principles, it is not surprising that the wards the commonest Russians on similar hand of the amiable Catharine Paulowna || occasions. should be sought after; and accordingly we find that in April, 1809, she was united to Prince George of Oldenburg, then only five-and-twenty, and four years older than his lovely bride. This was strictly a match of affection, for the state of Oldenburg had been seized by Napoleon, whose mean hatred to that august family was so great, that even the marriage of the Arch-Duchess to the Prince was not noticed in the French Imperial Calendar, whilst that of her eldest sister to the Prince of Saxe Weimar was studiously recorded. It is not in our power to state the ceremonies of the nuptials of the amiable subject of our biography; but as there were some circumstances connected with those of her elder sister, which may afford amusement to our fair readers, we shall give a sketch of them, from a recent amusing tour in that empire. When the 3d of August, the day for the ceremony arrived, the court was crowded with visitors, and the procession moved from the Empress Dowager's apartments; when, after a long line of Marshals and state officers, vying with each other in the splendour of their dresses, appeared the simple unassuming Alexander, in a plain suit of regimentals, leading the Empress Dowager by the hand, whilst the Empress, in a superb dress covered with diamonds, walked by his side. These were followed by the youthful bride, supported by her destined husband and her brother Constantine, and shining in a blaze of jewellery: upon her head she wore a crown of diamonds, of which also she had a most superb bouquet in her bosom, whilst a long robe of crimson velvet hung from her shoulders, and was supported by several nobles of the highest rank in the state; the procession being closed by the rest of the Imperial family, and a long train of the Court noblesse. The espoused then walked three times before the altar, each holding a lighted taper, exchanged rings, and drank three times out of the sacramental cup, after which the Metropolitan exhorted them, and when he had concluded, the bride saluted the Archbishop, and her family, after which the procession returned. About two hours afterwards a splendid banquet was served up for the whole court, the Imperial table being covered with vases of gold, filled with the rarest flowers, with pyramids of pines, and the finest fruits, elegantly arranged. Soon after the nobility were seated at the tables, which were covered with a profusion of every delicacy, the grand master of the ceremonies made a buzzing noise, when the greatest silence immediately prevailed, the folded doors opened, the Imperial family entered, attended by a magnificent suite of officers, and took their seats. The pages in waiting, richly attired, and each having his right hand covered with a napkin, now served the Imperial dinner; a noble band of music played, and several fine airs were sung by a distinguished singer; but this, from the largeness of the apartment, and the roar of cannon, was very imperfectly heard. Our tourist, from whom we quote, says, that when the Emperor rose and drank felicity to the young couple from a vase of gold, if his sight erred not, a tear bedimmed the eyes of the beautiful bride: yet we trust it was not a tear of sorrow; for he adds, that when during the repast, one of the pages, from excessive agitation, spilt some soup upon her robe, she only noticed it by a gracious smile. In the evening the grand procession moved to St. George's Hall, a magnificent apartment entirely gilded with various coloured gold, and illuminated by a profusion of richly gilded lustres: on each side were galleries crowded with spectators; on either side of the grand entrance were two enormous mirrors, rising above some exquisite statues of alabaster; and at the end, raised upon a flight of steps, stood the throne. When the procession entered the Greek church in the palace, the priest and choristers commenced with an anthem, and the young couple stood upon a cloth of scarlet fringed with gold, whilst two officers of state held a crown over each of their As soon as the Imperial family entered, heads, a ceremony said to be observed to- " the band struck up an exquisite Polonaise, rather a figure promenade than a dance, || Duchess Catharine were nearly similar; and as the young couple had no dominions to retire to, they took their residence at the city of Twer, where they indulged their as the weather was too hot for that exercise: the Emperor led out the bride, and walked to the tune of the music, the rest of the Imperial family and the court, amount-humane dispositions in every act of beneing to about forty couple, following up volence that their generous hearts could and down the room, forming curves and dictate. various other figures. Our tourist says, that this diversion continued an hour, and that a short time before it expired, he was introduced, by special favour, into the nuptial bed-chamber; where, in front of the genial couch, under glass covers, were the bride's jewels, and a || service of gold, presented to her by her august family, with a golden salver, containing a loaf and salt, which, according to the Russian custom, is presented by the Empress's mother to her daughter on the bridal night, just before she unrobes. This is typical, and is said to express the wish that as the parental and filial connection now ceases, being dissolved by the marriage state, still she may never want the comforts of life. The bridal bed was, of course, a state one, and the robe de chambre of the Princess was placed on the right hand side, on a stool, whilst the Prince's slippers were on the left." Heavens!" thought 1, "what a strange country this is! the postillions ride their horses on the wrong side, and the husbands sleep on the wrong side;" but|| the remark was no sooner made than remayed; it does not accord with the dignity of the empire, that any Prince under heaven, should take the right of a Grand Duchess of Russia! What would then have been the degradation of the amiable subject of our biography, had she been forced to ascend the nuptial couch with the merciless usurper, who has so lately stained her native soil with the blood of her own countrymen, as well as with that of the unhappy Frenchmen whom he led there to their own destruction, and to his own downfal! Our tourist adds," Hymen had touched the tapers with his torch, and a band of merry looking pretty girls, dressed in white and adorned with flowers, were waiting to receive the happy bride, and let loose the virgin zone, &c. &c." We have reason to presume that the ceremonials of the nuptials of the Arch It was from such generous conduct that the lovely Arch-Duchess too soon became a widowed bride, much about the time we believe, of the birth of her second child; for a pestilential fever at that period reigning in the city of Twer; the philanthropy of Prince George induced him to superintend the means used to check it, and to give relief to the various distressed families, when he caught the infection and died there in December, 1812, little more than three years after his nuptials. The sorrow of the Arch-Duchess was so extreme that her health became precarious, and it was principally to dissipate her chagrin and regret, that her visit to England was resolved upon, where we have all had the satisfaction of seeing her improve in health and spirits, and also in knowledge, which we doubt not she will employ upon her return to her native country, in encreasing that stock of public and of private happiness which it has always been her pleasure to foster. To recount the various anecdotes of her stay in this country, would be but to repeat what our fair readers are well acquainted with; but we may mention, that much of her pleasure was checked by her extreme repugnance to be present at any musical concerts, as her sorrows were excited by them in a most distressing manner, occasioned, as we have understood, by the domestic hours of the happy couple having been often solaced by that elegant amusement. This amiable lady is now on her way to Vienna with her eldest boy, who accompanies her in her tour: and we cannot help feeling a wish, that when the edge of her sorrow and regret is worn off, she may yet partake and convey happiness in the nuptial state, with a partner as amiable as her first love, one whose delicacy of affection may sanctify a second wedlock, and afford a grateful spectacle of connubial hap piness, even to the soul of him, who, in the body, once loved her ardently! JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. (Concluded from Page 104.) Ir was in 1801, that, finding her letters of no avail to obtain the notice of the cler gy, she began to print her rhapsodies, in hopes of getting her notions patronized by some genius, with more money than wit; and the "Strange Effects of Faith," as the first production was called, actually brought five people from different parts of the kingdom to Exeter; three of whom were said to be clergymen, and who, her friends assert, after examining into her mission for seven days," returned perfectly satisfied that the visitation was of God." Lord enter within her! Indeed it seems as if the whole party had been plentifully endued with Hodges's spirit, or something similar, if it be true that when she told them of the promise made to the woman, to bruise the serpent's head, every man in the room held up his hand to join with her in claiming the promise! This last trial was at Bermondsey, at Neckinger House! and the pious party actually averred, by their signatures, that they had been invited by divine command to examine her prophecies, which they firmly believed, together with her other spiritual communications, "to emanate wholly and entirely from the spirit of the living, Lord." These literati were not so vulgar as to think it necessary to give their specific reasons for this faith, nor to record the prophecies that had been fulfilled; that indeed was totally forgotten, and was of but little consequence, in truth; for if any person in ordinary life, and of some degree of We shall certainly not dispute the point with those literati, who again assembled at Paddington, two years afterwards, together with many more, to what Joanna called her second trial; where all unbelievers were challenged to attend by public advertisement. None appeared, however, or at least none were let in except the sealed and the elect, and of course there was a verdict in her favour, and the devil was non-penetration, will hazard one hundred prosuited! || A third trial took place in December, 1804, which lasted seven days, with all the pomp of a court of justice; and here she seemed anxious to fulfil her prophecy of the "Twelve Judges," for twelve judges, good ones or not we shall not pretend to say, twelve jurymen, and twenty-four elders were assembled at the great consistory. Opponents were publicly invited to attend; but those who did not yield faith to her mission were not bound by the laws of reasoning to oppose it-it was for Joanna herself not only to put forth her assertions,|| but to adduce her proofs, before she could demand belief: proofs, however, are things which the Lord told her were quite unnecessary. The situation of Joanna herself, accord. ing to her own account, at this trial, was certainly a little miraculous, for "she felt her tongue tied, and was not able to speak;" but in a little time "she was as a giant refreshed with new wine;" probably some of the gossips may have suckled the giant, for she says that she felt the spirit of the phecies, stating them in general terms, the probability is that some of them may appear to be fulfilled, like those in Moore's Almanack, which are so ingeniously contrived as to accord with whatever may happen; but when we find one specific and precise prophecy, so important a one too as the destruction of the world, pass over without completion, then surely it cannot have been of God; and as for its companions, being seen in bad company, they must be considered as emanating from the same spirit, whether diabolical or alcoholical, though we strongly suspect the latter to be the prime agent. In 1804, a Miss Townly wrote to the Reverend Mr. Foley, a most extraordinary account of a beatific vision, something like that so well described in Anstey's Bath Guide, and which, as felt by one virgin and described by another, is of such a nature that we have some repugnance in even stating that part of it which says that Joanna felt the hand of the Lord upon her whilst in bed, but in that heavenly and beautiful manner, that she was full of glory, bled by the old woman, who has been for some time under the protection of a lady of fortune in London. These memorabilia are then retailed at Doctor Tozer's chapel, near the Obelisk, where a shew is made of performing the established service; after which some of Joanna's own hymns are sung; but if the music and singing are on a par with the poetry, we envy not those who are admitted into this sanctum sancto rum. But 1813 was her busiest year, for then was she informed by a vision from heaven of a miracle which she was to perform, of bringing forth a young Shiloh. Were we to attempt to enumerate one-tenth part of the nonsense and indelicacy that has been writ event, it would far exceed the limits we have appropriated for her whole biogra It would be endless to trace her absurdities; as well might we write the private history of Bedlam: it is indeed sufficient to state, that in 1807, she affirmed that the Deity had directed her to lead the people from their homes, in London, to a place of safety, where the providence of God would protect them, and also would keep their houses and property safe till their return! Some were silly enough to follow her; but when the money was all gone, there was no miracle at hand, and the poor fools got home again as well as they could. We do not mean her money, though that must have been pretty considerable, for in the year 1808, when the sealing was stopped, but why we know not, the numbers on her list amounted to upwards of six thou-ten, printed, said, and sung, upon this sand four hundred. In 1810 awful signs were to threaten the nation; but in 1811, Britain was to become the redeemed king-phy; it is sufficient, therefore, to say, that dom of the Lord, when Napoleon was to effect a landing, and to be put to death by the sealed people! So much for her politics. As for her astronomy, we have already had a specimen in the "earth's foundations ;" .but we were rather surprised to hear her scandalized by one of her own reverend Doctors, as an eccentric being with a fiery tail; for that pious divine assured the world that the comet of 1811 was the same in respect to her as the star at the nativity. The comet, indeed, was a few years too late; but the learned Doctor found out another comet, as its companion, the two being meant, as he said, to indicate the perfect union that subsisted between our blessed Redeemer and this favoured prophetess. she affects to be in the same situation as the Virgin Mary, and asks why the same effect ||may not a second time be produced by the same cause?-Why not, indeed !—and a third time, and a fourth, and a fifth and why may not every wench taken before the justices for the shortness of her apron-string, plead the same excuse? so that we may soon expect a large reinforcement of young Shilohs, in case Joanna should fulfil her prophecy, by bringing forth a son; but if it is a daughter, we presume we must wait another year! It would be an insult to our fair readers to pollute our pages with her descriptions of the coming of the spirit upon this occasion; though we might, if we were not Our task is really become so irksome, afraid, hazard the pun of her having had that we are almost tempted to throw away so much of the spirit, that flesh and spirit the pen in disgust, were it not that we still were alike unascertainable by her; nor feel it necessary, shortly, to expose some of shall we repeat her nonsense about the her more recent blasphemies, after noticing || vision at midnight, like a large bowl (a an impudent attempt upon the life of a punch-bowl no doubt), behind her candle, Mr. Flint, of Camberwell, a man of worthy where there appeared a white hand coming character and disposition, to whom she is from the bowl, when a voice told her, “fear said to have written, assuring him that his not! it is I;"-but there is something highdeath would take place in a certain month.ly ludicrous in the spirit telling her to put The letter, indeed, failed in its effect of on her spectacles, when the jolly dame befrightening him to death; and as soon as gan to see double, the candle appearing he out-lived the prophecy, then her friends || parted in two!-Poh!-it smells rank! denied the letter, and said it was a forgery. || How long must lewdness and debauchery Her prophecies, at present we under-be thus permitted to insult both religion stand, are actually taken down by a secre and common sense! tary, who writes whatever gossip is mum If the old woman was really pregnant, the same mouth she published a letter in the Times, containing, what she called, a "warning," in which she calls upon honest Rowland Hill to bring forward three-andtwenty witnesses, to prove that her books were brought round by the wisdom of a woman. There she has certainly pozed the pious divine, for we question if a woman, possessed of even the smallest portion of we should certainly require no miracle to account for it; but leaving Dr. Reece and his coadjutors to their own opinion, we must certainly pay more attention to the judgment of Dr. Simms, who considers internal disease as the cause of external appearances; so that we have little expectation of the present harvest producing that Almighty Shiloh, the third representation, and the second incarnation of the God-wisdom, would ever have produced such head. books or such prophecies! Some of the inspired gossips, indeed, seem to have feared that a cradle might not be found at Carlton-house; and therefore they have employed. Mr. Seddon, of Aldersgate-street, to make one of a most superb kind. It is needless to relate its dimensions, its satin-wood body, and brass trellis, with gilt castors, swing cot, gilt mouldings, blue silk canopy, golden balls and doves, olive branches, celestial crowns, Hebrew mottos, lamb's wool mattrass, down pillows, and superfine blankets; nor shall we describe the spangled shoes, the laced pinafores, the embossed pap-spoons, the muslin-and the-and the-and all that which experienced nurses know SO well how to prepare for this heavenly babe that is to drop manna from its mouth, &c. | &c. But if such pains are taken for the babe, we trust that a sufficient quantity, if not of grace, at least of spirit, will be prepared by some pious dame for the use of the gossips, as well as for mamma's caudle! It seems the spirit told Joanna that she was to be in confinement from the 11th of October, 1813 (it is now the 11th of Octo- | ber, 1814), when no man should be in her presence, or put a foot in her room, and Dr. Tozer says he'll swear to this; but to this we pay as little attention as Joanna's own offer to take an oath to her own virginity; but let us leave the disgusting subject, just noticing her blasphemous assertion, "For this I am assured, if the visitation of the Lord does not produce a son this year, then Jesus Christ was not the son of God, born in the manner spoken by the Virgin Mary; but if I have a son this year, then in like manner our Saviour was born!!!" In this letter too she seems to insinuate that in all books written against her, there have been more devils concerned than the printer's devil; and she, therefore, very piously consigns them all to madness and damnation! The ensuing month, November, produced a warning to the Bishops, whom she threatens with being all cut off in one year; and she reminds them that it is not the first time that she has foretold the death of a Bishop. This must be good news to those who are in search of lawn sleeves; and she plainly tells them that if they keep silence till that November is over, then they may keep silence until November, 1814; but that is more than Joanna herself could do! Next came forth a Warning to the Public at large, assuring them that she puts no more trust in the Bishops than in their chariots and horses, but prophecying that the ensuing year (1814,) would be such a one as was never before seen in England; and really when we reckon up Emperors, Balloons, Fetes, Guildhall-dinners, Stock Exchange hoaxes, Kings and Cossacks, Serpentine battles, Bankruptcies, Crim. Cons. Gilt Cradles, and Mad Old Women, we are almost tempted to think that she told honest John Bull truth for once in the course of her predictions. Amidst all this nonsense, however, we are sorry to have, seriously, to notice two instances of the unhappy results of this woman's mad prophecies. It is well known that the Yorkshire witch, Mary Bateman, who suffered in 1809 for the murder of Mrs. Perigo by her magical cures, was one of her disciples; and a very recent instance is told of an unhappy farmer in the west, who, believing that the world would be destroyed as she foretold, saved his seed U |