The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-30 00:00:00

I.I7ERATURR.

present thmllah-:
JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE UP THE IBEDITrR
RANEAN—By the Rey. CHARLES SWAN.
There Is no one, we believe, who has ever whiled away a e„„,„
hour in projecting schemes of travel, who has omitted to ~,V„,°
in fancy along the shores of the Mediterranean, so .numerouy
so dive
are the attractions which those shores
out their whole sinuous extent, to the artist, the neutralist, sod the
scholar. The Egean alone, with it. classic isles, might furnish.;
a cultivated -mind the pleasure and employment of a few y
eaq
these feelings we greedily seised on the volumesof Mr- Swan'
Although well aware that hie numerous forerunners hsd left him
little, yet we wished to renew our acquaintance with scenes,'
beautiful to lose their charms with increased familiarity; ws wars
disappointed, however, in our hopes, and found to our tome that the Chaplain to a frigate anchoriog off, or just touching, as ir,'
teresting epot, is but an indifferent Cicerone. Ile is ten
acquire a similar-habit of just touching on a subject in the °
unsstisfactory way
-must imaginable, and too often of touching when roe
gentlest reader grow impatient of the evidently olny
frivolous delay. We cannot say much, therefore, of 31, snan,
book. on the score of research, mature judgment, or animated tom:
graphical description ; but in another point of view it rini,
be regatmled more favourably. Mr. NI/1111.s situation se Chliga'n
to the Cambrian frigate, on the Greek-station, has
chief,frequenti
brought him into contact with the of the contending ca,,,,;
in that distracted country ; and his natural enthusiasm in toe qty
has imparted to thin portion of his narrative a degree of 'Mdse.'
and descriptive vigour, which no antiquities nor landscape cmig
have excited. The first person of importance wf,n figures ic,.
author's pages leSuleyman Aga, the present Collector at (;
aaws
at Smyrna. This is the prison of whom Lord By
myl—ron 0,4.
in his notes to (.'slide flaccid : " Suicyman Aga. hi;
Lordship, " hue Governor of Athens and now of Thebes,‘"
lion vivant, and as social a being an ever sat crom-leggea at
a tray or table." His social qualities. it appears, are presented by
him undiminished: he invited the officers of the Cambrimai u:l3
entertainment at his country house, " which," eaya air. 641:
" was considered so rare an instance of attention, as to eause spiel
deal of commotion in Stnyrna, a like circumstance never hivir
been heard of even by the oldest Frank inhabitants." After vies!
ing the gardens, and even the interior of the harem, the company
eat down to the feast of the gammnonsie 31ussulman.
" Immediately small round tables were brought, upon which iht
attendants placed salvers of fruit., anchovies, and other picot"
dishes, which were but the prelude to the coming entertainment.
I observed the Aga, an the utmost mark of civility that he mud
show, strike his toothpick into part of a pear, already Repented
from the rind, and present it, with much polite's', to his nearest
guest." " A hundred attendants at least bustled about, bearing
cold punch in small china cups and glasses, with reasonable ode.
rity. A quarter of an hour after. the tables were removed and
others brought. In this instance their disposition varied one nil
fixed up at the end where the Aga sat, and two others in the oppc,
site and more remote compartment. At each of these • familiar
friend of our host did the honours of the table. At the table Titre
I sat was Hassan. or Vehib (for It seems he has two appellations),
ci-devant Packs of Seto (and by whose orders was committee the was,
nacre of that place), whose fawning aytophantish look torrent/need
well with the unfavourable impressions we had long ago neared,
Heil flabby cheeks, auntiounted by small eyes, that twinkled east
becehanalianly, and garnished with a nose an crooked as his ova
soul, is the impartial, eithough indeed nut alluring, deseriptioa vf
his appearance."
Thus placed, the party followed the example of their host, std
stretched their hands into the dishes, and in this manner masted tit
luxuries of six-andsthirty courses, the particulars of which weans
fully recorded by Mr. Swan.
Of the heroic Cansris, our author gives the following Mort Ac-
count :—" I had very fortunately an opportunity of seeing tEs
celebrated man, who had but just arrived at Hydra, front EON.
There is an expression of great mildness and benevolence to his
countenance, bnt it would not at all convey an idea of the Gusei;
his nose is small, almost coma/ red, though his eye is good: he liss
a deeply enibrowned complexion, and his mature is low, bat Leis
well merle." By the favour of Mr. Swan was permitted
to exatnine a fire-ship. by the dexterous management of which the
Greeks have rendered themselv..si so formidable to the Turkimh
fleets; the following is the author's description :—" The hold is
partitioned off into small stalls, without each of which Pear& a
barer) of gunpowder, containing about thirty okra (about 82jlee,):
on each side a prickly plant, called in Gteek TI: vmaria, a species 4
thyme, which kindles readily, is deposited. The hotfoot of the
barrel has a hole communicating with trains, carried Into various
parts of the vessel ; and a composition, consisting of turpentine,
saltpetre, rosin, and other materials that ignite quickly, is rubbed
all over the hold: the casks intended to receive the gunpowder, and
every other part diet is likely to facilitate the progress of the fire,
the decks and outward part of the vessel, are pitched and pointed
copiously, and grappling irons ate concealed in the rigging: the
quantity of gunpowder used in a single hrulot amounts In 2,ohe
okee, or fi.Mel lb., and it is fired in about forty plates at on;
they man it with from twenty to twenty-five men, aezoi ding to the
eze. The one I saw was of the largest, and had been an Austrian
merchantman. taken with i. cargo of Turkish ammunition."
Mr. Swan relates many anecdotes, to illustrate the respect which
is shown to the British flag, and to Englishmen generally. through-
out the Archipelago; and we ftel happy io declaring that we be-
lieve it does not proceed more from the maritime super:ority of
Great Britain, or the consistency of her policy, than from the
firm and humane conduct of the British Officers comment:tug on
that mutation. We pass over the anecdotes relating to Trelawney,
who, together with his wise, daughter of the late Curran Clint..
Odysseus, was fur a short time on board the Cambrian; and
hasten to the moat novel and interesting part of our author's writ.
tive—we mean the description of the camp and person of Ibrahim
Pasha:—

" A laxly of men, who were leisurely passing us in their return,
we obtained as a guard. They were organized Arabs. and their
Captain carried a thick stick in his hand to drive them forward ;
this he applied with apparent good-will to the shoulders or any
stragglers from the company. When se reached the main camp,
which might be four miles from the place of action, such a scene
of confusion displayed itself as I had never before 'hoe...med.—
I liliserable-looking beings were every where stretched upon the
ground, oppressed by extreme fatigue, while the whole character of
what owed reminded me of nothing so much as the turbulence.
without the nierriment, of an English fair. There was hut one
tent in the plain, and dins their ragged, wretched bodies, were ex-
posed to the burning heats of noon, .except in eases where olive
trees supplied a shade; but the greater part of the army were en.
tirely deprived of such protection. The moat fortunate had eta.
tioned themselves on the banks of a beautiful river or stream (the
Euratas), which was full of excellent water, and as clear as crystal.
broad, but shallow.
" We were tooducted by the Arab guard, who attempted most
unsuccessfully, as it appeared to me, a regular march,to the couage
in which Ibrahim Pacha, pipe in hand, was couched. He is a mout,
broad, brown-faced, vulgar-looking man, thirty-five or forty years
of age, marked strongly with the small-pox. His countenance
pnssesses little to engage ; but when he speaks. which he dews with
considerable energy and fluency, it becomes animated and whet
striking. He frequently accompanies his words with a long drawl-
ing cry. which to European ears sounds ridiculously enouqh. tits
manner carries with it that sort of decision, which is perhaps the
common appanage of despotism ; deprived of this, he would re-
semble an uneducated hsrd-favoured seaman of our own country_-
and I think I have somewhere seen his exact counterpart; but it
may be merely fancy. He was plainly clothed, for a Turk • and
his camp establishment. altogether, had none of that parade and
luxury, which we are accustomed to attach to eastern warfare."
" On returning from a long and, to say truth, a tedious confe-
rence of three hours and upwards, a curious object presented itself
in the thousand& of Idea that bluz.ed below the rat on which the
Paella bad fixed himself. ‘l'e were provided with a miserable
hovel, totally destitute of erery species of accommodation, where
we were to rest for the night, and, after considerable delay, four or
five indifferent Turkish names were sent us. We lead to dip our
fingers iota them, for want of spoons—which are usual even with
Turks, and to drink water out of a narrow-necked leather bottle,
which was common to a dozen dirty wretches beside, who alit in
our apartment. But travelling in these countries is no bad anti-
dote to fastidiousness."
Nato return to the aniline.. As we perceive that he irainuates iris
intention to favour the public with the continuadon of iris travels,
we take the liberty of recomireniling to him to abandon in future
the style of a journal, and to give his narrative a more i:iirested
form. Writing by way of journal, it is true, saves the author a
great deal of trouble in the selection and arrangement of his ma-
terials; but, on the other hand, if the journal be very faithfully
kept, it is apt to inflict on the reader a Brest &al of uninteresting
stuff, and cannot at any rate be tolerated in a work which minds
beyond the limits of a single volume.
SUICIDE AT CHELTENHAW—(Extract of A letter from
Cheltenham, dated May 28.)—Various rumours are afloat
in this town, as to the probable cause of the lamentable
suicide of Captain Layman, on Tuesday last. It is gene-
rally believed, from the various eccentricities committed by
this gentleman during many weeks past, that his intellect
must have been very materially impaired, but from what
cause it is impossible to ascertain. Ile was rcarcrly ever
out of temper but on matters relating to culinary affairs: a
tureen of oiled butter, or a dish of fish brought tee tsble
under-done, would throw him into a most violent passion,
aril the poor cook, for such neglect, generally received a
most severe lecture during this paroxysm of anger; after
which it would subside, to make way for the blue devils,
which kept possession of him for many hours afterwards.
He was seen a few dave before the dreadful affair took
Once, by a visitor of this town, runuing across Bay's Hill
Field, with both Ids shoes oft; and carrying them in his
hand, evidently labouring, under the effect of insanity.

• PARTIES.
The Rake of Reanfort entertained a distinguished party at dinner yet-
Nosy, at his hors Graarenor•swinme.
the Marquk of Stafford had a grand dinner party yesterday, at his house
la C:.retan I.square.
knurl dinner parties yesterday .—The Marquis of Camden, the Earl of
Abprgoyn, Lord liccity. Wm. Peel, Esq. M.P., Slt George Warrender,
WLsnot Horton, Esq. lI.P.
MOVEMENTS.
Ilse Duke and Duchess of Richmond left the Drake of Argyll's. Upper
Prook-street, yesterday, for their seat, Goodwood, Sussex.
The COIIIIIOI4 St. Antonio arrived yesterday at her house is Hanover-
square, from her seat at Wimbledon.
The Hoe. Mrs. Marsham left her hum M Orlevenoeisisee yesterday.
to her seat In Kent.
A. Cumin', k:sq. left town yesterday, for his emit In Scotland.
Howard °triton, Esq. has arrivd at Reed.* Rotel, Lower Grosvenor-
street, from Ms seat in Derbyshiere. Departure. :—Mr. and airs. Dor-
Tien, for their seat in Herts; Mr. and Eire. Godfrey and family, for
Sethr•npton.
Departures front Thomas's Hotel, Berkeiey-square•—The Earl and
C. unless of Somers and family, for their seat, Eutoor Castle Worcs.*.
u .bier ; Sir William will Lady Oglander, for their seat In Donetshire.
Departures from Fentnn's New Hotel, St. Jam'e's-vtireet :—Genrral
Oruro, on a tour ; John Fenton Cawthorn., Seq.
for hht seat in Lan.
Departures from Boner's Rotel, Bermes-Sant :—Mre. and Wu
Dobbs, for Ireland ; Mrs. Captain Catty, for Irkveashire t the Rev. Dr.
Rosklas and son, for Of ord ; sad R. Gllea, Seq. for Lancaster.
Arrivals at Jerden's Rotel. St. Jawreesoitreet s—Mr. and Mrs. James
Tay:or and family, from their seat in Staffordshire; John Taylor, Esq
from ditto.
Arrival at Gould's Hotel, Jenayn-street:Rams De Stael, frorn
Pals. Departures:—Sir Thomas and Lady Earlier, (h
r, thei
r'
seat In
Beets; Colonel and Lady Graham, for thtie sent, PetWoeth, Sussek•
Arrivals at the Burlington Hotel, Old Darlington and Cork streets:—
Lord Arthur Chichester, from a tour; J. Rans.bottom, jun. Esq. froth
Windsor Couvelt, Esq. from Essex. Departure.'—Colonel Stew.
art. 11. P.. Mrs., and Nits Stewart, for lienley.upon-Thames ; Potter,
Esa. for ditto t Stapler k:sq. fur ditto.
Artivide all the Rrunswl4 Hotel .;late Elate's), Jertarn-street:—The
lialtearipteelt,mo;;;ltoMonri. Ginoufh: from Sp;irlf.osalk;i tints *eV. Jobb.
ra Sterna, tram
Baring Park; the Misses Stueln, from a tour; and Mrs. flarratt, from
Norfolk. Depauures:—Mr. Wainwright and Mr. J. Wainwright, for
Beast Mr. A. Dunlop and Mr. and Mrs. Dunlop, for Brighton ; Mr. and
Mrs. Hay, to Bedfordshire ; Captain and Mrs. Raandhamp Procter and
Sunny, for Eases i and Colonel Mile., he Cheltenham,.

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