NUGE CANORÆ. (To the Editor of the Mirror.) SIR,-My long silence has induced you, no doubt, to set me down among such of your correspondents as had descended to the "tomb of all the Capulets." But, if you will take the word of an honest man, I have not been dead but only sleeping. The fact is simply this: soon after the date of my last contribution to your enlightened work, I had the happiness (or shall I say the misfortune ?) to become acquainted with that redoubtable character, the English Opium-eater. Being, in a certain respect, of congenial ways of thinking, our acquaintance assumed at once, per saltum as it were, the nature of friendship; and, so seduced was I by his manners, that I plunged at once into the full enjoyment of his fascinating habits; and, being, as you may imagine, a mere novice in the art of Opium-eating, I was speedily overcome. So, to make a short story of the matter, I fell into a delightful slumber, which lasted precisely nine months, seven days, and some odd hours. About three hours ago I awoke from my reverie, and was not a little surprised to find at my elbow, (for I had fallen asleep in the very act of writing to your High Mightiness) not only a complete set of the MIRROR, but also a regular file of newspapers, which my newsman, with an affectionate regard for my entertainment and his own profit, had supplied during my nap. You will naturally conclude, that my first impulse was to It was no devour your lucubrations. such thing. My paramount feeling, at the moment, was to learn how our mundane affairs had gone on during my repose. I turned, accordingly, to the pages of the Morning Herald, which was the paper my provident newsman had sent, and after having made a hasty meal on their contents, was as able, as if I had been awake the whole time, to decide upon the merits of the several individuals, who had figured on our terrestial stage during the interesting interval; and of these I found the two most distinguished were, to all intents and purposes, the Dey of Algiers, and the benevolent Member for Galway. This worthy pair of personages appeared to my mind's eye," to be standing at the opposite ends of a long, imaginary chain, which might be called the chain of sympathy. At one extreme was his Highness of Algiers, treating, with the most wanton and unyielding severity all the Christians on whom he could lay his hands; and at the other appeared the celebrated champion of the brute creation defending, with unheard of eloquence the rights of all the bears and apes of the metropolis. It was impossible for me not to be strongly affected by this contrast; so, notwithstanding the keenness of my appetite after a fast of so unusual a duration, I could not resist the temptation of chaunting the praises of these illustrious individuals, and I hasten to transmit to you the result, as some amends for my late silence. Believe me still your well-wisher, April 10, 1824. BARDULUS. A LITTLE ODE ON A GREAT Like Carthage of old in her high days, On the land or the main, Her renown for the Punica fides ; — O monarch sublime, Beware of the time, When the thunder of Britain provo- Though Dey of Algiers,* Thou wilt find it no Day of All-joking. FOR dogs and hares, Let M-t-n stil' make laws, Sir; So well can plead their cause, Sir. Or man or mouse, Not one stands him before, Sir, The brutish state, For he's a mighty bore,+ Sir. Query---All jeers? PRINTER'S DEVIL. + Query---Boar? Ibid. ANECDOTE OF PAUL SANDBY. A SHORT time before the decease of the late Paul Sandby, Esq., Mr. Grignon, the engraver, who was then upwards of eighty years of age, had come from Kentish Town to visit his old friend; and as their venerable hands met, Mr. Grignon exclaimed, "My dear Paul, I am come to spend the day with you; for by the memorandum on this scrap of paper, it appears, that on this day sixty years back, you and I first met; and though, my dear friend, our hands may be colder now than then, I am sure our hearts are quite as warm.' ON NEGROES AND THE SLAVE calamities of their condition, and as a TRADE. WHATEVER (says an eminent writer) may be the general character and disposition of the negroes in their own country, they are influenced in a considerable degree, as we may naturally imagine, by their condition in a state of slavery, a circumstance that soon effaces the native, original impression, which distinguishes one nation from another in negroes new imported, and creates a similitude of manners, and an uniformity of character throughout the whole body. Although the natives of the Gold Coast are reported to be firm and courageous, yet it is certain that the negroes in general in our islands, (such of them at least as have been for any length of time in a state of servitude,) are of a distrustful and cowardly disposition. So degrading is slavery, that fortitude of mind is lost as free agency is restrained. To the same cause may probably be ascribed their propensity to conceal or violate the truth, which is so general, that the vice of falsehood is one of the most prominent features in their character. Their proneness to theft is also very prevalent. Cowardice and dissimulation have indeed been the properties of slavery in all ages. This unhappy condition necessarily suppresses many of the best affections of the heart. If it calls forth any latent virtues, they are those of sympathy and compassion for persons in the same condition; and, accordingly, it is found, that the negroes in general are strongly attached to their countrymen, but above all, to such of their companions as came in the same ship with them from Africa. The negro, says Dr. Robertson, glows with all the warmth of desire natural to his climate. The tender passion, says another writer, is the most ardent one in the breast of the enslaved African;—it is the only source of his joys, and his only solace in affliction. The greatest affront that can be offered to a negro, is to curse his father and mother, or any of his progenitors. Their funeral songs are of the heroic or martial kind; and some of them exhibit a Pyrrhic, or warlike dance, in which their bodies are much contused by running, leaping, and jumping, and many violent and frantic gestures and contortions. In songs of the latter kind, it is thought by some, that the negroes consider death as a welcome release from the passport to the place of their nativity, by which they are restored to the society of their dearest, long-lost, and lamented relations in Africa. We see no reason to doubt that the negroes, taken altogether, are not inferior to any variety of the hu man race in natural goodness of heart. It is consonant to our experience of mankind in general, that the latter quality should be deadened, or completely extin guished in the slave-ship or plantation. Much has been done to stifle the virtues of this unfortunate race, yet instances are by no means rare, of negroes who have distinguished themselves in literature and arts, when favoured by fortune with opportunities of education and improvement. The capacity of the negroes for the mathematical and physical sciences is proved by Hannibal, a colonel in the Russian artillery, and Lislet of the Isle of France, who was named a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences, on account of his meteorological observations. Fuller of Maryland was an extraordinary example of quickness of reckoning, being asked in a company, for the purpose of trying his powers, how many seconds a person had lived who was seventy years and some months old, he gave the answer in a minute and a half. On reckoning it up after him, a different result was obtained: have you not forgot the leap-years? says the negro.-This omission was supplied, and the number then agreed with his answer. Jac. Eliza Joh. Capitein, who was bought by a slavedealer when eight, years old, studied theology at Leyden, and published several sermons and poems: his "Dissertatio de Servitute Libertati Christianæ non contraria," went through four editions very quickly. He was ordained in Amsterdam, and went to Elmina on the Gold Coast, where he was either murdered, or exchanged for the life and faith of his countrymen. those he had learned in Europe. In 1734, A. W. Amo, an African from the coast of Guinea, took the degree of doctor in philosophy at the university of Wittemberg. Friedig in Vienna, an African negro, was an excellent performer, both on the violin and violincello, he was also a capital draftsman, and had made a very successful painting of himself. Ignatius Sancho, who was born on board a slave-ship on its passage from Guinea to the West Indies, and Gustavus Vasa in the kingdom of Benin have distinguished themselves as literary characters in this country in modern times. The bill for the abolition of the wicked traffic of the slave trade passed both houses of parliament on the 24th of March, "In these romantic regions, man grows wild; Ordain'd midst sinking worlds his dust to fire, The poets have almost invariably been on the side of humanity; and Rogers, in his "Pleasures of Memory," gives the following appalling picture of a slave-ship :— "From Guinea's coast pursue the lessening sail, And o'er Futurity's blank page diffuse England and America have lately united hand in hand in a solemn treaty to destroy the wicked traffic of the slave trade. May they long continue in bonds of friendship, and shew to the various nations of the world, that "humanity is man's first duty." P. T. W. For anecdotes relating to the moral character of negroes, see Blumenbach, Barrow, le Paillent, and Mungo Park; "The Turkish Spy," vol. I. page 215, and "Poems on the Abolition of the Slave Trade," by Montgomery, James Grahame, and E. Benger. THE SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. THE following is an extract from a journal kept by a person at Gibraltar, during the memorable siege, which began June 21, 1779, and ended February 2, 1783 :— The Spaniards blockaded us in the month of June, 1779, and reduced us to the lowest extremity, so that provision sold at the following prices, viz.— Beef or Mutton.. £. s d. •per Hb. 0 4 .per tb. 0 3 .per Hb. 0 1 A Duck or Fowl, 15s. to............................. I 3 12 0 2 2 1 We opened our batteries on the 12th of September, 1779, and continued firing at intervals until the 2nd of February, 1783. January 27, 1780.-Admiral Rodney arrived here with troops, stores, and provisions for the garrison; he fell in with the Spanish fleet near Cadiz, took an Admiral, with seven sail of the line, and blew up the largest ship of their fleet. June 7.-The Spaniards sent nine sail of fire-ships to the wenmole, but by the alacrity of our seamen, they were towed off without doing us the least damage. April 12, 1781. Admirals Darby, Digby, and Rowe arrived with stores and provisions for the garrison, but before they cast anchor, the Spaniards opened all their batteries on us: they kept such a shower of shot and shells flying, that it seemed impossible for a bird to fly over us unhurt. November 27.-Our Governor, General Elliot, with a few of his hardy troops, sallied out to attack our enemies in their advanced works; we succeeded much better than could be expected: took some officers and soldiers prisoners, spiked up their guns and mortars, blew up three magazines, set fire to their batteries, and boldly marched back to our garrison by the light of the enemies' works, which were all in flames. September 8, 1782.. General Boyd had the command of all the batteries fronting the enemy by land, and the detachment of artillery under him exerted themselves with so much bravery, that in a few hours we burned their Maho battery. 1 September 9.- The enemy attacked us with ten battering ships of war, so constructed as to resist either shot or shells; but by the gallant behaviour of our troops, they were all set on fire by our red hot balls; the dreadful cries of those who were surrounded with flames, induced Captain Curtis to go to their assistance, who brought 400 of them safe to land through the midst of the greatest danger, whilst the ships blew up with a dreadful explosion. The enemy had 144,500 men employed against us, and the whole of our strength amounted to only 6,021 effective men, so that our brave garrison fought 24 times their own number during the siege. February 2, 1783.-The Spaniards sent a flag of truce to acquaint us of a general peace throughout Europe, and on the 10th of March, the Thetis frigate arrived with confirmation of the pleasing news. Shot, &c. fired from the garrison 2.853 With a Patriarch's health and length of 246 18 24 The enemies' loss is supposed to be 13,636 H. O. MOROCCO ETIQUETTE. IF the Emperor should inquire about any person that has recently died, it is not the etiquette to mention the word "death," a Mussulman is supposed never to die, the answer is Ufah Ameruh, "his destiny is closed," or " he has completed his destiny." To which the following answer is invariably given, Allah e Erhamoh, "God be merciful to him." If a Jew's death is announced to any Mussulman prince, fakeer, or alkaid, the expression is Maat hashak asseedi, "He is dead, Sir," Hashak is an Arabic idiom, the exact meaning of which cannot easily be conveyed in English; but it may be assimilated to "Pardon me for mentioning in your presence a name contemptible or gross (as Zew.)" Thus for farther elucidation to the inquirer after the peculiarities of language, Kie 'tkillen days To teach mistaken man Those blessings are entailed in temper SHAKSPEARE'S SEVEN AGES THE ancient Chroniclers classed or arranged the History of the World into seven distinct portions which they termed "ages," and the life of man has been subjected to the same division. In a book containing the Customs of London and various other matters, historical, political, and economical, known among bibliopolists as "The Customs of London," and "Arnold's Chronicle," printed by Pynson, are the "Seven ages of the World," and the "Seven ages of Man," the last of which give you as I had it from the book itself, and perhaps it may by you be thought worth the insertion, but of which you will of course exercise your discretion upon; i is as follows: 246 THIS is the fourth month of the year, according to the common computation; but the second, reckoning from the vernal equinox. The word is derived from Aprilis, of aperio, I open; because the earth, in the month, begins to open her bosom for the production of vegetables. In this month the sun travels through parts of the signs Aries and Taurus. April is represented by a young man in green, with a garland of myrtle and haw thorn buds; in one hand, primroses and violets; in the other, the sign Taurus. Dr. Aiken, says, "The distinguishing characteristic of the weather during this "Now daisies pied, and violets blue, "Early in the month, that welcome guest and harbinger of summer, the swallow, returns. At first, here and there, only one appears, glancing by, as if scarcely able to endure the cold." "The swallow for a moment seen, Skims in haste the village green. *Fish, actuated by the same law that exerts its influence upon the rest of na ture, now leave the deep holes and sheltered bottoms where they passed the winter, and wandering about in search of food, again offer themselves to the search of the angler."-Warton beautifully says, "Beneath a willow, long forsook, The fisher seeks his custom'd nook: The following proverbs relate to April; It's good both for hay and corn. "April borrows three days of March, and they are ill." "An April flood carries away the frog and her P. T. W. brood." That is, when it thunders in April. A HOAX IN LISBON. IN the year 1811, and while our troops were stationed in Lisbon, a singular hoax was played. A notice, of which the following is a copy, was printed and freely circulated : NOTICE. "An officer of the British army has deposited £500. sterling, that he walks across the River Tagus, on Monday next at one o'clock, or about the middle of the day, in a pair of boots made of cork, from the Tower of Belem, opposite to the Torre Velha. These boots are of an admirable construction, and very curious, invented by the officer who will make use of them." Such was the nature of the hand-bills distributed very profusely at Lisbon on a Saturday, to which you will perceive there is no date, notwithstanding which, the credulity of the Portuguese was such, that on Monday morning, December 1811, by ten o'clock, people began to assemble on the shore, houses looking on the water, Belem Castle, &c. &c. to the number of many thousands, and not a boat or carriage was to be hired after eleven o'clock, or a person to be met in the streets; all were gone to see the wonderful sight, which the gazing throng anxiously looked for in vain till sunset, when they began to retire with bitter execrations, but as they passed along the streets, were annoyed by people hissing and hanging a pair of jack-boots out of the windows; the river was covered with boats filled with well dressed people, and four dollars was paid for one sitting in a boat, in which there might be ten, fifteen, or twenty people. Carriages usually let |