The song of the muleteers who were there on our arrival, awoke us as they were starting in the morning; and as soon as we had despatched a hasty breakfast, we once more set off on our journey. The road now lay between wild and rugged mountains, not high, but bare, cracked, and crumbling into fragments. The tops had apparently once been lofty and pointed; but time, the action of the elements, and the earthquakes formerly so frequent in Syria, had changed their character. The valley itself, too, was stony, broken, and gullied by the washing of the winter torrents. At every step the scene became more solemn and impressive; all was still around us; not a sound broke the universal silence, except the tramp of our horses. After some time the road improved a little; we commenced with a trot, which broke into a canter, and finally into a gallop, as the road improved more and more. What a change had taken place in a few minutes! Just before, all were quiet; now, they were shouting and racing as if demented. Again the scene changed; and almost suddenly-for we entered another valley, if possible even more wild than the one we had just left; the mountains became more and more strikingly grand, venerable, and interesting. Not a shrub or blade of grass was visible on their naked sides, which were deformed with gaps and fissures, and seemed to threaten us with instant destruction, from the huge masses of overhanging rock. The same silence reigned here as in the last wild ravine; and when I fired a pistol at a jackal that was crossing the valley, its report was reverberated like the fire of files of soldiers, which sent the hawks and other birds screeching from their nests. The day was intensely hot, not a breath of wind stirring to cool us; and, worse than all, we were tormented with thirst. We had not any water, and were obliged to push on a brisk trot in order to reach a khan for the night. On we went, scrambling over fallen rocks, up mountain torrent-channels, by the edges of precipices, then through valleys; at one time our horses were knee-deep in water, at others deeper; sometimes we were galloping over a dusty plain; at others crawling up a rugged path on the mountain side; in fact, we were eight hours upon horseback, without any rest or refreshment, except a few grapes. Night was approaching, and we were almost despairing of reaching a hut or khan, when we heard the distant barking of dogs. Off we all set, notwithstanding our fatigue, horses and men both seeming to anticipate the pleasure and comforts of a good meal and sleep. On we went merrily, and at eight o'clock-fourteen hours from the time we left our last hotel-arrived at rather a nice-looking khan, which our guide informed us was only six or eight hours' ride from Damascus. Our fatigue was soon forgotten in the enjoyment of a blazing wood fire in the corner of the room, and the prospect of a good meal. We all set to work, and soon had an excellent stew smoking in a dish, which was placed upon the floor, our party being seated tailor-fashion around it. What would the fastidious have said, had they seen us dipping our fingers into the dish for every morsel, in true Eastern style ? After a sound sleep, in spite of cold and fleas, we once more set out upon the road. It was soon four o'clock, and the morning was cold and foggy, and, to add to our discomfort, the rain was beating in our faces. Having every prospect of being soaked to the skin before our arrival at Damascus, we set off at a good brisk gallop. Good fortune favoured us again, for the sun soon peered from the thick mists that hung over our heads, and "A sunbeam and a pearly shower Came twinkling down to earth, Together laughing in their tears, And weeping in their mirth." The bright gleam of the morning sun chased away the mists, and showed us, far distant, the mountains intervening between Damascus and ourselves, and a portion of sky as blue as the fairest sapphire. It was from these mountains that the Prophet first beheld the city of El Sham Shereef, "the noble and beautiful," lying at his feet, and, exclaimed-" Only one paradise is allowed to man, I will not take mine in this world!" He turned away to the desert. the road, which allows it to be out of the stream of travellers. Passing on through groves of poplar, cypress, olive, walnut, and mimosas, we heard on every side "the still sound How delicious was the cool shade, after the scorching heat we had lately endured; It was near to the city that I first saw one of the Eastern methods of drawing water for camels from a well, and, the subject being interesting and picturesque, Every curve of the road was presenting us with a new view of wild, barren, and desolate scenery; and yet, frequently, in little spots, watered by the countless mountain streams that flow into the valley below, we saw shrubs and patches of green grass, and the silver poplar with its tremulous leaves. We now reached Salayeh, and paused to view the city. Such a prospect I have never yet witnessed; it well repaid us for the sleepless nights and days of toil we endured to reach it. It was a scene of which no words can convey a description to do justice to its beauty; yet I will endeavour to depict it as well as my powers of writing will permit, and, in my next Ramble, will present my readers with the view as seen by us. Beneath our feet lay the gardens of Damascus, thick set with fruit trees of all kinds, whose massive, dark-green foliage was beautifully contrasted with the gay and variously tinted blossoms, as it rolled like the waves of the sea; the towering minarets, that shoot high into the air, appear to vie with Nature's fair works below; the purple-domed mosques, tipped with glittering crescents, and the houses TOWARDS the close of the year 1794, an and monuments, all strangely mingled in elegant and beautiful girl, about the age the centre. The gardens, it is said, ex- of eighteen, and dressed in deep mourntend for not less than twenty miles rounding, attracted, by her tears and lamenthe city, and are kept fresh and luxuriant by the numerous streams. Far distant is the vast plain, enclosed on three sides by mountains, whose dim and shadowy forms break the horizon; but near to the city they rear their rugged and barren sides, as in the savage gorges we had recently left, crowned with nodding masses that seemed to threaten destruction to the jaded traveller; and far away to the south and east lay the desert ocean of sand. We descended the hill, and soon reached a spot about half a mile from the city, which tradition points out as the place where Saul was arrested in his career by the light and voice from Heaven. It is on the side of the old road, near the ruined arch of a bridge, close to which are the tombs of some devout Christians; but there is no other memorial to point out so remarkable a spot, except the deviation of I made a sketch of it. EPISODES OF THE INSANE. tations, the attention of the pedestrians in one of the crowded thoroughfares of Paris. By feeling expressions, and in pathetic, though incoherent language, she called for the pity, and demanded the support of every passer-by. She said that she was their queen, that she had been beheaded by regicides, but that Divine Providence had restored her to life, on that day, her former birthday; at the same time, showing the people some scars upon her neck, which she said would never be effaced till the Dauphin, her son, ascended the throne of his ancestors. She told them that her husband, their late king, Louis XVI. would never more appear upon earth, being seated in heaven at the right hand of St. Louis, where he prayed for the conversion and pardon of his assassins. She declared that she visited her children, every night, in the Temple, but that she was ordered from above, to show herself during the day to her erring subjects, as a living example of Divine goodness, to warn Frenchmen of eternal perdition. Ever and anon, she interrupted her ravings with prayers for the living and the dead; for friends and for foes; and always concluded these devotions by imploring Heaven for repose to the soul of Louis XVI., and the preservation of her son and daughter. After having indulged for a considerable time, in these outbursts, she distributed among those near her, whose external appearance bespoke want, what money she had and a large portion of her clothing. One thing however, she refused to part with. This was a medallion, having on one side the portrait of Louis XVI., and on the other those of his children. The crowd of people which had collected round her, and which was rapidly increasing, caused the agent of police to interfere. Meeting with some opposition from the mob, he summoned to his assistance eight gens-d'armes, who carried her off by force, first to the guard-house, and thence to the police office; where, after some questions, she was ordered to be confined among the female lunatics in the hospital of La Salpetriére. These orders being as promptly executed as those of revolutionary authorities generally are, in less than an hour, she was delivered to the keeper of the abovementioned asylum. In a few days after her incarceration, she began, by the mildness of her disposition, and the gentility and kindness of her behaviour, to obtain an extraordinary influence over her fellowprisoners, who regarded her as some superior being, and readily credited her assertion that she was their sovereign, and duly waited on her as such. Consequently, in a few months, the soi-disant Marie Antoinette had organised in this madhouse, a complete Imperial Court, on a small scale. She had her levees, and her assemblies; her circles, and her drawing rooms; her ladies-in-waiting, and her favourites; and these latter she required to pray with her, as well as to attend her. At La Salpetriére, as wellas in most other French institutions of the same kind, small houses are constructed in several rows, called les petités maisons; and one of these is appropriated to each prisoner. They are open to the inspection of visitors, and the prisoners are allowed to receive gifts in money, clothes or anything else not considered dangerous. The scene mentioned at the beginning of this narrative, had made known to the Parisians the existence of poor Marie Antoinette, and she daily received presents, bestowed, either by the hand of pity, or curiosity. Everything except writing paper, she shared with her fellow sufferers. This she required for the voluminous correspondence which she maintained with the other sovereigns of Europe, and also for letters to her children, to whom she wrote twice every day. These letters were, for the most part, sensibly and well written, displaying evident proofs of a liberal education, a knowledge of the world, and of talents above the usual level of her sex. She had, also, a practice of shutting herself up, for two or three hours every forenoon, in her apartment, which she designated her cabinet, that she might meditate undisturbed on the affairs of state. As long as she was saluted as a queen, addressed as a princess, and treated with the respect she considered due to a person of such exalted rank, she would converse reasonably, for even an hour at a time; but when contradicted, treated with ridicule, or neglect, she first began to talk absurdly, then extravagantly, and generally concluded by falling into fits. The most effectual method of recovering her, was for those near her to pray aloud for the repose of Louis XVI. and the prosperity of his offspring. or The order of her day was as follows: Having washed and cleansed herself, assisted by another lunatic, whom she styled her maid-of-honour, she had her room swept, and her bed made. This done, she assembled round her the other unfortunate recluses, and read the morning prayers in Latin, according to the Roman Catholic ritual, dwelling particularly on the petitions in favour of the King and Queen. These devotions con cluded, she took some milk and bread for breakfast, then, dismissing her attendants, she retired to her cabinet, for the despatch of her correspondence and state business, which generally occupied her till dinner time. During the afternoon she gave audience to petitioners, heard complaints, rectified the wrongs, and settled the disputes of her lunatic subjects. These affairs being transacted, she again took milk and bread for supper, and having convoked her attendants to evening prayers, retired to rest. Twice a-week-on Wednesday and Saturdayshe held her public drawing-rooms in the forenoons, and gave audiences in the afternoons. On Sabbaths, when the weather permitted, she took a public walk between the rows of petités maisons inspecting her subjects and their dwellings, complimenting those she found clean and in order, and reprimanding those who were dirty, or had behaved disorderly. When the weather was unfavourable, she assembled her favourites in her cabinet, and spent the day in prayer. tent did they carry their rancour, that eventually the authorities had to remove her Russian majesty to another hospital. Notwithstanding all the researches of the police, and all the endeavours of physicians and priests, the family name of this poor lunatic has never been discovered. No trace could ever be gained from her conversation, of who she was; and even on her death bed, when tolerably composed, she insisted that her name was Marie Antoinette, that she was an Austrian arch-duchess, and daughter of Maria Theresa, empress of Germany. Her last words were, "Thus expires a Queen of France, a second time, before her son reigns." ASTONISHMENT IN ANIMALS. M. SONNINI says:-"One day, as I was meditating in a garden, I stopped near a hedge. A jackall, hearing no noise, was coming through the hedge towards me; and when he had cleared himself was just at my such astonishment, that he remained motionfeet. On perceiving me, he was seized with less for some seconds, without even attempting to escape, his eyes fixed steadily on me. Perplexity was painted in his countenance, with a degree of expression of which I could not have supposed him susceptible, and which denoted great delicacy of instinct. lest I On my part, I was afraid to move, afforded me much pleasure. At length, should put an end to this situation, which after he had taken a few steps, first towards one side and then the other, as if so confused as not to know which way to get off, and keeping his eyes still turned towards me, he retired: not running, but stretching himself out, or rather creeping with a slow step, setting down his feet one after another much afraid of making a noise in his flight, with singular precaution. He seemed so that he held up his large tail, almost in a horizontal line, that it might neither drag on the ground nor brush against the plants. On the other side of the hedge, I found the fragments of his meal; it had consisted of a bird of prey, great part of which he had de The cause of her death was as extraordinary as the latter part of her life had been. Among the females confined in La Salpetriére, was a little plump old woman, who considered herself the Empress of Russia. This person who had always been averse to consider the Queen of France her superior, one evening when Marie Antoinette had retired early, stole into her room, and abstracted therefrom her mourning dress and medallion. Though Marie Antoinette recovered her lost treasures next day, yet her spirits were so much depressed, by what she considered an outrage offered to royalty in distress by an impostor and an intruder, that she no longer appeared in public, but fell into a rapid decline, and expired on the 20th of July, 1799. Such a hold had she gained on the affections of her fellow prisoners, that when they knew she was dead, they all, with one accord, attacked the pretended Empress of Russia, as the murderess of their IN the scale of morals Integrity holds the first sovereign, and, but for the interference place, Benevolence the second, and Prudence the third. Without the first the latter two cannot of the keepers, would, doubtless, have exist; and without the last, the former two are torn her to pieces. And to such an ex-often rendered useless. voured. A RUG OTTOMAN OR FENDER PRE- are drawn (before cutting round) with the Berlin wool and a rug needle run round the outlines, as if it were muslin, then over SERVER. Materials. -Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s Boars Head Cotton, No. 20; 1 lb. of chump size white bugles; half-a-yard of Penelope canvas, that which measures 9 double threads to the inch, or canvas which will admit of the bugles lying (when sewed on) evenly across each double thread of canvas, like a half-stitch in cross stitch; half an ounce of bright scarlet or blue Berlin wool. A common deal box, which can be made by a carpenter, 8 inches wide, 5 deep, and as long as the fender of the room for which it is required; also, sufficient coarse canvas to cover the box. Sufficient wadding, old carpeting, or old drugget, for padding the top of the box; also, a sufficient quantity of strong cloth, of a brown colour, for covering, and, also, large worsted cord to cover the seams, and a worsted tassel for each corner. Some gumwater, ink in which a little loaf sugar has been dissolved, a camel's hair brush, a rug needle, and sewing needle. First, get the box made, and observe that inside this box there are two bracings of wood screwed in; but these must be halfway up the box inside, otherwise the cloth and canvas will not turn in round the edge; A RUG OTTOMAN OR FENDER PRESERVER. then place the drugget or wadding well over the top and edges; then fasten the canvas well over and nail it inside the edges of the box; now place the cloth on the wrong side outwards, tack the corners without fulness, then stitch them; fit the cloth cover on again before cutting the superfluous cloth away at the corners. If all fits well, do this, turn it, place it on the box, measure, and tack with a white thread, the place whence the bugles must come, which should be about two and a half inches from the lowest edge of the box. Do not fasten on the cloth till the bugles are sewed on; and to work these, draw the outline of the diagram on to a piece of silver or foreign post paper, marking the outline very broad and black. When dry, place the canvass over this and draw the lines on the latter. Of course, the number of patterns will depend on the length of the work required. Each cross is drawn and worked separately, and afterwards cut round and sewed together. When a sufficient number BY MRS. WARREN. the bugles in regular rows. When finished, turn the canvas, the bugled side downwards, on a table, and nail it with tin tacks, straight and firm, but yet so that they can be easily drawn out with the finger and thumb. Then gum over the back of the bugles and the wool edge, and when dry detach the nails. Cut round the canvas close to the wool; sew the crosses together corner-ways with the same coloured wool, place a strip of light blue cloth, merino, or cotton velvet, at the back of the crosses, so as to shew through the diamond shaped interstices. Then, finally sew these strips of bugle crosses on to the cloth. Nail the edge of the latter firmly on the inside of the box, and sew on the cord and tassels. PATTERN FOR A COUNTERPANE. Materials.-No. 6 Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s. Boar's Head Cotton. No. 2 Penelope Hook. First Row. -7 ch unite in a circle. Under this circle work 3 Dc; 1 ch 3 more |