him to listen to her last request. She could not | join her lover in life, she said: but after death, what mattered it? Only she prayed that she might then be taken across the seas, and laid to rest in the little chapel at the foot of the broomy hill he had so often described to her. This court was wide and spacious in front; but at the sides, the enclosing wall approached so near as to leave but a narrow passage between itself and the castle. Into one of these passages my apartment looked. Fronting the window in which I stood, was an The old knight listened and frowned: but he arched doorway; narrow, and passing backwards loved his daughter, and he granted her request. into the thickness of the wall. The moon lit up So Gwenthian died: and then the nurse took the court with a brightness like that of day; all charge of her, and the day came when she was at once a shadow fell across it. Again I heard to be borne in her coffin down over the black that strange ringing noise - could I be still rocks, and on board the vessel that lay there dreaming? On the ground just without the waiting. But on that morning the priest of the darkness of the archway, there lay a long, bright castle sought her father; "Sir Knight," he said, sword, glancing and glittering in the moonlight. "the times crave wariness. Examine, I pray I had scarcely discovered it when there came you, the coffin of the Lady Gwenthian, before you from under the postern arch a tall figure, shroudpermit it to depart. That hath come to my ears ed from head to foot in a thick black mantle, which I would not willingly believe, yet dare not such as is worn by the members of certain relineglect." So on the seashore before all the peo-gious orders. Its face I could not see; but it ple, the coffin was searched; and therein they found the Lady Gwenthian, not dead, but laid peacefully to rest until she should rejoin her lover on the Breton shore. She sprang up with a shriek, and before any one could lay hands on her, she had gained the top of a lofty rock that towers at the head of the little bay. And when she saw her father coming towards her, full of rage and fury, she leapt sheer over into the deep waters, that closed sternly above their prey, and gave it up no more. To this day the rock is called, "The Leap of the White Hand." agony. stooped as it passed into the moonlight, and lifting the sword from the ground, glided on swiftly and disappeared round a projecting angle of the castle. I will confess to you, cousin, that as the figure vanished, a feeling took possession of me, such as I had never before experienced, and such as I do not greatly care even to recall at present Something there was of horror, and something of a strange fearful curiosity. All at once I remembered the gallery that opened from my chamber. It had disappeared in that direction The doors were still open. The latticed windows looked into the further court. It was empty No sign of living creature was there. But the priest, as the legend asserts, never prospered from that time. Full of sorrow for the loss which he had caused, he wandered from place to place, seeking rest in vain. Nor, so the Shuddering, and feeling more than half con people believed, could he find it even after death. vinced that what I had seen was no tenant of Many declared that they had seen his dusky fig- middle earth, I turned away from the furthest ure gliding along the castle battlements, or gaz-window. The extreme end of the gallery was ing on the sea from some lofty watch turret. not hung, like the rest, with arras, but fitted with And on certain nights of the year, the fishermen small panels, richly and delicately carved. As I feared to approach the castle beach, since as they turned, it seemed to me that the moonlight fell lay off it in their boats, they heard cries ringing in a singular manner upon one of these divisions, along the rocks, as of one in great distress and giving it a reddened appearance, as though the rays had, passed through stained glass but on Such was the gloomy old legend, all the par-going close to it, I found that the light came ticulars of which had now been strongly recalled from beyond, and pierced through a small open to me. I sat meditating on them, and on the space at the bottom of the panel. This I exstrange chance which had brought me to the cas-amined narrowly, and found that it slid in a tle, until, fairly overpowered with fatigue, I fell back in my chair, and in a few moments was sound asleep. I must have slept long; and my waking visions must have passed into those of slumber; for when I at last awoke, it was with a start, and the clash of weapons was still ringing in my ears. For some moments I could not recover myself. The fire had burnt itself out, and the moonlight poured in a flood of brightness through the tall and narrow latice. I rose up, cold and shuddering, full of that undefined species of terror, which oppresses us when suddenly roused from dreamy and unquiet slumber. groove, so that when raised, any one in the gallery could see into the apartment beyond. Cautiously, and half fearing what it might disclose, I raised the panel. Well, cousin-beyond was the Castle Chapel. There was the altar, richly decorated, with a tall gloomy picture rising behind it. Above, the moonlight struggled through the storied windows; but below, fronting the altar, was that which at once attracted me beyond everything else. A wide space yawned in the midst of the floor, showing the first narrow steps that led to the vault beneath. An enormous wax light, evidently reI passed into the recess of the window, half moved from the altar, was placed on the edge of fearing to advance into the darkness of the apart-the vault, and by its aid I could distinguish a ment. As I stood there, I heard, or seemed to hear, the same ringing sound, like the stroke of a sword on metal, which had, as I fancied, roused me from my dream. The castle stood, as I told you, within a lofty machicotated wall, which left a sort of open court on each side of the building. great heap of unscabbarded swords, piled together close to the steps, whilst many more were lying scattered over the floor of the chapel. There was no one present; but as I looked, I heard the sound of steps ascending from the vault, and presently that same dark figure emer ged which I had seen in the open court. Aj to tell you the truth, cousin, I was not much thrill passed through me, but I continued to gaze, surprised, when, a month or two afterwards, a and when at last he looked upward, I knew him. royal messenger appeared somewhat unexpect It was my uncle's chaplain. edly at Cardiness Castle, and could not be preFearing to be discovered, I drew gently back vailed on to depart unless accompanied by the from my post of vantage, though not before representative of the three Choughs. Whether, another figure had appeared from the vault -ain after life, my uncle considered that the lustre man in a sailor's dress who gathered up a bun- of his shield had suffered by his temporary redle of the swords beside the steps, and again sidence in the Tower I cannot determine: I ravanished with them. The Captain of the Jaco-ther think not. And at all events, he journeybina no doubt; and were these the chaplain's ed thither in becoming state,-in his own chabooks? riot and six, with the red legs of the choughs By this time I had seen quite enough. And duly blazoned upon its panels. CHRISTIANITY AND MOHAMMEDANISM. The Board of Trade Department of Science Christianity and Mohammedanism have been and Art has issued a circular to the masters of lately brought into contrast by the present state schools throughout the country on the subject of of Turkey and Russia, and the great superiority elementary drawing, with the view of obtaining of the former belief pointed out. The writer, evidence as to the best modes now practised of cordially admitting the claims of pure Christian- affording such instruction. The circular points ity, will not advert to that argument, but simply out that the Department views the acquirement offer to the public mind the duty of comparing of the power of drawing, "much less as related the religion of Mohammed with that of Paganism; to fine art or for the encouragement of artists, many shades of which exist under British gov-decorative or otherwise, than as promoting acernment in India and elsewhere, exciting the curate observation by the eye, a habit of seeing laudable exertions of British and American correctly and a rapid means of explanation missionaries. Let us consider the soul-depressing where writing fails, useful in every relation of influence of caste, the gross sensualities and re- life." Examples are wanted; and to this end volting cruelties of the worship of Juggernaut, the circular requests masters to furnish specithe self-inflicted tortures of the pagan devotees, mens, for which they are prepared to pay five the sacrifice of widows in the fires of the suttee, shillings for every example selected for publicalegal destruction of new-born infants, and many tion. The masters are also requested to state other inhuman rites which an Indian resident the processes by which they teach, with the view could readily name. Add the horrors developed of determining on the best. .66 in the half-regal, half-religious institutions of Pagan Africa. When these have been pondered, There has been a controversy in the Times reslet us turn to the Mohammedan law, which teaches pecting the accuracy of a statement made by the essential doctrines of one Almighty Creator Lieutenant-General Sir William Napier, to the and Preserver of the universe, and of a future effect that Sir Walter Scott wrote a song for state in which men will receive the just recom- the Pitt Club while Fox was dying, ending pense of their conduct here. Rejecting all graven Tally-ho to the Fox." Lord Holland, in images and symbols of the Deity, it presents him Moore's Diary, is made to deny the story as a purely and spiritually, and offers one Teacher "calumny." Sir William Napier has this week (though not the true one) as commissioned to in- written a letter stating that he made the asserstruct mankind. If the argument be fairly tion from his own recollections and the collatweighed, and the greater facility with which true eral authority of Mrs. Dugald Stewart, whose doctrine may be infused into minds already half- husband so resented the song that he broke off instructed, the writer feels it very probable that all intimacy with Sir Walter Scott. "Senex," the result may be a persuasion that the votary of however, seems to set the matter at rest, in a subAllah should be considered as the pioneer who sequent communication to the Times. "The breaks up the rough flinty soil of Paganism, leav-song in question," he says, I was written for the ing it open for the fertilizing seed of all the celebration of Lord Melville's acquittal, and blessed and blessing religion of Christ, to which sung at a dinner given in Edinburgh for that it becomes a most useful though unconscious as- purpose on the 27th of June 1806. Mr. Fox at sistant. So deeply has this religion impressed that time was not known to be ill, nor did his the conscience of its followers with the absolute death take place until the 13th of September of duty of Truth as the foundation of morality with the same year. **** The words of the song noble frankness disclaiming all mental reserva- to which Sir William alludes are these:— tion - the modern synonym for falsehood—that no person who has resided among them would not, like the writer, place implicit confidence in the promise of a Mussulman. S. The value of property in San Francisco city is assessed for taxation at 30,000,000 dollars. 66 "In Grenville and Spencer,, And drink "Melville for ever" as long as we live." NEW BOOKS. two volumes. Ticknor, Reed & Field: Boston. Contents: Sir William Hamilton; Sir James We are indebted to the publishers for the fol- Mackintosh; Kant; Herder; Richter; Lessing; lowing new books:Bentley; Parr. A great feast! The Christian's Manual of Faith and Devotoin: containing Dialogues and Prayers suited to the various exigencies of the Christian Life. By John Henry Hobart, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York. Stanford & Swords: New York. The Churchman's Companion in the Closet; or a Complete Manual of Private Devotion, collected from the Writings of Archbishop Laud, Bishop Andrews, Bishop Kerr, and other Eminent Divines of the Church of England. Stanford & Swords: New York. Origin, History, and Description of the Boomerang Propellor: a lecture delivered at the United Service Institution. By Lieut. Col. Sir J. L. Mitchell. Some sixteen years ago, on his return from an expedition into the interior of Australia, Sir Thomas Mitchell exhibited some of the native weapons in this country: among others was the boomerang. The flight of this singular weapon through the air, to use the words of Mr. Bailey, then Vice President of the Royal Society, "was enough to puzzle a mathematician." One curious point about it was, its resemblance to a weapon used by the ancient Egyptians for killing wild ducks, as this pastime is found represented on the walls of a tomb at Thebes. Interest in the weaSacra Privata: the Private Meditations, Devo-pon thus excited, Sir Thomas tried a number of tions, and Prayers of the Right Rev. T. Wilson, D. D., Bishop of Sodor and Man. Adapted to general use. The Life and Letters of the late Rev. Henry Venn, Author of the Whole Duty of Man, etc. From the Sixth London Edition. Stanford & Swords: New York. Stanford & Swords: New York. A Companion for the Altar: containing Sacramental Prayers and Meditations, with Directions to the Communicant. Stanford & Swords: New York. The Church Choir: containing Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Anthems, and Chants. Arranged for the Organ or Piano Forte. By Joseph Mucnscher. Stanford & Swords: New York. Two Parts, bound in one. This work contains more than 400 pages of well printed Music. experiments with it;-the ultimate result of which is, the invention of the boomerang propeller. Into the question of relative merits, as between the screw, the boomerang, and the paddle wheel, we shall not enter. The friends of each are, of course, confident of the superior virtues of their own power, and intolerant of any other. Sir Thomas Mitchell's discourse is in part controversial,—being a reply to certain strictures by Capt. R. Fitzroy.-Athenæum. GREAT SALE OF LITERARY PROPERTY.— Mr. The Complete Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell; with an Original Biography and Notes. Ed- Hodgson, Auctioneer, has concluded a rather ited by Epes Sargent. Phillips, Sampson, & Co.: extensive sale of literary property, comprising Boston. This Edition possesses some advantages neraly half a million volumes, and the copyover any hitherto published. It contains a very rights and stereotype plates of numerous illustrafull Memoir, compiled from Dr. Beattie's Life and ted and other popular works. Among the more Letters of the Poet, and from Cyrus Redding's important sales effected, were the following:Reminiscences. The Poems collected in the Knight's Pictorial Museum of Animated Nature, Moxon Editions are given according to the ar-2 vols. folio, 4,000 parts and 11,000 numbers, rangement approved by the Author. To these have been added fifty poems, collected from vari ous sources. Fretful Lillia; or, the Girl who was compared to a Stingnettie. By Francis Forrester, Esq. This is another volume of Uncle Toby's LibraryPublished by G. C. Rand, Boston. Friends' Review - First Month 14 and 21. This grave and christian weekly paper has begun a series of articles showing the importance of cultivating Cotton in Africa. It is said that the cotton plant is perennial there and that it can be profitably cultivated. The difficulty will be to get laborers into this harvest. At present it seems little likely that the emigrants to Liberia will be able to compete with the Southern States of this Union. We shall be glad to hear of the increase of their production and trade; and so far their growth as a Colony has not been inferior to that of the Pilgrim Fathers, in the infancy of their colonization. If it be practicable to plant a race in Africa, who can support industrious habits in that climate there may be vast results even in our day. Essays on Philosophical Writers, and other Men of Letters. By Thomas De Quincey, author of Confessions of an English Opium-eater, etc. In with copyright and stereotype plates, which sold for 600l. The Pictorial Gallery of Arts, also Knight's, 2 vols, folio, stock, copyright and plates, brought 850l. The stock, copyright and plates of Kitto's Pictorial Sunday Book were knocked down at 560/; ditto of Pictorial Half-Hours, 4 volumes, 105. The stereotype plates of Mr. Knight's Shakspeare sold for 3201., and those of South's Household Surgery, for 210. The copy rights and plates of some of the most popular of Knight's Shilling Volumes were disposed of at the same sale, and realized a good market price. The copyright of "How to observe," was sold for 21. 10s. The sale attracted the general attendance of the trade. The success of experiments at Nancy has induced the French Minister of War to recommend that linen in all military hospitals shall be washed by steam. The Emperor has issued a decree to carry out the experiment. The consumption of cigars in the Austrian states is said to have increased from 28 millions, in 1841, to 800 millions, yearly, at the present time. |