The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-01 00:00:00

the divine will, succeeded in saving the live,' of three. t ing the hungry places in her mind, till fate should send
Latched se we described before, there sturdy men met the !them a more tempting banquet.
gaze of their persecutors with a firmness peefee tly astonish- ! Ido not wish to say one mord in vinditeition of net elut-
ing. Not a sigh was breathed. In all my lifeh.. I never saw 1 meter or conduct, for lam painting a most imperfect ?wing ;
Ruch cattiness so near death. It did not seem real, yet it : but you must not pronounce her utterly worthless on ice-
soone-
soon proved frightfully so. One hellish monster p I laced hist- count of the foolishi,
reek es gamet she was: goingto pi ay. here was
finger to the eyes of a victim who hung down hi*head, but, much levity, much in Edith to
nature ; but her
finding no moisture, drew upon himself the ridicule of his !heart was pure and warm, and contained within its ....met
-
fiendish coadjutors. Ten of the human offerings to the' recesses many woman's noblest Mtn l.lutes. Whether thew
bloodthirsty mob, and nn alligator and a cat, were guarded
would be nurtured into life and vigour, or perish through
the multitude of reedit that grew around them, time und
by soldiers, the other four by amazons.
along the winding path of life, pity her when her
In the meantime the king returned, and, calling us from circumstance alone could decide. Let its follow her pa-
unit ever bear in mind that we our-
would wish to witness the sacrifice. With horror we de- footsteps turn astray, .
our St acs at the further end of the plattimm, asked if we neatly
selves are pilgrims on the some journey, with fret asliable
eves as t -ely u ttla et ,AM Vol jUdg.
dated, and begged to be allowed to gave a portion of them. _ _
v.ith
rin_t
b. d ,
.It, t
with
After some conversation with his courtiers, %tieing him wa- to stumble, • . .
and last of the ten, while, at the same time, Mr. Beeercift Here most pcolde
erring, I offered him a hundred dollars each for the first ments as feeble and imperfect as hers.
will differ with the author. If
made a similar offer for the first of the four, which was ac-
cepted, and the three were immediately unlashed from belong( .
this abounding indliness—this virgin purity lind
in to Edith Laseelles, she could not have en-
their precarious position, hut forced to remain alienators of
the horrid deed to he done on their low fortunate country• tertained the revenge she is made to plot--still less
men. What maw have been their thoughts ? could she have carried out her *shone of wounded
The king insisted on our viewing the place of sacrifice. vanity with the deliberation which marks her caner.
Immediately under the royal awful, within the brake of
ACACIA bushea, stood seven or eight fell ruffian., wine seined But tier faults are pane hest ; she in her turn is hum-
with clubs, others with seimetaes, grinning horribly. As
~,,, ,teisragep,
she
bled and contrite. After conceiving a passion for
so acts that she almost forfeits
we approached the mi) yelled fiarfully, ruid called upon dick '
the king to " feed them, they were hungry." It his love, and only regains his heart when he is on
was at a similar fete that Athardee (President of his death-bed. Here is a well-described
Jena), while looking into the pit with the king, MARISTAGIF: AT .e ortrit-nro.
was seized, thrown down, and munlersd on the nen. flow different to that light and elegant costume in which
Disgusted beyond the powers of description, we retired to Edith was to have gone as a bride to the altar—that costume
our seats, wliere also the cha-cha had retreated ; not so his in which she had once arrayed herself with such girlish
brothers, fur I regret to say they remained delighted some- pride and satisfaction was the simple robe of dark merino
tators of the agonies of the death of these innuceat victims. that she put on with so little thought or carefulness ut pre-
As we reached our seats, a fearful yell ran the air. The sent. In her younger days she Lid often amused herself
vietims were held high above the head, of their lwaren, and and Margaret by planning her wedding drt•ss, and an odd
train of thought arose uow in her mind, us she reflected
the naked ruffians thus acknowledged the munificence of
their princes Silence egain ruled, and the king made a how entirely the n•verse of all these varictua imaginary Coo-
speech, stating that of hi. prisoner he gave a portion to his
tunics was the one in which she was really destiusel to pass
soldiers, as his father and grandfather had done before. from girlhood into the dignity of a matron and a wife.
Thee«. were Attalmahnts. Having called their name., the a But it natters little," the said to herself', as she turned
one nearest was divested of his clothes, the foot of the basket from the glass that reflected her pale aud cares sin face
placed on the paraiwt, when the king gave the upper part a It matters little whet dreas covens an :wiling heart; and the
eveuts of this day will decide whether or not mine is ever
an impetus, and the victim fell at once into the pit beneath.
A fall of upwards of twelve feet might have stunned him, to be free from pain scout."
and before sense could return the head was rut off, and the As she was !teasing out of her mom, Nettie met her, and
explained that Mr.. Boisrainon was too unwell to be present
hotly thrown to the mob, who, now armed with clubs and
branches, brutally mutilated anti draginal it to a distant pit, at the ceremony.
where it was left as Gaul for the beasts and birds of liet'S• But this is my doing, dear Edith," she continued, oh-
After the third victim had thus been sacrificed, the king re- serving the others instant look of disappointment. " Mama
would hate neve, ill as she is, but I entreated her not to do
tired, and the chiefs and slave-dealers completed the deed
which the monarch blushed to finish. mt. It will he an affecting ceremony to all of us, and to her
There was not even the poor excuse that these men had I am sure it would be overpowering; so that she has agreed
only to conic in when it is cosicluthel—and I think Edith,
committed a crime, ur even bionic arms against the Daho-
although not a word le posed between toy mother and
mans. No; they were murdered, innocent men, at Mast as bas
far as their barharouto tyrant knew ; and if not, may (.oil myeelf on the subject, that she will take you to her heart,
forgive them in the world to rune. when you are really her daughter, with all the affection of
As we descended the ladder, we came on another scene
old times."
of this tragedy. Each in the basket iu which the victim
Edith's expressive countenance evinced the delight this
opinion afforded her—and the two girls went down and
had sat a few moments' before, lay the grizzly libelling
took their breakfast together in the little parlour now
heads, five on one side, six on the other. We could hut
have expected icily merry would have been shown, anti brightened into cheerfaliteas by the long absent rays of tho
therefore were prepared for this spectacle. blessed wit which shunt into the dark content, and played mer-
Capt. Forbes's mission to Dahomey was not sue- rile uptiu the pictured malls, and mated 'mingle, upon those
young filees, as if anxiety, to give them that aspect of
cessful. Its termination is described in the account Pale
Rummer gluthwes, which should have been the heart's gift
of his last interview with the king. alone.
TUE EIS° OF DAHOMEY 11,1 TIIE SLAVE TRAMP.. Before their simple meal was quite concluded. the doctor
(an old friend of the family, who had agreed to act the part
At noon we started for the palace, and at I. p.m. tonk our
seats in (rout of the royal couch, iu the Male state 11% we
of father, to Edith, on the meas. ) came in, and was toil-
lowed in a few minutes by the clergyman who wits IS per-
were before received. The same partite) were present a* on
1 the former royal haters iew. form the ceremony. Edith had oWCII both of these gentle-
men before, PO oche was able to greet them with tolerable
As usual, compliments passed between us, and, after an
immaterial conversation, his majesty child (each hieing owlepoeseseion now; and Nettie aeon left her with them,
while 1,11,V went to prepare Alick the their reeeptiona
possessed of the other's account of the expc•nditure at the
customs, so much discussion was saved) that he new wished The next tt n minutes appeared au age to her whose fide
to know the ulterior object of the embassy. was en apeedily to le• deeichal ; but at the end of this time
la the first place, we unewered, we hoped he would put Nettie reappearwl, and, looking himself very nervous acid
a stop to the alavt-trade in his slot dominions; and, in enter agitated, conducted them all in silence to her brother's room.
to do that, we impressed upon hint the methods pursued by Edith went in first, unit Aliek, who was lying dreithel
neighbouring nations, who, by encouraging the growth of upon the bed, welenitiwl her with !Slab:Sof quirt happinent,
the palm-tree, had au well met the market, as now to have
though the red flush upon his cheeks told of thesiderable
a far MOM advanced and lucrative trade than the Portu- excitement beneath that unusually calm exterior; and
guese and Bruailianto offered to Dahomey. That the first step caused the prudent doctor, on his entrance, to advise the
to the establialunent cif the palm-oil trade must be the memo delky of the ceremony yet another day. But thix, of
ragement of labour within his dominions ; and, instead of course, the bridegroom would nut hear of, and even Nettia
devastating hi. neighbour,' territories (particularly those could not have the heart to mime.' it very strongly -go, Ma
whose geographical position placed Dahomey between them
few 'motels the temporary altar was funned—and the
and the sea), he should, if war were unavoidable, reduce
beautiful and impressive Runlet, began.
them, binding them by treaties to join hi the pursuit of Edith's connect) throughout the whole of the ceremony
agriculture aud trade, met then, by levying transit duties was admirable, and excited the astonishment and the praise
on their gouda, cone them to enrich hint tier more than the of all. She W EIS deathly pale, but her voice was fine and
mere sale of the stare's of the exterminating hunt. Thu'', clear; and those touching monis " for richer, tior porer, in
by making Dahomey the centre of a vast trading country, sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death us do
all kinds of good" would soon find their way into his king- rt," she gave with aso elemnity and tun atness of
don, and, instead of bring dependent on a few inerehauts expression that affected every tine who heard her. Alicia
for the paltry article% with which they chose to supply him, was infinitely dews self-posecesed, and, though nn one could
he might demand ilk.' choicest merchandise of the world—a doubt the deep sincerity with which his heart echoed the
boon already obtained by many neighbours. thy thus sacred vows he was utteringehere was at interval* a troubled
turning a military into an agricultural iseople, and raising look up hit countenance, anti a audited wandering in his
himself into the envious position of a reformer of the ini- eye, that contrasted strangely with the calm composure of
crams and fearful habits of Ida people, in the course of the pale young Arid,'. Ili. „..„,, however, wen, firmly
tone he could abolish thew fearful sacrifice% he had already motiounecd, and, in putting one the ring, his eye sleight
reduced in numbers, aid then his memory would lie revered l'alith'a With a glance of fond affection net to be mistaken.
by all nations, and he handed down hi love and peace in- " Those whom God bath joined together let nu men put
stead of slaughter. :tawnier."
The king gave a history of trade, from its earliest rem- The words were apoken—the concluding blessing was
mencement in Whydith sod Dahomey, down to the present
given. All wan over. The clergyman and the deem! shook
time. Eire, he said, the French came to Whydali bafere
•
Dahomey conquered it. War put a shop to trade the many I band, warmly with the young wouple, and then Imatened
away' while at the., moment entered a vide and deeply
years. The white man left hyclah in Ah-dah-huon-zar a agitated fOatlll, who had been waiting nearly all the time
time • the English traders were the first who landed there, hale the door.
and bought' slurs. Ilia father had impressed hint with the Aliek saw Lis mother, and smiled faintly upon her; but
belief that the English were the first of white men; lie
thought so, and desired much to he at peace with them. it Wile to his bride that he turned- -to Edith that his antis
were extended, to her that his eye. wertwo granting) v rats. d.
" Time had passed," he continued, " but the Dahomuns had And she, answering this mute appeal, sprang to her hus-
never given up slave-dealing. Ills people were soldiers, banda's enthrace; und the worth, " My mite, my own wife!"
his revenue the proceeds of the slave trade (or the pale of
came like the echo of same INIA.SSEIIe tone ups her ear.
priaeuers of war.) Do we not observe the abeence of agri-
"MY wife, my own wife!" There was malting more.
culture ? Other ultimo deal in slaves, hut not like Inc : they
keep no customs, make no general disbursement. The A sunbeam entered into the room, and nated for a moment
stave-with steady brightneea upon the m•wly-wedded pair. But
trade of these states must be napped berme I can treat.'We again obe•rved that he sews parting (for a small pe- it was charged witlt no mission to warm the cold, wild
bridegroom, What could warm bins when his Etlittia
century recompense) with the MUM'. Or all riches, labour; kisses had lost the power to do so ? when love's embrace
that, if he retained his slaves and made them cultivate the failed to art in rapid motion the pulses of his languid veins ?
soil, Dahomey (its resoutves tome developed) would beeome Till death us do part! Young wife, your task has not
a great nation, and himself a great king. been a long one. Your dunes% are soon nt an end. Release
The king (lieu dictated a letter to her Majesty, stating yourself from thaw encircling arms; the grave is your rival
his anxiety for peace with Great Britain; his willingnesa to now. Muth and life can have no contact. lust the cold
enter into treaty when the trade was stopped in the neigh wide ni. rest,
'touring petty chiefdoms; hia wish fur a British CIMNUI to . •
be sent to his kingdom; fur misaionarica to visit Dalwatcy, After the death of her lover, Edith reforms, is very
and made hi Whydah; and that the military state of lus denturo and quiet, and filially, in the third volume,
subjects alone at present precluded his becoming the head consents to wed the youth who urea laced her through-
oran agricultural people.
out the three.
Capt. Forbes's volumes arc written without much A dexterity in the management of plot, a studied
style or method. They do not greatly add to our gmee of style, and, as before remarked, a keen alive-
knowledtm of the Duhomans or the slave trade; but eiation of the anomalies of our tootial tieheme, raiso
are chiefly valuable as presenting a truthful picture, tuts. Duniel's production considembly above the level
painted by an eye-witness, of what they describe. of the ordinary entertainment in three volumes fur-
The volumes have some coloured illustrations of nished to the tmaginative young ladies of the suburbs
considerable merit. and provinces.

FerldPy Manor. By Mni. MACKENZIE DAN ITTA. Newby.
It is difficult to find an entirely new phase of soeinl
life for the pen of the novelist. Ambition, love, and
religion have from times remote been alternately
taken up us points round which human characters
could evolve their story for the amusement or instruc-
tion of imaginative readers. For many years past
fiction has been cultivated as a literary art pnucipally
by writers who have chained themselves to the formula
of their predecessors ; and, with the leading dogma
in their minds that to a modern fiction two volumes
of misery and one of happiness and honeymoon rap-
ture are necessary, have supplied the market with
more or less success. Although it cannot be CM-
adentiously affirmed that the author of " Fernley
Manor" is far in advance of the industrious class by
whom our circulating libraries are supplied, it may
be fairly asserted that she brings to her task,
of amusing imaginative readers a grace of thought
and a purity of feeling which it is well to encourage
and dutiful to applaud.
The heroine of " Fernley Manor "—Edith Las-
celles--is a spiritual coquette, so finely drawn that
her position is clearly marked out from the every-day
specimens of perfection with which mediocre novelists
furnish their readers. In the career of Edith Las-
eelles—in the pride and self-esteem which led her to
dissemble to her first lover—to break the heart of her
second lover—and after many trials to return to the
mediocrity by whom she is adored—a simple lesson
is told, which none need hesitate to leant. keen
observations on the anomalies and curious points of
life give to the narrative a piquancy and a weight
which forbid a hasty and careless perusal. "Most
of the lords of the creation prefer extend-
ing their patronage and hospitality to Blume
of their own sex whom they tier certain no
woman can admire" here is a fair specimen
of the shrewd insight which is the distinguishing
characteristic of Mrs. Daniels' work. In her con-
tempt, however, for coquetry, even in its pleasantest
and most spiritual development, the author somewhat
overdraws her portrait. Here is the heroine at the
outset of her schemes

PUBLICATIONS RECIUIVED.

Gilbert's Poular Narralire of Ms Great F:xhibition. By
Peter B&rlyn. Gilbert.
The Palace of Industry: its Origin and l'rogtess. John

011ivier.
The novelty of the Great Building which is now receiving
specimens of the Industry of all nations, has act many
ingenious men to work to describe it iu such a way that
the details of the vast whole may be comprehensible to
the tutprofessional public. Mr. Berlyn's neatly printed
volume on the history of the Exhibition appears to be a
careful digest of all the documents which the Exhibition
Commissioners have published ; while the hook issued by
Mr. 011ivier attempts to place before the reader, in a ilea,
light, the various ingenious prom-sees which have Well
brought to bear for the construction of the Crystal l'ulace.
On Me improced Culture of IV/tut, &e., by Spade Labour
and Dibbling. John Wright, Bristol.—A. pamphlet, de-
tailing the author's experience of the cultivation of wheat
by spode labour, and promising specimens uf whcat
so
cultivated in the Great Exhibition.
The Grasses. A Lecture, delirtred before the Members
of the Petworth, l'ulborough, and .11idharst Formers'
Club. By 0. W. Elliott —A practical lecture on the
herbage and forage plants of England, more especially
the grasses most suitable for cultivation iu this country.

AMERICAN PRESENT TO TIIE PRINCE OF WALES.—
We inspected, a day or two since, a very unique present to
the Prince of Wales, consisting of a pair of superb sculls or
oars, enclosed in a ease of black walnut, exquisitely
fashioned. The mountings are very costly. and the weight
of silver attached to them is about eighty ounces. An in-
scription on a silver plate indicates the presentation. Thu
sculls will be exhibited at the Crystal Palace during the
summer, and cannot fail to attract much attention. Ac-
companying them will be a highly finished oar, thirty-six
feet long, and two Lilliputian sculls of the sire of pens.
The wood is white ash, manufactured by Mr. Page, of New
York.—Liverpool CArooticle.
INTERESTING AUTOGRAPHS.—A small but interest-
ing collection of autographs was sold yesterday by Messrs.
Puttick and Simpson, of Piccadilly. Lot 5, • short but
good letter of Beethoven, which sold for 21. 124. Lot 9, a
letter of Edmund Burke on the catholic question, sold for
21. Is. Lot 25, a letter of S. T. Coleridge, sold for 11. 15s.
Lot 60, a parcel of letters of Dr. Philip lioddridgc, many
of which were in whole or in part published, sold for 13/.
Lot 148, forty-eight official letters signed by Marshal Ney,
sold for 51. Lot 100, a letter of Pope, sold fur 14
Lot 181, a signature of Archibald Angus, who married the
widow of James IV. of Scotland, sold for It. 2s. Lot 182,
a signature of the Regent Morton, 'add for 11. lls. 6d. ; and
the next lot, a signature of Cardinal kleatourt, sold for tho
same sum. Lot 186 was, perhaps, the must interesting lot
in the sale, being the original declaration of James 111., tho
" Old Pretender," addressed to the people of England
shortly before the attempted invasion by -Prince Charles
Edward : the document was signed by James 111. in two
places ; it sold for 11/., and, it is to be regretted, was not
bought fur the national collection. Lot 14, a letter of the
";Old Pretender," sold fur W. ss.
CAPTAIN ROLLEB, OP TUE SHIP NEW LIVER-
root., agailUt whom a warrant of manslaughter was issued
some months since, in consequence of the death of some
Lascars on board his ship, was apprehended yesterday at

A WWIAN A % ENOEANCE.

You will have seen already that self-esteem was one of
Edith's besetting sins—it was a darling passion, and nut to
be offended with impunity. Engine de la Tour had dared
to question her fuseinations—he, a misshapen, miserable
atom of a man, had presumed to doubt her powers of capti-
vation, and, therefore, he must be made to feel their sting.
But to render her victory more triumphant, and prolong
what was really an amusement to her, she resolved to goad
him into hatred first, and then draw hint gently, but surely,
to her feet. lle should crawl in the dust—he should bo.w
his forehead to the earth—he should despise himself for the
abject love he owned, and yet love the more for this self-
contempt ; and when all was accomplished, when the pre-
sumptuous boy had become a trembling worshipper, and
learned to exist only in her smiles, then would she ,puru
kin from her, with long gathering scorn, and taunt him
with his former insulting words.
Such was the object that Edith Lascelles proposed to her-
self, as a remedy against vain regrets, and a means of feed-