480 I' th' seas, that ye shall plough; Nor any thing to friend you, Or stars to guide you now; Original Poetry When the winds do blow. Ye shall see mighty wonders, We often think upon you, Ye brave and noble men; And lay our charts before us; And ponder where, and when, We trust ye well shall prosper; And, passing well the Northern Pole, And safely steer through Behring's Strait; When the winds do blow. Then anchor'd safe at Greenwich, While the winds dblow. From the New Monthly Magazine: LINES Written after reading the Poems of the Ettrick Shepherd. WITH harp of Celt, and eye of fire, WIT The Swain of Ettrick strikes the lyre; A simple Mountain Shepherd, he When Rizzio breathes the melting story 64 June, 1818. D. CABANEL. From the Gentleman's Magazine. LINES, [VOL 3 By the Rev. William Lisle Bowles. Amongst the flints (says SirR. Hoare,in his late account of tumuli in Dorsetshire) we perceived large pieces of stags' horns, and half a stone celt; and at the depth of eleven feet, after a very laborious removal of an immense collection of flints, we discovered a skeleton of large proportions lying north-east by south-west, on its left side, with both legs gathered up according to the most antient and primitive sage. Near its side was deposited a most beautiful brazen dagger, that had been giit, and protected by a wooden scabbard, some part of which was stil. adhering to it, also a large and a small ornament of jet perforated with two holes of suspension; four very perfect arrow-heads of flint, &c. A fine urn, probably a drinking cup, lay broken at the feet of this British hero. The opening of this barrow WIS attended by so many awful circumstances, and gave birth to so beautiful a poem by my friend the Rer. Wm. Lisle Bowles, who attended our operations, that it will ever be remembered with horror and pleasure by those who were present. During the tremendous storm of thunder and lightning by which we were surprised, our only place of refuge was the tumulus, which had been excavated to a considerabie depth; the lightning flashed upon our spades and other iron instruments, and the flints poured down upon us from the summit of the barrow so abundantly and forcibly, that we were obliged to quit our hiding place, and abide the peiting of the pitiless storm upon the bleak and unsheltered down. Mr. Bowles took leave of us the same evening, and on the ensuing morning sent me the following spir ited Poem so truly descriptive of the awful scene we had lately witnessed: ET me, let me sleep again;' Thus, methought, in feeble strain, Plain'd from its disturbed bed The spirit of the mighty dead. 'O'er my moulder'd ashes cold Many a century slow hath roll'd, Many a race bath disappear'd Since my giant form I rear'd; Since my flinted arrow flew, Since my battle-horn I blew, Since my brazen dagger's pride Glitter'd on my warlike side Which transported o'er the wave, Kings of distant ocean gave. Ne'er hath glar'd the eye of day, My death-bed secrets to betray, Since, with mutter'd Celtic rhyme, The white-hair'd Druid bard sublime, 'Mid the stillness of the night, Wak'd the sad and solemn rite, The rite of Death, and o'er my bones Were pil'd the monumental stones. Passing near the ballow'd ground, The Roman gaz'd upon the mound, And murmur'd with a secret sigh, There in the dust the mighty lie,' Ev'n while his heart with conquest glow'd, His hero's violated grave, And shakes beneath the lightning's glare, The sulphur from his blazing hair. Hence! yet though my grave ye spoil, Deep the clouds of ages roll, History drops her mould'ring scroll, VOL. 3.] Alisma-Plantago-Anecdote of a Russian Peasant. LONDON PARAGRAPHS. From the English Monthly Magazines for June and July, 1813. THE ALISMA-PLANTAGO. TH THE following article has appeared in the 487 eral discovery of which, Providence, in it wisdom has reserved for the present time. The following communication, on this im portant subject is made by a Paris correspondent :-- "The plant (Alisma Plantago, Linnæus) which is successfully employed as a cure for A Russian peasant, of Simlursk, on the Volhydrophobia, grows in water, either in marsh-ga, possessed a celebrity in the cure of this es, lakes, or ponds. It has a capillary root worst of all human distempers. From the resembling that of an onion. The plant con- state of Russian society, and the tardiness of tinues under water till the month of June, at communication in that empire, owing to the the commencement of which, or even during fewness of the means, the celebrity was for a the month of May in a warm temperature, length of years exclusivly confined to the profrom five to seven detached sprouts, of a long vince in which he lived. He was not the disconvex form, shoot from beneath the water. coverer of the root that cured but was the sole These sprouts have a reddish bark, and are depository of the secret. The renown of his each provided with a pointed, smooth, and extraordinary cures, bursting, at length, bedeep colored leaf. In the month of June, a yond the circle of his government, their numstalk appears, with a round green root resember increased with his practice, and his celebling that of asparagus. This stalk shoots from brity along with them.---Travelling to a disbeneath the water, sometimes with, and some- tant village on the borders of Saralovsk, he times without leaves. It is divided into sevtarried to refresh at an intervening hamlet, where a case of hydrophobia, in its last awful stages, overwhelmed the peasantry in grief. unprepared for the event, shocked at the terrific spectacle before him---the convulsive agonies of the afflicted being---he hesitated; it was only for a moment: the conflict in his breast was between humanity and interest--the feelings of the one, however, soon overpowered all considerations of the other; he described it; it was known---it was sought directed search to be made for the Alisma; be for by all the inhabitants, each taking a different direction, and was immediately procured. was made, and the antidote administered. On Here the secret was divulged---a preparation being entreated to tarry in the hamlet till morning, the peasant replied, that his presence was no longer necessary---that the inan was cured. Satisfied of the efficacy of the remedy, he resumed his habit, and taking his leave, pursued his journey. of the summer season. eral sprigs without leaves, at the extremity of each of which is a small trefoil flower, of a pale red color, which afterwards contains the seed. This plant is in bloom during the whole The latter end of August is the fittest time to gather it. It is made use of in the following manner :---one large root, or two or three small ones, are first well washed and dried in the shade. They are then reduced to powder, and strewed upon bread and butter, and in this way administered to the patient. On the second, or at most the third trial, this remedy will destroy the virus of the madness, however virulent it may be, even when the symptoms of hydrophobia have already appeared. This root operates with equal efficacy on dogs which have been bitten, as well as on mad dogs. During an interval of twenty-five years, this specific has constantly been found an infallible preservative against madness. It has cured individuals, in whom this disease had acquired so decided a character, that they attacked and bit all who came near them; and no symptoms of relapse were ever observable. Numerous tures have been effected, particularly in the government of Tula." We are indebted for this notice to Mr. F. V. Turgeneff, who has lately sent from Moscow, for gratuitous distribution, 600 copies of an engraving and description of this plant.-Lil. Gaz. Further Account. EFFECTUAL CURE FOR THE HYDROPHOBIA. And the distempered man was cured. He subsequently felt a temporary exhaustion, but was at once freed from the torture of the malady. The circumstance thus related, quickly transpired. Communications on the subject reached to Moscow. The physical world made enquiry and research. Throughout Russia, all Germany, the reputed wonderful of hydrophobia, induced experiments---sucproperties of the Alisma Plantago, in the cure cessful experiments; they increased its fame a and, in those empires, is now established a perfect confidence in its unfailing efficacy. ANECDOTE OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Of the long catalogue of those distempers, with which it has pleased the Supreme Being At entering a large town in Spain, it was to chasten or afflict humanity, the most vio- not unusual for the Duke of Wellington to inlent, the most awful and deplorable, is hydro- quire particularly about the height of the phobia. The frightful malady which bereaves cathedral or finest church of the place. These of reason, distorts the frame, and humiliates questions, which were of course considered as the species, by a change from human to brutal marks of interest taken by El Lord in their nature, whose paroxysms, increasing with splendid ecclesiastical structures, were autheir succession, in their torture, render the swered with great complacency by the authormiserable sufferer too terrifying for sight--ities civil and religious. Then if it is so high almost too hideous for sympathy; this malady, you must have long ladders for cleaning it ocwhich hitherto no skill could control, no force casionally? This question, though its scope restrain, no medicine relieve, at length yields could not be so easily comprehended, was also to a simple of the vegetable worid----a quick, answered usually in the affirmative. but effectual antidote, the complete and gen- which ease the ladders marched on with the ЗР ATHENEUM. Vol. 2. English waggons to assist at the next storms. In 482 Quarrelton Coal-pit-The Chief of the Cossacks-Parisian Anecdotes. [vOLS QUARRELTON COAL-PIT. The following are some interesting particulars of the fate of persons inclosed in the Quarrelton coal pit, near Glasgow. Two, by a remarable Providence, have been got out alive; but with regard to five others there is no hope. the water from an adjoining waste broke into the pit on the morning of May 2, 1818, and tho' a powerful steam-engine was instantly set to work to pump it out, and continued to do so night and day, it was observed by the following Monday that little progress had been made, and it was therefore resolved to drive a mine from the pit to the place where it was probable the men might be. Accordingly, on Tuesday morning, the 5th instant, the mine was begun, and completed on the morning of the 12th instant. The opening of the mine into the work was considered to be attended with danger from the foul air; and it was arranged that Robert Hodgert, and his brother William, should encounter this danger. When they broke through, the foul air instantly extinguished their lights, and the feelings of the parties may be more easily conceived than described, when the words Is that you, uncle?" saluted the ears of Robert Hodgert. These words were uttered by his nephew, Wm. Hodgert, who along with his brother James, had beard the sound of the mining for, as they conjecture, two days, and were waiting for deliverance from one of the most awful possible situations. They immediately entered the mine, and got out. Their only sustenance for ten days and ten nights, in total darkness, amidst bad air, was the impure water of the pit and three pieces of oat cake, which, by grouping round the work, they found in the pockets of the clothes left by some of the men who escaped. The only person in the same awful situation with themselves that the Hodgerts had any communication with, was Alexander Barr, but whose voice they had ceased to hear, as they suppose, for at least two days before their delivelance. To enter the mine is now impracticable, owing to the bad air, and it will be a number of weeks before the water is drawn from the pit; consequently the fate of the remaining five meu is certain. GENERAL COUNT PLATOFF. Died, lately, at Novotscherkask, at a very advanced age, the gallant Hetman of the Cossacks, and General of cavalry, Count Platoff; one of the veteran warriors, whose exploits against the common enemy engrossed a few years since the attention of Europe, and a view of whose person was sought after with the greatest carnestness by persons of all descriptions in this country. The honest ardour with which this brave and loyal chief led on his irregular bands to the defeat and discomfitue of the unprincipled Tyrant of Europe refects immortal honor upon his memory, and will hand his name down to posterity as one of high rank among the illustrious heroes of bis day. Nothing could more strongly prove his honest detestation of the ferocious enemy and unrelenting ravager of his country, than his promising his daughter in marriage to any man who would bring the unprincipled Napojeon a prisoner to his camp. He was in a declining state so early in the last year as September. About that time we were informed from Tcherkash, that his Excellency was far from well. The fatigues of the campaign of the year 1812 began to manifest their effects after the stimulus of martial ardour, and that of travelling, had subsided ; VOL. 3.] Parisian Anecdotes-Crystallization of Tin. eagerness; but they hasten to throw a veil over the revolting picture, and add, that, it was, after a second exhibition, suppressed by authority. A Paris publication called the Ephemerides Militaires, a fortnight ago detailed the battle of Toulouse among the glorious victories achieved by the French arms: 20,000 French beat 100,000 English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and killed almost as many men as their own number amounted to !!! CRYSTALLIZATION OF TIN. Many of our readers are doubtless aware of the novel application of this beautiful process to articles of ornament and furniture, but it is not so generally known as to prevent the account of it from possessing considerable interest and curiosity. Through the politeness of Mr. Brunel, of Battersea, the ingenious inventor of many mechanical improvements of the most important class, we have been allowed the very gratifying inspection of the Tin Plate Manufactory, now carrying on under his direction and the patent of Mr. Shaw, of London. Those who have not seen this manufactory can form no conception of the extraordinary splendour and magnificence of its products. The raw material is so little allied to what mankind call rich or graceful, or superb, that it seems a more than common magic, which converts the paltry plate of white Tin into all the gorgeous colours of the most brilliant metals, of silver, and gold, and pearl, and opal, and emerald, and sapphire. Such, however, without exaggeration, is the effect of this fortunately discovered art. And not only is it susceptible of taking all tints and colours in the highest polish, but of assuming all the forms of beauty, radiations, stars, columns, angles, the semblance of every species of vegetation; in short, when we say that it exhibits all those shapes which crystals have in any state, and in general resembles such appearances as frost causes on panes of glass, our readers will conceive that there is an endless and fanciful variety of charming combinations. The new art was, we are informed, discovered accidentally about three years ago, in France, by a Monsieur Baget, who gave it the name of Moiré Metallique or Metallic Watering. Another Frenchman, near Brussels, however, contests the palm of originality; and, in truth, the principle has long been one of the least secrets either in chemistry or metallurgy, though we believe its useful application is entirely new. It depends simply upon the action of acids, whether pure or mixed, and in different degrees of solution, on alloys of Tin. The common Vitriolic Acid, we believe, answers the purpose as fully as any other more expensive acid agent. The process we find described in the public prints is as follows: "Dissolve four ounces of Muriate of Soda in eight ounces of water, and add two ounces of Nitric Acid:---or 8 oz. Water, 2oz. Nitric Acid, and 3 oz. Muriatic Acid--or 8 oz. Water, 2oz. Muriatic Acid, and 1 oz. Sulphuric Acid. Either of these mixtures is to be poured warm upon a sheet of tinned iron, placed upon a vessel of stoneware; it is to be poured on in separate portions, till the sheet is completely watered; it is then to be plunged into water,slightly acidulated and washed." The operation is completed by drying. The meanest un pan in our kitchens, sabe 483 mitted to this easy process, instead of its pallid metallic surface, imitates mother of pearl in its tone of colour,and shoots forth into an infinitude of figures and reflections, equal to enamel, and full of rich variety in design. By subjecting the iron to different degrees of heat, the variety of the forms is increased; some parts are granular; others are like architectural ruins; others grand natural phenomena of wood, and mountain, and cataract; others a silvery sunset darting rays along the expanse; others simple leaves and flowers; others cubes, cones, and all that geometry embraces; in fine, there is no shape which the imagination can conceive that accident may not produce in these exquisite sports of che mical power. The granular appearance is obtained to the greatest perfection, by pouring one of the above mixtures, cold, upon the tinned iron plates heated to a red heat: the radiated and star-like resemblances are best procured from copper tinned. The natural result of the crystallization is, as we have stated, to produce a surface of the shade of Mother of Pearl. The hues of gold, of blue, green, &c. are effected by varnishes, laid on in a peculiar manner, and rubbed to the utmost degree of polish by the soft part of the human hand. This affords an excellent occupation for females, and we saw with pleasure several women pursuing the easy labour at Mr. Brunel's Factory. In other apartments we were permitted to visit the workmen employed in manufacturing the plates into various articles of furniture, such as ladies' worktables, cabinets, inkstands, caddies, &c. &c. and unless our readers can fancy such things in the palaces of fairy tales, glittering with gold and precious stones, they can have no idea of the magnificence of these articles. By a skilful contrast of colours, one table seemed ore inlaid with pearl---another verd antique bedded in silver---a third malachite studded with gems. We cannot presume to say whether these productions will endure the wear and tear of use, better or worse than the materials which their superior beauty recommends them to supersede. It is probable that they will turn out to be at least as lasting as the finer kinds of cabinet-work, for they may be hammered without injury. At any rate the substitution of a new plate, for one spoilt by carelessness or bad treatment in any piece of farniture, must be much more cheap and convenient, than the renewal of the whole, if made of elegant and costly woods. With these advantages we expect soon to find that crystallized tin will cut a conspicuous figure in our most superbly furnished rooms, as well as be introduced into general use in well furnished houses. There can be no objection to the original poverty of the Material,-in its new guise it would never be suspected for poor tin; and we were informed, that the price of a sheet, about the size of a sheet of letter-paper, was half a crown, so that though not a very expensive article, it will yet be sufficiently costly to merit the attention of those who think nothing valuable or beautiful, but what cannot be purchased except at a considerable price. Of course great improvements will hereaf ter be made on an art as yet in its infancy, and This is stated, but we have not ascertained how the tinning is maintained or red-hot iron, so as to be subject to the process.-Ed. 484 Modern Hermit-Longevity-Colossal Statue of Memnon. [VOL. 3 there is no predicting to what perfection this turies amidst the ruins of the palace destroyed already admirable discovery may be carried by Cambyses, is now on its way to the British The acid has in one instance been applied to Museum. It is a colossal bust, of a single an Urn; and notwithstanding the difficulty of block of grasite, ten feet in height from the Jaying it on a surface, not only not flat, but bre st to the top of the head, and twelve tous comprising every variety of curve, the unat in weight. Other travellers before me had tractive vessel became an unique and splen- conceived the design of transporting it to Eudid ornament to the tea table. It is hence ev- rope, and enounced it only from not conceivident, that mouldings, cornices, &c. may be ing the means of effecting it. The great difcomposed of these diversified specimens: the ficulty was in moving such a mass for the space effect of which in grand or tasteful apartments of two miles, until its arrival at the Nile, would be unparalleled. whereby alone it could be conveyed to Alexandria. I succeeded in effecting it, without the aid of any machine, by the sole ower of the arms of sone Arabs; however ill qualified savage life, may be for such rude labours. As such, it has been the work of six months. [A correspondent, referring to the above account of the crystallization of tin, &c. writes, "I must inform you that the shops in Hamburg were full some months ago, with ar- this people, now sunk into the indolence of ticles of every description of Crystallized Tin, such as candlesticks, tea-boards, tea urns, &c. My friend, from whom I have this information, says, that these things have become so common that, notwithstanding their beauty the fashionable people begin to despise them."] MODERN HERMIT. Some years ago, Mr. Powys, of Morcham, near Preston, in Lanca-bire, advertised a reward of an annuity of 501. for life to any man, who would undertake to live seven years under ground, without seeing any thing human, and to let his toe and finger nails grow, with his hair and beard, during the whole time, Apartments were prepared, under ground, very commodious, with a cold bath, a chamber organ, as many books as the occupier pleased, and provisions from Mr. Powyss's own table, Whenever the recluse wanted any refreshment he was to ring a bell, and it was provided for him. Singular as this residence may appear, an occupier offered himself, and actually staid in it, observing the required condi. tions, for four years. ANECDOTE OF THE PRINCE REGENT. From Thebes I went up towards Nubia, to examine the great Temple of Ybsambal, which is buried more than double its height in the sands, near the second cataract. Tre I found the inhabitants very ill-disposed towa.ds my projects, and from whom I prepared to encounter some difficulties. However, the season being too advanced, was my sole motive in deferring this enterprise to another time. There In the mean time I returned to Thebes, where I occupied myself in new searches at the Temple of Karnack. There I found, sev eral feet under ground, a range of sphinxes surrounded by a wall. These sphinxes, with heads of lions on the busts of women, are of black granite, of the usual size; and, for the most part, of beautiful execution. was, in the same place, a statue of Jupiter Ammon, in white marble. It was not until my second journey, in 1817, that I discovered the head of a colossus much greater than that of Memnon. This head of granite, and of a single block, is by itself ten feet from the neck to the top of the mitre, with which it is crowned. Nothing can be in better preservation. The polish is still as beautiful as if it had but just come from the hands of the statuary. After this I again took the road to Nebia, where some severe trials awaited me. The people of this country are quite savages, without any idea of hospitality. They refused us things the most hecessary; entreaties and promises had no effect on them. We were reduced to live upou Turkish corn soaked in water. At length, by dint of patience and The visits of the Prince Regent to Brighton are almost invariably distinguished by acts of charitable munificence. Phoebe Hassel, a poor woman, born in 1715, and consequently almost 103 years old, has lately had the good fortune to attract his notice, while following her usual occupation of retailing fruit and gingerbread on the steps of a lodging house near the south end of the Steyne. Her venerable figure led to some inquiries on the part of his Royal Highness, who in consequence became acquainted with some curious particulars of her history. She was at Bunker's Courage, after twenty-two days persevering Hill in America, served under Lord Heithfield at the siege of Gibraltar, received several wounds, and concealed her sex till she was stripped so be punished for some misdemeanor. His Royal Highness commanded that half a guinea weekly shall be regularly paid to her from the royal purse as long as she lives, with instructions for more should her condition require it. STATUE OF MEMNON, &c. time engaged for the British government in MR. BELZONI, a learned Italian, is at this collecting antiquities for the British Museum. He lately addressed the following interesting account of his labours to M. Visconti, at Paris: Cairo, Jan. 9, 1818. I have just arrived from Upper Egypt, and am preparing to return to Nubia for the third time. In my first journey to Thebes in 1816, I had succeeded in embarking on the Nile the upper part of the famous statue of Memnon. This grand wreck, which has lain for so many cen labour, I had the joy of finding myself in the Temple of Ybsambul, where no European has ever before entered, and which presents the greatest excavation in Nubia or in Egypt, if we except the tombs, which I have since discovered at Thebes, The Temple of Ybsambul is 152 feet long, and contains fourteen apartments, and an inmense court, where we discovered eight colossal figures thirty feet high. The columns has then been spared by Cambyses; and the and the walls are covered with hieroglyphics and figures very well preserved. This temple other ravagers who came after him. I brought some antiquities from thence---two lions with the heads of vultures, and a small statue of Jupiter Aminon. Ön returning again to Thebes, I applied myself once more to discover what has been, from time immemorial, the object of discovery for all travellers of every nation---I mean the tombs of the kings of Egypt. It has since reached England. |