LONDON SATURDAY JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY JOHN TIMBS, THIRTEEN YEARS EDITOR OF "THE MIRROR," AND "I.ITERARY WORLD." And thus, like thee, thou glittering gem of eve, Scattering the woes that crowd our destiny; And the green turf lies lightly on each breast, Varieties. Ready Answer." Pray, how do you kill time?" was the question of a Londoner to a hermit in the country. "I don't kill it," was the reply, "it kills me." Quid pro quo.-Turner, the painter, is a ready wit. Once, at a dinner, where several artists, amateurs, and literary men were convened, a poet, by way of being facetious, proposed as a toast the health of the painters and glaziers of Great Britain. The toast was drank, and Turner, after returning thanks for it, proposed the health of the British paperstainers.-Campbell. The Arabs of Bona take no note of time, and they have neither clocks nor registers; yet they are descendants of the people who taught us algebra.—Ibid. French Drinking.-One of the Gallic warriors of Africa was one day brought to a court-martial for the crime of being drunk without leave! The size of the Elephant appears to have been strangely over-rated. Major Denham stated, that he saw troops of elephants sixteen feet high! "We venture to say," observes the Quarterly Review, "there is not in all Africa an elephant eleven feet high, and very few either in Ceylon or Siam, or Pegu, or Cochin China, where they are found of the largest size, that ever exceed that height." But "Geographers in Afric maps, With savage pictures fill their gaps, Place elephants, for want of towns." Antiquities-Campbell, the poet, quaintly says, "Come, let us be off to talk with the living; I am weary of the dead, and their resurrection-men, the antiquaries." Bad's the Best.-Canning was once asked by an English clergyman how he had liked the sermon he had preached before him. "Why it was a short sermon," quoth Canning. "Oh, yes," said the preacher, "you know I avoid being tedious." 66 "Ah, but," replied Canning, you were tedious." Joy of Grief-A Highland funeral used to be followed by a regular supper to the company, and a ball. Upon one occasion, the gentleman who was to lead down the dance, asked the mistress of the house, whose husband had that day been buried, if she would stand up to the dance, and she with a deep sigh consented. He then asked the disconsolate widow to name the spring, i. e. the tune she would wish to be played. "Oh," she said, "let it be a light spring, for I have a heavy heart."-Campbell's Letters from the South. The Sea." I am a great lover," says the poet Campbell, "of submarine prospects. Often, in my boyhood, when the day has been bright, and the sca transparent, I have sat by the hour on a Highland rock, admiring the golden sands, the emerald weeds, and the silver shells at the bottom of the bay beneath, till, dreaming about the grottoes of the Nereids, I would not have exchanged my pleasure for that of a connoisseur poring over a landscape by Claude or Poussin. Enchanting nature! thy beauty is not only in heaven and earth, but in the waters under our feet. How magnificent a medium of vision is the pellucid sea! Is it not like poetry, that embellishes every object that we contemplate?"-Letters from the South. Moors. Our commou idea of the Moors is, that they are savage and unsocial; but that is as vulgar an error as blackening the visage of Othello. They are generally courteous and intelligent; and in Algiers, the majority of them are better educated than Frenchmen, i. e. fewer of them are ignorant of reading and writing. Arab Horses. In the desert, a light mane and tail on a chestnut horse is considered unlucky; the colour, though common, is not much admired, and the feet of such animals are accounted soft and tender. Bay is the favourite colour next to light grey, which is much in request. Much importance is attached to the manner in which the legs are coloured, stockinged horses being in the extremes of good or bad luck, according to the disposition of the white. If both fore legs are marked, it is good; if one hind and one fore leg are marked on the same side, it is very unlucky; or if one alone is white, it is equally unfortunate; but if opposite legs, (off fore and near hind,) are light, nothing can be more admired. Ridiculous as these fancies may appear, they, nevertheless, influence the price of horses, sometimes even to a sixth of their value.-Capt. Lyon. Tea. The Chinese themselves, and the oriental nations generally, hardly consume any thing but black tea. The English consume in the proportion of but one part of green to four of black. The Americans, on the contrary, consume two parts of green to one of black. The English in Bengal, and in the Australian settlements, scarcely consume any thing but green. The English at Bombay and Madras hardly use any thing but black tea. The English merchants and other residents settled at Canton, follow the example of the Chinese, using black tea alone. In Holland, the proportion of black tea used is much greater than that of green; and in Russia, nearly the whole consumption is black. Horse Flesh.-The natives of Upper California plunder the farms of the colonists of horses, which they eat in preference to beef, though horned cattle are more abundant. This fact contradicts the assertion of Professor Kidd, that no people eat horse-flesh through preference. Campbell, the poet, says,-" Blackwood's Magazine treats me as if it were a playful cat. Upon the whole, exceedingly kind, it often purrs applause beyond my deserts, but anon it puts the claws out of the velvet sheath, and gives me a scratch that makes me suck my bleeding finger." French in Algiers.-The Jews complain that since the arrival of the French, there has been "Point de commershe." What a dirty shirt you have on!-Soon after Bolivar's entry into Bogota, subsequent to the defeat of the Spaniards at Bojaca, he gave a grand entertainment to many of the first families of the place, and just before dinner an English colonel arrived. Bolivar looking at him, said, "My good and brave colonel, what a dirty shirt you have on for this grand dinner; how happens it?" The colonel replied, he was "really very sorry, but to confess the truth, it was the only shirt he had :" on hearing which, Bolivar laughed, and sending for his majordomo, desired him to give the colonel one of his shirts. The man hesitated, and remained looking at the general; when he again said, rather impatiently, "Why don't you go, as I desire you? the dinner will soon be on table." The majordomo stammered out, "Your excellency has but two shirtsone is on your back, the other in the wash!" This made Bolivar and the colonel laugh heartily; the former remarking jokingly, "The Spaniards retreated so quickly from us, my dear colonel, that I have been obliged to leave my heavy baggage in the rear."-Col. Hamilton's Travels. March of Intellect.—A beggar, some time ago, applied for alms at the door of a partisan of the Anti-begging Society. After in vain detailing his manifold sorrows, the inexorable gentleman peremptorily dismissed him. "Go away," said he, "go-we canna gie ye naething." "You might, at least," replied the mendicant, with an air of great dignity and archness," have refused me grammatically." London: Published for the Proprietors, by W. BRITTAIN, Paternoster Row. Edinburgh: JOHN MENZIES. Glasgow: D. BRYCE. Printed by J. Rider, 14, Bartholomew Close, London. LONDON SATURDAY JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY JOHN TIMBS, THIRTEEN YEARS EDITOR OF "THE MIRROR," AND "I.ITERARY WORLD." HAMBURGH. THE recent partial destruction by fire of this most important commercial city of Germany, renders its history interesting at the present moment. Situate on the banks of the Elbe, about 80 miles distant from the sea, it forms the emporium of Saxony, Bohemia, and other fertile and industrious regions watered by the Elbe and its tributaries. It is, at the same time, a grand medium of communication between the northern and middle states of Europe, and a species of depôt for the commodities of each; as well as the most extensive depôt for English goods on the Continent. From London, Hamburgh may be reached by steam-boat in 48 hours; and from Hull, by the same means, in about 41 hours. | (Mühlen-brücke,) over one of the above canals, looking towards the church of St. Nicholas, whose lofty and curiously-shaped tower forms a conspicuous object from many parts of the city. Besides these features, however, Hamburgh, in the upper quarter, has every appearance of a large inland capital; while on the banks of the broad Elbe, it displays all the bustle and activity of an important maritime city. In the number and tonnage of the vessels which enter the port, Hamburgh is second only to London and Liverpool; and considerably more than one-third of the ships which annually arrive are British. The municipal constitution of Hamburgh consists of a self-elected senate of 28 members, who, however, are checked by popular councils, chosen by all who have 2401. of property within the city. The city is of great antiquity, having been founded by The details of the disastrous calamity which has recently Charlemagne, as a bulwark against the rude northern befallen this rich and flourishing city, have scarcely been tribes, by whom it was repeatedly sacked, particularly by officially reported. The awful result appears to be, that the Vendees in 1002. Its advantageous situation, how-between two o'clock in the morning of the 5th inst., and ever, enabled Hamburgh always to recover and extend its the same hour of the afternoon of the 8th, nearly onecommerce; till, in the middle of the thirteenth century, it fourth of the city was reduced to ashes! The fire originconcluded with Lubeck a treaty, which became the basis of ated in a six-storied house, chiefly of timber, at the corner the celebrated Hanseatic league. It continued in a state of two of the narrowest streets in the oldest part of the of uninterrupted advance, while other members of the city. The wind was high, and there was little water in confederacy declined. In 1618, it was declared a free the canals, so that the flames could not be checked; imperial city, and in 1768 was emancipated from every with inconceivable rapidity they spread to the whole of remnant of dependence under Denmark. In 1807, how the narrow and crowded streets that formed the heart of ever, a period of deep calamity commenced: it was forci- the city; and the fire was hereabout fed by an immense bly occupied by the French troops, and Buonaparte seized warehouse full of spirits. on a portion of the public treasure. He caused a still more deadly injury, by the enforcement of the Continental system, by which the mercantile interests of Hamburgh were reduced almost to a state of ruin. She suffered also severely in 1813, by a premature attempt to effect her liberation; but, on the downfall of Napoleon, she was restored to all her rights, and has regained her former independence. Hamburgh is, probably, the greatest commercial city on the Continent: she exports the linens of Silesia, the wool of Saxony, grain in abundance, though inferior to that of Poland; wood work, flax, rags, spelter, and some wine. Her warehouses contain also abundance of Baltic goods, which can be obtained at moderate rates. Her imports consist of British manufactures, colonial produce, wines and other liquors, cotton, indigo, and dye-woods. Mr. M'Culloch, a few years since, estimated the total value of her exports and imports rather to exceed than to fall short of 14,000,000l. sterling; and nearly the whole of this immense commerce was in the hands of Britain. The population, in 1839, exceeded 120,000, of whom several thousands were Jews; and the number of English merchants and their families fluctuates between 1000 and 1500; though the total number of English is also stated to be 2,300. The conflagration soon progressed towards the locality of the Engraving, by the Hopfenmarkt, (the Covent-garden of Hamburgh,) where the whole of the houses, which were exceedingly large and handsome, and were used as hotels, were soon destroyed. "Here the flames burst out in various parts, and it became apparent that the destruction of the church of St. Nicholas was inevitable. The most strenuous exertions were made to save this sacred edifice, by the firemen, who in vain perilled their lives, at a height of upwards of 150 feet from the ground, exposed to the fall of burning rafters within the steeple; and to the still greater risk of the tower itself taking fire, as they endea voured to cut away and destroy some timber, which had become ignited by the sparks which flew in showers from the burning houses. At length, they gave up their useless toil, and ten minutes afterwards, the steeple fell with im petuous violence upon the roof of the church, through which it broke with a loud crash." Meanwhile, a large sum of money has already been subscribed in London, towards the relief of the many In the absence of a plan of the city, it would be useless to repeat the names of the streets destroyed: their number is stated at 48, containing from 1500 to 2000 houses, which lie mouldering on the ground, in fearful but pic turesque ruin; besides three churches, and other public buildings. The number of lives lost is set down at from 150 to 200; and the value of property destroyed is esti Like many other cities in the north of Germany, Ham-mated at 7,000,000l. sterling; but we hope these numbers, burgh partakes of the character of a Dutch town. It is made in universal consternation, may hereafter prove to not well built; the streets being narrow and irregular, be overstated.* and the houses constructed of brick or wood. The Borsenhalle, or Exchange, is one of the finest buildings; and the principal church is remarkable for the height of its tower, which exceeds by 50 feet that of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. There is, however, no edifice distinguished for its splendour. The hospital, completed in 1823, is most spacious and commodious, being 700 feet in front, and each wing 300 feet long; and it is stated to contain 2500 beds. In some parts, the city is intersected by canals; and these, crossed at intervals by small bridges, and bordered by old gable-ended houses fantastically ornamented, giving the whole the picturesqueness of a town in Holland. The annexed view is from the Mill-bridge,| In this dreadful conflagration, the means of staying its progress were strangely deficient: the affrighted townspeople crowded their goods into the streets, through which the fireengines-not larger, it is stated, than those in the London conjoined with the high wind, and the want of water, must parishes-could not make their way. These circumstances, have rendered the spread of the flames terrific; especially as those houses which were not entirely of wood, were halftimbered, i. e. of brick, or lath and plaster, with large posteras and transverse beams in the exterior, besides an unnecessarily large quantity of wood in the interior. thousands of persons whose homes and property have been destroyed in this truly calamitous conflagration; the first remittance made to the sufferers was 8,4501.; and at the moment we write, nearly three times that amount has been raised for their succour. This prompt munificence is alike indicative of British wealth and benevolence; and the noble example will, we trust, be followed throughout the Continent. THE LOVER STUDENT. Till the east with dawn is gray: But what are those musty tomes to him? He seeks in fancy the halls of light, Where the festal bowers are gleaming bright, And he thinks of her the live-long night- Yet many a gallant knight is by, To dwell on each gushing tone, To drink the smile of that love-lit eye, To woo, with the vow, the glance, and sigh, The student bends o'er the snowy page, That he may write him a lesson sage But softer lessons his thoughts engage, In vain his spirit would now recur In vain the notes of the vesper stir In the cloister cold and grim; Through the live-long night he thinks of herDoes his lady think of him? The student's orisons must arise At the vesper's solemn peal, So he gazeth up to the tranquil skies, His troubled spirit is out of tune, And loosen'd its countless strings; Thon in thy bower, Though forms are apart, Hath bound us in heart. Now murmur to thee All treason to me: Others are gazing On that glance divine; Are their words like mine? Heed not the wooer With soft vows expressed, Thou know'st in whose breast; On the evening of the same day on which the stranger had visited his daughter's grave, the minister and he sat by the fireside in the manse parlour, conversing on the events already related. At length, in reply to some inquiries on the subject, Major Ormond (for so was the stranger called,) gave the following brief history of his daughter's life. "In an hour like this," said he, as he commenced his recital, "it is painful to revert to happier times;—to recall the days of her prattling childhood, when her heartless innocence won my heart from a poignant sorrow; but I feel it due to your kindness to make the attempt, however painful. With my own history I need not trouble you much suffice it to say, that from an early age I led a military life. It was my fortune to be attached to the Indian army, and after a pretty long course of service, I returned home and married. After a brief stay in England, I was again obliged to join my regiment, and, accompanied by my youthful wife, I embarked for India; but in a very few years from our landing there, I was doomed to see the being I most loved on earth, fall a victim to its climate. Poor Elise was her only child, and I clung to her for her mother's sake with increased fondness. In a few years, I found it necessary to send her home for education; intending myself, when a few more years had passed away, to retire from the service. Her welfare was now my principal wish, and I longed for the hour when I could retire from the routine of military duty, and enjoy domestic peace with her. At length, the time arrived, and I bade adieu to India; to find my child just springing into womanhood. My residence I fixed in a rustic retreat near D, where, as years passed away, I enjoyed a more than common share of earthly felicity. Elise was ever my companion, my friend, and nurse; and gratefully did I thank heaven for its kindness in sparing to me such a devoted child. The dream of my life now appeared |