462 Jacobite Relics, not in Mr Hogg's Collection. Now this was certainly very hard! Was it any wonder that that gallant garrison, of three thousand men, gave in so soon? But what was worse, 66 Captain Wilson, the son of Daniel Wilson, Member of Parliament for Westmoreland, was actually obliged to pay thirty shillings for the use of a cobler's stall under the walls!!" After this, it was impossible to hold out a city and fortress, or even to think of it. Such privations as these were never before heard of! A NEW BALLAD. To the Tune of Lillibullero. CApril 18 Dis An ARE foxes guardians for the geese? But, haste over, Hanover, The Duke of Perth, and his division, were the first of the Highland army that entered the city. He made all the garrison swear, never more to carry arms against the house of Stuart, and, shaking the officers by the hands, he commended them for brave fellows, and regretted that they had chosen a different cause from that which he had espoused. He took above 200 good horses, and all the arms from the militia, besides 1000 stand lodged in the castle. He found a rich booty in the castle, the people of the country round about having lodged the most valuable of their effects there for safety. The militia piled their arms in the market-place, but several of them endeavoured to escape over the walls, without being compelled to take the oaths; as did also some of Cope's men, who had made their escape from their guards. But next day, when Prince Charles arrived in the city from Brompton, he caused all the silver-plate, and other valuable effects found in the castle, to be delivered back to the owners. Besides great abundance of military stores, they found all the broad-swords that had been taken from their fathers at Preston in 1715. On Saturday, the 16th, the Prince and his father were proclaimed with all ceremony, the Provost and Magistrates walking before the Highland officers, in their robes, and bearing the mace; and, on the 18th, the army set out on their march southward, a small body of horse lodging in Penrith that night. The van of the army reached Lancaster on the 24th, and Manchester on the 28th, where they beat up for men, and enlisted a considerable number, to whom they gave white cockades, and five guineas in money. The Prince arrived there at two o'clock next day, (the 29th,) walking on foot at the head of one of the divisions of his army, splendidly dressed in the Highland Garb, and surrounded by Highland gentleman of the clans; and the two following days He cross'd the Mersey, horse and foot, Now rule our land, 'Fore George, 'tis shocking to repeat; where our bard takes leave of him, and so must we, till some further opportunity. Fast as you can over, Side with your friends, before 'tis too late. What men but they who'd basely sport But then may call your friends too late. The And Side HE Con I do But Here Who I do But Fast as you can over, But, haste over, Hanover, Side with your friends, before 'tis too late. No mortal can reverse your fate; Then, haste over, Hanover, Fast as you can over, Poor Teagueland has a junto got Offspring of mists, of bogs, of brogues, No churchman has justice, The junto to such no shelter affords; Side with your friends, before 'tis too late. do not here mention either old Church or new Church; But here is a health, boys a health to the true Church. OF ECOUNT WITNESS. lava descending from the top to the 20th February 1822. AFTER being here four months, nd the mountain having been quiet or near fifteen months, we have been lucky as to witness a fine eruption Vesuvius-in point of eruptions rom the crater, or explosions, not reat, but, in point of lava, allowed o be as beautiful as any seen from Naples; for the lava was very coniderable, and came from the sumait, directly down the side towards Naples. There could not be a finer ight than on the night of the 4th, from the street on the bay alled Sta Lucca; the crater on the ummit throwing up incessantly, to great height, flame, smoke, and howers of red-hot stones; and the broke it, putting copper money in it, to take impressions. It broke some pieces that were as thick as a crown piece, and was too coarse to make right impressions: it set fire instantly to the sticks of the guides. Every three minutes, or less, the explosions were attended with a noise fouder than artillery, and which we heard distinctly at the Hermitage. When I speak of the cone and plain, I must explain to you what I mean. When I was at Naples in 1785, the mountain, or highest part of Vesuvius, consisted of a truncated cone, much higher than at present, the circumference of the top of which was one mile, and formed the great crater. This cone fell in, or was blown up, in the great eruption which happened in the night of the 13th of June 1794, and the base where it fell now forms this nearly level and irregular plain, which it requires an hour's climbing to get up to from the place where the asses are left. On the south side of this plain a new cone of inferior dimensions is formed by small eruptions, particularly that of September 1820; and from its summit, of three quarters of a mile round, issued the present smoke, fire, and lava. The mountain was so quiet, that many gentlemen went down into the crater 200 feet. A good mineralogist told me, that within it, on one side, he saw great rocks and basaltic colums, exactly similar to those on Arthur's Seat, as you go to Duddingstone. The mountain was much quieter last night, the lava flowing in two streams from the top, and only reaching the plain; but a fresh crater appears to have broke out near the old one. The great beauty of this eruption is, that the lava comes from the top, and reaches down the whole cone, as far as the valley, and nearly in a line with the Hermitage; whereas the lava often breaks out in the side, and lower down. We saw number less torches, held by people going up in the night to see the lava; but I believe, in the night of the 24th, none ventured up the mountain: we saw the effect of the whole much better from Naples. At the Observatory here they have calculated the height at which some of the stones were thrown, at 1000 feet. This day the mountain is very active again, the great smoke obscuring the sun, like a cloud passing over Naples. The lava of last night has reached as far down as before, and so covered the face of the hill with thin smoke, that the sun looks as it appears when viewed through smoked glass. Naples, 27th February. LAST night, seeing the mountain very active and violent, we set off at four o'clock for Resina, six miles from hence. From that we walked in two hours to a mile beyond the Hermitage, where the road becomes bad, lying among the old lava. On this ridge is the best place for viewing the mountain. All we had seen on Saturday, the 23d of February, was trifling in comparison; and I feel it quite impossible to convey in words any thing like the impression of the scene before us, or in any way to describe it correctly. The great cone of Vesuvius was involved in dark and fiery smoke; the constant reports were louder than thunder; and every minute showers of red-hot stones were propelled through the smoke, and above it, some of them to a great height. Three streams of lava tumbled down the steep sides of the great cone, (where we went up the former day), and the valley between the Hermitage and the cone was on fire with scattered parts of the streams of lava. I only mention these circumstances; to convey an idea of their effect is impossible. There has not been such an eruption since 1810. I can only say, it brought to my mind the idea I had formed of Mount Sinai, when Moses received the law there. The lava makes a noise like stones sliding down, and forms, at the under part of the valley, two broad streams, about thirty yards in breadth, and perhaps eight or ten feet deep. I hear it has come upon the cultivated ground, and last night was further down than in a line with the Hermitage. The lava was to the eye clear of smoke, and all fiery. Finding its way down the valley, it is concealed in part by the old lava, the scoria on the surface of which are forced up, by its motion, into ir regular shapes. The evening was ⚫ mild, like the summer with us. When we set out, the thermometer was at 62°; when we returned, at twelve, it was at 54°; there was no wind, and the sky quite clear, except where obscured by the smoke of the mountain. From Naples, they say it was beautiful; the reports of the explosions were loud; and ashes fell so thick as to hurt the eyes. The road all up was full of parties with torches, going up and down, on asses and a-foot; many Germans, a good many Italians, and some English. We walked both up and down. I do not believe the Neapolitans are so bad as they are called; there was not the least disturbance, incivility, or accident, in all that bustle and crowd. We were very fortunate in the time we were up, from dark till nine, which was the period of the greatest activity of the mountain; for from that time it has been comparatively quiet. The Royal Family were up on the night of the 25th, and the road was smoothed for them, as far as practicable to go in a carriage, of which we felt the advantage; the rest is rough enough in the dark. Mrtold me, that on the 26th they heard the explosions distinctly at Caserta, sixteen miles off, although the wind was not favourable. A wellinformed Englishman told me that, on the same night we were up, he went to the face of the lava, where it was advancing down the valley; that there must have been eight or nine feet thick, of fresh liquid lava; that in that part it does not glide down below, but advances only by tumbling over the sides from the top, as we saw; and that the rustling noise it makes in advancing, has, when heard near, a jingling noise, like metal. 1st March.-Yesterday and to-day Vesuvius threw up a great deal of black smoke. It is said the lava has broke out on the side towards Pompeii, which is not visible from this; but I cannot say as to the truth of that report. No lava was to be seen from this side, either last night or the night before. Visitors from Rome are hurrying in. I am told seven carriages arrived last night: a fine harvest for the innkeepers! for three indifferent rooms they are charging six dollars a-night. VOL. X. THE LONDON PRESS. How shall I speak thee, or thy power Thou god of our idolatry, the PRESS? cause; By thee, worse plagues than Pharaoh's land befel, Diffus'd, make earth the vestibule of hell; and wise; Thou ever-bubbling spring of endless lies; By that common figure which bestows the name of the whole on the principal part, the daily and weekly publications of the Metropolis have received the lofty designation of "the London Press," and often, more largely still," the Press." So have the Scottish and Irish soldiers often been styled the English army! The London press is unquestionably the most extraordinary phenomenon which can be traced to the invention of printing. By means of it, the greatest changes are brought about in the political relations of society. The British nation are present in the Senate, in the Forum, and in the Campus Martius. They listen to every proposal, weigh every argument, reject a magistrate, or pass a law. The plebiscitum is not so instantaneous in ancient Rome, but it is much more sound; and, when once recognised, it becomes irreversible. The sena tusconsultum is not, indeed, checked by Tribunes; but it is generally influenced by the popular feeling excited through the press. It is contended that the Senate has degenerated into an imperial instrument of police and taxation, and that it ought to be reformed; but with this angry topic we have nothing to do. The rapidity, fulness, and accuracy, with which reports of all proceedings, transactions, debates, trials, and occurrences, are printed and circulated, are striking illustrations of the ingenuity of man, and the improvement of society. The superiority of the London Press is so great in this, respect, that the whole machinery seems an original invention, rather 3 N than the result of gradual improvements, through successive ages. In fact, newspapers were the reverse of respectable, previously to the reign of George III. We impute not the improvement to that monarch, but, in his reign, the discussions of news papers acquired elegance, judgment, and force. Junius formed a high model in this respect. Yet it was not till the nineteenth century that newspapers rose to the authentic and dignified character which new belongs to their columns. A marked advance has even been made since the last peace. Mere news, despatches of generals, and speculations of war and bloodshed, had previously occupied their columns, and interested the public. It has since been found necessary to exhibit accurate as well as copious reports of domestic proceedings; and, for this purpose, the leading Journals of the Metropolis have engaged, on liberal terms, gentlemen of classical education, good talents, and distinguished literary character. It is unfortunate that we are supplied with so few means of ascertaining the precise sort of publicity which the Romans were able to give to their public debates. In the fourteenth book of Tacitus's Annals, this curious passage is found. It is one of the aggravations urged by Capito Cossutianus to the already furious Nero, against Thrasea Pœtus: Diurna populi Romani per provincias, per exercitus, curatius leguntur, ut noscatur quid Thrasea non fecerit. The very same terms might be applied to a modern Journal, respecting a popular M. P. who treated the House of Commons and their votes with contempt. Let some learned antiquarian explain the state of the Press under Nero! Of most modern nations, nothing need be said; they have no press. French legislation, on the subject, is more Gothic than ever disgraced a nation. Let us not waste time in characterizing its absurdity, or predicting its results. The Great Nation have sunk into the lowest state of diseased babyism. America is too much occupied in improving her soil and commerce. to acquire either the curiosity or the acuteness of the ancient Athenians. Spain only contributes to the Pleasures of Hope. Cætera desunt. The Daily Morning Papers. The Times.-That Leviathan in point of authority, as Lord Castlereagh would say that laboriouslyconducted and widely- circulated newspaper, the Times, claims, of right, the first place in this first class. It has perhaps greater circulation than any two of its contemporaries. The average circulation is estimated at 7000 per day. This circulation commands an excess of advertisements, and the advertisements form the great revenue of the establishment. The great expence of the paper, exclusive of composing, and pressing by a steam-engine, is occasioned by the number of literary gentlemen employed in providing the daily literary supply. It appeared, lately, that Dr Stoddart had £. 1500 a-year for writing the leading article. Besides two or three employed regularly or occasionally in what is called the conducting of the paper, there are upwards of a dozen reporters, regularly employed, at about £.300 ayear each. The great concern of the latter is the Parliamentary reports. In the Commons, the back and highest seat of the gallery, is almost entirely occupied by reporters. A door was lately opened in the middle of the passage, between the two_enddoors of the Gallery, for the sole accommodation of reporters. In this station, a reporter for the Times takes his place sometime before four, when Mr Speaker takes the chair. As the House is generally occupied with private business till half after four, this avant courier of the corps keeps sentry till a quarter after five. Three quarters of an hour is thenceforward the period of individual watch over the representatives of the nation. Each, as his moment comes, resigns his post to his punctual successor, and hurries on to the office near Blackfriar's Bridge, where he extends in full length orthography, the hieroglyphics he had carved in the Gallery. On nights of great and protracted debates, the first, the second, and sometimes three or four of the first in order, repair to St Stephen's a second time, and repeat their toilsome labour. Some take regular short-hand, but the greater number take contracted notes. It is understood, that the reports from notes are |