I observed every where within the torrid zone, in a great number of individuals, children, women, and sometimes even full-grown men, an inordinate and almost irresistible desire of swallowing earth; not an alkaline or calcareous earth, to neutralize, (as it is vulgarly said,) acid juices, but a fat clay, unctuous and exhaling a strong smell. It is often found necessary to tie the childrens' hands, or to confine them, to prevent their eating earth, when the rain ceases to fall. At the village of Banco, on the bank of the river Magdalena, I saw the Indian women who make pottery, continually swallowing great pieces of clay.' From various experiments that have been made by M. Humboldt, as well as other physiologists, it is found that there are some species of earths which may be taken in considerable quantities without injury to the health; and that although the Otomacs in America, and the inhabitants of New Caledonia, eat earth from want and to appease hunger, there are tribes in other countries that eat it from choice. M. Humboldt is an author so deservedly popular, and his works are so highly interesting, that to recommend it is only necessary to quote thein. This we have already done, and we now take our leave. THE WILD ASS*. The sun was just rising over the summits of the eastern mountains, when my greyhound, Cooley, suddenly darted off in pursuit of an animal, which my Persians said, from the glimpse they had of it, was an antelope. I instantly put spurs to my horse, and, followed by Sedak Beg and Mehmander, followed the chase. After an unrelaxed gallop of full three miles, we came up with the dog, who was then within a short stretch of the creature be pursued; and, to my surprise, and at first vexation, I saw it to be an ass. But, on a moment's reflection, judging from its fleetress it must be a wild one, a species little known in Europe, but which the Persians prize above all From Sir Robert Ker Porter's Travels in Persia. other animals as an object of chase, I He had observed them often, for a short Who hath loosed the bonds of the wild ass? whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings! He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountain is his pasture.' I was informed by the Mehmander, who had been in the desert when making a pilgrimage to the shrine of Ali, that the wild ass of Irak Arabi differs in nothing from the one I had just seen. found a watery grave. This event happened fourteen hundred years ago, and it yet forms an interesting tale in the memories of the natives about, to relate to the traveller passing that way. Original Communications. CRITIQUE ON SIR WALTER SCOTT'S REMARKS ON NOVELISTS AND DRAMATISTS. (FOR THE LITERARY CHRONICLE.) (Concluded from p. 616.) I HAVE now laid before the reader the whole of this critic's reasoning, and, as I think, sufficiently proved its fallacy and inconclusiveness. I am, indeed, astonished that the learned editor himself did not feel he was treading on lor might cut out a play from a novel, But the solution of this latter phe- ous purpose of detecting the errors of a man so much my superior in mental qualifications, but to show the dangerous tendency of the present rage for voluble eloquence: this makes a man of sense and abilities, involve and bewilder himself in most palpable contradictions; this makes a coxcomb, whose sagacity ends where reason begins, viz. at the extremity of auimal instinct, provided he can fill his own mouth and our ears with grammatical breath and sorrows, pass for a man of genius and wisdom amongst us, when his proper office should be, making wooden cuckoos or whistle trumpets, for children and idiots. false ground, for if he had ever paid due attention to his own words, he would have perceived them constantly betraying uncertainty and contradiction. One of his sentences runs thus: It must, therefore, frequently happen that the author best qualified for a province in which all depends on the communication of his own ideas and feelings to the reader, without any intervening medium, may fall short.' Now, does not the evident incongruity of the words must and may, show that the writer had no clear notions of what he was endeavouring to prove? if the premises from whence he drew this tremulous conclusion, had any thing of energy and fixedness in them, instead With this warning before our eyes, of allowing it to vacillate between cerlet us now turn to the investigation of tainty and possibility, he would have the question itself. It is much easier boldly said, shall or will, and not may; to overturn a theory, than to establish but they had no such force, and, thereone permanently, and, therefore, though fore, he found himself obliged to put I am pretty certain the above solution us off with this lame account of the of the proposed phenomenon is not the matter, that a novelist may not be a true one, I am by no means as sure, that good dramatist, which nobody disputthat I am about offering, may not meet ed. Again, he says, speaking of an similar treatment from some abler inacting drama written in the manner of quisitor, which, however, I by no means a novel, there is an immediate failure, deprecate, but on the contrary request, though it may be the failure of a man as I had much rather be convicted of of genius.' Would not one have an error than remain in it. I shall also thought this was sufficient to have have the satisfaction of knowing, that shown him, he was labouring to prove if I do fail, it is not for want of using what was nothing to the purpose? for Let me not be accused of an envious all diligence to prevent it; that I atFielding's plays are not what can be wish to detract from the gratefulness tempted the question with a serious called honourable failures, which he of good language, because I may be design to solve it, and for no lateut speaks of above; they are utterly bad, deficient in it myself; sound has its purpose, such as carrying off the wits and this is the phenomenon to be ac-sense to please, as well as argument its of my readers on the current of iny vocounted for. Bat, in order to show faculty. Neither do I object to the luminous fluency, or stupifying them that his whole manner of reasoning introduction of poetical language into with a breathless succession of fleeting tends to prove the very opposite of what subjects, whose objects are professedly imagery. I attempt it for itself, else he wished, though he was not consci- philosophical;-but this I object to : the I would not attempt it at all. If my ous of it, let the reader look at the fol- utter disregard of every thing but fine object was only to expose my poetical lowing sentences. After having enu- words; or if we do admit something faculties, I would keep to poetical submerated several qualifications which bordering upon reason into our compo-jects. the novelist and dramatist must pos- sitions, making it mere wire or cat-gut sess in common, and which appear to to hold the fringe together. What I comprehend the sum of those necessary require is merely this: that before he in both their arts, he says, he (i. e. adjusts his ornaments, the argumentathe novelist) must not only tell what tor would make a clean draught of the the characters actually said, in which line of his argument, that he may know his task is the same as that of the dra- where he is going, and then he may Hence a good acting paint it in what colour he pleases, so play may be made by selecting a plot as he leaves it visible to his followers; and characters from a novel, by con- but it is a contemptible office, a kind tracting the events within the space ne- of dressing of the dead, to spend our cessary for representation, and by dis-time in hesping a profusion of flowers carding from the dialogue whatever is and beautiful weeds on a senseless redundant.' Now, here we have his counterfeit of real energy. ́own words, that the novelist has all the I have devoted the chief part of this requisites for a dramatist, that one de essay to the demonstration of the falsity partment of the former is to do what of a particular theory; but whether includes the whole art of the latter, the editor's account of the phenomeviz. to tell what the characters actual- non be true or not, is a secondary conly said,' and that a well-educated tai-sideration. I come not for the invidi matic author.' The primary error in the theory we have just overturned, seems to me to lie in the attributing the cause of the phenomenon to habit. This was the first principle the editor set ont with, though by a poetical licence (which I suppose means, a neglect of every thing like reason and propriety) he leaves the connexion between it and the arguments he has brought to prove it, as difficult to be made out as the phenomenon itself. Indeed, he says no more about it, but having first made it the head of his hypothesis, and given us a few disjointed members to clap up a body, he has left it to us to make it a tail. But as the head and tail of an hypothesis are the same thing, namely, the hypothesis itself, and as the members are the arguments which However this may be, let the author of these novels, whoever he is, attempt a drama, either tragedy or comedy, and if he fails, I am content to give up my theory, and, what is more, to embrace that I have just overturned! CALAMUS. view of his subject, give us a determi- fore he should write a good play as well support it, I suppose if we can knock : Was not Virgil born at Mantua? it is from that poisoned source that have arisen all the cruel wars that have desolated the universe; the fable says, that as soon as Hercules had cut off the heads of the hydra, others sprang up, while their united flocks fed on the teuder and flowery grass.'- Exercises on the verb naltre, p. 193, Edition. Paris No Quiz. THE NEW CHURCH OF ST. The only difficulty I can see in this theory is the following: how does it agree with the fact that Cervantes and Scott, two of our greatest novelists, are yet authors of most comprehensive and stupendous imaginations, especially the latter? I answer; we must distinguish between a novelist and romancer; besides it is the querist's assertion, not We must look to a more remote mine, that all men of genius are of one cause for this phenomenon, than ha- or other class above-mentioned. There bit. And to me it appears to be this. may be men who have both a compreThere are some men of a vast and hensive and an accurate genius, though, magnificent turn of mind, who cannot perhaps, not of the first degree in bring themselves to dwell upon any either, and such would write a drama thing minute or particular, On the as well as a novel. A novel then seems other hand, there are those of to be distinguished from a romance in an accurate and curious disposition, this, that the former is a narration of who delight in examining closely the what men might probably say and do several differences and particles of in life, the latter of what would not things, and have no capacity of taking probably happen, and hence the auin general views. Now, according to thor of a romance should have a noble my notion, a dramatist is of the former imagination and somewhat dramatical, class, a novelist of the latter; and this as the language of a romance is above not only accounts thus simply for the the common-place strain of a novel. If population increase, and a desire proposed question, but also for ano-But it will be said, which is Cervantes, to be instructed in the established rules ther, viz. why a dramatist would most a novelist or a romancer? which is of divine worship prevail, then the ediprobably fail in a novel; which is a Scott? This is the very point I want [fice which is now erecting in the New conjecture of mine I leave to be deter- to come to. I answer, both. As Road, will add much to the couvemined by experience. For, a drama- far as they relate things proba-nience of its local and social circle. tist is obliged, by the necessity of con- ble they are novelists. As far as Hence, the first thing will be accomtracting his work to the measure of a they relate things not probable they plished, in part, though convenience is few pages, to develope his characters are romancers. And mark how well not always studied upon a general in the great, to let us into their dispo- this agrees with my theory; this mix-principle, the rich being more usually sitions and designs immediately; con- ture of novel and romance shows a sequently, he must choose their pro- genius in the author at once accurate minent and decisive characteristics, and comprehensive; therefore he beand by a general and comprehensive longs to both the above classes; there To the Editor of the Literary Chronicle. SIR,-According to Vitruvius, three things ought to be considered in every fabric, without which no edifice will deserve to be commended; and these are, utility or convenience, duration, and beauty. furnished with crimson curtains, large prayer-books, and hassocks, while the poor are only indulged with the hear ing ear,' the standing posture, and the avenue draught, which confirms a rheumatism or inoculates a disease. This is a hint for the architect and his associates, because the grant for the building of churches is given with a view of the poor being accommodated on a Sunday. vice. more horses, not subject to take a number, the administration can give no precise account. 1600 Horses are generally kept in Pa ris, exclusive of those brought thither by strangers. An eighth part of the paving of Paris is renewed annually, during sevent months of the best season. The streets, bridges, and public squares are lighted by 4553 lanterns, which consume annually 608,397 lbs. of oil. 250 meu. The clearing away of dust, &c. dure ing eight months, requires 140 men and 210 horses; in the winter months, 220 men are required, and 330 horses. distance from its sister saints and brethren of all denominations, from the Small-Pex Hospital to St. Paul's, As yet, it looks a very slight superstructure, and evinces an ornamental fancy, which, as I have previously hinted, will accord with the lighter Duration being the second thing fancies of the new-road and squareworthy of consideration, I make a re- worshippers. An idea struck me, and mark or two. In Andrea Palladio's forcibly too, of an unfortunate associatime, architecture was noble, because tion. I mean the shell-work over the of its durability; exalted, from its spa- altar-end of the church; it looks as a cious elements; and grand, on account caricature likeness of our esteemed moof the vast stores of science and wealth narch, or the host which a Catholic In the public establishments, 482 bestowed on it. Greece, Rome, and priest holds up to his congregation at lanterns consume 31,734 lbs. of oil. Egypt were spots which exhibited their mass. I speak it with reverence and The ordinary watering and clearing orders, arches, flights of steps, stair-regret, because I fear it will give room of the streets is done by the inhabi cases, pillars, and masonries, to the for worse construction and allusion tants; that of the bridges, quays, most elevated and sublime conceptions, than what I unwillingly make, and be- gates, and squares, employs from the suitable for sepulture, festive honours, fore the church be finished might be re- tst March to the 31st October 110 victorious celebrations, baths, holy ab-moved for a more unequivocal de-men; and during the other four months lutions, and the most sacred consecrations of their mystic or more simple Peals of bells being excluded from devotions. In this country, Wren's our new churches or chapels of ease, naine is immortal, for his works are ringers will, in course of years, like old erected as specimens of immortality, the grandsires, become extinct. This essence of duration. But it is not am sorry for, good ringing being a fashionable for modern architects to healthful exercise, and of later periods study a guide of so recent a period as full of harmony and deep science in Wren; and, therefore, churches, like numbers. It is very pleasant too, on Manchester calicos or Birmingham royal occasions, public anniversaries, wares, are built only to suit the taste light-hearted weddings, and liberal or caprice of interested and time-not exhibitions of joy, to hear their playfuleternity serving individuals or paro-ness dissolve in air. ABACO. chial juntas. Places of worship ought to resemble the simplicity of the heart, and be dedicated wholly and solely to the Eternal Architect; but, it is evident from the exterior of this new church, what might be anticipated of its interior, a mere superficial edififice, whose beauty will pass away with the generation of its structure, and the THE Compte Chabrol Prefect of the next century show its waste and can- department of the Seine, has recently kering decay. Had this been the published a work from official docu mode of building after the fire of Lon-ments, containing some interesting pardon, when so many churches were ticulars on the state of Paris, The built, into what vast expenses would following extracts will afford a curious the parishes of London now be thrown; comparison with the state of London:but, fortunately for the epoch of 1821, it was otherwise. P. S. The house, however elegant, previously to the erecting of the above church, which stands by its side, must be removed, whatever convenience and expense will be sacrificed. STATISTICS OF PARIS. On the 1st of January, 1819, there were registered in Paris, 1171 cabrinlets de place (on the stand), of which 765 were for the streets, and 406 for the environs. I do not object to ornament and decoration where it arises from a pure cause, and is used to add to excellence; sculpture and painting, ema- 106 Messageries and voitures for fix nating from skilful pencils and discri-ed destinations, not included in those iminating chizels, are the very graces of for the vicinity of Paris. religion; but I do object, most strongJy, against churches, either exteriorly or interiorly, having the air, in part, of theatrical illusion. But, to my third point; it is very difficult yet to speak of the beauty of this new church. Viewed afar, it appears that it will, maintain its command at a respectful 489 Coaches of remise, 318 Cabriolets, ditto. 4804 Private cabriolets. 9080 Carts. 495 Voitures d tonneau, drawn by one borse. 843 Ditto, ditto, drawn by hand. Of private voitures, drawn by two or The corn market can contain 400,000 sacks. In ordinary years, there are consuined in Paris,-~ 718,000 Hectolitres of wine, including about 450,000 bottles (13,968,842 wine gallons). 24,950 Ditto of cider (659,154 wine gallons); 77,000 Ditto of beer (2,034,263 wine gallons). 13,600 Ditto of vinegar (359,298 wine gallons). 71,750 Bullocks. 8,500 Cows. 76,500 Calves.. 339,650 Sheep. 70,500 Hogs. 931,000 Pigeons. 174,000 Ducks. 1,289,000 Chickens. 251,000 Capons or poulets. 549,000 Turkeya. 328,000 Geese. 131,000 Partridges, · 177,000 Rabbits. 29,000 Hares. › Butter and eggs 10,348,800 francs. cost annually Oysters cost 599,600 francs. Sea fish, 3,417,600 francs. Fresh water fish, 333,400 francs. The receipts of the twelve theatres, including the Cirque Olympique, may be valued, one year with another, at 5,500,000 francs, of which they give 500,000 for the use of the poor. 10,000 persons daily frequent the Spectacles, of whom 7000 pay, and 3000 have free admissions. The receipt of the minor spectacles, balls, gardens, concerts, coffee-houses, à soirées amusantes, curiosities, &c. may be estimated at 1,000,000 francs, of which 100,000 go to the poor. So that public amusements produce above 6,000,000 francs, which is above 16,000 per day, not including the expense of refreshments and of gaming, which pay separately, THE BRITISH EMPIRE. sun never sets; before his evening rays REFINEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON THEATRE. IT is with much pleasure the writer of Ladies who come without a proper attendant, to be confined to the upper row; and on no occasion, to be suffered to intrude into the lower boxes. 5th. If any gentleman choose to talk loud, quarrel, or fight, they are to retire to some spot where they cannot disturb the audience.-The watchhouse or penitentiary is a very couvenient place. 6th. All tipsy gentlemen to be posiwill promise to go quietly to sleep in a tively refused admittance, unless they corner of a box. 7th. No actor shall presume to give additional point or force to an equivocal passage or double entendre,' by either leering, winking, or the like, upon pain of being hissed off the stage. tre may be made a school of refinenient, elegance, and morality. Without them it is but a rendezvous for vulgar profligates, men without shame, and women without virtue. Should my worthy old friend Wood think proper to attend to these hints, he will see me and my family frequently at the theatre. But he will certaily not see us if my wife and daughters are to sit down where fashionable bucks have With these or similar rules, a thea THE population of Great Britain, at the census in 1811, was 11,800,000, exclusive of the army and navy, then about 500,000. From the returns, so far as published, under the present census, it appears, the increase is about 15 per cent. This will make the population of Great Britain at present to be 14,000,000 of souls. Ireland con[THE people of the United States boast, tains about 6,500,000 people, making fine taste for the drama; so much so that a high degree of civilization, and a very the population of the British domi- they affected to despise the splendid tanions in Europe 20,500,000. The po- lents of Kean, and the journalists loaded pulation of our North American pos-him with abuse more befitting the pursessions cannot be less than 1,500,000; lieus of St. Giles's or Billingsgate, than the the population of the West Indian co-editors of periodical journals. In order lonies, 900,000; Africa about 130,000; that our readers may judge of the weight in the Mediterranean, 150,000; colonies of their pretensions, we quote, from a reand dependencies in Asia, 2,040,000; published in the capital of the United cent number of the National Intelligencer, and in our extensive territories in the States; the following article. Smoking East Indies, perhaps 70,000,000 of and drinking spirits in a theatre have not, souls. The whole population of the we believe, been known in this country British empire will, at that rate, con- for above a century and half; and yet tain 95,220,000 of souls.-The Rus- they are now prevalent in that transatlansian, the next highest in the scale of lic Athens-the city of Washington:-ED. civilized nations, contains 50,000,000 ; France, 30,000,000; and Austria an equal number. The Roman empire, in all its glory, contained 120,000,000, one half of whom were slaves. When we compare its situation with that of company, from Philadelphia. A well-just had their feet, and, for aught I the British empire, in power, wealth, conducted theatre is at all times not resources, and industry; the arts, sci-only an evidence of public taste, but ences, commerce, and agriculture, the an auxiliary in behalf of the public preponderence of the latter in the scale morals, because it allures the young of nations and of empires, is great and and the gay from amusement often famost remarkable. The tonnage em-tal to character, fortune, and health. ployed in the merchant service is about In order to answer the end intended, 2,640,000 tons, for Great Britain; it is absolutely essential that a rigid the exports, 51,000,000 (including internal police be established for the 11,000,000 foreign and colonial); and purpose of preserving order and decoimports, 36,000,000. The navy, dur- rum in the audience. Anxious that ing the last war, consisted of 1000 this should be attained, I beg leave to ships of war; the seamen at present in recommend that the managers, or whothe merchant service are about 174,000: ever have the superintendance of the perthe net revenue of the state, 57,000,0001. formances, establish and inforce somesterling. The capital of the empire thing like the following regulations.contains 1,200,000 persons, the same Without something of the kind, all number which Rome contained in the theatres are bear-gardens, instead of days of her greatest strength. The places of polite recreation :value of fixed or landed property in Great Britain, as calculated by Mr. Pitt, in 1797, was 1,600,000,000l. and it may now be fairly taken at 2,000,000,0001. The cotton manufactures of the country are immense, and reach, in the exports, to 20,000,000l. or one half of the whole. In short, taking every thing into consideration, the British empire, in power and strength, may be stated as the greatest that ever 3rd. No person, on any pretence, existed on earth, as it far surpasses allowed to stand up on the boxthem all in knowledge, moral charac-benches, or cover them with dirt, and ter, and worth. On her dominions the impede the sight of others, 1st. No person to be allowed to smoke within the walls of the theatre during the play nights. This will add to the security of the building by taking away one cause of fire. 2nd. No person allowed to sell intoxicating liquors within the walls of the theatre, a tavern being near, where they can drink and smoke without offending decency or annoying ladies. know, by the side of a prostitute, and be smoked with tobacco, while their ears are assailed by the ribaldry of half bred gentlemen, who have no other way of attracting notice except by making themselves offensive. A FATHER OF A FAMILY. N. B. Two or three resolute peace officers, acting as door and box-keepers, will be sufficient for all the purposes of order and decorum.-National Intelligencer. Original Poetry. A PRAISE OF POESY. 'Oh Poesy, for thee I hold my pen, That am not yet a glorious denizen Of thy wide heaven.'-KEATS. WHAT hand shall imp my wings in their free flight 1 From this low earth to an immortal height, Till I have travelled up within the reach speech choice? Sounds audible, and near as mine own voice? of unknown worlds of thought! Teach me Thy course aright, that I may touch some cape Shall be unreached by any bark but mine, divine. |