Our speculative and political philanthropists would do well to look into this matter. It is of far more importance than the abstract questions of flogging or solitary confinement, or of any other mode of punishment; for if the soldier found that he was treated as a human being, and that his feelings as a man, and his duties as a Christian, were respected and encouraged, there would be less occasion for either the lash or the halter. If necessary, I could appeal to the character and conduct of more than one regiment, in corroboration of this opinion.

In so large a body as five hundred or six hundred men, levied, as our soldiers too generally are, from the most dissipated classes of our community, there will always be some characters that can never be reformed; but this I can affirm, from long and strict observation, that a humane and kind commanding officer, who shows that he respects the feelings, and perhaps the innocent prejudices of his men, and shows a proper respect for both,-one who interests himself in their temporal comforts, and tries to secure for them religious instruction,-in fact, one who leads them, by all means within his power, to indulge in the feelings and aspirings of men and of Christians, will always have a well-conducted regiment; and punishments, as a general measure, will soon cease to be necessary, or only to be called for on extraordinary occasions.

Whenever we can bring a man to have a proper respect for himself, that moment we have secured him against the commission of any heinous crime. But while our present colonial system remains in force, we do nothing to elevate the soldier's character, but much to debase and brutify it. If the country is too poor to build a chapel for each of the garrisons of our several islands and colonies, the regiments are quite competent to do this, if allowed, for themselves; and the very occupation would greatly improve their health as men, and secure their efficiency as soldiers. There is no regiment without a considerable number of artificers capable of raising such a structure as may be made a church, in the West Indies. And to what more eligible purpose can the stoppages made from the soldier's pay, on account of his misconduct, he applied, than to pay for a clergyman to labour regularly amongst them in holy things? But why hint at such a paltry economy as this? The British people are still able, and, if called upon, willing, to grant such a trifling addition to our military expenditure, as will cover the addition of a chaplain to each regiment, or at least to every garrison, in our West India and other colonies.

[Abridged from SIR ANDREW HALLIDAY'S Work
on THE WEST INDIES.]

Ir is not in everybody's power, because he has not a fortune answerable to it, to form a standing habit of charity, by redressing the injured, relieving the distressed, and cherishing men of merit; but it is in everybody's power to beget in himself this lovely disposition of mind, by studying to adjust his temper to theirs with whom he lives, by complying with their humours as far as he innocently can, by soothing their distresses, bearing with their infirmities, and by incommoding himself in some points to gratify others. On the contrary, the indulgence of an occasional fit of illhumour paves the way to an habitually bad temper. And to those who think it a small matter, Solon's answer is a very just one: "Yes, but custom is a great one." Did we consider seriously, that, as often as we are exerting a spirit of needless contradiction, or venting an ill-natured wit to mortify those about us, we are cherishing a principle of illwill, the very temper of the damned, it would, it is to be hoped, put some stop to this practice. But here the misfortune lies: men are more ambitious to display the abilities of the head, than to cultivate the good qualities of the heart; though the latter are in everybody's power; the former, few have any title to.-Seed.

INSTRUCTION.

THE heart has tendrils, like the vine,
Which round another's bosom twine,
Outspringing from the parent tree
Of deeply-planted sympathy,
Whose flowers are hope, its fruits are bliss;
Beneficence its harvest is.-

There are some bosoms, dark and drear,
Which an unwatered desert are:
Yet there a curious eye may trace
Some smiling spot, some verdant place,
Where little flowers, the weeds between,
Spend their soft fragrance all unseen.
Despise them not-for wisdom's toil
Has ne'er disturbed that stubborn soil;
Yet care and culture might have brought
The ore of truth from mines of thought;
And fancy's fairest flowers had bloomed
Where truth and fancy lie entombed.-
Insult him not-his blackest crime
May, in his Maker's eye sublime,
In spite of all thy pride, be less
Than e'en thy daily waywardness:
Than many a sin, and many a stain,
Forgotten, and impressed again.—-
There is, in every human heart,
Some not completely barren part,
Where seeds of love and truth might grow,
And flowers of generous virtue blow;
To plant, to watch, to water there,-
This be our duty-be our care!

And sweet it is the growth to trace
Of worth, of intellect, of grace,
In bosoms where our labours first
Bid the young seed of spring-time burst;
And lead it on, from hour to hour,

To ripen into perfect flower.

Hast thou e'er seen a garden clad

In all the robes that Eden had?

Or vale o'erspread with streams and trees,-
A paradise of mysteries!—

Plains, with green hills adorning them,
Like jewels in a diadem ?—

These gardens, vales, and plains, and hills,
Which beauty gilds, and music fills,
Were once but deserts-culture's hand
Has scattered verdure o'er the land:
And smiles and fragrance rule, serene,
Where barren wilds usurped the scene.
And such is man! a soil which breeds
Or sweetest flowers, or vilest weeds:
Flowers lovely as the morning's light-
Weeds deadly as the aconite;
Just as his heart is trained to bear
The poisonous weed, or flowret fair.

Flow, then, pure knowledge! ever flow!
Change nature's face in man below;
A paradise once more disclose-

Make deserts bloom with Sharon's rose;
And, through a Saviour's blood, once shed,
Raise his forlorn and drooping head.-BowRING,

PORTUGUESE DOGS.

Dogs of exquisite taste prowled around the vineyards, and gazed with hopeless eyes on that forbidden paradise. They are passionately fond of grapes, and sticks, purposely attached to their collars, prevent their entrance into the vineyards. This Bacchanalian propensity is, in a great measure, the cause of that amazing influx of dogs into Lisbon during the Summer months; for when the grape begins to ripen, the proprietors of the vineyards on the opposite coast lay violent hands on the canine species, and ship them off to the capital. There, prowling about in hungry groups, they become of real use in cleansing the streets of that detestable filth which would otherwise accumulate to an intolerable extent, and might breed a pestilence. In this respect, the strong northerly gales are also valuable auxiliaries.-Portugal and Gallicia.

REMARKABLE ECHO AT ST. GOAR. WE were agreeably surprised by the notes of a French horn, extremely well played, immediately below our windows; and more delighted still, when the same notes, repeated from the other side of the water, sunk away into a most delicious "dying fall" in the distance. Then the horn below blew a blast, sharp, loud, and strong; and presently it was answered, not by one only, but by many in succession, the last being evidently stationed amidst the ruins of the Rheinfels, at a short distance below.

While we were still listening with mixed wonder and delight, the waiter entered to express his hope that we were pleased with the echo. Pleased we assuredly were; yet, even after this explanation, some feeling of doubt rested with us all, as to the possibility of a duet so perfect being thus performed. To increase our wonder, or to remove our suspicions, the performer ran through a multitude of capricious passages on the instrument, which were each and all repeated with such clear and smooth distinctness, that I began to think the sweetest orchestra in the world was to be found amid the rocks of St. Goar.

The next morning we set off to look at the celebrated Lurleyberg, amidst whose inaccessible caverns dwells, as the neighbouring peasantry believe to this day, one of that pretty amphibious class of spirits

which is called undine. Below this rock is the wellknown whirlpool called the Gewirr; and nothing but the most resolute determination not to listen to her sweet beguiling voice can save the navigators who pass it from being ingulfed. Though this danger is, as everybody declares, so well known, and the security of the precaution, if obeyed, so perfect, it nevertheless frequently happens, that men perish beneath the stupendous rock. Unhappily this part of the story is no fable. The immense rafts by which the timber of the Black Forest is brought down the Rhine, often lose, in rough weather, one or more of their men at this point of their voyage. That part of the numerous crew which is stationed at either end of the vast machine, with oars to accelerate and guide its movements, are very liable to be dashed from their wet and slippery stand by the violence of the struggling eddy which they have to combat; and not unfrequently the thongs connecting the various portions of the raft together give way, putting life and property to desperate peril. This Lurley rock is a spot so awfully beautiful, and the echo which every sound awakens so likely to captivate and enthral the attention, the whole of which is wanted for the difficult task of navigating the dangerous Gewirr, that it is not difficult to understand how the legend arose, nor how it has been so long believed.

The walk from St. Goar to the grotto by the roadside, immediately opposite this remarkable rock, is not one easily to be rivalled in any country. All who have been upon the Rhine, or its banks, will probably remember to have heard the report of a gun, and a few notes from a French horn, as they passed this spot. These are produced by a man who spends his life, or at least his Summer-life, under the scanty shelter of this grotto, for the purpose of awakening the marvellous echo of the Lurleyberg for their amusement. We sat down with him, and he seemed exceedingly happy to talk a little, and entertained us with the popular legends of the most celebrated places in that most superstitious of all regions.

In the course of our conversation, he gave us to understand that it was he who had played a duet with the echo the night before, for our amusement. I told him that I believed it was all a trick, and that

some one was stationed on the opposite bank to produce the illusion. "Vous le croyez, Madame?" said he, quietly; and, taking the instrument in his hand, he produced one of the wildest and prettiest capriccios I ever heard. We listened for what was to follow and, for an instant, I felt disposed to believe that his performance was intended to prove me right; but then began the response; and on it went, through every sweet vagary, so clear, so firm, so perfect, that the phenomenon might well give rise to superstition through all the country round. [MRS. TROLLOPE's Belgium.]

A GOOD NAME.

WHO shall pretend to calculate the value of the inheritance of a good name? Its benefit is often great, when dependent upon no stronger ties than those which accident or relationship have created; but when it flows from friendships which have been consecrated by piety and learning, when it is the willing offering of kindred minds to departed worth or genius, it takes a higher character, and is not less honourable to those who receive than to those who confer it. It comes generally from the best sources, and is directed to the best ends; and it carries with it an influence which powerfully disposes all worthy persons to co-operate in its views. Nor is this all. The consciousness of the source from which it springs is wont to stimulate the exertions, and to elevate the views, of those who are the objects of it; and many instances might be enumerated, of persons who have laid the foundation of the very highest fortunes upon no other ground than that which this goodly inheritance has supplied.-BISHOP Otter.

POPULAR ERRORS AND SUPERSTITIONS.

No. VI. FETISHES.

THE same kind of imposition as that described in our last paper, on Talismans, is still carried on among the negro inhabitants of many parts of Africa, particularly on the Congo coast, where the talismans are called Fetishes. Every man there has his fetishe, and some at least a dozen, which he considers as protecting deities against every evil. Every object in nature, let it be ever so vile, serves for a negro's fetishe, the horn, hoof, hair, teeth, or bones of quadrupeds; different parts of birds, snakes, and fishes' fins; old iron, copper, wood, seeds, &c. One of these talismans, described by Captain Tuckey, was a kind of necklace, formed of different sorts of seeds, to which was attached a snake's head, a rusty European padlock, in which a cowry-shell was inserted, and the skull of a bird; but, although careless as to the substance of which the fetishe is formed, they are obliged in selecting it to consult the fetishe-men, a race of impostors who profit by the ignorance of their fellows.

These fetishes are supposed to protect the wearer from dangers of every kind, thunder and lightning, the alligator, the lion, &c. If it should so happen that the owner perishes by the very danger he had endeavoured to avert, the catastrophe is never attributed to a want of virtue in the fetishe, but to some offence given to it by the possessor; so that when about to commit a crime, he lays aside his fetishe, and covers it up, that it may not be witness to the deed. During Captain Tuckey's expedition to the Zaïre, a magnet was shown to a Congo chief, who

declared it to be a very bad fetishe for a black man, it had too much savey (knowledge).

These fetishes are not only employed to protect the owner from danger, but to discover lost or stolen property; for this purpose the fetishe is exposed by the cunning impostor in some public place, and the people of the village perform a barbarous dance, accompanied by loud howlings, round it. The thief is desired to deposit the property in a certain place, within a given time; if this does not take place, the fetishe loses none of its credit, for the first person who dies in the village is considered as the offender, and his death is attributed to the power of the talisman. When the property is restored, it is of little benefit to the owner, since it is necessary to make a present to the conjuror nearly equal to its value, for fear of the consequences which might ensue, poison being frequently employed to prevent the power of the talisman from falling into disrepute. An instance of this occurred while Captain Tuckey was on shore. After the ceremonies we have just described had been performed, the parties were left in expectation of the restoration of the stolen property, but the thief omitted to obey the summons. The next morning a hearty young man, in the employment of one of the gentlemen of the expedition, suddenly died in violent convulsions, under strong suspicion of poison.

Figs. 1 and 2, represent two war fetishes, being figures of men very rudely carved, one with a sword, and the other with a musket. The faith of the natives seems, however, not to be perfect, with respect to the protecting power of these idols, when a white man is concerned. An officer of Captain Tuckey's expedition, in order to dispel the superstition, had offered a bribe to the king of Congo, to be allowed to fire at his war fetishe from a certain distance; but although the bribe was very tempting, it was ultimately, after

$1

fire at the fetishe, for if he should hit it, and the circumstance was made known to the neighbouring chiefs, they would all make war upon him immediately.

Besides the individual fetishes, which are selected by a fetishe-man, various striking objects of nature are held in general estimation. The Fetishe Rock is an object of this kind. It is considered the peculiar residence of Seembi, the spirit which presides over the river. "On the side of some rocks inhabited by fishermen, round the point of Soonda, are a number of raised figures, formed, apparently, with sand and ashes, and laid on wet, which, when indurated, appear like stone sculptured in low relief." The engraving is a view of this singular rock; the objects are all common-place, and very rudely carved.

To supply his want with faces, And some other buffoon graces,➡ You know how.-BEN JONSON.

The hobbyhorse was represented by a man equip

a

form the head and hinder parts of a horse, the defects of the quadruped being concealed by a long mantle that nearly touched the ground. The performer on this occasion exerted all his skill in burlesque horse

but commentators differ from each other in several particulars.

It will be seen that Robin Hood is not among the characters on the painted glass, but it has been already noticed, that they were not always the same. Robin Hood was always represented in a hunting suit of Lincoln green. It is well known that he was a real character, and existed in the reign of Richard Cœur de Lion.

In Locksley town, in merry Nottinghamshire,
In merry sweet Locksley town,

There bold Robin Hood was born and was bred,
Bold Robin, of famous renown.

He was a celebrated robber, or outlaw, and chiefly infested, along with his troop, the forests of Sherwood, in Nottinghamshire, and Barnsdale, in Yorkshire; he lived to a great age, but contrived, during the whole of his life, to set the civil power of the kingdom at defiance. In the rude times in which he lived, many of his deeds were looked on with great respect, for though he robbed the rich, he is said to have been extremely generous to the poor, and even to have attended mass and confession with great regularity.

This bold robber and his attendants were in the habit of frequenting public merry-makings where trials of skill in archery were going on. On this account he became, as it were, identified with the occasion, and, in after-times, himself and band were personified by the most skilful of the archers, and the successful man would naturally be called Robin Hood, and entitled to the hand of Maid Marian, the Queen of May. So famous was this celebrated robber, that two volumes of songs have been collected merely relating to the exploits of himself and band. The Maid Marian, as well as representing the favourite of Robin Hood in these May-games, was also the Queen of May. In the Isle of Man they not only elected a Queen of May, but also a Queen of Winter. In some places an entertainment, much similar to the Maygames, takes place at Whitsuntide, when the Whitsun ales are celebrated.

Maid Marian was usually dressed according to the fashion of the time, and carried a flower or fruit in her hand; sometimes she was carried in procession on men's shoulders.

The Fool played a principal character, and was dressed in a cap and bells, like the domestic jester of the day; he seems to have had more labour to undergo in amusing the assemblage, when there happened to be no hobbyhorse.

But see the hobbyhorse is forgot,
Fool, it must be your lot,

the part of a juggler. The two swords thrust into the cheek, as they appear in the engraving, have reference to some feat of dexterity, somewhat resembling that performed by the native Egyptian tumblers of the present day, who, placing the point of a sharp-pointed sword on each side of the cheek or eyes, retain them in that position while they fling a somerset. This affords another proof of the eastern The horse carries in his mouth origin of the dance.

the ladle for collecting the money that was given. The only English custom of modern times which seems to have a direct reference to the old Morris Dance, and the characters of which it was composed, is the May-day frolic of the chimney-sweepers, in which we have a Lord and a Lady, and perhaps Jackin-the-Green may have had its origin in the hobby

horse.

MANUFACTURE OF SHIP-BISCUIT BY
MACHINERY.

THERE is very little difference in any part of the world in the method pursued for the manufacture of ship-biscuit, and it is not a little surprising that no attempts had been made for ages to improve and facilitate the manufacture of an article of food, the most essential to the comfort of sailors, previous to the application of machinery to that purpose at the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard at Gosport. Until this establishment appeared, one rude, laborious, unclean, and expensive system prevailed.

It may perhaps be right, in giving a detailed account of the machinery in question, to describe first, as shortly as possible, the process of making biscuit by hand, as previously practised in the same establishment, that a just estimate may be formed of the comparative merits of the two systems.

On the old plan, each oven, to keep it at work, required a gang, consisting of five men, who were called the furner, the mate, the driver, the breakman, and the idleman. The duty of the driver was to make the dough, by mixing the flour and water together in a trough with his naked arms, till, by great labour, a proper consistency was obtained. The dough in its rough state was then removed from the trough, and placed on a wooden platform, called a break, to be worked on by the breakman, whose business it was to knead it, by riding or jumping, with what is termed a break-staff, upon the dough. When sufficiently kneaded, it was taken to the moulding-board, (a strong wooden table,) where it was in the first place cut into slips, then divided into lumps, sufficiently large to form the biscuit, then moulded by the hands into its circular shape, and afterwards docked, that is, pierced full of holes by an instrument called a docker: this latter part of the process on the moulding-board was executed by the whole of the gang together. The oven being raised to a proper degree of heat, the biscuits were pitched in by the joint assistance of the furner, mate, and idleman. The gang thus produced one hundred pounds weight of biscuit in thirty-six minutes, including the time occupied in baking, on an average fifteen minutes.