other affections of the heart. It is neither to be chilled by selfishness, nor daunted by danger, nor weakened by worthlessness, nor stifled by ngratitude. She will sacrifice every comfort to his convenience; she will surrender every pleasure to his enjoyment; she will glory in his fame, and exult in his prosperity. If adversity overtake him, he will be the dearer to her by misfortune; and if disgrace settle upon his name, she will love and cherish him. More than this; if all the world beside cast him off, she will be all the world to him.-WASHINGTON IRVING. Crystal Brightness of the Northern Seas.— Nothing, says a gentleman recently returned from America, can be more surprising and beautiful than the singular clearness of the water of the Northern Seas. As we passed slowly over the surface, the bottom, which was here in general of white sand, was clearly visible from 20 to 25 fathoms. During the whole course of the tour I made, nothing appeared to me so extraordinary as the immense recesses of the ocean, unruffled by the slightest breeze; the gentle splashing of the oars scarcely disturbing it Hanging over the gunwhale of the boat with wonder and delight, I gazed on the slow moving scene below. Where the bottom was sandy, the different kinds of esterisc, echini, and even the smallest shells appeared at the greatest depth, conspicuous to the eye; and the water seemed, in some measure, to have a magnifying power, by enlarging the objects as a telescope, and bringing them seemingly nearer. Though moving on a level surface, it seemed almost as if we were ascending the height under us; and when we passed over its summit, which rose in appearance to within a few feet of our boat, and came again to the descent which on this side was suddenly perpendicular, and overlooking a watery gulf as we passed gently over the point of it,—it seemed almost as if we had thrown ourselves down this precipice; the illusion, from the crystal clearness of the deep, actually producing a sudden start. beauty. In every department of nature, it is A Mother's Affection.-There is something in sickness that breaks down the pride of manhood; that softens the heart, and brings it back to the feelings of infancy. Who that has languished, even in advanced life, in sickness and despondency-who that has pined on a weary bed, in the neglect and loneliness of a foreign land-but has thought on the mother "that looked on his childhood," that smoothed his pillow, and administered to his help lessness! Oh there is an enduring tenderness inthe heart of a mother to a son, that transcends all Can Rats smell Danger at a Distance?—A statement made by the mate of the schooner Dewdrop, of Whitby, which was recently wrecked at Arbroath, would seem to answer the above question in the affirmative. He says, the vessel had for a long time been infested with thousands of rats, but on the night before they left Hartlepool on the recent fatal voyage, the whole vermin disappeared; not a single solitary rat being visible, where a day before they might be seen by the dozen!-E. W. A Hint to Parents-My admiration of what you have already expressed about Education, induces me to send you the following from Fraser's Magazine. "Education does not commence with the alphabet. It begins with the mother's looks; with the father's nod of approbation, or a sign of reproof. With a sister's gentle pressure of the hand, or a brother's noble act of forbearance. With hundreds of flowers in green and daisy meadows— with bird.' nests, admired, but not touched. With creeping ants, and almost-imperceptible emmets. With humming bees and glass bee-hives--with pleasant walks in shady lanes,-all tending to mature acts of benevolence, and leading the mind up to God Himself.-FEDELTA, St. Leonard's. DESTINY-FATE-CONDUCT. VIRTUE, the strength and beauty of the soul, ARMSTRONG. Shall ignorance of good and ill GAY. OW EXTRAORDINARY ARE THE LEAST ONE HALF THE WORLD! It would really seem as if sense were banished by choice, and that people were from their very cradle bent upon sealing their own ruin! A very little consideration willl prove the truth of what we say. The world we live in, is a very curious world; made up of the oddest elements. A walk through our public streets never fails to provide us with ample proofs of this. To read the countenances of the passers-by, faithful reporters of what is going on in their hearts, is a favorite study with us; and use has made us a tolerable proficient in it. If we were to enter into detail on this subject, we could paint a picture of life that would make the stoutest heart sigh. We have no wish, however, to bring too vividly before the eye what, under existing circumstances, cannot be remedied. Many honest hearts are literally "broken" day after day; of which the world hears nothing, and for which, if they did hear, they would care nothing. It ever has been so; ever will be so. The eye of God, however, is upon the sufferers. Their cry, no doubt, reaches His ear; and in Him they find that mercy which is denied to them by their fellow creatures. Our object to day, is to reply to a few questions put to us by a fair and very intelligent correspondent, who is puzzled about man's "destiny and fate." She has related to us a number of curious circumstances which have caused her, she says, many hours of anxious thought; and she wishes the subject to be profitably touched upon for the public benefit. With all our heart. Destiny and Fate are two naughty, idle, silly words; we should like to see them for ever expunged from our English dictionaries. But so great is the perversity of human nature, that in proportion to the danger of handling such fatal weapons the greater is the delight in doing so. The believers in destiny and fate, give our coroners more occupation in their melancholy duties than all the rest of the world put together. They tell us so unreservedly. Without going very deeply into the many causes of the fatal superstitions which thus VOL. V.-3. lead men to their ruin, we may comment on two, which are palpable to the commonest observation. The first is, the general introduction amongst us, in cheap literature, of the lax morality prevalent abroad. Every novel, or nearly so, savors of destiny,-the hero or heroine being irresistibly "impelled to their fate." This leaven works insidiously; and the effects of it are before the world, spreading the sad influence far and wide. The second cause of the moral evil we deplore, originates in the pulpit. Here the overwhelming consequences of erroneous teaching cannot be even outlined. They deal desolation throughout the entire land, to the evil doctrine seducing perhaps many others to drink of the deadly draught. We hardly need to enforce upon the readers of OUR JOURNAL, the grand and noble doctrine that man is both 66 a reasonable and responsible being,"-gifted with talents, fitting him and qualifying him to shine in his day and generation. The words "Well done good and faithful servant!" were not left on record in the Sacred Volume without a grand object, and a most significant meaning. one convert It must be evident to all our readers, that the whole tenor of our remarks has ever led in the direction we now point at. Nor did we introduce a translation of the works of the immortal GALL into our columns, without having a grand moral purpose in view. Everybody that can reason fairly, and who is not shackled with the trammels of prejudice, should devour the observations of this great man. He gives us the positive results of a lifetime of keen observation. cerity is transparent, as his arguments are forcible and convincing. If we read what he says, our conscience cannot but acquiesce in its truth. We are glad to hear our fair correspondent say that she "loves his sentiments, uttered as they are with such evident honesty of purpose.' His sin Our correspondent confesses, that she cannot quite understand how it is that the gifts of fortune are so unequally bestowed. Why one man should prosper and another fail,-both having apparently been equally industrious. Some, too, she says, become * Ministers of all denominations are in the constant habit of enforcing this abhorrent doctrine. Hence have suicides become matters of such common occurrence. It is a grand mistake, and a high offence against Heaven, so to work upon the weakness of a person's mind; nor ought the word "Religion" to be named in connection with such malpractices.-ED. K. J. nice discriminations with regard to crime, and its + We particularly direct attention to his very causes; also to his doctrine about hereditary evil dispositions; and other particularly-interesting branches of his inquiry into the human mind.— ED. K. J. K speedily rich, almost without effort; whilst many others toil through a lifetime, and die in debt. All this is, at first view, a kind of puzzle. But it admits of easy explanation. If we watch narrowly the rich man and the poor man, the one who turns into gold all he touches, whilst the other can hardly realise copper, we shall find an easy solution of the riddle in the consciences of the two men; and also in their respective capacities. The one perhaps is speculative, bold, and adventurous; the other is timid, honest, and industrious. The one flies, the other creeps. "Nothing venture nothing have," says the one. "I dare not go beyond my means," says the other. That there is "a crook in the lot" here below, we readily allow. "Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards;" but do let us be reasonable in tracing every thing to its proper source. Half the "miracles" we pretend to, are no miracles at all; and we dishonor our ever-glorious Creator in so interpreting the work of His hands.' We would not be misunderstood. Allow ing every thing we see to be wonderful,—it is so, yet do all things work by a grand, universal, undeviating law of Nature. From the minutest seed put into the ground, and its ultimate arrival at the perfection of its race, to the upholding and guidance of the universe, all is the consequence of God having said, "Let it be so!" As regards "the talents" given to man, surely they were not meant to remain inactive, or to be misapplied! No doubt we shall have to account for the use we make of them. Neither Destiny nor Fate will avail us aught, as a plea for neglecting our enjoined duties one towards the other. Whilst our pen can write and our hand can hold it, so long will we advocate this pure, sound, whole some doctrine. This is a very tempting subject to dilate upon; but as we are not going to preach a sermon, we merely make a few general remarks. We have lived long in the world; and perhaps few persons have watched more narrowly than ourself the world in its varied phases. We have noted the rise of many, also the fall of many. We have seen how wealth has been obtained, and have trembled; also how the industrious man has struggled, and with difficulty been enabled to keep himself alive. We have seen the contempt of the rich for the poor. We have observed how gold invariably makes its way in the world. We have seen true worth in poverty, despised, insulted, and derided,—yet "happy"under its heaviest pressure. Our heart has frequently sought and found refuge here; and triumphed in beholding the reward of virtue,-a peaceable conscience, and patient spirit,-submis sion, resignation, and HOPE. With such good people let us ever dwell! One word more. Our correspondent says, -"Do you not think that many a man and woman bring about their own destiny?" Most assuredly they do; and this proves the force of our argument. If a man will drink,-knowing the effect of the poison on his body and mind, he maps out and accomplishes his own destiny. He destroys himself knowingly, and persuades himself that he cannot help what he does! This is a very common creed-a very easy doctrine! As regards the position of certain feeble women, who fall a prey to the wicked artifices of designing men, we would fain say a word about their "destiny." It will be retorted on us, that they also "map out and accomplish their own destiny." True,-most true. But if the affluent of their own sex could see what WE have seen and do see, what WE have known and do know of their misery, anguish, and sufferings; their bodily and mental degradation, -surely their adamantine hearts would not be so brutally callous as they now are to what calls so loudly for pity and alleviation. We say alleviation; for a very slight effort, if the will be present, would both of body and soul. We marvel exceedrescue many a sister from the destruction ingly at the rocky hearts of women; with scarcely an exception, all remorselessly turn away from even a would-be repentant sister who would regain her pristine estate. Happy is it for them-we speak it solemnly-that they never were placed in the way of similar temptation; else would they, beyond all doubt, have "done likewise." "To err is human; to forgive divine." It is never too late to reflect upon our neglected opportunities; and we would fain hope that the sore evils we now deplore may be inquired into, and, where practicable, remedied. One single act of Christian charity thus bestowed, would place a woman in her proper character; we should in her behold "An angel of mercy." Let us not plead in vain for what ought to be part of woman's mission. 66 With regard to Fate; let us add that we believe "Conduct" to be Fate. If analysed carefully, this will be found a true position. Whether as regards a good man or a bad man, the axiom holds good. Contact is, for good or evil, that which decides a man's fate.' If we keep good company, we shall inevitably be happy; if not rich. If, on the contrary, we associate with people of loose opinions and lax habits of virtue, the issue cannot be doubtful. We may become RICH, and what the world calls prosperous; but "happy," never! An honest conscience, a smiling counte nance, a benevolent heart, love to God and his fair creation,-be these, one and all, the object of our life, now on the wane Then will our last days assuredly prove our best days, and we will cheerfully sing with the poet,- "WHATEVER IS, IS RIGHT." From the high ground at this place, a most delightful panoramic view is obtained of the harbour, the town, the estuary, and the country surrounding. Looking northward, the eye stretches over the fertile country This is true philosophy; and we never wish known as the South Hams, bounded at the to go beyond it. Starting from South Sands (which join the Moult on the western side), and ascending to the top of the cliffs, we come to a small indentation, called "Splat Cove," which in the summer is greatly resorted to by parties of pleasure, who come by water from Kingsbridge and the neighborhood, to enjoy the majestic scenery and the refreshing sea breeze. In this cove, some attempts were 66 extreme distance by the barren hills of Dartmoor. Looking eastward, the view embraces a great extent of varied scenery, which ends in the hazy distance-for, as the Irishman said, you can see out of sight" in this direction. Southward and westward, the sea, with its ever varied aspect and its fleet of ships-each pursuing their allotted track, affords a pleasant prospect to all who have the least taste of a seaman in their composition. Passing round the most elevated of these rocks, we come to the almost perpendicular cliff, at least six hundred feet in height, forming one side of a small cove called "Starehole Bay." This bay is chiefly remarkable for a cavern, that is imagined to terminate near Marlborough church, which stands three miles off in a north west direction. Many persons have entered the said cave with the intention of settling this question; but the dripping of the water, which extinguishes the torches, added to the fear of otters, which resort here, has compelled the curious to abandon every made a few years since to work a copper design of penetrating to the end. Few have mine; but after two adits, each above a hun-advanced above a hundred yards! The path dred feet in length, had been driven into the is narrow and winding, gradually lessening side of the cliff, the undertaking was (for from the entrance, which is about seven feet some reason unknown) abandoned. On the in height by four in breadth. lands above this cove, a spot was selected in 1812, by Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, the gentleman-usher of the black rod, with the intention of erecting a marine residence; unfortunately, however, he did not carry out his intention. This is to be lamented, as the situation is most beautiful. The property belongs to the Bastard family. Between Splat Cove and South Sauds, and nearly level with high water mark is a subterraneous passage called "Bullhole," which the common people in the neighborhood believe runs under the earth, to another place of a similar name in a creek of the sea, called "Sewer Mill," about three miles further westward. The tradition is, that a bull should enter at one end, and come out at the other. Whether these two openings communicate, has never been settled; for none who have entered have had enough courage to proceed sufficiently far to ascertain the fact. Leaving this place, and proceeding towards the Bolt Head, which, rising to a tremendous height, exhibits the resemblance of a human profile, we come to a vast assemblage of craggy rocks, fringing the side of the head just mentioned, and inclining at an angle of sixty degrees, until they end in a perpendicular cliff at least On the left side of the bay, near the mouth of this cave, is a rock, perforated by an opening eight or nine feet in height by about five in width, forming a natural arch, which It is not improbable opens towards the sea. that the cavern just mentioned forms a junction with " Bullhole," to which I have before alluded. In Starchole Bottom, is a large tumulus, rampart, or barrow, in perfect preservation, fifty-six paces in length, vulgarly called the "Giant's Grave." Popular tradition positively affirms, that the whole of the bottom is the site of a Danish settlement or encampment, and that there was a town in it; or, to use the words of the tradition itself, as repeated in the neighborhood, "By the records of England it was a Danish town and had sixty dwellers." It is said by some of the old people residing in the neighborhood, that in ploughing and digging on this land brass coins have been frequently met with. The summit, or top ridge of this rampart or tumulus (which seems to have been for defence, rather than sepulture) preserves its original sharpness; and being composed of stones (I believe entirely), is not likely to be deranged. One reason for supposing it a rampart for defence, seems conclusive; it has a spacious ditch behind it, and completely commands the valley. The situation and character of this bottom and bay so precisely suit the idea of a "nest of pirates," and predatory invaders, that it gives a great color to the generally-received opinion. and bottoms, for some distance westward of this, are called "Cat-hole,' as they were anciently the resort of wild cats. At the entrance west of these downs, is a waste piece of ground, near two monstrous large stones, of equal sizes. Here is said to have been the principal resort of the fairies (in Devonshire, called Pixies, or Piskies), and here they have been reported to have been seen playing their games and vagaries. Our next object worthy of notice, is a cavern called "Ralph's Hole." This cavern faces the sea (which is seen foaming at a depth of at least four hundred feet below), and is about twenty feet in length, seven broad, and eight high. The rock at the west corner of the entrance (by doubling which this cavern is alone approached) projects to within two or three feet of the edge of the precipice; in such a manner, that a single person within might easily defend his habitation against a host of foes. Only one person is able to pass at Proceeding round the edge of this bay, we come to a point of land, in advance of which, rather to the southward, is an isolated rock, called the "Mewstone." This is a celebrated resort of the cormorant; several dozens of these birds may be seen at once sitting with their wings expanded, drying and sunning themselves. They afford good practice with ball; for they will let one approach within rifle shot of them. Still going westward along these cliffs (which here take the name of the "Warren," from their being inhabited by myriads of rabbits, who lodge among the crevices of the rocks), we come to the next object worthy of notice, a large rock lying off in the sea, called the "Goat." A little further on, is "Steeple a time, and that with considerable difficulty; Cove;" so called from a great rock resembling so that intruders might successively be a steeple. We now arrive at "Roberdeau tumbled into the sea. The tradition is, that Point," doubtless so called, from the name one Ralph, in order to avoid the bailiffs (for of some French Captain whose ship was lost he was a pirate or malefactor who had fled herc. Next are the "Raven Rocks," exceed- from justice) made this his place of abode for ingly romantic; and a short distance further, many years; and with a prong for his weapon Roden" or "Randen" cove. There kept the catchpoles at bay. On Sundays he exists a tradition, that in the year 176-, a wandered abroad, and his wife assisted him foreign ship, loaded with marble statues, was through the rest of the week in getting wrecked here; and that the statues were car-provisions. In what period this happened ried to Powderham Castle, near Exeter, the seat of the Earl of Devon. But what should have given rise to this story, it is at this distance of time difficult to determine. is The "Hamstone" is now reached. It is a small rock, situated a little distance from the shore, a trifle to the westward of which is "Sewer Mill Bay." At the entrance of this bay, is a picturesque cluster of rocks, consisting of one large and several small ones, called the "Parson and Clerks." On the does not appear, but it is certainly of a very old date. The Eddystone Lighthouse may be distinctly seen from any of the high land on this part of the coast. It is nearly in the line which joins the Start, the Prawle, and the Lizard. Near this place are the "Winda number of stone Pits;" these are It seems tremendous and deep fissures. divided the cliffs about this place, and shatprobable that some convulsion of nature high land near this place, is the Signal House tered the immense rocks in pieces. Adjoining belonging to the preventive station at Sal- these, is "Ousehole Cove." Here opens a combe. A few hundred yards from the top noble view of Bigbury Bay, the Rame Head, of the cliff stands a huge detached rock, called and entrance to Plymouth sound, the EddyNot far "Isel Tor." This object is peculiarly grand; stone, the coast of Cornwall, &c. and viewed from a point twenty or thirty from this place, and at a distance of at least yards below, and a little to the westward, three hundred and fifty feet from the top of is one of the most magnificent rocks that can the cliff, (which from not being so perpendicube seen, being of vast dimensions and per- cable) an attempt was made, in the year 1770, lar as the rest of the cliffs, is just practifectly picturesque in form. All the scenery by one Easton, who resided at Dodbrook, to of these bottoms and heights is very magnificent and picturesque. About a gunshot open a copper mine, but on the produce to the westward of "Sewer Mill Bay," is being assayed, and proving to be mundic, "Dragon Bay," so called from a ship having had the empty honor of leaving the shaft the attempt was given up, and the adventurer ing to London, called the Dragon) been wrecked here, in 1757. In this vessel perished the family of Chambers, consisting of a sister and three brothers, who were returning from Jamaica. The flat downs -his name Stockleigh Pomeroy, Devon. C. F. T. Y. (To be Continued in our next.) |