much discrepancy in point of age, it is impossible that that freedom of intercourse should take place which tends to the mental elevation and happiness of both parties, or that that pure stream of thought and sentiment should flow between them which peculiarly constitutes all that is blissful in the intercourse betwixt the two sexes. Equality of mind is indispensably necessary in the married state; and the man can only expect to find happiness in this condition when the wife, as far as the powers of her nature will permit, and yet with the full independence of womanhood, yields to his opinions and recognizes his will as her own.-But I have departed from the subject of your narrative. man may, in a natural manner and without any contact of the earthly with the spiritual, but merely through an inward emotion which affects his mind, his imagination, his blood itself, believe that he perceives something external to himself. That it may be so, and sometimes is so, I cannot deny, nor that with certain men in certain circumstances it has been otherwise. You say that you have latterly adopted the opinion which is laid down by Jung-Stilling in his Theory of the Doctrine of Spirits, (I have not read the work,) that those who have gone before us, being possessed of clearer powers of mental vision, encompassing us with love, and often wishing to protect us, seek to make themselves known to us for the purposes of It was a very peculiar, but, in the innocence of warning; and that in order to effect a deeper im- a progressing mind not yet unfolded to itself, a very pression upon us, they avail themselves of some natural and praiseworthy state of heart, which led significant and important event; whence it arises you most ardently to desire to possess a friend, to that they are able to place themselves en rapport the exclusion of every other wish. In this we with us; and this depends upon the degree in recognize clearly the difference between love and which the spiritual condition is free from the influ- friendship: both equally consist of that life of the ences of the external senses. In this free condition soul, under the influence of which two persons into which no one can bring himself at will, you meeting each other, and appearing individually to perhaps believe yourself to have been; in that frame give up their existence the one to the other, yet of mind when, setting aside all ordinary consider- receive it back again in a brighter and purer form. ations, you wrote down the conclusions at which A man must possess some external object to which you had arrived. These remarks of yours have he can attach himself, upon which he may work been deeply thought over and felt. Undoubtedly with all the collected powers of his existence. there is a quiet, mysterious presence, not compre-But although this inclination is common to all, yet hended by earthly senses, which surrounds us it is the privilege of the sensitive and highly cultiwithout our being aware of it; and why should vated soul alone, to feel the desire, the aspiration not this veil be raised for a moment and give a after true friendship and true love. Minds less transient view of what in this life leaves no percept- delicately constituted, or blunted by the world, form ible trace? You were here in a moment warned but transitory and changing attachments; they how you should write down a thought till now never attain to the tranquillity which results from known only to yourself; to make one stroke of the a perfect exchange of sympathy. Viewed in referpen which should involve your life in many unhap-ence to each other, love and friendship, under every py embarrassments: you were warned by the voice form and circumstance, differ in this respect, that which was soon to be no more, and, as you remark the former is always colored with sensuality: but in order to lead you more certainly to reflect upon it, the precise moment was significantly marked; for your mother died a week afterwards at that very moment. Manifestly it was not of this world. It was one of those signs which are sometimes, though seldom, made to us from a region separated from us during this life by an impassable gulf. I thank you very much that you have not omitted mention of this. The following contains some deep and just reflections on friendship, love, and marriage, well expressed; the coloring of the style appropriate to the nature of the theme. this does not militate against its excellence, for even a sensual inclination may comprehend within itself the greatest purity. Love originates in the very soul, and changes the nature of all things subjected to its unspotted brightness. In young girls who have never once recognized the emotion of love, much less arrived at the consciousness of its existence in themselves, it is nevertheless this emotion which lies veiled under the guise of friendship; these two feelings are not yet clearly and definitely separated; but as womanhood approaches every emotion passes insensibly into that of love. Even friendship, as it exists between two persons of the same sex, is at this period of life more energetic, more passionate, more yielding and sacrificing; and although at a more advanced age friendship may lead us to perform the same actions, yet at an early stage of life it manifests itself differently; the tone of the emotion is more glowing, the soul is more thoroughly penetrated, and it shines through it with a clearer and warmer light. This was certainly your case at that time, dear Charlotte, in reference to your friend. You must be about four years younger than myself; but I now remember that I am not accurately acquainted with the year of your birth. Send me this information once again. I always consider it a matter of importance to know accurately the age of those I like, especially when they are female friends. I entertain peculiar opinions upon this subject, and prefer women of more advanced years to the more youthful; even I desire very much that you should continue external charms, in my opinion, continue to exist your narrative. I perceive no difficulties standing much longer than is generally allowed to be the in the way of tho completion of the first part; but case; and those mental qualities which particu-after a time, serious events, and to some extent sad larly delight us are decidedly heightened by years. and heavy trials, have to be narrated. Here, dear I never desired at any period of any life to hold Charlotte, I leave it wholly for your own emotions a near position either to a girl or woman much to decide whether you can proceed further with the younger than myself; least of all could I have married under such circumstances. I am convinced that such marriages are not usually productive of happiness; they generally lead the man to treat his wife as a child: and whenever there exists subject. It must depend completely upon yourself whether you can bear to awaken memories which, although they belong to a time long since gone by, may nevertheless still give you pain. Take care of yourself; believe, indeed, that this is necessary for my mental tranquillity. I am often much afraid that you exert yourself too much in your occupations; I would fain have it otherwise. Now farewell, dear Charlotte, and believe me yours unchangeably and devotedly, H. The subject of marriage, especially of marriages of convenience or sacrifice, is well continued here. It happens now much less frequently than formerly that young persons are compelled to marry those who are by no means the objects of their choice. This leads me to think that the world is much better, more gentle, and more just. We then for the first time learn to elevate ourselves above external circumstances and conditions, when we come to know how to secure internal happiness; and although it sometimes happens that, to obtain this end, false and deceptive courses are pursued, yet on the whole much is gained by this justice and mildness, by this recognition of the freedom of the person to decide, whose future life is involved in the decision. Under compulsory circumstances, nothing can be worse than the adoption of a resolution similar to that formed by your friend, namely, to enter upon a new engagement without renouncing a previously formed connexion. When this is the case, although the purest sacrifice may be made and the greatest morality observed, yet it is an unnatural state of heart; it is a union which can never receive that spiritual blessing without which nothing thrives. You think that the second marriage did not secure to her the expected amount of happiness; and this can scarcely ever fail to be the case. The first charm of an early love, formed in accordance with one's desires, which does not hastily pass away, but unites with every emotion, giving happiness to all, is blunted by deferred hope; it forms for itself a picture in the distance, which after a time ceases to correspond with truth. Union with a man under circumstances wanting in all that belongs to the married state necessarily implants a thorn in the heart, which continues to exist even when the grave has received him, and when he no longer has it in his power to excite disquieting emotions. Thus that internal tranquillity fails without which no happiness can exist. These extracts will sufficiently indicate the tone and style of the work; but they can convey no idea of its variety of topics, which embrace whatever "6 comes uppermost, ," and possess considerable biographical interest, often mingled with sensible reflections on life. Of the two publications before us, the best, of course, is Catherine Couper's, in the two volumes published by Mr. Chapman; as it is a translation of the whole of the letters, illustrations, and explanations, as left by the lady for publication. The selection edited by the Reverend Dr. Stebbing or rather the portion, for it stops at the year 1825—is a much cheaper and more unpretending affair; but it may give a sufficient idea of the nature of this curiosity of literature. From Black wood's Magazine. DISENCHANTMENT. BY DELTA. I. ALTHOUGH from Adam stained with crime, Gorgons, Hydras, and Chimeras dire, have all been found wanting, when reduced to the admeasurements of science; and the "sounds that syllable men's names, on sands, and shores, and desert wilJames Hogg most poetically terms dernesses," are quenched in silence, or only exist in what That undefined and mingled hum, Voice of the desert, never dumb. The inductive philosophy was "the bare bodkin" which gave many a pleasant vision "its quietus." "Homo, naturæ minister," saith Lord Bacon, "et interpres, tantum facit et intelligit, quantum de naturæ ordine se vel mente observaverit; nec amplius seit nec potest."— Nov. Organum, Aph. I. The fabulous dragon has long acted a conspicuous part in the poetry both of the north and south. We find him in the legends of Regnar Lodbrog and Kempion, and in the episode of Brandimarte in the second book of the Orlando Inamorato. He is also to be recognized as the huge snake of the Edda; and figures with ourselves in the stories of the Chevalier St. George and the Dragonof Moor of Moorhall and the Dragon of Wantley-in the Dragon of Loriton-in the Laidley Worm of Spindleton Heugh-in the Flying Serpent of Lockburne-the Snake of Wormieston, &c. &c. Bartholinus and Saxo-Grammaticus volunteer us some curious information regarding a species of these monsters, whose particular office was to keep watch over hidden treasure. The winged Gryphon is of "old descent," and has held a place in unnatural history from Herodotus (Thalia, 116, and Melpomene, 13, 27) to Milton (Paradise Lost, book v.) As when a Gryphon, through the wilderness, + Of the many mysterious chapters of the human mind, surely one of the most obscure and puzzling is that of witchcraft. For some reason, not sufficiently explained, Lapland was set down as a favorite seat of the orgies of the "Midnight Hags." When, in the ballad of "The Witch of Fife," the auld gudeman, in the exercise of his conjugal authority questions his errant spouse regarding As silence listens to the lark, And orient beams disperse the dark, her nocturnal absences without leave, she is made ecstatically to answer, Whan we came to the Lapland lone For all the genii of the North The Warlocke man and the weird womyng, And the phantom hunteris all were there, And the mermaidis of the deep. And they washit us all with the witch-water, Quhill our beauty bloomit like the Lapland rose, Queen's Wake, Night 1st. "Like, but oh how different," are these unearthly goings on to the details in the Walpurgis Night of Faust (Act v., Scene I.) The "phantom-hunters" of the north were not the "Wilde Jager" of Burger, or "The Erl-king" of Goethe. It is related by Hearne, that the tribes of the Chippewas Indians suppose the northern lights to be occasioned by the frisking of herds of deer in the fields above, caused by the halloo and chase of their departed friends. It is very probable, that the apparitional visit of "Alonzo the Brave" to the bridal of the Fair Imogene," was suggested to M. G. Lewis, by the story in the old chronicles of the skeleton masquer taking his place among the wedding revellers, at Jedburgh Castle, on the night when Alexander III., in 1286, espoused as his second queen, Joleta, daughter of the Count le Dreux. These were the palmy days of portents; and the prophecy uttered by Thomas of Ercildoune, of the storm which From Ross' hills to Solway sea, was supposed to have had its fulfilment in the death of the lamented monarch, which occurred, only a few months after the appearance of the skeleton masquer, by a fall from his horse, over a precipice, while hunting between Burntisland and Kinghorn, at a place still called "the King's Wood-end." Wordsworth appears to have had the subject in his eye, in two of the stanzas of his lyric, entitled Presentiments, -the last of which runs as follows: Ye daunt the proud array of war, Pervade the lonely ocean far As sail hath been unfurled, For dancers in the festive hall What ghostly partners hath your call Fetched from the shadowy world. -Poetical Works, 1815, p. 176. The same incident has been made the subject of some very spirited verses, in a little volume-Ballads and Lays from Scottish History-published in 1844 and which, I fear, has not attracted the attention to which its intrinsic merits assuredly entitle it. Their gold the fields adorning : But, when we think of where are they Whose bosoms like our own were gay, While April gladdened life's young day, Joy takes the garb of mourning. VIII. Warm gushing through the heart come back Until we feel how, one by one, IX. The past returns in all we see, Remind of pleasures cherished; X. A balmy eve! the round white moon What magic! when a lover, To him, who now, gray-haired and lone, POETRY.-Beggar of the Pont Neuf; Heart of Unbelief, 28.-To a Rivulet; The Years, 35. -The Tales of Old; In the House of Death, 42.-Disenchantment, 46. PROSPECTUS. This work is conducted in the spirit of Littell's Museum of Foreign Literature, (which was favor- ably received by the public for twenty years,) but as it is twice as large, and appears so often, we not only give spirit and freshness to it by many things which were excluded by a month's delay, but while thus extending our scope and gathering a greater and more attractive variety, are able so to increase the solid and substantial part of our literary, historical, and political harvest, as fully to satisfy the wants of the American reader. The elaborate and stately Essays of the Edinburgh, Quarterly, and other Reviews; and Blackroood's noble criticisms on Poetry, his keen political Commentaries, highly wrought Tales, and vivid descriptions of rural and mountain Scenery; and the contributions to Literature, History, and Common Life, by the sagacious Spectator, the sparkling Examiner, the judicious Athenæum, the busy and industrious Literary Gazette, the sensible and comprehensive Britannia, the sober and respectable Chris- tian Observer; these are intermixed with the Military and Naval reminiscences of the United Service, and with the best articles of the Dublin University, New Monthly, Fraser's, Tait's, Ainsworth's, Hood's, and Sporting Mag- azines, and of Chambers' admirable Journal. We do not consider it beneath our dignity to borrow wit and wisdom from Punch; and, when we think it good enough, make ase of the thunder of The Times. We shall increase our variety by importations from the continent of Europe, and from the new growth of the British colonies. The steamship has brought Europe, Asia and Africa, into our neighborhood; and will greatly multiply our con- now becomes every intelligent American to be informed of the condition and changes of foreign countries. And this not only because of their nearer connection with our- selves, but because the nations seem to be hastening, through a rapid process of change, to some new state of things, which the merely political prophet cannot compute Geographical Discoveries, the progress of Colonization, (which is extending over the whole world,) and Voyages and Travels, will be favorite matter for our selections; and, in general, we shall systematically and very fully acquaint our readers with the great department of Foreign affairs, without entirely neglecting our own. 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Any number may be had for 12 cents; and it may be worth while for subscribers or purchasers to complete any broken volumes they may have, and thus greatly Binding.-We bind the work in a uniform, strong, and good style; and where customers bring their numbers in good order, can generally give them bound volumes in exchange without any delay. The price of the binding is 50 cents a volume. As they are always bound to one Postage.-When sent with the cover on, the Living Age consists of three sheets, and is rated as a pamphlet, at 44 cents. But when sent without the cover, it comes within the definition of a newspaper given in the law, and cannot legally be charged with more than newspaper postage, (14 cts.) We add the definition alluded to:- A newspaper is "any printed publication, issued in numbers, consisting of not more than two sheets, and published at short, stated intervals of not more than one month, conveying intelligence of passing events." Monthly parts.-For such as prefer it in that form, the Living Age is put up in monthly parts, containing four or five weekly numbers. In this shape it shows to great advantage in comparison with other works, containing in each part double the matter of any of the quarterlies. But we recommend the weekly numbers, as fresher and fuller of life. Postage on the monthly parts is about 14 cents. The volumes are published quarterly, each volume LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-No. 295.-12 JANUARY, 1850. From the Quarterly Review. 1. Wales. By SIR THOMAS PHILLIPS. London. Rholan The his answer, "except at Dinasmawddwy ;-yet even here," he continued, "the houses have grown within recollection from one story to two, and my the whole costume and manners of the people have assumed a comparatively modern aspect.' truth is, that within a hundred and ten years two enormous changes, of which it would be difficult to over-estimate the importance as regards the manI.-ners and character of the people, have come over the face of the Principality. It is to these changes, hitherto we believe but little noticed, or at least imperfectly appreciated by the mass of Englishmen, that we propose to direct the attention of our readers. We shall draw largely for our details, and in some measure for our language, from the books of which the titles are prefixed to this article, without neglecting some other sources of information which circumstances have placed at our disposal. GOD and his works abide, but man and his customs change. It requires no ordinary degree of sagacity to foretell at any given period the changes which a new generation may be destined to witness, and scarcely less to appreciate some silent revolution of manners which may have been wrought almost in the memory of man. If we were asked to point out a part of the United Kingdom where the influence of innovation might least be expected, our first instinct would direct us to the Principality. If we imagine some real Rip Van Winkle just For some years we used to observe, on opening roused from his fairy slumber, his surprise would our "Bradshaw," the involuntary respect with not be greater than that of the traveller who, fresh which even the stern genius of railways seemed to from the metropolis, penetrated the Principality a regard the territory of the ancient Britons. His century ago. Even on the borders and in the fire-breathing, iron-footed messengers (for so steam-county towns he heard a strange language, and saw engines would probably have been described by an a strange people, whose habits savored strangely ancient bard) might approach the Marches where Talbot wooed the fair Guendolen ; but the "wild Wales" of Taliessin's song seemed to be safe from intrusion. Whatever may have happened elsewhere, here at least we might imagine the mountain fastnesses would retain their primitive character, and the children of the Cymry, cradled in the home of the torrent and the storm, would bear something of the unyielding impress which Nature has stamped upon their land. of a bygone age. Still more did the impression of strangeness increase at every step, as he advanced into some upland valley of the more mountainous districts. Round the humble church of some indigenous saint, such as Wales and Brittany boast in numbers, and generally on the banks of some stream just widening in a confluence of valleys, were grouped a cluster of cottages. For the fabric of the church in some cases an antiquity was claimed as early as the fifth century. To the Yet even in Wales, as elsewhere, Time, the inhabitants, consisting chiefly of shepherds and fishgreat innovator, has wrought his appointed work. ermen, with occasionally a small freehold or shopThough Snowdon stands as of old, its base is keeper, a combination of their church and the caverned by the miner, and Penmaenmawr is at village inn represented the march of intellect, and length not only stricken as it were through the their valley the world. On each shoulder and heart, and traversed by daily trains, but is in course sloping side of the hills, the blue smoke of peat of being carried away bodily to pave the streets of mingling with the mist gave token of a primitive Liverpool. All along the coast, as well as in the homestead, and, as you ascended the streamlet's quarries of Merioneth and Carnarvonshire, a hard-course, every nook, which offered shelter for sheep handed race of men has sprung up, whose large- or promise of a scanty harvest, was dotted with a boned frames attest (when compared to the upland pastoral farm. The houses of one story, with shepherd) the severe labor they undergo, and the higher wages which they receive. A Welshman, who had spent many years in London, was asked on his return if he thought the Principality changed; "I find signs of improvement everywhere," was Such marriages, though recorded only of the Baron, must have been frequent among his followers. Hence it has been supposed-we believe the alumni of the London University are now taught-that terms of sewing in English are derived from the British language:-a theory at least so ingenious, that we hope it may be true. VOL. XXIV. 4 CCXCV. LIVING AGE. *An account of them, full of interest to the ecclesiastical historian, may be found in Mr. Rees' " Welsh Saints," as well as in Mr. John Williams' "Ecclesiastical An tiquities of the Cymry," a book of research, which deserves perhaps more attention than it has met with. We have also to thank the learned Archdeacon of Cardigan for introducing us, in his "Claudia and Pudens," to a lady saint of uncommon interest. His work not only sheds an entirely new light upon the introduction of Christianity into Great Britain, but is full of ingenious historical reasoning in the steps by which he identifies his princess very probably with the Claudia of St. Paul. Many traditions, with less proof, are universally received. |