CORRESPONDENCE. Kidd's treasure, are kept in countenance by simi WHAT a contrast is shown in our biographical lar companies in England. articles this week! And yet we hope that all were doing good in their generation. Poor Lancaster, in his excitable zeal for others, he neglected that indispensable preliminary to great usefulness-a sufficient provision for the necessities of the day to secure to him what Burns calls For this purpose it is not much that is needed- "Prudent, cautious self-control Our last number contained as great a contrast It is rumored that the British minister, "near" the President, is authorized to make a treaty to favor a great increase of trade between England daughter." Such a negotiation will have the best wishes of the friends of human and her " kind. GOVERNMENT are beginning to find out that steam-navigation has destroyed the insular character of Britain. Troops can be transported in steamvessels with greater despatch, cheapness, and certainty, than even by a railway. The destruction of a railway at any one point would put a stop The English Gentleman" is respectfully sub-to all operations based on its integrity; but the mitted to our politicians-no! they are hopeless!-loss of one or two steamers would not materially to young men who aspire to statesmanship-as affect the operations of a squadron. The sea is containing an important lesson. 66 The Tory Fraser gives in its adhesion, cautiously enough, to the great change which is making in British policy. We have received files of the Polynesian and of the Liberia Herald. The latter contains matter from the Living Age, and we hope we may be able to get some good notices of matters showing the state and progress of that colony. At present, we have not had time to look over either file, and make use of a summary on the Sandwich Islands, from that well informed, judicious, gentlemanly paper, the National Intelligencer. Chocolate, Prussic Acid, and French Cookery have accidentally come together in our pages. It will be seen that our searchers for Captain 10 L.. LIVING AGE. VOL. V. Nature's railway, and cannot be broken up and The same cause is changing the requirements of our navy. Instead of brave and experienced seamen, equally brave machanical engineers and marine artillerymen are needed. The issue of the next naval war will depend upon the steamengine and Paixhans gun: the men to decide it will not be those who can. "hand, reef, and steer" : the system adopted by the Admiralty of dividing the responsibility between the builder of the vessel and the engineer. The second is, the system of contracting for the conveyance of the mails to America and to the East and West Indies. best, but those who can best work an engine and fire an eighty-four pounder with the precision of a rifle. This new triumph of mind over matter will change modern warfare, as much as the invention of gunpowder did the ancient. Sea-fights will become short, sharp, and decisive-their results By dividing the responsibility between the capable of being mathematically demonstrated be- builder and engineer, no one official person was forehand. Less blood will be shed on the whole; made answerable for the result. If the vessel but what is shed will be condensed into an epitome disappointed expectation, the builder threw the of agony. blame on the engines, and the engineer on the The right of search treaties keep war always hull. The contractor for a steamer ought to be hanging by a hair over our heads. If the French responsible for the hull, engines, and the whole or the English war party were to gain the ascend-equipment. The hull and the engine of a steamer ant, (and we dread the fanatics of Exeter Hall are its body and soul: unless they harmonize, more than the Prince De Joinville and La Jeune there can be no efficiency. The system pursued France,) peace would not be worth a week's pur-by the Admiralty has precluded unity of design; chase. Let two hot-headed French and English and the result has been, the creation of a class of naval officers on the coast of Africa quarrel about steamers combining the qualities of a bad sailinga suspected slaver and settle the dispute by an ex- ship and a useless steam-vessel. A new system change of shots, and away would go all security is required: the head of the steam department of for peace. Who would in that case continue to the Admiralty ought to be responsible for the live at Brighton or Hastings, now that Britain is efficiency of a new steamer in every way, as the almost more exposed to invasion and predatory surveyor of the navy is for the construction of attacks than any continental state? What a his ships. change the rst shot fired between England and France would make in the value of property on our southern and eastern coasts! As The system of contracts with private companies or individuals for the conveyance of the mails has done a great deal to suppress competition and preGovernment are now awaking to the urgent vent improvement in steam-navigation. By such necessity for adopting new provisions of defence contracts, government tie themselves to the preagainst a new mode of attack: a subject brought ferred party for terms of years. During these before the public by a correspondent of this jour-periods, they are precluded from availing themnal three years ago. Government have been tri-selves of better vessels belonging to other parties. fling with the subject in dilettante fashion ever since. Nearly three millions of the public money has been spent during the last three years in building, equipping, and hiring steam-vessels; and yet, we are well assured, there is not at this moment one steam-vessel in the naval service of England, in commission or ready to be commissioned, that could make the passage under steam between Plymouth and New York. During the last ten years, not less than five or six millions has been spent in filling the navy with steam-vessels, and yet there is no instance on record of one of her Majesty's steam-vessels crossing the Atlantic under steam. There is not in commission a steamer eapable of steaming three thousand nauti-the way in which the Admiralty has gone to work cal miles. The Admiralty have steamers in China and America, but they did not get there by steam. The Royal Navy could not produce one steamer fit to carry Sir Charles Bagot, or Lord Ashburton, or Sir Charles Metcalfe, to his destination. They make it the interest of the contractors not to Two examples of the practical consequences of may be cited. About twenty years ago, a description of engine called the "direct action engine" was invented: it has been condemned, and at present no private individual would take the gift of one, unless he were guaranteed from all comThe admiralty orators in Parliament tell us petition: yet what are called our first-class steamthat such or such a vessel has more power than frigates are fitted with engines of this description. the largest French steamer. This is not to the Again: screw-propelling is yet in its infancy; no purpose: let them tell us what the vessel can do; vessel propelled by a screw has yet crossed the let them give facts of distances run under steam, Atlantic; the screw is not employed by a single and the time in which the runs were made. With-passenger-vessel in the kingdom: the Admiralty out this, returns of the horse-power of the steam have built and equipped a vessel for the express navy are only calculated to mislead. The capabilities of the admiralty steamers are never tested in a fair practical way. Nothing is heard beyond the puffing of the performances of one or other of them on her trial at Long Reach. The Lucifer or the Pluto is reported to steam so many miles per hour on the river Thames, and no more is heard of her. Had the trial-trip been a run to Halifax in the winter, a very different class of steamers would now be wearing her Majesty's pendant. Two causes, combined with the dilettante spirit at head-quarters, have mainly contributed to render ineffectual the great expense incurred of late years for the creation of a steam navy. The first is, purpose of trying experiments on screw-propulsion; and, after trying it several times on the Thames, and once between the Thames and Portsmouth, they have actually begun to construct ten large steam-vessels propelled by the screw. The performances of the Rattler have doubtless been satisfactory as far as she has been tried; but are such fresh-water and fair-weather experiments as she has been subjected to, sufficient to warrant the great expense of building ten ships on the strength of them? More information on these matters is evidently wanted. We have said enough to show the national importance of the subject. From Fraser's Magazine. A PASSAGE IN THE LIVES OF RUBENS AND 66 could not be far distant, and he darted forward, bearing his wounded infant in his arms. "Master Rembrandt!" cried one; "he lives just by-at the other end of the town. Take every turning you come to, and you are sure to be right." "Master Rembrandt!" said a second. "Go straight ahead and follow your nose, and you cannot fail to get to the old curmudgeon's house." "Master Rembrandt!" exclaimed a third. He ran unceasingly, and reached the city gate, round which were lounging a number of Spanish On the evening of All Saints' Day, in the year soldiers, and rushing up to a small group, he 16 a little party of travellers were wending their eagerly asked the way to the house of Master weary way along the rugged highroad that leads Rembrandt. His request was couched in bad Flefrom Liege through Juliers to the old city of mish intermixed with Italian. This unintelligible Cologne. Of all nights of the year the super-jargon, added to his half-naked appearance and stitious feelings of the Flemish and the Walloons anxious looks, produced loud laughter from the surround that of the 1st of November with the soldiery, who bantered him in no measured terms. greatest terrors. What the Walpurgisnacht is to They had never heard of such an individual. the Germans, this horrible night is to the natives of Flanders, Brabant, and the banks of the Moselle. The hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels," which the warlocks and witches were dancing in old Alloway Kirk before jolly Tam O'Shanter, were as child's play when compared with the supernatural and eldritch performances on All Saints' night in the regions mentioned. The dead at midnight arise from their rank sepulchres, and,“ Turn to the right, and after that to the left, and shrouded in their reeking grave-clothes, haunt then go right forward round the corner and across the abodes of those whom, while living, they had the churchyard, and you will see a large house injured, in the hope of obtaining from their lips a without door or windows; you must then drop prayer for their future repose. Then the sorcerer down the chimney, and you will be sure to see is allowed most powerfully to use his abominable your friend seated at his fire." arts, and the witch her foulest incantations. Then, for the space of twelve hours, the angel Gabriel raises his foot, beneath which lies groaning the captive demon, who, rising with his accursed malice, straightway proceeds to scatter his deadly temptations among the weak sons of men. Then the air teems with hostile spirits, and the earth engenders all that is vile and filthy. Not a creature was to be seen moving along the road to break the dreadful solitude surrounding the small party of travellers, which consisted of a man and his youthful wife, a little boy, and a girl so young that the father was obliged to carry her in his arms. The snow lay thick on the ground and was falling fast, so that it was with difficulty that they kept along their path. 66 All this was followed by a round of laughter. "For mercy's sake!" faltered forth the poor distracted traveller, "show me the way to the house of my dying wife's uncle, Master Rembrandt." Just at that moment up came a little, short, humpbacked individual, a tailor by trade, who held a lantern in his hand. The police regulations of Cologne directed that every inhabitant should carry a lantern after nightfall. The little man was an Italian himself, and had, from his broken accents, recognized a countryman in the stranger. The tailor's heart melted at the sight of the wretched father with the tender infant in his arms. "Come along," said Master Nicholas Borruelo, the humpback, "I'll show you the way to Master Rembrandt's, though he will never at this late hour open his door to any human being, especially on the night of All Saints. However, we'll try; so come along, friend." "But my wife and my poor boy, what will become of them? They lie without the city, and are dying. If I lose much more time it will be too late," claimed the agonized stranger. ex Margarita," at length said the husband, with feeble tones, and in Italian, "it is impossible to proceed farther, thy slender frame is exhausted. Cover thyself and the little girl with my cloak, and lie down in this sheltered hollow. I will endeavor to keep animation in our Antonio's limbs." The wife followed her husband's directions, and the party for some time lay down in silence and sadness. But the snow fell more thickly, the "Verily, friend," answered the humpback, "if wind blew more sharply, and the cold became thou expectest aught of relief from the charity of more and more intense. The husband arose and Master Rembrandt, thou laborest under a woeful found his wife speechless, thoroughly benumbed, error, and their loss is but too certain. He would and heavy with sleep. Her death was certain, not give a doit to save his own brother from the unless she could be aroused. He shook her and jaws of death. It were, believe me, much better called her by every endearing name, but in vain.to entreat some of the soldiers to go with us to thy He raised her in his arms and tried to make her walk; but she reeled and fell down, and in her fall her infant daughter escaped from her arms, and received a wound on its forehead. He picked up the crying child and tried to stanch the blood. "Antonio," said the unhappy man, in a tone of despair, "creep close to thy mother's side, and place over her this additional covering, while I carry thy sister with me and look about for assist ance." wife and child and assist us to conduct them into the city. They can be carried to my lodging; though the room is but small, and though I am myself poor, still, with the blessing of God, they shall not, on this cold and comfortless night, stand in need of assistance!" The stranger readily assented, and the little tailor forthwith accosted some of the soldiers, and in a sorry Flemish patois explained to them his companion's miserable condition. A kindHe doffed his coat and placed it, with the cloak, hearted drummer caught the child from the stranover his half-dead wife and his son. Presently ger's arms and took it into the guard-house before the sound of a distant clock came slowly echoing a rousing fire, while four soldiers, with their through the lazy and infected air. The husband sergeant's permission, lighted torches, and accomfor a moment listened; he knew the sound was panied the husband and the tailor through the city wafted from the church-towers of Cologne, which gate. It was with difficulty that the party could "We are saved, dearest Margarita! we are saved!" at length exclaimed Francesco. But Margarita looked first at the wounded infant, and then at the stupified Antonio. Francesco comprehended her meaning, and groaned with a look of despair. keep pace with the eager stranger, who ran along | Upon which the tailor, somewhat losing patience, shouting the names of Margarita and Antonio. put the glass to his lips, and, with a slight strugBut the snow was falling more thickly than ever, gle, fairly forced the contents down his throat. and the wind had arisen into much louder gusts. The liquor operated like magic. In a very short It was impossible that the sufferers could hear his time Francesco opened his eyes, looked around calls. A sudden lull of the tempest, however, him, then recognized his wife and children, and enabled them to hear a feeble cry, and then they burst into a flood of tears. discovered the ravine where the wife and boy were lying almost buried under a drift of snow. Had they tarried a few moments longer they would certainly have been too late. The tailor entreated the soldiers to bear along tenderly the speechless wife, while he took young Antonio under his own protection; and as they entered the city he desired the party to proceed to the narrow street which contained his abode. The soldiers the more readily complied since the distance was not very far from the guard-house. As they were going along, Nicholas Borruelo, by dint of hard questioning, discovered that the stranger's name was Francesco Netcelli; that he was a native of Venice; that he had made a runaway marriage with the daughter of Rembrandt's sister, who had, contrary to the wishes of her family, chosen a poor Italian gentleman; and that he himself was by profession a painter. This was at a period when a successful painter easily commanded, like a potentate, the ready homage of mankind, and painting, consequently, had many more enthusiastic, self-denying votaries than she reckons in the present dull, prosaic, and degenerate days. "Messire Netcelli," said the humpback, "I am shocked at your ingratitude. Place your trust in the blessed Virgin and the holy saints. Your wife has been restored to you, why should not your children be also saved? Arise and assist me to restore animation." Netcelli arose with difficulty, and assisted the good tailor in his efforts. The children opened their eyes and smiled upon their mother. "Now, then," said the Italian painter, "now is the time to go and demand aid at the hands of my uncle Rembrandt. I will tell him of our misfortunes and our miserable plight, and he cannot refuse us." The tailor shrugged up his shoulders, and with a sneer replied "You may as well demand aid and consolation from a door-post; but, since you are bent upon going, I will accompany you to the quarter of the Jews, where the old gentleman resides. He is not only a painter, but an usurer, and Heaven have mercy upon his victims. May you be successful in your appeal, though I much doubt it." The humpback lighted his lantern, and was about to take his cloak from the bed; but, on second thoughts, he left it as a covering for the sick mother. He then beckoned to the stranger, and led the way to Rembrandt's abode, which was situated at the other extremity of the city. The tailor introduced the poor travellers and two children into his room, and, after having the wife and infant daughter laid upon his bed, he dismissed the soldiers with many thanks, and, blowing up the fire, placed seats for Netcelli and his boy Antonio. Netcelli sank into his seat, and gazed motionless and unmeaningly at the fire, like one in a trance. The boy appeared also in a stupor. Nicholas Borruelo bustled about, now trying to arouse the husband, now divesting the wife of her wet garments and covering her with the warmest clothing his poor lodging could afford, having pre- The snow had ceased, and the howling wind viously warmed it before his fire. The former was scattering the clouds in wild confusion, while was stupified and dead to his calls and entreaties; the struggling moon was by fits casting around an the latter was so benumbed that she was motion- unearthly light. The streets and the houses were less and rigid as marble. It might be the cold covered with snow; not a soul met them on their which had operated upon the young man's limbs, way; all was dead silence and solitude. It seemed it might be despair at his desolate position which a fit season for the carnival of evil spirits who are was wringing his heart and had made him speech-permitted to hold uncurbed dominion on the night less. Nicholas Borruelo rummaged in a cupboard, of All Saints. So thought Nicholas Borruelo, as and drew forth from its extremity an old-fashioned every now and then he looked anxiously around bottle, carefully corked up, containing some rare and behind him, as though he expected to see a and exquisite brandy. This was carefully kept as troop of ghosts and goblins in the full enjoyment a bonne bouche for himself, but his generous heart of their unholy sabbath. He hurried his commade him lay aside all thoughts of his own com- panion along, and at last reached the quarter of fort, although an audible sigh escaped him as he the Jews, a district under the ban of all good poured some of the precious liquor upon a piece Christian souls, and rendered yet more detestable of rag, with which he carefully rubbed the lips, by its being shut in on one side by an extensive face and hands, of the senseless lady. For a long and abandoned burying-ground. Borruelo pointed time he labored in vain; but, at length, she grad-out to Netcelli a large white house, flanked on ually opened her eyes, and, stretching forth her each side by a small tower. It stood within a arms, in a faint voice demanded her children. "Here they are, signora," exclaimed little humpbacked Borruelo; "here they are, all warm and comfortable." Then, going up to Netcelli, he slapped him on the back, and told him to be a man. But seeing him still gazing vacantly, like one demented, he seized his bottle with the precious contents, poured out a glass, and desired him to drink it off, for that it would create new life under the very ribs of death. Still the young man did not move. large space of ground, surrounded by a high wall; its windows overlooked the cemetery. Altogether, the house had a gloomy, desolate, and abandoned appearance. The Italian painter approached a low, narrow door, which was, for security, thickly covered with iron plates, and rang the bell. The sound was instantly answered by the fierce barking of several dogs. He paused, waited, listened attentively; but no footsteps were heard. He sounded the bell again and again, but to as little purpose, while the fury of the dogs was increased to a tenfold degree. I came to the bedside, and, stretching forward his Again he sounded, when suddenly the dogs ceased hands, they encountered the cold and stiff body of their barking. The tailor and his companion his infant child, around which were twined in fond heard many a bolt and bar withdrawn, and an endearment the arms of its mother. Nicholas inner door opened, and the dull echo of a heavy Borruelo followed slowly, in silence and secret footstep descending some steps into the court- consternation. He marched to the corner of the yard. This was followed by the sound of an old room where should have stood his cupboard, and man's dry, hollow cough. They waited for the where he sought his tinderbox. But the wind opening of the outer gate until their patience was had overturned his cupboard, the floor was thickly exhausted, and then Netcelli gave another pull at strewn with fragments of broken plates and the bell, which rang as if it would split. They kitchen utensils, and the tinderbox could nowhere then learned why it was that the footsteps were be found. He was afraid of passing the reheard in the court-yard, for in an instant the mainder of the night in the cold and in darkness, loosened dogs bounded in savage fury against the and he called on Netcelli for assistance. But no door. They were convinced of the obstinate de- answer was returned. A cry of anguish would termination of the inmates of the house-that they have been more consoling than that appalling would not allow admittance to any one at that late silence; the tailor got frightened, and, rushing hour of night. into the street, ran towards the guard-house. All the soldiers knew him for a kind-hearted little fellow; they invited him in, and made room for "I knew how it would be," murmured the little tailor; "the old miser takes us for robbers or murderers, and is determined not to open. It is bet-him before the fire. He warmed himself, and exter to return to the fire in my little room than to be pressed his worst fears; and the sergeant ordered standing before this miserable house, and by that two soldiers to accompany him to his lodgings. frightful churchyard. This night is the festival with lanterns and a bottle of wine. In his hurry of the dead, and every moment I expect to see he had left the door open; on his arrival he found some of them rise up in their fearful winding- it closed. He hammered at the door, but in vain ; sheets. Oh, Messire Netcelli! if you did but not a sound was heard in reply. The soldiers know what dreadful tales people tell of the dia- were just about breaking open the door, when bolical goings on in that dismal churchyard. The Borruelo bethought him that the key was in his spectres and imps of darkness sometimes proceed pocket. He opened and entered, and their eyes from the graves and charnel-house to old Rem-rested on a dreadful sight. The mother and brandt's mansion, and there they enjoy themselves youngest child were lying dead upon the bed, on in a rare jubilee. The mansion stood empty for one corner of which, also, the husband was twenty long years; no one was bold enough to seated, deadly pale, with haggard countenance, buy it; everybody feared visits from the dead protruding eyes, and an idiotic laugh, and the boy bodies in the burying-ground. But old Rem-Antonio was struggling in violent convulsions. brandt was not to be frightened; he bought the house dirt cheap, for a mere old song; for, to save a hundred florins, he would take up his abode at the very gates of the infernal regions. He need not be afraid of robbers, for, besides those dogs, they say he has made a bargain with an unearthly imp, who every night keeps guard by squatting upon his money-chest. Let us alonglet us along, and all the saints grant that we may reach home in a whole skin, and without meeting any spectres or witches!" He seized the young painter by the arm, and almost dragged him along, for the noise of the crisp snow under their feet, and the low, plaintive murmur of the wind, which was again rising, made him fancy that he heard the lamentation of some restless and despairing unsubstantial being. Dispirited, and with his heart aching with deep grief, and a thousand torturing anxieties, the young man allowed himself to be led along with silent submission. By the time he reached the tailor's abode, he was, moreover, thoroughly overcome with fatigue, while he was fearful to enter, because of apprehension of new calamity. He staggered against the door faint and irresolute, and paused for a moment to gain sufficient strength to enter. "Mother, mother," said the little Antonio, from within, "open your eyes and speak to me, for I am very cold and very hungry!""" But the poor mother answered not. Netcelli rushed desperately into the room; it was perfectly dark. He stumbled against a chair and table which had been overturned; the window had been burst in by the violence of the wind, which must have blown in fierce gusts through the broken casement. He felt about until he "Gracious heavens!" exclaimed the tailor, "what dreadful crimes have I committed to be surrounded by such misery? Here lie two human beings quite dead, another is in the last agony of death, while the fourth is sunk in irretrievable idiocy. The holy Virgin and the saints protect me on this fearful night!" With this he fell into a chair, covered his face with his two hands, and for some moments gave way to silent and deep grief. Meanwhile the soldiers had lighted a blazing fire of wood, and with some boards stopped up the broken window. They also moved the dead bodies from the apartment into an adjoining room, which was the tailor's workshop. Borruelo caught up the boy, and held him before the fire, while he tended him with the utmost care. The boy revived, and, perceiving that the soldiers were about to lead away his idiot father, he broke from Borruelo's arms, and rushed up to them, entreating that he might accompany his father. Nay," said Nicholas Borruelo, "take him not away; since I have the keeping of the dead, I will not lose sight of the living. The boy is out of danger, and the poor idiot is harmless, and will not injure me; so even let him stay here. In the morning two of your comrades will, perhaps, look in to see that all is safe, and after that I will go to old Rembrandt's house, explain all circumstances, when, miser and obdurate as he is, he cannot refuse to bury his dead relatives, support the young boy, and, perhaps, obtain, through the city authorities, admission for his poor nephew into the public lunatic asylum.” He bade the soldiers good night, who would not depart until they had made the little man swallow a good cup of comfortable wine. When they |
