od when men began to exist upon the earth, it has erienced a terrible inundation, which destroyed nearly whole of the human species. If, therefore, the rens of men are not found buried in marine layers, it t be because, as they were not reduced to a fossil state, is impossible for them to be preserved. It may also be osed that the sea has not, since that time, changed its and that they still remain concealed in the depths of bysses.

Literature, Criticism, &c.

ORIGINAL.

ON SPANISH LITERATURE."

ESSAY I.

INTRODUCTION.

nations which have penetrated into the kingdom, or been
subjected to its power, we may naturally infer that no mo-
dern language has adopted more foreign expressions than
the Spanish. This circumstance renders its etymology
exceedingly difficult: it has occasioned the prodigious ex-
tent of the dictionary composed by the Spanish academy.
This dictionary occupies six volumes folio, and yet it is
far from complete.. If we suppose the language divided
into one hundred parts, we may reckon sixty derived from
the Latin, ten from the Greek, ten from the Gothic, ten
from the Hebrew and Arabic, and the same number from
the Italian, French, and the languages spoken in the In.
dian possessions of Spain.

From time immemorial the natives of Spain have been
greatly attached to a rude kind of poetry. We learn from
Silius Italicus, that the ancient inhabitants of Galicia com-
posed and sung verses in their native dialect; and Strabo
informs us that the Turdetani, a people of the ancient

The Housewife.

"Housekeeping and husbandry, if it be good, Must love one another as cousins in blood: The wife, too, must husband as well as the man, Or farewel thy husbandry, do what thou can.” for which a patent has been taken out by Mr. R. Evans, Evans's new Method of Roasting Coffee.-This process, of London, consists in preventing any of the oily parts of the coffee (which contain the aroma) from evaporating during the process of roasting it. The machine consists of a cylindrical vessel, turned by a winch and two wheels. It has ledges within to throw the beans from the side to the middle of the cylinder. At the middle of the cylinder, opposite to the handle, a tube passes from the open air beyond its centre, having a great number of perforations in it. During the first period of the roasting, the aqueous parts, which the heat drives off, pass through the holes of this tube; but, when all the water is driven off, this tube is shut up, and, consequently, during the last period of the roasting, the aromatic oil does not escape from the beans.

White and Household Bread.-Dr. Majendie tried the experiment of feeding dogs upon white bread and water: whom he had given household bread, which only differed but all the animals died within fifty days; whilst those to from the white bread by retaining a quantity of the bran, continued to thrive very well upon it.

Baetica, wrote both their annals and their laws in verse. After the invasion of the Romans, Hyginus, the friend of panish literature is in general little known; nor, in- Ovid, his contemporary Sextilius Hena, and Martial, the 1, even in the country which has given it birth, has it celebrated epigrammatists, are the first poets whose names ted very general interest. Not that Spain cannot boast have descended to posterity. They were followed by Seery well educated men; but learning is little diffused neca, Lucan, Licianus, Mnicus, Canius, Decianus, Jung the people, as in England and France: it is chiefly veneus, who enjoys the honour of being the first Christian cleaned and quartered, put one gallon of water; boil To make Parsnip Wine.-To every 4lbs. of parsnips, ined to the studies of a few eminent men, and to the poet, and who turned the Gospel into Latin hexameters; them till they are quite tender; drain them through a rior of a few cloisters. The severity of the censorship, Arator, who versified the Acts of the Apostles; Sedulius, sieve, but do not bruise them, as no remedy would clear many other causes, the examination of which would Aquilius Severus, and Prudentius. After the irruption of them afterwards. Pour the liquor into a tub, and to each oreign to the present design, have generally opposed the Goths, in the fifth century, appeared Marobaudes, tartar. When cooled to the temperature of 75°, put in a gallon add 3lbs. of loaf-sugar and half an ounce of crude progress of national improvement. But there have Dracontius, who composed a poem on the Creation; the little new yeast; let it stand four days in a warm room, some bright seasons that have for a time dispelled bishop Cyponius, Orensius, author of the Commonita- then tun it. The mixture should, if possible, be fermentgloom in which the literature of the country has been rium; Ildefonso and Eugenius, both archbishops of To-ed in a temperature of 60°. September and March are Ived. In the sixteenth century much was effected by ledo, and both canonized. Several of these poets are the best seasons for making the wine. When the fermenatronage of Charles the Fifth, and something, per-known only by name: but we have little reason to regret stand at least twelve months before bottling. If great tation has subsided, bung down the cask, and let the wine , by that of his successor. One hundred years after the loss of what they wrote, when we consider the bar- delicacy of flavour be not indispensible, moist sugar may Is the Spanish language was as well known in the barous ignorance of the times in which they lived. be substituted for loaf, and some expense thereby avoided. t cities of Europe as that of the Greeks at Rome under The invasion of Spain by the Saracens in the eighth But the wine may be made of good loaf, or crushed lump irst Cæsars. The high esteem in which Spanish lite-century, was highly favourable to the interests of poetry. sugar, and not cost more than 74d. a bottle! e was then held, was not undeserved. Many works They enriched this pleasing art with all the splendour of erit in history, poetry, theology, and the drama, were oriental imagery: they dignified it with a more elevated hy of a place among the most celebrated productions style, and with bolder metaphors: they invested it in e neighbouring nations; nor have there been wanting the garb of a more brilliant fiction. By a long possesy authors, both in England in and France, who have sion of the country, the conquerors introduced their lane good use of their acquaintance with those of the guage and their literature. Their figurative mode of exfamed peninsula. Some of these have forgotten to pression became universal, and hastened the downfall of the obligation; but omnia tempus trahit in lucem. the barbarous romance which had hitherto prevailed. n the eagerness with which Spanish writers are Such became the attachment of the Spaniards to the laned, we may safely prophesy that the theft will be guage of their Moorish rulers, that, according to the testimony of a bishop of Cordova, the former wrote Arabic with remarkable purity, and composed verses in it with as much facility as the latter. During eight hundred years, the duration of the Saracen empire in Spain, its different provinces, divided into many dynasties, cultivated with equal success the oriental literature. The Jews themselves, who were protected by the Moorish kings, contributed something to the common stock of knowledge,-a proof that this singular people has not always been inattentive to intellectual pursuits.

wered.

le common language of Spain is called the Castilian.
city of Toledo was considered as the place in which
is spoken with the greatest purity; but since the seat
vernment has been removed to Madrid, the latter has
yed this advantage. It is spoken on the stage, and
e universities: it is generally diffused through the
Castiles, the provinces of Leon, Arragon, Estrema-
Andalusia, Navarre, Rioja, and in the mountains
urgos. In these places all classes of society, from the
dee to the peasant, speak it with more or less purity.
But there was a portion of Spain which still remained
the case is different in the Asturias, Galicia, Catalo- unsubjugated by the Saracens, and which had not received
and Valencia, where peculiar dialects are spoken; so their literature. While the Arabian muse* was celebrat-
the Castilian is not universal, though generally writing the exploits of the Muças, the Tarifs, and the Malek-
and understood. In the mountainous regions of Na-
and Biscay it is neither written nor understood:
a language is used which has no relation to it.
om the diversity of these languages, and that of the
We are indebted for much in the succeeding numbers to
little French work, Essai sur la Litterature Espagnole,
, 1810. But the greater portion of the Essai appeared in
English work published perhaps thirty years before, and

Alabés, the beauty of Fatinia, and the misfortunes of the
Abencerrages, many Christian warriors still maintained
their independence in the Asturias, detesting alike the go-
vernment and the language of the followers of Mahomet.
Descending from their native mountains, they began to
repel the latter, to extend their conquests, and the know-
ledge of their own tongue.

in Spain, the Castilian, the Limousin, the Portugese, the
Galician, and the Biscayen.

almost entirely unknown. Whoever is but moderately
versant with French literature, will not be surprised at
à a theft, though it is one of the most impudent ever com- Among other poets of that period whose names appear in
ted. It would be no difficult matter to prove that the the Bibliotheca Hispanica, and the Dictionnaire Oriental of
ach writers are almost all plagiarists in a greater or less D'Herbelat, may be reckoned several ladies. The most cele-
ee. Even Racine and Voltaire, names for which a French-brated of these was Maria Alfaïsuli, the Sappho of Seville,
whose rivals were Saphia, of the same city, and Aïscha, of

would fight, are notorious for plagiarism.

In the thirteenth century, five living languages existed Cordova.

Gymnasia.

How often have I bless'd the coming day,
When toil remitting, lent its turn to play;
When all the village train, from labour free,
Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree;
While many a past me circled in the shade,
The young contending as the old surveyed;
And many a gambol frolick'd o'er the ground,
And sleights of art, and feats of strength, went round
Goldsmith.
"It is a call to keep the spirits alive.'-Ben Jonson.
NO. XXII.

LATTON.50

TO THE EDITOR.

of an insertion in the Kaleidoscope, my intentions will be SIR,-Should the following recreation be deemed worthy fully answered:

Suppose a person place a peck measure, rundlet, small keg, or, in fact, any thing round, on its side, and sit upon it lengthways; procure a staff of proper length (a broom handle, for instance) one end of which he is to rest upon his left shoulder, the other upon the floor, at the same time crossing his legs over it, as in the sketch; then, with a lighted candle in one hand, he is to light an unlit one in the other, observing to keep the hands and arms perfectly free from the staff. The apparent ease with which it is supposed this can be accomplished, is only to be equalled by the real difficulty of performing it. Yours, J. S.

Literature.

DON ESTEBAN,

OR MEMOIRS OF A SPANIARD.

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

This is a work of one of the unfortunate Spanish exiles 1this country, and forms an excellent supplement and mpanion to the admirable letters of Don Leucadio Dobdo. In giving a detailed history of his life, Don Estein professes to present a faithful picture of the manners, abits, and customs of his countrymen. "He takes the ader into the interior of private houses; introduces him the tertulias, balls, assemblies, and public places; leads to the romerias, convents, nunneries, and palaces; ves him an insight into the national and private characof the Spaniards."

The work, besides, contains an account of the state of Spanish Court, under Ferdinand, which is worthy of Blas, and puts us in mind of that novel. Nothing -ems to change in Spain, except for the worse. The folwing is an account of the first meeting of Don Esteban ith the Curate Merino's troop: Quien vive!" cried one of them, in a voice like thun

er.

*Spain," replied I.

"And who are you?" inquired he, with a threatening
e, as he approached, pointing a pistol at my head.
Are you a dd francesado?"
This cockade and these ribbons ought to show you
t I am not one."

disorder, as my readers know, the persons affected do not see though their eyes be open, and he put off his marriage till he should recover his sight. The young lady, anxious to show how sincere her affection for him was, and that such an accident could not shake it, pressed the marriage more than she had done before; but he continued to amuse her day after day, with the hope that he would soon be better, and then marry her,-till the cause was at last decided in her favour. Two days after this, the Lieutenant recovered his sight, and insisted on the wedding being celebrated on the third, which actually took place.'

Miscellanies.

"A woman" exclaimed I," and in the power of Curate Merino!-What could bring you into such a situation ?" "Inconsideration and weakness. I am a native of Aranda de Duero, and (for my sins) I fell in love with a French officer, who was billetted in our house. He made an offer to me of his hand, and, on his departure, I abandoned my paternal roof, under which I had always lived happy and beloved by my tender parents. In our way to Burgos, the French detachment with which I went was attacked by the Curate, and the greatest part of them made prisoners. I cannot describe to you the scene that followed. They were all murdered in a manner too cruel, too horrible to relate, and among them my future husband. He died greater numbers in his bed-room, since he occupied it less. Napoleon and the Auts. The ants had appeared in before my eyes, under the most excruciating torments. I and had climbed upon his table, on which there was was threatened by Merino with a similar fate, if I would usually some sugar. Allured by the bait, they had im not yield to his wishes. At first I spurned the base pro-mediately established a chain of communication, and posal, but when he ordered his men to strip me, in order to taken possession of the sugar basin. Napoleon was anxious torture me, as they had just done the other poor wretches, that they should not be disturbed in their plans; he only my courage failed, and I yielded. I have now lived with now and then moved the sugar, following their manoeuvres, him above six months, and the more I know of him, the and admiring the activity and industry they displayed unmore I regret I had not fortitude enough to meet death til they found it again. This is not instinct," said he; when I ought. He is a cruel blood-thirsty coward, who it is much more-it is sagacity, intelligence, the ideal trusts to no one. Constantly haunted by his fears, he of civil association. But these little beings have not our sleeps every night in a different house to the one he men- passions, our cupidity; they assist, but do not destroy tions, and often at the distance of four or five leagues from each other. I have vainly endeavoured to defeat their his men, that he may not be surprised by the French. purpose, I have removed the sugar to every part of the To night you heard him say he was to be found at the room! they have been one, two, or sometimes three days, Vicary; but God and himself only know the true place. looking for it, but have always succeeded at last. The With such a leader, you will no longer wonder at the inso-idea strikes me to surround the table with water, and see lent, ruffian-like treatment you have just received from his whether that will stop them. Doctor, send for some. followers." But water did not stop them: the sugar was still pillaged. The Emperor then substituted vinegar, and the ants no longer ventured to approach." You see it is not instinct alone that guides them; they are prompted by something else; but what, I know not. However, be the principle which directs them what it may, they offer to man an example worthy of observation and reflection. It is only by perseverance and tenaciousness that any object can be attained.'-Last Days of Napoleon.

There," said he with an oath, "you lie. They show no such thing; for if you are a patriot, where are you The following is a curious account of a man who figured g through this road? I suppose to Aranda, where much in the late counter-revolution, Don Carlos Espana: French now are! What to do there, God knows, and "The Governor of this place, Don Carlos Espana, constra Senora del Pilar only can tell; but several Jo-trary to his usual penurious disposition, entertained us inos, who of late have passed this way, with ribbons several times. This man is one of the most eccentric oricockades like yours, have shown us that a cat may ginals, and at the same time the most artful rogue that ever for a hare when properly dressed. Is it not so, eh?" breathed. He is a Frenchman by birth, and entered the You ask too many questions at a time, Master Ser- Spanish army as an adventurer, where after exerting his ," said I, calmly; and to say the truth, I suspect wits in various ways for several years, he obtained the rank proverb of the cat may apply to yourself better than of Brigadier-General. He was so methodical in all his Description of a German Literary Lady.-Never shall e. If, however, I find that you and your troop be- actions, and so fond of command, that even his domestic forget the first appearance, to me, of Madame De B. to those who, under the name of patriots, are no bet- establishment was governed by military laws, framed by She was sitting, or rather reclining, in the most unaffected tan robbers, I promise you to find means, before a himself. He had a daughter fifteen years old, a very posture, with her legs crossed, and her hands clasped beelapses, to make you all decorate those trees with pretty and lively girl, called Pepita, whom he would con-hind her head, on a large sofa-one old, indeed, and persons." demn, whenever she transgressed those laws, to wear a crazy, but doubtless endeared to her by some association, Who is the commander of these men ?" cried I, un- stiff leathern collar made on purpose. The servants also perhaps with the days of her childhood; for, from its hing my sword, and threatening the one who had were obliged to pay fines of six or eight reals, according colour, and dilapidations, and fashion, it could scarcely my horse's bridle. At this moment, a young fine- to the fault committed. The animals themselves did not be more modern. Behind her and on each side extended a ng officer, dressed in a hussar's uniform, rode up, escape his authority; for his favourite horse was once con- floor, or rather an ocean of books, rising in volumes, like ated on a beautiful horse, accompanied by two other demned to eight days' hard labour in carrying stones to wave upon wave, tossing and tumbling, and some, as it s, and, with an effeminate voice, inquired who we the pier, because, when his master was going to pat his were, foaming open and revealing their white margins. Immediately the whole set drew aside to leave a hind legs, he raised one with an intention, as the Governor In the midst of these, like an island, stood a large oldAssage for him, and I answered, that his men had thought, to kick him. His monkey, too, having acciden- fashioned mahogany table, covered with various articles, the proper not only to stop me in my way to the place tally broken two plates while playing with him, was con- which I might forbear to enumerate, if it were not ined me by the Government of Cadiz, as my papers demned to two hours' pillory in the public promenade for teresting to the sensible mind to learn even the most trid show, but most grossly to insult me. Is that," eight successive days. Having issued orders that the fling attributes of genius. Such persons will readily for11, the discipline taught to your soldiers ?" streets should be kept clean under the penalty of ten reals give me that I mention a large black teapot, teacup of The fact is," said the officer, that these men know fine for the first time, twenty for the second, and so on, antique China, an inkstand, with the owner's cipher, apng of discipline, or the laws of war; they even detest he was in the habit of going every morning through parently scratched, on the metal; a pair of saucers, of lespise every thing connected with regular troops. I every street in the town, accompanied by two soldiers, to divers patterns; a large phial labelled laudanum;" a often seen them, even on the field of battle, take see that his orders were obeyed. If he found even a cab- tortoise-shell watch-case, a small plate of bread crusts, own course,-fly at the moment of victory, or dis- bage leaf, the fine was rigorously exacted from the house and a long hair comb, a tall wine glass half filled with their ground with an overpowering enemy. Leave whose business it was to keep that part clean; and, to sugar of the brown description, a snuff-box, a pair of snutto their own valour and resources, and they'll acquit make it appear he derived no profits from the fines, he fers, a small miniature, a few twisted fragments of brown selves well-but you must never expect to teach them would give one or two reals to the soldiers before the peo- and blue paper, two slender candles, some small pieces of ple, pretending he gave them the whole. One morning, copper coin, and a single stocking, marked D. R. A. P. fighting, and tearing each other's hair- Seize those in the course of these perambulations, seeing two women women, said he to the soldiers, and let us go to their On reaching them, he entered their kitchens, and found some plates not washed. Women who are quarrelling at nine in the morning without having their plates clean," said he, ought to pay a fine," and he made each pay him ten reals.

abordination."

and hardly done speaking, when a tall fierce-looking
rode up towards us, accompanied by a few cavalry.
urned from my protector that it was the Curate Me-houses.
As he approached me, I watched him with curio-
He was large and robust, of a very repulsive coun-
ice, and a savage dignity of manner. Thick bushy
rows shaded his eyes completely, his lips were co-
with mustachios of immense length, and his head
ed like Medusa's, from the stiff bristly hair that would
1er bend one way nor another.

Pepita," said he, with a harsh voice, " night is com-
on, and I have some information to gain. Should
thing requiring my presence occur, I shall be at the
ary, close by, at one o'clock after midnight. So that
ave thee the care of my men-Adieu!"
aying this, he put spurs to his horse and disappeared,
As we moved forward, I ex-
ccompanied by any one.
ssed my surprise at hearing him call the young officer
itat He smiled, and uncovering his head, said, "you
ht have seen before now, that I am not one of your

characteristic than the manner in which his marriage was
But of all his eccentric and selfish traits, none is more
brought about. When only a Lieutenant, he feigned him-
self violently in love with a young heiress, belonging to
one of those families of Mallorca called of the nine houses,'
distinguished for their wealth and birth. The lady, who
really loved him, after serious opposition from her family,
succeeded in obtaining their consent; and every arrange-
ment being nearly concluded, they were shortly to be united.
Meantime, however, a report reached his ears that some re-
lation of his dear intended had laid claims to the property
of her family; and that there was every probability of their
losing the law-suit. Having ascertained the fact, he immedi
ately feigned himself attacked with the gota serena, in which

Mr. Vandenhoff is going through his routine of characters with great success at the Dublin Theatre. All his performances appear to be highly spoken of by the critics of that city. Of his Hamlet the Morning Register observes,-"We have not room at present to notice the numerous instances of very exquisite acting which Mr. Vandenhoff last night displayed. He is, certainly, caltragedy." cuiated by nature and art to adorn the highest walks of

And oh, in thy meek and pearly vest,
More dear than musky rose;
For thine the promise of endless rest,
The weary heart's repose;
And fade, as thy pensile buds I see,
The sorrows of time in eternity!
Ye eldest daughters of the spring,
Ye gentle flow'rets hail!

Love o'er you sweeps his roseate wing,
And hope is on the gale;

And the wizard Care to her cave has sped,
And the halo of joy is round you spread.