Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, &c.

This Journal is supplied Weekly, or Monthly, by the principal Booksellers and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom; but to those who may desire its immediate transmission, by post, we recommend the LITERARY GAZETTE, printed on stamped paper, price One Shilling.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1826.

"I think not these last words of Scotland's knight
Were so exprest that he was understood:
With these he finished, like a feeble light,
Which needs supply of wax, or other food.
-Who is there that has power to tell aright
The gentle Isabella's doleful mood?
When stiff her loved Zerbino, with pale face,
And cold as ice, remained in her embrace.
"On the ensanguined corse, in sorrow drowned,
The damsel throws herself, in her despair,
And shrieks so loud that wood and plain resound
For many miles about; nor does she spare
Bosom or cheek; but still, with cruel wound,
One and the other smites the afflicted fair;
And wrongs her curling locks of golden grain,
Aye calling on the well-loved youth in vain."
Of the excellence of Mr. Rose's translations
we cannot say too much.-Was there not some
ancient philosopher who professed the power
of sending his soul on occasional visits? Has
this gift descended to Mr. Rose? and has he

made use of it to animate Ariosto?

The Annual Cabinet of Modern Foreign Voyages and Travels; selected from the most recent and interesting Journals of eminent Continental Travellers, not before translated into English. Vol. II. 1826. 18mo. pp. 439.

London: Treuttel and Würtz.

WE cannot well acquit ourselves, as industrious and faithful registrars of the literary products of the time, for having neglected the first volume (for 1825) of this miscellany, published more than twelve months ago. It is a most meritorious work, and well deserves our highest encomiums. Much is done by British enterprise; and the world is every year explored by our adventurous countrymen in parts unknown, and a knowledge obtained from them of great value to science. But other nations are also alert in this honourable career; and it is not only excellent in itself, but a very important aid to our own pursuits, that we should be made acquainted with their progress and discoveries. Such is the purport of this Annual Cabinet: the latest intelligence acquired by foreign travellers is ably condensed, and other lights are thrown upon those subjects into which our inquiries have been directed, or new information is given on collateral branches, as interesting and curious as those which have occupied our native attention.

Buckingham in the East, and Natterer in Brazil; | an object appears to the eye, in so much greater
of Capt. Basil Hall and Stevenson in South Ame- abundance, according to his notion, must this
rica; and Capt. Weddell in the Antarctic Seas, beneficent spirit reside in it; for which reason
&c. these are distinctly classed, and brought a large stone, a lofty mountain, a spreading
down to the latest period. Then follow the sepa- tree, or a broad stream, are objects of his vene-
rate papers: a Tour in North Hollad; Iceland ration. There he erects altars, or obos, of
by Dr. Gliemann; Litke's two Expeditions to heaps of stones, and prays before them, in the
Nova Zembla; Murawiew-Apostol's Journey fulness of his heart, to the almighty spirit.
through Taurida; Raczynski's Sketches in Every traveller who passes by such an altar
Turkey; Sieber's Visit to Jerusalem; Drou- considers it as his duty to alight from his horse,
ville on Persian Manners; Timkowski's Mis- to make several obeisances opposite the south
sion to China; Humboldt on a Canal between side of the altar, with his face turned towards
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, &c. &c. &c. the north, and to leave some of his things. In
Almost all these are interesting papers; but the general we found on such places linen rags, and
Taurida and China bear off the palm: the more frequently tufts of horse-hair, as offerings
former by its classical associations, and the of the Nomades for the preservation of this
latter by its singular traits of a people who animal, their faithful companion. These altars
affect mystery and seek concealment above any serve also as guides to travellers, and as land-
other. To this, therefore, we apply ourselves marks.
in the first place.

The extracts from them fill only fifty-six pages of the Cabinet, but they are uncommonly rich in matter.

66

"We saw here numerous flocks of sheep, all of a white colour, and herds of full-sized, stout, but not handsome horses.

"Iro, or Iuro, signifies, in the Mongol language, the blessed; for according to the account of the inhabitants, there are mineral springs at its source.

པ་

"In the year 1820 the Russian government sent Mr. Timkowski, one of the chief officers in the Asiatic department of the ministry for foreign affairs, on a mission to Pekin, for the purpose of accompanying from Kiachta to that city the Russian ecclesiastics who were to go to supply the vacancies in the great monastery "A great many Lamas inhabit these parts, which Russia has at Pekin, and to bring back for about three wersts above the station there to Kiachta the priests who were to leave the is a wooden Pagan temple, on the banks of the convent. Mr. T. kept a minute journal of his Iro, and another ten wersts below. This part mission, filled with historical, geographical, and of Mongolia, as far as Urga, and sixty wersts statistical notices. The first volume contains beyond, is inhabited by Kalkas Mongols, who the account of his journey to Pekin, the second, are subject to the Kutuchtu. The revenues a description of that city, and the third, the collected from them, besides the personal sernarrative of the return to Russia by a different vices for the affairs of the country, and the route. Two volumes only have yet been pub-tending of the numerous flocks of the Khan, lished in the Russian language. The extracts serve for the maintenance of the Kutuchtu and which have appeared in various literary jour-his court." nals give a very favourable idea of the work, The next river of note which the mission and excite a wish that it may be soon translated passed was the Schara, or Yellow River, which into other languages." flows into the Orchon. The natives requested the strangers not to fish, as, like the Hindoos, though worshippers of Fo, they hold the lives of animals sacred. On the 10th Sept. (the According to a treaty concluded in the year first extract in the journal is of the 3d), Mr. T. 1727, the Russian government was allowed to says, "We met, for the first time, numbers of have a mission established at Pekin, by means Mongols returning from Urga to adore the of which the Russians have a free passage to Lama. This high priest of Fo, who was seven the capital of China, which is almost inacces-years of age, had caused, by his recent appearThe first publication took a general view of sible to Europeans." ance, a great commotion among the zealous the principal geographical researches and their The last mission took place in 1805: the Mongols of Kalkas. Old and young, men and results for the preceding ten years; and then present consisted of between forty and fifty women, in rich attire, with caps of sable, and particularised Boie's Norway, Von Richter's persons. After leaving Kiachta it reached the riding on their best horses and camels, passed Pilgrimages in the East, Taucher, Eichfield, river Iro, and the journal statesus in troops. Some were hastening to the Caillaud, Drovetti, Minutoli, Erdman, Cromt- "On the sloping sides of the mountains we Lama, others returning home after being schenko, and other travellers' discoveries in saw here and there little spots sown with mil-reanimated by the sight of him. After travelvarious quarters of the globe: the whole form- let, and some stacks of hay. A very old Lama, ling sixteen wersts from the Chara, in a level ing a volume of very delightful and instructive a stranger to us, who had ridden from Ibizück and straight road, we came to the valley of literature, which youth must read with great to look at his valley, accompanied us for some Zsun Mado, on the right bank of the Boro benefit, and the more advanced in life with time. Lifting up one of his arms, on which where our missions rested in 1694 and 1807 great gratification. Nor is the second year's hung a rosary, he continually repeated the Three leagues farther we ascended a great hi production, now before us, inferior to its pre- Tibetan prayer: Om mani bat mi chom (Lord called Manitu, where there is an obo. On th cursor. On the contrary, we are rather in-have mercy on me), in a tone which all the south side of the hill we met a large caravan clined to consider it as more choice in its selec- Lamas have adopted, and which resembles the pilgrims returning from Urga. Some had eve tion, and more curious in its developments. A humming of a bee. He rejoiced highly at the been to Tibet to receive their phoenix, the nev short introduction contains an able epitome of approaching arrival of the new-born Kutuchtu, born Lama, from the bosom of his family, an the chief travel-novelties that have occurred chief priest of Fo, who, by his appearance on had brought him to his residence with within the past year :-Denliam's and Clapper- the throne of Urga, would reanimate the deso-whole establishment upon their own came ton's African Expedition; Von Rüppel's Egyp- late Mongolian clergy. The inhabitants of Kalkas had for this purp assembled above a thousand camels. The jad beasts proved the length and fatigue of journey they had made. Our attention y attracted by a snow-white camel of extraor nary size, such as we had never seen. Mongols know the Russians, and also t many of our people speak their langua hence we are greeted on all sides with repea wishes for our health and happiness.”

tian peregrinations; Accounts of Ehrenberg "Near the Iro, on the east, rises a lofty and and Hemprich, and of Mr. Burton in the same steep mountain, which forms the corner of the country and Nubia, &c.; also of Saddik Gib-chain that runs along the right bank of the raltar, relating to Cyrenaica; of Capt. Smith river: its summit is covered with obo stones, and Mr. Beechey on the coasts of Tripolis; of which adorn almost all the principal eminences Pacho in the Pentapolis; of Cervelli, of Peddie, of Mongolia. The inhabitants of these steppes, of Gray, of Laing, in Africa; of Gerard, Moor-like the savage in the deserts of America, concroft, Frazer, and Professor Rask, in Central vinced by experience of the existence of a suAsia; of the Danish Levsen in Japan; of Dr. perior, incomprehensible, and almighty power, Lyall and Capt. Cochrane, and Somoinoff and is of opinion, that it is diffused through all the Professor Fuchs, in the Russian empire; of productions of nature; and the more majestic

After crossing the Boro, some of the p were requested to abstain from entering

ad acent forest, called Noin, because there were | Pekin, was, in his opinion, not always adapted many bears in it; but the subjoined was the to its object, as it was not conformable to the notions entertained here.

true reason:

emperor rode thither, accompanied by a numerous train, consisting of the chief officers of the army and state. No citizen is permitted to "We afterwards learnt that it was forbid- "December 4.-I went to the southern su- have a view of his majesty in such solemn proden to enter the forests of the Noin moun- burb, called Woilotschen, i. e. the Outer City. cessions. The gates, doors, and windows of the ta. The princes come hither from Urga, The streets are very dirty, and crowded chiefly houses are closed, and the cross streets covered with their whole court, to enjoy the diver- with men. Barbers and other similar trades with hangings. Already, on the preceding evenof hunting. One autumn they hunt on carry on their business in the street. We rode ing, the sentinels who kept the gate informed us the Boro, and the next in the mountains close by the southern gate of the Red Town, that none of us would be allowed to go out the bevond Urga. The Nomades residing in the (so called from the colour of the walls) within following morning. Sentinels are stationed at ghbourhood are bound to prevent all per- which is the palace of the emperor. The the doors of those houses where the emperor , not only from hunting, but even from buildings of the palace within the walls are not passes, in order to guard against any sudden setting a foot in these gloomy forests, set apart visible. The market-place, opposite the gates, attack upon his life, such as was once made the pastime of their sovereigns. We find, is paved with flags, and surrounded with granite upon the late emperor. Returning one day to wever, among nations that boast of their pillars; nobody is allowed to ride through, and his palace, the head cook, who had formerly arisation, game-laws and privileges, the only pedestrians admitted. The sentinels of been in the service of his brother, had attacked htest violation of which, even the firing of a the guard were sitting on stools, at the gate of him with a knife at the entrance of the impeut, is treated as a felony. Last year there the parade, leisurely smoking their pipes. They rial apartments, in the presence of the eunuchs vas no hunt on the Boro, nor yet in the other did not look very fine in their soiled clothes. but one of the life-guards, who was standing places, because the Kutuchta was expected at Nearly all the houses in Pekin are nothing but behind the imperial litter, immediately seized Ur This year the prince intends to hunt shops, provided with various goods, each shop the wretch, and thus frustrated his criminal bevand Urga. When the Bodgdo-so the selling only one kind. In the street which intention, in doing which he received several Mongols call the emperor of China-goes from passes the Russian house, is a large private wounds in his side. For this preservation of Pekin to the palaces of Sheche (beyond the pawn house, of which there are a great many his life, the emperor raised the faithful soldier rest wall to the east) for the purpose of hunt- in Pekin. The extravagance and poverty of to the rank of Gun (prince of the fifth class), ing, he causes the strictest orders to be issued the Mantchoos enrich these establishments, and gave him a considerable fortune.

;

to all the vassal Mongol princes, according to which are called Danpu by the Chinese. Go- "December 20.-At nine o'clock in the which some are to hunt in their own territory, vernment has not any such, but the great morning, Mr. Fereira, (in Chinese, Fu-loe) and others are to come for this purpose to princes of the empire keep them under the the third member of the Astronomical Academy, Sheche. The best or rarest game, especially name of crown pledge-houses, which are called came into the convent: he wore on his cap a wild boars, are sent as a present to his majesty, Guan Danpu. The goods are taken in for It is said that for these hunting parties of the half the value, and for not longer than three prince, about 500 of the best horsemen and years; for a thousand schechens, which are bermen are sent by the Kalkas horde. The equal to a lana, or two silver rubles, the usurers wild beasts are driven together: only the Wan take twenty schechens monthly, upon a dress, ad the Amban (princes of Urga), and the and thirty upon articles of metal and jewellery. Maatchos officers in their train, have the pri- Some of our missionaries have, at times, been Lege of shooting the numerous herds of game. unfortunately compelled to have recourse to No Mongol, under pain of death, dare discharge this ruinous expedient. narrow in that direction: he is at the most permitted to pursue the game which has broken the barrier. Our present station is the chief sace of rendezvous of these distinguished hunt, and here they celebrate their victories. The Mongols (we learn) consider it an imative duty to bring up at least one of the tamaly as a priest; hence the number of Lamas

Any great."

On their route the Russians heard of the ath of the emperor of China, at the age of C: and Mr. T. observes

crystal button, the badge of the fifth class. He first went into the church; he stood still at the western door and bowed, and then went up to the Archimandrite Hyacinth. The Archimandrite, Peter, and I, were invited to meet him. Fereira is a native of Portugal, and about seventy years of age; he was very friendly, and congratulated us on the commencement of the new year, according to the new style. He "December 9.-To-day, according to the was delighted with the great deeds of the emChinese reckoning, was the sixteenth day of peror Alexander, with his victories over the the eleventh moon, and the summer solstice. French, &c. When the conversation turned on The emperor rode in procession to the Temple the oppression of the Roman Catholic missionof Heaven, which is situated at the end of the aries in China, he praised the emperor Kanghee, Merchants' Town, or the southern suburb: he who shewed much attention to the Jesuits, and returns from thence to his palace to-morrow. gave them large tracts of land; but he cenThe emperor, as the chief priest of all religions sured Yong-tchin, and particularly the deceased within the limits of the Chinese empire, makes Kia-King, who had greatly persecuted the to-day, in this temple, a purificatory sacrifice Catholics: he spoke at length on toleration, for the execution of all criminals condemned grievances, &c. and quoted texts from Scripture. during the year by the law. It is said, that We conversed with Fereira in Latin, as he, We received this news with considerable about this time, all the criminals are executed like all the Portuguese now residing at Pekin, ety, as we feared it might prevent the in the whole empire; they are either beheaded understand no other, except their own; he rution of our journey. We observed that or strangled. State criminals, such as rebels, speaks but little Chinese, and that of the worst buttons and tassels had disappeared from &c. are executed without delay, immediately dialect, which is chiefly used at Canton, where caps of the Chinese and Mongol officers, after sentence Kas been pronounced. Respect-it is usually learned by the Jesuits, when sent ing the persons condemned to death by the by the Pope to China, from the congreyatio de criminal authorities, a list is presented to the propaganda fide. emperor, specifying their crimes. The empe"The Roman Catholics have long since ror marks with his own hand those who are to drawn upon themselves the displeasure of the be executed; all the rest are conducted to the Chinese government, by their unbounded zeal On the 24 of December the mission arrived place of execution, and then carried back to in propagating their doctrine, by law-suits Pekin, respecting which city, and what prison, to await the decision of their fate. about their revenues, and by the disputes there, we select the following memora- Those who are condemned are fed at the ex-between the priests of the different European pense of government the day previous to their states. Thus the Jesuits of the French, or The Archimandrite Hyacinth told us that execution. It happens, though very rarely, northern convent in Pekin, (at present there d translated from the Chinese into the that a criminal is thus set down three times on is not a single French priest here,) sent letters the history of China, and a complete the list presented to the emperor, but is not to the Pope by the way of Canton, complaining ay of the countries subject to it. He marked for capital punishment, because there of the Portuguese clergy, with plans of the dan ardent wish to be able, on his are more heinous criminals; such a one is then lands and chapels which the latter had taken to his native country, to devote his time exempted from execution, and even becomes a from them. By some means, probably by the y to the completion and finishing of his jailor, or is transported. The emperor Kien- intrigues of the Portuguese, the deputies were ns. He assured us, among other long, on account of his severity, but seldom seized on their way to Canton. The papers that our missionaries, who had hitherto made these exceptions. During the reign of were laid before the emperor Kia-King, and in at at Pekin, had been unable thoroughly Kia-King, on the other hand, of fifty criminals consequence of the strong suspicions excited by rate the significations of the Chinese conducted to the place of execution, only four- the plan, in which were laid down some parts , and therefore paid less attention to the teen suffered. of the interior, a new and violent persecution was commenced against the Jesuits in 1805.

the servants took off theirs; the officers besides, obliged to put on white garments, well as the common people not to cut hair: in this consists their mourning, lasts a hundred days."

tion, laws, customs, and opinions of the Yesterday sacrificial vessels were carried to
Hence the former correspondence of the above-named temple on elephants richly
try with the office of foreign affairs at adorned. This morning, at five o'clock, the

"The Archimandrite Hyacinth told us, that not long before the arrival of the new mission,

one of the procurators had represented to the various sizes are cast and gilt here, and sent | spiritual affairs of his extensive dominions; the emperor Kia-King, that it would be advisable throughout all Mongolia; the idols which come Chubilgans and Kutuchtas are chosen by his to issue a positive law respecting the Catholics from Tibet are very highly esteemed by the command, and even the appointment of the living in China. Some members of the tribunal Mongols and Chinese. Small idols are sold Dalai Lama depends entirely on his power. of foreign affairs at that time expressed a wish according to their size. The founder abso- Only the common people, especially the Tito the Archimandrite, that the Russian stu-lutely refused to sell us any idol, considering dents or clergy coming to Pekin might be sub-us as heathens. stituted in the Astronomical Academy for the Jesuits, whom the Chinese had long been disposed to expel, and who are retained only by virtue of the edict issued respecting them by the emperor Kanghee.

"By being engaged in this academy, the Jesuits enter entirely into the Chinese service. They receive a salary and provisions, dress in the Chinese fashion, and wear on their caps buttons which designate the various ranks in

China.

of Setchuen.

“January 3, 1821.-In our excursion into the outer town, we visited the booksellers' shops; most of the books were printed about thirty years since.

#

"February 4th.-Having received an invitation from the Lamas residing in the temples of Chuan-sa to see the Kutuchta perform the religious ceremonies, the Archimandrites, myself, and the inspector, left the city at eight o'clock in the morning.

betans and Mongols, worship their high priests under the name of Kutuchta or Guga. The Chinese particularly value the moral precepts of Confucius, and even those of Lo-udsu.

"Tschen Lama told us that the Dalai Lama had not appeared, that is, had not been installed in Tibet for five years; one of the priests there would have been chosen, but the "Three Kutuchtas live in Pekin; (the Chi- late emperor Kia-King required three cannese call these cardinals directly Fo). The first, didates, and all out of the province of Sutwho was to perform service this day, resides in chuen.-Does not, perhaps, the Chinese goa large temple in the Red Town, near the vernment dread the conquest of Tibet by the palace; the second, in the northern part of English? should these conquerors of Bengal "The Du Lama, treasurer to a temple of Pekin; and the third, in the middle part of the take possession of a country so highly venethe Chuan-sa, invited me to visit him in his city: he has now been sent by the new emperor rated by all professors of Lamaison, which solitary abode. He told us that the Du Lama, from Chuan-sa to Tibet, to celebrate the obse- would not be so difficult for them at present, an elder priest, had put up with them when he quies for his father Kia-King, and to distri- the Dalai Lama would remain in their power; lately came with the tribute for the new empe- bute, on this occasion, the alms of the em- his worshippers, the Mongols, Kalmucks, and ror, from Little or Lower Tibet, from the high peror. other nations, might become true and zealous priest Bantschan Erdeni. Next year, accord- "When we came to the treasurer at Chuan-allies of the English, and facilitate their farther ing to the ordinance, the tributaries from Lassa, sa, we were conducted into the eastern temple, conquests in Middle Asia. We know that the the capital of Great Tibet, must come, though where the religious ceremonies before the idols English missionaries who reside at Selenginsk, they have been waiting for five years for the had already commenced. All the doors were in the government of Irkutsk, diligently study birth of the new Dalai Lama. It is observed locked to exclude the crowd, and we were the Mongol language, which is spoken by many that the prudent Chinese government wishes obliged to go through the apartments of the of the Tibetan Lamas. Of this we had a proof to contrive that the Dalai Lama, this immortal Lamas to the principal temple. The police to-day: a Lama, a native of Lassa, the capital phoenix, may arise in the midst of some dis-officers would not let us approach the Kutuchta, of Great Tibet, who had lately arrived at Pekin, tinguished family in the southern provinces of especially when they saw our sabres; on the spoke the Mongol quite fluently with Mr. RasChina. The Kutuchta who came this year to assurance of our guides they, however, con- gildjejew. He mentioned that persons somethe Kalchas Mongols in Urga, is the son of a sented, and so we entered the vestibule of the times came from Persia to Tibet who wore cloth well-known civil officer in the Chinese province temple, which is built of white marble. Here sat dresses and long swords." the Kutuchta, in a very large arm-chair, with The value of some of these speculations is his face turned towards the door of the temple; not much; but the accounts altogether are so before him stood a long table covered with a piece curious, that an epitome of, if not an entire of yellow-flowered silk, on which stood dishes translation of M. Timkowski's Journal would, with corn, water, &c. On both sides of this we think, be popular in any other European altar stood five Lamas from eastern Mongolia; language. In the mean time, the abridgment they read and sung prayers in the Tibetan in the Annual Cabinet is extremely acceptable, language in octaves; the uncommonly deep and enough of itself to recommend this neat and powerful bass voices resounded in the air little volume to universal favour. like the lower notes of the horn. The Lamas from the temples at Pekin, about two hundred Memoirs of Antonio Canova, with a Critical in number, were seated on the right and left in Analysis of his Works, and an Historical twelve rows on the floor. The Kutuchta struck View of Modern Sculpture. By J. S. Memes, at intervals silver cymbals, as a signal to the A.M. 8vo. pp. 578. Edinburgh, Constable "It is said, however, that in the winter- Lamas alternately to sing and to play. The and Co.; London, Hurst and Robinson. time boiled maize is given to the beggars in orchestra was placed apart; they played on IT has been said that the life of an artist or an the name of the emperor; but only a few suc-wind-instruments, copper cymbals of various author are best read in their works; there is ceed in profiting by this favour of his majesty. sizes, and drums: this kind of music is more great truth in this, but it is one of those In the temple of Lunwantan, which is near the calculated to inspire terror than feeling and truths rather allowed than acted upon. city wall in Wailotschen, behind the gate of emotion. The yellow dress of the Lamas, and look on the works of the artist, we read the the eastern citadel, the priests distribute boiled their shorn heads, gave them, in our eyes, a pages of the author, and we wish to know groats among the poor, from the money which singular appearance. There were no worship- somewhat of the hand that drew, of the lip that they have collected from the 15th day of the pers of Fo present, except priests. The Ku- sung. Without entering quite into the as10th month, to the 15th of the 2d month of tuchta, who was about thirty-five years old, sertion of the Spectator, that a knowledge of the following year, that is, during the four several times turned his eyes upon us, which the outward man is necessary to the enjoysevere months from November to March. example was followed by the rest. ment of his production, we do think there is "The northern convent consists of four large "From the temple we returned to the trea- great moral, philosophical, as well as curious courts, several very pretty houses, and other surer's, where a number of Lamas assembled pleasure in analysing the chances which stirred buildings; but all much decayed and neglected. after the sacrifice was ended. We conversed the secret springs of genius; and in the Every thing proves that the Jesuits in China chiefly with a Lama of the name of Tschen, awakening and history of feelings whose dehave not even a shadow of the influence which who is in the personal service of the Kutuchta velopment into action made their immortality. they possessed under the emperors Kanghee whom we had seen to-day. Tschen Lama is Histories of this kind too often call but upon and Kien-Long. Pius, bishop of the southern about forty-two years old, descended from a our saddest sympathies; we read of the flower Christians, likewise a native of Portugal, resides distinguished family among the eastern Mon- of life and all its best energies wasting in in this convent. gols, and was educated at Pekin; he had tra- fruitless exertion, pining beneath neglect; the "The Tibetans (in Pekin) are very plain in velled through the whole of Tibet and Mon-possessors of the mind's glorious gifts too often their manners, and are unacquainted with golia, and the northern provinces of India only sink into an untimely tomb, and that luxury; in countenance they resemble our bordering on Tibet, and converses fluently in fame which would have made the happiness of gypsies, and wear long coats like the Russians; the Chinese, Mongol, Tibetan, and has some their life, comes a late, a useless, though a they do not cut their hair, but braid it on the knowledge of the Mantchoo language. He splendid visitant to their grave at once its head in a tail, and have ear-rings with turquoises. "We then went to the foundry, which is in the court near this heathen temple; idols of

"Numerous beggars reside in the caverns under the city wall. It is impossible to imagine a more melancholy and repulsive sight than these unfortunates; almost entirely destitute of clothing, covered with a piece of tattered matting, they hover about the shops in the merchants' town, or southern suburb, and beg alms; when they have received a few tschechen they return to their caves.

inquired about our journey, Russia, and its
capital, our birth-places, &c. On his part he
told us very candidly that the emperor had the
same influence over the temporal and over the

We

Since writing this we have observed a translation into French announced, in 2 vols. 8vo., with notes by M Klaproth: an English version is also said to be preparing. ED.

It

honour and its reproach. There is nothing of resident in the vicinity. With a companion must have been taken from a work of Grecian this in Canova; we read, it is true, of dif- whom he so much loved, and in visiting his sculpture, and of great merit; but they were ficulties, but of difficulties surmounted, of grandmother and the good old Pasino, were divided on what it represented, and where the arduous exertion, but exertion repaid to the spent every holiday, and every interval not original was to be found. Some affirmed that credit of the age, success and merit went devoted to study. Even at this early age, the they had seen it in such a collection; some hand in hand, and Canova lived to enjoy the grand outlines of his character, such as with said it was in a different gallery; part mainfruits of his labour, and die in the fulness of little change it remained through life, were tained that such a personage of antiquity was his fame. The outline of Canova's life is so already impressed. Open, sincere, ingenuous, portrayed; others asserted a contrary statewell known, that we shall make our extracts he was himself unconscious of dissimulation, ment; in short, the acknowledged beauty of much in the shape of anecdote as we pos- and could hardly conceive deceit to exist in the piece was the only common sentiment shly can. The following is one of the on-dits others. Full of vivacity in the society of his which experienced no opposition. Seizing the which ever float round the history of genius. friends, he delighted them at once by the proper occasion, when he perceived every one It is as if it were thought necessary that an originality of his observations, and by the to be thus deeply interested in the affair, extraordinary man must have been an extra- native elegance of a delicate though still un- Ebbene,' said the ambassador, andiamo a ordinary child. tutored mind. Among strangers, from a na- vederne l'originale;'- Come, let us terminate "At a festival, it is said, which was cele- tural timidity, which subsequent intercouse these disputes by going to see the original.' brated in the villa Falier, and attended by a with mankind never entirely overcame, he was All were astonished. What! the antique, numerous assembly of Venetian nobility, the reserved, yet seldom failed to strike observers about which so many conjectures had just been domestics had neglected to provide an orna- as possessing a mind of no ordinary stamp, or made, in the possession of their host! ment for the dessert, without discovering the to fix those impressions, even on a casual in- seemed hardly credible; and they eagerly folission till the moment it was required to be terview, which common men never leave. lowed to where Canova's Theseus, victorious supplied. Fearing lest they should on this "On an important subject, the state of his over his cruel foe, in all the brightness of account incur their master's displeasure, and intellectual powers during this period, various recent finish, and placed to the best advantage, being in the greatest terror, they applied to authentic memorials still remain, either in the was disclosed to view. The effects produce Pasino, who then happened to be engaged at recollections of his friends, or in those con- by this unexpected sight, it is impossible to work in the house, accompanied by his grand- fidential letters which Canova, in a few in- describe. Every feeling was absorbed in sur8. The old man's invention could suggest stances, and on earnest solicitation, afterwards prise, delight, and admiration. The work was no remedy-his youthful associate, seeing the wrote, when every circumstance of his early universally pronounced to be one of the most necessity of the case, desired some butter to be life had been rendered interesting, by the well- perfect which Rome had beheld for ages; and provided and from this material presently earned fame of his maturer years. His mind artists, who afterwards pursued the sculptor carved a lion, with such skill and effect, that, appears to have been endowed, or rather op- with the envious malice of inferiority, were on being presented at table, it excited the pressed by feelings which seemed to require a now silent, or hurried away by the unrestrained attention and received the applause of all pre- peculiar language for their expression; feel- enthusiasm of the moment. sent. So singular an ornament naturally pro-ings which he could neither comprehend nor "To the end of life, (in fine della memoria,) duced inquiry. The servants were questioned; subdue which were constantly urging him says one of his friends, Canova retained a the whole was disclosed, and Tonin Canova forward to some imaginary goal of superi- fearful recollection of his feelings at this time; declared to be the contriver. Tonin was im-ority, to some undefined exertion, the origin and was often heard to say, that death itself mediately called for; and blushing, half re- or object of which he could not even to him. could not be more terrible than the mental hartant, apprehensive of having done some- self either develop or explain. He often felt, sufferings which he endured while the earlier thing amiss, was ushered into the brilliant to borrow his own simple but expressive words, of these occurrences were passing." assembly-when, to his great relief, instead as if he could have started on foot with a There is a very interesting anecdote told of of rebuke, he received praises and caresses velocity to outstrip the wind, but without his first love. from the whole company. From this circum- knowing whither to direct his steps; and "In the story of his earliest love, if a juvestance, it is stated, his talents for sculpture when activity could no longer be supported, he nile and vague aspiration may be so termed, were first discovered by the senator Falier, would have desired to lie down and die.' He there was something of romantic and melanwho from thenceforth resolved to encourage would often gaze, said one of his early friends choly interest, which seems long to have shaded them by patronising their possessor. to the author, on the evening clouds, and on with perceptible colouring his future musings. the mountains, from behind which their float- While pursuing his studies in the Farsetti ing masses seemed to advance, as if he wished palace, on first arriving in Venice, he one day to mingle with their gilded forms, to range beheld a female, somewhat older than himself it records was not either the occasion of Ca- unconfined the azure outline of the distant and very beautiful, enter the gallery accompa nova's first introduction to the family of Fa- Alps, or to penetrate the dim futurity be- nied by a friend or attendant, who daily deher, or the cause of the subsequent patronage yond. At other times he would hurry to his parting soon after, returned again before the which he experienced. The connexion was in drawings, or models, or last performance, ex- hour of closing, leaving the former to pursue truth more honourable both to the patron and amine the objects again and again, then leave her studies, which chiefly consisted in drawing to the object of his bounty. It was the result the place in seeming disappointment, and like bit of a fortuitous occurrence, nor founded on one apparently in search of something which a momentary feeling, but proceeded from pre- had not been found." Tous and long-established intercourse, from a conviction on the one side that there were on the other talents, and especially a disposition which merited protection.

"The anecdote may very possibly be true, ay, there are many reasons for crediting its veracity; but certainly the circumstance which

"

He

from antique heads. Chance first placed the youthful pair near each other; and some secret excellence, hitherto undiscovered, subsequently His Theseus was executed with great se- determined him constantly to select, as mocrecy. "The group which had so long formed dels, such subjects as brought him nearest the the subject of secret solicitude and unwitnessed fair artist. Time thus rolled away, and the labour was now finished. On this occasion, in youth found his bosom penetrated with new— The years passed at Pagnano were often order to give full effect to the surprise and delicious-but undefinable sensations. recalled by Canova, even in the height of re- eclat of its first exhibition, an entertainment knew not why he wished to be near her,—or putation, as forming, in many respects, one of was given by the Venetian ambassador to the why he delighted to gaze on her mild and the happiest periods of his life. The kindly most celebrated artists, men of letters, and lovely countenance-so pale, so delicate, yet so feelings of his generous nature were soothed other distinguished characters then in Rome. full of feeling;-nor could he tell why the cherished by uninterrupted intercourse No previous intimation of a work thus care- furtive glance was so often directed to her th those he loved. He was surrounded by fully concealed had yet transpired; a model of sylph-like form and graceful movements; but friends, almost in the bosom of his own the head of his victorious hero, purposely pre- he felt that with such a being he should be for ly, and engaged in studies most congenial pared by the artist, and placed in the apart- ever happy, although incapable of defining his this mind; while, at the same time, he saw ments destined for the reception of the guests, ideas of that happiness. One day the object progress prove a constant source of plea- was the first announcement of the new pro- of this silent adoration was absent;-another e to those who then composed all he knew duction. This beautiful and novel object, in and another passed, still she did not appear. the world, and whom alone he could desire such an assembly, naturally attracted uni- Antonio was inconsolable but he shrunk from pirase. During the winter, when the fa-versal attention; and the whole company, by inquiry, for he feared that every one already of his patron returned from their villa at degrees, had collected around it. Various were possessed the secret of his thoughts. Many days 4do to Venice, he still enjoyed the company the opinions on its forms, its expression, its elapsed in this uncertainty, during which he was Las friend young Falier, who, for the pur-subject; and keen were the disputes to which indefatigable in study; for she had once, while yes of education, remained with a clergyman it gave rise. All were agreed that the cast leaning on the shoulder of her companion