Y— was a being of a very different character. He was of low stature, but firmly and compactly built; had been La soldier in his youth; and mixed with the best society. His character was decided and energetic, without being in the least degree harsh or obtrusive. He had raised himself (in fortune for he was of good family) more by having "assumed desert,” and never having allowed advancement to pass by him for any slackness in laying claim to it, than by the possession of positive high talent. He was the reverse of K-, for he did not live a moment, from the time that he passed the age of boyhood, without being in love. I do not mean that he was distinctly in love at all times with a definite individual. With him it was a sort of latent love, (akin to the latent caloric of chemists,) lurking in his constitution, and ready to be drawn out by the first pair of sparkling eyes he encountered. The consequence was, that although almost every woman could attract, none could retain him. During absence, her image faded away, or was displaced by a new comer. He came into disrepute as an inconstanta flirt. They did him wrong. His discourse to ladies was unconsciously and necessarily passionate-it was an unavoidable overflowing of his soul which sought an object, and was indifferent to the individual. He had read novels in his youth, (who has not?) and believed, when he first became aware of this tendency of his na- | ture, that he was in love deeply, desperately, and for Bever. His first six changes were not sufficient to open his eyes. He believed each in succession to be an attachment, taxed himself with being fickle, grew sullen, uncomfortable, and dissatisfied with himself. But longer experience opened his eyes. He saw his fate, and continued to flirt away with a light heart, and passionate sighs, till the end of life—at least, till his years made him no longer listened to; although even then he could not get rid of the habit. They called him a jilt and heartless. It was false. Never did there exist a more generous and constant friend—and I have approved it. But his nature was alike incapable of refraining from love, or fixing an attachment.

secret. A sneer at his heartlessness in the course of an
angry discussion, caused him to burst out into a passion-
ate and abrupt narrative of his fate. He writhed as each
recollection of his former life flashed with an electric jar
across his mind, and remained at last like one who has
been struck senseless by the lightning. He has gone to
his grave full of years and honours the universal voice
of a country has declared him her proudest boast. But
he died with the consciousness that he had lived in vain.
For myself but though I prattle of the secrets of
others, I can keep my own.
AN OLD BACHELOR.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EMINENT PERSONS
OF ALL COUNTRIES.
No. III.

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.

LITTLE or nothing is known of the youth of Drake, Laying aside Camden's romantic story of his early career, the most probable account is, that he was the son of a poor sailor, and born in the year 1545, near Tavistock, in Devonshire. He was the eldest of twelve brothers. During his youth, he resided with, and was educated by, Sir John Hawkins, who was his near relative, and from whose attention it is most likely that he obtained the first rudiments of nautical knowledge.

In the year 1563, he is found in the capacity of purser on board a vessel trading to Biscay; in 1565, we find him engaged in a voyage to Guinea; and in 1567, at the age of twenty-two, whilst in the company of Sir John Hawkins, at the harbour of St John de Ulloa, in the Gulf of Mexico, we find him made captain as a requital for his gallant behaviour in repulsing the Spaniards, who attempted to massacre the crews of the English fleet in that harbour. On his return home, he made the rather startling proposal of enriching himself and the nation at the expense of the Spanish king's subjects; and the only vindication he could offer for such an infringement of rights, was, that as the Spanish people had on a previous occasion plundered him, so he might in his turn take any satisfaction he could obtain. However unjust such a doctrine may appear in the present day, it was universally adopted by his contemporaries, and many volunteered to co-operate, without having even his excuse. In the year 1570, Captain Drake undertook an expedition in

only one; and, by picking up every Spanish ship that fell in his track, he is reported to have returned rich. If he did, he employed these riches in the public service, for in 1572, he and his brother John Drake sailed, with two ships and a force consisting only of twenty-three men, for New Spain, where he attacked and took Nombre de Dios by storm, though dangerously wounded in the action. He next attempted to intercept the mules bearing silver from Vera Cruz to Nombre de Dios, in which he failed, owing to the carelessness of a drunken sailor. Even this expedition, however, was not entirely fruitless, for he fell in by accident with a train of fifty mules burdened with plate, which of course were plundered.

These two were happy; but poor G.'s was a melancholy fate. To a tolerable figure he united the most daring and lofty genius. He was not of low birth, but his parents had died while he was yet an infant, leaving him dependent. He was used, on the whole, not unkindly, but was frequently reminded of his situation. He had no companions of his own age, and the respectful distance he was taught to keep, engendered shyness and restraint. The excellent education bestowed upon him, while it strength-two vessels, which he resumed the following year with ened all his powers, and purified all his feelings, left him awkward and helpless in society. He was in due time thrown upon the world to support himself by his own exertions. At this period he was brought frequently into the society of a lady of birth, beauty, fortune, and accomplishments. He loved her. He lay under peculiar obligations to her family; and even had his shyness allowed him, he would have deemed it sacrilege to seek her love. He followed her as a shadow, nursing a passion which he felt must consume him. She knew it not, and in time wedded with another. For a time he was bowed down, helpless and unconscious. But his was not a spirit to yield to misfortune. He roused himself from his despondency. He tried to resume his studies-in vain; there was the thought of lost happiness grinning at him from every page-interposing, like a dark cloud, between his eye and the paper. He sought refuge in dissipation. You would have thought him the most reckless and callous of the lost revellers with whom he herded. But this was empty boasting--within he was unchanged and miserable. He grappled with public business, and there he at last struggled into repose. I knew him in the decline of life. He was looked up to as one of the most able and honest of our statesmen-but as a man of iron. The duties of office had brought me into a long and close connexion with him before I discovered his

On his return to England, he fitted out three frigates, volunteered his services to Walter, Earl of Essex-father of the unfortunate Earl who was beheaded-and sailed with him to Ireland. On the death of this nobleman, he returned to England, where, coming under the notice of Sir Christopher Hatton, vice-chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth, he was by him introduced to her majesty, and thus obtained an opportunity of suggesting a scheme

which seems to have occupied his mind so early as his visit to New Spain-of passing to the South Seas through the Straits of Magellan. His leaving England to carry this scheme into effect, was the primary cause of his circumnavigating the worlda task which no Englishman

had ever previously accomplished, which is, of itself, sufficient to throw an undying lustre round his name. On the 13th December, 1577, he put to sea, and, after running along the coast of Brazil, and entering the Rio de la Plata, he passed the Straits of Magellan, and entered the South Seas on the 25th September of the ensuing year, where he seized and plundered every Spanish ship he met. Running up the coast of North America to the 48th degree, he endeavoured to discover a passage home by the north of California; but, disappointed in this attempt, he landed, and called the country New Albion, taking possession of it in the name of Queen Elizabeth. On the 20th September, 1579, he again set out for England; but his was too restless a spirit to bear the sameness of retracing his steps, and, instead of passing home by the straits, he steered for the Moluccas. One reason for this passage was, his fear of being attacked by the Spaniards while returning by the American coast, and also the violent storms which are so prevalent in the southern seas at a late season. In November, he came in sight of the islands above mentioned. On the 10th December, he made Celebes, where his ships ran among rocks, and only got clear with great exertions. After touching at Java, and doubling the Cape of Good Hope, he watered on the coast of Guinea, and, on the 25th of September, arrived in Plymouth, making, in whole, a voyage of two years and nine months.

On his return to England, he did not meet with that reception which his great services led him to expect. Whilst some applauded his actions, others considered him as little better than a pirate. Majesty itself seemed to have been at a loss for some time into which scale she would throw her preponderating weight; for it is not until the following spring we see Queen Elizabeth countenancing Captain Drake, by visiting him on board his own ship, on which occasion she conferred the honour of knighthood upon him, at the same time applauding his achievements, and commanding his ship to be kept as a monument of his own and his country's glory.

In 1585, he commanded an expedition to the West Indies, and captured several Spanish towns. In 1587, when Philip of Spain was concentrating all his naval force, in order to form the Armada, Sir Francis Drake was sent to scour the narrow seas. He proceeded as far as Lisbon, where, learning that a large fleet was detained in the Bay of Cadiz, on its way to join the Armada, he determined to attack it. Entering the harbour, he destroyed and burned the greater part of the shipping. Proceeding thence to Cape St Vincent, he destroyed all the ships on the coast; he also challenged the Marquis of Santa Cruz, who lay with a large fleet close by the land, to stand out to sea and fight him, but the marquis was too cautious. The same year we find him as persevering on land as at sea, for he proposed and executed a plan for conducting a stream in a direct line to Plymouth, by a course of eight miles, which had originally taken a circuitous route of twenty. In the succeeding year he was appointed vice-admiral of the fleet prepared to resist the Spanish Armada, where he acted with his former courage, and had the good fortune to capture a galleon, commanded by Don Pedro de Valdez, which had on board the greatest part of the money in the fleet. He was next year appointed joint commander with Sir John Norris, of an expedition to Portugal, intended to restore Don Antonio, king of that country. A quarrel took place between Sir John, who commanded the land forces, and the admiral; the former wishing to land the troops at the Groyne, whilst Sir Francis main

tained that sailing direct to Lisbon was the only means

at all likely to restore the sovereign of Portugal. Unfortunately, Sir John Norris carried his point; the troops were landed, and lost so much time, that when they came before Lisbon, they found the Spaniards fully prepared to receive them. Drake attempted to compenate as far as lay in his power for this failure, by scouring

the coast, and capturing sixty sail of ships, laden with ammunition and supplies of corn, and 150 pieces of cannon.

His next service, which proved fatal to him, was per formed in company with Sir John Hawkins-the expe dition against Nombre de Dios. The Spaniards, having this time got the start of the English, arrived unchallenged in Spain, with the exception of one vessel, which had sustained some injury, and was detained at Port Rice. The admirals, instead of capturing it, made an unsuccess ful attempt on the Canaries, and afterwards put in to Dominica, where they spent too much time in refitting; for, when they returned, they found their intended prize borne away under a strong convoy; and one of Sir John Hawkins's ships, falling out of her course, was taken by the Spanish fleet. This cross-grained accident is said to have grieved that commander so much, as to cause his death in a few hours. The day following his death, Drake made a desperate attack upon Porto Rico, in which he gained little advantage. He next steered to the Spe nish main, took the town Rio de la Hacha, burned Santa Martha, and finally attacked Nombre de Dios, which shared the same fate. It was here, from fatigue and over-exertion of a body unable to support the toils imposed on it by the mind, that Sir Francis Drake caught a lingering fever, which proved fatal on the 28th January, 1594. Thus ended the career of one of the greatest men of an age distinguished for great men. In person, Sit Francis Drake was of a low, robust stature, firmly knit, of a fair complexion, with large clear eyes, and a fresh and cheerful countenance.

THE WALCHEREN EXPEDITION.
By a Medical Officer.

THE LANDING.

THE morning of the 7th of August found us still at anchor with the rest of the fleet. The forenoon was spent in eyeing anxiously the banks of the island, which were beautifully wooded. Some strong batteries were seen near us. Near one of them we observed several caps-probably of some brave fellows who had died attacking or defending it. At one o'clock, the master of the transport came on board, with the information that we were to proceed to the island of South Beveland. In less than a quarter of an hour, we were under weigh, and standing up the river, passing every moment numerous vessels with or without troops. The banks on either side were neatly formed of piles of cut turf. About three o'clock we anchored off the village of Armuyden.

In the course of the evening I landed, in company with some of the officers. The first place we came to was a farm-house, where we purchased some milk. Both interior and exterior displayed the greatest possible cleanliness, order, and precise neatness-the result, evidently, of the most assiduous industry. The fields in the neighbourhood were banked and drained-covered with rich pasturages, intermingled with excellent crops of wheat. The grain was evidently over-ripe. The neighbourhood of war seemed to have slackened the industry of the peasants. Altogether, the island, although flat in the extreme, possessed considerable beauty and richness, enhanced, no doubt, in our eyes, by the contrast it afforded to the dull expanse of water and sand-banks, within which we had for some time been confined.

In the village of Armuyden, every shop and the lowest house exhibited the same picture of cleanliness which I Every thing seemed

have attempted to describe above.
to have a place, and to be kept in it.
The people were
civil, but did not fail, on that account, to take ample
advantage of our ignorance, and the difference of our
coin, which they received reluctantly, and much below
its value. The family groups reminded us forcibly of

the old Flemish pictures-time has changed the people as little as the fruits and trees around them. The women exhibited a prodigious a posteriori developement, produced by immense piles of petticoats, and rendered more conspicuous by the immense length and straightness of their waists. The poorest of them wore brooches and ear-rings of gold, ostentatiously displayed, although the ears themselves were carefully concealed under their close caps. The most ludicrous part of the scene was the appearance of the children. The girls were equipped exactly like the women, the boys like the men. Many of the latter, with huge hats on their heads, and pipes in their mouths, strutted about with all the gravity of Lilliputian burgomasters.

We learned from an officer of the Commissariat, whom we met in the village, that no offensive measures had been commenced against Flushing beyond the construction of some batteries. Several sorties had been made on the part of the enemy, with a view to interrupt and destroy the works. He represented the loss sustained at landing upon Walcheren as trifling. At nightfall, we returned to the ship, Antæus-like, refreshed by having again come in contact with mother Earth.

appearance of the shore, were promising. The British uniform was seen here and there among the trees. Boats were putting off from some of the ships with soldiers in them. Horses were hoisting out of some transports— which had been run aground to enable them to reach the shore more easily-swimming, or struggling in the mud which lay between the vessels and the green banks. The men of those regiments which had received no orders to disembark, embraced the opportunity of purifying themselves, and the water around us was filled with bathers and swimmers, vying with each other in feats of activity. At last, the order that our regiment should disembark immediately, arrived, and was joyfully obeyed. It fell to my lot to go round the various transports, on board of which our regiment had been embarked, in order to collect the sick left behind into one ship. I was thus the last to get on shore; my adventures upon reaching it shall be narrated in my next communication.

"THE TRADE" IN THE TWELFTH, THIRTEENTH, AND FOURTEENTH CENturies.

Next day we landed again upon another foraging exEVERY reader of a Literary Journal must be aware pedition. All things presented themselves to us in pre- that there is only one "Trade" in the world-that which cisely the same light that they did the day before, and deals in his favourite delicacies, books. To us it appears would have done so in that changeless country had we strange, that our brothers of the goose-quill, who devote continued to revisit them daily for years. The men so much of their time to furbishing up and bringing be. were stout, and several of them good-looking-more so fore the public forgotten tales of bullet-headed soldiers, than the fair sex, who had an unwieldy and deformed crazy mariners, and mouldy beauties, should pass over in appearance beneath their sevenfold petticoats. My idea silence the history of those who have devoted their ener➡ of their cleanliness was increased by my inspection of gies to this important profession in the olden time. Even the poorest houses, many of which I purposely entered. Dibdin is silent on this subject-the Bannatyne and the I felt myself, however reluctantly, obliged to confess that Maitland know it not. Having stumbled upon some the lower classes appeared in every respect more com- account of the arrangements of the trade in books from fortable than those of my native country. They were the 11th to the 15th century in France and Italy, in the more industrious, with more method and order; and, pages of a learned German Professor, we proceed to what was of great importance, were infinitely more sober." scale" his wisdom a little among our readers. Some The over-ripeness of the crops was the only symptom of of them, we know, will, for the entire affection they bear the stagnation of labour. In every other respect they to every thing connected with letters, take it well at our were going about their business, with as much phlegm as hands. if they had not been aware that two mighty nations were among them about to join battle for the mastery of their land. With us, their invaders, they used no ceremony, fleecing us with the utmost license of extortion. Indeed, by their manner of treating us, you might have fancied we had only come down for a season's plucking at some fashionable watering-place. If we may credit reports, the French did not understand this style of joking.

All this while we were, although in the very centre of military operations, entirely ignorant of what was going on around us. We learned from rumour that a land. ing had been effected at Den Haak with little loss-that Middleburg, the capital of Walcheren, had submitted without a struggle-that old Mounet, the commander of Flushing, when summoned, had declared his intention of burying himself and his army under its ruins-that our staff corps were near us preparing fascines to be sent to Flushing, while the garrison of that town had made a sortie upon our works, in which they were repulsed with loss-and that the Duke of Dantzig was at Antwerp with an army of observation. These reports proved afterwards to have been tolerably near the truth, but our uncertainty, in the meanwhile, kept us fretful and uneasy.

We learned this day, that the morrow had been fixed for our disembarkation, but no particulars. At ten o'clock evening, the ship moved up towards our landing point, but still no precise orders had been received. Our colonel had been sailing through the whole squadron, but had not been able to find any thing like a general officer from whom he might have received orders or advice.

The morning of the 9th was a morning of much bustle. It was uncommonly fine, the air mild, the sky unclouded, the water like a mirror. The banks, and general

We arrange our notices under the four heads of:→→→ Transcribers: the material upon which they wrote: dealers in books: and the prices of books.

The business of transcriber was an important one, whereever the presence of esteemed teachers and a concourse of students created a demand for books. At Bologna the number of persons devoted to this occupation was very great, and among them were many females. The trades standing most nearly in connexion with it were the illuminators, correctors, paper-makers, and bookbinders. With regard to the last-mentioned, the law was so sus picious as to provide that they should find caution for the safe return of the books left with them; a suspicion indicating that their profession was considered merely mechanical. Rich individuals spent immense sums in the ornaments of their books; and so early as the 12th and 13th centuries, loud complaints were made at Paris and Bologna of the excess to which their vanity trans ported them in this particular. The frequent disputes on the score of priority elicited ordinances in most of the Universities, declaring that no student should enter into a contract with any transcriber who was at the time working for another. Nay the student was obliged to take the transcriber's oath on this point before he conclu ded his bargain with him. The latter, if he perjured himself, was expelled, and so was every student who was found to have further dealings with him. All trifling commissions, however-all such, for example, as could be executed within any period short of ten days-took precedence of older ones requiring more time.

The materials most commonly made use of in the 12th and 13th centuries, and even in the 14th, were parchment, and a kind of paper made of cotton. The employment of the latter substance dates so far back as the 9th; paper

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