And how should French cookery be accepted to shadows over the mountains and flowery valleys those natives, who, only forty years ago, used to of Tahiti, when I left the palace of the governor; eat their enemies? Not half a century has the deep-blue sky of the tropics was studded with elapsed since that epoch, and now a European stars; a fragrant breeze gently moved the violinist fiddles the Carnival to them! The gloomy cypresses and stately palms, whose march of civilization is indeed rapid! crowns of leaves waved gently in the air; the But it is not only Euterpe who has been petals of the flowers, which had drooped towards introduced to Tahiti, Thalia has accompanied her the earth in the heat of the sun, rose once more sister. The French officers, after dinner, per- refreshed by the evening dew; glow-worms formed Moliere's Bourgeois Gentilhomme, to glittered with trembling light in the dark-green the amusement of the governor, though not orange thickets; and the silvery light of the to mine. I got so tired that I left the party moon illumined the magic scene, the beauty of and went into the garden, to admire the gor- which could not be conceived even by the most geousness of vegetation. The French, who powerful imagination. Plunged in thought, I have introduced all kinds of European refine- pursued a path towards the heights, through ment, have transformed this garden into a fairy blooming cactuses and aloes, and under gigantic grove. All the plants and flowers attain here palm-trees, when suddenly, on the slope of a to an extraordinary size and perfection. The palm-grove, I observed a large building, from roses especially, surpass in hue and fragrance which came the sound of the organ and singing. everything I ever saw; nature appears clad in This was the Roman Catholic church, the first her gaudiest garb. Parrots glitter in the rays in Tahiti, formerly an idol-temple. Thirty-five of the sun; the humming-bird is buzzing round large columns, stems of the breadfruit-tree, supthe flowers of the aloe; deep-colored butterflies, port the building, the nave of which was decoof the largest size, flutter around the roses; but rated with flower wreaths. On the master-altar swarms of gnats and gigantic bats, and some- I saw a picture of the Madonna; a priest read times a snake, remind us that the peculiar the mass; natives knelt on the steps of the altar charms of the tropics are accompanied by peculiar boys and girls, clad in white garments, sang to the sound of the melancholy organ. Soon after, nuisances. The garden was open to the natives, whom I the priest, an old man, began to preach in the found assembled, some in European attire, Tahitian language; a native followed him, and others in hardly any attire, and all amusing spoke enthusiastically of the blessings of faith. themselves with gymnastic games and animated The next day my ardent wish was fulfilled. dancing. The governor sent me word that Queen Pomare Their dances are very peculiar. The girls, had expressed a desire to hear me, and I had with flowing hair, richly decorated with wreaths immediately to put myself in readiness. At of flowers, but otherwise not much encumbered three o'clock, P. M., just when the heat of the with dress, whirl round with the utmost rapidity, sun was most oppressive, I went forth, accomuntil they sink exhausted on the sand, where panied by the chaplain of the queen, through they remain motionless, unless the entreaties of the streets of Tahiti. A half-naked islander some dancer induce the fair one to start anew. carried my violin-box, whilst the missionary In this case, up she darts, and with graceful leaps instructed me in the court-ceremonial of the whirls round until she falls again. But wo to queen. We reached the shore, embarked in a the male dancer who falls! All the girls gather canoe, and were rowed to the isle Papitee, the round, pour water on him, pelt him with cocoa- residence of her majesty. It is impossible to peels, laugh at him, and at last make a terrible imagine a more charming picture than this noise on cow-horns; but, compelled by custom, green island: on one shore, studded with houses he must submit with a good grace to all these and gardens; on the other, bordered by a steep insults. coral-reef, on which the waves of the Pacific I was peculiarly interested by a female snake- break in majestic succession. charmer, who had a boa-constrictor twisted We reached the house of the queen by a path round her body, which seemed to understand leading through a palm-grove, the outskirts of every word of its mistress. The girl ordered which are occupied by the huts of the natives. it to pluck a rose, and the reptile plucked it, The royal residence resembles a European house, and handed it to her in the most caressing man- with large windows and a balcony; a gilt crown ner! on the top designates it as the dwelling of the The queen was likewise invited, but she did brown queen. A guardsman, with musket and not come. Pomare avoids, as far as possible, heavy sword, in handsome regimentals, but bareall contact with the French, and particularly footed, was pacing to and fro before the door with the lady of the governor; it was on account with military gravity. We gave him a piece of of her, and not of the flute-player, that she left money, and he immediately became very servicemy concert so soon: so I was informed by the able, and opened the gate for us. The mismissionary who is her chaplain. sionary proceeded direct to the queen, to The evening began already to spread its dark announce my arrival, while I had to stop in the waiting-room on the ground-floor, where there bowed as low as possible, and then began the was no other furniture than a long table, on concert with a few simple melodies; but Pomare which lay asleep a stout man in very primitive did not listen, carrying on a loud conversation costume. Awakened by the noise I involuntarily with her ladies. I was much disappointed, and made, he yawned, put on a green dress-coat, and thought soon I had better go; but to try my girded himself with a rusty sword, seemingly luck, I struck up variations on Yankee Doodle. much astonished at the intrusion of a foreigner. She seemed to know it-nodded-and was soon From his diplomatic look, I could not doubt so charmed, that she sent for her two children, that the chamberlain, or perhaps one of the who became, indeed, a most satisfactory audience. ministers of her majesty, stood before me. I The prince-royal, a little fellow, began to clap bowed accordingly, but when he was about to his hands; and the princess, about thirteen enter into conversation with me, the missionary years old, danced to the music, much to the summoned me to the queen. I followed him, delight of the queen, at whose order the doors first through a long passage, decorated with were thrown open, and all the court assembled arms and trophies; then through an apartment round me. in which the ladies-in-waiting were dressing The royal consort, a gigantic islander, appeared without heeding us. I had here to tune my barefooted, like all the rest of the courtiers, and violin, and, armed with fiddle and bow, I was began to touch my hands, my bow, my fiddle, so introduced into the next room, to the presence that I could scarcely continue to play. I was at of the queen. length so much squeezed by the crowd, that I Pomare sat on palm-mats, in an apartment began to have serious apprehensions for the adorned with chintz, but scantily furnished. A safety of my instrument; but Pomare soon disbadly painted picture hung on the wall behind missed her court, and remained alone with me. her; two ladies-in-waiting squatted at her side, She wished to examine my violin, touched the and fanned her with ostrich-feathers. Pomare, strings, and then returned the instrument. I about thirty-six years old, is rather tall; her now played a Tahitian melody, which seemed to frame noble and well shaped; and her deport- please her much. She asked whether I came ment not without majesty. Her features, full from France; and when I told her I was not a of expression, show traces of great beauty, Frenchman, she shook my hand and whispered: though her thick lips and yellowish-brown com- "I do not like those fellows." Of course she plexion detract from the effect. Her rich dark has reason enough not to like them, since they hair was confined on the top of the head by a have deprived her of her power, and reduced large comb, and her brow was adorned with a her to mere nominal royalty. She now untied simple gold circle. Her muslin robe of light- a small gold cross from her necklace of corals, blue color, wide on the shoulders, and drawn and handed it to me, with the words "Take close round her waist, reached scarcely beyond this as a keepsake from Pomare." I bowed her knees; her arms and feet were bare, adorned once more to her majesty; and, accompanied with corals and shells; and her great-toe was by the missionary, left the royal residence and dyed of a red hue, and encircled with gold the island Papitee. I shall never forget my rings. visit to Tahiti. To-morrow, I sail for Australia. Not to infringe upon Tahitian etiquette, I WHO WAS THOMAS À KEMPIS?—Mr. Dis-beyond all reasonable doubt, that he only put his raeli, in a recent sitting of the House of Com- name to it as copyist, not as author; and that mons, asked, "Who was Thomas à Kempis ?" the real author of the work was the learned John and an honorable and learned gentleman gave Gerson, who was one of the most celebrated the the profound answer, "He was Thomas à Kem-ologians of his day, and who was for some time pis." The same great authority, if asked "Who Chancellor of the University of Paris. was the man in the iron mask ?" would no doubt answer that he was the man who wore the mask THE PRIVILEGED DRUNKARD AMONG THE of iron; and he would consider the reply as TURKS.-" A Turk who falls down in the street perfectly satisfactory. But our object in refer- overtaken with wine, and is arrested by the ring to the Thomas à Kempis affair is, to inform guard, is sentenced to the bastinado: this punMr. Disraeli and his honorable colleague of a ishment is repeated as far as the third of fact of which neither seem to be aware-and fence, after which he is reputed incorrigible, and that is, that Thomas à Kempis, whoever he was, receives the title of imperial drunkard, or priv was not the author of the famous 'Imitation of ileged drunkard. If after that he is taken up, Jesus Christ.' The authorship of that extraor- and in danger of the bastinado, he has only to dinary work was ascribed to him, because the name himself, to mention what part of the town oldest manuscript of it known to be extant was he inhabits, and to say he is a privileged drunksigned by him: but it has now been ascertained, ard; he is then released, and sent to sleep upon 3 the hot ashes of the baths."-Poqueville, p. 219 DLXXX. LIVING AGE. VOL X. From Fraser's Magazine. lic put down the new Roman republic to reAN alliance between America and Russia-instate an absolute ruler. the country which claims to be the model re- If, therefore, we remark a decided propublic (a just claim, too, considering the fate Russian sympathy on the part of any large or of all other republican governments in modern influential portion of the American people, times,) and the country whose pride and es- however inconsistent or abhorrent the idea of sence it is to be the stand-point and bulwark such a union may appear, no such reflection of despotism-an alliance of America with should hinder us from examining the causes of semi-barbarous Russia, against civilized En- that spmpathy, and the probabilities of its furgland and France-the idea seems monstrous ther development. Now the existence of this sympathy is a glar and incredible! And yet, though the probabilities of such an ing fact not to be denied or overlooked by any alliance have been openly discussed, or attract- one, conversant with American affairs. What, ed general attention within a year or two only, then, are its causes ? its possibility has not escaped the notice of They may be generally classed under two acute thinkers at a much more remote period. broad heads; first, sources of positive dislike Among various political speculators who have to the Anglo-French alliance; secondly, reatouched on this topic, we shall merely instance sons negatively of non-aversion, or positively that shrewd observer of human nature, Judge of inclination towards Russia. Haliburton, who alluded not obscurely to such The ill-feeling prevalent among a large class a possibility at least fifteen years ago; though of the American population towards England the subsequent phases of French politics have is an old and melancholy story, too familiar, introduced into the subject complications which alas! to the best disposed men of both counneither he nor any one else could then foresee. tries. It is a sad instance of the sins of the In all political reasonings, à priori theoreti- fathers being visited upon the children. We cal conclusions are dangerous or impossible. will not dwell upon it now, our attention being However consistent in the abstract they may more particularly demanded by the recent rebe, interest, passion, or even the accident of markable change of feeling on the part of personal caprice, introduce endless practical America towards France, a change the extent modifications of them. Theory cost the Stuarts of which is probably not appreciated in Westtheir throne; theory has been the bane of al-ern Europe, even in the country which is the most all modern French politicians. What can direct object of it. be a greater theoretical anomaly than a slave- The friendship of America and France, which holding republic? Or what amount of abstract dates from the days of Franklin and Lafayette, reasoning could lead us to the almost invaria- from the first existence of the former nation, in ble conclusion of historical experience, that a fact, continued with scarcely an interruption republic tyrannizes over its colonies and de-down to 1852. It is true that the Federal pendencies? Who could have supposed be- party, and Washington himself, had no strong forehand that the head of the Romish Church proclivity that way-rather the reverse, indeed. would be invaded, besieged, imprisoned, by his But the Federalists were soon overwhelmed co-religionists and theoretical subjects? Yet and politically annihilated, and their successors every well-informed schoolboy knows how in opposition, the Whigs, did not inherit their anti-Gallican tendencies. A cordial sympathy between the two countries, stronger at some times than at others, sometimes clouded but never broken, prevailed until the establishment so of the present French regime. Since then the American popular sentiment has undergone a complete change, which is nevertheless susceptible of obvious and sufficient explanation. The black bands came over The mountains of snow; With Bourbon, the rover, They crossed the broad Po. Bourbon, the rover, was a Romanist; were the majority of his soldiers marching upon the Eternal City. Her streets were all gory, Her Tiber all red, Did clang with their tread a The dynasty of Louis Philippe was exceedingly popular in America. As a fugitive prince he had been cherished and respected there; as the tread of Catholic soldiers seizing the king- king he had gratefully remembered the scene dom, and seeking the life of their spiritual sov- of his early wanderings; and it was generally ereign. And in later days it was Napoleon I., believed (with what foundation we are unable a soi-disant Romanist, who put under restraint to say) that he had given a practical proof of the Pontiff of the Romish Church, from which his belief in American institutions by making restraint England, the foremost champion of large purchases of real estate in more than one the Protestant faith, helped to release him. of the Atlantic cities. Americans were always Still more recently the same locality furnished well received at his court, and in return, those a different but no less striking illustration of of his family who visited the western shores of our proposition, when the new French repub- the Atlantic were received with every manifes tation of honor; it may be observed, too, that same time, and that some of his escapades they seem to have enjoyed their reception in were put down to the discredit of the Ñaposimple good faith, and to have entered into no leon. Be this as it may, it is certain that while calculations on the feasibility of bombarding some members of the family-such as the MuNew York, or the best place for landing an in- rats, and the late Count de Survilliers (Joseph,) vading force in the vicinity of Boston. A not to mention the American branch of the Franco-American alliance against the other civ- Jeromes have always enjoyed a high degree ilized powers was the dream of many French of respect and popularity in America, the presand many American politicians during a consid- ent Emperor left behind him a very different crable portion of the Orleans reign. The impression. In short, when we affirm that he King's ministers were generally philo-Americans, is more unpopular, personally, on the other and among the most zealous and ostenta- side of the ocean, than the late King was poptious admirers of the King and his court was ular, we are saying a great deal, but not a whit usually to be found the American ambassador. more than the truth. All sorts of republican functionaries, from Gen Whether it be the case or not that the Emeral Cass down to Consul Grund, joined in peror, fully sensible of this feeling, has not chanting the praises of the Monarch of July. been slow to retaliate it; that he is personally No Spanish-marriage question interfered to dis- ill-inclined towards the American republic and turb these friendly relations; and the slight that his court generally manifests a disposition indemnity difficulties of 1836 were soon ad- to slight the American visitors and residents in justed and forgotten. Paris, whether in a private or public capacity,-When, therefore, the present Emperor sig- whether this be so or not (and we do not prenalized his advent to power by a direct act of tend to have the means of coming to an accuhostility and persecution toward the Orleans rate decision on this point of fact,) it is certain family, it was inevitable that the Americans, that a very general impression to this effect who are a people of strong personal attach- prevails in America—an impression so strong ments (this must never be lost sight of in any that its consequences are tantamount to what speculations concerning them,) should, ipso those of the reality would be. facto, conceive a strong dislike towards him. That the French refugees in America do After this it may seem paradoxical when we their best to aggravate this state of feeling will go on to state that the French Emperor is also naturally occur to the reader. Still more emunpopular in America for having put down the bittered are the Italian exiles, but theirs is a French republic. Yet this is strictly true. hostility not merely to the Emperor, but to For the idea prevalent among the mass of the the whole French name and nation, ever since American people was somewhat to this effect, the last French interference in Italian affairs. that the Orleans dynasty was a very good thing These Red Republicans however, whether in its time, but destined to make room for French or Italian, are so comparatively few in something better-namely, a republic. We number, and so positively insignificant in the do not stop to discuss the rationality of such elements of political strength, that their an idea; we only note its existence as a well-influence would amount to nothing on any ascertained fact. Even the wiser Americans, question where they met with serious oppowho saw from the first what a ricketty and un-sition; but, meeting no such opposition, workable affair the Republic of '48 was, were their voices help to swell the public clamour disgusted with the manner of its extinction. in one direction. This the English reader can perfectly appre- The Cuban question might perhaps be introciate, since a similar feeling, quite as strong, duced here, but its more appropriate place was all but universal in England at the time. seems to be under our second head. Since then, to be sure, there has been a great We come then to the motives, negative or change, but who shall say how far the flatter- positive, directly influencing the Americans ing attitude assumed by his Majesty towards with reference to Russia. First of all, as to England has been instrumental in producing the negative, is the important consideration it? In America, no such modifying cause hav- that the two governments have never had the ing intervened, the original sentiment of dislike remains in full force. *It may be suspected that we are guilty of an But moreover the Emperor had an antece- omission in not noticing here another class of exdent transatlantic unpopularity. He too, when patriated patriots, the Irish refugees or emigrants, a Prince, had been an exile in America. His to assail England's ally. But we are convinced whose blatant hostility would naturally lead them sojourn there lasted only a few months, but in that the bark (or bray) of this class of agitators that short time he contrived to accumulate a is very much worse than their bite, and that, most undesirable reputation. Various reasons though a desire to catch Irish votes may lead many have been assigned for this; among others it demagogues to treat them with an absurd amount of deference, their real influence on the foreign is alleged that one of his numerous cousins was policy of the country bears a very small ratio to travelling through the United States about the the noise they make. light, the light clouds placidly floating along the of iron. Along with the body were buried all the sea of heaven, as if sure of a safe anchorage at spoils of his enemies, harnesses enriched with last. He knows the line, he knows the place gold and precious stones, rich stuffs, and the where that grim accident was—he muses on it most valuable articles taken from the palaces of -yes; this was the spot, there laid the bodies. the kings which he had pillaged; and that the Heavens and earth! suppose the line were place of his interment might not be known, the haunted! See, from a siding comes slowly, Huns put to death, without exception, all those noiselessly along the rails, the PHANTOM who had assisted in his funeral. The Goths TRAIN! There is no rattle of wheels, no puff- had previously done the same for Alaric, who ing and blowing of the engine, only, from time died in the year 410, at Cosenza, a city of Calato time, the engine whistle is heard in a fitful, bria. They turned for some days the course of murmuring, wailing gust of sound; the lamps the river Vasento, and having caused a trench to in front burn blue, sickly lambent flames leap be dug in its former channel, where the stream from the funnel and the furnace door. The was usually most rapid, they buried the king carriages are lamp-lit too, but with corpse-can- there along with immense treasures. They put dles. The carriages themselves are mere skel- to death all those who had assisted in digging etons-they are all shattered, dislocated, ruined, the grave, and restored the stream to its former yet, by some deadly principle of cohesion, they bed.-Godfrey. keep together, and through the interstices of their cracking ribs and frame-work you may see the passengers. Horrible sight to see! Some have limbs bound up in splinters, some lie on FAMILY PROSPECTS. their place save her from danger and perhaps from dis- stretchers, but they have all faces and eyes; WHAT a blessing for England! the Whigs keep and the eyes and the faces, together with the phantom guard with his lantern, from which To long rays of ghastly light proceed; together How with the phantom driver, with his jaw bound up; the phantom stoker, who stokes with a At hearing the Whigs will remain en famille; mattock and spade, and feeds the fire as though feel he were making a grave; the phantom com- What a comfort to know the Insignia of State How the tact of Charles Wood will in future enhance post! The Lord of Panmure what blasphemer can doubt won. How Titoff will tremble to think he may meet But, ah me! these are, perhaps, but silly On a second occasion John Russell and suite, fancies after all. Respectability may be right, With some precedent drawn from historical lore and there may be no more poetry in a railway Which he may not have read up in Goldsmith before. than in my boots. Yet I should like to find poetry in everything, even in boots. I am By John's perorations the Czar will be floored, His ports called "a menace," his armies "a afraid railways are ugly, dull, prosaic, straight; horde;" yet the line of beauty, honest Hogarth tells us, While Pam in the House will exhibit his nerve is a curve, and curves you may occasionally find By routing the Czar with his paper "Reserve." on the straightest of railways-and where beauty is, poetry, you may be sure of it, is not And we're foiled at the end as we've failed from the Last prospect of all, should it come to the worst, far off. I am not quite sure but you may find first, it in ugliness too, if there be anything beautiful The aforesaid old Premier-that humorist greyin your own mind. Will treat it as fun in his own pleasant way. What a blessing to think, then, the Whigs keep their place THE GRAVES OF ATTILA AND ALARIC.-Atti- To save us from danger and perhaps from disgrace! How thankful should Brown, Jones, and Robinson la died in 453, and was buried in the midst of a fecl vast plain, in a coffin, the first covering of which At hearing the Whigs will remain en famille. was of gold, the second of silver, and the third The Press, 19 May. |