. Here is your money.” “Well, let that alone for the present, and listen.” Fabian listened, but did not relish what was said; and he expressed his disapprobation so plainly, that a challenge ensued. This was forthwith accepted; but the purchaser insisted, once more, on the seller’s pocketing the money, because he would not have another man’s property on his conscience, not he. Jeremiah complied, at last, sent to the Golden Sow, in order to release his sword, by paying the bill; and as soon as it was brought, he girded his loins and set off with his companion. A convenient place was soon selected; but, when the swords were already drawn, Mr. SchnackenbergeSchnackenberger [sic] could not help remarking how unfortunate it was that two old and faithful friends should fall out about a worthless brute. “I assure thee, brother,” he said, “the beast brings nothing but mischief upon the owner, whosoever he may be.” “That is very possible,” replied Fabian Sebastian, “but as matters now stand we cannot decently avoid fighting.” “No more we can,” quoth Jeremiah, “so cut away, and you shall get as good as you give, I warrant you.” The swords were now actually set to work, and some strokes had been given and parried with equal skill, when Jupiter came suddenly through the hedge, and seized Mr. Fabian by the breast. Jeremiah dropped his weapon; and the contest was finished. The buyer and the seller now rivalled each other in generosity, by mutually offering to give up their claims; whilst Jupiter, catching a glance of a straggling hare, set off in pursuit of it: a shot fell nearly at the same time, and the reconciled friends ran to the spot with sad forebodings. Alas! their fears were but too well founded. Jupiter lay weltering in his blood. A gamekeeper had done the deed, and already withdrawn to his habitation, from the window of which he exhibited to the young men the printed game-laws, and the loaded guns of his assistants, against which the hangers of the strangers would stand but a poor chance. The advice was taken, and a speedy return to the inn was resolved upon.

Chapter 29''th. Arrival at the University.''—“Well, now!” cried Jeremiah, as he perceived the waiter, “bring us Champaign, Old Hock, and whatever else becomes a solemn occasion: we have a funeral to celebrate, and you see that we are well provided with the means.” So saying, he threw the purchase money on the table, and protested that he would not rise from it until every farthing of the sum was fairly spent. The more the friends drank, the more they became convinced that Jupiter’s death was a very happy event, not only for themselves and all their acquaintances, but even for the animal; because blows and other corrections had never been of any use to him, nor would they have been in future.

Their resolution to make merry with the amount in question was religiously fulfilled; and it was only after its literal completion that the young men thought of resuming their studies. Their safe arrival at their usual place of residence was heard with great joy by all the Philistines (tradespeople and other creditors) and some of them did not fail to pay their immediate respects to Mr. Jeremiah Schnackenberger, who addressed them in the following terms:—“My very good and worthy friends, I know you are a sensible set of people, who would rather walk quietly down stairs than fly out of the window, and I trust that you will pay due attention to what I have to communicate. My supplies from home arrived as expected, but a confounded bathing-place has swallowed the whole; and you must wait until the loss is repaired.”—The speaker’s reputation stood very high, and his auditors were so well persuaded of his integrity that they not only submitted to what they could not help, but that several among them offered to make the necessary advances to supply him until his affairs should be restored to perfect order.

Liverpool, February, 29, 1824.

The beginning of the 23d chapter is not exactly in unison with my own taste; although I have softened it down as much as circumstances and the connection of the story would permit. In the mean time, I do not see how it could be expunged without a great loss of effect and influence on the following scenes; nor am I aware that it could be replaced by any thing more comical: but I should have no objection to a little sacrifice in poinpoint [sic] of ludicrousness, if means could be found to manage otherwise, without too great a weakening of the general plot.


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Rh were exceedingly beautiful; but what particularly struck me was a kind of devotion until then new to me. The walls, both of the upper part of the church and of the vaults, are covered with numbers of ex-voto. When any extraordinary event happens, whether it be fortunate or unfortunate, it is made the subject of a small picture, which is dedicated to the virgin. All such as are interested in the events represented by these pictures, occasionally perform their devotions, kneeling before them. In some of them are painted men falling from a window, horses running away, deformed children, amputated arms and legs, and sinking boats; all of them worse executed than the meanest signs. Whilst I was walking in the church, I saw a devotee seeking the sexton to give him a portrait. It represented neither friend, sister, brother, nor lover. The reader would in vain endeavour to guess: the subject of it was a small dog, which had just recovered from a severe illness under her care.

I remained some time longer at Turin, leading a very pleasant life. On the twentieth of November, I determined to go away; but, according to the custom established by the etiquette of the present day, on leaving a drawing-room, I departed without taking leave of any one except my hump-backed friend, who had been to me a most faithful companion. He gave me letters of introduction for most of the other towns of Italy. I sold my dress-coat and my sword to a Jew, that I might not be tempted to visit other courts, and hired a place in a public carriage. One day, when I was walking in the streets. I entered a distiller’s shop, to take a glass of rosa bianca or alkermes. At first I used to hesitate to do this: but I soon found that this was a custom established among very respectable people. It is well known how famous are the liqueurs of Turin. The bottles are very dear; but a considerable quantity may be had at the bottom of a large glass for four sous. A story was told me of a Frenchman, who found very economical means of laying in a large stock of liqueurs. He entered, one day, the well-known distillery of Michel Armandi, which is near the mayor’s hotel. He was accompanied by a cabassino, carrying a basket of empty bottles, and boldly asked for two hundred portions of different kinds of liqueurs. He poured them into his bottles as they were given to him; and they altogether cost him only forty pence, instead of five francs. Armandi, who is very rich, was much amused by this economical plan, which, by-the-bye, was the cause of procuring him many customers.

I found that there was no scarcity of public carriages. The people who let them out, remain always in attendance at a certain hour in the street, where they live. No less than twelve of them came to me at the same time. The reader can form no idea of their officious eagerness, unless it has sometime or other been his lot to take a small St. Cloud carriage, in the square of Louis quinze; or, in a journey from Châlons to Lyons by water, to stop at Tournus, without having made up his mind as to the choice of an inn. “Sir,” said one of them, “I have an excellent calash and two good horses; I am ready to set out to any country, and to go to the distance of a hundred or two hundred leagues.” “I want to go to Alexandria.” “The journey to Alexandria will cost you twenty-five francs: your supper and bed at Asti will be paid for.” “What do you mean by my supper and bed being paid for? shall we be two days in performing a journey of twenty leagues?” “We shall arrive early the day after to-morrow at Alexandria.” “And why not to-morrow?” “Because we cannot set out to-day.” “But I wish to set out in an hour.” “In that case you must seek a conducter who has no other passengers to wait for than yourself.” Another man then presented himself, offering to set out immediately, if I would give him fifty francs. He was the partner of the former one. A third would have been satisfied with forty-five francs, and another with forty. Anxious to escape from this squabble without having my clothes torn, I recalled the first who had offered his services, and agreed to set out with him the next day. As I was preparing to pay the deposit, he put into my hand a Piedmontese crown-piece: “That pledge,” said he, “will secure you a place in my carriage; I shall be at the hotel of la Bonne Femme early to-morrow morning.” The rendezvous suited me very well. I passed the rest of the day with my humpbacked friend, who endeavoured to persuade me to pass the remaining part of the winter at Turin. In truth I was more than once tempted to do this, but as La Fontaine says, the desire of seeing the world and the caprice of my temper prevailed over my inclination to stop where I was.

Liverpool.

Chapter 1st. The one thing needful.—I had scarcely paid the usual fees for my new employment when all my acquaintances showed themselves so over-anxious for my future happiness, that they almost succeeded in making me despair of it. The ladies, in particular, teazed me most unmercifully, by continually telling me, in a direct or an indirect manner, that there was no salvation without the bonds of lawful wedlock.

“Is it not true, my dear,” said a highly-gifted dame to her husband, “is it not true that the Comptroller does but half enjoy his life as long as he remains single?” The question was made rather abruptly, but it was accompanied with so penetrating a glance that the addressed person would have been guilty of absolute rudeness if the answer had not been implicitly confirmative. “Haller, you want a home, my dear,” said another; “without a fixed home man is but a miserable creature.”

I was unwilling to give offence to the fair advocates of holy matrimony, but I was equally loath to acknowledge the utter helplessness of my bachelorship, and contented myself with shrugging up my shoulders in silence. This, however, did not settle the business. I was told that such and such opportunities had escaped me very lately, and that men, in much less prosperous circumstances than myself, gave daily proofs of their actual veneration for the old and praiseworthy institution.

If I happened to take a pretty child in my arms, one lady would remark how well it became me, whilst another snatched the infant from me, and said that I had no right to amuse myself with other people’s property and acquirements. Such scenes would sometimes take place in the presence of unmarried females; and they were generally at a loss how or which way to look. Sometimes they pretended neither to hear nor to see; but, when now and then a woeful and striking picture of a lonely old man was held up to my consideration, the good-natured creatures could not help casting a modest glance on my countenance to observe the effect which the example might have produced on my spirits.

Chapter 2d. A confirmed Old Bachelor.—My embarrassments were still greater when I chanced to visit some of my married friends at a time that there were no strangers with them. They, then, thought themselves still more entitled to an uncontroled criticism on my arrangements, and they gave full career to their whims. They knew most eligible persons, and they were ready to assist me to the utmost. The proposed person was, of course, either a relation or one otherwise connected with the family, and she was represented in such a manner that nobody could have recognised the original; because virtue, intellect, accomplishments, and beauty were so lavishly imparted to one individual that there remained hardly any thing for others, although I might sometimes hear the very same qualities ascribed to other people who had no similarity whatever to the first-named.

All this lasted a good while, and, indeed, so long that several of the proposed females had either got other husbands or withdrawn from the lists: some had even done worse; and some of the married ones had not turned out quite so well as had been anticipated by their sanguine appraisers. I found now and then an opportunity to convey such remarks to the proper quarter, and they were received with the half-joking and half-vexed observation, “Oh! I see how it is; you will never get married.” This opinion, once fairly established, allowed me a little more quiet, and I began to think myself safe.

Chapter 3d. New Prospects.—Heaven had ordained it otherwise. A very amiable and pretty girl, the daughter of a country-collector, came, for the first time, to town. Her father was acquainted with most of my friends, and I met him and his daughter almost every day in company,company. [sic] The candid manner in which the young lady expressed her astonishment at some of the town-fashion would often produce a smile, and it procured her the appellation of nature’s own daughter: but this was exactly what pleased me, and I liked to converse with Miss Ida. At the same time, I could not help remarking that she had very fine sparkling eyes and a lively countenance, to which her curly hair imparted additional charms. I felt more and more attracted; and my attentions were soon observed by the witnesses. The whole of my female acquaintances surrounded me one evening, and congratulated me on my conversion. I awoke as out of a dream, and offered to plead not guilty; but my endeavours were vain, and facts spoke too clearly against me. There could be no doubt of my being finally captivated by the beauty and other qualities of the fair damsel; and to make security doubly sure, the match-makers told me, moreover, that there would be not only a good sum forthcoming as a marriage-portion, but that there were also considerable expectations from various quarters.

Chapter 4''th. The Hint.''—“Well,” said one of my patronesses, “have you bespoken a place for to-morrow’s solemnity?” “Not I,” said I, smiling; “a single man can easily shift for himself on such occasions.” “Oh! but you are not single now; such selfish considerations must no longer guide you, my good Sir: Ida longs to see the whole of the procession, and her father is a stranger in town; you would not, surely, let them both stand in the street.” The hint was broad enough, and could only be answered by my taking leave, to go in quest of proper accommodations.

Chapter 5''th. Two Louisd’or.''—The reception was to take place at the very gates of the town, where the public authorities were to make speeches, and virgins in white garments to present flowers. The spot was confined, and few of the houses in the neighbourhood seemed to afford a good prospect. I had vainly examined them all, and hurt myself in many, in ascending the dark and narrow stair-cases, which led to most of the upper-rooms. The windows and balconies, which offered any chance, were all bespoken. Nevertheless, I could not return with such a message; because speaking to women of impossibilities, when the gratification of their curiosity is the object proposed, is like preaching to the fishes; and I knew how I should be received. I returned once more to the landlord of the Golden Fox, and offered him two louisd’or. He reflected a little, and then said, “I have a garret-window, in my private house, undisposed of; and I shall feel very happy in obliging you with it, if it will answer your purpose. I accepted without hesitation, and ordered a breakfast for three persons.

Chapter 6''th. The Golden Rule.''—“You have spent a long time over your errand,” was my welcome. “Alas!” I replied, “and after all I have but indifferently succeeded. I made my report, and the lady of the house seemed to be but half pleased; some of the visitors were, however, more reasonable, and acknowledged that none but a true lover could have done as much. It was certainly awkward that we should only see the head of the expected monarch, which, besides being very bald, had never been the most brilliant part about him; but thousands of others would not even get a glance of that, and Ida had every reason to be thankful. The fair spinster had not joined

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Rh in the conversation whilst I was relating the progress of my adventures; but her beautiful eyes had been turned towards me in the kindest manner, and they had spoken volumes. When I finally sat down near her, she regretted her having given me so much trouble; but an old lady, overhearing it, cried out, ‘Never mind, my dear; men should not have things made easy to them; the harder we make them work for our favours the higher they prize them: keep that uppermost in your memory, for it is what we experienced ones call the golden rule.’ I perceived that much had been said to the girl during my absence, and that all had been in my favour: there appeared a general rage for bringing us together, and the attempts were not always the most delicate. Ida herself seemed to be aware of these improprieties, and the disapprobation which I read in her glances, endeared her still more to my fancy. I resigned myself piously to my fate, and said within myself, “God’s will be done in this as in all things!”—The entertainments given on our account followed each other in endless succession; we were again both invited for the next day’s dinner; and my affairs did not well agree with so many amusements: but I knew that my friends would have been mortally offended at any attempt to withdraw, and I could not but comply. “To-morrow, at nine o’clock,” said I, on taking leave for the evening. “You shall not have to wait,” was the reply.

Chapter 7''th. Scruples.''—As early as seven in the morning I heard already the footsteps of the multitude in the direction of the appointed meeting-place; and as there appeared great hurry and bustle among the crowd, I began to think that the arrival of his Majesty was near at hand. On inquiry, I actually learned that he would come about an hour before the fixed time, and that the council-men were already at their respective posts. I lost not a moment, but ran forthwith towards the collector’s residence: finding no servant in the anti-room, I entered the parlour, where I found Ida at her toilet. She was greatly alarmed at my abrupt entrance, and sprang with the exclamation of “God in heaven!” into a side-room. I found, however, that there was no real ground for the young lady’s terror: since her morning-dress had every requisite decency, and mother nature had been so bountiful towards her, that she stood in little need of artificial embellishments. A sulky-looking servant protruded her face, soon after, through the half-opened door, and exhorted me to patience. In a short time papa made also his appearance, and showed his surprise at my early presence. I explained, and he urged his daughter to conclude, as quickly as possible, the labours of her toilette. She promised compliance; but the collector advised me to go and take possession of the window, because no engagement could be considered secure under such circumstances, and he would follow with Miss Ida as soon as possible.

As the exportation of machinery, and the emigration of artisans are likely soon to become subjects of general discussion as well as of parliamentary inquiry, the following extracts may prove acceptable. They are the chief substance of two letters from a machine maker, who was hired in 1821 by some Russian agents, prowling about in the neighbourhood of Manchester. The letters were addressed to a worthy friend of mine, who has kindly allowed me to make the best use I can of them; I am, therefore, happy to communicate to you their most interesting passages.

,—After leaving you I went to Hull, where I remained eleven days waiting a vessel. I had much less difficulty than I expected in passing the custom-house. The custom-house officer did not inquire into the nature of my business, but merely asked what number of packages I had; however, I had to tell the Russian Consul the object of my journey, as it was necessary to state every particular in my passport; but this I did not need to show until my arrival in Russia. I sailed on the 13th of September; we reached Elsineur that day week. I went on shore, and saw the town and castle; also the palace of Maringus, where Hamlet is said to have been murdered; and the spot in the King’s garden where they say he was buried. The town is small, and has but a mean appearance. Tea, silk, and gin are very cheap there, the last about 1s. 2d. per bottle. Leaving this place, next morning we passed Copenhagen, and were so near as to have a pretty good view of the town. We arrived at Cronstadt on the 28th, after a pleasant voyage of fifteen days. For two or three days at first we had a pretty smart gale, and I was a little sick, but soon recovered, and for the rest of the time enjoyed good health. Having renewed my passport, I proceeded to the place of my destination, where I arrived on the 29th, and found my acquaintance there before me. The work is a Government concern; both flax and cotton are manufactured there, and the machinery is worked by four engines, viz. an 8, a 24, a 60, and a 70. The works are close on the side of the Neva, a large and beautiful river, but which, from the levelness of the country, cannot be applied to the driving of machinery at this place. The Neva comes from the Ladoge Lake (said to be the largest in Europe;) runs through Petersburgh, and empties itself into the Gulf of Finland. On an island in the middle of the river stands a great part of the above-named city, which is very large, and is said to occupy nearly as much ground as London, although it comes far short of it in population. It has a very striking appearance at first, as the houses are mostly white or of an ochre colour, being built of brick, and plastered over to represent stone. They are designed in a magnificent style; but their grand columns and ornaments very soon go to decay: indeed almost all the buildings possess merely the appearance of grandeur. They have no freestone, but only limestone and granite, and these have to be brought from a great distance. The streets are uncommonly broad, and many of them have a walk in the middle, shaded with trees. The streets require to be very spacious, on account of the great number of vehicles that are continually driving about. In winter, the sledges are so numerous, and run with so much velocity, that one would think it impossible for them to pass each other with safety. This mode of conveyance is very cheap: I have sometimes driven from the chapel, after 9 for a ruble and eight copecks, or two rubles (about 7d.) the distance being about twelve versts, or from eight to nine English miles. Our place of meeting belongs to the Moravians; they occupy it first, which makes the hour of our service inconveniently late for those who have to go to any distance; it is generally after eleven when I get home. The Bible Society goes on well, but the Russians require spurring. None of their great men take any interest in the management of it, and few of those who are concerned in it are remarkable for zeal. Dr. Paterson, from Glasgow, is the principal of them, and is well qualified. It requires great firmness and perseverance, and must ultimately prove a death blow to the present system.—The Russian churches are very grand, but the people grossly ignorant. They seem very devout when attending their church-service, which consists chiefly in singing and chaunting. The Pāpa begins, and all the congregation join at certain times. They are all engaged in bowing and crossing themselves, and they fall down to the ground on their knees, and make their heads touch it frequently. They have no seats in their churches, and have them always lighted up with candles, during service. There are said to be 27,000 churches in Russia, of which 2000 only have full copies of the Bible.

Manufacturing is not far advanced in this country yet—indeed it never will, so long as the present system continues: there is nothing but the laborious exertions of a free people that can do it. There are some print works going on, but they seem to be a ruinous concern. One John Blair, a printer, has been at this Fabrick about three years, but has done nothing yet but dyeing, and I believe it is not intended to try printing. He says there is not a printing cylinder going in Russia.

No person should come here without having a sure engagement, and his salary guaranteed by some respectable house, either in England or Petersburgh; for whoever goes up the country is out of the reach of all justice; and when once the Russians have got out of a man all they expect to get, they fall upon some method to break the engagement,—and then there is no such thing as getting redress,—nothing is to be done in the way of seeking justice without bribery. However, I have no reason to complain as yet, but expect to get as good as my bargain, £150 per annum, with an allowance for house-rent and fire.

P.S. The winter here has been quite unprecedented; it has never been known so open before. The weather now is very hot: it goes to the extremes both of heat and cold.

Alexandroffsk Fabrick, April 24, 1822.

,—Your kind letter of the 15th of April I received on the 15th of May-May. [sic] It gave me much pleasure to hear of your welfare, and that of my other acquaintances. It was the saying of a wise man, that good news from a far country is like cold water to a thirsty soul; and I can assure you your letter was so to me.

We have had a fine summer, but the weather has sometimes been very hot: the thermometer was often at 90, and sometimes at 100, in the shade, that is, on Fahrenheit’s scale. When it is so hot, we rest two hours at noon. As the summer was hot, so the preceding winter was equally cold. We had from 28 to 30 of frost on Reaumur’s scale (equal to 65 @ 67 Fahrenheit) below the freezing point. The best notion I can give you of its effects is, that, at 25° or 30°, when one takes a full breath, if there is a little moisture between the lips, they feel as if there were a number of small fibres in the mouth; and at 10°, 15, or 20°, the eye-lashes seem inclined to stick together, and the nostrils to get a thin web over them; but, upon the whole, from the way in which we are provided against it, we suffer less from cold here than we did at home.

Warm clothing is very dear here. I got a great coat lined with fur last winter, and although I went about it in the most economical way possible, it cost me about £12. The skin for covering only the neck of a handsome coat costs 100 or 120 rubles (£4 or £5) and sometimes £20; nay, some are so extravagant as to give 1000 for a shub, which is a large loose coat, lined with fur. They are warmer than a great coat, and much better for riding in. Capes are generally worn in winter. These have a flap to cover the ears: the neck of the coat is also made to stand up about the ears, and, when required, comes over the face, so that there is no part left uncovered but the nose, which, when long exposed to the air, grows so numb as to be quite insensible, and becomes white. It is necessary to rub it in order to restore circulation, for which purpose snow is mostly preferred.

I have gone thus far without mentioning my future prospects: indeed I can hardly give you any satisfactory account yet. I have been making some rather complicated machines, and wished, before I asked for a settlement, to have them tried. I have set one a-going, and have got orders for a greater number, more than I shall be able to finish in another year. I have some boys in my employment, who come on pretty well. Although they are not at all deficient in intellect, they are exceedingly indolent, and when desired to do a thing, they will slight it, if possible, so that one can have no dependence on them.

It would seem very strange in Britain to see men punished as they are here. When they get drunk upon a holyday (that is, if they are in the habit of it) they are taken away next morning to their guard-house to be flogged, the number of strokes being proportioned to the crime. No one is allowed to lift a hand against them in the works: if they are in fault, all we have to do is to inform, and they are punished by the person appointed for that purpose. From the state of subordination they are in, they never think of thinking for themselves. The idea, however, of absolute want never stares them in the face; what is absolutely necessary for life they can get very cheap here. Black bread, which is their principal staff of life, can be had for six copecks the pound, and it is quite common for them to take two meals of this a-day. They take only a little salt and a drink of water to it; and those that live thus are healthy fellows, with broad shoulders.

In their religious sentiments they are predestinarians:—this they carry to a ridiculous length, even so far as to make God the author of their sins—every thing that befals them is God’s will, although brought on them by their own wickedness; if they get drunk, lie down, and are frozen to death, as many of them are, they say it is God’s will. This abuse of doctrine prepares them for passive obedience, so that however severely they may be used by their barons, they attribute all to God, whose name is continually profaned amongst them, every assertion they make being confirmed by “Ebouch,” that is, by G—.

They are exceedingly dishonest; it is almost impossible to get an article from them that is not adulterated; but although this is the national character, there are many good people among them.

14th August, 1823.

A Blackburn Bull.—On entering this literary town from the south, the traveller may observe the following jocular notice placed on a board, by the road side:—“No road this way!”

Wigan Orthography.—In that fashionable division of the ancient and loyal borough of Wigan, called the Scholes, may be seen a board placed on the wall with this inscription:—“Lodging down hare.” And on a building recently erected in Rodney-street, in Wigan, is inscribed:—Catholick Sunday School.”


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Rh rank of captain; the other remained a private grenadier. The two brothers met at Marengo. When the action was over, the captain obtained permission to pay a visit to his brother, whose regiment was at a short distance. Hardly were they in each others’ arms, before they both fell mortally wounded by a cannon-ball. Alas! how inexplicable are the cruel sports of fortune!

At the distance of half a league from Tortona, we arrived at a beautiful bridge, about a quarter of a mile in length, constructed a few years before by some French engineers, across a torrent very remarkable for the variations to which it is subject. Sometimes when reduced to a mere rivulet it receives so sudden an accession of water, as to be swelled in a moment to the full width of the bridge, and even to overflow its banks. Travellers crossing its bed in the reliance that the waters could not descend from the neighbouring mountains with sufficient rapidity to reach them during their passage, have often been known to be carried away in the current, and the bridge itself would have been destroyed, had not precautions been taken to prevent the effects of the most violent shocks.

It was Sunday, and the road was crowded with the citizens and labourers of Tortona strolling towards the bridge, which seemed to be as well to them as to ourselves, an object of scrutiny and curiosity. At three o’clock in the afternoon, we entered an inn, whose ruinous and shabby appearance denoted it to belong to one of the small rude towns of the Appenines. We here took leave of our conductor, who left us to continue his journey towards Voghera, while we, according to our new arrangement, took the road towards the mountains on the left, in order to direct our course towards Bobbio, by the way of Godiasco and Varzi, situated on the torrent Stafora.

We hired two mules and a guide; the paths across the mountains not being sufficiently wide to admit even two wheeled carriages. As we were inquiring for a man who had horses to let, recommended to us by our host, we entered a sort of coffee-house, where, in two small nearly unfurnished rooms, contiguous to each other, were placed five or six stools by the side of some small wooden tables, for the accommodation of those who wished to be regaled with weak coffee, that had been kept at the same degree of warmth for the last three or four days.

Liverpool.

Chapter 8''th. The Prisoner.''—On my arrival at the Golden Fox, I found that my friend had been perfectly correct in his apprehensions for our places. The door of the bespoken room was locked; and, upon repeatedly knocking and shaking at it, I was at last answered by a request not to be so rude. I replied, that the rudeness was not on my side; and that I thought it very singular to be kept out of a room for which I paid so dearly.—During this explanation an elderly female came up stairs, knocked at the door, and said, “It is I, my dear, pray open.” Immediately the door opened, and a voice, which appeared twice as sweet as it had sounded the first time, said, “Come in, dear aunt.” I offered to follow, but was not quick enough; and only the flap of my coat was caught by the door as it was suddenly shut in my face. Under any other circumstances I should have laughed at the accident; but I found it impossible to do so at that moment. Unwilling, however, to betray the awkwardness of my situation, I merely continued to insist on gaining admittance; though the recollection of the sweet voice prevented me from urging my claims quite so imperatively as I otherwise should have done. I thanked God on hearing fresh steps on the staircase. Two gentlemen were seeking for windows, and asked me whether the garret would answer? I replied in the affirmative; and added, that some obstinate people in the inside wanted to keep it to themselves. Upon this, they ran down again to summon the landlord to the spot; but I heard no more of them, and they had, probably, met with other accommodations. At last, the fat host made his appearance, and asked whether I wished to have the breakfast brought up? I answered, angrily, that he must first keep his contract, and clear the room. “So, so,” he said, “then the little vixen persists in her obstinacy. Pray Miss open the door, or I’ll fetch the master-key.” “Do if you dare,” was the reply, “I shall have you before the magistrate for letting my room, whilst I pay my rent honestly and regularly.” “How is this?” inquired I with astonishment. “Well,” said mine host, “she has certainly taken the room some time ago; but it was for the year, and not for such extraordinary occasions. You offered me two Louis d’or; and I thought surely that a little milliner would be thankful to get a dollar or two out of the money, merely for giving up the room during one day, or rather during a couple of hours. I have even offered her as much as three dollars, but she would not consent to give it up; and I then thought that your own presence would produce more effect.” “You are a base man,” I ejaculated. “I beg you will not mention any such thing,” retorted mine host; “you gentlemen with fixed salaries have fine talking; but place yourself in my situation, with rent and taxes to pay in times like the present; two Louisd’or are not to be sneezed at; nor should a little milliner have refused three dollars. The people who take boxes at the theatre, do also take them for the whole year; but as often as new pieces or fresh performers make their appearance, a bonnement suspendu is put upon the play-bill. To day we have both a new piece and a grand performer; therefore I say a bonnement généralement suspendu.” “You are a vulgar good-for-nothing man,” I exclaimed. “I am your most obedient humble servant,” replied the host again, “but my banker will tell you a different story, and as long as my character stands well with him, I never mind what others think or say about it.” At that moment the collector came with his daughter, and said that it was high time, since the out-riders were already in sight. I stated my case, and Miss Ida called it a pretty story, betraying at the same time every mark of vexation. She resolved to stand in the street, rather than be disappointed altogether; and she was actually walking down again when I asked for a pair of scissors, with a fury which made her father turn round and discover my embarrassing predicament. “What! are you a captive?” he cried; but at that very moment the door opened, and the fair occupant said, with an elegant courtesy, “I beg your pardon; I was not prepared for this, but you will admit that the insulting offer of the landlord could not but be disagreeable. Moreover, I had offered the window to my aunt, and could not dispose of it without her consent: yet now, when she is herself willing to retire”—“Impossible!” I interrupted her, “the more I esteem your politeness, the less I ought to abuse it.” The collector and his daughter stared at me, and the latter said, in a whisper, that I observed rather too much ceremony with such people. In the mean time the two females had passed us, and the elder one assured us that they should see the procession in her own house, and that the reception itself must be more interesting to Miss Ida, than to her, who had seen such things before. I recollected the countenance and figure of the niece as having struck me very often; and I was glad to know where she lived, although the circumstance of her being called a little milliner, acted rather as a drawback on my pleasure. I looked after her whilst she was crossing the street; and, tracing her among the crowd, I leaned so far out of the window, that my companions were pleased to express an apprehension lest I should fall out altogether. This observation made me also remark, that the collector had been all the while walking up and down in the little room. I felt ashamed of my rudeness, and ran out to look after the ordered breakfast, although my guests assured me that there was no need to do so.

Chapter 9''th. Foolish Whims.''—“My dear host,” I said, as soon as I had got a fair hold of the good man’s greasy coat, “Pray tell me whatever you know of the girl in the little room.” “Oh, oh!” he replied, “then she has charmed you, as well as some of my other guests; but it is all of no use, there is nothing to be done with her. I have been often commissioned to make the most brilliant offers to her, and from very nice gentlemen too; but the foolish thing has no idea of management. Virtue is fine enough, when you have wherewithal to support it; but what is the use of it without money? and of that she has a plentiful lack: not for want of means to get it, even in her business; because she is very clever, and earns a good deal: but what do you think she does with it? I am sure you could never guess. She pays all away to a set of ragged people, who have come to loss by her late father; because she cannot bear the idea of their curses following the dead man to his grave. Did you ever hear of such foolish imaginations? when people have once departed this life, it matters not what their old neighbours think of them. Pray who was her father? Oh! he was great enough in his time; but none of the best house-keepers, I suppose. The girl’s mother brought him a very handsome fortune; but it all went away as well as his own. Lo! behold the young person coming back again; what the deuce can she want in such a hurry?” I stood behind the door, and looked through the crevice at the milliner, who approached in great agitation, and told the landlord that she was in great distress on account of her aunt, who had been overpowered by the pressure of the crowd, and lay ill in the next street. Some time ago the same accident had happened to her in the garret, and a bottle of something which the host had given to her, had procured immediate relief: she now came to request the loan of the same. “My dear Miss,” said the man, “this day’s confusion has even deprived me of my little bottle: a careless waiter wanted to remove it from a window-corner, and dropped it on the ground; the whole chamber smells yet of eau de Cologne.

Chapter 10''th. Haste.—“Is it eau de Cologne you want?” said I, forgetting my incognito'': “you shall have some immediately. I ran up stairs like lightning; because I recollected that Miss Ida had some. In my hurry I knocked down a man on the dark landing, and begged ten thousand pardons, without stopping for an explanation. I made my request, by stating that somebody had suddenly been taken ill; and the young lady thought it was a gentleman belonging to the deputation, who looked remarkably pale. I did not attempt to contradict her; for I wanted to be off again; and as soon as I had got hold of the specific, I returned quite as quickly as I had come.

Chapter 11''th. The Cure.''—“You have put your guest into a fine plight!” said the host, when I came back. I heard the words, without caring for their meaning, and handed the flacon to the fair petitioner. “I am infinitely obliged to you,” she said, and offered to go: but there was no getting through the crowd; and she looked round with anxiety. She appeared hardly able to support herself; and I could not do less than offer my arm. I had great difficulty in keeping off the crowd with my left elbow, but we did at length get to the other side of the street; where I might have been dismissed. But I pretended to think that I had but half fulfilled my duty, in as much as the remedy might not prove efficacious, and it would then be necessary to procure a physician. We arrived at the house where the aunt was, who had not yet recovered, and was, in some measure, alone; because the woman who had been left with her, finding it impossible to resist the attractions in the street, was looking out of the window. I tried myself to administer the restoring drops, and the success answered our expectations. The most grateful looks from both the ladies rewarded me beyond my merit; and the young one began to make me some excuses about the disagreeable scene at her chamber door.


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Rh I protested that it was I who had to ask pardon for having disturbed her, but she replied that her refusal to open the door had been chiefly founded on the belief that I wanted to be alone with her; and that, consequently, she had been very wrong in judging of me by the conduct of others, from whom I seemed to differ in every respect. “My God!” she exclaimed then, “I now perceive that the ceremony is over, and that I have made you lose your time as well as your money.” Pray“Pray [sic] do not be distressed on that account,” said I, “the moments which I have spent with you could not possibly have been better employed. I have long wished to become acquainted with you, though you may never have noticed me.” “Supposing, however, that I had,” was the reply, “must not the difference in our circumstances have made me anxious to avoid an intimacy, rather than to encourage it?” “Then I beg that you will not, henceforward look upon our circumstances as an inseparable barrier.” “Mr. Haller, I have often had reason to repent of my having chosen my dwelling so near to an inn; but I did it in compliance with the request of a lady who lodged there, and who wished to have me within call. Men are but too apt to suppose that poverty opens the way to seduction; and, unfortunately, there is no want of examples to confirm the belief. I have sometimes considerable trouble in keeping intruders at a distance; and even some of the neighbours conceive themselves at liberty to use little ceremony with a person in my situation. What would they think if they saw me hold much communication with you?” “Think! well let them believe that we have business to transact; and, in order to make their belief a true one, I can let you have employment. I understand that you embroider in a superior manner, and it is in my power to recommend you.” “In that case, I can immediately show you something which my aunt happens to have in her care.” The piece was produced, and it actually proved to be finished in the best taste. I declared, forthwith, that I would take it as a specimen, and that she might fix her own price.

,—As I think the arguments of Prenez Garde, in a late number of the Mercury, against the proposed repeal of the usury laws exceedingly weak and inconclusive, I beg leave to make them the subject of a few remarks. His two propositions are,

1. That the repeal will check the rise in the world of industrious men, unprovided with capital.

2. That it will so unhinge the present established forms of trade as to embarrass and iniureinjure [sic] the national prosperity.

1. That a large portion of our national wealth originates in the active intelligence and industry of men originally without capital, or with capital disproportionate to their spirit of enterprize, is very obvious, and has been powerfully insisted on as an argument for free trade in money, by those very political economists whom P. G. insinuates to be ignorant of it. If the repeal, then, would really increase the expense of borrowed capital, and so limit the number, and cramp the exertions of those who want it, this writer’s first proposition would be proved: but, in respect to such of this class as are commencing business, he adduces nothing in support of his opinion; and, of those already established, his whole reasoning is confined to the query, “What shall prevent the banker, who now lends at five per cent. from then requiring double that rate of interest?” I should have thought it a plain and satisfactory answer, that, if it were not both safe and profitable to lend to such persons at five per cent. it would not now be done; that while it continues to be so lenders will abound; and that, as there is nothing in the repeal of the usury laws which can diminish the prudence of such loans, they will be as cheaply attainable when money transactions are unfettered as at the present moment. It is further probable, that, if the repeal have any effect at all on established rates of interest, its influence must be to lower them; for, without increasing the number of men already accommodated at four or five per cent. a free trade in money will induce other capitalists to enter the market, to meet the demands of those whom the usury laws have either excluded from accommodation or forced to obtain it on extravagant terms. The number of bankers, &c. will thus be increased; and cheapness in the commodity they deal in result from their competition. In reference to this latter view of the subject, we see a solid benefit opposed to a visionary apprehension. The law, at present, excludes those from the advantages of capital whose trades, &c. as they involve more risque, justify the lender in requiring, and the borrower in granting, a larger interest than five per cent. This injustice once removed, additional wings will be added to commercial industry, to the manifest increase of private enjoyment and the public welfare.

2. But the proposed repeal “will so unhinge established forms as to embarrass and injure the national prosperity.” These very general apprehensions are subsequently explained to mean, that the buyer and seller will have their bargain to make on the bills to be given in payment, and that a second bargain must be made with the banker for discounting them. I beg to ask whether this is not the case at present? Whether the terms are not always regulated by the relation of price to credit, that is, to the period when payment is supposed to be cash? Commercial men soon understand each other, and regulate the transactions of every day and hour by customs of easy application, which, once established, become matters of course, occasioning embarrassment to nobody. If some difference in the respectability of bills be now consistent with a pretty uniform rate of discount, thereisthere is [sic] no reason why it should not continue so, competition among capitalists keeping down the profits on money as on other things, and experience having already demonstrated the rate at which bills in general may be profitably discounted. As to keeping credits of the same level or value, and thus patting the moneyless man on an equal footing with the great capitalist, it is sufficient to reply,—1st, That it is an error to suppose it now done. 2dly, That it cannot occur while the distinctions of rich and poor, safe and unsafe, remain: and 3dly, That if practicable, it would be injurious, and therefore undesirable.

The repeal of the usury laws seems, then, highly expedient for every class of persons among us, and not the least so for our manufacturers, tradesmen, and merchants; but, were the measure more exposed to speculative objection, it is surely well worth a trial, whether the same freedom which gives animation to all other trades may not be advantageously extended to the most important,—in short, to the life’s blood of the commercial world; a measure, too, alike suggested by common sense, and the decision of the most enlightened minds which have hitherto deliberated on our commercial interests.

March 10, 1824.

If there is one department of literature more interesting and instructive to the general reader than another, it is that of history. The correctness of this remark will appear more striking, if we look back on the historic records of former times, and contemplate the mighty revolutions that alternately raised and depressed the empires of ancient Greece and Rome; or, if we muse over the page of British history, and trace her slow but steady progress from a state of darkness and barbarism to her present greatness and glory, a greatness and a glory far surpassing the most splendid æra that is to be found in the annals of all times.

But it is not for me to attempt an epitome of the great events that are recorded in the histories of Greece, Rome, or Britain; it would require the pen of a Gibbon to do justice to so luminous a subject, and it would be foreign to my purpose, as my object is simply to direct the attention of the juvenile reader to the importance of the study of history; for, “of all the studies that occupy the attention of the statesman, or employ the leisure of private individuals, that of history justly claims the pre-eminence in dignity and in utility. To the statesman it furnishes the most important lessons of political wisdom; and the private individual may hence extract maxims for the improvement of his understanding, and rules for the regulation of his conduct.” If such, then, be the importance of history, it is undoubtedly equally important that we should know how to study it, that we may be enabled to derive the most information from it.

The first objects that attract the attention of youth in the perusal of history are those of the least moment. They read with avidity the descriptions of battles and of sieges, whilst they merely glance over, or entirely omit, what are of infinitely greater importance—the causes that give rise to those mighty events they dwell upon with such satisfaction and delight. It is possible that we may read many pages, run over the transactions of past ages, boast that we have devoured many volumes, and yet be totally unacquainted with men and things. The man who is able to name the nations which have appeared and acted with applause on the theatre of this world, who knows the date of their rise, the periods of their progress and decline, the conquerors who have been the scourges of mankind, and filled the earth with the calamities of war, may be admired for his historical knowledge. But to know the rise or fall of nations, the exploits of warriors, when such or such a battle was fought, by whom gained, and the number of killed and wounded in each army; when the renowned cities of antiquity were founded, and by whom taken and destroyed; to be able to give an account of these things and be ignorant of the causes that produced them, or not to think them worth attending to, is to read history to no good purpose.

“The philosopher and politician read the memoirs of nations and individuals with a different view. They cultivate an acquaintance with the history of mankind, not to gratify an idle curiosity, but to enrich their minds with useful knowledge. Scenes of violence give them disgust rather than pleasure; but to know that these were the effects of ambition, pride, and revenge working in the mind, instructs them in the knowledge of the human heart. A transient glance at the descripton of a battle, or a siege, is enough to them, whilst they carefully attend the historian in his delineation of the characters of nations and eminent men, in his investigation of the causes of events, in his tracing the beginning of laws and government, of civilization, manners, arts, and sciences.”

If we wish to profit by the study of history, we should habituate ourselves to a careful examination of the characters of nations or individuals, as described by the historian, and the chain of events he relates. By a proper attention to this, we improve ourselves in the most useful parts of knowledge, and, in time, become qualified to fill the various departments of life with propriety and usefulness. In a word, by carefully observing and retaining in mind the great revolutions, which, in the course of Providence, have taken place in nations, and the progress of society amidst these revolutions; by a just investigation of the many, and even opposite causes, that often concur in producing one effect, or one cause, from which sometimes many effects follow; by a near observation of the characters of those who have made a figure in society, what were the motives for their conduct, and the nature of the passions, that led them on to action,—it is by pursuing a method similar to this that any real advantage can be derived from the labours of the historian.

Liverpool, March 30, 1824.

Preserving Vinegar for Domestic Purposes.—Cork it up in glass bottles, set them on the fire with cold water, and as much hay or straw as will prevent them from knocking together; when the water nearly boils, take off the pan, and let the bottles remain in the lees a quarter of an hour. Vinegar thus prepared never loses its virtue, though kept many years, or occasionally left uncovered, and is peculiarly suitable for pickles.

To clean Plated Articles.—Take an ounce of killed quicksilver, and half a pound of the best whitening, sifted; mix them with spirits of wine when used.


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Rh I took care to assure them that I had paid enough to deserve a better equipage.

“I was hospitably received by the arch-priest, who came to the front door to meet me; his brother, the canon, having gone on before to announce my arrival.

“Upon entering the house, my nose was regaled by a strong odour, which, although not altogether disagreeable would have overpowered a person of delicate nerves. It was the smell of white truffes, which are so rare in France, but which are very plentiful in the countries bordering on Montferrat. The inhabitants send them to the people of Genoa, where they are considered as dainties. We eat some in our salad at supper.

“Before supper I received a visit from some public functionaries and priests of Bobbio, who happened to be at the fair of Varzi. A lawyer, who was a brother of the arch-priest, came also to pay his respects to me. He was a handsome, tall man; but, like most of the Piedmontese, of a sallow complexion, and very reserved in his manners. As he spoke French a little, and I Italian, we understood each other perfectly well. He intended to return the next day to Bobbio.

“The repast was more cheerful than I expected, considering that it was in a country so nearly bordering upon Piedmont. The place of honour was given to me, which is, in Italy, the upper extremity of an oblong table opposite the entrance-door. I sat between the arch-priest and one of the canons, who was a vicar of the Bishop of the diocese of Conti.

“The jester of the company was a village curate, who, after he had eaten and drunk well, became very entertaining. He sung, at the dessert, psalms, kiries, and magnificats, imitating the tones and gestures of his schoolmaster so happily that he convulsed with laughter all the guests at table. He mimicked, also, the singing of his parishioners so well that he appeared to me fit to play a part any where rather than in the pulpit or at the altar. Whilst he was ridiculing the peculiarities of his flock, he did not suspect that he had any himself.

“After supper I was conducted to my chamber, where I slept soundly till the next day.

“The next morning I received a visit from the Justice of Peace, a young man of about thirty years of age, with the Piedmontese countenance; that is to say, his complexion was dark, his features marked, and expressive at once of gravity and dissimulation. However, he endeavoured to assume a frankness of manner towards me, telling me that he was very sorry he had not received me at his house: that as Justice of Peace he had a right to expect that I should have alighted at his door; and that he had delayed his visit to me till the day after my arrival, only because he had no acquaintance with the arch-priest. The same reason might have served as an excuse to him for not visiting me at all; but without telling him so, I assured him that I felt obliged by his politeness, and that I regretted not having been able to anticipate him in it. You must know that in Italy, custom requires strangers to pay their respects to the inhabitants of distinction immediately after their arrival in a town.

“The Justice of Peace pressed me to pass the day with him, observing that he had had a room prepared for me, and that I ought at least to divide my time between him and the arch-priest. I excused myself as well as I could, alleging that I had sent away my guide and horse, and that I now depended upon my two friends the canons to be conducted to Bobbio, who were going to set out immediately, and who had kindly procured two horses for me. But the honest Justice still persisted in his entreaties, ‘I have,’ said he, ‘invited some friends to meet you at dinner. We all promise ourselves great pleasure from your company.’—‘Indeed you must excuse me; I have told you my reasons.’—‘The horses shall wait for you; we will take it upon ourselves to make the proprietor agree to this arrangement.’ During this altercation, the horses had been saddled, and one of them loaded with my luggage. The young lawyer insisted upon holding the bridle whilst I mounted my horse (a mark of deference which is not unusual in Italy) while one of his friends held the stirrup for me. I was embarrassed by so much attention. When the two canons had made their appearance, and placed my horse between theirs, five or six gentlemen, priests and laymen, rode up from the different streets of the town to join our party, and ranging themselves in a file with us, formed a very respectable retinue. The bustle of our departure drew together a crowd of loungers, each of whom, no doubt, made his remark, according to the opinion he had formed of the French, and of those who paid their court to them.

“We took leave of more than a dozen people, standing near the arch-priest’s door. There was no end of compliments, salutations, and shakings of hands. Our cavalcade was shortly afterwards in the midst of vallies and mountains. As we were leaving the town, my companions pointed out to me several shops and tents, formed of the twisted foliage and branches of trees, some of which contained the merchandize of the fair; whilst in others were assembled convivial parties. These numerous cabins, which are renewed every year, and frequented during a space of five or six days, gave to the valley a very picturesque and novel appearance.

“The journey from Varzito Bobbio occupies four hours; and the road extends over a continued succession of hills. Bobbio is separated from the town we had just left by the Penice, a very high mountain of the chain of the Appenines, which would bear a comparison with some of the Alps. The road cut along its side ascends only to half its height.

“From this elevation I first discovered the place of my destination. My companions exclaimed, almost simultaneously, ‘''Signore! signore! eccolo! eccolo!''’ ‘What is the matter?’ replied I. ‘Bobbio! sì Bobbio!’ said they, pointing with their fingers. They showed it to me, not as a remarkable place, but as that where I was destined to reside for an indefinite length of time. ‘There is your dwelling,’ they seemed to say to me, and I replied tacitly, after having looked at it, ‘There is my prison.’

“The appearance of the town was most gloomy and unpromising. It consisted of a group of houses built of grey lava, and roofed with yellow slates, situated at the bottom of a valley, at the foot of Mount Penice. We frequently lost sight of it during the two hours that we descended the mountain by the winding road cut across the trenches by which it is surrounded on the north. This town, described by Tacitus, when he speaks of the battle fought in the year of Rome 536, does not seem to have changed since then, the vine which St. Colombeau caused to grow here being the only ornament which time has added to this wild spot.

“We entered Bobbio with éclat. It is the capital of the towns and villages scattered in this part of the Appennines, and was built by St. Colombeau, founder of a house of Benedictines in this country.

“I alighted at the house of the two canons, who lived together. The town, consisting of narrow, dirty, ill-paved streets, is called by the inhabitants of the neighbouring plains l’orinale dell’ Italia, and this expression gives an excellent idea of it. It stands on the borders of the Trebia, a torrent rendered famous by the victory gained on its shores, near this town, by Hannibal over Sempronius the Roman Consul.

“The appearance of the interior of the town did not destroy the impression I had received from a distant view of it. There were in the streets numbers of priests in robes of rusty black, and of laymen in long, ragged great coats, with hanging sleeves, having their arms concealed in the folds of their coats. Nothing was to be heard on all sides but the cackling of geese and the grunting of pigs. Our horses stumbled against these animals, which would not make room for them till they were in danger of being trampled upon, and then resumed their places immediately afterwards. The ill-built houses, surrounded by ruinous walls, offered no temptation to enter their doors. Their small windows were patched with pieces of oiled paper, full of holes.

“This town contains about twelve hundred inhabitants, and I did not observe more than fifteen well-built houses.

“Our arrival put the inhabitants in motion, as it is very unusual to see strangers here; from the visit of the Carthagenians, to the battles fought upon the Trebia in 1799, between the French under Macdonald and the Russians, it would be easy to count the strangers who have had the courage to encounter the gloom of this dismal abode. The inhabitants, covered with their cassocks, stood at the doors of their houses staring at us as we passed. As my companions were known, all eyes were fixed upon me. The curious enquired who I was, and it was soon known among the political paraders of the humble piazzas of their only square, that of the Dome, that a Frenchman had arrived in their town to complete their new tribunal.

“Mountaineers are generally censorious, and, I have no doubt, that it was whispered among them that I did not belie my nation, and that I had need of great courage in coming to reside amongst them. What other European would have ventured to inhabit Bobbio? During the last century, only two strangers had come to reside in this dismal place; one was a German commander, and the other a Piedmontese, their last bishop.”

Liverpool.

Chapter 12''th. Fancies.''—I found the street quite altered when I returned to it; instead of the former bustle and pressure, there was now hardly a person to be met with; because the crowd had followed the monarch to the interior of the town. At my arrival at the inn, the waiter asked whether he should now bring up the breakfast? “What!” cried I, “you have not served it up yet?” “It was merely on account of your absence,” replied the man. “Well, let us have it then as quickly as you can; but where are my guests?” The garret was as empty as the street, and I had to breakfast alone. For this, however, I felt no inclination, and I asked for wine instead of it: with every fresh glass the image of the fair Emma presented itself in a more lively manner before me; and I began to be convinced, for the first time, that my friends had been perfectly correct in blaming my single state, and that I now wanted a wife, as much as I had before wanted a living; “but my dear Comptroller,” said I to myself, “would it not be rather a youthful trick to marry all at once, post haste; and whom? an embroiderer, forsooth! consider well about it, and remember all the unfortunate marriages which have been contracted in a hurry, and repented of at leisure.

Chapter 13''th. The Note.''—Whilst I was thus musing, a pretty white pigeon came flying through the open window: a happy sign, I thought; perhaps sent on purpose by the goddess of love! The pigeon was, moreover, so tame, that it walked about on the table, to pick up some bread-crumbs: I saw, also, that it had a piece of fine paper fastened to its neck with a red tape; and, as it made no resistance, I laid hold of it, and found the following billet: “Dear Emma, I am almost out of my senses: I have neither seen you nor heard of you all yesterday; and if it is to be so again this day, I shall surely die. Hasten, oh! hasten into the arms of him who cannot live without you.” I squeezed the note, convulsively, in my hand, and put it into my pocket; the pigeon stood, for some time, quietly before me, as if waiting for the accustomed answer, but I pushed the winged messenger so rudely from me, that I was soon left alone. The lines were writ-


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Rh ten in a very fine, running, and bold hand, to which I wished, for the time being, every imaginable evil.

Chapter 14''th. Incidents.''—“Allow me the honour,” said some one, tapping me on the shoulder. I stared, as if awaking out of a dream, and lo! the fat landlord stood before me, with his large box, offering a pinch of snuff. I shook my head in silence. “You seem to be rather displeased, Mr. Haller—but who would not? The Corporation got pretty well out of the business; but the Institution, oh dear! oh dear!” I scarcely knew in what language the man was speaking, and looked at him with astonishment. “Well,” he continued, “do not you think yourself, that the University ought to have sent a better deputy?—the story will do us a vast deal of credit abroad.”—“What story?” I asked in my turn. “Bless me! have you not seen the sight? The gentleman’s sword got entangled between his legs, and he had not quite finished saying ‘Most magnanimous’ when he fell at the feet of his Majesty, with his nose in the mire.”—“Much good may it do to him,” said I, peevishly: “what do I care?”—“Oh! just as you please: but I see the young lady has already removed her best things.” I looked about, and missed a most elegant piece of embroidery, which had been in the frame; and the room appeared also otherwise in a state of disorder, which had not struck me before.

Chapter 15''th. A Reprimand.''—The Collector entered at that moment in breathless haste; and, after having looked about, with a show of surprise, he inquired for his daughter. I was surprised, in my turn, and said that I did not know what had become of her. He appeared almost choked with passion, and cried, “But when you knocked me down on the landing.”—“Good heavens! and was that you?”—“Who else should it have been? But I then left Ida in the room, and you found her, I suppose.”—“Oh! yes, then I found her, but I had afterwards an indispensible message to attend to.”—“Mighty well! Mr. Comptroller; and you left my poor girl to herself, in such a place, and on a day like this? You, who had invited us, and to whom I had stated that I should have to join a friend for about half an hour! Truly, Sir, there is something so remarkably singular in your conduct, that I should not be master of my feelings if I were to stay a moment longer.” He actually left us very abruptly.

Chapter 16''th. Explanations.''—“Excuse my liberty,” said mine host; “but is Miss Ida your intended bride?” Under existing circumstances, I thought myself fully authorized to answer with a very loud and intelligible “No.” “In that case, I may as well tell you that you had no sooner crossed the street than I heard a good deal of coughing in the higher regions, and when I looked up, I found that it proceeded from the fair damsel in the garret window, who nodded to somebody in the crowd. I was not long in finding out the happy individual to be a fresh-looking young gentleman, who made also corresponding signs upwards. They seemed to produce the desired effect, for soon after the female slipped through the door, and both she and her beau disappeared in an instant.”

Chapter 17''th. Embarrassments.''—“So, so,” I thought, after I had arrived at home, “I have made a fine morning’s work of it; and the afternoon is not likely to be much in my favour. How am I to face the company at dinner, and what can I say for myself? It would, perhaps, be best to be suddenly taken ill, and thus excuse myself from going: but no; I should by that means allow very unfavourable constructions to be put upon my conduct; and since heavy charges are likely to be made, I had better stand on my defence, and face them out at once.” In the mean time, I felt more uneasiness about the unfortunate paper of the pigeon than about all the rest. I had only been half persuaded into the fitness of my marrying Miss Ida, by the importunity of my friends; whereas my feelings for Miss Emma were genuine, and nothing short of the billet could have disturbed them.

Chapters 18th and 19''th. Worse and worse.''—“Oh! here he comes at last,” exclaimed the lady of the house; and the whole company turned round, with forced smiles, to welcome my entrance. There was, however, great astonishmenttastonishment [sic] when it appeared that I came without either the Collector or his daughter, and that I could not even tell what had become of them: but dinner had been so long delayed on our account, that it could not be put off any longer, and it was served up. I occupied a very conspicuous place, because it was between two empty chairs, and I had before me a large tart, which was the chief ornament of the table, and upon which I perceived two entwined letters of rose-coloured sugar, which were evidently the initials of Ida and Charles. The other guests were aware of the circumstance as well as myself; but I pretended not to understand their significant nods. The ceremony of the day furnished, of course, matter of conversation during dinner, and I was often appealed to when contested points were discussed, because none of the persons present had been so favourably placed as I was supposed to have been. I endeavoured to get through the business by shrugging my shoulders, smiling at what had been said by the gentlemen, and affirming what had been advanced by the ladies; but all would not do, and I had sometimes to speak decisively. For instance, when the fall of the learned Protector was mentioned, a young merchant, who was a lieutenant in the militia, gave it as his opinion that the man ought to be punished for bringing disgrace upon the town, and he expected me to confirm his verdict; but I could not find it in my heart, and I declared that the honour of the country would perhaps be best preserved if such mummeries were omitted altogether. This bold assertion did not seem to give much pleasure, and the ominous manner in which one of the fathers of the town shook his head predicted me no good; but I was not in a frame of mind to stop at local considerations. Another accident was said to have taken place, of which I then heard for the first time. A flock of sheep had been driven by some street lads in the rear of the young ladies who were to present poems and flowers to the monarch, and the animals had been goaded to such a degree, that, in their despair, they overturned every thing on their passage; and the leader of the virgins was asserted to have come into such close contact with a strong wether, that she had taken an involuntary ride on his back, and had actually been carried to a considerable distance. Several guests denied the latter circumstance, and I joined them, by proving a priori the impossibility of the situation, unless freely and willingly adopted by the fair rider; but it appeared soon, by my manner of describing the thing that I had not been an eye-witness, and my testimony was rejected altogether. A great dispute arose afterwards about the question, whether the King had been sitting bareheaded in his carriage on account of the heat, or whether he had uncovered himself out of respect to the deputies? I was once more appealed to; but, when my information proved to be quite as unsatisfactory on this point as it had been on all the rest, one of the ladies exclaimed, with impatience, “Well! I should like to know what the gentleman has seen for his two Louis d’or?”—“The two eyes of his beloved, to be sure!” said another.—“The entwined names for ever!” said a third; and all the glasses were emptied with shouts of applause. I really think that the three holy men in the burning furnace cannot have been much hotter than I felt at the time.

,—You were kind enough to insert a short letter on the subject of the laws relative to apprentices, in your paper of the 19th instant. Allow me, then, to state a few of my reasons for inviting the attention of the public towards that question.

Every one is aware that there are some trades which a person cannot practise unless he has served the number of years required by the charter or bye-law which regulates such trades, and that there are others in which the term of apprenticeship depends entirely upon the master and the parents of the apprentice. In the former, always, and in the latter, generally, the term is prolonged to such a length as produces habits of idleness and inattention in the apprentices. Boys are generally bound before they are capable of judging for themsselvesthemselves [sic], the consequence of which is, that, in the course of a year or two, they either take a dislike to their master or the trade; and, seeing that it will be long before they can derive any solid advantage from their labour, they endeavour to do just as little as possible. Besides, the length of apprenticeships may be said to increase the expense of education; but, were parents to endeavour to keep their children a little longer at school, and masters to accept of a shorter term of apprenticeship, both, I am certain, would reap great benefit from it in the end. It is true, that, at first, parents would think it greatly to their disadvantage to keep their children at school after they were able to work; but the future, they must see, would be greatly in their favour; for it is the boast of a civilized society that it weighs the probable events of the future, whilst it is the characteristic of a state of barbarism that it is wholly engrossed with the concerns of the present.

The wages of the person, after he was loose, would be much lower than they are at present; yet, knowing that they must be increased, according to his industry, he would naturally endeavour to do whatever lay in his power: such, of course, is the case with workmen at present, but not so, generally, with apprentices.

Would it not, then, be much better for both parties to alter the present system entirely, since it is apparent to every one how much may be done by a willing mind, and how little where the inclination does not concur. To produce this concurrence there must be reciprocal advantages; but, in long apprenticeships, the advantage chiefly belongs to the master, since two or three years, at most, is sufficient to learn the generality of trades.

This, then, is a question which deeply affects not only the industry but the morality of apprentices.

“The institution of long apprenticeships,” says Dr. Adam Smith, “has no tendency to form young people to industry. A journeyman who works by the piece is likely to be industrious; because he derives a benefit from every exertion of his industry. An apprentice is likely to be idle, and almost always is so; because he has no immediate interest to be otherwise. In the inferior employments the sweets of labour consist altogether in the recompense of labour. They who are soonest in a condition to enjoy the sweets of it are likely soonest to conceive a relish for it, and to acquire the early habit of industry. A young man naturally conceives an aversion to labour, when, for a long time, he receives no benefit from it. The boys who are put out apprentices from public charities are generally bound for more than the usual number of years; and they generally turn out very idle and worthless.” Rh

Excuse for Smoking.—I have heard an excuse alleged for it by an old smoker, that it is good for the memory; and as a proof of it, the advocate remarked, that if a man be ever so drunk, he is reminded by it to drink again.—London Magazine.

Law Wit.—The house of Counsellor was broken into and plundered. The following morning, in Court, Mr. Curran was asked if he had heard of ’s robbery? “No,” replied he, “Who did he rob!”

Double Egg.—A gentleman of this town, one day last week, brought into our office a hen’s egg, which weighed 4 ounces, and measured 9 inches in circumference. It was as large as a goose egg; and we stoutly contended that it was such, until the gentleman broke it, in the hope thereby of convincing us of our errrorerror [sic]. He did convince us; for on opening the egg, a smaller one, of the size of a common hen’s egg, was found within the larger shell. The interstice between the inner surface of the large shell and the outer surface of the small egg, contained a yolk and the white viscous substance found in common eggs.—Western Carolinian.

The following is the literal direction of a letter which was lately sent through the post-office of Cambridge:


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Rh from those of French society, and the conversation was not less gay than that carried on in Parisian drawing-rooms. The Marchioness was about thirty years of age, of a fair blooming complexion, and rather fat. Her style of dress was not foreign. She was in the habit of taking the journal of Parisian fashions, and consulted the engravings of every new number. When its pages described any novelties not too expensive for the pockets of the citizens’ wives, she sent them a copy of this preceptor of taste.

“After dinner we played at battledoor and shuttlecock with the sub-prefect, first gentleman in waiting to the Marchioness, and with a dozen priests and abbots, who arrived successively. The Italians appeared to me to possess the art of making their guests feel perfectly at ease. In the evening, the assembly received an addition of about twenty visitors, ladies, ecclesiastics, and laymen. A table, twelve feet long, and three feet broad, covered with a green cloth, was placed against the white wall of the room. The cicisbei stationed themselves by the side of their respective ladies; such ladies as had two, placing one on each side of them. If the number exceeded two, they took precedence according to their rank; a circumstance pointed out to me by a lawyer, who directed my attention to the disposition of the group round, the Marchioness. The marks of distinction conferred upon strangers are entirely subordinate to these rules, as circumstances seldom occur of sufficient importance to warrant their violation.

“In the course of the evening we played the game of chuchu (pronounced kookoo) which is suitable only for numerous parties. The pack is composed of nineteen double cards, each bearing a number from one to fifteen; on five of the cards, between five and fifteen, are represented either a prison, a cat, a horse, a bregou, or the chuchu, or crowned owl, which is the highest card. On five other cards are grotesquely painted the representations of a fool, a bucket, a yellow mask with long ears, and the word nulla; the bucket is of less value than nulla, and the yellow mask is the lowest card of all.

“When each person has received five counters, and deposited his quota in the pool, the cards of the two packs are shuffled and dealt by the person who cuts them, each player receiving only one card. If the player on the right of the dealer is not satisfied with his card, he may pass it to his neighbour, unless the card held by the latter confer on him the privilege of making the former keep his card, which he is then compelled to do, however bad it may be. This exchange of cards is continued throughout the whole circle, till it comes to the turn of the person on the left of the dealer. When a player meets in the hand of his neighbour, the prison, the bregou, or the chuchu, his card is stopped, and he puts a counter into the pool. If he meets the cat, his card is passed from player to player till it comes into the hands of its first owner. If he meets the horse, his card is passed to the person immediately below him who holds the horse; when two fools meet, the persons holding them are entitled each to take a counter from the pool, and that is called faire farine. In short, when the circle is completed, those who hold the lowest cards are condemned to put a counter into the pool, and the game is repeated till only one counter remains. The person who holds this, wins the game.

“This game was the constant amusement of the numerous parties of the Marchioness. The packs of cards are sold at Placentia, and entitled, by the manufacturers, Nuovo e dilettevole ginoco del Chuchu, o ginoco del matto in Piacenza; that is, the new and delightful gume of the chuchu, or fool at Placentia.

“People may well be accounted fools for returning nightly to this game; but it requires some prudence in playing it to avoid being induced, by the tricks and stratagems so well understood by Italian women of some address, to make those sacrifices which the cicisbei take care to make only to their respective ladies. I soon learned that all the rules of the game were sacrificed to the mutual success della signora e del caro cavaliere.

“A French woman delights to pique the man, honoured with her regard, by inconsistency and caprice: this behaviour would not be endured in Italy. There is nothing but sentiment and tenderness, and the least raillery would be destructive of all harmony.

“I heard, about this period, a short history of the family of the Marquis Malaspina, whose motto is bona spina bonis, et mala spina malis. It is very ancient; the whole tract of country which extends over the mountains of Bobbio, and the valleys of Trebia and Stafora, was formerly called Lingua di Malaspina. All the fiefs of this country were held of this noble family, whose chiefs were soldiers, enriched by the sovereigns who had been benefited by their services. This family is now so numerous in its branches, that its descendants are spread all over Italy, and even as far as Vienna, in Austria. Many of its members are now poor, and reduced to the necessity of practising ignoble trades. A Malaspina of Zerba has married a peasant girl, and carries on, at Bobbio, not far from the hotel of the Marchioness, the trade of a retail tailor. I have often employed him. It is whispered that M. Malaspina of Bobbio is an attorney, who has grafted himself on the family stock, by purchasing this privilege from some poor members of the family.

“I eat at the table of the restaurateur, my neighbour, with whom I engaged monthly. I found it very difficult to get milk for breakfast, there being none except that of ewes and goats, which is brought from a league’s distance from Bobbio, so that you may judge how miserable are the resources of this den of the mountains.

“The cold set in at the end of November, when the snow began to fall in as great abundance as in the coldest parts of France. The drifts were so deep in the valley of Trebia, that the precipices were filled up, and the streets of the town covered with to the depth of two or three feet.”

In the mean time we pursued the road which my fellow-traveller had described to me with so much exactness, that I was acquainted with it before I saw it, and arrived in the evening at Bobbio, where I was hospitably received at his house. I passed three days there, during which he introduced me to the Marchioness of whom he had spoken. I regretted much not being able to study the manners of this country, which are less known in France than those of the inhabitants of the wilds of America; but I was impatient to arrive at Genoa, to meet there a naval officer of my acquaintance. He intended to embark in the beginning of December, on board the Breslaw, a vessel of seventy-four guns, which had just been launched, and whose fate, alas! was too like that of so many of our French vessels. I know not in what port of Great Britain it is at this time.

Liverpool.

Chapter 20''th. A Message.''—I attempted a show of displeasure, but it did not answer the purpose; on the contrary, I had the mortification to perceive a general disposition to laugh and titter at the very moment I intended to rise in a pet; and, when I became aware of the cause, I could not help laughing myself, although I felt otherwise but little inclination for it. In the excess of my bad humour, I had not only demolished the tart which stood before me, but I had actually swallowed the entwined names, just as I had before unconsciously despatched several full bumpers which my complaisant neighbours had poured out for me. At that moment, a servant came to tell me that somebody wanted to speak to me, and I was very glad to escape from my purgatory, even for a short time. A girl was in waiting for me with the following note:

“I am under the absolute necessity of requesting a moment’s conversation with you, and I will thank you to call in the evening.

I read the paper with so much attention, and so many times over, that the girl must surely have thought me a very beginner in the noble art of reading. At last, I promised to come, and returned to the room in as great confusion as I had left it.

Chapter 21st. Curiosity on the stretch.—A great alteration had taken place. The collector and his daughter must have passed me unheeded, since I found them, at my return, on their places; and, apparently, in very good spirits. The young lady said that their coming so late must be entirely attributed to me; and she asked me whether behaviour such as mine was very usual in large towns? The eyes of the company were fixed on the fair examiner, and she related, with exquisite humour, all that happened in the course of the morning, including my overturning of her father, and my disappearance with the pretty embroiderer. The guests were thunderstruck with surprise, and I was so with rage; but the collector added, “Indeed this wicked girl of mine has no great cause to boast of her own conduct, however. He lifted up his glass, winked significantly at his daughter, and made her pledge him with a chinking of glasses, during which she-blushed and cast down her eyes. The curiosity of all the spectators was on the rack.

Chapter 22d. A Marriage.—After dinner, the Collector became a little more communicative, and he told us that his daughter and the son of an old friend had long been destined for each other; but that a recent quarrel between the two families had broken off the match; and that the present journey had been chiefly undertaken with the view to make Miss Ida forget her grief. The latter had, nevertheless, found means to inform her lover of her stay in town, and he had taken the earliest opportunity to join her. His own father had already relented; and it had not been particularly difficult to win also the Collector, by a declaration of unchanged mutual love and affection. After having listened to this explanation, I exclaimed, with tolerable composure, “Well! it is then settled in the book of destiny that I am to die a bachelor.” The smile with which I uttered this was, however, a little forced; for the two notes, which I had in my pocket, did materially interfere with my affected tranquillity and stoical indifference.

Chapter 23d. The Robbery.—The clock struck seven, and I hastened to my appointment. I found the aunt with Emma; and was told there must have been thieves in the room, since her best things were gone. I now recollected that the circumstance had already been pointed out to me by the landlord; but I had not particularly noticed it at the time. Ida had left the door open; and I might have laid the blame on her: but what right had I to find fault with a young inconsiderate girl, whilst I was guilty of so many oversights myself. I offered, of course, to replace every thing; but Emma said that there were many articles among the stolen ones which she could easily do without; and that the loss must be borne by herself, since it was owing to my keeping her company that the misfortune had happened: she only requested me to assist her with a small loan, which her situation made indispensible, and for which she could not apply to any body else.

Chapter 24''th. The mercantile hand.''—Whilst she was yet speaking, the pigeon came again with another paper tied to its neck. Emma carossed the little carrier, and took the note with a smile. After having read it, she said to the aunt, “It appears that a previous billet has fallen into wrong hands.” “Into mine,” I exclaimed, presenting it at the same time. “I am much obliged to you,” she said, without showing any emotion, “a young lady, to whom I give instructions, feels amused with this kind of correspondence, and I take pleasure in humouring her.” “A girl?” I asked, quite shocked at the assurance with which she told me such a falsehood; but