731]

Superstition of the Parisians.-The Red Man and the Minim. [732

Montezuma's death and the destruction faction. Before this interview with the of his empire were announced before. Red Man, he had stedfastly refused to hand to the Mexicans by the appearance give battle: but now he issued orders to of a comet. A husbandman also had a prepare immediately for attack, and the dream prophetic of misfortune, and following day he gained the victory of threatening words pronounced by invisi- the Pyramids. Buonaparte, continues ble persons, were heard in the air. It is the story, had made a compact with the well known also that Henry IV. had Red Man, for ten years. The time exsome days before his death a secret, in- pired a few days before the battle of distinct, presentiment of his melancholy Wagram. He solicited a prolongation fate, and several times told Sully he knew of the term from the Red Man, who he should be murdered. yielded to the urgent request of his protegee, and entered into a second contract with him for five years. It is true that during the two last of them, he did not strictly perform his engagements, but

When the sanguinary Nero had expiated his crimes by an ignominious end, a superstitious alarm seized the Christians whom he had persecuted. For a considerable time they persuaded them- many a good paymaster fails at last; and selves that Nero was not dead, but that, by the decrees of the Almighty, he was destined to renew their sufferings, and to spread fresh misery over the world. And who is there but knows what frequent reference was made in the first years of the French revolution to the prophecy as it is called of St. Cesarius, which actually seemed to apply in a striking manner to various circumstances of those days?

besides, such adventures as this must not be scrutinized too closely. The second contract was to terminate with the 1st of April 1814; and lo! in the preceding January, some days before Napoleon's departure from Paris, the Red Man appeared at the entrance of the Tuilleries, and desired to speak with the emperor. He came it seems to remind his friend with the utmost punctuality of the near approach of the end of the second term. The sentinel refused him admittance; the stranger extended his hand towards him, on which the soldier, as some relate, was immediately consumed to ashes, or according to others, was rendered unable

The late remarkable events in France were also preceded by a multitude of popular tales, and all sorts of fabulous stories. Most of them originated in the fauxbourgs of Paris, and are unworthy of notice; but some are accompanied to move a finger, and the Red Man prowith such singular circumstances and de- ceeded without obstruction. A chamtails as at least to afford a momentary berlain, whom he accosted in the palace, amusement. At the head of these pop- asked him if he was provided with any ular legends must be placed the wonder- letter or introduction. "No," said he, ful history of the Red Man, which was "but go and tell your master that a man circulated in March 1814 in many com- dressed in red desires to speak with him panies at Paris. The Red Man, thus immediately." The chamberlain, thinkruns the story, appeared for the first time ing that he should divert the emperor by to General Buonaparte, then in Egypt, this message, hastened to announce the the evening before the battle of the Pyr- extraordinary visitor. His astonishment amids. Napoleon, attended by several may be conceived, when Napoleon with officers, was riding past one of those a look so gloomy as to dispel in a momonuments of antiquity, when a man ment every trace of gaiety in his attendwrapped in a red mantle came out of the ant, ordered the Red Man to be intropyramid, and motioned him to alight duced, and shut himself up alone with and follow him. Buonaparte complied, the stranger. Inquisitive like any other and they went together into the interior of the pyramid. After an hour had elapsed, the officers became uneasy at the long abscace of their commander: they were just on the point of entering the monument in quest of him, when he came forth with a look of evident satis

person, the chamberlain first applied his eye and then his ear to the key-hole, and thus overheard a warm conversation between the monarch and the mysterious man, in the course of which the latter made use of these words: "Remember, from the first of April I will have no

phets belonged, sent for the friar, and threatened him with confinement in a state prison. "Do as you please," replied he; "since I am to die on the 16th of March, it is of very little consequence where I spend the few remaining days of my life." Upon this declaration the Minim was dismissed as an old crackbrained gossiping fellow. On the 17th

more to do with your affairs: such is the wh se to listen to him, that the Emtenor of our long concluded agreement, pero would be precipitated from the to which I am determined inflexibly to throne between the 24th and 30th of that adhere. You must, therefore, by the month. The minister of the police, to above-mentioned time have either van- whose department, as it seems, the proquished your enemies or made peace with them for as I have told you, on the first of April I shall withdraw my aid from you, and what will be the consequence you well know."In vain did the emperor allege the impossibility of settling his affairs with all Europe in so short a space; in vain did he solicit a farther prolongation of the treaty. The Red Man remained inflexible and van- of March the minister is said to have acished, as some assert, through the floor. cidentally recollected the circumstance, This visit is universally believed in Paris and to have sent to the friar's residence to have hastened the departure of the to inquire whether the prophet had died emperor, who was now aware that he, on the preceding day. His prediction had no time to lose. The prediction of was found to be literally accomplished, the Red Man was punctually accom- and the body was already in the coffin. plished. On the 31st of March the allies Naturally enough this fulfilment of the entered Paris, and from that moment all first part of his prophecy proved an unwho knew of this story, and the number lucky omen in regard to the second, was not small, perceived that the Red which was in like manner verified by the Man kept the word he had last given capitulation of the 30th of March. much more faithfully than he had fulfilled his contract.

What renders these two stories rather piquant is, that great numbers of people Another extraordinary story which can testify that they were not fabricated about the same time made considerable after the event had happened; but that noise at Paris, related to a monk of the the one was in circulation above a month, order of Minims. This man, who re- the other at least eight days previously sided at Paris, and was highly respected to those events, and that the circumin his quarter for his benevolence, pre- stances occurred exactly at the dates dicted in the beginning of March, to all which had been foretold.

OBSERVATIONS ON MOORE'S LALLA ROOKи.

WE

From the Monthly Magazine.

E have to congratulate our readers altho' perhaps of inferior brightness, apon the appearance of Mr. MOORE's peared in the poetical hemisphere. We long-promised poem of" Lalla Rookh,*" have now to hail the rising of a sun which, and to assure them that the expectations we venture to predict, will never set. which its first announcement excited will Lalla Rookh possesses all those characin no degree be disappointed. It is ap- teristicexcellencies with which Mr.Moore propriately entitled an oriental romance, has so often fascinated his readers-intenand the costume, scenery, and characters sity of feeling, delicacy of taste, and, above of the East are preserved throughout with all, that command of imagery, in which uncommon felicity. Mr. Moore's genius we do not believe he has any equal. had dazzled as yet in bright but minute This poem also discovers a new feature sparks-stars that shone indeed with of his genius, a feature which the very their own unborrowed lustre, but which nature of his former productions kept were constantly liable to suffer eclipse concealed-discrimination of character; whenever an orb of greater magnitude, we should have been perfectly contented if he had only equalled his past effort but in this respect he has surpassed

* Tulip-cheek.

735]

Observations on Moore's Lalla Rookh.

himself. Another peculiarity too is, the Where sensibility still brightly played,

strain of tender melancholy that pervades
the work: Mr. Moore's earlier writings
were remarkable for their hilarity; and,
altho' severer strains have latterly mingled
in the song, they never (if we may use
the expression) formed the key-note.
Even the "Irish Melodies" were not
mournful; but there was in them a de-
lightful mixture of gaiety and feeling, to
which no heart could refuse its sympathy,
In Lalla Rookh all is sadness and pity;
all is gloomy but the scenery, whose lux-
uriant beauty forms a magical contrast to
the sufferings of those whom it surrounds.
Of the tales (for there are four of them)
which form the work, our limits will not
allow us to give even a meagre sketch;
and, in regard to extracts, we cannot se-
lect without doing Mr. Moore injustice.
We have, however, chosen a few passa-
ges, not that they are superior to the gen-
eral tone of the poem, but because they
can be quoted with the least injury to the
connexion. The simile with which this
passage concludes is uncommonly delicate:

'Oh grief, beyond all other griefs, when fate
First leaves the young heart lone and desolate,
In the wide world without that only tie
For which it lov'd to live, or fear'd to die :
Lorn as the hung-up lute which ne'er hath
spoken

Since the sad day its master-chord was broken.'

The lines which follow are even more beautiful :

Fond maid! the sorrow of her soul was such
Even reason sunk, blighted beneath its touch,
And, tho' ere long her sanguine spirit rose
Above the first dead pressure of its woes,
Tho' health and bloora return'd, the delicate
chain

Of thought, once tangled, never clear'd again.
Warin, lively, soft, as in youth's happiest day,
The mind was still all there, but turn'd astray;--
A wand'ring bark upon whose pathway shone
All stars of heaven, except the guiding one!
Again she smil'd,nay much and brightly smil'd,
But 'twas a lustre strange, unreal, wild;
And when she sung to her lute's touching strain,
'Twas like the notes, half ecstasy, half-pain,
The bulbul* utters ere her soul depart,
When vanquish'd by some minstrel's powerful
art,

She dies upon the lute whose sweetness broke
her heart.

*

*

[736

Like lightning, round the ruins it had made.'

The following passage displays the cio-
sest observation of Nature, as well as high
poetic fancy:-
that sigh

We sometimes give to forms that pass us by
In the world's crowd, too lovely to remain,
Creatures of light we never see again.'

Several beautiful songs are interspersed throughout the volume, with one of which we conclude our extracts*

Fly to the desert, fly with me,
Our Arab tents are rude for thee---
But, oh! the choice what heart can doubt,
of tents with love, or thrones without?
Our rocks are rough---but smiling there
Th' acacia waves her yellow hair
Lonely and sweet, nor loved the less
For flowering in a wilderness.
Our sands are bare---but down their slope
The silvery-footed antelope
As gracefully and gaily springs
As o'er the marble courts of kings.
Then come---thy Arab maid will be
The lov'd and lone acacia-tree;
The antelope, whose feet shall bless
With their light sound thy loneliness.
Oh! there are looks and tones that dari
An instant sunshine through the heart,
As if the soul that minute caught
Some treasure it through life had sought;
As if the very lips and eyes,
Predestin'd to have all our sighs,
And never be forgot again,
Sparkled and spoke before us then!
So came thy every glance and tone
When first on me they breath'd and shout;
New, as if brought from other spheres,
Yet welcome, as if lov'd for years.
Then fly with me---if thou hast known
No other flame, nor falsely thrown
A gem away, that thou hadst sworn
Should ever in thy heart be worn.
Come, if the love thou hast for me
Is pure and fresh as mine for thee---
Fresh as the fountain under ground,
When first 'tis by the lapwing found.
But if for me thou dost forsake
Some other maid, and rudely break
Her worshipped image from its base,
To give to me the ruined place ;---
Then fare thee well. I'd rather make
My bower upon some icy lake
When thawing suns begin to shine,
Than trust to love so false as thine.
[* Bendemeer's Stream, Ath. Vol.I.p.670.7

737]

Varieties: Literary, &c.

[738

VARIETIES:

CRITICAL, LITERARY, AND HISTORICAL

WIND OF A BALL.

thread round his finger, the thread was

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, accidentally broken, and the orator stood mute! Once a gentleman got up

SIR,

N the engagement between the British to speak in a public assembly, provided and American fleets, on Champlain, with a paper of notes, written in pencil: a circumstance attended the death of our during the exordium of his speech he brave Capt. Downie well deserving thumbed his notes with incessant agitarecord; and which I shall be happy to tion; when he looked at the paper he find accounted for by some of your found that the words were obliterated, philosophical friends, through the medium he was obliged to apologise, and, after of your Magazine. much agitation, sat down abashed!

While Capt. Downie was animating his men, a large shot passed close to him, and he instantly fell dead; he gave not the smallest sign of life after the shot had passed him. Upon examining his body no visible injury had been sustained.

I cannot believe that the concussion of the atmosphere could have produced the above extraordinary effect, and trust that some of your ingenious correspondents will not think the enquiry unworthy their attention.

Walworth; April 28.

AWKWARD HABITS.

G. G.

La Belle As. May 1817.

A LONG JOB.

Or,

The Rev. Mr. Milne, in a report to the Missionary Society for China, says:"We want, sir, fifty millions of New Testaments for China; and after that about one sixth of the population only would be supplied. I would ask no higher honour on earth than to distribute the said number." Now, if Mr. Milne had commenced the distribution of the "said number" at the time the Ark rested on Mount Ararat, and had continued to distribute forty-three testaDR. DARWIN observes, that when we ments per day, Sundays excepted, he experience any disagreeable sensations we would have had on hand April 4, 1817, endeavour to procure temporary relief by seven hundred and thirteen thousand, motion of those muscles and limbs which seven hundred and forty-seven. are most habitually obedient to our will. should he now begin his work, and disa This observation extends to mental as tribute ten each hour during ten hours well as to bodily pain: thus persons in per day, he would end his labours on the violent grief wring their hands and con- twenty-seventh day of January, in the vulse their countenances; those who are year of our Lord three thousand four - subject to the petty, but acute, miseries of hundred and eleven, at one o'clock in the false shame, endeavour to relieve them afternoon!-Mon. Mag. June 1817. selves by awkward gestures and continual motions. A plough-boy, when he is brought into the presence of those whom An ultimate particle, in the chemical he thinks his superiors, endeavours to theory of HIGGINS, is the last division of relieve himself from the uneasy sensations elementary matter-an atom is the comof false shame, by twirling his hat upon pound of two particles in every proporhis fingers, and by various uncouth tion-and a molecule is the compound gestures. Men who think a great deal, of two atoms, according to the strict sometimes acquire habitual awkward nomenclature of his doctrine. Those gestures to relieve the pain of intense distinctions will prevent confusion; they thought. Addison represents, with will be found to accord with the lanmuch humour, the case of a poor man guage of definite proportions, and the who had the habit of twirling a bit of internal structure of compounds.-Ibig

ATOMIC THEORY.

Varieties: Critical, Literary, and Historical.

Though this philanthropic Pamphlet is more particularly addressed to the Members of both Houses of Parliament, it is worth the attention of every one who has the welfare and the morals of his Country at heart.

The Dream unfolds scenes resulting from the Lottery, sufficient to freeze the mind with horror; and, incidentally, the present system of Stage Coaches is severely reprobrated.

The "Thoughts on Wheels" are a

small set of poems on the Wheel of Com- TRICKS UPON TRAVELLERS; OR, THE bat, the Car of Juggernaut, the Inquisition, and the State Lottery; the whole concluding with an animated Address to Britain, imploring the abolition of the Lottery. We would copy the Address, if our limits permitted; but must content ourselves with some extracts.