Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

being reduced to the necessity of taking the benefit of an English insolvent act. Theodore, however, remained in the liberties of the Fleet till the following December, when taking a chair, for which he could not pay, he ordered himself to be carried to the Portuguese ambassador's in Audley-street: not finding him within, he then prevailed on the chairmen to carry him to a taylor's in Chapel-street, Soho, who having formerly known him, and pitying his distress, paid the men, and lodged him at his house. There Theodore fell ill the next day, and dying in less than a week, was interred in the church-yard of St. Anne, in that parish.

Transatlantic Varieties.

Or Selections from
AMERICAN JOURNALS.

(Resumed from p. 8, vol. iii.) REMARKABLE LONGEVITY.-Died on the 17th May, 1821, in the county of Campbell, (Va.)Mr. Charles Layne, sen. at the remarkable age of 121 years. He was born at Albermarle, near Buckingham county, in the year 1750. At the period of Gen. Braddock's defeat, Mr. Layne was 55 years of age, and was exempt from military duty on that alarming occasion. He has left a widow, aged 110 years, and a numerous and respectable family down to the third and fourth generations. Mr. Layne was a subject of four British sovereigns, and a citizen of the United States for nearly 46 years. Until within a few years, he enjoyed all his faculties, with vigorous bodily health.-(" New York Paper," 1821.) CLIO.

A striking peculiarity of circumstances attended him to the last The act by which he obtained his personal freedom was not more extraordinary than one which occurred at the ceremony of his liberation. Going to Guildhall to demand the benefit of the ACT, he was asked "what effects he had ?" His answer was, Nothing but the kingdom of Corsi- The worm "out-venoms all the worms ca!" It was accordingly registered for the benefit of his creditors.

[blocks in formation]

TERRIBLE REPTILE.

of Nile."-SHAKSPEARE.

Who has not heard of the rattlesnake or copper-head? An unexpected sight of these reptiles will make even the lords of creation recoil; but there is a species of worm found in various parts of this state, which conveys a poison of a nature so deadly, that when compared with it, even the venom of the rattle-snake is harmless.

To guard our readers against this "foe to human kind," is the object of the present commnnication. This worm varies much in size, it is frequently an inch through-but as it is rarely seen except when coiled, its length can hardly be conjectured: it is of a dead lead colour, and generally lives near a spring or small stream of water, and bites the unfortunate people who approach it.

The symptoms of its BITE are ter

Vide Mr. Peel's Speech, 23d March, rible. The eyes of the patient become

1824.

red and fiery; his tongue swells to an immoderate size, and obsructs his

utterance, and delirium of the most horrid character quickly follows. Sometimes in his madness he attemptthe destruction of his dearest friends. If the sufferer has a family, his weeping wife and helpless infants are not unfrequently the objects of his fury; in a word, he exhibits to the life, all the detestable passions that rankle in the bosom of a savage: and such is the SPELL in which his senses are racked, that no sooner is the unhappy patient recovered from the paroxysm of insanity occasioned by one bite, than he seeks out his destroyer for the sole purpose of being bitten again!

I have seen a good old father, his locks as white as snow, his step slow and trembling, beg in vain for his only son to quit the lurking place of the worm. My heart bled when he turned away, for I knew the fond hope that this son would be to him the STAFF OF DECLINING YEARS, had supported him through many a

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

ORIENTAL WIT.-As a woman was walking, a man looked at and followed her; Why', said she,' do vou follow me ?' 'Because I have fallen in love with you'Why so? my sister who is coming after, is much handsomer than I am; go and make love to her. The man turned back, and saw a woman with an ugly face, and being greatly displeased, returned and said, why did you tell me a story? The woman answered, neither did you tell the truth, for if you are in love with me, why did you look for another woman?'

RECIPE to prevent a Coxcomb from sim ering.-Knock out his front tooth.

RECIPE, by means of which, every Woman may see an Angel.-By looking into her glass.

QUERY.

Why is Oxford-street like a Thief's progress?

ANSWER.

This lengthy Street, of ceaseless din,
Like Culprit's life extending,
At fam'd St. Giles's doth begin,
At fatal Tyburn ending.

DIALOGUE BETWEEN CUPID
AND A POET.
[From the Spanish.]
POET-Boy, thy reign is over;

Men no more are ninnies! UPID-Now what art

Gains the heart? POET-GUINEAS!

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Simon Pure will find a Note left for him at the place agreed upon : he should have heard from us much sooner, but some vexatious circumstances, which have retarded the appearance of this Number, hindered us also from acknowledging the receipt of his packet. A very interesting series of "Anecdotes of English Dramatists" will be commenced anon, when we have cleared away several articles which have too long been waiting for insertion.Clio, we hope, has not fancied that we were dead, or forgetful of the attention we have experienced from that quarter.

RECEIVED. Omens-Economy of the Eyes-Almanack of Life-Song (J.B M.) The Load of Life-Epitaphs, and Lines to a Friend, by T. C. Wolverhampton.

We are glad to find that our Etching of the Haymarket Theatre has been greatly approved of. We shall continue to combine that peculiar degree of novelty and interest in our Cuts, which they have been invariably acknowledged to possess; and may perhaps find it practicable to give copperplates more frequently in fature.

LONDON--Printed and Published by I. Wallis Camden Town; and also Published by C. Harris, Bow Street, Covent Garden, by whom Communications for the Editor are received.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small]

these buildings, by a slight essay upon the subject in question. They who wish to see it more fully treated of, are referred to a very satisfactory dissertation prefixed to the First Series of Neale's Views of Gentlemen's Seats," just completed.

Though the extent or convenience of houses is generally looked upon as an indication of the condition of the inhabitants within, it is an undoubted fact, that, notwithstanding the inferiority of the domestic buildings in England to those of the continent was evident even down to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, no nation upon earth fed or fared better than the English On the contrary, it was said of the common people among the French,by Sir John Fortescue, in his treatise, "De Laudibus Legum Anglice;" that they, the French,drink water they eat apples with bread right brown, made of rye. They eat no flesh but seldom; a little lard, or the entrails or heads of beasts, slain for the NOBLES and MERCHANTS of the land*. And they be compelled so to watch, labour and grub in the ground for their sustenance, that their nature is much wasted-they grow crooked, are feeble, and not able to fight."

66

4

splints or saddles, and then cast it all over with thick clay, to keep out the wind." Certainly this rude kind of building made the Spaniards, in Queen Mary's days, express their surprise, but chiefly when they saw what rare diet was used in many of these homely cottages, which caused one of note among them to say These English,

66

have their houses made of sticks and dirt, but generally fare as well as the king."

It was not till the reign of Henry VIII. that glazed windows came into general use among the wealthier sort. Somewhat later than that period, both yeomen and farmers were content with windows of lattice or net work-Rooms, also, that were provided with chimneys, are mentioned as a luxury by the author of Pierce Plowman, and Harrison treats them as such by his remarks as follows," Now have we many chimnies, and yet our tenderlings complain of rheums, catarrhs, and colds in the head. Formerly we had none but RERE DOSSES, a kind of iron back, or brick coating against a wall, made to resist fire; then our heads did not ache; for as the smoke was supposed to be a sufficient hardening for the timbers of the house, so it was thought a better medicine to keep the good man and his family from the ague, a disorder at that time but little known."

In houses partly made of rafters and clay as abovesaid, it is not to be supposed that the furniture was very costly. “Our fathers," says the above

But to return to our ancient mode of building. "In old time," says Harrison, in his Description of England, prefixed to Hollinshed, "the houses of the Britons were slighly set up with a few posts, several hurdles, with a stable and all offices under one roof; the like is to be seen in the fen-author, " "yea, and we ourselves, have ny countries and northern parts unto this day, where, for lack of wood they are enforced to continue this ancient manner of building. For want of stuff, they can use no studs at all, but only frank posts, with here and there a girding, to which they fasten their

Here it may be noted that the practice of eating offal, by the lower orders of people, when meat is at a very high price, was introduced into this country by the French emigrant weavers that came over as persecuted Protestants in the reign of William and Mary.

often lain upon straw pallets, or rough mats, covered only with a sheet, and coverlids made of dag swain or hop harlots, and a good round log under their heads, instead of a bolster or pillow. And if a man, seven years after his marriage, purchased a mattrass or a flock bed, adding thereto a sack of chaff to rest his bones upon, he thought himself as well lodged as a lord of the town, who perchance lay seldom on a bed of down or whole feathers. Servants were content with an upper sheet only, having none 'underneath to save them from the prick

ing straws that often ran through the canvas of the pallet."

In the external part of the building, the progress of improvement was from clay, to lath and plaster, such as distinguish the ancient houses in London Wall, represented in our cut, and such as are still to be seen in Holywell Street, the Strand, &c. At first the ceilings were formed of rude rafters only; those of mortar and lime were a later custom. Country houses were generally covered with shingles or thin boards; but slates and tiles were soon found necessary in towns and cities, to prevent damages by fire. These latter buildings were very solid, and consisted of many stories projecting over each other, so far, that in narrow lanes, &c. the windows on each side nearly met. The walls in wealthy houses were decorated either with tapestry, arras, or painted cloths, exhibiting divers histories, or herbs, beasts, &c. Till pewter was introduced, both yeomen and peasants put up with wooden trenchers and platters. Silver plate, china, and delft have succeeded: and, generally speaking, the conveniences within, have kept pace with the improvements without.

To render this sketch complete, it may be proper to observe, that the eumbrous brick building with casement windows, succeeded those of Jath and plaster, while the more modern mode at once unites elegance and capaciousness

To illustate these remarks, we have caused a drawing to be made by Mr. Findlay, of some curious old houses now standing in London Wall; and the minute fidelity with which he has executed the task will be instantaneously felt and acknowledged by any one who troubles himself to visit the spot, for the purpose of comparing the copy with the original; it will be seen that while the artist has combined spirited execution with perfect fidelity, he has neither added nor omitted the minutest feature of the scene, for the purpose of making a pretty picture." This is as it should be in such subjects as this, mere effect

66

should always be a consideration subordinate to correctness.

We are not aware of any remarkable circumstances connected with the history of these edifices, nor any particular interest which attaches to them, beyond that arising from their antiquated appearance. They stand nearly at the S.W. corner of Moorfields; and they who wish to prove the accuracy of our print, should inspect them from the opposite gateway, at the eastern extremity of the chapel in Moorgate, lately occupied by the Rev.A. Fletcher of match-breaking celebrity: this being the point of view from which the drawing was taken. The house (No. 38) partly shewn on the right, is at present occupied by a fishmonger, named Allwinkle; the next by a butcher; then occurs a narrow passage; and farther eastward is the house of Mr. Wright, hairdresser (No. 40), distinguished by the carved ornaments in front. The last building on the left, opposite to which is the lady meeting a porter carrying goods, is the hemp warehouse of a Mr. Ridley (No. 41). Two houses beyond, there is a tavern (No. 43) known by the name of the Three Colts, in front of which there appears this inscription— THE OLDEST WINE-VAULTS LONDON. Upon this subject, our artist writes to us as follows:

IN

"While I was employed in making your sketch, a person, who it seems is proprietor of the neighbouring public-house, and was evidently desirous to have his dwelling appear "in print," informed me that Stowe gives some curious particulars respecting it, as it was the first that obtained a licence from the Exchequer for the sale of liquors; and that mention is also made of the old house which I have made the centre and principal feature of the drawing." We have accordingly referred to Stowe, but without having our search rewarded by a discovery of the curious particulars" alluded to.

[ocr errors]

We recommend such of our readers as may visit this spot, to continue their walk to the S. E. extremity of Moorfields and turn into Great Win

« ForrigeFortsæt »