The neesten blast Craignethan gae, And a laithsome fiend stude at his side the revolting epithet which is attached to this magnificent river. Stanza 3d. Loganlaw, a conspicuous round hill, oftener called the Nidberrie, standing in the muirlands of Lesmahagow, near the confines of Ayrshire, at the source of a small stream called the Logan, which, after losing itself in Nethan, falls into the Clyde. There is no coppice-wood Syne an ugsome ask in his han' sho kyth't on its banks, but the extensive morasses Owerspread wi' lapper't blude. He held her fast, and ower again The halic sign he made; Syne a sneeran' snake sho twin'd roun' his arm, An' ower his bosom slade. When he the thirden time her sain't, A burnan' bale she grew; He nam'd ower her the halie name, On Beltan morn was Mary won, Wicht William, on Beltan een, An' greater wae at the fairy court Afore was never seen. An' Willie was an earl's son, In the bonnie lands o' Spain; She him betaucht to the fairies' aucht, As in her lap he lay ; with which the streamlet and Loganlaw are surrounded, afforded shelter and safety to numerous parties of covenanters during the disgraceful times of the Episcopalian persecution. In a sequestered cot, called Logan-house, remote from every other habitation, were the covenants sworn; and at Skellyhill was David Steel, an inflexible covenanter, treacherously shot at his own door. His elder brother, John Steel of Waterhead, had to flee for his life, while his wife and infant family, driven from their home, and stripped of all their property, were compelled to take shelter in a turf sheeling built for them, by the kindness of their neighbours, in the moors. A deep gullet is still shown in a morass wherein the unhappy wife of John Steel was delivered of a child, from that occurrence, since called Steel's Hag, and the miserable mother, though her husband was a considerable proprietor, had no other resource to cover her tender little ones at night than to put them into pillowslips, and bury them up to the neck in a heap of oaten chaff. Ib. Cora-shaw. Cor-house is the An' the fairies him sent to Craignethan's romantic seat of Miss Edmonstone, ha' To wize his dochter him frae. In June they wad; and or Beltan cam roun, Craignethan lay in his grave; For nane e'er curs'd the Seelie Court And ever after thrave. Notes. Stanza Ist.-Bludie Clyde is a title always given to this river in the popalar songs and ballads of Lanarkhire. Notwithstanding the populousness and riches of the county, there are but few bridges over the Clyde, especially in the Upper Ward of the shire, and the fords are equally scarce and exceedingly dangerous, so that the many instances of persons yearly perishing in its waters fully justify lately bequeathed to the learned and eloquent Mr Cranstoun of the Scottish bar. Near the house is Cora-lin, the most magnificent fall on Clyde, being no less than eighty feet high, and walled in by perpendicular rocks of a prodigious height. Stanza 9th.-Craigs o' Blair, a lofty range of rocks on the Nethan, a little below Craignethan Castle. Stanza 18, &c.-Auchlochan and Fows are two beautiful spots on the Nethan, the one the property of John Brown, Esq.; the other of Robert Macgie: they were both, especially the latter, favourite haunts of the fairies. Abbey-green, the kirk-town of Lesmahagow, situated in a beautiful dell, was formerly the scite of a priory founded by David in 1140. During one of the incursions of the English, the inhabitants fled to the priory as to a sanctuary, from the face of their merciless enemies; but the savage Lancaster, regardless of religion and regardless of life, burnt it to the ground with all its inmates. The marks of the flames were still visible upon the old steeple till 1803, when the old church having become quite ruinous, it was pulled down, and a spacious fabric, having all the appearance of a huge cotton-mill, was built in its place by the heritors. Priorhill, on the west side of the parish, was a hunting seat of the priory of Lesmahagow. Fauld-house, the property of John Smith, Esq. lies on the south-east side of the parish, and is remarkable for a large flow, or deep boggy morass, a favourite haunt of snipes. Auldton, the property of John Hamilton, Esq. is equally a favourite haunt of partridges. It may be proper to explain the following words, which are not to be found in Jamieson, nor in any former communications in this Magazine. To fesh, to fetch; conjugated fesh, fuish, fushen. Inno, in, a common word. Yuckfit, the snipe, so called from its cry; called also, from the same circumstance, heatherleat. To rive, to ploug, spoken of ground which has either long lain in lea, or has never been ploughed before. The v. is conj. rive, rave, riven. Wauchie, this word is applied only to the countenance, and denotes that the person has a sallow and greasy face. Sotter, v. a. n. this word appears to be wrongly explained by Jamieson. In Clydesdale, at least, it never signifies to simmer, nor to denote the bubbling noise of any thing in boiling, but always denotes to scorch any part of the body, any piece of flesh, fat, or greasy substance before the fire; and, secondly, it denotes the crackling and bubbling noise which any of these substances makes before the fire. Sotterit signifies scorched, as applied to flesh, &c. MANUSCRIPT NOTES FROM AN INTERLEAVED BOOK OF TRAVELS. NOTWITHSTANDING the lightness of the soil in the neighbourhood of Bruges and Ghent, flax is advantageously cultivated, in consequence of three ploughings, and a summer fallow. If the ground be dry, as it usually is in these districts, the surface is reduced to a perfect level, and deprived of water courses, that the moisture may be more effectually retained. The thread of which the finest lace is made, is obtained from flax which has been allowed to ripen its seed. Duke Leopold, of Lorraine, had a favourite bear, called Masco, which occupied a shed near one of the gates of Nancy. During the severe winter of 1709, a poor Savoyard boy ventured to claim the protection of this creature, and obtained it. Masco not only warmed his shivering guest, and allowed him to sleep without molestation, but regularly resigned to him a portion of his evening repast. In the forests of Hungary, the bear permits children to gather any quantity of its favourite whortle berries with impunity. Yet this is the animal which man deprives of sight, defrauds of food, or scorches with red hot iron, to attract the stupid gaze of an unfeeling multitude! Most of the barks which navigate the lake of Geneva have their planking and masts of larch, which is found to be more durable than oak. In some parts of the Pays de Vaud, the houses are constructed of square blocks of this timber, which consolidate by means of their resinous exudations, and last for centuries. The substance called Venice turpentine issues spontaneously from the bark of this tree, but is principally procured by boring a hole, about two feet above the ground, to near the heart of the tree. Into this orifice a small pipe is inserted, and the turpentine flows into vessels placed for its reception. In the vicinity of Lyons, the gathering of this resinous fluid continues from May till September, and the middle aged trees are the most productive. In the hills of Bugey, the greater Red-stort, or Rock-shrike, (Lanius 630 June The Abbé Rozier, who had desery-" ed so well of his country and of mankind, had expected to pass the remainder of his days at Beziers, in a studious retreat. At first he was re Manuscript Notes. infaustus, Gmel.) makes its appearance from May to September. The individuals of the species which frequent this and other districts of cultivated Europe, have become extremely shy and distrustful of man; whereas in the Uralian mountains, where they are seldom molested, they are much more familiar. Their note is sweetly varied, and their organs of sound so very flexible, that they readily imitate the song of other birds, or human music. Their warbling agreeably enlivens the hilly wastes at the dawn of day, and again at the setting of the sun. It is somewhat remarkable, that madder is successfully cultivated in the opposite climates of Zealand and Asiatic Turkey. Though indigenous to France, Colbert had the merit of introducing it as an article of husbandry; and so considerable is its consumption among the dyers, that a certain proportion is still imported from Zealand and the Levant. According to the experiments of Zucchini, it will thrive on poor sandy soil. The same accommodating property may be remarked in Galium verum, from the root of which a red dye is obtaincd, and which might be easily reared on many waste tracts on our shores. The leaves of madder are a nourishing food for cows. ceived with the most flattering atten tions; but the liberality of his sentiments and conduct soon rendered him obnoxious to those who reckon philosophy incompatible with religion. The bishop had procured, at the public expence, a road to the farm of his mistress, but which, in the fair line, of direction, might have accommodat ed fourteen farms, and a whole village. The Abbe's upright spirit was so much grieved at this scandalous prostitution of the public funds, that he' cited the bishop to answer for his conduct in a court of justice. The accused prelate, by exerting undue influence with the comptroller-general, occasioned the suppression of the Abbe's small pension, and induced him to retire from the abode of ignorance and intolerance. Father Dominique Colonia, a native of Aix, in Provence, passed most of his life among the Jesuits of Lyons, and published a treatise on Rhetoric, which went through twenty editions, besides proofs of Christianity from Pagan writers, the Literary History of Lyons, &c. As he blended sarcasin with his erudition, he easily procured enemies; but they were contented with the following ludicrons instance of revenge. To try the Father's boasted talents in the capacity of an antiquarian, they cut an inscription on a leaden pot, which they con-, cealed for some time in a field, and then dug it up, and had it transmitted to him as a discovery. Colonia examined it with enthusiasm, and published a very learned dissertation on the subject, in the Journal de Trevour for December 1724. Nicholas Compian, a wealthy merchant of Marseilles, attracted the love and esteem of his fellow citizens by the generosity of his proceedings and his unshaken integrity Large cargoes of grain having been shipped on his account, when the city laboured under an afflicting scarcity, the magistrates offered to purchase the whole at sixty livres the septier. "God forbid," exclaimed Compian, that 1 I should take advantage of the public calamity. Thirty livres will be a suf-, ficient compensation.” This same merchant having embarked for Egypt, in the prosecution of his business, had the misfortune to be captured by a Tripoli pirate, and sold to a rich individual. Though treated with great gentleness, the prospect of hopeless separation from his family and relatives plunged him into deep melancholy. His master having in vain endeavoured to comfort him, at length allowed him to revisit his native country, and settle his affairs, on a promise that he would return within a limited period. Compian, accordingly, passed a few months in the bosom of his family, and, like another Regulus, fulfilled his engagement with the generous barbarian. On his arrival at Tripoli, he found the latter overwhelmed with grief on account of the dangerous illness of a wife whom he tenderly loved. "Christian," said he, " you return most opportunely-you see my sufferings pray to your God that he would take pity on my wife and myself-for the prayers of the righteous avail much." Compian instantly fell on his knees, blending his supplications with those of the Mussulman, and the fair patient soon regained her accustomed state of health. Her grateful husband would no longer have an unhappy person in his presence. "Cease," said he, one day, to mourn for me, or for yourself. Gladly would I retain you under my roof, pass my days in your society, and give you my daughter in marriage; but the law of the prophet forbids the union. Accept, then, the only worthy present that I can give, nor thank me till I have merited your gratitude. Receive your freedom-take your passage in the vessel which I have loaded-the cargo is your own-for I would not restore you empty-handed to the friends of your love. Go in peace and may Heaven protect and bless you !" André de Peyssonel, a reputable physician, fell a sacrifice to professional attendance on his fellow-citizens during the plague at Marseilles. His son, Charles, born 1700, manifested from infancy a suavity of disposition, and a facility of genius, which never forsook him. He com VOL. IV. menced his medical career under the fathers of the Oratory, at Marseilles, and was sent to Paris to complete his education. In geometry he speedily outstripped his teachers. Painting and poetry were his juvenile amusements. During fifteen years, which he devoted to the laborious profession of the bar, he combined in his plead-" ings solidity of argument with ele-› gance of diction, listened with patience to the poorest of his numerous clients, and could still mingle in the circles of his acquaintance or of mixed company, which he animated and adorned by the graces of cheerfulness, politeness, and beneficence. Being appointed chancellor to the French embassy at the Porte, 1735, he eminently distinguished himself by his probity and talents for business. On occasion of the peace between the Emperor and the Porte, he accompanied the Marquis de Villeneuve to Belgrade, and was honoured with a pension by the King of France, with the title of Count by the Pope, and with handsome gratifications by the Emperor of Germany and the Grand Signior. During his residence in Turkey, he framed several voluminous manuscripts on the commerce of the Levant, which, with his memorials and official dispatches, have been allowed to slumber in the archives of diplomacy. Notwithstanding his weighty and delicate occupations, he, moreover, found leisure to undertake many hazardous expeditions, prompted by an ardent curiosity to visit places once celebrated, but now deserted or obscure, to collect medals, and to explore ancient monuments. In these excursions he frequently read on horseback, and compared the text with the actual topography. His eagerness of research was rewarded by the discovery of inscriptions and medals illus trative of the history of the kings of the Bosphorus, on which he composed a very learned dissertation. journeyings to Nicomedia, he was attended by only two domestics, whom he treated as companions, a cloak and bonnet forming the whole of his wardrobe. Having more than once narrowly escaped from the banditti of Asia Minor, he returned to Constantinople much emaciated, in conse quence of unwhe!esome food, fastings, and fatigue; but he reckoned his hardships and privations amply repaid 3 Y In by a rich collection of inscriptions, so immediately under the cognizance antiques, and drawings. The French of the medical profession, should ever residents at Constantinople, struck have been involved in doubt. Yet so with the strange discomposure of his it has happened--and while one class exterior, his lank cheeks, and his enor- of the faculty positively denied the mous portfolio, endeavoured to turn existence of fever in any unusual prohim into ridicule in a little dramatic portion, another was equally urgent piece entitled L'Antiquaire Francais, in exciting attention to its alarming and which they pertly submitted to increase. On the moral, physical, or his inspection. To the confusion of political causes which may have pro his satirists, he not only honoured it duced this discrepance of opinion with his perusal, but insisted on act- among the members of the profession, ing the part of the antiquary on their it is not our present intention to im private theatre, which he did in his quire; although it certainly may af rambling costume, and added to the ford a theme of some interest and en last vaudeville the following im- riosity to those who rigorously searchi promptu : into the motives of their fellow citizens; but we shall at present content ourselves with stating, that whether the one party acted as wilful agitators, or the other denied the existence of any cause for alarm, merely on Laç‣ count of the source from which that alarm proceeded, the fact that contas Vous voyez l'acteur principal FURTHER REMARKS ON SOME RECENT gious fever almost universally pres PUBLICATIONS ON THE PRESENT In our number for last December, we submitted to our readers some observations on the most recent publications which had then appeared on the subject of the prevailing epidemic fever, more especially as they applied to Scotland. Since that period, the number of works which have issued from the press has augmented so consider ably, as to render the collection of even a bare catalogue of them a matter of some labour. From these voluminous records, which it is not our present intention to consider in detail, one fact is very obvious, and this is the important, though for some time the controverted point of the increasing prevalence of epidemic fever in the British empire. It will probably appear to many of our readers a singular fact, that a subject which must naturally have come * 1. A Practical Treatise on the Effica cy of Bloodletting in the Epidemic Fever of Edinburgh, by Dr Welsh. Edinburgh, 1819. 2. Observations on the Prevalence of Fever in various parts of the United King dom, by Dr Dickson. Bristol, 1819. 3. Observations on the Condition of the Middle and Lower Classes in the North of Ireland, as it tends to promote the diffusion of contagious Fever, by Dr Rogan. Lon don, 1819. vails cannot longer be questioned. Assuming this fact as the basis of our observations, and leaving one party to congratulate themselves on their clear-sightedness, and the other to im pugn their right to any such charac ter, we shall proceed to lay before our readers such additional facts as have come to our knowledge within the last few months. The sources from which we draw our information are princi pally a work recently published in this city by Dr Benjamin Welsh, a little tract by Dr Dickson of Clifton, and an amplification of an inaugural dissertation, to which we alluded with much respect in our December number, by Dr Rogan of Strabane, in Ireland. these gentlemen more immediately As the publication by the first of concerns ourselves, we shall begin with it. The avowed object of the author is to prove the efficacy of bloodletting in the present fever, especially as it has appeared in the Queensberry House Hospital, of which he is the resident medical superintendent. Al though we do not mean to enter into medical discussions in the course of bear noticing, that, in our opinion, these observations, yet we cannot forDr Welsh has most completely established this valuable fact. Whether the cures might have been effected without the drawing of blood at allfor by the loss of a smaller quantity they appears to have been drawn, we shall |