Antiquities. THE HEBREW LANGUAGE-VOWEL POINTS. The following original and singular dissertation has been transmitted to us for insertion, in consequence of, and with reference to, some letters and queries on the subject of the Hebrew vowel points, which appeared recently in the Kaleidoscope. It is but justice to inform our readers that the writer is a foreigner, for the peculiarities of whose style of composition some allowance ought to be made. We have preferred following the manuscript literally to entering upon the task of a general revision. The singularity of the composition, and the obvious persuasion of the writer that the history is literally true, will not fail to amuse and interest our readers, who, if their faith is as lively as that of the author, will be astonished at the histo rical information he communicates. From the conversa tion between Adam and the angel, they will learn that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and of heaven and hell, is coeval with the existence of the human race. coeval with the creation, and the former remains still In reply to your correspondent Albert, I beg leave to Writing, according to our author's account, is also much According to our correspondent's account,, the book written by Adam is still preserved, but we are not informed where so rare an antique is to be met with. If our correspondent has not seen that special original, he, however, assures us, that he has inspected a manuscript written by Moses himself; a work which, in the estimation of the antiquarian, must be regarded as the second literary curiosity in the world.-Edit. Kal. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,-Perhaps you will consider it as a very bold enterprize in me, who am but a tradesman, and therefore obliged to apply the greater part of my time to no other use than that of buying and selling, to appear as a correspondent in your paper; but as I have sometimes observed that a rough and uncouth stone is of great use to a skilful architect, in enabling him to proceed with his work, and strengthen his edifice, I hope that you will find a vacancy in your paper for these rough and uncouth lines among the works of your learned correspondents, and that they may be of the same benefit to them as the rough stone is to the builder. I read, in one of your Kaleidoscopes, an answer to a query proposed by your correspondent Albert, who requests a "history of the first adaptation and original use of the Hebrew Vowel Points." This query was answered by two gentlemen; one of whom signs himself One of the Fudge Family, and the other S. M. Mr. Fudge (for so I will call him, for distinction's sake) refers Albert to the Rev. S. L.'s Theological Hebrew Grammar, printed A. M. 5575, and, by the authority of this Rev. Gentleman, divides the vowel points into two different heads, according to the pronunciations of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, and the Polish and German Jews. The latter (the Polish and German pronunciation) seems to be conclude a complete answer to the query of your cor- The third alphabet is similar in size to the second-f an equal number of letters, and name with the other two it is called by the Polish Jews, Gamaschechs; some call in Syriac; it is likewise incapable of admitting points. The characters are never used in print, but only in writings the learned make use of them in writing the real Hebrew, and spell the words according to the original; they a read without any assistance of points or vowels. The s ordinate Jews, (I mean by that those who have no pea knowledge of the Hebrew,) make use of those charact in writing, and communicating in their gibberish language, called Jedish, which is very prevalent in Poland, Germany, and England; and is presumed by most persons to be Hebrew: and as this language is so vulgar and void ef grammatical cultivation, and has no rules for spelling, and the characters being so small, they are therefore incapable of admitting the adaptation of the points: but the necessities of those unlearned persons were such that they were obliged to make four consonants into vowels; and by the assistance of these vowels they make themselve intelligible to each other. The two latter alphabets being read without points haré, therefore, no affinity with the proposed query. I will for this reason desist from making any observations as to their derivation, and leave them as they are; but will proceed to give you a full history of the first alphabet, called Autheoth Marabaath, to which the points are adapted, al they are the chief subject of the present inquiry. I have brought in the two latter alphabets for the sake of expla nation, and to refute the fallacious reasons of your cor respondents Fudge and S. M., as to the incapability of reading the Hebrew without points, as I mean to prove that there are alphabets in the same language which are read without the assistance of points and vowels. The characters of the alphabet called Autheoth Marabaath are the most ancient of any characters that are to be found in the universe, and seem to be the productioni of the same great Master at the time when he taught our first parents the holy language, according to the history given in a very ancient book called Rezeil Haggadool the author of which book was the first man, and he wrous it after his expulsion from Paradise, a copy of which has been preserved, and is to be met with in print; but as this book is so remarkably curious, and scarcely to be met with in this island, I will, as far as the limits of my capacity and recollection will allow me, endeavour to give you an abstract translation, or rather imitation of it, ut given by the author in his preface, which is as follows: "When we were compelled to leave our glorious habi tation, by the force of cherubims, and the horrible fame of the whirling sword that was sent down from heaven fot the purpose of driving us out of Paradise, as well as to guard the tree of life, lest we might taste the fruit of eternity and live for ever, we found ourselves plac in the outside of the garden, along the bank of the river Euphrates, in a very fatigued state, when we fixed our eyes retrospectively to take the last view of our happy place, and for ever to bid adieu to the bower where we used to pass our happy time. We were astonished and disappointed, owing to a thick mist ascending fro the ground, like a cloud, so thick that our eyes were incapable of penetrating through it, as if we were not worthy even to enjoy the sight of the place of our form happiness. This gloomy prospect filled my imagination with melancholy thoughts, so that I began to reflect of our former happiness, and to feel the loss of it. We co sidered also the great sin which we had committed, and hich was the cause of our misery. When I was thus musing with myself I recited in a loud soliloquy that dreadful doom which was passed upon me by the Almighty, vil that I must till the ground, and thorns and thistles shall be the produce of my labour; bread shall cost me th sweat of my brow; and unto dust I must return, as I am dust. Here I paused to consider the last sentence, which appeared to me the most severe. • What (said I) is it possible that I who am the glory of all the living creatures the earth,-am I to become dust? And my limbs, than he is immediately seized by Satan, who laid in wait, doubt was as to the final letters-I may (I think) infer dmy whole fabric, shall they crumble at once into dust, for his arrival, and accompanied by his infernal legions, who from this, first, that the points are not coeval with the Komix with the common mass upon which I now trample? drag him, without mercy, into the dark and horrible place, language, or letters; next, as the law which was given that what a miserable being am I! Cruel serpent, thou art there to suffer eternal misery. Adam! I have thus shown by the Almighty was written in the same letters as those cause of all my sufferings -This swelled my heart thee that man is not entirely excluded from the pleasures of the tables of stone, (as it is expressed in Exodus, chapmth sorrow and repentance: I burst into tears, and wept of eternity, but that he has it in his own power to enjoy ter 24, and verse 12,) that the law, as well as the com merly; my head grew giddy, and my strength left me, the blessings thereof, according to his merits; be therefore mandments, were written by the Almighty, and likewise Aw that I fainted away, and fell to the ground on my cheerful, and walk in the right way, that thou mayest be- the language as well as the letters were the production of When I thus lay in the deepest affliction, I felt my come an heir of eternity.' Here the angel ended his the same great Master. I mentioned that there is another ength restored by the touch of one who I afterwards dis- words, and ascended up to heaven. These happy tidings proof to be brought forward that the points are not coeval bergered to be an angel, who stood before me, and accosted dispelled my melancholy, and filled my heart with glad- with the language, from the last verse, in the 324 chapter me in the following words :—' Adam! arise from the dust, ness, so that the tears of affliction were turned into those of Deuteronomy, that Moses wrote the law, and gave it to byta ad receive consolation. The Lord has seen thy tears of of joy, and I again fell on my face and returned thanks to the priests that bore the ark of the covenant, to be preand affliction; and thy repentance came before his the Almighty."-It would be very tedious to proceed any served and read every year before the congregation. It is be: he, therefore, ordered me down from his celestial further with the translation, as it would contain a whole well known that the Jews are very exact in preserving the gions, to be thy counsellor, and to show thee the right volume; but I cannot omit the sequel of the author's pre- | holy writ; and for this reason they have the law of Moses in which thou shouldest walk. Be, therefore, com- face, who tells us that he wrote the book, which he calls written on parchment, and rolled up in the same manner vated, and do not despair; for, though no human being Reziel, by the instruction of an angel, who visited him in which it was given by Moses to the priests; they are enter into this place in his mortal shape, yet there is several times after the first vision, and that he wrote it for even so careful as not to alter the shape of a letter, even me eternal bliss provided for the righteous soul to arrive the benefit of his posterity; and that for this reason he the least blot pollutes it, so that they dare not read it in after the dust is shaken off by the touch of death, and called the book Reziel, after the name of the angel who the Synagogue; and such is that which they read thrice a turned into its former substance. I also inform thee that visited him. week in the present day, and this is written without points, de treis an immortal being lodged in thy bosom, and de- From the history which I have thus introduced, it is It therefore shows, very plainly, that the original was Cited to thy care: this is the living soul, which the su- evident that letters must have existed in the beginning of without points, because points were not known at that vreme Being breathed into thy nostrils, after he formed the creation, by the use of which the first man was enabled time. I will likewise show, that even in a later period, isee out of the dust. The soul will never die; but, after to write the abovementioned book; and as this book is to namely, in the reign of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, that aving the body, there are two places, either of which is be found only in the square letters and without points, it the points had no existence; this I can prove again in the epared for the reception of it, which differ, one from the is fairly presumed that these letters were in the beginning, book of Esther, of which the Jews have preserved an her, as much as light does from darkness. One is the in which he wrote the book which is now extant. There exact copy, from the original by Mordecai; also written Hestial bliss I mentioned, which is prepared for the souls is another proof to be drawn that Adam must have been on parchment and rolled up; this is what they read in the the righteous; and the other is a dark horrible place, skilled in writing, nay, even in the art of poetry, as he Synagogue on Hammon's Feast; it is also without points. there the souls of the wicked are compelled to enter. There was the author of several chapters in the Psalms, accord- I can also prove, from my own experience, that the points re also two different ways, which lead to either of those ing to the notions of several commentators on them, see and vowels are not coeval with the language. There is a places: the former is called good, or right, which leads Rashey and Radarck. But as there is no positive proof remainder of the sect of the Sadducees, by whom the law to the happy place: the latter is called bad, or evil, that of the book I have referred to being written by Adam, as of Moses has been very carefully preserved. They know leads to the horrible place of misery. There are also dif- it is scarcely to be met with in this country, and if it were nothing about points, even in the present day. They re erent names given to the men who go in either of these even to be had, it might be looked upon rather as a fabri- side in the city called Halitz, situated on the river Dneispays. He who walks in the good or right way is called a cation than as truth; I design therefore to prove my ar- ter, now under the Austrian Government. When I was god or righteous man; and he who goes in the bad or gument by referring to the Holy Bible, and likewise to there, I had an interview with their priest. I asked him to Fil way is called a bad or evil man. As I was sent down the Talmud. In the Bible I refer you to Exodus, chap. show me the law of Moses, he was so kind as to grant my the purpose of showing thee the way in which thou 24, and verse 12, where you will find these words: "And request, he went with me to their Synagogue, and showed guldest walk, I will give thee some rules previous to my the Lord said unto Moses, come up to me in the mount, it to me, preserved in the same manner as that of the inting out to thee the right way. I must also caution and be there, and I will give thee tables of stone, and the Jews, written on parchment, and rolled up in the same whenever thou art in the right way never to turn either law and the commandments, which I have written, that form. After I had perused several chapters, I did not the right hand or to the left, because every deviation thou mayest teach them." Again, chap. 32, and verses perceive any difference from that of the Jews, either in bring thee into the way of evil; and, as this way is 15 and 16: "And Moses turned and went down from the writing or spelling. When I saw that there were no points st, it will therefore be very perplexing for thee to find mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his annexed to the letters, I then asked the priest whether be right way again. These are the two ways, in one of hand; the tables were written on both their sides, and the knew of such things as points or vowels? he replied in the rich, every man, hereafter (as well as thou) must walk, writing was the work of God, written upon the tables."negative. I solicited of him the kindness to read a verse the time he begins to sojourn upon the earth until his Likewise see chap. 34, and verse 1; and likewise Deu- or two, that I might hear the pronunciation; he complied val at one of those places which I mentioned, accord-teronomy, chap. 81, and verse 9; and in the same chapter, with my solicitation, and read several verses, by which I to his deserts. The will is given to thee as well as to and verse 29, you will find that Moses wrote a song, and found that the Spanish and Portuguese Jews are more corposterity; but, as I told thee the consequence of both taught it to the children of Israel." From the passages rect in their pronunciation than the Polish and German. thou wilt know how to shun the way of evil, and I have quoted it is evident, first, that on the two tables This sect never make use of printing, and know nothing in the right way. I must also inform thee that which Moses received from the Almighty were written the of the other two alphabets I mentioned. vays meet together at the end: they are measured by ten commandments, on both sides, by God; but now comes thread of life, and reach no further than the end of it. the question, in what language and letters were they is also, at the end, an immense gate, called death, written? As to the language, I think I have proved the following inscription on its portals :-Stop, this already, in the abovementioned references, that not only the end of all thy ways. This shows that both ways are the commandments, but the whole Bible was written in ading to the same point where the gate is erected. It Hebrew; and as for the letters, or characters, there is a therefore, to be understood, that it makes no difference dissertation in the Talmud Babylonian, containing a long ay the man has chosen for his walk of life, as either debate among the Rabbis, whether the five final letters brings him at last to the same spot, where he meets were written on the tables of stone, or not. Some bring ; so that the man may walk in either way, but no proof that the Hebrew contained, only twenty-two letters ther than is assigned him by the breath of life; and, in the time of Moses; and, according to their argument, son as he reaches the end of it the gates fly open, and there were no final letters on the tables of stone, but that mediately he enters. Now, after he enters the gate, they were introduced afterwards by the prophets. Others ything depends upon the way which he had walked (of the Rabbis) prove that the final letters are coeval with fore death. If he walked in the right way, so soon as he the rest; but they conclude at last and agree altogether fers the gate he is guarded by an archangel, and at that such were written on the tables of stone, and were ded by a train of celestial hosts, who waited on purpose coeval with the rest, but that they were forgotten, and Welcome his access, and, amidst a number of angelic again revived by the prophets. According to their arguons, with heavenly joy he is conveyed to his respectivements, it is almost asserted that only the square letters ce, which is provided for his eternal bliss: but, if he were written upon the tables of stone, and therefore that walked in the evil way, he no sooner enters the gate points and vowels had no existence at that time: the only I think that I have given sufficient proofs from which we may draw the following inferences. First, that the points have not been adapted to the language from the be ginning; secondly, that they are not so ancient as the time of Mordecai and Esther, which is 353 years before the Christain era; nor are they so old as the Talmud, which is five centuries after the Christian era; because, if they were then known, and were essential to the letters, or Mosaic law, the Jewish doctrine would have been more perplexing than it is at present; thirdly, that the letters can be read without points, (as they are, independent of the learned.) It only remains to answer the reasons given by your cor respondents Fudge and S. M. for their utility and primi tive adaptation to the consonants, as well as to satisfy your correspondent Albert. As for the reason given by Mr. Fudge, "that a consonant without a vowel is like a body without life," I beg leave to inform him that there is a difference between these holy consonants and all others; the others are an invention. of mortals, but the Hebrew letters were written by the Almighty; they have, therefore, a pre-eminence to show that they are life and spirit, moveable and utterable by Having given you, Mr. Editor, my opinion on the subject, I will thank you to insert it in your miscellany, hoping that it will be of service to your correspondent Albert, and likewise to Mr. Fudge, S. M., and others of your correspondents. BEN ADAM. SIR,-In reply to the letter on this subject, in the last Kaleidoscope, I have to inform J. B. that he is mistaken when he supposes that I cannot understand his arguments: I am quite aware of their subtilty, fallacious plausibility, and inconsistency with the principles of the game. He first argues that the king, in the original position, may To Correspondents. CHESS CONTROVERSY.We have been favoured with a let from An Old Correspondent, espousing the side of the controversy, as that advocated by W. C. An Old Cor dent, whose letter we regret to postpone until next ye asserts, most confidently, that J. B. is decidedly w "Nous verrons." SIR WALTER SCOTT'S MEMOIR OF THE DUKE OF YO thank 4 Reader for his suggestion, and shall immediat peruse the sketch, which is now, however, before the London Courier; and if it will gratify our reader shall have a place in the next Kaleidoscope. We have further to acknowledge A. F. D.-W.F SUPPLEMENT TO THE KALEIDOSCOPE. Our readers, whe NEW HOME ESTABLISHMENT. In reply to a Co-operatin have to inform him, the interesting account of the operative Establishment in Jersey, shall be given in Kalciodosope. Iron Mask is informed that we are not in the habit of s METEOROLOGICAL REMARKS FOR 1826.-It is our intenti Peregrine shall be attended to. E OR, Literary and Scientific Mirror. "UTILE DULCI." This familiar Miscellany, from which all religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending Literature, CRITICISM, MEN and MANNERS, AMUSEMENT, elegant EXTRACTS, POETRY, ANECdotes, Biography, MeteorOLOGY, the DRAMA, ARTS and SCIENCES, WIT and SATIRE, Fashions, Natural HISTORY, &c. forming handsome ANNUAL VOLUME, with an INDEX and TITLE-PAGE. Its circulation renders it a most eligible medium for Advertisements. No. 343.-Vol. VII. The Bouquet. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1827. PRICE 30. had, at last, come to regard her pretty much as a prime | I cannot tell, unless she might happen to have her attenhave here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have minister may look on an opposition leader,-as a regular tion engrossed by Edward's father. For certain, that opponent, an obstacle to be put down, or swept away. original paid her, in his odd way, great attention; was brought nothing of my own but the thread that ties them." MONTAIGNE. MY GODFATHER'S MANŒUVRING. BY MISS M. RUSSEL MITFORD. [From the Magnet.] I verily believe that he hated her as much as his kindly her constant beau in our walking parties; sate by her side at dinner; and manœuvred to get her for his partner at whist. She had the benefit of his best bon-mots, and his loudest laughs; and she seemed to me not to dislike that portentous sound, so much as might have been expected I have said that my dear godfather was a great match-gouvernante; more especially, as, without her aid, it was from a lady of her particularity. I ventured to hint my maker. One of his exploits in this way, which occurred morally certain that the pretty Lucy would never have observations to Mr. Evelyn, who chuckled, laid his foreduring my second visit to him and Mrs. Evelyn, I am had the heart to say no to any body. finger against his nose, rubbed his hands, and called me * now about to relate. Amongst the many distant cousins Ever since Miss Hervey was seventeen, my dear god-a simpleton. Affairs were in this position, when, one to whom I was introduced in that northern region, was a papa had been scheming for her advantage. It was quite night, just at going to bed, my good godfather, with a young kinswoman of the name of Hervey-Lucy Hervey, melancholy to hear him count up the husbands she might little air of mystery, (no uncommon preparation to his an orphan heiress of considerable fortune, who lived in have had,-beginning with the Duke's son, her partner most trifling plans,) made an appointment to walk with the same town and the same street with my godfather, at the first race-ball,—and ending with the young newly-me before breakfast, as far as a pet farm, about a mile out under the protection of a lady who had been the governess arrived physician, his last protegé: Now," he said, "she of the town, the superintendence of which was one of his of her childhood, and continued with her as the friend of might die an old maid; he had done with her." And greatest amusements. Early the next morning, the househer youth. Sooth to say, their friendship was of that there did actually appear to be a cessation of all his matri- maid, who usually attended me, made her appearance, and tender and sentimental sort at which the world, the wicked monial plans in that quarter. Miss Reid herself laid aside told me that her master was waiting for me, that I must make world, is so naughty as to laugh. Miss Reid and Miss her mistrust of him; and a truce, if not a peace, was haste, and that he desired I would be smart, as he expected Hervey were names quite as inseparable as goose and tacitly concluded between these sturdy antagonists. Mr. a party to breakfast at the farm. This sort of injunction is apple-sauce, or tongue and chicken. They regularly made Evelyn seemed to have given up the game-a strange seldom thrown away on a damsel of eighteen; accordingtheir appearance together, and there would have appeared thing for him to do whilst he had a pawn left! But so it ly, I adjusted, with all despatch, a new blue silk pelisse, I know not what of impropriety in speaking of either was. His adversary had the board all to herself; and and sallied forth into the corridor, which I had heard him singly; it would have looked like a tearing asunder of the was in as good humour as a winning player generally is. pacing as impatiently as might be. There, to my no small double cherry," respecting which, in their case, even Miss Reid was never remembered so amiable. We saw consternation, instead of the usual gallant compliments of “seeming parted" would have been held too disjunc- them almost every day, as the fashion is amongst neigh. the most gallant of godfathers, I was received with very tive a phrase, so tender and inseparable was their union; bours, in small towns, and used to ride and walk together disapproving glances, told that I looked like an old woalthough, as far as resemblance went, no simile could be continually-although Lucy, whose health was delicate, man in that dowdy-coloured pelisse, and he conjured me more inapplicable. Never were two people more unlike frequently declined accompanying us on our more distant to exchange it for a white gown. Half affronted, I neverin mind and person. Lucy Hervey was a pretty little excursions. Our usual beau, besides the dear godpapa, theless obeyed; doffed the pelisse, and donned the white Woman of six and twenty; but, from a delicate figure, was a Mr. Morris, the curate of the parish-an uncouth, gown, as ordered: and being greeted at this time with a ate features, and a most delicate complexion, looking gawky, lengthy man, with an astonishing Westmorland bright smile and a chuck under the chin, we set out in uch younger. Perhaps the total absence of strong ex-dialect, and a most portentous laugh. Really his-ha! ha! high good humour on our expedition. Instead, however, pression, the mildness and simplicity of her countenance, was quite a shock to the nerves-a sort of oral shower- of proceeding straight to the farm, Mr. Evelyn made a and the artlessness and docility of her manner, might con- bath; so sudden and so startling was the explosion. In slight deviation from our course, turning down the marJuce to the mistake. She was a sweet gentle creature, loudness, it resembled half a dozen ordinary laughs ket-place, and into the warehouse of a certain Mrs. Benerous and affectionate, and not wanting in sense, "rolled into one;" and, as the gentleman was of a face- net, a milliner and mantua-maker, a dashing, over-dressed though her entire reliance on her friend's judgment, and tious disposition, and chorused his own good things, as dame, who presided over the fashions for ten miles round, Constant habit of obedience to her wishes, rendered the well as those of other people, with his awful cachinnation, and marshalled a counter full of caps and bonnets at one of it somewhat rare. Miss Reid was a tall awkward it was no joking matter. But he was so excellent a per- side of the shop, whilst her husband, an obsequious, bowwoman, raw-boned, lank, and huge, just what one fancies son, so cordial, so jovial, so simple-hearted, and so con- ing, civil tradesman, dealt out gloves and stockings at the would be in petticoats; with a face that, except the tented with a lot none of the most prosperous, that one other. A little dark parlour behind was common to both. bard (certainly she had no beard) might have favoured could not help liking him, laugh and all. He was a Into this den was I ushered; and Mrs. Bennet, with the supposition; so brown, and bony, and stern, and ill-widower, with one only son, a Cambridge scholar, of whom many apologies, began, at a signal from my godfather, to voured was her unfortunate visage. In one point she he was deservedly proud. Edward Morris, besides his divest me of all my superfluous blueness, silk handkeras lucky. There was no guessing at her age, certainly chief, sash, and wrist-ribands, (for, with the constancy pot within ten years, nor within twenty. She looked old; which is born of opposition, I had, in relinquishing my but with that figure, those features, and that complexion, obnoxious pelisse, clung firmly to the obnoxious colour,) the must have looked old at eighteen. To guess her age replacing them by satin ribands and a beautiful white as impossible. Her voice was deep and dictatorial; her shawl; and, finally, exchanging my straw bonnet for one Runner rough and assuming; and her conversation unof white silk, with a deep lace veil-that piece of delicate mercifully sensible and oracular—“ full of wise saws and finery which all women delight in. Dodern instances." For the rest, in spite of her unauspicious exterior, she was a good sort of a disagreeable oman; charitable and kind in her way; genuinely fond of Lucy Hervey, whom she petted, and scolded, and coaxed, and managed just as a nurse manages a child; and lerably well liked of all her acquaintance, except Mr. Evelyn, who had been at war with her for the last nine Fears, on the subject of his fair cousin's marriage; and academical honours, (I think he had been senior wrangler While I was now admiring the richness of the genuine Brussels point, and now looking at myself in a little glass, which Mrs. Bennet was holding to my face, for the better display of her millinery (the bonnet, to do her justice, was pretty and becoming) during this engrossing contemplation, her smooth silky husband crept behind me with the stealthy pace of a cat, and relying, as it seems, on my preoccupation, actually drew my York-tan gloves from my astonished hands, and substituted a pair of his own best white kid. This operation being completed, my godpapa, putting his fore finger to his lip, in token of secrecy, hurried me, with a look of great triumph, from the shop. He walked at a rapid pace; and, between quick motion and amazement, I was too much out of breath to utter a word till we had passed the old Gothic castle at the end of the town, and crossed the long bridge that spans its wide and winding river. I then rained questions on my dear old friend, who chuckled and nodded, and vented two or three half laughs, but vouchsafed nothing tending to a reply. At length we came to a spot where the road turned suddenly to the left, (the way to the farm) whilst, right before us rose a knoll, on which stood the church, a large, heavy, massive building, almost a cathedral, finely relieved by the range of woody hills which shut in the landscape. A turning gate, with a tall straight cypress on either side, led into the churchyard, and through this gate Mr. Evelyn passed. The church door was a little a-jar, and through the crevice was seen peeping the long red nose of the old clerk, a Bardolphian personage, to whom my godfather, who loved to oblige people in their own way, sometimes did the questionable service of clearing off his score at the Greyhound. His red nose and a skirt of his shabby black coat peeped through the porch, whilst behind one of the buttresses glimmered, for an instant, the white drapery of a female figure. I did not need these indications to convince me that a wedding was the object in view: that had been certain from the first cashiering of my blue ribands; but I was still at a loss as to the parties, and felt quite relieved by Mr. Evelyn's question, Pray, my dear, were you ever a bride's-maid ?" since, in the extremity of my perplexity, I had something like an impression that an unknown beau might appear at the call of this mighty manager, and I be destined to play the part of bride myself. Comforted to find that I was only to enact the confidante, I had now leisure to be extremely curious as to the prima donna. My curiosity was speedily gratified. 66 happy as people usually are in this work-a-day world, Biographical plotices. HIS LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK. stable. (From the Edinburgh Weekly Journal.) In the person of his Royal Highness the Duke of York we may justly say, in the language of Scripture, "there has fallen this day in our Israel a Prince and a great man.' He has, from an early period of his manhood, performed a most important part in public life. In the early wars of the French Revolution he commanded the British forces on the Continent, and, although we claim not for his memory the admiration due to the rare and high gifts, which in our latter times must combine to form a military genius of the first order, yet it has never been disputed that in the field his Royal Highness displayed intelligence, military skill, and his family attribute-the most unalterable courage. He had also the universal testimony of the army for his efforts to lessen the distresses of the privates, during the horrors of an unsuccessful campaign, in which he acquired, and kept to his death, the epithet of the Soldier's Friend. But it is not on account of those early services that we forward the late Duke of York's claims to the perpetual now, as boldly as our poor voice may, venture to bring gratitude of his country; it is as the reformer and regenerator of the British army, which he brought from a state nearly allied to general contempt, to such a pitch of for them an equality with, if not a superiority over, any excellence, that we may, without much hesitation, claim troops in Europe. The Duke of York had the firmness to look into and examine the causes, which, ever since the On entering the church we had found only a neighbour- American war, though arising out of circumstances existing ing clergyman, not Mr. Morris, at the altar; and, looking long before, had gone as far to destroy the character of the British round at the opening of another door, I perceived the is composed would permit. The heart must have been army, as the naturally good materials of which it worthy curate, in a jetty clerical suit, bristling with new-bold that it did not despair at the sight of such an Augean ness, leading Miss Reid, beflounced and bescarfed, and beveiled and beplumed, and all in a flutter of bridal finery, in great style, up the aisle. Mr. Evelyn advanced to meet them, took the lady's fair hand from Mr. Morris, and led her along with all the grace of an old courtier. I fell into the procession at the proper place; the amiable pair were duly married, and I thought my office over. I was never more mistaken in my life. In the midst of the customary confusion of kissing and wishing joy, and writing and signing registers and certificates, which form so important and disagreeable a part of that disagreeable and important ceremony, Mr. Evelyn had vanished, and just as the bride was inquiring for him, with the intention of leaving the church, he re-appeared, through the very same sidedoor which had admitted the first happy couple, leading Lucy Hervey, and followed by Edward Morris. The father evidently expected them; the new stepmother as evidently did not. Never did a thief, taken in the manner, seem more astonished than that sage gouvernante! Lucy, on her part, blushed and hung back, and looked shier and prettier than ever; the old clerk grinned; the clergyman, who had shown some symptoms of astonishment at the first wedding, now smiled to Mr. Evelyn, as if this accounted and made amends for it, whilst the dear godpapa himself chuckled and nodded, and rubbed his hands, and chucked both bride and bride's-maid under the chin, and seemed ready to cut capers for joy. Again the book was opened at the page of destiny, again I held the milk white glove, and after nine years of unsuccessful manoeuvering, my cousin Lucy was married. It was, undoubtedly, the most triumphant event in the good old man's life; and I don't believe that either couple ever saw cause to regret the dexterity in the art of match-making which produced their double union. They have been as In the first place, our system of purchasing commissions, itself an evil in a military point of view, and yet stretched so far as to open the way to every sort of abuse. indispensible to the freedom of the country, had been No science was required, no service, no previous experience whatsoever; the boy let loose from school the last week, might, in the course of a month, be a field officer, fuence. Others there were, against whom there could be if his friends were disposed to be liberal of money and inno complaint for want of length of service, although it might be difficult to see how their experience was improved by it. It was no uncommon thing for a commission to be obtained for a child in the cradle; and, when he came of some standing, by dint of fair promotion. To sum from college, the fortunate youth was at least a lieutenant up this catalogue of abuses, commissions were in some instances bestowed upon young ladies, when pensions could not be had. We know ourselves one fair dame who drew the pay of captain in the dragoons, and was probably not much less fit for the service than some who, at that period, actually did duty; for, as we have said, no knowledge of any kind was demanded from the young officers. If they desired to improve themselves in the elemental parts of their profession, there were no means open either of direction or of instruction. But as a zeal for knowledge advantage, the gay young men who adopted the military rarely exists where its attainment brings no credit or profession, were easily led into the fashion of thinking that it was pedantry to be master even of the routine of the exercise which they were obliged to perform. An incommand, which his captain would have been ashamed telligent sergeant whispered from time to time the word of to have known without prompting; and thus the duty of the field-day was huddled over rather than performed. It was natural, under such circumstances, that the pleasures of the mess, or of the card or billiard table, should occupy perform, and that extravagance, with all its disreputable too much of the leisure of those who had so few duties to consequences, should be the characteristic of many, while others, despairing of promotion, which could only be ac quired by money or influence, sunk into mere machines, performing without hope or heart, a task which they had learned by rote. To this state of things, by a succession of well-considered and effectual regulations, the Duke of York put a stop, with a firm, yet gentle hand. Terms of service were fixed for every rank, and neither influence nor money was per mitted to force any individual forward, until he had served the necessary time in the present grade which he held. X rank short of that of the Duke of York; no courage and determination, inferior to that of his Royal Highness, could have accomplished a change so important to the service, but which yet was so unfavourable to the wealthy and to the powerful, whose children and protegés had formerly found a brief way to promotion. Thus a protee tion was afforded to those officers who could only hope to rise by merit and length of service, while, at the same time, the young aspirant was compelled to discharge the duties of a subaltern before attaining the higher courssions. In other respects, the influence of the Commander-aChief was found to have the same gradual and meliorsing influence. The vicissitudes of real service, and the enter gencies to which individuals are exposed, began to render ignorance unfashionable, as it was speedily found that for the extrication of those engaged in them; and that miere valour, however fiery, was unable, on such occasions, they who knew their duty and discharged it, were not only most secure of victory and safety in action, but most dis tinguished at head-quarters, and most certain of promotica. Thus, a taste for studying mathematics, and calculations applicable to war, was gradually introduced into the army, and carried by some officers to a great length, while a perfect acquaintance with the routine of the field day was positively demanded from each officer in the service as an indispensible qualification His Royal Highness also introduced a species of marl the highest consequences on their character. Persons of discipline among the officers of our army, which has had the old school of Captain Plume and Captain Bram, men who swore hard, drank deep, bilked tradesmen, and plucked pigeons, were no longer allowed to arrogate a and ready swords. If a tradesman, whose bill was character which they could only support by deep oaths paid by an officer, thought proper to apply to the Horse Guards, the debtor received a letter from head-quarters, requiring to know if there existed any objections to the account, and failing in rendering a satisfactory answer, be fied. Repeated applications of this kind might endanger was put on stoppages until the creditor's demand was sans the officer's commission, which was then sold for the pay ment of his creditors. Other moral delinquencies we the same time adverted to; and, without maintaining inquisitorial strictness over the officers, or taking too de plaint of any kind, implying a departure from the charac inspection of the mere gaieties and follies of youth, a cou ter of a gentleman and a man of honour, was instanty inquired into by the Commander-in-Chief, and the deli quent censured or punished as the case seemed to reque an indulgent father, who, willing to promote me The army was thus, like a family, under the protection of checks, with a timely frown, the temptation to licet and extravagance. The private soldiers equally engaged the attention his Royal Highness. In the course of his superintend Europe, was altered for one easy and comfortable for ence of the army, a military dress, the most absurd men, and suitable to the hardships they are exposed in actual service. The severe and vexatious rules exac about the tying of hair, and other trifling puncta (which had been found sometimes to goad troops mutiny) were abolished, and strict cleanliness was s stituted for a Hottentot head-dress of tallow and flour The pay of the soldier was augmented, while care was the same time taken, that it should, as far as possible, expended in bettering his food and extending his forts. The slightest complaint on the part of a priva preferred by a general officer. Lastly, the use of the ca sentinel, was as regularly inquired into as if it had te (a brutal practice, which our officers borrowed from Germans) was entirely prohibited, and regular corpora punishments, by the sentence of a court martial, bat been gradually diminished. information, a more regular course of study, a deeper |