Business Cards. SPRING CHICKENS, hatched last March, of the following choice and valuable breeds; Bramah, Pootras, Buff, Black and Grey, Shanghæ, Royal Cochin China, Malay, and Great sale at very reasonable prices. Warranted to be purely bred, and as large and fine (for their age.) as any in America. Java. The subscriber has a fine lot of each of the above for Address, J. W. PLATT, Box 128, Post office, HIGHLAND HOME WATER-CURE, at Fishkill Landing, and water, beautiful scenery, a fine, large edifice, easy access from every direction, combine to render this a desirable place for those who need hydropathic treatment and living, especially those who are breathing the contaminated city atmosphere. METROPOLITAN BOOT AND SHOE EMPORIUM.-It is a cause of unfathomable wonder to Mr. E. A. Brooks's envious Broadway cotemporaries, that he can afford to sell such good articles in the boot and shoe line, for ladies, gentlemen, misses and masters, at such remarkably low prices. The public, however, does not stop to inquire They find they can get better articles at No. 575 Broadway, than they have been in the habit of paying thirty per cent. more for, and they rejoice exceedingly. Mr. Brooks keeps his down-town establishment, at No. 150 Fulton street, well supplied with his excellent manufactures, and it is as it ever has been, a great public accommodation. J. W. ORR, ENGRAVER ON WOOD, 75 NASSAU-ST.— this is the largest and best establishment in New York. Those in want of Wood Engravings can get them done here in good style, promptly and on reasonable terms. CARPETS, MATCHLESS IN DESIGN AND BEAUTY OF APPEARANCE.-The most elegant description of carpets ever exhibited in this city can be found at the well-stocked establishment But the numerous figures, busts, and groups sent from Italy demand further attention than we can bestow upon them in this article. is a significant fact. A traveller-we forget whom-ling the features so as to be revealed through the thin But beneath the dome of the Crystal Palace there are gathered many lofty productions of the chisel that may-nay, will-strengthen, deepen, and extend our knowledge of the art. The genius of Thorwaldsen and of Powers graces the scene, and Italy has emptied within these crystal walls many of her brightest gems. We cannot, in the present article, enter into any general specification of the numerous statues and groups exhibited. But we cannot refrain from referring to several of the most prominent and interesting, and which alone are worth a pilgrimage to see. In a kind of semicircular alcove, hung with a dark of Messrs. Peterson & Humphrey, on the corner of Broadway and maroon-colored cloth, stands Thorwaldsen's group of White street, and we advise all who wish the gratification of purchas-Christ and his Apostles. As you enter into the alcove, ing a beautiful floor covering, obtained at a reasonable rate, to make their selections at this establishment. GURNEY'S DAGUERREOTYPES -The perfection attained by Gurney and his assistants in the production of sun pencillings, has rendered his extensive gallery, No 349 Broadway, the resort of all desirous of procuring faithful, distinct, and superior pictures, either of single faces or groups, children or adults. His superiority as a Daguerrean artist can be seen by all who will examine the specimens contained in his saloon. Call and look at them. you find that they are enclosed from any detracting NEW YORK, SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1853. of Christ is majestic, his face is full of solemn, man WORKS OF ART IN THE EXHIBITION. We were standing upon a vessel's prow the other night, watching the moonlight falling in a soft radiance upon the waters, and we thought of that magnificent image in Alexander Smith, the new poet :— "If ye are fair, Mankind will crowd you, thick as when Hath not this a touch of true poetry? Is it not the pure ring? Alexander Smith has burst upon us with all the glory of one of those gorgeous sunsets he himself describes. Here is one : "The sunset hung before us like a dream Of piled gorgeousness, and rocks of fire A magnificent picture that portrays startlingly the throbbing power, beauty, and intensity of his own poetry. Alexander Smith may not redeem all the bright promises which are entertained for him. He may not become the voice, the spirit, the spokesman of the age to all coming time, but the "Life Drama" will live for ever, as one of the grandest and noblest works of human genius. THE Legislature has given us permission to have both the Parks, the Central Park and Jones's Woods. At this all good citizens will rejoice. And now, as everything rests with ourselves, let us proceed earnestly, and leave nothing undone until both of the parks are secured to us beyond all doubt. It is most im TO THE PRESS. ly, benevolent beauty, and the faces of the Apostles are full of character. Our readers probably know that It is gratifying to observe the department of Art in this group were the original models in plaster by the Crystal Palace so rich and so full. We speak Thorwaldsen, and stood in the cathedral at Copenhamore particularly of sculpture, of works of art in mar-gen until their copies in marble were substituted for ble, in Parian, and in bronze. The picture gallery, them. which is to occupy the second floor of the arcade, will Prominent among those that first catch the atten-portant that the laying out and ornamenting of the not be opened in some weeks, and consequently the tion of the visitor is the splendid group of the Ama- grounds should be placed in skilful, tasteful, and exdisplay in this branch is as yet exceedingly meagre. zon and the Tiger. This production, our readers will perienced hands. We shall miss in this matter the The exhibition in sculpture is very ample, including remember, was at the great London Exhibition, and advice and assistance of the late Mr. Downing. But some of the most celebrate works of the modern there was much admired and applauded. It represents at least we have his essays upon landscape gardening, chisel, and affords to the public rare and exalted an Amazon on horseback attacked by a tiger. The and they will prove invaluable guides. studies of the art. The very few productions of the moment seized upon by the artist is just as the tiger chisel that have heretofore been in this country has has sprung upon the neck of the horse and fastened deprived us of those examples and models by which his claws and teeth into its flesh. The horse is rearonly a true and a comprehensive appreciation of the ing frantically, and in his dilated nostrils and the loftiest of arts can be attained. With many aspira- swelling veins of his face is expressed the wildest terror tions for the beautiful in our natures, we could only and pain. The Amazon is thrown back upon the manifest it in crude shapes and crude ways. We haunches, while with one hand she clasps the mane, have had no Florentine gallery wherein might be in- and with the other poises a spear, concentrating all culcated a perception of the true and the perfect. Our her energy and strength for one firm and decisive knowledge and our taste for sculpture, therefore, has thrust. The group is a splendid study, and affords not been an educated one, but is simply the result of many different views from various points. implanted instincts and a general innate conception of In the Italian department, most conspicuous is symmetry and proportion. One of the daily papers a Thorwaldsen's Ganymede. The sculptor has reprefew days since asserted that in nothing were the peo-sented him after the ancient models, kneeling and givple so misled and deceived as in sculpture. We think ing food to the eagle. Ganymede, according to the that this assertion is unfounded and untrue. Upon mythology, surpassed all mortals in beauty, and by the reflection, we recall to mind that it is in modified command of Jupiter, he was conveyed to heaven, enforms of sculpture, in a natural fondness and dowed with immortal youth, and made cup-bearer to a natural perception of symmetry and unity in the gods. form, that we have always been most successful. In the same department are exhibited several veiled Our ships, for instance, are modelled with a per- faces, which are triumphs in a peculiar branch of the fection of grace attained nowhere else. And this art. The artist has most skilfully succeeded in chisel We desire to express our gratitude for the many kind, flattering, and gratifying notices we have received from our brethren of the press generally. Our JOURNAL has been admitted into the fraternity with every token of esteem and welcome. We hope we shall live, gentlemen, to return your courtesies in some appropriate manner. THE Emperor Napoleon, not contented with his present exalted position, is desirous of a literary reputation as well. He is now engaged upon a historica! work that is to appear in the course of the ensuing autumn. Apropos of Napoleon, the Parisian letter writers all unite in declaring the Emperor to be the perfection of a gentleman in his manner and his dress. His example in always appearing in public in a plain dress is generally followed, and an extravagantly dressed man at a state ball is sure to be ridiculed. Ye who so fondly imitate everything French, make a note of this. A SUNDAY SCENE. WE understand that Mrs. Mowatt is preparing her Ir any person desires to see our city under a beau- autobiography, which is to appear some time during tiful aspect, let him saunter out some fine morning the ensuing winter. We are safe in predicting that along Fifth avenue, and let it be of a Sunday morning, we shall have a delightful, a rare, a wonderful book. at the hour when solemn bells are knolling good citizens to church. How the street throngs with animated, elegantly dressed, and happy parties, who give lightness and relief to the grand, imposing mansions that border its full length! What groups of fair ladies and lovely children sweep by! How among them mingle, too, grave sires-white frosted locks often by the side of the dancing tresses on the brow of girl hood. There is sorrow and there is joy; there are tears scarce dried on the faces of some, and blushing happiness mantling on others. But subdued emotions, and a holy calm appear to characterize all. A career, eventful in many ways, full of vicissitudes FERN LEAVES. NUMBER III. Written for the New York Journal. A Broadway Shop Reverie. dear woman, you need a straight jacket, even though FORTY DOLLARS for a pocket-handkerchief! My you may be the fortunate owner of a dropsical purse. handkerchief; I won't speak of the sad hearts that I won't allude to the legitimate use of a pocket"forty dollars," in the hands of some philanthropist, might lighten; I won't speak of the "crows' feet" that dress carelessly sticks the point of her remorseless will be pencilled on your fair face, when your laun PUTNAM has sent us the first and second numbers of the Illustrated Crystal Palace Record. It is published similar in style to the London Art Journal, and almost equals it in the freshness and beauty of its illustra-smoothing iron through the flimsy fabric, or the contions. Altogether it is a highly creditable specimen stant espionage you must keep over your treasure in how many of the lords of creation, for whose especial omnibuses, or when promenading; but I will ask you benefit you array yourself, will know whether that of American art. The letter-press is carefully pre- Admire well the palaces around, note thoroughly the beauties that glide past; pause thoughtfully before this church door, and, as the panorama spreads out and before you it will appear as if earth were in her second paradise. Enter, too, this beautiful church, from which low strains of music are issuing! Mark well trates. the reverence and solemn quiet with which the old and young saunter in! How sweetly and soothingly the light steals through the stained windows, falling, as if it, too, reverenced the time and the place, softly and solemnly on the upturned faces of those who pray, wreathing a halo around them, and making the scene one of holy eloquence. Linger there while yet the worship lasts, and move with the crowd as it flows The sun looks down sparklingly, the far extending mansions glow proudly in the sunlight, happiness reigns around, religion rears her sacred temples, and the scene is a bright and a beautiful one. out. DR. JOHNSON said that happiness was to ride swiftly in a post-chaise, with a pretty girl by your side. A certain modification of this kind of happiness can be enjoyed, if you are a man of leisure and observation, by an occasional hour in the Broadway omnibuses. You here frequently have a pretty girl at your side, and sometimes, perhaps, one on each side. Besides, in an hour thus spent, you can often have some fine studies of character. The waits, the blockades, the collisions, are excellent things to bring out strong points of character; and a sudden shower the best of all. But in fair days, when the vehicle rolls along lazily, and groups of ladies flow in and out continually, while the brilliant panorama of life flows by you in an incessant, ever-changing stream, there are amusing and pleasant things to observe and study, if you are philosophically inclined. 66 cobweb rag fluttering in your hand, cost forty dollars, or forty cents? mistake and that Pout if you like, and toss your head, and say that you "don't dress to please the gentlemen;" I don't A GENTLEMAN by the name of Brown, an English hesitate to tell you (at this distance from your finger gentleman, announces a discovery that will enable him nails) that is a downright to cross the Atlantic in forty-eight hours. We do not the enormous sums most women expend for articles, doubt him. There can be nothing too wild, too the cost of which few, save shop-keepers and butterastoaing, too extraordinary for the genius of the fly feminines, know, is both astounding and ridiculous. age. The proposal of Mr. Brown is not a whit more True, you have the sublime gratification of flourishincredible than one would have been, fifty years ago, ing your forty-dollar handkerchief, of sporting your to cross the Atlantic in ten days. But, indeed, at the twenty-dollar "Honiton collar," or of flaunting your present time, one is behind the age who doubts any-thousand-dollar shawl, before the envious and admirthing-anything that's progressive we mean. To ing eyes of some weak sister, who has made the believe, no matter how blindly, or how toughly our possible possession of the articles in question a profaith may be tested, is safer than to doubt. found and life-time study; you may pass, too, along the crowded pavé, laboring under the hallucination, that every passer-by appreciates your dry-goods value : Not a bit of it. Yonder is a group of gentlemen. You pass them in your promenade; they glance carelessly at your tout-ensemble, but their eyes rest admiringly on a figure close behind you. It will chagrin you to learn that this locomotive loadstone has on a seventy-five cent hat, of simple straw-a dress of lawn, one shilling per yard-a twenty-five cent collar, and a shawl of the most unpretending price and fabric. BUT three more numbers are now required to complete Bleak House. This certainly very extraordinary story has now reached its highest point of interest, and its readers await the issue with much anxiety, and a good deal of puzzling. As a complete work of art, this production does not equal Dombey & Son or David Copperfield, but there are characters and scenes in it equal to anything Mr. Dickens ever wrote, and which would make the reputation of any other writer. An advertisement in a city paper announces a soap for "shaving and cleaning the teeth." Shaving the teeth is rather a new feature of the toilet. A PLAY-BILL announces a youthful prodigy as a Child of Nature. What does it mean? Is it that the rest of us are Children of Art? All these items you take in at a glance, as you turn upon her your aristocratic eye of feminine criticism to extract, if possible, the talismanic secret of her magnetism. What is it? Let me tell you. Nature, wil ful dame, has an aristocrcy of her own, and in one of her independent freaks has so daintily fashioned your rival's limbs that the meanest garb could not mar a grace, nor the costliest fabric add one. Compassionating her slender purse, nature has also added an artistic eye, which accepts or rejects fabrics and colors chosen and harmonious, producing the effect of a rich with unerring taste; hence her apparel is always well toilet at the cost of "a mere song ;" and as she sweeps majestically past, one understands why Dr. Johnson pronounced a woman to be "perfectly dressed when one could never remember what she wore." MR. EDITOR:-A little group of us the other day were turning over the pages of the Journal, when we observed the following editorial bit:-"Near the Hip- MR. HAMILTON, in his Fourth of July speech at podrome a confectioner announces upon his sign Hip-Tarrytown, related a striking anecdote, which he had podrome Confectionery! which means Horse Confec- heard from Talleyrand's own lips: tionery." "That's a misnomer," remarked one of the rand, having been compelled to leave France, was :-"When Talleycompany. "Not at all," replied another individual. subsequently, also obliged to quit England, because he • For no doubt his candies are like Franconi's horses, was suspected of being a spy, he went to Portsmouth the more you lick them the faster they go. And then to take passage. While at the hotel there, he was in- by a star without a name--moving out of the sphere of Now, I grant you, it is very provoking to be eclipsed besides, he will cure you if you are a little ho(a)rse." formed that there was an American gentleman in the house, and he immediately sought an interview with hair shawl," or owned a diamond in her life; after the "upper-ten"-dom--a woman who never wore a "camel's view, Talleyraud told the stranger that he would feel he proposed emigrating. At the close of the inter-expense you have incurred, too, and the fees you have pleasure in bearing to his friends in America any letter or message he had to send. The answer was, 'I am the only man in the world who has no friends in On subsequent inquiry, he ascertained that the stranger was no other than Benedict Arnold." MERRIE ENGLAND! So poets have sung since the him, to obtain some particulars of the country to which days of Chaucer. And yet gruff, grum, growling, stolid John Bull, with his east winds, fogs, rheumatism, and pulmonary complaints doesn't suggest very forcible ideas of merriment. WILLIS's letters from Idlewild in the Home Journal America.' are very pleasant reading. choice of their Parisian fooleries. It is harrowing to Contributed to the New York Journal. I'm a wandering spirit from worlds afar, Then take it! take it! the hour draws nigh And ere the mists of the morning roll, I must circle the earth from pole to pole. For many a message of joy bear Many a spell that will banish care. But I will return, ere long, to see How thou guardest the gift I have brought to thee. THE SYREN. A SYREN Sweetly singing. A little bird was winging Its way, and stopped to hear. To rival the sweet strain, W. C. M. The Happy Expression. "ALL very beautiful," said the delighted Mrs. Blowsley, widow of the late lamented Mr. Blowsley, draper. She had worn her weeds the full time required by the social law, and was now rejoicing in the luxury of white, from marabout plumes to satin slippers. "All but one thing," she added. "And what is that?" asked the painter. "Is not the figure graceful?" "Perfectly! perfectly," replied the widow. "You have not changed your mind about the character?" said the painter. "Oh, no!" exclaimed Mrs. Blowsley. "I think nothing so charming as a shepherdess. How sweetly she holds her crook! And that dove! What a happy idea! I am delighted. But, as I said, there is one fault." Pray, what is it, Mrs. Blowsley? If art can remedy the defect, it shall be done. Name what you think the defect." The lady blushed and simpered as coyishly as she could, and then said, "It's in the expression, sir." "Ah!" said the painter, fixing his keenly observing eyes upon her. "Yes," said the widow, "you have failed to get my happiest expression. Now I want that my happiest expression. I have a particular reason for this; and you must do your best to catch it. Look!" said Mrs. Blowsley, making an effort to look exceedingly interesting to put on, in fact, as she said, her happiest expression. "There; do you think you can catch that?" she said, as she tried to smile most winningly; an effort that caused her lap-dog-holding attendant to assume a most laughably lugubrious countenance. "I'll try," said the painter, taking up his palate, and giving the picture a few touches. "There; how will that do?" Mrs. Blowsley examined the portrait attentively for some moments, shaking her head all the while. going up to the exquisitely beautiful likeness of a lady "I will do my best to get it right," returned the ac- "I'm a little afraid of this," he said to himself, as he examined his finished work. Its too handsome. She'll never believe it a likeness." But the painter had not yet gone to the bottom of Mrs. Blowsley's vanity and self-esteem. The very doubt under which he was laboring showed this. At last the lovely shepherdess was ready to be seen, Mrs. Blowsley sat down again, and looked her love- and the expectant lady admitted to an examination of liest. As she brought her features into a smile, she its merits. She stood looking at it for some moments felt that if the painter could only succeed in catching without speaking, while the painter, in doubt, stood the expression, her picture would be perfect. But, by her side. He had carefully removed the true poor man! he worked upon her fat face, thick lips, original of the picture, lest a sight of it should make double chin, and anti-Grecian nose, with but little suc-manifest the novel experiment he had been trying. Mrs. Blowsley again took a critical position in front of the lovely shepherdess. Better," she remarked, after looking for some time. "Better; but it's not exactly right yet. You've got more of my expression but not my happiest look. I must have that; and you must succeed in catching it. I'm sorry to give you so much trouble; but while we are at it, we might just as well have it right as wrong." 66 Certainly certainly," said the painter. "But, And, truth to say, Mrs. Blowsley was not far wrong. "Not the expression!" returned the painter, in a disappointed voice. "I am sure it is. You must permit me to judge of this." Don't tell me!" exclaimed Mrs. Blowsley, “I think I ought to know." 66 The painter stood thoughtful for some moments. he said. +6 66 "Certainly," replied Mrs. Blowsley. Anything to get it right. I'll sit for a week, rather than disappoint my friends with such a hard face as you have given me." Very well," said the painter. at this time, for a new sitting." "Come to-morrow, "How will that do?" he at last ventured to inquire. He did not speak in a very confident tone of voice. "Perfect!" murmured the lady. "You think I have succeeded in the expression?" said the painter. "To à charm. It's a wonderful likeness!" exclaimed the delighted widow. "I was afraid I had made the face too narrow," said the painter. 66 Not in the least," said Mrs. Blowsley. "It's as perfect as can be. I knew you could do better than you did at the first trial. That was a shocking caricature." The painter had seen a good deal of human weakness in his day-as what painter has not ?-but this rather exceeded any previous exhibition of the kind it had been his good or ill fortune to meet. He had modified a cast in an eye; had put a little bit of the Grecian on a most inveterate pug-nose; had raised a forehead considerably higher than in nature; had thrown a smile over features that always wore a frown; in fact, had made, at the suggestion of sitters, all manner of changes;-but never before had he taken a face of the most exquisite beauty, and so blended it with one deformed by its very vulgarity as almost to obliterate the grossness of the original. And, after all, to have the likeness called perfect! The painter retained his gravity as best he could, while Mrs. Blowsley extolled the skill that had been so fortunate as to catch her very "happiest expression." It seemed as if the lady could never be satisfied with looking and admiring. Then friend after friend was brought in, and all joined in pronouncing it one of the most beautiful likenesses that had ever been seen. 66 It is hardly a matter of surprise that such a skilful artist soon had his hands so full of work, that it was impossible to execute all his orders. Every fat, old, and ugly acquaintance of Mrs. Blowsley, whose too natural picture graced or disgraced the walls of the family mansion, must needs have the services of a painter who knew so well how to get the true expression. And as specimens of his happy" art were more and more widely circulated, his fame spread, and his orders increased. He raised his terms again and again, to meet and check the influx of orders; but pictures like his were above all price. He could flatter to the full extent of his sitter's vanity; and that, united with eminent skill as an artist, was all he needed to make his fortune sure. Mrs. Blowsley acquiesced. On the next day she came, according to appointment. After she had taken her seat, the painter took the beautiful portrait, the expression of which she had so much admired, and placed it a little behind, and at the side of her, so that he could paint from that as well as from the living It is related that Rubens caused a remarkably fine sitter; and so blending the two countenances as to retain something of the features of the one, while he and powerful lion to be brought to his house, in order gave the lovely expression of the other. No two faces to study him in every variety of attitude. One day, Rubens observing the lion yawn, was so pleased with could have been more unlike. One was purely this action that he wished to paint it, and he desired Grecian in its outline, with just enough fullness to the keeper to tickle the animal under the chin, to make make it almost perfect; while the other was coarse-him repeatedly open his jaws; at length the lion ness and vulgarity itself. The painter had a hard task you haven't caught that," she said. "You know you before him; but its very difficulty and novelty excited haven't. That's what I want. Now, do try and paint him to effort. After blending, as far as possible, the my face just as it is. I like the picture wonderfully two styles of face so opposite in outline, he commenced all but the face. And I must say, in candor, that I filling in feature after feature, and uniting beauty with don't think the resemblance at all perfect." positive ugliness in a way to retain as little of the "Indeed!" said the painter. "I thought the like-latter as possible, yet not entirely destroy it. The ness the best part of it." "It is no likeness at all," exclaimed Mrs. Blowsley. "The expression is very bad." "I think that's it, exactly," remarked the painter, "All but the expression. You have failed there. See!" And the lady again resumed her place, and again put on her happy expression. "Now, I'm sure And, in truth to say, it was bad enough. Still for all that, the likeness was admirable, and of that the painter was fully aware. He had softened and modified the lady's coarse, fat face, just as much as he felt himself justified in doing. To go a line further would be to make the picture, in his eyes at least, ridiculous. "Just look at this portrait," said Mrs. Blowsley, broad fat face was narrowed, the prominent chin Through three sittings of two hours' duration the out. A man is in the sight of God what his habitual and cherished wishes are. MANNERS OF THE TURKS.-In a new work just published in England, entitled "Rambles in Southern Sclavonia," by Neigebaur, a German traveller, is the following description of an incident, illustrative of the manners of the Turks : Landing at Belgrade, he found, for the first time in all his travelling experience, no officious hand ready to seize his baggage. A few paces off, in front of a tavern, sat several Turkish porters smoking their long pipes. The Doctor doubtless looked helpless enough, standing beside his portmanteau, but not one of them rose to offer his services. "Will no one earn a piece of money?" I at last called out to the smokers, as I observed that my waiting was likely to lead to no other result than carrying my own baggage. of his life and travels. In course of time it came to priety ask leave to spend the day on shore, I thought I the turn of the Greek, who, after considerable hesita- would go up to his house for a few hours that evening, tion, recounted to us the following passage in his his- carrying with me a souvenir, in the shape of a richlytory, which appeared to me to present a striking illus-mounted Turkish pipe that I had purposely brought tration of the disorganized state of society in many with me from Constantinople. This I knew would parts of the East:-prove an acceptable gift, as he was unhappily an I am, he commenced, a native of Greece. Whilst inveterate smoker. yet a child, my parents emigrated to France, and, may here state that the town to which I was bound thanks to their kind care and a good education, I was was situated at a distance of nearly an hour's walk at the age of eighteen a civilized European in manners from the landing-place, and the road leads over a desoand morals, and a Christian by creed. I could dis- late country, with no houses or other buildings save tinctly discern the many foibles of my poor, illiterate, two coffee-shops, which serve as miserable and unsafe but crafty countrymen. At the same time that I could half-way houses for the traveller besides these, there not but pity their defects and errors, I shunned their is a still more miserable shed alloted to the sentry, society, considering them too often devoid of principle, who is nominally placed there to protect the highway, and so wily in their every undertaking, thought, word, and be a safeguard to the stranger from the assaults "All of us, willingly!" replied the porters, almost and deed, as to prove dangerous companions or asso- and mal-treatment of robbers and assassins-a class of with one voice, but without stirring from their seats.ciates, and seldom to be trusted with a secret or a dol- men always more or less abundant in these semi-civi"But which of us shall serve you? Whom do you lar. In 1835 I entered the French service, and joined lized regions. wish?" a war steamer, commanded by a post-captain in the French navy, with whom I remained during a period of ten years, and whose testimonials as to my services and character are a sufficient passport for me to work my way in any part of civilized Europe. The kindness and unaffected dignity of this brave and openhearted old sailor are too well known to demand any comment from me. There are many of his own countrymen, and not a few Englishmen, who have directly or indirectly been brought in contact with him on business matters, or in the more agreeable capacity of guests, passengers, or subordinate officers; and I may As active now as he had previously seemed apathe- safely assert, that none ever quitted his presence withtic, Allil led the way to the Zuania (literally the build-out a conviction of their having been in the society of ing, par excellence), an hotel which may vie with the a perfect gentleman, a gallant and lenient, yet strict best in Europe as regards structure and appearance, officer, and a most sincere friend. but where Dr. Neigebaur had great difficulty in finding any one to receive him and attend to his wants. "Come who will," was my reply. The porters puffed hard at their pipes and looked at each other in silence. At last one of them, seemingly the oldest, spoke : 66 Allil," he said, "have you had a job to-day?" "No," was the reply of a slender young Moor, attired in white turban, white jerkin, and large red trousers. 66 Then carry the gentleman's baggage," rejoined the other; and the Moor rose from his stone seat to take possession of my portmanteau. An Adventure in the Levant. In the month of December, 18-, the steamer chanced to be lying at anchor in a port in the Levant, and having at that time a sister living at the city adjacent, who was married to a lieutenant in the Greek artillery, to her house it was my custom to repair on THE hero, or rather victim, of the following adven- all liberty days, or on other occasions when the day's ture was a fellow-passenger of mine in my homeward-work was over and I could obtain permission to leave bound voyage, during the year 1850. A Greek by the vessel for a few hours in the evening. I seldom birth, though a Frenchman at heart, by education and slept on shore, for somehow or other I never fancied naturalization, he disclosed to me a specimen of the myself at home or felt at ease, except when I was in atrocities sometimes perpetrated by a set of freeboot- my own snug little cabin on board, and my night's reers, in the guise and under the protection of their pose was never sounder than when lulled to sleep by official positions as gens-d'armes, or police constables. the gentle lullaby of the rippling waves and the music Had he not been possessed of the very best certificates of the Mediterranean zephyrs. No man could have from gentlemen holding high rank in the French naval felt happier than I did at the time I am now speaking service, as also from the British consul-general on the of, none being apparently so secure from trouble or coast of Barbary, testifying to his general good con- misfortune. I had amassed a small sum of money, duct, sobriety, and truthfulness, I might have been in- which I felt a satisfaction in knowing had been accuclined to consider the whole affair as a fabrication de-mulated honestly, by dint of perseverance and indesigned to excite sympathy and compassion for his suf- fatigable labor. My father had been some years dead, ferings. But when, in addition to these certificates, I and my poor mother and a younger brother and sister watched the face of the sunburnt Athenian as it glow-were entirely dependent upon my exertions for suped with the feelings of indignation at the recital of the treatment he had received at the hands of his cowardly assailants; when I marked his strong frame quiver, and wide chest heave with the various emotions of fear, pain, and anger; when I reflected that, in recounting this sad page from his adventurous life, he was afresh opening deep heart-wounds; and when, finally, I remembered that he could not possibly hope to reap any benefit by exciting my interest and sympathy; all these circumstances combined served to convince me of the veracity of the tale. port. Happily I was in a position to place these two Such were the comfortable circumstances by which It was a fine moonlight night when first this narrative of adventure was poured into my attentive ears, I consider (he continued, resuming the thread of his and never shall I forget the effect it produced upon the narrative) that to the terrible incident in question I group of voyagers that were lingering on deck until owe the abbreviation of my life by full fifteen years; past the hour of midnight, loth, like myself, to quit for I have never since, in health or strength, been the the cool and pleasant deck, and all the glories of a man I was before the eventful night of which I am Mediterranean moon-lit sea, for the close and unconge-about to speak-a night which taught me the unnial berths allotted to us in the cabin. We could just certainty of the best arranged human plans and the see Malta light-house far away on the larboard bow, contingencies to which they are constantly exposed. and the vessel was dashing through the water at a rate It was late one evening in December that I obtained that gave us fair hopes of a quick and pleasant passage leave of absence from the officer of the watch, purposto dear old England, from whose shores some of using to visit the shore for a few hours, and promising to had been absent for many long years. We were sit-be on board again before midnight at the latest. I ting upon the hen-coops, or upon the best available little thought, on quitting the ship's side, that I should seat that offered itself, recounting such adventures and be compelled that night, for the first time in my life, describing such scenes as our long residence in the to break my word. It happened to be the eve of St. East had subjected us to; or else, taking happy men- Nicholas-a day celebrated as a festival by the memtal glimpses of home and long absent friends, with whom we hoped speedily again to hold familiar converse. Gradually the conversation began to flag, when it was put to the vote and unanimously carried, that each one of our party should relate some incident bers of the Greek church, and more particularly by I remained later than usual at my sister's house that evening, for the weather had suddenly set in boisterous and chilly, with frequent squalls of hail, thunder, and lightning, so that I had deferred my departure to the very last moment, hoping that the weather might clear up again. It was not till some minutes past eleven that I quitted my sister's house, despite her tears and remonstrances; for I was determined, if possible, to be punctual to my promise. Well wrapped up in great-coats and comforters, with nothing but a small rattan switch in my hand, I accordingly started for the sea-side, and walked as briskly as I could towards the point of embarkation. The night was intensely dark, so much so that I could barely see a yard before me, and the wind howled mournfully over the waste; but the pathway having long been familiar to my footsteps, I could have almost picked my way blindfolded. The cold, bleak, cutting blast came in fitful gusts over the deserted country; but the very inclemency of the weather was a source of consolation to me, for I imagined that no banditti would expose themselves to that night's wet and cold, when the chances of booty must have been small indeed, few liking to quit the protection of their comfortable roofs and warm firesides. I neither met nor saw any one until I had arrived almost within hail of the half-way houses before alluded to: then, for the first time, through the gloom that surrounded me I discerned the forms of several closely-muffled figures, moving apparently in the same direction as myself, and whom I supposed to be captains or mates of some of the merchant vessels in the harbor, who, for the sake of better security were keeping together till they should reach their respective boats. I immediately availed myself of such a favorable convoy, and, quickening my pace, was soon alongside of the strangers. After exchanging salutations and commenting on the wretched state of the weather, I inquired if their destination was the same as mine, and was answered in the affirmative. As we proceeded onwards, I had time to take a casual glance at the features and dress of my companions; what little I saw at once convinced me that I had fallen into very suspicious company; and if the slightest doubt remained as to their real character, this was speedily removed by their unblushing demands to be recompensed for the trouble they would incur in keeping me company, while at the same time they kept edging up and hemming me in on all sides, either with the intention of rifling my person, or of unexpectedly inflicting a mortal stab, which might enable them to collect such few valuables as I had about me at their leisure, with the certainty of no clue remaining that might lead to their ultimate detection; for "dead men tell no tales." I could see that they were well armed, and knew that my only hope for succour was the close vicinity of the guard-house. Watching my opportunity, I made a rush for this place with such impetuosity as nearly to upset the alarmed sentry, who was hanging indolently over a wood fire lit in a hole dug in the centre of the hovel. "How now!" shouted the fierce Albanian, on recovering his self-possession: "what means all this noise and hubbub?” A few words sufficed to acquaint the soldier with the real state of affairs, and as my suspicious companions had passed on, he readily agreed to my sharing the pleasant warmth of the fire with him. As the heat gradually penetrated my many overcoats, I was glad to strip off my great-coat and hang it on a nail in the wall. The Albanian spoke Greek as fluently as myself, son, and the frost and sleet of the season, but I made | last man descended, I heard the door close (as I then and entered into conversation freely; he had a sorry secret resolutions to keep up my circulation by inces- thought) upon me and the world for ever. I counted tale of want and trouble to recount. The government sant movement; while the thoughts of the morrow, eight steps, and then we came to another door, which never paid, though it subjected him, he said, to all the and the pleasant faces of friends coming to the rescue, swung heavily on its hinges as the Albanian forced it arduous duties of a serf. The rations of himself and cheered me even in this misery. At the same time I open. This led into a stone vault, of about twelve feet companions were insufficient, and what a dog would lifted up my heart in prayer to him whose mercy never square by eight feet high. Opposite to the entrancebarely deign to patake of; and as for the meagre cup faileth, whose all-seeing eye was my only witness, door there was a second one, against which the man of wine served out to them, it was more fit to be classed and whose guardianship could save me when no man with the loaded musket was stationed, while the lanas exceedingly bad vinegar than anything he could was nigh to help me. tern-bearer guarded the door of entrance. I could no compare it to; and then the Albanian threw out un- The officer and his guards, assisted by the inhuman longer have any doubt as to my fate; but the love of mistakable hints as to the excellence of the wine sold coffee-shop keeper, held long and earnest counsel to-life was never so dear to ne as at that moment. Masat the coffee-shops hard tering my emotions as well by, lamenting his poverty, as I could, I warned my aswhich prevented his enasailants to be aware of what bling me to taste and judge the consequences must be, for myself. Upon hearing so soon as I should be missthis, I indiscreetly offered ed by my messmates and to treat him; and, leaving friends; I implored them to his musket to take care of remember that I was the itself, he conducted me into doe sole support of my family; the nearest of the two cafés, Mavi in short, I used every deon entering which I discoArid scription of entreaty and vered that there were a nonexhortation; but I might as commissioned officer and well have spoken to the three privates seated there, winds. The chief fell upon drinking and gambling. All me, armed with a cudgel; were Albanians, save the and, had it not been for the officer, who, however, seemprotruding angles of the ed well versed in their lancorner into which I had reguage, and they all spoke treated, and the lowness of Turkish fluently. Unhapwie the room, both of which pily for myself, I was utterly ignorant of both the Albanian and Turkish tongues. In treating the soldier to wine, according to Levantine etiquette, I ordered cups to be served all round to his friends and acquaintances. I drank none myself, but merely sipped it out of compliment to those present. The change of atmosphere from the stifling little hovel I had just quitted became very soon perceptible, and then, for the first time, I remembered having forgotten my great-coat. I ran over to fetch it, and on my way back hailed a species of van that was passing, and begged the driver to wait a few moments whilst I just stepped in and paid my reckoning. After settling, and pocketing the change, I turned with the intention of hastening out to the van, when, to my astonishment and indignation, the officer arrested my progress, and with drawn sabre in hand stood in the door-way and ordered [THE CRISIS.] . aided in warding off the blows, the consequences must have been fatal. Tired Lofter and exhausted at length he let fall the club, and, seizing on the sentry's musket, took deliberate aim at my unprotected breast, and pulled the trigger. I heard the steel click, and then, for a few seconds, which appeared hours to me, all was darkness and delirium. There was no report; the gun had missed fire; the last expiring spark of hope was rekindled. I glanced anxiously at the musket, and the flint was gone. Eagerly did they seek and grope about for it on the ground. At this moment I heard the vault open, and saw a fifth figure descend into the vault; he had evidently been watching against surprise, and, hearing the turmoil below cease, had imagined all over, and now came to claim his share of booty. The strength of Samson was upon me; with one mighty effort I disentangled my hands; with a into atoms; another bound and I was in the open air. I stopped not to think or look behind, but fled on the wings of terror over that dark country in the darkest hour of night. I scaled garden walls, fell and was maimed, yet ran on still for my life, for my enemies were on the track. It was four o'clock next morning when I reached the house of a friend; and no sooner had I passed the threshold than I sank down and swooned away. the van to drive off immediately. I was perfectly gether in a language of which I was utterly ignorant. | bound I had gained the steps and dashed the lantern paralyzed. He told me, with assumed sternness, that Meanwhile, as they kept on drinking, hard words and I had been recognised as a notorious robber and bri- harder blows were aimed at my unoffending person, gand, who had long baffled pursuit, and that I only and my pockets were ransacked of watch and money. exchanged that coffee-shop for a dungeon and the gal-Time crept on slowly and heavily, while I stood there, leys for life. It was in vain for me to expostulate one mass of bruises and blood, with the frosty wind menaces and entreaties were equally futile, as were the many references I gave to some of the best known and most respected residents of the adjacent town. His only reply was, that such was always the language of bad characters. He now ordered two of his men to secure me, by tying my hands together with a bit of strong cordage. I was forced to submit tamely to this painful operation; and the moment that I was rendered inoffensive, the miscreant seized the scabbard of his sword, and beat me about the head and shoulders in a most unmerciful manner. The soldier I had first met with interfered on my behalf, but he was speedily silenced by his chief, and sent back to his duty in the guard-house. How my brain did reel, and my whole frame quiver with anguish, as I retreated into a corner of the room, and strained every muscle in my efforts to disentangle my hands. Sick and faint at heart, I thought of the long weary hours of night, the cold damp of the pri chilling my veins, till I longed for the arrival of the To my surprise, instead of marching towards the The rest is soon told. Bruised and maimed as I was, I early next day repaired to the French consul. He at first refused me an interview; I persisted, however, and was at length shown into his bed-room. He chose to doubt my word. I told him that the French war-steamer would soon settle that point. On this he thought better of it, and wrote to the commandant. The subterranean vault was examined, the guilty parties imprisoned; and the whole of my statements, together with the medical certificates given me, are to this day to be seen in the archives of the French embassy. There is nothing right in the sight of God till the heart is right. |