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among the lanes, which he once owned in Scotland, poor and unbefriended. He wrote to court, but his letters were never presented, or were not regarded. Wearied and incensed, he travelled to London, and placed himself in all publick places, thinking that the eye of majesty might reach him. But he was never noticed, and his mean garb did not suit the rich, laced, and embroidered doublets of court; so he was insulted, and pushed from the king's presence. At length, he attempted by cunning what he could not accomplish by plain dealing. He ingratiated himself with the king's organist, who was so enraptured with Cockpen's wit and powers of musick, that he consented to his request of playing on the organ before the king, at divine service. He accordingly played with exquisite skill, yet never attracted his majesty's eye. But at the close of the

service, instead of playing the common tune used, he played up "Brose and Butter," with all its energy, and characteristick merriment! In a moment, the astonished organist was ordered into the king's presence. "My liege, it was not me, it was not me!" he cried, and dropped upon his knees. "You" cried his majesty, in a delirium of rapture, "you could never play it in your life-Where's the man? Let me see him?" Cockpen presented himself on his knee. "Ah, Cockpen, is that you-Lord, man, I was like to dance coming out of the church!" "I once danced too," said Cockpen, "but that was when I had land of my own to dance on." "Come with me," said Charles, taking him by the hand," you shall dance to Brose and Butter on your own lands again, to the tenth generation!" And he was as good as his promise.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM A TIGER.

THE following miraculous escape from a tiger, is related by a gentleman in a letter to a friend, dated at Jaulnah, in the East Indies, May 19, 1810.

"I arrived here this morning with colonel Conran's force.

"There is good hunting and shooting about twelve miles from this place; but it is dangerous from the number of wild beasts. I had, yesterday a most iniraculous escape, which is the talk and wonder of all the camp.

"I usually go out on the flank, and yesterday was beating down a nullah parallel to our line, and about 300 yards distant; I had killed one hare, and was anxiously looking out for another.

"The place appeared by no means dangerous, because the bushes were low and insulated; but yet, in one

of these did my beatee discover one of the largest tigers I ever

saw.

"The circumstances were as follow: I was passing on at my usual slow pace, and taking care that every bush was well beaten, I arrived at a low and narrow, but rather a long bush, and had passed to the farther end, when one beatee cried out Saheb, saheb-Baugh! Baugh! I withdrew a few paces; put two balls into each barrel of my gun, over the shot; sent one man to call assistance from the line, and was endeavouring to get a sight of the animal, as the man who remained was pointing out his head, his legs, and his face, but my endeavours were vain. My bad eyes led me into the greatest peril; for finding that I could not see him, I unwisely concluded that he was further off than

my beatee declared, and with my gun cocked, I advanced crouching towards the bush; as I expected to see him through the branches near the ground, which seldom have any foliage, but could not get a glimpse of him; when, lo! as I had just touched the outer sprays, the monster rose not a yard from me, and rushed out with a roar that withdrew all my strength.

"It appeared as if the bush was coming up by the roots; he brushed me in passing, and sprang at my beatee, when, to my astonishment, I witnessed more courage and presence of mind than I ever hope to see again. As the tiger was springing, the man, undismayed, struck at him with his bamboo full in the face, and the tyger turned off. I had neither presence of mind nor

strength to fire, and perhaps it is fortunate I did not. The tiger galloped off, turned about, and then galloped at some distance past us, and in sight of the whole line of baggage. Four men were killed by a tiger on the road, and I have no doubt but it was by this one. You will agree that I had a narrow escape; for it was wonderful that he did not spring on one of us, on first beating the bush; and more wonderful, that he did not paw me in passing, for he actually touched me. The only reason that can be given is, that he must have been gorged. If I had possessed your eyes, I must have killed him; when within two, or even six yards, I could easily have lodged four balls in his head, and I had a brace of pistols to have finished him."

LAWS OF THE ROAD.

Ansando versus Brandon [King's Bench, December 10, 1810.] THE following action of trespass, in which Mr. Bernard Ansando was plaintiff, and a Mr. Brandon, defendant, we lay before our readers, in order that the publick may understand correctly the full extent of that custom, which is now emphatically termed the law of the road. As Mr. Ansando was travelling in his own chaise to his country seat, near Mortlake, on the third of last September, he was encountered with such violence by the defendant driving in a gig, that the shaft of the gig entered the neck of Mr. Ansando's horse; wounded him so desperately, that he died in little more than an hour. Mr. Ansando's coachman and Mr. Brandon were both driving on what is called the wrong side respectively, both having their left hands instead of their right to the centre of the road. It was proved, on the trial, that Brandon must

have seen the other, as it was not then dark, and the coachman swore that he could see one hundred and fifty yards before him, and that the road was wide enough to admit of five or six carriages. Under these circumstances, when the violation of the custom, or law of the road, was attended with no inconvenience, and when Mr. Brandon's gig was almost opposite to the carriage, from some sudden impulse he thought proper to pass over to his own side with such rapidity, that the accident abovementioned was the immediate consequence. The coachman and another witness were cross-examined; but as no contradiction took place, and as counsel for the defendant admitted that he had nothing but circumstantial to oppose to positive evidence, the jury, under the direction of his lordship, gave their verdict for the plaintiff, to the amount

of ninety two guineas, for the horse and other losses with which the accident was attend ed.

An allusion being made to Christian's explanation of the law of the road, as found in his notes on Black

stone, vol. i. cap. 74, lord Ellenborough was pleased to remark, that the custom must not be enforced unnecessarily, or so as to produce inconvenience.

MODERN LINCOLNSHIRE MAGICIAN.

AN ANECDOTE.

THE following most extraordinary event happened in Lincolnshire, in the autumn of 1807, and may be relied on as an absolute fact:

The violence of a fall deprived sir Henry F. of his faculties, and he lay entranced several hours; at length his recollection returned. He faintly exclaimed, "where am I?" and looking up, found himself in the arms of a venerable old man, to whose kind offices sir H. was probably indebted for his life. "You revive," said the venerable old man: "fear not: yonder house is mine: I will support you to it: there you shall be comforted." Sir H. expressed his gratitude; they walked gently to the house. The friendly assistance of the venerable old man and his servants, restored sir H. to his reason. His bewildered faculties were reorganized. At length he suffered no inconvenience, except that occasioned by the bruise he received in the fall. Dinner was announced, and the good, old man entreated sir H. to join the party. He accepted the invitation, and was shown into a large hall, where he found sixteen covers; the party consisted of as many persons-no ladies were present. The old man took the head of the table; an excellent dinner was served, and rational conversation gave a zest to the repast. The gentleman on the left hand of sir H. asked him to drink a glass

of wine, when the old man, in a dignified and authoritative tone, at the same time extending his hand, said, "No!" Sir H. was astonished at the singularity of the check, yet unwilling to offend, remained silent. The instant dinner was over, the old man left the room, when one of the company addressed him in the following words: "By what misfortune, sir, have you been trepanned by that unfeeling man who has quitted the room? O sir! you will have ample cause to curse the fatal hour that put you in his power, for you have no prospect in this world but misery and oppression; perpetually subject to the capricious humour of the old man, you will remain in this mansion the rest of your days; your life, as mine is, will become burdensome; and, driven to despair, your days will glide on, with regret and melancholy, in one cold and miserable mcanness. This, alas! has been my lot for fifteen years; and not mine only, but the lot of every one you see here, since their arrival at this cursed abode !" The pathetick manner that accompanied this cheerless narrative, and the singular behaviour of the old man at dinner, awoke in sir H's breast sentiments of horrour, and he was lost in stupor some minutes; when recovering, he said: "By what authority can any man detain me against my will? I will not submit; I will oppose him by force, if necessary."

"Ah, sir!" exclaimed a second gentleman, "your argument is just, but your threats are vain. The old man, sir, is a magician; we know it by fatal experience; do not be rash, sir, your attempt would prove futile, and your punishment would be dreadful." "I will endeavour to escape," said sir H. "Your hopes are groundless," rejoined a third gentleman; "for it was but six months ago, that, in an attempt to escape, I broke my leg." Another said he had broken his arm, and that many had been killed by falls, in their endeavours to escape; others had suddenly disappeared, and never had been heard of. Sir. H. was about to reply, when a servant entered the room, and said his master wished to see him. " Do not go," said one; "take my advice," said another, "for God's sake do not go." The servant told sir H. he had nothing to fear, and begged

he would follow him to his master. He did so, and found the old man seated at a table covered with a desert and wine. He arose when sir H. entered the room, and asked pardon for the apparent rudeness he was under the necessity of committing at dinner; " for," said he, "I am Dr. Willis; you must have heard of me; I confine my practice entirely to cases of insanity; and, as I board and lodge insane patients, mine is vulgarly called a madhouse. The persons you dined with are madmen. I was unwilling to tell you of this before dinner, fearing it would make you uneasy; for, although I know them to be perfectly harmless, you very naturally might have apprehensions." The surprise of sir H. on hearing this, was great; but, his fears subsiding, the doctor and he passed the evening rationally and agreeably.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

I OFTEN puzzle persons, who in general reason closely, by asking them, why a boat sinks when a hole is made in the bottom?

Many of our readers, from habitually considering this cause and effect as inseparable, will be disposed to smile at the question. I will, however, prove its claim to consideration, by reminding them, that the boat, which sinks when there is a hole in the bottom, is specifically lighter than water; that is, we have in this fact, the philosophical paradox, of a body sinking in a fluid of greater specifick gravity!

The cause is worthy of consideration, because, as boats and marine vessels in general, are of great importance to man, deductions and inferences may arise from its explication, of considerable practical utility. The ship builder and the navigator may avail themselves of it in a way VOL. V.

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which I cannot hastily anticipate; and the principle may, in various respects, prove of consequence to mankind.

In brief then: A boat, or ship, the materials of which are specifically lighter than water, sinks when a hole is made in it below the water, by the pressure of the parts of the vessel which are out of or above the water, upon the parts which are immersed.

This principle being understood, numerous practical inferences flash on the mind; and I shall briefly state those which at this moment occur

to me.

1. When a ship springs a dangerous leak, the true way to prevent her sinking, is to diminish her height, and voluntarily sink all that is possible of her bulk in the water. Whatever belongs to her which is specifically lighter than water, should be cast overboard, without

being detached from the ship's body. The masts should be cut away and fastened alongside, on or under the water. Every thing should be removed which is above the level of the deck; and, if specifically lighter than water, should be fastened to the sides, in, or under the water. The very crew should immerse their bodies to their chins, and nothing should be allowed to remain above the surface, that can be conveniently immersed. Of course, as much iron work, and other bodies specifically heavier than water, as possible, should be detached and thrown overboard. By due attention to this principle, I should presume, a priori, that no ship couid founder simply from a leak, or from filling with

water.

2. With respect to a boat, the principle is the same. If a boat springs a leak, or from any other cause fills with water, the passengers should instantly lie down, and keep nothing but their faces above the water. Every thing heavier than water should be thrown overboard, and nothing be allowed to stand above the level of the water, or on the top of the boat.

3. By attending to the same principle, persons may often avoid being drowned. The total of the human body, in vital action, is specifically lighter than water; a living human body, therefore, will swim in water, provided it is not sunk by parts of it being protruded above the water, which unimmersed parts force down the parts under the water, till the internal cavities fill. If a person who falls into water, holds his breath, till, by the laws of specifick gravity, he rises again to the surface, and then protrudes no part of his body above the surface besides his face, he cannot sink again. But the weight of his arms alone, if protruded out of the water, or even the entire of his head, without appropriate action, will be sufficient to sink him. Men are drowned, and all animals swim,

when thrown into water; simply be cause men are able to raise their fore limbs above their heads, and animals are not able to do so. The animal sinks to the level ascertained by his own specifick gravity, and that of the fluid, which leaves, perhaps, nothing but his nose above the water; and then, to regain the shore, he exerts the same action with his limbs as he does in walking. If men were to remain passive, keep down their hands, trust to the laws of specifick gravity, and put themselves in the attitude of walking, the same results, and the same security, would, in general, be the consequence. Savages swim from their infancy on the same principle; and civilized man may, in this respect, condescend to take a lesson from savage and animal life; or, in other words, from pure nature.

For the present, I am content with having, through your magazine, submitted these ideas to the world, and I leave it to the leisure opportunity, patriotism, or benevolence, of others, to apply them to all their beneficial purposes.

COMMON SENSE.

N. B. It concerns me to observe, by the records of mortality in your magazine, that numerous females were burnt to death during the last winter, notwithstanding I pointed out an infallible means of avoiding such accidents in a former paper. As those means cannot too often be published, I shall remind your readers that they consist simply in the party lying down, as soon as the clothes are discovered to be on fire. A lady's muslin dress, which might take fire at the skirt, would burn from top to bottom, and produce a fatal density of flame in half a mi nute, while she is standing upright; but if she were instantly to lie down, even though she took no pains leisurely to extinguish the flames, ten minutes would elapse before her dress could be consumed, and the

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