of the Tudors and Plantagenets, the Henrys and Edwards, for ages lived. Certainly," replied my cousin, sarcastically, "if so many of them had not rather awkwardly died there." The sound of martial music now reach ed the ear, and he seemed uncertain for a minute, when, braving the terror a countryman always feels at avowing his ignorance, he accosted the next person, and inquired whence the music came. The man was one of that once so favored and so flourishing, now falling, and therefore, discontented class, whose avocation, like Othello's, is gone. His huge blue jacket, tarnished gold buttons, large brass badge on the right arm, and his spider-proportioned legs-albeit clad in white to make the most of them-proclaimed him to be a Thames waterman. "Why, master," replied the man, "that's the gaudy beak pulling up the river in his state barge to ax the big wigs at Vestminster to the Queen's dinner. A pretty sight it is too, if this here fog would let you see it. It's a'most the only thing now that's nat'ral on the river, or moved by oars. But," added he, with a face fast elongating, "that sight'll soon be seen no more; for I'm blessed if Mr. Maudslay, the steam engineer, has not got half a dozen of them cursed kettles now on the stocks a-building, to boil the mayor and corporation up and down the river in a twinkling, when they goes out a pleasuring. There's no Woolwich, or Putney, or Richmond now for poor buffers like me as has sarved their king and country, and been knocked about by the Mounseers all the war. Now look ye here," interrupted he, raising his hat, and pointing to an ugly gash over his right temple, on which the hair had long ceased to grow; "I got that from the thieving pirates, with Admiral Pellew, off Algiers-the same shell that stove in my figure-head, sent every other man at that gun into another world in a twinkling. I say, sir, poor buffers like me never gets a job now, often for a week or two together:-I used to be fat and hearty before these steamers comed into fashion; but now neither I nor the old woman can afford ourselves wittals; and I falls away in flesh so fast,thatthe young picked-up-alongshore wagabonds snigger, and swear I'm not a waterman, but a lighterman. There was a time, master-but sorrow and starvings knocked all the fight out o'me." I knew by experience the insolent selfishness of these fellows, and suspecting how all this would end, gradually increased my distance. "You needn't be in such a hurry," tartly interrupted the petitioner, "to cut and run like a frightened Frenchman. Nobody's going to ax you for anything; but your shipmate looks like a kind-hearted gemman as would do a good turn without axing." The fellow was right: my cousin was a generous young fellow. He prepared to comply-but I saw that as he fumbled at his coat skirts, the waterman thought he was going to the wrong pocket. "There's no compulsion, Ned," said I, laughing, "only you must.' By this time he had drawn from his pocket all the half-pence it contained, and offered them to the sculler. I shall not easily forget the civil sneer with which the latter indicated that copper was beneath his acceptance; whilst he jeeringly said, loud enough for any one near us to hear him, "Bless us, no! it would be robbing you! you're sure to want it before the day's over yourself; but suppose not,' continued he pointing to me, "if you've any bowels you'll lend it to dummy there." Ned's Lancashire blood was up in an instant, and his fist clenched; but I charitably interposed just in time to prevent a breach of the peace: and in withdrawing my young Hotspur from the field, was recompensed by overhearing the fellow swear "He would glory in having both in his boat, and capsizing us among the fishes, that warn't half so scaly as the swells." My cousin's a cricket player-his passion had cooled; and whilst the fellow's abusive language could yet be heard dying away in the distance, he could not forbear saying, with a laugh, "Well, Tom, you must allow, however fond you are of a hoax, that we have had the worst of this innings." We now got into the Strand. Great was the note of preparation amongst the shopkeepers in anticipation of a golden harvest. Many, it would seem, had reaped as yet disappointment; for amidst all the bustle and hammering we were saluted with frequent invitations to ascend. The lower class of shops were very generally placarded, and the barkers outside assured the passers by, in the most dulcet tones, that they could be "accommodated with most excellent seats to view the procession, on the most moderate terms." "What do you call moderate?" said a fat master builder, as I guessed, from a folding three-footer that treacherously protruded from the rule side pocket of his best buckskins, all unknown to his rib; who, sporting her best attire on this hap"It's a tarnation raw morning. May-py occasion, well sustained, by her ponhap, sir," continued the sculler, "you'd derous cubic dimensions, the title of his stand a drop of summat short to keep the better half. fog out of a poor devil's stomach, that ha'n't tasted a bit o' wittals to-day." "Come," said I, "there's no use in delaying here; the fog will let you see nothing on the river. Come." Please, sir, to step in with your good lady. Make way for this gentleman and lady there, we sha'n't quarrel, I'm certain." "I'm not so sure of that," replied Mr. PhilRubbish, pulling up another inch of shirt collar. "I don't like to buy a pig in a poke. What, I say, is the damage? Let me know -at a word." "Well then, sir, at a word," said Mr. Bobbin, eyeing their portly persons, as a land surveyor does an estate from an elevation, "ten shillings a-piece-that, I am sure, is moderate. Step this way, sir, there's an excellent situation," pointing to a green-baize covered seat, "the only one unoccupied in the shop front." der the abusive fire of poor Mr. Bobbin, for having caused his benches to be deserted, a raking shot from a carpenter took them a. stern, who vociferated after them, as loud as a boatswain, "Mayhap you thought I didn't know the cut of your jib, old chap. Trundle your mop and yourself on to Savoy Steps, you're sure to be accommodated there; you'll see a board painted with RUBBISH MAY BE SHOT HERE.' There was a great stir and bustle amongst Cautiously and less sanguinely than place- the crowd on the flagged ways, the instantahunters in general, proceeded our ponderous neous effect of a cry raised that the procesfriend. He was, as well as most in society, sion was coming. It turned out to be the impressed with his own weight; and as deep-troops lining the streets. This encouraged ly as any ancient philosopher, engaged in meditating upon "the fitness of things." Hence he was induced to raise slowly the green covering, and whilst observing the frail scaffolding, exclaimed," Bless my soul! come down, good people! you will all have your necks broke. Why, it's all made of half inch deals. You will be all through the shop frame into the street in a minute." The sitters already had sprung on their legs, and were scrambling to the door. "I'm sure it's strong enough-my carpenter built it." "Then," interrupted Mr. Philip, "he must be an undertaker, and has speculated on a job here in his other line." The scamperers were aghast. The lady testified her approbation of her husband's happy hit by a (horse it could not be) mare's laugh, and the people began to ask for their money back. The builder, seeing he had a willing auditory, commenced expounding. "These cross-pieces and uprights ought to have been of good scantling to bear such a weight; and I wouldn't trust my seat on any thing less than a plank of stout, sound twoinch stuff." the thieves to commence operations, and the staves of the police were soon flourished on all sides to the no small dismay of her Ma. jesty's lieges. "I knew how it would be,” said a Kentish market-gardener, "whenever the blue bottles began to buz they'd spoil all." "What can you expect from the savages?" grumbled an athletic butcher, who had been carrying for some hours five hundred weight of human flesh on his back and shoulders without a murmur, but who was now compelled, sorely against his will, to quit his hardearned vantage ground. A furious rush now ensued, and loitering longer here was out of the question; and we therefore determined, like friend Penn, in the evil days of the Stuarts, to flee from oppression, and place ourselves under the civil authority on the other side of Temple Bar. The Strand presented almost throughout its mile length of window an uninterrupted display of well-dressed persons, mostly females; some of the most lovely and delicate of whom seemed to court the approaches of grim Death, by the most ruthless exposure of the head and neck to the damp cold wind; to "For heaven's sake!" said his wife, al-which doubtless may be attributed the late inmost swooning through fear of detection in her peacock garb, "for heaven's sake, Phil., sink the shop." crease of business among the doctors. There was an affectation of aristocratical superiority displayed by the proprietors of some of the houses, who piqued themselves on excluding all visitors, and appeared" alone in their glory," amongst whom a certain blacking "You're quite right; scantling, and twoinch it ought to be," said the man from next door; "but just step this way; you and the lady shall have a seat as will last till the re-manufacturer made himself conspicuous at surrection gun fires." "You've been to sea for a spell," said I "that's clear!" "Why, yes; for about five years," replied he; "but I'm a carpenter by trade: now I've steadied my helm, and got a family." Then pointing to a carpenter's bench, which formed the first line of seats, observed, "There sir!-there ma'am !-Its rough, to be sure, but if you want strength you'll be at home to a T." His lady love thought differently-the offer of the bench, which would have put a king's counsel into ecstasies appeared to her a pointed insult. She tugged her husband's arm, and whispered something about their being purposely affronted-she knew it by the fellow's impudent manner. Nor was she far out in the conjecture: women are always quick in these things-for as the couple slowly worked their way through the crowd, un the window admiring his polished ebony phiz reflected on the well-blackened boot, whilst in the act of shaving, with grimalkin at his elbow, as represented in the portrait so industriously circulated amongst his customers. As the procession now trod close upon our heels, and the cry was still "She comes," we made for some friendly haven in the city. But alack! how true the proverb often is, "the more haste the less speed!" Every attempt to move through the now thick array was resented as an assault, and a battle was often the result. Repelled, instead of propelled, in our course, we were carried, like Captain Ross, out of Repulse Bay by a partial current into Endeavor Straits, and by an accurate acquaintance with the Shy-geography of the northern district of the Strand, continued to work a traverse, as the Ars nau tica hath it, still ahead of the procession, through all the filthy by-lanes and alleys, 1 running sometimes parallel and oftener in a For entrance at a thousand doors they knock'd, Making at last a desperate effort to get out over the wide waste of many long years. At any rate, I console myself with thinking that an article for a magazine is not expected to. be like one of those classically devised and elegantly painted bon mots of literature that are intended for the sugar-plums of the children of posterity; but like the flower which some idler gathers, as he saunters through a garden. He holds it awhile between his fingers, smells to it, praises its fragrance, and drops it; and totally forgetting, amongst fresh flowers, that he had it at all, never once dreams of returning back to look for it. And thus I predict, that when once my story is told, no one will write Resurgam at the end of it. Captain Chamier's "Continuation of Mr. James's Naval History" is a valuable addition to those glorious records that embalm the name of a British sailor, for the admiration of the latest posterity. It is, however, to be regretted that Mr. James had not the same advantages and facilities as Captain There was still no chance of getting into Chamier, for a work of this important dethe line of the procession, either by the Old scription; and he has consequently failed to Bailey or Ave Maria Lane. All was choked convey (as I have been informed by several up by a dense and disappointed crowd; and competent judges) a just impression, in vacarried along by the stream of people up rious facts of his history, as to many disputed Newgate street, we reached the broad area circumstances and contending claims. Such of Cheapside, where, at the accession of is at least undoubtedly the fact with regard Crook-backed Richard, stood Paul's Cross. to the engagement between the Boston and This space was now divided by a strong l'Embuscade, in which Captain George Courboom, inside of which a body of huge mount- tenay, of the former, lost his valuable life; ed life-guards intercepted the view, and out-as nothing can be more remote from the side were ranged six or eight tier of coal-truth than Mr. James's account respecting whippers, city porters, draymen, and the the first lieutenant, Edwards, whose conduct tallest fellows the metropolis could produce. has been severely censured by the most able Down came the procession-down came the judges. I well remember having frequently rain. Five hundred trebles of the London heard the circumstances attending my galBoys' School, perched in their pea-green lant and lamented uncle's death narrated by eyrie, screamed their delight. The waving various members of my family, and they of handkerchiefs-acclamations like claps of made a deep impression on my mind. thunder-a wild cheerful hurrah! hurrah! member the agony of grief with which his -prayers and blessings-announced the near surviving relatives always alluded to royal presence-but not even the roof of the the untimely fate of one of the best, and state-carriage could we see. bravest, and most engaging of human beings; and I remember having heard, at that early period, the various evidences as to the treacherous, or-to say the least of it-the improper and unprofessional conduct of Lieutenant Edwards on the occasion of my uncle's "What the deuce," said I, "brought me to this unlucky spot?" "Or what should have brought me here at a railroad gallop, like a simpleton," said my cousin, "from the very bottom of Lancashire?" "Can't you tell, coz ?-why the queen, to be sure!" AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.* BY MRS. CRAWFORD. Conscious of my own deficiencies, I am often tempted to deprecate the frowns of that skilful anatomist of fanciful brains and scrib. bling fingers-the critic; and coax the old gentleman "with spectacles on nose," to take a nap, while my memory takes a hasty flight * Continued from p. 247. death. I re The The circumstances were briefly these. In the summer of 1773, Captain Courtenay, of the "Boston" frigate, then cruising off New York, sent a challenge to the Captain of l'Embuscade, Bombart, to meet him at sca. challenge was accepted, and a severe engagement ensued. My uncle had been cheering on his men, and was singing the concluding line of "Rule Britannia," when he was struck by a spent ball, and fell stunned, according to the opinion of the whole ship's crew, officers included, excepting only the first lieutenant, Edwards, who, the moment that his captain fell, ordered the body to be thrown overboard, without any surgical or other examination. This was accordingly done, to the utter dismay of the gallant band, that had but a moment before fought like lions under their chivalrous commander, who was enthusiastically beloved by all. Now, have been led to state the circumstances when the body was raised from the deck, simply as they occurred. If, in doing this, not a drop of blood had flowed from it, they at all seem to bear hard on Lieutenor was a sign of death visible in the nant Edwards, I have endeavored at any countenance; yet, contrary to all usual ob- rate to keep within the strict line of truth servances, Captain Courtenay was neither and justice, with regard to a man who, carried below, nor inspected by the sur- whether intentionally, or unintentionally, geon, but was at once recklessly committed appears (according to the testimony of to the deep, where no one but Edwards dis- the most credible witnesses, and amongst puted that he in reality met with his death. them, Captain Courtenay's own nephew, Mr. James says, "Captain Courtenay who was on board at the time) to have and Lieutenant Edward Butler, while hurried from the world one of the most standing at the fore part of the quarter- gallant defenders of his country, and shindeck, were killed by the same cannon-ball." ing ornaments of domestic life. Nature Captain Brereton's statement is as fol had been prodigal to him in the gifts both lows:-"The action soon began, and con- of person and mind. His figure was mantinued with great bravery on both sides, ly and symmetrical; his face remarkably until the iron hammock-rail of the quarter- handsome, and of a most engaging sweetdeck, being struck by a shot, a part of it ness and benignity of expression. Of a took Captain Courtenay on the back of peculiarly gentle and tender disposition in the neck, and he fell; but no blood follow- private life, it was scarcely possible to coned. The first lieutenant, Edwards, caused ceive the ardent courage which he disthe body to be immediately thrown over-played, when called into action. He dis board, lest, as he said, it should dishearten tinguished himself very early in his naval the men; and after this operation hauled career; and he and his cousin, Captain away from the enemy." Now this short Ruthven, (son of Lord Ruthven,) were, I and simple statement of fact is at once believe, the youngest officers that had ever condemnatory of Edward's conduct. If been posted, the first being only eighteen, his only reason for adopting the unusual and the other but one year older. Fox course of throwing his captain overboard said in the House of Commons, in allusion the instant that he fell, was to prevent his to my uncle's death, and the skill and men from being disheartened, how was it courage by which he had invariably disthat he did not stay to fight it out? If, on tinguished himself, that "no man ever betthe contrary, he made up his mind to haul ter deserved a monument from his counaway, why did he not take his command-try, that Captain George Courtenay." He er with him? It was the more incumbent married very early in life the beautiful and on him to have done this, inasmuch as it accomplished daughter of General Ogle, is well known by all on board that he en- to whom he became known in India; and tertained no very friendly feelings towards I believe a happier pair never took upon Captain Courtenay. themselves the matrimonial_yoke, although, alas! not permitted by Providence to sustain it for any lengthened period. It would seem as though my uncle had some presentiment of his fall in that fatal engagement. Before the battle he retired to his cabin, and wrote a long farewell letter to his beloved wife. Breathing the most devoted love for herself, and the tenderest concern for his two infants, he besought her, in the most solemn and touching manner, to bring them up to love and fear God; and, above all, not as women of the world. The opinion of the authorities at home, as to the conduct of Lieutenant Edwards on this occasion, was shown in a very marked and decided manner. The commander of the Pluto sloop, (afterwards Admiral Sir James Norris,) was posted into the Boston, to fill my uncle's place, instead of Edwards, who was in the meantime appointed lieutenant in another ship, and afterwards was sent to resume his original station, as first lieutenant of the Boston !* If I have entered upon this subject rather more fully than I originally intended, I trust it may be excused, on the ground that early impressions, imbibed in the family circle, to which the heart must always turn fondly in after life, generally make a deep impression on the mind. Still remembering the freshness of grief and regret with which, even for years afterwards, my family occasionally reverted to this sudden wrench from life of one of its dearest and most deserving members, I "At the time, too, that the mizen-topmast and mizen staysail of the Boston were shot away; Lieutenant Edwards had become senseless from a contusion in the head, and was below under the hands of the surgeon. Why was he not thrown overboard (according to his own new regulations!) while he lay senseless ?" When the intelligence was first communicated to my grandmother, of the loss of this much-beloved son, it was done with extreme caution. She immediately retired to her own apartment, where she remained alone for some hours; and when she rejoined the rest of the family, she appear *"Captain Courtenay met with some obstacles to his union with Miss Ogle, on account of her want of fortune. His uncle, Lord Bute. commissioned a friend to wait upon General Ogle, and represent the impropriety of the step on both sides. In consequence of this, the gailani lover was denied all access to his beautiful mistress. But love is fertile in expedients. Captain Courtenay, darkening his complexion, and disguising himself in the habit of a slave, got admission to the prosence of his beloved; and contrived at dinner to slip a billet under her plate." All was changed! All was irrevocably past away! ed with such a sweet serenity and holy re-wife. signation in her countenance and manner, as at once convinced them, that those so At the same party was Coleridge-the litary hours had not been passed in vain. ever-illustrous Coleridge. I remember beShe afterwards informed them, that al- ing forcibly struck with the strong conmost immediately on her reaching her trast which the presence of a genuine poet chamber, and before she could give vent exhibits, in a fashionable assemblage of to the agony of grief with which her soul persons, met together solely for the enviwas oppressed, a peculiar kind of rushing able purpose of "killing time." I do not sound appeared to approach and enter the mean one of those dandy sons of Parnasapartment, and she then distinctly heard sus, who come tripping in Cupid's_garthe words, "Give glory to God," repeated land: but such men as Coleridge, Hogg, three times. These words no doubt im- and Cunningham, who carried Nature's parted to her feelings a different current, letters patent, to exercise their wits for and enabled her, in a more implicit and the common benefit of mankind. On the affectionate manner, to submit to the de- occasion I allude to, Coleridge had taken cree of that Being, who weighs all things refuge in the card-room. I can see him in his balance, and who alone knows what now, in his suit of jet-black, and beautiful is best for us. Far different was the effect clean-looking skin, the very personificawhich had been produced on my grand- tion of a neat, simple, and pious village mother, when, on a former occasion, she pastor. His silver locks shadowed his had been deprived of another brave son. benign brow, his cheeks were ruddy as When she was informed of the death of those of sinless childhood, and the whole my uncle Conway,* she fell into a state of bearing of the man was spiritualized, and total insensibility, which continued for a full of divine love, as though the dove that period of eight-and-forty hours. When descended amongst the first disciples had she recovered from this, I do not mean to just alighted on his own breast. He sate. imply, but that she bore her bereave- somewhat behind one of the whist-players, ment with all that piety and resignation, with a book in his hand, and from which, for which she was so remarkably dis- in the pauses of the game, he occasionally tinguished, even from her earliest youth: read passages to a gentleman next to him, but the physician who was called in, said, and interspersed them with various comthat this suspension of vitality was a mer-ments of his own. His thoughts, which ciful interposition, without which imme- were always original and valuable, seemdiate death would probably have ensued. ed to flow with the copiousness of a stream I am reminded of a remarkable case of that could never be exhausted. I longed suspended animation, which preceded, in- for the power to put an end to all other stead of following, another sorrowful be- amusements, that he alone might be listenreavement. At a party some few years ed to. I longed to place him in a chair of ago, I was attracted by an object, interest- authority at the head of the room, and to ing in itself, and likewise in strong con- assemble all the dancers, and card-play. trast to the surrounding scene. Near the ers, and loungers around him! that all gay groups in the dancing-room, looking might listen to the words of wisdom, in their rainbow costume like beds of tu- which fell from his inspired lips. I fear, lips, or flights of butterflies, sate one of however, that upon a very great proporthe most lovely and innocent-faced crea- tion of the company they would all have tures I ever beheld. She was a young, been utterly lost. Coleridge was not the very young widow, arrayed in her weeds. man to suit the multitude. He was not and simple melancholy cap, that is in itself" the poet of all circles," though "the idol a monody more affecting than ever poet of his own" He had penetrated too far wrote. On inquiring who she was, I learn-into the mysteries of our being, he had ed some interesting particulars respecting reached the penetralia of the sanctuary. her. A few months after her marriage, Therefore, well might he say, "What I she was taken ill and fell into a trance, which lasted for upwards of a fortnight. During that period her husband, (who was in perfect health at the time of her seizure,) fell sick, died, and was buried! So that she might justly be said to wake from one long dream, but to fall into another. What a waking up must her's have been! She returned to life and death together. She came out of her long slumber a sorrowful widow, who had gone to sleep a joyful Captain Conway Courtenay, who died in India. He was the eldest son of the late William Courtenay, Eq, by his wife, a daughter of the Earl of Bute, and the same Jane Stuart who assisted the young Pretender to escape from the Isle of Bute. can write the public will not read, from my practice of writing what my fellowcitizens want, rather than what they like. So that I have no connection with any magazine, paper, or periodical publication of any kind, nor have I had interest enough to procure even the announcement of my own last work-' the Aids to Reflection."" That grand work, which hath a golden key to heaven! Or, to speak in better words than my own, is, "like the oases of the wilderness, beautifully styled by the wild Arab, the footsteps of the Deityrare spots in the desert-full of green palm-trees and welling waters." * Aird's "Religious Characteristics." |