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monuments, by which the name of Cuvier will be handed down to the latest posterity."

None were better qualified than Cuvier, to succeed to the vacant chair, which D'Aubenton had filled in the College de France, and to which the former was appointed in the year 1800. His merits now attracted the notice of Napoleon, who called him to a seat in the department of Public Instruction, where he was successively intrusted with the most responsible duties, and, by his talent, activity, and application, effected several highly beneficial reforms. In 1811, we find him charged with the important duty of locally examining into, and reporting upon the state of education, particularly of the middling and lower classes, in Germany and Holland; and, two years afterwards, his imperial patron appointed him Maitre des Requêtes in his privy council, in which capacity he was sent on a most important mission to Mayence.

At the restoration of the Bourbons, Cuvier was confirmed by Louis XVIII. in the various dignities, which he had held under his predecessor; and not only so, but he was appointed councillor of state, and, as such, was first employed in the committee of legislation, and afterwards in that of internal affairs. He continued, during the reign of Charles X. and the present sovereign to devote himself, in high stations, to the service of his country, in the arduous character of a public servant, a man of first-rate scientific attainments, and an indefatigable devotee to his favourite pursuit, both as a writer and a professor. In fact, at the very hour of his lamented decease, which took place on the 15th ult. he held the various appointments of privy councillor, member of the Royal Council for Public Education, perpetual secretary of the Academy of Sciences, and Member of the French Academy.

The industry of Cuvier was almost as wonderful as his genius. The list of his writings is really astonishing. In the Index to the first twenty volumes of the "Annals of the Museum of Natural History," the titles of the various articles which he contributed, many of which are of considerable length, occupy several closely printed quarto columns. To the "Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences" he was an almost liberal contributor. Many of these essays contain the most valuable suggestions and discoveries, and several have been incorporated in the larger separate works which he published on the subjects of his studies. Of these, one of the most important is his excellent "Essay on the Mineralogical Geography of Paris," which he wrote in conjunction with Alexander Brongniart, and published in 1811. The "basins" of London and Paris are now, to the geological student, what the auxiliary verbs are to the learners of grammar-the forms which he studies with the very rudiments of the science, in order to see exemplified its more general maxims, and to compare with them whatever he meets on his further progress. That the capital of France shares this honour with the capital of England, that country may in a great measure ascribe to Cuvier.

But a more important work, and one of which Cuvier has the undivided glory, is the celebrated Researches on Fossil Bones," which he published in four volumes quarto, in 1812, and to which he afterwards added a fifth. This is the work which definitely placed him at the head of the naturalists of Europe. It has been justly deemed one of the greatest advances in science on which this country can pride itself, that a naturalist can now, on the discovery of a fossil tooth, merely by the examination of that seemingly unimportant relic, pronounce with certainty on the nature of the animal to which it belonged, the distinguishing features of its structure, and even the prominent characteristics of its nature and habits. That this has been done, and that too with animals which, like the mammoth and the maslodon, have long disappeared from the face of the earth, that we have been enabled to form in part a natural history of the world before the creation of man -we owe chiefly to Cuvier. The discovery of a few bones, which to our ancestors would merely have seemed the testimonies of the reality of the existence of giants in the "good old days of Palmerin in England," and "Amadis of Gaul," has led in our times to an extension of the authentic history of nature, which we could hardly blame those who lived fifty or sixty years ago for regarding as wholly impossible.

Another work of Cuvier's, of the first importance, is "The Animal Kingdom," in four volumes octavo, in 1817. In this work Cuvier has done for animals what Linnæus, or rather Jussieu, did for plants. By an exact classification of them according to their nature, he has at once facilitated the study and the recollection of their structure and their habits. The publication of this work constituted an era in the fascinating science to which it belongs, and from its being the first work to which students in general apply, it is, perhaps, still more extensively known than any of Cuvier's other contributions to the progress of knowledge. It is a model of scientific compression and exactness.

Towards the end of 1829, Cuvier, in conjunction with Valenciennes commenced the publication of a "Natural History of Fishes," to extend to from fifteen to twenty volumes octavo, or or from eight to ten in quarto. This department of natural history has, in comparison with others, been so much neglected, that a work on it from the hand of Cuvier, who stated in his preface that for twenty years he had given his almost constant attention to its preparation, was hailed with an unanimous welcome, and the first volumes of it which appeared, were at once pronounced equal to the reputation of the author, and the expectations of the world of science.

Hitherto we have merely mentioned those works, (and of these but a selection,) in which Cuvier appears as the man of scientific research, but he is also distinguished in another character as the scientific historian. In all of his publications he devotes part of his labour to retracing the progress of the science which he is illustrating; and he has likewise published separate works on this interesting subject. His panegyrics on the deceased members of the academy of which he was secretary were collected and published in two volumes, octavo; to an edition of the works of Buffon, which he superintended, he added a History of the Progress of the Study of Nature, from 1789 downwards; and just before the memorable revolution of 1830, he had commenced, at the College of France, a course of Lectures on the History of the Natural Sciences, which were to trace it from the earliest records down to the present day.

From the first moment of the attack, which carried off this celebrated naturalist in the brief space of a week, Cuvier was sensible of the danger which menaced him, and he repeatedly dwelt upon his approaching death when conversing with the friends around him. Even when hopes of recovery were held out to him by his medical attendants, he would not suffer himself to be lulled into false security, but observed—“ I am too well acquainted with anatomy not to form a correct judgment as to my danger; my spinal marrow is attacked; and I shall not live four and twenty hours longer." So lamentable a change had indeed, been wrought in his features, that, within a space of two days only, he appeared to have grown older by full ten years. An hour before his death, an attempt, which he at first resisted, was made to relieve him." You are going to torture me to no purpose," said the dying man; "no human aid can avail me. My last hour is come.' A painful operation was, however, performed, and it was scarce over, before this illustrious individual was no more? He was borne to his last home on the 17th ult. with every mark of honour, no less than heartfelt grief, which public gratitude and private esteem could bestow.

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Since the death of Cuvier, his merits seem to have become still more generally recognized in France than they were during his life time, when the conduct of the politician had caused many to forget the merits of the naturalist. The King of the French has conferred on his widow the highest pension, 6000 francs a-year, which he has it in his power to bestow, and a public subscription is spoken of to raise a monument to his memory. His death seems to have created as great a sensation as that of the premier, (of whom France was deprived in the same week,) and the loss of Cuvier is deplored as the loss of one who cannot be replaced.

INDIAN SPORTS.

In a late number we presented our readers with an account of Life in Calcutta, from the lively volume of Capt. Mundy, we now beg leave to give another illustration of Eastern Sports:

"Early in the morning the whole party, including ladies, eager for the novel spectacle, mounted elephants, and repaired to the private gate of the royal palace, where the king met the commander-in-chief, and conducted him and his company to a palace in the park, in one of the courts of which the arena for the combats was prepared. In the centre was erected a gigantic cage of strong bamboos, about fifty feet high, and of like diameter, and roofed with rope network. Sundry smaller cells, communicating by sliding doors with the main theatre, were tenanted by every species of the savagest inhabitants of the forest. In the large

cage, crowded together, and presenting a formidable front of broad, shaggy foreheads well armed with horns, stood a group of buffaloes sternly awaiting the conflict, with their rear scientifically appuye against the bamboos.

"The trap-doors being lifted, two tigers, and the same number of bears and leopards, rushed into the centre. The buffaloes instantly commenced hostilities, and made complete shuttlecocks of the bears, who however, finally escaped by climbing up the bamboos beyond the reach of their horned antagonists. The tigers, one of which was a beautiful animal, fared scarcely better; indeed, the odds were much against them, there being five buffaloes. They appeared, however, to be no match for these powerful creatures even single-handed, and showed little disposition to be the assaulters. The larger tiger was much gored in the head, and in return took a mouthful of his enemy's dewlap, but was finally (as the fancy would describe it) bored to the ropes and floored." The leopards seemed throughout the conflict sedulously to avoid a breach of the peace.

"A rhinoceros was next let loose in the open court-yard, and the attendants attempted to induce him to pick a quarrel with a tiger who was chained to a ring. The rhinoceros appeared, however, to consider a fettered foe as quite beneath his enmity; and having once approached the tiger, and quietly surveyed him, as he writhed and growled, expecting the attack, turned suddenly round and trotted awkwardly off to the yard-gate, where he capsised a palankeen, which was carrying away a lady fatigued with the sight of these unfeminine sports.

"A buffalo and a tiger were the next combatants: they attacked furiously, the tiger springing at the first onset on the other's head, and tearing his necks everely; but he was quickly dismount

ed, and thrown with such violence as nearly to break his back, and quite to disable him from renewing the combat. A small elephant was next impelled to attack a leopard. The battle was short and decisive; the former falling on his knees, and thrusting his blunted tusks nearly through his antagonist.

66

Elephant fights were announced as the concluding scene of this day of strife. The spectators took their seats in a long veranda. The narrow stream of the river Goomty runs close under the palace walls, and on the opposite bank a large, open, sandy space presented a convenient theatre for the operations of these gigantic athletes. The elephants educated for the arena are large, powerful males, wrought up to a state of fury by constant feeding with exciting spices. On the spacious plain before us we counted several of these animals parading singly and sulkily to and fro, their mahouts seated on their back, which were covered with a strong network for the driver to cling by in the conflict. In attendance upon every elephant were two or three men, armed with long spears, a weapon of which this animal has the greatest dread. We soon discovered two of the combatants slowly advancing towards each other from opposite sides of the plain. approached, their speed gradually increased, and they at length met with a grand shock, entwining their trunks and pushing until one, finding himself over-matched, fairly turned tail, and received his adversary's charge in the rear. This was so violent, that the mahout of the flying elephant was dislodged from his seat; he fortunately fell wide of the pursuer, and escaped with a few bruises. Five or six couple were fought, but showed little sport; the sagacious animals instantly discovering when they were overmatched."

ORIGINAL POETRY.

LOVE OF THE ELEMENTS.

SPIRITS of Light! Spirits of Shade!

Hark to the voice of your love-lorn maid,

Who singeth all night so merrily,

Under the cope of the huge elm tree.

The snow may fall, and the bitter wind blow, But still with love must her heart overflow.

The great elm tree is leafy and high,

As they

And its topmost branch wanders far up in the sky;
It is clothed with leaves from top to toe,
For it loveth to hear the wild winds blow.

The winds that travel so fast and free,

Over the land, and over the sea,

Singing of marvels continuously.

The moon on these leaves is shining ever,

And they dance like the waves of a gleaming river;

But, whiles in the night,

When her smile shines most bright,

With the cold, cold dew they shiver.

Oh, woe is me!

Oh, woe is me!

I would, I were clad with leaves so green,
And grew like this elm, a fair forest queen;
Could shoot up ten fingers like branches tall,
Till the cold-cold-dews would on me fall;
For to shiver is sweet, when winds blow keen,
Or hoar frost powders the dreary scene.
And, oh! I would like that my flesh could creep
With cold, as it was wont to do;

And that my heart, like a flower went to sleep,

When Winter his icy trumpet blew,

And shook o'er the wolds and moorland fells,
His crisping beard of bright icicles.

But, woe, deep woe,

It is not so.

Spirits of Light! Spirits of Shade!

Harken, once more to your love stricken-maid;

For, ob, she is sad, as sad may be,
Pining all night underneath this tree,

Yet, lacking thy goodly company.

She is left self alone,

While the old forests groan,

As they hear, down rushing from the skies,
The embattled squadrons of the air;
Pealing o'er ridgy hills, their cries
Of battle, and of fierce despair.
Thro' sunless valleys, deep and drear
Hark, to their trumpet's brassy blare,
The tramp of steed, and crash of spear!
Nearer yet, the strife sweeps on,
And I am left, thus self alone,
With never a guardian spirit near,
To couch for me a generous lance,
When the Storm fiends madly prance
On their steeds of cloud and flame,
To work a gentle maiden shame,
Oh, Misery!

I die; and yet, I scorn to blame
Inconstancy.

Peace, breaking heart! it is not so,
Sweet I hear your voices flow-
All your sad soft voices flow
Like the murmurs of the ocean,
Kissed by Zephyrs into motion;
And when shells have found a tongue

To sing, as they were wont to sing,
When this noble world was young;
And the sea formed loves bright ring,
And hearts found hearts in every thing.
Now the trees find apt replying,
To your music, with a sighing
That doth witch the owl to sleep;

And, waving their great arms to and fro,
They feel ye walk, and their heads they bow
In adoration deep.

And I, with very joy could now,

Like weakest infant weep,

That hath its humour, and doth go

With joy-wrung tears to sleep.

And now all the leaves that are sere and dry,
Noiselessly fall, like stars from the sky;
They are showering down on either hand,
A brown, brown burden upon the land.

And thus it will be with the love-stricken maid,
That loveth the spirits of Light and Shade,

And whose thoughts commune with the spirits that write
The blue book of heaven with words of light.
And who bend down in love for her,
From their stately domes on high,
To teach her, each bright character
That gleameth in her eye,
When the solemn night unrols
The vast map of the world of souls,
Oh, Ecstacy!

Rapt Ecstacy.

Beautiful Spirits! flee me not,
For this is the hour, and this the spot,
Where we were wont of yore to spell,
The language of the star-filled sky;
And walk thro' heaven's own citadel,
With stately step and upcast eye,
And brows, on which were deeply wrought,
The fadeless prints of glorious thought.

Ye melt fast away in the dewy chill

O' the moon-beam, but yield to a maiden's will;
Take ere ye vanish, this guerdon fair,

A long lock of her sun-bright hair;

It was shorn from temples that throbbed with pain, As the fearful thought wandered through the brain. That never again, as in days of yore,

It might be her hap to gather lore,

From the dropping richness of liquid tones,
That fall from the lips of spiritual ones.
Scorn not my gift-Oh, it is fair,

As streaming-it follows your course high in air;
And here is a brave and flaunting thing:-

A jolly green garland, braided well
With roses wild, and fox-glove bell-
With sage and rue, and eglantine-
With ivy leaf and holly green.

Three times it was dipped in a faery spring,
And three times spread forth in a faery ring,
When the dews fell thick and the moon was full;
And three times it clipped a dead man's skull-
And three times it lay pillowed under this head,
Where its bloom was preserved, by tears freshly shed,
From a bursting heart's fond fountain head.
Take these gifts then, ere ye go,

Or my heart will break with its weight of woe,
Oh, misery!

To love, and yet to be slighted so,

Sad misery.

Spirits of Light, Spirits of Shade!

Once more thus prays your love-stricken maid:
Dig out and spread in the white moonshine,
A goodly couch for these limbs of mine;
Fast by the roots of this stately tree,
And three fathoms deep that couch must be.
And lightly strew o'er her the withered leaf;
Meet shroud for maiden mild, 'twill prove;
And as it falls it will lull her grief,
With gentlest rustlings, breathing love.
Then choose a turf, that is wondrous light,

And lap it softly o'er this breast;

And charge the dew drops, large and bright,

On its green grass forever to rest.

So that like a queen, clad in gems she may lie,

Right holily,

With hands crossed in prayer, gazing up to the sky,

Tranquilly,

Eternally.

FINE ARTS.

HEATH'S NORTHERN LOOKING GLASS.

Ir gives us much pleasure to observe, that a work, which we understood to be perfectly out of the market, is again offered to the public by one of our most indefatigable Bibliopoles. Where the graphic Momus has been hiding himself we know not, but we are sure that we cannot recommend to the attention of our respectable subscribers a more useful work for the drawing-room table, than the one now before us. It will be found the most useful of all friends to amuse a party during that dullest of all quarters of an hour-that which precedes the moment when the bell announces that dinner is ready.

A beautiful picture by Correggio has lately been added to the Gallery in the Vatican. It is square, being three feet six inches, both in breadth and height, and painted on canvas; the subject our Saviour, enthroned on a rainbow and encircled by angels, in the act of stretching out his arms to dispense a blessing on the whole human race. It appears, that this picture was painted for the altar of the oratory belonging to the brotherhood of La Misericordia, in Allegri's native town, Correggio, as is recorded in the contract of sale, extant in Tiraboschi's "Bibl. Modenese," and Pungileoni's "Vita dell' Allegri." That brotherhood sold three of Correggio's pieces to Prince Siro of that town, amongst which the present painting is first recited, under the designation of "God the Father." It was disposed of by the Prince to the Venetian painter, Ranieri; from his heirs it passed into the possession of the Gritti family in Venice; was bought at the close of the last century by one Armanni, and by him transferred to Count Marescalchi, of Bologna, from whose collection it has been received into the Vatican. The Roman cognoscenti are unanimous in their opinion of its genuineness. It has been engraved by Astoli.

NOVELTIES IN LITERATURE AND ARTS. QUANOON-E-ISLAM, or the Customs of the Moosulmans of India, by Jaffur Shurreff: translated by G. A. Herklots, M. D. is in the press.

The Rev. Hobart Counter has a volume of Sermons nearly ready for publication.

An Introduction to the History of Philosophy, by Victor Cousin, is translating from the French by Linberg.

Mr. Britton's Topographical Sketches of Tunbridge Wells, with Maps and Views, is nearly ready.

The Rev. Richard Cattermole has in the press, Becket, an Historical Tragedy, the Men of England, an Ode, and other Poems.

A Selection from the Writings and Speeches of Lord Brougham, with a Memoir of his Life, is preparing for publication.

Extracts from the Manuscript Journal of the late LieutenantGeneral R. B. Long, is in the press.

Principles of Demand and Supply, applied to the Questions of the Currency and Corn Laws, by D. C. Lube, A. M. will speedily appear.

The Genera and Species of Orchideous Plants, by Professor Lindley, illustrated by Coloured Drawings on Stone, by Francis Bauer, is announced.

An Account of Anne Jackson, with some particulars concerning the Plague and Fire of London, written by Herself, is preparing for publication.

FOREIGN LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

GERMANY.-The grim tyrant death has been very busy among the literati of Germany during the past year. Besides those whose deaths have been already recorded in this journul, we have now to add Westermeyer, Bishop of Magdeburgh, and a celebrated preacher; Koch, another clergyman of the same city, and author of several esteemed botanical works; Professor Fischer of Berlin, well known by his excellent treatise on physics; Von Weber, Vicar-General of the Archbishoprick of Augsburgh, distinguised by his researches in physical science; Hegel, the celebrated professor of philosophy at Berlin; Count Julius von Soden, economist, and author of some literary works; Councellor Schmalz, author of some works on political economy; Wilmsen, the friend of children, and the author of the most popular work in Germany for their use; Körner, father of the poet; Von Schmidt, professor at Berlin, deeply versed in the literature of the middle ages; André, editor of the Hesperus, at Stuttgart. Among the poets, romance writers and artists we may enumerate Von Arnim, Zanini, and Lessmann; the latter of whom is author of some interesting tales, and of letters on Italy and Spain, also a collection of elegies and love-songs, remarkable for their sensibility, naiveté, and harmony of versification; he perished by his own hand. The Baroness de la Motte Fouqué, one of the most successful imitators of Sir W. Scott; Ruprecht, painter, engraver, and architect; Klingemann, dramatic author and director of the Brunswick theatre; Wollanck, a distinguished composer; the poetess Amalie von Helwig, not less distinguished for her accomplishments in languages and painting, than for her poetical powers. the authoress of Die Schwestern von Lesbos, of a translation from Tagner's Frithiof, &c.

She was

ODDS AND ENDS.

COPYRIGHT-Is secured in the United States of America for fourteen years, by depositing and recording the title of any work, map, chart, &c. at the office of the clerk of the district; and can be renewed by the author, his executors or assignees, at the end of that term, for a further period of fourteen years.-Statutes of the United States.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE translation of Schiller's "Die Theilung der Erde" although superior, in some respects, to that of Lord F. L. Gower, does not yet come up to our standard. We have always esteemed this lyric as one of the German poet's most successful hits, and on this account, we are, perhaps, rather hypercritical in the opinions we have formed of any translation which, as yet, come under our notice. Owing to a press of matter, several articles must stand over till next Saturday, among these is, a Review of a yet unpublished work, entitled, "Horace in Glasgow," in which several of our more celebrated citizens are made to figure.

"The Hustings," a satirical poem we will reserve till the Reform Marshal be again called to do his duty at the first General Election.

Advertisements.

HEATH'S COMIC LOOKING GLASS.

HE admirers of merriment are respectfully informed, that

Tthis very elegant article of Drawing-room Furniture may

now be procured from the advertisers, in whose library it revisits the light, again to manifest its power of extracting peals of laughter from all who venture to look upon it.

THE COMIC LOOKING GLASS, or MIRROR of Mirth, exhibiting an entertaining Series of nearly Four Hundred Hu morous Caricatures and Burlesque Sketches. By WILLIAM HEATH, Esq. With Typographical Illustrations, by Asmodeus in Glasgow. Now first collected into a folio volume, halfbound in cloth, price only 7s. 6d. originally sold for 25s.

A Fine Edition on large paper, with additional Engravings, elegantly bound in ornamented cloth, with gilt leaves, and gold lettering, price 14s. originally sold for two guineas.

The COMIC LOOKING GLASS is to be seen at GRIFFIN'S PUBLIC LIBKARY, 64, Hutcheson Street, where also may be had, in a Pocket volume, price 2s. in boards, or 2s. 6d. bound, The FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE, dedicated to those who are not Ashamed of Economy. By Mrs. CHILD, author of "The Mother's Book," "The Little Girl's Own Book," &c. 8th edition, corrected, to which are added, "Hints to Persons of Moderate Fortune," &c.

II.

FRENCH AND GERMAN FANCY STATIONERY and TOYS.

Messrs. R. GRIFFIN & CO. respectfully announce, that they have just received an assortment of FANCY GOODS from France and Germany, comprising a variety of articles adapted for Presents and Prizes for Young People; the whole of which are executed in the neatest manner and will be sold at very moderate prices. Among other things are Work Boxes, Colour Boxes, Fans of elegant workmanship, Boxes of Perfumery, Porcelain Ink Stands, Sets of Dinner and Coffee Services in Porcelain and Wood, the Game of Loto or Lottery, Boxes of Furniture, of Animals, Soldiers, &c. in wood, Looking-glasses. Also, Painted Snuff Boxes, Cigar Tooth-picks, Pastile Burners, Crayons, Pencils, Magnetic Toys, &c.

FOR

PUBLIC LIBRARY, 64, HUTCHESON STREET.

OR A SHORT TIME ONLY.-Patronised by his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester.-MONSR. EDOUART, Silhouettiste of the French Royal Family, No. 153, Queen Street, Up Stairs, site of the Old Theatre, respectfully informs the Nobility and Gentry, that he has REMOVED his Establishment from No. 149, Queen Street, to more convenient and extensive apartments, UP STAIRS in the SAME TENEMENT, where he will remain for a few days longer, to finish his present numerous orders..

Persons wishing copies of their friends or public characters, are requested to make application immediately, as Mr. E. will positively leave town as soon as he has fulfilled his engagement.

Mr. E. begs to observe, that no likeness of any Gentleman is exhibited without his consent; and that the Likenesses of Ladies are never exhibited in his Show-Room, or Duplicates sold without the consent of the parties.

Full-length standing, 5s.-Ditto sitting, 7s,-Children under Eight Years, 3s. 6d.—Duplicates of the Silhouettes, Full-length, 3s.-Ditto sitting, 4s.-Children 2s. 6d.

PUBLISHED, every Saturday Morning, by JOHN FINLAY, at No. 9, Miller Street; and Sold by JOHN WYLIE, Argyll Arcade; DAVID ROBERTSON, and W. R. M'PHUN, Glasgow; THOMAS STEVENSON, and the other Booksellers, Edinburgh : DaVID DICK, and A. GARDNER, Booksellers, Paisley: A. LAING, Greenock; and J. GLASS, Bookseller, Rothsay.

PRINTED BY JOHN GRAHAM, MELVILLE PLACE

No. 109.]

PRICE TWOPENCE.

[TWOR

A MORNING JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, FASHION, &c.

CARPE DIEM.

GLASGOW, SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1832.

CUPID'S REGISTER FOR MAY.

WHEN we made an apology for the delay in the appearance of Cupid's Register for April, we did not expect to be obliged to repeat our regrets so soon for having again committed the same offence. This, nevertheless, happens unfortunately to be the case, and however ungallant it may appear in us, to shelter ourselves from the censure of our fair readers, by throwing the blame a second time on the shoulders (blessed be the mark!) of a Lady: yet a scrupulous regard to veracity compels us to say, that Auntie Pyet, and Auntie Pyet alone, has once more been the cause of Cupid's Register for May making its appearance so late as the 9th of June. In extenuation, however, of our fair friend, we have to state, that the stirring nature of the times have had a great share in the delay; her time and attention having been, as we hinted in a former number, so much intruded upon, by the would-be leaders in the affairs of Church and State, that she has had but few hours to devote to those matters which more particularly concern her own sex; besides being em. ployed in composing for the incumbent of St.

an antisoporific discourse-a thing, by the bye, quite out the reverend gentleman's line-and which was delivered with great effect last Sunday. She has since been engaged on-what dost thou think, gentle reader? On nothing less, we assure you, than an essay for the purpose of carrying off the great Barloch medal, to be awarded, in the Andersonian University, for the best essay on the fittest representative for the city of Glasgow in the Commons House of Parliament! In the midst, therefore, of such multifarious labours, it is not to be wondered at if some objects of lesser importance were, to a certain extent, lost sight of.

At the close of the Register for April, we hinted at a very extraordinary match that was expected to take place, and also threw out some obscure hints respecting a letter which had been traced to the possession of Auntie Pyet. On these two subjects we shall now be as explicit as a proper regard to the feelings of the parties concerned will permit. In the first place, we have mentioned this match as "extraordinary," not only from the circumstance of the gentleman being, as it were, an incarnation of ugliness itself, but also from the lady, who is highly accomplished, and "pleasing to look upon," being, but two short years ago, as openeyed to the deformities, mental and corporeal, of her present intended as her neighbours, and expressed her opinion of him in a letter to a female friend, in a manner which we will throw into verse, for the sake of keeping the original document to which we allude as much as possible in the shade. The following is the extract, paraphrased a little, from motives of delicacy:

"Just as tea had began, who do you think should step in,
With a low, awkward bow, and a horrible grin,
But yon tall, ugly Goth, whom we met at Loch Ryan,
Whose face, if you mind, set wee Femie a-crying?
And placing himself in a chair next to mine,
Observed that "the weather was now getting fine:"
Then rubbing his hand, like a clown, on his jaw,
Looked down in my face, and enquired for papa.
Thinks I to myself, I'd have little to do,

If I own'd an acquaintance with such a Yahoo;
So the answer I gave him contained a rebuff,
That set him a searching his pockets for snuff.
VOL. II.-No. 6.

But, dear Bet, had you seen just the look that he gave,'Twas spiteful, 'twas fiendish, and fell as the grave; The ladies, alarmed, looked as if they had seen That fearful like thing that was made by Frank Stien ;* I could wager a gown (and I'm sure I would win it) That on opening that heart you would find a toad in it.” When Auntie Pyet first heard of the intended match, she gave it a flat contradiction, on the faith of the decided repugnance on the part of the lady, expressed in the above quotation from her letter; and in an unguarded moment exhibited the letter itself. This circumstance came to the ears of all parties, and the young lady to whom it was addressed, was taken to task, as having betrayed the confidence of friendship. This she flatly denied, and, in her own justification, alleged that if Auntie Pyet had such a letter to show, she must have obtained it in a dishonourable manner. Good gracious! what a charge against an amiable, pious and respectable lady-a lady, not only esteemed, courted, and carressed by the first circles, but hand and glove with every clergyman in town-a lady whose reputation is a perfect mirror of modern morality, before which the purest of the pure might sit, and adjust the spiritual drapery of their minds, before they turned up an eye in the discharge of their religious observances. That such a lady should be thus dealt with, and her reputation (that stainless mirror) breathed upon by the mouth of scandal-was a circumstance that to us appeared incredible. Nevertheless, TRUE it is, and of VERITY, a report to the prejudice of Auntie Pyet has gone abroad, and to this report we alluded in our 105th number, and pledged ourselves to a refutation of the calumny.

The facts connected with the manner in which the letter came into the hands of our ill-used friend are few, and may be soon told. One day, in the course of last summer, Auntie Pyet, while proceeding to Helensburgh, on board of the Clarence steamer, happened to sit next to Miss E, the young lady to whom the letter in question was addressed, and with whom she was then on terms of intimacy. After discussing all the topics they were furnished with, Auntie Pyet took up a volume of the Waverley novels, to beguile the tedium of the voyage, and her companion drew the unfortunate letter from her reticule and began reading. The contents, from the glance which Miss Fyet occasionally stole at her countenance, appeared to be amusingly interesting, and, observing that the reticule which she had was extremely like that belonging to Miss E, Miss Pyet, with the best intentions in the world, placed her own near Miss E-, and, in the most innocent manner imaginable, drew Miss E——'s towards her. The young lady, after exhausting the contents of the letter, by repeated perusals, actually, with her own hands, put her friend's letter into Auntie Pyet's reticule, in place of her own. That this was done intentionally on the part of Miss E, Auntie Pyet, with that spirit of charity so much in accordance with the other amiable traits in her character, forbids us even to insinuate, but leaves the matter between

We assure our readers that we have taken no liberties with the above name. At the time the letter was written, the Lady was not such a deep blue as she has since become. We presume she means Frankenstien, but this we shall leave to our fair readers to determine.

the young lady and her own conscience. A little while after this mistake had occurred, Miss Pyet proposed going on deck, to which the other agreed, and it was fully ten minutes after they had left the cabin, that Auntie Pyet noticed the exchange of reticules that had taken place; the mistake was instantly rectified, and the two ladies smiled good-humouredly over the affair. This is a plain, unvarnished statement of the matter; and we have no doubt when it meets the eye of "dear Bet," as her correspondent familiarly calls her, but she will feel "quite shocked" at her ungenerous conduct, and will not rest until she has made sufficient atonement, in the way of apology, for the injury she has committed, and the nest of hornets she has raised about the ears of our dear friend Auntie Pyet. We must now revert to the " very extraordinary match" connected with the letter; and, in doing so, we cannot help expressing our surprise that a repugnance so decidedly, to all appearance, insurmountable, should have been removed by any perseverance within the capabilities of human nature. That the lady, in the paragraph we have quoted, stated candidly the sentiments she then entertained, we have reason to believe; for, improving on the idea thrown out, she and her companions used to speak of him, who is now the man of her tenderest thoughts, as "the monster that walked about." Good gracious! how fearful and wonderfully made is the heart of woman, where such revolutions, without any apparent cause, can take place! What encouragement this circumstance holds out to all forlorn Benedicts, whose outward man is not of the most prepossessing appearance; and, above all, how cheering will it be to the gentleman with the " enormous red nose," whom we alluded to in our Register for Aprilhim who, in the language of one of the ladies, was about to "dicht his neb and flee up"-how will it refresh the cockles of his heart to read, in our present number, the near approach of the union of such an ugly, heavy-browed, imp of darkness as Mr. such an angel of light and beauty as Miss where either male or female frailty is concerned, how true is the saying of the great Nap, "from the sublime to the ridiculous there is but a step!"

with Alas!

TALES, SKETCHES AND TRADITIONS OF THE GAEL-No. VII.

"The rageand stormes ouerwelterand wally seis, Ryuris ran rede on spate with wattir broun, And burnis harlis all thare bankis doun."

A WET SUNDAY.

GAWINE DOUGLASS.

A WET Sunday, exclaims the Cit, that is nothing new of late. True, my dear friend-but a wet Sunday among the mountains is quite a different affair to one of the same quality in town. No doubt you have your disagreeables-such as flooded streets, dripping eves, damsels scudding before the wind with inverted umbrellas, hat and wig hunting by elderly gentlemen not much addicted to the chase; while

." from all parts the swelling kennels flow, And bear their trophies with them as they go;

Drowned puppies, herring heads, all drenched in mudDead cats and turnip-tops come tumbling down the flood." In the Highlands, however, it assumes a wilder and more sublime appearance. The dark misty glen, whose rocky barrier is obscured by the vapours that sail along in endless array, gives the first intimation of the coming storm, while here and there the mountain torrent bursts through the haze, and seems to the startled eye as if it dropped from some mighty reservoir in the clouds. The waves, driven by the howling blast, sweep along the bosom of the Loch, appearing in the distance like wreaths of snow weltering amid the dark and troubled abyss; while on those precipices more exposed to the winds, the cataracts are driven upwards by the fury of the gale, till they seem to the distant eye like pillars of light trembling on the verge of their frightful steeps-the streams descending from the deeper and more sheltered ravines, swollen by the continued rain, spread over the road, and present to the illstarred wight, who happens to be abroad, one lengthening sheet of water, through which, if he be a pedestrian, he must plash forward on his weary way.

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'Twas late, on a Saturday night, such as above described, when the writer, wet and weary with buffeting the storm, reached the comfortable little inn at the head of Loch Good viands, a rousing fire, with the luxury of a clean, dry, and refreshing bed, soon spread oblivion over the discomforts of the day. The morning, however, set in with even a more unpromising aspect than that which closed the preceding night. The storm was more violent, and the rain battered against the window with increased fury -the mist on the hills was more dark, dense and threatening, and the wind had gathered up the Loch, till its whitened ridges mingled with the cloudy masses of vapour which had been driven downward from the mountains-not a sail was unfurled-every boat was drawn high up on the beach-and the tempest, as if disappointed, raved over the face of nature, seeking for objects on which to wreak its vengeance. Such was the prospect without. Within, a cheerful fire, a clean hearth, a table replenished with all the delicate as well as substantial accompaniments of a Highland breakfast, allured the eye from the turmoil of the elements, and, very pleasingly for the time, concentrated the ideas of enjoyment within the walls of the comfortable little apartment. But, alas! the pleasures of the table, like the rest of our joys, are fleeting as the thready current of the sand glass-the lovely vision pleased, palled, and disappeared.

The thought of sitting all day, listening to the bowling of the winds, and the lashing of the rain, though agreeable enough at first from the sense of security which a comfortable shelter afforded, made the monotonous confinement become extremely irksome. I therefore applied for a book to beguile the tedium till dinner, and my kind and considerate hostess sent up" Dodd's Prison Thoughts," the "Confession of Faith," and John Bunyan's "Groans from the Damned," as being most appropriate for the day; but, whether she meant the day of the week, or the state of the weather, I did not enquire, my attention being withdrawn from her and the delightful companions she had sent me, by the appearance of a travelling cart making for the inn, from which, on reaching the door, descended a tall, thin figure, buttoned up to the chin in a white great coat, and swathed over month and nose with a plentiful assortment of various coloured handkerchiefs, which were still insufficient to protect him from the water that streamed from the bat. tered and almost shapeless piece of felt which covered his head. After him, carrying a shabby looking portmanteau, came his Highland gillie or driver, in his little blue bonnet and pepper and salt great coat, the tails of which were carefully tucked through the holes in the skirts, to keep them from the mud.

Here is at least the chance of company, thought I, as I heard the double footsteps on the stair. I was disappointed, however; they turned away, and were disposed of in some other part of the house.

.

Left to my own meditations, I stood gazing through the dim and bedrizzled glass at the scene without, endeavouring, if possible, to discover the prospect of some other arrival-till the pleasing announcement that dinner was ready sounded in my ears, accompanied by the no less welcome intimation, that the gentleman who had lately arrived would be happy to join me.

On his appearance, he gave his "How do you do?" in a tone of familiarity that smacked of acquaintanceship; and I quickly recognised the features of one I had frequently met on the road, and with whom I have occasionally spent an agreeable evening. "Holy Moses!" he exclaimed, before I had time to reply to his salutation, "what weather! I have never been so near drowning in my life-three stages since day-break-part of the road the horse would have swam, if it had not been for the weight of the cart-three times I stopped to get myself dried, and every time I raised a smoke as if I had been burning kelp. After all, I came here with half a tun of water in the pockets of my great coat, and I have left a perfect inundation in the room above-I hope it will not come down upon us before dinner." "I hope not-nor after it either," said I.

But, before proceeding farther, I may give the reader what little information I may possess respecting the individual thus brought under his notice. My tall friend, who for good reasons shall be nameless, is a native of the Emerald Isle, and, according to his own account, has seen every capital in Europe, and been in every clime from "Indus to the Pole." Engrossed in commercial pursuits, he has for a long time been a familiar and well

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