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Swiss Scenery.

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Coxe's theory of the goitrous affection may be correct, but it is more probable

Saussure denies the truth of this theory, above it are assembled, he might, by inwhich has long prevailed, and attributes specting their countenances and forms, the goitrous affection, which is local, and decide with confidence on the altitude at cretinism, which pervades the system, to which each individual was born. the same cause, namely the extreme heat of the sun, which, by being confined in valleys whose extremities do not open that Saussure is right in supposing that upon plains or tracts of country where cretinism and goitre are both induced by the air circulates freely, generates a spe- heated and impure atmosphere; and cies of corruption, the nature of which is there is this fact in proof of the truth of not precisely known. This impure atinos- his theory, that neither goitres nor crephere, acting upon the tender frame of tins are found in high northern latitudes. infants, causes that relaxation not only productive of the goitrous swelling, but of a general atony of the system, which is indeed the distinguishing character of this loathsome malady.

In tracing the scale of this disorder (to admit Saussure's theory), from cretinism down to goitre we observe, as he remarks, that some can utter only inarticulate sounds; others, with painful hesitation, stammer out a few words; some, without the exercise of reason, partake of the domestic labours of the house, not from instruction, but from imitation only; while others marry, and sustain the duties of parents and their rank in society, with no inconsiderable share of respectability.

I like to propose doubts, they are the tests of science and of wisdom; the tenacious adherent of system is, in my estimation, a species of bigot; temerity and cowardice are most paradoxically united in him-he has the hardihood to assert that his opinions are true and incontrovertible, yet has he the cowardice to shun discussion; and, associated with these, invariably meet with loss of temper, which is indicative of shame and defeat. Would that the spirit of academic philosophy were engrafted in all hearts!

How refreshing was it to turn our eyes from Meville, where we had been gazing on an object in whom was united the years which border on manhood, with the helplessness and mental non-existence An opinion has long prevailed among of infancy; and behold the magnificent the natives that cretinism is attributable and beautiful Salenche falling, as it were, to impure atmosphere, for they send their from a mountain-summit into the vale offspring to be nursed on heights, which before us! The fall of this river, called, are supposed to be removed from the par excellence, I presume, Fissevache, impurity of the valley; and it does not unites the extremes of beauty and subliunfrequently happen that the accouche- mity. To be seen to the greatest advanments of the Valaisans take place among tage, the traveller should approach the the mountains. A portion of intellect, base of the mountain on the north-west little exceeding instinct would dictate side of the cascade; from this point of this ;--they observe the health, strength, view it appears to descend from the pure and perfect forms of those who are born ether that surmounts it: its immense volon lofty situations, and, comparing them ume, dashing in the descent from its bed with the loathsome disease, or, at best, upon a rugged shelving of rock, produces the imperfect health which invariably at- an appearance the most singular and entends their own offspring, a conclusion chanting. The effect of reflected light naturally follows: the cause is mysteri- on its far-spreading foam, which is waftous, but the effect must have been obser- ed like clouds into the valley, gives exved from generation to generation. istence to the rainbow, and presents eveIn support of his theory, Saussure in- ry colour and combination of the prism; forms us that goitres are not found on but this diversity of refraction is to be mountains, or even in the lofty valleys of witnessed about sun-rise only. In conmountainous countries; and he adds, sequence of the violence with which the that, if a person possessing only a super- river falls on the projecting rock, it rises ficial knowledge of physiognomy were into the atmosphere in a variety of shapes, to visit Martigny on a fair-day, when the too various and too extraordinary for the natives of the valley and of the heights memory to 1etain-sometimes in the form

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Love and Madness.

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of sky-rockets, which the eye traces for cent is its termination!-from an elev a time, until they lose their first form, tion exceeding two hundred and fifty and soon afterwards vanish from the feet it falls with a tumultuous sound and sight such too was the appearance of displays a brilliancy and sublimity in the distant spray, which appeared to fade death that the majestic Rhone, which reaway like exhalation, while the foam, ceives its almost lifeless remains,no-where with which the person of the traveller is presents: it calls to my mind the premasurrounded, makes him fancy that he is ture decease of virtue, amiability, and enveloped in a shower of liquid silver. loveliness, destined apparently to have You cannot conceive with what delicious enjoyed a long,an useful,and a happy life. abandonment I gave loose to my imagination; the visions of faëry were never more beauteous than the sights which all may behold here, but those especially which Fancy, with her piercing eye, her soft voice, and busy finger, assisted me in discovering.

The only object which arrested my attention before we entered Martigny, was the mouth of the river called 'Eau Noire, or Triant, at the village of Verrerie, which-riseз near Valorsine; after dashing through a narrow, deep, rugged, and gloomy chasm, it flows sluggishly into the Rhone : its dark course, its passive and unpicturesque termination, are strikingly contrasted with the lofty bed, and the brilliant and impetuous fall of

This river, which rises among the Pennine Alps, acquires in its course a volume which would have conferred on it fame and honour if it had watered a region more habitable than that where the Salenche. Nature has placed it; yet how magnifi

D

LOVE AND MADNESS.

From the European Magazine.

T. H.

Mon. Mag. July 1817.

URING the short period in which charged a pistol at the Colonel, but with the British forces were in Madrid, no effect-the other, with his sword a Colonel V, of the -- th regiment drawn, seized the bridle of his horse, of foot, was returning from the Retiro to and commanded him to turn back if he his quarters in the city, late at night-valued his life. This was a dictate the evening was bright and serene-his which the Colonel felt by no means dispace was leisurely; and as he rode, his posed to obey; and drawing his pistol thoughts wandered to England, where from the holster, he returned the fire he had left a most amiable young lady to with so good an aim as to drop the aswhom he was engaged, the daughter of sailant; but perceiving his fellow rushan eminent barrister. Amid the deep ing towards him, and brandishing a long musings of his heart,his attention was sud- toledo with horrible imprecations in denly roused by the most piercing shrieks French, he instantly alighted and drew of a female calling for help-almost at his sabre, and with so much adroitness the same instant he beheld a woman fly- met his antagonist's impetuosity as to ing at a distance before two men who disarm him. The wretch sprang forwere pursuing the Colonel spurred on ward, and closed with the Colonel, when his horse to overtake them, when the both fell to the ground by the side of the woman fell, and the persons in pursuit prostrate fugitive. At that moment her had just reached her as he came up--one senses revived; and raising herself upon of them exclaimed, in bad Spanish, her knees, with the most heart-rending What shall we do with her? she's cries besought them to destroy her, rathdead! Ah,' replied the other, never er than persist in their purpose-' O fear; we'll dispose of her somehow or spare me, spare me the daughter of other.'-His sudden appearance seemed him who protected, who sheltered, who to startle them, when he demanded who saved you from the English. With one they were, and what they were doing. spring the fellow disengaged himself The foremost of the two instantly dis- from the Colonel; and, drawing a dag

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ger, made a blow at the unhappy lady." mother, who, with a look of astonishColonel V instantly rushed for- ment, and an emotion that almost choakward, and wresting the dagger from the ed her utterance," What is all this? villain's hand, with one blow felled him Why is my daughter thus agitated? to the earth. He then turned towards Speak, my child-tell me, Don Alonzo, the prostrate female, whose horror and what has happened to your cousin."affright seemed to have anticipated the "Alas! Madam, I know no more than stab of the assassin; she lay to all ap- what this gentleman, an English Colonpearance lifeless, and Colonel Vel, can better explain. I found him enhad scarcely raised her from the ground, gaged in a contest with a man, whose when a Spanish officer, who had the companion he had killed before I happicommand of a neighbouring picquet, ly came up to the spot where I beheld came to the spot; he challenged Colonel Dona Miranda apparently lifeless on the V who answered by requesting his ground. It should seem that she had assistance. The officer fired a pistol as been pursued by these two villains, and a signal to his men, who in a few minutes this brave Englishman rescued her from obeyed the summons with torches. The their power." Colonel V then reSpaniard advancing towards the Lady, counted to the mother that part of the no sooner caught a glimpse of her fea- adventure in which he had been engagtures, than he started back, exclaiming ed. The alarmed parent poured forth "Good heavens, Dona Miranda Fo- her grateful acknowledgments, and redeya, whence is this, why do I see you quested they would await the arrival of thus?"-At the sound of her name she Don Emanuel Fodeya, her husband, uttered a piercing shriek; "Ah! save who, she said, left his house this mornme, save me, Don Alonzo; I am be- ing early, to communicate with the Entrayed, I fly from the basest of men." glish General at head quarters. "Madam, you are now in safety," re- ly had she uttered these words, when plied the Officer; "honor Col. V- Don Emanuel rushed in with breathless or myself with your commands, and we haste. "Where is my daughter, my will conduct you whithersoever you persecuted child-where is she-is she please." The Lady, looking around safe? O God of Heaven! I thank her with wildness, seemed for a moment thee. Wretched old man that I am, struggling to collect her affrighted forgive me, my child, forgive me; thoughts. "Are you sure I am safe? am the cause of all thy sufferings."Who are these men ?"-The Officer sat- Here he sunk down at the feet of his isfied her inquiry, and repeated his as- daughter, who still lay in the arms of her surances. With a trembling hesitation mother, overpowered by the conflicting she permitted herself to be supported on feelings which assailed her. Colonel his arm; and then addressed Colonel V and the Officer stood in mute V- "To you, Sir, I am indebted surprise at the scene which they beheld. for my life, and the preservation of my When Don Emanuel starting up, and honor. My cousin, Don Alonzo, will unmindful of all around him, burst forth thank you more effectually than my pres- into the most furious execrations: “Inent terrors will allow me to do. He famous tyrant ! is this the return for my will take me to my father's house, and confidence? Am I, then, the instruyou, Sir, will accompany him, when I ment of thine accursed delusions? Have will relate to both the cause of my being I risked the life of my child, have I thus compelled to trespass upon your at- thrown into thine atrocious grasp the tention." Colonel V most readily honor of my family? Misera bie wretch offered his services; and giving the as- that I am; but my vengeance shall pur sassin in charge to the picquet guard, sue the usurper; my eternal hatred dewith strict injunctions to keep him in close custody, he proceeded with the Spanish Officer to conduct Dona Fodeya towards Madrid. Arrived at her home, she threw herself into the arms of her

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votes him and his cause to destruction. Look up, my beloved, look upon thy fa ther, who has betrayed thee. Yes, it is on me alone your contempt should fa!! O, Sirs, if the blessings of a man who

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has outraged every feeling of parental wish you a good night. I shall return duty, can be acceptable, take them as the to my men before dawn, that I may exdeliverers of a daughter whom a father amine the villain whom you gave in had consigned to misery unutterable; charge to them. Adieu, sir, for the prebut you have preserved her from worse sent."-The Colonel withdrew, filled than death; for know that the vain and with the most disquieting conjectures wicked ambition of a foolish and de- upon what had passed. He knew Don ceived old man had led him to trust the Emanuel to be a favourite with the inprofessions and promises of the usurper famous Godoy. He knew also, that he of his Monarch's throne; and the help- had been in the confidence of Joseph less child of his old age was to have been Buonaparte, the Usurper of Ferdinand's made the sacrifice, the victim which he throne; but he was unwilling to follow had destined to be offered on the altar the progress of his suspicions created by of his criminal hope of personal aggran- the broken sentences of the wretched dizement."-" What do I hear ?" cried father. The daughter was of eminent the mother of Dona Miranda. "No, no, beauty, to which the agitation of her I will not believe it; it is phrenzy; it mind had given a character of superior is the raving of a disordered intellect; influence, which had not failed of its imbut see, my child recovers. Colonel pressive effect. He felt, also, something V-, forgive the seeming coldness like gratification, of peculiar interest to with which you have been received; his heart, at having been the fortunate here is some horrible secret with which means of her escape from an implication I am unacquainted-perhaps it were which, although he could not as yet fulbetter developed to those who are alone ly comprehend, he was enabled to guess concerned; suffer me to say, that we at as involving many extraordinary shall be most happy to be honoured by events."

your presence to-morrow: Don Alonzo, Arrived at his quarters, Col. V as one of the family, will see the proprie- found a letter brought by a soldier from ty of my suggestion. Don Emanuel the General of his division, requesting to labours under some self-accusing im- see him as early in the morning as pospression, which I am sure you, Col. Vsible. The picquet guard had taken the cannot desire to increase by the shame surviving bravo to the next in command, which it must cost him to explain before in the absence of Don Alonzo; the a stranger. Cousin, you will have the man had made a confession of the whole goodness to bring the Colonel with you affair, and the officer had thought it in at an early hour of dinner, and it will af- cumbent upon him to send him to the ford me the highest satisfaction to receive general, who, understanding that Col. him as the most inestimable friend of our V— - had attended the Lady to her house." Don Emanuel, while his wife family, sent for him that he might be was speaking, appeared lost in a vacan- made acquainted with the circumstances, cy of mind which evidently shewed he and regulate his conduct accordingly. was insensible to what was passing. The At break of day, therefore the Colonel storm of passion had subsided into a hastened to head-quarters; for as he calm of portentous silence which threat- intended to repair to Don Emanuel Foened the worst effects upon his intellect. deya's house in the morning, he was And Col. V—, apprehensive of the anxious to lose no time in the interval; consequences, entreated Don Alonzo to besides, he felt an irresistible curiosity to remain where he was, while he would be made acquainted with the cause of an find his way to his lodgings by himself. event that as yet appeared to have no -“I will do myself the honour, Colon- clue of developement. As soon as he el, to see you to-morrow early," replied joined the General, the latter ordered the the Officer: "here is something more prisoner to be brought in. There was a serious than I am aware of it behoves savage air about the fellow which well me to stop awhile where I am-my accorded with his employ a scowl of counsel may be required. Colonel, I horrible malignity spoke the disappointment of his design. There was a set

H Vol. 2. ATHENEUM.

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mand you to repeat the confession which
you made to me last night.'-'You are
welcome to all that I know about the
' for as I
business,' replied the fellow;
have been fool enough to suffer your
friend there to defeat my designs, in-
stead of shooting him at once when he
first came up, I care not what is known,
or who knows it.' Eu.Mag.Aug. 1817.

To be continued.

KEATS' POEMS.

QUOTATION fróm, and a wood- of imaginations and descriptions equally engraving of Spencer, on the title delicate and elegant with these; but, page of Mr. Keats' volume, is very although we have looked into it with judiciously and appropriately introduced, pleasure, and strongly recommend it to as the poetical beauties of this volume remind us much of that elegant and romantic writer.

the perusal of all lovers of real poetry, we cannot, as another critic has injudiciously attempted, roll the name of Byron, Moore, Campbell and Rogers, into the milky way of literature, because Keats

For the grand, elaborate, and abstracted music of nature our author has a fine ear, and now and then catches a few is pouring forth his splendors in the notes from passages of that never-ending harmony which God made to retain in exaltation and purity the spirits of our first parents. In "places of Nestlinggreen for poets made," we have this gentle address to Cynthia :

"O maker of sweet poets! dear delight
Of this fair world, and all its gentle livers ;
Spangler of clouds, halo of crystal rivers,
Mingler with leaves, and dew, and tumbling

streams,

Closer of lovely eyes to lovely dreams,
Lover of loneliness and wandering,
Of upcast eyes and tender pondering!
Thee, must I praise, above all other glories
That smilest us on to tell delightful stories."

And also in his last poem, concerning sleep, the following interrogations and apostrophes are very pleasing:

"What is more gentle than a wind in summer?
What is more soothing than the pretty hummer
That stays one moment in an open flower,
And buzzes cheerily from bower to bower?
What is more tranquil than a musk rose blowing
In agreen island, far from all men's knowing?
More healthful than the leafings of dales?
More secret than a nest of nightingales?
More serene than Cordelia's countenance ?
More full of visions than a high romance?
What but thee, sleep!"

Orient. We do not imagine that the fame of one poet, depends upon the fall of another, or that our morning and our evening stars necessarily eclipse the constellations of the meridian.

Too much praise is more injurious than censure, and forms that magnifying lens, through which, the faults and deformities of its object are augmented and enlarged; while true merit looks more lovely beaming through the clouds of prejudice and. envy, because it adds to admiration and esteem the association of superior feelings.

We cannot then advance for our author equal claim to public notice for maturity of thought, propriety of feeling, or felicity of style. But while we blame the slovenly independence of his versification, we must allow that thought, sentiment, and feeling, particularly in the active use and poetical display of them, belong more to the maturity of summer fruits than to the infancy of vernal blossoms; to that knowledge of the human mind and heart which is acquired only by observation and experience, than to the early age, or fervid imagina. tion of our promising author. But if the gay colours and the sweet fragrance of bursting blossoms be the promise of

The volume before us indeed is full future treasures, then may we prophecy

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