Pagina-afbeeldingen
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The Lord of Salency has the privilege of going to take virtue from her cottage, and lead it in triumph. Leaning upon his arm, or the arm of the person whom he has substituted in his place, the queen of the Rose steps forth from her dwelling, escorted by twelve young girls dressed in white, with blue scarfs, and twelve youths who wear the livery of the queen; she is preceded by music and drums, which announce the beginning of the procession! She passes along the streets of the village, between rows of spectators, whom the festival has drawn to Salency, from the distance of four leagues. The public admire and applaud her; the mothers shed tears of joy; the old men renew their strength to follow their beloved queen, and compare her with those whom they have seen in their youth. The Salencians are proud of the merits of her to whom they give the crown; she is one of themselves, she belongs to them, she reigns by their choice, she reigns alone, and is the only object of attention. The queen being arrived at the church, the place appointed for her, is always in the midst of the people, the only situation that could do her honour, where she is, there is no longer any distinction of rank, it all vanishes in the presence of virtue. A pew, placed in the middle of the choir, in sight of all the people, is prepared to receive her: her train range themselves in two lines by her side, she is the only object of the day, all eyes remain fixed upon her, and her triumph continues.

After vespers the procession begins again; the clergy lead the way, the Lord of Salency receives her hand, her train joins, the people follow, and line the streets, while some of the inhabitants, under arms, support the two rows, offering their homage by the loudest acclamations, until she arrives at the chapel of Saint Medard, where the gates are kept open: the good Salencians do not forsake their queen at the instant when the reward of virtue is going to be delivered; it is at that moment in particular, that it is pleasing to see her, and honourable for her to be seen.

The officiating clergyman blesses the hat, decorated with roses, and other ornaments; then turning towards the assembly, he pronounces a discourse on the subject of the festival. What an affecting gravity, what an awful impression does the language of the priest (who in such a moment celebrates the praises of wisdom) make upon the minds of his hearers; he holds the crown in his hand while virtue waits kneeling at his feet; all the spectators are affected, tears in every eye, persuasion in every heart;

then is the moment of lasting impressions; and at that instant he places the crown upon her head.

After this begins a Te Deum, during which the procession is resumed.

The queen, with the crown upon her head, and attended in the same manner as she was when going to receive it, returns the way she came; her triumph still increasing as she passes along till she again enters the church, and occupies the same place in the middle of the choir, till the end of the service.

She has new homage to receive, and, going forth, is attended to a particular piece of ground, where crowned innocence finds expecting vassals prepared to offer her presents. They are simple gifts, but their singularity proves the antiquity of the custom; a nosegay of flowers, a dart, two balls, &c. &c.

From thence she is conducted, with the same pomp, and led back to her relations, and, in her own house, if she thinks proper gives a rural collection to her conductor and her retinue.

This festival is of a singular kind, of which there is no model elsewhere. It is intended to encourage virtue, by bestowing public honours, and for such a purpose they ought to be boundless. Where virtue reigns there is no rival; and whoever wishes for distinction in her presence, cannot be sufficiently sensible of what is due to her triumph.

The distinguishing characteristic of this festival is, that every part of it is referable to the queen, that every thing is eclipsed by her presence; her splendour is direct, not reflected: her glory borrows nothing from distinction of rank; she has no need of any one to make her great and respectable; in one word, it is the image of virtue which shines, and every thing disappears before her. F. RY.

TO THE MARCHIONESS OF
DOUGLAS & CLYDESHIRE.

By the Hon. R. Spencer.
O'ER Susan's brow (the fault was mine)
A frown one moment's empire held;
The smile, which rules by right divine,
The dark usurper soon expell'd.
That well was play'd the monarch's part,
E'en in that lawless reign, I own;
He justly pierc'd the rebel heart,

Whose guilt has rais'd him to the throne!
Think not, by vain repentance driv'n,
Too late for mercy I appeal ;
Each wound that alien frown has giv'n,

That native smile can more than heal!
Heav'n has so fix'd their mutual pow'rs,
That good or ill shou'd ever thrive;
Night cannot fade so many flow'rs
As day returning can revive!

Useful Domestic Hints. sides, fixed air should not be taken in

To prevent the Smoking of a Lamp. Soak the wick in strong vinegar, and dry it well before you use it; it will then burn both sweet and pleasant, and give much satisfaction for the trifling trouble in preparing it.

Excellent Method of Salting Meat.The following Recipe may prove acceptable to many private families, and from trial can be strongly recommended. To three gallons of spring water, add six pounds of common salt, four pounds of bay salt, two pounds of common loaf sugar, and three ounces of saltpetre— boil the whole over a gentle fire, and whilst boiling, carefully scum it; when quite cold, it is fit for use. Rub the meat to be cured with fine salt, and put it to drain for a day or two, in order to free it from the blood, then immerse it in the above brine in the tub, taking care every part is covered. Young pork should not remain more than three, four, or five days in the pickle, but hams for drying must be immersed a fortnight at least before they are hung up, and tongues the same period. Beef may remain according as it is to be more or less flavoured with the salt a little practice will soon prove the time every kind of meat will require. When the pickle has been in use about three months, boil it up again gently, and after scumming it well whilst boiling, add three pounds of common salt, three pounds of bay salt, half a pound of sugar, and one or two ounces of saltpetre when cold it will be as good as first. This brine may appear expensive, but ultimately it will be found cheaper than the usual mode of salting, with the certainty that the meat, &c. cannot spoil, that the flavour will be excellent, and it will be juicy and tender.

Cheap and Wholesome Beverage.Pindar commences one of his celebrated Odes with an eulogium on water: and Hoffman, the celebrated physician, gives it as his opinion, that pure water is the fitest drink for persons of all ages and temperaments. Many instances of longevity could be deduced from among persons whose only drink was water. Machinery may be applied with effect for the improvement of water. It is well known, that it is ameliorated by pouring it from one vessel into another; and the more it is agitated, the more it acquires the qualities to be desired. The common mode of impregnating water with fixed air, is troublesome and expensive; be

large quantities in every case; whereas, the more that water can be impregnated with atmospheric air the better.

Preventive of Rust. The cutlers in Sheffield, when they have given knife or razor blades the requisite degree of polish, rub them with powdered quicklime, in order to prevent them from tarnishing; and, it is said, that articles made of polished steel are dipt in lime water, by the manufacturer, before they are sent into the retail market.

The Gatherer.

"I am but a Gatherer and disposer of other men's stuff."---Wotton.

CLERICAL WIT.-The facetious Watty Morrison, as he was commonly called, was entreating the commanding officer of a regiment, at Fort George, to pardon a poor fellow sent to the halberds. The officer granted his petition, on condition that Mr. Morrison should accord with the first favour he asked, the favour was to perform the ceremony of baptism for a young puppy. A merry party of gentlemen were invited to the christening. Mr. Morrison desired Major to hold up the dog. "As I am a minister of the Kirk of Scotland," said Mr. Morrison, "I must proceed accordingly." Major

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said he asked no more, ❝ well

then Major I begin with the usual question, you acknowledge yourself the father of this puppy." The Major understood the joke, and threw away the animal. Thus did Mr. Morrison turn the laugh against the ensnarer, who intended to deride a sacred ordinance.-On another occasion, a young officer scoffed at the parade of study to which Clergymen assigned their right to remuneration for labour, and he offered to take a bet, he would preach half an hour upon any verse or section of a verse in the Old or New Testament. Mr. Morrison took the bet, and pointed out "And the Ass opened his mouth, and he spoke." The officer declined employing his eloquence on that text. Mr. Morrison won the wager, and silenced the scorner.

An old German Knight in the first half of the seventeenth century, when enormous goblets were among the chief ornaments of the rooms and tables of the nobility, sat once at table next his young wife, in a numerous company, where the bottle went continually round, and a large goblet was to be emptied each time, on pain of being countenanced as a false

brother by the guests, who were very strict on this point. The wife, who had received a more polished education, whispered to her husband, when it came again, to empty an enormous glass, to pour the wine secretly under the table: "The others will see it, said he." His wife, therefore, just as he was raising his glass to his mouth, snuffed out the candle, and repeated her request. Instead of complying, he said with a kind of sublimity, "God sees it" and emptied his goblet.

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THEATRICAL FIRES.

To the Editor of the Mirror. SIR,-I should feel extremely obliged to you if you could favour me with the di. rections for making the red and blue Fires used in conflagrations at theatres. I have seen them in some newspapers, but cannot now recollect which.

Your obedient servant, RoVER. Saturday, January 17, 1824.

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TO CORRESPONDENTS. LEISURE HOURS, No. III. in our next, when Edgar, Edric, Oculus, Zetus, Kiow, and several other correspondents, shall have a place.

Our correspondents will perceive that several of their communications have been inserted in the present Number; and it is our intention to devote a larger space to them than we have hitherto done, which, by the adoption of a smaller type for our poetical articles, we shall be enabled to do.

E. H. is informed, that Nos. 3 and 4 have been adopted, and are in the hands of the engraver; we shall, therefore, feel obliged by the articles he so kindly promises.

The lines attributed to the Princess Charlotte, inserted in a recent Number, were only adopted by her Royal Highness, with a slight alteration, from Thomson's Seasons.

++ is informed, that all the communications he enumerates have been received, and that several of them are intended for insertion.

We have received numerous letters, to which we shall give answers in our next, when we hope to put all our correspondents out of suspense as to the fate of their several communications.

We thank Oculus.

Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers.

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as may be seen by a reference to No. 38, of the Mirror, where we gave an engraving of the celebrated chain bridge of China. The triumphal arches of China are not built in the Greek and Roman style of architecture, although they are superb and beautiful-but their towers, the models of which are now frequent in Europe under the name of pagodas, are great ornaments to the country.

The most celebrated of the pagodas, is the Porcelain Tower of Nankin, which is the admiration of all who, in visiting China, see it. This elegant and commodious building, of which we give a correct engraving, may be regarded as a fine specimen of oriental pagodas. The tower is about two hundred feet in height, and derives its name from its having a China or porcelain coating. The Portuguese were the first to bestow on these superb edifices the title of pagodas, and to attribute them to devotional purposes. There can be little doubt, however, that in many instances they have been rather erected as public memorials or ornaments, like the columns of the Greeks and Romans.

Mr. Ellis, in his journal of the embassy to China, relates that, in the company of three gentlemen of the embassy, he succeeded in passing completely through the uninhabited part of the city of Nankin, and in reaching the gateway visible from the Lion Hill. The object of the party was to have penetrated through the streets to the Porcelain Tower, apparently distant two miles. To this, however, the soldiers who accompanied them, and who, from their willingness in allowing them to proceed thus far, were entitled to consideration, made so many objections, that they were forced to desist, and to content themselves with proceeding to a temple on a neighbouring hill, from which they had a very complete view of the city. From this station the Porcelain tower presented itself as a most magnificent object.

PHYSIOGNOMY.

He had proceeded his two out-riders. nearly twenty miles, when the road lay through a small wood; and he had but just entered this, when the carriage was suddenly surrounded by six men on horseback. Two of these secured one of the attendants, two another; the remaining two held pistols through the side-windows of the carriage.

"Your pocket-book, my Lord," said one of the highwaymen, whose countenance was hideous.

The Duke put his hand into his pocket, drew out a heavy purse, and presented it. "I beg pardon, my Lord," said the robber; "it is your pocket-book I want.” While uttering these words he weighed the purse with his left hand, and cocked the pistol with his right.

The Duke retained his presence of mind, and drawing forth his pocket-book, gave it to the highwayman, who deliberately opened it. While the fellow examined its contents, his Grace calmly examined the lineaments of his face. It was not possible to imagine an association of human features more perfectly disgusting. He took some papers from the Duke's pocket-book, and then returned it.

"A pleasant journey, my Lord!" called he, and putting spurs to his horse, galloped with his companions towards London.

The Duke examined his pocket-book, in which, when he left town, he had 2,500l.; and, contrary to his expectation, he now found 5007. of this sum still left in his possession. He told the story to all his friends, and used always to add, "I would give, at this moment, a hundred pounds if you could only see the fellow; for never did nature so pletely stamp a man for a robber. very look argued predestination."

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His

In the course of two years his Grace had ceased to think of the adventure, when he one morning received the following letter:

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My Lord, I am a poor foreign Jew. The Prince whose subject I was became a blood-sucker to his subjects in order that he might have the means of

A translation from the German, by the hunting the stag, and giving this animal's

late B. THOMPSON, Esq.

THE following authentic narrative will at least exhibit such a pointed exception to the rules laid down for this science by Lavater, as at once to render every rule doubtful; and will serve to illustrate, that a forbidding countenance is not always incompatible with virtue :

The Duke of S** was, some years ago, travelling from town to his seat in the country, accompanied by no one except

blood to his hounds. I went to England
with five others of my religion, hoping
there to find the means of livelihood.
fell ill at sea, and the vessel, in which I
had taken my passage, was wrecked. A
man, whom I had never seen before,
sprung from the shore into the water, and
saved my life at the risk of his own. He
took me to his house, caused me to be
well treated by his family, and sent for a
surgeon. He was a woollen-nianufac-
turer, and had twelve children alive. 1

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