heating her oven full of sand and thus armed, she awaited the approach of any one who should be daring enough to attempt her castle by escalade or otherwise. I am confident they would not have effected an entrance while her sand lasted. "But would not melted lead have been better?" I ventured to suggest. "No, Sir," replied the heroine, with a consciousness of superior military talent; "sand answers just as well, and is not so expensive as lead."

Now for the legend of the origin of the "Mosque of the Bloody Baptism" at Cairo, built six hundred years ago.

Sultan Hassan, wishing to see the world, and lay aside for a time the anxieties and cares of royalty, committed the charge of his kingdom to his favourite minister, and taking with him a large amount of treasure in money and jewels, visited several foreign countries in the character of a wealthy merchant. Pleased with his tour, and becoming interested in the occcupation he had assumed as a disguise, he was absent much longer than he originally intended, and in the course of a few years, greatly increased his already large stock of wealth, His protracted absence, however, proved a temptation too strong for the virtue of the viceroy, who gradually forming for himself a party among the leading men of the country, at length communicated to the common people the intelligence that Sultan Hassan was no more, and quietly seated himself on the vacant throne. Sultan Hassan, returning shortly afterwards from his pilgrimage, and fortunately for himself still in disguise, learnt, as he approached his capital, the news of his own death, and the usurpation of his minister; finding, on further inquiry, the party of the usurper to be too strong to render an immediate disclosure prudent, he preserved his incognito, and soon became known in Cairo as the wealthiest of her merchants; nor did it excite any surprise when he announced his pious intention of devoting a portion of his gains to the erection of a spacious mosque. The work proceeded rapidly under the spur of the great merchant's gold, and, on its completion, he solicited the honour of the Sultan's presence at the ceremony of naming it. Anticipating the gratification of hearing his own name bestowed upon it, the usurper accepted the invitation, and at the appointed hour, the building was filled by him and his most attached adherents. The ceremonies had duly proceeded to the time when it became necessary to give the name. The chief Moolah, turning to the supposed merchant, inquired what should be its name? "Call it," he replied, "the mosque of Sultan Hassan." All started at the mention of this name; and the questioner, as though not believing he could have heard aright, or to afford an opportunity of correcting what might be a mistake, repeated his demand. "Call it," again cried he, "the mosque of me, Sultan Hassan ;" and throwing off his disguise, the legitimate Sultan stood revealed before his traitorous servant. He had no time for reflection : simultaneously with the discovery, numerous trap-doors, leading to extensive vaults which had been prepared for the purpose, were flung open, and a multitude of armed men issuing from them, terminated at once the reign and life of the usurper. His followers were mingled in the slaughter, and Sultan Hassan was once more in possession of the throne of his fathers.

On to Greece,-to Marathon.

Wet, cold, and hungry, we were glad to procure quarters for the night in a miserable sort of farm-house, belonging, as I understood, to some proprietor who paid it an occasional visit, but which at that time was only occupied by some agricultural labourers and their families, who seemed to be in a wretched state of poverty. They allowed us to occupy the best room as our sleeping-chamber; and as it contained two couches and some blankets, we had no cause to complain of our fortune in that respect. In a sort of kitchen they made up a tolerably good fire; sitting down on the ground by which we soon managed to dry our clothes. We were no longer wet and cold, but we were still hungry; and our hosts positively assured us they had nothing to give us to eat. I believe they spoke truth; for neither the inquisitorial researches of our formidable guide, nor the extravagant price which we professed ourselves willing to pay for any thing in the shape of food, succeeded, even after much delay and a visit to several other cottages in the neighbourhood, in producing aught beside a few eggs and a crust of exceedingly hard black bread. The eggs, and a frying pan, the only culinary utensil in the house, were at length-placed before me, with an intimation, that after all, they could not be dressed "as there was no fat." "Never mind," I replied, "I can fry them in water." Upon this announcement, they gathered round with eager curiosity, while I proceeded with the air of a chemical lecturer to demonstrate experimentally the truth of my assertion. Of course the eggs were well poached, and speedily devoured by my companion and myself. After which I retired to my couch, with the gratification of having acquired some renown on the field of Marathon, and conferred a lasting benefit on the Greeks. I should mention, that they indicated their delight and gratitude by producing an earthen bottle of wine; which I applied to my mouth, thinking it could not possibly contain any thing so unpalatable as not to be endured in the absence of better potations. Alas! I was mistaken; it was an acid vinous solution of resin. As soon as I was sufficiently recovered from the effects of the taste to make inquiries, I discovered that the Greek peasants are in the habit of putting the resin of the fir-tree into their wine, "to keep it," or, as I would rather say, to render it not worth keeping.

Not even the consideration that my sufferings from this vile custom had furnished me with a practical explanation of the fact of the fir being sacred to Bacchus, and the top of his thyrsus being decorated with a fir-cone, was sufficient to console me for the mode in which that mythological lesson was conveyed.

We have been characterizing Mr. Baynes as an enthusiast; not that he deals in mouthfuls of swollen terms, or takes to the breathblowing system. It is in the attitude and the innate feeling that we discover his classical love.

I believe that, in the opinion of my guide, my "trance" [at Marathon] endured for a longer time than his experience taught him was usual on such occasions; and when he beheld me gather my hatful of the wild flowers

which grew on the sides of the little mount, he looked as though, had he been conversant with the writings of Peter Pindar, he would have exclaimed

"Alas! poor gentleman, I'm sorry for ye,
And pity much your upper story."

If such were his conclusions, they must have received complete confirmation when on our road home. Ere I could discern any part of Athens, and while we were yet at some distance from it, I beheld, standing as it were in the sky, a magnificent temple: I uttered an exclamation of surprise-The Parthenon! The effect surpassed anything I had ever witnessed of architectural grandeur; and by a sort of instinctive movement I uncovered my head. The intervening country was of such a nature as exactly to hide the rock of the Acropolis, and leave the temple only visible. An ancient worshiper of Jove, under similar circumstances, might have been pardoned for believing that the clouds which conceal his habitation from mortal sight were for a while withdrawn, so as to afford him a glimpse of the "palace of the gods." Advancing a little farther, we came in sight of the rock of the Acropolis; and the illusive effect was dissipated.

Our last paragraph of all contains an anecdote which the Rambler has introduced as an argument in favour of the modern Greek pronunciation, against the assumptions of scholars. On this question, he appears to us as in other instances to be hasty.

I had often heard the word "polufloisboio" adduced as an instance of "sound echoing to the sense," and thereby furnishing a presumptive argument in favour of the sound being the true one. It is supposed to convey the idea of the hoarse and majestic roar of the loud surge as it thunders upon the coast. I was much amused, therefore, to hear an eminent Greek scholar, with whom I had the good fortune to be imprisoned in the quarantine at Syra, say, as we were together watching the little ripples, as they just kissed, with a hissing murmur, the rock on which we stood, "I wonder how any one who hears that sound can doubt we are right in saying "polifleesvečo ;" every "wave says fleesveĕo." I laughed, and alluded to the use made of the same word by the holders of the contrary opinions. "Oh," he rejoined, "that can scarcely be; Homer never heard or saw such a sea as you are describing; his ideas were all taken from the Mediterranean, the voice of which is almost ever as we now hear it.'

The volume contains wood-cuts, the most curious of them illustrating the remains in the Island and Cave of Elephanta.

407

ART. XII.-The Juryman's Legal Hand-Book and Manual of Common Law. BY THOMAS H. CORNISH, Esq., of Gray's Inn, Barrister-at-law. Longman.

IN his preface, Mr. Cornish says, "I have compiled this diminutive expositor with a view to the better understanding, especially by jurymen in general, of the laws which regulate the most admirable of all our time-honoured institutions, Trial by Jury

*

*

*

In the absence of a work of this kind, it occurred to me, that an attempt to supply a compact digest of those laws, which-in a familiar manner, and at a small charge-should furnish both the juror and general reader with a sufficient knowledge of the late Consolidating Act relating to juries; together with the several enactments which, in a measure, still influence the unrepealed law, might, possibly, be followed by an expression of approbation.' These two sentences will serve to convey some idea of the purpose and substance of the Juryman's Hand-Book. But neither the title-page nor the prefatory matter indicates completely the character of the work; nor will any person be very ready to look for entertainment and amusing information in a book addressing itself to legal topics and to practices in courts of law. The fact is, however, that while this manual contains much that every juror ought to know, and to make the subject of precise information, it also presents to the general reader many things that will engagingly impress the mind. The fields traversed by Mr. Cornish are far wider than will be expected; his gatherings-in far richer than mere technicalities, dry enactments, or condensed accounts of the origin and growth of legal institutions; and his tone far loftier than that of a close expositor. We hesitate not to pronounce the work to be one that teems with moral sentiment, and to have everywhere stamped upon it the strength of an ardently beneficent spirit.

The book is remarkable in the respect mentioned. We would naturally expect in it such information and direction as will equip a juryman for the discharge of one of the gravest duties that can be performed. But few will look for, at the same time, an attractive recognition and exposition of the foundation and the safeguards of virtue, as well as the sources whence all sound laws spring. Who would imagine that Mr. Cornish, on an occasion like this, would enlist the aid of Confucius, or illustrate the doctrines current in Westminster Hall, with instances and passages found in classical writers, so as to affect the heart while the head is filled?

There is here a religious tone of teaching, a cordial sympathy with the good and the beautiful, a cast of feeling and knowledge quite characteristic, yet happily employed, affording an example of how much an original and earnest mind can make of a barren, a reluctant, and a forbidding subject. If the remarks we have offered be perti

nent and well-grounded, nothing short of specimens of the work can give to our readers a just idea of its quality and merits. We therefore have pleasure in quoting as follow, passages which, as we have hinted, would not be looked for under the title of the volume, but which are opportune and appropriate. Were, for example, the sentiments in the morsel which we first of all cite, universally inculcated and acted upon, how superior would be our juries, and how seldom the occasion for the exercise of their functions:

The happy fire-side of the Christian mother, especially when she is there surrounded by duteous children, by kindred and neighbours, affords perhaps, one of the most affecting pictures that the artist could paint, with a view to produce in us all a pure veneration for female excellence, and a holy admiration of woman's exalted character and active virtues. Here, in the mingling of fond relations and trusty friends, is generally found the habitations of love and joy, of peace and contentment.

It is in the homes of men that the child is ranged into his caste, whether noble or mean there the seed of his whole life is sown. Schools may develope his powers, and instruct his mind; they may put "sharps," and "flats" before his abilities; the general tone of his daily life will more or less remain true to his first nursery and the nature of his primitive home.

The first training of the soul for heaven is said to be a maternal office. The mother it is who presides over those home virtues, the cultivation or neglect of which in the first ages of life often gives a right or a wrong bias to its after years. In this "homely court" let our virtuous English mothers preside with undiminished solicitude and untiring perseverance. Even when adverse circumstances occur-and against such neither anxious foresight nor watchful piety can always guard —the pious mother should not relax her endeavours; should not suffer her faith to fail. Her duty is not more imperative in its principle than encouraging in its performance. She is animated by a conviction founded upon experience, that a heart is seldom so reprobate, as to throw from it the old forms and close-knit habits of filial piety. Indeed, generally speaking, "character" is formed by maternal influence, an influence whose importance is incalculable. It is the earliest ; it is the most natural; it strikes deepest root. Years of active engagement in a busy world may for a time choke its growth; it has, however, a vitality, which, when called into action by sickness, or sorrow, or approaching death, and fostered by the dew of God's blessing, blossoms and gives fruit, even "fruit unto holiness, the end whereof is everlasting life."

The fire-side home of childhood!-childhood itself, and the very name of" Father." Yes, childhood itself is like a mirror, catching and reflecting images from all around it. Forget we not, that an impious or profane thought, uttered by a parent's lip, may operate on the young heart like a careless spray of water thrown upon polished steel, staining it with rust, which no after scouring can efface.

Upon the subject of oaths Mr. Cornish is impressive and discriminative to a degree that may be said to be commensurate with its importance and solemnity. It is manifest that he has not only ran