1819.7 Let him brandish furiously his sabre and spear in the boldness of his spirit, undaunted at calamities. Let him do justice to the lance of Cahtan in the contest, and let him stretch forth proudly his shoulders with the edge of the scimitar. Otherwise let him lead a contemptible life in ignominy, and when he dies, his friends will not mourn over him. The beauteous virgins will not weep in anguish for any but the horsemen noble in the hour of trial. I am the hero well known in the field of battle, and I am the eager knight among my relations. I am the assaulting lion, and the hero who defends their dwellings and habitations." We must now, however, carry the reader rapidly forward to the close of the volume, deferring our farther remarks on the general character of the work, till the rest of it appear in an English dress. Suffice it to say, that our champion's heroic deeds gradually lead him to distinction. He gains possession of the finest steed in Arabia, and a magic sword forged from a thunderbolt. He is at length recognized by the nobles as an Arab knight, accompanies the king in his wars, and delivers his countrymen by his prowess from many imminent dangers. He also completely gains the heart of the beauteous Ibla, but meets with a dangerous rival in the person of one Amarah, a sort of Bedowin Dandy, whom, for the sake of his species in our own times, we must not altogether over look." He was one of the nobles, but a great coxcomb, very particular in his dress, fond of perfumes, and always keeping company with the women and young girls." Hearing of the surpassing charms of the fair Ibla, he sent a female slave to visit her, and to bring him a report if she was worthy of her fame. The response was, that her beauty surpassed all the charms that had ever been bestowed by heaven on the fairest of the daugh ters of kings. "At this his heart fluttered, he was agitated, he instantly leaped up, and put on his best clothes, and perfumed himself all over, and let his hair float down his shoulders, and mounted a white faced horse, and set out for the habitations of the tribe of Carad." On the way he meets the lady's father and brother, concludes the bargain with them, and all is settled but the ceremony of giving the dower, which would for ever deprive Antar of his adored Ibla. Antar, however, soon hears of these proceedings, encounters the poor perfumed beau, "dashed him to the ground, and almost smashed his bones." The terror of Amarah, and the rage of Antar's uncles, were unbounded, but the favour of the king and Prince Malik, and the extraordinary services performed by our hero, obliged them to disguise, in some degree, their resentment, and even at length to consent to the union of the lovers. But the treacherous father of Ibla, in giving his consent, obtained a promise from Antar to present him, before the nuptials, with a thousand Assafeer camels, —trusting that he would be destroyed in the attempt to seize them, as these camels could no where be found except in the possession of King Monzar, the Arabian lieutenant of Chosroe Nushirvan, king of Persia. Antar sets out on this expedition, accompanied only by his maternal brother Shiboob; finds the carnels, and is driving them off, when he is encountered by the troops of Monzar, whom he fiercely engages with his single arm, and had almost routed, though twelve thousand in number, when his famous charger Abjer stumbles, and throws him to the ground, and he is for the first time taken pri soner. Their chief is filled with admiration of his bravery and his eloquence; he is unbound to encounter unarmed a lion, which he destroys; and afterwards he assists Monzar to repulse his enemies, and gains such renown, that he is sent for to fight a Christian knight, who had cha lenged and slain, one after another, all the Pagan champions at the court of Persia. He succeeds in this as in his former enterprizes, is loaded with honours and presents by Chosroe, and invited to take up his residence at his court. But Antar's heart remains un corrupted amid all the splendid luxury of Persia. He languishes for the tents of Kedar,-obtains from Monzar the Assateer camels, and is about to return home, when the volume closes; and the Editor informs us that "The Continuation of this History has not yet been received in England." Here we must also for the present close; but with the hope of being soon enabled, by the Editor, to resume our account of this "Wild and Wondrous Tale;" of whose rich and original beauties the specimens now given can convey but a very faint and imperfect idea. ARABIAN SONG. THE sun descends; his crimson rays O'er plain, and mount, my wandering I saw him on that fatal morn, I watched the tear within his eye, When shall his voice be heard! With dusky heads the grove of dates- Beside the fount, where we have stood, With patient eye, the camels stand, And ruminate their food; Yea! even the shade of sorrow lowers On lonely plain horizon-bound, T Beside his tent, with thoughtful brow, To warm his heart, or cheer his eye, I see not thee-I hear not thee But Alla heeds, and Alla hears! I yield my heart to his decree, And quench my growing fears; For ah! my soul could never seek Aught save thyself, my wandering Sheik, CHANSONETTE. SING me the song she loved so well : Its wild and melancholy measure Recalls the form of Rosabel, M. And gives the hour its wonted pleasure. Bid her own music from afar A sunbeam darker thoughts between, To the drooping flower it falls within. Nay, cease the strain: it thrilling brings A painful, empty vision, only, That comes like Hope, and mocking clings Around the heart, yet leaves it lonely. But soon returning, like the Dove, Will Peace resume her gentle reign; When, with their whisperings of love, Our glances meet and mix again. FRAGMENT. C. Yet there they mock our mute despair; And death's dark slumber chain my tongue, Ere faithless to my infant love, From thee my thoughts one moment rove! While in the dust we sadly weep I HAVE seen thy blue eyes leave me, as ac night Some traveller sees, in forests dark and blind, His lamp blown out by the invidious wind, When most he needed its conducting light. Yet, though thou stealest from my mortal sight What most it loves to look on,from my mind Thou canst not steal that picture left behind, Which makes my bosom half forget thy flight. "Tis joy to think upon thee, and to wear Thy image in the heart; a fruitful glow Dwells round it of sweet thoughts and fancies fair. Thus in some thorny grove, where'er we know A crystal spring, the yellow primrose there, Cowslip, or lilies on its margin blow. Hark! how the lone night-wind uptosses the forest! A downcast regret thro' the mind slowly steals: But, ah! 'tis the tempests of Fortune that sorest The desolate heart in its loneliness feels. Where, where are the spirits in whom was my trust; Whose bosoms with mutual affection did burn? Alas! they have gone to their homes in the dust; The grass rustles drearily over their urn; While I, in a populous solitude, languish 'Mid foes who beset me, and friends who are cold: Yes, the pilgrim of earth oft has felt in his anguish, That the heart may be widowed before it be old! Affection can soothe but its votaries an hour, Doomed soon in the flames that it raised to depart; And oh ! disappointment has poison and power To ruffle and fret the most patient of heart! How oft, 'neath the dark-pointed arrows of malice, Hath merit been destined to bear and to bleed; And they who of pleasure have emptied the chalice, Can tell that the dregs are full bitter indeed! Let the storms of adversity lower, 'tis in vain, Though friends should forsake me, and foes should condemn ; These may kindle the breasts of the weak to complain, They only can teach resignation to mine: For far o'er the regions of doubt and of dreaming, The spirit beholds a less perishing span; And bright through the tempest the rain. bow is streaming, The sign of forgiveness from Maker to LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. Proposal by the Council, Approved of by a General Meeting of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, held 8th December 1818, for Establishing, by Subscription among the Members of the Society, and Others, an Experimental und Botanical Garden, under the Title of the EDINBURGH HORTICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL INSTITUTION. THE want of an extensive garden, in which the study of botany, as applicable to the purposes of rural economy, might be prosecuted by those who cannot attend the lectures of the professor in the university, has long been felt. But now, when vegetable physiology, and its application to horticulture, and to the treatment of woods and plantations, has rapidly advanced, it has become of importance that this society should take the lead in forming an institution, without which its efforts for improving that art, the name of which it bears, certainly cannot have their full effect. Although, therefore, the propriety of the Caledonian Horticultural Society patronizing and sharing in the proposed establishment cannot be questioned, yet it appears most advisable that, as a body, it should be connected with it, only as holding shares in an heritable property, sufficient to entitle it to have a certain proportion of the garden allotted for experiments most immediately connected with its proper objects: and leaving it in the power of the society, as well as of individual proprietors, to sell or transfer their shares at pleasure. I.-Objects of the Institution. 1. The collection of curious and rare exotic plants, such as are not commonly met with in the green-houses of nursery men. 2. The collection of ornamental and rare plants, natives of Britain. 3. The collection of ornamental, rare, and useful exotic plants that have been naturalized in Britain, or which may be naturalized in this country. Such plants to be propagated as extensively as possible, and their seeds to be preserved, for the purpose of being distributed among the subscribers, according to such rules as may be afterwards agreed up on. 4. Two acres to be set apart for the purpose of experiments in horticulture and vegetable physiology, and for attempts to naturalize exotics; to which none but subscribers (accompanied by the chief gardencr) can be admitted. 5. The rest of the garden to be devoted to the culture of such new or foreign sorts of culinary vegetables, fruit, and forest trees, as may be recommended for trial; seeds, grafts, or plants of which, if found worthy of cultivation, to be distributed among the subscribers. In this part of the garden experiments will be made with a view of raising varieties from seed, in order to procure fruits that may be better adapted to the climate of Scotland. II.-Property. The property of the garden to be held in shares of L. 20 each; and it is proposed that the society shall immediately subscribe for twenty-five shares; exclusive of the subscriptions of individual members. The number of shares to be limited to 500; and no individual to be allowed to hold a greater number than two, on the first subscription, although, afterwards, shares may be purchased or acquired to any amount. As soon as 250 shares, exclusive of those taken by the society, are subscribed for, application to be made for a royal charter and, as soon as that is obtained, measures to be taken for the purchase of ground. Subscribers to be furnished with tickets, which will admit them, and friends accompanying them; and with transferable tickets for the use of their families. An interim committee to be appointed to collect subscriptions, and to prepare a set of regulations, to be submitted to a meeting to be called as soon as 250 subscriptions shall have been obtained, preparatory to the application for a charter. As every plant in the garden, of every description, will have its name attached to it, and its time of flowering and ripening its seed or fruit in the garden, together with its various properties and qualities, carefully recorded, this establishment will form the means both of instruction and recreation, while it will largely contribute to improve the art of horticulture in all its branches. It is proposed to have a complete range of houses, viz. stoves, green-house, vinery, peach-house, and a house for experiments. Also a sufficient number of hot-bed frames, and hand-glasses; together with every article necessary for carrying on the establishment in a style creditable to the capital of Scotland. If it shall afterwards be deemed advisable to increase the number of shares, the addition will in the first place be put in the power of subscribers who may wish to take them. The superfluous produce of the garden, in fruit-trees, grafts, flowers, &c. to be sold, in order to assist in defraying the annual expences. The garden to be within two miles of Edinburgh, or as near as possible, without the risk of being injured by smoke. The botanic garden at Glasgow has received a royal charter, and is now designated"The Royal Botanic Institution of Glasgow." It is the first institution of the kind in Scotland so honoured, and it seems likely soon to prove its scientific progress deserving of the title, as hardly a ship now arrives in the Clyde from foreign parts without bearing rare seeds or plants for the establishment. Literary Premium-A gentleman of this city has received, from a friend in London, a letter in the following terms : "Dear sir,-Inclosed you will find a bill for L. 50, to be divided into three sums of L. 25, L. 15, and L. 10, as prizes for the best lines, in verse or prose, on the subject of Sir William Wallace's inviting Bruce to the Scottish throne; which I could wish to be so expressed, as not to give offence to our brethren south of the Tweed. 66 Perhaps there could be introduced into the composition, the propriety of erecting a tower or monument to the memory of Wallace, on Arthur Seat, or Salisbury Craigs. If such an object could be accomplished, I would leave L. 1000 by my will to assist it. My name need not be mentioned; only say a native of Edinburgh, and a member of the Highland Society of London, who left his native place at twelve years of age. The rest I leave to your better judgment, and remain," &c. We have been requested to intimate, that candidates for these prizes may send their compositions (postage paid) to Messrs Manters and Miller, Edinburgh, before the 1st May 1819, when the prizes will be awarded. Our celebrated countryman, Wilkie, is engaged, we understand, in painting for the Prince Regent, as a companion to his Blind-man's- Buff, a picture descriptive of a Scotch Penny Wedding. The subject is replete with characters and incidents suited to the style of the artist, and we doubt not but he will produce a picture upon it which may be ranked as his Chef d'œuvre. For a lively and graphic account of this festivity, taken from real life, see our number for November 1818. Deaths in Paris during 1817.-The following tables are so curious and so instructive, that we have copied them from the annual report published in the Journal de Pharmacie. The 276 dead bodies deposited at the Morgue in 1817, consisted of Males Females The number of drowned in 1816 was 278 And that of suicides Suicides in 1817 188 197 If we admit that at least one half of the drowned persons underwent a voluntary death, the number of suicides in 1817 will amount to 335, or to more than six every week. In 1808, 1809, 1810, the annual number of suicides was from 50 to 55. This number has increased progressively since 1812. Saffron supposed to prevent Sea Sickness.-M. Cadet, who spent part of the summer of 1817 in London, mentions, that when he crossed the channel from Calais to Dover, he observed an English gentleman with a bag of saffron suspended over his stomach. On inquiring the reason, he was told by the gentleman that it was a practice which he always followed when crossing the channel, because it preserved him from sea sickness. The remedy was found out, he said, in the following way: A small merchant, who had occasion to make frequent voyages, was always tormented with sea sickness when on shipboard. One day he embarked, after purchasing a pound of saffron, which he put under his shirt in order to avoid paying duty for it. He escaped without experiencing any sea sickness, though the sea was rough. Ascribing this lucky escape to the saffron, he communicated his discovery to several of his friends, who made repeated trials of the remedy, and always with success. The above passage is translated from the Journ. de Pharm. July 1817, p. 335, though we are far from implicitly believing that saffron is likely to cure this hitherto incurable malady; but that the alleged cure may be generally known, and that its ef |