Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

1825.]

Ever guarded be thy sway,
Ever mindful of that day,
When by awful Heav'n's decree
I must give account of thee.
Yet in temper'd colours drest,
Fashion'd like a rainbow vest;
Blended tints of grave and gay,
Cheer my spirit on its way,
Come and wander with the muse
Free her airy path to choose,
Free with her to rise or fall,
Soar to skies at fancy's call;
Cling to sublunary things,
Or above expand thy wings.
Yet, oh yet my soul pursue
In thy garb of rosy hue;

Select Poetry.

Chase the fear that hints the sorrow;
Bring the hope that crowns the morrow;
Bring Religion, Heav'n-born child-
Smiling like a Cherub mild;

Bring the faith that meets the skies;
Vision blest that peace supplies,
When her bright unclouded mien
Penetrates the closing scene.

ON MINSDEN CHAPEL,

M.

A ruin near Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. NO pomp of art, no jewell'd shrine,

No tombs of gilded splendour shine
In Minsden's lone remains.

Nor Parian marble's vivid glow,
Nor mimic works of art, that shew

The sculptor's faultless pains.

Rent is the fence; and loiterers tread,
Gay, and unthinking on the bed

Of many a Preston * seer;
The truant boy forsakes his sheep
To pluck the azure bells, that weep

Upon his grandsire's bier.

The ivy o'er those mouldering walls
In fair festoons of nature falls,

And mantles on their brow:
It seems to weep for that lone aisle,
That broken arch, and desert pile,

In ruin sinking now:

Yet have they seen the steel-knit mail
The swords, the spears, that ne'er did fail,

Of Salem's chivalry †.

That race is gone-and this their seat
Now bends the spoiler's shafts to meet,
As if in sympathy.

That race is gone, but still their name
Stands blazoned in the scroll of fame,
It ne'er may wane or fade:
The deeds of heroes cannot die;
Though low and cold in dust they lie,
A crown of glory soothes their shade.
But Minsden falls. Yon mid-day Sun,
E're many an annual course is run,
Will know its place no more;

* A hamlet near.

"Twill sink in Time's deep gulf away,
No pilgrim as they pass shall say,
Here Minsden stood of yore.

263

[blocks in formation]

On thy mild Virtues memory loves to dwell,
Thy calm Philosophy, for ever past;
While weeping friendship mourns the broken
spell,
[cast.

Which Social Talents once around thee
Thine to the sacred ardour Freedom gave,
As in thy breast she nurs'd her hallow'd

flame;
[grave,
Hence are her sighs now wafted o'er thy
And patriot honours wait upon thy name,
With Genius gifted, and by Taste refin'd,
For Nature's charms thine was a Poet's
eye;

And all the rich endowments of thy mind
Told the deep source of its fertility.
But vainly I attempt that mind to paint,
In thine own page superior traits are seen:

The Chapel belonged to the Knights of Nor deem this sketch, imperfect all and faint,

St. John of Jerusalem.

A Tribute worthy of the name of GREEN.
HISTORICAL

[blocks in formation]

The Jesuits in France are making a rapid and steady progress to the possession of wealth and power. It is stated that they have lately asked the Government to give them the building and estate of the Val de Grace, that they may establish a house of their fraternity; and such is their influence, that preparations have been begun for the removal of the military hospital by which the Val de Grace is now occupied.

The French Government have given instructions to the Commissary-general of Bordeaux, that South American Independent vessels shall be admitted, on condition that they do not bear their flag, but without compelling them to hoist that of any other nation; that the merchants and commanders of the Colombian and other independent vessels shall be treated as friends, and that the ships and crews shall be subject to the same regulations as those which govern the intercourse with other foreign nations.

SPAIN.

The situation of Spain is truly deplorable. The Ultras, dissatisfied with the moderation of King Ferdinand, appear resolved to increase the misery of their unhappy country by involving it once more in all the horrors of a civil war. Bessieres, a Field Marshal of the Spanish army, commenced this revolutionary movement at Getafe, in Arragon. The Count D'Espagne having been dispatched, at the head of a strong body of troops, in his pursuit, overtook and arrested him about a league from Molina d'Arragon, on the 25th ultimo, and on the 26th the rebel chief and seven of his associates were executed. Some idea may be formed of the extent of the conspiracy from the fact that the papers of a monk who acted as treasurer to Bessieres' faction have been seized, and disclose that the chapters of all the metropolitan churches of Spain, and many rich convents of the order of Carthusians, of St. Bernard, St. Jerome, St. Augustin, and St. Basil, had taxed themselves to raise 14,000,000 of reals for the support of the conspiracy. The celebrated Empecinado, the author of the Guerilla system which did so much injury to Bonaparte's armies, was lately hung at Koa, in Old Castile, within a few leagues of Valladolid.

NETHERLANDS.

The Philosophical College at Brussels is expected to open on the third Monday in October. It appears that the Government spare neither care nor expence, that every thing in this establishment may be answerable to its important destination. It will be entirely lighted with gas. An immense ball, or lecture-room, in the shape of an amphitheatre, and capable of containing 1200 persons, is nearly finished. Each pupil will have his room in the College, which he will find completely furnished at the expense of the Government. All the courses of lectures are gratuitous; the expense of board is only 200 florins; and stipends will be granted to pupils who are not able to pay so moderate a sum.

SAVOY.

A successful attempt to reach the summit of Mont Blanc, the pinnacle of Europe, has just been made by an Englishman, Dr. E.J. Clarke, a young physician of distinguished science and much enterprize. He completed this arduous task at two o'clock P. M. on Saturday, the 27th of August, and returned to Chamouni in safety. The last attempt was made about four years since, and proved very disastrous, most of the party having perished, without any one of them accomplishing the object in view.

GREECE.

Authentic letters from Napoli di Romania, dated 1st August, announce that on the morning of that day, the Provisional Government of Greece had made and published an Act of Submission to England, inviting its protectión on the same condition as the Ionian Islands. This appeal to the British Government was preceded by conferences between the Greek Chiefs and Commodore Hamilton, who commands the English naval force in the Levant. It must be observed that this important resolution was taken before the raising of the siege of Missolonghi, which is now certain, and the defeat of the force both by land and by sea which the Ottoman Porte had before that place.

Learning is making rapid strides among the Greeks. Argos possesses a school where the Homerian language is taught, with history, philosophy, and many other languages. A school on the

Lan

[blocks in formation]

Lancasterian system, established since the revolution, contains more than 200 scholars; and at Athens two schools exist, which, though extremely large, cannot contain near the number of pupils that arrive from all parts of the country.

EAST INDIES.

The Albion, Captain Swainson, from Calcatta, which she left on the 17th of April, has brought very important intelligence respecting the progress of the war in the East. The British troops, under the command of General Morri son, arrived in the Aracan River on the 12th of March, after a passage, in open boats, of three days from the Mayoo, which is separated from the river by sunderbunds of about 15 miles in length, which rendered marching altogether impracticable. The camp was formed at Keybarindong, on the South-east side of the Aracan river, about 20 miles from the important fortress of Aracan, which was garrisoned by about 10,000 Burmese. As soon as all the troops destined to operate against this strong hold were collected together, the division, in the lightest marching order, the officers without their horses, and with only one bullock each, proceeded towards Aracan. Some skirmishes took place, occasionally, between them and the Burmese'; but no affair of moment occurred until about the end of the month, when several stockades, in front of Aracan, were taken by the British troops. On the 29th and 30th a severe cannonading took place, and skirmishing between the rival forces. Next day the fortress was captured by our troops; but, though the event is certain, we are without any particulars of the circumstances by which the capture was accomplished. The main army, under the command of Gen. Sir Archibald Campbell, had broken up from Rangoon, and reached Sarave, on the Irawuddy, distant 112 miles from Rangoon, on the 3d of March, without losing a man.

AFRICA.

The Brazen, of 28 guns, Capt. George Willes, sailed for the coast of Africa, with Captain's Clapperton and Robert Pearce, and Doctors Morrison and Wilson, of the Royal Navy, on their mission into the interior of Africa, having in view the discovery of the yet unknown course and termination of the River Niger, and opening friendly communications with the principal native Kings and Chiefs. -The Brazen has also on board, with the same object, a number and variety of presents, suited to the notions, capabilities, and wants of the Kings and chief GENT. MAG. September, 1825.

265 The

persons of the different tribes. travellers will debark in the Bight of Benin, whence Capt. Pearce and Dr. Morrison will proceed Eastward, in as direct a course as circumstances will permit, to Timbuctoo; and Capt. Clapperton and Dr. Wilson will proceed Northward, taking the City of Soudon for their ulterior point. The King of Soudon has promised to send guides to Sockatoo, to meet the latter travellers, receive the presents, and propitiate the other native Sovereigns. It is a prevailing belief among the natives, that there is a lake communication between both tic Ocean, flowing into the Volta. Timbuctoo and Soudon, with the Atlan

NORTH AMERICA.

Capt. Franklin and his exploring party are to proceed by the Erie canal, Lakes Huron and Superior, to Fort William, and thence to Winnipeg, Atabasca, and the Great Bear Lakes, near to which place they are to winter. In the spring the party are to proceed down M'Kenzie's river to Behring's Straits, where a ship will be in readiness to transport them to India, with a view of getting into the South Sea. Dr. Richardson's party will separate from Capt. Franklin at the mouth of M'Kenzie's river, and explore the country as far as the Coppermine river. Captain Buchey, after having landed Capt. Franklin at Canton, will take in provisions for Bebring's Straits, where he expects to meet Capt. Parry. The agents of the Hudson Bay Company have formed depots of provisions for the whole route. The want of the canoes, which were abandoned at Cape Turnagain from weakness and fatigue, proved a terrible bar to the crossing of rivers; but on this occasion a water-proof canvas boat has been provided, so admirably contrived that it may be separated into pieces, one of which each of the party may stow into his knapsack, or carry in his pocket!

New York is now the largest town in the western hemisphere, and it is increasing, and from its natural advantages must increase, with a rapidity which, in the course of a century, will probably make it eclipse the most populous capitals of the old world. From an actual and careful enumeration, it was found that the number of new houses erected in 1824, was 1624. Each house contains on an average, two families, or twelve persons. Thus New York must have added about 20,000 persons in the course of the last year to its population, which is now estimated at 150,000 sonts. There are of different places of worship-Baptists, 11; Friends, 4; Independents, 4; Lutherans,

2;

[blocks in formation]

SCOTLAND.

SCOTTISH EPISCOPACY.

A remarkable event has occurred, connected with the history of the Scottish Episcopacy, which cannot fail to be interesting to the Clergy of the Established Church. The celebration of marriage, &c. abroad by the Right Rev. Bishop Luscombe has been announced in the Newspapers; but the public were not generally aware of the consecration of such an individual. However on reference to a Sermon preached in the Episcopal Church of Stirling, at Dr. Luscombe's consecration, we find an account prefixed, from which we abstract the following particulars, as explanatory of the circumstance.

"During a residence of five years in France, the attention of Dr. Luscombe, (Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,) was naturally directed to the state of religion among his countrymen settled in that country, the number of whom actually resident is calculated at no less than 50,000 and he could not but observe with regret the great inconvenience and danger to which this large body of British subjects were exposed, from the absence both of proper teachers episcopally licensed and visited, and of the regular administration of the holy Sacraments.

"Dr. Luscombe was advised to lay the case before the Bishops of Scotland, and to seek that assistance from them which circumstances rendered it improbable he would obtain in England. After a long correspondence, in which zeal and prudence equally marked the conduct of the Scotch Prelates, they determined not only to adopt the plan suggested by Dr. Luscombe, but, if he were willing to abandon his prospects at home, to consecrate him as their missionary Bishop to his British fellow-subjects abroad. Upon this decision, Dr. Luscombe did not for a moment hesitate to make the sacrifice required of him; and proceeding to the north, was canonically consecrated a Bishop of the Church of Christ, at Stirling, on Sunday, the 20th day of March, 1825; for the express purpose of representing the Scotch Episcopal Church on the Continent of Europe." From official information we learn that Bishop Luscombe has met with a hearty and cordial co-operation among all ranks and orders of British residents at Paris, and that the Clergy have zealously and unanimously accorded with the views of the Scotch Bishops. On the 23d of June,

Bishop Luscombe confirmed 120 young per sons in the French capital-eight Clergymen attended in their robes-three assisted in the performance of Divine Service, and the Sermon was preached by the Chaplain to the Embassy.

Previous to the year 1688, Episcopacy was the established form of Church Government in Scotland as well as in England; but the same convention of estates which transferred the crown to William and Mary, abolished Episcopacy as the established form of Church government in Scotland, and established Presbytery, and this has remained to the present day. At that time the Episcopal Church in Scotland consisted of fourteen Bishops, including the Archbishops, and about nine hundred Clergy. Both descriptions of Clergy were ordered by Act of Parliament either to conform to the new government or to quit their livings. All the Bishops, and by far the greater number of the inferior Clergy, refusing to take the oaths to the new government, were compelled to relinquish their livings, in which Presbyterian ministers were in general placed.

INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS

PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

Two strong forts on the River Mersey for the protection of Liverpool, are to be commenced immediately. One of these will be situated a short distance North of the Regent's Dock; with salient angles projecting North and South; the other Fort will be on the opposite shore of the Mersey, in Cheshire, near to Seacome Ferry, and will be of a size corresponding with the first. The river is there about a mile and a quarter wide, the navigation of which will be completely commanded by these batteries. They will mount a great number of guns of the heaviest metal, and be regularly garrisoned by troops of the line.

The London and Portsmouth Ship Canal is now decided on. The estimated expence is 4,000,000l. to be subscribed for in 40,000 shares, of 1001. each; it is intended to be navigable for line of battle ships; and the largest Indiaman, by the aid of steam vessels, will be able to perform a passage from London to Spithead in about twelve hours. The line will pass by part of the present barge canal, and a new entrance behind South Sea Castle is to be opened to Spithead. The mouths of Chichester Bay and Langston Harbour are intended to be closed, and by

deepening

[blocks in formation]

deepening the latter, a basin will be formed for vessels to ride in safety.

In Dorsetshire, upon the Upton estate, near Poole, a very extensive bed of clay, fit for the manufacture of china of the first specimens, has just been discovered, close to the water's edge. This will be an invaluable acquisition to the manufactory of that rising branch of commerce.

Aug. 16. The first stone of a monument, near the town of Carmarthen, in honour of Gen. Sir Thomas Picton, was laid, with great pomp. Beneath it were placed specimeus of all the gold, silver, and copper British coins of the present reign, together with the Waterloo Medal of the late Sir T. Picton. They were covered with a plate bearing the following inscription:

"This, the First Stone of the Column erected to the memory of our Gallant Countryman, Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton, Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, and of several Foreign Orders, who, after serving his King and Country in several Campaigns, died gloriously at the Battle of Waterloo, was laid by the right honourable Frances Baroness Dynevor, assisted by Sir Christopher Cole, Knight Commander of the Bath, Captain in the Royal Navy of Great Britain, Member of Parliament for the County of Glamorgan, and Provincial Grand Master of Masons for South Wales, on the 16th day of August, 1825."

Sept. 12. A most alarming fire broke out, at the large and elegant mansion erecting by Major Russell at the end of the Marine Parade, Brighton. It is estimated that the proprietor had expended upwards of ten thousand pounds upon the house, not a shilling of which was insured. The interior was completely gutted, nothing being left but the outer walls, and even in these the bond timbers were completely burnt.

Portsmouth, Sept 14. At about 1 o'clock, or a quarter of an hour before the Princess Charlotte was let off the slip on which she was built, a most dreadful accident happened as the public were crowding over the bridge across the Dock, wherein it was intended to bring the launch. There are three Docks, all of which were dry, and every preparation to receive the launch was made. Under each bridge there are flood-gates to let the water in or keep it back. The tide rose so rapidly, and to so unusual a height, that the ship was obliged to be launched sooner than was anticipated; the same great rise of water occasioned such a powerful pressure against the gates of the south-east dock in the basin as to cause them to burst inward, and to carry with impetuous violence into the empty dock the bridge which rested upon the gates, and, with the bridge, the persons who were unfortunately passing over it at the time, on their way to see the launch. The torrent of water which rushed into the vaeant dock below overwhelmed the unhappy

267

individuals, and notwithstanding the active and prompt exertions of those who beheld the dreadful catastrophe, and of the boats which immediately hastened to the spot, but few persons were rescued from their perilous situation. The total number drowned was sixteen; viz. Mr. Deering, midshipman of the Victory; Mr. Stanfield, a customhouse officer; Mr. Showers, a dealerin chips; Mr. Hart, slop-seller; four young females; one man servant; and seven boys.

Sept. 16. The York Musical Festival took place this day. In a quarter of an hour after the Cathedral doors were opened, every form in the body of the great aisle, and all the seats in the gallery, except those reserved for the patrons, were occupied. The performance commenced at twelve o'clock, and the opening piece of "the Dettingen Te Deum," produced a vivid effect. The burst in Gloria Patri reverberated through the arched roof, and the choristers filled the whole atmosphere of the Cathedral with music as completely as it was filled with air. This memorable Festival was very appropriately concluded with the Coronation Anthem, and the doors were thrown open to allow the crowd assembled in the Minster-yard to advance into the centre of the Church and hear those loyal strains. In the same liberal spirit, the doors of the Minster were opened on Saturday for the free admission of spectators, who had an opportunity of gratifying themselves with a sight of the majestic outfit previously to the whole being dismantled. The receipts were 20,000l.; and the disbursements stood thus:- Expenditure 11,000l.; New Concert Room 6,000l.; Charities 3,2001. The deed of trust now preparing, places the direction and control, and vests the new Concert-rooms in trust for the charity, in the Archbishop and Dean of York, and in the Lord Mayor of that city.

The Combination System, among different Trades, appears to be extending. It is openly avowed, that the members of these confederate Unions contemplate to enforce the system of interference throughout all trades and employments; and those persons and trades are first selected for the experiment, where success is thought most likely. The aid of those engaged in any trade, is solicited by delegates from the parties who have struck, under an engagement of affording similar assistance, when their first object is attained, and circumstances require it, to the workmen in all other branches. Thus the silk dyers and ladies' shoemakers in London, have subscribed to the Bradford Union, in Yorkshire. In Scotland, the colliers continue their combination. In the collieries belonging to Mr. Dunlop, of the Clyde Iron Works, 300 workmen have turned out, who are stated to have been able to make six shillings and three-pence a day, without over-hours. The

consequence

« ZurückWeiter »